Translation of I Timothy 1:10

[shunyadragon]

"For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine."


Most translations of the Bible translate andrapodistes (sp)as menstealer and kidnapper, but a few later user friendly(rated G) translations use slave trader like NIV. This reference translated this way is used by some to support the view that the NT opposes slavery.

My understanding of this term was in reference to one who steals slaves or possibly citizens, illegally for purposes of resale. Slave ownership and trading was a very legitamite business and very much a part of the Greek, Roman and Hebrew world of the time.

I understood that this reference was in accordance with the Hebrew law against the stealing of slaves and illegitamite kidnapping punishable by death in Exodus.

I would like some help from the Greek Geeks out there for the correct translation.

[Magdalenbrother]

It is clear that Paul, like all his contemporaries, whole-heartedly supported slavery (?) so he cannot have condemned legal slave-traders.

"Andraprodizo" in Greek means "to enslave" or "to sell people as slaves".

"Andraprodistes" is someone who enslaves free men or a freeman who gives up his freedom (were there such people in Antiquity?).

My reference is a good old French-Greek dictionary published in 1913.

I think that a good avenue of research is to try to see these people in a much broader context.

For example an "arsenokoites" is for me someone who idolizes male qualities to the exclusion of the virtues and qualities of the other sex. It is someone who adores physical strength and discursive and analytical reason (as opposed to imagination and intuition). The Nazis are a typical example. Such people easily become cruel and devoid of feelings.

Phallists and "machistas".

[shunyadragon]

It is clear that Paul, like all his contemporaries, whole-heartedly supported slavery (?) so he cannot have condemned legal slave-traders.

"Andraprodizo" in Greek means "to enslave" or "to sell people as slaves".

Your referring to this as a verb. Is there a noun that simply refers to the legitimate respected slave-trader of the time.

"Andraprodistes" is someone who enslaves free men or a freeman who gives up his freedom (were there such people in Antiquity?).

In my class I was told it meant one illegaly sells a free man or a stolen slave, or kidnapper. The companion reference to this in the OT was Exodus 21:16, which stated the Hebrew law for manstealing or kidnapping.

One sells himself into slavery would be an indentured servent and possible, but I did not know that this word could also refer to 'selling one's self'.

[Jaltus]

According to BDAG, 76, it means literally "one who acquires person for use by others" so the gloss can be either slave-dealer or kidnapper, which are not necessarily all that different in that day.