05_Biblica_Do_Layout 1 08/07/13 12:57 Pagina 419 05_B 419 peri. o[lou tou/ ko,smou Fourth, this irregularity has found its way into various translations. The words “the sins” are inserted in 2d. For example, the NIV (1984) translates “and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world”, while the NAS (1977) renders the passage as “and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world”. Similar insertions occur in German and French translations 19. For instance, the EIN (1980) renders “aber nicht nur für unsere Sünden, sondern auch für die der ganzen Welt”, while even more radical are the LUO (1912) and LUT (1984) which translate “nicht allein aber für die unseren sondern auch für die der ganzen Welt”. The insertion of “the sin(s)” or “those” has not always met universal consent. The American Standard Version (1901) sought to remain close to the Greek text in rendering 2cd as “and not for ours only, but also for the whole world” 20, while two German versions, the ELO (1905) and ELB (1993), translate the same text as “nicht allein aber für die unseren, sondern auch für die ganze Welt”. Scholars have also criticized the addition of “the sin(s)” in 2d. B.F. Westcott argues that “[t]he supposition that peri. o[lou tou/ ko,smou is an elliptical expres- sion for peri. tw/n a`martiw/n o[lou tou/ ko,smou is not justified by usage, and weakens the force of the passage” 21. Plummer advocates consis- tency in the interpretation of 2d by not inserting “the sin(s)” 22. These four syntactic considerations raise the following question: how far back, in the context of 1 John 2,1-2, should one interpret kosmoj as the object of peri,? This question suggests two possibilities: , (a) should we interpret peri. o[lou tou/ ko,smou parallel to peri. tw/n amartiwn h`mw/n in 2b (cf. 2c), or (b) should we treat peri. o[lou tou/ ` / kosmou as an extension and effect of i`lasmo,j in 2a? A presentation of , peri. o[lou tou/ ko,smou can be displayed in the following diagram: Other English versions include the KJV (1611), DAR (1899), NAB, 19 NAU (1995), NIB, RSV (1952), and NRSV (1989). French translations in- clude the BJ (Bible de Jérusalem), LSG (1910), NEG (1979), and BFC (1997). Similar literal translations are provided by the DBY (1884/1890), BBE 20 (1949/1964), and NKJ (1982). However, the WEB (1833) places the word “sins” in brackets (“and not for ours only, but also for {the sins of} the whole world”). WESTCOTT, Epistles of John, 45. In contrast, I.H. MARSHALL, The Epis- 21 tles of John (NICNT; Grand Rapids, MI 1978) 119, n. 31, criticizes Westcott as “over-subtle” in translating “but for the whole world” without supplying the word “the sins”. I challenge this criticism. The insertion “the sins” or “those” in some modern translations of the Greek does not always do justice to what can appear to be the real intention of the author. PLUMMER, Epistles of John, 36. See also n. 1. 22 © Gregorian Biblical Press 2013 - Tutti i diritti riservati