Sam Creve - Mark Janse - Kristoffel Demoen, «The Pauline Key Words pneu=ma and sa/rc and their Translation.», Vol. 20 (2007) 15-31
This paper examines the meaning of the Pauline key words pneu=ma and sa/rc and the way they are rendered in recent Bible translations. The first part presents a new approach to lexical semantics called cognitive grammar by which the various meanings of pneu=ma and sa/rc are represented as networks connected by semantic relations such as metonymy and metaphor. The second part investigates the way in shich recent Bible translations navigate between concordant and interpretative translation: pneu=ma is generally translated concordantly as «S/spirit», whereas sa/rc is often rendered interpretatively to avoid the traditional concordant translation «flesh».
26 Sam Creve, Mark Janse, Kristoffel Demoen
of translations is e.g. the use of formally or etymologically related expres-
sions to preserve the cohesion. In the NJB fragment the element “natureâ€
is found both in the expression “human nature†and “natural inclinationsâ€.
A striking example of this combination of interpretative and concordant
translation is the representation of πνεῦμα. Where the Divine πνεῦμα is
concerned, the translation is often “Spirit†– with a capital letter, whereas
in other cases “spirit†with a small letter will be used, as in 1 Corinthians
2,10-12 (texts 3a-b quoted above).
Having discussed the classification of translations with respect to the
treatment of keywords, we now return to πνεῦμα and σάÏξ in their dif-
ferent meanings. The reader will find below a range of passages in which
the terms occur, classified according to our meaning specifications (see
diagrams above) and their translation. The passages are selected for their
prototypicality.
1.1. πνεῦμα
breath (1)
(1a) Καὶ τότε ἀποκαλυφθήσεται ὠἄνομος, ὃν ὠκÏÏιος [Ἰησοῦς] ἀνελεῖ
Ï„á¿· πνεÏματι τοῦ στόματος αá½Ï„οῦ (2 Thess 2,8).
(1b) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will
destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation
of his coming. (NRSV).
(1c) And the wicked One will appear openly. The Lord will destroy him
with the breath of his mouth and will annihilate him with his glorious ap-
pearance at his coming. (NJB).
(1d) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consu-
me with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming. (RWB).
(Divine) inspiration (2 & 3)
(2a) Ὑμεῖς δὲ οá½Îº á¼ÏƒÏ„á½² á¼Î½ σαÏκὶ ἀλλὰ á¼Î½ πνεÏματι, Îµá¼´Ï€ÎµÏ Ï€Î½Îµá¿¦Î¼Î± θεοῦ
οἰκεῖ á¼Î½ ὑμῖν. Εἰ δΠτις πνεῦμα ΧÏιστοῦ οá½Îº ἔχει, οὗτος οá½Îº ἔστιν αá½Ï„οῦ.
(Rom 8.9).
(2b) But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of
God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not
belong to him. (NRSV).