Part 1 of 2 to CopticChristian:
. . .I am directing this to you Anna. .
The changes that were made make a difference in understanding that. . . .Mary was full of Grace. . .
RSV Luke 1: [28] And he came to her and said, “Hail,
O favored one, the Lord is with you!” Footnote:
full of grace
RSV-CE Luke 1: [28] And he came to her and said, “Hail,
full of grace, the Lord is with you!” Footnote: Or
O favored one
Both translations acknowledge two possible translations for Luke 1:28:
full of grace and
O favored one.
Our Anglo Catholic Priest teaches that the Blessed Virgin Mary is both highly favored and full of grace, and we are to ask for her intercession.
The changes that were made make a difference in understanding that Jesus had no brothers, . . .
The RSV uses the word
brothers in many instances where the RSV-CE uses the word
brethren.
The RSV-CE uses the word
brethren in Mt.12:46; Mt.12:48; Mt.12:49; Mt.13:55; Lk. 8:19; Lk. 8:20; Lk. 8:21; Jn. 2:12; Jn. 7:3; Jn. 7:5; Jn. 7:10; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5. It is interesting to note that the
New Jerusalem Bible, also a Catholic Bible, uses
brother(s) in every one of these passages. See Catholic Online Link:
catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=47
In view of the
New Jerusalem Bible translation of
brothers over
brethren and the fact that
brethren is a synonym for
brothers—I really can’t imagine that the
brothers vs. brethren differences between the RSV and the RSV-CE are of any theological consequence. Our Anglo Catholic Parish uses the RSV/NRSV and we are taught that the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Perpetual Virgin; Jesus had no siblings. Admittedly, some of our
more reformed brethren, using the RSV/NRSV might disagree with this interpretation; but this an
interpretation issue, not a
translation issue.
But—let’s take a look. . . .
RSV Matthew 12: [46] While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his
brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. [48] But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my
brothers?” [49] And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my
brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.” The body of text doesn’t include verse 47. Footnote Mt. 12:47
brothers
RSV-CE Matthew 12: [46] While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his
brethren* stood outside, asking to speak to him. [48] But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my
brethren?”* [49] And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my
brethren! [50] For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Footnote Mt.12:46:
brethren: The Greek word or its Semitic equivalent was used for varying degrees of blood relationships cf. Gen. 14:14; 29.12; Lev 10.4. The body of text doesn’t include verse 47. Footnote Mt. 12:47:
brethren
In Matthew 13:55-56, the RSV uses the word
brothers. The RVS-CE uses
brethren. Both translations use the word
sisters:
RSV Matthew 13: [55] Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his
brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? [56] And are not all his sisters with us? . . .
RSV-CE Matthew 13: [55] Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his
brethren* James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? [56] And are not all his sisters with us? . . . Footnote Mt. 13:55: See note on Mt. 12:46.
In Mark 6: 1-3, both the RSV and RSV-CE use the word
brother and both use
sisters:
RSV Mark 6: [1] He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. [2] And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! [3] Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and
brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his
sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
RSV-CE Mark 6: [1] He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. [2] And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! [3] Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and
brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his
sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
In Galations 1:19, both the RSV and RSV-CE use the word
brother.
RSV Galations 1: [19] But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s
brother.
RSV-CE Galations 1: [19] But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s
brother.
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Continued–Part 2 of 2 Next Page**
