I use a few bibles and one is an ESV. While reading, I noticed a different use of the term “religion” from the RSV. This is done in a couple different places. So, I’d like to know if the original text which the ESV uses for religion in some instances is the same word they translate into godliness in other places in order to portray the term religion in a negative sense.
Verses in question:
Acts 26:5
1 Timothy 2:10
1 Timothy 3:16
2 Timothy 3:5
James 1:26,27
Does the ESV translate the word to promote an agenda or does the RSV?
Thanks,
Michael
The word used in Acts 26:5, Colossians 2:18 (“the
worship of angels”) and James 1:26-27 as mentioned is the noun
thrēskeia (adjective
thrēskos). The sense of the word is closer to “piety” or “religiosity” - more specifically, Herodotus (
Histories 2.18; 2.37) and Josephus (
Antiquities 12.253; 17.214) both use it to mean outward manner of worship or religious activity; the verb
thrēskeuo means ‘to perform religious observances’ (Herodotus,
Histories 2.64) - although the apocryphal 4 Maccabees 5:7 does use it to refer to Judaism in a general sense. In other words, expression of devotion to deities as it expresses itself in cultic rites.
Moreover also the answer given by the Oracle of Ammon bears witness in support of my opinion that Egypt is of the extent which I declare it to be in my account; and of this answer I heard after I had formed my own opinion about Egypt. For those of the city of Marea and of Apis, dwelling in the parts of Egypt which border on Libya, being of opinion themselves that they were Libyans and not Egyptians, and also being burdened by
the rules of religious service (τὰ ἱρὰ θρησκηίῃ
ta ira threskēiē), because they desired not to be debarred from the use of cows’ flesh, sent to Ammon saying that they had nought in common with the Egyptians, for they dwelt outside the Delta and agreed with them in nothing; and they said they desired that it might be lawful for them to eat everything without distinction.
…] The [Egyptian] priests shave themselves all over their body every other day, so that no lice or any other foul thing may come to be upon them when they minister to the gods; and the priests wear garments of linen only and sandals of papyrus, and any other garment they may not take nor other sandals; these wash themselves in cold water twice in the day and twice again in the night; and other
religious services (θρησκηίας
thrēskeias) they perform (one may almost say) of infinite number.
…] The Egyptians were the first who made it
a point of religion (θρησκεύσαντες
thrēskeusantes) not to lie with women in temples, nor to enter into temples after going away from women without first bathing …]
For a father, tormented by untimely grief,
having made an image of the child who had been quickly taken away,
now honored as a god what was once a dead human being
and handed on to his dependants mysteries and sacred rites.
Then, when the impious custom had grown strong with time, it was kept as a law,
and at the command of princes carved images were worshipped.
When people could not
honor them (ἐθρησκεύετο
ethréskeueto) in their presence because they lived far off,
They imagined their appearance from afar
and made a visible image of the king whom they honored,
That through diligence they might flatter the absent one as though present.
But the ambition of the craftsman impelled
even those who did not know the king to
a higher pitch of worship. (εἰς ἐπίτασιν δὲ θρησκείας
is epitasin de thréskias)
…]
For the
worship of idols that may not be named (ἀνωνύμων εἰδώλων θρησκεία
anónymón idólón thréskia)
is the beginning and cause and end of every evil.
