1 Corinthians 12:7

Dear ers,

I’ve searched the archives but did not find what I needed.

The text 1 Cor 12:7 ἑκάστῳ δὲ δίδοται ἡ φανέρωσις τοῦ πνεύματος πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον.

Most translations have common good for τὸ συμφέρον.

e.g. NRS To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

NAS But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Now, the word SUMFERW does not seem to convey the idea of anythning “common”. τὸ συμφέρον according BDAG is profit, advantage. But also: A common term, both sg. and pl. in ins in ref. to contributions to the public good by civic-minded pers., e.g. IPriene 119, 23 al.) TO hEMAUTOU SUMFERON 1 Cor 10:33 v.l. TO KOINH SUMFERON the common good . PROS TO SUMFERON for (someone’s) advantage 1 Cor 7:35 v.l.; 12:7 (Aeneas Tact. 469; schol. on Pind., I. 1, 15b; cp. Jos., Ant. 15, 22). Other lexicons have “profit, advantage”, but Friberg is weird for me: “neuter participle as a substantive TO SUMFERON profit, advantage (HE 12.10); PROS TO SUMFERON for the common good (1C 12.7)”. So in Hebrews it is “profit” but in 1 Cor it is “common good”. I don’t get it.

Is it possible that the rendereing as “common” comes from the context – Paul talking about the community of believers? But is it a translation or interpretation?

thanks in advance Beata Urbanek

My question is: Does SUNFERON means “common advantage” or just “advantage”?

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2 thoughts on “1 Corinthians 12:7

  1. George F Somsel says:

    ἑκάστῳ δὲ δίδοται ἡ φανέρωσις τοῦ πνεύματος πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον. hEKASTWi DE DIDONTAI hH FANERWSIS TOU PNEUMATOS PROS TO SUMFERON

      From the fact that refers to ἐκάστῳ it would appear that this is a mutual relationship.  Note Moulton & Milligan’s entry on this.   συμφέρω  συμφέρωpasses into the intrans. sense “come together,” as e.g. of marriage union in P Oxy III. 49610 (a.d. 127) σ]υνφερομένων δʼ αὐτῶν εἴη μὲν ὑγεία, “when they come together, may they enjoy health,” and so ib. 49711 (early/a.d.).συμφέρει, “it is expedient,” is specially common, e.g. P Fay 11217 (a.d. 99) συνφέρι γὰρ . . . . αὐτὸν [σ]καφῆναι, “for it is an advantage that it should be dug,” P Oxy III. 47144 (speech of an advocate—ii/a.d.) συνφέ[ρει τοί]νυν τοὔλαττο[ν μόν]ον ὁμολογεῖν, “it is best to acknowledge only the lesser fault” (Edd.), P Ryl II. 24411 (iii/a.d.) οὐ συμφέρει ἀγοράσαι, “it is inexpedient to buy,” P Oxy I. 12121 (iii/a.d.) οὕτως ποίησον, καὶ συνφέρει, and ib. IX. 122019 (iii/a.d.) τοῦτο συνφέρι εἵνα(for constr. cf. Mt 5:29; Proleg. p. 210) μὴ ἀπόληται ἀ̣μ̣ελίᾳ, “this will be of use to prevent their perishing of neglect” (Ed.).πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον αὐτῶι, and P Amh II. 3325 (c. b.c. 157) τούτου γὰρ γενομένου οὐθὲν τῶν ὑμῖν συμφερόντων διαπεσεῖται, “for if this is done, your interests will not suffer damage” (Edd.).   From its trans. use “bring together,” as in Ac 19:19, The impers. For the participle, as in Ac 20:20, Heb 12:10, cf. PSI IV. 44015 (iii/b.c.) 4851george gfsomsel

    … search for truth, hear truth, learn truth, love truth, speak the truth, hold the truth, defend the truth till death.

    – Jan Hus _________

    ________________________________ Sent: Mon, April 25, 2011 7:22:07 AM

    Dear B-Greekers,

    I’ve searched the archives but did not find what I needed.

    The text 1 Cor 12:7 ἑκάστῳ δὲ δίδοται ἡ φανέρωσις τοῦ πνεύματος πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον.

    Most translations have common good for τὸ συμφέρον.

    e.g. NRS To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

    NAS But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

    Now, the word SUMFERW does not seem to convey the idea of anythning “common”. τὸ συμφέρον according BDAG is profit, advantage. But also: A common term, both sg. and pl. in ins in ref. to contributions to the public good by civic-minded pers., e.g. IPriene 119, 23 al.) TO hEMAUTOU SUMFERON 1 Cor 10:33 v.l. TO KOINH SUMFERON the common good . PROS TO SUMFERON for (someone’s) advantage 1 Cor 7:35 v.l.; 12:7 (Aeneas Tact. 469; schol. on Pind., I. 1, 15b; cp. Jos., Ant. 15, 22). Other lexicons have “profit, advantage”, but Friberg is weird for me: “neuter participle as a substantive  TO SUMFERON profit, advantage (HE 12.10); PROS TO SUMFERON for the common good (1C 12.7)”. So in Hebrews it is “profit” but in 1 Cor it is “common good”. I don’t get it.

    Is it possible that the rendereing as “common” comes from the context – Paul talking about the community of believers? But is it a translation or interpretation?

    thanks in advance Beata Urbanek

    My question is: Does SUNFERON means “common advantage” or just “advantage”?

  2. George F Somsel says:

    ἑκάστῳ δὲ δίδοται ἡ φανέρωσις τοῦ πνεύματος πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον. hEKASTWi DE DIDONTAI hH FANERWSIS TOU PNEUMATOS PROS TO SUMFERON

      From the fact that refers to ἐκάστῳ it would appear that this is a mutual relationship.  Note Moulton & Milligan’s entry on this.   συμφέρω  συμφέρωpasses into the intrans. sense “come together,” as e.g. of marriage union in P Oxy III. 49610 (a.d. 127) σ]υνφερομένων δʼ αὐτῶν εἴη μὲν ὑγεία, “when they come together, may they enjoy health,” and so ib. 49711 (early/a.d.).συμφέρει, “it is expedient,” is specially common, e.g. P Fay 11217 (a.d. 99) συνφέρι γὰρ . . . . αὐτὸν [σ]καφῆναι, “for it is an advantage that it should be dug,” P Oxy III. 47144 (speech of an advocate—ii/a.d.) συνφέ[ρει τοί]νυν τοὔλαττο[ν μόν]ον ὁμολογεῖν, “it is best to acknowledge only the lesser fault” (Edd.), P Ryl II. 24411 (iii/a.d.) οὐ συμφέρει ἀγοράσαι, “it is inexpedient to buy,” P Oxy I. 12121 (iii/a.d.) οὕτως ποίησον, καὶ συνφέρει, and ib. IX. 122019 (iii/a.d.) τοῦτο συνφέρι εἵνα(for constr. cf. Mt 5:29 Proleg. p. 210) μὴ ἀπόληται ἀ̣μ̣ελίᾳ, “this will be of use to prevent their perishing of neglect” (Ed.).πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον αὐτῶι, and P Amh II. 3325 (c. b.c. 157) τούτου γὰρ γενομένου οὐθὲν τῶν ὑμῖν συμφερόντων διαπεσεῖται, “for if this is done, your interests will not suffer damage” (Edd.).   From its trans. use “bring together,” as in Ac 19:19, The impers. For the participle, as in Ac 20:20, Heb 12:10, cf. PSI IV. 44015 (iii/b.c.) 4851george gfsomsel

    … search for truth, hear truth, learn truth, love truth, speak the truth, hold the truth, defend the truth till death.

    – Jan Hus _________

    ________________________________ Sent: Mon, April 25, 2011 7:22:07 AM

    Dear B-Greekers,

    I’ve searched the archives but did not find what I needed.

    The text 1 Cor 12:7 ἑκάστῳ δὲ δίδοται ἡ φανέρωσις τοῦ πνεύματος πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον.

    Most translations have common good for τὸ συμφέρον.

    e.g. NRS To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

    NAS But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

    Now, the word SUMFERW does not seem to convey the idea of anythning “common”. τὸ συμφέρον according BDAG is profit, advantage. But also: A common term, both sg. and pl. in ins in ref. to contributions to the public good by civic-minded pers., e.g. IPriene 119, 23 al.) TO hEMAUTOU SUMFERON 1 Cor 10:33 v.l. TO KOINH SUMFERON the common good . PROS TO SUMFERON for (someone’s) advantage 1 Cor 7:35 v.l.; 12:7 (Aeneas Tact. 469; schol. on Pind., I. 1, 15b; cp. Jos., Ant. 15, 22). Other lexicons have “profit, advantage”, but Friberg is weird for me: “neuter participle as a substantive  TO SUMFERON profit, advantage (HE 12.10); PROS TO SUMFERON for the common good (1C 12.7)”. So in Hebrews it is “profit” but in 1 Cor it is “common good”. I don’t get it.

    Is it possible that the rendereing as “common” comes from the context – Paul talking about the community of believers? But is it a translation or interpretation?

    thanks in advance Beata Urbanek

    My question is: Does SUNFERON means “common advantage” or just “advantage”?

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