[bible passage=”Romans 14:14″]
In the NT, the adjective KOINOS occurs twelve times. In the A.V., it is translated as follows: “common” 7 times “unclean” 3 times “defiled” 1 time “unholy” 1 time Three times it is translated as “unclean” and only in Romans 14:14. In the Latin Vulgate of Romans 14:14, KOINON is translated by the Latin word communem, from whence we get the English word “common.” In Acts 10;14, Peter distinguishes between KOINON and AKATHARTON which is translated by Jerome in the Vulgate as commune and inmundum, respectively, and into English as “common” and “unclean” in most, if not all, of the major English translations. Then, in Romans 14:14, Jerome translates the Greek adjective KOINON by the Latin word commune, but most, if not all, English translations translate KOINON as “unclean.” Wouold it be acceptable to translate KOINON as “common” as it is done so 7/12 times in the other scriptures?
This list isn’t about how something should be translated but about understanding the texts, but as regards translation, it all depends on context. There is generally no one and only way to translate a particular word. In one context “bad” will mean precisely what one would commonly understand. In another context “bad” may actually mean ”good.” KOINON is common, but in regard to sacred matters it becomes that which is outside the realm of the sacred and hence “unclean.” Context is king.
george gfsomsel
This list isn’t about how something should be translated but about understanding the texts, but as regards translation, it all depends on context. There is generally no one and only way to translate a particular word. In one context “bad” will mean precisely what one would commonly understand. In another context “bad” may actually mean “good.” KOINON is common, but in regard to sacred matters it becomes that which is outside the realm of the sacred and hence “unclean.” Context is king.
george gfsomsel