CHAPTER 7 Defining Evangelizing - Evangelism Unlimited

Thomas P. Johnston 417
Byzantine
Text
peplhrwke,nai
to.
euvagge,lion
tou/ cristou/
[infinitive
perfect active
of plhro,w]
French
Louis
Segond*
I abundantly
spread forth
the gospel of
Christ
English
[& French]
Geneva
I haue
caused to
abunde the
Gospel of
Christ
Past completed but
unfulfilled action
Various Translations of peplhrwke,nai in Romans 15:19
KJV, ASV,
NAS
I have fully
preached
the gospel
of Christ.
New Living
Translation
I have fully
presented
the Good
News of
Christ
Past completed action, use
of “fully” hints at fulfillment
of work
Cont
English
Version
I have
preached the
good news
about him all
the way from
…
Translated
as past
completed
geographic
action, “all
the way
from”
New
American
Bible
I have
finished
preaching
the gospel of
Christ.
*My translation of “J’ai abondamment répandu l'Évangile de Christ”
**My translation of “J’ai procuré l'accomplissement de l'Évangile du Christ”
***My translation of “En rayonnant en tous sens, j'ai fait partout retentir le message du Christ”
English
Jerusalem
I have fully
carried out
the preaching
of the gospel
of Christ
French
Jerusalem**
I procured the
accomplishment
of the
gospel of the
Christ
Past completed and fulfilled action (i.e. no
need for that kind of evangelism any more)
Douay-
Rheims
I have
replenished
the gospel of
Christ
IBS’ Le
Semeur***
By shining in
all directions,
I made
everywhere
resound the
message of
the Christ
Unclear meaning
(104) avntanaplhro,w (1 NT use), meaning to fill up, complete:
Col 1:24, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on
behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ's
afflictions”
Of its evangelistic meaning:
Being presupposed from other verses that Christ has done it all, as far as our salvation (“it
is finished”);
Therefore that which was/is “lacking” in the cross was/is the “boots on the ground” of
messengers of the Gospel sharing its excellencies; indeed that which we know Paul
himself was doing [with significant intensity of zeal] from the Book of Acts!
Interestingly this verb (with “anta”) is used with the noun u`ste,rhma (9 NT uses), meaning that
which is lacking
However, the vern avnaplhro,w (with “ana”, 6 NT uses) with u`ste,rhma is found used twice: 1
Cor 16:17; Phil 2:30; both of which cases seems to imply the fulfilling of a physical or
emotional need, rather than a strictly a spiritual need
Thus, Paul’s use of “anta” (avntanaplhro,w) as the prefix seems to intensify or even change its
meaning, whereas it seems to be currently translated much like avnaplhro,w; the question
arises, in what way is it mean to be intensified, especially with the stark words “in my
flesh” which seems to directly relate to this verb?
The Church of Rome reads into this concept their entire sacramental theology of penance and
absolution positing a “Bank of Merits” in heaven (wherein according to their Sacrament of
Penance, priests, dispensing from this “bank” at Rome’s unique disposal, declare
absolution of the individual sins of those who confess in their confessionals), adding to the
blood of Christ the merits of Mary and of all the Saints—a clearly unfortunate misreading
of Paul’s intention, which was rather evangelistic and not soteriological nor even part of
personal spiritual perfectionism, but rather an outflow of his being a living sacrifice
Therefore, the translation of this intensified use of the verb is very tricky!
(105) plhrofore,w (5 NT uses), meaning to fill, fulfill, accomplish:
2 Tim 4:17, “But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the
proclamation [to. kh,rugma] might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might
hear; and I was delivered out of the lion's mouth.”
2 Tim 4:5, “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry [th.n diakoni,an sou].”
106) auvxa,nw (23 NT uses), meaning to grow, cause to grow; increase:
Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20; Col 1:6