Friday, January 31, 2020

‘Written on your hearts’ 2 Cor 3.2

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There is a variant reading in 2 Cor 3.2 where the main editions generally follow the weight of the manuscript evidence in reading ἡμῶν in the phrase ἐγγεγραμμένη ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν ‘inscribed in our hearts’:
ἡ ἐπιστολὴ ἡμῶν ὑμεῖς ἐστε, ἐγγεγραμμένη ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν, γινωσκομένη καὶ ἀναγινωσκομένη ὑπὸ πάντων ἀνθρώπων (2 Cor 3.2; NA28 = THEGNT except for ἐνγεγραμμένη)
NA28 alerts us to the variant reading (THEGNT does not): ἐγγεγραμμένη ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν (01 33 1175 1881). This is a reading which is often preferred by commentators (e.g. M. Thrall; and NT Wright in Wycliffe Hall Chapel yesterday!) because it is far simpler to think that since “you” (the Corinthian believers) are “our” letter (of recommendation), this is something written on “your” (i.e. the Corinthian) hearts and thus known and read by every one (who sees the Spirit at work in the Corinthian believers). If it is written on Paul’s heart (and Timothy?), how is it known and read by everyone?

So I confess that I am tempted by this reading, but I haven’t fully thought it through (or read anything except Thrall!). Does anybody have any particular wisdom to share?

Here are these passages (just for interest):




7 comments

  1. I've been thinking about this a bit since chapel as well! It seems significant that Paul says to the Corinthians εστε επιστολη (2 Cor 3:3). Perhaps we could think of them as a letter written on Paul's heart. On the other hand, it's easier to see them being a letter in which they carry the writing themselves rather (would they otherwise be blank letters!). At the same time I'm aware that Paul has no problem mixing metaphors and "our hearts" does seem the lectio difficilior

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  2. Hi Dr. Head,

    Not sure how much wisdom I can offer, but this may be a good (if not great) example of the proper use of the "Lectio difficilior potior" principle. Proper I say,--because the preponderance of external evidence makes it safe to apply; if not formally activates it.

    Olshausen reads: "We expect υμών, of you, as the Corinthians themselves formed the living letter, the individuals composing as it were it's words. A few Codd. it is true read υμών, but this change has evidently been made on account of the difficulty, and may not be received."

    The best and clearest explanation that I've found is in Lange (C.F. Kling): "Paul meant that he carried this Epistle, not in his hand to show at any time, but continually with him, inasmuch as he bore the Church upon his heart."

    In response to your comment: "it is far simpler to think that since "you" (the Corinthian believers) are "our" letter (of recommendation), this is something written on "your" (i.e. the Corinthian) hearts and thus known and read by every one..."

    I would recommend this statement by C.P. Wing:
    "But as the Corinthians were themselves the Epistle, they could hardly be confounded by the Apostle with the material on which it was written."

    Again you ask: "If it is written on Paul's heart (and Timothy?), how is it known and read by everyone?"

    "Your faith was written in our heart, in which we carry about it and yourselves--a faith everywhere to be known and read."
    -Bengel

    I know it can be difficult to take an opposing view to such a New Testament scholar as N.T. Wright, but I suppose you could always tell him to 'eat his heart out'. Lol -MMR

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    Replies
    1. "If it is written on Paul’s heart (and Timothy?), how is it known and read by everyone?"

      Paul boasted about the Corinthians to the Macedonians (2 Cor 9:2), and to Titus (2 Cor 7:14), and now Titus too feels great affection for the Corinthians (2 Cor 7:15). Paul says that he and Titus have a heart for the Corinthians (2 Cor 6:11) and that the Corinthians are their boast (2 Cor 1:14). Boasting is self-commendation. Therefore, Paul and Titus commend themselves by boasting of the Corinthians. The Corinthians are Paul's and Titus's "letter of recommendation", written, as it were, on Paul's and Titus's hearts. This "letter" is known and read by all because Paul and Titus boast about the Corinthians to all.

      The Corinthians are half-hearted towards Paul and Titus (2 Cor 6:12-13) so Paul cannot be saying that the letter of commendation is written on the Corinthians' hearts.

      There can be no doubt that ἡμῶν is correct.

      I'm not sure how relevant it is, but Christopher Land reads this passage without a mirror (The Integrity of 2 Corinthians and Paul's Aggravating Absence p120).

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    2. RF,
      Yep, for all the reasons you listed and the external evidence as well.
      Tim

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    3. Dear RF,
      This explanation seems to make good sense, as you have said, in light of the way in which the Corinthians felt towards Paul and Titus.

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  3. RF’s crucial point is that Paul and Timothy are the ‘carriers’ of this letter of recommendation. “Do we need letters...from you?” That is, the metaphorical letter is something they carry to (other) churches. RF has shown already in practical terms how they would do so.

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  4. I can see reasons that could make either reading a lectio difficilior for different readers. The superficial (and IMHO merely superficial and nothing more) difficulty of ἡμῶν that NTW pointed out may help explain why some scribes opted against it.

    But more importantly is the ease with which forms of ἡμεῖς and ὑμεῖς can get flipped with one another, as evidenced by how common it is to see variants between those words all over the NT. I imagine that most of the time when a scribe read one of these pronouns and wrote the other, they didn't even realize they had done it.

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