Saturday, February 8, 2025

Brethren, Brothers, or Brothers and Sisters? (Phil. 1:12)

One of the biggest debates today has to do with Bible translations. Perhaps as much as any other Greek word, adelphoi has become involved in the discussion. On Monday we'll encounter the first use of this word in our study of Philippians (1:12). 


The question here is: does the word include both men and woman? Ditto for the Greek word anthrōpoi. If so, how should these terms be rendered in English? Here are a couple of examples we'll discuss in class:

1 Tim. 2:4:

KJV = who will have all men to be saved
LSB = who desires all men to be saved 
NASB = who wants all people to be saved
ESV = who desires all people to be saved
CSB = who wants everyone to be saved

Rom. 12:1:

KJV = I beseech you, therefore, brethren
LSB = Therefore I exhort you, brothers 
ESV = I appeal to you, brothers 
NASB = Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters
CSB = Therefore, brothers and sisters ... I urge you

Incidentally, my personal favorite English rendering of adelphoi in Phil. 1:12 is not found above. I'll spill the beans next week!