Reflecting the current standard Greek-English lexicon’s entry on authenteō, the NIV (2011) renders this word in 1 Timothy 2:12 as "to assume authority." Everything copacetic? Actually, no.
The language of "assume authority" implies that in 1 Timothy 2:12 Paul objected to women taking upon themselves roles of authority in worship over men. The inference is then drawn that he had no objection to women possessing roles of authority within the assembly. If Paul taught and intended this, then so be it. However, the evidence does not align with this conclusion.
As noted in a previous article, the third edition of The Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BDAG) provides a wealth of information. However, the careful student cannot afford to simply grab a definition assuming it reflects NT usage. Why is this true? This lexicon describes the various meanings a word carried over many centuries!
For those wishing to skip the details below, here’s the bottomline. For the entry on authenteō, BDAG provides an extended definition: "to assume a stance of independent authority." It then suggests this word might be translated as "give orders to, dictate to."
Although it provides some evidence from the Byzantine period that authenteō eventually acquired an idea of seizing authority, none of its citations suggest this was true either before, during or even in the centuries that closely followed the NT era. So why suggest a basic meaning of "to assume a stance of independent authority?"
In view of the fact that the 2nd version of this Greek-English lexicon defined authenteō as "have authority, domineer over someone," it would seem the difference lies in this 3rd edition’s methodology of incorporating anthropological and sociological studies as well as offering definitions respecting inclusiveness and tolerance (BDAG Foreward, p. viii – Previously quoted).
Although the editors are aware that "a scientific work dare not become a reservoir for ideological pleading," it seems to me that contemporary values have impinged upon their portrayal of authenteō’s basic meaning. If so, this would mean that if translators were to use BDAG’s extended definition as their basis for rendering 1 Timothy 2:12’s authenteō as "to assume authority," then at least based upon the evidence in BDAG they would be promoting an idea that did not appear until centuries after Paul’s letter to Timothy.
As for the details on authenteō, BDAG provides:
- First, the noun form of this word followed by examples of usage. These include: Sudhaus’ reconstruction of a fragmentary 1 century B.C. papyrus of Philodemus’ De Rhetorica 2 referring to dominating masters; a sixth century A.D. work by Joannes Laurentius Lydia; an early 3rd century A.D. lexicographer, Moeris, who defined it as self-judging, the second century A.D. Phrynicus whose document may have contained this noun and if so it conveyed rule; Thomas Magister from the 13th or 14th century A.D.; the 5th century A.D. lexicon by Hesychius which equated it with “to exercise authority;” a scribal note from the Roman period on Aeschylus’ Eumenides 42 regarding the homonym meaning kin-murderer; the 27 B.C. papyrus BGU 1208.38 where it describes a Roman official in an authoritative role overturning a tax farmer’s decision; and it concludes by referring to Lampe’s Greek Patristic Lexicon.
Noteworthy: None of these sources reveal this noun before, during or shortly after the New Testament period describing someone who had seized position.
- Second, an extended definition of authenteō is offered in bold type followed by formal equivalents in bold italics: “to assume a stance of independent authority, give orders to, dictate to.” A note indicates this verb takes the genitive case.
- Third, in addition to 1 Timothy, three other documents ranging from the 2nd century A.D. to the 15th century A.D. illustrate this verb’s usage. Not until the 12th century is a source cited involving seizing power.
- A reference to Blass, Debrunner and Funk’s Greek Grammar reveals verbs of ruling take the genitive case.
- A quotation about Egyptians lording it over women is cited, however the quoted phrase does not include authenteō.
- Two journal articles on authenteō in New Testament Studies are referenced.
- The entry closes mentioning a French dictionary and noting that Moulton and Milligan’s The Vocabulary of The Greek Testament includes an entry on authenteō.
Noteworthy: Neither journal article nor Moulton and Milligan suggest authenteō carried the idea of assuming authority during the biblical period.
To its credit, BDAG provides a wealth of information enveloping many centuries of usage as well as other significant resources. Furthermore, its preface encourages students to arrive at their own independent conclusions. My conclusion is that it has not provided good reason for the claim that "to assume a stance of independent authority" is the basic meaning of the verb authenteō.
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