FULL OF GRACE (Luke 1,28) KEKARITOMENE FULL OF GRACE OR FAVOURED? ( !

"#$%&')
Some controversy between catholics and protestants still come from the translation of Luke 1.28, where catholic bibles translate !"#$%&'() with *full of grace*, while non catholic bibles prefer to translate *favoured by the grace*, *filled with divine grace* *favoured* or *higly favoured*. +evised Standard ,ersion -atholic .dition /10112 restored traditional * full of grace*, while the 3ew 4merican 5ible /10672, official version of american catholics, replaced 8full of grace9 of :ouay +heims /11172 with 8favored one9, ;rievin; so many readers and followin;, as in other points /see for e<ample +omans 0.= and >itus 2?1@2, the sad e<ample of Ain; Bames /11112 . Ce donDt want to contend with protestant people nor with the E.S. episcopal conference. Ce, however, note that today many catholics /and orthodo<2 are perple<ed not toward ancient translations, literally confirmed and ;rammatically acceptable, as?

8you who have received grace /:iodati2 8favoured by the grace9 /+iveduta, 3ew +iveduta2

but towards versions as?

8favoured9 /Foun; Literal >ranslation, :arby .n;lish, +evised Standard ,ersion, 3ew +evised Standard ,ersion, 3ew 4merican Standard 5ible, 3ew 4merican 5ible2 or

8higly favoured9 /3ew :iodati, Ain; Bames, 4merican Standard ,ersion, 3ew Ain; Bames, 3ew Gnternational ,ersion, 3ew Corld >ranslation2

4ctually the term *favoured* was /and still is2 often used to identify harlots or women of dubious virtue or lost reputation. 5y translatin; 8kekaritomene9 with *()*+u,e-*, we describe the love of Hod to Iary as an event fleetin;, ephemeral and ambi;uous? favorites were /and are2 subJect to a continuous replacement and eternal whims. >ranslatin; *kekaritomene* with *()*+u,e- ./ 01e 2,)3e* /as LuKKi2 is a

more balanced position, which emphasiKes the immensity of the ;race of Hod to humanity. G,)04) 56e7) used by Berome seems to confirm to Iary /and to every man2 the stability, the stren;th and the fullness of a love that has so loved the world to ;ive his only be;otten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life /Bohn @?112.>he beautiful translation of Berome is therefore evident and seems to ;o beyond the reservations to the Iarian devotion, the do;mas developed by catholics and the learned disputes of all who would like ;o over the biblical te<t. Larlots, whores or women of dubious virtue are *favoured* for beauty, charm, loveliness, intelli;ence or education, while Iary is * full of grace* because she *received ;race by Hod* /Luke 1?@72. >he translation *favoured* could su;;est (+,e2+472 8e,409 of Iary, but *full of ;race* *or 8you who have received ;race9 could only show * 01e 6+: e90)0e +( 01e 1)7-8)4-e7 +( G+-9 Luke 1.M82. N !"#$%&'() is the 5e,(e30 5)994*e 5),043456e /vocative, female and sin;ular2 of !"#$O% verb that means 8to receive grace, make gracious, charming, beautiful, nice, examine with grace, honor with blessings, encourage, gratify.9 ;,e(4< = indicates that the verb is at the perfect time, while the 9u((4< $%&' shows that the verb is used in the form of passive participle. >he catholic translation 8full of ;race9 dates back to *2,)04) 56e7)*used by Berome, who in ,ul;ate didnDt want make active a perfect passive participle1P1Q but merely wished ;ive a substantive or attributive nuance /full of ;race, beautiful, preferred2 to perfect passive participle /subJect of divine ;race, filled with divine ;race, honoured, blessed by divine favor, watched with ;race, made beautiful by ;race, favoured by ;race, surrounded by divine ;race22P2Q.

4ccordin; to many scholars, the perfect, which in Hreek -lassic had exact and momentary value, in the Hreek AoinR and in the 3ew >estament tends to take * continuative, permanent and durative * value. >he same thin; seems to be valid also for the perfect passive participles that, in the soScalled * periphrastic coniugation*, tend to replace the perfect, especially in the -hristian Hreek Scriptures. Gndeed, in Hreek AoinR, perfect and periphrastic coniugation *estin T perfect passive participle* are often substantially eUuivalent. Gn 3ew >estament then there are many cases where perfect time, perfect passive participle preceded by *estin* and perfect passive participle /used alone2 have similar value >he perfect passive participle, when used alone, reveals substantive or periphrastic value /with *estin* often omitted2 @P@Q
M

PMQ.

>hose who translate *kekeritomene* with *favoured* ar;ue that *kekaritomene* is a participle substantiviKed devoid of fullness, durability and stability. >he verb used by Habriel would be the

1 2 @ M

imperative *chaire* that is *rejoice*. Iany other scholars think that the perfect passive participle *kekaritomene* could be a verbal form and not a noun itself. Gn 3ew >estament, in 4postolic Vathers and in .arly -hristian Literature there are many e<amples of passive participles used in periphrastic coniugation? in many periphrastic forms the verb 80+ .e9 is clearly omitted. Gf *chaire* is a salutation rather than a real imperative /as well realiKed Berome translatin; *chaire* with *4ve*2, we can assume that *kekaritomene* here retains a hi;h verbal value. 4lthou;h we canDt prove that *kekaritomene* correspond to the periphrastic coniu;ation *estin + kekaritomene*, we may note that, within the same verse, the verb *to be* is omitted at least once more. Gn Luke 1.28 we have?

>?! !"#$&' @ A !@B $" C@A> >K)4,e kek),40+8e7e +, Ku,4+9 2+)6 9+u> >D)46 E/+u :e,eF (466e- :401 2,)3e, 01e L+,- E49F :401 /+uG>

4ccordin; to Luke 1.M2, in some manuscripts /includin; >e<tus +eceptus2, the ;reetin; continues with?

>HAI@J'$&' CA & JA&!K!&> >Eu6+2e8e7e +7 e7 2u7)4k947> >L6e99e- E),e +, :e,eF /+u )8+72 :+8e7,>

where we find WXOY)&() /eulo;emene2, perfect passive participle nominative sin;ular and female /as kekaritomene2, with a verb *to be* omitted. G,)04) 56e7) could translate with careful precision the idea that the ;race of which Iary was filled is full, stable, durable and lastin; =P=Q. Literally *kekaritomene* should mean *you that were, are and remain forever filled by divine grace. * Zope Bohn Zaul GG has ri;htly observed that *We should not simply say "full of grace" but "made full of grace" or "filled of divine grace", which clearly indicate that this is a gift from od to the !irgin. "he term, in the form of perfect participle, confirms the image of a perfect and lasting grace which implies fullness. "he same verb, meaning "give grace," is used in the letter to the ephesians to indicate the abundance of grace granted to us by the #ather in his beloved $on /.phesians 1?12*. 4n authoritative pastor of the catholic church has also recently stressed that *%n the &ook of 'xodus we read that od is (full of grace )'xodus *+.,-, but od is who fills with grace in active sense, while .ary was filled with grace in receptive sense 1P1Q.

= 1

*Hratia plena* of the ,ul;ate seems also shared by versions Syriaca Zeshitta, 4rabian, .;yptian and .thiopian. Gn addition?

Cyclif[s ,ersion P1@87Q has *full of ;race*\ >yndale[s ,ersion P1=@MQ has *full of ;race*\ -ranmer[s ,ersion P1=@0Q has *full of ;race*\ Heneva 5ible P1=00Q said in the mar;in notes *mi;ht be rendered full of ;race and favour*, :ouay +heims P1117Q has *full of ;race*\ 4uthoriKed ,ersion or AB, P1111Q said in the mar;in notes *much ;raced or ;raciously accepted*\ +evised ,ersion P1881Q, 4merican Standard ,ersion P1071Q and Scofield .dition P1070, 101MQ have in a mar;in note *]r .ndowed with Hrace*\ 3ew 4merican Standard 5ible P1061, 1066Q has in a footnote *]r, ] woman richly blessed*\ .n;lish Zeshitta >ranslation of .therid;e P18M0Q has *Zeace to thee, full of ;race*\ .n;lish Zeshitta >ranslation of Iurdock P18=2Q has *Zeace to thee, thou full of ;race*\

.n;lish Zeshitta >ranslation of Lamsa P10@@Q has *Zeace to you, o full of ;race*\ .n;lish Zeshitta >ranslation of Founan P2777Q has *Zeace to you, full of ;race*.

= !"#$%&#, correspondin; male of !"#$%&'(), is Just another time in the 5ible /Sirach 18.162 and in ,ul;ate was translated by Berome with * iustificato*, without introducin; any active nuance 6P6Q. >he neutral = !"#$%&@& is rather rare and was also employed by Symmachus to translate the Lebrew word

^^_ /barar2 that is *pure* /Zsalm 18.2128P8Q. Gn Vathers of the -hurch we can find !"#$%&'(O(

correspondin; neutral of !"#$%&'(), used for the Loly Spirit that *there was ;iven by ;race* or that is *full of ;race* /-lement of 4le<andria, Stromata, G, 1, 1M20P0Q .

6 8 0

Hrace and favour are always and only by Hod /1 Zeter =?17 and .phesians 1?12, but the translation *full of ;race* in the sense of *beautiful, loved and always full of divine grace * seems without any doubt correct, accurate and applicable to Iary by all -hristians, ;iven that not only Besus /Bohn 1?1M2 but also the deacon Stephen /4cts 1?82 was clearly said `Xa")b c"#$Ob namely* full of ;race *. >he fullness of ;race of Iary is obviously different from the fullness of ;race of Besus and Stephen, but *full of ;race* is a Just title for Iary, as *Son of Hod* is a Just title for Besus, ;iven that even the Jud;es were called 8;ods9 /Zsalm 82.1 and Bohn 17.@M2. >he opposition shown by non catholic people towards the translation *full of ;race* therefore seems rather due to theolo;ical preJudices / .arian /evotion, %mmaculate 0onception, 1erpetual !erginity2 than to lo;ical, lin;uistic and ;rammatical reasons /Son; of Son;s M?62.

Vrom the Scriptures we know that (u66 +( D+6/ M54,40 were Bohn the 5aptist /Luke 1?1=2, Iary /Luke 1?@=2, dechariah /Luke 1.162, Besus -hrist /Luke M?12, Zeter /4cts M , 82, Stephen /4cts 6.==2, 5arnabas /4cts 11?2M2 and Zaul /4cts 1@.02. >he fullness of ;race of Iary is therefore Just, lawful, proper, ri;ht and valid, ;iven the particular fullness of the Loly Spirit of Iary. 4s a matter of fact, the an;el Habriel said that? *"he 2oly $pirit will come upon you, and the power of the .ost 2igh will overshadow you3 therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the $on of od* /Luke 1?@=2. 3on catholic people often Uuote the 5ible where it is written? "he fool said in his heart4 there is no od3 corrupt are they and have done abominable ini5uity3 there is none that does good. od looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek after od. 'very one of them is gone back3 they are together become filthy3 "here is none that does good, no, not one /Zsalm =@.2SM2 or 8"here is none righteous, no, not one 9 /+omans @?172. Gf you want to ar;ue that the Justice of men is not derived from special or meritorious works or from compliance with specific precepts /+omans @.10\ Halatians @?112 but from faith in Hod the Vather and in Besus -hrist, our Lord and Savior / +omans 1.16\ +omans @.28\ Halatians 2?112, there is nothin; to say a;ainst it. Gf you want to say that Iary led a life not Just and not pure from sin, it should be noted that by faith and works /Bames 2.212, that is, throu;h a faith workin; throu;h love /Halatians =?12, were considered ri;hteous a lot of men, like 3oah, a fair and ri;hteous man /Henesis 1.0 and 6.12, Bob blameless and upri;ht /Bob 1?12 and 4braham who believed Hod, and it was reckoned to him as ri;hteousness /+omans M?@ 2. Ioreover you consider the ri;ht Lot /2 Zeter 2?62, 4bel /Iatthew 2@.@=2, Bohn the 5aptist, Just and holy /Iark 1, 272, Simeon, Just man and devout /Luke 2?2=2, dechariah and .liKabeth, ri;hteous before Hod /Luke 1?12, Boseph of 4rimathea, ;ood man and Just /Luke 2@.=72 and centurion -ornelius, Just and HodSfearin; man /4cts 17?222.

17

P1Q *2ighly favoured* /kecharitomene2? perfect passive participle of charitoo and means endowed with grace ) "charis"-, enriched with grace as in 'phesians. 64,, non ut mater gratiae, sed ut filia gratiae. "he !ulgate gratiae plena is right, if it means7 full of grace which thou hast received 73 wrong, if it means7 full of grace which thou hast to bestow7. 4. >. +obertson, Cord Zictures in the 3ew >estament, 3ashville, 10@7, vol. GG, p. 1@.

17

11

P2Q Iany past participles have lost lar;e part of the previous meanin; to assume the role of adJective or noun, retainin; little active or passive value /for e<ample, terms such as e<it , entry, si;ht, ice cream, banned, invited, put, elected, fact, happened, prefi<, escaped, accurate, loved, fostered,e.2. :ependin; on the re;ent verb and on ;rammatical conte<t and back;round, some of them have only substantivi8ed value, while others may not e<clude a verbal permanent and durative value. Some participles have totally lost any verbal value /like dress, bandit, content, teacher, sin;er, container,e2, while others still seem to omit the verb (to be or some other verb. *5andit* is such because it violates the law and not because G was banned /as in the past2 by the society. 4n intermediate case is *converted* that can be a self converted man or a man converted by others. Zast participles as *beloved*, *favoured*, *sent* or *hun;*, when are not used in a refle<ive way, seem to understand the verb (to be /who was loved, who was fostered, who was sent or han;ed2. >hen, persistence of some verbal durative and permanent value seems possible, lo;ical and le;itimate. >he term *ice cream* has a clear non durable value? in a moment ice cream melts, while the term *killed* has a clear permanent and durative value? deads donDt raise a;ain. >he term *beloved* has a value not always clear *who was beloved* may have been loved for a while, for a certain time or forever.

12

P@Q 4n emblematic case is the verb *grapho*. >o Uuote prophets, the 3ew >estament uses indifferently * 2e2,)50)4* /perfect2, *e9047 N 2e2,)88e7+7* /periphrastic form- or *2e2,)88e7+7* /alone2. Gn these cases we can translate without distinction *as it is written*, *as was written* or *in accordance with is o was written.* >here are obviously cases with more marked verbal value, while in other conte<ts the substantiviKed value seems to be stron;er? the meanin;, however, does not seem very different. Vor use of * gegraptai* see, for e<ample, the cases of Iatthew 2.=\ +omans @.M\ 4pocalypse 1@.8. Vor use of * estin + gegrammenon* see Luke 27.16\ Bohn 2.16\ Bohn 1.@1\ Bohn 1.M=\ Bohn 17.@M\ Bohn 12.1M\ Bohn 10.10. Vor use of * gegrammenon* alone with periphrastic coniu;ation /and sometimes also preceded by article2 finally see Luke 22.@6 and 2 -orinthians M.1@. >here are also cases in which * estin" in verbal form is probably omitted /as in +evelation 2.16\ 4pocalypse =.1 and +evelation 16?=2.

1@

PMQ Vor an analysis of perfect used to denote a *continuin; effect* see 5lass f :e 5runner, reek rammar of the 9ew "estament, -hica;o? Eniversity of -hica;o Zress, 1011, pp. 161S166. Vor a hint to the use of periphrastic coniu;ation in the *perfect*, see, for e<ample, 5lass f :e 5runner, reek rammar of the 9ew "estament, -hica;o? Eniversity of -hica;o Zress, 1011, pa;.160. Vor a detailed e<amination of the trend in Hreek of the 3ew >estament, to omit the verb *to be* still see 5lass f :e 5runner, reek rammar of the 9ew "estament, -hica;o? Eniversity of -hica;o Zress, 1011, pp. 67S61. Vor *continuative, permanent and durative* value of periphrastic coniu;ation, see B. Honda, Selected Studies, 106=, ,ol G, pa;. M62. Vor *periphrastic form omittin; copula* see 4.>. +obertson, : rammar of the reek 9ew "estament in the ;ight of 2istorical <esearch , 1010, pp. 1110S1127. Vor Luke 1,28 as 8incomplete structure9 omittin; copula, see Ciner, : "reatise on the rammar of 9ew "estament reek , 1867, pa;. 6@2.

1M

P=Q Some -atholics Uuote the phrase? * %t is permissible, on greek grammatical and linguistic grounds, to paraphrase" kecharitomene "as completely, perfectly, enduringly endowed with grace ,* Uuotin; 5lass f :e 5runner, reek rammar of the 9ew "estament, -hica;o? Eniversity of -hica;o Zress, 1011, pa;.111 and 16=S161. >o tell the truth, 5lass and :e 5runner never ;ave an assessment of the meanin; of the term ;reek *kekaritomene.* Some E.S. websites, would accredit the use of the perfect when perfect time is used to denote a continuin; effect on a person or an obJect /g @M22.

1=

P1Q Bohn Zaul GG, :udience of Wednesday, Iay 8, 1001 and >arcisio 5ertone, 2omily on the #east of the %mmaculate 0onception, :ecember 8, 2776. >o tell the truth, .phesians 1.1 /where Berome translated literally? laudem gloriae gratiae suae in 5ua gratificavit nos in dilecto2 used active indicative aorist /ekaritosen2 of the verb

11 12 1@ 1M 1=

*karitoo.* >his is an e<act, circumstantial, detailed and definitive action, since the ;reek aorist is very similar to our simple past.

11

P6Q :ouay +heims /11172 translates !"#$%&'(% of Sirach 18.16 by *man justified*, while 3ova ,ul;ate translates !"#$%&'(% with *gratioso*, the 3ew 4merican 5ible with * kindly man*, the Gtalian 5ible -.G with *charitable*, the +evised Standard ,ersion and the 3ew +evised Standard ,ersion with * gracious man*.

16

P8Q Q See? V. Vield, =rigenis 2exaplorum4 5uae supersunt sive veterum interpretum graecorum in totus !etus "estamentum fragmenta, ]<ford Eniversity Zress, 186=, ,ol GG, p. 111.

18

P0Q 4rchan;el Habriel turned to :aniel usin; a rare term, namely * chemdah iysh* /:aniel 0.2@ and :aniel 17.112 that is *.an much loved, beloved, graceful and pleasing *, a term that Septua;int and ,ul;ate translated freely with *aner epitomion,* that is *very wanted man* and *vir desideriorum* meanin; *man of desires*.

11 16 18