Sunday, December 8, 2013

Two Ways

Psalm 1 contrasts the two ways, the way of the sinners (ὁδῷ ἁμαρτωλῶν) or the way of the impious (ὁδὸς ἀσεβῶν) with the way of the righteous (ὁδὸν δικαίων). There are thus two ways. One can choose which to follow.

The Septuagint version of the first Psalm, however, through its choice of words sets up an interesting dilemma. In the fifth verse, it says, οὐκ ἀναστήσονται ἀσεβεῖς ἐν κρίσει (Psalms 1:5). There are two ways of interpreting this verse. The first is, "The wicked shall rise up in judgment." The second is, "The impious shall not be resurrected in the judgment." Fortunately John 5:29 (ἐκπορεύσονται, οἱ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ποιήσαντες εἰς ἀνάστασιν ζωῆς, οἱ δὲ τὰ φαῦλα πράξαντες εἰς ἀνάστασιν κρίσεως. They shall go forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.) rules out the second interpretation. Though the vocabulary is the same the interpretation is not the same.