A thread on 'finally' in Paul's letters.
(Thanks to @jeremytreat5 who inspired me to dig)
This usage occurs 6x: 2 Cor 13:11; Eph 6:10; Phil 3:1; 4:8; 1 Thess 4:1; 2 Thess 3:1.
It's furthest from end in Phil 3:1, but still some way to go in 1 Thess 4:1.
(Thanks to @jeremytreat5 who inspired me to dig)
This usage occurs 6x: 2 Cor 13:11; Eph 6:10; Phil 3:1; 4:8; 1 Thess 4:1; 2 Thess 3:1.
It's furthest from end in Phil 3:1, but still some way to go in 1 Thess 4:1.
Although 5/6 are followed by 'siblings' & mean the same, no two are alike in Greek:
2 Cor 13:11 Λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί
Eph 6:10 Τοῦ λοιποῦ
Phil 3:1 Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί μου
Phil 4:8 Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί
1 Thess 4:1 Λοιπὸν οὖν, ἀδελφοί
2 Thess 3:1 Τὸ λοιπόν, προσεύχεσθε, ἀδελφοί
2 Cor 13:11 Λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί
Eph 6:10 Τοῦ λοιποῦ
Phil 3:1 Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί μου
Phil 4:8 Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί
1 Thess 4:1 Λοιπὸν οὖν, ἀδελφοί
2 Thess 3:1 Τὸ λοιπόν, προσεύχεσθε, ἀδελφοί
'Finally' is a latecomer, mainly an innovation of the KJV (1611).
KJV has 'finally' for 5/6, but 'furthermore' for 1 Thess 4:1.
Then RV & its children (ASV, RSV, ESV) have 'finally' for all 6.
NIV has 'finally', 'further' & 'as for other matters' each 2/6.
KJV has 'finally' for 5/6, but 'furthermore' for 1 Thess 4:1.
Then RV & its children (ASV, RSV, ESV) have 'finally' for all 6.
NIV has 'finally', 'further' & 'as for other matters' each 2/6.
But 'finally' occurs less in the century preceding the KJV.
Matthew's/Geneva/Bishops' Bibles had 'finally' only in 2 Cor 13:11 & Eph 6:10 but furthermore/moreover for the rest.
Tyndale had 'finally' only in Eph 6:10 & furthermore / moreover in the rest (Phil 3:1 pictured).
Matthew's/Geneva/Bishops' Bibles had 'finally' only in 2 Cor 13:11 & Eph 6:10 but furthermore/moreover for the rest.
Tyndale had 'finally' only in Eph 6:10 & furthermore / moreover in the rest (Phil 3:1 pictured).
Luther 1534 had 'finally' (zu letzt) for only 2/6 & 'further' (weiter) for the rest (Phil 4:8 pictured).
Wycliffe (here Bodleian Lib, Rawlinson ms 259 to 2 Cor 13:11) typically had something like 'henceforth' (henys forward, etc.).
Early versions again show the historic oddness of 'finally':
Vulgate de cetero 'about the rest' 6/6
Syriac Peshitta mekkēl 'hereafter', 'therefore' 6/6
Coptic Sahidic ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ϭⲉ 'so now' 4/6
Gothic þata anþar '(about) the other/rest' 4/6
(experts please improve my glosses)
Vulgate de cetero 'about the rest' 6/6
Syriac Peshitta mekkēl 'hereafter', 'therefore' 6/6
Coptic Sahidic ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ϭⲉ 'so now' 4/6
Gothic þata anþar '(about) the other/rest' 4/6
(experts please improve my glosses)
The advantage with 'finally' is that it recognizes that it tends to occur on the last lap of a letter (4/6 in last chapter), but there's a problem if that's a long lap.
It's best understood as meaning: 'This is what I have left to say'.
It's best understood as meaning: 'This is what I have left to say'.
But in Philippians 3:1, the force is well caught by Churchill:
'This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning.'
'This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning.'
