The Superiority of the RVG in 1 Corinthians 5:1

by Pastor Carlos Almanza

ολως ακουεται εν υμιν πορνεια και τοιαυτη πορνεια ητις ουδε εν τοις εθνεσιν ονομαζεται ωστε γυναικα τινα του πατρος εχειν - Traditional Textus Receptus Scrivener 1894

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. -1 Corinthians 5:1 (KJB)

De cierto se oye que hay entre vosotros fornicación, y tal fornicación cual ni aun se nombra entre los gentiles; tanto que alguno tiene la mujer de su padre. - Reina Valera 1960 *The woman

Se oye por todas partes que hay entre vosotros fornicación, y tal fornicación cual ni aun se nombra entre los gentiles; tanto que alguno tiene la esposa de su padre. - Reina Valera Gomez 23 *The wife

(Note: the form γυναῖκά with an accent on the final -ά is emphatic or enclitic, sometimes occurring in poetic or emphatic structures.)

🧠 Meaning:

• The word γυνή can mean woman in general or wife, depending on context.

• In 1 Corinthians 5:1, it clearly means “wife” because it refers to “his father's wife” (i.e., likely a stepmother)

• Greek Word: γυνή (gynḗ); Basic Definition:

• γυνή (pronounced goo-NAY) means:“woman”; “wife” (depending on context)

• γυναῖκά is the accusative singular feminine of γυνή

• The phrase γυναῖκα... τοῦ πατρός in 1 Corinthians 5:1 must be translated "his father's wife" not just “woman”; The Greek grammar (accusative + genitive construction) implies marital relationship. In Greek (as well as in Hebrew and Latin), this genitive construction "woman of [a man]" is a standard idiom meaning "wife of [that man]". The accusative case indicates γυναῖκά as the object of  ἔχειν (“to-have”), which suggests an ongoing relationship, possibly marriage…

• The Vulgate’s uxorem patris sui (“wife of-father his”) explicitly identifies the woman as the father’s wife, aligning with the KJV and clarifying γυναῖκά as “wife” rather than “woman.”

KJV: ·         1Corinthians: 7:2-4, 10-12, 14, 16, 27, 33-34, 39- “wife” ·         Ephesians 5:23, 28, 31, 33- “wife” ·         1 Peter 3:7- “wife”

RV 1960: ·         1 Corintios 7:2-4 “mujer”, 10-12 “ mujer”; 14, 16, 27, 33 “mujer”; 34 “la casada”, 39 “mujer” *         la = the *         casada = married (woman) *         Es el participio femenino de "casar" y se usa para referirse a una mujer que ha contraído matrimonio. ·         Efesios 5:22-23- ‘Las casadas, mujer’; 28- ‘mujer’; 31- ‘mujer’; 33- ‘mujer’ ·         1 Pedro 3:1- ‘mujeres’

RVG 23: ·         1 Corintios 7:2-4- ‘esposa’; 10-12- ‘esposa’; 14, 16, 27, 33-34, 39- ‘esposa, la casada’ *        la = the *        casada = married (woman) *        Es el participio femenino de "casar" y se usa para referirse a una mujer que ha contraído matrimonio. ·         Efesios 5:22-23- ‘Las casadas, esposa’; 28- ‘esposa’; 31- ‘esposa’; 33- ‘esposa’ ·         1 Pedro 3:1- ‘esposas’

Doctrinal importance: The doctrine of marriage between a husband and a wife is compromised in the RV 1960, due to the continuity of words that can be related to other passages that teach said doctrine. The Reina Valera Gómez is superior in this regard, as it resumed the appropriate translation from the traditional texts, with the correct meanings.