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I’m rather conservative in nature, and tend to like keeping things as they are. And often that’s a good policy: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” But when there are good reasons to change, then I should change.
I used to use the phrase “Dear Brethren and Sisters” at the beginning of a talk or to start a meeting. It’s a phrase very frequently in use. It is regularly to be seen in letters, on Christadelphian websites and in our publications. But a problem with it was pointed out to me, and I therefore changed. I always now try to say “Dear Brothers and Sisters”.
There are two problems with the traditional wording. “Brethren” (the plural of “brother”) is archaic English, and when we normally speak in current English it is strange to continue to use the language of Shakespeare just in this one expression.
The second problem has wider implications. When addressing believers, the expression regularly used in the New Testament letters, especially by the apostle Paul, is the Greek word adelphoi. This was translated as “brethren” in the King James version, and some translations in more modern English say “brothers”.
However, if we address a meeting of the ecclesia by the term “brethren” or “brothers”, it gives the impression that we are ignoring the sisters. Presumably this is why the words “and sisters” was added. But what is the meaning in the New Testament? Does Paul call the believers “brothers” – which looks a decidedly masculine term?
In the 1973 version of the NIV, Romans 12:1 reads: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—which is your spiritual worship. [Italics added.] But the latest version of the NIV (2011) says “brothers and sisters”. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Is this a change in meaning, or is it what Paul meant when he wrote adelphoi?
The NIV translators normally say “brothers and sisters” when they consider that adelphoi refers to the believers. Here is their translation of Romans 1:13: I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. [Italics added.] The translators provide a footnote after “brothers and sisters” which says: The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 7:1, 4; 8:12, 29; 10:1; 11:25; 12:1; 15:14, 30; 16:14, 17.
Paul uses adelphoi regularly in 1 Corinthians also: I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. (1 Corinthians 1:10, italics added.) There is a footnote after “brothers and sisters”, as at the beginning of the letter to the Romans, which indicates the verses in which the translators have said “brothers and sisters”: The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 11 and 26; and in 2:1; 3:1; 4:6; 6:8; 7:24, 29; 10:1; 11:33; 12:1; 14:6, 20, 26, 39; 15:1, 6, 50, 58; 16:15, 20.
The NIV translators are not doing this with the purpose of being ‘politically correct’ but because they consider “brothers and sisters” (i.e. male and female believers) is what the apostle means when he writes adelphoi. Their understanding agrees with what Paul specifies in different words at the beginning of each letter: To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2-3) To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. (Romans 1:7-8) Paul is addressing the believers, male and female, directly, and he makes it clear that he is addressing all the believers (not just the men, or the leaders, or the elders, or the wealthy, or the literate) by his repeated use of “all” and “you all”.
Is Paul consistent in his usage? When he writes adelphoi does he sometimes mean “brothers (only)” and at other times “brothers and sisters”? I can see no good reason to suggest that Paul chops and changes. By adelphoi, when addressing the recipients of his letters, I think he does always mean “brothers and sisters”. This has important implications for our understanding of Paul’s teaching.
Take 1 Corinthians 14:26. If we read the NIV version produced originally in 1973, we see: What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. [Italics added.] This has a very masculine appearance. It is easy to think that Paul is commenting on how the men speak in meetings. And instruction for women to be silent in verse 34 appears to confirm this picture.
If, however, we read the new NIV produced in 2011, we see: What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. [Italics added.] According to the 2011 translation, both men and women speak in the meetings: “brothers and sisters … each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.”
And this is confirmed by what Paul encouraged earlier: I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. Now, brothers and sisters… Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. (1 Corinthians 14:5,6,12) [Italics added.] Again, he is addressing brothers and sisters, and indicating that he wishes both to speak in the meeting – but in a controlled, intelligible manner.
In whatever way the words about women being silent are understood (verses 34-35), they cannot be taken to mean the opposite of what Paul has consistently been saying. Paul is aiming at constructive speaking in which the church is built up – by the spoken contributions, one at a time, by both brothers and sisters.
We are so accustomed to the word adelphoi being translated “brothers” that we can slip into masculine assumptions. A few years ago, I was pasting a notice on to our ecclesial noticeboard in the street when a lady came up and said to me: “What does the word ‘Christadelphian’ mean?” I replied that it came from the Greek word for “brothers” and the word for “Christ”, so means “Brothers of Christ”. She then said: “Are there no women in your church?” – and I thought, “Oops!”.
In 1 Peter 2:17 there is the word adelphōtes. The King James translation says: Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. The 1973 NIV translation says: Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the king. The 2011 version says: Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor. Since adelphos means brother and adelphē means sister, why not translate adelphōtes as “sisterhood” rather than “brotherhood”? Because “sisterhood” would give an impression that there were no men believers! But does not “brotherhood” tend to convey the impression that there are no women? Hence the newest version of the NIV says “the family of believers”, which seems to be much more faithful to the original meaning.
In Greek adelphos and adelphē are the same basic word, with a masculine ending when it means “brother” and a feminine ending when it means “sister”. (The word literally means: “from the same womb”.) But when translated into Western languages – Latin, French, German and English, two entirely different words are used: adelphos becomes frater, frère, Bruder, brother, adelphē becomes soror, soeur, Schwester, sister, respectively. It is unfortunate that, until recently, translations into these languages, by using “brethren” or “brothers”, gave a misleadingly masculine impression which is not present in Greek when it says adelphoi.
There is a lot more than can be said about gender in translation, but next time you are about to say or write “brethren and sisters”, please pause for a nanosecond and change to “brothers and sisters”. And please consider using translations, like the current NIV, or NRSV, which say “brothers and sisters” rather than “brethren” or “brothers”. Not only will you avoid antiquated language but you will be more accurately representing the manner in which Paul and the New Testament writers referred in an inclusive way to the believers who had been brought together into the new family in Jesus.
Ian McHaffie
mchaffie1@icloud.com
Originally written in 2013
Revised 6 May 2020
