Corpus-Paul

[Akio ITOU <akioito AT tci.ac.jp>]

> From: Sheila McGinn <smcginn AT jcu.edu>
> Reply-To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
> Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2000 14:54:06 -0400
> To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
> Subject: [corpus-paul] adoption
> 
> I am working on Rom 8:1-17 where Paul uses the language of "adoption as 
> sons"
> (huiothesein).  Can anyone point me to studies of this term which specify 
> who
> might be
> the object of the adoption?  Ultimately I am trying to determine whether 
> this
> should
> be read as a gender inclusive or exclusive term in this context; Castelli
> argued it
> should be read exclusively because there are no attestations of the term 
> being
> used
> for adoption of women as heirs.  Is there a comparable term for women?  Any
> help will
> be appreciated.  SEM
> 
I am aware that etymology is not almighty, but the Gk word 'huiothesein',
'huiothesia' is derived from 'huios' (son). It appears to me at least
arguable that this is a gender excluxive term. I am wondering if you have
come across the following work:
James M. Scott, Adoption as Sons of God: An Exegetical Investigation into
the Background of ' huiothesia' in the Pauline Corpus
WUNT 2.48 J.C.B.Mohr, 1992
I have no idea whether your question is dealt with in the work or not.
Personally I would not be surprised to find the term to be gender exclusive.

Akio Ito
Tokyo Christian Unviersity