When does καί not mean “and”? (Eph 1:1) 

For example, in the third edition of BBG, I gave the definition of καί as, “and, even, also, namely.” In the fourth edition, I was more nuanced and listed the definition as “and; even, also; namely.” καί has at least three basic semantic ranges. But if you go through life thinking that καί means “and,” not only would you be wrong but you are going to find many verses that are deeply puzzling, even troubling.

BDAG gives two basic meanings. (1) “1. marker of connections, and. 2. marker to indicate an additive relation that is not coordinate to connect clauses and sentences, also, likewise, funct. as an adv.” Under the first option they list, “c. oft. explicative; i.e., a word or clause is connected by means of καί w. another word or clause, for the purpose of explaining what goes before it and so, that is, namely.” In my experience, I prefer to see the “explicative” use as a separate category, and I tend to call it the “epexegetical” use. 

So let‘s take a look at Ephesians 1:1. The NRSV reads, “To the saints who are in Ephesus and (καί) are faithful in Christ Jesus.” What is the relationship between “ the saints who are in Ephesus” and those who “are faithful in Christ Jesus”? One or two groups? Is the former the larger and the latter a subset? Can you be a “saint” and not be “faithful”?

The Greek is, at first glance, a little more ambiguous than the NRSV. τοῖς ἁγίοις τοῖς οὖσιν [ἐν Ἐφέσῳ] καὶ πιστοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Word for word: “to the Saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus.” Grammatically, the question is the precise meaning of καί.

The major translations all see correctly (in my opinion) that this cannot be two groups of people. Paul can’t be addressing the “saints,” and then a second group who are “faithful.” If you let a gloss of καί control your understanding of its meaning, you could make this mistake. But none of the translations do.

The NASB wrirtes, “To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus.” The repetition of the “who” connects both phrases to the same word, “saints.” The NLT makes some effort to avoid the confusion with the use of the comma: “I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.” The NIV beautifully sees the καί as epexegetical and writes, “To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.” The CSB removes all doubt. “To the faithful  saints  in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.”

The point is that καί has a range of meaning, and you can’t always just stick in “and” and move on.

This also illustrated the myth of translations not being interpretive. If you just went word for word and translated with “and,” you would suggest there are two groups of people, and in my view of Pauline theology that is not possible.

Saints are faithful. Perhaps they go through down times, but ultimately they do remain faithful. There is no such thing as an ultimately unfaithful saint. When someone who thinks they are a saint lives in unfaithfulness, they have lost all assurance (1 John 2:3 et al.) and should fear Jesus’ warning, “I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Matt 7:23).

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