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English to Spanish translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Religion
English term or phrase:Judaizers
This comes from a discussion on the book of Galatians in the Bible, regarding a group of people who were insisting that Christians must also follow the old Jewish traditions, as well as Jesus, in order to be saved.
CONTEXT: "It was a protest against corruption of the gospel of Christ. The essential truth of justification by faith rather than by the works of the law had been obscured by the Judaizers’ insistence that believers in Christ must keep the law if they expected to be perfect before God."
Well, I have to admit that my shelves are not exactly groaning with Spanish commentaries on the Epistles of St Paul... but I've had a quick look at some relevant texts in Google Books and I'm pretty sure "judaizantes" is OK here. (Despite being an atheist, or perhaps for that reason, I love arguing about religion :) )
I take your point. I haven't read any Spanish works on the topic - so if there are reputable sources that use the term "judaizante", then fine. The context will make it clear that it relates to the situation in Judea 80AD rather than to medieval Spain.
No, the word "judaizante" is not used in Gal. 2.12. Nor is "judaizer" in English. The original Greek text reads "τοὺς ἐκ περιτομῆς", and this is usually translated literally as "those of the circumcision" (King James version: "fearing them which were of the circumcision"). But that is not the point; the source text does not say or imply that the term "judaizer" occurs in Paul's text. It is what "those of the circumcision" are called by Biblical scholars, and "judaizantes" is what they are called in Spanish. In the context of the early Church, "abrazar la religión de los judíos" means observing Jewish religious law and practice. Circumcision was certainly the biggest issue, and Paul keeps going on about it, but the English source text doesn't refer to circumcision and I see no reason why the Spanish translation should either.
Just to note that my first reaction was"judaizante" but after a moment's thought I felt that was both ambiguous and very unlikely to be what was actually in Galatians. So I posted "not judaizantes" before any other post was made (and as a contradiction only to myself).
I don't see that "Abrazar la religión de los judíos" is what's in question here - these are former practitioners of the Jewish Faith. What's in question is to what extent, as believers in Christ, they may now abandon some of the rites of that faith. Circumcision being the biggest single issue. I see that as different from embracing Judaism.
You're absolutely right that the term "judaizante" was applied in Inquisition times to conversos (officially Christians) who covertly practised Judaism. That is essentially its second definition in the DRAE: "2. Dicho de un cristiano: Practicar pública o privadamente ritos y ceremonias de la ley judaica." However, its first meaning is simply "1. Abrazar la religión de los judíos", and it is the standard term for judaizers in Pauline terms:
"La Epístola a los Gálatas de Pablo da vigorosa distancia entre aquellos que podrían "forzar a los gentiles a seguir las costumbres judías". [...] Pablo frecuentemente chocaba con un grupo de "cristianos judaizantes". En 2 de Corintios 11:5 y 12:11 llamaba a sus oponentes «preclaros» y «eximios» apóstoles." http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_del_cristianismo
"JUDAIZANTES: Entre los primeros cristianos eran aquellos que querían imponer las tradiciones del judaísmo a los que se hacían cristianos y tenían otra cultura. El tema de la circuncisión fue el más polémico."
VOCABULARIO EN TORNO A SAN PABLO PARA CULTURA RELIGIOSA DE 3º DE ESO. http://www.salesianosmonzon.com/pastoral/estanteria/pablo.ht...
Reina-Valera Antigua does use "judaizar" but the substantive is "los que eran de la circuncisión."
"Porque antes que viniesen unos de parte de Jacobo, comía con los Gentiles; mas después que vinieron, se retraía y apartaba, teniendo miedo de los que eran de la circuncisión.
Y á su disimulación consentían también los otros Judíos; de tal manera que aun Bernabé fué también llevado de ellos en su simulación.
Mas cuando vi que no andaban derechamente conforme á la verdad del evangelio, dije á Pedro delante de todos: Si tú, siendo Judío, vives como los Gentiles y no como Judío, ¿por qué constriñes á los Gentiles á judaizar?
Nosotros Judíos naturales, y no pecadores de los Gentiles,
Sabiendo que el hombre no es justificado por las obras de la ley, sino por la fe de Jesucristo, nosotros también hemos creído en Jesucristo, para que fuésemos justificados por la fe de Cristo, y no por las obras de la ley; por cuanto por las obras de la ley ninguna carne será justificada."
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +5