[Steven Avery]

Hi Folks,

Originally Posted by Will Kinney

Vials or Bowls in the book of Revelation?

Another great study, Will.

And you may actually be too kind to the modern perversion of 'bowls'. The Dean ran into this and also noticed the same and added a bit more from his voluminous knowledge and understanding of the languages and the ancient writers and the early church writers. You were actually a bit on the meek and mild side in discussing the inanity and stupidty of the modern versions and some of their commentaries and the Bible correctors.

http://books.google.com/books?id=nXkw1TAatV8C&pg=PA200
The Revision Revised p. 200 Dean John Burgon (1883)

In the same spirit, we can but wonder at the extravagant bad taste which, at the end of 500 years, has ventured to substitute ' bowls ' for ' vials ' in the Book of Revelation.1 As a matter of fact, we venture to point out that (phiale) no more means 'a bowl ' than ' saucer ' means ' a cup.' But, waiving this, we are confident that our Revisers would have shown more wisdom if they had let alone a word which, having no English equivalent, has passed into the sacred vocabulary of the language, and has acquired a conventional signification which will cleave to it for ever. ' Vials of wrath ' are understood to signify the outpouring of GOD'S wrathful visitations on mankind : whereas ' bowls ' really conveys no meaning at all, except a mean and unworthy, not to say an inconveniently ambiguous one. What must be the impression made on persons of very humble station, — labouring-men, — when they hear of ' the seven Angels that had the seven bowls ' ? (Rev. xvii. 1.) The (phiale) — if we must needs talk like Antiquaries — is a circular, almost flat and very shallow vessel, — of which the contents can be discharged in an instant. It was used in pouring out libations. There is, at the back of it, in the centre, a hollow for the first joint of the forefinger to rest in. Patera the Latins called it. Specimens are to be seen in abundance.

(1) Eight times in Rev xvi.

A goblet ????? lol.

Good thing the Dean didn't have to deal with that one !

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If you want to know the different Greek words for a wine jug and a a bowl and a vial and a goblet, matching the Dean's insight, there is a little section in 'Religion in the Ancient Greek City'.

http://tinyurl.com/5njmsk
Religion in the Ancient Greek City - Louise Bruit Zaidman, Pauline Schmitt Pantel p.40

Since you noted above that the nonsense here started with Westcott & Hort, I figgered the Dean would probably notice it and comment !

Shalom,
Steven