If There Come Into Your Synagogue a Man With a Gold Ring

This post looks at the word synagogue, continuing the theme discussed in  Where Two Or Three Are Synagogued Together.

If we look up synagoge (συναγωγη – G4864) in Blue Letter Bible, we can see that the translation counts for the KJV.  It occurs 57 times and is translated as synagogue 55 times, congregation 1 time and assembly 1 time.   The two instances where synagoge (συναγωγη) is not translated as synagogue occur in Acts 13:43 and James 2:2.

The KJV, NKJV, and NIV are among the few versions that choose not to use the word synagogue in Acts 13:43, and the word synagogue was used in 13:42, so the choice to use a different word may have been for stylistic reasons.

However, most versions choose not to use synagogue in translating James 2:2. 

• KJV – For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
• NKJV – For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,
• NLT – For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes.
• NIV – Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
• ESV – For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,
• NASB – For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,
• RSV – For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 
• GOD's WORD – For example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes.
• Douay-Rheims – For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,
• NET – For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,
• TYNDALE – Yf ther come into youre company a man with a golden rynge and in goodly aparell and ther come in also a poore man in vyle rayment
• WYCLIFFE – For if a man that hath a goldun ring, and in a feire clothing, cometh in youre cumpany, and a pore man entrith in a foul clothing,
• The Message – If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him
• AMP – For if a person comes into your congregation whose hands are adorned with gold rings and who is wearing splendid apparel, and also a poor [man] in shabby clothes comes in,
• CEV – Suppose a rich person wearing fancy clothes and a gold ring comes to one of your meetings. And suppose a poor person dressed in worn-out clothes also comes.
• HCSB – For suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring, dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in. 
• NIRV – Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes. And suppose a poor man in worn-out clothes also comes in.
• NCV –  Suppose someone comes into your church meeting wearing nice clothes and a gold ring. At the same time a poor person comes in wearing old, dirty clothes. 

Only a few English translations use the word synagogue in James 2:2; none of them are popular or widely used versions.

• ASV – For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing;
• YLT – for if there may come into your synagogue a man with gold ring, in gay raiment, and there may come in also a poor man in vile raiment,
• Darby – for if there come unto your synagogue a man with a gold ring in splendid apparel, and a poor man also come in in vile apparel,
• BBE – For if a man comes into your Synagogue in fair clothing and with a gold ring, and a poor man comes in with dirty clothing,
• CJB – Suppose a man comes into your synagogue wearing gold rings and fancy clothes, and also a poor man comes in dressed in rags.

What is the explanation the widespread rejection of the word synagogue in James 2:2?  Perhaps James 2:1 partly explains it.

• KJV – My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
• NKJV – My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.
• NIV – My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.
• ESV – My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

Clearly, James is addressing this bit of advice to believers in Jesus.  Why would this make a difference in how synagoge (συναγωγη) is translated into English?  Did the translators decide that believers in Jesus did not attend a Synagogue?  On what basis?  Is that assumption consistant with Acts 21:20?

Acts 21:18 KJV – And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

It seems that the translators have decided that the word synagogue is an exclusively Jewish institution and that believers in Jesus have rejected it and have no part in it.  And yet, how are we to understand the numerous references to synagogues in Acts?  Note especially Acts 22:19 and Acts 26:11.

• Acts 9:2 KJV – And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
• Acts 9:20 KJV – And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
• Acts 13:15 KJV – And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
• Acts 15:21 KJV – For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
• Acts 18:4 KJV – And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 
• Acts 22:17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. 21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
• Acts 26:9 KJV – I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

How do we explain this translation inconsistency?  Is there a subtle bias in some of our English Bible translations?  How does it change how we think about the early believers if we see them meeting in the Synagogue?