New paper: Diakrinō and Jew-Gentile distinction in Acts 11:12

Conspectus 18 recently published a paper of mine which critiques the translation of diakrinō as "distinction" in some English Bibles. I found that the text should not be used to argue that there is "no distinction" between Jews and Gentiles in Christ.

Abstract

A textual analysis of the word diakrinō in Acts 11:12 was undertaken to establish whether the verse contradicts the theory that Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus remain distinct in a theologically significant manner, as some English translations imply. The study finds no clear evidence in the text to sustain the translation that there is ‘no distinction’ between the two. Diakrinō in Acts 11:12 is very unlikely to denote distinction in the sense of differentiation, and even less likely to indicate wavering or doubting on account of the distinction which observant Jews like Peter made between fellow Jews and Gentiles. Instead, diakrinō in this text is most likely intended to denote contestation or dispute: Peter was told to obey without dispute, not without making distinction between Gentiles and Jews.

 The full article is freely available here: https://www.academia.edu/9108869/Diakrin%C5%8D_and_Jew-Gentile_distinction_in_Acts_11_12.