The slow evolution of courage
Romans 8: 26-39 New Ark United Church of Christ, Newark, DE July 26, 2026 Photo of a cement sidewalk with a few dandelions growing in the space in between segments. “Tell me about a complicated man”. This is how Dr. Emily Wilson translated the opening words to “The Odyssey”, Homer’s epic poem about Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, a general and war veteran and the tale of his long journey home. Dr. Wilson’s translation is the first by a woman and the most recent translation, the one used by Christopher Nolan in his latest film. Dr. Wilson’s choice of the word “complicated” has generated a lot of buzz. In other translations, the Greek word polytropos , which literally means “many-turned”, has been translated as “tossed to and fro by fate” or “adventurous”. It all depends on how the translator interprets the character of Odysseus. Is he passive or active? Is he making choices or are choices being made for him? Is he motivated by doing the right thing or are there other forc...
