EPH 5:21

perry.stepp@chrysalis.org
Thu, 02 May 96 09:44:31 -0600

Re. the participle in Eph 5.21:

I would certainly take the participle in Eph 5.21 as an imperatival participle.
Note BDF 468:

"(1) Paul is fond of continuing a construction begun with a finite verb by
means of co-ordinated participles, sometimes in a long series. . . . (2)
Related to this type of anacoluthon and probably arising from it is the
peculiar use of a participle in place of a finite verb and without any
connection to one, usually in a long series and in an imperatival sense."

One of the examples BDF lists under (2) is Eph 5.21: they note, "It appears as
if Paul considered the descriptive ptcp. to be the equivalent of the impera. .
. . (hUPOTASSOMENOI in 5.21 is smoother, yet greatly detached from the finite
verb and already approaching the imperatival usage; . . ."

Grace and peace,

Perry L. Stepp, Baylor University