Re: Concerning 2 Peter 2:4

Carlton Winbery (winberyc@popalex1.linknet.net)
Thu, 16 Jan 1997 21:28:53 +0400

Jim Beale wrote;
> PROS hON PROSERXOMENOI LIQON ZWNTA hUPO ANQRWPWN MEN
> APODEDOKIMASMENON PARA DE QEWi EKLEKTON ENTIMON
> (2 Peter 2:4)
>
>I'm working through 1 Peter 2, and I've got some questions that
>maybe someone can help me with.
>
>1. Regarding discourse analysis: Does it seem more likely that this
>verse begins a new thought, or continues awkwardly from v. 3?
>
There is a break between vvs 3 and 4 but there is a parallelism between
them also. It is best seen in the participles APOQEMENOI and
PROSERCOMENOI. I would not make too much out of the tense of either, but I
suppose you could translate, "put away . . . and come to . . ." Both could
even have imperative force.

>2. How should the participle be best rendered, as a habitual action,
>or as an imperative like 1 Pet. 3:1? What is the significance of the
>middle voice here?
>
I suppose you are talking about PROSERCOMENOI. It could indicate unending
action, but I would not make too much of the tense of participles.

>3. Is LIQON here an accusative absolute? If not, then how does it
>relate grammatically to the rest of the sentence?
>
No, no. Its in apposition to the pronoun hON. The closest thing to an
accusative absolute in the NT would be maybe Acts 26:3 GNWSTHN ONTA, "since
you are an expert about . . ."

>4. What is the force of the perfect participle? Is it reasonable to
>go with something forceful like, "having been completely rejected"?
>
the tense here probably emphasizes the completed action. It is part of the
contrast "by men, rejected but with God, chosen and precious."

This passage points up the very sophisticated use of participles in I
Peter. Those who learn to read Greek by reading the Johannines or even
Paul have trouble picking up the feel of the participles in I Peter.

Carlton L. Winbery
Fogleman Professor of Religion
Louisiana College
winberyc@popalex1.linknet.net
winbery@andria.lacollege.edu
Fax (318) 442-4996
Phone (318) 487-7241