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In 2 Corinthians 3:6 what is the nuance of genitives vs datives?

Posted: January 22nd, 2019, 9:36 pm
by Bill Ross
Would datives be more expected here than the genitives?

2 Corinthians 3:6
ὃς καὶ ἱκάνωσεν ἡμᾶς διακόνους **καινῆς διαθήκης**, οὐ γράμματος ἀλλὰ πνεύματος, τὸ γὰρ γράμμα ἀποκτείνει / ἀποκτέννει, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζωοποιεῖ.

If so, what is the intended nuance?

Re: In 2 Corinthians 3:6 what is the nuance of genitives vs datives?

Posted: January 22nd, 2019, 10:10 pm
by Robert Emil Berge
I can't see how datives would make much sense here. The genitives are quite what one would expect. There wouldn't be a different nuance with dative, it would rather be difficult find a meaning at all.

Re: In 2 Corinthians 3:6 what is the nuance of genitives vs datives?

Posted: January 22nd, 2019, 10:24 pm
by Bill Ross
Okay, thanks. I just wasn't sure about being a "servant of a covenant". Perhaps I misunderstand διακόνους. I see now that it also has the sense of "administrator". Thanks.

Re: In 2 Corinthians 3:6 what is the nuance of genitives vs datives?

Posted: January 22nd, 2019, 11:22 pm
by Robert Emil Berge
Yes, διάκονος is a bit strange that way. But something similar exists in English with "public servant".