KOPIWNTAS in Acts 20:35

Roe d.roe at t-online.de
Tue Dec 21 07:58:59 EST 1999


Hello B-Greeks,

Acts 20:35 ...OTI OUTWS KOPIWNTAS DEI ANTILAMBANESQAI TWN ASQENOUNTWN...

Fribergs' Grammatical Analysis Database shows KOPIWNTAS in Acts 20:35 as
a 2nd person verb, supporting the KJV, ASV, NASB translations, among
others.  Some (NRSV, NEB, NIV, TEV, et al.) translate this in 1st
person, that "we" must KOPIWNTAS; or, like the RSV and most German
translations, translate the intended actors of KOPIWNTAS as a plurality
of unknown persons by translating that "one" must KOPIWNTAS (Ger:
"man"). 

In 1 Thess. 5:12 we find the same form (...TOUS KOPIWNTAS EN hUMIN...)
when it here seems obviously to express the 3rd person ("those labouring
among you").

Is it by reason of a 'typo' that Fribergs' Database "determines"
KOPIWNTAS in Acts 20:35 to be a 2nd person verb? Or was this likely a
judgment call, and if so, is it grammatically based?

Thanks for your help, 

David

D. W. Roe
Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany



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