subjunctive contingency

George Blaisdell maqhth at hotmail.com
Mon May 3 13:58:16 EDT 1999




>From: "Mark House"

>Specifically,
>we're reading 1 John 1, and the question arose concerning the use of the
>subjunctive in v. 9, where the writer promises that (pardoning any
>transliteration flubs) EAN hOMOLOGWMEN TAS hAMARTIAS hHMWN, PISTOS ESTIN 
>KAI
>DIKAIOS, hINA AFHi HMIN TAS AMARTIAS....

>The question concerned the hINA
>clause, which I explained as a result rather than a purpose clause.
>Wouldn't the use of a future indicative (without hINA) have made the 
>promise
>more reliable?  Something like:  If we confess..., he is faithful...and he
>WILL forgive....

I would venture to observe that were it future indicative it would involve a 
quid pro quo that the author wishes to avoid, placing the confesser in 
charge of his own forgiveness of sins.

>Put another way, doesn't the subjunctive here lend to the
>uncertainty of a promise that the writer seems to want to drive home to his
>readers with certainty?

Certainty not!  :-)

I would see it as a subjunctive of probable result, which avoids the vanity 
of the sinner controlling his own forgiveness through confession, yet opens 
the way for its promise...
>
>I ventured the guess that the INA clause is a standard way of expressing
>results (or, more frequently, purpose), and doesn't necessary carry with it
>any implicit uncertainty.  But that answer did seem to run contrary to my
>prior definition of the subjunctive as communicating contingency.

Yes.

>Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

Well, I appreciate your question ~ It reflect some good sand in yer craw!


George Blaisdell
Roslyn, WA


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