hUMAS, Eph 2.1

Mike Sangrey mike at sojurn.lns.pa.us
Mon Oct 16 11:21:04 EDT 2000



 Kevin Smith <kgs at iafrica.com> said:
> Eph 2:1, KAI hUMAS ONTAS NEKROUS TOIS PARAPTWMASIN KAI TAS hAMARTIAIS
> hUMWN.

> Question: Why is hUMAS accussative? It seems to be the object of an
> implied verb, but what verb? 

I think this is an excellent question.  I'd like to offer my opinion and 
see how those more expert than I respond.

Paul states the object of the proposition (or concept, if you prefer): 
hUMAS and then proceeds to characterize and define this object.  Then in 
verse 4, he finally (!) states the subject of the proposition: hO QEOS 
PLOUSIOS.  This subject he also proceeds to characterize and define in a 
way which is similar to what he has just done with hUMAS, though not in 
quite the expansive way he did in verses 1-3.

What's the verb?  Well, what did God do?  SUNEZWOPOIHSEN (verse 5).  I 
think that is why, after Paul finally gets to the verb, the climax of his 
statement,  he blurts out: CARITI ESTE SESWiSMENOI.  What appears to be 
rather "stuttery" (you may read that as anacoluthon) statement, is the 
result of complex clausal structure to evince his climax.

I think the NIV has captured hUMAS ONTAS... well in its translation:  "As 
for you, you were dead..."  Note the `comma'.

Paul is essentially saying, "I'm making a proposition here.  The object is 
`you'.  The subject is `the God who is rich'.  I want to get both the full 
explanation of the object and subject on the table first because I'm 
heading to the prominent, climatic statement.  The main verb is `placed in 
a raised-from-a-corpse state'.  YOU ARE SAVED BY GRACE."

BTW, I'll be interested in Carl's response.  He and I have had a rather 
helpful-to-me exchange regarding Eph. 2:1-10.  He should feel free to 
bring in that discussion if he thinks it helpful to others (or me!).
-- 
Mike Sangrey
mike at sojurn.lns.pa.us
Landisburg, Pa.
               It's OK to think differently, just think together.
               Sooner or later that will bring out our faults;
               then we can deal with them...together.





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