Eph 2:14 Paragraph Question

Mike Sangrey mike at sojurn.lns.pa.us
Thu Oct 19 18:25:03 EDT 2000



Francisco Orozco <reformer at hmo.megared.net.mx> said:
>     This is not a strictly a question about Greek but perhaps some of
> you can help me. In the UBS text at Eph 2:14 there is a paragraph
> break (separating it from v.13). It seems to me that v.14 is the
> reason or foundation for v.13 and so a separation is not warranted. Am
> I correct?

> 13 NUNI DE EN XRISTW IHSOE UMEIS OI POTE ONTES MAKRAN EGGUS EGENHQHTE
> EN TW AIMAITI TOU XRISTOU

> 14 AUTOS GAR ESTIN H EIRHNH HMWN O POIHSAS TA AMFOTERA EN KAI TO
> MESOTOICON TOU FRAGMOU LUSAS... 

> I am trying to divide the letter (of Ephesians) in paragraphs for
> study & preparation, if you have advice regarding this, I will
> appreciate it - perhaps that advice will be more in terms of BGreek.

I'm not going to directly answer your question; however, I'll ask a 
question with the hope of you answering it for yourself.

Paragraph breaks in Koine Greek are inherently quite difficult.  Sometimes 
dividing a text at one particular spot as opposed to another changes the 
flow so much that the original author's intent is different between the 
two.  So, prayerful caution is much the norm.

Linguistically speaking, meaning in packaged in increasingly sized chunks 
of text, so I don't think it a sound argument to say Koine Greek didn't 
have paragraphs.  While it is true they did not break paragraphs the way 
modern English does, if linguistic research is true, then they would have 
had to package the meaning.

Now, using that as my basis, here is my questions back to you.  If you 
summarize, in your own words, Eph. 2:11-13 (the previous paragraph), then 
does GAR form an appropriate transition to the next paragraph?  In other 
words, if you view this particular GAR as transitional BETWEEN TWO 
PARAGRAPHS and not two verses, what happens?  What's the main thought in 
each paragraph and does GAR propose a sound, transitional relation between 
the two thoughts?  What happens if you break the paragraph at a different 
place?  How does that affect your summaries and the transitions between 
them?

I hope that helps.

-- 
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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