A clarification on Rules

Mark Wilson emory2oo2 at hotmail.com
Mon Oct 30 12:57:38 EST 2000



Based on a significant OFFLIST response to my last post, I think the listing 
of the following two rules will help illustrate my point: (and perhaps find 
agreement with Wes' last posting as well)


Smart's rule

"In native KOINE Greek when the copulative KAI connects two titles of
personal description [viz. singular nouns, plural nouns, article noun KAI
noun constructions or compound proper name which are both either
articular or anarthrous] and a personal
pronoun in the genitive case modifies the first of the said titles, and is 
repeated with respect to the second title, there are always two persons or 
groups of persons in view."



Uncle Bob's rule (last part only differs from Smart's rule)

"In native KOINE Greek when the copulative KAI connects two titles of
personal description [viz. singular nouns, plural nouns, article noun KAI
noun constructions or compound proper name which are both either
articular or anarthrous] and a personal
pronoun in the genitive case modifies the first of the said titles, and is 
repeated with respect to the second title, there are either two 
persons/groups or one person/group being designated, context will be 
determinative."

For example, John 20:28 and 1 Tim 1:1 both refer to one person,
while 1 Th 3:11 refers to two. In each instance, the context is clear.


I think this illustrates how careful we need to be when we designate
a grammatical construct as a "rule." In this example, Smart and Uncle Bob
use that same constructs but draw different conclusions.

Carl, I agree that an academic background, by itself, does not guarantee 
that a "rule" is valid. But I do believe that a rule known as Conrad's rule, 
Wallace's rule, Porter's rule, etc, carries a little more weight than an 
Uncle Bob's or Smart's "rule." (It is my opinion only that this Smart "rule" 
seemed all too theologically motivated, with easy to find exceptions.) [And 
I find it odd that one would not disclose his academic background who 
presents such a rule. But again, that is just my personal opinion.]

Based on your academic background and accomplishments, Carl, I believe you 
have earned a right to be heard. I just do not believe life is long enough 
to give everyone who wants to make "rules" equal time. But, I speak for 
myself only.


Regards,

Mark Wilson





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