Jn.4:24 PNEUMA / 1 Jn 4:8,16 AGAPH - FUNCTION

clayton stirling bartholomew c.s.bartholomew at worldnet.att.net
Thu Jan 11 02:35:02 EST 2001


on 1/10/01 9:22 PM, RUSSELL RANKIN wrote:

> Please comment on the function of PNEUMA in Jn.4:24 without a verb and AGAPH
> in 1Jn.4:8,16 with the verb ESTIN.  What is the grammatical relation to hW
> QEOS.  Both being Nominative Nouns, do they function the same with or
> without the verb?  As Predicate Nouns?

Russel,

It would appear that you have almost answered your own question.

Function is a very flexible word. PNEUMA functions syntactically as the
predicate. ESTIN is not a required. PNEUMA is in the emphatic position (see
H.A.W. Meyer, John).

Semantically PNEUMA limits hO QEOS. It describes a quality of hO QEOS (c.f.
1John 1:5).  In this sense PNEUMA functions similar to an adjective.

PNEUMA hO QEOS has a function in Jesus' argument. It specifies a supporting
reason for his immediately preceding statements to the woman. This could be
called a discourse function or perhaps an rhetorical function.


Clay
 

--  
Clayton Stirling Bartholomew
Three Tree Point
P.O. Box 255 Seahurst WA 98062





More information about the B-Greek mailing list