Future Passives categorized (LONG)

Paul S Dixon dixonps at juno.com
Fri Dec 13 16:01:23 EST 2002


Hi, Carl.  Thanks for the work.  I just spent some time examining some of
your cited middles.  I disagree with you on 8 or 9 of your first 15
middles.  Not that it matters, but the translations do take most of your
rendered middles as passives.

Anyhow, I'll give you what I have so far.  It is probably a pretty fair
sampling of the rest, which means I may not have to examine all of them. 
I interact with your work below.

On Thu, 12 Dec 2002 16:39:58 -0600 "Carl W. Conrad"
<cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu> writes:

(Sequence of entries: Verb, Simple Definition, #MP2 forms, # mid, *notes)

AISCUNW, be ashamed, 2 hits, 2m; although AISCUNW may conceivably mean
"cause to feel shame," the verb never appears in the GNT except in MP1 or
MP2 forms.
I take both of these as passives, as do the translations.  In Phil 1:20
the parallel with the second half, that Christ may be exalted in my body,
almost requires a passive, I will not be put to shame in anything (NAS). 


In 2 Cor 10:8 AISCUNQHSOMAI should be taken passively, as Paul seems to
be saying that he will not be put to shame by either his presence or his
writings (v. 9-11). So, the translations.  The passive here is at least a
toss up with the middle:  I will not shame myself either in presence or
in my writings.

ALLASSW, change, exchange, 3 hits, 3m (1Cor. 15:51,  52, Heb. 1:12); I
believe these MP2 forms bear the sense "undergo a change."

The translators again render these passively and with good reason.  The
contexts indicate that the changing at the last trumpet is not something
we do by ourselves, but that is done by God (1 Cor 15:57, Heb 1:10).

ANAKLINW, sit down, recline, 2 hits, 2m; even conventional translations
don't convert this MP2 form to "be caused to lie down."

I agree.

ANAPAUW, stop, give rest, refresh, 1 hits, 1m; Rev 4:13 ANAPAHSONTAI is
surely middle and is usually translated "rest."

I agree.

APARNEOMAI, deny, renounce, 1 hits, 1p; in Lk 12:9 APARNHQHSETAI must be
understood as passive, although this verb never appears in "active" form.

Oops, what is this doing here with the middles?

APOKRINOMAI, answer, 3 hits, 3m; these are unquestionably middle.

I agree.

ARKEW, be content, be enough, 1 hits, 1m; ARKESQHSOMEQA in 1 Tim 6:8 is
surely middle.

Questionable, at least.  I can take it as: we shall be (made) content
with these things (godliness, food, shelter and clothing).

DIAMERIZW, divide, 1 hits, 1m; DIAMERISQHSONTAI in Lk 12:53 points to
squabbles arising in the family; it's not a matter of someone setting
them at odds against each other.

This has to be a passive, as the divisions are the result of the Christ's
coming to bring not peace, but divisions (v. 51).  So the translations.

DIASKORPIZW, scatter, squander, 2 hits, 2m; DIASKORPISQHSONTAI Mk 14:27,
Lk 26:31 the sheep scatter abroad of their own accord because they have
no shepherd to restrain them.

Again these are passives, because the scattering is the result of God
striking down the Shepherd.  The necessary cause-effect relationship in
the verses demands the rendering of the translations:  and the sheep
shall be scattered.

Where you had 15 middles and no passives, I get 6 middles, 8 passives and
one toss-up.  You are probably not surprised.  At that rate I'd probably
get less than half the middles you got.  I wonder what others get.

Thanks again.

Paul Dixon, Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
Camden, AL
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