hWSTE in 1 Cor 5.1--epexegetical?

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Tue Dec 24 02:50:36 EST 2002


> Hi all:
>
> Just a quick question regarding hWSTE in 1 Cor 5.1, which reads:
>
> hOLWS AKOUETAI EN hUMIN PORNEIA, KAI TOIAUTH PORNEIA hHTIS OUDE EN TOIS
> EQNESIN, hWSTE GUNAIKA TINA TOU PATROS ECEIN.
>
> BDAG lists this use of hWSTE as a marker of actual result followed by
> accusative and infinitive (2.a.beta). However, after referencing 1Cor
> 5.1, they have in parentheses the gloss "of such a kind that." Since
> hWSTE does not seem to be subordinate to AKOUETAI (which is explicit in
> the first clause and understood with the coordinate clause and the
> relative clause), my initial hunch was that it should be taken as
> epexegetical to TOIAUTH. This *appears* to be what BDAG is saying with
> the gloss "of such a kind that." The only other reference tool I
> consulted that suggested epexegesis was _The New Linguistic and
> Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament_. Do you think hWSTE is
> indeed epexegetical here? If so, why would BDAG list it under actual
> result, though their gloss seems to indicate something else?
> ============

An excellent question, Steven, because it puts a spotlight on the use and
function of hWSTE in the GNT that I don't think is widely recognized.
hWSTE is commonly used with an (accusative and) infinitive following,
according to my count 50 times with infinitive out of a total of 83
occurrences of hWSTE in the NT.
hWSTE has considerable overlap with hINA, in that both are consecutive
markers which may indicate either purpose or result. hINA is much wider in
function and use, though. hWSTE more commonly indicates result than purpose.

However, the interesting thing about hWSTE is that it is mainly used in
situations which are in one way or another described as extraordinary,
beyond normal expectation. When I looked at those 50 occurrences I found in
the preceding clause words like MEGAS, LIAN, POSOS, POLLOS, TOSOUTOS, POLUS,
MALLON, etc. Also words for "amazing" were very common in the context.

I would invite you and others to look at all the occurrences of hWSTE and
analyse the context in terms of extraordinarity. Let me quote the first two
examples in the NT as samples:
Matt 8:24 KAI IDOU SEISMOS MEGAS EGENETO EN THi QALASSHi hWSTE TO PLOION
KALUPTESQAI
Matt 8:28 CALEPOI LIAN hWSTE MH ISCUEIN TINA PARELQEIN

The tendency for hWSTE to be used with unexpected, extraordinary result and
hINA for normal result is most pronounced in John's Gospel. John uses hINA
regularly for result, but hWSTE is only used once in the whole gospel in a
verse that it is fitting to quote on this Christmas Eve: "For God loved the
world SO MUCH that (hWSTE) he gave his only Son..."

It is because of this regular focus on the extraordinary that the
distinction between result and epexegetical use is somewhat blurred. Take
John 3:16 again. Did God give his Son as a result of his love? Or does the
giving of his Son further explain the extraordinary amount of love he
showed? Or both?

In 1 Cor 5:1 the hWSTE is then to be taken with KAI TOIAUTH PRONEIA - even
such an immorality. It was this extraordinary kind of PORNEIA that was not
EVEN found among the Greeks in Corinth who were known for their PORNEIA.

Enjoy your Christmas in the great love of God, shown through the giving of
his Son,
Iver Larsen




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