ECEIN PROS TINA - 2 Cor 5:12
Paul Toseland
toseland at blueyonder.co.uk
Mon Sep 16 11:05:08 EDT 2002
OU PALIN hEAUTOUS SUNISTANOMEN hU(MIN, ALLA AFORMHN DIDONTES UMIN
KAUCHMATOS hUPER hHMWN, hINA ECHTE PROS TOUS EN PROSWPWi
KAUXWMENOUS KAI MH EN KARDIAi.
I would like to canvass opinion concerning a recent interpretation
of the hINA clause of 2 Cor 5:12.
Most interpreters assume that an object for ECHTE is to be
supplied, maybe KAUCHMA or AFORMHN or TI LEGEIN. But a recent
commentator claims that Paul is using an abbreviated form of a
common idiom expressing hostitlity, ECEIN PROS TINA with adverb
such as ALLOTRIWS, APECQWS, or KAKWS. Thus he commpares, for
example, 3 Mac 5:3,
SUNAGAGWN
THS STRATIAS APECQWS PROS TOUS IOUDAIOUS
([When he had given these orders he returned to his feasting
together with his friends and] of the army who were especially
hostile toward the Jews NRS)
He also cites Josephus, Ant. 1.166; 7.186; 8.117; 13.35, 85,
195, 288; 14.8, 164, 404; 15.81; 16.267; 17.290; 20.162;
Life 375, 384, 392; War 7.56.
So in 2 Cor 5:12, he implies, we should supply not an object, but
an adverb of hostility. He translates, in order that you may be
hostile to those who boast in the face and not in the heart.
This is an interesting proposal. The wording of 5:12 closely
resembles that of 1:14, where he expresses the hope that through
what he is now writing the Corinthians will realise that
KAUCHMA hUMWN ESMEN KAQAPER KAI hUMEIS hHMWN EN THi hHMERAi TOU
KURI/OU [hHMWN] IHSOU.
The realisation that they have such a partnership with Paul could
only lead to their enmity with his enemies. It is quite likely
that he does not want his readers to answer his opponents; it
would almost certainly be a lost cause (4:3-4). Rather, he wants
them to have nothing to do with the false apostles (6:11-7:4).
But does this interpretation ask too much of the text? Was the
idiom well enough established that it would be obvious that
something like APECQWS was to be supplied?
Thanks.
Paul Toseland
Bristol, England
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