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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