ECEIN PROS TINA - 2 Cor 5:12

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Tue Sep 17 00:56:52 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.

> 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’.
<snip>
>
> 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?

I would say yes, it asks too much, and cannot be supported from the context.
In all cases where ECW PROS occurs in the GNT it is a word or words in the
immediate context that clarifies what it is it that you have PROS someone.
It can be both positive (like faith) and negative, and that is not part of
either ECW or PROS, nor TINA for that matter. PROS is directionally towards
a person and neutral, whereas KATA lends itself much more easily to a
negative sense: against.

Iver Larsen




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