[B-Greek] Romans 8.26

John R. Gentry jsgentry at bellsouth.net
Wed Dec 10 11:53:15 EST 2003


hWSAUTWS DE KAI TO PNEUMA SUNANTILAMBANETAI THi ASQENEIAi [TAIS
ASQENEIAIS-Byz/Maj] hHMWN; TO GAR TI PROSEUXOMEQA KAQO DEI OUK OIDAMEN, ALLA
[ALL-Byz/Maj] AUTO TO PNEUMA hUPERENTUGCANEI [Byz/Maj adds-hUPER hHMWN]
STENAGMOIS ALALHTOIS

I am studying this passage in an effort to determine whether or not it is
referring to the Holy Spirit or the human spirit and have some questions
regarding some of the definitions of the words.

1) What is the precise meaning of the word SUNANTILAMBANETAI? Is it coming
to one's side to help or assist?  In the NT it is used only here and Luke
10.40. Does the meaning of this word give support to the passage dealing
with the Holy Spirit in that the meaning of this word implies two separate
entities involved in the process, one in need of help and another helping?

2) Does the fact that in the NT the phrase AUTO TO PNEUMA is used only here
and in verse 16, where it is obvious that it is speaking of the Holy Spirit,
give any support to it meaning the Holy Spirit in v26?

3) What is the significance of hUPERENTUGCANEI ("make intercession for") vs.
ENTUGCANEI ("make intercession"), especially when hUPER is used immediately
following (at least in the Byz/Maj texts)?  I would almost think that the
use of hUPERENTUGCANEI would indicate that someone other than ourselves
(Holy Spirit instead of our own spirit) was making intercession for us.

4) What is the meaning of ALALHTOIS (in the NT used only here)? Does it mean
"words that are impossible for any human language to express" (paraphrase of
Lenski)?  If this meaning is true, and the correct interpretation of this
passage was that of the human spirit, would this not then say that our human
spirit acts independently of our consciousness because it is able to convey
something that is impossible for us to even think?

Some of these may be translation (or even theological) questions rather than
definition questions.  Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the two.  If
these are more translation related, someone, please, direct me to the proper
authorities. :)

Thanks for your help!  Looking forward to your replies.

John R. Gentry
jsgentry at bellsouth.net

Eastside church of Christ - http://www.eastside-coc.com
Morgantown, KY

For sermons, articles, class material, tracts, etc., visit -
http://www.lovethetruth.net
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