[B-Greek] Romans 8.26

Ben and Jo Crick ben.crick at argonet.co.uk
Wed Dec 10 17:20:23 EST 2003


On Wed 10 Dec 2003 (10:53:15), jsgentry at bellsouth.net wrote:
> 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?

 SUN-ANTI-LAMBANOMAI according to BDAG means "to come to the aid of, be of
 assistance to, help TINI /someone/". It translates Romans 8:26 TO PNEUMA
 SUNANTILAMBANETAI THi ASQENEIAi hHMWN "the Spirit helps us in our weakness".
 The Spirit is the active agent helping us believers overcome our weakness(es).
 All commentators I have to hand agree that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit in
 view here.

> 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?

 TO AUTO PNEUMA = the selfsame [Holy] Spirit, as in verse 16, in contrast to
 our [human] spirit.

> 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.

 Yes. hUPER-ENTUGCANEI repeats the hUPER at the end of verse 27 hUPER hAGIWN,
 for the saints. The Spirit intercedes for, on behalf of, the saints who are
 unable to pray as we feel we ought. hUPER hHMWN in the TR and majority texts
 is an explanatory gloss making explicit what is implicit in hUPERENTUGCANEI.
 It is a pleonasm, a superfluous addition to the text of P27 Aleph ABDG etc.

> 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?

 A-LALHTOS means "unexpressed, wordless" from LALEIN to speak with A-privative.
 STENAGMOIS ALALHTOIS means "with inarticulate groanings". Some see here a
 reference to speaking in tongues; others to incoherent moans of agony. The
 consensus seems to be that the Holy Spirit interprets to God the Father the
 inarticulate longings of the human heart. Compare verse 23, hHMEIS KAI AUTOI
 *EN hEAUTOIS STENAZOMEN*, which seems to be the referent of v 26.

> 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. :)

 If you don't already have BDAG, sell your shirt and all your possessions and
 buy one!

 ERRWSQE
 Ben

 An off-topic a day makes the Netcops go "Hey!!"
-- 
 Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick  ZFC Yb
 <ben.crick at NOSPAM.argonet.co.uk>
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