[B-Greek] 2 Cor 4:15 - word order
Iver Larsen
iver_larsen at sil.org
Sun Dec 28 10:53:29 EST 2003
[Paul T.]> I happened to be chewing over 2 Cor 4:15, and have some
questions.
>
> TA GAR PANTA DI' hUMAS, hINA hH CARIS PLEONASASA
> DIA TWN PLEIONWN THN EUCARISTIAN PERISSEUSHi
> EIS THN DOCAN TOU QEOU.
>
> 2. The hINA clause is exegetically difficult, because both verbs can be
> either transitive or intransitive. It is one of those texts that make one
> *really* wish the ancients had used punctuation!
>
> Carl discussed this verse in a post on Nov 25 1998 at 12:56:34 EST,
> and suggested the following translation
>
> >"so that grace, having become more abundant because of the
> >thanksgiving of many persons, may abound toward the glory of God."
>
> I just wonder whether, if Paul had intended this, he would more
> naturally have said 'DIA THN TWN PLEIONWN EUCARISTIAN'?
May I suggest an alternative analysis?
First, I would say that grammatically the DIA phrase could be connected
either to the dependent participial clause hH CARIS PLEONASASA or the main
clause THN EUCARISTIAN PERISSEUSHi EIS THN DOCAN TOU QEOU. Carl appears to
have taken it with the main clause, but all the translations I have checked,
have connected it to the preceding participial clause. I think it fits the
broader context better to take it with the participial clause, because Paul
is talking about his ministry of preaching to many people about the
forgiveness of sins and the grace of God. As more and more people experience
the grace of God, they also give thanks to God.
What about translating it "so that, grace having increased through the
increasing number of people (who have been forgiven), it has multiplied the
thanksgiving toward the glory of God."
This analysis keeps the balanced structure:
N V PP - hH CARIS PLEONASASA DIA TWN PLEIONWN
N V PP - THN EUCARISTIAN PERISSEUSHi EIS THN DOCAN TOU QEOU
It does require an explanation of how grace increases through an increasing
number of people. It may help to look at other uses of PLEONAZW by Paul.
Rom 5:20 NOMOS DE PAREISHLQHN, hINA PLEONASHi TO PARAPTWMA
But the law came along with the result that transgression increased
hOU DE EPLEONASEN hH hAMARTIA, hUPEREPERISSEUSEN hH CARIS
But when (the) sin increased, (the) grace abounded beyond measure
Abounding grace is not realized until people are forgiven. The more people
who ask forgiveness, the more grace is experienced, and the more
thanksgiving results.
Rom 6:1 EPIMENWMEN THi hAMARTIAi, hINA hH CARIS PLEONASHi
Should we remain in (the) sin, so that (the) grace can abound?
Again, I see the implied event of forgiveness before grace can abound,
because sin that is not repented of and forgiven, results in the experience
of judgment, not grace.
Finally, a few English translations:
NET: so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause
thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.
RSV: so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase
thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
REB: as the abounding grace of God is shared by more and more, the greater
may be the chorus of thanksgiving that rises to the glory of God.
TEV: and as God's grace reaches more and more people, they will offer to the
glory of God more prayers of thanksgiving.
NIV: so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause
thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Iver Larsen
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list