[B-Greek] RE: Attributive genitives

Dr Dale M Wheeler dalemw at multnomah.edu
Mon Feb 10 13:14:13 EST 2003


Malcolm Ross wrote:


>I am curious about the genitives in the following phrases from the
>verses quoted below: (1) KATA PNEUMA AGIWSUNHS in Romans 1:4 and (2)
>EIS UPAKOHN PISTEWS in Romans 1:5. They appear to be attributive
>genitives, i.e. genitives which describe the noun upon which they are
>dependent. This means essentially that the reader is left to figure
>out/infer the relationship between this noun and its dependent
>genitive, and this is reflected in variation among English
>translations. In the case of (2):
>
>obedience that comes from faith (NIV)
>trust-grounded obedience (CJV)
>obedience to the faith (NKJV, Cassirer)
>obedience of faith (NRSV)
>that they will believe and obey him (NLT)
>
>Romans 1:4
>TOU ORISQENTOS UIOU EN DUNAMEI KATA PNEUMA AGIWSUNHS EX ANASTASEWS NEKRWN
>'and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be
>the Son of God , by his resurrection from the dead' (NIV)
>
>Romans 1:5
>ELABOMEN CARIN KAI APOSTOLHN EIS UPAKOHN PISTEWS EN PASIN TOIS EQNESIN
>'we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the
>Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.'
>
>My questions are:
>
>a) is my interpretation of the grammar correct, i.e. these are
>attributive genitives?
>
>b) is there any work which provides guidance on the interpretation of
>such genitives?
>
>Malcolm Ross


The NKJV is not taking the phrase as attributive, but rather as an 
objective genitive, ie., "so that the Gentiles might obey/accept the body 
of doctrine Christians believe".  Since APEIQW (1Pet) and apparently 
UPAKOUW (Rom 10:16; 2Thes 1:8; Heb 5:9--I know, I know, there are some out 
there who are going to have a fit...please don't, its just one possible way 
to read the text here) are both used in the NT as basic synonyms at times 
for PISTEUW, and since PISTIS is used in the phrase, apparently the NKJV 
translators felt that it wouldn't make sense for Paul to write EIS PISTIN 
PISTEWS (its sound superlative if you do that), so a synonym was used 
instead of PISTIN.

The rest are not attributive either, which would mean "faithful 
obedience".  The are understanding the genitive as source, ie., NIV 
"obedience that comes from faith".

Check Wallace, Beyond the Basics, for a good discussion of the differences 
in the genitives...

Blessings...


**************************************************************************
Dale M. Wheeler, Ph.D.
Research Prof., Biblical Languages    Multnomah Bible College
8435 NE Glisan Street                      Portland, OR  97220
V: 503-251-6416    F:503-251-6478     E: dalemw at multnomah.edu
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