[B-Greek] Trench Synonyms and ENTEUXIS

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Mon Feb 17 00:42:51 EST 2003


>
> Iver, I have noticed it is used for a pleading, if you will, or
> petition *on
> behalf of another*, and not *for oneself*, whether in a negative sense
> (against another, in NT, Rom. 11:2-3; Acts 25:24) or positive. In
> that case,
> pleading is unsatisfactory as it does not carry the sense of 'for
> another'.

In my opinion, the two instances you mention support the suggestion that the
basic sense is "plead, appeal" rather than "intercede". Trench is saying
that "intercede" is unsatisfactory, because that word is restricted to
pleading or praying positively to God for the benefit of someone else. He
says that the Greek word is broader and is focused on pleading or appealing.
It may be positive or negative, depending on context, and it may be on
behalf of oneself or another, depending on context. Even in English you can
plead for yourself or for someone else. In Acts 25:24 we have
PERI hOU hAPAN TO PLHQOS TWN IOUDAIWN ENETUCON MOI

The PERI hOU then tells us concerning whom the pleading/appealing was done.
In Rom 11:2-3 it is KATA TOU ISRAHL that supplies the negative sense.

The narrower sense of "intercede" does not apply to any of these two
instances.

Likewise, it is the hUPER that gives the positive sense of pleading for the
benefit of someone.
In the contexts where hUPER occurs and the pleading is directed to God, I
can accept a word like "intercede", but I think it should be strengthened
with some of the force implied in "plead", like "earnestly intercede" or
maybe even "plead for them".

Iver Larsen



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