[B-Greek] use of EK in 1 John 4.13 & EN in v16
Anthony Forsyth
anthony at calvarybiblechurch.org.uk
Sat Feb 22 14:06:17 EST 2003
I'm struggling with a couple of preposition usages in 1 John that I
hoped a few of you might help me with.
Firstly, EK in 4:13. BAGD lists this as an equivalent of a partitive
genitive. Does that imply that part of the Spirit is given? What
theological implications does that have practically (if that is within
the scope of this list)? And would EK not be more naturally considered
to be referring to the "source" of the gift/giving or the "means" by
which it was given?
Secondly, EN in 4:16. Here BAGD has this usage under "close personal
association" - that does not get me any closer to understanding what
John meant by "the love which God has in us". Is there any validity to
this meaning "with reference to"? And what that, semantically speaking,
be the equivalent of (or similar to) a "dative of advantage" (i.e the
love He has for us)?
As well as knowing what you folks consider the answers to be, I ma
probably even more interested in knowing why. Am I simply choosing
"category headings" that "fit" into what I think the passage means, or
is there validity to these meanings "being more natural"?
Maybe what I am really asking here is if I check the usage of a word in
BAGD (or equiv.), and if their conclusion does not "fit" in my mind, how
do I go about establishing why that option was chosen and why my option
is right or wrong (more likely!)
I want to be a good and faithful exegete of the Greek NT, but I fear
that I am often a significantly better "eisegete"...
In the gospel of His grace,
Anthony Forsyth
Calvary Bible Church, Medway, UK.
anthony at calvarybiblechurch.org.uk
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