[B-Greek] PARA at John 17:5

Polycarp66 at aol.com Polycarp66 at aol.com
Thu Mar 13 12:06:17 EST 2003


In a message dated 3/10/2003 4:55:24 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
noddy3 at eggconnect.net writes:

> May I ask what must be some simple questions? At John 17:5 we have PARA with 
> the dative. My question is: Is PARA here one of locality? Also, there are 
> many NT translations, such as C.B.Williams and the Translator's NT and also 
> those like G. Beasley-Murray in his translation/commentary on John in the 
> Word Biblical Commentary series that offer "alongside" or similiar for PARA 
> here. What are you thoughts on this? Do these translations, rather than 
> those who read "with," accurately convey in English what the Greek would to 
> John's first readers in the late 1st century?
> Many thanks
> 

The simple answer is, "Yes."  Note what BGAD states under PARA II w dat.

II. W. the dat. (nearly always of the pers.) it denotes nearness in space at 
or by (the side of), beside, near, with, acc. to the standpoint fr. which the 
relationship is viewed. 1. lit.—a. near, beside—a. w. things (Synes., Ep. 
126 p. 262a; Epigr. Gr. 703, 1; POxy. 120, 23; 2 Km 10:8; 11:9; Jos., Ant. 1, 
196) hEISTHKEISAN PARA TWi STAURWi J 19:25. KEISQAI PARA TWi PURGWi Hv 3, 5, 
5. 

[BETA]. w. persons ESTHSEN AUTO PAR' hEAUTWi he had him (i.e. the child) 
stand by his side Lk 9:47. 

b. in someone’s house, city, company etc.—[ALPHA]. house: ARISTAN Lk 11:37. 
KATALUEIN 19:7 (Pla., Gorg. 447b; Demosth. 18, 82). MENEIN (Jos., Ant. 1, 
298; 299) J 1:39; Ac 9:43; 18:3; 21:8. CENIZESQAI 10:6; 21:16 (CENIZW 1). So 
prob. also hEKASTOS PAR' AUTWi each one at home 1 Cor 16:2 (cf. Philo, Cher. 
48 PAR' hEAUTOIS, Leg. ad Gai. 271). hON APELIPON EN TRWiADI PARA KARPWi 2 Ti 
4:13. 

[BETA]. city: Rv 2:13. So prob. also HSAN PAR/ hHMIN hEPTA ADELFOI Mt 22:25.—
J 4:40; Col 4:16 (where the church at Laodicea is contrasted w. the one at 
Col.). 

[GAMMA]. other uses: PARA IOUDAIOIS among the Jews Mt 28:15. PAR' AUTOIS 
EPIMEINAI remain with them Ac 28:14; cf. 21:7. hOI PAR' hUMIN PRESBUTEROI the 
elders among you 1 Cl 1:3.—PARA TWi PATRI with (of spatial proximity) the 
Father Mt 6:1; J 8:38a; cf. 17:5 (Synes., Kingship 29 p. 31d: philosophy has 
her abode PARA TWi QEWi and if the world refuses to receive her when she 
descends to earth, MENEI PARA TWi PATRI). Of Jesus: PAR' hUMIN MENWN while I 
was with you (on earth) J 14:25. Of the Spirit: PAR' hUMIN MENEI vs. 17. Of 
the Father and Son in their relation to the true Christian: MONHN PAR' AUTWi 
POIHSOMEQA we will take up our abode with him vs. 23. 

There is a figurative use, but I hardly think that is in view here.  The 
figurative use involves the idea of "in X's judgement", etc.

gfsomsel


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