[B-Greek] Tendential impf in 2Cor 7:8?

Randy Leedy Rleedy at bju.edu
Wed Oct 8 16:43:35 EDT 2003


The text reads EI KAI ELUPHSA hUMAS EN THi EPISTOLHi, OU METAMELOMAI: EI KAI METEMELOMHN...

I find myself wanting to read METEMELOMHN with a tendential sense here: "though I'd been rather inclining to regret it [the 'severe letter']." My motive isn't theological (that is, trying to avoid some suggestion of attributing error or vacillation to an apostle); I don't have a theological problem here myself. I'm just seeing Paul as being in an uncertain state of mind about how best to handle whatever the problem may have been in Corinth. While he was awaiting Titus' return with news, the idea of not being quite sure whether to regret the letter or not is appealing to me. Perhaps even an ingressive idea: "I was beginning to regret it (as I continued to think about the situation in Titus' absence)."

But none of the 6 or 8 versions I've checked translate it so, nor do any of the 8 or 10 commentators and grammars I've checked read it that way. I usually at least find an oddball SOMEWHERE who thinks he sees what I see! But in this case not even a hint of sympathy do I find.

Anyone else out there see any merit to the idea?

Please CC me on any responses, since I get the list only in digest.

Blessings in Christ (Acts 3:26),

Randy Leedy
Bob Jones University Seminary
Greenville, SC
RLeedy at bju.edu




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