[B-Greek] 2Tim 1:15 - "Transitive" Passive with Accusative
Dr. Dale M. Wheeler
dalemw at multnomah.edu
Mon Sep 22 13:20:56 EDT 2003
B-Greekers:
In 2Tim 1:15 we have the passive of APOSTREFW followed by the accusative
ME. Now normally with Passive Verbs + Accusative we call the Accusative
"Retained" ie., its a passive transform retention. A Passive Transform
seems highly unlikely in this case: "All have abandoned me" --> "I caused
everyone to turn away". However, APOSTREFW is one of those verbs which
have causative meaning in the active and non-causative/direct active
meaning in the middle/passive forms (whether the passives are just middle
substitutes is another question...though it may in fact BE the
question!?). Robertson, Gr 484f., as well as BDAG, seem to indicate that
we are just supposed to think of the Acc in these cases as simple direct
objects (I'm at home and have a note on my diagram to this effect, but I
can't check his exact wording). I'm sort of inclined to agree that these
are just direct objects because of the nature of this kind of Greek verb
(there are lots of others which do this as well, ie., go from Act =
Causative; M/P = Act, Transitive; BTW, these types of verbs, which litter
the LXX, offer some intriguing info to the discussion of the history and
development of the voices and so-called deponency...but that's a totally
different discussion), and the fact that its very likely, in my mind at
least, that the passives are just middle substitutes.
Any thots anyone??
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Dale M. Wheeler, Ph.D.
Research Prof., Biblical Languages Multnomah Bible College
8435 NE Glisan St. Portland, OR 97220
V: 503-2516416 E: dalemw at multnomah.edu
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