[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??

***********************************************************************
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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