[B-Greek] TINI LOGWi - I Cor. 15:2
Steven Lo Vullo
themelios at charter.net
Sat Dec 18 19:16:53 EST 2004
On Dec 13, 2004, at 11:00 AM, Eric Weiss wrote:
> I Corinthians 15:
> 1. GNWRIZW DE hUMIN, ADELFOI,
> TO EUAGGELION hO EUHGGELISAMHN hUMIN,
> hO KAI PARELABETE,
> EH hW KAI hESTHKATE,
> 2. DI' hOU KAI SWiZESQE,
> TINI LOGWi EUHGGELISAMHN hUMIN EI KATECETE,
> EKTOS EI MH EIKHi EPISTEUSATE.
>
> I've looked at BDAG and BDF and Robertson (Greek
> Grammar/Historical Research) and Perschbacher's
> NT Greek Syntax, and am still having a bit of trouble
> understanding how best to translate TINI LOGWi and
> how it functions here. TINI usually means "(by/with)
> what/whom?" and the grammars mention its use for
> an "indirect question." Yet others suggest that here it
> functions as a relative pronoun, which is how I and
> most translations understand it. I think Robertson says
> that it should not be taken as subordinate to EI
> KATECETE, but I'm not sure I understand what he means
> by that. Zerwick says it's an "indirect interrogative," but
> if so, how do you translate it so it has the sense of being
> a question?
I think English translations smooth over the difficulty here. With what
do we construe TINI LOGWi EUHGGELISAMHN? Does it relate to TO
EUAGGELION in v. 1, as do the relative clauses in vv. 1-2, or does it
complement or modify KATECETE in the conditional clause in v. 2? Both
seem doubtful to me. On the one hand, when KATECETE means to "hold
fast" traditions, convictions, or beliefs, it seems to me that it
should take an accusative, as in 1 Cor 15.2 and 1 Th 5.21. Not to
mention the awkwardness of it preceding EI. On the other hand, it
doesn't make sense as a relative clause. Then we have TO EUAGGELION ...
TINI LOGWi EUHGGELISAMHN ("the gospel .... by which we preached to
you"). Not to mention that it would create a redundancy (see hO
EUHGGELISAMHN in v. 1). However we look at it, it seems awkward. I
think it is possible that it either modifies SWiZESQE or is
interjectory, emphasizing and clarifying exactly by what the
Corinthians are saved.
If we understand TINI as interrogative, it is not necessary to
translate it as a question. The question could conceivably be implied.
============
Steven Lo Vullo
Madison, WI
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