[B-Greek] (no subject)

George F Somsel gfsomsel at juno.com
Sun Dec 26 18:49:26 EST 2004


On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 17:23:03 -0500 John Fincher <jcfincher at charter.net>
writes:
> This has probably been a much discussed passage for B-Greek, but 
> since I am new here I would like to get your opinion of the word 
> TELEION in 1 Cor. 13:10.  My Analytical Greek New Testament with 
> grammatical analysis says that it is a pronomial adjective that is 
> nominative/neuter/singular, but doesn't the presence of the definite 
> article mean that it is a noun?  If it were an adjective, shouldn't 
> it read "when the perfection is come..."?  Also, what is the meaning 
> of the word?  Every translation I have looked at renders it 
> "perfection".
> 
> John Fincher
> McDonough, GA
__________________

I'll just quote Wallace on the subject of the "non-adjectival" uses of
the adjective

 
Introduction
The basic role of the adjective is as a modifier of a noun or other
substantive. As such, it can be modified by an adverb. Not infrequently,
however, it deviates from this role by one step in either direction. That
is, it can either stand in the place of a noun or in the place of an
adverb. Its nominal role is a natural extension of the adjective in which
the noun is elided; its adverbial role is more idiomatic, usually
reserved for special terms.
 
B. The Independent or Substantival 
Use of the Adjective
1. Definition
The adjective is frequently used independently of a noun. That is, it can
function as a substantive (in which case it either implies a noun or
takes on the lexical nuance of a noun).
2. Clarification
Usually, though not always, such a substantival adjective will have the
article with it to point out that its use is indeed substantival. Some
words, such as KURIOS (“lord”), ERHMOS (“desert”), DIAOLOS (“slanderous,”
or, as a noun, “the devil”), and hAGIOS (“holy,” or, as a noun, “saint”),
often function as substantives without the article since they are either
often or usually independent of nouns in the NT. Other adjectives,
however, usually require the article to make clear that they are being
used substantivally.
Furthermore, when the adjective is substantival, its gender is generally
fixed by sense rather than by grammatical concord. That is to say, if it
refers to a male, it will usually be masculine; if it refers to a female,
it will usually be feminine; if it refers to an entity or concept, it
will be neuter.

george
gfsomsel
___________


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