[B-Greek] Comparison of EIS with PROS

Mike Sangrey msangrey at BlueFeltHat.org
Wed Jan 14 19:01:29 EST 2004


On Wed, 2004-01-14 at 18:21, dhoxworth at charter.net wrote:
<snip>
> then why use PROS instead of EIS? if they are perfectly synonomous
> here, then why isn't only PROS or only EIS used? i just wonder what
> the basis is for saying there isn't an ounce of difference or a basis
> for explaining why the different prepositions are used and what the
> particular nuance is for each (in general, and specifically in Eph
> 4:12). thanks for your help.

One thing to keep in mind when dealing with prepositions is that they do
more than just "mean" something.  They also perform a MARKING function. 
For example, Louw & Nida say "90.58 PROS: a marker of an experiencer of
an event."  What that ends up meaning (that is, the fact they do more
than just "mean" something ends up meaning) in practice is that certain
prepositions just don't "feel" right when used with certain words.  I've
noticed when editing an email I'm writing, if I change a verb or
prepositional object I'll sometimes have to change a preposition which
interacts with it (or vice versa).  I think we see this type of effect
when (say) EIS is used and the prepositional object is something like
(say) EISODOS.  PROS might not feel right (thought I'm not sure).

I'm not proficient in Greek enough to know if what I say here as any
relevancy to Eph 4:12 and I think it beneficial for anyone to try to
compare the prepositions in order to better understand them.

-- 
Mike Sangrey
msangrey at BlueFeltHat.org
Landisburg, Pa.
                        "The first one last wins."
            "A net of highly cohesive details reveals the truth."




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