[B-Greek] Eph 2:20-22 SUNOIKODOMEISQE Question

Maurice A. O'Sullivan mauros at iol.ie
Thu Jul 15 10:48:12 EDT 2004


At 13:50 15/07/2004, David Bielby wrote:

>And my question is this: Does Paul's use of the compound in Eph 2:22-a
>relatively uncommon use in GNT-indicate primarily that he is highlighting in
>Eph 2:22 the concept of being built together rather than just the thought of
>building?

from: Bratcher, R. G., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on Paul's letter to 
the Ephesians. Originally published under title: A translator's handbook on 
Paul's letter to the Ephesians.1983. UBS handbook series; Helps for 
translators (Page 64). New York: United Bible Societies.

 >> Ephesians 2.22.

The verse starts, as does verse 21, with the relative phrase 'in whom' 
(that is, in Christ), which TEV translates _In union with him_. The words 
_you too_ and the compound verb 'build together with' show that the writer 
has in mind the readers' being joined to all other Christian believers in 
the whole process of construction, growth, and eventual completion of a 
sacred temple, a place where God lives. So TEV with all the others; NEB 
'with all the rest' TNT 'with us' Brc 'as a part with all his other people'

The present tense of the two verbs, grow (verse 21) and are being built 
(verse 22), depicts the action as progressing, with the final end not yet 
reached.

It may be appropriate to continue the figurative language related to a 
building, but in some languages it may be more meaningful to translate the 
central elements in verse 22 as 'you, too, are being joined together with 
all of the others' or ''with all of the other believers.' The following 
phrase _into a place_ may then be rendered as 'so as to form a place' or 
'so as to be a place'


Maurice A. O'Sullivan  [ Bray, Ireland ]
mauros at iol.ie





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