[B-Greek] Eph 2:20-22 SUNOIKODOMEISQE Question
Carl W. Conrad
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Thu Jul 15 11:08:54 EDT 2004
At 7:50 AM -0500 7/15/04, David Bielby wrote:
>Eph 2:22 EN hWi KAI hUMEIS SUNOIKODOMEISQE EIS KATOIKHTHRION TOU QEOU EN
>PNEUMATI.
>
>This term SUNOIKODOMEISQE is a compound of OIKODOMEW (cf. Mt 16:18 KAI EPI
>TAUTH TH PETRA OIKODOMHSW MOU THN EKKLHSIAN)
>
>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? Why the verb switch? What's the significance? Is this flavoring
>of the text or is there a clear emphasis on unity here. Coupled with the
>unusual KATOIKHTHRION immediately after this.and it's only other GNT
>reference in Rev 18:2 KAI EGENETO KATOIKHTHRION DAIMONIWN.
>
>Given the context of pagan temples in Ephesus, the illusion in Rev 18:2
>(albeit 30 some years later), may it reveal some information here?
I doubt it very much. The word KATOIKHTHRION is used in the LXX in Exodus
12:20 of a dwelling-place or residence of members of the community being
addressed. One finds throughout the Pauline corpus metaphors of building
applied to formation of selfhood and community, just as one finds metaphors
of agriculture and of organic growth. You might compare the passage in
Ephesians with 1 Cor 3:10-17, where Paul speaks of himself as a SOFOS
ARCITEKTWN who lays a foundation for others to EPOIKODOMEIN, and later in
this passage he speaks of the community as a NAOS QEOU -- KAI TO PNEUMA TOU
QEOU OIKEIN EN hUMIN.
--
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/
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