[B-Greek] 2 Cor 2:1
Steven Lo Vullo
slovullo at mac.com
Sat Jun 12 22:03:19 EDT 2004
On Jun 12, 2004, at 6:39 PM, Paul Toseland wrote:
I am sending this to the list, since Paul said it would be OK to do so
and it may be of interest to others.
> I am trying to evaluate claims by various scholars that the infinitive
> clause
> of 2 Cor 2:1 is most naturally read as implying a prior 'painful
> visit'. These
> arguments include the following (I am quoting from Thrall's ICC):
>
> - the prominent position of PALIN is not easily explained if it
> simply
> qualifies ELQEIN. It is better seen as modifying all the words that
> follw,
> including EN LUPHi.
I don't think this is a valid point. As far as I can tell, the position
of PALIN has nothing to do with the question at hand. I think it is
just natural style in Greek to follow MH or OU with PALIN when both are
used in the same clause (see 2 Cor 5.12; Gal 5.1; Heb 6.1). I'm not
saying that this must ALWAYS be the case, but I don't see any reason to
conclude that this positioning necessarily makes PALIN any more
prominent than other elements in the clause.
> - the inclusion of EN LUPHi in the scope of PALIN is demanded by
> the introductory TO, which serves to integrate the whole clause as a
> unified concept.
I think he has a better point here, but again, I don't think this is a
**demanded** conclusion. He, I think, is making the point I made
earlier--what I clumsily referred to as "synergism." But I see your
point too, Paul, and don't think it it impossible to take PALIN and EN
LUPHi discretely, perhaps with the sense, "On my next visit to you, I
don't want to come to you in grief." I think factors besides grammar
and syntax are necessary to solve the problem.
> In addition, Ferdinand Baur has argued that if Paul meant to say, as I
> think he did actually intend, 'not to return to you in sorrow', without
> implying a prior sorrowful visit, he should properly have written
>
> TO MH PALIN ELQWN EN LUPHi PROS hUMAS ELQEIN.
I find these types of arguments to be inherently weak, since they beg
the question.
============
Steven Lo Vullo
Madison, WI
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