[B-Greek] META FOBOU KAI TROMOU (Phil 2:12, etc.)

Jonathan Robie jonathan.robie at datadirect.com
Tue Mar 23 10:20:34 EST 2004


dhoxworth at charter.net wrote:
> What exactly does the phrase "META FOBOU KAI TROMOU" mean? What is the core of what this is supposed to communicate to the reader? Is it an idiom of some sort?

I wonder if this might not be an example of hendiadys? I googled it, and 
found that at least some people seem to think this:

http://www.google.com/search?q=fear+trembling+hendiadys

Robertson suggests, in his commentary on Phil 2:12, quotes Vincent and 
Lightfoot on the meaning of META FOBOU KAI TROMOU:

"Not slavish terror, but wholesome, serious caution" (Vincent).
"Nervous and trembling anxiety to do right" (Lightfoot).

I wish I had BAGD with me right now...

Jonathan



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