[B-Greek] 1 Thes.1:3

Doug Hoxworth doughoxworth at yahoo.com
Thu Nov 4 15:07:54 EST 2004


><Rick>
>I'm wondering about the expression EMPROSQEN TOU QEOU
KAI PATROS hHMWN in 1 Thes.1:3...Though several
translations (including NET) make the phrase go with
MNHMONEUONTES, this seems to me a little tenuous
because it is so far removed by other words in the
sentence.

<doug>
i'm sort of playing devil's advocate here so bear with
me:

i don't know that i'd put too much stock in word
order/location for translation. as you probably know,
it is not word order that determines function in
greek. simply because it seems "so far removed by
other words in the sentence" does not mean that it
must modify the closest word. why would you attach it
to ELPIDOS any more than AGAPHS or PISTEWS? aren't
they all sort of attached (note the KAI) to one
another (perhaps emphasizing one main idea rather than
three separate ones; the triad of faith, love, and
hope)? is it possible that it more likely is adverbial
(e.g., goes with the verbal idea) rather than
adjectival? from my perspective, i just don't know how
much one should allow word order to decide it for us.
and i don't know if i see the validity in attaching
this phrase to one of the triads (simply because it's
last) and not the others. i do think it would work to
attach it to all three though (that their faith, love,
and hope in their Lord Jesus Christ is in the presence
of their God and Father). those are my initial
thoughts "off-the-cuff."

though here is what at robertson says:

"The phrase is probably connected with ELPIDOS.
EMPROSQEN in the N.T. occurs only of place, but it is
common in the papyri of time. The picture here is the
day of judgment when all shall appear before God."

so you are in good company.

><Rick>
>It seems more natural to me that both final phrases
go with ELPIDOS, making it a hope that waits for the
coming of Jesus, at which time we will stand before
God in judgment.

<doug>
acutally, it seems to be speaking of remembering (or
hoping) "before our God and Father." in other words,
the main idea of this sentence does not seem to be
"waiting for the coming of Jesus" but the focus is
paul's (and co.) commendation/memory of *their* faith,
love, and hope in this life.

><Rick>
>Interestingly, EMPROSQEN occurs three more times in 1
Thes., at least two of which pertain to the Lord's
coming and judgment (2:19 and 3:13); perhaps 3:9 is
not as clear.

<doug>
but again, to play devil's advocate, these are
different immediate contexts. but i think overall,
this just makes your argument stronger.

Doug Hoxworth
Luther Rice Seminary

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 



More information about the B-Greek mailing list