[B-Greek] 1 Thes.1:3
Ben Crick
ben.crick at argonet.co.uk
Thu Nov 4 16:54:56 EST 2004
On Thu 4 Nov 2004 (11:47:08), rduggin at comcast.net wrote:
> I'm wondering about the expression EMPROSQEN TOU QEOU KAI PATROS hHMWN
> in 1 Thes.1:3:
>
> MNHMONEUONTES hUMWN TOU ERGOU THS PISTEWS KAI TOU KOPOU THS AGAPHS KAI
> THS hUPOMONHS THS ELPIDOS TOU KURIOU hHMWN IHSOU XRISTOU EMPROSQEN TOU
> QEOU KAI PATROS hHMWN
>
> 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. [The note in NET does allow
> for the possibility that the phrase goes with TOU KURIOU hHMWN IHSOU
> XRISTOU.] 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. 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.
Many English versions make EMPROSQEN TOU QEOU KAI PATROS hUMWN go with
MNHMONEUONTES. Then the work of Faith, the labour of Love and the endurance
of Hope are all due to our Lord Jesus Christ.
EMPROSQEN is a Hebraism, rendering the very common LiP:NeY ("before the face
of...") in the O.T. When Christ returns we shall indeed stand "before his
face".
Faith Love and Hope are the cardinal virtues. Faith has a Content; Love has
an Object; Hope has a Prospect. That prospect is of seeing the Lord face to
face; so IMHO it is the ELPIDOS that goes with TOU KURIOU hHMWN IHSOU
CRISTOU.
Remembering [something] before our God and Father is another way of saying
"mentioning it in our prayers". Paul often begins his letters by giving
thanks to God for his readers' strong points before criticising their
weaknesses. Their strengths are their Faith, their Love, and their Hope; and
their works, labours and endurance that issue from these.
ERRWSQE
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF ZFC Lu
<ben.crick at NOSPAM.argonet.co.uk>
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