[B-Greek] 1 Thes.1:3 again
Harold R. Holmyard III
hholmyard at ont.com
Fri Nov 5 11:35:11 EST 2004
Dear Rick,
>Yes, I realize that Gk. word order can be quite
>flexible, but as you read the verse, does it seem as natural for the
>phrase under consideration to go with the participle as it does with the
>immediately preceding phrase? [I must be cautious here because Paul's
>writings are sometimes quite flexible, if not tricky.]
>
>The structure of the first few verses in 1 Thes.1 seems to be:
>MAIN CLAUSE: We give thanks., v.2, followed by three participial
>modifiers:
> 1. Making mention.in our prayers, v.2
> 2. Remembering., v.3
> 3. Knowing your election., v.4
>Now, I do believe that the last phrase of 1 Thes.1:3 could go with
>MNHMONEUONTES, but to me it doesn't seem nearly as natural.
>
>Yes, I realize the immediate context does not focus only on "waiting for
>the coming of Jesus,"
>but the phrase following ELPIDOS does make this point, and these
>thoughts (hope, the second coming) flow throughout both Thessalonian
>epistles.
>
>I also appreciate Ben Crick's response, and plan to use George Somsel's
>reference in Rv.8 as I present both sides. Ben, if you have time
>and/or inclination, do you know of another passage that connects
>MNHMONEUW with EMPROSQEN TOU QEOU? In 2:19, 3:9 and 3:13, EMPROSQEN
>is juxtaposed to the Lord/God. My only problem in 1 Thes.1:3 concerns
>the distance between EMPROSQEN and the participle, although, as I have
>said above, I admit it is possible.
HH: As you say. 1 Thess 3:9 shows a similar use of EMPROSQEN of
prayer before God. There is no similar use of MNHMONEUW with
EMPROSQEN, but in a short amount of literature like the NT, that is
not particularly meaningful. It may be helpful to go back one verse:
1Th. 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of
you in our prayers;
HH: This construction occurs three other places in Paul's letters:
Rom. 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the
gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always
in my prayers;
Eph. 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in
my prayers;
Philem. 1:4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
HH: In the other three cases Paul subsequently indicates the
substance of his prayer:
Rom. 1:10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have
a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
Eph. 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of him:
Philem. 1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the
Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
Philem. 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual
by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ
Jesus.
HH: So it seems probable to me that 1 Thess 1:3 is giving the
substance of Paul's prayer mentioned in 1 Thess 1:2:
1Th. 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour
of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight
of God and our Father;
HH: It does not seem that long a separation of MNHMONEUW from
EMPROSQEN. For Paul remembered three simple, parallel ideas. But each
had a parallel modifier, so it takes some time to get back to
EMPROSQEN, but EIDOTES in 1 Thess 1:4 explains what Paul knows as he
prays. So the topic is still his prayer. That makes sense if the
preceding "before our God and Father" continues the idea of prayer.
And really, that expression is more functional if it describes prayer
than it does if it describes hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yours,
Harold Holmyard
>
>Thanks again to all for taking the time to help.
>
>Rick Duggin
>---
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