[B-Greek] EI GE KAI in 2Co 5:3

Scott Wells wellsscott at bellsouth.net
Tue Nov 16 09:42:35 EST 2004


In writing a paper on 2Co 5:1-10 I have encountered the infrequent
collocation of particles EI GE KAI in v.3.  Some reference works briefly
address this (BDAG, BDF) while others address EI GE (Liddell-Scott, Smythe,
Dennison, Blass-Thackeray).  Thrall has done what appears to be the
definitive work thus far (see her 2 Co in ICC, 1 & 2 Cor in Cambridge Comm,
'Putting On' or 'Stripping Off'' in 2Co 5:3 in "NT Textual Crit: Essays in
Honor of Metzger", and most importantly "Greek Particles in the New
Testament").  While her methodology appears very sound I find myself in
disagreement with some of her presuppositions regarding the relationship
between Paul and his audience in his letters to the Ephesians and
Colossians, which impacts exegetical decisions in the text.  This prompts
the following questions:

#1    I can't find where she has investigated the occurrences of EI GE KAI
and EI GE in Josephus (she has looked at Epict. & Philo).  Does anyone know
if she has done so elsewhere, and if she hasn't, is there a reason why the
Josephus texts would not be relevant?

#2    Is there persuasive evidence that would determine whether KAI should
be considered an integral part of the phrase EI GE KAI or instead should be
considered an element modifying something else in the clause apart from EI
GE?  Thrall addresses this, but doesn't get beyond the realm of possibility
(which may be a credit to her reasoned exegetical skills).

#3    Is anyone aware of other detailed treatments of the EI GE (+KAI)
construction?

thanks,
Scott Wells
scott.alton.wells at us.army.mil




More information about the B-Greek mailing list