[B-Greek] Subjunctive or indicative in Rom. 5:3

Steven Lo Vullo themelios at charter.net
Sat Oct 9 00:30:19 EDT 2004


On Oct 8, 2004, at 9:17 PM, Lincoln Mullen wrote:

> Romans 5:3 reads, " OU MONON DE, ALLA KAI KAUXWMEQA EN TAIS QLIYESIN."
>
> Every translation that I have seen translates "KAUXWMEQA" as an 
> indicative:
> "we boast." However, the form at least appears to have the possibility 
> of
> being subjunctive: "let us boast." An analytical lexicon also parses 
> the
> word as indicative. Is it possible to distinguish between the present 
> active
> indicative 1st plural and the present active subjunctive 1st plural of 
> A
> contract verbs? If so, what would be the subjunctive form for 
> KAUXAOMAI?

Hi Lincoln:

It would be the same. Context is usually more than sufficient in 
indicating which is meant. For example, if found in a hINA clause, we 
could be sure that KAUCWMEQA was subjunctive. I think the context of 
Rom 5.3 pretty clearly indicates that KAUCWMEQA is indicative. It is 
important to take it together with v. 2. There KAUCWMEQA is clearly 
indicative, its clause being coordinate to another indicative clause to 
which it is joined by KAI. We wouldn't understand this as "through whom 
we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we 
stand, and LET US rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Then v. 3 
begins with OU MONON DE, and the clause in which we once again find 
KAUCWMEQA is modified by an adverbial use of KAI. This shows that the 
two instances of KAUCWMEQA are related, the second instance indicating 
an additional occasion of rejoicing. So the natural sense is "we 
rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also 
rejoice in sufferings."
============

Steven Lo Vullo
Madison, WI




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