[B-Greek] word order in questions John 18:33
Carlton Winbery
winberycl at earthlink.net
Thu Apr 14 08:13:30 EDT 2005
>B-Greeks,
>
>is there any specific word order in Greek questions? I can't find
>any info either in BDF or in Wallace. If there is no question word
>how can we know that it's a question?
>I'm thinking about Pilate's question: SY EI hO BASILEUS TWN IOUDAIWN.
>On the base of Greek grammar (not context) can we say if it's a
>question or a statement?
>
>Any help appreciated
>
>Beata Urbanek
The verse you refer to is spelled out below.
Jn 18:33. EISHLQEN OUN PALIN EIS TO PRAITWRION hO PILATOS KAI
EFWNHSEN TON IHSOUN KAI EIPEN AUTWi: SU EI hO BASILEUS TWN IOUDAIWN;
There are no definite indicators of a question in the Greek text. The
editors have added the question mark in the UBS text. However, it is
very unlikely that in this context Pilate pronounced Jesus as King of
the Jews. Thus, all Greed texts I know treat the direct speech of
Pilate as a question. Sometimes we do not have clear indicators of a
question in the context. Its a matter of interpretation.
Carlton Winbery
--
Carlton L. Winbery
Fogleman Professor of Religion
Louisiana College
318-448-6103
winberycl at earthlink.net
winbery at lacollege.edu
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