[B-Greek] 1 Peter 1:15

Charles Rempel CharlesR at mygalaxyexpress.com
Thu Jan 6 19:50:49 EST 2005


CWC: And the middle sense of EGENETO FWS is NOT that "light did something to
itself" but that "light came into being." The middle voice does not require
ACTION OF THE GRAMMATICAL SUBJECT UPON ITSELF; rather it involves
INVOLVEMENT OF THE GRAMMATICAL SUBJECT IN A PROCESS, WHETHER VOLUNTARY OR
INVOLUNTARY. It seems to me that much of the rejection of middle semantics
for the GENHQH- forms lies in a notion that the middle voice must mean
direct reflexive action of the grammatical subject upon itself. But the
middle voice does not require that the grammatical subject be consciously,
deliberately PERFORMING an action

CDR: My question then becomes, relative to Genesis 1:3, "How is the subject,
light, involved in the process, whether voluntary or involuntary?" What is
that process and how is light involved? If I understand the implications of
what you are saying, the process is simply "becoming" and light is
involved - end of thought - period. While you insist on the GENHQH- forms
being middle, there is a school of thought which disagrees. There is a
school of thought which indicates GENHQH to be passive. And the passive
gives a legitimate form of understanding not totally different from what you
are saying. I respect your viewpoint and would love to get into the theology
of this one ... To some degree I think we are arguing semantics more than
anything. I do readily accept that the middle is not primarily reflexive and
if you go back and check the posts, I cited ATR before you did, although the
messages may have crossed each other. I think that your middle
interpretation and my passive interpretation result in virtually the same
conclusion. Though I do believe the passive opens the door for greater
theological understanding. (Oh yes, verboten:-)

Respectly,
Charles D. Rempel
30 year student
Without Portfolio





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