[B-Greek] "eis" in Acts 2:38

Richard Roland skywire at bellsouth.net
Fri Jan 7 20:13:58 EST 2005


<Doug>i'm not quite sure what you are asking here. perhaps
you could rephrase or elaborate.

What Jerry is asking is whether the sentence structure makes it clear that
the writer is saying "{Repent and be baptized} for the remission of sins",
as opposed to "Repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins".  In other
words, can we discern from the text whether the repentance, as well as the
baptism, is EIS AFESIN?

<Doug> this may be getting a bit into theology, but i would
add that EIS should NOT be understood or translated as
"in order to" as if EIS (often translated "for") meant
that the effect or result of baptism is forgiveness of
sins (as if it meant that if you want to be forgiven
you need to get baptized). if this were what was being
communicated, we'd probably see hINA or hOPWS. as
someone else said, probably the best understanding of
EIS is "with a view to/toward."

BDAG 3rd, EIS, 4f would seem to put what you say EIS should NOT be
understood or translated as well within the semantic range of EIS.  But
then, I am a novice.  If I am misreading or misusing the lexicon, I would
truly appreciate being corrected.

Richard Roland




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