[B-Greek] "eis" in Acts 2:38
Iver Larsen
ialarsen at multitechweb.com
Sat Jan 8 13:24:16 EST 2005
> Matt 3:11 - EGW MEN hUMAS BAPTIZW EN hUDATI EIS METANOIAN
> Matt 28:19 - BAPTIZONTES AUTOUS EIS TO ONOMA TOU PATROS ...
> Matt 26:28 - TO PERI POLLWN EKCUNNOMENON EIS AFESIN hAMARTIWN
> Mark 1:4-5 - KHRUSSWN BAPTISMA METANOIAS EIS AFESIN hAMARTIWN
> (also Luke 3:3) ... KAI EBAPTIZONTO hUP' AUTOU EN TWi IORDANHi
> POTAMWi EXOMOLOGOUMENOI TAS hAMARTIAS AUTWN (also Matt 3:6)
> Acts 2:38 - METANOHSATE, [FHSIN,] KAI BAPTISQHTW hEKASTOS hUMWN
> EPI TWi ONOMATI IHSOU CRISTOU EIS AFESIN TWN hAMARTIWN hUMWN
<snip>
> Translating EIS as "concerning/with respect to"
> (see Acts 2:25 - DAUID GAR LEGEI EIS AUTON (i.e., Jesus)) will work for
> most of these passages (except for Matthew 28:19), but that still
> leaves the relationship between baptism, repentance and forgiveness
undefined. The
> relationship described in Mark 1:4-5 seems to suggest that
> baptism followed repentance and confession of sin (or repentance signified
by
> confession of sin), and such baptism either signified one's cleansing
following
> repentance/confession, or in some way effected/sealed one's
repentance/confession...
> Eric S. Weiss
Whereas "concerning" works well for Acts 2:25 and Rom 16:19, it is not a
common sense of EIS, and I do not agree that this translation would work for
any of the verses listed.
EIS in itself has a wide range of potential meanings, although "because" is
not included. See L&N:
a to (extension): eis#84.16
b into (extension): eis#84.22
c on (location): eis#83.47
d inside (location): eis#83.13
e among (location): eis#83.9
f in order to (purpose): eis#89.57
g so that (result): eis#89.48
h by (means): eis#89.76
i with reference to (content): eis#90.23
j to the point of (degree): eis#78.51
k to (change of state): eis#13.62
l to (experiencer): eis#90.59
m on behalf of (benefaction): eis#90.41
n by (guarantor): eis#90.30
o for (time): eis#67.117
p at (time): eis#67.160
q until (time): eis#67.119
For Acts 2:38 BAGD says:
f. to denote purpose in order to, to .... EIS AFESIN hAMARTIWN for
forgiveness of sins, so that sins might be forgiven Mt 26:28; cf. Mk 1:4; Lk
3:3; Ac 2:38.
The sense of consequence which can be either purpose or result is very
common for EIS, and I see no good reason to disagree with BAGD for Acts
2:38. The forgiveness of sins is according to this verse a consequence of
repentance and baptism.
L&N does list "with reference to" for Acts 2:38, but for EPI rather than
EIS.
That baptism seems to follow repentance in Mark 1:4-5 as well as Acts 2:38
does not exclude that the resulting lifestyle after baptism is also
characterised by a "changed mind" - METANOIA. Life has many opportunities
for repentance.
Matt 28:19 has the additional complication of hONOMA, and BAGD has this to
say under hONOMA:
The concept of dedication is also highly significant, in all probability,
for the understanding of the expr. BAPTIZEIN EIS (TO) hONOMA TINOS. Through
baptism EIS (TO) hONOMA T. the one who is baptized becomes the possession of
and comes under the protection of the one whose name he bears; he is under
the control of the effective power of the name and the One who bears the
name, i.e., he is dedicated to them."
Again, I have no reason to quarrel with BAGD here.
Iver Larsen
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list