Fw: [B-Greek] 1 Cor 1:26

Robert J. Fuller, Jr. rjfjr at mn.rr.com
Thu Mar 17 11:32:39 EST 2005


Apologies, I originally sent this to Jim West only and not to the list.


Jim,

I perceive that you are addressing the sense of the verb rather than the
mood of the verb.  I agree that "consider", in it's meaning, does not sound
very imperative.  But the meaning of the verb itself is not in question, but
the force with which the verb is given.

The original question seemed to be whether it was best to translate the verb
as an imperative or as an indicative. The question seems now to be whether
"consider" is the best way to translate the imperative. The verb "run" is
about moving legs very fast, but it can be delivered with imperatival force.
"Consider" can be given imperatival force.  Especially when your boss tells
you to "consider this in your proposal."

As for what I perceived the original question to be, it seems best from the
context to take the form as imperative, where Paul directs the focus of the
believers to there calling, and says "consider it."  There might be a better
way to translate this particular verb as imperative, but that is the second
step, after determining whether it is imperative or indicative.

Always Forward,

Bob Fuller


Always Forward >> Philippians 3:13,14
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim West" <jwest at highland.net>
To: "Carlton Winbery" <winberycl at earthlink.net>; <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 9:13 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] 1 Cor 1:26


>
>
> Carlton Winbery wrote:
>
>> Huh, I thought my translation above did that very well. "Consider . . ." 
>> means "You consider . . ." All imperatives in English are second person 
>> and do not distinguish the singular from the plural so the verb alone in 
>> English can be used to "command" someone to do or think something. Is 
>> that what you are asking? If I say "Go," it can mean for a whole class to 
>> go or for a single person to go. The audience we assume knows itself.
>>
> Thanks for your clarification- nevertheless "consider" doesn't necessarily 
> connote an imperative sense. /Consider/ suggests objective reflection and 
> reasoning: He considers success to be of little importance. /Deem/ is more 
> subjective, emphasizing judgment rather than contemplation: The faculty 
> deemed the essay to be acceptable. /Regard/ often implies a personal 
> attitude: I regard your apology as genuine. /Account/ and /reckon/ in this 
> sense are literary and imply calculated judgment: “I account no man to be 
> a philosopher who attempts to do more” (John Henry Newman). “I cannot 
> reckon you as an admirer” (Nathaniel Hawthorne).
>
> All imperatives in English are an understood second person but "consider" 
> is not necessarily an imperative. Hence using "consider" to render what 
> one perceives to be an imperative might not be as clear as another 
> possibility.
>
> Best
>
> Jim
>
> -- 
> Jim West
>
> Biblical Studies Resources -  http://web.infoave.net/~jwest
> Biblical Theology Weblog -  http://biblical-studies.blogspot.com
>
>
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