[B-Greek] Adjectival and Adverbial Prepositional Phrases in Biblical Greek.
JAMES DAVIS
jamesdavis at focusonthescriptures.com
Wed May 11 23:11:30 EDT 2005
This discussion concerns the question: In Biblical Greek is
the prepositional phrase "meta with the genitive" ever
adjectival or is it always adverbial?
Dana and Mantey argue,
"It is incorrect...to say that prepositions govern cases,
But it is true that as cases limit and define the relations
of verbs to substantives, so also prepositions help to
express more exactly and effectively the very distinctions
for which cases were created."...
Wallace argues,
"Prepositions are used with cases either to clarify,
strengthen, or alter the basic case usage."
A friend argues,
"Whether in Greek or in English, prepositional phrases
typically function as do adverbs: They usually modify the
main verb." So, prepositional phrases are adverbial and
not adjectival with a very few exceptions.
If, true, how are we to know if and when "meta" is being used
to alter the basic case usage of the genitive? The Greek
grammars that I have do not really address this issue.
I am an amateur, but I have believed that "meta with the
genitive" can be adjectival because of the case and
that "meta with the genitive" is an example of an adjectival
prepositional phrase. Am I wrong?
James Davis
jamesdavis at focusonthescriptures.com
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