[B-Greek] 1 Peter 1:20

Ann Nyland nyland at tsn.cc
Mon Aug 28 18:10:59 EDT 2006


Hi Michael,
Those translations were indeed correct. The Greeks said MEN and DE with 
practically every second breath - they thought in terms of MEN and DE, but 
it is not often translated "on the one hand.. on the other hand" and is 
usually (properly) translated as "but", "yet" etc. That is, it should not be 
translated "on the one hand.. on the other hand" but that helps non-Greek 
speakers understand it when they are learning Greek. It is taught to 
students as "on the one hand.. on the other hand" (although at the same time 
they are warned not to translate it that way, rarely at any rate) just to 
give them the idea of the thinking, and to get them to look for the 
answering DE when they see a MEN, not so they will translate it into English 
that way. Btw, a single word in Greek could well need to be translated by 
several words in English, and vice versa.
Ann Nyland

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Muz" <themuzicman at gmail.com>
To: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 2:17 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] 1 Peter 1:20


> I've read a couple of translations of 1 Peter 1:20, and I don't see
> reflected in the translation the effect the MEN and DE should have upon 
> it:
>
> PROEGNWSMENOU MEN PRO KATABOLHS KOSMOU FANERWQENTOS DE EP' ESXATOU TWN
> XRONWN DI' hUMAS.
>
> is translated (NASB):
>
> "For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared
> in these last times for the sake of you."
>
> But, if you take the MEN into account, should it be:
>
> "On one hand, being known before the foundation of the world, yet on the
> other hand, appearing in these last times for your sake."
>
>
> Michael Faber 




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