[B-Greek] Acts 22:17 Septuagintal?
randallbuth at gmail.com
randallbuth at gmail.com
Wed Jan 25 18:21:11 EST 2006
>> Basically, Luke NEVER uses the LXX-egeneto constructions in Acts.
>>...
>>
>> EGENETO [+/- time margin] with an infinitive MAIN clause (to be
>> distinguished from EGENETO +/- time margin + finite verb main
>> clause) occurs
>> 16 times in Acts and 6 times in the gospel of Luke and NEVER in the
>> LXX.
>
(Kline)
>A breath taking statement. The word "NEVER" just begs for a
>contradiction. However it is somewhat difficult (perhaps not
>impossible) to falsify this assertion.
Yes, the LXX does beg for a contrary example buried somewhere. However, even
if one were found it would not affect the Luke/Acts data. That side of the
equation is quite limited and easy to follow.
For example, Dirk raised Acts 22:6. That, too, uses the infinitive for the
main verb. EGENETO ... PERIASTRAPSAI FWS. What was disconcerting in NT
scholarship over the 20th century was a common mis-citation of the datum.
Following Dalman, and after acknowleding the distinctions pointed out by
Plummer, many would state that the "Hebraic" EGENETO occurs in BOTH GLuke
and Acts. But of course, it doesn't, as is clear to anyone who checks out
the tables and comments in the various commentaries and grammars. EGENETO
occurs in Acts, and EGENETO with an impersonal/non-subject, but not
impersonal EGENETO and a finite verb main clause, the "Hebraic" and common
LXX structure.
It is nice to see Carl amused with the phrase the "real Luke". I suppose
more definition would help. What I see in the Acts data is that Luke himself
wrote with impersonal EGENETO + infinitive main verb (to be distinguished
from infinitives within a time margin). That would be the real Luke. He
didn't need a source to write that structure. While it provides a point of
comparison to LXX structures, it is really Hellenistic, Luke's style. This
is not really different from things like TE in Acts and Gluke (where it
would be a 'real-Lucan'-ism), but negligible in other Gospels. On the other
hand, the EGENETO + finite main verb in the Gospel of LUke, though a close
structure, is distinguishable, never in NA27/Alex Acts, and most probably
coming from a source in the GLuke.
For b-Greek, of course, the literary composition of the gospels is not a
topic, but tracing linguistic traits of an author strikes me as primary
language orientation. One of the purposes of reading a literature in its
original language is to be able to see and follow the exact choices of words
and structures made by an author. The tapestry of a source text is ALWAYS
different from a translation. (Elizabeth will like ALWAYS as well as
NEVER?). Either way, it's nice to follow along with an author's choices and
watch the connections and feel the different kinds of influences.
ERRWSQE
Randall
Randall Buth, PhD
Director, Biblical Language Center
www.BiblicalUlpan.org
buth at jerusalemschool.org
and Lecturer, Biblical Hebrew
Rothberg, Hebrew University
ybitan at mscc.huji.ac.il
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