[B-Greek] Romans 4:1

Harold Holmyard hholmyard at ont.com
Wed Jul 26 10:00:35 EDT 2006


Dear Stephen,

TI OUN EROUMEN hEURHKENAI ABRAAM TON PROPATORA hHMWN KATA SARKA
>
>What then shall we say, Have we found Abraham to be our forefather
>according to the flesh?


>This is clearly a case of indirect discourse.  In indirect discourse the 
>dependent clause is set with its verb in the infinitive and, if different 
>than the main verb, the subject in the accustive.  Now, hHNWN is genitive so 
>it cannot be the subject of hEURHKENAI, which also means that the subject 
>for it must be taken as the same for EROUMEN.  Since the main verb is future 
>tense, the verb in indirect discourse will be future or present tense.  
>Thus, "What then shall we say we find Abraham our forefather according to 
>the flesh?"  But TI can also mean "why?"  So, perhaps, "Why then shall we 
>say we find Abraham our forefather according to the flesh?"
>  
>

HH: The subject of the infinitive can be Abraham.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard



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