[B-Greek] hAMA AND 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Tue Jun 20 07:20:10 EDT 2006


On Jun 19, 2006, at 11:33 PM, Rod Rogers wrote:

> I have a question on 1 Thessalonians 4:17. This
> was discussed somewhat back in June 2000 but not
> as complete as I need. Here is the text:
>
> EPEITA hHMEIS hOI ZWNTES hOI PERILEIPOMENOI hAMA
> SUN AUTOIS h ARPAGHSOMEQA EN NEFELAIS EIS
> APANTHSIN TOU KURIOU AERA KAI hOUTWS PANTOTE SUN
> KURIW ESOMEQA.
>
> My questions are, 1. Can hAMA be translated as
> either an adverb or an adverbial preposition
> (improper preposition)? 2. Is there any possible
> way (grammatically) to make hAMA SUN AUTOIS to
> modify EN NEFELAIS making the translation say that
> the dead are raised (all the way to "in the
> clouds") first and then, EPEITA, the hOI ZWNTES
> PERILEIPOMENOI are caught up to be united with the
> resurrected dead?

(1) I think that hAMA must govern SUN AUTOIS "simultaneously with them"
(2) I think the phrase hAMA SUN AUTOIS must be construed as governing  
adverbially the verb hARPAGHSOMEQA

> Thanks for your considering this text. I think the
> Greek translates fairly easily here but a
> gentleman claiming seminary level Greek is
> positive that hAMA does not indicate that both
> groups are caught up "at the same time", and that
> "together" refers to the "result" of hARPAGHSOMEQA
> not "how" they are caught up. Being the country
> bumpkin that I am I though I'd as you folks.

I'd say: don't let the "gentleman claiming seminary level Greek"  
intimidate you, even if you claim to be a "country bumpkin." My own  
conviction is that the authority of one expounding any proposition  
doesn't derive from years of education or degrees held but rather  
from the evidence adduced for the proposition and the cogency of the  
argument presented. This is one reason I never liked the putative  
distinction between "big Greeks" and "little Greeks" first raised by  
our illustrious list-owner. Sometimes simple facts are recognized  
more quickly (and accurately) by wet-behind-the-ears newbies than by  
grizzled "scholars."

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad2 at mac.com
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/





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