[B-Greek] 2 Tim 1:3 APO
virgil newkirk
virgilsalvage1 at msn.com
Mon Mar 6 22:32:23 EST 2006
On Mar 5, 2006, at 8:24 PM, Mitch Larramore wrote:
CARIN ECW TWi QEWi, hWi LATREUW APO PROGONWN EN
KAQARAi SUNEIDHSEI...
> > What does this phrase APO PROGONWN modify? And how
> > would it be translated? It appears on the surface to
> > be something like "from (my) parents/forefathers." Is
> > there some temporal element with this phrase, as in
> > "from the time of..."?
Carl then commented:
I think APO PROGONWN does indeed modify LATREUW and I think that the
force of the present tense is to indicate continuous worshipful
service from the time of his ancestors continued in Paul's own
regular practice. I think that the phrasing implies more than it
says: "whom I still serve constantly with a heart that is pure, as
did my forefathers in their time."
Carl,
I am interested along with you that this phrasing implies more than it
says, but I would like to offer a different perspective on the present...
LATREUW. Later I would also like to speak to the phrase.." a heart that is
pure."
Robertson offers that the present may express the present of past action
still in progress but usually will have an adverb of time (or adjunct) that
accompanies the verb that would make this evident, I.E. Luke:15:29, 1 John
2:9, John 5:6. In 2Tim 1:3 there is no such adverb or adjunct unless we take
the genitive cased phrase APO PROGONWN as indicating from, as in time since.
This would not work since Paul could not have been serving in the present
moments or time in his life "since" the forefathers.
Zodhiates states in the grammatical notations in his CWSNT concerning the
perfect indicative active under note 79:
"The present tense in the indicative mood represents comtemporaneus action,
as opposed to action in the past or the future. In moods other than the
indicative mood, it refers only to continuous or repeated action." Further
along he states:
"The present indicative asserts something which is occurring while the
speaker is making the statement."
It would seem that here in the beginning lines of a personal letter after
having greeted Timothy, what we see are a few lines that appear (from the
grammar) to be Paul speaking from and about the present moments. Verse 3a.."
Timothy, gratitude fills my hands...gratitude to God. God, whom, I am at
these moments right now in my life rendering service to with that which is
from what characterizes the forefathers. It's the clean stuff Timothy. It's
the real, the stuff that is acceptable to God. Deep inside there is a
confirmation of clean..not unclean. Of acceptance..not rejection. As Paul
said in another place..."the body is of Christ."
APO has two basic senses:
From, as in since some time.
Secondly... that which is something, that came from something.
Here in verse 3 APO PROGONWN must be referring not to "since" but to the
realities...the clean ones that are those things that characterize the
fathers.
It is significant that Paul gives further definition to LATREUW APO PROGONWN
by the compliment of EN KAQARAi SUNEIDHSEI. His service of the present
moments of his life (LATREUW APO PROGONWN)have the affirmation of a clean
conscience which is different from a pure heart. The trouble with a pure
heart is that it can be as nasty a thing as AGAPH, depending what it is set
upon and what it's from... and not necessarily subject to a conscience. Yes,
the day is coming, Jesus said, that when the ones that are killing you will
be thinking that they are doing God a service. Yes, Paul knows about a pure
heart...he's been there; but here writing to Timothy he states with joy and
gratitude he is serving God with what is from, what is characterized by the
forefathers that is the "clean" stuff...not just something that is
characterized by sincerity or even a pureness of heart. Many evil doers have
a pureness of heart and keep on keepin' on. But, to the one who can feel
what is unclean to God and is sensitive to it and cares about it; that is
one that might realize and be able to write...
hWi LATREUW APO PROGONWN EN KAQARAi SUNEIDHSEI..and then follows something
clean and "of" the forefathers:
hWS ADIALEIPTON EXW TNV PERI SOU MNEIAN EN TAIS DEHSESI MOU NUKTOS KAI
hMERAS.
What Carl says bears repeating and consideration, that being:
"I think that the phrasing implies more than says."
Virgil Newkirk
Salt Lake City, Utah
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