[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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