[B-Greek] Potential Opt. Acts 17:18

Elizabeth Kline kline_dekooning at earthlink.net
Tue Oct 17 23:26:39 EDT 2006


On Oct 17, 2006, at 12:18 PM, George F Somsel wrote:

> In this Acts passage it would seem that it has the implication of  
> one who acquires bits and pieces of information then propounds some  
> grand theory (much like some amateur theologians on many internet  
> lists).  If the optative were to be considered as ironic, what then  
> of Lk 1.62?
>
> ENENEUON DE TWi PATRI AUTOU TO TI AN QELOI KAEISQIA AUTO

An interesting parallel construction, it even has the demonstrative  
pronoun. Obviously not ironic.

Acts 17:18 TI AN QELOI hO SPERMOLOGOS hOUTOS LEGEIN;

To an english ear the demonstrative hOUTOS with SPERMOLOGOS sound  
like they were really "laying it on thick" but I wonder if the  
demonstrative really had that effect in first century Athens.

Elizabeth Kline







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