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

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Wed Oct 18 15:18:13 EDT 2006


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Kline" <kline_dekooning at earthlink.net>
To: "BG" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 7:04 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Potential Opt. Acts 17:18


> Parsons/Culy {quote}
>
> Potential optative; see 5:24. (Wallace: 1996,701) suggests that the
> implicit protasis in this incomplete fourth class conditional is
> something like: "If he could say anything that made sense!" The
> optative makes it very clear that the philosophers did not think it
> was likely that paul could say anything of value (Wallace: 1996,701).
>
> When the demonstrative is used to refer to someone who is present, it
> often carries a disparaging or contemptuous connotation. (see 19:26;
> BDF 290.6.1; cf. also 6:13,14) Here however, the disparagement comes
> more from the adjective than the demonstrative.
>
> {end quote}

Thanks for the quote. I don't have a copy of either Parsons/Culy or Wallace, but I do have BDF.

Based on this brief quote, it looks like Wallace is overstating the case in the first paragraph above. The second 
paragraph (except the last sentence) is incorrect according to my research.
BDF does say in 290.6 quote:
"hOUTOS appears to be used in a contemptuous sense of a person present: Lk 15:30."
Note the word "appears". I don't think BDF has adequately researched the function of word order in terms of the meaning 
of hOUTOS.

I agree with George that the contempt in Lk 15:30 is not shown by the use of hOUTOS, but by the older brother referring 
to his younger brother as "this son of yours". (And the younger brother is not present).

BDF gives two more references:
Lk 18:11 hOUTOS hO TELWNHS
Here hOUTOS is fronted and thereby marks a contrast between "this tax collector" and the speaker. As I said when hOUTOS 
is fronted it may well carry a derogatory sense.
The other reference in BDF is Acts 17:18 which we have already dealt with.
BDF gives a reference to Rob. 697-706, but I don't have a copy of Robertson.

Concerning Acts 6:13,14 and 19:26 the situation is different.
19:26 hO PAULOS hOUTOS
6:13 hO ANQRWPOS hOUTOS - no contempt signified by hOUTOS
6:14 IHSOUS hO NAZARAIOS hOUTOS

I am happy to accept that when hOUTOS is used with a proper name, contempt is indicated, because the demonstrative 
function of hOUTOS is superfluous with proper name.

Iver Larsen 




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