[B-Greek] EPI in Matt 3:7

George F Somsel gfsomsel at yahoo.com
Tue Sep 26 12:19:46 EDT 2006


I would suggest that since you are using L & N you look at LN 89.60.
 
89.60 EPI; PROS; XARIN: markers of purpose, pointing to the goal of an event or state—‘for the purpose of, for the sake of, in order to.’ Etc., etc.
 
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (1:784). New York: United Bible societies.

 
george
gfsomsel
_________ 



----- Original Message ----
From: jayadkins26 at bellsouth.net
To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 10:20:15 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] EPI in Matt 3:7


To Bible Greekers,

My question has to do with the use of EPI in Matt 3:7,

Matt 3:7 (GNT) IDWN DE PALLOUS TWN FARISAIWN KAI SADDAUKAIWN ERCOMENOUS EPI TA BAPTISMA AUTOU 

How & why should we translate the meaning here of EPI?

The following examples should show my confusion:
Matt 3:7 (DBY) But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism,...
Matt 3:7 (NASU) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, ....
Matt 3:7 (YLT) And having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming about his baptism, ...

Louw & Nida says; 
"90.57:  EPI {h} :  a marker of the experiencer, often with the implication of an action by a superior force or agency - `to, at, on.' "
"90.40: EPI {k} (with the dative): a marker of persons benefited by an event, with the implication of their being in a dependent relationship - `for.'"
"90.23:  EPI  {p} (with the genitive); EIS {i} (with the accusative); EN {u} (with the dative): markers of content as a means of specifying a particular referent - `concerning, with respect to, with reference to, about, in.'"

To me the context seems to indicate that they were coming for' baptism, as John asks them "who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"  They would not be fleeing the wrath if they merely came to see others being baptized.

Thank You for your assistance.

Jay Adkins
Solo Gratia

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