[B-Greek] Lk 6.27b KALWS How does it function?
Carl W. Conrad
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Tue Aug 21 06:33:27 EDT 2007
On Aug 20, 2007, at 8:47 PM, Mitch Larramore wrote:
> Lk 6.27b
>
> AGAPATE TOUS ECQROUS hUMWN KALWS POIEITE TOIS MISOUSIN
> hUMAS
>
> I apologize for this last question, but I was
> wondering how KALWS functions here. Is this right:
>
> Do (loving your enemies) well to those who hate you.
>
> I don't see 'well' or 'in a good manner' modifying
> "do" ONLY since "do" is really an empty word without a
> complement (Do something...well)
>
> I've never really had a good grasp of adverbs.
This is a rather strange usage in any case, but from the fact that
the complement of the verbal expression is a dative of the person it
is evident that KALWS POIETE is conceived as an intransitive verb,
not "do good (things)" but rather "act/behave kindly."
BDAG has the following entry under POIEW §4;
d. w. dat. and adv. ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς
ὡσαύτως [EPOIHSANT AUTOIS hWSAUTWS] they treated them in the
same way Mt 21:36. οὕτως μοι πεποίηκεν
κύριος [hOUTWS MOI PEPOIHKEN KURIOS] the Lord has dealt thus
with me Lk 1:25; cp. 2:48; Mt 18:35. εὖ ποιεῖν τινι [EU
POIEIN TINI] Mk 14:7. καλῶς π. τινι [KALWS POIEIN TINI] Mt
5:44 v.l.; Lk 6:27. ὁμοίως π. τινι [hOMOIWS POIEIN TINI]
6:31b.—In a condensed colloquialism (ποιεῖν) καθὼς
ἐποίει αὐτοῖς [(POIEIN) KAQWS EPOIEI AUTOIS] (to do)
as he was accustomed to do for them Mk 15:8 (s. εὐποιΐα
[EUPOIIA] 1).
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
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