[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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