[B-Greek] Prepositional phrase

David E. Kiefer, Registrar dkiefer at fuller.edu
Fri Feb 9 01:05:07 EST 2007


This is an attributive construction, the article being used to indicate 
that the prepositional phrase is being used to describe the noun. 
Otherwise, prepositional phrases in NT Greek are inherently adverbial, 
i.e. they describe the action of the verb in some way. In English, word 
order is enough to connect a prepositional phrase to a noun (e.g. simply 
following a noun). This is normally not enough in NT Greek.

You will also find the article preceding a prepositional phrase, with NO 
noun accompanying it, in a substantive use, e.g. TA EN TWi KOSMWi, "the 
things in the world."

Both uses are parallel to the attributive and substantive constructions 
used with adjectives. This is quite common; there are over 900 examples 
of this attributive or substantive use of the prepositional phrase in 
the NT.


Matthew Hauck wrote:
> Greetings!
>
> I am a beginner currently studying Greek from Mounce's textbook.
> Somehow, I came across a strange construction that I haven't really
> seen before, and wasn't sure what it meant.
>
> There is sometimes an "article + noun" separated by a prepositional phrase.
>
> Examples:
>
> Matt 6:23 - "...EI OUN TO FWS *TO EN SOI SKOTOS* ESTIN..."
>
> 1 Peter 1:11 contains, "TO EN AUTOIS PNEUMA CRISTOU", "TA EIS CRISTON
> PAQHMATA" and "TAS META TAUTA DOXAS"
>
> Does this construction add any significance in emphasis or something?
> I couldn't seem to find anything in Mounce or Wallace.
>
> Why not say "TAS DOXAS META TAUTA"? It seems to be saying "the after
> these things glories." Does this highlight the noun or the
> prepositional phrase?
>
> I am particularly interested in the Matthew example. Following the way
> 1 Peter translates it, the phrase in Matthew would seem to say, "the
> in you darkness" --> "the darkness in you". Thus the verse would say,
> "If then the light is the darkness in you" --> "If then the darkness
> in you is light." But everybody translates this, "If then the light in
> you is darkness."
>
> What am I missing?
>
> Thanks!
>
>   

-- 
__________________________

David E. Kiefer, Registrar
Fuller Theological Seminary
135 N Oakland Ave
Pasadena, CA  91182
 
dkiefer at fuller.edu
Phone 626-584-5409
Fax   626-584-5564	




More information about the B-Greek mailing list