[B-Greek] Prepositional phrase
David E. Kiefer, Registrar
dkiefer at fuller.edu
Fri Feb 9 01:29:05 EST 2007
Since both FWS and SKOTOS are neuter, it's a matter of how you group the
constructions. Is it (TO FWS TO EN SOI) SKOTOS ESTIN, or is it TO FWS
(TO EN SOI SKOTOS) ESTIN. That's a matter for context, which in this
case is rather obvious.
Matthew Hauck wrote:
> Thank you for your quick response!
>
> I read about the substantive construction in Mounce, but saw nothing
> about the attributive.
>
> How about the Matthew 6:23 example? Does it not seem to be reverse?
> Would not the EN SOI be modifying TO SKOTOS and not TO FWS? How do we
> end up with "the light in you is darkness" instead of "the darkness in
> you is light"?
>
> -Matt
>
> On 2/9/07, David E. Kiefer, Registrar <dkiefer at fuller.edu> wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
>> ---
>> B-Greek home page: http://www.ibiblio.org/bgreek
>> B-Greek mailing list
>> B-Greek at lists.ibiblio.org
>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-greek
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
--
__________________________
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
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