[B-Greek] 1 Thess 5:23

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Sun Feb 11 02:32:13 EST 2007


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Schwerdt" <schwerdt at hotmail.com>
>
> In 1 Thes 5:23, is it correct that DE might as well be considered as a
> contrastive conjuction as anything else? My thinking on it is that Paul has
> been exhorting his readers to live in a certain way, BUT now he assures them
> that it is God who will sanctify (in other words, not by their living).
>
> Does that make sense? I find no common translations that take it that way,
> but it seems solid to me.

No, DE is a discourse particle. It signifies CHANGE, but what kind of change depends on the context. 
It can be change of subject (actor), it can be change of topic or theme. It can be a change from 
foreground to background or background to foreground (depending on the author), or from one item in 
a list to the next. Here DE indicates a change of topic from exhortation to the final 
wishing-praying section of the letter. To translate the word by "and" as KJV does, is a mistake. 
Translating it as "but" would be equally mistaken. Several versions (including NASB) translate it 
with the closest discourse particle in English, i.e. "now", but others "translate" it simply by 
starting a new paragraph or even a new section. Both options are legitimate.

To understand a discourse particle, we cannot choose between English glosses, but must try to 
understand its function within its own context. Unfortunately, most dictionaries are woefully 
inadequate in describing discourse particles. Louw and Nida is pretty hopeless for DE. BAGD is 
better, but still inadequate. I don't have a copy of BDAG to check. Although Barclay and Newman give 
seven different glosses, it doesn't help the student to understand the function and meaning of the 
word.

Of course, that God is the significant actor is shown in the sentence anyway, apart from DE.

Iver Larsen
SIL Translation Consultant 




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