[B-Greek] Relationship of words within a list

cwestf5155 at aol.com cwestf5155 at aol.com
Sun Jan 7 08:10:03 EST 2007


 Hi Mitch,
 
 I would assume that the order has meaning rather than being random--particularly since there is a patterned progression.
 
 I am interested in the word EPICORHGHSATE/EPICORHGEW as a hint as to what is going on. It can be glossed as "supply", "give", "provide", "support", "add", etc. It sounds more towards the line of supplement--but may be corrected in this. I don't have many analytical tools on hand
 
 Given the previous occurrence of PISTIV/PISTIS in the point of departure in the letter in 1:1 (and I would be influenced by the relative importance of faith compared to the other qualities in not only Pauline material, but also the more closely related Jude and 1 Peter), I interpret that faith is foundational and the focus, supported/supplemented/refined by the other qualities, each in turn.
 
 In order for faith to be effective and productive (the opposites of v. 8 ARGOUS and AKARRPOUS) it must be further qualified or enriched. I interpret the qualities as prioritized because of the progressive pattern a/b, b/c, c/d: first concentrate on ARETHi--normally it appears to be taken as ethical (virtue), but maybe George would suggest it means concentrating on being excellent at having faith--kind of like Paul's studying to show oneself approved by God. And then supplement the virtue or excellence with knowledge. 
 
 Therefore, I don't think virtue comes from knowledge--in this case if we were to give it a temporal orientation, virtue precedes knowledge. Hmmmm. What a concept.
 
 But in the end all items on the list are presented as being kind of organic in v. 8 where they all have to be present and increasing together, nurturing each other.
 
 Cindy Westfall
 McMaster Divinity College
    
 -----Original Message-----
 From: mitchlarramore at yahoo.com
 To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
 Sent: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 7:12 PM
 Subject: [B-Greek] Relationship of words within a list
 
  KAI AUTO TOUTO DE SPOUDHN PASAN PAREISENEGKANTES
EPICORHGHSATE EN THi PISTEI hUMWN THN ARETHN, EN DE
THi ARETHi THN GHWSIN, EN DE THi GNWSEI THN
EGCRATEIAN......THN AGAPHN

(I note a consistent pattern of EN THi noun...THN
noun)

2 Peter 1.5-7 has a list of characteristics we are to
add/supply to our faith (fem sing). I don't know if it
is coincidence or some kind of rhetorical device, but
every noun that is to be added is also feminine
singular. But my question really concerns the order.
Are there other lists in Greek that would help explain
the relationship or order of the nouns listed, and
perhaps between each noun. 

For example, we are to add to our faith virtue. To
virtue we are to add knowledge. What is the reason for
this order? Does virtue 'come from' knowledge? Does
virtue exist only after some knowledge has been
acquired? To knowledge we are to add self-control. How
does self-control contribute to knowledge? etc... I'm
just wondering if there are other lists in Greek
whereby we might know the relationship these words on
the list have to each other. Or, are they better seen
as just a list without an intended relationship
between/among the words?




Mitch Larramore
Sugar Land, Texas

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