[B-Greek] Relationship of words within a list - "Climax"

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Sun Jan 7 12:22:13 EST 2007


On Jan 5, 2007, at 9:12 PM, Mitch Larramore wrote:

> 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.

I think this is one GNT insttance of the rhetorical figure termed  
"climax." For one definition, see http://www.uky.edu/AS/Classics/ 
rhetoric.html#18:
-----
Climax: arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of  
ascending power. Often the last emphatic word in one phrase or clause  
is repeated as the first emphatic word of the next.

     *One equal temper of heroic hearts,
     Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
     To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. Tennyson, Ulysses

     *Nonne hunc in vincula duci, non ad mortem rapi, non summo  
supplicio mactari imperabis? Cicero, In Catilinam

     *Facinus est vincere civem Romanum; scelus verberare; prope  
parricidium necare: quid dicam in crucem tollere? verbo satis digno  
tam nefaria res appellari nullo modo potest. Cicero, In Verrem

     *Demosthenes, On the Crown 179
-------

Eddie Mishoe has called attention to Rom 5:3-5: 5:3 OU MONON DE ALLA  
KAI KAUCWMEQA EN TAIS QLIYESIN EIDOTES hOTI hH QLIYIS hUPOMONHN  
KATERGAZETAI 4  hH DE hUPOMONH DOKIMHN hH DE DOKIMH ELPIDA 5  hH DE  
ELPIS OU KATAISCUNEI hOTI hH AGAPH TOU QEOU EKKECUTAI EN TAIS  
KARDIAIS hHMWN DIA PNEUMATOS hAGIOU TOU DOQENTOS hHMIN ...
We might add 1 Cor 13:13: NUNI DE MENEI PISTIS ELPIS AGAPH TA TRIA  
TAUTA MEIZWN DE TOUTWN hH AGAPH

I'm sure there are many others in the GNT; it really is a pretty  
common rhetorical device. The reversal of the sequence, of course, is  
also a rhetorical figure, aptly called "Anticlimax."


Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)




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