[B-Greek] Romans 1:11

Steve Runge srunge at logos.com
Wed Jun 27 12:52:50 EDT 2007


Theron and list members,

Rom. 1:11 ἐπιποθῶ γὰρ ἰδεῖν ὑμᾶς, ἵνα
τι μεταδῶ χάρισμα ὑμῖν πνευματικὸν
εἰς τὸ στηριχθῆναι ὑμᾶς,
EPIPOQW GAR IDEIN hUMAS, hINA TI METADW CARISMA hUMIN PNEUMATIKON EIS TO STHRICQHNAI hUMAS.

There is noteworthy change in the ordering within the HINA clause.  Part of the direct object, what Paul wants to impart (TI), is moved to the beginning of the subordinate clause for emphasis sake, but NOT because the pronoun is most important.  Instead, the pronoun functions like an empty container that Paul is going to pour content into from both the balance of v. 11 and from v. 12.

The rest of the object, CARISMA hUMIN PNEUMATIKON, follows the verb and specifies what is being referred to by TI.  It does so in two pieces, 'a gift for you' and the adjectival modifier saying that it is a spiritual one.  Verse 12 continues to add content to TI, reframing the spiritual gift specifically as being encouraged among the Romans by their mutual faith.

Thus, while TI is fronted for emphasis (i.e. marked focus), it is a ploy by Paul to add prominence to all of the information to which the pronoun refers.  I did an introductory paper on the use of pronouns by Luke to refer to things that have yet to be introduced, what Wallace calls the 'proleptic' use of pronouns.  That is essentially what is going on here, but with an indefinite pronoun as opposed to a demonstrative (this/that).  Pronouns with this function are nearly always placed in prominent, or emphatic positions.  Robertson notes that Paul and John are most noted for this usage of pronouns, but Luke very skillfully employs the same device to similar ends.

Hope this helps,

Steve

The paper I referred to is posted at http://www.logos.com/academic/bio/runge.
 


Rom. 1:11 ἐπιποθῶ γὰρ ἰδεῖν ὑμᾶς, ἵνα
τι μεταδῶ χάρισμα ὑμῖν πνευματικὸν
εἰς τὸ στηριχθῆναι ὑμᾶς,
EPIPOQW GAR IDEIN hUMAS, hINA TI METADW  EIS TO STHRICQHNAI hUMAS.

-----Original Message-----
From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Carl W. Conrad
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 7:21 AM
To: B-Greek B-Greek
Cc: betty schink
Subject: [B-Greek] Romans 1:11

The following inquiry has been sent to the list by a non-member, Mr.  
Theron Schink. Would anyone care to comment on the word-order of Romans 1:11?

Rom. 1:11 ἐπιποθῶ γὰρ ἰδεῖν ὑμᾶς, ἵνα
τι μεταδῶ χάρισμα ὑμῖν πνευματικὸν
εἰς τὸ στηριχθῆναι ὑμᾶς,
EPIPOQW GAR IDEIN hUMAS, hINA TI METADW CARISMA hUMIN PNEUMATIKON EIS TO STHRICQHNAI hUMAS.

I am no Greek scholar, but I have always been fascinated by Romans 1:11. All of the sentences preceding verse 11 appear to my eye to be of an orderly fashion, and then when I come to verse 11, I stop and ponder the implications of the scrambling of the words in that sentence, especially with the verb 'give' and the pronoun 'us' being inserted amongst 'some' and 'blessing' and 'spiritual'. I have never seen a commentary address the implications of this scrambling. Is there a certain branch of Greek study that covers the implications of the word order, or lack there of, of the Greek sentence?

Thank you in advance for any and all replies.
  Mr. Theron Schink


Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243 cwconrad2 at mac.com
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/


---
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


More information about the B-Greek mailing list