[B-Greek] Romans 1:11
Iver Larsen
iver_larsen at sil.org
Thu Jun 28 04:47:06 EDT 2007
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Runge" <srunge at logos.com>
To: "Carl W. Conrad" <cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu>; "B-Greek B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Cc: "betty schink" <bettyschink at hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 5:52 PM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Romans 1:11
> 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.
>
> Steve Runge
My comments:
The proleptic or prospective/cataphoric use of the demonstrative pronoun is well established and
especially common in John's Gospel and letters, but as you have shown in your paper also quite
common in Luke. My own paper from 1990 published in Notes on Translation says essentially the same
thing as yours, but with focus on 1 John and on the cataphoric usage of the phrase EN TOUTWi.
As you say the fronting of the demonstrative functions to highlight the whole sentence that the
pronoun points forward to. I don't think, however, that the same is possible with the indefinite
pronoun TIS, and this possibility is not hinted at in your paper. I find your analysis of Romans
1:11 unconvincing since there is no content in the balance of v. 11 and v. 12 that could be
reasonably "poured into" TI.
The clause εἰς τὸ στηριχθῆναι ὑμᾶς (EIS TO STHRICQHNAI hUMAS) is a purpose/result clause dependent
on the preceding clause with the verb μεταδῶ (METADW).
V. 12 is an explanatory sentence introduced by TOUTO DE ESTIN. If it was a content clause for a
preceding pronoun, there would not have been any DE, nor a TOUTO ESTIN.
Paul corrects himself in order not to seem too high-handed towards a congregation he has never
personally met. He has just said that he is longing to impart to them some kind of spiritual gift,
so this could be interpreted as putting them down. Therefore he hastily adds that he is expecting a
mutual encouragement and strengthening, not just that he is coming to strengthen them spiritually.
Furthermore, the act of strengthening is not a spiritual gift according to how Paul is using that
term. Using spiritual gifts should result in spiritual strengthening and encouragement, but that is
different from saying that the act of encouraging others is a spiritual gift.
So, the better analysis is to say that the fronting of the indefinite pronoun TI highlights the
indefiniteness of the spiritual gift. He is not talking about any particular gift he has in mind,
but of ANY kind of gift that they may be lacking. At this point he doesn't know enough about them to
evaluate which gifts they are particularly lacking in.
Iver Larsen
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list