[B-Greek] Proper Name
Albert Pietersma
albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
Wed Nov 14 11:00:45 EST 2007
Be it noted further that in the isomorphic mode of translating often
followed by LXX translators, Hebrew items such as notae accusativi
and prepositions often give rise to a Greek article. In such cases
the use of the article is, therefore, triggered by the source text
rather than the perceived demand of the target text.
On the other hand, with QEOS articles are frequently used without
explicit warrant in the source text, indicating that not just any god
is meant but THE god = God.
The LXX is therefore a problematic guide to standard usage.
Al
On Nov 14, 2007, at 10:22 AM, Ken Penner wrote:
> Regarding KURIOS as a proper name, some recent translations of the
> Septuagint have understood KURIOS as a proper name, translating it
> "Lord" rather than "the Lord" (Auld's commentary on LXX Joshua in
> which he defends this decision comes to mind). He notes that the
> decision is not based solely on the presence or absence of the
> article, since proper names in Greek often take the article. The
> Greek article does not determine whether a noun (whether QEOS or
> KURIOS) is a proper name or a title. So I wonder if there is any
> way to disprove the hypothesis that KURIOS was thought to be God's
> personal name.
>
> Ken
>
> Ken M. Penner, Ph.D. (McMaster)
> Acadia/Greek&Hebrew
> Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic vocabulary memorization software:
> http://purl.org/net/kmpenner/flash
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
>> [mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Edgar Foster
>> Sent: November 14, 2007 11:02 AM
>> To: Mitch Larramore; B Greek
>> Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Proper Name
>>
>> Dear Mitch,
>>
>> In addition to what Carl and Iver have said, I would like to
>> make two points regarding this subject.
>>
>> 1) I notice that you allude to Dr. Mounce's observation that
>> both hO IHSOUS and hO QEOS are proper names. The implication
>> that I derive from your quote is that the Greek article may
>> determine whether QEOS is a proper name or whether it is a title.
>>
>> 2) John W. Cooper argues that there is a conceptual
>> distinction between a proper name (e.g. YHWH or IAW) and a
>> proper noun (e.g. KURIOS or [hO] QEOS). He defines a proper
>> name as a term whose linguistic function is to "identify a
>> particular person as such, not to specify someone's status,
>> role, or relationship, or to describe that person (although
>> it may also have those functions)."
>>
>> Conversely, the category of proper nouns includes proper
>> names, but also encompasses titles or epithets which
>> designate the status, function or role of that which the
>> proper noun designates.
>>
>> See _Our Father in Heaven: Christian Faith and Inclusive
>> Language for God_. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998. Pages 118-119.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Edgar Foster
>> Lenoir-Rhyne College
>> Hickory, NC
>>
>>
>> --- Iver Larsen <iver_larsen at sil.org> wrote:
>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Mitch Larramore" <mitchlarramore at yahoo.com>
>>> To: "B Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
>>> Sent: 14. november 2007 02:49
>>> Subject: [B-Greek] Proper Name
>>>
>>>
>>>> Dr. Mounce, in giving examples of proper names
>>> with
>>>> the article (p. 39), gives both hO IHSOUS and hO
>>> QEOS.
>>>> I've been taught that QEOS is a title, not a name.
>>> How
>>>> is QEOS a proper name?
>>>>
>>>> Mitch Larramore
>>>> Sugar Land, Texas
>>>
>>> Have you also been taught that YHWH (Jahve) is a title, not
>> a proper
>>> name? What characterizes a proper name is that it has a unique
>>> referent. It points to one particular person. QEOS is used
>> as a proper
>>> name referring to Jahve, a unique entity, in most places in
>> the Bible,
>>> corresponding somewhat to English God, but in other
>> contexts the same
>>> word is used as a descriptive title, corresponding somewhat
>> to English
>>> god.
>>>
>>> Iver Larsen
>>>
>>> ---
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>>
>>
>>
>>
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