[B-Greek] Acts 26:2-3
Iver Larsen
iver_larsen at sil.org
Mon Feb 4 00:16:06 EST 2008
Just a couple of comments to Carl's comments, see below:
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Conrad" <cwconrad2 at mac.com>
> I suggested earlier -- and still think -- that there's an
> implicit participle governing GNWSTHN ONTA SE KTL. and I've also said
> that I think it may have been omitted because deemed implicitly
> carried forward from hHGHMAI.
I agree that there is a participle governing GNWSTHN ONTA SE KTL and that participle is EPISTAMENOS
which is placed after GNWSTHN ONTA SE KTL, because it is not in focus. However, I do not agree that
this participle is carried forward from hHGHMAI, rather it is hHGHMAI itself that is carried forward
to be the implicit main verb in the second clause.
> As for Iver's arguments, it seems to me (1) that EPISTAMENOS, the
> alternative reading to which he calls attention, is (a) out of place
> at the end of the clause it is supposed to govern, and (b) not
> unlikely added by a scribe to supply the recognized omitted
> participle, and (2) that MALISTA should almost certainly be assumed to
> qualify the words immediately following it, GNWSTHN ONTA SE ("inasmuch
> as you are especially knowledgeable ... ").
If you accept the reading of P74, Aleph(2), A, C, 33 etc, then Luke placed it at the end. If you
prefer the reading of Aleph*, B, E etc, then the scribe placed it there. Whether is was Luke or a
scribe, I believe that both would be more conversant with Greek than you and I put together. It is
common for a participle to be placed after the items they govern when it is not in focus. Paul is
not drawing attention to the fact that he knows this about Agrippa, but that "Agrippa is an expert
in Jewish matters". It can hardly be placed in any other position. If it would come immediately
after MALISTA, there would be a wrong focus on what Paul knows. He is not telling Agrippa what he
knows, but he is building up a good relationship by sweet-talking him.
By virtue of its initial position in the sentence and common usage MALISTA will always govern the
whole sentence that follows. And I don't think the meaning of MALISTA is adequately rendered by "in
as much as", but corresponds better to English "especially". BAGD suggest the following glosses:
"most of all, above all, especially, particularly, (very) greatly."
So, MALISTA may govern the implied verb hHGHMAI carried over from the previous clause, or it may
govern the implied EPISTAMENOS plus what that verb governs. This could be expressed by something
like (1) I am especially fortunate (to defend myself before you), because I know that you are en
expert in Jewish matters or (2) I am fortunate, especially because (I know that) you are an expert
in Jewish matters. I prefer (1), but it doesn't make much difference to the meaning.
Iver Larsen
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