[B-Greek] DUNAMAI 1 John 3:9
Elizabeth Kline
kline_dekooning at earthlink.net
Wed Feb 6 15:21:57 EST 2008
On Feb 5, 2008, at 3:42 PM, Denise Parkes wrote:
> Yes, I think that in some instances DUNAMAI can imply compulsion –
> but mainly, though not necessarily, from an internal source – one’s
> conscience, intuition, common sense, and personal preferences. In
> addition to 1 John 3:9, I think there are a number of other verses
> where DUNAMAI with a negative can be translated as “cannot bear to”
> or “dare not.” Here are three examples:
>
> 1. Acts 4:19-20: …EI DIKAION ESTIN ENWPION TOU QEOU hUMWN AKOUEIN
> MALLON hH TOU QEOU, KRINATE. OU DUNAMEQA GAR hHMEIS hA EIDAMEN KAI
> HKOUSAMEN MH LALEIN.
>
> The sense of compulsion is very strong here. Peter and John COULD
> NOT BEAR, nor did they DARE, to do anything that was not right in
> the sight of God despite threats of violence.
>
> 2. 2 Cor.13:8: OU GAR DUNAMEQA TI KATA THS ALHQEIAS ALLA hUPER THS
> ALHQEIAS.
>
> Paul is saying here that he CANNOT BEAR TO, nor does he DARE TO, go
> against his true convictions.
>
> 3. Mark 6:5: KAI OUK EDUNATO EKEI POEHSAI OUDEMIAN DUNAMIN, EI MH
> OLIGOIS ARRWOTOIS EPIQEIS TAS XEIRAS EQERAPEUSEN
>
> Verse 2 of Mark 6 shows that Jesus had recently performed miracles
> in his home town but the audience did not have the same interest
> and amazement that was evident in other places. Thus Jesus COULD
> NOT BEAR TO provide further evidence of his divinity to such a
> faithless and impolite audience. He was not disempowered by their
> skepticism. This attitude of Jesus is present in his advice to the
> disciples in verse 11 regarding cities that did not welcome them.
Relevant to your thesis, H.B.Swete (Mark p114) cites comments on Mark
6:5 found in Origin on Matt 10:19:
OU GAR EIPEN OUK HQELEN, ALL OUK HDUNATO, hWS ERCOMENHS MEN EPI THN
ENERGOUSAN DUNAMIN SUMPRAXEWS hUPO PISTEWS EKEINOU EIS hON ENHRGEI hH
DUNAMIS, KWLUOMENHS DE ENERGEIN hUPO THS
APISTIAS.
hOUTW DH OUTE TA ENERGHMATA TWN DUNAMEWN CWRIS PISTEWS THS TWN
QERAPEUOMENWN ... OUQ hH PISTIS, hOPOIA POT AN Hi, CWRIS THS QEIAS
DUNAMEWS.
The language of Mark 6:5-6 does not address the question of Jesus
power in the abstract.
MARK 6:5 KAI OUK EDUNATO EKEI POIHSAI OUDEMIAN DUNAMIN, EI MH OLIGOIS
ARRWSTOIS EPIQEIS TAS CEIRAS EQERAPEUSEN. 6 KAI EQAUMAZEN DIA THN
APISTIAN AUTWN. KAI PERIHGEN TAS KWMAS KUKLWi DIDASKWN.
I would agree with H.B.Swete and R.T.France (NIGTC Mark, p244) Jesus'
ability POIHSAI DUNAMIN is to some extent constrained here DIA THN
APISTIAN AUTWN. As Origin says OU GAR EIPEN OUK HQELEN, ALL OUK
HDUNATO ...
Elizabeth Kline
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