[B-Greek] Phil 1:26

Mark Lightman lightmanmark at yahoo.com
Sat Mar 1 09:35:40 EST 2008


Eric and George have articulated very well the (at
  least) two options here.  EN EMOI (and EN XRISTWi,
  for that matter) can be taken as either the
  object of  “boast” or adverbally with “abound.”
  just “thinking out loud” I would agree with 
  Eric in preferring the later, understanding “by me”
  as basically an instrumental dative and would take
  “in Christ” as the (only) object of boast. The “consecutive
   usage with different functions” of the two EN’s
  I would think is intentionally stylistic. But I think if 
  you asked Paul, “Is the boast in you or in 
  Christ, and does it abound by you or by
  Christ, he would say “yes.”
   
  Thanks for pointing out a great passage, Hugh!
   

ἵíá ôὸ êáý÷çìá ὑìῶí ðåñéóóåýῃ ἐí ×ñéóôῷ Ἰçóïῦ ἐí ἐìïὶ äéὰ ôῆò ἐìῆò ðáñïõóßáò ðÜëéí ðñὸò ὑìᾶò.

hINA TO  KAUXHMA hUMWN PERISSEUHi EN XRISTWi IHSOU EN EMOI DIA THS EMHS PAROUSIAS PALIN PROS hUMAS

 

 

There are a few basic variations on the usage of ἐí ἐìïὶ [EN EMOI] with a number of minor differences.

 

1.  In the Synoptics it would appear that it is used in the sense of "concerning", "about", "regarding"

2.  In John it seems frequently to have a locative sense

3.  Paul (which is the most pertinant context) uses it in more than one manner

      a.  Romans appears to use it in a locative sense

      b.  1 Cor we seem to find a sense of "concerning" or "with regard to" or simply "to." 

 

In Phil 1.26 it would seem odd to me to speak of some other person's pride or boasting being within (locative sense) a person who is not actually boasting.  It would rather seem more in keeping with the concept to take it is the sense of "concerning" or "with regard to."  We see this usage in the Synoptics:

 

Mt 10.32

Ðᾶò ïὖí ὅóôéò ὁìïëïãÞóåé ἐí ἐìïὶ 

PAS OUN hOSTIS hOMOLOGHSEI EN EMOI

 

"Whoever confesses me 
"

 

If such is the case in Phil 1.26 then Paul himself and his condition would constitute the ground for their pride in Christ.  Indeed, his remaining "in the flesh" is something which he considers to be ἀíáãêáéüôåñïí äéʼ ὑìᾶò [ANAGKAIOTERON DI' hUMAS] (v. 24). 

 

 

 

george

gfsomsel

 


 search for truth, hear truth, 

learn truth, love truth, speak the truth, hold the truth, 

defend the truth till death.

 

 

 - Jan Hus

_________

 

----- Original Message ----

From: Hugh Donohoe Jr. <justusjcmylord at yahoo.com>

To: blist greek <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>

Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 11:11:16 PM

Subject: [B-Greek] Philippians 1:26

 

I have spent a good deal of time this evening trying

to put semantic tags on the preposition EN as used in

Phil. 1:26.

 

I noticed it is translated many different ways in the

mainstream translations. I'm still undecided on the

phrase EN EMOI. I think the rest of the verse

obviously is the key to enterpreting EN EMOI. I'm sure

it seemed 'natural' to the original hearers of the

letter to have consecutive ENs with a different

functions. I guess its this consecutive usage with

different functions that is causing me problems. Of

course I could be wrong in seeing the ENs functioning

differently. I just wanted to hear others' think out

loud about just what Paul intended. Here is the whole

verse.

 

hINA TO KAUCHMA hUMWN PERISSEUHi EN CRISTWi IHSOU EN

EMOI DIA THS EMHS PAROUSIAS PALIN PROS hUMAS.

 

ex animo

 

Hugh Donohoe

 
   

       
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