[B-Greek] Jude 3
Vasile Stancu
stancu at mail.dnttm.ro
Sun Nov 30 09:39:49 EST 2008
The explanation is probably found in the field of logic rather than in pure
gramatical analysis. Indeed, the present participle POIOUMENOS indicates
that the two actions (= James' being making certain efforts + the feeling
that he needed to address a certain subject) are simultaneous, but the
problem is, his being making efforts in a certain sense and his final action
of writing on struggling for the faith, are they integrated with each other?
That is, the fact that James is writing about struggling for the faith, was
it part of his original purpose?
One key phrase is probably PASAN SPOUDHN POIOUMENOS. Supposing the two
actions had been integrated with each other originally, what could be the
purpose/role of this expression? I propose that probably the role of this
phrase could be one of these: (1) a certain emphasis James is using in that
his message should be taken seriously, as he "made all efforts" in preparing
it; (2) the fact that ANAGKH ESCON comes as a result of the fact that PASAN
SPOUDHN POIOUMENOS; (3) "since it is my custom to making all efforts to... I
find it appropriate to speak to you about... since this is a real problem
you are now facing".
I believe the other alternative is more logical, i.e., while making efforts
to... James felt the need to change his mind, because it allows for a
natural explanation why the expression PASAN SPOUDHN POIOUMENOS is being
employed. Moreover, the text seems to suggest that the first action has a
more general purpose, whereas the other one points to some urgent need, to a
situation which is not necessarily part of a discourse on THS KOINHS HMWN
SWTERIAS.
Vasile STANCU
-----Original Message-----
From: J.M. Pauw [mailto:jmpauw at hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 7:39 PM
To: Vasile Stancu; rhutchin at aol.com
Cc: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Jude 3
The question, however, is do you find arguments for this opinion in the very
Greek text?
My point is that there two arguments in the text that invite us to think
about the KOINHS hMWN SWTHRIAS and EPAGWNIZESQAI, etc. as being one and the
same subject.
So I'm wondering what you think about these two arguments from the Greek
text.
Michel Pauw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.jmpauw.nl
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vasile Stancu" <stancu at mail.dnttm.ro>
To: "'J.M. Pauw'" <jmpauw at hotmail.com>; <rhutchin at aol.com>
Cc: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:03 PM
Subject: RE: [B-Greek] Jude 3
>I would compare the circumstances of James with a situation which may be at
> times true today. Suppose a preacher is planning to deliver his next
> sermon
> on the harmony of the gospels, and suddenly the fact becomes evident that
> a
> prominent member of the congregation has already convinced a number of the
> members that, in order to be saved, before becoming Christians, all men
> have
> to be circumsised. I believe the preacher would give up his plan - even
> though he might have already delivered a consistent series of sermons on
> the
> harmony of the gospels - and direct his attention to a more urgent need,
> i.e., correcting the error that is just occuring and is bound to put
> serious
> threats on the whole congregation.
>
> The THS KOINHS HMWN SWTERIAS is, I believe, related to situations where
> the
> life and teaching of the church is developing relatively smoothly, without
> immediate or dangerous hindrances.
>
> Vasile STANCU
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of J.M. Pauw
> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 5:22 AM
> To: rhutchin at aol.com
> Cc: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [B-Greek] Jude 3
>
> Exegetes of this verse often assume two different topics that Jude had
> been
> willing to write about, one being the common salvation and one being the
> exhortation to battle for the faith. This seems to be the reason for your
> stressing the word BUT.
>
> BUT I think the Greek text gives two reasons for thinking that it is one
> and
> the same topic that Jude was willing to write about:
>
> First, I question whether THS KOINHS (hJMWN) SWTHRIAS should be rendered
> 'common salvation'. In fact, these words are the Greek translation of the
> Latin terminus technicus 'salus communis', being understood as 'common
> welfare', especially in the political sense of the common welfare under
> the
> protection of the Roman Empire. In short: the words are to be understood
> as
> synonym for 'national security / safety' (I don't know which one is the
> appropriate English word, but I'm sure you will understand me).
> So, I suppose, Jude is using this political expression giving it an
> ecclesiastic meaning: he was going to write about the ecclesiastic
> security,
> because this security was threatened by TINES ANQRWPOI (Jude 4). And just
> this threatening of the ecclesiastic security is the reason for PASAN
> SPOUDHN POIOUMENOS GRAFEIN.
>
> Second, since a present participle is used to be translated as
> simultaneous
> with the main verb of the clause, I understand Jude being worried about
> the
> situation in the church / congregation, and WHILE thinking about what to
> write about this topic, he was urged to write an exhortation.
>
> So I should not translate 'in haste', but 'in my diligence / seriousness
> to
> write about our / your (see variants) common security (having in mind the
> security of the church / congregation), I felt the urge necessity to write
> you with the exhortation to ....'
>
> Michel Pauw
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> www.jmpauw.nl
>
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