[B-Greek] Translation [Re: Philippians 1:14

Jennifer & Bruce McKinnon jennifer.bruce at telus.net
Tue Aug 4 17:45:17 EDT 2009


I posted this message a few days ago but it elicited no response.  Any 
assistance or comments for a translation plodder would be much appreciated.
Bruce McKinnon

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jennifer & Bruce McKinnon" <jennifer.bruce at telus.net>
To: "B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 4:31 PM
Subject: [B-Greek] Philippians 1:14


> I've been pondering PEPOIQOTAS and how verse 14 should be translated. 
> Unless I'm badly mistaken (a real possibility), it is a second perfect 
> participle of PEIQW and this second perfect is usually translated as an 
> active verb such as "trust" [in], "have confidence" [in], etc.  On this 
> interpretation, the second perfect usage for this verb has not changed in 
> the NT from its typical meaning in the LXX and in classical Greek.  This 
> is the meaning referred to in BDAG and in Moule's Cambridge Greek 
> Testament commentary.  Several other commentaries, however, are silent 
> about (or ignore) the fact that the participle is a second perfect (e.g., 
> Sumney at p. 20)  O'Brien writes at p. 95 of his commentary:
>  "If the verb PEIQW is given its original meaning of 'convince', 
> 'persuade', and the full force of the perfect tense is pressed, then it 
> describes a conviction that began in the past and has continuing effects. 
> It is thus distinguished from the main verb TOLMAN ('dare'; a present 
> tense): already convinced they now continue to dare."
> On this point, O'Brien's footnote 47 refers to the commentary by Collange, 
> to which I have no access.  (On page 94, he does, however, translate the 
> phrase as "And most of the believers have more confidence in the Lord 
> through my imprisonment...".)
> In addition, several English translations treat this participle as if it 
> has the normal force of a perfect (e.g., RSV).  I've wondered whether I'm 
> making a distinction without a difference but receive comfort from the 
> traditional differentiation reflected in BDAG and by the implicit 
> importance O'Brien gives to the question whether this second perfect 
> participle of PEIQW should be given "the full force of the perfect tense".
> If one translates the participle as being equivalent to a present active 
> participle, a possible translation might be:  "Most of the brethren 
> trusting in the Lord are bolder, because of my imprisonment, to speak the 
> Word without fear" -- although I've seen no one taking TOIS DESMOIS with 
> TOLMAN rather than with PEPOIQOTAS.
> Any thoughts or comments?
>
> Bruce McKinnon
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