[B-Greek] Eph 1:9: Going beyond grammar?
Oun Kwon
kwonbbl at gmail.com
Fri Aug 14 23:51:53 EDT 2009
On Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 11:11 PM, George F Somsel<gfsomsel at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I think you miss the obvious fact that it is not only in modern culture that it would be senseless to speak of someone as being locatively inside another so context DOES tell you that it cannot be locative (BDAG #1). Similarly, state or condition (BDAG #2) makes no sense then or now. Extension toward a goal (BDAG #3) is likewise senseless under most circumstances. Means or instrument (BDAG #5) might be possible depending upon context. Agency (BDAG #6) would also be possible depending on context. Circumstance or condition (BDAG #7) is not meaningful. I have problems with BDAG #8 being a distinct category, but think that it could be subsumed under other uses. Reason or cause (BDAG #9 might be appropriate based on context. Period of time (BDAG #10) would not be meaningful. Manner (adverbial usage) (BDAG #11) would not be suitable in relation to being EN a person. Substance (BDAG #12) would hardly be suitable when speaking of being
> EN a person.
>
> That leaves as most likely the one which I previously mentioned in another post and have reserved until now -- BDAG #4, association.
>
Iver saith, context, context, context.
In this verse, though I like Danish rendering, I would hesitate
bringing in 'faith' up front in that spot.
I think the context the verse is actually 'setting of believers' to be
in (sort of another kind of 'context').
I would read the verse Col 2:11:
"It is by being in Him that you became to be 'circumcised' -
circumcision effected by Chirst."
(this last phrase I plucked from Good-Speed's).
'became to be circumcised' is in attempt to avoid falling into a
faulty line of thinking seen in different rendering of PERITOMH TOU
CRISTOU such as, 'Christ performed circumcision' 'circumcised by
Christ' etc. as if Christ is the agent of 'circumcise'. It is not.
It's obviously figurative.
Oun Kwon.
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