[B-Greek] 2COR. 12:1 OPTASIAS KAI APOKALUYEIS KURIOU

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Thu Dec 24 00:19:47 EST 2009


Well, I'll take a shot at it, too.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Kline" <kline_dekooning at earthlink.net>
To: "greek B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: 23. december 2009 23:19
Subject: [B-Greek] 2COR. 12:1 OPTASIAS KAI APOKALUYEIS KURIOU


> There are a number of exegetical decisions required by the phrase
> OPTASIAS KAI APOKALUYEIS KURIOU in 2COR. 12:1. Is Paul referring to a
> theophany? Who is the referent of   KURIOU? What about the genitive
> case? Is KURIOU the content of the revelation and if so in what sense?
> Is KURIOU the source of the revelation and if so in what sense?
> .
> I have just read M.E.Thrall (2cor ICC 2000, v2. pp. 774-775) and
> M.J.Harris (2Cor NIGTC 2005, pp. 831-832) who present the alterantives
> and the other Pauline texts which use similar language which I have
> included below. I am wondering if any of the scholars on this forum
> who are particularly interested in Pauline studies might have some
> insights on how to resolve these questions. You don't have to be an
> SBL member to respond to this :-)
> .
>
> 2Cor. 12:1 Καυχᾶσθαι δεῖ, οὐ συμφέρον
> μέν, ἐλεύσομαι δὲ εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ
> ἀποκαλύψεις κυρίου.
> 2COR. 12:1 KAUCASQAI DEI, OU SUMFERON MEN, ELEUSOMAI DE EIS OPTASIAS
> KAI APOKALUYEIS KURIOU.

I have not read Thrall, but if he says the phrase is a copy of what his 
opponents say, I shall disagree. But that is not the main point. It seems clear 
that some people are boasting of their visions and dreams (which, incidentally, 
Paul would say are probably not from the Lord). Paul says it is unwise to boast 
of visions, even true ones. But since these other people are doing so, he will 
oblige and play their game. He has even greater - and true - visions and 
revelations from the Lord through the Holy Spirit=the Spirit of the Lord= the 
Spirit of God.

OPTASIA is a vision, so it refers to something seen, like in a film. APOKALYPSIS 
is more general, something revealed, usually in terms of words, a message. In v. 
4 Paul gives some more information about what he saw, i.e. PARADEISOS, and also 
that he heard words that he cannot or will not repeat or describe.
I have said before that I think the dichotomy between "subjective genitive" and 
"objective genitive" is not particularly helpful. Here we seem to have the 
common "genitive of source/origin". The visions and revelations come from the 
Lord.
I also think that it is most likely that KURIOS here refers to Jesus. In 2 Cor 
alone KURIOS occurs 29 times. Most of them clearly refer to Jesus, some are 
ambiguous. 2 Cor uses QEOS 79 times and the reference is clear. Even in verses 2 
and 3, Paul uses QEOS. Although I am not certain, it seems most likely that 
KURIOS refers to Jesus, because Paul sees himself as a servant of Jesus, and it 
is Jesus who is his "supervisor" and leader in terms of service.

> Rom. 2:5 κατὰ δὲ τὴν σκληρότητά σου καὶ
> ἀμετανόητον καρδίαν θησαυρίζεις
> σεαυτῷ ὀργὴν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὀργῆς καὶ
> ἀποκαλύψεως δικαιοκρισίας τοῦ θεοῦ
> ROM. 2:5 KATA DE THN SKLHROTHTA SOU KAI AMETANOHTON KARDIAN
> QHSAURIZEIS SEAUTWi ORGHN EN hHMERAi ORGHS KAI APOKALUYEWS
> DIKAIOKRISIAS TOU QEOU.

Here it is the righteous judgment (by God) that will be revealed/shown/come to 
pass.

> Rom. 8:19 ἡ γὰρ ἀποκαραδοκία τῆς
> κτίσεως τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν τῶν υἱῶν
> τοῦ θεοῦ ἀπεκδέχεται.
> ROM. 8:19 hH GAR APOKARADOKIA THS KTISEWS THN APOKALUYIN TWN hUIWN TOU
> QEOU APEKDECETAI.

The sons of God will be revealed.

> 1Cor. 1:7 ὥστε ὑμᾶς μὴ ὑστερεῖσθαι ἐν
> μηδενὶ χαρίσματι ἀπεκδεχομένους
> τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν
> Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ·
> 1COR. 1:7 hWSTE hUMAS MH hUSTEREISQAI EN MHDENI CARISMATI
> APEKDECOMENOUS THN APOKALUYIN TOU KURIOU hHMWN IHSOU CRISTOU·

The Lord Jesus Christ will be revealed.

> Gal. 1:12 οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐγὼ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου
> παρέλαβον αὐτὸ οὔτε ἐδιδάχθην
> ἀλλὰ δι᾿ ἀποκαλύψεως Ἰησοῦ
> Χριστοῦ.
> GAL. 1:12 OUDE GAR EGW PARA ANQRWPOU PARELABON AUTO OUTE EDIDACQHN
> ALLA DI᾿ APOKALUYEWS IHSOU CRISTOU.

This is the genitive of source again like in the first. His revelation comes 
from Jesus.

Iver Larsen 




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