[B-Greek] Ambiguity and the Greek subjunctive.
Benjamin Griffiths
jamino at gmail.com
Thu Jan 15 16:53:15 EST 2009
Dear B-Greek Community,
I was recently asked a question about the use of the word 'might' or 'may
in some translations of certain NT texts. Specifically in relation to
Ephesians 6:13 and Hebrews 2:14. The very nature of the grammatical term
subjunctive in most languages (and as far as I am aware in Greek too),
expresses the idea of uncertainty or doubt, which is then conveyed with
words 'might' and 'may' or other expressions in English, which equally carry
some doubt.
Is Paul really saying using "ἵνα δυνηθῆτε / hINA DUNHTHTE" in Ephesians
that wearing the armour of God may just perhaps help one to stand or is
there something more concrete.
Ephesians 6:13: διὰ τοῦτο ἀναλάβετε τὴν πανοπλίαν τοῦ θεοῦ ἵνα δυνηθῆτε
ἀντιστῆναι ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ πονηρᾷ καὶ ἅπαντα κατεργασάμενοι στῆναι
Ephesians 6:13: DIA TOUTO ANALABETE THN PANOPLIAN TOU QEOU hINA DUNHTHTE
ANTISTHNAI EN THi hHMERAi THi PONHRAi KAI APANTA KATERGASAMENOI STHNAI.
and in Hebrews 2:14 is the writer saying that Christ's incarnation and death
was perhaps, just maybe, able to nullify death "ἵνα διὰ τοῦ θανάτου
καταργήσῃ / hINA DIA TOU QANATOU KATARGHSHi", rather than certainly aiming
for that result?
Hebrews 2:14: ἐπεὶ οὖν τὰ παιδία κεκοινώνηκεν αἵματος καὶ σαρκός καὶ αὐτὸς
παραπλησίως μετέσχεν τῶν αὐτῶν ἵνα διὰ τοῦ θανάτου καταργήσῃ τὸν τὸ κράτος
ἔχοντα τοῦ θανάτου τοῦτ' ἔστιν τὸν διάβολον
Hebrews 2:14: EPEI OUN TA PAIDIA KEKOINWNHKEN hAIMATOS KAI SARKOS KAI AUTOS
PARAPLHSIWS METESXEN TWN AUTWN hINA DIA TOU QANATOU KATARGHSHi TON TO KRATOS
EXONTA TOU QANATOU TOUT' ESTIN TON DIABOLON.
Thanks for your help,
Benjamin Griffiths
Bournemouth, UK.
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