[B-Greek] Ambiguity and the Greek subjunctive.

vasilis tsialas tsialas78 at hotmail.com
Fri Jan 16 08:31:11 EST 2009


Dear Benjamin Griffiths,
 
Subjunctive is of course used in conditions after the particle AN, 
where it expresses a possibility under some circumstances,
but it can also express an action or state
that is desirable. For instance, the conjunction INA actually means "for the purpose of"
and is followed by a verb in subjunctive.
 
Thus, Paul doesn’t say that it is doubtful whether a Christian
can face successfully Devil’s attack even if he has put on the spiritual armor,
but, on the contrary, he encourages his readers to wear the armor
in order to be protected.
 
In each case, if someone wants to understand the meaning
of subjunctive, he has to take into account the meaning of 
the verb of the main clause and the meaning of the
word that connects the main verb with the secondary verb
that is in subjunctive.
 
Vasileios Tsialas,
 
Athens, Greece

 
> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:53:15 +0000> From: jamino at gmail.com> To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org> Subject: [B-Greek] Ambiguity and the Greek subjunctive.> > 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.> ---> B-Greek home page: http://www.ibiblio.org/bgreek> B-Greek mailing list> B-Greek at lists.ibiblio.org> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-greek
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