[B-Greek] APARNHQHSETAI in Lk 12.9 (archive post by Dr. Conrad)

Carl Conrad cwconrad2 at mac.com
Fri Jul 3 17:30:33 EDT 2009


On Jul 3, 2009, at 4:37 PM, Mitch Larramore wrote:

>
> Dr. Conrad wrote in the archives:
>
> "APARNEOMAI, deny, renounce,...in Lk 12:9 APARNHQHSETAI must be  
> understood as passive, although this verb never appears in "active"  
> form."
>
> Lk 12.9 hO DE ARNHSAMENOS ME ENWPION TWN ANQRWPWN APARNHQHSETAI  
> ENWPION TWN AGGELWN TOU QEOU
>
> Why would APARNHQHSETAI not be considered a Causative Middle? Does  
> not this individual cause the second denial by his first denial? How  
> would it be translated if Causative Middle were possible?
>
> Next question: Is there a Causative Passive? If so, how would that  
> be translated here?

Interesting questions, to be sure.

We've used the terms "permissive middle" and "permissive passive" for  
instances wherein the subject consents to the performance of an action  
upon him/herself. Verbs of grooming such as KEIRW "cut hair" and XURAW  
"shave" generally apear in the middle-passive in the sense, "get a  
haircut" or "get shaved." We've discussed the possibility that  
BAPTIZOMAI may belong in this category. One might say, I suppose, that  
the "permissive middle" or "permissive passive" might be called  
"causative middle" or "causative passive."

I have something to a problem, however, with calling APARNHQHSETAI in  
Lk 12:9 a "causative passive": this is not, presumaly, a voluntary/ 
deliiberate action on the part of the subject. While it could  
certainly be said that he is "responsible" for his being denied, I  
still think that APARNHQHSETAI is passive.


Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)






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