[B-Greek] INA + Subjunctive Substantival Clause?

Margaret Sim margaret_sim at sil.org
Sat Jun 13 07:41:10 EDT 2009


Timothy and Carl,
Thank you Carl for the mention! Timothy you have to look at INA in a new 
light: not as introducing a purpose clause, but as indicating the attitude 
of the subject of the main verb. Of course in about 60% of the occurrences 
in the NT it may introduce a purpose clause but often it alerts the reader 
to expect a clause which outlines what the subject wants, prays for or urges 
someone to do. It seems to me that this is a more transparent and 
intuitively satifying approach than to slot the clause in as a 'substantival 
direct object'. In the passage in Philippians it introduces what Paul is 
praying for: the content if you like of his prayer, but more fundamentally 
it is introducing speaker/writer attitude. The subjunctive is often used for 
this in European languages.
In contrast the clause which begins EIS TO DOKIMAZEIN does indicate the goal 
expected or hoped for. I'll stop there as I do not want to bore you on the 
subject of this very interesting particle! Incidentally in pagan Greek 
Epictetus uses it in a very similar manner to the NT writers, and often to 
introduce an independent clause which cannot then indicate purpose.

Yours,

Margaret Sim
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Timothy Mitchell" <taztimmitchell at hotmail.com>
To: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 7:35 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] INA + Subjunctive Substantival Clause?


>
> If any one could help clear this up for me, that would be great.
>
> I have been looking at Philippians 1:9-11 a lot recently and have been 
> trying to figure out the IVA + Subjunctive clauses. First, here is the 
> passage.
>
> 9 Καὶ τοῦτο προσεύχομαι, ἵνα ἡ ἀγάπη ὑμῶν ἔτι μᾶλλον καὶ μᾶλλον περισσεύῃ 
> ἐν ἐπιγνώσει καὶ πάσῃ αἰσθήσει
> 10 εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τὰ διαφέροντα, ἵνα ἦτε εἰλικρινεῖς καὶ 
> ἀπρόσκοποι εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ,
> 11 πεπληρωμένοι καρπὸν δικαιοσύνης τὸν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς δόξαν καὶ 
> ἔπαινον θεοῦ.
>
>
> 9 KAI TOUTO PROSEUCOMAI IVA H AGAPH UMWN ETI MALLON KAI MALLOV PERISSEUHi 
> EV EPIGNWSEI KAI PASHi AISFHSEI
> 10 EIS TO DOKIMAZEIV UMAS TA DIAFERONTA IVA HTE EILIKRIVEIS KAI APROSKOPOI 
> EIS HMERAN XRISTOU
> 11 PEPLHRWMEVOI KARPON DIKAISUNHS TON DIA IHSOU XRISTOU EIS DOXAN KAI 
> EPAINON QEOU
>
>
> I am not confused at the use of TOUTO (τοῦτο) in 1:9, I see it as the 
> direct object of the verb PROSEUCOMAI (προσεύχομαι). But I am confused at 
> the IVA + Subjunctive PERISSEUHi (περισσεύῃ) in 1:9. I am taking it as a 
> substantival direct object of PROSEUCOMAI (προσεύχομαι), am I right on 
> this?
> Concerning the second IVA + Subjunctive in 1:10, IVA HTE (ἵνα ἦτε), is it 
> the "purpose" clause of HTE (ἦτε), or is it also another substantival 
> direct object clause of PROSEUCOMAI (προσεύχομαι)?
>
> Thanks for any responses,
> Tim
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that’s right for you.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290
> ---
> 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
> 




More information about the B-Greek mailing list