[B-Greek] How to Translate and Understand EPH HW PANTES HEMARTON in Romans 5:12?

George F Somsel gfsomsel at yahoo.com
Tue Jun 15 10:40:58 EDT 2010


Διὰ τοῦτο ὥσπερ διʼ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου ἡ ἁμαρτία εἰς τὸν κόσμον εἰσῆλθεν καὶ διὰ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ θάνατος, καὶ οὕτως εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους ὁ θάνατος διῆλθεν, ἐφʼ ᾧ πάντες ἥμαρτον· 

While we don't normally attempt to resolve translation issues here, I think there is a basic issue of understanding involved in how one might translate this passage.  In BDAG you will note that EPI appears in all three of the cases which follow prepositions.  In our text it is the dative usage which appears, and there are two basic classes of usage in the dative:  (1) "contiguity" which therefore has a locative sense (2) directional indicating the cline -- this is akin to a result clause.  I think the second is the more likely.  Paul is stating that it is a CONSEQUENCE of the passing of the contagion of sin upon all men that all men therefore sin.  I think it has sometimes been understood to indicate that the fact that all men sin provides the rationale for the conclusion that sin passed to all men which is rather like putting the cart before the horse [Aside:  I've seen a picture somewhere where this IS ACTUALLY DONE].  The passage of sin
 to all men rather RESULTS in the consequence that all men sin.
 george
gfsomsel 


… search for truth, hear truth, 
learn truth, love truth, speak the truth, hold the truth, 
defend the truth till death.


- Jan Hus
_________ 




________________________________
From: Clayton Javurek <javurek at asu.edu>
To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Mon, June 14, 2010 8:49:08 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] How to Translate and Understand EPH HW PANTES HEMARTON in Romans 5:12?



Clayton G. Javurek
E-Mail: javurek at asu.edu


How should EPH HW PANTES HEMARTON be translated in Romans 5:12?
Especially the EPH HW?

Thanks.


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DIA TOUTO hWSPER DI' HENOS ANQRWPOU hH hAMARTIA EIS TON KOSMON EISHLQEN KAI DIA THS hAMRTIAS hO QANATOS, KAI hOUTWS EIS PANTAS ANQRWPOUS hO QANATOS DIHLQEN, EF' hWi PATES hHMARTON


      


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