[B-Greek] Meaning of EIS in Galatians 6:8

Barry nebarry at verizon.net
Tue Jun 29 09:06:34 EDT 2010


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Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 8:26 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] Meaning of EIS in Galatians 6:8


> When Paul writes:
>
> OTI hO SPEIRWN EIS THN SARKA hEAUTOU EK THS SARKOS QERISEI FQORAN
> hO DE SPEIRWN EIS TO PNEUMA EK TOU PNEUMATOS QERISEI ZWHN AIWNION
>
> SPEIRWN EIS is translated in most Bibles something like 'sows to'.
>
> But apart from this use in the Bible, I would not generally use the 
> expression
> 'sows to' in any other context, so I don't really know what this means.
>
> What would make more sense to me, given the context of the rest of the 
> letter would be if this
> could be translated:
>
> For the one who sows by means of the flesh (i.e. trying to be justified by 
> the law).....
> will reap destruction.... the one who sows by means of the Spirit (i.e. 
> trying to be justified by faith)
> ....will reap eternal life
>
> For this to be valid, it would be necessary to translate EIS as 'by means 
> of' - I had a quick
> look at BDAG this morning, and although there is a very broad scope for 
> this word, I am not
> convinced that it will stretch to 'by means of' or 'with the agent of' etc
>
> Is EIS ever used in this way in Greek?

No, I don't think this will work at all.  EIS here simply shows where the 
seed end ups, "into."

N.E. Barry Hofstetter
Classics and Bible Instructor, TAA
http://www.theamericanacademy.net
(2010 Savatori Excellence in Education Winner)
Mentor, TNARS
http://www.tnars.net

http://my.opera.com/barryhofstetter/blog
http://mysite.verizon.net/nebarry




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