[B-Greek] articles in 1 Peter 1:11
Iver Larsen
iver_larsen at sil.org
Sun Oct 3 03:51:26 EDT 2010
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jordan Cooper" <jordan.cooper at cornerstone.edu>
To: <B-Greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: 2. oktober 2010 21:03
Subject: [B-Greek] articles in 1 Peter 1:11
>I have seen some discussion of the way articles are to be translated, but
> hopefully this will question will help others like myself rather than
> repeating what has already been explained :)
>
> My question is concerning the significance of the use of articles within the
> phrases of 1 Peter 1:11. As I am translated this passage I notice that the
> construct goes from the average "article right before the noun" like hO
> QEOS, to more of a "article, preposition, pronoun, noun" order like THS EIS
> hUMAS CARITOS, or TO EN AUTOIS PNEUMA CRISTOU.
>
> I just want to know if there is any significance to this (especially because
> this is the first time the writer does this within this writing) or if goes
> back to the way the Greek article has a unique function within it's
> language.
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
> Jordan Cooper
English also use prepositional phrases as constituents in a noun phrase, e.g.
The book on the table. If it helps you may think of it as similar to a relative
clause that is also a constituent of a noun phrase, e.g. The book (which is/was)
on the table.
The difference is that Greek uses fronting of a constituent to add relative
prominence to it (often contrastive). So, instead of saying TO PNEUMA CRISTOU EN
AUTOIS (the Spirit of Christ in them), Peter says: TO EN AUTOIS PNEUMA CRISTOU
(the in them Spirit of Christ). The fronting puts the spotlight on these
prophets who - in contrast to many other people - had the Spirit of Christ in
them to show them something about the future (DHLOW).
Likewise PERI THS EIS hUMAS CARITOS puts a stronger, contrastive spotlight on
YOU - as opposed to them - who has experienced this new grace if Christ.
Iver Larsen
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