[B-Greek] 2 Corinthians 13:5
Philemon Zachariou
ntgreek at att.net
Sat May 7 00:49:16 EDT 2011
Dear Robert,
εαυτους πειραζετε ει εστε εν τη πιστει
Looking at this as a first class condition with the apodosis
being placed before the protasis, then we could certainly get the sense (as you
put it): “If you are in the faith, then test yourselves.” If so, then in order
for someone to test or examine himself he would first need to be in the
faith. That is, being in the faith
now becomes a condition for examining oneself. Looking at it this way, however,
we run into two other issues: (a) ascertaining that this is the sense Paul
intends to convey here, and (b) finding Paul’s reasoning for such a condition.
(a) It would be difficult to wedge such a condition into
Paul’s train of thought. Here Paul challenges the Corinthians, who seek proof
that Jesus is speaking in him (v3), to see that his preaching to them was
divinely authorized, hence, they now need to examine themselves (1 Cor. 11:28
δοκιμαζετω δε ανθρωπος εαυτον) to ascertain that they are in the faith—the test
being whether or not they have received Paul’s preaching as being divinely
authorized.
(b) As for a reason for such a condition, we see none.
Context and trend of thought signal that in v5 Paul
admonishes the Corinthians to examine themselves (to see) if they were in the
faith.
Best regards,
Philemon Zachariou
________________________________
From: Robert Campanaro <rcampanaro at comcast.net>
To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Friday, May 6, 2011 3:59 PM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] 2 Corinthians 13:5
Greetings,
2 Corinthians 13:5:
Εαυτους πειραζετε ει εστε εν τη πιστει
EAUTOUS PEIRAZETE EI ESTE EN TH PISTEI
Every translation I have access to online since my Bible Works has
been down, translates this passage with something to the effect of
"test yourselves to see if you are in the faith." It seems to me that
in this passage, you have a condition of the first class with the
apodosis placed before the protasis. And the words "to see" are
nowhere in the text. Might this be better translated simply as "If you
are in the faith, then test yourselves?"
Thanks.
Robert Campanaro
Coatesville, PA
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