Re: Rom 9:16. . .

From: Carlton L. Winbery (winberyc@popalex1.linknet.net)
Date: Mon Jul 29 1996 - 14:12:07 EDT


Tom Launder wrote;

>In my study of Romans 9:14-18, I have encountered an interesting verse that
>I am not clearly understanding. In 9:16 Paul uses three genitive participles:
>
>"apa oun ou *tou Qelontes* oude *tou tpexontes* alla *tou elewntos* Qeou."
>
>NKJV "So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God
>who shows mercy."
>
>NIV "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire of effort, but on God's
>mercy."
>
>NASB "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs,
>but on God who has mercy."
>
>In the translations there is an elliptical idea inserted (it is; does
>depend) which is negated.
>
>Thus I have a couple of questions in attempting to understand these
>participles. My first thought is to understand these as the direct objects
>of the elliptical verb. Am I right?
>
>These are substantive participles which translators translate with "of . .
>." Is there some genitive relationship that can be understood here?
>
>The commentaries I consulted did not offer any help here. WBC Dunn says
>"the genitive formulation is not specific and should be left vague in
>translation." This is not too helpful. :)
>
Tom, remember that the question in ch. 9 of Romans is about God's promises
to Israel and his choosing. You are probably right that "It is . . ." is
understood before each of the negative constructions and following the
"but". The genitive case is used in each of the participles as a genitive
of means (some prefer ablative of means, which is rare in the NT; normally
the genitive is used with agency and the dative with means). So the
meaning would be "It (God's choosing) is not by willing nor by running but
by the mercy of God." The question remains as to who is not doing the
willing or the running. Most translations assume that the willing of man
or the running of man is being negated. That seems to me to be a safe
assumption.

Carlton L. Winbery
Prof. Religion
LA College, Pineville, La
winberyc@popalex1.linknet.net
winbery@andria.lacollege.edu
winbrow@aol.com



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