Re: Eph 2:8, Antecedent to TOUTO

From: Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Date: Wed Feb 12 1997 - 06:59:07 EST


At 7:34 PM -0600 2/11/97, Tim Kuns wrote:
>What is the antecedent to the TOUTO (neuter) in Eph 2:8?
>
>Is it referring to the idea of SWTHRION (neut. salvation, saving power)
>implied by the SESWSMENOI in the preceeding phrase? To paraphrase then:
>"for it is by grace you are being saved through faith, and this
>(salvation) is not of yourselves..."

This is the usual understanding--that TOUTO refers to the previous clause.
NOTE however that SESWSMENOI ESTE is not present tense but PERFECT PASSIVE:
"you HAVE BEEN SAVED." This is another of those neat little indicators of
the paradox of divine initiative and human response.

Regards, cwc

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University
One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA 63130
(314) 935-4018
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cwc@oui.com
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Apr 20 2002 - 15:38:05 EDT