Re: Romans 8:28

From: Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Date: Wed Aug 12 1998 - 19:34:53 EDT


At 8:00 AM +1000 8/13/98, George Athas wrote:
>The problem with seeing PANTA as the subject of SYNERGEI is the
>discrepancy in number (as Ben mentioned). PANTA is plural, SYNERGEI is
>singular. It seems that "God" is the implied subject of SYNERGEI, but
>not explicitly stated since "God" was mentioned in the opening part of
>the statement. Thus, I do not think we can legitimately see PANTA as the
>subject. We can, however, see it as an emphatic object (emphatic due to
>syntax). Yet, I wonder if we cannot see PANTA acting adverbially here,
>in the sense of "always" - thus giving the reading:
>
>For we know that regarding those who love God, he always works for good,
>for those who, according to plan, are called.
>
>What say others?

As Ben has noted, neuter plurals are not abnormal as subjects of singular
verbs; it would be quite proper to say that in classical Attic neuter
plural subjects are REGULARLY used with singular verbs, and I think that
exceptions to this in Koine are actually rather rare.

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University
Summer: 1647 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/

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