GAR in Rom 1:16-18

From: Moon-Ryul Jung (moon@saint.soongsil.ac.kr)
Date: Sat Apr 03 1999 - 21:11:32 EST


Dear B-Greekers,
I would like to start a thread on how to treat intersentential
connective GAR. Let me begin the discussion with an example, Rom 1:16-18.

16 ...DUNAMAIS GAR QEOU ESTIN EIS SOTERIAN PANTI TWi PISTEUONTI,
       OUDAIWi TE PRWTON KKAI hELLHNI.
17 DIKAIOSUNE GAR QEOS EN AUTW APOKALUPTETAI EK PISTEWS EIS PISTIN...
18 APOKALUPTETAI GAR ORGE QEOU AP OURANOU ETI PASAN ASEBEIAN KAI
    ADIKIAN ANQRWPWN...

The reason I chose this example is that here the usual force of
GAR (the reason why...) seems difficult to detect in v. 18.
I often encounter such cases. It made wonder what kind of connective
 it is. Anyway,I tried to connect v 18 with what goes before it
in two ways. Please comment which is better or provide an alternative.

1. v 17 and 18 are parallel and provide two complementary
reasons for the assertion that the gospel is the power of God for
salvation. It is the power of God because IN THE GOSPEL the
righteousness of God is revealed and OUTSIDE OF THE GOSPEL (implicilty
understood) the wrath of God is being revealed to men. But I am not sure
if v 18 can be connected to v 16 across v 17. Does GAR allow it?

2. v 18 starts a section which will provides some ground for the
assertion of v 17, but what the connection exactly is is not yet known.
The connection seems to be indicated at the end of the section, which
which concludes that the whole world is held accountable to God (3:19)
and no flesh is justified in God's sight by works of the law. It seems
to indicate the reason why "the righteous shall live by faith" quoted in
v 17. This connection is also indicated by 3:21 which reasserts
what v 17 says.
(3:21) "Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart
from the law,...., the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus
Christ for all who believe." So, we seem to have the following structure:

1: 17 A
1: 18-3:20 [GAR B. ......]
3:21 A'

But I am not sure if GAR can introduce a whole section which will
provide a ground for what goes before it.

Finally, I would like to know if I should always try to find some
causal connection however weak it may be when I see GAR. Some
commentators said that GAR may be translated to "But" depending
on context.

Sincerely

Moon

Moon-Ryul Jung
Assistant Professor
Dept of Computer Science
Soongsil University,
Seoul, Korea

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