[b-greek] Acts 13:48

From: Glen L Naftaniel (glensmail@juno.com)
Date: Mon Mar 26 2001 - 18:04:23 EST


Hi all,
          I have a question regarding the phrase HOSOI ESAN TETAGMENOI
EIS ZOEN AIONION in
Acts 13:48. The KJV says, "...and as many as were ordained to eternal
life believed."

My friend says (regarding the phrase), "The stem is represented by 'tag'.
The same stem used with different tenses, will sometimes have different
spelling especially especially in event of a completed action. Thus, it's
sometimes hard to tell what the stem really is. "TE" in TETAGMENOI, is
textbook Greek which indicates that this word is a perfect participle.
Perfect participles are indicated by up to 4 characteristics. I forget 2
of them, but one is the stem is preceded by "E", and another is that the
first letter of the stem "tag" (i.e. "T") is repeated and placed before
the "E". In a compound sentence (2 or more verbs), the action/state of a
verb phrase consisting of a perfect participle, will come prior to the
action/state of a verb or verb phrase which is not perfect. "were
disposed" happened before the belief. The Holy Spirit did the
disposing."

Is this accurate?

A.T. Robertson said, " As many as were ordained to eternal life (HOSOI
ESAN TETAGMENOI EIS ZOEN AIONION). Periphrastic past perfect passive
indicative of TASSO, a military term to place in orderly arrangement. The
word "ordain" is not the best translation here. "Appointed," as Hackett
shows, is better. The Jews here had voluntarily rejected the word of God.
On the other side were those Gentiles who gladly accepted what the Jews
had rejected, not all the Gentiles. Why these Gentiles here ranged
themselves on God's side as opposed to the Jews Luke does not tell us.
This verse does not solve the vexed problem of divine sovereignty and
human free agency. There is no evidence that Luke had in mind an
absolutum decretum of personal salvation. Paul had shown that God's plan
extended to and included Gentiles. Certainly the Spirit of God does move
upon the human heart to which some respond, as here, while others push
him away. Believed (EPISTEUSAN). Summary or constative first aorist
active indicative of PISTEUO. The subject of this verb is the relative
clause. By no manner of legerdemain can it be made to mean "those who
believe were appointed." It was saving faith that was exercised only by
those who were appointed unto eternal life, who were ranged on the side
of eternal life, who were thus revealed as the subjects of God's grace by
the stand that they took on this day for the Lord. It was a great day for
the kingdom of God.

I am confused. Any help that could be offered would be appreciated.

God Bless,
Glen

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