[b-greek] Re: EMOI in Rom 7.21

From: Steven Lo Vullo (slovullo@mac.com)
Date: Sun Mar 03 2002 - 17:56:29 EST


on 3/3/02 3:51 PM, Carl W. Conrad at cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu wrote:

> At 3:05 PM -0600 3/3/02, Steven Lo Vullo wrote:
>>>> Rom 7.21: hEURISKW ARA TON NOMON, TWi QELONTI EMOI POIEIN TO KALON, hOTI
>>>> EMOI TO KAKON PARAKEITAI
>>>>
>>>> I think I would understand this sentence just fine if not for the use of
>>>> EMOI in TWi QELONTI EMOI POIEIN TO KALON. What is its relationship to TWi
>>>> QELONTI? It would seem to me that TWi QELONTI is in apposition to the EMOI
>>>> in the epexegetical hOTI clause: "So I find the principle that evil is
>>>> present in me, the one who wishes to do good." The first EMOI seems
>>>> superfluous and out of place. Any ideas?
>>>> ============
>> . . . One of the
>> sticking points for me, though, is that ,,, QELONTI appears to be
>> substantival, >qualified by the article. It
>> seems to be in a sort of "reverse apposition" with the EMOI in the hOTI
>> clause. I've noticed this type of apposition a few times in Romans in the
>> last several days.
>> ============
>
> Last week we were dealing with another curious item of word-order in 7:10,
> also brought to our attention to Steven. My take on that one is reproduced
> herebelow because I think the word-order pattern is NOT IRRELEVANT to what
> we find in the current instance.
>
> Now I think we have a very similar positioning: here it's TWi QELONTI MOI;
> there it was hH ENTOLH hH EIS ZWHN [,] hAUTH. And I think that here too we
> have a case of what Steven is with some justification calling "reverse
> apposition"--and that it makes for a very powerful statement: "So I find
> the operant principle (NOMON): for the one wishing to do what is
> good--ME--, that FOR ME what is evil is in my power." (and I think that's
> the sense of PARAKEITAI here). I think the EMOI postioned behind TWi
> QELONTI and in apposition to it is rhetorically very forceful--and that the
> EMOI which comes first in the hOTI clause is also very forceful.
>
> I think that this whole presentation in Rom 7:7-25 requires an analysis
> that does full justice to its rhetoric as well as to its syntax.

Yes, Carl, I think you are correct. I have in the last few days come to see
the parallel between 7.21 and 7.10. The construction is very powerful,
rhetorically speaking. Thanks.
============

Steven Lo Vullo
Madison, WI
slovullo@mac.com


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