Re: πνευματικοῖς in 1 Corinthians 2:13
Posted: May 10th, 2013, 4:42 pm
No one's responded to this yet. Is there anyone who would like to give it a shot?
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Unless the phrase πνεύματος πνευματικοῖς is a set phrase used in Patristic literature and elsewhere, I would be reluctant to separate the instrumental dative πνευματικοῖς from συνκρίνοντες; the two words seem made for each other; 'comparing the spiritual with the spiritual' (and not with the human elements of life).① to bring things together so as to form a unit, combine (Epicharmus et al.; Pla.; Aristot., Metaph. 1, 4, 985a, 24) so perh. πνευματικοῖς (neut.) πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες giving spiritual truth a spiritual form (Goodsp., Lghtf., BWeiss, Bousset) 1 Cor 2:13 (s. 2b and 3 below).
③ to clarify on the basis of a compatible relationship, explain, interpret (Polyb. 14, 3, 7; Gen 40:8, 16, 22; 41:12f, 15; Da 5:12 Theod.; JosAs 4:14 [ἐνύπνιον]) πνευματικοῖς (masc.) πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit 1 Cor 2:13 (s. 1 and 2b above) so NRSV text, PSchmiedel, Heinrici, JSickenberger.—FBlass and JWeiss propose emendation of the text.—M-M. s.v. συνκρίνω. TW.
Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed.) (953). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
It seems most natural to me to keep the comma where it has been placed and carry over σοφίας λόγοις from ἐν διδακτοῖς ἀνθρωπίνης σοφίας λόγοις to get ἐν διδακτοῖς πνεύματος [λόγοις]. To delete (or leave unexpressed) words that can easily be supplied from the previous context is very common.David Lee wrote:Hey folks,
I was wondering if it might be more natural to place the comma after πνευματικοῖς in 1 Corinthians 2:13:
If we place the comma after πνευματικοῖς, that would make the comparative statement a bit more symmetric:ἃ καὶ λαλοῦμεν οὐκ ἐν διδακτοῖς ἀνθρωπίνης σοφίας λόγοις, ἀλλ’ ἐν διδακτοῖς πνεύματος, πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συνκρίνοντες.
διδακτοῖς ἀνθρωπίνης σοφίας λόγοις / διδακτοῖς πνεύματος πνευματικοῖς
through words taught by human wisdom / through spiritual (things/gifts/words) taught by the Spirit
However, this would remove πνευματικοῖς from the last clause "πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συνκρίνοντες" and leave only "πνευματικὰ συνκρίνοντες". Would "συνκρίνοντες" without a dative be valid? ESV and NIV seem to allow this (interpreting συνκρίνοντες as "interpreting"/"explaining") , but NASB and WEB seem to require the dative to complete the "comparing"/"combining" of the accusative and the dative.