The structure of Rom 4:11-12
Posted: July 31st, 2014, 9:42 pm
While I read this text in trying to comment on another thread, I paid some attention to the structure of 4:11-12, which is
not simple. Please comment on my analysis.
4:11 Και σημεῑον ελαβεν περιτομῆς σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαισυνης τῆς πιστεως τῆς εν τῇ ακροβυστια
--------- εισ εῖναι αυτον ταπερα παντων τω̄ν πιστευοντον δι ακροβυστιας (a1)
------------------------------------------------------------------ εις το λογισθῆναι αυτοῖς την δικαιοσυνην
---------------------------- και παπερα περιτομῆς (a2)
----------------------------------- τοῖς ουκ εκ περιτομῆς μονον αλλα (b1)
----------------------------------- και τοῖς στοιΧοῦσιν τοῖς ιΧνεσιν τῆς εν ακροβυστια πιστεως τοῦ πατρος ημῶν Αβρααμ (b2)
(1) πατερα ταντων των πιστευσοντον (Gentiles) and παπερα περιτομῆς (Jews) are parallel as complements of verb ειναι
(2) a1-a2 and b1-b2 forms a ABBA pattern (chiastic structure):
[τοῖς ουκ εκ περιτομῆς] μονον αλλα [ to not only those of circumcision ] (not only to Jews)
και τοῖς στοιΧοῦσιν τοῖς ιΧνεσιν τῆς εν ακροβυστια πιστεως [ also to those who walks in the path of faith]
The two dative phrase go with εῖναι αυτον ταπερα.
This analysis fits well to 4:16:
εισ το ειναι βεβαιαν τημ επαγγελιαν παντι τῷ σπερματι
ου τῷ εκ του νομου μονον αλλα [ not only to those of the law, Jews]
και τῷ εκ πιστεως Αβρααμ. [ also to those of faith of Abraham, Gentile believers]
This analysis contrasts to the majority of English translations:
And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (Rom 4:12 KJV)
NAB Romans 4:12 as well as the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but also follow the path of faith that our father Abraham walked while still uncircumcised. (Rom 4:12 NAB)
NIV Romans 4:12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
(Rom 4:12 NIV)
They take
και παπερα περιτομῆς τοῖς ουκ εκ περιτομῆς μονον αλλα και τοῖς στοιΧοῦσιν τοῖς ιΧνεσιν τῆς εν ακροβυστια πιστεως τοῦ πατρος ημῶν Αβρααμ
to refer to a single group, that is, those Jews who walks in the path of the faith of Abraham.
Is there any problem with my parsing?
Moon Jung
not simple. Please comment on my analysis.
4:11 Και σημεῑον ελαβεν περιτομῆς σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαισυνης τῆς πιστεως τῆς εν τῇ ακροβυστια
--------- εισ εῖναι αυτον ταπερα παντων τω̄ν πιστευοντον δι ακροβυστιας (a1)
------------------------------------------------------------------ εις το λογισθῆναι αυτοῖς την δικαιοσυνην
---------------------------- και παπερα περιτομῆς (a2)
----------------------------------- τοῖς ουκ εκ περιτομῆς μονον αλλα (b1)
----------------------------------- και τοῖς στοιΧοῦσιν τοῖς ιΧνεσιν τῆς εν ακροβυστια πιστεως τοῦ πατρος ημῶν Αβρααμ (b2)
(1) πατερα ταντων των πιστευσοντον (Gentiles) and παπερα περιτομῆς (Jews) are parallel as complements of verb ειναι
(2) a1-a2 and b1-b2 forms a ABBA pattern (chiastic structure):
[τοῖς ουκ εκ περιτομῆς] μονον αλλα [ to not only those of circumcision ] (not only to Jews)
και τοῖς στοιΧοῦσιν τοῖς ιΧνεσιν τῆς εν ακροβυστια πιστεως [ also to those who walks in the path of faith]
The two dative phrase go with εῖναι αυτον ταπερα.
This analysis fits well to 4:16:
εισ το ειναι βεβαιαν τημ επαγγελιαν παντι τῷ σπερματι
ου τῷ εκ του νομου μονον αλλα [ not only to those of the law, Jews]
και τῷ εκ πιστεως Αβρααμ. [ also to those of faith of Abraham, Gentile believers]
This analysis contrasts to the majority of English translations:
And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (Rom 4:12 KJV)
NAB Romans 4:12 as well as the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but also follow the path of faith that our father Abraham walked while still uncircumcised. (Rom 4:12 NAB)
NIV Romans 4:12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
(Rom 4:12 NIV)
They take
και παπερα περιτομῆς τοῖς ουκ εκ περιτομῆς μονον αλλα και τοῖς στοιΧοῦσιν τοῖς ιΧνεσιν τῆς εν ακροβυστια πιστεως τοῦ πατρος ημῶν Αβρααμ
to refer to a single group, that is, those Jews who walks in the path of the faith of Abraham.
Is there any problem with my parsing?
Moon Jung