[B-Greek] 1 Peter 2:8b
Iver Larsen
iver_larsen at sil.org
Mon Mar 22 23:25:19 EST 2004
>
> KAI LIQOS PROSKOMMATOS KAI PETRA SKANDALOU. hOI
> PROSKOPTOUSIN TWi LOGWi APEIQOUNTES, EIS hO KAI
> ETEQHSAN
>
> The final phrase EIS hO KAI ETEQHSAN is of interest to
> me. After reading some of Dr. Conrad's comments
> regarding the QH- forms, it seems hugh how one takes
> this, either middle or passive in meaning. How does
> one go about deciding which sense is best taken
> here...middle or passive... on purely grammatical grounds?
The grammatical grounds include a study of how this particular verb is used,
and since it is one of the few that have co-existent aorist middle and
passive forms, it is most likely that it is passive here, as Carl and others
have already said. God is the implicit agent.
However, there is the related question of what EIS hO KAI (to which also)
refers back to. I think it refers back to a principle expounded in verses
6-8. God has put a "stone" in Zion, which of course refers to Jesus. Two
different reactions to the stone is recorded: Some believe in him and
consider it/him a very precious stone, v. 6b and 7a. The result of their
belief is that they will never be ashamed/let down. But others do not
believe and they reject the stone (7b), and the result for this group is
that the same stone becomes a stumbling block and SKANDALON to them (8a).
They fall over the stone and do not obtain salvation, because they do not
believe.
So, in the quote from 8b it is those who are disobedient to the word who
stumble (or possibly: the disobedient stumble over the word). Their fall is
a consequence of their disbelief and disobedience, and that principle is
what has been set in place long ago by God as recorded already in Genesis
2-3. So, I would say that what has been appointed by God is the fact that
all who refuse to believe and to obey will fall.
I like both the REB and NLT translations of this difficult passage:
REB: "They trip because they refuse to believe the word; this is the fate
appointed for them."
NLT: "They stumble because they do not listen to God's word or obey it, and
so they meet the fate that has been planned for them."
My own idiomatic translation is:
"Those who are disobedient to the word of God, stumble and fall. That is how
God has decided it should be."
Iver Larsen
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