[B-Greek] DIAKON-
Paul Toseland
toseland at blueyonder.co.uk
Tue Mar 23 06:43:07 EST 2004
Dear Dr Collins,
In a message forwarded to the list on Thu, 18 Mar 2004 07:04:39 -0500,
you wrote
>At this stage I think it may be permissible for me to access this
>interesting site. Have again run across Paul Toseland's comment on
>DIAKONIA of 270903 where he presents views of mine on the meanings this
>term and its cognates.
>It is pleasing to see an observer recognise how deeply my readings of so
>long ago (1970s) reach into 2003 - or 04 as the case may be. The substance
>of the views have been in BDAG since 2000, but what weight the views carry
>in interpretation of NT or in theology of ministry is yet to be seen.
>For those interested in my not-politically-correct views, I cannot field
>all comments or enquiries, but have long been committed to further
>discussion in whatever medium is likely to be effective.
Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity to discuss with you
the DIAKON- word group.
I have struggled long and hard with the phrase DIAKONHQEISA hUF' hHMWN
in 2 Cor 3:3, and would greatly value your feedback and perspectives.
This phrase introduces a remarkable sequence of theologically charged
DIAKON- phrases contrasting Paul's ministry with that of Moses:
DIAKONOS KAINHS DIAQHKHS (3:6), DIAKONIA TOU QANATOU (3:7), DIAkONIA
TOU PNEUMATOS (3:8), D. THS KATAKRISEWS, D. THS DIKAIOSUNHS (3:9).
Later we also find DIAKONIA THS KATALAGHS (5:18). I believe that each
of these DIAKONIA phrases images a *mediatory* agency; Moses receives
the Law from heaven and brings it to the people, and with it comes
condemantion and death; Paul is the channel trhough which his converts
receive the Spirit, righteousness and the word of reconciliation. And
I accept also that DIAKONHQEISA has a mediatory sense in 3:3,
'delivered by us'. But there are difficulties. 2 Cor 3:2-3 reads
hH EPISTOLH hHMWN hUMEIS ESTE, EGGEGRAMMENH EN TAIS KARDIAIS hHMWN,
GINWSKOMENH KAI ANAGINWSKOMENH hUPO PANTWN ANQRWPWN, FANEROUMENOI
hOTI ESTE EPISTOLH CRISTOU DIAKONHQEISA hUF' hHMWN, EGGEGRAMENH
OU MELANI ALL' PNEUMATI QEOU ZWNTOS, OUK EN PLAXIN LIQINAIS ALL'
EN PLAXIN KARDIAIS SARKINAIS.
The Corinthians are a letter from Christ, delivered by Paul, but
they are also written on his heart (the hUMWN variant in v. 2 is
poorly attested). The image of the Corinthians 'in' Paul's heart
recurs in 7:3, EN TAIS KARDIAIS hHMWN ESTE EIS TO SUNAPOQANEIN
KAI SUZHN, and I believe that EGGEGRAMENH in 3:2-3 represents on
ongoing state: though the letter has been delivered, it is also
still written in Paul's heart. Besides, the letter of question
is a letter of recommenation (v. 1), and such letters were
normally carried by the one recommended.
So, while it makes very good sense to say that Paul *delivered*
this letter from Christ, I am tempted to deduce that his metaphor
is deliberately ambiguous; he wants us to infer that it is also
'served by us'. (It is not possible for me to explain this here,
but I believe that in the final antitheses Paul is alluding to a
statement in the missing Letter of Tears [written by Paul to
Corinth between the canoncical letters], to the effect that
'Moses broke the stone tablets of the covenant, but if I come to
Corinth now I will break my own heart'; cf. Jer 23:9). So the
DIAKONHQEISA metaphor shifts in the final antitheses).
Now I seem to recall that, thirty years ago, you were inclined
to rule out this latter connotation of DIAKONHQEISA in 2 Cor
3:3. But there are many examples of DIAKONEW with the sense
'perform duties, render assistance, serve', though with daitve
of person (BDAG s.v. 2). So, is my proposal possible, from the
perspeictive of lexical semantics? Could DIAKONHQEISA hUF'
hHMWN convey the sense, 'served by us', 'cared for by us', or
even, 'entrusted to our care'?
Many thanks
Paul Toseland
Bristol, UK
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