[B-Greek] Acts 16,3
Bart Torbert
Bart.Torbert at ihsenergy.com
Tue Mar 30 17:48:01 EST 2004
What I got from all this discussion is that the Greek is not absolutely
specific as to what happened. Which is just the way it is.
But various translators are picking which option appeals to them based upon
their own cultural interpretations. But some of these assumptions don't
seem necessarily well grounded. ( for example; only a physician would
perform a circumcision)
>From a linguistic standpoint, the only route at this point is the study
that someone suggested to see if other examples of the usage of PERIETEMEN
appears to indicate more ofter direct or indirect action.
Ultimately, there may be no solution to the problem though.
Bart Torbert
bart.torbert at ihsenergy.com
"Carl W. Conrad"
<cwconrad at artsci.
wustl.edu> To
Sent by: Bart Torbert
b-greek-bounces at l <Bart.Torbert at ihsenergy.com>
ists.ibiblio.org cc
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Subject
03/30/2004 02:31 Re: [B-Greek] Acts 16,3
PM
At 11:01 AM -0700 3/30/04, Bart Torbert wrote:
>Unless we can find NT references that would indicate if Paul was or was
not
>a mohel, I think the question of who circumcised Timothy can not be
>defiantly answered.
I'm not particularly interested in achieving a "defiant" answer to the
question of whether Paul personally performed the circumcision. To me the
important point at issue from the original question posed to initiate the
thread is that a Greek active or middle verb can--given the particular
verb's usage--express action on behalf of the subject but not performed by
the subject. PERIETEMEN in the verse in question COULD mean that Paul
personally performed the circumcision and COULD just as well mean that he
"got him circumcised" or "had him circumcised." And whether or not this is
deemed a "category" of active verb usage, it is a fact about Greek verbs
that a reader or interpreter of Greek might not--but needs to--be aware of,
which, I think, is the reason why the grammars make specific mention of it.
--
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/
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