[B-Greek] "Because we are" of "Despite our being"? (Acts 17:29)
Donald Cobb
docobb at orange.fr
Mon Mar 1 00:31:02 EST 2010
Emmanuel,
In my opinion, the OUN at the beginning of the verse goes in another
direction: "Therefore, being of the race of God" = "Therefore, since we
are of the race of God"
The French BJ cannot be construed as a concessive. The "que si" (= "if")
is a rhetorical flourish, presupposing the factuality of what is
presented as conditional ("si nous sommes de la race de Dieu" = "if we
are of the race of God [and we are]"). The "que" is typically French and
not easy to translate exactly, but it goes with what follows ("...nous
ne devons pas penser") and could be more or less loosely translated
"because": "because we are of the race of God, we should not think..."
Blessings,
Donald Cobb
Aix-en-Provence, France
Emanuel Contac a écrit :
> Dear B-Greek List,
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> While reading today Acts 17:29, where Paul says that we are God’s offspring and that we should not suppose that the deity is similar to gold, silver or stone, I wondered whether the participle YPARCHONTES could not be construed as having concessive value, rather than resultative/inferential value. In other words, despite us being God’s offspring, we should not suppose that God is material in the same sense that we are. Does any of you think there is a chance of this participle being interpreted in this way? It seems to be to make better sense in the Paul’s argument. The French Bible de Jerusalem seems to construe the verse in this way, if my French knowledge is not betraying me.
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> Acts 17:29 γένος οὖν ὑπάρχοντες τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ὀφείλομεν νομίζειν χρυσῷ ἢ ἀργύρῳ ἢ λίθῳ, χαράγματι τέχνης καὶ ἐνθυμήσεως ἀνθρώπου, τὸ θεῖον εἶναι ὅμοιον. (Act 17:29 BNT)
>
> FBJ Acts 17:29 " Que si nous sommes de la race de Dieu, nous ne devons pas penser que la divinité soit semblable à de l'or, de l'argent ou de la pierre, travaillés par l'art et le génie de l'homme.
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> Emanuel Contac, Romania
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> ---
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