[B-Greek] GENOMENOS in Phil. 2:8

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Sat Mar 13 00:17:20 EST 2010


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Blue Meeksbay" <bluemeeksbay at yahoo.com>
To: "Carl Conrad" <cwconrad2 at mac.com>
Cc: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: 12. marts 2010 22:22
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] GENOMENOS in Phil. 2:8


> Hi Dr. Conrad:
>
> You wrote: It says nothing about "continuation" in a "state" of obedience.
>
> I may be missing something, (I probably am since you disagree), but cannot a 
> stative sense be marked by certain parameters? For instance, EGENOMHN in Rev. 
> 1:18, “I was dead.” Did not he *continue* in the single event of death until 
> he arose? (And I do not want to get distracted by Rev. 1:18. It was just the 
> first example that popped into my mind.)

The aorist does not have a stative aspect. I think the translation of Rev 1:18 
(NIV) you cite does not lend itself to a clear understanding of EGENOMHN. It 
should have been rendered "I died" (or more literally: became dead). Of course, 
being dead is a state, but the aorist points to entering into that state as Carl 
has mentioned.

You may compare with other examples of EGENOMHN, e.g. Rev 1:9, which was 
rendered by NIV as "I was", but this loses the aorist aspect. GNB has "I was put 
on" which retains the focus on entering into the state of being on the island. 
CEV: "I was sent to", NLT: "I was exiled to". (When I quote English versions, I 
am not trying to get at the meaning of the Greek text, but giving examples of 
how the Greek text has been rendered more or less accurately.)

> Therefore, could not the *single event* of the aorist be the incarnation? In 
> other words, Paul was simply emphasizing the obedient mindset of the Lord in 
> his incarnation?

No, that is ruled out by context. It is not his obedience to become or be born 
as SARX or hWS ANQRWPOS, but his acceptance of having to die, and surprisingly 
the humiliating and painful death on a cross.

Iver Larsen 




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