re:OIKODOMHQH in John 2:20

From: Carlton Winbery (winberyc@speedgate.net)
Date: Wed Dec 29 1999 - 12:39:40 EST


>At 11:09 AM -0500 12/29/99, yochanan bitan wrote:
>>jbt:
>>>Should it be translated?
>>>was built
>>>has been built
>>>has been in the process of being built
>>
>>translation always depends on audience.
>> your third option is convoluted english and too incomplete anyway.
>> your second option fits standard english practice.
>> but your first option reflects the 'sound' of the greek,
>>since the aorist ignores the present validity of a 'perfect' and the author
>>used an aorist in jn 2.20.
>>such simplifications were common in the koine period and also match the
>>simplicity of hebrew and aramaic, since neither distinguish simple past and
>>perfect.
>
>For idiomatic English I'd suggest something like "has been 36 years in the
>building, and you're going to destroy it in three days?"
>
>
I agree with Carl's translation. The statement indicates the speakers as
making a dramatic announcement something like "the builders have just spent
forty-six years building this . . ." Other uses of the aorist in such
dramatic announcements are Mt. 3:17 and possibly Mark 16:6.

Dr. Carlton L. Winbery
Foggleman Professor of Religion
Louisiana College
winbery@speedgate.net
winbery@andria.lacollege.edu
Ph. 1 318 448 6103 hm
Ph. 1 318 487 7241 off

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