Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

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Jonathan Robie
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Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

Post by Jonathan Robie »

Can someone help me understand the range of possible meanings of παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι in this verse?
Romans 4 wrote:16 διὰ τοῦτο ἐκ πίστεως, ἵνα κατὰ χάριν, εἰς τὸ εἶναι βεβαίαν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν παντὶ τῷ σπέρματι, οὐ τῷ ἐκ τοῦ νόμου μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ ἐκ πίστεως Ἀβραάμ ὅς ἐστιν πατὴρ πάντων ἡμῶν, 17 καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε κατέναντι οὗ ἐπίστευσεν θεοῦ τοῦ ζῳοποιοῦντος τοὺς νεκροὺς καὶ καλοῦντος τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα· 18 ὃς παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι αὐτὸν πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον, οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου· 19 καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα νενεκρωμένον, ἑκατονταετής που ὑπάρχων, καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας· 20 εἰς δὲ τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἀλλ’ ἐνεδυναμώθη τῇ πίστει, δοὺς δόξαν τῷ θεῷ 21 καὶ πληροφορηθεὶς ὅτι ὃ ἐπήγγελται δυνατός ἐστιν καὶ ποιῆσαι.
I'd like to know the function of the prepositions in that phrase. Is there a particularly good article to look at?
ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες καὶ διηποροῦντο, ἄλλος πρὸς ἄλλον λέγοντες, τί θέλει τοῦτο εἶναι;
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David Lim
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Re: Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

Post by David Lim »

Jonathan Robie wrote:Can someone help me understand the range of possible meanings of παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι in this verse?
Romans 4 wrote:16 διὰ τοῦτο ἐκ πίστεως, ἵνα κατὰ χάριν, εἰς τὸ εἶναι βεβαίαν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν παντὶ τῷ σπέρματι, οὐ τῷ ἐκ τοῦ νόμου μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ ἐκ πίστεως Ἀβραάμ ὅς ἐστιν πατὴρ πάντων ἡμῶν, 17 καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε κατέναντι οὗ ἐπίστευσεν θεοῦ τοῦ ζῳοποιοῦντος τοὺς νεκροὺς καὶ καλοῦντος τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα· 18 ὃς παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι αὐτὸν πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον, οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου· 19 καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα νενεκρωμένον, ἑκατονταετής που ὑπάρχων, καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας· 20 εἰς δὲ τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἀλλ’ ἐνεδυναμώθη τῇ πίστει, δοὺς δόξαν τῷ θεῷ 21 καὶ πληροφορηθεὶς ὅτι ὃ ἐπήγγελται δυνατός ἐστιν καὶ ποιῆσαι.
I'd like to know the function of the prepositions in that phrase. Is there a particularly good article to look at?
Does it mean "beyond hope upon hope" or "simply because of hope upon hope"? I notice that most translations "seem to omit" παρα and render επι as "against". How come?
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timothy_p_mcmahon
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Re: Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

Post by timothy_p_mcmahon »

David Lim wrote:I notice that most translations "seem to omit" παρα and render επι as "against". How come?
I think you're misreading the translations. Good ol' KJV, for example, renders "Who against hope believed in hope" — 'against hope' being their treatment of παρ’ ἐλπίδα and 'in hope' their rendition of ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι. I glanced at a half dozen other modern European language versions and got roughly the same perspective. The sense appears to be that Abraham maintained his faith in God's promise (his hope) when observation made the fulfillment of the promise seem hopeless.
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Re: Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

Post by David Lim »

timothy_p_mcmahon wrote:
David Lim wrote:I notice that most translations "seem to omit" παρα and render επι as "against". How come?
I think you're misreading the translations. Good ol' KJV, for example, renders "Who against hope believed in hope" — 'against hope' being their treatment of παρ’ ἐλπίδα and 'in hope' their rendition of ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι. I glanced at a half dozen other modern European language versions and got roughly the same perspective. The sense appears to be that Abraham maintained his faith in God's promise (his hope) when observation made the fulfillment of the promise seem hopeless.
Yes I realised this some time after I posted. Thanks for pointing out! However it raises my question, what suggests that "παρ ελπιδα" and "επ ελπιδι" should be understood separately? I took "ελπιδα επ ελπιδι" as one unit, but even if correct I did not know whether "παρ" denoted surpassing extent ("beyond") or sufficiency ("simply because of"). So which of these options do you think is the correct one and why?
[Rom 4] [18] ος παρ ελπιδα επ ελπιδι επιστευσεν εις το γενεσθαι αυτον πατερα πολλων εθνων κατα το ειρημενον ουτως εσται το σπερμα σου
(1) "who believed beyond hope upon hope, in order that he might come to be [a] father of many nations"
/ "who believed beyond all hope, and thereby became a father of many nations"
(2) "who believed simply because of hope upon hope, in order that he might come to be [a] father of many nations"
/ "who believed simply because of his hope in God's promise, and thereby became a father of many nations"
(3) "who beyond hope believed upon hope, in order that he might come to be [a] father of many nations"
/ "who though beyond hope still believed in hope, and thereby became a father of many nations"
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Jonathan Robie
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Re: Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

Post by Jonathan Robie »

I see ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι in a number of other places, so it's easier to get a fix on what it means:
Acts 26:6 wrote:καὶ νῦν ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι τῆς εἰς τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν ἐπαγγελίας γενομένης ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἕστηκα κρινόμενος
Romans 5:2 wrote:δι’ οὗ καὶ τὴν προσαγωγὴν ἐσχήκαμεν τῇ πίστει εἰς τὴν χάριν ταύτην ἐν ᾗ ἑστήκαμεν, καὶ καυχώμεθα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ.
Titus 1:2 wrote:ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι ζωῆς αἰωνίου, ἣν ἐπηγγείλατο ὁ ἀψευδὴς θεὸς πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων
Psalm 4:8(9) wrote:εν ειρηνη επι το αυτο κοιμηθησομαι και υπνωσω οτι συ κυριε κατα μονας επ ελπιδι κατωκισας με
I don't see the phrase παρ’ ἐλπίδα elsewhere in the Bible. In modern Greek, the phrase αν παρ' ελπίδα seems to mean "on the off chance".

The preposition παρ can mean an awful lot of things - here's Louw and Nida:
Louw & Nida wrote:(οἱ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ) his family 10.9
(τίθημι παρὰ / πρὸς τοὺς πόδας) turn over to 57.82
l less (quantity) 59.76
k beyond (degree) 78.29
b among (location) 83.9
a at (location) 83.25
c from (extension) 84.5
j because of (reason) 89.25
i with (association) 89.111
h instead of (contrast) 89.132
g contrary to (opposition) 89.137
e for (agent) 90.3
d from (source) 90.14
f in opinion of (view-point participant) 90.20
I guess I got lost in all the possibilities, and I didn't find the phrase παρ’ ἐλπίδα used elsewhere.

Hmmm, let's see what BDAG has to say ...
(6) marker of that which does not correspond to what is expected, against, contrary to
Some citations:
Romans 1:26 wrote:διὰ τοῦτο παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς εἰς πάθη ἀτιμίας· αἵ τε γὰρ θήλειαι αὐτῶν μετήλλαξαν τὴν φυσικὴν χρῆσιν εἰς τὴν παρὰ φύσιν
Romans 11:24 wrote: εἰ γὰρ σὺ ἐκ τῆς κατὰ φύσιν ἐξεκόπης ἀγριελαίου καὶ παρὰ φύσιν ἐνεκεντρίσθης εἰς καλλιέλαιον, πόσῳ μᾶλλον οὗτοι οἱ κατὰ φύσιν ἐνκεντρισθήσονται τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐλαίᾳ.
Romans 16:17 wrote:Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, σκοπεῖν τοὺς τὰς διχοστασίας καὶ τὰ σκάνδαλα παρὰ τὴν διδαχὴν ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε ποιοῦντας, καὶ ἐκκλίνετε ἀπ’ αὐτῶν·
OK, I get it now ...

I'm still curious about how this relates to αν παρ' ελπίδα.
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Scott Lawson
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Re: Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

Post by Scott Lawson »

Jonathan Robie wrote:I'd like to know the function of the prepositions in that phrase. Is there a particularly good article to look at?
Robertson comments:

“The notion of comparison may glide over into that of opposition very easily….Ro. 4:18, παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι, where both prepositions answer over to each other, ‘beyond,’ ‘upon.’” Cf. Rob. 616.

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Re: Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

Post by Louis L Sorenson »

A search of TLG found 674 instances of παρ' ἔλπιδα and 3 of παρὰ ἔλπιδα. This is a phrase which occurs an extraordinary / significant number of times in Greek in the TLG documented literature. This must be a phrase which has a stock meaning, don't you think? Not some obscure phrase which everyone debated its meaning.
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Re: Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

Post by Stephen Carlson »

Louis L Sorenson wrote:A search of TLG found 674 instances of παρ' ἔλπιδα and 3 of παρὰ ἔλπιδα. This is a phrase which occurs an extraordinary / significant number of times in Greek in the TLG documented literature. This must be a phrase which has a stock meaning, don't you think? Not some obscure phrase which everyone debated its meaning.
LSJ treats the phrase too:
LSJ παρά C.III.4 wrote:4. metaph., in transgression or violation of, π. μοῖραν Od.14.509; π. μοῖραν Δίος Alc.Supp. 14.10; παρ’ αἶσαν, παρὰ δίκαν, Pi.P.8.13, O.2.16, etc.; π. τὸ δίκαιον Th.5.90, etc.; π. τὰς σπονδάς, τὸν νόμον, Id.1.67, X.HG1.7.14; π. φύσιν Th.6.17, cf. Pl.Lg.747b; π. τὴν στήλην prob. in IG12.45.20; π. καιρόν out of season, Pi.O.8.24, etc.; π. γνώμαν ib.12.10, cf. A.Supp.454; π. δόξαν, π. τὸ δοκοῦν ἡμῖν, π. λόγον, Th.3.93, 1.84, Plb.2.38.5; παρ’ ἐλπίδα or ἐλπίδας, A.Ag.899, S.Ant.392, etc.; πὰρ μέλος out of tune, Pi.N.7.69; π. τὴν ἀξίαν Th.7.77, etc.; π. τὸ εἰωθός, τὸ καθεστηκός, Id.4.17, 1.98.
Section C.III is part of a group of related senses meaning "past" or "beyond." So "against hope" seems to be about right.

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Re: Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

Post by Jonathan Robie »

Stephen Carlson wrote:
Louis L Sorenson wrote:A search of TLG found 674 instances of παρ' ἔλπιδα and 3 of παρὰ ἔλπιδα. This is a phrase which occurs an extraordinary / significant number of times in Greek in the TLG documented literature. This must be a phrase which has a stock meaning, don't you think? Not some obscure phrase which everyone debated its meaning.
Wish I had TLG ...
Stephen Carlson wrote:LSJ treats the phrase too:
LSJ παρά C.III.4 wrote:4. metaph., in transgression or violation of, π. μοῖραν Od.14.509; π. μοῖραν Δίος Alc.Supp. 14.10; παρ’ αἶσαν, παρὰ δίκαν, Pi.P.8.13, O.2.16, etc.; π. τὸ δίκαιον Th.5.90, etc.; π. τὰς σπονδάς, τὸν νόμον, Id.1.67, X.HG1.7.14; π. φύσιν Th.6.17, cf. Pl.Lg.747b; π. τὴν στήλην prob. in IG12.45.20; π. καιρόν out of season, Pi.O.8.24, etc.; π. γνώμαν ib.12.10, cf. A.Supp.454; π. δόξαν, π. τὸ δοκοῦν ἡμῖν, π. λόγον, Th.3.93, 1.84, Plb.2.38.5; παρ’ ἐλπίδα or ἐλπίδας, A.Ag.899, S.Ant.392, etc.; πὰρ μέλος out of tune, Pi.N.7.69; π. τὴν ἀξίαν Th.7.77, etc.; π. τὸ εἰωθός, τὸ καθεστηκός, Id.4.17, 1.98.
Section C.III is part of a group of related senses meaning "past" or "beyond." So "against hope" seems to be about right.
Here are the two citations in LSJ:

S.Ant.392
ἄναξ, βροτοῖσιν οὐδέν ἔστ᾽ ἀπώμοτον.
ψεύδει γὰρ ἡ 'πίνοια τὴν γνώμην: ἐπεὶ
390 σχολῇ ποθ᾽ ἥξειν δεῦρ᾽ ἂν ἐξηύχουν ἐγὼ
ταῖς σαῖς ἀπειλαῖς αἷς ἐχειμάσθην τότε
ἀλλ᾽ ἡ γὰρ ἐκτὸς καὶ παρ᾽ ἐλπίδας χαρὰ
ἔοικεν ἄλλῃ μῆκος οὐδὲν ἡδονῇ,
ἥκω, δι᾽ ὅρκων καίπερ ὢν ἀπώμοτος,
395 κόρην ἄγων τήνδ᾽, ἣ καθῃρέθη τάφον
κοσμοῦσα. κλῆρος ἐνθάδ᾽ οὐκ ἐπάλλετο,
ἀλλ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἐμὸν θοὔρμαιον, οὐκ ἄλλου, τόδε.
καὶ νῦν, ἄναξ, τήνδ᾽ αὐτός, ὡς θέλεις, λαβὼν
καὶ κρῖνε κἀξέλεγχ᾽: ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἐλεύθερος
400 δίκαιός εἰμι τῶνδ᾽ ἀπηλλάχθαι κακῶν.
But since this joy that exceeds and oversteps my hopes can be compared in fulness to no other pleasure, I am back—though it is contrary to my sworn oath— [395] bringing this girl who was caught giving burial honors to the dead.
A.Ag.899
νῦν ταῦτα πάντα τλᾶσ᾽ ἀπενθήτῳ φρενὶ
λέγοιμ᾽ ἂν ἄνδρα τόνδε τῶν σταθμῶν κύνα,
σωτῆρα ναὸς πρότονον, ὑψηλῆς στέγης
στῦλον ποδήρη, μονογενὲς τέκνον πατρί,
καὶ γῆν φανεῖσαν ναυτίλοις παρ᾽ ἐλπίδα,
900 κάλλιστον ἦμαρ εἰσιδεῖν ἐκ χείματος,
ὁδοιπόρῳ διψῶντι πηγαῖον ῥέος:
τερπνὸν δὲ τἀναγκαῖον ἐκφυγεῖν ἅπαν.
τοιοῖσδέ τοί νιν ἀξιῶ προσφθέγμασιν.
φθόνος δ᾽ ἀπέστω: πολλὰ γὰρ τὰ πρὶν κακὰ
905 ἠνειχόμεσθα. νῦν δέ μοι, φίλον κάρα,
ἔκβαιν᾽ ἀπήνης τῆσδε, μὴ χαμαὶ τιθεὶς
τὸν σὸν πόδ᾽, ὦναξ, Ἰλίου πορθήτορα.
δμῳαί, τί μέλλεθ᾽, αἷς ἐπέσταλται τέλος
πέδον κελεύθου στρωννύναι πετάσμασιν;
910 εὐθὺς γενέσθω πορφυρόστρωτος πόρος
ἐς δῶμ᾽ ἄελπτον ὡς ἂν ἡγῆται δίκη.
τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα φροντὶς οὐχ ὕπνῳ νικωμένη
θήσει δικαίως σὺν θεοῖς εἱμαρμένα.
895 But now, having born all this, my heart freed from its anxiety, I would hail my husband here as the watchdog of the fold, the savior forestay of the ship, firm-based pillar of the lofty roof, only-begotten son of a father, or land glimpsed by men at sea beyond their hope, 900 dawn most fair to look upon after storm, the gushing stream to thirsty wayfarer—sweet is it to escape all stress of need.
ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες καὶ διηποροῦντο, ἄλλος πρὸς ἄλλον λέγοντες, τί θέλει τοῦτο εἶναι;
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Re: Romans 4:18 - παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι

Post by cwconrad »

For what it's worth, I've always thought, since this thread first started snaking along, that παρ’ ἐλπίδα ought to have a sense parallel to the not uncommon phrase used to refer to something unexpected, παρὰ προσδοκίαν: "counter to expectation."
οὔτοι ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς πάντα θεοὶ θνητοῖς ὑπέδειξαν,
ἀλλὰ χρόνῳ ζητέοντες ἐφευρίσκουσιν ἄμεινον. (Xenophanes, Fragment 16)

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