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Exegetical Study of 1 Corinthians 15:2
This exegetical study of Exegetical Study of 1 Corinthians 15:2 is based on a b-greek discussion from Thursday, December 30, 1999. The initial inquiry sought assistance for a student notebook exegesis of 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, specifically focusing on verse 2, highlighting several challenging questions regarding its grammatical and rhetorical structure.
The primary exegetical issues in 1 Corinthians 15:2 center on the precise function and interplay of its conditional and exceptive clauses: εἰ κατέχετε (if you hold fast) and ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε (unless you believed in vain). Key questions include the significance of εἰ κατέχετε, the theological implications of the verb tense shift between κατέχετε (present) and ἐπιστεύσατε (aorist), the grammatical justification for μὴ with an indicative verb within ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ, and the structural relationship between these two conditional phrases. Furthermore, the meaning and syntactical role of τίνι λόγῳ (by what word/account) also warrant careful consideration.
Greek text (Nestle 1904)
δι’ οὗ καὶ σῴζεσθε, τίνι λόγῳ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν, εἰ κατέχετε, ἐκτὸς εἰ μή τι ἐπιστεύσατε εἰκῇ.
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- SBLGNT reads εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε instead of Nestle 1904’s εἰ μή τι ἐπιστεύσατε εἰκῇ. The SBLGNT lacks τι and places εἰκῇ at the end of the clause. This aligns with the NA28 and the Greek text presented in the initial discussion, which forms the basis for the subsequent exegetical questions. For the purpose of this exegesis, the reading reflected in the discussion (εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε) will be predominantly analyzed.
Textual criticism (NA28), lexical notes (KITTEL, BDAG):
- Textual Criticism (NA28): The NA28 critical edition of 1 Corinthians 15:2 follows the reading δι’ οὗ καὶ σῴζεσθε, τίνι λόγῳ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν, εἰ κατέχετε, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε. This reading is strongly supported by early and diverse manuscript evidence (e.g., א A B C D F G P Ψ 33 81 104 181 326 365 614 629 630 1241 1739 1881 1962 2127 2492 Byz Lect it vg syrp,h copsa,bo arm geo eth). The variant τι (Nestle 1904) is found in fewer manuscripts (e.g., D* Ψ 075 M pc syrph). The NA28 text, which omits τι and places εἰκῇ at the end, represents the overwhelmingly preferred reading by modern critical scholarship.
- Lexical Notes (BDAG):
- σῴζεσθε (sōizesthe, from σῴζω): Present passive indicative, “you are being saved.” BDAG defines σῴζω as “to save, deliver, preserve.” In a theological context, it refers to deliverance from sin and its consequences, leading to eternal life. The present tense indicates an ongoing process or state.
- εὐηγγελισάμην (euēggelisamēn, from εὐαγγελίζω): Aorist middle indicative, “I proclaimed good news,” “I evangelized.” BDAG: “to proclaim good news.” The aorist tense denotes a completed action in the past, referring to Paul’s initial proclamation of the Gospel to the Corinthians.
- κατέχετε (katechete, from κατέχω): Present active indicative, “you hold fast,” “you retain.” BDAG: “to hold firmly, retain.” This verb implies a continuous or ongoing act of adhering to the Gospel.
- ἐκτὸς εἰ μή (ektos ei mē): A compound particle, often translated as “unless,” “except if.” BDAG lists it as an idiom meaning “unless.” It functions as an exceptive conditional conjunction.
- εἰκῇ (eikē): Adverb, “in vain,” “without purpose,” “without cause.” BDAG: “without purpose, to no avail, in vain.” It suggests a belief that proved to be empty or ineffectual.
- ἐπιστεύσατε (episteusate, from πιστεύω): Aorist active indicative, “you believed.” BDAG: “to believe, have faith.” The aorist tense here points to the initial act of belief or conversion by the Corinthians.
- τίνι λόγῳ (tini logōi): Dative of manner or means, using the indefinite interrogative pronoun τίνι (“what/which”) and λόγῳ (“word,” “reason,” “account,” “manner”). It can be rendered as “by what word/account” or “in what way/manner.”
Translation Variants
The grammatical and rhetorical analysis of 1 Corinthians 15:2 reveals several points of complexity, particularly concerning its conditional clauses and the interplay of verb tenses.
The phrase δι’ οὗ καὶ σῴζεσθε establishes that salvation is an ongoing reality for the Corinthians, achieved “through which” (referring to the gospel mentioned in verse 1). The present passive indicative σῴζεσθε (you are being saved) emphasizes a continuous state or process.
The subsequent clause, τίνι λόγῳ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν, εἰ κατέχετε, introduces a crucial conditional element. The phrase τίνι λόγῳ (by what word/manner) is a dative of means or manner, asking how Paul preached the gospel, or what kind of word it was that he preached. The conditional clause εἰ κατέχετε (if you hold fast) is a first-class conditional statement, which assumes the condition to be true for the sake of argument, or as a statement of fact or strong likelihood. The present tense of κατέχετε (hold fast) aligns with the present tense of σῴζεσθε, suggesting an ongoing adherence to the gospel as essential for their continuous salvation. This conditional clause functions as a parenthetical qualification, affirming their present state of salvation provided they continue to retain the gospel.
The shift in verb tense between κατέχετε (present) and ἐπιστεύσατε (aorist) in the subsequent clause is significant. While κατέχετε denotes a continuous act of holding fast, ἐπιστεύσατε refers to the initial, completed act of believing the gospel. This distinction highlights that while salvation is contingent upon ongoing adherence (present tense), the initial act of faith (aorist tense) formed its basis. One interpretation suggests this transition highlights the connection between the inception of faith and the necessity of its preservation.
The clause ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε (unless you believed in vain) presents further grammatical and rhetorical challenges. The compound particle ἐκτὸς εἰ μή functions as an exceptive conjunction, commonly translated as “unless” or “except if.” Its pleonastic nature is well-attested in Hellenistic Greek. The use of μὴ with the indicative verb ἐπιστεύσατε is particularly noteworthy, as οὐ typically negates indicative verbs. However, in conditional and exceptive clauses, μὴ is consistently employed, indicating that the condition or exception is presented as a possibility or hypothesis, rather than a factual statement. Paul is not stating that they did believe in vain, but rather raising the hypothetical possibility as a stark contrast to their present state of salvation. This rhetorical device allows Paul to express his profound hope and belief in their genuine faith while simultaneously warning against the possibility of a superficial or ineffectual belief. It implies a sense of Paul’s wrestling with the concept and a pastoral concern that their belief should not be meaningless.
The structural relationship between εἰ κατέχετε and ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε has been debated. Some scholars suggest these are independent, successive reactions reflecting Paul’s internal contemplation of their faith. Others argue for a more direct qualification, where the latter clause modifies or sets the bounds for the former. The latter view seems more plausible, with ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ providing an exception or a strong warning to the condition of “holding fast.” It could be understood as: “you are being saved, provided you hold fast to what I preached, unless your initial belief was empty.” This creates a logical and rhetorical flow, where the potential emptiness of their initial belief (εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε) undercuts the efficacy of their current “holding fast,” thus challenging the reality of their salvation.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
The exegetical analysis of 1 Corinthians 15:2 reveals a verse rich in conditional and temporal nuances, emphasizing both the initial act of believing and the ongoing necessity of persevering in the Gospel. Paul’s rhetorical strategy involves the use of conditional clauses that simultaneously affirm the Corinthians’ salvation while issuing a serious warning against superficial faith. The precise meaning of τίνι λόγῳ and the nuanced negation in ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε are crucial for a comprehensive understanding. The overall message underscores the dynamic nature of salvation, which is initiated by faith and sustained through steadfast adherence to the preached message.
- “through which also you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.”
This translation emphasizes the ongoing process of salvation, conditioned by their present adherence to the Gospel, with a direct warning about the potential emptiness of their initial faith. The “word” (τίνι λόγῳ) is taken as the content of the preached message. - “by which you are also being saved—that is, if you continue to cling to the manner of the message I proclaimed to you—unless, perhaps, your faith was truly without effect.”
This rendering highlights τίνι λόγῳ as referring to the manner or nature of Paul’s proclamation. It captures the parenthetical nature of the conditions and the rhetorical force of Paul’s concern that their initial belief might have been ineffectual. - “Moreover, by this you are being saved, provided that you steadfastly maintain the gospel I proclaimed to you—otherwise, your believing was for no purpose.”
This version offers a more interpretive approach to the conditional clauses, presenting the second condition as an alternative outcome. It emphasizes steadfastness (κατέχετε) and the potential futility of belief (εἰκῇ) as a strong warning, reflecting Paul’s pastoral heart.
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