Acts 13:48

An Exegetical Study of Acts 13:48: The Grammatical Function and Semantic Nuance of τεταγμενοι

This exegetical study of “Tense of τεταγμενοι in Acts 13:48″ is based on a b-greek discussion from Thu Jul 1 00:47:32 EDT 1999. The initial inquiry sought clarification on the use of verb tense in dependent clauses, specifically regarding the phrase και επιστευσαν οσοι ησαν τεταγμενοι εισ ζωην αιωνιον. The questioner initially considered the dependent clause as an adverbial relative clause and inquired whether the periphrastic pluperfect implied action prior to the main verb, or if this temporal relationship was restricted to non-periphrastic participles.

The primary exegetical issue revolves around two interconnected grammatical points in Acts 13:48: first, the syntactic function of the clause beginning with οσοι, particularly whether it functions as an adverbial, adjectival, or substantive clause; and second, the precise temporal and aspectual nuance of the periphrastic pluperfect passive ησαν τεταγμενοι in relation to the main aorist verb επιστευσαν. Discussions further delve into the semantic range of τασσω in this context, questioning the implied agent of the action and the theological implications often associated with its translation, while striving to maintain a focus on grammatical accuracy.

καὶ ἀκούοντα δὲ τὰ ἔθνη ἔχαιρον καὶ ἐδόξαζον τὸν λόγον τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν ὅσοι ἦσαν τεταγμένοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον. (Nestle 1904, based on NA28)

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• SBLGNT reads τὸν λόγον τοῦ κυρίου, aligning with the critical edition presented above. Some textual variants (not explicitly Nestle 1904, but noted in the discussion) include τοῦ θεοῦ instead of τοῦ κυρίου.
• SBLGNT uses lowercase for initial letters of common nouns and adjectives like αιώνιον, which would appear as αἰώνιον in most critical editions.

Textual Criticism (NA28): For Acts 13:48, the most significant textual variant concerns the object of glorification: τοῦ κυρίου (of the Lord) versus τοῦ θεοῦ (of God). The Nestle-Aland 28th edition (NA28), which forms the basis for critical Greek New Testament texts like SBLGNT, strongly prefers τοῦ κυρίου, assigning it an ‘A’ rating, indicating virtual certainty. This reading is supported by a wide array of early and important manuscripts including 𝔓^45,74, א, A, B, C, E, Ψ, 33, 81, 104, 326, 614, 1175, 1241, 1505, 1739, 1891, 2495, and the Byzantine text type. The variant τοῦ θεοῦ is supported by fewer, generally later manuscripts. Therefore, τοῦ κυρίου is adopted as the critically preferred reading for the Greek text.

Lexical Notes:

• τεταγμένοι (tetagmenoi): This is a perfect passive participle, masculine nominative plural, from the verb τάσσω (tassō).
  • **KITTEL (TDNT):** The verb τάσσω fundamentally means “to put in order, arrange, assign, appoint.” In its passive forms, it signifies being placed, arranged, or appointed by an external agent. TDNT highlights its usage in contexts of divine appointment or destiny, where the agent is often implicitly God. The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action with lasting results.
  • **BDAG:** For Acts 13:48, BDAG defines τάσσω as “to appoint, destine.” Specifically for the passive voice with εἰς (eis) and a noun denoting purpose or goal (ζωὴν αἰώνιον, eternal life), it carries the sense of being “appointed for” or “destined to.” The lexical data strongly suggest a divine agent for this appointment, even without an explicit mention of ὑπὸ θεοῦ, due to the nature of “eternal life.” The perfect aspect underscores the established state or condition resulting from this prior appointment.

Translation Variants and Grammatical & Rhetorical Analysis

The core of the discussion centered on the grammatical classification and temporal/aspectual meaning of ὅσοι ἦσαν τεταγμένοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Initial suggestions considered it an adverbial relative clause, but subsequent analysis largely converged on an adjectival or substantive function, limiting the subject of the main verb ἐπίστευσαν (‘believed’).

• **Syntactic Function:** While initially questioned as adverbial, the consensus among scholars in the discussion leans toward ὅσοι ἦσαν τεταγμένοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον functioning as a substantive clause, effectively serving as the subject of ἐπίστευσαν. The indefinite relative pronoun ὅσοι (‘as many as’ or ‘all who’) implicitly carries an antecedent, meaning “those who” or “all persons who.” This interpretation limits *who* believed, rather than *how* or *to what extent* they believed, making it a restrictive clause.
• **Temporal and Aspectual Nuance of ἦσαν τεταγμένοι:**
  • The phrase ἦσαν τεταγμένοι is a periphrastic pluperfect passive. The grammatical analysis consistently identifies ἦσαν as an auxiliary verb, indicating past time, and τεταγμένοι as a perfect passive participle, signifying a completed action with ongoing results. There was strong refutation of the idea that ἦσαν here could mean “were present” as an independent verb; its role as an auxiliary is considered undeniable by mainstream grammarians.
  • Carl Conrad’s contribution specifically nuanced the pluperfect passive: he argued that an aorist passive (e.g., ἐτάχθησαν, ‘they had been destined/ordained’) would typically convey a completed action *prior* to the main verb. However, the pluperfect passive ἦσαν τεταγμένοι, while also indicating an action prior to the main verb, lays greater emphasis on the *state or condition* resulting from that prior action, obtaining at the time of the main verb. Thus, it describes a “past stative” (“were—at that time—destined/ordained”) rather than merely a prior completed act. Paul Dixon concurred, interpreting this as the “intensive” force of the perfect, stressing the existing *results* (their state of being chosen) at the moment they believed. This distinction highlights that the *status* of being appointed was present when they believed.
• **Semantic Range of τάσσω and Implied Agency:**
  • Translating τάσσω as “ordain” (as in the RSV and Richard’s option A) is common, but was noted by Iver Larsen as potentially carrying restrictive religious connotations in modern English. Alternative suggestions included “appointed,” “destined,” or “set apart,” aiming for a more neutral or natural English rendering while retaining the core meaning.
  • A significant point of contention arose regarding the implied agent of τεταγμένοι. While many lexicons and exegetes understand the passive voice in this context to imply divine agency (often referred to as a “divine passive”) due to the nature of “eternal life,” Richard (in his option C) questioned this, suggesting Paul/Barnabas or the Word of God as possible agents. He also proposed “to be placed in position towards” or “to be directed towards,” citing a military origin for τάσσω. However, other participants, including Iver Larsen and Carl Conrad, largely affirmed God as the agent, arguing that the semantic domain of “eternal life” inherently points to divine initiative, regardless of whether a ὑπὸ θεοῦ phrase is explicit. The verb τάσσω, even with εἰς, while meaning “to arrange for” or “direct to,” still implies a passive state for the subject of being arranged or directed, not an active self-disposition towards.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The grammatical and lexical analysis of Acts 13:48 points strongly to a periphrastic pluperfect passive that functions as a substantive clause, identifying *who* believed. The participle τεταγμένοι, derived from τάσσω, signifies a prior completed action of arrangement or appointment, with the lasting result of a specific status or condition. While the explicit agent is not stated, the context and the nature of “eternal life” strongly imply divine agency. The distinction between a simple pluperfect sense and a stative pluperfect is a valuable nuance, emphasizing the ongoing condition of being appointed at the moment of belief.

1. “And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
   
   This translation emphasizes the prior, completed divine action of appointment, which resulted in the state of being appointed at the time of their belief.
2. “And all those who were destined for eternal life came to believe.”
   
   This rendition highlights the state or condition of being ‘destined’ (a result of a prior divine act) existing at the time the Gentiles believed, as per the nuanced understanding of the pluperfect’s stative force. The ingresssive aorist for ‘came to believe’ is a fitting idiomatic choice.
3. “And all who had been set in order for eternal life believed.”
   
   This translation uses “set in order” to convey the sense of arrangement or ordering inherent in τάσσω, emphasizing a divine preparatory work that put individuals into a specific disposition or category leading to belief.