Hebrews 3:12 Plural imperatives Timothy Duke tduke at westpac.com.au
Sun Oct 25 20:46:12 εστ 1998
Perscherbacker Syntax Cremer & Kittel “βλεπετε, αδελφοι, μηποτε εσται εν τινι hUMWN…”When ι have heard sermons on this verse, the preacher often makes a point that this verse commands a <<corporate>> obligation to keep each other accountable. ie the author is νοτ saying: each of you should check your own heart; but rather as a group you should keep watch over each individual. The reason they give for this interpretation is that the plural imperative is followed by a singular object. Many commentaries also refer to this & draw the same conclusion.My question is this: is this grammatically correct at all; or is it merely a preferred option etc etc. ? If so, just how far should we prefer it over the other?If the corporate version is the only way to go, how would you construct the non-corporate version?Tim DukeSydney
Perscherbacker SyntaxCremer & Kittel
Hebrews 3:12 Plural imperatives Carl ω. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Mon Oct 26 06:57:12 εστ 1998
Cremer & Kittel Cremer At 20:46pm -0600 10/25/98, Timothy Duke wrote:>“βλεπετε, αδελφοι, μηποτε εσται εν τινι hUMWN…”> >When ι have heard sermons on this verse, the preacher often makes a point>that this verse commands a <<corporate>> obligation to keep each other>accountable. ie the author is νοτ saying: each of you should check your>own heart; but rather as a group you should keep watch over each>individual. The reason they give for this interpretation is that the>plural imperative is followed by a singular object. Many commentaries also>refer to this & draw the same conclusion.> >My question is this: is this grammatically correct at all; or is it merely>a preferred option etc etc. ? If so, just how far should we prefer it over>the other?ι think that the following verse makes clear that it is a corporate chargeregarding individuals: αλλα παρακαλειτε hEAUTOUS καθ‘ hEKASTHN hHMERAN,αξρισ hOU το σημερον καλειται, hINA μη SKLHRUNQHi τισ εχ hUMWN APATHi THShAMARTIAS.>If the corporate version is the only way to go, how would you construct the> non-corporate version?An approach that starts with the individual but is still concerned with theintegrity of the church is Mt 18:15ff., but if what is looked for in thisquestion is how self-examination is exhorted, try Mt 6:22f. and itsparallels. If, on the other hand, the question is how Heb 3:12 might bephrased if its concern were strictly with self-exmination by eachindividual, you might have simply βλεπετε hEKASTOS hEAUTON, μηποτε εσται εντινι hUMWN ….An exhortation in the plural regarding self-governance might be seen in 1Thess 4:2f.: οιδατε γαρ τινασ παρααγγελιασ αεδωκαμεν hUMIN δια του κυριουιησου. τουτο γαρ εστιν θελημα του θεου, hO hAGIASMOS hUMWN, απεξεσθαι hUMAWAPO θσ πορνειασ, ειδεναι hEKASTON hUMWN το hEAUTOU σκευοσ κτασθαι ENhAGIAASMWi και TIMHi …Carl ω. ConradDepartment of Classics/Washington UniversityOne Brookings Drive/St. Louis, μο, υσα 63130/(314) 935-4018Home: 7222 Colgate Ave./St. Louis, μο 63130/(314) 726-5649cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu ορ cconrad at yancey.main.nc.usWWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/
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