Romans 13:10

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An Exegetical Analysis of Rom. 13:10a: The Substantive Use of πλησίον

This exegetical study of Rom. 13:10a is based on a b-greek discussion from May 30, 2007. The initial inquiry concerned the specific grammatical form of the term πλησίον in Rom. 13:10a, where it appears as “τῷ πλησίον.” The questioner expressed an expectation for a dative form like “πλησίῳ” if it were functioning as a noun, leading to the query about whether πλησίον in this context represents a substantive use of a preposition rather than a noun.

The main exegetical issue at hand is the precise grammatical function and morphological analysis of πλησίον in Rom. 13:10a. Understanding whether it is an adverb substantivized by the article or a direct dative noun is crucial for accurate translation and for grasping the full theological implications of Paul’s statement regarding the nature of love in fulfilling the law.

Greek text (Nestle 1904):
Ἡ ἀγάπη τῷ πλησίον κακὸν οὐκ ἐργάζεται.

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• The SBLGNT (2010) reads identically: Ἡ ἀγάπη τῷ πλησίον κακὸν οὐκ ἐργάζεται. There are no significant textual variants for Rom. 13:10a between Nestle 1904 and SBLGNT (2010) in this phrase.

Textual criticism (NA28), lexical notes (KITTEL, BDAG):

The NA28 critical edition of the Greek New Testament also presents Rom. 13:10a as Ἡ ἀγάπη τῷ πλησίον κακὸν οὐκ ἐργάζεται, indicating a consensus among the major critical editions regarding the text. No significant textual variants are noted for this phrase, reinforcing that the interpretative challenge lies in grammatical understanding rather than manuscript divergence.

• ἀγάπη (agapē): (BDAG, p. 7; KITTEL, TDNT Vol. 1, pp. 21-55) This term denotes “love, benevolence, goodwill, esteem.” In the New Testament, particularly in Paul, it often carries a distinct theological meaning of unconditional, self-sacrificial love, modeled on God’s love and expressed towards God and humanity. Here, it refers to the love Christians are to show towards their fellow human beings.
• πλησίον (plēsion): (BDAG, p. 827; KITTEL, TDNT Vol. 6, pp. 311-318) Primarily an adverb meaning “near, nearby, neighboring.” However, when preceded by the definite article (e.g., ὁ πλησίον), it functions substantively, meaning “the one nearby, the neighbor.” This usage is deeply rooted in the Septuagint (LXX) and is pervasive in the New Testament when referring to one’s fellow human being in a moral or ethical context, particularly concerning the command to love one’s neighbor. In Rom. 13:10a, τῷ πλησίον is the dative singular of this substantivized adverb, meaning “to/for the neighbor.”
• ἐργάζεται (ergazetai): (BDAG, p. 401; KITTEL, TDNT Vol. 2, pp. 635-640) This verb means “to work, accomplish, perform, do.” In the context of “κακὸν οὐκ ἐργάζεται,” it implies *doing* or *inflicting* evil. It signifies actively causing harm or damage.

Translation Variants

The grammatical structure “τῷ πλησίον” is key to interpreting Rom. 13:10a. While πλησίον is fundamentally an adverb (“near”), its combination with the definite article τῷ (dative masculine/neuter singular) creates an idiomatic substantive phrase. This construction, common in Greek, particularly within the Septuagint and New Testament, transforms the adverb into a noun equivalent meaning “the one who is near” or “the neighbor.” Thus, τῷ πλησίον effectively means “to the neighbor” or “for the neighbor.”

Grammatically, the dative article τῷ governs the substantivized adverb πλησίον, indicating the indirect object or recipient of the action (or inaction in this case). The phrase is not “to the nearness” but “to the one who is near.” This avoids the need for a noun like *πλησίος* (which is less common in this specific usage in the NT). The elegance of this construction is its conciseness and its clear identification of the object of love’s action (or non-action). Rhetorically, it directly addresses the practical manifestation of love in relation to other individuals, emphasizing that true love does not inflict harm upon them.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The analysis confirms that “τῷ πλησίον” in Rom. 13:10a is a standard Greek idiom where the adverb πλησίον is substantivized by the definite article, functioning as a dative noun meaning “to the neighbor.” This construction is linguistically sound and contextually appropriate, aligning with similar expressions throughout the New Testament and the Septuagint when referring to the love command. The verse emphatically states that love, by its very nature, does not inflict harm on one’s fellow human being, thus fulfilling the ethical demands of the law.

Based on this understanding, the following translations are suggested:

1. Love does not do harm to a neighbor. This translation is direct and literal, capturing the essence of the substantivized adverb.
2. Love inflicts no evil on one’s neighbor. This version emphasizes the active nature of “inflicting” harm and the personal connection of “one’s neighbor.”
3. Love causes no injury to the one nearby. This translation provides a slightly more expanded rendering of “πλησίον” while maintaining the meaning of “κακὸν οὐκ ἐργάζεται.”

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