[B-Greek] 1 Tim 4.13
Iver Larsen
iver_larsen at sil.org
Thu Mar 1 05:17:01 EST 2007
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mitch Larramore" <mitchlarramore at yahoo.com>
>I have three questions on this passage please.
>
> hEWS ERCOMAI PROSECE THi ANAGNWSEI, THi PARAKLHSEI,
> THi DIDASKALIAi
>
> Two questions have to do with AT Robertson's comments:
>
> 1. hEWS ERCOMAI: "While I am coming" not "till I come"
> (AT Robertson)
>
> "Till I come" didn't make lots of sense to me, as if,
> after I leave, you no longer need to follow this
> advice. But, "while I am coming" doesn't seem to
> explain what the command is all about either. Is the
> intent to do this only for X period of time, while or
> till?
What you are addressing is the mismatch between hEWS and "until" in English.
In most contexts, "until" in English suggests a change after the event has come to pass, as if he
should stop reading etc, when Paul has arrived. However, that implication is absent from the Greek
hEWS. It only refers to what is supposed to happen up to the time specified, with no implication as
to what might happen afterwards. Usually the same situation will continue after the event. That is
why the word "while" is often a better translation in English, but the construction then may need
some major re-working. Literal translations are not allowed to do that, so they are often
misleading.
As Carl has already explained, the focus is on the time that Paul is not able to be present - while
he is away and preparing to come - then hold on to reading, etc.
You may want to check my post of 7. Sept. .2001 and 24. May, 2005, for some more details on hEWS. Or
you could search the archives for hEWS.
Iver Larsen
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