[B-Greek] EI in Col 1:23/

Anthony Buzzard anthonybuzzard at mindspring.com
Tue Mar 27 18:02:09 EST 2007


George, Thank you for finding this for me. Am I 
right to think that the condition expressed in 
the protasis is nevertheless a real condition, 
such that not remaining is an actual possibility, 
though not one expected by Paul?
Anthony Buzzard


At 06:52 PM 3/27/2007, George F Somsel wrote:
>22 NUNI DE APOKATHLLACEN EN TWi SWMATI THS 
>SARKOS AUTOU DIA TOU QANTOU PARASTHSAI hUMAS 
>hAGIOUS KAI AMWMOUS KAI ANEGKLHTOUS KATENWPION AUTOU
>
>23 EI GE EPIMENETE THi PISTEI
>
>Note that here the apodosis (APOKATHLLACEN) 
>precedes the protasis (EI EPIMENETE).  This is 
>what has been called a First Class Condition in 
>which the condition is ASSUMED to be true for the arguement's sake.
>
>
>1. First Class Condition (Assumed True for Argument’s Sake)
>a. Definition
>The first class condition indicates the 
>assumption of truth for the sake of argument. 
>The normal idea, then, is if—and let us assume 
>tthat this is true for the sake of 
>argument—then
 . This class uses the particle 
>εἰ with the indicative (in any tense) in the 
>protasis. In the apodosis, any mood and any 
>tense can occur. This is a frequent conditional 
>clause, occurring about 300 times in the NT.
>
>Daniel B. Wallace. (1999; 2002). Greek Grammar 
>Beyond the Basics - Exegetical Syntax of the New 
>Testament (690). Zondervan Publishing House and Galaxie Software.
>
>
>george
>gfsomsel
>_________
>
>
>----- Original Message ----
>From: Anthony Buzzard <anthonybuzzard at mindspring.com>
>To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
>Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 6:35:13 PM
>Subject: [B-Greek] EI in Col 1:23/
>
>Ladies and Gentlemen,
> >May  I please ask for your expert opinion. In Col 1:23 we have an EI
> >(if) with an indicative.
>Is it true that when IE is followed by an indicative the condition is
>not really a condition? In other words does the Greek mean "If, as is
>absolutely certain to be the case, you continue...."
>Or is the sense truly conditional, ie "If and only if you
>continue.... otherwise...."
>Can one say that the indicative after EI cancels the idea that
>anything but certainty is implied?.
>Certainly in English one hears in Col 1:23 "On condition that you persist...."
>And the further statement "not shifting...." seems strongly to imply
>that such a shifting is a real possibility.
>Anthony Buzzard.
>
>
>Anthony Buzzard
><http://www.restorationfellowship.org/>www.restorationfellowship.org
>
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Anthony Buzzard
www.restorationfellowship.org 


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