[B-Greek] "monon" - I Cor. 15:19

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Wed Mar 28 09:50:37 EST 2007


Hi, Dave,

It is a very good question.

In the clause EN ZWHi TAUTHi EN CRISTWi HLPIKOTES ESMEN MONON,
MONON has to modify the whole clause as Ken has explained (the same in John 17:20). Therefore, 
number 1 and 4 below would be grammatically excluded. The grammar points to number 5, which you 
don't have, i.e. it modifies the whole clause. Of your four options, number 2 would be closest, but 
semantically there is no significant difference between number 2 and 3 in this context.

If there was no MONON, we could have translated:
In the present life we have put our hope/confidence in Christ.

Because of the position of TAUTHi in EN ZWHi TAUTHi, there is relative prominence on "life" rather 
than "this". It is not "in THIS life" as opposed to another life, but rather in this present life of 
ours, or "while we live here on earth".
The MONON indicates that the main point is where we have put our hope or confidence. If there were 
four places we could have put out hope and we have only put it in one place, then we are in trouble, 
if that one place turns out to be an illusion. Therefore, to only put our hope in one place is 
equivalent to putting all our hope in one place. If you only put your eggs in one basket, it is the 
same as putting all your eggs in one basket. It may therefore be easier to get the sense if we used 
all, e.g.

If we in this present life of ours have put all our hope/confidence in Christ, then we are to be 
pitied more than all other people (IF Christ had not been raised from the dead). And then v. 20 
comes back with "But now, as it is, Christ has indeed been raised from the dead."

Why all(?) English versions seem to have gone somewhat astray here, is a different question that has 
a lot to do with translation philosophy and tradition.

Iver Larsen
Translation consultant

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave" <jer2329 at preteristcosmos.com>

> 1. "If in this LIFE ONLY we have hoped in Christ...."  (Monon modifies "life.")
> 2. "If in this life we have had ONLY HOPE in Christ...."  (Monon modifies "hope.")
> 3. "If in this life we have hoped ONLY in CHRIST...."  (Monon modifies "Christ.")
> 4. "If in this life WE ALONE have hoped in Christ...."  (Monon modifies "we.")



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