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  • From: rfellows AT intergate.ca
  • To: <corpus-paul AT franklin.metalab.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Offender or offenders? (2 Cor 2 & 7)
  • Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2002 15:47:05 -0700


I have a question for the list: Why must we assume that 2 Cor 2:5-10; 7:12
refers to just one offender?

Paul introduces him/them with "if anyone" and this surely suggests that more
than one person is intended. There are about two dozen other instances where
Paul uses "EI TIS", and in most of these cases it is clear that he was
referring to a plurality of people. In no case is reference obviously to a
single individual. EI TIS, it seams, introduces a literary device by which
Paul refers to many people, but uses singular terms. 2 Cor 1:7,10 is one such
example.

There is good reason why Paul might want to use this literary device in 2 Cor
2:5-10; 7:12. He is wanting to down-play the scale of the offence, so as to
effect a reconciliation. By using singular terms he de-emphasizes the problem.

Has anyone looked at this issue before?

Richard Fellows
Winnipeg
Canada.




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