In Blass and Debrunner (in paragraph 448 (1) on ALLA)
states:
(1) OU...ALLA also means 'not so much...as' in
which the first element is not entirely negated, but only
toned down: Mk 9:37 "OUK EME DEXETAI, ALLA TOV
APOSTEILANTA ME," Mt 10:20, Jn 12:44...
The NASB translates 1 Pet 3:3-4 which has "OU...ALLA" as
"And let not your adornment be MERELY external--
braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on
dress; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the
imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit..."
But then 1 Cor 14:33 is:
"for God is not a God of confusion but of peace..."
where it seems not to be a comparative, but negation. Is there
a definitive way to tell when OU...ALLA is a comparative of
importance and when it is a complete negation?
I look forward to your answer.
Denny
//////////////////////////////////// Denny A. Diehl
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2030 Murray 316 - 729 - 9610
Wichita KS 67212 DennyDiehl@Juno.com
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