Genitive construction in 2 Corinthians 3:6
Posted: June 23rd, 2018, 1:24 pm
2 Corinthians 3:6 ὃς καὶ ἱκάνωσεν ἡμᾶς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης, οὐ γράμματος ἀλλὰ πνεύματος, τὸ γὰρ γράμμαἀποκτείνει, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζωοποιεῖ.
In this text is it appropriate to construe διακόνους to govern not only καινῆς διαθήκης but also γράμματος and πνεύματος, so that the relationship of διακόνους is the same with all three of the terms? If the first relationship is an objective genitive, it means Paul is someone who administers a new covenant, in that he is not someone who administers law but spirit; the construction talks about the content of Paul’s ministry. If it is a descriptive genitive, it means Paul is someone who ministers in a new covenant-like way, that is not in a law-like way, but in a spirit-like way; the construction talks about the character of Paul’s ministry. Of course, there could be another genitive construction that should be considered. The basic question is about whether or not the relationship of the head noun must be the same to the secondary nouns.
Doug Knighton
In this text is it appropriate to construe διακόνους to govern not only καινῆς διαθήκης but also γράμματος and πνεύματος, so that the relationship of διακόνους is the same with all three of the terms? If the first relationship is an objective genitive, it means Paul is someone who administers a new covenant, in that he is not someone who administers law but spirit; the construction talks about the content of Paul’s ministry. If it is a descriptive genitive, it means Paul is someone who ministers in a new covenant-like way, that is not in a law-like way, but in a spirit-like way; the construction talks about the character of Paul’s ministry. Of course, there could be another genitive construction that should be considered. The basic question is about whether or not the relationship of the head noun must be the same to the secondary nouns.
Doug Knighton