Neuter Definite Article + Infinitive
Posted: June 21st, 2011, 11:29 pm
I'm having trouble understanding a certain construction I've encountered a couple of places. It's the nominative singular definite article το plus an infinitive. For example "τὸ ζῆν" in: ἐμοὶ γὰρ τὸ ζῆν Χριστὸς καὶ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος (Philippians 1:21)
or
"τὸ εἶναι" from James 1:18: βουληθεὶς ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς λόγῳ ἀληθείας, εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων
I don't get what that τὸ functions as. Any help you could throw my way would be appreciated.
or
"τὸ εἶναι" from James 1:18: βουληθεὶς ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς λόγῳ ἀληθείας, εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων
I don't get what that τὸ functions as. Any help you could throw my way would be appreciated.