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Luke 2:2: Can πρώτη be translated as "before"?

Posted: May 9th, 2013, 5:09 am
by Mike Baber
αὕτη ἡ ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου

In Luke 2:2, can the feminine πρώτη be translated as "before," as in, "the census occurred before...," or is it most certainly translated correctly as "first," modifying αὕτη ἡ ἀπογραφὴ? John Gill and (IIRC) F. F. Bruce suggest that it could be translated as "before," so here I am wondering. One would think it would need to be neuter if it were to be understood as "before." Is this correct?

Re: Luke 2:2: Can πρώτη be translated as "before"?

Posted: May 9th, 2013, 7:31 am
by Stephen Carlson
The meaning of this word has been discussed extensively on B-Greek in the past. I invite you to consult the B-Greek archives on Luke 2:2 about it (click on link).

Re: Luke 2:2: Can πρώτη be translated as "before"?

Posted: May 9th, 2013, 12:33 pm
by Mike Baber
That works. Thank you.