Re: Acts 1:3-EN POLLOIS TEKMHRIOIS

From: Edgar Foster (questioning1@yahoo.com)
Date: Sat Aug 22 1998 - 15:26:44 EDT


---"Carl W. Conrad" wrote:

> At 11:20 AM -0500 8/22/98, Edgar Foster wrote:
> >Greetings!

> >Acts 1:3 reads (in part):

> >hOIS KAI PARESTHSEN hEAUTON ZWNTA META TO PAQEIN AUTON EN POLLOIS
TEKMHRIOIS

> >Is the following paraphrase too strong?

> >"To his apostles he presented himself alive after suffering, by
demonstrating many irrefutable proofs."

> >The primary part of the paraphrase I am concerned about is the
rendering of TEKMHRIOIS. Does the word indicate that prima facie
evidence is under discussion?

> Well, I don't quite see the point of "demonstrating" or
"irrefutable." I would think "convincing items of evidence" is strong
enough. Are you getting "demonstrating" out of TEKMHRIA also, or is
that a supplementary reading from PARESTHSEN hEAUTON?<

Yes, "demonstrating" comes from "a supplementary reading from
PARESTHSEN hEAUTON." This wording is only for paraphrastic purposes. I
am simply trying to capture HOW Jesus provided the apostles with
POLLOIS TEKMHRIOIS.

As for my paraphrase of TEKMHRIOIS, I base this rendering upon the
semantics of TEKMHRION and what Louw-Nida note in their work. Based on
my research, I really wonder if "convincing proofs" is an adequate
treatment of Luke's words. Of course, I could be wrong. At any rate,
here is what L-N says:

" 'by many convincing proofs he showed himself alive after his death'
Ac. 1:3. In a number of languages 'convincing proof' is rendered as
'that which causes one to know for sure' or 'with certainty' " (28.45).

The last statement makes me wonder if something isn't lost in the
English translation "convincing proofs." These words seem to imply
that the proof given is compelling, but not indisputable. Conversely,
TEKMHRIA seems to denote indubitable evidence. Maybe you could help me
out here.

>I think it's the primary point of PARESTHSEN hEAUTON ZWNTA with the
dative. I'd see the key elements here as
(1) META TO PAQEIN AUTON = after he had undisputably died; (2)
PARESTHSEN hEAUTON ZWNTA hOIS = he demonstrated to them that he was
alive; (3) EN POLLOIS TEKMHRIOIS = by means of numerous indications.<

The only part of this outline I would question would be (3). Is
"numerous indications" strong enough?

Thanks for your input,

Edgar Foster

Classics Major

Lenoir-Rhyne College

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