[b-greek] Re: 1 Cor 15:54

From: Iver Larsen (alice-iver_larsen@wycliffe.org)
Date: Fri Dec 08 2000 - 13:25:19 EST


> On 12/7/00 11:10 PM, Dmitriy Reznik wrote:
>
> > Could you help me with 1 Cor 15:54: KATEPOQH hO QANATOS EIS NIKOS. How
> > would it be correct to translate EIS NIKOS: as "in victory", or "to (for)
> > victory", or somehow else?
>
> It is possible that EIS is used here to indicate result: "Death is swallowed
> up resulting in victory." This doesn't sound very smooth in English, though.
> Perhaps some of the translators out there can capture the thought of result
> in better English.
>
> Of course, it is possible that EIS is to be taken spatially (albeit
> metaphorically): "Death is swallowed up into victory," i.e., "Victory has
> swallowed up death."
>
> Steve

A couple of brief comments:

I find it helpful to think of the spatial element that Steve mentions and also remember
that EIS refers to motion towards or up to a certain point or into something new. The
preposition can then be understood as either purpose or result. But in a metaphorical
context like this one it can also have the wider meaning of a consecutive or consequential
action/event. That is, the second event follows the first in a wider sense than the
logical, propositional relations of purpose or result.

Since we are dealing with metaphors, it is very likely that both the words "death" and
"victory" function as triggers to each their own scenarios as further elaborated in the
whole context. The first scenario which is referred to briefly by "death" is the situation
of having an imperishable, mortal body that is sure to die. The second scenario which is
referred to briefly by "victory" could be the description of the new life of immortality
as a life in victory, and the present life in mortality as a life of defeat. Or we can
think of the new life as a result of the victory over death that we have received through
Christ (15:57). There are other possible (weak) implicatures from the two trigger words
"death" and "victory". The function of EIS could then be to describe the movement from one
scenario into the other scenario. "Swallow up" would then refer to the first scenario
having come to an end and EIS to the beginning of the new scenario.

As for translations, GNB/TEV says "Death is destroyed; victory is complete!" I like that.
CEV says "Death has lost the battle!". The newest Danish translation says "Death has been
swallowed up and defeated." My suggestion would be something like "Death has been replaced
by victory."

Iver


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