[b-greek] Acts 6:2 and 6:5

From: B. Ward Powers (bwpowers@optusnet.com.au)
Date: Mon Mar 04 2002 - 19:53:36 EST


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B-greekers all,

Last evening my Greek group was studying Acts 6, and in the story of the
appointment of the first deacons there were two queries which arose. I
would invite comments upon these two points that I can share with the group
next week.

1. In 6:2 we find: KATALEIYANTAS TON LOGON TOU QEOU DIAKONEIN TRAPEZAIS.
The usual way of rendering this is "leaving the word of God to serve (on)
tables", taking DIAKONEIN with TRAPEZAIS. But the NIV renders it "to
neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables" - this
appears to be taking TON LOGON TOU QEOU as the direct object not of
KATALEIYANTAS but of DIAKONEIN, and "to wait on tables" as all implied in
TRAPEZAIS. Whether or not this is how the NIV has taken it, can DIAKONEIN
be construed with TON LOGON TOU QEOU? There are two indications that this
may be the right understanding: firstly, that the direct object very often
comes in front of its verb (as here, on this view); and secondly the
parallel thought of 6:4, immediate context, which speaks of THi DIAKONIAi
TOU LOGOU, "the ministry of the word", using the noun form of the same verb.

2. In 6:5 we find KAI HRESEN hO LOGOS ENWPION PANTOS TOU PLHQOUS, "and what
he said (= the saying) pleased all the multitude". How does ENWPION fit
into all this? How do we translate it? "And the saying pleased before/in
front of all the multitude." Maybe we can include it by saying "And the
saying was pleasing in the eyes of all the multitude". But this ENWPION
does appear a bit unnecessary. Can we say in Greek "And the saying pleased
all the multitude" (direct object of "pleased")?

Any comments?

Regards,

Ward
                                http://www.netspace.net.au/~bwpowers
Rev Dr B. Ward Powers Phone (International): 61-2-8714-7255
259A Trafalgar Street Phone (Australia): (02) 8714-7255
PETERSHAM NSW 2049 email: bwpowers@optusnet.com.au
AUSTRALIA. Director, Tyndale College


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