In 2 Corinthians 3:6 what is the nuance of genitives vs datives?

Grammar questions which are not related to any specific text.
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Bill Ross
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Joined: August 12th, 2012, 6:26 pm

In 2 Corinthians 3:6 what is the nuance of genitives vs datives?

Post by Bill Ross »

Would datives be more expected here than the genitives?

2 Corinthians 3:6
ὃς καὶ ἱκάνωσεν ἡμᾶς διακόνους **καινῆς διαθήκης**, οὐ γράμματος ἀλλὰ πνεύματος, τὸ γὰρ γράμμα ἀποκτείνει / ἀποκτέννει, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζωοποιεῖ.

If so, what is the intended nuance?
What I lack in youth I make up for in immaturity.
Robert Emil Berge
Posts: 63
Joined: August 24th, 2016, 1:34 pm

Re: In 2 Corinthians 3:6 what is the nuance of genitives vs datives?

Post by Robert Emil Berge »

I can't see how datives would make much sense here. The genitives are quite what one would expect. There wouldn't be a different nuance with dative, it would rather be difficult find a meaning at all.
Bill Ross
Posts: 244
Joined: August 12th, 2012, 6:26 pm

Re: In 2 Corinthians 3:6 what is the nuance of genitives vs datives?

Post by Bill Ross »

Okay, thanks. I just wasn't sure about being a "servant of a covenant". Perhaps I misunderstand διακόνους. I see now that it also has the sense of "administrator". Thanks.
What I lack in youth I make up for in immaturity.
Robert Emil Berge
Posts: 63
Joined: August 24th, 2016, 1:34 pm

Re: In 2 Corinthians 3:6 what is the nuance of genitives vs datives?

Post by Robert Emil Berge »

Yes, διάκονος is a bit strange that way. But something similar exists in English with "public servant".
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