Hebrews 9:24 ἐμφανισθῆναι

[Barry Hofstetter]

Hi Michael, you already asked about this back in November, and I merged your query with the older thread.

And, surprisingly ...

The answer hasn't changed. Michael, please review what has already been said. In addition, from BDAG:

③ to convey a formal report about a judicial matter, present evidence, bring charges τινί τι (X., Mem. 4, 3, 4; Diod S 14, 11, 2; Esth 2:22; Jos., Ant. 4, 43) GPt 11:43. ἐ. τινὶ κατά τινος bring formal charges against someone (Jos., Ant. 10, 166) Ac 24:1; 25:2; ἐ. περί τινος concerning someone 25:15 (cp. PHib 72, 4 [III B.C.]; PSI 400, 2; 2 Macc 3:7; En 22:12; Jos., Ant. 14, 226).—DELG s.v. φαίνω B. M-M. TW.

Note the syntax of the statement, τινί τι. That means the accusative of the charge (i.e., what the person is being charged with will be in the accusative) and the dative of the person to whom the charge is brought. It appears to have this meaning only in the active, but if it did appear in the passive, it would have to have the thing charged as the subject of verb. in 9:24...

οὐ γὰρ εἰς χειροποίητα εἰσῆλθεν ἅγια Χριστός, ἀντίτυπα τῶν ἀληθινῶν, ἀλλʼ εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν οὐρανόν, νῦν ἐμφανισθῆναι τῷ προσώπῳ τοῦ θεοῦ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν·

But we see that Christ is actually the subject of infinitive, and he is certainly not the judicial charge made before the Father. Since the meaning "appear, be made manifest" is the common meaning in the passive, and since it fits the context perfectly, that's what it has to be.

[Michael Abernathy]

Thanks for your patience. When I first asked the question I was making some notes on Hebrews. I forgot to include your answer in the notes and in a supreme senior moment I also forgot I had asked the question before. I have made the proper corrections in my notes and hopefully future senility won't cause me to ask again.
Sincerely,
Michael Abernathy