Bill Ross wrote: ↑September 4th, 2021, 6:43 pm
Stephen Carlson wrote: ↑September 4th, 2021, 6:38 pm
Bill Ross wrote: ↑September 4th, 2021, 6:09 pm
But πρὸ used in conjunction with πάντων is well attested as referring to "above all":
These aren’t counter-examples to the explanation I provided.
Eh?
Stephen explained under which circumstances it can get the metaphorical interpretation "above all" (it doesn't actually change from "before" to "above", the former is just interpreted metaphorically and in English "above" is used). It can't get that interpretation under other circumstances (unless proven otherwise). Your statement "is well attested" as the basis for your opinion ignores the explanation.
If we can explain why and when A can mean X instead of Y, we must always use that explanation. It's not optional.
You are fantastic grammarians but at times lame when it come to interpretation.
Get over yourselves for once. You're nothing more than anyone else once you get past the grammar.
You seem to think there's plain grammar and then everything beyond it, and they can be neatly separated, and beyond the grammar anyone is fully qualified as long as it comes to interpreting language.
That's not true at all. First, grammar can't be fully detached from other aspects of language and communication. Second, even though it's practical to see some kind of division between grammar and some other things, you see the division in the wrong place. Third, people who are highly qualified in grammar are usually highly qualified in other related things, too. Your hybris reveals you're not qualified in any area.
Do you really want to use this forum only as a tool where you can get some grammatical advice and selectively ignore most of what people who give that advice say about grammar and Greek language? That's not fair.