I Cor hINA/hOPWS

Eric Weiss (eweiss@acf.dhhs.gov)
Wed, 7 Aug 96 15:42:50 EDT

1. In reading I Corinthians, I noticed in 1:29 that after a series of hINA
clauses beginning in 1:27, Paul switches to a hOPWS clause (hOPWS MH
KAUCHSHTAI PASA SARX ENWPION TOU QEOU), then back to hINA in 1:31. Though
both hINA and hOPWS can be translated "in order that," would it be accurate
to interpret Paul's hINA clauses as indicating purpose and the switch to
hOPWS because he wanted to indicate result?

2. In 1:30 Paul writes, "And from/out-of him (God) you are in Christ Jesus
(EN CRISTWi IHSOU)." Since Paul seems to use KURIOS for Christ and QEOS or
PATHR for God (the Father), is it valid to interpret the next EN phrase (EN
KURIWi), which is in the hINA clause that follows in 1:31 (hINA...hO
KAUCWMENOS EN KURIWi KAUCASQW), to be a reference to Christ, rather than to
God the Father? I know the quote is derived from Jeremiah 9:24 where YHWH is
used. But could this be an instance like Philippians 2:9-11 where Paul takes
an OT scripture (Isaiah 45:23) and attributes to Christ what was said (by
Isaiah) about YHWH? (It's attributions to Christ of things that were in the
OT said about YHWH that seem to me to make an implicit case for the doctrine
of the Trinity that is just as strong as overt references (if there are any)
to Jesus being God.)