Something I have noticed, particularly in some work I have been doing
recently in 1Co, is that Paul often appears to use similar words
synonymously in close proximity, not so much to draw a distinction
between the two words, but rather simply for good writing style (or so it
would seem). This is probably akin to the way we will often have a
certain word in mind when writing a paper, but knowing that we have
already used it in a previous sentence, or even earlier in the same
sentence, we reach for a synonym so as not to overuse a word. Perhaps,
in some ways, as exegetes, we are sometimes guilty of making every word a
technical term, if you know what I mean...
Since I am suffering this morning from some kind of "lurgy" (a.k.a.
"flu"), no examples come readily to mind... in fact, not too much is
coming readily to mind, so I think I'll go lie down again!
Regards,
Mark O'Brien
"Short-timer", Student, Dallas Theological Seminary
Adjunct Prof., Dallas Christian College
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"If it's not on the GRE, can it be real?" -- Ken Litwak