Re: Acts 2:38

F. Holly Mitchell (mitchell@dobson.ozarks.edu)
Wed, 8 Oct 1997 09:38:29 -0500 (CDT)

> >I am looking for comments on the Greek construction of Acts 2:38.
> >Specifically the relation between 'repent' and 'be baptised'. Are they two
> >equal commands?
>
> The greek is:
> METANOHSATE, [FHSIN,] KAI BAPTISQHTW hEKASTOS hUMWN EPI TWi ONOMATI IHSOU
> XRISTOU EIS AFESIN TWN hAMARTIWN hUMWN
>
> I'm not sure just what you are getting at by "equal commands" but METANOHSATE
> and BAPTISQHTW are both aorist imparatives conjoined by KAI and so would seem
> to be equal to me.
>
> >Also the 'for the remission of sins'. Does this mean that
> >the baptism remitted the sins?
> >
>
> In my opinion, EIS AFESIN TWN hAMARTIWN hUMWN is to be taken with
> METANOHSATE...KAI BAPTISQHTW...EPI TWi ONOMATI IHSOU XRISTOU (which last
> phrase, from BAPTISQHTW to XRISTOU, I translate together as a unit thus: "be
> baptized in the name of Jesus Christ). In other words, these two things
> being done (i.e., I repent and am baptized in the name of Jesus Christ), the
> result (indicated by EIS...hUMWN) is that my sins are forgiven.

My text includes a footnoted reference to Acts 3:19,
METANOHSATE OUN KAI EPISTREYATE EIS TO EZALEIFQHVAI hUMWN TAS hAMARTIAS,

Here, it really seems as if the crucial act is turning again to God.
But now I've got more questions than I started with. (aaargh!!!)

Is there a subtle distinction between the meanings of METANOEW and
EPISTREFW that I'm not getting or are the two verbs parallel?

Also I'm betting that whether the result is AFESIN TWN hAMARTIWN hMWN or
EZALEIFQHNAI hUMWN TAS hAMARIAS, it *still* means that my sins are removed
as far as East is from West.

What do you learned doctors think?

God Bless,
Ginger (assistant to Holly)