Re: EIPE LOGWi Matt & Luke

Carlton Winbery (winberyc@popalex1.linknet.net)
Fri, 28 Nov 1997 15:51:25 +0400

Jonathan and several others have suggested that the dative LOGWi is a
dative (instrumental) of means perhaps influenced by the Latin ablative of
means. I would tend to agree with this. One of the things about language
that causes grammararians to multiply categories is that some functions do
not fit neatly into any category, hence, make a new one.

To "speak with a word" seems to me in this context to be the simplest
meaning and thus close to the idea of "binding with fetters and chains" (Mk
5:4), or "by this means" (with prep. EN) we know that we know him (I John
2:3). Sometimes we let English determine the function in Greek. This
would be the same function as in Matt 8:16 where the evangelists reported
EXEBALEN TA PNEUMATA LOGWi, "He cast out the (evil) spirits with a word.
The concept of the authority of his word is what is being emphasized in
both context.