Essentially yes. Though, honestly, the ablative is falling out of strict
usage by the koine period- it still appears.
For
>example, in Summer's Grammar, under the heading of the ablative, he
>gives a sentence to illustrate what the ablative is, and that sentence is
>as follows:
>
>hO ANQRWPOS PEMPEI TOUS DOULOS TOU OIKOU = "the man sends the servants
>from the house" (Summers
>translation).
>
>Why is this not genitive, i.e. "he sends the servants of the house"?
Indeed, it very well could be. But the context seems to demand a genitive
translation. This is a good reminder that the cases do not always solve
translational ambiguities.
>If the prepositions requiring a ablative interpretation (APO, EK, and
>PARA) are not used, as in the above example, why does Summers render
>this as ablative?
>
Again, because the context seems to require it.
>An individual communicating with me maintains that "gift of the Holy
>Spirit" in Acts 2:38 is an epexegetical genitive, and makes no allowances
>for any other interpretation. Why are the following alternatives not
>possible:
>
That is a theological rather than a grammatical statement.
>(1) Subjective genitive
>(2) Possessive genitive
>(3) Ablative case ?
>
In form, it could be any, as you are right to point out. Context can help -
but a judgment must be rendered and such judgments are usually driven by
theological concerns.
>Thanks for your counsel.
>
>Wayne Price
Jim
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jim West, ThD
Quartz Hill School of Theology
jwest@highland.net