In his recently posted article on Matt. 4:1-11, Jeffrey Gibson bases
an argument that the first two of the Devil's petitions to Jesus cannot
be, as some suggest, about getting Jesus to doubt that he is God's son
on a particular grammatical consideration. Gibson notes that the words
used by the Devil here (EI hUIOS EI ...) are a concession of a fact for
the sake of argument, since EI here means "since" not "if". And
therefore there is nothing in these petitions that suggests that any
kind of doubt surrounds Jesus identity.
What I'd like to ask the list is; if "Ei=since" is an undisputed
rendering or is it biased in some way? Let me say at the outset, it
would be great IF it's assumed true. Then we would have the devil
himself testifying that Jesus is the Son of God. However I have been
challenged on this in the past and am now more careful of how I
translate EI in present particular conditions.
Robertson states that this is in the "determined" class of conditions
and "that the premise or condition is *assumed* to be true (or untrue)"
Robertson Grammar, p1004.
Dana and Mantey uses Robertson's passages and further states that this
would be a "supposition from the viewpoint of reality... In one form of
condition there is nothing implied as to whether or not this fact
actually exists." Dana and Mantey SS-271(1).
Goodwin says that nothing is implied as to the fulfillment of the
condition and that "the protasis *simply states* a present or past
particular supposition" - Goodwin's Greek Grammar SS-1390
Smyth is probably the most specific when he says, "Simple present or
past conditions simply *state* a supposition with no implication as to
its reality or probability. SS-2298
BAGD "to express a condition thought of as real or to denote
assumptions"
Zerwick says, "It is an astonishing fact that even scholars sometimes
overlook what has just been said and seem to forget taht EI even in a
<real> condition still means <if> and not <because> or the like.
It seems to me that an appropriate translation of EI in the passage
quoted by Mr. Gibson would be -*suppose* you are the Son of God...-
rather than -*since* you are...-
I'm not set in stone on this and would be glad for one of you to
instruct me further.
Respectfully,
Kevin Mullins
Flroence, AL
kevinm@getaway,net