Re: Translating 1 Cor 12:31

• To: "KENNETH D. LITWAK" <klitwak@vnet.ibm.com>
• Subject: Re: Translating 1 Cor 12:31
• From: "Larry W. Hurtado" <hurtado@cc.umanitoba.ca>
• Date: Tue, 25 Jan 1994 09:23:33 -0600 (CST)
• Cc: nt-greek@virginia.edu
• In-Reply-To: <9401220750.AA26848@canopus.CC.UManitoba.CA>

RE:  1 Cor. 12:31, one other translation question.  Is it so clear that
the lst verb here, usually translated "Seek . . ." is really an
imperative, or is it an indicative:  "You are seeking the 'best gifts' . .
. I will show you a better way".  That is, Paul may be rejecting the quest
for ranking gifts and replacing this notion with the ethic of loving
service as the way of using approaching all the gifts.  Larry Hurtado,
Religion, Univ. of Manitoba (P.S. You will find this translation discussed
in G. D. Fee's commentary on 1st Cor., and in some few earlier probes, by,
e.g., Arnold Bittlinger, Gifts & Graces.)

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