From: Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Date: Mon Dec 11 1995 - 11:54:31 EST
At 8:05 AM 12/11/95, Mike Adams wrote:
>>Carlton wrote:
>>
>>>Can the first KAI have the function of a mild adversative like DE? Is
>not
>>>there a contrast between the fact that they hoped to find life in the
>>>Scriptures and Jesus' claim in John that life was to be found in
>himself?
>>>The function that he assigns to Scripture then is to witness to him in
>whom
>>>life was to be found.
>>>
>>>Is this a possible reading of this sentence?
>>
>Carl wrote:
>>I think it is, but it will have to be granted that this is an
>extraordinary
>>usage of KAI, as if it were KAITOI. Frankly, although John's gospel is
>>easier to read than Mark's, its diction is anomalous at many points. I
>>wonder whether this KAI might be viewed as a Semitism, a KAI used like a
>>Hebrew V'.
>>
>>Carl W. Conrad
>
>I haven't anywhere near the same foundation as you or Carlton in language.
>Generally, when reading Greek, I must relate it to concepts in English (or
>other modern language) and not with classical languages. Sometimes, I
>think, it can work to my advantage. In this case, for instance, bringing
>the thought over to English, I see nothing extraordinary about it.
>
>For instance, I tell my daughters: "I've explained this time and time
>again, but you still don't get it!"
>
>Or I say: "I've explained this time and time again, and you still don't
>get it!?!"
>
>The use of and (rather than but) as an adversative conjunction gives a
>stronger emphasis, pointing out more vividly the irony of the situation.
Ellen, you may well be _and_ are right. I've also just now checked BAGD,
s.v. KAI, and I find the following subheading 1.g.: "emphasizing a fact as
surprising or unexpected or noteworthy; _and yet, and in spite of that,
nevertheless_ ... [there follow some older Greek instances then NT
instances] Mt 3:14; cf 6:26, 10:29; Mk 12:12; J 1:5, 10; 3:11, 32; _5:40_
..."
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University
One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA 63130
(314) 935-4018
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cwc@oui.com
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/
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