From: James H. Vellenga (jhv0@viewlogic.com)
Date: Fri Jan 10 1997 - 14:44:54 EST
>
> Jonathon,
>
> Your suspicions are right on target! The Greek infinitive is used to
> express various concepts: temporal, causal, and purpose, depending on
> the particular construction with which it is used.
>
> prin (h) + inf. = the temporal idea of "before"
> pro (tou) + inf. = " " " " "
> en tw + inf. = " " " " "while"
> meta to + inf. = " " " " "after"
> eis to + inf. = shows purpose = "in order that"
> dia to + inf. = expresses the causal idea - "since, or because"
> kai egeneto + inf. = " " " " - "that"
>
>
> The "tou fugein" of Jonah 1:3 is yet another way of expressing purpose
> (besides eis to + inf.), and means "in order to."
>
> Wayne Price
>
I find a useful rule of thumb for (def. article + infinitive)
is to treat the infinitive ("to X") as an English gerund ("the Xing").
Hence "en tw [to X]" --> "during the Xing", "eis to [to X]" -->
"for the Xing", etc. This gives me a sense of it in English
that I can then feed back into understanding the Greek.
Regards,
j.v.
James H. Vellenga | jvellenga@viewlogic.com
Viewlogic Systems, Inc. __|__ 508-303-5491
293 Boston Post Road West | FAX: 508-460-8213
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