Passive Infinitive in John 3:30

From: Jim Beale (beale@uconect.net)
Date: Sun May 25 1997 - 17:15:05 EDT

Greetings all;

I was reading through John's Gospel, and I stopped to wonder at
John 3:30,

   EKEINON DEI AUCANEIN, EME DE ELATTOUSQAI.

Since EME is in the accusative, and ELATTOUSQAI is passive, I
wondered why this verse is invariably translated as if the
nominative and the active voice were present? Why not rather
translate it as passive, "It is necessary for Him to increase,
but for me to be decreased"?

Thanks for any help that is forthcoming!

In Christ,
Jim Beale

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