From: Tom Belt (virginia@destination.com.lb)
Date: Tue Dec 01 1998 - 02:17:07 EST
Friends:
First, my apologies to all (Jim Beale especially, since my last post
regarding GINWSKW + hOTI was directed to him) for not following the proper
transliteration for certain Greek letters, e.g., I've been using "X" for
XRISTOS ("Christ") when it should be CRISTOS, and "PH" for "F". Sorry for
the confusion.
On to my question. Howard Ervin (Spirit Baptism: A Biblical Investigation,
chapter entitled "Concerning Spirituals") has an interesting take on the
relationship between the following in 1Co. 12.1-4:
1Co 12.1 "PNEUMATIKWN" = "spirituals"
v. 4: "CARISMATWN" (gen neut pl) = "gifts"
v. 5: "DIAKONIWN" (gen fem pl) = "services"
v. 6: "ENERGHMATWN" (gen neut pl) = "workings"
v. 7: "FANHRWSIS" (nom fem sing) = "manifestation"
Rather than rehash his argument myself, let me quote. He states, "...in 1
Cor. 12:4-6 there are three nouns that meet the grammatical criteria above,
agreeing with the adjective 'spirituals' [PNEUMATIKWN] in gender, number and
case." This "...supports the interpretation that the latter [CARISMATWN,
DIAKONIWN, and ENERGHMATWN] are the 'spirituals' to which Paul referred in
12:1." Furthermore, "What is overlooked in the discussion...is that the form
of the adjective [PNEUMATIKWN] may be all three genders, masculine,
feminine, or neuter, depending upon the gender of the noun(s) it modifies."
Then lastly, "The articular neuter adjective [PNEUMATIKWN] comprehends all
of these qualities as a corporate whole irrespective of gender, and v. 7
summarizes them under the comprehensive term 'manifestations' [FANHRWSIS]."
Thus, the subject at hand is declared in v. 1, PNEUMATIKWN ("spirituals").
Just what Paul means by this he goes on to explain by the following
CARISMATWN, DIAKONIWN, and ENERGHMATWN, which together picture the
multifacited/diverse manner in which God provides for public worship.
When we get to v. 7 we find, "To each is given the FANHRWSIS of the Spirit"
(which Irvin points out is often read/translated as if it were "To each is
given the CARISMATA"). But what each receives is not CARISMATWN, any more
than each receives DIAKONIWN or ENERGHMATWN, but rather the FANHRWSIS
("manifestation") of the Spirit, which, given the context, is synonymous
with PNEUMATIKWN, v. 1.
I like what he says, though it demands that PNEUMATIKWN function
simultaneously as neuter (modifying CARISMATWN and ENERGHMATWN) and feminine
(modifying DIAKONIWN). PNEUMATIKWN in form may be either neuter, feminine,
or masculine. But can it be two or more at the same time? Are there any
examples of an adjective whose form is such that it is able to modify two or
more nouns having different genders (though sharing the same case and
number)?
Tom
virginia@destination.com.lb
Evangelical Assemblies of God of Lebanon
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