PREPOSITIONS AND THEOLOGY

in the Greek New Testament

An Essential Reference Resource for Exegesis

MURRAY J. HARRIS

ZONDERVAN

Prepositions and Theology in the Greek New Testament

Copyright © 2012 by Murray J. Harris

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Harris, Murray J.

Prepositions and theology in the Greek New Testament  / Murray J. Harris.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 17–23) and indexes.

ISBN 978-0-310-49392-1 (hardcover)

1. Greek language, Biblical—​Prepositions. 2. Bible. N.T.—Language, style. I. Title.

PA849.H37 2011

487ʹ.4—​dc23

2011046973

All Scripture translations in the book, unless otherwise noted, are the author’s own, based on the Greek New Testament text or the Septuagint.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—​electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: Tammy Johnson

Interior design: Matthew Van Zomeren

To Bruce and Don,

who both blazed a shining trail

in academic pursuits

for their youngest brother to follow

Contents

Preface

Select Bibliography and Abbreviations

1. Introduction

A. The Phases of the Greek Language

B. Terminology

C. Prepositions and Adverbs

D. Prepositions and Cases

E. The Basic Meaning of Prepositions

F. Principles of Choice

G. Exegeting Prepositions

2. Distinctive Features of Prepositional Usage in New Testament Greek

A. Characteristics in Keeping with the General Tendencies of Hellenistic Greek (in Comparison with Classical Greek)

B. Possible Semitic Influence on New Testament Prepositional Usage

3. Dangers to Be Avoided in Any Examination of New Testament Prepositional Usage

A. Insistence on Classical Greek Distinctions

B. Failure to Make Allowance for a Writer’s Stylistic Variation

C. Disregard of Probable Distinctions

D. Denial of Double Entendre

E. Neglect of the Possible Significance of Items with Prepositions

4. Ἀμφί and Ἀνά

A. Ἀμφί

B. Ἀνά

C. Ἀνά in Compounds

5. Ἀντί

A. Basic Idea and New Testament Use

B. Equivalence

C. Exchange

D. Substitution

E. Important New Testament Uses

F. Ἀντί in Compounds

6. Ἀπό

A. Relation of Ἀπό to Ἐκ

B. Ἀπὸ θεοῦ

C. Ellipses with (Pregnant) Ἀπό

D. Ἀπό in Paul’s Epistolary Salutations

E. Other Notable Instances

F. Ἀπό in Compounds

7. Διά

A. Origin and Basic Idea

B. Notable Instances of Main Uses

C. Διά in Compounds

8. Εἰς

A. Origin and New Testament Use

B. Its Relation to Πρός

C. Its Relation ...