Paul Danove, «Christological Implications of the three-fold Interpretation of Verbs of Transference», Vol. 21 (2008) 27-44
This article develops the Christological implications of the three-fold grammatical interpretation of specific passive occurrences of verbs that designate transference with Jesus as the verbal subject. The discussion considers the Greek conceptualizations of transference and motion, the conditions that accommodate a three-fold grammatical interpretation of passive occurrences, and procedures for evaluating the contextual viability of these grammatical interpretations. The discussion then identifies verbal occurrences that admit to a three-fold interpretation with Jesus as subject, clarifies their traditional English translations, and develops the Christological implications of the three-fold interpretation of verbs in Mark 14,41, Heb 9,28, and Acts 1,11.
34 Paul Danove
matically possible interpretations need not be logical or viable within
their local context. The following studies establish the viability of each
possible interpretation by comparing its content to independent thema-
tic, narrative, and / or grammatical developments within the context and,
when indicated, rank the support for viable interpretations in relation to
the other viable interpretation[s]. For example, contextual considerations
recommend the viability of all three grammatically possible interpreta-
tions of Acts 27,44. The first interpretation is contextually viable because
the centurion who orchestrated the flight from the ship (27,43) or some
unspecified entity may interpreted to contribute to the safe passage of
all. The second and third interpretations are viable because all may be
interpreted to have contributed to their safe passage onto the land by
jumping overboard and swimming (27,43) or by following, while holding
on to planks and vessels from the ship (27,44). The context establishes
that all three grammatically possible interpretations are equally viable in
this context.
The three grammatically possible and contextually viable interpreta-
tions of the verb in Acts 27,44 present starkly different attributions of
agency to the verbal subject and differing perspectives on the events of
transference and motion. With the first interpretation (tra. act.), those
transferred safely onto the land have no agentive properties; with the
second (mot. pass.), all initiate their own motion onto the land; and, with
the third (tra. pass.) all initiate and instigate their own transference onto
the land. The two interpretations of transference permit the retrieval of
the unrealized Source because the conceptualization incorporates the
initiation of transference at which The Source and Agent are coincident.
The interpretation of passive motion, however, does not permit the
retrieval of the unrealized Source because the conceptualization
considers only the termination of motion at which the Theme and Goal
are coincident. As a result, this interpretation places exclusive emphasis
on the Goal without reference to the point of departure.
3. The Three-fold Interpretation with Jesus as the Referent of the
Verbal Subject
In the NT, five verbs in seventeen occurrences admit to interpretation
with a passivized active usage of transference / a passive usage of motion /
a passive reflexive usage of transference with Jesus as the referent of the
subject: παÏαδίδωμι (be handed over / come over / hand oneself over,
Matt 17,22; 20,18; 26,2.45; Mark 9,31; 10,33a; 14,41; Luke 9,44; 18,32;
24,7; Rom 4,25); Ï€ÏοσφÎÏω (be offered / come / offer oneself, Heb 9,28);
ἀναλαμβάνω (be taken up / ascend / take oneself up, Mark 16,19; Acts