Glory Be to Jesus Christ!
☀️
Since in the works published at the following links:
https://churchandsociety.org.ua/pdf/projects/zbirnyk.pdf
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/17082024.html
it is written that the use of prepositions is important for the correct understanding of important and actual issues, in particular the issue of power, I am writing commentaries on the use of these prepositions. As a piece of advice on how to read the text, you can read the verse in translation and/or in the original (if you have the opportunity), and then the commentary on prepositions here. Next, you need to understand which part of the verse the commentary refers to, and consider what it affirms — or less often, denies — that is essential to understanding. This thoughtful reading helps to deepen understanding and protects against the mistakes mentioned above.
2 Thessalonians I, 1 — ‘ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ’ - ‘en theo patri’ - ‘in God the Father’.
2 Thessalonians I, 2 — ‘ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν’ - ‘apo theou patros hemon’ - ‘from God our Father’. The preposition ‘apo’ indicates that grace and peace are God's gifts to people.
2 Thessalonians I, 3 — ‘εἰς ἀλλήλους’ - ‘eis allelous’ - ‘one towards another’. A common expression.
2 Thessalonians I, 4 — ‘ἐν ὑμῖν ἐνκαυχᾶσθαι ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τοῦ θεοῦ’ - ‘en hymin enkaukhasthai en tais ekklesiais tou theou’ - ‘by you in the Churches of God’. This is the only translation that makes sense here.
2 Thessalonians I, 5 — ‘εἰς τὸ καταξιωθῆναι’ - ‘eis to kataxiothenai’ - ‘that you may become worthy’. The preposition ‘eis’ indicates the purpose.
2 Thessalonians I, 6 — ‘παρὰ θεῷ’ - ‘para theo’ - ‘in the vicinity of God; near to God’. The preposition ‘para’ here with the dative case indicates that justice brings one closer to God.
2 Thessalonians I, 7 — ‘ἐν τῇ ἀποκαλύψει’ - ‘en te apokalypsei’ - ‘in the appearance; in revelation’. ‘ἀπ’ οὐρανοῦ' - ap ouranou
- from heaven
. The preposition ‘apo’ in its form before the next vowel indicates that Christ will descend from heaven.
2 Thessalonians I, 8 — ‘ἐν πυρὶ φλογός’ - ‘en pyri phlogos’ - ‘in a flaming fire; with a flaming fire’. In terms of meaning, only the first option is possible here.
2 Thessalonians I, 9 — ‘ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης’ - ‘apo prosopou tou kyriou kai apo tes doxes’ - ‘from the face of the Lord and from the glory’. The preposition ‘apo’ here in both cases indicates that people will perish because they will not be able to be with God, in His glory.
2 Thessalonians I, 10 — ‘ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ’ - ‘en tois agiois autou’ - ‘in His saints; with His saints’. Since the glory of the saints does not increase the glory of God in essence, the first translation is preferable. ‘ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς πιστεύσασιν’ - ‘en pasin tois pisteusasin’ - ‘in all believers’. Similar to the previous one. ‘ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ’ - ‘en te hemera ekeine’ - ‘on that day’.
For more on the reading from the Apostle, please refer to this link:
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/20112023.html
Mark VIII, 11 — ‘παρ’ αὐτοῦ σημεῖον ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ' - par autou semeion apo tou ouranou
- from beside Him a sign from heaven
. The preposition ‘para’ is here in the form before the next vowel with the genitive case and indicates that they wanted to receive a sign, a sign from heaven, besides Christ Himself. The preposition ‘apo’ indicates that the sign had to ‘leave’ heaven. In general, the use of prepositions additionally shows the fallacy of their logic.
Mark VIII, 13 — ‘εἰς τὸ πέραν’ - ‘eis to peran’ - ‘to the other side’. A common expression.
Mark VIII, 14 — ‘ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ’ - ‘en to ploio’ - ‘in the boat’.
Mark VIII, 15 — ‘ἀπὸ τῆς ζύμης’ - ‘apo tes zymes’ - ‘from leaven’. The preposition ‘apo’ indicates that it is to be guarded against.
Mark VIII, 19 — ‘εἰς τοὺς πεντακισχιλίους’ - ‘eis tous pentakiskhilious’ - ‘for the five thousand’. The preposition ‘eis’ here indicates the purpose of the action.
Mark VIII. 20 — ‘εἰς τοὺς τετρακισχιλίους’ - ‘eis tous tetrakiskhilious’ - ‘for four thousand’. Similar to the previous one.
For more information about the Gospel readings, please refer to the following links:
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/11122023.html
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/12082024.html
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/13082024.html
To the righteous Anna, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
Galatians IV, 22, 23 — ‘ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης’ - ‘ek tes paidiskes’ - ‘from a (etymologically, it is quite possible that "young woman slave", but since the same word was generally used for "woman slave", it is difficult to say how best to translate, so the generalised version "woman slave" is more cautious – comment added 10.12.2024) slave woman’. ‘ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας’ - ‘ek tes eleutheras’ - ‘from the free’. The preposition ‘ek’ in both cases indicates origin.
Galatians IV, 24 — ‘ἀπὸ ὄρους Σινᾶ’ - ‘apo orous Sina’ - ‘from Mount Sinai’. The preposition ‘apo’ indicates that the covenant ‘left’ Sinai. ‘εἰς δουλίαν’ - ‘eis doulian’ - ‘into slavery’.
Galatians IV, 25 — ‘ἐν τῇ Ἀραβίᾳ’ - ‘en te Arabia’ - ‘in Arabia’.
For more information about these readings, please refer to the following links:
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/23092023.html
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/26102024.html
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/28102023.html
Glory be to Thee, our God, glory be to Thee!