Logos Bible Software Blog: Waiting for the Next Shoe to Drop, Part 1 Page 1 of 4

March 17, 2008

Waiting for the Next Shoe to Drop, Part 1

Today's guest post is from Dr. Steve Runge, a scholar-in-residence at Logos Bible Software, whose work focuses
on the discourse grammar of Hebrew and Greek.

Over the last few years, I have learned the importance of expectations.
Expectations play a huge role in our lives, even in how we use language. Read
the following statements, and compare the difference that adding a single word
to the sentence can make in changing our expectations about what follows.

1. "I have really appreciated your work over the last few months . . ."

versus . . .

2. "While I have really appreciated your work over the last few months . . ."

or . . .

3. "I have appreciated most of your work over the last few months . . ."

Notice the difference in expectations that was created in the last two sentences compared to the first sentence?
What changed? Figuratively speaking, adding 'while' or 'most' in this context has the effect of signaling that the
'first shoe' has dropped. It creates the expectation that something more is coming, and it probably won't be good.
Another way of looking at this is to say that the last two sentences create a 'counter point', signaling that a more
important 'point' is about to come that connects back to the counter point.

We make decisions like this all the time when we are speaking, but not by stopping and thinking, "Should I create
a counter point so that Rick will expect that more is coming, or should I connect these thoughts using another
device?" No. We just do what 'fits best' in the context, based on whatever it is that we want to communicate.
Creating the expectation that a second shoe will drop using a counter point is a powerful way to connect two
things together, things that otherwise might not have been connected. It is not just English that can create this
kind of expectation. Most languages have some means of doing this, including Greek. You guessed it, we are
headed into the New Testament to introduce another device that is included in the Lexham High Definition New
Testament, which is now on Pre-Pub along with the Lexham Discourse Greek New Testament. Today's topic is
point-counter point sets, using a words like 'while' or 'in as much as' to create a 'counterpoint' to connect and
draw extra attention to a 'point' that follows. The point is the 'second shoe'.

In the same way that we can use words like 'while' to create an expectation of something more (a counter point),
Greek has a tiny three letter word (men, Strong's number G3303) that accomplishes the same thing. Its
primary purpose is to produce a counter point, creating the expectation that some related point is about to follow.
The point is typically more important than the counter point. Using a counter point has the effect of attracting
attention to the point that it would not have received otherwise.

There is just one problem: Greek is not English. Since Greek has such an easy way of creating counter points, it
is often difficult to capture what is going on in Greek in a smooth English translation. Words like 'on the one hand'
would be too clunky in most cases. As a result of this mismatch between the languages, well over half of the
counter points signaled by are lost in translation. They show up in your reverse interlinears as a bullet (). The
great thing about the Lexham High Definition New Testament is that it helps you find all the places where things
like counter points are signaled, and even shows you the 'point' that it is connected to.

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Take a look at Jesus' statement about the fields being plentiful for harvest (Matt 9:37 ). The bullet () after
'harvest' stands in the place of a Greek word that does not have an English equivalent in the translation. It stands
in the place of our counter point marker . I will use symbols to help you find the counter point and the

point
. The brackets and let you know where the point or counter point begin and end.

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful,

but the laborers are few;
(ESV)

Without the use of , the positive statement about the harvest might sound like it is the last word on the matter,
rather than a counterpoint to highlight the great need for more harvesters. The use of 'but' captures the contrast,
but does not convey the anticipation. Jesus' hearers were expecting something important would follow when they
heard , just like we would if we were to hear, "While the harvest is plentiful . . ." The call for more laborers is
much more powerful when you realize it is a set-up to attract our attention to the point that follows, but the
counterpoint is obscured in the translation to English.

Take a look at the counter point in Matthew 26:24 .

The Son of Man goes as it is written of him,

but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is

betrayed!
It would have been better for that man if
he had not been born." (ESV)

While it was necessary for the Son of Man to be betrayed in order to fulfill prophecy, the betrayer has no excuse
for his actions, he will be held fully accountable. What a frightening warning, one which is made all the more
powerful through the use of a counter point to attract extra attention to the point that follows.

Another counter point example used to create a connection is found in Acts 2:41-42 . Here again, the particle
is untranslated.

So those who received his word were baptized,

. and there were added that day about three
42
thousand souls. 42
And they devoted
, themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship,
.
to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
(ESV)

You are probably thinking, "Why in the world would these two verses be connected?" Great question. The answer
is that the writer wanted to make sure that we connected these verses. He could have left out the , but his
choice to include it reflects his intent that we make a connection that might otherwise be missed.

There are actually two Greek conjunctions at the beginning of v. 41. The conjunction (translated here as 'so')
tells us how to relate v. 41 to what precedes, summarizing the people's response to Peter's sermon. The
creates a counter point, raising the expectation that another shoe is going to drop. The 3000 being added and
baptized is not the final word. As significant as this response is, the writer wanted to connect the response of the
3000 to the events that follow. Verse 42 describes how the people devoted themselves to the teaching, to the
breaking of bread, and to prayer. Creating a counter point here suggests that while 3000 'getting saved' and
baptized is significant, it is only the beginning and not an end in itself. The Great Commission calls us to make
disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded us. This is exactly what we
see being highlighted here by making the connection between vv. 41 and 42. The apostles are obediently fulfilling
their commission. We see a picture of the new believers moving on to obey all that was commanded. The writer's
choice to create a counter point connection helps drive this point home. However, this connection is impossible to
find in English.

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Point-counter point sets are only one of roughly 15 other devices that are included in the Lexham High Definition
New Testament. This resource not only provides an introduction to these devices, it marks every place they occur
right in the English text. Using the symbols keeps you in the Bible instead of in study notes or a commentary. It
also lets you see 'at a glance' the devices that the writer is using in the passage you are studying, allowing you to
quickly and easily identify the key ideas, to understand the flow of the passage.

See Steve's previous posts about the Lexham High Definition New Testament:

Stylistic Variation or Intentional Shaping? A Look at Characterization in John 11

Making of the Lexham High Definition New Testament
Who Cares About Participles? I Do!

See also the recent announcement of Steve's two products now on Pre-Pub:

Lexham High Definition New Testament

Lexham Discourse Greek New Testament

Posted by Phil Gons at March 17, 2008 06:00 AM

Comments

Steve,

While that was a very informative post... ;-)

...I find that Logos is wisely using your excellent writing and teaching skills to convey much needed and valuable
information to sell its inventory. Through your examples that help us understand the Greek usage of counter
points and the difficulty in 'smoothly translating' them into English...I now see the value in purchasing the Lexham
High Definition New Testament.

Posted by: Mitch Davis at March 17, 2008 07:55 AM

Steve,

Thank you once again for making the "point" so clear. I look forward to your next article and the release of your
labor of love so that I may enjoy an even greater understanding of God's matchless Word!

Larry

Posted by: Larry at March 17, 2008 01:48 PM

I really enjoyed the lesson in Greek, as my formal education did not include it, so I have been trying to teach
myself over the past 2 years with varying results. Interlinears are my best friends, and this one sounds like it may
replace my McReynolds.
By the way, are you sure you're not in the sales department?

Posted by: Carl Garrison at March 18, 2008 03:29 AM

Wow! Absolutely blown away with the Libronix presentation about the HD NT. Okay, I'm signing up for the book.
Thanks Logos!

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Logos Bible Software Blog: Waiting for the Next Shoe to Drop, Part 1 Page 4 of 4

P.S. - here is the presentation: http://www.logos.com/media/flash/hdnt/hdnt.html

Posted by: Mitch Davis at March 19, 2008 05:54 AM

Dr. Runge, I appreciated that you listed the transliterated Greek word and the Strongs number for "but" in the 4th
paragraph. It helps me, who has had no formal Greek education, to learn and follow the discussion more easily. I
wish you would do it for all the significant words (such as the one translated "So" in Acts 2:41 ) in these very
informative and easy-to-grasp articles. (By the way, on recommendation of one of the 'support' people at
Logos.com, I've already put in my order for the Greek version, hoping to learn more!!)

Thank you (and your family) for being willing to pay the price (I spell that "s-a-c-r-i-f-i-c-e") to prepare and make
this resource available to us. May you and your family continue to recognize the blessing of The Word by His
grace and for His glory. -Jim Lowery

Posted by: Jim Lowery at March 24, 2008 08:09 AM

'Houtws' is an adverb that describes manner, but it often functions like a pronoun in that it can stand in the place
of another action. I could say, "Do you remember how I taught you to do this task? Do it in this way." In the
example, the 'in this way' is referring back to 'how I taught you to do this task'(see the Golden Rule in Matt 7:12
). In John 3:16 , the houtws ('so', 'in this way') is referring ahead to an action, not back.

Posted by: Steve Runge at March 24, 2008 01:23 PM

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