A linguistic semantic analysis of the discourse relations in the Greek text of Ephesians

Abstract

A discourse analysis was done on the Greek text of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, as published by Nestle-Aland (26th edition) and the United Bible Societies (3rd edition). The discourse was analyzed into colons on syntactic grounds. Colons are regarded as consisting of a matrix (comprising a noun phrase and a verb phrase) with enlargements. Syntactic as well as thematic considerations determined the division of the letter into fourteen pericopes or paragraphs. The results of the colon and pericope divisions were recorded schematically. A detailed description of semantic relations was then undertaken. Relations between words, relations between colons, and finally relations between pericopes were considered from a semantic viewpoint. The purpose was to determine what the deep structure is in the letter to the Ephesians, as distinguished from the surface structure as it is apparent in the syntactic structure. In this way the semantic structure of words, colons and pericopes was described. Considering the theme of all the pericopes, a structure for the whole of Ephesians was suggested and tabulated. It was postulated that the theme of the letter is salvation, and specifically how God made salvation available to the heathen. This theme is stated in the first half of the letter (Eph 1-3), and in the second half the practical implications are described in the form of exhortations as to how everyday Christian living should be conducted. Pericope 4 (Eph 2.1-10) seems to be the focal point in the statement of the theme. Its centrality is indicated by the overall structure of Eph 1-3. The opening and closing pericopes of the letter are the frame in which the two major portions are enclosed. The dissertation represents a practical application of an approach to semantic relations discourse analysis developed primarily by J.P. Louw and E.A. Nida. Because it is a practical application, there is no discussion of the method itself. Other approaches were also considered, and the discerning reader may discover traces of these in the dissertation. Although the work is linguistic in nature, theological works on Ephesians were also studied in an attempt to place the linguistic commentary in perspective theologically. AFRIKAANS : Onderliggend aan die proefskrif is ‘n redevoeringsanalise van die Griekse teks van Efesiërs. Die teks wat gebruik is, is die van Nestle-Aland (26e uitgawe) en die Verenigde Bybelgenootskappe (3e uitgawe). Die brief is op grond van sintaktiese oorwegings in kola verdeel. Die uitgangspunt is dat ‘n kolon bestaan uit ‘n naamwoordstuk (NP) en ‘n werkwoordstuk (VP), waarop uitbreidings mag voorkom was sintakties verbind is. Sintaktiese sowel as tematiese oorwegings het bepaal hoe die brief in perikope of paragrawe verdeel is. Daar is gevind dat daar veertien perikope in Efesiërs is. Die kolon-en perikoopverdelings is skematies voorgestel. Daarna is ‘n gedetailleerd beskrywing van semantiese relasies aangepak. Relasies tussen woorde, tussen kola, en tussen perikope is oorweeg en beskryf vanuit ‘n semantiese oogpunt. Op hierdie wyse is die dieptestruktuur van die brief aan die Efesiërs blootgelê, in teenstelling met die oppervlaktestruktuur, soos dit in die sintaktiese struktuur duidelik is. Die semantiese struktuur van woorde, kola, en perikope is beskryf. Met inagmening van die temas van al die perikope is ‘n struktuur van die hele Efesiërs voorgestel en in table-vorm aangebied. Dit het geblyk dat die tema van Efesiërs saligheid is, en dan spesifiek hoe God die saligheid binne bereik van die heidene gebring het. Die tema word in die eerste helfte van die brief (Ef 1-3) gestel. Ef 4-6 bevat bevele in verband met die praktyk van die alledaagse Christelike lewe, as uitvloeisel van die ontvangs van die saligheid waarvan Ef 1-3 praat. Perikoop 4 (Ef 2.1-10) is die fokuspunt van die stelling van die tema. Dié feit word aangedui deur die makrostruktuur van Ef. 1-3. Die eerste en laaste parikoop omraam die twee groot gedeeltes van Efesiërs, as opening en slot. Die proefskrif is die resultaat van die praktiese toepassing van ‘n bepaalde benadering ten opsigte van semantiese relasies in redevoeringsanalise. Hierdie benadering is veral ontwikkel deur J.P. Louw en E.A. Nida. Die metode self is nie bespreek nie, omdat die doel van die proefskrif die praktiese toepassing van ‘n metode was en nie ‘n teoretiese evaluering daarvan nie. Ander benaderings as die spesifieke een is ook oorweeg en die ingeligte leser sal moontlik tekens daarvan in die proefskrif vind. Alhoewel die werk uit ‘n taalkundige oogpunt gedoen is, is teologiese werke ook in ag geneem, in ‘n poging om die taalkundige kommentaar in perspektief te plaas.