| 36. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the conjunction ē {ἢ | ē} “or,” linking this sharp question to the preceding discussion and signaling an alternative that challenges the Corinthians’ assumptions. The prepositional phrase aph hymōn {ἀφʼ ὑμῶν | aph hymōn} “from you” is placed early to test whether the audience is being treated as the supposed source of ho logos tou theou {ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ | ho lógos tou theou} “the word of God.” The subject phrase precedes the verb exēlthen {ἐξῆλθεν | exēlthen} “went out,” an aorist that focuses on a completed event of origin or sending. The second clause is introduced again by ē {ἢ | ē}, creating a parallel rhetorical question: instead of being the origin, perhaps they are the sole recipients. The prepositional phrase eis hymas monous {εἰς ὑμᾶς μόνους | eis hymas mónous} “into you only” places monous after the pronoun, highlighting the claim of exclusivity. The verb katēntēsen {κατήντησεν | katḗntēsen} “has reached” continues the metaphor of movement, now focusing on the arrival of the message rather than its source. The two contrasting prepositions aph “from” and eis “into” frame the Corinthians’ community as either origin or terminus of the divine message, which in context exposes their spiritual arrogance. In translation, preserving the paired rhetorical questions and the contrast between “go out from you” and “reach only you” maintains Paul’s ironic challenge and the sense that the word of God transcends any single congregation. |