| 6. Linguistic Exegesis The discourse marker nyn {Νῦν | nyn} “now” combined with de {δέ | de} “but/and” signals a transition to a new step in Paul’s argument while maintaining continuity with what precedes. He directly addresses his audience with the vocative adelphoi {ἀδελφοί | adelphoí} “brothers,” framing the exhortation in terms of family solidarity within the congregation. The core of the verse is a third-class conditional construction: ean elthō pros hymas {ἐὰν ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς | ean elthō pros hymâs} “if I come to you,” presenting a real but hypothetical scenario. The circumstantial participial phrase glōssais lalōn {γλώσσαις λαλῶν | glōssais lalōn} “speaking in tongues” specifies the manner of his coming and sets up the contrast between unintelligible and intelligible speech. This leads to the rhetorical question ti hymas ōphelēsō {τί ὑμᾶς ὠφελήσω | ti hymâs ōphelēsō} “what will I benefit you?”, where the placement of hymas before the verb highlights the concern for the hearers’ advantage. A second conditional clause, ean mē hymin lalēsō {ἐὰν μὴ ὑμῖν λαλήσω | ean mē hymîn lalēsō} “if I do not speak to you,” introduces the exception and is followed by a coordinated series of prepositional phrases introduced by ē en {ἢ ἐν | ē en} “or in,” listing apokalypsei, gnōsei, prophēteia, and didachē as alternative modes of intelligible discourse. The parallel structure of these datives underscores that revelation, knowledge, prophecy, and teaching are all valid channels of congregational edification. The English renderings preserve the conditional and interrogative force, slightly adjust word order for natural flow, and maintain the repeated “or … in” pattern to reflect the Greek emphasis on communicative content that builds up the community. |