| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with kai gar {καὶ γὰρ | kaì gàr}, linking this assertion to Paul’s preceding argument and providing explanatory emphasis. The first clause, estaurothe ex astheneias {ἐσταυρώθη ἐξ ἀσθενείας | estaurṓthē ex astheneías} “He was crucified out of weakness,” employs an aorist passive indicative to present the crucifixion as a completed action and a genitive of sphere after ex to highlight apparent human frailty. The adversative alla {ἀλλὰ | allà} then contrasts this with zē ek dynámeōs theoû {ζῇ ἐκ δυνάμεως θεοῦ | zē̂ ek dynámeōs theoû} “He lives by the power of God,” where the present tense underscores ongoing life and the genitive after ek marks the divine source of that life. The second half mirrors this structure: kai gar hēmeis asthenoumen en autō {καὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενοῦμεν ἐν αὐτῷ | kaì gàr hēmeîs asthenoûmen en autô} “for we also are weak in Him” uses present tense and the dative of sphere with en to express mutual participation in Christ’s weakness. A following alla introduces zēsomen syn autō ek dynámeōs theoû {ζήσομεν σὺν αὐτῷ ἐκ δυνάμεως θεοῦ | zḗsomen sýn autô ek dynámeōs theoû} “we will live with Him by the power of God,” where the future tense affirms assured life and syn plus dative stresses shared experience with Christ. The final prepositional phrase eis humâs {εἰς ὑμᾶς | eis humâs} “toward you” gives a directional focus, indicating that this divinely empowered life is directed to the Corinthian believers. This chiastic parallel of weakness and power, first in Christ and then in the community, reinforces Paul’s theological emphasis on divine strength revealed through apparent weakness. |