| 27. Linguistic Exegesis The clause opens with the negative particle ou {οὐ | ou} followed by the postpositive conjunction gar {γάρ | gár}, which in English is brought forward as “for” introducing an explanation that supports the previous statement. The finite verb hypesteilamen {ὑπεστειλάμην | hupesteilámēn} carries the main assertion, with the middle voice suggesting Paul’s personal involvement in the potential act of holding himself back. This verb governs the articular infinitive phrase tou mē anangeilai {τοῦ μὴ ἀναγγεῖλαι | tou mḕ anangeîlai}, a genitive of separation meaning “from not declaring,” which, when combined with the preceding negation, yields the sense “did not shrink back from declaring.” The infinitive anangeilai {ἀναγγεῖλαι | anangeîlai} takes as its object the accusative phrase pasan tēn boulēn {πᾶσαν τὴν βουλήν | pâ-san tēn boulḗn}, where the adjective pasan precedes the article–noun pair to stress the totality of the “counsel.” The genitive tou theou {τοῦ θεοῦ | tou theoû} is a subjective genitive indicating that this counsel originates from God. The dative hymin {ὑμῖν | hymîn} marks the recipients of this full disclosure. In translation, the double negation structure (not… from not declaring) is rendered as a single positive expression (“did not shrink back from declaring”) to preserve the idiomatic sense in English while maintaining the emphasis on Paul’s complete and fearless proclamation of God’s revealed plan. |