| 33. Linguistic Exegesis The verse consists of a single independent clause in which the direct objects precede the verb for emphasis. Three genitive singular neuter nouns, argyriou {ἀργυρίου | argyríou} ‘of silver’, khrysiou {χρυσίου | khrusíou} ‘of gold’, and the genitive masculine himatismou {ἱματισμοῦ | himatismoû} ‘of clothing’, are linked by the repeated conjunction e {ἢ | ē} ‘or’, forming a coordinated list of valuable possessions. The indefinite pronoun oudenos {οὐδενὸς | oudenós} ‘of no one, of nothing’, also in the genitive, governs the entire series and functions to negate any relationship of covetous desire toward any person's property. The verb epethymesa {ἐπεθύμησα | epethýmēsa} ‘I coveted’ appears at the end in the aorist active indicative, first person singular, summarizing Paul's conduct as a whole, likely with a gnomic or constative sense, covering his entire ministry among them. The fronting of the genitive objects before the verb heightens the focus on the kinds of wealth Paul disclaims coveting, which is rendered in English by keeping the list prominent while shifting to the more natural subject-verb-object order. |