| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the inferential conjunction dio {Διὸ | Diò} “therefore, for this reason,” tying Paul’s statement to the preceding argument about his missionary priorities. The coordinating kai {καὶ | kaí} “also” strengthens the connection, indicating that what follows is an additional consequence. The verb enekoptomen {ἐνεκοπτόμην | enekoptómen} “I was being hindered” is in the imperfect passive indicative, portraying repeated or continual obstruction over a past period rather than a single event. The phrase ta polla {τὰ πολλὰ | tà pollá}, literally “the many,” functions as an adverbial accusative, giving the sense “many times” or “often” and modifying the verbal idea of hindrance. The construction tou elthein {τοῦ ἐλθεῖν | toû eltheîn} is an articular infinitive, expressing the intended action “to come,” here best rendered in English with a prepositional phrase “from coming.” The prepositional phrase pros hymas {πρὸς ὑμᾶς | prós hymâs} “toward you” specifies the direction and recipients of Paul’s unrealized travel. In translation, the inferential opening is represented with “Therefore” in the formal reconstruction and “That is why” in the dynamic, while the imperfect passive is rendered with English perfect forms (“have been hindered,” “have often been prevented”) to convey a past situation with ongoing relevance to the present explanation. |