Lexicon Update, &c.

The Lexicon mentioned in my previous post is an ongoing project. After a summer of somewhat slower work on it that I would have liked (my first child was born early May), I have resumed research and writing. As mentioned, the primary focus of this revision is to reassess the categorization of logical/rhetorical relationships assigned to the various Greek lexemes. The first step of so doing is to define the relationships, which itself is an ongoing, but nearly finished process.

The Lexicon is aimed primarily at students of scripture with an intermediate to advanced knowledge of Greek, but with little to no introduction to the field of (text) linguistics. As such, the challenge is to tread the line between detailed explanation and general introduction so that the work is usable and informative without being overwhelming.

Happily, the work is currently under contract, although it may be a while before it goes to press.

Otherwise, I have begun research into LXX-Nahum 1:2-8, the opening divine warrior hymn and so-called “broken acrostic”. This I am analyzing using a methodology developed by my project advisor, Fred Putnam, in order to compare the HB to the LXX and approach the question of translation methodology. This will be a year-long endeavor, but will hopefully orient me to the field of LXX studies in order to pursue doctoral work there.

WAR

A Greek Interpretive Lexicon

Last May I began revising and revamping a preexisting work used by one of my professors at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. The Lexicon is in essence a summary (even an interpretation) of BDAG, covering a large swath of important exegetical and interpretive Greek words, namely conjunctions, adverbs, particles, prepositions, etc. The idea is that the Lexicon gives a brief summary of the primary logical functions of ‘x’ word, so that when one is attempting to find the argumentative flow of thought in a chunk of text the Lexicon can help identify important words as signposts in that pursuit.

It is a work in progress. The project I embarked upon was significantly different than what I am now doing. At first it was merely retyping the document and updating page references to the new edition (’00) of Bauer, as well as adding pertinent page references in Wallace’s Greek Grammar: Beyond the Basics. After using the Lexicon for one academic year, however, it became evident that there were both missing words, as well as errors in specific entries, either mis-labeling logical functions or leaving too much unsaid about a particular word. As a result, I am now going back through the whole thing, alongside Bauer, and reevaluating the accuracy of the logical designations of each word’s entry according to the first ‘authors’ of the work, making changes as needed. To assist that process, I am reading a variety of books and articles on linguistics and discourse analysis theory.

This is a sample page of the Lexicon. Of course, please do not reproduce or distribute, as it is under copyright at present (not to mention, again, that there may be errors still).

Here is a bibliography of some of my summer reading towards this project’s completion:

WAR

Motific Analysis of Isaiah

A Motific Analysis of Isaiah

This paper was something of an experiment in motific literary analysis from a redaction-critical standpoint. I examined five (of the many) places in the book of Isaiah where the leitmotif of light/darkness language occurs, with an eye towards possible future research avenues.

WAR

All papers and essays are posted for online reading purposes only. Any use otherwise is outside the intent and permission of the author.