The Biblical Seminar 75 Biblical Semantic Logic This page intentionally left blank Biblical Semantic Logic A Preliminary Analysis Arthur Gibson SHEFFIELD ACADEMIC PRESS A Continuum imprint LONDON • NEW YORK Copyright © 2001 Sheffield Academic Press A Continuum imprint Published by Sheffield Academic Press Ltd The Tower Building, 11 York Road, London SE1 7NX 370 Lexington Avenue, New York NY 10017-6550 www.SheffieldAcademicPress.com www. continuumbooks. com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Typeset by Sheffield Academic Press Printed on acid-free paper in Great Britain by Bookcraft Ltd, Midsomer Norton, Bath ISBN 1-84127-173-X (paperback) For Stanley and Wendy Porter This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Preface xi Prologue to the Second Edition XV 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.0 Biblical Semantic Logic 1 1 Logic and Biblical Linguistics 1.1 Biblical Languages 3 / Priorities 2 Orientalist Perspective 1.2 Logico-Linguistics 5 1 Analysis 2 Logico-Linguistics 3 Linguistics 1.3 Semitic Language Study and Confusion 13 1 Hebrew Intuition 2 Semitic Comparative Philology 1.4 Interpretation of Biblical Greek 35 1 Septuagintal Relations 2 New Testamental Semantics 2 MEANING 47 2.0 Sense and Reference 47 1 Sinn and Bedeutung 2 Reference 3 Linguistic Referents 2.1 Logico-Linguistic Context of Reference 60 1 Hypostatized Structures viii CONTENTS 2 Morphology and Logic 3 Reference and Predication 4 Reference through Hebrew to Semitic Languages 2.2 Reference and Intention 87 1 Mental Elements in Reference? 2 Semantic Intentions 3 Intention and Hypostatization 2.3 Semantic Values 97 1 Definition of Function 2 Meaning and Usage 3 Idiom and Function 3 PROPER NAMES 126 3.0 Referential Functions and Ancient Names 126 / Referential versus Semantic Value? 2 Asymmetry of Syntax in PNs 3 Idiomatization in Proper Names 3.1 Criteria of Identity 140 1 Criterion 2 Criterion of Application 3.2 Naming yhwh 151 / Definition 2 An Aspect of 'hyh 'sr 'hyh 3 The First Person and yhwh 4 REFERENCE AND PREDICATION 165 4.0 Predicate 165 1 Interpretation 2 Generality 5 REFERENCE TO ROOTS 176 5.0 The Root of Reference 176 1 Root Fallacy 5.1 Roots and Nominalism 177 7 An Example CONTENTS ix 5.2 Referential Root Relations 190 1 Damaged Terms 2 Root and Concept 3 Idealization of Values 6 GENERALITY: CONCLUSION 207 6.0 Theory of Meaning 207 1 Generality 2 Use 3 Function 4 Sense and Reference 5 Theological Referents 6 Universal 7 Logico-Linguistics 7 APPENDIX 225 7.0 W.F. Albright's Use of 'Logic' 225 1 Scope 2 Pseudologic Index of Biblical Passages 232 Index of Names and Subjects 233