Grammar

Many students of theological German come with a general conversational knowledge of the language. For those without this background, or for those needing a review, a few basic grammatical lessons will be presented.

Lesson one is an introduction to the definite article, and the concepts of Gender, Number, and Case. Go to the “Nouns and Adjectives” page.

After reading any grammar lesson, please Leave a Reply to make a comment, suggestion, clarification, or correction; or to ask a question.

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9 Comments »

9 Responses

on July 23, 2009 at 7:17 am | Reply Jerry Coyle

I’m attempting to translate Rudolf Bultmann’s “Der alte und der neue Mensch in der Theologie des Paulus” (Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1964). On page 8 the following sentence appears:

“Nun liegt es ja in der Tat nahe, zu sagen: die δικαιοσύνη ist bei Paulus ein eschatologisches Heilsgut, und der δικαιωθείς ist der neue Mensch der Heilzeit, für den diese Welt mit ihren Möglichkeiten des Handelns und des Sündigens nicht mehr in Frage kommt.”

I’m looking for a definition of “die Heilsgut” in this sentence. The closest I can come is something like “salvation good,” or “material pertaining to salvation,” or maybe even “salvation.” Can you get me to a more precise definition than this? Thanks.
on July 24, 2009 at 10:32 am | Reply Th.

Dear Jerry,

It is by chance that I came across this blog. As a German speaker I would like to call your attention to a small error. It is ‘das Gut or ‘das Heilsgut’ not ‘die’ 🙂 The word ‘Gut’ has many levels of meaning. For example a ‘Gut’ can be a large holding of cultivated land. A German reader would understand that the author implies a body of “actively cultivated” knowledge. So the compound word with ‘Heil’ means that this is a cultivated body of knowledge dealing with salvation. You can take it from there to find a more elegant English translation…

Th.
on July 24, 2009 at 11:34 am | Reply Mark

Th.,

Thanks for the help. I believe the “die” goes with the Greek word δικαιοσύνη, which is feminine, so it looks like Jerry has correctly quoted Herr Bultmann–I notice he did use “ein” and not “eine” before Heilsgut.

How does “reality of salvation,” or “benefit of salvation” sound to you? I think a translation should also take into account the connection with Heilzeit, “time of salvation.”

Mark
on July 24, 2009 at 12:18 pm | Reply Th.

Hello Mark,

Yes, “die δικαιοσύνη” and “das Heilsgut”. If ‘Heilsgut’ were feminine then Hr. Bultmann would have written “eine eschatologische Heilsgut”

Here is an interesting link:

http://anu.theologie.uni-halle.de/ST/harnack/quellen/symbolik/symbolik_07

The first sentence:
“Das Heilsgut welches im Christentum gesucht und dargeboten wird, wird als das ewige Leben oder als die Vergottung vorgestellt. Deswegen ist der Inhalt der christlichen Glaubens-[29]erkenntnis die Erkenntnis des Gottes, der sich selbst, d.h. sein ewiges Ebenbild in diese sterbliche Welt herabgesandt und mit der Menschheit bekleidet hat, um diese Menschheit vom Tode zu befreien, aus dem Endlichen zu entschränken, und in göttliche Natur, d.h. in ewiges Leben überzuführen.”

shows that is is indeed difficult to find a simple translation of this word into English! The word “Heiland” means Saviour and das Heilsgut can be considered as a bestowal. So maybe,
” The δικαιοσύνη is with Paul an eschatological bestowal (bestowment?) of salvation…” might also be a possibility.

The German translation of the word, ‘δικαιοσύνη’ is ‘Gerechtigkeit’ so the implication is that this is not a passive condition.

Th.
on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 pm | Reply Mark

Thanks, Th.

I like “bestowal of salvation.”

And thanks for the great link to the Harnack site with the quotation.

I’m not sure what you mean by “not a passive condition.” The other Greek phrase in the passage, “der δικαιωθείς” is a passive participle, “the one justified” (sc. by God); would “der gerecht gemacht” work? Hmm, after consulting a dictionary, I guess “gerechtfertigt” is the more usual German translation of the Greek.

Thanks again for the insights of a native speaker.

Alles gute,

Mark
on July 24, 2009 at 6:11 pm | Reply Jerry

Thanks to both of you for these helpful insights. And I’m grateful for the Harnack quotation as well.

Jerry
on July 26, 2009 at 2:26 am | Reply Th.

Hello Mark and Jerry,

🙂

Th.
on August 30, 2009 at 6:33 pm | Reply Raj

can you please help translate this quote for research (i am working on the book of Qoheleth).

“Ego tamen Solomonis esse non puto, sed scriptum serius sub illius regist tamquam poenitentia ducti nomine. Argumentum eius rei habeo multa vocabula quae non alibi quam in Daniele, Esdra et Chalddaeis interpretibus reperias.” Hugo de Groot, 1644.
on August 31, 2009 at 12:18 pm | Reply Mark

Raj,

Here is a rough translation:

But I do not consider it [the book of Qohelet] to be of Solomon, but written under the name of that King who was led to repentance (?)
In support of this argument, I have many words which are not found elsewhere [in the Hebrew Bible] except in Daniel and Ezra and which are clarified by a Chaldean [i.e. Aramaic] interpretation.

[I”m guessing ‘regist’ is a typo for regis.]

I posted the request on the Home page of this site. Other readers may do better.

Mark