Journal: Grace Journal
Volume: GJ 08:2 (Spring 1967)
Article: The Use and Significance of en ōi in 1 Peter
Author: Paul R. Fink

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GJ 8:2 (Spr 67) p. 33

The Use and Significance of en ōi in 1 Peter

Paul R. Fink

Assistant Professor in Homiletics
Grace Theological Seminary

[Note: The material for this article was drawn from a paper submitted in connection with graduate studies in the Graduate School of Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas. The Greek words in both the text and quotations have been transliterated.]

That en ōi is important exegetically to Peter’s epistle is seen from the fact that it occurs five times: 1:6, en ōi agalliasthe; 2:12, en ōi katalalousin umōn; 3:16, en ōi katalaleisthe; 3:19, en ōi kai…ekēruxen; and 4:4, en ōi xenizontai. Moule notes that some would take the frequent occurrence of en ōi in 1 Peter as merely an idiosyncrasy of Peter’s literary style and not of much exegetical import. He writes:

There are some turns of phrase which appear to have little significance for the sense, and are mere idiosyncrasies of the writer…. Possibly certain uses of the particle te in the later chapters of Acts ought to be so classified…and so (according to some) ought the en ōi of 1 Peter….1

Reicke has made an extensive inquiry into the precise meaning of en ōi.2 He demonstrates that in 1 Peter 3:19 it must be considered as a unit—a temporal conjunction. As such it should be translated “whereat,” “on which occasion,” “while,” “at the same time as,” “in doing which.” He then shows that en ōi is used as a temporal conjunction in the New Testament (apart from 1 Peter) in Mark 2:19; Luke 19:13; John 5:7; and Romans 2:1 (in this last instance he notes that en ōi has a temporal purport with a conditional by-significance). He continues by showing that en ōi is used as a temporal conjunction in literature other than the New Testament, e.g., in Soph. Tr...

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