Verse in Greek
ᾧ μὲν γὰρ διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος δίδοται λόγος σοφίας, ἄλλῳ δὲ λόγος γνώσεως κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ Πνεῦμα,
Focus Topic: Dative of Advantage and Correlative Conjunctions (μὲν…δὲ)
This verse presents a classic example of Paul’s use of balanced structure and rhetorical parallelism, centered around the correlative pair μὲν…δὲ and the use of the dative case to indicate indirect recipients of spiritual gifts.
Dative Personal Recipients: ᾧ μὲν … ἄλλῳ δὲ
The datives ᾧ (“to one”) and ἄλλῳ (“to another”) indicate personal recipients of divine gifts. These are examples of the dative of advantage or indirect object, showing to whom something is given.
| Greek Word | Case | Function |
|---|---|---|
| ᾧ | Dative Singular | To one (person) — indirect recipient of gift |
| ἄλλῳ | Dative Singular | To another (person) — indirect recipient of another gift |
Correlative Pair: μὲν…δὲ
The particles μὲν…δὲ are not translated directly into English but serve to structure contrasting ideas. In this case, they divide the sentence into two coordinated clauses: one gift to one person, another gift to a different person. This adds rhetorical elegance and balance:
- μὲν — introduces the first member of a contrast: “to one…is given…”
- δὲ — introduces the contrasting second part: “but to another…”
Passive Voice and Divine Agency: δίδοται
The verb δίδοται (“is given”) is present passive indicative, third person singular. The passive voice highlights the divine source of the action — it is not that the person takes the gift, but that it is given to them by another (God through the Spirit).
Prepositions and Source: διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος / κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ Πνεῦμα
- διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος — “through the Spirit” (instrumental use of διά with genitive): the means by which the gift is given.
- κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ Πνεῦμα — “according to the same Spirit”: emphasizes unity of source despite diversity of gifts.
Reflection on the Structure
This verse showcases Paul’s precision in grammatical symmetry. The correlative structure, dative recipients, passive divine action, and repeated reference to the Spirit all work together to emphasize diversity in gifting, but unity in divine source. Such syntax supports the theology of unity-in-diversity that underlies the chapter as a whole.
