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Selah -- think of that -- now read on.
In Psalm 87 we have the Selah of Adoption. (Adoption being the placing
of a son in the position of the firstborn and in Scripture associated with
citizenship in each of the three spheres of blessing).
`Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God'.
Selah -- think of that -- now read on.
`I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon ... this man was born
there ... Of Zion ... this ... man was born in her'.
Selah -- think of that -- now read on.
`... All my springs are in Thee' (Psa. 87:3-7).
In some of the Psalms the Selah does not so pointedly mark a contrast
as a pause, with a continuation of the theme. In this study we are using the
Selah in the sense of comparison and of contrasting that which goes before
with that which follows after. The apostle Paul of course does not use the
word `Selah', but in his writings much precious truth is brought to light by
designed contrast. There is no strict equivalent in the Greek language of
the New Testament for Selah. We merely use the term as a figure and as a
suggestion. What we hope to do is to show the bearing of the Greek particle
de upon the teaching of the apostle Paul, showing that in some measure it
calls us to `think of this, now compare with that' as the Selah does in the
Psalms.
A word or two may not be amiss on the meaning and purpose of particles
in general, and of de in particular. The name `particle' suggests that the
word is a small part of something; but grammarians are by no means agreed as
to what parts of speech should be called `particles', and it will not justify
the use of two or more pages of this Analysis to air their conflicting views.
Sufficient for us if we remember that particles are `the hinges of speech'
and Paley, in The Greek Particles, says that they are `an elaborately
finished part of a most complex and beautiful machinery'. These particles
cannot be fully translated from one language to another.
Let us turn our attention to the Greek particle de. Monro says `The
adversative de properly indicates that the new clause stands in some contrast
to what has preceded. Ordinarily, however, it is used as the continuation of
a narrative'. None need stumble over the term `adversative' if the words
`adverse', `adversary', `adversity' are kept in mind. De when used as an
adversative, indicates `opposition' or `contrast'. It is possible that de
was originally connected with deuteros `second', and so would have the force
of `in the second place' or `on the other hand'. Abbott recognizes this
sense, saying:
`In classical Greek, de, calling attention to the second of two things
may mean, (1) in the next place, (2) on the other hand'.
Let us see a few examples of the use of the adversative de.
Here are
some taken from 1 Corinthians.
`And what has thou that thou didst not receive?' (1 Cor. 4:7).