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12. ὄφελον. This shortened form of ὤφελον has become virtually a particle, utinam, both in the LXX. (Exo 16:3) and in the N.T., with a past tense (1Co 4:8; 2Co 11:1; Rev 3:15[138]) of an impracticable wish. Only here with the future, of a practicable wish. See Burton, Tenses, § 27; Blass, Gr. § 63. 5 and § 66. 1.
[138] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.
καὶ ἀποκόψονται, “would that they would even make themselves eunuchs.” So Deu 23:1 (2). Cf. Hesychius, ὁ ἀπόκοπος ἤτοι ὁ εὐνοῦχος. St Paul vividly, if somewhat coarsely, contrasts partial with complete mutilation, the latter being “a recognized form of heathen self-devotion” (Lightfoot). The metaphorical meaning of excision from the Church (cf. ἀποκοπή of divorce, Deu 24:3 (1) in Aquila, or according to another reading κοπή, and in Symmachus διακοπή), though more in accordance with our modern notions of delicacy of expression, is contrary to the unanimous opinion of the Greek commentators. It also does not suit the middle voice so well.
οἱ ἀναστατοῦντες ὑμᾶς, “who throw you into confusion.” Dan. (LXX.) Dan 7:23; Act 17:6; Act 21:38[139]; also some six times in the Hexapla. See especially Symm. Isa 22:3, ἀνεστατώθησαν (LXX. πεφεύγασι, Theod. μετεκινήθησαν); an unknown Greek translator of Hab 3:16, ἀνεστατώθη τὰ σπλάγχνα μου (LXX. ἐπτοήθη ἡ κοιλία μου). In the well known naughty boy’s letter to his father (ii.—iii. cents. A.D.) he writes “My mother said to Archelaus ‘He quite upsets me! off with him,’ ” ἀναστατοῖ με· ἄρρον αὐτόν (see e.g. Deissmann, Licht vom Osten, p. 133, or Moulton and Milligan, Expositor, VII. 5, p. 269, 1908).
[139] Is affixed it means that all the passages are mentioned where the word occurs in the Greek Bible.