100 Dimensions in Baptism
As can be seen, there is a surprising lack of clear analysis and expo-
sition of the use of the middle voice in Acts 22.16. There are a number of
circular arguments or marshallings of parallels, and even unstated assump-
tions, that cloud clear analysis.- The Greek Voice System
In order to understand the use of the middle voice, pdnrioai, in Acts
22.16, one needs to understand the use of the middle voice in Greek more
fully. This is not the place, however, to engage in such a full-scale linguis-
tic study.^35 Instead, I wish to treat briefly the major views of the Greek
voice system, with the specific goal of shedding light on the use of (3CCTT-
Tiaai in Acts 22.16. There are three major views worth considering:
reflexive, self-involvement, and causality. I confine myself here to dealing
with grammars of the Greek New Testament.^36
As can be seen from the above discussion, there is a persistent tendency
among students of the Greek of the New Testament to see the use of the
middle voice as reflexive. This is seen most prominently in those who
advocate the position that Paul administered baptism to himself, but it is
also seen in the fact that even those who do not hold to such a position
often define their own position in opposition to the reflexive one. Among
Greek grammarians, it is mostly a few older grammars, but notably G.B.
Winer, that tend to give a place of prominence to the middle voice as
primarily reflexive in meaning.^37 However, as recently as 1994, one com-
petent and important grammarian, though defining the middle voice as
representing 'the subject as acting on, for or towards itself, clearly retains
the reflexive sense in comparison with the active voice when he defines
the middle as 'characterized by a reflexive idea indicating a special interest- I am engaged in such a study, which I hope to publish soon, entitled Voice in
the Greek of the New Testament. - A couple of grammars offer little insight into the situation: F. Blass and
A. Debrunner, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other Early Christian
Literature (trans. R.W. Funk; Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1961 [1896]);
L. Radermacher, Neutestamentliche Grammatik(KNT 9 1; Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck,
2ndedn, 1925 [1911]). - E.g. W. Webster, The Syntax and Synonyms of the Greek Testament (London:
Rivingtons, 1864), pp. 97-99, who gives the reflexive sense pride of place; T.S. Green,
A Treatise on the Grammar of the New Testament (London: S. Bagster and Sons,
1862), pp. 183-85; G.B. Winer, A Treatise on the Grammar of New Testament Greek
(trans. W.F. Moulton; Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1882), pp. 316-18.