Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | One God, One Jesus Christ | 1 Cor 8:5 | Tara022 | 130294 | ||
Hello Tim, You might find it interesting that Marshall’s interlinear translation reads: “In [the] beginning was the Word, and the Word was with — God, and God was the Word.” Note that ho “the” appears before “God” in the final clause of this verse. You may be saying that the problem, is word order. In 1933 Greek scholar E. C. Colwell published an article entitled “A Definite Rule for the Use of the Article in the Greek New Testament.” In it he wrote: “A definite predicate nominative has the article when it follows the verb; it does not have the article when it precedes the verb. . . . A predicate nominative which precedes the verb cannot be translated as an indefinite or a ‘qualitative’ noun solely because of the absence of the article; if the context suggests that the predicate is definite, it should be translated as a definite noun in spite of the absence of the article.” At John 1:1 the anarthrous predicate noun the·os´ does precede the verb, the Greek word order being literally: “God [predicate] was [verb] the Word [subject].” Concerning this verse Colwell concluded: “The opening verse of John’s Gospel contains one of the many passages where this rule suggests the translation of a predicate as a definite noun.” Thus some scholars claim that the only really correct way to translate this clause is: “And the Word was God.” Do these statements of Colwell prove that “a god” is a mistranslation at John 1:1? Perhaps Tim, you noticed this scholar’s wording that an anarthrous predicate noun that precedes the verb should be understood as definite “if the context suggests” that. Further along in his argument Colwell stressed that the predicate is indefinite in this position “only when the context demands it.” Nowhere did he state that all anarthrous predicate nouns that precede the verb in Greek are definite nouns. Not any inviolable rule of grammar, but “context” must guide the translator in such cases. The Greek text of the Christian Scriptures has many examples of this type of predicate noun where other translators into English have added the indefinite article “a.” Consider, for example, Marshall’s interlinear translation of the following verses: “Says to him the woman: Sir, I perceive that a prophet [predicate] art [verb] thou [subject].” (John 4:19) “Said therefore to him—Pilate: Not really a king [predicate] art [verb] thou [subject]? Answered—Jesus: Thou sayest that a king [predicate] I am [verb, with subject included].”—John 18:37. Did you notice the expressions “a prophet,” “a king” (twice)? These are anarthrous predicate nouns that precede the verb in Greek. But the translator rendered them with the indefinite article “a.” There are numerous examples of this in English versions of the Bible. For further illustration consider the following from the Gospel of John in The New English Bible: “A devil” (6:70); “a slave” (8:34); “a murderer . . . a liar” (8:44); “a thief” (10:1); “a hireling” (10:13); “a relation” (18:26). Alfred Marshall explains why he used the indefinite article in his interlinear translation of all the verses mentioned in the two previous paragraphs, and in many more: “The use of it in translation is a matter of individual judgement. . . . We have inserted ‘a’ or ‘an’ as a matter of course where it seems called for.” Of course, neither Colwell (as noted above) nor Marshall felt that an “a” before “god” at John 1:1 was called for. But this was not because of any inflexible rule of grammar. It was “individual judgement,” which scholars and translators have a right to express. The New World Bible Translation Committee expressed a different judgment in this place by the translation “a god.” |
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2 | One God, One Jesus Christ | 1 Cor 8:5 | JCrichton | 130314 | ||
"The New World Bible Translation Committee expressed a different judgment in this place by the translation “a god.”" Hi, Tara! I suggest that you take a sabbatical from the fallacies of the New World Bible Translation Committee! Can't you see how confused they are? They want you to deny Jesus as your God while simultaneously advocating that you accept Him as your god... don't you see the error on this? Please, before it is too late, ask a Christian congregation to give you a Bible and study it (first by yourself, then as you gain some familiarity with Scripture with other Christian), but empty yourself of all those fallacies to which you have been exposed; go to the Holy Spirit with a humble mind and heart; listen to God's Word without preconceived ideologies... listen carefully for God's counsel: Jesus, the Truth, will set you free! Listen to what Yahweh tells us: You yourselves are my witnesses, declares Yahweh, and the servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that it is I. No god was formed before me, nor will be after me. I, I am Yahweh, and there is no other Saviour but me. (Isaiah 43:10-11) Do you understand this Scriptural passage? There is no play on Greek or any other grammar... it is concise and precise: no other god exists but Yahweh! And when Yahweh call's Jesus the Emmanuel (God with us: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23) or when He openly calls Him God (Hebrews 1:8) Yahweh certainly does not mean that there a new god/God for Israel; it is the same ole God from ancient time: IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD AND THE WORD WAS GOD! I once offered you a complete study on the Trinity/Divinity of Jesus... I reiterate my offer, if you wish it, I can prepare a Bible study for you that will enclude Scripture from both the Old Testament and the New Testament--I will not even ask you to visit my Church... In the mean while, I pray to the Holy Spirit that He shines on you with God's Mercy and Grace and awaken a true discipleship in you so that you may believe in God as He wants us to believe and worship Him! God Bless! Angel |
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3 | One God, One Jesus Christ | 1 Cor 8:5 | Tara022 | 130321 | ||
Okay, Angel. I've never really wanted to dialogue with you because you appeared to be too blunt and unreasonable and just chalked anyone else that didn't agree with you off. But I'll study "scripture" and only a few at a time, please. And through email. Mine again is tara015015@yahoo.com Let me tell you one thing though, I don't respect mere assertions, nor mistranslations. Okay? Tara |
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4 | One God, One Jesus Christ | 1 Cor 8:5 | JCrichton | 130368 | ||
Hi, Tara! Since you did not reply to my previous posts I believed that you had been studying the Bible... at your resurgence (the last one I should say) I thought that I would extend the invitation once more... Yet, since I am a firm believer of Christ's Divinity, since you have been reading the various posts on the subject, and since I will only serve to further irritate you ("you appeared to be too blunt and unreasonable") it will be better that we maintain the relationship as it is... after all you are right: when it comes to the Holy Trinity I refuse to allow man's theologies to deter me from the Truth: Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Living One, the one who IS, the I AM! I will still pray that the Holy Spirit enlighten your mind and your heart so that you may humbly accept Jesus' Word: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:1, 6) God Bless! Angel |
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5 | One God, One Jesus Christ | 1 Cor 8:5 | Tara022 | 130373 | ||
Hello Angel, Thank you Angel for your kindness shown in words of Scriptural comfort. Tara |
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