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NASB | John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 1:1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Gen 1:1; Is 9:6] |
Bible Question:
I was comparing John 1:2 and Matthew 9:3. The word that I was looking at was "outos" in Greek. It is translated "This One" or "He" in the NASB and NKJ for John 1:2. It is translated "The same" in the King James referring back to the Word in verse one. In Matthew 9:3 "outos" is translated "This (fellow) blasphemes." in the NASB. "This Man blasphemes." in the NKJ. And "This (man) blasphemeth." in the King James. Does anyone wish to discuss this comparison? |
Bible Answer: OK? As for John 1:2, remember what the verse says. "This was in the beginning with God." Now, there are two possible meanings here. Before I get into that, it is pertanent to clarify a few things. First, "outos" is a pronoun meaning "this". It is often used descriptively with another noun, for example "this chair", "this house", and etc. However, when it stands byitself, with a definite article, as in John 1:2, it functions as a noun on it's own. Thus giving the meaning of "this one", as in John 1:2. Now, the question then becomes, "what is 'this' referring to?" Now, in the context of John 1:2, you have two possibilities. "This" is referring to "the Word" or to the preexistance of "the Word" that is described in verse 1, as if to say "and vise versa". Both possibilities fit here in John 1:2. "outos" could be referring to the "Word", and summing up what was said in verse 1. Also, it could be trying to describe "God" in the same manner of pre-existance as it did for "the Word". Thus saying something like "in the beginning was God, and God was with the Word, and God was the Word." This is what I personally believe. While the first possibility does fit, it the second that I believe because it makes better sense in my mind. As for Matthew 9:3, here you also have "outos" by itself with a definite article. Through the context, we find that "this fellow" is in reference to Jesus. As in John 1:2, "outos" is being used in a similar manner than as a noun would've been used. Jesusman |