Bible Question:
Brothers and sisters in Christ, Does anyone have any insight into the Greek behind Revelation 3:10? Debbie cites this verse as a comfort that Christians will not have to go THROUGH the great tribulation. My understanding is that the phrase "from the hour of testing" can also be interpreted "through the hour of testing". Would any of you Greek scholars care to share your view on this verse's tranlation? Thank you. In Christ, Bill Mc |
Bible Answer: Hello Bill! Here we have several words that come into play: 'keep', 'thee' and 'from'... Using Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the word 'keep' is as follows.. "(5083) 'keep': Greek 'tereo' (tay-reh'-o) from teros (a watch; perhaps akin to 2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from 5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from 2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried):--hold fast, keep(- er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch." The word 'thee'.. "(4571) 'thee': Greek 'se seh' accusative case singular of 4771; thee:--thee, thou, X thy house." And the word 'from'.. "(1537) 'from': Greek 'ek ek or' (ex ex) a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (plus abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), and grudgingly, and heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, and very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion." The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary takes this approach to the word "from".. "from--Greek, "(so as to deliver thee) out of," not to exempt from temptation." We cannot immediately come to the conclusion that this verse is saying that the people will be completely exempt from the "hour of testing", but we can be assured that Christ will deliver us from that hour, either completely or after we have once been exposed to it! This verse qualifies for both a Pre and Mid Trib position, but it presents a strong case against the Post Trib position. --Nolan |