Bible Question:
Dear Tim, I don't know Greek but you have forced me to get out my interlinear - I may never forgive you :). I have another thought about these passages and wanted to run it by you. The whole crux of the matter here seems to rest upon the one little word "if" - you are saved IF; IF you continue in the faith; IF you do these things. This word is 'ei' in the Greek. If you look closely at this word 'ei', sometimes it is translated 'if' and sometimes it is translated 'since', especially in the NIV. See Col 2:20; Col 3:1. Here I believe that the NIV has captured the meaning of the verse even better than the NASB (oh, my, Bill's REALLY in hot water now). Paul says, "Since you have died with Christ..." and "Since, then you have been raised with Christ..." The NASB's usage of 'if' in these phrases can make it sound, to English ears, like it is conditional. In the English language, there is usually quite a difference between 'if' and 'since'. 'If' sounds like a condition. 'Since' sounds like a conclusion is drawn. And sometimes, to complicate matters, even when it is translated 'if', it means 'since.' Consider the temptation of our Lord when Satan said, "If you are the Son of God..." Satan knew good and well Jesus was the Son of God. Satan's 'if' was not asking Christ to prove Himself. He was saying, "Since you are the Son of God, turn these stones to bread...throw Yourself down." I believe Satan knew all along who Christ was (he tried to have Him killed shortly after birth, didn't he?) Can we use the word 'since' in the three passages you have given us? I don't know. I tried plugging 'since' into the verses and, to me, it completely changes the meaning. Oh, the wonderful interface of Greek and English. What do you think, dear brother? In Christ, Bill Mc |
Bible Answer: Greetings Bill! Great observation! I really thought someone would bring this up sooner. :-) Most scholars are convinced that in some cases "ei" can mean "since". I am not totally convinced. Even if it can, I think it has been overused. Personally, I have yet to see one verse where "if" would not make perfect sense. Now, before someone blasts me for claiming to know more than the experts, consider one example: In Matt. 12:27, Jesus says, "And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges." Here, the word "if" cannot possibly mean "since". This not prove that "ei" can never mean "since", but it does demonstrate that it definitely does mean "if" some of the time. When you get right down to it, the main function of "ei" is to introduce a conditional statement. The translation "since" simply comes about because at times (in a hypothetical statement) the condition is assummed to be true. Yet, it is still a conditional statement. Let's consider each passage briefly: 1) 1 Cor. 15:1-2: "Since" would not be the most natural reading, but it would fit. The only problem would be that verse 2 would then indicate that it would be possible to believe in vain. Is that the point that Paul was really trying to make here? 2) Col. 1:21-23: "Since" could fit here, but would make v. 23 almost meaningless. Why stress a given? 3) 1 Pet. 1:10-11: The word "if" is not actually in the Greek text in this passage. Verse 10 literally says, "doing these things, you will never fall...". The verb is a present, active, participle. So the question would be, what if you don't do these things? Is it possible not to do these thing? Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |