Present Participle and Faith

Emory Pitts emory2002 at hotmail.com
Sun May 21 12:27:13 EDT 2000



Restricting my brief comment to GJn, I believe the nature of PISTEUW is 
indeed germane to this discussion.

This discussion, as Carl has observed, can quickly escalate beyond 
appropriate discourse in B-Greek. So I would like to simply make the 
following observation regarding PISTEUW used in John 16. Forgive me if this 
steps a trifle over the line.

Oddly enough, although there are opposite theological positions on the 
larger topic of PISTEUW as it relates to "salvation," I believe BOTH 
extremes have overlooked a critical distinction made by John in Chap. 16 
verse 8:

KAI ELQWN EKEINOS ELEGXEI TON KOSMON PERI hAMARTIAS

To which John adds in verse 9:

PERI hAMARTIAS MEN hOTI OU PISTEUOUSIN EIS EME

Here, when that one comes, he will "reprove" the world of sin. Which is to 
say that this reproving is supernatural (done by "that one," the Spirit). So 
"to PISTEUW or not to PISTEUW" (ah, there's the rub) is in response to being 
supernaturally reproved or convinced of sin.

Hence, regarding the nature of PISTIS, how can one cease to believe (OU 
PISTEUOUSIN) in something (EIS EME) he or she was supernaturally (ELQWN 
EKEINOS) convinced (ELEGXEI) of?

This is what I believe both sides of this discussion overlook: the 
supernatural dimension to PISTEUW.

You may choose to stop believing in Santa Claus, but how can one stop 
believing in something he or she was supernaturally convinced of?

Sorry, I hope this was appropriate to the discussion, since PISTEUW, in the 
GJn, must be fleshed out.

hH CARIS MEQ hUMWN,

Mark Wilson
________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com




More information about the B-Greek mailing list