theos and ho theos'

GregStffrd at aol.com GregStffrd at aol.com
Thu Mar 1 22:26:37 EST 2001


In a message dated 03/01/2001 1:31:09 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
dwashbur at nyx.net writes:

<< 
 I thought the question of definiteness of predicate nominatives was 
 the question at hand.  I wasn't aware that it had been so thoroughly 
 resolved.  >>


The question, usually, has to do with anarthrous PNs preceding the verb, not 
with genitives, accusatives, or datives. To compare a PN with a noun in a 
genitive case does not seem to me to present a comparable situation in terms 
of determining the definiteness of indefiniteness of the PN. Does this seem 
right to you?

GREG: 
 > With respect to the original question, and keeping entirely clear of 
 > theological lines, the fact remains that, grammatically, the LOGOS is 
"with" 
 > hO THEOS. Therefore, regardless of whether one decides to view the 
fronting 
 > of the PN as an indicator of pure qualitativeness (which I do not believe 
is 
 > _ever_ the case with a PN) or an emphasized definite or indefinite noun 
 > (which I believe is _always_ the intent behind fronting [that is, 
emphasis]), 
 > the fact remains that the LOGOS cannot _grammatically_ be shown to be the 
God 
 > he is "with." 
 

DAVE:
 I don't follow the logic here.
 
 The original comment had to do with the fact that QEOS in John 
 1:1 was anarthrous and therefore indefinite.  That's the question I 
 was addressing... >>


I understand. I hesitate expand further on my "logic," but I will say that 
our quest for the proper tagging of QEOS in John 1:1c naturally moves us to 
look at other elements in the immediate context. In this case, and this is 
all that I will say on this level, QEOS in 1:1c is "with" hO QEOS in 1:1b, so 
some people, myself included, find it easy to accept the view that says the 
LOGOS is a QEOS other than the QEOS he is "with." If that still does not make 
sense, and you want to explore this aspect of the discussion further, please 
email me off-list. 

Best regards,

Greg Stafford



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