[B-Greek] PAS and PAN in John

Ben and Jo Crick ben.crick at argonet.co.uk
Sun Mar 23 18:26:23 EST 2003


On Sun 23 Mar 2003 (14:44:44 +0300), iver_larsen at sil.org wrote:
> 1Jn 3:9 PAS hO GEGENNHMENOS EK TOU QEOU hAMARTIAN OU POIEI
> 1Jn 5:4 PAN TO GEGENNHMENON EK YOU QEOU NIKAi TON KOSMON
> 1Jn 5:18 PAS hO GEGENNHMENOS EK TOU QEOU OUC hAMARTANEI
> 
> The first and third are clearly parallel and the masculine refers to
> any *person* who is born of God.
> The problem is the middle one. Does it still refer to a person or
> people? And if so, why the neuter?
> Or does it refer to an abstract concept: Whatever "thing" is born of
> God, i.e. has its origin from God, that "thing" has power to overcome
> what originates from the world?

 I think you are on the right lines, Iver. BF Westcott in his /Comm. on the
 Greek text of the Epistles of John/ writes:
 "PAN TO GEG.] St John chooses the abstract form (contrast v.1 TON GEG.) in
 order to convey an universal truth. The thought is not so much of the believer
 in his unity, nor of the Church, but of each element included in the
 individual life and in the life of the society. Compare John 3:6 TO GEG.
 and John 3:8 PAS hO GEG." (op cit, p 179).

 On the Gospel of John 3:6 JA Bengel writes:
 "TO GEGENNHMENON, what is born) This being in the neuter, sounds more general,
 and denotes the very first stamina [groundwork] of new life: compare Luke
 1:35, 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall
 overshadow thee; therefore that holy thing, TO GENNWMENON,' etc.: or even the
 whole body of those born again: compare John 6:37, 39, 'all that -PAN hO- the
 Father giveth me, shall come to me.' etc.: 'This is the Father's will, etc.,
 that of all which -PAN hO- He hath given me, I shall lose nothing -EX AUTOU-
 but should raise it -AUTO- up agsin at the last day.' Afterwards it is
 expressed in the masculine, hO GEGENNHMENOS, /who is born/, verse 8; which
 signifies natural birth." (/Gnomon Novi Testamenti/, Eng Trans AR Faussett,
 Vol 2, Edinburgh, 1859, p275f).

 ERRWSQE
 Ben
-- 
 Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick
 <ben.crick at argonet.co.uk>
 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
 http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm





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