[B-Greek] abide in Jn 15:9-11

Rbsads at aol.com Rbsads at aol.com
Tue May 27 18:50:17 EDT 2003


Mark Eddy wrote: "To add a bit to Dr. Conrad's answer, it seems that your 
question applies not so much to the Greek word MENW but to the English 
translation of it."


I am very surprised and please with the responses to this question about the 
translation of MENW, on list and off list.

Ultimately, I am not questioning the translation, but am wondering about new 
meaning the Christian writers added to words such as MENW and others such as 
CARIS in using them to express new Christian ideas.

I am certain that this pursuit is not appropriate for BGreek.

I have begun a brief study on MENW and MONH in John, as suggested by Carl.

The specific question with MENW was whether "abide" was preferred in context 
over "remain," because of different English connotations in "abide" from 
"remain."

Whether it would be better to translate "remain" and to consider its expanded 
nuance in this Christian context, or to translate it as a completely 
different word, with related but different meaning, as "abide."

The connotations seem to differ in force from "dwelling as if one belonged" 
versus "not leaving as if a welcomed guest might stay indefinitely."

Remain implies some decision to stay.  Abide implies some sense of home that 
one cannot truly ever leave.

My present resolution is that, given the cognate noun MONH, MENW can be taken 
to mean "abide" as an intentional and distinct Greek meaning, rather than as 
a new use of the word by the evangelist, or as a translator's interpretation. 

(My English ability is inadequate to express my intended meaning in 
describing the difference between the Greek meaning, the writer's use of Greek in 
expressing new Christian meaning, and the translator's use of English to express 
his interpretation of the Greek.)

Something like determining if LAMBANW means receive or take.  The matter then 
turns on whether the reader considers in the specific context that MENW means 
"stay/remain" or "abide/dwell."

And I think the passages meaning changes depending on which way MENW is read.

This understanding of MENW is a change from my thoughts when I first asked 
the question.

Again, thanks to all.

Richard Smith
Chattanooga, TN

(And Brian, you are right.  Your off list response is more than I bargained 
for.  But I look forward to reading your paper. Thanks)



More information about the B-Greek mailing list