[B-Greek] Begotten

James Ernest jdemail at charter.net
Tue Feb 8 10:15:28 EST 2005


The difference between GINOMAI words and GENNAW words became critical in
fourth-century debates regarding the nature of the divinity of Christ, but
copiests still coulnd't keep them straight. There are places in the writings
of Athanasius (e.g.) where I don't think we can know for sure whether he
wrote AGENNHTOS or AGENHTOS.

I don't have time to document my opinion adequately, but I don't think
MONADIKOS was a live option for the writer of the fourth gospel.

James

> -----Original Message-----
> From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org 
> [mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of 
> bertdehaan at sympatico.ca
> Sent: Friday, February 04, 2005 7:43 PM
> To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [B-Greek] Begotten 
> 
> 
>    "T HILL" <terry_sda at blueyonder.co.uk>  
>  on  2005/02/04 Fri AM 04:06:43 EST 
>  
> Hi everyone
> 
> My name is Terry and I live in England. I have just joined 
> this list hoping 
> that you can help me.
> 
> I know that the word 'begotten' as translated from the Greek 
> 'monogenes' has 
> been probably discussed on this list many, many times but I 
> would like to ask a 
> question about it.
> 
> Some (modern scholars it seems) say that 'monogenes' simply 
> means 'unique' or 
> 'one and only'. Now I have just read that the Greeks had (and 
> still have) a 
> specific word that means 'unique' or 'one and only' which is 
> 'monadikos' (which 
> i do not doubt). This article also said that it was used by 
> such as Philo and 
> Aristotle meaning that this word was available to the John 
> the gospel writer 
> who was the only Bible writer to apply  'monogenes' to Christ.
> 
> I am seeking confirmation of this and would appreciate any 
> help that anyone can 
> give me. At the moment I am writing a paper on 'begotten' but 
> am 'stuck' as far 
> as this is concerned. What I would really like is a specific 
> reference to any 
> Greek writings (that I can quote) that actually used this 
> word before the New 
> Testament was written although any help, whatever it is would 
> really be greatly 
> appreciated.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any replies.
> 
> Terry
> ----------------------
> If you check out LSJ on Perseus, you'll find several 
> references, some of which are under the definition "unique" 
> and "only".  I don't have access to the references but maybe you do.
> 
> I have a Modern Greek dictionary and I find it interesting 
> that the only gloss it gives is "one and only".
> 
> Bert de Haan. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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