[B-Greek] Remove or lift up? John 15:2

bobgee at brightok.net bobgee at brightok.net
Sat Mar 19 11:18:16 EST 2005


In the book, Secrets of the Vine, Bruce Wilkinson translates AIREI, in 
John 15:2, as "lifts" rather than "takes," "removes," or "cuts off" (NIV). 
He assumes the relationship of the branch being in the vine, conveyed in 
Jesus’ metaphor (John 15:1-8), is the same as Paul's concept of the 
believer being "in Christ," and he is interested in avoiding any idea of 
Christians losing that secure status. So he tells an anecdote of a branch 
that has sagged to the ground as it grows which is "lifted," cleaned off, 
and attached to a supporting device. He then states that Jesus meant to 
say that the Father lifts up, cleans up, and securely establishes 
believers who sag in their devotion (Secrets of the Vine, pp. 33-35).

However, without discussing the validity of coordinating the words of 
Jesus and Paul in the way Wilkinson does, I wonder about the soundness of 
his translation. It seems to me that AIREI cannot possibly mean "lifts" or 
"lifts up" in this case, because of the immediate, near, and broader 
contexts.

(1) The immediate context

The full statement, in the first part of the verse, PAN KLHMA EN EMOI MA 
FERON KARPON AIREI AUTO, seems to demand the idea that the "branch" 
(KLHMA) is being "removed" (AIREI) from being "in me" (EN EMOI).

(2) The near context

John 15:6 seems to further explain the circumstance of being "removed," 
stated in verse 2. It reads, in the NIV translation, "If anyone does not 
remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers ..."

(3) The broader context

In this passage, the issue is whether or not the branches will remain in 
the vine. At least five times between verses three and eight, in 
imperative and declarative forms of the word MENW, the disciples are urged 
to remain in Him. (If it is impossible not to remain, the metaphor is 
meaningless.)

Avoiding the full theological implications of the passage and focusing 
only on Wilkinson's translation in this three-fold context, is it (1) 
impossible (as I believe), (2) improbable, or (3) at least possible (as 
some of my fellow pastors believe) to legitimately translate AIREI as 
merely "lifts," in John 15:2?

Bob
Garringer

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