[B-Greek] Titus 2:13 / Revelation 12:14

Harold Holmyard hholmyard at ont.com
Fri Aug 25 18:22:05 EDT 2006


Dear George and Bill,

>Obviously, I'm not Harold, but I will say that simply because something is possible does not mean that it is preferable (assuming it is possible, but I don't recall what the discussion was).  What is preferable is what conforms to the common usage or to the usage of the author.
>  
>

HH: This is a good point that also crossed my mind. So how does the NT 
treat the genitive of DOXA when it modifies a noun. Here is the NIV take 
on such verses in the NT. I think I gave all cases. Look for the words 
"glory" or "glorious." There are some instances where "glory" receives 
emphasis as a separate concept and it is best to treat it as a noun. But 
in many places the word can be translated as "glorious" or "of glory," 
and it is more a question of style as to which one prefers. The NIV, I 
believe the following verses show, translates the genitive of DOXA with 
a noun as "glorious" more often than not. My outlook on Tit 2:13 is that 
the noun does not need separate emphasis and so "glorious" may be 
preferable. But since Bill may argue for an allusion back to the "grace" 
of God appearing in Tit 2:11, perhaps something is lost in translation 
no matter what one chooses.

NIV Matt. 19:28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the 
renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, 
you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the 
twelve tribes of Israel.

NIV Matt. 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the 
angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

HH: I see no reason why this could not be: "he will sit on his glorious 
thone." The Greek is: TOTE KAQISEI EPI QRONOU DOXHS AUTOU. The NET Bible 
agrees with me and has:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, 
then he will sit on his glorious throne.

HH: The NLT agrees: "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all 
the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne."

HH: So does the ESV: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all 
the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne."

NIV Acts 7:2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! 
The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in 
Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran.

HH: This has a nice sound. To say "the glorious God" might suggest to 
some that there is an inglorious God.

NIV Rom. 8:21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its 
bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children 
of God

NIV Rom. 9:23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known 
to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory —

NIV 1Cor. 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they 
had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

NIV 2Cor. 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, 
so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, 
who is the image of God.

HH: Again, this may be able to go the other way. Here is the NET Bible: 
"among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do 
not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of 
Christ, who is the image of God."

NIV 2Cor. 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made 
his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of 
the glory of God in the face of Christ.

HH: Here the NET Bible makes the change again: "For God, who said “Let 
light shine out of darkness,”12 is the one who shined in our hearts to 
give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ."

HH: Let me switch to the NRSV just for the following verse, since it 
gives a more literal rendering than the NIV:

NRSV 2Cor. 4:17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for 
an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure,

NIV Eph. 1:6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely 
given us in the One he loves.

NIV Eph. 1:14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the 
redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory.

NIV Eph. 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 
glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so 
that you may know him better.

NIV Eph. 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened 
in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the 
riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

NIV Eph. 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen 
you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

NIV Phil 3:21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything 
under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be 
like his glorious body

NIV Col. 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his 
glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and 
joyfully

NIV Col. 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles 
the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of 
glory.

NIV 2Th. 2:14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might 
share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NIV 1Tim. 1:11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, 
which he entrusted to me.

NIV Heb. 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact 
representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. 
After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right 
hand of the Majesty in heaven.

NIV Heb. 9:5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing 
the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

HH: There is no definite article here, so the NET Bible has: "And above 
the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is 
not the time to speak of these things in detail."

NIV James 2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus 
Christ, don’t show favoritism.

NIV 1Pet. 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of 
Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

NIV 1Pet. 4:14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you 
are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

NIV 1Pet. 5:1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a 
witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory 
to be revealed:

NIV 1Pet. 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the 
crown of glory that will never fade away.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard



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