[B-Greek] NWT: Is it an accurate translation of the Greek?

Awohili at aol.com Awohili at aol.com
Fri Feb 24 19:13:14 EST 2006


 
Monk James,
 
"Thanks" for injecting religion again into a discussion of grammar.  I  will 
point out only a few other things wrong about your post:
 
1- Indefinite articles do not figure in Psalm 117:27 LXX because it is  
typical of the LXX translators to omit an article when KURIOS represents the  
Hebrew YHWH.  QEOS here represents the Hebrew EL.  The Hebrew Psalmist  is saying 
simply that YHWH is God (or God is YHWH) and this verse is telling us  nothing 
about John 1:1c in either Greek or Hebrew.  It is another case of  LXX 
"translation Greek."
 
2- I may know a little more about Jehovah's Witnesses than you do, having  
been one for over 40 years.  Your post reflects mere hearsay and  innuendo.  
Jehovah's Witnesses are not now and have never been Arians, nor  have we ever 
claimed to be Arians or to follow Arius.  In believing that  the Son is 
subordinate to the Father, we follow the Bible.  If Arius did  too in this particular 
matter, so be it, but there is much that Arius taught  that we do not believe 
in or follow.
 
3- And as I have said before, the NWT is not the first, nor the last, to  see 
either indefiniteness or qualitativeness in John 1:1c, on the basis of Greek  
grammar and syntax.  The other translators can hardly be accused of Witness  
bias.
 
As for your theological opinions, I am not sure this is the right place for  
them, but that's not my call.
 
Sincerely,
 
Solomon Landers
 
In a message dated 02/24/2006 3:26:54 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
frjsilver at optonline.net writes:

Compare the  completely anarthrous QEOS KURIOS KAI EPEFANEN hMIN (PS 117:27 
Greek, 118:27  Hebrew), which can mean nothing but 'The Lord is God....'  the 
lack of  articles here implies less than nothing about indefiniteness in  
translation.

A little syllogistic aside:   Areios is regarded  as a heretic since he 
denied the divinity of the Logos, Whom even he  considered to be incarnate as Jesus 
Christ.  This verse is extremely  important to the Areian position, and the 
Witnesses of Jehovah happily admit  to being Areians, and the NWT is the work 
of the Witnesses, who skewed the  translation.  Therefore, at least from the 
perspective of the orthodox,  'a god' is not an accurate translation of the 
Greek.

It's worth noting  that the JWs aren't the only group who do this sort of 
thing, and more's the  pity.

In any event, I hope this helps to advance the question a  little.

Peace and blessings to all.

Father James  Silver

Monk James
Orthodox Church in  America







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