[B-Greek] Jn 1:1 - Alternate Reading?

George F Somsel gfsomsel at yahoo.com
Thu Oct 5 15:52:08 EDT 2006


You are correct.  I was saying Granville Sharp and quoting Granville Sharp but was thinking of Colwell.  I guess I have been operating "with half my brain tied behind my back."  Here is Colwell
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Definite predicate nouns which precede the verb usually lack the article … a predicate nominative which precedes the verb cannot be translated as an indefinite or a ‘qualitative’ noun solely because of the absence of the article; if the context suggests that the predicate is definite, it should be translated as a definite noun… .” 

Daniel B. Wallace. (1999; 2002). Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics - Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament (257). Zondervan Publishing House and Galaxie Software.
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Colwell does not maintain that the predicate noun without an article which precedes the verb MUST be definite, but simply that it cannot be maintained that it must thereby be indefinite or qualitative.  I think the passage is quite clear so that only someone who is intent on changing the meaning can manage to say otherwise.  Add to that Granville Sharp's studies in reference to  other passages in the NT, and I think there can be absolutely no doubt regarding what the writers of the NT as a whole thought.  As regards the Gospel according to John, the "I am" passages with their clear allusion to Isaiah and the outrage exhibited by the establishment at them leave no doubt that this was the author's intension.

george
gfsomsel
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----- Original Message ----
From: Eric Weiss <papaweiss1 at yahoo.com>
To: b-greek <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2006 3:15:35 PM
Subject: [B-Greek] Jn 1:1 - Alternate Reading?


Don't confuse Colwell with Sharp. I see both names being used with reference to John 
  1:1, but John 1:1 has nothing to do with Granville Sharp, IIRC, just Ernest Colwell.
   
  Colwell's Rule:
   
  http://faculty.bbc.edu/Rdecker/documents/colwell.pdf#search=%22colwell's%20rule%22
   
  Granville Sharp's Rule:
   
  http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=1496
   
  Please correct me if I'm in error.


Eric S. Weiss


        
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