[B-Greek] Jn 2:25 AUTOS DE IHSOUS OUK EPISTEUEN AUTON AUTOIS

Webb webb at selftest.net
Tue Feb 20 16:20:28 EST 2007


Dear Wayne,
How can we maintain the rhetorical focus on that while still translating
each of the verbs as we feel it is best translated in its context? 

In this case, I don't think you can have it both ways. A footnote would be a
possible expedient.

I don't think there is any theological significance to the biblical idiom of
doing something "in the name of someone" even if their name has theological
significance. The idiom existed regardless of what someone's name was.

You're right, as far as you go. But "believing in" somebody/somebody's name
is not just "doing something" in their name. Normally, doing something "in
somebody's name" is a simple metonymy for "by/on their authority". But if
we're talking about things like "singing praises to God's name" or
"believing in Jesus' name", AND the name itself expresses something
praiseworthy or worthy of belief, then a "surplus" sense potentially comes
into play. Then one can be praising that aspect of God's character which is
named by God's name, or believing that about Jesus which his name expresses.
Such a nuance wouldn't be the base meaning, but it could be an overtone, so
to speak. And John is a master of overtones.

Webb





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