[B-Greek] PARA in John 1:14
Jerry Reimer
Jerry at lsm.org
Fri Nov 2 16:47:34 EDT 2007
Concerning PARA with the genitive case:
An expositor has said that both meanings (from [genitive] and with [dative]) are present in a place like John 1:14 (PARA PATROS). Thus, from-with is his translation. This construction is said to prove that the Son is both from the father and with the father at the same time; that is to say, the son came from the father and the father came down onto the earth with the son. I am not asking about the theology of this exposition. I am asking about the language which is being used (misused?) to support it. Does the language support this view?
If my understanding is correct, you cannot have your cake and eat it too; that is to say, it is either from or with (depending on the case of the object) and that the most you can say is that the son was with the father and came from the father but that it is illegitimate totality transfer (per James Barr) to cram multiple meanings into this preposition for the sake of a theological position. Am I missing something here or do prepositions carry all of their semantic baggage with them all the time regardless of the case of the object? Isn't that what cases are about (thus limiting, narrowing down the several meanings of prepositions)?
Jerry Reimer
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