[B-Greek] John 1:18

Carl Conrad cwconrad2 at mac.com
Fri Nov 6 14:30:59 EST 2009


On Nov 6, 2009, at 9:23 AM, Vasileios Tsialas wrote:

>
>
>
>
>> From: cwconrad2 at mac.com
>> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 05:00:38 -0500
>> To: leonardj at live.com
>> CC: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
>> Subject: Re: [B-Greek] John 1:18
>>
>>
>>
>> I think all translations are awkward (I think Yancy's comment on what
>> translators attempt to do and what the "more honest" ones do in
>> footnotes is right on target). For John 1:18 I think the preferable
>> strategy is to do what NET does; its version: "The only one, himself
>> God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God
>> known." Then NET has a very nice( IMHO) explanatory note. I also  
>> think
>> that Eugene Peterson's "Message" version does pretty well with
>> MONOGENHS understood in what I think is the better sense, but some
>> don't think such paraphrase is appropriate: "This one-of-a-kind God-
>> Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him
>> plain as day." You'll note that Peterson ties up MONOGENHS QEOS with
>> the LOGOS QEOS of verse 1, as Iver suggested in his message of
>> November 5, 2009 1:15:08 AM EST.
>>>
>>
> I agree that NET's rendering is a very good effort,
> but on the other hand NET's comments have a specific theological  
> orientation.
> (The comments about the so-called "full divinity"
> -the famous creedal expression that actually is synonym of the  
> ontological immutability-
> are altogether out of the biblical context and belong to patristic  
> thought of the early 4rth century.
> And the connection with EX 3:14 seems to me totally baseless as  
> regards grammar.)

Yes, it is certainly true that the NET note has a theological  
orientation. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I find it helpful  
that the theological orientation is openly stated. Nor do I honestly  
believe that there's any legitimate link to Ex 3:14.

> Furthermore, if John meant to say that Logos is "the only God" (as  
> NET claims),
> then his Father is what? And why did John used μονογενής  
> MONOGENHS and not μόνος MONOS,
> as he does in 17:3?
>
> I believe tha context makes it claim that μονογενής  
> MONOGENHS does not really refer to the uniqueness of Logos' divinity
> but to the uniqueness of Logos' sonship to God, his unique,  
> unparalleled filial status (1:14).
> For God has many children (1:12, 13), but no one shares the filial  
> status Logos has.
>
> As regards the root γεν GEN, I would like to ask the list members
> how would cases as γηγενής GHGENHS (earthborn),  
> Διογενής DIOGENHS (child of Zeus)
> γενέθλιος GENEQLIOS (belonging to one's birth), γονεύς  
> GONEUS (begetter), γένεσις GENESIS (birth in Matt 1:18)
> may be judged and if they can give us any clues for the meaning of  
> MONOGENHS.

For what it's worth, I have to say that I find this argument  
compelling and find I must reverse the stance I have taken hitherto  
regarding the sense of MONOGENHS as "unique."
Unquestionably the greater number by far of instances of MONOGENHS in  
LXX and GNT must be understood in the sense of "only-generated." I  
would still insist that the -GEN- element here is derivative from the  
fundamental root GEN/GON/GN, not from the active verb GENNAW. I also  
think it's worth noting that this root GEN/GON/GN is as much  
associated with non-biological generation ("come-to-be", "come-to- 
pass") as it is with biological generation. I still find "only- 
begotten" as an English translation or gloss for MONOGENHS  
objectionable, partly because it is simply archaic English, but also  
because I think it overemphasizes a biological kind of generation.  
Obviously "only-generated" must have a perverse sort of ring in the  
ears of readers and translators of the Bible alike, even if it should  
be more accurate. "Only-begotten", however archiac-sounding it may be  
(which may be for some a commendation), will more than likely remain  
standard, although I think that those who prefer it should be aware  
that it is used in a metaphorical sense.

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)






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