[B-Greek] Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 3:14

Albert Pietersma albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
Fri Oct 8 21:07:38 EDT 2010


You are right, though the current thread is about Rev 3:14 and Gen  
1:1.   Consequently, your comment about the Hebraic meaning of ARXH  
must refer to Prov 8:22 and, in my view, is as untenable as it is in  
reference to Gen 1:1.  As for (H) ARXH THS KTISEWS (TOU QEOU) (Rev  
3:14) having been "taken from Proverbs 8:22,"  the fact is that Prov  
8:22 is about wisdom as God's first creation.  In Job 40:19 (which you  
also note)  the reference is to a monster, made by God to be mocked by  
his angels. Thus all three passages (Rev 3:14, Prov 8:22, Job 40:19)  
are about a chief or first creation of God, but the referents are  
different in all three cases.  If the concept of a chief or first  
creation by God is unique in the LXX to Prov 8:22 (and Job 40:19), it  
makes some sense to argue that the concept of God's first or chief  
creation in Rev 3:14 is indebted to Prov 8:22 (and Job 40:19). I,  
however, remain to be convinced of a dependence of Rev 3:14 on either  
Gen 1:1 or Prov 8:22.
Albert
On Oct 8, 2010, at 7:48 PM, Vasileios Tsialas wrote:

> Please, read my previous comments again, because I didn't mentioned  
> Ge 1:1 at all. I offered an alternative view, connecting Re 3:14  
> with Pro 8:22-not with Ge 1:1. I would appreciate your comments on  
> this.
>
>
> Vasileios Tsialas
>
> Athens, Greece
>
> > CC: albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca; bjwvmw at com-pair.net; b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org 
> ; illuminatiaries at yahoo.com; lightmanmark at yahoo.com
> > From: albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
> > To: tsialas78 at hotmail.com
> > Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 3:14
> > Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2010 14:09:30 -0400
> >
> > Given the fact that EN ARXH is a well known Greek phrase meaning  
> e.g.
> > "at the outset" why would one describe ARXH in Gen 1:1 as having an
> > "Hebraic meaning"? Even Wevers' comment that EN ARXH is "in exact
> > imitation of MT" and thus unarthrous is not justified. All one can  
> say
> > is that the LXX happens to be isomorphic with MT.
> > Furthermore, whatever sense one may attribute to Hebrew BERESHITH, I
> > see every reason to believe that EN ARXH in Gen !:1 is nothing more
> > than an adverbial phrase with the sense of "at the outset" or the  
> more
> > traditional "in the beginning." I can see no connection between Rev
> > 3:114 and Gen 1:1.
> > Albert
> > On Oct 8, 2010, at 6:20 AM, Vasileios Tsialas wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > I have read in Lowndes' Hebrew-Greek Dictionary that the  
> expression
> > > of Revelation αρχή της κτίσεως is taken from  
> Proverbs
> > > 8:22 "the beginning of the ways" (resith derek), that is "the  
> first
> > > of God's actions", an expression also found in Job 40:19.
> > > The connection between Proverbs 8:22 and Revelation 3:14 is an
> > > interesting speculation that can give an additional clue for the
> > > Hebraic meaning of αρχή as resith, namely, the first as  
> regards
> > > importance or time.
> > > Vasileios Tsilas
> > > Athens, Greece
> > > ---
> > > B-Greek home page: http://www.ibiblio.org/bgreek
> > > B-Greek mailing list
> > > B-Greek at lists.ibiblio.org
> > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-greek
> >
> > -
> > Albert Pietersma PhD
> > 21 Cross Street,
> > Weston ON Canada M9N 2B8
> > Email: albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
> > Homepage: http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~pietersm
> >

—
Albert Pietersma PhD
21 Cross Street,
Weston ON Canada M9N 2B8
Email: albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
Homepage: http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~pietersm




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