John 3:18 and English article "of"

From: Martin A. Childs (economy1@intersurf.com)
Date: Mon Mar 10 1997 - 08:49:34 EST


This is what I discovered this morning while looking at John 3:18 in the
Online Bible:

Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name <3686>
of the only begotten <3439> Son <5207> of God.

The phrase "of the only begotten" appears to come out of two words "tou"
and "monogenous". Is there something about the way these words are
inflected which requires a possessive sense (hence the supplying of the
English article "of") rather than as words in apposition?

In other words, must it be translated "the only begotten's name" or can it
be understood as "the name, (comma) the only begotten"?

Similarly, the relationship between "only begotten" and "Son". The Greek
article before "Son" is suppressed in translation. Does Koine ever use the
appositive?

a gatherer of crumbs,

Martin



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