Re: hO GEGONEN in John 1:3

From: Paul S. Dixon (dixonps@juno.com)
Date: Mon Nov 16 1998 - 20:09:45 EST


On Mon, 16 Nov 1998 15:36:27 -0800 (PST) lakr <lakr@netcom.com> writes:
> Dear B-GREEKERS,
>
>
> It is interesting to note how all the early Fathers took this
> verse and when the sentiment changed. Also note that even
> Athanasius took hO GEGOGEN with what followed. These stats
> can all be derived from the Nestle Aland 27th edition.
>
>
> ------------------------------- |--------------------------------
> A. oude hen. ho gegonen en | B. ouden hen ho gegonen. en
> ------------------------------- |--------------------------------
> Joh 1:3 All things came into | All things were made by him;
> being through him, and without | and without him was not any
> him not one thing came into | thing made that was made.
> being. 4 In him was life, and | 4 In him was life;and the life
> the life was the light of all | was the light of men. (KJV)
> people. (NRSV) |
> ------------------------------- |--------------------------------

I'm not sure which version the one on the left reflects, but it is
not the NRSV. Perhaps your eye skipped over the "What has
come into being." Since the omission is critical here, it needs
to be clarified. The NRSV (at least my copy) reads:

"All things came into being through him, and without him not
one thing came into being. What has come into being in him
was life ..."

I personally prefer the New American Bible translation here:
" All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race."

I prefer it for two reasons: it takes hO GEGONEN with the
following verse and it takes EN AUTWi instrumentally, not
locatively.

Yes, it is interesting to note how some of the fathers
changed their exegesis. Perhaps it was because of their
desire to find powder for the battle. May God deliver us all
from such situational exegesis.

Besides, there was no need to do such. Taking hO GENONEN
with the following verse in no way necessitates the implication
that the Holy Spirit was a created being (as Metzger's
committee suggests was the fear of the fathers who argued
against the Arian heresy).

Paul Dixon

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