[B-Greek] MONOU QEOU in John 5:44

Mark Lightman lightmanmark at yahoo.com
Tue Mar 22 22:16:01 EDT 2011


Hi, Daniel,

As you know, quite often Greek uses adjectives, even in the nominative, where 
English would use adverbs.  This is such a basic feature of Greek that I don't 
need to give any examples.

I think MONOU is functioning as an adverb here in John 5:44.  I find Moulton's 
reasoning plausible.

I only found two translations which bring this out, but they are two of the 
oldest and two of the best:

"...and seek not the honor that comes from God only."  (KJV)

"...and the glory which is from God alone you seek not."  (Rheims)

Why the more modern translations choose to depart from this I don't know.


 Mark L
Φωσφορος


FWSFOROS MARKOS




________________________________
From: Daniel Buck <bucksburg at yahoo.com>
To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Tue, March 22, 2011 2:21:48 PM
Subject: [B-Greek]   MONOU QEOU in John 5:44

KAI THN DOXAN THN PARA TOU MONOU QEOU OU ZHTEITE --John 5:44
" . . . and seek not the honour that comes from God alone?"

"A Grammar of New Testament Greek," by James Hope Moulton, Vol.  III-Syntax, by 
Nigel Turner, pg. 225-226: "There is therefore not  surprisingly some confusion 
of monos with the adv. monon . . . In Jn 5:44 monou is best  TAKEN ADVERBIALLY; 
not from him who alone is God, but only from God  (Jewish monotheism was 
unimpeachable; Jesus was referring to their love  of human praise), in spite of 
the word order. Lk 5:21 adv. monos."

Bible translators generally appear not to agree that MONOU should be taken 
adverbially here; can anyone comment on why?

Daniel Buck


      
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