Re: Pronouns in John 1:1 and 1 John 1:1-4

From: Numberup@worldnet.att.net
Date: Wed Dec 22 1999 - 19:53:43 EST


Thanks for the comments on the Memra. It's a fascinating concept, the information
on which is continually evolving. I have copies of Targums Neofiti 1 and Onqelos,
as well as the treatments by Fitzmyer and others. I consider it, basically, a
"bridge concept" and one that, indeed, may have factored in the thinking of the
writer of John.

As for the Institute, its purpose is explained on the web page.

Solomon Landers
Memra Institute for Biblical Research
http://www.memrain.org

KJohn36574@aol.com wrote:

> To Soloman Landers:
>
> I noticed you are writing from the Memra Institute.
>
> The Aramaic term "memra" is used in the Targums of John's day in place of the
> unmentionable name for the Hebrew G-d, YHVH or YHWH.
>
> It is not necessarily a different person than God, and it could have been in
> the mind of John when he wrote John 1:1-4, since he probably spoke and read
> Aramaic in his day. Memra is similar to the Greek "Logos". He probably chose
> Koine Greek terminology because it was used so much in written
> correspondence, and he might have been countering allegorical Jewish and
> incipient Gnosticism tendencies or teachings which were usually written in
> Hellenistic Greek.
>
> However, NT scholar Peter Borgen believes that John's Prologue is an
> exposition of Gen. 1:1ff, and written in a manner that reflects Targunic
> exegesis. In his view certain key words found in Gen 1:1-5 ("in the
> beginning", "God", "life", "light") are interpreted in John's Prologue by
> means of paraphrasing expansions. The Jerusalem Targum on Gen 3;24 is
> mentioned as a parallel to the Prologue of John, in an effort to show how
> each paraphrasing expansion is similar. When comparing John's Prologue with
> Jewish thought, Borgen states:
>
> "...in Jewish sources there is quite a strong exegetal tradition that
> interprets Gen. 1:1-ff. as not only referring to the creation of the world,
> but what preceeded it. The exegetical basis for this is expressed in John
> 1:1-2 in the light of v. 3: en archee/bereshith in Gen. 1:1 could be
> developed in Judaism within the thought category of existence at creation,
> and before, with subsequent revelation."
> <snip>

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