Should Jesus be worshipped? (page 6)

acqsed: "The diagram you allude to in Wallace (p. 269) is not an admission that the indefinite and qualitative readings are interchangeable, but a mapping of their possible intersections in Greek grammar, with context always remaining decisive.The diagram you allude to in Wallace (p. 269) is not an admission that the indefinite and qualitative readings are interchangeable, but a mapping of their possible intersections in Greek grammar, with context always remaining decisive."

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I did make a reference to diagrams found in Wallace's Grammar, but did not mention the page. You however, filled in the page as "p.269." The edition before me (1996) does not show a diagram at that page.

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acqsed: "In sum, the case for rendering John 1:1c as “a god” is both grammatically and contextually weak, and has been repeatedly refuted by the best scholarship in the field."

Really?

"...refuted by the best scholarship in the field," -- yeah like W. Barclay who for decades stated that the translation 'the Word was a god was grammatically imposible,' but later in life in a private letter admitted: "You could translate [John 1.1] so far as the Greek goes: the Word was a God." (Bold letter added. Note: His personal view about the Christ did not change though)

Harris: The rendering [of "God" in John 1.1c] cannot stand without explanation.

T.L. Constable: Grammatically, this [a god] is a possible translation since it is legitimate to supply the indefinite article ('a') when no article is present in the Greek text, as here." (Note: He still held on to the trinitarian view of Christ)

Harner: "In John 1:1, I think that the qualitative force of the predicate is so prominent that the noun cannot be regarded as definite."

The rendering "the Word was God" leads the reader to believe the noun is definite, not qualitative as you say. Harner (Wallace as well) is arguing in his own way that Colwell's theory of definiteness in this verse is misguided. Thus he came up with this updated essay to support the qualitative force of the anarthrous noun. Of course, as a Trinitarian he stopped short of admitting the potential indefinite meaning of such nouns, as it appears in NWT and other versions.

Wallace and Dixon emphasize the qualitative nature of the Word, and you take this as final verdict. However, Wallace conceded that 'it is difficult to distinguish indefinite from qualitative nouns at times.' If so, why diminish the potential of indefinite meanings in various contexts, where translators by practice regularly employ it throughout the NT & LXX? In the case of Jesus, under accusation, he only admitted to be "God's Son," not God. (Jn 10.36; 14.28)

The Net Bible (Wallace, editor): Colwell’s Rule is often invoked to support the translation of θεός (theos) as definite (“God”) rather than indefinite (“a god”) here. However, Colwell’s Rule merely permits, but does not demand, that a predicate nominative ahead of an equative verb be translated as definite rather than indefinite.

C.H. Dodd: A word-by-word rendering of John 1:1c would be, 'and god was the Word.' ... 'The Word was a god.’ As a word-for-word translation it cannot be faulted.'

NABRE: “With God: the Greek preposition here connotes communication with another. Was God: lack of a definite article with ‘God’ in Greek signifies predication rather than identification. (2011)

Barrett: ‘θεος being without the article is predicative and describes the nature of the Word. The absence of the article indicates that the Word is God but is not the only being of whom this is true.

Sjef van Tilborg: “And a God was the word” (Verbo Divino, 2018)

William R. Harwood: “and the Logos was a god” –

(B.Ed and M. A. - University of Calgary, 1972, 1974,

M.Litt. from the University of Cambridge, 1979,

Ph.D. from Columbia Pacific University in 1983)

Bruce Vawter, C.M.: “Here ‘God’ is used predicatively, without the article: the Word, whom he has just distinguished from the Person of God, is nevertheless a divine being in his own right.” — The Four Gospels an Introduction, 38, Doubleday Publishing.

Should I go on? When there are various interpretations in a religious matter, we must be careful to avoid coercing others to accept our personal views, which could lead to dogmatism.

A noble goal then, would be to suggest, to evoke ideas in others, instead of imposing our will as final authority.

Should Jesus be worshipped?

HereIam60

Wonderment

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