preacher4truth
Active Member
Well, "ei" is not the word "if" in John 8:24, the word "if" in John 8:24 is "ean me", and not once in the scriptures is this word translated "since".
It is translated "except" 33 times, "if not" 16 times, "but" 3 times, "if no" once, "not" once, and "before" once. It is not translated "since".
We are talking about the word "if" as used in John 8:24. In this verse, the Greek word used is never translated "since".
This word is used 18 times in the book of John, and in almost every case is translated "except" which means unless, or provided that, or contingent upon. It does not mean "sinse".
By the way, I looked up "ei" in a Greek Lexicon, it did not mention the word "since" as a definition. Here is the definition it gave.
According to this Greek Lexicon, the word "ei" is never translated "since" in the scriptures. Here are the other translations given for this word.
Source:
http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=1487
So, this Greek Lexicon does not support your defintion, but it does support mine. But you are deflecting to begin with, we are discussing "if" in John 8:24 which is the word Ean me.
Edit- Here is what this Lexicon showed for Ean me.
I don't see the word "since" here, do you?
I made the comment that the word if doesn't always mean if, but sometimes since. Where did I say specifically in this passage it is not "if?" I didn't. That's why I shared the word "ei" not "ean."
Also, the word if is not in the NASB here at this verse. It is better interpreted "unless." It then doesn't mean if. It is better rendered unless.
Sometimes "if" in context can mean "since" which is synonyous and more popularly used than "forasmuch."
So you're saying this word if here proves free will? Is that your argument?