Allan said:
It is really somewhat a semantical word play.
There are places in scripture which speak to believing "in" Jesus for salvation and "on" Jesus as well.
Examples:
"in Jesus"
"on Jesus"
The proper definition has to do with the context in which the word is found. (
as I am positive you already know 
)
To believe "in" (regarding the above verses) denotes an absolute trusting 'in' or the placing of all of something into something or someone else. example - like the pouring some substance in or into another container.
But the word "on" denotes a relience or resting upon something or someone. The word can phased this way - "to be carried" which implies you safty and security has nothing to do with you ability but it is in the One whom you are relying on to carry you.
IF you want the specific Greek, I can most definately go into that for you but the above should hopefully suffice unless you would like more
Allan covered the English pretty well, I would say, for some parts of it.
However, in several of these instances, I suggest it is merely 'translator preference.'
For example, the
DARBY opts for "on" more than do some other versions, where the
HCSB opts for "in" usually, in the same passages. The
NKJV chooses "in" more often than does the
KJV, but apparently not as often as does the
NASB, in several of the verses
Allan mentioned. I did not check every instance, that may apply, but did check several of the verses mentioned above.
"Don't overlook the forest for the trees!", is my general suggestion, here.
The two Greek prepositions of "en" (in) and "eis" (into), are the ones most usually used in the NT, to my knowledge. There is some difference in nuance, but the meaning is very similar, I would say. And there is also the 'genitive' case, frequently rendered as "of", as well.
Maybe
Allan can go into this in more detail, as I don't really consider myself any sort of Greek scholar, by any stretch, and he is likely far more able than I, to further expand on this. Or maybe
TCGreek or some other, who are a far better linguist than I am, will also contribute, should
Allan not participate further.
Language Cop does fairly well with the English langauge, as a rule, but is nowhere near as accomplished in the Greek. :laugh: :laugh:
Ed