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Two principle NT issues.

37818

Well-Known Member
Would you please clarify the above statement for me? Thank you.
Really?
Either the reading in John 1:18 was originally "unique God" or "the unique Son." So either "God" was changed to read " the . . . Son" or "the . . . Son" was changed to read "God." This change was no accident.
 

Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Really?
Either the reading in John 1:18 was originally "unique God" or "the unique Son." So either "God" was changed to read " the . . . Son" or "the . . . Son" was changed to read "God." This change was no accident.
Does it really make that much of a difference?
 

Origen

Active Member
Really? Either the reading in John 1:18 was originally "unique God" or "the unique Son." So either "God" was changed to read " the . . . Son" or "the . . . Son" was changed to read "God." This change was no accident.
I would like to see some hard evidence the change was intentional rather than unintentional.

Since the nomina sacra forms are so close (ⲑⲥ and ⲩⲥ, only one letter difference), it is not difficult to see how a misreading of the text is at least possibility.

Moreover as point out both μονογενὴς θεός and μονογενὴς υἱός find early and wide support in the Church fathers (often both forms were quoted by the same Church father). I point this out because the patristic evidence shows no signs of worry concerning the difference between the two readings.
 
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Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I would need some hard evidence the change was intentional rather than unintentional.

Since the nomina sacra forms are so close (ⲑⲥ and ⲩⲥ, only one letter difference), it is not hard to see how a misreading of the text is at least possibility.

Moreover as point out both μονογενὴς θεός and μονογενὴς υἱός find early and wide support in the Church fathers (often both forms were quoted by the same Church father). I point this out because the patristic evidence shows no signs of worry concerning whether or not the difference was a problem.
is there any real problem regardless which phrase is used?
 

Origen

Active Member
is there any real problem regardless which phrase is used?
Not in my opinion. Nevertheless I still wonder how people come to their conclusions. While I admit it is at least a possibility the change was intentional, I would like to know the reasons why some hold that view.
 
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Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Not in my opinion. Nevertheless I still wonder how people come to their conclusions. While I admit it is at least a possibility the change was intentional, I would like to know the reason why some believe it.
Know that some see the Alexandrian text family as somehow part of a nefarious attempt to pollute the word of God!
 

McCree79

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Not in my opinion. Nevertheless I still wonder how people come to their conclusions. While I admit it is at least a possibility the change was intentional, I would like to know the reasons why some hold that view.
If the change was intentional, it would make more sense to change 1:18 to "Son" to harmonize with John 3:16.

That being said, we are just one letter off in the Nomina Sacra which has been mentioned multiple times on this thread.

Also, accidental scribal error could occur through error of "memory". If I am used to calling Jesus the μονογενης υίος ( unique son/only begotten son) then which I come to John 1:18, my mind trigger to this as soon as I see the word μονογενης. I completely miss the word θεος because I thought I knew what was coming next. This would be incredibly easy to do once the υίος started appearing in the nomina sacra form. Which was later than θεος appearing in the nomina sacra form.

It is much easier to explain how God could be accidental changed to Son, then explaining how Son was changed to God.

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Origen

Active Member
If the change was intentional, it would make more sense to change 1:18 to "Son" to harmonize with John 3:16.
That is possible. The
"τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ" (accusative case) appears in 3:16, and the phrase "μονογενοῦς υἱοῦ" (genitive case) appears in 3:18. If a scribe was unsure of the reading in 1:18, it is possible that he would look to 3:16 and 18. However I don't think this would qualify as an intentional change. Now I admit it is possible a scribe saw θεός and thought υἱός, given 3:16 and 18, was the correct reading. Yet there simply is no way to prove it.

It is much easier to explain how God could be accidental changed to Son, then explaining how Son was changed to God.
Agreed!
 
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McCree79

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Now I admit it is possible a scribe saw θεός and thought υἱός, given 3:18, was the correct reading. Yet there simply is no way to prove it.

Agreed!
Correct. I meant 3:18.

I used lexical form for simplicity

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Origen

Active Member
Correct. I meant 3:18.

I used lexical form for simplicity
No, you were correct. I made a mistake with my post (i.e. poorly written).

The phrase in verse 3:16 is "τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ" (accusative case).
The phrase in verse 3:18 is "μονογενοῦς υἱοῦ" (genitive case).
 
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