On Sat 19 May 2001 (14:31:28), emory2oo2@hotmail.com wrote: > HN TO FWS TO ALHQINON > hO FWTIZEI PANTA ANQRWPON > ERCOMENON EIS TON KOSMON Dear Mark, The Subject here is TO FWS, and TO ALHQINON defines what sort of FWS it is: namely, "the Real or Ideal or Genuine light". hO FWTIZEI PANTA ANQRWPON is a relative clause further defining TO FWS TO ALHQINON: it is the Light "which illumines all mankind". HN ... ERCOMENON is the verb: "Was ... coming". EIS TON KOSMON is an adverbial phrase of manner [coming] "into the world". > What are the grammatical considerations for determining > what ERCOMENON modifies? (The passage is John 1:9) Back to basics. Look for the Subject, the Verb, and the Object (if any). Look for adjectival constructions modifying the Subject; and adverbial constructions modifying the Verb. > Is it grammatically conceivable that ERCOMENON would modify BOTH > the "true light" and "every man?" Yes, it is possible to construe this verse as "He was the true light, which illumines every-man-who-comes-into-the-world". But not every man who comes into the world is thus illumined; the statement appears false. So it is better IMHO to render the verse "The true Light, which illumines all mankind, was coming into the world". That agrees with the following verse EN TWi KOSMWi HN, KAI hO KOSMOS DI' AUTOU EGENETO, KAI hO KOSMOS AUTON OUK EGNW. The KJV hedges its bets with "[That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" - neatly retaining the ambiguity of the Greek. The NIV puts "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world" (text); then offers "This was the true light that gives light to every man who comes into the world" (margin). TO FWS is of course Christ himself, hO LOGOS (John 8:12, 9:5). This is not the natural light of human reason or conscience, but the One who said "Let there be light" (alluded to in John 1:5). He is "the light of life" (8:12). Just my thoughts... Ben -- Revd Ben Crick, BA CF 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK) http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm --- B-Greek home page: http://metalab.unc.edu/bgreek You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [jwrobie@mindspring.com] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-b-greek-327Q@franklin.oit.unc.edu To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu