"Not...But"

DENNY A DIEHL (dennydiehl@juno.com)
Thu, 10 Oct 1996 08:51:04 EDT

Denny Diehl here,

with a question: In John 6:27, Jesus instructs:

"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for
the food which endures to eternal life."

also, Peter instructs in 1 Pet 3:3-4:

"And let not your adornment be ... external...
but ... the hidden person of the heart, with
the imperishable quality of a gentle and
quiet spirit..."

But Paul tells us in 1 Cor 14:33:

"for God is not a God of confusion but of peace..."

The first two verses listed with a "not...but" need to have
supplied an "only" or "primarily" to show relative importance,
where the last one listed should be taken at face value. Can
you give me help in determining when "only" or "primarily"
should be understood in a comparative? Also, are there
any references in any grammars that would help to instruct
on this?

Thank you,

Denny
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Denny A. Diehl 316-729-9610
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