The word LAMBANW is actually used twice in John 3:32 and John 3:33:
John 3:32 (GNT) hO EWRAKEN KAI HKOUSEN TOUTO MARTUREI, KAI THN MARTURIAN
AUTOU OUDEIS **LAMBANEI**. 33 hO **LABWN** AUTOU THN MARTURIAN ESFRAGISEN
hOTI hO QEOS ALHQHS ESTIN.
The first verse tells us that nobody LAMBANEI his message, the second says
that whoever *has* LAMBANEId his message confirms that God is true. You
suggest two possibilities - let's try them, together with the traditional one:
1. Receive:
He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his
testimony. The one who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.
2. Overtake
He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one overtakes his
testimony. The one who has overtaken it has certified that God is truthful.
(I don't know what this means)
3. Replace
He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one replaces his
testimony. The one who has replaced it has certified that God is truthful.
(I know what this means, but it implies that the testimony of Jesus would
have to be replaced to certify that God is truthful, and this doesn't fit
John's understanding of the relationship between Jesus and God.)
So I think I'll side with the traditional interpretation here.
Jonathan
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Jonathan Robie
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