Re: John 3:32, LAMBANW
Lee R. Martin (lmartin@voyageronline.net)
Thu, 12 Dec 1996 10:33:30 -0800
The translation of LAMBANW involves several issues.
1- LAMBANW is used about 45 times in John, (plus METALAMBANW, 3 times).
John's usage should be studied in its entirety. He tends to carry
themes all through his writing, e.g. light, darkness, believe, life,
etc.
2- We should consider the possibility that OUDEIS is figurative, meaning
"very few."
A similar contrast is found in 1:11-12 "He came unto his own, and his
own received him not. But as many as did receive him, to them he gave
..."
3- Also, 3:32 is probably a commentary on the earlier verse, 3:11 We
speak that
we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our
witness.
P.S. After looking at John 14:17, I would also suggest the possibility
that OUDEIS of 3:32 means "no one who is of this world," contrasting the
believers with the unbelievers, as is common throughout the book.
--
Lee R. Martin> > Jonathan Robie wrote:
> >
> > At 11:52 AM 12/11/96 -0500, Mario Latendresse wrote:
> > >
> > >All translation of verse 3:32 of John that I have read gives something
> > >like: (french and english)
> > >
> > > JOH 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no
> > > man receiveth his testimony.
> > >
> > >I have doubts about the second part, that is
> > >
> > > and no man receiveth his testimony.
> > >
> > >Could it be instead translated in such way to express the idea that
> > >`no man can overtake his testimony' or that `no man can replace his
> > >testimony'. In other words the evangelist would say that his testimony
> > >cannot be replace by any man testimony. That would be based on the
> > >verb LAMBANW that has this meaning if the actual context supports
> > >it. ( Moreover the context of that verse would actually support this
> > >translation. )
> >
> > 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
> >
> > ***************************************************************************
> > Jonathan Robie
> > POET Software, 3207 Gibson Road, Durham, N.C., 27703
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