On Pages 258-9 of Murray J. Harris' *Jesus as God*, Baker 1992, Harris
evaluates the interpretation of Augustine and more recently W.
Bousset of John 17:3. The issue under discussion is the scope of the
phrase TON MONON ALHQINON QEON. Augustine held that this phrase
applied equally to SE and to IHSOUN CRISTON.
Murray Harris does not think Augustine has much of a case. Harris sees
the two objects of the verb GINWSKWSIN as SE and hON APESTEILAS in
a parallel construction. He places TON MONON ALHQINON QEON in
apposition to SE and IHSOUN CRISTON in apposition to hON APESTEILAS.
Harris' analysis has a nice symmetry to it. Could it be wrong? Is it
impossible to construe the syntax of the passage the way Augustine
did? Is there any way that the phrase TON MONON ALHQINON QEON
could apply to IHSOUN CRISTON?
Clay Bartholomew
Three Tree Point
postscript:
Keep in mind that Augustine was probably reading the text in Latin.
John 17:3
. . . UT COGNOSCANT TE SOLUM VERUM DEUM ET QUEM MISISTI IESUM
CHRISTUM
Stuttgart Vulgate