Jn 1:49, BASILEUS EI or EI hO BASILEUS?

Paul S. Dixon (dixonps@juno.com)
Mon, 27 Oct 1997 01:40:29 EST

In Jn 1:49 Nathaniel says to Christ, hRABBI, SU EI hO hUIOS TOU QEOU,
then either SU BASILEUS EI TOU ISRAHL (P75, A, B, L, W, Psi, f), or
SU EI hO BASILEUS TOU ISRAHL (P66, Aleph, theta, majority text).

Metzger does not address this in his "Textual Commentary on the Greek New
Testament." Which construction should we prefer and why?

Should we opt for the anarthrous construction because scribes might be
expected to make the second part more closely parallel to the first by
arranging the word order similarly and by including the definite article?
Or, are there other considerations?

Paul Dixon