Re: John 1:1a - in *the* beginning
Ben Crick (ben.crick@argonet.co.uk)
Tue, 28 Oct 97 03:06:02
On Mon 27 Oct 97 (21:14:59), jwrobie@mindspring.com wrote:
> When I read John 1:1a, I always read EN ARCH as "in the beginning". Of
> course, there is no article, but I've never heard anybody translate this as
> "in a beginning". Is it the meaning of ARCH that makes it definite, since
> there is only one beginning in the biblical world view? Or is there
> something else that should tip me off that this is definite and not
> indefinite?
Jonathan:
Would a comparison with Mark 1:1 be helpful? ARCH TOU EUAGGELIOU IHSOU
CRISTOU, ktl.
I've never heard any suggestion that we translate this "A beginning of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, etc". My mentors told me that Mark 1:1 is like a
headline in a newspaper, when very large type is used and articles omitted
for stark brevity. Hmmmm.
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
<ben.crick@argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm