From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
John wrote:
> > I Jo 1:8 makes a statement in greek, a present tense
> > statement: "if we say that we are having no sin,
> > the truth is not within us."
> >
> > "all have sinned and are falling short of the glory
> > of God." [Romans 3:23?]
>
> Hey, John, aren't you mangling these verses? The mood of these verbs
> are in the indicative, yet you use a participle form to stress
> continuous action which is not indicated in the Greek. Can you name for
> me a reputable translation which translates these verses this way?
Wow. I come flying back home in my Silerado -- going to hook up with Bill's post of this morning and BAM (I think I have used that word before , today), I have all this stuff from Miller. David Miller. A good guy. A works salvationist? I don't think so.
But, hey, I will answer some of your commits as time permits.
Your remarks above: actually all first year greek grammars present the kind of verb ending(s) I used in my post. (I have Summers and Mounce on my shelves). I am kind of startled that this would be an issue. Not that I am always right (an admission I can freely make on this list because my children do not read these posts). Because participle endings are similar makes little difference to me. These are not participles. Present indicative active gives us activity WITH NO END IN VIEW. That does not mean the action is on going but it can mean that -- and very often does. With that admission, I guess I am allowing a works theologian to go his own way. Do you have reference material that condemns "my" application of the greek tense? I don't think so. But if so, I certainly can change my mind.
I am going to close this post and see what others have said. No doubt this is somewhat of a surprise to others on this list as well. Maybe I don't have to do all the talking.
BUT, in closing, David, let me say this: stark raving and absolute sinlessness is a consideration in the mind of God -- not an actual event in our lives. God CONSIDERS our faith to be righteousness. Paul tells us to CONSIDER ourselves dead to sin (Ro 6:11) -- he tells us that because it is already a fact in the mind of God. "He remembers our sins" no more is a consideration on the part of God. I think lance said it was unilateral and something or other .... sorry Lance. I'll have to look it up.
Anyway ... I am going to read the mail first and then, hopefully, do some serious thinking about BillyT's post.
Later
John
