More on Koine - Experience in Sydney

by Stephanus 4 Replies latest jw friends

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  Stephanus

  Here is another example of how word endings of themselves don't make a difference to the actual meaning of a word in Koine Greek. (Amusing anecdote in last paragraph)

  When my local KH were becoming more wary about supplying me with their literature (which could then be used against them), I started going to that old bloke who has his racks of Watchtower literature up at Town Hall Station, just at the entrance to the Queen Victoria Building (do you know him, Ozzie? He could have passed on by now - I haven't seen him for a while, some younger person or other old bloke is usually manning the stall now). I ordered the Kingdom Interlinear through him. When I went into town to get it he went out of his way to show me the great truths one could find by original language study. He showed me John 1:1 and proceeded to show me the difference between "ton theon" and "theos" - according to him, "ton theon" was Jehovah God and "theos" was the Lord Jesus Christ. The fact of the matter is that that particular argument was officially dropped by the Society around 30 years ago, IIRC (there was an article about it). The endings are simply case endings and have no material bearing on meanings - that argument would be like saying that "he" always refers to Jehovah God, while "him" always refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. (This isn't about the meaning of John 1:1, BTW, but how someone unfamiliar with Greek and its rules can find significance where there is none - the other thread on Koine was about the differences between "oikia" and "oikos" and the different inflections thereof)

  Anyway, this guy was pointing to the verses and passages he wanted me to take special note of. When I got on the train home and had a look at the book, I noticed some brown, oily stains where he'd pointed to parts of the book. I can only assume they must be ear wax; he must have given his ears a good old clean before I turned up! I was rather disconcerted, to say the least...

  Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
  A: Their lips are moving.
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  ozziepost

  G'day Steph,

  I remember....! Don't know what happened to him. The last time I was up in the big smoke I passed by there and the stand was being manned by a very familiar face.

  I think we see less of the old John 1:1 arguments featured these days. I guess the Writing Dept must feel they're on sinking sand with it.

  Cheers,
  Ozzie

  "You can know the law by heart, without knowing the heart of it"
  Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing About Grace?
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  Stephanus

  There seems to be a group who mans that stand. There were two old blokes who'd be on on different days, one of whom was virtually blind (he let me take my change out of his change purse!) named Sid, and the onther one (the bloke with the earwax). I've seen a younger (middle aged) woman there helping out. Are they all part of the same clan, or are they just from the same KH?

  Who was the familiar face, or to put it another way, familiar from where? (You don't have to get too revealing about this - a nice non-specific anecdote will do!)

  Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
  A: Their lips are moving.
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  ozziepost

  Steph old son,

  You're not looking for hurtful gossip, are you?

  Cheers,
  Ozzie (of the lilywhite posting class)
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  Stephanus

  I'll change what I originally said here. All I was trying to do was make conversation. Under normal circumstances someone who said "I saw old So-and-So the other day", would get a "What were they doing? How were they?" from me. I realise that some of the info you're nursing is sensitive, Ozzie, so I won't pursue this stuff further. Although I will ask, how was your trip into town and what did you there?

  Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
  A: Their lips are moving.