Translation of John 3:38-39, 45-49
38 But Jesus turned around and observed those who were following. He said to them, "What are you seeking?" "Rabbi, (What he had said translates to teacher) where are you staying (living)?
39 He said to them, "Come and you all will see." They then went and they saw where he was staying and with him they stayed that day. The occasion was at ten (in the morning).
45 Phillip found Nathaniel and he said to him, "The one Moses and the Prophets wrote about in the law we (Referring to him, Andrew, and Simon) have found, Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth."
46 And Nathaniel said to him, "Out of Nazareth is something good able to be?" Phillip said to him, "Come and behold*."
47 Jesus saw Nathaniel coming towards him and he said about him, "Behold, a true Jew in whom there is no deceit."
48 Nathaniel said to him, "How are you knowing me*?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Phillip called while under the fig tree, I saw you.
49 Nathaniel answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel*."
The Greek in this passage has several interesting points of note. First, the statement "Come and Behold" made by Phillip is an imperative command. It's not just like saying, "hey you may want to come and see this", it's saying that "you need to see this now" due to the sheer magnitude of the truth that Phillip had learned about Jesus. This shows that it really was something amazing for Phillip and his friends to have heard and seen. Also, when Nathaniel said to Jesus "how are you knowing me?" an ongoing action for "knowing" is used. In this situation, as expounded upon by Ravi Zacharias in Jesus Among Other Gods, it is like Jesus is looking right into the thoughts of Nathaniel's heart as he approached; he was probably thinking the exact phrase that Jesus spoke in reference to him. Finally, the last charge by Nathaniel is noteworthy. The Greek word "eimi" is used twice in the statement "you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel". This is the word for "to be or exist" and it links the subject of Jesus with the two definite statements of his character, or the predicate Rabbi (Jesus) is affirmed by the copulative of "Son of God" which makes a strong theological statement in the original text.
So I had to keep my Greek going, and I thought I mine as well put it into a blog so I feel it's not all getting thrown down into the trash when I'm done. Sorry if it is boring.
38 But Jesus turned around and observed those who were following. He said to them, "What are you seeking?" "Rabbi, (What he had said translates to teacher) where are you staying (living)?
39 He said to them, "Come and you all will see." They then went and they saw where he was staying and with him they stayed that day. The occasion was at ten (in the morning).
45 Phillip found Nathaniel and he said to him, "The one Moses and the Prophets wrote about in the law we (Referring to him, Andrew, and Simon) have found, Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth."
46 And Nathaniel said to him, "Out of Nazareth is something good able to be?" Phillip said to him, "Come and behold*."
47 Jesus saw Nathaniel coming towards him and he said about him, "Behold, a true Jew in whom there is no deceit."
48 Nathaniel said to him, "How are you knowing me*?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Phillip called while under the fig tree, I saw you.
49 Nathaniel answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel*."
The Greek in this passage has several interesting points of note. First, the statement "Come and Behold" made by Phillip is an imperative command. It's not just like saying, "hey you may want to come and see this", it's saying that "you need to see this now" due to the sheer magnitude of the truth that Phillip had learned about Jesus. This shows that it really was something amazing for Phillip and his friends to have heard and seen. Also, when Nathaniel said to Jesus "how are you knowing me?" an ongoing action for "knowing" is used. In this situation, as expounded upon by Ravi Zacharias in Jesus Among Other Gods, it is like Jesus is looking right into the thoughts of Nathaniel's heart as he approached; he was probably thinking the exact phrase that Jesus spoke in reference to him. Finally, the last charge by Nathaniel is noteworthy. The Greek word "eimi" is used twice in the statement "you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel". This is the word for "to be or exist" and it links the subject of Jesus with the two definite statements of his character, or the predicate Rabbi (Jesus) is affirmed by the copulative of "Son of God" which makes a strong theological statement in the original text.
So I had to keep my Greek going, and I thought I mine as well put it into a blog so I feel it's not all getting thrown down into the trash when I'm done. Sorry if it is boring.
Booyah, go greek students. My dad is just finishing up his third semester of it this week I think.