Biblical Greek Blog - NT GREEK STUDIES

Do you love the γεννήσαντα? - 1 John 5:1

2/4/2012

Last night I was reading in 1 John 5 with my wife in the GNT, and as we came across the second half of verse 1, there was a word that struck us a bit strange. I thought, "I know my English Bible doesn't say this", and indeed it didn't come to find out.

The ESV says: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him." The Greek reads: "Πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός, ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ γεγέννηται, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὸν γεννήσαντα ἀγαπᾷ τὸν γεγεννημένον ἐξ αὐτοῦ."

So, everyone who loves the Father will love those who are born of Him. Right? While that is true, it is not exactly what this verse says: And everyone who loves τὸν γεννήσαντα loves the one who is born (begotten) of Him. Who or what is τὸν γεννήσαντα?

This participle γεννήσαντα comes from the verb γεννάω (to beget, to give birth), and it just doesn't flow well into modern English translation here. It would read something like this: Everyone who loves he who begat (the begetter) loves the one who is born of Him. Does that sound strange? This is how Tyndale translated it, nearly 500 years ago, and it survived hundreds of years in the KJV as well. Even in Spanish this wording flows quite nicely (al que engendró), but in modern English...not so much. There is just no natural way to convey this for the 21st century American reader. So why "Father" in the modern translations? The "one who begets" a person is the Father, so I suppose this was substituted in order to take away some of the difficulty.

It is true that if we love the Father we will love those who are born of Him. It is true that the Father is the one who begets sinners unto new life. But looking at this verse literally, do we love "he who begat"? If we do, then we will love those who are begotten of Him. That is a different way of referring to God, but I like it. To me it possesses more weight and clarity and I will not view this verse the same from now on.

So as you may suspect, I prefer literal word-for-word renderings in translation. I find that they often shed the best light and are quite understandable. As you may have heard... "Understand Yoda perfectly well you can, even if natural English speak he does not..."

10 Comments

Greek Quotes:

Another result when pastors do not study the Bible in Greek and Hebrew is that they, and their churches with them, tend to become second-handers. The harder it is for us to get at the original meaning of the Bible, the more we will revert to the secondary literature. For one thing, it is easier to read. It also gives us a superficial glow that we are “keeping up” on things. And it provides us with ideas and insights which we can’t dig out of the original for ourselves. - John Piper

Not only is this the only well from which we can draw the original force and meaning of the words and phrases of divine utterance, but also those languages (Hebrew & Greek) possess a weight of their own – a vividness which brings home to the understanding fine shades of meaning with power which cannot survive the passage into another tongue. - John Owen

John Mureiko link

2/5/2012 01:27:40 pm

I like the quote at the end. Captures the mood well, I think... :)

Good post. I think it sheds light on the relationship a believer has to his or her father, further reminding us that they must be treated with love and respect because of our similar heritage.

dion thompson link

2/18/2012 11:38:49 am

hello, ryan. i stumbled upon your website and was glad to see someone else out there enjoying the greek new testament. i'm currently doing a one-year reading, using a schedule posted on line by lee irons. it is grueling, but immensely rewarding. as with your post, there are so many words and phrases we might race past in english, but stop us dead in our tracks when we encounter them in greek. blessings to you and to your family. may the word of god dwell in you richly and may you have a holy and prayerful lent. peace.

Ryan Richie link

5/10/2012 12:44:20 pm

Hi Dion. Thanks for the comment. I am familiar with Lee Irons' reading plan. It is very good, and grueling as you said. In the past I posted a slightly modified version of it.

Your words are right on about what happens when we read Greek. It really is like a whole new world in the GNT. Thank you for the encouragement. May Christ be glorified.

Larry Rockwell link

3/12/2012 09:50:37 am

Hello Ryan, I saw your new webs site and realize that you have left the field now. I am really sorry that you had to leave after such a short time. I hope the Lord will bring you back to the mission field some day.I know it was a short four years for you on the field here but I trust the Lord has used you and will continue to do so wherever you are. I will miss seeing you around Huaraz. May the Lord continue to use you and bless your family as it grows. I am glad you are continuing in your pursuit to learn Greek as it will be a great help both to you and those you find yourself ministering to.
Take care,
Larry Rockwell
Larry

Dee Escobedo

3/10/2014 03:56:22 am

Hi Ryan,
That was a very interesting post. I do also think that "begetter" does hold to be quite an appropriate term and it paints a more endearing image in my heart of The Father. Thank you for the post.

3/10/2014 08:38:04 am

Hi Dee, you're very welcome. Thank you for commenting! I think that begetter does capture a vivid meaning. Since the word refers to one who brings forth life, it is appropriate to view the Father as one who causes new life. That is what He has done for us in Christ. He truly is the begetter.

3/11/2014 02:34:34 am

Hi Ryan. I also looked up the verse in a King James bible and you're right, it does use the words begot and begotten. I do have a question, albeit the answer is probably obvious - Does "...everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him." strictly speak of Christ or does it speak of all believers? I know we are to love fellow believers, but is that verse speaking of Christ only?

3/11/2014 08:49:29 am

Good question Dee,

I hope this helpful. If not just let me know.

"everyone who loves the Begetter (God) loves the one (God's children) having been born of him (God)''

Dee

3/12/2014 04:20:05 am

Yes Ryan that is helpful. I was misunderstanding and thinking that "loves the one" was meaning 'loves Christ", but it makes sense that it refers to God's children.

7/15/2014 10:38:16 am

You're welcome Dee. Those are great questions and this was a helpful discussion for me. Thanks for sharing!

Do you love the γεννήσαντα? - 1 John 5:1

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