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Was the New Testament Really Written in Greek? - The Preterist ...

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Now, it just so happens that <strong>the</strong> Aramaic word dk can be translated as ‘because’, ‘when’ and ‘s<strong>in</strong>ce’.<br />

If <strong>the</strong> various <strong>Greek</strong> manuscripts of John’s Gospel were translation from <strong>the</strong> Aramaic version of John,<br />

we would expect that <strong>the</strong>y would vary <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir exact translation of this word, and <strong>in</strong> fact <strong>the</strong>y do.<br />

<strong>The</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Greek</strong> manuscripts translate it "Because": p66 p75 S A B L X <strong>The</strong>ta Psi f1 33<br />

<strong>The</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g translate it "When": D, K, Delta, Pi, f13, 565, 700, 892, 1241<br />

And <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g manuscript translates it "S<strong>in</strong>ce": W<br />

How could John have written this <strong>in</strong> <strong>Greek</strong>? Surely <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong>se variants exist <strong>in</strong>dicate that <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Greek</strong> manuscripts are merely translations.<br />

14. Beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g or firstfruits? – 2<strong>The</strong>ssalonians 2:13<br />

<strong>The</strong> KJV says: “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of <strong>the</strong> Lord,<br />

because God hath from <strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g chosen you to salvation through sanctification of <strong>the</strong> Spirit and<br />

belief of <strong>the</strong> truth:”<br />

<strong>The</strong> ISV says: “Now at all times we are obligated to thank God for you, bro<strong>the</strong>rs who are loved by <strong>the</strong><br />

Lord, because God chose you to be <strong>the</strong> first fruits for salvation through sanctification by <strong>the</strong> Spirit and<br />

through faith <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> truth.”<br />

Versions that say beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g or a variation <strong>the</strong>reof: ALT, ASV, DARBY, Geneva, GodsWord, Holman,<br />

KJ21, KJV, LITV, MKJV, NASB, NIV, NIV-UK, NKJV, Ro<strong>the</strong>rham, RSV, WE, Webster, Weymouth,<br />

YLT.<br />

Versions that say firstfruits or a variation <strong>the</strong>reof: AMP, ESV, ISV, Wycliffe.<br />

Now, it just so happens that <strong>the</strong> Aramaic word 'reshitha', <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Peshitta, can mean ‘beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g’ and<br />

‘firstfruits’, po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g to an Aramaic orig<strong>in</strong>al to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Greek</strong> manuscripts.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> Peshitta text of 2nd <strong>The</strong>s. 2:13 you'll f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> word 'reshitha' which has several mean<strong>in</strong>gs, but <strong>the</strong><br />

two I want to focus on are 'beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g' and 'firstfruits.' <strong>The</strong> <strong>Greek</strong> variants prove an Aramaic orig<strong>in</strong>al<br />

because some <strong>Greek</strong> manuscripts have a word that means 'beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g' and some o<strong>the</strong>rs have a word that<br />

means 'firstfruits.' Nestle-Aland 26th has 'aparchen' def<strong>in</strong>ed as follows:<br />

(1) to offer firstl<strong>in</strong>gs or firstfruits<br />

(2) to take away <strong>the</strong> firstfruits of <strong>the</strong> productions of <strong>the</strong> earth which was offered to God. <strong>The</strong> first<br />

portion of <strong>the</strong> dough, from which sacred loaves were to be prepared. Hence term used of persons<br />

consecrated to God for all time.<br />

(3) persons superior <strong>in</strong> excellence to o<strong>the</strong>rs of <strong>the</strong> same class<br />

<strong>The</strong> Byzant<strong>in</strong>e text and <strong>the</strong> Textus Receptus have 'arches' which is def<strong>in</strong>ed as follows:<br />

(1) beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g, orig<strong>in</strong><br />

(2) <strong>the</strong> person or th<strong>in</strong>g that commences, <strong>the</strong> first person or th<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a series, <strong>the</strong> leader<br />

(3) that by which anyth<strong>in</strong>g beg<strong>in</strong>s to be, <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>, <strong>the</strong> active cause<br />

26

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