I am offering this as an informative study on the Greek translation of Rom 8: 28-32. I think it is a
theological treat and definitely to be shared with my brothers and sisters, although not being a student of Greek, please understand I cannot verify the accuracy of its tenets. However even if inaccurate, I think we can accept the newly shed insight on this verse set that there are
truly no limitations to God.
From a portion of the Editorial of the Unsearchable Riches magazine of Concordant Publishing for March 2007, from the section ‘Now We are Aware’ by James R. Coram, who is President and current editor of the magazine:
…... The remaining especially notable Scripture passage which stresses that our calling is according to God’s purpose is Romans 8: 28-32.
Let us first of all consider verse 28, which is translated in the Concordant Version: “Now we are aware that God is working all together for the good of those who are loving God, who are called according to the purpose that…”
Here, the Concordant Version generally follows the traditional English syntax and grammar in the rendering of this verse, as is found in the Authorized Version. Translated thus, the reader is informed that God is working all together for the good of those who are loving God, which is to say for the personal benefit of all such persons.
It is true that the more enlightened reader will not perceive self-merit in his own love of God; instead, in all humility, he will be mindful that “We are loving God for He first loves us” (1John 4: 19). Still, from this translation, since this is what is said, the reader will conclude that what is revealed here is that God is working all together for the good of those who are loving God; that is, for the self-benefit of all such ones.
However, if we follow the Greek syntax itself and also render the text here more literally, we will find that what the apostle Paul writes in this verse is even more glorious than we had previously supposed.
First of all, let us note the reading of this verse according to the ultra-literal English sublinear of the CONCORDANT GREEK TEXT:
“WE-HAVE-PERCEIVED YET that to-THE ones-LOVING THE God ALL IS-TOGETHER-ACTING THE God INTO GOOD to-THE-ones according-to BEFORE-PLACing CALLED BEING that…” (Rom 8: 28).
Following the Greek closely (as much so as it practicable), Romans 8: 28 may be idiomatically translated as follows: “Now we are aware that – to the ones who are loving God – God is working all together for good; [this is] to the ones who are called according to the purpose that…”
Translated thus, noting the Greek syntax, the two critical phrases which are in the dative case (i.e., “to”), not the genitive (i.e., “of”), even as the absence of the definite article before the word “good” together with the unneeded “of” following, the thought thus presented becomes significantly different and far grander still than that previously understood.
Rendered thus, we understand that, as ones who are loving God, we enjoy the awareness that God is working all together for good. Period. This is so, whether a certain divine operation should be purposed especially for our own good, in particular, or for the greater good in general, broadly speaking in consideration of God’s wider purpose and own glory.*** I stop this here as this is the gist of the important part ***
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Topic: Romans 8: 28-32 (Read 4871 times)