John Reece
May 16th 2003, 09:49 AM
1 John 3
2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears* we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Footnote:
*Or: when it appears (ESV)
The reason for the ambiguity (indicated by the footnote) in 1 John 3:2 is the lack of an explicit subject of the verb fanerwqh, which can be rendered "he appears" or "it appears".
From A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testment:
The subject may be Christ as in verse 9, or the future manifestation just mentioned . Either makes sense, probably “it” here better than “he.” Like him (‘omoioi autw). Autoi is associative instrumental case after ‘omoioi. This is our destiny and glory (Rom. 8:29), to be like Jesus who is like God (2 Cor. 4:6). We shall see him as he is (oyomeqa auton kaqwV estin). Future middle indicative of ‘oraw. The transforming vision of Christ (1 Cor. 13:12) is the consummation of the glorious process begun at the new birth (2 Cor. 3:18).
From David Smith, The Expositor’s Greek Testament:
Ver. 2. Having spoken of our present dignity, the Apostle goes on to speak of our future destiny. The incarnation manifested our standing as children of God, but “it was not yet manifested what we shall be”. The aorist efanerwqh ([I]cf. egnw in previous verse) refers to the historic manifestation in Jesus Christ. The N.T. says nothing definite about the nature of our future glory. With our present faculties we cannot conceive it. It must be experienced to be understood. Jesus simply assures us of the felicity of the Father’s House, and bids us take His word for it (cf. John 14:2). ean fanerwqh, “if it may be manifested,” taking up oupw efanerwqh. This obvious connection is decisive against the rendering “if he be manifested” (cf. 2:28; Col. 3:4). ‘oti, k.t.l.: What we shall be was not manifested, but this we know that we shall be like Him. And how do we know it? From His promise that “we shall see him as He is” (cf. John 17:24). The argument is twofold: (1) vision of God implies likeness to him in character and affection (cf. Matt. 5:8); (2) the vision of God transfigures (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18), even in this life.
“Ah! the Master is so fair,
His smile so sweet to banished men,
That they who meet it unaware
Can never rest on earth again.”
And how will it be when we “see Him face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12)? St. Augustine expresses much of the Apostle’s thought in a beautiful sentence: “Tota vita Christiani boni sanctum desiderium est”.
Anyone care to translate the quote from Augustine?
2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears* we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Footnote:
*Or: when it appears (ESV)
The reason for the ambiguity (indicated by the footnote) in 1 John 3:2 is the lack of an explicit subject of the verb fanerwqh, which can be rendered "he appears" or "it appears".
From A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testment:
The subject may be Christ as in verse 9, or the future manifestation just mentioned . Either makes sense, probably “it” here better than “he.” Like him (‘omoioi autw). Autoi is associative instrumental case after ‘omoioi. This is our destiny and glory (Rom. 8:29), to be like Jesus who is like God (2 Cor. 4:6). We shall see him as he is (oyomeqa auton kaqwV estin). Future middle indicative of ‘oraw. The transforming vision of Christ (1 Cor. 13:12) is the consummation of the glorious process begun at the new birth (2 Cor. 3:18).
From David Smith, The Expositor’s Greek Testament:
Ver. 2. Having spoken of our present dignity, the Apostle goes on to speak of our future destiny. The incarnation manifested our standing as children of God, but “it was not yet manifested what we shall be”. The aorist efanerwqh ([I]cf. egnw in previous verse) refers to the historic manifestation in Jesus Christ. The N.T. says nothing definite about the nature of our future glory. With our present faculties we cannot conceive it. It must be experienced to be understood. Jesus simply assures us of the felicity of the Father’s House, and bids us take His word for it (cf. John 14:2). ean fanerwqh, “if it may be manifested,” taking up oupw efanerwqh. This obvious connection is decisive against the rendering “if he be manifested” (cf. 2:28; Col. 3:4). ‘oti, k.t.l.: What we shall be was not manifested, but this we know that we shall be like Him. And how do we know it? From His promise that “we shall see him as He is” (cf. John 17:24). The argument is twofold: (1) vision of God implies likeness to him in character and affection (cf. Matt. 5:8); (2) the vision of God transfigures (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18), even in this life.
“Ah! the Master is so fair,
His smile so sweet to banished men,
That they who meet it unaware
Can never rest on earth again.”
And how will it be when we “see Him face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12)? St. Augustine expresses much of the Apostle’s thought in a beautiful sentence: “Tota vita Christiani boni sanctum desiderium est”.
Anyone care to translate the quote from Augustine?