There‘s ‘but,’ and then there’s ‘BUT!’ — Greek adversative conjunctions
Here is the post that accompanies this week’s cartoon. It is about Greek adversative conjunctions and how they modify the meaning of verses in Bible passages.
Steve has been a Bible teacher for over 30 years. He has written many articles, more than 20 e-books, and several study guides, most recently, Overcoming: Guide to Understanding the Book of Revelation. His website, DeeperStudy.com, encourages all people to go deeper in their understanding of the Word of God, the Bible, and to become authentic, New Testament Christians who serve a risen Lord.
In 1 Cor 2:9 there is a “but” after telling us that “Eye hath not seen or ear heard nor has it even entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for us” Then it goes on to explain what He has reveled to us. Which type of “but-BUT” is this that is between the Eye hath not seen part and the “but” “BUT” when He goes on to say that we have seen these things.
Some would say that He has already reveled all these riches to us and others would say not so. My thinking is that, To me I would almost think the “but” should be an “and” and that there are still things that has not entered into our heart that God has prepared for us.
Thank you for your cartoon example of the word “but” “BUT” very enlightening.
Thanks,
Gary
The “but” (de) is at the beginning of verse 10. The context is this: After quoting Isaiah 52:15, just before the Messianic prophecy in chapter 53 of the crucifixion of Christ and its substitutionary atonement, Paul says God revealed this (that is, the fact and purpose of the cross as fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose and plan) by His Spirit. No one could have ever imagined providing the way of salvation through such a horrible instrument of tortuous death, but that is what God did. We would never think up such a plan nor imagine God would accomplish such an outlandish means to save. Nevertheless, God did it that way, and He revealed His plan to us after it happened.