Posts Tagged: double negatives in Greek

“Tied to God with a Double ‘Not’”

On May 7, 2020 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37, English Standard Version)

I have always struggled with the idea that I can be saved. I am only too aware of how often I’ve thought, said, and done terrible things. This may not be quite as true for me now as it used to be, but I still mess up on a very regular basis. How can someone like me ever be saved?

So, Jesus’ statement in John 6:37 is a great problem for me, and at the same time, a great comfort to me.

I looked at the verse in the Greek, and noticed that Jesus uses two negatives in the verse. This is a no-no in English, but is very acceptable in many other languages. The English Standard Version translates these two “not” words with the word “never.”

Usually just one of these two words for “not” will be used, but when they are both used, it means that the speaker is being very emphatic. Apparently, Jesus is saying, quite emphatically, that neither he nor his heavenly father are in the rejection business. We are tied to God with a double not!

I often come to Jesus and the Father and say, “Well, here I am. I’ve messed up again.” But the point is that I do come to them.

Maybe that’s the point for you as well, my friend.

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