1 John 5:16-17 (mortal sins)

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darinhouston
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1 John 5:16-17 (mortal sins)

Post by darinhouston » Tue May 03, 2011 9:56 pm

So, what's this mean ?

1 John 5:16-17 (King James Version)

16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask , and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

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Homer
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Re: 1 John 5:16-17 (mortal sins)

Post by Homer » Tue May 03, 2011 11:15 pm

Hi Darrin,

The difficulty arises because the translaters inserted "a" into the text where there is none in either verse in the Greek, making it appear that John had a particular sin in mind. IMO John has in mind any willful, unrepentant sin. Then he is consistent with both the Old and New Covenant:

Hebrews 10:26-27 (New King James Version)

26. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27. but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Numbers 15:27-31 (New King James Version)
27. ‘And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering. 28. So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. 29. You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.
30. ‘But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people. 31. Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.’”

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Paidion
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Re: 1 John 5:16-17 (mortal sins)

Post by Paidion » Wed May 04, 2011 9:33 pm

The difficulty arises because the translaters inserted "a" into the text where there is none in either verse in the Greek, making it appear that John had a particular sin in mind.
Of course there is no "a" in Greek, since the indefinite article does not exist in Greek! The only way to express "a" in Greek is to use no article at all!
Paidion

Man judges a person by his past deeds, and administers penalties for his wrongdoing. God judges a person by his present character, and disciplines him that he may become righteous.

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Homer
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Re: 1 John 5:16-17 (mortal sins)

Post by Homer » Thu May 05, 2011 9:39 am

Hi Paidion,

What is your point regarding the meaning of the text, or do you have one? If we read "there is a sin that leads to death......there is a sin that does not lead to death" are we not inclined to think of one specific sin in each case? Do you think that understanding John as referring to a category of sin is incorrect?

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