Sharp’s Rule, formulated by Granville Sharp in the 18th century, states:
When two singular, personal, and non-proper nouns of the same case are connected by the conjunction kai ("and"), and the article (ho) precedes only the first noun, both nouns refer to the same person.
In simpler terms:
If the definite article (ho) appears only before the first noun and both nouns are singular and personal, they describe one individual.
Scripture References
1. Titus 2:13
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."
Greek (Textus Receptus):
προσδεχόμενοι τὴν μακαρίαν ἐλπίδα καὶ ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς δόξης τοῦ μεγάλου Θεοῦ καὶ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
Analysis:
τοῦ μεγάλου Θεοῦ καὶ σωτῆρος:
Article (τοῦ): Appears only once, before Θεοῦ (God).
Θεοῦ (God) and σωτῆρος (Savior) are singular, personal, and in the genitive case.
καὶ (and): Connects the two nouns, making them refer to the same person.
Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ: Identifies Jesus Christ as the one who is both God and Savior.
2. 2 Peter 1:1
"Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ."
Greek (Textus Receptus):
Συμεὼν Πέτρος δοῦλος καὶ ἀπόστολος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῖς ἰσότιμον ἡμῖν λαχοῦσιν πίστιν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
Analysis:
τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ σωτῆρος:
Article (τοῦ): Appears only once, before Θεοῦ (God).
Θεοῦ (God) and σωτῆρος (Savior) are singular, personal, and in the genitive case.
καὶ (and): Connects the two nouns, indicating they refer to the same person.
Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ: Identifies Jesus as both God and Savior.
3. Ephesians 5:5
"For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
Greek (Textus Receptus):
τοῦτο γὰρ ἴστε ὅτι πᾶς πόρνος ἢ ἀκάθαρτος ἢ πλεονέκτης ὅς ἐστιν εἰδωλολάτρης οὐκ ἔχει κληρονομίαν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ Θεοῦ
Analysis:
τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ Θεοῦ:
Article (τοῦ): Appears only once, before Χριστοῦ (Christ).
Χριστοῦ (Christ) and Θεοῦ (God) are singular, personal, and in the genitive case.
καὶ (and): Connects the two nouns, indicating they refer to the same person.
This passage refers to the kingdom of Christ and God, with the grammar identifying Christ as God.
4. Jude 1:4
"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
Greek (Textus Receptus):
τὸν μόνον δεσπότην Θεὸν καὶ Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν
Analysis:
τὸν μόνον δεσπότην Θεὸν καὶ Κύριον:
Article (τὸν): Appears only once, before δεσπότην (Master).
δεσπότην (Master) and Θεὸν (God) and Κύριον (Lord) are singular, personal, and in the accusative case.
καὶ (and): Links the terms, identifying Jesus as the one who is Master, God, and Lord.
Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν: Names Jesus explicitly as the one referenced.
In these passages, Sharp’s Rule reinforces the interpretation that Jesus Christ is identified as God, based on the structure of the Greek text. The rule applies where nouns like God (Θεός), Savior (Σωτήρ), Lord (Κύριος), or similar titles are linked with Jesus Christ through grammatical construction. These texts are theological affirmations of Jesus’ divinity within the Textus Receptus.
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Sharp's Rule-Reasons for Reliability
Linguistic Consistency:
Greek grammar in Koine (New Testament Greek) supports the logic of Sharp’s Rule. Similar constructions in Greek literature outside the New Testament demonstrate that this structure tends to refer to a single entity.
Scriptural Evidence:
The rule aligns well with several New Testament passages that affirm Christ’s divinity, such as Titus 2:13 and 2 Peter 1:1. These passages explicitly connect titles like God (Θεός) and Savior (Σωτήρ) to Jesus Christ.
Wider Scholarly Support:
Most Greek scholars and grammarians (including Daniel Wallace, A.T. Robertson, and Bruce Metzger) accept Sharp’s Rule as valid and consistent with Greek syntax.
Strengths of the Rule
Clarifies Christ’s Divinity:
Passages where the rule applies (e.g., Titus 2:13) explicitly identify Jesus as both God and Savior, countering interpretations that try to separate the roles of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Supported by Historical Usage:
Other ancient Greek writers (outside Scripture) often use the same grammatical structure to describe a single person when meeting Sharp’s criteria.
Textual Precision:
The rule relies on careful observation of article usage and case forms, which are critical features of Greek grammar.
Limitations and Considerations
Exceptions in Non-Personal Nouns:
Sharp’s Rule only applies to singular, personal nouns. For example, it does not apply to phrases involving non-personal or plural nouns (e.g., "faith and truth").
Ambiguity in Some Texts:
In some instances, context might suggest that two distinct persons are being referenced, even if the grammar theoretically fits Sharp’s Rule.
Dependency on Manuscript Variants:
The rule applies specifically to texts in the Greek New Testament, particularly the Textus Receptus or critical editions like the Nestle-Aland 28th edition. Differences in manuscript traditions can sometimes affect the grammatical structure being analyzed.
Misuse or Overextension:
Critics sometimes argue that the rule is overstated to "prove" theological points. However, its proper application is limited to contexts where the grammar and syntax meet the precise conditions Sharp outlined.
Challenges to the Rule
Some critics have suggested that Sharp’s Rule might not be universally applicable, arguing that exceptions exist in non-biblical Greek texts. However, these exceptions often involve either plural nouns, proper names, or different syntactical contexts that do not meet Sharp’s strict criteria.
The Granville Sharp Rule is a reliable and well-supported grammatical principle for interpreting New Testament Greek. While not without limitations, it remains a robust tool for understanding key Christological passages. Its proper application—aligned with careful contextual and grammatical analysis—provides strong evidence for the New Testament's portrayal of Jesus as both God and Savior.
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Johann.
