I agree. This actually follows from
John 1:12.
I agree. This actually follows from
John 1:12.
One of my disagreements with the OSAS crowd is over their interpretation of John 1:12. Instead of understanding that receiving Him and believing in His name yields the "power" (
ἐξουσίαν) to become sons of God, they treat the verse as though receiving Him and believing in His name made them into "automatic" sons of God, without more. It's a nice thought. And for all I know, it may even be true. But distilling it from John 1:12? Sorry, that's a stretch.
John 1:12 (NKJV):
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right
(ἐξουσίαν) to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
The Verb "to receive" (ἔλαβον):
The Greek verb ἔλαβον ("received") signifies an
active response. The act of "receiving Him" implies an intentional acceptance of Jesus and His message, and it is in the past tense, pointing to a specific action in time.
"To Believe" (πιστεύουσιν):
The present participle πιστεύουσιν ("believe") emphasizes continuous action in the Greek, suggesting that believing in His name is not a one-time act, but an ongoing, living faith.
This counters the idea of a singular, "automatic" event of sonship. The verse does not imply that merely believing once secures one's status as a child of God.
The Term "Power" or "Right" (ἐξουσίαν):
The word ἐξουσίαν is crucial here. It means "authority," "right," or "power." It indicates the potential or privilege to become a child of God,
not that the person is automatically made a child of God simply by believing. This word suggests there is more to becoming a son of God than the initial belief—
there is a granting of authority, which involves a process of becoming.
"To Become" (γενέσθαι):
The verb γενέσθαι ("to become") is aorist infinitive, which indicates that "becoming" a child of God is something granted but not yet fully realized. It suggests a transition from potential to actuality, implying that one is given the potential, or the right, but it is not necessarily an automatic result of belief alone.
Syntactical Flow:
The verse presents a progression:
First: There is the receiving of Christ.
Second: Those who receive Him are granted the right to become children of God.
Third: This right is given to those who are continually believing in His name.
The structure shows that "receiving" and "believing" are conditions for obtaining the authority to become God's children. However, it does not state that belief alone automatically results in sonship. Instead, it speaks of the right to become something,
suggesting an ongoing transformation or process beyond the initial faith.
John 1:12 (NKJV):
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right (ἐξουσίαν) to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
Key Issues for Exegesis:
The Verb "to receive" (ἔλαβον):
The Greek verb ἔλαβον ("received") signifies an active response. The act of "receiving Him" implies an intentional acceptance of Jesus and His message, and it is in the past tense, pointing to a specific action in time.
"To Believe" (πιστεύουσιν):
The present participle πιστεύουσιν ("believe") emphasizes continuous action in the Greek, suggesting that believing in His name is not a one-time act, but an ongoing, living faith. This counters the idea of a singular, "automatic" event of sonship. The verse does not imply that merely believing once secures one's status as a child of God.
The Term "Power" or "Right" (ἐξουσίαν):
The word ἐξουσίαν is crucial here. It means "authority," "right," or "power." It indicates the potential or privilege to become a child of God, not that the person is automatically made a child of God simply by believing.
This word suggests there is more to becoming a son of God than the initial belief—there is a granting of authority, which involves a process of becoming.
"To Become" (γενέσθαι):
The verb γενέσθαι ("to become") is aorist infinitive, which indicates that "becoming" a child of God is something granted but not yet fully realized. It suggests a transition from potential to actuality, implying that one is given the potential, or the right, but it is not necessarily an automatic result of belief alone.
Syntactical Flow:
The verse presents a progression:
First: There is the receiving of Christ.
Second: Those who receive Him are granted the right to become children of God.
Third: This right is given to those who are continually believing in His name.
The structure shows that "receiving" and "believing" are conditions for obtaining the authority to become God's children. However, it does not state that belief alone automatically results in sonship.
Instead, it speaks of the right to become something, suggesting an ongoing transformation or process beyond the initial faith.
John 1:12 (NKJV):
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right (ἐξουσίαν) to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
Key Issues for Exegesis:
The Verb "to receive" (ἔλαβον):
The Greek verb ἔλαβον ("received") signifies an active response. The act of "receiving Him" implies an intentional acceptance of Jesus and His message, and it is in the past tense, pointing to a specific action in time.
"To Believe" (πιστεύουσιν):
The present participle πιστεύουσιν ("believe") emphasizes continuous action in the Greek, suggesting that believing in His name is not a one-time act, but an ongoing, living faith. This counters the idea of a singular, "automatic" event of sonship. The verse does not imply that merely believing once secures one's status as a child of God.
The Term "Power" or "Right" (ἐξουσίαν):
The word ἐξουσίαν is crucial here. It means "authority," "right," or "power." It indicates the potential or privilege to become a child of God, not that the person is automatically made a child of God simply by believing.
This word suggests there is more to becoming a son of God than the initial belief—there is a granting of authority, which involves a process of becoming.
"To Become" (γενέσθαι):
The verb γενέσθαι ("to become") is aorist infinitive, which indicates that "becoming" a child of God is something granted but not yet fully realized. It suggests a transition from potential to actuality, implying that one is given the potential, or the right, but it is not necessarily an automatic result of belief alone.
Syntactical Flow:
The verse presents a progression:
First: There is the receiving of Christ.
Second: Those who receive Him are granted the right to become children of God.
Third: This right is given to those who are continually believing in His name.
The structure shows that "receiving" and "believing" are conditions for obtaining the authority to become God's children. However, it does not state that belief alone automatically results in sonship. Instead, it speaks of the right to become something, suggesting an ongoing transformation or process beyond the initial faith.
John 1:12 provides the framework for becoming children of God
through receiving Christ and continuing to believe in His name. The grammar and syntax emphasize that sonship is granted as a right or authority,
not an automatic outcome of belief. To interpret this as immediate or unconditional transformation into sons of God stretches beyond the text's clear meaning.
Instead, this verse calls for ongoing faith and suggests a process of becoming children of God, which may involve more than a single moment of belief.
Subtle, but I concur with you
@RedFan. Definitely a stretch.
J.
