Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 84:1 (Spring 2022)
Article: On The Syntax Of 1 John 2:8
Author: Steven M. Baugh

WTJ 84:1 (Spring 2022) p. 39

On The Syntax Of 1 John 2:8

S. M. Baugh

S. M. Baugh is Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Westminster Seminary California.

The neuter relative pronoun ὅ in 1 John 2:8 often ends up being linked by interpreters and translators with the preceding feminine noun “new commandment” (ἐντολὴ καινή). But this creates certain grammatical and interpretive problems out of the author’s statement in this verse. The best solution, however, is to take the pronoun not as referring to an antecedent which precedes but to the ὅτι clause which follows as a postcedent. While this precise postcedent construction with a neuter relative pronoun and a ὅτι clause has no parallel in the NT, it is abundantly found in Greek authors spanning many centuries before and after the NT period. This article argues for a postcedent interpretation by showing analogous examples from over a dozen Greek authors and then showing how 1 John 2:8 teaches a robust inaugurated eschatology when properly interpreted.

I. Introduction1

Greek relative pronouns are hardly very interesting, and they rarely demand much attention beyond simply noting the antecedent and perhaps the case form.2 But there are exceptions, and one such exception is found in 1 John 2:8, which is very interesting indeed. Not only does it turn out to be part of a construction unique within the NT—though common in Greek at large—but it is theologically quite interesting in it own right. Here is the target passage with the previous verse for context:

Ἀγαπητοί, οὐκ ἐντολὴν καινὴν γράφω ὑμῖν ἀλλ᾽ ἐντολὴν παλαιὰν ἣν εἴχετε ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς·ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ παλαιά ἐστιν ὁ λόγος ὃν ἠκούσατε. 8 πάλιν ἐντολὴν καινὴν γράφω ὑμῖν, ὅ ἐστιν ἀληθὲς ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν, ὅτι ἡ σκοτία παράγεται καὶ τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν ἤδη φαίνει. (1 John 2:7–8; NA28)

The central question before us is, with what does the neuter relative pronoun (ὅ) in v. 8 link? The feminine relative pronoun in v. 7