Another Day

Behind the Scenes: Sometimes a particular verse may give me problems (the fault lies in my limited skills and poor English, I’m sure), like this weeks’ 1 Peter 1:7, focusing on “may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” based on the NKJV. My problem is in the reading and meaning of “may be found to praise”, with the emphasis being on the word “to”. A cursory read would seem that the matter (genuineness of faith) may be found in the condition of praise, honour and glory (as in praising, honouring and glorifying) God at the revelation of Jesus Christ. However, this is based on my understanding of the word “to”, which is a ‘changer’, as in ‘to make into’. Anyway, the KJV and older versions use the word “unto”, which means the same in modern English (at least it is to me).

ML concurred with me on this; the faith of the person may be found to be praising, honouring and glorifying God at the Last Day – Christians ought to persevere to the end. Except that the old commentators were giving other interpretations. Here is where I would have to break down the sentence into the Greek and find the proper structure of the sentence and how the words relate to each one. A useful program I have does this for me:

δὲ (conjunction, logical, contrastive)
but, and, now, (a connective or adversative particle)
Contained in: Relative Clause
Syntactic Force: Adversative conjunction
Words Modified by δὲ
• conjunctive relation: The word δὲ modifies ἀπολλυμένου (verb) in 1Pe 1:7, word 10 (ἀπολλυμένου is outside of the current clausal unit).
• conjunctive relation: The word δὲ modifies δοκιμαζομένου (verb) in 1Pe 1:7, word 14 (δοκιμαζομένου is outside of the current clausal unit).

δοκιμαζομένου (verb, present, passive, participle, singular, genitive, neuter)
to test, by impl. to approve
Contained in: Segment Clause
Syntactic Force: This attributive participle functions as the verb of its clause.
Words That Modify δοκιμαζομένου
• conjunctive relation: The word δοκιμαζομένου is modified by δὲ (conjunction) in 1Pe 1:7, word 13 (δὲ is outside of the current clausal unit).

εὑρεθῇ (verb, aorist, passive, subjunctive, third person, singular)
to find
Contained in: Subordinate Clause
Syntactic Force: Finite verb
Words That Modify εὑρεθῇ
• prepositional relation: The word εὑρεθῇ is modified by εἰς (preposition) in 1Pe 1:7, word 16 (εἰς is outside of the current clausal unit).
• prepositional relation: The word εὑρεθῇ is modified by ἐν (preposition) in 1Pe 1:7, word 22 (ἐν is outside of the current clausal unit).

εἰς (preposition)
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, fig. purpose, result)
Contained in: Prepositional Phrase
Syntactic Force: Preposition of direction
Words Modified by εἰς
• prepositional relation: The word εἰς modifies εὑρεθῇ (verb) in 1Pe 1:7, word 15 (εὑρεθῇ is outside of the current clausal unit).

ἔπαινον (noun, accusative, singular, masculine)
praise
Contained in: Prepositional Phrase
Syntactic Force: Prepositional object
Words That Modify ἔπαινον
• conjunctive relation: The word ἔπαινον is modified by καὶ (conjunction) in 1Pe 1:7, word 18 (καὶ is within the current clausal unit, after ἔπαινον).

καὶ (conjunction, logical, connective)
and, even, also
Contained in: Prepositional Phrase
Syntactic Force: Copulative conjunction
Words Modified by καὶ
• conjunctive relation: The word καὶ modifies ἔπαινον (noun) in 1Pe 1:7, word 17 (ἔπαινον is within the current clausal unit, before καὶ).
• conjunctive relation: The word καὶ modifies δόχαν (noun) in 1Pe 1:7, word 19 (δόχαν is within the current clausal unit, after καὶ).

δόξαν (noun, accusative, singular, feminine)
opinion (always good in N.T.), hence praise, honor, glory
Contained in: Prepositional Phrase
Syntactic Force: Prepositional object
Words That Modify δόξαν
• conjunctive relation: The word δόξαν is modified by καὶ (conjunction) in 1Pe 1:7, word 18 (καὶ is within the current clausal unit, before δόξαν).
• conjunctive relation: The word δόξαν is modified by καὶ (conjunction) in 1Pe 1:7, word 20 (καὶ is within the current clausal unit, after δόξαν).

καὶ (conjunction, logical, connective)
and, even, also
Contained in: Prepositional Phrase
Syntactic Force: Copulative conjunction
Words Modified by καὶ
• conjunctive relation: The word καὶ modifies δόχαν (noun) in 1Pe 1:7, word 19 (δόχαν is within the current clausal unit, before καὶ).
• conjunctive relation: The word καὶ modifies τιμὴν (noun) in 1Pe 1:7, word 21 (τιμὴν is within the current clausal unit, after καὶ).

τιμὴν (noun, accusative, singular, feminine)
a valuing, a price
Contained in: Prepositional Phrase
Syntactic Force: Prepositional object
Words That Modify τιμὴν
• conjunctive relation: The word τιμὴν is modified by καὶ (conjunction) in 1Pe 1:7, word 20 (καὶ is within the current clausal unit, before τιμὴν).

ἐν (preposition)
in, on, at, by, with
Contained in: Prepositional Phrase
Syntactic Force: Preposition of manner
Words Modified by ἐν
• prepositional relation: The word ἐν modifies εὑρεθῇ (verb) in 1Pe 1:7, word 15 (εὑρεθῇ is outside of the current clausal unit).

ἀποκαλύψει (noun, dative, singular, feminine)
an uncovering
Contained in: Prepositional Phrase
Syntactic Force: Prepositional object
Words That Modify ἀποκαλύψει
• adjective-like relation: The word ἀποκαλύψει is modified by Ἰησοῦ (noun) in 1Pe 1:7, word 24 (Ἰησοῦ is within the current clausal unit, after ἀποκαλύψει).
• adjective-like relation: The word ἀποκαλύψει is modified by Χριστοῦ (noun) in 1Pe 1:7, word 25 (Χριστοῦ is within the current clausal unit, after ἀποκαλύψει).

The main thing this information tells me is that the sentence (phrase actually) is in the passive sense. It is not in its active voice. It is actually an action done by a 3rd person (in the context, God). This agrees to the real usage of the word “unto” or “to” used in the KJV & NKJV: used to show that you are starting to talk about a different subject http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=55520&dict=CALD

Phew… that changes quite a bit of my previous understanding of the phrase. The approval of the Christian’s faith will be found (brought to light) by God, and be rewarded with praise, honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, in His Second Coming. The implications are definitely different from the former understanding.

Very satisfying for me

I keep finding this account from some websites. It is a good one used mainly to counter Evolutionists. I believe the application could be broaden up considerably. Here goes:

An experiment was conducted in which six bees and six flies were placed inside a bottle. The bottle was turned on its side with its base facing the light coming through the window. At the other end, the mouth of the bottle was open. In that situation it was discovered that bees will persist in trying to find their way to freedom through the base-until they die of hunger or exhaustion. It seems that the bees’ attraction to light is their undoing in this experiment. The light shining through the base seems to convince them that there is no other way out. And so they press up against the bottom of the bottle closing themselves off from all other possibilities. Consequently, they cannot discover the opening at the other end of the bottle. The feather brained flies, on the other hand, all get out of the bottle within two minutes. Seemingly unconcerned, they just keep buzzing all around inside until they venture out to freedom through the neck and out the opening. Thus, the bees remain prisoners of their own logic while the flies meet the good fortune that often awaits the simple.

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