As many know doubt know, John 1:11 says, more or less, "Jesus came into his own [things, property, possessions, etc], but his own [people?] did not receive him"
In greek, this reads "eis ta idia elthen, kai oi idioi auton ou parelabon" (or for those of you who have or wish to download the free greek font SPionic, the non-transliterated greek:
ei0v ta\ i1dia h]lqen, kai\ oi9 i1dioi au0to\n ou0 pare/labon
Pretty straitforward. However, the reason for this post (not much of a reason, I will admit), is the words used to describe Jesus' own. The first time, the word "ta idia" (τὰ ίδια
is in the neuter plural, and can mean literally Jesus' "own things or possessions," even "his own home." The second time, however, the word is hoi idioi (οι ίδιοι, a masculine plural, which could indicate that John is talking about his own people, rather than his own possessions.
What is interesting for me here is not the reason or meaning behing the switch, whatever that may be, but the evolution of the Greek word idios. This word actually survives, albeit with a changed form and meaning, in the English language. The Greek word passed into latin (idiota), and then into Old French (idiot), and finally into English, where (obviously) it means a stupid or foolish person. Now, if the authors of the Gospels were actually inspired by an all-knowing God, perhaps the word choice looks forward to later meanings, or perhaps by the time of the New Testament, the koine Greek word meant the same as the latin (ignorant person). Maybe John really did mean that Jesus came among idiots.
And yes, I really did write all that just to make a play on the words. I'm on vacation.
In greek, this reads "eis ta idia elthen, kai oi idioi auton ou parelabon" (or for those of you who have or wish to download the free greek font SPionic, the non-transliterated greek:
ei0v ta\ i1dia h]lqen, kai\ oi9 i1dioi au0to\n ou0 pare/labon
Pretty straitforward. However, the reason for this post (not much of a reason, I will admit), is the words used to describe Jesus' own. The first time, the word "ta idia" (τὰ ίδια
is in the neuter plural, and can mean literally Jesus' "own things or possessions," even "his own home." The second time, however, the word is hoi idioi (οι ίδιοι, a masculine plural, which could indicate that John is talking about his own people, rather than his own possessions.What is interesting for me here is not the reason or meaning behing the switch, whatever that may be, but the evolution of the Greek word idios. This word actually survives, albeit with a changed form and meaning, in the English language. The Greek word passed into latin (idiota), and then into Old French (idiot), and finally into English, where (obviously) it means a stupid or foolish person. Now, if the authors of the Gospels were actually inspired by an all-knowing God, perhaps the word choice looks forward to later meanings, or perhaps by the time of the New Testament, the koine Greek word meant the same as the latin (ignorant person). Maybe John really did mean that Jesus came among idiots.
And yes, I really did write all that just to make a play on the words. I'm on vacation.
