THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST IS CORROBORATED BY GRANVILLE SHARP'S RULE #1 WHEN IT FOLLOWS CONTEXT UNENCUMBERED BY UNWARRANTED EXCEPTIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The execution of this study must be via the framework in which Scripture was written: a framework which is defined by the normative rules of language, context and logic - rules which do not impose undue, unintended meanings to the text . It contains excerpts from an article by D. B. Wallace entitled “The Article with Multiple Substantives Connected by Καί in the New Testament: Semantics and Significance"

https://bible.org/article/sharp-redivivus-reexamination-granville-sharp-rule 1

[BSM.net]:

[with comments inserted in brackets by the author of biblestudymanuals.net]

I) INTRODUCTION

****** EXCERPT FROM STUDY ON THE CONTENT OF SAVING FAITH ******

THE CONTENT OF WHAT ONE MUST DO FOR SALVATION UNTO LIFE DOES NOT REQUIRE A KNOWLEDGE OF OR BELIEF IN NON-ESSENTIAL-FOR-SALVATION-UNTO-ETERNAL-LIFE DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH SUCH AS THE DEITY OF CHRIST, TRINITY, UNLIMITED ATONEMENT, UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION, THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, ETC.

ON THE OTHER HAND CERTAIN NON-ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION BELIEFS WHICH ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE REQUIRED SAVING CONTENT SUCH AS THE DEITY OF CHRIST, HIS RESURRECTION, THE TRINITY, ONE GOD, OR THAT NO KIND OF FAITHFULNESS IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO BE / STAY SAVED, ETC MUST NOT BE DISBELIEVED AT THE TIME THAT SAVING FAITH IS EXPRESSED WHICH DISBELIEF WOULD NEGATE BEING SAVED AT ALL. ALBEIT A BORN AGAIN BELIEVER MIGHT LATER FALL INTO SUCH APOSTASY YET STILL REMAIN SAVED

1) [Consider Jn 3:16]:

2) [Compare to 1 Jn 5:1]:

3) [And Compare to Jn 20:31]:

4) [Compare Ro 4:22-24 ]:

****** END EXCERPT ON STUDY ON CONTENT OF SAVING FAITH ******

II) GRANVILLE SHARP'S, "REMARKS ON THE USES OF THE DEFINITIVE ARTICLE"

A) ALTHOUGH THERE IS MUCH TO BE SAID FOR SHARP'S SIX RULES FOR CLARIFYING THE USE OF THE DEFINITIVE ARTICLE IN TSKS / TDAD CONSTRUCTIONS; OVER THE YEARS, THE RULES OF THE PROPER INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS UNWARRANTED EXCEPTIONS MADE UPON THEM BY OTHERS INCLUDING SHARP HIMSELF

B) THE NORMAL RULES OF LANGUAGE, CONTEXT AND LOGIC OPERATE LEGITIMATELY WITHIN A TDAD / TSKS CONSTRUCTIONS WITHOUT UNWARRANTED RESTRICTIONS - SHARP'S RULE #1 AND ALL SIX RULES CORROBORATE THIS WHEN HIS RESTRICTIONS ARE REPLACED WITH AN APPLICABLE CATEGORY OF CONTEXT TO THE PASSAGE AT HAND

1) Examples Of The Category Of TDAD / TSKS Constructions From Scripture Which May Have A Unique Identity of a Singular Person In View

a) 2 Cor 1:2-3

b) 2 Cor 11:31

c) Eph 6:21-22

d) Phil 4:20

e) Heb 2:9-10; 3:1-4

f) Jas 3:8-10

g) 2 Pet 2:20

h) Rev 16:15

C) RELATIVE TO THE GRANVILLE SHARP RULES AND SHARP'S CRITICS: THE MISAPPLICATION OF THE NORMATIVE RULES OF LANGUAGE, CONTEXT AND LOGIC AND THE IMPOSITION OF UNWARRANTED RESTRICTIONS BY BOTH SIDES UPON THE PROPER INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE HAVE DIMINISHED THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS FOR OVER TWO CENTURIES

1) [2 Pet 1:1]:

2) 2 Pet 1:11

3) [Titus 2:13

III) LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF 1ST CENTURY KOINE GREEK GRAMMAR RE: THE USE OF THE ARTICLE TO DESCRIBE COMMON AND / OR EQUAL - OR UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AND / OR IDENTITIES - SINGULAR OR PLURAL, PERSONAL OR IMPERSONAL IN NATURE

A) The Nature Of The Linguistic Analysis Of The Definite Article In 1st Century Koine Greek Grammar In General Is One Of The Capacity Of The Definite Article To Determine Concepts That Add To The Basic Definition Of A Subject Giving It A Unique, Common Or Equal Concept Which Is an Identity / Experience: Singular Or Plural, Personal Or Impersonal In Nature As Established In The Particular Context

B) The Use Of The Article In A TSKS / TDAD Construction Conveys Common And / Or Equal - Or Unique Experiences And / Or Identities - Singular Or Plural, Personal Or Impersonal In Nature Depending Upon Context Ascertained Via The Normative Rules Of Language, Context And Logic

1) Mt 16:1

2) Lk 21:12

3) Mt 27:56

4) Rev 1:9

5) Heb 12:2-3

6) Eph 1:2-3

7) Acts 17:10-12

8) Eph 3:17-19

a) Eph 3:6-16: Background Verses To Establish The Context:

b) Eph 3:17-19: Key Verses Which Contain The Key TDAD / TSKS Phrases

9) Eph 2:11-14

a) [Compare Eph 3:4-6]:

10) Mt 12:22

11) Lk 20:37

a) [Compare Ex 3:6]:

12) Mt 16:21

C) The Proper Analysis Of The TDAD / TSKS Constructions Which Appear In Christologically Significant Passages Is The Same Analysis To Be Properly Performed Upon Other Passages Without Unproved Unwarranted Restrictions

1) The Proper Approach To The Interpretation Of TDAD / TSKS Constructions In Christologically Significant Passages Is Via The Normative Rules Of Language, Context and Logic - Without Unproved Unwarranted Restrictions

a) Proper Nouns - Personal And Impersonal - In Christologically Significant Passages - In TDAD / TSKS Constructions Need Not Be Excluded Depending Upon  Context

b) Plural Nouns / Descriptions In Christologically Significant Passages In TDAD / TSKS Constructions Need Not Be Excluded Depending Upon Context

i) Acts 13:9]:

c) Impersonal Nouns Which Are Located In Christologically Significant Passages In TDAD / TSKS Constructions Need Not Be Excluded Depending Upon Context

i) Phil 2:19-25

ii) 2 Cor 6:1-7

d) Plural Nouns In TDAD/ TSKS Constructions Which Are Not Christologically Significant Need Not Be Excluded Depending Upon Context

2) The Proper Approach To The Interpretation Of TDAD / TSKS Constructions In The New Testament Which Validates Sharp's Rules Is Via The Normative Rules Of Language, Context And Logic - Without Unproved Unwarranted Restrictions

a) Introduction

i) Eph 1:3

ii) in Jas 3:9

iii) Mark 6:3

iv) in Eph 2:14

v) in Phil 2:19-25

vi) Heb 3:1

vii) in Jn 9:8

viii) 2 Pet 1:11

b) Examples Of Nouns In TDAD / TSKS Constructions In The New Testament - Including Proper Nouns

i) Mark 6:3

ii) Lk 20:37

ii_a) [Compare Ex 3:6]:

iii) Jn 20:17

iv) Ro 15:6

v) 1 Cor 15:24

vi) 2 Cor 1:2-3

vii) 2 Cor 11:31

viii) Gal 1:4

ix) Eph 1:2-3

x) Eph 5:20

xi) Eph 6:21-22

xii) Phil 4:20

xiii) Col 4:7

xiv) 1 Thes 1:3

xv) 1 Thes 3:11

xvi) Titus 2:13

xvii) 1 Thes 3:13

xviii) 1 Tim 6:15

xix) Heb 3:1

xx) Heb 12:2-3

xxi) Jas 1:27

xxii) Jas 3:8-10

xxiii) 1 Pet 1:3

xxiv) 1 Pet 2:25

xxv) 1 Pet 4:17-18

xxvi) 1 Pet 5:1

xxvii) 2 Pet 1:1

xxix) 2 Pet 1:11

xxx) 2 Pet 2:20

xxxi) 2 Pet 3:2

xxxii) 2 Pet 3:18

xxxiii) Jude 1:4

xxxiv) Rev 1:5-6

xxxv) Rev 1:9

c) Participles In The TDAD / TSKS Construction In The New Testament Will Not All Be Unique Identities Of Singular Persons As Some Contend

i) Mt 7:26

iii) Mt 27:40

iv) Mk 15:29

v) Lk 6:47-48

vi) Lk 6:47-49

vii) Lk 12:19-21

viii) Lk 16:18

ix) Jn 5:24

x) Jn 6:33

xi) Jn 6:40

xii) Jn 6:45

xiii) Jn 6:54

xiii_a) The Meaning Of Jn 6:53-56 Was Established By Jn 6:35, 40 and 51:

xiii_b) [Jn 6:53-56 compared with Jn 6:35, 40, 51]:

xiv) Jn 6:56

xv) Jn 8:49-50

xvi) Jn 9:8

xvii) Jn 11:2

xviii) Jn 11:23-26

ix) Jn 12:48

xx) Jn 14:21

xxi) Acts 10:34-35

xxii) Acts 15:36-38

xxiii) 1 Cor 11:23-29

xxiv) 1 Cor 16:13-16

xxv) 2 Cor 1:19-22

xxvi) 2 Cor 5:14-15

xxvii) Gal 1:11-15

xxviii) Gal 3:5

xxix) Eph 2:14

xxix_a) [Compare Eph 3:4-6]

xxx) 2 Thes 2:4

xxxi) Heb 7:1

xxxii) Jas 1:25

xxxiii) 1 Jn 2:4

xxxiv) 1 Jn 2:9

xxxv) 2 Jn 1:9

xxxvi) Rev 1:5-6

xxxvii) Rev 16:15

xxxviii) Rev 22:8

d) Adjectives In The TSKS / TDAD Personal Construction In The New Testament Will Not All Be In Accordance With Sharp's Rule #1 - But Will Fit One Of The Categories In Sharp's Canon Without The Need For Unwarranted Exceptions

i) Acts 3:14

ii) Philemon 1:1

iii) 1 Pet 4:17-18

iv) Rev 3:17

e) Mixed Elements in the TSKS Personal Construction In The New Testament Occur

i) Phil 2:19-25

ii) 1 Thes 3:2

iii) 1 Tim 5:5

3) The Use Of The TSKS / TDAD Construction In Extra-NT Greek Writings Validates Sharp's Canon Without The Use Of Unwarranted Exclusions

a) The Use Of The TSKS / TDAD Construction In Classical Greek Writings

b) The Use Of The TSKS / TDAD Construction In Non-Literary Greek Papyri - Koine Greek

i) P. Grenf. ii. 87. 10-11

ii) P. Tebt. 392. 17

iii) P. Eleph. 2.13

iv) in BGU 423.1

v) in P. Oxy. 528.1

vi) in P. Lond. 417.1

vii) in P. Oxy. 925.2-3

viii) “the eternal Augustus and Imperator”

ix) P. Oxy. 494.22-23

x) P. Giess. 80.3-4

xi) BGU 1680.4-8

xii) P. Columb. Inventory 480.2-3

c) Exceptions To The Sharp Rule #1 Outside The New Testament

i) Aristotle

ii) Septuagint

ii_a) Prov 24:21 from the LXX

iii) Herodotus

iii_a) Compare Phil 2:25

iv) Patristic Writings

v) Strabo

vi) Sophocles

D) SUMMARY

IV) THE CHRISTOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT TEXTS

A) Sharp’s Application To Christologically Significant Texts Does Not Require Unwarranted Exceptions If The Text Is Properly Interpreted

1) Acts 20:28

2) Eph 5:5

3) 2 Thes 1:12

4) 1 Tim 5:21

5) 2 Tim 4:1

6) Titus 2:13

7) 2 Pet 1:1

8) Jude 4

B) Additional Testing Of Passages Outside Of The Bible Validates  Sharp's Rule #1 Provided The Texts Are Properly Interpreted Via The Normative Rules of Language, Context And Logic

1) Patristic Writings On Christological Texts Confirm Sharp's Rule #1

2) Θεός And Σωτήρ [God And Savior] In The Bible And In Extra Biblical Writings Of The First Century

a) The first century extra biblical writing did not influence the meaning of "Θεός kai Σωτήρ" [God and Savior] in the New Testament Greek Bible, The Old Testament Hebrew Bible did

i) [Compare Jude 1:24-25]:

ii) [Compare Titus 1:1-4; 2:11-14; 3:4-7]:

on Titus 2:13

1) General Syntactical Considerations Favor Following The Normative Rules Of Language, Context And Logic

2) Θεός [Theos] As A Proper Noun And Two Key  Christological Passages On The Deity Of Christ Investigated In The Light Of Sharp's Rule #1

a) Θεός [Theos] As A Proper Name

i) Ex 7:1

ii) Nouns Vs. Proper Nouns Relative To The Greek Words Rendered "God"

iii) Θεός [Theos] Can Speak Of The True God

iv) Θεός [Theos] Can Refer To False Gods

v) Θεός [Theos] Also Can Mean Humans

b) TITUS 2:13:

i) The context of "God," "Savior," and "Christ Jesus" in Titus 2:13 is unique and refers to the same Savior. Hence Christ Jesus is God and Savior

i_a) [Compare Titus 1:1-4]:

i_b) [Compare Titus 2:11]:

i_b_1) [Compare 2 Tim 1:10]:

i_b_2) [Compare Titus 3:4-7]:

i_c) [Compare 2 Thes 2:1]:

i_d) [Compare Titus 2:11-13]:

i_d_1) [Manuscript Evidence of Titus 2:13]:

i_d_2) The message of Titus 2:13 begins at verse 11

i_d_3) Then the message of Titus 2:13 continues into verse 12

i_d_4) Then the message of Titus 2:11-13 continues into the key verse Titus 2:13

b cont.) Titus 2:13 (cont.)

ii) Despite its context, Titus 2:13 is contended by some to have at least three possibilities of interpretation at least two of which do not line up with the actual context

iii) The Basic Argument For This Third View Is Threefold

iii_a) The TSKS construction refers to one person

iii_b) It is falsely maintained that the word rendered "Savior" refers to God alone

iii_c) It is falsely maintained that the two descriptions "the blessed hope and glory" are terms / titles for Christ, leaving the rest of the verse, "our great God and Savior" to refer to God alone

iv) There are three difficulties with the view that the two descriptions "the blessed hope and glory" are terms / titles for Christ alone; leaving the rest of the verse, "our great God and Savior" to refer to God alone

iv_a) The interpretation is forced, awkward and too subtle for the average reader

iv_b) The word rendered Savior is used of both Christ and God

iv_c) There is no evidence in Scripture that "glory of the great God and Savior" or "glory of God" is a title for Christ

c) 2 Pet 1:1

i) 2 Pet 1:1: The Possessive Pronoun Within The TSKS/ TDAD Construction Of 2 Pet 1:1 Does Not Disqualify It From Meeting Sharp's Rules

ii) 2 Pet 1:11, 2:20 and 3:18 Also Have A Possessive Pronoun In Their TSKS / TDAD Constructions Which Do Not Disqualify Them From Meeting Sharp's Rules

iii) Since Other Passages In Scripture Have A Possessive Pronoun In Its TSKS / TDAD Construction Which Does Not Disqualify Them From Meeting Sharp's Rules, Then The Possessive Pronoun In 2 Pet 1:1 Does Not Qualify It Either

iii_a) [1 Thes 3:2]:

iii_b) [Rev 1:9]:

iv) Passages In The Papyri That Have A Possessive Pronoun In Its TSKS / TDAD Construction Which Does Not Disqualify Them From Meeting Sharp's Rules

iv a) P. Lond. 417.1

iv b) Sitzungsber. Preuss. Ak. (1911, p. 796)

iv c) P. Oxy. 2106. 24-25

iv d) BGU 1035.1

3) Patristic Writings Have A Number Of Exceptions To Sharp's Rule #1

a) Polycarp

b) Clement of Alexandria

V) CONCLUSION

FOOTNOTES