John 14:14 and 1 Timothy 1:12

[Deleted]

Hello,
There are differences amongst Bible translations of how John 14:14 is translated. Some, such as the NWT, leave out the word 'me' from the verse; others include the word 'me'. What is the correct translation?

Also, the NWT has 1 Timothy 1:12 as: "I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord...", whereas every other popular translation states "I thank Christ Jesus", not "I am grateful."
What is the correct translation of that also?

Much thanks

[Greg Stafford]

Dec 31, 2011 20:31:16 GMT -8 @refiner said:

Hello,
There are differences amongst Bible translations of how John 14:14 is translated. Some, such as the NWT, leave out the word 'me' from the verse; others include the word 'me'. What is the correct translation?

Also, the NWT has 1 Timothy 1:12 as: "I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord...", whereas every other popular translation states "I thank Christ Jesus", not "I am grateful."
What is the correct translation of that also?

Much thanks

Hello, Ambergem:

In addition to my comments on the subject of to whom we should pray/speak openly/privately in a religious context in the "Worship" thread, let me here add to what has already been said by noting with respect to John 14:14 that "me" is found in B and 'aleph. It is not in A. It is not in D. According to Metzger (Textual Commentary, 2nd ed., page 208), verse 14 is omitted entirely from ancient Latin, Syrian, and Armenian witnesses, and two witnesses (249 and 397) use "the Father" where A and B have "me" (= "ask the Father," not, "ask me").

P66 is not clear (P75 is missing this part of John 14). While Swanson (John, page 202) shows "me" in P66, the text of John 14:14 in P66 is printed in Comfort and Barrett (Text of the Earliest New Testament[2001], page 445) as EAN TI AITHSHTAI MAI, with a third person form of the verb AITEW and MAI, not ME.

With or without "me" in John 14:14, this text changes nothing where it concerns to whom we "must" (imperative) pray (the Father [Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2]) and to whom we can pray/speak if the occassion calls for it (see Acts 1:3-9; 7:55-60; 9:1-6). This fits perfectly with the subjunctive form of AITEW used, for example, in B and 'aleph, along with EAN in John 14:14, even with "me."

So there is a clear difference between what we must do and what we can do, as Christians, when praying or when speaking to Jah the Father or to Jesus his Son.--See also John 15:16; 16:23.

Regarding 1 Timothy 1:12, the use of ECHW suggests more of a disposition one is 'holding' toward another, in this case one of thanks/gratitude. If a verb such as DIDWMI or EUCHARISTEW (compare Romans 1:8) were used, then there would be more the kind of verbal action you seem to have in mind and so also more suggestive of 'giving thanks,' as you would do in a prayer or in some other type of open expression of thanks. But ECHW does not seem to suggest that kind of sense here in 1 Timothy 1:12.

Greg Stafford