From Eternity to Touch: Reconsidering the Neuter Relatives in 1 John 1:1–3
This article challenges the prevailing interpretation of the neuter relative pronouns in 1 John 1:1-3. Traditionally, scholars read the four occurrences of ὅ ("what/that which") as collectively pointing to the incarnate manifestation of Jesus or the gospel message about him. This study, ho...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Neotestamentica
Year: 2025, Volume: 59, Issue: 1, Pages: 112-136 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article challenges the prevailing interpretation of the neuter relative pronouns in 1 John 1:1-3. Traditionally, scholars read the four occurrences of ὅ ("what/that which") as collectively pointing to the incarnate manifestation of Jesus or the gospel message about him. This study, however, proposes a deliberate distinction: the first ὅ refers specifically to the pre-existent Logos ("what was from the beginning"), while the following three pronouns describe its historical manifestation, accessible through human senses. A detailed grammatical and theological analysis demonstrates that this differentiation aligns closely with the explicit language of 1 John 1:2 ("the eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us"). By carefully reconsidering the structure and syntax, the study argues for a two-phase understanding of the Johannine prologue, emphasising both the eternal origin and tangible revelation of divine life. The article advances the minority reading and offers fresh insights into Johannine Christology, inviting scholarly re-engagement with this complex text. |
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| ISSN: | 2518-4628 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Neotestamentica
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/neo.2025.a977031 |
