"And the Logos was [a] theos"

 

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From https://christianityoriginal.com/mp/index.php/worship/john11

We find an interesting thing about Greek – It does not have indefinite articles (‘a’ or ‘an’).

If you wanted to say ‘I saw a tree’ in Greek, you would say ‘I saw tree’ and everyone would know you meant ‘a tree’. Therefore an English translator would automatically supply the ‘a’.

The Greek text of John 1:1 is as below. (We learnt about theos, the Greek word for god/God before).

    ‘In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with the theos, and the Logos was [a] theos’.

Should the English translator supply the intended ‘a’ or not?

It’s remarkable that John uses the definite article in the first part - the Logos was with the theos, but deliberately leaves it out in the latter – and the Logos was [a] theos.

We notice the translators had no hesitation in supplying the ‘a’ for the ‘a god’ in Acts 28:6.

Applying the principle translators have used all over the New Testament, this should read in English as,

    ‘the Word was with God (the theos), and the Word was a god (theos).'

Yes, the Logos was with God Almighty in the beginning, and the Logos was a god - a mighty being. It could also be rendered as:

    ‘the Word was with the Almighty (the theos), and the Word was mighty (theos).'

1John 1:2 confirms this too. The same John wrote both texts about the same time, to essentially make the same point.

    John 1:1 says the Word was ‘with the theos’.

  1John 1:2 says the Word was ‘with the Father’.

This clearly shows whom John considered the theos (The God Almighty) - the Father.

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Now let's take a look at Isaiah 9:6. "For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." NWT.

Now let's take a look at how other Bible translators have handled this passage:

Moffatt

"For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us; the royal dignity he wears, and this the title that he bears––"A wonder of a counselor, a divine hero, a father for all time, a peaceful prince!"

Steven T. Byington

"For we have a child born to us, a son given to us,––and dominion rests on his shoulder, and he is named Wonder-Counselor, Divine Champion, Father Ever, Captain of Peace, for ample dominion and for endless peace"

Revised English Bible

"For a child has been born to us, a son is given to us; he will bear the symbol of dominion on his shoulder, and his title will be: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Hero, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

New Revised Standard Version

"For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty god, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (notice the small "g")

Other translations might be offered, but these should be adequate to show how the words of Isaiah have been understood.

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