05_Biblica_Do_Layout 1 08/07/13 12:57 Pagina 428 428 TOAN DO Several points should be noted here. First, the occurrence of ko,smoj with prepositions in 1 John (only 11 times) hardly provides any specific pattern of thought. A clear example is eivj in 4,1 and 4,9: 4,1 has a negative connotation regarding false prophets, while the same preposition in 4,9 indicates the divine love by which God sent his only Son into the world. It is evident that a preposition does not carry a negative or positive connotation by itself 54. Second, there is a tendency to combine the usage of evn with that of eivj in the NT. Bieringer points out that in Koine Greek the dis- tinction between evn and eivj has already disappeared, and that eivj has taken over more and more the meaning of evn. This is further reflected by the fact that in modern Greek evn has entirely disappeared 55. Bieringer ’s overall observation views eivj as indicating a locative value 56. In 1 John, however, the uses of evn or eivj modifying ko,smoj seem to distinguish clearly between the locative value of evn and the directional aspect of eivj 57. Moreover, the Johannine authors often tend to use eivj as a technical term. In 1 John there are only two oc- casions where ko,smoj is used with eivj. There is a clear contrast in the expression eivj to.n ko,smon “into the world” in 4,1 and 4,9. The former denotes the false prophets who have come out (or “ap- peared”) in the world, while the latter specifically means the incar- nation of the Son of God who has come into the world 58. In short, it seems difficult to find a specific pattern of thought for the use of ko,smoj with any preposition. The meanings vary based on specific contexts, to which we now turn. Cf. MOULE, Idiom-Book, 62-63; and MOULTON – TURNER, Syntax, 269- 54 270. BIERINGER, “Text-Critical Problems of John 16,13”, 183. Cf. M. ZER- 55 Biblical Greek (SPIB 114; Rome 82005) §§ 99-111. WICK, F. BLASS and A. DEBRUNNER, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament 56 and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago, Il 1961) §§ 205, 218, esp. §205, points out that “eivj has absorbed the related preposition evn (in conjunc- tion with the disappearance of the dative)”. BLASS - DEBRUNNER, Greek Grammar, §205, state: “The Epistles and, 57 still more surprisingly, Rev exhibit a correct differentiation between eivj and evn in the local sense”. VON WAHLDE, Gospel and Letters of John, III,148-149; III.157. 58 © Gregorian Biblical Press 2013 - Tutti i diritti riservati