Re: Eru, the Word and Greek syntax (was Re: Finnish, IE, Germanic)

En réponse à "Isaac A. Penzev" <isaacp@...>:

>
> I thought somebody of our specialists in Classic Langs would pay
> attention.
> OK, since nobody reacts, I'll say a few words.
> What is a subject and what is a predicate in your sentence "and Eru
> was the Word"?
> If "Eru" is a subject and "was the Word" a predicate, then it's
> unfortunately wrong.
> The original text says "kai theos e:n ho logos". Since the word
> "theos" is used *without* definite article, and "ho logos" *with*
> d.a., then "th" is predicative and "l" is subject.
> Which gives us the only possible interpretation of the phrase:
> "and the Word was [the same as] Eru".
> Otherwise it may bring us to idea that the Word (G-d forbid!) was the
> only manifestation of Eru
> (which, although, is a common theological misinterpretation based on
> wrong exegesis).
>
But it is Tolkien's creation myth, which may be strongly influenced by the
Christian one, but is not identical. And IIRC the main, if only trait of Eru is
to be the Word. Although I don't know very well the creation myth of Middle
Earth, so I may be wrong.

Christophe.

http://rainbow.conlang.free.fr

Take your life as a movie: do not let anybody else play the leading role.

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