1 Pedro 2

1 Pedro 2:3

Barnes explains that by using "if" - The apostle did not mean to express any doubt on the subject, but to state that, since they had had an experimental acquaintance with the grace of God, they should desire to increase more and more in the knowledge and love of him. (Barnes' Notes on the Bible) What is A Conditional" Clause? For more detail see Conditional Clauses in Greek Conditional clause = These dependent clauses can be identified in most English translations by beginning with the conjunction "IF". A conditional clause is a supposition (a fact that is supposed) which may or may not be true, depending on the fulfillment of certain specified conditions. A conditional clause in Greek is formed by combining a preposition with a certain verb mood (Indicative mood = fact; subjunctive = has some degree of uncertainty; optative = reflects even more uncertainty). Conditional clauses can be grouped into two general categories: (1). The first and second class conditional statements are used with the indicative mood and view the situation from a standpoint of reality, assuming the premise is either true (First Class Condition) or untrue (Second Class Condition). The speaker is simply making a declarative statement based on the assumption that what he is saying is either true or false. (2). The third and fourth class conditional statements use the subjunctive and optative moods respectively and reflect uncertainty or doubt. Summary of the Four Class Conditions of "IF" in Greek: 1. First class = (If) what follows is accepted as TRUE. Could be translated "since" or "because". True statement or fulfilled condition. Ei + any tense of indicative mood 1Peter 2:1-note, Col 1:23-note, Col 3:1-note Eph 3:2-note; Eph 4:21-note, etc Caveat - not every first class condition can accurately be translated with "since" -- see addendum below. 2. Second class = (If) what follows is NOT TRUE. Statement contrary to fact or an unfulfilled condition. Ei + past tenses of indicative mood 3. Third class = (If)… and it may be true or may not be true. Supposition where the reality of the issue is uncertain. Ean + subjunctive mood implying uncertainty 4. Fourth class = (If) = IF… it might be true, but it is very doubtful. Same expression as 3rd class but even > doubt of fulfillment. Ei + optative mood 1Peter 3:14-note CLICK HERE FOR AN EXCELLENT CHART SUMMARY OF THE FOUR CONDITIONAL CLAUSES (See more explanatory notes). FIRST CLASS CONDITION AND USE OF "SINCE" Here are some supplementary notes on whether one should use "since" in translating the "if" in a first class condition. Let's look at a couple of examples and as a good inductive student you decide if "since" would be appropriate. Here is 1 Peter 2:3 when in NASB reads "if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." Look at the context? The question is had they tasted the kindness? Or was it "iffy" so to speak. Look at 1 Peter 1:22-23 - "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God." So clearly in context his readers had "tasted" the kindness of the Lord. Now if you go back to the passage in 1 Peter 2:3 it seems we can accurately "paraphrase" it "Since you tasted the kindness..." And here is the translation by the HCSB - 1 Peter 2:3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1Pe 2:3 CSB) Here is John MacArthur's comment on the "if" in 1Peter 2:3 = "Verse 3, he says, “Long for the pure spiritual milk of the Word if you’ve tasted the kindness of the Lord.” What does he mean by that? You know what he means. It’s a first-class conditional in the Greek, it means since or because." (Sermon entitled "Desiring the Word" in 1988). Look at Luke 4:3 "And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” In Greek the "if" introduces a first class conditional declaration by the devil to Jesus. "IF" could be translated with "since" in this sentence and it would be accurate. John MacArthur's comment on this passage "Verse 3, “The devil said to Him,” all the way through the devil speaks, by the way, with a measure of truth. Deception only works if it somehow has partial truth in it. And so when the devil speaks, he starts from a point of truth. That’s the subtlety of his deception. So the devil said to Him, “If … or probably better translated … since,” this is a first class conditional with a particle a which is ei in the Greek, and a first class conditional does not presume doubt, it does not presume doubt. So he’s really saying … “Since … since You are the Son of God.” This is true and this is the measure of truth with which Satan launches the deception." (The Temptation of the Messiah Part 1, 2000). Some other examples where "since" makes "sense"... “But if (since) ye be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law”, Galatians 5:18. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Paul makes a dogmatic statement that is to be applied to every Christian so clearly in this context it would be fair and accurate to translate ".If (First Class Conditional) with "since God is for us." Why? Because there is no doubt that God is for us (believers). 1 Cor 15:2 - "by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain." Here is Bob Utley's note on “if” - This is a FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL sentence, which implies that they would “hold fast” to the truth of the gospel, which he preached to them, but it adds a note of contingency by a second “ei” (unless). This seems to parallel Jesus’ Parable of the Soils (cf. Matt. 13) and John’s discussion in 1 John 2:19 of those who were in the fellowship, but left. There were those factions in Corinth who by their actions, attitudes, and theology showed they were never believers! They rejected Paul’s gospel and Apostolic authority and merged the gospel into Roman culture, whereby the culture became dominant! Cultural Christianity is always weak and sometimes not Christian! However, please note that contextually Paul is asserting his confidence that the Corinthian believers are true believers. (1) AORIST tense, v. 1, “received” (2) PERFECT tense, v. 1, “in which also you stand” (3) FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL sentence, v. 2, “since you hold fast” Galatians 4:7 - “Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God” Bob