Actually, the entire New Testament is written in the greek language and so any serious reader of the NT must at some point deal with the original language used by the authors if they are to fully understand what is written. This article is a brief treatise into the deep well of linguistics found in the Greek New Testament.
The phrase in John 4:24, which reads, “in spirit and truth,” ought to be translated exactly as such: in spirit and truth. Translations that put in a second “in” in the phrase unnecessarily add to the conundrum of interpretation. For example, the NIV renders this phrase “in spirit and in truth” (emphasis mine).
Translators have the arduous task of determining the best word-to-word meaning or phrase-to-idea concept whenever they translate any kind of text, ancient or modern, and especially when it comes to the Bible. A literal translation will aim to find the right word that most closely defines the original, while a dynamic equivalent translation is one that seeks the sentiment of a phrase. I believe both types are valuable for interpreting biblical texts because translating ancient texts can be a subjective science; however, the closer our modern languages read to the original languages, the closer we come to hearing the voices of the biblical authors and learning to perceive their meaning.
If the translation is left as it is represented in the original language, then what is being conveyed is a singular concept with a simple meaning. On the other hand, if the phrase is made into two parallel phrases, both beginning with the preposition “in,” now the text is being made to suggest two ideals altogether that can be dissected into equal yet contrasting parts.
If the latter, the reader is met with the choice of which one to emphasize over the other (spirit or truth, often viewed as passion vs. doctrine). The emphasis is on the ability of the worshiper to find proper balance between the two. If the former, the reader is left with the understanding that she is either defined by both or defined by neither (spirit + truth, suggesting a new relationship). Balance is intrinsic because they represent a singular concept, and the emphasis gets placed on the Initiator of worship instead.
I believe this phrase in the greek suggests unity, and the interpretation should be rendered in the singular. Jesus invites the woman at the well into a brand new relationship with her Creator-God through the indwelling of His Spirit and the incarnation of His Son.
Your ability to worship God (and mine too) begins here!
Two other passages to consider and written with similar phrasing are found in John 3:5, “of water and spirit” and Titus 3:5, “washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” Both passages reflect a conceptual unity by the language, which suggests a singular meaning rather than two separate concepts. The writers of the NT are defining salvation using the imagery of cleansing and indwelling.
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