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John 9: One thing I know is that I know nothing
1. John 9: One thing I know is that I know nothing
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Socrates has a famous quote (from Plato).
Greek: εν οίδα ότι ουδέν οίδα
English: The only thing I know is that I know nothing.
As related by Aristotle, Socrates used this claim of "knowing nothing" to avoid answering questions. That way, he could ask questions but did not need to answer any.
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This is a paradox in that "
How can one know that one knows nothing?".
That same Greek phrasing is found in the book of John by the blind man referring to Jesus who had healed him.
John 9:25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. [kjv]
απεκριθη ουν εκεινος ει αμαρτωλος εστιν ουκ οιδα εν οιδα οτι τυφλος ων αρτι βλεπω [gnt]
… video [v]
2. I think therefore I am
What do you really know?
"I think therefore I am" (1644) : René Descartes (French philosopher, mathematician and statistician)
The Latin words "Cogito ergo sum" ≈ "I think therefore I am".
Is the logic and implication of what Descartes says clear?
3. Smartness
I'm smart enough to know that I'm dumb.
Richard Feynman (American theoretical physicist)
4. John 11:9 Knowing the time
Did Jesus spend three days and three nights in the grave? How many hours are there in a day?
John 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. [kjv]
απεκριθη ιησους ουχι δωδεκα εισιν ωραι εισιν της ημερας εαν τις περιπατη εν τη ημερα ου προσκοπτει οτι το φως του κοσμου τουτου βλεπει [gnt]
Does anyone really know what time it is? (song by Robert Lamm, made popular by the music group Chicago)
What is the next line?
Does anyone really care?
Now for a timely remark: Would you wear a second hand watch?
If not, just wait a minute.
5. Sign from heaven
6. John 11:9
KJV: Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
Greek: απεκριθη ο ιησους ουχι δωδεκα εισιν ωραιεισιν της ημερας εαν τις περιπατη εν τη ημερα ου προσκοπτει οτι το φως του κοσμου τουτου βλεπει
Latin: respondit Iesus nonne duodecim horae sunt diei si quis ambulaverit in die non offendit quia lucem huius mundi videt
Wessex: Se haelend heom andswerede. & cwaeð. Hu ne synd twelf tida þas dayges. gyf hwa gaeð on dayge ne aet-sprincð he. For-þan he ge-seoð þises middan-eardes leoht.
Wycliffe: Jhesus answerde, Whether ther ben not twelue ouris of the dai? If ony man wandre in the dai, he hirtith not, for he seeth the liyt of this world.
Luther: Jesus antwortete: Sind nicht des Tages zwölf Stunden? Wer des Tages wandelt, der stößet sich nicht, denn er siehet das Licht dieser Welt.
7. Matthew 16:2-3
Matthew 16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. [kjv]
16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? [kjv]
In addition to literal hours in a day, there is the concept of the signs of the times.
The Pharisees and Sadducee's ask Jesus for a "
sign from heaven". Jesus gives an interesting reply.
8. Matthew 16:2
KJV: He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
Greek: ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις οψιας οψιας γενομενης λεγετε ευδια πυρραζει γαρ ο ουρανος
9. Matthew 16:3
KJV: And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Greek: και πρωι σημερον χειμων πυρραζει γαρ στυγναζων ο ουρανος υποκριται το μεν προσωπον του ουρανου γινωσκετε διακρινειν τα δε σημεια των καιρων ου δυνασθε δυνασθε
10. Proverbs 18:13
Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. [kjv]
ος αποκρινεται λογον πριν ακουσαι αφροσυνη αυτω εστιν και ονειδος [lxx]
Sometimes a matter requires a group decision.
11. Proverbs 18:13
KJV: He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Hebrew: משיב דבר בטרם ישמע אולת היא לו וכלמה׃
Greek: ος αποκρινεται λογον πριν ακουσαι αφροσυνη αυτω εστιν και ονειδος
Latin: qui prius respondit quam audiat stultum se esse demonstrat et confusione dignum
Wycliffe: He that answerith bifore that he herith, shewith hym silf to be a fool; and worthi of schenschipe.
Luther: Wer antwortet, ehe er höret, dem ist's Narrheit und Schande.
12. Acts 15:6
Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. [kjv]
συνηχθησαν τε οι αποστολοι και οι πρεσβυτεροι ιδειν περι του λογου τουτου [gnt]
13. Acts 15:6
KJV: And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Greek: συνηχθησαν δε τε οι αποστολοι και οι πρεσβυτεροι ιδειν περι του λογου τουτου
Latin: conveneruntque apostoli et seniores videre de verbo hoc
Wycliffe: And the apostlis and eldre men camen togidre, to se of`this word.
Luther: Aber die Apostel und die Ältesten kamen zusammen, diese Rede zu besehen.
14. I know nothing
Sometimes one does not know. Socrates has a famous quote
Greek: εν οίδα ότι ουδέν οίδα
English: The only thing I know is that I know nothing.
This is a self-referential statement. How can one "
know" that one knows "
nothing"? Or is this a figurative and not a literal or logical saying. The healed blind man in John uses a somewhat similar wording.
15. I know nothing
In the 1960's, the saying, "
I know nothing!", drawn out with a German accent, was made famous on a TV show called Hogan's Heros by Sergeant Schultz, played by John Banner.
16. Blind and now I see
Interestingly, the man blind man healed in John 9:35 uses words similar to Socrates, except the man is referring to Jesus and not to himself.
«ουκ οίδα εν οίδα»
Was this a common way to say this? Is there any other connection in the words used in he Bible and the words used by Socrates?
17. Matthew 25:13
Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. [kjv]
γρηγορειτε ουν οτι ουκ οιδατε την ημεραν ουδε την ωραν [gnt]
The first part of the phrase, «
ουκ οιδα», appears many places, One place is in Matthew 25:13 (same root words, different verb tense).
18. Matthew 25:13
KJV: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Greek: γρηγορειτε ουν οτι ουκ οιδατε την ημεραν ουδε την ωρανεν η ο υιος του ανθρωπου ερχεται
Latin: vigilate itaque quia nescitis diem neque horam
Wessex: Witodlice wakiað. for-þan þe ge nyten ne þanne daig ne þa tide.
Luther: Darum wachet! Denn ihr wisset weder Tag noch Stunde, in welcher des Menschen Sohn kommen wird.
19. John 9:23
However, the phrase «
εν οιδα», "
one thing I know", appears only in one place, in John 9:35.
John 9:23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. [kjv]
δια τουτο οι γονεις αυτου ειπαν οτι ηλικιαν εχει αυτον επερωτησατε [gnt]
The parents are afraid to say much, so they defer to the blind-from-birth son.
That Greek word always means "
age" or "
maturity" but was translated in the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 as "
height".
20. John 9:23
KJV: Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
Greek: δια τουτο οι γονεις αυτου ειπον ειπαν οτι ηλικιαν εχει αυτον ερωτησατε επερωτησατε
Latin: propterea parentes eius dixerunt quia aetatem habet ipsum interrogate
Wessex: For-þam cwaeðen hys mages. he hafð ylde axioð hyne sylfe.
Wycliffe: Therfor his fadir and modir seiden, That he hath age, axe ye hym.
Tyndale: Therefore sayde his father and mother: he is olde ynough axe him.
21. John 9:23 Axe him
John 9:23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. [kjv]
δια τουτο οι γονεις αυτου ειπαν οτι ηλικιαν εχει αυτον επερωτησατε [gnt]
… ylde axioð … [wes]
… age, axe … [wy]
… olde ynough axe … [ty]
Have you ever heard someone use the word "
axe" for "
ask"? This goes back to Middle English where the "
x" sound as "
ks" eventually became "
sk".
The Middle English word "axe" ≈ "ask" as used by Tyndale and Wycliffe.
The Old English word "axioð" (axeth) ≈ "axe".
The Latin word "interrogate" ≈ "ask" from which we get the English word "interrogate".
22. John 9:24 Blind
John 9:24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. [kjv]
εφωνησαν ουν τον ανθρωπον εκ δευτερου ος ην τυφλος και ειπαν αυτω δος δοξαν τω θεω ημεις οιδαμεν οτι ουτος ο ανθρωπος αμαρτωλος εστιν [gnt]
… caecus … [v]
… blynd… [wy]
… blynde … [ty]
… blinds… [got]
… blind … [lu]
The "
man" referred to here is Jesus, but the blind man does not know who healed him. The Germanic-based languages use "
blind", "
blynd", "
blynde", "
blinds", etc., for "
blind". The Latin word
"caecus" ≈ "blind" which in English is a medical technical term "
caecum".
Interestingly, the modern Greek word
"τυφλός" (tee-FLOS) ≈ "blind" is related to the English word "
deaf". Jesus often uses the terms "
blind" and "
deaf" together when describing the Pharisees, etc.
23. John 9:24
KJV: Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
Greek: εφωνησαν ουν εκ δευτερου τον ανθρωπον εκ δευτερου ος ην τυφλος και ειπον ειπαν αυτω δος δοξαν τω θεω ημεις οιδαμεν οτι ουτος ο ανθρωπος ουτος αμαρτωλος εστιν
Latin: vocaverunt ergo rursum hominem qui fuerat caecus et dixerunt ei da gloriam Deo nos scimus quia hic homo peccator est
Wycliffe: Therfor eftsoone thei clepiden the man, that was blynd, and seiden to hym, Yyue thou glorie to God; we witen, that this man is a synnere.
Tyndale: Then agayne called they the man that was blynde and sayd vnto him: Geve God the prayse: we knowe that this man is a synner.
Gothic: atwopidedun than antharamma sintha thana mannan saei was blinds, jah qethun du imma: gif hauhein guda! weis witum thatei sa manna frawaurhts ist.
Luther: Da riefen sie zum andernmal den Menschen, der blind gewesen war, und sprachen zu ihm: Gib Gott die Ehre! Wir wissen, daß dieser Mensch ein Sünder ist.
24. John 9:25 Video
John 9:25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. [kjv]
απεκριθη ουν εκεινος ει αμαρτωλος εστιν ουκ οιδα εν οιδα οτι τυφλος ων αρτι βλεπω [gnt]
… video [v]
The Latin word
"video" ≈ "I see" is the first person verb form of
"videre" ≈ "to see".
PIE (Proto Indo-European) "*weyd-" meaning "to know" or "to see".
Greek "ειδο" , after the "w" or "v" sound and letter di-gamma, written as "Ϝ" disappeared from use. That is "feido" or "veido".
The Sanskrit word "वेत्ति" (vetti) ≈ "see"
The German word "wissen" ≈ "know" and is related to the English word "wit".
What is the difference between "
knowing" and "
seeing"?
The modern Greek word is
"βίντεο" (VEEN-teh-o) ≈ "video" which is a loan word back from English.
25. John 9:25
Here is the answer given by the blind man who has been healed by Jesus.
KJV: He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
Greek: απεκριθη ουν εκεινος και ειπεν ει αμαρτωλος εστιν ουκ οιδα εν οιδα οτι τυφλος ων αρτι βλεπω
Latin: dixit ergo ille si peccator est nescio unum scio quia caecus cum essem modo video
26. Literacy
Was Socrates literate?
In one sense, yes, he could not read, so he was illiterate (by the standards of today). In another sense, he never felt the need to learn to read, just listen, think and speak, and to that extent, he was quite "literate".
27. Reading
Can a blind person read without seeing? How about Braille?
Can a person read by hearing? How often does the Bible refer to "
hear the word of God"?
28. 1 Corinthians 8:2-3 Know
29. 1 Corinthians 8:2
KJV: And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
Greek: ει δε τις δοκει ειδεναι εγνωκεναι τι ουδεπω ουδεν εγνωκεν ουπω εγνω καθως δει γνωναι
30. 1 Corinthians 8:3
KJV: But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Greek: ει δε τις αγαπα τον θεον ουτος εγνωσται υπ αυτου
31. John 3:9-10 Know
32. John 3:9
KJV: Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Greek: απεκριθη νικοδημος και ειπεν αυτω πως δυναται ταυτα γενεσθαι
33. John 3:10
KJV: Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Greek: απεκριθη ο ιησους και ειπεν αυτω συ ει ο διδασκαλος του ισραηλ και ταυτα ου γινωσκεις
Latin: respondit Iesus et dixit ei tu es magister Israhel et haec ignoras
Wessex: Se haelend answerede & cwaeð to hym. Ðu eart lareow israele folke & þu nast þas þïng.
Wycliffe: Jhesus answeride, and seide to hym, Thou art a maister in Israel, and knowist not these thingis?
Luther: Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Bist du ein Meister in Israel und weißt das nicht?
34. Matthew 7:28-29 Authority
35. Matthew 7:28
KJV: And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Greek: και εγενετο οτε συνετελεσεν ετελεσεν ο ιησους τους λογους τουτους εξεπλησσοντο οι οχλοι επι τη διδαχη αυτου
36. Matthew 7:29
KJV: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Greek: ην γαρ διδασκων αυτους ως εξουσιαν εχων και ουχ ως οι γραμματειςαυτων
Latin: erat enim docens eos sicut potestatem habens non sicut scribae eorum et Pharisaei
Wessex: Soðlice he laerde swilce he anweald haefde. & na swa swa heore bokeras & sunder-halgan.
Tyndale: For he taught them as one havynge power and not as the Scribes.
Luther: Denn er predigte gewaltig und nicht wie die Schriftgelehrten.
37. End of page
1 Corinthians 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. [kjv]
ει τις δοκει εγνωκεναι τι ουπω εγνω καθως δει γνωναι [gnt]
8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. [kjv]
ει δε τις αγαπα τον θεον ουτος εγνωσται υπ αυτου [gnt]
John 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? [kjv]
απεκριθη νικοδημος και ειπεν αυτω πως δυναται ταυτα γενεσθαι [gnt]
3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? [kjv]
απεκριθη ιησους και ειπεν αυτω συ ει ο διδασκαλος του ισραηλ και ταυτα ου γινωσκεις [gnt]
Matthew 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: [kjv]
και εγενετο οτε ετελεσεν ο ιησους τους λογους τουτους εξεπλησσοντο οι οχλοι επι τη διδαχη αυτου [gnt]
7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. [kjv]
ην γαρ διδασκων αυτους ως εξουσιαν εχων και ουχ ως οι γραμματεις αυτων [gnt]