Wednesday, October 17, 2018

"I Set A Pattern" (John 13:14-15 and 1 Peter 2:21)

"For I set the pattern for you, that just as I did to you, you should also do." (John 13:15 NWT 2013)

"In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely." (1 Peter 2:21 NWT 2013)

The language at John 13:15 caught my attention this week for our Bible reading, and it made me recall 1 Peter 2:21, which the NWT references in the footnote. John 13:15 and 1 Peter 2:21 seem to convey similar ideas although two different Greek words are used by each writer. Moreover, the contexts admittedly are different, one from the other.

John uses ὑπόδειγμα whereas Peter employs ὑπογραμμὸν (the accusative singular form of ὑπογραμμός).

ESV renders 1 Peter 2:21, "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

However, John 13:15 reads: "For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you."

However, what are the differences between these two Greek words?

ὑπόδειγμα could be rendered by the English words, "example, model" or pattern (C. Bennema); the term possibly refers to an exemplar--that is, something or someone to be emulated. Notice how Hebrews 8:5 utilizes ὑπόδειγμα. So maybe we should think of ὑπόδειγμα as an example to be imitated or followed.

See https://books.google.com/books?id=EWFZDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA408&lpg=PA408&dq=john+13:15+bdag+%E1%BD%91%CF%80%CF%8C%CE%B4%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%BC%CE%B1&source=bl&ots=2ZJletGbJg&sig=duQyBGdpE1dMt12iY9B3-3lZu3Y&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi7-IXDko7eAhUr_4MKHSz-DCMQ6AEwAXoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=john%2013%3A15%20bdag%20%E1%BD%91%CF%80%CF%8C%CE%B4%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%BC%CE%B1&f=false

Compare https://www.academia.edu/5297950/Mimesis_in_John_13_Cloning_or_Creative_Articulation_NovT_56_2014_261-274

New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology:

ὑπογραμμός (hypogrammos), outline, copy, example (G5681).

CL & OT This word is late. Philo uses it in the sense of outline. Its most common use is for the faint outlines of letters that pupils traced over while learning to write, then also of the sets of letters written at the top of a page to be copied repeatedly by the learner on the rest of the page.

NT hypogrammos is applied metaphorically in 1 Pet. 2:21 to the example left by Christ for his disciples to follow, esp. in his patient endurance of undeserved suffering.

John 13:15 emphasizes the pattern that Christ set in being humble or lowly of mind; 1 Peter 2:21 stresses how that Christ is our Exemplar in the matter of suffering.



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