[Steven Avery]

Hi Folks,

Continuing to discuss -- there are many aspects of the Greek and the grammar that appear to be fascinating and helpful, for those interested . One stands out, and deserves its own mention. And this is given by Thomas Strouse and Jack Moorman. As is often the case, we can see and understand this issue without being Greek experts. Often Greek issues and English issues are rather similar and if the Greek concern is properly expressed, as here by a gentleman who actually knows the language reasonably well (likely Thomas Strouse offered this thought originally) we can follow easily enough and even research further.

Thomas Strouse, answering Daniel Wallace, first points out the same ludicrousness of the Wallace argument we discuss above, that this was a supposed KJB 'scribal corruption' in the translation process ! (Strouse apparently did not have the other totally false conjecture of Wallace about the 1611 edition in front of him when he wrote the article.) We can skip any more on that part for now.

In addition Thomas Strouse discusses the grammar and a related interpretative aspect. We will include the interpretative part and discuss the grammar.

Refutation of Dr. Daniel Wallace's Rejection of the KJV as the Best Translation - Thomas M. Strouse

... The Lord employed the participle diulizontes that means "to filter or strain." He used no preposition such as ek or apo to indicate "out" along with "strain." The English preposition "at" can mean "because of" giving the sense that they strained "because of" a gnat. The Lord's contrast seems to be one gnat versus one camel. The issue is not comprehensive filtering or consuming, because the ancients would no doubt have filtered their drinks and probably have eaten camel meat. The Lord Jesus exposed the Pharisees' glaring hypocrisy as He likened them to swallowing a single camel while at the same time they strained "at" or "because of" a single, individual gnat. The KJV does not need to be changed because it very accurately describes the Lord's specific criticism of "straining at a gnat."

Jack Moorman similarly emphasizes the simple facts mentioned by Thomas Strouse.

http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/fbconies.htm#Strain
Strain "At", or "Out" a Gnat

Normally, for the word "out" we would expect to see a Greek preposition such as ek or apo, but there is none here. Further, "gnat" is singular. The Pharisees had placed all of their attention and energies upon one solitary gnat, and this at the expense of swallowing a camel! We do not have here a case of a general straining for impurities.

(continues)