"The June number of the Millennial Harbinger contains a short reply of Bro. Pendleton to Bro. Anderson. In this reply occurs the following sentence: 'I have long been thoroughly satisfied that the translation by 'wind' is the the true one for John iii. 8. and am glad to hear that you have concluded to restore it.'

      "Will Bro. Pendleton have the courtesy to give us, in full, the grounds on which he bases his thorough satisfaction in the case? If his reasons be good, others--should have the benefit of them; if not good, he himself will admit that his assertion should either be rejected or received with modification. It will not be maintained that the question is one to be settled simply by authority; and so imperfect an induction as that of Bro. A. will satisfy no one who rests his convictions on adequate grounds only."

      The above is taken from the "Apostolic Times" of the 12th Inst. On returning home from an absence of some weeks I find it and also a similar request on the same subject from a private correspondent. I will take pleasure in giving my reasons for the opinion which I have expressed concerning the passage referred to. Of course, no one should adopt an opinion as to the proper rendering in this case merely upon authority,--at the same time, good authority is better we think, than false reasoning--and, upon a point of Greek criticism, is far more reliable, often, than the best reasons, however plausible they may be, that superficial examination can invent. But among scholars, capable of independent judgment, anything may be challenged, for good reason, and under this privilege we claim the liberty of saying that the translation of the passage in John iii. 8--which renders pneuma, wind, is the correct one,--notwithstanding much that has been said to the contrary--and for this opinion, we hope to be able to give satisfactory reasons in our next number.

W. K. P.      

[The Millennial Harbinger 40 (August 1869): 478.]

      W. K. Pendleton's "John III: 8" was first published in The Millennial Harbinger, Vol. 40, No. 6, August 1869. The electronic version of the essay has been produced from the College Press reprint (1976) of The Millennial Harbinger, ed. W. K. Pendleton (Bethany, WV: W. K. Pendleton, 1869), p. 478.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 478:    thould either [ should either
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
373 Wilson Street
Derry, PA 15627-9770
stefanik@westol.com

Created 31 January 1999.