Article September 12, 1936 Issue

Bible Notes

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; ... of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6)—It may be noted that when "sarx" (flesh) is definitely used in contradistinction to "pneuma" (Spirit) it usually denotes "mere human nature, the earthly part of man apart from divine influence" (Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 571). The Twentieth Century New Testament translates: "All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual;" while Goodspeed suggests: "Whatever owes its birth to the physical is physical, and whatever owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual."

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:25)—As is well known, Jesus ordinarily spoke Aramaic, and it is interesting to note that in modern Aramaic (also known as Syriac) the word "gamla" appears to mean either "rope or cable" or "camel"; hence it may well be that "it is easier for a rope to enter the eye of a needle" is the correct translation. Similar renderings are favored by Calvin and others, and this suggestion is borne out by the fact that in Greek there is a word "kamilon" (meaning "rope") which might easily become confused with the almost identical form "kamelon" (camel). Indeed, "kamilon" (rope) is actually found in several manuscripts, though not, it must be admitted, the most important ones. (Cf. Liddell and Scott: Greek Lexicon; and Meyer: Commentary on Matthew.)

"There is none else" (Deut. 4:39; cf. verse 35)—In the original Hebrew the statement is even stronger than this, for the words "en oth" (literally, "there-is-not besides") can mean either: "There none (i.e., no one) else;" or simply, "There is nothing else." (Cf. also Isa. 45:22, etc.)

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