Skip to content

John 2:8


70b

The Now

John 8:11 

ἡ δὲ εἶπεν Οὐδείς, κύριε. εἶπεν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς Οὐδὲ ἐγώ σε κατακρίνω· πορεύου, ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν μηκέτι ἁμάρτανε.

One of the most significant words in the Bible: NOW. John 8:11 gives the word a definite article "the Now." Some later manuscripts ommited this clause likely because of the confusing nature of it: "away from the Now". What sense does it make to put a definite article "the" with the word "now" or the use of the preposition "away from"?

Seen in the light of the target of the eternal, it makes perfect sense. The center bullseye is "Now". The center of time/eternity would be a definitive, specific "Now" and not merely one of many indefinite "moments". 

The Greek word "ἀρχιτρικλίνῳ" (architriklinō) translates to "chief banquet couch" in English. It is a compound word formed from:

  • "ἀρχι-" (archi-), a prefix meaning "chief" or "principal."
  • "τρικλίνῳ" (triklinō), which comes from "τρί" (tri-), meaning "three," and "κλίνη" (klinē), meaning "couch" or "bed."

In ancient Greek, a "triclinium" referred to a dining room furnished with three couches arranged around a table for reclining during meals. So, "ἀρχιτρικλίνῳ" (architriklinō) would refer to the main or principal couch within such a dining setup.