Expert: Dean Gade - 2/26/2008

Question
Many years ago I was taught that in the Greek, there are four classifications of the word "If"  1. If it is, and it is so   2. If it is, and it might be so  3. If it is, but it might not be so  4. If it is, but it is not so.  How do I determine the 'class' of any one particulr "if"?
I am especially interested in the "If" in 2 Peter 2:20
Thank you in advance for your assistance.


Answer
The Greek "if"(ei) often has a meaning very close to our word, "since".    And I believe that it is this meaning in 2Pet.2:20.

The people Peter is speaking about have already escaped the mastery of sinful corruptions over them by the power of the gospel. Not that they are perfected in their outward life but they have put these things behind them.  Their minds are being "renewed".
Then these unholy teachers come by pretending to teach Christian liberty,  but instead lead them back into their old form of life.

Like a lot of Greek words which have many diverse meanings,  we must look to the context to see which one is intended.

That context may include places other than Peter's epistle:

Matt 12:43-45

43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the FINAL CONDITION OF THAT MAN is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."  
NIV

Luke 8:11-14

11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and THEY DO NOT MATURE.
NIV