Is it ‘IF’ or ‘Since’?

1 Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 (translated from the NA28 Greek Text)

I had a Pastor several years ago who had several of us in one of his Bible study classes. (This was before I started studying Koine Greek myself.) He taught that the word translated “If” in the passage above should best be translated as “If and it is so!”…

I always thought that was funny. in v1 above the word I translated as “if” is Εἰ (Ei). It means, if, though, since, that, whether.” So, in this instance in v1 I would have done well with using “Since” instead of “If.” What difference does it make?  This epistle was written to Christians and, therefore, we know that all in Christ have been raised with Christ. There is no doubt. The word “If” is conditional, but in this sense it it not speaking of the fact that some Christians are really Born Again, while others are not. No, Paul was using the conditional reference to reflect on the fact of their new birth in Christ and what that means in the context of how they should live. View article →