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  • From: "Jon Robertson" <jmrober AT pop6.ibm.net>
  • To: b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Subject: syllogisms??
  • Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 09:45:42 +0000


Dear Rolf (et al.),

"All lions have yellow hair" is completely different from "Only lions
have yellow hair." The first states that all lions are yellow, while
allowing the possibility that other things might be yellow. The
second states that the all yellow things belong to the group we call
lions. A better way, maybe, to state the second would be "All
animals with yellow hair are lions." This, of course, is entirely
different from "All lions have yellow hair." Therefore, "Only YHWH
is "the first and the last" should be rendered "All beings that are
"the first and the last" are YHWH. Hence the syllogism would run:

All being(s) that are "the first and the last" are YHWH.
Jesus is said to be "the first and the last"
__________________________________
Jesus is said to be YHWH.

This is, indeed, first-semester (or first-month) logic. It is
equivalent to your syllogism (A). I am not here arguing the
theological point, but the logic is simple and clear. I for one do
not appreciate the clouding of discussions about the meaning of
biblical passages with obfuscating and specious "logical" arguments.
Once again,
All A is B
and
Only A is B
are two very different animals!!!

Jon Robertson



  • syllogisms??, Jon Robertson, 01/03/1999

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