Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jon Robertson" <jmrober AT pop6.ibm.net>]

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