Lexical Summary poteron: whether, which Original Word: πότερον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance whether. Neuter of a comparative of the base of pou; interrogative as adverb, which (of two), i.e. Is it this or that -- whether. see GREEK pou NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom poteros, a cptv. of the same as posos Definition which of two NASB Translation whether (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4220: πότεροςπότερος, ποτερα, πότερον (from Homer down), which of two; πότερον ... ἡ,utrum ... an, whether ... or (Winers Grammar, § 57, 1 b.; Buttmann, 250 (215)): John 7:17. Topical Lexicon Summary of Usage Strong’s Greek 4220 (πότερον) appears once in the New Testament, in John 7:17. In that single occurrence the term functions as a disjunctive interrogative—offering an either-or alternative between divine and merely human origins of Jesus’ teaching. Linguistic Nuance and Binary Logic By framing an exclusive choice, πότερον presses the hearer to a decisive judgment. It does not invite a spectrum of possibilities but demands that one of two mutually exclusive options be embraced. Within Greek rhetoric this form sharpened debate by forcing clarity; within inspired Scripture it serves to underline the urgency of spiritual discernment. Place within the Johannine Narrative John 7 records Jesus teaching midway through the Feast of Tabernacles, amid rising hostility from religious leaders. Verse 17 states, “If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own”. The single word πότερον carries the weight of that contrast: 1. From God—affirming Jesus as the sent Son who speaks the Father’s words (John 7:16; John 12:49). The term thus highlights the watershed moment confronting the crowd: accept or reject Jesus on the basis of obedient discernment. Discernment Rooted in Obedience Jesus links knowledge of the truth to a prior willingness to obey: “If anyone desires to do His will, he will know …” Obedience becomes the gateway to insight (Psalm 25:14; Proverbs 9:10). The binary πότερον underscores that no neutral ground exists; hearts either align with God’s will and recognize the divine voice, or they remain self-directed and blind (John 5:39-40; James 1:22-25). Authority of Jesus and the Father By using πότερον Jesus disavows independent authority while simultaneously claiming equality with the Father. The crowd must decide which of the two alternatives is true. This accords with Deuteronomy 18:15-19, where a prophet’s words are to be received as God’s own, and with Isaiah 11:2, which foretells the Spirit-imbued Messiah. The binary choice therefore becomes a test case for the larger Johannine theme: believing that the Father sent the Son (John 17:3). Biblical Theology of Testing Doctrine Throughout Scripture God’s people are called to examine claims of truth: πότερον in John 7:17 encapsulates this principle by setting the divine-or-human alternative before every listener. Pastoral and Discipleship Applications 1. Call to Willing Obedience. Spiritual understanding grows not merely by intellectual inquiry but by surrender to God’s will (Romans 12:1-2). Historical Interpretation in the Church Early Christian writers seized on John 7:17 as a key for apologetics. Justin Martyr argued that willingness to follow truth leads to recognition of Christ. Augustine noted that obedience precedes knowledge, countering the claim that faith is irrational. The Reformers likewise stressed that Scripture’s authority is self-authenticating to the regenerate heart, echoing the logic of πότερον. Reflection for Contemporary Believers In an age of competing voices, the simple disjunction embedded in πότερον remains vital. Every sermon, doctrine, and worldview must be weighed: is it of God or of man? The promise of John 7:17 stands unchanged—those who yield their wills to the Father will “know whether the teaching is from God.” Forms and Transliterations ποτερον πότερον πότημα poteron póteronLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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