Chapter 2:13 TOU UIOU - The Son

2.13 Tou uiou Gen Singular.

τοῦDGMSὁ υἱοῦ

Case - background:

For a background on cases, see Case, the Nature of. For a development of the Genitive Singular, see Tou patros.

Genitive Case Summary:

In summary, the Genitive Case indicates possession. The specific name into which all these heathen nations are being baptized into is the SPECIFIC NAME Both of the Father, AND OF THE SON. The singular number here is consistent with the fact that God the Father had only one begotten Son, Jesus, and it is THIS SON, which shares THE SINGULAR NAME of the Father.

Comment:

Both The Father and The Son share ownership (possession) of this Single Name. These two persons[1] share a common name. But this is not surprising.

God has given us a vivid example of this in our own families. Parents have children who are different persons, but share the same name. The difference with the Trinity, however, is that these three persons share a single Name with a single identical nature. In the human family, we may have three persons, but their natures are not identical—they are definitely individual and different. A wife, a husband, a child all have the same last name, but have entirely different natures. The Trinity shares the same (last) Name, but also has the identical nature. It is this singular nature that is shared by both the Father and the Son that “the Name” is trying to get its hands around.

Now with respect to baptism, if we were being baptized into the name of a human family with three persons in it, we may have to be baptized three times to ensure we were baptized into the name described by all three natures, but not so with the Trinity. The three persons have one identical nature, and baptism into any one of the persons of the Trinity is completely identical with being baptized into any one of the other persons of the Trinity.

Translation:

Jesus speaking: Given that all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth, therefore (now, by all means - emphatically) as you are going < ● > (or ‘while on your way through life…’ or ‘as you are proceeding in your chosen manner through life …’), I (as superior to a subordinate laying aside my authority to command you) appeal to you (and particularly to your will), it’s imperative that you actively disciple < ● > (train, acquire habits, disciple oneself) (How far or how many?) all the nations, (yes, I mean ALL the nations … and you can include the Jews in there as well) (and here’s the first step ) you-pl males among you-pl actively baptizing continuously < ---- > focusing on the males among them (i.e., the gender neutral nations) (starting with them outside the Name and) with direction towards the Name (and it’s not just any name they are being moved into …i.e., not Moses, not John, etc.) … ending up with them “inside” that particular specific single Name THE Specific Particular Name that BOTH The Father as a person possesses AND (in contrast as persons, but not nature) The Son as a person possesses …

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[1] Yes, the Holy Spirit also shares this Name, and we’ll get to it in the next phrase.