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Teo Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Was not + subject ...?

1. Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? (James 2:21, New International Version)

2. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? (James 2:25, New International Version)

3. Was not he a teacher?

4. Was he not a teacher?

5. Wasn't he a teacher?

#3 sounds odd to me. If #3 is NOT acceptable, why are #1 and #2 acceptable?
  

Top answer

If #3 is NOT acceptable, why are #1 and #2 acceptable? Because #3 is written, presumably, in ordinary modern English, and #1 and #2 are written in Biblical English, which is either the English of several centuries ago, or an imitation of it. Such older English is used because it, supposedly, lends a more majestic and solemn quality to the message.

— CalifJim

  • If #3 is NOT acceptable, why are #1 and #2 acceptable?
  • Because #3 is written, presumably, in ordinary modern English, and #1 and #2 are written in Biblical English, which is either the English of several centuries ago, or an imitation of it.
  • Such older English is used because it, supposedly, lends a more majestic and solemn quality to the message.
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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If #3 is NOT acceptable, why are #1 and #2 acceptable?
Because #3 is written, presumably, in ordinary modern English, and #1 and #2 are written in Biblical English, which is either the English of several centuries ago, or an imitation of it. Such older English is used because it, supposedly, lends a more majestic and solemn quality to the message.
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