104 J. Duncan M. Derret Not long ago it was suggested2 that what was at issue was tbe ancient biblical principie (Ex 20:5, already qualified at Dt 24,l6; 2 Kgs 14,6) that children, grandchildren, etc., must bear the weight of their ancestors’ sins. This idea that children can vicariously expiate their parents’ guilt is rabbinic and is a known part of the doctrine of zekkût. Jer 51,29-30 and Ezk 18,2-4.19-20 denied that any but the offender must carry the weight of his sins, a reformist’s view. Here was an obvious test case: who could be blamed for the youth’s woeful condition? That Christianity represents the prophets’ position is not disputed. Taking Jn 9,3 in this sense, Jesus denies such deferred punishment, that children bear their parents’ guilt. However, this hardly meets the case. The disciples assume that someone sinned and they are prepared to accept that the Man Born Blind sinned in the womb or in a previous life. Can one prove an unknown person sinless at birth? Jesus seems to deny both propositions, that countered by the prophets and yet another, to which we shall come. 2. Greek syntax The construction οὐ/μή...ἀλλά is a relative negative3. It appears at Mt 9,13; 15,24; Lk 10,20; Jn 7,16; 12,44; Acts 5,4c; 1Cor 15,10. It indicates a preference and is not a simple denial. In Latin it would be either non solum ... sed etiam as at Mt 18,22, a fine instance; or non tam . . . quam as at Mk 9,37b; Mt 10,20; 15,24. Our meaning is, therefore, it is not so much the case that either this man sinned or his parents, but rather that (he is so) in order that the works of God shall be manifested in (i.e. through) him. We must work the works of him who sent me as long as there is daylight. The phrase beginning “in order that” is ἵνα preceded, by an ellipsis4. As parallels one notices Mk 14,4 ἵνα πληρῶσιν (cf. Mt 25,56) and Hermas, sim. 8.6.1 ἵνα ἴδῃς. More relevant are Jn 1,8 οὐκ ἦν... ἀλλ᾿ ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ, and Jn 13,l8 ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ Jn 15,25 ἵνα πληρωθῇ, also 1 Jn 2,19 ἵνα φανερωθῶσιν. F. A. García Romero, “Breve comentario a Jn 9,1-3. Objeciones al supuesto cristianis- 2 mo de Trifiodoro”, FN 2/1 (1989) 95-97. W.F. Moulton’s edn. of G.B. Winer, Treatise on the Grammar of the New Testament 3 (Edinburgh 31882), pt. III, sect. 55§8 (a) and (b); F. Blass-A. Debrunner-R.W. Funk, Greek Grammar of the New Testament (Cambridge and Chicago 1961) 233 col.1, §448. A. Kuschke, ZNW 43 (1950/1), 262. Winer-Moulton (above), pt. III, sect. 43, p. 398; Blass-Debrunner-Funk, Greek Gram- 4 mar § 448 (7). The latter cite our verse.