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Interpretation of Conditional Sentences

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chessman

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Conditional sentences convey truth. They take the form: IF A THEN B

If the conditional THEN the result.

They do NOT convey anything about their converse logic however:
e.g. IF B THEN A, cannot be concluded logically from stating “IF A THEN B”. Nor does IF not A THEN not B logically follow from “IF A THEN B”. A statement such as IF A THEN B ELSE C, is used for determining the outcome of “not A”.

Conditional statements can be explicitly stated or implicit (without the formal structure yet communicated via the context).

Here’s two examples of conditional statements:

IF A THEN B

1. But if [A] I expel demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you!

Matthew 12:28 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew 12:28&version=LEB

2. But if [A] there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ has not been raised either.

1 Corinthians 15:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1 Corinthians 15:13&version=LEB

In the later sentence, the ‘then’ of this conditional sentence is implied. Provably so by the context which IS explicitly re-stating the same contextual and conditional point:

But if [A] Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1 Corinthians 15:14&version=LEB

Notice that sometimes the result (or the conditional, or both) is complex. In the example above, two results occur IF the one conditional is met.

Sometimes both the IF and THEN are implied as demonstrated by the ending of John 3:16:

For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life.
John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John 3:16&version=LEB

Logically John 13b; IF [A] you believe in Him THEN you will not perish (have eternal life). This does NOT necessarily mean if not A then not B. However Jesus does state what happens if ‘not A’ occures in v18b as well as repeats IF A THEN B:

The one who believes in him is not judged, but the one who does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
John 3:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John 3:18&version=LEB

18a logically; IF you believe in Him THEN you are not judged.

18b logically; IF you do not believe in Him THEN you are judged (already).

Now look at Mark 16:16b

... but the one who refuses to believe will be condemned. (Sound familar???)
Mark 16:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark 16:16&version=LEB

16b Logically; IF you refuse to believe THEN you will be condemned. A parallel truth claim to the one made in John 3:18b. What about Mark 16:16a???

16a logically; IF you believe and are baptized THEN you will be saved. Same as John 3:18a (with a complex, two part, conditional; 1) believe 2) are baptized. Or is it two conditionals???

The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who refuses to believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark 16:16&version=LEB

In Greek Grammar-Beyond the Basics, Daniel Wallace says the conditional within this sentence may not be complex; 1) believe and 2) are baptized THEN you will be saved after all. But rather the conditional may be simple 1) believe with two results 1) you are baptized and 2) you are saved.

Logically; IF you believe THEN you are batized and you will be saved.

versus

Logically; IF you believe and are baptized THEN you will be saved.

“This text may illustrate another point about conditions. ... “If you believe” is the cause and the fulfillment of the apodosis depends on it; “and are baptized” ... pg 688​

Which corresponds to Paul’s logic too:

... when you believed you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians 1:13-14&version=LEB
 
Conditional sentences convey truth. They take the form: IF A THEN B
If the conditional THEN the result...
The IF implies the condition of change from what is untrue to what is true.
Once true there is no conditions because Truth is unconditional. It is only the untrue that is conditional.
Likewise, conditions are applied on the untrue and not on the Truth.
Our old nature is full of conditions. Our new nature, within Christ, is unconditional.
 
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