"eis"
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The Greek Preposition "Eis".

[In Acts 2:38, Luke used the Greek preposition "eis" (eis) in the expression "for remission of sins."  In order to get around the obvious meaning of the word "for" some argue that "eis" means "because of" in this passage. SS]

  1. As a Greek preposition "eis" never means "because of" or "on account of" and is never so rendered.
  2. Thayer says that "eis" is a "preposition governing the accusative and denoting entrance into, or direction and limit; into, to towards, for among."
  3. There are 17 Greek words translated in the English word "for", but the Greek preposition "eis" (for) is never translated "because of" and it never looks backward."
  4. The Greek proposition dia is "on account of".  Therefore, when the English word "for" comes from the Greek preposition "dia" it means "on account of" or "because of", but when the English word "for" comes from the Greek preposition "eis" it never points back, but always forward.

Illustrations sometimes used are, therefore, wrong:

  1. "The worker is paid for his labor" -- because of labor.
    But
    the Greek preposition would be "dia" not "eis".
  2. "The worker labors for his wages" -- in order to, or in view of his wages.
    But
    The Greek preposition would be "eis" not "dia".

I challenge my opponent to produce any recognized translation rendering eis in Acts 2:38 "because of" or "on account of".

Compare some passages in the New Testament:

  1. Acts 3:19 - "Repent and be converted that (eis) your sins may be blotted out."  
    Does one repent because sins are blotted out?  It is the preposition "eis" here.
  2. Romans 10:10 - "With the heart man believeth unto (eis) righteousness."
    Does man believe because of righteousness?  It is "eis" here also.
  3. Hebrews 10:39 - "Believe unto (eis) the saving of the soul."
    Does one believe because of the saving of the soul -- or in order to the saving of the soul?  It is the proposition "eis" here.
  4. Acts 11:18 - "Repentance unto (eis) life."
    Does one repent because he ahs obtained salvation or in order to obtain it?  It is the preposition "eis" in this passage.
  5. 2 Corinthians 7:10 - Repentance unto (eis) salvation?
    Does one repent because he has obtained salvation or in order to obtain it?  It is the same word "eis" in this passage.
  6. Matthew 26:28 - This is my blood - shed for many for (eis) the remission of sins."
    Did Jesus shed His blood because of the remission of sins of many, or in order to remission of their sins?  It is the same word "eis" and is the same expression "For the remission of sins" as in Acts 2:38.

There are three passages which are sometimes thought to be an exception in the use of the word "eis" -- passages that appear to use the preposition "eis" in the backward sense.

Matthew 3:11 - "I indeed baptize you with water (eis) repentance."  Here, it is contended, that John meant that he baptized people because of repentance and not in order to repentance.

  1. The word here, as elsewhere however, simply means "into" - baptized into repentance -- into the life obligated by repentance, - or into the amendment of life.
  2. This is shown by his exhortation "bring forth fruits meet for repentance."
  3. This is shown further by the fact that John's baptism was indeed for, in-order-to the remission of sins. Mark 1:4
  4. They were baptized into the benefits or blessings repentance brings, just as in Romans 6:3-4 where it refers to being baptized into death, that is, into the benefits of his death.
  5. So "eis" in Matthew 3:11 points forward, not backward.
  6. If john had meant "on account of" in that passage the word "dia" would have been used instead of the word "eis".

Matthew 12:41 - "Because they repented at (eis) the preaching of Jonah."  It is contended that the men of Nineveh repented "because of" the preaching of Jonah.

  1. But that is not the statement of the text nor its meaning.
  2. They repented "eis" or into the preaching of Jonah.
  3. The Ninevites repented into the preaching of Jonah by their reformation -- they "repented in sackcloth and ashes" and the Old Testament text tells us that God saw their works, like John's command to "bring forth fruits meet for repentance."
  4. John's subjects were baptized into that kind of repentance and the Ninevites repented into Jonah's preaching in the same manner.
  5. So here, "eis" looks forward, not backward.
  6. If Jesus had mean "on account of" he would have used (dia) not (eis).

Mark 1:44 - "Go show thyself to the priest and offer for (eis) thy cleansing."  It is argued that "for" here means "because of" the cleansing.

  1. The word "eis" here, as in other places, simply means in order to.
  2. The healing took place before the cleansing.
  3. The text does not say "offer for thy healing" -- it says offer for thy cleansing.
  4. The law of cleansing is stated is stated in Leviticus 13:2-7.

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