John Chapter 1, Verse 8
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8: ουκ ην εκεινος το φως αλλ ινα μαρτυρηση περι του φωτος
8: He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
8: He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light.
ουκ ην εκεινος το φως
ekeinos is used substantially, whether as subject or obliquely, with unusual frequency in Jn., the figures for its occurrence is the four Gospels being (according to Burney, Aramaic Origin p82): Matthew: 4, Mark: 3, Luke: 4, John: 51.
Jn. uses it often to express emphasis, or to mark out clearly the person who is the main subject of the sentence, as here. It is used of Christ in Jn 1:18, Jn 2:21, Jn 5:11, 1Jn 2:6, 1Jn 3:5ff.
The Baptist wan only ho luchnos, the lamp; cf Jn 5:35
αλλ ινα μαÏÏ„Ï…Ïηση πεÏι του φωτος
This is an elliptical constr. of which somewhat similar examples occur Jn 9:3, Jn 13:18, Jn 15:25, 1Jn 2:19 (Abbott, Diat. 2106f.). The meaning is, "but he came that he might bear witness, etc." The repetition of the whole phrase hina marturese peri tou photos is thoroughly Johannine.
Burney suggests (Aramaic Origin pp32, 75) that here (as also at Jn 5:7 Jn 6:50 Jn 9:36 Jn 14:16) hina is a mistranslation of an Aramaic relative, "who." The rendering then is simple, "he was not the Light, but one who was to bear witness of the Light"; but the correction is unnecessary.
Was not that Light. Was not the Messiah. This is an explicit declaration designed to satisfy the disciples of John. The evidence that he was not the Messiah he states in the following verses.
