Conjunctions….To Use Or Not To Use
Although most grammar teachers and grammar style guides are in disagreement on when it is alright to start a sentence with any of the above conjunctions including ‘because’, I am here to tell you that IT IS ALRIGHT TO DO SO! And this has been true since Biblical times.
A schoolteacher’s rationale for not beginning a sentence with a conjunction such as ‘and’ and ‘but’ ‘grew wings’ in the 19th century. Supposedly, they noticed that younger children were misusing these connectors and composing incomplete sentences to finish their prior written thoughts. So, instead of gently correcting the poor grammar habits of the children, the teachers band the use of sentence-starter conjunctions altogether. And to this day, the controversy continues. (Notice my use of ‘So’ and ‘And’.)
To give my readers further grammatical credentials for utilizing coordinating conjunctions at the beginning of sentences, I refer you to two of the leading world famous literary guides to the English language. (Both B. A. Garner and H. W. Fowler(*) classify the schoolteachers’ beliefs of the 19th century as plain ole superstitions.)
[Following is a quote from the internet.]
“Both Garner’s Modern American Usage, and Fowler’s Modern English Usage call this belief a superstition. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of English Usage (or MWDEU) says, “Everybody agrees that it’s all right to begin a sentence with and,” and notes that you can find examples of it all the way back to Old English.”
NOW THAT WE GRAMMATICALLY HAVE GOTTEN ALL LEGALISMS OUT OF THE WAY…LET’S BEGIN DISSECTING OUR SCRIPTURE VERSE FOR THIS BLOG.
Scripture Lesson: “BUT the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Just prior to giving this sobering list of attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit , Paul describes the acts of a sinful nature which has the power to forfeit a believer’s opportunity to receive eternal life with Christ Jesus (v. 5:19-21). So, in other words, by using a ‘coordinating conjunction’, (But), Paul connects a positive truth with a negative one.
Paul’s Understanding For The “Fruit Of The Spirit” As Told In The Book Of Acts
| Acts 4:32a Self-Control | All the believers were one in heart and mind. | Restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions or desires. |
| Acts 4:32b Love | No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. | Unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another. |
| Acts 4:33a Peace | With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. | Freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. |
| Acts 4:33b Kindness | And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all… | The quality or state of being kind; affection. |
| Acts 34a Forbearance | …that there were no needy persons among them. | The refraining from the enforcement of something as a debt, right or obligation that is due. |
| Acts 34b Faithfulness | For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales… | Faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted. |
| Acts 4:35a Gentleness | …and put it at the apostles’ feet, | The quality or state of being gentle, honorable; mildness of manner; or disposition. |
| Acts 4:35b Joy | …and it was distributed to anyone who had need. | Delight; the expression or exhibition of such emotion. |
| John 15:16 Goodness | “…but I chose you…so that you might go and bear (good) fruit–fruit that will last…” | The quality or state of being good. (Only GOD is GOOD. He alone enables us to bear fruit, not we ourselves.) |
(*) Note: No relation to me, Mother Fowler. I”m just sayin’…
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Conversations With God Using Scripture 
Excellent! Thanks. (p.s. I have no problem starting a sentence with a conjunction. 🙂 )
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Good For You, Dee!!! And neither did Paul. You’re in good company.
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Thank You “Pure Glory” for ‘liking’ this blog post. My next post will be titled “God’s Instructions For Our Anatomy For Worship”. Please stay tuned.
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