TITLE. ΕΥ̓ΑΓΓΈΛΙΟΝ. See Introd. ch. 1. The word has come to mean not the ‘good news’ in the abstract but the ‘_written_ Gospel,’ a sense which it acquired before the end of the first century. But if the title of this Gospel came from the original writer it was used in its _earlier_ and proper sense.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΕΙΔΉΠΕΡ, ‘_since all are aware that_.’ A classic word not found in the LXX[17] or elsewhere in the N. T. Perhaps St Luke liked the stately sound of the word to begin his work, just as he ends the Acts with the sonorous epitrite ἀκωλύτως. [17] LXX. Septuagint. ΠΟΛΛΟΊ. Whether the Gospels of St Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 1:1-4. INTRODUCTION This brief preface is in several respects most interesting and important. Ewald rightly says that in its simplicity, brevity and modesty it is a model preface. i. It is the only personal introduction to any historic book in the Bible except the Acts. It is specially valuabl... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΘῺΣ ΠΑΡΈΔΟΣΑΝ ἩΜΙ͂Ν. i.e. ‘_of the things believed among us_, as the original eye-witnesses delivered them to us.’ There is no necessity to render καθώς ‘even as.’ The _even_ was introduced by Tyndale. By the word ἡμῖν St Luke ingenuously classes himself with the _secondary_ witnesses, not with th... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΡΗΚΟΛΟΥΘΗΚΌΤΙ. ‘Having accurately traced out or followed up.’ See the same word in 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 3:10. St Luke modestly puts himself exactly on the same footing as other narrators in not having the primary apostolic qualification, but he claims continuous and complete knowledge and care... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΙΓΝΩ͂ΙΣ. ‘Mayest fully know.’ See the use of the word in Matthew 11:27; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 2 Corinthians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 6:9. ΠΕΡῚ ὯΝ ΚΑΤΗΧΉΘΗΣ ΛΌΓΩΝ. ‘Of those accounts in which thou wast orally instructed.’ Galatians 6:6. From the word κατηχεῖν ‘to teach orally’ comes our ‘_catechise_,’ &c... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΥΝῊ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ι. The reading of אBCDLX Gr[1] La[2] Ti[3] &c.; ‘_he had a wife_’ instead of the ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ‘his wife _was_’ of the _Rec_[4] [1] Gr. Griesbach. [2] La. Lachmann. [3] Ti. Tischendorf. [4] _Rec._ The Textus Receptus. 5. ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ ἘΝ ΤΑΙ͂Σ ἩΜΈΡΑΙΣ. The elaborate style of the Preface is at o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BIRTH OF THE FORERUNNER... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΊΚΑΙΟΙ. The Hebrew _Tsaddîkîm_. It is one of the oldest terms of high praise among the Jews (Genesis 6:9; Genesis 7:1; Genesis 18:23-28. See Psalms 37:37; Ezekiel 18:5-19, &c.). It is used also of Joseph, Matthew 1:19; and is defined in the following words in the almost technical sense of strict le... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΟΥ̓Κ ἮΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΤΈΚΝΟΝ. This was regarded as a heavy misfortune, because it cut off all hope of the birth of the Messiah in that family. It was also regarded as often involving a moral reproach, and as being a punishment for sin. See Genesis 11:30; Genesis 18:11; Genesis 30:1-23; Exodus 23:26;... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ἹΕΡΑΤΕΎΕΙΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ. The priest who had the highest functions allotted to him was called ‘the chief of the course.’ There are said to have been some 20,000 priests in the days of Christ, and it could therefore never fall to the lot of the same priest _twice_ to offer incense. Hence this would... [ Continue Reading ]
ἹΕΡΑΤΕΊΑΣ. The word is used by Aristotle, and in Hebrews 7:5, but the more common and classic form is ἱερωσύνης. ἜΛΑΧΕ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΥΜΙΑ͂ΣΑΙ. ‘He obtained by lot the duty of (entering and) burning incense.’ This was the loftiest and most coveted of priestly functions, Exodus 30:1-10; Numbers 16:1-40; Deute... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑ͂Ν ΤῸ ΠΛΗ͂ΘΟΣ. This seems to shew that the vision took place either on a sabbath, or some great feast-day. ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΌΜΕΝΟΝ. The prayer of the people without was typified by the rising incense-smoke within. The analytic form ἦν προσευχόμενον for προσεύχετο slightly emphasises the delay. Comp. ἡ καρδί... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ. The ὤφθη implies an objective vision. St Luke dwells more than any of the Evangelists on the ministry of angels, Luke 1:26; Luke 2:9; Luke 2:13; Luke 2:21; Luke 12:8; Luke 15:10; Luke 16:22; Luke 22:43; Luke 24:4;... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΤΑΡΆΧΘΗ. Such is the effect always recorded of these supernatural appearances. See Luke 2:9; Judges 13:22; Daniel 10:7-9; Ezekiel 1:28; Mark 16:8; Revelation 1:17. ἘΠΈΠΕΣΕΝ ἘΠ' ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ. Comp. Genesis 15:12. The more classic construction would have been αὐτῷ. But as a language becomes older it gets l... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜῊ ΦΟΒΟΥ͂. The first utterance of the Dawn of the Gospel. St Luke begins with this angelic encouragement, and ends with the Apostles ‘blessing and praising God;’ see the beautiful remarks of Bengel ad loc. ΕἸΣΗΚΟΎΣΘΗ Ἡ ΔΈΗΣΊΣ ΣΟΥ. ‘Thy supplication was heard.’ Δέησις implies a special prayer, and w... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΓΑΛΛΊΑΣΙΣ. ‘Exultation,’ Luke 1:44; Acts 2:46; Hebrews 1:9. ΠΟΛΛΟΊ. The Pharisees and leading Jews did not accept John’s baptism (Luke 7:30; Matthew 21:27), and his influence, except among a few, seems to have been shortlived. “There burst he forth: ‘All ye whose hopes rely On God, with me amid t... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΈΓΑΣ ἘΝΏΠΙΟΝ ΚΥΡΊΟΥ. And therefore great indeed, since “we are as great as we are in God’s sight, and no greater.” See Luke 7:24-30; Matthew 11:11. ΚΑῚ ΟἾΝΟΝ ΚΑῚ ΣΊΚΕΡΑ ΟΥ̓ ΜῊ ΠΊΗΙ. He shall be a Nazarite (Luke 7:33; Numbers 6:1-4); like Samson (Judges 13:2-7); Samuel (1 Samuel 1:12); and the Recha... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΛΛΟῪΣ … ἘΠΙΣΤΡΈΨΕΙ. Ezekiel 3:19; Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3-6. The word for ‘turn’ is sometimes rendered ‘_convert_’ as in Luke 22:32, ‘when thou are converted.’ These words resume the thread of prophecy which had been broken for three centuries (Malachi 4:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
ΑΥ̓ΤῸΣ ΠΡΟΕΛΕΎΣΕΤΑΙ ἘΝΏΠΙΟΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. He shall himself go before the Messiah. The αὐτοῦ is used in its most emphatic sense for Christ as in 1 John 2:12; 2 Peter 3:4. The English version should have added, “in His presence” (ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ). ἘΝ ΠΝΕΎΜΑΤΙ ΚΑῚ ΔΥΝΆΜΕΙ ἩΛΊΑ. From the last words of Malachi... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΓῺ ΓΆΡ ΕἸΜΙ ΠΡΕΣΒΎΤΗΣ. The emphasis is on the _I_, which is therefore expressed. So “Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old?” Genesis 17:17. But he had believed the original promise (Genesis 15:6) though he asked fo... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΟΚΡΙΘΕΊΣ. This aor. pass. part. is constantly used in the N. T. for the aor. mid. part. ἀποκρινάμενος. Veitch, _Greek Verbs_, p. 78, says that the earliest instance of this use is in Maco, a poet of the later comedy. In Hellenistic Greek the force of the middle voice is to some extent obliterated.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΛΗΡΩΘΉΣΟΝΤΑΙ. D πλησθήσονται, comp. Luke 5:15. 20. ἸΔΟΎ. The word is used to call attention to something notable or surprising, and is specially frequent in St Matthew and St Luke (הִנֵּה, Isaiah 7:14). It is often a mere lively form of transition. ΣΙΩΠΩ͂Ν ΚΑῚ ΜῊ ΔΥΝΆΜΕΝΟΣ ΛΑΛΗ͂ΣΑΙ. ‘_Thou shall b... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΧΡΟΝΊΖΕΙΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ. _While_ he was lingering they wondered _at_ his delay. Priests never tarried in the awful precincts of the shrine longer than was absolutely necessary for the fulfilment of their duties from feelings of holy fear. Comp. Leviticus 16:13, “that he die not.” _Yoma_, f. 52. 2.)... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΞΕΛΘῺΝ ΔΈ. The moment of the priest’s reappearance from before the ever-burning golden candlestick, and the veil which hid the Holiest Place, was one which powerfully affected the Jewish imagination. See Sir 50:5-21. ΟΥ̓Κ ἘΔΎΝΑΤΟ ΛΑΛΗ͂ΣΑΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ. They were waiting in the Court to be dismissed wi... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΛΉΣΘΗΣΑΝ. The same verb occurs in 57, Luke 2:6; Luke 2:21, &c. ΑἹ ἩΜΈΡΑΙ ΤΗ͂Σ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΊΑΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. The word λειτουργία is derived from λεώς, ἔργον, a service done for the people. The time of a priest’s “liturgy” lasted from the evening of one Sabbath to the morning of the next. 2 Kings 11:5. ΕἸΣ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΕΡΙΈΚΡΥΒΕΝ ἙΑΥΤΉΝ. ἔκρυβον is a late form of the 2nd aor. of κρύπτω (as though from κρύβω) found also in Plutarch, &c. The compound verb implies the _complete_ seclusion. The periphrastic form used for the middle marks the decaying stage of a synthetic language. We can only conjecture Elizabeth’s m... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΕΙ͂ΔΕΝ. Our versions understand μοι. The αἶς is repeated after ἡμέραις without repeating the preposition. Ἐφοράω implies providential care. ἈΦΕΛΕΙ͂Ν ὌΝΕΙΔΌΣ ΜΟΥ. So Rachel, when she bare a son, said, “God hath taken away my reproach,” Genesis 30:23. See Isaiah 4:1; Hosea 9:11; 1 Samuel 1:6-10. Ye... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΔῈ ΤΩ͂Ι ΜΗΝῚ ΤΩ͂Ι ἝΚΤΩΙ. i.e. after the vision of Zachariah. This is the only passage which indicates the age of John the Baptist, as half a year older than our Lord. The reader will observe how this, like most of the other sections of this narrative, falls naturally into three subsections: α. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANNUNCIATION... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΜΝΗΣΤΕΥΜΈΝΗΝ. Altered by transcribers into the less classical μεμνηστευμένην, a reduplication on the analogy of μέμνημαι. 27. ΠΑΡΘΈΝΟΝ. Isaiah 7:14; Jeremiah 31:22. The many miraculous and glorifying legends which soon began to gather round the name of Mary in the Apocryphal Gospels are utterly un... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ. ACD Vulg[5] but omitted by BL and placed after αὐτὴν in אF. [5] Vulg. Vulgate. ΕΥ̓ΛΟΓΗΜΈΝΗ ΣῪ ἘΝ ΓΥΝ. are omitted by the Revisers with אB and some versions. They may be an accidental reminiscence of 5:42. 28. ΚΕΧΑΡΙΤΩΜΈΝΗ. Marg. “graciously accepted” or “much graced.” Literally, having... [ Continue Reading ]
29. The ἸΔΟΥ͂ΣΑ of _Rec_[6] is omitted by אBDLX. [6] _Rec._ The Textus Receptus. 29. Ἡ ΔῈ ἘΠῚ ΤΩ͂Ι ΛΌΓΩΙ ΔΙΕΤΑΡΆΧΘΗ. ‘But she was greatly troubled at the saying.’ ΠΟΤΑΠΌΣ. ‘Of what kind.’ The salutation was to her not only astonishing, but enigmatical.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἸΗΣΟΥ͂Ν. The name involves the whole Gospel. See _Life of Christ_, I. 18, 19. It is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Jehoshua (Numbers 13:8), Joshua, Jeshua (Zechariah 3:1), which means ‘The salvation of Jehovah’ (Philo, I. 597). It was one of the commonest Jewish names. ‘Jesus’ is used for Joshua... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΛΗΘΉΣΕΤΑΙ. i.e. shall be. The best comment on this verse is furnished by the passages of Scripture in which we find the same prophecy (Micah 4:7; Micah 5:4; 2 Samuel 7:12; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 16:5; Jeremiah 23:5;... [ Continue Reading ]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΎΣΕΙ … ΕἸΣ ΤΟῪΣ ΑἸΩ͂ΝΑΣ. Daniel 2:44, “a kingdom which shall never be destroyed … it shall stand for ever.” (Comp. Daniel 7:13-14; Daniel 7:27; Micah 4:7.) “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever” (Psalms 45:6; Hebrews 1:8). “He shall reign for ever and ever,” Revelation 11:15. In 1 [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΩ͂Σ ἜΣΤΑΙ ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ; Mary does not doubt the fact as Zacharias had done; she only inquires as to _the mode_ of accomplishment. The village maiden amid her humble daily duties shews a more ready faith in a far more startling message than the aged priest in the Holy Place amid the Incense. _Inquirendo_... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚ ΣΟΥ͂ omitted by nearly all the best MSS. 35. ΠΝΕΥ͂ΜΑ ἍΓΙΟΝ. The phrase is _anarthrous_ (i.e. the article is omitted) because ‘Holy Spirit’ is here a proper name. ἘΠΙΣΚΙΆΣΕΙ ΣΟΙ, as with the Shechinah and Cloud of Glory (see on Luke 2:9; Luke 9:34). See the treatise on the Shechinah in Meuschen,... [ Continue Reading ]
Ἡ ΣΥΓΓΕΝΉΣ ΣΟΥ. “_thy kinswoman_.” What the actual relationship was we do not know. It is a mistake to infer positively from this, as Ewald does, that Mary too was of the tribe of Levi, for except in the case of heiresses there was free intermarriage between the tribes (Exodus 6:23; Judges 17:7; Phi... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΡᾺ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂ ‘from God’ R. V[7] following אBDL. [7] R. V. Revised Version. 37. ΟΥ̓Κ … ΠΑ͂Ν ῬΗ͂ΜΑ. Ῥῆμα means _word_ or _fact_ (דבר). The οὐ negatives the verb (_every_ fact shall _be possible_). Cf. Matthew 24:22, οὐκ ἂν ἐσώθη πᾶσα σάρξ; Romans 3:20; Acts 10:14, &c. The idiom is Hebraic (Exodus... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΟΎΛΗ. ‘_Female slave_,’ stronger than handmaid. ΓΈΝΟΙΤΌ ΜΟΙ ΚΑΤᾺ ΤῸ ῬΗ͂ΜΆ ΣΟΥ. The use of the _aorist_ optative delicately implies that the _time_ of the fulfilment is left in God’s hands. The thoughts of the Virgin Mary seem to have found their most natural utterance in the phrases of Scripture.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΑΙ͂Σ ἩΜΈΡΑΙΣ ΤΑΎΤΑΙΣ. ‘in these days.’ Probably within a month of the Annunciation. The ‘those days’ of the A. V[34] would require ἐκείναις. The ταύταις is more graphic. [34] A. V. Authorised Version. ΕἸΣ ΤῊΝ ὈΡΕΙΝΉΝ. Into the hill-district (or highlands) sub. χώραν. Palestine west of the Jorda... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VISIT OF MARY TO ELIZABETH... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΣΚΊΡΤΗΣΕΝ. The same word is applied to unborn babes in Genesis 25:22, LXX[36] [36] LXX. Septuagint.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΕΦΏΝΗΣΕΝ. Vulg[37] _exclamavit_. [37] Vulg. Vulgate. ΚΡΑΥΓΗ͂Ι ΜΕΓΆΛΗΙ. ‘_with a great cry_.’ The reading φωνῇ, _voice_, ACD, &c. is a commoner but weaker phrase. Ἀνεφώνησεν is ἅπαξ λεγόμενον in the N. T. ΕΥ̓ΛΟΓΗΜΈΝΗ ΣῪ ἘΝ ΓΥΝΑΙΞΊΝ. i.e. preeminently blessed. (Cf. “fairest among women,” Song of S... [ Continue Reading ]
ἽΝΑ ἜΛΘΗΙ. This would have been expressed in classical Greek by the acc. and infinitive, and Hermann goes so far as to call it “labantis linguae quaedam incuria.” This use of ἵνα has become universal in modern Greek (να). Ἡ ΜΉΤΗΡ ΤΟΥ͂ ΚΥΡΊΟΥ ΜΟΥ. The words shew a remarkable degree of divine illumin... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΆΡ. This assigns the ground of her recognition of Mary as Mother of the Messiah. ἘΝ�. ‘In exultation.’ To apply this incident to inferences as to the salvation of infants was one of the strange perversions to which almost every passage of Scripture has been rendered liable.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΑΚΑΡΊΑ Ἡ ΠΙΣΤΕΎΣΑΣΑ. Perhaps Elizabeth had in mind the affliction which had followed her husband’s doubt. Comp. John 20:29. ὍΤΙ ἜΣΤΑΙ ΤΕΛΕΊΩΣΙΣ. The words may also mean ‘she that believed _that_ there shall be,’ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΕἾΠΕΝ ΜΑΡΙΆΜ. The use of the calm word εἶπεν to describe the submissive and meek utterance of Mary, after the wild ἀνεφώνησεν κραυγῇ μεγάλῃ (Luke 1:42) of Elizabeth is one of the many exquisite touches alike of subjective and objective truthfulness in the narrative. The one accords well with the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MAGNIFICAT... [ Continue Reading ]
ἨΓΑΛΛΊΑΣΕΝ. ‘exults’. In the original it is the _general_ or _gnomic_ aorist. ἘΠῚ ΤΩ͂Ι ΘΕΩ͂Ι ΤΩ͂Ι ΣΩΤΗ͂ΡΊ ΜΟΥ. Isaiah 45:21, “a just God and a Saviour.” Comp. Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 25:9. The expression is also found in the later Epistles of St Paul; “God our Saviour,” 1 Timothy 1:1; Titus 3:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΈΒΛΕΨΕΝ. ‘He looked upon’. ΤῊΝ ΤΑΠΕΊΝΩΣΙΝ. So Hagar (Genesis 16:11) and Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11; cf. Psalms 138:6; Psalms 102:17). The word may be rendered ‘humiliation’, Acts 8:33; Isaiah 1:9-10. ‘Humility’ is ταπεινότης. The reader will notice in this hymn more than one anticipation of the Beatit... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΕΓΆΛΑ. אBDL La[8] Ti[9], ‘great things’ R. V[10], Vulg[11] _magna._ μεγαλεῖα may be taken from Psalms 71:19. [8] La. Lachmann. [9] Ti. Tischendorf. [10] R. V. Revised Version. [11] Vulg. Vulgate. 49. ΜΕΓΆΛΑ. _gedolôth_, Psalms 71:21; Psalms 126:3. Ὁ ΔΥΝΑΤΌΣ. _El Shaddai_, Job 8:3; also _Gibbôr_,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ΓΕΝΕᾺΣ ΚΑῚ ΓΕΝΕΆΣ ‘unto generations and generations’ R. V[12] BCL It[13] Vulg[14] &c. The _Rec_[15] perhaps arose from the phrase _in saecula saeculorum_. [12] R. V. Revised Version. [13] It. Old Latin Version (Itala). [14] Vulg. Vulgate. [15] _Rec._ The Textus Receptus. 50. ΤῸ ἜΛΕΟΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΟΊΗΣΕΝ ΚΡΆΤΟΣ. A Hebraism. Psalms 118:15, &c. ἘΝ ΒΡΑΧΊΟΝΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. “Thou hast a mighty arm,” Psalms 89:13. The nearest parallel to the remainder of the verse is Job 5:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΘΕΙ͂ΛΕΝ ΔΥΝΆΣΤΑΣ�. ‘He puts down potentates from thrones.’ The aorists throughout are _gnomic_, i.e. they do not express single but _normal_ acts. Winer, indeed, denies this _gnomic_ use of the aorist—to express what is _wont_ to be done—in the N. T. (_Gram._, p. 346); but his explanation that the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΕΙΝΩ͂ΝΤΑΣ ἘΝΈΠΛΗΣΕΝ�. “My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry, &c.,” Isaiah 65:13; Isaiah 25:6; Psalms 34:10, and the Beatitude, Matthew 5:6. (See Luke 18:14, the Publican and the Pharisee.)... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΤΕΛΆΒΕΤΟ. Literally, “took by the hand.” Isaiah 41:8-9, LXX[38] The proper rendering of the following words is ‘to remember mercy—(even as He spake to (πρὸς) our fathers)—toward (τῷ) Abraham and his seed for ever.’ Micah 7:20, “Thou wilt perform … the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto o... [ Continue Reading ]
ὩΣ ΜΗ͂ΝΑΣ ΤΡΕΙ͂Σ. As this would complete the nine months of Elizabeth’s ‘full time,’ it might seem probable that the Virgin Mary remained at least until the birth of the Baptist. ὙΠΈΣΤΡΕΨΕΝ. This is a favourite word of St Luke, and almost (Galatians 1:17; Hebrews 7:1) peculiar to him. It occurs twe... [ Continue Reading ]
57. Again we have triple subsections: α. The Birth of John, 57, 58. β. His Circumcision, 59–66. γ. The Song of Zachariah, 67–80. Ὁ ΧΡΌΝΟΣ ΤΟΥ͂ ΤΕΚΕΙ͂Ν. The genitive depends on the substantive. See Winer, p. 408.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἹ ΣΥΓΓΕΝΕΙ͂Σ ΑΥ̓ΤΗ͂Σ. Rather, ‘her kinsfolk,’ which was the original meaning of the word _cousins_ (_con-sobrini_). See Luke 1:36. ἘΜΕΓΆΛΥΝΕΝ … ΜΕΤ' ΑΥ̓ΤΗ͂Σ. A Hebraism (Luke 1:72; 1 Samuel 12:24. LXX[39]), but an expressive one. ‘God magnified (comp. μεγαλύνει in the _Magnificat_) His mercy _with... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΗ͂Ι ἩΜΈΡΑ ΤΗ͂Ι ὈΓΔΌΗΙ. According to the ordinance of Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:3;—Philippians 3:5. The name was then given, because at the institution of circumcision the names of Abram and Sarai had been changed, Genesis 17:15. The rite was invested with extreme solemnity, and in later times a c... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ΔΕΊΣ ἘΣΤΙΝ ἘΚ ΤΗ͂Σ ΣΥΓΓΕΝΕΊΑΣ ΣΟΥ. We find a John among other hierarchs in Acts 4:6; Acts 5:17. Those priests however who passed the High Priesthood from one to another—a clique of Herodian Sadducees—the Boethusîm, Kamhiths, Benî Hanan, &c.—were partly of Babylonian and Egyptian origin, and had b... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝΈΝΕΥΟΝ. The discussion whether Zacharias was deaf as well as mute is a very unimportant one, but the narrative certainly seems to imply that he was. ΤῸ ΤΊ ἊΝ ΘΈΛΟΙ. The τὸ is an apposition to the following sentence,—the question ‘what he might wish.’ Indirect questions are expressed by ἂν with th... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΙΝΑΚΊΔΙΟΝ. ‘tablet.’ A small wooden tablet (_abacus_) either smeared with wax, or with sand sprinkled over it, on which words were written with an iron _stylus_. Thus ‘John,’ (‘the grace of Jehovah,’) is the first word _written_ under the Gospel; the aeon of the written Law had ended with _Cherem_,... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΕΏΙΧΘΗ. The aorist implies that the result was immediate. The A. V[40], “his mouth was opened and his tongue _loosed_,” translates the zeugma of the original, where ‘_was opened_’ is connected with both substantives, though it is not accurately applied to γλῶσσα (comp. Mark 7:35). The most marked... [ Continue Reading ]
ΦΌΒΟΣ. The minds of men at this period were full of dread and agitated expectancy, which had spread even to the heathen. Virg. _Ecl._ IV.; _Orac. Sibyl._ III.; Suet. _Vesp._ 4; Tac. _Hist._ Luke 1:13; Jos. _Bell. Jud._ VI. 5, § 4. ΔΙΕΛΑΛΕΙ͂ΤΟ. The preposition implies that they became the topic of m... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ΚΑΡΔΊΑΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ν. Comp. Luke 2:19. The use of καρδίᾳ for φρεσὶ is a Hebraism. 1 Samuel 21:12. ΤΊ ἌΡΑ ΤῸ ΠΑΙΔΊΟΝ ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ ἜΣΤΑΙ; The ἄρα expresses wonderment, and is thoroughly classical, Luke 8:25; Luke 12:42. Τίς might have been used for τί by the common sense-construction (κατὰ σύνεσιν), but... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓ΛΟΓΗΤΌΣ. This hymn of praise is hence called the BENEDICTUS. It is expressed (as was natural) almost exclusively in the language of ancient prophecy, Psalms 98:3; Psalms 105:8-9; Psalms 132:17; Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 40:3; Ezekiel 16:60, &c. It has been in use in Christian worship perhaps as far back... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΈΡΑΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΊΑΣ. A natural and frequent metaphor. Ezekiel 29:21, “In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth.” Lamentations 2:3, “He hath cut off … all the horn of Israel.” Psalms 132:17; 1 Samuel 2:10, “He shall exalt the horn of His anointed.” (A Rabbinic writer says that... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΣΤΌΜΑΤΟΣ ΤΩ͂Ν ἉΓΊΩΝ … ΠΡΟΦΗΤΩ͂Ν ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. Namely, “in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms,” see on Luke 24:44. The phrase “by the month of” is the circumstantial and picturesque mode of expression so common in Semitic style. ἈΠ' ΑἸΩ͂ΝΟΣ. ‘of old.’ πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως, “f... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΩΤΗΡΊΑΝ. ‘salvation’—referring back to “a horn of salvation,” to which it is in apposition. The previous verse is a parenthesis. ἘΞ ἘΧΘΡΩ͂Ν ἩΜΩ͂Ν. No doubt in the first instance the “enemies” from which the prophets had promised deliverance were literal enemies (Deuteronomy 33:29; Isaiah 14:2; Isa... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΙΗ͂ΣΑΙ ἜΛΕΟΣ ΜΕΤᾺ ΤΩ͂Ν ΠΑΤΈΡΩΝ ἩΜΩ͂Ν. ‘To do mercy towards (lit. ‘with’) our fathers.’ The “promised” is a needless addition of the A. V[43] [43] A. V. Authorised Version.... [ Continue Reading ]
72, 73. ἜΛΕΟΣ … ΜΝΗΣΘΗ͂ΝΑΙ … ὍΡΚΟΝ. These three words have been thought by some to be an allusion to the three names John (‘Jehovah’s _mercy_’), Zacharias (‘_remembered_ by Jehovah’), and Elizabeth (see p. 88). Such plays on words, are exceedingly common in the Bible. For similar possible instances... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΡΚΟΝ ὋΝ ὬΜΟΣΕΝ. Genesis 12:3; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 22:16-17; comp. Hebrews 7:13-14; Hebrews 7:17. The ὍΡΚΟΝ is attracted into the accus. by the following relative, although we might suppose a _double_ construction, since in the LXX[44] μνησθῆναι takes both a genitive and an accusative. [44] LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΆΣΑΣ ΤᾺΣ ἩΜΈΡΑΣ ἩΜΩ͂Ν ‘all our days’ R. V[16] omits τῆς ζωῆς with all the best MSS. [16] R. V. Revised Version. 75. ἘΝ ὉΣΙΌΤΗΤΙ. Towards God. ΚΑῚ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΎΝΗΙ. Towards men. We have the same words contrasted in 1 Thessalonians 2:10, “how holily and righteously;” Ephesians 4:24, “in righteousness a... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΙΔΊΟΝ. ‘little child’—“quantillus nunc es,” Bengel. From this diminutive is derived our word ‘page.’ ΠΡῸ ΠΡΟΣΏΠΟΥ. Redundant, like the Hebrew לִפְנֵי. ἙΤΟΙΜΆΣΑΙ ὉΔΟῪΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. An allusion to the prophecies of the Forerunner in Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΝΩ͂ΣΙΝ ΣΩΤΗΡΊΑΣ. A clear proof that these prophecies had not the local and limited sense of national prosperity which some have supposed. ἘΝ�. _In remission_. Comp. Acts 5:31, “to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΣΠΛΆΓΧΝΑ ἘΛΈΟΥΣ. Literally, “_Because of the heart of mercy_.” Σπλάγχνα (literally ‘bowels’ _rechamîm_) is a favourite word with St Paul to express emotion (2 Corinthians 7:15; Philippians 1:8; Philippians 2:1; Philemon 1:7; Philemon 1:12; Philemon 1:20, &c.). The expression is common to Jewish... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΙΦΑ͂ΝΑΙ. 1st aor. inf., a late (and Doric) form for ἐπιφῆναι. ΣΚΙΑ͂Ι ΘΑΝΆΤΟΥ. The Hebrew _Tsalmaveth_. Job 10:21; Job 38:17; Psalms 23:4; Psalms 107:10; Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ΔῈ ΠΑΙΔΊΟΝ ΗΥ̓́ΞΑΝΕΝ ΚΑῚ ἘΚΡΑΤΑΙΟΥ͂ΤΟ ΠΝΕΎΜΑΤΙ. The ηὔξανεν refers to bodily, and the ἐκραταιοῦτο to _mental_ growth. The description resembles that of the childhood of Samuel (1 Samuel 2:26) and of our Lord (Luke 2:40-52). Nothing however is said of ‘favour with men.’ In the case of the Baptist,... [ Continue Reading ]