Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Luke 9:54

ὡς καὶ Ἡλίας ἐποίησεν. ACD La[191] [W.[192]]. It is omitted in אBL Vulg[193], but very probably for dogmatic reasons.

[191] La. Lachmann.
[192] W.H Westcott and Hort.
[193] Vulg. Vulgate.

54. Ἰάκωβος καὶ Ἰωάννης. “What wonder that the Sons of Thunder wished to flash lightning?” St Ambrose. But one of these very disciples afterwards went to Samaria on a message of love (Acts 8:14-25).

θέλεις εἴπωμεν; This is really a deliberative subjunctive, and it is frequently used after words like θέλεις and βούλει. Comp. Luke 6:42; Luke 22:9. Winer, p. 356.

πῦρ καταβῆναι�. To avenge their helplessness under this gross and open insult of the Messiah. “Christ wrought miracles in every element except fire. Fire is reserved for the consummation of the age.” Bengel.

[ὡς καὶ Ἠλίας ἐποίησεν.] These words are omitted by אBL. But (i) they are singularly appropriate, since the incident referred to also occurred in Samaria (2 Kings 1:5-14); and (ii) while it would be difficult to account for their insertion, it is quite easy to account for their omission either by an accidental error of the copyists, or on dogmatic grounds, especially from the use made of this passage by the heretic Marcion (Tert. adv. Marc. IV. 23) to disparage the Old Testament. (iii) They are found in very ancient MSS., versions, and Fathers. (iv) The words seem to be absolutely required to defend the crude spirit of vengeance, and might have seemed all the more natural to the still half-trained Apostles because they had so recently seen Moses and Elias speaking with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. They needed, as it were, a Scriptural precedent, to conceal from themselves the personal impulse which really actuated them. It is curious to trace the way in which this passage has been tampered with by copyists.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Luke 9:54

Old Testament

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