It is said -that there is no trace of such a decree in secular
history." The answer is that (α) the _argumentum e silentio_is here
specially invalid because there happens to be a singular deficiency of
minute records respecting this epoch in the -profane" historians. The
history of Nicolaus of Damas... [ Continue Reading ]
_this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria_
Rather, THIS FIRST ENROLMENT TOOK PLACE (literally -took place as the
_first_") WHEN QUIRINUS WAS GOVERNOR OF SYRIA. We are here met by an
apparent error on which whole volumes have been written. Quirinus (or
Quirinius, for the form of... [ Continue Reading ]
_every one into his own city_ This method of enrolment was a
concession to Jewish prejudices. The Roman method was to enrol each
person at his own place of residence. Incidentally this unexplained
notice proves that St Luke is dealing with an historical enrolment.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the city of David_ 1 Samuel 17:12, "David was the son of that
Ephrathite of Bethlehem-Judah whose name was Jesse."
_Bethlehem_ Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Micah 5:2, "Thou,
Bethlehem-Ephratah … out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is
to be ruler in Israel." Cf. Luke 4:8, "And thou,... [ Continue Reading ]
_to be taxed_ Rather, TO ENROL HIMSELF.
_with Mary_ It is uncertain whether her presence was obligatory (Dion.
Hal. iv. 5; Lact. _De Mort. Persec_. 23) or voluntary; but it is
obvious that at so trying a time, and after what she had suffered
(Matthew 1:19), she would cling to the presence and prote... [ Continue Reading ]
_the days were accomplished_ There is a reasonable certainty that our
Lord was born b. c. 4 of our era, and it is _probable_that He was born
(according to the unanimous tradition of the Christian Church) in
winter. There is nothing to guide us as to the actual _day_of His
birth. It was unknown to th... [ Continue Reading ]
_firstborn_ The word has no bearing on the controversy as to the
-brethren of Jesus," as it does not necessarily imply that the Virgin
had other children. See Hebrews 1:6, where first-born=only-begotten.
_wrapped him in swaddling clothes_ Ezekiel 16:4. In her poverty she
had none to help her, but ... [ Continue Reading ]
The Angels to the Shepherds
8. _in the same country_ Tradition says that they were natives of the
little village Beth-zur (Joshua 15:58; Nehemiah 3:16). They were
feeding their flocks in the same fields from which David had been
summoned to feed Jacob, God's people, and Israel His inheritance.
_sh... [ Continue Reading ]
_And lo_ The phrase often introduces some strange or memorable event.
_the angel_ Rather, AN ANGEL.
_came upon them Epestê_a common word in St Luke, who uses it eighteen
times, Luke 24:4; Acts 12:7, &c. It may mean _stood by them_.
_the glory of the Lord_ The Shechinah, or cloud of brightness whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_good tidings_ the rendering of the verb _euangelizomai_(see on Luke
1:19).
_of great joy_ See Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 61:1; Romans 5:11; 1 Peter 1:8.
The contrast of the condition of despair and sorrow into which the
heathen world had sunk and the joy of Christians even in the deepest
adversity as whe... [ Continue Reading ]
_a Saviour_ It is a curious fact that -Saviour" and -Salvation," so
common in St Luke and St Paul (in whose writings they occur forty-four
times), are comparatively rare in the rest of the New Testament.
-Saviour" only occurs in John 4:42; 1 John 4:14; and six times in 2
Pet. and Jude; -salvation" o... [ Continue Reading ]
_a sign_ Rather, THE SIGN.
_the babe_ Rather, A BABE.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a multitude of the heavenly host_ The Sabaoth; Romans 9:29; James
5:4. "Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him," Daniel 7:10;
Revelation 5:11-12. The word is also used of the stars as objects of
heathen worship, Acts 7:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the highest_ i. e., in highest heaven, Job 16:19; Psalms 148:1;
comp. "the heavenlies" in Ephesians 1:3, &c.; Sir 43:9.
_on earth peace_
"No war or battle's sound
Was heard the world around;
The idle spear and shield were high uphung:
The hookèd chariot stood
Unstained with hostile blood,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us now go_ Rather, COME NOW! LET US GO.... [ Continue Reading ]
_found_ The word is not merely εὗρον but ἀνεῦρον,
_discovered_after search. The lamp hung from the centre of a rope
would guide them to the khan, but among a crowd it would not be easy
to find the new-born babe of the humble travellers.... [ Continue Reading ]
_made known abroad_ Thus they were the first Christian preachers.... [ Continue Reading ]
_all these things_ or -words."
_pondered_ Literally, "_casting together_," i. e. comparing and
considering; like our -casting in mind." Comp. Genesis 37:11, "his
father _observed_the saying." She did not at once understand the full
significance of all these events.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Circumcision
21. _for the circumcising of the child_ Genesis 17:12. Doubtless the
rite was performed by Joseph. "Jesus Christ was a minister of the
circumcision" (i. e. went to the Jew first) "for the truth of God to
confirm the promises made unto the fathers," Romans 15:8. Thus it
became him -t... [ Continue Reading ]
The Presentation in the Temple
22. _her purification_ Rather, THEIR PURIFICATION. The reading
αὐτῆς, -her", of the Received Text is almost unsupported. All
the Uncials read αὐτῶν, -their," except D, which probably by an
oversight reads αὐτοῦ, -His." Strictly speaking, the _child_was
never purified,... [ Continue Reading ]
_as it is written in the law of the Lord_ The tribe of Levi were
sanctified to the Lord in lieu of the firstborn, and originally all
the firstborn in excess of the number of the Levites had to be
redeemed with five shekels of the sanctuary (about 15 shillings), a
rule afterwards extended to _all_the... [ Continue Reading ]
_A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons_ The offering appointed
was a yearling lamb for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon or
turtledove for a sin-offering, which were to be brought to the door of
the tabernacle and with which "the priest made an atonement for her
and she shall be clean." But... [ Continue Reading ]
Simeon and the Nunc Dimittis
25. _a man … whose name was Simeon_ This cannot be Rabban Shimeon
the son of Hillel (whom the Talmud is on this account supposed to pass
over almost unnoticed), because he would hardly have been spoken of so
slightly as "_anthropos_," -a person." The Apocryphal Gospels... [ Continue Reading ]
_it was revealed unto him_ Christian legend says that he had stumbled
at Isaiah 7:14, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive," and had received a
divine intimation that he should not die till he had seen it fulfilled
(Nicephorus, a. d. 1450). The notion of his extreme age is not derived
from Scripture but... [ Continue Reading ]
_by the Spirit_ Rather, IN THE SPIRIT.
_brought in the child_ The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy (vi.) says
that he saw Him shining like a pillar of light in His mother's arms,
which is probably derived from Luke 2:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in his arms_ Hence he is sometimes called _Theodokos_, -the receiver
of God," as Ignatius is sometimes called _Theophoros_, -borne of God,"
from the fancy that he was one of the children whom Christ took in His
arms (see on Luke 9:47).... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace_ Rather, NOW ART
THOU SETTING FREE THY SLAVE, O MASTER, ACCORDING TO THY WORD, IN
PEACE. This rapturous Psalm the _Nunc Dimittis_has formed a part of
Christian evening worship certainly since the fifth century.
_Despotes_is not often used of God (A... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy salvation_ Not τὴν σωτηρίαν but τὸ
σωτήριον which seems to have a wider meaning.... [ Continue Reading ]
_to lighten the Gentiles_ Rather, FOR REVELATION TO. A memorable
prophecy, considering that even the Apostles found it hard to grasp
the full admission of the Gentiles, clearly as it had been indicated
in older prophecy, as in Psalms 98:2-3. "All the ends of the earth
have seen the salvation of our... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joseph_ The undoubted reading is "_His father_," א, B, D, L, &c.
_of him_ Rather, ABOUT HIM.... [ Continue Reading ]
_is set_ Literally, "_lies_." The metaphor is taken from a stone which
may either become -a stone of stumbling" and -a rock of offence"
(Isaiah 8:14; Romans 9:32-33; 1 Corinthians 1:23), or -a precious
cornerstone" (1 Peter 2:7-8; Acts 4:11; 1 Corinthians 3:11).
_for the fall and rising again of man... [ Continue Reading ]
_a sword_ The word _rhomphaia_, probably a broad Thracian sword, only
occurs elsewhere in the New Testament in Revelation 1:16, &c., but it
is used in the LXX., as in Zechariah 13:7, "Awake, O sword, against my
shepherd." Almost from the very birth of Christ the sword began to
pierce the soul of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Anna the Prophetess. The Return to Nazareth
36. _Anna_ The same name as Hannah (1 Samuel 1:20), from the root
_Chânan_, -he was gracious."
_a prophetess_ like Miriam, Deborah, Huldah (2 Chronicles 34:22).
_Phanuel_ -The Face of God;" the same word as Peniel, Genesis 32:30.
_Aser_ Though the Ten... [ Continue Reading ]
_departed not_ She was present (that is) at all the stated hours of
prayer; unless we suppose that her position as a Prophetess had
secured her the right of living in one of the Temple chambers, and
perhaps of doing some work for it like trimming the lamps (as is the
Rabbinic notion about Deborah, d... [ Continue Reading ]
_that looked for redemption_ See Luke 24:21; Mark 15:43; 1 Corinthians
1:7; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28. See Excursus VII.
_in Jerusalem_ The readings vary. Perhaps it should be _for the
redemption of Jerusalem_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Between this verse and the last come the events narrated by St Matthew
only namely the Visit of the Magi; the Flight into Egypt; and the
massacre of the Innocents. It is difficult to believe that either of
the Evangelists had seen the narrative of the other, because the
primâ facie inference from ei... [ Continue Reading ]
_filled_ Rather, BEING FILLED. The growth of our Lord is here
described as a natural human growth. The nature of the -Hypostatic
Union" of His Divine and Human nature what is called the
_Perichoresis_or _Communicatio idiomatum_is one of the subtlest and
least practical of mysteries. The attempt to d... [ Continue Reading ]
The Passover Visit to the Temple
41. _his parents_ The great Rabbi Hillel had _recommended_women to
attend the Passover. It was not enjoined by the Law, but the Jews
admired it as a pious practice. (_Mechilta_, f. 17. 2 in Schöttgen.)
_at the feast of the passover_ Exodus 23:15-17; Deuteronomy 16:... [ Continue Reading ]
_when he was twelve years old_ No single word breaks the silence of
the Gospels respecting the childhood of Jesus from the return to
Nazareth till this time. We infer indeed from scattered hints in
Scripture that He "_began to do_" His work before He "_began to
teach_," and being "tempted in all poi... [ Continue Reading ]
_fulfilled the days_ Exodus 12:15.
_the child Jesus_ Rather, "_the boy Jesus_" (ὁ παῖς). St Luke
seems purposely to have narrated something about the Saviour at every
stage of His earthly existence as babe (Luke 2:16), little child (Luke
2:40), boy, and man.
_tarried behind_ Among the countless thr... [ Continue Reading ]
_went a day's journey_ Probably to _Beeroth_, six miles north of
Jerusalem. In the numerous and rejoicing caravans of kinsmen and
fellow-countrymen relations are often separated without feeling any
anxiety.
_sought him_ The word implies _anxious_and _careful_search.... [ Continue Reading ]
_after three days_ This, in the Jewish idiom, probably means -on the
third day." One day was occupied by the journey to Beeroth; on the
second, they sought him in the caravans and at Jerusalem; the next day
they found him in the Temple. The unsettled state of the country would
add to their alarm.
_... [ Continue Reading ]
_were astonished_ Similar incidents are narrated of Rabbi Eliezer Ben
Azariah; of Rabbi Ashi, the compiler of the Babylonian Talmud; and (by
himself) of Josephus (_Vit_. 2). See Excursus VII.... [ Continue Reading ]
_they were amazed_ The "_people of the land_," such as were the simple
peasants of Galilee, held their great teachers in the deepest awe, and
hitherto the silent, sweet, obedient childhood of Jesus had not
prepared them for such a scene.
_Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us_?] Rather, MY CHILD, W... [ Continue Reading ]
_about my Father's business_ Rather, IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE. See
Excursus I. These words are very memorable as being _the first
recorded words of Jesus_. They bear with them the stamp of
authenticity in their half-vexed astonishment, and perfect mixture of
dignity and humility. It is remarkable too, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_they understood not_ Words which might stand as the epitome of much
of His ministry, Luke 9:45; Luke 18:34; Mark 9:32; John 10:6; John
1:10-11. The meaning however is not that they had any doubt as to what
the grammatical construction of His words implied; but only as to
their bearing and appropria... [ Continue Reading ]
_with them_ We may infer from the subsequent omission of Joseph's
name, and from the traditional belief of his age, that he died shortly
after this event, as the Apocryphal Gospels assert.
_to Nazareth_ In many respects there was a divine fitness in this spot
for the human growth of Jesus "as a tend... [ Continue Reading ]
_increased_ Rather, ADVANCED. The word is derived from pioneers
_cutting down_trees in the path of an advancing army. Comp. 1 Samuel
2:26, and the description of an ideal youth in Proverbs 3:3-4.
_stature_ Rather, AGE (as in Luke 12:25), though the word sometimes
means stature (Luke 19:3).
_favour... [ Continue Reading ]