BHT with Abridged Translator’s NotesLuke 1 =
1
“I For My Part Thought It Important to Write for You, Most Honorable Theophilus, the Whole Story”
1 Most Honorable Theophilus:+
In view of the fact that so many have made an effort to put together accounts concerning the events+ that are believed with such strong conviction among us,++2 in a manner similar to how those who became, from the very outset, eyewitnesses and trusted servants of the Word,+ have handed such accounts+ on to us—+ 3 I for my part+ thought it important, since I have for a long time+ followed all things carefully,+ to write for ˢyou, most honorable Theophilus, the entire story, 4 so that ˢyou may know for certain the reliability of the matters concerning which you were instructed.+
“Your Wife Elizabeth Will Bear You a Son”
5 In the time+ of Herod king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah.+ His wife was a descendent+ of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Now both of them were righteous in the sight of God, living their lives in accordance with all the commandments and precepts of the Lord blamelessly. 7 Yet they didn’t have any children, because Elizabeth was unable to conceive,+ and both of them were very old.+
8 One day+ when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest in the presence of God,++ 9 according to the custom of the priests he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and present the incense offering.+ 10 The whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the time+ of the incense offering. 11 Then there appeared to Zechariah+ an angel+ of the Lord, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zechariah was startled when he saw the angel, and became very afraid.+
13 “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah,” the angel said to him. “ˢYour prayer has been heard.+ Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and ˢyou are to name him John, the LORD is gracious.+ 14 Your heart will be full of joy and gladness,+ and many, many people will rejoice because of his birth. 15 He will be great in the sight of the Lord, you see. He must not drink wine or beer,+ and he will be filled, while still in his mother’s womb, with the Holy Spirit,+ 16 and will turn back to the Lord their God many of the people+ of Israel. 17 He, in fact, will carry out his ministry ahead of the Lord+ under the power of the Spirit like Elijah,++ to cause the hearts of the fathers and the children to return++ and cause the disobedient to turn to the ways+ of the righteous,+ to make ready for the Lord a people thoroughly prepared.”+
18 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife, too, is old.+”
19 “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God,” the angel answered, “and I was sent to speak to ˢyou and bring you this good news. 20 Now listen! ˢYou will remain silent and unable to speak until the day these things begin to take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their appointed time.”+
21 Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and were wondering why he was taking so long+ in the sanctuary. 22 When he finally did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary, for he himself was using gestures to communicate to them and remained unable to talk.+ 23 When the time+ of his priestly service was completed, he returned home. 24 Some time later,+ his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind and merciful the Lord has been to me!”+ she said. “For he has now+ shown his concern+ and healed this barren womb that has brought me such disgrace in people’s eyes.+”
“You Will Conceive and Give Birth to a Son”
26 When Elizabeth was in her sixth month,+ the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin legally bound in betrothal+ to a man named Joseph, who descended from the royal family line of David.+ The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel+ came to her and said, “Shalom,+ you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!”
29 Mary,+ at his words, felt very confused and frightened, wondering what in the world this greeting could possibly mean.+
30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel said to her. “ˢYou have found favor with God. 31 Listen very carefully.+ You will conceive+ and give birth to a son, and ˢyou are to name him Jesus, the LORD saves.+ 32 This child+ will be great and will be called the very Son of the Most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father+ David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever into the ages,+ and his Kingdom will never end.”+
34 “How can this happen,” Mary asked the angel, “since I have with a man not been intimate?”+
35 “It is the Holy Spirit who will accomplish+ this in ˢyou,” the angel replied to her, “and the power of the Most High that will overshadow you.+ That is why the child to be born will be called holy, the ‘Son of God.’+ 36 Consider ˢyour relative Elizabeth.+ She, too, has conceived a son, despite+ her old age. She is now in her sixth month—she who was once said to be childless+! 37 For absolutely no word from God will ever fail.+”+
38 “Here I am,+ the Lord’s slave,” Mary said. “May it happen to me just as you have said.+” Then the angel left her.
“Blessed Are ˢYou Among Women, and Blessed Is the Child in Your Womb!”
39 Mary got ready shortly afterwards and hurried off to the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are ˢyou among women, and blessed is the child in your womb+! 43 Yet why am I so honored,+ that the mother of my Lord would visit me? 44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who had faith+ that the Lord really would do what he promised her!+”
46 Then Mary said,
“My soul exalts the Lord,
47 and my spirit is full of joy because of God my Savior!
48 For he has shown concern for his slave in her humble circumstances.
Yes, from this time forth all generations will consider me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me; holy is his name!+
50 His steadfast love+ endures from generation to generation for those who fear him!+
51 He will surely perform mighty acts with his powerful arm.+
He has as good as scattered those who are arrogant in mind and heart.++
52 He will certainly tear ruthless tyrants from their thrones
and exalt the humble.+
53 The hungry he will satisfy with good things,
but the rich he is going to send away with nothing.
54 He will indeed come to the aid of Israel his servant,+
in remembrance of his steadfast love,+
55 just as he promised+ to our fathers,+
to Abraham and to his seed forever into the ages.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth+ about three months and then returned home.
“John Is His Name”
57 As for Elizabeth, the time came for her to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how merciful the Lord had been to her,+ and they rejoiced with her. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child,+ and they wanted to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 “No!” his mother replied. “He is to be named John.”
61 “But none of your relatives has this name!” they said to her.
62 Then they began using gestures to ask his father what he wanted to name the boy.+ 63 Requesting a writing tablet, Zechariah+ wrote, “John is his name,” to the surprise of everyone. 64 At that, Zechariah’s+ mouth was suddenly opened and his tongue set free, and he praised and praised+ God.+ 65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and the news of all these things continued to spread+ throughout the whole entire hill country of Judea. 66 Everyone who heard about it took the matter to heart. “What in the world is this child going to be?” they wondered. It was obvious that the Lord was doing, you see, in the case of this child, something very powerful and special.+
67 Zechariah, then, the boy’s+ father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he will surely come to our aid and bring about the paid release of his people from slavery+
69 and raise up+ a mighty Savior+ from the royal line+ of David his servant,
70 just as he promised+ through the mouth of his holy prophets long ago,
71 a Savior who will deliver+ us from our enemies and from the power+ of all who hate us,
72 because of his steadfast love+ to our fathers+ and in remembrance+ of his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham, in which he promised that we,
74 after being rescued from the power+ of our enemies,
would render priestly service before him without fear,+
75 in holiness and righteousness in his presence+ all our days.+
76 “And as for ˢyou, my child,
“a prophet of the Most High is what you will be called.
For you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him,+
77 by giving+ the knowledge of salvation to his people,+
salvation through+ the forgiveness of their sins,+
78 forgiveness offered because of the compassion and steadfast love of our God,+
the steadfast love on account of which+ the Branch+ will come to our aid from on high,
79 to shine light on those who dwell in darkness as thick as the deep shadow of death,+
by guiding+ our feet in+ the way of peace.+”+
80 The child, then, continued growing and became stronger and stronger in spirit.+ And he lived in the wilderness until the time when he appeared publicly+ to Israel.
+1:1IT. Luke is written as a letter to a man named Theophilus (see UBSHS [Lk], 11). Cf CJB, TEV.+1:1Or matters.+1:1Or concerning the events that have been fulfilled/accomplished/taken place among us; or concerning the events that have been fully proclaimed among us. Cf KJV. For more on the interpretive options here, see BDAG, 827, sv πληροφορέω 1.a.; DBL Greek, #4442; ESL, #4135; UBSHS (Lk), 8.+1:1Cf Heb 11:1.+1:2Or of the message, or of the word, or of the teaching. Following McGirr, τοῦ λόγου ( tou logou) here has been interpreted as an insider reference to Jesus (see McGirr, Ten Ways, 60). This makes sense especially considering that “of the Word” is used with “eyewitnesses.” Cf Jn 1:1-3; Ac 1:21-2.+1:2The direct object is implied from the context. Cf ESV, HCSB, NKJV.+1:2Cf Ac 15:24, 21:17-21, 23:29; 1 Co 4:1-4, 11:2, 15:1-2; 2 Co 11:4, 12-15; Gal 1:6-9, 2:4-5, 5:7-14; Php 3:1-3, 3:17-4:1; Col 1:23, 2:2; 1 Th 1:4-7; 2 Th 2:14-15; 1 Ti 1:3-7, 4:7; Tit 1:14 2 Pt 1:16. Cf the translation here with McGirr’s trajectory of interpretation and translation of these verses (McGirr, Ten Ways, 54-63). Though I don’t entirely agree with McGirr’s analysis or all of his translation choices in this opening section of Luke, his claim that Luke is warning Theophilus against questionable accounts being by produced people besides the apostles is quite plausible.+1:3Or I too.+1:3Or from the beginning.+1:3Cf 1 Ti 4:6; 2 Ti 3:10.+1:4Or informed.+1:5Lit the days. ME. Cf NCV, NET, NIV, TEV.+1:5Cf 1 Ch 24:10.+1:5Lit was of the daughters of. ME (see L-N, 10.31). Cf CJB, ISV, NET, NIV, NRSV.+1:7Lit was barren, or was sterile. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 23.56). Cf HCSB, NLT.+1:7Lit both of them were advanced in their days. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 67.99). Cf NCV, NET, NLT, TEV.+1:8Lit Now it happened that. EFE. Cf CJB, NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV. The phrases kai egeneto or egeneto de function in a variety of ways in Luke’s gospel (for a summary description, see UBSHS [Lk], 22). Corresponding EFEs are used throughout the translation of Luke, depending on the context.+1:8Lit Now it happened that when he was serving as priest in the order of his priestly division before/in the presence of God. ME. Cf CJB, HCSB, NIV, NRSV.+1:8Cf 1 Ch 24:10, 19; 2Ch 8:14, 31:2.+1:9Cf Ex 30:7-8.+1:10Lit hour. ME. Cf CJB, ISV, NCV, NIV, NRSV.+1:11Lit to him.+1:11Or the angel. See note at Mt 1:20.+1:12Lit fear fell upon him. ME. Cf CJB, NCV, NLT.+1:13Cf Dn 9:20-23.+1:13IT. In Hebrew, John’s name means “Yahweh is gracious,” or “Yahweh has shown favor” (see FSB, Lk 1:13; UBSHS [Lk], 31).+1:14Lit And there will be to you joy and gladness. ME.+1:15Cf Nm 6:3; Jg 13:3-5; Mt 11:18; Lk 7:33.+1:15Cf Lk 1:41, 44.+1:16Lit sons. ME (see L-N, 11.58). Cf CJB, NCV, NET, NRSV, TEV.+1:17Lit will go before him. ME.+1:17Lit in/by the Spirit and power of Elijah. ME (see UBSHS [Lk], 36; translation and notes at Re 1:10). Cf TEV. πνεύματι καὶ δυνάμει ( pneumati kai dunamei) is an example of hendiadys. Hendiadys is “the expression of an idea by the use of usually two independent words connected by and (as nice and warm) instead of the usual combination of independent word and its modifier (as nicely warm)” ( Miriam-Webster’s, sv). In view here, moreover, is not the human spirit, but the Spirit of God (see UBSHS [Lk], 36).+1:17Cf 2 Ki 2:9, 2:15.+1:17Or to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children. Cf Dt 30:2; Ml 4:4 (NET). Following the lead of the NET at Ml 4:6 in translation here (see NET Bible Notes, Ml 4:6). The prophetic focus of the Torah is on repentance that extends across generational lines within the nation (see, eg, Dt 30:2; 1 Ki 18:36-40; cf “remember the Law of my servant Moses” at Ml 4:4).+1:17Cf Lv 26:40-42; Dt 4:29-31, 30:2-3; 1 Ki 18:36-39; Ne 1:9; Is 55:7; Jl 2:12-13.+1:17Or attitude, or mindset, or wisdom, or understanding, or prudence. Cf REB in ESS (Lk), 32.+1:17Cf Ezk 3:20-21; 18:21-32, 33:8-19.+1:17Cf Ml 3:1; Mt 11:10; Mk 1:2; Jn 3:28-9; Re 19:7-8.+1:18Lit advanced in her days. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 67.99). Cf NCV, NET, TEV.+1:20Cf Gn 18:9-14.+1:21Lit were wondering at his being delayed. ME. Cf CJB, HCSB, ISV, NLT, TEV.+1:22Lit remained mute/dumb. ME (see L-N, 33.106). Cf most English translations.+1:23Lit the days. ME. Cf CJB, NET, NIV, NCV, TEV.+1:24Lit After these days. ME (see UBSHS [Lk], 46). Cf NET, TEV.+1:25Lit Thus the Lord has dealt with me. ME (see UBSHS [Lk], 47). Cf Gdspd; NLT; Phps.+1:25Lit in days in which. ME (see UBSHS [Lk], 47). Cf TEV.+1:25Or favor.+1:25Lit to remove my disgrace among men. ME(H) (see NET Bible Notes, Lk 1:25; UBSHS [Lk], 47). As is true of many cultures today, among the Jewish people of this time barrenness carried a stigma with it. Cf Lv 20:20-21; Jr 22:30.+1:26Lit In the sixth month. ME/IT (see UBSHS [Lk], 48; NAC [Lk], 82; NET Bible Notes, Lk 1:26; cf vv 24-5, 36). Cf ISV, NCV, NET, NLT, TEV.+1:27Lit betrothed to. ME(H) (see note at Mt 1:18).+1:27Lit Joseph from the house of David. ME(I/F/OTB)/IT (see BSL, Lk 1:27, sv οἶκος; L-N, 10.24; NET Bible Notes, 2 Sm 7:11). In this context, “house” doesn’t just mean family line, but royal lineage and dynasty. This is important in light of vv 32-3. Cf TEV.+1:28Lit He.+1:28Lit greetings, or hail. ME(H) (see note at Mt 26:49). Cf CJB.+1:29Lit She.+1:29Lit of what sort this greeting might be. ME (see UBSHS [Lk], 52-3, 553). Cf ISV, NCV, NEB, NLT, NET.+1:31Lit behold. EFE. See note at Mt 2:9.+1:31Lit conceive in the womb. ME (see L-N, 23.49). Cf HCSB, NLT.+1:31IT. See note at Mt 1:21.+1:32Lit This one.+1:32Or ancestor, or forefather.+1:33Cf Is 14:1, 29:22, 46:3-4.+1:33Cf 2 Sm 7; 1 Ki 2:12; 1 Ch 17; Ps 2, 89, 132; Is 9:2-7; Jr 33:17.+1:34Lit since I am not knowing a man. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 23.61). Cf HCSB.+1:35Lit come upon you, or come over you. ME. Following the lead of L-N (see L-N, 15.83) and the UBSHS (see UBSHS [Lk], 60), an ME has been used here to avoid sexual connotations. Cf note at Mt 1:18.+1:35Cf Ex 40:35; Ps 91:1; Lk 9:34.+1:35Cf 2 Sm 7; Ps 2.+1:36Cf HCSB, TEV.+1:36Lit in. ME (see UBSHS [Lk], 62). Cf NCV, NET, TEV. The meaning here is obviously concessive.+1:36Lit barren. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 23.56). Cf HCSB, NCV, TEV.+1:37Or nothing will be impossible from God. Cf ASV, NLT, REB.+1:37Cf Gn 18:14; Is 55:9-11; Jr 32:17, 32:27.+1:38Lit behold. Cf NEB, NRSV; UBSHS(Lk), 63; most English translations at Mt 12:49.+1:38Lit according to your word. ME. Cf CJB, ISV, NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV.+1:42Lit the fruit of your womb. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 10.38). Cf CJB, HCSB, NCV, NET, NIV, NLT.+1:43Lit Yet from where/why to me this. ME (see UBSHS [Lk], 68). Cf NIV, NLT.+1:45Or who trusted, or who believed.+1:45Lit that there would be a fulfillment to the things that have been spoken to her from the Lord. ME (see BDAG, 997, sv τελείωσις 2). Cf CJB, NCV, NIV, NLT.+1:49Cf Lv 22:32; 1 Ch 16:10; Ps 29:2, 30:4, 33:21, 97:12, 103:1, 105:3, 111:9, 145:21; Is 57:15; Ezk 36:20-23, 39:7, 39:25; Re 4:8.+1:50Or faithful love, or lovingkindness. Lit mercy. ME(OTB) (see NET Bible Notes, Lk 1:50, 72; note at Mt 5:48).+1:50Cf Ex 20:6, 34:6-7; Dt 5:9-10, 7:9-10; Ps 100:5, 103:11, 103:17; Jr 32:18; Dn 9:4.+1:51Cf Is 33:2; 40:10-11, 51:5, 52:10, 53:1, 59:16, 63:5. I have opted for a more literal rendering here because of the connection of this idea with the Messiah (cf, eg, Is 53:1, 63:1-6; Jn 12:38; Re 19:11-21).+1:51Lit the arrogant in the thoughts of their hearts. ME (see note at Mk 3:5). Cf ISV.+1:51Cf 2 Ch 32:25; Ps 18:27, 101:5; Pr 8:13, 16:5; Is 2:11-22, 13:11; Dn 4:37.+1:52Cf Ps 2, 149; Is 40:22-23; Dn 2:20-23.+1:54Cf Dt 4:30-31, Ps 102:13-17; Is 41:8, 44:1, 44:21, 45:4, 49:3-5; Ac 1:6.+1:54Lit his mercy. ME(OTB) (see note at Lk 1:50). Cf Dt 4:30-31; Ps 25:6; Jr 31:20; Mic 7:18-20; Hab 3:2; Rm 11:28-32.+1:55Lit as he spoke. In this context, the things spoken are the promises of the covenant (see NET Bible Notes, Lk 1:55). Cf CJB, ISV, NET, NCV, NLT.+1:55Or forefathers, or ancestors.+1:56Lit with her.+1:58Lit that the Lord had made large his mercy with her. ME. Cf CJB, HCSB, ISV, NCV, NET, NIV, NLT, TEV.+1:59Cf Lv 12:3.+1:62Lit name him.+1:63Lit he.+1:64Lit his.+1:64Or began praising. VPR. See VCC (Lk 1:64). “The imperfect tense of elalei suggests that Zechariah continued to speak for some time” ( UBSHS [Lk], 86).+1:64Lit was speaking, praising. ME. The participle here defines the nature of the speech (see UBSHS [Lk], 86). Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+1:65Lit all these events were being talked about. ME. Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+1:66Lit For the hand of the Lord was with him. ME(I/F/OTB) (see L-N, 76.3). Cf CJB, NLT, TEV. The “hand of the Lord” is an idiom for God carrying out some sort of powerful action either for or against someone (see, eg, Ex 9:3; Dt 2:15; Jsh 4:23-24, 22:31; Jg 2:15; 1 Ki 18:46; 2 Ki 3:15; 1 Ch 21:13-14; Ezr 7:6; Jb 12:9; Is 25:10).+1:67Lit his.+1:68Lit make a ransom, or perform redemption. ME(OTB). In OT theology, when God is the one performing “redemption” or paying a “ransom,” the “ransom” or “price” that God “pays” to bring about someone’s “release” is his own mighty acts—as, for example, in the Exodus (see, eg, Dt 7:8, 9:26; Ps 78:42; Is 50:2). These acts, moreover, are performed freely as gracious acts because of God’s name and covenant faithfulness (see Dt 9:5), and cover a wide range of actions, including provision of a ransom that delivers someone from Sheol (eg, Ps 49:7); deliverance from enemies of various kinds (eg, Ps 55:18); and the future deliverance of Israel (eg, Is 51:11). For further discussion, see TWOT, 715-17. See also ANLEX, 249, sv λύτρωσις; BDAG, 606, sv λύτρωσις 1; L-N, 37.128.+1:69Or has visited and performed…and has raised up (effective aorists). Though one could argue for an effective aorist here based on Zechariah’s presumed knowledge of the baby in Mary’s womb, the Messianic function highlighted in this prophecy (“deliverance from our enemies”), the promises of vv 71-5, the shift to the future indicative in v 76, and the simple fact that Zechariah is prophesying, all favor a proleptic function in this context, with the aorist possibly pointing back to the recent events as the basis for the certainty of the accomplishment of the yet future acts of deliverance.+1:69Lit a horn of salvation. ME(I/F) (see UBSHS [Lk], 91). Cf CJB, ISV, NIV, NLT, TEV.+1:69Lit house. ME (see note at Lk 1:27). The same applies here.+1:70Lit spoke. ME. Here promises are again in view (see note at Lk 1:55). Cf ISV, NLT, TEV.+1:71Lit salvation, or deliverance. σωτηρίαν ( sōtērian) is in an appositional relationship to κέρας ( keras) in v 69 (see LSGNT Notes, Lk 1:69, 71, sv κέρας). I have made the connection explicit in translation.+1:71Lit hand. ME(I/F) (see DBL Hebrew, #5931.3; L-N, 76.3; UBSHS [Lk], 94). Cf CJB, NCV, TEV.+1:72Or thus showing steadfast love. Lit to do mercy. ME(OTB) (see note at Lk 1:50).+1:72Or ancestors, or forefathers.+1:72Maintaining consistency in translation between this verse and v 54 (cf ESV, NASB, NKJV, NRSV, and RSV at Lk 1:54).+1:74Lit the hand. ME(I/F) (see not at 1:71 above).+1:74Cf Gn 32:20; Ex 3:6, 19:1-20, 24:10-11, 33:20; Lv 10:1-10, 16:1-34; Nu 18:3; Dt 5:24-26; Jg 6:22-23; Jb 9:32-35; Ps 11:7, 15:1-5, 24:3-4, 140:13; Is 33:14; Is 6:5; Jr 33:20-26, 50:4-5; Ezk 44:13-31, 45:1-5; Re 7:15, 22:4.+1:75Or in his sight, or before him.+1:75Cf Ps 132:9-16; Is 61:3,10; Zc 3:1-10; Ml 3:3-4.+1:76Cf Ml 3:1; Mt 11:10; Mk 1:2; Lk 7:27.+1:77Or and to give.+1:77Cf Lv 10:11; Dt 17:9; Is 5:13; Jr 3:15; Ho 4:4-6; Zp 3:4; Ml 2:7-8.+1:77Or in, or consisting in.+1:77Or by giving understanding of salvation to his people with regard to/in the forgiveness of their sins. While the statement “to give/cause knowledge of salvation” is most likely referring to John’s prophetic pronouncement, the gospels indicate that John’s ministry also included a significant amount of teaching and instruction (cf Mt 3 and Lk 3; remember, John was a Levite). Since the roles of teacher and prophet often overlap in Scripture, it is possible to interpret “giving knowledge of salvation” in terms of John giving instruction and understanding (cf Lv 10:11; Dt 17:9; Is 5:13; Jr 3:15; Ho 4:4-6; Zp 3:4; Ml 2:7-8). In that situation, the meaning is that John gives them understanding concerning salvation—the need for it, the means of receiving it, the fruit it must produce, etc. Cf Mt 3:7-12; Lk 3:7-14.+1:78Lit because of the bowels of mercy of our God. ME(I/F/OTB) (see L-N, 25.49; note at Lk 1:50).+1:78Or by which.+1:78Or the dawn, or the rising sun. Cf Jr 23:5 (LXX), Zc 3:8, 6:12 (LXX); Ml 4:2. That this is a reference to the Messiah is clear. Less clear is whether it is an allusion to Ml 4:2, or to passages like Jr 23:5. Most translations seem to favor the first option, presumably because ἐπιφαίνω ( epiphainō) is used in the next clause. The UBSHS claims that the Branch interpretation “is not consistent with the idea of shining in the darkness in the next clause which clearly should be related to anatolē” ( UBSHS [Lk], 99). I disagree. ἐπισκέπτομαι ( episkeptomai) has already been used in v 68 to describe the visitation of the God of Israel through the Davidic Savior, and there clearly means a visitation from God to help his people. In Re 22:16, “Bright Morning Star” is in an appositional relationship to “Root and Offspring of David” (see LDGNT, Re 22:16; LSGNT Notes, Re 22:16, sv ἀστὴρ). “The Branch” is a Messianic title, and therefore if the Messiah shines, it means the Branch shines. I say this not because I am dogmatic in either direction, but simply to point out that the “Branch” is just as valid a candidate here as the “rising sun” or the “dawn.” One interesting fact that may also be worth taking into consideration on this matter, is that in addition to being prophesied in the Old Testament, the Messianic “Branch” is also part of the constellation Virgo (and constellations, obviously, shine!). I discuss this topic some in a seminar called “The Gospel in the Stars,” and in a children’s book entitled The Heavens Declare. Both can be found on the DTN website (www.danieltrainingnetwork.org).+1:79Lit in darkness and shadow of death. This is an example of hendiadys (see note at Mt 4:16). Cf Is 9:1-2, 42:6-7, 42:19; Mt 4:16.+1:79Or and to guide.+1:79Or to, or on. According to the LSGNT Notes, εἰς ( eis) here is either a preposition of direction or a preposition of location (see LSGNT Notes, Lk 1:79, sv).+1:79Cf 1 Sm 2:9; Jb 23:11; Ps 17:5, 25:12, 37:23, 44:8, 119:31, 121:3; Pr 1:16, 3:26, 4:26, 14:15, 16:9, 20:4; Is 59:7-8; Jr 10:23.+1:79Cf Is 42:7; Rm 2:19-20; Eph 1:17-18.+1:80Cf Mt 11:7-12, 14:1-4.+1:80Lit until the day of his public appearance. ME. Cf CJB, NIV, TEV.
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