rwp - Increasing

rwp@1John:2:9 @{And hateth his brother} (\kai ton adelphon autou misn\). Sharp contrast between the love just described and hate. The only way to walk in the light (1:7|) is to have fellowship with God who is light (1:3,5|). Songs:the claim to be in the light is nullified by hating a brother. {Even until now} (\hes arti\). Up till this moment. In spite of the increasing light and his own boast he is in the dark.

rwp@Acts:16:21 @{Customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans} (\eth ha ouk estin hmin paradechesthai oude poiein Rmaiois ousin\). Note the sharp contrast between "being Jews" in verse 20| and "being Romans" here. This pose of patriotism is all sound and fury. It is love of money that moves these "masters" far more than zeal for Rome. As Roman citizens in a colony they make full use of all their rights of protest. Judaism was a _religio licita_ in the Roman empire, only they were not allowed to make proselytes of the Romans themselves. No Roman magistrate would pass on abstract theological questions (18:15|), but only if a breach of the peace was made (\ektarassousin hmn tn polin\) or the formation of secret sects and organizations. Evidently both of these last points are involved by the charges of "unlawful customs" by the masters who are silent about their real ground of grievance against Paul and Silas. \Ethos\ (kin to \thos\, strkjv@1Corinthians:15:33|) is from \eth\, to be accustomed or used to a thing. The Romans granted toleration to conquered nations to follow their religious customs provided they did not try to win the Romans. But the Jews had made great headway to favour (the God-fearers) with increasing hatred also. Emperor worship had in store grave peril for both Jews and Christians. The Romans will care more for this than for the old gods and goddesses. It will combine patriotism and piety.

rwp@John:1:19 @{And this is the witness of John} (\kai haut estin h marturia tou Ianou\). He had twice already alluded to it (verses 7f., 15|) and now he proceeds to give it as the most important item to add after the Prologue. Just as the author assumes the birth narratives of Matthew and Luke, so he assumes the Synoptic accounts of the baptism of Jesus by John, but adds various details of great interest and value between the baptism and the Galilean ministry, filling out thus our knowledge of this first year of the Lord's ministry in various parts of Palestine. The story in John proceeds along the same lines as in the Synoptics. There is increasing unfolding of Christ to the disciples with increasing hostility on the part of the Jews till the final consummation in Jerusalem. {When the Jews sent unto him} (\hote apesteilan pros auton hoi Ioudaioi\). John, writing in Ephesus near the close of the first century long after the destruction of Jerusalem, constantly uses the phrase "the Jews" as descriptive of the people as distinct from the Gentile world and from the followers of Christ (at first Jews also). Often he uses it of the Jewish leaders and rulers in particular who soon took a hostile attitude toward both John and Jesus. Here it is the Jews from Jerusalem who sent (\apesteilan\, first aorist active indicative of \apostell\). {Priests and Levites} (\hiereis kai Leueitas\). Sadducees these were. Down below in verse 24| the author explains that it was the Pharisees who sent the Sadducees. The Synoptics throw a flood of light on this circumstance, for in strkjv@Matthew:3:7| we are told that the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees "offspring of vipers" (Luke:3:7|). Popular interest in John grew till people were wondering "in their hearts concerning John whether haply he were the Christ" (Luke:3:15|). Songs:the Sanhedrin finally sent a committee to John to get his own view of himself, but the Pharisees saw to it that Sadducees were sent. {To ask him} (\hina ertssin auton\). Final \hina\ and the first aorist active subjunctive of \erta\, old verb to ask a question as here and often in the _Koin_ to ask for something (John:14:16|) like \aite\. {Who art thou?} (\su tis ei;\). Direct question preserved and note proleptic position of \su\, "Thou, who art thou?" The committee from the Sanhedrin put the question sharply up to John to define his claims concerning the Messiah.

rwp@Luke:10:2 @{Harvest} (\therismos\). Late word for the older \theros\, summer, harvest. The language in this verse is verbatim what we have in strkjv@Matthew:9:37,38| to the Twelve. Why not? The need is the same and prayer is the answer in each case. Prayer for preachers is Christ's method for increasing the supply.

rwp@Titus:2:7 @{Shewing thyself} (\seauton parechomenos\). Present middle (redundant middle) participle of \parech\ with the reflexive pronoun \seauton\ as if the active voice \parechn\. The _Koin_ shows an increasing number of such constructions (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 811). See active in strkjv@1Timothy:1:4|. {An ensample} (\tupon\). For this word see strkjv@2Thessalonians:3:9; strkjv@Phillipians:3:17|. {Uncorruptness} (\aphthorian\). Only example, from late adjective \aphthoros\ (\a\ privative and \phtheir\).

CONCORD Increasing