NT-EPISTLES.filter - rwp burial:

rwp@1Corinthians:15:29 @{Else} (\epei\). Otherwise, if not true. On this use of \epei\ with ellipsis see on ¯5:10; strkjv@7:14|. {Which are baptized for the dead} (\hoi baptizomenoi huper tn nekrn\). This passage remains a puzzle. Stanley gives thirteen interpretations, no one of which may be correct. Over thirty have been suggested. The Greek expositors took it to be about the dead (\huper\ in sense of \peri\ as often as in strkjv@2Corinthians:1:6|) since baptism is a burial and a resurrection (Romans:6:2-6|). Tertullian tells of some heretics who took it to mean baptized in the place of dead people (unsaved) in order to save them. Some take it to be baptism over the dead. Others take it to mean that Paul and others were in peril of death as shown by baptism (see verse 30|). {At all} (\hols\). See on ¯5:1|.

rwp@1Thessalonians:1:4 @{Knowing} (\eidotes\). Second perfect active participle of \oida\ (\eidon\), a so-called causal participle=since we know, the third participle with the principal verb \eucharistoumen\, the Greek being fond of the circumstantial participle and lengthening sentences thereby (Robertson, _Grammar_, P. 1128). {Beloved by God} (\gapmenoi hupo [tou] theou\). Perfect passive participle of \agapa\, the verb so common in the N.T. for the highest kind of love. Paul is not content with the use of \adelphoi\ here (often in this Epistle as strkjv@2:1,14,17; strkjv@3:7; strkjv@4:1,10|), but adds this affectionate phrase nowhere else in the N.T. in this form (cf. strkjv@Jude:1:3|) though in Sirach strkjv@45:1 and on the Rosetta Stone. But in strkjv@2Thessalonians:2:13| he quotes "beloved by the Lord" from strkjv@Deuteronomy:33:12|. The use of \adelphoi\ for members of the same brotherhood can be derived from the Jewish custom (Acts:2:29,37|) and the habit of Jesus (Matthew:12:48|) and is amply illustrated in the papyri for burial clubs and other orders and guilds (Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_). {Your election} (\tn eklogn humn\). That is the election of you by God. It is an old word from \eklegomai\ used by Jesus of his choice of the twelve disciples (John:15:16|) and by Paul of God's eternal selection (Ephesians:1:4|). The word \eklog\ is not in the LXX and only seven times in the N.T. and always of God's choice of men (Acts:9:15; strkjv@1Thessalonians:1:4; strkjv@Romans:9:11; strkjv@11:5,7,58; strkjv@2Peter:1:10|). The divine \eklog\ was manifested in the Christian qualities of verse 3| (Moffatt).

rwp@Acts:8:2 @{Devout} (\eulabeis\). Only four times in the N.T. (Luke:2:25; strkjv@Acts:2:5; strkjv@8:2; strkjv@22:12|). Possibly some non-Christian Jews helped. The burial took place before the Christians were chiefly scattered. {Buried} (\sunekomisan\). Aorist active indicative of \sunkomiz\, old verb to bring together, to collect, to join with others in carrying, to bury (the whole funeral arrangements). Only here in the N.T. {Lamentation} (\kopeton\). Late word from \koptomai\, to beat the breast, in LXX, Plutarch, etc., only here in the N.T.

rwp@Acts:22:16 @{By baptized} (\baptisai\). First aorist middle (causative), not passive, Get thyself baptized (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 808). Cf. strkjv@1Corinthians:10:2|. Submit yourself to baptism. Songs:as to \apolousai\, Get washed off as in strkjv@1Corinthians:6:11|. It is possible, as in strkjv@2:38|, to take these words as teaching baptismal remission or salvation by means of baptism, but to do so is in my opinion a complete subversion of Paul's vivid and picturesque language. As in strkjv@Romans:6:4-6| where baptism is the picture of death, burial and resurrection, so here baptism pictures the change that had already taken place when Paul surrendered to Jesus on the way (verse 10|). Baptism here pictures the washing away of sins by the blood of Christ.

rwp@Colossians:2:12 @{Having been buried with him in baptism} (\suntaphentes auti en ti baptismati\). Second aorist passive participle of \sunthapt\, old word, in N.T. only here and strkjv@Romans:6:4|, followed by associative instrumental case (\auti\). Thayer's Lexicon says: "For all who in the rite of baptism are plunged under the water, thereby declare that they put faith in the expiatory death of Christ for the pardon of their past sins." Yes, and for all future sins also. This word gives Paul's vivid picture of baptism as a symbolic burial with Christ and resurrection also to newness of life in him as Paul shows by the addition "wherein ye were also raised with him" (\en hi kai sungerthte\). "In which baptism" (\baptismati\, he means). First aorist passive indicative of \sunegeir\, late and rare verb (Plutarch for waking up together), in LXX, in N.T. only in strkjv@Colossians:2:12; strkjv@3:1; strkjv@Ephesians:2:6|. In the symbol of baptism the resurrection to new life in Christ is pictured with an allusion to Christ's own resurrection and to our final resurrection. Paul does not mean to say that the new life in Christ is caused or created by the act of baptism. That is grossly to misunderstand him. The Gnostics and the Judaizers were sacramentalists, but not so Paul the champion of spiritual Christianity. He has just given the spiritual interpretation to circumcision which itself followed Abraham's faith (Romans:4:10-12|). Cf. strkjv@Galatians:3:27|. Baptism gives a picture of the change already wrought in the heart "through faith" (\dia ts pistes\). {In the working of God} (\ts energeias tou theou\). Objective genitive after \pistes\. See strkjv@1:29| for \energeia\. God had power to raise Christ from the dead (\tou egeirantos\, first aorist active participle of \egeir\, the fact here stated) and he has power (energy) to give us new life in Christ by faith.

rwp@Colossians:2:20 @{If ye died} (\ei apethanete\). Condition of the first class, assumed as true, \ei\ and second aorist active indicative of \apothnsk\, to die. He is alluding to the picture of burial in baptism (2:12|). {From the rudiments of the world} (\apo tn stoichein tou kosmou\). See strkjv@2:8|. {As though living in the world} (\hs zntes en kosmi\). Concessive use of the participle with \hs\. The picture is that of baptism, having come out (F. B. Meyer) on the other side of the grave, we are not to act as though we had not done so. We are in the Land of Beulah. {Why do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?} (\ti dogmatizesthe?\). Late and rare verb (three examples in inscriptions and often in LXX) made from \dogma\, decree or ordinance. Here it makes good sense either as middle or passive. In either case they are to blame since the bond of decrees (2:14|) was removed on the Cross of Christ. Paul still has in mind the rules of the ascetic wing of the Gnostics (2:16ff.|).

rwp@Galatians:2:20 @{I have been crucified with Christ} (\Christi sunestaurmai\). One of Paul's greatest mystical sayings. Perfect passive indicative of \sustauro\ with the associative instrumental case (\Christi\). Paul uses the same word in strkjv@Romans:6:6| for the same idea. In the Gospels it occurs of literal crucifixion about the robbers and Christ (Matthew:27:44; strkjv@Mark:15:32; strkjv@John:19:32|). Paul died to the law and was crucified with Christ. He uses often the idea of dying with Christ (Galatians:5:24; strkjv@6:14; strkjv@Romans:6:8; strkjv@Colossians:2:20|) and burial with Christ also (Romans:6:4; strkjv@Colossians:2:12|). {No longer I} (\ouketi eg\). Songs:complete has become Paul's identification with Christ that his separate personality is merged into that of Christ. This language helps one to understand the victorious cry in strkjv@Romans:7:25|. It is the union of the vine and the branch (John:15:1-6|). {Which is in the Son of God} (\ti tou huiou tou theou\). The objective genitive, not the faith of the Son of God. {For me} (\huper emou\). Paul has the closest personal feeling toward Christ. "He appropriates to himself, as Chrysostom observes, the love which belongs equally to the whole world. For Christ is indeed the personal friend of each man individually" (Lightfoot).

rwp@John:11:17 @{Found} (\heuren\). Second aorist active indicative of \heurisk\. {That he had been in the tomb four days already} (\auton tessaras d hmeras echonta\). Literally, "him (accusative object of \heuren\) having already four days in the tomb." See strkjv@5:5| for the same idiom (\et echn\) for expression of time (having 38 years). In Jewish custom burial took place on the day of death (Acts:6:6,10|).

rwp@John:12:7 @{Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying} (\Aphes autn, hina eis tn hmeran tou entaphiasmou mou trsi auto\). This reading (\hina trsi\, purpose clause with \hina\ and first aorist active subjunctive of \tre\) rather than that of the Textus Receptus (just \tetreken\, perfect active indicative) is correct. It is supported by Aleph B D L W Theta. The \hina\ can be rendered as above after \aphes\ according to _Koin_ idiom or more probably: "Let her alone: it was that," etc. (supplying "it was"). Either makes good sense. The word \entaphiasmos\ is a later and rare substantive from the late verb \entaphiaz\, to prepare for burial (Matthew:26:12; strkjv@John:19:40|), and means preparation for burial. In N.T. only here and strkjv@Mark:14:8|. "Preparation for my burial" is the idea here and in Mark. The idea of Jesus is that Mary had saved this money to use in preparing his body for burial. She is giving him the flowers before the funeral. We can hardly take it that Mary did not use all of the ointment for Mark (Mark:14:3|) says that she broke it and yet he adds (Mark:14:8|) what John has here. It is a paradox, but Jesus is fond of paradoxes. Mary has kept this precious gift by giving it now beforehand as a preparation for my burial. We really keep what we give to Christ. This is Mary's glory that she had some glimmering comprehension of Christ's death which none of the disciples possessed.

rwp@Luke:9:59 @{And he said unto another} (\eipen de pros heteron\). strkjv@Matthew:8:21| omits Christ's "Follow me" (\akolouthei moi\) and makes this man a volunteer instead of responding to the appeal of Jesus. There is no real opposition, of course. In Matthew's account the man is apologetic as in Luke. Plummer calls him "one of the casual disciples" of whom there are always too many. The scribes knew how to give plausible reasons for not being active disciples. {First} (\prton\). One of the problems of life is the relation of duties to each other, which comes first. The burial of one's father was a sacred duty (Genesis:25:9|), but, as in the case of Tobit strkjv@4:3, this scribe's father probably was still alive. What the scribe apparently meant was that he could not leave his father while still alive to follow Jesus around over the country.

rwp@Luke:11:29 @{Were gathering together unto him} (\epathroizomenn\). Genitive absolute present middle participle of \epathroiz\, a rare verb, Plutarch and here only in the N.T., from \epi\ and \athroiz\ (a common enough verb). It means to throng together (\athroos\, in throngs). Vivid picture of the crowds around Jesus. {But the sign of Jonah} (\ei m to smeion In\). Luke does not give here the burial and resurrection of Jesus of which Jonah's experience in the big fish was a type (Matthew:12:39ff.|), but that is really implied (Plummer argues) by the use here of "shall be given" (\dothsetai\) and "shall be" (\estai\), for the resurrection of Jesus is still future. The preaching of Jesus ought to have been sign enough as in the case of Jonah, but the resurrection will be given. Luke's report is much briefer and omits what is in strkjv@Matthew:12:41|.

rwp@Luke:19:30 @{Whereon no man ever yet sat} (\eph' hon oudeis ppote anthrpn ekathisen\). Plummer holds that this fact indicated to the disciples a royal progress into the city of a piece with the Virgin Birth of Jesus and the burial in a new tomb.

rwp@Mark:14:8 @{She hath done what she could} (\ho eschen epoisen\). This alone in Mark. Two aorists. Literally, "what she had she did." Mary could not comprehend the Lord's death, but she at least showed her sympathy with him and some understanding of the coming tragedy, a thing that not one of her critics had done. {She hath anointed my body aforehand for the burying} (\proelaben murisai to sma mou eis ton entaphiasmon\). Literally, "she took beforehand to anoint my body for the burial." She anticipated the event. This is Christ's justification of her noble deed. strkjv@Matthew:26:12| also speaks of the burial preparation by Mary, using the verb \entaphiasai\.

rwp@Mark:15:45 @{Granted the corpse} (\edrsato to ptma\). This official information was necessary before the burial. As a matter of fact Pilate was probably glad to turn the body over to Joseph else the body would go to the potter's field. This is the only instance when \ptma\ (_cadaver_, corpse) is applied to the body (\sma\) of Jesus, the term used in strkjv@Matthew:27:59; strkjv@Luke:23:53; strkjv@John:19:40|).

rwp@Mark:16:1 @{When the sabbath was past} (\diagenomenou tou sabbatou\). Genitive absolute, the sabbath having come in between, and now over. For this sense of the verb (common from Demosthenes on) see strkjv@Acts:25:13; strkjv@27:9|. It was therefore after sunset. {Bought spices} (\gorasan armata\). As Nicodemus did on the day of the burial (John:19:40|). Gould denies that the Jews were familiar with the embalming process of Egypt, but at any rate it was to be a reverential anointing (\hina aleipssin\) of the body of Jesus with spices. They could buy them after sundown. Salome in the group again as in strkjv@Mark:15:40|. See on ¯Matthew:28:1| for discussion of "late on the sabbath day" and the visit of the women to the tomb before sundown. They had returned from the tomb after the watching late Friday afternoon and had prepared spices (Luke:23:56|). Now they secured a fresh supply.

rwp@Matthew:27:8 @{The field of blood} (\agros haimatos\). This name was attached to it because it was the price of blood and that is not inconsistent with strkjv@Acts:1:18f|. Today potter's field carries the idea here started of burial place for strangers who have no where else to lie (\eis taphn tois xenois\), probably at first Jews from elsewhere dying in Jerusalem. In strkjv@Acts:1:19| it is called {Aceldama} or {place of blood} (\chrion haimatos\) for the reason that Judas' blood was shed there, here because it was purchased by blood money. Both reasons could be true.

rwp@Matthew:28:1 @{Now late on the sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week} (\opse de sabbatn, ti epiphskousi eis mian sabbatn\). This careful chronological statement according to Jewish days clearly means that before the sabbath was over, that is before six P.M., this visit by the women was made "to see the sepulchre" (\theorsai ton taphon\). They had seen the place of burial on Friday afternoon (Mark:15:47; strkjv@Matthew:27:61; strkjv@Luke:23:55|). They had rested on the sabbath after preparing spices and ointments for the body of Jesus (Luke:23:56|), a sabbath of unutterable sorrow and woe. They will buy other spices after sundown when the new day has dawned and the sabbath is over (Mark:16:1|). Both Matthew here and Luke (Luke:23:54|) use dawn (\epiphsk\) for the dawning of the twenty-four hour-day at sunset, not of the dawning of the twelve-hour day at sunrise. The Aramaic used the verb for dawn in both senses. The so-called Gospel of Peter has \epiphsk\ in the same sense as Matthew and Luke as does a late papyrus. Apparently the Jewish sense of "dawn" is here expressed by this Greek verb. Allen thinks that Matthew misunderstands Mark at this point, but clearly Mark is speaking of sunrise and Matthew of sunset. Why allow only one visit for the anxious women?

rwp@Romans:6:4 @{We were buried therefore with him by means of baptism unto death} (\sunetaphmen oun auti dia tou baptismatos eis ton thanaton\). Second aorist passive indicative of \sunthapt\, old verb to bury together with, in N.T. only here and strkjv@Colossians:2:12|. With associative instrumental case (\auti\) and "by means of baptism unto death" as in verse 3|. {In newness of life} (\en kainotti zs\). The picture in baptism points two ways, backwards to Christ's death and burial and to our death to sin (verse 1|), forwards to Christ's resurrection from the dead and to our new life pledged by the coming out of the watery grave to walk on the other side of the baptismal grave (F. B. Meyer). There is the further picture of our own resurrection from the grave. It is a tragedy that Paul's majestic picture here has been so blurred by controversy that some refuse to see it. It should be said also that a symbol is not the reality, but the picture of the reality.

rwp@Romans:6:5 @{For if we have become united with him by the likeness of his death} (\ei gar sumphutoi gegonamen ti homoimati tou thanatou autou\). Condition of the first class, assumed to be true. \Sumphutoi\ is old verbal adjective from \sumphu\, to grow together. Baptism as a picture of death and burial symbolizes our likeness to Christ in his death. {We shall be also united in the likeness of his resurrection} (\alla kai ts anastases esometha\). The conclusion to the previous condition introduced by \alla kai\ as often and \toi homoimati\ (in the likeness) must be understood before \ts anastases\ (of his resurrection). Baptism is a picture of the past and of the present and a prophecy of the future, the matchless preacher of the new life in Christ.