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rwp@1Corinthians:1:11 @{For it hath been signified unto me} (\edlth gar moi\). First aorist passive indicative of \dlo\ and difficult to render into English. Literally, It was signified to me. {By them of Chloe} (\hupo tn Chlos\). Ablative case of the masculine plural article \tn\, by the (folks) of Chloe (genitive case). The words "which are of the household" are not in the Greek, though they correctly interpret the Greek, "those of Chloe." Whether the children, the kinspeople, or the servants of Chloe we do not know. It is uncertain also whether Chloe lived in Corinth or Ephesus, probably Ephesus because to name her if in Corinth might get her into trouble (Heinrici). Already Christianity was working a social revolution in the position of women and slaves. The name {Chloe} means tender verdure and was one of the epithets of Demeter the goddess of agriculture and for that reason Lightfoot thinks that she was a member of the freedman class like Phoebe (Romans:16:1|), Hermes (Romans:16:14|), Nereus (Romans:16:15|). It is even possible that Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus (1Corinthians:16:17|) may have been those who brought Chloe the news of the schisms in Corinth. {Contentions} (\erides\). Unseemly wranglings (as opposed to discussing, \dialegomai\) that were leading to the {schisms}. Listed in works of the flesh (Galatians:5:19f.|) and the catalogues of vices (2Corinthians:12:20; strkjv@Romans:1:19f.; strkjv@1Timothy:6:4|).
rwp@1Corinthians:7:10 @{To the married} (\tois gegamkosin\). Perfect active participle of \game\, old verb, to marry, and still married as the tense shows. {I give charge} (\paraggell\). Not mere wish as in verses 7,8|. {Not I, but the Lord} (\ouk eg alla ho kurios\). Paul had no commands from Jesus to the unmarried (men or women), but Jesus had spoken to the married (husbands and wives) as in strkjv@Matthew:5:31f.; strkjv@19:3-12; strkjv@Mark:10:9-12; strkjv@Luke:16:18|. The Master had spoken plain words about divorce. Paul reenforces his own inspired command by the command of Jesus. In strkjv@Mark:10:9| we have from Christ: "What therefore God joined together let not man put asunder" (\m chorizet\). {That the wife depart not from her husband} (\gunaika apo andros m choristhnai\). First aorist passive infinitive (indirect command after \paraggell\) of \choriz\, old verb from adverbial preposition \chris\...separately, apart from, from. Here used...(sister of Herod the Great)...Herodias before she married Herod Antipas....(Mark:10:12|). Now most of the divorces are obtained by women. This passive infinitive is almost reflexive in force according to a constant tendency in the _Koin_ (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 817).
rwp@1Corinthians:7:11 @{But and if she depart} (\ean de kai christhi\). Third class condition, undetermined. If, in spite of Christ's clear prohibition, she get separated (ingressive passive subjunctive), {let her remain unmarried} (\menet agamos\). Paul here makes no allowance for remarriage of the innocent party as Jesus does by implication. {Or else be reconciled to her husband} (\ ti andri katallagt\). Second aorist (ingressive) passive imperative of \katallass\, old compound verb to exchange coins as of equal value, to reconcile. One of Paul's great words for reconciliation with God (2Corinthians:5:18-20; strkjv@Romans:5:10|). \Diallass\ (Matthew:5:24| which see) was more common in the older Greek, but \katallass\ in the later. The difference in idea is very slight, \dia-\ accents notion of exchange, \kat-\ the perfective idea (complete reconciliation). Dative of personal interest is the case of \andri\. This sentence is a parenthesis between the two infinitives \christhnai\ and \aphienai\ (both indirect commands after \paraggell\). {And that the husband leave not his wife} (\kai andra m aphienai\). This is also part of the Lord's command (Mark:10:11|). \Apolu\ occurs in Mark of the husband's act and \aphienai\ here, both meaning to send away. Bengel actually stresses the difference between \christhnai\ of the woman as like _separatur_ in Latin and calls the wife "pars ignobilior" and the husband "nobilior." I doubt if Paul would stand for that extreme.
rwp@1Corinthians:7:36 @{That he behaveth himself unseemly} (\aschmonein\). Old verb, here only in N.T., from \aschmn\ (1Corinthians:12:23|), from \a\ privative and \schma\. Occurs in the papyri. Infinitive in indirect discourse after \nomizei\ (thinks) with \ei\ (condition of first class, assumed as true). {If she be past the flower of her age} (\ean i huperakmos\). Old word, only here in N.T., from \huper\ (over) and \akm\ (prime or bloom of life), past the bloom of youth, _superadultus_ (Vulgate). Compound adjective with feminine form like masculine. Apparently the Corinthians had asked Paul about the duty of a father towards his daughter old enough to marry. {If need so requireth} (\kai houts opheilei ginesthai\). "And it ought to happen." Paul has discussed the problem of marriage for virgins on the grounds of expediency. Now he faces the question where the daughter wishes to marry and there is no serious objection to it. The father is advised to consent. Roman and Greek fathers had the control of the marriage of their daughters. "My marriage is my father's care; it is not for me to decide about that" (Hermione in Euripides' _Andromache_, 987). {Let them marry} (\gameitsan\). Present active plural imperative (long form).
rwp@1Corinthians:7:39 @{For so long time as her husband liveth} (\eph' hoson chronon zi ho anr auts\). While he lives (\ti znti andri\) Paul says in strkjv@Romans:7:2|. This is the ideal and is pertinent today when husbands meet their ex-wives and wives meet their ex-husbands. There is a screw loose somewhere. Paul here treats as a sort of addendum the remarriage of widows. He will discuss it again in strkjv@1Timothy:5:9-13| and then he will advise younger widows to marry. Paul leaves her free here also to be married again, "only in the Lord" (\monon en Kurii\). Every marriage ought to be "in the Lord." {To be married} (\gamthnai\) is first aorist passive infinitive followed by the dative relative \hi\ with unexpressed antecedent \touti\.
rwp@1Corinthians:10:25 @{In the shambles} (\en makelli\). Only here in N.T. A transliterated Latin word _macellum_, possibly akin to \maceria\ and the Hebrew word for enclosure, though occurring in Ionic and Laconian and more frequent in the Latin. It occurs in Dio Cassius and Plutarch and in the papyri and inscriptions for "the provision market." Deissmann (_Light from the Ancient East_, p. 276) says: "In the Macellum at Pompeii we can imagine to ourselves the poor Christians buying their modest pound of meat in the Corinthian Macellum (1Corinthians:10:25|), with the same life-like reality with which the Diocletian maximum tariff called up the picture of the Galilean woman purchasing her five sparrows." {Asking no questions for conscience sake} (\mden anakrinontes dia tn suneidsin\). As to whether a particular piece of meat had been offered to idols before put in the market. Only a part was consumed in the sacrifices to heathen gods. The rest was sold in the market. Do not be over-scrupulous. Paul here champions liberty in the matter as he had done in strkjv@8:4|.
rwp@1Corinthians:11:5 @{With her head unveiled} (\akatakalupti ti kephali\). Associative instrumental case of manner and the predicative adjective (compound adjective and feminine form same as masculine), "with the head unveiled." Probably some of the women had violated this custom. "Amongst Greeks only the \hetairai\, so numerous in Corinth, went about unveiled; slave-women wore the shaven head--also a punishment of the adulteress" (Findlay). Cf. strkjv@Numbers:5:18|. {One and the same thing as if she were shaven} (\hen kai to auto ti exurmeni\). Literally, "One and the same thing with the one shaven" (associative instrumental case again, Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 530). Perfect passive articular participle of the verb \xura\, later form for the old \xure\. It is public praying and prophesying that the Apostle here has in mind. He does not here condemn the act, but the breach of custom which would bring reproach. A woman convicted of adultery had her hair shorn (Isaiah:7:20|). The Justinian code prescribed shaving the head for an adulteress whom the husband refused to receive after two years. Paul does not tell Corinthian Christian women to put themselves on a level with courtesans.
rwp@1Corinthians:11:6 @{Let her also be shorn} (\kai keirasth\). Aorist middle imperative of \keir\, to shear (as sheep). Let her cut her hair close. A single act by the woman. {If it is a shame} (\ei de aischron\). Condition of first class assumed to be true. \Aischron\ is old adjective from \aischos\, bareness, disgrace. Clearly Paul uses such strong language because of the effect on a woman's reputation in Corinth by such conduct that proclaimed her a lewd woman. Social custom varied in the world then as now, but there was no alternative in Corinth. {To be shorn or shaven} (\to keirasthai kai xurasthai\). Articular infinitives subject of copula \estin\ understood, \keirasthai\ first aorist middle, \xurasthai\ present middle. Note change in tense. {Let her be veiled} (\katakaluptesth\). Present middle imperative of old compound \kata-kalupt\, here alone in N.T. Let her cover up herself with the veil (down, \kata\, the Greek says, the veil hanging down from the head).
rwp@1Thessalonians:2:7 @{But we were gentle in the midst of you} (\alla egenthmen npioi en mesi humn\). Note \egenthmen\ (became), not \metha\ (were). This rendering follows \pioi\ instead of \npioi\ (Aleph B D C Vulg. Boh.) which is clearly correct, though Dibelius, Moffatt, Ellicott, Weiss prefer \pioi\ as making better sense. Dibelius terms \npioi\ _unmoglich_ (impossible), but surely that is too strong. Paul is fond of the word \npioi\ (babes). Lightfoot admits that he here works the metaphor to the limit in his passion, but does not mar it as Ellicott holds. {As when a nurse cherishes her own children} (\hs ean trophos thalpi ta heauts tekna\). This comparative clause with \hs ean\ (Mark:4:26; strkjv@Galatians:6:10| without \ean\ or \an\) and the subjunctive (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 968) has a sudden change of the metaphor, as is common with Paul (1Timothy:5:24; strkjv@2Corinthians:3:13ff.|) from {babes} to {nurse} (\trophos\), old word, here only in the N.T., from \treph\, to nourish, \troph\, nourishment. It is really the mother-nurse "who suckles and nurses her own children" (Lightfoot), a use found in Sophocles, and a picture of Paul's tender affection for the Thessalonians. \Thalp\ is an old word to keep warm, to cherish with tender love, to foster. In N.T. only here and strkjv@Ephesians:5:29|.
rwp@1Timothy:5:5 @{Desolate} (\memonmen\). Perfect passive participle of \mono\ (from \monos\), "left alone," old verb, here alone in N.T. Without husband, children, or other close kin. {Hath her hope set on God} (\lpiken epi theon\). Perfect active indicative of \elpiz\, "hath placed her hope (and keeps it) on God." Text doubtful whether God (\theon\) or Lord (\Kurion\). {Continues} (\prosmenei\). See on ¯1:3|. With dative case here. {Night and day} (\nuktos kai hmeras\). "By night and by day" (genitive, not accusative). Paul does not say that she should pray "all night and day."
rwp@1Timothy:5:10 @{If she hath brought up children} (\ei eteknotrophsen\). Condition of first class. Late and rare word (Aristotle, Epictetus), first aorist active indicative of \teknotrophe\ (\teknotrophos\, from \teknon, treph\), here only in N.T. Qualification for her work as leader. {If she hath used hospitality to strangers} (\ei exenodochsen\). First aorist again and same condition. Late form (Dio Cassius) of old verb \xenodoke\ (Herodotus), to welcome strangers (\xenous dechomai\). Only here in N.T. Hospitality another qualification for such leadership (3:2|). {If she hath washed the saints' feet} (\ei hagin podas enipsen\). Same condition and tense of \nipt\ (old form \niz\), common in N.T. (John:13:5|). Proof of her hospitality, not of its being a church ordinance. {If she hath relieved the afflicted} (\ei thlibomenois eprkesen\). Same condition and tense of \eparke\, to give sufficient aid, old word, in N.T. only here and verse 16|. Experience that qualified her for eleemosynary work. {If she hath diligently followed} (\ei epkolouthsen\). Same condition and tense of \epakolouthe\, old verb, to follow close upon (\epi\). Songs:here, verse 24; strkjv@1Peter:2:21|. In a word such a widow must show her qualifications for leadership as with bishops and deacons.
rwp@1Timothy:5:14 @{I desire} (\boulomai\). See strkjv@2:8|. {The younger widows} (\neteras\). No article and no word for widows, though that is clearly the idea. \Neteras\ is accusative of general reference with \gamein\ (to marry) the object (present infinitive active) of \boulomai\. {Bear children} (\teknogonein\). A compound verb here only in N.T. and nowhere else save in Anthol. See \teknogonia\ in strkjv@2:15|. {Rule the household} (\oikodespotein\). Late verb from \oikodespots\ (Mark:14:14|), twice in the papyri, only here in N.T. Note that the wife is here put as ruler of the household, proper recognition of her influence, "new and improved position" (Liddon). {Occasion} (\aphormn\). Old word (\apo, horm\), a base to rush from, Pauline use in strkjv@2Corinthians:5:12; strkjv@11:12; strkjv@Galatians:5:13|. {To the adversary} (\ti antikeimeni\). Dative case of the articular participle of \antikeimai\, a Pauline idiom (Phillipians:1:28|). {Reviling} (\loidorias\). Old word (from \loidore\), in N.T. only here and strkjv@1Peter:3:9|. Genitive case with \charin\.
rwp@1Timothy:5:16 @{That believeth} (\pist\). "Believing woman." {Hath widows} (\echei chras\). The "any believing woman" is one of the household-rulers of verse 14|. The "widows" here are the widows dependent on her and who are considered as candidates to be enrolled in the list. {Let her relieve them} (\eparkeit autais\). For this verb (imperative present active) see verse 10|. {Let not be burdened} (\m bareisth\). Present passive imperative (in prohibition \m\) of \bare\, old verb (\baros\, burden), Pauline word (2Corinthians:1:8|). {That are widows indeed} (\tais onts chrais\). Dative case with \eparkesi\ (first aorist active subjunctive with \hina\, final clause). See verse 3| for this use of \onts\ with \chrais\ "the qualified and enrolled widows." Cf. verse 9|.
rwp@Info_2John @ SECOND JOHN ABOUT A.D. 85 TO 90 BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION There is little to add to what was said about the First Epistle except that here the author terms himself "the elder" (\ho presbuteros\) and writes to "the elect lady" (\eklekti kurii\). There is dispute about both of these titles. Some hold that it is the mythical "presbyter John" of whom Papias may speak, if so understood, but whose very existence is disproved by Dom Chapman in _John the Presbyter and the Fourth Gospel_. Peter the apostle (1Peter:1:1|) calls himself "fellow-elder" (\sunpresbuteros\) with the other elders (1Peter:5:1|). The word referred originally to age (Luke:15:25|), then to rank or office as in the Sanhedrin (Matthew:16:21; strkjv@Acts:6:12|) and in the Christian churches (Acts:11:30; strkjv@20:17; strkjv@1Timothy:5:17,19|) as here also. A few even deny that the author is the same as in the First Epistle of John, but just an imitator. But the bulk of modern scholarly opinion agrees that the same man wrote all three Epistles and the Fourth Gospel (the Beloved Disciple, and many still say the Apostle John) whatever is true of the Apocalypse. There is no way of deciding whether "the elect lady" is a woman or a church. The obvious way of taking it is to a woman of distinction in one of the churches, as is true of "the co-elect lady in Babylon" (1Peter:5:13|), Peter's wife, who travelled with him (1Corinthians:9:5|). Some even take \kuria\ to be the name of the lady (Cyria). Some also take it to be "Eklecta the lady." Dr. Findlay (_Fellowship in the Life Eternal_, p. 31) holds that Pergamum is the church to which the letter was sent. The same commentaries treat I, II, and III John as a rule, though Poggel has a book on II, III John and Bresky has _Das Verhaltnis des Zweiten Johannesbriefes zum dritten_. Dr. J. Rendel Harris has an interesting article in _The Expositor_ of London for March, 1901, on "The Problem of the Address to the Second Epistle of John," in which he argues from papyri examples that \kuria\ here means "my dear" or "my lady." But Findlay (_Fellowship in the Life Eternal_, p. 26) argues that "the qualifying adjunct 'elect' lifts us into the region of Christian calling and dignity." It is not certain that II John was written after I John, though probable. Origen rejected it and the Peshitta Syriac does not have II and III John. strkjv@2John:1:1 @{And her children} (\kai tois teknois auts\). As with \eklekt kuria\, so here \tekna\ may be understood either literally as in strkjv@1Timothy:3:4|, or spiritually, as in strkjv@Galatians:4:19,25; strkjv@1Timothy:1:2|. For the spiritual sense in \teknia\ see strkjv@1John:2:1,12|. {Whom} (\hous\). Masculine accusative plural, though \teknois\ is neuter plural (dative), construction according to sense, not according to grammatical gender, "embracing the mother and the children of both sexes" (Vincent). See thus \hous\ in strkjv@Galatians:4:19|. {I} (\Eg\). Though \ho presbuteros\ is third person, he passes at once after the Greek idiom to the first and there is also special emphasis here in the use of \agap\ with the addition of \en altheii\ (in truth, in the highest sphere, as in strkjv@John:17:19; strkjv@3John:1:1|) and \ouk eg monos\ (not I only, "not I alone"). Brooke argues that this language is unsuitable if to a single family and not to a church. But Paul employs this very phrase in sending greetings to Prisca and Aquila (Romans:16:4|). {That know} (\hoi egnkotes\). Perfect active articular participle of \ginsk\, "those that have come to know and still know."
rwp@2John:1:4 @{I rejoice} (\echarn\). Second aorist passive of \chair\ as in strkjv@3John:1:3|, "of a glad surprise" (D. Smith), as in strkjv@Mark:14:11|, over the discovery about the blessing of their godly home on these lads. {Greatly} (\lian\). Only here and strkjv@3John:1:3| in John's writings. {I have found} (\heurka\). Perfect active indicative of \heurisk\ as in strkjv@John:1:41|, our "eureka," here with its usual force, a continued discovery. "He sits down at once and writes to Kyria. How glad she would be that her lads, far away in the great city, were true to their early faith" (David Smith). {Certain of thy children} (\ek tn teknn\). No \tinas\ as one would expect before \ek\, a not infrequent idiom in the N.T. (John:16:17|). {Walking} (\peripatountas\). Present active accusative supplementary participle agreeing with \tinas\ understood. Probably members of the church off here in Ephesus. {In truth} (\en altheii\). As in verse 1; strkjv@3John:1:4|. {We received} (\elabomen\). Second aorist active (possibly, though not certainly, literary plural) of \lamban\. This very idiom (\entoln lamban\) in strkjv@John:10:18; strkjv@Acts:17:15; Co strkjv@4:10|. Perhaps the reference here is to strkjv@1John:2:7f.; strkjv@3:23|.
rwp@2Peter:2:14 @{Of adultery} (\moichalidos\). Rather, "of an adulteress," like strkjv@James:4:4|. Vivid picture of a man who cannot see a woman without lascivious thoughts toward her (Mayor). Cf. strkjv@Matthew:5:28|. {That cannot cease} (\akatapastous\). Reading of A B in place of \akatapaustous\ (alpha privative and verbal of \katapau\, to cease). "Unable to stop." This a late verbal, only here in N.T. It is probable that \akatapastous\ is merely a misspelling of \akatapaustous\. {From sin} (\hamartias\). Ablative case as in strkjv@1Peter:4:1| (\hamartias\). Insatiable lust. {Enticing} (\deleazontes\). Present active participle of \deleaz\, to catch by bait as in verse 18; strkjv@James:1:14|. {Unsteadfast} (\astriktous\). Late verbal adjective (alpha privative and \striz\), in Longinus and Vettius Valens, here alone in N.T. {Exercised} (\gegumnasmenn\). Perfect passive predicate participle with \echontes\, from \gumnaz\ precisely as in strkjv@Hebrews:5:14|. Rhetorical metaphor from the gymnasium. {In covetousness} (\pleonexias\). Genitive case after the participle. {Children of cursing} (\kataras tekna\). Hebraism like \tekna hupakos\ in strkjv@1Peter:1:14| = accursed (\kataratoi\).
rwp@Acts:1:14 @{With one accord} (\homothumadon\). Old adverb in \-don\ from adjective \homothumos\ and that from \homos\, same, and \thumos\, mind or spirit, with the same mind or spirit. Common in ancient Greek and papyri. In the N.T. eleven times in Acts and nowhere else save strkjv@Romans:15:6|. See strkjv@Matthew:18:19|. {Continued} (\san proskarterountes\). Periphrastic imperfect active of \proskartere\, old verb from \pros\ (perfective use) and \kartere\ from \karteros\, strong, steadfast, like the English "carry on." Already in strkjv@Mark:3:9| which see and several times in Acts and Paul's Epistles. They "stuck to" the praying (\ti proseuchi\, note article) for the promise of the Father till the answer came. {With the women} (\sun gunaixin\). Associative instrumental case plural of \gun\ after \sun\. As one would expect when praying was the chief work on hand. More women certainly included than in strkjv@Luke:8:2; strkjv@Mark:15:40f.; strkjv@Matthew:27:55f.; strkjv@Luke:23:49; strkjv@Mark:15:47; strkjv@Matthew:27:61; strkjv@Luke:23:55f.; strkjv@Mark:16:1; strkjv@Matthew:28:1; strkjv@Luke:24:1f.; strkjv@John:20:1, 11-18; strkjv@Matthew:28:9f|. There were probably other women also whose testimony was no longer scouted as it had been at first. Codex Bezae adds here "and children." {And Mary the mother of Jesus} (\kai Mariam ti mtri tou Isou\). A delicate touch by Luke that shows Mary with her crown of glory at last. She had come out of the shadow of death with the song in her heart and with the realization of the angel's promise and the prophecy of Simeon. It was a blessed time for Mary. {With his brethren} (\sun tois adelphois autou\). With his brothers, it should be translated. They had once disbelieved in him (John:7:5|). Jesus had appeared to James (1Corinthians:15:7|) and now it is a happy family of believers including the mother and brothers (half-brothers, literally) of Jesus. They continue in prayer for the power from on high.
rwp@Acts:5:10 @{Immediately} (\parachrma\). Hence her death was regarded as supernatural like that of Ananias. {By her husband} (\pros ton andra auts\). Face to face to her husband.
rwp@Acts:5:11 @{Upon the whole church} (\eph' holn tn ekklsian\). Here \ekklsia\ for the first time in Acts of the believers in Jerusalem. Twice already in the Gospels, once of the whole body of believers or the Kingdom (Matthew:16:18|), the other of the local body (Matthew:18:17|). In strkjv@Acts:7:38| it is used of the whole congregation of Israel while in strkjv@19:32| it is used of a public assembly in Ephesus. But already in strkjv@Acts:8:3| it is applied to the church which Saul was persecuting in their homes when not assembled. Songs:here the etymological meaning of "assembly" disappears for "the church" were now the scattered saints hiding in their separate homes. The whole body of believers in Jerusalem and all who heard of the fate of Ananias and Sapphira (beautiful, her name means) were in awe and dread. It was already a dangerous thing to be a follower of Christ unless one was willing to walk straight.
rwp@Acts:7:21 @{When he was cast out} (\ektethentos autou\). Genitive absolute with first aorist passive participle of \ektithmi\. {Took up} (\aneilato\). Second aorist middle indicative (with first aorist vowel \a\ instead of \e\ as often in the _Koin_) of \anaire\, common in the N.T. in the sense of take up and make away with, to kill as in verse 28|, but here only in the N.T. in the original sense of taking up from the ground and with the middle voice (for oneself). Quoted here from strkjv@Exodus:2:5|. The word was used of old for picking up exposed children as here. Vincent quotes Aristophanes (_Clouds_, 531): "I exposed (the child), and some other women, having taken it, adopted (\aneileto\) it." Vulgate has _sustulit_. "Adopted" is the idea here. "After the birth of a child the father took it up to his bosom, if he meant to rear it; otherwise it was doomed to perish" (Hackett). {Nourished him for her own son} (\anethrepsato auton heauti eis huion\). Literally, "she nursed him up for herself (\heauti\ besides middle voice) as a son." This use of \eis\=as occurs in the old Greek, but is very common in the LXX as a translation of the Hebrew _le_. The tradition is that she designed Moses for the throne as the Pharaoh had no son (Josephus, _Ant_. ii. 9, 7).
rwp@Acts:9:36 @{At Joppa} (\En Ioppi\). The modern Jaffa, the port of Jerusalem (2Chronicles:2:16|). {Disciple} (\mathtria\). Feminine form of \mathts\, a learner from \manthan\, to learn, a late word and only here in the N.T. {Tabitha} (\Tabeitha\). Aramaic form of the Hebrew _Tsebi_ and, like the Greek word {Dorcas} (\Dorkas\), means Gazelle, "the creature with the beautiful look" (or eyes), from \derkomai\. The gazelle was a favourite type for beauty in the orient (Song of Solomon strkjv@2:9,17; strkjv@4:5; strkjv@7:3|). She may have had both the Aramaic and the Greek name, Tabitha Dorcas like John Mark. There is nothing said about a husband and so she was probably unmarried. She is the second woman mentioned by name after Pentecost (Sapphira the other). She did her beautiful deeds by herself. She did not have a Dorcas society. {Did} (\epoiei\). Imperfect active, her habit.
rwp@Acts:9:41 @{Raised her up} (\anestsen autn\). First aorist active indicative, transitive, of \anistmi\. {Presented} (\parestsen\). First aorist active indicative, transitive of \paristmi\ (cf. intransitive second aorist in verse 39| above). It was a joyful time for Peter, the widows, all the saints, and for Dorcas.
rwp@Acts:9:43 @{Many days} (\hmeras hikanas\). See on verse ¯23|. Luke is fond of the phrase and uses it for time, number, size. It might be "ten days, ten months, or ten years" (Page). {With one Simon a tanner} (\para tini Simni bursei\). The use of \para\ is usual for staying with one (by his side). "The more scrupulous Jews regarded such an occupation as unclean, and avoided those who pursued it. The conduct of Peter here shows that he did not carry his prejudices to that extent" (Hackett). One of the rabbis said: "It is impossible for the world to do without tanners; but woe to him who is a tanner." A Jewess could sue for divorce if she discovered that her husband was a tanner. And yet Peter will have scruples on the housetop in the tanner's house about eating food considered unclean. "The lodging with the tanner was a step on the road to eating with a Gentile" (Furneaux).
rwp@Acts:12:12 @{When he had considered} (\sunidn\). Second aorist active participle of \suneidon\ (for the defective verb \sunora\), to see together, to grasp as a whole, old verb, but in the N.T. only here and strkjv@14:6|, save the perfect indicative \sunoida\ (1Corinthians:4:4|) and participle (Acts:5:2|). It is the word from which \suneidsis\ (conscience) comes (Romans:2:15|). Peter's mind worked rapidly and he decided what to do. He took in his situation clearly. {To the house of Mary} (\epi tn oikian ts Marias\). Another Mary (the others were Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, Mary wife of Cleopas, Mary the mother of James and Joses). She may have been a widow and was possessed of some means since her house was large enough to hold the large group of disciples there. Barnabas, cousin of John Mark her son (Colossians:4:10|), was also a man of property or had been (Acts:4:36f.|). It is probable that the disciples had been in the habit of meeting in her house, a fact known to Peter and he was evidently fond of John Mark whom he afterwards calls "my son" (1Peter:5:13|) and whom he had met here. The upper room of strkjv@Acts:1:13| may have been in Mary's house and Mark may have been the man bearing a pitcher of water (Luke:22:10|) and the young man who fled in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark:14:51f.|). There was a gate and portress here as in the house of the highpriest (John:18:16|). Peter knew where to go and even at this early hour hoped to find some of the disciples. Mary is one of the many mothers who have become famous by reason of their sons, though she was undoubtedly a woman of high character herself. {Were gathered together and were praying} (\san sunthroismenoi kai proseuchomenoi\). Note difference in the tenses, one periphrastic past perfect passive (\sunathroiz\ old verb, in the N.T. here only and strkjv@19:25| and the uncompounded \throiz\ in strkjv@Luke:24:33|) and the periphrastic imperfect. The praying apparently had been going on all night and a large number (many, \hikanoi\) of the disciples were there. One recalls the time when they had gathered to pray (4:31|) after Peter had told the disciples of the threats of the Sanhedrin (4:23|). God had rescued Peter then. Would he let him be put to death now as James had been?
rwp@Acts:12:13 @{When he knocked at the door of the gate} (\krousantos autou tn thuran tou pulnos\). Genitive absolute with aorist active participle of \krou\, common verb to knock or knock at. Songs:from the outside (Luke:13:25|). \Puln\ here is the gateway or passageway from the door (\thura\) that leads to the house. In verse 14| it is still the passageway without the use of \thura\ (door, so for both door and passageway). {To answer} (\hupakousai\). To listen under before opening. First aorist active infinitive of \hupakou\, common verb to obey, to hearken. {A maid} (\paidisk\). Portress as in strkjv@John:18:17|. A diminutive of \pais\, a female slave (so on an ostracon of second century A.D., Deissmann, _Light from the Ancient East_, p. 200). {Rhoda}. A rose. Women can have such beautiful names like Dorcas (Gazelle), Euodia (Sweet Aroma), Syntyche (Good Luck). Mark or Peter could tell Luke her name.
rwp@Acts:12:14 @{When she knew} (\epignousa\). Second aorist (ingressive) active participle of \epiginsk\, to know fully or in addition (\epi\), to recognize. She knew Peter and his voice from his frequent visits there. {For joy} (\apo ts chars\). From her joy (ablative case), life-like picture of the maid who left Peter standing outside with the door to the passageway unopened. Note the aorist tenses for quick action (\ouk noixen\), \eisdramousa\ (from \eistrech\, defective verb, only here in the N.T.), \apggeilen\. {Stood} (\hestanai\). Second perfect active infinitive of \histmi\, intransitive, in indirect assertion with \ton Petron\ (Peter) accusative of general reference. The slave girl acted as if she were a member of the family (Furneaux), but she left Peter in peril.
rwp@Acts:12:15 @{Thou art mad} (\maini\). Present middle indicative second person singular. Old verb, only in the middle voice. Festus used the same word to Paul (26:24|). The maid was undoubtedly excited, but it was a curious rebuff from those who had been praying all night for Peter's release. In their defence it may be said that Stephen and James had been put to death and many others by Saul's persecution. {She confidently affirmed} (\diischurizeto\). Imperfect middle of \diischurizomai\, an old word of vigorous and confident assertion, originally to lean upon. Only here in the N.T. The girl stuck to her statement. {It is his angel} (\Hosea:aggelos estin autou\). This was the second alternative of the disciples. It was a popular Jewish belief that each man had a guardian angel. Luke takes no position about it. No scripture teaches it.
rwp@Acts:12:23 @{Smote him} (\epataxen auton\). Effective aorist active indicative of \patass\, old verb, used already in verse 7| of gentle smiting of the angel of the Lord, here of a severe stroke of affliction. Like Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel:4:30|) pride went before a fall. He was struck down in the very zenith of his glory. {Because} (\anth' hn\). \Anti\ with the genitive of the relative pronoun, "in return for which things." He accepted the impious flattery (Hackett) instead of giving God the glory. He was a nominal Jew. {He was eaten of worms} (\genomenos sklkobrtos\). Ingressive aorist middle participle, "becoming worm-eaten." The compound verbal adjective (\sklx\, worm, \brtos\, eaten, from \bibrsk\) is a late word (II Macc. strkjv@9:9) of the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, used also of a tree (Theophrastus), here only in the N.T. The word \sklx\...of intestinal worms and Herodotus... (IV. 205) describes Pheretima, Queen of Cyrene, as having swarms of worms which ate her flesh while still alive. Josephus (_Ant_. XIX. 8, 2) says that Herod Agrippa lingered for five days and says that the rotting of his flesh produced worms, an item in harmony with the narrative in Luke. Josephus gives further details, one a superstitious sight of an owl sitting on one of the ropes of the awning of the theatre while the people flattered him, an omen of his death to him. Luke puts it simply that God smote him. {Gave up the ghost} (\exepsuxen\). Effective aorist active of \ekpsuch\, to breathe out, late verb, medical term in Hippocrates, in the N.T. only in strkjv@Acts:5:5,10; strkjv@12:23|. Herod was carried out of the theatre a dying man and lingered only five days.
rwp@Acts:14:10 @{Upright} (\orthos\). Predicate adjective. In this sense Galen and Hippocrates frequently use \orthos\ (erect, straight). Paul spoke in a loud (\megali\) voice so that all could hear and know. {He leaped up and walked} (\hlato kai periepatei\). Rather, He leaped up with a single bound and began to walk. The second aorist middle indicative (with first aorist vowel \a\) of \hallomai\ (late verb, in papyri) and inchoative imperfect active of \peripate\, common verb to walk around. This graphic picture is concealed by the usual English rendering. It is possible that Luke obtained the vivid report of this incident from Timothy who may have witnessed it and who was probably converted during Paul's stay here (16:3|). His father was a prominent Greek and his mother Eunice, possibly a widow, may have lived here with her mother Lois (2Timothy:1:5|).
rwp@Acts:16:14 @{Lydia} (\Ludia\). Her birthplace was Thyatira in Lydia. She may have been named after the land, though Lydia is a common female name (see Horace). Lydia was itself a Macedonian colony (Strabo, XIII. 4). Thyatira (note plural form like Philippi and one of the seven churches of Asia here strkjv@Revelation:2:18|) was famous for its purple dyes as old as Homer (Iliad, IV. 141) and had a guild of dyers (\hoi bapheis\) as inscriptions show. {A seller of purple} (\porphuroplis\). A female seller of purple fabrics (\porphura, plis\). Late word, masculine form in an inscription. There was a great demand for this fabric as it was used on the official toga at Rome and in Roman colonies. We still use the term "royal purple." See on ¯Luke:16:19|. Evidently Lydia was a woman of some means to carry on such an important enterprise from her native city. She may have been a freed-woman, since racial names were often borne by slaves. {One that worshipped God} (\sebomen ton theon\). A God-fearer or proselyte of the gate. There was a Jewish settlement in Thyatira which was especially interested in the dyeing industry. She probably became a proselyte there. Whether this was true of the other women we do not know. They may have been Jewesses or proselytes like Lydia, probably all of them employees of hers in her business. When Paul writes to the Philippians he does not mention Lydia who may have died meanwhile and who certainly was not Paul's wife. She was wealthy and probably a widow. {Heard us} (\kouen\). Imperfect active of \akou\, was listening, really listening and she kept it up, listening to each of these new and strange preachers. {Opened} (\dinoixen\). First aorist active indicative of \dianoig\, old word, double compound (\dia, ana, oig\) to open up wide or completely like a folding door (both sides, \dia\, two). Only the Lord could do that. Jesus had opened (the same verb) the mind of the disciples to understand the Scriptures (Luke:24:45|). {To give heed} (\prosechein\). To hold the mind (\ton noun\ understood), present active infinitive. She kept her mind centred on the things spoken by Paul whose words gripped her attention. She rightly perceived that Paul was the foremost one of the group. He had personal magnetism and power of intellect that the Spirit of God used to win the heart of this remarkable woman to Christ. It was worth coming to Philippi to win this fine personality to the Kingdom of God. She will be the chief spirit in this church that will give Paul more joy and co-operation than any of his churches. It is not stated that she was converted on the first Sabbath, though this may have been the case. "One solitary convert, a woman, and she already a seeker after God, and a native of that very Asia where they had been forbidden to preach" (Furneaux). But a new era had dawned for Europe and for women in the conversion of Lydia.
rwp@Acts:16:15 @{And when she was baptized} (\hs de ebaptisth\). First aorist passive indicative of \baptiz\. The river Gangites was handy for the ordinance and she had now been converted and was ready to make this public declaration of her faith in Jesus Christ. {And her household} (\kai ho oikos auts\). Who constituted her "household"? The term \oikos\, originally means the building as below, "into my house" and then it includes the inmates of a house. There is nothing here to show whether Lydia's "household" went beyond "the women" employed by her who like her had heard the preaching of Paul and had believed. "Possibly Euodia and Syntyche and the other women, strkjv@Phillipians:4:2,3|, may have been included in the family of Lydia, who may have employed many slaves and freed women in her trade" (Knowling). "This statement cannot be claimed as any argument for infant baptism, since the Greek word may mean her servants or her work-people" (Furneaux). In the household baptisms (Cornelius, Lydia, the jailor, Crispus) one sees "infants" or not according to his predilections or preferences. {If ye have judged me} (\ei kekrikate me\). Condition of the first class, assumed to be true (\ei\ and the indicative, here perfect active of \krin\). She had confessed her faith and submitted to baptism as proof that she was "faithful to the Lord" (\pistn ti kurii\), believing on the Lord. "If she was fit for that, surely she was fit to be their hostess" (Furneaux). And Paul and his party had clearly no comfortable place to stay while in Philippi. The ancient hotels or inns were abominable. Evidently Paul demurred for there were four of them and he did not wish to sacrifice his independence or be a burden even to a woman of wealth. {And she constrained us} (\kai parebiasato hmas\). Effective first aorist middle of \parabiazomai\, late word, in the N.T. only here and strkjv@Luke:24:29|. Some moral force (\bia\) or hospitable persuasion was required (cf. strkjv@1Samuel:28:23|), but Lydia had her way as women usually do. Songs:he accepted Lydia's hospitality in Philippi, though he worked for his own living in Thessalonica (2Thessalonians:3:8|) and elsewhere (2Corinthians:11:9|). Songs:far only women have been won to Christ in Philippi. The use of "us" shows that Luke was not a householder in Philippi.
rwp@Acts:16:16 @{A spirit of divination} (\pneuma puthna\). Songs:the correct text with accusative (apparition, a spirit, a python), not the genitive (\puthnos\). Hesychius defines it as \daimonion manikon\ (a spirit of divination). The etymology of the word is unknown. Bengel suggests \puthesthai\ from \punthanomai\, to inquire. Python was the name given to the serpent that kept guard at Delphi, slain by Apollo, who was called \Puthios Apollo\ and the prophetess at Delphi was termed Pythia. Certainly Luke does not mean to credit Apollo with a real existence (1Corinthians:8:4|). But Plutarch (A.D. 50-100) says that the term \puthnes\ was applied to ventriloquists (\eggastrimuthoi\). In the LXX those with familiar spirits are called by this word ventriloquists (Leviticus:19:31; strkjv@20:6,27|, including the witch of Endor strkjv@1Samuel:28:7|). It is possible that this slave girl had this gift of prophecy "by soothsaying" (\manteuomen\). Present middle participle of \manteuomai\, old heathen word (in contrast with \prophteu\) for acting the seer (\mantis\) and this kin to \mainomai\, to be mad, like the howling dervishes of later times. This is the so-called instrumental use of the circumstantial participles. {Brought} (\pareichen\). Imperfect active of \parech\, a steady source of income. {Much gain} (\ergasian polln\). Work, business, from \ergazomai\, to work. {Her masters} (\tois kuriois auts\). Dative case. Joint owners of this poor slave girl who were exploiting her calamity, whatever it was, for selfish gain, just as men and women today exploit girls and women in the "white slave" trade. As a fortune-teller she was a valuable asset for all the credulous dupes of the community. Simon Magus in Samaria and Elymas Barjesus in Cyprus had won power and wealth as soothsayers.
rwp@Acts:16:40 @{Into the house of Lydia} (\pros tn Ludian\). No word in the Greek for "house," but it means the house of Lydia. Note "the brethren" here, not merely Luke and Timothy, but other brethren now converted besides those in the house of the jailor. The four missionaries were guests of Lydia (verse 15|) and probably the church now met in her home. {They departed} (\exlthan\). Paul and Silas, but not Luke and Timothy. Note "they" here, not "we." Note also the \-an\ ending instead of \-on\ as above. The movements of Timothy are not perfectly clear till he reappears at Beroea (17:15|). It seems unlikely that he came to Thessalonica with Paul and Silas since only Paul and Silas obtained security there (17:9|) and were sent on to Beroea (17:10|). Probably Timothy was sent to Thessalonica from Philippi with gifts of which Paul spoke later (Phillipians:4:15f.|). Then he followed Paul and Silas to Beroea.
rwp@Acts:18:2 @{Aquila} (\Akulan\). Luke calls him a Jew from Pontus, apparently not yet a disciple, though there were Jews from Pontus at the great Pentecost who were converted (2:9|). Aquila who made the famous A.D. translation of the O.T. was also from Pontus. Paul "found" (\heurn\, second aorist active participle of \heurisk\) though we do not know how. Edersheim says that a Jewish guild always kept together whether in street or synagogue so that by this bond they probably met. {Lately come from Italy} (\prosphats elluthota apo ts Italias\). Second perfect participle of \erchomai\. _Koin_ adverb, here only in the N.T., from adjective \prosphatos\ (\pro, spha\ or \sphaz\, to kill), lately slaughtered and so fresh or recent (Hebrews:10:20|). {With his wife Priscilla} (\kai Priskillan gunaika autou\). Diminutive of \Priska\ (Romans:16:3; strkjv@1Corinthians:16:19|)...many Jews in Rome. Her name...18,26; strkjv@Romans:16:3; strkjv@2Timothy:4:9|. {Because Claudius had commanded} (\dia to diatetachenai Klaudion\). Perfect active articular infinitive of \diatass\, old verb to dispose, arrange, here with accusative of general reference. \Dia\ here is causal sense, "because of the having ordered as to Claudius." This was about A.D. 49, done, Suetonius says (_Claudius_ C. 25), because "the Jews were in a state of constant tumult at the instigation of one Chrestus" (probably among the Jews about Christ so pronounced). At any rate Jews were unpopular in Rome for Tiberius had deported 4,000 to Sardinia. There were 20,000 Jews in Rome. Probably mainly those implicated in the riots actually left.
rwp@Acts:19:27 @{This our trade} (\touto to meros\). Part, share, task, job, trade. {Come into disrepute} (\eis apelegmon elthein\). Not in the old writers, but in LXX and _Koin_. Literally, reputation, exposure, censure, rejection after examination, and so disrepute. Their business of making gods would lose caste as the liquor trade (still called the trade in England) has done in our day. They felt this keenly and so Demetrius names it first. They felt it in their pockets. {Of the great goddess Artemis} (\ts megals theas Artemidos\). She was generally known as the Great (\h Megal\). An inscription found at Ephesus calls her "the greatest god" (\h megist theos\). The priests were eunuchs and there were virgin priestesses and a lower order of slaves known as temple-sweepers (\nekoroi\, verse 35|). They had wild orgiastic exercises that were disgraceful with their Corybantic processions and revelries. {Be made of no account} (\eis outhen logisthnai\). Be reckoned as nothing, first aorist passive infinitive of \logizomai\ and \eis\. {Should even be deposed of her magnificence} (\mellein te kai kathaireisthai ts megaleiottos auts\). Note the present infinitive after \mellein\, ablative case (so best MSS.) after \kathaire\, to take down, to depose, to deprive of. The word \megaleiots\ occurs also in strkjv@Luke:9:43| (the majesty of God) and in strkjv@2Peter:1:16| of the transfiguration of Christ. It is already in the LXX and Deissmann (_Light from the Ancient East_, p. 363) thinks that the word runs parallel with terms used in the emperor-cult. {All Asia and the world} \hol (h) Asia kai (h) oikoumen\. See strkjv@11:28| for same use of \oikoumen\. An exaggeration, to be sure, but Pausanias says that no deity was more widely worshipped. Temples of Artemis have been found in Spain and Gaul. _Multitudo errantium non efficit veritatem_ (Bengel). Even today heathenism has more followers than Christianity. To think that all this splendour was being set at naught by one man and a despised Jew at that!
rwp@Acts:19:35 @{The town-clerk} (\ho grammateus\). Ephesus was a free city and elected its own officers and the recorder or secretary was the chief magistrate of the city, though the proconsul of the province of Asia resided there. This officer is not a mere secretary of another officer or like the copyists and students of the law among the Jews, but the most influential person in Ephesus who drafted decrees with the aid of the \stratgoi\, had charge of the city's money, was the power in control of the assembly, and communicated directly with the proconsul. Inscriptions at Ephesus give frequently this very title for their chief officer and the papyri have it also. The precise function varied in different cities. His name appeared on the coin at Ephesus issued in his year of office. {Had quieted the multitude} (\katasteilas ton ochlon\). First aorist active participle of \katastell\, to send down, arrange dress (Euripides), lower (Plutarch), restrain (papyrus example), only twice in the N.T. (here and verse 36|, be quiet), but in LXX and Josephus. He evidently took the rostrum and his very presence as the city's chief officer had a quieting effect on the billowy turmoil and a semblance of order came. He waited, however, till the hubbub had nearly exhausted itself (two hours) and did not speak till there was a chance to be heard. {Saith} (\phsin\). Historical present for vividness. {How that}. Merely participle \ousan\ and accusative \polin\ in indirect discourse, no conjunction at all (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 1040ff.), common idiom after \ginsk\, to know. {Temple-keeper} (\nekoron\). Old word from \nes\ (\naos)\, temple, and \kore\, to sweep. Warden, verger, cleaner of the temple, a sacristan. Songs:in Xenophon and Plato. Inscriptions so describe Ephesus as \nekoron ts Artemidos\ as Luke has it here and also applied to the imperial _cultus_ which finally had several such temples in Ephesus. Other cities claimed the same honour of being \nekoros\, but it was the peculiar boast of Ephesus because of the great temple of Artemis. A coin of A.D. 65 describes Ephesus as \nekoros\. There are papyri examples of the term applied to individuals, one to Priene as \nekoros\ of the temple in Ephesus (Moulton and Milligan, _Vocabulary_). {And of the image which fell down from Jupiter} (\kai tou diopetous\). Supply \agalma\ (image), "the from heaven-fallen image." From Zeus (\Dios\) and \pet\ (\pipt, pipet\), to fall. Zeus (Jupiter) was considered lord of the sky or heaven and that is the idea in \diopetous\ here. The legend about a statue fallen from heaven occurs concerning the statue of Artemis at Tauris, Minerva at Athens, etc. Thus the recorder soothed the vanity (Rackham) of the crowd by appeal to the world-wide fame of Ephesus as sacristan of Artemis and of her heaven-fallen image.
rwp@Acts:21:3 @{When we had come in sight of Cyprus} (\anaphanantes tn Kupron\). First aorist active participle of \anaphain\ (Doric form \-phanntes\ rather than the Attic \-phnantes\), old verb to make appear, bring to light, to manifest. Having made Cyprus visible or rise up out of the sea. Nautical terms. In the N.T. only here and strkjv@Luke:19:11| which see. {On the left hand} (\eunumon\). Compound feminine adjective like masculine. They sailed south of Cyprus. {We sailed} (\epleomen\). Imperfect active of common verb \ple\, kept on sailing till we came to Syria. {Landed at Tyre} (\katlthomen eis Turon\). Came down to Tyre. Then a free city of Syria in honour of its former greatness (cf. the long siege by Alexander the Great). {There} (\ekeise\). Thither, literally. Only one other instance in N.T., strkjv@22:5| which may be pertinent = \ekei\ (there). {Was to unlade} (\n apophortizomenon\). Periphrastic imperfect middle of \apophortiz\, late verb from \apo\ and \phortos\, load, but here only in the N.T. Literally, "For thither the boat was unloading her cargo," a sort of "customary" or "progressive" imperfect (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 884). {Burden} (\gomon\). Cargo, old word, from \gem\, to be full. Only here and strkjv@Revelation:18:11f.| in N.T. Probably a grain or fruit ship. It took seven days here to unload and reload.
rwp@Acts:24:24 @{With Drusilla his wife} (\sun Drousilli ti idii gunaiki\)...of three daughters of Herod Agrippa...(Drusilla, Mariamne, Bernice). Her father murdered James, her great-uncle Herod Antipas slew John the Baptist, her great-grandfather (Herod the Great) killed the babes of Bethlehem. Perhaps the mention of Drusilla as "his own wife" is to show that it was not a formal trial on this occasion. Page thinks that she was responsible for the interview because of her curiosity to hear Paul. {Sent for} (\metepempsato\). First aorist middle of \metapemp\ as usual (Acts:10:5|).
rwp@Acts:24:25 @{Was terrified} (\emphobos genomenos\). Ingressive aorist middle of \ginomai\, "becoming terrified." \Emphobos\ (\en\ and \phobos\) old word, in the N.T. only strkjv@Luke:24:5; strkjv@Acts:10:5; strkjv@24:25; strkjv@Revelation:11:13|. Paul turned the tables completely around and expounded "the faith in Christ Jesus" as it applied to Felix and Drusilla and discoursed (\dialegomenou autou\, genitive absolute) concerning "righteousness" (\dikaiosuns\) which they did not possess, "self-control" or temperance (\egkrateias\) which they did not exhibit, and "the judgment to come" (\tou krimatos tou mellontos\)...not Drusilla. Like another Herodias her...(Knowling). {Go thy way for this time} (\to nun echon poreuou\). The ancient Greek has this use of \to nun echon\ (Tobit strkjv@7:11) in the accusative of time, "as for the present or holding the now." {When I have a convenient season} (\kairon metalabn\). Second aorist active participle of the old verb \metalamban\, to find a share in, to obtain. It was his "excuse" for dodging the personal turn that Paul had given.
rwp@Acts:25:13 @{When certain days were passed} (\Hmern diagenomenon\). Genitive absolute of \diaginomai\, to come between, "days intervening." {Agrippa the King} (\Agrippas ho basileus\). Agrippa II son of Agrippa I of strkjv@Acts:12:20-23|...On the death of Herod King...48, Claudius A.D. 50 gave this Herod Agrippa II the throne of Chalcis so that Luke is correct in calling him king, though he is not king of Judea. But he was also given by Claudius the government of the temple and the right of appointing the high priest. Later he was given also the tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias. He was the last Jewish king in Palestine, though not king of Judea. He angered the Jews by building his palace so as to overlook the temple and by frequent changes in the high priesthood. He made his capital at Caesarea Philippi which he called Neronias in honour of Nero. Titus visited it after the fall of Jerusalem. {Bernice} (\Bernik\)...marriage to her uncle Herod King...{Arrived at Caesarea} (\katntsan eis Kaisarian\). Came down (first aorist active of \katanta\) to Caesarea from Jerusalem. {And saluted Festus} (\aspasamenoi ton Phston\). The Textus Receptus has \aspasomenoi\ the future participle, but the correct text is the aorist middle participle \aspasamenoi\ which cannot possibly mean subsequent action as given in the Canterbury Revision "and saluted." It can only mean contemporaneous (simultaneous) action "saluting" or antecedent action like the margin "having saluted." But antecedent action is not possible here, so that simultaneous action is the only alternative. It is to be noted that the salutation synchronized with the arrival in Caesarea (note \kata\, down, the effective aorist tense), not with the departure from Jerusalem, nor with the whole journey. Rightly understood the aorist participle here gives no trouble at all (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 861-3).
rwp@Acts:27:32 @{The ropes} (\ta schoinia\). Diminutive of \schoinos\, old word, but in N.T. only here and strkjv@John:2:15|. Paul is now saviour of the ship and the soldiers quickly cut loose the skiff and "let her fall off" (\eiasan autn ekpesein\) rather than be the means of the escape of the sailors who were needed. This dastardly scheme of the sailors would have brought frightful loss of life.
rwp@James:2:25 @{Rahab the harlot} (\Raab h porn\). Her vicious life she left behind, but the name clung to her always. For our purposes the argument of James may seem stronger without the example of Rahab (Joshua:2:1-21; strkjv@6:17; 22-25; strkjv@Matthew:1:5; strkjv@Hebrews:11:31|). It is even said in Jewish Midrash that Rahab married Joshua and became an ancestor of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. {In that she received} (\hupodexamen\). First aorist middle participle of \hupodechomai\, to welcome. {The messengers} (\tous aggelous\). Original meaning of \aggelos\ (Matthew:11:10|). In strkjv@Hebrews:11:31| we have \kataskopous\ (spies, scouts). {Sent out} (\ekbalousa\). Second aorist active participle of \ekball\, to hurl out. {Another way} (\heteri hodi\). "By another way" (instrumental case), by a window instead of a door (Joshua:2:15f.|).
rwp@James:3:2 @{In many things} (\polla\). Accusative neuter plural either cognate with \ptaiomen\ or accusative of general reference. On \ptaiomen\ (stumble) see on ¯2:10|. James includes himself in this list of stumblers. {If not} (\ei-ou\). Condition of first class with \ou\ (not \m\) negativing the verb \ptaiei\. {In word} (\en logi\). In speech. The teacher uses his tongue constantly and so is in particular peril on this score. {The same} (\houtos\). "This one" (not \ho autos\ the same). {A perfect man} (\teleios anr\). "A perfect husband" also, for \anr\ is husband as well as man in distinction from woman (\gun\). The wife is at liberty to test her husband by this rule of the tongue. {To bridle the whole body also} (\chalinaggsai kai holon to sma\). See strkjv@1:26| for this rare verb applied to the tongue (\glssan\). Here the same metaphor is used and shown to apply to the whole body as horses are led by the mouth. The man follows his own mouth whether he controls the bridle therein (1:26|) or someone else holds the reins. James apparently means that the man who bridles his tongue does not stumble in speech and is able also to control his whole body with all its passions. See strkjv@Titus:1:11| about stopping people's mouths (\epistomiz\).
rwp@John:2:1 @{The third day} (\ti hmeri ti triti\). "On the day the third" (locative case), from the start to Galilee when Philip was found (1:43|), seven days since strkjv@1:19|. {There was a marriage} (\gamos egeneto\). "A wedding (or marriage festival) took place." See on ¯Matthew:22:8|. {In Cana of Galilee} (\en Kana ts Galilaias\). This town, the home of Nathanael (21:2|), is only mentioned again in strkjv@4:46| as the home of the nobleman. There was a Cana in Coele-Syria. It is usually located at _Kefr Kenna_ (3 1/2 miles from Nazareth), though _Ain Kana_ and _Khirbet Kana_ are also possible. Bernard thinks that it was probably on Wednesday afternoon the fourth day of the week (usual day for marriage of virgins), when the party of Jesus arrived. {And the mother of Jesus was there} (\kai n h mtr tou Isou ekei\). When they arrived. John does not mention her name, probably because already well known in the Synoptics. Probably Joseph was already dead. Mary may have been kin to the family where the wedding took place, an intimate friend clearly.
rwp@John:2:2 @{Jesus also was bidden} (\eklth kai ho Isous\). First aorist passive indicative of \kale\, "was also invited" as well as his mother and because of her presence, possibly at her suggestion. {And his disciples} (\kai hoi mathtai\). Included in the invitation and probably all of them acquaintances of the family. See on ¯1:35| for this word applied to John's followers. This group of six already won form the nucleus of the great host of "learners" through the ages who will follow Jesus as Teacher and Lord and Saviour. The term is sometimes restricted to the twelve apostles, but more often has a wider circle in view as in strkjv@John:6:61,66; strkjv@20:30|.
rwp@John:2:3 @{When the wine failed} (\hustersantos oinou\). Genitive absolute with first aorist active participle of \hustere\, old verb from \husteros\, late or lacking. See same use in strkjv@Mark:10:21|. A longer Western paraphrase occurs in some manuscripts. It was an embarrassing circumstance, especially to Mary, if partly due to the arrival of the seven guests. {They have no wine} (\Oinon ouk echousin\). The statement of the fact was in itself a hint and a request. But why made by the mother of Jesus and why to Jesus? She would not, of course, make it to the host. Mary feels some kind of responsibility and exercises some kind of authority for reasons not known to us. Mary had treasured in her heart the wonders connected with the birth of Jesus (Luke:2:19,51|). The ministry of the Baptist had stirred her hopes afresh. Had she not told Jesus all that she knew before he went to the Jordan to be baptized of John? This group of disciples meant to her that Jesus had begun his Messianic work. Songs:she dares propose the miracle to him.
rwp@John:2:4 @{Woman} (\gunai\). Vocative case of \gun\, and with no idea of censure as is plain from its use by Jesus in strkjv@19:26|. But the use of \gunai\ instead of \mter\ (Mother) does show her she can no longer exercise maternal authority and not at all in his Messianic work. That is always a difficult lesson for mothers and fathers to learn, when to let go. {What have I to do with thee?} (\Ti emoi kai soi;\). There are a number of examples of this ethical dative in the LXX (Judges:11:12; strkjv@2Samuel:16:10; strkjv@1Kings:17:18; strkjv@2Kings:3:13; strkjv@2Chronicles:35:21|) and in the N.T. (Mark:1:24; strkjv@5:7; strkjv@Matthew:8:29; strkjv@27:19; strkjv@Luke:8:28|). Some divergence of thought is usually indicated. Literally the phrase means, "What is it to me and to thee?" In this instance F.C. Burkitt (_Journal of Theol. Studies_, July, 1912) interprets it to mean, "What is it to us?" That is certainly possible and suits the next clause also. {Mine hour is not yet come} (\oup hkei h hra mou\). This phrase marks a crisis whenever it occurs, especially of his death (7:30; strkjv@8:20; strkjv@12:23; strkjv@13:1; strkjv@17:1|). Here apparently it means the hour for public manifestation of the Messiahship, though a narrower sense would be for Christ's intervention about the failure of the wine. The Fourth Gospel is written on the plane of eternity (W. M. Ramsay) and that standpoint exists here in this first sign of the Messiah.
rwp@John:2:5 @{Unto the servants} (\tois diakonois\). See on ¯Matthew:20:26| for this word (our "deacon," but not that sense here). {Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it} (\Hoti an legi humin poisate\). Indefinite relative sentence (\hoti an\ and present active subjunctive, general statement) with aorist active imperative of \poie\ for instant execution. Mary took comfort in the "not yet" (\oup\) and recognized the right of Jesus as Messiah to independence of her, but evidently expected him to carry out her suggestion ultimately as he did. This mother knew her Son.
rwp@John:4:9 @{The Samaritan woman} (\h gun h Samareitis\). Different idiom from that in 7|, "the woman the Samaritan." The Samaritans were a mixture by intermarriage of the Jews left in the land (2Chronicles:30:6,10; strkjv@34:9|) with colonists from Babylon and other regions sent by Shalmaneser. They had had a temple of their own on Mt. Gerizim and still worshipped there. {Thou being a Jew} (\su Ioudaios n\). Race antipathy was all the keener because the Samaritans were half Jews. {Drink} (\pein\). Same infinitive form as in 7| and the object of \aiteis\ (askest). {Of me} (\par' emou\). "From me," ablative case with \para\. {For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans} (\ou gar sunchrntai Ioudaioi Samareitais\). Explanatory (\gar\) parenthesis of the woman's astonishment. Associative instrumental case with \sunchrntai\ (present middle indicative of \sunchraomai\, compound in literary _Koin_, here only in N.T.). The woman's astonishment is ironical according to Bernard. At any rate the disciples had to buy food in a Samaritan village and they were travelling through Samaria. Perhaps she was surprised that Jesus would drink out of her waterpot. The Western class omit this explanatory parenthesis of the author.
rwp@John:4:16 @{Go, call thy husband} (\Hupage phnson sou ton andra\). Two imperatives (present active, first aorist active)...after her perplexed reply? Her frequent...
rwp@John:4:17 @{I have no husband} (\ouk ech andra\). The Greek \anr\...not a legal "husband." Her language...{Thou saidst well} (\kals eipes\). Jesus saw through the double sense of her language and read her heart as he only can do, a supernatural gift of which John often speaks (1:48; strkjv@2:24f.; strkjv@5:20|). {For thou hast had five husbands} (\pente gar andras esches\). "For thou didst have five men." Second aorist (constative) active indicative of \ech\. {Is not thy husband} (\ouk estin sou anr\). In the full and legal sense of \anr\, not a mere "man." {This hast thou said truly} (\touto althes eirkas\). "This a true thing thou hast said." Note absence of article with \althes\ (predicate accusative). Perfect active indicative \eirkas\ here, not aorist \eipes\ (verse 17|).
rwp@John:4:19 @{Sir} (\Kurie\). Songs:still. {I perceive} (\ther\). "I am beginning to perceive" from what you say, your knowledge of my private life (verse 29|). See strkjv@2:23| for \there\ which John's Gospel has 23 times, of bodily sight (20:6,14|), of mental contemplation (12:45; strkjv@14:17|). See both \there\ and \optomai\ in strkjv@1:51; strkjv@16:16|. {That thou art a prophet} (\hoti prophts ei su\). "That a prophet art thou" (emphasis on "thou"). She felt that this was the explanation of his knowledge of her life and she wanted to change the subject at once to the outstanding theological dispute.
rwp@John:4:25 @{Messiah cometh} (\Messias erchetai\). Hebrew word in N.T. only here and strkjv@1:41| and explained by \Christos\ in both places. The Samaritans looked for a Messiah, a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy:18:18|). Simon Magus gave himself out in Samaria as some great one and had a large following (Acts:8:9|). Pilate quelled an uprising in Samaria over a fanatical Messianic claimant (Josephus, _Ant_. XVIII. iv. 1). {When he is come} (\hotan elthi ekeinos\). "Whenever that one comes." Indefinite temporal clause with \hotan\ (\hote\, \an\) and the second aorist active subjunctive. Wistfully she turns to this dim hope as a bare possibility about this strange "prophet." {He will declare unto us all things} (\anaggelei hmin hapanta\). Future active indicative of \anaggell\, old and common verb to announce fully (\ana\, up and down). See also strkjv@16:13|. Perhaps here is light on the knowledge of her life by Jesus as well as about the way to worship God.
rwp@John:4:28 @{Left her waterpot} (\aphken tn hudrian\). First aorist active indicative of \aphimi\, ingressive aorist, in her excitement and embarrassment. It was too large for speed anyhow (2:6|). And says (\kai legei\). Graphic historic present indicative again.
rwp@John:4:29 @{All things that ever I did} (\panta ha epoisa\). {Ha}, not \hosa\ (as many as), no "ever" in the Greek. But a guilty conscience (verse 18f.|) led her to exaggerate a bit. {Can this be the Christ?} (\mti houtos estin ho Christos;\). She is already convinced herself (verses 26f.|), but she puts the question in a hesitant form to avoid arousing opposition. With a woman's intuition she avoided \ouk\ and uses \mti\. She does not take sides, but piques their curiosity.
rwp@John:4:39 @{Because of the saying of the woman who testified} (\dia ton logon ts gunaikos marturouss\). She bore her witness clearly and with discretion. She told enough to bring her neighbours to Christ. They knew her evil life and she frankly confessed Christ's rebuke to her. She had her share in this harvest. How timid and cowardly we often are today in not giving our testimony for Christ to our neighbour.
rwp@John:8:3 @{The scribes and the Pharisees} (\hoi grammateis kai hoi Pharisaioi\). John does not mention "scribes," though this combination (note two articles) is common enough in the Synoptics (Luke:5:30; strkjv@6:7|, etc.). {Bring} (\agousin\). Vivid dramatic present active indicative of \ag\. Dods calls this "in itself an unlawful thing to do" since they had a court for the trial of such a case. Their purpose is to entrap Jesus. {Taken in adultery} (\epi moicheii kateilemmenn\). Perfect passive participle of \katalamban\, old compound to seize (Mark:9:18|), to catch, to overtake (John:12:35|), to overcome (or overtake) in strkjv@1:5|. {Having let her in the midst} (\stsantes autn en mesi\). First aorist active (transitive) participle of \histmi\. Here all could see her and what Jesus did with such a case. They knew his proneness to forgive sinners.
rwp@John:8:9 @{Went out} (\exrchonto\). Inchoative imperfect. Graphic picture. {One by one} (\heis kath' heis\). Not a Johannine phrase, but in strkjv@Mark:14:19| where also the second nominative is retained as if \kath'\ (\kata\) is regarded as a mere adverb and not as a preposition. {Beginning from the eldest} (\arxamenoi apo tn presbutern\). "From the elder (comparative form, common in _Koin_ as superlative) men," as was natural for they had more sins of this sort which they recalled. "They are summoned to judge themselves rather than the woman" (Dods). {Was left alone} (\kateleiphth monos\). First aorist effective passive indicative of \kataleip\, to leave behind, with predicate nominative \monos\. "Jesus was left behind alone." {And the woman, where she was, in the midst} (\kai h gun en mesi ousa\). The woman was left behind also "being in the midst" as they had placed her (verse 3|) before they were conscience stricken and left.
rwp@John:8:11 @{No man, Lord} (\Oudeis, Kurie\). "No one, Sir." She makes no excuse for her sin. Does she recognize Jesus as "Lord"? {Neither do I condemn thee} (\Oude eg se katakrin\). Jesus does not condone her sin. See strkjv@8:15| for "I do not judge (condemn) any one." But he does give the poor woman another chance. {Henceforth sin no more} (\apo tou nun mketi hamartane\). See also strkjv@5:14| where this same language is used to the impotent man. It literally means (prohibition with present active imperative): "Henceforth no longer go on sinning." One can only hope that the woman was really changed in heart and life. Jesus clearly felt that even a wicked woman can be saved.
rwp@John:8:41 @{Ye do the works of your father} (\humeis poieite ta erga tou patros humn\). Who is not Abraham and not God as Jesus plainly indicates. {We were not born of fornication} (\hmeis ek porneias egennthmen\). First aorist passive indicative of \genna\. This they said as a proud boast. Jesus had admitted that they were physical (Deuteronomy:23:2|) descendants of Abraham (37|), but now denies that they are spiritual children of Abraham (like Paul in strkjv@Romans:9:7|). \Porneia\ is from \pornos\ (harlot) and that from \pernmi\, to sell, a woman who sells her body for sexual uses. It is vaguely possible that in this stern denial the Pharisees may have an indirect fling at Jesus as the bastard son of Mary (so Talmud). {We have one Father, even God} (\hena patera echomen ton theon\). No "even" in the Greek, "One Father we have, God." This in direct reply to the implication of Jesus (verse 38|) that God was not their spiritual Father.
rwp@John:11:2 @{And it was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair} (\n de Mariam h aleipsasa ton kurion muri kai ekmaxasa tous podas autou tais thrixin auts\). This description is added to make plainer who Mary is "whose brother Lazarus was sick" (\hs ho adelphos Lazaros sthenei\). There is an evident proleptic allusion to the incident described by John in strkjv@12:1-8| just after chapter 11. As John looks back from the end of the century it was all behind him, though the anointing (\h aleipsasa\, first aorist active articular participle of \aleiph\, old verb for which see strkjv@Mark:6:13|) took place after the events in chapter 11. The aorist participle is timeless and merely pictures the punctiliar act. The same remark applies to \ekmaxasa\, old verb \ekmass\, to wipe off or away (Isaiah:12:3; strkjv@13:5; strkjv@Luke:7:38,44|). Note the Aramaic form \Mariam\ as usual in John, but \Marias\ in verse 1|. When John wrote, it was as Jesus had foretold (Matthew:26:13|), for the fame of Mary of Bethany rested on the incident of the anointing of Jesus. The effort to link Mary of Bethany with Mary Magdalene and then both names with the sinful woman of strkjv@Luke:7:36-50| is gratuitous and to my mind grotesque and cruel to the memory of both Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene. Bernard may be taken as a specimen: "The conclusion is inevitable that John (or his editor) regarded Mary of Bethany as the same person who is described by Luke as \hamartlos\." This critical and artistic heresy has already been discussed in Vol. II on Luke's Gospel. Suffice it here to say that Luke introduces Mary Magdalene as an entirely new character in strkjv@8:2| and that the details in strkjv@Luke:7:36-50; strkjv@John:12:1-8| have only superficial resemblances and serious disagreements. John is not here alluding to Luke's record, but preparing for his own in chapter 12. What earthly difficulty is there in two different women under wholly different circumstances doing a similar act for utterly different purposes?
rwp@John:11:27 @{Yea, Lord} (\Nai, kurie\). Martha probably did not understand all that Jesus said and meant, but she did believe in the future resurrection, in eternal life for believers in Christ, in the power of Christ to raise even the dead here and now. She had heroic faith and makes now her own confession of faith in words that outrank those of Peter in strkjv@Matthew:16:16| because she makes hers with her brother dead now four days and with the hope that Jesus will raise him up now. {I have believed} (\pepisteuka\). Perfect active indicative of \pisteu\. It is my settled and firm faith. Peter uses this same tense in strkjv@6:69|. {That thou art the Son of God} (\hoti su ei ho Christos ho huios tou theou\). The Messiah or the Christ (1:41|) was to be also "the Son of God" as the Baptist said he had found Jesus to be (1:34|)...as Peter confessed on Hermon for...(Matthew:16:16|), as Jesus claimed to be (John:11:41|) and confessed on oath before Caiaphas that he was (Matthew:26:63f.|), and as John stated that it was his purpose to prove in his Gospel (20:31|). But no one said it under more trying circumstances than Martha. {Even he that cometh into the world} (\ho eis ton kosmon erchomenos\). No "even" in the Greek. This was a popular way of putting the people's expectation (6:14; strkjv@Matthew:11:3|). Jesus himself spoke of his coming into the world (9:39; strkjv@16:28; strkjv@8:37|).
rwp@John:11:28 @{Called Mary} (\ephnsen Mariam\). First aorist active indicative of \phne\. Out of the house and away from the crowd. {Secretly} (\lathri\). Old adverb from \lathros\ (\lanthan\). To tell her the glad news. {The Master} (\ho didaskalos\). "The Teacher." Songs:they loved to call him as he was (13:13|). {Is here} (\parestin\). "Is present." {Calleth thee} (\phnei se\). This rouses Mary.
rwp@John:11:29 @{And she} (\kai ekein\). Emphatic use of the demonstrative \ekeinos\ as often in John, "And that one." {Arose quickly} (\gerth\). First aorist (ingressive) passive of \egeir\ and intransitive. Naturally so on the sudden impulse of joy. {And went unto him} (\kai rcheto pros auton\). Imperfect middle, possibly inchoative, started towards him, certainly picturing her as she was going.
rwp@John:11:30 @{Now Jesus was not yet come into the town} (\oup de elluthei ho Isous eis tn kmn\). Explanatory parenthesis with past perfect as in verse 19|. Martha had her interview while he was still coming (verse 20|) and left him (went off, \aplthen\, verse 28|) to hurry to Mary with the news. Why Jesus tarried still where he had met Martha we do not know. Westcott says, "as though He would meet the sisters away from the crowd of mourners."
rwp@John:11:33 @{When Jesus therefore saw her weeping} (\Isous oun hs eiden autn klaiousan\). Proleptic position of "Jesus," "Jesus therefore when he saw." She was weeping at the feet of Jesus, not at the tomb. {And the Jews also weeping} (\kai tous Ioudaious klaiontas\). Mary's weeping was genuine, that of the Jews was partly perfunctory and professional and probably actual "wailing" as the verb \klai\ can mean. \Klai\ is joined with \alalaz\ in strkjv@Mark:5:38|, with \ololuz\ in strkjv@James:5:1|, with \thorube\ in strkjv@Mark:5:39|, with \penthe\ in strkjv@Mark:16:10|. It was an incongruous combination. {He groaned in the spirit} (\enebrimsato ti pneumati\). First aorist middle indicative of \embrimaomai\, old verb (from \en\, and \brim\, strength) to snort with anger like a horse. It occurs in the LXX (Daniel:11:30|) for violent displeasure. The notion of indignation is present in the other examples of the word in the N.T. (Mark:1:43; strkjv@14:5; strkjv@Matthew:9:30|). Songs:it seems best to see that sense here and in verse 38|. The presence of these Jews, the grief of Mary, Christ's own concern, the problem of the raising of Lazarus--all greatly agitated the spirit of Jesus (locative case \ti pneumati\). He struggled for self-control. {Was troubled} (\etaraxen heauton\). First aorist active indicative of \tarass\, old verb to disturb, to agitate, with the reflexive pronoun, "he agitated himself" (not passive voice, not middle). "His sympathy with the weeping sister and the wailing crowd caused this deep emotion" (Dods). Some indignation at the loud wailing would only add to the agitation of Jesus.
rwp@John:11:39 @{Take ye away the stone} (\arate ton lithon\). First aorist active imperative of \air\. They could do this much without the exercise of Christ's divine power. It was a startling command to them. {By this time he stinketh} (\d ozei\). Present active indicative of old verb, here only in N.T. (cf. strkjv@Exodus:8:14|). It means to give out an odour, either good or bad. {For he hath been dead four days} (\tetartaios gar estin\). The Greek simply says, "For he is a fourth-day man." It is an old ordinal numeral from \tetartos\ (fourth). Herodotus (ii. 89) has \tetartaios genesthai\ of one four days dead as here. The word is only here in the N.T. The same idiom occurs in strkjv@Acts:28:13| with \deuteraioi\ (second-day men). Lightfoot (_Hor. Hebr._) quotes a Jewish tradition (_Beresh. Rabba_)...Martha held that notion. Her protest...22-27|.
rwp@John:11:40 @{Said I not unto thee?} (\Ouk eipon soi;\). Jesus pointedly reminds Martha of his promise to raise Lazarus (verses 25f.|). {That if thou believedst} (\hoti ean pisteusis\). Indirect discourse with \ean\ and the first aorist active subjunctive (condition of third class) retained after the secondary tense \eipon\. He had not said this very phrase, \ean pisteusis\, to Martha, but he did say to her: \Pisteueis touto\; (Believest thou this?). He meant to test Martha as to her faith already hinted at (verse 22|) on this very point. Jesus had also spoken of increase of faith on the part of the disciples (verse 15|). {Thou shouldest see the glory of God} (\opsi tn doxan tou theou\). Future middle indicative of the old defective verb \hora\ retained in the conclusion of this condition in indirect discourse. Jesus means the glory of God as shown in the resurrection of Lazarus as he had already said to the disciples (verse 4|) and as he meant Martha to understand (verse 25|) and may in fact have said to her (the report of the conversation is clearly abridged). Hence Bernard's difficulty in seeing how Martha could understand the words of Jesus about the resurrection of Lazarus here and now seems fanciful and far-fetched.
rwp@John:12:2 @{Songs:they made him a supper there} (\epoisan oun auti deipnon ekei\). Here again \oun\ is not inferential, but merely transitional. This supper is given by Mark (Mark:14:3-9|) and Matthew (Matthew:26:6-13|) just two days (Mark:14:1|) before the passover, that is on our Tuesday evening (beginning of Jewish Wednesday), while John mentions (12:2-9|) it immediately after the arrival of Jesus in Bethany (12:1|). One must decide which date to follow. Mark and Matthew and Luke follow it with the visit of Judas to the Sanhedrin with an offer to betray Jesus as if exasperated by the rebuke by Jesus at the feast. Bernard considers that John "is here more probably accurate." It all turns on John's purpose in putting it here. This is the last mention of Jesus in Bethany and he may have mentioned it proleptically for that reason as seems to me quite reasonable. Westcott notes that in chapter 12 John closes his record of the public ministry of the Lord relative to the disciples at this feast (1-11|), to the multitude in the triumphal entry (12-19|), to the world outside in the visit of the Greeks (20-36a|), and with two summary judgements (36b-50|). There is no further reason to refer to the feast in the house of another Simon when a sinful woman anointed Jesus (Luke:7:36-50|). It is no credit to Luke or to John with Mark and Matthew to have them all making a jumble like that. There were two anointings by two absolutely different women for wholly different purposes. See the discussion on Luke for further details. {And Martha served} (\kai h Martha dikonei\). Imperfect active of \diakone\, picturing Martha true to the account of her in strkjv@Luke:10:40| (\polln diakonian\, \diakonein\ as here). But this fact does not show that Martha was the wife of this Simon at all. They were friends and neighbours and Martha was following her bent. It is Mark (Mark:14:3|) and Matthew (Matthew:26:6|) who mention the name of the host. It is not Simon the Pharisee (Luke:7:36|), but Simon the leper (Mark:14:3; strkjv@Matthew:26:6|) in whose house they meet. The name is common enough. The Simon in Luke was sharply critical of Jesus; this one is full of gratitude for what Jesus has done for him. {That sat at meat} (\tn anakeimenn\). "That lay back," reclined as they did, articular participle (ablative case after \ek\) of the common verb \anakeimai\. Perhaps Simon gave the feast partly in honour of Lazarus as well as of Jesus since all were now talking of both (John:12:9|). It was a gracious occasion. The guests were Jesus, the twelve apostles, and Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.
rwp@John:12:3 @{A pound} (\litran\). Latin _libra_, late _Koin_ (Polybius, Plutarch) word with weight of 12 ounces, in N.T. only here and strkjv@19:39|. Mark (Mark:14:3|) and Matthew (Matthew:26:7|) have alabaster cruse. {Of ointment of spikenard} (\murou nardou pistiks\). "Of oil of nard." See already strkjv@11:2| for \murou\ (also strkjv@Matthew:26:7|). Nard is the head or spike of an East Indian plant, very fragrant. Occurs also in strkjv@Mark:14:3|. \Pistiks\ here and in strkjv@Mark:14:3| probably means genuine (\pistikos\, from \pistos\, reliable). Only two instances in the N.T. {Very precious} (\polutimou\). Old compound adjective (\polus\, much, \tim\), in N.T. only here, strkjv@Matthew:13:46; strkjv@1Peter:1:7|. Mark has \polutelous\ (very costly). Matthew (Matthew:26:7|) has here \barutimou\ of weighty value (only N.T. instance). {Anointed} (\leipsen\). First aorist active indicative of \aleiph\, old word (Mark:16:1|). {The feet} (\tous podas\). Mark (Mark:14:3|) and Matthew (Matthew:26:7|) have "his head." Why not both, though neither Gospel mentions both? The Latin MS. _fuldensis_ and the Syriac Sinatic do give both head and feet here. {Wiped} (\exemaxen\). First aorist active indicative of \ekmass\, old verb to wipe off already in strkjv@11:2; strkjv@Luke:7:38,44|. {With her hair} (\tais thrixin auts\). Instrumental plural. It is this item that is relied on largely by those who identify Mary of Bethany with the sinful woman in Luke 7 and with Mary Magdalene. It is no doubt true that it was usually considered immodest for a woman to wear her hair loose. But it is not impossible that Mary of Bethany in her carefully planned love-offering for Jesus on this occasion was only glad to throw such a punctilio to the winds. Such an act on this occasion does not brand her a woman of loose character. {Was filled with the odour of the ointment} (\eplrth ek ts osms tou murou\). Effective first aorist passive of \plro\ and a natural result.
rwp@John:12:4 @{Judas Iscariot} (\Ioudas ho Iskarits\). See \ho Iskarits\ in strkjv@14:22|. See strkjv@6:71; strkjv@13:1| for like description of Judas save that in strkjv@6:71| the father's name is given in the genitive, \Simnos\ and \Iskaritou\ (agreeing with the father), but in strkjv@13:1| \Iskarits\ agrees with \Ioudas\, not with \Simnos\. Clearly then both father and son were called "Iscariot" or man of Kerioth in the tribe of Judah (Joshua:15:25|). Judas is the only one of the twelve not a Galilean. {One of his disciples} (\heis tn mathtn autou\). Likewise in strkjv@6:71|, only there \ek\ is used after \heis\ as some MSS. have here. This is the shameful fact that clung to the name of Judas. {Which should betray him} (\ho melln auton paradidonai\). John does not say in strkjv@6:71| (\emellen paradidonai auton\) or here that Judas "was predestined to betray Jesus" as Bernard suggests. He had his own responsibility for his guilt as Jesus said (Matthew:26:24|). \Mell\ here simply points to the act as future, not as necessary. Note the contrast between Mary and Judas. "Mary in her devotion unconsciously provides for the honour of the dead. Judas in his selfishness unconsciously brings about the death itself" (Westcott).
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@John:12:8 @{Ye have always} (\pantote echete\). Jesus does not discredit gifts to the poor at all. But there is relativity in one's duties. {But me ye have not always} (\eme de ou pantote echete\). This is what Mary perceived with her delicate woman's intuition and what the apostles failed to understand though repeatedly and plainly told by Jesus. John does not mention the precious promise of praise for Mary preserved in strkjv@Mark:14:9; strkjv@Matthew:26:13|, but he does show her keen sympathetic insight and Christ's genuine appreciation of her noble deed. It is curiously \mal-a-propos\ surely to put alongside this incident the other incident told long before by Luke (Luke:7:35ff.|) of the sinful woman. Let Mary alone in her glorious act of love.
rwp@John:18:16 @{Was standing} (\histkei\). Same form in verse 5| which see. Songs:also \histkeisan\ in 18|. Picture of Peter standing outside by the door. {Unto the high priest} (\tou archieres\). Objective genitive here, but dative in verse 15|. {Unto her that kept the door} (\ti thurri\). Old word (\thura\, door, \ra\, care), masculine in strkjv@10:3|, feminine here, door-keeper (male or female).
rwp@John:20:2 @{Runneth} (\trechei\). Vivid dramatic present indicative of \trech\. John deals only with Mary Magdalene. She left the tomb at once before the rest and without seeing the angels as told in the Synoptics (Mark:16:2-8; strkjv@Matthew:28:5-8; strkjv@Luke:24:1-8|). Luke (Luke:24:9-12|) does not distinguish between the separate report of Mary Magdalene and that of the other women. {To Simon Peter} (\pros Simna Petron\). Full name as usual in John and back with John and the other disciples. The association of Peter and the other disciple in strkjv@John:18-21| is like that between Peter and John in strkjv@Acts:1-5|. {Loved} (\ephilei\). Imperfect of \phile\ for which see strkjv@5:20; strkjv@11:3| and for distinction from \agapa\ see strkjv@11:5; strkjv@13:23; strkjv@21:7,15,17|. {They have taken away} (\ran\). First aorist active indicative of \air\, indefinite plural. {We know not} (\ouk oidamen\). Mary associates the other women with her in her ignorance. For \ethkan\ (have laid) see strkjv@19:42|. Mary fears a grave robbery. She has no idea of the resurrection of Jesus.
rwp@John:20:10 @{Unto their own home} (\pros hautous\). "To themselves." Luke (Luke:24:12|) has \pros hauton\ about Peter ("to his home"). This use of the reflective pronoun for home (literally, "to themselves"), like the French _chez eux_, occurs in Josephus (_Ant_. VII. 4, 6). John had taken the mother of Jesus to his home (19:27|) and so he now hurried home to tell her the glorious news as he believed.
rwp@John:20:16 @{Mary} (\Mariam\). Aramaic form in Aleph B W, though \Maria\ in strkjv@19:25|. Clearly the old familiar tone of Jesus was in the pronunciation of her name. {Rabboni} (\Rabbounei\). Aramaic again for \Didaskale\ (Teacher), "my Teacher." In N.T. only here and strkjv@Mark:10:51| though practically the same as \Rabbi\. See strkjv@11:28| for "the Teacher" (Rabbi). These two simple words tell the great fact that Christ is risen and Mary has seen him. One says little in really great moments.
rwp@John:20:18 @{And telleth} (\aggellousa\). Present active participle, "announcing." {I have seen the Lord} (\Heraka ton kurion\). Perfect active indicative of \hora\. She will always carry in her heart that vision (picture) of the Risen Christ. She tells this fact before she delivers Christ's message to the brethren of Christ. {How that}. No word in the Greek, but a conjunction like \hs\ is implied. \Hoti\ here is recitative. The disciples (brethren) did not believe Mary's story nor that of the other women (Luke:24:11; strkjv@Mark:16:11|). Paul does not mention the vision to Mary or the women in strkjv@1Corinthians:15:5-7|. But Mary Magdalene was the first one to see the Risen Lord.
rwp@Info_Luke @ THE SOURCES OF THE GOSPEL In his Preface or Prologue (Luke:1:1-4|) the author tells us that he had two kinds of sources, oral and written, and that they were many, how many we have no way of telling. It is now generally accepted that we know two of his written sources, Mark's Gospel and Q or the Logia of Jesus (written by Matthew, Papias says). Mark is still preserved and it is not difficult for any one by the use of a harmony of the Gospels to note how Luke made use of Mark, incorporating what he chose, adapting it in various ways, not using what did not suit his purposes. The other source we only know in the non-Markan portions of Matthew and Luke, that is the material common to both, but not in Mark. This also can be noted by any one in a harmony. Only it is probable that this source was more extensive than just the portions used by both Matthew and Luke. It is probable that both Matthew and Luke each used portions of the Logia not used by the other. But there is a large portion of Luke's Gospel which is different from Mark and Matthew. Some scholars call this source L. There is little doubt that Luke had another document for the material peculiar to him, but it is also probable that he had several others. He spoke of "many." This applies especially to chapters 9 to 21. But Luke expressly says that he had received help from "eye-witnesses and ministers of the word," in oral form this means. It is, then, probable that Luke made numerous notes of such data and used them along with the written sources at his command. This remark applies particularly to chapters 1 and 2 which have a very distinct Semitic (Aramaic) colouring due to the sources used. It is possible, of course, that Mary the mother of Jesus may have written a statement concerning these important matters or that Luke may have had converse with her or with one of her circle. Ramsay, in his volume, _Was Christ Born at Bethlehem?_ shows the likelihood of Luke's contact with Mary or her circle during these two years at Caesarea. Luke handles the data acquired with care and skill as he claims in his Prologue and as the result shows. The outcome is what Renan called the most beautiful book in the world.
rwp@Luke:1:5 @{There was} (\egeneto\). Not the usual \en\ for "was," but there arose or came into notice. With this verse the literary _Koin_ of verses 1 to 4 disappears. To the end of chapter 2 we have the most Hebraistic (Aramaic) passage in Luke's writings, due evidently to the use of documents or notes of oral tradition. Plummer notes a series of such documents ending with strkjv@1:80, strkjv@2:40, strkjv@2:52|. If the mother of Jesus was still alive, Luke could have seen her. She may have written in Aramaic an account of these great events. Natural reserve would keep her from telling too much and from too early publicity. Luke, as a physician, would take special interest in her birth report. The supernatural aspects disturb only those who do not admit the real Incarnation of Jesus Christ and who are unable to believe that God is superior to nature and that the coming of the Son of God to earth justifies such miraculous manifestations of divine power. Luke tells his story from the standpoint of Mary as Matthew gives his from the standpoint of Joseph. The two supplement each other. We have here the earliest documentary evidence of the origins of Christianity that has come down to us (Plummer). {Herod, King of Judea} (\Hridou basiles ts Ioudaias\)...before the death of Herod the...(as he was called later), appointed King of Judea by the Roman Senate B.C. 40 at the suggestion of Octavius and Antony. He died B.C. 4. {Of the course of Abijah} (\ex ephmerias Abia\). Not in old Greek, but in LXX and modern Greek. Papyri have a verb derived from it, \ephmere\. Daily service (Nehemiah:13:30; strkjv@1Chronicles:25:8|) and then a course of priests who were on duty for a week (1Chronicles:23:6; strkjv@28:13|). There were 24 such courses and that of Abijah was the eighth (1Chronicles:24:10; strkjv@2Chronicles:8:14|). Only four of these courses (Jedaiah, Immer, Pashur, Harim) returned from Babylon, but these four were divided into twenty-four with the old names. Each of these courses did duty for eight days, sabbath to sabbath, twice a year. On sabbaths the whole course did duty. At the feast of tabernacles all twenty-four courses were present. {Of the daughters of Aaron} (\ek tn thugatern Aarn\). "To be a priest and married to a priest's daughter was a double distinction" (Plummer). Like a preacher married to a preacher's daughter.
rwp@Luke:1:29 @{Cast in her mind} (\dielogizeto\). Imperfect indicative. Note aorist \dietarachth\. Common verb for reckoning up different reasons. She was both upset and puzzled.
rwp@Luke:1:40 @{Saluted} (\spasato\). Her first glance at Elisabeth showed the truth of the angel's message. The two mothers had a bond of sympathy.
rwp@Luke:1:46 @{Doth magnify} (\megalunei\). Latin, _magnificat_. Harnack argues that this is also the song of Elisabeth because a few Latin MSS. have it so, but Mary is correct. She draws her material from the O.T. and sings in the noblest strain.
rwp@Luke:1:48 @{The low estate} (\tn tapeinsin\). The bride of a carpenter and yet to be the mother of the Messiah. Literal sense here as in strkjv@1:52|. {Shall call me blessed} (\makariousin me\). So-called Attic future of an old verb, to felicitate. Elisabeth had already given her a beatitude (\makaria\, strkjv@1:45|). Another occurs in strkjv@11:27|. But this is a very different thing from the worship of Mary (Mariolatry) by Roman Catholics. See my _...Jesus: Her Problems and Her... Glory_.
rwp@Luke:2:35 @{A sword} (\rhomphaia\). A large sword, properly a long Thracian javelin. It occurs in the LXX of Goliath's sword (1Samuel:17:51|). How little Mary understood the meaning of Simeon's words that seemed so out of place in the midst of the glorious things already spoken, a sharp thorn in their roses, a veritable bitter-sweet. But one day Mary will stand by the Cross of Christ with this Thracian javelin clean through her soul, \stabat Mater Dolorosa\ (John:19:25|). It is only a parenthesis here, and a passing cloud perhaps passed over Mary's heart already puzzled with rapture and ecstasy. {May be revealed} (\apokaluphthsin\). Unveiled. First aorist passive subjunctive after \hops an\ and expresses God's purpose in the mission of the Messiah. He is to test men's thoughts (\dialogismoi\) and purposes. They will be compelled to take a stand for Christ or against him. That is true today.
rwp@Luke:2:36 @{One Anna a prophetess} (\Hanna prophtis\). The word \prophtis\ occurs in the N.T. only here and strkjv@Revelation:2:20|. In old Greek writers it means a woman who interprets oracles. The long parenthesis into verse 37| tells of her great age. Montefiore makes it 106 as she was 15 when married, married 7 years, a widow 84.
rwp@Luke:2:37 @{Which departed not} (\h ouk aphistato\). Imperfect indicative middle. She kept on not leaving. The Spirit kept her in the temple as he led Simon to the temple (Plummer). The case of "the temple" (\tou hierou\) is ablative. {Night and day} (\nukta kai hmeran\). Accusative of duration of time, all night and all day. She never missed a service in the temple.
rwp@Luke:2:38 @{Coming up} (\epistsa\). Second aorist active participle. The word often has the notion of coming suddenly or bursting in as of Martha in strkjv@Luke:10:40|. But here it probably means coming up and standing by and so hearing Simeon's wonderful words so that her words form a kind of footnote to his. {Gave thanks} (\anthmologeito\). Imperfect middle of a verb (\anthomologe\) in common use in Greek writers and in the LXX though here alone in the N.T. It had the idea of a mutual agreement or of saying something before one (\anti\). Anna was evidently deeply moved and repeated her thanksgiving and kept speaking (\elalei\, imperfect again) "to all them that were looking for (\prosdechomenois\, as in strkjv@1:35| of Simeon) the redemption of Jerusalem (\lutrsin Ierousalm\)." There was evidently a group of such spirits that gathered in the temple either men around her and Simeon or whom she met from time to time. There was thus a nucleus of old saints in Jerusalem prepared for the coming of the Messiah when he at last appears as the Messiah in Jerusalem (John 2 and 3). These probably all passed away. But they had a happy hour of hope and joy. The late MSS. have "in Jerusalem" but "of Jerusalem" is correct. What they meant by the "redemption of Jerusalem" is not clear, whether political or spiritual or both. Simeon was looking for the consolation of Israel (2:25|) and Zacharias (1:68|) sang of redemption for Israel (Isaiah:40:2|).
rwp@Luke:2:49 @{Son} (\teknon\). Child, literally. It was natural for Mary to be the first to speak. {Why} (\Ti\). The mother's reproach of the boy is followed by a confession of negligence on her part and of Joseph ({sorrowing}, \odunmenoi\). {Thy father} (\ho pater sou\). No contradiction in this. Alford says: "Up to this time Joseph had been so called by the holy child himself, but from this time never." {Sought} (\eztoumen\). Imperfect tense describing the long drawn out search for three days. {How is it that} (\Ti hoti\). The first words of Jesus preserved to us. This crisp Greek idiom without copula expresses the boy's amazement that his parents should not know that there was only one possible place in Jerusalem for him. {I must be} (\dei einai me\). Messianic consciousness of the necessity laid on him. Jesus often uses \dei\ (must) about his work. Of all the golden dreams of any boy of twelve here is the greatest. {In my Father's house} (\en tois tou patros mou\). Not "about my Father's business," but "in my Father's house" (cf. strkjv@Genesis:41:51|). Common Greek idiom. And note "my," not "our." When the boy first became conscious of his peculiar relation to the Father in heaven we do not know. But he has it now at twelve and it will grow within him through the years ahead in Nazareth.
rwp@Luke:2:50 @{They understood not} (\ou sunkan\). First aorist active indicative (one of the k aorists). Even Mary with all her previous preparation and brooding was not equal to the dawning of the Messianic consciousness in her boy. "My Father is God," Jesus had virtually said, "and I must be in His house." Bruce observes that a new era has come when Jesus calls God "Father," not \Despotes\. "Even we do not yet fully understand" (Bruce) what Jesus the boy here said.
rwp@Luke:2:51 @{He was subject unto them} (\n hupotassomenos autois\). Periphrastic imperfect passive. He continued subject unto them, this wondrous boy who really knew more than parents and rabbis, this gentle, obedient, affectionate boy. The next eighteen years at Nazareth (Luke:3:23|) he remained growing into manhood and becoming the carpenter of Nazareth (Mark:6:3|) in succession to Joseph (Matthew:13:55|) who is mentioned here for the last time. Who can tell the wistful days when Jesus waited at Nazareth for the Father to call him to his Messianic task? {Kept} (\dietrei\). Imperfect active. Ancient Greek word (\diatre\), but only here and strkjv@Acts:15:29| in the N.T. though in strkjv@Genesis:37:11|. She kept thoroughly (\dia\) all these recent sayings (or things, \rhmata\). In strkjv@2:19| \sunetrei\ is the word used of Mary after the shepherds left. These she kept pondering and comparing all the things. Surely she has a full heart now. Could she foresee how destiny would take Jesus out beyond her mother's reach?
rwp@Luke:4:39 @{He stood over her} (\epistas epan auts\). Second aorist active participle. Only in Luke. Surely we are not to take Luke to mean that Jesus here took the exorcist's position and was rebuking a malignant personality. The attitude of Jesus is precisely that of any kindly sympathetic physician. strkjv@Mark:1:31; strkjv@Matthew:8:15| mention the touch of her hand rather than the tender look over her head. {Rebuked} (\epetimsen\). Only in Luke. Jesus bade the fever leave her as he spoke to the wind and the waves and Luke uses this same verb (8:24|). {Rose up and ministered} (\anastsa dikonei\). Second aorist active participle as in verse 38|, but inchoative imperfect tense \dikonei\, from \diakone\ (note augment of compound verb). She rose up immediately, though a long high fever usually leaves one very weak. The cure was instantaneous and complete. She began to minister at once and kept it up.
rwp@Luke:5:2 @{Two boats} (\ploia duo\). Some MSS. have \ploiaria\, little boats, but \ploia\ was used of boats of various sizes, even of ships like \nes\. {The fishermen} (\hoi haleeis\). It is an old Homeric word that has come back to common use in the _Koin_. It means "sea-folk" from \hals\, sea. {Were washing} (\eplunon\). Imperfect active, though some MSS. have aorist \eplunan\. Vincent comments on Luke's use of five verbs for washing: this one for cleaning, \apomass\ for wiping the dust from one's feet (10:11|), \ekmass\ of the sinful woman wiping Christ's feet with her hair (7:38,44|), \apolou\ of washing away sins (symbolically, of course) as in strkjv@Acts:22:16|, and \lou\ of washing the body of Dorcas (Acts:9:37|) and the stripes of the prisoners (Acts:16:33|). On "nets" see on ¯Matthew:4:20; strkjv@Mark:1:18|.
rwp@Luke:7:35 @{Of all her children} (\apo pantn tn teknn auts\). Here strkjv@Matthew:11:19| has "by her works" (\apo tn ergn auts\). Aleph has \ergn\ here. The use of "children" personifies wisdom as in strkjv@Proverbs:8; 9|.
rwp@Luke:7:37 @{A woman which was in the city, a sinner} (\gun htis en ti polei hamartlos\). Probably in Capernaum. The use of \htis\ means "Who was of such a character as to be" (cf. strkjv@8:3|) and so more than merely the relative \h\, who, that is, "who was a sinner in the city," a woman of the town, in other words, and known to be such. \Hamartlos\, from \hamartan\, to sin, means devoted to sin and uses the same form for feminine and masculine. It is false and unjust to Mary Magdalene, introduced as a new character in strkjv@Luke:8:2|, to identify this woman with her. Luke would have no motive in concealing her name here and the life of a courtesan would be incompatible with the sevenfold possession of demons. Still worse is it to identify this courtesan not only with Mary Magdalene, but also with Mary of Bethany simply because it is a Simon who gives there a feast to Jesus when Mary of Bethany does a beautiful deed somewhat like this one here (Mark:14:3-9; strkjv@Matthew:26:6-13; strkjv@John:12:2-8|). Certainly Luke knew full well the real character of Mary of Bethany (10:38-42|)...who had rescued her. Her bad...{When she knew} (\epignousa\). Second aorist active participle from \epiginsk\, to know fully, to recognize. She came in by a curious custom of the time that allowed strangers to enter a house uninvited at a feast, especially beggars seeking a gift. This woman was an intruder whereas Mary of Bethany was an invited guest. "Many came in and took their places on the side seats, uninvited and yet unchallenged. They spoke to those at table on business or the news of the day, and our host spoke freely to them" (Trench in his _Parables_, describing a dinner at a Consul's house at Damietta). {He was sitting at meat} (\katakeitai\). Literally, he is reclining (present tense retained in indirect discourse in Greek). {An alabaster cruse of ointment} (\alabastron murou\). See on ¯Matthew:26:7| for discussion of \alabastron\ and \murou\.
rwp@Luke:7:38 @{Standing behind at his feet} (\stsa opis para tous podas autou\). Second aorist active participle from \histmi\ and intransitive, first aorist \estsa\ being transitive. The guest removed his sandals before the meal and he reclined on the left side with the feet outward. She was standing beside (\para\) his feet {weeping} (\klaiousa\). She was drawn irresistibly by gratitude to Jesus and is overcome with emotion before she can use the ointment; her tears (\tois dakrusin\, instrumental case of \dakru\) take the place of the ointment. {Wiped them with the hair of her head} (\tais thrixin ts kephals auts exemassen\). Inchoative imperfect of an old verb \ekmass\, to rub out or off, began to wipe off, an act of impulse evidently and of embarrassment. "Among the Jews it was a shameful thing for a woman to let down her hair in public; but she makes this sacrifice" (Plummer). Songs:Mary of Bethany wiped the feet of Jesus with her hair (John:12:3|) with a similar sacrifice out of her great love for Jesus. This fact is relied on by some to prove that Mary of Bethany had been a woman of bad character, surely an utter failure to recognize Mary's motive and act. {Kissed} (\katephilei\). Imperfect active of \kataphile\, to kiss repeatedly (force of \kata\), and accented by the tense of continued action here. The word in the N.T. occurs here, of the prodigal's father (15:20|), of the kiss of Judas (Mark:14:45; strkjv@Matthew:26:49|), of the Ephesian elders (Acts:20:37|). " Kissing the feet was a common mark of deep reverence, especially to leading rabbis" (Plummer). {Anointed them with the ointment} (\leiphen ti muri\). Imperfect active again of \aleiph\, a very common verb. \Chri\ has a more religious sense. The anointing came after the burst of emotional excitement.
rwp@Luke:7:47 @{Are forgiven} (\aphentai\). Doric perfect passive form. See strkjv@Luke:5:21,23|. {For she loved much} (\hoti gapsen polu\)...reason for the forgiveness. Her sins...{But to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little} (\Hi de oligon aphietai oligon agapi\). This explanation proves that the meaning of \hoti\ preceding is proof, not cause.
rwp@Luke:8:2 @{Which had been healed} (\hai san tetherapeumenai\). Periphrastic past perfect passive, suggesting that the healing had taken place some time before this tour. These women all had personal grounds of gratitude to Jesus. {From whom seven devils (demons) had gone out} (\aph' hs daimonia hepta exelluthei\). Past perfect active third singular for the \daimonia\ are neuter plural. This first mention of Mary Magdalene describes her special cause of gratitude. This fact is stated also in strkjv@Mark:16:9| in the disputed close of the Gospel. The presence of seven demons in one person indicates special malignity (Mark:5:9|). See strkjv@Matthew:17:45| for the parable of the demon who came back with seven other demons worse than the first. It is not known where Magdala was, whence Mary came.
rwp@Luke:8:3 @{Joanna} (\Iana\). Her husband \Chuz\, steward (\epitropou\) of Herod, is held by some to be the nobleman (\basilikos\) of strkjv@John:4:46-53|...from the household of Herod Antipas...(Acts:13:1|), Herod's foster brother. Joanna is mentioned again with Mary Magdalene in strkjv@Luke:24:10|. {Who ministered unto them} (\haitines dikonoun autois\). Imperfect active of \diakone\, common verb, but note augment as if from \dia\ and \akone\, but from \diakonos\ and that from \dia\ and \konis\ (dust). The very fact that Jesus now had twelve men going with him called for help from others and the women of means responded to the demand. {Of their substance} (\ek tn huparchontn autais\). From the things belonging to them. This is the first woman's missionary society for the support of missionaries of the Gospel. They had difficulties in their way, but they overcame these, so great was their gratitude and zeal.
rwp@Luke:8:43 @{Had spent all her living upon physicians} (\eis iatrous prosanalsasa holon ton bion\). First aorist active participle of an old verb \prosanalisk\, only here in the N.T. But Westcott and Hort reject this clause because it is not in B D Syriac Sinaitic. Whether genuine or not, the other clause in strkjv@Mark:5:26| certainly is not in Luke: "had suffered many things of many physicians." Probably both are not genuine in Luke who takes care of the physicians by the simple statement that it was a chronic case: {could not be healed of any} (\ouk ischusen ap' oudenos therapeuthnai\). He omitted also what Mark has: "and was nothing bettered but rather grew worse."
rwp@Luke:8:47 @{Trembling} (\tremousa\). Vivid touch of the feeling of this sensitive woman who now had to tell everybody of her cure, "in the presence of all the people" (\enpion pantos tou laou\). She faced the widest publicity for her secret cure.
rwp@Luke:8:54 @{Called} (\ephnsen\). Certainly not to wake up the dead, but to make it plain to all that she rose in response to his elevated tone of voice. Some think that the remark of Jesus in verse 52| (Mark:5:39; strkjv@Matthew:9:24|) proves that she was not really dead, but only in a trance. It matters little. The touch of Christ's hand and the power of his voice restored her to life. {Maiden} (\h pais\) rather than Mark's (Mark:5:41|) \to korasion\ (vernacular _Koin_).
rwp@Luke:8:55 @{Her spirit returned} (\epestrepsen to pneuma auts\). The life came back to her at once. {Be given her to eat} (\auti dothnai phagein\). The first infinitive \dothnai\ is an indirect command. The second \phagein\ (second aorist active of \esthi\) is epexegetic purpose.
rwp@Luke:10:38 @{Now as they went on their way} (\n de ti poreuesthai autous\). Luke's favourite temporal clause again as in verse 35|. {Received him into her house} (\hupedexato auton eis tn oikian\). Aorist middle indicative of \hupodechomai\, an old verb to welcome as a guest (in the N.T. only here and strkjv@Luke:19:6; strkjv@Acts:17:7; strkjv@James:2:25|). Martha is clearly the mistress of the home and is probably the elder sister. There is no evidence that she was the wife of Simon the leper (John:12:1f.|). It is curious that in an old cemetery at Bethany the names of Martha, Eleazar, and Simon have been found.
rwp@Luke:10:39 @{Which also sat} (\h kai parakathestheisa\). First aorist passive participle of \parakathezomai\, an old verb, but only here in the N.T. It means to sit beside (\para\) and \pros\ means right in front of the feet of Jesus. It is not clear what the point is in \kai\ here. It may mean that Martha loved to sit here also as well as Mary. {Heard} (\kouen\). Imperfect active. She took her seat by the feet of Jesus and went on listening to his talk.
rwp@Luke:10:40 @{Was cumbered} (\periespto\). Imperfect passive of \perispa\, an old verb with vivid metaphor, to draw around. One has sometimes seen women whose faces are literally drawn round with anxiety, with a permanent twist, distracted in mind and in looks. {She came up to him} (\epistsa\). Second aorist active participle of \ephistmi\, an old verb to place upon, but in the N.T. only in the middle voice or the intransitive tenses of the active (perfect and second aorist as here). It is the ingressive aorist here and really means. stepping up to or bursting in or upon Jesus. It is an explosive act as is the speech of Martha. {Dost thou not care} (\ou melei soi\). This was a reproach to Jesus for monopolizing Mary to Martha's hurt. {Did leave me} (\me kateleipen\). Imperfect active, she kept on leaving me. {Bid her} (\eipon auti\). Late form instead of \eipe\, second aorist active imperative, common in the papyri. Martha feels that Jesus is the key to Mary's help. {That she help me} (\hina moi sunantilabtai\). Sub-final use of \hina\ with second aorist middle subjunctive of \sunantilambanomai\, a double compound verb (\sun\, with, \anti\, at her end of the line, and \lambanomai\, middle voice of \lamban\, to take hold), a late compound appearing in the LXX, Diodorus and Josephus. Deissmann (_Light from the Ancient East_, p. 87) finds it in many widely scattered inscriptions "throughout the whole extent of the Hellenistic world of the Mediterranean." It appears only twice in the N.T. (here and strkjv@Romans:8:26|). It is a beautiful word, to take hold oneself (middle voice) at his end of the task (\anti\) together with (\sun\) one.
rwp@Luke:11:8 @{Though} (\ei kai\). \Kai ei\ would be "Even if," a different idea. {Because he is his friend} (\dia to einai philon autou\). \Dia\ and the accusative articular infinitive with accusative of general reference, a causal clause="because of the being a friend of his." {Yet because of his importunity} (\dia ge tn anaidian autou\). From \anaids\, shameless, and that from \a\ privative and \aids\, shame, shamelessness, impudence. An old word, but here alone in the N.T. Examples in the papyri. The use of \ge\ here, one of the intensive particles, is to be noted. It sharpens the contrast to "though" by "yet." As examples of importunate prayer Vincent notes Abraham in behalf of Sodom (Genesis:18:23-33|) and the Syro-Phoenician woman in behalf of her daughter (Matthew:15:22-28|).
rwp@Luke:11:27 @{As he said these things} (\en ti legein auton\). Luke's common idiom, \en\ with articular infinitive. Verses 27,28| are peculiar to Luke. His Gospel in a special sense is the Gospel of Woman. This woman "speaks well, but womanly" (Bengel). Her beatitude (\makaria\) reminds us of Elisabeth's words (Luke:1:42|, \eulogmen\). She is fulfilling Mary's own prophecy in strkjv@1:48| (\makariousin me\, shall call me happy).
rwp@Luke:13:16 @{Daughter of Abraham} (\thugatera Abraam\). Triple argument, human being and not an ox or ass, woman, daughter of Abraham (Jewess), besides being old and ill. {Ought not} (\ouk edei\). Imperfect active. Of necessity. Jesus simply had to heal her even if on the sabbath. {Whom Stan bound} (\hn edsen ho Satanas\). Definite statement that her disease was due to Satan.
rwp@Luke:21:2 @{Poor} (\penichran\). A rare word from \pens\ (\penomai\, to work for one's living). Latin _penuria_ and Greek \peina\...are kin to it. Here only...12:42| has \ptch\, a more common word from \ptss\, to be frightened, to strike and hide from fear, to be in beggary. And Luke uses this adjective also of her in verse 3|.
rwp@Mark:1:29 @{The house of Simon and Andrew} (\tn oikian Simnos kai Andreou\). Peter was married and both he and Andrew lived together in "Peter's house" (Matthew:8:14|) with Peter's wife and mother-in-law. Peter was evidently married before he began to follow Jesus. Later his wife accompanied him on his apostolic journeys (1Corinthians:9:5|). This incident followed immediately after the service in the synagogue on the sabbath. All the Synoptics give it. Mark heard Peter tell it as it occurred in his own house where Jesus made his home while in Capernaum. Each Gospel gives touches of its own to the story. Mark has "lay sick of a fever " (\katekeito puressousa\), lay prostrate burning with fever. Matthew puts it "stretched out (\beblmenn\) with a fever." Luke has it "holden with a great fever" (\n sunechomen pureti megali\), a technical medical phrase. They all mention the instant recovery and ministry without any convalescence. Mark and Matthew speak of the touch of Jesus on her hand and Luke speaks of Jesus standing over her like a doctor. It was a tender scene.
rwp@Mark:3:21 @{His friends} (\hoi par' autou\). The phrase means literally "those from the side of him (Jesus)." It could mean another circle of disciples who had just arrived and who knew of the crowds and strain of the Galilean ministry who now come at this special juncture. But the idiom most likely means the kinspeople or family of Jesus as is common in the LXX. The fact that in verse 31| "his mother and his brothers" are expressly mentioned would indicate that they are "the friends" alluded to in verse 21|. It is a mournful spectacle to think of the mother and brothers saying, {He is beside himself} (\exest\). Second aorist active indicative intransitive. The same charge was brought against Paul (Acts:26:24; strkjv@2Corinthians:5:13|). We say that one is out of his head. Certainly Mary did not believe that Jesus was in the power of Beelzebub as the rabbis said already. The scribes from Jerusalem are trying to discount the power and prestige of Jesus (3:22|). See on ¯Matthew:9:32-34; strkjv@10:25; strkjv@12:24| for Beelzebub and Beelzebul. Mary probably felt that Jesus was overwrought and wished to take him home out of the excitement and strain that he might get rest and proper food. See my _...Jesus: Her Problems and Her... Glory_. The brothers did not as yet believe the pretensions and claims of Jesus (John:7:5|). Herod Antipas will later consider Jesus as John the Baptist _redivivus_, the scribes treat him as under demonic possession, even the family and friends fear a disordered mind as a result of overstrain. It was a crucial moment for Jesus. His family or friends came to take him home, to lay hold of him (\kratsai\), forcibly if need be.
rwp@Mark:3:34 @{Looking round on them} (\periblepsamenos\). Another of Mark's life-like touches. Jesus calls those who do the will of God his mother, brothers, and sisters. This does not prove that the sisters were actually there. The brothers were hostile and that gives point to the tragic words of Jesus. One's heart goes out to Mary who has to go back home without even seeing her wondrous Son. What did it all mean to her at this hour?
rwp@Mark:5:26 @{Had suffered many things of many physicians} (\polla pathousa hupo polln iatrn\). A pathetic picture of a woman with a chronic case who had tried doctor after doctor. {Had spent all that she had} (\dapansasa ta par' auts panta\). Having spent the all from herself, all her resources. For the idiom with \para\ see strkjv@Luke:10:7; strkjv@Phillipians:4:18|. The tragedy of it was that she "was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse" (\mden pheltheisa alla mllon eis to cheiron elthousa\). Her money was gone, her disease was gaining on her, her one chance came now with Jesus. Matthew says nothing about her experience with the doctors and strkjv@Luke:8:43| merely says that she "had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed of any," a plain chronic case. Luke the physician neatly takes care of the physicians. But they were not to blame. She had a disease that they did not know how to cure. Vincent quotes a prescription for an issue of blood as given in the Talmud which gives one a most grateful feeling that he is not under the care of doctors of that nature. The only parallel today is Chinese medicine of the old sort before modern medical schools came.
rwp@Mark:5:28 @{If I touch but his garments} (\Ean hapsmai k'an tn himatin autou\). She was timid and shy from her disease and did not wish to attract attention. Songs:she crept up in the crowd and touched the hem or border of his garment (\kraspedon\) according to strkjv@Matthew:9:20| and strkjv@Luke:8:44|.
rwp@Mark:5:29 @{She felt in her body} (\egn ti smati\). She knew, the verb means. She said to herself, {I am healed} (\imai\). \Itai\ retains the perfect passive in the indirect discourse. It was a vivid moment of joy for her. The plague (\mastigos\) or scourge was a whip used in flagellations as on Paul to find out his guilt (Acts:22:24|, cf. strkjv@Hebrews:11:26|). It is an old word that was used for afflictions regarded as a scourge from God. See already on ¯Mark:3:10|.
rwp@Mark:5:30 @{Perceiving in himself} (\epignous en heauti\). She thought, perhaps, that the touch of Christ's garment would cure her without his knowing it, a foolish fancy, no doubt, but one due to her excessive timidity. Jesus felt in his own consciousness. The Greek idiom more exactly means: "Jesus perceiving in himself the power from him go out" (\tn ex autou dunamin exelthousan\). The aorist participle here is punctiliar simply and timeless and can be illustrated by strkjv@Luke:10:18|: "I was beholding Satan fall" (\etheroun ton Satann pesonta\), where \pesonta\ does not mean _fallen_ (\peptkota\) as in strkjv@Revelation:9:1| nor falling (\piptonta\) but simply the constative aorist {fall} (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 684). Songs:here Jesus means to say: "I felt in myself the power from me go." Scholars argue whether in this instance Jesus healed the woman by conscious will or by unconscious response to her appeal. Some even argue that the actual healing took place after Jesus became aware of the woman's reaching for help by touching his garment. What we do know is that Jesus was conscious of the going out of power from himself. strkjv@Luke:8:46| uses \egnn\ (personal knowledge), but Mark has \epignous\ (personal and additional, clear knowledge). One may remark that no real good can be done without the outgoing of power. That is true of mother, preacher, teacher, doctor. {Who touched my garments?} (\Tis mou hpsato tn himatin;\). More exactly, {Who touched me on my clothes}; The Greek verb uses two genitives, of the person and the thing. It was a dramatic moment for Jesus and for the timid woman. Later it was a common practice for the crowds to touch the hem of Christ's garments and be healed (Mark:6:56|). But here Jesus chose to single out this case for examination. There was no magic in the garments of Jesus. Perhaps there was superstition in the woman's mind, but Jesus honoured her darkened faith as in the case of Peter's shadow and Paul's handkerchief.
rwp@Mark:5:34 @{Go in peace} (\Hupage eis eirnn\). She found sympathy, healing, and pardon for her sins, apparently. Peace here may have more the idea of the Hebrew _shalm_, health of body and soul. Songs:Jesus adds: "Be whole of thy plague" (\isthi hugis apo ts mastigos sou\). Continue whole and well.
rwp@Mark:5:40 @{And they laughed him to scorn} (\kai kategeln\). "They jeered at him" (Weymouth). Note imperfect tense. They kept it up. And note also \kat-\ (perfective use). Exactly the same words in strkjv@Matthew:9:24| and strkjv@Luke:8:53|. The loud laughter was ill suited to the solemn occasion. But Jesus on his part (\autos de\) took charge of the situation. {Taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him} (\paralambanei ton patera tou paidiou kai tn mtera kai tous met' autou\). Having put out (\ekbaln\) the rest by a stern assertion of authority as if he were master of the house, Jesus takes along with him these five and enters the chamber of death "where the child was" (\hopou n to paidion\). He had to use pressure to make the hired mourners leave. The presence of some people will ruin the atmosphere for spiritual work.
rwp@Mark:5:41 @{Talitha cumi}. These precious Aramaic words, spoken by Jesus to the child, Peter heard and remembered so that Mark gives them to us. Mark interprets the simple words into Greek for those who did not know Aramaic (\to korasion, egeire\), that is, {Damsel, arise}. Mark uses the diminutive \korasin\, a little girl, from \kor\, girl. _Braid Scots_ has it: "Lassie, wauken." strkjv@Luke:8:5-9| has it \H pais, egeire\, {Maiden, arise}. All three Gospels mention the fact that Jesus took her by the hand, a touch of life (\kratsas ts cheiros\), giving confidence and help.
rwp@Mark:5:43 @{That no one should know this} (\hina mdeis gnoi touto\). Second aorist active subjunctive, \gnoi\. But would they keep still about it? There was the girl besides. Both Mark and Luke note that Jesus ordered that food be given to the child {given her to eat}, (\dothnai auti phagein\), a natural care of the Great Physician. Two infinitives here (first aorist passive and second aorist active). "She could walk and eat; not only alive, but well" (Bruce).
rwp@Mark:6:6 @{And he marvelled because of their unbelief} (\kai ethaumasen dia tn apistian autn\). Aorist tense, but Westcott and Hort put the imperfect in the margin. Jesus had divine knowledge and accurate insight into the human heart, but he had human limitations in certain things that are not clear to us. He marvelled at the faith of the Roman centurion where one would not expect faith (Matthew:8:10; strkjv@Luke:7:9|). Here he marvels at the lack of faith where he had a right to expect it, not merely among the Jews, but in his own home town, among his kinspeople, even in his own home. One may excuse Mary, the mother of Jesus, from this unbelief, puzzled, as she probably was, by his recent conduct (Mark:3:21,31|). There is no proof that she ever lost faith in her wonderful Son. {He went round about the villages teaching} (\perigen ts kmas kukli didaskn\). A good illustration of the frequent poor verse division. An entirely new paragraph begins with these words, the third tour of Galilee. They should certainly be placed with verse 7|. The Revised Version would be justified if it had done nothing else than give us paragraphs according to the sense and connection. "Jesus resumes the role of a wandering preacher in Galilee" (Bruce). Imperfect tense, \perigen\.
rwp@Mark:6:19 @{And Herodias set herself against him} (\H de Hridias eneichen auti\). Dative of disadvantage. Literally, {had it in for him}. This is modern slang, but is in exact accord with this piece of vernacular _Koin_. No object of \eichen\ is expressed, though \orgn\ or \cholon\...her private relations with Herod Antipas....49:23|. She {desired to kill him} (\thelen auton apokteinai\). Imperfect again. {And she could not} (\kai ouk dunato\). \Kai\ here has an adversative sense, but she could not. That is, not yet. "The power was wanting, not the will" (Swete).
rwp@Mark:6:21 @{When a convenient day was come} (\genomens hmeras eukairou\). Genitive absolute. A day well appointed \eu\, well, \kairos\, time)...the mere catspaw of Herodias till...¯Matthew:14:6| for discussion of Herod's birthday (\genesiois\, locative case or associative instrumental of time). {Made a supper} (\deipnon epoisen\). Banquet. {To his lords} (\tois megistsin autou\). From \megistan\ (that from \megas\, great), common in the LXX and later Greek. Cf. strkjv@Revelation:6:15; strkjv@18:23|. In the papyri. The grandees, magnates, nobles, the chief men of civil life. {The high captains} (\tois chiliarchois\). Military tribunes, commanders of a thousand men. {The chief men of Galilee} (\tois prtois ts Galilaias\)...at the banquet on Herod's birthday....
rwp@Mark:6:22 @{The daughter of Herodias herself} (\ts thugatros auts Hridiados\). Genitive absolute again. Some ancient manuscripts read \autou\ (his, referring to Herod Antipas. Songs:Westcott and Hort) instead of \auts\ (herself)...of the wine, that Herodias made...(\eiselthouss kai orchsamens\) in the midst (Matthew). "Such dancing was an almost unprecedented thing for women of rank, or even respectability. It was mimetic and licentious, and performed by professionals" (Gould). Herodias stooped thus low to degrade her own daughter like a common \hetaira\ in order to carry out her set purpose against John. {She pleased Herod and them that sat at meat} (\resen Hridi kai tois sunanakeimenois\). The maudlin group lounging on the divans were thrilled by the licentious dance of the half-naked princess. {Whatsoever thou wilt} (\ho ean thelis\)...in the net of Herodias. It...
rwp@Mark:6:24 @{What shall I ask?} (\Ti aitsmai;\). The fact that she went and spoke to her mother proves that she had not been told beforehand what to ask. strkjv@Matthew:14:8| does not necessarily mean that, but he simply condenses the account. The girl's question implies by the middle voice that she is thinking of something for herself. She was no doubt unprepared for her mother's ghastly reply.
rwp@Mark:6:25 @{Straightway with haste} (\euthus meta spouds\)...of the dancing princess. Herodias knew...¯Matthew:14:8f|.
rwp@Mark:6:27 @{A soldier of his guard} (\spekoulatora\). Latin word _speculator_...Tetrarch, the slave of Herodias, was...
rwp@Mark:7:28 @{Even the dogs under the table} (\kai ta kunaria hupokat ts trapezs\). A delightful picture. Even the little dogs (\kunaria\) under the table {eat of the children's crumbs} (\esthiousin apo tn psichin tn paidin\). Little dogs, little scraps of bread (\psichion\, diminutive of \psichos\, _morsel_), little children (\paidia\, diminutive of \pais\). Probably the little children purposely dropped a few little crumbs for the little dogs. These household dogs, pets of and loved by the children. _Braid Scots_ has it: "Yet the wee dowgs aneath the table eat o' the moole o' the bairns." "A unique combination of faith and wit" (Gould). Instead of resenting Christ's words about giving the children's bread to the dogs (Gentiles) in verse 27|, she instantly turned it to the advantage of her plea for her little daughter.
rwp@Mark:7:29 @{For this saying} (\dia touton ton logon\). She had faith, great faith as strkjv@Matthew:15:28| shows, but it was her quick and bright repartee that pleased Jesus. He had missed his rest, but it was worth it to answer a call like this.
rwp@Mark:7:30 @{And the demon gone out} (\kai to daimonion exelluthos\). This was her crumb from the children's table. The perfect active participle expresses the state of completion. The demon was gone for good and all.
rwp@Mark:10:4 @{To write a bill of divorcement and to put her away} (\biblion apostasiou grapsai kai apolusai\). The word for "bill" (\biblion\) is a diminutive and means "little book," like the Latin _libellus_, from which comes our word _libel_ (Vincent). Wycliff has it here "a libel of forsaking." This same point the Pharisees raise in strkjv@Matthew:19:7|, showing probably that they held to the liberal view of Hillel, easy divorce for almost any cause. That was the popular view as now. See on ¯Matthew:19:7| for this and for discussion of "for your hardness of heart" (\sklrokardia\). Jesus expounds the purpose of marriage (Genesis:2:24|) and takes the stricter view of divorce, that of the school of Shammai. See on ¯Matthew:19:1-12| for discussion. strkjv@Mark:10:10| notes that the disciples asked Jesus about this problem "in the house" after they had gone away from the crowd.
rwp@Mark:10:12 @{If she herself shall put away her husband and marry another} (\ean aut apolusasa ton andra auts gamsi\). Condition of the third class (undetermined, but with prospect of determination)...Herod Antipas. Songs:also Salome, Herod's sister,...
rwp@Mark:12:43 @{Called unto him} (\proskalesamenos\). Indirect middle voice. The disciples themselves had slipped away from him while the terrific denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees had gone on, puzzled at this turn of affairs. {More than all} (\pleion pantn\). Ablative of comparison (\pantn\). It may mean, more than all the rich put together. {All that she had} (\panta hosa eichen\). Imperfect tense. {Cast in} (\ebalen\). Aorist tense, in sharp contrast. {All her living} (\holon ton bion auts\). Her {livelihood} (\bios\), not her life (\z\). It is a tragedy to see a stingy saint pose as giving the widow's mite when he could give thousands instead of pennies.
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@Matthew:1:19 @{A Righteous Man} (\dikaios\). Or just, not benignant or merciful. The same adjective is used of Zacharias and Elizabeth (Luke:1:6|) and Simeon (Luke:2:25|). "An upright man," the _Braid Scots_ has it. He had the Jewish conscientiousness for the observance of the law which would have been death by stoning (Deuteronomy:22:23|). Though Joseph was upright, he would not do that. "As a good Jew he would have shown his zeal if he had branded her with public disgrace" (McNeile). {And yet not willing} (\kai m theln\). Songs:we must understand \kai\ here, "and yet." Matthew makes a distinction here between "willing" (\theln\) and "wishing" (\eboulth\), that between purpose (\thel\) and desire (\boulomai\) a distinction not always drawn, though present here. It was not his purpose to "make her a public example" (\deigmatisai\), from the root (\deiknumi\ to show), a rare word (Colossians:2:15|). The Latin Vulgate has it _traducere_, the Old Latin _divulgare_, Wycliff _pupplische_ (publish), Tyndale _defame_, Moffatt _disgrace_, Braid Scots "Be i the mooth o' the public." The substantive (\deigmatismos\) occurs on the Rosetta Stone in the sense of "verification." There are a few instances of the verb in the papyri though the meaning is not clear (Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_). The compound form appears (\paradeigmatiz\) in strkjv@Hebrews:6:6| and there are earlier instances of this compound than of the uncompounded, curiously enough. But new examples of the simple verb, like the substantive, may yet be found. The papyri examples mean to furnish a sample (P Tebt. 5.75), to make trial of (P Ryl. I. 28.32). The substantive means exposure in (P Ryl. I. 28.70). At any rate it is clear that Joseph "was minded to put her away privily." He could give her a bill of divorcement (\apolusai\), the \gt\ laid down in the Mishna, without a public trial. He had to give her the writ (\gt\) and pay the fine (Deuteronomy:24:1|). Songs:he proposed to do this privately (\lathrai\) to avoid all the scandal possible. One is obliged to respect and sympathize with the motives of Joseph for he evidently loved Mary and was appalled to find her untrue to him as he supposed. It is impossible to think of Joseph as the actual father of Jesus according to the narrative of Matthew without saying that Matthew has tried by legend to cover up the illegitimate birth of Jesus. The Talmud openly charges this sin against Mary. Joseph had "a short but tragic struggle between his legal conscience and his love" (McNeile).
rwp@Matthew:1:20 @{An angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream} (\aggelos kuriou kat' onar ephan auti\). This expression (\aggelos kuriou\) is without the article in the New Testament except when, as in strkjv@1:24|, there is reference to the angel previously mentioned. Sometimes in the Old Testament Jehovah Himself is represented by this phrase. Surely Joseph needed God's help if ever man did. If Jesus was really God's Son, Joseph was entitled to know this supreme fact that he might be just to both Mary and her Child. It was in a dream, but the message was distinct and decisive for Joseph. He is called "Son of David" as had been shown by Matthew in strkjv@Matthew:1:16|. Mary is called his "wife" (\tn gunaika sou\). He is told "not to become afraid" (ingressive first aorist passive subjunctive in prohibition, (\m phobthis\), "to take to his side" (\paralabein\, ingressive aorist active infinitive) her whom he had planned (\enthumthentos\, genitive absolute again, from \en\ and \thumos\) to send away with a writ of divorce. He had pondered and had planned as best he knew, but now God had called a halt and he had to decide whether he was willing to shelter Mary by marrying her and, if necessary, take upon himself whatever stigma might attach to her. Joseph was told that the child was begotten of the Holy Spirit and thus that Mary was innocent of any sin. But who would believe it now if he told it of her? Mary knew the truth and had not told him because she could not expect him to believe it.
rwp@Matthew:1:24 @{Took unto him his wife} (\parelaben tn gunaika autou\). The angel had told him not to be afraid to "take to his side" Mary his wife (1:20|). Songs:when he awoke from his sleep he promptly obeyed the angel and "took his wife home" (Moffatt). One can only imagine the relief and joy of Mary when Joseph nobly rose to his high duty toward her. I have tried to sketch Mary's problems in _...the Mother of Jesus: Her Problems..._
rwp@Matthew:1:25 @{And knew her not} (\kai ouk eginsken autn\). Note the imperfect tense, continuous or linear action. Joseph lived in continence with Mary till the birth of Jesus. Matthew does not say that Mary bore no other children than Jesus. "Her firstborn" is not genuine here, but is a part of the text in strkjv@Luke:2:7|. The perpetual virginity of Mary is not taught here. Jesus had brothers and sisters and the natural meaning is that they were younger children of Joseph and Mary and not children of Joseph by a previous marriage. Songs:Joseph "called his name Jesus" as the angel had directed and the child was born in wedlock. Joseph showed that he was an upright man in a most difficult situation.
rwp@Matthew:2:3 @{He was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him} (\etarachth kai psa Ierosoluma met' autou\)...meaning of these words. Herod in...(Aristobulus and Alexander), Mariamne herself, and Antipater, another son and once his heir, besides the brother and mother of Mariamne (Aristobulus, Alexandra) and her grandfather John Hyrcanus. He had made will after will and was now in a fatal illness and fury over the question of the Magi. He showed his excitement and the whole city was upset because the people knew only too well what he could do when in a rage over the disturbance of his plans. "The foreigner and usurper feared a rival, and the tyrant feared the rival would be welcome" (Bruce). Herod was a hated Idumaean.
rwp@Matthew:5:31 @{A writing of divorcement} (\apostasion\), "a divorce certificate" (Moffatt), "a written notice of divorce" (Weymouth). The Greek is an abbreviation of \biblion apostasiou\ (Ma strkjv@19:7; strkjv@Mark:10:4|). Vulgate has here _libellum repudii_. The papyri use \suggraph apostasiou\ in commercial transactions as "a bond of release" (see Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_, etc.) The written notice (\biblion\) was a protection to the wife against an angry whim of the husband who might send her away with no paper to show for it.
rwp@Matthew:6:25 @Vincent quotes Bacon (Henry VII): "Harris, an alderman of London, was put in trouble and died with thought and anguish." But words change with time and now this passage is actually quoted (Lightfoot) "as an objection to the moral teaching of the Sermon on the Mount, on the ground that it encouraged, nay, commanded, a reckless neglect of the future." We have narrowed the word to mere planning without any notion of anxiety which is in the Greek word. The verb \merimna\ is from \meris, meriz\, because care or anxiety distracts and divides. It occurs in Christ's rebuke to Martha for her excessive solicitude about something to eat (Luke:10:41|). The notion of proper care and forethought appears in strkjv@1Corinthians:7:32; strkjv@12:25; strkjv@Phillipians:2:20|. It is here the present imperative with the negative, a command not to have the habit of petulant worry about food and clothing, a source of anxiety to many housewives, a word for women especially as the command not to worship mammon may be called a word for men. The command can mean that they must stop such worry if already indulging in it. In verse 31|..."Do not grow anxious." Here the...(\phagmen, pimen, peribalmetha\). This deliberative subjunctive of the direct question is retained in the indirect question employed in verse 25|. A different verb for clothing occurs, both in the indirect middle (\peribalmetha\, fling round ourselves in 31|, \endussthe\, put on yourselves in 25|).
rwp@Matthew:8:14 @{Lying sick of a fever} (\biblmenn kai puressousan\). Two participles, bedridden (perfect passive of \ball\) and burning with fever (present active). How long the fever had had her we have no means of knowing, possibly a sudden and severe attack (Mark:1:30|), as they tell Jesus about her on reaching the house of Peter. We are not told what kind of fever it was. Fever itself was considered a disease. "Fever" is from German feuer (fire) like the Greek \pur\.
rwp@Matthew:8:15 @{Touched her hand} (\hpsato ts cheiros auts\). In loving sympathy as the Great Physician and like any good doctor today.
rwp@Matthew:9:20 @{The border of his garment} (\tou kraspedou tou himatiou\). The hem or fringe of a garment, a tassel or tuft hanging from the edge of the outer garment according to strkjv@Numbers:15:38|. It was made of twisted wool. Jesus wore the dress of other people with these fringes at the four corners of the outer garment. The Jews actually counted the words _Jehovah One_ from the numbers of the twisted white threads, a refinement that Jesus had no concern for. This poor woman had an element of superstition in her faith as many people have, but Jesus honours her faith and cures her.
rwp@Matthew:10:39 @{Shall lose it} (\apolesei autn\). This paradox appears in four forms according to Allen (I) strkjv@Matthew:10:39| strkjv@Mark:8:35; strkjv@Matthew:16:25; strkjv@Luke:9:24| strkjv@Luke:17:33| strkjv@John:12:25|. _The Wisdom of Sirach_ (Hebrew text) in strkjv@51:26 has: "He that giveth his life findeth her (wisdom)." It is one of the profound sayings of Christ that he repeated many times. Plato (_Gorgias_ 512) has language somewhat similar though not so sharply put. The article and aorist participles here (\ho heurn, ho apolesas\) are timeless in themselves just like \ho dechomenos\ in verses 40| and 41|.
rwp@Matthew:11:19 @{Wisdom is justified by her works} (\edikaith apo tn ergn auts\). A timeless aorist passive (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 836f.). The word "justified" means "set right" Luke (Luke:7:35|) has "by all her children" as some MSS. have here to make Matthew like Luke. These words are difficult, but understandable. God's wisdom has planned the different conduct of both John and Jesus. He does not wish all to be just alike in everything. "This generation" (verse 16|) is childish, not childlike, and full of whimsical inconsistencies in their faultfinding. They exaggerate in each case. John did not have a demon and Jesus was not a glutton or a winebibber. "And, worse than either, for \philos\ is used in a sinister sense and implies that Jesus was the comrade of the worst characters, and like them in conduct. A malicious nickname at first, it is now a name of honour: the sinner's lover" (Bruce). Cf. strkjv@Luke:15:2|. The plan of God is justified by results.
rwp@Matthew:14:3 @{For the sake of Herodias} (\dia Hridiada\). The death of John had taken place some time before. The Greek aorists here (\edsen, apetheto\)...of our modern divorces. Her first...-in-law was forbidden to Jews (Leviticus:18:16|). Because of her Herod Antipas had put John in the prison at Machaerus. The bare fact has been mentioned in strkjv@Matthew:4:12| without the name of the place. See strkjv@11:2| also for the discouragement of John \en ti desmtrii\ (place of bondage), here \en ti phulaki\ (the guard-house). Josephus (_Ant_. xviii. 5.2) tells us that Machaerus is the name of the prison. On a high hill an impregnable fortress had been built. Tristram (_Land of Moab_) says that there are now remains of "two dungeons, one of them deep and its sides scarcely broken in" with "small holes still visible in the masonry where staples of wood and iron had once been fixed. One of these must surely have been the prison-..."On this high ridge Herod the...(Broadus). "The windows commanded a wide and grand prospect, including the Dead Sea, the course of the Jordan, and Jerusalem" (Edersheim, _Life and Times of Jesus_).
rwp@Matthew:14:6 @{When Herod's birthday came} (\genesiois genomenois tou Hridou\). Locative of time (cf. strkjv@Mark:6:21|) without the genitive absolute. The earlier Greeks used the word \genesia\ for funeral commemorations (birthdays of the dead), \genethlia\ being the word for birthday celebrations of living persons. But that distinction has disappeared in the papyri. The word \genesia\ in the papyri (_Fayum Towns_, 114-20, 115-8, 119-30) is always a birthday feast as here in Matthew and Mark. Philo used both words of birthday feasts. Persius, a Roman satirist (_Sat_. V. 180-183)...describes a banquet on Herod's Day....{Danced in the midst} (\rchsato en ti mesi\)...lewd dancing prearranged by Herodias to...\almeh\, or common dancer.
rwp@Matthew:14:11 @{She brought it to her mother} (\negken ti mtri auts\)...for her marriage with Herod Antipas....-devil when she wills to be. Kipling's "female of the species" again. Legends actually picture Salome as in love with John, sensual lust, of which there is no proof.
rwp@Matthew:15:22 @{A Canaanitish woman} (\gun Chananaia\). The Phoenicians were descended from the Canaanites, the original inhabitants of Palestine. They were of Semitic race, therefore, though pagan. {Have pity on me} (\eleson me\). She made her daughter's case her own, "badly demonized."
rwp@Matthew:15:23 @{For she crieth after us} (\hoti krazei opisthen hmn\). The disciples greatly disliked this form of public attention, a strange woman crying after them. They disliked a sensation. Did they wish the woman sent away with her daughter healed or unhealed?
rwp@Matthew:15:24 @{I was not sent} (\ouk apestaln\). Second aorist passive indicative of \apostell\. Jesus takes a new turn with this woman in Phoenicia. He makes a test case of her request. In a way she represented the problem of the Gentile world. He calls the Jews "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" in spite of the conduct of the Pharisees.
rwp@Matthew:15:27 @{Even the dogs} (\kai ta kunaria\). She took no offence at the implication of being a Gentile dog. The rather she with quick wit took Christ's very word for little dogs (\kunaria\) and deftly turned it to her own advantage, for the little dogs eat of the crumbs (\psichin\, little morsels, diminutive again) that fall from the table of their masters (\kurin\), the children.
rwp@Matthew:15:28 @{As thou wilt} (\hs theleis\). Her great faith and her keen rejoinder won her case.
rwp@Matthew:16:18 @{The gates of Hades} (\pulai hidou\) {shall not prevail against it} (\ou katischusousin auts\). Each word here creates difficulty. Hades is technically the unseen world, the Hebrew Sheol, the land of the departed, that is death. Paul uses \thanate\ in strkjv@1Corinthians:15:55| in quoting strkjv@Hosea:13:14| for \hid\. It is not common in the papyri, but it is common on tombstones in Asia Minor, "doubtless a survival of its use in the old Greek religion" (Moulton and Milligan, _Vocabulary_). The ancient pagans divided Hades (\a\ privative and \idein\, to see, abode of the unseen) into Elysium and Tartarus as the Jews put both Abraham's bosom and Gehenna in Sheol or Hades (cf. strkjv@Luke:16:25|). Christ was in Hades (Acts:2:27,31|), not in Gehenna. We have here the figure of two buildings, the Church of Christ on the Rock, the House of Death (Hades). "In the Old Testament the 'gates of Hades' (Sheol) never bears any other meaning (Isaiah:38:10|; Wisd. strkjv@16:3; 3Macc. strkjv@5:51) than death," McNeile claims. See also strkjv@Psalms:9:13; strkjv@107:18; strkjv@Job:38:17| (\pulai thanatou pulroi hidou\). It is not the picture of Hades _attacking_ Christ's church, but of death's possible victory over the church. "The \ekklsia\ is built upon the Messiahship of her master, and death, the gates of Hades, will not prevail against her by keeping Him imprisoned. It was a mysterious truth, which He will soon tell them in plain words (verse 21|); it is echoed in strkjv@Acts:2:24,31|" (McNeile). Christ's church will prevail and survive because He will burst the gates of Hades and come forth conqueror. He will ever live and be the guarantor of the perpetuity of His people or church. The verb \katischu\ (literally have strength against, \ischu\ from \ischus\ and \kat-\) occurs also in strkjv@Luke:21:36; strkjv@23:23|. It appears in the ancient Greek, the LXX, and in the papyri with the accusative and is used in the modern Greek with the sense of gaining the mastery over. The wealth of imagery in strkjv@Matthew:16:18| makes it difficult to decide each detail, but the main point is clear. The \ekklsia\ which consists of those confessing Christ as Peter has just done will not cease. The gates of Hades or bars of Sheol will not close down on it. Christ will rise and will keep his church alive. _Sublime Porte_ used to be the title of Turkish power in Constantinople.
rwp@Matthew:19:9 @{Except for fornication} (\parektos logou porneias\). This is the marginal reading in Westcott and Hort which also adds "maketh her an adulteress" (\poiei autn moicheuthnai\) and also these words: "and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery" (\kai ho apolelumenn gamsas moichatai\). There seems to be a certain amount of assimilation in various manuscripts between this verse and the words in strkjv@5:32|. But, whatever reading is accepted here, even the short one in Westcott and Hort (\m epi porneii\, not for fornication), it is plain that Matthew represents Jesus in both places as allowing divorce for fornication as a general term (\porneia\) which is technically adultery (\moicheia\ from \moicha or moicheu\). Here, as in strkjv@5:31f.|, a group of scholars deny the genuineness of the exception given by Matthew alone. McNeile holds that "the addition of the saving clause is, in fact, opposed to the spirit of the whole context, and must have been made at a time when the practice of divorce for adultery had already grown up." That in my opinion is gratuitous criticism which is unwilling to accept Matthew's report because it disagrees with one's views on the subject of divorce. He adds: "It cannot be supposed that Matthew wished to represent Jesus as siding with the school of Shammai." Why not, if Shammai on this point agreed with Jesus? Those who deny Matthew's report are those who are opposed to remarriage at all. Jesus by implication, as in strkjv@5:31|, does allow remarriage of the innocent party, but not of the guilty one. Certainly Jesus has lifted the whole subject of marriage and divorce to a new level, far beyond the petty contentions of the schools of Hillel and Shammai.
rwp@Matthew:20:20 @{Then} (\tote\). Surely an inopportune time for such a request just after the pointed prediction of Christ's crucifixion. Perhaps their minds had been preoccupied with the words of Jesus (19:28|) about their sitting on twelve thrones taking them in a literal sense. The mother of James and John, probably Salome, possibly a sister of the Master's mother (John:19:25|), apparently prompted her two sons because of the family relationship and now speaks for them. {Asking a certain thing} (\aitousa ti\). "Asking something," "plotting perhaps when their Master was predicting" (Bruce). The "something" put forward as a small matter was simply the choice of the two chief thrones promised by Jesus (19:28|).
rwp@Matthew:23:37 @{How often would I have gathered} (\posakis thelsa episunagein\). More exactly, how often did I long to gather to myself (double compound infinitive). The same verb (\episunagei\) is used of the hen with the compound preposition \hupokat\. Everyone has seen the hen quickly get together the chicks under her wings in the time of danger. These words naturally suggest previous visits to Jerusalem made plain by John's Gospel.
rwp@Matthew:26:12 @{To prepare me for burial} (\pros to entaphiasai me\). Mary alone had understood what Jesus had repeatedly said about his approaching death. The disciples were so wrapped up in their own notions of a political kingdom that they failed utterly to sympathize with Jesus as he faced the cross. But Mary with the woman's fine intuitions did begin to understand and this was her way of expressing her high emotions and loyalty. The word here is the same used in strkjv@John:19:40| about what Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus did for the body of Jesus before burial with the addition of \pros to\ showing the purpose of Mary (the infinitive of purpose). Mary was vindicated by Jesus and her noble deed has become a "memorial of her" (\eis mnmosumon auts\) as well as of Jesus.
rwp@Matthew:26:15 @{What are ye willing to give me?} (\ti thelete moi dounai?\) This "brings out the _chaffering_ aspect of the transaction" (Vincent). "Mary and Judas extreme opposites: she freely spending in love, he willing to sell his Master for money" (Bruce). And her act of love provoked Judas to his despicable deed, this rebuke of Jesus added to all the rest. {And I will deliver him unto you} (\kag hmin parads auton\). The use of \kai\ with a co-ordinate clause is a colloquialism (common in the _Koin_ as in the Hebrew use of _wav_. "A colloquialism or a Hebraism, the traitor mean in style as in spirit" (Bruce). The use of \eg\ seems to mean "I though one of his disciples will hand him over to you if you give me enough." {They weighed unto him} (\hoi de estsan auto\). They placed the money in the balances or scales. "Coined money was in use, but the shekels may have been weighed out in antique fashion by men careful to do an iniquitous thing in the most orthodox way" (Bruce). It is not known whether the Sanhedrin had offered a reward for the arrest of Jesus or not. {Thirty pieces of silver} (\triakonta arguria\). A reference to strkjv@Zechariah:11:12|. If a man's ox gored a servant, he had to pay this amount (Exodus:21:32|). Some manuscripts have \statras\ (staters). These thirty silver shekels were equal to 120 \denarii\, less than five English pounds, less than twenty-five dollars, the current price of a slave. There was no doubt contempt for Jesus in the minds of both the Sanhedrin and Judas in this bargain.
rwp@Matthew:27:19 @{His wife} (\h gun autou\). Poor Pilate was getting more entangled every moment as he hesitated to set Jesus free whom he knew to be free of any crime against Caesar. Just at the moment when he was trying to enlist the people in behalf of Jesus against the schemes of the Jewish leaders, his wife sent a message about her dream concerning Jesus. She calls Jesus "that righteous man" (\ti dikaii ekeini\) and her psychical sufferings increased Pilate's superstitious fears. Tradition names her Procla and even calls her a Christian which is not probable. But it was enough to unnerve the weak Pilate as he sat on the judgment-seat (\epi tou bmatos\) up over the pavement.
rwp@Matthew:27:25 @{His blood be upon us and upon our children} (\to haima autou kai epi ta tekna hmn\). These solemn words do show a consciousness that the Jewish people recognized their guilt and were even proud of it. But Pilate could not wash away his own guilt that easily. The water did not wash away the blood of Jesus from his hands any more than Lady Macbeth could wash away the blood-stains from her lily-white hands. One legend tells that in storms on Mt. Pilatus in Switzerland his ghost comes out and still washes his hands in the storm-clouds. There was guilt enough for Judas, for Caiaphas and for all the Sanhedrin both Sadducees and Pharisees, for the Jewish people as a whole (\pas ho laos\), and for Pilate. At bottom the sins of all of us nailed Jesus to the Cross. This language is no excuse for race hatred today, but it helps explain the sensitiveness between Jew and Christians on this subject. And Jews today approach the subject of the Cross with a certain amount of prejudice.
rwp@Revelation:2:1 @{In Ephesus} (\en Ephesi\). Near the sea on the river Cayster, the foremost city of Asia Minor, the temple-keeper of Artemis and her wonderful temple (Acts:19:35|), the home of the magic arts (Ephesian letters, strkjv@Acts:19:19|) and of the mystery-cults, place of Paul's three years' stay (Acts:19:1-10; strkjv@20:17-38|), where Aquila and Priscilla and Apollos laboured (Acts:18:24-28|), where Timothy wrought (I and II Tim.), where the Apostle John preached in his old age. Surely it was a place of great privilege, of great preaching. It was about sixty miles from Patmos and the messenger would reach Ephesus first. It is a free city, a seat of proconsular government (Acts:19:38|), the end of the great road from the Euphrates. The port was a place of shifting sands, due to the silting up of the mouth of the Cayster. Ramsay (_Letters to the Seven Churches_, p. 210) calls it "the City of Change." {These things} (\tade\). This demonstrative seven times here, once with the message to each church (2:1,8,12,18; strkjv@2:1,7,14|), only once elsewhere in N.T. (Acts:21:11|). {He that holdeth} (\ho kratn\). Present active articular participle of \krate\, a stronger word than \echn\ in strkjv@1:16|, to which it refers. {He that walketh} (\ho peripatn\). Present active articular participle of \peripate\, an allusion to strkjv@1:13|. These two epithets are drawn from the picture of Christ in strkjv@1:13-18|, and appropriately to conditions in Ephesus describe Christ's power over the churches as he moves among them.
rwp@Revelation:2:3 @{Thou hast} (\echeis\). Continued possession of patience. {Didst bear} (\ebastasas\). First aorist indicative of \bastaz\, repeated reference to the crisis in verse 2|. {And hast not grown weary} (\kai ou kekopiakes\). Perfect active indicative of \kopia\, old verb, to grow weary (Matthew:6:28|), play on the word \kopos\, late form in \-es\, for the regular \-as\ (\lelukas\). like \aphkes\ (verse 4|) and \peptkes\ (verse 5|). "Tired in loyalty, not of it. The Ephesian church can bear anything except the presence of impostors in her membership" (Moffatt).
rwp@Revelation:2:20 @{Thou sufferest} (\apheis\). Late vernacular present active indicative second person singular as if from a form \aphe\ instead of the usual \aphimi\ forms. {The woman Jezebel} (\tn gunaika Iezabel\). Symbolical name for some prominent woman in the church in Thyatira, like the infamous wife of Ahab who was guilty of whoredom and witchcraft (1Kings:16:31; strkjv@2Kings:9:22|) and who sought to drive out the worship of God from Israel. Some MSS. here (A Q 40 min.s) have \sou\ (thy wife, thy woman Ramsay makes it), but surely Aleph C P rightly reject \sou\. Otherwise she is the pastor's wife! {Which calleth herself a prophetess} (\h legousa heautn prophtin\). Nominative articular participle of \leg\ in apposition with the accusative \gunaika\ like \ho martus\ in apposition with \Antipas\ in strkjv@2:13|. \Prophtis\ is an old word, feminine form for \prophts\, in N.T. only here and strkjv@Luke:2:36| (Anna), two extremes surely. See strkjv@Acts:21:9| for the daughters of Philip who prophesied. {And she teacheth and seduceth} (\kai didaskei kai plani\). A resolution of the participles (\didaskousa kai plansa\) into finite verbs (present active indicatives) as in strkjv@1:5f|. This woman was not a real prophetess, but a false one with loud claims and loose living. One is puzzled to know how such a woman had so much shrewdness and sex-appeal as to lead astray the servants of God in that church. The church tolerated the Nicolaitans and this leader whose primary object was sexual immorality (Charles) and became too much involved with her to handle the heresy.
rwp@Revelation:2:21 @{I gave her time} (\edka auti chronon\). First aorist active indicative of \didmi\, allusion to a definite visit or message of warning to this woman. {That she should repent} (\hina metanosi\). Sub-final use of \hina\ with first aorist active subjunctive of \metanoe\. {And she willeth not} (\kai ou thelei\). "And she is not willing." Blunt and final like strkjv@Matthew:23:37|. {To repent of} (\metanosai ek\). First aorist (ingressive) active infinitive with \ek\, "to make a change out of," the usual construction with \metanoe\ in this book (2:22; strkjv@9:20ff.; strkjv@16:11|), with \apo\ in strkjv@Acts:8:22|. \Porneia\ (fornication) here, but \moicheu\ (to commit adultery) in verse 22|.
rwp@Revelation:2:22 @{I do cast} (\ball\). Futuristic present active indicative rather than the future \bal\, since judgment is imminent. {Into a bed} (\eis klinn\). "A bed of sickness in contrast with the bed of adultery" (Beckwith). {Them that commit adultery with her} (\tous moicheuontas met' auts\). Present active articular participle accusative plural of \moicheu\. The actual paramours of the woman Jezebel, guilty of both \porneia\ (fornication, verse 21|) and \moicheia\ (adultery), works of Jezebel of old and of this Jezebel. There may be also an allusion to the spiritual adultery (2Corinthians:11:2|) towards God and Christ as of old (Jeremiah:3:8; strkjv@5:7; strkjv@Ezekiel:16:22|). {Except they repent} (\ean m metanosousin\). Condition of first class with \ean m\ and the future active indicative of \metanoe\, put in this vivid form rather than the aorist subjunctive (\-sin\) third-class condition. {Of her works} (\ek tn ergn auts\). \Auts\ (her) correct rather than \autn\ (their). Jezebel was chiefly responsible.
rwp@Revelation:2:23 @{I will kill with death} (\apokten en thanati\). Future (volitive) active of \apoktein\ with the tautological (cognate) \en thanati\ (in the sense of pestilence) as in strkjv@Ezekiel:33:27|. {Her children} (\ta tekna auts\). Either her actual children, like the fate of Ahab's sons (2Kings:10:7|) or "her spiritual progeny" (Swete) who have completely accepted her Nicolaitan practices. {Shall know} (\gnsontai\). Future (ingressive punctiliar) middle of \ginsk\, "shall come to know." "The doom of the offenders was to be known as widely as the scandal had been" (Charles). {Searcheth} (\eraunn\). Present active articular participle of \erauna\, to follow up, to track out, late form for \ereuna\, from strkjv@Jeremiah:17:10|. {Reins} (\nephrous\). Old word for kidneys, here only in N.T., quoted also with \kardias\ from strkjv@Jeremiah:17:10|. See strkjv@22:17| for the reward of punishment.
rwp@Revelation:12:1 @{A great sign} (\smeion mega\). The first of the visions to be so described (13:3; strkjv@15:1|), and it is introduced by \phth\ as in strkjv@11:19; strkjv@12:3|, not by \meta tauto\ or by \eidon\ or by \eidon kai idou\ as heretofore. This "sign" is really a \teras\ (wonder), as it is so by association in strkjv@Matthew:24:24; strkjv@John:4:48; strkjv@Acts:2:22; strkjv@5:12|. The element of wonder is not in the word \smeion\ as in \teras\, but often in the thing itself as in strkjv@Luke:21:11; strkjv@John:9:16; strkjv@Revelation:13:13ff.; strkjv@15:1; strkjv@16:14; strkjv@19:20|. {A woman} (\gun\). Nominative case in apposition with \smeion\. "The first 'sign in heaven' is a Woman--the earliest appearance of a female figure in the Apocalyptic vision" (Swete). {Arrayed with the sun} (\peribeblmen ton hlion\). Perfect passive participle of \periball\, with the accusative retained as so often (9 times) in the Apocalypse. Both Charles and Moffatt see mythological ideas and sources behind the bold imagery here that leave us all at sea. Swete understands the Woman to be "the church of the Old Testament" as "the Mother of whom Christ came after the flesh. But here, as everywhere in the Book, no sharp dividing line is drawn between the Church of the Old Testament and the Christian Society." Certainly she is not the Virgin Mary, as verse 17| makes clear. Beckwith takes her to be "the heavenly representative of the people of God, the _ideal_ Zion, which, so far as it is embodied in concrete realities, is represented alike by the people of the Old and the New Covenants." John may have in mind strkjv@Isaiah:7:14| (Matthew:1:23; strkjv@Luke:1:31|) as well as strkjv@Micah:4:10; strkjv@Isaiah:26:17f.; strkjv@66:7| without a definite picture of Mary. The metaphor of childbirth is common enough (John:16:21; strkjv@Galatians:4:19|). The figure is a bold one with the moon "under her feet" (\hupokat tn podn auts\) and "a crown of twelve stars" (\stephanos astern ddeka\), a possible allusion to the twelve tribes (James:1:1; strkjv@Revelation:21:12|) or to the twelve apostles (Revelation:21:14|).
rwp@Revelation:12:5 @{She was delivered of a son} (\eteken huion\). Literally, "she bore a son" (second aorist active indicative of \tikt\). {A man child} (\arsen\). Songs:A C with the neuter \teknon\ or \paidion\ in mind, as often in O.T. (\eteken arsen\, strkjv@Exodus:1:16ff.; strkjv@2:2; strkjv@Leviticus:12:2,7; strkjv@Isaiah:66:7; strkjv@Jeremiah:20:15|, etc.), but P and some cursives read \arsena\ (masculine accusative), as in verse 13| (\ton arsena\), while Aleph Q have \arrena\. The word is old (either \arsn\ or \arrn\), as in strkjv@Matthew:19:4|, only in this chapter in the Apocalypse. It is really redundant after \huion\ (son), as in Tob. strkjv@6:12 (Aleph). {Who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron} (\hos mellei poimainein panta ta ethn en rabdi sidri\). See strkjv@2:27| for these words (from strkjv@Psalms:2:9|) applied there to victorious Christians also, and in strkjv@19:15| to the triumphant Christian. His rule will go beyond the Jews (Matthew:2:6|). There is here, of course, direct reference to the birth of Jesus from Mary, who thus represented in her person this "ideal woman" (God's people). {Was caught unto God} (\hrpasth\). First aorist passive indicative of \harpaz\, old verb for seizing or snatching away, as in strkjv@John:10:12|, here alone in the Apocalypse. Reference to the ascension of Christ, with omission of the ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ because he is here simply showing that "the Dragon's vigilance was futile" (Swete). "The Messiah, so far from being destroyed, is caught up to a share in God's throne" (Beckwith).
rwp@Revelation:12:14 @{There were given} (\edothsan\). As in strkjv@8:2; strkjv@9:1,3|. {The two wings of the great eagle} (\hai duo pteruges tou aetou tou megalou\). Not the eagle of strkjv@8:13|, but the generic use of the article. Every eagle had two wings. Probably here, as in strkjv@Matthew:24:28|, the griffon or vulture rather than the true eagle is pictured. For the eagle in the O.T. see strkjv@Exodus:19:4; strkjv@Isaiah:40:31; strkjv@Job:9:26; strkjv@Proverbs:24:54|. {That she might fly} (\hina pettai\). Purpose clause with \hina\ and present middle subjunctive of \petomai\, old verb, to fly, in N.T. only in the Apocalypse (4:7; strkjv@8:13; strkjv@12:14; strkjv@14:6; strkjv@19:17|). Resumption of the details in verse 6| (which see) about the "wilderness," her "place," the redundant \ekei\ with \hopou\, the "time and times, and half a time" (\kairon kai kairous kai hmisu\), 1260 days, but with \trephetai\ (present passive indicative) instead of \trephsin\ (general plural of the present active subjunctive), and with the addition of "from the face of the serpent" (\apo prospou tou ophes\), because the serpent rules the earth for that period. "To the end of the present order the Church dwells in the wilderness" (Swete), and yet we must carry on for Christ.
rwp@Revelation:12:15 @{Water as a flood} (\hudr hs potamon\). "Water as a river," accusative case after \ebalen\ (cast). The serpent could not follow the woman or stop her flight and so sought to drown her. {That he might cause her to be carried away by the stream} (\hina autn potamophorton poisi\). Purpose clause with \hina\ and the first aorist active subjunctive of \poie\. For this use of \poie\ see strkjv@17:16|. This compound verbal \potamophorton\ in the predicate accusative (\potamos\, river, \phorton\ from \phore\, to bear) was not coined by John, but occurs in a papyrus of B.C. 110 and in several others after N.T. times. It means simply "carried away by the river."
rwp@Revelation:14:8 @{Another, a second angel} (\allos deuteros aggelos\). This second angel "followed" (\kolouthsen\, first aorist active indicative of \akolouthe\) and interpreted in part the first one. {Fallen, fallen} (\epesen, epesen\). Prophetic aorist active indicative of \pipt\, repeated as a solemn dirge announcing the certainty of the fall. The English participle "fallen, fallen" is more musical and rhythmical than the literal rendering "fell, fell." The language is an echo of strkjv@Isaiah:21:9|, though B in the LXX has \peptken, peptken\ (perfect). {Babylon the great} (\Babuln h magal\). The adjective \megal\ occurs with \Babuln\ each time in the Apocalypse (14:8; strkjv@16:19; strkjv@17:5; strkjv@18:2,10,21|) as a reminder of Nebuchadrezzar. There is no doubt that Rome is meant by Babylon, as is probably seen already in strkjv@1Peter:5:13|. As a prisoner in Patmos John can speak his mind by this symbolism. {Hath made to drink} (\pepotiken\). Perfect active indicative of \potiz\, old causative verb (from \potos\ drinking, strkjv@1Peter:4:3|), as in strkjv@Matthew:25:35|. The remarkable phrase that follows seems based on strkjv@Jeremiah:51:8| (Jeremiah:25:15|). It is a combination also of strkjv@Revelation:14:10| (the wine of God's wrath, also in strkjv@16:19; strkjv@19:15|) and strkjv@17:2|. There is no doubt of the dissoluteness of the old Babylon of Jeremiah's day as of the Rome of John's time. Rome is pictured as the great courtesan who intoxicates and beguiles the nations to fornication (17:2,4,6|), but the cup of God's wrath for her and her paramours is full (14:10; strkjv@16:19; strkjv@18:2|).
rwp@Revelation:14:10 @{He also shall drink} (\kai autos pietai\). Future middle of \pin\. Certainty for him as for Babylon and her paramours (16:17|). {Of the wine of the wrath of God} (\ek tou oinou tou thumou tou theou\). Note \ek\ (partitive) after \pietai\. In strkjv@16:19; strkjv@19:15| we have both \thumou\ and \orgs\ (wrath of the anger of God). The white heat of God's anger, held back through the ages, will be turned loose. {Prepared unmixed} (\tou kekerasmenou akratou\). A bold and powerful oxymoron, "the mixed unmixed." \Akratos\ is an old adjective (alpha privative and \kerannumi\ to mix) used of wine unmixed with water (usually so mixed), here only in N.T. Songs:it is strong wine mixed (perfect passive participle of \kerannumi\) with spices to make it still stronger (cf. strkjv@Psalms:75:9|). {In the cup of his anger} (\en ti potrii ts orgs autou\). Both \thumos\ (vehement fury) and \org\ (settled indignation). {He shall be tormented} (\basanisthsetai\). Future passive of \basaniz\. See strkjv@9:5; strkjv@11:10|. {With fire and brimstone} (\en puri kai theii\). See strkjv@9:17| for fire and brimstone and also strkjv@19:20; strkjv@20:10; strkjv@21:8|. The imagery is already in strkjv@Genesis:19:24; strkjv@Isaiah:30:33; strkjv@Ezekiel:38:22|. {In the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb} (\enpion aggeln hagin kai enpion tou arniou\). This holy environment adds to the punishment.
rwp@Revelation:17:2 @{The kings of the earth} (\hoi basileis ts gs\). Repeated in strkjv@1:5; strkjv@6:15; strkjv@17:18; strkjv@18:3,9; strkjv@19:19; strkjv@21:24| and "the kings of the inhabited earth" (16:14|) either for human rulers in general or the vassal kings absorbed by the Roman Empire. {Committed fornication} (\eporneusan\). First aorist active indicative of \porneu\. "In purchasing the favour of Rome by accepting her suzerainty and with it her vices and idolatries" (Swete). {Were made drunken} (\emethusthsan\). First aorist passive indicative of \methusk\, old verb (from \methu\), as in strkjv@Luke:12:45|, here only in the Apocalypse. Cf. strkjv@Isaiah:51:7| and \pepotiken\ in strkjv@Revelation:14:8|. See strkjv@18:3|.
rwp@Revelation:17:3 @{He carried me away} (\apnegken me\). Second aorist active indicative of \apopher\, to bear away, prophetic aorist. This verb is used of angels at death (Luke:16:22|) or in an ecstasy (Revelation:21:10| and here). {In the Spirit} (\en pneumati\). Probably his own spirit, though the Holy Spirit is possible (1:10; strkjv@4:2; strkjv@21:10|), without Paul's uncertainty (2Corinthians:12:2|). Cf. strkjv@Ezekiel:3:14f.; strkjv@8:3; strkjv@11:24|. {Into a wilderness} (\eis ermon\). In strkjv@Isaiah:21:1| there is \to horama ts ermou\ (the vision of the deserted one, Babylon), and in strkjv@Isaiah:14:23| Babylon is called \ermon\. John may here picture this to be the fate of Rome or it may be that he himself, in the wilderness (desert) this side of Babylon, sees her fate. In strkjv@21:10| he sees the New Jerusalem from a high mountain. {Sitting} (\kathmenn\). Present middle participle of \kathmai\ as in verse 1|. "To manage and guide the beast" (Vincent). {Upon a scarlet-coloured beast} (\epi thrion kokkinon\). Accusative with \epi\ here, though genitive in verse 1|. Late adjective (from \kokkos\, a parasite of the _ilex coccifera_), a crimson tint for splendour, in strkjv@Revelation:17:3,4; strkjv@18:12,16; strkjv@Matthew:27:28; strkjv@Hebrews:9:19|. {Full of names of blasphemy} (\gemonta onomata blasphmias\). See strkjv@13:1| for "names of blasphemy" on the seven heads of the beast, but here they cover the whole body of the beast (the first beast of strkjv@13:1; strkjv@19:20|). The harlot city (Rome) sits astride this beast with seven heads and ten horns (Roman world power). The beast is here personified with masculine participles instead of neuter, like \thrion\ (\gemonta\ accusative singular, \echn\ nominative singular, though some MSS. read \echonta\), construction according to sense in both instances. The verb \gem\ always has the genitive after it in the Apocalypse (4:6,8; strkjv@5:8; strkjv@15:7; strkjv@17:4; strkjv@21:9|) save here and apparently once in strkjv@17:4|.
rwp@Revelation:17:4 @{Was arrayed} (\n peribeblmen\). Periphrastic past perfect indicative of \periball\, to fling round one. {In purple and scarlet} (\porphuroun kai kokkinon\). Accusative retained after this passive verb of clothing, as so often. \Porphurous\ is old adjective for purple (from \porphura\), in N.T. only here and strkjv@John:19:2,5|. See preceding verse for \kokkinos\. {Decked} (\kechrusmen\). Perfect passive participle of \chruso\, old verb, to gild, to adorn with gold, here alone in N.T. {With gold and precious stone and pearls} (\chrusii kai lithi timii kai margaritais\). Instrumental case. \Chrusii\ is cognate with the participle. \Lithi timii\ is collective (18:12,16; strkjv@21:19|). There is a \zeugma\ also with \margaritais\ (18:12,16; strkjv@21:21|), for which word see strkjv@Matthew:7:6|. Probably John is thinking of the finery of the temple prostitutes in Asia Minor. {Full of abominations} (\gemon bdelugmatn\). Agreeing with \potrion\, "cup" (neuter singular accusative). Some MSS. read \gemn\ (nominative masculine like \echn\ in verse 3|, quite irregular). For \bdelugmatn\ (genitive after \gemon\) see strkjv@Matthew:24:15|; (Mark:13:14|), common in the LXX for idol worship and its defilements (from \bdeluss\, to render foul), both ceremonial and moral. See strkjv@Jeremiah:15:7|. {Even the unclean things of her fornication} (\kai ta akatharta ts porneias auts\). Either the accusative after \gemon\ as in verse 3| (and full of the unclean things of her fornication) or the object of \echousa\, like \potrion\.
rwp@Revelation:17:5 @{Upon her forehead a name written} (\epi to metpon auts onoma gegrammenon\). Roman harlots wore a label with their names on their brows (Seneca, _Rhet_. I. 2. 7; Juvenal VI. 122f.), and so here. In strkjv@19:16| Christ has a name on his garments and on his thigh, while in strkjv@14:1; strkjv@22:4| the redeemed have the name of God on their foreheads. There is undoubtedly a contrast between this woman here and the woman in chapter strkjv@Revelation:12|. {Mystery} (\mustrion\). Either in apposition with \onoma\ or as part of the inscription on her forehead. In either case the meaning is the same, that the name Babylon is to be interpreted mystically or spiritually (cf. \pneumatiks\ strkjv@11:8|) for Rome. {The Mother of the Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth} (\H Mtr tn Pornn kai tn Bdelugmatn ts Gs\). The Metropolis of the Empire is the mother of harlotry and of the world's idolatries. Charles quotes Tacitus (_Ann_. XV. 44) about Rome as the city "quo cuncta undique atrocia aut pudenda confluunt celebranturque_."
rwp@Revelation:17:15 @{Where the harlot sitteth} (\hou h pornos kathtai\). Relative adverb \hou\ (where) referring to the waters (\hudata\) of verse 1| on which the harlot sits. Present middle indicative of \kathmai\. {Are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues} (\laoi kai ochloi eisin kai ethn kai glssai\). The O.T. uses "waters" as symbol for "peoples" (Isaiah:8:7; strkjv@Jeremiah:47:2; strkjv@Psalms:29:10|, etc.). "Rome's greatest danger lay in the multitudes which were under her sway" (Swete).
rwp@Revelation:17:16 @{These shall hate the harlot} (\houtoi missousin tn pornn\). Future active of \mise\. \Houtoi\ is resumptive demonstrative pronoun (masculine) referring to the ten horns and the beast (neuter); construction according to sense. The downfall of Rome will come from the sudden change in subject peoples. {Shall make her desolate and naked} (\rmmenn poisousin autn kai gumnn\). Future active of \poie\ and perfect passive predicate accusative participle of \ermo\, old verb (from \ermos\ desolate), again in strkjv@18:16,19|. \Gumnn\ (naked) is predicate adjective. {Shall eat her flesh} (\tas sarkas auts phagontai\). Future middle of the defective verb \esthi\, to eat. Note plural \sarkas\, portions of flesh (James:5:3|) as in strkjv@Psalms:27:2; strkjv@Micah:3:3|. {Shall burn her utterly with fire} (\autn katakausousin en puri\). Future active of \katakai\, to burn down (perfective use of \kai\). John wrote before the days of Alaric, Genseric, Ricimer, Totila, with their hordes which devastated Rome and the west in the fifth and sixth centuries. "No reader of the _Decline and Fall_ can be at a loss for materials which will at once illustrate and justify the general trend of St. John's prophecy" (Swete).
rwp@Revelation:18:3 @{By} (\ek\). "As a result of." Some MSS. omit "of the wine" (\tou oinou\). Cf. strkjv@14:10; strkjv@16:10|. {Have fallen} (\peptkan\). Perfect active third personal of \pipt\ for usual \peptkasi\. Some MSS. read \pepkan\ (have drunk), from \pin\ like the metaphor in strkjv@14:8,10; strkjv@16:19; strkjv@17:2|. See strkjv@17:2| for the same charge about the kings of the earth. {The merchants of the earth} (\hoi emporoi ts gs\). Old word for one on a journey for trade (from \en, poros\), like drummers, in N.T. only strkjv@Matthew:13:45; strkjv@Revelation:18:3,11,15,23|. Like \emporion\ (John:2:16|) and \emporeuomai\ (James:4:13|). {Waxed rich} (\eploutsan\). First ingressive aorist active indicative of \ploute\, to be rich (cf. strkjv@3:17|). Here alone in the N.T. do we catch a glimpse of the vast traffic between east and west that made Rome rich. {Of her wantonness} (\tou strnous auts\). Late word for arrogance, luxury, here alone in N.T. See \strnia\ in verses 7,9|, to live wantonly.
rwp@Revelation:18:4 @{Come forth, my people, out of her} (\exelthate, ho laos mou, ex auts\). Second aorist (urgency) active imperative (\-a\ form) of \exerchomai\. Like strkjv@Isaiah:48:20; strkjv@52:11; strkjv@Jeremiah:50:8; strkjv@51:6|, (about Babylon). See also the call of Abram (Genesis:12:1|). the rescue of Lot (Genesis:19:12ff.|). In the N.T. see strkjv@Mark:13:4; strkjv@2Corinthians:6:14; strkjv@Ephesians:5:11; strkjv@1Timothy:5:11|. \Hosea:laos\ is vocative with the form of the nominative. {That ye have no fellowship with her sins} (\hina m sunkoinnste tais hamartais auts\). Purpose clause with \hina m\ and the first aorist active subjunctive of \sunkoinne\, old compound (\sun\, together, \koinnos\, partner), in N.T. only here, strkjv@Phillipians:4:14; strkjv@Ephesians:5:11|. With associative instrumental case \hamartiais\. {And that ye receive not of her plagues} (\kai ek tn plgn auts hina m labte\). Another purpose clause dependent on the preceding, with \hina m\ and the second aorist active subjunctive of \lamban\, and with proleptic emphatic position of \ek tn plgn auts\ before \hina m\.
rwp@Revelation:18:6 @{Render as she rendered} (\apodote hs apedken\). Second aorist (effective) active imperative and first aorist (effective) active of \apodidmi\, old and common verb for requital, to give back, the _lex talionis_ which is in the O.T. (Jeremiah:50:15,29; strkjv@51:24,56; strkjv@Psalms:137:8|), and in the N.T. also (Matthew:7:2|). Here the reference is to persecutions by Rome, particularly the martyrdom of the saints (18:24; strkjv@19:2|). {Double the double} (\diplsate ta dipla\). First aorist imperative of \diplo\, old verb (from \diploos\, double, strkjv@Matthew:23:15|), here only in N.T. \Dipl\ is simply the neuter plural accusative (cognate) contract form for \diploa\ (not \dipl\). Requite here in double measure, a full requital (Exodus:22:4,7,9; strkjv@Isaiah:40:2; strkjv@Jeremiah:16:18; strkjv@17:18; strkjv@Zechariah:9:12|). The double recompense was according to the Levitical law. {Which she mingled} (\hi ekerasen\). First aorist active indicative of \kerannumi\. The relative \hi\ is attracted to the locative case of its antecedent \potrii\ (cup), for which see strkjv@14:8,10; strkjv@17:4; strkjv@18:3|. {Mingle unto her double} (\kerasate auti diploun\). First aorist active imperative of the same verb \kerannumi\, with the same idea of double punishment.
rwp@Revelation:18:7 @{How much soever} (\hosa\). Indefinite quantitative relative pronoun \hosos\ in the accusative (cognate) neuter plural object of \edoxasen\ (first aorist active indicative of \doxaz\). {Herself} (\hautn\). Reflexive pronoun, accusative also with \edoxasen\. {Waxed wanton} (\estrniasen\). First aorist (ingressive) active indicative of \strnia\ (to live luxuriously), verb in late comedy instead of \trupha\ (James:5:5|), from \strnos\ (Revelation:18:3|), only here in N.T. {Songs:much give her of torment and mourning} (\tosouton dote auti basanismon kai penthos\). Second aorist active imperative of \didmi\, to give. The correlative pronoun \tosouton\ is masculine singular accusative, agreeing with \basanismon\, for which see strkjv@9:5; strkjv@14:11|, and is understood with the neuter word \penthos\ (mourning), in N.T. only in strkjv@James:4:9; strkjv@Revelation:18:7ff.; strkjv@21:4| (kin to \pathos, penomai\). {I sit a queen} (\kathmai basilissa\). Predicate nominative for the old form \basileia\ (\basilis\), as in strkjv@Matthew:12:42|. Babylon and Tyre had preceded Rome in such boasting (Isaiah:47:7-9; strkjv@Ezekiel:27:3; strkjv@28:2; strkjv@Zephaniah:2:15|). {And am no widow} (\kai chra ouk eimi\). Feminine of the adjective \chros\ (barren), old word (Mark:12:40|). {Shall in no wise see mourning} (\penthos ou m id\). Confident boast of security with emphatic position of \penthos\ (see above) and double negative \ou m\ with the second aorist active subjunctive of \hora\ (defective verb).
rwp@Revelation:18:8 @{Therefore} (\dia touto\). Because of her presumption added to her crimes. {In one day} (\en mii hmeri\). Symbolical term for suddenness like \mii hri\, in one hour (18:10,16,19|). John has in mind still strkjv@Isaiah:47:7-9|. {Shall come} (\hxousin\). Future active of \hk\. Her plagues are named (death, mourning, famine). {She shall be utterly burned} (\katakauthsetai\). Future passive of \katakai\ (perfective use of \kata\). {With fire} (\en puri\). "In fire," as in strkjv@17:16|. {Which judged her} (\ho krinas autn\). Articular first aorist active participle of \krin\ referring to \kurios ho theos\ (the Lord God). The doom of Babylon is certain because of the power of God.
rwp@Revelation:18:9 @{Shall weep} (\klausousin\). Future active of \klai\, middle \klausontai\ in Attic, as in strkjv@John:16:20|. {And wail over her} (\kai kopsontai ep' autn\). Future direct middle of \kopt\, old verb, to beat, to cut, middle to beat oneself (Revelation:1:7|). For combination with \klai\ as here see strkjv@Luke:8:52|. See strkjv@17:2; strkjv@18:3,7| for \hoi porneusantes kai strniasantes\). {When they look upon} (\hotan blepsin\). Indefinite temporal clause with \hotan\ and the present active subjunctive of \blep\. {The smoke of her burning} (\ton kapnon ts purses auts\). \Pursis\ is an old word (from \puro\ to burn), in N.T. only strkjv@1Peter:4:12; strkjv@Revelation:18:9,18|. See verse 8| for other plagues on Rome, but fire seems to be the worst (17:16; strkjv@18:8,9,17; strkjv@19:3|).
rwp@Revelation:18:19 @{They cast dust} (\ebalon choun\). Second aorist active of \ball\. \Chous\ is old word (from \che\ to pour) for heap of earth, dust, in N.T. only here and strkjv@Mark:6:11|. Cf. strkjv@Ezekiel:27:30; strkjv@Luke:10:13|. This is the dirge of the sea-folk (cf. verses 10,16|). {By reason of her costliness} (\ek ts timiottos auts\). Occasionally in later literary Greek, though here only in N.T. and not in LXX. The same use of \tim\ appears in strkjv@1Peter:2:7|. Common in the papyri as a title like "Your Honor" (Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_).
rwp@Revelation:19:7 @{Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad} (\chairmen kai agallimen\). Present active subjunctive (volitive) of \chair\ and \agallia\ (elsewhere in N.T. in the middle except strkjv@Luke:1:47; strkjv@1Peter:1:8|). For both verbs together see strkjv@Matthew:5:12|. {Let us give} (\dmen\). Second aorist active subjunctive of \didmi\, but A reads \dsomen\ (future active) and P \dsmen\. If the future indicative is read, the tone is changed from exhortation to declaration (we shall give glory unto him). {The marriage of the Lamb} (\ho gamos tou arniou\). In the O.T. God is the Bridegroom of Israel (Hosea:2:16; strkjv@Isaiah:54:6; strkjv@Ezekiel:16:7ff.|). In the N.T. Christ is the Bridegroom of the Kingdom (the universal spiritual church as seen by Paul, strkjv@2Corinthians:11:2; strkjv@Ephesians:5:25ff.|, and by John in strkjv@Revelation:3:20; strkjv@19:7,9; strkjv@21:2,9; strkjv@22:17|. In the Gospels Christ appears as the Bridegroom (Mark:2:19f.; strkjv@Matthew:9:15; strkjv@Luke:5:34f.; strkjv@John:3:29|). The figure of \gamos\ occurs in strkjv@Matthew:22:2-14|. Three metaphors of women appear in the Apocalypse (the Mother in chapter strkjv@Revelation:12|, the Harlot in strkjv@Revelation:17-19|, and the Bride of Christ here to the end). "The first and third present the Church under two different aspects of her life, while the second answers to her great rival and enemy" (Swete). {Is come} (\lthen\). Prophetic aorist, come at last. {Made herself ready} (\htoimasen heautn\). First aorist active indicative of \hetoimaz\ and the reflexive pronoun. See strkjv@22:2| for \htoimasmenn hs numphn\ (prepared as a bride). There is something for her to do (1John:3:3; strkjv@Jude:1:21; strkjv@2Corinthians:7:1|), but the chief preparation is the act of Christ (Ephesians:5:25ff.|).
rwp@Revelation:21:2 @{The holy city, new Jerusalem} (\tn polin tn hagian Ierousalm kainn\). "The New Earth must have a new metropolis, not another Babylon, but another and greater Jerusalem" (Swete), and not the old Jerusalem which was destroyed A.D. 70. It was called the Holy City in a conventional way (Matthew:4:5; strkjv@27:53|), but now in reality because it is new and fresh (\kainn\), this heavenly Jerusalem of hope (Hebrews:12:22|), this Jerusalem above (Galatians:4:26ff.|) where our real citizenship is (Phillipians:3:20|). {Coming down out of heaven from God} (\katabainousan ek tou ouranou apo tou theou\). Glorious picture caught by John and repeated from strkjv@3:12| and again in strkjv@21:10|. But Charles distinguishes this new city of God from that in strkjv@21:9-22:2| because there is no tree of life in this one. But one shrinks from too much manipulation of this symbolism. It is better to see the glorious picture with John and let it tell its own story. {Made ready} (\htoimasmenn\). Perfect passive participle of \hetoimaz\ as in strkjv@19:7|. The Wife of the Lamb made herself ready in her bridal attire. {As a bride adorned} (\hs numphn kekosmmenn\). Perfect passive participle of \kosme\, old verb (from \kosmos\ ornament like our cosmetics), as in strkjv@21:19|. Only here the figure of bride is not the people of God as in strkjv@19:7|, but the abode of the people of God (the New Jerusalem). {For her husband} (\ti andri auts\). Dative case of personal interest.
rwp@Revelation:21:11 @{Having the glory of God} (\echousan tn doxan tou theou\). Syntactically this clause goes with verse 10|, the feminine accusative singular participle \echousan\ agreeing with \polin\, the radiance of the dazzling splendour of God as seen in strkjv@Isaiah:60:1; strkjv@Ezekiel:43:5|. God's very presence is in the Holy City (the Bride). {Light} (\phstr\). "Luminary," late word (in LXX, papyri), in N.T. only here and strkjv@Phillipians:2:15|. Christ is the light (\phs\) of the world (John:8:12|) and so are Christians (Matthew:5:14|) who have received the illumination (\phtismos\) of God in the face of Christ (2Corinthians:4:6|) and who radiate it to men (Phillipians:2:15|). See both words in strkjv@Genesis:1:3,14|. "The 'luminary' of the Holy City is her witness to Christ" (Swete). {Like unto a stone most precious} (\homoios lithi timitati\). Associative instrumental case after \homoios\. \Timitati\ is the elative superlative. {As it were a jasper stone} (\hs lithi iaspidi\). As in strkjv@4:3|, which see. {Clear as crystal} (\krustallizonti\). Verb not found elsewhere from \krustallos\ (old word, strkjv@4:6; strkjv@22:1|), "of crystalline brightness and transparency" (Thayer), "transparent and gleaming as rock-crystal" (Moffatt).
rwp@Romans:8:21 @{The creation itself} (\aut h ktisis\). It is the hope of creation, not of the Creator. Nature "possesses in the feeling of her unmerited suffering a sort of presentiment of her future deliverance" (Godet).
rwp@Romans:16:1 @{I commend} (\sunistmi\). The regular word for letters of commendation as in strkjv@2Corinthians:3:1| (\sustatikn epistoln\). See also strkjv@Romans:3:5|. Songs:here verses 1,2| constitute Paul's recommendation of Phoebe, the bearer of the Epistle. Nothing else is known of her, though her name (\Phoib\) means bright or radiant. {Sister} (\adelphn\). In Christ, not in the flesh. {Who is a servant of the church} (\ousan diakonon ts ekklsias\). The etymology of \diakonos\ we have had repeatedly. The only question here is whether it is used in a general sense or in a technical sense as in strkjv@Phillipians:1:1; strkjv@1Timothy:3:8-13|. In favour of the technical sense of "deacon" or "deaconess" is the addition of "\ts ekklsias\" (of the church). In some sense Phoebe was a servant or minister of the church in Cenchreae. Besides, right in the midst of the discussion in strkjv@1Timothy:3:8-13| Paul has a discussion of \gunaikas\ (verse 11|) either as women as deaconesses or as the wives of deacons (less likely though possible). The _Apostolic Constitutions_ has numerous allusions to deaconesses. The strict separation of the sexes made something like deaconesses necessary for baptism, visiting the women, etc. Cenchreae, as the eastern port of Corinth, called for much service of this kind. Whether the deaconesses were a separate organization on a par with the deacons we do not know nor whether they were the widows alluded to in strkjv@1Timothy:5:9f|.
rwp@Romans:16:2 @{Worthily of the saints} (\axis tn hagin\). Adverb with the genitive as in strkjv@Phillipians:1:27| because the adjective \axios\ is used with the genitive (Luke:3:8|). "Receive her in a way worthy of the saints." This word \hagios\ had come to be the accepted term for followers of Christ. {Assist her} (\parastte\). Second aorist (intransitive) active subjunctive of \paristmi\, to stand by, with the dative case ("beside her"), the very word used by Paul of the help of Jesus in his trial (\parest\, strkjv@2Timothy:4:17|). Used with \hina\ as \prosdexsthe\. {In whatsoever matter} (\en hi pragmati\). Incorporation of the antecedent (\pragmati\) into the relative clause (\hi\). {She may have need of you} (\an humn chrizi\). Indefinite relative clause with \an\ and the present subjunctive of \chriz\ with genitive. {A succourer} (\prostatis\). Old and rare feminine form for the masculine \prostats\, from \proistmi\ (\prostate\, common, but not in the N.T.), here only in the N.T. and not in the papyri. The word illustrates her work as \diakonon\ and is perhaps suggested here by \parastte\, just before. {Of mine own self} (\emou autou\). "Of me myself."
rwp@Romans:16:3 @In verses 3-16| Paul sends his greetings to various brethren and sisters in Rome. {Prisca and Aquila} (\Priskan kai Akulan\). This order always (Acts:18:18,26; strkjv@2Timothy:4:19|, and here) save in strkjv@Acts:18:2; strkjv@1Corinthians:16:19|, showing that Prisca was the more prominent. Priscilla is a diminutive of Prisca, a name for women in the Acilian gens. She may have been a noble Roman lady, but her husband was a Jew of Pontus and a tent-maker by trade. They were driven from Rome by Claudius, came to Corinth, then to Ephesus, then back to Rome, and again to Ephesus. They were good travelling Christians. {My fellow-workers} (\tous sunergous mou\). Both in tent-making and in Christian service in Corinth and Ephesus.
rwp@Romans:16:6 @{Mary} (\Marian\). Some MSS. have \Mariam\, the Hebrew form. The name indicates a Jewish Christian in Rome. Paul praises her toil. See strkjv@Luke:5:5|.
rwp@Romans:16:13 @{Rufus} (\Rouphon\). A very common slave name, possibly the Rufus of strkjv@Mark:15:21|. The word means "red." {The chosen} (\ton eklekton\). Not "the elect," but "the select." {And mine} (\kai emou\). Paul's appreciation of her maternal care once, not his real mother.
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