Word Pictures in the New Testament - Luke Author(s): Robertson, A. T. (1863-1934) Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library Description: A. T. Robertson was a renowned Greek New Testament scholar. His work on the Greek language is still consulted today. Word Pictures in the New Testament is his insightful treatment of that book. In the Greek New Testament, there are a variety of meaningful pictorial nuances implicit in the Greek constructions. These nuances are often lost in trans- lation. Word Pictures in the New Testament explains them. Robertson examines Greek constructions from many different Testament passages. He provides background to many of the Greek words and their connotations in the original Greek, thereby shedding new light on the meaning of passages. Many readers have gained a new, richer understanding of the New Testament by studying Word Pictures in the New Testament. And although no technical knowledge is required to study this work, familiarity with the Greek language makes this work much easier to digest. Consequently, it is ideal for pastors, theologians, and students of the New Testament. Tim Perrine CCEL Staff Writer Subjects: The Bible New Testament Works about the New Testament i Contents Title Page 1 Chapter 1 2 Chapter 2 13 Chapter 3 23 Chapter 4 30 Chapter 5 42 Chapter 6 50 Chapter 7 60 Chapter 8 68 Chapter 9 77 Chapter 10 89 Chapter 11 98 Chapter 12 106 Chapter 13 115 Chapter 14 121 Chapter 15 127 Chapter 16 134 Chapter 17 140 Chapter 18 144 Chapter 19 149 Chapter 20 155 Chapter 21 160 Chapter 22 165 Chapter 23 174 Chapter 24 182 Indexes 188 ii Index of Scripture References 189 Index of Scripture Commentary 197 iii This PDF file is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org. 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Written permission is required for commercial use. iv Title Page Title Page Word Pictures in the New Testament Luke A.T. Robertson 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 1:1 Forasmuch as [epeidēper]. Here alone in the N.T., though common in literary Attic. Appears in the papyri. A triple compound [epei] = since, [dē] = admittedly true, [per] = in- tensive particle to emphasize importance). Many [polloi]. How many no one knows, but certainly more than two or three. We know that Luke used the Logia of Jesus written by Matthew in Aramaic (Papias) and Mark’s Gospel. Undoubtedly he had other written sources. Have taken in hand [epecheirēsan]. A literal translation of [epicheireō] (from [cheir], hand and [epi], upon). Both Hippocrates and Galen use this word in their introduction to their medical works. Here only in the N.T., though a common literary word. Common in the papyri for undertaking with no idea of failure or blame. Luke does not mean to cast reflection on those who preceded him. The apocryphal gospels were all much later and are not in his mind. Luke had secured fuller information and planned a book on a larger scale and did surpass them with the result that they all perished save Mark’s Gospel and what Matthew and Luke possess of the Logia of Jesus. There was still room for Luke’s book. That motive influences every author and thus progress is made. To draw up, a narrative [anataxasthai diēgēsin]. Ingressive aorist middle infinitive. This verb [anataxasthai] has been found only in Plutarch’s Moral. 968 CD about an elephant “rehearsing” by moonlight certain tricks it had been taught (Moulton and Milligan, Vocabulary). That was from memory going regularly through the thing again. But the idea in the word is plain enough. The word is composed of [tassō], a common verb for arranging things in proper order and [ana], again. Luke means to say that those before him had made attempts to rehearse in orderly fashion various matters about Christ. “The expression points to a connected series of narratives in some order [taxis], topical or chronological rather than to isolated narratives” (Bruce). “They had pro- duced something more than mere notes or anecdotes” (Plummer). [Diēgēsis] means leading or carrying a thing through, not a mere incident. Galen applies this word some seventy-five times to the writing of Hippocrates. Which have been fulfilled [tōn peplērōphorēmenōn]. Perfect passive participle from [plērophoreō] and that from [plērēs] (full) and [pherō] (to bring). Hence to bring or make full. The verb is rare outside of the LXX and the N.T. Papyri examples occur for finishing off a legal matter or a financial matter in full. Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East, pp. 86f.) gives examples from the papyri and inscriptions for complet- ing a task or being convinced or satisfied in mind. The same ambiguity occurs here. When used of persons in the N.T. the meaning is to be convinced, or fully persuaded (Ro 4:21; 14:5; Heb 6:11; 10:22). When used of things it has the notion of completing or finishing (2Ti 4:5, 17). Luke is here speaking of “matters” [pragmatōn]. Luke may refer to the matters connected with Christ’s life which have been brought to a close among us or accomplished. Bruce argues plausibly that he means fulness of knowledge “concerning the things which have become widely known among us Christians.” In Col 2:2 we have “fulness of understand- 2 Chapter 1 ing” [tēs plērophorias tēs suneseōs]. In modern Greek the verb means to inform. The careful language of Luke here really pays a tribute to those who had preceded him in their narratives concerning Christ. 1:2 Even as [kathōs]. This particle was condemned by the Atticists though occurring occasionally from Aristotle on. It is in the papyri. Luke asserts that the previous narratives had their sound basis. Delivered unto us [paredōsan hēmin]. Second aorist active indicative of [paradidōmi]. Luke received this tradition along with those who are mentioned above (the many). That is he was not one of the “eyewitnesses.” He was a secondary, not a primary, witness of the events. Tradition has come to have a meaning of unreliability with us, but that is not the idea here. Luke means to say that the handing down was dependable, not mere wives’ fables. Those who drew up the narratives had as sources of knowledge those who handed down the data. Here we have both written and oral sources. Luke had access to both kinds. Which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word [hoi ap’ archēs autoptai kai hupēretai genomenoi tou logou]. “Who” is better than “which” for the article here. The word for eyewitnesses [autoptai] is an old Greek word and appears in the papyri also. It means seeing with one’s own eyes. It occurs here only in the N.T. We have the very word in the medical term autopsy.Greek medical writers often had the word. It is a different word from [epoptai] (eyewitness) in 2Pe 1:16, a word used of those who beheld heavenly mysteries. The word for “ministers” [hupēretai], under rowers or servants we have had already in Mt 5:25; 26:58; Mr 14:54, 65, which see. We shall see it again in Lu 4:20 of the attendant in the synagogue. In the sense of a preacher of the gospel as here, it occurs also in Ac 26:16. Here “the word” means the gospel message, as in Ac 6:4; 8:4, etc. From the beginning apparently refers to the beginning of the ministry of Jesus as was true of the apostles (Ac 1:22) and of the early apostolic preaching (Ac 10:37-43). The Gospel of Mark follows this plan. The Gospel of Luke goes behind this in chapters 1 and 2 as does Matthew in chapters 1 and 2. But Luke is not here referring to himself. The matters about the childhood of Jesus Christ would not form part of the traditional preaching for obvious reasons. 1:3 It seemed good to me also [edoxe kamoi]. A natural conclusion and justification of Luke’s decision to write his narrative. They had ample reason to draw up their narratives. Luke has more reason to do so because of his fuller knowledge and wider scope. Having traced the course of all things [parēkolouthēkoti pāsin]. The perfect active participle of a common verb of the ancient Greek. Literally it means to follow along a thing in mind, to trace carefully. Both meanings occur abundantly in the ancient Greek. Cadbury (Appendix C to Beginnings of Christianity, Vol. II, pp. 489ff.) objects to the translation “having traced” here as implying research which the word does not here mean.