[Propertalk] Fwd: Fwd: Gospel Notes - Luke 2:1-20 [Christmas] - Part 3A

[Joe Parrish]

HEAVENLY ARMY
 
The word usually translated “host” literally means “army” (see footnote in NRSV). They praise (αἰνέω - aineō) God. The shepherds will also do this in verse 20. The multitudes will do this when Jesus enters Jerusalem (19:37), where they somewhat echo some of the “army’s” song: “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
 
A major issue in the army’s song is the last word in Greek.
 
First: how to translated εὐδοκία (eudokia). Some possibilities are: good will, pleasure, favor; desire, purpose, choice. 
 
Second: who is expressing the good will, pleasure, etc.? Are the people expressing good will, pleasure, favor? towards God? towards each other? towards the Child? Is it God who is expressing good will, pleasure, favor towards the people?
 
Third: there are the variant readings: εὐδοκία (eudokia) = nominative case vs. εὐδοκίας (eudokias) = genitive case.
 
With the nominative case, we can have a three-line parallel song. (I’m adjusting the order in Greek to highlight the parallels):
 
      

WHAT
 TO WHOM

glory
 to God in the highest

peace
 on earth

good will 
 among people

 
However, the oldest and best manuscripts have the genitive. This leads to a two-line parallel song that offers something at some place to someone. (Again adjusting the order):
 
      

WHAT
 WHERE
 TO WHOM

Glory
 in the highest 
 to God

peace 
 on earth
 among people of [divine] favor

 
THE SHEPHERD’S RESPONSE
 
“They kept saying to one another.” The imperfect implies repeated or continuous action in the past.
 
Literally, what they kept saying to one another: “Let us depart now to Bethlehem and let us see this word which has happened, which the Lord made known to us.”
 
I think that ῥῆμα (rhēma) = “word” is significant. In Hebrew, דבר - dabar, means both word and deed. When God speaks, things happen. Or, we might say, this is a deed where God speaks to the world.
 
ῥῆμα (rhēma) is a word that occurs often in the opening chapters of Luke in regards to Mary and the birth, although often hidden in translations.
 
1:37 For no word will be impossible with God.
 
1:38 The Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”
 
2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this word that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”
 
2:17-18 When they saw this, they made known the word which had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
 
2:19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
 
2:51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these words in her heart.
 
The response of the shepherds is to go and see and tell; and then to return glorifying and praising God. Shouldn’t that be the life of all believers? We are to go to where Christ is present—to the Word and Sacrament—to church. There we are to see and hear and share. From there we return to our homes and places of work glorifying and praising God.
 


    
   
 
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