Lectionary Year C
August 19, 2001
Luke 12:49-56

Initial Acquaintance/Rough Translation

Step I - (Initial) Acquaintance

A. Comparing Translations

(JFC) This week we compare and contrast the notable differences among the New American Standard Bible, the New Living Translation and the Revised Standard Version.

49 ""I have come to cast fire upon the earth; - NASB
"I have come to bring fire to the earth, - NLT
"I came to cast fire upon the earth; - RSV

and how I wish it were already kindled! - NASB
and I wish that my task were already completed! - NLT
and would that it were already kindled! - RSV

50 ""But I have a baptism to undergo, - NASB
There is a terrible baptism ahead of me, - NLT
I have a baptism to be baptized with; - RSV

and how distressed I am - NASB
and I am under heavy burden - NLT
and I am constrained - RSV

51b I tell you, no, but rather division; - NASB
No, I have come to bring strife and division! - NLT
No, I tell you, but rather division; - RSV

52 five members in one household will be divided, - NASB
families will be split apart, - NLT
in one house there will be five divided, - RSV

three against two and two against three. - NASB and RSV
three in favor of me and two against - or the other way around. NLT

54 And he was also saying to the crowds, - NASB
Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, - NLT
He also said to the multitudes, - RSV

so it turns out. - NASB
And you are right. - NLT
And so it happens. - RSV

55b "It will be a hot day,' and so it turns out that way. - NASB
'Today will be a scorcher.' And it is . - NLT
'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. - RSV

56 analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, - NASB
interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, - NLT
interpret the appearance of earth and sky, - RSV

but why do you not analyze this present time? - NASB
but you can't interpret these present times. - NLT
but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? - RSV

B. Textual Criticism

(JFC) 49 Papyrus 45 and others replace evpi., with eij. Yes, the latter is possibly more expressive of the dynamics Jesus is trying to articulate here. So, possibly the eij, is more likely what was originally spoken by our Lord.

51c Papyrus 45 has alla for avllV h'. Perhaps this redaction seems more nearly original; for it appears to be more emphatic than the received avllV h'. Alla also serves to introduce a sentence with keenness and emphasis in Romans 6:5 and 7:7; Philippians 3:8 and John 16:2," according to Harper's Syntactical Greek Lexicon.

54b For evpi., Papyrus and several others, including the majority of manuscripts, read apo. No, it seems the received evpi, suffices. Papyrus 75 and a, among others, keeps the texts received, too. Surely it was more nearly certainly the earliest.

55 Papyrus 45 adds idhte, after pne,onta. Well, probably not original, for it is certainly understood without having to be read or said, and, besides, winds are rarely actually "seen", if we want to remain literal here.

56 The final phrase in this verse and text, pw/j ouvk oi;date dokima,zeinČ, Papyrus 45 and others read pwj ou dokimazete. The alternative is shorter, to be sure, and maybe less complex, too. So, perhaps it is genuine. Metzger, in TCGNT, observes that a copyist might have "inserted oi;date, in conformity with the preceding clause, it is more probable that they omitted the word in order to give Jesus condemnation more point . . ."

C. Rough Translation

(JFC) 49 Fire(!) I came to cast upon the earth, and what shall I wish if already it was (aorist, passive, indicative) kindled. (No question mark!) 50 But a baptism I have to be baptized (with?) (aorist, passive, infinitive), and how am I being held together/sustained (present, passive, indicative) until whatever it should be concluded. 51 Do you think/presume that peace I arrived to give in the earth? No, I say to you, but rather separation/discord/division/opposition/dissention. 52 For there will be from the present time five from one house divided (perfect, passive, participle), three against two and two against three, 53 they will be divided father against son and son against father, mother against the daughter and daughter against the mother, mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law of hers and daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law.
54 And he said also to the crowd, "When you see the cloud rising in the west, immediately you say that heavy rain comes, and it takes place thusly; 55 and when a south wind is blowing, you say that heat will be, and it appears. 56 Hypocrites, the presence of the earth and of the heavens you are knowing to examine/interpret, but the time this how not do you know to examine/interpret?

(JA) Rough Translation Luke 12:49-56

(v. 49) "I came (Greek [2nd. Aor. A.I.] could be "they came") to throw fire upon the earth and what thing (or why) [ do? ] I wish if already it was kindled (Gr. "Anapto")? [or !] (v. 50) And with respect to a baptism I have to be baptized (Gr. "Echo" + compl. Inf.?) and how I am compelled (Gr. "syn-erchomai") until when it has been completed [! ?] . (v. 51) Do you all think that arrived to give peace in the earth? Not so! I say to you all, but rather (to give) division. (v. 52) For they will be from the now (time) five in one house having been divided, three against two and two against three; (v. 53) they will be divided father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." (v. 54) And he was also saying to the crowds, "When you all see (aor. subj. 2nd. p. pl.) the cloud rising (Gr. "anatello") upon (in?) the West (gen. pl.?), immediately you all say that a rain-storm is coming and it happens thus. (v. 55) And when (you all see) a south wind blowing (Gr. pres. ptcp. ams of "pneo"), you all say that an East wind (the Simoom of Palestine which blows from Feb. to June bringing seering heat?) will be and it happens. (v. 56) Hypocrites, the face of the earth and of the heaven you all know to probe (Gr. "dokimazo"!), but this critical hour (Gr. "kairos"!) you all do not know how to probe?"

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