Gal 6:16 ‘And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.’
Summary
The question is whether Paul is referring to one group of people (‘on them, that is, on the Israel of God’) or two groups (‘on them, and also on the Israel of God’). The first interpretation is to be favoured.
In detail
I think that the meaning implied in the NIV and most other modern translations, is probably correct. …
Galatians 6:2 ‘Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.’
See also Gal 5:14; 1 Cor 9:21, and James 2:8 (which refers to ‘the royal law’).
Meaning
This difficult but important phrase has been variously understood as:
(a) the law of love (so most interpreters, including Brown, Bruce, Stott, Fung). ‘The ‘law of Christ’ is to love one another as He loves us; that was the new commandment which He gave (Jn.…
Mt 1:24f ‘He took his wife, but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.’
Mt 12:46–50 — While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to speak to you.” 48 To the one who had said this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?”…
According to John 2:12-22, Jesus cleansed the Temple near the beginning of his public ministry. The Synoptists, however, record a cleansing during the last week of his earthly ministry (Mt 21:10–17; Mk 11:15–19; Lk 19:45–46).
So, was there one cleansing (and, if so, was it at the beginning or the close of his ministry)? Or were there two cleansings?
Here are the main alternatives:-
(a) Some think that John’s chronology is correct. The Synoptic writers could not include the account earlier, because they do not record Jesus’ earlier visits to Jerusalem, and only mention the Passover during which he was crucified.…
John 2:1 Now on the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2:2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 2:3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine left.” 2:4 Jesus replied, “Woman, why are you saying this to me? My time has not yet come.” 2:5 His mother told the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”…
John 1:1 ‘…and the Word was God’ (NIV)
The New World Translation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses translates this verse idiosyncratically: “In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.”
…‘Their explanation for this is that in the Greek there is no definite article before ‘God’, whereas if God (theos) were meant in the full and absolute sense it should be ho theos: ‘God’ with the definite article.
Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15
For N.T. Wright (Jesus and the Victory of God), this parable ‘tells the story of Israel, particularly the return from exile, with a paradoxical conclusion, and it tells the story of Jesus’ ministry, as the fulfilment of that larger story, with a paradoxical outcome.’ Wright notes
(a) the similarity in form to Dan 2:31-45, where the different parts of a statue represent the various stages of earthly kingdoms. …
It is sometimes thought (and said, by preachers) that shepherds were a despised class in Israel at this time.
This opinion has been voiced by scholars both old and new. For example, Butler (2000) wrote,
‘Shepherding had changed from a family business as in David’s time to a despised occupation.’
Stein (1992), wrote:
…‘In general, shepherds were dishonest and unclean according to the standards of the law. They represent the outcasts and sinners for whom Jesus came.’
Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
So translated by AV, ESV, NASB, RSV, NRSV, God’s Word, Good News.
NIV – ‘…because there was no guest room available for them.’
New Living Translation – ‘…because there was no lodging available for them.’
Unravelling fact and fancy
The traditional translation (‘No room at the inn’) has become engraved in the popular mind and, along with an unfriendly inn-keeper, in many a nativity scene.…
