Wednesday, June 17, 2009

LIfe-changing translation of Luke 9:23

Here are the results of my father Dave Dresser's study of Luke 9:23 in the Greek.   He ends up with a translation of this verse that is so powerful and capturing the essence of who we are and how the Holy Spirit is leading us to live. Enjoy and be transformed!  -- Pete Dresser

Luke 9:23  If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (New International Version) 

Setting 

  • Jesus' true identity has just been revealed to Peter: He is the Jewish Messiah, the Son of the living God
  • Jesus immediately tells his disciples He must be crucified and will rise the third day
  • It is in amplification of this fact that Jesus gives the above quoted instructions (Luke 9:23)

A look at the Greek

ελγεν δε προσ παντοσ 

  • Translation: he said and    to all        

Ει τισ θελει οπισω μου ελθειν, απαρνησασθω εαυτον και αρατω  

  • Translation: if anyone would after me to come, he must  deny himself  and  take up  
τον σταυρον αυτου καθ ημεραν, και ακολουθειτω μου

  • Translation:   the cross of him  daily  and  follow  me

θελει (thel-lay)

  • Person - 3rd person singular = anyone
  • Tense - Present = continuously, habitually
  • Voice - Active = sbject acts
  • Mood - Indicative = normal action
  • Meaning - θελεω "to be resolved, to determine, to purpose"
  • Translation - "If any one is continuously determined ..." 
οπισω μου  
  • of time, to make your appearance (publicly) subsequent to (as a preposition with the genetive case )
  • Jesus speaking to his disciples of a truth applicable not only to them but also to those whom they would teach  
  • Translation:  "If anyone is continuously determined to make his appearance publicly as my disciple after my death ..." 
απαρνησασθω  

  • Person - 3rd person singular = anyone
  • Tense - aorist = once for all
  • Voice - middle = subject acts on himself
  • Mood - imperative = a command, it is essential
  • Meaning -  απαρνεομαι "to affirm no one has connection 
  • Translation - "It is essential he affirms once for all no connection with his old self" 
αρατω 

  • Person - 3rd person singular = he
  • Tense - aorist = once for all, completed action
  • Voice - active =  the subject acts
  • Mood - imperative = command, it is essential
  • Meaning - "to take upon ones self"
  • Translation - "he must (it is essential) take to himself ... ' 
τον σταυροϖ αυτου καθ ημαιραν 

  • Translation:  "his cross throughout the day"  From the context it is obvious Jesus is referring to their connection with his cross which he has just announced.  Jesus understood that connection which he later revealed to Paul but he could only prepare his disciples at this time by saying they had a cross.  They would discover later that their cross was His cross.  Future disciples were instructed by Paul in his letters.  
  • The preposition with the word for "day" indicates "throughout the day" 
και ακολουθειτω μου 

  • Person - 3rd person singular = anyone, he
  • Tense - present = continuous action
  • Voice - active = subject acts
  • Mood - imperative = command, it is essential
  • Meaning - To cleave steadfastly
  • Translation "he must continuously cleave steadfastly to me"
Complete translation of Luke 9:23  
If anyone is determined to come forward publicly as my disciple after my death, he must once for all affirm no connection with his old self, and he must take to himself once for all his identity with my cross throughout the day and continuously cleave steadfastly to me.

3 comments:

Pastor Lisa said...

Wow, this translation is so powerful. Thank God, your Dad can wade through all the Greek and figure this out. How we are enriched by this gift!

grandle said...

WOW... awesome!

Maureen said...

He has set before us His banqueting table. We eat of His body. We drink His blood. We feast daily. He is always presenting Himself to us, in word, in spirit, in nature, in creativity, in fellowship, in study. The feast is a 24/7, 365 reality. How silly of us to just nibble! This is rich. My old man is dead. I affirm that I have no connection with my old self. How sweet this is!

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