Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 84:335 (Jul 1927)
Article: The Rendering Of Luke 11:14
Author: Thomas Shearer Duncan

BSac 84:335 (July 1927) p. 340

The Rendering Of Luke 11:14

Thomas Shearer Duncan, Ph.D.

The least that may be demanded of a translation is that it be clear and precise. Certain differences of opinion concerning the meaning of a passage may be admitted by the translator but his rendering should make clear and definite what he takes the meaning of the passage to be. This result has hardly been attained in the rendering of Luke 11:14, by the Oxford Bible and the American Revised edition. The translation there given is “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men in whom He is well pleased.”

Now, considering only the translation and excluding from discussion, for the present, the question of text, one may at once raise the objection that the meaning of the passage, as here translated, is not clear. The phrase, “among men in whom He is well pleased,” may have either of two meanings, (1) among men, all of whom are pleasing to God, or (2) among men if they are pleasing to God. That the words as they stand may be understood either way will be readily admitted. One must contend that a translation which is so ambiguous as this cannot be accepted as adequate. The translation of the authorized version, “Peace on earth, good will toward men,” must be taken in preference, for it has at least the virtue of being clear and definite.

The greater number of commentators, however, undoubtedly take the passage to mean, “Peace among the men in whom God is well pleased,” i.e., “among the elect.” Thus Alfred interprets the passage, and he cites Bleek in support of his interpretation. Meyer also holds the view that tirene en anthopois eudokias suggests that God’s good

BSac 84:335 (July 1927) p. 341

pleasure is directed “to his beloved,” meaning “the elect.” This may be the meaning, but, as was pointed out above, it is not clearly expressed in the translations cited.

Yet one may be granted the privilege of expressing a doubt whether that is the meaning of the passage at all. Does it not seem strange that St. Luke should put upon the lips of the angels a song of gladness for “the elect” only? And who are “the elect”? Evidently the Jews are meant, and not the elect in the broader spiritual sense understood by the commentators. And, as a matter of fact, if St. Luke had used more precise terms to indicate without the possibility of a doubt that “the elect” are meant, critics would readily have pointed to this as an indication of the direct influence of St. Paul’s doctrine of election on the account of St. Luke.

Recent editors are probably right in adopting the reading e...