Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 1].
poem in Greek and English like 1:30-33,35-37,42-45,46-55,68-70;
2:10-12,14,29-32,34-35. Certainly Luke has preserved the
earliest Christian hymns in their oldest sources. He is the first
critic of the sources of the Gospels and a scholarly one.
1:14 {Gladness} (\agalliasis\). Only in the LXX and N.T. so far
as known. A word for extreme exultation. {Rejoice}
(\char•sontai\). Second future passive indicative. The coming of
a prophet will indeed be an occasion for rejoicing.
1:15 {Strong drink} (\sikera\). A Hebrew word transliterated into
Greek, an intoxicating drink. Here only in the N.T. John was to
be a personal "dry" or Nazarite (Nu 6:3). {Shall not drink}
(\ou m• pi•i\). Strong prohibition, double negative and second
aorist subjunctive. {The Holy Ghost} (\pneumatos hagiou\). The
Holy Spirit in contrast to the physical excitement of strong
drink (Plummer). Luke uses this phrase 53 times, 12 in the
Gospel, Mark and John 4 each, Matthew 5 times. {Even from his
mother's womb} (\eti ek koilias m•tros autou\). A manifest
Hebraism. Cf. verse 41.
1:17 {Before his face} (\en•pion autou\). Not in the ancient
Greek, but common in the papyri as in LXX and N.T. It is a
vernacular _Koin•_ word, adverb used as preposition from
adjective \en•pios\, and that from \ho en •pi •n\ (the one who is
in sight). {Autou} here seems to be "the Lord their God" in verse
16 since the Messiah has not yet been mentioned, though he was
to be actually the Forerunner of the Messiah. {In the spirit and
power of Elijah} (\en pneumati kai dunamei Elei•\). See Isa
40:1-11; Mal 3:1-5. John will deny that he is actually Elijah in
person, as they expected (Joh 1:21), but Jesus will call him
Elijah in spirit (Mr 9:12; Mt 17:12). {Hearts of fathers}
(\kardias pater•n\). Paternal love had died out. This is one of
the first results of conversion, the revival of love in the home.
{Wisdom} (\phron•sei\). Not \sophia\, but a word for practical
intelligence. {Prepared} (\kateskeuasmenon\). Perfect passive
participle, state of readiness for Christ. This John did. This is
a marvellous forecast of the character and career of John the
Baptist, one that should have caught the faith of Zacharias.
1:18 {Whereby} (\kata ti\). According to what. It was too good to
be true and Zacharias demanded proof and gives the reason (for,
\gar\) for his doubt. He had prayed for this blessing and was now
sceptical like the disciples in the house of Mary about the
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