Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 2]
Christ" is really involved in "A Saviour (Jesus) which is Christ
the Lord." See on ¯Mt 1:1 for Christ and ¯Mt 21:3 for Lord.
2:13 {Host} (\stratias\). A military term for a band of soldiers
common in the ancient Greek. Bengel says: "Here the army
announces peace." {Praising} (\ainount•n\). Construction
according to sense (plural, though \stratias\ is singular).
2:14 {Among men in whom he is well pleased} (\en anthr•pois
eudokias\). The Textus Receptus (Authorized Version also has
\eudokia\, but the genitive \eudokias\ is undoubtedly correct,
supported by the oldest and best uncials.) (Aleph, A B D W). C has
a lacuna here. Plummer justly notes how in this angelic hymn
Glory and Peace correspond, in the highest and on earth, to God
and among men of goodwill. It would be possible to connect "on
earth" with "the highest" and also to have a triple division.
There has been much objection raised to the genitive \eudokias\,
the correct text. But it makes perfectly good sense and better
sense. As a matter of fact real peace on earth exists only among
those who are the subjects of God's goodwill, who are
characterized by goodwill toward God and man. This word \eudokia\
we have already had in Mt 11:26. It does not occur in the
ancient Greek. The word is confined to Jewish and Christian
writings, though the papyri furnish instances of \eudok•sis\.
Wycliff has it "to men of goodwill."
2:15 {Said to one another} (\elaloun pros all•lous\). Imperfect
tense, inchoative, "began to speak," each to the other. It
suggests also repetition, they kept saying, {Now} (\d•\). A
particle of urgency. {This thing} (\to rh•ma touto\). A
Hebraistic and vernacular use of \rh•ma\ (something said) as
something done. See on ¯Lu 1:65. The ancient Greek used \logos\
in this same way.
2:16 {With haste} (\speusantes\). Aorist active participle of
simultaneous action. {Found} (\aneuran\). Second aorist active
indicative of a common Greek verb \aneurisk•\, but only in Luke
in the N.T. The compound \ana\ suggests a search before finding.
2:17 {Made known} (\egn•risan\). To others (verse 18) besides
Joseph and Mary. The verb is common from Aeschylus on, from the
root of \gin•sk•\ (to know). It is both transitive and
intransitive in the N.T.
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