Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 3].
_Koin•_. This infinitive here with the accusative of general
reference is the subject of \egeneto\ (it came to pass). Mt
3:16 uses the same verb, but Mr 1:10 has \schizomenous\, rent
asunder.
3:22 {Descended} (\katab•nai\). Same construction as the
preceding infinitive. {The Holy Ghost} (\to pneuma to hagion\).
The Holy Spirit. Mr 1:10 has merely the Spirit (\to pneuma\)
while Mt 3:16 has the Spirit of God (\pneuma theou\). {In a
bodily form} (\s•matik•i eidei\). Alone in Luke who has also "as
a dove" (\h•s peristeran\) like Matthew and Mark. This probably
means that the Baptist saw the vision that looked like a dove.
Nothing is gained by denying the fact or possibility of the
vision that looked like a dove. God manifests his power as he
will. The symbolism of the dove for the Holy Spirit is
intelligible. We are not to understand that this was the
beginning of the Incarnation of Christ as the Cerinthian Gnostics
held. But this fresh influx of the Holy Spirit may have deepened
the Messianic consciousness of Jesus and certainly revealed him
to the Baptist as God's Son. {And a voice came out of heaven}
(\kai ph•n•n ex ouranou genesthai\). Same construction of
infinitive with accusative of general reference. The voice of the
Father to the Son is given here as in Mr 1:11, which see, and
Mt 3:17 for discussion of the variation there. The Trinity here
manifest themselves at the baptism of Jesus which constitutes the
formal entrance of Jesus upon his Messianic ministry. He enters
upon it with the Father's blessing and approval and with the
power of the Holy Spirit upon him. The deity of Christ here
appears in plain form in the Synoptic Gospels. The consciousness
of Christ is as clear on this point here as in the Gospel of John
where the Baptist describes him after his baptism as the Son of
God (Joh 1:34).
3:23 {Jesus Himself} (\autos I•sous\). Emphatic intensive pronoun
calling attention to the personality of Jesus at this juncture.
When he entered upon his Messianic work. {When he began to teach}
(\archomenos\). The words "to teach" are not in the Greek text.
The Authorized Version "began to be about thirty years of age,"
is an impossible translation. The Revised Version rightly
supplies "to teach" (\didaskein\) after the present participle
\archomenos\. Either the infinitive or the participle can follow
\archomai\, usually the infinitive in the _Koin•_. It is not
necessary to supply anything (Ac 1:22). {Was about thirty years
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