Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 17].
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17:1 {It is impossible} (\anendekton estin\). See \ouk
endechetai\ in 13:33. Alpha privative (\an-\) and \endektos\,
verbal adjective, from \endechomai\. The word occurs only in late
Greek and only here in the N.T. The meaning is inadmissible,
unallowable. {But that occasions of stumbling should come} (\tou
ta skandala m• elthein\). This genitive articular infinitive is
not easy to explain. In Ac 10:25 there is another example where
the genitive articular infinitive seems to be used as a
nominative (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1040). The loose Hebrew
infinitive construction may have a bearing here, but one may
recall that the original infinitives were either locatives
(\-eni\) or datives (\-ai\). \Ta skandala\ is simply the
accusative of general reference. Literally, the not coming as to
occasions of stumbling. For \skandalon\ (a trap) see on ¯Mt 5:29;
16:23. It is here only in Luke. The positive form of this saying
appears in Mt 18:7, which see.
17:2 {It were well for him} (\lusitelei aut•i\). An old word, but
only here in the N.T., from \lusitel•s\ and this from \lu•\, to
pay, and \ta tel•\, the taxes. So it pays the taxes, it returns
expenses, it is profitable. Literally here, "It is profitable for
him" (dative case, \aut•i\). Matthew has \sumpherei\ (it is
advantageous, bears together for). {If a millstone were hanged}
(\ei lithos mulikos perikeitai\). Literally, "if a millstone is
hanged." Present passive indicative from \perikeimai\ (to lie or
be placed around). It is used as a perfect passive of
\peritith•mi\. So it is a first-class condition, determined as
fulfilled, not second-class as the English translations imply.
\Mulikos\ is simply a stone (\lithos\), belonging to a mill. Here
only in the text of Westcott and Hort, not in Mr 9:42 which is
like Mt 18:6 \mulos onikos\ where the upper millstone is turned
by an ass, which see. {Were thrown} (\erriptai\). Perfect passive
indicative from \rhipt•\, old verb. Literally, is thrown or has
been thrown or cast or hurled. Mark has \bebl•tai\ and Matthew
\katapontisth•i\, which see, all three verbs vivid and
expressive. Rather than (\•\). The comparative is not here
expressed before \•\ as one would expect. It is implied in
\lusitelei\. See the same idiom in Lu 15:7.
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/LU17.RWP.html (1 of 6) [28/08/2004 09:05:47 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Luke: Chapter 17)