Luke 21:36

[Michael_C]

Tim

For the correct reading of Luke 21:36 which text will you be using in the LGV? The Majority Text reads “καταξιωθητεyou might be considered befitting” whereas the Alexandrian Text reads “ κατισχύσητε
you may have strength”. Are we to pray we be considered worthy or pray for strength to endure? The latter seems to fit more appropriately to me given the context in the previous verses of Luke 21 coupled with Rev. 8. I’d like to hear your reasoning either way since I’m teaching this to others.

Seeing how similar the two words are I can see a copyist making an error somewhere and then repeated. This is the area where I lose traction.

[Michael_C]

I meant TR not majority. I do that a lot. Sorry.

[Timothy]

Michael,

That’s a tough one IF we base the decision exclusively on the external textual evidence. This is because κατισχύσητε (have strength / be able) seems to be the older reading, but καταξιωθῆτε (be counted worthy) seems to come from a much wider geographical area and be by far the majority reading. I will have to do some research into quotes of this verse in the ECFs also before I translate it in the LGV. In any case, I will certainly put in a footnote explaining the variant and the external evidence.

Based on the internal evidence, I would lean heavily towards κατισχύσητε (have strength / be able) as the original reading. The other reading is at best awkward. The subjunctive verb κατισχύσητε fits MUCH better with the infinitive ἐκφυγεῖν (“to escape”). This is because ἐκφυγεῖν is in the active voice, not passive voice. That means the one watching and praying actively performs the action of escaping, rather than God doing the action while the one watching and praying is passive in escaping (such as a pre-trib rapture would require). It really ought to be translated “flee” (which requires personal action) rather than “escape” (which could be understood as passive). So, praying to be “found worthy” to actively do something that one does himself seems to be somewhat difficult and awkward. Also, the clause “all these things” in this context includes BOTH the events of AD66-70 and the events of the end-times, so it is equally applicable to BOTH for Christians living through them. We therefore have the historical precedent of the AD66-70 “escape” of the early Christians from the Roman army which clearly involved their active fleeing on foot when they saw the Roman army attempting to surround Jerusalem (as Jesus commanded in vss. 20-21). So, based on the internal evidence I will have to translate the passage something like this: “Be alert the whole time, praying, so that you may have strength to flee all these things that are about to occur, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Finally, keep in mind that in either case this verse does not indicate what we should pray for specifically, but rather what is the intended result, what we should hope to attain by watching and praying, what would be the result. This verse contains what is called a “ἵνα clause” (hina-clause), which is the conjunction ἵνα (that) followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood. This kind of construction always means “so that, in order that, etc” pointing to the intended result, which is either “to be found worthy” or “to have strength” depending on the variant. (Compare Matt. 26:41 which has the same construction). In other words, this verse tells us what we might hope to attain by being watchful and praying. It does NOT tell us how to pray or what specifically to pray about. In that case, the variant becomes much less important.

Grace & Peace, Tim

[Author]

Posts