in spirit

December 22, 2018

The child grew (Lk 1:80-1:80)

“The child grew.

He became strong

In spirit.

He was

In the wilderness

Until the day

He appeared openly

To Israel.”

 

Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανεν καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο πνεύματι, καὶ ἦν ἐν ταῖς ἐρήμοις ἕως ἡμέρας ἀναδείξεως αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν Ἰσραήλ.

 

Luke concluded his remarks about John by saying that this child, John, continued to grow (Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανεν), just like every other child.  This concept of the growing child will also be present with Jesus in the next chapter.  John became strong in spirit (καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο πνεύματι) as he grew stronger spiritually.  He was in the wilderness or desert (καὶ ἦν ἐν ταῖς ἐρήμοις), just like the Israelites during the Exodus, until the day he appeared openly to Israel (ἕως ἡμέρας ἀναδείξεως αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν Ἰσραήλ).  It is hard to figure out what an open or public appearance was, since there would be no big announcement or advertisement like today.

June 16, 2015

King Antiochus IV accepts God (2 Macc 9:11-9:12)

“Then it was that, broken in spirit, he began to lose much of his arrogance. He came to his senses under the scourge of God. He was tortured with pain every moment. When he could not endure his own stench, he uttered these words.

‘It is right to be subject to God.

No mortal should think that they are equal to God.’”

This torture got to King Antiochus IV. His arrogance was broken since he was so tortured with pain. He could not endure his smell anymore. He then uttered the words that everyone was subject to God. No mortal should think himself equal to God. This almost sounds like the deathbed conversion of this same king like in 1 Maccabees, chapter 6. This is the great saying that no human mortal should think himself equal to the powerful God.