Interesting Christmas verses

Luke 5:26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day. [kjv]

και εκστασις ελαβεν απαντας και εδοξαζον τον θεον και επλησθησαν φοβου λεγοντες οτι ειδαμεν παραδοξα σημερον [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "παράδοξος" ≈ "beyond expectation, strange" and is the source of the English word "paradox" and comes from two Greek words.

The ancient Greek prefix "παρά" ≈ "beyond", not (modern) "parallel".
The ancient Greek word "δόξα" ≈ "opinion, expectation" , not (modern) "glory".

Which makes more sense for "paradox"?

"beyond" "expectation" (original Greek definitions)
"parallel" "glory" (contrived GNT (Greek New Testament) definitions)

More: Going beyond the prefix para

More: Paradoxes: Beyond expectation of a parallel glory

Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. [kjv]

και ειπεν ο αγγελος αυτη μη φοβου μαριαμ ευρες γαρ χαριν παρα τω θεω [gnt]

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. [kjv]

μειζοτεραν τουτων ουκ εχω χαριν ινα ακουω τα εμα τεκνα εν τη αληθεια περιπατουντα [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "χαρά" ≈ "favor, grace". It is sometimes translated as "joy".

"joy"

"grace"

"favor"

By the time John wrote this letter, the meaning of "favor" may have already started to shift to more of a "joy".

More: A joyous thank you for the grace of a gaudy favor

More: Mary and the lamb of God

A connected logic argument that uses transitivity is as follows.

If "Mary is the mother of Jesus"
and "Jesus is the lamb of God",
then "Mary had a little lamb".

More: Logic: syllogisms

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. [kjv]

οτι ουκ αδυνατησει παρα του θεου παν ρημα [gnt]

Paraphrase: Because (it is) not not potentially possible beyond every spoken word of God. (note the double negative)

The idea of potentially possible means that it has not happened yet. About the 16th c., the "all/every" "spoken word" disappeared. The "of" "God" was changed to "with" "God".

Before this, the following were used.

4th century Latin Vulgate as "omne verbum" ≈ "every word".
5th century Wulfila Gothic as "ainhun waurde" ≈ "each word".
8th century Old Church Slavonic as "всяк глаголгол" ≈ "each word".
10th century Wessex Gospels Old English as "aelch word" ≈ "each word".

More: Whisper game

More: Something to say about words

More: Matthew 18:15-17 Conflicting and faulty resolutions

Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, … [kjv]

Emperor Tiberius Caesar (on taxes): It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them.

At the same time, Jesus was walking and teaching in Judea. Jesus had a different idea about what it meant to be a "good" "shepherd".

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. [kjv]

εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος ο ποιμην ο καλος την ψυχην αυτου τιθησιν υπερ των προβατων [gnt]

More: Matthew 17:24-27 Tacky attacks on a senseless tax

Does the use of "X-mas" take "Christ" out of "Christmas"?

Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. [kjv]

ο γαρ ζυγος μου χρηστος και το φορτιον μου ελαφρον εστιν [gnt]

"Χριστός" ≈ "Christ" (christen).
"χρηστός" ≈ "useful, good".

From a purely English word perspective, "Christ" is replaced with "X" or chi.

"φόρτος" ≈ "load, cargo".
"φορτίον" ≈ "load, cargo" (diminutive)
"φόρος" ≈ "tribute, tax".

However, the upper case English letter "X" is the same as the Greek upper case letter «Χ» (xi).

The Greek «Χ» represents "Χριστός", or "Christ".

More: Romans 16 A belly-ache pun on useful Christ-like words

More: Merry X-mas

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. [kjv]

και ετεκεν τον υιον αυτης τον πρωτοτοκον και εσπαργανωσεν αυτον και ανεκλινεν αυτον εν φατνη διοτι ουκ ην αυτοις τοπος εν τω καταλυματι [gnt]

The Greek word used by Luke means "guest room" or "upper room" as described for the Last Supper. It is used in the LXX (Septuagint) as a place, such as house or tent, in which to lodge.

There is a Greek word for "inn" which was used by Luke in the story of the Good Samaritan, but that word is not used here.

What did Mary and Joseph think about the "inn"?

They had reservations, but stayed anyway. The light was left on for them at this one star "hotel".

More: Luke 2:7 no room at the inn

Matthew 5:17 Leave the light on but do not use the law as a residence inn
	Noun	Verb
Type	place	action
English	catalyst (Elizabeth Fulhame, 1794) catalytic converter	catalyze
Greek	κατάλυμα κατάλυματι	καταλύσαι
Meaning	a camp a guest room an upper room	to camp to lodge to reside to nest (to dissolve) (to destroy)

Can Jesus change the rate of reaction (being saved) without getting consumed in the process? He did so for Zacchaeus.

More: Luke 19:1-11 A short discussion on stature

More: Matthew 5:17 Leave the light on but do not use the law as a residence inn

Jesus and the Last Supper: This was already "prepared".

Mark 14:14 … The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? [kjv]

και οπου εαν εισελθη ειπατε τω οικοδεσποτη οτι ο διδασκαλος λεγει που εστιν το καταλυμα μου οπου το πασχα μετα των μαθητων μου φαγω [gnt]

Mary and Joseph: Luke did not use the Greek word for "inn".

Luke 2:7 … there was no room for them in the inn. [kjv]

Jesus and the Father's house: Place to "remain", Latin used "mansions".

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: … I go to prepare a place for you. [kjv]

εν τη οικια του πατρος μου μοναι πολλαι εισιν ει δε μη ειπον αν υμιν οτι πορευομαι ετοιμασαι τοπον υμιν [gnt]

More: Luke 2:7 no room at the inn

More: The Last Supper: the guest-chamber

More: Meno Paradox: Seeking to learn what you do not know

More: Matthew 5:17 Leave the light on but do not use the law as a residence inn

Jesus and Zaccheaus: (verb). A few verses later is the Palm Sunday entrance of Jesus.

Luke 19:7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. [kjv]

και ιδοντες παντες διεγογγυζον λεγοντες οτι παρα αμαρτωλω ανδρι εισηλθεν καταλυσαι [gnt]

Jesus and the law and the prophets: (verb). This is near the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [kjv]

μη νομισητε οτι ηλθον καταλυσαι τον νομον η τους προφητας ουκ ηλθον καταλυσαι αλλα πληρωσαι [gnt]

The English is "fulfill" or "fill full". The Greek for "complete" can involve adding or taking away - as in a sculpture where parts of the material are chipped away.

More: Luke 19:1-11 A short discussion on stature

More: Matthew 5:17 Leave the light on but do not use the law as a residence inn

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [kjv]

και ποιμενες ησαν εν τη χωρα τη αυτη αγραυλουντες και φυλασσοντες φυλακας της νυκτος επι την ποιμνην αυτων [gnt]

… pastores … custodientes vigilias … gregem … [v]

[Linus, Charlie Brown]
[Charles Schultz]
[network TV]

When the "shepherds" were watching there their flocks on Christmas night, were any of the "shepherds" Presbyterians? Were any wearing frocks? Were any washing socks?

The ancient Greek word "ποιμήν" (pee-MEEN) ≈ "shepherd, herdsman" which comes from the word for "protect" since the job of a shepherd was to protect the animals.
The Latin word "pastor" ≈ "shepherd" from which we get the English word "pastor".

More: Luke 2:8-21 Shepherds and Presbyterians

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [kjv]

και εξαιφνης εγενετο συν τω αγγελω πληθος στρατιας ουρανιου αινουντων τον θεον και λεγοντων [gnt]

Charles Wesley (1707-1788) wrote: "Hark the herald welkins ring".
George Whitefield (1714-1770) changed it to: "Hark the herald angels sing".
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) wrote music, also "Wedding march".

Ever since, angels have been singing at Christmas in songs, devotionals, etc.

The German word "die Wolke" ≈ "the cloud" which is related to the Old English word "welcan" ≈ "cloud".

[Elizabeth Hughes and Elizabethtown]

More: Song: Hark the herald angels sing

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. [kjv]

δοξα εν υψιστοις θεω και επι γης ειρηνη εν ανθρωποις ευδοκιας [gnt]

The Greek for "glory" is that of "opinion" or "expectation".
The Greek for "good will" is that of "good opinion" or "good expectation".

Paraphrase: Expectation/opinion in the highest (from earth) to God and on the earth peace in men of a good expectation.

God has a high opinion and a good expectation that men will be peaceful on earth. To support the KJV (King James Version) translation, the second Greek "in" is to the English "towards". To support the Greek "in", translations like the NIV (New International Version) use the following.

NIV: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

More: Luke 2:8-21 Shepherds and Presbyterians

Luke 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. [kjv]

και ηλθαν σπευσαντες και ανευραν την τε μαριαμ και τον ιωσηφ και το βρεφος κειμενον εν τη φατνη [gnt]

[shepherds leaving the sheep, compare 1 of 99 sheep leaving the man/shepherd]

In English, commas can be important. In the above verse, without the commas one might interpret the verse as meaning that "Mary, Joseph and the baby were (all) lying in the manger".

Luke 2:16
Strong	Used	Unique	Word	Part of speech
G2064	624	7	ηλθαν	verb 2nd person aorist active indicative 3rd person plural
G4692	6	1	σπευσαντες	verb aorist active participle nominative plural masculine
G429	2	1	ανευραν	verb 2nd person aorist active indicative 3rd person plural
G5037	214	214	τε	participle
G3137	54	28	μαριαμ	noun Primary
G2501	35	34	ιωσηφ	noun Primary
G1025	8	4	βρεφος	noun accusative singular neuter
G2749	23	3	κειμενον	verb present middle or passive deponent participle accusative singular neuter
G1722	2735	2735	εν	preposition
G5336	4	3	φατνη	noun dative singular feminine

More: The truth about a lying baby

What is the "reason for the season" at Christmas? Which of the following Gospels talk about the birth of Jesus?

Matthew

Herod, Magi and gifts. How, some hints of why.

Mark

Mark is Peter's Gospel. No clear mention of birth of Jesus.

Luke

Shepherds and angels. How, some hints of why.

John

John tells that Jesus was born and why Jesus was born.

More: John 18:33-38: The reason for the season

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. [kjv]

ειπεν ουν αυτω ο πιλατος ουκουν βασιλευς ει συ απεκριθη ο ιησους συ λεγεις οτι βασιλευς ειμι εγω εις τουτο γεγεννημαι και εις τουτο εληλυθα εις τον κοσμον ινα μαρτυρησω τη αληθεια πας ο ων εκ της αληθειας ακουει μου της φωνης [gnt]

Only John tells us why Jesus was born. Jesus witnesses to Pilate.

Jesus tells Pilate why he was born in John 18:37. When Jesus talks of "truth", as in the Greek and Hebrew words for truth, he is talking about the truth of reality and not of a logical true-false truth system.

Throughout time, there are those who hear the message and have understanding. Jesus tells this to Pilate. The Greek for "born" means to "come into being" (in some form).
[philosophy courses, Aristotle final cause]

More: John 18:33-38: The reason for the season

The world does not care about the truth of reality.

John 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. [kjv]

λεγει αυτω ο πιλατος τι εστιν αληθεια και τουτο ειπων παλιν εξηλθεν προς τους ιουδαιους και λεγει αυτοις εγω ουδεμιαν ευρισκω εν αυτω αιτιαν [gnt]