Luke 1:6

1:6 They ¹  were both righteous in the sight of God, following ²  all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. ³ 

Luke 1:1

Explanatory Preface

1:1 Now ⁴  many have undertaken to compile an account ⁵  of the things ⁶  that have been fulfilled ⁷  among us,

Colossians 1:8

1:8 who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:27

5:27 so that he ⁸  may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. ⁹ 

Ephesians 5:1

Live in Love

5:1 Therefore, be ¹⁰  imitators of God as dearly loved children

Ephesians 5:23

5:23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body.

Ephesians 5:1

Live in Love

5:1 Therefore, be ¹¹  imitators of God as dearly loved children

Ephesians 3:2

3:2 if indeed ¹²  you have heard of the stewardship ¹³  of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

Ephesians 3:10

3:10 The purpose of this enlightenment is that ¹⁴  through the church the multifaceted wisdom ¹⁵  of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 5:7

5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them, ¹⁶ 

Titus 1:6

1:6 An elder must be blameless, ¹⁷  the husband of one wife, ¹⁸  with faithful children ¹⁹  who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion.

Titus 1:2

1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began. ²⁰ 

Titus 3:14

3:14 Here is another way that our people ²¹  can learn ²²  to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful.

¹ tn Grk “And they.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

² tn Grk “walking in” (an idiom for one’s lifestyle).

³ tn The predicate adjective has the effect of an adverb here (BDF §243).

⁴ tn Grk “Since” or “Because.” This begins a long sentence that extends through v. 4. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, the Greek sentence has been divided up into shorter English sentences in the translation.

⁵ tn This is sometimes translated “narrative,” but the term itself can refer to an oral or written account. It is the verb “undertaken” which suggests a written account, since it literally is “to set one’s hand” to something (BDAG 386 s.v. ἐπιχειρέω). “Narrative” is too specific, denoting a particular genre of work for the accounts that existed in the earlier tradition. Not all of that material would have been narrative.

⁶ tn Or “events.”

⁷ tn Or “have been accomplished.” Given Luke’s emphasis on divine design (e.g., Luke 24:43-47) a stronger sense (“fulfilled”) is better than a mere reference to something having taken place (“accomplished”).

⁸ tn The use of the pronoun αὐτός (autos) is intensive and focuses attention on Christ as the one who has made the church glorious.

⁹ tn Grk “but in order that it may be holy and blameless.”

¹⁰ tn Or “become.”

¹¹ tn Or “become.”

¹² sn If indeed. The author is not doubting whether his audience has heard, but is rather using provocative language (if indeed) to engage his audience in thinking about the magnificence of God’s grace. However, in English translation, the apodosis (“then”-clause) does not come until v. 13, leaving the protasis (“if”-clause) dangling. Eph 3:2-7 constitute one sentence in Greek.

¹³ tn Or “administration,” “dispensation,” “commission.”

¹⁴ tn Grk “that.” Verse 10 is a subordinate clause to the verb “enlighten” in v. 9.

¹⁵ tn Or “manifold wisdom,” “wisdom in its rich variety.”

¹⁶ tn The genitive αὐτῶν (autwn) has been translated as a genitive of association because of its use with συμμέτοχοι (summetocoi) – a verb which implies association in the σύν- (sun-) prefix.

¹⁷ tn Grk “if anyone is blameless…” as a continuation of v. 5b, beginning to describe the elder’s character.

¹⁸ tn Or “married only once,” “devoted solely to his wife.” See the note on “wife” in 1 Tim 3:2; also 1 Tim 3:12; 5:9.

¹⁹ tn Or “believing children.” The phrase could be translated “believing children,” but the parallel with 1 Tim 3:4 (“keeping his children in control”) argues for the sense given in the translation.

²⁰ tn Grk “before eternal ages.”

²¹ tn Grk “that those who are ours” (referring to the Christians).

²² tn Grk “and also let our people learn.”