Matthew 18:1

Questions About the Greatest

18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Matthew 19:28

19:28 Jesus ¹  said to them, “I tell you the truth: ²  In the age when all things are renewed, ³  when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging ⁴  the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jeremiah 45:5

45:5 Are you looking for great things for yourself? Do not look for such things. For I, the Lord, affirm ⁵  that I am about to bring disaster on all humanity. ⁶  But I will allow you to escape with your life ⁷  wherever you go.”’”

Mark 10:37

10:37 They said to him, “Permit one of us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.”

Luke 22:24

22:24 A dispute also started ⁸  among them over which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. ⁹ 

Romans 12:10

12:10 Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.

Philemon 1:2-3

1:2 to Apphia ¹⁰  our sister, ¹¹  to Archippus our ¹²  fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. 1:3 Grace and peace to you ¹³  from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

² tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

³ sn The Greek term translated the age when all things are renewed (παλιγγενεσία, palingenesia) is understood as a reference to the Messianic age, the time when all things are renewed and restored (cf. Rev 21:5).

⁴ sn The statement you…will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel looks at the future authority the Twelve will have when Jesus returns. They will share in Israel’s judgment.

⁵ tn Heb “oracle of the Lord.”

⁶ sn Compare Jer 25:31, 33. The reference here to universal judgment also forms a nice transition to the judgments on the nations that follow in Jer 46-51 which may be another reason for the placement of this chapter here, out of its normal chronological order (see also the study note on v. 1).

⁷ tn Heb “I will give you your life for a spoil.” For this idiom see the translator’s note on 21:9 and compare the usage in 21:9; 38:2; 39:18.

⁸ tn Or “happened.”

⁹ tn Though the term μείζων (meizwn) here is comparative in form, it is superlative in sense (BDF §244).

¹⁰ sn Apphia is thought to be the wife of Philemon.

¹¹ tc Most witnesses (D² Ψ Ï) here read τῇ ἀγαπητῇ (th agaphth, “beloved, dear”), a reading that appears to have been motivated by the masculine form of the same adjective in v. 1. Further, the earliest and best witnesses, along with a few others (א A D* F G I P 048 0278 33 81 104 1739 1881 pc), have ἀδελφῇ (adelfh, “sister”). Thus on internal and external grounds, ἀδελφῇ is the strongly preferred reading.

¹² tn Though the term “our” does not appear in the Greek text it is inserted to bring out the sense of the passage.

¹³ tn Grk “Grace to you and peace.”