18:6 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, 4 it would be better for him to have a huge millstone 5 hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. 6
18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
1:1 From Paul, 11 an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1 tn Grk “brother.”
2 tn Grk “on account of food.”
3 tn Grk “according to love.”
4 tn The Greek term σκανδαλίζω (skandalizw), translated here “causes to sin” can also be translated “offends” or “causes to stumble.”
5 tn Grk “the millstone of a donkey.” This refers to a large flat stone turned by a donkey in the process of grinding grain (BDAG 661 s.v. μύλος 2; L&N 7.68-69). The same term is used in the parallel account in Mark 9:42.
6 tn The term translated “open” here (πελάγει, pelagei) refers to the open sea as opposed to a stretch of water near a coastline (BDAG 794 s.v. πέλαγος). A similar English expression would be “the high seas.”
7 tn BDAG 473 s.v. ἱκανόω states, “τινὰ εἴς τι someone for someth. Col 1:12.” The point of the text is that God has qualified the saints for a “share” or “portion” in the inheritance of the saints.
8 tn Grk “the inheritance of the saints.” The genitive noun τῶν ἁγίων (twn Jagiwn) is a possessive genitive: “the saints’ inheritance.”
9 tn Here αὐτοῦ (autou) has been translated as a subjective genitive (“he loves”).
10 tn Here αὐτοῦ (autou) has been translated as a subjective genitive (“he loves”).
11 tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.