Luke 2:36-37

The Testimony of Anna

2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, ¹  having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. 2:37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. ²  She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ³ 

Luke 2:2

2:2 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor ⁴  of Syria.

Colossians 1:11-12

1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of ⁵  all patience and steadfastness, joyfully 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share ⁶  in the saints’ ⁷  inheritance in the light.

Colossians 1:16

1:16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, ⁸  whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him.

Colossians 1:28

1:28 We proclaim him by instructing ⁹  and teaching ¹⁰  all people ¹¹  with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature ¹²  in Christ.

Colossians 1:1

Salutation

1:1 From Paul, ¹³  an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Colossians 3:5

3:5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: ¹⁴  sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, ¹⁵  evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.

Titus 3:8

Summary of the Letter

3:8 This saying ¹⁶  is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, ¹⁷  so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.

[2:36]  ¹ tn Her age is emphasized by the Greek phrase here, “she was very old in her many days.”

[2:37]  ² tn Grk “living with her husband for seven years from her virginity and she was a widow for eighty four years.” The chronology of the eighty-four years is unclear, since the final phrase could mean “she was widowed until the age of eighty-four” (so BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.α). However, the more natural way to take the syntax is as a reference to the length of her widowhood, the subject of the clause, in which case Anna was about 105 years old (so D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 1:251-52; I. H. Marshall, Luke, [NIGTC], 123-24).

[2:37]  ³ sn The statements about Anna worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day make her extreme piety clear.

[2:2]  ⁴ tn Or “was a minister of Syria.” This term could simply refer to an administrative role Quirinius held as opposed to being governor (Josephus, Ant. 18.4.2 [18.88]). See also Luke 2:1.

[1:11]  ⁵ tn The expression “for the display of” is an attempt to convey in English the force of the Greek preposition εἰς (eis) in this context.

[1:12]  ⁶ 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.

[1:12]  ⁷ tn Grk “the inheritance of the saints.” The genitive noun τῶν ἁγίων (twn Jagiwn) is a possessive genitive: “the saints’ inheritance.”

[1:16]  ⁸ tn BDAG 579 s.v. κυριότης 3 suggests “bearers of the ruling powers, dominions” here.

[1:28]  ⁹ tn Or “admonishing,” or “warning.” BDAG 679 s.v. νουθετέω states, “to counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct,, admonish, warn, instruct.” After the participle νουθετοῦντες (nouqetounte", “instructing”) the words πάντα ἄνθρωπον (panta anqrwpon, “all men”) occur in the Greek text, but since the same phrase appears again after διδάσκοντες (didaskontes) it was omitted in translation to avoid redundancy in English.

[1:28]  ¹⁰ tn The two participles “instructing” (νουθετοῦντες, nouqetounte") and “teaching” (διδάσκοντες, didaskonte") are translated as participles of means (“by”) related to the finite verb “we proclaim” (καταγγέλλομεν, katangellomen).

[1:28]  ¹¹ tn Here ἄνθρωπον (anqrwpon) is twice translated as a generic (“people” and “person”) since both men and women are clearly intended in this context.

[1:28]  ¹² tn Since Paul’s focus is on the present experience of the Colossians, “mature” is a better translation of τέλειον (teleion) than “perfect,” since the latter implies a future, eschatological focus.

[1:1]  ¹³ tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.

[3:5]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “the members which are on the earth.” See BDAG 628 s.v. μέλος 1, “put to death whatever in you is worldly.”

[3:5]  ¹⁵ tn Or “lust.”

[3:8]  ¹⁶ sn This saying (Grk “the saying”) refers to the preceding citation (Titus 3:4-7). See 1 Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11 for other occurrences of this phrase.

[3:8]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “concerning these things.”