As to the significance in the context of the Beatitudes,
Jesus seems to be turning conventional attitudes on their
ear:
"Fortunate [are] the ones [who are] destitute in
their spirit,
because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens ...."
I read this not as "fortunate by being destitute in
spirit" but "fortunate because of what will happen to
them in the future because I have come."
Anyhow, them's my thoughts.
Regards,
j.v.
James H. Vellenga | jvellenga@viewlogic.com
Viewlogic Systems, Inc. __|__ 508-303-5491
293 Boston Post Road West | FAX: 508-460-8213
Marlboro, MA 01752-4615 |
http://www.viewlogic.com
"We all work with partial information."
> From: "KULIKOVSKY, Andrew" <AKULIKOV@baea.com.au>
> Date: 19 Nov 96 11:22:24 EST
>
> Fellow Greeks,
>
> I'm preaching on the beatitudes soon and I'm completely
> confused by MAKARIOS is this context.
>
> Generally the word MAKARIOS is rendered as "blessed"
> or sometimes "happy" according to BAGD.
>
> However, Louw and Nida give "happy" and don't even
> mention "blessed" as a possible rendering at all - anywhere!
> But this doesn't make sense in the context - a person in
> mourning is not a happy person.
>
> NIDNTT and TDNT said the same as BAGD.
>
> In the beattitudes, Ken Wuest translates it as "spiritually
> prosperous".
>
> The NIV consistently translates MAKARIOS as "blessed"
> in almost every occurrence throughout the NT.
>
> So what the heck does this mean? "blessed" seems to
> make the most sense but not according to Louw and Nida.
>
>