Luke 21:25-28
New English Translation
The Arrival of the Son of Man
25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars,[a] and on the earth nations will be in distress,[b] anxious[c] over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. 26 People will be fainting from fear[d] and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.[e] 27 Then[f] they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud[g] with power and great glory. 28 But when these things[h] begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption[i] is drawing near.”
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- Luke 21:25 sn Signs in the sun and moon and stars are cosmic signs that turn our attention to the end and the Son of Man’s return for the righteous. OT imagery is present: See Isa 13:9-10; 24:18-20; 34:4; Ezek 32:7-8; Joel 2:1, 30-31; 3:15.
- Luke 21:25 tn Grk “distress of nations.”
- Luke 21:25 tn Or “in consternation” (L&N 32.9).
- Luke 21:26 tn According to L&N 23.184 this could be mainly a psychological experience rather than actual loss of consciousness. It could also refer to complete discouragement because of fear, leading people to give up hope (L&N 25.293).
- Luke 21:26 sn An allusion to Isa 34:4. The heavens were seen as the abode of heavenly forces, so their shaking indicates distress in the spiritual realm. Although some take the powers as a reference to bodies in the heavens (like stars and planets, “the heavenly bodies,” NIV) this is not as likely.
- Luke 21:27 tn Grk “And then” (καὶ τότε, kai tote). Here καί has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Luke 21:27 sn An allusion to Dan 7:13. Here is Jesus returning with full judging authority.
- Luke 21:28 sn These things are all the events of vv. 8-27. Disciples represent the righteous here. The events surrounding the fall of the nation are a down payment on a fuller judgment to come on all humanity. The presence of one guarantees the other.
- Luke 21:28 sn With Jesus’ return comes the manifestation of judgment and final salvation (redemption).
Colossians 3:1-4
New English Translation
Exhortations to Seek the Things Above
3 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ (who is your[a] life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.
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- Colossians 3:4 tc Certain mss (B[*] D1 H 0278 1175 1505 1739 2464 M sy sa) read ἡμῶν (hēmōn, “our”), while others (P46 א C D* F G P Ψ 075 33 81 1881 al latt bo) read ὑμῶν (humōn, “your”). Internally, it is possible that the second person pronoun arose through scribal conformity to the second person pronoun used previously in v. 3 (ὑμῶν) and following in v. 4 (ὑμεῖς, humeis). But in terms of external criteria, the second person pronoun has superior ms support (though there is an Alexandrian split) and ἡμῶν may have arisen through accident (error of sight) or scribal attempt to universalize the statement since all Christians have Jesus as their life. See TCGNT 557.
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