LUKE 4:18
This exercise will apply the method of Textual Criticism in practice. The task given was to evaluate if the sentence "he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted" in Luke 4:18, should inserted or not into the verse. The verses 18 and 19 are quotation from Isaiah 61:1,2a. The verse 1 especially forms the other end of the comparison.
External evidences
First, we look the external evidences, which means different manuscripts.
The sentence is included:
Manuscripts:
A codex Aleksandrianus 5th century
Theta (Cesarean) 9th century
Psi (Western) 9/10th century
A codex Aleksandrianus 5th century
Theta (Cesarean) 9th century
Psi (Western) 9/10th century
Other scripts:
O102 7th century
or younger
O102 7th century
or younger
The sentence is excluded:
Manuscripts:
Alef codex Sinaiticus 4th century
B codex Vaticanus 4th century
D 5th century
Etc.
Alef codex Sinaiticus 4th century
B codex Vaticanus 4th century
D 5th century
Etc.
Other scripts:
33. 9th century
or younger
33. 9th century
or younger
The external evidence supports the supposition that the sentence was not existing in the original text.
Internal evidences
The rule of "shorter reading is to be preferred", supports the assumption that the sentence would be an addition.
On contrary the rule of "more complicated reading is to be referred" supports the hypothesis that the sentence is not an addition.
"The more in line of the author"-rule supports the assumption that the sentence was not in the original text. The Gospel of Luke and Acts are not using the terms elsewhere.
Rules of "the scribes' tendency to harmonize the text" and "support some theological aspects" are together supporting the assumption that the sentence is later made addition. Probably including the sentence was an attempt to harmonize the Scriptures according the Septuagint and Isaiah.
I think that it is probable that Luke as a Greek, used the Greek translation, Septuagint. For example, Septuagint uses the term "blinds" instead of Isaiah's "prisoners." Luke also has "blinds" which fits in his literal use of terms. Luke had the socio-ecomical emphasis of the society in his Gospel.
On contrary the rule of "more complicated reading is to be referred" supports the hypothesis that the sentence is not an addition.
"The more in line of the author"-rule supports the assumption that the sentence was not in the original text. The Gospel of Luke and Acts are not using the terms elsewhere.
Rules of "the scribes' tendency to harmonize the text" and "support some theological aspects" are together supporting the assumption that the sentence is later made addition. Probably including the sentence was an attempt to harmonize the Scriptures according the Septuagint and Isaiah.
I think that it is probable that Luke as a Greek, used the Greek translation, Septuagint. For example, Septuagint uses the term "blinds" instead of Isaiah's "prisoners." Luke also has "blinds" which fits in his literal use of terms. Luke had the socio-ecomical emphasis of the society in his Gospel.
Conclusions
My opinion is that the sentence "he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted" is addition because of the harmonizing the text of Luke with others.
Why Luke then excluded it from the original text? It is probable that Luke, because of not being the eyewitness of the incident, copied verses 18 and 19 straight from the Scriptures. The sentence is included in both the hebrew text of Isaiah and Greek Septuagint. With the purpose, Luke excluded the sentence of "brokenhearted" ones because it was too abstract for his practical doctor-minded purposes in his very own gospel.
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