Division Caused by Christ
Luke 12:49-53
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Luke.12.49 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Πυρ: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- βαλειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- θελω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- ηδη: ADV
- ανηφθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 10:34 (thematic): Jesus warns that his coming brings division and conflict rather than peace—parallel to Luke 12:49's image of fire as a disruptive, purifying force that splits households and societies.
- Luke 12:51-53 (structural): Immediate context in Luke: Jesus explicates the divisive consequences of his mission (‘sword’, familial division), directly connected to the ‘fire’ he says he came to bring.
- Matthew 3:11 (verbal): John the Baptist contrasts baptism with the Spirit and ‘fire’; the shared fire imagery links Jesus’ mission to themes of cleansing, judgment, and empowerment.
- Malachi 3:2-3 (allusion): God’s coming is compared to a refiner’s fire that purifies; Luke 12:49's fire likewise suggests purging and refining consequences accompanying the Lord’s advent.
- Jeremiah 23:29 (allusion): Yahweh’s word is likened to fire and a hammer—a prophetic image of consuming, searching power that resonates with Jesus’ declaration of coming to cast fire on the earth.
Alternative generated candidates
- I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
- I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!
Luke.12.50 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- βαπτισμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- εχω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- βαπτισθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- και: CONJ
- πως: ADV
- συνεχομαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,1,sg
- εως: CONJ
- οτου: CONJ
- τελεσθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 10:38-39 (verbal): Uses the exact language of being ‘baptized with’ a baptism and drinking a cup—direct verbal parallel to Jesus’ prediction of a baptism of suffering.
- Matthew 20:22-23 (thematic): Parallel cup imagery and the disciples’ inability to share Jesus’ ordeal; thematically links Jesus’ suffering as a cup to be drunk.
- Luke 3:21-22 (structural): Refers to Jesus’ water baptism at the start of his ministry; provides a structural contrast between that public inauguration and the distinct ‘baptism’ of suffering he now predicts.
- Acts 1:5 (allusion): Distinguishes different kinds of baptism (John’s water vs. Spirit); highlights the New Testament’s varied uses of ‘baptism,’ illuminating Jesus’ reference to a non-ritual baptism.
- Isaiah 53:12 (thematic): Suffering‑servant language (bearing guilt, being poured out to death) thematically parallels Jesus’ predicted suffering—understood in Luke as the ‘baptism’ he must undergo.
Alternative generated candidates
- I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how constrained I am until it is accomplished.
- I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished.
Luke.12.51 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- δοκειτε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ειρηνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- παρεγενομην: VERB,aor,mid,ind,1,sg
- δουναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- γη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ουχι: PART
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- αλλ᾽η: CONJ+ART,nom,sg,f
- διαμερισμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 10:34-36 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel: Jesus says he did not come to bring peace but a sword, and speaks of division even within households (sons against fathers), matching Luke’s claim of division.
- Luke 12:49-53 (structural): Immediate Lukan context: Jesus expands on 12:51, portraying his mission as one that brings conflict and family division rather than worldly peace.
- Luke 2:34-35 (allusion): Simeon’s prophecy that a sword will pierce Mary’s soul and that Jesus will be a sign that is opposed anticipates the divisive effects of Jesus’ coming.
- John 7:43 (thematic): Reports that the crowds were split in opinion about Jesus, illustrating the broader social and religious division his presence provoked, as in Luke 12:51.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? I tell you, No; but rather division.
- Do you suppose I have come to bring peace to the earth? I tell you, No; rather, division.
Luke.12.52 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εσονται: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- γαρ: PART
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- νυν: ADV
- πεντε: NUM,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- ενι: PREP
- οικω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- διαμεμερισμενοι: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,pl,m
- τρεις: NUM,acc,pl,f
- επι: PREP
- δυσιν: NUM,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- τρισιν: NUM,dat,pl
Parallels
- Luke 12:51-53 (structural): Immediate context of the same teaching: Jesus explicitly says he brings division and spells out the family-level conflicts (father/son, mother/daughter) that follow his message.
- Matthew 10:34-36 (verbal): Parallel saying of Jesus in Matthew: 'I did not come to bring peace but a sword,' followed by family division language ('a man's enemies will be those of his own household'), closely matching Luke's formula.
- Micah 7:6 (quotation): OT source quoted/alluded to by Jesus: Micah prophesies family betrayal ('a man's enemies are the members of his own house'), which Jesus echoes to describe the divisive effects of his coming.
- 1 Corinthians 7:15 (thematic): Paul addresses division within households caused by differing religious allegiance (believing/unbelieving spouses), reflecting the practical outworking of the kind of domestic division Jesus predicts.
Alternative generated candidates
- From now on five in one house will be divided—three against two and two against three.
- From now on there will be five in one house divided—three against two and two against three.
Luke.12.53 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- διαμερισθησονται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,pl
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- υιω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- πατρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- μητηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- επι: PREP
- θυγατερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- θυγατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,fem
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- μητερα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- πενθερα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- νυμφην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτης: PRO,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- νυμφη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πενθεραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 10:34-36 (verbal): Jesus' saying about bringing a 'sword' and setting family members against one another closely parallels Luke's list of father vs. son, mother vs. daughter, etc.
- Matthew 10:21-22 (verbal): Prediction of betrayal within families (brother delivering brother, father delivering son, children rising against parents) echoes Luke's catalogue of familial division.
- Micah 7:6 (allusion): The Hebrew prophetic text ('a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother') is a clear antecedent behind New Testament depictions of domestic strife as a consequence of covenant faithfulness.
- Luke 21:16 (thematic): In the eschatological discourse Jesus warns disciples they will be betrayed by family members—a theme of intra-family division that parallels Luke 12:53.
Alternative generated candidates
- They will be divided: father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
- Father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
I came to cast fire upon the earth, and I wish it were already kindled!
I have a baptism to undergo, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!
Do you suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth? I tell you, no; rather, division.
From now on, in one household there will be five divided—three against two and two against three.
They will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.