One Letter Difference

Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Luke 2:14 KJV

Goodwill – In his book, Windows into the Bible, Marc Turnage notes that there are two readings of the Greek texts of Luke 2:14. One variant uses the Greek word eudokai, rendering the text “on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” The other variant uses eudokias, resulting in the translation, “on earth, peace among men of his will.” The addition of a simple Greek letter (the s at the end of the word) changes the meaning of the entire verse.   In the first case, God’s goodwill is directed toward all mankind. In the second, “His peace [rests] solely upon those of His will, i.e., the elect.”[1] It’s noteworthy that the ESV opts for this second reading, translating the verse, “an on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” Turnage points out that these two variant readings reflect two completely different views of God’s redemptive activity. Since manuscripts exist with either reading, the question is not about the words in the text. The question is about the implications of each reading.

The version that suggests God’s favor falls upon those that please Him is supported by the Qumran community and the Dead Sea scrolls. According to the Qumran community, God chooses those whom He will favor from all eternity. In like manner, He also chooses those who are predestined toward disobedience and will eventually be punished. The dualism between the righteous and the wicked can be seen in statements like this: “And what vessel of clay is able to do great deeds wondrously? He is in iniquity from the womb, and until old age in unfaithful guilt. I know no human being is righteous, and perfection of way does not belong to a mortal.”[2] Turnage argues that Yeshua rejected this idea, and that the text in question should be read as God’s proclamation that favor has come upon all men. “The angelic proclamation, then, identified the birth of Jesus as the manifestation of God’s glory, peace, and goodwill upon the earth.”[3] According to Turnage, Yeshua endorsed the movement toward a “Jewish humanism that viewed all people as having worth and value.”[4]

Aside from the historical interest, the two readings of the original text provide us some insight into the later developments of Reformed theology. Out of the sectarian views of the Qumran community, the dualism between the righteous and the wicked is renewed in the thought of Calvin. Predestination, election and God’s unalterable choice is not a new subject. Neither is the consequent doctrine of men being born sinners. All of these powerful themes were present during the time of Yeshua, and he rejected them all. Since every idea has a history, it might be useful to ask, “Where did the Qumran community get the idea of this cosmic dualism?” While a definitive answer may not be available yet, it seems that Hellenism, and in particular the dualism of Plato, made its way into Jewish thinking as early as the fourth century BCE. Perhaps doctrines like those that eventually were espoused by Calvin and the Reformers really began in Plato’s dialogues, making their way into Jewish as well as much later Christian thought. Perhaps if we investigated further we would discover that predestination of the individual, limited atonement, total depravity and sinful nature originated in Platonic philosophy, not in the Scriptures of the Tanakh.

We might also ask, “If we chose the variant reading of the text with the added “s,” how does that affect our behavior?” Do we believe that God’s favor is poured out on all people regardless of their present obedient or disobedient state? Do we act toward all others with God’s grace in mind? Or are we selective, limiting our benevolence to those who show themselves observant? Are we welcoming toward those who do not share our theological point of view? Or are we quick to castigate them as heretics, ignorant and unworthy? How much of our behavior is conditioned by our view of the elect? How much is determined by a wider humanism?

Is Plato hiding in your closet?

Topical Index: Luke 2:14, eudokia, eudokias, goodwill, Qumran, election

[1] Marc Turnage, Windows into the Bible: Cultural & Historical Insights from the Bible for Modern Readers (Logion Press, 2016), p. 235.

[2] Ibid., p. 237. The Thanksgiving Hymns of the Dead Sea scrolls, 1QH 12:30-34

[3] Ibid., p. 240.

[4] Ibid., p. 241.