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The Mental Attitude of Jesus at Bethany: John 11. 33, 38
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2009
Extract
Both secular and sacred texts indicate that the verb έμβρ. and its congeners may convey, at times, a more violent expression of ‘wrath’ such as is found in the description of the persecutors of Christians in Gaul (Eusebius) or in the meaning of ‘curse’ (cf. Hermias on Empedocles) or ‘exasperation’ (Aquila in Jer 10.10) or even as a substitute for όργή (Symmachus and Theodotion on Ezek 21.36). At other times, έμβρ. and its congeners shade into the meaning of έπειλή ‘threat’ (Basil on Ps 37) or even of έπιτιμάω ‘rebuke’ (cf. Symmachus on Isa 17.13).
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References
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71 The genuine request which is printed by the Greek texts noted, i.e. ‘Save me from this hour’, is John's ‘version’ of the Gethsemane prayer (cf. Matt 26. 39; Mark 14. 36; Luke 22. 42), a prayer that is suited admirably to the opening words of 12. 27, ‘Now my soul is troubled.’ John lifts the veil for us to see the true human being that Jesus is as he recoils in horror from the spectre of the cross. The punctuation of UBS3 and Nestle26 with a question mark after ταύτης reveals – to the contrary – Jesus’ courage in the face of his impending death.
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