Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Luke

[Numbers]

This has long been one of my favorite passages in the entire Bible

But recently it has come to my attention that the phrase only appears in Luke

And some question the legitimacy of the saying

Does anyone know more about this ?

Thank you

[jimwalton]

The saying has a considerable degree of doubt. It is missing in some of the oldest and best manuscripts, though Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Ephraemi Rescriptus, and Bezae Cantabrigiensis, and others, do contain it. That makes it questionable at best.

A.T. Robertson and Leon Morris both argue that, despite its lacking in certain good manuscripts, it is certain that Jesus spoke these words, for they are utterly unlike anyone else. In the culture, it was common for such a person to say, "May my death atone for all my sins." Keener writes, "But Jesus confesses instead the sin of those who falsely convicted him, who under OT law were liable for his penalty before God."

The fact that Luke is the only one who recorded them is of no particular consequence. Each of the Gospels has unique parts. Such selectivity shows they are writing to get a particular point across, not necessarily fabricating information for the fun of it.