vid

http://bible.cc/luke/2-14.htm

This verse is very popular here in slovakia, in the more humanistic translation "Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will". However, some of other translations seem to have very different meaning.

Can we say which translation is most correct, or is the verse in original greek so ambigous?

Julio

Curiously, Scofield cross-refers this with Matthew 10:34! [See Scofield Reference Bible at Luke 2:14].
He was crazy, this dispensationalist doctor. You see, the angels got so ashamed with the whole scenario that they refused to come back for another song! They sang “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men of good will”, or a different intonation, etc., but it was all a terrible FARCE, according to Scofield, by referring to “Don’t you idiots imagine that the angelical choral had it right there in Bethlehem, with their fantasy that I came to bring peace on earth! I tell you, no, I didn’t come to bring peace on earth, but a sword, you hear?!!!…”
I believe some of those angels became ATHEISTS after Jesus pronounced the sentence in Matthew 10:34!… Or maybe they now worship the Devil!…
If I were one of those angels, I would have asked Jesus:
“Listen, you little god of an inferior rank: where did you find a sword in heaven, for heaven’s sake?!… Don’t you think we already have ENOUGH SWORDS on earth to augment the number of casualties of RELIGIOUS wars, you the son of the almighty Jehovah of warfare and hostilities?!!… So: we sang PEACE and GOOD WILL for nothing, is that it??!!!…”

andrewcriddle

The problem is one of different readings in different Greek manuscripts.
Most of the ancient manuscripts read EUDOKIAS which gives the meaning and on earth peace to men of good will. However the later manuscripts read EUDOKIA which gives the meaning and on earth peace, good will among men.

Andrew Criddle

vid

but how about many translation saying something in manner of "peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor"? Where does this come from?

andrewcriddle

Now this is an ambiguity in the Greek.
Reading EUDOKIAS One can either interpret the passage as meaning men of good will or men of [God's] good pleasure. Most modern scholars tend to prefer men of [God's] good pleasure despite the serious problem of having to assume a reference to God here which is not made explicit in the text.

Andrew Criddle