...
I bet you're the right person to ask. Or at least you could put me on to
the right sources. My Greek is very rudimentary, so could you check my
understanding of Luke 2.4: Doxa en hupsistois theo, kai epi ges eirene en
anthropois eudokias
-- and the variant reading: eudokia
I parse EUDOKIAS as a genitive adjunct of anthropois. i.e. to men of good
will, (the Vulgate reading, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis):
both of which might possibly mean "to men of (God's) good will"
but if EUDOKIA, then: en anthropois is a complement of eudokia, ie goodwill
towards men (the 1611 Authorised Version). - This must be a well-thrashed
crux: where would I find info about it?
I'm asking because whenever later translations give variant reading
(by no mens not always), they usually interpret the phrase as
restrictive on the one hand: God's chosen, and non-restictive on the
other: goodwill to men in general. However, the Icelandic Bible gives
the appearance of recording both versions, but its footnote implies
that the variant reading is also restrictive. Its main text is "and
peace on earth among those men whom He favours" and the variant in the
footnote is:: "and good cheer on earth to those men" (syntax requires
following relative clause) If I'm right, then the Icelandic footnote
is a misrepresentation!
Have I got this right? Where should I look for comment on this point?
...
All the best,
Petur