Eddie42
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"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matt 24:34, KJV)
The natural understanding of "generation" in this context is as in the 1828 Websters "2. A single succession in natural descent, as the children of the same parents; hence, an age. Thus we say, the third, the fourth, or the tenth generation. Gen 15:16... 3. The people of the same period, or living at the same time. O faithless and perverse generation. Luke 9."
The verse seems to be giving a time frame, so where was the question of timing, the "when"? At the beginning of the chapter after Jesus foretold the destruction of the Temple. "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matt 24:3, KJV) Keep in mind that the disciples were asking about the time of destruction of the Temple they just looked at.
The phrase "the end of the world" is not found in the parallel verses in Mark 13 and Luke 21. Matthew is written from a Jewish perspective, such as writing "kingdom of heaven" in place of "kingdom of God" as in Mark and Luke. Also from the Jewish perspective is the destruction of the Temple not the end of the world to them? No Temple=No Jewish religion. The phrase is informally used like that as shown in the Oxford online, the Lexico where these sample sentences are found: https://www.lexico.com/definition/the_end_of_the_world
‘There will be some who will proclaim this result a disaster, the end of the world.’
‘It was like the end of the world for the whole family, when this happened to Lydia,’ he said.’
The word translated "world" is actually "age", but it seems to amount to the same thing. But, the disciples asked also about the "signs" that go with the "when". That is covered by v24 in context as well:
"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matt 24:33-34, KJV)
It is clear that "all these things" are the signs or events given prior to v33. V34 also states that all these things will be fulfilled including Matt.24:14 fulfilled in the 1st century, Col. 1:23, Rom. 1:8. Now, can the Greek "γενεά genea" here mean "race"? The Strong's number is 1074 and if you do a word check through the NT you'll never find it referring to "race". A word can have a basic meaning in isolation, but have varied meanings in context. The Greek-English Lexicons give meanings as seen in individual contexts and I'll quote from three:
Abbott-Smith's Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT: "of all the people of a given period: Mat 24:34"
Thayer's Greek Lexicon: "the whole multitude of men living at the same time: Mat 24:34"
The BDAG: " Jesus looks upon the whole contemporary generation of Israel as a uniform mass confronting him ἡ γ. αὕτη (cp. Gen 7:1; Ps 11:8) Mt 11:16; 12:41f; 23:36; 24:34"
The idea is stated differently in other translations:
"Remember that all these things will happen before the people now living have all died." (Matt 24:34, GNB92)
"Truly I tell you: the present generation will live to see it all." (Matt 24:34, REB)
Can the generation spoken of by Jesus mean a generation 2000 years future to the time he spoke? How does the Bible read when referring to generations far distant in time? See in Hebrews:
"When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways." (Heb 3:9-10, KJV)
Matt. 24:34 reads "this generation", those people to whom Jesus was speaking!
There is another rather odd teaching on this in verse: "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:" (Matt 24:32, KJV)
It has been taught that the "fig tree" represents Israel and this is a prediction of Israel becoming a nation in 1948. Many schemes were built around that, thinking 1988 was the 2nd coming, 1948 plus the traditional 40 years to a generation. Well, you'll wear out the pages of your Bible to find anywhere that the fig tree is a symbol for or represents Israel. But that exact idea is found in the Gnostic writings as found in the Gnostic Library, The Apocalypse of Peter:
"And I, Peter, answered and said unto him: Interpret unto me concerning the fig-tree, whereby we shall perceive it; for throughout all its days doth the fig-tree send forth shoots, and every year it bringeth forth its fruit for its master. What then meaneth the parable of the fig-tree? We know it not.
And the Master (Lord) answered and said unto me: Understandest thou not that the fig-tree is the house of Israel?"
We compare Scripture with Scripture, not Scripture to Gnostic writings. The RV and ASV render 2 Tim 3:16 thus:
"Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness:" (2Tim 3:16, ASV)
So far it is clear and natural language, rather literal. But in vss 27-31 we find apocalyptic language, symbolism largely taken from OT usage. Examples: Isa 13:10; 24:23; Eze 32:7; Joe 2:31. Symbols and figurative language can't be pushed into literalism.
By the way, the phrase "the great and the terrible day of the LORD"(Joe 2:31) refers to 70AD and the destruction of the Temple and siege of Jerusalem. Peter said it was what happened before 70AD in Acts 2:17ff. In the apostolic age you had "extra-ordinary" gifts and offices that did not continue up through the centuries to our day, in spite of the claims of certain groups today. So, Peter placed this time from Joel leading up to and including 70AD.
The natural understanding of "generation" in this context is as in the 1828 Websters "2. A single succession in natural descent, as the children of the same parents; hence, an age. Thus we say, the third, the fourth, or the tenth generation. Gen 15:16... 3. The people of the same period, or living at the same time. O faithless and perverse generation. Luke 9."
The verse seems to be giving a time frame, so where was the question of timing, the "when"? At the beginning of the chapter after Jesus foretold the destruction of the Temple. "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matt 24:3, KJV) Keep in mind that the disciples were asking about the time of destruction of the Temple they just looked at.
The phrase "the end of the world" is not found in the parallel verses in Mark 13 and Luke 21. Matthew is written from a Jewish perspective, such as writing "kingdom of heaven" in place of "kingdom of God" as in Mark and Luke. Also from the Jewish perspective is the destruction of the Temple not the end of the world to them? No Temple=No Jewish religion. The phrase is informally used like that as shown in the Oxford online, the Lexico where these sample sentences are found: https://www.lexico.com/definition/the_end_of_the_world
‘There will be some who will proclaim this result a disaster, the end of the world.’
‘It was like the end of the world for the whole family, when this happened to Lydia,’ he said.’
The word translated "world" is actually "age", but it seems to amount to the same thing. But, the disciples asked also about the "signs" that go with the "when". That is covered by v24 in context as well:
"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matt 24:33-34, KJV)
It is clear that "all these things" are the signs or events given prior to v33. V34 also states that all these things will be fulfilled including Matt.24:14 fulfilled in the 1st century, Col. 1:23, Rom. 1:8. Now, can the Greek "γενεά genea" here mean "race"? The Strong's number is 1074 and if you do a word check through the NT you'll never find it referring to "race". A word can have a basic meaning in isolation, but have varied meanings in context. The Greek-English Lexicons give meanings as seen in individual contexts and I'll quote from three:
Abbott-Smith's Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT: "of all the people of a given period: Mat 24:34"
Thayer's Greek Lexicon: "the whole multitude of men living at the same time: Mat 24:34"
The BDAG: " Jesus looks upon the whole contemporary generation of Israel as a uniform mass confronting him ἡ γ. αὕτη (cp. Gen 7:1; Ps 11:8) Mt 11:16; 12:41f; 23:36; 24:34"
The idea is stated differently in other translations:
"Remember that all these things will happen before the people now living have all died." (Matt 24:34, GNB92)
"Truly I tell you: the present generation will live to see it all." (Matt 24:34, REB)
Can the generation spoken of by Jesus mean a generation 2000 years future to the time he spoke? How does the Bible read when referring to generations far distant in time? See in Hebrews:
"When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways." (Heb 3:9-10, KJV)
Matt. 24:34 reads "this generation", those people to whom Jesus was speaking!
There is another rather odd teaching on this in verse: "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:" (Matt 24:32, KJV)
It has been taught that the "fig tree" represents Israel and this is a prediction of Israel becoming a nation in 1948. Many schemes were built around that, thinking 1988 was the 2nd coming, 1948 plus the traditional 40 years to a generation. Well, you'll wear out the pages of your Bible to find anywhere that the fig tree is a symbol for or represents Israel. But that exact idea is found in the Gnostic writings as found in the Gnostic Library, The Apocalypse of Peter:
"And I, Peter, answered and said unto him: Interpret unto me concerning the fig-tree, whereby we shall perceive it; for throughout all its days doth the fig-tree send forth shoots, and every year it bringeth forth its fruit for its master. What then meaneth the parable of the fig-tree? We know it not.
And the Master (Lord) answered and said unto me: Understandest thou not that the fig-tree is the house of Israel?"
The Apocalypse of Peter -- Gnostic Society Library: Christian Apocrypha and Early Christian Literature
The Apocalypse of Peter -- Christian Apocrypha and Early Christian Literature, in a vast collection of materials dealing with Gnosis and Gnosticism, both ancient and modern. The site includes the Gnostic Library, with the complete Nag Hammadi Library and a large collection of other primary...
gnosis.org
We compare Scripture with Scripture, not Scripture to Gnostic writings. The RV and ASV render 2 Tim 3:16 thus:
"Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness:" (2Tim 3:16, ASV)
So far it is clear and natural language, rather literal. But in vss 27-31 we find apocalyptic language, symbolism largely taken from OT usage. Examples: Isa 13:10; 24:23; Eze 32:7; Joe 2:31. Symbols and figurative language can't be pushed into literalism.
By the way, the phrase "the great and the terrible day of the LORD"(Joe 2:31) refers to 70AD and the destruction of the Temple and siege of Jerusalem. Peter said it was what happened before 70AD in Acts 2:17ff. In the apostolic age you had "extra-ordinary" gifts and offices that did not continue up through the centuries to our day, in spite of the claims of certain groups today. So, Peter placed this time from Joel leading up to and including 70AD.
