Many newer translations are translating Luke 17:21 as:
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, 21 nor will they say, Look, here it is! or There! for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.
Older translations read, “behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” This change came about because the “you” at the end of the sentence is plural in the Greek. Thus translators say, “Well, Jesus couldn’t have said that the kingdom of God was within the Pharisees, right?” At least, this is the reasoning I’m reading, and so they translate the Greek word “ἐντός” as “among” rather than “within” or “inside.”
Now I don’t really have a problem with this, because (in my understanding) the Kingdom of God is a multi-faceted, both physical and spiritual thing. So Jesus being in their midst is a part of the kingdom-come. I just don’t like people using the plural-argument to discard the old interpretation.
Until now I only had the sentence structure to somewhat back up my feelings for the old translation. Jesus says that the Kingdom of God isn’t something that comes with observation, or outward-show, or signs to be observed; nor can you say look here or there! So it would make sense that the kingdom is inside you.
But just last night I stumbled upon something interesting. Later in Luke, Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial — Luke 22:31–34:
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Both instances of “you” in verse 31 are plural, while in verse 32 they are singular. Jesus was only talking to Peter, but nevertheless it is recorded as plural. Now, this might just be an earlier copyist error (maybe the copyist saw Jesus say two names?), or Jesus actually addressed Peter in the plural. Either way, it was interesting to see another place where a plural “you” is used where it seems it shouldn’t have been.
The Kingdom of God is among you(?)
Many newer translations are translating Luke 17:21 as:
Older translations read, “behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” This change came about because the “you” at the end of the sentence is plural in the Greek. Thus translators say, “Well, Jesus couldn’t have said that the kingdom of God was within the Pharisees, right?” At least, this is the reasoning I’m reading, and so they translate the Greek word “ἐντός” as “among” rather than “within” or “inside.”
Now I don’t really have a problem with this, because (in my understanding) the Kingdom of God is a multi-faceted, both physical and spiritual thing. So Jesus being in their midst is a part of the kingdom-come. I just don’t like people using the plural-argument to discard the old interpretation.
Until now I only had the sentence structure to somewhat back up my feelings for the old translation. Jesus says that the Kingdom of God isn’t something that comes with observation, or outward-show, or signs to be observed; nor can you say look here or there! So it would make sense that the kingdom is inside you.
But just last night I stumbled upon something interesting. Later in Luke, Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial — Luke 22:31–34:
Both instances of “you” in verse 31 are plural, while in verse 32 they are singular. Jesus was only talking to Peter, but nevertheless it is recorded as plural. Now, this might just be an earlier copyist error (maybe the copyist saw Jesus say two names?), or Jesus actually addressed Peter in the plural. Either way, it was interesting to see another place where a plural “you” is used where it seems it shouldn’t have been.