Joe,
Thanks for your post. You have helped me see how people have traditionally understood this verse.
That Scofield reference is interesting, though do you think it could be biased? My Zodhiates lexical aid says:
"Genea: a coll. noun whose original meaning is generation, i.e., a multitude of contemporaries. In N.T. [Greek] [i]genea[/i] literally means space of time, circle of time, which only in a derived sense signifies the meaning of a time, a race; then generally in the sense of affinity of communion based upon the sameness of stock... The connection alone must decide whether the sense is limited to the state of society at a certain time or whether the word refers simply to race or stock."
Zodhiates then says, "The word [i]genea[/i] in Mt. 24:34 meant the type of Jew with whom Jesus was conversing during that particular time. He was telling them that this generation or type, such as the Sadducees and Pharisees of that day, would not pass away until all these things occured and until His coming again"
But how does he know that for sure?
After reading that stuff from the lexical aid, here's my initial thoughts. First, it seems he's saying that the most natural meaning of the word is "generation" meaning "a multitude of contemporaries." And that only in a derived sense it could maybe signify stock, kind, or race. But then he seems to claim with authority that Matt. 24:34 is referring to the derived sense. But my question is, what if it isn't?
In rereading the chapter, I noticed something interesting. In verse 3 it says, "And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sing of Your coming, and of the end of the Age?"
Jesus responds to them, "See to it that no one misleads [b]you[/b]."
He goes on throughout the chapter, in answering their question, saying to them "you." For example, in verse 6 He says, "And [b]you[/b] will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that [b]you[/b] are not frightened..."
And in verse 15 Jesus tells His disciples, "Therefore when [b]you[/b] see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION..."
And in verse 33 He tells them, "even so [b]you[/b] too, when [b]you[/b] see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door."
Why would Jesus warn His disciples to be careful that nobody misleads them if all the things He was talking about weren't going to take place for 2000 years? Why would He tell them that they would hear of wars and rumors of wars, tell them not to be frightened, tell them they would see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION- that [i]they[/i] would see all those things?
Doesn't it seem like the clearest, most natural reading and interpretation of this chapter is that Jesus is talking to His disciples and telling them that they and their generation will see all these things?
I wonder if we haven't tried to fit this chapter into our understanding so that we can feel ok about it. Because, it might seem to us at first glance, that if Jesus really did mean that His contemporary disciples and that generation would see all those things come to pass, then He was wrong. But what if we simply haven't interpreted and understood all those things correctly, and they really did all take place before that generation passed? Could that be possible?
I'm wondering if men's intentions have been good in that they refused to believe that Jesus was wrong and tried to help other people understand. But what if these good-intentioned people have been wrong, and that this traditional understanding is wrong? What if?
