“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14, AV) (or so reads the King James Version.)
Paul identifies that this pronouncement of peace came at a great cost to our Savior. In Colossians 1:19–20 (ESV).
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Christ came as the Prince of Peace that through the Cross He might provide peace to men and women. But unlike the translation omission of the King James Version, this peace just doesn't naturally fall upon everyone. The ESV like the NASB, translates the angel’s announcement this way: ““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”” (Luke 2:14, ESV). The NIV renders the verse “. . . on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”” (Luke 2:14, NIV).
Our English Bibles seem to struggle with this announcement. How do we properly communicate it? As I study the text it seems as if the translators go around the issue. So how should we understand what the angels are communicating? Well Luke uses the same phrase in chapter 10. The NIV seems to capture the idea so well. Notice what it says,
“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” (Luke 10:21, NIV)
Now that phrase "what you were pleased to do" is the same phrase used by the angels. Matthew also uses this phrase (the only other time it is used in the Gospels). Notice what he writes (Again I'm using the NIV): “At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” (Matthew 11:25–26, NIV)
Consistently again the idea being conveyed by this word "what you were pleased to do." So if we were going to maintain our consistency, we must conclude that the angels' announcement conveys the idea that God peace is given to those whom "He is pleased to give to." Daryll Bock, who has written an exceptional commentary on Luke and Acts notes:
"The praise of the heavenly host offers honor to God and peace to men on whom his favor rests. This last phrase is not a declaration of universal salvation but refers to those who are the special objects of God's grace . . . They are the "saved" or the "elect," those on whom God has bestowed the favor of his grace."[2]
This is supported by the original text as noted by the NET Bible notation. I quote:
"'Most witnesses (א2 B2 L Θ Ξ Ψ Ë1,13 Ï sy bo) have ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία (en anqrwpoi" eudokia, “good will among people”) instead of ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας (en anqrwpoi" eudokia", “among people with whom he is pleased”), a reading attested by א* A B* D W pc (sa). Most of the Itala witnesses and some other versional witnesses reflect a Greek text which has the genitive εὐδοκίας but drops the preposition ἐν. Not only is the genitive reading better attested, but it is more difficult than the nominative.' The meaning seems to be, not that divine peace can be bestowed only where human good will is already present, but that at the birth of the Saviour God’s peace rests on those whom he has chosen in accord with his good pleasure” (TCGNT 111)."[3]
The point is that God’s peace is not something people, earn, it is gift – a gift given according to the delights of His own good pleasure of God’s will. When we truly experience God’s peace we learn that it is all of grace. It is a gift. John MacArthur notes: "The verb form of the same word is used in 3:22; 12:32. In each case, it refers to God’s sovereign good pleasure. So a better rendering here might be “peace toward men on whom God’s sovereign pleasure rests.”[4]
A faithful rendering of the text this Christmas will not avoid the notion that peace and reconciliation are gracious gifts of the Father, bestowed upon those whom He has sovereignly and freely chosen. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (Ephesians 1:7–10, ESV).
The Christmas angels believed in the sovereign, merciful electing love of God in Christ.
[1] Carter; Anthony (2013-03-19). Blood Work (p. 61). Reformation Trust Publishing. Kindle Edition.
[2] http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Luke/Birth-Jesus
[3] http://classic.net.bible.org/passage.php?passage=Luk%202:8-14#n22
[4] The MacArthur Study Bible. 1997 (J. MacArthur, Jr., Ed.) (electronic ed.) (1515). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.
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