This article on Luke 2:14 is about the meaning of eudokia (the favour of God or pleasure of God) and to whom it is promised here in Luke 2.

Source: Clarion, 2010. 3 pages.

Luke 2:14b - Eudokia

Peace to men upon whom his favour rests

Luke 2:14b

Some people think that Christmas is for everyone. In a sense that is true. Our Lord Jesus Christ is to be hailed as the Saviour of the world. Those who call upon him and put their trust in him will not be put to shame. It does not matter in what time or place you live. All who believe in the Lord Jesus will be saved.

We cherish the words given us through the Apostle John, “(Jesus Christ) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The gospel of salvation does not stop at our door but reaches out to all people.

Still, we do not agree with the teaching of universalism, the notion that everyone is (automatically) saved in Christ as they perished in Adam. We need to accept Christ with a believing heart. We find this clearly stated in the most succinct statement of Christmas,

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only (only-begotten) Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This important truth is summarized in the Heidelberg Catechism as follows, “Are all men, then, saved in Christ as they perished in Adam? No, only those who accept him with a believing heart” (LD 7). Faith is required.

To Whom is Peace Promised?🔗

We see this also in the song of the angels in Ephrata’s fields. The first element in this song is that God receives the glory for his salvation in Christ. It is one of the first principles also of the Reformation: soli Deo gloria. It has a nice sequence: “Glory in heaven to God, and on earth peace to men.”

The second element in this song is that peace is given on earth. Some think that this “peace” is given indiscriminately to all. But the text speaks of peace “to men on whom God’s favour rests.” Not all receive peace; only those on whom favour rests.

The questions that come to us now are many and also difficult: what is meant by “God’s favour”? More questions: how are we to understand this favour? Why is it given to some but not to all people? Who are these men that receive the favour of God? Are you someone on whom God’s favour rests? How can you know?

Various Translations of the Original🔗

In the original text, the Greek word eudokia is used. It says: peace on earth to men of (in) eudokia. Not everyone receives peace. It is given to people with eudokia. The main question is now: what does this eudokia mean?

We’ll have to digress into a small word-study on “eudokia.” I hope you don’t mind some of the technical stuffing in the festive season. But we need to establish what the proper meaning of the word eudokia in this context is. After all, we ourselves would like to be among the people who have this eudokia. If we are not, we may be doomed with the world that rejected Christ from his birth on.

Killing the suspense, I mention that the word eudokia literally means to esteem someone highly. So the peace on earth is given to people who meet with God’s sovereign approval and pleasure. The prefix “eu” means good or favourable. The word “dokia” comes from a verb that means to scrutinize carefully and to consider positively. Sometimes the word is used directly of God’s secret will and council. When many refused to repent upon Christ’s preaching, he nevertheless rejoiced in the sovereign will of his Father which was being fulfilled, “...You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure” (Matthew 11:26). God’s eudokia was still apparent in saving the unlearned and the little children. Sometimes it is used of God’s revealed law or will, “I desire to do your will (your eudokia), O my God, your law is within my heart…” (Psalm 40:8). We must do what is in accordance with God’s will and is pleasing to him.

Ultimately the word eudokia refers us to Christ, our Lord. At Christ’s baptism it was said by God, “This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (the verb form of eudokia is used).

The word eudokia is translated by the NIV as “God’s favour,” by KJV as “good pleasure,” by RSV also as “good pleasure,” and by NKJV as “good will.” It is important to note that this eudokia is not a human characteristic but a divine gift. God gives his good pleasure in Christ to people and therefore these people can receive in Christ God’s peace from above.

The word comes close to our word “approval.” When God has eudokia in someone, he approves of this person. The one who receives eudokia meets divine standards.

Christmas does not benefit the whole world. God’s favour is given in Christ to those who long for him, serve Him, and seek to do his will. This longing for salvation has been worked in people’s hearts by the Word and Spirit of God.

Eudokia and Election🔗

Is this eudokia, then, the same as election? I do not think that we should easily speak of these two as being the same, even if they are connected. Election is God’s eternal and hidden decree to save certain people in Christ. Eudokia is something that becomes visible in the course of time in people’s lives through the working of the Holy Spirit.

Before Christ was born, many faithful Jews anticipated his coming into the world. We can think of people whom the Bible itself mentions: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, the Shepherds, Simeon, and Anna. Of some of these people it is also testified in the Scriptures that they were righteous, i.e. they longed for the coming of Christ and strove to obey God’s law.

These people were not perfect. God did not have pleasure in them because they were without sin. But they were people who by God’s power and grace ardently awaited the coming of the Messiah. This explains why they reacted with great resolve and much joy when they heard of the birth of our Lord and Saviour.

Our Christmas celebration takes place in a different time and place. The expectation of Christ’s birth is now the expectation of his second coming, his glorious descent from heaven. We know that he will come to judge the living and the dead and will vindicate all who have longed for his appearing.

Does God’s eudokia rest upon you? Do you long for his glorious return? Are you justified by faith in him? These are very important questions for our Christmas celebration.

Peace on Earth🔗

On Christmas day there is much talk of peace. People envision some kind of global calm in which all will be at peace with his neighbour. “Imagine ... all the people...” sang John Lennon, whose seventieth birthday was remembered a few months ago. Lennon was born on October 9, 1940. The world celebrated its own Christmas with the man who said he was more popular than Christ.

Peace to men. Not to all men, but to the men on whom God’s eudokia rests. Peace on earth to specific people. It is not a peace that now comes and then goes. It is perma-peace, with God, in Christ, through faith.

What is peace? It means more than the absence of war. Peace means that the relationships have been healed. I was an enemy of God; now I am his child. I enjoyed sinning, but now I hate it every time I fall. I was lost but now I’m found. I look forward to being released from this body of sin. I know by faith that God’s eudokia rests on me. I have peace: all is well between God and me in Christ.                                   

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