The Prodigal Son
This story was written in Greek. Take a look at some of the words from the story in the original Greek to find new meaning.
A change of mind, to repent
Context in the story (Luke 15:7): "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no metanoia."
Context in the story (Luke 15:10): "Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who metanoia.”
Question: Why is the primary definition of repent in Greek involve a change of mind?
To be lost, to perish, to be destroyed
Context in the story (Luke 15:4): "“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has apollymi one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is apollymi, until he finds it?"
Context in the story (Luke 15:6): "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was apollymi .’
Context in the story (Luke 15:8-9): "8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she apollymi one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had apollymi .’"
Context in the story (Luke 15:17) [Prodigal realizes he is starving]: "But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I apollymi here with hunger!
Context in the story (Luke 15:24): "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was apollymi , and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."
Context in the story (Luke 15:32): "It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was apollymi , and is found.’”
Question: Most of the times in this chapter, the word apollymi means lost. But you can see in Luke 15:17, it is being used in the sense of being destroyed. Why do you think the word apollymi has both of these meanings? How is Jesus using both types of meaning in these stories?
Life
Context in the story (Luke 15:12): "And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his bios between them.
Context in the story (Luke 15:30): "But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your bios with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’"
Question: Often this is translated, "he divided his living between them" or some similar phrase. The ESV translates this word as property. Look at the two passages where it is used closely. If the Father in the story is God, what is your understanding of everything the word implies in this story?
To disperse, waste, squander
Context in the story (Luke 15:13): "Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he diaskorpizo his property in reckless living."
Question: How do we sometimes diaskorpizo what we are given in life? Examine also the next Greek word in connection with this one.
Reckless, wild, undisciplined
Question: The story doesn't explain exactly this son's lifestyle, but allows us to imagine. How do you imagine this lifestyle? Is there something in all of us that makes us want to be asotos?
To glue
Context in the story (Luke 15:15): "So he went and kollao himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs."
Question: How does the word "glue" give you a different feeling than "hire"? Have you ever had the experience where someone has glued themselves to you?
Carob pods
Context in the story (Luke 15:16): "And he was longing to be fed with the keration that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything."
Explanation: Carob pods from the carob tree were used as a fodder to feed livestock, like pigs.
A hired servant
Context in the story (Luke 15:17, 19): “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's mithios have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!...I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your mithios .”
Explanation: Slavery was common in the Roman empire. This word makes it clear that the laborer was being paid a wage. Perhaps it could be also translated "employee" in the sense of having wages from an employer.
To rise, to raise up, to resurrect
Context in the story (Luke 15:18, 20): “I will anistemi and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you...." And he anistemi and came to his father."
Explanation: To arise is clearly the correct translation here. However, in other places in Luke and the gospels, the word is used in connection with the resurrection. The author seems to clearly aware of both meanings, as the Father says the son was dead and is alive again in verse 24 and 32.
A slave
Context in the story (Like 15:22): "But the father said to his doulos, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet."
Question: If the Father in this story is God, then who are His slaves? What does Paul mean, when he says "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life" (Rom 6:22)? What does Paul mean by the phrase "slaves of God"?
A corpse
Context in the story (Luke 15:24): "For this my son was nekros, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."
Question: The son was never literally dead. Why does his father call him a corpse?
Brought back to life
Context in the story (Luke 15:24): "For this my son was dead, and is anazao again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."
Question: The son was never literally dead. Why does his father say he was brought back to life?
A child (servant)
Context in the story (Luke 15:25-26): Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the pais and asked what these things meant
Explanation: Probably a child servant as it is usually translated, but could also be just a child.
To comfort or to encourage
Context in the story (Luke 15:28): But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and parakaleo him,
Question: What does this word tell us about the nature of the Father?
To serve as a slave, to be subject to
Question: How does the son view his work for his father? What does this tell us about the character of the older son?
To devour or eat up
Context in the story (Luke 15:30): But when this son of yours came, who has katesthio your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
Question: What does this reveal about the nature of the older son in his relationship with his brother and father?
“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”