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Luke 18:8

I tell you, he will speedily avenge them. however, when the son of man comes, how few of the faithful will he find in the land?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Despondency;   Faith;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Prayer;   Unbelief;   Scofield Reference Index - Apostasy;   Faith;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ask;   Christ;   Church;   Divinity-Humanity;   Faith;   Faith-Unbelief;   Family;   Humanity, Christ's;   Importunity;   Prayer;   Secret Prayer;   Son;   United Prayer;   Unwise Prayers;   Wicked, the;   The Topic Concordance - Election;   Vengeance;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Parables;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Prayer;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Prayer;   Widow;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hearing the Word of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Proselytes;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Luke, Gospel of;   Parables;   Prayer;   Son of Man;   Vengeance;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Parable;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Ascension of Isaiah;   Circumstantiality in the Parables;   Discourse;   Faith ;   Gospels (Uncanonical);   Police;   Prayer (2);   Son of Man;   Vengeance;   Vengeance (2);   Widow ;   Widows;   Winter ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Elect;   Naaman;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christ, the Exaltation of;   Gospels, the Synoptic;   How;   Justification;   Man of Sin;   Prayer;   Prayers of Jesus;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for October 30;   Every Day Light - Devotion for April 26;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for September 12;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,
King James Version (1611)
I tell you that he wil auenge them speedily. Neuerthelesse, when the Son of man commeth, shall hee find faith on the earth?
King James Version
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
English Standard Version
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
New American Standard Bible
"I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"
New Century Version
I tell you, God will help his people quickly. But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find those on earth who believe in him?"
Amplified Bible
"I tell you that He will defend and avenge them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] faith on the earth?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"
Legacy Standard Bible
I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on the earth?"
Berean Standard Bible
I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
Contemporary English Version
He will surely hurry and help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find on this earth anyone with faith?
Complete Jewish Bible
I tell you that he will judge in their favor, and quickly! But when the Son of Man comes, will he find this trust on the earth at all?"
Darby Translation
I say unto you that he will avenge them speedily. But when the Son of man comes, shall he indeed find faith on the earth?
Easy-to-Read Version
I tell you, God will help his people quickly. But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find people on earth who believe in him?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
I tell you he will auenge them quickly: but when the Sonne of man commeth, shall he finde faith on the earth?
George Lamsa Translation
I say to you, he will avenge them promptly. But when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Good News Translation
I tell you, he will judge in their favor and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?"
Lexham English Bible
I tell you that he will see to it that justice is done for them soon! Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, then will he find faith on earth?"
Literal Translation
I say to you that He will carry out the avengement of them speedily. But the Son of Man coming then, will He find faith on the earth?
American Standard Version
I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Bible in Basic English
I say to you that he will quickly do right in their cause. But when the Son of man comes, will there be any faith on earth?
Hebrew Names Version
I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the eretz?"
International Standard Version
I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"Hebrews 10:37; 2 Peter 3:8-9;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
I tell you he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man shall come, will he find faith upon the earth ?
Murdock Translation
I tell you, He will vindicate them speedily. Yet the Son of man will come; and will he find faith on the earth?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
I tell you he wyll auenge them, and that quickly. Neuerthelesse, when the sonne of man commeth, shall he fynde fayth on the earth?
English Revised Version
I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Howbeit when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
World English Bible
I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
I tell you he will vindicate them speedily. Yet when the Son of man cometh, will he find faith upon earth?
Weymouth's New Testament
Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli Y seie to you, for soone he schal do veniaunce of hem. Netheles gessist thou, that mannus sone comynge schal fynde feith in erthe?
Update Bible Version
I say to you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?
Webster's Bible Translation
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, will he find faith on the earth?
New English Translation
I tell you, he will give them justice speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
New King James Version
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
New Living Translation
I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?"
New Life Bible
I tell you, He will be quick to help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? "
New Revised Standard
I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I tell you - He will execute their vindication, quickly! nevertheless, though, the Son of Man, do come, will he, after all, find the faith on the earth?
Douay-Rheims Bible
I say to you that he will quickly revenge them. But yet the Son of man, when he cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?
Revised Standard Version
I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I tell you he will avenge them and that quickly. Neverthelesse when the sonne of man cometh suppose ye that he shall fynde faithe on the erthe.
Young's Literal Translation
I say to you, that He will execute the justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, shall he find the faith upon the earth?'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I saye vnto you: He shal delyuer them, and that shortly. Neuertheles, whan the sonne of man cometh, suppose ye, that he shal fynde faith vpon earth?
Simplified Cowboy Version
God is going to help his kids right away. But when the Top Hand comes riding into town, will he find anyone with faith?"

Contextual Overview

1 Jesus propos'd likewise this parable to them, to show that they should persevere in prayer, and not be discouraged. 2 saying, in a certain city there was a judge, who neither feared God, nor regarded man. 3 a widow was likewise there, who frequently came to him, saying, do me justice against my adversary. 4 for some time he refus'd to do it: but at length he said in himself; tho' I neither fear God, nor regard man; 5 yet, because this widow importunes me, I will do her justice, that she may'nt be continually coming to teaze me. 6 observe, said Jesus, that language of this unrighteous judge. 7 and will not God avenge his own elect, who cry to him night and day? will he delay their cause? 8 I tell you, he will speedily avenge them. however, when the son of man comes, how few of the faithful will he find in the land?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he will: Psalms 46:5, Psalms 143:7-9, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 3:8, 2 Peter 3:9

when: Matthew 24:9-13, Matthew 24:24, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, Hebrews 10:23-26, James 5:1-8

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 32:20 - children Deuteronomy 32:35 - the things 2 Samuel 4:8 - the Lord 2 Samuel 18:31 - the Lord 2 Kings 9:7 - I may avenge Psalms 9:12 - he forgetteth Psalms 10:18 - judge Psalms 31:2 - deliver Proverbs 20:6 - proclaim Isaiah 40:27 - my judgment Jeremiah 15:15 - remember Habakkuk 2:3 - it will surely Matthew 10:23 - till Matthew 16:28 - see Matthew 25:5 - they Luke 17:26 - the days of the Son Luke 18:3 - Avenge 2 Thessalonians 3:2 - for Hebrews 10:37 - General James 5:7 - unto Revelation 6:10 - they cried Revelation 18:20 - God

Cross-References

Luke 12:37
happy those servants, whom the master at his arrival shall find thus watching: I assure you, he shall gird himself, and make them sit at table, and will come to serve them.
Luke 17:8
won't he rather say, get ready my supper, dress yourself, and wait upon me, till I have done eating and drinking; after that, take your meal?
Luke 24:30
and as he was at table with them, he took bread, and gave thanks, then brake it and gave it to them;
Luke 24:43
which he took, and did eat in their presence.
John 12:2
there a supper was provided for him; Martha was in waiting: but Lazarus was one of the guests that sat at table with him.
Acts 10:41
not to all the people, but to those witnesses, which God had before chosen: to us, I say, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
Galatians 5:13
for, brethren, you have been called to liberty. only abuse not this freedom as a pretext to vice, but in offices of love be as servants one to another.
Revelation 3:20
behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, I will sup with him, and he shall afterwards be entertain'd by me.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily,.... As he did in a few years after the death of Christ, when God's elect among the Jews were singled out, and gathered in from them, and were delivered from their persecutors, and saved from temporal ruin and destruction, whilst the Roman army made sad havoc of their enemies; and so will he do in the end of the world.

Nevertheless, when the son of man cometh; either to destroy Jerusalem, or to judge the world:

shall he find faith on the earth? either in the land of Judea, the believers being removed from thence, and scattered among the Gentiles, and not a man, at least in Jerusalem, that had any faith in Jesus, as the Messiah; or in the world at the last day: there will then be little of the doctrine of faith, and less of the grace of faith, and still less of the exercise of faith, particularly in prayer, and especially about the coming of Christ; it will be little thought of, and expected, or faith little exercised about it. With this agree some expressions in the Jewish writings s:

"Says R. Jose, the holy, blessed God, will not be revealed to Israel, but in the time, דלא אשתכח מהימנותא, "that faith is not found among them."''

And elsewhere t, speaking of the times of the Messiah, and of a star that shall then appear, it is said

"when that star shall be seen in the world at that time mighty wars shall be stirred up in the world, on all the four sides, ומהימנותא לא ישתכח, "and faith will not be found" among them.''

They seem to regard the first coming of the Messiah: and which was true with respect to the majority of their nation; and the same holds good with regard to his second coming; in the apocrypha it says:

"Nevertheless as coming the tokens, behold, the days shall come, that they which dwell upon earth shall be taken in a great number, and the way of truth shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of faith.'' (2 Esdras 5:1)

s Zohar in Gen. fol. 118. 1. t Ib. in Num. fol. 86. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Speedily - Suddenly, unexpectedly. He will surely vindicate them, and that at a time, perhaps, when they were nearly ready to give over and to sink into despair. This may refer to the deliverance of the disciples from their approaching trials and persecutions among the Jews; or, in general, to the fact that God will interpose and aid his people.

Nevertheless - But. Notwithstanding this. Though this is true that God will avenge his elect, yet will he find his elect “faithful?” The danger is not that “God” will be unfaithful - he will surely be true to his promises; but the danger is that his elect - his afflicted people - will be discouraged; will not persevere in prayer; will not continue to have confidence in him; and will, under heavy trials, sink into despondency. The sole meaning of this phrase, therefore, is, that “there is more danger that his people would grow weary, than that God would be found unfaithful and fail to avenge his elect.” For this cause Christ spoke the parable, and by the “design” of the parable this passage is to be interpreted.

Son of man cometh - This probably refers to the approaching destruction of Jerusalem - the coming of the Messiah, by his mighty power, to abolish the ancient dispensation and to set up the new.

Faith - The word “faith” is sometimes taken to denote the “whole” of religion, and it has been understood in this sense here; but there is a close connection in what Christ says, and it should be understood as referring to what he said before. The truth that he had been teaching was, that God would deliver his people from their calamities and save them, though he suffered them to be long tried. He asks them here whether, when he came, he should find “this faith,” or a belief of “this truth,” among his followers? Would they be found persevering in prayer, and “believing” that God would yet avenge them; or would they cease to pray “always, and faint?” This is not to be understood, therefore, as affirming that when Christ comes to judgment there will be few Christians on the earth, and that the world will be overrun with wickedness. That “may be” true, but it is not the truth taught here.

The earth - The land referring particularly to the land of Judea. The discussion had particular reference to their trials and persecutions in that land. This question implies that “in” those trials many professed disciples might faint and turn back, and many of his “real” followers almost lose sight of this great truth, and begin to inquire whether God would interpose to save them. The same question may be asked respecting any other remarkable visitation of the Son of God in affliction. When tried and persecuted, do “we” believe that God will avenge us? Do “we” pray always and not faint? Have “we” faith to believe that, though clouds and darkness are round about him, yet righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne? And when storms of persecution assail us, can “we” go to God and confidently commit our cause to him, and believe that he will bring forth our righteousness as the light, and our judgment as the noon-day?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 18:8. He will avenge them speedily. — Or, He will do them justice speedily - εν ταχει, instantly, in a trice.

1. Because he has promised it; and

2. Because he is inclined to do it.

When the Son of man cometh — To require the produce of the seed of the kingdom sown among this people.

Shall he find faith on the earth? — Or rather, Shall he find fidelity in this land? Shall he find that the soil has brought forth a harvest proportioned to the culture bestowed on it? No! And therefore he destroyed that land.


 
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