This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit (v. 23). Strangely the NAB does not translate euthys – the first word in the sentence. The word means “just then,” “suddenly” or “immediately.”  In the NAB translation it seems as though the man was just there. But the Greek euthys implies a sudden entrance into the synagogue like bursting upon the scene. This follows immediately upon Jesus’ teaching with authority that amazes listeners. The “suddenly” that divine power (exousia) is confronted by the corrupting power of a person is possessed by an unclear spirit. Was he part of the crowd listening to Jesus’ teaching who suddenly stood up and cried out? Did he come in off of the street? In any case, suddenly, we have the “holy one of God” on the holy day (sabbath) in the holy place (synagogue) meeting an “unclean spirit.”  It is a dramatic moment somewhat lost by not translating one word. Continue reading →