Matthew 24:34 - This generation will not pass away (1st century historical fulfillment?)
Matthew 24:34 (1st century historical fulfillment?)
Matthew 24:32-33 - Parable from the fig-tree (1st century biblical & historical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:34
Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away (1st century imminence & fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) you that this generation by-no-means will-pass-away until all these (things) take-place."
1st century audience?
Jesus said to His 1st century in Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) YOU that this generation by-no-means will-pass-away until all these (things) take-place."
Who can be the "YOU" (Matthew 24:34) addressed in this passage?
31 verses earlier, Jesus spoke to His 1st century disciples, as "THE DISCIPLES came to Him privately, saying, “Tell US" (Matthew 24:3) and "having-responded, Jesus said (to) THEM" (Matthew 24:4) these things.
"All these things"?
Jesus said: "this generation by-no-means will-pass-away until ALL THESE (THINGS) take-place" (Matthew 24:34).
In referring to "ALL THESE (THINGS)" (Matthew 24:34), Jesus would have referred to the events that He described from Matthew 24:4 to Matthew 24:33.
Jesus could also have included a reference to the initial question that His 1st century disciples asked in Matthew 24:3: "(while) He (was) sitting on the Mount (of) Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will THESE (THINGS) be?". Their question was referring to what Jesus said to them 1 verse earlier when He "said (to) them, “Do-you-see ALL THESE (THINGS)? Truly I-say (to) you — (a) stone upon (a) stone by-no-means will-be-left here which will not be-torn-down”." (Matthew 24:1-2). Jesus would have been referring to the temple of Jerusalem and its buildings standing there in the 1st century, as 1 verse earlier it is written that "having-departed from the temple, Jesus was-proceeding. And His disciples came-to (Him) to-show Him the buildings (of) the temple. But the (One), having-responded, said (to) them, “Do-you-see ALL THESE (THINGS)?" (Matthew 24:1-2).
That 1st century temple of Jerusalem was demolished by the Romans around AD 70.
For more information on the destruction of the temple around AD 70:
Matthew 24:1-2 - Not a stone left on another (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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1st century audience of "all these (things)" from Luke 21:36?
Jesus said in Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) YOU that this generation by-no-means will-pass-away until ALL THESE (THINGS) take-place."
In the parallel account to Matthew 24 in Luke 21, Jesus said to His 1st century disciples: "be-keeping-alert in every season, praying that YOU-may-prevail to-flee-from ALL THESE (THINGS) being-about to-take-place" (Luke 21:36).
1st century imminence of "all these (things)" from Luke 21:36?
Jesus said in Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) you that this generation by-no-means will-pass-away until ALL THESE (THINGS) take-place."
In the parallel account to Matthew 24 in Luke 21, Jesus said in the 1st century that "ALL THESE (THINGS)" were ABOUT TO take place, as He said: "you-may-prevail to-flee-from ALL THESE (THINGS) BEING-ABOUT [mellonta 3195 in Greek] to-take-place" (Luke 21:36).
The Greek word for "BEING-ABOUT" [melló 3195 in Greek] used in Luke 21:36 is a verb that can be translated as "IS-ABOUT-TO".
Term: The Greek word for "generation"
Jesus said in Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) you that this GENERATION by-no-means will-pass-away until all these (things) take-place."
Jesus said "this GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek]" (Matthew 24:34). The Greek word used here for GENERATION is genea 1074 in Greek, which is a noun describing the people living in a single lifespan.
For example, Jesus referred to "the PEOPLE (of) this GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek]" (Luke 7:31). Here there are "PEOPLE" (Luke 7:31) of a "GENERATION" (Luke 7:31).
Another example: "all the GENERATIONS [genea 1074 in Greek] from Abraham to David (are) FOURTEEN GENERATIONS [genea 1074 in Greek]" (Matthew 1:17). Here there are "FOURTEEN GENERATIONS" (Matthew 1:17) "from Abraham to David" (Matthew 1:17).
Another example: It is written about Jesus that "In His humiliation, His justice was-taken-away. Who will-describe HIS GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek]? Because His life is-taken-away from the earth" (Acts 8:33). Jesus would have "HIS" (Acts 8:33) [own] "GENERATION" (Acts 8:33) in connection with when His life is taken away from the earth.
Another example: "DAVID, having-served the purpose (of) God (in his) OWN GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek]" (Acts 13:36). Here "DAVID" (Acts 13:36) had his "OWN GENERATION" (Acts 13:36). This can shed light on why there were "FOURTEEN GENERATIONS" (Matthew 1:17) "from Abraham to DAVID" (Matthew 1:17), as Abraham would have had his OWN GENERATION, then other people between him and David would have had their OWN GENERATION, until David who had his "OWN GENERATION" (Acts 13:36).
Another example: God "allowed all the nations to-be-going their ways in the GENERATIONS [genea 1074 in Greek] HAVING-GONE-BY" (Acts 14:16). Here at that point in time there were "GENERATIONS HAVING-GONE-BY" (Acts 14:16).
Another example: "in the FOURTH GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek] they will return here, for the sins of the Amorites are not yet filled up, (even) until now" (Genesis 15:16). Here it mentions "the FOURTH GENERATION" (Genesis 15:16) for something to happen, "for the sins of the Amorites are not yet filled up, (even) until now" (Genesis 15:16).
Another example: "A GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek] goes, and a GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek] comes; but the earth stands into the age" (Ecclesiastes 1:4). Here after that "A GENERATION goes" (Ecclesiastes 1:4), it is indicated that "a GENERATION comes" (Ecclesiastes 1:4) to replace it, in contrast with the earth which "stands into the age" (Ecclesiastes 1:4).
Term: The Greek word for "generation" is not:
Some translations sometimes use the word "GENERATION" to translate other different Greek words. This had led many people in the past to conflate two different Greek words (one used in Matthew 24:34, and another used somewhere else) that are different in Greek. Here is a list of Greek words that are different from the Greek word translated as "GENERATION" in Matthew 24:34 but that can sometimes be found to be translated as "GENERATION" in some translations:
The Greek word for "GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek]" (Matthew 24:34) is not the same Greek word as for example "genos" [1085 in Greek], which is a noun that can describe a RACE or FAMILY, as for example: "you (are a) chosen FAMILY [genos 1085 in Greek], (a) royal priesthood, (a) holy nation, (a) people for (His) possession" (1 Peter 2:9).
The Greek word for "GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek]" (Matthew 24:34) is not the same Greek word as for example "gennéma" [1081 in Greek], which is a noun that can describe a BROOD or OFFSPRING, as for example: "having-seen many (of) the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he-said (to) them, “BROOD [gennéma 1081 in Greek] (of) vipers" (Matthew 3:7).
The Greek word for "GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek]" (Matthew 24:34) is not the same Greek word as for example "genesis" [1078 in Greek], which is a noun that can describe a GENESIS or GENEALOGY or BIRTH, as for example: "the BIRTH (of) Jesus Christ was as-follows" (Matthew 1:18).
The Greek word for "GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek]" (Matthew 24:34) is not the same Greek word as for example "genealogia" [1076 in Greek], which is a noun that can describe a GENEALOGY, as for example: "nor paying-attention-to myths and endless GENEALOGIES [genealogia 1076 in Greek], which cause speculations" (1 Timothy 1:4).
The Greek word for "GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek]" (Matthew 24:34) is not the same Greek word as for example "genealogeо́" [1075 in Greek], which is a verb that can describe TRACING A GENEALOGY, as for example: "even though (their brothers) have-come-out of the loins (of) Abraham) — yet the (one) not TRACING(-HIS)-GENEALOGY [genealogeо́ 1075 in Greek] out-of them has-collected-a-tenth (from) Abraham" (Hebrews 7:5-6).
Term: "this" generation, not "that" generation:
Jesus said in Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) you that THIS generation by-no-means will-pass-away until all these (things) take-place."
Jesus said "THIS [hautē 3778 in Greek] generation" (Matthew 24:34), not THAT generation. The Greek word used for "THIS" (Matthew 24:34) is houtos 3778 in Greek, which is a demonstrative pronoun, which generally designates a contemporary subject.
In contrast, another Greek word can be used to generally describe a subject that is not contemporary: "THAT" [ekeinos 1565 in Greek], which is used for example in the following sentence describing a future day not being there yet: "Many WILL-SAY [future tense] (to) Me on THAT [ekeinē 1565 in Greek] day, ‘Lord, Lord, did-we not prophesy" (Matthew 7:22).
Term: "this" generation in front of Jesus or "this" generation that will see all these things?
Jesus said in Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) you that THIS GENERATION by-no-means will-pass-away until ALL THESE (THINGS) take-place."
The Greek pronoun for "THIS" can sometimes be used to denote a subject that had been talked about (instead of a subject in front of the person). Was "THIS" generation in Matthew 24:34 the one in front of Jesus or the one that will see all these things? The answer is that both would be the same.
Indeed, one verse earlier, Jesus said to His 1st century disciples in front of Him: "So also YOU — when YOU-see ALL THESE (THINGS), YOU know that (it) is near, at (the) doors. Truly I-say (to) YOU that THIS GENERATION by-no-means will-pass-away until ALL THESE (THINGS) take-place" (Matthew 24:33-34). A literary device seems to have been used here, in which two things are talked about in an interchangeable way. The part about "when YOU-see ALL THESE (THINGS)" (Matthew 24:33) would have been used interchangeably with "THIS GENERATION" (Matthew 24:33) that will not pass away until "ALL THESE (THINGS)" (Matthew 24:34) take place. Here "YOU" and "THIS GENERATION" may have been used interchangeably, as both would see "ALL THESE (THINGS)" (Matthew 24:33, Matthew 24:34).
Terms: The uses of the terms "this generation" by Jesus:
Jesus said in Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) you that THIS GENERATION by-no-means will-pass-away until all these (things) take-place."
Jesus used the expression "THIS GENERATION" several times in the gospels. Here is a list of all the uses of "THIS GENERATION" by Jesus: Matthew 11:16, Matthew 12:41, Matthew 12:42, Matthew 12:45, Matthew 23:36, Matthew 24:34, Mark 8:12, Mark 8:38, Mark 13:30, Luke 7:31, Luke 11:29, Luke 11:30, Luke 11:31, Luke 11:32, Luke 11:50, Luke 11:51, Luke 17:25, Luke 21:32.
All those passages seem to suggest that "THIS GENERATION" referred to would be the one directly contemporary to Jesus.
For example:
It is written in Luke 17: "just-like the lightning flashing out-of the (one part) under heaven shines to the (other part) under heaven, so will-be the Son (of) Man in His day. BUT FIRST He must suffer many (things) and be-rejected BY THIS GENERATION" (Luke 17:24-25). Here Jesus was talking about a future day, in contrast to "BUT FIRST" (Luke 17:25) suffering and being rejected "BY THIS GENERATION" (Luke 17:25).
For a detailed analysis of every passage containing the terms "THIS GENERATION":
Matthew 24:34 - "This generation": More evidence:
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The coming of Jesus in the generation of Jesus in an earlier Jewish writing?
Jesus said in Matthew 24: "they-will-see the Son (of) man COMING on the clouds (of) heaven with power and great glory. And He-will-send-out His angels" (Matthew 24:30-31) and then 3 verses later: "Truly I-say (to) you that THIS GENERATION by-no-means will-pass-away until all these (things) take-place."
Later in the 1st century, Jude 1:14-15 mentioned "Enoch" who "prophesied" and referred to a passage about the Lord coming that is similar to what can be found in an ancient Jewish writing called "1 Enoch" dating before Christ, in 1 Enoch 1:9.
In 1 Enoch 10:12-13, a timing would be indicated for that coming to also take place: 70 generations.
These 70 generations would be from the generation of "Enoch" (1 Enoch 1:2) onward, who even wrote that what he understood was not for his own generation, but for one far remote, as it is written: "I understood as I saw, but NOT FOR THIS GENERATION, BUT FOR A REMOTE ONE WHICH IS TO COME" (1 Enoch 1:2).
Luke provided a genealogy of the generations from "Enoch" (Luke 3:37) onward. If counting 70 generations from Enoch onward, it would land on the generation of... Jesus! This could explain why when Jesus came, He said at that point to His 1st century audience: "Truly I-say (to) YOU that THIS GENERATION BY-NO-MEANS WILL-PASS-AWAY UNTIL ALL (THINGS) TAKE-PLACE" (Luke 21:32).
You can find the evidence below for that:
Jesus said in Matthew 24: "they-will-see the Son (of) man COMING on the clouds (of) heaven with power and great glory. And He-will-send-out His angels" (Matthew 24:30-31). Later in the 1st century, Jude wrote: "Enoch, (the) seventh from Adam, prophesied (with regard to) these (ones), saying, “Behold — (the) Lord came with His holy myriads to-execute judgment against all" (Jude 1:14-15). A similar quote may be found in an ancient Jewish writing called "1 Enoch" dating before Christ, in which it reads: "Behold, he will arrive with ten million of the holy ones in order to execute judgment upon all" (1 Enoch 1:9).
Later in 1 Enoch, a timing may be indicated regarding this judgment, as it is written: "And when their sons have slain one another, and they have seen the destruction of their beloved ones, BIND them fast FOR SEVENTY GENERATIONS in the valleys of the earth, TILL THE DAY OF THEIR JUDGMENT and of their consummation" (1 Enoch 10:12). There was a need here to "BIND them fast FOR SEVENTY GENERATIONS in the valleys of the earth, TILL THE DAY OF THEIR JUDGMENT" (1 Enoch 10:12).
"SEVENTY GENERATIONS" (1 Enoch 10:12) here would be from the generation of "Enoch" (1 Enoch 1:2) onward, who even wrote that what he understood was not for his own generation, but for one far remote, as it is written: "I understood as I saw, but NOT FOR THIS GENERATION, BUT FOR A REMOTE ONE WHICH IS TO COME" (1 Enoch 1:2).
Luke provided a genealogy of the generations from "Enoch" (Luke 3:37) onward. If counting 70 generations from Enoch onward, it would land on the generation of... Jesus!
Luke 3:23-37 reads: "And Jesus [70] Himself was, [when] beginning (His ministry), about thirty years (old), being (a) son, as it-was-being-supposed, (of) Joseph [69], the (son of) Heli [68], the (son of) Matthat [67], the (son of) Levi [66], the (son of) Melchi [65], the (son of) Jannai [64], the (son of) Joseph [63], the (son of) Mattathias [62], the (son of) Amos [61], the (son of) Nahum [60], the (son of) Hesli [59], the (son of) Naggai [58], the (son of) Maath [57], the (son of) Mattathias [56], the (son of) Semein [55], the (son of) Josech [54], the (son of) Joda [53], the (son of) Joanan [52], the (son of) Rhesa [51], the (son of) Zerubbabel [50], the (son of) Shealtiel [49], the (son of) Neri [48], the (son of) Melchi [47], the (son of) Addi [46], the (son of) Cosam [45], the (son of) Elmadam [44], the (son of) Er [43], the (son of) Joshua [42], the (son of) Eliezer [41], the (son of) Jorim [40], the (son of) Matthat [39], the (son of) Levi [38], the (son of) Simeon [37], the (son of) Judah [36], the (son of) Joseph [35], the (son of) Jonam [34], the (son of) Eliakim [33], the (son of) Melea [32], the (son of) Menna [31], the (son of) Mattatha [30], the (son of) Nathan [29], the (son of) David [28], the (son of) Jesse [27], the (son of) Obed [26], the (son of) Boaz [25], the (son of) Sala [24], the (son of) Nahshon [23], the (son of) Aminadab [22], the (son of) Aram [21], the (son of) Hezron [20], the (son of) Perez [19], the (son of) Judah [18], the (son of) Jacob [17], the (son of) Isaac [16], the (son of) Abraham [15], the (son of) Terah [14], the (son of) Nahor [13], the (son of) Serug [12], the (son of) Reu [11], the (son of) Peleg [10], the (son of) Heber [9], the (son of) Shelah [8], the (son of) Cainan [7], the (son of) Arphaxad [6], the (son of) Shem [5], the (son of) Noah [4], the (son of) Lamech [3], the (son of) Methuselah [2], the (son of) Enoch [1]"
This may be why Jesus said later in Luke to His 1st century audience at His time: "Truly I-say (to) YOU that THIS GENERATION BY-NO-MEANS WILL-PASS-AWAY UNTIL ALL (THINGS) TAKE-PLACE" (Luke 21:32).
How much time can a generation last according to Matthew?
It is also written in Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) you that this GENERATION by-no-means will-pass-away until all these (things) take-place."
How much time could a GENERATION last according to Matthew? It is written in Matthew 1: "From the deportation (of) Babylon to the Christ (are) fourteen GENERATIONS" (Matthew 1:17). The "deportation (of) Babylon" (Matthew 1:17) happened around 586 BC. The "Christ" (Matthew 1:17) would have been born around 4 BC. Between those dates were "fourteen GENERATIONS" (Matthew 1:17). 582 years separate 586 BC and 4 BC. 582 years divided by fourteen GENERATIONS equals 42 years for one GENERATION. A GENERATION could last about 42 years according to Matthew.
Jesus spoke those words in Matthew 24 around AD 30, and if we add a GENERATION of about 42 years to that, it would land around AD 72, around the time when the temple of Jerusalem was destroyed (around AD 70).
How much time can a generation last according to other passages in the Bible?
It is written about "David, having-served the purpose (of) God (in his) own GENERATION [genea 1074 in Greek]" (Acts 13:36). It is written that "the days which David reigned over Israel (were) FORTY YEARS" (1 Kings 2:11). Then his son Solomon replaced him and again Solomon served the same amount of years, as it is written: "the days which Solomon reigned in Jerusalem (were) FORTY YEARS" (1 Kings 11:42).
Knowing that Jesus spoke the words of "THIS GENERATION" around AD 30, adding "FORTY YEARS" to it would land... around AD 70, when the temple of Jerusalem was destroyed.
1st century events
Before AD 72 would pass away, the 1st century historian Josephus recorded that the 1st century temple of Jerusalem was demolished by the Romans around AD 70.
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "The Wars of the Jews":
War 7.1 (7.1.1): "Now, as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder, because there remained none to be objects of their fury (for they would not have spared any, had there remained any other such work to be done) Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing as were of the greatest eminency; that is, Phasaelus, and Hippicus, and Mariamne, and so much of the wall as enclosed the city on the west side."
War 7:29 (7.2.1): "And now Simon, thinking he might be able to astonish and delude the Romans, put on a white frock, and buttoned upon him a purple cloak, and appeared out of the ground in the place the temple had formerly been."
The 1st century historian Josephus added that the "GENERATION of men" at that time was fruitful in wickedness and were according to him "the occasions of THIS its overthrow".
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "The Wars of the Jews":
Wars 5.10.5: "neither did any other city ever suffer such miseries, nor did any age ever breed a generation more fruitful in wickedness than this was, from the beginning of the world."
War 6:408 (6.8.5): "a city that had been liable to so many miseries during the siege, that, had it always enjoyed as much happiness from its first foundation, it would certainly have been the envy of the world. Nor did it on any other account so much deserve these sore misfortunes, as by producing such a generation of men as were the occasions of this its overthrow."
Early Christian authors
Later early Christians authors wrote that it was "less than ONE whole GENERATION later" "THAT GENERATION" at that time who were totally destroyed in these 1st century events.
In the 2th century, a Christian author named Clement of Alexandria wrote in "Clementine Homilies":
3:15: "But our Master did not prophesy after this fashion; but, as I have already said, being a prophet by an inborn and every-flowing Spirit, and knowing all things at all times, He confidently set forth, plainly as I said before, sufferings, places, appointed times, manners, limits. Accordingly, therdore, prophesying concerning the temple, He said: "See ye these buildings? Verily I say to you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another which shall not be taken away [Matt. 24:3]; and this generation shall not pass until the destruction begin [Matt. 24:34]. . . ." And in like manner He spoke in plain words the things that were straightway to happen, which we can now see with our eyes, in order that the accomplishment might be among those to whom the word was spoken."
In the 3th century, a Christian author named Origen wrote in "Against Celsus":
IV:XXII: "I challenge anyone to prove my statement untrue if I say that the entire Jewish nation was destroyed less than one whole generation later on account of these sufferings which they inflicted on Jesus. For it was, I believe, forty-two years from the time when they crucified Jesus to the destruction of Jerusalem"
Around the 4th century, the Christian historian Eusebius wrote in "Ecclesiastical History":
3:5: "But the people of the church in Jerusalem had been commanded by a revelation, vouchsafed to approved men there before the war, to leave the city and to dwell in a certain town of Perea called Pella. And when those that believed in Christ had come thither from Jerusalem, then, as if the royal city of the Jews and the whole land of Judea were entirely destitute of holy men, the judgment of God at length overtook those who had committed such outrages against Christ and his apostles, and totally destroyed that generation of impious men."
In the 4th century, a Christian author named Chrysostom wrote in "Homilies on Matthew":
Homily 74: "For I will ask them, Did He send the prophets and wise men? Did they slay them in their synagogue? Was their house left desolate? Did all the vengeance come upon that generation? It is quite plain that it was so, and no man gainsays it"
More evidence regarding "this generation":
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