Discovery BoxLuke 17:3-5 
Context17:3 Watch 1 yourselves! If 2 your brother 3 sins, rebuke him. If 4 he repents, forgive him. 17:4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive 5 him.”
17:5 The 6 apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 7
1 tn It is difficult to know if this looks back or forward or both. The warning suggests it looks back. For this verb, see Luke 8:18; 12:1, 15; 20:46; 21:8, 34. The present imperative reflects an ongoing spirit of watchfulness.
2 tn Both the “if” clause in this verse and the “if” clause in v. 4 are third class conditions in Greek.
3 tn Here the term “brother” means “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a, contra BDAG 19 s.v. 2.c), but with a familial connotation. It refers equally to men, women, or children. However, because of the familial connotations, “brother” has been retained in the translation here in preference to the more generic “fellow believer” (“fellow Christian” would be anachronistic in this context).
4 tn Grk “And if.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
5 sn You must forgive him. Forgiveness is to be readily given and not withheld. In a community that is to have restored relationships, grudges are not beneficial.
6 tn Grk “And the.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
7 sn The request of the apostles, “Increase our faith,” is not a request for a gift of faith, but a request to increase the depth of their faith.
