Lent--Day Three

The title page to the 1611 first edition of the Authorized Version Bible. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. KJV

All of the Gospels refer to the Baptism of Jesus by John, but only Mark refers to the Spirit as "driving" him into the Wilderness afterward. Matthew and Luke both use the gentler word, "led." In different translations, the milder words are often used. The KJV and the RSV, the Holman, and the Apologetics translations all use "drove." The Vulgate uses expellit which is translated as "drove, expelled, or banished." 

There are many translations available, so we can chose the wording we prefer, but the use of "drove" does add a more demanding tone to the Spirit's work. We seem to try to make the Spirit mild in his approach to ministry, but with the use of "drove" in this passage, he is more insistent and demanding.

I have experienced his "driving,"  and I value the need to see the subtle shift in focus on the Spirit in this reference.