Difference between revisions of "Visitation"

<p> <b> VISITATION. </b> — <b> 1. </b> The ecclesiastical term applied to the visit of the [[Virgin]] Mary to [[Elisabeth]] three months before the birth of the [[Baptist]] (&nbsp;Luke 1:39-56), commemorated in Western Church [[Calendars]] on 2nd July. </p> <p> <b> 2. </b> ἐπισκοπή (&nbsp;Luke 19:44). Occurs only once in the Gospels, but is found also in &nbsp;Acts 1:20, where it = ‘charge,’ ‘office,’ ‘bishopric’ (Authorized Version); cf. &nbsp;1 Timothy 3:1, where it = ‘oversight,’ ‘office of a bishop’ (Authorized Version). It occurs in a sense more nearly approaching that of &nbsp;Luke 19:44 in &nbsp;1 Peter 2:12, where, however, ‘the day of visitation’ (ἡμέρα ἐπισκοπῆς) seems to imply trial and affliction, whereas in &nbsp;Luke 19:44 ‘the time of visitation’ (ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς) is suggestive rather of the special care and mercy of God, and the opportunity thereby afforded. </p> <p> In classical Greek ἐτισκοτή is found only in Lucian, ἐτίσκεψις being the usual form. In LXX [[Septuagint]] פְקד, פְק֖דּה are rendered by ἐπισκέπτομαι, ἐπισκοπή (&nbsp;Genesis 50:24-25, &nbsp;Exodus 3:16; &nbsp;Exodus 13:19, &nbsp;Isaiah 10:3 [ἡ ἡμερα τῆς ἐτισκοτῆς, as in &nbsp;1 Peter 2:12], &nbsp;Jeremiah 10:15 [καιρος ἐτισκοπῆς, as in &nbsp;Luke 19:44], &nbsp;Psalms 8:4). In the [[Apocrypha]] the word is used in the sense of inspection or examination, though in &nbsp;Wisdom of [[Solomon]] 14:11 there is an implication of [[Divine]] wrath, derived, however, mainly from the context. In NT ἐτισκέπτομαι is used to signify visitation in sympathy or compassion (&nbsp;Matthew 25:36; &nbsp;Matthew 25:43, &nbsp;James 1:27); God’s gracious regard (&nbsp;Luke 1:68; &nbsp;Luke 1:78; &nbsp;Luke 7:16, &nbsp;Acts 15:14, &nbsp;Hebrews 2:6); in the sense of ‘going and seeing’ (&nbsp;Acts 7:23); and to imply enquiry for the purpose of selection (&nbsp;Acts 6:3). </p> <p> To the general use of ἐπισκέπτομαι, ἐπισκοπή, we may find a parallel in the use of the English word ‘regard,’ which, in addition to the sense of ‘observation,’ may imply also a kindly or gracious purpose. ἐπισκοπή may be said generally to signify critical inspection (by God), in which due regard is had to the good and bad features in the characters of the persons inspected. ἐπισκέπτομαι implies also a Divine purpose of blessing. [The technical use of ἐπισκοπή, indicated above, to denote the office of a bishop, is of course secondary]. Thus in &nbsp;Luke 19:44 we may understand the ‘time of visitation’ as being either the time during which [[Jerusalem]] was being critically regarded by God, and neglected, through ignorance of this inspection, to display those features of national character which would have redeemed it in God’s eyes; or the time of spiritual opportunity, afforded by the presence of ‘God manifest in the flesh,’ in which it might have known and sought ‘the things which belonged unto its peace.’ In the latter sense, the ‘time of visitation’ would be equivalent to ‘this thy day’ in &nbsp;Luke 19:42. </p> <p> S. J. Ramsay Sibbald. </p>

<div> '''1: ἐπισκοπή ''' (Strong'S #1984 — Noun [[Feminine]] — episkope — ep-is-kop-ay' ) </div> <p> for which see [[Bishop]] , No. 2, denotes "a visitation," whether in mercy, &nbsp;Luke 19:44 , or in judgment, &nbsp;1 Peter 2:12 . </p>

<p> (פַּקוּדָה, ἐπισκοπή ), in [[Scripture]] language, is sometimes taken for a visit of mercy from God (&nbsp;Genesis 1:24; &nbsp;Exodus 13:19; &nbsp;Luke 1:66, etc.), but oftener for a visit of rigor and vengeance. Day of visitation, year of visitation, or time of visitation, generally signifies the time of affliction and vengeance; or of close ''Inspection'' (&nbsp;Exodus 22:14; &nbsp;Isaiah 23:17; &nbsp;1 Peter 2:12, etc.). </p>