Hi TJ et al.
Since you helped with me with my book fill in issue, I thought I would see if someone has a solution to something more challenging.
I have a commentary which is broken into sections with chapter and verses. Within each section are verse numbers with no book or chapters indicated. I would like to add the chapters to the verse numbers (e.g. 1 becomes 1:1, 5-6 becomes 1:5-6).
Below is a sample of the commentary. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to quickly add the chapters to the verse numbers.
iii. The visit of the Magi (2:1–12)
1. Jesus was born before the death of Herod the Great, which is probably to be dated in 4 BC; the exact date of Jesus’ birth is unknown.
2. There are several ancient accounts, pagan and Jewish, of stars heralding the birth of great men (see Brown, pp. 170–171).
3–4. Herod’s concern is understandable: as an Edomite (cf. Mal. 1:4) and a Roman appointee, he was vulnerable to the claims of a king of the true Davidic dynasty.
5–6. The answer to Herod’s question was well known; cf. John 7:41–42. Matthew introduces here his second formula-quotation (see pp. 42–43; the absence of the phrase ‘that it might be fulfilled’ is due to the insertion of the quotation into the Jewish leaders’ answer rather than into a narrative of the birth in Bethlehem).
7–8. It is sometimes alleged that the historical …
i. The ministry of John the Baptist (3:1–12)
1. In those days relates directly to 2:23, the days of Jesus’ residence in Nazareth. It is a vague expression (compared with Luke’s precise dating, 3:1),
2. Matthew (alone) summarizes John’s preaching in the same words as that of Jesus (4:17; cf. also 10:7 for the preaching of Jesus’ disciples). For other parallels see on vv. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. For Matthew,
3. While not strictly a ‘formula-quotation’ (pp. 42–43; it is shared with Mark and Luke, and lacks the ‘fulfilment’ terminology), this quotation of Isaiah 40:3 serves a similar function. John’s location in
4. John’s ascetic clothing is modelled on that of Elijah (2 Kgs 1:8), whom John also resembles in his sudden appearance, his solitary life, his uncompromising message and his eventual clash with the ‘king’
5–6. John’s baptism was an innovation. The nearest contemporary parallels are the self-baptism of a Gentile on becoming a proselyte, and the repeated ritual washings (also self-administered) at Qumran.