Romans, Part 51

Love must be without hypocrisy.[1]  A note in the NET explained that must be “is understood in the Greek text”  Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος.  I am inclined to see it more as a subject heading: The love unfeigned,[2] as Robert Young[3] translated it.  I think Paul’s thinking shifted naturally from the gifts of the Spirit in Romans 12:3-8 to the fruit of the Spirit in Romans 12:9-21, this unfeignedwithout hypocrisygenuine[4]sincere[5] love.  I don’t know Greek so I thought it best to study the translation of the words ἀγάπη and ἀνυπόκριτος to see if the NET translators had a good reason for regarding Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος as a rule rather than a subject heading.

James used ἀνυπόκριτος in exactly this form, the wisdom from above is (ἐστιν, a form of εἰμί)[6] first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical (ἀνυπόκριτος).[7]  The verb of being ἐστιν (is) occurs in this sentence, while no verb occurs in Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος.  The mere presence of ἀνυπόκριτος, however, did not persuade the NET translators to supply must be here: the wisdom from above [must be] first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.  I found over sixty occurrences of ἀγάπη in the New Testament (listed at the end of this essay).  I’ll only comment on those where a verb was supplied by the translators.

There is no verb in, But the greatest of these is love,[8] μείζων δὲ τούτων ἡ ἀγάπη.  Is was supplied here and in Robert Young’s translation, and the greatest of these is love.[9]  Love [is] without hypocrisy would still be definitional rather than a rule if is had been supplied rather than must be.  In, My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus,[10] the preposition μετὰ[11] was translated be with, as in, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with (μετὰ) you all.[12]  Young supplied is in both instances, my love is with you all in Christ Jesus,[13] and, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, is with you all.[14]

The clause in English—so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love,[15] which seems more like a phrase in Greek, ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ τεθεμελιωμένοι—is interesting.  Consider, Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted (ἐρριζωμένοι, a form of ῥιζόω)[16] and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.[17]  Here ἐρριζωμένοι was translated simply rooted.  Young translated it being rooted: as, then, ye did receive Christ Jesus the Lord, in him walk ye, being rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith[18]  At first glance I thought the NET translators described something that happened in the past while Young described ongoing action.  On closer inspection it seemed that the NET translators tried to accommodate the sense of ongoing action with the word continue.  They translated περιπατεῖτε (a form of περιπατέω)[19] continue to live, where Young translated it simply walk.

It is the same in, And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds, but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him – if indeed you remain in the faith, established (τεθεμελιωμένοι, a form of θεμελιόω)[20] and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.[21]  Here τεθεμελιωμένοι was translated simply established, while Young translated it being founded: if also ye remain in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news[22]

So I wondered why ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ τεθεμελιωμένοι wasn’t translated “in love rooted and established” in the NET rather than, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:14-19 NET).

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named.  I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, [in love rooted and established] so that…you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Young’s translation reads, that the Christ may dwell through the faith in your hearts, in love having been rooted and founded[23]  Obviously there is something more than the word ending that determines the tense of the verb, whether it indicates something that happened in the past or something ongoing.  This exercise however has made it much clearer to me how intricately faith and love are intertwined in God’s action and mine.  He strengthens me in the inner person with power through his Spirit that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith, or, that the Christ may dwell through the faith in my heart, in love having been rooted and founded, established, grounded.  I for my part continue to live my life in Him just as I received Christ Jesus as Lord; that is, by faith, being rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith.  And so I remain in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news.

This is why I want  Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος to be a subject heading—“This love without hypocrisy”—rather than a rule—Love must be without hypocrisy.  And I’m not deaf.  I hear how ridiculously pedantic that sounds.  But for me it is a matter of life and death.  I used to rush through Paul’s “jibber-jabber” to get to his rules, to honor my contract with God, as if the man who wrote of God’s law—For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin[24]—believed that adherence to his own rules could make anyone righteous.

In the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians Paul described God’s love, the love that is the fruit of his Spirit, the love that is the fulfillment of the law.  I believe he described that same love here in Romans 12:9-21.  Abhor what is evil, he wrote, cling to what is good.[25]  In the past this “rule” only confirmed me in my folly.  It was up to me, I thought, to abhor sin and keep the law, or Paul’s definition of love as if it were a law.  But the word translated evil is πονηρόν, a form of πονηρός.[26]

Frankly, I can think of nothing more “1) full of labours, annoyances, hardships 1a) pressed and harassed by labours 1b) bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble 2) bad, of a bad nature or condition 2a) in a physical sense: diseased or blind 2b) in an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad” than the belief that I should or could make myself righteous by obeying the law or Paul’s definition of love as if it were a law.

Whenever I attempted it I wasn’t living my life in Him just as I received Christ Jesus as Lord.  I wasn’t remaining in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news.  I wasn’t even clinging to what is good (ἀγαθῷ, a form of ἀγαθός).[27]

No one is good (ἀγαθὸς) except God alone,[28] Jesus said.

 

Translation in NET

Greek Text

Verb

…the love of many will grow cold.

Matthew 24:12 (NET)

ψυγήσεται ἡ ἀγάπη τῶν πολλῶν ψυγήσεται (will grow cold)
…remain in my love.

John 15:9 (NET)

μείνατε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐμῇ μείνατε (remain)
…you will remain in my love…

John 15:10 (NET)

μενεῖτε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ μου μενεῖτε (you will remain)
…and remain in his love.

John 15:10 (NET)

καὶ μένω αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ μένω (remain)
…so that the love you have loved me with may be in them…

John 17:26 (NET)

ἵνα ἡ ἀγάπη ἣν ἠγάπησας με ἐν αὐτοῖς ἠγάπησας (you have loved)
…because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts…

Romans 5:5 (NET)

ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ ἐκκέχυται ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν ἐκκέχυται (has been poured out)
Love does no wrong to a neighbor.

Romans 13:10 (NET)

ἡ ἀγάπη τῷ πλησίον κακὸν οὐκ ἐργάζεται ἐργάζεται (does)
Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:10 (NET)

πλήρωμα οὖν νόμου ἡ ἀγάπη πλήρωμα (is the fulfillment)
Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

1 Corinthians 4:21 (NET)

ἐν ράβδῳ ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἢ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματι τε πραΰτητος ἔλθω (Shall I come)
…but love builds up.

1 Corinthians 8:1 (NET)

ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη οἰκοδομεῖ οἰκοδομεῖ (builds up)
Love is patient…

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NET)

Ἡ ἀγάπη μακροθυμεῖ μακροθυμεῖ (is patient, i.e., perseveres)
…love is kind…

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NET)

χρηστεύεται ἡ ἀγάπη χρηστεύεται (is kind, i.e., full of service to others)
Love never ends.

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NET)

Ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε πίπτει πίπτει (ends)
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NET)

Νυνὶ δὲ μένει πίστις, ἐλπίς, ἀγάπη, τὰ τρία ταῦτα μένει (remain)
But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NET)

μείζων δὲ τούτων ἡ ἀγάπη None (is was supplied)
Everything you do should be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14 (NET)

πάντα ὑμῶν ἐν ἀγάπῃ γινέσθω γινέσθω (do should be done)
My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 16:24 (NET)

ἡ ἀγάπη μου μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ None (be was supplied)
For the love of Christ controls us…

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NET)

ἡ γὰρ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ συνέχει ἡμᾶς συνέχει (controls)
…by genuine love…

2 Corinthians 6:6 (NET)

ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἀνυποκρίτῳ None
…and in the love from us that is in you…

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NET)

καὶ τῇ ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ None
…and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:13 (NET)

καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἡ κοινωνία τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν None (be was supplied)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love…

Galatians 5:22 (NET)

ὁ δὲ καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματος ἐστιν ἀγάπη ἐστιν (is)
…that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.

Ephesians 1:4 (NET)

εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἁγίους καὶ ἀμώμους κατενώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ εἶναι (may be)
…so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love…

Ephesians 3:17 (NET)

ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ τεθεμελιωμένοι ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ τεθεμελιωμένοι (rooted and grounded; so that [ἵνα v. 18], because you have been was supplied)  In Colossians 2:7 (NET) ἐρριζωμένοι is   translated rooted.  In Colossians 1:23 (NET) τεθεμελιωμένοι is translated simply established.
…bearing with one another in love…

Ephesians 4:2 (NET)

ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἀνεχόμενοι (bearing, i.e., to hold up, to sustain, to endure)
But practicing the truth in love…

Ephesians 4:15 (NET)

ἀληθεύοντες δὲ ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἀληθεύοντες (practicing the truth, i.e., speaking, teaching, professing truth)
As each one does its part, the body grows in love.

Ephesians 4:16 (NET)

ἑνὸς ἑκάστου μέρους τὴν αὔξησιν τοῦ σώματος ποιεῖται εἰς οἰκοδομὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ (as each one its part grows the body does into building up himself in love)
…and live in love…

Ephesians 5:2 (NET)

καὶ περιπατεῖτε ἐν ἀγάπῃ περιπατεῖτε (live, lit. to walk)
…and love with faith…

Ephesians 6:23 (NET)

καὶ ἀγάπη μετὰ πίστεως None (nothing supplied)
…that your love may abound even more and more…

Philippians 1:9 (NET)

ἵνα ἡ ἀγάπη ὑμῶν ἔτι μᾶλλον καὶ μᾶλλον περισσεύῃ περισσεύῃ (may abound)
…having been knit together in love…

Colossians 2:2 (NET)

συμβιβασθέντες ἐν ἀγάπῃ συμβιβασθέντες (having been knit together)
And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love…

1 Thessalonians 3:12

ὑμᾶς δὲ ὁ κύριος πλεονάσαι καὶ περισσεύσαι τῇ ἀγάπῃ πλεονάσαι καὶ περισσεύσαι (cause to increase and abound)
…and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work.

1 Thessalonians 5:13 (NET)

καὶ ἡγεῖσθαι αὐτοὺς ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ διὰ τὸ ἔργον αὐτῶν ἡγεῖσθαι (to esteem)
…and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NET)

καὶ πλεονάζει ἡ ἀγάπη ἑνὸς ἑκάστου πάντων ὑμῶν εἰς ἀλλήλους πλεονάζει (is ever greater)
But the aim of our instruction is love…

1 Timothy 1:5 (NET)

τὸ δὲ τέλος τῆς παραγγελίας ἐστὶν ἀγάπη ἐστὶν (is)
…if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.

1 Timothy 2:15 (NET)

ἐὰν μείνωσιν ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ καὶ ἁγιασμῷ μετὰ σωφροσύνης μείνωσιν (she continues, literally, they continue)
…but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NET)

ἀλλὰ τύπος γίνου τῶν πιστῶν ἐν λόγῳ, ἐν ἀναστροφῇ, ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ἐν πίστει, ἐν ἁγνείᾳ γίνου (set, literally, to become – τύπος γίνου: become the mark or image)
Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:13 (NET)

῾Υποτύπωσιν ἔχε ὑγιαινόντων λόγων ὧν παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἤκουσας ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἔχε (hold, literally to have)
You, however, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance…

2 Timothy 3:10 (NET)

Σὺ δὲ παρηκολούθησας μου τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, τῇ ἀγωγῇ, τῇ προθέσει, τῇ πίστει, τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ, τῇ ἀγάπῃ, τῇ ὑπομονῇ παρηκολούθησας (have followed)
Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.

Titus 2:2 (NET)

Πρεσβύτας νηφαλίους εἶναι, σεμνούς, σώφρονας, ὑγιαίνοντας τῇ πίστει, τῇ ἀγάπῃ, τῇ ὑπομονῇ εἶναι (are to be)
I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love…

Philemon 1:7 (NET)

χαρὰν γὰρ πολλὴν ἔσχον καὶ παράκλησιν ἐπὶ τῇ ἀγάπῃ σου ἔσχον (I have had)
…because love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 (NET)

ὅτι ἀγάπη καλύπτει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶνSeptuagint: δὲ τοὺς μὴ   φιλονεικοῦντας καλύπτει φιλία (Proverbs 10:12) καλύπτει (covers)
…truly in this person the love of God has been perfected.

1 John 2:5 (NET)

ἀληθῶς ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ τετελείωται τετελείωται (has been perfected)
…the love of the Father is not in him…

1 John 2:15 (NET)

οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ πατρὸς ἐν αὐτῷ ἔστιν (is)
…how can the love of God reside in such a person?

1 John 3:17 (NET)

πῶς ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ μένει ἐν αὐτῷ μένει (can reside)
…because love is from God…

1 John 4:7 (NET)

ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν ἐστιν (is)
…because God is love.

1 John 4:8 (NET)

ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν ἐστιν (is)
By this the love of God is revealed in us…

1 John 4:9 (NET)

ἐν τούτῳ ἐφανερώθη ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ἡμῖν ἐφανερώθη (is revealed)
In this is love…

1 John 4:10 (NET)

ἐν τούτῳ ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη ἐστιν (is)
…and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:12 (NET)

καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη αὐτοῦ |ἐν ἡμῖν| τετελειωμένη ἐστίν τετελειωμένη ἐστίν (is perfected)
God is love…

1 John 4:16 (NET)

Ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν ἐστιν (is)
…and the one who resides in love resides in God…

1 John 4:16 (NET)

καὶ ὁ μένων ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐν τῷ θεῷ μένει μένων (resides); μένει (resides)
By this love is perfected with us…

1 John 4:17 (NET)

Ἐν τούτῳ τετελείωται ἡ ἀγάπη μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν τετελείωται (is perfected)
There is no fear in love…

1 John 4:18 (NET)

φόβος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἔστιν (is, literally, “fear is not in love”)
…but perfect love drives out fear…

1 John 4:18 (NET)

ἀλλ᾿ ἡ τελεία ἀγάπη ἔξω βάλλει τὸν φόβον βάλλει (drives; i.e., “to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls”)
The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.

1 John 4:18 (NET)

ὁ δὲ φοβούμενος οὐ τετελείωται ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ τετελείωται (has been perfected); οὐ τετελείωται (has not been perfected)
For this is the love of God…

1 John 5:3 (NET)

αὕτη γάρ ἐστιν ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν (is)
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us … in truth and love.

2 John 1:3 (NET)

ἔσται μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη … ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἀγάπῃ ἔσται (will be)
Now this is love…

2 John 1:6 (NET)

καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη ἐστὶν (is)
They have testified to your love before the church.

3 John 1:6 (NET)

οἳ ἐμαρτύρησαν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησίας ἐμαρτύρησαν (They have testified)
May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!

Jude 1:2 (NET)

ἔλεος ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη καὶ ἀγάπη πληθυνθείη πληθυνθείη (May be lavished)
…maintain yourselves in the love of God…

Jude 1:21 (NET)

ἑαυτοὺς ἐν ἀγάπῃ θεοῦ τηρήσατε τηρήσατε (maintain, i.e., “1) to attend to carefully, take care of 1a) to guard 1b) metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is 1c) to observe 1d) to reserve: to undergo”

Romans, Part 52

Back to Romans, Part 68

Back to Romans, Part 77


[1] Romans 12:9a (NET)

[7] James 3:17 (NET)

[8] 1 Corinthians 13:13b (NET)

[10] 1 Corinthians 16:24 (NET)

[12] 2 Corinthians 13:13b (NET)

[15] Ephesians 3:17b (NET)

[17] Colossians 2:6, 7 (NET)

[21] Colossians 1:21-23a (NET)

[24] Romans 3:20 (NET)

[25] Romans 12:9b (NET)

[28] Luke 18:19b (NET)

Romans, Part 50

Love must be without hypocrisy,[1] Paul continued.  Actually, he wrote, Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος.  Paul wrote a lot about ἀγάπη.[2]  Love (ἀγάπη) does no wrong to a neighbor.  Therefore love (ἀγάπη) is the fulfillment of the law.[3]  What do you want? He asked the Corinthians.  Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love (ἀγάπῃ) and a spirit of gentleness?[4] He not only contrasted ἀγάπῃ to a rod of discipline but to knowledge: Knowledge puffs up (φυσιοῖ, a form of φυσιόω),[5] but love (ἀγάπη) builds up.[6]

Love (ἀγάπη) is patient, love (ἀγάπη) is kind, it is not envious.  Love does not brag, it is not puffed up (φυσιοῦται, a form of φυσιόω).  It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.  It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures (ὑπομένει, a form of ὑπομένω)[7] all things.[8]  Love (ἀγάπη) never ends.[9]  And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love (ἀγάπη).  But the greatest of these is love (ἀγάπη).[10]  Everything you do should be done in love (ἀγάπῃ).[11]

For the love (ἀγάπη) of Christ controls us, he continued to believers in Corinth, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.  And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.[12]  One of the ways Paul and his associates commended themselves was by genuine love (2 Corinthians 6:3-10 NET):

We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.  But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger, by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine (ἀνυποκρίτῳ, a form of ἀνυπόκριτος)[13] love (ἀγάπῃ), by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left, through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed; as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

God’s love (ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ) was part of Paul’s benediction to the Corinthians: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God (καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ; literally, “and this love of God’s”) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.[14]  God’s love comes to me as the fruit of his Spirit: the fruit (καρπὸς)[15] of the Spirit is love (ἀγάπη), joy (χαρὰ),[16] peace (εἰρήνη),[17] patience (μακροθυμία),[18] kindness, goodness, faithfulness (πίστις),[19] gentleness (πραΰτης),[20] and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.[21]  Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.  For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love (ἀγάπῃ).[22]

Paul prayed for the Ephesians that according to the wealth of his glory [the Father] may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις), so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love (ἀγάπῃ), you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus to know the love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη) of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.[23]  I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness (πραΰτητος, a form of πραΰτης), with patience (μακροθυμίας, a form of μακροθυμία), bearing with one another in love (ἀγάπῃ), making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (εἰρήνης, a form of εἰρήνη).[24]

So we are no longer to be children, Paul concluded for the Ephesians, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.  But practicing the truth in love (ἀγάπῃ), we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.  From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament.  As each one does its part, the body grows in love (ἀγάπῃ).[25]  Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved (ἀγαπητὰ, a form of ἀγαπητός)[26] children and live in love (ἀγάπῃ), just as Christ also loved (ἠγάπησεν, a form of ἀγαπάω) us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.[27]  Peace (Εἰρήνη) to the brothers and sisters, and love (ἀγάπη) with faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις), from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.[28]

And I pray this, Paul wrote the Philippians, that your love (ἀγάπη) may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit (καρπὸν, a form of καρπός) of righteousness [love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control] that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.[29]  My goal, he wrote the Colossians, is that their hearts, having been knit together in love (ἀγάπῃ), may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.[30]

To the church at Thessalonica Paul wrote: And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love (ἀγάπῃ) for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.[31]  We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith (πίστις) flourishes more and more and the love (ἀγάπη) of each one of you all for one another is ever greater.  As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.[32]

But the aim of our instruction, Paul wrote Timothy, is love (ἀγάπη) that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere (ἀνυποκρίτου, a form of ἀνυπόκριτος) faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις).[33]  I recall your sincere (ἀνυποκρίτου, a form of ἀνυπόκριτος) faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you.[34]  This sincere faith (πίστεως ἀνυποκρίτου, ἀνυποκρίτου πίστεως), as opposed to a hypocritical faith, comes from God in Christ through the fruit of the Holy Spirit, not from myself.  This love without hypocrisy (Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος) shares the same origin, the same path and delivery method.

Let no one look down on you because you are young, Paul admonished Timothy, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love (ἀγάπῃ), faithfulness (πίστει, a form of πίστις), and purity.[35]  Hold to the standard of sound (ὑγιαινόντων, a form of ὑγιαίνω)[36] words that you heard from me and do so with the faith (πίστει, a form of πίστις) and love (ἀγάπῃ) that are in Christ Jesus.  Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.[37]

Jesus warned us what was coming: Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you.  You will be hated by all the nations because of my name.  Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another.  And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love (ἀγάπη) of many will grow cold.  But the person who endures (ὑπομείνας, a form of ὑπομένω) to the end will be saved.[38]  This love without hypocrisy bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures (ὑπομένει, a form of ὑπομένω) all things.[39]

Just as the Father has loved (ἠγάπησεν, a form of ἀγαπάω)[40] me, Jesus said, I have also loved (ἠγάπησα, another form of ἀγαπάω) you; remain in my love (ἀγάπῃ).  If you obey my commandments (ἐντολάς, a form of ἐντολή),[41] you will remain in my love (ἀγάπῃ), just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments (ἐντολάς, a form of ἐντολή) and remain in his love (ἀγάπῃ).  I have told you these things so that my joy (χαρὰ) may be in you, and your joy (χαρὰ) may be complete.  My commandment (ἐντολὴ) is this – to love (ἀγαπᾶτε, a form of ἀγαπάω) one another just as I have loved (ἠγάπησα, a form of ἀγαπάω) you.[42]

As I’ve written before it is axiomatic to me that the way Jesus loved us was through that same love He received from the Holy Spirit that descended like a dove from heaven, and…remained on him.[43]  He prayed as much to his Father if one has ears to hear: I made known your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so that the love (ἀγάπη) you have loved (ἠγάπησας, a form of ἀγαπάω) me with may be in them, and I may be in them.[44]

Writing to the Corinthians about giving, Paul mentioned something about ἀγάπῃ which troubled the NET translators: But as you excel in everything – in faith (πίστει, a form of πίστις), in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love (ἀγάπῃ) from us that is in you – make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.[45]  The note in the NET reads:

“The reading ‘the love from us that is in you’ is very difficult in this context, for Paul is here enumerating the Corinthians’ attributes: How is it possible for them to excel ‘in the love from us that is in you’?  Most likely, because of this difficulty, several early scribes, as well as most later ones…altered the text to read “your love for us” (so NIV; Grk ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ).  The reading ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ is found, however, in excellent and early witnesses….As the harder reading it explains the rise of the other reading.  What, then, is the force of ‘in the love from us that is in you’?  Most likely, Paul is commending the Corinthians for excelling in deriving some inspiration from the apostles’ love for them.”

Now, I don’t think Paul was suddenly taking credit for the fruit of the Spirit—the love from us that is in you.  I believe he meant the love from God that he taught them. You, however, have followed my teaching, he wrote Timothy, my way of life, my purpose, my faith (πίστει, a form of πίστις), my patience (μακροθυμίᾳ), my love (ἀγάπῃ), my endurance, as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra.[46]  It seems to me a more literal translation of the Greek here would have been: “You, however, have followed [this] teaching [of mine], [this] way of life, [this] purpose, [this] faith, [this] patience, [this] love, [this] endurance…”  And this love from Paul’s teaching was in them because they believed.

And that is the key for us, too.  Now without faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists[47]  To come to know and to believe the love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη) that God has in us[48] we must first believe that it is there for us.  It’s a little like learning to float.  I had to learn to trust the water, that it would bear me up.  And I had to reject the testimony of those who claimed otherwise.


[1] Romans 12:9a (NET)

[3] Romans 13:10 (NET)

[4] 1 Corinthians 4:21 (NET)

[6] 1 Corinthians 8:1b (NET)

[8] 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NET)

[9] 1 Corinthians 13:8a (NET)

[10] 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NET)

[11] 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NET)

[12] 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 (NET)

[14] 2 Corinthians 13:13 (NET)

[21] Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

[22] Ephesians 1:3, 4 (NET)

[23] Ephesians 3:16-19 (NET)

[24] Ephesians 4:1-3 (NET)

[25] Ephesians 4:14-16 (NET)

[27] Ephesians 5:1, 2 (NET)

[28] Ephesians 6:23 (NET)

[29] Philippians 1:9-11 (NET)

[30] Colossians 2:2, 3 (NET)

[31] 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13 (NET)

[32] 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 4 (NET)

[33] 1 Timothy 1:5 (NET)

[34] 2 Timothy 1:5 (NET)

[35] 1 Timothy 4:12 (NET)

[37] 2 Timothy 1:13, 14 (NET)

[38] Matthew 24:9-12 (NET)

[39] 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NET)

[42] John 15:9-12 (NET)

[43] John 1:32 (NET)

[44] John17:26 (NET)

[45] 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NET)

[46] 2 Timothy 3:10, 11a (NET)

[47] Hebrews 11:6 (NET)

[48] 1 John 4:16a (NET) Table

Saving Demons, Part 2

While studying the different gifts of the Spirit I came across the following (2 Corinthians 3:7-9 NET):

But if the ministry (διακονία)[1] that produced death – carved in letters on stone tablets – came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective), how much more glorious will the ministry (διακονία) of the Spirit be?  For if there was glory in the ministry (διακονίᾳ) that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry (διακονία) that produces righteousness excel in glory!

I can’t help but ask, what if the glory of the ministry (διακονίᾳ) that produces righteousness is made ineffective (καταργουμένην, a form of καταργέω)[2] by the religious mind?  The note on made ineffective in the NET reads: “Or ‘which was transitory.’ Traditionally this phrase is translated as ‘which was fading away.’ The verb καταργέω in the corpus Paulinum uniformly has the meaning ‘to render inoperative, ineffective’; the same nuance is appropriate here. The glory of Moses’ face was rendered ineffective by the veil Moses wore. For discussion of the meaning of this verb in this context, see S. J. Hafemann, Paul, Moses, and the History of Israel (WUNT 81), 301-13. A similar translation has been adopted in the two other occurrences of the verb in this paragraph in vv. 11 and 13.”

So, if verse 7 means that the “glory of Moses’ face was rendered ineffective by the veil Moses wore,” Paul expanded that meaning in verse 10: For indeed, what had been glorious [the ministry that produced condemnation] now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it[3] [the ministry that produces righteousness].  Paul continued (2 Corinthians 3:11, 12 NET):

For if what was made ineffective (καταργούμενον, another form of καταργέω) came with glory, how much more has what remains (μένον, a form of μένω)[4] come in glory!  Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness, and not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from staring at the result of the glory that was made ineffective (καταργουμένου, another form of καταργέω).

The Greek word translated remains is μένον a form of μένω, as is μένει in, And now these three remain (μένει, another form of μένω): faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.[5]  It is easy to see why some translators related the forms of καταργέω in 2 Corinthians 3 to those in 1 Corinthians 13 (vv. 8, 10, 11set aside, NET) and rendered them as passing away.  But the word μένον is also found in, The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining (μένον) – this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.[6]

So it is also easy to see why other translators related what Paul said about the law, the ministry that produced condemnation, and the ministry of the Spirit, the ministry that produces righteousness, to Romans:  For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened (ἠσθένει, a form of ἀσθενέω)[7] through the fleshBy sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.[8]

It also makes sense then to relate this weakness through the flesh to the forms of καταργέω in 2 Corinthians 3 and render them as made ineffective (the law was weakened through the flesh to the point that it was made ineffective as far as righteousness is concerned).  This makes even more sense if the writing of 2 Corinthians followed the writing of Romans sequentially rather than directly after 1 Corinthians.

Mosesput a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from staring at the result (τέλος)[9] of the glory that was made ineffective,[10] Paul wrote.  In one sense he referred to the basic facts of Exodus 34:29-33 (NET):

Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand – when he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.  When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to approach him.  But Moses called to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and Moses spoke to them.  After this all the Israelites approached, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken to him on Mount Sinai.  When Moses finished speaking with them, he would put a veil on his face.

So the result that the Israelites were kept from staring at was the glowing skin of Moses’ face.  There was another meaning to Paul’s metaphor as well.  But their minds were closed, He continued.  For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read.[11] Here, the result or end that the veil keeps people from staring intently at is the fact that the law is the ministry that produced condemnationFor the law brings wrath[12]  For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.[13]  [The veil] has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away (καταργεῖται, another form of καταργέω).[14]  My mind was also closed when I tried to pass myself off as in Christ (ἐν Χριστῷ) while striving to make myself righteous by keeping the law.

But until this very day, Paul continued, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds, but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.  And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.[15]

In my case the Lord was faithful even when I was not; If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.[16]  And perhaps I should let it go at that.  But I still wonder, if I had remained faithless, or while I persisted in my faithlessness, did I give Him cause to show mercy to demons or fallen angels, since He was and remains faithful to me?

Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God – harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.  And even they – if they do not continue in their unbelief – will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.  For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?[17]

For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.  Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.  For God has consigned all people [the qualifier “people” is not literally in the text though “these” (τοὺς) is] to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.[18]

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 7


[3] 2 Corinthians 3:10 (NET)

[5] 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NET)

[6] John 1:33b (NET)

[8] Romans 8:3, 4 (NET)

[10] 2 Corinthians 3:13 (NET)

[11] 2 Corinthians 3:14a (NET)

[12] Romans 4:15 (NET)

[13] Romans 3:20 (NET)

[14] 2 Corinthians 3:14b (NET)

[15] 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 (NET)

[16] 2 Timothy 2:13 (NET)

[17] Romans 11:22-24 (NET)

[18] Romans 11:29-32 (NET)