Psalm 22, Part 8

Posted on April 4, 2021 by admin

This is a continuing look into Psalm 22 as the music in Jesus’ heart as He endured the cross.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 22:14c (Tanakh) Table	Psalm 22:14c (NET)	Psalm 21:15c (NETS)	Psalm 21:15c (Elpenor English)
my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.	My heart is like wax; it melts away inside me.	my heart became like wax melting within my belly;	my heart in the midst of my belly is become like melting wax.

Since the Masoretic text and Septuagint agree here, I want to spend some time considering what might have been on Jesus’ heart (Hebrew: לִ֖בִּי; Greek: ἡ καρδία μου). Here are the first occurrences of לִבּ֔וֹ (lēḇ) in the Masoretic text.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 6:5, 6 (Tanakh)	Genesis 6:5, 6 (NET)	Genesis 6:5, 6 (NETS)	Genesis 6:5, 6 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart (לִבּ֔וֹ) was only evil continually.	But the Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds (lēḇ, לבו) was only evil all the time.	And when the Lord God saw that the wicked deeds of humans were multiplied on the earth and that all think attentively in their hearts (τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ) on evil things all the days,	And the Lord God, having seen that the wicked actions of men were multiplied upon the earth, and that every one in his heart (τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ) was intently brooding over evil continually,
And it repented HaShem that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart (לִבּֽוֹ) [Table].	The Lord regretted that he had made humankind on the earth, and he was highly offended (lēḇ, לבו) [Note 25: “and he was grieved to his heart”].	then God considered that he had made humankind on the earth, and he thought it over (διενοήθη).	then God laid it to heart^[1] that he had made man upon the earth, and he pondered [it] deeply (διενοήθη).

The end result of this repentance, regret, consideration and pondering was the flood (Genesis 6:9-8:20). But the flood didn’t change the evil thoughts of human hearts.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 8:21 (Tanakh)	Genesis 8:21 (NET)	Genesis 8:21 (NETS)	Genesis 8:21 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem smelled the sweet savour; and HaShem said in His heart (לִבּ֗וֹ): ‘I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart (לֵ֧ב) is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done [Table].	And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself (lēḇ, לבו) [Note 33: “in his heart”], “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds (lēḇ, לב) is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done.	And the Lord God smelled an odor of fragrance, and the Lord God, when he had given it thought (διανοηθείς), said, “I will not proceed hereafter to curse the earth because of the deeds of humans, for the mind (διάνοια) of humankind applies itself attentively to evil things from youth; so I will not proceed hereafter to smite all living flesh, as I have done.	And the Lord God smelled a smell of sweetness, and the Lord God having considered (διανοηθείς), said, I will not any more curse the earth, because of the works of men, because the imagination (διάνοια) of man is intently bent upon evil things from his youth, I will not therefore any more smite all living flesh as I have done.

Jesus continued this teaching about the human heart (Matthew 15:18, 19; Mark 7:20-23 NET):

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart (καρδίας, a form of καρδία), and these things defile a person. For out of the heart (καρδίας) come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

What comes out of a person defiles him. For from within, out of the human heart (καρδίας), come evil ideas, sexual immorality,^[2] theft,^[3] murder, adultery,^[4] greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. All these evils come from within and defile a person.

The first occurrences of לִבּ֔וֹ (lēḇ) in Genesis from the Masoretic text had me thinking this essay would be a contrast between the heart of human beings and the heart of God. As I made or studied the tables for these verses, however, I noticed that the rabbis who translated the Septuagint veered away from a mechanical translation (if a form of לֵב [lēḇ] was actually in the Hebrew they translated) whenever God was the subject. I took it to heart. It was a human heart, THE human heart, that melted like wax on the cross.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 68:2 (Tanakh)	Psalm 68:2 (NET)	Psalm 67:3 (NETS)	Psalm 67:3 (English Elpenor)
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax (דּ֖וֹנַג) melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.	As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax (dônāḡ, דונג) melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.	As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; as wax (κηρὸς) melts from before fire, so may sinners perish from before God.	As smoke vanishes, let them vanish: as wax (κηρὸς) melts before the fire, so let the sinners perish from before God.

David’s prayer got a very literal answer in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark when NAZIs, the contemporary archetype of evil, and their French collaborator literally melted like wax before the ark of the covenant. But NAZIs and their collaborators are not the only ones with evil human hearts, the source of evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly.

Do not be amazed that I said to you, Jesus said, ‘You must all be born from above.’^[5] Paul wrote of Jesus: For he hath made him…sin for us, who knew no sin…^[6] I don’t believe the phrase τὸν μὴ γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν (who knew no sin) means that Jesus lacked an evil human heart. Quite the contrary, the Word became flesh,^[7] John testified of Jesus. Jesus stated explicitly how He knew (γνόντα, a form of γινώσκω) no sin: the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.^[8]

Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,^[9] the beginning, the firstborn from the dead:^[10] Before his crucifixion He was a human being with an evil human heart so led by the Holy Spirit, so filled with God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that He knew no sin. But the Word become flesh did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew (ἐγίνωσκεν, another form of γινώσκω) what was in man.^[11] And God hath made him…sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made^[12] the righteousness of God in him.^[13]

The writer of Hebrews, who I think scribed what Jesus taught during the forty days between his resurrection and ascension, was fairly explicit about Jesus’ humanity (Hebrews 2:14-17; 4:15 NET):

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. For surely his concern (ἐπιλαμβάνεται, a form of ἐπιλαμβάνω) is not for angels, but he is concerned (ἐπιλαμβάνεται, a form of ἐπιλαμβάνω) for Abraham’s descendants. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect (κατὰ πάντα), so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted^[14] in every way just as we are (καθ᾿ ὁμοιότητα), yet without sin.

Through faith in Him we, too, receive his Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22 NET):

But it is God who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anointed us, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts (ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν) as a down payment.

Paul prayed for the inner strengthening each of us needs to be a dwelling place of God (Ephesians 3:14-19 NET):

I kneel before the Father [Table], from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he will grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person [Table], that Christ will dwell in your hearts (ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν) through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you will be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth [Table], and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God.

I can think of no better way to end this essay than to conclude with Paul’s own benediction (Ephesians 3:20, 21 NET):

Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond^[15] all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen [Table].

Tables comparing Genesis 6:5 and Psalm 68:2 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Genesis 6:5 and Psalm 68:2 (67:3) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Mark 7:21, 22; Hebrews 4:15 and Ephesians 3:20 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 6:5 (Tanakh)	Genesis 6:5 (KJV)	Genesis 6:5 (NET)
And HaShem saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.	And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.	But the Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time.

Genesis 6:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 6:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἰδὼν δὲ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὅτι ἐπληθύνθησαν αἱ κακίαι τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ πᾶς τις διανοεῗται ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐπιμελῶς ἐπὶ τὰ πονηρὰ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας	᾿Ιδὼν δὲ Κύριος ὁ Θεός, ὅτι ἐπληθύνθησαν αἱ κακίαι τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ πᾶς τις διανοεῖται ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐπιμελῶς ἐπὶ τὰ πονηρὰ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας,
Genesis 6:5 (NETS)	Genesis 6:5 (English Elpenor)
And when the Lord God saw that the wicked deeds of humans were multiplied on the earth and that all think attentively in their hearts on evil things all the days,	And the Lord God, having seen that the wicked actions of men were multiplied upon the earth, and that every one in his heart was intently brooding over evil continually,

Psalm 68:2 (Tanakh)	Psalm 68:2 (KJV)	Psalm 68:2 (NET)
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.	As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.	As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.

Psalm 68:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 67:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὡς ἐκλείπει καπνός ἐκλιπέτωσαν ὡς τήκεται κηρὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου πυρός οὕτως ἀπόλοιντο οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ θεοῦ	ὡς ἐκλείπει καπνός, ἐκλιπέτωσαν· ὡς τήκεται κηρὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου πυρός, οὕτως ἀπολοῦνται οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ
Psalm 67:3 (NETS)	Psalm 67:3 (English Elpenor)
As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; as wax melts from before fire, so may sinners perish from before God.	As smoke vanishes, let them vanish: as wax melts before the fire, so let the sinners perish from before God.

Mark 7:21, 22 (NET)	Mark 7:21, 22 (KJV)
For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder,	For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἔσωθεν γὰρ ἐκ τῆς καρδίας τῶν ἀνθρώπων οἱ διαλογισμοὶ οἱ κακοὶ ἐκπορεύονται, πορνεῖαι, κλοπαί, φόνοι	εσωθεν γαρ εκ της καρδιας των ανθρωπων οι διαλογισμοι οι κακοι εκπορευονται μοιχειαι πορνειαι φονοι	εσωθεν γαρ εκ της καρδιας των ανθρωπων οι διαλογισμοι οι κακοι εκπορευονται μοιχειαι πορνειαι φονοι

adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly.

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
μοιχεῖαι, πλεονεξίαι, πονηρίαι, δόλος, ἀσέλγεια, ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός, βλασφημία, ὑπερηφανία, ἀφροσύνη	κλοπαι πλεονεξιαι πονηριαι δολος ασελγεια οφθαλμος πονηρος βλασφημια υπερηφανια αφροσυνη	κλοπαι πλεονεξιαι πονηριαι δολος ασελγεια οφθαλμος πονηρος βλασφημια υπερηφανια αφροσυνη

Hebrews 4:15 (NET)	Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)
For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.	For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειρασμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθ᾿ ὁμοιότητα χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας	ου γαρ εχομεν αρχιερεα μη δυναμενον συμπαθησαι ταις ασθενειαις ημων πεπειραμενον δε κατα παντα καθ ομοιοτητα χωρις αμαρτιας	ου γαρ εχομεν αρχιερεα μη δυναμενον συμπαθησαι ταις ασθενειαις ημων πεπειραμενον δε κατα παντα καθ ομοιοτητα χωρις αμαρτιας

Ephesians 3:20 (NET)	Ephesians 3:20 (KJV)
Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think,	Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τῷ δὲ δυναμένῳ ὑπὲρ πάντα ποιῆσαι ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ ὧν αἰτούμεθα ἢ νοοῦμεν κατὰ τὴν δύναμιν τὴν ἐνεργουμένην ἐν ἡμῖν	τω δε δυναμενω υπερ παντα ποιησαι υπερ εκπερισσου ων αιτουμεθα η νοουμεν κατα την δυναμιν την ενεργουμενην εν ημιν	τω δε δυναμενω υπερ παντα ποιησαι υπερ εκπερισσου ων αιτουμεθα η νοουμεν κατα την δυναμιν την ενεργουμενην εν ημιν

Psalm 22, Part 9

Back to Peter’s Second Gospel Proclamation, Part 3

Back to Westworld, Part 1

Back to The New Covenant, Part 2

Back to Christianity, Part 9

Back to Christianity, Part 10

^[1] The phrase laid it to heart is an English translation of the Greek word ἐνεθυμήθη (a form of ἐνθυμέομαι).

^[2] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μοιχειαι (KJV: adulteries) preceding sexual immorality (KJV: fornications). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had κλοπαί here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had μοιχειαι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κλοπαί (KJV: Thefts).

^[5] John 3:7 (NET)

^[6] 2 Corinthians 5:21a (KJV) Table I deliberately dropped the words to be added by the translators. They are not in the Greek and they add nothing to my understanding.

^[7] John 1:14a (NET)

^[8] John 14:10b (KJV) Table

^[9] Hebrews 12:2b (NET) Table

^[10] Colossians 1:18b (NET)

^[11] John 2:25 (NET)

^[12] The Sephanus Textus Receptus had γινωμεθα here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had γενώμεθα (NET: would become).

^[13] 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) Table

^[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had πεπειρασμένον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πεπειραμενον (KJV: was…tempted).

^[15] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υπερ εκπερισσου (KJV: abundantly above).

Romans, Part 90

Posted on May 14, 2018 by admin

Paul wrote believers in Rome (Romans 15:28, 29 NET):

Therefore after I have completed this [contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem^[1]] and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set out for Spain by way of you, and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.

The Greek word translated fullness was πληρώματι (a form of πλήρωμα). Paul had written about his fellow countrymen: Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration (πλήρωμα; KJV: fulness) bring?^[2] For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?^[3]

Elsewhere he wrote, when the appropriate (πλήρωμα; KJV: fulness) time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!”^[4] For God was pleased to have all his fullness (πλήρωμα; KJV: fulness) dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.^[5]

Paul continued his letter to the Colossians (Colossians 2:6-14 NET):

Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him all the fullness (πλήρωμα; KJV: fulness) of deity lives in bodily form, and you have been filled (πεπληρωμένοι, a form of πληρόω) in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. In him you also were circumcised – not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ. Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness (χειρόγραφον) expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.

I kneel before the Father, he wrote believers in Ephesus, 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, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, 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 (πληρωθῆτε, another form of πληρόω) to all the fullness (πλήρωμα; KJV: fulness) of God.^[6]

The love Paul prayed that they may know (γνῶναι, a form of γινώσκω), that they had been rooted and grounded in, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, all the fullness of God, is the fulfillment (πλήρωμα; KJV: is the fulfilling) of the law.^[7] So I came to Paul’s declaration—I will come in the fullness (πληρώματι, a form of πλήρωμα) of Christ’s blessing—with high expectations. But Paul came to Rome as a prisoner in chains (Acts 26:29-32).

Though the words do not appear in the parallel Greek text of the NET online and Bible Hub doesn’t recognize them,^[8] both the Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Byzantine Majority Text contain the words τοῦ εὐαγγελίου (a form of εὐαγγέλιον) translated of the gospel: And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.^[9]

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that the addition of τοῦ εὐαγγελίου (of the gospel) to this word string lowers my expectations concerning Paul’s triumphal entry into Rome, especially in light of his attitude toward εὐαγγελίου elsewhere (See Table2 below). But my own higher or lower expectations are not very fruitful ways to understand his words. By bringing my attention back to the gospel of Christ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου has refocused my attention on Jesus’ teaching (John 15:20, 21 NET):

Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed (ἐτήρησαν, a form of τηρέω) my word, they will obey^[10] (τηρήσουσιν, another form of τηρέω) yours too. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.

It opens my ears to Paul’s own assessment of his situation (Philippians 1:12-14 NET):

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel (εὐαγγελίου, a form of εὐαγγέλιον): The whole imperial guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison for the sake of Christ, and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly.

My young religious mind preferred Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to his crucifixion, his resurrection notwithstanding. Resurrection never seemed to be quite enough to make up for crucifixion. I wished with all my heart that Jesus’ crucifixion story had turned out differently. Yes, his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, like everything He did and said, fulfilled scripture (See the Gospel Harmony below). But its main tactical achievement was to exacerbate the Pharisees’ fear: Thus the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!”^[11]

If Paul had entered triumphantly into Rome would we read about the saints who belong to Caesar’s household or would we read about Paul’s premature death? With my mind set on God’s interests rather than man’s I can see how coming to Rome as a prisoner in chains was in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. In fact, I can see the same thing for Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem since the fear it caused among the Pharisees made them deaf to his teaching in their streets and in the temple (Matthew 21:12-25:46; Mark 11:12-13:37; Luke 19:45-21:38; John 12:20-50), and strengthened their earlier resolve to kill him (John 11:45-53). As Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 53 Tanakh):

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD (y^ehôvâh, יהוה) revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD (y^ehôvâh, ויהוה) hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it pleased the LORD (y^ehôvâh, ויהוה) to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD (y^ehôvâh, יהוה) shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

As I began to believe^[12] that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is y^ehôvâh^[13] this prophecy took on a whole new life for me. Paul wrote believers in Philippi (Philippians 2:5-11 NET):

You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient (ὑπήκοος, a form ὑπήκοος) to the point of death – even death on a cross! As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Considering the Greek word εὐλογίας (a form of εὐλογία), translated blessing, however, another potential interpretation of Paul’s words came to mind. Though blessing seemed to be a perfectly suitable translation for most of the occurrences of forms of εὐλογία in most of Paul’s writings (See Table3 below), it is possible he had something else in mind in his letter to the Romans. Romans 15:29 was one of two occurrences of εὐλογίας (or any form of εὐλογία) in this letter. The other occurred in a description of those Paul wanted Roman believers to avoid (Romans 16:17, 18 NET):

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them! For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery (εὐλογίας, a form of εὐλογία) they deceive the minds of the naive.

Obviously, this usage of εὐλογίας was on Paul’s mind near the end of his letter to believers in Rome. So I think it is possible that he meant: “I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of ‘fine speaking, fine discourse, polished language, the elegance of language’ of the gospel of Christ,” as opposed to smooth talk and flattery. He was confidant of it. And journeying to Rome as a prisoner in chains didn’t shake his confidence (Acts 27-28).

He was in no way burdened excessively, beyond [his] strength, so that [he] despaired even of living.^[14] He had not decided (ἔκρινα, a form of κρίνω) to be concerned about nothing among [those in Rome] except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.^[15] From morning until evening he explained things to [the local Jewish leaders], testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.^[16] This led me to a final insight.

Before I did this study I wondered from time to time if Paul had been too proud to heed the Holy Spirit’s prophecy given to Agabus. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem without knowing what will happen to me there, Paul told the leaders of the Ephesian church, except that the Holy Spirit warns me in town after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.^[17] Agabus came to Paul with explicit insight (Acts 21:10-14 NET):

While we remained [in Caesarea, at the house of Philip the evangelist] for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, both we and the local people begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Because he could not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”

I can see now that the Holy Spirit’s prophetic word wasn’t given so that Paul might flee and thwart it. It was given so that when it came to pass those in Philip’s house in Caesarea and Paul’s companions and I and anyone else who will hear would know that the Lord’s will had been done.

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, Paul continued his letter to believers in Rome, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf. Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient (ἀπειθούντων, a form of ἀπειθέω) in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. Now may the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.^[18]

Paul was rescued from the unbelieving in Judea, bent over backwards to make his ministry acceptable to the saints in Jerusalem (Acts 21:17-26) and by God’s will came at last to Rome.

A gospel harmony of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem follows. The temporal arrangement of individual elements may be arguable. Then there are three other tables listing Paul’s usage of forms of πλήρωμα and εὐαγγελίου (a form of εὐαγγέλιον) and forms of εὐλογία with their translations in the KJV and NET. If the parallel Greek of the NET differed from the Stephanus Textus Receptus I broke the tables to contrast those differences, along with the Byzantine Majority Text.

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem – Gospel Harmony
Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
			The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. John 12:12 (NET)
Now when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” Matthew 21:1-3 (NET)	Now as they approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here soon.’” Mark 11:1-3 (NET)	Now when he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Luke 19:29-31 (NET)
This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “*Tell the people of Zion,* ‘*Look, your king is coming to you, unassuming and seated on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey* (Zechariah 9:9).’” Matthew 21:4, 5 (NET)
So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. Matthew 21:6 (NET)	So they went and found a colt tied at a door, outside in the street, and untied it. Mark 11:4 (NET)	So those who were sent ahead found it exactly as he had told them. Luke 19:32 (NET)
	Some people standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They replied as Jesus had told them, and the bystanders let them go. Mark 11:5, 6 (NET)	As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” Luke 19:33, 34 (NET)
They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. Matthew 21:7 (NET)	Then they brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. Mark 11:7 (NET)	Then they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and had Jesus get on it. Luke 19:35 (NET)	Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it… John 12:14a (NET)
			…just as it is written, “*Do not be afraid, people of Zion;* look, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt (Zechariah 9:9)!” John 12:14b, 15 (NET)
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Matthew 21:8a (NET)	Many spread their cloaks on the road… Mark 11:8a (NET)	As he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. Luke 19:36 (NET)
Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Matthew 21:8b (NET)	…and others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Mark 11:8b (NET)		So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. John 12:13a (NET)
		As he approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives… Luke 19:37a (NET)
The crowds that went ahead of him and those following kept shouting… Matthew 21:9a (NET)	Both those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting… Mark 11:9a (NET)	…the whole crowd of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice… Luke 19:37b (NET)	They began to shout… John 12:13b (NET)
		…for all the mighty works they had seen: Luke 19:37c (NET)
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Matthew 21:9b (NET)
*Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord* (Psalm 118:25, 26)! Matthew 21:9c (NET)	“*Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!* Mark 11:9b (NET)		“*Hosanna!* *Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!* John 12:13c (NET)
	Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Mark 11:10a (NET)
			Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:13d (NET)
		“*Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord* (Psalm 118:26)! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:38 (NET)
Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9d (NET)	Hosanna in the highest!” Mark 11:10b (NET)
			(His disciples did not understand these things when they first happened, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him and that these things had happened to him.) So the crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were continuing to testify about it. Because they had heard that Jesus had performed this miraculous sign, the crowd went out to meet him. John 12:16-18 (NET)
		But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out!” Luke 19:39, 40 (NET)
			Thus the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!” John 12:19 (NET)
		Now when Jesus approached and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you had only known on this day, even you, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and surround you and close in on you from every side. They will demolish you – you and your children within your walls – and they will not leave within you one stone on top of another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.” Luke 19:41-44 (NET)
As he entered Jerusalem… Matthew 21:10a (NET)	Then Jesus entered Jerusalem… Mark 11:11a (NET)
…the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:10b, 11 (NET)
	…and went to the temple. And after looking around at everything, he went out to Bethany with the twelve since it was already late. Mark 11:11b (NET)

Form of πλήρωμα	Reference	KJV	NET
πλήρωμα	Romans 11:12	…how much more their fulness?	…how much more will their full restoration bring?
πλήρωμα	Romans 11:25	…until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.	…until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐ γὰρ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο, ἵνα μὴ ἦτε [παρ᾿] ἑαυτοῖς φρόνιμοι, ὅτι πώρωσις ἀπὸ μέρους τῷ Ἰσραὴλ γέγονεν ἄχρι οὗ τὸ πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰσέλθῃ	ου γαρ θελω υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι το μυστηριον τουτο ινα μη ητε παρ εαυτοις φρονιμοι οτι πωρωσις απο μερους τω ισραηλ γεγονεν αχρις ου το πληρωμα των εθνων εισελθη	ου γαρ θελω υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι το μυστηριον τουτο ινα μη ητε παρ εαυτοις φρονιμοι οτι πωρωσις απο μερους τω ισραηλ γεγονεν αχρις ου το πληρωμα των εθνων εισελθη

πλήρωμα	Romans 13:10	…therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.	Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
	1 Corinthians 10:26	…the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.	…the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s.
	1 Corinthians 10:28	…for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:	Not included

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἐὰν δέ τις ὑμῖν εἴπῃ· τοῦτο ἱερόθυτον ἐστιν, μὴ ἐσθίετε δι᾿ ἐκεῖνον τὸν μηνύσαντα καὶ τὴν συνείδησιν	εαν δε τις υμιν ειπη τουτο ειδωλοθυτον εστιν μη εσθιετε δι εκεινον τον μηνυσαντα και την συνειδησιν του γαρ κυριου η γη και το πληρωμα αυτης	εαν δε τις υμιν ειπη τουτο ειδωλοθυτον εστιν μη εσθιετε δι εκεινον τον μηνυσαντα και την συνειδησιν του γαρ κυριου η γη και το πληρωμα αυτης

πλήρωμα	Galatians 4:4	But when the fulness of the time was come…	But when the appropriate time had come…
πλήρωμα	Ephesians 1:23	…the fulness of him that filleth all in all.	…the fullness of him who fills all in all.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἥτις ἐστὶν τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ, τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ τὰ πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν πληρουμένου	ητις εστιν το σωμα αυτου το πληρωμα του παντα εν πασιν πληρουμενου	ητις εστιν το σωμα αυτου το πληρωμα του τα παντα εν πασιν πληρουμενου

πλήρωμα	Ephesians 3:19	…that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.	…that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
	Colossians 1:19	…that in him should all fulness dwell…	…to have all his fullness dwell in the Son…
	Colossians 2:9	For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.	For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form…
πληρώματι	Romans 15:29	…I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.	…I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οἶδα δὲ ὅτι ἐρχόμενος πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν πληρώματι εὐλογίας Χριστοῦ ἐλεύσομαι	οιδα δε οτι ερχομενος προς υμας εν πληρωματι ευλογιας του ευαγγελιου του χριστου ελευσομαι	οιδα δε οτι ερχομενος προς υμας εν πληρωματι ευλογιας του ευαγγελιου του χριστου ελευσομαι

πληρώματος

Ephesians 1:10

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times…

…toward the administration of the fullness of the times…

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰς οἰκονομίαν τοῦ πληρώματος τῶν καιρῶν, ἀνακεφαλαιώσασθαι τὰ πάντα ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ, τὰ ἐπὶ τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐν αὐτῷ	εις οικονομιαν του πληρωματος των καιρων ανακεφαλαιωσασθαι τα παντα εν τω χριστω τα τε εν τοις ουρανοις και τα επι της γης (1:11) εν αυτω	εις οικονομιαν του πληρωματος των καιρων ανακεφαλαιωσασθαι τα παντα εν τω χριστω τα επι τοις ουρανοις και τα επι της γης (1:11) εν αυτω

πληρώματος

Ephesians 4:13

…unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

…attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.

εὐαγγελίου (a form of εὐαγγέλιον)	Reference	KJV	NET
εὐαγγελίου	1 Corinthians 4:15	…for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.	…I became your father^[19] in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
	1 Corinthians 9:14	…should live of the gospel.	…to receive their living by the gospel.
	2 Corinthians 4:4	…the light of the glorious gospel of Christ…	…the light of the glorious gospel of Christ…

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἐν οἷς ὁ θεὸς τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου ἐτύφλωσεν τὰ νοήματα τῶν ἀπίστων εἰς τὸ μὴ αὐγάσαι τὸν φωτισμὸν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τῆς δόξης τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ	εν οις ο θεος του αιωνος τουτου ετυφλωσεν τα νοηματα των απιστων εις το μη αυγασαι αυτοις τον φωτισμον του ευαγγελιου της δοξης του χριστου ος εστιν εικων του θεου	εν οις ο θεος του αιωνος τουτου ετυφλωσεν τα νοηματα των απιστων εις το μη αυγασαι αυτοις τον φωτισμον του ευαγγελιου της δοξης του χριστου ος εστιν εικων του θεου

εὐαγγελίου	Galatians 2:5	…that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.	…in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
εὐαγγελίου	Galatians 2:14	…they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel…	…they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel…

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλ᾿ ὅτε εἶδον ὅτι οὐκ ὀρθοποδοῦσιν πρὸς τὴν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, εἶπον τῷ Κηφᾷ ἔμπροσθεν πάντων· εἰ σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ὑπάρχων ἐθνικῶς καὶ \|οὐχὶ \| Ἰουδαϊκῶς ζῇς, πῶς τὰ ἔθνη ἀναγκάζεις ἰουδαΐζειν	αλλ οτε ειδον οτι ουκ ορθοποδουσιν προς την αληθειαν του ευαγγελιου ειπον τω πετρω εμπροσθεν παντων ει συ ιουδαιος υπαρχων εθνικως ζης και ουκ ιουδαικως τι τα εθνη αναγκαζεις ιουδαιζειν	αλλ οτε ειδον οτι ουκ ορθοποδουσιν προς την αληθειαν του ευαγγελιου ειπον τω πετρω εμπροσθεν παντων ει συ ιουδαιος υπαρχων εθνικως ζης και ουκ ιουδαικως τι τα εθνη αναγκαζεις ιουδαιζειν

εὐαγγελίου	Ephesians 3:6	…partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:	…through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs…
	Ephesians 6:15	…the preparation of the gospel of peace…	…the preparation that comes from the good news of peace…
	Ephesians 6:19	…to make known the mystery of the gospel…	…that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel…

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ, ἵνα μοι δοθῇ λόγος ἐν ἀνοίξει τοῦ στόματος μου, ἐν παρρησίᾳ γνωρίσαι τὸ μυστήριον \|τοῦ εὐαγγελίου\|	και υπερ εμου ινα μοι δοθειη λογος εν ανοιξει του στοματος μου εν παρρησια γνωρισαι το μυστηριον του ευαγγελιου	και υπερ εμου ινα μοι δοθη λογος εν ανοιξει του στοματος μου εν παρρησια γνωρισαι το μυστηριον του ευαγγελιου

εὐαγγελίου

Philippians 1:7

…in the defence and confirmation of the gospel…

…in the defense and confirmation of the gospel…

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Καθώς ἐστιν δίκαιον ἐμοὶ τοῦτο φρονεῖν ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν διὰ τὸ ἔχειν με ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμᾶς, ἔν τε τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀπολογίᾳ καὶ βεβαιώσει τοῦ εὐαγγελίου συγκοινωνούς μου τῆς χάριτος πάντας ὑμᾶς ὄντας	καθως εστιν δικαιον εμοι τουτο φρονειν υπερ παντων υμων δια το εχειν με εν τη καρδια υμας εν τε τοις δεσμοις μου και τη απολογια και βεβαιωσει του ευαγγελιου συγκοινωνους μου της χαριτος παντας υμας οντας	καθως εστιν δικαιον εμοι τουτο φρονειν υπερ παντων υμων δια το εχειν με εν τη καρδια υμας εν τε τοις δεσμοις μου και εν τη απολογια και βεβαιωσει του ευαγγελιου συγκοινωνους μου της χαριτος παντας υμας οντας

εὐαγγελίου	Philippians 1:12	…the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel…	…my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel:
	Philippians 1:16 (KJV: verse 17)	…I am set for the defence of the gospel.	…I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.
	Philippians 1:27	…let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:	…conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…
	Philippians 1:27	…striving together for the faith of the gospel…	…by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel…

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Μόνον ἀξίως τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τοῦ Χριστοῦ πολιτεύεσθε, ἵνα εἴτε ἐλθὼν καὶ ἰδὼν ὑμᾶς εἴτε ἀπὼν ἀκούω τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν, ὅτι στήκετε ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι, μιᾷ ψυχῇ συναθλοῦντες τῇ πίστει τοῦ εὐαγγελίου	μονον αξιως του ευαγγελιου του χριστου πολιτευεσθε ινα ειτε ελθων και ιδων υμας ειτε απων ακουσω τα περι υμων οτι στηκετε εν ενι πνευματι μια ψυχη συναθλουντες τη πιστει του ευαγγελιου	μονον αξιως του ευαγγελιου του χριστου πολιτευεσθε ινα ειτε ελθων και ιδων υμας ειτε απων ακουσω τα περι υμων οτι στηκετε εν ενι πνευματι μια ψυχη συναθλουντες τη πιστει του ευαγγελιου

εὐαγγελίου

Philippians 4:15

…that in the beginning of the gospel…

…at the beginning of my gospel ministry…

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οἴδατε δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς, Φιλιππήσιοι, ὅτι ἐν ἀρχῇ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, ὅτε ἐξῆλθον ἀπὸ Μακεδονίας, οὐδεμία μοι ἐκκλησία ἐκοινώνησεν εἰς λόγον δόσεως καὶ λήμψεως εἰ μὴ ὑμεῖς μόνοι	οιδατε δε και υμεις φιλιππησιοι οτι εν αρχη του ευαγγελιου οτε εξηλθον απο μακεδονιας ουδεμια μοι εκκλησια εκοινωνησεν εις λογον δοσεως και ληψεως ει μη υμεις μονοι	οιδατε δε και υμεις φιλιππησιοι οτι εν αρχη του ευαγγελιου οτε εξηλθον απο μακεδονιας ουδεμια μοι εκκλησια εκοινωνησεν εις λογον δοσεως και ληψεως ει μη υμεις μονοι

εὐαγγελίου	Colossians1:5	…the word of the truth of the gospel…	…the message of truth, the gospel…
εὐαγγελίου	Colossians 1:23	…and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard…	…without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἴ γε ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι καὶ ἑδραῖοι καὶ μὴ μετακινούμενοι ἀπὸ τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου οὗ ἠκούσατε, τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν, οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγὼ Παῦλος διάκονος	ειγε επιμενετε τη πιστει τεθεμελιωμενοι και εδραιοι και μη μετακινουμενοι απο της ελπιδος του ευαγγελιου ου ηκουσατε του κηρυχθεντος εν παση τη κτισει τη υπο τον ουρανον ου εγενομην εγω παυλος διακονος	ειγε επιμενετε τη πιστει τεθεμελιωμενοι και εδραιοι και μη μετακινουμενοι απο της ελπιδος του ευαγγελιου ου ηκουσατε του κηρυχθεντος εν παση τη κτισει τη υπο τον ουρανον ου εγενομην εγω παυλος διακονος

εὐαγγελίου

2 Thessalonians 2:14

Whereunto he called you by our gospel…

He called you to this salvation through our gospel…

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰς ὃ [καὶ ]ἐκάλεσεν ὑμᾶς διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἡμῶν εἰς περιποίησιν δόξης τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ	εις ο εκαλεσεν υμας δια του ευαγγελιου ημων εις περιποιησιν δοξης του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου	εις ο εκαλεσεν υμας δια του ευαγγελιου ημων εις περιποιησιν δοξης του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου

εὐαγγελίου	2 Timothy 1:10	…hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:	…brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!
εὐαγγελίου	Philemon 1:13	…in the bonds of the gospel:	…my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.

Form of εὐλογία	Reference	KJV	NET
εὐλογία	Galatians 3:14	That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ…	…that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles…
εὐλογίᾳ	Ephesians 1:3	…who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:	…who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ εὐλογήσας ἡμᾶς ἐν πάσῃ εὐλογίᾳ πνευματικῇ ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ	ευλογητος ο θεος και πατηρ του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου ο ευλογησας ημας εν παση ευλογια πνευματικη εν τοις επουρανιοις χριστω	ευλογητος ο θεος και πατηρ του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου ο ευλογησας ημας εν παση ευλογια πνευματικη εν τοις επουρανιοις εν χριστω

εὐλογίαις	2 Corinthians 9:6	…he which soweth bountifully…	…the person who sows generously…^[20]
		…shall reap also bountifully.	…will also reap generously.
εὐλογίαν	2 Corinthians 9:5	…make up before hand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before…	…to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised…
		…that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.	…so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀναγκαῖον οὖν ἡγησάμην παρακαλέσαι τοὺς ἀδελφούς, ἵνα προέλθωσιν εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ προκαταρτίσωσιν τὴν προεπηγγελμένην εὐλογίαν ὑμῶν, ταύτην ἑτοίμην εἶναι οὕτως ὡς εὐλογίαν καὶ μὴ ὡς πλεονεξίαν	αναγκαιον ουν ηγησαμην παρακαλεσαι τους αδελφους ινα προελθωσιν εις υμας και προκαταρτισωσιν την προκατηγγελμενην ευλογιαν υμων ταυτην ετοιμην ειναι ουτως ως ευλογιαν και μη ωσπερ πλεονεξιαν	αναγκαιον ουν ηγησαμην παρακαλεσαι τους αδελφους ινα προελθωσιν εις υμας και προκαταρτισωσιν την προκατηγγελμενην ευλογιαν υμων ταυτην ετοιμην ειναι ουτως ως ευλογιαν και μη ως πλεονεξιαν

εὐλογίας

Romans 15:29

…I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

…I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οἶδα δὲ ὅτι ἐρχόμενος πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν πληρώματι εὐλογίας Χριστοῦ ἐλεύσομαι	οιδα δε οτι ερχομενος προς υμας εν πληρωματι ευλογιας του ευαγγελιου του χριστου ελευσομαι	οιδα δε οτι ερχομενος προς υμας εν πληρωματι ευλογιας του ευαγγελιου του χριστου ελευσομαι

εὐλογίας

Romans 16:18

…by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οἱ γὰρ τοιοῦτοι τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν Χριστῷ οὐ δουλεύουσιν ἀλλὰ τῇ ἑαυτῶν κοιλίᾳ, καὶ διὰ τῆς χρηστολογίας καὶ εὐλογίας ἐξαπατῶσιν τὰς καρδίας τῶν ἀκάκων	οι γαρ τοιουτοι τω κυριω ημων ιησου χριστω ου δουλευουσιν αλλα τη εαυτων κοιλια και δια της χρηστολογιας και ευλογιας εξαπατωσιν τας καρδιας των ακακων	οι γαρ τοιουτοι τω κυριω ημων ιησου χριστω ου δουλευουσιν αλλα τη εαυτων κοιλια και δια της χρηστολογιας και ευλογιας εξαπατωσιν τας καρδιας των ακακων

εὐλογίας

1 Corinthians 10:16

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?

Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ?

Romans, Part 91

Back to Believers

Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 6

^[1] Romans 15:26b (NET)

^[2] Romans 11:12 (NET)

^[3] Romans 11:15 (NET)

^[4] Galatians 4:4-6 (NET)

^[5] Colossians 1:19, 20 (NET)

^[6] Ephesians 3:14-19 (NET)

^[7] Romans 13:10b (NET)

^[8] This is only partly true: the word εὐαγγελίου doesn’t appear in the list of Greek words in the New Testament but some discussion of its presence in, or absence from, the text does appear in the commentaries.

^[9] Romans 15:29 (KJV)

^[10] Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 3; My Deeds, Part 1

^[11] John 12:19 (NET)

^[12] My Reasons and My Reason, Part 5; Romans, Part 76; Romans, Part 69

^[13] Who Am I? Part 2; My Reasons and My Reason, Part 5

^[14] 2 Corinthians 1:8b (NET)

^[15] 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NET) Table

^[16] Acts 28:23b (NET)

^[17] Acts 20:22, 23 (NET)

^[18] Romans 15:30-33 (NET)

^[19] The NET translation of ἐγέννησα (a form of γεννάω) became…father poses the question in my mind whether Paul overstated his affection and concern: And call no one your ‘father’ (πατέρα, a form of πατήρ) on earth, Jesus said, for you have one Father (πατὴρ), who is in heaven (Matthew 23:9 NET).

^[20] Romans, Part 47

Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 12

Posted on April 3, 2016 by admin

I am considering a pastor’s advice offered in another blog as an example of confusing directions and as a case in point: If wicked (râshâʽ, לרשע) sinners (raʽ, רע) are those who refuse to stop trusting in human beings, whether others or themselves, we all qualify. And this journey to discover just who these sinners are was prompted by my bias that—He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked^[1] (râshâʽ, רשע)—prophesies Jesus’ return to earth to preach the Gospel effectively (as opposed to executing people for a thousand years).

The pastor’s advice was essentially a to-do list: refuse, consider the consequences, focus on God and ignore the lies of the enemy, avoid/run, and accountability. I considered the first two in the previous essay and will pick up again here.

Focus on God and ignore the lies of the enemy
Find fulfillment in your first love and ignore the enemy’s temptation towards the satisfaction of the flesh.

I have no quarrel with this if it is by the Holy Spirit. This should be item number one on the list. I, however, found a way to attempt this in the flesh. My Dad could calculate how much I cost him to the penny, even a scuff mark on the floor. I had already cost Jesus his life. I didn’t want to cost Him anything more. I thought my emotions in response to his sacrifice should motivate me to live a sinless life. (I don’t think I even considered righteousness at the time or anything beyond not sinning.) So, I didn’t believe Paul’s words in the sixth chapter of Romans were true, but merely hyperbole to affect my emotions, to motivate ME to action, not something I should believe to be saved (Romans 6:3, 4 NET):

Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.

That new life (ἐν καινότητι ζωῆς περιπατήσωμεν; walk in newness of life [ESV]) is here and now: Now this is eternal life – that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.^[2] For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death,^[3] Paul continued; that is if we believe that we have been buried with him through baptism into death, then and only then we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.^[4]

We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.^[5] Should I deny this because of my behavior? No, I believe until it changes my behavior. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.^[6] Paul continued (Romans 6:11-14 NET):

So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires, and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness. For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.

But if I attempt to find fulfillment in laws or rules or procedures, even the pastor’s to-do list, I have fallen away from grace and committed a superπορνεία. And that is essentially the context of the concept first [e.g., foremost as opposed to first in temporal order] love: But I have this against you, Jesus said to the church at Ephesus, You have departed from your first love!^[7]

[Addendum 8/16/16: The words translated you and your are singular. Though the letters were intended to be read by the churches the content is addressed primarily to the angel of each individual church. I found a pdf online with color codes highlighting when the pronouns and verbs are singular and plural. The commentary to the right of this pdf assumes that angel meant human pastor, which I also assumed until very recently. I haven’t thought through the implications yet of angel as a higher order being in this particular context. I don’t know whether a plural church might be addressed with singular pronouns and verbs. My understanding of the message to/about the church in Ephesus which follows was predicated on a false assumption that the pronouns and verbs were plural.]

I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, He had said previously, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary.^[8]

The Ephesian church was a successful church. Am I wrong to imagine that they had developed offices and procedures, filled with officers operating under strict protocols? That they had constructed this self-sustaining church with their own hands? But what happens when the love which is the fulfillment (πλήρωμα) of the law^[9] becomes an office, a ministry, a subdivision of the Church rather than the fruit of the Spirit empowering every individual believer? Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent, Jesus continued. Do the deeds you did at the first [e.g., first in temporal order since knowing Christ]; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent.^[10] In other words, their first (πρῶτα, a form of πρῶτος) deeds when they were more faithful and less successfully sophisticated were their foremost (πρώτην, another form of πρῶτος) in Jesus’ eyes.

What was that high state? I take Paul’s prayer as my starting point (Ephesians 3:14-19 NET):

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 (πνεύματος, a form of πνεῦμα) in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, 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 (πληρωθῆτε, another form of πληρόω) to all the fullness (πλήρωμα) of God.

I don’t have much to say about ignoring “the enemy’s temptation toward the satisfaction of the flesh.” Satan is finite. I doubt that many of us merit his personal attention. I was confronted by what I assume was a demon once. I don’t recall what it said. I said something like, “Jesus wouldn’t like it if I did that.” It growled and left. No, I wasn’t frightened in the moment, but the memory of it bothered me for weeks. That’s probably why I don’t remember what it said.

So submit to God, James wrote. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.^[11] I’ve never found resisting the devil particularly helpful since temptation usually comes from my own desires: But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.^[12] Though I didn’t always think so, I now assume that the sin in my flesh (Romans 7:15-20) and the evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander that come out of my heart function apart from the inspiration or activation of demons, evil spirits or devils. Believing the Gospel is far more fruitful as it pertains to sin and righteousness. Perhaps I am being very slow and dense. Believing the Gospel is probably the best way to submit to God which is in turn the most powerful way to resist the devil relative to any frontal assault I might mount on my own.

Nathan’s response to David, however, has been particularly helpful with sexual temptation (2 Samuel 12:1-4 NET):

So the Lord (y^ehôvâh, יהוה) sent Nathan to David. When he came to David, Nathan said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor (Table). The rich man had a great many flocks and herds (Table). But the poor man had nothing except for a little lamb he had acquired. He raised it, and it grew up alongside him and his children. It used to eat his food, drink from his cup, and sleep in his arms. It was just like a daughter to him (Table).

“When a traveler arrived at the rich man’s home, he did not want to use one of his own sheep or cattle to feed the traveler who had come to visit him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and cooked it for the man who had come to visit him (Table).”

Here there is no mention of resisting the devil or the “lies of the enemy.” After David committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, Nathan as y^ehôvâh’s prophet pictured sexual desire as a hungry traveler who should be shown hospitality with that which is one’s own as opposed to that belonging to another.

Avoid/Run
Keep yourself out of a situation that may cause you to fall. If tempted, run while it’s still light.

Flee sexual immorality (πορνείαν, a form of πορνεία),^[13] Paul wrote the Corinthians. I’ve written elsewhere what I think about πορνεία, that it can mean adultery. I think the “sin of premarital sex,” however, has more to do with middle-class values than y^ehôvâh’s law. It is unfortunate, to say the least, that the meaning of πορνεία was stretched to free young men primarily (when they repent of their “sins of premarital sex”) from their marital obligations to pursue their educations and higher earning potentials.

I expect Jesus to speak to us as He spoke to other religious people (Mark 7:6-9 NET):

“Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites [e.g., actors], as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’ Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition.” He also said to them, “You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition.”

Be that as it may if temptation is external to the one being tempted, leaving is good advice. If you find that you only lust in your heart during or after your visit to a strip club, stop going to strip clubs. I think that coincides well with flee πορνείαν if Paul meant sexualized pagan worship: Don’t go to church there.

I won’t eat at Hooter’s, not because I lust after the young waitresses. I stared a nude woman dead in the eyes when I needed to talk to her on set. But put a clothed woman in front of me with great cleavage and my eyes wander away from hers, even away from her lips (and I do a lot more lip reading as I age). Well, they don’t mind, a friend told me. I do. An old man like me staring at young women’s cleavage is embarrassing and not worth the effort it takes not to do it. I get my chicken wings to go (and, yes, I tip my waitress).

Music was the big thing for me. I consider myself a recovering musician. For years I played nothing but hymns and tried to compose a non-sensual music. I didn’t know how to do that so I wrote music to accompany Scripture. The only thing that changed was the calendar-age of the women I gave goose bumps when I played. Eventually I gave it up and have been relieved not to have music in my head all the time. This is not to say that playing or composing music is inherently evil. I am considering only my hyper-sensual relationship to music. Frank Zappa described it best. Who knows, maybe it was his relationship, too.

I would like to highlight two rather obvious limits to fleeing and to the meaning of πορνεία. If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry.^[14] The Greek word translated thinks he is acting inappropriately is ἀσχημονεῖν (a form of ἀσχημονέω). To what manner of inappropriateness does ἀσχημονεῖν refer? It comes from ἀσχήμων, which Paul used obliquely for the penis or vagina a little later in this letter: and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members (ἀσχήμονα, a form of ἀσχήμων) are clothed with dignity…^[15]

Love, by the way, does not act inappropriately: It is not rude (ἀσχημονεῖ, another form of ἀσχημονέω).^[16] So we have behavior between a man and his woman that is not sin: Let them marry. And it is not love either. Again, I will make my appeal for fuck and fucking. They are very evocative words in the English language, distinguished and distinguishable from love, if we abandon our religious pretensions in favor of accurate verbal communication.

Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.^[17] I remember vividly the moment I stared at this verse and realized it wasn’t describing some otherworldly event. Jesus hiked up his skirt, hoofed it and outran the old men who wanted to stone Him. And I imagine young John was huffing it out right beside Him. As they lost their pursuers around a corner, leaned against a wall to catch their breath and laughed together, the Son of God became human to me.

Perhaps Simon the Pharisee expected Jesus to hike up his skirt and hoof it, if He were a prophet. Had Jesus fled from Mary we would have a very different story to consider. Maybe it would be more to our liking; that’s difficult to say.

I’ll conclude this in another essay.

Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 13

Back to The Angels Will Gather

Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited – Part 1

^[1] Isaiah 11:4b (NIV)

^[2] John 17:3 (NET)

^[3] Romans 6:5a (NET)

^[4] Romans 6:5b (NET)

^[5] Romans 6:6 (NET)

^[6] Romans 6:8 (NET)

^[7] Revelation 2:4 (NET)

^[8] Revelation 2:2, 3 (NET)

^[9] Romans 13:10b (NET)

^[10] Revelation 2:5 (NET)

^[11] James 4:7 (NET)

^[12] James 1:14 (NET)

^[13] 1 Corinthians 6:18a (NET)

^[14] 1 Corinthians 7:36 (NET)

^[15] 1 Corinthians 12:23 (NET)

^[16] 1 Corinthians 13:5a (NET)

^[17] John 10:39 (NASB)

Romans, Part 51

Posted on March 16, 2014 by admin

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 unfeigned–without hypocrisy–genuine^[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”