Tag Archives: John 4:14

Psalm 22, Part 6

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

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Psalm 22:14a (Tanakh) Psalm 22:14a (NET) Psalm 21:15a (NETS)

Psalm 21:15a (Elpenor English)
I am poured out like water, My strength drains away like water [Note 31: like water I am poured out]; Like water I was poured out, I am poured out like water,

The Hebrew word translated I am poured out was נִשְׁפַּכְתִּי֘ (shaphak).  The Greek word in the Septuagint was ἐξεχύθην (a form of ἐκχέω).  Jesus taught his disciples:

Matthew 26:27, 28 (NET)

 Mark 14:23, 24 (NET)

Luke 22:20 (NET)
And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, And after taking the[1] cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out (ἐκχυννόμενον) for you[2] is the new covenant in my blood.
for this is my blood, the blood of the[3] covenant,[4] that is poured out (ἐκχυννόμενον) for many for the forgiveness of sins. He said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the[5] covenant,[6] that is poured out (ἐκχυννόμενον) for[7] many.

Here, too, the Greek word translated poured out was ἐκχυννόμενον (another form of ἐκχέω).  On the day the Holy Spirit was poured out on all who believed Jesus, Peter quoted the prophet Joel:

Acts 2:17 (NET)

 Joel 2:28 (NETS)

Joel 3:1 (English Elpenor)
‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says, ‘that I will pour out (ἐκχεῶ) my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. And it shall be after these things, I will pour out (ἐκχεῶ)[8] my spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out (ἐκχεῶ) of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Acts 2:17 (NET Parallel Greek) Joel 2:28 (Septuagint BLB) Joel 3:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται ἐν ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις, λέγει ὁ θεός, ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος μου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν καὶ οἱ νεανίσκοι ὑμῶν ὁράσεις ὄψονται καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ὑμῶν ἐνυπνίοις ἐνυπνιασθήσονται καὶ ἔσται μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα καὶ προφητεύσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ὑμῶν ἐνύπνια ἐνυπνιασθήσονται καὶ οἱ νεανίσκοι ὑμῶν ὁράσεις ὄψονται ΚΑΙ ἔσται μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν, καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ὑμῶν ἐνύπνια ἐνυπνιασθήσονται, καὶ οἱ νεανίσκοι ὑμῶν ὁράσεις ὄψονται
Acts 2:18 (NET) Joel 2:29 (NETS) Joel 3:2 (English Elpenor)
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out (ἐκχεῶ) my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out (ἐκχεῶ)[9] my spirit. And on my servants and on [my] handmaids in those days will I pour out (ἐκχεῶ) of my Spirit.
Acts 2:18 (NET Parallel Greek) Joel 2:29 (Septuagint BLB) Joel 3:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καί γε ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους μου καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς δούλας μου ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος μου, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς δούλας ἐν ταῗς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους μου καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς δούλας μου ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου

Peter’s addition of γε (translated even) understood as at least, and the potential addition of μου (depending on which version of the Septuagint is closer to the original Greek and which Greek is closer to the original Hebrew), indicates to me that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit was limited in Peter’s then present to believers—limited to my (e.g., God’s) servants or slaves (δούλους, a form of δοῦλος, and δούλας, a form of δούλη).  Jesus told his disciples, “you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves (δοῦλοι, another form of δοῦλος) undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.’”[10]

The religious mind as “a subspecies of the carnal mind” will not hear this saying.  It rejects such a concept entirely as it strives to justify itself by having its own righteousness derived from the law or Church doctrine or whatever virtue system it might imagine for itself.  The religious mind craves credit and praise for its own standards and achievements of righteousness.   I think the phrase slaves undeserving of special praise (δοῦλοι ἀχρεῖοι; KJV: unprofitable servants) was Jesus’ way of expressing the attitude of those led by the Spirit of God.  Paul described it a bit differently (Galatians 2:19-21 NET):

For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!

What you have done (ποιήσητε, a form of ποιέω) when you have done everything as a disciple of Christ led by his Holy Spirit is not your work (Hebrews 4:1-13) but Christ’s: the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.[11]  The one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.[12]

This Jesus God raised up, Peter continued on the day the Holy Spirit was poured out upon believers, and we are all witnesses of it.  So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out (ἐξέχεεν, another form of ἐκχεῶ) what you both see and hear [Table].[13]

The phrase what you both see and hear was a reference to what happened when the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers (Acts 2:4-12 NET):

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem [Table].  When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion because each one heard them speaking in his own language.  Completely baffled, they said, “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? [Table]  And how is it that each one of us hears them in our own native language?  Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!”  All were astounded and greatly confused, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” [Table]

Peter was also first to preach the Gospel to Gentiles (Acts 10:34b-48a NET):

I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people [Table], but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him.  You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news (εὐαγγελιζόμενος, a form of εὐαγγελίζω) of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)—you know what happened throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John announced: with respect to Jesus from Nazareth,[14] that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power.  He went around doing good (εὐεργετῶν, a form of εὐεργετέω) and healing all who were oppressed by the devil because God was with him.  We are[15] witnesses of all the things he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem.  They killed[16] him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him up on[17] the third day and caused him to be seen, not by all the people, but by us, the witnesses God had already chosen, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he[18] is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.  About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the message.  The circumcised believers who had accompanied[19] Peter were greatly astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out (ἐκκέχυται, another form of ἐκχέω) even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.  Then Peter said [Table], “No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”  So he gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ [Table].

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere I have never spoken in tongues.  I receive God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control from his Holy Spirit.  Paul wrote: And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out (ἐκκέχυται, another form of ἐκχέω) in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.[20]

A note (6) in the NET acknowledged the possibility that this love of God (ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ) means: “The love that comes from God and that produces our love for God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  I will testify to this actuality, and add that the love that comes from God and that produces our love for God and others has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be glory forever!  Amen.[21]

Paul wrote to Titus (Titus 3:3-7 NET):

For we, too, were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another.  But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that[22] we have done but on the basis of his mercy,[23] through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out (ἐξέχεεν, another form of ἐκχέω) on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior.  And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become[24] heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”

After Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit,[25] one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out immediately.[26]  I’ve heard the physical explanation of this flow of blood and water many times.  A quote from an article on compellingTruth online—“When Jesus was pierced, why did blood and water come out of His side?”—follows:

Crucifixion typically resulted in death through one of two ways. The first way was hypovolemic shock. The prolonged rapid heartbeat resulting from hypovolemic shock can cause fluid to gather in the area around the heart….

The second way death often occurred during crucifixion was due to asphyxiation….This…can also result in the buildup of fluid around the heart.

I didn’t grasp the symbolic significance of blood and water (αἷμα καὶ ὕδωρ) until I did this study of what poured out of Jesus: his blood for the forgiveness of sins and the water near to his heart, his Holy Spirit, for the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe.[27]  As He promised the Samaritan woman at the well: whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water (ὕδωρ) that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.[28]

I am poured out like water, Jesus sang in his heart as He died on the cross.

Tables comparing Psalm 22:14; Joel 2:28 (3:1) and 2:29 (3:2) in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Psalm 22:14 (21:15); Joel 2:28 (3:1) and 2:29 (3:2) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:23, 24; Acts 2:18; 10:38-40; 10:42; 10:45; Titus 3:5; 3:7 and John 19:34 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 22:14 (Tanakh)

 Psalm 22:14 (KJV)

Psalm 22:14 (NET)
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength drains away like water; all my bones are dislocated. My heart is like wax; it melts away inside me.

Psalm 22:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 21:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὡσεὶ ὕδωρ ἐξεχύθην καὶ διεσκορπίσθη πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ μου ἐγενήθη ἡ καρδία μου ὡσεὶ κηρὸς τηκόμενος ἐν μέσῳ τῆς κοιλίας μου ὡσεὶ ὕδωρ ἐξεχύθην, καὶ διεσκορπίσθη πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ μου, ἐγενήθη ἡ καρδία μου ὡσεὶ κηρὸς τηκόμενος ἐν μέσῳ τῆς κοιλίας μου

Psalm 21:15 (NETS)

Psalm 21:15 (English Elpenor)
Like water I was poured out, and all my bones were scattered; my heart became like wax melting within my belly; I am poured out like water, and all my bones are loosened: my heart in the midst of my belly is become like melting wax.

Joel 3:1 (Tanakh)

 Joel 2:28 (KJV)

Joel 2:28 (NET)
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: “After all of this I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy.  Your elderly will have prophetic dreams; your young men will see visions.

Joel 2:28 (Septuagint BLB)

Joel 3:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα καὶ προφητεύσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ὑμῶν ἐνύπνια ἐνυπνιασθήσονται καὶ οἱ νεανίσκοι ὑμῶν ὁράσεις ὄψονται ΚΑΙ ἔσται μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν, καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ὑμῶν ἐνύπνια ἐνυπνιασθήσονται, καὶ οἱ νεανίσκοι ὑμῶν ὁράσεις ὄψονται

Joel 2:28 (NETS)

Joel 3:1 (English Elpenor)
And it shall be after these things, I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Joel 3:2 (Tanakh)

 Joel 2:29 (KJV)

Joel 2:29 (NET)
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My spirit. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. Even on male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Joel 2:29 (Septuagint BLB)

Joel 3:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς δούλας ἐν ταῗς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους μου καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς δούλας μου ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου

Joel 2:29 (NETS)

Joel 3:2 (English Elpenor)
Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. And on my servants and on [my] handmaids in those days will I pour out of my Spirit.

Matthew 26:28 (NET)

Matthew 26:28 (KJV)
for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν τὸ αἷμα μου τῆς διαθήκης τὸ περὶ πολλῶν ἐκχυννόμενον εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν τουτο γαρ εστιν το αιμα μου το της καινης διαθηκης το περι πολλων εκχυνομενον εις αφεσιν αμαρτιων τουτο γαρ εστιν το αιμα μου το της καινης διαθηκης το περι πολλων εκχυνομενον εις αφεσιν αμαρτιων

Mark 14:23, 24 (NET)

Mark 14:23, 24 (KJV)
And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ λαβὼν ποτήριον εὐχαριστήσας ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἔπιον ἐξ αὐτοῦ πάντες και λαβων το ποτηριον ευχαριστησας εδωκεν αυτοις και επιον εξ αυτου παντες και λαβων το ποτηριον ευχαριστησας εδωκεν αυτοις και επιον εξ αυτου παντες
He said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τοῦτο ἐστιν τὸ αἷμα μου τῆς διαθήκης τὸ ἐκχυννόμενον ὑπὲρ πολλῶν και ειπεν αυτοις τουτο εστιν το αιμα μου το της καινης διαθηκης το περι πολλων εκχυνομενον και ειπεν αυτοις τουτο εστιν το αιμα μου το της καινης διαθηκης το περι πολλων εκχυνομενον

Acts 2:18 (NET)

Acts 2:18 (KJV)
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καί γε ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους μου καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς δούλας μου ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος μου, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν και γε επι τους δουλους μου και επι τας δουλας μου εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις εκχεω απο του πνευματος μου και προφητευσουσιν καιγε επι τους δουλους μου και επι τας δουλας μου εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις εκχεω απο του πνευματος μου και προφητευσουσιν

Acts 10:38-40 (NET)

Acts 10:38-40 (KJV)
with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power.  He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil because God was with him. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Ἰησοῦν τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέθ, ὡς ἔχρισεν αὐτὸν ὁ θεὸς πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ δυνάμει, ὃς διῆλθεν εὐεργετῶν καὶ ἰώμενος πάντας τοὺς καταδυναστευομένους ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου, ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἦν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ιησουν τον απο ναζαρετ ως εχρισεν αυτον ο θεος πνευματι αγιω και δυναμει ος διηλθεν ευεργετων και ιωμενος παντας τους καταδυναστευομενους υπο του διαβολου οτι ο θεος ην μετ αυτου ιησουν τον απο ναζαρετ ως εχρισεν αυτον ο θεος πνευματι αγιω και δυναμει ος διηλθεν ευεργετων και ιωμενος παντας τους καταδυναστευομενους υπο του διαβολου οτι ο θεος ην μετ αυτου
We are witnesses of all the things he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem.  They killed him by hanging him on a tree, And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἡμεῖς μάρτυρες πάντων ὧν ἐποίησεν ἔν τε τῇ χώρᾳ τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ [ἐν] Ἰερουσαλήμ. ὃν καὶ ἀνεῖλαν κρεμάσαντες ἐπὶ ξύλου και ημεις εσμεν μαρτυρες παντων ων εποιησεν εν τε τη χωρα των ιουδαιων και εν ιερουσαλημ ον ανειλον κρεμασαντες επι ξυλου και ημεις εσμεν μαρτυρες παντων ων εποιησεν εν τε τη χωρα των ιουδαιων και εν ιερουσαλημ ον και ανειλον κρεμασαντες επι ξυλου
but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen, Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
τοῦτον ὁ θεὸς ἤγειρεν [ἐν] τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸν ἐμφανῆ γενέσθαι τουτον ο θεος ηγειρεν τη τριτη ημερα και εδωκεν αυτον εμφανη γενεσθαι τουτον ο θεος ηγειρεν τη τριτη ημερα και εδωκεν αυτον εμφανη γενεσθαι

Acts 10:42 (NET)

Acts 10:42 (KJV)
He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ παρήγγειλεν ἡμῖν κηρύξαι τῷ λαῷ καὶ διαμαρτύρασθαι ὅτι οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ ὡρισμένος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ κριτὴς ζώντων καὶ νεκρῶν και παρηγγειλεν ημιν κηρυξαι τω λαω και διαμαρτυρασθαι οτι αυτος εστιν ο ωρισμενος υπο του θεου κριτης ζωντων και νεκρων και παρηγγειλεν ημιν κηρυξαι τω λαω και διαμαρτυρασθαι οτι αυτος εστιν ο ωρισμενος υπο του θεου κριτης ζωντων και νεκρων

Acts 10:45 (NET)

Acts 10:45 (KJV)
The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were greatly astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἐξέστησαν οἱ ἐκ περιτομῆς πιστοὶ |ὅσοι| συνῆλθαν τῷ Πέτρῳ, ὅτι καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη ἡ δωρεὰ τοῦ |ἁγίου| πνεύματος  ἐκκέχυται και εξεστησαν οι εκ περιτομης πιστοι οσοι συνηλθον τω πετρω οτι και επι τα εθνη η δωρεα του αγιου πνευματος εκκεχυται και εξεστησαν οι εκ περιτομης πιστοι οσοι συνηλθον τω πετρω οτι και επι τα εθνη η δωρεα του αγιου πνευματος εκκεχυται

Titus 3:5 (NET)

Titus 3:5 (KJV)
he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων τῶν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ἃ ἐποιήσαμεν ἡμεῖς ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος ἔσωσεν ἡμᾶς διὰ λουτροῦ παλιγγενεσίας καὶ ἀνακαινώσεως πνεύματος ἁγίου ουκ εξ εργων των εν δικαιοσυνη ων εποιησαμεν ημεις αλλα κατα τον αυτου ελεον εσωσεν ημας δια λουτρου παλιγγενεσιας και ανακαινωσεως πνευματος αγιου ουκ εξ εργων των εν δικαιοσυνη ων εποιησαμεν ημεις αλλα κατα τον αυτου ελεον εσωσεν ημας δια λουτρου παλιγγενεσιας και ανακαινωσεως πνευματος αγιου

Titus 3:7 (NET)

Titus 3:7 (KJV)
And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἵνα δικαιωθέντες τῇ ἐκείνου χάριτι κληρονόμοι γενηθῶμεν κατ᾿ ἐλπίδα ζωῆς αἰωνίου ινα δικαιωθεντες τη εκεινου χαριτι κληρονομοι γενωμεθα κατ ελπιδα ζωης αιωνιου ινα δικαιωθεντες τη εκεινου χαριτι κληρονομοι γενωμεθα κατ ελπιδα ζωης αιωνιου

John 19:34 (NET)

John 19:34 (KJV)
But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out immediately. But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλ᾿ εἷς τῶν στρατιωτῶν λόγχῃ αὐτοῦ τὴν πλευρὰν ἔνυξεν, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εὐθὺς αἷμα καὶ ὕδωρ αλλ εις των στρατιωτων λογχη αυτου την πλευραν ενυξεν και ευθυς εξηλθεν αιμα και υδωρ αλλ εις των στρατιωτων λογχη αυτου την πλευραν ενυξεν και ευθεως εξηλθεν αιμα και υδωρ

[1] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article το here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[2] The word order in Greek is: 1) τοῦτο τὸ ποτήριον (This cup); 2) ἡ καινὴ διαθήκη (the new covenant); 3) ἐν τῷ αἵματι μου (in my blood); 4) τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐκχυννόμενον (that is poured out for you).  Neither my Greek nor my King James English is subtle enough to know if This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you (KJV) means This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood (NET).  They sound substantially different to my ear.  The KJV translators have mimicked the Greek word order better than the NET translators.

[3] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article το preceding the article τῆς.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[4] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καινης (KJV: new) preceding covenant (KJV: testament).  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[5] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article το preceding the article τῆς.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[6] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καινης (KJV: new) preceding covenant (KJV: testament).  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[7] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑπὲρ here where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had περι.

[8] The Hebrew word in the Masoretic text was אֶשְׁפּ֚וֹךְ (shaphak, שָׁפַךְ) another form of the word נִשְׁפַּכְתִּי֘ translated I am poured out in Psalm 22:14.

[9] The Hebrew word in the Masoretic text was אֶשְׁפּ֖וֹךְ (shaphak, שָׁפַךְ) another form of the word נִשְׁפַּכְתִּי֘ translated I am poured out in Psalm 22:14.

[10] Luke 17:10 (NET) The Greek word translated duty was ὠφείλομεν (a form of ὀφείλω): we have only done what what was owed to God in Christ.  Owe (ὀφείλετε, another form of ὀφείλω) no one anything, Paul wrote, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8 NET).

[11] Philippians 3:9b (NET)

[12] John 3:21 (NET)

[13] Acts 2:32, 33 (NET)

[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Ναζαρέθ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ναζαρετ.

[15] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the verb εσμεν here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀνεῖλαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ανειλον (KJV: they slew).

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

[18] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὗτος here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτος.

[19] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had συνῆλθαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συνηλθον (KJV: came with).

[20] Romans 5:5 (NET)

[21] Romans 11:36 (NET)

[22] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἃ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ων (KJV: which).

[23] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἔλεος here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ελεον.

[24] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γενηθῶμεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had γενωμεθα (KJV: we should be made).

[25] John 19:30b (NET)

[26] John 19:34 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had εὐθὺς here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had ευθεως.

[27] Romans 3:22a (NET) Table

[28] John 4:14 (NET)

The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 4

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For the scripture says to Pharaoh, Paul quoted (Table below), “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”[1]  It occurred to me in the previous essay how much the larger section in which this quotation is found influences my thinking on the lost son of perdition.  I want to begin to consider that here.

This section of Paul’s letter is ostensibly about Israel: For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel, nor are all the children Abraham’s true descendants; rather “through Isaac will your descendants be counted.”[2]  John the Baptist had warned, don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’  For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones![3]

The Gospel implications of this section are still evident, however, through this relatively transparent surface: it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.[4]  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God,[5] Paul had written previously.  Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters, he had written elsewhere, Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God…[6]

In this section Paul, apostle to the Gentiles, worked through a deep emotional problem over what he saw with his own eyes:[7] For I could wish that I myself were accursed—cut off from Christ—for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen [Table], who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.  To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever!  Amen.[8]

And he worked through the more urgent theological issue his limited perspective had engendered: It is not as though the word of God had failed.[9]  The Holy Spirit’s solution to this issue was immediate and direct: God’s purpose in election (κατ᾿ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις τοῦ θεοῦ).  God has his own reasons why (and when from our limited perspectives) He does what He does.

God’s purpose in election engendered its own issue which Paul addressed next.  And here is where his quotation (Table below) from Exodus is found (Romans 9:14-18 NET):

What shall we say then?  Is there injustice with God?  Absolutely not!  For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy [Table].  For the scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”  So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.

Certainly, Paul addressed his concerns for Israel here.  He made that explicit later: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.[10]  But the very nature of his concern for Israel allows the Gospel implications to show through.  Now, I am so grateful that receiving the Gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ doesn’t depend on the uncertainty of human desire or exertion, but that wasn’t always true for me.

There was a time when I feared the idea that I should flee my “sure and certain” desire and exertion to have a righteousness of my own derived from the law, all the commands of the New Testament and Church doctrine for something as whimsical as the mercy of God and a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.[11]  Obviously, I didn’t understand it that clearly at the time.  As I began to understand it I began to repent of my unbelief.  Jeremiah wrote:

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Lamentations 3:22-26 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:22-26 (NET) Lamentations 3:22-26 (NETS)

Lamentations 3:22-26 (Elpenor English)
Surely HaShem’S mercies (חַֽסְדֵ֤י) are not consumed, surely His compassions fail not. The Lord’s loyal kindness (checed, חסדי) never ceases; his compassions never end. The mercies of the Lord are that we have not expired, that his compassion has not come to an end. [It is] the mercies (ἐλέη) of the Lord, that he has not failed me, because his compassions are not exhausted.  Pity [us], O Lord, early [every] month: for we are not brought to an end, because his compassions are not exhausted.
They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant! They are new in the early mornings; great is your faithfulness. [They are] new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
‘The HaShem is my portion’, saith my soul; ‘Therefore will I hope in Him.’ “My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him. “The Lord is my portion,” said my soul, “therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I wait for him.
HaShem is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that will seek him. The Lord is good to them that wait for him: the soul which shall seek him
It is good that a man should quietly wait for the salvation of HaShem. It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord. A good thing it is—and it will wait and be quiet for the salvation of the Lord. [is] good, and shall wait for, and quietly expect salvation of the Lord.

And in answer to his deep emotional problem, Paul wrote: For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.[12]

It is reasonable to assume here that the Greek words τοὺς πάντας (a plural form of πᾶς) translated all people are equivalent to the Greek words τοὺς πάντας translated them all.  It is not reasonable to assume that he may show mercy to means “he might show mercy to.”  Yes, ἐλεήσῃ is a form of ἐλεέω in the subjunctive mood.

The subjunctive mood indicates probability or objective possibility.  The action of the verb will possibly happen, depending on certain objective factors or circumstances…However if the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action.[13] 

The clause ἵνα τοὺς πάντας ἐλεήσῃ (so that he may show mercy to them all) is clearly the result of συνέκλεισεν γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς πάντας εἰς ἀπείθειαν (For God has consigned all people to disobedience).

It would have been misleading to have translated ἐλεήσῃ he will show mercy to.  It is not in the future tense but the aorist.  What is telling to me is that no one has translated it as “simple past tense,” he showed mercy to.  Paul was not referencing Jesus’ crucifixion directly here.

John Gill seemed to have a firm grasp on Paul’s intent, coupled even with the earlier conclusion it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy, regarding those:

for whom [God] has mercy in store, and will bestow it on them; and in order to bring them to a sense of their need of it, and that he may the more illustriously display the riches of it, he leaves them for a while in a state of unbelief, and then by his Spirit thoroughly convinces them of it, and gives them faith to look to, and believe in, the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life.[14]

God’s mercy, according to Mr. Gill however, was “not upon all the individuals of Jews and Gentiles,” but only “God’s elect among the Jews” and “God’s elect among the Gentiles” “for all are not concluded in, or convinced of the sin of unbelief, but only such who are eventually believers.”[15]  In other words, he understood τοὺς πάντας as God’s elect Jews and Gentiles: For God has consigned his elect to disobedience so that he may show mercy to his elect, e.g., so that his elect and only his elect will better recognize “the riches” of his mercy, some Jews and some Gentiles.

Some Jews believed Jesus already?[16]  How could the realization that some Jews would be shown mercy wean Paul from his wish that he were accursed—cut off from Christ—for the sake of his people, his fellow countrymen who are Israelites?  Would Mr. Gill’s knowledge inspire Paul to eulogize (Romans 11:33-36 NET)?

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?  Or who has first given to God that God needs to repay him?  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever!  Amen.

I could be wrong.  Perhaps Paul wasn’t weaned from his desperate, aberrant to the point of sinful, concern for those God didn’t care enough to consign to disobedience, much less to show them any mercy.  But it seems much less tortured to take τοὺς πάντας (literally: the all, plural, or in a common American Southern dialect: all y’all) at face value.  What other Greek words could Paul or the Holy Spirit have chosen to actually mean all?

I found no other usage of τοὺς πάντας in the New Testament.  Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul, the writer of Hebrews and Jude used πάντας τοὺς x to limit πάντας in a variety of ways.  (John had a different way of expressing all alive at a certain time.)

Reference NET Parallel Greek NET
Matthew 2:4 πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς all the chief priests
Matthew 2:16 πάντας τοὺς παῖδας all the children
Matthew 8:16 πάντας τοὺς κακῶς all who were sick
Matthew 14:35 πάντας τοὺς κακῶς all their sick
Matthew 21:12 πάντας τοὺς πωλοῦντας all those who were selling
Matthew 26:1 πάντας τοὺς λόγους all these things
Mark 1:32 πάντας τοὺς κακῶς all who were sick
Luke 5:9 πάντας τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ all who were with him
Luke 13:2 πάντας τοὺς Γαλιλαίους all the other Galileans
Luke 13:4 πάντας τοὺς ἀνθρώπους all the others
Luke 13:28 πάντας τοὺς προφήτας all the prophets
Luke 21:35 πάντας τοὺς καθημένους all who live (e.g., on a certain day)
Acts 5:5 πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας all who heard
Acts 5:11 πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας all who heard
Acts 9:14 πάντας τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους all who call on
Acts 10:38 πάντας τοὺς καταδυναστευομένους all who were oppressed
Acts 10:44 πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας all those who heard
Acts 18:2 πάντας τοὺς Ἰουδαίους all the Jews
Acts 18:23 πάντας τοὺς μαθητάς all the disciples
Acts 19:10 πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν Ἀσίαν all who lived in the province of Asia
Acts 26:29 πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας all those who are listening
Acts 27:24 πάντας τοὺς πλέοντας μετὰ σοῦ all who are sailing with you
Acts 28:30 πάντας τοὺς εἰσπορευομένους πρὸς αὐτόν all who came to him
Romans 3:22 πάντας τοὺς πιστεύοντας all who believe
Romans 10:12 πάντας τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους all who call on
1 Corinthias 15:25 πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς all his enemies
Ephesians 1:15 πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους all the saints
Colossians 1:4 πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους all the saints
1 Thessalonians 4:10 πάντας τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς all the brothers and sisters
Philemon 1:5 πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους all the saints
Hebrews 13:24 πάντας τοὺς ἡγουμένους all your leaders
πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους all the saints
Jude 1:25 πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας all eternity

I think a tendency to judge before the time those who reject any particular presentation of the Gospel, to condemn them prematurely to an eternity in the lake of fire, was evident in Mr. Gill’s analysis.  Paul wrote (Romans 9:22 NET):

But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath (Romans 1:18-32) and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction?

Mr. Gill commented:[17]

so these are said to be “fitted for destruction”, that is, eternal damnation; not by God, for this does not respect God’s act of ordination to punishment; but by Satan, the god of this world, that blinds them, who works effectually in them, and leads them captive at his will; and by themselves, by their own wickedness, hardness of heart, and impenitence, do they treasure up to themselves wrath, against the day of wrath, so that their destruction is of themselves:

Paul didn’t write about “eternal damnation” here but the temporal effects of God having mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and (more directly to the point) hardening whom he chooses to harden, at the present time.  His primary concern was God’s hardening (Isaiah 6:8-13) of Paul’s own people, his fellow countrymen, who are Israelites.  And even after he described them as objects of wrath prepared for destruction, he wrote (Romans 10:1 NET Table):

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation.

Tucked between the former statement and the latter he quoted two passages from the prophet Hosea (Romans 9:25, 26) which foreshadowed the glorious conclusion of this particular argument (Romans 11:11-32).

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Hosea 2:23 (Tanakh) Hosea 2:23 (NET) Hosea 2:23 (NETS)

Hosea 2:25 (Elpenor English)
And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy (וְרִֽחַמְתִּ֖י) upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. Then I will plant her as my own in the land.  I will have pity (racham, ורחמתי) on ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah).  I will say to ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), ‘You are my people!’  And he will say, ‘You are my God!’” and I will sow her for myself in the land.  And I will have pity (ἐλεήσω) on Not Pitied, and I will say to Not My People, “You are my people,” and he shall say, “You are the Lord my God.” And I will sow her to me on the earth; and will love (ἐλεήσω) her that was not loved, and will say to that which was not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art the Lord my God.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Hosea 1:10, 11 (Tanakh) Hosea 1:10, 11 (NET) Hosea 1:10, 11 (NETS)

Hosea 2:1, 2 (Elpenor English)
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. “However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea that can be neither measured nor numbered.  Although it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘You are children of the living God!’ And the number of the sons of Israel was like the sand of the sea, which shall not be measured nor numbered, and it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” they too shall be called, “sons of a living god.” Yet the number of the children of Israel was as the sand of the sea, which shall not be measured nor numbered: and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, even they shall be called the sons of the living God.
Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up (וְעָל֣וּ) out of (מִן) the land (הָאָ֑רֶץ): for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together.  They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish (`alah, ועלו) in (min, מן) the land (‘erets, הארץ).  Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great! And the sons of Ioudas and the sons of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall set up for themselves one realm, and they shall go up (ἀναβήσονται) from (ἐκ) the (τῆς) land (γῆς), for great shall be the day of Jezrael. And the children of Juda shall be gathered, and the children of Israel together, and shall appoint themselves one head, and shall come up (ἀναβήσονται) out of (ἐκ) the (τῆς) land (γῆς): for great [shall be] the day of Jezrael.

For the children of Judah and the children of Israel to be gathered together and then come up out of the earth (a likely non-Rationalist translation of both the Hebrew and the Greek) sounds like a gathering, not of this world, and a resurrection back into it: for great shall be the day of Jezreel (Ezekiel 37:11-14).

The Greek word translated destruction in the phrase prepared for destruction was ἀπώλειαν (a form of ἀπώλεια).  The first two occurrences in the Septuagint follow.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Leviticus 5:21-24 (Tanakh) Leviticus 6:2-5 (NET) Leviticus 6:2-5 (NETS)

Leviticus 5:21-24 (Elpenor English)
If any one sin, and commit a trespass against HaShem, and deal falsely with his neighbour in a matter of deposit, or of pledge, or of robbery, or have oppressed his neighbour; “When a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by deceiving his fellow citizen in regard to something held in trust, or a pledge, or something stolen, or by extorting something from his fellow citizen, If a soul sins and by overlooking disregards the commandments of the Lord and falsifies matters pertaining to his neighbor—in a deposit or regarding joint ownership or regarding plunder or did his neighbor some wrong The soul which shall have sinned, and willfully overlooked the commandments of the Lord, and shall have dealt falsely in the affairs of his neighbour in the matter of a deposit, or concerning fellowship, or concerning plunder, or has in anything wronged his neighbour,
or have found that which was lost (אֲבֵדָ֛ה), and deal falsely therein, and swear to a lie; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein; or has found something lost (‘abedah, אבדה) and denies it and swears falsely concerning any one of the things that someone might do to sin— or has found a loss (ἀπώλειαν) and lied about it—and he swears falsely about one of all which a man may do in order to sin by these, or has found that which was lost (ἀπώλειαν), and shall have lied concerning it, and shall have sworn unjustly concerning [any] one of all the things, whatsoever a man may do, so as to sin hereby;
then it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was deposited with him, or the lost thing (הָֽאֲבֵדָ֖ה) which he found, when it happens that he sins and he is found guilty, then he must return whatever he had stolen, or whatever he had extorted, or the thing that he had held in trust, or the lost thing (‘abedah, האבדה) that he had found, then it shall be whenever he sins and is in error and restores the booty which he seized or the injustice he committed or the deposit which was deposited with him or the loss (ἀπώλειαν) which he found it shall come to pass, whensoever he shall have sinned, and transgressed, that he shall restore the plunder which he has seized, or [redress] the injury which he has committed, or restore the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost article (ἀπώλειαν) which he has found of any kind,
or any thing about which he hath sworn falsely, he shall even restore it in full, and shall add the fifth part more thereto; unto him to whom it appertaineth shall he give it, in the day of his being guilty. or anything about which he swears falsely.  He must restore it in full and add one-fifth to it; he must give it to its owner when he is found guilty. because of every matter about that which he swore about unjustly, he shall also repay the capital itself, and he shall add to it one fifth.  Whosesoever it is, he shall restore to him on the day he should be convicted. about which he swore unjustly, he shall even restore it in full; and he shall add to it a fifth part besides; he shall restore it to him whose it is in the day in which he happens to be convicted.

The first occurrence of אֲבֵדָ֛ה (‘abedah) in Exodus 22:9 was similar, and was translated ἀπωλείας, another form of ἀπώλεια, in the Septuagint.

What many of Paul’s contemporaries lost was the opportunity to begin to live the life they will lead for all eternity in their then present, to be freed from their sinfulness, their anger and hatred and live a new life through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, who prayed (John 17:3 NET):

Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

He became a human being so that they could have known Him and the only true God though Him.  They could have experienced his love, his joy, his peace, his patience his kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness and his self-control[18] like a fountain of water springing up in them to eternal life.[19]

Lest it seem that I minimize the earthly consequence of this loss: everyone not led by the Holy Spirit is led by someone much less: less loving, less joyful, less peaceful, less patient, less kind, less good, less faithful, less gentle, less self-controlled, less wise, less knowledgeable, less truthful and less true.  Ten to fifteen years after Paul wrote his letter to Roman believers, those of his fellow countrymen who did not heed Jesus’ warning (Luke 21:20-24) were led by religious zealots who made catastrophic political and military blunders, hoping apparently that the God whose salvation they had rejected would help them somehow establish their own.  All who remained in Jerusalem suffered horrifically under their leadership.

Paul, however, found comfort in the Holy Spirit, not in human desire or exertion, but in the irrevocable (ἀμεταμέλητα, a form of ἀμεταμέλητος) gifts and…call of God.[20]

A table comparing Paul’s quotation from Exodus and the Septuagint follows.

Romans 9:17b (NET parallel Greek) Exodus 9:16 (Septuagint BLB) Exodus 9:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο ἐξήγειρα σε ὅπως ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν δύναμιν μου καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομα μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ καὶ ἕνεκεν τούτου διετηρήθης ἵνα ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν ἰσχύν μου καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ καὶ ἕνεκεν τούτου διετηρήθης, ἵνα ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν ἰσχύν μου, καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ
Romans 9:17b (NET) Exodus 9:16 (NETS) Exodus 9:16 (English Elpenor)
For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. And for this reason you have been spared in order that I might display in you my power and in order that my name might be proclaimed in all the land. And for this purpose hast thou been preserved, that I might display in thee my strength, and that my name might be published in all the earth.

A table comparing Paul’s quotation from Genesis and the Septuagint follows.

Romans 9:7b (NET parallel Greek) Genesis 21:12b (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 21:12b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεται σοι σπέρμα ἐν Ισαακ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα ἐν ᾿Ισαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα
Romans 9:7b (NET) Genesis 21:12b (NETS) Genesis 21:12b (English Elpenor)
“through Isaac will your descendants be counted.” in Isaak offspring shall be named for you. in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

I tend to see the following as an allusion to Hosea from the Septuagint.

Romans 9:25b (NET parallel Greek) Hosea 2:23 (Septuagint BLB) Hosea 2:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καλέσω τὸν οὐ λαόν μου λαόν μου καὶ τὴν οὐκ ἠγαπημένην ἠγαπημένην ἐλεήσω τὴν Οὐκ-ἠλεημένην καὶ ἐρῶ τῷ Οὐ-λαῷ-μου λαός μου εἶ σύ ἐλεήσω τὴν Οὐκ-ἠλεημένην καὶ ἐρῶ τῷ Οὐ-λαῷ-μου· λαός μου εἰ σύ
Romans 9:25b (NET) Hosea 2:23 (NETS) Hosea 2:25 (English Elpenor)
“I will call those who were not my people, ‘My people,’ and I will call her who was unloved, ‘My beloved.’” I will have pity on Not Pitied, and I will say to Not My People, “You are my people,” [I] will love her that was not loved, and will say to that which was not my people, Thou art my people

The following is a more direct quotation from Hosea in the Septuagint.

Romans 9:26 (NET parallel Greek) Hosea 1:10 (Septuagint BLB) Hosea 2:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ οὗ ἐρρέθη |αὐτοῖς|· οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῖς, ἐκεῖ κληθήσονται υἱοὶ θεοῦ ζῶντος. καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ οὗ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῗς οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῗς ἐκεῗ κληθήσονται υἱοὶ θεοῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, οὗ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῖς· οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῖς, κληθήσονται καὶ αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ ζῶντος
Romans 9:26 (NET) Hosea 1:10 (NETS) Hosea 2:1 (English Elpenor)
“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” and it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” they too shall be called, “sons of a living god.” and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, even they shall be called the sons of the living God.

Tables comparing Genesis 21:12; Lamentations 3:22; 3:23; 3:24; 3:25; 3:26; Hosea 2:23 (2:25); 1:10; 1:11; Leviticus 6:2 (5:21); 6:3 (5:22); 6:4 (5:23) and 6:5 (5:24) in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Genesis 21:12; Lamentations 3:22; 3:23; 3:24; 3:25; 3:26; Hosea 2:23 (2:25); 1:10 (2:1); 1:11 (2:2); Leviticus 6:2 (5:21); 6:3 (5:22); 6:4 (5:23) and 6:5 (5:24) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Genesis 21:12 (Tanakh) Genesis 21:12 (KJV) Genesis 21:12 (NET)
And G-d said unto Abraham: ‘Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah saith unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall seed be called to thee. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife.  Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted.
Genesis 21:12 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 21:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αβρααμ μὴ σκληρὸν ἔστω τὸ ῥῆμα ἐναντίον σου περὶ τοῦ παιδίου καὶ περὶ τῆς παιδίσκης πάντα ὅσα ἐὰν εἴπῃ σοι Σαρρα ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῆς ὅτι ἐν Ισαακ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα εἶπε δὲ ὁ Θεὸς τῷ ῾Αβραάμ· μὴ σκληρὸν ἔστω ἐναντίον σου περὶ τοῦ παιδίου καὶ περὶ τῆς παιδίσκης· πάντα ἂν ὅσα εἴπῃ σοι Σάρρα, ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῆς, ὅτι ἐν ᾿Ισαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα
Genesis 21:12 (NETS) Genesis 21:12 (English Elpenor)
But God said to Abraham, “Do not let the matter be hard in your sight on account of the child and on account of the slave-girl; whatever Sarra says to you, obey her voice, for in Isaak offspring shall be named for you. But God said to Abraam, Let it not be hard before thee concerning the child, and concerning the bondwoman; in all things whatsoever Sarrha shall say to thee, hear her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Lamentations 3:22 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:22 (KJV) Lamentations 3:22 (NET)
Surely HaShem’S mercies are not consumed, surely His compassions fail not. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end.
Lamentations 3:22 (Septuagint BLB) Lamentations 3:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
N/A Τὰ ἐλέη Κυρίου, ὅτι οὐκ ἐξέλιπέμε, ὅτι οὐσυνετελέσθησαν οἱ οἰκτιρμοὶ αὐτοῦ· μῆνας εἰς τὰς πρωΐας ἐλέησον, Κύριε, ὅτι οὐ συνετελέσθημεν, ὅτι οὐ συνετελέσθησαν οἱ οἰκτιρμοὶ αὐτοῦ
Lamentations 3:22 (NETS) Lamentations 3:22 (English Elpenor)
The mercies of the Lord are that we have not expired, that his compassion has not come to an end. [It is] the mercies of the Lord, that he has not failed me, because his compassions are not exhausted. Pity [us], O Lord, early [every] month: for we are not brought to an end, because his compassions are not exhausted.
Lamentations 3:23 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:23 (KJV) Lamentations 3:23 (NET)
They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!
Lamentations 3:23 (Septuagint BLB) Lamentations 3:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
N/A καινὰ εἰς τὰς πρωΐας, πολλὴ ἡ πίστις σου
Lamentations 3:23 (NETS) Lamentations 3:23 (English Elpenor)
They are new in the early mornings; great is your faithfulness. [They are] new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:24 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:24 (KJV) Lamentations 3:24 (NET)
‘The HaShem is my portion’, saith my soul; ‘Therefore will I hope in Him.’ The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. “My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him.
Lamentations 3:24 (Septuagint BLB) Lamentations 3:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
N/A μερίς μου Κύριος, εἶπεν ἡ ψυχή μου· διὰ τοῦτο ὑπομενῶ αὐτῷ
Lamentations 3:24 (NETS) Lamentations 3:24 (English Elpenor)
“The Lord is my portion,” said my soul, “therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I wait for him.
Lamentations 3:25 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:25 (KJV) Lamentations 3:25 (NET)
HaShem is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him.
Lamentations 3:25 (Septuagint BLB) Lamentations 3:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀγαθὸς κύριος τοῗς ὑπομένουσιν αὐτόν ψυχῇ ἣ ζητήσει αὐτὸν ἀγαθὸν ᾿Αγαθὸς Κύριος τοῖς ὑπομένουσιν αὐτόν, ψυχὴ ἣ ζητήσει αὐτὸν ἀγαθὸν
Lamentations 3:25, 26a (NETS) Lamentations 3:25, 26a (English Elpenor)
The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that will seek him.  A good thing it is— The Lord is good to them that wait for him: the soul which shall seek him (26) [is] good,
Lamentations 3:26 (Tanakh) Lamentations 3:26 (KJV) Lamentations 3:26 (NET)
It is good that a man should quietly wait for the salvation of HaShem. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord.
Lamentations 3:26 (Septuagint BLB) Lamentations 3:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὑπομενεῗ καὶ ἡσυχάσει εἰς τὸ σωτήριον κυρίου καὶ ὑπομενεῖ καὶ ἡσυχάσει εἰς τὸ σωτήριον Κυρίου
Lamentations 3:26b (NETS) Lamentations 3:26b (English Elpenor)
and it will wait and be quiet for the salvation of the Lord. and shall wait for, and quietly expect salvation of the Lord.
Hosea 2:23 (Tanakh) Hosea 2:23 (KJV) Hosea 2:23 (NET)
And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. Then I will plant her as my own in the land.  I will have pity on ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah).  I will say to ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), ‘You are my people!’  And he will say, ‘You are my God!’”
Hosea 2:23 (Septuagint BLB) Hosea 2:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ σπερῶ αὐτὴν ἐμαυτῷ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐλεήσω τὴν Οὐκ-ἠλεημένην καὶ ἐρῶ τῷ Οὐ-λαῷ-μου λαός μου εἶ σύ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐρεῗ κύριος ὁ θεός μου εἶ σύ καὶ σπερῶ αὐτὴν ἐμαυτῷ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐλεήσω τὴν Οὐκ-ἠλεημένην καὶ ἐρῶ τῷ Οὐ-λαῷ-μου· λαός μου εἰ σύ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐρεῖ· Κύριος ὁ Θεός μου εἶ σύ
Hosea 2:23 (NETS) Hosea 2:25 (English Elpenor)
and I will sow her for myself in the land.  And I will have pity on Not Pitied, and I will say to Not My People, “You are my people,” and he shall say, “You are the Lord my God.” And I will sow her to me on the earth; and will love her that was not loved, and will say to that which was not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art the Lord my God.
Hosea 1:10 (Tanakh) Hosea 1:10 (KJV) Hosea 1:10 (NET)
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. “However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea that can be neither measured nor numbered.  Although it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘You are children of the living God!’
Hosea 1:10 (Septuagint BLB) Hosea 2:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἦν ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ὡς ἡ ἄμμος τῆς θαλάσσης ἣ οὐκ ἐκμετρηθήσεται οὐδὲ ἐξαριθμηθήσεται καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ οὗ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῗς οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῗς ἐκεῗ κληθήσονται υἱοὶ θεοῦ ζῶντος ΚΑΙ ἦν ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ ὡς ἡ ἄμμος τῆς θαλάσσης, ἣ οὐκ ἐκμετρηθήσεται οὐδὲ ἐξαριθμηθήσεται. καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, οὗ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῖς· οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῖς, κληθήσονται καὶ αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ ζῶντος
Hosea 1:10 (NETS) Hosea 2:1 (English Elpenor)
And the number of the sons of Israel was like the sand of the sea, which shall not be measured nor numbered, and it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” they too shall be called, “sons of a living god.” Yet the number of the children of Israel was as the sand of the sea, which shall not be measured nor numbered: and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, even they shall be called the sons of the living God.
Hosea 1:11 (Tanakh) Hosea 1:11 (KJV) Hosea 1:11 (NET)
Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together.  They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish in the land.  Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great!
Hosea 1:11 (Septuagint BLB) Hosea 2:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ συναχθήσονται οἱ υἱοὶ Ιουδα καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ θήσονται ἑαυτοῗς ἀρχὴν μίαν καὶ ἀναβήσονται ἐκ τῆς γῆς ὅτι μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ Ιεζραελ καὶ συναχθήσονται υἱοὶ ᾿Ιούδα καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ θήσονται ἑαυτοῖς ἀρχὴν μίαν καὶ ἀναβήσονται ἐκ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ ᾿Ιεζραέλ
Hosea 1:11 (NETS) Hosea 2:2 (English Elpenor)
And the sons of Ioudas and the sons of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall set up for themselves one realm, and they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezrael. And the children of Juda shall be gathered, and the children of Israel together, and shall appoint themselves one head, and shall come up out of the land: for great [shall be] the day of Jezrael.
Leviticus 5:21 (Tanakh) Leviticus 6:2 (KJV) Leviticus 6:2 (NET)
If any one sin, and commit a trespass against HaShem, and deal falsely with his neighbour in a matter of deposit, or of pledge, or of robbery, or have oppressed his neighbour; If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; “When a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by deceiving his fellow citizen in regard to something held in trust, or a pledge, or something stolen, or by extorting something from his fellow citizen,
Leviticus 6:2 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 5:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ψυχὴ ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ καὶ παριδὼν παρίδῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς κυρίου καὶ ψεύσηται τὰ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον ἐν παραθήκῃ ἢ περὶ κοινωνίας ἢ περὶ ἁρπαγῆς ἢ ἠδίκησέν τι τὸν πλησίον ψυχὴ ἣ ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ καὶ παριδὼν παρίδῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίου καὶ ψεύσηται τὰ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον ἐν παραθήκῃ ἢ περὶ κοινωνίας ἢ περὶ ἁρπαγῆς ἢ ἠδίκησέ τι τὸν πλησίον
Leviticus 6:2 (NETS) Leviticus 5:21 (English Elpenor)
If a soul sins and by overlooking disregards the commandments of the Lord and falsifies matters pertaining to his neighbor—in a deposit or regarding joint ownership or regarding plunder or did his neighbor some wrong The soul which shall have sinned, and willfully overlooked the commandments of the Lord, and shall have dealt falsely in the affairs of his neighbour in the matter of a deposit, or concerning fellowship, or concerning plunder, or has in anything wronged his neighbour,
Leviticus 5:22 (Tanakh) Leviticus 6:3 (KJV) Leviticus 6:3 (NET)
or have found that which was lost, and deal falsely therein, and swear to a lie; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: or has found something lost and denies it and swears falsely concerning any one of the things that someone might do to sin—
Leviticus 6:3 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 5:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἢ εὗρεν ἀπώλειαν καὶ ψεύσηται περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ ὀμόσῃ ἀδίκως περὶ ἑνὸς ἀπὸ πάντων ὧν ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὥστε ἁμαρτεῗν ἐν τούτοις ἢ εὗρεν ἀπώλειαν καὶ ψεύσηται περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ ὀμόσῃ ἀδίκως περὶ ἑνὸς ἀπὸ πάντων, ὧν ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ὥστε ἁμαρτεῖν ἐν τούτοις
Leviticus 6:3 (NETS) Leviticus 5:22 (English Elpenor)
or has found a loss and lied about it—and he swears falsely about one of all which a man may do in order to sin by these, or has found that which was lost, and shall have lied concerning it, and shall have sworn unjustly concerning [any] one of all the things, whatsoever a man may do, so as to sin hereby;
Leviticus 5:23 (Tanakh) Leviticus 6:4 (KJV) Leviticus 6:4 (NET)
then it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was deposited with him, or the lost thing which he found, Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, when it happens that he sins and he is found guilty, then he must return whatever he had stolen, or whatever he had extorted, or the thing that he had held in trust, or the lost thing that he had found,
Leviticus 6:4 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 5:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται ἡνίκα ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ καὶ πλημμελήσῃ καὶ ἀποδῷ τὸ ἅρπαγμα ὃ ἥρπασεν ἢ τὸ ἀδίκημα ὃ ἠδίκησεν ἢ τὴν παραθήκην ἥτις παρετέθη αὐτῷ ἢ τὴν ἀπώλειαν ἣν εὗρεν καὶ ἔσται ἡνίκα ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ καὶ πλημμελήσῃ, καὶ ἀποδῷ τὸ ἅρπαγμα, ὃ ἥρπασεν, ἢ τὸ ἀδίκημα, ὃ ἠδίκησεν, ἢ τὴν παραθήκην, ἥτις παρετέθη αὐτῷ, ἢ τὴν ἀπώλειαν, ἣν εὗρεν
Leviticus 6:4 (NETS) Leviticus 5:23 (English Elpenor)
then it shall be whenever he sins and is in error and restores the booty which he seized or the injustice he committed or the deposit which was deposited with him or the loss which he found it shall come to pass, whensoever he shall have sinned, and transgressed, that he shall restore the plunder which he has seized, or [redress] the injury which he has committed, or restore the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost article which he has found of any kind,
Leviticus 5:24 (Tanakh) Leviticus 6:5 (KJV) Leviticus 6:5 (NET)
or any thing about which he hath sworn falsely, he shall even restore it in full, and shall add the fifth part more thereto; unto him to whom it appertaineth shall he give it, in the day of his being guilty. Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. or anything about which he swears falsely.  He must restore it in full and add one-fifth to it; he must give it to its owner when he is found guilty.
Leviticus 6:5 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 5:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπὸ παντὸς πράγματος οὗ ὤμοσεν περὶ αὐτοῦ ἀδίκως καὶ ἀποτείσει αὐτὸ τὸ κεφάλαιον καὶ τὸ πέμπτον προσθήσει ἐπ᾽ αὐτό τίνος ἐστίν αὐτῷ ἀποδώσει ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ἐλεγχθῇ ἀπὸ παντὸς πράγματος, οὗ ὤμοσε περὶ αὐτοῦ ἀδίκως, καὶ ἀποτίσει αὐτὸ τὸ κεφάλαιον καὶ τὸ ἐπίπεμπτον προσθήσει ἐπ᾿ αὐτό· τίνος ἐστίν, αὐτῷ ἀποδώσει ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ἐλεγχθῇ
Leviticus 6:5 (NETS) Leviticus 5:24 (English Elpenor)
because of every matter about that which he swore about unjustly, he shall also repay the capital itself, and he shall add to it one fifth.  Whosesoever it is, he shall restore to him on the day he should be convicted. about which he swore unjustly, he shall even restore it in full; and he shall add to it a fifth part besides; he shall restore it to him whose it is in the day in which he happens to be convicted.

[1] Romans 9:17 (NET)

[2] Romans 9:6, 7 (NET)

[3] Matthew 3:9 (NET)

[4] Romans 9:8b (NET)

[5] Romans 8:14 (NET)

[6] 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NET) Table

[7] Acts 13:44-52; 14:1-6; 14:19, 20; Acts 17:1-5; 18:5, 6; 18:12-17 and 19:8, 9

[8] Romans 9:3-5 (NET)

[9] Romans 9:6a (NET)

[10] Romans 11:25b (NET) Table

[11] Philippians 3:9b (NET)

[12] Romans 11:32 (NET)

[13] “Greek Verbs (Shorter Definitions),” Verbal Moods

[14] John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible, Romans 11:32

[15] ibid.

[16] Acts 13:42, 43; 14:1; Acts 17:4; 18:8; and 19:1-7

[17] John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible, Romans 9:22

[18] Galatians 5:22, 23a

[19] John 4:14b (NET) Table

[20] Romans 11:29 (NET)

Romans, Part 92

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Paul blessed believers in Rome with the following benediction (Romans 16:25-27 NET):

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages, but now is disclosed, and through the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever!  Amen.[1]

The Greek word translated is able above was δυναμένῳ, a form of δύναμαι.  Paul told the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:32 NET):

And now I entrust you[2] to God and to the message of his grace.  This message is able (δυναμένῳ) to build[3] you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

I hear τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ (NET: the message of his grace) as an another appositive phrase effectively, equivalent to εὐαγγέλιον (NET: gospel) and τὸ κήρυγμα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (NET: the proclamation of Jesus Christ).  Here the message of his grace is able to build you up (οἰκοδομῆσαι, a form of οἰκοδομέω).  But I assume this is true because of him who is able to strengthen (στηρίξαι, a form of στηρίζω) you:  Except the LORD build (Septuagint [Table2 below]: οἰκοδομήσῃ, another form of οἰκοδομέω) the house, they labour in vain that build (οἰκοδομοῦντες, another form of οἰκοδομέω) it.[4]  Anything other than being led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:1-17) is the work of actors, hypocrites.

Paul wrote to believers in Ephesus (Ephesians 3:20, 21 NET):

Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able (δυναμένῳ) to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and[5] in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.

And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, Paul wrote believers in Thessalonica, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened (στηρίξαι) in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.[6]  Here hearts…strengthened in holiness is linked to the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love.  This love is ἀγάπῃ, the ἀγάπη which is the fulfillment of the law[7] (1 Corinthians 13).

Paul continued this theme in his second letter (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 NET):

But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose[8] you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.  He called[9] you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,[10] who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen (στηρίξαι) you[11] in every good thing you do or say.

Paul made the mystery (μυστηρίου, a form of μυστήριον) that had been kept secret for long ages explicit in his letter to believers in Colossae; namely, Christ in you (Colossians 1:25-29 NET):

I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God—given to me for you—in order to complete (πληρῶσαι, a form of πληρόω; KJV: to fulfil) the word of God, that is, the mystery (μυστήριον) that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now[12] been revealed to his saints.  God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches[13] of this mystery (μυστηρίου, a form of μυστήριον) among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.[14]  Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.

Paul didn’t labor to complete or fulfil the word of God in his own strength, but according to Christ’s power that powerfully works in me.  For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for[15] you, he continued, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met[16] me face to face[17] (Colossians 2:2, 3 NET Table).

My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, 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.

In Paul’s mind—I have been crucified (Romans 6:3-14) with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me[18]—was not a unique situation exclusively for him alone.  It was the gospel he struggled to complete in all who believe (Ephesians 3:14-21 NET):

For this reason 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 (κραταιωθῆναι) with power through his Spirit in the inner person (Table), that Christ will dwell in your hearts 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, and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond 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.

And so ὑπακοὴν πίστεως (NET: obedience of faith), faith’s[19] obedience as opposed to works’ obedience, is nothng other than the fruit of the Spirit: God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,[20] springing up to eternal life.[21]

Tables comparing Psalm 127:1 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Psalm 127:1 (126:1) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  Following those are tables comparing Romans 16:27; Acts 20:32; Ephesians 3:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14; 2:16, 17; Colossians 1:26-28 and 2:1 in the NET and KJV.

Psalm 127:1 (Tanakh)

 Psalm 127:1 (KJV)

Psalm 127:1 (NET)
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. A Song of degrees for Solomon.  Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. A song of ascents; by Solomon.  If the Lord does not build a house, then those who build it work in vain.  If the Lord does not guard a city, then the watchman stands guard in vain.

Psalm 127:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 126:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ᾠδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν τῷ Σαλωμων ἐὰν μὴ κύριος οἰκοδομήσῃ οἶκον εἰς μάτην ἐκοπίασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες αὐτόν ἐὰν μὴ κύριος φυλάξῃ πόλιν εἰς μάτην ἠγρύπνησεν ὁ φυλάσσων ᾿ῼδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. – ΕΑΝ μὴ Κύριος οἰκοδομήσῃ οἶκον, εἰς μάτην ἐκοπίασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες· ἐὰν μὴ Κύριος φυλάξῃ πόλιν, εἰς μάτην ἠγρύπνησεν ὁ φυλάσσων

Psalm 126:1 (NETS)

Psalm 126:1 (English Elpenor)
An Ode of the Steps.  Pertaining to Salomon.  Unless the Lord builds a house, those who build it labored in vain.  Unless the Lord guards a city, the guard kept awake in vain. [A Song of Degrees.]  Except the Lord build the house, they that build labour in vain: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman watches in vain.

Romans 16:27 (NET)

Romans 16:27 (KJV)
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever!  Amen. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever.  Amen.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
μόνῳ σοφῷ θεῷ, διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, |ᾧ| ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν.] μονω σοφω θεω δια ιησου χριστου ω η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην [προς ρωμαιους εγραφη απο κορινθου δια φοιβης της διακονου της εν κεγχρεαις εκκλησιας] μονω σοφω θεω δια ιησου χριστου ω η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην

Acts 20:32 (NET)

Acts 20:32 (KJV)
And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace.  This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ τὰ νῦν παρατίθεμαι ὑμᾶς τῷ |θεῷ| καὶ τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, τῷ δυναμένῳ οἰκοδομῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι τὴν κληρονομίαν ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πᾶσιν και τανυν παρατιθεμαι υμας αδελφοι τω θεω και τω λογω της χαριτος αυτου τω δυναμενω εποικοδομησαι και δουναι υμιν κληρονομιαν εν τοις ηγιασμενοις πασιν και τα νυν παρατιθεμαι υμας αδελφοι τω θεω και τω λογω της χαριτος αυτου τω δυναμενω εποικοδομησαι και δουναι υμιν κληρονομιαν εν τοις ηγιασμενοις πασιν

Ephesians 3:21 (NET)

Ephesians 3:21 (KJV)
to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς πάσας τὰς γενεὰς τοῦ αἰῶνος τῶν αἰώνων, ἀμήν αυτω η δοξα εν τη εκκλησια εν χριστω ιησου εις πασας τας γενεας του αιωνος των αιωνων αμην αυτω η δοξα εν τη εκκλησια εν χριστω ιησου εις πασας τας γενεας του αιωνος των αιωνων αμην

2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14 (NET)

2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14 (KJV)
But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἡμεῖς δὲ ὀφείλομεν εὐχαριστεῖν τῷ θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ κυρίου, ὅτι εἵλατο ὑμᾶς ὁ θεὸς |ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς| εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐν ἁγιασμῷ πνεύματος καὶ πίστει ἀληθείας ημεις δε οφειλομεν ευχαριστειν τω θεω παντοτε περι υμων αδελφοι ηγαπημενοι υπο κυριου οτι ειλετο υμας ο θεος απ αρχης εις σωτηριαν εν αγιασμω πνευματος και πιστει αληθειας ημεις δε οφειλομεν ευχαριστειν τω θεω παντοτε περι υμων αδελφοι ηγαπημενοι υπο κυριου οτι ειλετο υμας ο θεος απ αρχης εις σωτηριαν εν αγιασμω πνευματος και πιστει αληθειας
He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 (NET)

2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 (KJV)
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς καὶ [ὁ] θεὸς ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ὁ ἀγαπήσας ἡμᾶς καὶ δοὺς παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα ἀγαθὴν ἐν χάριτι αυτος δε ο κυριος ημων ιησους χριστος και ο θεος και πατηρ ημων ο αγαπησας ημας και δους παρακλησιν αιωνιαν και ελπιδα αγαθην εν χαριτι αυτος δε ο κυριος ημων ιησους χριστος και ο θεος και πατηρ ημων ο αγαπησας ημας και δους παρακλησιν αιωνιαν και ελπιδα αγαθην εν χαριτι
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
παρακαλέσαι ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας καὶ στηρίξαι ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ ἀγαθῷ παρακαλεσαι υμων τας καρδιας και στηριξαι υμας εν παντι λογω και εργω αγαθω παρακαλεσαι υμων τας καρδιας και στηριξαι υμας εν παντι λογω και εργω αγαθω

Colossians 1:26-28 (NET)

Colossians 1:26-28 (KJV)
that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
τὸ μυστήριον τὸ ἀποκεκρυμμένον ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν γενεῶν – νῦν δὲ ἐφανερώθη τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ το μυστηριον το αποκεκρυμμενον απο των αιωνων και απο των γενεων νυνι δε εφανερωθη τοις αγιοις αυτου το μυστηριον το αποκεκρυμμενον απο των αιωνων και απο των γενεων νυνι δε εφανερωθη τοις αγιοις αυτου
God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
οἷς ἠθέλησεν ὁ θεὸς γνωρίσαι τί τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς δόξης τοῦ μυστηρίου τούτου ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ὅ ἐστιν Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν, ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς δόξης οις ηθελησεν ο θεος γνωρισαι τις ο πλουτος της δοξης του μυστηριου τουτου εν τοις εθνεσιν ος εστιν χριστος εν υμιν η ελπις της δοξης οις ηθελησεν ο θεος γνωρισαι τι το πλουτος της δοξης του μυστηριου τουτου εν τοις εθνεσιν ος εστιν χριστος εν υμιν η ελπις της δοξης
We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὃν ἡμεῖς καταγγέλλομεν νουθετοῦντες πάντα ἄνθρωπον καὶ διδάσκοντες πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ, ἵνα παραστήσωμεν πάντα ἄνθρωπον τέλειον ἐν Χριστῷ ον ημεις καταγγελλομεν νουθετουντες παντα ανθρωπον και διδασκοντες παντα ανθρωπον εν παση σοφια ινα παραστησωμεν παντα ανθρωπον τελειον εν χριστω ιησου ον ημεις καταγγελλομεν νουθετουντες παντα ανθρωπον και διδασκοντες παντα ανθρωπον εν παση σοφια ινα παραστησωμεν παντα ανθρωπον τελειον εν χριστω ιησου

Colossians 2:1 (NET)

Colossians 2:1 (KJV)
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Θέλω γὰρ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καὶ τῶν ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ καὶ ὅσοι οὐχ ἑόρακαν τὸ πρόσωπον μου ἐν σαρκί θελω γαρ υμας ειδεναι ηλικον αγωνα εχω περι υμων και των εν λαοδικεια και οσοι ουχ εωρακασιν το προσωπον μου εν σαρκι θελω γαρ υμας ειδεναι ηλικον αγωνα εχω περι υμων και των εν λαοδικεια και οσοι ουχ εωρακασιν το προσωπον μου εν σαρκι

[1] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had προς ρωμαιους εγραφη απο κορινθου δια φοιβης της διακονου της εν κεγχρεαις εκκλησιας (Written to the Romanes from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe seruant of the Church at Cenchrea [King James Bible 1611]) here.  The NET Parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[2] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αδελφοι (KJV: brethren) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οἰκοδομῆσαι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εποικοδομησαι.

[4] Psalm 127:1a (Tanakh)

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

[6] 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13 (NET)

[7] Romans 13:10b (NET)

[8] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἵλατο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειλετο (KJV: hath…chosen).

[9] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ preceding called.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article ὁ preceding Father, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καὶ (KJV: even).

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

[12] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had νῦν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had νυνι.

[13] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τὸ preceding riches, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ο.

[14] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιησου (KJV: Jesus) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[15] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑπὲρ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had περι.

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἑόρακαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εωρακασιν (KJV: have…seen).

[17] Colossians 2:1 (NET)

[18] Galatians 2:20 (NET)

[19] The Greek word πίστεως is a genitive form of πίστις.

[20] Galatians 5:22, 23a (NET) Table

[21] John 4:14b (NET) Table

Romans, Part 91

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Now I urge you, Paul wrote believers in Rome, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned.  Avoid[1] them![2]  The Greek word translated to watch out was σκοπεῖν (a form of σκοπέω).  Jesus said (Luke 11:33-36 NET):

No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a hidden place[3] or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light.[4]  Your eye is the lamp of your body.  When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is diseased, your body is full of darkness.  Therefore see to it (σκόπει, another form of σκοπέω) that the light in you is not darkness.  If then your whole body is full of light, with no part in the dark, it will be as full of light as when the light of a lamp shines on you.

So much of the light in me has been darkness because I’ve mistrusted Jesus so often and misunderstood his teaching.  I can’t say now if I learned the teaching I was taught by others or misunderstood them, too.  A pastor stressed with one accord in a sermon I heard recently: When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord[5] in one place.[6]  As I listened I realized that in the past I may have learned that the Holy Spirit came because the disciples were with one accord, or may not have come if the disciples had not been with one accord.

The pastor transitioned from with one accord (ομοθυμαδον) to a discussion of the importance of unity.  I’m not saying he was wrong to do that.  Being with one accord sounds a lot like the English word unity to me, too.  Here is a list of some of the Greek words translated unity in English Bibles: ἑνότητα, ἓν, συμβιβαζόμενον, σύνδεσμος and μία.  And I used the word some because I only searched the eleven English language Bibles contained in my Bible software.  So as a practical matter, not to stray too far afield, I’ll stick to with one accord.

Now I know that being with one accord as some work of the flesh (since the Holy Spirit had not yet been given), or as a righteousness of our own derived from some rules about how to be with one accord, could not be a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Spirit.  Being with one accord or of one mind comes from the fruit of the Spirit, and an open-ended forgiveness of one another.  And so I’m content not knowing the pastor’s teaching on this particular point since it is up to me to see to it that the light in [me] is not darkness.

“But Pastor so-and-so said,” won’t fly at the judgment seat of Christ.  Jesus knows everything his Holy Spirit has done to guide [us] into all truth.  And this particular pastor, to his credit, likened his own preaching to a local buffet restaurant: a lot of variety, not necessarily the best food and certainly not sufficient to sustain anyone throughout an entire week.  He encouraged Bible reading (which I instinctively translated Bible study) outside of the Sunday service.  I, for instance, didn’t recall that ομοθυμαδον (with one accord) may not have been original to Luke in Acts, until I studied the verse again at home.

For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, Paul wrote believers in Corinth, far beyond all comparison because we are not looking at (σκοπούντων, another form of σκοπέω) what can be seen but at what cannot be seen.  For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.[7]  I admit that to watch out as a translation of σκοπεῖν (a form of σκοπέω) seemed like an emotional flee-for-your-lives kind of thing.  But looking at calms me that σκοπέω means more than a casual or fearful glance.  And the context—we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen—reminds me to consider more than my initial reaction: “That’s not what I think I know!”

Ultimately, those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned are to be avoided.  In other words, I will decide that God did not bring such people into my life for my benefit.  Perhaps I should pay close attention (σκοπῶν, another form of σκοπέω) to them and to the teaching before arriving at that conclusion (Galatians 6:1 NET Table):

Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness.  Pay close attention (σκοπῶν, another form of σκοπέω) to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, Paul wrote believers in Philippi, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any[8] affection or mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose.  Instead of being motivated by[9] selfish ambition or[10] vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.  Each of you should be concerned[11] (σκοποῦντες, another form of σκοπέω) not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others[12] as well.[13]  To watch out (σκοπεῖν, a form of σκοπέω) for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned clearly entails being concerned (σκοποῦντες, another form of σκοπέω) about their interests as well as my own.

Be imitators of me, Paul continued, and watch carefully (σκοπεῖτε, another form of σκοπέω) those who are living this way,[14] just as you have us as an example.[15]  He described this way in some detail (Philippians 3:8-11, 12b, 13b-15 NET):

I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things – indeed, I regard them as dung![16] – that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness – a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.  My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like[17] him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from[18] the dead…

I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ[19] Jesus also laid hold of me…

Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward[20] the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view.  If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.

I confess that I try to create a space where it is God who reveals to others the error of their ways.  That seems so much more important than putting them into a position where they must submit to me.  Nevertheless, Paul concluded, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained.[21]  And he was fairly explicit why this way should be so carefully watched (Philippians 3:18, 19 NET):

For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things.

So who were believers in Rome to watch out for, who were they looking at, paying close attention to, being concerned for and watching carefully?  Those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that [they] learned.  The Greek word translated who create dissensions was διχοστασίας (a form of διχοστασία).  Paul wrote believers in Corinth (1 Corinthians 3:3b-7 NKJV):

For where there are envy, strife, and divisions[22] (διχοστασίαι, another form of διχοστασία) among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?  For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not[23] carnal?[24]

Who[25] then is Paul, and who[26] is Apollos, but[27] ministers[28] through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?  I planted, Apollos watered, but[29] God gave the increase.  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

So those who create dissensions have attached themselves to a local church for some reason but are led by the flesh rather than the Holy Spirit.  There may be some question whether καὶ διχοστασίαι (NKJV: and divisions) was original here, but διχοστασίαι was clearly among those things listed as works of the flesh in Paul’s letter to believers in Galatia (Galatians 5:13-21[30] NET):

For you were called to freedom (1 Corinthians 10:23-33), brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”  However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.  But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions (διχοστασίαι, another form of διχοστασία), factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things.  I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

Paul concluded: Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.[31]  I no longer assume this means I will be immune to the passions and desires that result in the works of the flesh listed above.  Sometimes these passions and desires must be endured as an unpleasant fact, not unlike enduring crucifixion, hanging naked on a cross unable to act on them.  The real “cure,” here and now, is: live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

Some contemporary churches do a poor job of growing up believers who are led by the Spirit, who rely on that inexhaustible supply of God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control[32] as a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.[33]  And here I begin to understand why the Holy Spirit stressed σκοπεῖν (a form of σκοπέω) as I began this study.

There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit.  One led by the Holy Spirit, who is watching out for another who creates dissensions, and paying close attention to the teaching, may well eschew avoidance of that other.  If one is informed by the Holy Spirit that the other has not yet learned how to be led by the Spirit, one may continue to act in love and kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness, with joy, peace, patience and self-control toward the other who merely creates dissensions.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.[34]

So I’ll turn my attention to those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned.  The Greek word translated obstacles was σκάνδαλα (a form of σκάνδαλον).   Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower sets the tone for this consideration (Matthew 13:37-42 NET):

The one who sowed the good (καλὸν, a form of καλός) seed is the Son of Man.  The field is the world and the good (καλὸν, a form of καλός) seed are the people of the kingdom.  The poisonous weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil.  The harvest is the end of the[35] age, and the reapers are angels.  As the poisonous weeds are collected and burned[36] with fire, so it will be at the end of the[37] age.  The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin (σκάνδαλα, a form of σκάνδαλον) as well as all lawbreakers.  They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

A note (64) in the NET stated that throw them into the fiery furnace was a quote from Daniel 3:6.

Matthew 13:42a (NET Parallel Greek)

 Daniel 3:6b (Septuagint BLB)

Daniel 3:6b (Septuagint Elpenor)
βαλοῦσιν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρός ἐμβληθήσεται εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρὸς τὴν καιομένην ἐμβληθήσεται εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρὸς τὴν καιομένην

Matthew 13:42 (NET)

 Daniel 3:6b (NETS)

Daniel 3:6b (English Elpenor)
They will throw them into the fiery furnace Will be thrown in the furnace blazing with fire he shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace

Whatever the fiery furnace is, it is reserved for everything that causes sin (σκάνδαλα, a form of σκάνδαλον; KJV: things that offend) as well as all lawbreakers, poisonous weeds sown by the devil.  Granted, these are in the world (κόσμος) rather than a local church (ἐκκλησία), but it does add some weight and definition to the kind and caliber of dissensions they create.  But still, angels gather these poisonous weeds (ζιζάνια, a form of ζιζάνιον) at the end of the age since people here and now may uproot the wheat along with it.[38]

I’ll consider the next occurrences of forms of σκάνδαλον together.

Matthew 18:6, 7 (NET)

Luke 17:1, 2 (NET)
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin (σκανδαλίσῃ, a form of σκανδαλίζω), it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around[39] his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. Jesus said to his[40] disciples, “Stumbling blocks (σκάνδαλα, a form of σκάνδαλον) are sure to come, but[41] woe to the one through whom they come!
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks (σκανδάλων, another form of σκάνδαλον)!  It is[42] necessary that stumbling blocks (σκάνδαλα, a form of σκάνδαλον) come, but woe to the[43] person through whom they (σκάνδαλον) come. It would be better for him to have a millstone[44] tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin (σκανδαλίσῃ, a form of σκανδαλίζω).

Here, I’ll suggest that causes…to sin (KJV: shall offend) is so misleading a translation of σκανδαλίσῃ (likewise, causes sin as a translation of σκάνδαλα above) that it is probably wrong.  Most in Israel stumbled over Jesus: They stumbled[45] over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, “Look, I am laying in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumble and a rock that will make them fall (σκανδάλου, another form of σκάνδαλον; KJV: of offence), yet the one[46] who believes in him will not be put to shame.”[47]  So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe,[48] the stone[49] that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over (σκανδάλου, another form of σκάνδαλον).[50]  But I would be brazen indeed to suggest that Jesus caused Israel to sin.  They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.[51]

Forms of the verb σκανδαλίζω are what forms of the noun σκάνδαλον do.  So the precise sin or offense described here is to cause one of these little ones who believe in Jesus to reject Him.  Once again, the translators of the NET have recalled my religious milieu.

When I was a child, young women who got pregnant before marriage were secreted away and treated with varying degrees of contempt.  I asked why.  The answer was that they would cause other young women to sin.  But which was more offensive, more conducive to unbelief?  Young women proving that What is born of the flesh is flesh,[52] or the way their Christian elders treated them?  Now, with the threat of abortion, most are treated better.  Wouldn’t it have been better to have shown them God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in the first place rather than requiring such coercion?  But we have another opportunity.

Same sex attraction (Romans 1:26, 27) is the wrath of God…revealed from heaven against[53] those who have exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever![54]  Many of our own children suffer his wrath in this way.  So, we can blame them, shun them, excommunicate them, or we can love our children and turn our hearts and minds reverently and repentantly to God, trying to discover exactly what it is about our worship or pedagogy[55] that has angered Him so.  Jesus’ teaching continued:

Matthew 18:8, 9 (NET)

Luke 17:3, 4 (NET)
If your hand or your foot causes you to sin (σκανδαλίζει, another form of σκανδαλίζω; KJV: offend thee), cut it off and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. Watch yourselves!  If your brother sins, rebuke him.  If he repents, forgive him.
And if your eye causes you to sin (σκανδαλίζει, another form of σκανδαλίζω; KJV: offend thee), tear it out and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

I’ve had my own issue taking Jesus’ command to cut off a hand or foot and to tear out an eye too literally.  After addressing his disciples collectively in verse 3 Jesus spoke individually to them in verse 4.  The Greek word translated your in verses 8 and 9 is singular (σου) as are Ὂς (anyone) in verse 6 and οὗ (whom) in verse 7 continuing that individual address.  He was not referencing offices (1 Corinthians 12:12-26) in a local church.  I have heard it understood as a euphemistic reference to what one does, where one goes or what one sees, but I don’t plan to chase that particular rabbit in this essay.

My interest here is to contrast the ruthlessness of dealing with my own things that would turn faith away from Christ (my own faith or that of the little ones above) to the relative gentleness of dealing with others.  Granted, the Greek word translated sins in If your brother sins was ἁμάρτῃ (a form of ἁμαρτάνω) rather than a form of σκανδαλίζω.  And I have quoted it elsewhere as if it referred to generic sin.  It is better perhaps to consider it in context as a reference to one who has caused one of these little ones to turn away from faith in Christ.  As for the rebuke (ἐπιτίμησον, a form of ἐπιτιμάω) one would give such a sinner, I consider Peter’s rebuke of Jesus exemplary (Matthew 16:21-23 NET):

From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.  So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke (ἐπιτιμᾶν, another form of ἐπιτιμάω) him: “God forbid, Lord!  This must not happen to you!”  But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block (σκάνδαλον; KJV: an offence) to me,[56] because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”

Peter’s rebuke is exemplary as a warning because it was partially motivated by a misunderstanding of the Scriptures concerning the Messiah.  It is important to pay very close attention to the teaching—God’s interests rather than man’s.  And Peter’s rebuke was exemplary as a model because it was expressed as concern for Jesus’ well-being rather than as a doctrinal dispute.  (Consider Jesus’ rebuke of Saul on the road to Damascus [Acts 26:14] as well.)  Jesus did not avoid Peter when his rebuke had become a stumbling block (σκάνδαλον).

The Greek word translated avoid in the imperative—Avoid them—was ἐκκλίνετε (a form of ἐκκλίνω).  “There is no one righteous, Paul quoted David, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God.  All have turned away (ἐξέκλιναν, another form of ἐκκλίνω), together they have become worthless;[57] there is no one who shows[58] kindness, not even one.”[59]  And Peter quoted David, too (1 Peter 3:10, 11 NET):

For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his[60] tongue from evil and his[61] lips from uttering deceit.  And[62] he must turn away (ἐκκλινάτω, another form of ἐκκλίνω) from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

So Paul admonished believers in Rome to avoid those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that [they] learned as sinners turned away from God and those who want to love life and see good days were instructed to turn away from evil (κακοῦ, a form of κακός).  It’s a serious step, not to be taken lightly lest we become those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching.  For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ,[63] Paul continued, but their own appetites.  By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive.[64]

Tables of Romans 16:17; Luke 11:33; Philippians 2:1; 2:3, 4; 3:17; 3:8; 3:10-12; 3:14; 3:16; 1 Corinthians 3:3-6; Matthew 13:39, 40; 13:29; 18:6, 7; Luke 17:1, 2; Romans 9:32, 33; 1 Peter 2:7; Matthew 16:23; Romans 3:12; 1 Peter 3:10, 11; Romans 16:18 and Galatians 4:19 comparing the NET and KJV follow.

Romans 16:17 (NET)

Romans 16:17 (KJV)
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! Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, σκοπεῖν τοὺς τὰς διχοστασίας καὶ τὰ σκάνδαλα παρὰ τὴν διδαχὴν ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε ποιοῦντας, καὶ ἐκκλίνετε ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν παρακαλω δε υμας αδελφοι σκοπειν τους τας διχοστασιας και τα σκανδαλα παρα την διδαχην ην υμεις εμαθετε ποιουντας και εκκλινατε απ αυτων παρακαλω δε υμας αδελφοι σκοπειν τους τας διχοστασιας και τα σκανδαλα παρα την διδαχην ην υμεις εμαθετε ποιουντας και εκκλινατε απ αυτων

Luke 11:33 (NET)

Luke 11:33 (KJV)
No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a hidden place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐδεὶς λύχνον ἅψας εἰς κρύπτην τίθησιν [οὐδὲ ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον] ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν, ἵνα οἱ εἰσπορευόμενοι τὸ φῶς βλέπωσιν. ουδεις δε λυχνον αψας εις κρυπτον τιθησιν ουδε υπο τον μοδιον αλλ επι την λυχνιαν ινα οι εισπορευομενοι το φεγγος βλεπωσιν ουδεις δε λυχνον αψας εις κρυπτην τιθησιν ουδε υπο τον μοδιον αλλ επι την λυχνιαν ινα οι εισπορευομενοι το φεγγος βλεπωσιν

Philippians 2:1 (NET)

Philippians 2:1 (KJV)
Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία πνεύματος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί ει τις ουν παρακλησις εν χριστω ει τι παραμυθιον αγαπης ει τις κοινωνια πνευματος ει τινα σπλαγχνα και οικτιρμοι ει τις ουν παρακλησις εν χριστω ει τι παραμυθιον αγαπης ει τις κοινωνια πνευματος ει τις σπλαγχνα και οικτιρμοι

Philippians 2:3, 4 (NET)

Philippians 2:3, 4 (KJV)
Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
μηδὲν κατ᾿ ἐριθείαν μηδὲ κατὰ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν μηδεν κατα εριθειαν η κενοδοξιαν αλλα τη ταπεινοφροσυνη αλληλους ηγουμενοι υπερεχοντας εαυτων μηδεν κατα εριθειαν η κενοδοξιαν αλλα τη ταπεινοφροσυνη αλληλους ηγουμενοι υπερεχοντας εαυτων
Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
μὴ τὰ ἑαυτῶν |ἕκαστος| σκοποῦντες ἀλλὰ [καὶ] τὰ ἑτέρων ἕκαστοι μη τα εαυτων εκαστος σκοπειτε αλλα και τα ετερων εκαστος μη τα εαυτων εκαστος σκοπειτε αλλα και τα ετερων εκαστος

Philippians 3:17 (NET)

Philippians 3:17 (KJV)
Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Συμμιμηταί μου γίνεσθε, ἀδελφοί, καὶ σκοπεῖτε τοὺς οὕτω περιπατοῦντας καθὼς ἔχετε τύπον ἡμᾶς συμμιμηται μου γινεσθε αδελφοι και σκοπειτε τους ουτως περιπατουντας καθως εχετε τυπον ημας συμμιμηται μου γινεσθε αδελφοι και σκοπειτε τους ουτως περιπατουντας καθως εχετε τυπον ημας

Philippians 3:8 (NET)

Philippians 3:8 (KJV)
More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things – indeed, I regard them as dung! – that I may gain Christ, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλὰ μενοῦνγε καὶ ἡγοῦμαι πάντα ζημίαν εἶναι διὰ τὸ ὑπερέχον τῆς γνώσεως Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ κυρίου μου, δι᾿ ὃν τὰ πάντα ἐζημιώθην, καὶ ἡγοῦμαι σκύβαλα, ἵνα Χριστὸν κερδήσω αλλα μενουνγε και ηγουμαι παντα ζημιαν ειναι δια το υπερεχον της γνωσεως χριστου ιησου του κυριου μου δι ον τα παντα εζημιωθην και ηγουμαι σκυβαλα ειναι ινα χριστον κερδησω αλλα μεν ουν και ηγουμαι παντα ζημιαν ειναι δια το υπερεχον της γνωσεως χριστου ιησου του κυριου μου δι ον τα παντα εζημιωθην και ηγουμαι σκυβαλα ειναι ινα χριστον κερδησω

Philippians 3:10-12 (NET)

Philippians 3:10-12 (KJV)
My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
τοῦ γνῶναι αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς ἀναστάσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ [τὴν] κοινωνίαν [τῶν] παθημάτων αὐτοῦ, συμμορφιζόμενος τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ, του γνωναι αυτον και την δυναμιν της αναστασεως αυτου και την κοινωνιαν των παθηματων αυτου συμμορφουμενος τω θανατω αυτου του γνωναι αυτον και την δυναμιν της αναστασεως αυτου και την κοινωνιαν των παθηματων αυτου συμμορφουμενος τω θανατω αυτου
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
εἴ πως καταντήσω εἰς τὴν ἐξανάστασιν τὴν ἐκ νεκρῶν ει πως καταντησω εις την εξαναστασιν των νεκρων ει πως καταντησω εις την εξαναστασιν των νεκρων
Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐχ ὅτι ἤδη ἔλαβον ἢ ἤδη τετελείωμαι, διώκω δὲ εἰ καὶ καταλάβω, ἐφ᾿ ᾧ καὶ κατελήμφθην ὑπὸ Χριστοῦ [Ἰησοῦ] ουχ οτι ηδη ελαβον η ηδη τετελειωμαι διωκω δε ει και καταλαβω εφ ω και κατεληφθην υπο του χριστου ιησου ουχ οτι ηδη ελαβον η ηδη τετελειωμαι διωκω δε ει και καταλαβω εφ ω και κατεληφθην υπο του χριστου ιησου
Philippians 3:14 (NET)

Philippians 3:14 (KJV)
with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ κατα σκοπον διωκω επι το βραβειον της ανω κλησεως του θεου εν χριστω ιησου κατα σκοπον διωκω επι το βραβειον της ανω κλησεως του θεου εν χριστω ιησου

Philippians 3:16 (NET)

Philippians 3:16 (KJV)
Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
πλὴν εἰς ὃ ἐφθάσαμεν, τῷ αὐτῷ στοιχεῖν πλην εις ο εφθασαμεν τω αυτω στοιχειν κανονι το αυτο φρονειν πλην εις ο εφθασαμεν τω αυτω στοιχειν κανονι το αυτο φρονειν

1 Corinthians 3:3-6 (NET)

1 Corinthians 3:3-6 (KJV)
for you are still influenced by the flesh.  For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people? For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἔτι γὰρ σαρκικοί ἐστε. ὅπου γὰρ ἐν ὑμῖν ζῆλος καὶ ἔρις, οὐχὶ σαρκικοί ἐστε καὶ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖτε ετι γαρ σαρκικοι εστε οπου γαρ εν υμιν ζηλος και ερις και διχοστασιαι ουχι σαρκικοι εστε και κατα ανθρωπον περιπατειτε ετι γαρ σαρκικοι εστε οπου γαρ εν υμιν ζηλος και ερις και διχοστασιαι ουχι σαρκικοι εστε και κατα ανθρωπον περιπατειτε
For whenever someone says, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” are you not merely human? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὅταν γὰρ λέγῃ τις· ἐγὼ μέν εἰμι Παύλου, ἕτερος δέ· ἐγὼ Ἀπολλῶ, οὐκ ἄνθρωποι ἐστε οταν γαρ λεγη τις εγω μεν ειμι παυλου ετερος δε εγω απολλω ουχι σαρκικοι εστε οταν γαρ λεγη τις εγω μεν ειμι παυλου ετερος δε εγω απολλω ουχι σαρκικοι εστε
What is Apollos, really?  Or what is Paul?  Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Τί οὖν ἐστιν Ἀπολλῶς; τί δέ ἐστιν Παῦλος; διάκονοι δι᾿ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε, καὶ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ κύριος ἔδωκεν τις ουν εστιν παυλος τις δε απολλως αλλ η διακονοι δι ων επιστευσατε και εκαστω ως ο κυριος εδωκεν τις ουν εστιν παυλος τις δε απολλως αλλ η διακονοι δι ων επιστευσατε και εκαστω ως ο κυριος εδωκεν
I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow. I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἐγὼ ἐφύτευσα, Ἀπολλῶς ἐπότισεν, ἀλλὰ ὁ θεὸς ἠύξανεν εγω εφυτευσα απολλως εποτισεν αλλ ο θεος ηυξανεν εγω εφυτευσα απολλως εποτισεν αλλ ο θεος ηυξανεν
Matthew 13:39, 40 (NET)

Matthew 13:39, 40 (KJV)
and the enemy who sows them is the devil.  The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ ἐχθρὸς ὁ σπείρας αὐτά ἐστιν ὁ διάβολος, ὁ δὲ θερισμὸς συντέλεια αἰῶνος ἐστιν, οἱ δὲ θερισταὶ ἄγγελοι εἰσιν ο δε εχθρος ο σπειρας αυτα εστιν ο διαβολος ο δε θερισμος συντελεια του αιωνος εστιν οι δε θερισται αγγελοι εισιν ο δε εχθρος ο σπειρας αυτα εστιν ο διαβολος ο δε θερισμος συντελεια του αιωνος εστιν οι δε θερισται αγγελοι εισιν
As the poisonous weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὥσπερ οὖν συλλέγεται τὰ ζιζάνια καὶ πυρὶ [κατα]καίεται, οὕτως ἔσται ἐν τῇ συντελείᾳ τοῦ αἰῶνος ωσπερ ουν συλλεγεται τα ζιζανια και πυρι κατακαιεται ουτως εσται εν τη συντελεια του αιωνος τουτου ωσπερ ουν συλλεγεται τα ζιζανια και πυρι καιεται ουτως εσται εν τη συντελεια του αιωνος τουτου

Matthew 13:29 (NET)

Matthew 13:29 (KJV)
But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the darnel you may uproot the wheat along with it. But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δέ φησιν· οὔ, μήποτε συλλέγοντες τὰ ζιζάνια ἐκριζώσητε ἅμα αὐτοῖς τὸν σῖτον ο δε εφη ου μηποτε συλλεγοντες τα ζιζανια εκριζωσητε αμα αυτοις τον σιτον ο δε εφη ου μηποτε συλλεγοντες τα ζιζανια εκριζωσητε αμα αυτοις τον σιτον

Matthew 18:6, 7 (NET)

Matthew 18:6, 7 (KJV)
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Ὂς δ᾿ ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ, συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης ος δ αν σκανδαλιση ενα των μικρων τουτων των πιστευοντων εις εμε συμφερει αυτω ινα κρεμασθη μυλος ονικος επι τον τραχηλον αυτου και καταποντισθη εν τω πελαγει της θαλασσης ος δ αν σκανδαλιση ενα των μικρων τουτων των πιστευοντων εις εμε συμφερει αυτω ινα κρεμασθη μυλος ονικος εις τον τραχηλον αυτου και καταποντισθη εν τω πελαγει της θαλασσης
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks)!  It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐαὶ τῷ κόσμῳ ἀπὸ τῶν σκανδάλων· ἀνάγκη γὰρ ἐλθεῖν τὰ σκάνδαλα, πλὴν οὐαὶ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ δι᾿ οὗ τὸ σκάνδαλον ἔρχεται ουαι τω κοσμω απο των σκανδαλων αναγκη γαρ εστιν ελθειν τα σκανδαλα πλην ουαι τω ανθρωπω εκεινω δι ου το σκανδαλον ερχεται ουαι τω κοσμω απο των σκανδαλων αναγκη γαρ εστιν ελθειν τα σκανδαλα πλην ουαι τω ανθρωπω εκεινω δι ου το σκανδαλον ερχεται
Luke 17:1, 2 (NET)

Luke 17:1, 2 (KJV)
Jesus said to his disciples, “Stumbling blocks are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ· ἀνένδεκτον ἐστιν τοῦ τὰ σκάνδαλα μὴ ἐλθεῖν, πλὴν οὐαὶ δι᾿ οὗ ἔρχεται ειπεν δε προς τους μαθητας ανενδεκτον εστιν του μη ελθειν τα σκανδαλα ουαι δε δι ου ερχεται ειπεν δε προς τους μαθητας ανενδεκτον εστιν του μη ελθειν τα σκανδαλα ουαι δε δι ου ερχεται
It would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
λυσιτελεῖ αὐτῷ εἰ λίθος μυλικὸς περίκειται περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔρριπται εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν ἢ ἵνα σκανδαλίσῃ τῶν μικρῶν τούτων ἕνα λυσιτελει αυτω ει μυλος ονικος περικειται περι τον τραχηλον αυτου και ερριπται εις την θαλασσαν η ινα σκανδαλιση ενα των μικρων τουτων λυσιτελει αυτω ει μυλος ονικος περικειται περι τον τραχηλον αυτου και ερριπται εις την θαλασσαν η ινα σκανδαλιση ενα των μικρων τουτων

Romans 9:32, 33 (NET)

Romans 9:32, 33 (KJV)
Why not?  Because they pursued it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works.  They stumbled over the stumbling stone, Wherefore?  Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.  For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
διὰ τί; ὅτι οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως ἀλλ᾿ ὡς ἐξ ἔργων· προσέκοψαν τῷ λίθῳ τοῦ προσκόμματος δια τι οτι ουκ εκ πιστεως αλλ ως εξ εργων νομου προσεκοψαν γαρ τω λιθω του προσκομματος δια τι οτι ουκ εκ πιστεως αλλ ως εξ εργων νομου προσεκοψαν γαρ τω λιθω του προσκομματος
just as it is written, “Look, I am laying in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumble and a rock that will make them fall, yet the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.” As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καθὼς γέγραπται ἰδοὺ τίθημι ἐν Σιὼν λίθον προσκόμματος καὶ πέτραν σκανδάλου, καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ οὐ καταισχυνθήσεται καθως γεγραπται ιδου τιθημι εν σιων λιθον προσκομματος και πετραν σκανδαλου και πας ο πιστευων επ αυτω ου καταισχυνθησεται καθως γεγραπται ιδου τιθημι εν σιων λιθον προσκομματος και πετραν σκανδαλου και πας ο πιστευων επ αυτω ου καταισχυνθησεται

1 Peter 2:7 (NET)

1 Peter 2:7 (KJV)
So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὑμῖν οὖν ἡ τιμὴ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν, ἀπιστοῦσιν δὲ λίθος ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας υμιν ουν η τιμη τοις πιστευουσιν απειθουσιν δε λιθον ον απεδοκιμασαν οι οικοδομουντες ουτος εγενηθη εις κεφαλην γωνιας υμιν ουν η τιμη τοις πιστευουσιν απειθουσιν δε λιθον ον απεδοκιμασαν οι οικοδομουντες ουτος εγενηθη εις κεφαλην γωνιας
Matthew 16:23 (NET)

Matthew 16:23 (KJV)
But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ στραφεὶς εἶπεν τῷ Πέτρῳ· ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου, σατανᾶ· σκάνδαλον εἶ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ο δε στραφεις ειπεν τω πετρω υπαγε οπισω μου σατανα σκανδαλον μου ει οτι ου φρονεις τα του θεου αλλα τα των ανθρωπων ο δε στραφεις ειπεν τω πετρω υπαγε οπισω μου σατανα σκανδαλον μου ει οτι ου φρονεις τα του θεου αλλα τα των ανθρωπων
Romans 3:12 (NET)

Romans 3:12 (KJV)
All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.” They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
πάντες ἐξέκλιναν ἅμα ἠχρεώθησαν οὐκ ἔστιν |ὁ| ποιῶν χρηστότητα, [οὐκ ἔστιν] ἕως ἑνός παντες εξεκλιναν αμα ηχρειωθησαν ουκ εστιν ποιων χρηστοτητα ουκ εστιν εως ενος παντες εξεκλιναν αμα ηχρειωθησαν ουκ εστιν ποιων χρηστοτητα ουκ εστιν εως ενος
1 Peter 3:10, 11 (NET)

1 Peter 3:10, 11 (KJV)
For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ γὰρ θέλων ζωὴν ἀγαπᾶν καὶ ἰδεῖν ἡμέρας ἀγαθὰς παυσάτω τὴν γλῶσσαν ἀπὸ κακοῦ καὶ χείλη τοῦ μὴ λαλῆσαι δόλον, ο γαρ θελων ζωην αγαπαν και ιδειν ημερας αγαθας παυσατω την γλωσσαν αυτου απο κακου και χειλη αυτου του μη λαλησαι δολον ο γαρ θελων ζωην αγαπαν και ιδειν ημερας αγαθας παυσατω την γλωσσαν αυτου απο κακου και χειλη αυτου του μη λαλησαι δολον
And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἐκκλινάτω δὲ ἀπὸ κακοῦ καὶ ποιησάτω ἀγαθόν, ζητησάτω εἰρήνην καὶ διωξάτω αὐτήν εκκλινατω απο κακου και ποιησατω αγαθον ζητησατω ειρηνην και διωξατω αυτην εκκλινατω απο κακου και ποιησατω αγαθον ζητησατω ειρηνην και διωξατω αυτην

Romans 16:18 (NET)

Romans 16:18 (KJV)
For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites.  By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

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
Galatians 4:19 (NET)

Galatians 4:19 (KJV)
My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
|τέκνα| μου, οὓς πάλιν ὠδίνω μέχρις οὗ μορφωθῇ Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν τεκνια μου ους παλιν ωδινω αχρις ου μορφωθη χριστος εν υμιν τεκνια μου ους παλιν ωδινω αχρις ου μορφωθη χριστος εν υμιν

[1] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐκκλίνετε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκκλινατε.

[2] Romans 16:17 (NET)

[3] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had κρύπτην here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had κρυπτον (KJV: a secret place).

[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had φῶς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had φεγγος.

[5] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ομοθυμαδον here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὁμοῦ (NET: together).

[6] Acts 2:1 (NKJV) Table

[7] 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 (NET)

[8] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had τις here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had τινα.

[9] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κατ᾿ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κατα.

[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had μηδὲ κατὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had simply η.

[11] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had σκοποῦντες here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σκοπειτε (KJV: Look…on).

[12] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἕκαστοι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκαστος.

[13] Philippians 2:1-4 (NET)

[14] The NET parallel Greek text had οὕτω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had ουτως (KJV: so).

[15] Philippians 3:17 (NET)

[16] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειναι following dung.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[17] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had συμμορφιζόμενος here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συμμορφουμενος (KJV: being made conformable).

[18] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐκ here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not (KJV: of).

[19] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding Christ.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[20] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἰς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επι.

[21] Philippians 3:16 (NET) The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κανονι το αυτο φρονειν (KJV: by the same rule, let us mind the same thing) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[22] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και διχοστασιαι (KJV: and divisions) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[23] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουχι here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὐκ.

[24] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σαρκικοι here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἄνθρωποι (NET: merely human).

[25] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τις here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Τί.

[26] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τις here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τί.

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

[28] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had η preceding ministers.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[29] The Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had αλλ here, where the NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ.

[30] Table1 (Galations 5:14, 15); Table2 (Galatians 5:17); Table3 (Galatians 5:19-21)

[31] Galatians 5:24 (NET)

[32] Galatians 5:22b, 23a (NET) Table

[33] John 4:14b (NET) Table

[34] Galatians 5:25, 26 (NET)

[35] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding age.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[36] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had κατακαίεται here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had καιεται.

[37] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τουτου (KJV: this) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[38] Matthew 13:29b (NET)

[39] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had περὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had επι (KJV: about) and the Byzantine Majority Text had εις.

[40] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐτοῦ here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not (KJV: the).

[41] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πλὴν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε.

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

[43] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκεινω (KJV: that) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[44] The Greek words translated millstone in the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 were λίθος μυλικὸς, and μυλος ονικος in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[45] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had γαρ (KJV: For) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[46] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πας (KJV: whosoever) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[47] Romans 9:32b, 33 (NET)

[48] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀπιστοῦσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had απειθουσιν (KJV: be disobedient).

[49] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had λίθος here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λιθον.

[50] 1 Peter 2:7, 8a (NET)

[51] 1 Peter 2:8b (NET)

[52] John 3:6a (NET)

[53] Romans 1:18a (NET)

[54] Romans 1:25 (NET)

[55] I’m including pedagogy here for three reasons:

1) It is my own bias that pedagogical practices are the general issue in question (whether in transmission or reception) and may have some bearing on this specific situation.  Paul’s letter to believers in Galatia was addressed to: My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you (Galatians 4:19 NKJV).  I labored more at my day job than at ensuring that Christ was formed in my children because they were mostly compliant and obeyed most of my rules.

2) If the science indicating that sexual orientation is set in utero is falsified, the influence of our pedagogy on our children’s worship practices takes precedence over our worship practices:

Alicia Garcia-Falgueras, Dick Swaab, “Sexual Hormones and the Brain: An Essential Alliance for Sexual Identity and Sexual Orientation,” ResearchGate, January 2010: “The human fetal brain develops in the male direction through a direct action of testosterone and in the female direction through the absence of such an action.  During the intrauterine period, gender identity (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender), sexual orientation, cognition, aggression and other behaviors are programmed in the brain in a sexually differentiated way.  Sexual differentiation of the genitals takes place in the first 2 months of pregnancy, whereas sexual differentiation of the brain starts in the second half of pregnancy.  This means that in the event of an ambiguous sex at birth, the degree of masculinization of the genitals may not reflect the degree of masculinization of the brain.”

3) If the science indicating that sexual orientation is set in utero is not falsified, the pedagogical practices of our ancestors certainly had some influence on our worship practices. And they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their treachery which they committed against Me, and also that they have walked contrary unto Me (Leviticus 26:40 Tanakh).

[56] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐμοῦ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μου.

[57] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἠχρεώθησαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηχρειωθησαν (KJV: they are…become unprofitable).

[58] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article ὁ preceding shows.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[59] Romans 3:10b-12 (NET)

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

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

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

[63] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιησου (KJV: Jesus) preceding Christ.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[64] Romans 16:18 (NET)

Atonement, Part 11

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This is a continuation of yehôvâh’s (יהוה) instruction to Moses: They[1] are to eat those things by which atonement (kâphar, כפר; Septuagint: ἡγιάσθησαν, a form of ἁγιάζω) was made to consecrate and to set them apart, but no one else may eat them, for they are holy.[2]  I’ll continue to consider forms of χρίω in the New Testament.

The author of Hebrews continued to contrast Jesus to angels: And he says of the angels, “He makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire”…[3]  This was a verbatim quote from the Elpenor version of the Septuagint only.

Hebrews 1:7b (NET parallel Greek)

 Psalm 104:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 103:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πῦρ φλέγον ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα

I won’t spend much time here since the psalm is not about angels but yehôvâh.  It is interesting, however, that the NET and KJV, more importantly the three versions of the Greek New Testament I have surveyed, agree here.

Hebrews 1:7 (NET)

Hebrews 1:7 (KJV)
And he says of the angels, “He makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire,” And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ πρὸς μὲν τοὺς ἀγγέλους λέγει ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα και προς μεν τους αγγελους λεγει ο ποιων τους αγγελους αυτου πνευματα και τους λειτουργους αυτου πυρος φλογα και προς μεν τους αγγελους λεγει ο ποιων τους αγγελους αυτου πνευματα και τους λειτουργους αυτου πυρος φλογα

The translations from Hebrew of the Tanakh and KJV, and from Greek of the Elpenor also agree.  But πῦρ φλέγον in the BLB version of the Septuagint, as opposed to πυρὸς φλόγα in the Elpenor and the New Testament, inspired a subtle shift in the translation of the NETS.

From Hebrew

From Greek
Psalm 104:4 (Tanakh) Psalm 104:4 (KJV) Psalm 103:4 (NETS)

Psalm 103:4 (Elpenor)
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: He who makes spirits his messengers, and flaming fire his ministers. Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flaming fire.

That shift continued in the NET, making it virtually impossible for an English reader to recognize any mention of angels in the Psalm: He makes the winds his messengers, and the flaming fire his attendant.[4]  This sounds more like tornadoes and hurricanes speak for God while warehouse and forest fires serve Him.

The author of Hebrews continued: but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and[5] a[6] righteous scepter[7] is the[8] scepter of your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness.  So God, your God, has anointed (ἔχρισεν, a form of χρίω) you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing.”[9]  The first part of this quotation—Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom—was not verbatim from either version of the Septuagint.

Hebrews 1:8b (NET parallel Greek) Psalm 45:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 44:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεὸς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα |τοῦ αἰῶνος|, καὶ ἡ ράβδος τῆς εὐθύτητος ράβδος τῆς βασιλείας |σου| ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεός εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου ὁ θρόνος σου, ὁ Θεός, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, ράβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου

The relatively inconsequential differences—a conjunction, two additional articles and one missing article—are exactly the same differences (Table1 below) I found relative to the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.  Comparing either of them to both versions of the Septuagint yields another verbatim quote.

Hebrews 1:8b (Stephanus Textus Receptus) Psalm 45:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 44:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ο θρονος σου ο θεος εις τον αιωνα του αιωνος ραβδος ευθυτητος η ραβδος της βασιλειας σου ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεός εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου ὁ θρόνος σου, ὁ Θεός, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, ράβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου

Hebrews 1:8b (Byzantine Majority Text)

 Psalm 45:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 44:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ο θρονος σου ο θεος εις τον αιωνα του αιωνος ραβδος ευθυτητος η ραβδος της βασιλειας σου ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεός εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου ὁ θρόνος σου, ὁ Θεός, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, ράβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου

I will spend some time on the first seven verses of this psalm.

Psalm 45:1 (Tanakh)

Psalm 44:2 (NETS)
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. My heart erupted with a goodly theme; it is I that address my works to the king; my tongue is a pen of a swift scribe.

The Hebrew word translated of the things which I have made was מעשׁי (maʽăśeh, Septuagint: ἔργα).  This psalm is presumed to have been written by the Korahites.  Though Korahites fought with David this psalm was not the work of sycophants flattering their king but a work of prophets revealing the One who was to come, the Son of God, the son of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), the Rock who saved (yeshûʽâh, ישעתו) Israel.

Psalm 45:2 (Tanakh)

Psalm 44:3 (NETS)
Thou art fairer (yâphâh, יפיפית) than the children of men: grace (chên, חן) is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Youthful in beauty (ὡραῖος) you are, beyond the sons of men; grace (χάρις) was poured on your lips; therefore God blessed you forever.

The Spirit is the one who gives life, Jesus said, human nature is of no help!  The words that I have spoken[10] to you are spirit and are life.[11]  If I keep this in mind I’m not thrown off by translations like fairer and youthful in beauty applied to Him, but remain focused on the Spirit and the life in his words: As it is written, “How timely (ὡραῖοι, another form of ὡραῖος) is the arrival of those who proclaim[12] the good news.”[13]  For[14] we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift (χάριν, a form of χάρις) after another (χάριτος, another form of χάρις).  For the law was given through Moses,[15] but grace (χάρις) and truth came about through Jesus Christ.[16]

Psalm 45:3 (Tanakh)

Psalm 44:4 (NETS)
Gird thy sword (chereb, חרבך) upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. Gird your sword (ῥομφαίαν, a form of ῥομφαία) on your thigh, O powerful one, in your bloom and beauty,

In John’s vision on Patmos a sharp double-edged sword (ρομφαία) extended out of [Jesus’] mouth.[17]  He identified Himself as the one who has the sharp double-edged sword (ρομφαίαν, a form of ρομφαία).[18]  Though the psalmists enjoined Him to Gird thy sword upon the thigh, in the manner of kings they knew, Jesus said He would make war against those [who follow the teaching of Balaam or the teaching of the Nicolaitans] with the sword (ρομφαίᾳ) of my mouth.[19]  Death and Hades…were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword (ρομφαίᾳ),[20] but John never saw a sword in Jesus’ hand: From his mouth extends a sharp sword[21] (ρομφαία), so that with it he can strike[22] the nations.[23]  Jesus’ words, the sword that extended from his mouth, have the power to kill the flesh of those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image (Revelation 19:19-21 NET).

Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to do battle[24] with the one who rode the horse and with his army.  Now the beast was seized, and along with[25] him[26] the false prophet who had performed the signs on his behalf – signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.  Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning[27] with sulfur.[28]  The others were killed by the sword (ρομφαίᾳ) that extended[29] from the mouth of the one who rode the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh (σαρκῶν, a form of σάρξ).

Those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image were not thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.  I’ve assumed that they will be because an angel declaring in a loud voice, presumably prior to anyone worshipping the beast or taking his mark, said (Revelation 14:9-11 NET):

If anyone worships the beast and his image, and takes the mark on his forehead or his hand, that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and he will be tortured (βασανισθήσεται, a form of βασανίζω) with fire and sulfur in front of the[30] holy angels and in front of the Lamb.  And the smoke from their torture (βασανισμοῦ, a form of βασανισμός) will go up forever and ever, and those who worship the beast and his image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the mark of his name.

They will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb.  The devil…was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are too.[31]  Those who worship the beast and his image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the mark of his name.  The devil, the beast and the false prophet will be tormented (βασανισθήσονται, another form of βασανισμός) in the lake of fire and sulfur day and night forever and ever.[32]  The smoke from their [e.g., those who worship the beast or receive his mark] torture (βασανισμοῦ, a form of βασανισμός) will go up forever and ever.

Though the words are quite evocative it is never stated explicitly that those who worship the beast or receive his mark are cast into the lake of fire and sulfur.  Even when the time comes that one might expect it, the criteria for being thrown into the lake of fire has changed: If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.[33]  I don’t belabor this point to encourage anyone to worship the beast or take his mark, but to leave room for the mercy of God and to respect the power of Jesus’ preaching, the sharp sword that extends from his mouth.  This will become clearer, perhaps, in the next verse of the psalm.

Psalm 45:4 (Tanakh)

Psalm 44:5 (NETS)
And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. And draw, and prosper, and become king for the sake of truth and meekness and righteousness, and your right hand will guide you marvelously.

The Hebrew word translated truth was אמת (ʼemeth), ἀληθείας (a form of ἀλήθεια) in Greek in the Septuagint.  We saw his glory, John testified about Jesus, the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth (ἀληθείας, a form of ἀλήθεια), who came from the Father.[34]  Set them apart in the truth[35] (ἀληθείᾳ), Jesus prayed for his disciples, your word is truth (ἀλήθεια).[36]  And, I am the way, and the truth (ἀλήθεια), and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.[37]

The Hebrew word translated righteousness was צדק (tsedeq), δικαιοσύνης (a form of δικαιοσύνη) in Greek in the Septuagint.  Jesus was conscientious to fulfill all righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, another form of δικαιοσύνη).[38]  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, another form of δικαιοσύνη), He promised his hearers, for they will be satisfied.[39]  But above all, He exhorts those with ears to hear, pursue his kingdom[40] and righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, another form of δικαιοσύνη).[41]  For I tell you, unless your righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.[42]

For no one is declared righteous (δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω) before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.  But now apart from the law the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed – namely, the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all[43] who believe.[44]  Those who believe are filled with the fruit[45] of righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη) that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.[46]  God’s servants commend themselves to others by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, by truthful (ἀληθείας, a form of ἀλήθεια) teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη) both for the right hand and for the left.[47]  Chief among these weapons of righteousness is the sword (μάχαιραν, a form of μάχαιρα) of the Spirit, which is the word of God.[48]  John recounted his vision (Revelation 19:11-13 NET):

Then I saw heaven opened[49] and here came a white horse!  The one riding it was called “Faithful” (πιστὸς) and “True,” (ἀληθινός) and with justice (δικαιοσύνῃ) he judges and goes to war.  His eyes are like a fiery flame and there are many diadem crowns on his head.  He has[50] a name written that no one knows except himself.  He is dressed in clothing dipped in blood, and he is called[51] the Word of God.

In the midst of all this martial imagery is the word meekness.  It was וענוה (ʽanvâh) in Hebrew, translated πρᾳότητος (a form of πρᾳότης) in Greek in the Septuagint.  It was also spelled πραΰτης.  Paul wrote of the meekness[52] (πραΰτητος, a form of πραΰτης) and gentleness of Christ.[53]  And apparently (2 Corinthians 10), the meekness and gentleness of Christ in him was so pronounced a feature of his own character in person that his letters shocked some in Corinth as being of a different character.  This πραΰτης, translated gentleness, is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of righteousness (Galatians 5:22, 23 NET):

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (πραΰτης), and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

I’ve quoted this often but stopped before, Against such things there is no law.  No more, since I’m becoming more and more aware how eagerly the religious mind desires to be the arbiter of these things, throwing up reasons against them, debating if not outright denying, the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control rising up within me from that fountain of water springing up to eternal life.[54]  I’ve found myself unarmed and defenseless against its arguments because I haven’t drilled this truth deeply enough into my being: Against such things there is no law.  Against such things there is no law.

Brothers and sisters, Paul wrote believers in Galatia, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness[55] (πραΰτητος, a form of πραΰτης).[56]  I hear this as the Holy Spirit’s definitive answer to Paul’s rhetorical question: Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness (πραΰτητος, a form of πραΰτης)?[57] even as I hear Paul’s rhetorical question as definitive of what a spirit of gentleness is not.

Pay close attention to yourselves, Paul continued, so that you are not tempted too.  Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill[58] the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  Let each one examine his own work.  Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else.  For each one will carry his own load.[59]

This πραΰτης is at the very heart of what it means to live worthily of the calling with which [we] have been called (Ephesians 4:1b-6 NET):

with all humility and gentleness[60] (πραΰτητος, a form of πραΰτης), with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.[61]

And this, not because it is one of Paul’s laws but because meekness or gentleness is the very nature of the firstborn of this new species of humanity, the one called the Word of God, Jesus our Savior.  It is the work of God to instill this within us who have turned in faith to Him.  And it should never be forgotten, especially in the midst of martial imagery.  Though I copied and pasted וענוה (ʽanvâh) from the parallel Hebrew text of the NET online, there was a note (15) explaining why meekness or gentleness does not appear in the NET translation of Psalm 45:4.

I’ll pick this up in another essay.  Tables of Hebrews 1:8; John 6:63; John 1:16, 17; Revelation 2:16; Revelation 6:8; Revelation 19:15; 19:19-21; Revelation 14:9, 10; John 17:17; Matthew 6:33; Romans 3:22; Philippians 1:11; Revelation 19:11-13; 2 Corinthians 10:1; John 4:14; Galatians 6:1, 2; 1 Corinthians 4:21; Ephesians 4:2 and 4:6 comparing the NET and KJV follow.

Hebrews 1:8 (NET)

Hebrews 1:8 (KJV)
but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
πρὸς δὲ τὸν υἱόν ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεὸς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα |τοῦ αἰῶνος|, καὶ ἡ ράβδος τῆς εὐθύτητος ράβδος τῆς βασιλείας |σου|. προς δε τον υιον ο θρονος σου ο θεος εις τον αιωνα του αιωνος ραβδος ευθυτητος η ραβδος της βασιλειας σου προς δε τον υιον ο θρονος σου ο θεος εις τον αιωνα του αιωνος ραβδος ευθυτητος η ραβδος της βασιλειας σου

John 6:63 (NET)

John 6:63 (KJV)
The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help!  The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
τὸ πνεῦμα ἐστιν τὸ ζῳοποιοῦν, ἡ σὰρξ οὐκ ὠφελεῖ οὐδέν· τὰ ρήματα ἃ ἐγὼ λελάληκα ὑμῖν πνεῦμα ἐστιν καὶ ζωή ἐστιν το πνευμα εστιν το ζωοποιουν η σαρξ ουκ ωφελει ουδεν τα ρηματα α εγω λαλω υμιν πνευμα εστιν και ζωη εστιν το πνευμα εστιν το ζωοποιουν η σαρξ ουκ ωφελει ουδεν τα ρηματα α εγω λαλω υμιν πνευμα εστιν και ζωη εστιν

John 1:16, 17 (NET)

John 1:16, 17 (KJV)
For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος και εκ του πληρωματος αυτου ημεις παντες ελαβομεν και χαριν αντι χαριτος και εκ του πληρωματος αυτου ημεις παντες ελαβομεν και χαριν αντι χαριτος
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο οτι ο νομος δια μωσεως εδοθη η χαρις και η αληθεια δια ιησου χριστου εγενετο οτι ο νομος δια μωσεως εδοθη η χαρις και η αληθεια δια ιησου χριστου εγενετο
Revelation 2:16 (NET)

Revelation 2:16 (KJV)
Therefore, repent!  If not, I will come against you quickly and make war against those people with the sword of my mouth. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
μετανόησον οὖν εἰ δὲ μή, ἔρχομαι σοι ταχὺ καὶ πολεμήσω μετ᾿ αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ρομφαίᾳ τοῦ στόματος μου μετανοησον ει δε μη ερχομαι σοι ταχυ και πολεμησω μετ αυτων εν τη ρομφαια του στοματος μου μετανοησον ουν ει δε μη ερχομαι σοι ταχυ και πολεμησω μετ αυτων εν τη ρομφαια του στοματος μου

Revelation 6:8 (NET)

Revelation 6:8 (KJV)
So I looked and here came a pale green horse!  The name of the one who rode it was Death, and Hades followed right behind.  They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, famine, and disease, and by the wild animals of the earth. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.  And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ εἶδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἵππος χλωρός, καὶ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπάνω |αὐτοῦ| ὄνομα αὐτῷ [ὁ] θάνατος, καὶ ὁ ᾅδης ἠκολούθει μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς ἐξουσία ἐπὶ τὸ τέταρτον τῆς γῆς ἀποκτεῖναι ἐν ρομφαίᾳ καὶ ἐν λιμῷ καὶ ἐν θανάτῳ καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν θηρίων τῆς γῆς και ειδον και ιδου ιππος χλωρος και ο καθημενος επανω αυτου ονομα αυτω ο θανατος και ο αδης ακολουθει μετ αυτου και εδοθη αυτοις εξουσια αποκτειναι επι το τεταρτον της γης εν ρομφαια και εν λιμω και εν θανατω και υπο των θηριων της γης και ιδου ιππος χλωρος και ο καθημενος επανω αυτου ονομα αυτω ο θανατος και ο αδης ηκολουθει αυτω και εδοθη αυτω εξουσια επι το τεταρτον της γης αποκτειναι εν ρομφαια και εν λιμω και εν θανατω και υπο των θηριων της γης

Revelation 19:15 (NET)

Revelation 19:15 (KJV)
From his mouth extends a sharp sword, so that with it he can strike the nations.  He will rule them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ ἐκπορεύεται ρομφαία ὀξεῖα, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῇ πατάξῃ τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ αὐτὸς ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν ράβδῳ σιδηρᾷ, καὶ αὐτὸς πατεῖ τὴν ληνὸν τοῦ οἴνου τοῦ θυμοῦ τῆς ὀργῆς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ παντοκράτορος και εκ του στοματος αυτου εκπορευεται ρομφαια οξεια ινα εν αυτη πατασση τα εθνη και αυτος ποιμανει αυτους εν ραβδω σιδηρα και αυτος πατει την ληνον του οινου του θυμου και της οργης του θεου του παντοκρατορος και εκ του στοματος αυτου εκπορευεται ρομφαια διστομος οξεια ινα εν αυτη παταξη τα εθνη και αυτος ποιμανει αυτους εν ραβδω σιδηρα και αυτος πατει την ληνον του οινου του θυμου της οργης του θεου του παντοκρατορος
Revelation 19:19-21 (NET)

Revelation 19: 19-21 (KJV)
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to do battle with the one who rode the horse and with his army. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ εἶδον τὸ θηρίον καὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς καὶ τὰ στρατεύματα αὐτῶν συνηγμένα ποιῆσαι τὸν πόλεμον μετὰ τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ ἵππου καὶ μετὰ τοῦ στρατεύματος αὐτοῦ και ειδον το θηριον και τους βασιλεις της γης και τα στρατευματα αυτων συνηγμενα ποιησαι πολεμον μετα του καθημενου επι του ιππου και μετα του στρατευματος αυτου και ειδον το θηριον και τους βασιλεις της γης και τα στρατευματα αυτων συνηγμενα ποιησαι πολεμον μετα του καθημενου επι του ιππου και μετα του στρατευματος αυτου
Now the beast was seized, and along with him the false prophet who had performed the signs on his behalf – signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.  Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἐπιάσθη τὸ θηρίον καὶ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ὁ ψευδοπροφήτης ὁ ποιήσας τὰ σημεῖα ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, ἐν οἷς ἐπλάνησεν τοὺς λαβόντας τὸ χάραγμα τοῦ θηρίου καὶ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας τῇ εἰκόνι αὐτοῦ· ζῶντες ἐβλήθησαν οἱ δύο εἰς τὴν λίμνην τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καιομένης ἐν θείῳ και επιασθη το θηριον και μετα τουτου ο ψευδοπροφητης ο ποιησας τα σημεια ενωπιον αυτου εν οις επλανησεν τους λαβοντας το χαραγμα του θηριου και τους προσκυνουντας τη εικονι αυτου ζωντες εβληθησαν οι δυο εις την λιμνην του πυρος την καιομενην εν τω θειω και επιασθη το θηριον και ο μετ αυτου ψευδοπροφητης ο ποιησας τα σημεια ενωπιον αυτου εν οις επλανησεν τους λαβοντας το χαραγμα του θηριου και τους προσκυνουντας τη εικονι αυτου ζωντες εβληθησαν οι δυο εις την λιμνην του πυρος την καιομενην εν θειω
The others were killed by the sword that extended from the mouth of the one who rode the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπεκτάνθησαν ἐν τῇ ρομφαίᾳ τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ ἵππου τῇ ἐξελθούσῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ὄρνεα ἐχορτάσθησαν ἐκ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτῶν και οι λοιποι απεκτανθησαν εν τη ρομφαια του καθημενου επι του ιππου τη εκπορευομενη εκ του στοματος αυτου και παντα τα ορνεα εχορτασθησαν εκ των σαρκων αυτων και οι λοιποι απεκτανθησαν εν τη ρομφαια του καθημενου επι του ιππου τη εξελθουση εκ του στοματος αυτου και παντα τα ορνεα εχορτασθησαν εκ των σαρκων αυτων

Revelation 14:9, 10 (NET)

Revelation 14:9, 10 (KJV)
A third angel followed the first two, declaring in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and takes the mark on his forehead or his hand, And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ ἄλλος ἄγγελος τρίτος ἠκολούθησεν αὐτοῖς λέγων ἐν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· εἴ τις προσκυνεῖ τὸ θηρίον καὶ τὴν εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ καὶ λαμβάνει χάραγμα ἐπὶ τοῦ μετώπου αὐτοῦ ἢ ἐπὶ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, και τριτος αγγελος ηκολουθησεν αυτοις λεγων εν φωνη μεγαλη ει τις το θηριον προσκυνει και την εικονα αυτου και λαμβανει χαραγμα επι του μετωπου αυτου η επι την χειρα αυτου και αλλος αγγελος τριτος ηκολουθησεν αυτοις λεγων εν φωνη μεγαλη ει τις προσκυνει το θηριον και την εικονα αυτου και λαμβανει χαραγμα επι του μετωπου αυτου η επι την χειρα αυτου
that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ αὐτὸς πίεται ἐκ τοῦ οἴνου τοῦ θυμοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ κεκερασμένου ἀκράτου ἐν τῷ ποτηρίῳ τῆς ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ βασανισθήσεται ἐν πυρὶ καὶ θείῳ ἐνώπιον ἀγγέλων ἁγίων καὶ ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀρνίου και αυτος πιεται εκ του οινου του θυμου του θεου του κεκερασμενου ακρατου εν τω ποτηριω της οργης αυτου και βασανισθησεται εν πυρι και θειω ενωπιον των αγιων αγγελων και ενωπιον του αρνιου και αυτος πιεται εκ του οινου του θυμου του θεου του κεκερασμενου ακρατου εν τω ποτηριω της οργης αυτου και βασανισθησεται εν πυρι και θειω ενωπιον των αγιων αγγελων και ενωπιον του αρνιου

John 17:17 (NET)

John 17:17 (KJV)
Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἁγίασον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ· ὁ λόγος ὁ σὸς ἀλήθεια ἐστιν αγιασον αυτους εν τη αληθεια σου ο λογος ο σος αληθεια εστιν αγιασον αυτους εν τη αληθεια σου ο λογος ο σος αληθεια εστιν

Matthew 6:33 (NET)

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ζητεῖτε δὲ πρῶτον τὴν βασιλείαν  καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ, καὶ ταῦτα πάντα προστεθήσεται ὑμῖν ζητειτε δε πρωτον την βασιλειαν του θεου και την δικαιοσυνην αυτου και ταυτα παντα προστεθησεται υμιν ζητειτε δε πρωτον την βασιλειαν του θεου και την δικαιοσυνην αυτου και ταυτα παντα προστεθησεται υμιν

Romans 3:22 (NET)

Romans 3:22 (KJV)
namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe.  For there is no distinction, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
δικαιοσύνη δὲ θεοῦ διὰ πίστεως |Ἰησοῦ| Χριστοῦ εἰς πάντας τοὺς πιστεύοντας. οὐ γάρ ἐστιν διαστολή δικαιοσυνη δε θεου δια πιστεως ιησου χριστου εις παντας και επι παντας τους πιστευοντας ου γαρ εστιν διαστολη δικαιοσυνη δε θεου δια πιστεως ιησου χριστου εις παντας και επι παντας τους πιστευοντας ου γαρ εστιν διαστολη
Philippians 1:11 (NET)

Philippians 1:11 (KJV)
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
πεπληρωμένοι καρπὸν δικαιοσύνης τὸν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς δόξαν καὶ ἔπαινον θεοῦ πεπληρωμενοι καρπων δικαιοσυνης των δια ιησου χριστου εις δοξαν και επαινον θεου πεπληρωμενοι καρπων δικαιοσυνης των δια ιησου χριστου εις δοξαν και επαινον θεου

Revelation 19:11-13 (NET)

Revelation 19:11-13 (KJV)
Then I saw heaven opened and here came a white horse!  The one riding it was called “Faithful” and “True,” and with justice he judges and goes to war. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ εἶδον τὸν οὐρανὸν ἠνεῳγμένον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἵππος λευκός καὶ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν  [καλούμενος] |πιστὸς| καὶ ἀληθινός, καὶ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ κρίνει καὶ πολεμεῖ και ειδον τον ουρανον ανεωγμενον και ιδου ιππος λευκος και ο καθημενος επ αυτον καλουμενος πιστος και αληθινος και εν δικαιοσυνη κρινει και πολεμει και ειδον τον ουρανον ανεωγμενον και ιδου ιππος λευκος και ο καθημενος επ αυτον καλουμενος πιστος και αληθινος και εν δικαιοσυνη κρινει και πολεμει
His eyes are like a fiery flame and there are many diadem crowns on his head. He has a name written that no one knows except himself. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
οἱ δὲ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ [ὡς] φλὸξ πυρός, καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ διαδήματα πολλά, ἔχων ὄνομα γεγραμμένον ὃ οὐδεὶς οἶδεν εἰ μὴ αὐτός οι δε οφθαλμοι αυτου ως φλοξ πυρος και επι την κεφαλην αυτου διαδηματα πολλα εχων ονομα γεγραμμενον ο ουδεις οιδεν ει μη αυτος οι δε οφθαλμοι αυτου φλοξ πυρος και επι την κεφαλην αυτου διαδηματα πολλα εχων ονοματα γεγραμμενα και ονομα γεγραμμενον ο ουδεις οιδεν ει μη αυτος
He is dressed in clothing dipped in blood, and he is called the Word of God. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ περιβεβλημένος ἱμάτιον |βεβαμμένον| αἵματι, καὶ κέκληται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ και περιβεβλημενος ιματιον βεβαμμενον αιματι και καλειται το ονομα αυτου ο λογος του θεου και περιβεβλημενος ιματιον βεβαμμενον αιματι και καλειται το ονομα αυτου ο λογος του θεου
2 Corinthians 10:1 (NET)

2 Corinthians 10:1 (KJV)
Now I, Paul, appeal to you personally by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am meek when present among you, but am full of courage toward you when away!) – Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Αὐτὸς δὲ ἐγὼ Παῦλος παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς διὰ τῆς πραΰτητος καὶ ἐπιεικείας τοῦ Χριστοῦ (ὃς κατὰ πρόσωπον μὲν ταπεινὸς ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀπὼν δὲ θαρρῶ εἰς ὑμᾶς) αυτος δε εγω παυλος παρακαλω υμας δια της πραοτητος και επιεικειας του χριστου ος κατα προσωπον μεν ταπεινος εν υμιν απων δε θαρρω εις υμας αυτος δε εγω παυλος παρακαλω υμας δια της πραοτητος και επιεικειας του χριστου ος κατα προσωπον μεν ταπεινος εν υμιν απων δε θαρρω εις υμας

John 4:14 (NET)

John 4:14 (KJV)
But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὃς δ᾿ ἂν πίῃ ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος οὗ ἐγὼ δώσω αὐτῷ, οὐ μὴ διψήσει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἀλλὰ τὸ ὕδωρ ὃ δώσω αὐτῷ γενήσεται ἐν αὐτῷ πηγὴ ὕδατος ἁλλομένου εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον ος δ αν πιη εκ του υδατος ου εγω δωσω αυτω ου μη διψηση εις τον αιωνα αλλα το υδωρ ο δωσω αυτω γενησεται εν αυτω πηγη υδατος αλλομενου εις ζωην αιωνιον ος δ αν πιη εκ του υδατος ου εγω δωσω αυτω ου μη διψηση εις τον αιωνα αλλα το υδωρ ο δωσω αυτω γενησεται εν αυτω πηγη υδατος αλλομενου εις ζωην αιωνιον

Galatians 6:1, 2 (NET)

Galatians 6:1, 2 (KJV)
Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Ἀδελφοί, ἐὰν καὶ προλημφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι, ὑμεῖς οἱ πνευματικοὶ καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον ἐν πνεύματι πραΰτητος, σκοπῶν σεαυτὸν μὴ καὶ σὺ πειρασθῇς αδελφοι εαν και προληφθη ανθρωπος εν τινι παραπτωματι υμεις οι πνευματικοι καταρτιζετε τον τοιουτον εν πνευματι πραοτητος σκοπων σεαυτον μη και συ πειρασθης αδελφοι εαν και προληφθη ανθρωπος εν τινι παραπτωματι υμεις οι πνευματικοι καταρτιζετε τον τοιουτον εν πνευματι πραοτητος σκοπων σεαυτον μη και συ πειρασθης
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Ἀλλήλων τὰ βάρη βαστάζετε καὶ οὕτως |ἀναπληρώσετε| τὸν νόμον τοῦ Χριστοῦ αλληλων τα βαρη βασταζετε και ουτως αναπληρωσατε τον νομον του χριστου αλληλων τα βαρη βασταζετε και ουτως αναπληρωσατε τον νομον του χριστου

1 Corinthians 4:21 (NET)

1 Corinthians 4:21 (KJV)
What do you want?  Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness? What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
τί θέλετε; ἐν ράβδῳ ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἢ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματι τε πραΰτητος τι θελετε εν ραβδω ελθω προς υμας η εν αγαπη πνευματι τε πραοτητος τι θελετε εν ραβδω ελθω προς υμας η εν αγαπη πνευματι τε πραοτητος

Ephesians 4:2 (NET)

Ephesians 4:2 (KJV)
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
μετὰ πάσης ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ πραΰτητος, μετὰ μακροθυμίας, ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων ἐν ἀγάπῃ μετα πασης ταπεινοφροσυνης και πραοτητος μετα μακροθυμιας ανεχομενοι αλληλων εν αγαπη μετα πασης ταπεινοφροσυνης και πραοτητος μετα μακροθυμιας ανεχομενοι αλληλων εν αγαπη

Ephesians 4:6 (NET)

Ephesians 4:6 (KJV)
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
εἷς θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ πάντων, ὁ ἐπὶ πάντων καὶ διὰ πάντων καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν εις θεος και πατηρ παντων ο επι παντων και δια παντων και εν πασιν υμιν εις θεος και πατηρ παντων ο επι παντων και δια παντων και εν πασιν ημιν

[1] Aaron and his sons (Exodus 28:43 NET)

[2] Exodus 29:33 (NET)

[3] Hebrews 1:7 (NET)

[4] Psalm 104:4 (NET)

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

[6] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τῆς preceding righteous.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[7] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἡ preceding scepter.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[8] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ἡ preceding scepter.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[9] Hebrews 1:8, 9 (NET)

[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had λελάληκα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λαλω (KJV: speak).

[11] John 6:63 (NET)

[12] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had των ευαγγελιζομενων ειρηνην (KJV: the gospel of peace) following proclaim.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[13] Romans 10:15b (NET) Table

[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὅτι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: And).

[15] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Moses was spelled Μωϋσέως, and μωσεως in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[16] John 1:16, 17 (NET)

[17] Revelation 1:16b (NET)

[18] Revelation 2:12b (NET)

[19] Revelation 2:16b (NET)

[20] Revelation 6:8b (NET)

[21] The Byzantine Majority Text described this sword as διστομος here.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

[22] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had πατάξῃ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had πατασση (KJV: should smite).

[23] Revelation 19:15a (NET)

[24] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article τὸν preceding battle.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[25] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had μετ᾿ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had μετα.

[26] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had αὐτοῦ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had τουτου.

[27] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τῆς καιομένης here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had την καιομενην.

[28] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article τω preceding sulfur.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[29] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had εκπορευομενη (KJV: proceeded) here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐξελθούσῃ.

[30] Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article των.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[31] Revelation 20:10a (NET)

[32] Revelation 20:10b (NET)

[33] Revelation 20:15 (NET)

[34] John 1:14b (NET)

[35] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σου following truth (KJV: thy truth).  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[36] John 17:17 (NET)

[37] John 14:6 (NET)

[38] Matthew 3:15 (NET) See Matthew 3:13-17

[39] Matthew 5:6 (NET)

[40] The Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had τοῦ θεοῦ (KJV: of God) following kingdom.  The NET parallel Greek text did not.

[41] Matthew 6:33a (NET) See Matthew 6:25-34

[42] Matthew 5:20 (NET)

[43] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και επι παντας (KJV: and upon all them) following all.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[44] Romans 3:20-22a (NET)

[45] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the singular καρπὸν accompanied by the singular article τὸν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural καρπων (KJV: fruits) accompanied by the plural article των.

[46] Philippians 1:11 (NET)

[47] 2 Corinthians 6:6, 7 (NET)

[48] Ephesians 6:17b (NET)

[49] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἠνεῳγμένον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ανεωγμενον.

[50] The Byzantine Majority Text had ονοματα γεγραμμενα και (“names written and”) following He has.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

[51] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κέκληται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καλειται.

[52] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 meekness was spelled πραΰτητος, and πραοτητος in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[53] 2 Corinthians 10:1a (NET)

[54] John 4:14b (NET)

[55] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 gentleness was spelled πραΰτητος, and πραοτητος in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[56] Galatians 6:1 (NET)

[57] 1 Corinthians 4:21b (NET) In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 gentleness was spelled πραΰτητος, and πραοτητος in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[58] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀναπληρώσετε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αναπληρωσατε (KJV: fulfil).

[59] Galatians 6:1b-5 (NET)

[60] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 gentleness was spelled πραΰτητος, and πραοτητος in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[61] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had υμιν following all (KJV: you all), where the Byzantine Majority Text had ημιν (us).  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had neither.

Atonement, Part 7

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This is a continuation of yehôvâh’s (יהוה) instruction to Moses: They[1] are to eat those things by which atonement (kâphar, כפר; Septuagint: ἡγιάσθησαν, a form of ἁγιάζω) was made to consecrate and to set them apart, but no one else may eat them, for they are holy.[2]  The atonement of Aaron and his sons continued:

Exodus 29:19-21 (NET)

Leviticus 8:22-24, 30 (NET)
You are to take the second ram, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on the ram’s head, Then he presented the second ram, the ram of ordination (millûʼ, המלאים; Septuagint: τελειώσεως, a form of τελείωσις), and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram
and you are to kill the ram and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, on the tip of the right ear of his sons, on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot, and then splash the blood all around on the altar. and he slaughtered it.  Moses then took some of its blood and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
Next he brought Aaron’s sons forward, and Moses put some of the blood on their right earlobes, on their right thumbs, and on the big toes of their right feet, and Moses splashed the rest of the blood against the altar’s sides.
You are to take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron, on his garments, on his sons, and on his sons’ garments with him, so that he may be holy (qâdash, וקדש; Septuagint: ἁγιασθήσεται, another form of ἁγιάζω), he and his garments along with his sons and his sons’ garments. Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and his sons’ garments with him.  So he consecrated (qâdash, ויקדש; Septuagint: ἡγίασεν, another form of ἁγιάζω) Aaron, his garments, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him.

I plan to reserve any further consideration of forms of ἁγιάζω for another series of essays.  The ram of ordination (NETS: “ram of validation”), המלאים (millûʼ), translated τελειώσεως (a form of τελείωσις) in the Septuagint, is another matter.  So if perfection (τελείωσις) had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood, Jesus taught his disciples, for on that basis the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?[3]

If Aaron and his sons were “validated” by a ram of ordination, how was the high priest (ἀρχιερέα, a form of ἀρχιερεύς) of the new covenant (διαθήκην καινήν) perfected?  During his earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able[4] to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion (εὐλαβείας, a form of εὐλάβεια).  Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.  And by being perfected in this way, he became the source (αἴτιος) of eternal salvation to all who obey him, and he was designated (προσαγορευθεὶς, a form of προσαγορεύω) by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.[5]

The Greek word translated perfected was τελειωθεὶς (a form of τελειόω), the verb from which the noun τελείωσις was derived.  The Greek word translated suffered was ἔπαθεν (a form of πάσχω).  Contrary to my customary practice I’ll begin the investigation of what Jesus suffered with its negation ἔπαθεν οὐδὲν because it offers a concise vignette of the religious mind (Acts 28:3-6 NET):

When Paul had gathered a[6] bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out[7] because of[8] the heat and fastened itself on his hand.  When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer!  Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!”  However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered (ἔπαθεν, a form of πάσχω) no (οὐδὲν, a form of οὐδείς) harm.  But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead.  So after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

Admittedly, this was the pagan religious mind.  In fact, sophisticated Greek pagans may have thought that these local people (βάρβαροι, a form of βάρβαρος; i.e., “barbarians”) were beneath them.  Still, Isaiah prophesied that Israel would share part of this same religious mind when it came to the Messiah: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.[9]  The synoptic Gospel narratives bear this out:

Matthew 27:39-44 (NET) Mark 15:29-32 (NET)

Luke 23:35-39 (NET)
Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!  If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross!”  In the same way even[10] the chief priests – together with the experts in the law and elders – were mocking him: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!  He[11] is the king of Israel!  If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in[12] him![13]  He trusts in God – let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!”  The robbers who were crucified with[14] him also spoke abusively to him.[15] Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself and come down[16] from the cross!”  In the same way even[17] the chief priests – together with the experts in the law – were mocking him among themselves: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!  Let the Christ, the king of Israel,[18] come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!”[19]  Those who were crucified with[20] him also spoke abusively to him. The people also stood there watching, but the rulers[21] ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others.  Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”  The soldiers also mocked[22] him, coming up and[23] offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”  There was also an inscription[24] over him,[25] “This is[26] the king of the Jews.”  One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t[27] you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!”[28]

Jesus’ disconcerting answer—How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?[29]—offered to his disciples was not repeated here.  Even after his resurrection most in Israel were still too hardened (Romans 11:25-32) to regard Jesus as yehôvâh (Zechariah 12:7-10), the Son of God (Romans 1:2-4) or even the Messiah (Isaiah 53:7-12).

The bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.  Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered (ἔπαθεν, a form of πάσχω) outside the camp.  We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse (ὀνειδισμὸν, a form of ὀνειδισμός) he experienced.  For here we have no lasting city (Hebrews 11:8-10), but we seek the city that is to come.  Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.  And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.[30]

Peter wrote (1 Peter 2:13-25; 3:13-22; 4:12-19 NET):

Be subject[31] to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme or to governors as those he commissions to punish[32] wrongdoers and praise those who do good.  For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.  Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.  Honor all people, love[33] the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse.  For this finds God’s favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering (πάσχων, another form of πάσχω) unjustly.  For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it?  But if you do good and suffer (πάσχοντες, another form of πάσχω) and so endure, this finds favor with God.  For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered (ἔπαθεν, a form of πάσχω) for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.  He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.  When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered (πάσχων, another form of πάσχω), he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness.  By his[34] wounds you were healed.  For you were going astray[35] like sheep but[36] now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls…

For who is going to harm you if you are devoted[37] to what is good?  But in fact, if you happen to suffer (πάσχοιτε, another form of πάσχω) for doing what is right, you are blessed.  But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.  But set Christ[38] apart as Lord in your hearts and[39] always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.  Yet[40] do it with courtesy and respect,[41] keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse[42] you.  For it is better to suffer (πάσχειν, another form of πάσχω) for doing good, if God wills[43] it, than for doing evil.

Because Christ also suffered (ἔπαθεν, a form of πάσχω) once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you[44] to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.  In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison, after[45] they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited[46] in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed.  In the ark a few,[47] that is eight souls, were delivered through water.  And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you[48] – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him…

Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings (παθήμασιν, a form of πάθημα) of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you.[49]  But let none of you suffer (πασχέτω, another form of πάσχω) as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.[50]  But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.[51]  For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God.  And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?  And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners?  So then let those who suffer (πάσχοντες, another form of πάσχω) according to the will of God entrust their[52] souls to a faithful[53] Creator as they do good.

In a world populated by sinful people there is no shortage of injustices and indignities.  Sinful people do not love their neighbors as themselves.  Thankfully, most are petty injustices and petty indignities because most of us are petty people, seeking only to live out our lives in relative peace and security.  Very few have the ambition to dominate (Matthew 20:25-28) others on a grand scale, and even fewer are effectual enough as people to pull it off.

When the One who calls us by his grace is pleased to reveal his Son in us, we trust in Jesus, are born from above, children of God, filled with and led by his Holy Spirit (Numbers 11:29).  Then God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control strives within us to curtail the petty injustices and indignities we inflict on others.  How are we perfected?  We greet others’ petty injustices and indignities with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that wells up within us like a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.[54]  What if the injustice or indignity we face is not so petty?

Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.[55]  Jesus hung naked on a cross, obedient to death.  He didn’t have to.  He could’ve come down any time He wanted, any time it got too much, any time He had had enough of sinners’ abuse.  How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled? He asked Peter rhetorically.  And that response in word and deed (done in God) is the living image of loving the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.[56]

Each of us who who believes has Scripture to fulfill by the grace of God (Galatians 2:16-21 NET):

[W]e know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.  And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because[57] by the works of the law no one will be justified.  But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages sin?  Absolutely not!  But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate[58] that I am one who breaks God’s law.  For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!

It bears mentioning in this #MeToo moment that I have no interest in, or intention to, silence women or inhibit them from reporting crimes.  I recall being so deeply moved by Abel Ferrara’s and Zoë Lund’s fictional nun in Bad Lieutenant because her confession was so unexpected in such a dark tale.  All political posturing aside, it is important that teenage boys understand that pinning a young woman to a bed to grope her is assault not love (1 Corinthians 13:4-13).

Tables of Acts 28:3; Matthew 27:41, 42; Matthew 27:44; Mark 15:30-32; Luke 23:35, 36; Luke 23:38, 39; 1 Peter 2:13, 14; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Peter 2:24, 25; 1 Peter 3:13; 1 Peter 3:15-18; 1 Peter 3:20, 21; 1 Peter 4:14-16; 1 Peter 4:19; Galatians 2:16 and 18 in the NET and KJV follow.

Acts 28:3 (NET)

Acts 28:3 (KJV)
When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Συστρέψαντος δὲ τοῦ Παύλου φρυγάνων τι πλῆθος καὶ ἐπιθέντος ἐπὶ τὴν πυράν, ἔχιδνα ἀπὸ τῆς θέρμης ἐξελθοῦσα καθῆψεν τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ συστρεψαντος δε του παυλου φρυγανων πληθος και επιθεντος επι την πυραν εχιδνα εκ της θερμης εξελθουσα καθηψεν της χειρος αυτου συστρεψαντος δε του παυλου φρυγανων πληθος και επιθεντος επι την πυραν εχιδνα εκ της θερμης διεξελθουσα καθηψεν της χειρος αυτου
Matthew 27:41, 42 (NET)

Matthew 27:41, 42 (KJV)
In the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law and elders – were mocking him: Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὁμοίως |καὶ| οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἐμπαίζοντες μετὰ τῶν γραμματέων καὶ πρεσβυτέρων ἔλεγον ομοιως δε και οι αρχιερεις εμπαιζοντες μετα των γραμματεων και πρεσβυτερων ελεγον ομοιως δε και οι αρχιερεις εμπαιζοντες μετα των γραμματεων και πρεσβυτερων και φαρισαιων ελεγον
“He saved others, but he cannot save himself!  He is the king of Israel!  If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him! He saved others; himself he cannot save.  If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἄλλους ἔσωσεν, ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται σῶσαι· βασιλεὺς Ἰσραήλ ἐστιν, καταβάτω νῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ καὶ πιστεύσομεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν αλλους εσωσεν εαυτον ου δυναται σωσαι ει βασιλευς ισραηλ εστιν καταβατω νυν απο του σταυρου και πιστευσομεν αυτω αλλους εσωσεν εαυτον ου δυναται σωσαι ει βασιλευς ισραηλ εστιν καταβατω νυν απο του σταυρου και πιστευσομεν επ αυτω
Matthew 27:44 (NET)

Matthew 27:44 (KJV)
The robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Τὸ δ᾿ αὐτὸ καὶ οἱ λῃσταὶ οἱ συσταυρωθέντες σὺν αὐτῷ ὠνείδιζον αὐτόν το δ αυτο και οι λησται οι συσταυρωθεντες αυτω ωνειδιζον αυτω το δ αυτο και οι λησται οι συσταυρωθεντες αυτω ωνειδιζον αυτον
Mark 15:30-32 (NET)

Mark 15:30-32 (KJV)
save yourself and come down from the cross!” Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
σῶσον σεαυτὸν καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ σωσον σεαυτον και καταβα απο του σταυρου σωσον σεαυτον και καταβα απο του σταυρου
In the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law – were mocking him among themselves: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἐμπαίζοντες πρὸς ἀλλήλους μετὰ τῶν γραμματέων ἔλεγον· ἄλλους ἔσωσεν, ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται σῶσαι ομοιως δε και οι αρχιερεις εμπαιζοντες προς αλληλους μετα των γραμματεων ελεγον αλλους εσωσεν εαυτον ου δυναται σωσαι ομοιως και οι αρχιερεις εμπαιζοντες προς αλληλους μετα των γραμματεων ελεγον αλλους εσωσεν εαυτον ου δυναται σωσαι
Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!”  Those who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.  And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ χριστὸς ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰσραὴλ καταβάτω νῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἵνα ἴδωμεν καὶ πιστεύσωμεν. καὶ οἱ συνεσταυρωμένοι σὺν αὐτῷ ὠνείδιζον αὐτόν ο χριστος ο βασιλευς του ισραηλ καταβατω νυν απο του σταυρου ινα ιδωμεν και πιστευσωμεν και οι συνεσταυρωμενοι αυτω ωνειδιζον αυτον ο χριστος ο βασιλευς του ισραηλ καταβατω νυν απο του σταυρου ινα ιδωμεν και πιστευσωμεν αυτω και οι συνεσταυρωμενοι αυτω ωνειδιζον αυτον
Luke 23:35, 36 (NET)

Luke 23:35, 36 (KJV)
The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others.  Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!” And the people stood beholding.  And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ εἱστήκει ὁ λαὸς θεωρῶν. ἐξεμυκτήριζον δὲ καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες λέγοντες· ἄλλους ἔσωσεν, σωσάτω ἑαυτόν, εἰ οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ χριστὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ ἐκλεκτός και ειστηκει ο λαος θεωρων εξεμυκτηριζον δε και οι αρχοντες συν αυτοις λεγοντες αλλους εσωσεν σωσατω εαυτον ει ουτος εστιν ο χριστος ο του θεου εκλεκτος και ειστηκει ο λαος θεωρων εξεμυκτηριζον δε και οι αρχοντες συν αυτοις λεγοντες αλλους εσωσεν σωσατω εαυτον ει ουτος εστιν ο χριστος ο του θεου εκλεκτος
The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἐνέπαιξαν δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ οἱ στρατιῶται προσερχόμενοι, ὄξος προσφέροντες αὐτῷ ενεπαιζον δε αυτω και οι στρατιωται προσερχομενοι και οξος προσφεροντες αυτω ενεπαιζον δε αυτω και οι στρατιωται προσερχομενοι και οξος προσφεροντες αυτω
Luke 23:38, 39 (NET)

Luke 23:38, 39 (KJV)
There was also an inscription over him, “This is the king of the Jews.” And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἦν δὲ καὶ ἐπιγραφὴ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ· ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων οὗτος ην δε και επιγραφη γεγραμμενη επ αυτω γραμμασιν ελληνικοις και ρωμαικοις και εβραικοις ουτος εστιν ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων ην δε και επιγραφη γεγραμμενη επ αυτω γραμμασιν ελληνικοις και ρωμαικοις και εβραικοις ουτος εστιν ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων
One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!” And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Εἷς δὲ τῶν κρεμασθέντων κακούργων ἐβλασφήμει αὐτὸν |λέγων|· οὐχὶ σὺ εἶ ὁ χριστός; σῶσον σεαυτὸν καὶ ἡμᾶς εις δε των κρεμασθεντων κακουργων εβλασφημει αυτον λεγων ει συ ει ο χριστος σωσον σεαυτον και ημας εις δε των κρεμασθεντων κακουργων εβλασφημει αυτον λεγων ει συ ει ο χριστος σωσον σεαυτον και ημας
1 Peter 2:13, 14 (NET)

1 Peter 2:13, 14 (KJV)
Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
῾Υποτάγητε πάσῃ ἀνθρωπίνῃ κτίσει διὰ τὸν κύριον, εἴτε βασιλεῖ ὡς ὑπερέχοντι υποταγητε ουν παση ανθρωπινη κτισει δια τον κυριον ειτε βασιλει ως υπερεχοντι υποταγητε ουν παση ανθρωπινη κτισει δια τον κυριον ειτε βασιλει ως υπερεχοντι
or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
εἴτε ἡγεμόσιν ὡς δι᾿ αὐτοῦ πεμπομένοις εἰς ἐκδίκησιν κακοποιῶν ἔπαινον δὲ ἀγαθοποιῶν ειτε ηγεμοσιν ως δι αυτου πεμπομενοις εις εκδικησιν μεν κακοποιων επαινον δε αγαθοποιων ειτε ηγεμοσιν ως δι αυτου πεμπομενοις εις εκδικησιν κακοποιων επαινον δε αγαθοποιων
1 Peter 2:17 (NET)

1 Peter 2:17 (KJV)
Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king. Honour all men.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honour the king.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
πάντας τιμήσατε, τὴν ἀδελφότητα ἀγαπᾶτε, τὸν θεὸν φοβεῖσθε, τὸν βασιλέα τιμᾶτε παντας τιμησατε την αδελφοτητα αγαπατε τον θεον φοβεισθε τον βασιλεα τιματε παντας τιμησατε την αδελφοτητα αγαπησατε τον θεον φοβεισθε τον βασιλεα τιματε

1 Peter 2:24, 25 (NET)

1 Peter 2:24, 25 (KJV)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness.  By his wounds you were healed. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὃς τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν αὐτὸς ἀνήνεγκεν ἐν τῷ σώματι αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον, ἵνα ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἀπογενόμενοι τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ ζήσωμεν, οὗ τῷ μώλωπι ἰάθητε ος τας αμαρτιας ημων αυτος ανηνεγκεν εν τω σωματι αυτου επι το ξυλον ινα ταις αμαρτιαις απογενομενοι τη δικαιοσυνη ζησωμεν ου τω μωλωπι αυτου ιαθητε ος τας αμαρτιας ημων αυτος ανηνεγκεν εν τω σωματι αυτου επι το ξυλον ινα ταις αμαρτιαις απογενομενοι τη δικαιοσυνη ζησωμεν ου τω μωλωπι αυτου ιαθητε
For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἦτε γὰρ ὡς πρόβατα πλανώμενοι, ἀλλὰ ἐπεστράφητε νῦν ἐπὶ τὸν ποιμένα καὶ ἐπίσκοπον τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ητε γαρ ως προβατα πλανωμενα αλλ επεστραφητε νυν επι τον ποιμενα και επισκοπον των ψυχων υμων ητε γαρ ως προβατα πλανωμενα αλλ επεστραφητε νυν επι τον ποιμενα και επισκοπον των ψυχων υμων

1 Peter 3:13 (NET)

1 Peter 3:13 (KJV)
For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ τίς ὁ κακώσων ὑμᾶς ἐὰν τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ ζηλωταὶ γένησθε και τις ο κακωσων υμας εαν του αγαθου μιμηται γενησθε και τις ο κακωσων υμας εαν του αγαθου μιμηται γενησθε
1 Peter 3:15-18 (NET)

1 Peter 3:15-18 (KJV)
But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
κύριον δὲ τὸν Χριστὸν ἁγιάσατε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν, ἕτοιμοι ἀεὶ πρὸς ἀπολογίαν παντὶ τῷ αἰτοῦντι ὑμᾶς λόγον περὶ τῆς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐλπίδος κυριον δε τον θεον αγιασατε εν ταις καρδιαις υμων ετοιμοι δε αει προς απολογιαν παντι τω αιτουντι υμας λογον περι της εν υμιν ελπιδος μετα πραυτητος και φοβου κυριον δε τον θεον αγιασατε εν ταις καρδιαις υμων ετοιμοι δε αει προς απολογιαν παντι τω αιτουντι υμας λογον περι της εν υμιν ελπιδος μετα πραυτητος και φοβου
Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλὰ μετὰ πραΰτητος καὶ φόβου, συνείδησιν ἔχοντες ἀγαθήν, ἵνα ἐν ᾧ καταλαλεῖσθε καταισχυνθῶσιν οἱ ἐπηρεάζοντες ὑμῶν τὴν ἀγαθὴν ἐν Χριστῷ ἀναστροφήν συνειδησιν εχοντες αγαθην ινα εν ω καταλαλωσιν υμων ως κακοποιων καταισχυνθωσιν οι επηρεαζοντες υμων την αγαθην εν χριστω αναστροφην συνειδησιν εχοντες αγαθην ινα εν ω καταλαλωσιν υμων ως κακοποιων καταισχυνθωσιν οι επηρεαζοντες υμων την αγαθην εν χριστω αναστροφην
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
κρεῖττον γὰρ ἀγαθοποιοῦντας, εἰ θέλοι τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ, πάσχειν ἢ κακοποιοῦντας κρειττον γαρ αγαθοποιουντας ει θελει το θελημα του θεου πασχειν η κακοποιουντας κρειττον γαρ αγαθοποιουντας ει θελοι το θελημα του θεου πασχειν η κακοποιουντας
Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὅτι καὶ Χριστὸς ἅπαξ περὶ ἁμαρτιῶν |ἔπαθεν|, δίκαιος ὑπὲρ ἀδίκων, ἵνα ὑμᾶς προσαγάγῃ τῷ θεῷ θανατωθεὶς μὲν σαρκὶ ζῳοποιηθεὶς δὲ πνεύματι οτι και χριστος απαξ περι αμαρτιων επαθεν δικαιος υπερ αδικων ινα ημας προσαγαγη τω θεω θανατωθεις μεν σαρκι ζωοποιηθεις δε τω πνευματι οτι και χριστος απαξ περι αμαρτιων επαθεν δικαιος υπερ αδικων ινα υμας προσαγαγη τω θεω θανατωθεις μεν σαρκι ζωοποιηθεις δε πνευματι
1 Peter 3:20, 21 (NET)

1 Peter 3:20, 21 (KJV)
after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed.  In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἀπειθήσασιν ποτε ὅτε ἀπεξεδέχετο ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ μακροθυμία ἐν ἡμέραις Νῶε κατασκευαζομένης κιβωτοῦ εἰς ἣν ὀλίγοι, τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν ὀκτὼ ψυχαί, διεσώθησαν δι᾿ ὕδατος απειθησασιν ποτε οτε απαξ εξεδεχετο η του θεου μακροθυμια εν ημεραις νωε κατασκευαζομενης κιβωτου εις ην ολιγαι τουτ εστιν οκτω ψυχαι διεσωθησαν δι υδατος απειθησασιν ποτε οτε απεξεδεχετο η του θεου μακροθυμια εν ημεραις νωε κατασκευαζομενης κιβωτου εις ην ολιγαι τουτ εστιν οκτω ψυχαι διεσωθησαν δι υδατος
And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ὃ καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀντίτυπον νῦν σῴζει βάπτισμα, οὐ σαρκὸς ἀπόθεσις ρύπου ἀλλὰ συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς ἐπερώτημα εἰς θεόν, δι᾿ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ο και ημας αντιτυπον νυν σωζει βαπτισμα ου σαρκος αποθεσις ρυπου αλλα συνειδησεως αγαθης επερωτημα εις θεον δι αναστασεως ιησου χριστου ο αντιτυπον νυν και ημας σωζει βαπτισμα ου σαρκος αποθεσις ρυπου αλλα συνειδησεως αγαθης επερωτημα εις θεον δι αναστασεως ιησου χριστου
1 Peter 4:14-16 (NET)

1 Peter 4:14-16 (KJV)
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ ὀνειδίζεσθε ἐν ὀνόματι Χριστοῦ, μακάριοι, ὅτι τὸ τῆς δόξης καὶ τὸ τοῦ θεοῦ πνεῦμα ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς ἀναπαύεται ει ονειδιζεσθε εν ονοματι χριστου μακαριοι οτι το της δοξης και το του θεου πνευμα εφ υμας αναπαυεται κατα μεν αυτους βλασφημειται κατα δε υμας δοξαζεται ει ονειδιζεσθε εν ονοματι χριστου μακαριοι οτι το της δοξης και το του θεου πνευμα εφ υμας αναπαυεται κατα μεν αυτους βλασφημειται κατα δε υμας δοξαζεται
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
μὴ γάρ τις ὑμῶν πασχέτω ὡς φονεὺς ἢ κλέπτης ἢ κακοποιὸς ἢ ὡς ἀλλοτριεπίσκοπος μη γαρ τις υμων πασχετω ως φονευς η κλεπτης η κακοποιος η ως αλλοτριοεπισκοπος μη γαρ τις υμων πασχετω ως φονευς η κλεπτης η κακοποιος η ως αλλοτριοεπισκοπος
But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Net Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ δὲ ὡς Χριστιανός, μὴ αἰσχυνέσθω, δοξαζέτω δὲ τὸν θεὸν ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τούτῳ ει δε ως χριστιανος μη αισχυνεσθω δοξαζετω δε τον θεον εν τω μερει τουτω ει δε ως χριστιανος μη αισχυνεσθω δοξαζετω δε τον θεον εν τω μερει τουτω
1 Peter 4:19 (NET)

1 Peter 4:19 (KJV)
So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὥστε καὶ οἱ πάσχοντες κατὰ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ πιστῷ κτίστῃ παρατιθέσθωσαν τὰς ψυχὰς |αὐτῶν| ἐν ἀγαθοποιΐᾳ ωστε και οι πασχοντες κατα το θελημα του θεου ως πιστω κτιστη παρατιθεσθωσαν τας ψυχας εαυτων εν αγαθοποιια ωστε και οι πασχοντες κατα το θελημα του θεου ως πιστω κτιστη παρατιθεσθωσαν τας ψυχας αυτων εν αγαθοποιια
Galatians 2:16 (NET)

Galatians 2:16 (KJV)
yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.  And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
εἰδότες [δὲ] ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως |Ἰησοῦ| Χριστοῦ , καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ὅτι ἐξ ἔργων νόμου οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σάρξ ειδοτες οτι ου δικαιουται ανθρωπος εξ εργων νομου εαν μη δια πιστεως ιησου χριστου και ημεις εις χριστον ιησουν επιστευσαμεν ινα δικαιωθωμεν εκ πιστεως χριστου και ουκ εξ εργων νομου διοτι ου δικαιωθησεται εξ εργων νομου πασα σαρξ ειδοτες οτι ου δικαιουται ανθρωπος εξ εργων νομου εαν μη δια πιστεως ιησου χριστου και ημεις εις χριστον ιησουν επιστευσαμεν ινα δικαιωθωμεν εκ πιστεως χριστου και ουκ εξ εργων νομου διοτι ου δικαιωθησεται εξ εργων νομου πασα σαρξ
Galatians 2:18 (NET)

Galatians 2:18 (KJV)
But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ γὰρ ἃ κατέλυσα ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ, παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν συνιστάνω ει γαρ α κατελυσα ταυτα παλιν οικοδομω παραβατην εμαυτον συνιστημι ει γαρ α κατελυσα ταυτα παλιν οικοδομω παραβατην εμαυτον συνιστημι

[1] Aaron and his sons (Exodus 28:43 NET)

[2] Exodus 29:33 (NET)

[3] Hebrews 7:11 (NET)

[4] The Greek word translated the one who was able was δυνάμενον (a form of δύναμαι) the verb from which the noun δύναμις was derived.  I noticed that δύναμις was used most often in the New Testament for the power of God.  That has me primed to suspect that Jesus’ loud cries and tears (κραυγῆς ἰσχυρᾶς καὶ δακρύων) were nothing less than the inexpressible groanings (στεναγμοῖς ἀλαλήτοις) of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26, 27).

[5] Hebrews 5:7-10 (NET)

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

[7] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had ἐξελθοῦσα here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had διεξελθουσα.

[8] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀπὸ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκ.

[9] Isaiah 53:4 (NET)

[10] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε και here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had simply και.

[11] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ει at the beginning of this clause.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[12] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐπ᾿ here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

[13] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐτόν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτω.

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

[15] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had αὐτόν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αυτω.

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καταβὰς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καταβα.

[17] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had δε καὶ here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had simply καὶ.

[18] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had του preceding Israel.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[19] The Byzantine Majority Text had αυτω following believe.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

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

[21] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σὺν αυτοις (KJV: with them), indicating that the people did not just stand there watching but ridiculed him as well.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not have σὺν αυτοις.

[22] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐνέπαιξαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ενεπαιζον.

[23] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και at the beginning of this clause.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[24] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had γεγραμμενη (KJV: was written) following inscription.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[25] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had γραμμασιν ελληνικοις και ρωμαικοις και εβραικοις (KJV: in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew) following him.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

[27] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὐχὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ει (KJV: If thou be Christ).

[28] Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End; Barbossa and Calypso clip.

[29] Matthew 26:54 (NET)

[30] Hebrews 13:11-16 (NET)

[31] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν following the verb.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[32] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had μεν following punish.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[33] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had ἀγαπᾶτε here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had αγαπησατε.

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

[35] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πλανώμενοι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πλανωμενα.

[36] The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where NA28, the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αλλ.

[37] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ζηλωταὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μιμηται.

[38] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Χριστὸν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θεον (See NET note 24).

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

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

[41] The phrase μετὰ πραΰτητος καὶ φόβου (NET: with courtesy and respect) was at the end of verse 15 in the The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[42] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καταλαλεῖσθε here, a present passive indicative 2nd person plural form of καταλαλέω.  A note (28) in the NET acknowledged that it should have been translated “when you are spoken against.”  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καταλαλωσιν, the present active subjunctive 3rd person plural form (KJV: they speak evil).  Then it was followed by υμων ως κακοποιων (KJV: of you, as of evildoers).  These words were not in the NET parallel Greek text or NA28.

[43] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had θέλοι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had θελει.

[44] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ὑμᾶς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ημας (KJV: us).

[45] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had απαξ (KJV: sometime) here.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[46] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἀπεξεδέχετο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had εξεδεχετο.

[47] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὀλίγοι here, a nominative plural masculine form of ὀλίγος.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ολιγαι, the nominative plural feminine form.

[48] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑμᾶς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ημας (KJV: us).

[49] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κατα μεν αυτους βλασφημειται κατα δε υμας δοξαζεται (KJV: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[50] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀλλοτριεπίσκοπος here where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αλλοτριοεπισκοπος.

[51] The NET parallel Greek text had ὀνόματι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had μερει (KJV: on this behalf).

[52] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had αὐτῶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had εαυτων.

[53] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ως preceding faithful (KJV: as unto a faithful Creator).  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[54] John 4:14b (NET)

[55] Hebrews 12:3 (NET) Table

[56] Mark 12:30 (NET) Table

[57] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὅτι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had διοτι.

[58] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had συνιστάνω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συνιστημι (KJV: I make).  Both are considered equivalent forms of the same word in Strong’s Concordance and on Bible Hub.

Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 6

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In another essay I considered occurrences of sâlach (ונסלח) in Leviticus, translated will be forgiven.  The rabbis’ translation ἀφεθήσεται (a form of ἀφίημι) in the Septuagint (See Table1 below) impressed me and I compared those same passages of Leviticus to occurrences of ἀφεθήσεται in the New Testament as outlined below:

Will Be Forgiven
Leviticus 4:13-21 For the Whole Congregation sâlach, ונסלח; Septuagint: ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι Matthew 12:31
Leviticus 4:22-26 For the Leader Matthew 12:32
Leviticus 4:27-31 For the Common Person Mark 3:28
Leviticus 4:32-35 Luke 12:10

I was surprised, however, by kâphar (וכפר), translated atonement in English and ἐξιλάσεται (a form of ἐξιλάσκομαι) in the Septuagint (See Table2 below).  None of the writers of the New Testament was led by the Holy Spirit to use any form of ἐξιλάσκομαι in any descriptions of Jesus’ ministry or of new life in Christ.  My surprise reminds me where I began this trajectory, believing that the differences between one who has received (John 1:11-13) Jesus and the Judeans who had believed him (John 8:31-45) was primarily cosmetic rather than organic (John 3:7; Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:22-26).  This is another area where I haven’t fully appreciated the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31, 32a NET):

“Indeed, a time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.  It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt.”

To highlight how the new covenant is not…like the old covenant I’ll contrast old and new covenant forgiveness.  Under the old covenant forgiveness (sâlach, ונסלח: Septuagint: ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι) was the end result of an exacting procedure of atonement (kâphar, וכפר; Septuagint: ἐξιλάσεται, a form of ἐξιλάσκομαι) officiated by priests performing rituals ordained in the law.  And I call it exacting because death was a very real possibility for priests who didn’t follow the rituals to the letter (Exodus 28:42, 43; Leviticus 10:1-3).[1]  New covenant forgiveness is more in keeping with Jesus’ Spirit: Freely you received, freely give.[2]

Under the new covenant the Son of Man (ἀνθρώπου, a form of ἄνθρωπος) [and, presumably, the daughter of humanity, too] has authority (ἐξουσίαν, a form of ἐξουσία) on earth to forgive (ἀφιέναι, another form of ἀφίημι) sins (ἁμαρτίας, a form of ἁμαρτία)…[3]  So Jesus said to them again (John 20:21-23 NET):

“Peace be with you.  Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.”  And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive (ἀφῆτε, another form of ἀφίημι) anyone’s sins (ἁμαρτίας, a form of ἁμαρτία), they are forgiven (ἀφέωνται,[4] another form of ἀφίημι); if you retain (κρατῆτε, a form of κρατέω) anyone’s sins, they are retained (κεκράτηνται, another form of κρατέω).”[5]

Anyone who prays as Jesus instructed links his or her own forgiveness, not to priests and rituals but, to the forgiveness of others: and forgive (ἄφες, another form of ἀφίημι) us our debts (ὀφειλήματα, a form of ὀφείλημα), as we ourselves have forgiven (ἀφήκαμεν,[6] another form of ἀφίημι) our debtors (ὀφειλέταις, a form of ὀφειλέτης).[7]  Jesus was explicit in his explanation: For if you forgive (ἀφῆτε, another form of ἀφίημι) others (ἀνθρώποις, another form of ἄνθρωπος) their sins (παραπτώματα, a form of παράπτωμα), your heavenly Father will also forgive (ἀφήσει, another form of ἀφίημι) you.  But if you do not forgive (ἀφῆτε, another form of ἀφίημι) others (ἀνθρώποις, another form of ἄνθρωπος),[8] your Father will not forgive (ἀφήσει, another form of ἀφίημι) you your sins (παραπτώματα, a form of παράπτωμα).[9]

I was socialized among people who, though we would never say we reject Jesus’ teaching we, have encumbered this particular teaching with so many caveats it only means that one should forgive a fellow believer in good standing with one’s local church who comes to formally seek forgiveness through repentance.  Granted, at the end of the parable of the unforgiving slave (Matthew 18:23-35) Jesus said ἀδελφῷ, brother: And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture (βασανισταῖς, a form of βασανιστής) him until he repaid all he owed.[10]  So also my heavenly[11] Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive (ἀφῆτε, another form of ἀφίημι) your brother (ἀδελφῷ, a form of ἀδελφός) from your heart.[12]

In his essay, “Should I Forgive Those Who Don’t Ask for Forgiveness?” Julian Freeman wrote an interesting response to my socialization:

When we view ourselves as the ‘God’ figure in the relationship, we’re missing something. The reality is that we are servants, compelled by the mercy we’ve been shown, to forgive other (equal) servants. That’s different than God’s forgiveness. Our forgiveness displays the reality and power of God’s forgiveness, but it’s different. We are commanded to forgive; God does so of his own character. When God forgives it is a superior showing mercy on an inferior; when we forgive it is servant to servant. The connection between God forgiving us and us forgiving each other is a little more nuanced than some like to admit…

All things considered, I think that what Christ is calling us to is a stance, a posture of forgiveness. He’s calling us to a readiness to forgive in a moment. I think he is calling us to treat people with love and mercy, with humility and compassion. He is calling us to remember that if someone has sinned against me, I should be quicker to identify with them (‘I have sinned this way too…’) than to identify with God (‘I have been offended without cause…’). When we realize that it could have just as easily been me offending as me offended, I’m much slower to hold offences against other people.

To forgive others for being less than Christlike is a natural expression of God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control[13] springing up to eternal life[14]  I take some issue with the assertion that, “Offering forgiveness really means next to nothing if the offender doesn’t believe they need forgiveness in the first place.”  Mr. Freeman stated obliquely that the purpose of our forgiveness of others is reconciliation with them—“how can there be true reconciliation in relationships if the offending party doesn’t admit wrong?”—and implied that forgiveness is just another tool to manipulate others’ behavior.

The Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 17; John 14:26) convinces, convicts, reproves, proves the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment, as Jesus taught (John 16:7-11 NET):

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away.  For if I[15] do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment – concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father[16] and you will see me no longer; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned (κέκριται, a form of κρίνω).

Forgiving others demonstrates faith in Jesus’ word, as does linking our own forgiveness to forgiving others when we pray.  To my mind whether we forgive humanity (ἀνθρώποις, another form of ἄνθρωπος; translated others) in general or only repentant believers comes down to one’s interpretation of: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people (πάντας, a form of πᾶς) to myself.[17]

I think one who believes that πάντας here means all will be more open to forgiving all than those who believe that πάντας (and any other form of πᾶς) is “generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts — some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, and has not restricted His redemption to either Jew or Gentile…”[18]  Paul wrote believers in Colossae that God was pleased to have all (πᾶν, another form of πᾶς) his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things (πάντα, another form of πᾶς) to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.[19]  But, admittedly, my acceptance of forms of πᾶς as all, when there is no obvious limit in the text, is a strategy.

With no offense intended to C.H. Spurgeon I would rather that Jesus ask me, “Why did you believe that I would draw all to myself?”  I can defend that with a lifetime of mistakes made by under-valuing the truth of Jesus’ words.  The alternative—“Why did you believe that πάντας meant I would draw some (τινες, a form of τίς) to myself?”—is harder to defend.  “Well, C.H. Spurgeon said…” would not have worked on my mother.  I don’t expect it to be a reasonable defense before Jesus Christ.  I tend to think more about what to forgive than who to forgive (Matthew 12:30-32 NET):

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.  For this reason (Διὰ τοῦτο) I tell you, people (ἀνθρώποις, another form of ἄνθρωπος) will be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι) for every (πᾶσα, another form of πᾶς) sin (ἁμαρτία) and blasphemy (βλασφημία), but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι) [Table].[20]  Whoever[21] speaks a word against the Son of Man (ἀνθρώπου, a form of ἄνθρωπος) will be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι).  But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι), either in this[22] age or in the age to come.

I try to interpret blasphemy against the Holy Spirit narrowly enough that it doesn’t become another loophole for my judgmental hatred[23] of others.  Since May[24] I’ve added Ephesians 3:14-19 back into my daily prayers.  I prayed it years ago for myself, desperately, selfishly.  Now I can pray it for all who believe, have believed and will believe in Jesus for eternal life.  Following Romans 9:16 and 11:32, my persistent prayer for justice (Luke 18:1-8), and preceding 1 Timothy 2:1-4, it has given me both the place and the presence to laugh at myself when that judgmental hatred rears its ugly head in my consciousness.  I’m like Crocodile Dundee (Paul Hogan) scarcely missing a beat as he wrings the snake’s neck.  Regardless of my personal strategy I concede that forgiving even fellow believers in faithfulness to Jesus’ teaching is a positive step toward the new covenant.

Now I want to turn briefly to a potential error.  In another essay I included Leviticus 5:1 together with verses 2-6.  Here is the entire passage (Leviticus 5:1-6 NET):

“‘When a person sins in that he hears a public curse against one who fails to testify and he is a witness (he either saw or knew what had happened) and he does not make it known, then he will bear (nâśâʼ, ונשׁא; Septuagint: λήμψεται, a form of λαμβάνω) his punishment for iniquity (ʽâvôn, עונו; Septuagint: ἁμαρτίαν, a form of ἁμαρτία).  Or when there is a person who touches anything ceremonially unclean, whether the carcass of an unclean wild animal, or the carcass of an unclean domesticated animal, or the carcass of an unclean creeping thing, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has become unclean and is guilty; or when he touches human uncleanness with regard to anything by which he can become unclean, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has later come to know it and is guilty; or when a person swears an oath, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips, whether to do evil or to do good, with regard to anything which the individual might speak thoughtlessly in an oath, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has later come to know it and is guilty with regard to one of these oaths – when an individual becomes guilty with regard to one of these things he must confess how he has sinned, and he must bring his penalty for guilt to the Lord for his sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, whether a female sheep or a female goat, for a sin offering.  So the priest will make atonement (kâphar, וכפר) on his behalf for his sin.

In the NET עונו (ʽâvôn) was translated his punishment for iniquity.  Aaron and his sons were commanded to wear linen undergarments when they enter to the tent of meeting, or when they approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they bear (nâśâʼ, ישׁאו; Septuagint: ἐπάξονται, a form of ἐπάγω) no iniquity (ʽâvôn, עון; Septuagint: ἁμαρτίαν, a form of ἁμαρτία) and die.[25]  I acknowledged that “I would consider death an extreme punishment for bearing iniquity.”  The punishment for a witness who fails to testify and thus bears iniquity would, I assume, be the public curse.  Here is an example of a public curse (Ezra 10:7, 8 NET):

A proclamation was circulated throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem [Table].  Everyone who did not come within three days would thereby forfeit all his property, in keeping with the counsel of the officials and the elders.  Furthermore, he himself would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles [Table].

So the punishments for noncompliance would be to forfeit all his property and to be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.

I’m not sure whether the person who failed to testify could still receive atonement (though the curse penalty would still be paid) or was completely exempt from the possibility of atonement.  In other words, I’m willing to consider whether this was one of the offenses from which the law of Moses could not justify: Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, Paul preached in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, that through this one forgiveness (ἄφεσις, a form of ἄφεσις) of sins (ἁμαρτιῶν, another form of ἁμαρτία) is proclaimed to you, and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you.[26]  Even One of the criminals (Luke 23:39-43) on the cross, justified by grace through faith in Jesus, still died (John 19:31-37) for his crimes.

I want to compare/contrast this to the person who violates any of the Lord’s commandments but did not know it at the time (Leviticus 5:17-19 NET):

“If a person sins and violates any of the Lord’s commandments which must not be violated (although he did not know it at the time, but later realizes he is guilty [ʼâsham, ואשם]), then he will bear (nâśâʼ, ונשׁא; Septuagint: λάβῃ, another form of λαμβάνω) his punishment for iniquity (ʽâvôn, עונו; Septuagint: ἁμαρτίαν, a form of ἁμαρτία) and must bring a flawless ram from the flock, convertible into silver shekels, for a guilt offering to the priest. So the priest will make atonement (kâphar, וכפר; Septuagint: ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι) on his behalf for his error which he committed (although he himself had not known it) and he will be forgiven (sâlach, ונסלח; Septuagint: ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι).  It is a guilt offering; he was surely (ʼâsham, אשם) guilty (ʼâsham, אשם) before the Lord.”

So did the translators consider bringing a flawless ram from the flock a punishment for iniquity?  And I ask this because they also translated אשמו (ʼâshâm) his penalty for guilt in Leviticus 5:15.

Form of ʼâshâm

 Reference KJV NET Septuagint
אשמו Leviticus 5:15 …then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD… …then he must bring his penalty for guilt to the Lord… πλημμελείας, a form of πλημμέλεια[27]
לאשם …after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering… …according to the standard of the sanctuary shekel, for a guilt offering. ἐπλημμέλησεν, a form of πλημμελέω[28]
Leviticus 5:18 …with thy estimation, for a trespass offering… …convertible into silver shekels, for a guilt offering… πλημμέλειαν, another form of πλημμέλεια
האשם Leviticus 5:16 …an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering… …make atonement on his behalf with the guilt offering ram… πλημμελείας, a form of πλημμέλεια
אשם Leviticus 5:19 It is a trespass offering: It is a guilt offering… ἐπλημμέλησεν, a form of πλημμελέω

Or is it simply an assertion that ignorance of the law or of one’s own violation of the law is no excuse?  Or is it an example of some unspecified punishment added to atonement?  I’m glad that my responsibility is to forgive our ὀφειλέταις (debtors), both ἁμαρτία (sin) and παράπτωμα (sin), because I have been forgiven, rather than to act as a priest adjudicating these laws.  And here I’m reminded to keep the stakes in focus (Matthew 5:18, 19 NET):

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.  So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others (ἀνθρώπους, another form of ἄνθρωπος) to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys[29] (ποιήσῃ, a form of ποιέω; e.g., the doers [ποιηταὶ, a form of ποιητής] of the law shall be justified) them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor, Paul wrote believers in Rome.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.[30]  Two tables of occurrences of forms of sâlach and kâphar in Leviticus follow.

Form of sâlach

 Reference KJV NET Septuagint
ונסלח Leviticus 4:20 …make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. …make atonement on their behalf and they will be forgiven. ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι
Leviticus 4:26 …make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. …make atonement on his behalf for his sin and he will be forgiven.
Leviticus 4:31 …make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. …make atonement on his behalf and he will be forgiven.
Leviticus 4:35 …his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him. …his sin which he has committed and he will be forgiven.
Leviticus 5:10 …his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. …his sin which he has committed, and he will be forgiven.
Leviticus 5:13 …in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: …by doing one of these things, and he will be forgiven.
Leviticus 5:16 …with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. …with the guilt offering ram and he will be forgiven.
Leviticus 5:18 …and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him. …(although he himself had not known it) and he will be forgiven.
Leviticus 6:7 …for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him… …on his behalf before the Lord and he will be forgiven…
Leviticus 19:22 …and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him. …his sin that he has committed, and he will be forgiven…

Form of kâphar

 Reference KJV NET Septuagint
יכפר Leviticus 5:16 …and the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest will make atonement on his behalf… ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι[31]
Leviticus 7:7 …the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it. …it belongs to the priest who makes atonement with it.
Leviticus 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you… …for on this day atonement is to be made for you…
Leviticus 16:33 …and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar… …he is to purify the Meeting Tent and the altar… ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι; “ritually acceptable”
…and he shall make an atonement for the priests… …and he is to make atonement for the priests… ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
Leviticus 17:11 …for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. …for the blood makes atonement by means of the life.
וכפר Leviticus 4:20 …and the priest shall make an atonement for them… So the priest will make atonement on their behalf… ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
Leviticus 4:26 …and the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest will make atonement on his behalf…
Leviticus 4:31 …and the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest will make atonement on his behalf…
Leviticus 4:35 …and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin… So the priest will make atonement on his behalf…
Leviticus 5:6 …and the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest will make atonement on his behalf…
Leviticus 5:10 …and the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest will make atonement on behalf of this person…
Leviticus 5:13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest will make atonement on his behalf…
Leviticus 5:18 …and the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest will make atonement on his behalf…
Leviticus 6:7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest will make atonement on his behalf…
Leviticus 9:7 …thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself… …your burnt offering, and make atonement on behalf of yourself… ἐξίλασαι, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
…the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them… …the people’s offering and make atonement on behalf of them…
Leviticus 12:7 …offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her… …present it before the Lord and make atonement on her behalf… ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
Leviticus 12:8 …and the priest shall make an atonement for her… …and the priest is to make atonement on her behalf…
Leviticus 14:18 …and the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest is to make atonement for him…
Leviticus 14:19 …the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed… …the sin offering and make atonement for the one being cleansed…
Leviticus 14:20 …and the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest is to make atonement for him…
Leviticus 14:31 …and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed… So the priest is to make atonement for the one being cleansed…
Leviticus 14:53 …and make an atonement for the house: So he is to make atonement for the house…
Leviticus 15:15 …and the priest shall make an atonement for him… So the priest is to make atonement for him…
Leviticus 15:30 …and the priest shall make an atonement for her… So the priest is to make atonement for her…
Leviticus 16:6 …sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself… …bull which is for himself and is to make atonement on behalf of himself…
Leviticus 16:11 …offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself… …bull which is for himself, and he is to make atonement on behalf of himself…
Leviticus 16:16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place… So he is to make atonement for the holy place… ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι; “ritually acceptable”
Leviticus 16:17 …and have made an atonement for himself… …and he has made atonement on his behalf… ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
Leviticus 16:18 …the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it… …the altar which is before the Lord and make atonement for it.
Leviticus 16:24 …and make an atonement for himself… So he is to make atonement on behalf of himself…
Leviticus 16:32 …to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead, shall make the atonement… …to act as high priest in place of his father is to make atonement.
Leviticus 16:33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary… …and he is to purify the Most Holy Place… ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι; “ritually acceptable”
Leviticus 19:22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him… …and the priest is to make atonement for him… ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
לכפר Leviticus 1:4 …and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. …and it will be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf. ἐξιλάσασθαι, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
Leviticus 6:30 …brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal… …brought into the Meeting Tent to make atonement in the sanctuary…
Leviticus 8:15 …and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it. …and so consecrated it to make atonement on it.
Leviticus 8:34 …commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. …commanded to be done to make atonement for you.
Leviticus 10:17 …to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them… …to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement on their behalf… ἐξιλάσησθε, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
Leviticus 14:21 …a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him… …a wave offering to make atonement for himself… ἐξιλάσασθαι, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
Leviticus 14:29 …that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him… …the one being cleansed to make atonement for him… ἐξιλάσεται, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
Leviticus 16:10 …to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat… …to make atonement on it by sending it away to Azazel… ἐξιλάσασθαι, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
Leviticus 16:17 …when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place… …when he enters to make atonement in the holy place…
Leviticus 16:27 …whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place… …whose blood was brought to make atonement in the holy place…
Leviticus 16:34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of… This is to be a perpetual statute for you to make atonement for the Israelites…
Leviticus 17:11 I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls… I myself have assigned it to you on the altar to make atonement for your lives… ἐξιλάσκεσθαι, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
Leviticus 23:28 …a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you… …a day of atonement[32] to make atonement for yourselves… ἐξιλάσασθαι, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι
מכפר Leviticus 16:20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place… When he has finished purifying the holy place… ἐξιλασκόμενος, another form of ἐξιλάσκομαι; “ritually acceptable”

[1] Leviticus 10:16-20 is an interesting exception which offers a model for a λόγον (a form of λόγος) made to God (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

[2] Matthew 10:8b (NET)

[3] Matthew 9:6a (NET)

[4] This verb is a perfect tense in the indicative mood.  In the Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Byzantine Majority Text the word is αφιενται, still in the indicative mood but present tense.

[5] Here are some other interpretations: Commentary on John 20:19-23; What is the correct interpretation of John 20:23?; Bible Hub

[6] The verb is singular; ἀφῆκαν is the plural form according to the Koine Greek Lexicon.  Both the Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Byzantine Majority Text have αφιεμεν here.  It is plural but in the present tense rather than aorist as ἀφήκαμεν and ἀφῆκαν are.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (Matthew 6:12 KJV).

[7] Matthew 6:12 (NET) Table

[8] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Byzantine Majority Text include the words τα παραπτωματα αυτων here: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:15 KJV).

[9] Matthew 6:14, 15 (NET) Table

[10] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Byzantine Majority Text include the word αυτω here: And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him (Matthew 18:34 KJV).

[11] Where the NET parallel Greek has οὐράνιος the Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Byzantine Majority Text have επουρανιος.

[12] Matthew 18:34, 35 (NET) The Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Byzantine Majority Text include the words τα παραπτωματα αυτων here: So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses (Matthew 18:35 KJV). Table

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

[14] John 4:14b (NET)

[15] The Byzantine Majority Text includes another εγω here.  In the NET parallel Greek text and the Stephanus Textus Receptus the I is understood from the verb απελθω which is 1st person singular.

[16] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Byzantine Majority Text include the word μου here: Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more (John 16:10 KJV).

[17] John 12:32 (NET)

[18] From a C.H. Spurgeon quote included in the NET definition of πᾶς [select “Grk/Heb” at the top of the right column, then highlight and click all people in verse 32 in the left column and scroll down to “Definition:”].

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

[20] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Byzantine Majority Text include the words τοις ανθρωποις here: Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men (Matthew 12:31 KJV).

[21] The NET parallel Greek Text and the Byzantine Majority Text have ἐὰν here where the Stephanus Textus Receptus has αν.

[22] The NET parallel Greek Text and the Stephanus Textus Receptus have τούτῳ here where the Byzantine Majority Text has νυν; literally, “the now (present) age.”

[23] I use hatred specifically here.  Jacob’s sexual preference for Rachel was described as Leah being שׁנואה (śânêʼ; KJV: hated; NET: unloved).  That had a profound impact on me since I doubt that Jacob consciously intended to hurt Leah.  Sleeping with the beautiful Rachel was kind of a no-brainer.

[24] Romans, Part 90; Believers; Cobwebs

[25] Exodus 28:43 (NET)

[26] Acts 13:38, 39 (NET) Table

[27] https://greekdoc.github.io/lexicon/plh.html#plhmmeleia

[28] https://greekdoc.github.io/lexicon/plh.html#plhmmelew

[29] Jedidiah, Part 5; Romans, Part 9; Romans, Part 12; Fear – Leviticus; Fear – Exodus, Part 5; Romans, Part 22; Romans, Part 49; Condemnation or Judgment? Part 7; Romans, Part 70; Romans, Part 82

[30] Romanas 13:10 (NET)

[31] https://greekdoc.github.io/lexicon/exi.html#exilaskomai

[32] kippûr, כפרים

To Make Holy, Part 5

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The next form of ἁγιάζω I want to consider is found in Jesus’ prayer to his Father: Set them apart (ἁγίασον, a form of ἁγιάζω) in the truth; your word is truth.[1]  But I’m making a slow pilgrimage through his prayer because I believe I can know his holiness here.  I have revealed your name, Jesus prayed, to the [people] you gave me out of the world.  They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed (τετήρηκαν, a form of τηρέω) your word.[2]

Jesus came into the world to be despised and rejected by people.[3]  And though the Greek word κόσμου (a form of κόσμος), translated of the world, does not exclude the larger Gentile world necessarily, at this particular time He was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel[4] rather than Gentile sinners.  You people are from your father the devil,[5] Jesus said of Israel’s religious leaders.  A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher[6] serves as a fair assessment of those who followed Israel’s teachers.  You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves[7] is certainly more explicit.  This gives me some context, how precious the people you gave me out of the world were to Jesus.

He came to what was his own (ἴδια, a form of ἴδιος), but his own people (ἴδιοι, another form of ἴδιος) did not receive him.[8]  He knew this would happen.  Isaiah prophesied it: 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.[9]  And in a very real sense their rejection was part of the plan and purpose of salvation (Romans 11:11-33 NET).

I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they?  Absolutely not!  But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles (ἔθνεσιν, a form of ἔθνος), to make Israel jealous.  Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles (ἐθνῶν, another form of ἔθνος), how much more will their full restoration bring?

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles (ἔθνεσιν, a form of ἔθνος).  Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles (ἐθνῶν, another form of ἔθνος), I magnify my ministry, if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.  For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?  If the first portion of the dough offered is holy (ἁγία, a form of ἅγιος), then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy (ἁγία, a form of ἅγιος), so too are the branches.

Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root, do not boast over the branches.  But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.  Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”  Granted!  They were broken off because of their unbelief (ἀπιστίᾳ), but you stand by faith (πίστει, a form of πίστις).  Do not be arrogant, but fear!  For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.  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 (ἀπιστίᾳ)– 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?

For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles (ἐθνῶν, another form of ἔθνος) has come in.  And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.  And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.  For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.  Just as you were formerly disobedient (ἠπειθήσατε, a form of ἀπειθέω) to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience (ἀπειθείᾳ), so they too have now been disobedient (ἠπείθησαν, another form of ἀπειθέω) in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.  For God has consigned all people to disobedience (ἀπείθειαν, a form of ἀπείθεια) so that he may show mercy to them all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!

I’m ignoring for the moment the more traditional interpretation of this verse, the importance and instrumentality of the eleven apostles carrying on Jesus’ message and building the church, in favor of the comfort God the Father gave to Jesus on a mission of rejection.  My current focus is Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.  She comforted Him in a way the apostles could not.

She has kept it for the day of my burial,[10] Jesus said of the three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard[11] she had “wasted” on his feet.  She had sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said[12] and apparently believed Him while the eleven (all twelve, in fact) were still full of their own understanding, hoping for (or fearing) the overthrow of the Roman government and their own domination of the world.  Taking Jesus at his word is still a great comfort in a world full of rejection as He draws all to Himself.

They belonged to you (KJV: thine they were), Jesus’ prayer continued.  I don’t want to speculate too much about this beyond Jesus’ own words: No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.[13]  Most translators have understood the next clause καμοὶ αὐτοὺς ἔδωκας as a reiteration of people the Father gave to Jesus.  But consider the following table:

King James Version Darby Bible Translation

American King James Version
…and thou gavest them me… …and thou gavest them me… …and you gave them me…

Here it sounds reciprocal: the Father also gave Jesus to them.  But I admit it is possible, probably likely, that this is just King James’ English for a reiteration of the Father gave them to Jesus.  You gave them to Me, the NKJV reads.  The Greek word καμοὶ (and me, me also) is a dative pronoun according to the Koine Greek Lexicon as is μοι (me) in the phrase you gave me out of the world:

Dative Case
The dative is the case of the indirect object, or may also indicate the means by which something is done. The dative case also has a wide variety of uses, with the root idea being that of “personal interest” or “reference”. It is used most often in one of three general categories: Indirect object, Instrument (means), or Location. Most commonly it is used as the indirect object of a sentence. It may also indicate the means by which something is done or accomplished. Used as a dative of location, it can show the “place”, “time”, or “sphere” in which something may happen. 
For example: (Indirect object): “Jesus said to them“, or “he will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask” (Luke 11:13). 
(Instrument or Means): “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by (by means of) prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). In this sentence, there is a single Greek word translated into the phrase “by prayer” showing the means by which to let our requests be made known to God. 
(Location): “… and on the third day He will be raised up” (Matt 20:19). The phrase “the third day” is in the dative case, showing the time in which Jesus will be raised. In this sentence, there is no Greek word present that is translated into the English word “on”; it is added to show the meaning of the dative of location.

The Greek word αὐτοὺς (them) is an accusative pronoun as is οὓς the untranslated relative pronoun which precedes you gave in the prior phrase:

Accusative Case
The accusative case is the case of the direct object, receiving the action of the verb. Like the other cases, the accusative has a wide variety of uses, but its main function is as the direct object of a transitive verb. The direct object will most often be in the accusative case. 
For example: “As newborn babes, long for the guiless milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2). The word “milk” is in the accusative case and is functioning as the direct object of the transitive verb “long for” (or “desire”).

The only reason I want this giving to be reciprocal is to make it clearer that God the Father gave them Jesus and thus they have kept[14] his word, rather than too appear as if they obeyed his word so God the Father gave them to Jesus.

Now they understand, Jesus’ continued, that everything you have given me comes from you.[15]  In other words, Jesus relied on his Father’s supply, not his own godliness.  And those who had been given to Him knew (ἔγνωκαν, a form of γινώσκω; translated understand) this.  The verb ἔγνωκαν is in the perfect tense: “The basic thought of the perfect tense is that the progress of an action has been completed and the results of the action are continuing on, in full effect.  In other words, the progress of the action has reached its culmination and the finished results are now in existence.”[16]  And though it is obvious to me here and now that everything you have given me comes from you means that Jesus relied on his Father’s supply rather than his own godliness, it just became obvious to me here and now.

“It’s axiomatic to me,” I wrote in another essay, “that Jesus didn’t utilize his own godliness, but trusted the Holy Spirit that descended like a dove from heaven, and…remained on him.[11] Otherwise, Jesus’ invitation and command, Follow me,[12] is little more than a cruel joke.”

“As I’ve written before it is axiomatic to me that the way Jesus loved us,” I wrote in another essay, “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]

“As I’ve written before,[20] it is axiomatic to me that Jesus’ holiness was from the Holy Spirit rather than his own divine nature” I wrote elsewhere.  “Otherwise, his command and invitation, Follow me, would be meaningless to sinful human beings.”

I acknowledged that my axiom in the beginning was little more than a confidence that “Jesus wasn’t commanding us to follow Him somewhere we couldn’t go…Over time,” I confessed, “my ‘axiom’ has come to mean so much more: When I am anything less than Christlike I no longer think: ‘Oh, He is God and I am not.’  Instead, I know that I am living according to the flesh (Romans 8:5-11), that I’ve fallen away from grace.  One would think I would know better by now but apparently I do not.  It alerts me that it is time to stop relying on myself and get back to trusting Jesus, relying on his Spirit.  But that weight deserves something weightier than an axiom.”[17]  But when did it become axiomatic?  It wasn’t axiomatic when I turned again to obey his rules in my own strength.

I asked a friend I knew from church to sing this prayer as a demo after I had set it to music.  It was beyond his vocal ability.  Twice in the piece Jesus strikes a dissonant pedal tone until the rest of the music resolves and conforms to that note.  My friend recommended a better trained singer, a younger man nearer my age.  And he did this without criticizing my living arrangements or commenting on my unworthiness to write an opera about Jesus.

As this younger more skilful singer and I rehearsed we talked.  I acknowledged the trouble I was having not sinning.  He said that whatever was too difficult for him became easy when he “turned it over to the Lord.”  It was apparent to me that he was describing actual experience, but I failed to ask what he meant by turning it over to the Lord.  I assumed he meant prayer.  When I prayed for Jesus’ help to overcome my sin I got nothing.  (Or I got everything one reads about in these essays.)  At the time I assumed I wasn’t holy enough to merit God’s help.

So I strove with all my might to make myself holy enough to earn his blessing, by which I meant becoming a famous (and hopefully rich) composer.  I clearly didn’t grasp that since Jesus is holy everyone who abides (John 15:1-8) in Him is holy (Romans 11:16-24).  I saw my task as one of becoming holy rather than one of allowing Jesus’ holiness to shine through me; namely, the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that is the fruit of his Holy Spirit.[18]  And I didn’t understand that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit.

In my ignorance I attempted to use Him as my personal demon to achieve my own purposes.  I was a lot like Nikolai (Adam Brody), the lead singer of the band Low Shoulder, in Jason Reitman’s and Diablo Cody’s movie Jennifer’s Body.  “Do you know how hard it is to make it as an indie band these days?” he asked Jennifer (Megan Fox).  “There’s so many of us, and we’re all so cute, and it’s like, if you don’t get on Letterman or some retarded soundtrack, you’re screwed, okay?  Satan is our only hope.  We’re in league with the beast now, and we have to make a really big impression on him.  And to do that, we’re going to have to butcher you and bleed you.”  And he does.

Granted, I tried to make an impression on Jesus by attempting to obey his laws in my own strength, laws that included not butchering or bleeding young women.  So what would I say to myself now about overcoming sin by turning it over to the Lord?

It was a bit like being caught in Devil’s Snare from the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.  Hermione (Emma Watson), who “pays attention in Herbology” at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, recognizes the plant and knows how to escape it.  “Stop moving, both of you,” she yells to Ron (Rupert Grint) and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe).  “You have to relax.  If you don’t, it will only kill you faster.”

For when we were in the flesh, (as opposed to being led by the Holy Spirit) Paul wrote believers in Rome, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.[19]  My striving to obey rules only strengthened sin’s hold on me: the power of sin is the law.[20]  Rather than living in the flesh, striving to obey laws, I should have given more heed to Paul’s explanation: So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.[21]

In the movie Ron doesn’t respond well to Hermione’s words: “Kill us faster?” he exclaims.  “Oh, now I can relax.”  But Hermione relaxes and falls through the bottom of the plant.  Harry is able to follow her example and disappears as well.  Poor Ron is left alone, struggling, thinking his friends have been swallowed whole by the Devil’s Snare.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen (gôy, בגוים; Septuagint: ἔθνεσιν, a form of ἔθνος), I will be exalted in the earth.[22]  In that quiet place of trust I began to find that seemingly inexhaustible supply of God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control like a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.[23]  Ironically, even my striving to obey laws was fueled by his Holy Spirit channeled through my own ignorance of Him, my ignorance of the Bible which reveals Him to all who have ears to hear.

[1] John 17:17 (NET)

[2] John 17:6 (NET)

[3] Isaiah 53:3a (NET)

[4] Matthew 15:24 (NET)

[5] John 8:44a (NET)

[6] Luke 6:40 (NET)

[7] Matthew 23:15b (NET)

[8] John 1:11 (NET)

[9] Isaiah 53:3 (Tanakh)

[10] John 12:7b (NET)

[11] John 12:3 (NET)

[12] Luke 10:39b (NET)

[13] John 6:44 (NET)

[14] I have written enough about forms of τηρέω (τετήρηκαν is a form of τηρέω) elsewhere: Everyone Fathered by God Does Not Sin; Antichrist, Part 2; Son of God – 1 John, Part 3; Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 3; My Deeds, Part 1; My Deeds, Part 2; My Deeds, Part 3

[15] John 17:7 (NET)

[16] https://www.ntgreek.org/learn_nt_greek/verbs1.htm#TENSE

[17] Who Am I? Part 6

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

[19] Romans 7:5, 6 (NET)

[20] 1 Corinthians 15:56b (NET)

[21] Romans 7:4 (NET)

[22] Psalm 46:10 (Tanakh)

[23] John4:14b (NET)

Cobwebs

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I think I can finally wipe some sticky filaments of ideas from my face and roll them up into something like a little cotton candy ball:

I have dual citizenship in the rarefied and pampered world of resort hotels, both as a guest and as a servant working along with those who make the resort conference experience what it is.  As a servant I’m expected to express love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  And since I’m never a paying guest, the fruit of the Holy Spirit maintains my dual citizenship in this world.

I frequent the backrooms and service corridors of venues often enough to know that sometimes the expression of these “virtues” is less than genuine.  In other words, it’s the work of actors, hypocrites.  But then I walk out again into a ballroom where a keynote speaker extols the value of some aspect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit for effective servant-leadership.  Of course, no one calls it the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Hotel management and keynote speakers alike expect servants and effective leaders to generate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control out from themselves, on their own, or with tips and techniques that have been developed and written about in books for sale in the lobby.  None offers a fountain of water springing up to eternal life,[1] though all seem to recognize that even an actor’s imitation of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is what makes resort life viable.

A friend called a while back seeking my opinion on the idea that Jesus was an alien lifted up by some sort of tractor beam into a spacecraft hidden in the clouds.  I get it, I suppose.  If Jesus is a magical being from another planet no one can expect us to be anything like Him.

Believing that God has provided us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence,[2] does pose an immediate and insistent question: Why am I not more like Him?  My go-to answer is that my faith in, measured as a function of my reliance upon, his supply is not all it might be.  But that really chafes since I claim to believe that this faith, or faithfulness, is also supplied through his Holy Spirit.

In April this year, working almost every day, I began to earn my two-month-long Christmas vacation.  If I wasn’t working I was driving to the next show.  I put a little over 6,000 miles on my company vehicle.  While driving I listened to some sermons on the radio.  One in particular rang “true” and familiar, similar to sermons I had heard before.  The gist was: “God has supplied everything you need for salvation in Jesus Christ.  All he requires from you is faith and obedience.”

In the past I resolved the irrationality of these statements by assuming that everything didn’t mean everything.  So I set out to supply my own faith and my own obedience by hearing and obeying rules.

May grace and peace be lavished on you, Peter wrote, as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!  I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything  necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.[3]  The Greek word translated everything was πάντα (a form of πᾶς).  The definition of πᾶς in the NET contains an excerpt from a sermon by C.H. Spurgeon:

…”the whole world has gone after him” Did all the world go after Christ? “then went all Judea, and were baptized of him in Jordan.”  Was all Judea, or all Jerusalem, baptized in Jordan?  “Ye are of God, little children”, and the whole world lieth in the wicked one”.  Does the whole world there mean everybody? The words “world” and “all” are used in some seven or eight senses in Scripture, and it is very rarely the “all” means all persons, taken individually.  The words are generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts — some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, and has not restricted His redemption to either Jew or Gentile … (C.H. Spurgeon from a sermon on Particular Redemption)

I grew up in the same religious milieu as the translators of the NET.  I, too, thought God had bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness except faith and obedience.  What was that everything?  After all, that seems to be Spurgeon’s point, to look for the limitations implicit in the text.  In my case everything was a second chance[4] to become the best Pharisee I could be, another opportunity to have my own righteousness derived from the law.[5]  But at what point does this obsessive caution in interpretation reduce forms of πᾶς from the pen of the New Testament writers to the written equivalent of uh or uhm?

So did Peter mean everything?  Well, even he had a long list of things for me to add to my faith in God through Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-11 NET):

For this very reason, make every effort to add (ἐπιχορηγήσατε, a form of ἐπιχορηγέω) to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.  For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.  But concerning the one who lacks such things – he is blind.  That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.  Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election.  For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.  For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided (ἐπιχορηγηθήσεται, another form of ἐπιχορηγέω) for you.

According to the Koine Greek Lexicon ἐπιχορηγήσατε is an aorist active imperative 2nd person plural verb.  The primary definition in the lexicon is “to furnish, provide for (at one’s own expense).”  So I can’t fault the translators here.  And I find no discrepancy in the Greek texts.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ αὐτὸ τοῦτο δὲ σπουδὴν πᾶσαν παρεισενέγκαντες ἐπιχορηγήσατε ἐν τῇ πίστει ὑμῶν τὴν ἀρετήν, ἐν δὲ τῇ ἀρετῇ τὴν γνῶσιν και αυτο τουτο δε σπουδην πασαν παρεισενεγκαντες επιχορηγησατε εν τη πιστει υμων την αρετην εν δε τη αρετη την γνωσιν και αυτο τουτο δε σπουδην πασαν παρεισενεγκαντες επιχορηγησατε εν τη πιστει υμων την αρετην εν δε τη αρετη την γνωσιν

Granted, Peter may have admonished me to add these things in or by (ἐν) my faith rather than to it.  Faith here is πίστει (a form of πίστις), a noun in the dative case which “may also indicate the means by which something is done.”[6]  But in English translation I’m left with the disconcerting conclusion that the Holy Spirit wanted to wear me out striving to obey Peter until my ears were opened to hear Paul and then, at last, Jesus (Matthew 11:25-30 NET):

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children.  Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will.  All things have been handed over to me by my Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides (βούληται, a form of βούλομαι) to reveal him.  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”

In another essay I referenced John Piper’s essay “A Whole World Hangs on a Word” without any reference to opposing views.  So I typed “faith is not a gift Ephesians 2” into Google to consider some.  Wayne Jackson’s essay “Is Faith the Gift of Ephesians 2:8?” on Christian Courier was top of the list.

My purpose here is not to pick on Wayne Jackson.  He had a particular point of contention with followers of John Calvin.  My own relationship with John Calvin ended abruptly at Chapter 13 of the Institutes when the paperback copy of the book dented the wall of my apartment.  Something about his discussion of the “essence” of God so early in his book irritated me, and I’ve never looked back (except for today to recall how far I’d gotten).  Now, of course, if he meant God is love, my apologies to John Calvin and my landlord.  If not, it still seems pretentious to me.  Admittedly, I was reading in English translation with little appreciation for how problematic that might be.

What Wayne Jackson has done for me is to remind me how arguments against faith as a gift of God’s grace go.  Below is a table quoting two paragraphs from his essay under the heading: “God’s Sovereignty Does Not Negate Man’s Free Will.”

…since God is a Being of absolute truth (Dt. 32:4; “faithfulness,” ASV), he cannot do that which would violate his own nature, e.g., practice lying.  It thus is impossible for God to lie (Num. 23:19; Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:18).  The Lord’s sovereignty is not compromised by his inability to lie.  His sovereignty is limited, however, by his own holy nature. Similarly, if it is the case that the Almighty granted man the ability to exercise free will, then the divine requirement that this free will be exercised responsibly (requiring obedience) is not a violation of Heaven’s sovereignty; rather, it is an example of the exercise thereof.

I didn’t quote these paragraphs to engage Mr. Jackson in philosophical debate but simply to highlight the contrast between them: One is stated with confidence, conviction and Bible references, the other (quite honestly, I think) is more speculative in nature with no Bible references.  I am well aware that something inhibits and impedes my expression of Christ-likeness, but is there any practical value to calling it free will over, say, the old human or sin in my flesh?

I realize that those who promote free will do so more positively, as the proximate cause of both faith and obedience.  If anyone wants (θέλῃ, a form of θέλω) to do God’s will (θέλημα), he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority.[7]  Notice what Jesus did not say: If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will succeed thereby.  My failure to accomplish God’s will in my own strength was part of the confirmation that it was, in fact, God’s will rather than my own.  Jesus’ own attitude was not my will (θέλημα) but yours be done.[8]  But I don’t want to invalidate Mr. Jackson’s point entirely because Jesus’ called those who are weary and burdened.

I worked the hardest to will myself into doing God’s will when I turned Paul’s definition of love into rules I repeated as a mantra so as to obey them.  The highest achievement of that effort was that I didn’t murder my wife in her sleep.  It’s not much of a righteousness résumé but it is still a world removed from “I murdered my wife in her sleep.”  Perhaps I should patent this technique, so to speak, by writing it in a book as a kind of crisis intervention for those who are considering taking high-powered weapons to school to murder their classmates.

But the moment I consider how to market such a book to the young men I imagine them to be is also the moment I wonder if I haven’t overindulged my will even in this.  Some life-changing work had already been accomplished in me that I even cared enough to treat Paul’s definition of love as rules to obey.  And life-changing is a very poor way to characterize what Paul wrote the Ephesians (Ephesians 2:1-10 NET Table):

And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing (ἐνεργοῦντος, a form of ἐνεργέω) the sons of disobedience (ἀπειθείας, a form of ἀπείθεια), among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! – and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.  For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.

Love is patient, but did I by my will alone believe it to be true and obey it more or less as a commandment—thou shalt be patient—with a wife who wanted to divorce me?  Love is kind, but did I by my will alone believe it to be true and obey it more or less as a commandment—thou shalt be kind—when her daily existence rejecting me was like a knife twisting in my heart?

Or was God, the Father, according to the wealth of his glory granting me to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ was dwelling in my heart through faith, so that, because I had been rooted and grounded in love, I would 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 I could be filled up to all the fullness of God[9] because I had a pastor who taught and prayed this prayer?

Is that what was really happening as I invented a rather stupid rationalization about turning definitions into rules to obey in my own strength?  Yeah, I think so.  As Paul wrote believers in Philippi, continue working out your salvation with awe (φόβου, a form of φόβος) and reverence (τρόμου, a form of τρόμος), for the one bringing forth (ἐνεργῶν, another form of ἐνεργέω) in you both the desire (θέλειν, another form of θέλω) and the effort (ἐνεργεῖν, another form of ἐνεργέω) – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.[10]

But I’m not sure I could have gotten from there to here without that rationalization and its utter refutation by my persistent sinful behavior.  And I’m certain I couldn’t have gotten here apart from the overwhelming power of the indwelling Holy Spirit who has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.  And here is no way station from which to backslide but an excellent place from which to strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,[11] not in my own strength but in the faith and obedience that flow from his Holy Spirit, that fountain of water springing up to eternal life that Jesus promised the Samaritan woman[12] at Jacob’s well (John 4:4-42).

[1] John 4:14b (NET)

[2] 2 Peter 1:3 (NET)

[3] 2 Peter 1:2, 3 (NET)

[4] Who Am I? Part 3; Jesus the Leg-breaker, Part 1; Romans, Part 55

[5] Philippians 3:9 (NET)

[6] See Dative Case on Resources for Learning New Testament Greek

[7] John 7:17 (NET)

[8] Luke 22:42b (NET)

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

[10] Philippians 2:12b, 13 (NET)

[11] Philippians 3:14b (NET)

[12] My Reasons and My Reason, Part 6; Fear – Exodus, Part 9

Father, Forgive Them – Part 4

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I have attempted to cleanse Jesus’ words of the crime/punishment motif I think the translators of the NET and NASB superimposed upon them, so that his mercy—planning the offspring of vipers’ escape from being condemned to hell—shines through (Matthew 23:33-35 NET; Matthew 23:36 NASB):

You snakes, you offspring of vipers!  How will you escape being condemned to hell?

For this reason I am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

It is possible that the translators shaded Matthew’s Gospel account some to make it conform better to Luke’s parallel account:

Luke 11:46-48 (NET) Luke 11:46-48 (NASB)

Luke 11:46-48 (KJV)
But Jesus replied, “Woe to you experts in religious law as well!  You load people down with burdens difficult to bear, yet you yourselves refuse to touch the burdens with even one of your fingers! But He said, “Woe to you lawyers as well!  For you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers. And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Woe to you!  You build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. Woe to you!  For you build the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them. Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
So you testify that you approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed the prophets and you build their tombs! So you are witnesses and approve the deeds of your fathers; because it was they who killed them, and you build their tombs. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἄρα μάρτυρες ἐστε καὶ συνευδοκεῖτε τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν, ὅτι αὐτοὶ μὲν ἀπέκτειναν αὐτούς, ὑμεῖς δὲ οἰκοδομεῖτε αρα μαρτυρειτε και συνευδοκειτε τοις εργοις των πατερων υμων οτι αυτοι μεν απεκτειναν αυτους υμεις δε οικοδομειτε αυτων τα μνημεια αρα μαρτυρειτε και συνευδοκειτε τοις εργοις των πατερων υμων οτι αυτοι μεν απεκτειναν αυτους υμεις δε οικοδομειτε αυτων τα μνημεια
Luke 11:49 (NET) Luke 11:49 (NASB)

Luke 11:49 (KJV)
For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute, Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡ σοφία τοῦ θεοῦ εἶπεν· ἀποστελῶ εἰς αὐτοὺς προφήτας καὶ ἀποστόλους, καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀποκτενοῦσιν καὶ διώξουσιν δια τουτο και η σοφια του θεου ειπεν αποστελω εις αυτους προφητας και αποστολους και εξ αυτων αποκτενουσιν και εκδιωξουσιν δια τουτο και η σοφια του θεου ειπεν αποστελω εις αυτους προφητας και αποστολους και εξ αυτων αποκτενουσιν και εκδιωξουσιν
Luke 11:50, 51 (NET) Luke 11:50, 51 (NASB)

Luke 11:50, 51 (KJV)
so that this generation may be held accountable (ἐκζητηθῇ, a form of ἐκζητέω) for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, so that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary.  Yes, I tell you, it will be charged (ἐκζητηθήσεται, another form of ἐκζητέω) against this generation. from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.’ From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἀπὸ αἵματος Ἅβελ ἕως αἵματος Ζαχαρίου τοῦ ἀπολομένου μεταξὺ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καὶ τοῦ οἴκου· ναὶ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐκζητηθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης απο του αιματος αβελ εως του αιματος ζαχαριου του απολομενου μεταξυ του θυσιαστηριου και του οικου ναι λεγω υμιν εκζητηθησεται απο της γενεας ταυτης απο του αιματος αβελ εως του αιματος ζαχαριου του απολομενου μεταξυ του θυσιαστηριου και του οικου ναι λεγω υμιν εκζητηθησεται απο της γενεας ταυτης
Luke 11:52 (NET) Luke 11:52 (NASB)

Luke 11:52 (KJV)
Woe to you experts in religious law!  You have taken away the key to knowledge!  You did not go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in.” Woe to you lawyers!  For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.” Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐαὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς νομικοῖς, ὅτι ἤρατε τὴν κλεῖδα τῆς γνώσεως· αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσήλθατε καὶ τοὺς εἰσερχομένους ἐκωλύσατε ουαι υμιν τοις νομικοις οτι ηρατε την κλειδα της γνωσεως αυτοι ουκ εισηλθετε και τους εισερχομενους εκωλυσατε ουαι υμιν τοις νομικοις οτι ηρατε την κλειδα της γνωσεως αυτοι ουκ εισηλθετε και τους εισερχομενους εκωλυσατε

Here the crime/punishment motif wasn’t superimposed upon ἥξει (a form of ἥκω), translated will be held responsible (See: Table), or ἔλθῃ (a form of ἔρχομαι), translated may fall the guilt (See: Table).  Rather, the Greek words ἐκζητηθῇ, translated may be held accountable, and ἐκζητηθήσεται, translated it will be charged, are both forms of ἐκζητέω (See Table1 below).  And again this subject matter was spun by translating a word in a unique way, radically different from any of its other occurrences in the New Testament.

According to the Koine Greek Lexicon online ἐκζητηθῇ is an aorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular verb.  Since αἷμα, translated for the blood, is a nominative / accusative singular neuter noun according to the Koine Greek Lexicon and γενεᾶς (a form of γενεά), translated generation, is a genitive singular feminine noun according to the same lexicon, I assume that blood is the more likely subject of the sentence: “so that the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world may be sought by this generation.”

Perhaps one could take it to mean that God sought the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world against this generation—in other words, He would hold them accountable for sins they didn’t commit—but I don’t see that in the text, and the verb is passive.  To my ear the translations—may be held accountable (NET), may be charged (NASB) and even may be required (KJV)—sound more like interpretations.  So I offer the following alternative interpretation.

The experts in the law and the Pharisees didn’t think building tombs for the prophets meant that they approved of their fathers’ deeds: And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.[1]  For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute…[2]  God gave them their own prophets to do with as they pleased, to demonstrate to themselves how sinful they actually were.  So that the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world may be sought by this generation in the persons of the prophets and apostles sent to them in their own time.

I can dispense with the word may: “if the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action.”[3]  And the Greek word ἐκζητηθήσεται, translated it will be charged, is a future passive indicative 3rd person singular verb according to the Koine Greek Lexicon.  And so Jesus stated empahtically, “it will be sought by this generation.”  They would seek the blood of the prophets of their generation just as their fathers before them had done to the prophets of their time.

Consider Paul’s lament in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 4:9-13 NET):

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.  We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ!  We are weak, but you are strong!  You are distinguished, we are dishonored!  To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads.  We do hard work, toiling with our own hands.  When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner.  We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.

And consider how this lament became his battle cry in his letter to the Romans (Romans 8:36-39 NET):

As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered [Table].”  No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My aim is to know him, Paul wrote the Philippians, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.[4]  But the religious mind covets a place of honor at banquets, the best seats in the house, respectful greetings in public places and to be revered as teacher (Matthew 23:6, 7).  Anything less it considers “persecution” and “affliction.”  The suggestion that God might hand his redeemed one over to others, to be abused by them, that the others in turn might recognize their own sinfulness, is anathema to the religious mind.  It is not too hard to imagine that the temptation to cover or disguise anything, even Scripture, which suggests such a thing would be difficult to resist.  I suspect, however, that most of us suffer from our own sins[5], and that far fewer of us are considered worthy to suffer dishonor directly from the sins of others for the sake of the name.[6]

Granted, once the serpents, the brood of vipers, sought the blood of the prophets of their generation, all the righteous blood shed on earth came upon them and their people.  So there is a judicial aspect to these events, but reducing them to crime and punishment alone smears all of the vibrant colors of God’s mercy, love and grace through Jesus Christ until they become a murky gray.  Besides, their “punishment,” if you will, was not mystical, magical or supernatural in any way, but all too human.

While their leaders were preoccupied killing and persecuting the prophets who brought them the knowledge Jeremiah prophesied (Jeremiah 31:31-34) and the desire of Moses (Numbers 11:25-29) prophesied by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:22-27), virulent strains of Judaism fought for ascendency.  By brute force and political manipulation most in Jerusalem accepted this murderous faith in fact and action whether they believed it in their hearts or not.  The devil, after all, seeks compliance not faith.  Robert A. Dahl’s definition of power—“A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something that B would not otherwise do”[7]—was still taught in political science classes as of 2014,[8] and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one[9] (1 John 5:18-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:24-26).

The zealots and sicarii were anything but those with Jesus’ fountain of water—his own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control[10]—springing up to eternal life[11] inside of them.  “I don’t need to punish people,” Papa (Octavia Spencer) said in the movie The Shack.  “Sin is its own punishment.”  But it seems to be part of the human condition to deny Jesus’ insight: You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him.[12]  Even when our sinfulness is self-evident we search for other explanations.

Before I began this study I tacitly assumed this devious plot that led to the destruction of Jerusalem was the wisdom (σοφία) of God rather than an easily anticipated trajectory of human sinfulness filtered through a particular brand of the religious mind.  Hear Paul on the subject of God’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:6-16; 3:18-20; Colossians 4:5, 6 NET).

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom (σοφίαν, another form of σοφία) of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.”  Where is the wise man?  Where is the expert in the Mosaic law?  Where is the debater of this age?  Has God not made the wisdom (σοφίαν, another form of σοφία) of the world foolish [Table]?  For since in the wisdom (σοφίᾳ) of God the world by its wisdom (σοφίας, another form of σοφία) did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.  For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom (σοφίαν, another form of σοφία), but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles [Table].  But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom (σοφίαν, another form of σοφία) of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength [Table].

Now we do speak wisdom (Σοφίαν, another form of σοφία) among the mature, but not a wisdom (σοφίαν, another form of σοφία) of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.  Instead we speak the wisdom (σοφίαν, another form of σοφία) of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory.  None of the rulers of this age understood it.  If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”  God has revealed these to us by the Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him?  So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.  And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom (σοφίας, another form of σοφία), but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people [Table].  The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him.  And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one.  For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him?  But we have the mind of Christ.

Guard against self-deception, each of you.  If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.  For the wisdom (σοφία) of this age is foolishness with God.  As it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”  And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

Conduct yourselves with wisdom (σοφίᾳ) toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

And James wrote (James 3:13-18 NET):

Who is wise and understanding among you?  By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom (σοφίας, another form of σοφία) brings.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.  Such wisdom (σοφία) does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.  For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom (σοφία) from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.  And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.

James contrasted wisdom from above (ἄνωθεν) to that which is not from above (ἄνωθεν) with the same word Jesus used to describe the birth of the new human: I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above (ἄνωθεν), he cannot see the kingdom of God.[13]  Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above (ἄνωθεν).’[14]

Tables of forms of ἐκζητέω and occurrences of σοφία follow with their translations in the KJV and NET.  If the parallel Greek of the NET differed from the Textus Receptus I broke the table to contrast them along with the Byzantine Majority Text.

Form of ἐκζητέω Reference KJV

NET
ἐκζητήσας Hebrews 12:17 …though he sought it carefully with tears. …although he sought the blessing with tears.
ἐκζητήσωσιν Acts 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord… …so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord…
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὅπως ἂν ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὸν κύριον καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐφ᾿ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομα μου ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς, λέγει κύριος ποιῶν ταῦτα οπως αν εκζητησωσιν οι καταλοιποι των ανθρωπων τον κυριον και παντα τα εθνη εφ ους επικεκληται το ονομα μου επ αυτους λεγει κυριος ο ποιων ταυτα παντα οπως αν εκζητησωσιν οι καταλοιποι των ανθρωπων τον κυριον και παντα τα εθνη εφ ους επικεκληται το ονομα μου επ αυτους λεγει κυριος ο ποιων ταυτα παντα
ἐκζητηθῇ Luke 11:50 …may be required of this generation… …so that this generation may be held accountable for the blood…

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἵνα ἐκζητηθῇ τὸ αἷμα πάντων τῶν προφητῶν τὸ ἐκκεχυμένον ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης ινα εκζητηθη το αιμα παντων των προφητων το εκχυνομενον απο καταβολης κοσμου απο της γενεας ταυτης ινα εκζητηθη το αιμα παντων των προφητων το εκχυνομενον απο καταβολης κοσμου απο της γενεας ταυτης
ἐκζητηθήσεται Luke 11:51 It shall be required of this generation. …it will be charged against this generation.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἀπὸ αἵματος Ἅβελ ἕως αἵματος Ζαχαρίου τοῦ ἀπολομένου μεταξὺ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καὶ τοῦ οἴκου· ναὶ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐκζητηθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης απο του αιματος αβελ εως του αιματος ζαχαριου του απολομενου μεταξυ του θυσιαστηριου και του οικου ναι λεγω υμιν εκζητηθησεται απο της γενεας ταυτης απο του αιματος αβελ εως του αιματος ζαχαριου του απολομενου μεταξυ του θυσιαστηριου και του οικου ναι λεγω υμιν εκζητηθησεται απο της γενεας ταυτης
ἐκζητῶν Romans 3:11 …there is none that seeketh after God. …there is no one who seeks God.
ἐκζητοῦσιν Hebrews 11:6 …he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. …he rewards those who seek him.
ἐξεζήτησαν 1 Peter 1:10 …the prophets have inquired and searched diligently… …searched and investigated carefully.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
περὶ ἧς σωτηρίας ἐξεζήτησαν καὶ ἐξηραύνησαν προφῆται οἱ περὶ τῆς εἰς ὑμᾶς χάριτος προφητεύσαντες περι ης σωτηριας εξεζητησαν και εξηρευνησαν προφηται οι περι της εις υμας χαριτος προφητευσαντες περι ης σωτηριας εξεζητησαν και εξηρευνησαν προφηται οι περι της εις υμας χαριτος προφητευσαντες

σοφία

 Reference KJV

NET
σοφία Matthew 11:19 …wisdom is justified of her children… …wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἦλθεν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐσθίων καὶ πίνων, καὶ λέγουσιν· ἰδοὺ ἄνθρωπος φάγος καὶ οἰνοπότης, τελωνῶν φίλος καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν. καὶ ἐδικαιώθη ἡ σοφία ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων αὐτῆς ηλθεν ο υιος του ανθρωπου εσθιων και πινων και λεγουσιν ιδου ανθρωπος φαγος και οινοποτης τελωνων φιλος και αμαρτωλων και εδικαιωθη η σοφια απο των τεκνων αυτης ηλθεν ο υιος του ανθρωπου εσθιων και πινων και λεγουσιν ιδου ανθρωπος φαγος και οινοποτης τελωνων φιλος και αμαρτωλων και εδικαιωθη η σοφια απο των τεκνων αυτης
σοφία Matthew 13:54 Whence hath this man this wisdom… Where did this man get such wisdom…
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ αὐτῶν, ὥστε ἐκπλήσσεσθαι αὐτοὺς καὶ λέγειν· πόθεν τούτῳ ἡ σοφία αὕτη καὶ αἱ δυνάμεις και ελθων εις την πατριδα αυτου εδιδασκεν αυτους εν τη συναγωγη αυτων ωστε εκπληττεσθαι αυτους και λεγειν ποθεν τουτω η σοφια αυτη και αι δυναμεις και ελθων εις την πατριδα αυτου εδιδασκεν αυτους εν τη συναγωγη αυτων ωστε εκπληττεσθαι αυτους και λεγειν ποθεν τουτω η σοφια αυτη και αι δυναμεις
σοφία Mark 6:2 …what wisdom is this which is given unto him… …what is this wisdom that has been given to him?

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ γενομένου σαββάτου ἤρξατο διδάσκειν ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ, καὶ  πολλοὶ ἀκούοντες ἐξεπλήσσοντο λέγοντες· πόθεν τούτῳ ταῦτα, καὶ τίς ἡ σοφία ἡ δοθεῖσα τούτῳ, καὶ αἱ δυνάμεις τοιαῦται διὰ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ γινόμεναι και γενομενου σαββατου ηρξατο εν τη συναγωγη διδασκειν και πολλοι ακουοντες εξεπλησσοντο λεγοντες ποθεν τουτω ταυτα και τις η σοφια η δοθεισα αυτω οτι[15] και δυναμεις τοιαυται δια των χειρων αυτου γινονται και γενομενου σαββατου ηρξατο εν τη συναγωγη διδασκειν και πολλοι ακουοντες εξεπλησσοντο λεγοντες ποθεν τουτω ταυτα και τις η σοφια η δοθεισα αυτω και δυναμεις τοιαυται δια των χειρων αυτου γινονται
σοφίᾳ Luke 2:40 …filled with wisdom… …filled with wisdom…

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ἠύξανεν καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο πληρούμενον σοφίᾳ, καὶ χάρις θεοῦ ἦν ἐπ᾿ αὐτό το δε παιδιον ηυξανεν και εκραταιουτο πνευματι πληρουμενον σοφιας και χαρις θεου ην επ αυτο το δε παιδιον ηυξανεν και εκραταιουτο πνευματι πληρουμενον σοφιας και χαρις θεου ην επ αυτο
σοφίᾳ Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom… And Jesus increased in wisdom…

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ Ἰησοῦς προέκοπτεν [ἐν τῇ] σοφίᾳ καὶ ἡλικίᾳ καὶ χάριτι παρὰ θεῷ καὶ ἀνθρώποις και ιησους προεκοπτεν σοφια και ηλικια και χαριτι παρα θεω και ανθρωποις και ιησους προεκοπτεν σοφια και ηλικια και χαριτι παρα θεω και ανθρωποις
σοφία Luke 7:35 …wisdom is justified of all her children. …wisdom is vindicated by all her children.
Luke 11:49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God… For this reason also the wisdom of God said…

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡ σοφία τοῦ θεοῦ εἶπεν· ἀποστελῶ εἰς αὐτοὺς προφήτας καὶ ἀποστόλους, καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀποκτενοῦσιν καὶ διώξουσιν δια τουτο και η σοφια του θεου ειπεν αποστελω εις αυτους προφητας και αποστολους και εξ αυτων αποκτενουσιν και εκδιωξουσιν δια τουτο και η σοφια του θεου ειπεν αποστελω εις αυτους προφητας και αποστολους και εξ αυτων αποκτενουσιν και εκδιωξουσιν
σοφίᾳ Acts 6:10 …the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. …the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
Acts 7:22 …Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians… …Moses was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians…

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἐπαιδεύθη Μωϋσῆς [ἐν] πάσῃ σοφίᾳ Ἀιγυπτίων, ἦν δὲ δυνατὸς ἐν λόγοις καὶ ἔργοις αὐτοῦ και επαιδευθη μωσης παση σοφια αιγυπτιων ην δε δυνατος εν λογοις και εν εργοις και επαιδευθη μωσης παση σοφια αιγυπτιων ην δε δυνατος εν λογοις και εργοις
σοφίᾳ 1 Corinthians 1:17 …not with wisdom of words… …and not with clever speech…

NET Parallel Greek

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Byzantine Majority Text
οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν με Χριστὸς βαπτίζειν ἀλλὰ εὐαγγελίζεσθαι, οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ λόγου, ἵνα μὴ κενωθῇ ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ ου γαρ απεστειλεν με χριστος βαπτιζειν αλλ ευαγγελιζεσθαι ουκ εν σοφια λογου ινα μη κενωθη ο σταυρος του χριστου ου γαρ απεστειλεν με χριστος βαπτιζειν αλλ ευαγγελιζεσθαι ουκ εν σοφια λογου ινα μη κενωθη ο σταυρος του χριστου
σοφίᾳ 1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God… For since in the wisdom of God…
σοφία 1 Corinthians 1:30 …who of God is made unto us wisdom… …who became for us wisdom from God…
σοφίᾳ 1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men… …that your faith would not be based on human wisdom…
σοφία 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For the wisdom of this age[16] is foolishness with God.
σοφίᾳ 2 Corinthians 1:12 …not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God… …not by human wisdom but by the grace of God…

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Ἡ γὰρ καύχησις ἡμῶν αὕτη ἐστίν, τὸ μαρτύριον τῆς συνειδήσεως ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἐν |ἁπλότητι| καὶ εἰλικρινείᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ, [καὶ] οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ σαρκικῇ ἀλλ᾿ ἐν χάριτι θεοῦ, ἀνεστράφημεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, περισσοτέρως δὲ πρὸς ὑμᾶς η γαρ καυχησις ημων αυτη εστιν το μαρτυριον της συνειδησεως ημων οτι εν απλοτητι και ειλικρινεια θεου ουκ εν σοφια σαρκικη αλλ εν χαριτι θεου ανεστραφημεν εν τω κοσμω περισσοτερως δε προς υμας η γαρ καυχησις ημων αυτη εστιν το μαρτυριον της συνειδησεως ημων οτι εν απλοτητι και ειλικρινεια θεου ουκ εν σοφια σαρκικη αλλ εν χαριτι θεου ανεστραφημεν εν τω κοσμω περισσοτερως δε προς υμας
σοφίᾳ Ephesians 1:8 …hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence… …lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.
σοφία Ephesians 3:10 …might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God… … through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed…
σοφίᾳ Colossians 1:9 …in all wisdom and spiritual understanding… …in all spiritual wisdom and understanding…
Colossians 1:28 …teaching every man in all wisdom… …teaching all people with all wisdom…

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὃν ἡμεῖς καταγγέλλομεν νουθετοῦντες πάντα ἄνθρωπον καὶ διδάσκοντες πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ, ἵνα παραστήσωμεν πάντα ἄνθρωπον τέλειον ἐν Χριστῷ ον ημεις καταγγελλομεν νουθετουντες παντα ανθρωπον και διδασκοντες παντα ανθρωπον εν παση σοφια ινα παραστησωμεν παντα ανθρωπον τελειον εν χριστω ιησου ον ημεις καταγγελλομεν νουθετουντες παντα ανθρωπον και διδασκοντες παντα ανθρωπον εν παση σοφια ινα παραστησωμεν παντα ανθρωπον τελειον εν χριστω ιησου
σοφίᾳ Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom… …teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom…

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Byzantine Majority Text
Ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν πλουσίως, ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς, ψαλμοῖς ὕμνοις ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς ἐν [τῇ] χάριτι ᾄδοντες ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν τῷ θεῷ ο λογος του χριστου ενοικειτω εν υμιν πλουσιως εν παση σοφια διδασκοντες και νουθετουντες εαυτους ψαλμοις και υμνοις και ωδαις πνευματικαις εν χαριτι αδοντες εν τη καρδια υμων τω κυριω ο λογος του χριστου ενοικειτω εν υμιν πλουσιως εν παση σοφια διδασκοντες και νουθετουντες εαυτους ψαλμοις και υμνοις και ωδαις πνευματικαις εν χαριτι αδοντες εν τη καρδια υμων τω κυριω
σοφίᾳ Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without… Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders…
σοφία James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above… Such wisdom does not come from above…

NET Parallel Greek

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Byzantine Majority Text
οὐκ ἔστιν αὕτη ἡ σοφία ἄνωθεν κατερχομένη ἀλλὰ ἐπίγειος, ψυχική, δαιμονιώδης ουκ εστιν αυτη η σοφια ανωθεν κατερχομενη αλλ επιγειος ψυχικη δαιμονιωδης ουκ εστιν αυτη η σοφια ανωθεν κατερχομενη αλλ επιγειος ψυχικη δαιμονιωδης
σοφία James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure… But the wisdom from above is first pure…

NET Parallel Greek

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Byzantine Majority Text
ἡ δὲ ἄνωθεν σοφία πρῶτον μὲν ἁγνή ἐστιν, ἔπειτα εἰρηνική, ἐπιεικής, εὐπειθής, μεστὴ ἐλέους καὶ καρπῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἀδιάκριτος, ἀνυπόκριτος η δε ανωθεν σοφια πρωτον μεν αγνη εστιν επειτα ειρηνικη επιεικης ευπειθης μεστη ελεους και καρπων αγαθων αδιακριτος και ανυποκριτος η δε ανωθεν σοφια πρωτον μεν αγνη εστιν επειτα ειρηνικη επιεικης ευπειθης μεστη ελεους και καρπων αγαθων αδιακριτος και ανυποκριτος
σοφία Revelation 7:12 Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving… Praise and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving…
Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. This calls for wisdom…

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Byzantine Majority Text
Ωδε ἡ σοφία ἐστίν ὁ ἔχων νοῦν ψηφισάτω τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ θηρίου, ἀριθμὸς γὰρ ἀνθρώπου ἐστίν, καὶ ὁ ἀριθμὸς αὐτοῦ ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ ωδε η σοφια εστιν ο εχων τον νουν ψηφισατω τον αριθμον του θηριου αριθμος γαρ ανθρωπου εστιν και ο αριθμος αυτου χξς ωδε η σοφια εστιν ο εχων νουν ψηφισατω τον αριθμον του θηριου αριθμος γαρ ανθρωπου εστιν και ο αριθμος αυτου εστιν χξς

[1] Matthew 23:30 (NET)

[2] Luke 11:49 (NET)

[3] https://www.ntgreek.org/learn_nt_greek/verbs1.htm#SUBJUNCTIVE

[4] Philippians 3:10, 11 (NET)

[5] The Greek word translated meddler (NIV), busybody in other men’s matters (KJV), or troublemaker (NET) was ἀλλοτριεπίσκοπος, and is notable for its mention along with a murderer or thief or criminal.

[6] Acts 5:41b (NET) Table

[7] Robert A. Dahl, “The Concept of Power”

[8] Michael Valdivieso, “Three dimensions of power,” September 28, 2014, International Association for Political Science Students

[9] 1 John 5:19b (NET)

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

[11] John 4:14b (NET)

[12] John 8:44a (NET)

[13] John 3:3 (NET) Table

[14] John 3:7 (NET)

[15] The word οτι (τούτῳ may have the same effect as αυτω οτι) in the Stephanus Textus Receptus relates the δυναμεις to the σοφια: …that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands (KJV); What are these miracles that are done through his hands? (NET)  Consider this in relation to deeds being the children of wisdom.

[16] Matthew 24:3