Romans, Part 91

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 causesto 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 sinThey 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 Godrevealed 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 teachingGod’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 teachingFor 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, 11Romans 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 || 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: Lookon).

[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 arebecome unprofitable).

[58] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article 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)

Son of God – 1 John, Part 3

Dear friends, John wrote to fellow believers, let us love (ἀγαπῶμεν, a form of ἀγαπάω)[1] one another, because love (ἀγάπη)[2] is from God, and everyone who loves (ἀγαπῶν, another form of ἀγαπάω) has been fathered (γεγέννηται, a form of γεννάω)[3] by God and knows (γινώσκει, a form of γινώσκω)[4] God.[5]  John used the word ἀγαπῶμεν over and over again in his letters to describe this love (ἀγάπη).

For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love (ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους) one another[6]  We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love (ὅτι ἀγαπῶμεν τοὺς ἀδελφούς) our fellow Christians.[7]  Little children, let us not love (μὴ ἀγαπῶμεν λόγῳ μηδὲ τῇ γλώσσῃ) with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.[8]  Now this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love (καὶ ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους) one another, just as he gave us the commandment.[9]  No one has seen God at any time.  If we love (ἐὰν ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους) one another, God resides in us, and his love (ἀγάπη) is perfected in us.[10]  We love (ἡμεῖς ἀγαπῶμεν) because he loved (ἠγάπησεν, another form of ἀγαπάω) us first.[11]  By this we know that we love (ὅτι ἀγαπῶμεν τὰ τέκνα τοῦ θεοῦ) the children of God: whenever we love (ὅταν τὸν θεὸν ἀγαπῶμεν καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ποιῶμεν) God and obey his commandments.[12]  But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love (ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους)[13] one another.[14]

This love (ἀγάπη) is from God,[15] not from us.  It is the love (ἀγάπη) that does no wrong to a neighbor, and the love (ἀγάπη) that is the fulfillment of the law.[16]  It is the love (ἀγάπη) that is patient, the love (ἀγάπη) that is kind, and the love (ἀγάπη) that does not brag.[17]  It is the love (ἀγάπη) that never ends as opposed to prophecies, tongues and knowledge that will be set aside.[18]  It is one of the three that remain along with faith and hope, but the greatest of these is love (ἀγάπη).[19]  It is the love (ἀγάπη) of Christ[20] that controls (συνέχει, a form of συνέχω)[21] us,[22] and it is the love that holds the preeminent place in the fruit of his Spirit: But the fruit of the Spirit is love (ἀγάπη), joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.[23]

John emphasized, everyone who loves has been fathered (γεγέννηται, a form of γεννάω) by God and knows (γινώσκει, a form of γινώσκω) God.[24]  The person who does not love (ἀγαπῶν, another form of ἀγαπάω) me, Jesus said, does not obey (τηρεῖ, a form of τηρέω)[25] my words.  And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.[26]  And Paul wrote, the one who loves (ἀγαπῶν, another form of ἀγαπάω) his neighbor has fulfilled the law.[27]

This love is the natural (e.g., super-natural) state of those born (γεννηθῇ, another form of  γεννάω) from above,[28] born (γεννηθῇ) of water and spirit,[29] not born (ἐγεννήθησαν, another form of  γεννάω) by human parents (οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων, literally, “not out of blood”) or by human desire (οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς, literally, “neither out from the will of the flesh”) or a husband’s decision (οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς, literally, “neither out from the will of a husband”), but by God (ἀλλ᾿ ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν, literally, “but out from God born”).[30]

If you know (εἰδῆτε, a form of εἴδω)[31] that he is righteous, John wrote, you also know (γινώσκετε, another form of γινώσκω) that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered (γεγέννηται) by him.[32]  Everyone who has been fathered (γεγεννημένος, another form of γεννάω) by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered (γεγέννηται) by God.[33]  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered (γεγέννηται, a form of γεννάω) by God[34]

I am the good shepherd, Jesus said.  I know (γινώσκω) my own and my own know (γινώσκουσι, another form of γινώσκω) me – just as the Father knows (γινώσκει, another form of γινώσκω) me and I know (γινώσκω) the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.[35]  And John added, The person who does not love (ἀγαπῶν, another form of ἀγαπάω) does not know (ἔγνω, another form of γινώσκω) God, because God is love (ἀγάπη).[36]  The point here is not for me to act like a hypocrite and turn Paul’s definition of  ἀγάπη into a list of rules I strive to obey to con people into believing that I have been fathered by God.  The point is for me to believe Him and receive all that He has given to me in Christ.

By this the love (ἀγάπη) of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him.  In this is love (ἀγάπη): not that we have loved (ἠγαπήκαμεν, another form of ἀγαπάω) God, but that he loved (ἠγάπησεν, another form of ἀγαπάω) us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.[37]

Dear friends (Ἀγαπητοί, a form of ἀγαπητός),[38] John continued, if God so loved (ἠγάπησεν, another form of ἀγαπάω) us, then we also ought to love (ἀγαπᾶν, another form of ἀγαπάω) one another.  No one has seen God at any time.  If we love (ἀγαπῶμεν, another form of ἀγαπάω) one another, God resides in us, and his love (ἀγάπη) is perfected in us.[39]  Once again, lest I stray into hypocrisy believing that this ἀγάπη originates with me so that I may prove that God resides in me, John made it plain.  By this we know (γινώσκομεν, another form of γινώσκω) that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit,[40] both gifts and fruit.  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world,[41] i.e., through his ἀγάπη (God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him).

Then John connected knowing and believing this ἀγάπη with confessing that Jesus is the Son of God:  If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God.  And we have come to know (ἐγνώκαμεν, another form of γινώσκω) and to believe (πεπιστεύκαμεν, a form of πιστεύω)[42] the love (ἀγάπην, another form of ἀγάπη) that God has in us [Table].[43]  I began this study of the Son of God because I was curious[44] how Peter, James and John followed through on Jesus’ command to tell (after his resurrection)[45] about the vision when a voice from the cloud said, “This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight.  Listen to him!”[46]

Peter obeyed Jesus’ command to the letter.  He recounted the story of the transfiguration.[47]  But John wrote more in the spirit of Jesus’ command about the Son of God and all that meant.  From the very beginning of his ministry Paul proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God: For several days [Paul][48] was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “This man is the Son of God.”[49]  And the writings of John and Paul most vividly portray the truth, And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us.  I can’t say much about Peter’s knowledge or faith, but his writing did not convey this same knowledge and faith in God’s love.

You have not seen him, Peter wrote, but you love (ἀγαπᾶτε, a form of ἀγαπάω) him.  You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls.[50]  This sounds like my feeling for Jesus rather than his ἀγάπη in usYou have purified your souls by obeying the truth, Peter continued, in order to show sincere mutual love (φιλαδελφίαν, a form of φιλαδελφία).  So love (ἀγαπήσατε, a form of ἀγαπάω) one another earnestly from a pure heart.[51]  This sounds like our love for each other.  Perhaps brotherly affection and ἀγάπη were essentially interchangeable in the Greek language when Peter wrote.  But this usage doesn’t indicate any appreciation for the meaning that Paul ascribed to the ἀγάπη from God, or that John carried forward in his Gospel and letters.

Peter continued to make brotherly affection equivalent to ἀγάπη.  Honor all people, love (ἀγαπᾶτε, a form of ἀγαπάω) the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.[52]  Above all keep your love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη) for one another fervent, because love (ἀγάπη) covers a multitude of sins.[53]  The love in this quotation of Proverbs 10:12 was φιλία[54] in the Septuagint not ἀγάπη.  And Peter used ἀγάπη to describe a religious rite: Greet one another with a loving (ἀγάπης, a form of ἀγάπη) kiss.[55]

He did grant some ascendency to ἀγάπη over φιλαδελφίᾳ (brotherly affection) when he wrote, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection (φιλαδελφίαν, a form of φιλαδελφίᾳ); to brotherly affection (φιλαδελφίᾳ), unselfish love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη).[56]  But while I was busy adding all of these things to my faith I failed to understand that God’s 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.[57]  Or I thought the rich knowledge of the one who called us and the key to this life and godliness was the law.  

In other words I mistook the knowledge of sin[58] for the knowledge of God,[59] that intimate form of knowing alluded to in Romans 7:4, God is ἀγάπη,[60] ἀγάπη is from God,[61] and ἀγάπη is the fulfillment (πλήρωμα;[62] fulfilling KJV) of the law.[63]  Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets, Jesus said.  I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill (πληρῶσαι, a form of πληρόω)[64] them.[65]  Apart from Paul’s and John’s writings I never would have understood that this ἀγάπη from God was the fruit of the Spirit, and, in a word, the credited righteousness of God.

God is love, John wrote, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him [Table].  By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.  There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.  We love because he loved us first.[66]  For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments.  And his commandments do not weigh us down, because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world.  This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith [i.e., in Him, yes, and in this love (ἀγάπην, another form of ἀγάπη) that God has in us].  Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?[67]

If we accept the testimony of men, John continued, the testimony of God is greater [referring, I think, to the vision of the transfiguration], because this is the testimony of God that he has testified concerning his Son.  (The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.)[68]  And this is the testimony… And here, I think, John made the ἀγάπη from God functionally equivalent[69] to the life that is eternal (Love never ends).[70]  God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life.  I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.[71]

And finally having received this ἀγάπη from God (Give us today our daily bread[72]):  We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one (πονηρὸς, a form of πονηρός)[73] cannot touch him.  [And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (πονηροῦ, another form of πονηρός).[74]]  We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (πονηρῷ, another form of πονηρός).  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.  This one is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, guard yourselves from idols.[75]

It takes a religious mind to be in close proximity to this ἀγάπη from God and yet reject it for the self-aggrandizing vindication of religious works.  For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.[76]  I’ve been there, and I’ve done 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,  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 him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.[77]


[5] 1 John 4:7 (NET)

[6] 1 John 3:11 (NET)

[7] 1 John 3:14 (NET)

[8] 1 John 3:18 (NET)

[9] 1 John 3:23 (NET)

[10] 1 John 4:12 (NET)

[11] 1 John 4:19 (NET)

[12] 1 John 5:2 (NET)

[13] Why was “should” inserted into 1 John 3:11 (NET)? …that we should love one another… (ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους).  1 John 4:19 (NET) We love because he loved us first (ἡμεῖς ἀγαπῶμεν, ὅτι αὐτὸς πρῶτος ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς).  1 John 5:2 (NET) By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments (ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἀγαπῶμεν τὰ τέκνα τοῦ θεοῦ, ὅταν τὸν θεὸν ἀγαπῶμεν καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ποιῶμεν).

[14] 2 John 1:5 (NET)

[15] 1 John 4:7 (NET)

[16] Romans 13:10 (NET)

[17] 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NET)

[18] 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NET)

[19] 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NET)

[20] NET note: “The phrase ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ (Jh agaph tou Cristou, “the love of Christ”) could be translated as either objective genitive (‘our love for Christ’) or subjective genitive (‘Christ’s love for us’). Either is grammatically possible, but with the reference to Christ’s death for all in the following clauses, a subjective genitive (‘Christ’s love for us’) is more likely.”

[22] 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NET)

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

[24] 1 John 4:7 (NET)

[26] John 14:24 (NET)

[27] Romans 13:8 (NET)

[28] John 3:3 (NET)

[29] John 3:5 (NET)

[30] John 1:13 (NET)

[32] 1 John 2:29 (NET)

[33] 1 John 3:9 (NET)

[34] 1 John 5:1a (NET)

[35] John 10:14, 15 (NET)

[36] 1 John 4:8 (NET)

[37] 1 John 4:9, 10 (NET)

[39] 1 John 4:11, 12 (NET)

[40] 1 John 4:13 (NET)

[41] 1 John 4:14 (NET)

[43] 1 John 4:15, 16a (NET)

[46] Matthew 17:5 (NET)

[47] 2 Peter 1:16-18

[48] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο σαυλος (KJV: Saul) nere.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[49] Acts 9:19b, 20 (NET) Table

[50] 1 Peter 1:8, 9 (NET)

[51] 1 Peter 1:22 (NET)

[52] 1 Peter 2:17 (NET)

[53] 1 Peter 4:8 (NET) Table

[55] 1 Peter 5:14a (NET)

[56] 2 Peter 1:5-7 (NET)

[57] 2 Peter 1:3 (NET)

[61] 1 John 4:7 (NET); love comes from God (CEV, GWT, ISVNT, TEV, TMSG); love has its origin in God (MSNT), Greek: ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν (“because this love [1) out of, from, by, away from] the God is”)

[65] Matthew 5:17 (NET)

[66] 1 John 4:16b-19 (NET)

[67] 1 John 5:3-5 (NET)

[68] 1 John 5:9, 10 (NET)

[71] 1 John 5:11-13 (NET)

[72] Matthew 6:11 (NET)

[74] Matthew 6:13 (NET)

[75] 1 John 5:18-21 (NET) Table (v. 18)

[76] Romans 10:3 (NET)

[77] Philippians 3:8-11 (NET)