Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Part 3

I intend to become much more familiar with the Greek translation of יְהֹוָ֨ה (yehôvâh) and יֱהֹוִה֙ (yehôvih) in the Septuagint.  To do that I decided to start at the beginning, noting all divine references.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 1:1, 2 (Tanakh) Genesis 1:1, 2 (NET) Genesis 1:1, 2 (NETS)

Genesis 1:1, 2 (English Elpenor)

IN THE beginning G-d (אֱלֹהִ֑ים) created the heaven and the earth. In the beginning God (‘elohiym, אלהים) created the heavens and the earth. In the beginning God (θεὸς) made the sky and the earth. IN the beginning God (Θεὸς) made the heaven and the earth.
Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit (וְר֣וּחַ) of G-d (אֱלֹהִ֔ים) hovered over the face of the waters. Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit (ruwach, ורוח) of God (‘elohiym, אלהים) was moving over the surface of the water. Yet the earth was invisible and unformed, and darkness was over the abyss, and a divine (θεοῦ) wind (πνεῦμα) was being carried along the water. But the earth was unsightly and unfurnished, and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit (πνεῦμα) of God (Θεοῦ) moved over the water.

Thus far I have the plural אֱלֹהִ֑ים (‘elohiym, translated Θεὸς, God) and וְר֣וּחַ (ruwach, translated πνεῦμα, spirit, wind) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (‘elohiym, translated Θεοῦ, of God, divine).  I was raised on an abbreviated version of Lord Acton’s maxim:

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority, still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.

It’s difficult to say now if I would’ve learned more from this fuller treatment or rebelled more against it.  Still, I find myself searching almost instinctively for a limit on the power and authority of אֱלֹהִ֔ים (‘elohiym).

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 1:3-5 (Tanakh) Genesis 1:3-5 (NET) Genesis 1:3-5 (NETS)

Genesis 1:3-5 (English Elpenor)

And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֖ים) said: ‘Let there be light’ And there was light. God (‘elohiym, אלהים) said, “Let there be light.”  And there was light! And God (θεός) said, “Let light come into being.”  And light came into being. And God (Θεός) said, Let there be light, and there was light.
And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֛ים) saw the light, that it was good; and G-d (אֱלֹהִ֔ים) divided the light from the darkness. God (‘elohiym, אלהים) saw that the light was good, so God (‘elohiym, אלהים) separated the light from the darkness. And God (θεὸς) saw the light, that it was good.  And God (θεὸς) separated between the light and between the darkness. And God (Θεὸς) saw the light that it was good, and God (Θεὸς) divided between the light and the darkness.
And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֤ים) called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night And there was evening and there was morning, one day. God (‘elohiym, אלהים) called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”  There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day. And God (θεὸς) called the light Day and the darkness he called Night.  And it came to be evening, and it came to be morning, day one. And God (Θεὸς) called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night, and there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

The Hebrew word translated good was ט֑וֹב (towb).  It was translated καλόν (a form of καλός) in the Septuagint.  This beautiful good could be the limit I seek on the power and authority of אֱלֹהִ֔ים (‘elohiym).  Granted, its meaning is his own.  But I’ll take what I can get in the face of such fearful power and authority.

Years ago, studying this opening chapter, I realized it wasn’t instructional in the sense that I could read it and then go out and create the heaven and the earth.  Encouraged by Paul’s instruction to Timothy—Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness [Table], that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good (ἀγαθὸν, a form of ἀγαθός) work[1]—I was casting about for some useful instruction here.  It dawned on me finally that this chapter describes the word of God (before sin entered the world through one man and death through sin[2]).

And G-d said: ‘Let there be light’ And there was light.[3]  God’s word is powerful: He spoke and it happened as He said.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 1:6-8 (Tanakh) Genesis 1:6-8 (NET) Genesis 1:6-8 (NETS)

Genesis 1:6-8 (English Elpenor)

And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֔ים) said: ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters’. God (‘elohiym, אלהים) said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters and let it separate water from water.” And God (θεός) said, “Let a firmament come into being in the midst of the water, and let it be a separator between water and water.” And God (Θεός) said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water, and let it be a division between water and water, and it was so.
And G-d (אֱלֹהִים֘) made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. So God (‘elohiym, אלהים) made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it.  It was so. And God (θεὸς) made the firmament, and God (θεὸς) separated between the water that was under the firmament and between the water that was above the firmament. And God (Θεὸς) made the firmament, and God (Θεὸς) divided between the water which was under the firmament and the water which was above the firmament.
And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֛ים) called the firmament Heaven And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. God (‘elohiym, אלהים) called the expanse “sky.”  There was evening, and there was morning, a second day. And God (θεὸς) called the firmament Sky.  And God (θεὸς) saw that it was good.  And it came to be evening, and it came to be morning, a second day. And God (Θεὸς) called the firmament Heaven, and God (Θεὸς) saw that it was good, and there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

The word good (καλόν, a form of καλός) is repeated here in the Septuagint, though not in the Masoretic text.  And G-d said: ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters’.  And G-d made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.[4]  God’s word is true: He did what He said and made it so.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 1:9, 10 (Tanakh) Genesis 1:9, 10 (NET) Genesis 1:9, 10 (NETS)

Genesis 1:9, 10 (English Elpenor)

And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֗ים) said: ‘Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear’ And it was so. God (‘elohiym, אלהים) said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place and let dry ground appear.”  It was so. And God (θεός) said, “Let the water that is under the sky be gathered into one gathering, and let the dry land appear.”  And it became so.  And the water that was under the sky was gathered into their gatherings, and the dry land appeared. And God (Θεός) said, Let the water which is under the heaven be collected into one place, and let the dry land appear, and it was so.  And the water which was under the heaven was collected into its places, and the dry land appeared.
And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֤ים) called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas; and G-d (אֱלֹהִ֖ים) saw that it was good. God (‘elohiym, אלהים) called the dry ground “land” and the gathered waters he called “seas.”  God (‘elohiym, אלהים) saw that it was good. And God (θεὸς) called the dry land Earth, and the systems of the waters he called Seas.  And God (θεὸς) saw that it was good. And God (Θεὸς) called the dry land Earth, and the gatherings of the waters he called Seas, and God (Θεὸς) saw that it was good.

Here both the Masoretic text and Septuagint reiterated the qualifier good (towb, טֽוֹב; καλόν, a form of καλός) and the power of God’s word: And G-d said: ‘Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear’ And it was so.[5]  His power and authority (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25) were described vividly in the Septuagint: And the water which was under the heaven was collected into its places, and the dry land appeared.[6]

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 1:11-13 (Tanakh) Genesis 1:11-13 (NET) Genesis 1:11-13 (NETS)

Genesis 1:11-13 (English Elpenor)

And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֗ים) said: ‘Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit-tree bearing fruit after its kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth’ And it was so. God (‘elohiym, אלהים) said, “Let the land produce vegetation: plants yielding seeds and trees on the land bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds.”  It was so. And God (θεός) said, “Let the earth put forth herbaceous vegetation, seeding seed according to kind and according to likeness, and a fruit-bearing tree producing fruit of which its seed is in it according to kind, on the earth.”  And it became so. And God (Θεός) said, Let the earth bring forth the herb of grass bearing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and the fruit-tree bearing fruit whose seed is in it, according to its kind on the earth, and it was so.
And the earth brought forth grass, herb yielding seed after its kind, and tree bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after its kind; and G-d (אֱלֹהִ֖ים) saw that it was good. The land produced vegetation—plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.  God (‘elohiym, אלהים) saw that it was good. And the earth brought forth herbaceous vegetation, seeding seed according to kind and according to likeness, and a fruit-bearing tree producing fruit of which its seed is in it according to kind, on the earth.  And God (θεὸς) saw that it was good. And the earth brought forth the herb of grass bearing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and the fruit tree bearing fruit whose seed is in it, according to its kind on the earth, and God (Θεός) saw that it was good.
And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. There was evening, and there was morning, a third day. And it came to be evening, and it came to be morning, a third day. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

Again, both the Masoretic text and Septuagint reiterated the qualifier good (towb, טֽוֹב; καλόν, a form of καλός).  And G-d said: ‘Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit-tree bearing fruit after its kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth’ And it was so.  And the earth brought forth grass, herb yielding seed after its kind, and tree bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after its kind; and G-d saw that it was good.[7]  God’s word is authoritative: He spoke and the earth obeyed Him.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 1:14-19 (Tanakh) Genesis 1:14-19 (NET) Genesis 1:14-19 (NETS)

Genesis 1:14-19 (English Elpenor)

And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֗ים) said: ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; God (‘elohiym, אלהים) said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years, And God (θεός) said, “Let luminaries come into being in the firmament of the sky for illumination of the earth, to separate between the day and between the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years, And God (Θεός) said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, to divide between day and night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years.
and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth’ And it was so. and let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.”  It was so. and let them be for illumination in the firmament of the sky so as to give light upon the earth.  And it became so. And let them be for light in the firmament of the heaven, so as to shine upon the earth, and it was so.
And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֔ים) made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; and the stars. God (‘elohiym, אלהים) made two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night.  He made the stars also. And God (θεὸς) made the two great luminaries, the great luminary for rulership of the day and the lesser luminary for rulership of the night, and the stars. And God (Θεὸς) made the two great lights, the greater light for regulating the day and the lesser light for regulating the night, the stars also.
And G-d (אֱלֹהִ֖ים) set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, God (‘elohiym, אלהים) placed the lights in the expanse of the sky to shine on the earth, And God (θεὸς) set them in the firmament of the sky so as to give light upon the earth And God (Θεὸς) placed them in the firmament of the heaven, so as to shine upon the earth,
and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and G-d (אֱלֹהִ֖ים) saw that it was good. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God (‘elohiym, אלהים) saw that it was good. and to rule the day and the night and to separate between the light and between the darkness.  And God (θεὸς) saw that it was good. and to regulate day and night, and to divide between the light and the darkness.  And God (Θεός) saw that it was good.
And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. There was evening, and there was morning, a fourth day. And it came to be evening, and it came to be morning, a fourth day. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

Here is another example of the truth of God’s word: He did what He said and made it so.  And good occurs in both the Masoretic text (towb, טֽוֹב) and Septuagint (καλόν, a form of καλός).  Jesus gave the following insight how the beautiful goodness of the works of אֱלֹהִ֖ים (‘elohiym) serves to limit the abuses of power and authority one expects of human rule (Matthew 5:43-48 NET):

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you [Table], so that you may be like your Father in heaven,[8] since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they?  And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do?  Even the Gentiles[9] do the same, don’t they?  So then, be perfect (τέλειοι, a form of τέλειος), as[10] your heavenly[11] Father is perfect (τέλειος).

The origin and development stories[12] of the socially constructed reality I inhabit deny the truth, power and authority of the word of אֱלֹהִ֔ים (‘elohiym).  Though the work of creation scientists has helped me break through this intellectual barrier to faith, these days I find it is quicker to imagine standing before the judgment seat of Christ and using any aspect[13] of these stories as an excuse for having disbelieved Him.  To paraphrase Paul (Galatians 3:1-5): Did I receive the Spirit—and a continuous infusion of God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—by socially constructed origin and development stories or by believing what I heard in Christ?

I’ll pick this up in another essay.

Tables comparing Genesis 1:1; 1:2; 1:3; 1:4; 1:5; 1:6; 1:7; 1:8; 1:9; 1:10; 1:11; 1:12; 1:13; 1:14; 1:15; 1:16; 1:17; 1:18 and 1:19 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET; and tables comparing Genesis 1:1; 1:2; 1:3; 1:4; 1:5; 1:6; 1:7; 1:8; 1:9; 1:10; 1:11; 1:12; 1:13; 1:14; 1:15; 1:16; 1:17; 1:18 and 1:19 in the BLB and Elpenor versions of the Septuagint with the English translations from Hebrew and Greek follow.  Following these are tables comparing Matthew 5:45 and 5:47, 48 in the NET and KJV.

Genesis 1:1 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:1 (KJV)

Genesis 1:1 (NET)

IN THE beginning G-d created the heaven and the earth. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐν ἀρχῇ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν ΕΝ ἀρχῇ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν

Genesis 1:1 (NETS)

Genesis 1:1 (English Elpenor)

In the beginning God made the sky and the earth. IN the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:2 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:2 (KJV)

Genesis 1:2 (NET)

Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of G-d hovered over the face of the waters. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water.

Genesis 1:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἡ δὲ γῆ ἦν ἀόρατος καὶ ἀκατασκεύαστος καὶ σκότος ἐπάνω τῆς ἀβύσσου καὶ πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἐπεφέρετο ἐπάνω τοῦ ὕδατος ἡ δὲ γῆ ἦν ἀόρατος καὶ ἀκατασκεύαστος, καὶ σκότος ἐπάνω τῆς ἀβύσσου, καὶ πνεῦμα Θεοῦ ἐπεφέρετο ἐπάνω τοῦ ὕδατος

Genesis 1:2 (NETS)

Genesis 1:2 (English Elpenor)

Yet the earth was invisible and unformed, and darkness was over the abyss, and a divine wind was being carried along the water. But the earth was unsightly and unfurnished, and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God moved over the water.

Genesis 1:3 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:3 (KJV)

Genesis 1:3 (NET)

And G-d said: ‘Let there be light’ And there was light. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. God said, “Let there be light.”  And there was light!

Genesis 1:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός γενηθήτω φῶς καὶ ἐγένετο φῶς καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεός· γενηθήτω φῶς· καὶ ἐγένετο φῶς

Genesis 1:3 (NETS)

Genesis 1:3 (English Elpenor)

And God said, “Let light come into being.”  And light came into being. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.

Genesis 1:4 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:4 (KJV)

Genesis 1:4 (NET)

And G-d saw the light, that it was good; and G-d divided the light from the darkness. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. God saw that the light was good, so God separated the light from the darkness.

Genesis 1:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶδεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ φῶς ὅτι καλόν καὶ διεχώρισεν ὁ θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ φωτὸς καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σκότους καὶ εἶδεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸ φῶς, ὅτι καλόν· καὶ διεχώρισεν ὁ Θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ φωτὸς καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σκότους

Genesis 1:4 (NETS)

Genesis 1:4 (English Elpenor)

And God saw the light, that it was good.  And God separated between the light and between the darkness. And God saw the light that it was good, and God divided between the light and the darkness.

Genesis 1:5 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:5 (KJV)

Genesis 1:5 (NET)

And G-d called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night And there was evening and there was morning, one day. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”  There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day.

Genesis 1:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ φῶς ἡμέραν καὶ τὸ σκότος ἐκάλεσεν νύκτα καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωί ἡμέρα μία καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸ φῶς ἡμέραν καὶ τὸ σκότος ἐκάλεσε νύκτα. καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωΐ, ἡμέρα μία

Genesis 1:5 (NETS)

Genesis 1:5 (English Elpenor)

And God called the light Day and the darkness he called Night.   And it came to be evening, and it came to be morning, day one. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night, and there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Genesis 1:6 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:6 (KJV)

Genesis 1:6 (NET)

And G-d said: ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters’. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters and let it separate water from water.”

Genesis 1:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός γενηθήτω στερέωμα ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ ὕδατος καὶ ἔστω διαχωρίζον ἀνὰ μέσον ὕδατος καὶ ὕδατος καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεός· γενηθήτω στερέωμα ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ ὕδατος καὶ ἔστω διαχωρίζον ἀνὰ μέσον ὕδατος καὶ ὕδατος. καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως

Genesis 1:6 (NETS)

Genesis 1:6 (English Elpenor)

And God said, “Let a firmament come into being in the midst of the water, and let it be a separator between water and water.” And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water, and let it be a division between water and water, and it was so.

Genesis 1:7 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:7 (KJV)

Genesis 1:7 (NET)

And G-d made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it.  It was so.

Genesis 1:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ στερέωμα καὶ διεχώρισεν ὁ θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ ὕδατος ὃ ἦν ὑποκάτω τοῦ στερεώματος καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ ἐπάνω τοῦ στερεώματος καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸ στερέωμα, καὶ διεχώρισεν ὁ Θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ ὕδατος, ὃ ἦν ὑποκάτω τοῦ στερεώματος, καὶ ἀναμέσον τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ ἐπάνω τοῦ στερεώματος.

Genesis 1:7 (NETS)

Genesis 1:7 (English Elpenor)

And God made the firmament, and God separated between the water that was under the firmament and between the water that was above the firmament. And God made the firmament, and God divided between the water which was under the firmament and the water which was above the firmament.

Genesis 1:8 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:8 (KJV)

Genesis 1:8 (NET)

And G-d called the firmament Heaven And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. And God called the firmament Heaven.  And the evening and the morning were the second day. God called the expanse “sky.”  There was evening, and there was morning, a second day.

Genesis 1:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ στερέωμα οὐρανόν καὶ εἶδεν ὁ θεὸς ὅτι καλόν καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωί ἡμέρα δευτέρα καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸ στερέωμα οὐρανόν. καὶ εἶδεν ὁ Θεός, ὅτι καλόν, καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωΐ, ἡμέρα δευτέρα

Genesis 1:8 (NETS)

Genesis 1:8 (English Elpenor)

And God called the firmament Sky.  And God saw that it was good.  And it came to be evening, and it came to be morning, a second day. And God called the firmament Heaven, and God saw that it was good, and there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

Genesis 1:9 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:9 (KJV)

Genesis 1:9 (NET)

And G-d said: ‘Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear’ And it was so. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place and let dry ground appear.”  It was so.

Genesis 1:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός συναχθήτω τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ὑποκάτω τοῦ οὐρανοῦ εἰς συναγωγὴν μίαν καὶ ὀφθήτω ἡ ξηρά καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως καὶ συνήχθη τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ὑποκάτω τοῦ οὐρανοῦ εἰς τὰς συναγωγὰς αὐτῶν καὶ ὤφθη ἡ ξηρά Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεός· συναχθήτω τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ὑποκάτω τοῦ οὐρανοῦ εἰς συναγωγὴν μίαν, καὶ ὀφθήτω ἡ ξηρά. καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως. καὶ συνήχθη τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ὑποκάτω τοῦ οὐρανοῦ εἰς τὰς συναγωγὰς αὐτῶν, καὶ ὤφθη ἡ ξηρά

Genesis 1:9 (NETS)

Genesis 1:9 (English Elpenor)

And God said, “Let the water that is under the sky be gathered into one gathering, and let the dry land appear.”  And it became so.  And the water that was under the sky was gathered into their gatherings, and the dry land appeared. And God said, Let the water which is under the heaven be collected into one place, and let the dry land appear, and it was so.  And the water which was under the heaven was collected into its places, and the dry land appeared.

Genesis 1:10 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:10 (KJV)

Genesis 1:10 (NET)

And G-d called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas; and G-d saw that it was good. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. God called the dry ground “land” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ θεὸς τὴν ξηρὰν γῆν καὶ τὰ συστήματα τῶν ὑδάτων ἐκάλεσεν θαλάσσας καὶ εἶδεν ὁ θεὸς ὅτι καλόν καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ Θεὸς τὴν ξηρὰν γῆν καὶ τὰ συστήματα τῶν ὑδάτων ἐκάλεσε θαλάσσας. καὶ εἶδεν ὁ Θεός, ὅτι καλόν

Genesis 1:10 (NETS)

Genesis 1:10 (English Elpenor)

And God called the dry land Earth, and the systems of the waters he called Seas.  And God saw that it was good. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gatherings of the waters he called Seas, and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:11 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:11 (KJV)

Genesis 1:11 (NET)

And G-d said: ‘Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit-tree bearing fruit after its kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth’ And it was so. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: plants yielding seeds and trees on the land bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds.”  It was so.

Genesis 1:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός βλαστησάτω ἡ γῆ βοτάνην χόρτου σπεῗρον σπέρμα κατὰ γένος καὶ καθ᾽ ὁμοιότητα καὶ ξύλον κάρπιμον ποιοῦν καρπόν οὗ τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ κατὰ γένος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεός· βλαστησάτω ἡ γῆ βοτάνην χόρτου σπεῖρον σπέρμα κατὰ γένος καὶ καθ᾿ ὁμοιότητα, καὶ ξύλον κάρπιμον ποιοῦν καρπόν, οὗ τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ κατὰ γένος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως

Genesis 1:11 (NETS)

Genesis 1:11 (English Elpenor)

And God said, “Let the earth put forth herbaceous vegetation, seeding seed according to kind and according to likeness, and a fruit-bearing tree producing fruit of which its seed is in it according to kind, on the earth.”  And it became so. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the herb of grass bearing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and the fruit-tree bearing fruit whose seed is in it, according to its kind on the earth, and it was so.

Genesis 1:12 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:12 (KJV)

Genesis 1:12 (NET)

And the earth brought forth grass, herb yielding seed after its kind, and tree bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after its kind; and G-d saw that it was good. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. The land produced vegetation—plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.  God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:12, 13a (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐξήνεγκεν ἡ γῆ βοτάνην χόρτου σπεῗρον σπέρμα κατὰ γένος καὶ καθ᾽ ὁμοιότητα καὶ ξύλον κάρπιμον ποιοῦν καρπόν οὗ τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ κατὰ γένος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ εἶδεν ὁ θεὸς ὅτι καλόν καὶ ἐξήνεγκεν ἡ γῆ βοτάνην χόρτου σπεῖρον σπέρμα κατὰ γένος καὶ καθ᾿ ὁμοιότητα, καὶ ξύλον κάρπιμον ποιοῦν καρπόν, οὗ τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ κατὰ γένος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς (13) καὶ εἶδεν ὁ Θεός, ὅτι καλόν

Genesis 1:12 (NETS)

Genesis 1:12 (English Elpenor)

And the earth brought forth herbaceous vegetation, seeding seed according to kind and according to likeness, and a fruit-bearing tree producing fruit of which its seed is in it according to kind, on the earth.  And God saw that it was good. And the earth brought forth the herb of grass bearing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and the fruit tree bearing fruit whose seed is in it, according to its kind on the earth, and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:13 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:13 (KJV)

Genesis 1:13 (NET)

And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. And the evening and the morning were the third day. There was evening, and there was morning, a third day.

Genesis 1:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:13b (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωί ἡμέρα τρίτη καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωΐ, ἡμέρα τρίτη

Genesis 1:13 (NETS)

Genesis 1:13 (English Elpenor)

And it came to be evening, and it came to be morning, a third day. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

Genesis 1:14 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:14 (KJV)

Genesis 1:14 (NET)

And G-d said: ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years,

Genesis 1:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεός γενηθήτωσαν φωστῆρες ἐν τῷ στερεώματι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ εἰς φαῦσιν τῆς γῆς τοῦ διαχωρίζειν ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς νυκτὸς καὶ ἔστωσαν εἰς σημεῗα καὶ εἰς καιροὺς καὶ εἰς ἡμέρας καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτοὺς Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεός· γενηθήτωσαν φωστῆρες ἐν τῷ στερεώματι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ εἰς φαῦσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τοῦ διαχωρίζειν ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς νυκτός· καὶ ἔστωσαν εἰς σημεῖα καὶ εἰς καιροὺς καὶ εἰς ἡμέρας καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτούς

Genesis 1:14 (NETS)

Genesis 1:14 (English Elpenor)

And God said, “Let luminaries come into being in the firmament of the sky for illumination of the earth, to separate between the day and between the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years, And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, to divide between day and night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years.

Genesis 1:15 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:15 (KJV)

Genesis 1:15 (NET)

and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth’ And it was so. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. and let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.”  It was so.

Genesis 1:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔστωσαν εἰς φαῦσιν ἐν τῷ στερεώματι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὥστε φαίνειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως καὶ ἔστωσαν εἰς φαῦσιν ἐν τῷ στερεώματι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ὥστε φαίνειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως

Genesis 1:15 (NETS)

Genesis 1:15 (English Elpenor)

and let them be for illumination in the firmament of the sky so as to give light upon the earth.  And it became so. And let them be for light in the firmament of the heaven, so as to shine upon the earth, and it was so.

Genesis 1:16 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:16 (KJV)

Genesis 1:16 (NET)

And G-d made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; and the stars. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. God made two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night.  He made the stars also.

Genesis 1:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τοὺς δύο φωστῆρας τοὺς μεγάλους τὸν φωστῆρα τὸν μέγαν εἰς ἀρχὰς τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸν φωστῆρα τὸν ἐλάσσω εἰς ἀρχὰς τῆς νυκτός καὶ τοὺς ἀστέρας καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς δύο φωστῆρας τοὺς μεγάλους, τὸν φωστῆρα τὸν μέγαν εἰς ἀρχὰς τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸν φωστῆρα τὸν ἐλάσσω εἰς ἀρχὰς τῆς νυκτός, καὶ τοὺς ἀστέρας

Genesis 1:16 (NETS)

Genesis 1:16 (English Elpenor)

And God made the two great luminaries, the great luminary for rulership of the day and the lesser luminary for rulership of the night, and the stars. And God made the two great lights, the greater light for regulating the day and the lesser light for regulating the night, the stars also.

Genesis 1:17 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:17 (KJV)

Genesis 1:17 (NET)

And G-d set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, God placed the lights in the expanse of the sky to shine on the earth,

Genesis 1:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔθετο αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῷ στερεώματι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὥστε φαίνειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἔθετο αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τῷ στερεώματι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ὥστε φαίνειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

Genesis 1:17 (NETS)

Genesis 1:17 (English Elpenor)

And God set them in the firmament of the sky so as to give light upon the earth And God placed them in the firmament of the heaven, so as to shine upon the earth,

Genesis 1:18 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:18 (KJV)

Genesis 1:18 (NET)

and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and G-d saw that it was good. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἄρχειν τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τῆς νυκτὸς καὶ διαχωρίζειν ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ φωτὸς καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σκότους καὶ εἶδεν ὁ θεὸς ὅτι καλόν καὶ ἄρχειν τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τῆς νυκτὸς καὶ διαχωρίζειν ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ φωτὸς καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σκότους. καὶ εἶδεν ὁ Θεός, ὅτι καλόν

Genesis 1:18 (NETS)

Genesis 1:18 (English Elpenor)

and to rule the day and the night and to separate between the light and between the darkness.  And God saw that it was good. and to regulate day and night, and to divide between the light and the darkness.  And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:19 (Tanakh)

Genesis 1:19 (KJV)

Genesis 1:19 (NET)

And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. There was evening, and there was morning, a fourth day.

Genesis 1:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωί ἡμέρα τετάρτη καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωΐ, ἡμέρα τετάρτη

Genesis 1:19 (NETS)

Genesis 1:19 (English Elpenor)

And it came to be evening, and it came to be morning, a fourth day. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

Matthew 5:45 (NET)

Matthew 5:45 (KJV)

so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὅπως γένησθε υἱοὶ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς, ὅτι τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ἀνατέλλει ἐπὶ πονηροὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς καὶ βρέχει ἐπὶ δικαίους καὶ ἀδίκους οπως γενησθε υιοι του πατρος υμων του εν ουρανοις οτι τον ηλιον αυτου ανατελλει επι πονηρους και αγαθους και βρεχει επι δικαιους και αδικους οπως γενησθε υιοι του πατρος υμων του εν τοις ουρανοις οτι τον ηλιον αυτου ανατελλει επι πονηρους και αγαθους και βρεχει επι δικαιους και αδικους

Matthew 5:47, 48 (NET)

Matthew 5:47, 48 (KJV)

And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do?  Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ ἐὰν ἀσπάσησθε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν μόνον, τί περισσὸν ποιεῖτε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ ἐθνικοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν και εαν ασπασησθε τους αδελφους υμων μονον τι περισσον ποιειτε ουχι και οι τελωναι ουτως ποιουσιν και εαν ασπασησθε τους φιλους υμων μονον τι περισσον ποιειτε ουχι και οι τελωναι ουτως ποιουσιν
So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοι ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τέλειος ἐστιν εσεσθε ουν υμεις τελειοι ωσπερ ο πατηρ υμων ο εν τοις ουρανοις τελειος εστιν εσεσθε ουν υμεις τελειοι ωσπερ ο πατηρ υμων ο εν τοις ουρανοις τελειος εστιν

[1] 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 (NET)

[2] Romans 5:12a (NET)

[3] Genesis 1:3 (Tanakh)

[4] Genesis 1:6, 7 (Tanakh)

[5] Genesis 1:9 (Tanakh)

[6] Genesis 1:9b (Elpenor)

[7] Genesis 1:11, 12 (Tanakh)

[8] The Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοις preceding heaven.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

[9] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐθνικοὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τελωναι (KJV: publicans).

[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὡς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ωσπερ (KJV: even as).

[11] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν τοις (KJV: in) preceding heaven(ly).  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[12] From: The Social Construction of Reality, Introduction, by Peter L Berger and Thomas Luckmann, pp. 20, 21: “It is safe to say when sociologists today think of the sociology of knowledge, pro or con, they usually do so in terms of Mann­heim’s formulation of it…Mannheim’s understanding of the sociology of knowledge was much more far-reaching than Scheler’s, possibly because the confrontation with Marxism was more prominent in his work.  Society was here seen as determining not only the appearance but also the content of human ideation, with the exception of mathematics and at least parts of the natural sciences.”

Mannheim’s “exception” sounds like pandering to me.  The natural sciences are the most obvious examples of the social construction of reality, the very things the man in the street takes for granted.  “The man in the street does not ordinarily trouble himself about what is ‘real’ to him and about what he ‘knows’ unless he is stopped short by some sort of problem.  He takes his ‘reality’ and his ‘knowledge’ for granted” (ibid. p.14).

A woman, her reason clearly tormented by personal loss and grief, wrote an obituary blaming the chief law enforcement officers of her state and nation for not enforcing current medical opinion as stringently as she deemed appropriate.  She also judged, and hoped for the condemnation of, any who had not complied with that opinion. Did those who voted for these men truly expect them to use the power of their offices to enforce medical opinion as law?

I didn’t stumble across the obituary this woman wrote for her husband on my own.  It was presented to me as pamphleteering for the U.S. election in November.

And in mathematics: -7(-7) = 7(7) is true.

[13] One of the skills I learned from creation scientists was to actually listen to scientists, not as a student seeking “correct” answers to potential test questions but in a more open (and ultimately more critical) way.  Here are links to two short videos: Dr. Becky Smethurst explains the history of the social construction of reality of the wave-particle duality and speed of light.