A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 10

Posted on April 14, 2024 by admin

My mother told the following story about her firstborn son:

His father worked the evening shift. Perhaps it was the only shift the young man could get. Perhaps he did it deliberately to earn more per hour. She was alone with their infant son in the afternoon in an upstairs city apartment in summer heat. She put her firstborn in a stroller and pushed him up the street to a corner dairy for a chocolate milkshake.

As they sat in the shade outside the dairy, she offered her son his first taste of chocolate milkshake. He grabbed it from her and wouldn’t let go. There wasn’t money for another. She wasn’t at all certain her husband would agree that there had been money for the first one. So, the twenty-three-year-old mother did without while her son drank too much, too soon for one so small.

I’ve heard that story many times. The time I recall most now, I was telling it myself as my sister and I reminisced after Mom’s death. Like Scrooge pleading to “sponge away the writing on this stone,”¹ I tried vainly once again to repent of a deed done before I have any memory of doing it. My sister laughed and said, “She told that story because she thought it was funny. She loves you.”

I’ve reacted to that story many different ways at different times throughout my life. I don’t think it’s funny—not now. Though I don’t recall the event, I am all too familiar with that child. He is the sin that lives in me.² He is the evil…present with me when I want to do good.³ He is the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.⁴ He is unrestrained will: “I want.”

Though I say “unrestrained,” he was constrained somewhat by his stroller and the shortened reach of his chubby little arms. Do you still think he is funny? If I shout it in German, “Ich will!” perhaps you can hear the very worst of Adolf Hitler incipient in that child’s lust, a child who wouldn’t even share a chocolate milkshake with his own mother. Grant him power and he will covet and steal; he will rape and murder; he will try to conquer the world, shrieking a damnable lie: I AM AND THERE IS NO OTHER! No one I know has caused more harm to me or the people I love. And there is no one I would rather see condemned to the lake of fire for all eternity.

In another essay I began to consider the substance or body which cast the shadow of the scape-goat (English Elpenor) or the [goat] to be sent off (NETS) in Leviticus 16:8 (KJV, Septuagint) [Table]. And in another essay I wrote:

Truthfully, my religious mind wants I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin (Romans 7:14b NET) to apply to the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.³ My old man may well be the proximate cause of my unspirituality and slavery to sin, but Paul described an I, as I am seen here and now, that is comprised of both an old man and a new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth:⁴For I want to do the good, he wrote, but I cannot do it.⁵

My sister was right: my mother loved me even before I was “comprised of both an old man and a new man who has been created in God’s image.” She didn’t grab me by the ankles and bash my brains out on the hot pavement that day. The words the only true God spoke through Isaiah the prophet to Cyrus, another old man more powerful than mine, follow:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 45:4-8 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 45:4-8 (NET)	Isaiah 45:4-8 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:4-8 (English Elpenor)
For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect (בְּחִירִ֑י), I have even called thee [e.g., Cyrus] by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.	For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one (bāḥîr, בחירי), I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not submit to me.	For the sake of my servant Iakob and Israel my chosen (τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου), I will call you by name and receive you, but you did not know me,	For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel mine elect (τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου), I will call thee by thy name, and accept thee: but thou hast not known me.
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:	I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.	because I am the Lord God, and there is no other god besides me, and you did not know me,	For I am the Lord God, and there is no other God beside me; I strengthened thee, and thou hast not known me.
That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.	I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the Lord, I have no peer.	so that they who are from the rising of the sun and from its going down may know that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord God, and there is no other.	That they that [come] from the east and they that [come] from the west may know that there is no God but me. I am the Lord God, and there is none beside.
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.	I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.	I am the one who has prepared light and made darkness, who makes peace and creates evils; I am the Lord who does all these things.	I am he that prepared light, and formed darkness; who make peace, and create evil; I am the Lord God, that does all these things.
Drop down, ye heavens, from above (מִמַּ֔עַל), and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.	O sky, rain down from above (maʿal, ממעל)! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the Lord, create it.’”	Let heaven rejoice from above (ἄνωθεν), and let the clouds shower down righteousness; let the earth bring forth mercy, and let it bring forth righteousness as well; I am the Lord who created you.	Let the heaven rejoice from above (ἄνωθεν), and let the clouds rain righteousness: let the earth bring forth, and blossom [with] mercy, and bring forth righteousness likewise: I am the Lord that created thee.

Though I was born evil incarnate,⁵ not yet born from above (γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν),⁶ that evil dwelt by the grace of God in a cute and cuddly package. Most women by the grace of God find that cute and cuddly infant package adorable and appealing. I was born by the grace of God through an intensely intimate process that made my birth and my existence uniquely special to my mother. And so, I lived, not by any virtue of my own, but by the grace of a loving God who gave me a mother who loved me and hoped for me and named me Daniel, that I would grow to stand alone, if necessary, with God.

I’m torn here because I want to get back to studying the Bible but I know my mother would argue with my assessment of myself. It seems obligatory to address how I fooled my mother a large portion, if not most, of the time. I think it boils down to the same thing that surprises me now about the direct honesty of that evil infant. I can only rationalize it as naive ignorance. My earliest memory of my own motivation was that I wanted my mother, my father, anyone, everyone really, to think well of me, to speak well of me. I would attempt to do almost anything to hear their praise.

Trying to please all the people all of the time to win their praise was exhausting and led directly to what some call defiance. My little brother began life with that strategy. It seemed stupid and annoying to me, a waste of time when one is weak and unarmed. If you can’t please all the people all of the time and you can’t kill all the people all of the time, one must compromise: compliance rather than defiance is that compromise.

I tried to the best of my ability to comply as much as I was able with the demands of those I couldn’t kill or intimidate. Compliance can seem like obedience, even righteousness, to those who look on external appearance only. Compliance, to optimize my experience of winning the praise of others, fooled me, too. I wasn’t subtle enough to imagine any righteousness beyond compliance.

Jesus saying, Woe to you⁷ when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things⁸ to the false prophets,⁹ was just word salad to me. But in the right circumstances at the right time and place I could nod and “yea, verily” with the best of them, without ever hearing Jesus’ aspersion on the meaning of my life. Eventually, I was so accustomed to my strategy of maximizing praise and minimizing being screamed at by the minimal level of compliance required, even when I tried to learn from the Bible I only heard what I expected to hear.

John wrote (1 John 5:16 NET):

If anyone sees his fellow Christian (τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ) committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.

The fellow Christian John described here was also an I, as I am seen here and now, an I comprised of both an old man and a new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.¹⁰ This I is not the same as everyone fathered by God (1 John 5:18 NET [Table]):

We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one (ὁ πονηρὸς) cannot touch him.

This I is the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.¹¹ The evil one cannot touch (οὐχ ἅπτεται) him. In other words, the old man and the new man are distinct, though both dwell together within John’s fellow Christian. The Greek word ἅπτεται (NET: touch) is a passive form of ἅπτω in the middle voice: “to fasten to, touch, grab, attach, cling; to reach, get as far as.” To my mind cannot implies οὐ δύναται in Greek: an inability, a lack of power. But this is οὐχ ἅπτεται, “does not touch.” The old man, the devil, evil does not touch the new man, period, end of statement.

Making God the subject of the clause—but God protects the one he has fathered—while not wrong exactly, is not what the Greek actually says. The subject of this clause is ὁ γεννηθεὶς (NET: the one he has fathered): “the one he has fathered protects him.” The NET translators didn’t distinguish¹² between the everyone fathered by God (πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ) who does not sin (οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει) from the fellow Christian¹³ (τὸν ἀδελφὸν; literally, “the brother”) who does.

I assume that ὁ γεννηθεὶς (NET: the one he has fathered) refers to Jesus and his work on the cross in union with the new man who has been created in God’s image,¹⁴ while αὐτόν ¹⁵ (him) refers back to the singular πᾶς (NET: everyone) of everyone fathered by God.¹⁶

John made a similar distinction between his Dear friends (ἀγαπητοί, a form of ἀγαπητός) and the new man earlier in this same letter:

1 John 3:2 (NET)	1 John 3:6 (NET)
Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We¹⁷ know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him because we will see him just as he is.	Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him.
1 John 3:2 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 John 3:6 (NET Parallel Greek)
ἀγαπητοί, νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμεν, καὶ οὔπω ἐφανερώθη τί ἐσόμεθα. οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, ὅμοιοι αὐτῷ ἐσόμεθα, ὅτι ὀψόμεθα αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστιν	πᾶς ὁ ἐν αὐτῷ μένων οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· πᾶς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων οὐχ ἑώρακεν αὐτὸν οὐδὲ ἔγνωκεν αὐτόν

The NET translators chose whenever it is revealed for ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, where the KJV translators chose when he shall appear. Either way, we will be (ἐσόμεθα, a form of εἰμί) like him (i.e., like God, NET or like Jesus, KJV) at some future time because we will see (ὀψόμεθα, a form of ὁράω) him just as he is.¹⁸ This likeness to God or Jesus should, at a minimum, entail not sinning. And John confirmed that everyone who sins has neither seen (ἑώρακεν, another from of ὁράω) him nor known (ἔγνωκεν, a form of γινώσκω) him.¹⁹

Paul echoed and clarified this concept for John’s Dear friends (1 Corinthians 13:12 NET):

For now we see (βλέπομεν, a form of βλέπω) in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know (γινώσκω) in part, but then I will know fully (ἐπιγνώσομαι, a form of ἐπιγινώσκω), just as I have been fully known (ἐπεγνώσθην, another form of ἐπιγινώσκω).

This leads to the conclusion that John’s more absolute—has neither seen him nor known him—denoted everyone who sins (πᾶς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων) as the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.²⁰ Conversely, Everyone who resides in him does not sin, refers to the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.²¹

So, returning to the evil one (ὁ πονηρὸς) cannot touch (οὐχ ἅπτεται) him (αὐτοῦ):²² the NET translators apparently understood αὐτοῦ as a personal pronoun in the genitive case. I am more inclined to understand αὐτοῦ as an adverb: “the evil one does not touch here,” or “there.” In other words, John described the new man as a holy place where God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit meets with the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth as One.

I have lived as the old man, bereft of the new man. I am living as the new man, frustrated at times by that old man. I hope to live as the new man, separated entirely from the old man. When I began to consider the final judgment as a potential deadline for Jesus to have drawn all to Himself, I thought it was mostly for my convenience.

I have no authority or standing to tell Jesus that He can draw no one to Himself afterward, but final judgment is like an event horizon I have difficulty seeing beyond. While I am aware of no Christian theology which addresses Jesus’ drawing of all to Himself, or the impact of that drawing on the judgment of this world and the ruler of this world being driven out, I can’t now go back and pretend that I don’t hear Him saying (John 12:31, 32 NET):

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when (ἐὰν) I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all²³…to myself.

Considering the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires,²⁴ the sin that lives in me,²⁵ as that which cast the shadow of the scape-goat (English Elpenor) or the [goat] to be sent off (NETS) in Leviticus 16:8 (KJV, Septuagint) [Table] adds an interesting line of evidence to that convenience of my choice. Rashi’s commentary to Leviticus 16:8 reads:

And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he-goats: He would place one [he-goat] on his right and one on his left. Then, he would insert both his hands into an urn [which contained two lots, one bearing the inscription “to the Lord” and the other “to Azazel.” These lots were mixed up, and Aaron, with both hands inside the urn] took one lot in his right hand and the other in his left hand, and he would place them upon them [the he-goats]: [The one] upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to the Lord,” would be for God, while the one upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to Azazel,” would be sent off to Azazel. — [Yoma 39a]

Azazel: This is a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, as the Scripture says [in describing Azazel] (verse 22 below),“a precipitous land (אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה),” meaning a cut-off land [i.e., a sheer drop]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:28; Yoma 67b]

Assuming that Rashi was reaching back into an actual institutional memory of this ceremony, Jesus seems to have alluded to it in his description of final judgment (Matthew 25:31-33 NET):

When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people (αὐτοὺς) one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from (ἀπὸ) the goats [Table]. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

I’ll pick this up in another essay.

Tables comparing Isaiah 45:4; 45:5; 45:6; 45:7 and 45:8 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Isaiah 45:4; 45:5; 45:6; 45:7 and 45:8 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Luke 6:26 and 1 John 3:2 in the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 45:4 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 45:4 (KJV)	Isaiah 45:4 (NET)
For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.	For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.	For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one, I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not submit to me.

Isaiah 45:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 45:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἕνεκεν Ιακωβ τοῦ παιδός μου καὶ Ισραηλ τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου ἐγὼ καλέσω σε τῷ ὀνόματί σου καὶ προσδέξομαί σε σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἔγνως με	ἕνεκεν τοῦ παιδός μου ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου, ἐγὼ καλέσω σε τῷ ὀνόματί σου καὶ προσδέξομαί σε, σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἔγνως με
Isaiah 45:4 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:4 (English Elpenor)
For the sake of my servant Iakob and Israel my chosen, I will call you by name and receive you, but you did not know me,	For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel mine elect, I will call thee by thy name, and accept thee: but thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 45:5 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 45:5 (KJV)	Isaiah 45:5 (NET)
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:	I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:	I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.

Isaiah 45:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 45:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι πλὴν ἐμοῦ θεός καὶ οὐκ ᾔδεις με	ὅτι ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεός, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι πλὴν ἐμοῦ Θεός, ἐνίσχυσά σε καὶ οὐκ ᾔδεις με
Isaiah 45:5 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:5 (English Elpenor)
because I am the Lord God, and there is no other god besides me, and you did not know me,	For I am the Lord God, and there is no other God beside me; I strengthened thee, and thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 45:6 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 45:6 (KJV)	Isaiah 45:6 (NET)
That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.	That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.	I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the Lord, I have no peer.

Isaiah 45:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 45:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἵνα γνῶσιν οἱ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν ἡλίου καὶ οἱ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν πλὴν ἐμοῦ ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι	ἵνα γνῶσι οἱ ἀπ᾿ ἀνατολῶν ἡλίου καὶ οἱ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι Θεὸς πλὴν ἐμοῦ· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεός, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι
Isaiah 45:6 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:6 (English Elpenor)
so that they who are from the rising of the sun and from its going down may know that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord God, and there is no other.	That they that [come] from the east and they that [come] from the west may know that there is no God but me. I am the Lord God, and there is none beside.

Isaiah 45:7 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 45:7 (KJV)	Isaiah 45:7 (NET)
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.	I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.	I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.

Isaiah 45:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 45:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγὼ ὁ κατασκευάσας φῶς καὶ ποιήσας σκότος ὁ ποιῶν εἰρήνην καὶ κτίζων κακά ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν ταῦτα πάντα	ἐγὼ ὁ κατασκευάσας φῶς καὶ ποιήσας σκότος, ὁ ποιῶν εἰρήνην καὶ κτίζων κακά· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν πάντα ταῦτα
Isaiah 45:7 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:7 (English Elpenor)
I am the one who has prepared light and made darkness, who makes peace and creates evils; I am the Lord who does all these things.	I am he that prepared light, and formed darkness; who make peace, and create evil; I am the Lord God, that does all these things.

Isaiah 45:8 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 45:8 (KJV)	Isaiah 45:8 (NET)
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.	Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.	O sky, rain down from above! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the Lord, create it.’”

Isaiah 45:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 45:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εὐφρανθήτω ὁ οὐρανὸς ἄνωθεν καὶ αἱ νεφέλαι ῥανάτωσαν δικαιοσύνην ἀνατειλάτω ἡ γῆ ἔλεος καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἀνατειλάτω ἅμα ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ὁ κτίσας σε	εὐφρανθήτω ὁ οὐρανὸς ἄνωθεν, καὶ αἱ νεφέλαι ῥανάτωσαν δικαιοσύνην· ἀνατειλάτω ἡ γῆ καὶ βλαστησάτω ἔλεος, καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἀνατειλάτω ἅμα· ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος ὁ κτίσας σε
Isaiah 45:8 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:8 (English Elpenor)
Let heaven rejoice from above, and let the clouds shower down righteousness; let the earth bring forth mercy, and let it bring forth righteousness as well; I am the Lord who created you.	Let the heaven rejoice from above, and let the clouds rain righteousness: let the earth bring forth, and blossom [with] mercy, and bring forth righteousness likewise: I am the Lord that created thee.

Luke 6:26 (NET)	Luke 6:26 (KJV)
Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets.	Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Luke 6:26 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 6:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 6:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)
οὐαὶ ὅταν ὑμᾶς \|καλῶς\| εἴπωσιν πάντες οἱ ἄνθρωποι· κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ γὰρ ἐποίουν τοῖς ψευδοπροφήταις οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν	ουαι υμιν οταν καλως υμας ειπωσιν παντες οι ανθρωποι κατα ταυτα γαρ εποιουν τοις ψευδοπροφηταις οι πατερες αυτων	ουαι οταν καλως υμας ειπωσιν οι ανθρωποι κατα ταυτα γαρ εποιουν τοις ψευδοπροφηταις οι πατερες αυτων

1 John 3:2 (NET)	1 John 3:2 (KJV)
Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him because we will see him just as he is.	Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3:2 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 John 3:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 John 3:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἀγαπητοί, νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμεν, καὶ οὔπω ἐφανερώθη τί ἐσόμεθα. οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, ὅμοιοι αὐτῷ ἐσόμεθα, ὅτι ὀψόμεθα αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστιν	αγαπητοι νυν τεκνα θεου εσμεν και ουπω εφανερωθη τι εσομεθα οιδαμεν δε οτι εαν φανερωθη ομοιοι αυτω εσομεθα οτι οψομεθα αυτον καθως εστιν	αγαπητοι νυν τεκνα θεου εσμεν και ουπω εφανερωθη τι εσομεθα οιδαμεν δε οτι εαν φανερωθη ομοιοι αυτω εσομεθα οτι οψομεθα αυτον καθως εστιν

Back to Romans, Part 26

Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 8

Back to The Children of Promise, Part 2

¹ From “A Christmas Carol (Part 4)” by Charles Dickens. Movie: A Christmas Carol

² Romans 7:17b (NET) Table; Romans 7:20b (NET) Table

³ Romans 7:21 (NET)

⁴ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

⁵ Psalm 51:5 [Table]

⁶ John 3:7 (NET)

⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had υμιν (KJV: unto you) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not (NET note 87).

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τὰ αὐτὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ταυτα (KJV: so).

⁹ Luke 6:26 (NET)

¹⁰ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

¹¹ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

¹² NET note 49

¹³ 1 John 5:16a (NET)

¹⁴ Ephesians 4:24a (NET)

¹⁵ The NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τηρει εαυτον (KJV: keepeth himself) here. If one does not distinguish (NET note 49) between the new man and the sinning Christian, this becomes unintelligible: “the sinning Christian keepeth himself from sinning.”

¹⁶ 1 John 5:18a (NET) Table

¹⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: but) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁸ 1 John 3:2b (NET)

¹⁹ 1 John 3:6b (NET)

²⁰ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

²¹ Ephesians 4:24b (NET)

²² 1 John 5:18b (NET)

²³ I dropped the word people here, because that limitation is not in the Greek text: πάντας ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν.

²⁴ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

²⁵ Romans 7:20b (NET) Table

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 9

Posted on December 22, 2023 by admin

In another essay I began to consider the substance or body which cast the shadow of the scape-goat (English Elpenor) or the [goat] to be sent off (NETS) in Leviticus 16:8 (Septuagint [Table]). It led me to Paul’s continuing discussion of the death of those who were baptized into Christ Jesus (Romans 7:14-20 NET):

For we know that the law is spiritual—but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin [Table]. For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate. But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me [Table]. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me [Table].

Immediately, I was confronted with my own unbelief. My religious mind rebels against the idea that I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.¹ Why adhere to a religion that renders me unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin? The easiest way to overcome the evangelical penchant of my religious mind to fabricate a religion palatable to unbelievers is to stop thinking about religion and start thinking about truth: Set them apart in the truth, Jesus prayed to his Father; your word is truth.²

Truthfully, my religious mind wants I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin to apply to the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.³ My old man may well be the proximate cause of my unspirituality and slavery to sin, but Paul described an I, as I am seen here and now, that is comprised of both an old man and a new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth:⁴ For I want to do the good, he wrote, but I cannot do it.⁵

Though this saying is too defeatist for my religious mind, its truth is readily apparent when contrasted to the lie told at the inauguration of the law.

Romans 7:18b (NET)	Exodus 19:8b (NET)
For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.	All that the Lord has commanded we will do!

Besides, I do not do the good: For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!⁶

Literally: “For I by law to law died” (ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον). I suppose I’ve wanted this I to be the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires⁷ only, but Paul wrote (Romans 12:1 NET):

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies (τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν) as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service.

I wonder if persons might be a better translation of σώματα here, but the bodies or persons to whom Paul wrote were comprised of both an old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires⁸ and a new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.⁹

Paul continued: so that I may live to God.¹⁰ Literally: “so that (ἵνα) to God (θεῷ) I may live (ζήσω).” The may was added because the verb ζήσω is in the subjunctive mood. Logically, it can be dropped, however, because this is a purpose and a result clause: “to God I live” because “I by law to law died.” Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before him,¹¹ Jesus told some Sadducees (who contend that there is no resurrection).¹²

I have been crucified with Christ (Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι):¹³ “in Christ, to Christ, by Christ I have been and am crucified with [Him].” The Greek verb συνεσταύρωμαι is in the perfect tense:

The basic thought of the perfect tense is that the progress of an action has been completed and the results of the action are continuing on, in full effect. In other words, the progress of the action has reached its culmination and the finished results are now in existence. Unlike the English perfect, which indicates a completed past action, the Greek perfect tense indicates the continuation and present state of a completed past action.

For example, Galatians 2:20 should be translated “I am in a present state of having been crucified with Christ,” indicating that not only was I crucified with Christ in the past, but I am existing now in that present condition.

Paul continued: and it is no longer I who live.¹⁴ Literally, “and I live (ζῶ δὲ) no longer I (οὐκέτι ἐγώ),” but Christ lives in me.¹⁵ Literally, “but lives (ζῇ δὲ) in me (ἐν ἐμοὶ) Christ (Χριστός).” So the life I now live in the body:¹⁶ “so which (ὃ δὲ) now I live (νῦν ζῶ) in flesh (ἐν σαρκί),” I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God:¹⁷ “in the faithfulness I live (ἐν πίστει ζῶ τῇ) of the Son of God (τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ),”¹⁸ who loved me (τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος με) and gave himself (καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν) for me (ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ).¹⁹

So, the I who actually accomplishes the good I want to do,²⁰ or “is present in/with me,” (but cannot do) is Christ [who] lives in me.²¹ This is in keeping with Paul’s explanation in his letter to the Galatians of an I comprised of an old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires²² and a new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth²³ (Galatians 5:16, 17 NET):

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 (θέλητε, a form of θέλω) [Table].

But I say (Λέγω δέ), live by the Spirit, “by [the] Spirit (πνεύματι) walk or you walk (περιπατεῖτε),” and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh,²⁴ “and (καὶ) desire of flesh (ἐπιθυμίαν σαρκὸς) you never carry out (οὐ μὴ τελέσητε).” I wrote about the strength of οὐ μὴ τελέσητε elsewhere. Jesus is the One who proved this statement true.

So, to walk or live by the Spirit, buoyed up and carried along by the fruit of the Spirit—Jesus’ own love, his joy, his peace, his patience, his kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness and his self-control—is the only way I will do the good I want but cannot do. So you too, Jesus said, when you have done (ποιήσητε, a form of ποιέω) everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done (ποιῆσαι, another form of ποιέω) what was our duty.’²⁵ Though I’ve complained—“You mean, I can’t even put in my thumb, pull out a plum and say, ‘Oh, what a good boy am I’?”²⁶—I do recognize how little credit I deserve for what is effectively the Lord’s work in and through me.

This explains to my satisfaction why Paul and the Holy Spirit considered an I comprised of an old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires²⁷ and a new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth,²⁸ who want[s] to do the good, but…cannot do it,²⁹ unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.³⁰ This new desire (Romans 3:10-18), this new will, to do the will of God revealed in the law, prompted the following conclusion (Romans 7:16, 17 NET):

But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me [Table].

Literally, “But if (εἰ δὲ) what not I want (ὃ οὐ θέλω) this I do (τοῦτο ποιῶ),” according to a note (23) in the NET, “I agree with the law (σύμφημι τῷ νόμῳ) that it is good (ὅτι καλός)” or beautiful. But now (νυνὶ δὲ) it is no longer me (οὐκέτι ἐγὼ) doing it (κατεργάζομαι αὐτὸ), “but (ἀλλὰ) this lives (ἡ |οἰκοῦσα|) in me (ἐν ἐμοὶ), sin (ἁμαρτία)” or “but this sin lives in me.”

Here is the substance or body which cast the shadow of the scape-goat (English Elpenor) or the [goat] to be sent off (NETS). It was repeated for good measure (Romans 7:20 NET [Table]).

Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.

Literally, “If now (εἰ δὲ) what not I want (ὃ οὐ θέλω) I ([ἐγὼ]) this do (τοῦτο ποιῶ), it is no longer me (οὐκέτι ἐγὼ) doing it (κατεργάζομαι αὐτὸ), but (ἀλλὰ) this lives (ἡ οἰκοῦσα) in me (ἐν ἐμοὶ), sin (ἁμαρτία)” or “but this sin lives in me.”

Paul continued (Romans 7:21-25 NET):

So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God in my inner being. But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members [Table]. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin [Table].

Paul seemed simultaneously frustrated and calmly resigned to reside in this body of death (τοῦ σώματος τοῦ θανάτου τούτου) for a season, trusting the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.³¹ The Lord described the scape-goat ceremony as follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Leviticus 16:21, 22 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:21, 22 (NET)	Leviticus 16:21, 22 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:21, 22 (English Elpenor)
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of an appointed man into the wilderness.	Aaron is to lay his two hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the Israelites and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins, and thus he is to put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the desert by the hand of a man standing ready.	And Aaron shall lay his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the lawless acts of the sons of Israel and all their offenses and all their sins and shall put them on the head of the live goat and shall send it away into the desert by the hand of a ready person.	and Aaron shall lay his hands on the head of the live goat, and he shall declare over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their unrighteousness, and all their sins; and he shall lay them upon the head of the live goat, and shall send him by the hand of a ready man into the wilderness.
And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land which is cut off (גְּזֵרָ֑ה); and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.	The goat is to bear on itself all their iniquities into an inaccessible (gᵊzērâ, גזרה) land, so he is to send the goat away into the desert.	And the goat shall bear on itself their offenses to an untrodden (ἄβατον) region, and he shall send off the goat into the wilderness.	And the goat shall bear their unrighteousnesses upon him into a desert (ἄβατον) land; and Aaron shall send away the goat into the wilderness.

I’ll pick this up in another essay. A table comparing Exodus 19:8 translated from the Hebrew of the Masoretic text and the Greek of the Septuagint follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 19:8 (Tanakh)	Exodus 19:8 (NET)	Exodus 19:8 (NETS)	Exodus 19:8 (English Elpenor)
And all the people answered together, and said: ‘All that HaShem (יְהוָֹ֖ה) hath spoken we will do.’ And Moses reported the words of the people unto HaShem (יְהוָֹֽה).	and all the people answered together, “All that the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) has commanded we will do!” So Moses brought the words of the people back to the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה).	And all the people with one accord answered and said, “All that God (ὁ θεός) said we will do and heed.” Then Moyses carried the words of the people up to God (τὸν θεόν).	And all the people answered with one accord, and said, All things that God (ὁ Θεός) has spoken, we will do and hearken to: and Moses reported these words to God (τὸν Θεόν).

Tables comparing Exodus 19:8; Leviticus 16:21 and 16:22 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Exodus 19:8; Leviticus 16:21 and 16:22 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Exodus 19:8 (Tanakh)	Exodus 19:8 (KJV)	Exodus 19:8 (NET)
And all the people answered together, and said: ‘All that HaShem hath spoken we will do.’ And Moses reported the words of the people unto HaShem.	And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.	and all the people answered together, “All that the Lord has commanded we will do!” So Moses brought the words of the people back to the Lord.

Exodus 19:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 19:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπεκρίθη δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁμοθυμαδὸν καὶ εἶπαν πάντα ὅσα εἶπεν ὁ θεός ποιήσομεν καὶ ἀκουσόμεθα ἀνήνεγκεν δὲ Μωυσῆς τοὺς λόγους τοῦ λαοῦ πρὸς τὸν θεόν	ἀπεκρίθη δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁμοθυμαδὸν καὶ εἶπαν· πάντα, ὅσα εἶπεν ὁ Θεός, ποιήσομεν καὶ ἀκουσόμεθα. ἀνήνεγκε δὲ Μωυσῆς τοὺς λόγους τούτους πρὸς τὸν Θεόν
Exodus 19:8 (Septuagint NETS)	Exodus 19:8 (English Elpenor)
And all the people with one accord answered and said, “All that God said we will do and heed.” Then Moyses carried the words of the people up to God.	And all the people answered with one accord, and said, All things that God has spoken, we will do and hearken to: and Moses reported these words to God.

Leviticus 16:21 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:21 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:21 (NET)
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of an appointed man into the wilderness.	And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:	Aaron is to lay his two hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the Israelites and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins, and thus he is to put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the desert by the hand of a man standing ready.

Leviticus 16:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπιθήσει Ααρων τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ χιμάρου τοῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἐξαγορεύσει ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἀνομίας τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ πάσας τὰς ἀδικίας αὐτῶν καὶ πάσας τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπιθήσει αὐτὰς ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ χιμάρου τοῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἐξαποστελεῖ ἐν χειρὶ ἀνθρώπου ἑτοίμου εἰς τὴν ἔρημον	καὶ ἐπιθήσει ᾿Ααρὼν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ χιμάρου τοῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἐξαγορεύσει ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἀνομίας τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ πάσας τὰς ἀδικίας αὐτῶν καὶ πάσας τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπιθήσει αὐτὰς ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ χιμάρου τοῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἐξαποστελεῖ ἐν χειρὶ ἀνθρώπου ἑτοίμου εἰς τὴν ἔρημον
Leviticus 16:21 (Septuagint NETS)	Leviticus 16:21 (English Elpenor)
And Aaron shall lay his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the lawless acts of the sons of Israel and all their offenses and all their sins and shall put them on the head of the live goat and shall send it away into the desert by the hand of a ready person.	and Aaron shall lay his hands on the head of the live goat, and he shall declare over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their unrighteousness, and all their sins; and he shall lay them upon the head of the live goat, and shall send him by the hand of a ready man into the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:22 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:22 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:22 (NET)
And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land which is cut off; and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.	And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.	The goat is to bear on itself all their iniquities into an inaccessible land, so he is to send the goat away into the desert.

Leviticus 16:22 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ λήμψεται ὁ χίμαρος ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτῷ τὰς ἀδικίας αὐτῶν εἰς γῆν ἄβατον καὶ ἐξαποστελεῖ τὸν χίμαρον εἰς τὴν ἔρημον	καὶ λήψεται ὁ χίμαρος ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτῷ τὰς ἀδικίας αὐτῶν εἰς γῆν ἄβατον, καὶ ἐξαποστελεῖ τὸν χίμαρον εἰς τὴν ἔρημον
Leviticus 16:22 (Septuagint NETS)	Leviticus 16:22 (English Elpenor)
And the goat shall bear on itself their offenses to an untrodden region, and he shall send off the goat into the wilderness.	And the goat shall bear their unrighteousnesses upon him into a desert land; and Aaron shall send away the goat into the wilderness.

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 10

Back to Romans, Part 28

Back to Keep Yourselves From Idols, Part 2

¹ Romans 7:14b (NET) Table

² John 17:17 (NET) Table

³ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

⁴ Ephesians 4:24b (NET)

⁵ Romans 7:18b (NET) Table

⁶ Galatians 2:19-21 (NET)

⁷ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

⁸ Ibid.

⁹ Ephesians 4:24b (NET)

¹⁰ Galatians 2:19b (NET)

¹¹ Luke 20:38 (NET)

¹² Luke 20:27 (NET)

¹³ Galatians 2:20a (NET)

¹⁴ Galatians 2:20b (NET)

¹⁵ Galatians 2:20c (NET)

¹⁶ Galatians 2:20d (NET)

¹⁷ Galatians 2:20e (NET)

¹⁸ Both πίστει and the article τῇ are in the dative case. Perhaps, this could be understood as “in faithfulness I live to” the Son of God, but that strikes me as the selfsame lie as All that the Lord has commanded we will do! (Exodus 19:8b NET)

¹⁹ Galatians 2:20f (NET)

²⁰ Romans 7:18b (NET) Table

²¹ Galatians 2:20c (NET)

²² Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

²³ Ephesians 4:24b (NET)

²⁴ Galatians 5:16 (NET)

²⁵ Luke 17:10 (NET)

²⁶ From Little Jack Horner on Nursery Rhymes online.

²⁷ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

²⁸ Ephesians 4:24b (NET)

²⁹ Romans 7:18b (NET) Table

³⁰ Romans 7:14b (NET) Table

³¹ Romans 7:25b (NET) Table

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 8

Posted on December 16, 2023 by admin

The Lord gave Moses detailed instructions about the day of atonement:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Leviticus 16:2, 3 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:2, 3 (NET)	Leviticus 16:2, 3 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:2, 3 (English Elpenor)
and HaShem (יְהֹוָ֜ה) said unto Moses: ‘Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the ark-cover which is upon the ark; that he die not; for I appear in the cloud upon the ark-cover.	and the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother that he must not enter at any time into the Holy Place inside the special curtain in front of the atonement lid that is on the ark so that he may not die, for I will appear in the cloud over the atonement lid.	And the Lord (κύριος) said to Moyses: Speak to Aaron your brother, and let him not enter at any time into the sanctuary inside the veil facing the propitiatory that is on the ark of witness, and he will not die, for I will be seen in the cloud upon the propitiatory.	And the Lord (Κύριος) said to Moses, Speak to Aaron thy brother, and let him not come in at all times into the holy place within the veil before the propitiatory, which is upon the ark of the testimony, and he shall not die; for I will appear in a cloud on the propitiatory.
Herewith shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering.	“In this way Aaron is to enter into the sanctuary—with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.	Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a calf from the cattle for sin and a ram for a whole burnt offering.	Thus shall Aaron enter into the holy place; with a calf of the herd for a sin-offering, and [having] a ram for a whole-burnt-offering.

The writer of Hebrews explained (Hebrews 9:6b-10 NET):

…the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties [Table]. But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the Holy Place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing. This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. They served only for matters of food and drink and various ritual washings; they are external regulations¹ imposed until the new order came.

The Lord described how Aaron should dress:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Leviticus 16:4 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:4 (NET)	Leviticus 16:4 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:4 (English Elpenor)
He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with the linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired; they are the holy garments; and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and put them on.	He must put on a holy linen tunic, linen leggings are to cover his body, and he is to wrap himself with a linen sash and wrap his head with a linen turban. They are holy garments, so he must bathe his body in water and put them on.	And he shall put on (ἐνδύσεται) the consecrated linen tunic, and linen drawers shall be on his flesh, and he shall gird himself with a linen girdle and wrap around a linen turban; they are holy vestments. And he shall bathe his entire body in water and then put them on (ἐνδύσεται αὐτά).	And he shall put on the (ἐνδύσεται) consecrated linen tunic, and he shall have on his flesh the linen drawers, and shall gird himself with a linen girdle, and shall put on the linen cap, they are holy garments; and he shall bathe all his body in water, and shall put them on (ἐνδύσεται αὐτά).

Peter wrote of the eight souls…delivered through water,² from the flood (1 Peter 3:21, 22 NET):

And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you—not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ [Table], who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.

And Paul wrote (Ephesians 4:22-24 NET)

You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on (ἐνδύσασθαι, another form of ἐνδύω) the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.

The Lord commanded further concerning the day of atonement:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Leviticus 16:5-10 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:5-10 (NET)	Leviticus 16:5-10 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:5-10 (English Elpenor)
And [Aaron] shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two he-goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering.	He must also take two male goats from the congregation of the Israelites for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.	And he shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two billy goats for sin and one ram for a whole burnt offering.	And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin-offering, and one lamb for a whole-burnt-offering.
And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house.	Then Aaron is to present the sin-offering bull which is for himself and is to make atonement on behalf of himself and his household.	And Aaron shall offer the bull calf for sin, which is his own, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.	And Aaron shall bring the calf for his own sin-offering, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.
And he shall take the two goats, and set them before HaShem at the door of the tent of meeting.	Next he must take the two goats and stand them before the Lord at the entrance of the Meeting Tent,	And he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the door of the tent of witness,	And he shall take the two goats, and place them before the Lord by the door of the tabernacle of witness.
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for HaShem (לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה), and the other lot for Azazel (לַֽעֲזָאזֵֽל).	and Aaron is to cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, ליהוה) and one lot for Azazel (ʿăzā’zēl, לעזאזל).	And Aaron shall place lots on the two goats, one lot for the Lord (τῷ κυρίῳ) and one lot for the one to be sent off (τῷ ἀποπομπαίῳ).	and Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats, one lot for the Lord (τῷ Κυρίῳ), and the other for the scape-goat (τῷ ἀποπομπαίῳ).
And Aaron shall present the goat upon which the lot fell for HaShem, and offer him for a sin-offering.	Aaron must then present the goat which has been designated by lot for the Lord, and he is to make it a sin offering,	And Aaron shall present the goat which the lot fell on for the Lord and offer for sin,	And Aaron shall bring forward the goat on which the lot for the Lord fell, and shall offer him for a sin-offering.
But the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel (לַֽעֲזָאזֵ֔ל), shall be set alive before HaShem, to make atonement over him, to send him away for Azazel (לַֽעֲזָאזֵ֖ל) into the wilderness.	but the goat which has been designated by lot for Azazel (ʿăzā’zēl, לעזאזל) is to be stood alive before the Lord to make atonement on it by sending it away into the desert to Azazel (ʿăzā’zēl, לעזאזל).	and the goat which the lot fell on of the one to be sent off (τοῦ ἀποπομπαίου) he shall set it alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, to send it away into the place for sending away (τὴν ἀποπομπήν)—he shall let it go into the wilderness.	and the goat upon which the lot of the scape-goat (τοῦ ἀποπομπαίου) came, he shall present alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon him, so as to send him away as a scape-goat (τὴν ἀποπομπήν), and he shall send him into the wilderness.

The writer of Hebrews continued (Hebrews 9:11, 12 NET):

But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation [Table], and he entered once for all into the Most Holy Place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption.

I’m thinking more deeply about the theme of this thread:

Hebrews 10:1a (NET)	Colossians 2:17 (NET) Table
For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself…	…these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!
Hebrews 10:1a (NET Parallel Greek)	Colossians 2:17 (NET Parallel Greek)
Σκιὰν γὰρ ἔχων ὁ νόμος τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, οὐκ αὐτὴν τὴν εἰκόνα τῶν πραγμάτων	ἅ ἐστιν σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων, τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ

The writer of Hebrews declared that the law possesses (ἔχων, a participle of ἔχω) a shadow (Σκιὰν, a form of σκιά ). Paul wrote that food or drink…the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days³ (i.e., those things described in the law) are (ἐστιν)…the shadow (σκιὰ). Two different phrases were translated reality itself (Hebrews) or reality (Colossians) in the NET. The author of Hebrews wrote τὴν εἰκόνα τῶν πραγμάτων (literally: “the image of the things”), while Paul wrote τὸ…σῶμα, (literally: “the body”).

I won’t quarrel with the NET translation except to say that it doesn’t imply that the shadow is unreal. A shadow is very real and prompts one to look up or turn around and look in another direction for what has cast it. I’m particularly exercised here to look for what cast the shadow of the scape-goat or the goat…to send…away for Azazel. The Scriptures listed in “6 Bible Verses about Scapegoat,” on Knowing Jesus online indicate to me that τὸ…σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ was understood literally as “the body of Christ.” There is another way to understand this phrase, especially in this particular context.

One may assume that the verb of being ἐστιν from the first clause is implied in the second: τὸ…σῶμα (ἐστιν) τοῦ Χριστοῦ, “the body [is] of Christ” or “[is] of the Christ.” Consider the following translation (Colossians 2:17 ESV):

These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

This, coupled with the plural τῶν πραγμάτων in Hebrews, gives me both the license and the inclination to seek that particular aspect of Christ’s atonement⁴ that casts this particular shadow. What comes to mind as I consider the scape-goat,⁵ the one to be sent off,⁶ is Paul’s continuing explanation of one’s death to sin through faith in Christ (Romans 7:14-20 NET).

For we know that the law is spiritual—but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin [Table]. For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate. But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me [Table]. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me [Table].

This deserves a more in-depth look: For we know that the law is spiritual—but I (ἐγὼ) am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.⁷ In another essay I wrote:

It is difficult to hear Paul call himself unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. After all, what does that mean for someone like me? But Paul was describing himself as a man deceived^[9] and seized by a fit of coveting, sin [old man], seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires.^[10] In the beginning this old man (sin personified) was perceived by Paul as I (ἐγὼ), I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.

The Benson Commentary ⁸ reads:

But I am carnal — That is, man, considered in himself, as in a state of nature, and destitute of the regenerating grace of God, is carnal.

Meyer’s NT Commentary ⁹ reads:

ἐγὼ δέ] but I, i.e. according to the ἰδίωσις pervading the entire section: the man, not yet regenerate by the Holy Spirit, in his relation to the Mosaic law given to him…

I think we were all mistaken. Consider the I Paul described:

For I don’t understand what I am doing.¹⁰

Here, I don’t understand was οὐ γινώσκω, the I being understood from the 1^st person verb. And, what I am doing was ὃ…κατεργάζομαι. Again, the I is understood from the 1^st person verb. Paul continued:

For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate.¹¹

Literally: “For not what I want (οὐ γὰρ ὃ θέλω) this I do” (τοῦτο πράσσω). And, according to a note (22) in the NET, “but (ἀλλ᾿) what (ὃ) I hate (μισῶ), this (τοῦτο) I do (ποιῶ).” Here, too, I was understood from the 1^st person verbs.

Paul made his desire, his will, quite explicit:

For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.¹²

Literally according to a note (24) in the NET: “For to wish (τὸ γὰρ θέλειν) is present (παράκειται) in/with me (μοι), but not to do it” (τὸ δὲ κατεργάζεσθαι τὸ καλὸν οὔ). Here, μοι, translated “in/with me,” is a form of ἐγώ in the dative case, hearkening back to that I Paul described as unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. It is readily distinguished from ἐμοί (another form of ἐγώ in the dative case) which precedes it:

For I know that nothing good lives in me (ἐμοί), that is, in my (μου) flesh.¹³

I’ll follow Paul’s word order more closely here. Though awkward in English it conveys his meaning quite clearly: For I know (Οἶδα γὰρ) that nothing (ὅτι οὐκ)…lives in me (οἰκεῖ ἐν ἐμοί), that is (τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν), in my flesh (ἐν τῇ σαρκί μου), good (ἀγαθόν). And so, with these particular occurrences of dative forms of ἐγώ (ἐμοί and μου) he referred to his flesh only: that old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.¹⁴ But his qualification of these particular occurrences also serves to highlight those occurrences he did not qualify in a similar way.

And once more for good measure:

For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want!¹⁵

Here, For I do not do the good I want was οὐ γὰρ ὃ θέλω ποιῶ ἀγαθόν in Greek. And, but I do the very evil I do not want was ἀλλὰ ὃ οὐ θέλω κακὸν τοῦτο πράσσω. Here again, I was understood from the 1^st person verbs.

The good (ἀγαθόν, a form of ἀγαθός) was not something Paul imagined for Himself, for he had already written (Romans 7:12 NET):

So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good (ἀγαθή, another form of ἀγαθός).

The I Paul described had a new desire (Romans 3:10-18), a new will, to do the will of God revealed in the law. He was not “in a state of nature, and destitute of the regenerating grace of God.” He did not describe his plight as one “not yet regenerate by the Holy Spirit, in his relation to the Mosaic law given to him.” Rather, he described an I who was born from above, born of water and spirit, born of the flesh and born of the Spirit. I want to do the good, he wrote, but I cannot do it.¹⁶

I’ll pick this up in another essay.

Tables comparing Leviticus 16:2; 16:3; 16:4; 16:5; 16:6; 16:7; 16:8; 16:9 and 16:10 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Leviticus 16:2; 16:3; 16:4; 16:5; 16:6; 16:7; 16:8; 16:9 and 16:10 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Hebrews 9:10 in the NET and KJV follow.

Leviticus 16:2 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:2 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:2 (NET)
and HaShem said unto Moses: ‘Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the ark-cover which is upon the ark; that he die not; for I appear in the cloud upon the ark-cover.	And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.	and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother that he must not enter at any time into the Holy Place inside the special curtain in front of the atonement lid that is on the ark so that he may not die, for I will appear in the cloud over the atonement lid.

Leviticus 16:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λάλησον πρὸς Ααρων τὸν ἀδελφόν σου καὶ μὴ εἰσπορευέσθω πᾶσαν ὥραν εἰς τὸ ἅγιον ἐσώτερον τοῦ καταπετάσματος εἰς πρόσωπον τοῦ ἱλαστηρίου ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ τῆς κιβωτοῦ τοῦ μαρτυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν γὰρ νεφέλῃ ὀφθήσομαι ἐπὶ τοῦ ἱλαστηρίου	καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν· λάλησον πρὸς ᾿Ααρὼν τὸν ἀδελφόν σου, καὶ μὴ εἰσπορευέσθω πᾶσαν ὥραν εἰς τὸ ἅγιον ἐσώτερον τοῦ καταπετάσματος εἰς πρόσωπον τοῦ ἱλαστηρίου, ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ τῆς κιβωτοῦ τοῦ μαρτυρίου, καὶ οὐκ ἀποθανεῖται· ἐν γὰρ νεφέλῃ ὀφθήσομαι ἐπὶ τοῦ ἱλαστηρίου
Leviticus 16:2 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:2 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord said to Moyses: Speak to Aaron your brother, and let him not enter at any time into the sanctuary inside the veil facing the propitiatory that is on the ark of witness, and he will not die, for I will be seen in the cloud upon the propitiatory.	And the Lord said to Moses, Speak to Aaron thy brother, and let him not come in at all times into the holy place within the veil before the propitiatory, which is upon the ark of the testimony, and he shall not die; for I will appear in a cloud on the propitiatory.

Leviticus 16:3 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:3 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:3 (NET)
Herewith shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering.	Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.	“In this way Aaron is to enter into the sanctuary—with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὕτως εἰσελεύσεται Ααρων εἰς τὸ ἅγιον ἐν μόσχῳ ἐκ βοῶν περὶ ἁμαρτίας καὶ κριὸν εἰς ὁλοκαύτωμα	οὕτως εἰσελεύσεται ᾿Ααρὼν εἰς τὸ ἅγιον· ἐν μόσχῳ ἐκ βοῶν περὶ ἁμαρτίας, καὶ κριὸν εἰς ὁλοκαύτωμα
Leviticus 16:3 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:3 (English Elpenor)
Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a calf from the cattle for sin and a ram for a whole burnt offering.	Thus shall Aaron enter into the holy place; with a calf of the herd for a sin-offering, and [having] a ram for a whole-burnt-offering.

Leviticus 16:4 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:4 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:4 (NET)
He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with the linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired; they are the holy garments; and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and put them on.	He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.	He must put on a holy linen tunic, linen leggings are to cover his body, and he is to wrap himself with a linen sash and wrap his head with a linen turban. They are holy garments, so he must bathe his body in water and put them on.

Leviticus 16:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ χιτῶνα λινοῦν ἡγιασμένον ἐνδύσεται καὶ περισκελὲς λινοῦν ἔσται ἐπὶ τοῦ χρωτὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ζώνῃ λινῇ ζώσεται καὶ κίδαριν λινῆν περιθήσεται ἱμάτια ἅγιά ἐστιν καὶ λούσεται ὕδατι πᾶν τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐνδύσεται αὐτά	καὶ χιτῶνα λινοῦν ἡγιασμένον ἐνδύσεται, καὶ περισκελὲς λινοῦν ἔσται ἐπὶ τοῦ χρωτὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ζώνῃ λινῇ ζώσεται καὶ κίδαριν λινῆν περιθήσεται, ἱμάτια ἅγιά ἐστι, καὶ λούσεται ὕδατι πᾶν τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνδύσεται αὐτά
Leviticus 16:4 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:4 (English Elpenor)
And he shall put on the consecrated linen tunic, and linen drawers shall be on his flesh, and he shall gird himself with a linen girdle and wrap around a linen turban; they are holy vestments. And he shall bathe his entire body in water and then put them on.	And he shall put on the consecrated linen tunic, and he shall have on his flesh the linen drawers, and shall gird himself with a linen girdle, and shall put on the linen cap, they are holy garments; and he shall bathe all his body in water, and shall put them on.

Leviticus 16:5 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:5 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:5 (NET)
And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two he-goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering.	And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.	He must also take two male goats from the congregation of the Israelites for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ παρὰ τῆς συναγωγῆς τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ λήμψεται δύο χιμάρους ἐξ αἰγῶν περὶ ἁμαρτίας καὶ κριὸν ἕνα εἰς ὁλοκαύτωμα	καὶ παρὰ τῆς συναγωγῆς τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ λήψεται δύο χιμάρους ἐξ αἰγῶν περὶ ἁμαρτίας καὶ κριὸν ἕνα εἰς ὁλοκαύτωμα
Leviticus 16:5 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:5 (English Elpenor)
And he shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two billy goats for sin and one ram for a whole burnt offering.	And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin-offering, and one lamb for a whole-burnt-offering.

Leviticus 16:6 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:6 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:6 (NET)
And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house.	And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.	Then Aaron is to present the sin-offering bull which is for himself and is to make atonement on behalf of himself and his household.

Leviticus 16:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ προσάξει Ααρων τὸν μόσχον τὸν περὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξιλάσεται περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ	καὶ προσάξει ᾿Ααρὼν τὸν μόσχον τὸν περὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξιλάσεται περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ
Leviticus 16:6 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:6 (English Elpenor)
And Aaron shall offer the bull calf for sin, which is his own, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.	And Aaron shall bring the calf for his own sin-offering, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.

Leviticus 16:7 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:7 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:7 (NET)
And he shall take the two goats, and set them before HaShem at the door of the tent of meeting.	And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.	Next he must take the two goats and stand them before the Lord at the entrance of the Meeting Tent,

Leviticus 16:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ λήμψεται τοὺς δύο χιμάρους καὶ στήσει αὐτοὺς ἔναντι κυρίου παρὰ τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου	καὶ λήψεται τοὺς δύο χιμάρους καὶ στήσει αὐτοὺς ἔναντι Κυρίου παρὰ τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου
Leviticus 16:7 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:7 (English Elpenor)
And he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the door of the tent of witness,	And he shall take the two goats, and place them before the Lord by the door of the tabernacle of witness.

Leviticus 16:8 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:8 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:8 (NET)
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for HaShem, and the other lot for Azazel.	And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.	and Aaron is to cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and one lot for Azazel.

Leviticus 16:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπιθήσει Ααρων ἐπὶ τοὺς δύο χιμάρους κλῆρον ἕνα τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ κλῆρον ἕνα τῷ ἀποπομπαίῳ	καὶ ἐπιθήσει ᾿Ααρὼν ἐπὶ τοὺς δύο χιμάρους κλήρους, κλῆρον ἕνα τῷ Κυρίῳ καὶ κλῆρον ἕνα τῷ ἀποπομπαίῳ
Leviticus 16:8 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:8 (English Elpenor)
And Aaron shall place lots on the two goats, one lot for the Lord and one lot for the one to be sent off.	and Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats, one lot for the Lord, and the other for the scape-goat.

Leviticus 16:9 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:9 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:9 (NET)
And Aaron shall present the goat upon which the lot fell for HaShem, and offer him for a sin-offering.	And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.	Aaron must then present the goat which has been designated by lot for the Lord, and he is to make it a sin offering,

Leviticus 16:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ προσάξει Ααρων τὸν χίμαρον ἐφ᾽ ὃν ἐπῆλθεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ὁ κλῆρος τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ προσοίσει περὶ ἁμαρτίας	καὶ προσάξει ᾿Ααρὼν τὸν χίμαρον, ἐφ᾿ ὃν ἐπῆλθεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ὁ κλῆρος τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ προσοίσει περὶ ἁμαρτίας
Leviticus 16:9 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:9 (English Elpenor)
And Aaron shall present the goat which the lot fell on for the Lord and offer for sin,	And Aaron shall bring forward the goat on which the lot for the Lord fell, and shall offer him for a sin-offering.

Leviticus 16:10 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 16:10 (KJV)	Leviticus 16:10 (NET)
But the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel, shall be set alive before HaShem, to make atonement over him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness.	But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.	but the goat which has been designated by lot for Azazel is to be stood alive before the Lord to make atonement on it by sending it away into the desert to Azazel.

Leviticus 16:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 16:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τὸν χίμαρον ἐφ᾽ ὃν ἐπῆλθεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ὁ κλῆρος τοῦ ἀποπομπαίου στήσει αὐτὸν ζῶντα ἔναντι κυρίου τοῦ ἐξιλάσασθαι ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ὥστε ἀποστεῖλαι αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ἀποπομπήν ἀφήσει αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον	καὶ τὸν χίμαρον, ἐφ᾿ ὃν ἐπῆλθεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ὁ κλῆρος τοῦ ἀποπομπαίου, στήσει αὐτὸν ζῶντα ἔναντι Κυρίου, τοῦ ἐξιλάσασθαι ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, ὥστε ἀποστεῖλαι αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ἀποπομπήν, καὶ ἀφήσει αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον
Leviticus 16:10 (NETS)	Leviticus 16:10 (English Elpenor)
and the goat which the lot fell on of the one to be sent off he shall set it alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, to send it away into the place for sending away—he shall let it go into the wilderness.	and the goat upon which the lot of the scape-goat came, he shall present alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon him, so as to send him away as a scape-goat, and he shall send him into the wilderness.

Hebrews 9:10 (NET)	Hebrews 9:10 (KJV)
They served only for matters of food and drink and various ritual washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came.	Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Hebrews 9:10 (NET Parallel Greek)	Hebrews 9:10 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Hebrews 9:10 (Byzantine Majority Text)
μόνον ἐπὶ βρώμασιν καὶ πόμασιν καὶ διαφόροις βαπτισμοῖς, δικαιώματα σαρκὸς μέχρι καιροῦ διορθώσεως ἐπικείμενα	μονον επι βρωμασιν και πομασιν και διαφοροις βαπτισμοις και δικαιωμασιν σαρκος μεχρι καιρου διορθωσεως επικειμενα	μονον επι βρωμασιν και πομασιν και διαφοροις βαπτισμοις και δικαιωμασιν σαρκος μεχρι καιρου διορθωσεως επικειμενα

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 9

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 10

¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had δικαιώματα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και δικαιωμασιν (KJV: and…ordinances).

² 1 Peter 3:20b (NET) Table

³ Colossians 2:16b (NET) Table

⁴ I’m using the phrase “Christ’s atonement” very deliberately here in the context of a body or substance casting a shadow called the day of atonement. But I don’t intend to dispute anything contained in the transcript of John Piper’s interview, “Why Does ‘Atonement’ Disappear in the New Testament?,” on desiringGod online. I, too, am intrigued by this.

⁵ Leviticus 16:10 (English Elpenor)

⁶ Leviticus 16:10 (NETS)

⁷ Romans 7:14 (NET) Table

⁸ “Joseph Benson (1749-1821) was an English Methodist preacher and biblical scholar who is best known for his extensive work as a commentator on the Bible…Benson’s most significant work was his six-volume commentary on the entire Bible, which he began publishing in 1811. This comprehensive work represented the culmination of his many years of study and reflection on the Scriptures, and it remains a valuable resource for biblical scholars and lay readers alike.” From “Benson’s Commentary of the Old and New Testaments,” on StudyLight.org online.

⁹ “Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer, a German Protestant with a gift for languages, published the first commentary in this collection in 1832 at the age of thirty-two…For over forty years Meyer balanced working on new additions to the commentary collection while also updating those already published with multiple, serious revisions. Before passing the baton to a few of his trusted peers to finish the NT, Meyer had completed sixteen volumes.” From Overview on LOGOS online.

¹⁰ Romans 7:15a (NET)

¹¹ Romans 7:15b (NET)

¹² Romans 7:18b (NET) Table

¹³ Romans 7:18a (NET) Table

¹⁴ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

¹⁵ Romans 7:19 (NET) Table

¹⁶ Romans 7:18b (NET) Table

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 7

Posted on August 25, 2021 by admin

Then the Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Meeting Tent (Leviticus 1:1-4 NET):

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When someone among you presents an offering to the Lord, you must present your offering from the domesticated animals, either from the herd or from the flock.

“‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he must present it as a flawless male; he must present it at the entrance of the Meeting Tent for its acceptance before the Lord. He must lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.

The Hebrew word translated flawless above was תָּמִ֖ים (tāmîm). But since לִרְצֹנ֖וֹ (rāṣôn) was translated of his own voluntary will in the KJV rather than for its acceptance, I want to consider verses 3 and 4 in a bit more detail.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Leviticus 1:3, 4 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 1:3, 4 (NET)	Leviticus 1:3, 4 (NETS)	Leviticus 1:3, 4 (English Elpenor)
If his offering be a burnt-offering of the herd, he shall offer it a male without blemish (תָּמִ֖ים); he shall bring it to the door of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted (לִרְצֹנ֖וֹ) before HaShem.	“‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he must present it as a flawless (tāmîm, תמים) male; he must present it at the entrance of the Meeting Tent for its acceptance (rāṣôn, לרצנו) before the Lord.	If this gift is a whole burnt offering from the cattle, he shall present a male without blemish (ἄμωμον); he shall bring it to the door of the tent of witness, acceptable (δεκτὸν) before the Lord.	If his gift be a whole-burnt-offering, he shall bring an unblemished (ἄμωμον) male of the herd to the door of the tabernacle of witness, he shall bring it as acceptable (δεκτὸν) before the Lord.
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering; and it shall be accepted (וְנִרְצָ֥ה) for him to make atonement for him.	He must lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted (rāṣâ, ונרצה) for him to make atonement on his behalf.	And he shall lay his hand on the head of the offering, a thing acceptable (δεκτὸν) to him to atone for him.	And he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt-offering as a thing acceptable (δεκτὸν) for him, to make atonement for him.

The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose δεκτὸν (a form of δεκτός) for both לִרְצֹנ֖וֹ (rāṣôn) and וְנִרְצָ֥ה (rāṣâ). It encourages me to believe that לִרְצֹנ֖וֹ (rāṣôn) in verse 3 had more to do with adjudicating the flawless quality of the offering before it was offered to the Lord than the free will of the one presenting that offering. The translation of the Tanakh on chabad.org, however, is more agreeable to the KJV: He shall bring it willingly to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, before the Lord.^[1]

This concept of a flawless (NET) sacrifice without blemish (Tanakh), translated ἄμωμον (a form of ἄμωμος) in the Septuagint, carried over into the New Testament (Hebrews 9:13, 14 NET):

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish (ἄμωμον, a form of ἄμωμος) to God, purify our^[2] consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

The power here was never some magical property of blood. Atonement from the offenses listed in Leviticus 5:1-4, for instance, required first that one must confess how he has sinned.^[3] Then he must bring…a female sheep or a female goat, for a sin offering. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his sin.^[4] If that was beyond the sinner’s means, however, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, would suffice, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering.^[5] When the sinner was too poor to buy two birds or too infirm to capture them alive, the Lord was willing to accept a tenth of an ephah of choice wheat flour for a sin offering.^[6]

So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his sin which he has committed by doing one of these things, and he will be forgiven.^[7]

The power has always been God’s willingness to impute righteousness to those who believe Him (Romans 4:1-5, 23-25 NET).

What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter? For if Abraham was declared righteous by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God [Table]. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” [See table below]. Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation [Table]. But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.

But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham’s sake, but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.

[H]ow much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.^[8] Once my attention is diverted here from the “magical properties of blood” to the willingness of God to impute righteousness to those who believe Him, my focus shifts to the second clause. Jesus offered himself without blemish to God through the eternal Spirit. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross!^[9]

I always need to pause here to consider the word translated obedient (ὑπήκοος). One of its meanings is “attentive listening.” [Y]our word is truth,^[10] Jesus prayed to his Father. The boy Jesus listened attentively to what I call the Old Testament and became the man I know in the New Testament. The man Jesus acknowledged that the Father who dwells in me does his works.^[11] So I have the written word of God and the indwelling Spirit of God effecting Jesus’ becoming obedient to the point of death. It should be sufficient to overcome my tendency to hear obedient (ὑπήκοος) and obedience as works of my flesh, obeying rules in my own strength.

The writer of Hebrews continued to describe Jesus who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God (Hebrews 9:15-17 NET):

And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant. For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven. For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive.

So the death of Jesus, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God attentively listening to the word of God written in the Old Testament, inaugurated a new covenant of which He is mediator (μεσίτης). Here I can begin to wrap my mind around how the blood of Christ can purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God. But the book of Hebrews was written primarily to Jews who had turned to faith in Jesus. What were those dead works (νεκρῶν ἔργων)?

Surely the writer of Hebrews didn’t mean Leviticus, this wonderful book I am more and more recognizing as the gospel of the Old Testament. One word, ἄμωμον (a form of ἄμωμος), from the first four verses led me directly to Jesus. A few words from the fifth chapter helped illuminate the phrase the blood of Christ (τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ) and guided my mind away from magical thinking toward the power of God. The Greek word ἀμώμου (another form of ἄμωμος) led me to Peter and some more insight into dead works (1 Peter 1:17-21 NET).

And if you address as Father the one who impartially^[12] judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence. You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished (ἀμώμου, another form of ἄμωμος) and spotless lamb, namely Christ. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last^[13] times for your sake. Through him you now trust^[14] in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Here the dead works Jesus’ purifies from our consciences was desribed as an empty way of life inherited from [our] ancestors (τῆς ματαίας ὑμῶν ἀναστροφῆς πατροπαραδότου) that we were ransomed from by his death on a cross. Peter wrote primarily to Jewish believers in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:1, 2 NET):

From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those temporarily residing (παρεπιδήμοις, a form of παρεπίδημος) abroad (διασπορᾶς, a form of διασπορά)^[15] (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia) who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience (ὑπακοὴν, a form of ὑπακοή) and for sprinkling with Jesus Christ’s blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!

Peter made it fairly clear that dead works did not reference the law, but the religious minds’ reactions to God’s law handed down from their ancestors’ religious practice. That is something I can grasp.

Pain and humiliation are a boy’s constant companions on a ball field, any ball field. Is there anything more humiliating than chasing into the outfield after a ball that got by you in the infield? At the crack of a bat, the sight of a hardball careening anywhere near would cause a sane person to hurry off in any direction out of its path.

A boy trained by the humiliation of chasing it into the outfield races to intercept that ball. He positions his body in front of it in such a way that an unanticipated bounce will strike his ankle, his shin, his knee, his belly, his chest, his arms, even his face if it misses his glove. A fleshy bruise heals in days; a bone bruise heals in weeks. The humiliation of chasing a ball that got passed him on an important play in a big game could last a lifetime. The glory—“good catch,” “nice stop,” “way to hustle”—is as fleeting as the next crack of the bat. And the boy calls it all fun!

How do you punish such a creature? Pain and humiliation are his faithful companions. Punishments that rely on them are likely to be perceived simply as a cost of doing business. As I wrote in another essay, “Punishment is the currency of childhood. It’s how one pays for what he wants.”

I think something similar to this had happened in Israel, that the worship described in Leviticus had become little more than a series of commercial transactions. Jesus found in the temple courts those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at tables (John 2:14-16 NET).

So he made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple courts, with the sheep and the oxen. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold the doves he said, “Take these things away from here! Do not make my Father’s house a marketplace!”

But Paul, writing primarily to Gentiles, explained how Jesus’ death imparts his own blamelessness to those who believe Him (Colossians 1:21-23a NET):

And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds, but now [Jesus] has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish (ἀμώμους, another form of ἄμωμος), and blameless before him—if indeed^[16] you remain in the faith (τῇ πίστει), established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard (ἠκούσατε, a form of ἀκούω).

Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, the writer of Hebrews continued (Hebrews 9:22-28 NET).

So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands—the representation of the true sanctuary—but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us. And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away (ἀθέτησιν, a form of ἀθέτησις) sin by his sacrifice. And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment, so also,^[17] after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation [Table].

According to a note (5) in the NET Romans 4:3b was a quotation from Genesis 15:6. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to the Septuagint follows.

Romans 4:3b (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 15:6 (Septuagint BLB) Table	Genesis 15:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπίστευσεν δὲ Ἀβραὰμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην	καὶ ἐπίστευσεν Αβραμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην	καὶ ἐπίστευσεν ῞Αβραμ τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην
Romans 4:3b (NET)	Genesis 15:6 (NETS)	Genesis 15:6 (English Elpenor)
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.	And Abram believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.	And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Tables comparing Leviticus 1:1; 1:2; 1:3 and 1:4 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Leviticus 1:1; 1:2 (1:1b, 2); 1:3 and 1:4 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:17; 1:20, 21 and Colossians 1:21-23 in the NET and KJV follow.

Leviticus 1:1 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 1:1 (KJV)	Leviticus 1:1 (NET)
THE HaShem called unto Moses, and spoke unto him out of the tent of meeting, saying:	And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,	Then the Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Meeting Tent:

Leviticus 1:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 1:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀνεκάλεσεν Μωυσῆν καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος αὐτῷ ἐκ τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου λέγων	ΚΑΙ ἀνεκάλεσε Μωυσῆν, καὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος αὐτῷ ἐκ τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου λέγων
Leviticus 1:1 (NETS)	Leviticus 1:1 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord summoned Moyses and spoke to him from the tent of witness, saying:	And the Lord called Moses again and spoke to him out of the tabernacle of witness, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them,

Leviticus 1:2 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 1:2 (KJV)	Leviticus 1:2 (NET)
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When any man of you bringeth an offering unto HaShem, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd or of the flock.	Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.	“Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When someone among you presents an offering to the Lord, you must present your offering from the domesticated animals, either from the herd or from the flock.

Leviticus 1:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 1:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
λάλησον τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐρεῗς πρὸς αὐτούς ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐὰν προσαγάγῃ δῶρα τῷ κυρίῳ ἀπὸ τῶν κτηνῶν ἀπὸ τῶν βοῶν καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν προβάτων προσοίσετε τὰ δῶρα ὑμῶν	λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς· ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐὰν προσαγάγῃ δῶρα τῷ Κυρίῳ, ἀπὸ τῶν κτηνῶν καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν βοῶν καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν προβάτων προσοίσετε τὰ δῶρα ὑμῶν
Leviticus 1:2 (NETS)	Leviticus 1:1b, 2 (English Elpenor)
Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: When a person of you brings gifts of livestock to the Lord, you shall bring your gifts from the cattle and from the sheep.	Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, (2) If [any] man of you shall bring gifts to the Lord, ye shall bring your gifts of the cattle and of the oxen and of the sheep.

Leviticus 1:3 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 1:3 (KJV)	Leviticus 1:3 (NET)
If his offering be a burnt-offering of the herd, he shall offer it a male without blemish; he shall bring it to the door of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before HaShem.	If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.	“‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he must present it as a flawless male; he must present it at the entrance of the Meeting Tent for its acceptance before the Lord.

Leviticus 1:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 1:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν ὁλοκαύτωμα τὸ δῶρον αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν βοῶν ἄρσεν ἄμωμον προσάξει πρὸς τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου προσοίσει αὐτὸ δεκτὸν ἐναντίον κυρίου	ἐὰν ὁλοκαύτωμα τὸ δῶρον αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν βοῶν, ἄρσεν ἄμωμον προσάξει· πρὸς τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου προσοίσει αὐτὸ δεκτὸν ἐναντίον Κυρίου
Leviticus 1:3 (NETS)	Leviticus 1:3 (English Elpenor)
If this gift is a whole burnt offering from the cattle, he shall present a male without blemish; he shall bring it to the door of the tent of witness, acceptable before the Lord.	If his gift be a whole-burnt-offering, he shall bring an unblemished male of the herd to the door of the tabernacle of witness, he shall bring it as acceptable before the Lord.

Leviticus 1:4 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 1:4 (KJV)	Leviticus 1:4 (NET)
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.	And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.	He must lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.

Leviticus 1:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 1:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπιθήσει τὴν χεῗρα ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ καρπώματος δεκτὸν αὐτῷ ἐξιλάσασθαι περὶ αὐτοῦ	καὶ ἐπιθήσει τὴν χεῖρα ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ καρπώματος, δεκτὸν αὐτῷ ἐξιλάσασθαι περὶ αὐτοῦ
Leviticus 1:4 (NETS)	Leviticus 1:4 (English Elpenor)
And he shall lay his hand on the head of the offering, a thing acceptable to him to atone for him.	And he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt-offering as a thing acceptable for him, to make atonement for him.

Hebrews 9:14 (NET)	Hebrews 9:14 (KJV)
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.	How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄμωμον τῷ θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ἡμῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι	ποσω μαλλον το αιμα του χριστου ος δια πνευματος αιωνιου εαυτον προσηνεγκεν αμωμον τω θεω καθαριει την συνειδησιν υμων απο νεκρων εργων εις το λατρευειν θεω ζωντι	ποσω μαλλον το αιμα του χριστου ος δια πνευματος αιωνιου εαυτον προσηνεγκεν αμωμον τω θεω καθαριει την συνειδησιν υμων απο νεκρων εργων εις το λατρευειν θεω ζωντι

1 Peter 1:17 (NET)	1 Peter 1:17 (KJV)
And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.	And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ εἰ πατέρα ἐπικαλεῖσθε τὸν ἀπροσωπολήμπτως κρίνοντα κατὰ τὸ ἑκάστου ἔργον, ἐν φόβῳ τὸν τῆς παροικίας ὑμῶν χρόνον ἀναστράφητε	και ει πατερα επικαλεισθε τον απροσωποληπτως κρινοντα κατα το εκαστου εργον εν φοβω τον της παροικιας υμων χρονον αναστραφητε	και ει πατερα επικαλεισθε τον απροσωπολημπτως κρινοντα κατα το εκαστου εργον εν φοβω τον της παροικιας υμων χρονον αναστραφητε

1 Peter 1:20, 21 (NET)	1 Peter 1:20, 21 (KJV)
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake.	Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
προεγνωσμένου μὲν πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου φανερωθέντος δὲ ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτου τῶν χρόνων δι᾿ ὑμᾶς	προεγνωσμενου μεν προ καταβολης κοσμου φανερωθεντος δε επ εσχατων των χρονων δι υμας	προεγνωσμενου μεν προ καταβολης κοσμου φανερωθεντος δε επ εσχατων των χρονων δι υμας

Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
τοὺς δι᾿ αὐτοῦ πιστοὺς εἰς θεὸν τὸν ἐγείραντα αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν καὶ δόξαν αὐτῷ δόντα, ὥστε τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν καὶ ἐλπίδα εἶναι εἰς θεόν	τους δι αυτου πιστευοντας εις θεον τον εγειραντα αυτον εκ νεκρων και δοξαν αυτω δοντα ωστε την πιστιν υμων και ελπιδα ειναι εις θεον	τους δι αυτου πιστευοντας εις θεον τον εγειραντα αυτον εκ νεκρων και δοξαν αυτω δοντα ωστε την πιστιν υμων και ελπιδα ειναι εις θεον

Colossians 1:21-23 (NET)	Colossians 1:21-23 (KJV)
And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds,	And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ ὑμᾶς ποτε ὄντας ἀπηλλοτριωμένους καὶ ἐχθροὺς τῇ διανοίᾳ ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς πονηροῖς	και υμας ποτε οντας απηλλοτριωμενους και εχθρους τη διανοια εν τοις εργοις τοις πονηροις νυνι δε αποκατηλλαξεν	και υμας ποτε οντας απηλλοτριωμενους και εχθρους τη διανοια εν τοις εργοις τοις πονηροις νυνι δε αποκατηλλαξεν

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him—

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
νυνὶ δὲ ἀποκατήλλαξεν ἐν τῷ σώματι τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ διὰ τοῦ θανάτου παραστῆσαι ὑμᾶς ἁγίους καὶ ἀμώμους καὶ ἀνεγκλήτους κατενώπιον αὐτοῦ	εν τω σωματι της σαρκος αυτου δια του θανατου παραστησαι υμας αγιους και αμωμους και ανεγκλητους κατενωπιον αυτου	εν τω σωματι της σαρκος αυτου δια του θανατου παραστησαι υμας αγιους και αμωμους και ανεγκλητους κατενωπιον αυτου

if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

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

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 8

Back to The New Covenant, Part 1

^[1] Leviticus 1:3b (Tanakh chabad.org)

^[2] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἡμῶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υμων (KJV: your).

^[3] Leviticus 5:5b (NET) Table

^[4] Leviticus 5:6 (NET) Table

^[5] Leviticus 5:7b (NET) Table

^[6] Leviticus 5:11b (NET) Table

^[7] Leviticus 5:13a (NET) Table

^[8] Hebrews 9:14 (NET)

^[9] Philippians 2:8 (NET)

^[10] John 17:17b (NET) Table

^[11] John 14:10b (ESV) Table

^[12] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἀπροσωπολήμπτως here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had απροσωποληπτως (KJV: without respect of persons).

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

^[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had πιστοὺς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πιστευοντας (KJV: do believe).

^[15] From “1 Peter and the Diaspora” by Phillip J. Long on readingacts.com—

1 Peter 1:1 addresses “the elect” who are “scatted” [sic] (1:1, NIV). Both words are significant in that they point to a Jewish audience. The “Elect” is a common self-designation in Judaism. They are the nation which God chose (via Abraham, or in the prophets, when he rescued the nation out of Egypt). “Scattered” is the Greek diaspora, the Diaspora. This was a word used frequently to describe Jews loving [sic] outside of the Land, including those regions addressed in 1 Peter 1:1.

^[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had εἴ γε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειγε (KJV: If).

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

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 6

Posted on October 1, 2020 by admin

Another statement of sabbath law in Exodus follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 31:12, 13 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:12, 13 (NET)	Exodus 31:12, 13 (NETS)	Exodus 31:12, 13 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying:	The Lord (Yehovah, יהוה) said to Moses,	And the Lord (κύριος) spoke to Moyses, saying:	And the Lord (Κύριος) spoke to Moses, saying,
‘Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying: Verily ye shall keep My sabbaths (שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י), for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am HaShem (יְהֹוָ֖ה) who sanctify you.	“Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep my Sabbaths (shabbath, שבתתי), for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord (Yehovah, יהוה) who sanctifies you.	And you, instruct the sons of Israel, saying, “Observe and keep my sabbaths (σάββατά)! For it is a sign with me and among you for your generations in order that you may know that I am the Lord (κύριος) who consecrates you.	Do thou also charge the children of Israel, saying, Take heed and keep my sabbaths (σάββατά); [for] they are a sign with me and among you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord (Κύριος) that sanctifies you.

Yehovah (יְהֹוָ֖ה) was explicit about the purpose of the sabbaths He made for people: that you may know that I am the Lord (Yehovah, יהוה) who sanctifies you.^[1] Paul wrote to believers in Colossae (Colossians 2:6-17 NET):

Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord (κύριον, a form of κύριος), continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing^[2] with thankfulness. Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him all the fullness (πλήρωμα) of deity lives in bodily form, and you have been filled (πεπληρωμένοι, a form of πληρόω) in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly^[3] body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ. Having been buried with him in baptism,^[4] you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the^[5] dead. And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you^[6] alive^[7] with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days (σαββάτων, a form of σάββατον)—these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ [Table]!

The Greek word translated reality above was σῶμα (KJV: body): Christ is the body which cast the shadow.

I rely now on the Holy Spirit and his continuous infusion of God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to quash any impulse to rush out and indulge my favorite sin after reading: He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.^[8]

It is extremely interesting to me that where the NET described a believer’s circumcision as the removal of the fleshly body because the NA²⁸ proposed τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός as the more original text, the KJV described it as putting off the body of the sins of the flesh because the Stephanus Textus Receptus had του σωματος των αμαρτιων της σαρκος. Even if των αμαρτιων was added by a scribe, I doubt that Paul would take offense at this amplification.

He wrote to believers in Rome (Romans 6:1-4 NET):

What shall we say then? Are we to remain^[9] in sin so that grace may increase? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.

The NET translators chose live above for two different Greek words. In—so we too may live a new life^[10]—live was περιπατήσωμεν (a form of περιπατέω) in Greek. And in—How can we who died to sin still live in it?^[11]—it was ζήσομεν (a form of ζάω). I don’t have any particular quarrel with translating περιπατήσωμεν live. But perhaps ζήσομεν in such close proximity could have been translated something like fester to capture the tone better: How can we who died to sin still fester in it?

What appears to be hung out there as a rhetorical question or lament in Paul’s letter to the Romans was actually answered quite succinctly in his letter to the Galatians: One will continue to fester in sin if one does not live (περιπατεῖτε, another form of περιπατέω) by the Spirit: But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.^[12]

The English translation—you will not carry out—is weaker here than the Greek: οὐ μὴ τελέσητε. The second person plural verb τελέσητε is an aorist subjunctive form of τελέω. So οὐ μὴ makes this clause a “Subjunctive of Emphatic Negation…the absolute and unequivocal denial of the probability of an event EVER OCCURING at any moment or time in the future.”^[13] So if I ever bring the sinful desires of the flesh to maturity or carry them out, I am not at that moment living by the Spirit.

It’s not a time to debate a point but to recalibrate my senses to become more accustomed and attuned to the Spirit of God (Romans 7:18-20 NET).

For I know that nothing good lives (οἰκεῖ, a form of οἰκέω) in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot^[14] do it. For I do not do the good I want, but^[15] I do the very evil I do not want! Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but^[16] sin that lives (οἰκοῦσα, another form of οἰκέω) in me.

Paul’s command—κρινέτω, translated do…let…judge, is an imperative form of κρίνω—do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days^[17] makes no sense to me on its surface. I don’t know how to stop religious people from making religious judgments about religious things. But if I understand κρινέτω here as rule, things begin to fall into place.

I have sinned. I have lived, walked, been led by the sin that lives in me rather than the Holy Spirit. That very moment when I need most of all to get back to living, walking, being led by Christ’s Spirit is the very moment religious people descend with their judgments. Should they refrain my own religious mind jabbers away at me with similar judgments. If I turn then to live, walk or be led by the judgments of religious people or my own religious mind, I have still not returned to live, walk, be led by the Spirit of God. I have refused to enter his rest.

The regulations in the law regarding food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days…are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!^[18] A believer must be certain of this. The sabbath laws continued:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 31:14, 15 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:14, 15 (NET)	Exodus 31:14, 15 (NETS)	Exodus 31:12, 13 (English Elpenor)
Ye shall keep the sabbath (הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת) therefore, for it is holy unto you; every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.	So you must keep the Sabbath (shabbath, השבת), for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people.	And you shall keep the sabbaths (σάββατα), because this is holy for you. The one who profanes it shall with death be put to death. Everyone who will do work in it, that soul shall be destroyed from among his people.	And ye shall keep the sabbaths (σάββατα), because this is holy to the Lord for you; he that profanes it shall surely be put to death: every one who shall do a work on it, that soul shall be destroyed from the midst of his people.
Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath (שַׁבַּ֧ת) of solemn rest (שַׁבָּת֛וֹן), holy to HaShem; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath (הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת) day, he shall surely be put to death.	Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath (shabbath, שבת) of complete rest (shabbathown, שבתון), holy to the Lord; anyone who does work on the Sabbath (shabbath, השבת) day must surely be put to death.	For six days you shall do works, but on the seventh day there is sabbata (σάββατα), a rest (ἀνάπαυσις) holy to the Lord. Everyone who does work on the seventh day (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ) shall be put to death.	Six days thou shalt do works, but the seventh day is the sabbath (σάββατα), a holy rest (ἀνάπαυσις) to the Lord; every one who shall do a work on the seventh day (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ) shall be put to death.

A believer bullied by the fear of death into living by these sabbath regulations rather than the Holy Spirit not only exchanges the reality of Christ for a shadow but frustrates the purpose of the sabbath as revealed in the law: that ye may know that I am the Lord that sanctifies (ἁγιάζων, a form of ἁγιάζω) you.^[19] For indeed he who makes holy (ἁγιάζων, a form of ἁγιάζω) and those being made holy (ἁγιαζόμενοι, another form of ἁγιάζω) all have the same origin (ἐξ ἑνὸς πάντες; KJV: are all of one), and so he is not ashamed to call them brothers…^[20]

Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives? Paul wrote believers in Rome (Romans 7:1-6 NET):

For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage. So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress. So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.

In the Septuagint the Greek word translated rest in the description of the sabbath as a holy rest to the Lord was ἀνάπαυσις. I’ll conclude this essay with Jesus’ promise of ἀνάπαυσις (Matthew 11:28-30 NET):

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (ἀναπαύσω, a form of ἀναπαύω). Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (ἀνάπαυσιν, a form of ἀνάπαυσις) for your souls [Table]. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.

Tables comparing Exodus 31:12; 31:13; 31:14 and 31:15 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Exodus 31:12; 31:13; 31:14 and 31:15 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Following those are tables comparing Colossians 2:7; 2:11-13; Romans 6:1 and 7:18-20 in the NET and KJV.

Exodus 31:12 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:12 (KJV)	Exodus 31:12 (NET)
And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying:	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,	The Lord said to Moses,

Exodus 31:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 31:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων	Καὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων
Exodus 31:12 (NETS)	Exodus 31:12 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord spoke to Moyses, saying:	And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Exodus 31:13 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:13 (KJV)	Exodus 31:13 (NET)
‘Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying: Verily ye shall keep My sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am HaShem who sanctify you.	Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.	“Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

Exodus 31:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 31:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ σὺ σύνταξον τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ λέγων ὁρᾶτε καὶ τὰ σάββατά μου φυλάξεσθε σημεῗόν ἐστιν παρ᾽ ἐμοὶ καὶ ἐν ὑμῗν εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν ἵνα γνῶτε ὅτι ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ ἁγιάζων ὑμᾶς	καὶ σὺ σύνταξον τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ λέγων· ὁρᾶτε, καὶ τὰ σάββατά μου φυλάξεσθε· σημεῖόν ἐστι παρ᾿ ἐμοὶ καὶ ἐν ἐμοὶ εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν, ἵνα γνῶτε ὅτι ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ ἁγιάζων ὑμᾶς
Exodus 31:13 (NETS)	Exodus 31:13 (English Elpenor)
And you, instruct the sons of Israel, saying, “Observe and keep my sabbaths! For it is a sign with me and among you for your generations in order that you may know that I am the Lord who consecrates you.	Do thou also charge the children of Israel, saying, Take heed and keep my sabbaths; [for] they are a sign with me and among you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord that sanctifies you.

Exodus 31:14 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:14 (KJV)	Exodus 31:14 (NET)
Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you; every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.	Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.	So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people.

Exodus 31:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 31:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ φυλάξεσθε τὰ σάββατα ὅτι ἅγιον τοῦτό ἐστιν κυρίου ὑμῗν ὁ βεβηλῶν αὐτὸ θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἐν αὐτῷ ἔργον ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ μέσου τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ	καὶ φυλάξεσθε τὰ σάββατα, ὅτι ἅγιον τοῦτό ἐστι Κυρίῳ ὑμῖν· ὁ βεβηλῶν αὐτὸ θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται· πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἐν αὐτῷ ἔργον, ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ μέσου τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ
Exodus 31:14 (NETS)	Exodus 31:14 (English Elpenor)
And you shall keep the sabbaths, because this is holy for you. The one who profanes it shall with death be put to death. Everyone who will do work in it, that soul shall be destroyed from among his people.	And ye shall keep the sabbaths, because this is holy to the Lord for you; he that profanes it shall surely be put to death: every one who shall do a work on it, that soul shall be destroyed from the midst of his people.

Exodus 31:15 (Tanakh)	Exodus 31:15 (KJV)	Exodus 31:15 (NET)
Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to HaShem; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.	Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.	Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.

Exodus 31:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 31:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἓξ ἡμέρας ποιήσεις ἔργα τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ σάββατα ἀνάπαυσις ἁγία τῷ κυρίῳ πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἔργον τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται	ἓξ ἡμέρας ποιήσεις ἔργα, τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ σάββατα, ἀνάπαυσις ἁγία τῷ Κυρίῳ· πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἔργον τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ, θανατωθήσεται
Exodus 31:15 (NETS)	Exodus 31:15 (English Elpenor)
For six days you shall do works, but on the seventh day there is sabbata, a rest holy to the Lord. Everyone who does work on the seventh day shall be put to death.	Six days thou shalt do works, but the seventh day is the sabbath, a holy rest to the Lord; every one who shall do a work on the seventh day shall be put to death.

Colossians 2:7 (NET)	Colossians 2:7 (KJV)
rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.	Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ ἐποικοδομούμενοι ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ βεβαιούμενοι τῇ πίστει καθὼς ἐδιδάχθητε, περισσεύοντες ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ	ερριζωμενοι και εποικοδομουμενοι εν αυτω και βεβαιουμενοι εν τη πιστει καθως εδιδαχθητε περισσευοντες εν αυτη εν ευχαριστια	ερριζωμενοι και εποικοδομουμενοι εν αυτω και βεβαιουμενοι εν τη πιστει καθως εδιδαχθητε περισσευοντες εν αυτη εν ευχαριστια

Colossians 2:11-13 (NET)	Colossians 2:11-13 (KJV)
In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.	In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ	εν ω και περιετμηθητε περιτομη αχειροποιητω εν τη απεκδυσει του σωματος των αμαρτιων της σαρκος εν τη περιτομη του χριστου	εν ω και περιετμηθητε περιτομη αχειροποιητω εν τη απεκδυσει του σωματος των αμαρτιων της σαρκος εν τη περιτομη του χριστου

Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
συνταφέντες αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ \|βαπτισμῷ\|, ἐν ᾧ καὶ συνηγέρθητε διὰ τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐνεργείας τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν	συνταφεντες αυτω εν τω βαπτισματι εν ω και συνηγερθητε δια της πιστεως της ενεργειας του θεου του εγειραντος αυτον εκ των νεκρων	συνταφεντες αυτω εν τω βαπτισματι εν ω και συνηγερθητε δια της πιστεως της ενεργειας του θεου του εγειραντος αυτον εκ των νεκρων

And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας [ἐν] τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν, συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ, χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα.	και υμας νεκρους οντας εν τοις παραπτωμασιν και τη ακροβυστια της σαρκος υμων συνεζωποιησεν συν αυτω χαρισαμενος ημιν παντα τα παραπτωματα	και υμας νεκρους οντας εν τοις παραπτωμασιν και τη ακροβυστια της σαρκος υμων συνεζωοποιησεν υμας συν αυτω χαρισαμενος ημιν παντα τα παραπτωματα

Romans 6:1 (NET)	Romans 6:1 (KJV)
What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase?	What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν; ἐπιμένωμεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσῃ	τι ουν ερουμεν επιμενουμεν τη αμαρτια ινα η χαρις πλεοναση	τι ουν ερουμεν επιμενομεν τη αμαρτια ινα η χαρις πλεοναση

Romans 7:18-20 (NET)	Romans 7:18-20 (KJV)
For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.	For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι οὐκ οἰκεῖ ἐν ἐμοί, τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ σαρκί μου, ἀγαθόν· τὸ γὰρ θέλειν παράκειται μοι, τὸ δὲ κατεργάζεσθαι τὸ καλὸν οὔ	οιδα γαρ οτι ουκ οικει εν εμοι τουτ εστιν εν τη σαρκι μου αγαθον το γαρ θελειν παρακειται μοι το δε κατεργαζεσθαι το καλον ουχ ευρισκω	οιδα γαρ οτι ουκ οικει εν εμοι τουτ εστιν εν τη σαρκι μου αγαθον το γαρ θελειν παρακειται μοι το δε κατεργαζεσθαι το καλον ουχ ευρισκω

For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want!

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὐ γὰρ ὃ θέλω ποιῶ ἀγαθόν, ἀλλὰ ὃ οὐ θέλω κακὸν τοῦτο πράσσω	ου γαρ ο θελω ποιω αγαθον αλλ ο ου θελω κακον τουτο πρασσω	ου γαρ ο θελω ποιω αγαθον αλλ ο ου θελω κακον τουτο πρασσω

Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ δὲ ὃ οὐ θέλω [ἐγὼ] τοῦτο ποιῶ, οὐκέτι ἐγὼ κατεργάζομαι αὐτὸ ἀλλὰ ἡ οἰκοῦσα ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία	ει δε ο ου θελω εγω τουτο ποιω ουκετι εγω κατεργαζομαι αυτο αλλ η οικουσα εν εμοι αμαρτια	ει δε ο ου θελω εγω τουτο ποιω ουκετι εγω κατεργαζομαι αυτο αλλ η οικουσα εν εμοι αμαρτια

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 7

Back to Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 2

Back to Psalm 22, Part 5

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 16

Back to Who Am I? Part 12

Back to To Make Holy, Part 9

Back to Westworld, Part 3

Back to Westworld, Part 4

Back to The Book of Life, Part 1

Back to The New Covenant, Part 3

Back to Christianity, Part 2

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 8

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 9

Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 7

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 10

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 1

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 3

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

Back to Luke 8:22-56

^[1] Exodus 31:13b (NET)

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

^[3] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had των αμαρτιων (KJV: of the sins) between the body and the flesh. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

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

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

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

^[7] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had συνεζωοποίησεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had συνεζωποιησεν (KJV: hath he quickened).

^[8] Colossians 2:14 (NET)

^[9] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐπιμένωμεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had επιμενουμεν (KJV: Shall we continue) and the Byzantine Majority Text had επιμενομεν.

^[10] Romans 6:4b (NET)

^[11] Romans 6:2b (NET)

^[12] Galatians 5:16 (NET)

^[13] Justin Alfred, “EMPHATIC NEGATIONS IN BIBLICAL GREEK,” BLB Blog

^[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had οὔ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουχ ευρισκω (KJV: I find not).

^[15] The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had ἀλλ’.

^[16] The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had ἀλλ’.

^[17] Colossians 2:16 (NET)

^[18] Colossians 2:16-17 (NET)

^[19] Exodus 31:13 (English Elpenor)

^[20] Hebrews 2:11 (NET)

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 5

Posted on April 21, 2020 by admin

Another statement of the law of the Sabbath in Exodus reads as follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 23:12 (Tanakh)	Exodus 23:12 (NET)	Exodus 23:12 (NETS)	Exodus 23:12 (English Elpenor)
Six days thou shalt do thy work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest (תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת); that thine ox and thine ass may have rest (יָנ֗וּחַ), and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.	For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease (shâbath, תשבת), in order that your ox and your donkey may rest (nûach, ינוח) and that your female servant’s son and the resident foreigner may refresh themselves.	Six days you shall do your tasks, but on the seventh day you shall rest (ἀνάπαυσις) in order that your ox and your draft animal might rest (ἀναπαύσηται) and that the son of your female servant and the guest might be refreshed.	Six days shalt thou do thy works, and on the seventh day there shall be rest (ἀνάπαυσις), that thine ox and thine ass may rest (ἀναπαύσηται), and that the son of thy maid-servant and the stranger may be refreshed.

All of these translations pass the test—The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath^[1]—in my opinion. Here rest was תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת (shâbath) in the clause but on the seventh day thou shalt rest in the Masoretic text, and ἀνάπαυσις in the Septuagint. The Hebrew root is the same in and He rested (shâbath, וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙) on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.^[2] The Greek root is the same in Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (ἀνάπαυσιν, a form of ἀνάπαυσις) for your souls.^[3]

The second rest—that thine ox and thine ass may have rest—was יָנ֗וּחַ (nûach) in the Masoretic text and ἀναπαύσηται (a form of ἀναπαύω) in the Septuagint. The Hebrew root is the same in the ten commandments: in six days HaShem made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested (nûach, וַיָּ֖נַח) on the seventh day.^[4] The Greek root is the same in Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (ἀναπαύσω, a form of ἀναπαύω).^[5]

I looked up may be refreshed out of curiosity: It was וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ (nâphash) in the Masoretic text and ἀναψύξῃ (a form of ἀναψύχω) in the Septuagint. There is only one occurrence of a form of ἀναψύχω in the New Testament (2 Timothy 1:16-18 NET):

May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed (ἀνέψυξεν a form of ἀναψύχω) me and was not ashamed^[6] of my imprisonment. But when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly^[7] searched for me and found me. May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well all the ways he served me in Ephesus.

I was about to return to Exodus when a question came to mind: Did Paul consider Onesiphorus a fellow believer? May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! Is that the way he would write about a fellow believer? I won’t argue yea or nay here. But it sent me back to Jesus’ teaching as it shed some light on something I had heard the night before. I’ll try to put all this back into perspicuous form.

I don’t listen to Todd Friel often. He is a bit snarky for my taste. (Perhaps, I should say that his snarkiness appeals way too much to my flesh.) Apparently, he did stand-up comedy^[8] in another life. The night before I began this study a YouTube video titled, “The #1 reason there are so many FALSE Christian converts,” was the clickbait I needed to deviate from my usual course. Mr. Friel explained:

The problem is they aren’t presenting the gospel…God will pull the rug out from under anybody to get their attention. But it’s not that He wants them to come to him so the rug can be replaced. He wants to get their attention so that they recognize: You’re at the end of your rope because I hold the rope, and one day I’m going to pull your rope in and I am going to judge you for every thought, word and deed. And if you are not hidden in the cleft of the rock, My Son the Lord Jesus Christ, I will grind you to powder.

The next morning Paul’s prayer for Onesiphorus—May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—sent me back to Jesus’ description of that day (Matthew 25:31-40 NET):

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats [Table]. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited^[12] me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick^[13] or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

The Greek word translated brothers or sisters was ἀδελφῶν (a form of ἀδελφός). Paul wrote believers in Rome (Romans 8:28-30 NET):

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (ἀδελφοῖς, another form of ἀδελφός). And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

Those who were accursed demonstrated no care or concern (Matthew 25:42-45) for Jesus’ brothers and sisters: “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!’^[14] And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous (e.g., those who demonstrated some level of care or concern for Jesus’ brothers and sisters) into eternal life.”^[15]

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, Jesus taught his disciples, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes (John 5:21-24 NET).

Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him [Table].

“I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life.

Jesus defined eternal life for us in a prayer to his Father: Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.^[16] And the Holy Spirit reminded me of more knowledge of the Judge the Father appointed, who He is, how He judges. Jesus taught his disciples (Matthew 10:40-42 NET):

Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive^[17] a prophet’s reward. Whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive^[18] a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward.

I received a gospel similar to the one presented by Mr. Friel: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or burn in hell for all eternity. I was five. I don’t recall any of the emotional baggage that would be so offensive to adults. It was simply another fact, like cross at the crosswalk with the light, or a bus will run you down. But there was always an undercurrent, and since I wasn’t availing myself of the word of God as a precision diagnostic and surgical instrument, I didn’t recognize that undercurrent as the flesh or the old man.

That undercurrent became progressively more vociferous throughout my young life:

I wanted to save myself from an eternity in a lake of fire. And now, lo and behold, I find that I have become—inadvertently—a Christian! Not a day goes by that I don’t discover yet another restriction in an endless list of prohibitions to which I must conform because I am a Christian! On top of that there is another endless list of things I must do because I am a Christian, chief among these is to rope my friends into a way of life I would not wish on my worst enemy.

If that undercurrent sounds a little like Joe Pesci in the movie My Cousin Vinny, well, that’s a bit of literary license. As a hilariously triumphant example of all things working together for good, even that undercurrent has become a strong motivation to rest in the fruit of the Holy Spirit—once I began to recognize that the voice of that undercurrent wasn’t mine.

I was one of the most false converts to Christ. But God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit hasn’t given up on me yet. Mr. Friel also mentioned substitutionary atonement as something important to the Gospel: For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.^[19] For the wages of sin is death.^[20]

Clearly substitutionary atonement is of first importance. Given my history, however, I’m wary whenever the doctrine of substitutionary atonement substitutes faith in punishment for faith in Jesus Christ. David Instone-Brewer in his essay, “Did God Punish Jesus on the Cross?,” offers a better introduction to this concern than I have done or am doing here.

None of this is to discourage anyone from answering the call of God in Jesus Christ, just a reminder that God is not the enemy here. Sin is the enemy. For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures^[21] because this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.^[22] I will not speak with you much longer, Jesus told his disciples, for the ruler of this world^[23] is coming. He has no power over me, but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.^[24]

When Joeseph considered divorcing Mary because she was already pregnant, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit [Table]. She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”^[25] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.^[26] John Piper preached a sermon—Christ Died for Our Sins That We Might Die to Sin—that is clearer than anything I’ve written.

It is true that there was wrath in the past. The Grand Canyon in Arizona is a visible memorial to a time when The Lord regretted that he had made humankind on the earth, and he was highly offended.^[27] There is a time of wrath and revelation of Jesus Christ yet to come. Now, dear friends, Peter wrote, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. The^[28] Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you,^[29] because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.^[30]

Different believers estimate the strength of μακροθυμεῖ (a form of μακροθυμέω; NET: patient; KJV: longsuffering) and βουλόμενος (a form of βούλομαι) in different ways. The NET translators, for instance, chose wish for βουλόμενος where the KJV translators chose longsuffering. The Koine Greek Lexicon online indicates that forms of βούλομαι with a negative, as it is here (μὴ βουλόμενος), mean “to refuse, not to consent.” Likewise, I may have a different experience of God’s patience than one who has never strayed far from Christian faith.

To end this excursion where it began: the man who marveled at Jesus’ definition of eternal life in my musical composition not only alerted me to how illiterate I had actually become, caring more for the sounds of words than their meaning, he also provided me with a handy tool—this is—to begin to understand the Bible better. This Jew who found philosophical comfort in Buddhism, who thought that salvation by faith was too non-human to be true the last time I had any contact with him, was a great help to me in my journey to know the only true God and Jesus Christ. May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day.

Tables comparing Exodus 23:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Exodus 23:12 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Following those are tables comparing 2 Timothy 1:16, 17; 25:36; 25:39; 10:41; John 14:30 and 2 Peter 3:9 in the NET and KJV.

Exodus 23:12 (Tanakh)	Exodus 23:12 (KJV)	Exodus 23:12 (NET)
Six days thou shalt do thy work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest; that thine ox and thine ass may have rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.	Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.	For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, in order that your ox and your donkey may rest and that your female servant’s son and the resident foreigner may refresh themselves.

Exodus 23:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 23:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἓξ ἡμέρας ποιήσεις τὰ ἔργα σου τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἀνάπαυσις ἵνα ἀναπαύσηται ὁ βοῦς σου καὶ τὸ ὑποζύγιόν σου καὶ ἵνα ἀναψύξῃ ὁ υἱὸς τῆς παιδίσκης σου καὶ ὁ προσήλυτος	ἓξ ἡμέρας ποιήσεις τὰ ἔργα σου, τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἀνάπαυσις, ἵνα ἀναπαύσηται ὁ βοῦς σου καὶ τὸ ὑποζύγιόν σου, καὶ ἵνα ἀναψύξῃ ὁ υἱὸς τῆς παιδίσκης σου καὶ ὁ προσήλυτος
Exodus 23:12 (NETS)	Exodus 23:12 (English Elpenor)
Six days you shall do your tasks, but on the seventh day you shall rest in order that your ox and your draft animal might rest and that the son of your female servant and the guest might be refreshed.	Six days shalt thou do thy works, and on the seventh day there shall be rest, that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and that the son of thy maid-servant and the stranger may be refreshed.

2 Timothy 1:16, 17 (NET)	2 Timothy 1:16, 17 (KJV)
May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment.	The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
δῴη ἔλεος ὁ κύριος τῷ Ὀνησιφόρου οἴκῳ, ὅτι πολλάκις με ἀνέψυξεν καὶ τὴν ἅλυσιν μου οὐκ ἐπαισχύνθη	δωη ελεος ο κυριος τω ονησιφορου οικω οτι πολλακις με ανεψυξεν και την αλυσιν μου ουκ επησχυνθη	δωη ελεος ο κυριος τω ονησιφορου οικω οτι πολλακις με ανεψυξεν και την αλυσιν μου ουκ επαισχυνθη

But when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me.

But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλὰ γενόμενος ἐν Ῥώμῃ σπουδαίως ἐζήτησεν με καὶ εὗρεν	αλλα γενομενος εν ρωμη σπουδαιοτερον εζητησεν με και ευρεν	αλλα γενομενος εν ρωμη σπουδαιοτερον εζητησεν με και ευρεν

Matthew 25:36 (NET)	Matthew 25:36 (KJV)
I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’	Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
γυμνὸς καὶ περιεβάλετε με, ἠσθένησα καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθε με, ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην καὶ ἤλθατε πρός με	γυμνος και περιεβαλετε με ησθενησα και επεσκεψασθε με εν φυλακη ημην και ηλθετε προς με	γυμνος και περιεβαλετε με ησθενησα και επεσκεψασθε με εν φυλακη ημην και ηλθετε προς με

Matthew 25:39 (NET)	Matthew 25:39 (KJV)
When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’	Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ἀσθενοῦντα ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ καὶ ἤλθομεν πρός σε	ποτε δε σε ειδομεν ασθενη η εν φυλακη και ηλθομεν προς σε	ποτε δε σε ειδομεν ασθενη η εν φυλακη και ηλθομεν προς σε

Matthew 10:41 (NET)	Matthew 10:41 (KJV)
Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.	He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δεχόμενος προφήτην εἰς ὄνομα προφήτου μισθὸν προφήτου λήμψεται, καὶ ὁ δεχόμενος δίκαιον εἰς ὄνομα δικαίου μισθὸν δικαίου λήμψεται	ο δεχομενος προφητην εις ονομα προφητου μισθον προφητου ληψεται και ο δεχομενος δικαιον εις ονομα δικαιου μισθον δικαιου ληψεται	ο δεχομενος προφητην εις ονομα προφητου μισθον προφητου ληψεται και ο δεχομενος δικαιον εις ονομα δικαιου μισθον δικαιου ληψεται

John 14:30 (NET)	John 14:30 (KJV)
I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me,	Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὐκέτι πολλὰ λαλήσω μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν, ἔρχεται γὰρ ὁ τοῦ κόσμου ἄρχων· καὶ ἐν ἐμοὶ οὐκ ἔχει οὐδέν	ουκ ετι πολλα λαλησω μεθ υμων ερχεται γαρ ο του κοσμου τουτου αρχων και εν εμοι ουκ εχει ουδεν	ουκετι πολλα λαλησω μεθ υμων ερχεται γαρ ο του κοσμου αρχων και εν εμοι ουκ εχει ουδεν

2 Peter 3:9 (NET)	2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.	The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὐ βραδύνει κύριος τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, ὥς τινες βραδύτητα ἡγοῦνται, ἀλλὰ μακροθυμεῖ εἰς ὑμᾶς, μὴ βουλόμενος τινας ἀπολέσθαι ἀλλὰ πάντας εἰς μετάνοιαν χωρῆσαι	ου βραδυνει ο κυριος της επαγγελιας ως τινες βραδυτητα ηγουνται αλλα μακροθυμει εις ημας μη βουλομενος τινας απολεσθαι αλλα παντας εις μετανοιαν χωρησαι	ου βραδυνει ο κυριος της επαγγελιας ως τινες βραδυτητα ηγουνται αλλα μακροθυμει εις ημας μη βουλομενος τινας απολεσθαι αλλα παντας εις μετανοιαν χωρησαι

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 6

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 2

Back to David’s Forgiveness, Part 3

Back to Romans, Part 18

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 8

Back to Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 11

Back to The Book of Life, Part 2

Back to The Book of Life, Part 3

Back to Christianity, Part 1

Back to Christianity, Part 5

Back to Christianity, Part 8

Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 3

Back to Christianity, Part 10

Back to Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Part 10

Back to Who Am I? Part 16

^[1] Mark 2:27 (NET) Table

^[2] Genesis 2:2b (Tanakh) Table

^[3] Matthew 11:29 (NET) Table

^[4] Exodus 20:11a (Tanakh) Table

^[5] Matthew 11:28 (NET)

^[6] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐπαισχύνθη here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had επησχυνθη.

^[7] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had σπουδαίως here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σπουδαιοτερον (KJV: very diligently).

^[8] The online ad for one of his books describes the author this way: “Todd Friel studied to be a pastor for four years but neglected to actually get saved. He abandoned church ministry plans and did secular TV, radio and stand-up comedy for 6 years. Gratefully, God saved Todd (from hell and stand-up comedy).”

^[12] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἤλθατε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηλθετε (KJV: ye came).

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

^[14] Matthew 25:41 (NET)

^[15] Matthew 25:46 (NET)

^[16] John 17:3 (NET)

^[17] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had λήμψεται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ληψεται (KJV: shall receive).

^[18] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had λήμψεται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ληψεται (KJV: shall receive).

^[19] 1 Corinthians 15:3 (NET)

^[20] Romans 6:23a (KJV)

^[21] 1 Corinthians 15:3b, 4 (NET) Table

^[22] John 3:16, 17 (NET) Table

^[23] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had τουτου following world and preceding ruler. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[24] John 14:30, 31 (NET)

^[25] Matthew 1:20, 21 (NET)

^[26] 1 Peter 2:24 (NET) Table

^[27] Genesis 6:6 (NET) Table

^[28] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ο preceding Lord. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[29] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὑμᾶς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ημας (KJV: us).

^[30] 2 Peter 3:8, 9 (NET)

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 4

Posted on April 12, 2020 by admin

As I continue to focus on the Sabbath (because it has so much material to access) I’ve arrived at the first statement of the ten commandments in Exodus. So here is the shadow of the good things to come of the Sabbath in its most definitive form. This section begins, And G-d spoke all these words, saying:^[1]

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 20:8-11 (Tanakh)	Exodus 20:8-11 (NET)	Exodus 20:8-11 (NETS)	Exodus 20:8-11 (English Elpenor)
Remember the sabbath (הַשַּׁבָּ֜ת) day, to keep it holy.	“Remember the Sabbath (shabbâth, השבת) day to set it apart as holy.	Remember the day of the sabbaths (σαββάτων) to consecrate it.	Remember the sabbath (σαββάτων) day to keep it holy.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work;	For six days you may labor and do all your work,	For six days you shall labor and do all your labor,	Six days thou shalt labour, and shalt perform all thy work.
but the seventh day is a sabbath (שַׁבָּ֣ת) unto HaShem thy G-d, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;	but the seventh day is a Sabbath (shabbâth, שבת) to the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates.	but on the seventh day there is Sabbata (σάββατα) to the Lord your God. You shall not do in it any labor, you and your son and your daughter, your male slave and your female slave, your ox and your draft animal and any animal of yours and the guest who resides among you.	But on the seventh day is the sabbath (σάββατα) of the Lord thy God; on it thou shalt do no work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy servant nor thy maidservant, thine ox nor thine ass, nor any cattle of thine, nor the stranger that sojourns with thee.
in six days HaShem made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested (וַיָּ֖נַח) on the seventh day; wherefore HaShem blessed the sabbath (הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת) day, and hallowed it.	For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested (nûach, וינח) on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath (shabbâth, השבת) day and set it apart as holy.	For in six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all things in them, and he rested (κατέπαυσεν) on the seventh day and consecrated it. For this reason the Lord blessed the seventh (ἑβδόμην) day and consecrated it.	For in six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth, and the sea and all things in them, and rested (κατέπαυσε) on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the seventh (ἑβδόμην) day, and hallowed it.

Do these translations effectively convey the truth that, The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath^[2]? This isn’t a question I’ll explore necessarily in this essay. It is a safeguard, along with Jesus’ more general key to the Old Testament—Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above’,^[3] that I might not be waylaid by shadows while studying the law.

I will note a new Hebrew word וַיָּ֖נַח (nûach) here: In this reprise of Genesis 2:2—and rested on the seventh day—וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙ (shâbath) has been replaced by וַיָּ֖נַח (nûach). And the ark rested (nûach, וַתָּ֤נַח) in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.^[4] The rabbis returned to κατέπαυσε(ν) (a form of καταπαύω) in the ten commandments: The Lord rested on the seventh day; He did not “sabbatize.” When Noah’s ark rested, however, the rabbis chose ἐκάθισεν (a form of καθίζω).

Another item of note: In the Masoretic text HaShem blessed the sabbath (shabbâth, הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת) day. In the Septuagint the Lord blessed the seventh (ἑβδόμην, a form of ἕβδομος) day. Since the Hebrew construction in Genesis 2:3 was identical except that הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י (sh^ebı̂yʽı̂y) was replaced by הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת (shabbâth), it may seem that the Septuagint is the more original here. The problem with that is Exodus 20:8 was also identical construction but the word was הַשַּׁבָּ֜ת (shabbâth), translated σαββάτων (a form of σάββατον) in the Septuagint. I’ll call it a toss-up.

Consequently a Sabbath rest (σαββατισμὸς) remains for the people of God. For the one who enters God’s rest (κατάπαυσιν, a form of κατάπαυσις) has also rested (κατέπαυσεν, a form of καταπαύω) from his works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον), just as God did from his own works.^[5]

This is the advantage of studying the Sabbath. The good things to come of the Sabbath are stated as explicitly as its shadow in the law. I’ll back up and take a run at this (Hebrews 4:1, 2 NET):

Therefore we must be wary that, while the promise of entering his rest (κατάπαυσιν, a form of κατάπαυσις) remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it. For we had good news proclaimed (εὐηγγελισμένοι, a form of εὐαγγελίζω; KJV: gospel preached) to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with^[6] those who heard it in faith.

The Greek word translated we must be wary was φοβηθῶμεν (a form of φοβέω), fear in all its connotations of fearing the Lord. The Greek word συγκεκραμενος (a form of συγκεράννυμι) is singular and was translated being mixed with in the KJV: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. In other words, they didn’t believe it. In the NET, however, συγκεκερασμένους (another form of συγκεράννυμι) is plural and was translated as if it referred to the people rather than the message. So the message they heard did them no good, since they didn’t go to church. I’m not so sure that συγκεκερασμένους was original here.

I’ll back up a bit further (Hebrews 3:14-19 NET):

For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end. As it says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses’^[7] leadership? And against whom was God provoked for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear they would never enter into his rest (κατάπαυσιν, a form of κατάπαυσις), except those who were disobedient (ἀπειθήσασιν, a form of ἀπειθέω; KJV: believed not)? So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief (ἀπιστίαν, a form of ἀπιστία).

After establishing a causal relationship between ἀπιστία and ἀπειθέω—unbelief causes disobedience—I don’t see the author of Hebrews or the Holy Spirit muddying the waters with συγκεκερασμένους. I don’t know what documents or reasons the Nestle-Aland editors employed, but on the face of it crediting disobedience to a lack of church attendance sounds like a later alteration to the Greek text.

I’ll continue from where I left off (Hebrews 4:3-8 NET):

For we who have believed enter that rest (κατάπαυσιν, a form of κατάπαυσις), as he has said, “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest (κατάπαυσιν, a form of κατάπαυσις)!’”^[8] And yet God’s works were accomplished from the foundation of the world. For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: “And God rested (κατέπαυσεν, a form of καταπαύω) on the seventh day from all his works,” but to repeat the text cited earlier: “They will never enter my rest (κατάπαυσιν, a form of κατάπαυσις)!” Therefore it remains for some to enter it, yet those to whom it was previously proclaimed (εὐαγγελισθέντες, a form of εὐαγγελίζω) did not enter because of disobedience (ἀπείθειαν, a form of ἀπείθεια; KJV: unbelief). So God again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David^[9] after so long a time, as in the words quoted before,^[10] “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken afterward about another day.

For if Jesus had given them rest, we read in the KJV, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.^[11] This is certainly the safer translation in the sense that the translators exerted the least interpretation over the Greek text. The only safer step I can imagine would have been to transliterate Ἰησοῦς Iesous. Jesus and Joshua are Ἰησοῦς in Greek.

Exodus 17:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 17:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐποίησεν Ἰησοῦς καθάπερ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μωυσῆς καὶ ἐξελθὼν παρετάξατο τῷ Αμαληκ καὶ Μωυσῆς καὶ Ααρων καὶ Ωρ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφὴν τοῦ βουνοῦ	καὶ ἐποίησεν ᾿Ιησοῦς καθάπερ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μωυσῆς, καὶ ἐξελθὼν παρετάξατο τῷ ᾿Αμαλήκ· καὶ Μωυσῆς καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν καὶ ῍Ωρ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφὴν τοῦ βουνοῦ
Exodus 17:10 (NETS)	Exodus 17:10 (English Elpenor)
And Iesous did as Moyses said to him and set up in battle array with Amelek, and Moyses and Aaron and Hor went up onto the top of the hill.	And Joshua did as Moses said to him, and he went out and set the army in array against Amalec, and Moses and Aaron and Or went up to the top of the hill.

It seems fairly obvious to translate Ἰησοῦς Joshua in Exodus 17:10. But what about Hebrews 4:8? God was added by the NET translators. The KJV translators derived he from ἐλάλει, the 3^rd person singular form of the verb λαλέω.

Personally, I have no difficulty these days believing that He who was born into this world as Ἰησοῦς rested on the seventh day from all his works of creation, swore in [his] anger, ‘They will never enter my rest’ in the time of Moses, did not grant the rest He was concerned with in the time of Joshua and promised another day of rest through his prophet David. But would I have understood that this particular passage referred to Joshua’s conquest of Canaan if the NET translators (like most modern translators) hadn’t translated Ἰησοῦς Joshua and distinguished him from the one speaking in Psalm 95? I don’t know, probably not until I began to study this deeply.

Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God, the writer of Hebrews continued. For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works.^[12] Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (ἀναπαύσω, a form of ἀναπαύω), Jesus promised. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (ἀνάπαυσιν, a form of ἀνάπαυσις; Exodus 16:23 Septuagint) for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.^[13]

My entering into God’s rest differs from his rest in a significant way. He rested from works that were very good: God saw all that he had made—and it was very good!^[14] I am eager to rest from works of evil at one extreme, hypocrisy at the other (the works of an actor playing at righteousness) or some jumbled combination of the two everywhere in between. Wretched man that I am! Paul lamented. Who will rescue me from this body of death?^[15] Paul understood entering God’s rest this way (Galatians 2:20, 21 NET):

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

Though he never used the words, I think Paul wrote extensively about this Sabbath rest from the works of the flesh (Romans 3:30, 31; 13:9, 10; Galatians 5:16, 17; 5:22-25 NET):

Since^[16] God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.^[17]

For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself” [Table]. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

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 [Table].

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law [Table]. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.

And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.^[18] He knows better than I do when I’m relying on, resting in the fruit of his Spirit, or when I’m trying to make myself righteous by obeying some rule. And I am not so attuned to his Holy Spirit that I discern any of this apart from studying the Bible with Him (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge (κριτικὸς) the desires and thoughts of the heart.^[19]

I’ll pick this up in another essay. A table comparing the Greek of Psalm 95:7b, 8a (94:7b, 8a) in the Septuagint with that of the quotation in Hebrews 3:15 follows:

Hebrews 3:15 (NET Parallel Greek)	Psalm 95:7b, 8a (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 94:8a (Septuagint Elpenor)
σήμερον ἐὰν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσητε, μὴ σκληρύνητε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ	σήμερον ἐὰν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσητε μὴ σκληρύνητε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ	σήμερον, ἐὰν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσητε, μὴ σκληρύνητε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν, ὡς ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ
Hebrews 3:15 (NET)	Psalm 94:7b, 8a (NETS)	Psalm 94:8a (English Elpenor)
Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.	Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at the embittering,	To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation,

A table comparing the Greek of Psalm 95:11 (94:11) in the Septuagint with that of the quotation in Hebrews 4:3 follows:

Hebrews 4:3a (NET Parallel Greek)	Psalm 95:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 94:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ μου εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσιν μου	ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ μου εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσίν μου	ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ μου· εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσίν μου
Hebrews 4:3a (NET)	Psalm 94:11 (NETS)	Psalm 94:11 (English Elpenor)
“As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’”	As I swore in my wrath, “If they shall enter into my rest!”	So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

A table comparing the Greek of Genesis 2:2 in the Septuagint with that of the quotation in Hebrews 4:4 follows:

Hebrews 4:4b (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 2:2b (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 2:2b (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ κατέπαυσεν ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ	καὶ κατέπαυσεν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ	καὶ κατέπαυσε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ
Hebrews 4:4b (NET)	Genesis 2:2b (NETS)	Genesis 2:2b (English Elpenor)
“And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,”	and he left off on the seventh day from all his works	and he ceased on the seventh day from all his works

Tables comparing Exodus 20:1; 20:8; 20:9; 20:10; 20:11; Genesis 8:4; Psalm 95:7; 95:8; 95:11; Exodus 17:10 and Genesis 1:31 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Exodus 20:1; 20:8; 20:9; 20:10; 20:11; Genesis 8:4 (8:3b); Psalm 95:7 (94:7); 95:8 (94:8); 95:11 (94:11); Exodus 17:10 and Genesis 1:31 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Following those are tables comparing Hebrews 4:2, 3:16; 4:7 and Romans 3:30, 31 in the NET and KJV.

Exodus 20:1 (Tanakh)	Exodus 20:1 (KJV)	Exodus 20:1 (NET)
And G-d spoke all these words, saying:	And God spake all these words, saying,	God spoke all these words:

Exodus 20:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 20:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πάντας τοὺς λόγους τούτους λέγων	ΚΑΙ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πάντας τοὺς λόγους τούτους λέγων
Exodus 20:1 (NETS)	Exodus 20:1 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord spoke all these words, saying:	And the Lord spoke all these words, saying:

Exodus 20:8 (Tanakh)	Exodus 20:8 (KJV)	Exodus 20:8 (NET)
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.	Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.	“Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy.

Exodus 20:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 20:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μνήσθητι τὴν ἡμέραν τῶν σαββάτων ἁγιάζειν αὐτήν	μνήσθητι τὴν ἡμέρα τῶν σαββάτων ἁγιάζειν αὐτήν
Exodus 20:8 (NETS)	Exodus 20:8 (English Elpenor)
Remember the day of the sabbaths to consecrate it.	Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.

Exodus 20:9 (Tanakh)	Exodus 20:9 (KJV)	Exodus 20:9 (NET)
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work;	Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:	For six days you may labor and do all your work,

Exodus 20:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 20:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἓξ ἡμέρας ἐργᾷ καὶ ποιήσεις πάντα τὰ ἔργα σου	ἓξ ἡμέρας ἐργᾷ καὶ ποιήσεις πάντα τὰ ἔργα σου
Exodus 20:9 (NETS)	Exodus 20:9 (English Elpenor)
For six days you shall labor and do all your labor,	Six days thou shalt labour, and shalt perform all thy work.

Exodus 20:10 (Tanakh)	Exodus 20:10 (KJV)	Exodus 20:10 (NET)
but the seventh day is a sabbath unto HaShem thy G-d, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;	But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:	but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates.

Exodus 20:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 20:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ σάββατα κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ σου οὐ ποιήσεις ἐν αὐτῇ πᾶν ἔργον σὺ καὶ ὁ υἱός σου καὶ ἡ θυγάτηρ σου ὁ παῗς σου καὶ ἡ παιδίσκη σου ὁ βοῦς σου καὶ τὸ ὑποζύγιόν σου καὶ πᾶν κτῆνός σου καὶ ὁ προσήλυτος ὁ παροικῶν ἐν σοί	τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ σάββατα Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου· οὐ ποιήσεις ἐν αὐτῇ πᾶν ἔργον, σὺ καὶ ὁ υἱός σου καὶ ἡ θυγάτηρ σου, ὁ παῖς σου καὶ ἡ παιδίσκη σου, ὁ βοῦς σου καὶ τὸ ὑποζύγιόν σου καὶ πᾶν κτῆνός σου καὶ ὁ προσήλυτος ὁ παροικῶν ἐν σοί
Exodus 20:10 (NETS)	Exodus 20:10 (English Elpenor)
but on the seventh day there is Sabbata to the Lord your God. You shall not do in it any labor, you and your son and your daughter, your male slave and your female slave, your ox and your draft animal and any animal of yours and the guest who resides among you.	But on the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God; on it thou shalt do no work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy servant nor thy maidservant, thine ox nor thine ass, nor any cattle of thine, nor the stranger that sojourns with thee.

Exodus 20:11 (Tanakh)	Exodus 20:11 (KJV)	Exodus 20:11 (NET)
in six days HaShem made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore HaShem blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.	For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.	For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

Exodus 20:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 20:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν γὰρ ἓξ ἡμέραις ἐποίησεν κύριος τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῗς καὶ κατέπαυσεν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ διὰ τοῦτο εὐλόγησεν κύριος τὴν ἡμέραν τὴν ἑβδόμην καὶ ἡγίασεν αὐτήν	ἐν γὰρ ἓξ ἡμέραις ἐποίησε Κύριος τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ κατέπαυσε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ· διὰ τοῦτο εὐλόγησε Κύριος τὴν ἡμέραν τὴν ἑβδόμην καὶ ἡγίασεν αὐτήν
Exodus 20:11 (NETS)	Exodus 20:11 (English Elpenor)
For in six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all things in them, and he rested on the seventh day and consecrated it. For this reason the Lord blessed the seventh day and consecrated it.	For in six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth, and the sea and all things in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.

Genesis 8:4 (Tanakh)	Genesis 8:4 (KJV)	Genesis 8:4 (NET)
And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.	And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.	On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on one of the mountains of Ararat.

Genesis 8:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 8:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἡ κιβωτὸς ἐν μηνὶ τῷ ἑβδόμῳ ἑβδόμῃ καὶ εἰκάδι τοῦ μηνός ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη τὰ Αραρατ	καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἡ κιβωτὸς ἐν μηνὶ τῷ ἑβδόμῳ, ἑβδόμῃ καὶ εἰκάδι τοῦ μηνός, ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη τὰ ᾿Αραράτ
Genesis 8:4 (NETS)	Genesis 8:3b (English Elpenor)
And in the seventh month, on the twenty-seventh of the month, the ark settled on the mountains of Ararat.	and the ark rested in the seventh month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.

Psalm 95:7 (Tanakh)	Psalm 95:7 (KJV)	Psalm 95:7 (NET)
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,	For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,	For he is our God; we are the people of his pasture, the sheep he owns. Today, if only you would obey him.

Psalm 95:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 94:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν καὶ ἡμεῗς λαὸς νομῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ πρόβατα χειρὸς αὐτοῦ σήμερον ἐὰν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσητε	ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ ἡμεῖς λαὸς νομῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ πρόβατα χειρὸς αὐτοῦ
Psalm 94:7 (NETS)	Psalm 94:7 (English Elpenor)
because he is our God and we are people of his pasture and sheep of his hand! Today if you hear his voice,	For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Psalm 95:8 (Tanakh)	Psalm 95:8 (KJV)	Psalm 95:8 (NET)
Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:	Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:	He says, “Do not be stubborn like they were at Meribah, like they were that day at Massah in the wilderness,

Psalm 95:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 94:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μὴ σκληρύνητε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ πειρασμοῦ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ	σήμερον, ἐὰν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσητε, μὴ σκληρύνητε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν, ὡς ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ πειρασμοῦ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ
Psalm 94:8 (NETS)	Psalm 94:8 (English Elpenor)
do not harden your hearts, as at the embittering, like the day of the trial in the wilderness,	To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, according to the day of irritation in the wilderness:

Psalm 95:11 (Tanakh)	Psalm 95:11 (KJV)	Psalm 95:11 (NET)
Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.	Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.	So I made a vow in my anger, ‘They will never enter into the resting place I had set aside for them.’”

Psalm 95:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 94:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ μου εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσίν μου	ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ μου· εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσίν μου
Psalm 94:11 (NETS)	Psalm 94:11 (English Elpenor)
As I swore in my wrath, “If they shall enter into my rest!”	So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

Exodus 17:10 (Tanakh)	Exodus 17:10 (KJV)	Exodus 17:10 (NET)
So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.	So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.	So Joshua fought against Amalek just as Moses had instructed him, and Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Exodus 17:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 17:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐποίησεν Ἰησοῦς καθάπερ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μωυσῆς καὶ ἐξελθὼν παρετάξατο τῷ Αμαληκ καὶ Μωυσῆς καὶ Ααρων καὶ Ωρ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφὴν τοῦ βουνοῦ	καὶ ἐποίησεν ᾿Ιησοῦς καθάπερ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μωυσῆς, καὶ ἐξελθὼν παρετάξατο τῷ ᾿Αμαλήκ· καὶ Μωυσῆς καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν καὶ ῍Ωρ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφὴν τοῦ βουνοῦ
Exodus 17:10 (NETS)	Exodus 17:10 (English Elpenor)
And Iesous did as Moyses said to him and set up in battle array with Amelek, and Moyses and Aaron and Hor went up onto the top of the hill.	And Joshua did as Moses said to him, and he went out and set the army in array against Amalec, and Moses and Aaron and Or went up to the top of the hill.

Genesis 1:31 (Tanakh)	Genesis 1:31 (KJV)	Genesis 1:31 (NET)
And G-d saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.	And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.	God saw all that he had made—and it was very good! There was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 1:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶδεν ὁ θεὸς τὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν καὶ ἰδοὺ καλὰ λίαν καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωί ἡμέρα ἕκτη	καὶ εἶδεν ὁ Θεὸς τὰ πάντα, ὅσα ἐποίησε, καὶ ἰδοὺ καλὰ λίαν. καὶ ἐγένετο ἑσπέρα καὶ ἐγένετο πρωΐ, ἡμέρα ἕκτη
Genesis 1:31 (NETS)	Genesis 1:31 (English Elpenor)
And God saw all the things that he had made, and see, they were exceedingly good. And it came to be evening, and it came to be morning, a sixth day.	And God saw all the things that he had made, and, behold, they were very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Hebrews 4:2 (NET)	Hebrews 4:2 (KJV)
For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith.	For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ γάρ ἐσμεν εὐηγγελισμένοι καθάπερ κακεῖνοι· ἀλλ᾿ οὐκ ὠφέλησεν ὁ λόγος τῆς ἀκοῆς ἐκείνους μὴ συγκεκερασμένους τῇ πίστει τοῖς ἀκούσασιν	και γαρ εσμεν ευηγγελισμενοι καθαπερ κακεινοι αλλ ουκ ωφελησεν ο λογος της ακοης εκεινους μη συγκεκραμενος τη πιστει τοις ακουσασιν	και γαρ εσμεν ευηγγελισμενοι καθαπερ κακεινοι αλλ ουκ ωφελησεν ο λογος της ακοης εκεινους μη συγκεκραμενους τη πιστει τοις ακουσασιν

Hebrews 3:16 (NET)	Hebrews 3:16 (KJV)
For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses’ leadership?	For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
τίνες γὰρ ἀκούσαντες παρεπίκραναν; ἀλλ᾿ οὐ πάντες οἱ ἐξελθόντες ἐξ Ἀιγύπτου διὰ Μωϋσέως	τινες γαρ ακουσαντες παρεπικραναν αλλ ου παντες οι εξελθοντες εξ αιγυπτου δια μωσεως	τινες γαρ ακουσαντες παρεπικραναν αλλ ου παντες οι εξελθοντες εξ αιγυπτου δια μωυσεως

Hebrews 4:7 (NET)	Hebrews 4:7 (KJV)
So God again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts.”	Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
πάλιν τινὰ ὁρίζει ἡμέραν, σήμερον, ἐν Δαυὶδ λέγων μετὰ τοσοῦτον χρόνον, καθὼς προείρηται σήμερον ἐὰν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσητε, μὴ σκληρύνητε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν.	παλιν τινα οριζει ημεραν σημερον εν δαβιδ λεγων μετα τοσουτον χρονον καθως ειρηται σημερον εαν της φωνης αυτου ακουσητε μη σκληρυνητε τας καρδιας υμων	παλιν τινα οριζει ημεραν σημερον εν δαυιδ λεγων μετα τοσουτον χρονον καθως ειρηται σημερον εαν της φωνης αυτου ακουσητε μη σκληρυνητε τας καρδιας υμων

Romans 3:30, 31 (NET)	Romans 3:30, 31 (KJV)
Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.	Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἴπερ εἷς ὁ θεὸς ὃς δικαιώσει περιτομὴν ἐκ πίστεως καὶ ἀκροβυστίαν διὰ τῆς πίστεως	επειπερ εις ο θεος ος δικαιωσει περιτομην εκ πιστεως και ακροβυστιαν δια της πιστεως	επειπερ εις ο θεος ος δικαιωσει περιτομην εκ πιστεως και ακροβυστιαν δια της πιστεως

Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
νόμον οὖν καταργοῦμεν διὰ τῆς πίστεως; μὴ γένοιτο· ἀλλὰ νόμον ἱστάνομεν	νομον ουν καταργουμεν δια της πιστεως μη γενοιτο αλλα νομον ιστωμεν	νομον ουν καταργουμεν δια της πιστεως μη γενοιτο αλλα νομον ιστωμεν

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 5

Back to David’s Forgiveness, Part 1

Back to Psalm 22, Part 4

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 6

Back to Romans, Part 17

Back to Westworld, Part 2

Back to Adultery in the Law, Part 2

Back to Westworld, Part 3

Back to The Book of Life, Part 3

Back to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Part 5

Back to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Part 9

Back to Keep Yourselves from Idols, Part 1

Back to Exploration, Part 1

^[1] Exodus 20:1 (Tanakh)

^[2] Mark 2:27 (NET) Table

^[3] John 3:7 (NET)

^[4] Genesis 8:4 (Tanakh)

^[5] Hebrews 4:9, 10 (NET)

^[6] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had συγκεκερασμένους here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συγκεκραμενος (KJV: being mixed with).

^[7] In the Stephanus Textus Receptus Moses was spelled μωσεως, and Μωϋσέως in the NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text. Despite this single difference in Greek, the KJV translation is quite different: For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

^[8] The Greek of the NET, NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text, Septuagint BLB and Elpenor is identical, but the English translation of the KJV (Hebrews 4:3) and NETS (Psalm 94:11)—if they shall enter into my rest—is different. My knowledge of Greek is insufficient to choose between them.

^[9] In the NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text David was spelled Δαυὶδ, and δαβιδ in the Stephanus Textus Receptus.

^[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had προείρηται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειρηται (KJV: it is said).

^[11] Hebrews 4:8 (KJV)

^[12] Hebrews 4:9, 10 (NET)

^[13] Matthew 11:28-30 (NET) Table

^[14] Genesis 1:31 (NET)

^[15] Romans 7:24 (NET)

^[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had εἴπερ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επειπερ (KJV: Seeing).

^[17] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἱστάνομεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιστωμεν (KJV: establish).

^[18] Hebrews 4:13 (NET)

^[19] Hebrews 4:12 (NET) Table

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 3

Posted on April 5, 2020 by admin

Paul wrote believers in Colossae (Colossians 2:16, 17 NET):

do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or^[1] drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon,^[2] or Sabbath days—these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!^[3]

Translating σῶμα reality has a nice philosophical ring that my mind likes, and it avoids any confusion that body of Christ (σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ) referred to believers. Still, I think Paul was saying something much more visual: the body casting the shadow of the good things to come is Christ’s, and any allusion to his death on the cross was completely intentional.

The translators of the NASB caught the flavor of verse 16 as I understand it now: Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.^[4] Translating κρινέτω (a form of κρίνω)—is to act as your judge—conveys Paul’s (and the Holy Spirit’s) intent that no one can condemn or absolve me in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day but Christ alone. Consider Paul’s attitude (1 Corinthians 4:4, 5 NET):

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges (ἀνακρίνων, a form of ἀνακρίνω) me is the Lord. So then, do not judge (κρίνετε, a form of κρίνω) anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.

Paul (and the Holy Spirit) hauled me in for questioning^[5] when I thought they only meant no one [may condemn me] in regard to food or drink (1 Corinthians 10:24-33 NET):

Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.^[6] Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience, for the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s. If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This is from a sacrifice,” do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience— [Table] I do not mean yours but the other person’s.

For why is my freedom being judged (κρίνεται, a form of κρίνω) by another’s conscience? If^[7] I partake with thankfulness (χάριτι, a form of χάρις; KJV: by grace), why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for?

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit,^[8] but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.

I plan to focus on the Sabbath because it has the most material to access. So I’ll start at the beginning.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 2:1-3 (Tanakh)	Genesis 2:1-3 (NET)	Genesis 2:1-3 (NETS)	Genesis 2:1-3 (English Elpenor)
And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.	The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them.	And the sky and the earth were finished, and all their arrangement.	AND the heavens and the earth were finished, and the whole world of them.
And on the seventh day G-d finished His work which He had made; and He rested (וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙) on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.	By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased (shâbath, וישבת) on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing.	And on the sixth day God finished his works that he had made, and he left off (κατέπαυσεν) on the seventh day from all his works that he had made.	And God finished on the sixth day his works which he made, and he ceased (κατέπαυσε) on the seventh day from all his works which he made.
And G-d blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested (שָׁבַת֙) from all His work which G-d in creating had made.	God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he ceased (shâbath, שבת) all the work that he had been doing in creation.	And God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it he left off (κατέπαυσεν) from all his works that God had begun to make.	And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it he ceased (κατέπαυσεν) from all his works which God began to do.

I actually intended to skip the next occurrence of שָׁבַת֙ (Tanakh: rested). The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose κατέπαυσε(ν) (a form of καταπαύω) here and another form of καταπαύω there. Since they made the connection, I won’t ignore it. It occurred in the promise God made Himself after the flood.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 8:20-22 (Tanakh)	Genesis 8:20-22 (NET)	Genesis 8:20-22 (NETS)	Genesis 8:20-22 (English Elpenor)
And Noah builded an altar unto HaShem; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar.	Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.	And Noe built an altar to God and took of all the clean domestic animals and of all the clean birds and offered whole burnt offerings on the altar.	And Noe built an altar to the Lord, and took of all clean beasts, and of all clean birds, and offered a whole burnt-offering upon the altar.
And HaShem smelled the sweet savour; and HaShem said in His heart: ‘I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.	And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done.	And the Lord God smelled an odor of fragrance, and the Lord God, when he had given it thought, said, “I will not proceed hereafter to curse the earth because of the deeds of humans, for the mind of humankind applies itself attentively to evil things from youth; so I will not proceed hereafter to smite all living flesh, as I have done.	And the Lord God smelled a smell of sweetness, and the Lord God having considered, said, I will not any more curse the earth, because of the works of men, because the imagination of man is intently bent upon evil things from his youth, I will not therefore any more smite all living flesh as I have done.
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (יִשְׁבֹּֽתוּ).’	“While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease (shâbath, ישבתו).”	During all the days of the earth, seed and harvest, cold and heat, summer and spring shall not cease (καταπαύσουσιν)—during day and night.”	All the days of the earth, seed and harvest, cold and heat, summer and spring, shall not cease (καταπαύσουσι) by day or night.

I thought this anti-sabbath (יִשְׁבֹּֽתוּ negated) might be unnecessarily confusing. But “I will not proceed hereafter to curse the earth because of the deeds of humans (τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων),” was worth the price of admission. These deeds (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) flow from the imagination of man (ἀνθρώπου, a form of ἄνθρωπος; NETS: humankind) [which] is intently bent upon evil things from his youth.

This will certainly prove to be an important association with the Sabbath rest. An association of ἔργον and Sabbath occurs again when Israel was enslaved in Egypt.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 5:4, 5 (Tanakh)	Exodus 5:4, 5 (NET)	Exodus 5:4, 5 (NETS)	Exodus 5:4, 5 (English Elpenor)
And the king of Egypt said unto them: ‘Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, cause the people to break loose from their work? get you unto your burdens.’	The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you cause the people to refrain from their work? Return to your labor!”	And the king of Egypt said to them, “Moyses and Aaron, why are you diverting my people from their tasks? Each of you, go back to his tasks.”	And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, turn the people from their works? depart each of you to your works.
And Pharaoh said: ‘Behold, the people of the land are now many, and will ye make them rest (וְהִשְׁבַּתֶּ֥ם) from their burdens?’	Pharaoh was thinking, “The people of the land are now many, and you are giving them rest (shâbath, והשבתם) from their labor.”	And Pharao said, “Look, the people of the land now are very numerous. Therefore, let us not give them relief (καταπαύσωμεν) from their tasks.”	And Pharao said, Behold now, the people is very numerous; let us not then give them rest (καταπαύσωμεν) from their work.

Why do ye…turn the people from their works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον)? depart each of you to your works (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον)…let us not then give them rest (καταπαύσωμεν) from their work (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον). Thus spoke the slave master of Israel.

The rabbis chose ἀφανιεῖτε (a form of ἀφανίζω) in the Septuagint for the next occurrence of תַּשְׁבִּ֥ית (shâbath), so I’ll skip to the end of the first week Israel gathered the bread which HaShem hath given [them] to eat.^[9]

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 16:23 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:23 (NET)	Exodus 16:23 (NETS)	Exodus 16:23 (English Elpenor)
And he said unto them: ‘This is that which HaShem hath spoken: To-morrow is a solemn rest (שַׁבָּת֧וֹן), a holy sabbath (שַׁבַּת) unto HaShem. Bake that which ye will bake, and seethe that which ye will seethe; and all that remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.’	He said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a time of cessation from work (shabbâthôn, שבתון), a holy Sabbath (shabbâth, שבת) to the Lord. Whatever you want to bake, bake today; whatever you want to boil, boil today; whatever is left put aside for yourselves to be kept until morning.’”	And Moyses said to them, “This is the word that the Lord spoke: Tomorrow is Sabbata (σάββατα), a rest (ἀνάπαυσις) holy to the Lord. Whatever you bake, bake, and whatever you boil, boil. And all the excess, leave it in storage until the morning.”	And Moses said to them, Is not this the word which the Lord spoke? Tomorrow [is] the Sabbath (σάββατα), a holy rest (ἀνάπαυσις) to the Lord: bake that ye will bake, and seethe that ye will seethe, and all that is over leave to be laid by for the morrow.

I’ll pause here to acknowledge some additional words: שַׁבָּת֧וֹן (shabbâthôn; Tanakh: solemn rest) was translated ἀνάπαυσις in the Septuagint. According to the Koine Greek Lexicon online κατάπαυσις and ἀνάπαυσις are cognates. Also, שַׁבַּת (shabbâth) was transliterated σάββατα (a form of σάββατον). I puzzled over this transliteration, given the word order in the Septuagint, but it does seem to hold up two verses later.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 16:24-27 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:24-27 (NET)	Exodus 16:24-27 (NETS)	Exodus 16:24-27 (English Elpenor)
And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade; and it did not rot, neither was there any worm therein.	So they put it aside until the morning, just as Moses had commanded, and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it.	And they left some of it until the morning, according as Moyses instructed them. And it did not stink, nor was there a worm in it.	And they left of it till the morning, as Moses commanded them; and it stank not, neither was there a worm in it.
And Moses said: ‘Eat that to-day; for to-day is a sabbath (שַׁבָּ֥ת) unto HaShem; to-day ye shall not find it in the field.	Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath (shabbâth, שבת) to the Lord; today you will not find it in the area.	And Moyses said, “Eat today! For today is Sabbata (σάββατα) to the Lord. It will not be found on the plain.	And Moses said, Eat [that] to-day, for to-day is a sabbath (σάββατα) to the Lord: [it] shall not be found in the plain.
Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day is the Sabbath (שַׁבָּ֖ת), in it there shall be none.’	Six days you will gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath (shabbâth, שבת), there will not be any.”	Six days you will collect, but on the seventh day is Sabbata (σάββατα). There will be none in it.”	Six days ye shall gather it, and on the seventh day is a sabbath (σάββατα), for there shall be none on that [day].
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that there went out some of the people to gather, and they found none.	On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather it, but they found nothing.	And it happened on the seventh day, certain of the people went out to collect, and they found none.	And it came to pass on the seventh day [that] some of the people went forth to gather, and found none.

As a native unbeliever I appreciate these empiricists who went out to “prove” God’s word. Of course if I were only a native unbeliever I probably wouldn’t “waste” my time on such “cleverly concocted fables.” Since יהוה (y^ehôvâh) had a completely different response I’m compelled to reconsider my unbelief and, perhaps more importantly, highlight part of this story I had chosen to ignore.

Sunday through Thursday Israel was under orders from Moses not to leave anything they gathered until the next morning.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 16:20 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:20 (NET)	Exodus 16:20 (NETS)	Exodus 16:20 (English Elpenor)
Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and rotted; and Moses was wroth with them.	But they did not listen to Moses; some kept part of it until morning, and it was full of worms and began to stink, and Moses was angry with them.	And they did not listen to Moyses, but certain ones left some of it to the morning. And it bred worms and stank, and Moyses was irritated with them.	But they did not hearken to Moses, but some left of it till the morning; and it bred worms and stank: and Moses was irritated with them.

But יהוה (y^ehôvâh) held his peace through this first round of empirical investigation. Of course, I can’t say for certain that the people who angered Moses were empiricists doing empirical research, so I will call them unbelievers, in the sense that they did not believe in the word of יהוה (y^ehôvâh). I will distinguish the believers from the unbelievers in the only way believers in the word of יהוה (y^ehôvâh) can be distinguished: believers do what He says. As James wrote, Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.^[10]

The believers and unbelievers lived in two different realities: Only unbelievers had any sensual experience of the worms and rot the next morning. If they persisted in their unbelief they had five mornings of empirical evidence that the bread which was kept over until morning on the Sabbath should not be eaten, despite their sensual observation that it did not rot, neither was there any worm therein. The believers on the other hand had six days of empirical evidence that the bread was there to be gathered and eaten just as יהוה (y^ehôvâh) promised through Moses, and every reason to trust Him on the seventh morning.

So this time, יהוה (y^ehôvâh) spoke to Moses to explain to the unbelievers:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Exodus 16:28-30 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:28-30 (NET)	Exodus 16:28-30 (NETS)	Exodus 16:28-30 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem said unto Moses: ‘How long refuse ye to keep My commandments and My laws?	So the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to obey my commandments and my instructions?	Then the Lord said to Moyses, “For how long are you unwilling to listen to my commandments and my laws?	And the Lord said to Moses, How long are ye unwilling to hearken to my commands and my law?
See that HaShem hath given you the Sabbath (הַשַּׁבָּת֒); therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.’	See, because the Lord has given you the Sabbath (shabbâth, השבת), that is why he is giving you food for two days on the sixth day. Each of you stay where you are; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.”	See! For the Lord has given you this day, the Sabbaths (σάββατα). Therefore he gave you on the sixth day bread for two days. Sit, each person, in your houses; let no one go out from his place on the seventh day.”	See, for the Lord has given you this day [as] the Sabbath (σάββατα), therefore he has given you on the sixth day the bread of two days: ye shall sit each of you in your houses; let no one go forth from his place on the seventh day.
So the people rested (וַיִשְׁבְּת֥וּ) on the seventh day.	So the people rested (shâbath, וישבתו) on the seventh day.	And the people sabbatized (ἐσαββάτισεν) on the seventh day.	And the people kept sabbath (ἐσαββάτισεν) on the seventh day.

This highlights something of the religious mind that Jesus encountered in Israel (Luke 13:10-17). The Hebrew word was וַיִשְׁבְּת֥וּ (shâbath), the same root word as God rested (וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙) on the seventh day from all His work, but the rabbis didn’t translate it κατέπαυσε(ν). It is the same root word as day and night shall not cease (יִשְׁבֹּֽתוּ), but they didn’t translate it with a form of καταπαύω as they did there. And again it is the same root word as ye make them rest (וְהִשְׁבַּתֶּ֥ם) from their burdens, but not translated with any form of καταπαύω. Why not? I think the people of Israel did not rest from their burdens or cease from their works in the rabbis’ religious mind, rather they sabbatized (ἐσαββάτισεν, a form of σαββατίζω): They performed a religious ritual.

The rabbis were not alone in this religious mind. When I first wrestled with Jesus’ saying—The Sabbath was made for people, not^[11] people for the Sabbath^[12]—I thought it was alarmingly humanistic, and questioned his reasoning. But here it is, isn’t it? See that HaShem hath given you the Sabbath… So the people rested.

I’ll pick this up in another essay. A table comparing Paul’s quotation of Psalm 24:1b (23:1b) from the Septuagint in 1 Corinthians 10:26 follows.

1 Corinthians 10:26 (NET Parallel Greek)	Psalm 24:1b (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 23:1b (Septuagint Elpenor)
τοῦ κυρίου γὰρ ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς	τοῦ κυρίου ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς	ΤΟΥ Κυρίου ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς
1 Corinthians 10:26 (NET)	Psalm 23:1b (NETS)	Psalm 23:1b (English Elpenor)
for the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s.	The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,	The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof;

Tables comparing Psalm 24:1; Genesis 2:1; 2:2; 2:3; 8:20; 8:21; 8:22; Exodus 5:4; 5:5; 16:15; 16:23; 16:24; 16:25; 16:26; 16:27; 16:20; 16:28; 16:29 and 16:30 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Psalm 24:1 (23:1); Genesis 2:1; 2:2; 2:3; 8:20; 8:21; 8:22; Exodus 5:4; 5:5; 16:15; 16:23; 16:24; 16:25; 16:26; 16:27; 16:20; 16:28; 16:29 and 16:30 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Following those are tables comparing Colossians 2:16, 17; 1 Corinthians 10:24; 10:30; 10:33 and Mark 2:27 in the NET and KJV.

Psalm 24:1 (Tanakh)	Psalm 24:1 (KJV)	Psalm 24:1 (NET)
The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.	The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.	A psalm of David. The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it.

Psalm 24:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 23:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυιδ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων τοῦ κυρίου ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ	Ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυΐδ· τῆς μιᾶς Σαββάτων. – ΤΟΥ Κυρίου ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς, ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ
Psalm 23:1 (NETS)	Psalm 23:1 (English Elpenor)
A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all those who live in it;	[A Psalm for David on the first day of the week.^[13]] The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and all that dwell in it.

Genesis 2:1 (Tanakh)	Genesis 2:1 (KJV)	Genesis 2:1 (NET)
And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.	Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.	The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them.

Genesis 2:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 2:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ συνετελέσθησαν ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ καὶ πᾶς ὁ κόσμος αὐτῶν	ΚΑΙ συνετελέσθησαν ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ καὶ πᾶς ὁ κόσμος αὐτῶν.
Genesis 2:1 (NETS)	Genesis 2:1 (English Elpenor)
And the sky and the earth were finished, and all their arrangement.	AND the heavens and the earth were finished, and the whole world of them.

Genesis 2:2 (Tanakh)	Genesis 2:2 (KJV)	Genesis 2:2 (NET)
And on the seventh day G-d finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.	And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.	By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing.

Genesis 2:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 2:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ συνετέλεσεν ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἕκτῃ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἃ ἐποίησεν καὶ κατέπαυσεν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ ὧν ἐποίησεν	καὶ συνετέλεσεν ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἕκτῃ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, ἃ ἐποίησε, καὶ κατέπαυσε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ, ὧν ἐποίησε
Genesis 2:2 (NETS)	Genesis 2:2 (English Elpenor)
And on the sixth day God finished his works that he had made, and he left off on the seventh day from all his works that he had made.	And God finished on the sixth day his works which he made, and he ceased on the seventh day from all his works which he made.

Genesis 2:3 (Tanakh)	Genesis 2:3 (KJV)	Genesis 2:3 (NET)
And G-d blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which G-d in creating had made.	And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.	God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he ceased all the work that he had been doing in creation.

Genesis 2:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 2:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ηὐλόγησεν ὁ θεὸς τὴν ἡμέραν τὴν ἑβδόμην καὶ ἡγίασεν αὐτήν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῇ κατέπαυσεν ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ ὧν ἤρξατο ὁ θεὸς ποιῆσαι	καὶ εὐλόγησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὴν ἡμέραν τὴν ἑβδόμην καὶ ἡγίασεν αὐτήν· ὅτι ἐν αὐτῇ κατέπαυσεν ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ, ὧν ἤρξατο ὁ Θεὸς ποιῆσαι
Genesis 2:3 (NETS)	Genesis 2:3 (English Elpenor)
And God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it he left off from all his works that God had begun to make.	And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it he ceased from all his works which God began to do.

Genesis 8:20 (Tanakh)	Genesis 8:20 (KJV)	Genesis 8:20 (NET)
And Noah builded an altar unto HaShem; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar.	And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.	Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Genesis 8:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 8:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν Νωε θυσιαστήριον τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἔλαβεν ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν τῶν καθαρῶν καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν πετεινῶν τῶν καθαρῶν καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν ὁλοκαρπώσεις ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον	καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε Νῶε θυσιαστήριον τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ἔλαβεν ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν τῶν καθαρῶν καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν πετεινῶν τῶν καθαρῶν καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον
Genesis 8:20 (NETS)	Genesis 8:20 (English Elpenor)
And Noe built an altar to God and took of all the clean domestic animals and of all the clean birds and offered whole burnt offerings on the altar.	And Noe built an altar to the Lord, and took of all clean beasts, and of all clean birds, and offered a whole burnt-offering upon the altar.

Genesis 8:21 (Tanakh)	Genesis 8:21 (KJV)	Genesis 8:21 (NET)
And HaShem smelled the sweet savour; and HaShem said in His heart: ‘I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.	And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.	And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done.

Genesis 8:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 8:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὠσφράνθη κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας καὶ εἶπεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς διανοηθείς οὐ προσθήσω ἔτι τοῦ καταράσασθαι τὴν γῆν διὰ τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὅτι ἔγκειται ἡ διάνοια τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπιμελῶς ἐπὶ τὰ πονηρὰ ἐκ νεότητος οὐ προσθήσω οὖν ἔτι πατάξαι πᾶσαν σάρκα ζῶσαν καθὼς ἐποίησα	καὶ ὠσφράνθη Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας, καὶ εἶπε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς διανοηθείς· οὐ προσθήσω ἔτι καταράσασθαι τὴν γῆν διὰ τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅτι ἔγκειται ἡ διάνοια τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπιμελῶς ἐπὶ τὰ πονηρὰ ἐκ νεότητος αὐτοῦ· οὐ προσθήσω οὖν ἔτι πατάξαι πᾶσαν σάρκα ζῶσαν, καθὼς ἐποίησα
Genesis 8:21 (NETS)	Genesis 8:21 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord God smelled an odor of fragrance, and the Lord God, when he had given it thought, said, “I will not proceed hereafter to curse the earth because of the deeds of humans, for the mind of humankind applies itself attentively to evil things from youth; so I will not proceed hereafter to smite all living flesh, as I have done.	And the Lord God smelled a smell of sweetness, and the Lord God having considered, said, I will not any more curse the earth, because of the works of men, because the imagination of man is intently bent upon evil things from his youth, I will not therefore any more smite all living flesh as I have done.

Genesis 8:22 (Tanakh)	Genesis 8:22 (KJV)	Genesis 8:22 (NET)
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.’	While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.	“While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”

Genesis 8:22 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 8:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς γῆς σπέρμα καὶ θερισμός ψῦχος καὶ καῦμα θέρος καὶ ἔαρ ἡμέραν καὶ νύκτα οὐ καταπαύσουσιν	πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς γῆς, σπέρμα καὶ θερισμός, ψῦχος καὶ καῦμα, θέρος καὶ ἔαρ, ἡμέραν καὶ νύκτα οὐ καταπαύσουσι
Genesis 8:22 (NETS)	Genesis 8:22 (English Elpenor)
During all the days of the earth, seed and harvest, cold and heat, summer and spring shall not cease—during day and night.”	All the days of the earth, seed and harvest, cold and heat, summer and spring, shall not cease by day or night.

Exodus 5:4 (Tanakh)	Exodus 5:4 (KJV)	Exodus 5:4 (NET)
And the king of Egypt said unto them: ‘Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, cause the people to break loose from their work? get you unto your burdens.’	And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.	The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you cause the people to refrain from their work? Return to your labor!”

Exodus 5:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 5:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῗς ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου ἵνα τί Μωυσῆ καὶ Ααρων διαστρέφετε τὸν λαόν μου ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων ἀπέλθατε ἕκαστος ὑμῶν πρὸς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου· ἱνατί Μωυσῆ καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν διαστρέφετε τὸν λαὸν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων; ἀπέλθατε ἕκαστος ὑμῶν πρὸς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ
Exodus 5:4 (NETS)	Exodus 5:4 (English Elpenor)
And the king of Egypt said to them, “Moyses and Aaron, why are you diverting my people from their tasks? Each of you, go back to his tasks.”	And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, turn the people from their works? depart each of you to your works.

Exodus 5:5 (Tanakh)	Exodus 5:5 (KJV)	Exodus 5:5 (NET)
And Pharaoh said: ‘Behold, the people of the land are now many, and will ye make them rest from their burdens?’	And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.	Pharaoh was thinking, “The people of the land are now many, and you are giving them rest from their labor.”

Exodus 5:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 5:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Φαραω ἰδοὺ νῦν πολυπληθεῗ ὁ λαός μὴ οὖν καταπαύσωμεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων	καὶ εἶπε Φαραώ· ἰδοὺ νῦν πολυπληθεῖ ὁ λαός· μὴ οὖν καταπαύσωμεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων
Exodus 5:5 (NETS)	Exodus 5:5 (English Elpenor)
And Pharao said, “Look, the people of the land now are very numerous. Therefore, let us not give them relief from their tasks.”	And Pharao said, Behold now, the people is very numerous; let us not then give them rest from their work.

Exodus 16:15 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:15 (KJV)	Exodus 16:15 (NET)
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another: ‘What is it?’ –for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them: ‘It is the bread which HaShem hath given you to eat.	And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.	When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” because they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you for food.

Exodus 16:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 16:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτὸ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ εἶπαν ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ τί ἐστιν τοῦτο οὐ γὰρ ᾔδεισαν τί ἦν εἶπεν δὲ Μωυσῆς πρὸς αὐτούς οὗτος ὁ ἄρτος ὃν ἔδωκεν κύριος ὑμῗν φαγεῗν	ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτὸ οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ εἶπαν ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ· τί ἐστι τοῦτο; οὐ γὰρ ᾔδεισαν, τί ἦν. εἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς αὐτοῖς· οὗτος ὁ ἄρτος, ὃν ἔδωκε Κύριος ὑμῖν φαγεῖν
Exodus 16:15 (NETS)	Exodus 16:15, 16a (English Elpenor)
And when they saw it, the sons of Israel said one to the other, “What is this?” For they did not know what it was. Then Moyses said to them, “This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.	And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, What is this? for they knew not what it was; and Moses said to them, (16) This [is] the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.

Exodus 16:23 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:23 (KJV)	Exodus 16:23 (NET)
And he said unto them: ‘This is that which HaShem hath spoken: To-morrow is a solemn rest, a holy sabbath unto HaShem. Bake that which ye will bake, and seethe that which ye will seethe; and all that remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.’	And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.	He said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a time of cessation from work, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Whatever you want to bake, bake today; whatever you want to boil, boil today; whatever is left put aside for yourselves to be kept until morning.’”

Exodus 16:23 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 16:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Μωυσῆς πρὸς αὐτούς τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν ὃ ἐλάλησεν κύριος σάββατα ἀνάπαυσις ἁγία τῷ κυρίῳ αὔριον ὅσα ἐὰν πέσσητε πέσσετε καὶ ὅσα ἐὰν ἕψητε ἕψετε καὶ πᾶν τὸ πλεονάζον καταλίπετε αὐτὸ εἰς ἀποθήκην εἰς τὸ πρωί	εἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς πρὸς αὐτούς· οὐ τοῦτο τὸ ρῆμά ἐστιν, ὃ ἐλάλησε Κύριος; σάββατα ἀνάπαυσις ἁγία τῷ Κυρίῳ αὔριον· ὅσα ἐὰν πέσσητε, πέσσετε, καὶ ὅσα ἐὰν ἕψητε, ἕψετε· καὶ πᾶν τὸ πλεονάζον καταλείπετε αὐτὸ εἰς ἀποθήκην εἰς τὸ πρωΐ
Exodus 16:23 (NETS)	Exodus 16:23 (English Elpenor)
And Moyses said to them, “This is the word that the Lord spoke: Tomorrow is Sabbata, a rest holy to the Lord. Whatever you bake, bake, and whatever you boil, boil. And all the excess, leave it in storage until the morning.”	And Moses said to them, Is not this the word which the Lord spoke? Tomorrow [is] the sabbath, a holy rest to the Lord: bake that ye will bake, and seethe that ye will seethe, and all that is over leave to be laid by for the morrow.

Exodus 16:24 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:24 (KJV)	Exodus 16:24 (NET)
And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade; and it did not rot, neither was there any worm therein.	And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.	So they put it aside until the morning, just as Moses had commanded, and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it.

Exodus 16:24 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 16:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ κατελίποσαν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πρωί καθάπερ συνέταξεν αὐτοῗς Μωυσῆς καὶ οὐκ ἐπώζεσεν οὐδὲ σκώληξ ἐγένετο ἐν αὐτῷ	καὶ κατελίποσαν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πρωΐ, καθὼς συνέταξεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς· καὶ οὐκ ἐπώζεσεν, οὐδὲ σκώληξ ἐγένετο ἐν αὐτῷ
Exodus 16:24 (NETS)	Exodus 16:24 (English Elpenor)
And they left some of it until the morning, according as Moyses instructed them. And it did not stink, nor was there a worm in it.	And they left of it till the morning, as Moses commanded them; and it stank not, neither was there a worm in it.

Exodus 16:25 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:25 (KJV)	Exodus 16:25 (NET)
And Moses said: ‘Eat that to-day; for to-day is a sabbath unto HaShem; to-day ye shall not find it in the field.	And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.	Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the area.

Exodus 16:25 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 16:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Μωυσῆς φάγετε σήμερον ἔστιν γὰρ σάββατα σήμερον τῷ κυρίῳ οὐχ εὑρεθήσεται ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ	εἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς· φάγετε σήμερον, ἔστι γὰρ σάββατα σήμερον τῷ Κυρίῳ· οὐχ εὑρεθήσεται ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ
Exodus 16:25 (NETS)	Exodus 16:25 (English Elpenor)
And Moyses said, “Eat today! For today is Sabbata to the Lord. It will not be found on the plain.	And Moses said, Eat [that] to-day, for to-day is a sabbath to the Lord: [it] shall not be found in the plain.

Exodus 16:26 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:26 (KJV)	Exodus 16:26 (NET)
Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.’	Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.	Six days you will gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”

Exodus 16:26 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 16:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἓξ ἡμέρας συλλέξετε τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ σάββατα ὅτι οὐκ ἔσται ἐν αὐτῇ	ἓξ ἡμέρας συλλέξετε· τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ σάββατα, ὅτι οὐκ ἔσται ἐν αὐτῇ
Exodus 16:26 (NETS)	Exodus 16:26 (English Elpenor)
Six days you will collect, but on the seventh day is Sabbata. There will be none in it.”	Six days ye shall gather it, and on the seventh day is a sabbath, for there shall be none on that [day].

Exodus 16:27 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:27 (KJV)	Exodus 16:27 (NET)
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that there went out some of the people to gather, and they found none.	And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.	On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather it, but they found nothing.

Exodus 16:27 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 16:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἐξήλθοσάν τινες ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ συλλέξαι καὶ οὐχ εὗρον	ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἐξήλθοσάν τινες ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ συλλέξαι καὶ οὐχ εὗρον
Exodus 16:27 (NETS)	Exodus 16:27 (English Elpenor)
And it happened on the seventh day, certain of the people went out to collect, and they found none.	And it came to pass on the seventh day [that] some of the people went forth to gather, and found none.

Exodus 16:20 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:20 (KJV)	Exodus 16:20 (NET)
Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and rotted; and Moses was wroth with them.	Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.	But they did not listen to Moses; some kept part of it until morning, and it was full of worms and began to stink, and Moses was angry with them.

Exodus 16:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 16:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐκ εἰσήκουσαν Μωυσῆ ἀλλὰ κατέλιπόν τινες ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πρωί καὶ ἐξέζεσεν σκώληκας καὶ ἐπώζεσεν καὶ ἐπικράνθη ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῗς Μωυσῆς	καὶ οὐκ εἰσήκουσαν Μωυσῇ, ἀλλὰ κατέλιπόν τινες ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πρωΐ· καὶ ἐξέζεσε σκώληκας καὶ ἐπώζεσε· καὶ ἐπικράνθη ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς
Exodus 16:20 (NETS)	Exodus 16:20 (English Elpenor)
And they did not listen to Moyses, but certain ones left some of it to the morning. And it bred worms and stank, and Moyses was irritated with them.	But they did not hearken to Moses, but some left of it till the morning; and it bred worms and stank: and Moses was irritated with them.

Exodus 16:28 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:28 (KJV)	Exodus 16:28 (NET)
And HaShem said unto Moses: ‘How long refuse ye to keep My commandments and My laws?	And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?	So the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to obey my commandments and my instructions?

Exodus 16:28 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 16:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἕως τίνος οὐ βούλεσθε εἰσακούειν τὰς ἐντολάς μου καὶ τὸν νόμον μου	εἶπε δὲ Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν· ἕως τίνος οὐ βούλεσθε εἰσακούειν τὰς ἐντολάς μου καὶ τὸν νόμον μου
Exodus 16:28 (NETS)	Exodus 16:28 (English Elpenor)
Then the Lord said to Moyses, “For how long are you unwilling to listen to my commandments and my laws?	And the Lord said to Moses, How long are ye unwilling to hearken to my commands and my law?

Exodus 16:29 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:29 (KJV)	Exodus 16:29 (NET)
See that HaShem hath given you the sabbath; therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.’	See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.	See, because the Lord has given you the Sabbath, that is why he is giving you food for two days on the sixth day. Each of you stay where you are; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.”

Exodus 16:29 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 16:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἴδετε ὁ γὰρ κύριος ἔδωκεν ὑμῗν τὴν ἡμέραν ταύτην τὰ σάββατα διὰ τοῦτο αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν ὑμῗν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἕκτῃ ἄρτους δύο ἡμερῶν καθήσεσθε ἕκαστος εἰς τοὺς οἴκους ὑμῶν μηδεὶς ἐκπορευέσθω ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτοῦ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ	ἴδετε, ὁ γὰρ Κύριος ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν σάββατα τὴν ἡμέραν ταύτην· διὰ τοῦτο αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἕκτῃ ἄρτους δύο ἡμερῶν· καθήσεσθε ἕκαστος εἰς τοὺς οἴκους ὑμῶν, μηδεὶς ἐκπορευέσθω ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτοῦ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ
Exodus 16:29 (NETS)	Exodus 16:29 (English Elpenor)
See! For the Lord has given you this day, the sabbaths. Therefore he gave you on the sixth day bread for two days. Sit, each person, in your houses; let no one go out from his place on the seventh day.”	See, for the Lord has given you this day [as] the sabbath, therefore he has given you on the sixth day the bread of two days: ye shall sit each of you in your houses; let no one go forth from his place on the seventh day.

Exodus 16:30 (Tanakh)	Exodus 16:30 (KJV)	Exodus 16:30 (NET)
So the people rested on the seventh day.	So the people rested on the seventh day.	So the people rested on the seventh day.

Exodus 16:30 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 16:30 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐσαββάτισεν ὁ λαὸς τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ	καὶ ἐσαββάτισεν ὁ λαὸς τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ
Exodus 16:30 (NETS)	Exodus 16:30 (English Elpenor)
And the people sabbatized on the seventh day.	And the people kept sabbath on the seventh day.

Colossians 2:16, 17 (NET)	Colossians 2:16, 17 (KJV)
Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days—	Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Μὴ οὖν τις ὑμᾶς κρινέτω ἐν βρώσει καὶ ἐν πόσει ἢ ἐν μέρει ἑορτῆς ἢ νεομηνίας ἢ σαββάτων	μη ουν τις υμας κρινετω εν βρωσει η εν ποσει η εν μερει εορτης η νουμηνιας η σαββατων	μη ουν τις υμας κρινετω εν βρωσει η εν ποσει η εν μερει εορτης η νουμηνιας η σαββατων

these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἅ ἐστιν σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων, τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ.	α εστιν σκια των μελλοντων το δε σωμα του χριστου	α εστιν σκια των μελλοντων το δε σωμα χριστου

1 Corinthians 10:24 (NET)	1 Corinthians 10:24 (KJV)
Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.	Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
μηδεὶς τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ζητείτω ἀλλὰ τὸ τοῦ ἑτέρου	μηδεις το εαυτου ζητειτω αλλα το του ετερου εκαστος	μηδεις το εαυτου ζητειτω αλλα το του ετερου εκαστος

1 Corinthians 10:30 (NET)	1 Corinthians 10:30 (KJV)
If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for?	For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ ἐγὼ χάριτι μετέχω, τί βλασφημοῦμαι ὑπὲρ οὗ ἐγὼ εὐχαριστῶ	ει δε εγω χαριτι μετεχω τι βλασφημουμαι υπερ ου εγω ευχαριστω	ει εγω χαριτι μετεχω τι βλασφημουμαι υπερ ου εγω ευχαριστω

1 Corinthians 10:33 (NET)	1 Corinthians 10:33 (KJV)
just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.	Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καθὼς καγὼ πάντα πᾶσιν ἀρέσκω μὴ ζητῶν τὸ ἐμαυτοῦ σύμφορον ἀλλὰ τὸ τῶν πολλῶν, ἵνα σωθῶσιν	καθως καγω παντα πασιν αρεσκω μη ζητων το εμαυτου συμφερον αλλα το των πολλων ινα σωθωσιν	καθως καγω παντα πασιν αρεσκω μη ζητων το εμαυτου συμφερον αλλα το των πολλων ινα σωθωσιν

Mark 2:27 (NET)	Mark 2:27 (KJV)
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.	And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· τὸ σάββατον διὰ τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐγένετο καὶ οὐχ ὁ ἄνθρωπος διὰ τὸ σάββατον	και ελεγεν αυτοις το σαββατον δια τον ανθρωπον εγενετο ουχ ο ανθρωπος δια το σαββατον	και ελεγεν αυτοις το σαββατον δια τον ανθρωπον εγενετο ουχ ο ανθρωπος δια το σαββατον

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 4

Back to A shadow of the Good Things, Part 5

Back to Psalm 22, Part 2

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 6

Back to Psalm 22, Part 8

Back to A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 7

Back to David’s Forgiveness, Part 12

Back to Westworld, Part 2

Back to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Part 5

Back to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Part 9

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 8

Back to Christianity, Part 14

^[1] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had καὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the conjunction η.

^[2] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had νεομηνίας here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had νουμηνιας.

^[3] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article τοῦ preceding Christ. The Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[4] Colossians 2:16 (NASB)

^[5] The first definition of ἀνακρίνω is: “to question, inquire, interrogate, ask.”

^[6] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκαστος following other person. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[7] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had δε (KJV: For) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[8] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had σύμφορον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συμφερον (KJV: profit).

^[9] Exodus 16:15b (Tanakh)

^[10] James 2:18b (NET) Table

^[11] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had καὶ (not translated in the NET) preceding not. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[12] Mark 2:27 (NET)

^[13] The English translators of the Elpenor version of the Septuagint chose the first day of the week for Σαββάτων (a form of σάββατον). It is a religious paraphrase as opposed to a literal translation of the word. Addendum: 4/11/2020 – The translators were not translating Σαββάτων but τῆς μιᾶς Σαββάτων. When Σαββάτων occurs with μιᾶς, μίαν or μιᾷ in the New Testament that combination is translated the first day of the week.

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 2

Posted on March 28, 2020 by admin

I began this particular investigation considering “whether τη αληθεια μη πειθεσθαι (KJV: that ye should not obey the truth) was original to Galatians 3:1” [Table]. A brief study of forms of πείθω calmed my fetish that obey the truth meant “obey the law.” So if τη αληθεια μη πειθεσθαι is reinstated into NA²⁹ or any later version I should be fine. I do still want to consider more occurrences of forms of πείθω (Acts 28:17-20, 23, 24 NET).

After three days Paul^[1] called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs^[2] of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. When they had heard my case, they wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had some charge to bring^[3] against my own people. So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.”

They set a day to meet with him, and they came^[4] to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ) and trying to convince (πείθων a form of πείθω) them about Jesus from both the law of Moses^[5] and the prophets. Some were convinced (ἐπείθοντο, a form of πείθω) by what he said, but others refused to believe.

Contrast Paul’s persuasiveness to that of some unnamed Jews from Antioch and Iconium (Acts 14:19 NET Table):

But Jews came [to Lystra] from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning the crowds over (πείσαντες, a form of πείθω), they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead.

Children, Jesus said to his astonished disciples, how hard it is^[6] to enter the kingdom of God (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ)!^[7] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text qualify this with τους πεποιθοτας (a form of πείθω) επι χρημασιν (KJV: for them that trust in riches). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ do not have this qualification. In other words, the shorter reading has survived at least two rounds^[8] of scholarly consideration.

The context of Jesus’ statement and the words that astonished his disciples were: How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!^[9] It seems reasonable to me that the One prepared to die to secure his disciples’ entrance into that kingdom answered their astonishment, not with a repetition of the specific, but with the more general: how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God. Bill Mounce posted an interesting definition of δύσκολος (the Greek word translated hard above was δύσκολον, a form of δύσκολος):

peevish about food; hard to please, disagreeable [Luke 7:31-35]; in NT, difficult, Mk. 10:24

This is my point in the contrast above: It is easier to win over those who are not yet born from above to self-righteous indignation and violence than it is to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. Wealth is a contributing factor.

In Ephesus a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought a great deal of business to the craftsmen (Acts 19:24-28 NET).

He gathered these together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our^[10] prosperity comes from this business. And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded (πείσας, a form of πείθω) and turned away a large crowd, not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia, by saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all. There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, but^[11] also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing, and she whom all the province of Asia and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”^[12]

When they heard this they became enraged and began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, Jesus described his plunder (Luke 11:14-20) of Satan’s domain parabolically, his possessions are safe. But when a stronger man attacks and conquers him, he takes away the first man’s armor on which the man relied (ἐπεποίθει, a form of πείθω) and divides up his plunder.^[13] I know I have relied on many “truths” as if they were armor that might “protect” me from the way, and the truth, and the life.^[14] But Jesus, his Father and his Holy Spirit have been persistent to wrest me from Satan’s domination and my own folly, if the two are not one and the same.

Before Paul appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome he was imprisoned at Caesarea (Acts 24:24-26 NET):

Some days later, when Felix arrived with his^[15] wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.^[16] While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming^[17] judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” At the same time he was also^[18] hoping that Paul would give him money,^[19] and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible and talked with him.

Here, Felix’s hope that Paul might give him χρήματα (a form of χρῆμα) was a factor that encouraged him to summon Paul more often than his fear of Paul’s message might otherwise have allowed. One might argue that this was not the best attitude to hear Paul’s message, since it is hard…for the rich (χρήματα) to enter the kingdom of God, but I think it highlights an aspect of the difficulty.

I couldn’t summon Paul but I was driven to read him, and from him continued on to Jesus and the rest of the Bible. Before that, yes, I tried to harmonize the gospels to make a libretto for my rock/fusion opera. Studying Paul was the beginning of a deeper potentially more vital interest. I still hoped, I suppose, that studying Paul would please God and that pleasing God would benefit my writing/composing career. Like Felix, my motives and interests were divided.

Paul wrote about the judgment (κρίματος, a form of κρίμα) Felix feared (Romans 2:1-13 NET):

Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge (κρίνων, a form of κρίνω) someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge (κρίνεις, a form of κρίνω) another, you condemn (κατακρίνεις, a form of κατακρίνω) yourself, because you who judge (κρίνων, a form of κρίνω) practice the same things (Romans 1:18-32). Now we know that God’s judgment (κρίμα) is in accordance with truth against those who practice such things. And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge (κρίνων, a form of κρίνω) those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment (κρίμα)? Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment^[20] (δικαιοκρισίας, a form of δικαιοκρισία) is revealed! He will reward each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey^[21] (ἀπειθοῦσι, a form of ἀπειθέω) the truth but follow (πειθομένοις, a form of πείθω) unrighteousness. There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. For there is no partiality with God [Table]. For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged (κριθήσονται, a form of κρίνω) by the law. For it is not those who hear the^[22] law who are righteous before God, but those who do the^[23] law will be declared righteous.

This brings me back to the title of this series of essays: For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself.^[24] I think—not the reality itself—is an important and meaningful paraphrase of οὐκ αὐτὴν τὴν εἰκόνα τῶν πραγμάτων, but I prefer the KJV translation here: not the very image of the things. And I would push πραγμάτων (a form of πρᾶγμα) one step further to deeds: not the very image of the [deeds].

I want to compare the shadow of the good things to come possessed by the law to Peter’s shadow. Here is the context (Acts 5:12a, 14-16 NET)

Now many miraculous signs and wonders came about^[25] among the people through the hands of the apostles.

More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, crowds of both men and women. Thus they even^[26] carried the sick out into^[27] the streets, and put them on cots^[28] and pallets,^[29] so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them. A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem^[30] also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. They were all being healed.

Peter’s shadow waned from a thin elongated silhouette of his form in the morning, to a stubby foreshortened blob at midday, then waxed again as day progressed to evening. Many things could be calculated mathematically by measuring that shadow against Peter’s height. But no matter the time of day Peter’s shadow was cast by Peter walking in the light.

I’m not suggesting that we know the good things to come by doing mathematical calculations on the law. I am suggesting that the law has a shape, an outline in silhouette, similar to that cast by the good things to come, not an assembly-line slaughterhouse executing lawbreakers, but a kingdom of people who do not covet [their] neighbor’s house, [their] neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to [their] neighbor.^[31]

The law foreshadows a kingdom of people who do this, and so much more, not because they strive with all their might to obey the law in their own strength: For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.^[32] God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.^[33]

The law foreshadows a kingdom of God populated by those who have trusted that (1 Corinthians 15:3b-8 NET):

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures [Table], and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some^[34] have fallen asleep [Table]. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to [Paul] also.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, Paul wrote believers in Galatia (Galatians 5:13-6:5 NET):

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 (KJV: fulfilled) 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 [Table]. 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 [Table]. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: (KJV: adultery) sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, 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 (βασιλείαν θεοῦ) [Table]!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law [Table]. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 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.

Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ [Table]. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. For each one will carry his own load.

Our Father in heaven, Jesus taught his disciples to pray, may your name be honored, may your kingdom (βασιλεία σου) come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.^[35] I’ll pick this up in another essay.

A table comparing Paul’s quotation from Psalm 61:13 in the Septuagint (62:12 Masoretic text) follows:

Romans 2:6 (NET Parallel Greek)	Psalm 62:12c (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 61:13b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὃς ἀποδώσει ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ	σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ	σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ
Romans 2:6 (NET)	Psalm 61:13c (NETS)	Psalm 61:13b (English Elpenor)
He will reward each one according to his works:	you will repay to each according to his works.	thou wilt recompense every one according to his works.

Tables comparing Psalm 62:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Psalm 62:12 (61:13) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Following those are tables comparing Acts 28:17; 28:19; 28:23; Mark 10:24; Acts 19:25; 19:27; 24:24-26; Romans 2:5; 2:8; 2:13; Acts 5:12 and 5:15, 16 in the NET and KJV.

Psalm 62:12 (Tanakh)	Psalm 62:12 (KJV)	Psalm 62:12 (NET)
Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.	Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.	and you, O Lord, demonstrate loyal love. For you repay men for what they do.

Psalm 62:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 61:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι τὸ κράτος τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ σοί κύριε τὸ ἔλεος ὅτι σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ	καὶ σοῦ, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεος, ὅτι σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ
Psalm 61:13 (NETS)	Psalm 61:13 (English Elpenor)
that might is God’s, and to you, O Lord, belongs mercy, because you will repay to each according to his works.	and mercy is thine, O Lord; for thou wilt recompense every one according to his works.

Acts 28:17 (NET)	Acts 28:17 (KJV)
After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans.	And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐγένετο δὲ μετὰ ἡμέρας τρεῖς συγκαλέσασθαι αὐτὸν τοὺς ὄντας τῶν Ἰουδαίων πρώτους· συνελθόντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἔλεγεν πρὸς αὐτούς· ἐγώ, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, οὐδὲν ἐναντίον ποιήσας τῷ λαῷ ἢ τοῖς ἔθεσι τοῖς πατρῴοις δέσμιος ἐξ Ἱεροσολύμων παρεδόθην εἰς τὰς χεῖρας τῶν Ῥωμαίων	εγενετο δε μετα ημερας τρεις συγκαλεσασθαι τον παυλον τους οντας των ιουδαιων πρωτους συνελθοντων δε αυτων ελεγεν προς αυτους ανδρες αδελφοι εγω ουδεν εναντιον ποιησας τω λαω η τοις εθεσιν τοις πατρωοις δεσμιος εξ ιεροσολυμων παρεδοθην εις τας χειρας των ρωμαιων	εγενετο δε μετα ημερας τρεις συγκαλεσασθαι τον παυλον τους οντας των ιουδαιων πρωτους συνελθοντων δε αυτων ελεγεν προς αυτους ανδρες αδελφοι εγω ουδεν εναντιον ποιησας τω λαω η τοις εθεσιν τοις πατρωοις δεσμιος εξ ιεροσολυμων παρεδοθην εις τας χειρας των ρωμαιων

Acts 28:19 (NET)	Acts 28:19 (KJV)
But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had some charge to bring against my own people.	But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀντιλεγόντων δὲ τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἠναγκάσθην ἐπικαλέσασθαι Καίσαρα οὐχ ὡς τοῦ ἔθνους μου ἔχων τι κατηγορεῖν	αντιλεγοντων δε των ιουδαιων ηναγκασθην επικαλεσασθαι καισαρα ουχ ως του εθνους μου εχων τι κατηγορησαι	αντιλεγοντων δε των ιουδαιων ηναγκασθην επικαλεσασθαι καισαρα ουχ ως του εθνους μου εχων τι κατηγορησαι

Acts 28:23 (NET)	Acts 28:23 (KJV)
They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.	And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ταξάμενοι δὲ αὐτῷ ἡμέραν ἦλθον πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ξενίαν πλείονες οἷς ἐξετίθετο διαμαρτυρόμενος τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, πείθων τε αὐτοὺς περὶ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἀπό τε τοῦ νόμου Μωϋσέως καὶ τῶν προφητῶν, ἀπὸ πρωὶ_ ἕως ἑσπέρας	ταξαμενοι δε αυτω ημεραν ηκον προς αυτον εις την ξενιαν πλειονες οις εξετιθετο διαμαρτυρομενος την βασιλειαν του θεου πειθων τε αυτους τα περι του ιησου απο τε του νομου μωσεως και των προφητων απο πρωι εως εσπερας	ταξαμενοι δε αυτω ημεραν ηκον προς αυτον εις την ξενιαν πλειονες οις εξετιθετο διαμαρτυρομενος την βασιλειαν του θεου πειθων τε αυτους τα περι του ιησου απο τε του νομου μωσεως και των προφητων απο πρωι εως εσπερας

Mark 10:24 (NET)	Mark 10:24 (KJV)
The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!	And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ ἐθαμβοῦντο ἐπὶ τοῖς λόγοις αὐτοῦ. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν ἀποκριθεὶς λέγει αὐτοῖς· τέκνα, πῶς δύσκολον ἐστιν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν	οι δε μαθηται εθαμβουντο επι τοις λογοις αυτου ο δε ιησους παλιν αποκριθεις λεγει αυτοις τεκνα πως δυσκολον εστιν τους πεποιθοτας επι τοις χρημασιν εις την βασιλειαν του θεου εισελθειν	οι δε μαθηται εθαμβουντο επι τοις λογοις αυτου ο δε ιησους παλιν αποκριθεις λεγει αυτοις τεκνα πως δυσκολον εστιν τους πεποιθοτας επι χρημασιν εις την βασιλειαν του θεου εισελθειν

Acts 19:25 (NET)	Acts 19:25 (KJV)
He gathered these together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business.	Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὓς συναθροίσας καὶ τοὺς περὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐργάτας εἶπεν· ἄνδρες, ἐπίστασθε ὅτι ἐκ ταύτης τῆς ἐργασίας ἡ εὐπορία ἡμῖν ἐστιν	ους συναθροισας και τους περι τα τοιαυτα εργατας ειπεν ανδρες επιστασθε οτι εκ ταυτης της εργασιας η ευπορια ημων εστιν	ους συναθροισας και τους περι τα τοιαυτα εργατας ειπεν ανδρες επιστασθε οτι εκ ταυτης της εργασιας η ευπορια ημων εστιν

Acts 19:27 (NET)	Acts 19:27 (KJV)
There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing, and she whom all the province of Asia and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”	So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὐ μόνον δὲ τοῦτο κινδυνεύει ἡμῖν τὸ μέρος εἰς ἀπελεγμὸν ἐλθεῖν ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ τῆς μεγάλης θεᾶς Ἀρτέμιδος ἱερὸν εἰς οὐθὲν λογισθῆναι, μέλλειν τε καὶ καθαιρεῖσθαι τῆς μεγαλειότητος αὐτῆς ἣν ὅλη \|ἡ\| Ἀσία καὶ \|ἡ\| οἰκουμένη σέβεται	ου μονον δε τουτο κινδυνευει ημιν το μερος εις απελεγμον ελθειν αλλα και το της μεγαλης θεας αρτεμιδος ιερον εις ουδεν λογισθηναι μελλειν δε και καθαιρεισθαι την μεγαλειοτητα αυτης ην ολη η ασια και η οικουμενη σεβεται	ου μονον δε τουτο κινδυνευει ημιν το μερος εις απελεγμον ελθειν αλλα και το της μεγαλης θεας ιερον αρτεμιδος εις ουθεν λογισθηναι μελλειν δε και καθαιρεισθαι την μεγαλειοτητα αυτης ην ολη η ασια και η οικουμενη σεβεται

Acts 24:24-26 (NET)	Acts 24:24-26 (KJV)
Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.	And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Μετὰ δὲ ἡμέρας τινὰς παραγενόμενος ὁ Φῆλιξ σὺν Δρουσίλλῃ τῇ ἰδίᾳ γυναικὶ οὔσῃ Ἰουδαίᾳ μετεπέμψατο τὸν Παῦλον καὶ ἤκουσεν αὐτοῦ περὶ τῆς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν πίστεως	μετα δε ημερας τινας παραγενομενος ο φηλιξ συν δρουσιλλη τη γυναικι αυτου ουση ιουδαια μετεπεμψατο τον παυλον και ηκουσεν αυτου περι της εις χριστον πιστεως	μετα δε ημερας τινας παραγενομενος ο φηλιξ συν δρουσιλλη τη γυναικι ουση ιουδαια μετεπεμψατο τον παυλον και ηκουσεν αυτου περι της εις χριστον πιστεως

While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.”

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
διαλεγομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ περὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ ἐγκρατείας καὶ τοῦ κρίματος τοῦ μέλλοντος, ἔμφοβος γενόμενος ὁ Φῆλιξ ἀπεκρίθη· τὸ νῦν ἔχον πορεύου, καιρὸν δὲ μεταλαβὼν μετακαλέσομαι σε	διαλεγομενου δε αυτου περι δικαιοσυνης και εγκρατειας και του κριματος του μελλοντος εσεσθαι εμφοβος γενομενος ο φηλιξ απεκριθη το νυν εχον πορευου καιρον δε μεταλαβων μετακαλεσομαι σε	διαλεγομενου δε αυτου περι δικαιοσυνης και εγκρατειας και του κριματος του μελλοντος εσεσθαι εμφοβος γενομενος ο φηλιξ απεκριθη το νυν εχον πορευου καιρον δε μεταλαβων μετακαλεσομαι σε

At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible and talked with him.

He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἅμα καὶ ἐλπίζων ὅτι χρήματα δοθήσεται \|αὐτῷ\| ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου· διὸ καὶ πυκνότερον αὐτὸν μεταπεμπόμενος ὡμίλει αὐτῷ	αμα δε και ελπιζων οτι χρηματα δοθησεται αυτω υπο του παυλου οπως λυση αυτον διο και πυκνοτερον αυτον μεταπεμπομενος ωμιλει αυτω	αμα και ελπιζων οτι χρηματα δοθησεται αυτω υπο του παυλου οπως λυση αυτον διο και πυκνοτερον αυτον μεταπεμπομενος ωμιλει αυτω

Romans 2:5 (NET)	Romans 2:5 (KJV)
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed!	But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
κατὰ δὲ τὴν σκληρότητα σου καὶ ἀμετανόητον καρδίαν θησαυρίζεις σεαυτῷ ὀργὴν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὀργῆς καὶ ἀποκαλύψεως δικαιοκρισίας τοῦ θεοῦ	κατα δε την σκληροτητα σου και αμετανοητον καρδιαν θησαυριζεις σεαυτω οργην εν ημερα οργης και αποκαλυψεως δικαιοκρισιας του θεου	κατα δε την σκληροτητα σου και αμετανοητον καρδιαν θησαυριζεις σεαυτω οργην εν ημερα οργης και αποκαλυψεως και δικαιοκρισιας του θεου

Romans 2:8 (NET)	Romans 2:8 (KJV)
but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness.	But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
τοῖς δὲ ἐξ ἐριθείας καὶ ἀπειθοῦσι τῇ ἀληθείᾳ πειθομένοις δὲ τῇ ἀδικίᾳ ὀργὴ καὶ θυμός	τοις δε εξ εριθειας και απειθουσιν μεν τη αληθεια πειθομενοις δε τη αδικια θυμος και οργη	τοις δε εξ εριθειας και απειθουσιν μεν τη αληθεια πειθομενοις δε τη αδικια θυμος και οργη

Romans 2:13 (NET)	Romans 2:13 (KJV)
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous.	(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἀκροαταὶ νόμου δίκαιοι παρὰ [τῷ] θεῷ, ἀλλ᾿ οἱ ποιηταὶ νόμου δικαιωθήσονται	ου γαρ οι ακροαται του νομου δικαιοι παρα τω θεω αλλ οι ποιηται του νομου δικαιωθησονται	ου γαρ οι ακροαται του νομου δικαιοι παρα τω θεω αλλ οι ποιηται του νομου δικαιωθησονται

Acts 5:12 (NET)	Acts 5:12 (KJV)
Now many miraculous signs and wonders came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they were all meeting together in Solomon’s Portico.	And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Διὰ δὲ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετο σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα πολλὰ ἐν τῷ λαῷ. καὶ ἦσαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν \|ἅπαντες\| ἐν τῇ στοᾷ Σολομῶντος	δια δε των χειρων των αποστολων εγενετο σημεια και τερατα εν τω λαω πολλα και ησαν ομοθυμαδον απαντες εν τη στοα σολομωντος	δια δε των χειρων των αποστολων εγινετο σημεια και τερατα εν τω λαω πολλα και ησαν ομοθυμαδον απαντες εν τη στοα σολομωντος

Acts 5:15, 16 (NET)	Acts 5:15, 16 (KJV)
Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets, and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them.	Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὥστε καὶ εἰς τὰς πλατείας ἐκφέρειν τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς καὶ τιθέναι ἐπὶ κλιναρίων καὶ κραβάττων, ἵνα ἐρχομένου Πέτρου κὰν ἡ σκιὰ \|ἐπισκιάσῃ\| τινὶ αὐτῶν	ωστε κατα τας πλατειας εκφερειν τους ασθενεις και τιθεναι επι κλινων και κραββατων ινα ερχομενου πετρου καν η σκια επισκιαση τινι αυτων	ωστε κατα τας πλατειας εκφερειν τους ασθενεις και τιθεναι επι κλινων και κραββατων ινα ερχομενου πετρου καν η σκια επισκιαση τινι αυτων

A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. They were all being healed.

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
συνήρχετο δὲ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πέριξ πόλεων Ἰερουσαλὴμ φέροντες ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ὀχλουμένους ὑπὸ πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων, οἵτινες ἐθεραπεύοντο ἅπαντες	συνηρχετο δε και το πληθος των περιξ πολεων εις ιερουσαλημ φεροντες ασθενεις και οχλουμενους υπο πνευματων ακαθαρτων οιτινες εθεραπευοντο απαντες	συνηρχετο δε και το πληθος των περιξ πολεων εις ιερουσαλημ φεροντες ασθενεις και οχλουμενους υπο πνευματων ακαθαρτων οιτινες εθεραπευοντο απαντες

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 3

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 2

Back to Romans, Part 8

Back to Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 7

Back to Christianity, Part 1

Back to Christianity, Part 6

Back to Christianity, Part 8

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 10

Back to Wonders and False Wonders, Part 3

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 1

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 3

^[1] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had αὐτὸν (he in the accusative case) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τον παυλον (Paul in the accusative case along with its appropriate article).

^[2] The NET parallel Greek text had ἔθεσι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had εθεσιν.

^[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had κατηγορεῖν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κατηγορησαι (KJV: to accuse).

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

^[5] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ Moses was spelled Μωϋσέως, and μωσεως in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

^[6] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τους πεποιθοτας επι τοις χρημασιν (KJV: for them that trust in riches) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[7] Mark 10:24b (NET)

^[8] From “Innovations in the Text and Translation of the NET Bible, New Testament,” III. Innovations in Text: “The NET New Testament is based on a critically constructed Greek text, following the principles of reasoned eclecticism. The Greek text of the NET NT differs from the Nestle-Aland27 in about 500 places.”

^[9] Mark 10:23b (NET)

^[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἡμῖν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ημων.

^[11] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε.

^[12] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τῆς μεγαλειότητος here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had την μεγαλειοτητα (KJV: magnificence).

^[13] Luke 11:21, 22 (NET) Table

^[14] John 14:6a (NET)

^[15] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἰδίᾳ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αυτου. The Byzantine Majority Text had neither.

^[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had Ἰησοῦν here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[17] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μελλοντος εσεσθαι (KJV: to come) here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had simply μέλλοντος.

^[18] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had δε και here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had simply καὶ.

^[19] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had οπως λυση αυτον (KJV: that he might loose him) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[20] The Byzantine Majority Text had και preceding righteous judgment. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

^[21] The NET parallel Greek text had ἀπειθοῦσι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had απειθουσιν. Also, the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεν following obey. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[22] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding law. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[23] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding law. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[24] Hebrews 10:1a (NET)

^[25] The Stephanus Textus Receptu had εγενετο (KJV: were…wrought) here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐγίνετο.

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

^[27] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had εἰς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κατα.

^[28] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had κλιναρίων here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κλινων (KJV: beds).

^[29] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had κραβάττων here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κραββατων (KJV: couches).

^[30] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εἰς (KJV: unto) preceding Jerusalem. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[31] Exodus 20:17 (NET) Table

^[32] Galatians 3:21b (NET)

^[33] Romans 8:3, 4 (NET) Table

^[34] It is fair to assume that all have fallen asleep by now.

^[35] Matthew 6:9, 10 (NET)

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 1

Posted on June 24, 2019 by admin

Revisiting Is Sin Less Than Sin, Part 2 to make tables of quotations that differed in the NET parallel Greek, Stephanus Textus Receptus or Byzantine Majority Text I learned that there is some question whether τη αληθεια μη πειθεσθαι (KJV: that ye should not obey the truth) was original to Galatians 3:1 (Table). I want to consider that possibility here.

On the surface given my particular fetish it’s a slam dunk. I hear obey the truth as “obey the law.” The law is clear (Table1 and Table2 below): And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin [i.e., of the new-born man-child] shall be circumcised.^[1] But Paul wrote adult, presumably Gentile, believers in Galatia: Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all!^[2] In English it is obvious that someone added that ye should not obey the truth to obfuscate Paul’s actual point. In Greek it’s not so obvious.

Had the translators chosen any other English words for πειθεσθαι, the passive infinitive form of πείθω, it wouldn’t have triggered my works religion fetish (Galatians 3:1 KJV Table)

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not [be persuaded of, be convinced of, come to believe, believe, trust, follow, rely on] the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Any of these translations would have persuaded me that truth would refer to Paul’s teaching about Christ in his letter to the Galatians rather than to law. The only (or only other) occurrence of πείθεσθαι in the New Testament was, And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey (πείθεσθαι, a form of πείθω) us, then we guide their entire bodies.^[3] Here πείθεσθαι was translated to obey in the NET and may obey in the KJV (Table3 below). I wanted to focus on Paul’s usage of other forms of πείθω elsewhere, but realized that I had better consider all other occurrences. The following table is in alphabetical order.

Reference	Form of πείθω	NET	KJV
Matthew 27:20	ἔπεισαν	…the elders persuaded the crowds…	…elders persuaded the multitude…
Acts 5:40	ἐπείσθησαν	He convinced them…	And to him they agreed…
Acts 17:4	ἐπείσθησαν	Some of them were persuaded…	And some of them believed…
Acts 18:4	ἔπειθεν	…attempting to persuade them.	…and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Acts 27:11	ἐπείθετο	…the centurion was more convinced by the captain…	…the centurion believed the master…
Acts 13:43	ἔπειθον	…were persuading them to continue in the grace of God.	…persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
Acts 5:36	ἐπείθοντο	…all who followed him were dispersed…	…as many as obeyed him, were scattered…
Acts 5:37		…all who followed him were scattered.	…as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
Acts 28:24		Some were convinced by what he said…	And some believed the things which were spoken…

This is a good place to break this table since ἐπείθοντο, another passive form of πείθω, was translated both obeyed and believed in different contexts in the KJV, and the latter was contrasted to ἠπίστουν, a form of ἀπιστέω (NET: refused to believe; KJV: believed not). Peter and the apostles had already escaped from prison once (Acts 5:17-21). They were arrested again (Acts 5:27-32 NET):

When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, saying, “We^[4] gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood on us!” But Peter^[5] and the apostles replied,^[6] “We must obey (πειθαρχεῖν, a form of πειθαρχέω) God rather than people. The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give^[7] repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses^[8] of these events, and so is the Holy^[9] Spirit whom God has given to those who obey (πειθαρχοῦσιν, another form of πειθαρχέω) him.”

Both πειθαρχέω and πειθαρχοῦσιν are active verbs, compound words that include πείθω. At any other time it might have freaked me out to consider that God has given the Holy Spirit to those who obey Jesus. But I’ve paused here because Gamaliel helped me wrap my head around what has troubled me. I’ll get to that soon. Those who obey Jesus reminds me of what Peter said at Pentecost, Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^[10]

Peter didn’t think the active imperative verb μετανοήσατε (a form of μετανοέω), to repent, or the passive imperative verb βαπτισθήτω (a form of βαπτίζω), be baptized, were works that could taint the gift (δωρεὰν, a form of δωρεά) of the Holy Spirit. This is the deed (ἔργον) God requires, Jesus said, to believe (πιστεύητε, a form of πιστεύω) in the one whom he sent.^[11] I assume that to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is the practical demonstration of to believe in the one whom he sent, in the sense that James described: Show me your faith (πίστιν, a form of πίστις) without^[12] works^[13] (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) and I will show you faith^[14] (πίστιν, a form of πίστις) by my works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον).^[15]

The NET definition of βαπτίζω includes the following slightly more complicated explanation:

Not to be confused with 911, bapto. The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be ‘dipped’ (bapto) into boiling water and then ‘baptised’ (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g. Mr 16:16. ‘He that believes and is baptised shall be saved’. Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle! (Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989).

So those who accepted [Peter’s] message, Luke continued his narrative of Pentecost, were baptized (ἐβαπτίσθησαν, another form of βαπτίζω), and that day about three thousand people were added.^[16] So I assume these three thousand people were joined in life-changing union with Christ. I’m uncertain whether Mr. Boice would have assumed that they had also been dipped in water.

John the Baptist contrasted his ministry to that of Jesus as follows (Matthew 3:11-17 NET):

“I baptize (βαπτίζω) you with water, for repentance (μετάνοιαν, a form of μετάνοια), but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthy to carry his sandals! He will baptize (βαπτίσει, another form of βαπτίζω) you with the Holy Spirit and fire.^[17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire!”

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized (βαπτισθῆναι, another form of βαπτίζω) by him in the Jordan River. But John^[18] tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized (βαπτισθῆναι, another form of βαπτίζω) by you, and yet you come to me?” So Jesus replied to him, “Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John yielded to him. After^[19] Jesus was baptized (βαπτισθεὶς, another form of βαπτίζω), just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened^[20] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.”

Since I don’t believe that this was Jesus’ first encounter with the Holy Spirit (Psalm 22:9, 10), I assume He went out of his way, much to John’s consternation, to demonstrate a linkage between water baptism for repentance and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. It was not a rule: “no one can receive the Holy Spirit apart from water baptism.” While Peter was still speaking [to the Gentiles who had summoned him], the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the message.^[21] Then Peter^[22] said (Acts 10:46b-48a NET Table):

“No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized (βαπτισθῆναι, another form of βαπτίζω), who have received the Holy Spirit just as^[23] we did, can he?” So he gave orders to have them baptized (βαπτισθῆναι, another form of βαπτίζω) in the name of Jesus Christ.^[24]

Submitting to baptism is something a new believer can do to demonstrate faith and repentance, to begin to follow Jesus. Let it happen now, Jesus comforted John, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.^[25] Jesus was baptized in the muddy brown Jordan River rather than an over-sized bathtub or a small swimming pool. As He disappeared under the water and then rose again, glistening in the sunlight, He presented a beautiful image of Paul’s teaching to believers in Rome (Romans 6:3, 4 NET):

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

Much as I like Mr. Boice’s imagery, my initial investigations are yielding a negative result, since Jesus, Cornelius and (I assume) no believers in Rome were drowned in the waters of baptism. John the Baptist/Matthew, Peter/Luke and Paul have not demonstrated so technical a usage of forms of βαπτίζω versus forms of βάπτω as is found in Nicander’s pickle recipe thus far. I won’t pursue an exhaustive search here, since I’ve already interrupted an exhaustive search of forms of πείθω to listen to Gamaliel.

When the council and the high priest heard Peter and the apostles say, we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him,^[26] they became furious and wanted^[27] to execute them. But a Pharisee whose name was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the council and ordered the^[28] men^[29] to be put outside for a short time.^[30] Gamaliel addressed the Council (Acts 5:35b-39 NET):

“Men of Israel, pay close attention to what you are about to do to these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about^[31] four hundred men joined^[32] him. He was killed, and all who followed (ἐπείθοντο, another form of πείθω; KJV: obeyed) him were dispersed and nothing came of it. After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census, and incited people^[33] to follow him in revolt. He too was killed, and all who followed (ἐπείθοντο, another form of πείθω; KJV: obeyed) him were scattered. So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone,^[34] because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing, but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them,^[35] or you may even be found fighting against God.” He convinced (ἐπείσθησαν, another form of πείθω) them…

Given that ἐπείθοντο and ἐπείσθησαν are both passive 3^rd person plural forms of πείθω, the KJV translation—And to him they agreed^[36]—is a more accurate translation of the Greek than the more active He convinced them^[37] in the NET. Also ἐπείσθησαν might have been translated obeyed, the same way ἐπείθοντο was in the KJV, since the council did not carry out its desire or counsel to execute the apostles. Gamaliel held no gun to their heads. Rather, they were persuaded by his history lesson.

What stood out in sharp enough relief for me to finally perceive it this time was the fact that all who followed or obeyed Theudas did so in their own strength. Theudas was powerless to give them his spirit, much less the Holy Spirit of God. Likewise, all who followed or obeyed Judas the Galilean did so in their own strength. He was unable to fill them with a love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that could sustain them. Theudas and Judas the Galilean left their followers to their own devices. After they were killed their followers were dispersed (διελύθησαν) and scattered (διεσκορπίσθησαν).

Here I can distinguish the true Christ from the false. The true Christ fulfills the promise of the Lord (ʼădônây, אֲדֹנָ֣י) God (y^ehôvih, יֱהֹוִ֔ה): And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.^[38] And this, not by obeying rules: For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship.^[39] Paul described it this way (Romans 7:4-6 NET):

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.

It bears mentioning here that I have never spoken in tongues or performed a miraculous sign. I am about as mundane a muggle as you will ever meet. And still by the continuous infusion of the fruit of Christ’s Holy Spirit I am being renewed in the spirit of [my] mind, and [putting] on the new man who has been created in God’s image – in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.^[40]

Pope Francis made the news recently approving a change to the English translation of the Lord’s Prayer. It’s not the first time I’ve heard this translation questioned, and I mostly frequent Protestant circles. The Lord knows He will not tempt me to sin, but I didn’t.

As I began to let go of the only way of righteousness I had ever known—forcing myself to obey the rules, norms and standards of righteousness handed down to me by God, governments, parents and teachers—to rely instead upon the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control^[41] of his Holy Spirit, that does no wrong to a neighbor^[42] and is therefore the fulfillment (Romans 8:3, 4) of God’s law, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe,^[43] I was scared. And unfortunately when I was going through the worst of it I didn’t pray the Lord’s prayer very often.

I thought it was a model prayer to be imitated rather than an actual prayer to be prayed. But now I pray daily, not just for myself but for all, from the Pope to the homeless man who blessed me at the stoplight for the last of my cash: “and lead us…(pause a beat)… not into temptation but deliver us from the evil.” Praying that daily (or more often) really helps when the Holy Spirit leads in a direction my religious mind doesn’t want to go. I sensed, especially, the love, kindness and gentleness of the Holy Spirit welling up within me before I let Him affect me, at least before I welcomed and appreciated his affect in me. I quenched the Spirit because I thought I was supposed to be tougher than that. Against such things [i.e., the fruit of the Spirit] there is no law.^[44]

If I make a mistake and head off in a direction contrary to the Spirit’s leading, if while seeking to be justified in Christ [I myself] have also been found to be^[45] a sinner, well, the Lord’s prayer has that covered, too: “Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven (or, as we forgive) our debtors…for Yours (i.e., God’s, not mine) is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. I do believe You” (see Table15 below).

A table comparing Leviticus 12:3 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET follows. Following that is a table comparing Leviticus 12:3 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor). Following that are tables comparing James 3:3; Acts 27:11; 13:43; 5:28, 29; 5:31, 32; James 2:18; Matthew 3:11; 3:14; 3:16; Acts 10:47, 48; 5:33, 34; 5:36-40 and Matthew 6:13 in the NET and KJV.

Leviticus 12:3 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 12:3 (KJV)	Leviticus 12:3 (NET)
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.	And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.	On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised.

Leviticus 12:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 12:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ περιτεμεῗ τὴν σάρκα τῆς ἀκροβυστίας αὐτοῦ	καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ περιτεμεῖ τὴν σάρκα τῆς ἀκροβυστίας αὐτοῦ
Leviticus 12:3 (NETS)	Leviticus 12:3 (English Elpenor)
And on the eighth day she shall circumcise the flesh of his foreskin.	And on the eighth day she shall circumcise the flesh of his foreskin.

James 3:3 (NET)	James 3:3 (KJV)
And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.	Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ δὲ τῶν ἵππων τοὺς χαλινοὺς εἰς τὰ στόματα βάλλομεν εἰς τὸ πείθεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἡμῖν, καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν μετάγομεν	ιδου των ιππων τους χαλινους εις τα στοματα βαλλομεν προς το πειθεσθαι αυτους ημιν και ολον το σωμα αυτων μεταγομεν	ιδε των ιππων τους χαλινους εις τα στοματα βαλλομεν προς το πειθεσθαι αυτους ημιν και ολον το σωμα αυτων μεταγομεν

Acts 27:11 (NET)	Acts 27:11 (KJV)
But the centurion was more convinced by the captain and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said.	Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ ἑκατοντάρχης τῷ κυβερνήτῃ καὶ τῷ ναυκλήρῳ μᾶλλον ἐπείθετο ἢ τοῖς ὑπὸ Παύλου λεγομένοις	ο δε εκατονταρχος τω κυβερνητη και τω ναυκληρω επειθετο μαλλον η τοις υπο του παυλου λεγομενοις	ο δε εκατονταρχης τω κυβερνητη και τω ναυκληρω επειθετο μαλλον η τοις υπο του παυλου λεγομενοις

Acts 13:43 (NET)	Acts 13:43 (KJV)
When the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and were persuading them to continue in the grace of God.	Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
λυθείσης δὲ τῆς συναγωγῆς ἠκολούθησαν πολλοὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ τῶν σεβομένων προσηλύτων τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Βαρναβᾷ, οἵτινες προσλαλοῦντες αὐτοῖς ἔπειθον αὐτοὺς προσμένειν τῇ χάριτι τοῦ θεοῦ	λυθεισης δε της συναγωγης ηκολουθησαν πολλοι των ιουδαιων και των σεβομενων προσηλυτων τω παυλω και τω βαρναβα οιτινες προσλαλουντες αυτοις επειθον αυτους επιμενειν τη χαριτι του θεου	λυθεισης δε της συναγωγης ηκολουθησαν πολλοι των ιουδαιων και των σεβομενων προσηλυτων τω παυλω και τω βαρναβα οιτινες προσλαλουντες επειθον αυτους επιμενειν τη χαριτι του θεου

Acts 5:28, 29 (NET)	Acts 5:28, 29 (KJV)
saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood on us!”	Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
λέγων· παραγγελίᾳ παρηγγείλαμεν ὑμῖν μὴ διδάσκειν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τούτῳ, καὶ ἰδοὺ πεπληρώκατε τὴν Ἰερουσαλὴμ τῆς διδαχῆς ὑμῶν καὶ βούλεσθε ἐπαγαγεῖν ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς τὸ αἷμα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου	λεγων ου παραγγελια παρηγγειλαμεν υμιν μη διδασκειν επι τω ονοματι τουτω και ιδου πεπληρωκατε την ιερουσαλημ της διδαχης υμων και βουλεσθε επαγαγειν εφ ημας το αιμα του ανθρωπου τουτου	λεγων ου παραγγελια παρηγγειλαμεν υμιν μη διδασκειν επι τω ονοματι τουτω και ιδου πεπληρωκατε την ιερουσαλημ της διδαχης υμων και βουλεσθε επαγαγειν εφ ημας το αιμα του ανθρωπου τουτου

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Πέτρος καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι εἶπαν· πειθαρχεῖν δεῖ θεῷ μᾶλλον ἢ ἀνθρώποις	αποκριθεις δε ο πετρος και οι αποστολοι ειπον πειθαρχειν δει θεω μαλλον η ανθρωποις	αποκριθεις δε πετρος και οι αποστολοι ειπον πειθαρχειν δει θεω μαλλον η ανθρωποις

Acts 5:31, 32 (NET)	Acts 5:31, 32 (KJV)
God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.	Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
τοῦτον ὁ θεὸς ἀρχηγὸν καὶ σωτῆρα ὕψωσεν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ [τοῦ] δοῦναι μετάνοιαν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν	τουτον ο θεος αρχηγον και σωτηρα υψωσεν τη δεξια αυτου δουναι μετανοιαν τω ισραηλ και αφεσιν αμαρτιων	τουτον ο θεος αρχηγον και σωτηρα υψωσεν τη δεξια αυτου δουναι μετανοιαν τω ισραηλ και αφεσιν αμαρτιων

And we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν μάρτυρες τῶν ρημάτων τούτων καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ὃ ἔδωκεν ὁ θεὸς τοῖς πειθαρχοῦσιν αὐτῷ	και ημεις εσμεν αυτου μαρτυρες των ρηματων τουτων και το πνευμα δε το αγιον ο εδωκεν ο θεος τοις πειθαρχουσιν αυτω	και ημεις εσμεν αυτου μαρτυρες των ρηματων τουτων και το πνευμα δε το αγιον ο εδωκεν ο θεος τοις πειθαρχουσιν αυτω

James 2:18 (NET)	James 2:18 (KJV)
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.	Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ἀλλ᾿ ἐρεῖ τις· σὺ πίστιν ἔχεις, καγὼ ἔργα ἔχω· δεῖξον μοι τὴν πίστιν σου χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων, καγώ σοι δείξω ἐκ τῶν ἔργων μου τὴν πίστιν	αλλ ερει τις συ πιστιν εχεις καγω εργα εχω δειξον μοι την πιστιν σου εκ των εργων σου καγω δειξω σοι εκ των εργων μου την πιστιν μου	αλλ ερει τις συ πιστιν εχεις καγω εργα εχω δειξον μοι την πιστιν σου εκ των εργων σου καγω δειξω σοι εκ των εργων μου την πιστιν μου

Matthew 3:11 (NET)	Matthew 3:11 (KJV)
“I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthy to carry his sandals! He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.	I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐγὼ μὲν ὑμᾶς βαπτίζω ἐν ὕδατι εἰς μετάνοιαν, ὁ δὲ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἰσχυρότερος μού ἐστιν, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς τὰ ὑποδήματα βαστάσαι· αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ πυρί	εγω μεν βαπτιζω υμας εν υδατι εις μετανοιαν ο δε οπισω μου ερχομενος ισχυροτερος μου εστιν ου ουκ ειμι ικανος τα υποδηματα βαστασαι αυτος υμας βαπτισει εν πνευματι αγιω και πυρι	εγω μεν βαπτιζω υμας εν υδατι εις μετανοιαν ο δε οπισω μου ερχομενος ισχυροτερος μου εστιν ου ουκ ειμι ικανος τα υποδηματα βαστασαι αυτος υμας βαπτισει εν πνευματι αγιω

Matthew 3:14 (NET)	Matthew 3:14 (KJV)
But John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”	But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ διεκώλυεν αὐτὸν λέγων· ἐγὼ χρείαν ἔχω ὑπὸ σοῦ βαπτισθῆναι, καὶ σὺ ἔρχῃ πρός με	ο δε ιωαννης διεκωλυεν αυτον λεγων εγω χρειαν εχω υπο σου βαπτισθηναι και συ ερχη προς με	ο δε ιωαννης διεκωλυεν αυτον λεγων εγω χρειαν εχω υπο σου βαπτισθηναι και συ ερχη προς με

Matthew 3:16 (NET)	Matthew 3:16 (KJV)
After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.	And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
βαπτισθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εὐθὺς ἀνέβη ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἠνεῴχθησαν οἱ οὐρανοί, καὶ εἶδεν [τὸ] πνεῦμα [τοῦ] θεοῦ καταβαῖνον ὡσεὶ περιστερὰν [καὶ] ἐρχόμενον ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν	και βαπτισθεις ο ιησους ανεβη ευθυς απο του υδατος και ιδου ανεωχθησαν αυτω οι ουρανοι και ειδεν το πνευμα του θεου καταβαινον ωσει περιστεραν και ερχομενον επ αυτον	και βαπτισθεις ο ιησους ανεβη ευθυς απο του υδατος και ιδου ανεωχθησαν αυτω οι ουρανοι και ειδεν το πνευμα του θεου καταβαινον ωσει περιστεραν και ερχομενον επ αυτον

Acts 10:47, 48 (NET)	Acts 10:47, 48 (KJV)
“No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”	Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
μήτι τὸ ὕδωρ δύναται κωλῦσαι τις τοῦ μὴ βαπτισθῆναι τούτους, οἵτινες τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἔλαβον ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς	μητι το υδωρ κωλυσαι δυναται τις του μη βαπτισθηναι τουτους οιτινες το πνευμα το αγιον ελαβον καθως και ημεις	μητι το υδωρ κωλυσαι δυναται τις του μη βαπτισθηναι τουτους οιτινες το πνευμα το αγιον ελαβον καθως και ημεις

So he gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
προσέταξεν δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ βαπτισθῆναι. τότε ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν ἐπιμεῖναι ἡμέρας τινάς	προσεταξεν τε αυτους βαπτισθηναι εν τω ονοματι του κυριου τοτε ηρωτησαν αυτον επιμειναι ημερας τινας	προσεταξεν τε αυτους βαπτισθηναι εν τω ονοματι του κυριου τοτε ηρωτησαν αυτον επιμειναι ημερας τινας

Acts 5:33, 34 (NET)	Acts 5:33, 34 (KJV)
Now when they heard this, they became furious and wanted to execute them.	When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες διεπρίοντο καὶ ἐβούλοντο ἀνελεῖν αὐτούς	οι δε ακουσαντες διεπριοντο και εβουλευοντο ανελειν αυτους	οι δε ακουοντες διεπριοντο και εβουλευοντο ανελειν αυτους

But a Pharisee whose name was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the council and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time.

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀναστὰς δέ τις ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ Φαρισαῖος ὀνόματι Γαμαλιήλ, νομοδιδάσκαλος τίμιος παντὶ τῷ λαῷ, ἐκέλευσεν ἔξω βραχὺ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ποιῆσαι	αναστας δε τις εν τω συνεδριω φαρισαιος ονοματι γαμαλιηλ νομοδιδασκαλος τιμιος παντι τω λαω εκελευσεν εξω βραχυ τι τους αποστολους ποιησαι	αναστας δε τις εν τω συνεδριω φαρισαιος ονοματι γαμαλιηλ νομοδιδασκαλος τιμιος παντι τω λαω εκελευσεν εξω βραχυ τι τους αποστολους ποιησαι

Acts 5:36-40 (NET)	Acts 5:36-40 (KJV)
For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and nothing came of it.	For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
πρὸ γὰρ τούτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ἀνέστη Θευδᾶς λέγων εἶναι τινα ἑαυτόν, ᾧ προσεκλίθη ἀνδρῶν ἀριθμὸς ὡς τετρακοσίων· ὃς ἀνῃρέθη, καὶ πάντες ὅσοι ἐπείθοντο αὐτῷ διελύθησαν καὶ ἐγένοντο εἰς οὐδέν	προ γαρ τουτων των ημερων ανεστη θευδας λεγων ειναι τινα εαυτον ω προσεκολληθη αριθμος ανδρων ωσει τετρακοσιων ος ανηρεθη και παντες οσοι επειθοντο αυτω διελυθησαν και εγενοντο εις ουδεν	προ γαρ τουτων των ημερων ανεστη θευδας λεγων ειναι τινα εαυτον ω προσεκληθη αριθμος ανδρων ωσει τετρακοσιων ος ανηρεθη και παντες οσοι επειθοντο αυτω διελυθησαν και εγενοντο εις ουδεν

After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census, and incited people to follow him in revolt. He too was killed, and all who followed him were scattered.

After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
μετὰ τοῦτον ἀνέστη Ἰούδας ὁ Γαλιλαῖος ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις τῆς ἀπογραφῆς καὶ ἀπέστησεν λαὸν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ· κακεῖνος ἀπώλετο καὶ πάντες ὅσοι ἐπείθοντο αὐτῷ διεσκορπίσθησαν	μετα τουτον ανεστη ιουδας ο γαλιλαιος εν ταις ημεραις της απογραφης και απεστησεν λαον ικανον οπισω αυτου κακεινος απωλετο και παντες οσοι επειθοντο αυτω διεσκορπισθησαν	μετα τουτον ανεστη ιουδας ο γαλιλαιος εν ταις ημεραις της απογραφης και απεστησεν λαον ικανον οπισω αυτου κακεινος απωλετο και παντες οσοι επειθοντο αυτω διεσκορπισθησαν

So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing,

And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ \|τὰ\| νῦν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπόστητε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων τούτων καὶ ἄφετε αὐτούς· ὅτι ἐὰν ᾖ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων ἡ βουλὴ αὕτη ἢ τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο, καταλυθήσεται	και τα νυν λεγω υμιν αποστητε απο των ανθρωπων τουτων και εασατε αυτους οτι εαν η εξ ανθρωπων η βουλη αυτη η το εργον τουτο καταλυθησεται	και τα νυν λεγω υμιν αποστητε απο των ανθρωπων τουτων και εασατε αυτους οτι εαν η εξ ανθρωπων η βουλη η το εργον τουτο καταλυθησεται

but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found fighting against God.” He convinced them,

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ δὲ ἐκ θεοῦ ἐστιν, οὐ δυνήσεσθε καταλῦσαι αὐτούς, μήποτε καὶ θεομάχοι εὑρεθῆτε. ἐπείσθησαν δὲ αὐτῷ	ει δε εκ θεου εστιν ου δυνασθε καταλυσαι αυτο μηποτε και θεομαχοι ευρεθητε	ει δε εκ θεου εστιν ου δυνασθε καταλυσαι αυτο μηποτε και θεομαχοι ευρεθητε

and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἐπείσθησαν δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ προσκαλεσάμενοι τοὺς ἀποστόλους δείραντες παρήγγειλαν μὴ λαλεῖν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Ἰησοῦ καὶ ἀπέλυσαν	επεισθησαν δε αυτω και προσκαλεσαμενοι τους αποστολους δειραντες παρηγγειλαν μη λαλειν επι τω ονοματι του ιησου και απελυσαν αυτους	επεισθησαν δε αυτω και προσκαλεσαμενοι τους αποστολους δειραντες παρηγγειλαν μη λαλειν επι τω ονοματι του ιησου και απελυσαν αυτους

Matthew 6:13 (NET)	Matthew 6:13 (KJV)
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.	And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ρῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ	και μη εισενεγκης ημας εις πειρασμον αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου οτι σου εστιν η βασιλεια και η δυναμις και η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην	και μη εισενεγκης ημας εις πειρασμον αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου οτι σου εστιν η βασιλεια και η δυναμις και η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 2

Back to To Make Holy, Part 7

Back to Saul and Barnabas, Part 3

Back to Peter’s First Gospel Proclamation Revisited, Part 2

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 3

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 5

Back to A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 4

Back to Psalm 22, Part 6

Back to David’s Forgiveness, Part 10

Back to Funeral, Part 3

Back to Psalm 22, Part 11

Back to Christianity, Part 5

Back to Christianity, Part 7

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 3

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 1

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 3

Back to Matthew 8:23-34

Back to Exploration, Part 1

^[1] Leviticus 12:3 (Tanakh)

^[2] Galatians 5:2 (NET)

^[3] James 3:3 (NET)

^[4] The Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ began this clause with ου (KJV: Did not we). The NET parallel Greek text did not.

^[5] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article ο preceding Peter. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[6] The NET parallel Greek and NA²⁸ had εἶπαν here (not translated in the NET), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπον (KJV: and said).

^[7] The NET parallel Greek and NA²⁸ had the article τοῦ preceding give. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[8] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτου (KJV: his) preceding witnesses. The NET parallel Greek and NA²⁸ did not.

^[9] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: also) preceding Holy. The NET parallel Greek and NA²⁸ did not.

^[10] Acts 2:38 (NET) Table

^[11] John 6:29 (NET) Table

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

^[13] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σου following works (KJV: thy works). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[14] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μου following faith (KJV: my faith). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[15] James 2:18b (NET)

^[16] Acts 2:41 (NET) Table

^[17] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had καὶ πυρί (NET: and fire) here. The Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[18] The Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had ιωαννης (John) here. The NET parallel Greek text did not.

^[19] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had δὲ (not translated in the NET) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: And).

^[20] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἠνεῴχθησαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ανεωχθησαν. The Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had αυτω (KJV: unto him) following opened. The NET parallel Greek text did not.

^[21] Acts 10:44 (NET)

^[22] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ο preceding Peter. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[23] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὡς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καθως (KJV: as well as).

^[24] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had του κυριου (KJV: the Lord).

^[25] Matthew 3:15 (NET)

^[26] Acts 5:32 (NET)

^[27] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐβούλοντο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εβουλευοντο (KJV: took counsel).

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

^[29] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἀνθρώπους here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αποστολους (KJV: apostles).

^[30] Acts 5:33b, 34 (NET)

^[31] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἀριθμὸς ὡς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had simply αριθμος.

^[32] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had προσεκλίθη here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had προσεκολληθη and the Byzantine Majority Text had προσεκληθη.

^[33] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ικανον following people (KJV: much people). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[34] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἄφετε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εασατε (KJV: let them alone)

^[35] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the plural masculine pronoun αὐτούς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular neuter pronoun αυτο (KJV: it).

^[36] Acts 5:40a (KJV)

^[37] Acts 5:39b (NET)

^[38] Ezekiel 36:27 (Tanakh) Table

^[39] Hebrews 10:1 (NET) Table

^[40] Ephesians 4:23, 24 (NET)

^[41] Glatians 5:22b-23a (NET) Table

^[42] Romans 13:10 (NET) I’m confident to make this substitution. Paul’s description of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a) is not a description of human emotion. It is at the very least a description of the fruit of the Spirit.

^[43] Romans 3:22a (NET) Table

^[44] Galatians 5:23b (NET)

^[45] Galatians 2:17a (NET)

The Gospel and the Religious Mind

An attempt to distinguish the mind of Christ from the ordinary religious mind.

Category Archives: A Shadow of the Good Things