To Make Holy, Part 9

The next form of ἁγιάζω I want to consider is found in Jesus’ prayer to his Father: Set them apart (ἁγίασον, a form of ἁγιάζω) in the truth; your word is truth.[1]  But I’m making a slow pilgrimage through his prayer because I believe I can know his holiness here.  In another essay I considered your word (τὸν λόγον σου) from the continuation of Jesus’ prayer (John 17:14, 15 NET):

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.  I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one.

Here I want to begin to consider world (κόσμος).  Jesus told a parable (Matthew 13:24b-30 NET):

“The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed[2] good seed in his field.  But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed[3] darnel among the wheat and went away.  When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the darnel also appeared.  So the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field?  Then where did the darnel come from?’  He said, ‘An enemy has done this!’  So the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather it?’ [Table]  But he said,[4] ‘No, since in gathering the darnel you may uproot the wheat along with it [Table].  Let both grow together until[5] the harvest.  At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Jesus explained the parable (Matthew 13:37b-39 NET):

The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.  The field is the world (κόσμος) and the good seed are the people of the kingdom.  The poisonous weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil.  The harvest is the end of age, and the reapers are angels [Table].

This is probably not exactly what Jesus meant when He prayed καὶ κόσμος ἐμίσησεν αὐτούς (and the world has hated them).  It does provide a sense of his worldview as background: This world is populated currently (assuming the end of the age has not yet come) by the people of the kingdom and the people of the evil one.  This is probably just about what Jesus’ audience heard:

people of the kingdom

people of the evil one

The descendants of Israel in good standing more or less… Everyone else, with the possible exception of those Gentiles who made some move toward Israel’s religion and/or the law of Moses…

But is that what Jesus meant?  You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires,[6] He said to his hearers in Israel.  It highlights the fact that the word translated people in people of the kingdom and people of the evil one is actually υἱοὶ (a plural form of υἱός) in Greek—children, sons.  So we tend to think:

children of the kingdom

children of the evil one

Those who believe in Jesus, good standing may or may not be essential… Everyone else, with the possible exception of children…

But who did Jesus address as children of the devilThen Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”[7]  Were the children of the kingdom (υἱοὶ τῆς βασιλείας) synonymous in Jesus’ mind with the sons of God (υἱοὶ θεοῦ)?  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.[8]

We tend to analyze Jesus’ sayings according to our own perceptions of the world.  Let’s add another perspective of his worldview: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.[9]  For the moment, it matters very little whether I believe this or not.  He does, and its his view of the world (κόσμος) I seek to understand.

Despite all He has taught me about being led by the Spirit, I am not 100% led by the Spirit 100% of the time.[10]  The slightest deviations from my routine can throw me out of kilter.  Other times it seems the monotony of my routine does it.  I appreciated the study on free will.[11]  It helped me realize how often I still have a knee-jerk reaction that God is punishing me or has forsaken or abandoned me when things aren’t going according to my will.  Recalling Jesus’ prayer—not what I will, but what you will[12]—has helped to alleviate some unnecessary concern.

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 the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.

I will ask the Father, Jesus said, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world (κόσμος) cannot accept because it does not see him or know himBut you know him because he resides with you and will be in you.[13]

This may be more like the world (κόσμος) that has hated Jesus’ disciples: the world (κόσμος) of the old man (τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον) who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires and cannot (οὐ δύναται, a form of δύναμαι) accept (λαβεῖν, a form of λαμβάνω) the Spirit of truthFor the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, Paul wrote, 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.[14]

And this may be more like the opposition Jesus had in mind in the world (κόσμος) of his parable: that opposition of the old human and the new, the flesh and the Spirit, within everyone being drawn to Jesus.  I’m taking my clue from the landowner’s response to his slaves’ question: Do you want us to go and gather it?

No, since in gathering the darnel you may uproot the wheat along with it.  Let both grow together until the harvest.

It would be easy enough for Jews to kill Gentiles or Christians to kill those who refuse to confess Christ if that is what Jesus had in mind.  It is much more difficult to uproot the sin in one’s own flesh, not to mention someone else’s flesh, without doing damage to the good seed, the new man (τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον), that Christ has sown.  Of course, at any given place at any given moment before all have been drawn to Jesus people somewhat to mostly led by the Holy Spirit might be confronted by people following their own flesh.

Jesus had elaborated some on this topic previously (John 15:18-27 NET):

“If the world (κόσμος) hates you, be aware that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world (κόσμου, a form of κόσμος), the world (κόσμος) would love you as its own.  However, because you do not belong to the world (κόσμου, a form of κόσμος), but I chose you out of the world (κόσμου, a form of κόσμος), for this reason the world (κόσμος) hates you.  Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too.  But they will do all these things to you[15] on account of my name because they do not know the one who sent me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty[16] of sin.  But they no longer have any excuse for their sin.  The one who hates me hates my Father too.  If I had not performed among them the miraculous deeds that no one else did,[17] they would not be guilty[18] of sin.  But now they have seen the deeds and have hated both me and my Father.  Now this happened to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without reason.’  When[19] the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me, and you also will testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

This has me thinking a little differently about a very familiar passage: For God so loved the world (κόσμον, another form of κόσμος), that He left it exactly as it is, might be the silent hope of the old human following after the flesh.  It is not what the Holy Spirit said through the inspired apostle: For God so loved the world, that hated Him, hated Jesus and his apostles, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.[20]

Jesus elaborated how the old human following after the flesh will be separated from the new human led by the Holy Spirit at the end of the [KJV: this] age (Matthew 13:40-43 NET):

As the poisonous weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age [Table].  The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers.  They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  The one who has ears[21] had better listen!

Paul wrote something similar to those who consider themselves God’s coworkers (συνεργοί, a form of συνεργός) in contrast to those who consider themselves God’s field (γεώργιον), God’s building (οἰκοδομή) (1 Corinthians 3:10-17 NET):

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid[22] a foundation, but someone else builds on it.  And each one must be careful how he builds.  For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ.[23]  If anyone builds on the[24] foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire.  And the fire will test what kind of work each has done.  If what someone has built[25] survives, he will receive[26] a reward.  If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss.  He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?  If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him.  For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are.

If someone’s work, as a coworker with God building God’s temple, is burned up (κατακαήσεται, a form of κατακαίω), he will suffer loss (ζημιωθήσεται, a form of ζημιόω).  While ζημιωθήσεται might have been translated he will be punished, the argument in the note (16) in the NET seems sound to me:

The translation “[will] be punished” is given here by BDAG 428 s.v. ζημιόω 2. But the next clause says “he will be delivered” and so “suffering loss” is more likely to refer to the destruction of the “work” by fire or the loss of the reward that could have been gained.

This reasoning should be carried forward into an understanding of the “destruction” Paul reiterated thereafter.  I assume the coworkers building with wood, hay or straw worked in their own strength according to the flesh at cross-purposes with the Holy Spirit.  When their work is tested by fire and burns up, they suffer loss.  God will destroy (φθερεῖ, a form of φθείρω) the one who destroys (φθείρει, a form of φθείρω), ruins, spoils, ravages, disfigures, damages, disables, seduces, corrupts or cheats God’s field, God’s buiding, God’s temple: he will suffer loss.  He himself will be saved (σωθήσεται, a form of σώζω), but only as through fire.

Peter addressed God’s field, God’s building, God’s temple somewhat less ambiguously (2 Peter 3:10-13 NET):

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.  Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must you be, conducting your lives in holiness and godliness [Table], while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God?  Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze!  But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides.

I’ll pick this up in another essay.

Note 67 in the NET claimed that Jesus quoted Psalm 35:19.  A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation to the Septuagint follows.

John 15:25b (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 35:19b (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 34:19b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐμίσησαν με δωρεάν οἱ μισοῦντές με δωρεὰν οἱ μισοῦντες με δωρεὰν
John 15:25b (NET) Psalm 34:19b (NETS) Psalm 34:19b (English Elpenor)
They hated me without reason those who hate me without cause who hate me for nothing

It is interesting to hear this as Jesus’ prayer:

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Psalm 35:19 (Tanakh) Psalm 35:19 (NET) Psalm 34:19 (NETS) Psalm 34:19 (English Elpenor)
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason gloat over me.  Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes. May those who unjustly are my enemies not be happy over me, those who hate me without cause and wink with the eyes, Let not them that are mine enemies without a cause rejoice against me; who hate me for nothing, and wink with their eyes.

Note 67 in the NET also claimed that Jesus quoted Psalm 69:4.  A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation to the Septuagint follows.

John 15:25b (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 69:4b (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 68:5b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐμίσησαν με δωρεάν οἱ μισοῦντές με δωρεάν οἱ μισοῦντές με δωρεάν
John 15:25b (NET) Psalm 68:5b (NETS) Psalm 68:5b (English Elpenor)
They hated me without reason those who hate me without cause They that hate me without a cause

If He did quote the Septuagint I find it interesting that He changed the present tense μισοῦντές (a form of μισέω), which was certainly true, to the aorist tense ἐμίσησαν (another form of μισέω).  “The aorist is said to be ‘simple occurrence’ or ‘summary occurrence,’ without regard for the amount of time taken to accomplish the action.  This tense is also often referred to as the ‘punctiliar’ tense.  ‘Punctiliar’ in this sense means ‘viewed as a single, collective whole,’ a ‘one-point-in-time’ action, although it may actually take place over a period of time.”[27]  Has Jesus used Greek grammar to prophesy another point-in-time when this hatred will no longer be true?

Gary Gagliardi on Christ’s Words — The Mysteries of Jesus’s Greek Revealed online took a different tack.  He heard Jesus quoting from the Hebrew of Psalm 109:3.  The Greek verb is quite different.

John 15:25b (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 109:3b (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 108:3b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐμίσησαν με δωρεάν καὶ ἐπολέμησάν με δωρεάν καὶ ἐπολέμησάν με δωρεάν
John 15:25b (NET) Psalm 108:3b (NETS) Psalm 108:3b (English Elpenor)
They hated me without reason and made war on me without cause and fought against me without a cause

Though ἐπολέμησάν (a form of πολεμέω) is different from ἐμίσησαν, it is in the aorist tense.  And I do take Mr. Gagliardi’s point to heart—“Jesus often seems much more light-hearted in the Greek.”  Jesus doesn’t seem as whiny about being hated or polemicized against as I have heard in my own mind reading any of these Psalms.

Note 64 in the NET claimed that Jesus quoted Daniel 3:6.  A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation to the Septuagint follows.

Matthew 13:42a (NET Parallel Greek) Daniel 3:6 (Septuagint BLB) Daniel 3:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
βαλοῦσιν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρός ἐμβληθήσεται εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρὸς τὴν καιομένην ἐμβληθήσεται εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρὸς τὴν καιομένην
Matthew 13:42a (NET) Daniel 3:6 (NETS) Daniel 3:6 (English Elpenor)
They will throw them into the fiery furnace will be thrown into the furnace blazing with fire he shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace

At first this seemed so startling I searched the Septuagint for another possibility.  But as I considered the entire story (Daniel 3:1-4:3) it began to seem like Jesus’ wink to those in the know.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:12) refused to honor the king’s edict out of respect for the one true living God:

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Daniel 3:17, 18 (Tanakh) Daniel 3:17, 18 (NET) Daniel 3:17, 18 (NETS) Daniel 3:17, 18 (English Elpenor)
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. for there is a god whom we serve, able to deliver us from the furnace blazing with fire, and out of your hands, O king, he will rescue us. For our God whom we serve is in the heavens, able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will rescue us from thy hands, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. But if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.” And if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, and we will not do obeisance to the image, which you have set up.” But if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the image which thou hast set up.

Their insolence had the intended effect.  Enraged, the king ordered that the fire be made seven times hotter.  It was so hot it killed the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into it, yet they were unharmed by its flames.

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Daniel 3:26, 27 (Tanakh) Daniel 3:26, 27 (NET) Daniel 3:93, 94 (NETS) Daniel 3:26, 27 (English Elpenor)
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither.  Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire.  He called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out!  Come here!”  Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire. Then Nabouchodonosor approached the door of the furnace blazing with fire and said, “Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago, slaves of the Most High God, come out and come here!”  And Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago came out from the middle of the fire. Then Nabuchodonosor drew near to the door of the burning fiery furnace, and said, Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, ye servants of the most high God, proceed forth, and come hither.  So Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, came forth out of the midst of the fire.
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Once the satraps, prefects, governors, and ministers of the king had gathered around, they saw that those men were physically unharmed by the fire.  The hair of their heads was not singed, nor were their trousers damaged.  Not even the smell of fire was to be found on them! And the satraps and the generals and the local rulers and the dynasts of the king gathered together and looked at the men, that the fire had not had any power over their body; the hair of their heads was not singed, and their trousers were not changed, and a smell of fire was not on them. Then were assembled the satraps, and captains, and heads of provinces, and the royal princes; and they saw the men, and perceived that the fire had not had power against their bodies, and the hair of their head was not burnt, and their coats were not scorched, nor was the smell of fire upon them.

Note 65 in the NET claimed that Jesus alluded to Daniel 12:3.  A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ allusion to the Septuagint follows.

Matthew 13:43a (NET Parallel Greek) Daniel 12:3 (Septuagint BLB) Daniel 12:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οἱ δίκαιοι ἐκλάμψουσιν ὡς ἥλιος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν οἱ συνιέντες ἐκλάμψουσιν ὡς λαμπρότης τοῦ στερεώματος καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν δικαίων τῶν πολλῶν ὡς οἱ ἀστέρες εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας καὶ ἔτι οἱ συνιέντες ἐκλάμψουσιν ὡς ἡ λαμπρότης τοῦ στερεώματος καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν δικαίων τῶν πολλῶν ὡς οἱ ἀστέρες εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας καὶ ἔτι
Matthew 13:43a (NET) Daniel 12:3 (NETS) Daniel 12:3 (English Elpenor)
the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father those who are intelligent will shine like the splendor of the firmament, and some of the many righteous, like the stars forever and anon. the wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and [some] of the many righteous as the stars for ever and ever.

Tables comparing Psalm 35:19; 69:4; 109:3; Daniel 3:6; 3:17; 3:18; 3:26; 3:27 and 12:3 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Psalm 35:19 (34:19); 69:4 (68:5); 109:3 (108:3); Daniel 3:6; 3:17; 3:18; 3:26 (3:93); 3:27 (3:94) and 12:3 the Greek of in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Matthew 13:24, 25; 13:30; 13:37; John 15:21, 22; 15:24; 15:26; Matthew 13:43; 1 Corinthians 3:10-12 and 3:14 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 35:19 (Tanakh) Psalm 35:19 (KJV) Psalm 35:19 (NET)
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason gloat over me.  Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes.
Psalm 35:19 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 34:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μὴ ἐπιχαρείησάν μοι οἱ ἐχθραίνοντές μοι ἀδίκως οἱ μισοῦντές με δωρεὰν καὶ διανεύοντες ὀφθαλμοῗς μὴ ἐπιχαρείησάν μοι οἱ ἐχθραίνοντές μοι ἀδίκως, οἱ μισοῦντες με δωρεὰν καὶ διανεύοντες ὀφθαλμοῖς
Psalm 34:19 (NETS) Psalm 34:19 (English Elpenor)
May those who unjustly are my enemies not be happy over me, those who hate me without cause and wink with the eyes, Let not them that are mine enemies without a cause rejoice against me; who hate me for nothing, and wink with their eyes.
Psalm 69:4 (Tanakh) Psalm 69:4 (KJV) Psalm 69:4 (NET)
They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head.  Those who want to destroy me, my enemies for no reason, outnumber me.  They make me repay what I did not steal.
Psalm 69:4 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 68:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπληθύνθησαν ὑπὲρ τὰς τρίχας τῆς κεφαλῆς μου οἱ μισοῦντές με δωρεάν ἐκραταιώθησαν οἱ ἐχθροί μου οἱ ἐκδιώκοντές με ἀδίκως ἃ οὐχ ἥρπασα τότε ἀπετίννυον ἐπληθύνθησαν ὑπὲρ τὰς τρίχας τῆς κεφαλῆς μου οἱ μισοῦντές με δωρεάν, ἐκραταιώθησαν οἱ ἐχθροί μου οἱ ἐκδιώκοντές με ἀδίκως· ἃ οὐχ ἥρπαζον, τότε ἀπετίννυον
Psalm 68:5 (NETS) Psalm 68:5 (English Elpenor)
They multiplied beyond the hairs of my head, those who hate me without cause; my enemies who persecuted me unjustly became strong.  What I did not seize I would then repay. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: my enemies that persecute me unrighteously are strengthened: then I restored that which I took not away.
Psalm 109:3 (Tanakh) Psalm 109:3 (KJV) Psalm 109:3 (NET)
They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. They surround me and say hateful things; they attack me for no reason.
Psalm 109:3 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 108:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ λόγοις μίσους ἐκύκλωσάν με καὶ ἐπολέμησάν με δωρεάν καὶ λόγοις μίσους ἐκύκλωσάν με καὶ ἐπολέμησάν με δωρεάν
Psalm 108:3 (NETS) Psalm 108:3 (English Elpenor)
And they surrounded me with words of hate and made war on me without cause. And they have compassed me with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
Daniel 3:6 (Tanakh) Daniel 3:6 (KJV) Daniel 3:6 (NET)
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Whoever does not bow down and pay homage will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire!”
Daniel 3:6 (Septuagint BLB) Daniel 3:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὃς ἂν μὴ πεσὼν προσκυνήσῃ αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐμβληθήσεται εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρὸς τὴν καιομένην καὶ ὃς ἂν μὴ πεσὼν προσκυνήσῃ, αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐμβληθήσεται εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρὸς τὴν καιομένην
Daniel 3:6 (NETS) Daniel 3:6 (English Elpenor)
And whoever does not fall down and do obeisance, at that very hour will be thrown into the furnace blazing with fire.” And whosoever shall not fall down and worship, in the same hour he shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:17 (Tanakh) Daniel 3:17 (KJV) Daniel 3:17 (NET)
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well.
Daniel 3:17 (Septuagint BLB) Daniel 3:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔστιν γὰρ θεός ᾧ ἡμεῗς λατρεύομεν δυνατὸς ἐξελέσθαι ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς καμίνου τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καιομένης καὶ ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν σου βασιλεῦ ῥύσεται ἡμᾶς ἔστι γὰρ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐν οὐρανοῖς, ᾧ ἡμεῖς λατρεύομεν, δυνατὸς ἐξελέσθαι ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς καμίνου τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καιομένης, καὶ ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν σου, βασιλεῦ, ρύσεται ἡμᾶς
Daniel 3:17 (NETS) Daniel 3:17 (English Elpenor)
for there is a god whom we serve, able to deliver us from the furnace blazing with fire, and out of your hands, O king, he will rescue us. For our God whom we serve is in the heavens, able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will rescue us from thy hands, O king.

Daniel 3:18 (Tanakh)

Daniel 3:18 (KJV)

Daniel 3:18 (NET)

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. But if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”

Daniel 3:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Daniel 3:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐὰν μή γνωστὸν ἔστω σοι βασιλεῦ ὅτι τοῗς θεοῗς σου οὐ λατρεύομεν καὶ τῇ εἰκόνι τῇ χρυσῇ ᾗ ἔστησας οὐ προσκυνοῦμεν καὶ ἐὰν μή, γνωστὸν ἔστω σοι, βασιλεῦ, ὅτι τοῖς θεοῖς σου οὐ λατρεύομεν καὶ τῇ εἰκόνι, ᾗ ἔστησας, οὐ προσκυνοῦμεν

Daniel 3:18 (NETS)

Daniel 3:18 (English Elpenor)

And if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, and we will not do obeisance to the image, which you have set up.” But if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the image which thou hast set up.
Daniel 3:26 (Tanakh) Daniel 3:26 (KJV) Daniel 3:26 (NET)
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither.  Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire.  He called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out!  Come here!”  Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire.
Daniel 3:26 (Septuagint BLB) Daniel 3:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τότε προσῆλθεν Ναβουχοδονοσορ πρὸς τὴν θύραν τῆς καμίνου τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καιομένης καὶ εἶπεν Σεδραχ Μισαχ Αβδεναγω οἱ δοῦλοι τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου ἐξέλθετε καὶ δεῦτε καὶ ἐξῆλθον Σεδραχ Μισαχ Αβδεναγω ἐκ μέσου τοῦ πυρός τότε προσῆλθε Ναβουχοδονόσορ πρὸς τὴν θύραν τῆς καμίνου τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καιομένης καὶ εἶπε· Σεδράχ, Μισάχ, ᾿Αβδεναγώ, οἱ δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ῾Υψίστου, ἐξέλθετε καὶ δεῦτε. καὶ ἐξῆλθον Σεδράχ, Μισάχ, ᾿Αβδεναγὼ ἐκ μέσου τοῦ πυρός
Daniel 3:93 (NETS) Daniel 3:26 (English Elpenor)
Then Nabouchodonosor approached the door of the furnace blazing with fire and said, “Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago, slaves of the Most High God, come out and come here!”  And Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago came out from the middle of the fire. Then Nabuchodonosor drew near to the door of the burning fiery furnace, and said, Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, ye servants of the most high God, proceed forth, and come hither.  So Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, came forth out of the midst of the fire.
Daniel 3:27 (Tanakh) Daniel 3:27 (KJV) Daniel 3:27 (NET)
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Once the satraps, prefects, governors, and ministers of the king had gathered around, they saw that those men were physically unharmed by the fire.  The hair of their heads was not singed, nor were their trousers damaged.  Not even the smell of fire was to be found on them!
Daniel 3:27 (Septuagint BLB) Daniel 3:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ συνάγονται οἱ σατράπαι καὶ οἱ στρατηγοὶ καὶ οἱ τοπάρχαι καὶ οἱ δυνάσται τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἐθεώρουν τοὺς ἄνδρας ὅτι οὐκ ἐκυρίευσεν τὸ πῦρ τοῦ σώματος αὐτῶν καὶ ἡ θρὶξ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐφλογίσθη καὶ τὰ σαράβαρα αὐτῶν οὐκ ἠλλοιώθη καὶ ὀσμὴ πυρὸς οὐκ ἦν ἐν αὐτοῗς καὶ συνάγονται οἱ σατράπαι καὶ οἱ στρατηγοὶ καὶ οἱ τοπάρχαι καὶ οἱ δυνάσται τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἐθεώρουν τοὺς ἄνδρας ὅτι οὐκ ἐκυρίευσε τὸ πῦρ τοῦ σώματος αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ θρὶξ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐφλογίσθη, καὶ τὰ σαράβαρα αὐτῶν οὐκ ἠλλοιώθη, καὶ ὀσμὴ πυρὸς οὐκ ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς
Daniel 3:94 (NETS) Daniel 3:27 (English Elpenor)
And the satraps and the generals and the local rulers and the dynasts of the king gathered together and looked at the men, that the fire had not had any power over their body; the hair of their heads was not singed, and their trousers were not changed, and a smell of fire was not on them. Then were assembled the satraps, and captains, and heads of provinces, and the royal princes; and they saw the men, and perceived that the fire had not had power against their bodies, and the hair of their head was not burnt, and their coats were not scorched, nor was the smell of fire upon them.
Daniel 12:3 (Tanakh) Daniel 12:3 (KJV) Daniel 12:3 (NET)
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse.  And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.
Daniel 12:3 (Septuagint BLB) Daniel 12:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οἱ συνιέντες ἐκλάμψουσιν ὡς ἡ λαμπρότης τοῦ στερεώματος καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν δικαίων τῶν πολλῶν ὡς οἱ ἀστέρες εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας καὶ ἔτι καὶ οἱ συνιέντες ἐκλάμψουσιν ὡς ἡ λαμπρότης τοῦ στερεώματος καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν δικαίων τῶν πολλῶν ὡς οἱ ἀστέρες εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας καὶ ἔτι
Daniel 12:3 (NETS) Daniel 12:3 (English Elpenor)
And those who are intelligent will shine like the splendor of the firmament, and some of the many righteous, like the stars forever and anon. And the wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and [some] of the many righteous as the stars for ever and ever.
Matthew 13:24, 25 (NET) Matthew 13:24, 25 (KJV)
He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
῎Αλλην παραβολὴν παρέθηκεν αὐτοῖς λέγων· ὡμοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ σπείραντι καλὸν σπέρμα ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ αὐτοῦ αλλην παραβολην παρεθηκεν αυτοις λεγων ωμοιωθη η βασιλεια των ουρανων ανθρωπω σπειροντι καλον σπερμα εν τω αγρω αυτου αλλην παραβολην παρεθηκεν αυτοις λεγων ωμοιωθη η βασιλεια των ουρανων ανθρωπω σπειροντι καλον σπερμα εν τω αγρω αυτου
But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat and went away. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἐν δὲ τῷ καθεύδειν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἦλθεν αὐτοῦ ὁ ἐχθρὸς καὶ ἐπέσπειρεν ζιζάνια ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σίτου καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εν δε τω καθευδειν τους ανθρωπους ηλθεν αυτου ο εχθρος και εσπειρεν ζιζανια ανα μεσον του σιτου και απηλθεν εν δε τω καθευδειν τους ανθρωπους ηλθεν αυτου ο εχθρος και εσπειρεν ζιζανια ανα μεσον του σιτου και απηλθεν
Matthew 13:30 (NET) Matthew 13:30 (KJV)
Let both grow together until the harvest.  At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.”’” Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἄφετε συναυξάνεσθαι ἀμφότερα ἕως τοῦ θερισμοῦ, καὶ ἐν καιρῷ τοῦ θερισμοῦ ἐρῶ τοῖς θερισταῖς· συλλέξατε πρῶτον τὰ ζιζάνια καὶ δήσατε αὐτὰ |εἰς| δέσμας πρὸς τὸ κατακαῦσαι αὐτά, τὸν δὲ σῖτον |συναγάγετε| εἰς τὴν ἀποθήκην μου αφετε συναυξανεσθαι αμφοτερα μεχρι του θερισμου και εν τω καιρω του θερισμου ερω τοις θερισταις συλλεξατε πρωτον τα ζιζανια και δησατε αυτα εις δεσμας προς το κατακαυσαι αυτα τον δε σιτον συναγαγετε εις την αποθηκην μου αφετε συναυξανεσθαι αμφοτερα μεχρι του θερισμου και εν καιρω του θερισμου ερω τοις θερισταις συλλεξατε πρωτον τα ζιζανια και δησατε αυτα εις δεσμας προς το κατακαυσαι αυτα τον δε σιτον συναγαγετε εις την αποθηκην μου
Matthew 13:37 (NET) Matthew 13:37 (KJV)
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· ὁ σπείρων τὸ καλὸν σπέρμα ἐστὶν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις ο σπειρων το καλον σπερμα εστιν ο υιος του ανθρωπου ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις ο σπειρων το καλον σπερμα εστιν ο υιος του ανθρωπου
John 15:21, 22 (NET) John 15:21, 22 (KJV)
But they will do all these things to you on account of my name because they do not know the one who sent me. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλὰ ταῦτα πάντα ποιήσουσιν εἰς ὑμᾶς διὰ τὸ ὄνομα μου, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδασιν τὸν πέμψαντα με αλλα ταυτα παντα ποιησουσιν υμιν δια το ονομα μου οτι ουκ οιδασιν τον πεμψαντα με αλλα ταυτα παντα ποιησουσιν υμιν δια το ονομα μου οτι ουκ οιδασιν τον πεμψαντα με
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin.  But they no longer have any excuse for their sin. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ μὴ ἦλθον καὶ ἐλάλησα αὐτοῖς, ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ εἴχοσαν· νῦν δὲ πρόφασιν οὐκ ἔχουσιν περὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν ει μη ηλθον και ελαλησα αυτοις αμαρτιαν ουκ ειχον νυν δε προφασιν ουκ εχουσιν περι της αμαρτιας αυτων ει μη ηλθον και ελαλησα αυτοις αμαρτιαν ουκ ειχον νυν δε προφασιν ουκ εχουσιν περι της αμαρτιας αυτων
John 15:24 (NET) John 15:24 (KJV)
If I had not performed among them the miraculous deeds that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin.  But now they have seen the deeds and have hated both me and my Father. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ τὰ ἔργα μὴ ἐποίησα ἐν αὐτοῖς ἃ οὐδεὶς ἄλλος ἐποίησεν, ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ εἴχοσαν· νῦν δὲ καὶ ἑωράκασιν καὶ μεμισήκασιν καὶ ἐμὲ καὶ τὸν πατέρα μου. ει τα εργα μη εποιησα εν αυτοις α ουδεις αλλος πεποιηκεν αμαρτιαν ουκ ειχον νυν δε και εωρακασιν και μεμισηκασιν και εμε και τον πατερα μου ει τα εργα μη εποιησα εν αυτοις α ουδεις αλλος πεποιηκεν αμαρτιαν ουκ ειχον νυν δε και εωρακασιν και μεμισηκασιν και εμε και τον πατερα μου
John 15:26 (NET) John 15:26 (KJV)
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me, But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Ὅταν ἔλθῃ ὁ παράκλητος ὃν ἐγὼ πέμψω ὑμῖν παρὰ τοῦ πατρός, τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας ὃ παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκπορεύεται, ἐκεῖνος μαρτυρήσει περὶ ἐμοῦ οταν δε ελθη ο παρακλητος ον εγω πεμψω υμιν παρα του πατρος το πνευμα της αληθειας ο παρα του πατρος εκπορευεται εκεινος μαρτυρησει περι εμου οταν δε ελθη ο παρακλητος ον εγω πεμψω υμιν παρα του πατρος το πνευμα της αληθειας ο παρα του πατρος εκπορευεται εκεινος μαρτυρησει περι εμου

Matthew 13:43 (NET)

Matthew 13:43 (KJV)

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  The one who has ears had better listen! Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

τότε οἱ δίκαιοι ἐκλάμψουσιν ὡς ὁ ἥλιος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν. ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκουέτω τοτε οι δικαιοι εκλαμψουσιν ως ο ηλιος εν τη βασιλεια του πατρος αυτων ο εχων ωτα ακουειν ακουετω τοτε οι δικαιοι εκλαμψουσιν ως ο ηλιος εν τη βασιλεια του πατρος αυτων ο εχων ωτα ακουειν ακουετω
1 Corinthians 3:10-12 (NET) 1 Corinthians 3:10-12 (KJV)
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it.  And each one must be careful how he builds. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.  But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Κατὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν δοθεῖσαν μοι ὡς σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον ἔθηκα, ἄλλος δὲ ἐποικοδομεῖ. ἕκαστος δὲ βλεπέτω πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ κατα την χαριν του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι ως σοφος αρχιτεκτων θεμελιον τεθεικα αλλος δε εποικοδομει εκαστος δε βλεπετω πως εποικοδομει κατα την χαριν του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι ως σοφος αρχιτεκτων θεμελιον τεθεικα αλλος δε εποικοδομει εκαστος δε βλεπετω πως εποικοδομει
For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
θεμέλιον γὰρ ἄλλον οὐδεὶς δύναται θεῖναι παρὰ τὸν κείμενον, ὅς ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός θεμελιον γαρ αλλον ουδεις δυναται θειναι παρα τον κειμενον ος εστιν ιησους ο χριστος θεμελιον γαρ αλλον ουδεις δυναται θειναι παρα τον κειμενον ος εστιν ιησους χριστος
If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον |χρυσόν, ἄργυρον|, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην, ει δε τις εποικοδομει επι τον θεμελιον τουτον χρυσον αργυρον λιθους τιμιους ξυλα χορτον καλαμην ει δε τις εποικοδομει επι τον θεμελιον τουτον χρυσον αργυρον λιθους τιμιους ξυλα χορτον καλαμην
1 Corinthians 3:14 (NET) 1 Corinthians 3:14 (KJV)
If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον μενεῖ ὃ ἐποικοδόμησεν, μισθὸν λήμψεται ει τινος το εργον μενει ο επωκοδομησεν μισθον ληψεται ει τινος το εργον μενει ο εποικοδομησεν μισθον ληψεται

 

[1] John 17:17 (NET)

[2] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had σπείραντι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σπειροντι (KJV: which sowed).

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

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

[5] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἕως here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεχρι.

[6] John 8:44a (NET) Table

[7] John 8:31, 32 (NET)

[8] Romans 8:14 (NET)

[9] John 12:32 (NET)

[10] I’m thinking here of live by the Spirit and you will not carry out (τελέσητε, a form of τελέω) the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).  Apart from my petty outbursts of anger, I recall a more troubling lapse.  It began as a thought, then I spoke it aloud: “It may be time to take out Antifa and BLM while they’re still bringing ball bats to a gunfight.”  They were idle words.  I didn’t follow through to carry out the desire to shoot members of Antifa and BLM with a gun I don’t even have.  And if that’s the best I can hope for this side of the fire, I’ll take it!  But I still want to be more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled than that.

[11] Who Am I? Part 11 ; Who Am I? Part 12 ; Who Am I? Part 13

[12] Matthew 26:39b (NET)

[13] John 14:16, 17 (NET) Table

[14] Galatians 5:17 (NET) Table

[15] The NET parallel Geek text and NA28 had εἰς ὑμᾶς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υμιν (KJV: unto them).

[16] The NET parallel Geek text and NA28 had εἴχοσαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειχον (KJV: they hadhad).

[17] The NET parallel Geek text and NA28 had ἐποίησεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πεποιηκεν.

[18] The NET parallel Geek text and NA28 had εἴχοσαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειχον (KJV: had).

[19] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: But) here.  The NET parallel Geek text and NA28 did not.

[20] John 3:16 (KJV) Table

[21] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ακουειν (KJV: to hear) following ears.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[22] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἔθηκα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τεθεικα (KJV: I have laid).

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

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

[25] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐποικοδόμησεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had επωκοδομησεν (KJV: he hath built).

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

[27] Verb Tenses, Greek Verbs (Shorter Definitions), Resources for Learning New Testament Greek

To Make Holy, Part 8

The next form of ἁγιάζω I want to consider is found in Jesus’ prayer to his Father: Set them apart (ἁγίασον, a form of ἁγιάζω) in the truth; your word is truth.[1]  But I’m making a slow pilgrimage through his prayer because I believe I can know his holiness here.  Jesus prayer continued (John 17:14, 15 NET):

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.  I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one.

The Greek words translated your word were τὸν λόγον σου.  Jesus had spoken to a Samaritan woman (John 4:39-42 NET):

Now many Samaritans[2] from that town believed in him because of the report of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I ever[3] did.”  So when the Samaritans[4] came to him, they began asking him to stay with them.  He stayed there two days, and because of his word many more believed.  They said to the woman, “No longer do we believe because of your words, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this one really is the Savior of the world.”[5]

The Greek words translated the report of the woman were τὸν λόγον τῆς γυναικὸς.  So I have the word of the woman to contrast with the word of Jesus’ father: Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did, the woman told her friends.  Surely he can’t be the Messiah ( χριστός), can he?[6]  Her friends believed her enough to obey her: So[7] they left the town and began coming to him.[8]  I should back up to point out that the woman’s word which her friends obeyed was a relatively tentative presentation of Jesus’ word (John 4:25, 26 NET):

The woman said to [Jesus], “I know that Messiah[9] is coming” (the one called Christ); “whenever he comes, he will tell us everything.”[10]  Jesus said to her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”

The woman’s friends also demonstrated their faith in her word, a relatively tentative presentation of Jesus’ word, by asking Jesus to stay with them.  The Greek word translated to stay was μεῖναι (a form of μένω).  Other forms of μένω occur in Jesus’ teaching to his disciples (John 15:4 NET):

Remain (μείνατε, another form of μένω) in me, and I will remain in you.  Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains[11] (μένῃ, another form of μένω) in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain[12] (μένητε, another form of μένω) in me.

Jesus stayed (ἔμεινεν, another form of μένω) there two days, and because of his word (τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ) many more believed.  After two days these Samaritans had acquired two important concepts: 1) They had learned to value Jesus’ word above that of the woman.  This is my daily prayer: “Please let any who read these essays hear your voice instead of mine.”  And, 2) they knew Jesus as the Savior of the world (ο σωτηρ του κοσμου).

These Samaritans didn’t know Jesus as a conqueror who would overthrow the Romans and bring the whole world into submission to the descendants of Israel.  They knew Him as the Savior of the world at a time when his own hand-picked disciples were chomping at the bit for Him to get down to the serious messianic business of overthrowing the Romans and restoring the kingdom to Israel.  And lest I suppose that these were just ignorant Samaritans, their knowledge agreed with the the word of God through Jesus and a much more spiritually mature John, one of the original twelve disciples: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him (σωθῇκόσμος δι᾿ αὐτοῦ).[13]

Here is the next occurrence of λόγον in John’s Gospel narrative (John 5:24-30 NET):

“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 (κρίσιν, a form of κρίσις), but has crossed over from death to life.  I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming—and is now here—when the dead will hear[14] the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.  For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself, and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment (κρίσιν, a form of κρίσις), because he is the Son of Man.

“Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear[15] his voice and will come out—the ones who have done what is good (ἀγαθὰ, a form of ἀγαθός) to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil (φαῦλα, a form of φαῦλος) to the resurrection resulting in condemnation (κρίσεως, another form of κρίσις).  I can do nothing on my own initiative.  Just as I hear, I judge (κρίνω), and my judgment (κρίσις) is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one[16] who sent me.

The Greek words translated my message were τὸν λόγον μου.  I assume that the dead, in the dead (νεκροὶ, a form of νεκρός) will hear the voice of the Son of God, referred to something more like what Paul meant when he wrote to believers in Ephesus: you were dead (νεκροὺς, another form of νεκρός) in your offenses and sins[17] (Ephesians 2:1-10).  And all who are in the tombs will hear his voice seems fairly obvious in its reference to something more like Matthew’s Gospel account (Matthew 27:50-53).  The implication is consistent that to hear Jesus’ word is a divinely facilitated activity: So then faith comes by hearing (ἀκοῆς, a form of ἀκοή), and hearing (ἀκοὴ) by the word (ρήματος, a form of ῥῆμα) of God.[18]

The human part in hearing is to sit and listen, or read and study as the case may be, rather than to hold one’s ears and flee in terror.  And if one is as slow and stupid as I have been, hearing may take longer relative to another less prone to argument.  One of my best teachers in college had been a mediocre student.  It made him very aware as a teacher of the information that had confused him as a student.

The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God who has been granted authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of ManI can do nothing on my own initiative, the Judge proclaimed.  Just as I hear (ἀκούω), I judge (κρίνω), and my judgment (κρίσις) is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent menotto condemn (κρίνῃ, a form of κρίνω) the world, but that the world should be saved through [me].  The words are important.

The Judge whom God sent that the world should be saved through him continued (John 5:36-40 NET):

I have a testimony greater than that from John (John 5:33-35; 1:6-8; 1:19-37; 3:22-36).  For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete—the deeds I[19] am now doing—testify about me that the Father has sent me.  And the Father who sent me has himself[20] testified about me.  You people have never heard (ἀκηκόατε, a form of ἀκούω) his voice nor seen his form at any time, nor do you have his word residing in you, because you do not believe the one whom he sent.  You study[21] the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον), and it is these same scriptures that testify about me, but you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.

The Greek words translated his word were τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ, and residing was μενοντα (another form of μένω).  When I studied the Bible searching for rules to obey I wasn’t consciously seeking to knowthe only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] sent,[22] αἰώνιος ζωὴ, eternal life according to Jesus in prayer to his Father.   So despite my best efforts to curry favor with God by finding more and more rules to (dis-)obey, I did begin to know Him.  And it was a little frustrating to me that He showed mercy far too often rather than meting out the punishment the law required.

Why don’t you understand what I am saying? Jesus continued (John 8:43-47 NET):

It is because you cannot accept (ἀκούειν, another form of ἀκούω) my teaching.  You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him.  Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies [Table].  But because I am telling you the truth, you do not believe me.  Who among you can prove me guilty of any sin?  If[23] I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?  The one who belongs to God listens and responds to (ἀκούει, another form of ἀκούω) God’s words (ρήματα, another form of ῥῆμα).  You don’t listen and respond (ἀκούετε, another form of ἀκούω), because you don’t belong to God.”

The Greek words translated my teaching were τὸν λόγον τὸν ἐμόν.  Jesus spoke to those Judeans who had believed him, but this truth applies to all human beings not yet born from above.  And I would encourage those born from above to take it to heart as well.  I’ve heard some claim freedom from all residue of sin and the old nature, but it’s not my experience.  I agree with Paul that when I want to do good (καλόν, a form of καλός), evil (κακὸν, a form of κακός) is present with me.[24]  Evil doesn’t always win out, in the sense that it is what comes out of me, yet it is always an option but for the grace of God, the fruit of his Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-23).

I am not trying to get (ζητῶ, a form of ζητέω) praise for myself, Jesus continued (John 8:50-56 NET).

There is one who demands (ζητῶν, another form of ζητέω) it, and he also judges (κρίνων, a form of κρίνω).  I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys (τηρήσῃ, a form of τηρέω) my teaching,[25] he will never see death.”[26]

Then[27] the Judeans responded, “Now we know you’re possessed by a demon!  Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, ‘If anyone obeys (τηρήσῃ, a form of τηρέω) my teaching, he will never experience death.’[28]  You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you?  And the prophets died too!  Who do you claim to be?” [Table]  Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless.  The one who glorifies[29] me is my Father, about whom you people say, ‘He is our[30] God.’  Yet you do not know him, but I know him.  If[31] I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you.[32]  But[33] I do know him, and I obey (τηρῶ, another form of τηρέω) his teaching.  Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.”

The Greek words translated my teaching were τὸν ἐμὸν λόγον and τὸν λόγον μου respectively, and his teaching was τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ.  Jesus continued (John 14:23-26 NET):

“If anyone loves me, he will obey (τηρήσει, another form of τηρέω) my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him [Table].  The person who does not love me does not obey (τηρεῖ, another form of τηρέω) my words.  And the word you hear (ἀκούετε, another form of ἀκούω) is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

“I have spoken these things while staying (μένων, another form of μένω) with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you [Table].

The Greek words translated my word were τὸν λόγον μου and my words were τοὺς λόγους μου.  When Jesus speaks, however, the word ( λόγος) you hear is not mine (οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸς), but the Father’s who sent me.  He continued (John 15:1-4 NET):

I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.  He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me.  He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit.  You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.

I think it’s prudent here to highlight all of the meanings of the Greek word translated takes away (αἴρει, a form of αἴρω): “to lift up, take up, pick up; to look up (in prayer); to move upward, raise vertically; to raise to a higher level; to take up and carry along; to lift up and carry away, remove; to take away, remove (no suggestion of lifting up); to bear with, endure; to carry, transport; to bear and uphold; to be dressed as an office-bearer; to cause to emerge.”  If one fears punishment for a failure to do good works then takes away may be an appropriate understanding of αἴρει.  And I have accepted this understanding uncritically until this very moment.

I plan to do a thorough word study of forms of αἴρω in another essay.  Here I’ll propose that if one has begun to know the love of God through Jesus Christ, There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment (κόλασιν, a form of κόλασις).[34]  In that light I’m willing to consider some of the other meanings of αἴρει that may describe the Father’s activity in my life better: “to lift up, take up, pick up; to move upward, raise vertically; to raise to a higher level; to take up and carry along; to bear with, endure; to carry, transport; to bear and uphold; to cause to emerge.”

The Greek words translated the word were τὸν λόγον.  The Greek word translated He prunes was καθαίρει (a form of καθαίρω), which means: “to make clean, purge, cleanse; to remove impurities and things undesirable; to sift, winnow (grain).”  It is essentially the verb form of the noun translated clean (καθαροί, a form of καθαρός), which means: “clear; pure, containing no foreign mixture (e.g., pure gold); morally pure, religiously pure; clean, free from dirt; released from the power of (an oath); free from guilt, innocent.”

Remember what I told you, Jesus continued, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  If they obeyed (ἐτήρησαν, another form of τηρέω) my word, they will obey (τηρήσουσιν, another form of τηρέω) yours too.[35]  The Greek words translated my word were τὸν λόγον μου.

And finally Jesus prayed (John 17:6-8 NET):

I have revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world.  They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed (τετήρηκαν, another form of τηρέω) your word [Table].  Now they understand that everything you have given me comes[36] from you, because I have given them the words you have given[37] me.  They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

The Greek words translated your word were τὸν λόγον σου.  And with this I’ve completed a fairly thorough examination of what Jesus meant by I have given them your word[38] (ἐγὼ δέδωκα αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον σου) according to John’s Gospel narrative.  I want to return to examine other words in John 17:14 and 15 in more detail in other essays.

Tables comparing John 4:39, 40; 4:42; 4:30; 4:25; 15:4; 5:25; 5:28; 5:30; 5:36, 37; 8:46; 8:51, 52; 8:54, 55 and 17:7, 8 in the NET and KJV follow.

John 4:39, 40 (NET) John 4:39, 40 (KJV)
Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the report of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐκ δὲ τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης πολλοὶ ἐπίστευσαν εἰς αὐτὸν τῶν Σαμαριτῶν διὰ τὸν λόγον τῆς γυναικὸς μαρτυρούσης ὅτι εἶπεν μοι πάντα ἐποίησα εκ δε της πολεως εκεινης πολλοι επιστευσαν εις αυτον των σαμαρειτων δια τον λογον της γυναικος μαρτυρουσης οτι ειπεν μοι παντα οσα εποιησα εκ δε της πολεως εκεινης πολλοι επιστευσαν εις αυτον των σαμαρειτων δια τον λογον της γυναικος μαρτυρουσης οτι ειπεν μοι παντα οσα εποιησα
So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them.  He stayed there two days, So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ὡς οὖν ἦλθον πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ Σαμαρῖται, ἠρώτων αὐτὸν μεῖναι παρ᾿ αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἔμεινεν ἐκεῖ δύο ἡμέρας ως ουν ηλθον προς αυτον οι σαμαρειται ηρωτων αυτον μειναι παρ αυτοις και εμεινεν εκει δυο ημερας ως ουν ηλθον προς αυτον οι σαμαρειται ηρωτων αυτον μειναι παρ αυτοις και εμεινεν εκει δυο ημερας
John 4:42 (NET) John 4:42 (KJV)
They said to the woman, “No longer do we believe because of your words, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this one really is the Savior of the world.” And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
τῇ τε γυναικὶ ἔλεγον |ὅτι| οὐκέτι διὰ τὴν σὴν λαλιὰν πιστεύομεν, αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκηκόαμεν καὶ οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτος ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου τη τε γυναικι ελεγον οτι ουκετι δια την σην λαλιαν πιστευομεν αυτοι γαρ ακηκοαμεν και οιδαμεν οτι ουτος εστιν αληθως ο σωτηρ του κοσμου ο χριστος τη τε γυναικι ελεγον οτι ουκετι δια την σην λαλιαν πιστευομεν αυτοι γαρ ακηκοαμεν και οιδαμεν οτι ουτος εστιν αληθως ο σωτηρ του κοσμου ο χριστος
John 4:30 (NET) John 4:30 (KJV)
So they left the town and began coming to him. Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἐξῆλθον ἐκ τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτόν εξηλθον ουν εκ της πολεως και ηρχοντο προς αυτον εξηλθον εκ της πολεως και ηρχοντο προς αυτον
John 4:25 (NET) John 4:25 (KJV)
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ); “whenever he comes, he will tell us everything.” The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
λέγει αὐτῷ ἡ γυνή· οἶδα ὅτι Μεσσίας ἔρχεται (ὁ λεγόμενος χριστός)· ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐκεῖνος, ἀναγγελεῖ ἡμῖν ἅπαντα λεγει αυτω η γυνη οιδα οτι μεσσιας ερχεται ο λεγομενος χριστος οταν ελθη εκεινος αναγγελει ημιν παντα λεγει αυτω η γυνη οιδα οτι μεσιας ερχεται ο λεγομενος χριστος οταν ελθη εκεινος αναγγελει ημιν παντα
John 15:4 (NET) John 15:4 (KJV)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
μείνατε ἐν ἐμοί, καγὼ ἐν ὑμῖν. καθὼς τὸ κλῆμα οὐ δύναται καρπὸν φέρειν ἀφ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ ἐὰν μὴ μένῃ ἐν τῇ ἀμπέλῳ, οὕτως οὐδὲ ὑμεῖς ἐὰν μὴ ἐν ἐμοὶ μένητε μεινατε εν εμοι καγω εν υμιν καθως το κλημα ου δυναται καρπον φερειν αφ εαυτου εαν μη μεινη εν τη αμπελω ουτως ουδε υμεις εαν μη εν εμοι μεινητε μεινατε εν εμοι καγω εν υμιν καθως το κλημα ου δυναται καρπον φερειν αφ εαυτου εαν μη μεινη εν τη αμπελω ουτως ουδε υμεις εαν μη εν εμοι μεινητε
John 5:25 (NET) John 5:25 (KJV)
I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming—and is now here—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ νῦν ἐστιν ὅτε οἱ νεκροὶ ἀκούσουσιν τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ οἱ ἀκούσαντες ζήσουσιν αμην αμην λεγω υμιν οτι ερχεται ωρα και νυν εστιν οτε οι νεκροι ακουσονται της φωνης του υιου του θεου και οι ακουσαντες ζησονται αμην αμην λεγω υμιν οτι ερχεται ωρα και νυν εστιν οτε οι νεκροι ακουσονται της φωνης του υιου του θεου και οι ακουσαντες ζησονται
John 5:28 (NET) John 5:28 (KJV)
“Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
μὴ θαυμάζετε τοῦτο, ὅτι ἔρχεται ὥρα ἐν ᾗ πάντες οἱ ἐν τοῖς μνημείοις ἀκούσουσιν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ μη θαυμαζετε τουτο οτι ερχεται ωρα εν η παντες οι εν τοις μνημειοις ακουσονται της φωνης αυτου μη θαυμαζετε τουτο οτι ερχεται ωρα εν η παντες οι εν τοις μνημειοις ακουσονται της φωνης αυτου
John 5:30 (NET) John 5:30 (KJV)
I can do nothing on my own initiative.  Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐ δύναμαι ἐγὼ ποιεῖν ἀπ᾿ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐδέν· καθὼς ἀκούω κρίνω, καὶ ἡ κρίσις ἡ ἐμὴ δικαία ἐστίν, ὅτι οὐ ζητῶ τὸ θέλημα τὸ ἐμὸν ἀλλὰ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πέμψαντος με ου δυναμαι εγω ποιειν απ εμαυτου ουδεν καθως ακουω κρινω και η κρισις η εμη δικαια εστιν οτι ου ζητω το θελημα το εμον αλλα το θελημα του πεμψαντος με πατρος ου δυναμαι εγω ποιειν απ εμαυτου ουδεν καθως ακουω κρινω και η κρισις η εμη δικαια εστιν οτι ου ζητω το θελημα το εμον αλλα το θελημα του πεμψαντος με πατρος
John 5:36, 37 (NET) John 5:36, 37 (KJV)
I have a testimony greater than that from John.  For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete—the deeds I am now doing—testify about me that the Father has sent me. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐγὼ δὲ ἔχω τὴν μαρτυρίαν μείζω τοῦ Ἰωάννου· τὰ γὰρ ἔργα ἃ δέδωκεν μοι ὁ πατὴρ ἵνα τελειώσω αὐτά, αὐτὰ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιῶ μαρτυρεῖ περὶ ἐμοῦ ὅτι ὁ πατήρ με ἀπέσταλκεν εγω δε εχω την μαρτυριαν μειζω του ιωαννου τα γαρ εργα α εδωκεν μοι ο πατηρ ινα τελειωσω αυτα αυτα τα εργα α εγω ποιω μαρτυρει περι εμου οτι ο πατηρ με απεσταλκεν εγω δε εχω την μαρτυριαν μειζω του ιωαννου τα γαρ εργα α εδωκεν μοι ο πατηρ ινα τελειωσω αυτα αυτα τα εργα α εγω ποιω μαρτυρει περι εμου οτι ο πατηρ με απεσταλκεν
And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me.  You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time, And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me.  Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ὁ πέμψας με πατὴρ ἐκεῖνος μεμαρτύρηκεν περὶ ἐμοῦ. οὔτε φωνὴν αὐτοῦ πώποτε ἀκηκόατε οὔτε εἶδος αὐτοῦ ἑωράκατε και ο πεμψας με πατηρ αυτος μεμαρτυρηκεν περι εμου ουτε φωνην αυτου ακηκοατε πωποτε ουτε ειδος αυτου εωρακατε και ο πεμψας με πατηρ αυτος μεμαρτυρηκεν περι εμου ουτε φωνην αυτου ακηκοατε πωποτε ουτε ειδος αυτου εωρακατε
John 8:46 (NET) John 8:46 (KJV)
Who among you can prove me guilty of any sin?  If I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? Which of you convinceth me of sin?  And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
τίς ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐλέγχει με περὶ ἁμαρτίας; εἰ ἀλήθειαν λέγω, διὰ τί ὑμεῖς οὐ πιστεύετε μοι τις εξ υμων ελεγχει με περι αμαρτιας ει δε αληθειαν λεγω δια τι υμεις ου πιστευετε μοι τις εξ υμων ελεγχει με περι αμαρτιας ει δε αληθειαν λεγω δια τι υμεις ου πιστευετε μοι
John 8:51, 52 (NET) John 8:51, 52 (KJV)
I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.” Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐάν τις τὸν ἐμὸν λόγον τηρήσῃ, θάνατον οὐ μὴ θεωρήσῃ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα αμην αμην λεγω υμιν εαν τις τον λογον τον εμον τηρηση θανατον ου μη θεωρηση εις τον αιωνα αμην αμην λεγω υμιν εαν τις τον λογον τον εμον τηρηση θανατον ου μη θεωρηση εις τον αιωνα
Then the Judeans responded, “Now we know you’re possessed by a demon!  Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, ‘If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never experience death.’ Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil.  Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἶπον αὐτῷ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι· νῦν ἐγνώκαμεν ὅτι δαιμόνιον ἔχεις. Ἀβραὰμ ἀπέθανεν καὶ οἱ προφῆται, καὶ σὺ λέγεις· ἐάν τις τὸν λόγον μου τηρήσῃ, οὐ μὴ γεύσηται θανάτου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ειπον ουν αυτω οι ιουδαιοι νυν εγνωκαμεν οτι δαιμονιον εχεις αβρααμ απεθανεν και οι προφηται και συ λεγεις εαν τις τον λογον μου τηρηση ου μη γευσεται θανατου εις τον αιωνα ειπον ουν αυτω οι ιουδαιοι νυν εγνωκαμεν οτι δαιμονιον εχεις αβρααμ απεθανεν και οι προφηται και συ λεγεις εαν τις τον λογον μου τηρηση ου μη γευσηται θανατου εις τον αιωνα
John 8:54, 55 (NET) John 8:54, 55 (KJV)
Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless.  The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, ‘He is our God.’ Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς· ἐὰν ἐγὼ δοξάσω ἐμαυτόν, ἡ δόξα μου οὐδέν ἐστιν· ἔστιν ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ δοξάζων με, ὃν ὑμεῖς λέγετε ὅτι θεὸς |ἡμῶν| ἐστιν απεκριθη ιησους εαν εγω δοξαζω εμαυτον η δοξα μου ουδεν εστιν εστιν ο πατηρ μου ο δοξαζων με ον υμεις λεγετε οτι θεος υμων εστιν απεκριθη ιησους εαν εγω δοξαζω εμαυτον η δοξα μου ουδεν εστιν εστιν ο πατηρ μου ο δοξαζων με ον υμεις λεγετε οτι θεος ημων εστιν
Yet you do not know him, but I know him.  If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you.  But I do know him, and I obey his teaching. Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ οὐκ ἐγνώκατε αὐτόν, ἐγὼ δὲ οἶδα αὐτόν. κὰν εἴπω ὅτι οὐκ οἶδα αὐτόν, ἔσομαι ὅμοιος ὑμῖν ψεύστης· ἀλλὰ οἶδα αὐτὸν καὶ τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ τηρῶ και ουκ εγνωκατε αυτον εγω δε οιδα αυτον και εαν ειπω οτι ουκ οιδα αυτον εσομαι ομοιος υμων ψευστης αλλ οιδα αυτον και τον λογον αυτου τηρω και ουκ εγνωκατε αυτον εγω δε οιδα αυτον και εαν ειπω οτι ουκ οιδα αυτον εσομαι ομοιος υμων ψευστης αλλ οιδα αυτον και τον λογον αυτου τηρω
John 17:7, 8 (NET) John 17:7, 8 (KJV)
Now they understand that everything you have given me comes from you, Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
νῦν ἔγνωκαν ὅτι πάντα ὅσα |δέδωκας| μοι παρὰ σοῦ εἰσιν νυν εγνωκαν οτι παντα οσα δεδωκας μοι παρα σου εστιν νυν εγνωκαν οτι παντα οσα δεδωκας μοι παρα σου εστιν
because I have given them the words you have given me.  They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ὅτι τὰ ρήματα ἃ ἔδωκας μοι δέδωκα αὐτοῖς, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλαβον καὶ ἔγνωσαν ἀληθῶς ὅτι παρὰ σοῦ ἐξῆλθον, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας οτι τα ρηματα α δεδωκας μοι δεδωκα αυτοις και αυτοι ελαβον και εγνωσαν αληθως οτι παρα σου εξηλθον και επιστευσαν οτι συ με απεστειλας οτι τα ρηματα α δεδωκας μοι δεδωκα αυτοις και αυτοι ελαβον και εγνωσαν αληθως οτι παρα σου εξηλθον και επιστευσαν οτι συ με απεστειλας

[1] John 17:17 (NET)

[2] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Samaritans was spelled Σαμαριτῶν, and σαμαρειτων in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had , where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had οσα (KJV: that ever).

[4] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Samaritans was spelled Σαμαρῖται, and σαμαρειται in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[5] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο χριστος (KJV: the Christ) following world.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[6] John 4:29 (NET)

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

[8] John 4:30 (NET)

[9] In the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus Messiah was spelled Μεσσίας, and μεσιας in the Byzantine Majority Text.

[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἅπαντα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παντα (KJV: all things).

[11] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had μένῃ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεινη (KJV: abide).

[12] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had μένητε here, where the the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεινητε (KJV: abide).

[13] John 3:17 (NET) Table

[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀκούσουσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ακουσονται (KJV: shall hear).  “THE MIDDLE VOICE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT,” by George J. Cline, Grace Theological Seminary, 1983

[15] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀκούσουσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ακουσονται (KJV: shall hear).

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

[17] Ephesians 2:1 (NET) Table

[18] Romans 10:17 (NKJV) Table

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

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

[21] Though the NET parallel Greek text, NA28, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text all had ἐραυνᾶτε here, the KJV translators treated it like the imperative ἐρευνήσατε (KJV: Search the scriptures), transforming Jesus’ observation into a command, a rule to obey.  A sign of the Protestant times circa 1611 or an early example of product placement advertising?  Addendum: July 14, 2020 – Somehow I missed that the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ερευνατε here.

[22] John 17:3b (NET)

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

[24] Romans 7:21 (NET)

[25] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τον preceding teaching and my.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τον preceding my only.

[26] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα (not translated in NET or KJV) here.  A note (134) in the NET translated it forever (2 Corinthians 5:1-10).

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

[28] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα (not translated in NET or KJV) here.  A note (143) in the NET translated it forever (2 Corinthians 5:1-10).

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

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

[31] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κὰν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και εαν (KJV: and if).

[32] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑμῖν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υμων (KJV: unto you).

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

[34] 1 John 4:18 (NET)

[35] John 15:20 (NET)

[36] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἰσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εστιν (KJV: are).

[37] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἔδωκας here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δεδωκας (KJV: thou gavest).

[38] John 17:14a (NET)

To Make Holy, Part 7

The next form of ἁγιάζω I want to consider is found in Jesus’ prayer to his Father: Set them apart (ἁγίασον, a form of ἁγιάζω) in the truth; your word is truth.[1]  But I’m making a slow pilgrimage through his prayer because I believe I can know his holiness here.  Jesus prayed (John 17:9 NET):

I am praying on behalf of them.  I am not praying on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you have given me, because they belong to you.

Translating ἐρωτῶ pray (KJV) at a time when I pray thee was a more natural way to make a request sounds different to my ear than I am praying today.  But now I ask (ἐρωτῶ, a form of ἐρωτάω) you, lady (not as if I were writing[2] a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another.[3]  Yes,[4] I say (ἐρωτῶ, a form of ἐρωτάω) also to you, true companion, help them.  They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.[5]  So the rich man said, ‘Then I beg (ἐρωτῶ, a form of ἐρωτάω) you, father—send Lazarus to my father’s house.[6]

Jesus’ request was made on behalf of those you have given me, those who understood and had actively received the words He gave them.  They were further designated here as belonging to the Father.  No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, Jesus had said, and I will raise him up at the last day.[7]

Growing up it seemed natural for me to assume that these people (τοῖς ἀνθρώποις) were given to Jesus because God knew they would believe that He had sent Him, they would accept the words He gave to them and really understand that Jesus came from the Father.  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.[8]

Now it seems just as natural to assume that they believed that God had sent Jesus, accepted the words He gave to them and really understood that He came from the Father because God predestined them to be conformed to the image of his SonAnd those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.[9]  This new assumption became natural as I heard Paul’s answer to his own rhetorical question: You will say to me then, “Why[10] does he still find fault?  For who has ever resisted his will (βουλήματι, a form of βούλημα)?”[11]

At first, I was so certain that Paul would (or should) mount a spirited defense of human desire and exertion, human faith and human obedience predicated on human willpower (θέλοντος, a form of θέλω), that I misunderstood his answer (Romans 9:20, 21 NET):

But who indeed are you—a mere human being—to talk back to God?  Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?”  Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?

Pastor J.D. Farag told a story about a woman who approached him at a conference:

She thanked me for the ABC’s of salvation.  She said, “I led my friend to Christ using the ABC’s of salvation.” 

And by the way, it’s not the only way.  It’s just a simple way.  If I can do it, you can do it.  It’s a simple way to share how to be saved. 

So she shares with me how that she was able to lead this friend to Christ.  And then after she got saved she went to church with her on a Sunday.  The very next day her husband murdered her and then killed himself. 

She’s with the Lord.  Maybe I’m just saying I’m never going to stop sharing the gospel and the ABC’s of salvation, because you just don’t know.

Though we called the “ABC’s of salvation” the “four spiritual laws,”[12] this story reminded me of my understanding growing up in church.  The woman’s faith in Christ made her a vessel for special use (KJV: vessel unto honour).  Her husband sealed his own fate as a vessel for ordinary use (KJV: unto dishonour) by murdering his wife and then killing himself.  (Had he lived he, too, may have repented and believed the four spiritual laws or the ABC’s of salvation.)  But behind these human desires and exertions[13] was another: the first woman’s decision to share the ABC’s of salvation with her friend and the nagging regret that she didn’t do so with her friend’s husband.  Though Pastor Farag didn’t go there, I remember fearing that one would answer for this failure and this lost soul at the judgment seat of Christ: Woe[14] to me if I do not preach the gospel![15]

With these beliefs Paul’s description of God as a potter with the right (ἐξουσίαν, a form of ἐξουσία) to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use seemed mostly irrelevant, if not altogether cruel or evil.  Paul continued (Romans 9:22-24 NET):

But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction?[16]  And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

Before I could appreciate the consistency of Paul’s answer I needed to be persuaded that salvation was wholly a work of God—Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever[17]—not of human effort so that no one can boast.[18]  To perceive the wisdom of the Holy Spirit’s answer to Paul’s rhetorical question I needed much more persuasion that the righteousness revealed in the gospel, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ,[19] was a gift to be received, not a curse to endure as I mourned the lost “joys” and past “glories” of sin, or chafed at those around me who still “enjoyed” their sins.

Let’s face it, I needed a radical renewing of my mind before I could appreciate how God’s right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel (σκεῦος) for special use and another for ordinary use (ἀτιμίαν, a form of ἀτιμία) is the rationale for a salvation that begins with the temporary housing of an entirely new creation within sinful condemned flesh (2 Corinthians 5:17; 4:7; 1 Corinthians 15:42b-44a).

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come![20]

But we have this treasure in clay jars (σκεύεσιν, another form of σκεῦος), so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor (ἀτιμίᾳ), it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

It bears mentioning that though the NET translators seemed to distinguish between a vessel for special use, objects of wrath or mercy and clay jars, all are forms of σκεῦος.

Reference NET KJV Greek
Romans 9:21 one vessel for special use one vessel unto honour σκεῦος
Romans 9:22 objects of wrath vessels of wrath σκεύη, a form of σκεῦος
Romans 9:23 objects of mercy vessels of mercy σκεύη, a form of σκεῦος
2 Corinthians 4:7 clay jars earthen vessels σκεύεσιν, another form of σκεῦος

Everything I have belongs to you, and everything you have belongs to me, Jesus’ prayer continued, and I have been glorified by them.[21]  The KJV reads: And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified (δεδόξασμαι, a form of δοξάζω) in them.[22]  I’m reasonably convinced that the translators of the KJV assumed that Jesus referred still to the men you gave[23] me out of the world.[24]  Before I studied σκεῦος I was less sure that was the NET translators’ assumption.  The addition of the word thing (Everything) reminded me of a song we sang when I was young:

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills,

The wealth in every mine;

He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills,

The sun and stars that shine.

Wonderful riches, more than tongue can tell –

He is my Father so they’re mine as well;

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills –

I know that He will care for me.

Now I can see that this listing of wealth was intended as a demonstration of God’s ability to care for me.  I didn’t understand it that way then.  As a child of the King I thought I was supposed to believe that He would express his care for me as a share of that wealth.  I can’t say how often I actually believed that versus how often I thought it was just wishful thinking.  It did set the tone, what I thought I should believe, if and when I tried to be a “true” believer.  He worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator[25] may be a fair characterization of my religious youth.

Paul amplified how Jesus could be glorified by or in those who “really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me[26] (2 Corinthians 3:1b-3 NET):

We[27] don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we?[28]  You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.

Paul contrasted the glory of the ministry of the law to that of the ministry of the Spirit (διακονία τοῦ πνεύματος), describing the former as the ministry that produced death (διακονία τοῦ θανάτου; KJV: ministration of death) or the ministry that produced condemnation (διακονίᾳ τῆς κατακρίσεως; KJV: ministration of condemnation), and the latter as the ministry that produces righteousness (διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης; KJV: ministration of righteousness):

But if the ministry that produced death—carved in letters on stone tablets—came with glory (δόξῃ, a form of δόξα), so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses[29] because of the glory (δόξαν, another form of δόξα) of his face (a glory which was made ineffective), how much more glorious (δόξῃ, a form of δόξα) will the ministry of the Spirit be?  For if there was glory (δόξα) in the[30] ministry that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in[31] glory (δόξῃ, a form of δόξα)!  For indeed, what had been glorious (δεδοξασμένον, another form of δοξάζω) now has no[32] glory (δεδόξασται, another form of δοξάζω) because of[33] the tremendously greater glory (δόξης, another form of δόξα) of what replaced it.  For if what was made ineffective came with glory (δόξης, another form of δόξα), how much more has what remains come in glory (δόξῃ, a form of δόξα)![34]

I am no longer in the world, Jesus continued, but they[35] are in the world, and I am coming to you.  Holy Father, keep them safe in your name that[36] you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.[37]  The KJV reads: keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me.  These appear to be the extremes of translating the same Greek text in the former verse to keep consistent with the differences in the next verse:

John 17:12 (NET)

John 17:12 (KJV)

When I was with them I kept them safe and[38] watched over them in your name that[39] you have given me.  Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled. While I was with them in the world,[40] I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

The singular pronoun (NET: that) was rendered that you have given me and was assumed to refer to your name, where the plural pronoun ους (KJV: those) was translated those that thou gavest me and was assumed to refer to the people God gave to Jesus.  I’ll begin to consider the lost son of perdition in another essay.  The point here as far as I’m concerned was that Jesus asked his Father to give the Holy Spirit to those who accepted Jesus’ words (John 17:13 NET):

But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience my joy completed in themselves.

Jesus’ joy was χαρὰν (a form of χαρά) in Greek.  But the fruit of the Spirit isjoy (χαρὰ).[41]  The oneness He asked for those who believed that God had sent Jesus, accepted the words He gave to them and really understood that He came from the Father because God predestined them to be conformed to the image of his Son, comes through this same indwelling Holy Spirit, as each is led to acknowledge (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!

A note (39) in the NET indicated that Romans 9:20b was a quote from Isaiah 29:16 and 45:9.  Tables comparing the English translations from the Masoretic text and Septuagint follow:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Isaiah 29:16 (Tanakh) Isaiah 29:16 (NET) Isaiah 29:16 (NETS)

Isaiah 29:16 (Elpenor English)

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? Your thinking is perverse!  Should the potter be regarded as clay?  Should the thing made say about its maker, “He didn’t make me”?  Or should the pottery say about the potter, “He doesn’t understand”? Shall you not be regarded as the potter’s clay?  Shall the thing formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not form me,” or the thing made to the one who made it, “You made me with no understanding”? Shall ye not be counted as clay of the potter? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Thou didst not form me? or the work to the maker, Thou hast not made me wisely?

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Isaiah 45:9 (Tanakh) Isaiah 45:9 (NET) Isaiah 45:9 (NETS)

Isaiah 45:9 (Elpenor English)

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!  Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth.  Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? One who argues with his Creator is in grave danger, one who is like a mere shard among the other shards on the ground!  The clay should not say to the potter, “What in the world are you doing?  Your work lacks skill!” What better thing have I formed like potter’s clay?  Shall the plowman plow the earth?  Shall the clay say to the potter, “What are you doing, since you are not working, nor do you have hands”? What excellent thing have I prepared as clay of the potter? Will the ploughman plough the earth all say? shall the clay say to the potter, What art thou doing that thou dost not work, nor hast hands? shall the thing formed answer him that formed it?

I compared the Greek of Romans 9:20b to Isaiah 29:16b below:

Romans 9:20b (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 29:16b (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 29:16b (Septuagint Elpenor)

μὴ ἐρεῖ τὸ πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι· τί με ἐποίησας οὕτως μὴ ἐρεῗ τὸ πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι οὐ σύ με ἔπλασας ἢ τὸ ποίημα τῷ ποιήσαντι οὐ συνετῶς με ἐποίησας μὴ ἐρεῖ τὸ πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι αὐτό· οὐ σύ με ἔπλασας; ἢ τὸ ποίημα τῷ ποιήσαντι· οὐ συνετῶς με ἐποίησας

Romans 9:20b (NET)

Isaiah 29:16b (NETS)

Isaiah 29:16b (English Elpenor)

Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Shall the thing formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not form me,” or the thing made to the one who made it, “You made me with no understanding”? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Thou didst not form me? or the work to the maker, Thou hast not made me wisely?

Tables comparing Isaiah 29:16 and 45:9 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Isaiah 29:16 and 45:9 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables of 2 John 1:5; Philippians 4:3; Romans 9:19; 1 Corinthians 9:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 3:1; 3:7; 3:9, 10 and John 17:11, 12 comparing the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 29:16 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 29:16 (KJV)

Isaiah 29:16 (NET)

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? Your thinking is perverse!  Should the potter be regarded as clay?  Should the thing made say about its maker, “He didn’t make me”?  Or should the pottery say about the potter, “He doesn’t understand”?

Isaiah 29:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 29:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐχ ὡς ὁ πηλὸς τοῦ κεραμέως λογισθήσεσθε μὴ ἐρεῗ τὸ πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι οὐ σύ με ἔπλασας ἢ τὸ ποίημα τῷ ποιήσαντι οὐ συνετῶς με ἐποίησας οὐχ ὡς ὁ πηλὸς τοῦ κεραμέως λογισθήσεσθε; μὴ ἐρεῖ τὸ πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι αὐτό· οὐ σύ με ἔπλασας; ἢ τὸ ποίημα τῷ ποιήσαντι· οὐ συνετῶς με ἐποίησας

Isaiah 29:16 (NETS)

Isaiah 29:16 (English Elpenor)

Shall you not be regarded as the potter’s clay?  Shall the thing formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not form me,” or the thing made to the one who made it, “You made me with no understanding”? Shall ye not be counted as clay of the potter? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Thou didst not form me? or the work to the maker, Thou hast not made me wisely?

Isaiah 45:9 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 45:9 (KJV)

Isaiah 45:9 (NET)

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!  Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth.  Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!  Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth.  Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? One who argues with his Creator is in grave danger, one who is like a mere shard among the other shards on the ground!  The clay should not say to the potter, “What in the world are you doing?  Your work lacks skill!”

Isaiah 45:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 45:9, 10a (Septuagint Elpenor)

ποῗον βέλτιον κατεσκεύασα ὡς πηλὸν κεραμέως μὴ ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριάσει τὴν γῆν ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν μὴ ἐρεῗ ὁ πηλὸς τῷ κεραμεῗ τί ποιεῗς ὅτι οὐκ ἐργάζῃ οὐδὲ ἔχεις χεῗρας Ποῖον βέλτιον κατεσκεύασα ὡς πηλὸν κεραμέως; μὴ ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριάσει τὴν γῆν ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν; μὴ ἐρεῖ ὁ πηλὸς τῷ κεραμεῖ· τί ποιεῖς, ὅτι οὐκ ἐργάζῃ οὐδὲ ἔχεις χεῖρας μὴ ἀποκριθήσεται τὸ πλάσμα πρὸς τὸν πλάσαντα αὐτό

Isaiah 45:9 (NETS)

Isaiah 45:9 (English Elpenor)

What better thing have I formed like potter’s clay?  Shall the plowman plow the earth?  Shall the clay say to the potter, “What are you doing, since you are not working, nor do you have hands”? What excellent thing have I prepared as clay of the potter? Will the ploughman plough the earth all say? shall the clay say to the potter, What art thou doing that thou dost not work, nor hast hands? shall the thing formed answer him that formed it?

2 John 1:5 (NET)

2 John 1:5 (KJV)

But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ νῦν ἐρωτῶ σε, κυρία (οὐχ ὡς ἐντολὴν |καινὴν| γράφων σοι  ἀλλὰ ἣν εἴχομεν ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς), ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους και νυν ερωτω σε κυρια ουχ ως εντολην γραφω σοι καινην αλλα ην ειχομεν απ αρχης ινα αγαπωμεν αλληλους και νυν ερωτω σε κυρια ουχ ως εντολην γραφων σοι καινην αλλα ην ειχομεν απ αρχης ινα αγαπωμεν αλληλους

Philippians 4:3 (NET)

Philippians 4:3 (KJV)

Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them.  They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life. And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ναὶ ἐρωτῶ καὶ σέ, γνήσιε σύζυγε, συλλαμβάνου αὐταῖς, αἵτινες ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ συνήθλησαν μοι μετὰ καὶ Κλήμεντος καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν συνεργῶν μου, ὧν τὰ ὀνόματα ἐν βίβλῳ ζωῆς. και ερωτω και σε συζυγε γνησιε συλλαμβανου αυταις αιτινες εν τω ευαγγελιω συνηθλησαν μοι μετα και κλημεντος και των λοιπων συνεργων μου ων τα ονοματα εν βιβλω ζωης ναι ερωτω και σε συζυγε γνησιε συλλαμβανου αυταις αιτινες εν τω ευαγγελιω συνηθλησαν μοι μετα και κλημεντος και των λοιπων συνεργων μου ων τα ονοματα εν βιβλω ζωης

Romans 9:19 (NET)

Romans 9:19 (KJV)

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault?  For who has ever resisted his will?” Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault?  For who hath resisted his will?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ἐρεῖς μοι οὖν τί [οὖν] ἔτι μέμφεται; τῷ γὰρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνθέστηκεν ερεις ουν μοι τι ετι μεμφεται τω γαρ βουληματι αυτου τις ανθεστηκεν ερεις ουν μοι τι ετι μεμφεται τω γαρ βουληματι αυτου τις ανθεστηκεν

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NET)

1 Corinthians 9:16 (KJV)

For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this.  Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι, οὐκ ἔστιν μοι καύχημα· ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται· οὐαὶ γάρ μοί ἐστιν ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίσωμαι εαν γαρ ευαγγελιζωμαι ουκ εστιν μοι καυχημα αναγκη γαρ μοι επικειται ουαι δε μοι εστιν εαν μη ευαγγελιζωμαι εαν γαρ ευαγγελιζωμαι ουκ εστιν μοι καυχημα αναγκη γαρ μοι επικειται ουαι δε μοι εστιν εαν μη ευαγγελιζωμαι

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NET)

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come! Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὥστε εἴ τις ἐν Χριστῷ, καινὴ κτίσις· τὰ ἀρχαῖα παρῆλθεν, ἰδοὺ γέγονεν καινά ωστε ει τις εν χριστω καινη κτισις τα αρχαια παρηλθεν ιδου γεγονεν καινα τα παντα ωστε ει τις εν χριστω καινη κτισις τα αρχαια παρηλθεν ιδου γεγονεν καινα τα παντα

2 Corinthians 3:1 (NET)

2 Corinthians 3:1 (KJV)

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?  We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we? Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ἀρχόμεθα πάλιν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστάνειν; μὴ χρῄζομεν ὥς τινες συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἢ ἐξ ὑμῶν αρχομεθα παλιν εαυτους συνιστανειν ει μη χρηζομεν ως τινες συστατικων επιστολων προς υμας η εξ υμων συστατικων αρχομεθα παλιν εαυτους συνιστανειν ει μη χρηζομεν ως τινες συστατικων επιστολων προς υμας η εξ υμων συστατικων

2 Corinthians 3:7 (NET)

2 Corinthians 3:7 (KJV)

But if the ministry that produced death—carved in letters on stone tablets—came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective), But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Εἰ δὲ ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου ἐν γράμμασιν ἐντετυπωμένη λίθοις ἐγενήθη ἐν δόξῃ, ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι ἀτενίσαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον Μωϋσέως διὰ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ τὴν καταργουμένην ει δε η διακονια του θανατου εν γραμμασιν εντετυπωμενη εν λιθοις εγενηθη εν δοξη ωστε μη δυνασθαι ατενισαι τους υιους ισραηλ εις το προσωπον μωσεως δια την δοξαν του προσωπου αυτου την καταργουμενην ει δε η διακονια του θανατου εν γραμμασιν εντετυπωμενη εν λιθοις εγενηθη εν δοξη ωστε μη δυνασθαι ατενισαι τους υιους ισραηλ εις το προσωπον μωυσεως δια την δοξαν του προσωπου αυτου την καταργουμενην

2 Corinthians 3:9, 10 (NET)

2 Corinthians 3:9, 10 (KJV)

For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in glory! For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

εἰ γὰρ |τῇ| διακονίᾳ τῆς κατακρίσεως δόξα, πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει ἡ διακονία τῆς δικαιοσύνης δόξῃ ει γαρ η διακονια της κατακρισεως δοξα πολλω μαλλον περισσευει η διακονια της δικαιοσυνης εν δοξη ει γαρ η διακονια της κατακρισεως δοξα πολλω μαλλον περισσευει η διακονια της δικαιοσυνης εν δοξη
For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ γὰρ οὐ δεδόξασται τὸ δεδοξασμένον ἐν τούτῳ τῷ μέρει εἵνεκεν τῆς ὑπερβαλλούσης δόξης και γαρ ουδε δεδοξασται το δεδοξασμενον εν τουτω τω μερει ενεκεν της υπερβαλλουσης δοξης και γαρ ου δεδοξασται το δεδοξασμενον εν τουτω τω μερει ενεκεν της υπερβαλλουσης δοξης

John 17:11, 12 (NET)

John 17:11, 12 (KJV)

I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.  Holy Father, keep them safe in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee.  Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ εἰσίν, καγὼ πρὸς σὲ ἔρχομαι. πάτερ ἅγιε, τήρησον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι σου δέδωκας μοι, ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν καθὼς ἡμεῖς και ουκ ετι ειμι εν τω κοσμω και ουτοι εν τω κοσμω εισιν και εγω προς σε ερχομαι πατερ αγιε τηρησον αυτους εν τω ονοματι σου ους δεδωκας μοι ινα ωσιν εν καθως ημεις και ουκετι ειμι εν τω κοσμω και ουτοι εν τω κοσμω εισιν και εγω προς σε ερχομαι πατερ αγιε τηρησον αυτους εν τω ονοματι σου ω δεδωκας μοι ινα ωσιν εν καθως ημεις
When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me.  Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὅτε ἤμην μετ᾿ αὐτῶν ἐγὼ ἐτήρουν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι σου δέδωκας μοι, καὶ ἐφύλαξα, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀπώλετο εἰ μὴ ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας, ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ οτε ημην μετ αυτων εν τω κοσμω εγω ετηρουν αυτους εν τω ονοματι σου ους δεδωκας μοι εφυλαξα και ουδεις εξ αυτων απωλετο ει μη ο υιος της απωλειας ινα η γραφη πληρωθη οτε ημην μετ αυτων εν τω κοσμω εγω ετηρουν αυτους εν τω ονοματι σου ους δεδωκας μοι εφυλαξα και ουδεις εξ αυτων απωλετο ει μη ο υιος της απωλειας ινα η γραφη πληρωθη

[1] John 17:17 (NET)

[2] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had γράφων here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had γραφω (KJV: wrote).

[3] 2 John 1:5 (NET)

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

[5] Philippians 4:3 (NET)

[6] Luke 16:27 (NET)

[7] John 6:44 (NET)

[8] Romans 8:28, 29 (NET)

[9] Romans 8:30 (NET)

[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὖν (not translated in the NET) following Why.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[11] Romans 9:19 (NET)

[12] “In 1952, [Bill Bright] wrote The Four Spiritual Laws, an evangelistic Christian tract.  In the booklet he outlines his view of the essentials of the Christian faith concerning salvation. It is summarized as four spiritual laws or principles that govern what he sees as human beings’ relationship with God.  The booklet ends with a prayer of repentance.”

[13] I think the fact that this woman attended church once before she died gave Pastor Farag the confidence to assume that she had truly Admitted she was a sinner, really Believed that Jesus is Lord and fully intended to Call (ἐπικαλέσηται, a form of ἐπικαλέω) upon Him; and so he said, “She’s with the Lord.”

So then, it does not depend on human desire (θέλοντος, a form of θέλω) or exertion (τρέχοντος, a form of τρέχω), but on God who shows mercy (Romans 9:16 NET).  [W]e must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run (τρέχωμεν, another form of τρέχω) with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1b, 2a NET).  [F]or the one bringing forth in you both the desire (θέλειν, another form of θέλω) and the effort (ἐνεργεῖν, a form of ἐνεργέω)—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God (Philippians 2:13 NET).

[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γάρ (not translated in the NET) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: yea)

[15] 1 Corinthins 9:16b (NET)

[16] NET note 44: Or possibly “objects of wrath that have fit themselves for destruction.” The form of the participle could be taken either as a passive or middle (reflexive). ExSyn 417-18 argues strongly for the passive sense (which is followed in the translation), stating that “the middle view has little to commend it.” First, καταρτίζω (katartizō) is nowhere else used in the NT as a direct or reflexive middle (a usage which, in any event, is quite rare in the NT). Second, the lexical force of this verb, coupled with the perfect tense, suggests something of a “done deal” (against some commentaries that see these vessels as ready for destruction yet still able to avert disaster). Third, the potter-clay motif seems to have one point: The potter prepares the clay.

[17] Matthew 6:13b (NASB) Table

[18] Ephesians 2:9b (NET)

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

[20] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τα παντα (KJV: all things) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[21] John 17:10 (NET)

[22] John 17:10 (KJV)

[23] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἔδωκας here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δεδωκας (KJV: gavest).

[24] John 17:6a (NET) Table

[25] Romans 1:25 (NET)

[26] John 17:8b (NET)

[27] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had (not translated in the NET) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ει (KJV: or).

[28] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συστατικων (KJV: commendation) repeated here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

[30] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τῇ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had η.

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

[32] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had οὐ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ουδε.

[33] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἵνεκεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ενεκεν (KJV: by reason of).

[34] 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 (NET)

[35] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐτοὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτοι (KJV: these).

[36] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular pronoun here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had the plural ους (KJV: those).

[37] John 17:11 (NET)

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

[39] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the singular pronoun here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural ους (KJV: those).

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

[41] Galatians 5:22a (NET) Table

To Make Holy, Part 6

The next form of ἁγιάζω I want to consider is found in Jesus’ prayer to his Father: Set them apart (ἁγίασον, a form of ἁγιάζω) in the truth; your word is truth.[1]  But I’m making a slow pilgrimage through his prayer because I believe I can know his holiness here.  Jesus prayed (John 17:7, 8 NET):

Now they understand that everything you have given me comes from you, because I have given them the words you have given me.  They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

The Greek words translated understand were ἔγνωκαν and ἔγνωσαν respectively, forms of γινώσκωNone of the rulers of this age understood (ἔγνωκεν, another form of γινώσκω) [the wisdom of God], Paul wrote believers in Corinth.  If they had known (ἔγνωσαν, a form of γινώσκω) it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.[2]

Paul may have meant that—if they had understood—the demonic rulers (ἀρχόντων, a form of ἄρχων) or their human followers would not have crucified Jesus so that the scriptures that say it must happen this way[3] would have failed,[4] rather than that these rulers would have embraced Jesus as Lord (yehôvâh) and Christ (mâshı̂yach).  Still I think there is much to be gained by contrasting the disciples understanding to its negation.  Righteous Father, Jesus prayed, even if the world does not know (ἔγνω, another form of γινώσκω) you, I know (ἔγνων, another form of γινώσκω) you, and these men know (ἔγνωσαν, a form of γινώσκω) that you sent me.[5]

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard [Jesus’] parables, they realized (ἔγνωσαν, a form of γινώσκω) that he was speaking about them.[6]  But they didn’t understand that the Father had sent Jesus.  Now they wanted to arrest him (but they feared the crowd), because they realized (ἔγνωσαν, a form of γινώσκω) that he told this parable against them.  So they left him and went away.[7]  Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour, because they realized (ἔγνωσαν, a form of γινώσκω) he had told this parable against them.  But they were afraid of the people.[8]

John recorded the suspicion of some of the residents of Jerusalem, who in a sense forced their rulers’ hand to prove that they did not secretly regard Jesus as the Christ: Then some of the residents of Jerusalem began to say, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?  Yet here he is, speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to him.  Do the ruling authorities really know (ἔγνωσαν, a form of γινώσκω) that this man is the Christ?[9]

The following table contrasts those who did not understand that the Father sent Jesus and those who did:

John 8:25-27 (NET) John 16:1-4a (NET)
So they said to him, “Who are you?”  Jesus[10] replied, “What I have told you from the beginning. “I have told you all these things so that you will not fall away.
I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent me is truthful, and the things I have heard from him I speak[11] to the world.” They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God.
(They did not understand [ἔγνωσαν, a form of γινώσκω] that he was telling them about his Father.) They will do[12] these things because they have not known (ἔγνωσαν, a form of γινώσκω) the Father or me.
But I have told you these things so that when their[13] time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.

Jesus explained why his disciples’ understanding differed from that of most in Israel: I have given them the words you have given me.  Even this may become clearer with contrast (Matthew 13:10-17 NET Table):

Then the disciples came to [Jesus] and said,[14] “Why do you speak to them in parables?”  He replied, “You have been given the opportunity to know (γνῶναι, another form of γινώσκω) the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.  For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance.  But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.  For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand (συνίουσιν, a form of συνίημι).  And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand (συνῆτε, another form of συνίημι), you will look closely yet will never comprehend.  For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand (συνῶσιν, another form of συνίημι) with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

“But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear.[15]  For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see[16] it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Jesus’ disciples were not only given the words Jesus’ Father gave to Him: They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.  The Greek word translated accepted was ἔλαβον (a form of λαμβάνω).  John had described Jesus as follows (John 1:10-13 NET):

He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize (ἔγνω, another form of γινώσκω) him.  He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive (παρέλαβον, a form of παραλαμβάνω) him.  But to all who have received (ἔλαβον, a form of λαμβάνω) him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children – children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.

John also recorded Jesus’ description of his own death and resurrection (John 10:17, 18 NET):

This is why the Father loves me – because I lay down my life, so that I may take (λάβω, another form of λαμβάνω) it back again.  No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will.  I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take (λαβεῖν, another form of λαμβάνω) it back again.  This commandment I received (ἔλαβον, a form of λαμβάνω) from my Father.

Though accepted and received may sound passive[17] in English, I think this translation is a matter of politeness.  All three Greek forms of λαμβάνω above (λάβω, λαβεῖν and ἔλαβον) are active verbs: So they took (ἔλαβον, a form of λαμβάνω) branches of palm trees;[18] they took (ἔλαβον, a form of λαμβάνω) his clothes and made four shares[19] and they took (ἔλαβον, a form of λαμβάνω) Jesus’ body and wrapped it, with the aromatic spices.[20]  Jesus’ disciples took the words (ρήματα, a form of ῥῆμα) He gave them and kept (τετήρηκαν, a form of τηρέω) them: and they have kept thy word (λόγον, a form of λόγος).[21]  I feel justified equating the words (ρήματα) they took with the word (λόγον) they kept because Jesus also prayed: I have given them your word (λόγον, a form of λόγος).[22]

I found two passive forms of λαμβάνω in the New Testament for contrast.  The first is admittedly subtle (1 Timothy 4:1-5 NET):

Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.  They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received[23] (μετάλημψιν) with thanksgiving by those who believe and know[24] the truth.  For every creation of God is good and no food [literally, nothing] is to be rejected if it is received (λαμβανόμενον, another form of λαμβάνω) with thanksgiving.  For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.

The translations of the noun μετάλημψιν to be received and the passive verb λαμβανόμενον is received confused me some, not that I have a better translation of μετάλημψιν to offer.  Perhaps the passiveness with which this food is received is clarified by Paul’s teaching to believers in Corinth (1 Corinthians 10:25-29a NET).

Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience, for the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s.  If[25] 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,”[26] do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience –[27] I do not mean yours but the other person’s.

The second example is more explicit, contrasting a passive form λαμβανόμενος directly with an active form λαμβάνει.

Hebrews 5:1 (NET) Hebrews 5:4 (NET)
For every high priest is taken (λαμβανόμενος, another form of λαμβάνω) from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. And no one assumes (λαμβάνει, another form of λαμβάνω; KJV: taketh) this honor on his own initiative, but only when called[28] to it by God, as in fact[29] Aaron[30] was.

Jesus’ disciples actively took the words He gave them as they were, words from the Father, and really understand, Jesus prayed, that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.  I admit I’ve wasted too much time wondering what esoteric words the Father knew and gave to Jesus and Jesus knew and gave to his disciples, blind to the fact that they are Jesus’ understanding, given by the Holy Spirit, while studying the Hebrew scriptures.  These words are what Jesus learned as He increased in[31] wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.[32]  And his understanding of these words, are recorded in the Gospel narratives of the New Testament.

Tables comparing the Greek of Matthew 13:14b with Isaiah 6:9b, and Matthew 13:15 with Isaiah 6:10 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables of Luke 20:19; John 7:26; 8:25, 26; 16:3, 4; Matthew 13:10; 13:16, 17; John 12:13; 19:23; 19:40; 17:6; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Corinthians 10:27, 28; Hebrews 5:4 and Luke 2:52 comparing the NET and KJV follow.

Matthew 13:14b (NET Parallel Greek) Isaiah 6:9b (Septuagint BLB) Isaiah 6:9b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε, καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε
Matthew 13:14b (NET) Esaias 6:9b (NETS) Isaiah 6:9 (English Elpenor)
‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend. ‘You will listen by listening, but you will not understand, and looking you will look, but you will not perceive.’ Ye shall hear indeed, but ye shall not understand; and ye shall see indeed, but ye shall not perceive.
Matthew 13:15 (NET Parallel Greek) Isaiah 6:10 (Septuagint BLB) Isaiah 6:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν, μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου καὶ τοῗς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῗς ὀφθαλμοῗς καὶ τοῗς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσι τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσι καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσι, καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσι, καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς
Matthew 13:15 (NET) Esaias 6:10 (NETS) Isaiah 6:10 (English Elpenor)
For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ For this people’s heart has grown fat, and with their ears they have heard heavily, and they have shut their eyes so that they might not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn—and I would heal them.” For the heart of this people has become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Luke 20:19 (NET) Luke 20:19 (KJV)
Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them.  But they were afraid of the people. And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ ἐζήτησαν οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἐπιβαλεῖν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν τὰς χεῖρας ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν τὸν λαόν, ἔγνωσαν γὰρ ὅτι πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἶπεν τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην και εζητησαν οι αρχιερεις και οι γραμματεις επιβαλειν επ αυτον τας χειρας εν αυτη τη ωρα και εφοβηθησαν τον λαον εγνωσαν γαρ οτι προς αυτους την παραβολην ταυτην ειπεν και εζητησαν οι αρχιερεις και οι γραμματεις επιβαλειν επ αυτον τας χειρας εν αυτη τη ωρα και εφοβηθησαν εγνωσαν γαρ οτι προς αυτους την παραβολην ταυτην ειπεν
John 7:26 (NET) John 7:26 (KJV)
Yet here he is, speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to him.  Do the ruling authorities really know that this man is the Christ? But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him.  Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἴδε παρρησίᾳ λαλεῖ καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ λέγουσιν. μήποτε ἀληθῶς ἔγνωσαν οἱ ἄρχοντες ὅτι οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ χριστός και ιδε παρρησια λαλει και ουδεν αυτω λεγουσιν μηποτε αληθως εγνωσαν οι αρχοντες οτι ουτος εστιν αληθως ο χριστος και ιδε παρρησια λαλει και ουδεν αυτω λεγουσιν μηποτε αληθως εγνωσαν οι αρχοντες οτι ουτος εστιν αληθως ο χριστος
John 8:25, 26 (NET) John 8:25, 26 (KJV)
So they said to him, “Who are you?”  Jesus replied, “What I have told you from the beginning. Then said they unto him, Who art thou?  And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ· σὺ τίς εἶ; εἶπεν αὐτοῖς |ὁ| Ἰησοῦς· τὴν ἀρχὴν ὅ τι καὶ λαλῶ ὑμῖν ελεγον ουν αυτω συ τις ει και ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους την αρχην ο τι και λαλω υμιν ελεγον ουν αυτω συ τις ει και ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους την αρχην ο τι και λαλω υμιν
I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent me is truthful, and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world.” I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
πολλὰ ἔχω περὶ ὑμῶν λαλεῖν καὶ κρίνειν, ἀλλ᾿ ὁ πέμψας με ἀληθής ἐστιν, καγὼ ἃ ἤκουσα παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα λαλῶ εἰς τὸν κόσμον πολλα εχω περι υμων λαλειν και κρινειν αλλ ο πεμψας με αληθης εστιν καγω α ηκουσα παρ αυτου ταυτα λεγω εις τον κοσμον πολλα εχω περι υμων λαλειν και κρινειν αλλ ο πεμψας με αληθης εστιν καγω α ηκουσα παρ αυτου ταυτα λεγω εις τον κοσμον
John 16:3, 4 (NET) John 16:3, 4 (KJV)
They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ταῦτα ποιήσουσιν ὅτι οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τὸν πατέρα οὐδὲ ἐμέ και ταυτα ποιησουσιν υμιν οτι ουκ εγνωσαν τον πατερα ουδε εμε και ταυτα ποιησουσιν οτι ουκ εγνωσαν τον πατερα ουδε εμε
But I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.

“I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you.

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.  And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλὰ ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν ἵνα ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἡ ὥρα αὐτῶν μνημονεύητε αὐτῶν ὅτι ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν.  Ταῦτα δὲ ὑμῖν ἐξ ἀρχῆς οὐκ εἶπον, ὅτι μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν ἤμην αλλα ταυτα λελαληκα υμιν ινα οταν ελθη η ωρα μνημονευητε αυτων οτι εγω ειπον υμιν ταυτα δε υμιν εξ αρχης ουκ ειπον οτι μεθ υμων ημην αλλα ταυτα λελαληκα υμιν ινα οταν ελθη η ωρα μνημονευητε αυτων οτι εγω ειπον υμιν ταυτα δε υμιν εξ αρχης ουκ ειπον οτι μεθ υμων ημην
Matthew 13:10 (NET) Matthew 13:10 (KJV)
Then the disciples came to him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· διὰ τί ἐν παραβολαῖς λαλεῖς αὐτοῖς και προσελθοντες οι μαθηται ειπον αυτω δια τι εν παραβολαις λαλεις αυτοις και προσελθοντες οι μαθηται ειπον αυτω δια τι εν παραβολαις λαλεις αυτοις
Matthew 13:16, 17 (NET) Matthew 13:16, 17 (KJV)
“But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ὑμῶν δὲ μακάριοι οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ὅτι βλέπουσιν καὶ τὰ ὦτα |ὑμῶν| ὅτι ἀκούουσιν υμων δε μακαριοι οι οφθαλμοι οτι βλεπουσιν και τα ωτα υμων οτι ακουει υμων δε μακαριοι οι οφθαλμοι οτι βλεπουσιν και τα ωτα υμων οτι ακουει
For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πολλοὶ προφῆται καὶ δίκαιοι ἐπεθύμησαν ἰδεῖν ἃ βλέπετε καὶ οὐκ εἶδαν, καὶ ἀκοῦσαι ἃ ἀκούετε καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν αμην γαρ λεγω υμιν οτι πολλοι προφηται και δικαιοι επεθυμησαν ιδειν α βλεπετε και ουκ ειδον και ακουσαι α ακουετε και ουκ ηκουσαν αμην γαρ λεγω υμιν οτι πολλοι προφηται και δικαιοι επεθυμησαν ιδειν α βλεπετε και ουκ ειδον και ακουσαι α ακουετε και ουκ ηκουσαν
John 12:13 (NET) John 12:13 (KJV)
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him.  They began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἔλαβον τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐκραύγαζον ὡσαννά· εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου, [καὶ] βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ ελαβον τα βαια των φοινικων και εξηλθον εις υπαντησιν αυτω και εκραζον ωσαννα ευλογημενος ο ερχομενος εν ονοματι κυριου ο βασιλευς του ισραηλ ελαβον τα βαια των φοινικων και εξηλθον εις υπαντησιν αυτω και εκραζον ωσαννα ευλογημενος ο ερχομενος εν ονοματι κυριου βασιλευς του ισραηλ
John 19:23 (NET) John 19:23 (KJV)
Now when the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and made four shares, one for each soldier, and the tunic remained.  (Now the tunic was seamless, woven from top to bottom as a single piece.) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Οἱ οὖν στρατιῶται, ὅτε ἐσταύρωσαν τὸν Ἰησοῦν, ἔλαβον τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐποίησαν τέσσαρα μέρη, ἑκάστῳ στρατιώτῃ μέρος, καὶ τὸν χιτῶνα. (ἦν δὲ ὁ χιτὼν ἄραφος, ἐκ τῶν ἄνωθεν ὑφαντὸς δι᾿ ὅλου.) οι ουν στρατιωται οτε εσταυρωσαν τον ιησουν ελαβον τα ιματια αυτου και εποιησαν τεσσαρα μερη εκαστω στρατιωτη μερος και τον χιτωνα ην δε ο χιτων αρραφος εκ των ανωθεν υφαντος δι ολου οι ουν στρατιωται οτε εσταυρωσαν τον ιησουν ελαβον τα ιματια αυτου και εποιησαν τεσσαρα μερη εκαστω στρατιωτη μερος και τον χιτωνα ην δε ο χιτων αραφος εκ των ανωθεν υφαντος δι ολου
John 19:40 (NET) John 19:40 (KJV)
Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it, with the aromatic spices, in strips of linen cloth according to Jewish burial customs. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἔλαβον οὖν τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ καὶ ἔδησαν αὐτὸ ὀθονίοις μετὰ τῶν ἀρωμάτων, καθὼς ἔθος ἐστὶν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ἐνταφιάζειν ελαβον ουν το σωμα του ιησου και εδησαν αυτο οθονιοις μετα των αρωματων καθως εθος εστιν τοις ιουδαιοις ενταφιαζειν ελαβον ουν το σωμα του ιησου και εδησαν αυτο εν οθονιοις μετα των αρωματων καθως εθος εστιν τοις ιουδαιοις ενταφιαζειν
John 17:6 (NET) John 17:6 (KJV)
“I have revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world.  They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐφανέρωσα σου τὸ ὄνομα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις οὓς ἔδωκας μοι ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου. σοὶ ἦσαν καμοὶ αὐτοὺς ἔδωκας καὶ τὸν λόγον σου τετήρηκαν εφανερωσα σου το ονομα τοις ανθρωποις ους δεδωκας μοι εκ του κοσμου σοι ησαν και εμοι αυτους δεδωκας και τον λογον σου τετηρηκασιν εφανερωσα σου το ονομα τοις ανθρωποις ους δεδωκας μοι εκ του κοσμου σοι ησαν και εμοι αυτους δεδωκας και τον λογον σου τετηρηκασιν
1 Timothy 4:3 (NET) 1 Timothy 4:3 (KJV)
They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
κωλυόντων γαμεῖν, ἀπέχεσθαι βρωμάτων, ἃ ὁ θεὸς ἔκτισεν εἰς μετάλημψιν μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τοῖς πιστοῖς καὶ ἐπεγνωκόσι τὴν ἀλήθειαν κωλυοντων γαμειν απεχεσθαι βρωματων α ο θεος εκτισεν εις μεταληψιν μετα ευχαριστιας τοις πιστοις και επεγνωκοσιν την αληθειαν κωλυοντων γαμειν απεχεσθαι βρωματων α ο θεος εκτισεν εις μεταληψιν μετα ευχαριστιας τοις πιστοις και επεγνωκοσιν την αληθειαν
1 Corinthians 10:27, 28 (NET) 1 Corinthians 10:27, 28 (KJV)
If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἴ τις καλεῖ ὑμᾶς τῶν ἀπίστων καὶ θέλετε πορεύεσθαι, πᾶν τὸ παρατιθέμενον ὑμῖν ἐσθίετε μηδὲν ἀνακρίνοντες διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν ει δε τις καλει υμας των απιστων και θελετε πορευεσθαι παν το παρατιθεμενον υμιν εσθιετε μηδεν ανακρινοντες δια την συνειδησιν ει δε τις καλει υμας των απιστων και θελετε πορευεσθαι παν το παρατιθεμενον υμιν εσθιετε μηδεν ανακρινοντες δια την συνειδησιν
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 – But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἐὰν δέ τις ὑμῖν εἴπῃ· τοῦτο ἱερόθυτον ἐστιν, μὴ ἐσθίετε δι᾿ ἐκεῖνον τὸν μηνύσαντα καὶ τὴν συνείδησιν εαν δε τις υμιν ειπη τουτο ειδωλοθυτον εστιν μη εσθιετε δι εκεινον τον μηνυσαντα και την συνειδησιν του γαρ κυριου η γη και το πληρωμα αυτης εαν δε τις υμιν ειπη τουτο ειδωλοθυτον εστιν μη εσθιετε δι εκεινον τον μηνυσαντα και την συνειδησιν του γαρ κυριου η γη και το πληρωμα αυτης
Hebrews 5:4 (NET) Hebrews 5:4 (KJV)
And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαμβάνει τὴν τιμὴν ἀλλὰ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ καθώσπερ καὶ Ἀαρών και ουχ εαυτω τις λαμβανει την τιμην αλλα ο καλουμενος υπο του θεου καθαπερ και ο ααρων και ουχ εαυτω τις λαμβανει την τιμην αλλα καλουμενος υπο του θεου καθαπερ και ααρων
Luke 2:52 (NET) Luke 2:52 (KJV)
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ Ἰησοῦς προέκοπτεν [ἐν τῇ] σοφίᾳ καὶ ἡλικίᾳ καὶ χάριτι παρὰ θεῷ καὶ ἀνθρώποις και ιησους προεκοπτεν σοφια και ηλικια και χαριτι παρα θεω και ανθρωποις και ιησους προεκοπτεν σοφια και ηλικια και χαριτι παρα θεω και ανθρωποις

[1] John 17:17 (NET)

[2] 1 Corinthians 2:8 (NET)

[3] Matthew 26:54 (NET)

[4] It occurs to me that this is another oblique reference to the partial hardening of Israel which played such an integral role in the fulfillment of the Scriptures.

[5] John 17:25 (NET)

[6] Matthew 21:45 (NET)

[7] Mark 12:12 (NET)

[8] Luke 20:19 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had τὸν λαόν (KJV: the people) here.  The Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[9] John 7:25, 26 (NET) The Stephanus Text Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αληθως (KJV: very) preceding Christ.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[10] The Stephanus Text Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: And) at the beginning of this clause.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[11] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had λαλῶ here, where the Stephanus Text Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεγω.

[12] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had υμιν following do (KJV: unto you).  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

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

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

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

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

[17] The Greek lexicon online lists the English translations of passive forms of λαμβάνω as follows: “to assume (consequences for), to attain (distinction), to be given, to be subjected to, to receive, to receive into one’s care, to undergo, experience.”

[18] John 12:13a (NET)

[19] John 19:23b (NET)

[20] John 19:40a (NET)

[21] John 17:6b (KJV)

[22] John 17:14a (NET)

[23] The NET Parallel Greek text and NA28 had μετάλημψιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεταληψιν.

[24] The NET Parallel Greek text had ἐπεγνωκόσι here, where where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had ἐπεγνωκόσιν.

[25] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (not translated in the KJV) near the beginning of this clause.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[26] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἱερόθυτον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειδωλοθυτον (KJV: sacrifice unto idols).

[27] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had του γαρ κυριου η γη και το πληρωμα αυτης (KJV: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

[29] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καθώσπερ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καθαπερ (KJV: as was).

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

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

[32] Luke 2:52 (NET)

Atonement, Part 11

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

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

Hebrews 1:7b (NET parallel Greek)

Psalm 104:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 103:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πῦρ φλέγον ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα

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

Hebrews 1:7 (NET)

Hebrews 1:7 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

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

From Hebrew

From Greek

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

Psalm 103:4 (Elpenor)

Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: He who makes spirits his messengers, and flaming fire his ministers. Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flaming fire.

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

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

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

Psalm 44:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεὸς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα |τοῦ αἰῶνος|, καὶ ἡ ράβδος τῆς εὐθύτητος ράβδος τῆς βασιλείας |σου| ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεός εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου ὁ θρόνος σου, ὁ Θεός, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, ράβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου

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

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

Psalm 44:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ο θρονος σου ο θεος εις τον αιωνα του αιωνος ραβδος ευθυτητος η ραβδος της βασιλειας σου ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεός εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου ὁ θρόνος σου, ὁ Θεός, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, ράβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου

Hebrews 1:8b (Byzantine Majority Text)

Psalm 45:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 44:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ο θρονος σου ο θεος εις τον αιωνα του αιωνος ραβδος ευθυτητος η ραβδος της βασιλειας σου ὁ θρόνος σου ὁ θεός εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου ὁ θρόνος σου, ὁ Θεός, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, ράβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου

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

Psalm 45:1 (Tanakh)

Psalm 44:2 (NETS)

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

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

Psalm 45:2 (Tanakh)

Psalm 44:3 (NETS)

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

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

Psalm 45:3 (Tanakh)

Psalm 44:4 (NETS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Psalm 45:4 (Tanakh)

Psalm 44:5 (NETS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hebrews 1:8 (NET)

Hebrews 1:8 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

John 6:63 (NET)

John 6:63 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

John 1:16, 17 (NET)

John 1:16, 17 (KJV)

For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Revelation 2:16 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Revelation 6:8 (NET)

Revelation 6:8 (KJV)

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Revelation 19:15 (NET)

Revelation 19:15 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Revelation 19: 19-21 (KJV)

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Revelation 14:9, 10 (NET)

Revelation 14:9, 10 (KJV)

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

John 17:17 (NET)

John 17:17 (KJV)

Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Matthew 6:33 (NET)

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Romans 3:22 (NET)

Romans 3:22 (KJV)

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Philippians 1:11 (KJV)

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Revelation 19:11-13 (NET)

Revelation 19:11-13 (KJV)

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

2 Corinthians 10:1 (KJV)

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

John 4:14 (NET)

John 4:14 (KJV)

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Galatians 6:1, 2 (NET)

Galatians 6:1, 2 (KJV)

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

1 Corinthians 4:21 (NET)

1 Corinthians 4:21 (KJV)

What do you want?  Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness? What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Ephesians 4:2 (NET)

Ephesians 4:2 (KJV)

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Ephesians 4:6 (NET)

Ephesians 4:6 (KJV)

one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

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

[2] Exodus 29:33 (NET)

[3] Hebrews 1:7 (NET)

[4] Psalm 104:4 (NET)

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

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

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

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

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

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

[11] John 6:63 (NET)

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

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

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

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

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

[17] Revelation 1:16b (NET)

[18] Revelation 2:12b (NET)

[19] Revelation 2:16b (NET)

[20] Revelation 6:8b (NET)

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

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

[23] Revelation 19:15a (NET)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[31] Revelation 20:10a (NET)

[32] Revelation 20:10b (NET)

[33] Revelation 20:15 (NET)

[34] John 1:14b (NET)

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

[36] John 17:17 (NET)

[37] John 14:6 (NET)

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

[39] Matthew 5:6 (NET)

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

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

[42] Matthew 5:20 (NET)

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

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

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

[46] Philippians 1:11 (NET)

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

[48] Ephesians 6:17b (NET)

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

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

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

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

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

[54] John 4:14b (NET)

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

[56] Galatians 6:1 (NET)

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

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

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

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

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

Atonement, Part 10

This is a continuation of yehôvâh’s (יהוה) instruction to Moses: They[1] are to eat those things by which atonement (kâphar, כפר; Septuagint: ἡγιάσθησαν, a form of ἁγιάζω) was made to consecrate and to set them apart, but no one else may eat them, for they are holy.[2]  I thought to skip the next two verses as an aside with no direct correspondent in Leviticus 8.  The Holy Spirit thought better (Exodus 29:29, 30 NET):

The holy (qôdesh, הקדש; Septuagint: ἁγίου, a form of ἅγιος) garments that belong to Aaron are to belong to his sons after him, so that they may be anointed in them and consecrated (mâlêʼ, ולמלא; Septuagint: τελειῶσαι τὰς χεῖρας) in them.  The priest who succeeds him from his sons, when he first comes to the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place (qôdesh, בקדש; Septuagint: ἁγίοις, another form of ἅγιος), is to wear them for seven days.

I won’t consider ἁγίου or any other form of ἅγιος here except to highlight how often the word serves as a pointer to the source of holiness.  Nor will I look again at τελειῶσαι τὰς χεῖρας.  The Hebrew word translated may be anointed was למשחה (mishchâh), which was translated χρισθῆναι (a form of χρίω) in the Septuagint.  I will consider other forms of χρίω in the New Testament.

The book of Hebrews begins by contrasting Jesus to angels: For to which of the angels (ἀγγέλων, a form of ἄγγελος) did God ever say,You are my son!  Today I have fathered you”?  And in another place he says,I will be his father and he will be my son.”[3]  Malachi had prophesied:

Malachi 3:1 (Tanakh)

Malachi 3:1 (KJV)

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Here in the last book of the Old Testament the One who shall suddenly come to his temple was called both the Lord (ʼădônây, האדון) and the messenger (malʼâk, ומלאך; Septuagint: ἄγγελος) of the covenant.  It makes sense then that Hebrews, what I am considering the first book written of the New Testament, would begin by demonstrating that this particular messenger (ἄγγελος) was not of the phylum of the angels (ἀγγέλων, a form of ἄγγελος) in the spiritual kingdom.

The quotation—“You are my son!  Today I have fathered you”—was verbatim from the Septuagint.

Hebrews 1:5a (NET parallel Greek)

Psalm 2:7b (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 2:7b (Septuagint Elpenor)

υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκα σε υἱός μου εἶ σύ ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε

As I consider the full text from the Tanakh and an English translation of the Septuagint, I hear a kind of corrective to the translators’ attitude that their “instruction” was the point of the psalm.

Psalm 2 (Tanakh)

Psalm 2 (NETS)

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Why did nations grow insolent, and peoples contemplate vain things?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה), and against his anointed, saying, The kings of the earth stood side by side, and the rulers gathered together, against the Lord and against his anointed,
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. “Let us burst their bonds asunder and cast their yoke from us.”
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. He who resides in the heavens will laugh at them and the Lord will mock them.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and in his anger he will trouble them.
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. “But I was established king by him, on Sion, his holy mountain,
I will declare the decree: the LORD (yehôvih, יהוה) hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. By proclaiming the Lord’s ordinance: The Lord said to me, ‘My son you are; today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Ask of me, and I will give you nations as your heritage, and as your possession the ends of the earth.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. You shall shepherd them with an iron rod; like a potter’s vessel you will shatter them.’”
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. And now, O kings, be sensible; be instructed, all you who judge the earth.
Serve the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה) with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Be subject to the Lord with fear, and rejoice in him with trembling.
Kiss (nâshaq, נשקו) the Son (bar, בר), lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Seize (Septuagint: δράξασθε, a form of δράσσομαι) upon instruction (παιδείας, a form of παιδεία), lest the Lord be angry, and you will perish from the righteous way, when his anger quickly blazes out.  Happy are all who trust in him.

The author of Hebrews clearly put the focus back on the anointed Son of the Hebrew psalm rather than the “instruction” of the rabbis who translated the Septuagint.  The quotation—I will be his father and he will be my son—was also verbatim from the Septuagint.

Hebrews 1:5b (NET parallel Greek)

2 Samuel 7:14a (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 7:14a (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν

Hebrews 1:5b (NET parallel Greek)

1 Chronicles 17:13a (Septuagint BLB)

1 Chronicles 17:13a (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν

Jesus, the messenger of the covenant, was not only the son of God but the son of David, as yehôvâh promised David through the prophet Nathan.

2 Samuel 7:12-16 (Tanakh)

2 Reigns 7:12-16 (Septuagint)

When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy body, and I will establish his kingdom. And it will be if your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, that I will raise up your offspring after you who shall be from your belly, and I will prepare his kingdom;
He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. he shall build me a house for my name, and I will restore his throne forever.
I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to Me for a son; if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me, and if his injustice comes, then I will punish him with a rod of men and with attacks of sons of men,
but My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. But I will not remove my mercy from him, as I removed it from those whom I removed from before me.
And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee; thy throne shall be established for ever. And his house and his kingdom shall be made sure forever before me, and his throne shall be restored forever.

But when he again brings his firstborn into the world, he says,Let all the angels of God worship him![4]  This is a bit more problematic since the quotation—Let all the angels of God worship him—is verbatim in the Elpenor version of the Septuagint only.

Hebrews 1:6b (NET parallel Greek)

Deuteronomy 32:43 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 32:43 (Septuagint Elpenor)

προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι θεοῦ προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες υἱοὶ θεοῦ…ἐνισχυσάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι θεοῦ προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι Θεοῦ…ἐνισχυσάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες υἱοὶ Θεοῦ
Hebrews 1:6b (NET) Deuteronomy 32:43 (NETS) Deuteronomy 32:43 (English Elpenor)
Let all the angels of God worship him! let all the divine sons do obeisance to him…let all the angels of God prevail for him let all the angels of God worship him…let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him

It is scrambled some in the BLB version of the Septuagint with προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες in one clause and ἄγγελοι θεοῦ in another.  The phrases ἄγγελοι Θεοῦ (angels of God) and υἱοὶ Θεοῦ (sons of God) are reversed relative to the Elpenor version and the quotation in Hebrews 1:6.  On top of that both clauses are missing entirely in translations from contemporary Hebrew.

From Hebrew

From Greek

Deuteronomy 32:43 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 32:43 (KJV) Deuteronomy 32:43 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 32:43 (English Elpenor)

Sing aloud, O ye nations, of His people; for He doth avenge the blood of His servants, and doth render vengeance to His adversaries, and doth make expiation for the land of His people. Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people. Be glad, O skies, with him, and let all the divine sons do obeisance to him.  Be glad, O nations, with his people, and let all the angels of God prevail for him.  For he will avenge the blood of his sons and take revenge and repay the enemies with a sentence, and he will repay those who hate, and the Lord shall cleanse the land of his people. Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him; rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and the Lord shall purge the land of his people.

It didn’t make any sense.  Why would the Masoretes keep Kiss the Son and discard let all the angels of God worship him, when the most likely referent for him was yehôvâh?  Though I asked the question, I didn’t really expect an answer.  I was, however, curious why the author of Hebrews thought this vanishing quote related to Jesus.  More to the point, why did Jesus teach his disciples that it referred to Him?  So I looked more closely at the available referents for him.

Reference

Tanakh/KJV Hebrew BLB/Elpenor Greek NETS/Elpenor English

Table Below

Deuteronomy 32:3 HaShem/ LORD yehôvâh, יהוה κυρίου/ Κυρίου Lord Table2
Deuteronomy 32:6 HaShem/ LORD yehôvâh, ליהוה κυρίῳ/ Κυρίῳ Lord Table3
Deuteronomy 32:9 HaShem/ LORD’S yehôvâh, יהוה κυρίου/ Κυρίου Lord’s/ Lord Table4
Deuteronomy 32:12 HaShem/ LORD yehôvâh, יהוה κύριος/ Κύριος Lord Table5
Deuteronomy 32:19 HaShem/ LORD yehôvâh, יהוה κύριος/ Κύριος Lord Table7
Deuteronomy 32:27 HaShem/ LORD yehôvâh, יהוה κύριος/ Κύριος Lord Table8
Deuteronomy 32:30 HaShem/ LORD yehôvâh, ויהוה κύριος/ Κύριος Lord Table9
Deuteronomy 32:36 HaShem/ LORD yehôvâh, יהוה κύριος/ Κύριος Lord Table10
Deuteronomy 32:4 Rock tsûr, הצור θεός/ Θεός God Table2
Deuteronomy 32:15 Rock tsûr, צור θεοῦ/ Θεοῦ God Table6
Deuteronomy 32:18 Rock tsûr, צור θεὸν/ Θεὸν God Table7
Deuteronomy 32:30 Rock tsûr, צורם θεὸς/ Θεὸς God Table9
Deuteronomy 32:31 Rock tsûr, צורם θεὸς/ Θεὸς God
Deuteronomy 32:3 G-d/ God ʼĕlôhı̂ym, לאלהינו θεῷ/ Θεῷ God Table2
Deuteronomy 32:4 G-d/ God ʼêl, אל θεὸς/ Θεὸς god/ God
Deuteronomy 32:15 G-d/ God ʼĕlôahh, אלוה θεὸν/ Θεὸν God Table6
Deuteronomy 32:18 G-d/ God ʼêl, אל θεοῦ/ Θεοῦ God Table7
Deuteronomy 32:8 Most High ʽelyôn, עליון ὕψιστος/ Υψιστος Most High Table4

He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the children (bên, בני) of Israel (yiśrâʼêl),[5] caught my attention since the NETS read, “he fixed boundaries of nations according to the number of divine (θεοῦ, another form of θεός) sons” (ἀγγέλων, a form of ἄγγελος).  Why would anyone translate bên yiśrâʼêl (children of Israel) ἀγγέλων θεοῦ (NETS: “divine sons;” Elpenor English Translation: angels of God).  A note (14) in the NET offered a clue:

…a Qumran fragment has “sons of God,”… “Sons of God” is undoubtedly the original reading; the MT and LXX have each interpreted it differently.  MT assumes that the expression “sons of God” refers to Israel (cf. Hos. 1:10), while LXX has assumed that the phrase refers to the angelic heavenly assembly (Pss 29:1; 89:6; cf. as well Ps 82).

Suddenly, the answer I wasn’t expecting was right in my face.  The Masoretes kept Kiss the Son because they thought the Son was Israel.  And they weren’t wrong.  Jesus is as much a son of Israel as He is a son of David.   In an essay, “In Psalm 2:12, is Kiss the Son a mistranslation by the Christians?” on Jews for Jesus online, Joseph Sarachek[6] was quoted:

Ibn Ezra rejects the simple and acceptable meaning of ‘bar’ as pure and inclines to translate it as son, referring it to the “anointed one” in v. 2 and making it the apposite of “Thou art my son” in v. 7. Bar would then allude to Israel.

I still didn’t have a clue why they might discard something as innocuous as Let all the angels of God worship him!  Who did they think him was?  Eventually I came to Deuteronomy 32:15 (Tanakh):

But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked–thou didst wax fat, thou didst grow thick, thou didst become gross–and he forsook G-d who made him, and contemned the Rock of his salvation (NETS: “God his Saviour”).

The Hebrew word translated salvation was ישעתו (yeshûʽâh).  Yeshua, apparently, is way too close to the Greek Ἰησοῦς (Jesus) for the Masoretes to allow any suggestion that the angels of God might worship Him.  Given a choice between the Rock of his salvation and the more innocuous Let all the angels of God worship him, the latter, it appears, was chosen for elimination.

This Rock was translated with some form of θεὸς (See Table above) in the Septuagint every time it occurred in Moses’ song.  Not so with the story of the Rock recorded in Exodus (17:6 Tanakh):

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock (tsûr, הצור; Septuagint: πέτρας, a form of πέτρα) in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock (tsûr, בצור; Septuagint: πέτραν, another form of πέτρα), and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.’  And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Later Moses, frustrated with the people, struck the Rock in anger when HaShem had told him to speak to it.  Here the Rock was called by a different name in contemporary Hebrew, though not in Greek in the Septuagint (Numbers 20:7-12 Tanakh):

And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: ‘Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock (selaʽ, הסלע; Septuagint: πέτραν, another form of πέτρα) before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock (selaʽ, הסלע; Septuagint: πέτρας, a form of πέτρα); so thou shalt give the congregation and their cattle drink.’

And Moses took the rod from before HaShem, as He commanded him.  And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock (selaʽ, הסלע; Septuagint: πέτρας, a form of πέτρα), and he said unto them: ‘Hear now, ye rebels; are we to bring you forth water out of this rock (selaʽ, הסלע; Septuagint: πέτρας, a form of πέτρα)?’  And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock (selaʽ, הסלע; Septuagint: πέτραν, another form of πέτρα) with his rod twice; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.  And HaShem said unto Moses and Aaron: ‘Because ye believed not in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’

Paul wrote believers in Corinth (1 Corinthians 10:1-4 NET):

For[7] I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses[8] in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink.  For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock (πέτρας, a form of πέτρα) that followed them, and the rock (πέτρα) was Christ.

The translators of the Septuagint weren’t wrong to call the Rock of HaShem’s Salvation (yeshûʽâh, ישעתו) God.

I haven’t even gotten to a form of χρίω yet, but will pick it up from here in another essay.  A table comparing Psalm 2:12 in the Elpenor and BLB versions of the Septuagint, tables comparing Deuteronomy 32:3, 4; 32:6; 32:8, 9; 32:12; 32:15; 32:18, 19; 32:27; 32:30, 31 and 32:36 in the Tanankh, KJV, NETS and Elpenor English translations, and a table comparing 1 Corinthians 10:1, 2 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 2:12, 13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

Psalm 2:12 (Septuagint BLB)

δράξασθε παιδείας, μήποτε ὀργισθῇ Κύριος καὶ ἀπολεῖσθε ἐξ ὁδοῦ δικαίας δράξασθε παιδείας μήποτε ὀργισθῇ κύριος καὶ ἀπολεῖσθε ἐξ ὁδοῦ δικαίας ὅταν ἐκκαυθῇ ἐν τάχει ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ μακάριοι πάντες οἱ πεποιθότες ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ
ὅταν ἐκκαυθῇ ἐν τάχει ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ, μακάριοι πάντες οἱ πεποιθότες ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ

From Hebrew

From Greek

Deuteronomy 32:3, 4 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 32:3, 4 (KJV) Deuteronomy 32:3, 4 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 32:3, 4 (English Elpenor)

For I will proclaim the name of HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה); ascribe ye greatness unto our G-d (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, לאלהינו). Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. For I have called out the name of the Lord (κυρίου, a form of κύριος); ascribe greatness to our God (θεῷ, a form of θεός)! For I have called on the name of the Lord (Κυρίου): assign ye greatness to our God (Θεῷ).
The Rock (tsûr, הצור), His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice; a G-d (ʼêl, אל) of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. God (θεός)—his works are genuine, and all his ways are justice.  A faithful god (θεὸς), and there is no injustice, a righteous and holy Lord (κύριος); [As for God (Θεός)], his works [are] true, and all his ways [are] judgment: God (Θεὸς) [is] faithful, and there is no unrighteousness [in him]; just and holy [is] the Lord (Κύριος).

From Hebrew

From Greek
Deuteronomy 32:6 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 32:6 (KJV) Deuteronomy 32:6 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 32:6 (English Elpenor)

Do ye thus requite HaShem (yehôvâh, ליהוה ה), O foolish people and unwise? is not He thy father that hath gotten thee? hath He not made thee, and established thee? Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee? Do you thus repay the Lord (κυρίῳ, another form of κύριος) these things, O people, foolish and not wise?  Did not he himself, you father, acquire you and make you and create you? Do ye thus recompense the Lord (Κυρίῳ)? [is the] people thus foolish and unwise? did not he himself thy father purchase thee, and make thee, and form thee?

From Hebrew

From Greek
Deuteronomy 32:8, 9 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 32:8, 9 (KJV) Deuteronomy 32:8, 9 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 32:8, 9 (English Elpenor)

When the Most High (ʽelyôn, עליון) gave to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the children (bên, בני) of Israel (yiśrâʼêl, ישׁראל). When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. When the Most High (ὕψιστος) was apportioning the nations, as he scattered Adam’s sons, he fixed boundaries of nations according to the number of divine (θεοῦ, another form of θεός) sons (ἀγγέλων, a form of ἄγγελος), When the Most High (Υψιστος) divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels (ἀγγέλων, a form of ἄγγελος) of God (Θεοῦ, a form of θεός).
For the portion of HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) is His people, Jacob the lot of His inheritance. For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. And his people Iakob became the Lord’s (κυρίου, a form of κύριος) portion, Israel a measured part of his inheritance. And his people Jacob became the portion of the Lord (Κυρίου), Israel was the line of his inheritance.

From Hebrew

From Greek
Deuteronomy 32:12 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 32:12 (KJV) Deuteronomy 32:12 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 32:12 (English Elpenor)

HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) alone did lead him [e.g., Jacob, His people], and there was no strange god with Him. So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. The Lord (κύριος) alone was leading them, and no foreign god was with them. the Lord (Κύριος) alone led them, there was no strange god with them.

From Hebrew

From Greek
Deuteronomy 32:15 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 32:15 (KJV) Deuteronomy 32:15 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 32:15 (English Elpenor)

But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked–thou didst wax fat, thou didst grow thick, thou didst become gross–and he forsook G-d (ʼĕlôahh, אלוה) who made him, and contemned the Rock (tsûr, צור) of his salvation (yeshûʽâh, ישעתו). But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. And Iakob ate and was filled, and the beloved one kicked.  He grew fat; he became heavy; he became broad!  And he abandoned God (θεὸν, another form of θεός) who made him, and he departed from God (θεοῦ, another form of θεός) his savior (σωτῆρος, a form of σωτήρ). So Jacob ate and was filled, and the beloved one kicked; he grew fat, he became thick and broad: then he forsook the God (Θεὸν) that made him, and departed from God (Θεοῦ) his Saviour (σωτῆρος, a form of σωτήρ).

From Hebrew

From Greek
Deuteronomy 32:18, 19 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 32:18, 19 (KJV) Deuteronomy 32:18, 19 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 32:18, 19 (English Elpenor)

Of the Rock (tsûr, צור) that begot thee thou wast unmindful, and didst forget G-d (ʼêl, אל) that bore thee. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. You abandoned God (θεὸν, another form of θεός) who bore you, and you forgot God (θεοῦ, another form of θεός) who nurtures you. Thou hast forsaken God (Θεὸν) that begot thee, and forgotten God (Θεοῦ) who feeds thee.
And HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) saw, and spurned, because of the provoking of His sons and His daughters. And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. And the Lord (κύριος) saw it and was jealous, and he was provoked on account of the wrath of his sons and daughters. And the Lord (Κύριος) saw, and was jealous; and was provoked by the anger of his sons and daughters,

From Hebrew

From Greek
Deuteronomy 32:27 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 32:27 (KJV) Deuteronomy 32:27 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 32:27 (English Elpenor)

Were it not that I dreaded the enemy’s provocation, lest their adversaries should misdeem, lest they should say: Our hand is exalted, and not HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) hath wrought all this.’ Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this. were it not for wrath of the enemies so that they may not last long and so that there adversaries not collaborate, let them not say, “Our hand is high, and it was not the Lord (κύριος) who did all these things.” Were it not for the wrath of the enemy, lest they should live long, lest their enemies should combine against them; lest they should say, Our own high arm, and not the Lord (Κύριος), has done all these things.

From Hebrew

From Greek
Deuteronomy 32:30, 31 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 32:30, 31 (KJV) Deuteronomy 32:30, 31 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 32:30, 31 (English Elpenor)

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock (tsûr, צורם) had given them over and HaShem (yehôvâh, ויהוה) had delivered them up? How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? How shall one pursue thousands and two remove myriads unless God (θεὸς) sold them and the Lord (κύριος) delivered them up? How should one pursue a thousand, and two rout tens of thousands, if God (Θεὸς) had not sold them, and the Lord (Κύριος) delivered them up?
For their rock (tsûr, כצורנו) is not as our Rock (tsûr, צורם), even our enemies themselves being judges. For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. For not like our God (θεὸς) are their gods (θεοὶ, another form of θεός), but our enemies are without understanding. For their gods (θεοὶ) are not as our God (Θεὸς), but our enemies [are] void of understanding.

From Hebrew

From Greek
Deuteronomy 32:36 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 32:36 (KJV) Deuteronomy 32:36 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 32:36 (English Elpenor)

For HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) will judge His people, and repent Himself for His servants; when He seeth that their stay is gone, and there is none remaining, shut up or left at large. For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left. For the Lord (κύριος) will judge his people and be comforted over his slaves.  For he saw them paralyzed, both failed under attack and enfeebled. For the Lord (Κύριος) shall judge his people, and shall be comforted over his servants; for he saw that they were utterly weakened, and failed in the hostile invasion, and were become feeble:

1 Corinthians 10:1, 2 (NET)

1 Corinthians 10:1, 2 (KJV)

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Οὐ θέλω γὰρ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, ὅτι οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν πάντες ὑπὸ τὴν νεφέλην ἦσαν καὶ πάντες διὰ τῆς θαλάσσης διῆλθον ου θελω δε υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι οτι οι πατερες ημων παντες υπο την νεφελην ησαν και παντες δια της θαλασσης διηλθον ου θελω δε υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι οτι οι πατερες ημων παντες υπο την νεφελην ησαν και παντες δια της θαλασσης διηλθον
and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ πάντες εἰς τὸν Μωϋσῆν |ἐβαπτίσαντο| ἐν τῇ νεφέλῃ καὶ ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ και παντες εις τον μωσην εβαπτισαντο εν τη νεφελη και εν τη θαλασση και παντες εις τον μωυσην εβαπτισαντο εν τη νεφελη και εν τη θαλασση

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

[2] Exodus 29:33 (NET)

[3] Hebrews 1:5 (NET)

[4] Hebrews 1:6 (NET)

[5] Deuteronomy 32:8b (Tanakh) ישׁראל

[6] Joseph Sarachek, The Doctrine of the Messiah in Medieval Jewish Literature (New York: Hermon Press, 1968), p. 121.

[7] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γὰρ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: Moreover).

[8] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Moses was spelled Μωϋσῆν, and μωσην in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

Atonement, Part 9

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

Exodus 29:26 (NET)

Leviticus 8:29 (NET)

You are to take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s consecration (millûʼ, המלאים; Septuagint: τελειώσεως, a form of τελείωσις); you are to wave it as a wave offering before the Lord, and it is to be your share. Finally, Moses took the breast and waved it as a wave offering (tenûphâh, תנופה; Septuagint: ἐπίθεμα) before the Lord from the ram of ordination (millûʼ, המלאים; Septuagint: τελειώσεως, a form of τελείωσις).  It was Moses’ share just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Though τελειώσεως, the translation of המלאים (millûʼ) in the Septuagint, doesn’t occur in the New Testament, I’ve already considered its root τελείωσις in two essays.[3]  The Greek word ἐπίθεμα is another, used to translate תנופה (tenûphâh) in the Septuagint, that does not occur in the New Testament.  But we have come finally to those things Aaron and his sons are to eat that no one else may eat (Exodus 29:27, 28 NET):

You are to sanctify (qâdash, וקדשת; Septuagint: ἁγιάσεις, another form of ἁγιάζω) the breast of the wave offering (tenûphâh, התנופה; Septuagint: ἀφόρισμα) and the thigh of the contribution (terûmâh, התרומה; Septuagint: ἀφαιρέματος), which were waved and lifted up as a contribution from the ram of consecration (millûʼ, המלאים; Septuagint: τελειώσεως, a form of τελείωσις), from what belongs to Aaron and to his sons.  It is to belong to Aaron and to his sons from the Israelites, by a perpetual ordinance, for it is a contribution (terûmâh, תרומה; Septuagint: ἀφαίρεμα).  It is to be a contribution (terûmâh, ותרומה; Septuagint: ἀφαίρεμα) from the Israelites from their peace offerings, their contribution (terûmâh, תרומתם; Septuagint: ἀφαίρεμα) to the Lord.

I still plan to reserve any further study of forms of ἁγιάζω for another series of essays.  The Greek words ἀφόρισμα, another translation of התנופה (tenûphâh), ἀφαιρέματος (a form of ἀφαίρεμα), a translation of התרומה (terûmâh) and ἀφαίρεμα were not used in the New Testament.  But the word translated peace offerings above was שלמיהם (shelem) in Hebrew.  It was translated τῶν θυμάτων τῶν σωτηρίων (a form of σωτήριον[4]) in the Septuagint, which was translated back into English as “the victims of deliverance.”  This was a fairly rich vein to mine.

Luke wrote in his Gospel narrative (Luke 2:25-32 NET):

Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen[5] the Lord’s Christ.  So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, Simeon took him in his[6] arms and blessed God, saying, “Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation (σωτήριον) that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

So Simeon, led by the Holy Spirit, declared Jesus the Sovereign Lord’s salvation, his peace offering, his victim of deliverance.  Again, I turn to Luke’s Gospel narrative (Luke 3:1-6 NET):

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch[7] of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood[8] of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the[9] son of Zechariah in the wilderness.  He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,[10] “The voice of one shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.  Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be brought low, and the crooked will be made straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth, and all humanity will see the salvation (σωτήριον) of God.’”

Luke indirectly (John 1:29-34) ascribed a prophecy about yehôvâh to Jesus.  Here is the scripture he quoted from the Tanakh and KJV: 

Isaiah 40:3-5 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 40:3-5 (KJV)

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה), make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה) shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה) hath spoken it. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

The first thing I noticed is that there is no mention of the salvation of God in translations made from contemporary Hebrew.  So I compared Luke’s Greek to the Septuagint.

Luke 3:4b-6 (NET parallel Greek)

Isaiah 40:3, 4, 5 (Septuagint)

φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ· ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν
πᾶσα φάραγξ πληρωθήσεται καὶ πᾶν ὄρος καὶ βουνὸς ταπεινωθήσεται, καὶ ἔσται τὰ σκολιὰ εἰς |εὐθείαν| καὶ αἱ τραχεῖαι εἰς ὁδοὺς λείας πᾶσα φάραγξ πληρωθήσεται καὶ πᾶν ὄρος καὶ βουνὸς ταπεινωθήσεται καὶ ἔσται πάντα τὰ σκολιὰ εἰς εὐθεῖαν καὶ ἡ τραχεῖα εἰς πεδία
καὶ ὄψεται πᾶσα σὰρξ τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ὀφθήσεται ἡ δόξα κυρίου καὶ ὄψεται πᾶσα σὰρξ τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι κύριος ἐλάλησεν

Here are both clauses: καὶ ὀφθήσεται ἡ δόξα κυρίου (NETS: “Then the glory of the Lord shall appear”), καὶ ὄψεται πᾶσα σὰρξ τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ (NETS: “and all flesh shall see the salvation of God”).  Luke only quoted the latter.  I am less concerned that he ended his quotation before ὅτι κύριος ἐλάλησεν (NETS: “because the Lord has spoken”[11]).  Luke also substituted αὐτοῦ (his) for τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν (for our God) and ὁδοὺς λείας (ways will be made smooth) for πεδία (places plain).

I compared Isaiah 40:3-5 from the BLB version of the Septuagint with the Elpenor version (Table1 below).  The only difference was ὁδοὺς λείας rather than πεδία.  That alleviated my initial concern somewhat.  If believers had changed πεδία to ὁδοὺς λείας to conform better to Luke’s quotation, why didn’t they go all out and change τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν to αὐτοῦ and drop καὶ ὀφθήσεται ἡ δόξα κυρίου all together?  These may be two distinct versions of the Septuagint.  So why not imagine a third version that conforms even better to Luke’s quotation?

Frankly, without having a third version in hand for comparison I don’t want the complication.  Paul called Jesus τοῦ μεγάλου θεοῦ (our great God) in an ostensibly private letter to Titus.  I could see Luke’s substitution of αὐτοῦ for τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν as a courtesy to believing Jews.  The word αὐτοῦ (his) referring back to yehôvâh did not change the meaning at all, but it was a softer touch than calling Jesus our God.  And Luke may have dropped καὶ ὀφθήσεται ἡ δόξα κυρίου (NETS: “Then the glory of the Lord shall appear”) at the Holy Spirit’s behest.  Jesus’ first advent was by no means the full revelation of his glory as yehôvâh come in human flesh (Malachi 3:1-7a Tanakh). 

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD (ʼădônây, האדון), whom ye seek (Revelation 19:11-16), shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה) of hosts.  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD (yehôvâh, ליהוה) an offering in righteousness.  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD (yehôvâh, ליהוה), as in the days of old, and as in former years.

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה) of hosts.  For I am the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה), I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.  Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them.  Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה) of hosts.

So they [the local Jewish leaders] began to leave, Luke wrote, unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘Go to this people and say,[12]You will keep on hearing, but will never understand, and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive.  For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal[13] them.”’
“Therefore be advised that this[14] salvation (σωτήριον) from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!”[15]

Here is a table comparing Luke’s Greek with the Septuagint.  The BLB and Elpenor versions of the Septuagint are compared in Table2 below.

Acts 28:26b, 27 (NET parallel Greek) Isaiah 6:9b, 10 (Septuagint)
πορεύθητι πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον καὶ εἰπόν ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε πορεύθητι καὶ εἰπὸν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε
ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν, καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς

For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, Paul wrote believers in Rome, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until[16] the full number (πλήρωμα) of the Gentiles has come in.[17]  This time of parital hardening until the full number of the Gentiles has come in is predicated upon Gentiles listening: they will listen (ἀκούσονται, a form of ἀκούω), Paul wrote, or hear.  This hearing is a bit more complicated than it might at first appear.  Surely, from the human side it requires both a willingness and capacity to sit quietly long enough to provide the opportunity for hearing.  It also involves God sending those who are qualified to preach (Romans 10:14b, 15a NET):

And how are they to believe[18] in one they have not heard (ἤκουσαν, another form of ἀκούω) of?  And how are they to hear[19] (ἀκούσωσιν, another form of ἀκούω) without someone preaching to them?  And how are they to preach[20] unless they are sent (ἀποσταλῶσιν, a form of ἀποστέλλω)?

Still, hearing only comes through God’s (or Christ’s) own spoken word: So then faith comes by hearing (ἀκοῆς, a form of ἀκοή), and hearing (ἀκοὴ, another form of ἀκοή) by the word (ρήματος, a form of ῥῆμα) of God.[21]  Even after all the time they spent with Him, Jesus’ disciples weren’t able to put it all together until he opened (διήνοιξεν, a form of διανοίγω) their minds: Then he opened their minds so they could understand (συνιέναι, a form of συνίημι) the scriptures[22]  Witnessing the failure of any of these things in Gentiles as they become manifest in the descendants of Jacob signals the end of this time of Israel’s partial hardening (Titus 2:11-14 NET).

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation[23] (σωτήριος, another form of σωτήριον) to all people.  It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.

Tables comparing Isaiah 40:3-5 and Isaiah 6:9, 10 in the Elpenor and BLB versions of the Septuagint, and tables of Luke 2:26; 2:28; 3:1, 2; 3:4; Acts 28:26-28; Romans 11:25; 10:14, 15; 10:17 and Titus 2:11 comparing the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 40:3-5 (Septuagint Elpenor) Isaiah 40:3, 4, 5 (Septuagint BLB)
φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ· ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου. εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν. φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν
πᾶσα φάραγξ πληρωθήσεται καὶ πᾶν ὄρος καὶ βουνὸς ταπεινωθήσεται, καὶ ἔσται πάντα τὰ σκολιὰ εἰς εὐθεῖαν καὶ ἡ τραχεῖα εἰς ὁδοὺς λείας πᾶσα φάραγξ πληρωθήσεται καὶ πᾶν ὄρος καὶ βουνὸς ταπεινωθήσεται καὶ ἔσται πάντα τὰ σκολιὰ εἰς εὐθεῖαν καὶ ἡ τραχεῖα εἰς πεδία
καὶ ὀφθήσεται ἡ δόξα Κυρίου, καὶ ὄψεται πᾶσα σάρξ τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι Κύριος ἐλάλησε. καὶ ὀφθήσεται ἡ δόξα κυρίου καὶ ὄψεται πᾶσα σὰρξ τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι κύριος ἐλάλησεν
Isaiah 6:9b, 10 (Septuagint Elpenor) Isaiah 6:9b, 10 (Septuagint BLB)
πορεύθητι καὶ εἰπὸν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ· ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε πορεύθητι καὶ εἰπὸν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε
ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσι τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσι καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσι, καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσι, καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς
Luke 2:26 (NET) Luke 2:26 (KJV)
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ κεχρηματισμένον ὑπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου μὴ ἰδεῖν θάνατον πρὶν [ἢ] ἂν ἴδῃ τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου και ην αυτω κεχρηματισμενον υπο του πνευματος του αγιου μη ιδειν θανατον πριν η ιδη τον χριστον κυριου και ην αυτω κεχρηματισμενον υπο του πνευματος του αγιου μη ιδειν θανατον πριν η ιδη τον χριστον κυριου
Luke 2:28 (NET) Luke 2:28 (KJV)
Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ αὐτὸς ἐδέξατο αὐτὸ εἰς τὰς ἀγκάλας καὶ εὐλόγησεν τὸν θεὸν καὶ εἶπεν και αυτος εδεξατο αυτο εις τας αγκαλας αυτου και ευλογησεν τον θεον και ειπεν και αυτος εδεξατο αυτο εις τας αγκαλας αυτου και ευλογησεν τον θεον και ειπεν
Luke 3:1, 2 (NET) Luke 3:1, 2 (KJV)
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐν ἔτει δὲ πεντεκαιδεκάτῳ τῆς ἡγεμονίας Τιβερίου Καίσαρος, ἡγεμονεύοντος Ποντίου Πιλάτου τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ τετρααρχοῦντος τῆς Γαλιλαίας Ἡρῴδου, Φιλίππου δὲ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ τετρααρχοῦντος τῆς Ἰτουραίας καὶ Τραχωνίτιδος χώρας, καὶ Λυσανίου τῆς Ἀβιληνῆς τετρααρχοῦντος εν ετει δε πεντεκαιδεκατω της ηγεμονιας τιβεριου καισαρος ηγεμονευοντος ποντιου πιλατου της ιουδαιας και τετραρχουντος της γαλιλαιας ηρωδου φιλιππου δε του αδελφου αυτου τετραρχουντος της ιτουραιας και τραχωνιτιδος χωρας και λυσανιου της αβιληνης τετραρχουντος εν ετει δε πεντεκαιδεκατω της ηγεμονιας τιβεριου καισαρος ηγεμονευοντος ποντιου πιλατου της ιουδαιας και τετραρχουντος της γαλιλαιας ηρωδου φιλιππου δε του αδελφου αυτου τετραρχουντος της ιτουραιας και τραχωνιτιδος χωρας και λυσανιου της αβιληνης τετραρχουντος
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἐπὶ ἀρχιερέως  Ἅννα καὶ Καϊάφα, ἐγένετο ρῆμα θεοῦ ἐπὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν Ζαχαρίου υἱὸν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ επ αρχιερεων αννα και καιαφα εγενετο ρημα θεου επι ιωαννην τον του ζαχαριου υιον εν τη ερημω επι αρχιερεως αννα και καιαφα εγενετο ρημα θεου επι ιωαννην τον ζαχαριου υιον εν τη ερημω
Luke 3:4 (NET) Luke 3:4 (KJV)
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight. As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ὡς γέγραπται ἐν βίβλῳ λόγων Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ ως γεγραπται εν βιβλω λογων ησαιου του προφητου λεγοντος φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ετοιμασατε την οδον κυριου ευθειας ποιειτε τας τριβους αυτου ως γεγραπται εν βιβλω λογων ησαιου του προφητου λεγοντος φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ετοιμασατε την οδον κυριου ευθειας ποιειτε τας τριβους αυτου
Acts 28:26-28 (NET) Acts 28:26-28 (KJV)
when he said, ‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing, but will never understand, and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
λέγων πορεύθητι πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον καὶ εἰπόν ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε λεγον πορευθητι προς τον λαον τουτον και ειπε ακοη ακουσετε και ου μη συνητε και βλεποντες βλεψετε και ου μη ιδητε λεγον πορευθητι προς τον λαον τουτον και ειπον ακοη ακουσετε και ου μη συνητε και βλεποντες βλεψετε και ου μη ιδητε
For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”’ For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν, καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς επαχυνθη γαρ η καρδια του λαου τουτου και τοις ωσιν βαρεως ηκουσαν και τους οφθαλμους αυτων εκαμμυσαν μηποτε ιδωσιν τοις οφθαλμοις και τοις ωσιν ακουσωσιν και τη καρδια συνωσιν και επιστρεψωσιν και ιασωμαι αυτους επαχυνθη γαρ η καρδια του λαου τουτου και τοις ωσιν βαρεως ηκουσαν και τους οφθαλμους αυτων εκαμμυσαν μηποτε ιδωσιν τοις οφθαλμοις και τοις ωσιν ακουσωσιν και τη καρδια συνωσιν και επιστρεψωσιν και ιασομαι αυτους
“Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!” Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
γνωστὸν οὖν  ἔστω |ὑμῖν| ὅτι τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἀπεστάλη τοῦτο τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ· αὐτοὶ καὶ ἀκούσονται γνωστον ουν εστω υμιν οτι τοις εθνεσιν απεσταλη το σωτηριον του θεου αυτοι και ακουσονται γνωστον ουν εστω υμιν οτι τοις εθνεσιν απεσταλη το σωτηριον του θεου αυτοι και ακουσονται
Romans 11:25 (NET) Romans 11:25 (KJV)
For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐ γὰρ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο, ἵνα μὴ ἦτε [παρ᾿] ἑαυτοῖς φρόνιμοι, ὅτι πώρωσις ἀπὸ μέρους τῷ Ἰσραὴλ γέγονεν ἄχρι οὗ τὸ πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰσέλθῃ ου γαρ θελω υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι το μυστηριον τουτο ινα μη ητε παρ εαυτοις φρονιμοι οτι πωρωσις απο μερους τω ισραηλ γεγονεν αχρις ου το πληρωμα των εθνων εισελθη ου γαρ θελω υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι το μυστηριον τουτο ινα μη ητε παρ εαυτοις φρονιμοι οτι πωρωσις απο μερους τω ισραηλ γεγονεν αχρις ου το πληρωμα των εθνων εισελθη
Romans 10:14, 15 (NET) Romans 10:14, 15 (KJV)
How are they to call on one they have not believed in?  And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of?  And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Πῶς οὖν ἐπικαλέσωνται εἰς ὃν οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν; πῶς δὲ πιστεύσωσιν οὗ οὐκ ἤκουσαν; πῶς δὲ ἀκούσωσιν χωρὶς κηρύσσοντος πως ουν επικαλεσονται εις ον ουκ επιστευσαν πως δε πιστευσουσιν ου ουκ ηκουσαν πως δε ακουσουσιν χωρις κηρυσσοντος πως ουν επικαλεσονται εις ον ουκ επιστευσαν πως δε πιστευσουσιν ου ουκ ηκουσαν πως δε ακουσουσιν χωρις κηρυσσοντος
And how are they to preach unless they are sent?  As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.” And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
πῶς δὲ κηρύξωσιν ἐὰν μὴ ἀποσταλῶσιν; |καθὼς| γέγραπται· ὡς ὡραῖοι οἱ πόδες τῶν εὐαγγελιζομένων [τὰ] ἀγαθά πως δε κηρυξουσιν εαν μη αποσταλωσιν καθως γεγραπται ως ωραιοι οι ποδες των ευαγγελιζομενων ειρηνην των ευαγγελιζομενων τα αγαθα πως δε κηρυξουσιν εαν μη αποσταλωσιν καθως γεγραπται ως ωραιοι οι ποδες των ευαγγελιζομενων ειρηνην των ευαγγελιζομενων τα αγαθα
Romans 10:17 (NET) Romans 10:17 (KJV)
Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἄρα ἡ πίστις ἐξ ἀκοῆς, ἡ δὲ ἀκοὴ διὰ ρήματος Χριστοῦ αρα η πιστις εξ ακοης η δε ακοη δια ρηματος θεου αρα η πιστις εξ ακοης η δε ακοη δια ρηματος θεου
Titus 2:11 (NET) Titus 2:11 (KJV)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐπεφάνη γὰρ ἡ χάρις τοῦ θεοῦ σωτήριος πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις επεφανη γαρ η χαρις του θεου η σωτηριος πασιν ανθρωποις επεφανη γαρ η χαρις του θεου η σωτηριος πασιν ανθρωποις

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

[2] Exodus 29:33 (NET)

[3] Atonement, Part 7; Atonement, Part 8

[4] This is according to Strong’s Concordance.  On Bible Hub the forms were derived from σωτήριος.

[5] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἂν preceding he had seen.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

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

[7] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τετρααρχοῦντος here and two other occurrences, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τετραρχουντος.

[8] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had αρχιερεων (KJV: high priests) here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἀρχιερέως.

[9] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had τον του here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had simply τον.

[10] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεγοντος (KJV: saying) here following prophet.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[11] Isaiah 40:5 (NETS)

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

[13] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἰάσομαι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ιασωμαι (KJV: should heal).

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

[15] Acts 28:25-28 (NET)

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

[17] Romans 11:25 (NET)

[18] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πιστεύσωσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πιστευσουσιν (KJV: shall they believe).

[19] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀκούσωσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ακουσουσιν (KJV: shall they hear).

[20] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κηρύξωσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κηρυξουσιν (KJV: shall they preach).

[21] Romans 10:17 (NKJV) The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Χριστοῦ (NET: Christ) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θεου.

[22] Luke 24:45 (NET)

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

Atonement, Part 8

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

Exodus 29:22-25 (NET)

Leviticus 8:25-28 (NET)

You are to take from the ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and the right thigh – for it is the ram for consecration (millûʼ, מלאים; Septuagint: τελείωσις)  – Then he took the fat (the fatty tail, all the fat on the entrails, the protruding lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat) and the right thigh,
and one round flat cake of bread, one perforated cake of oiled bread, and one wafer from the basket of bread made without yeast that is before the Lord. and from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord he took one unleavened loaf, one loaf of bread mixed with olive oil, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat parts and on the right thigh.
You are to put all these in Aaron’s hands and in his sons’ hands, and you are to wave them as a wave offering (tenûphâh, תנופה; Septuagint: ἀφόρισμα) before the Lord. He then put all of them on the palms of Aaron and his sons, who waved them as a wave offering (tenûphâh, תנופה; Septuagint: ἀφαίρεμα) before the Lord.
Then you are to take them from their hands and burn them on the altar for a burnt offering (ʽôlâh, העלה; Septuagint: ὁλοκαυτώσεως, a form of ὁλοκαύτωσις), for a soothing aroma before the Lord.  It is an offering made by fire (ʼishshâh, אשה; Septuagint: κάρπωμά) to the Lord. Moses then took them from their palms and offered them up in smoke on the altar on top of the burnt offering (ʽôlâh, העלה; Septuagint: ὁλοκαύτωμα) – they were an ordination (millûʼ, מלאים; Septuagint: τελειώσεως, a form of τελείωσις) offering for a soothing aroma; it was a gift (ʼishshâh, אשה]; Septuagint: κάρπωμά) to the Lord.

The words ἀφόρισμα and ἀφαίρεμα (wave offering) in the Septuagint were not used in the New Testament, nor were any forms of ὁλοκαύτωσις (burnt offering) or κάρπωμά (NET: offering made by fire, gift).  I’ve already considered all of the occurrences of ὁλοκαύτωμα.[3]  So I’ll continue with τελείωσις (Hebrews 7:11 NET):

So if perfection (τελείωσις) had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis[4] the people received the law[5] – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?

I’ll back up here a bit to consider Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:17-20 NET):

God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath, so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God[6] to lie.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesusbecame (γενόμενος, a form of γίνομαι) a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.  This alludes to Psalm 110:4, contrasted in the table below.

Hebrews 6:20b (NET)

Psalms 110:4 (Septuagint)

κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ ἀρχιερεὺς γενόμενος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδεκ

The order of phrases was reversed from the Septuagint: κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ (NET: in the order of Melchizedek) preceded ἀρχιερεὺς…εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα (NET: a priest forever).  Also ἀρχιερεὺς (high priest) replaced ἱερεὺς (priest).  I’m noting it here because Hebrews 7:17b was a verbatim quote.

Hebrews 7:17b (NET)

Psalms 110:4 (Septuagint)

ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδεκ

Now this Melchizedek, the writer of Hebrews explained, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham (Genesis 14:17-24) as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.  To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything.  His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace.  Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time. [7]

The Jewish Encyclopedia (1906) entry on Melchizedek read:

The story is neither an invention nor the product of a copyist’s error, as Cheyne (“Encyc. Bibl.”) thinks, but rests upon ancient Jerusalemic tradition (as Josephus, “B. J.” vi. 10, affirms; comp. Gunkel, “Genesis,” 1901, p. 261), “Zedek” being an ancient name of Jerusalem…The city’s first king, accordingly, was known either as “Adoni Zedek” (Josh. x. 1 et seq. ; comp. Judges i. 5-7, where “Adonizedek” is the correct reading) or as “Malkizedek.”  The fact that he united the royal with the priestly dignity, like all ancient (heathen) kings, made him a welcome type to the composer of the triumphal song (Ps. cx.).

Adoni-Zedek was one of the five kings Joshua killed (Joshua 10:22-27).  The writer of Hebrews, however, who I think wrote down what Jesus taught his disciples after his resurrection, highlighted a change in the law based on δύναμιν ζωῆς ἀκαταλύτου, the power of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:12-17 NET):

For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well.  Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar.  For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses[8] said nothing about priests[9] in connection with that tribe.  And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical[10] descent but by the power of an indestructible (ἀκαταλύτου, a form of ἀκατάλυτος) life.  For here is the testimony about him: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

The verb translated here is the testimony was μαρτυρεῖται (a form of μαρτυρέω) in the NET parallel Greek text and NA28.  In the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text it was μαρτυρει (KJV: he testifieth).  The only difference between them is that the former is passive while the latter is active.  This exercise reminded me that God testifies through David’s psalm whether the verb is active or passive.

In 1906 Isidore Singer and Kaufmann Kohler claimed that Adoni-Bezek (Judges 1:5-7) was actually Adoni-Zedek or Melchizedek.  So whether Melchizedek was a line of king-priests or some otherworldy being, his reputation for an indestructible life was what the Holy Spirit keyed on.  And though the philosophical bent of my mind usually groans and rolls its metaphorical eyes when confronted with prefigures and types, I have to acknowledge the unsettling oddity if Israel was obliged to kill the king of righteousness and peace more than once (the second time he died in captivity in Jerusalem) during their conquest of Canaan.

The writer of Hebrews continued with Jesus’ actual point (Hebrews 7:18, 19 NET):

On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless, for the law made nothing perfect (ἐτελείωσεν, a form of τελειόω).  On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

The KJV reads: For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did…  It is almost unique among English translations.  Paul described this better hope as the love of God…poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:1-5 NET):

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.  Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings (θλίψεσιν, a form of θλίψις), knowing that suffering (θλῖψις) produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The writer of Hebrews continued (Hebrews 7:20-22 NET):

And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,[11] but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind,You are a priest forever’” –[12] accordingly[13] Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Here is a table comparing the quotation from Psalm 110:4 in the NET parallel Greek, Septuagint and Stephanus Textus Receptus:

Hebrews 7:21b (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 110:4 (Septuagint)

Hebrews 7:21b (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

ὤμοσεν κύριος καὶ οὐ μεταμεληθήσεται σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ὤμοσεν κύριος καὶ οὐ μεταμεληθήσεται σὺ εἶ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδεκ ωμοσεν κυριος και ου μεταμεληθησεται συ ιερευς εις τον αιωνα κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ

The writer of Hebrews continued (Hebrews 7:23-28):

And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever.  So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.  For it[14] is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.  He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.  For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect (τετελειωμένον, another form of τελειόω) forever.

Solomon prayed to yehôvâh at the dedication of the temple, and yehôvâh appeared to him and answered his prayer.

1 Kings 8:27-29 (Tanakh)

1 Kings 9:3-5 (Tanakh)

But will God (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהים) indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?  Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה) my God (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהי), to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place. And the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה) said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed (qâdash, הקדשתי; Septuagint: ἡγίακα, another form of ἁγιάζω) this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.  And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked (Psalm 51:10, 11), in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail (Luke 1:30-33) thee a man upon the throne of Israel.

Isaiah prophesied, if not a change in the law, a change in attitude toward the temple and its sacrifices.

Isaiah 66:1-4 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 66:1-4 (KJV)

Thus saith the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה), The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה): but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol.  Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth (châphêts, חפצה) in their abominations. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol.  Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted (châphêts, חפצתי) not. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

Here the sacrifices prescribed by law were called their own ways (derek, בדרכיהם) and their abominations (shiqqûts, ובשקוציהם).  In fact, their soul delighteth (châphêts, חפצה) in their abominations.  They chose that in which I delighted (châphêts, חפצתי) not, saith the LORD (yehôvâh, יהוה).  This led me directly back to David (Psalm 51:16, 17 Tanakh Table1 Table2):

For thou desirest (châphêts, תחפץ; Septuagint: ἠθέλησας, a form of θέλω) not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest (râtsâh, תרצה; Septuagint: εὐδοκήσεις; a form of εὐδοκέω) not in burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

A table of Isaiah 66:1-4 in Greek from the Septuagint and an English translation follows:

Isaiah 66:1, 2, 3, 4 (Septuagint)

Isaiah 66:1-4 (NETS)

οὕτως λέγει κύριος ὁ οὐρανός μοι θρόνος ἡ δὲ γῆ ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν μου ποῖον οἶκον οἰκοδομήσετέ μοι ἢ ποῖος τόπος τῆς καταπαύσεώς μου Thus says the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and the earth is the footstool of my feet; what kind of house will you build for me, or of what kind will be the place of my rest?
πάντα γὰρ ταῦτα ἐποίησεν ἡ χείρ μου καὶ ἔστιν ἐμὰ πάντα ταῦτα λέγει κύριος καὶ ἐπὶ τίνα ἐπιβλέψω ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ἐπὶ τὸν ταπεινὸν καὶ ἡσύχιον καὶ τρέμοντα τοὺς λόγους μου For all these things my hand has made, and all these things are mine, says the Lord.  And to whom will I look but to the one who is humble and quiet and trembles at my words?
ὁ δὲ ἄνομος ὁ θύων μοι μόσχον ὡς ὁ ἀποκτέννων κύνα ὁ δὲ ἀναφέρων σεμίδαλιν ὡς αἷμα ὕειον ὁ διδοὺς λίβανον εἰς μνημόσυνον ὡς βλάσφημος καὶ οὗτοι ἐξελέξαντο τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ βδελύγματα αὐτῶν ἃ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῶν ἠθέλησεν (another form of θέλω) But the lawless who sacrifices to me a calf is like one who kills a dog, and he who offers fine flour, like one who offers swine’s blood; he who has given frankincense for a memorial, like a blasphemer.  And these have chosen their own ways and their abominations, which their soul wanted;
κἀγὼ ἐκλέξομαι τὰ ἐμπαίγματα αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἀνταποδώσω αὐτοῖς ὅτι ἐκάλεσα αὐτοὺς καὶ οὐχ ὑπήκουσάν μου ἐλάλησα καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν καὶ ἐποίησαν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐναντίον μου καὶ ἃ οὐκ ἐβουλόμην (a form of βούλομαι) ἐξελέξαντο So I will choose mockeries for them and repay them their sins, because I called them and they did not answer me, but they did what was evil in my sight and chose the things I did not desire.

Here “the lawless” (ἄνομος) who bring the sacrifices prescribed by law “have chosen their own ways (ὁδοὺς, a form of ὁδός)” and “their abominations (βδελύγματα, a form of βδέλυγμα).”  The rabbis made some connection to David’s psalm.  They translated חפצה (châphêts) ἠθέλησεν (another form of θέλω) in, “And these have chosen their own ways and their abominations, which their soul wanted (ἠθέλησεν).”  And they translated תחפץ (châphêts) ἠθέλησας (also a form of θέλω) in, For thou desirest (ἠθέλησας) not sacrifice.  But they translated חפצתי (châphêts) ἐβουλόμην (a form of βούλομαι) when the Holy Spirit’s point was that they “chose the things I (yehôvâh) did not desire (ἐβουλόμην),” obscuring that connection at a salient point.

The NET translators didn’t add “the lawless” to the text, but embedded it by turning similes into additive descriptions: The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idolThey have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices.[15]

Perhaps this is not so surprising.  The rebuilding of the temple and the reinstitution of its sacrifices are major tenets of our eschatology.  David prophesied a time when אלהים (ʼĕlôhı̂ym) would do good (yâṭab, היטיבה; Septuagint: ἀγάθυνον, a form of ἀγαθύνω) unto Zion: Do good in thy good pleasure (râtsôn, ברצונך; Septuagint: εὐδοκίᾳ) unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.[16]

At that time אלהים (ʼĕlôhı̂ym) will be pleased with sacrifices (zebach, זבחי; Septuagint: θυσίαν, a form of θυσία) of righteousness (tsedeq, צדק; Septuagint: δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη), even burnt offering (ʽôlâh, עולה; Septuagint: ἀναφορὰν, a form of ἀναφορά) and whole burnt offering (kâlı̂yl, וכליל; Septuagint: ὁλοκαυτώματα, a form of ὁλοκαύτωμα):

Then shalt thou be pleased (châphêts, חפצה; Septuagint: εὐδοκήσεις, a form of εὐδοκέω) with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.[17]

I seriously doubt however that sacrifices of righteousness can be offered by any who reject the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.[18]  Those who would offer such sacrifices are ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness,[19] their own ways, by their abominations.  Perhaps the translators of the Septuagint meant that a priest should not be lawless but maintain his own righteousness derived from the law[20]

Should a priest—consecrated with special clothes, fancy adornments and anointing oil, his atonement accomplished through a sin offering bull offered on an altar consecrated by the bull’s blood, the gift (offering made by fire) of a burnt offering ram, being sprinkled in the blood of a second ram of ordination, standing in his own righteousness derived from his own adherence to the law but without the righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness[21]—dare to offer Him the blood of bulls and goats?  He does away (ἀναιρεῖ, a form of ἀναιρέω) with the first, Jesus taught his disciples, to establish the second.[22]

Hear Jesus’ teaching through the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 10:28-31 NET):

Someone who rejected the law of Moses[23] was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace?  For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,”[24] and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה), which He had not commanded them TableAnd there came forth fire from before HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה), and devoured them, and they died before HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) Table.  Then Moses said unto Aaron: ‘This is it that HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) spoke, saying: Through them that are nigh unto Me I will be sanctified (qâdash, אקדש; Septuagint: ἁγιασθήσομαι, a form of ἁγιάζω), and before all the people I will be glorified.’  And Aaron held his peace Table.[25]

Again, Jesus said:

Matthew 23:37-39 (NET)

Luke 13:34, 35 (NET)

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill[26] the prophets and stone those who are sent to you!  How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her[27] chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it!  Look, your house is left to you desolate!  For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you!  How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it!  Look, your house is forsaken![28]  And I tell you,[29] you will not see me until[30] you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Tables of Hebrews 7:11; 6:18; 7:14; 7:16, 17; 7:21, 22; 7:26; 10:28; 10:30; Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:35 comparing the NET and KJV follow.

Hebrews 7:11 (NET)

Hebrews 7:11 (KJV)

So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order? If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Εἰ μὲν οὖν τελείωσις διὰ τῆς Λευιτικῆς ἱερωσύνης ἦν, ὁ λαὸς γὰρ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς νενομοθέτηται, τίς ἔτι χρεία κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ ἕτερον ἀνίστασθαι ἱερέα καὶ οὐ κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Ἀαρὼν λέγεσθαι ει μεν ουν τελειωσις δια της λευιτικης ιερωσυνης ην ο λαος γαρ επ αυτη νενομοθετητο τις ετι χρεια κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ ετερον ανιστασθαι ιερεα και ου κατα την ταξιν ααρων λεγεσθαι ει μεν ουν τελειωσις δια της λευιτικης ιερωσυνης ην ο λαος γαρ επ αυτη νενομοθετητο τις ετι χρεια κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ ετερον ανιστασθαι ιερεα και ου κατα την ταξιν ααρων λεγεσθαι
Hebrews 6:18 (NET)

Hebrews 6:18 (KJV)

so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἵνα διὰ δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων, ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι [τὸν] θεόν, ἰσχυρὰν παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν οἱ καταφυγόντες κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος ινα δια δυο πραγματων αμεταθετων εν οις αδυνατον ψευσασθαι θεον ισχυραν παρακλησιν εχωμεν οι καταφυγοντες κρατησαι της προκειμενης ελπιδος ινα δια δυο πραγματων αμεταθετων εν οις αδυνατον ψευσασθαι θεον ισχυραν παρακλησιν εχωμεν οι καταφυγοντες κρατησαι της προκειμενης ελπιδος

Hebrews 7:14 (NET)

Hebrews 7:14 (KJV)

For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

πρόδηλον γὰρ ὅτι ἐξ Ἰούδα ἀνατέταλκεν ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν, εἰς ἣν φυλὴν περὶ ἱερέων οὐδὲν Μωϋσῆς ἐλάλησεν προδηλον γαρ οτι εξ ιουδα ανατεταλκεν ο κυριος ημων εις ην φυλην ουδεν περι ιερωσυνης μωσης ελαλησεν προδηλον γαρ οτι εξ ιουδα ανατεταλκεν ο κυριος ημων εις ην φυλην ουδεν περι ιερωσυνης μωυσης ελαλησεν
Hebrews 7:16, 17 (NET)

Hebrews 7:16, 17 (KJV)

who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὃς οὐ κατὰ νόμον ἐντολῆς σαρκίνης γέγονεν ἀλλὰ κατὰ δύναμιν ζωῆς ἀκαταλύτου ος ου κατα νομον εντολης σαρκικης γεγονεν αλλα κατα δυναμιν ζωης ακαταλυτου ος ου κατα νομον εντολης σαρκικης γεγονεν αλλα κατα δυναμιν ζωης ακαταλυτου
For here is the testimony about him: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

μαρτυρεῖται γὰρ ὅτι σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισέδεκ μαρτυρει γαρ οτι συ ιερευς εις τον αιωνα κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ μαρτυρει γαρ οτι συ ιερευς εις τον αιωνα κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ

Hebrews 7:21, 22 (NET)

Hebrews 7:21, 22 (KJV)

but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” – For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὁ δὲ μετὰ ὁρκωμοσίας διὰ τοῦ λέγοντος πρὸς αὐτόν ὤμοσεν κύριος καὶ οὐ μεταμεληθήσεται σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα οι μεν γαρ χωρις ορκωμοσιας εισιν ιερεις γεγονοτες ο δε μετα ορκωμοσιας δια του λεγοντος προς αυτον ωμοσεν κυριος και ου μεταμεληθησεται συ ιερευς εις τον αιωνα κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ ο δε μετα ορκωμοσιας δια του λεγοντος προς αυτον ωμοσεν κυριος και ου μεταμεληθησεται συ ιερευς εις τον αιωνα κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ
accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

κατὰ τοσοῦτο [καὶ] κρείττονος διαθήκης γέγονεν ἔγγυος Ἰησοῦς κατα τοσουτον κρειττονος διαθηκης γεγονεν εγγυος ιησους κατα τοσουτον κρειττονος διαθηκης γεγονεν εγγυος ιησους
Hebrews 7:26 (NET)

Hebrews 7:26 (KJV)

For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Τοιοῦτος γὰρ ἡμῖν |καὶ| ἔπρεπεν ἀρχιερεύς, ὅσιος ἄκακος ἀμίαντος, κεχωρισμένος ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ ὑψηλότερος τῶν οὐρανῶν γενόμενος τοιουτος γαρ ημιν επρεπεν αρχιερευς οσιος ακακος αμιαντος κεχωρισμενος απο των αμαρτωλων και υψηλοτερος των ουρανων γενομενος τοιουτος γαρ ημιν επρεπεν αρχιερευς οσιος ακακος αμιαντος κεχωρισμενος απο των αμαρτωλων και υψηλοτερος των ουρανων γενομενος
Hebrews 10:28 (NET)

Hebrews 10:28 (KJV)

Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἀθετήσας τις νόμον Μωϋσέως χωρὶς οἰκτιρμῶν ἐπὶ δυσὶν ἢ τρισὶν μάρτυσιν ἀποθνῄσκει αθετησας τις νομον μωσεως χωρις οικτιρμων επι δυσιν η τρισιν μαρτυσιν αποθνησκει αθετησας τις νομον μωυσεως χωρις οικτιρμων επι δυσιν η τρισιν μαρτυσιν αποθνησκει
Hebrews 10:30 (NET)

Hebrews 10:30 (KJV)

For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.  And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

οἴδαμεν γὰρ τὸν εἰπόντα ἐμοὶ ἐκδίκησις, ἐγὼ ἀνταποδώσω. καὶ πάλιν κρινεῖ κύριος τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ οιδαμεν γαρ τον ειποντα εμοι εκδικησις εγω ανταποδωσω λεγει κυριος και παλιν κυριος κρινει τον λαον αυτου οιδαμεν γαρ τον ειποντα εμοι εκδικησις εγω ανταποδωσω λεγει κυριος και παλιν κυριος κρινει τον λαον αυτου
Matthew 23:37 (NET)

Matthew 23:37 (KJV)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you!  How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ἰερουσαλὴμ Ἰερουσαλήμ, ἡ ἀποκτείνουσα τοὺς προφήτας καὶ λιθοβολοῦσα τοὺς ἀπεσταλμένους πρὸς αὐτήν, ποσάκις ἠθέλησα ἐπισυναγαγεῖν τὰ τέκνα σου, ὃν τρόπον ὄρνις ἐπισυνάγει τὰ νοσσία |αὐτῆς| ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας, καὶ οὐκ ἠθελήσατε ιερουσαλημ ιερουσαλημ η αποκτεινουσα τους προφητας και λιθοβολουσα τους απεσταλμενους προς αυτην ποσακις ηθελησα επισυναγαγειν τα τεκνα σου ον τροπον επισυναγει ορνις τα νοσσια εαυτης υπο τας πτερυγας και ουκ ηθελησατε ιερουσαλημ ιερουσαλημ η αποκτενουσα τους προφητας και λιθοβολουσα τους απεσταλμενους προς αυτην ποσακις ηθελησα επισυναγαγειν τα τεκνα σου ον τροπον επισυναγει ορνις τα νοσσια εαυτης υπο τας πτερυγας και ουκ ηθελησατε
Luke 13:35 (NET)

Luke 13:35 (KJV)

Look, your house is forsaken!  And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἰδοὺ ἀφίεται ὑμῖν ὁ οἶκος ὑμῶν. λέγω [δὲ] ὑμῖν, οὐ μὴ ἴδητε με ἕως [ἥξει ὅτε] εἴπητε· εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου ιδου αφιεται υμιν ο οικος υμων ερημος αμην δε λεγω υμιν οτι ου μη με ιδητε εως αν ηξη οτε ειπητε ευλογημενος ο ερχομενος εν ονοματι κυριου ιδου αφιεται υμιν ο οικος υμων ερημος λεγω δε υμιν οτι ου μη με ιδητε εως αν ηξει οτε ειπητε ευλογημενος ο ερχομενος εν ονοματι κυριου

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

[2] Exodus 29:33 (NET)

[3] Atonement, Part 5; Atonement, Part 6

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

[5] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had νενομοθέτηται here, a perfect passive indicative 3rd person singular form, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had νενομοθετητο, the pluperfect passive indicative 3rd person singular form.

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

[7] Hebrews 7:1-3 (NET)

[8] In the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text Moses was spelled Μωϋσῆς, and μωσης in the Stephanus Textus Receptus.

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

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

[11] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had οἱ μὲν γὰρ χωρὶς ὁρκωμοσίας εἰσὶν ἱερεῖς γεγονότες (KJV: For those priests were made without an oath) at the beginning of verse 21.

[12] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κατα την ταξιν μελχισεδεκ (KJV: after the order of Melchisedec) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[13] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τοσοῦτο here followed by the conjunction καὶ.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had another neuter form τοσουτον but no καὶ.

[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the conjunction καὶ preceding the verb translated it is indeed fitting.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[15] Isaiah 66:3a (NET)

[16] Psalm 51:18 (Tanakh) Table

[17] Psalm 51:19 (Tanakh) Table

[18] Hebrews 10:10b (NET) Table

[19] Romans 10:3a (NET)

[20] Philippians 3:9a (NET)

[21] Philippians 3:9b (NET)

[22] Hebrews 10:9b (NET)

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

[24] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεγει κυριος (KJV: saith the Lord) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[25] Leviticus 10:1-3 (Tanakh)

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

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

[28] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ερημος at the end of this clause (KJV: your house is left unto you desolate).  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[29] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had αμην (KJV: verily) at the beginning of this phrase.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had οτι here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[30] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ἕως αν here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had simply ἕως.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηξη ὅτε after (KJV: the time come when).  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἥξει ὅτε but it was not translated in the NET.

Atonement, Part 7

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

Exodus 29:19-21 (NET)

Leviticus 8:22-24, 30 (NET)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Luke 23:35-39 (NET)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Acts 28:3 (NET)

Acts 28:3 (KJV)

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Matthew 27:41, 42 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Matthew 27:44 (KJV)

The robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Mark 15:30-32 (KJV)

save yourself and come down from the cross!” Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Luke 23:35, 36 (KJV)

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Luke 23:38, 39 (KJV)

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

1 Peter 2:13, 14 (KJV)

Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

1 Peter 2:17 (KJV)

Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king. Honour all men.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honour the king.
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

1 Peter 2:24, 25 (NET)

1 Peter 2:24, 25 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

1 Peter 3:13 (NET)

1 Peter 3:13 (KJV)

For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
Net Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

1 Peter 3:15-18 (KJV)

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

1 Peter 3:20, 21 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

1 Peter 4:14-16 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Net Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

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

1 Peter 4:19 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Galatians 2:16 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

Galatians 2:18 (KJV)

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

Byzantine Majority Text

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

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

[2] Exodus 29:33 (NET)

[3] Hebrews 7:11 (NET)

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

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

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

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

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

[9] Isaiah 53:4 (NET)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[29] Matthew 26:54 (NET)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[54] John 4:14b (NET)

[55] Hebrews 12:3 (NET) Table

[56] Mark 12:30 (NET) Table

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

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

Atonement, Part 6

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

Atonement, Part 2

Now this is what you are to do for them to consecrate (qâdash, לקדש; Septuagint: ἁγιάσαι, another form of ἁγιάζω) them so that they may minister as my priests.[3]  This same word לקדש (qâdash) was translated to set them apart in Exodus 29:33 (NET) above, and ἁγιάσαι in the Septuagint.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ἁγιάσαι was translated makeholy (NET) or sanctify (KJV).  There is an overview of what was required for this consecration, to set Aaron and his sons apart (Exodus 29:1b-3).

Atonement, Part 3

The Hebrew word translated to consecrate in Exodus 29:33 above was למלא (mâlêʼ).  In the Septuagint למלא (mâlêʼ) was translated τελειῶσαι τὰς χεῖρας, “validate their hands” in an English translation of the Septuagint (NETS).  And τελειῶσαι (a form of τελειόω) was translated to perfect in: 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.[4]  Thus you are to consecrate (mâlêʼ, ומלאת; Septuagint: τελειώσεις τὰς χεῖρας; NETS: “validate their hands”) Aaron and his sons,[5] yehôvâh told Moses.  The ritual is recounted in a table of Exodus 29:4-9 and Leviticus 8:6-13.

Atonement, Part 4

The ritual of the sin offering (chaṭṭâʼâh, החטאת; Septuagint: ἁμαρτίας, a form of ἁμαρτία) bull is recounted in a table of Exodus 29:10-14 and Leviticus 8:14-17.  The sin offering bull was eaten by no one.  The Hebrew word translated holy in for they are holy in Exodus 29:33 above was קדש (qôdesh).  In the Septuagint קדש (qôdesh) was translated ἅγια (a form of ἅγιος).  Tracking ἅγια into the New Testament led to the sin offering accomplished in heaven by Jesus the Christ, the high priest of the new covenant: Hebrews 9:11, 12, 24-28.

Atonement, Part 5

The ritual of the burnt offering (ʽôlâh, העלה; Septuagint: ὁλοκαύτωμα) ram is recounted in a table of Exodus 29:15-18 and Leviticus 8:18-21.  The burnt offering ram was eaten by no one.  This led to a discussion between Jesus and one of the experts in the law (γραμματέων, a form of γραμματεύς) on the relative merits of burnt offerings (ὁλοκαυτωμάτων, a form of ὁλοκαύτωμα), recounted in a table of Mark 12:28-34a.

The other occurrences of a form of ὁλοκαύτωμα in the New Testament are found in Hebrews 10:4-9 (NET):

For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.  So when he came into the world, he said,

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.

Whole burnt offerings (ὁλοκαυτώματα, another form of ὁλοκαύτωμα) and sin-offerings you took no delight in.

Then I said, Here I am: I have come – it is written of me in the scroll of the book – to do your will, O God.’”

When he says above, “Sacrifices[6] and offerings[7] and whole burnt offerings (ὁλοκαυτώματα, another form of ὁλοκαύτωμα) and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them” (which are offered according to the law), then he says, “Here I am: I have come to do your will.”[8]  He does away with the first to establish the second.

The words highlighted in boldface were a quotation from, or an allusion to, Psalm 40:6-8.  Below are three examples of Psalm 40:6-8 translated from contemporary Hebrew.

Psalm 40:6-8 (Tanakh) Psalm 40:6-8 (KJV)

Psalm 40:6-8 (NET)

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened (kârâh, כרית): burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern.  You make that quite clear to me!  You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, Then I say, “Look!  I come!  What is written in the scroll pertains to me.
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts.”

Since the oldest extant Hebrew manuscript of the Old Testament dates from 920 – 930 and the oldest extant manuscript of the book of Hebrews in Greek dates from 175 – 225, it seems obvious that the Masoretes[9] transformed a prophecy about a body prepared for Christ into a clever insult about digging wax out of David’s ears.  The problem with that, however, is the Septuagint.  Well, it doesn’t have to be a problem, I suppose, not if I switch versions.

Hebrews 10:5b-7 (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 39:7-9a (Septuagint Elpenor)

θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας, σῶμα δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας, σῶμα δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι· ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ἐζήτησας
ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ εὐδόκησας
τότε εἶπον ἰδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ, τοῦ ποιῆσαι ὁ θεὸς τὸ θέλημα σου τότε εἶπον· ἰδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ
τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημά σου, ὁ Θεός μου

Here, both the NET parallel Greek and the Septuagint agree on the word σῶμα (body).  But the oldest extant manuscripts of the Septuagint date from 350 – 450.  So, did the rabbis read a Hebrew word and translate it σῶμα or did believers prefer σῶμα and substitute it?  In one sense I have no objection to preferring the book of Hebrews and by faith, as it were, assuming σῶμα.  But that is exactly what I’ve accused the Masoretes of doing to the Hebrew text:[10]

…raised from infancy with the belief that Jesus was not, could not possibly be, the promised Messiah, and with no knowledge of deliberate textual corruptions, the Masoretes could have done this[11] [i.e., added vowel points] in good conscience.

The Blue Letter Bible version of the Septuagint I have been using (which agrees here with the Academic Bible [See Table1 below]) compares to the NET parallel Greek as follows:

Hebrews 10:5b-7 (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 40:6, 7, 8a (Septuagint BLB)

θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας, σῶμα δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας ὠτία δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ᾔτησας
ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ εὐδόκησας
τότε εἶπον ἰδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ, τοῦ ποιῆσαι ὁ θεὸς τὸ θέλημα σου τότε εἶπον ἰδοὺ ἥκω ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ
τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημά σου ὁ θεός μου

In this version the ears (ὠτία) were there already but the “digging” (kârâh, כרית) had become κατηρτίσω (you prepared).  I found an alternative explanation online at Michael S. Heiser.com in an article titled “The Function of Paronomasia in Hebrews 10:5–7” by Karen H. Jobes.

At first the philosophical bent of my mind clashed with her poetic soul.  Her idea that some anonymous author changed ὠτία (ears) to σῶμα (body) because it sounded better to first century ears was appalling.  But I softened some as she explained the meaning of this rhetorical technique in this particular context.

The most striking feature of this quotation from Psalm 40 is that it is attributed (improperly some would say) to the incarnate Jesus Christ: “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said … ”  It is as if Psalm 40 had never previously existed; as if these words originated in Christ’s mouth and not in the psalmist’s, some thousand years before.

The belief that all scripture is unified by divine inspiration could be used to explain this attribution.  For whatever David said in Psalms was really being said by God.  And because of the triune relationship of the God-head, whatever God says, Christ says.[12]

My own working hypothesis is that yehôvâh became Jesus: Now [yehôvâh] became flesh and took up residence among us.  We saw his glory – the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.[13]  No one has ever seen God (e.g., the Father).[14]  And HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forth (Numbers 12:5-8 Tanakh).

And He said: ‘Hear now My words: if there be a prophet among you, I HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) do make Myself known unto him in a vision (marʼâh, במראה; Septuagint: ὁράματι, a form of ὅραμα), I do speak with him in a dream (chălôm, בחלום; Septuagint: ὕπνῳ, a form of ὕπνος).  My servant Moses is not so; he is trusted in all My house; with him do I speak mouth to mouth, even manifestly (marʼeh, ומראה; Septuagint: εἴδει, a form of εἶδος), and not in dark speeches; and the similitude (temûnâh, ותמנת; Septuagint: δόξαν, a form of δόξα) of HaShem (yehôvâh, יהוה) doth he behold; wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?’

The only one,[15] himself God,[16] who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known[17] (e.g., in both Old and New Testaments).  He [yehôvâh] came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him.[18]  For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance[19] be but life from the dead?  If the first portion of the dough offered is holy (ἁγία, a form of ἅγιος), then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy (ἁγία, a form of ἅγιος), so too are the branches.[20]  Ms. Jobes continued:

In Hebrews 10, then, the author’s lexical choice in substituting εὐδόκησας for ᾔτησας not only achieves phonetic assonance, but also fits well with the argument made in that chapter.  Sacrifice and offering were not God’s will, burnt offering and sin offering were not God’s good pleasure.  Though God had commanded them when in the past he “spoke to our forefathers through the prophets,” these were not the means through which God would redeem his people from sin.  The past-speaking of the old sacrificial system is superseded when God’s redemptive plan is revealed in Christ.

The clause containing substitutions of σω̂μα for ὠτία and the plural ὁλοκαυτώματα for the singular form is sandwiched between the inclusio formed by ἠθέλησας and εὐδόκησας in an a-b-b’-a’ pattern…

What is the point of these contrasted clauses?  According to the MT, David had “ears” to hear the word of the Lord.  The midrash of Ps 40:7 understands this verse in light of 1 Sam 15:22, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?” (the verb is שׁמע, “hearing”).  The reference to David’s ears, which heard the voice of the Lord, is therefore to be understood as referring to David’s obedience to God.

W. C. Kaiser follows this midrashic understanding and also construes this idiom as referring to David’s—somewhat faltering—obedience.  Kaiser sees the substitution of σω̂μα for ὠτία as simply the whole being substituted for the part by the Greek translator in order to produce a culturally dynamic equivalent.  This would then mean that David and Christ were saying essentially the same thing.  But Christ’s obedience to God that abolished the old cultic sacrifices was not the same as David’s obedience to God as theocratic king.  It was not that Jesus lived his life in perfect obedience to God, but more specifically, it was the obedient sacrifice of his body in death that brought an end to animal sacrifice.  As the king of Israel, David could only imperfectly obey God, and his body could never be the once-for-all sacrifice for sin.  Therefore, it was uniquely appropriate for the author of Hebrews to substitute σω̂μα for ὠτία when he also put the words of Ps 40:6–8 in Christ’s mouth.

So when he came into the world, he said… may not be mystic poetry but straightforward reportage.  My own working hypothesis is that Hebrews was Jesus’ teaching between his resurrection and ascension, the teaching that caused Cleopas and his companion to exclaim, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us[21] while he was speaking with us on the road,[22] while he was explaining the scriptures to us?”[23]  I think it is entirely possible that the writer’s informants heard the resurrected Jesus explain this prophecy in exactly this way, and that his teaching was written down some time before Stephen was killed.  Ms. Jobes continued:

The displeasure of God with cultic offerings is contrasted with, “But a body you prepared for me.”  The argument of Hebrews 10 is that it was Jesus Christ’s body which was the sacrifice well-pleasing to God, not the many animal sacrifices endlessly repeated.  The lexical choice of σω̂μα δέ concurrently with the substitution of the plural form of ὁλοκαυτώματα achieves phonetic assonance and by this marked prominence the one body of Christ is contrasted with the many burnt offerings with which God was not pleased.  The rhetorical construction of paronomasia therefore reinforces the point of the argument made in Hebrews 10.

Regarding Hebrews as the teaching of the resurrected Christ, it matters less to me whether He quoted a lost manuscript of Psalm 40 or changed ὠτία (ears) to σῶμα (body) for his own teaching purposes.  Either way He has my attention focused on σῶμα.  Paul equated our old [human] (ὁ παλαιὸς ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος) with the body of sin (τὸ σῶμα τῆς ἁμαρτίας): We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.[24]

And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds, Paul wrote believers in Colossae, but now he has reconciled you by his physical body (ἐν τῷ σώματι τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ; literally, “in the body of his flesh”) through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him – if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.[25]

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of[26] sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness.  Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus[27] from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ[28] from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit[29] who lives[30] in you.[31]

The body of the old human does not exhaust the meaning of the body God the Father prepared for Jesus the Christ (Philippians 3:20, 21; 1 Corinthians 15:50-53; Ephesians 1:23 NET):

But our citizenship (πολίτευμα) is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble (ταπεινώσεως, a form of ταπείνωσις) bodies (σῶμα) of ours[32] into the likeness of his glorious body (σώματι, a form of σῶμα) by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.[33]

Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot[34] inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We[35] will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

Now the church[36] is his body (σῶμα), the fullness of him who fills all[37] in all.

This mystery (Ephesians 5:31, 32), though well worth exploring, must wait for another essay.  A table comparing Psalm 40:6-8 in the Blue Letter Bible version and Academic Bible version of the Septuagint follows.  That is followed by tables of John 1:18; Romans 11:15; Luke 24:32; Romans 8:10, 11; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:50, 51 and Ephesians 1:23.

Psalm 40:6, 7, 8a (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 39:7-9a (Septuagint Academic)
θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας ὠτία δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ᾔτησας θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας, ὠτία δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι· ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ᾔτησας
τότε εἶπον ἰδοὺ ἥκω ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ τότε εἶπον ᾿Ιδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ·
τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημά σου ὁ θεός μου τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημά σου, ὁ θεός μου
John 1:18 (NET) John 1:18 (KJV)
No one has ever seen God.  The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς[38] ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο θεον ουδεις εωρακεν πωποτε ο μονογενης υιος ο ων εις τον κολπον του πατρος εκεινος εξηγησατο θεον ουδεις εωρακεν πωποτε ο μονογενης υιος ο ων εις τον κολπον του πατρος εκεινος εξηγησατο
Romans 11:15 (NET) Romans 11:15 (KJV)
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ γὰρ ἡ ἀποβολὴ αὐτῶν καταλλαγὴ κόσμου, τίς ἡ πρόσλημψις εἰ μὴ ζωὴ ἐκ νεκρῶν ει γαρ η αποβολη αυτων καταλλαγη κοσμου τις η προσληψις ει μη ζωη εκ νεκρων ει γαρ η αποβολη αυτων καταλλαγη κοσμου τις η προσληψις ει μη ζωη εκ νεκρων
Luke 24:32 (NET) Luke 24:32 (KJV)
They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?” And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς ἀλλήλους· οὐχὶ ἡ καρδία ἡμῶν καιομένη ἦν  ὡς ἐλάλει ἡμῖν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, ὡς διήνοιγεν ἡμῖν τὰς γραφάς και ειπον προς αλληλους ουχι η καρδια ημων καιομενη ην εν ημιν ως ελαλει ημιν εν τη οδω και ως διηνοιγεν ημιν τας γραφας και ειπον προς αλληλους ουχι η καρδια ημων καιομενη ην εν ημιν ως ελαλει ημιν εν τη οδω και ως διηνοιγεν ημιν τας γραφας
Romans 8:10, 11 (NET) Romans 8:10, 11 (KJV)
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν, τὸ μὲν σῶμα νεκρὸν διὰ ἁμαρτίαν τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζωὴ διὰ δικαιοσύνην ει δε χριστος εν υμιν το μεν σωμα νεκρον δι αμαρτιαν το δε πνευμα ζωη δια δικαιοσυνην ει δε χριστος εν υμιν το μεν σωμα νεκρον δια αμαρτιαν το δε πνευμα ζωη δια δικαιοσυνην
Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ ἐγείραντος τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐκ νεκρῶν οἰκεῖ ἐν ὑμῖν, ὁ ἐγείρας |Χριστὸν| ἐκ νεκρῶν  ζῳοποιήσει |καὶ| τὰ θνητὰ σώματα ὑμῶν διὰ τοῦ ἐνοικοῦντος αὐτοῦ πνεύματος ἐν ὑμῖν ει δε το πνευμα του εγειραντος ιησουν εκ νεκρων οικει εν υμιν ο εγειρας τον χριστον εκ νεκρων ζωοποιησει και τα θνητα σωματα υμων δια το ενοικουν αυτου πνευμα εν υμιν ει δε το πνευμα του εγειραντος ιησουν εκ νεκρων οικει εν υμιν ο εγειρας τον χριστον εκ νεκρων ζωοποιησει και τα θνητα σωματα υμων δια το ενοικουν αυτου πνευμα εν υμιν
Philippians 3:21 (NET) Philippians 3:21 (KJV)
who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ὃς μετασχηματίσει τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τοῦ δύνασθαι αὐτὸν καὶ ὑποτάξαι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα. ος μετασχηματισει το σωμα της ταπεινωσεως ημων εις το γενεσθαι αυτο συμμορφον τω σωματι της δοξης αυτου κατα την ενεργειαν του δυνασθαι αυτον και υποταξαι εαυτω τα παντα ος μετασχηματισει το σωμα της ταπεινωσεως ημων εις το γενεσθαι αυτο συμμορφον τω σωματι της δοξης αυτου κατα την ενεργειαν του δυνασθαι αυτον και υποταξαι εαυτω τα παντα
1 Corinthians 15:50, 51 (NET) 1 Corinthians 15:50, 51 (KJV)
Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα βασιλείαν θεοῦ κληρονομῆσαι οὐ δύναται οὐδὲ ἡ φθορὰ τὴν ἀφθαρσίαν κληρονομεῖ τουτο δε φημι αδελφοι οτι σαρξ και αιμα βασιλειαν θεου κληρονομησαι ου δυνανται ουδε η φθορα την αφθαρσιαν κληρονομει τουτο δε φημι αδελφοι οτι σαρξ και αιμα βασιλειαν θεου κληρονομησαι ου δυνανται ουδε η φθορα την αφθαρσιαν κληρονομει
Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἰδοὺ μυστήριον ὑμῖν λέγω· πάντες οὐ κοιμηθησόμεθα, πάντες δὲ ἀλλαγησόμεθα ιδου μυστηριον υμιν λεγω παντες μεν ου κοιμηθησομεθα παντες δε αλλαγησομεθα ιδου μυστηριον υμιν λεγω παντες μεν ου κοιμηθησομεθα παντες δε αλλαγησομεθα
Ephesians 1:23 (NET) Ephesians 1:23 (KJV)
Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἥτις ἐστὶν τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ, τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ τὰ πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν πληρουμένου ητις εστιν το σωμα αυτου το πληρωμα του παντα εν πασιν πληρουμενου ητις εστιν το σωμα αυτου το πληρωμα του τα παντα εν πασιν πληρουμενου

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

[2] Exodus 29:33 (NET)

[3] Exodus 29:1 a (NET)

[4] Hebrews 10:1 (NET)

[5] Exodus 29:9 (NET)

[6] The NET parallel Greek text had θυσίας, the plural form, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θυσιαν, the singular form of θυσία.

[7] The NET parallel Greek text had προσφορὰς, the plural form, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had προσφοραν, the singular form of προσφορά.

[8] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο θεος (KJV: O God) here.  The NET parallel Greek text did not.

[9] Study: Luke 4:18-19; Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 14; Forgiven or Passed Over? – Part 4

[10] Study: Luke 4:18-19

[11] Joseph Gleason, “Masoretic Text vs. Original Hebrew,” The Orthodox LifeHere is an alternative Orthodox opinion to Mr. Gleason’s view of Russia since his 2017 emigration there from Illinois.

[12] Karen H. Jobes, “The Function of Paronomasia in Hebrews 10:5–7

[13] John 1:14 (NET)

[14] John 1:18a (NET)

[15] The Stephanas Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο preceding this, the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[16] The Stephanas Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υιος here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had θεὸς.  See NET note 45.

[17] John 1:18b (NET)

[18] John 1:11 (NET)

[19] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πρόσλημψις here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had προσληψις.  Both are nominative singular feminine forms of πρόσληψις.

[20] Romans 11:15, 16 (NET)

[21] The NET parallel Greek text did not include εν ημιν (within us) here but added the English words “for clarity” anyway, as explained in note 88: “NA27 [Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece] includes the words in brackets, indicating doubts as to their authenticity.”  NA28 still contains the words εν ημιν in brackets.

[22] The Stephanas Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the conjunction και here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[23] Luke 24:32 (NET)

[24] Romans 6:6 (NET)

[25] Colossians 1:21-23a (NET)

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

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

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

[29] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πνεύματος, a genitive singular neuter form of πνεῦμα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πνευμα, the nominative / accusative singular neuter form.

[30] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐνοικοῦντος, a present active participle genitive active singular neuter form of ἐνοικέω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ενοικουν, the present active participle accusative singular neuter form.

[31] Romans 8:10, 11 (NET)

[32] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις το γενεσθαι αυτο συμμορφον (KJV: that it may be fashioned like unto) here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had simply σύμμορφον (a form of συμμορφός).

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

[34] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὐ δύναται here, a present middle / passive indicative 3rd person singular form of δύναμαι.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ου δυνανται, the present middle / passive indicative 3rd person plural form.

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

[36] This is ἐκκλησίᾳ in Greek, found actually at the end of verse 22.

[37] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τὰ preceding the first all.  The Stephanas Textus Receptus did not.

[38] See NET note 45.