The New Covenant, Part 3

Posted on July 2, 2022 by admin

In an article, “All of America Must Be a Hard Target to Prevent Mass Shootings,” James Pinkerton wrote:

Reacting to an earlier school shooting, former Los Angeles police officer J. Warner Wallace identified four driving causes: “an increase in social media use”; “an increased dependency on prescription medicine”; “an increase in single parent households”; and “a decrease in traditional Christian values,” including, we can add, the belief that bad people go to hell where they are tormented forever. It’s too bad that the idea of hell, just as the notion of evil, has been mostly banished by our secular culture.

This article was written in response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

On May 24, 2022, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos fatally shot nineteen students and two teachers, and wounded seventeen other people, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, United States.¹

Mr. Ramos didn’t surrender to authorities but fought apparently to the death. If he had been raised with “‘traditional Christian values,’ including…the belief that bad people go to hell where they are tormented forever” would he have feared death more? Would he have feared death enough to dissuade him from shooting 39 people including his grandmother?² Clearly, I don’t know the answer to those questions, but asking them helps me understand why some would prefer to deprive Mr. Ramos (and everyone else) of weapons that can kill so many so fast.

Fear of death didn’t dissuade Adam and Eve from eating the fruit God had forbidden. Granted, death may have been an abstract concept until Cain killed Abel. The law God gave to Israel added many fearful punishments including death (Exodus 21:12-22:20; Leviticus 7:20-27; 19:5-10; 20:1-9; 24:13-23; 26:14-38) for noncompliance. Israel didn’t keep the law in a way that satisfied God.

People may have been more or less satisfied with the law depending on whether they were victimized by lawbreakers or not. I know none of the children or adults killed or wounded in Uvalde at the Robb Elementary School. I’m more or less satisfied that the laws in Uvalde did what they could. At least, I’m not persuaded that any new laws would help significantly to prevent such killings.

Mr. Ramos seemed willing to die for his cause, whatever he perceived that cause to be.³

“Ramos’s social media acquaintances said he openly abused animals such as cats and would livestream the abuse on Yubo.^[111] Other social media acquaintances said that he would also livestream himself on Yubo threatening to kidnap and rape girls who used the app, as well as threatening to commit a school shooting.^[109] “On May 14, Ramos sent a private Instagram message reading, ’10 more days’. A person responded, ‘Are you going to shoot up a school or something?’ He replied, ‘No, stop asking dumb questions. You’ll see.’

Neither the law nor the fear of death deterred him from his course. At least, no one has reported that he curled up in a fetal position and cried when surrounded by armed men. Perhaps, there were no witnesses by that point.

Paul wrote (Romans 8:3, 4 NET):

God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

This fulfillment of the righteous requirement of the law…in us, who…walk according to the Spirit got short shrift from me when avoiding hell was my hope of “salvation.” Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead to save each of us first and foremost from our sinful selves.

Paul continued (Romans 8:5 NET):

For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit.

What is born of the flesh is flesh, Jesus told Nicodemus, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’⁴

Now the works of the flesh are obvious, Paul wrote, sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!⁵

For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh…For the outlook of the flesh is death…because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.⁶

You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires,⁷ Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him,⁸ arguably the best of the best at suppressing the sins of the flesh while still in the flesh. I already admitted I didn’t take Jesus seriously here until recently.

I recall when my mother tried to teach me about hell by putting my hand in a gas flame on the stove. She failed. She wasn’t strong enough, whether physically or emotionally, to overcome my resistance.

That sounds obscene without context, but frankly, I don’t remember the context. I probably said or did something that highly offended her. I did that often. She told me many times how often she was surprised by the sinfulness of her precious first born baby boy. This was long after I had said a sinner’s prayer to Jesus to escape hell.

Mom was consistent in her expectation that someone born of God should be different. I see that now. At the time she was up against a religious establishment that defended its religious traditions, and I had said the sinner’s prayer those traditions required. At that time I resented being called sinful. So I lived 65 years before I could or would acknowledge that I in my flesh was from [my] father the devil.

Jesus continued to describe my father and my unwitting relationship to him (John 8:44b-46a NET):

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? [Table]

Jesus was not some egoist bolstering his own self-esteem by denigrating others. He is God, come to earth as a human being to, among other things, teach us what we did not understand, what we refused to understand, about ourselves (John 8:46b, 47 NET).

If I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me [Table]? The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond because you don’t belong to God.

I hear this as a relative measure. For I know that nothing good lives in me, Paul wrote, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.⁹ Even here, though, Paul recognized God’s law as the good (Romans 7:10b-12 NET):

So¹⁰ I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life brought death! For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it I died. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.

Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them [Pharisees and Herodians…Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection)] debating (Mark 12:28-34a NET).

When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’ [Table]. The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The expert in the law said to him, “That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him. And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” [Table]. When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Paul continued (Romans 7:13-17 NET):

Did that which is good, then, become¹¹ death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual—but I am unspiritual (KJV: carnal), sold into slavery to sin [Table]. For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate. But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me [Table].

I wasn’t so clear. The good was what I wanted, irrespective of God’s law. My faith in this understanding of the good reached its zenith when I became an atheist, but it didn’t vanish overnight. God’s laws were added more or less reluctantly over time to my understanding of the good as what I wanted, but still may not have entirely supplanted it on a day-to-day basis.

While I might have seen some benefit to a law that inhibits you from messing around with my wife, if I wanted yours more than you did and she wanted me more than you, I was kind of fuzzy why you or God should interfere with the good we wanted. So, I “loved” and lusted after a friend’s wife for twenty years.

To Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’ [Table] was a tall order when I thought of love as my feeling. It was all but impossible when I thought of the Gospel as an ultimatum: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or burn in hell for all eternity.” Socialized as a male American after Adolf Hitler’s death, during the reigns of Chairman Mao and Nikita Khrushchev anyone who made such an ultimatum was not one to be loved, but someone to be resisted to the death.

A better understanding of love (1 Corinthians 13) helped me to begin to love God. Even when I thought Paul’s description of love was rules for me to obey in my own strength, it gave me more practical things to do than trying to conjure a feeling of love. When I began to understand Paul’s description as God’s love, given freely to us as an aspect of the fruit of his Holy Spirit, everything began to change for the better. I began, in fact, to be born from above in practice.

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, Jesus taught, nor again¹² does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles. The good person out of the good treasury of his¹³ heart produces good, and the evil person¹⁴ out of his evil treasury¹⁵ produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills¹⁶ his¹⁷ heart.¹⁸

I didn’t know Mr. Ramos. I know the fruit of the Spirit through the word of God and personal experience. Mr. Ramos was not led by God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control when he shot 39 people. You people are from your father the devil, Jesus warned, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning…¹⁹

United States Congressmen take an oath of office:²⁰

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Members of the U.S. Congress have forsworn themselves to enact legislation to infringe “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms.”²¹ And the President of the United States, who made a similar oath,²² signed that legislation.²³ Mr. Ramos’ acts of political terrorism have apparently succeeded where others have failed. Was this his conscious purpose and cause? I have no way of knowing.

Jesus warned us of a powerful liar and murderer who incites people to obey his will (John 8:44b, 44a NET):

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.

You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires.

Do not be amazed that I said to you, Jesus said, ‘You must all be born from above.’²⁴

As I wrote this essay the Supreme Court of the United States of America barely affirmed the rather obvious fact that no right of abortion is mentioned in the document that constitutes the federal government of the United States. What impact might this tepid affirmation have on those who want a right of abortion, who want to destroy their unborn children, who want me (among others) to consider them righteous if they do so? I don’t know.

Considering the question, however, helps to confirm for me the relative futility of political action vis-a-vis the privilege of sharing the good news that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost (πρῶτος).²⁵ In other words, God in Christ has done all the heavy lifting to save sinners like you and me from our sinful selves. Know Him. [T]his is eternal life,²⁶ Jesus prayed.

“Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.

For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds, and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be my people.

And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.

For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer” [Table].²⁷

Tables comparing Romans 7:13; Luke 6:43 and 6:45 in the NET and KJV follow.

Romans 7:13 (NET)	Romans 7:13 (KJV)
Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.	Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τὸ οὖν ἀγαθὸν ἐμοὶ ἐγένετο θάνατος; μὴ γένοιτο· ἀλλὰ ἡ ἁμαρτία, ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία, διὰ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοι κατεργαζομένη θάνατον, ἵνα γένηται καθ᾿ ὑπερβολὴν ἁμαρτωλὸς ἡ ἁμαρτία διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς	το ουν αγαθον εμοι γεγονεν θανατος μη γενοιτο αλλα η αμαρτια ινα φανη αμαρτια δια του αγαθου μοι κατεργαζομενη θανατον ινα γενηται καθ υπερβολην αμαρτωλος η αμαρτια δια της εντολης	το ουν αγαθον εμοι γεγονεν θανατος μη γενοιτο αλλα η αμαρτια ινα φανη αμαρτια δια του αγαθου μοι κατεργαζομενη θανατον ινα γενηται καθ υπερβολην αμαρτωλος η αμαρτια δια της εντολης

Luke 6:43 (NET)	Luke 6:43 (KJV)
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,	For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν δένδρον καλὸν ποιοῦν καρπὸν σαπρόν, οὐδὲ πάλιν δένδρον σαπρὸν ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλόν	ου γαρ εστιν δενδρον καλον ποιουν καρπον σαπρον ουδε δενδρον σαπρον ποιουν καρπον καλον	ου γαρ εστιν δενδρον καλον ποιουν καρπον σαπρον ουδε δενδρον σαπρον ποιουν καρπον καλον

Luke 6:45 (NET)	Luke 6:45 (KJV)
The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.	A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ θησαυροῦ τῆς καρδίας προφέρει τὸ ἀγαθόν, καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ προφέρει τὸ πονηρόν· ἐκ γὰρ περισσεύματος καρδίας λαλεῖ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ	ο αγαθος ανθρωπος εκ του αγαθου θησαυρου της καρδιας αυτου προφερει το αγαθον και ο πονηρος ανθρωπος εκ του πονηρου θησαυρου της καρδιας αυτου προφερει το πονηρον εκ γαρ του περισσευματος της καρδιας λαλει το στομα αυτου	ο αγαθος ανθρωπος εκ του αγαθου θησαυρου της καρδιας αυτου προφερει το αγαθον και ο πονηρος ανθρωπος εκ του πονηρου θησαυρου της καρδιας αυτου προφερει το πονηρον εκ γαρ του περισσευματος της καρδιας λαλει το στομα αυτου

Back to Christianity, Part 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

¹ “Robb Elementary School shooting,” Wikipedia

² “Robb Elementary School shooting,” Wikipedia: “Earlier in the day, he shot his grandmother in the forehead at home, severely wounding her.”

³ From “Robb Elementary School shooting – Perpetrator,” Wikipedia

⁴ John 3:6, 7 (NET)

⁵ Galatians 5:19-21 (NET) Table

⁶ Romans 8:5-8 (NET)

⁷ John 8:44a (NET) Table

⁸ John 8:31a (NET)

⁹ Romans 7:18 (NET) Table

¹⁰ In the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ verse 10 begins with ἐγὼ δὲ ἀπέθανον (NET: and I died). These words conclude verse 9 in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

¹¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐγένετο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had γεγονεν (KJV: made).

¹² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had πάλιν here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

¹³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτου here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

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

¹⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θησαυρου της καρδιας αυτου (KJV: treasure of his heart) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁶ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding what fills (KJV: abundance). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article της preceding heart. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁸ Luke 6:43-45 (NET)

¹⁹ John 8:44a (NET) Table

²⁰ SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OATH OF OFFICE

²¹ The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

²² Oath of Office for the Presidency

²³ “Joe Biden Signs Gun Control Law: ‘There’s Much More Work to Do’,” Breitbart

²⁴ John 3:7 (NET)

²⁵ 1 Timothy 1:15b (ESV)

²⁶ John 17:3 (NET)

²⁷ Hebrews 8:8b-12 (NET) [See Greek comparison tables]

The Book of Life, Part 3

Posted on May 31, 2022 by admin

The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people,¹ language, and nation, and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast,² everyone whose³ name⁴ has not been written since the foundation of the world in the⁵ book of life belonging to the Lamb who⁶ was killed.⁷

This is the fullest description of the book of life so far. The Greek words translated the book were τῷ βιβλίῳ in the NET, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text. In the Stephanus Textus Receptus the feminine article τη preceded the neuter noun βιβλίῳ. That noun in the dative case was followed by a string of three articles, two nouns and a participle all in the genitive case: τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου τοῦ⁸ ἐσφαγμένου.

For the most part, the genitive is often viewed as the case of possession. In more technical terms one noun in the genitive case helps to qualify another noun by showing its “class” or “kind”.⁹

So I have: “the book of the life of the lamb of the slain,” or “the book of the slain lamb’s life.” Or if one is inclined to play games with gender: “the slain lamb’s book of life.” Once the idea is purged from my thoughts—that the Lord wrote or had a list of personal names since the foundation of the world,¹⁰ that omission from this list condemned one to be thrown into the lake of fire,¹¹ that Peter lied about the existence of this list, writing, The Lord…does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance¹²—it is easy to understand “the book of the life of the lamb of the slain” as the New Testament.

The Greek word translated slain (KJV) and who was killed (NET) was ἐσφαγμένου, a participle of the verb σφάζω: “to kill, butcher, slaughter (by cutting the throat), slay for a sacrifice; to wound, maim, torment.” This word is like a synopsis of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

John¹³ saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb (ἀμνὸς) of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one about¹⁴ whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water¹⁵ so that he could be revealed to Israel.”¹⁶

After many of his disciples quit following him (John 6:67, 68 NET):

Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” Simon Peter answered him,¹⁷ “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life (ζωῆς αἰωνίου).

If the Holy Spirit had intended for me to understand the book of life as a list of personal names He could have written τῷ ὀνοματογραφίᾳ τῆς ζωῆς. But if anyone says that Jesus’ life is described throughout the Bible, I wouldn’t be inclined to argue. I just didn’t see that for myself until I began to understand that Jesus learned this life from the Scriptures I know as the Old Testament.

First, I had to learn that Jesus expressed genuine surprise when he asked Nicodemus, Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?¹⁸ He didn’t ridicule Nicodemus for ignorance of a novel concept that Jesus’ had made up in the moment: Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’¹⁹ Only then did I begin to recognize his life in the writings of the Old Testament.

The personal name of consequence in the slain Lamb’s book of life is not mine but Christ’s (Galatians 2:20 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.

This is not Paul’s hyperbolic expression of his personal devotion to Christ but his declarative statement of mere Christianity. Anything, everything, less is hypocrisy, the work of an actor, one seeking to have [one’s] own righteousness derived from the law,²⁰ one rejecting the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness.²¹

He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name (ὄνομα) that is above every name (ὄνομα), so that at the name (ὀνόματι, a form of ὄνομα) of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.²²

The Greek word translated Jesus was Ἰησοῦ, a form of Ἰησοῦς. In the Septuagint Ἰησοῦ and Ἰησοῦς are the Greek name of Joshua (Exodus 17:9, 10 NET).

So Moses said to Joshua (Ἰησοῦ), “Choose some of our men and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”

So Joshua (Ἰησοῦς) fought against Amalek just as Moses had instructed him, and Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill [Table].

So even the name above every name has more to do with the reputation of One than his personal name. Joshua did many wonderful things, but it is not before Joshua that every knee will bow. Joshua is not the Lord that every tongue will confess because his name is Ἰησοῦς in Greek.

Another occurrence of the Lamb’s book of life follows (Revelation 21:27 NET):

but nothing ritually unclean²³ will ever enter into [the holy city, Jerusalem], nor anyone who does²⁴ what is detestable or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Again, names was added by the translators: but only those…written in the Lamb’s book of life. Here the book doesn’t seem like a literal book at all. Being written in the Lamb’s book of life sounds more like a euphemism for having a share in the Lamb’s life, for being in Christ (Philippians 3:5-11 NET):

I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee. In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless [Table]. But²⁵ these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ. More than that,²⁶ I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things—indeed, I regard them as dung!—that I may gain Christ [Table] and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness. My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead [Table].

Given this, I would understand one not found written in the book of life²⁷ as a euphemism for one not in Christ. I’ll consider one more occurrence of the book of life (Revelation 20:11, 12 NET).

Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it;²⁸ the earth and the heaven fled from his presence,²⁹ and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the³⁰ great and the³¹ small, standing before the throne.³² Then books were opened,³³ and another book was opened³⁴—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.

A note (34) in the NET acknowledged that ἄλλο βιβλίον ἠνοίχθη, ὅ ἐστιν τῆς ζωῆς is literally “another book was opened, which is of life.” I can understand these books concretely as the Bible with the New Testament which is of life highlighted: the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.³⁵

You yourselves are our letter, Paul wrote (2 Corinthians 3:2-11 NET):

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.³⁶
Now we have such confidence in God through Christ. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills,³⁷ but the Spirit gives life.
But if the ministry that produced death—carved in letters on³⁸ 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) [Table], how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be? For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation (κατακρίσεως, a form of κατάκρισις), how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in glory! For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it [Table]. For if what was made ineffective came with glory, how much more has what remains come in glory!

Conversely, I can understand “another book was opened, which is of life” abstractly as Christ Himself at the very moment when those whose life is hidden with Christ appear (Colossians 3:1-4 NET).

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your³⁹ life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.

I can’t understand the dead being judged by a list of personal names to which they have had no access. So the dead were judged (ἐκρίθησαν, a form of κρίνω) by what was written in the books, according to their deeds (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον).⁴⁰ Jesus said, (John 3:16-21 ESV):

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn (κρίνῃ, another form of κρίνω) the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him [Table]. Whoever believes in him is not condemned (κρίνεται, another form of κρίνω), but whoever does not believe is condemned (κέκριται, another form of κρίνω) already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment (κρίσις): the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) have been carried out (εἰργασμένα, a form of ἐργάζομαι) in God.”

For many live, Paul wrote, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears (Philippians 3:18-21 NET):

I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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 [Table].

Does Jesus’ power (ἐνέργειαν, a form of ἐνέργεια; KJV: working) by which he is able to subject all things to himself extend to the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things⁴¹? I tend to answer this question in the affirmative because I remember when I believed none of it. I remember what “living” was like when I was written in the book of the slain Lamb’s life in these negative terms.

Tables comparing Exodus 17:9 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Exodus 17:9 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Revelation 13:7, 8; John 1:29-31; 6:68; Revelation 21:27; Philippians 3:7; Revelation 20:11, 12; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 3:6 and Colossians 3:4 in the NET and KJV follow.

Exodus 17:9 (Tanakh)	Exodus 17:9 (KJV)	Exodus 17:9 (NET)
And Moses said unto Joshua: ‘Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of G-d in my hand.’	And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.	So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”

Exodus 17:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 17:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Μωυσῆς τῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπίλεξον σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς καὶ ἐξελθὼν παράταξαι τῷ Αμαληκ αὔριον καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ βουνοῦ καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρί μου	εἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ· ἐπίλεξον σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς καὶ ἐξελθὼν παράταξαι τῷ ᾿Αμαλὴκ αὔριον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ βουνοῦ, καὶ ἡ ράβδος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρί μου
Exodus 17:9 (NETS)	Exodus 17:9 (English Elpenor)
iAnd Moyses said to Iesous, “Choose for yourself capable men, and go forth, and set up in battle array with Amalek tomorrow. And look, I stand on top of the hill, and the rod of God is in my hand.”	And Moses said to Joshua, Choose out for thyself mighty men, and go forth and set the army in array against Amalec to-morrow; and, behold, I [shall] stand on the top of the hill, and the rod of God [will be] in my hand.

Revelation 13:7, 8 (NET)	Revelation 13:7, 8 (KJV)
The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation,	And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
\|καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ποιῆσαι πόλεμον μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων καὶ νικῆσαι αὐτούς,\| καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ἐξουσία ἐπὶ πᾶσαν φυλὴν καὶ λαὸν καὶ γλῶσσαν καὶ ἔθνος	και εδοθη αυτω πολεμον ποιησαι μετα των αγιων και νικησαι αυτους και εδοθη αυτω εξουσια επι πασαν φυλην και γλωσσαν και εθνος	και εδοθη αυτω ποιησαι πολεμον μετα των αγιων και νικησαι αυτους και εδοθη αυτω εξουσια επι πασαν φυλην και λαον και γλωσσαν και εθνος

and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, οὗ οὐ γέγραπται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου τοῦ ἐσφαγμένου ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου	και προσκυνησουσιν αυτω παντες οι κατοικουντες επι της γης ων ου γεγραπται τα ονοματα εν τη βιβλω της ζωης του αρνιου εσφαγμενου απο καταβολης κοσμου	και προσκυνησουσιν αυτω παντες οι κατοικουντες επι της γης ων ου γεγραπται το ονομα εν τω βιβλιω της ζωης του αρνιου του εσφαγμενου απο καταβολης κοσμου

John 1:29-31 (NET)	John 1:29-31 (KJV)
On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!	The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τῇ ἐπαύριον βλέπει τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει· ἴδε ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ αἴρων τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου	τη επαυριον βλεπει ο ιωαννης τον ιησουν ερχομενον προς αυτον και λεγει ιδε ο αμνος του θεου ο αιρων την αμαρτιαν του κοσμου	τη επαυριον βλεπει ο ιωαννης τον ιησουν ερχομενον προς αυτον και λεγει ιδε ο αμνος του θεου ο αιρων την αμαρτιαν του κοσμου

This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’

This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὗτος ἐστιν ὑπὲρ οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον· ὀπίσω μου ἔρχεται ἀνὴρ ὃς ἔμπροσθεν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτος μου ἦν	ουτος εστιν περι ου εγω ειπον οπισω μου ερχεται ανηρ ος εμπροσθεν μου γεγονεν οτι πρωτος μου ην	ουτος εστιν περι ου εγω ειπον οπισω μου ερχεται ανηρ ος εμπροσθεν μου γεγονεν οτι πρωτος μου ην

I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν, ἀλλ᾿ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραὴλ διὰ τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγὼ ἐν ὕδατι βαπτίζων	καγω ουκ ηδειν αυτον αλλ ινα φανερωθη τω ισραηλ δια τουτο ηλθον εγω εν τω υδατι βαπτιζων	καγω ουκ ηδειν αυτον αλλ ινα φανερωθη τω ισραηλ δια τουτο ηλθον εγω εν τω υδατι βαπτιζων

John 6:68 (NET)	John 6:68 (KJV)
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.	Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ Σίμων Πέτρος· κύριε, πρὸς τίνα ἀπελευσόμεθα; ρήματα ζωῆς αἰωνίου ἔχεις	απεκριθη ουν αυτω σιμων πετρος κυριε προς τινα απελευσομεθα ρηματα ζωης αιωνιου εχεις	απεκριθη ουν αυτω σιμων πετρος κυριε προς τινα απελευσομεθα ρηματα ζωης αιωνιου εχεις

Revelation 21:27 (NET)	Revelation 21:27 (KJV)
but nothing ritually unclean will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.	And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς αὐτὴν πᾶν κοινὸν καὶ [ὁ] ποιῶν βδέλυγμα καὶ ψεῦδος εἰ μὴ οἱ γεγραμμένοι ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου	και ου μη εισελθη εις αυτην παν κοινουν και ποιουν βδελυγμα και ψευδος ει μη οι γεγραμμενοι εν τω βιβλιω της ζωης του αρνιου	και ου μη εισελθη εις αυτην παν κοινον και ποιουν βδελυγμα και ψευδος ει μη οι γεγραμμενοι εν τω βιβλιω της ζωης του αρνιου

Philippians 3:7 (NET)	Philippians 3:7 (KJV)
But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.	But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
[Ἀλλὰ] ἅτινα ἦν μοι κέρδη, ταῦτα ἥγημαι διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν ζημίαν	αλλ ατινα ην μοι κερδη ταυτα ηγημαι δια τον χριστον ζημιαν	αλλ ατινα ην μοι κερδη ταυτα ηγημαι δια τον χριστον ζημιαν

Revelation 20:11, 12 (NET)	Revelation 20:11, 12 (KJV)
Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.	And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ εἶδον θρόνον μέγαν λευκὸν καὶ τὸν καθήμενον ἐπ᾿ \|αὐτόν\|, οὗ ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου ἔφυγεν ἡ γῆ καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ τόπος οὐχ εὑρέθη αὐτοῖς	και ειδον θρονον λευκον μεγαν και τον καθημενον επ αυτου ου απο προσωπου εφυγεν η γη και ο ουρανος και τοπος ουχ ευρεθη αυτοις	και ειδον θρονον μεγαν λευκον και τον καθημενον επ αυτον ου απο προσωπου εφυγεν η γη και ο ουρανος και τοπος ουχ ευρεθη αυτοις

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ εἶδον τοὺς νεκρούς, τοὺς μεγάλους καὶ τοὺς μικρούς, ἑστῶτας ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου. καὶ βιβλία ἠνοίχθησαν, καὶ ἄλλο βιβλίον ἠνοίχθη, ὅ ἐστιν τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ ἐκρίθησαν οἱ νεκροὶ ἐκ τῶν γεγραμμένων ἐν τοῖς βιβλίοις κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν	και ειδον τους νεκρους μικρους και μεγαλους εστωτας ενωπιον του θεου και βιβλια ηνεωχθησαν και βιβλιον αλλο ηνεωχθη ο εστιν της ζωης και εκριθησαν οι νεκροι εκ των γεγραμμενων εν τοις βιβλιοις κατα τα εργα αυτων	και ειδον τους νεκρους τους μεγαλους και τους μικρους εστωτας ενωπιον του θρονου και βιβλια ηνεωχθησαν και αλλο βιβλιον ηνεωχθη ο εστιν της ζωης και εκριθησαν οι νεκροι εκ των γεγραμμενων εν τοις βιβλιοις κατα τα εργα αυτων

2 Corinthians 3:3 (NET)	2 Corinthians 3:3 (KJV)
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.	Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
φανερούμενοι ὅτι ἐστὲ ἐπιστολὴ Χριστοῦ διακονηθεῖσα ὑφ᾿ ἡμῶν, ἐγγεγραμμένη οὐ μέλανι ἀλλὰ πνεύματι θεοῦ ζῶντος, οὐκ ἐν πλαξὶν λιθίναις ἀλλ᾿ ἐν πλαξὶν καρδίαις σαρκίναις	φανερουμενοι οτι εστε επιστολη χριστου διακονηθεισα υφ ημων εγγεγραμμενη ου μελανι αλλα πνευματι θεου ζωντος ουκ εν πλαξιν λιθιναις αλλ εν πλαξιν καρδιας σαρκιναις	φανερουμενοι οτι εστε επιστολη χριστου διακονηθεισα υφ ημων εγγεγραμμενη ου μελανι αλλα πνευματι θεου ζωντος ουκ εν πλαξιν λιθιναις αλλ εν πλαξιν καρδιαις σαρκιναις

2 Corinthians 3:6 (NET)	2 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)
who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.	Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὃς καὶ ἱκάνωσεν ἡμᾶς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης, οὐ γράμματος ἀλλὰ πνεύματος· τὸ γὰρ γράμμα \|ἀποκτέννει\|, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζῳοποιεῖ	ος και ικανωσεν ημας διακονους καινης διαθηκης ου γραμματος αλλα πνευματος το γαρ γραμμα αποκτεινει το δε πνευμα ζωοποιει	ος και ικανωσεν ημας διακονους καινης διαθηκης ου γραμματος αλλα πνευματος το γαρ γραμμα αποκτενει το δε πνευμα ζωοποιει

Colossians 3:4 (NET)	Colossians 3:4 (KJV)
When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.	When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ (ἡ ζωὴ \|ὑμῶν\|), τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ	οταν ο χριστος φανερωθη η ζωη ημων τοτε και υμεις συν αυτω φανερωθησεσθε εν δοξη	οταν ο χριστος φανερωθη η ζωη ημων τοτε και υμεις συν αυτω φανερωθησεσθε εν δοξη

Back to Christianity, Part 6

Back to Who Am I? Part 16

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 1

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 3

¹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had καὶ λαὸν here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had αὐτὸν here in the accusative case, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτω in the dative case (KJV: him).

³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the singular οὗ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural ων.

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the singular τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ (literally: the name of him) here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had τὸ ὄνομα, and the Stephanus Textus Receptus had the plural τα ονοματα (KJV: names).

⁵ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the masculine or neuter article τῷ preceding book, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had the feminine article τη.

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοῦ in the genitive case preceding was killed. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

⁷ Revelation 13:7, 8 (NET)

⁸ This article τοῦ is not found in the Stephanus Textus Receptus.

⁹ GREEK NOUNS (Shorter Definitions), Resources for Learning New Testament Greek

¹⁰ Revelation 17:8 (NET) Table

¹¹ Revelation 20:15 (NET) Table

¹² 2 Peter 3:9 (NET) Table

¹³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο ιωαννης here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὑπὲρ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had περι (KJV: of).

¹⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τω preceding water. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁶ John 1:29-31 (NET)

¹⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: Then) preceding him. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁸ John 3:10 (NET) Table

¹⁹ John 3:7 (NET)

²⁰ Philippians 3:9a (NET)

²¹ Philippians 3:9b (NET)

²² Philippians 2:8-11 (NET)

²³ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had an adjective κοινὸν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had a participle κοινουν (KJV: that defileth).

²⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὁ ποιῶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ποιουν (KJV: worketh).

²⁵ The NET parallel Greek text had Ἀλλὰ here, where the NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byantine Majority Text had Ἀλλ’.

²⁶ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had μενοῦνγε here, where the Byantine Majority Text had μεν ουν.

²⁷ Revelation 20:15a (NET)

²⁸ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had αὐτόν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αυτου.

²⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the article τοῦ preceding presence (KJV: face). The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

³⁰ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοὺς preceding great. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

³¹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοὺς preceding small. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

³² The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had θρόνου here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had θεου (KJV: God).

³³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἠνοίχθησαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηνεωχθησαν.

³⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἠνοίχθη here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηνεωχθη.

³⁵ Revelation 20:12b (NET)

³⁶ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural καρδίαις in the dative case here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had the singular καρδιας in the genitive case (KJV: of the heart).

³⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἀποκτέννει here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αποκτεινει (KJV: killeth), and the Byzantine Majority Text had αποκτενει.

³⁸ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν preceding stone. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

³⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὑμῶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ημων (KJV: our).

⁴⁰ Revelation 20:12b (NET)

⁴¹ Philippians 3:18b, 19 (KJV)

The Book of Life, Part 2

Posted on May 25, 2022 by admin

To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven¹ spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation² (ὄνομα) that you are alive, but in reality you are dead.³

This angel (ἀγγέλῳ) may be the human messenger of God to the Sardis Church. This message is addressed to a singular you: your (σου) deeds, you have (ἔχεις). It is probably most prudent for human messengers to assume it is addressed to them and for members of their congregations to assume it is addressed to them as individuals. It is worth noting that ὄνομα was used here in the sense of reputation, that for which one is known, falsely in this particular instance.

But⁴ you have (ἔχεις) a few individuals (ὀνόματα, a form of ὄνομα) in⁵ Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white because they are worthy.⁶

Here, however, I would assume that you have (ἔχεις) referred to the church in Sardis as a singular collective. And here, also, ὀνόματα, a plural form of ὄνομα was translated individuals, names understood as persons. The pertinent verse for a consideration of the book of life follows (Revelation 3:5 NET).

The one who conquers (νικῶν) will be dressed like them⁷ [i.e., the names in Sardis who have not stained their clothes] in white clothing, and I will never erase his name (ὄνομα) from the book of life (τῆς βίβλου τῆς ζωῆς), but will declare⁸ his name (ὄνομα) before my Father and before his angels.

This is an encouraging promise: Jesus (Revelation 1:12-18) will never (οὐ μὴ) erase (ἐξαλείψω) [the] name [of t]he one who conquers…from the book of life. This is called the subjunctive of emphatic negation,⁹ though ἐξαλείψω in this particular occurrence is in the future tense and indicative mood. It harmonizes perfectly with the Lord’s wish…for all come to repentance.¹⁰ The implication, however, that one who does not conquer may not be so blessed, coupled with the statement—If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire¹¹—leaves a different impression.

This is as good a place as any to point out that name (ὄνομα) is not found in Revelation 20:15 in the Greek texts [see Table below] but was added by the translators. If I consider the different usages of ὄνομα in the previous passage, I begin to wonder if Jesus will declare the personal name of the one who conquers…before my Father and before his angels, or the reputation of the one who conquers. Likewise, is it the personal name of the one who conquers He will never erase…from the book of life? Or is it the reputation of the one who conquers that He will never erase…from the book of life?

I have thought that the book of life lists the names of those who will not be thrown into the lake of fire. Perhaps it contains the true reputation or character of the one who conquers instead. If I limited myself to considering only Revelation 3:1-5, I would assume that the one who conquers completes his or her deeds in the sight of Jesus’¹² God,¹³ remembers what he or she has received and heard, obeys it, and repents,¹⁴ and doesn’t dribble food or drink on his or her clothing.

A little familiarity with Isaiah, however, persuades me that stained…clothes has more to do with sin than with sloppy eating or drinking (Isaiah 1:18 ESV Table):

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is fairly explicit about those whose place will be in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8 NET):

But as for the¹⁵ cowards, unbelievers,¹⁶ detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells,¹⁷ idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second¹⁸ death.¹⁹

So, I tend to add not being or doing these things to the list of requirements that defines the one who conquers. Without discounting any of these achievements, I recognize from many other statements in the Bible that the path to these achievements is not through my adherence to rules. That would be hypocrisy, the work of an actor.

I suspect that this sort of do-it-yourself religion was the reason Jesus told John to write to the angel of the church in Sardis,²⁰ I have not found your deeds complete (πεπληρωμένα, a form of πληρόω) in the sight of my God.²¹ Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill (πληρῶσαι, another form of πληρόω) them,²² Jesus promised.

The path to all of these achievements is through Jesus Christ (John 14:5-7 NET):

Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How²³ can we know the way?” Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have known²⁴ me, you will know²⁵ my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.”

All of these achievements are the work of God through Our Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:3, 5-8 NET):

Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God [Table]…I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God [Table]. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

When asked, “What should we do, brothers?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”²⁶

Paul wrote (Galatians 5:16-18 NET):

But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want [Table]. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

And again (Romans 8:1-4 NET):

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death [Table]. For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled (πληρωθῇ, another form of πληρόω) in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

I admit that here and now I think of the sin he condemned (κατέκρινεν, a form of κατακρίνω) in my flesh as imprisoned there. The coward and unbeliever imprisoned in my flesh don’t prevent me from trusting Jesus or receiving his faith in God’s word. The detestable person imprisoned in my flesh doesn’t prevent Him from sharing his holiness with me. The murderer imprisoned in my flesh is not free to go on a killing spree. The sexual predator imprisoned in my flesh is restrained from victimizing women, men, girls, boys and animals, or making a religious rite of victimizing them. The magical thinking idol worshiper imprisoned in my flesh cannot stop me from hearing the Word of God, nor can the liar imprisoned there dissuade me from the truth of his word.

Still, the ultimate destination of all this sin he condemned in my flesh is the lake of fire²⁷ along with Death and Hades,²⁸ the place of the dead. It’s a very hopeful thing that when Jesus raises me up at²⁹ the last day³⁰ I’ll no longer be burdened with all this sinful residue. While I can appreciate in a hypothetical sense that those who define themselves by, or take pride in, the sin he condemned in their flesh may not perceive things quite this way, I see no reason to despair over the persistence of human sinfulness while I trust in the persistence of the One who does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.³¹I’m willing to continue, expecting the book of life to be something more than a list of personal names (ὀνοματογραφία) of those who will not be thrown into the lake of fire.³²

Thus far the Greek words translated the book were τῇ βίβλῳ (Revelation 20:15) and τῆς βίβλου (Revelation 3:5), forms of βίβλος. Now I’ll consider an occurrence of τὸ βιβλίον (Revelation 17:8 NET).

The³³ beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth—all those whose names³⁴ have not been written in (ἐπὶ) the book of life (τὸ βιβλίον τῆς ζωῆς) since the foundation of the world—will be astounded³⁵ when they see that³⁶ the beast was, and is not, but is to come.³⁷

The words all those appear to have been added by the translators. They have no counterpart in the Greek text. So, The inhabitants of the earth…whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world—will be astounded. If I understand the singular τὸ ὄνομα (translated: names) as reputation or character, then I can assume it is the reputation or character of the one who conquers which has been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world and that those who do net yet possess this character, those who have not yet lived this reputation, those who have not yet received God’s salvation in Jesus Christ, will be astounded.

The alternative, that the names, τα ονοματα, are personal names implies that there are inhabitants of the earth for whom God never cared but predestined to be thrown into the lake of fire since the foundation of the world. Since that would make the Lord’s wish..for all to come to repentance³⁸ not merely sentimental but a bald-faced lie, I will continue to consider that it is the reputation or character of the one who conquers which has been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world.

I’ll pick this up in another essay. The table mentioned above follows:

A note (41) in the NET reads: “The word ‘name’ is not in the Greek text, but is implied.”

Revelation 20:15 (NET)	Revelation 20:15 (KJV)
If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.	And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ εἴ τις οὐχ εὑρέθη ἐν τῇ βίβλῳ τῆς ζωῆς γεγραμμένος, ἐβλήθη εἰς τὴν λίμνην τοῦ πυρός	και ει τις ουχ ευρεθη εν τη βιβλω της ζωης γεγραμμενος εβληθη εις την λιμνην του πυρος	και ει τις ουχ ευρεθη εν τω βιβλιω της ζωης γεγραμμενος εβληθη εις την λιμνην του πυρος

Tables comparing Revelation 3:1; 3:4; 3:5; 3:2; 3:3; 21:8; John 14:5; 14:7 and Revelation 17:8 in the NET and KJV follow.

Revelation 3:1 (NET)	Revelation 3:1 (KJV)
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation that you are alive, but in reality you are dead.	And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ ἔχων τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας· οἶδα σου τὰ ἔργα ὅτι ὄνομα ἔχεις ὅτι ζῇς, καὶ νεκρὸς εἶ	και τω αγγελω της εν σαρδεσιν εκκλησιας γραψον ταδε λεγει ο εχων τα πνευματα του θεου και τους επτα αστερας οιδα σου τα εργα οτι το ονομα εχεις οτι ζης και νεκρος ει	και τω αγγελω της εν σαρδεσιν εκκλησιας γραψον ταδε λεγει ο εχων τα επτα πνευματα του θεου και τους επτα αστερας οιδα σου τα εργα οτι ονομα εχεις οτι ζης και νεκρος ει

Revelation 3:4 (NET)	Revelation 3:4 (KJV)
But you have a few individuals in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white because they are worthy.	Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλὰ ἔχεις ὀλίγα ὀνόματα ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἃ οὐκ ἐμόλυναν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν, καὶ περιπατήσουσιν μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἐν λευκοῖς, ὅτι ἄξιοι εἰσιν	εχεις ολιγα ονοματα και εν σαρδεσιν α ουκ εμολυναν τα ιματια αυτων και περιπατησουσιν μετ εμου εν λευκοις οτι αξιοι εισιν	αλλ ολιγα εχεις ονοματα εν σαρδεσιν α ουκ εμολυναν τα ιματια αυτων και περιπατησουσιν μετ εμου εν λευκοις οτι αξιοι εισιν

Revelation 3:5 (NET)	Revelation 3:5 (KJV)
The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my Father and before his angels.	He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ὁ νικῶν οὕτως περιβαλεῖται ἐν ἱματίοις λευκοῖς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξαλείψω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῆς βίβλου τῆς ζωῆς καὶ ὁμολογήσω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ	ο νικων ουτος περιβαλειται εν ιματιοις λευκοις και ου μη εξαλειψω το ονομα αυτου εκ της βιβλου της ζωης και εξομολογησομαι το ονομα αυτου ενωπιον του πατρος μου και ενωπιον των αγγελων αυτου	ο νικων ουτος περιβαλειται εν ιματιοις λευκοις και ου μη εξαλειψω το ονομα αυτου εκ της βιβλου της ζωης και ομολογησω το ονομα αυτου ενωπιον του πατρος μου και ενωπιον των αγγελων αυτου

Revelation 3:2 (NET)	Revelation 3:2 (KJV)
Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about to die, because I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.	Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
γίνου γρηγορῶν καὶ στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰ ἃ ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν, οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκα σου \|τὰ\| ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ μου	γινου γρηγορων και στηριξον τα λοιπα α μελλει αποθανειν ου γαρ ευρηκα σου τα εργα πεπληρωμενα ενωπιον του θεου	γινου γρηγορων και στηρισον τα λοιπα α εμελλες αποβαλλειν ου γαρ ευρηκα σου τα εργα πεπληρωμενα ενωπιον του θεου μου

Revelation 3:3 (NET)	Revelation 3:3 (KJV)
Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you.	Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
μνημόνευε οὖν πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας καὶ τήρει καὶ μετανόησον. ἐὰν οὖν μὴ γρηγορήσῃς, ἥξω ὡς κλέπτης, καὶ οὐ μὴ γνῷς ποίαν ὥραν ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ	μνημονευε ουν πως ειληφας και ηκουσας και τηρει και μετανοησον εαν ουν μη γρηγορησης ηξω επι σε ως κλεπτης και ου μη γνως ποιαν ωραν ηξω επι σε	μνημονευε ουν πως ειληφας και ηκουσας και τηρει και μετανοησον εαν ουν μη γρηγορησης ηξω επι σε ως κλεπτης και ου μη γνως ποιαν ωραν ηξω επι σε

Revelation 21:8 (NET)	Revelation 21:8 (KJV)
But as for the cowards, unbelievers, detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells, idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death.	But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
τοῖς δὲ δειλοῖς καὶ ἀπίστοις καὶ ἐβδελυγμένοις καὶ φονεῦσιν καὶ πόρνοις καὶ φαρμάκοις καὶ εἰδωλολάτραις καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ψευδέσιν τὸ μέρος αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ λίμνῃ τῇ καιομένῃ πυρὶ καὶ θείῳ, ὅ ἐστιν ὁ θάνατος ὁ δεύτερος	δειλοις δε και απιστοις και εβδελυγμενοις και φονευσιν και πορνοις και φαρμακευσιν και ειδωλολατραις και πασιν τοις ψευδεσιν το μερος αυτων εν τη λιμνη τη καιομενη πυρι και θειω ο εστιν δευτερος θανατος	τοις δε δειλοις και απιστοις και αμαρτωλοις και εβδελυγμενοις και φονευσιν και πορνοις και φαρμακοις και ειδωλολατραις και πασιν τοις ψευδεσιν το μερος αυτων εν τη λιμνη τη καιομενη πυρι και θειω ο εστιν ο θανατος ο δευτερος

John 14:5 (NET)	John 14:5 (KJV)
Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”	Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Λέγει αὐτῷ Θωμᾶς· κύριε, οὐκ οἴδαμεν ποῦ ὑπάγεις· πῶς \|δυνάμεθα\| τὴν ὁδὸν \|εἰδέναι\|	λεγει αυτω θωμας κυριε ουκ οιδαμεν που υπαγεις και πως δυναμεθα την οδον ειδεναι	λεγει αυτω θωμας κυριε ουκ οιδαμεν που υπαγεις και πως δυναμεθα την οδον ειδεναι

John 14:7 (NET)	John 14:7 (KJV)
If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.”	If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ \|ἐγνώκατε\| με, καὶ τὸν πατέρα μου \|γνώσεσθε. καὶ\| ἀπ᾿ ἄρτι γινώσκετε αὐτὸν καὶ ἑωράκατε \|αὐτόν\|	ει εγνωκειτε με και τον πατερα μου εγνωκειτε αν και απ αρτι γινωσκετε αυτον και εωρακατε αυτον	ει εγνωκειτε με και τον πατερα μου εγνωκειτε αν και απ αρτι γινωσκετε αυτον και εωρακατε αυτον

Revelation 17:8 (NET)	Revelation 17:8 (KJV)
The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth—all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world—will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come.	The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τὸ θηρίον ὃ εἶδες ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν καὶ μέλλει ἀναβαίνειν ἐκ τῆς ἀβύσσου καὶ εἰς ἀπώλειαν ὑπάγει, καὶ θαυμασθήσονται οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν οὐ γέγραπται τὸ ὄνομα ἐπὶ τὸ βιβλίον τῆς ζωῆς ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, βλεπόντων τὸ θηρίον ὅτι ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν καὶ παρέσται	θηριον ο ειδες ην και ουκ εστιν και μελλει αναβαινειν εκ της αβυσσου και εις απωλειαν υπαγειν και θαυμασονται οι κατοικουντες επι της γης ων ου γεγραπται τα ονοματα επι το βιβλιον της ζωης απο καταβολης κοσμου βλεποντες το θηριον ο τι ην και ουκ εστιν καιπερ εστιν	το θηριον ο ειδες ην και ουκ εστιν και μελλει αναβαινειν εκ της αβυσσου και εις απωλειαν υπαγειν και θαυμασονται οι κατοικουντες επι της γης ων ου γεγραπται τα ονοματα επι το βιβλιον της ζωης απο καταβολης κοσμου βλεποντων οτι ην το θηριον και ουκ εστιν και παρεσται

The Book of Life, Part 3

Back to Who Am I? Part 16

¹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἑπτὰ here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

² The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article το preceding reputation (KJV: name). The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

³ Revelation 3:1 (NET)

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἀλλ’. The Stephanus Textus Receptus had neither.

⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had και (KJV: even) preceding in. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

⁶ Revelation 3:4 (NET)

⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had οὕτως here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτος (KJV: the same).

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ὁμολογήσω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had εξομολογησομαι (KJV: I will confess).

⁹ Subjunctive of Emphatic Negation

a) This is a way to strongly deny that something will happen. It is the strongest way to negate something in Greek.

b) It is formed by using a double negative (ou mh) with an aorist subjunctive verb (or possibly future indicative). While ou plus the indicative denies a certainty, ou mh plus the subjunctive denies even the potentiality.

c) It is translated “certainly not” or “never”, with the English future tense

¹⁰ 2 Peter 3:9b (NET) Table

¹¹ Revelation 20:15 (NET)

¹² The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had μου here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not (KJV: God).

¹³ Revelation 3:2b

¹⁴ Revelation 3:3a

¹⁵ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοῖς here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

¹⁶ The Byzantine Majority Text had και αμαρτωλοις (“and sinners”) following unbelievers. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

¹⁷ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had φαρμάκοις here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had φαρμακευσιν (KJV: sorcerers).

¹⁸ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ὁ preceding second. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

¹⁹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ὁ preceding death. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

²⁰ Revelation 3:1a (NET)

²¹ Revelation 3:2b (NET)

²² Matthew 5:17 (NET)

²³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: and) preceding how. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐγνώκατε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγνωκειτε (KJV: ye had known).

²⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had γνώσεσθε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγνωκειτε αν (KJV: ye should have known).

²⁶ Acts 2:37b, 38 (NET) Table

²⁷ Revelation 21:8

²⁸ Revelation 20:14 Table

²⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐν here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

³⁰ John 6:40b (NET)

³¹ 2 Peter 3:9b (NET) Table

³² Revelation 20:15 (NET)

³³ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article Τὸ preceding beast. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

³⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τὸ ὄνομα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τα ονοματα.

³⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had θαυμασθήσονται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θαυμασονται (KJV: shall wonder).

³⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὅτι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο τι.

A note (23) in the NET reads: Some translations take the ὅτι (hoti) here as causal: “because he was, and is not, but is to come” (so NIV, NRSV), but it is much more likely that the subject of the ὅτι clause has been assimilated into the main clause: “when they see the beast, that he was…” = “when they see that the beast was” (so BDAG 732 s.v. ὅτι 1.f, where Rev 17:8 is listed).

³⁷ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had παρέσται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had καιπερ εστιν (KJV: and yet is).

³⁸ 2 Peter 3:9b (NET) Table

The Book of Life, Part 1

Posted on April 29, 2022 by admin

If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.¹

This verse follows the one I quoted in another essay: Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.² This is the main reason I thought Death and Hades were euphemisms for “those who had died.”

If this is a prophecy of future unalterable events, then this knowledge makes the Lord’s wish…for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b) seem like sentiment. It gives me pause and another opportunity to consider my options if I stood before the judgment seat of Christ and He determined that it was best that I should be thrown into the lake of fire.

First, I believe his judgments are true and just.³ He does not judge by appearances, but…with right judgment.⁴ I can’t imagine all that might run through my mind at that moment, but one thing is certain because it is my practice: I would resolve to face the lake of fire one moment at a time in the strength of his Spirit, relying on God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.⁵

I doubt, however, that Jesus would throw his own Holy Spirit into the lake of fire. So, plan B would be to do everything in my power to cling to Him, to go wherever He is taken, at the moment the Lord withdrew his Holy Spirit. Failing that, well, frankly, I care very little for any residue of me apart from his Holy Spirit. He can dispose of it as He pleases.

None of this was of any concern to me in the beginning, after I prayed to know God. No matter what Jesus had done on the cross I knew the last mile was mine to walk alone. My salvation was ultimately in my hands. My faith differentiated me from all those who would be thrown into the lake of fire. As I wrote before, “I was still pretty cocky.”

“Whosoever will may come” seemed fair to me. It was a popular saying derived from Revelation 22:17 (KJV):

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.⁶ And let him that heareth say, Come.⁷ And let him that is athirst come.⁸ And⁹ whosoever will, let him take¹⁰ the¹¹ water of life freely.

Eternal life is available to all who will (θέλων, a form of θέλω) or want it. Those who do not want eternal life prefer the second death—the lake of fire.¹² Everyone should be smart enough to prefer eternal life to the lake of fire.

So in my early twenties my theology was little changed from that of my five-year-old self. The difference was that my twenty-something self read the Bible more than my five-year-old self. So my twenty-something self was both troubled and intrigued by Jesus’ words (John 6:44, 45 NET):

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day [Table]. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God’ [See Table below]. Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me [Table].

So Jesus taught that the Father’s drawing and teaching preceded my will, my desire, to come to Him for eternal life. Looking back at my own life I had to agree that this was true. But my hearing and my learning could still differentiate me from all those who would be thrown into the lake of fire.

There was another related stream (John 6:28, 29 NET):

So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?” Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires—to believe in the one whom he sent” [Table].

I didn’t have the NET at my disposal in my early twenties. I read the KJV or the NASB:

John 6:29 (KJV)	John 6:29 (NASB)
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.	Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

But I understood this passage as translated in the NET: that believing in Jesus was my work, the deed that would differentiate me from all those who would be thrown into the lake of fire. I heard Jesus’ response then as if He answered the question directly: What must we do (NET/Parallel Greek: τί ποιῶμεν)? Or What shall we do (KJV/Stephanus Textus Receptus: τι ποιουμεν)? Now, I assume that his answer was correcting the basic premise of the question (John 6:29b KJV/NASB):

This is the work of God (τοῦτο ἐστιν τὸ ἔργον τοῦ θεοῦ)…

I sat in the airport recently after seven very long days of work, waiting for my flight home. It was delayed four hours. Every sound everyone around me made annoyed me. I was ready to go off on someone, anyone, but the fruit of the Holy Spirit flooded into me—God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control¹³—against my will, contrary to my desire to lash out at someone.

Whether πιστεύητε (NET: believe) or πιστευσητε (KJV: ye believe) was original, both are in the subjunctive mood: “in order that you may [might] believe in the one whom he sent” is a very fair translation of ἵνα πιστεύητε [πιστευσητε] εἰς ὃν ἀπέστειλεν ἐκεῖνος once the idea that faith is my work is purged from my thinking. And as the result clause of This is the work of God it is fair to understand this as you will believe: “if the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action.”

In my twenties, though all of this was unknown to me, I did begin to hear Paul’s words as my own (Romans 7:15-25a NET):

For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate. But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me (ἡ |οἰκοῦσα| ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία) [Table]. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me (ἡ οἰκοῦσα ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία) [Table].

So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God in my inner being. But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to¹⁴ the law of sin that is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! [Table]

So it may be more accurate to describe my experience at the airport as the sin that lives in me wanted to go off on someone. For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.¹⁵ But when I’m tired and crabby, it feels like me.

I was like a wife who thinks she is too tired for sex but acquiesces to her husband’s desire anyway. After a while she begins to think to herself, “Okay, that’s not so bad.” A while later she thinks, “Yes, you can do that as long as you like.” And sometime after that she thinks, “Please, never stop doing that.”

I don’t want to carry this comparison too far. An orgasm as a sensation seems to have a definite endpoint with a hypersensitive discomfort whenever I’ve pushed through it. I’ve never actually experienced any endpoint to the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is more constant, more continuous, more eternal, if you will.

In my twenties and then through my thirties, the more I believed that the one bringing forth in [me] both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God,¹⁶ the better my behavior became. For it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.¹⁷ The more I relied on the fruit of his Spirit, the more I realized that faith, even my faithfulness (πίστις), is an aspect of his fruit.

But what does that leave me to differentiate myself from all those who will be thrown into the lake of fire? It’s one thing to say, “but for the grace of God…” It’s another thing entirely to come face-to-face with the fact that the only thing that differentiates me from all those who will be thrown into the lake of fire is God: his mercy, his patient instruction, his grace through Jesus Christ, his indwelling Spirit.

“Then who can be saved?”¹⁸ Jesus’ astonished disciples asked when He told them it was hard for those they had thought the best (at least, the blessed) among them to enter the kingdom of heaven. And here, I think Jesus answered their question directly in the context in which they had asked it (Matthew 19:26 ESV):

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man (ἀνθρώποις, a form of ἄνθρωπος; e.g., people, humankind) this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So now, it’s more difficult for me to gainsay the Lord’s wish…for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b) over some knowledge I think I have. I’ll look more seriously at the Book of Life (τῇ βίβλῳ τῆς ζωῆς) instead.

According to a note (68) in the NET Jesus quoted from Isaiah 54:13. The table below compares Jesus’ Greek to that of the Septuagint.

John 6:45 (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 54:13a (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 54:13a (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσονται πάντες διδακτοὶ θεοῦ	καὶ πάντας τοὺς υἱούς σου διδακτοὺς θεοῦ	καὶ πάντας τοὺς υἱούς σου διδακτοὺς Θεοῦ
John 6:45 (NET)	Isaiah 54:13a (NETS)	Isaiah 54:13a (English Elpenor)
And they will all be taught by God.	And I will make all your sons taught by God	And [I will cause] all thy sons [to be] taught of God

Where the passage in Isaiah had limited all (πάντας) to your sons (τοὺς υἱούς σου), Jesus expanded it to they will all (ἔσονται πάντες).

Tables comparing Isaiah 54:13 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Isaiah 54:13 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Revelation 19:2; 22:17 and Romans 7:23 in the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 54:13 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 54:13 (KJV)	Isaiah 54:13 (NET)
And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.	And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.	All your children will be followers of the Lord, and your children will enjoy great prosperity.

Isaiah 54:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 54:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ πάντας τοὺς υἱούς σου διδακτοὺς θεοῦ καὶ ἐν πολλῇ εἰρήνῃ τὰ τέκνα σου	καὶ πάντας τοὺς υἱούς σου διδακτοὺς Θεοῦ καὶ ἐν πολλῇ εἰρήνῃ τὰ τέκνα σου
Isaiah 54:13 (NETS)	Isaiah 54:13 (English Elpenor)
And I will make all your sons taught by God and your children to be in great peace.	And [I will cause] all thy sons [to be] taught of God, and thy children [to be] in great peace.

Revelation 19:2 (NET)	Revelation 19:2 (KJV)
because his judgments are true and just. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his servants poured out by her own hands!”	For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὅτι ἀληθιναὶ καὶ δίκαιαι αἱ κρίσεις αὐτοῦ· ὅτι ἔκρινεν τὴν πόρνην τὴν μεγάλην ἥτις ἔφθειρεν τὴν γῆν ἐν τῇ πορνείᾳ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐξεδίκησεν τὸ αἷμα τῶν δούλων αὐτοῦ ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτῆς	οτι αληθιναι και δικαιαι αι κρισεις αυτου οτι εκρινεν την πορνην την μεγαλην ητις εφθειρεν την γην εν τη πορνεια αυτης και εξεδικησεν το αιμα των δουλων αυτου εκ της χειρος αυτης	οτι αληθιναι και δικαιαι αι κρισεις αυτου οτι εκρινεν την πορνην την μεγαλην ητις διεφθειρεν την γην εν τη πορνεια αυτης και εξεδικησεν το αιμα των δουλων αυτου εκ της χειρος αυτης

Revelation 22:17 (NET)	Revelation 22:17 (KJV)
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say: “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.	And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ ἡ νύμφη λέγουσιν· ἔρχου. καὶ ὁ ἀκούων εἰπάτω· ἔρχου. καὶ ὁ διψῶν ἐρχέσθω, ὁ θέλων λαβέτω ὕδωρ ζωῆς δωρεάν	και το πνευμα και η νυμφη λεγουσιν ελθε και ο ακουων ειπατω ελθε και ο διψων ελθετω και ο θελων λαμβανετω το υδωρ ζωης δωρεαν	και το πνευμα και η νυμφη λεγουσιν ερχου και ο ακουων ειπατω ερχου και ο διψων ερχεσθω ο θελων λαβετω υδωρ ζωης δωρεαν

Romans 7:23 (NET)	Romans 7:23 (KJV)
But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members.	But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
βλέπω δὲ ἕτερον νόμον ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν μου ἀντιστρατευόμενον τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ νοός μου καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζοντα με \|ἐν\| τῷ νόμῳ τῆς ἁμαρτίας τῷ ὄντι ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν μου	βλεπω δε ετερον νομον εν τοις μελεσιν μου αντιστρατευομενον τω νομω του νοος μου και αιχμαλωτιζοντα με τω νομω της αμαρτιας τω οντι εν τοις μελεσιν μου	βλεπω δε ετερον νομον εν τοις μελεσιν μου αντιστρατευομενον τω νομω του νοος μου και αιχμαλωτιζοντα με εν τω νομω της αμαρτιας τω οντι εν τοις μελεσιν μου

The Book of Life, Part 2

Back to Christianity, Part 2

Back to Who Am I? Part 14

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 9

Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 7

Back to Keep Yourselves from Idols, Part 1

Back to Who Am I? Part 16

Back to Who Am I? Part 17

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

¹ Revelation 20:15 (NET)

² Revelation 20:14 (NET) Table

³ Revelation 19:2a (NET)

⁴ John 7:24 (ESV) Table

⁵ Galatians 5:22b, 23a (NET) Table

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἔρχου in the present tense here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ελθε in the 2^nd aorist tense.

⁷ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἔρχου in the present tense here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ελθε in the 2^nd aorist tense.

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐρχέσθω in the present tense here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ελθετω in the 2^nd aorist tense.

⁹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had και here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

¹⁰ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had λαβέτω in the 2^nd aorist tense here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had λαμβανετω in the present tense.

¹¹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article το here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

¹² Revelation 20:14b (NET) Table

¹³ Galatians 5:22b, 23a (NET) Table

¹⁴ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐν here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

¹⁵ Galatians 5:17 (NET) Table

¹⁶ Philippians 2:13 (NET) Table

¹⁷ Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

¹⁸ Matthew 19:25b (NET) Table

The New Covenant, Part 2

Posted on February 5, 2022 by admin

I shared the first essay of this series with two friends. Both preferred the judgment focus of my Pastor’s sermon, what I called “an invitation to do-it-yourself religion.”^[1] To one it was a desirable limit to “grace,” which was seen as a come on to an open-ended commitment to do whatever a preacher says. The other saw it as the only path to righteousness since “grace” is just an excuse for indulging whatever sins one wants and then saying, “I’m sorry,” at the end to get into heaven (i.e., to avoid hell). The unifying thread between these two beliefs is the current understanding of the grace of God.

When I think, speak or write about grace what I mean at the very least is the power to become the righteousness of God. God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.^[2] In practical terms I think we become the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, receiving his indwelling Holy Spirit and walking in the continuous supply of his own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.^[3]

My Pastor objected to the word power for grace. The connection to grace is made for me when Paul asked the Lord three times about [a thorn in the flesh], that [this messenger of Satan] would depart from [him]:^[4] But [the Lord] said to me, “My grace (χάρις) is enough for you, for my power (δύναμις) is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power (δύναμις) of Christ may reside in me.^[5]

I’ve grown up around people who feel that saying too much about the Holy Spirit robs Jesus of some of his glory. Jesus said (John 16:7-14 ESV):

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I^[6] do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the^[7] Father, and you will see me no longer;^[8] concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears^[9] he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you [Table].

In the story of the raising of Lazarus Jesus hints at a proximity effect to his grace: Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe.”^[10] “Lord, if you had been here, Martha seems to confirm this proximity effect, my brother would not have died [Table]. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will grant you.”^[11] At the risk of angering hardcore Trinitarians the Holy Spirit is Jesus omnipresent, Jesus without a proximity effect, Jesus unleashed throughout all space and time.

Here, too, my Pastor objected to my description of the Holy Spirit citing Jesus’ words: Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another (ἄλλον, a form of ἄλλος) Advocate to be with you forever.^[12] I asked whether—If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him^[13]—should be understood as “over and above” the indwelling Holy Spirit. He said, no, and settled on the word through. So, I’ll amend my original statement: Through his Holy Spirit Jesus is omnipresent, without a proximity effect, unleashed throughout all space and time.

A more expansive definition of grace is God so loved…that He gave. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given (χαρισθέντα, a form of χαρίζομαι) to us by God.^[14] For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son.^[15] Ultimately Jesus is the grace of God.

My faith needs some of the nuts and bolts, how Jesus is the grace of God to me. And here again Paul associated power with the grace that is Jesus: I pray that according to the wealth of his glory [the Father] will grant you to be strengthened (κραταιωθῆναι, a form of κραταιόω) with power (δυνάμει, a form of δύναμις) through his Spirit in the inner person [Table], that Christ will dwell in your hearts through faith.^[16]

I want to consider this grace of God and the new covenant in the light of my own experience as the types of ground Jesus described in the parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9). The first type of ground He described was the path (Matthew 13:19 NET).

When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand (συνιέντος, a form of συνίημι) it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart; this is the seed sown along the path.

This describes me fairly accurately from about five years old to seventeen. When I said a sinner’s prayer to escape hell, I meant that I disobeyed my parents sometimes. I was many years and a considerable psychic distance from acknowledging that I was from [my] father the devil, and [I] want to do what [my] father desires.^[17] I was like those who loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed.^[18]

I didn’t know my deeds were evil. Quite the contrary, I resented anyone who called what I wanted “evil.” “What I wanted” was the epitome of righteousness in my mind, though I would not have used the term. I realized as I grew that what adults called righteousness was often not anything I wanted at all.

I don’t recall ever hearing Jesus’ saying—You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires—as if it applied to me. It was relatively recently that I realized He spoke to those…who had believed him.^[19] It was relatively recently that I recognized this saying as one of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.^[20] I was like one of the outsiders who heard most of Jesus’ sayings as parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand (συνίουσιν, another form of συνίημι).^[21]

This period of my life, being the path, came to an end when I chose to be an atheist. For a time I actively opted out of being any kind of soil for the seed of God’s word. Even if I have treated it like some sort of necessity in these essays, atheism was not a foregone conclusion. I had an alternative at seventeen.

I was driven back to the Bible when God didn’t punish me for the “sin of premarital sex.” But I rejected the Bible if it didn’t agree with what I “knew” it was supposed to say from years of church and Sunday school, when I was the path, one who heard about the kingdom but didn’t understand it, one who whatever he heard was snatched away by the evil one.

I didn’t realize I was that kind of ground at the time. There was a tacit assumption among those I knew that the three types of ground that didn’t produce consistent fruit were destined for the lake of fire. I had said a sinner’s prayer to Jesus to avoid hell. I was, therefore, good ground by definition.

I have described my time as an atheist as a “decline that is such a cliché, it is too embarrassing to mention in detail.”^[22] There was an upside to becoming a cliché: I could no longer imagine myself to be the unique individual courageously forging my own path into the unknown. My path was well known and well-worn, most notably well known in the Bible, not that I acknowledged that consciously at the time.

My flirtation^[23] with atheism ended when I prayed, “If you’re really out there, I really want to know you.”^[24] Though I had an immediate hunger for the Bible from that moment on, I didn’t study the Bible to know…the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] sent.^[25] I studied to know the rules to obey to keep my end of the bargain.

When I mentioned this to my Pastor, he thought it was a good way to start. For me it was possibly the only way to start. But I can’t help wondering: what if I had believed Jesus saying that I was from my father the devil and wanted to do what my father desired? What if I had let his words create a healthy skepticism in me about those desires and thoughts, those feelings and reasons that came “naturally” to my heart and mind? What if I had taken Him at his word at five or ten or twenty or even forty-years-old rather than compelling Him to prove to me for sixty-five years that I was from my father the devil and wanted to do what my father desired?

Would it have helped me believe that his grace was enough for me? Could it have shortened the time I spent as the next type of ground Jesus described (Matthew 13:20, 21 NET)?

The seed sown on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root in himself and does not endure; when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.

This ground describes me between the ages of twenty-three and forty-three. As I searched the Bible for rules to obey to keep my part of the contract and then disobeyed them anyway, I heard Paul’s lament (Romans 7:22-24 NET):

For I delight in the law of God in my inner being. But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members [Table]. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Paul believed that Jesus had rescued him: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!^[26] I didn’t understand how at first, even though I was more curious than I had ever been before. Though now I might be more inclined to translate χάρις δὲ τῷ θεῷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν^[27] “grace from God through Jesus Christ our Lord” and while I might appreciate more now that Paul may have given a very direct answer to his own rhetorical question, I wouldn’t have understood it any better then. I didn’t know God or his grace—not yet.

Twenty years of springing up with joy only to fall away again, twenty years of being picked up, dusted off and put back together by Jesus one more time, slowly began to teach me to know Him and his grace. Paul wrote to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:11-13 NET):

This saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him. If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny^[28] him, he will also deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since^[29] he cannot (οὐ δύναται) deny himself.

Sometimes when I tell this story people want to credit me for continuing to study the Bible over those twenty years. I also ate food over that time, whenever I was hungry. Granted, eating food was instrumental in keeping me alive, but the hunger comes from God as did the food. Eventually, I began to understand that the one bringing forth in [me] both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God.^[30]

The Greek words translated desire and effort were not nouns but infinitive verbs: θέλειν (a form of θέλω) and ἐνεργεῖν (a form of ἐνεργέω). Eventually, I was able to make this connection to the hunger, the food and the eating. The hunger, θέλειν, and the food, the Bible, are from God. The eating, doing his will, ἐνεργεῖν, becoming the righteousness of God in Him, is the outcome of his grace. And eventually I trusted Him and his grace more than I trusted myself—good ground at last?

Jesus continued (Matthew 13:22 NET):

The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly^[31] cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing.

This type of ground characterizes me from about forty-four years of age to perhaps fifty-three. I got a fulltime job again with a steady paycheck. I married a woman with two children. I left all the “spiritual stuff” to the grace of God while I attended to more mundane matters. This period of my life ended when my wife divorced me.

So from about the age of fifty-four to the present, sixty-eight, have I finally become what Jesus called good soil (Matthew 13:23 NET)?

But as for the seed sown on good soil,^[32] this is the person who hears the word and understands^[33] (συνιείς, another form of συνίημι). He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”

Who knows? I can’t even imagine how to measure such a thing. My Pastor treated these measurements like ordinary agricultural yields. And he’s right.

If I think of a kernel of corn (maize) growing to maturity, one ear of corn would easily be thirty times what was sown. When I think about the time and attention, the forgiveness and patience, the mercy and grace the Lord has lavished upon me, what I share with others is a tiny fraction rather than a multiple.

I planted, Paul wrote the Corinthians, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow (ἠύξανεν, a form of αὐξάνω).^[34] After all we’ve been through together I can trust Him with that growth.

Tables comparing John 16:7; 16:10; 2 Timothy 2:12, 13; Matthew 13:22 and 13:23 in the NET and KJV follow.

John 16:7 (NET)	John 16:7 (KJV)
But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.	Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλ᾿ ἐγὼ τὴν ἀλήθειαν λέγω ὑμῖν, συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα ἐγὼ ἀπέλθω. ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ ἀπέλθω, ὁ παράκλητος \|οὐκ ἐλεύσεται\| πρὸς ὑμᾶς· ἐὰν δὲ πορευθῶ, πέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς ὑμᾶς	αλλ εγω την αληθειαν λεγω υμιν συμφερει υμιν ινα εγω απελθω εαν γαρ μη απελθω ο παρακλητος ουκ ελευσεται προς υμας εαν δε πορευθω πεμψω αυτον προς υμας	αλλ εγω την αληθειαν λεγω υμιν συμφερει υμιν ινα εγω απελθω εαν γαρ εγω μη απελθω ο παρακλητος ουκ ελευσεται προς υμας εαν δε πορευθω πεμψω αυτον προς υμας

John 16:10 (NET)	John 16:10 (KJV)
concerning righteousness because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer;	Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
περὶ δικαιοσύνης δέ, ὅτι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα ὑπάγω καὶ οὐκέτι θεωρεῖτε με	περι δικαιοσυνης δε οτι προς τον πατερα μου υπαγω και ουκ ετι θεωρειτε με	περι δικαιοσυνης δε οτι προς τον πατερα μου υπαγω και ουκετι θεωρειτε με

2 Timothy 2:12, 13 (NET)	2 Timothy 2:12, 13 (KJV)
If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us.	If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ ὑπομένομεν, καὶ συμβασιλεύσομεν· εἰ ἀρνησόμεθα, κακεῖνος ἀρνήσεται ἡμᾶς	ει υπομενομεν και συμβασιλευσομεν ει αρνουμεθα κακεινος αρνησεται ημας	ει υπομενομεν και συμβασιλευσομεν ει αρνουμεθα κακεινος αρνησεται ημας

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ ἀπιστοῦμεν, ἐκεῖνος πιστὸς μένει, ἀρνήσασθαι γὰρ ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται.	ει απιστουμεν εκεινος πιστος μενει αρνησασθαι εαυτον ου δυναται	ει απιστουμεν εκεινος πιστος μενει αρνησασθαι εαυτον ου δυναται

Matthew 13:22 (NET)	Matthew 13:22 (KJV)
The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing.	He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπαρείς, οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων, καὶ ἡ μέριμνα τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου συμπνίγει τὸν λόγον καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται	ο δε εις τας ακανθας σπαρεις ουτος εστιν ο τον λογον ακουων και η μεριμνα του αιωνος τουτου και η απατη του πλουτου συμπνιγει τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται	ο δε εις τας ακανθας σπαρεις ουτος εστιν ο τον λογον ακουων και η μεριμνα του αιωνος τουτου και η απατη του πλουτου συμπνιγει τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται

Matthew 13:23 (NET)	Matthew 13:23 (KJV)
But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”	But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν καλὴν γῆν σπαρείς, οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων καὶ συνιείς, ὃς δὴ καρποφορεῖ καὶ ποιεῖ ὃ μὲν ἑκατόν, ὃ δὲ ἑξήκοντα, ὃ δὲ τριάκοντα	ο δε επι την γην την καλην σπαρεις ουτος εστιν ο τον λογον ακουων και συνιων ος δη καρποφορει και ποιει ο μεν εκατον ο δε εξηκοντα ο δε τριακοντα	ο δε επι την γην την καλην σπαρεις ουτος εστιν ο τον λογον ακουων και συνιων ος δη καρποφορει και ποιει ο μεν εκατον ο δε εξηκοντα ο δε τριακοντα

Addendum: February 6, 2022
I can’t say that a sermon like the following wasn’t preached to me when I was five or ten or twenty or forty-years-old. I can say I heard it today.

The New Covenant, Part 3

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 8

^[1] The New Covenant, Part 1

^[2] 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NET) Table

^[3] Galatians 5:22b, 23a (NET) Table

^[4] 2 Corinthians 12:8 (NET) with phrases in brackets from 2 Corinthians 12:7 (NET) Table

^[5] 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NET) Table

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

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

^[8] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had οὐκέτι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ουκ ετι (KJV: no more).

^[9] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἀκούσει here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αν ακουση (KJV: whatsoever he shall hear).

^[10] John 11:14, 15a (NET)

^[11] John 11:21b, 22 (NET)

^[12] John 14:16 (NET) Table

^[13] John 14:23 (NET) Table

^[14] 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NET)

^[15] John 3:16a (NET) Table

^[16] Ephesians 3:16, 17a (NET)

^[17] John 8:44a (NET) Table

^[18] John 3:19b, 20 (NET)

^[19] John 8:31a (NET)

^[20] Matthew 13:11b (NET)

^[21] Matthew 13:13b (NET)

^[22] Who Am I? Part 3

^[23] I called it a flirtation not to minimize its seriousness but to highlight how I was not serious enough about it to maintain such a demanding faith for any prolonged period of time.

^[24] Who am I? Part 3

^[25] John 17:3b (NET)

^[26] Romans 7:25a (NET) Table

^[27] Romans 7:25a NA²⁸ This is what the editors of the NA²⁸ currently believe to be the original text.

^[28] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἀρνησόμεθα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αρνουμεθα.

^[29] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had γὰρ here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[30] Philippians 2:13 (NET)

^[31] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τουτου following αἰῶνος (KJV: this world). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[32] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article την preceding soil (KJV: ground). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[33] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had συνιείς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συνιων (KJV: understandeth it).

^[34] 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NET) Table

The New Covenant, Part 1

Posted on January 13, 2022 by admin

Then [Jesus] took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”^[1] The table below compares what He said next from four sources.

NET Parallel Greek, NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text		Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text^[2]
Luke 22:20 (NET)	1 Corinthians 11:25 (NET)	Matthew 26:28 (KJV) Table	Mark 14:24 (KJV) Table
And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant (ἡ καινὴ διαθήκη) in my blood.	In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant (ἡ καινὴ διαθήκη) in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.”	For this is my blood of the new testament (το της καινης διαθηκης), which is shed for many for the remission of sins.	And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament (το της καινης διαθηκης), which is shed for many.

A new covenant (διαθήκης καινῆς) was mentioned again in Hebrews (9:13-15 NET).

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God [Table]. And so he is the mediator of a new covenant (διαθήκης καινῆς), so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.

And this new covenant is linked directly to the promise God made through Jeremiah (Hebrews 8:6-13 NET):

But now Jesus has obtained^[3] a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one. But showing its fault, God says to them, “Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant (διαθήκην καινήν) with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds, and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be my people. And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman^[4] or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least^[5] to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins^[6] I will remember no longer.”

When he speaks of a new (καινὴν) covenant, he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.

Jesus, the mediator of this better covenant, prayed (John 17:1-3 NET):

Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that^[7] your^[8] Son may glorify you—just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give^[9] eternal life to everyone you have given him. Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

Over time, Jesus’ understanding of eternal life—that they know (γινώσκωσιν, a form of γινώσκω) you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent^[10]—has focused my attention on this aspect of the promise of the new covenant—And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know (γνῶθι, another form of γινώσκω) the Lord,’ since they will all know (εἰδήσουσιν, a form of εἴδω) me, from the least to the greatest.^[11] Though I had prayed that genius-level prayer (of very little faith)—“If you’re really out there, I really want to know you,”^[12]—striking at the very heart of the new covenant and Jesus’ understanding of eternal life, I understood nothing of it.

I didn’t study to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent to live that eternal life. I searched the Bible for rules to obey—or disobey as it turned out.^[13]

Though I wrote this describing a slightly later time in my life, it was true earlier, too. Studying the Bible to know God and to follow Jesus did not compute in my mind yet. Now I hope, God willing, to spend the next ten thousand years or so studying the Bible to know…the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] sent. There is so much I’m missing that Jesus knew, perhaps by twelve but at least, by thirty or so.

It will be nice to have face-to-face contact with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit as well as the other participants. I mentioned this to my Pastor. He corrected me that all of the participants wouldn’t be available to me for an interview, but didn’t think my hope was that outrageous otherwise. Of course, God may have different plans for me. But this hunger for the Bible was a direct result of my prayer to know God, regardless that I misunderstood what it meant or how to satisfy that hunger.

Focusing on knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] sent does de-emphasize hell, the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15). There’s no denying that. When I said a sinner’s prayer at five-years-old I just wanted to avoid going to hell. The rest of this—was unanticipated to be sure but—came as a sort of unwanted shock and largely unwelcome surprise. I’ll try to highlight the difference between knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] sent and avoiding hell.

I heard a sermon recently presented in what I would characterize as a fairly typical example of the “avoiding hell” fashion. A particular passage of Scripture was introduced as the answer to a question: “Why do so many people reject the Lord?” This was reaffirmed later with the statements: “This is describing why some people accept the Gospel and why the majority do not;” and, “What we see here is the beginning of the Lord’s judgment on those who reject Him. It is the first taste of hell and a warning of things that come if they continue to refuse his offer of grace.”

God’s grace wasn’t ignored in this sermon: “God’s grace is ever-expanding. It reaches its full completion. It never runs out in the generosity of God…” It was just strictly limited: “…for those who truly do embrace discipleship, for those who truly become citizens of the kingdom through faith and repentance…”

“He who has an ear, let that person hear,” wasn’t presented as the word of the One (John 1:1-34) who said, “Let there be light.” And there was light!^[14] It was presented as a weak word, easily ignored: “Most won’t listen. Most won’t understand. Most won’t let it change their lives.” The picture was very bleak indeed: “As long as we refuse to acknowledge how broken we are, as long as we refuse to acknowledge how much we need mercy, as long as we remain hardhearted there is no chance of salvation, zero.”

The passage in question was Matthew 13:1-23, the parable where Jesus describes people as types of ground, types of soil. The most striking thing about this metaphor is that soil is powerless to improve itself. The Sower must improve the soil if He wants a harvest. Still, the emphasis seemed to remain upon the powerless soil: “This is a call for patient endurance. This is a call for wholehearted devotion. This is a call to root out weeds in our life because those thorns be poky and they hurt.”

I say “seemed” because this sermon did an abrupt about face at the very end:

But with the coming of the Spirit we see a new age in humanity, an age in which the church has been filled with the power of God like never before, where the transformation of the power of the Spirit through Christ’s death and resurrection gives us new hope and new life to embrace the Gospel at the very deepest part of our life. So that by his grace He roots out all those vines, all those thorns. By his grace He deepens the soil of our heart and brings us to that place of brokenness and joy because of the healing of Christ. The reason we can have hope as we read this, as we recognize ourselves as the ones with the hard heart and the shallow heart and the crowded heart, is because we know that we don’t live by our own strength any more. We never did. But now we live in the power of the Spirit.^[15]

In my opinion a sermon more focused on knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He] sent rather than “avoiding hell” would start here and go on, maybe even to the God who of his own volition promised: “People will no longer need to teach their neighbors and relatives to know me. For all of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,” says the Lord. “For I will forgive their sin and will no longer call to mind the wrong they have done.”^[16]

I shared this with my Pastor in case I was overly critical or offensive. He seemed satisfied with my focus on the grace aspect of his sermon. We talked some about a Pastor’s choice of focus, his desire to be true to both the grace and the judgment implicit in the text. I may not have learned much about being a Pastor. I did get a fresh glimpse into myself.

Apparently, I heard the judgment focus of his sermon (as I am prone to do) as an invitation to do-it-yourself religion. Jesus, through his indwelling Spirit, forcibly shifted my focus away from judgment and fully onto his grace, putting some steel in my spine, as it were, keeping me trusting Him. In other words, I am heeding the “call for patient endurance,” not by grinning and bearing it on my own but wholly dependent on the grace of my Savior. After all, patience (μακροθυμία) is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23).

I’ve compared the quotation from Jeremiah in Hebrews to the Septuagint as a matter of completeness. It seemed that Hebrews 8:8b may not be a quotation from the Septuagint but an independent translation of the Hebrew of Jeremiah 31:31. The Hebrew word וכרתי (kāraṯ) was translated συντελέσω in the New Testament and διαθήσομαι (a form of διατίθεμαι) in the Septuagint.

Hebrews 8:8b (NET Parallel Greek)	Jeremiah 31:31 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 38:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται, λέγει κύριος, καὶ συντελέσω ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰούδα διαθήκην καινήν	ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται φησὶν κύριος καὶ διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ Ισραηλ καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ Ιουδα διαθήκην καινήν	ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται, φησὶ Κύριος, καὶ διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ ᾿Ιούδα διαθήκην καινήν
Hebrews 8:8b (NET)	Jeremiah 38:31 (NETS)	Jeremiah 38:31 (English Elpenor)
“Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.	Behold, days are coming, quoth the Lord, and I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Iouda.	Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda:

I struggle some with the idea that ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον and τῷ οἴκῳ both translate with the house. I suspect that συντελέσω ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον is something more like I will complete upon the house, but don’t find any support for it other than the NET translation of the same construction in Luke 1:33. He will reign over the house (βασιλεύσει ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον) of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.^[17]

The clause translated although I was an husband unto them (Tanakh/KJV) from the Masoretic text of Jeremiah 31:32 was translated and I disregarded them (English Elpenor) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Jeremiah 31:32 (Tanakh/KJV)	Jeremiah 31:32 (NET)	Jeremiah 38:32 (NETS)	Jeremiah 38:32 (Elpenor English)
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I (וְאָֽנֹכִ֛י) was an husband (בָּעַ֥לְתִּי) unto them (בָ֖ם), saith the LORD:	It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I (‘ānōḵî, ואנכי) was like a faithful husband (bāʿal, בעלתי) to them (ḇām, בם),” says the Lord.	It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide in my covenant, and (καὶ) I (ἐγὼ) was unconcerned (ἠμέλησα) for them (αὐτῶν), quoth the Lord,	not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they abode not in my covenant, and (καὶ) I (ἐγὼ) disregarded (ἠμέλησα) them (αὐτῶν), saith the Lord.

The difference appears to be one Hebrew word: בָּעַ֥לְתִּי (bāʿal). If the writer of Hebrews actually did an independent translation from Hebrew, I have two points of evidence hinting at what the Hebrew word translated ἠμέλησα (a form of ἀμελέω) in the Septuagint and the New Testament was before the Masoretes changed it to בָּעַ֥לְתִּי (bāʿal).

Hebrews 8:9 (NET Parallel Greek)	Jeremiah 31:32 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 38:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ κατὰ τὴν διαθήκην, ἣν ἐποίησα τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιλαβομένου μου τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῶν ἐξαγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Ἀιγύπτου, ὅτι αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἐνέμειναν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ μου, καγὼ ἠμέλησα αὐτῶν, λέγει κύριος	οὐ κατὰ τὴν διαθήκην ἣν διεθέμην τοῗς πατράσιν αὐτῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιλαβομένου μου τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῶν ἐξαγαγεῗν αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ὅτι αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἐνέμειναν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ μου καὶ ἐγὼ ἠμέλησα αὐτῶν φησὶν κύριος	οὐ κατὰ τὴν διαθήκην, ἣν διεθέμην τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιλαβομένου μου τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῶν ἐξαγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ὅτι αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἐνέμειναν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ μου, καὶ ἐγὼ ἠμέλησα αὐτῶν, φησὶ Κύριος
Hebrews 8:9 (NET)	Jeremiah 38:32 (NETS)	Jeremiah 38:32 (English Elpenor)
It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.	It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide in my covenant, and I was unconcerned for them, quoth the Lord,	not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they abode not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, saith the Lord.

Admittedly, I may not have thought of this quotation in Hebrews as an independent translation if I were only considering Hebrews 8:9 and Jeremiah 31:32 (38:32). The comparison of Hebrews 8:10 and Jeremiah 31:33 (38:33) below isn’t exactly a tie breaker on that score.

Hebrews 8:10 (NET Parallel Greek)	Jeremiah 31:33 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 38:33 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη, ἣν διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραὴλ μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας, λέγει κύριος· διδοὺς νόμους μου εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν ἐπιγράψω αὐτούς, καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς θεόν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονται μοι εἰς λαόν	ὅτι αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη ἣν διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ Ισραηλ μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας φησὶν κύριος διδοὺς δώσω νόμους μου εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν γράψω αὐτούς καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῗς εἰς θεόν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι εἰς λαόν	ὅτι αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη μου, ἣν διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ ᾿Ισραὴλ μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας, φησὶ Κύριος· διδοὺς δώσω νόμους εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν γράψω αὐτούς· καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς Θεόν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι εἰς λαόν
Hebrews 8:10 (NET)	Jeremiah 38:33 (NETS)	Jeremiah 38:33 (English Elpenor)
For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds, and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be my people.	because this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, quoth the Lord. Giving I will give my laws in their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will become a god to them, and they shall become a people to me.	For this is my covenant which I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will surely put my laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

There is nothing significant in the comparison of the next verse to persuade me that the quotation in Hebrews was an independent translation of the Hebrew.

Hebrews 8:11, 12 (NET Parallel Greek)	Jeremiah 31:34 (Septuagint BLB) Table	Jeremiah 38:34 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐ μὴ διδάξωσιν ἕκαστος τὸν πολίτην αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ λέγων· γνῶθι τὸν κύριον, ὅτι πάντες εἰδήσουσιν με ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου αὐτῶν ὅτι ἵλεως ἔσομαι ταῖς ἀδικίαις αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν οὐ μὴ μνησθῶ ἔτι	καὶ οὐ μὴ διδάξωσιν ἕκαστος τὸν πολίτην αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ λέγων γνῶθι τὸν κύριον ὅτι πάντες εἰδήσουσίν με ἀπὸ μικροῦ αὐτῶν καὶ ἕως μεγάλου αὐτῶν ὅτι ἵλεως ἔσομαι ταῗς ἀδικίαις αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν οὐ μὴ μνησθῶ ἔτι	καὶ οὐ μὴ διδάξωσιν ἕκαστος τὸν πολίτην αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ λέγων· γνῶθι τὸν Κύριον· ὅτι πάντες εἰδήσουσί με ἀπὸ μικροῦ αὐτῶν ἕως μεγάλου αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἵλεως ἔσομαι ταῖς ἀδικίαις αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν οὐ μὴ μνησθῶ ἔτι
Hebrews 8:11, 12 (NET)	Jeremiah 38:34 (NETS)	Jeremiah 38:34 (English Elpenor)
And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.”	And they shall not teach, each his fellow citizen and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” because they shall all know me, from their small even to their great, because I will be gracious regarding their injustices, and remember their sins no more.	And they shall not at all teach every one his [fellow] citizen, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them: for I will be merciful to their iniquities, and their sins I will remember no more.

Tables comparing Jeremiah 31:31; 31:32 and 31:33 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of in Jeremiah 31:31; 31:32 and 31:33 the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Hebrews 8:6; 8:11, 12 and John 17:1, 2 in the NET and KJV follow.

Jeremiah 31:31 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 31:31 (KJV)	Jeremiah 31:31 (NET)
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:	Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:	“Indeed, a time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.

Jeremiah 31:31 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 38:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται φησὶν κύριος καὶ διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ Ισραηλ καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ Ιουδα διαθήκην καινήν	ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται, φησὶ Κύριος, καὶ διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ ᾿Ιούδα διαθήκην καινήν
Jeremiah 38:31 (NETS)	Jeremiah 38:31 (English Elpenor)
Behold, days are coming, quoth the Lord, and I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Iouda.	Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda:

Jeremiah 31:32 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 31:32 (KJV)	Jeremiah 31:32 (NET)
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:	Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:	It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I was like a faithful husband to them,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 31:32 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 38:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ κατὰ τὴν διαθήκην ἣν διεθέμην τοῗς πατράσιν αὐτῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιλαβομένου μου τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῶν ἐξαγαγεῗν αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ὅτι αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἐνέμειναν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ μου καὶ ἐγὼ ἠμέλησα αὐτῶν φησὶν κύριος	οὐ κατὰ τὴν διαθήκην, ἣν διεθέμην τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιλαβομένου μου τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῶν ἐξαγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ὅτι αὐτοὶ οὐκ ἐνέμειναν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ μου, καὶ ἐγὼ ἠμέλησα αὐτῶν, φησὶ Κύριος
Jeremiah 38:32 (NETS)	Jeremiah 38:32 (English Elpenor)
It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide in my covenant, and I was unconcerned for them, quoth the Lord,	not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they abode not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 31:33 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 31:33 (KJV)	Jeremiah 31:33 (NET)
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.	But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.	“But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the Lord. “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Jeremiah 31:33 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 38:33 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη ἣν διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ Ισραηλ μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας φησὶν κύριος διδοὺς δώσω νόμους μου εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν γράψω αὐτούς καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῗς εἰς θεόν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι εἰς λαόν	ὅτι αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη μου, ἣν διαθήσομαι τῷ οἴκῳ ᾿Ισραὴλ μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας, φησὶ Κύριος· διδοὺς δώσω νόμους εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν γράψω αὐτούς· καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς Θεόν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι εἰς λαόν
Jeremiah 38:33 (NETS)	Jeremiah 38:33 (English Elpenor)
because this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, quoth the Lord. Giving I will give my laws in their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will become a god to them, and they shall become a people to me.	For this is my covenant which I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will surely put my laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

Hebrews 8:6 (NET)	Hebrews 8:6 (KJV)
But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.	But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
\|Νυν[ὶ]\| δὲ διαφορωτέρας τέτυχεν λειτουργίας, ὅσῳ καὶ κρείττονος ἐστιν διαθήκης μεσίτης, ἥτις ἐπὶ κρείττοσιν ἐπαγγελίαις νενομοθέτηται	νυνι δε διαφορωτερας τετευχεν λειτουργιας οσω και κρειττονος εστιν διαθηκης μεσιτης ητις επι κρειττοσιν επαγγελιαις νενομοθετηται	νυνι δε διαφορωτερας τετυχεν λειτουργιας οσω και κρειττονος εστιν διαθηκης μεσιτης ητις επι κρειττοσιν επαγγελιαις νενομοθετηται

Hebrews 8:11, 12 (NET)	Hebrews 8:11, 12 (KJV)
And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.	And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ οὐ μὴ διδάξωσιν ἕκαστος τὸν πολίτην αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ λέγων· γνῶθι τὸν κύριον, ὅτι πάντες εἰδήσουσιν με ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου αὐτῶν,	και ου μη διδαξωσιν εκαστος τον πλησιον αυτου και εκαστος τον αδελφον αυτου λεγων γνωθι τον κυριον οτι παντες ειδησουσιν με απο μικρου αυτων εως μεγαλου αυτων	και ου μη διδαξωσιν εκαστος τον πολιτην αυτου και εκαστος τον αδελφον αυτου λεγων γνωθι τον κυριον οτι παντες ειδησουσιν με απο μικρου αυτων εως μεγαλου αυτων

For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.”

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὅτι ἵλεως ἔσομαι ταῖς ἀδικίαις αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν οὐ μὴ μνησθῶ ἔτι	οτι ιλεως εσομαι ταις αδικιαις αυτων και των αμαρτιων αυτων και των ανομιων αυτων ου μη μνησθω ετι	οτι ιλεως εσομαι ταις αδικιαις αυτων και των αμαρτιων αυτων και των ανομιων αυτων ου μη μνησθω ετι

John 17:1, 2 (NET)	John 17:1, 2 (KJV)
When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you—	These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ταῦτα ἐλάλησεν Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἐπάρας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἶπεν· πάτερ, ἐλήλυθεν ἡ ὥρα· δόξασον σου τὸν υἱόν, ἵνα ὁ υἱὸς δοξάσῃ σέ	ταυτα ελαλησεν ο ιησους και επηρεν τους οφθαλμους αυτου εις τον ουρανον και ειπεν πατερ εληλυθεν η ωρα δοξασον σου τον υιον ινα και ο υιος σου δοξαση σε	ταυτα ελαλησεν ο ιησους και επηρεν τους οφθαλμους αυτου εις τον ουρανον και ειπεν πατερ εληλυθεν η ωρα δοξασον σου τον υιον ινα και ο υιος σου δοξαση σε

just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καθὼς ἔδωκας αὐτῷ ἐξουσίαν πάσης σαρκός, ἵνα πᾶν ὃ δέδωκας αὐτῷ \|δώσῃ\| αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον	καθως εδωκας αυτω εξουσιαν πασης σαρκος ινα παν ο δεδωκας αυτω δωση αυτοις ζωην αιωνιον	καθως εδωκας αυτω εξουσιαν πασης σαρκος ινα παν ο δεδωκας αυτω δωσει αυτοις ζωην αιωνιον