Fear – Genesis, Part 1

Posted on December 6, 2012 by admin

Paul was not the only one to write about the end of fear. John also wrote, There is no fear (φόβος) in love, but perfect love drives out fear (φόβον, a form of φόβος), because fear (φόβος) has to do with punishment (κόλασιν, a form of κόλασις). The one who fears (φοβούμενος, a form of φοβέω) punishment has not been perfected in love.¹ This is as good to hear as Paul’s statement, For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear (φόβον, a form of φόβος).² But I wonder about the fear of the Lord since the concept continued into the New Testament.

Therefore, because we know the fear (φόβον, a form of φόβος) of the Lord, Paul wrote the Corinthians, we try to persuade people…³ And to slaves in Colossae he wrote, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching⁴ – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing (φοβούμενοι, a form of φοβέω) the Lord.⁵ I have begun to track fear through the Old Testament to attempt to understand this better.

The first occurrence was from the mouth of Adam after he ate the forbidden fruit, “I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid (yārē’, וָֽאִירָ֛א) because I was naked, so I hid,”⁶ he said to the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day.⁷ The rabbis who translated the Septuagint used the Greek word ἐφοβήθην for the Hebrew word, the passive form of φοβέω the root of φόβος.⁸ This form does not occur in the New Testament but is close to, For I was afraid (ἐφοβούμην, a form of φοβέω) of you, because you are a severe man.⁹ This is apparently the middle voice of φέβομαι.

Next God spoke what would become the most common divine greeting to those born of Adam, “Fear (yârêʼ, תִּירָ֣א) not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.”¹⁰ In the Septuagint the rabbis chose the Greek word φοβοῦ. The first usage of this form in the New Testament was in Mark’s account of the synagogue ruler Jairus. He fell at Jesus’ feet and said, “My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that¹¹ she may be healed and live.”¹² But, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter has died. Why trouble the teacher any longer?” But Jesus, paying no attention¹³ to what was said, told the synagogue ruler, “Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ, a form of φοβέω); just believe (πίστευε, a form of πιστεύω).”¹⁴

And here by faith in the revelation of Scripture I can begin to analyze the beginning of fear from its end. Jesus offered faith to Jairus as an antidote, or a preoccupation, to his fear of the revealed facts. (Jesus apparently raised his daughter from death.) This is the faith Adam lacked. Though he had unimaginable experience of God’s generous provision, Adam’s faith was in his own efforts to keep God’s commandment. Once that commandment was broken he feared punishment. Whatever sonship he experienced was forfeit and he was given over to a spirit of slavery leading to fear.

Sarah didn’t believe the word of the Lord when it was said, I will surely return to you when the season comes round again, and your wife Sarah will have a son,¹⁵ but trusted in her long experience of barrenness. She laughed to herself, thinking, “After I am worn out will I have pleasure, especially when my husband is old too?”¹⁶ The Lord confronted Abraham about her. Then Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid (yârêʼ, יָרֵ֑אָה). But the Lord said, “No! You did laugh.”¹⁷ While Adam’s fear prompted him to hide from the all-seeing God, Sarah’s fear persuaded her to lie to the all-knowing God.

The Hebrew word translated afraid above was the Greek word ἐφοβήθη in the Septuagint. This form of φοβέω was first used in Matthew’s narrative of Joseph’s, Mary’s and Jesus’ return from Egypt. After Herod had died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” So he got up and took the child and his mother and returned¹⁸ to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over¹⁹ Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid (ἐφοβήθη, another form of φοβέω) to go there. After being warned in a dream, he went to the regions of Galilee.²⁰ Joseph’s fear of Archelaus was apparently warranted since God warned him in a dream.

I get an image of the nature of Lot’s faith in the Lord from the next occurrence of fear (Genesis 19:15-17).

At dawn the angels hurried Lot along, saying, “Get going! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be destroyed when the city is judged!” When Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters because the Lord had compassion on them. They led them away and placed them outside the city [Table]. When they had brought them outside, they said, “Run for your lives! Don’t look behind you or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains or you will be destroyed!” [Table]

Lot apparently sensed the anxiousness in the angels’ tone of voice, but misunderstood its significance. “No, please, Lord!” [Table] he said. Your servant has found favor with you, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I am not able to escape to the mountains because this disaster will overtake me and I’ll die” [Table].²¹ Lot assumed that the angels’ anxiety was provoked by Lot’s relative slowness. He reasoned that he should seek closer shelter. “Look, this town over here is close enough to escape to, and it’s just a little one. Let me go there. It’s just a little place, isn’t it? Then I’ll survive.”²²

“Very well,” he replied, “I will grant this request too and will not overthrow the town you mentioned.”²³ Then the angel revealed that he was anxious to fulfill the will of the Lord. “Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”²⁴ Lot made it safely to Zoar, and Zoar was spared from destruction when the Lord rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah.²⁵ But, Lot went up from Zoar with his two daughters and settled in the mountains because he was afraid (yârêʼ, יָרֵ֖א) to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters.²⁶ This, too, was ἐφοβήθη in the Septuagint.

The second usage of this form in the New Testament was, Although Herod wanted to kill John [because John had repeatedly told him, “It is not lawful for you to have {Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife}²⁷.”],²⁸ he feared (ἐφοβήθη) the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet.²⁹ In other words, Herod did not believe the Lord that he should not have taken his brother’s wife. He feared the wrath of his people if he killed one they considered a prophet. Similarly, Lot did not believe that he would make it safely to the mountains and asked for Zoar to be spared as a place of refuge. When that request was granted he did not believe that Zoar would continue to be spared from destruction and fled to the mountains.

There is a pattern of sorts here. Those born of Adam fear God, but not in a good way. It is not a fear that leads to faith in Him. It prompts them to hide or lie or flee from his protection. It is a fear of punishment. They are not perfected in love. And I take this to mean they are not led by the Spirit, they do not experience that continuous stream of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control [Table]³⁰ that flows from Him.

Addendum: November 5, 2024
Tables comparing Genesis 18:12; 18:15; 19:15; 19:20; 19:21; 19:22; 19:24 and 19:30 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Genesis 18:12; 18:15; 19:15; 19:20; 19:21; 19:22; 19:24 and 19:30 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Colossians 3:22; Mark 5:23; 5:36; Matthew 2:21, 22 and 14:3 in the KJV and NET follow.

Genesis 18:12 (Tanakh)	Genesis 18:12 (KJV)	Genesis 18:12 (NET)
And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: ‘After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’	Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?	So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “After I am worn out will I have pleasure, especially when my husband is old too?”

Genesis 18:12 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 18:12 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ἐγέλασεν δὲ Σαρρα ἐν ἑαυτῇ λέγουσα οὔπω μέν μοι γέγονεν ἕως τοῦ νῦν ὁ δὲ κύριός μου πρεσβύτερος	ἐγέλασε δὲ Σάρρα ἐν ἑαυτῇ, λέγουσα· οὔπω μέν μοι γέγονεν ἕως τοῦ νῦν, ὁ δὲ κύριός μου πρεσβύτερος
Genesis 18:12 (NETS)	Genesis 18:12 (Elpenor English)
And Sarra laughed within herself, saying, “It has not yet happened to me up to the present, and my lord is rather old.”	And Sarrha laughed in herself, saying, The thing has not as yet happened to me, even until now, and my lord is old.

Genesis 18:15 (Tanakh)	Genesis 18:15 (KJV)	Genesis 18:15 (NET)
Then Sarah denied, saying: ‘I laughed not’; for she was afraid. And He said: ‘Nay; but thou didst laugh.’	Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.	Then Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. But the Lord said, “No! You did laugh.”

Genesis 18:15 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 18:15 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ἠρνήσατο δὲ Σαρρα λέγουσα οὐκ ἐγέλασα ἐφοβήθη γάρ καὶ εἶπεν οὐχί ἀλλὰ ἐγέλασας	ἠρνήσατο δὲ Σάρρα λέγουσα· οὐκ ἐγέλασα· ἐφοβήθη γάρ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· οὐχί, ἀλλὰ ἐγέλασας
Genesis 18:15 (NETS)	Genesis 18:15 (Elpenor English)
But Sarra denied, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And he said, “No, but you did laugh.”	But Sarrha denied, saying, I did not laugh, for she was afraid. And he said to her, Nay, but thou didst laugh.

Genesis 19:15 (Tanakh)	Genesis 19:15 (KJV)	Genesis 19:15 (NET)
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying: ‘Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here; lest thou be swept away in the iniquity of the city.’	And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.	At dawn the angels hurried Lot along, saying, “Get going! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be destroyed when the city is judged!”

Genesis 19:15 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 19:15 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ἡνίκα δὲ ὄρθρος ἐγίνετο ἐπεσπούδαζον οἱ ἄγγελοι τὸν Λωτ λέγοντες ἀναστὰς λαβὲ τὴν γυναῖκά σου καὶ τὰς δύο θυγατέρας σου ἃς ἔχεις καὶ ἔξελθε ἵνα μὴ συναπόλῃ ταῖς ἀνομίαις τῆς πόλεως	ἡνίκα δὲ ὄρθρος ἐγίνετο, ἐσπούδαζον οἱ ἄγγελοι τὸν Λὼτ λέγοντες· ἀναστὰς λάβε τὴν γυναῖκά σου καὶ τὰς δύο θυγατέρας σου, ἃς ἔχεις, καὶ ἔξελθε, ἵνα μὴ καὶ σὺ συναπόλῃ ταῖς ἀνομίαις τῆς πόλεως
Genesis 19:15 (NETS)	Genesis 19:15 (Elpenor English)
Now when dawn was breaking, the angels were urging Lot, saying, “Rise, take your wife and the two daughters whom you have, and get out, lest you also be destroyed together with the lawlessness of the city.”	But when it was morning, the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise and take thy wife, and thy two daughters whom thou hast, and go forth; lest thou also be destroyed with the iniquities of the city.

Genesis 19:20 (Tanakh)	Genesis 19:20 (KJV)	Genesis 19:20 (NET)
Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one; oh, let me escape thither–is it not a little one? –and my soul shall live.’	Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.	Look, this town over here is close enough to escape to, and it’s just a little one. Let me go there. It’s just a little place, isn’t it? Then I’ll survive.”

Genesis 19:20 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 19:20 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ἰδοὺ ἡ πόλις αὕτη ἐγγὺς τοῦ καταφυγεῖν με ἐκεῖ ἥ ἐστιν μικρά ἐκεῖ σωθήσομαι οὐ μικρά ἐστιν καὶ ζήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου	ἰδοὺ ἡ πόλις αὕτη ἐγγὺς τοῦ καταφυγεῖν με ἐκεῖ, ἥ ἐστι μικρά, καὶ ἐκεῖ διασωθήσομαι· οὐ μικρά ἐστι; καὶ ζήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου ἕνεκέν σου
Genesis 19:20 (NETS)	Genesis 19:20 (Elpenor English)
Look, this city, which is small, is near enough for me to flee for refuge there; I shall escape there. Is it not small? And my soul will live!”	Behold this city is near for me to escape thither, which is a small one, and there shall I be preserved, is it not little? and my soul shall live because of thee.

Genesis 19:21 (Tanakh)	Genesis 19:21 (KJV)	Genesis 19:21 (NET)
And he said unto him: ‘See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken.	And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.	“Very well,” he replied, “I will grant this request too and will not overthrow the town you mentioned.

Genesis 19:21 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 19:21 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἰδοὺ ἐθαύμασά σου τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ῥήματι τούτῳ τοῦ μὴ καταστρέψαι τὴν πόλιν περὶ ἧς ἐλάλησας	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἰδοὺ ἐθαύμασά σου τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ρήματι τούτῳ τοῦ μὴ καταστρέψαι τὴν πόλιν, περὶ ἧς ἐλάλησας
Genesis 19:21 (NETS)	Genesis 19:21 (Elpenor English)
And he said to him, “Look, I have indulged your person also in reference to this matter, not to overthrow the city concerning which you have spoken.	And he said to him, Behold, I have had respect to thee also about this thing, that I should not overthrow the city about which thou hast spoken.

Genesis 19:22 (Tanakh)	Genesis 19:22 (KJV)	Genesis 19:22 (NET)
Hasten thou, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.’ –Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.–	Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.	Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” (This incident explains why the town was called Zoar.)

Genesis 19:22 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 19:22 (Elpenor Septuagint)
σπεῦσον οὖν τοῦ σωθῆναι ἐκεῖ οὐ γὰρ δυνήσομαι ποιῆσαι πρᾶγμα ἕως τοῦ σε εἰσελθεῖν ἐκεῖ διὰ τοῦτο ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης Σηγωρ	σπεῦσον οὖν τοῦ σωθῆναι ἐκεῖ· οὐ γὰρ δυνήσομαι ποιῆσαι πρᾶγμα, ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν σε ἐκεῖ. διὰ τοῦτο ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης Σηγώρ
Genesis 19:22 (NETS)	Genesis 19:22 (Elpenor English)
So hurry to escape there, for I shall not be able to do a thing until you enter there.” Therefore he called the name of the city Segor.	Hasten therefore to escape thither, for I shall not be able to do anything until thou art come thither; therefore he called the name of that city, Segor.

Genesis 19:24 (Tanakh)	Genesis 19:24 (KJV)	Genesis 19:24 (NET)
Then HaShem caused to rain upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from HaShem out of heaven;	Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;	Then the Lord rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah. It was sent down from the sky by the Lord.

Genesis 19:24 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 19:24 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ κύριος ἔβρεξεν ἐπὶ Σοδομα καὶ Γομορρα θεῖον καὶ πῦρ παρὰ κυρίου ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ	καὶ Κύριος ἔβρεξεν ἐπὶ Σόδομα καὶ Γόμορρα θεῖον, καὶ πῦρ παρὰ Κυρίου ἐξ οὐρανοῦ
Genesis 19:24 (NETS)	Genesis 19:24 (Elpenor English)
and the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorra sulfur and fire from the Lord out of the sky,	And the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrha brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.

Genesis 19:30 (Tanakh)	Genesis 19:30 (KJV)	Genesis 19:30 (NET)
And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar; and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.	And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.	Lot went up from Zoar with his two daughters and settled in the mountains because he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters.

Genesis 19:30 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 19:30 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ἀνέβη δὲ Λωτ ἐκ Σηγωρ καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐν τῷ ὄρει καὶ αἱ δύο θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐφοβήθη γὰρ κατοικῆσαι ἐν Σηγωρ καὶ ᾤκησεν ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ αὐτὸς καὶ αἱ δύο θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ	᾿Ανέβη δὲ Λὼτ ἐκ Σηγὼρ καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐν τῷ ὄρει αὐτὸς καὶ αἱ δύο θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ἐφοβήθη γὰρ κατοικῆσαι ἐν Σηγώρ. καὶ κατῴκησεν ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ, αὐτὸς καὶ αἱ δύο θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ
Genesis 19:30 (NETS)	Genesis 19:30 (Elpenor English)
Now Lot went up out of Segor and settled in the mountain, and his two daughters with him, for he was afraid to dwell in Segor. And he lived in the cave, he and his two daughters with him.	And Lot went up out of Segor, and dwelt in the mountain, he and his two daughters with him, for he feared to dwell in Segor; and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters with him.

Colossians 3:22 (NET)	Colossians 3:22 (KJV)
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching—like those who are strictly people-pleasers—but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.	Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

Colossians 3:22 (NET Parallel Greek)	Colossians 3:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Colossians 3:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε κατὰ πάντα τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις, μὴ ἐν \|ὀφθαλμοδουλίᾳ\| ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι, ἀλλ᾿ ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον.	οι δουλοι υπακουετε κατα παντα τοις κατα σαρκα κυριοις μη εν οφθαλμοδουλειαις ως ανθρωπαρεσκοι αλλ εν απλοτητι καρδιας φοβουμενοι τον θεον	οι δουλοι υπακουετε κατα παντα τοις κατα σαρκα κυριοις μη εν οφθαλμοδουλειαις ως ανθρωπαρεσκοι αλλ εν απλοτητι καρδιας φοβουμενοι τον θεον

Mark 5:23 (NET)	Mark 5:23 (KJV)
He asked him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.”	And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

Mark 5:23 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 5:23 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 5:23 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ παρακαλεῖ αὐτὸν πολλὰ λέγων ὅτι τὸ θυγάτριον μου ἐσχάτως ἔχει, ἵνα ἐλθὼν ἐπιθῇς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῇ ἵνα σωθῇ καὶ ζήσῃ	και παρεκαλει αυτον πολλα λεγων οτι το θυγατριον μου εσχατως εχει ινα ελθων επιθης αυτη τας χειρας οπως σωθη και ζησεται	και παρεκαλει αυτον πολλα λεγων οτι το θυγατριον μου εσχατως εχει ινα ελθων επιθης αυτη τας χειρας οπως σωθη και ζησεται

Mark 5:36 (NET)	Mark 5:36 (KJV)
But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”	As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

Mark 5:36 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 5:36 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 5:36 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς παρακούσας τὸν λόγον λαλούμενον λέγει τῷ ἀρχισυναγώγῳ· μὴ φοβοῦ, μόνον πίστευε	ο δε ιησους ευθεως ακουσας τον λογον λαλουμενον λεγει τω αρχισυναγωγω μη φοβου μονον πιστευε	ο δε ιησους ευθεως ακουσας τον λογον λαλουμενον λεγει τω αρχισυναγωγω μη φοβου μονον πιστευε

Matthew 2:21, 22 (NET)	Matthew 2:21, 22 (KJV)
So he got up and took the child and his mother and returned to the land of Israel.	And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Matthew 2:21 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 2:21 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 2:21 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ	ο δε εγερθεις παρελαβεν το παιδιον και την μητερα αυτου και ηλθεν εις γην ισραηλ	ο δε εγερθεις παρελαβεν το παιδιον και την μητερα αυτου και ηλθεν εις γην ισραηλ

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. After being warned in a dream, he went to the regions of Galilee.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

Matthew 2:22 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 2:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 2:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Ἀρχέλαος βασιλεύει τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἀντὶ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Ἡρῴδου ἐφοβήθη ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν· χρηματισθεὶς δὲ κατ᾿ ὄναρ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Γαλιλαίας	ακουσας δε οτι αρχελαος βασιλευει επι της ιουδαιας αντι ηρωδου του πατρος αυτου εφοβηθη εκει απελθειν χρηματισθεις δε κατ οναρ ανεχωρησεν εις τα μερη της γαλιλαιας	ακουσας δε οτι αρχελαος βασιλευει επι της ιουδαιας αντι ηρωδου του πατρος αυτου εφοβηθη εκει απελθειν χρηματισθεις δε κατ οναρ ανεχωρησεν εις τα μερη της γαλιλαιας

Matthew 14:3 (NET)	Matthew 14:3 (KJV)
For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,	For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

Matthew 14:3 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 14:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 14:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ὁ γὰρ Ἡρῴδης κρατήσας τὸν Ἰωάννην ἔδησεν καὶ ἐν φυλακῇ ἀπέθετο διὰ Ἡρῳδιάδα τὴν γυναῖκα Φιλίππου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ	ο γαρ ηρωδης κρατησας τον ιωαννην εδησεν αυτον και εθετο εν φυλακη δια ηρωδιαδα την γυναικα φιλιππου του αδελφου αυτου	ο γαρ ηρωδης κρατησας τον ιωαννην εδησεν αυτον και εθετο εν φυλακη δια ηρωδιαδα την γυναικα φιλιππου του αδελφου αυτου

Fear – Genesis, Part 2

Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 7

Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 8

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 2

Back to Romans, Part 72

Back to Wonders and False Wonders, Part 3

¹ 1 John 4:18 (NET)

² Romans 8:15a (NET)

³ 2 Corinthians 5:11a (NET)

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὀφθαλμοδουλίᾳ here, a singular form of ὀφθαλμοδουλία, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had οφθαλμοδουλειαις (KJV: eyeservice), a plural form of ὀφθαλμοδουλεία.

⁵ Colossians 3:22 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had κύριον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θεον (KJV: God).

⁶ Genesis 3:10 (NET) Table

⁷ Genesis 3:8 (NET) Table

⁸ Addendum 11/03/2024: In Strong’s Concordance online φέβομαι is listed as the root of φόβος. The Koine Greek Lexicon online doesn’t have a listing for φέβομαι.

⁹ Luke 19:21a (NET)

¹⁰ Genesis 15:1 (NET) Table

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

¹² Mark 5:23 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ζήσῃ here, a form of ζάω in the aorist tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ζησεται (KJV: she shall live), in the future tense.

¹³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had παρακούσας here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ευθεως ακουσας (KJV: As soon as…heard).

¹⁴ Mark 5:35, 36 (NET)

¹⁵ Genesis 18:10 (NET)

¹⁶ Genesis 18:12 (NET)

¹⁷ Genesis 18:15 (NET)

¹⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had εἰσῆλθεν, a form of εἰσέρχομαι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηλθεν (KJV: came), a form of ἔρχομαι.

¹⁹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επι (KJV: in) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁰ Matthew 2:19-22 (NET)

²¹ Genesis 19:18, 19 (NET)

²² Genesis 19:20 (NET)

²³ Genesis 19:21 (NET)

²⁴ Genesis 19:22a (NET)

²⁵ Genesis 19:24a (NET)

²⁶ Genesis 19:30 (NET)

²⁷ Matthew 14:3 (NET)

²⁸ Matthew 14:4 (NET)

²⁹ Matthew 14:5 (NET)

³⁰ Galatians 5:22b, 23a (NET)

Twilight Revisited

Posted on November 25, 2012 by admin

My daughter and I saw “Breaking Dawn, Part 2” the other day, the final movie of the Twilight saga. The heroine Bella (Kristen Stewart) died at the end of Part 1 and was reborn in Part 2 as a beautiful, powerful vampire. Bella was warned that her lust for human blood would be insatiable. As Edward (Robert Pattinson) helped her to hunt her first deer, Bella caught the scent of a lone rock climber who had slipped and cut himself. She streaked off after him with Edward in hot pursuit. But just as suddenly some mysterious control possessed her and reminded her who she was and aspired to be. She left the rock climber and returned to stalk the deer. Then in mid-leap she altered her course and brought down the mountain lion preying on her deer instead.

Breaking Dawn, Part 2 is a story of the magical gifts possessed by vampires and how they used them to help and protect their friends and loved ones. It was impossible for me not to recall the writings of Paul (1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-11 NET):

With regard to spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed…Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different results, but¹ the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another² faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one³ Spirit, to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another⁴ different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.

Eventually the three main protagonists—Bella, Edward and Jacob (Taylor Lautner)—were saved by Edward’s sister Alice (Ashley Greene) who used her gift not only to benefit her friends and family but their enemies as well. It was a more satisfying ending to the tale than I had expected. My daughter and I had no heavy spiritual conversation after the movie. We simply enjoyed our brief time together. She could see as well as I that it was about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (ἐγκράτεια) [Table].⁵ I have gone on and on about the fruit of the Spirit since she was six, even if I haven’t always lived up to it in front of her.

I hope she understands that those times I was led by the flesh rather than God’s Spirit were proof that the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that flows from his Spirit are not magical powers I possess in and of myself. As Paul wrote, we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.⁶ In the real world goodness requires a real source. Why do you call me good? Jesus asked. No one is good except God alone.⁷ Goodness doesn’t arise spontaneously out of evil, except in fantasy tales like the Twilight movies.

Addendum: October 28, 2024
Tables comparing 1 Corinthians 12:6 and 12:9, 10 in the KJV and NET follow.

1 Corinthians 12:6 (NET)	1 Corinthians 12:6 (KJV)
And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.	And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1 Corinthians 12:6 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 12:6 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 12:6 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ διαιρέσεις ἐνεργημάτων εἰσίν, ὁ \|δὲ\| αὐτὸς θεὸς ὁ ἐνεργῶν τὰ πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν	και διαιρεσεις ενεργηματων εισιν ο δε αυτος εστιν θεος ο ενεργων τα παντα εν πασιν	και διαιρεσεις ενεργηματων εισιν ο δε αυτος εστιν θεος ο ενεργων τα παντα εν πασιν

1 Corinthians 12:9, 10 (NET)	1 Corinthians 12:9, 10 (KJV)
to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,	To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

1 Corinthians 12:9 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 12:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 12:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἑτέρῳ πίστις ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ πνεύματι, ἄλλῳ δὲ χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων ἐν τῷ ἑνὶ πνεύματι	ετερω δε πιστις εν τω αυτω πνευματι αλλω δε χαρισματα ιαματων εν τω αυτω πνευματι	ετερω δε πιστις εν τω αυτω πνευματι αλλω δε χαρισματα ιαματων εν τω αυτω πνευματι

to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

1 Corinthians 12:10 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 12:10 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 12:10 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἄλλῳ δὲ ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων, ἄλλῳ [δὲ] προφητεία, ἄλλῳ [δὲ] διακρίσεις πνευμάτων, ἑτέρῳ γένη γλωσσῶν, ἄλλῳ δὲ ἑρμηνεία γλωσσῶν	αλλω δε ενεργηματα δυναμεων αλλω δε προφητεια αλλω δε διακρισεις πνευματων ετερω δε γενη γλωσσων αλλω δε ερμηνεια γλωσσων	αλλω δε ενεργηματα δυναμεων αλλω δε προφητεια αλλω δε διακρισεις πνευματων ετερω δε γενη γλωσσων αλλω δε ερμηνεια γλωσσων

Fear – Genesis, Part 1

¹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εστιν (KJV: it is) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

² The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (not translated in the KJV) at the beginning of this clause. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἑνὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτω (KJV: same).

⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (not translated in the KJV) at the beginning of this clause. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁵ Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

⁶ 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NET)

⁷ Mark 10:18 (NET)

Romans, Part 32

Posted on November 21, 2012 by admin

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear (φόβον, a form of φόβος), Paul continued, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.”¹ Human beings have been afraid of God ever since Adam died and hid from Him, saying, and I was afraid because I was naked.² That is καὶ ἐφοβήθην (a form of φοβέω) ὅτι γυμνός εἰμι ³ in the Septuagint, literally, “and I was afraid because naked I am.” And naked we still are, because no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked (γυμνὰ, a form of γυμνός) and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account (λόγος).⁴ It is fitting that the fear that came upon us when Adam sinned is banished in Christ.

The word Abba is the childish word for father [Addendum 9/5/2024: or perhaps not]. It reminds me of the picture of John John Kennedy peeking out from under his father’s desk in the oval office at the White House. In October of 1962 President Kennedy was the most feared man on the planet, with the power to plunge the world into nuclear war. But to John John, he was Daddy. The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with (συμπάσχομεν, a form of συμπάσχω) him so we may also be glorified with (συνδοξασθῶμεν, a form of συνδοξάζω) him.⁵

There are many things someone might suffer, but this linkage of suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him leads me back to chapter 6: Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory (δόξης, a form of δόξα) of the Father, so we too may live a new life.⁶ Once Jesus’ disciples knew that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God⁷ he instructed them⁸ not to tell anyone.⁹

From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer (παθεῖν, a form of πάσχω) many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.¹⁰

So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: “God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!”¹¹ Mark emphasized that Jesus spoke openly about this. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.¹² But [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s” [Table]. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.¹³ And Paul wrote, For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.¹⁴

So the suffering Paul had in mind I think was primarily the frustration and inner confusion associated with this death and resurrection experience, particularly that neither I (old man born of the flesh nor new man born of the Spirit) can do what I want: 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 I’ve written in another essay in more detail that I think the essence of taking up one’s cross to follow Jesus in this death is not my will but yours be done,¹⁶ and a few more ideas about this suffering of death in another. For I consider that our present sufferings (παθήματα, a form of πάθημα) cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us,¹⁷ Paul continued (Romans 8:19-21 NET).

For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God [e.g., all who are led by the Spirit of God¹⁸]. For the creation was subjected to futility – not willingly but because of God who subjected it – in¹⁹ hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage (δουλείας, a form of δουλεία) of decay (φθορᾶς, a form of φθορά) into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

In school I learned about evolution, that marvelous creative force that made everything we see today. In my real life I travel from medical conference to medical conference where I hear about genetic defects and diseases, the bondage of decay, the actual observable results of evolution. The palliation of genetic defects and diseases is one of our last locally produced products and a mainspring of our economy. While medical researchers may intend to find “cures” for genetic defects and diseases good economic sense would argue against that. But there is another more pressing problem to consider, more long range and more far reaching.

Those who are faithful to their creator evolution, what I will call the evolutionary mind, face a daunting problem when it comes to “cures” for the products of evolution. To my mind a cure would be found along the lines of investigation leading to an understanding of God’s original design of the genetic code for humankind. This would not be conceivable to the evolutionary mind. There was no grand design, no right way for the code to be written. It was all happenstance that happened to produce life-forms that survived under given conditions. For the evolutionary mind a “cure” must come from one’s own mind, evaluating the conditions people must thrive under and “Imagineering” so to speak how the code should read to accommodate those conditions.

Just as an aside, it occurs to me that back-breeding (e.g., inter-racial marriage) is still quite effective to overcoming some of the genetic burden that continues to accumulate over time. When I was young such marriage was a curiosity. Now inter-racial marriage seems to be a positive symptom of enlightened thinking among many young people. If that trend continues and becomes standard practice it may well alleviate the necessity for any more Draconian measures forbidding intra-racial marriage. And to my way of thinking it is the religious mind that would stand in the way of inter-racial marriage much like it would have bridled at God’s decrees against intra-familial marriage when genetic burden made that necessary.

Paul’s point, however, was that those who trust in Christ, or more specifically those led by the Spirit of God, wait for God’s solution, that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. While the children don’t know exactly how this will take place, they assume it is along the lines of death and resurrection that they are experiencing, a destruction by fire and a creation of new heavens and a new earth (2 Peter 3:8-13 NET). Ultimately, the children trust that Abba, Daddy has everything under control. The scorn and ridicule that elicits from those with an evolutionary mind may also be part of the suffering Paul wrote about.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together (συνωδίνει, a form of συνωδίνω) until now. Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes²⁰ for what he sees?²¹

This is what convinced me that for Paul, So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin,²² and, 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,²³ were normative for the believer’s experience here on earth. They are the suffering to which he referred. Even being led by the Spirit is but a foretaste of the glory that will be revealed to us. It is the foretaste that prompts us to pray, Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven [Table].²⁴

But if we hope for what we do not see, Paul concluded, we eagerly wait for it with endurance (ὑπομονῆς, a form of ὑπομονή).²⁵

Addendum: October 11, 2024
Tables comparing Matthew 16:20; Romans 8:20 and 8:24 in the NET and KJV follow.

Matthew 16:20 (NET)	Matthew 16:20 (KJV)
Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.	Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Matthew 16:20 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 16:20 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 16:20 (Byzantine Majority Text)
τότε \|διεστείλατο\| τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἵνα μηδενὶ εἴπωσιν ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ χριστός	τοτε διεστειλατο τοις μαθηταις αυτου ινα μηδενι ειπωσιν οτι αυτος εστιν ιησους ο χριστος	τοτε διεστειλατο τοις μαθηταις αυτου ινα μηδενι ειπωσιν οτι αυτος εστιν ιησους ο χριστος

Romans 8:20 (NET)	Romans 8:20 (KJV)
For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly but because of God who subjected it—in hope	For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Romans 8:20 (NET Parallel Greek)	Romans 8:20 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Romans 8:20 (Byzantine Majority Text)
τῇ γὰρ ματαιότητι ἡ κτίσις ὑπετάγη, οὐχ ἑκοῦσα ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα, ἐφ᾿ ἑλπίδι	τη γαρ ματαιοτητι η κτισις υπεταγη ουχ εκουσα αλλα δια τον υποταξαντα επ ελπιδι	τη γαρ ματαιοτητι η κτισις υπεταγη ουχ εκουσα αλλα δια τον υποταξαντα επ ελπιδι

Romans 8:24 (NET)	Romans 8:24 (KJV)
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?	For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Romans 8:24 (NET Parallel Greek)	Romans 8:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Romans 8:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)
τῇ γὰρ ἐλπίδι ἐσώθημεν· ἐλπὶς δὲ βλεπομένη οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλπίς· ὃ γὰρ βλέπει τίς ἐλπίζει	τη γαρ ελπιδι εσωθημεν ελπις δε βλεπομενη ουκ εστιν ελπις ο γαρ βλεπει τις τι και ελπιζει	τη γαρ ελπιδι εσωθημεν ελπις δε βλεπομενη ουκ εστιν ελπις ο γαρ βλεπει τις τι και ελπιζει

Romans, Part 33

Fear – Genesis, Part 1

Twilight Revisited

Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 2

Back to You Must Be Gentle, Part 3

Back to Exploration, Part 1

¹ Romans 8:15 (NET)

² Genesis 3:10 (NET) Table

³ Genesis 3:10 Elpenor Septuagint Table

⁴ Hebrews 4:13 (NET)

⁵ Romans 8:16, 17 (NET)

⁶ Romans 6:4 (NET)

⁷ Matthew 16:16 (NET)

⁸ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τοις μαθηταις αυτου (KJV: his disciples) here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τοῖς μαθηταῖς.

⁹ Matthew 16:20 (NET)

¹⁰ Matthew 16:21 (NET)

¹¹ Matthew 16:22 (NET)

¹² Mark 8:32 (NET)

¹³ Matthew 16:23, 24 (NET)

¹⁴ Romans 6:5 (NET)

¹⁵ Galatians 5:17 (NET) Table

¹⁶ Luke 22:42b (NET) Table

¹⁷ Romans 8:18 (NET)

¹⁸ Romans 8:14 (NET)

¹⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the preposition ἐφ᾿ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had another form of ἐπί: επ.

²⁰ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τι και (KJV: why…yet) preceding hopes (KJV: hope). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²¹ Romans 8:22-24 (NET)

²² Romans 7:25b (NKJV) Table

²³ Galatians 5:17 (NET) Table

²⁴ Matthew 6:9, 10 (NET)

²⁵ Romans 8:25 (NET)

The Soul

Posted on November 21, 2012 by admin

In Romans, Part 31 I related Paul’s statement—if you live according to the flesh, you will die¹—to Jesus’ saying to his disciples, The one who loves his life [i.e., in this world] destroys [or, loses] it.² The word translated life here is ψυχὴν (a form of ψυχή). Two verses later Jesus is recorded as saying, Now my soul (ψυχή) is greatly distressed.³ This is the life of keeping body and soul together as opposed to the new life of the Spirit. Though this connection was not as new to me as Jesus’ saying to Martha,⁴ it too deserved some further study.

I am the good shepherd, Jesus said. I know my own and my own know me⁵ – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life (ψυχήν, a form of ψυχή) for the sheep.⁶ This was a fairly clear statement of Jesus’ death on our behalf, for us, in our place. It becomes even clearer as a reference to an actual loss of soul-life as Jesus continued. This is why the Father loves me – because I lay down my life (ψυχήν, a form of ψυχή), so that I may take it back again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.⁷ This is how Peter understood it (John 13:36-38 NET):

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life (ψυχήν, a form of ψυχή) for you!” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life (ψυχήν, a form of ψυχή) for me? I tell you the solemn truth, the rooster will not crow until you have denied (ἀρνήσῃ, a form of ἀρνέομαι) me three times!

Later that same night when Jesus was arrested Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear.⁸ Peter was moments away from making good on his pledge to lay down his life for Jesus, in the terms that he in his soul-life understood at that moment. But Jesus intervened. What Peter had missed was the other meaning of being a good shepherd.

I am the good shepherd, Jesus also said. The good shepherd lays down his life (ψυχήν, a form of ψυχή) for the sheep.⁹ Then Jesus contrasted the laying down of life of the good shepherd to the hired hand. The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons (ἀφίησιν, a form of ἀφίημι) the sheep and runs away (φεύγει, a form of φεύγω).¹⁰ Notice that the word translated abandons here is the same word as forgive, in the sense of sending away someone else’s sins.

“Flee for your lives,” the hired hand screams as he runs for his life. So the wolf attacks (ἁρπάζει, a form of ἁρπάζω) the sheep and scatters (σκορπίζει, a form of σκορπίζω) them. Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep…¹¹ The good shepherd by contrast lays down his life, or puts his life on the line, to defend the sheep, the living as opposed to the dying sacrifice. After his resurrection Jesus made this point quite poignantly for Peter (John 21:15-17 NET [Table]).

Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.” Jesus said a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.

Jesus had a different kind of laying down his life in mind for Peter. And still He promised him that he would also be crucified. I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go. (Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.)¹² In my imagination I can see the crucified and risen Lord, standing, looking Peter in the eyes, smiling and nodding as he whispers, Follow me.¹³

I think both understandings need to be grasped as I hear Jesus command: My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life (ψυχὴν, a form of ψυχή) for his friends. You are my friends if you do what¹⁴ I command you.¹⁵ And so I think both must be brought to bear when considering, The one who loves his life (ψυχὴν, a form of ψυχή) destroys (ἀπολλύει, a form of ἀπόλλυμι) it, and the one who hates (μισῶν, a form of μισέω) his life (ψυχὴν, a form of ψυχή) in this world guards it for eternal life (ζωὴν, a form of ζωή).¹⁶ The one who loves his life is like one who does not lay down his life, one who does not believe we have been buried with [Christ] through baptism into death (θάνατον, a form of θάνατος),¹⁷ or attempts to live as if it were not true.

Perhaps the Spirit will lead one to martyrdom, perhaps not. After the resurrected Jesus prophesied that he would be crucified in his old age Peter asked about John. Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours? You follow me!”¹⁸ In Revelation John heard a loud voice in heaven speak of the brothers and sisters who overcame (ἐνίκησαν, a form of νικάω) [the one who accuses them day and night before our God]¹⁹ by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives (ψυχὴν, a form of ψυχή) so much that they were afraid to (ἄχρι) die (θανάτου, another form of θάνατος),²⁰ whether through martyrdom or feeding and protecting others.

There is more to this soul life (ψυχή) they did not love so much than food as there is more to the body (σῶμα) than clothing. And so Jesus said, do not worry about your life (ψυχῇ, another form of ψυχή), what you will eat or drink, or about your body (σώματι, a form of σῶμα), what you will wear.²¹ For the unconverted (ἔθνη, a form of ἔθνος) pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them [Table]. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well [Table].²²

If anyone wants to become my follower, Jesus said, he must deny (ἀρνησάσθω, another form of ἀρνέομαι) himself (ἑαυτὸν, a form of ἑαυτοῦ), take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save (σῶσαι, a form of σώζω) his life (ψυχὴν, a form of ψυχή) will lose (ἀπολέσει, a form of ἀπόλλυμι) it, but whoever loses (ἀπολέσῃ, another form of ἀπόλλυμι) his life (ψυχὴν, a form of ψυχή) for my sake will save (σώσει, another form of σώζω) it [Table]. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses (ἀπολέσας, another form of ἀπόλλυμι) or forfeits (ζημιωθείς, a form of ζημιόω) himself (ἑαυτὸν, a form of ἑαυτοῦ)? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.²³

Jesus said, I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain (καρπὸν, a form of καρπός; literally fruit). The one who loves his life (ψυχὴν, a form of ψυχή) destroys (ἀπολλύει, another form of ἀπόλλυμι) it, and the one who hates (μισῶν, a form of μισέω) his life (ψυχὴν, a form of ψυχή) in this world guards it for eternal life (ζωὴν, a form of ζωή) [Table]. If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him [Table]. Now my soul (ψυχή) is greatly distressed. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver (σῶσον, another form of σώζω) me from this hour’? No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour.²⁴ And so has each of us who know and love and want to follow Him.

Addendum: September 5, 2024
Tables comparing John 10:14 and 15:14 in the NET and KJV follow.

John 10:14 (NET)	John 10:14 (KJV)
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me—	I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

John 10:14 (NET Parallel Greek)	John 10:14 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	John 10:14 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς καὶ γινώσκω τὰ ἐμὰ καὶ γινώσκουσι με τὰ ἐμά	εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος και γινωσκω τα εμα και γινωσκομαι υπο των εμων	εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος και γινωσκω τα εμα και γινωσκομαι υπο των εμων

John 15:14 (NET)	John 15:14 (KJV)
You are my friends if you do what I command you.	Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

John 15:14 (NET Parallel Greek)	John 15:14 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	John 15:14 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὑμεῖς φίλοι μού ἐστε ἐὰν ποιῆτε \|ἃ\| ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν	υμεις φιλοι μου εστε εαν ποιητε οσα εγω εντελλομαι υμιν	υμεις φιλοι μου εστε εαν ποιητε οσα εγω εντελλομαι υμιν

Romans, Part 32

Back to Son of God – 1 John, Part 3

Back to Romans, Part 48

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 9

¹ Romans 8:13a (NET)

² John 12:25a (NET) Table

³ John 12:27 (NET)

⁴ John 11:25, 26 (NET)

⁵ The NET parallel Greek text had γινώσκουσι με τὰ ἐμά and the NA²⁸ had γινώσκουσίν με τὰ ἐμά here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had γινωσκομαι υπο των εμων (KJV: and am known of mine).

⁶ John 10:14, 15 (NET)

⁷ John 10:17, 18 (NET)

⁸ John 18:10 (NET) Table

⁹ John 10:11 (NET)

¹⁰ John 10:12a (NET) Table

¹¹ John 10:12b-13 (NET) Table

¹² John 21:18, 19a (NET)

¹³ John 21:19b (NET)

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

¹⁵ John 15:12-14 (NET)

¹⁶ John 12:25 (NET) Table

¹⁷ Romans 6:4 (NET)

¹⁸ John 21:22 (NET)

¹⁹ Revelation 12:10 (NET) Table

²⁰ Revelation 12:11 (NET)

²¹ Matthew 6:25 (NET) Table

²² Matthew 6:32, 33 (NET)

²³ Luke 9:23-26 (NET)

²⁴ John 12:24-27 (NET)

Twilight of the Idols

Posted on November 16, 2012 by admin

This is not about Nietzsche’s book “Twilight of the Idols,” or Wagner’s opera Götterdämmerung. It is about the Twilight movies on the eve of the release of the fifth and final episode, “Breaking Dawn, Part 2.” I’ve seen the first four movies. I haven’t read any of the books.

I read an article yesterday about “a disturbing trend forming among teenagers who have become obsessed with the ‘Twilight’ movies – they are turning to real occult groups and even participating in bloodletting practices.”¹ In a scene in the fourth movie, “Breaking Dawn, Part 1,” the heroine Bella drank chilled human blood through a straw and found it not bad, kind of good actually. If that inspired young people to occult practices I am sorry, but I’m also convinced that not-Twilight (the apparent point of the article) would not have saved them.

In that scene Bella did whatever it took to bring her baby to term, even at the cost of her own life, while the sensible money was bet on aborting the fetus. Even her husband Edward, a vampire, was angry and frustrated with her over it. But Bella had expressed a willingness to lay down her life for someone she loved from the opening voiceover of the first movie, for her mother, then Edward, then her baby. I was so caught up in the story at the time I was willing to overlook and even chuckle at the “duh” moment when (in a house full of vampires) the only one who recognized that a half-vampire-half-human baby might be thirsting for human blood was the werewolf Jacob, who, except for a treaty between his tribe and the Cullen vampire clan (or coven) and his own love for Bella, was a mortal enemy and one of the “natural” predators of vampires.

I should probably mention that the Cullens were “vegetarian” vampires, meaning they only drank animal blood, not human. It was a little like a human being living on tofu alone, according to Edward, but more suited to the ethic of this particular “family” of vampires. Dr. Cullen, the patriarch of the family, was an MD who served as the town doctor in Forks, Washington. As he stitched up Bella’s arm after a mishap, she looked down at all her blood and asked him, “How do you do it?” “Years of practice,” he replied grinning.

What was a subtle undercurrent in Bram Stoker’s novel and more overt in Francis Ford Coppola’s film adaptation is also true of the Twilight series. It is about sexual desire and repression, though Edward is the only Victorian in the story (Edwardian more precisely). What makes Twilight discomforting, frustrating, maybe even offensive, to men is that male sexual desire is not the joystick that makes the world go round. While female sexual desire personified by Bella is an open-hearted giving and sharing of herself, male sexual desire personified by Edward is a life-threatening blood lust, or a violent rage seething just beneath the skin of the shape-shifting Jacob.

Bella was irresistibly drawn to both of these bad boys, though it was fairly clear that she didn’t really love Jacob “like that.” And here is another sore spot for boys and men. How dare a young woman not love “like that.” What kind of love is that? And it only gets worse. Their swordsmanship was not the thing that made these traditional movie monsters the good guys. Apart from Edward’s cooler than ice and Jacob’s hotter than fire good looks, the only thing that made them good guys is that they restrained, suppressed and sublimated their violent sexual desires. They found other ways to love and care for Bella. Edward used a little bit of force and a lot of romantic persuasion to keep her a virgin until their wedding night.

The ἐγκράτεια, erroneously translated self-control, that is an aspect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit² which flows through those who trust in Jesus Christ was not mentioned in the Twilight movies. Edward and Jacob restrained themselves by their own willpower, their own inner “goodness,” never mind where traditional movie monsters find inner goodness. But I seriously wonder if we as parents really teach and trust the ἐγκράτεια that comes from God when it comes to our own children. Or do we put our faith in the gezerot,³ the rules we make up to keep them chaperoned, never alone, never having an opportunity to exercise the ἐγκράτεια, or the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness or gentleness, that are the fruit of their relationship with Christ?

At any rate I took a vacation day next week to see the final episode of the Twilight saga with my daughter. That may make me a bad parent to some. But my daughter is twenty-one now. She will see it whether I take her or not. Edward moved up a notch in Bella’s father’s estimation when he learned that Edward was “old school,” meaning Bella was still a virgin. I admit that my daughter’s boyfriend, though he seems like a nice enough guy, has moved down a notch since he doesn’t have the heart to see the movie with her. My twenty-year-old son will see it with his girlfriend, though I imagine he will find something to complain about afterward.

I expect to be disappointed by the end of the series. No amount of good works redemption will satisfy me. And I don’t think Bella, Edward and Jacob will turn to faith in Jesus Christ. My daughter, who has read the books, has already said she is curious how I will react to the end of the story. So a few dollars and a couple of hours spent sitting in the dark with her buy me another opportunity to speak my mind to her receptive heart. I pray that God will grant me the grace, the wisdom and the words to say to a young woman who has been moved so by a story of an eternal love that is more than sexual desire. And it makes me wonder whether millions of other women have actually been moved by occult bloodletting practices or because God has put eternity⁴ in their hearts.⁵

Oh yeah, and I’m curious what happens next to Bella, Edward and Jacob, too.

Addendum: September 3, 2024
Tables comparing Ecclesiastes 3:11 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Ecclesiastes 3:11 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (Tanakh)	Ecclesiastes 3:11 (KJV)	Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NET)
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.	He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.	God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Ecclesiastes 3:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
σὺν τὰ πάντα ἐποίησεν καλὰ ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ καί γε σὺν τὸν αἰῶνα ἔδωκεν ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν ὅπως μὴ εὕρῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὸ ποίημα ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεός ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς καὶ μέχρι τέλους	σύμπαντα, ἃ ἐποίησε, καλὰ ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ, καί γε σὺν τὸν αἰῶνα ἔδωκεν ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν, ὅπως μὴ εὕρῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὸ ποίημα, ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς καὶ μέχρι τέλους
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NETS)	Ecclesiastes 3:11 (English Elpenor)
He made everything fine in its right time, indeed, he granted eternity in their heart so that they should not find the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.	All the things which he has made are beautiful in his time: he has also set the whole world in their heart, that man might not find out the work which God has wrought from the beginning even to the end.

The Soul

Twilight Revisited

Back to Antichrist, Part 5

Back to Torture, Part 2

Back to Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 13

Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 6

¹ Read more at ‘Twilight Breaking Dawn’ Leading Teens to Bloodletting, Vampire Covens? by By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter, Monday, November 12, 2012

² Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

³ GEZERAH (pl. Gezerot), By: Solomon Schechter, Julius H. Greenstone, Jewish Encyclopedia online

⁴ Septuagint: αἰῶνα, a form of αἰών

⁵ Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)

The Life

Posted on November 15, 2012 by admin

In Romans, Part 31 I related Paul’s statement—if you live according to the flesh, you will die¹—to Jesus’ saying to Martha—The one who believes in me will live even if he dies.² This connection was new to me, so I thought it deserved a little more study. In the past I would have related Jesus’ saying to Martha (John 11:25, 26 NET) to the mystery Paul expounded (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NET):

Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – [Table] in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

In that case, those who sleep are like The one who believes in [Jesus] and lives even if he dies. That may not be wrong. But what got my attention was that Martha already believed in the resurrection. I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection (ἀναστάσει, a form of ἀνάστασις) at the last day,³ she said. It was to that belief that Jesus responded, I am the resurrection (ἀνάστασις) and the life (ζωή).⁴ Suddenly I saw those verses as follows:

Jesus said to her, “I am…
…the resurrection (ἀνάστασις)…	…and the life (ζωή).
The one who believes in me will live (ζήσεται, a form of ζάω) even if he dies…	…and the one who lives (ζῶν, another form of ζάω) and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?” John 11:25, 26 (NET)

Where I could believe both statements was in Romans 8:13 (NET) once I accepted that die (ἀποθνῄσκειν, a form of ἀποθνήσκω) meant death and not eternal damnation:

Jesus said to her, “I am…
…the resurrection (ἀνάστασις)…	…and the life (ζωή).
The one who believes in me will live (ζήσεται, a form of ζάω) even if he dies…	…and the one who lives (ζῶν, another form of ζάω) and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?” John 11:25, 26 (NET)
…if you live (ζῆτε, another form of ζάω) according to the flesh, you will die…	…but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live (ζήσεσθε, another form of ζάω). Romans 8:13 (NET)

The noun ζωή was used forty-seven times in the New Testament to name the new life believers find in Christ both here and now, and in the future. It was used forty-four times with αἰώνιος and translated eternal or everlasting life. Jesus spoke of a time when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice [Table] and will come out – the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection (ἀνάστασιν, another form of ἀνάστασις) resulting in life (ζωῆς, another form of ζωή), and the ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection (ἀνάστασιν, another form of ἀνάστασις) resulting in condemnation (κρίσεως, a form of κρίσις; literally, judgment).⁵ Twice Jesus referred to Himself as the bread of life. Peter called Him the Prince of life (Originator of life, NET). I found five occurrences that seem to refer exclusively to the resurrected life of Jesus, and six others that seem to refer exclusively to the resurrected life of people as opposed to new life here and now. It was used twice as Spirit of life, eight times as book of life, three times each as tree of life and water of life. It was used twice of Melchizedek, which I called Immortal Life. I found only eight occurrences of ζωή in the New Testament that seemed to refer to ordinary human life or mere vitality. My list follows:

Life (now and future)	Matthew 7:14; 18:8, 9; 19:17; Mark 9:43, 45; John 1:4 X 2; 3:36; 5:24, 26 X 2, 40; 6:33, 51, 53, 63; 8:12; 10:10; 11:25;⁶ 14:6; 20:31; Acts 2:28;⁷ 5:20; 11:18; Romans 5:17, 18; 6:4; 7:10; 8:6; 1 Corinthians 3:22; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 4:12; Philippians 2:16; Colossians 3:4; 1 Timothy 4:8; 2 Timothy 1:1, 10; 1 Peter 3:7, 10; 2 Peter 1:3; 1 John 1:1,⁸ 2; 3:14; 5:11, 12 x 2, 16	47
Eternal Life	Matthew 19:16, 29; 25:46; Mark 10:7, 30; Luke 10:25; 18:18, 30; John 3:15, 16, 36; 4:14, 36; 5:24, 39; 6:27, 40, 47, 54, 68; 10:28; 12:25, 50;⁹ 17:2, 3; Acts 13:46, 48; Romans 2:7; 5:21; 6:22, 23; Galatians 6:8; 1 Timothy 1:16; 6:12, 19; Titus 1:2; 3:7; 1 John 1:2; 2:25; 3:15; 5:11, 13, 20; Jude 1:21	44
Human Life	Luke 12:15; 16:25; Acts 8:33;¹⁰ 17:25; Romans 8:38; 1 Corinthians 15:19; Philippians 1:20; James 4:14	8
Resurrection of Life	John 5:29	1
Bread of Life	John 6:35, 48	2
Prince of Life	Acts 3:15	1
Resurrected Life of Jesus	Romans 5:10; 8:10; 2 Corinthians 4:10, 11; Ephesians 4:18	5
Spirit of Life	Romans 8:2, Revelation 11:11	2
Exclusively Resurrected Life	Romans 11:15; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 5:4; Colossians 3:3; James 1:2, Revelation 2:10	6
Book of Life	Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19	8
Immortal Life	Hebrews 7:3, 16 (Melchizedek)	2
Tree of Life	Revelation 2:7; 22:2, 14	3
Water of Life	Revelation 21:16; 22:1, 17	3

I went to this trouble because in the definition of ψυχή in Strong’s Concordance (the next word I want to consider) ζωή (zoe) is described as “mere vitality.” That may be true of ζωή in Greek generally. I don’t know. It is clearly not true of ζωή as used in the New Testament, except perhaps eight times. It may be generally true of the verb ζάω even in the New Testament. I didn’t check that closely. I am suggesting that ζήσεται (another form of ζάω) in The one who believes in me will live even if he dies¹¹ means the resurrected life that Martha believed in and Jesus claimed to be. And I am also suggesting that ζῶν (another form of ζάω) in the one who lives and believes in me will never die¹² means the new life that Jesus claimed to be and Paul described as being led by the Spirit of God.¹³

I had the most difficulty with 1 John 5:16 (NET), whether John meant mere vitality or not: If anyone sees his fellow Christian (ἀδελφὸν, a form of ἀδελφός) committing a sin not resulting in death (θάνατον, a form of θάνατος), he should ask, and God will grant (δώσει, a form of δίδωμι) life (ζωήν, another form of ζωή) to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death (θάνατον, a form of θάνατος). There is a sin resulting in death (θάνατον, a form of θάνατος). I do not say that he should ask about that.

In the movie “Meet Joe Black” Anthony Hopkins’ character Bill Parrish instinctively restrained Brad Pitt’s character Death from stepping off the curb into traffic. It is an ironic and humorous moment since the body Death took was killed in traffic, standing in the middle of the street longing for another glimpse of Bill’s daughter Susan, and because Death had just bragged about how much beyond Bill’s comprehension the work of Death was. But it also displayed Bill’s character, instinctively protecting the life of his nemesis simply because he appeared in form as another human being. I assume however that John was not talking about stepping off the curb in front of an oncoming bus as a sin resulting in death.

When the Pharisees accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons,¹⁴ Jesus replied (Matthew 12:25-29a NET):

Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. How else can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? [Table]

Then Jesus warned, people will be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι) for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι) [Table]. Whoever¹⁵ speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι). But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, a form of ἀφίημι), either in this¹⁶ age or in the age to come.¹⁷ This, I think, is what John meant by a sin resulting in death. John continued (1 John 5:17, 18 NET):

All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death (θάνατον, a form of θάνατος). We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects (τηρεῖ, a form of τηρέω) the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him [Table].

I am connecting this to the verse which precedes it. The new life, that life fathered by God that does not sin—Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me¹⁸—because God protects that life and the evil one cannot touch him, is the true need of the fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death. That life, this grace in which we stand,¹⁹ fueled by the credited righteousness of God,²⁰ the fruit of his Spirit,²¹ is far more important than my censure, my rebuke, even my restoration in a spirit of gentleness.²² And it is this life that we ask for ourselves and for all who call upon our Father whenever we pray (Matthew 6:9-13 NET):

Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven [Table]. Give us today our daily bread [i.e., of life], and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors [Table]. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one [Table].

Addendum: September 3, 2024
Tables comparing Matthew 12:25 and 12:32 in the KJV and NET follow.

Matthew 12:25 (NET)	Matthew 12:25 (KJV)
Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand.	And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Matthew 12:25 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 12:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 12:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)
εἰδὼς δὲ τὰς ἐνθυμήσεις αὐτῶν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· πᾶσα βασιλεία μερισθεῖσα καθ᾿ ἑαυτῆς ἐρημοῦται καὶ πᾶσα πόλις ἢ οἰκία μερισθεῖσα καθ᾿ ἑαυτῆς οὐ σταθήσεται	ειδως δε ο ιησους τας ενθυμησεις αυτων ειπεν αυτοις πασα βασιλεια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ερημουται και πασα πολις η οικια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ου σταθησεται	ειδως δε ο ιησους τας ενθυμησεις αυτων ειπεν αυτοις πασα βασιλεια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ερημουται και πασα πολις η οικια μερισθεισα καθ εαυτης ου σταθησεται

Matthew 12:32 (NET)	Matthew 12:32 (KJV)
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.	And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Matthew 12:32 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 12:32 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 12:32 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ὃς ἐὰν εἴπῃ λόγον κατὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἀφεθήσεται αὐτῷ· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν εἴπῃ κατὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου, οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται αὐτῷ οὔτε ἐν τούτῳ τῷ αἰῶνι οὔτε ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι	και ος αν ειπη λογον κατα του υιου του ανθρωπου αφεθησεται αυτω ος δ αν ειπη κατα του πνευματος του αγιου ουκ αφεθησεται αυτω ουτε εν τουτω τω αιωνι ουτε εν τω μελλοντι	και ος εαν ειπη λογον κατα του υιου του ανθρωπου αφεθησεται αυτω ος δ αν ειπη κατα του πνευματος του αγιου ουκ αφεθησεται αυτω ουτε εν τω νυν αιωνι ουτε εν τω μελλοντι

Twilight of the Idols

Back to The Soul

Back to Romans, Part 33

¹ Romans 8:13a (NET)

² John 11:25b (NET)

³ John 11:24 (NET) Table

⁴ John 11:25a (NET)

⁵ John 5:28, 29 (NET)

⁶ Distinguished here from the resurrection (of life).

⁷ Quote from Psalm 16:8-11 (NET) according to a note (54) in the NET.

⁸ τοῦ λόγου τῆς ζωῆς might be a poetic reference to Jesus Himself, though I am reading it in context as the life message.

⁹ Eternal Life is the Father’s commandment.

¹⁰ Quote from Isaiah 53:7, 8 (NET) according to a note (85) in the NET.

¹¹ John 11:25b (NET)

¹² John 11:26a (NET)

¹³ Romans 8:14 (NET)

¹⁴ Matthew 12:24 (NET)

¹⁵ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐὰν following Whoever, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αν.

¹⁶ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had τούτῳ here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had νυν (“now, present”).

¹⁷ Matthew 12:31, 32 (NET)

¹⁸ Romans 7:20 (NET) Table

¹⁹ Romans 5:2 (NET)

²⁰ Romans 4 (NET)

²¹ Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

²² Galatians 6:1 (NET)

Romans, Part 31

Posted on November 6, 2012 by admin

So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation (ὀφειλέται, a form of ὀφειλέτης), not to the flesh (σαρκὶ, a form of σάρξ), to live according to the flesh (σάρκα, another form of σάρξ), Paul continued, (for if you live according to the flesh [σάρκα, another form of σάρξ], you will die [ἀποθνῄσκειν, a form of ἀποθνήσκω])…¹ If I consider myself the old man, the sin condemned in the flesh,² I will die along with the flesh. This truism is equivalent to Jesus’ saying to Martha, The one who believes in me will live even if he dies (ἀποθάνῃ, another form of ἀποθνήσκω),³ or to his disciples, The one who loves his life [i.e., in this world] destroys [or, loses] it.⁴ But no, I didn’t see that for a long time.

I thought Paul was threatening me with eternal damnation if I lived according to the flesh, even though the text said die. I wasn’t happy about it, especially after everything else he had said, but I couldn’t make any other sense of it at the time. And yes, it is embarrassing to keep admitting how stubbornly dull-witted I am.

Paul continued, but if by the Spirit you put to death (θανατοῦτε, a form of θανατόω) the deeds (πράξεις, a form of πρᾶξις) of the body you will live.⁵ If I identify with the new man created in the image of God, I will live. But no, I didn’t see how well this fit with Jesus saying to Martha, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die (ἀποθάνῃ, another form of ἀποθνήσκω).⁶ And I didn’t relate it to Jesus saying to his disciples, and the one who hates his life in this world guards [or, keeps] it for eternal life.⁷

I thought it was best, if I wanted to go to heaven, to keep trying to put the deeds of my body to death by striving to keep the law, or at least by striving to love by keeping the definition of the love that fulfills the law as if it were laws. The idea that I could put to death the deeds of the body by faith, by believing that my old man was crucified with [Christ] so that the body of sin would no longer dominate [me], so that [I] would no longer be enslaved to sin,⁸ because God achieved what the law could not do…By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful 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,⁹ was a slow train coming.

For all who are led (ἄγονται, a form of ἄγω) by the Spirit of God are the sons of God,¹⁰ Paul continued. Surely I am a byword in heaven. Over and over I was led back to these verses, and over and over I refused to drink them in. But let me recount the word ἄγω as used in the Gospels as a contrast to my Do-It-Yourself religion.

And you will be brought (ἀχθήσεσθε, another form of ἄγω) before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles,¹¹ Jesus told his disciples. When¹² they arrest¹³ (ἄγωσιν, another form of ἄγω) you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak.¹⁴ But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.¹⁵ Go to the village ahead¹⁶ of you, Jesus said. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring (ἀγάγετε, another form of ἄγω) them to me.¹⁷ They brought (ἤγαγον, another form of ἄγω) the donkey and the colt and placed their¹⁸ cloaks on¹⁹ them, and he sat on them.²⁰ Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River and was led (ἤγετο, another form of ἄγω) by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he endured temptations from the devil.²¹

So here I have Jesus ἤγετο (another form of ἄγω) by the Holy Spirit, and handed over to the devil: Then²² the devil brought (῎Ηγαγεν, another form of ἄγω) him to Jerusalem, had him²³ stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the²⁴ Son of God, throw yourself down from here…”²⁵ An angry mob got up, forced [Jesus] out of the town, and brought (ἤγαγον, another form of ἄγω) him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.²⁶ A mob of duly authorized law enforcement types arrested Jesus, led (ἤγαγον, another form of ἄγω) him away, and brought him²⁷ into the high priest’s house.²⁸ Then the whole group of them rose up and brought²⁹ (ἤγαγον, another form of ἄγω) Jesus before Pilate.³⁰ Two other criminals were also led away (῎Ηγοντο, another form of ἄγω) to be executed with him.³¹

Now I look back at the meaning and usage of ἄγω and ask myself incredulously, “Just exactly what part of being led (ἄγονται, a form of ἄγω) by the Spirit did you think was your doing, Dan?” But I’m not alone, though I might wish that I were. I want to take the movie “Courageous” as my point of departure here.

Actually, a big part of me doesn’t want to do that at all. As an independent filmmaker wannabe I have nothing but admiration for what the Kendrick brothers and Sherwood Baptist Church have done. I can watch their movies without being embarrassed by the quality of the filmmaking, and each film gets better on that score than the one before. I didn’t feel anything I’m about to say while watching the film (and I watched “Courageous” again last night). What I feel is comfort, familiarity and a warm nostalgia for the religion of my childhood, my youth and beyond. I like stirring music. I want to be courageous, too. That’s part of my problem, that I only see a problem in retrospect when I analyze the story in the light of the Gospel and the religious mind.

The storyline of “Courageous,” for those who haven’t seen it, is about a father Adam after his daughter Emily dies in a car crash. She was his favorite, though he was almost as detached from her as from his son, concerned about his work and his appearance to others. After her death he is concerned that he should have been a better father. His wife reminds him that he is still a father. He talks to his Pastor. He studies the Bible. He begins to make a rapprochement with his son. So far so good.

Then he drafts a resolution, a list of rules derived from his Bible study about fatherhood. He passes it out to his friends. Most of them, interestingly enough, are other policemen. He asks these policemen to hold him accountable to his list of rules. They want to sign it, too. Eventually, all the men join in a ceremony, effectively swearing an oath to abide by Adam’s rules. It is all very moving, and courageous. But Adam, a churchgoing man, was ashamed of the Gospel for exactly the same reason that Paul was not.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes,³² because the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.”³³ Anyone might become dissatisfied with the righteousness of God that is showing through him and out into the world at any given moment. It is an excellent time to return to Christ, to be joined to the one who was raised from the dead, like a wife seeking to enlarge her family comes to her husband, to bear fruit to God.³⁴ It is not a time to attempt to have one’s own righteousness derived from the law.³⁵ You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace!³⁶

Instead of rebuking and correcting them privately, Adam’s Pastor praises the men publicly for their resolution and their oath to keep it. Then Adam is allowed to speak to the entire congregation. Adam persuades other men to follow him in his defection from Christ. I feel this defection deeply when I get away from the movie and its rousing music, Adam’s tear-filled eyes, his upraised arm and his hand grasping for something elusive. But my anger is restrained for two reasons.

First, I find it extremely interesting that the character’s name is Adam. For all I know there is a “Courageous 2” in the works where Adam (or Shane, but that’s another story) learns to be led by the Spirit rather than by the flesh. And secondly, I know how much remedial help I’ve needed in the sense that the law was our tutor (παιδαγωγὸς) to bring us to Christ.³⁷ The NET has it, the law had become our guardian until Christ.³⁸ Neither word alone is quite right, governess, nanny, just don’t say it. I think of Creasy, Denzel Washington’s character in “Man on Fire,” taking Pita, Dakota Fanning’s character, to school, guarding her, protecting her, and preparing her to learn. He became much more than a bodyguard, but not her teacher. Jesus is the teacher not the law, or living by laws.

Even those born only of the flesh of Adam bind themselves to laws, rules and ethical principles to keep from becoming complete sociopaths. It doesn’t take a prophet to see that if the Kendrick brothers’ resolution fails to bring those born of the flesh and of the Spirit to Christ, Shariah is waiting in the wings. But it must be equally clear that the Kendrick brothers’ resolution derived from the Bible is no more the Gospel than Shariah law is. Both are of the old way, the old written code, and neither is the new life of the Spirit.³⁹

addendum: September 2, 2024
According to a note (38) in the NET, Paul quoted from Habakkuk 2:4 in Romans 1:17. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows

Romans 1:17b (NET Parallel Greek)	Habakkuk 2:4b (Septuagint BLB) Table	Habakkuk 2:4b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται	ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεώς μου ζήσεται	ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεώς μου ζήσεται
Romans 1:17b (NET)	Habakkuk 2:4b (NETS)	Habakkuk 2:4b (English Elpenor)
The righteous by faith will live	But the just shall live by my faith.	but the just shall live by my faith

Tables comparing Mark 13:11; Matthew 21:2; 21:7; Luke 4:9; 22:54 and 23:1 in the KJV and NET follow.

Mark 13:11 (NET)	Mark 13:11 (KJV)
When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.	But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Mark 13:11 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 13:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 13:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ὅταν ἄγωσιν ὑμᾶς παραδιδόντες, μὴ προμεριμνᾶτε τί λαλήσητε, ἀλλ᾿ ὃ ἐὰν δοθῇ ὑμῖν ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦτο λαλεῖτε· οὐ γάρ ἐστε ὑμεῖς οἱ λαλοῦντες ἀλλὰ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον	οταν δε αγαγωσιν υμας παραδιδοντες μη προμεριμνατε τι λαλησητε μηδε μελετατε αλλ ο εαν δοθη υμιν εν εκεινη τη ωρα τουτο λαλειτε ου γαρ εστε υμεις οι λαλουντες αλλα το πνευμα το αγιον	οταν δε αγαγωσιν υμας παραδιδοντες μη προμεριμνατε τι λαλησητε μηδε μελετατε αλλ ο εαν δοθη υμιν εν εκεινη τη ωρα τουτο λαλειτε ου γαρ εστε υμεις οι λαλουντες αλλα το πνευμα το αγιον

Matthew 21:2 (NET)	Matthew 21:2 (KJV)
telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.	Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

Matthew 21:2 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 21:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 21:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)
λέγων αὐτοῖς· πορεύεσθε εἰς τὴν κώμην τὴν κατέναντι ὑμῶν, καὶ εὐθέως εὑρήσετε ὄνον δεδεμένην καὶ πῶλον μετ᾿ αὐτῆς· λύσαντες ἀγάγετε μοι	λεγων αυτοις πορευθητε εις την κωμην την απεναντι υμων και ευθεως ευρησετε ονον δεδεμενην και πωλον μετ αυτης λυσαντες αγαγετε μοι	λεγων αυτοις πορευθητε εις την κωμην την απεναντι υμων και ευθεως ευρησετε ονον δεδεμενην και πωλον μετ αυτης λυσαντες αγαγετε μοι

Matthew 21:7 (NET)	Matthew 21:7 (KJV)
They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.	And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

Matthew 21:7 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 21:7 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 21:7 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἤγαγον τὴν ὄνον καὶ τὸν πῶλον καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν τὰ ἱμάτια, καὶ ἐπεκάθισεν ἐπάνω αὐτῶν	ηγαγον την ονον και τον πωλον και επεθηκαν επανω αυτων τα ιματια αυτων και επεκαθισεν επανω αυτων	ηγαγον την ονον και τον πωλον και επεθηκαν επανω αυτων τα ιματια αυτων και επεκαθισεν επανω αυτων

Luke 4:9 (NET)	Luke 4:9 (KJV)
Then the devil brought him to Jerusalem, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,	And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:

Luke 4:9 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 4:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 4:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)
῎Ηγαγεν δὲ αὐτὸν εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἔστησεν ἐπὶ τὸ πτερύγιον τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ εἶπεν \|αὐτῷ\|· εἰ υἱὸς εἶ τοῦ θεοῦ, βάλε σεαυτὸν ἐντεῦθεν κάτω	και ηγαγεν αυτον εις ιερουσαλημ και εστησεν αυτον επι το πτερυγιον του ιερου και ειπεν αυτω ει ο υιος ει του θεου βαλε σεαυτον εντευθεν κατω	και ηγαγεν αυτον εις ιερουσαλημ και εστησεν αυτον επι το πτερυγιον του ιερου και ειπεν αυτω ει υιος ει του θεου βαλε σεαυτον εντευθεν κατω

Luke 22:54 (NET)	Luke 22:54 (KJV)
Then they arrested Jesus, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance.	Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.

Luke 22:54 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 22:54 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 22:54 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Συλλαβόντες δὲ αὐτὸν ἤγαγον καὶ εἰσήγαγον εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἀρχιερέως· ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἠκολούθει μακρόθεν	συλλαβοντες δε αυτον ηγαγον και εισηγαγον αυτον εις τον οικον του αρχιερεως ο δε πετρος ηκολουθει μακροθεν	συλλαβοντες δε αυτον ηγαγον και εισηγαγον αυτον εις τον οικον του αρχιερεως ο δε πετρος ηκολουθει μακροθεν

Luke 23:1 (NET)	Luke 23:1 (KJV)
Then the whole group of them rose up and brought Jesus before Pilate.	And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

Luke 23:1 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 23:1 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 23:1 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Καὶ ἀναστὰν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος αὐτῶν ἤγαγον αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸν Πιλᾶτον	και ανασταν απαν το πληθος αυτων ηγαγεν αυτον επι τον πιλατον	και ανασταν απαν το πληθος αυτων ηγαγον αυτον επι τον πιλατον

Romans, Part 32

The Life

Back to The Soul

Back to Romans, Part 34

Back to Romans, Part 35

Back to Romans, Part 48

Back to Romans, Part 82

Back to Romans, Part 83

¹ Romans 8:12, 13a (NET)

² Romans 8:3 (NET)

³ John 11:25b (NET)

⁴ John 12:25a (NET) Table

⁵ Romans 8:13b (NET)

⁶ John 11:26a (NET)

⁷ John 12:25b (NET) Table

⁸ Romans 6:6 (NET)

⁹ Romans 8:3, 4 (NET)

¹⁰ Romans 8:14 (NET)

¹¹ Matthew 10:18 (NET)

¹² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had καὶ (not translated in the NET) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: But).

¹³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἄγωσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αγαγωσιν (KJV: they shall lead).

¹⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μηδε μελετατε (KJV: neither do ye premeditate) following speak. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁵ Mark 13:11 (NET)

¹⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had κατέναντι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had απεναντι (KJV: over against).

¹⁷ Matthew 21:2 (NET)

¹⁸ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτων here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐπ᾿ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επανω.

²⁰ Matthew 21:7 (NET)

²¹ Luke 4:1 (NET) Table

²² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had δὲ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: And).

²³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτον here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article ο here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

²⁵ Luke 4:9 (NET)

²⁶ Luke 4:29 (NET) Table

²⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτον here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁸ Luke 22:54a (NET) The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the feminine τὴν οἰκίαν here, a form of οἰκία, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the masculine τον οικον, a form of οἶκος.

²⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the plural ἤγαγον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular ηγαγεν (KJV: led).

³⁰ Luke 23:1 (NET)

³¹ Luke 23:32 (NET)

³² Romans 1:16 (NET) Table

³³ Romans 1:17 (NET)

³⁴ Romans 7:4 (NET)

³⁵ Philippians 3:9 (NET)

³⁶ Galatians 5:4 (NET) Table

³⁷ Galatians 3:24 (NKJV)

³⁸ Galatians 3:24 (NET)

³⁹ Romans 7:6 (NET)

You Must Be Gentle, Part 2

Posted on November 6, 2012 by admin

Neither Alexander or his evil stepfather appear during the whipping sequence in “Fanny and Alexander.” The whipping was implied with a sound effect and a series of close-ups of the witnesses. There was nothing titillating for a spankophile (though Justine’s pained expression was ambiguous and difficult for me to read). There was no homoeroticism. There was nothing to distract one from the bitter irony of a man who, in the guise of punishment for lying, bullied and tortured a boy into a false confession.

Alexander made a brave, if short-lived, stand against confessing something he didn’t believe. One stroke of the cane later he caved like a little girl. Frankly, I was embarrassed for Alexander. The boy Jose in “For Greater Glory” was tortured to death rather than deny his support for the Cristeros, who rebelled against Mexico during Plutarco Elías Calles’ persecution of the Catholic Church. To be fair, Jose may have been based on a real boy strengthened by the Spirit of God.

Alexander, though Bergman’s alter-ego in the movie, was a fictional character whose reactions were dictated by the writer/director’s rhetorical or dramatic needs. The pyrrhic victory of Alexander’s evil stepfather stands as a brilliant illustration of Jesus’ warning to hypocrites, You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves!¹ The real Ingmar Bergman, as far as I know, rejected his real father’s Lutheran faith with as much vigor as Jose refused to forswear himself.

It got me thinking about growing up in the cult of boyhood. The cult derides a boy who can’t take it, whether pain or derision. It lauds a boy who runs at full speed, throws his body down, and slides through dirt and gravel, to be called “safe.” Bruises and blood are marks of honor. Tears are forbidden. The only acceptable response to pain is swearing or responding in kind, returning blow for blow. Boys are little soldiers in training. Anyone attempting to use physical pain to force a boy to forswear himself should be prepared for the violence that may require.

I have no idea if Erik Bergman treated his son Ingmar as ruthlessly as the evil stepfather treated Alexander. I only know that any attempt to produce faith and repentance in another through bullying and torture is a folly of the religious mind. Faith and repentance come from the Holy Spirit.

Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know (ἀγνοῶν, a form of ἀγνοέω) that God’s kindness leads you to repentance (μετάνοιαν, a form of μετάνοια)?² And Paul counseled Timothy, the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness (πραΰτητι, a form of πραΰτης). Perhaps God will grant them repentance (μετάνοιαν, a form of μετάνοια) and then knowledge (ἐπίγνωσιν, a form of ἐπίγνωσις) of the truth…³

As the ghost of Alexander’s “good” father said, “You must be gentle with people, Alexander.” And gentleness is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (πραΰτης), and self-control. Against such things there is no law [Table].⁴

You Must Be Gentle, Part 3

Back to My Reasons and My Reason, Part 6

¹ Matthew 23:15 (NET)

² Romans 2:4 (NET)

³ 2 Timothy 2:24, 25 (NET) Table

⁴ Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

The Will of God – Jesus, Part 3

Posted on November 1, 2012 by admin

Jesus trusted his Father so completely that the flesh of Adam was much more subjugated in Him than in me. Still, I can think of two incidents where the flesh made an appearance and was recorded by the Gospel writers. Matthew and Mark had different opinions as to whether the first incident happened before or after Jesus cleansed the temple, but both associated it with that event.

Now early in the morning,¹ Matthew recorded, as [Jesus] returned to the city, he was hungry. After noticing a fig tree by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, “Never again will there be fruit from you!” And the fig tree withered at once.² The tree appeared as if it should have fruit on it but did not have any. Mark wrote: Now the next day, as they went out from Bethany, [Jesus] was hungry. After noticing in³ the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not⁴ the⁵ season for figs. He⁶ said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.⁷

Mark added the following details: 1) The fig tree that withered at once was overnight, 2) Jesus saw and approached the tree from a distance; and 3) it was not the season for figs. This is what persuades me that I am witnessing the flesh of Adam in Jesus, a frustration that overcame his reason.

It’s not too hard to see that the actual frustration Jesus vented on the fig tree was the hypocrisy of his own people. He might have cursed those who were selling and buying in the temple courts⁸ with chilling effect. Instead, as a man like Adam He began to drive out those who were selling and buying⁹ in the temple courts. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. Then he began to teach them…¹⁰

The second incident occurred in the garden of Gethsemane the night he was betrayed. Jesus, born of the Spirit of God, knew that the death of the flesh of Adam was part of his Father’s purpose for his life and ministry. Now my soul is greatly distressed, He said. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver me from this hour’? No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour.¹¹ But Jesus, also born of the flesh of Adam, prayed, My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me!¹²

It is important to me to believe that Jesus’ willingness to suffer was of utmost concern to his Father. I believe Jesus could have said, Father, deliver me from this hour, with complete impunity. He still would have sat at his Father’s right hand, and his Father would have said something equivalent to, “Don’t worry about it. We’ll get’em next time, Tiger.” But Jesus did not pray Father, deliver me from this hour. He never put his Father in that position.

Jesus prayed, Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will (θέλω), but what you will.¹³ He was strengthened by the Holy Spirit, then prayed a second time, My Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will (θέλημα) must be done.”¹⁴ Luke wrote, Father, if you are willing (βούλει, a form of βούλομαι), take this cup away from me. Yet not my will (θέλημα) but yours be done.¹⁵ As subjugated as the flesh was in Jesus He did not rely on his desires (θέλω or θέλημα) to direct his path, but relied on the will of God.

While I am completely convinced by my own experience (for the Scripture doesn’t say it) that the living Holy Spirit of God interceded with Jesus in real time and space, and strengthened Him at that precise moment, I can’t escape how the same Holy Spirit interceded for Jesus in other ways as well. The flesh of Adam transmitted to Jesus came through his mother. When I see Jesus praying My Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done, I can’t help but see Mary answering Gabriel, Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.¹⁶ This is the spirit of the woman who raised Jesus as a boy.

I am becoming more and more convinced that the idea of human sacrifice (including the death of the Lord Jesus) did not originate in the mind of God. They have also built places of worship in a place called Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that they can sacrifice their sons and daughters by fire. That is something I never commanded them to do! Indeed, it never even entered my mind to command such a thing!¹⁷ They have built places here for worship of the god Baal so that they could sacrifice their children as burnt offerings to him in the fire. Such sacrifices are something I never commanded them to make! They are something I never told them to do! Indeed, such a thing never even entered my mind!¹⁸ They built places of worship for the god Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom [that is, Gehenna] so that they could sacrifice their sons and daughters to the god Molech. Such a disgusting practice was not something I commanded them to do! It never even entered my mind to command them to do such a thing!¹⁹

Though I don’t believe that Jesus’ sacrifice originated in the mind of God, I do believe it is evidence of how far God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—will go to communicate to the religious minds of those born of the flesh of Adam, who thought that such sacrifice should have some merit. So as I see Jesus praying, your will must be done, accepting the death that will put an end to sacrifice—I want (θέλω) mercy and not sacrifice²⁰—and an end to oaths of righteousness—I say to you, do not take oaths at all²¹—and I see his mother praying, let this happen to me according to your word, I also see an unnamed girl who was commemorated for her words, My father, since you made an oath to the Lord, do to me as you promised,²² after she returned from mourning her virginity and was sacrificed to God to fulfill Jephthah’s reckless oath. Here I find my understanding of one of Jesus’ more enigmatic sayings, enigmatic to those of us who must follow Him by faith rather than by sight.

If anyone wants to become my follower, Jesus said, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.²³ Peter and Paul helped me see what it meant to deny myself, to believe that I have died to sin,²⁴ to say, I do not know the man²⁵ to the old man that was crucified with [Christ] so that the body of sin would no longer dominate²⁶ me. To take up [my] cross is to join Jesus distrusting my own desires and saying to God, not my will but yours be done.²⁷ And finally, to follow Jesus is to love and forgive others as He did, which is the fulfillment of the law.²⁸ Freely you received, Jesus told his disciples, freely give.²⁹

Addendum August 22, 2024:
Tables comparing Jeremiah 7:31 and 32:35 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Jeremiah 7:31 and 32:35 (39:35) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Matthew 21:18; Mark 11:13, 14; 11:15 and 11:17 in the KJV and NET follow.

Jeremiah 7:31 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 7:31 (KJV)	Jeremiah 7:31 (NET)
And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.	And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.	They have also built places of worship in a place called Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that they can sacrifice their sons and daughters by fire. That is something I never commanded them to do! Indeed, it never even entered my mind to command such a thing!

Jeremiah 7:31 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 7:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τὸν βωμὸν τοῦ Ταφεθ ὅς ἐστιν ἐν φάραγγι υἱοῦ Εννομ τοῦ κατακαίειν τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν ἐν πυρί ὃ οὐκ ἐνετειλάμην αὐτοῖς καὶ οὐ διενοήθην ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου	καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τὸν βωμὸν τοῦ Ταφέθ, ὅς ἐστιν ἐν φάραγγι υἱοῦ ᾿Εννόμ, τοῦ κατακαίειν τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν ἐν πυρί, ὃ οὐκ ἐνετειλάμην αὐτοῖς καὶ οὐ διενοήθην ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου
Jeremiah 7:31 (NETS)	Jeremiah 7:31 (English Elpenor)
And they built the altar of Tapheth, which is in the valley of Hennom’s son, to burn their sons and their daughters with fire—which I did not command them, and I did not intend it in my heart.	And they have built the altar of Tapheth, which is in the valley of the son of Ennom, to burn their sons and their daughters with fire; which I did not command them [to do], neither did I design it in my heart.

Jeremiah 32:35 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 32:35 (KJV)	Jeremiah 32:35 (NET)
And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.	And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.	They built places of worship for the god Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that they could sacrifice their sons and daughters to the god Molech. Such a disgusting practice was not something I commanded them to do. It never even entered my mind to command them to do such a thing! So Judah is certainly liable for punishment.’

Jeremiah 32:35 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 39:35 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τοὺς βωμοὺς τῇ Βααλ τοὺς ἐν φάραγγι υἱοῦ Εννομ τοῦ ἀναφέρειν τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν τῷ Μολοχ βασιλεῖ ἃ οὐ συνέταξα αὐτοῖς καὶ οὐκ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ καρδίαν μου τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ βδέλυγμα τοῦτο πρὸς τὸ ἐφαμαρτεῖν τὸν Ιουδαν	καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τοὺς βωμοὺς τῇ Βάαλ τοὺς ἐν φάραγγι υἱοῦ ᾿Εννὸμ τοῦ ἀναφέρειν τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν τῷ Μολὸχ βασιλεῖ, ἃ οὐ συνέταξα αὐτοῖς καὶ οὐκ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ καρδίαν μου, τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ βδέλυγμα τοῦτο πρὸς τὸ ἐφαμαρτεῖν τὸν ᾿Ιούδαν
Jeremiah 39:35 (NETS)	Jeremiah 39:35 (English Elpenor)
And they built the altars to the goddess Baal, which are in the valley of Hennom’s son, to offer up their sons and their daughters to the king, things which I did not intend them to do, and it did not arise in my heart that they do this abomination so as to cause Iouda to sin.	And they built to Baal the altars that are in the valley of the son of Ennom, to offer their sons and their daughters to king Moloch; which things I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Juda to sin.

Matthew 21:18 (NET)	Matthew 21:18 (KJV)
Now early in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.	Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

Matthew 21:18 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 21:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 21:18 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Πρωὶ_ δὲ \|ἐπανάγων\| εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐπείνασεν	πρωιας δε επαναγων εις την πολιν επεινασεν	πρωιας δε επαναγων εις την πολιν επεινασεν

Mark 11:13, 14 (NET)	Mark 11:13, 14 (KJV)
After noticing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.	And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

Mark 11:13 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 11:13 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 11:13 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἰδὼν συκῆν ἀπὸ μακρόθεν ἔχουσαν φύλλα ἦλθεν, εἰ ἄρα τι εὑρήσει ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ ἐλθὼν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν οὐδὲν εὗρεν εἰ μὴ φύλλα· ὁ γὰρ καιρὸς οὐκ ἦν σύκων	και ιδων συκην μακροθεν εχουσαν φυλλα ηλθεν ει αρα ευρησει τι εν αυτη και ελθων επ αυτην ουδεν ευρεν ει μη φυλλα ου γαρ ην καιρος συκων	και ιδων συκην μακροθεν εχουσαν φυλλα ηλθεν ει αρα ευρησει τι εν αυτη και ελθων επ αυτην ουδεν ευρεν ει μη φυλλα ου γαρ ην καιρος συκων

He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Mark 11:14 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 11:14 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 11:14 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτῇ· μηκέτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἐκ σοῦ μηδεὶς καρπὸν φάγοι. καὶ ἤκουον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ	και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτη μηκετι εκ σου εις τον αιωνα μηδεις καρπον φαγοι και ηκουον οι μαθηται αυτου	και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτη μηκετι εκ σου εις τον αιωνα μηδεις καρπον φαγοι και ηκουον οι μαθηται αυτου

Mark 11:15 (NET)	Mark 11:15 (KJV)
Then they came to Jerusalem. Jesus entered the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves,	And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

Mark 11:15 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 11:15 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 11:15 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Καὶ ἔρχονται εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα. Καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν ἤρξατο ἐκβάλλειν τοὺς πωλοῦντας καὶ τοὺς ἀγοράζοντας ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ, καὶ τὰς τραπέζας τῶν κολλυβιστῶν καὶ τὰς καθέδρας τῶν πωλούντων τὰς περιστερὰς κατέστρεψεν	και ερχονται εις ιεροσολυμα και εισελθων ο ιησους εις το ιερον ηρξατο εκβαλλειν τους πωλουντας και αγοραζοντας εν τω ιερω και τας τραπεζας των κολλυβιστων και τας καθεδρας των πωλουντων τας περιστερας κατεστρεψεν	και ερχονται εις ιεροσολυμα και εισελθων ο ιησους εις το ιερον ηρξατο εκβαλλειν τους πωλουντας και αγοραζοντας εν τω ιερω και τας τραπεζας των κολλυβιστων και τας καθεδρας των πωλουντων τας περιστερας κατεστρεψεν

Mark 11:17 (NET)	Mark 11:17 (KJV)
Then he began to teach them and said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have turned it into a den of robbers!”	And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Mark 11:17 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 11:17 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 11:17 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἐδίδασκεν καὶ ἔλεγεν \|αὐτοῖς\|· οὐ γέγραπται ὅτι ὁ οἶκος μου οἶκος προσευχῆς κληθήσεται πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν; ὑμεῖς δὲ πεποιήκατε αὐτὸν σπήλαιον λῃστῶν	και εδιδασκεν λεγων αυτοις ου γεγραπται οτι ο οικος μου οικος προσευχης κληθησεται πασιν τοις εθνεσιν υμεις δε εποιησατε αυτον σπηλαιον ληστων	και εδιδασκεν λεγων αυτοις ου γεγραπται οτι ο οικος μου οικος προσευχης κληθησεται πασιν τοις εθνεσιν υμεις δε εποιησατε αυτον σπηλαιον ληστων

Back to Romans, Part 22

Back to Romans, Part 26

Back to Romans, Part 28

Back to Romans, Part 32

Back to The Soul

Back to The Righteousness of God

Back to Who Am I? Part 6

Back to To Make Holy, Part 5

Back to Atonement, Part 4

Back to αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ, Part 2

¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had Πρωὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πρωιας (KJV: in the morning), a form of πρωΐα.

² Matthew 21:18, 19 (NET)

³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the preposition ἀπὸ here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had οὐκ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ου.

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

⁶ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο ιησους (KJV: Jesus) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁷ Mark 11:12-14 (NET)

⁸ Matthew 21:12 (NET) Table

⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the article τοὺς preceding buying. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

¹⁰ Mark 11:15b-17a (NET)

¹¹ John 12:27 (NET)

¹² Matthew 26:39a (NET) Table

¹³ Matthew 26:39 (NET) Table

¹⁴ Matthew 26:42 (NET) Table

¹⁵ Luke 22:42 (NET) Table

¹⁶ Luke 1:38 (NET)

¹⁷ Jeremiah 7:31 (NET)

¹⁸ Jeremiah 19:5 (NET) Table

¹⁹ Jeremiah 32:35 (NET)

²⁰ Matthew 9:13 and 12:7 (NET) ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν a quotation of Hosea 6:6 [Table] from the Septuagint, ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν. Hosea 6:6 translated from contemporary Hebrew reads, For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice (NET). See also Hebrews 10:5-9 (NET).

²¹ Matthew 5:34 (NET)

²² Judges 11:36 (NET) Table

²³ Matthew 16:24 (NET)

²⁴ Romans 6:2 (NET)

²⁵ Matthew 26:72 (NET) Table

²⁶ Romans 6:6 (NET)

²⁷ Luke 22:42 (NET) Table

²⁸ Romans 13:10 (NET)

²⁹ Matthew 10:8 (NET) Table

Young, Virginal or Single

Posted on October 31, 2012 by admin

In Romans, Part 30 I said that sexual desire for someone other than my wife was like a distant early warning system, alerting me to which I was asserting control. Things may not be so clear, however, for the young, virginal or single. Simply put, how does one distinguish between the sexual desire that is of the flesh and sexual desire for a spouse-to-be?

Paul wrote, If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately (ἀσχημονεῖν, a form of ἀσχημονέω) toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary (ὀφείλει, a form of ὀφείλω), he should do what he wishes (θέλει, a form of θέλω); he does not sin. Let them marry (γαμείτωσαν, a form of γαμέω).¹ So if a man (Paul seems to be addressing men) thinks his kissing, fondling, whatever, is inappropriate toward a virgin… (And I wouldn’t get too carried away with the technicality virgin.) If a man thinks his kissing, fondling, whatever is inappropriate toward a woman he has not married… The word translated thinks he is acting inappropriately here is the same word translated rude in [Love] is not rude (ἀσχημονεῖ, another form of ἀσχημονέω), it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.²

If she is past the bloom of youth, in other words, she is not too young, and it seems necessary (ὀφείλει, a form of ὀφείλω)… I realize, on the surface of things, this reads like the man alone makes this decision. But here with Paul’s reprise of a woman’s sexual rights, or a sexual debt owed to the woman (A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights [ὀφειλὴν, a form of ὀφειλή])³ that superficial reading comes most profoundly into question. Once a woman has decided that she is owed sexual gratification there is not much a man can do about it but marry her or drop her hard. I hope it is clear that the third option, to take advantage of her sexually and then drop her hard, is of the flesh.

Paul made no secret of the fact that he preferred that men remain single, An unmarried (ἄγαμος) man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But a married (γαμήσας, another form of γαμέω) man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife, and he is divided.⁴ I wish (θέλω) that everyone was as I am, he wrote. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.⁵ In the next verse of instruction to the unmarried it seems on the surface that Paul has stacked the deck in favor of remaining single, but as I examine his word choices in detail I think the opposite is actually the case, so that no one but those gifted by God to do so choose to remain single.

But the man who is firm (ἕστηκεν, a form of ἵστημι) in his commitment (ἑδραῖος), and is under (ἔχων, a form of ἔχω) no necessity (ἀνάγκην, a form of ἀναγκή) but has (ἔχει, another form of ἔχω) control (ἐξουσίαν, a form of ἐξουσία) over his will (θελήματος, a form of θέλημα), and has decided (κέκρικεν, a form of κρίνω) in his own mind (καρδίᾳ, a form of καρδία) to keep (τηρεῖν, a form of τηρέω) his own virgin, does well (καλῶς; literally, “beautifully“).⁶

The phrase firm in his commitment (to stand immovable) is fairly clear even in English as an allusion to an erection. Paul wanted men to really grapple with the caliber of commitment required. Then, and is under (literally, having) no necessity, hearkens back to verse 2, because of πορνείας (a form of πορνεία), let each man have (ἐχέτω, another form of ἔχω) his own wife.⁷ Though necessity here might refer to a pregnancy, I’m convinced that Paul would say that that man’s choice to marry was already made. It is the same word (ἀνάγκην, a form of ἀναγκή) Paul used in verse 26, Because of the impending crisis (τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν ἀνάγκην) I think it best for you to remain as you are.⁸ In the NKJV the same phrase was translated the present distress. The allusion now is to a painful erection.

So I have a man who is 1) firm in his commitment, 2) has no necessity or distress concerning that commitment, but 3) has control (ἐξουσίαν, a form of ἐξουσία) over his will (θελήματος, a form of θέλημα). This hearkens back to the ἐξουσιάζει that the wife has over her husband’s body: it is not the husband who has the rights (ἐξουσιάζει, a form of ἐξουσιάζω) to his own body (σώματος, a form of σῶμα), but the wife.⁹ In other words, this particular woman has not crept very deeply into this particular man’s mind, or heart as the case may be. And, 4) he has decided (κέκρικεν, a form of κρίνω; judged) in his own mind (καρδίᾳ, a form of καρδία; literally, heart) to keep (τηρεῖν, a form of τηρέω) his own virgin.

It sounds as if the man has decided to keep the woman a virgin, but I think there is more to τηρεῖν (a form of τηρέω) than that. He will keep her, provide for her maintenance and support, love her, care for her (perhaps live with her) in every way a man would keep a wife, except that he will not have sexual relations with her. And how firm in his commitment will he remain, without painful distress, having control over his will? That, I think, is more what Paul had in mind here, so that the one who dared such a thing did it with the power of God and, at very least, the acquiescence of his beloved, if not her full participation and support. [Addendum June 27, 2024: I had a change of heart about the Greek in this passage later.]

I have played a lot of weddings in my life, for the ceremony, not the party after. I have heard the jokes by priests, pastors and preachers at the rehearsal, that “this isn’t the real thing.” I was close enough to one of those pastors to actually get at what he meant. He hated wedding rehearsals, not because it was another night away from his family without pay, but because he feared that the young couple would be so carried away by the rehearsal that they would have sex (with each other) twenty-four hours too soon. I didn’t know what to make of that at the time. Now I wish to say clearly that I think it is part of the religious mind. It is exactly the same species of religious thought as the one who supposes that he is free of the sin of adultery because his serial sexual relationships were never blessed by a priest, pastor or rabbi.

¹ 1 Corinthians 7:36 (NET)

² 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NET)

³ 1 Corinthians 7:3a (NET) Table

⁴ 1 Corinthians 7:32-34a (NET) Table

⁵ 1 Corinthians 7:7 (NET) Table

⁶ 1 Corinthians 7:37 (NET) Table

⁷ 1 Corinthians 7:2a (NKJV)

⁸ 1 Corinthians 7:26 (NET)

⁹ 1 Corinthians 7:4b (NET) Table

The Gospel and the Religious Mind

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

Category Archives: Section Two

Fear – Genesis, Part 1

Twilight Revisited

Romans, Part 32

The Soul

Twilight of the Idols

The Life

Romans, Part 31

You Must Be Gentle, Part 2

The Will of God – Jesus, Part 3

Young, Virginal or Single