Romans, Part 14

Posted on August 24, 2012 by admin

But if our (ἡμῶν) unrighteousness demonstrates (συνίστησιν, a form of συνιστάω) the righteousness of God, Paul continued, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.)¹ This is similar, though not identical, to a concern Paul addressed later in his letter to the Romans (Romans 9:22-24 NET):

But what if God, willing to demonstrate (ἐνδείξασθαι, a form of ἐνδείκνυμι) his wrath and to make known (γνωρίσαι, a form of γνωρίζω) his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he is willing to make known (γνωρίσῃ, another form of γνωρίζω) the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory – even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

In the latter example there is no question about God’s righteousness when inflicting wrath, but these two are joined in my opinion as some of the implications of faith comes by hearing (ἀκοῆς, a form of ἀκοή), and hearing comes by God (or Christ) uttering, “hear,” that Paul worked through in this letter. Paul’s differentiation of the objects of wrath from the objects of mercy, whom [God] has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles, and the caveat in Romans 3:5—I am speaking in human terms—leads me to the conclusion that our unrighteousness is an example of Paul identifying with every human being from Romans 3:4 (NET),² in particular those who have not yet been told to “hear.”

And I seriously question the translation of συνίστησιν (a form of συνιστάω) as demonstrates here. It seems to me the translators are trying to make the question as obtuse as possible. To demonstrate is to “clearly show the existence or truth of (something) by giving proof or evidence,” or to “give a practical exhibition and explanation of” something. Clearly the unrighteousness of those who have no faith because they do not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear” to them will never show the existence or truth of the righteousness of God by giving proof or evidence. Neither will their unrighteousness give a practical exhibition and explanation of God’s righteousness.

In the King James translation the word commend was used for συνίστησιν. One of the definitions of commend is to “present as suitable for approval or acceptance.” Now, the unrighteousness of those who have no faith because they do not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear” to them might very well commend the righteousness of God if the two are presented side by side for comparison and contrast. So then I have a real question: If the unrighteousness of those who have no faith because they do not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear” to them commends the righteousness of God, is God unrighteous when he inflicts wrath on them?

Absolutely not! Paul said unequivocally. For otherwise how could God judge (κρινεῖ, a form of κρίνω) the world?³ Paul already stated that there is no partiality⁴ with God. For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.⁵ None of that changes because the hearing that is so crucial to faith in Christ comes from God rather than from some special insight or intelligence or virtue in those who hear and believe the message.

For if by my lie, Paul continued, the truth of God enhances (ἐπερίσσευσεν, a form of περισσεύω) his glory (δόξαν, a form of δόξα), why am I still actually being judged (κρίνομαι, another form of κρίνω ) as a sinner?⁶ I think it is safe to assume that Paul was still speaking in human terms.⁷ But I want to entertain the question. After all, one of the reasons Paul gave for the wrath of God in the first chapter of Romans was they did not glorify (ἐδόξασαν, a form of δοξάζω) him as God.⁸ And here is God’s glory (δόξαν, a form of δόξα) being enhanced by the truth of God in juxtaposition to the lie of one who has no faith because he does not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear.”

I criticize the NET translators often without any standing to do so. So I want to make a point of saying I think they have it exactly right here. It is the truth of God which enhances his glory, not the lie. The answer is in the question. The one who has no faith because he does not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear,” is judged as a sinner precisely because of the truth of God, for sinner he is.

Paul was laying the groundwork for a statement that occurs later in his letter to the Romans: But the gracious gift is not like the transgression. For if the many died through the transgression of the one man, how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply (ἐπερίσσευσεν, a form of περισσεύω) to the many!⁹ The fact that God is gracious does not alter the fact that the one who has no faith because he does not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear,” is a sinner. And it certainly doesn’t mean that sinning is a good way to enhance (ἐπερίσσευσεν) or multiply (ἐπερίσσευσεν) the grace of God.

And why not say, Paul continued, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? – as some who slander us allege that we say.¹⁰ Paul switched roles abruptly here, from identifying with those who have no faith because they do not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear,” to those who have faith because they hear the message of Christ because He has uttered “hear.”

Apparently there were Jews, slanderers or blasphemers of the believers in Christ, who alleged that the Gospel message was, Let us do evil so that good may come of it. The Jewish leaders assumed that Jesus was not of God because He healed on the Sabbath and called God his Father.¹¹ A disciple is not greater than his teacher, Jesus said, nor a slave greater than his master. It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more will they defame the members of his household!¹² Paul answered those slanderers or blasphemers curtly but factually, Their condemnation is deserved!¹³

What then? Are we better than they?¹⁴ I quoted from the New King James translation for a reason. I believe Paul was saying, “What then? Are we, who have faith because we hear the message of Christ because He has uttered ‘hear,’ better than they whose condemnation is deserved?” The NET renders it, What then? Are we better off?¹⁵ It may seem nitpicky but I would say, “Yes, those who have faith because they hear the message of Christ because He has uttered ‘hear’ are much better off than those whose condemnation is deserved, because they won’t receive the condemnation they also deserve.” But are they better, holding themselves before those whose condemnation is deserved? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin…¹⁶

Now, some translations¹⁷ that use better off, also assume that Paul was identifying with Jews here and add that to the text: Does it mean that we Jews are better off than the Gentiles?¹⁸ In that case, better and better off are essentially equivalent. But then the slanderers or blasphemers would have been Gentiles who accused Jews of preaching “Let us do evil so that good may come of it.” Granted Paul did write Jews and Greeks, but I assume that to be a literary way of saying all (or, no one) like the Old Testament quotations that follow (Romans 3:10-18 NET):

…just as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one [Table].” “Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood, ruin and misery are in their paths, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Addendum: March 24, 2021
A table comparing Romans 2:11 in the NET and KJV follows.

Romans 2:11 (NET)	Romans 2:11 (KJV)
For there is no partiality with God.	For there is no respect of persons with God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὐ γάρ ἐστιν προσωπολημψία παρὰ τῷ θεῷ	ου γαρ εστιν προσωποληψια παρα τω θεω	ου γαρ εστιν προσωποληψια παρα τω θεω

Paul’s OT Quotes – Romans 3:10-18

Romans, Part 15

Back to Romans, Part 9

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 2

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 2

¹ Romans 3:5 (NET)

² …every human being shown up as a liar… Table

³ Romans 3:6 (NET)

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had προσωπολημψία here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had προσωποληψια (KJV: respect of persons).

⁵ Romans 2:11, 12 (NET)

⁶ Romans 3:7 (NET)

⁷ Romans 3:5 (NET)

⁸ Romans 1:21 (NET) Table

⁹ Romans 5:15 (NET)

¹⁰ Romans 3:8 (NET)

¹¹ John 5:18 (NET)

¹² Matthew 10:24, 25 (NET)

¹³ Romans 3:8 (NET)

¹⁴ Romans 3:9a (NKJV)

¹⁵ Romans 3:9a (NET)

¹⁶ Romans 3:9b (NET)

¹⁷ The New American Bible is interesting in that the translators recognized the problem of better off and addressed it in the verse by changing the answer: Well, then, are we better off? Not entirely, for we have already brought the charge against Jews and Greeks alike that they are all under the domination of sin… Romans 3:9 (NAB)

¹⁸ Romans 3:9 (CEV)

Paul’s OT Quotes – Romans 10:5-8

Posted on August 21, 2012 by admin

Paul

Blue Letter Bible (Septuagint)

NET Bible (Greek parallel text)

The one who does these things will live by them

Romans 10:5 (NET)

ἃ ποιήσας ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς

Leviticus 18:5 Table

ο ποιησας ανθρωπος ζησεται εν αυτη

Romans 10:5 Table

Do not say in your heart…

Romans 10:6 (NET)

μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου

Deuteronomy 9:4 Table

μη ειπης εν τη καρδια σου

Romans 10:6

Who will ascend into heaven?

Romans 10:6 (NET)

τίς ἀναβήσεται ἡμῖν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν

Deuteronomy 30:12 Table

τις αναβησεται εις τον ουρανον

Romans 10:6

Who will descend into the abyss?

Romans 10:7 (NET)

τίς διαπεράσει ἡμῖν εἰς τὸ πέραν [τῆς θαλάσσης]

Deuteronomy 30:13 Table

τις καταβησεται εις την αβυσσον

Romans 10:7

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart

Romans 10:8 (NET)

ἔστιν σου ἐγγὺς τὸ ῥῆμα σφόδρα ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ

Deuteronomy 30:14 Table

εγγυς σου το ρημα εστιν εν τω στοματι σου και εν τη καρδια

Romans 10:8

In Item #1 ἃ in the Septuagint is probably which, while ο in the parallel Greek text is the [Addendum 2/20/2021: the one who]. In Romans 10:2 (KJV) μαρτυρω γαρ αυτοις was translated For I bear them (αυτοις) record. The word them was left out of the NET translation (For I can testify), though αυτοις appears in the parallel Greek text as it does in the Septuagint. The word αυτη in Romans 10:5 was also translated them in both the NET and KJV. Both αυτοις (Leviticus 18:5 Septuagint) and αυτη (Romans 10:5 parallel Greek text) are forms of αὐτός. Bill Braun has significantly more to say about this on his site.¹

Item #2 is identical (except for accent marks) and would pass without comment if not for the rest of the verse. It is very interesting to me that Paul also had this passage on his mind (Deuteronomy 9:4-6 NET).

Do not think to yourself after the Lord your God has driven them [e.g., the people of Canaan] out before you, “Because of my own righteousness the Lord has brought me here to possess this land.” It is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out ahead of you [Table]. It is not because of your righteousness, or even your inner uprightness, that you have come here to possess their land. Instead, because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out ahead of you in order to confirm the promise he made on oath to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand, therefore, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is about to give you this good land as a possession, for you are a stubborn people!

Item #3 in the Septuagint was translated, Who will ascend into heaven for us, in the New King James translation. Paul dropped the word ἡμῖν (for us).

Item #4 was translated, Who will go over the sea for us, in the New King James translation. Paul changed πέραν (other side) to αβυσσον (abyss). Paul may have been thinking of Jesus’ description of Hades. Abraham said to the rich man, Besides² all³ this, a great chasm (χάσμα) has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross over (διαβῆναι, a form of διαβαίνω) from here⁴ to you cannot do so, and no one can cross (διαπερῶσιν, a form of διαπεράω) from there⁵ to us.⁶ For he also changed διαπεράσει (a form of διαπεράω, go over) to καταβησεται (descend). The changes obviously worked better with the symmetry of his message: or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).⁷

Item #5 is essentially the same except for word order in the beginning, and Paul dropped the word σφόδρα (very).

Addendum: February 21, 2021
The Free Bible Commentary by Dr. Bob Utley cited Romans 10:7 as an allusion to Psalm 107:26, sailors at sea in a storm.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 107:26 (Tanakh)	Psalm 107:26 (NET)	Psalm 106:26 (NETS)	Psalm 106:26 (English Elpenor)
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths (תְהוֹמ֑וֹת): their soul is melted because of trouble.	They reached up to the sky, then dropped into the depths (tᵊhôm, תהומות). The sailors’ strength left them because the danger was so great.	They mount up as far as the heavens, and they go down as far as the depths (ἀβύσσων); their soul would melt away in calamity;	They go up to the heavens, and go down to the depths (ἀβύσσων); their soul melts because of troubles.

It does associate ἀβύσσων (a form of ἄβυσσος) with the sea. Dr. Utley considered Romans 10:6-8 “an allusion to Deut. 30:11-14 in the Septuagint (LXX), which Paul modified for his purposes.”

Tables comparing Deuteronomy 9:5; 9:6 and Psalm 107:26 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Deuteronomy 9:5; 9:6 and Psalm 107:26 (106:26) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Luke 16:26 in the NET and KJV follow.

Deuteronomy 9:5 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 9:5 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 9:5 (NET)
Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thy heart, dost thou go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations HaShem thy G-d doth drive them out from before thee, and that He may establish the word which HaShem swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.	Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.	It is not because of your righteousness, or even your inner uprightness, that you have come here to possess their land. Instead, because of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God is driving them out ahead of you in order to confirm the promise he made on oath to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 9:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 9:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐχὶ διὰ τὴν δικαιοσύνην σου οὐδὲ διὰ τὴν ὁσιότητα τῆς καρδίας σου σὺ εἰσπορεύῃ κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ἀσέβειαν τῶν ἐθνῶν τούτων κύριος ἐξολεθρεύσει αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου σου καὶ ἵνα στήσῃ τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ ἣν ὤμοσεν τοῗς πατράσιν ὑμῶν τῷ Αβρααμ καὶ τῷ Ισαακ καὶ τῷ Ιακωβ	οὐχὶ διὰ τὴν δικαιοσύνην σου, οὐδὲ διὰ τὴν ὁσιότητα τῆς καρδίας σου σὺ εἰσπορεύῃ κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ἀσέβειαν τῶν ἐθνῶν τούτων Κύριος ἐξολοθρεύσει αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου σου καὶ ἵνα στήσῃ τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ, ἣν ὤμοσε Κύριος τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν, τῷ ῾Αβραὰμ καὶ τῷ ᾿Ισαὰκ καὶ τῷ ᾿Ιακώβ
Deuteronomy 9:5 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 9:5 (English Elpenor)
It is not because of your righteousness or the holiness of your heart that you are going to inherit their land, but because of the impiety of these nations the Lord will destroy them utterly before you, and in order that he may uphold the covenant that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham and Isaak and Iakob.	Not for thy righteousness, nor for the holiness of thy heart, dost thou go in to inherit their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord will destroy them from before thee, and that he may establish the covenant, which the Lord sware to our fathers, to Abraam, and to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Deuteronomy 9:6 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 9:6 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 9:6 (NET)
Know therefore that it is not for thy righteousness that HaShem thy G-d giveth thee this good land to possess it; for thou art a stiffnecked people.	Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.	Understand, therefore, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is about to give you this good land as a possession, for you are a stubborn people!

Deuteronomy 9:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 9:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ γνώσῃ σήμερον ὅτι οὐχὶ διὰ τὰς δικαιοσύνας σου κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθὴν ταύτην κληρονομῆσαι ὅτι λαὸς σκληροτράχηλος εἶ	καὶ γνώσῃ σήμερον ὅτι οὐχὶ διὰ τὰς δικαιοσύνας σου Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθὴν ταύτην κληρονομῆσαι, ὅτι λαὸς σκληροτράχηλος εἶ
Deuteronomy 9:6 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 9:6 (English Elpenor)
And you shall know, today, that it is not because of your righteousness the Lord your God is giving you this good land to inherit, for you are a stiff-necked people.	And thou shalt know to-day, that [it is] not for thy righteousnesses the Lord thy God gives thee this good land to inherit, or thou art a stiff-necked people.

Psalm 107:26 (Tanakh)	Psalm 107:26 (KJV)	Psalm 107:26 (NET)
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.	They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.	They reached up to the sky, then dropped into the depths. The sailors’ strength left them because the danger was so great.

Psalm 107:26 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 106:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀναβαίνουσιν ἕως τῶν οὐρανῶν καὶ καταβαίνουσιν ἕως τῶν ἀβύσσων ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῶν ἐν κακοῗς ἐτήκετο	ἀναβαίνουσιν ἕως τῶν οὐρανῶν καὶ καταβαίνουσιν ἕως τῶν ἀβύσσων, ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῶν ἐν κακοῖς ἐτήκετο
Psalm 106:26 (NETS)	Psalm 106:26 (English Elpenor)
They mount up as far as the heavens, and they go down as far as the depths; their soul would melt away in calamity;	They go up to the heavens, and go down to the depths; their soul melts because of troubles.

Luke 16:26 (NET)	Luke 16:26 (KJV)
Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’	And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις μεταξὺ ἡμῶν καὶ ὑμῶν χάσμα μέγα ἐστήρικται, ὅπως οἱ θέλοντες διαβῆναι ἔνθεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς μὴ δύνωνται, μηδὲ ἐκεῖθεν πρὸς ἡμᾶς διαπερῶσιν	και επι πασιν τουτοις μεταξυ ημων και υμων χασμα μεγα εστηρικται οπως οι θελοντες διαβηναι εντευθεν προς υμας μη δυνωνται μηδε οι εκειθεν προς ημας διαπερωσιν	και επι πασιν τουτοις μεταξυ ημων και υμων χασμα μεγα εστηρικται οπως οι θελοντες διαβηναι ενθεν προς υμας μη δυνωνται μηδε οι εκειθεν προς ημας διαπερωσιν

Romans, Part 14

Back to Romans, Part 13

Back to The Will of God – Jesus, Part 2

Back to Romans, Part 38

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 9

Back to Torture, Part 5

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 8

¹ This site is no longer accessible online.

² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επι (KJV: beside).

³ The NET parallel Greek text had πᾶσι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had πασιν.

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἔνθεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had εντευθεν (KJV: from hence).

⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had οι preceding from there. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁶ Luke 16:26 (NET)

⁷ Romans 10:7 (NET)

Romans, Part 13

Posted on August 20, 2012 by admin

Therefore what advantage (περισσὸν, a form of περισσός) does the Jew have,¹ Paul asked. The word translated advantage (περισσὸν) is also found in Jesus’ saying, I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly (περισσὸν, a form of περισσός).² Paul continued, or what is the value (ὠφέλεια) of circumcision?³ The Greek word ὠφέλεια was only used here and once more negatively by Jude (ὠφελείας, a form of ὠφέλεια; for their own gain), but it comes from ὠφέλιμος.

For “physical exercise has some value (ὠφέλιμος),” Paul wrote Timothy, “but godliness is valuable (ὠφέλιμος) in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”⁴ Every scripture is inspired by God and useful (ὠφέλιμος) for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness [Table], that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.⁵ To Titus Paul wrote, This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God⁶ may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good⁷ and beneficial (ὠφέλιμα, a form of ὠφέλιμος) for all people.⁸

So again, there is a mini-Gospel lesson embedded in the words περισσός and ὠφέλιμος, waiting for anyone who wants to know what advantage (περισσὸν, a form of περισσός) Jews have or what the value (ὠφέλεια) of circumcision is.

Actually, there are many advantages (literally, “much in every way”). First of all,⁹ the Jews were entrusted (ἐπιστεύθησαν, a form of πιστεύω) with the oracles (λόγια, a form of λόγιον) of God.¹⁰ And in this they were faithful, the right people for the job—mission accomplished. When I consider the wars and conquests, the captivities and apostasies, and how often it would have been easier and seemed more advantageous to lose or alter those words to make them more accommodating to the times, or at least a little more flattering to the people…I can only say, thank you.

Paul moved directly to another question, and let the advantages the Jews have and the value of circumcision drop. He listed them later in a context where they might be missed. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.¹¹

What then? Paul continued. If some did not believe (ἠπίστησαν, a form of ἀπιστέω), does their unbelief (ἀπιστία) nullify (καταργήσει, a form of καταργέω) the faithfulness (πίστιν, a form of πίστις) of God?¹² Both ἀπιστέω and ἀπιστία are derived from ἄπιστος the negation of πιστός. Both πιστός and πίστις are derived from πείθω, to convince by argument. I’m laboring over the relationship of these words for faith and unbelief so that I can grasp what Paul was thinking. Why would Paul even think that someone might think that the unbelief (ἀπιστία) of some people might nullify (καταργήσει, a form of καταργέω) the faithfulness (πίστιν, a form of πίστις) of God?

To review, Paul was convinced that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised. He was content enough with the letter circulated after the Jerusalem Council to spread its teaching himself. Then he went to Corinth. In Corinth, hampered by his allegiance to James’ abbreviated version of the law, Paul called adultery, or a violation of Leviticus 18:8, πορνεία.¹³ It is evident later in Romans (Romans 9-11) that he was perplexed by the fact that God called the sexually immoral (πόρνοι, a form of πόρνος), idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers [Table]¹⁴ to faith and repentance, while so many of his own people rejected the very same Gospel message.

When Paul wrote faith comes by hearing,¹⁵ that understanding was coming right out of his experience and the meaning and derivation of the Greek word πίστις from πείθω: Faith comes by hearing the argument (e.g., the Gospel presented as a reasoned discourse). The NET translators have rendered it, faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ [Table].¹⁶ There is apparently a manuscript dispute whether God or Christ is the older, more original, word. Frankly, I don’t care about that at all. The NET translators have focused on the content of the message in both clauses. Faith comes from what is heard (i.e., the preached word of Christ) and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ seems a bit redundant to me. The content of the message is certainly extremely important, but I don’t think Paul was talking about content in the second clause.

I think the New King James translation is more to Paul’s point in its austerity. So then faith comes by hearing (ἀκοῆς, a form of ἀκοή), and hearing (ἀκοὴ) by the word (ρήματος, a form of ῥῆμα) of God.¹⁷ This is the conclusion of an argument that began with a contrast of righteousness by law and righteousness by faith. For Moses¹⁸ writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”¹⁹ Paul quoted from the introduction to the Laws of Sexual Regulations in Leviticus 18:6-33. You must not do as they do in the land of Egypt where you have been living, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan into which I am about to bring you; you must not walk in their statutes. You must observe my regulations and you must be sure to walk in my statutes…anyone who does so will live by keeping them.²⁰

Paul saw something different in Deuteronomy 30, the righteousness that is by faith.²¹ Deuteronomy 30 was written (and spoken) prophetically to people who have rebelled against the Lord, who have not kept his commandments and statutes (Deuteronomy 30:1-3a, 9b, 10).

When you have experienced all these things, both the blessings and the curses I have set before you, you will reflect upon them in all the nations where the Lord your God has banished you. Then if you and your descendants turn to the Lord your God and obey him with your whole mind and being just as I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will reverse your captivity and have pity on you…For the Lord your God will once more rejoice over you to make you prosperous just as he rejoiced over your ancestors, if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this scroll of the law. But you must turn to him with your whole mind and being.

Paul wrote, But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word (ρῆμα, another form of ῥῆμα) is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word [ρῆμα, another form of ῥῆμα] of faith that we preach)…²²

Paul knew he preached the same content to the Pharisee that he preached to the πόρνοι (a form of πόρνος) in Corinth. In fact, if anyone was short changed it was the πόρνοι in Corinth, for Corinth is where Paul prejudged the people as too immature for wisdom. But it was in Corinth that the πόρνοι believed the content of the message, and it was in Jerusalem and in synagogues throughout the Roman Empire where the Pharisees did not. When Paul penned, faith comes by hearing (ἀκοῆς, a form of ἀκοή), and hearing (ἀκοὴ, another form of ἀκοή) by the word (ρήματος, a form of ῥῆμα) of God,²³ he meant something like hearing comes by God (or Christ) uttering, “hear.” That was the only explanation he had for the difference between the πόρνοι and the Pharisees. And it was certainly his own experience on the Damascus road in a singularly dramatic fashion.

What then? Paul asked. If some did not believe; namely, the Jews (for whom the content of the message was intended) because God or Christ had not yet uttered, “hear,” does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?²⁴ Suddenly the question is much more than a straw man. How can I trust this God who would do this to his own people? or not do this for his own people, as the case may be? But Paul reassured me that it does not nullify the faithfulness of God. Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified (δικαιωθῇς, a form of δικαιόω) in your words (λόγοις, a form of λόγος) and will prevail when you are judged (κρίνεσθαι, a form of κρίνω).”²⁵

Though I may never fully understand the sequencing of who-believes-when, I can accept that it has something to do with God being proven true, being justified in his words, and prevailing when He is judged. And I’ve already seen some connection between this and all things working together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,²⁶ and its corollary, Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow.²⁷

Addendum: February 11, 2021
A comparison of the Greek of Paul’s quotation of Leviticus 18:5 from the Septuagint follows

Romans 10:5b (NET Parallel Greek)	Leviticus 18:5b (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 18:5b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ ποιήσας \|αὐτὰ\| ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν \|αὐτοῖς\|	ἃ ποιήσας ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῗς	ἃ ποιήσας αὐτά ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς
Romans 10:5b (NET)	Leviticus 18:5b (NETS)	Leviticus 18:5b (English Elpenor)
The one who does these things will live by them.	as for the things a person does, he shall live by them	which if a man do, he shall live in them

A comparison of the Greek of Paul’s quotation from Deuteronomy 9:4 in the Septuagint follows:

Romans 10:6b (NET Parallel Greek)	Deuteronomy 9:4a (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 9:4a (Septuagint Elpenor)
μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου	μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου	μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου
Romans 10:6b (NET)	Deuteronomy 9:4a (NETS)	Deuteronomy 9:4a (English Elpenor)
Do not say in your heart,	do not say in your heart,	Speak not in thine heart,

It was perhaps a poignant historical reminder to those who knew the Scriptures, ‘For my righteousness HaShem hath brought me in to possess this land.’²⁸

A comparison of the Greek of Paul’s quotation from Deuteronomy 30:12 in the Septuagint follows:

Romans 10:6c (NET Parallel Greek)	Deuteronomy 30:12b (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:12b (Septuagint Elpenor)
τίς ἀναβήσεται εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν	τίς ἀναβήσεται ἡμῗν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν	τίς ἀναβήσεται ἡμῖν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν
Romans 10:6c (NET)	Deuteronomy 30:12b (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:12b (English Elpenor)
Who will ascend into heaven?	Who will go up to the sky…for us?	Who shall go up for us into heaven,

A comparison (mostly a contrast) of Paul’s “quotation” with Deuteronomy 30:13 in the Septuagint follows:

Romans 10:7a (NET Parallel Greek)	Deuteronomy 30:13b (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:13b (Septuagint Elpenor)
τίς καταβήσεται εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον	τίς διαπεράσει ἡμῗν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης	τίς διαπεράσει ἡμῖν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης
Romans 10:7a (NET)	Deuteronomy 30:13b (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:13b (English Elpenor)
Who will descend into the abyss?	Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us	Who will go over for us to the other side of the sea…for us

A comparison of the Greek of Paul’s quotation from Deuteronomy 30:14 in the Septuagint follows:

Romans 10:8b (NET Parallel Greek)	Deuteronomy 30:14a (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:14a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγγύς σου τὸ ρῆμα ἐστιν ἐν τῷ στόματι σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου	ἔστιν σου ἐγγὺς τὸ ῥῆμα σφόδρα ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου	ἐγγύς σού ἐστι τὸ ρῆμα σφόδρα ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου
Romans 10:8b (NET)	Deuteronomy 30:14a (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:14a (English Elpenor)
The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart	The word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart	The word is very near thee, in thy mouth, and in thine heart

If Paul quoted from the Septuagint it may be worth noting that he stopped prior to καὶ ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου ποιεῖν αὐτό (and in thine hands to do it).

Tables comparing Leviticus 18:5; 18:3; 18:4; Deuteronomy 30:1; 30:2; 30:3; 30:9; 30:10; 9:4; 30:12; 30:13 and 30:14 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Leviticus 18:5; 18:3; 18:4; Deuteronomy 30:1; 30:2; 30:3; 30:9; 30:10; 9:4; 30:12; 30:13 and 30:14 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Titus 3:8, Romans 3:2 and 10:5 in the NET and KJV follow.

Leviticus 18:5 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 18:5 (KJV)	Leviticus 18:5 (NET)
Ye shall therefore keep My statutes, and Mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them: I am HaShem.	Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.	So you must keep my statutes and my regulations; anyone who does so will live by keeping them. I am the Lord.

Leviticus 18:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 18:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ φυλάξεσθε πάντα τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ πάντα τὰ κρίματά μου καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτά ἃ ποιήσας ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῗς ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν	καὶ φυλάξεσθε πάντα τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ πάντα τὰ κρίματά μου καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτά, ἃ ποιήσας αὐτά ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν
Leviticus 18:5 (NETS)	Leviticus 18:5 (English Elpenor)
And you shall keep all my ordinances and all my judgments, and you shall do them; as for the things a person does, he shall live by them; I am the Lord your God.	So ye shall keep all my ordinances, and all my judgments, and do them; which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the Lord your God.

Leviticus 18:3 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 18:3 (KJV)	Leviticus 18:3 (NET)
After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do; and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do; neither shall ye walk in their statutes.	After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.	You must not do as they do in the land of Egypt where you have been living, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan into which I am about to bring you; you must not walk in their statutes.

Leviticus 18:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 18:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
κατὰ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἐν ᾗ κατῳκήσατε ἐπ᾽ αὐτῇ οὐ ποιήσετε καὶ κατὰ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα γῆς Χανααν εἰς ἣν ἐγὼ εἰσάγω ὑμᾶς ἐκεῗ οὐ ποιήσετε καὶ τοῗς νομίμοις αὐτῶν οὐ πορεύσεσθε	κατά τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα Αἰγύπτου, ἐν ᾗ κατῳκήσατε ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ, οὐ ποιήσετε καὶ κατὰ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα γῆς Χαναάν, εἰς ἣν ἐγὼ εἰσάγω ὑμᾶς ἐκεῖ, οὐ ποιήσετε καὶ τοῖς νομίμοις αὐτῶν οὐ πορεύσεσθε
Leviticus 18:3 (NETS)	Leviticus 18:3 (English Elpenor)
You shall not act according to the practices of the land of Egypt, wherein you lived, and you shall not act according to the practices of the land of Chanaan, there where I am bringing you, and you shall not live by their precepts.	Ye shall not do according to the devices of Egypt, in which ye dwelt: and according to the devices of the land of Chanaan, into which I bring you, ye shall not do; and ye shall not walk in their ordinances.

Leviticus 18:4 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 18:4 (KJV)	Leviticus 18:4 (NET)
Mine ordinances shall ye do, and My statutes shall ye keep, to walk therein: I am HaShem your G-d.	Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.	You must observe my regulations, and you must be sure to walk in my statutes. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 18:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 18:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τὰ κρίματά μου ποιήσετε καὶ τὰ προστάγματά μου φυλάξεσθε πορεύεσθαι ἐν αὐτοῗς ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν	τὰ κρίματά μου ποιήσετε καὶ τὰ προστάγματά μου φυλάξεσθε καὶ πορεύεσθε ἐν αὐτοῖς· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν
Leviticus 18:4 (NETS)	Leviticus 18:4 (English Elpenor)
My judgments you shall perform, and my ordinances you shall keep, to walk by them; I am the Lord your God.	Ye shall observe my judgments, and shall keep my ordinances, and shall walk in them: I [am] the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 30:1 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:1 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:1 (NET)
And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt bethink thyself among all the nations, whither HaShem thy G-d hath driven thee,	And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,	“When you have experienced all these things, both the blessings and the curses I have set before you, you will reflect upon them in all the nations where the Lord your God has banished you.

Deuteronomy 30:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται ὡς ἂν ἔλθωσιν ἐπὶ σὲ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ἡ εὐλογία καὶ ἡ κατάρα ἣν ἔδωκα πρὸ προσώπου σου καὶ δέξῃ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου ἐν πᾶσιν τοῗς ἔθνεσιν οὗ ἐάν σε διασκορπίσῃ κύριος ἐκεῗ	ΚΑΙ ἔσται ὡς ἂν ἔλθωσιν ἐπὶ σὲ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα, ἡ εὐλογία καὶ ἡ κατάρα, ἣν ἔδωκα πρὸ προσώπου σου, καὶ δέξῃ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, οὗ ἐὰν διασκορπίσῃ σε Κύριος ἐκεῖ,
Deuteronomy 30:1 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:1 (English Elpenor)
And it shall be, when all these words come upon you, the blessing and the curse that I gave before you, that you shall receive them into your heart among all the nations wherever the Lord may scatter you there,	And it shall come to pass when all these things shall have come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thy face, and thou shalt call [them] to mind among all the nations, wherein the Lord shall have scattered thee,

Deuteronomy 30:2 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:2 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:2 (NET)
and shalt return unto HaShem thy G-d, and hearken to His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;	And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;	Then if you and your descendants turn to the Lord your God and obey him with your whole mind and being just as I am commanding you today,

Deuteronomy 30:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπιστραφήσῃ ἐπὶ κύριον τὸν θεόν σου καὶ ὑπακούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου	καὶ ἐπιστραφήσῃ ἐπὶ Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου καὶ εἰσακούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ κατὰ πάντα, ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου
Deuteronomy 30:2 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:2 (English Elpenor)
and you shall return to the Lord your God and obey his voice regarding everything I command you today, with the whole of your heart and with the whole of your soul.	and shalt return to the Lord thy God, and shalt hearken to his voice, according to all things which I charge thee this day, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;

Deuteronomy 30:3 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:3 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:3 (NET)
that then HaShem thy G-d will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither HaShem thy G-d hath scattered thee.	That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.	the Lord your God will reverse your captivity and have pity on you. He will turn and gather you from all the peoples among whom he has scattered you.

Deuteronomy 30:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἰάσεται κύριος τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου καὶ ἐλεήσει σε καὶ πάλιν συνάξει σε ἐκ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰς οὓς διεσκόρπισέν σε κύριος ἐκεῗ	καὶ ἰάσεται Κύριος τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου καὶ ἐλεήσει σε καὶ πάλιν συνάξει σε ἐκ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, εἰς οὓς διεσκόρπισέ σε Κύριος ἐκεῖ
Deuteronomy 30:3 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:3 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord will heal your sins and have mercy on you and gather you again from all the nations among whom the Lord has scattered you there.	then the Lord shall heal thine iniquities, and shall pity thee, and shall again gather thee out from all the nations, among which the Lord has scattered thee.

Deuteronomy 30:9 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:9 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:9 (NET)
And HaShem thy G-d will make thee over-abundant in all the work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good; for HaShem will again rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers;	And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:	The Lord your God will make the labor of your hands abundantly successful and multiply your children, the offspring of your cattle, and the produce of your soil. For the Lord will once more rejoice over you to make you prosperous just as he rejoiced over your ancestors,

Deuteronomy 30:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ πολυωρήσει σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ τῶν χειρῶν σου ἐν τοῗς ἐκγόνοις τῆς κοιλίας σου καὶ ἐν τοῗς γενήμασιν τῆς γῆς σου καὶ ἐν τοῗς ἐκγόνοις τῶν κτηνῶν σου ὅτι ἐπιστρέψει κύριος ὁ θεός σου εὐφρανθῆναι ἐπὶ σὲ εἰς ἀγαθά καθότι ηὐφράνθη ἐπὶ τοῗς πατράσιν σου	καὶ πολυωρήσει σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ τῶν χειρῶν σου, ἐν τοῖς ἐκγόνοις τῆς κοιλίας σου καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐκγόνοις τῶν κτηνῶν σου καὶ ἐν τοῖς γενήμασι τῆς γῆς σου· ὅτι ἐπιστρέψει Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου εὐφρανθῆναι ἐπὶ σοὶ εἰς ἀγαθά, καθότι εὐφράνθη ἐπὶ τοῖς πατράσι σου,
Deuteronomy 30:9 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:9 (English Elpenor)
and the Lord your God will treat you with care in every work of your hands, in the progeny of your belly and in the produce of your land and in the progeny of your livestock. For the Lord your God will turn to be joyful toward you for good things, just as he was joyful over your fathers,	And the Lord thy God shall bless thee in every work of thine hands, in the offspring of thy body, and in the offspring of thy cattle, and in the fruits of thy land, because the Lord thy God will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:

Deuteronomy 30:10 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:10 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:10 (NET)
if thou shalt hearken to the voice of HaShem thy G-d, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law; if thou turn unto HaShem thy G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.	If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.	if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this scroll of the law. But you must turn to him with your whole mind and being.

Deuteronomy 30:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν εἰσακούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου φυλάσσεσθαι καὶ ποιεῗν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς κρίσεις αὐτοῦ τὰς γεγραμμένας ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου τούτου ἐὰν ἐπιστραφῇς ἐπὶ κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου	ἐὰν εἰσακούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, φυλάσσεσθαι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς κρίσεις αὐτοῦ τὰς γεγραμμένας ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου τούτου, ἐὰν ἐπιστραφῇς ἐπὶ Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου
Deuteronomy 30:10 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:10 (English Elpenor)
if you listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments that are written in the book of this law, if you turn to the Lord your God with the whole of your heart and with the whole of your soul,	if thou wilt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments, and his ordinances, and his judgments written in the book of this law, if thou turn to the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

Deuteronomy 9:4 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 9:4 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 9:4 (NET)
Speak not thou in thy heart, after that HaShem thy G-d hath thrust them out from before thee, saying: ‘For my righteousness HaShem hath brought me in to possess this land’; whereas for the wickedness of these nations HaShem doth drive them out from before thee.	Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.	Do not think to yourself after the Lord your God has driven them out before you, “Because of my own righteousness the Lord has brought me here to possess this land.” It is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out ahead of you.

Deuteronomy 9:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 9:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ἐν τῷ ἐξαναλῶσαι κύριον τὸν θεόν σου τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα ἀπὸ προσώπου σου λέγων διὰ τὰς δικαιοσύνας μου εἰσήγαγέν με κύριος κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθὴν ταύτην ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ἀσέβειαν τῶν ἐθνῶν τούτων κύριος ἐξολεθρεύσει αὐτοὺς πρὸ προσώπου σου	μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ἐν τῷ ἐξαναλῶσαι Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα πρὸ προσώπου σου λέγων· διὰ τὰς δικαιοσύνας μου εἰσήγαγέ με Κύριος κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθὴν ταύτην
Deuteronomy 9:4 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 9:4 (English Elpenor)
When the Lord your God eliminates these nations before you, do not say in your heart, saying: “It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to inherit this good land,” but because of the impiety of these nations the Lord will destroy them utterly before you.	Speak not in thine heart, when the Lord thy God has destroyed these nations before thy face, saying, For my righteousness the Lord brought me in to inherit this good land.

Deuteronomy 30:12 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:12 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:12 (NET)
It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say: ‘Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?’	It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?	It is not in heaven, as though one must say, ‘Who will go up to heaven to get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’

Deuteronomy 30:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐκ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω ἐστὶν λέγων τίς ἀναβήσεται ἡμῗν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ λήμψεται αὐτὴν ἡμῗν καὶ ἀκούσαντες αὐτὴν ποιήσομεν	οὐκ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω ἐστὶ λέγων· τίς ἀναβήσεται ἡμῖν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ λήψεται ἡμῖν αὐτήν, καὶ ἀκούσαντες αὐτὴν ποιήσομεν
Deuteronomy 30:12 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:12 (English Elpenor)
It is not up in the sky, saying, “Who will go up to the sky and get it for us? And when we hear it, we shall do it.”	It is not in heaven above, [as if there were one] saying, Who shall go up for us into heaven, and shall take it for us, and we will hear and do it?

Deuteronomy 30:13 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:13 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:13 (NET)
Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say: ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?’	Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?	And it is not across the sea, as though one must say, ‘Who will cross over to the other side of the sea and get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’

Deuteronomy 30:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐδὲ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης ἐστὶν λέγων τίς διαπεράσει ἡμῗν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ λήμψεται ἡμῗν αὐτήν καὶ ἀκουστὴν ἡμῗν ποιήσει αὐτήν καὶ ποιήσομεν	οὐδὲ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης ἐστὶ λέγων· τίς διαπεράσει ἡμῖν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ λήψεται ἡμῖν αὐτήν, καὶ ἀκουστὴν ἡμῖν ποιήσῃ αὐτήν, καὶ ποιήσομεν
Deuteronomy 30:13 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:13 (English Elpenor)
Neither is it beyond the sea, saying, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us and get it for us? And when we hear it, we shall do it.”	Neither is it beyond the sea, saying, Who will go over for us to the other side of the sea, and take it for us, and make it audible to us, and we will do it?

Deuteronomy 30:14 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:14 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:14 (NET)
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.	But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.	For the thing is very near you—it is in your mouth and in your mind so that you can do it.

Deuteronomy 30:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔστιν σου ἐγγὺς τὸ ῥῆμα σφόδρα ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν ταῗς χερσίν σου αὐτὸ ποιεῗν	ἐγγύς σού ἐστι τὸ ρῆμα σφόδρα ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου ποιεῖν αὐτό
Deuteronomy 30:14 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:14 (English Elpenor)
The word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart and in your hands, to do it.	The word is very near thee, in thy mouth, and in thine heart, and in thine hands to do it.

Titus 3:8 (NET)	Titus 3:8 (KJV)
This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.	This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος· καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαι σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ· ταῦτα ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις	πιστος ο λογος και περι τουτων βουλομαι σε διαβεβαιουσθαι ινα φροντιζωσιν καλων εργων προιστασθαι οι πεπιστευκοτες τω θεω ταυτα εστιν τα καλα και ωφελιμα τοις ανθρωποις	πιστος ο λογος και περι τουτων βουλομαι σε διαβεβαιουσθαι ινα φροντιζωσιν καλων εργων προιστασθαι οι πεπιστευκοτες θεω ταυτα εστιν τα καλα και ωφελιμα τοις ανθρωποις

Romans 3:2 (NET)	Romans 3:2 (KJV)
Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.	Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
πολὺ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον. πρῶτον μὲν ὅτι ἐπιστεύθησαν τὰ λόγια τοῦ θεοῦ.	πολυ κατα παντα τροπον πρωτον μεν γαρ οτι επιστευθησαν τα λογια του θεου	πολυ κατα παντα τροπον πρωτον μεν γαρ οτι επιστευθησαν τα λογια του θεου

Romans 10:5 (NET)	Romans 10:5 (KJV)
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”	For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Μωϋσῆς γὰρ γράφει τὴν δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐκ [τοῦ] νόμου [ὅτι] ὁ ποιήσας \|αὐτὰ\| ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν \|αὐτοῖς\|	μωσης γαρ γραφει την δικαιοσυνην την εκ του νομου οτι ο ποιησας αυτα ανθρωπος ζησεται εν αυτοις	μωυσης γαρ γραφει την δικαιοσυνην την εκ του νομου οτι ο ποιησας αυτα ανθρωπος ζησεται εν αυτοις

Paul’s OT Quotes – Romans 10:5-8

Romans, Part 14

Back to Solomon’s Wealth, Part 4

Back to Romans, Part 38

Back to Romans, Part 39

Back to Son of God – John, Part 5

Back to Fear – Numbers, Part 4

Back to Romans, Part 58

Back to Romans, Part 75

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 4

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 11

Back to To Make Holy, Part 4

Back to Romans, Part 76

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 7

¹ Romans 3:1a (NET)

² John 10:10b (NET)

³ Romans 3:1b (NET)

⁴ 1 Timothy 4:8 (NET)

⁵ 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 (NET)

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

⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τα preceding good. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁸ Titus 3:8 (NET)

⁹ The NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus (KJV: because) and Byzantine Majority Text had μὲν γὰρ here, where the NET parallel Greek text had simply μὲν.

¹⁰ Romans 3:2 (NET)

¹¹ Romans 9:4, 5 (NET)

¹² Romans 3:3 (NET)

¹³ 1 Corinthians 5:1 (NET)

¹⁴ 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NET)

¹⁵ Romans 10:17a (NKJV)

¹⁶ Romans 10:17 (NET)

¹⁷ Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

¹⁸ In the NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text Moses was spelled Μωϋσῆς, and μωσης in the Stephanus Textus Receptus.

¹⁹ Romans 10:5 (NET)

²⁰ Leviticus 18:3-5 (NET)

²¹ Romans 10:6 (NET)

²² Romans 10:6-8 (NET)

²³ Romans 10:17 (NKJV) Table

²⁴ Romans 3:3 (NET)

²⁵ Romans 3:4 (NET) Table

²⁶ Romans 8:28 (NET)

²⁷ Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV) Table

²⁸ Deuteronomy 9:4b (Tanakh)

The Will of God – Jesus, Part 2

Posted on August 17, 2012 by admin

Jesus fed about five thousand men (Not counting women and children)¹ with five barley loaves and two fish.² After they gathered the leftovers and filled twelve baskets,³ they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”⁴ This was a reference to Moses’ prophesy, The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you – from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him.⁵

Immediately Jesus⁶ made the⁷ disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side (πέραν),⁸ while he dispersed the crowds.⁹ Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.¹⁰ Once Jesus finished praying he walked across the water, apparently intending to pass his disciples by. But they saw him, thought he was a ghost, and were afraid. So Jesus got into the boat with them (Mark 6:45-51).

The next day the crowds followed him across the lake. “Rabbi, when did you get here?” they asked. “I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus said, “you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted. Do not work (ἐργάζεσθε, a form of ἐργάζομαι) for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life – the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.”¹¹

They asked, “What must we do (ποιῶμεν, a form of ποιέω) to accomplish (ἐργαζώμεθα, another form of ἐργάζομαι) the deeds (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) God requires?” Jesus replied, “This is the deed (ἔργον) God requires – to believe (πιστεύητε, a form of πιστεύω) in the one whom he sent.”¹² After a free lunch these same people called Jesus the prophesied prophet like Moses. They were ready to make him king. But when asked to believe in him, what He said about Himself? what He said about us? that we should think and do these things?—then the duplicity Jesus saw in them was revealed for all to see.

“Then what miraculous sign will you perform (ποιεῖς, another form of ποιέω), so that we may see (ἴδωμεν, a form of εἴδω) it and believe (πιστεύσωμεν, another form of πιστεύω) you?” they said. “What will you do (ἐργάζῃ, another form of ἐργάζομαι)?”¹³ Obviously, feeding five thousand plus people with fives loaves and two fish wasn’t enough. They required better proof than one free lunch if faith was on the table here. “Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) from heaven to eat.’”¹⁴ In other words, give us unlimited free lunches and we might have something to talk about.

According to a note in the NET the people quoted Psalm 78:24 to Jesus. It’s not a great quotation, more like a paraphrase, but here is the relevant portion of the Psalm, a Psalm of Asaph, one of David’s musicians (Psalm 78:18-32 NET).

They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite. They insulted God, saying, “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness? Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out, streams gushed forth. But can he also give us food? Will he provide meat for his people?” When the Lord heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel, because they did not have faith in God, and did not trust his ability to deliver them. He gave a command to the clouds above, and opened the doors in the sky. He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain (Septuagint: ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) of heaven. Man ate the food of the mighty ones. He sent them more than enough to eat. He brought the east wind through the sky, and by his strength led forth the south wind. He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores. He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes. They ate until they were stuffed; he gave them what they desired. They were not yet filled up, their food was still in their mouths, when the anger of God flared up against them. He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees. Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.

“I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus answered, “it is not Moses who has given you the bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) from heaven [Table]. For the bread (ἄρτος) of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir, give us this bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) all the time!”¹⁵ they said.

“I am the bread (ἄρτος) of life,”¹⁶ Jesus said. This wasn’t a difficult figure of speech. It came from Moses, Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not. So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread (Septuagint: ἄρτῳ, another form of ἄρτος) alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord’s mouth.¹⁷

“The one who comes to me will never go hungry, Jesus continued, and the one who believes (πιστεύων, another form of πιστεύω) in me will never be thirsty [Table]. But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe (πιστεύετε, a form of πιστεύω). Everyone whom the Father gives (δίδωσιν, a form of δίδωμι) me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will (θέλημα) but the will (θέλημα) of the one who sent me. Now this is the will (θέλημα) of the one who sent me – that I should not lose one person of every one he has given (δέδωκεν, another form of δίδωμι) me, but raise them all up at the last day. For this is the will (θέλημα) of my Father – for everyone who looks (θεωρῶν, a form of θεωρέω) on the Son and believes (πιστεύων, another form of πιστεύω) in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day”¹⁸ [Table].

In my imagination I can see one person in that crowd nudge the fellow next to him and ask, “So, uh, does that mean he’s serving lunch, or not?” The actual text reads, Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said, “I am the bread (ἄρτος) that came down from heaven.”¹⁹

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He²⁰ called a child, had him stand among them, and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Whoever then humbles²¹ himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”²² Then Jesus warned those who would become stumbling blocks (σκανδάλων, a form of σκάνδαλον) to one of these little ones who believe (πιστευόντων, another form of πιστεύω) in me [Table].²³ But after that He affirmed his own faithfulness to the will of God with a story about a shepherd (Matthew 18:12-14 NET).

If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing (θέλημα) that one of these little ones be lost [Table].

John began his Gospel account with this: [Jesus, the Word who was in the beginning with God, who was God]²⁴ was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. But to all who have received him – those who believe (πιστεύουσιν, another form of πιστεύω) in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children – children not born by human parents or by human desire (θελήματος, a form of θέλημα) or a husband’s decision (θελήματος, a form of θέλημα), but by God.²⁵

Addendum: January 31, 2021
As I made the tables for Psalm 78:18-32 it really struck home that neither miraculous signs nor punishment opened unregenerate eyes to see the kingdom of God: “I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus told Nicodemus, “unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God”²⁶ [Table]. Was Jesus the only one who sang this psalm and understood that? Did all the others, with religious minds, blame their ancestors for being unregenerate human beings and resolve to do better in their own unregenerate strength (e.g., the weakness of their flesh)?

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 78:34 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:34 (NET)	Psalm 77:34 (NETS)	Psalm 77:34 (English Elpenor)
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.	When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.	When he was killing them, they would seek him out, and they would turn to God and be early.	When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.

I just assumed that they who sought him and them who were slain were two different but related groups. Now suddenly, I’m questioning whether that assumption was contradicted by Jesus and this Psalm, which says of those who were yet living in their flesh:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 78:32 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:32 (NET)	Psalm 77:32 (NETS)	Psalm 77:32 (English Elpenor)
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.	Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.	Amidst all these things they still sinned, and they did not believe in his marvels.	In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.

I’ll take a moment to at least consider the implications if they who sought him and them who were slain are one and the same (Luke 20:37, 38).

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 78:35-37 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:35-37 (NET)	Psalm 77:35-37 (NETS)	Psalm 77:35-37 (English Elpenor)
And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.	They remembered that God was their protector and that God Most High was their deliverer.	And they remembered that God was there helper and God the Most High was their redeemer.	And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.	But they deceived him with their words and lied to him.	And they deceived him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to him.	And they deceived him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to him.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.	They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.	And their heart was not upright with him, nor were they true to his covenant.	For their heart [was] not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

The first implication would be that God did his diagnostic work (διαγνωσθῇ, a form of διαγινώσκω; Table below) on both sides of the grave. Second, being freed from sin and being raised (ἐγείρονται, a form of ἐγείρω) had no significant impact on the intrinsic weakness of human flesh. Jesus told a teacher of Israel: What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’²⁷

Tables comparing Deuteronomy 18:15; Psalm 78:18; 78:19; 78:20; 78:21; 78:22; 78:23; 78:24; 78:25; 78:26; 78:27; 78:28; 78:29; 78:30; 78:31; 78:32; Deuteronomy 8:2; 8:3; Psalm 78:34; 78:35; 78:36 and 78:37 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Deuteronomy 18:15; Psalm 78:18 (77:18); 78:19 (77:19); 78:20 (77:20); 78:21 (77:21); 78:22 (77:22); 78:23 (77:23); 78:24 (77:24); 78:25 (77:25); 78:26 (77:26); 78:27 (77:27); 78:28 (77:28); 78:29 (77:29); 78:30 (77:30); 78:31 (77:31); 78:32 (77:32); Deuteronomy 8:2; 8:3; Psalm 78:34 (77:34); 78:35 (77:35); 78:36 (77:36) and 78:37 (77:37) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing John 6:9; 6:13; Matthew 14:22; 18:2 and 18:4 in the NET and KJV follow.

Deuteronomy 18:15 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (NET)
A prophet will HaShem thy G-d raise up unto thee, from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;	The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;	The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you—from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him.

Deuteronomy 18:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
προφήτην ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου ὡς ἐμὲ ἀναστήσει σοι κύριος ὁ θεός σου αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε	προφήτην ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου ὡς ἐμὲ ἀναστήσει σοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε
Deuteronomy 18:15 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (English Elpenor)
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers; you shall hear him.	The Lord thy God shall raise up to thee a prophet of thy brethren, like me; him shall ye hear:

Psalm 78:18 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:18 (KJV)	Psalm 78:18 (NET)
And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.	And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.	They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.

Psalm 78:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐξεπείρασαν τὸν θεὸν ἐν ταῗς καρδίαις αὐτῶν τοῦ αἰτῆσαι βρώματα ταῗς ψυχαῗς αὐτῶν	καὶ ἐξεπείρασαν τὸν Θεὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, τοῦ αἰτῆσαι βρώματα ταῖς ψυχαῖς αὐτῶν
Psalm 77:18 (NETS)	Psalm 77:18 (English Elpenor)
And they tested God in their hearts by demanding food for their souls.	And they tempted God in their hearts, in asking meat for [the desire of] their souls.

Psalm 78:19 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:19 (KJV)	Psalm 78:19 (NET)
Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?	Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?	They insulted God, saying, “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness?

Psalm 78:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ κατελάλησαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ εἶπαν μὴ δυνήσεται ὁ θεὸς ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν ἐν ἐρήμῳ	καὶ κατελάλησαν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ εἶπαν· μὴ δυνήσεται ὁ Θεὸς ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν ἐν ἐρήμῳ
Psalm 77:19 (NETS)	Psalm 77:19 (English Elpenor)
And they spoke against God and said, “Surely, God will not be able to spread a table in a wilderness?	They spoke also against God, and said, Will God be able to prepare a table in the wilderness?

Psalm 78:20 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:20 (KJV)	Psalm 78:20 (NET)
Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?	Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?	Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out; streams gushed forth. But can he also give us food? Will he provide meat for his people?”

Psalm 78:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπεὶ ἐπάταξεν πέτραν καὶ ἐρρύησαν ὕδατα καὶ χείμαρροι κατεκλύσθησαν μὴ καὶ ἄρτον δύναται δοῦναι ἢ ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ	ἐπεὶ ἐπάταξε πέτραν καὶ ἐρρύησαν ὕδατα καὶ χείμαρροι κατεκλύσθησαν, μὴ καὶ ἄρτον δύναται δοῦναι ἢ ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ
Psalm 77:20 (NETS)	Psalm 77:20 (English Elpenor)
Even though he struck a rock and waters gushed out and wadis deluged, surely, he cannot also give bread or spread a table for his people?”	Forasmuch as he smote the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people?

Psalm 78:21 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:21 (KJV)	Psalm 78:21 (NET)
Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;	Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;	When the Lord heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel,

Psalm 78:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο ἤκουσεν κύριος καὶ ἀνεβάλετο καὶ πῦρ ἀνήφθη ἐν Ιακωβ καὶ ὀργὴ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸν Ισραηλ	διὰ τοῦτο ἤκουσε Κύριος καὶ ἀνεβάλετο, καὶ πῦρ ἀνήφθη ἐν ᾿Ιακώβ, καὶ ὀργὴ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ,
Psalm 77:21 (NETS)	Psalm 77:21 (English Elpenor)
Therefore the Lord heard and was put out, and a fire was kindled in Iakob, and anger mounted against Israel,	Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.

Psalm 78:22 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:22 (KJV)	Psalm 78:22 (NET)
Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:	Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:	because they did not have faith in God and did not trust his ability to deliver them.

Psalm 78:22 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τῷ θεῷ οὐδὲ ἤλπισαν ἐπὶ τὸ σωτήριον αὐτοῦ	ὅτι οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τῷ Θεῷ οὐδὲ ἤλπισαν ἐπὶ τὸ σωτήριον αὐτοῦ
Psalm 77:22 (NETS)	Psalm 77:22 (English Elpenor)
because they had no faith in God nor did they hope in his saving power.	Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.

Psalm 78:23 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:23 (KJV)	Psalm 78:23 (NET)
Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,	Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,	He gave a command to the clouds above and opened the doors in the sky.

Psalm 78:23 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐνετείλατο νεφέλαις ὑπεράνωθεν καὶ θύρας οὐρανοῦ ἀνέῳξεν	καὶ ἐνετείλατο νεφέλαις ὑπεράνωθεν καὶ θύρας οὐρανοῦ ἀνέῳξε
Psalm 77:23 (NETS)	Psalm 77:23 (English Elpenor)
And he commanded clouds above and opened heaven’s doors,	Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.

Psalm 78:24 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:24 (KJV)	Psalm 78:24 (NET)
And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.	And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.	He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain of heaven.

Psalm 78:24 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔβρεξεν αὐτοῗς μαννα φαγεῗν καὶ ἄρτον οὐρανοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῗς	καὶ ἔβρεξεν αὐτοῖς μάννα φαγεῖν καὶ ἄρτον οὐρανοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς
Psalm 77:24 (NETS)	Psalm 77:24 (English Elpenor)
and he rained down manna for them to eat, and heaven’s bread he gave them.	and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven.

Psalm 78:25 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:25 (KJV)	Psalm 78:25 (NET)
Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.	Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.	Man ate the food of the mighty ones. He sent them more than enough to eat.

Psalm 78:25 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἄρτον ἀγγέλων ἔφαγεν ἄνθρωπος ἐπισιτισμὸν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοῗς εἰς πλησμονήν	ἄρτον ἀγγέλων ἔφαγεν ἄνθρωπος, ἐπισιτισμὸν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοῖς εἰς πλησμονήν
Psalm 77:25 (NETS)	Psalm 77:25 (English Elpenor)
Bread of angels man ate; provisions he sent them in abundance.	Man ate angels’ bread; he sent them provision to the full.

Psalm 78:26 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:26 (KJV)	Psalm 78:26 (NET)
He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.	He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.	He brought the east wind through the sky and by his strength led forth the south wind.

Psalm 78:26 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπῆρεν νότον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἐπήγαγεν ἐν τῇ δυναστείᾳ αὐτοῦ λίβα	ἀπῇρε Νότον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἐπήγαγεν ἐν τῇ δυνάμει αὐτοῦ Λίβα
Psalm 77:26 (NETS)	Psalm 77:26 (English Elpenor)
He removed a south wind from heaven, and he led on, by his dominance, a southwest wind,	He removed the south wind from heaven; and by his might he brought in the south-west wind.

Psalm 78:27 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:27 (KJV)	Psalm 78:27 (NET)
He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:	He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:	He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.

Psalm 78:27 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔβρεξεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ὡσεὶ χοῦν σάρκας καὶ ὡσεὶ ἄμμον θαλασσῶν πετεινὰ πτερωτά	καὶ ἔβρεξεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ὡσεὶ χοῦν σάρκας καὶ ὡσεὶ ἄμμον θαλασσῶν πετεινὰ πτερωτά
Psalm 77:27 (NETS)	Psalm 77:27 (English Elpenor)
and he rained upon them flesh like dust and winged birds like the sand of seas,	And he rained upon them flesh like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas.

Psalm 78:28 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:28 (KJV)	Psalm 78:28 (NET)
And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.	And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.	He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes.

Psalm 78:28 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπέπεσον εἰς μέσον τῆς παρεμβολῆς αὐτῶν κύκλῳ τῶν σκηνωμάτων αὐτῶν	καὶ ἐπέπεσον ἐν μέσῳ παρεμβολῆς αὐτῶν κύκλῳ τῶν σκηνωμάτων αὐτῶν
Psalm 77:28 (NETS)	Psalm 77:28 (English Elpenor)
and they fell in the midst of their camp, all around their coverts.	And they fell into the midst of their camp, round about their tents.

Psalm 78:29 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:29 (KJV)	Psalm 78:29 (NET)
So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;	So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;	They ate until they were beyond full; he gave them what they desired.

Psalm 78:29 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐφάγοσαν καὶ ἐνεπλήσθησαν σφόδρα καὶ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν ἤνεγκεν αὐτοῗς	καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ ἐνεπλήσθησαν σφόδρα, καὶ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν ἤνεγκεν αὐτοῖς
Psalm 77:29 (NETS)	Psalm 77:29 (English Elpenor)
And they ate and were well filled, and what they craved he brought them;	So they ate, and were completely filled; and he gave them their desire.

Psalm 78:30 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:30 (KJV)	Psalm 78:30 (NET)
They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,	They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,	They were not yet filled up; their food was still in their mouths

Psalm 78:30 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:30 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐκ ἐστερήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῶν ἔτι τῆς βρώσεως αὐτῶν οὔσης ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν	οὐκ ἐστερήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῶν. ἔτι τῆς βρώσεως οὔσης ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν,
Psalm 77:30 (NETS)	Psalm 77:30 (English Elpenor)
they were not deprived of what they craved. While their food was still in their mouth,	They were not disappointed of their desire: [but] when their food was yet in their mouth,

Psalm 78:31 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:31 (KJV)	Psalm 78:31 (NET)
The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.	The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.	when the anger of God flared up against them. He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.

Psalm 78:31 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀνέβη ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν ἐν τοῗς πίοσιν αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς τοῦ Ισραηλ συνεπόδισεν	καὶ ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀνέβη ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς, καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν ἐν τοῖς πλείοσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ συνεπόδισεν
Psalm 77:31 (NETS)	Psalm 77:31 (English Elpenor)
God’s wrath also rose against them, and he killed among their sleek ones, and the select of Israel he shackled.	then the indignation of God rose up against them, and slew the fattest of them, and overthrew the choice men of Israel.

Psalm 78:32 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:32 (KJV)	Psalm 78:32 (NET)
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.	For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.	Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.

Psalm 78:32 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν πᾶσιν τούτοις ἥμαρτον ἔτι καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τοῗς θαυμασίοις αὐτοῦ	ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις ἥμαρτον ἔτι καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τοῖς θαυμασίοις αὐτοῦ
Psalm 77:32 (NETS)	Psalm 77:32 (English Elpenor)
Amidst all these things they still sinned, and they did not believe in his marvels.	In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.

Deuteronomy 8:2 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 8:2 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 8:2 (NET)
And thou shalt remember all the way which HaShem thy G-d hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that He might afflict thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.	And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.	Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these 40 years through the wilderness so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not.

Deuteronomy 8:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 8:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ μνησθήσῃ πᾶσαν τὴν ὁδόν ἣν ἤγαγέν σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὅπως ἂν κακώσῃ σε καὶ ἐκπειράσῃ σε καὶ διαγνωσθῇ τὰ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου εἰ φυλάξῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἢ οὔ	καὶ μνησθήσῃ πᾶσαν τὴν ὁδόν, ἣν ἤγαγέ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ὅπως ἂν κακώσῃ σε καὶ πειράσῃ σε καὶ διαγνωσθῇ τὰ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, εἰ φυλάξῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἢ οὔ
Deuteronomy 8:2 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 8:2 (English Elpenor)
And you shall remember all the way that the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness so that he might distress you in the wilderness so that he might distress you and test you and discern the things in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.	And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee in the wilderness, that he might afflict thee, and try thee, and that the things in thine heart might be made manifest, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.

Deuteronomy 8:3 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 8:3 (NET)
And He afflicted thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every thing that proceedeth out of the mouth of HaShem doth man live.	And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.	So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord’s mouth.

Deuteronomy 8:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 8:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐκάκωσέν σε καὶ ἐλιμαγχόνησέν σε καὶ ἐψώμισέν σε τὸ μαννα ὃ οὐκ εἴδησαν οἱ πατέρες σου ἵνα ἀναγγείλῃ σοι ὅτι οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ παντὶ ῥήματι τῷ ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος θεοῦ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος	καὶ ἐκάκωσέ σε καὶ ἐλιμαγχόνησέ σε καὶ ἐψώμισέ σε τὸ μάννα, ὃ οὐκ ᾔδεισαν οἱ πατέρες σου, ἵνα ἀναγγείλῃ σοι, ὅτι οὐκ ἐπ᾿ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ παντὶ ῥήματι τῷ ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος Θεοῦ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος
Deuteronomy 8:3 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 8:3 (English Elpenor)
And he distressed you and let you hunger and fed you with manna with which your fathers were not acquainted in order to announce to you that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that goes out through the mouth of God man shall live.	And he afflicted thee and straitened thee with hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thy fathers knew not; that he might teach thee that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live.

Psalm 78:34 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:34 (KJV)	Psalm 78:34 (NET)
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.	When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.	When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.

Psalm 78:34 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:34 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅταν ἀπέκτεννεν αὐτούς ἐξεζήτουν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπέστρεφον καὶ ὤρθριζον πρὸς τὸν θεὸν	ὅταν ἀπέκτειναν αὐτούς, τότε ἐξεζήτουν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπέστρεφον καὶ ὤρθριζον πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν
Psalm 77:34 (NETS)	Psalm 77:34 (English Elpenor)
When he was killing them, they would seek him out, and they would turn to God and be early.	When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.

Psalm 78:35 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:35 (KJV)	Psalm 78:35 (NET)
And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.	And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.	They remembered that God was their protector and that God Most High was their deliverer.

Psalm 78:35 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:35 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ὁ θεὸς βοηθὸς αὐτῶν ἐστιν καὶ ὁ θεὸς ὁ ὕψιστος λυτρωτὴς αὐτῶν ἐστιν	καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς βοηθὸς αὐτῶν ἐστι καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ῞Υψιστος λυτρωτὴς αὐτῶν ἐστι
Psalm 77:35 (NETS)	Psalm 77:35 (English Elpenor)
And they remembered that God was there helper and God the Most High was their redeemer.	And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.

Psalm 78:36 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:36 (KJV)	Psalm 78:36 (NET)
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.	Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.	But they deceived him with their words and lied to him.

Psalm 78:36 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:36 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἠπάτησαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῶν ἐψεύσαντο αὐτῷ	καὶ ἠγάπησαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῶν ἐψεύσαντο αὐτῷ
Psalm 77:36 (NETS)	Psalm 77:36 (English Elpenor)
And they deceived him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to him.	Yet they loved him [only] with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.

Psalm 78:37 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:37 (KJV)	Psalm 78:37 (NET)
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.	For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.	They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.

Psalm 78:37 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:37 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῗα μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ αὐτοῦ	ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῖα μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ αὐτοῦ
Psalm 77:37 (NETS)	Psalm 77:37 (English Elpenor)
And their heart was not upright with him, nor were they true to his covenant.	For their heart [was] not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

John 6:9 (NET)	John 6:9 (KJV)
“Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?”	There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἔστιν παιδάριον ὧδε ὃς ἔχει πέντε ἄρτους κριθίνους καὶ δύο ὀψάρια· ἀλλὰ ταῦτα τί ἐστιν εἰς τοσούτους	εστιν παιδαριον εν ωδε ο εχει πεντε αρτους κριθινους και δυο οψαρια αλλα ταυτα τι εστιν εις τοσουτους	εστιν παιδαριον εν ωδε ο εχει πεντε αρτους κριθινους και δυο οψαρια αλλα ταυτα τι εστιν εις τοσουτους

John 6:13 (NET)	John 6:13 (KJV)
So they gathered them up and filled 12 baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten.	Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
συνήγαγον οὖν καὶ ἐγέμισαν δώδεκα κοφίνους κλασμάτων ἐκ τῶν πέντε ἄρτων τῶν κριθίνων ἃ ἐπερίσσευσαν τοῖς βεβρωκόσιν	συνηγαγον ουν και εγεμισαν δωδεκα κοφινους κλασματων εκ των πεντε αρτων των κριθινων α επερισσευσεν τοις βεβρωκοσιν	συνηγαγον ουν και εγεμισαν δωδεκα κοφινους κλασματων εκ των πεντε αρτων των κριθινων α επερισσευσεν τοις βεβρωκοσιν

Matthew 14:22 (NET)	Matthew 14:22 (KJV)
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds.	And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ \|εὐθέως\| ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς ἐμβῆναι εἰς \|τὸ\| πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους	και ευθεως ηναγκασεν ο ιησους τους μαθητας αυτου εμβηναι εις το πλοιον και προαγειν αυτον εις το περαν εως ου απολυση τους οχλους	και ευθεως ηναγκασεν ο ιησους τους μαθητας εμβηναι εις το πλοιον και προαγειν αυτον εις το περαν εως ου απολυση τους οχλους

Matthew 18:2 (NET)	Matthew 18:2 (KJV)
He called a child, had him stand among them,	And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος παιδίον ἔστησεν αὐτὸ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν	και προσκαλεσαμενος ο ιησους παιδιον εστησεν αυτο εν μεσω αυτων	και προσκαλεσαμενος ο ιησους παιδιον εστησεν αυτο εν μεσω αυτων

Matthew 18:4 (NET)	Matthew 18:4 (KJV)
Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.	Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὅστις οὖν ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὡς τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο, οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ μείζων ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν	οστις ουν ταπεινωση εαυτον ως το παιδιον τουτο ουτος εστιν ο μειζων εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων	οστις ουν ταπεινωσει εαυτον ως το παιδιον τουτο ουτος εστιν ο μειζων εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων

The Will of God – Jesus, Part 3

Back to Romans, Part 66

Back to A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 1

Back to Romans, Part 56

Back to Romans, Part 79

Back to Psalm 22, Part 7

Back to Peter’s Second Gospel Proclamation, Part 2

Back to Nothing True, Part 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

¹ Matthew 14:21 (NET)

² John 6:9 (NET)

³ John 6:13 (NET)

⁴ John 6:14 (NET) Table

⁵ Deuteronomy 18:15 (NET)

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

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

⁸ Paul’s OT Quotes – Romans 10:5-8

⁹ Matthew 14:22 (NET)

¹⁰ John 6:15 (NET) Table

¹¹ John 6:25-27 (NET)

¹² John 6:28, 29 (NET) Table

¹³ John 6:30 (NET)

¹⁴ John 6:31 (NET)

¹⁵ John 6:32-34 (NET)

¹⁶ John 6:35a (NET) Table

¹⁷ Deuteronomy 8:2, 3 (NET)

¹⁸ John 6:35b-40 (NET)

¹⁹ John 6:41 (NET)

²⁰ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο ιησους (KJV: Jesus) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²¹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ταπεινώσει here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ταπεινωση (KJV: shall humble).

²² Matthew 18:1-4 (NET)

²³ Matthew 18:6-9 (NET)

²⁴ John 1:1-3 (NET)

²⁵ John 1:10-13 (NET)

²⁶ John 3:3 (NET)

²⁷ John 3:6, 7 (NET)

Romans, Part 12

Posted on August 15, 2012 by admin

For circumcision has its value (ὠφελεῖ, a form of ὠφελέω) if you practice (πράσσῃς, a form of πράσσω) the law (νόμον, a form of νόμος), but if you break (παραβάτης) the law (νόμου, another form of νόμος), your circumcision has become uncircumcision.¹ I began here in the last essay and went on to John 7 to contrast Jesus to his adversaries, even his mother and brothers, to try to refine my understanding of the difference between those who hear (ἀκροατής) and those who do (ποιητής) the law. I want to do that some more in this essay after covering more of what Paul said in Romans 2:26-29 (NET).

Therefore if the uncircumcised man obeys the righteous requirements of the law, will not² his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised man who keeps the law judge you who, despite the written code and circumcision, transgress (παραβάτην, a form of παραβάτης) the law? For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh, but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code. This person’s praise is not from people but from God.

Those who do (ποιητής) the law are like the Jew who is one inwardly, his circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit, his praise is from God. The ὑποκριτής, the actor, needs a human audience. Jesus said, Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites (ὑποκριταὶ, a form of ὑποκριτής) do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them.³ Whenever you pray,⁴ do not be⁵ like⁶ the hypocrites (ὑποκριταὶ, a form of ὑποκριτής), because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see⁷ them.⁸ When you fast, do not look sullen like⁹ the hypocrites (ὑποκριταὶ, a form of ὑποκριτής), for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting.¹⁰

And this circumcision that is of the heart by the Spirit is so much more than doing it again with feeling. Actors have deep feelings. The Pharisees were passionate about wanting to kill Jesus, but were they passionate because they cared so deeply for God’s honor or because Jesus upstaged them? It is a terrible thing to upstage an actor.

After his brothers had gone up to the feast, then Jesus himself also went up, not openly but¹¹ in secret.¹² Midway through the feast He began teaching in the temple courts. Then¹³ the Jewish leaders were astonished and said, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?”¹⁴ In other words, he wasn’t instructed by the Jewish leaders. Jesus replied, My teaching (διδαχή) is not from me, but from the one who sent me. If anyone wants (θέλῃ, a form of θέλω) to do (ποιεῖν, a form of ποιέω) God’s will (θέλημα), he will know (γνώσεται, a form of γινώσκω) about my teaching (διδαχῆς, another form of διδαχή), whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority.¹⁵

I’m going to say for the sake of argument that the above statement is true. I should believe it. I claim to believe Jesus. It says that since his hearers did not know about his teaching, whether it was from God or whether He spoke from his own authority, Jesus was convinced that they did not want to do God’s will. They were those who hear (ἀκροατής) the law by definition. Their heart wasn’t in it, not by the Spirit but by the written code. They were actors (ὑποκριταὶ, a form of ὑποκριτής), hypocrites.

But wanting to do God’s will is a fairly high prerequisite to knowing about his teaching. It touches me deeply how faith helps me overcome that deficit. I may not want to do God’s will—yet—but through the faith that Jesus’ teaching comes from God and is his will I can work backwards, as it were. More to the point, He can work me backwards to the desire for God’s will. As Paul wrote, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, for the one bringing forth in you both the desire (θέλειν, another form of θέλω) and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God [Table].¹⁶

For some good reasons I’ve thought of hypocrisy as boasting about the law but not actually doing it. I want to consider something else Paul wrote: Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh (e.g., get circumcised to make themselves righteous)! For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God,¹⁷ exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials…¹⁸ Then Paul described his past as Saul the hypocrite this way: If someone thinks he has good reasons to put confidence in human credentials, I have more: I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee. In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless [Table].¹⁹

As I considered that Paul had the audacity to write such a thing, and that the Holy Spirit had the audacity to put that writing in Holy Scripture, I had to amend my thoughts and feelings about hearers (ἀκροαταὶ, a form of ἀκροατής) and hypocrites (ὑποκριταὶ, a form of ὑποκριτής) relative to doers or poets (ποιηταὶ, a form of ποιητής). The ἀκροαταὶ and the ὑποκριταὶ may not commit adultery, but the ποιηταὶ love their wives. And I don’t mean that they have warm fuzzy feelings for their wives when their wives make them feel good. I mean love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NET).

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends [Table].

The ἀκροαταὶ and the ὑποκριταὶ may not steal, but the ποιηταὶ love their neighbors as themselves. The ἀκροαταὶ and the ὑποκριταὶ may not kill, but the ποιηταὶ love their enemies so that [they] may be like [their] Father in heaven, since [He] causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.²⁰ I have begun, but I have only begun to scratch the surface of what it means to be a ποιητής (poet, doer) of the law.

I performed one miracle and you are all amazed, Jesus said to the ἀκροαταὶ and the ὑποκριταὶ around Him. However, because Moses²¹ gave you the practice of circumcision (not that it came from Moses,²² but from the forefathers), you circumcise a male child on the Sabbath. But if a male child is circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses²³ is not broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge (κρίνετε, a form of κρίνω) according to external appearance, but judge²⁴ (κρίνετε, a form of κρίνω) with proper (δικαίαν, a form of δίκαιος) judgment (κρίσιν, a form of κρίσις).²⁵

So Jesus, speaking to hearers and actors rather than doers or poets of the law, said, Do not judge me (or by extension, God) according to external appearance, but judge me with proper (that is righteous) judgment. Slowly, it seems, I learn that lesson.

Addendum: January 1, 2021
I was struck by the Greek word κατατομήν (a form of κατατομή), translated of those who mutilate the flesh (NET) and of the concision (KJV) as I worked through this again. There is a very interesting answer to the question “What is the meaning of ‘katatomē’ in Philippians 3:2?” on the Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange online. But concision has me rethinking my rather glib explanation: those who “get circumcised to make themselves righteous.”

Is it the act itself done for this reason that Paul cautioned against rather than the men who do this act or recommend that one do this act for this reason? Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! (Galatians 5:2 NET) It definitely has me thinking about how far reaching this warning could be, how many religious acts it may pertain to. Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God… (Hebrews 6:1 NET)

Tables comparing Romans 2:26; Matthew 6:5; 6:16; John 7:10; 7:15, 16; Philippians 3:3 and John 7:21-24 in the NET and KJV follow.

Romans 2:26 (NET)	Romans 2:26 (KJV)
Therefore if the uncircumcised man obeys the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?	Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἐὰν οὖν ἡ ἀκροβυστία τὰ δικαιώματα τοῦ νόμου φυλάσσῃ, οὐχ ἡ ἀκροβυστία αὐτοῦ εἰς περιτομὴν λογισθήσεται	εαν ουν η ακροβυστια τα δικαιωματα του νομου φυλασση ουχι η ακροβυστια αυτου εις περιτομην λογισθησεται	εαν ουν η ακροβυστια τα δικαιωματα του νομου φυλασση ουχι η ακροβυστια αυτου εις περιτομην λογισθησεται

Matthew 6:5 (NET)	Matthew 6:5 (KJV)
“Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward!	And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ ὅταν προσεύχησθε, οὐκ ἔσεσθε ὡς οἱ ὑποκριταί, ὅτι φιλοῦσιν ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς καὶ ἐν ταῖς γωνίαις τῶν πλατειῶν ἑστῶτες προσεύχεσθαι, ὅπως φανῶσιν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπέχουσιν τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν	και οταν προσευχη ουκ εση ωσπερ οι υποκριται οτι φιλουσιν εν ταις συναγωγαις και εν ταις γωνιαις των πλατειων εστωτες προσευχεσθαι οπως αν φανωσιν τοις ανθρωποις αμην λεγω υμιν οτι απεχουσιν τον μισθον αυτων	και οταν προσευχη ουκ εση ωσπερ οι υποκριται οτι φιλουσιν εν ταις συναγωγαις και εν ταις γωνιαις των πλατειων εστωτες προσευχεσθαι οπως αν φανωσιν τοις ανθρωποις αμην λεγω υμιν οτι απεχουσιν τον μισθον αυτων

Matthew 6:16 (NET)	Matthew 6:16 (KJV)
“When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward!	Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ὅταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὡς οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί, ἀφανίζουσιν γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσιν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπέχουσιν τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν	οταν δε νηστευητε μη γινεσθε ωσπερ οι υποκριται σκυθρωποι αφανιζουσιν γαρ τα προσωπα αυτων οπως φανωσιν τοις ανθρωποις νηστευοντες αμην λεγω υμιν οτι απεχουσιν τον μισθον αυτων	οταν δε νηστευητε μη γινεσθε ωσπερ οι υποκριται σκυθρωποι αφανιζουσιν γαρ τα προσωπα αυτων οπως φανωσιν τοις ανθρωποις νηστευοντες αμην λεγω υμιν οτι απεχουσιν τον μισθον αυτων

John 7:10 (NET)	John 7:10 (KJV)
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then Jesus himself also went up, not openly but in secret.	But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ὡς δὲ ἀνέβησαν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν, τότε καὶ αὐτὸς ἀνέβη οὐ φανερῶς ἀλλὰ [ὡς] ἐν κρυπτῷ	ως δε ανεβησαν οι αδελφοι αυτου τοτε και αυτος ανεβη εις την εορτην ου φανερως αλλ ως εν κρυπτω	ως δε ανεβησαν οι αδελφοι αυτου τοτε και αυτος ανεβη εις την εορτην ου φανερως αλλ ως εν κρυπτω

John 7:15, 16 (NET)	John 7:15, 16 (KJV)
Then the Jewish leaders were astonished and said, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?”	And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἐθαύμαζον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι λέγοντες· πῶς οὗτος γράμματα οἶδεν μὴ μεμαθηκώς	και εθαυμαζον οι ιουδαιοι λεγοντες πως ουτος γραμματα οιδεν μη μεμαθηκως	και εθαυμαζον οι ιουδαιοι λεγοντες πως ουτος γραμματα οιδεν μη μεμαθηκως

So Jesus replied, “My teaching is not from me, but from the one who sent me.

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀπεκρίθη οὖν αὐτοῖς [ὁ] Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν· ἡ ἐμὴ διδαχὴ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὴ ἀλλὰ τοῦ πέμψαντος με	απεκριθη αυτοις ο ιησους και ειπεν η εμη διδαχη ουκ εστιν εμη αλλα του πεμψαντος με	απεκριθη ουν αυτοις ο ιησους και ειπεν η εμη διδαχη ουκ εστιν εμη αλλα του πεμψαντος με

Philippians 3:3 (NET)	Philippians 3:3 (KJV)
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials	For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἡμεῖς γάρ ἐσμεν ἡ περιτομή, οἱ πνεύματι θεοῦ λατρεύοντες καὶ καυχώμενοι ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐν σαρκὶ πεποιθότες,	ημεις γαρ εσμεν η περιτομη οι πνευματι θεω λατρευοντες και καυχωμενοι εν χριστω ιησου και ουκ εν σαρκι πεποιθοτες	ημεις γαρ εσμεν η περιτομη οι πνευματι θεου λατρευοντες και καυχωμενοι εν χριστω ιησου και ουκ εν σαρκι πεποιθοτες

John 7:21-24 (NET)	John 7:21-23 (KJV)
Jesus replied, “I performed one miracle and you are all amazed.	Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἓν ἔργον ἐποίησα καὶ πάντες θαυμάζετε	απεκριθη ο ιησους και ειπεν αυτοις εν εργον εποιησα και παντες θαυμαζετε	απεκριθη ιησους και ειπεν αυτοις εν εργον εποιησα και παντες θαυμαζετε

However, because Moses gave you the practice of circumcision (not that it came from Moses, but from the forefathers), you circumcise a male child on the Sabbath.

Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
διὰ τοῦτο Μωϋσῆς δέδωκεν ὑμῖν τὴν περιτομήν (οὐχ ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ Μωϋσέως ἐστὶν ἀλλ᾿ ἐκ τῶν πατέρων), καὶ \|ἐν\| σαββάτῳ περιτέμνετε ἄνθρωπον	δια τουτο μωσης δεδωκεν υμιν την περιτομην ουχ οτι εκ του μωσεως εστιν αλλ εκ των πατερων και εν σαββατω περιτεμνετε ανθρωπον	δια τουτο μωσης δεδωκεν υμιν την περιτομην ουχ οτι εκ του μωσεως εστιν αλλ εκ των πατερων και εν σαββατω περιτεμνετε ανθρωπον

But if a male child is circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?

If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ περιτομὴν λαμβάνει ἄνθρωπος ἐν σαββάτῳ ἵνα μὴ λυθῇ ὁ νόμος Μωϋσέως, ἐμοὶ χολᾶτε ὅτι ὅλον ἄνθρωπον ὑγιῆ ἐποίησα ἐν σαββάτῳ	ει περιτομην λαμβανει ανθρωπος εν σαββατω ινα μη λυθη ο νομος μωσεως εμοι χολατε οτι ολον ανθρωπον υγιη εποιησα εν σαββατω	ει περιτομην λαμβανει ανθρωπος εν σαββατω ινα μη λυθη ο νομος μωσεως εμοι χολατε οτι ολον ανθρωπον υγιη εποιησα εν σαββατω

Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment.”

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
μὴ κρίνετε κατ᾿ ὄψιν, ἀλλὰ τὴν δικαίαν κρίσιν κρίνετε	μη κρινετε κατ οψιν αλλα την δικαιαν κρισιν κρινατε	μη κρινετε κατ οψιν αλλα την δικαιαν κρισιν κρινατε

Romans, Part 13

Back to Romans, Part 49

Back to Torture, Part 2

Back to Romans, Part 79

Back to To Make Holy, Part 4

Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 6

Back to Who Am I? Part 4

Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 7

Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 1

Back to Hypocrisy

Back to Romans, Part 42

Back to Romans, Part 86

Back to Who Am I? Part 11

Back to The Book of Life, Part 1

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

¹ Romans 2:25 (NET)

² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had οὐχ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzanitine Majority Text had ουχι.

³ Matthew 6:2a (NET)

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had προσεύχησθε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzanitine Majority Text had προσευχη (KJV: thou prayest).

⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἔσεσθε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzanitine Majority Text had εση.

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὡς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzanitine Majority Text had ωσπερ (KJV: as).

⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzanitine Majority Text had αν (KJV: they may) preceding see (KJV: be seen). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁸ Matthew 6:5a (NET)

⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὡς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzanitine Majority Text had ωσπερ (KJV: as).

¹⁰ Matthew 6:16a (NET)

¹¹ The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzanitine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had ἀλλ’.

¹² John 7:10 (NET)

¹³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had οὖν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzanitine Majority Text had και (KJV: And).

¹⁴ John 7:15 (NET)

¹⁵ John 7:16, 17 (NET)

¹⁶ Philippians 2:12b, 13 (NET)

¹⁷ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had θεοῦ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had θεω.

¹⁸ Philippians 3:2, 3 (NET)

¹⁹ Philippians 3:4-6 (NET)

²⁰ Matthew 5:45 (NET) Table

²¹ In the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ Moses was spelled Μωϋσῆς, and μωσης in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

²² In the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ Moses was spelled Μωϋσέως, and μωσεως in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

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

²⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had κρίνετε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κρινατε.

²⁵ John 7:21-24 (NET)

The Will of God – Jesus, Part 1

Posted on August 13, 2012 by admin

For whoever does (ποιήσῃ, a form of ποιέω) the will (θέλημα) of God is my brother and sister and mother,¹ Jesus said. I searched to see what else Jesus said about the θέλημα of God. So pray this way: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored, may your kingdom come, may your will (θέλημα) be done (γενηθήτω, a form of γίνομαι) on earth² as it is in heaven [Table].³ Jesus associated his Father’s will being done or becoming on earth as it is in heaven with his name being honored and the coming of his kingdom. And this was in contrast to the prayer of the Gentiles (Matthew 6:7, 8 NET).

When you pray, do not babble repetitiously⁴ like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does (ποιῶν, another form of ποιέω) the will (θέλημα) of my Father in heaven,”⁵ Jesus said. “On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy⁶ in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do (ἐποιήσαμεν, another form of ποιέω) many powerful deeds (δυνάμεις, a form of δύναμις)?’ [Table] Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew (ἔγνων, a form of γινώσκω) you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers (KJV, that work [ἐργαζόμενοι, a form of ἐργάζομαι] iniquity [ἀνομίαν, a form of ἀνομία])!’”⁷

That statement has always shocked me. The only sense I have ever made of these miracle working lawbreakers who are unknown to Jesus is by contrast to those who love (ἀγαπῶσιν, a form of ἀγαπάω) God, who are called (κλητοῖς, a form of κλητός) according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew (προέγνω, a form of προγινώσκω) he also predestined (προώρισεν, a form of προορίζω) to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined (προώρισεν, a form of προορίζω), he also called (ἐκάλεσεν, a form of καλέω); and those he called (ἐκάλεσεν, a form of καλέω), he also justified (ἐδικαίωσεν, a form of δικαιόω); and those he justified (ἐδικαίωσεν, a form of δικαιόω), he also glorified (ἐδόξασεν, a form of δοξάζω).⁸

After I wrote that it felt a bit lazy on my part. The least I could do is a Google search, I thought. I typed in “spiritist Jesus” and got 1,090,000 entries in 0.30 seconds. Obviously, Jesus is more aware of my world than I am. I didn’t spend enough time there to verify miracles or ascertain violations of God’s law. But since there are apparently spiritists claiming allegiance to Jesus I’ll repeat the law.

Do not turn to the spirits of the dead and do not seek familiar spirits to become unclean by them. I am the Lord your God.⁹ A man or woman who has in them a spirit of the dead or a familiar spirit must be put to death.¹⁰ Now I’m not advocating the death penalty for a spiritist any more than I would for an adulterer like me. I quote the law simply to get some idea of its weight in God’s mind. Its penalty is equivalent to adultery. God never said that it was impossible to gain knowledge from the spirits of the dead or familiar spirits, he simply forbade his people from gaining that knowledge that way.

After Samuel the prophet died King Saul longed for his advice when the Lord would no longer answer him (1 Samuel 28:7-14 NET).

So Saul instructed his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.”

His servants replied to him, “There is a woman who is a medium in Endor.”

So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said, “Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you.”

But the woman said to him, “Look, you are aware of what Saul has done; he has removed the mediums and magicians from the land! Why are you trapping me so you can put me to death?”

But Saul swore an oath to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not incur guilt in this matter!”

The woman replied, “Who is it that I should bring up for you?”

He said, “Bring up for me Samuel.”

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! What have you seen?”

The woman replied to Saul, “I have seen one like a god coming up from the ground!”

He said to her, “What about his appearance?”

She said, “An old man is coming up! He is wrapped in a robe!”

Then Saul realized it was Samuel, and he bowed his face toward the ground and kneeled down.

Thus far the essentially rationalist bias of my mind can console itself with the idea that this was all mumbo jumbo. After all, who knows what they were smoking in that ritual pit. But I am also filled by the Holy Spirit who supplies me daily with faith (πίστις). So when the Scripture continues, Samuel said to Saul, my biased, essentially rationalist, mind is compelled to sit down, shut up and pay attention (1 Samuel 28:15-19 NET).

“Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

Saul replied, “I am terribly troubled! The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He does not answer me – not by the prophets nor by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what I should do.”

Samuel said, “Why are you asking me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and has become your enemy? The Lord has done exactly as I prophesied! The Lord has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor David! Since you did not obey the Lord (1 Samuel 15) and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this thing to you today. The Lord will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!”

Jesus told a parable about a man with two sons. He went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard¹¹ today.” The boy answered, ‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart (μεταμεληθεὶς, a form of μεταμέλλομαι) and went. The father went¹² to the other¹³ son and said the same thing. This boy answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did (ἐποίησεν, another form of ποιέω) his father’s will (θέλημα)?¹⁴ Those standing there answered, the first, and Jesus did not dispute their answer.

That servant who knew (γνοὺς, another form of γινώσκω) his¹⁵ master’s will (θέλημα) but did not get ready or¹⁶ do (ποιήσας, another form of ποιέω) what his master asked (θέλημα) will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know (γνοὺς, another form of γινώσκω) his master’s will and did (ποιήσας, another form of ποιέω) things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.¹⁷

Jesus said to his disciples, “My food is to do¹⁸ (ποιήσω, another form of ποιέω) the will (θέλημα) of the one who sent me and to complete (τελειώσω, a form of τελειόω) his work (ἔργον).”¹⁹ For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will (θέλημα) but the will (θέλημα) of the one who sent me.²⁰ And to the Jewish leaders He said, I can do (ποιεῖν, another form of ποιέω) nothing on my own initiative. Just as I hear (ἀκούω), I judge (κρίνω), and my judgment (κρίσις) is just (δικαία, a form of δίκαιος), because I do not seek my own will (θέλημα), but the will (θέλημα) of the one who sent me.²¹

Addendum: December 6, 2020
Samuel described Saul’s offense as not fearing the Lord by the definition I gleaned from Deuteronomy. He said, thou didst not hearken (Tanakh), you did not obey (NET), שָׁמַ֙עְתָּ֙ (shama`) in Hebrew in the Masoretic text, or you did not hear (NETS), thou didst not hearken (English Elpenor), ἤκουσας (a form of ἀκούω) in Greek in the Septuagint. Saul didst not execute (Tanakh), and did not carry out (NET), עָשִֹ֥יתָ (asah) in Hebrew, or did not carry out (NET), thou didst not execute (English Elpenor), ἐποίησε(ν) (a form of ποιέω) in Greek.

Saul did not have the fear of the Lord: a heart to hear and do whatsoever the Lord our God shall speak. Here, too, holy genocide was the whatsoever Saul refused to hear and do.

While I do think that Jesus is the fear of the Lord—the heart to hear and do whatsoever the Lord our God shall speak, He used the words hear and do somewhat differently (John 5:30 NET):

I can do (ποιεῖν, a form of ποιέω) nothing on my own initiative. Just as I hear (ἀκούω), I judge, and my judgment is just because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.

As I hear, I judge (κρίνω) is Jesus’ unique take on “to hear and do whatsoever the Lord our God shall speak” (John 5:19b-23 NET):

I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do (ποιεῖν, a form of ποιέω) nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing (ποιοῦντα, another form of ποιέω). For whatever the Father does (ποιῇ, another form of ποιέω), the Son does (ποιεῖ, another form of ποιέω) likewise [Table]. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does (ποιεῖ, another form of ποιέω), and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. Furthermore, the Father does not judge (κρίνει, a form of κρίνω) anyone, but has assigned all judgment (κρίσιν, a form of κρίσις) to the Son, so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

The standing order of the day for those who have been shown mercy (Romans 9:14-24; Matthew 18:21-35) remains (Matthew 7:1, 2 NET):

Do not judge (κρίνετε, another form of κρίνω) so that you will not be judged (κριθῆτε, another form of κρίνω). For by the standard you judge (κρίνετε) you will be judged (κριθήσεσθε, another form of κρίνω), and the measure you use will be the measure (μετρηθήσεται, another form of μετρέω) you receive [Table].

Tables comparing Leviticus 19:31; 20:27; 1 Samuel 28:7; 28:8; 28:9; 28:10; 28:11; 28:12; 28:13; 28:14; 28:15; 28:16; 28:17; 28:18 and 28:19 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Leviticus 19:31; 20:27; 1 Samuel (Reigns, Kings) 28:7; 28:8; 28:9; 28:10; 28:11; 28:12; 28:13; 28:14; 28:15; 28:16; 28:17; 28:18 and 28:19 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Tables comparing Matthew 6:7; 7:22; 21:28; 21:30, 31; Luke 12:47 and John 4:34 in the NET and KJV follows those.

Leviticus 19:31 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 19:31 (KJV)	Leviticus 19:31 (NET)
Turn ye not unto the ghosts, nor unto familiar spirits; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am HaShem your G-d.	Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.	Do not turn to the spirits of the dead and do not seek familiar spirits to become unclean by them. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:31 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 19:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐκ ἐπακολουθήσετε ἐγγαστριμύθοις καὶ τοῗς ἐπαοιδοῗς οὐ προσκολληθήσεσθε ἐκμιανθῆναι ἐν αὐτοῗς ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν	οὐκ ἐπακολουθήσετε ἐγγαστριμύθοις καὶ τοῖς ἐπαοιδοῖς οὐ προσκολληθήσεσθε, ἐκμιανθῆναι ἐν αὐτοῖς· ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν
Leviticus 19:31 (NETS)	Leviticus 19:31 (English Elpenor)
You shall not follow after ventriloquists, and you shall not attach yourselves to enchanters, to be thoroughly polluted by them; it is I who am the Lord your God.	Ye shall not attend to those who have in them divining spirits, nor attach yourselves to enchanters, to pollute yourselves with them: I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 20:27 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 20:27 (KJV)	Leviticus 20:27 (NET)
A man also or a woman that divineth by a ghost or a familiar spirit, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.	A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.	“‘A man or woman who has in them a spirit of the dead or a familiar spirit must be put to death. They must pelt them with stones; their blood guilt is on themselves.’”

Leviticus 20:27 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 20:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀνὴρ ἢ γυνή ὃς ἂν γένηται αὐτῶν ἐγγαστρίμυθος ἢ ἐπαοιδός θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν ἀμφότεροι λίθοις λιθοβολήσατε αὐτούς ἔνοχοί εἰσιν	Καὶ ἀνὴρ ἢ γυνή, ὃς ἂν γένηται αὐτῶν ἐγγαστρίμυθος ἢ ἐπαοιδός, θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν ἀμφότεροι· λίθοις λιθοβολήσετε αὐτούς, ἔνοχοί εἰσι
Leviticus 20:27 (NETS)	Leviticus 20:27 (English Elpenor)
And a man or a woman—whoever among them becomes a ventriloquist or an enchanter, let both by death be put to death; with stones you shall stone them; they are liable.	And [as for] a man or woman whosoever of them shall have in them a divining spirit, or be an enchanter, let them both die the death: ye shall stone them with stones, they are guilty.

1 Samuel 28:7 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:7 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:7 (NET)
Then said Saul unto his servants: ‘Seek me a woman that divineth by a ghost, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.’ And his servants said to him: ‘Behold, there is a woman that divineth by a ghost at En-dor.’	Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.	So Saul instructed his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants replied to him, “There is a woman who is a medium in Endor.”

1 Samuel 28:7 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ τοῗς παισὶν αὐτοῦ ζητήσατέ μοι γυναῗκα ἐγγαστρίμυθον καὶ πορεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτὴν καὶ ζητήσω ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ εἶπαν οἱ παῗδες αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν ἰδοὺ γυνὴ ἐγγαστρίμυθος ἐν Αενδωρ	καὶ εἶπε Σαοὺλ τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ· ζητήσατέ μοι γυναῖκα ἐγγαστρίμυθον, καὶ πορεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτὴν καὶ ζητήσω ἐν αὐτῇ· καὶ εἶπαν οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν· ἰδοὺ γυνὴ ἐγγαστρίμυθος ἐν ᾿Αενδώρ
1 Reigns 28:7 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:7 (English Elpenor)
And Saoul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a ventriloquizing woman, and I will go to her and inquire by her,” and his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a ventriloquizing woman at Aendor.”	Then Saul said to his servants, Seek for me a woman who has in her a divining spirit, and I will go to her, and enquire of her: and his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman who has in her a divining spirit at Aendor.

1 Samuel 28:8 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:8 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:8 (NET)
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said: ‘Divine unto me, I pray thee, by a ghost, and bring me up whomsoever I shall name unto thee.’	And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.	So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said, “Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you.”

1 Samuel 28:8 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ συνεκαλύψατο Σαουλ καὶ περιεβάλετο ἱμάτια ἕτερα καὶ πορεύεται αὐτὸς καὶ δύο ἄνδρες μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς τὴν γυναῗκα νυκτὸς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ μάντευσαι δή μοι ἐν τῷ ἐγγαστριμύθῳ καὶ ἀνάγαγέ μοι ὃν ἐὰν εἴπω σοι	καὶ συνεκαλύψατο Σαοὺλ καὶ περιεβάλετο ἱμάτια ἕτερα καὶ πορεύεται αὐτὸς καὶ δύο ἄνδρες μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα νυκτὸς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· μάντευσαι δή μοι ἐν τῷ ἐγγαστριμύθῳ καὶ ἀνάγαγέ μοι ὃν ἐὰν εἴπω σοι
1 Reigns 28:8 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:8 (English Elpenor)
And Saoul disguised himself and put on other clothes and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night, and he said to her, “Do seek divinations for me by a ventriloquist, and bring up for me whomever I say to you.”	And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he goes, and two men with him, and they come to the woman by night; and he said to her, Divine to me, I pray thee, by the divining spirit within thee, and bring up to me him whom I shall name to thee.

1 Samuel 28:9 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:9 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:9 (NET)
And the woman said unto him: ‘Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that divine by a ghost or a familiar spirit out of the land; wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?’	And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?	But the woman said to him, “Look, you are aware of what Saul has done; he has removed the mediums and magicians from the land! Why are you trapping me so you can put me to death?”

1 Samuel 28:9 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς αὐτόν ἰδοὺ δὴ σὺ οἶδας ὅσα ἐποίησεν Σαουλ ὡς ἐξωλέθρευσεν τοὺς ἐγγαστριμύθους καὶ τοὺς γνώστας ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἵνα τί σὺ παγιδεύεις τὴν ψυχήν μου θανατῶσαι αὐτήν	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνή· ἰδοὺ δὴ σὺ οἶδας ὅσα ἐποίησε Σαούλ, ὡς ἐξωλόθρευσε τοὺς ἐγγαστριμύθους καὶ τοὺς γνώστας ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς· καὶ ἱνατί σὺ παγιδεύεις τὴν ψυχήν μου θανατῶσαι αὐτήν
1 Reigns 28:9 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:9 (English Elpenor)
And the woman said to him, “Behold, indeed you know what Saoul did, how he cut off the ventriloquists and those in the know from the land, and why are you laying a snare for my life to put it to death?”	And the woman said to him, Behold now, thou knowest what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who had in them divining spirits, and the wizards from the land, and why dost thou spread a snare for my life to destroy it?

1 Samuel 28:10 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:10 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:10 (NET)
And Saul swore to her by HaShem, saying: ‘As HaShem liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.’	And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.	But Saul swore an oath to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not incur guilt in this matter!”

1 Samuel 28:10 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὤμοσεν αὐτῇ Σαουλ λέγων ζῇ κύριος εἰ ἀπαντήσεταί σοι ἀδικία ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τούτῳ	καὶ ὤμοσεν αὐτῇ Σαοὺλ λέγων· ζῇ Κύριος, εἰ ἀπαντήσεταί σοι ἀδικία ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τούτῳ
1 Reigns 28:10 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:10 (English Elpenor)
And Saoul swore to her, saying, “The Lord lives, if injustice shall befall you in this matter.”	And Saul swore to her, and said, [As] the Lord lives, no injury shall come upon thee on this account.

1 Samuel 28:11 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:11 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:11 (NET)
Then said the woman: ‘Whom shall I bring up unto thee?’ And he said: ‘Bring me up Samuel.’	Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.	The woman replied, “Who is it that I should bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up for me Samuel.”

1 Samuel 28:11 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνή τίνα ἀναγάγω σοι καὶ εἶπεν τὸν Σαμουηλ ἀνάγαγέ μοι	καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνή· τίνα ἀναγάγω σοι; καὶ εἶπε· τὸν Σαμουὴλ ἀνάγαγέ μοι
1 Reigns 28:11 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:11 (English Elpenor)
And the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samouel for me.”	And the woman said, Whom shall I bring up to thee? and he said, Bring up to me Samuel.

1 Samuel 28:12 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:12 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:12 (NET)
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying: ‘Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.’	And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.	When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

1 Samuel 28:12 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶδεν ἡ γυνὴ τὸν Σαμουηλ καὶ ἀνεβόησεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς Σαουλ ἵνα τί παρελογίσω με καὶ σὺ εἶ Σαουλ	καὶ εἶδεν ἡ γυνὴ τὸν Σαμουὴλ καὶ ἀνεβόησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς Σαούλ· ἱνατί παρελογίσω με; καὶ σὺ εἶ Σαούλ.
1 Reigns 28:12 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:12 (English Elpenor)
And the woman saw Samouel, and she cried out with a loud voice, and the woman said to Saoul, “Why did you deceive me? And you are Saoul!”	And the woman saw Samuel, and cried out with a loud voice: and the woman said to Saul, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

1 Samuel 28:13 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:13 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:13 (NET)
And the king said unto her: ‘Be not afraid; for what seest thou?’ And the woman said unto Saul: ‘I see a godlike being coming up out of the earth.’	And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.	The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! But what have you seen?” The woman replied to Saul, “I have seen a divine being coming up from the ground!”

1 Samuel 28:13 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ βασιλεύς μὴ φοβοῦ εἰπὸν τίνα ἑόρακας καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Θεοὺς ἑόρακα ἀναβαίνοντας ἐκ τῆς γῆς	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ βασιλεύς· μὴ φοβοῦ, εἰπὸν τίνα ἑώρακας. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνή· θεοὺς ἑώρακα ἀναβαίνοντας ἐκ τῆς γῆς
1 Reigns 28:13 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:13 (English Elpenor)
And the king said to her, “Have no fear; tell whom you have seen.” And she said to him, “I have seen gods coming up out of the ground.”	And the king said to her, Fear not; tell me whom thou hast seen. And the woman said to him, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

1 Samuel 28:14 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:14 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:14 (NET)
And he said unto her: ‘What form is he of?’ And she said: ‘An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a robe.’ And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and prostrated himself.	And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.	He said to her, “What about his appearance?” She said, “An old man is coming up! He is wrapped in a robe!” Then Saul realized it was Samuel, and he bowed his face toward the ground and kneeled down.

1 Samuel 28:14 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ τί ἔγνως καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἄνδρα ὄρθιον ἀναβαίνοντα ἐκ τῆς γῆς καὶ οὗτος διπλοΐδα ἀναβεβλημένος καὶ ἔγνω Σαουλ ὅτι Σαμουηλ οὗτος καὶ ἔκυψεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· τί ἔγνως; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἄνδρα ὄρθιον ἀναβαίνοντα ἐκ τῆς γῆς, καὶ οὗτος διπλοΐδα ἀναβεβλημένος. καὶ ἔγνω Σαούλ, ὅτι οὗτος Σαμουήλ, καὶ ἔκυψεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ
1 Reigns 28:14 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:14 (English Elpenor)
And he said to her, “What did you perceive?” And she said to him, “A man, standing, coming up out of the ground, and he is wrapped in a double-cloak.” And Saoul knew that this was Samouel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did obeisance to him.	And he said to her, What didst thou perceive? and she said to him, An upright man ascending out of the earth, and he [was] clothed with a mantle. And Saul knew that this was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the earth, and did obeisance to him.

1 Samuel 28:15 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:15 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:15 (NET)
And Samuel said to Saul: ‘Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?’ And Saul answered: ‘I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and G-d is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams; therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.’	And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.	Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul replied, “I am terribly troubled! The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He does not answer me anymore—not by the prophets nor by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what I should do.”

1 Samuel 28:15 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ ἵνα τί παρηνώχλησάς μοι ἀναβῆναί με καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ θλίβομαι σφόδρα καὶ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι πολεμοῦσιν ἐν ἐμοί καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἀφέστηκεν ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐπακήκοέν μοι ἔτι καὶ ἐν χειρὶ τῶν προφητῶν καὶ ἐν τοῗς ἐνυπνίοις καὶ νῦν κέκληκά σε γνωρίσαι μοι τί ποιήσω	καὶ εἶπε Σαμουήλ· ἱνατί παρηνώχλησάς μοι ἀναβῆναί με; καὶ εἶπε Σαούλ· θλίβομαι σφόδρα, καὶ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι πολεμοῦσιν ἐν ἐμοί, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἀφέστηκεν ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐπακήκοέ μοι ἔτι καὶ ἐν χειρὶ τῶν προφητῶν καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐνυπνίοις· καὶ νῦν κέκληκά σε γνωρίσαι μοι τί ποιήσω
1 Reigns 28:15 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:15 (English Elpenor)
And Samouel said, “Why did you disturb me that I ascend?” And Saoul said, “I am greatly distressed, and the allophyles are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and no longer heeds me, either by the hand of prophets or by dreams, and now I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.”	And Samuel said, Why hast thou troubled me, that I should come up? And Saul said, I am greatly distressed, and the Philistines war against me, and God has departed from me, and no longer hearkens to me either by the hand of the prophets or by dreams: and now I have called thee to tell me what I shall do.

1 Samuel 28:16 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:16 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:16 (NET)
And Samuel said: `Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing HaShem is departed from thee, and is become thine adversary?	Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?	Samuel said, “Why are you asking me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and has become your enemy?

1 Samuel 28:16 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ ἵνα τί ἐπερωτᾷς με καὶ κύριος ἀφέστηκεν ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ γέγονεν μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου	καὶ εἶπε Σαμουήλ· ἱνατί ἐπερωτᾷς με; καὶ Κύριος ἀφέστηκεν ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ γέγονε μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου
1 Reigns 28:16 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:16 (English Elpenor)
And Samouel said, “Why do you inquire of me? And the Lord has turned from you and is with your neighbor,	And Samuel said, Why askest thou me, whereas the Lord has departed from thee, and taken part with thy neighbour?

1 Samuel 28:17 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:17 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:17 (NET)
And HaShem hath wrought for Himself; as He spoke by me; and HaShem hath rent the kingdom out of thy hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David.	And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:	The Lord has done exactly as I prophesied! The Lord has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor David!

1 Samuel 28:17 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ πεποίηκεν κύριός σοι καθὼς ἐλάλησεν ἐν χειρί μου καὶ διαρρήξει κύριος τὴν βασιλείαν σου ἐκ χειρός σου καὶ δώσει αὐτὴν τῷ πλησίον σου τῷ Δαυιδ	καὶ πεποίηκε Κύριός σοι καθὼς ἐλάλησε Κύριος ἐν χειρί μου, καὶ διαρρήξει Κύριος τὴν βασιλείαν σου ἐκ χειρός σου καὶ δώσει αὐτὴν τῷ πλησίον σου τῷ Δαυίδ
1 Reigns 28:17 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:17 (English Elpenor)
and the Lord has done to you just as he spoke by my hand, and the Lord will tear your kingdom out of your hand and give it to your neighbor Dauid.	And the Lord has done to thee, as the Lord spoke by me; and the Lord will rend thy kingdom out of thy hand, and will give it to thy neighbour David.

1 Samuel 28:18 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:18 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:18 (NET)
Because thou didst not hearken to the voice of HaShem, and didst not execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath HaShem done this thing unto thee this day.	Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.	Since you did not obey the Lord and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this thing to you today.

1 Samuel 28:18 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διότι οὐκ ἤκουσας φωνῆς κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησας θυμὸν ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ ἐν Αμαληκ διὰ τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα ἐποίησεν κύριός σοι τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ	διότι οὐκ ἤκουσας φωνῆς Κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησας θυμὸν ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ ἐν ᾿Αμαλήκ, διὰ τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα ἐποίησε Κύριός σοι ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ
1 Reigns 28:18 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:18 (English Elpenor)
Because you did not hear the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore the Lord did this thing to you this day.	because thou didst not hearken to the voice of the Lord, and didst not execute his fierce anger upon Amalec, therefore the Lord has done this thing to thee this day.

1 Samuel 28:19 (Tanakh)	1 Samuel 28:19 (KJV)	1 Samuel 28:19 (NET)
Moreover HaShem will deliver Israel also with thee into the hand of the Philistines; and to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me; HaShem will deliver the host of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.’	Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.	The Lord will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!”

1 Samuel 28:19 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Kings 28:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ παραδώσει κύριος τὸν Ισραηλ μετὰ σοῦ εἰς χεῗρας ἀλλοφύλων καὶ αὔριον σὺ καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου μετὰ σοῦ πεσοῦνται καὶ τὴν παρεμβολὴν Ισραηλ δώσει κύριος εἰς χεῗρας ἀλλοφύλων	καὶ παραδώσει Κύριος τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ μετὰ σοῦ εἰς χεῖρας ἀλλοφύλων, καὶ αὔριον σὺ καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου μετὰ σοῦ πεσοῦνται, καὶ τὴν παρεμβολὴν ᾿Ισραὴλ δώσει Κύριος εἰς χεῖρας ἀλλοφύλων
1 Reigns 28:19 (NETS)	1 Kings 28:19 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord will hand over Israel along with you into the hands of allophyles, and tomorrow you and your sons with you shall fall, and the Lord will give the camp of Israel into the hands of allophyles.”	And the Lord shall deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines, and to-morrow thou and thy sons with thee shall fall, and the Lord shall deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.

Matthew 6:7 (NET)	Matthew 6:7 (KJV)
When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles because they think that by their many words they will be heard.	But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Προσευχόμενοι δὲ μὴ βατταλογήσητε ὥσπερ οἱ ἐθνικοί, δοκοῦσιν γὰρ ὅτι ἐν τῇ πολυλογίᾳ αὐτῶν εἰσακουσθήσονται	προσευχομενοι δε μη βαττολογησητε ωσπερ οι εθνικοι δοκουσιν γαρ οτι εν τη πολυλογια αυτων εισακουσθησονται	προσευχομενοι δε μη βαττολογησητε ωσπερ οι εθνικοι δοκουσιν γαρ οτι εν τη πολυλογια αυτων εισακουσθησονται

Matthew 7:22 (NET)	Matthew 7:22 (KJV)
On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many powerful deeds in your name?’	Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
πολλοὶ ἐροῦσιν μοι ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ· κύριε κύριε, οὐ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι ἐπροφητεύσαμεν, καὶ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι δαιμόνια ἐξεβάλομεν, καὶ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι δυνάμεις πολλὰς ἐποιήσαμεν	πολλοι ερουσιν μοι εν εκεινη τη ημερα κυριε κυριε ου τω σω ονοματι προεφητευσαμεν και τω σω ονοματι δαιμονια εξεβαλομεν και τω σω ονοματι δυναμεις πολλας εποιησαμεν	πολλοι ερουσιν μοι εν εκεινη τη ημερα κυριε κυριε ου τω σω ονοματι προεφητευσαμεν και τω σω ονοματι δαιμονια εξεβαλομεν και τω σω ονοματι δυναμεις πολλας εποιησαμεν

Matthew 21:28 (NET)	Matthew 21:28 (KJV)
“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’	But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τί δὲ ὑμῖν δοκεῖ; ἄνθρωπος εἶχεν τέκνα δύο. \|καὶ\| προσελθὼν τῷ πρώτῳ εἶπεν· τέκνον, ὕπαγε σήμερον ἐργάζου ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι	τι δε υμιν δοκει ανθρωπος ειχεν τεκνα δυο και προσελθων τω πρωτω ειπεν τεκνον υπαγε σημερον εργαζου εν τω αμπελωνι μου	τι δε υμιν δοκει ανθρωπος ειχεν τεκνα δυο και προσελθων τω πρωτω ειπεν τεκνον υπαγε σημερον εργαζου εν τω αμπελωνι μου

Matthew 21:30, 31 (NET)	Matthew 21:30, 31 (KJV)
The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go.	And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
προσελθὼν δὲ τῷ \|ἑτέρῳ\| εἶπεν ὡσαύτως. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· \|ἐγώ, κύριε, καὶ οὐκ\| ἀπῆλθεν	και προσελθων τω δευτερω ειπεν ωσαυτως ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν εγω κυριε και ουκ απηλθεν	και προσελθων τω δευτερω ειπεν ωσαυτως ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν εγω κυριε και ουκ απηλθεν

Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God!

Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο ἐποίησεν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρός; λέγουσιν· ὁ \|πρῶτος\|. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οἱ τελῶναι καὶ αἱ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ	τις εκ των δυο εποιησεν το θελημα του πατρος λεγουσιν αυτω ο πρωτος λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους αμην λεγω υμιν οτι οι τελωναι και αι πορναι προαγουσιν υμας εις την βασιλειαν του θεου	τις εκ των δυο εποιησεν το θελημα του πατρος λεγουσιν αυτω ο πρωτος λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους αμην λεγω υμιν οτι οι τελωναι και αι πορναι προαγουσιν υμας εις την βασιλειαν του θεου

Luke 12:47 (NET)	Luke 12:47 (KJV)
That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating.	And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐκεῖνος δὲ ὁ δοῦλος ὁ γνοὺς τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ καὶ μὴ ἑτοιμάσας ἢ ποιήσας πρὸς τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ δαρήσεται πολλάς	εκεινος δε ο δουλος ο γνους το θελημα του κυριου εαυτου και μη ετοιμασας μηδε ποιησας προς το θελημα αυτου δαρησεται πολλας	εκεινος δε ο δουλος ο γνους το θελημα του κυριου εαυτου και μη ετοιμασας μηδε ποιησας προς το θελημα αυτου δαρησεται πολλας

John 4:34 (NET)	John 4:34 (KJV)
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work.	Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐμὸν βρῶμα ἐστιν ἵνα ποιήσω τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πέμψαντος με καὶ τελειώσω αὐτοῦ τὸ ἔργον	λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους εμον βρωμα εστιν ινα ποιω το θελημα του πεμψαντος με και τελειωσω αυτου το εργον	λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους εμον βρωμα εστιν ινα ποιω το θελημα του πεμψαντος με και τελειωσω αυτου το εργον

The Will of God – Jesus, Part 2

Back to Son of God – John, Part 5

Back to David’s Forgiveness, Part 12

Back to Prayer

Back to Romans, Part 60

Back to To Make Holy, Part 4

Back to Romans, Part 23

Back to Son of God – John, Part 4

Back to Sexual Immorality Revisited, Part 1

Back to Romans, Part 55

Back to Who Am I? Part 12

Back to Funeral, Part 3

Back to Christianity, Part 2

Back to Christianity, Part 4

Back to Christianity, Part 7

Back to Who Am I? Part 17

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

¹ Mark 3:35 (NET); also Matthew 12:50 (NET)

² The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article της preceding earth. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

³ Matthew 6:9, 10 (NET); also Luke 11:2 (KJV) but not (NET) Note in NET: “Most mss (א A C D W Θ Ψ 070 Ë¹³ 33^vid Ï it) read at the end of the verse ‘may your will be done on earth as [it is] in heaven,’ making this version parallel to Matt 6:10. The shorter reading is found, however, in weighty mss (Ì⁷⁵ B L pc), and cannot be easily explained as arising from the longer reading.”

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had βατταλογήσητε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had βαττολογησητε (KJV: use…vain repetitions).

⁵ Matthew 7:21 (NET) Table

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐπροφητεύσαμεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had προεφητευσαμεν (KJV: have we…prophesied).

⁷ Matthew 7:22, 23 (NET)

⁸ Romans 8:28b-30 (NET)

⁹ Leviticus 19:31 (NET)

¹⁰ Leviticus 20:27a (NET)

¹¹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μου (KJV: my) following vineyard. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had δὲ following went, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: And) following it (KJV: came).

¹³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἑτέρῳ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δευτερω (KJV: second).

¹⁴ Matthew 21:28-31a (NET)

¹⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had αὐτοῦ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εαυτου.

¹⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἢ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μηδε (KJV: neither).

¹⁷ Luke 12:47, 48 (NET)

¹⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ποιήσω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ποιω.

¹⁹ John 4:34 (NET)

²⁰ John 6:38 (NET) Table

²¹ John 5:30 (NET) Table

Romans, Part 11

Posted on August 11, 2012 by admin

Paul continued to describe the difference between those who hear (ἀκροαταὶ, a form of ἀκροατής) and those who do (ποιηταὶ, a form of ποιητής) the law. For circumcision has its value (ὠφελεῖ, a form of ὠφελέω) if you practice (πράσσῃς, a form of πράσσω) the law (νόμον, a form of νόμος), but if you break (παραβάτης) the law (νόμου, another form of νόμος), your circumcision has become uncircumcision.¹ I wasn’t going to delve into circumcision here, but I can’t resist the first occurrence in John 7. Perhaps an appreciation of Jesus’ frustration will do more to distinguish the ἀκροατής from the ποιητής of the law.

Jesus was staying in Galilee, avoiding Judea because the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him.² This stemmed from an incident when He healed a man who had been disabled³ for thirty-eight⁴ years.⁵ So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and⁶ you are not permitted to carry your⁷ mat.” But⁸ he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” They asked⁹ him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat¹⁰ and walk’?”¹¹ The healed man didn’t know who made him well.

Later Jesus found the man in the temple and said, Look, you have become well. Don’t sin any more, lest anything worse happen to you.¹² Sad to say I understand this man perfectly. For thirty-eight years, fifty-two times each year, he kept the Sabbath by not standing up, picking up his mat or walking. One Sabbath Jesus came up to him and said, Stand up!¹³ Pick up your mat and walk.¹⁴ For some reason, inexplicable except for the grace of God, the man believed this stranger and tried to stand up, pick up his mat and walk. Immediately the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and started walking.¹⁵ When Jesus told him, Don’t sin any more, the healed man was conscience stricken that he had stood up, picked up his mat and walked on the Sabbath. So he trotted back and informed the Jewish leaders that Jesus was the one who had made him well.¹⁶

Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began persecuting him.¹⁷

Before I get too carried away with the blindness of ancient Jewish leaders I’ll relate a fairly contemporary tale. I was standing just inside the doorway with the Pastor of a small Bible church one Sunday before the evening service. A car pulled up in the parking lot. A visiting couple got out and made their way toward the door. The Pastor opened the door and extended his hand to help the woman up the stair. She refused his hand and stopped in the doorway.

“Before I come in here, I just want to know one thing,” she said belligerently. “Did Jesus turn water into wine?”

I’d never experienced anything like this, but reasoned quickly that this was a Bible church, the woman wanted to make sure that we believed the fundamentals of the faith, including Jesus’ miracles.

“No,” the Pastor said.

I was stunned. But that was nothing compared to my confusion when the woman smiled, took the Pastor’s hand and entered the church. Later, when I got him alone, I asked, “How did you know that no was the right answer?”

Then it was his turn to be stunned that I would impugn his sincerity. “Because it is the right answer,” he said defensively. I argued fairly ineffectively for the distinction between Jesus and John the Baptist,¹⁸ but he was having none of it. “Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler,”¹⁹ he quoted the Proverb. Though he never pressed me on it, I got the message that because of this Proverb Jesus would not make, serve or encourage anyone to drink alcohol—no matter what the Bible seemed to be saying to me.

Obviously I have been blinder than this many times. It’s not fair to judge the Pastor or the woman by this one idiosyncrasy, though I do think she was looking for a Pastor who would dance to her flute. She obviously didn’t return. I wonder at times why I stayed so long. But the people there were nice to me. Some said the church would close if I left. The church closed sometime after I finally left. I don’t really think there is any cause and effect there.

Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy [Table]. For six days you may labor and do all your work [Table], but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates [Table]. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy [Table].²⁰

As far as the Jewish leaders were concerned no man of God would heal a disabled man on the Sabbath and tell him to Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk. Jesus told them, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.”²¹ But that didn’t help at all. For this reason the Jewish leaders were trying even harder to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God.²²

Frankly, the way I’ve presented the story so far puts the Jewish leaders on a lot firmer ground scripturally than my Pastor. But if I bring in a similar story from Luke’s Gospel, the picture gets a bit more nuanced. Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath. A woman²³ was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen²⁴ years. She was bent over and could not straighten herself up completely.²⁵ Jesus healed her (Luke 13:14-17 NET).

But the president of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, “There are six²⁶ days on which work should be done! So come and be healed on those days,²⁷ and not on the Sabbath day.” Then²⁸ the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites²⁹ (ὑποκριταί, a form of ὑποκριτής)! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from its stall, and lead it to water?” Then shouldn’t this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be released from this imprisonment on the Sabbath day?” When he said this all his adversaries were humiliated, but the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.

Humiliated Jewish leaders were not Jesus’ only adversaries. While He was staying out of Judea because they wanted to kill him, as the beginning of the feast of Tabernacles approached, his brothers advised him, “Leave here and go to Judea so your disciples may see your miracles that you are performing. For no one who seeks to make a reputation for himself does anything in secret. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” (For not even his own brothers believed in him.)³⁰

Mark’s Gospel account gives me the impression that it was Jesus’ persistence in healing on the Sabbath even after the Pharisees began plotting³¹ with the Herodians, as to how they could assassinate him³² over it that alarmed his mother and his brothers. On one homecoming (probably to Peter’s house) they went out to restrain him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”³³ While the experts in the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the ruler of demons he casts out demons.”³⁴

This is the context for Jesus’ saying, “Who are my mother and³⁵ my brothers?” And looking at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”³⁶ It is also probably a better context to consider—Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me³⁷—than Jephthah’s sacrifice of his daughter. Indeed, such a thing never even entered my mind!³⁸ The Lord told Jeremiah.

Addendum: November 19, 2020
Tables comparing Proverbs 20:1 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Proverbs 20:1 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing John 5:5; 5:10-12; 5:8; 5:16, 17; Luke 13:11; 13:14, 15; Mark 3:6 and 3:33 in the NET and KJV follow.

Proverbs 20:1 (Tanakh)	Proverbs 20:1 (KJV)	Proverbs 20:1 (NET)
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.	Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.	Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever goes astray by them is not wise.

Proverbs 20:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Proverbs 20:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀκόλαστον οἶνος καὶ ὑβριστικὸν μέθη πᾶς δὲ ὁ συμμειγνύμενος αὐτῇ οὐκ ἔσται σοφός	ΑΚΟΛΑΣΤΟΝ οἶνος καὶ ὑβριστικὸν μέθη, πᾶς δὲ ἄφρων τοιούτοις συμπλέκεται
Proverbs 20:1 (NETS)	Proverbs 20:1 (English Elpenor)
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink is something insolent, and everyone who mixes with it will not be wise.	Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.

John 5:5 (NET)	John 5:5 (KJV)
Now a man was there who had been disabled for 38 years.	And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἦν δέ τις ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖ τριάκοντα [καὶ] ὀκτὼ ἔτη ἔχων ἐν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ αὐτοῦ	ην δε τις ανθρωπος εκει τριακονταοκτω ετη εχων εν τη ασθενεια	ην δε τις ανθρωπος εκει τριακοντα και οκτω ετη εχων εν τη ασθενεια

John 5:10-12 (NET)	John 5:10-12 (KJV)
So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to carry your mat.”	The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τῷ τεθεραπευμένῳ· σάββατον ἐστιν, καὶ οὐκ ἔξεστιν σοι ἆραι τὸν κράβαττον \|σου\|	ελεγον ουν οι ιουδαιοι τω τεθεραπευμενω σαββατον εστιν ουκ εξεστιν σοι αραι τον κραββατον	ελεγον ουν οι ιουδαιοι τω τεθεραπευμενω σαββατον εστιν ουκ εξεστιν σοι αραι τον κραββατον

But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
\|ὁ\| δὲ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς· ὁ ποιήσας με ὑγιῆ ἐκεῖνος μοι εἶπεν· ἆρον τὸν κράβαττον σου καὶ περιπάτει	απεκριθη αυτοις ο ποιησας με υγιη εκεινος μοι ειπεν αρον τον κραββατον σου και περιπατει	απεκριθη αυτοις ο ποιησας με υγιη εκεινος μοι ειπεν αρον τον κραββατον σου και περιπατει

They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?”

Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἠρώτησαν αὐτόν· τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ εἰπών σοι· ἆρον καὶ περιπάτει	ηρωτησαν ουν αυτον τις εστιν ο ανθρωπος ο ειπων σοι αρον τον κραββατον σου και περιπατει	ηρωτησαν ουν αυτον τις εστιν ο ανθρωπος ο ειπων σοι αρον τον κραββατον σου και περιπατει

John 5:8 (NET)	John 5:8 (KJV)
Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.”	Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἔγειρε ἆρον τὸν κράβαττον σου καὶ περιπάτει	λεγει αυτω ο ιησους εγειραι αρον τον κραββατον σου και περιπατει	λεγει αυτω ο ιησους εγειραι αρον τον κραββατον σου και περιπατει

John 5:16, 17 (NET)	John 5:16, 17 (KJV)
Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began persecuting him.	And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐδίωκον οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τὸν Ἰησοῦν, ὅτι ταῦτα ἐποίει ἐν σαββάτῳ	και δια τουτο εδιωκον τον ιησουν οι ιουδαιοι και εζητουν αυτον αποκτειναι οτι ταυτα εποιει εν σαββατω	και δια τουτο εδιωκον τον ιησουν οι ιουδαιοι και εζητουν αυτον αποκτειναι οτι ταυτα εποιει εν σαββατω

So he told them, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.”

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ὁ δὲ ἀπεκρίνατο αὐτοῖς· ὁ πατήρ μου ἕως ἄρτι ἐργάζεται καγὼ ἐργάζομαι	ο δε ιησους απεκρινατο αυτοις ο πατηρ μου εως αρτι εργαζεται καγω εργαζομαι	ο δε ιησους απεκρινατο αυτοις ο πατηρ μου εως αρτι εργαζεται καγω εργαζομαι

Luke 13:11 (NET)	Luke 13:11 (KJV)
and a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten herself up completely.	And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ πνεῦμα ἔχουσα ἀσθενείας ἔτη δεκαοκτὼ καὶ ἦν συγκύπτουσα καὶ μὴ δυναμένη ἀνακύψαι εἰς τὸ παντελές	και ιδου γυνη ην πνευμα εχουσα ασθενειας ετη δεκα και οκτω και ην συγκυπτουσα και μη δυναμενη ανακυψαι εις το παντελες	και ιδου γυνη ην πνευμα εχουσα ασθενειας ετη δεκα και οκτω και ην συγκυπτουσα και μη δυναμενη ανακυψαι εις το παντελες

Luke 13:14, 15 (NET)	Luke 13:14, 15 (KJV)
But the president of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, “There are six days on which work should be done! So come and be healed on those days, and not on the Sabbath day.”	And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἀρχισυνάγωγος, ἀγανακτῶν ὅτι τῷ σαββάτῳ ἐθεράπευσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἔλεγεν τῷ ὄχλῳ ὅτι ἓξ ἡμέραι εἰσὶν ἐν αἷς δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι· ἐν αὐταῖς οὖν ἐρχόμενοι θεραπεύεσθε καὶ μὴ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου	αποκριθεις δε ο αρχισυναγωγος αγανακτων οτι τω σαββατω εθεραπευσεν ο ιησους ελεγεν τω οχλω εξ ημεραι εισιν εν αις δει εργαζεσθαι εν ταυταις ουν ερχομενοι θεραπευεσθε και μη τη ημερα του σαββατου	αποκριθεις δε ο αρχισυναγωγος αγανακτων οτι τω σαββατω εθεραπευσεν ο ιησους ελεγεν τω οχλω εξ ημεραι εισιν εν αις δει εργαζεσθαι εν ταυταις ουν ερχομενοι θεραπευεσθε και μη τη ημερα του σαββατου

Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from its stall and lead it to water?

The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀπεκρίθη δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος καὶ εἶπεν· ὑποκριταί, ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τῷ σαββάτῳ οὐ λύει τὸν βοῦν αὐτοῦ ἢ τὸν ὄνον ἀπὸ τῆς φάτνης καὶ \|ἀπαγαγὼν\| ποτίζει	απεκριθη ουν αυτω ο κυριος και ειπεν υποκριτα εκαστος υμων τω σαββατω ου λυει τον βουν αυτου η τον ονον απο της φατνης και απαγαγων ποτιζει	απεκριθη ουν αυτω ο κυριος και ειπεν υποκριται εκαστος υμων τω σαββατω ου λυει τον βουν αυτου η τον ονον απο της φατνης και απαγαγων ποτιζει

Mark 3:6 (NET)	Mark 3:6 (KJV)
So the Pharisees went out immediately and began plotting with the Herodians, as to how they could assassinate him.	And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἐξελθόντες οἱ Φαρισαῖοι εὐθὺς μετὰ τῶν Ἡρῳδιανῶν συμβούλιον ἐδίδουν κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ ὅπως αὐτὸν ἀπολέσωσιν	και εξελθοντες οι φαρισαιοι ευθεως μετα των ηρωδιανων συμβουλιον εποιουν κατ αυτου οπως αυτον απολεσωσιν	και εξελθοντες οι φαρισαιοι ευθεως μετα των ηρωδιανων συμβουλιον εποιουν κατ αυτου οπως αυτον απολεσωσιν

Mark 3:33 (NET)	Mark 3:33 (KJV)
He answered them and said, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”	And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτοῖς λέγει τίς ἐστιν ἡ μήτηρ μου καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί [μου]	και απεκριθη αυτοις λεγων τις εστιν η μητηρ μου η οι αδελφοι μου	και απεκριθη αυτοις λεγων τις εστιν η μητηρ μου η οι αδελφοι μου

The Will of God – Jesus, Part 1

Romans, Part 12

Back to Romans, Part 14

Back to Romans, Part 26

Back to Paul’s OT Quotes – Romans 9:25-33

Back to Romans, Part 54

Back to Romans, Part 79

Back to Peter’s First Gospel Proclamation Revisited, Part 1

Back to Romans, Part 55

Back to Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 1

Back to Romans, Part 58

Back to Romans, Part 71

Back to αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ, Part 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 3

¹ Romans 2:25 (NET)

² John 7:1 (NET)

³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had αὐτοῦ following disabled. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τριάκοντα καὶ ὀκτὼ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τριακονταοκτω (KJV: thirty and eight).

⁵ John 5:5 (NET)

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

⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had σου here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the article ὁ and the conjunction δὲ preceding he answered. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

⁹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: Then) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁰ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τον κραββατον σου here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹¹ John 5:10-12 (NET)

¹² John 5:14 (NET)

¹³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἔγειρε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγειραι (KJV: Rise).

¹⁴ John 5:8 (NET)

¹⁵ John 5:9 (NET)

¹⁶ John 5:15 (NET)

¹⁷ John 5:16 (NET) The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και εζητουν αυτον αποκτειναι (KJV: and sought to slay him) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁸ Matthew 11:18, 19; Luke 7:33-35 (NET)

¹⁹ Proverbs 20:1 (NKJV)

²⁰ Exodus 20:8-11 (NET)

²¹ John 5:17 (NET)

²² John 5:18 (NET)

²³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ην (KJV: there was) following woman. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had δεκαοκτὼ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δεκα και οκτω.

²⁵ Luke 13:11 (NET)

²⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὅτι preceding six. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

²⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had αὐταῖς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ταυταις (KJV: them).

²⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had δὲ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: then).

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

³⁰ John 7:3-5 (NET)

³¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had συμβούλιον ἐδίδουν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συμβούλιον εποιουν (KJV: took counsel).

³² Mark 3:6 (NET)

³³ Mark 3:21 (NET)

³⁴ Mark 3:22 (NET)

³⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had καὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had η (KJV: or).

³⁶ Mark 3:33-35 (NET)

³⁷ Matthew 10:37 (NET)

³⁸ Jeremiah 19:5 (NET) Table

Romans, Part 10

Posted on August 9, 2012 by admin

Paul turned his attention specifically to the Jews among the readers of his letter to believers in Rome. But if¹ you call (ἐπονομάζῃ, a form of ἐπονομάζω) yourself a Jew (Ἰουδαῖος) and rely (ἐπαναπαύῃ, a form of ἐπαναπαύω) on the law² (νόμῳ, a form of νόμος) and boast (καυχᾶσαι, a form of καυχάομαι) of your relationship (ἐν, or boast in God) to God,³ he wrote, and know (γινώσκεις, a form of γινώσκω) his will (θέλημα) and approve (δοκιμάζεις, a form of δοκιμάζω) the superior things because you receive instruction (κατηχούμενος, a form of κατηχέω) from the law (νόμου, another form of νόμος)…⁴

This all sounds like pretty good stuff to me. Since I’ve read Paul so many times before I’m a bit suspicious of relying or resting (ἐπαναπαύῃ) on the law. I have encountered the word καυχάομαι enough to know that boast of your relationship to God was the translators’ choice. It might have been translated rejoice.⁵ All in all this sounds like a description of one who would do (ποιῶσιν, a form of ποιέω; Addendum below) the law (νόμου, another form of νόμος). Since I know the proverb—Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall⁶—and have a feel for its use in storytelling, I get more suspicious as Paul continued (Romans 2:19, 20 NET).

…and if you are convinced (πέποιθας, a form of πείθω) that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an educator of the senseless, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law (νόμῳ, a form of νόμος) the essential features of knowledge (γνώσεως, a form of γνῶσις) and of the truth (ἀληθείας, a form of ἀλήθεια)…

Without ever using the word ὑποκριτής (actor) Paul presented a classic definition: therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who tell others not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?⁷ I think Paul singled out the Jews here because he knew himself and his own people best. He hadn’t been to Rome to meet the Romans yet. Sometimes I feel like there are really only two types of people in the world, hypocrites and those who don’t even try.

When I think like that, however, I am defining hypocrite as a person who does not fully practice what he preaches or believes or aspires to. Obviously I have just described everyone who preaches, believes or aspires to anything. Paul was more specific. His definition was one who relies or rests on God’s law, perhaps more to the point, one who relies or rests on his own ability to keep God’s law and then does not fully practice the law he preaches, believes and aspires to.

You who boast (καυχᾶσαι, a form of καυχάομαι) in the law (νόμῳ, a form of νόμος), Paul continued, dishonor (ἀτιμάζεις, a form of ἀτιμάζω) God by transgressing (παραβάσεως, a form of παράβασις) the law (νόμου, another form of νόμος)! For just as it is written, “the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”⁸ Paul’s quotation here from Isaiah 52:5 [Table] is not simply a matter of piling on, of kicking the Jews who relied on, and didn’t fully live up to, the law when they were down. It’s a flashing beacon of the mind of Christ and a portent where Paul’s thoughts, and letter, were headed.

This boasting in the law, this dishonoring of God by transgressing the law, was known. It was prophesied. It is part of God’s Holy Word. It was like Jesus prophesying to Peter, I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times,⁹ but on a grander scale. Here is the promise that follows Isaiah 52:5 (Isaiah 52:6-12 NET):

For this reason my people will know my name, for this reason they will know at that time that I am the one who says, “Here I am.” How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen, your watchmen shout; in unison they shout for joy, for they see with their very own eyes the Lord’s return to Zion. In unison give a joyful shout, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord consoles his people; he protects Jerusalem. The Lord reveals his royal power in the sight of all the nations; the entire earth sees our God deliver. Leave! Leave! Get out of there! Don’t touch anything unclean! Get out of it! Stay pure, you who carry the Lord’s holy items! Yet do not depart quickly or leave in a panic. For the Lord goes before you; the God of Israel is your rear guard.

Addendum: November 1, 2020
In the second paragraph I had indicated that ποιῶσιν was a form of ποιητής. It is actually a form of ποιέω. I may have been thinking of Romans 2:13 where do was the NET translation of ποιηταὶ which is a form of ποιητής.

A table of Isaiah 52:6-12 translated from the Masoretic text and the Septuagint follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 52:6-12 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 52:6-12 (NET)	Isaiah 52:6-12 (NETS)	Isaiah 52:6-12 (Elpenor English)
Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.	For this reason my people will know my name; for this reason they will know at that time that I am the one who says, ‘Here I am.’”	Therefore my people shall know my name in that day, because I myself am the one who speaks: I am here,	Therefore shall my people know my name in that day, for I am he that speaks: I am present,
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!	How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”	like season upon the mountains, like the feet of one bringing glad tidings of a report of peace, like one bringing glad tidings of good things, because I will make your salvation heard, saying to Sion, “Your God shall reign,”	as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news: for I will publish thy salvation, saying, O Sion, thy God shall reign.
Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again (בְּשׁ֥וּב) Zion.	Listen, your watchmen shout; in unison they shout for joy, for they see with their very own eyes the Lord’s return (shuwb, בשוב) to Zion.	because the voice of those who watch over you was lifted up, and with their voice they shall rejoice together, because eyes shall look at eyes when the Lord will have mercy (ἐλεήσῃ) on Sion.	For the voice of them that guard thee is exalted, and with the voice together they shall rejoice: for eyes shall look to eyes, when the Lord shall have mercy (ἐλεήσῃ) upon Sion.
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted (נִחַ֚ם) his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.	In unison give a joyful shout, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord consoles (nacham, נחם) his people; he protects Jerusalem.	Let the desolate places of Ierousalem break forth together in joy, because the Lord has had mercy (ἠλέησεν) on her and has delivered Ierousalem.	Let the waste places of Jerusalem break forth [in] joy together, because the Lord has had mercy (ἠλέησε) upon her, and has delivered Jerusalem.
The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.	The Lord reveals his royal power in the sight of all the nations; the entire earth sees our God deliver.	And the Lord shall reveal his holy arm before all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation that comes from God.	And the Lord shall reveal his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation that [comes] from our God.
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.	Leave! Leave! Get out of there! Don’t touch anything unclean! Get out of it! Stay pure, you who carry the Lord’s holy items.	Depart, depart, go out from there, and touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of it; be separated, you who carry the vessels of the Lord,	Depart ye, depart, go out from thence, and touch not the unclean thing; go ye out from the midst of her; separate yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord.
For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.	Yet do not depart quickly or leave in a panic. For the Lord goes before you; the God of Israel is your rear guard.	because you shall not go out with confusion, nor shall you go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the Lord God of Israel is the one who gathers you together.	For ye shall not go forth with tumult, neither go by flight: for the Lord shall go first in advance of you; and the God of Israel shall be he that brings up your rear.

Tables comparing Proverbs 16:18; Isaiah 52:6; 52:7; 52:8; 52:9; 52:10; 52:11 and 52:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Proverbs 16:18; Isaiah 52:6; 52:7; 52:8; 52:9; 52:10; 52:11 and 52:12 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Following those is a table comparing Romans 2:17 in the NET and KJV.

Proverbs 16:18 (Tanakh)	Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)	Proverbs 16:18 (NET)
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.	Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.	Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Proverbs 16:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πρὸ συντριβῆς ἡγεῗται ὕβρις πρὸ δὲ πτώματος κακοφροσύνη	πρὸ συντριβῆς ἡγεῖται ὕβρις, πρὸ δὲ πτώματος κακοφροσύνη
Proverbs 16:18 (NETS)	Proverbs 16:18 (English Elpenor)
Pride goes before ruin, and malice before a fall.	Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall.

Isaiah 52:6 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 52:6 (KJV)	Isaiah 52:6 (NET)
Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.	Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.	For this reason my people will know my name; for this reason they will know at that time that I am the one who says, ‘Here I am.’”

Isaiah 52:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 52:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο γνώσεται ὁ λαός μου τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι αὐτὸς ὁ λαλῶν πάρειμι	διὰ τοῦτο γνώσεται ὁ λαός μου τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι αὐτὸς ὁ λαλῶν· πάρειμι
Isaiah 52:6 (NETS)	Isaiah 52:6 (English Elpenor)
Therefore my people shall know my name in that day, because I myself am the one who speaks: I am here,	Therefore shall my people know my name in that day, for I am he that speaks: I am present,

Isaiah 52:7 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)	Isaiah 52:7 (NET)
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!	How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!	How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 52:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὡς ὥρα ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων ὡς πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου ἀκοὴν εἰρήνης ὡς εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀγαθά ὅτι ἀκουστὴν ποιήσω τὴν σωτηρίαν σου λέγων Σιων βασιλεύσει σου ὁ θεός	ὡς ὥρα ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων, ὡς πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου ἀκοὴν εἰρήνης, ὡς εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀγαθά, ὅτι ἀκουστὴν ποιήσω τὴν σωτηρίαν σου λέγων Σιών· βασιλεύσει σου ὁ Θεός
Isaiah 52:7 (NETS)	Isaiah 52:7 (English Elpenor)
like season upon the mountains, like the feet of one bringing glad tidings of a report of peace, like one bringing glad tidings of good things, because I will make your salvation heard, saying to Sion, “Your God shall reign,”	as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news: for I will publish thy salvation, saying, O Sion, thy God shall reign.

Isaiah 52:8 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 52:8 (KJV)	Isaiah 52:8 (NET)
Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.	Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.	Listen, your watchmen shout; in unison they shout for joy, for they see with their very own eyes the Lord’s return to Zion.

Isaiah 52:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 52:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι φωνὴ τῶν φυλασσόντων σε ὑψώθη καὶ τῇ φωνῇ ἅμα εὐφρανθήσονται ὅτι ὀφθαλμοὶ πρὸς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὄψονται ἡνίκα ἂν ἐλεήσῃ κύριος τὴν Σιων	ὅτι φωνὴ τῶν φυλασσόντων σε ὑψώθη, καὶ τῇ φωνῇ ἅμα εὐφρανθήσονται· ὅτι ὀφθαλμοὶ πρὸς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὄψονται, ἡνίκα ἂν ἐλεήσῃ Κύριος τὴν Σιών
Isaiah 52:8 (NETS)	Isaiah 52:8 (English Elpenor)
because the voice of those who watch over you was lifted up, and with their voice they shall rejoice together, because eyes shall look at eyes when the Lord will have mercy on Sion.	For the voice of them that guard thee is exalted, and with the voice together they shall rejoice: for eyes shall look to eyes, when the Lord shall have mercy upon Sion.

Isaiah 52:9 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 52:9 (KJV)	Isaiah 52:9 (NET)
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.	Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.	In unison give a joyful shout, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord consoles his people; he protects Jerusalem.

Isaiah 52:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 52:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ῥηξάτω εὐφροσύνην ἅμα τὰ ἔρημα Ιερουσαλημ ὅτι ἠλέησεν κύριος αὐτὴν καὶ ἐρρύσατο Ιερουσαλημ	ῥηξάτω εὐφροσύνην ἅμα τὰ ἔρημα ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, ὅτι ἠλέησε Κύριος αὐτὴν καὶ ἐρρύσατο ῾Ιερουσαλήμ
Isaiah 52:9 (NETS)	Isaiah 52:9 (English Elpenor)
Let the desolate places of Ierousalem break forth together in joy, because the Lord has had mercy on her and has delivered Ierousalem.	Let the waste places of Jerusalem break forth [in] joy together, because the Lord has had mercy upon her, and has delivered Jerusalem.

Isaiah 52:10 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 52:10 (KJV)	Isaiah 52:10 (NET)
The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.	The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.	The Lord reveals his royal power in the sight of all the nations; the entire earth sees our God deliver.

Isaiah 52:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 52:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀποκαλύψει κύριος τὸν βραχίονα αὐτοῦ τὸν ἅγιον ἐνώπιον πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν καὶ ὄψονται πάντα τὰ ἄκρα τῆς γῆς τὴν σωτηρίαν τὴν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ	καὶ ἀποκαλύψει Κύριος τὸν βραχίονα τὸν ἅγιον αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, καὶ ὄψονται πάντα ἄκρα τῆς γῆς τὴν σωτηρίαν τὴν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν
Isaiah 52:10 (NETS)	Isaiah 52:10 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord shall reveal his holy arm before all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation that comes from God.	And the Lord shall reveal his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation that [comes] from our God.

Isaiah 52:11 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 52:11 (KJV)	Isaiah 52:11 (NET)
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.	Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.	Leave! Leave! Get out of there! Don’t touch anything unclean! Get out of it! Stay pure, you who carry the Lord’s holy items.

Isaiah 52:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 52:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπόστητε ἀπόστητε ἐξέλθατε ἐκεῗθεν καὶ ἀκαθάρτου μὴ ἅπτεσθε ἐξέλθατε ἐκ μέσου αὐτῆς ἀφορίσθητε οἱ φέροντες τὰ σκεύη κυρίου	ἀπόστητε, ἀπόστητε, ἐξέλθατε ἐκεῖθεν καὶ ἀκαθάρτου μὴ ἅπτεσθε, ἐξέλθετε ἐκ μέσου αὐτῆς, ἀφορίσθητε, οἱ φέροντες τὰ σκεύη Κυρίου
Isaiah 52:11 (NETS)	Isaiah 52:11 (English Elpenor)
Depart, depart, go out from there, and touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of it; be separated, you who carry the vessels of the Lord,	Depart ye, depart, go out from thence, and touch not the unclean thing; go ye out from the midst of her; separate yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord.

Isaiah 52:12 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 52:12 (KJV)	Isaiah 52:12 (NET)
For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.	For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.	Yet do not depart quickly or leave in a panic. For the Lord goes before you; the God of Israel is your rear guard.

Isaiah 52:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 52:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι οὐ μετὰ ταραχῆς ἐξελεύσεσθε οὐδὲ φυγῇ πορεύσεσθε πορεύσεται γὰρ πρότερος ὑμῶν κύριος καὶ ὁ ἐπισυνάγων ὑμᾶς κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ	ὅτι οὐ μετὰ ταραχῆς ἐξελεύσεσθε, οὐδὲ φυγῇ πορεύσεσθε, προπορεύσεται γὰρ πρότερος ὑμῶν Κύριος καὶ ὁ ἐπισυνάγων ὑμᾶς Θεὸς ᾿Ισραήλ
Isaiah 52:12 (NETS)	Isaiah 52:12 (English Elpenor)
because you shall not go out with confusion, nor shall you go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the Lord God of Israel is the one who gathers you together.	For ye shall not go forth with tumult, neither go by flight: for the Lord shall go first in advance of you; and the God of Israel shall be he that brings up your rear.

Romans 2:17 (NET)	Romans 2:17 (KJV)
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relationship to God	Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Εἰ δὲ σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ καὶ ἐπαναπαύῃ νόμῳ καὶ καυχᾶσαι ἐν θεῷ	ιδε συ ιουδαιος επονομαζη και επαναπαυη τω νομω και καυχασαι εν θεω	ιδε συ ιουδαιος επονομαζη και επαναπαυη τω νομω και καυχασαι εν θεω

Romans, Part 11

Back to Romans, Part 12

Back to To Make Holy, Part 4

Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 4

Back to To Make Holy, Part 2

Back to Christianity, Part 2

¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had Εἰ δὲ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιδε (KJV: Behold).

² The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τω preceding law. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

³ Romans 2:17 (NET)

⁴ Romans 2:18 (NET)

⁵ Cf. Romans 5:2, 3, 11 (NET)

⁶ Proverbs 16:18 (NET)

⁷ Romans 2:21, 22 (NET)

⁸ Romans 2:23, 24 (NET)

⁹ Matthew 26:34 (NET)

Paul’s OT Quotes, Romans 2

Posted on August 9, 2012 by admin

Paul	Blue Letter Bible (Septuagint)	NET Bible (Greek parallel text)
He *will reward each one according to his works*: Romans 2:6 (NET)	σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ Psalm 62:12 Table	ος αποδωσει εκαστω κατα τα εργα αυτου Romans 2:6
	ὃς ἀποδίδωσιν ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ Proverbs 24:12	ος αποδωσει εκαστω κατα τα εργα αυτου Romans 2:6
Jesus		NET Bible (Greek parallel text)
…he will reward each person according to what he has done. Matthew 16:27 (NET)		αποδωσει εκαστω κατα την πραξιν αυτου Matthew 16:27

The only significant differences between these two quotations is that the Septuagint began with σύ (you) in Psalm 62:12 and Paul’s quote began with ὅς, translated as he at the beginning of a new sentence. Who would have been a more accurate translation as a dependent clause. The note (14) in the NET says as much: “Grk ‘who.’ The relative pronoun was converted to a personal pronoun and, because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.”

Paul

Blue Letter Bible (Septuagint)

NET Bible (Greek parallel text)

the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you

Romans 2:24 (NET)

ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν

Isaiah 52:5

ονομα του θεου δι υμας βλασφημειται εν τοις εθνεσιν

Romans 2:24

The Septuagint recorded God speaking as ὄνομά μου (my name) while Paul spoke in Romans of ονομα του θεου (the God’s name, or the name of God).

Addendum: October 26, 2020
My Greek has improved some over the last eight years, so another table comparing Paul’s quotation from Isaiah 52:5 follows.

Romans 2:24a (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 52:5b (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 52:5b (Septuagint Elpenor)
τὸ γὰρ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ δι᾿ ὑμᾶς βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν	δι᾽ ὑμᾶς διὰ παντὸς τὸ ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῗται ἐν τοῗς ἔθνεσιν	δι᾿ ὑμᾶς διαπαντὸς τὸ ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι
Romans 2:24b (NET)	Isaiah 52:5b (NETS)	Isaiah 52:5b (English Elpenor)
For…“the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”	Because of you, my name is continually blasphemed among the nations.	On account of you my name is continually blasphemed among the Gentiles.

A comparison of translations from the Masoretic text and Septuagint follow:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 52:5 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 52:5 (NET)	Isaiah 52:5 (NETS)	Isaiah 52:5 (Elpenor English)
Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually (וְתָמִ֥יד) every day (כָּל־הַיּ֖וֹם) is blasphemed.	And now, what do we have here?” says the Lord. “Indeed my people have been carried away for nothing, those who rule over them taunt,” says the Lord, “and my name is constantly (tamiyd, ותמיד) slandered all (כל) day long (yowm, היום).	And now, why are you here? This is what the Lord says, Because my people were taken for nothing, you marvel and howl. This is what the Lord says, Because of you, my name is continually (διὰ παντὸς) blasphemed among the nations.	And now why are ye here? Thus saith the Lord, Because my people was taken for nothing, wonder ye and howl. Thus saith the Lord, On account of you my name is continually (διαπαντὸς) blasphemed among the Gentiles.

Since the Masoretic text had continually every day (NET: constantly…all day long) and the Septuagint had continually here, I’ll assume that Paul softened his message a bit from the original rather than that he had access to another (more original) version of the Septuagint.

Tables comparing Proverbs 24:12 and Isaiah 52:5 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Proverbs 24:12 and Isaiah 52:5 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Proverbs 24:12 (Tanakh)	Proverbs 24:12 (KJV)	Proverbs 24:12 (NET)
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?	If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?	If you say, “But we did not know about this,” won’t the one who evaluates hearts discern it? Won’t the one who guards your life realize and repay each person according to his deeds?

Proverbs 24:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Proverbs 24:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ εἴπῃς οὐκ οἶδα τοῦτον γίνωσκε ὅτι κύριος καρδίας πάντων γινώσκει καὶ ὁ πλάσας πνοὴν πᾶσιν αὐτὸς οἶδεν πάντα ὃς ἀποδίδωσιν ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ	ἐὰν δὲ εἴπῃς, οὐκ οἶδα τοῦτον, γίνωσκε ὅτι Κύριος καρδίας πάντων γινώσκει, καὶ ὁ πλάσας πνοὴν πᾶσιν, αὐτὸς οἶδε πάντα, ὃς ἀποδίδωσιν ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ
Proverbs 24:12 (NETS)	Proverbs 24:12 (English Elpenor)
If you say: “I do not know this person,” be aware that the Lord is familiar with the heart of everyone, and he who formed breath for all, he knows everything, he who will render to each according to his deeds.	But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.

Isaiah 52:5 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 52:5 (KJV)	Isaiah 52:5 (NET)
Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.	Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.	And now, what do we have here?” says the Lord. “Indeed my people have been carried away for nothing, those who rule over them taunt,” says the Lord, “and my name is constantly slandered all day long.

Isaiah 52:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 52:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ νῦν τί ὧδέ ἐστε τάδε λέγει κύριος ὅτι ἐλήμφθη ὁ λαός μου δωρεάν θαυμάζετε καὶ ὀλολύζετε τάδε λέγει κύριος δι᾽ ὑμᾶς διὰ παντὸς τὸ ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῗται ἐν τοῗς ἔθνεσιν	καὶ νῦν τί ἐστε ὦδε; τάδε λέγει Κύριος· ὅτι ἐλήφθη ὁ λαός μου δωρεάν, θαυμάζετε καὶ ὀλολύζετε. τάδε λέγει Κύριος· δι᾿ ὑμᾶς διαπαντὸς τὸ ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι
Isaiah 52:5 (NETS)	Isaiah 52:5 (English Elpenor)
And now, why are you here? This is what the Lord says, Because my people were taken for nothing, you marvel and howl. This is what the Lord says, Because of you, my name is continually blasphemed among the nations.	And now why are ye here? Thus saith the Lord, Because my people was taken for nothing, wonder ye and howl. Thus saith the Lord, On account of you my name is continually blasphemed among the Gentiles.

Back to Romans, Part 9

Romans, Part 10

Back to Romans, Part 72

Back to To Make Holy, Part 2

Romans, Part 9

Posted on August 8, 2012 by admin

The warning Paul gave those with stubborn and unrepentant hearts breaks quite naturally into two columns.

He will reward each one according to his works:

Romans 2:6 (NET)

…eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality…

Romans 2:7 (NET)

…but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness.

Romans 2:8 (NET) Table

…but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek.

Romans 2:10 (NET)

There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek…

Romans 2:9 (NET)

For there is no partiality with God.

Romans 2:11 (NET) Table

…and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

Romans 2:12b (NET)

For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law…

Romans 2:12a (NET)

The Jews of Paul’s day may have wanted to label the left column “Jews” and the right column “Greeks” or “Gentiles.” We might want to do something similar with “Church Folk” and “Unchurched Folk” or “Religious” and “Irreligious.” But Paul was quite careful to label the columns himself: For it is not those who hear (ἀκροαταὶ, a form of ἀκροατής) the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος) who are righteous (δίκαιοι, a form of δίκαιος) before God, but those who do (ποιηταὶ, a form of ποιητής) the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος) will be declared righteous (δικαιωθήσονται, a form of δικαιόω).¹

He will reward each one according to his works:

Romans 2:6 (NET)

those who do (ποιηταὶ, a form of ποιητής) the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος)

Romans 2:13b (NET) Table

those who hear (ἀκροαταὶ, a form of ἀκροατής) the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος)

Romans 2:13a (NET)

…eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality…

Romans 2:7 (NET)

…but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness.

Romans 2:8 (NET)

…but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek.

Romans 2:10 (NET)

There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek…

Romans 2:9 (NET)

For there is no partiality with God.

Romans 2:11 (NET)

…and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

Romans 2:12b (NET)

For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law…

Romans 2:12a (NET)

Paul continued to explain why the two columns should not be labeled “Jew” and “Gentile” rather than “Doer” and “Hearer” of the law. For whenever the Gentiles (ἔθνη, a form of ἔθνος), who do not have (ἔχοντα, a form of ἔχω) the law (νόμον, another form of νόμος), do² (ποιῶσιν, a form of ποιέω) by nature (φύσει, a form of φύσις) the things required by the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος), these who do not have (ἔχοντες, another form of ἔχω) the law (νόμον, another form of νόμος) are a law (νόμος) to themselves. They show that the work (ἔργον) of the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος) is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, on the day when God will judge (κρίνει, a form of κρίνω) the secrets (κρυπτὰ, a form of κρυπτός) of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.³

The word translated do in those who do the law will be declared righteous is the Greek word for poet. For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets (ποιητῶν, another form of ποιητής) have said, “For we too are his offspring,”⁴ Paul preached in Athens. It is derived from ποιέω, to make, to do. Our word poet bears no trace of a relationship to making or doing. A poet of the law might be indistinguishable to me from a hearer of the law. I might imagine that a poet of the law, rather than doing the law, writes pretty sonnets about the law, or worse, writes his own laws to establish his own righteousness.

If I recall how often Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites⁵ (ὑποκριταὶ, a form of ὑποκριτής, actor) and assume that Paul was very sensitive to this, his choice of words becomes clearer. It relates to the Greek theater. The actor wore a mask, with a megaphone built in to artificially amplify his voice. He played a part and spoke lines written for him by a poet. But when a poet performed on stage, he wore no mask. He spoke his own lines with his own voice from his own heart.

I believe it is important, especially in the how-to portion of Romans, to keep it straight that fulfilling the law, becoming a doer or poet of the law, was Paul’s point. This focus can protect me from stumbling over the things he wrote that are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.⁶

One of the things that made it more difficult for me to fully embrace Paul’s teaching was that I never heard anyone quote Paul’s concept—you are not under law but under grace—as a means to an end of fulfilling the law or becoming a doer of the law, not even as a reason why sin will have no mastery over you.⁷ It was always quoted as justification for some sin the speaker wished to continue indulging. Whenever I asked my elders about the things I thought I was learning from Paul, they assumed I wanted to indulge some secret sin and responded with something like, “No, you really have to do it!” They had no way of knowing, I suppose, that they were encouraging me to keep on trying to have my own righteousness derived from the law.⁸

Though Paul and James may not have agreed fully on all aspects of the law and its relationship to believers in Jesus Christ, on these two things—becoming a doer rather than a hearer, and not judging—they were in complete agreement. And I quote James to demonstrate these two points and conclude this essay.

By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message (λόγῳ, a form of λόγος) of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Understand this,⁹ my dear brothers and sisters! Let every¹⁰ person be quick to listen (ἀκοῦσαι, a form of ἀκούω), slow to speak (λαλῆσαι, a form of λαλέω), slow to anger (ὀργήν, a form of ὀργή). For human anger (ὀργή) does not accomplish¹¹ (ἐργάζεται, a form of ἐργάζομαι) God’s righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη). So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message (λόγον, another form of λόγος) implanted within you, which is able to save your souls. But be sure you live out (ποιηταὶ, a form of ποιητής) the message (λόγου, another form of λόγος) and do not merely listen (ἀκροαταὶ, a form of ἀκροατής) to it and so deceive yourselves. For if someone merely listens (ἀκροατής) to the message (λόγου, a form of λόγος) and does not live it out (ποιητής), he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. But the one who peers into the perfect (τέλειον, a form of τέλειος) law (νόμον, another form of νόμος) of liberty (ἐλευθερίας, a form of ἐλευθερία) and fixes his attention there,¹² and does not become a forgetful listener (ἀκροατής) but one who lives it (ἔργου, a form of ἔργον) out (ποιητής) – he will be blessed in what he does (ποιήσει, a form of ποίησις).¹³

Do not speak against (καταλαλεῖτε, a form of καταλαλέω) one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against (καταλαλῶν, another form of καταλαλέω) a fellow believer or¹⁴ judges (κρίνων, a form of κρίνω) a fellow believer speaks against (καταλαλεῖ, another form of καταλαλέω) the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος) and judges (κρίνει, another form of κρίνω) the law (νόμον, another form of νόμος). But if you judge (κρίνεις, another form of κρίνω) the law (νόμον, another form of νόμος), you are not a doer (ποιητής) of the law (νόμον, another form of νόμος) but its judge (κριτής).¹⁵

Addendum: October 3, 2020
Tables comparing Romans 2:14; James 1:19, 20; 1:25 and 4:11 in the NET and KJV follow.

Romans 2:14 (NET)	Romans 2:14 (KJV)
For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves.	For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὅταν γὰρ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ νόμον ἔχοντα φύσει τὰ τοῦ νόμου ποιῶσιν, οὗτοι νόμον μὴ ἔχοντες ἑαυτοῖς εἰσιν νόμος	οταν γαρ εθνη τα μη νομον εχοντα φυσει τα του νομου ποιη ουτοι νομον μη εχοντες εαυτοις εισιν νομος	οταν γαρ εθνη τα μη νομον εχοντα φυσει τα του νομου ποιη ουτοι νομον μη εχοντες εαυτοις εισιν νομος

James 1:19, 20 (NET)	James 1:19, 20 (KJV)
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.	Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
῎Ιστε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί· ἔστω δὲ πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ταχὺς εἰς τὸ ἀκοῦσαι, βραδὺς εἰς τὸ λαλῆσαι, βραδὺς εἰς ὀργήν	ωστε αδελφοι μου αγαπητοι εστω πας ανθρωπος ταχυς εις το ακουσαι βραδυς εις το λαλησαι βραδυς εις οργην	ωστε αδελφοι μου αγαπητοι εστω πας ανθρωπος ταχυς εις το ακουσαι βραδυς εις το λαλησαι βραδυς εις οργην

For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὀργὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς δικαιοσύνην θεοῦ οὐκ ἐργάζεται	οργη γαρ ανδρος δικαιοσυνην θεου ου κατεργαζεται	οργη γαρ ανδρος δικαιοσυνην θεου ου κατεργαζεται

James 1:25 (NET)	James 1:25 (KJV)
But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out—he will be blessed in what he does.	But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας καὶ παραμείνας, οὐκ ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος ἀλλὰ ποιητὴς ἔργου, οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται	ο δε παρακυψας εις νομον τελειον τον της ελευθεριας και παραμεινας ουτος ουκ ακροατης επιλησμονης γενομενος αλλα ποιητης εργου ουτος μακαριος εν τη ποιησει αυτου εσται	ο δε παρακυψας εις νομον τελειον τον της ελευθεριας και παραμεινας ουτος ουκ ακροατης επιλησμονης γενομενος αλλα ποιητης εργου ουτος μακαριος εν τη ποιησει αυτου εσται

James 4:11 (NET)	James 4:11 (KJV)
Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.	Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Μὴ καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων, ἀδελφοί. ὁ καταλαλῶν ἀδελφοῦ ἢ κρίνων τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ καταλαλεῖ νόμου καὶ κρίνει νόμον· εἰ δὲ νόμον κρίνεις, οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου ἀλλὰ κριτής	μη καταλαλειτε αλληλων αδελφοι ο καταλαλων αδελφου και κρινων τον αδελφον αυτου καταλαλει νομου και κρινει νομον ει δε νομον κρινεις ουκ ει ποιητης νομου αλλα κριτης	μη καταλαλειτε αλληλων αδελφοι ο καταλαλων αδελφου και κρινων τον αδελφον αυτου καταλαλει νομου και κρινει νομον ει δε νομον κρινεις ουκ ει ποιητης νομου αλλα κριτης