Romans, Part 17

Posted on September 18, 2012 by admin

Where, then, is boasting? Paul continued in Romans. It is excluded! By what principle (νόμου, a form of νόμος)? Of works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον)? No, but by the principle (νόμου, a form of νόμος) of faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις)! For¹ we consider (λογιζόμεθα, a form of λογίζομαι) that a person is declared righteous (δικαιοῦσθαι, a form of δικαιόω) by faith (πίστει, another form of πίστις) apart from the works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) of the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος).² The NET translators chose principle for the first two occurrences of νόμου (a form of νόμος) in this passage to help the reader distinguish between the “law of faith” that excludes boasting and the works of the law, one’s own efforts to keep God’s law.

It is virtually impossible for me to quote the above passage without recalling James’ letter, a person is justified (δικαιοῦται, another form of δικαιόω) by works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) and not by faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) alone (μόνον, a form of μόνος).³ I’ve often wondered if James intended to refute or correct Paul. But James didn’t write enough that I can know his intent. So I content myself with attempting to understand the Holy Spirit’s intent. He wrote quite a bit about this subject.

Or is God the God of the Jews only? Paul asked. Is he not the God of the Gentiles too?⁴ Yes, of the Gentiles too! Since God is one, he will justify (δικαιώσει, another form of δικαιόω) the circumcised by faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) and the uncircumcised through faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) [Table].⁵ It seemed to me that the Holy Spirit’s intent would of necessity be something that both Paul and James described truthfully and accurately. Paul continued to preach justification by and through faith, James stressed works and that one was not justified by faith alone (πιστεως μονον).

I recalled a story when Peter saw, what he thought was, a ghost walking on the water. Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid,⁶ Jesus said. Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”⁷ I had heard the story since childhood, but for some reason as I was striving to obey God’s law in my own strength it struck me what a dumb thing that was to say. Why would anyone in his right mind set himself up for that kind of failure? And just as I asked the question, the answer was right in front of me. Peter believed that Jesus’ command would come to pass. If Jesus ordered him to walk on water, he would walk on water. It was a wonderful insight. I could turn back to Exodus 20 and read The Ten Promises as opposed to the ten commandments I was trying so hard to obey on my own, not to mention all of Jesus’ other commandments.

I went off sure that I understood everything now, found out again that I didn’t, and then came back to this story. So [Jesus] said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came⁸ toward Jesus.⁹ Peter may have had that kind of faith, I thought, obviously I did not. But even Peter didn’t fare all that well, when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”¹⁰ So Peter, just like me, got all excited about faith and then made a fool out of himself.

Jesus wouldn’t let me get away with that for very long. I heard a sermon about this story, not a sermon browbeating me to have more faith and stop doubting, a good one. When the preacher read the text—Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”¹¹—this preacher’s attention wasn’t focused on Peter’s failure but on Jesus’ immediate help. Then he said the most revolutionary, life-changing thing I had heard to date, “Jesus had the faith to stand on the water and hold Peter up as well.”

The preacher kept talking but I didn’t hear any more that day. The sermon wasn’t over for me, however. It had only just begun. “You weren’t making fun of Peter, were you?” I prayed. Then Jesus’ question— why did you doubt?—became a real question, my question—Why do I doubt?—and it deserved a real answer. I don’t recall how long it took to get to the bottom of that question, but finally the answer was fairly simple and obvious. I doubted because I was depending on my faith. My faith was pretty good at changing what I thought, but not so good at changing what I did, much less having any effect on the world beyond my mind.

That sounded pretty much like James’ faith alone (πιστεως μονον). So also faith (πίστις), if it does not have works (ἔργα, another form of ἔργον), is dead (νεκρά, a form of νεκρός) being by itself.¹² But Paul didn’t write the Romans about that kind of faith, Do we then nullify (καταργοῦμεν, a form of καταργέω) the law (νόμον, another form of νόμος) through faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις)? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold (ἱστάνομεν, a form of ἵστημι or ἱστάνω) [See Addendum below] the law (νόμον, another form of νόμος).¹³ Clearly, my faith was dead, being by itself alone. My efforts to obey the law, my works of the law, by my dead faith were meaningless.

I danced around that conclusion for a long time because my religious mind had me convinced that if I acknowledged its truth I would be condemned, rather than that I would have learned something extremely valuable. It is no idle word that Paul proclaimed, There is therefore now no condemnation (κατάκριμα) for those who are in Christ Jesus.¹⁴ I want to call this the absolute baseline of faith in Jesus Christ. Apart from this faith no one can be honest enough to learn anything from the Lord or the Bible.

So if I can’t depend on my faith, whose faith can I depend on? I hope the answer is obvious. I want to depend on Jesus’ faith. He has the faith to stand on the water and hold Peter up as well. How can I have Jesus’ faith? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (πίστις)…¹⁵ And that is exactly what Paul wrote about in Romans, the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God through the faithfulness (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) of Jesus Christ for all who believe (πιστεύοντας, a form of πιστεύω).¹⁶

Addendum: May 23, 2021
According to the NET ἱστάνομεν (NET: uphold) is a form of ἵστημι. According to the Koine Greek Lexicon online it is a form of ἱστάνω. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιστωμεν (KJV: establish) here.

Tables comparing Romans 3:28; 3:29 and Matthew 14:29 in the NET and KJV follow.

Romans 3:28 (NET)	Romans 3:28 (KJV)
For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.	Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
λογιζόμεθα γὰρ δικαιοῦσθαι πίστει ἄνθρωπον χωρὶς ἔργων νόμου	λογιζομεθα ουν πιστει δικαιουσθαι ανθρωπον χωρις εργων νομου	λογιζομεθα ουν πιστει δικαιουσθαι ανθρωπον χωρις εργων νομου

Romans 3:29 (NET)	Romans 3:29 (KJV)
Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too!	Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἢ Ἰουδαίων ὁ θεὸς μόνον; οὐχὶ καὶ ἐθνῶν; ναὶ καὶ ἐθνῶν	η ιουδαιων ο θεος μονον ουχι δε και εθνων ναι και εθνων	η ιουδαιων ο θεος μονον ουχι δε και εθνων ναι και εθνων

Matthew 14:29 (NET)	Matthew 14:29 (KJV)
So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.	And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ἐλθέ. καὶ καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ πλοίου [ὁ] Πέτρος περιεπάτησεν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν	ο δε ειπεν ελθε και καταβας απο του πλοιου ο πετρος περιεπατησεν επι τα υδατα ελθειν προς τον ιησουν	ο δε ειπεν ελθε και καταβας απο του πλοιου ο πετρος περιεπατησεν επι τα υδατα ελθειν προς τον ιησουν

Romans, Part 18

Back to Romans, Part 26

Back to Romans, Part 35

Back to Romans, Part 36

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 3

Back to Son of God – 1 John, Part 1

Back to Romans, Part 56

Back to Romans, Part 82

Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited – Part 2

Back to Who Am I? Part 4

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 3

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 4

Back to Sowing to the Flesh, Part 2

Back to Hypocrisy

Back to Believers

Back to A Door of Hope, Part 1

Back to Father, Forgive Them – Part 6

Back to Psalm 22, Part 5

Back to Romans, Part 41

Back to Language

Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 3

Back to Nothing True, Part 3

Back to Christianity, Part 10

Back to Keep Yourselves From Idols, Part 3

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had γὰρ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: Therefore).

² Romans 3:27, 28 (NET)

³ James 2:24 (NET) Table

⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε και (KJV: also) here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had simply καὶ.

⁵ Romans 3:29, 30 (NET)

⁶ Matthew 14:27 (NET)

⁷ Matthew 14:28 (NET)

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἦλθεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ελθειν (KJV: to go).

⁹ Matthew 14:29 (NET)

¹⁰ Matthew 14:30 (NET)

¹¹ Matthew 14:31 (NET)

¹² James 2:17 (NET)

¹³ Romans 3:31 (NET) Table

¹⁴ Romans 8:1 (NET) Table

¹⁵ Galatians 5:22 (NET)

¹⁶ Romans 3:22 (NET) Table

Romans, Part 16

Posted on September 11, 2012 by admin

I want to begin this essay with Psalm 143:8-12 (NET):

May I hear about your loyal love (ḥeseḏ, חסדך,; Septuagint: ἔλεός) in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord! I run to you for protection. Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God. May your kind presence (rûaḥ, רוחך; Septuagint: πνεῦμά) lead me into a level land. O Lord, for the sake of your reputation, revive me! Because of your justice (ṣᵊḏāqâ, בצדקתך; Septuagint: δικαιοσύνῃ), rescue me from trouble! As a demonstration of your loyal love (ḥeseḏ, ובחסדך,; Septuagint: ἐλέει, a form of ἔλεος), destroy my enemies! Annihilate all who threaten my life, for I am your servant.

David was probably considering other human enemies, but in this context I think it’s important to view things through the eyes of the cartoon character Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”¹ I hear the Mission Impossible theme in my imagination: “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” Clearly, sinner that I am, I am my own worst enemy. How can I be destroyed, annihilated, rescued and revived?

But now apart from the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος), Paul continued his letter to the Romans, the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God (which is attested by the law [νόμου, a form of νόμος] and the prophets) has been disclosed – namely, the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God through the faithfulness (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) of Jesus Christ for all who believe (πιστεύοντας, a form of πιστεύω) [Table].² The righteousness of God as I see it these days is nothing less than the love that fulfills the law which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It might be more than that. My journey doesn’t fill me with confidence that I can say I have the final word on something. But it cannot be less.

I know that I will never justify myself or be declared righteous before God by my efforts to keep his law, For no one is declared righteous (δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω) before him by the works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) of the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος).³ My own experience has confirmed over and over again that as I attempted to keep God’s law by my own efforts I only got better acquainted with my sin, for through the law comes the knowledge (ἐπίγνωσις) of sin.⁴ Only with God’s righteousness, the love that fulfills the law by the fruit of His Spirit, is it possible for me to say with Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”⁵ For there is no distinction [Table], Paul continued, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified (δικαιούμενοι, another form of δικαιόω) freely (δωρεάν) by his grace (χάριτι, a form of χάρις) through the redemption (ἀπολυτρώσεως, a form of ἀπολύτρωσις) that is in Christ Jesus.⁶

I didn’t see that at first because I had separated Christ’s redemption or justification, spending eternity in heaven as opposed to the lake of fire, from righteousness. Redemption or justification was God’s doing, the “finished work of Christ.” Righteousness was my obedience to Christ and the law.

Paul continued, God publicly displayed [Christ Jesus] at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις). This was to demonstrate his righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη), because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. This was also to demonstrate his righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη) in the present time, so that he would be just (δίκαιον, a form of δίκαιος) and the justifier (δικαιοῦντα, another form of δικαιόω) of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) [Table].⁷

I was all for God’s vindication. He had put up with more than enough from me. If Jesus’ death demonstrated his righteousness and made it so he would be just (or, righteous) and the justifier, that was a good thing. And these verses do stand as a pithy declaration of the “finished work of Christ.”

The mercy seat was discussed more in the letter to the Hebrews. I don’t know who wrote it. I thought it was Paul, at first. The more I read Paul’s other letters it seemed it was someone else, someone who knew Paul and his teaching but lacked his style. The writer of Hebrews’ amplification on what it meant to be publicly displayed…at his death as the mercy seat follows (Hebrews 9:2-5a, 6-8, 11, 12, 15 NET):

For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place. And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. And above the ark were the cherubim⁸ of glory overshadowing the mercy seat…. So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually⁹ into the outer tent as they perform their duties. But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing.

But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation [Table], and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption….And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.

So I thought my life consisted of bringing my sacrifice, my faith, to church every Sunday, confessing my sins for the week and going home and trying to do better next week. [T]he person who fears (φοβούμενος, a form of φοβέω) [God] and does (ἐργαζόμενος, a form of ἐργάζομαι) what is right (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη) is welcomed (δεκτός) before him.¹⁰ And this is the time in my life when I could only distinguish myself from a Pharisee by the fact that I went to church on Sunday instead of synagogue on Saturday, ate ham for Easter rather than lamb for Passover, and by and large the Pharisee was much better at it than I was. It was a hard truth to recognize and accept. For I tell you, Jesus said, unless your righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) goes (περισσεύσῃ, a form of περισσεύω) beyond (πλεῖον, a form of πλείων) that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.¹¹

Still, I don’t think I could have skipped this step. This was where I learned that I will never justify myself or be declared righteous before God by my efforts to keep his law. It was during this time, years too embarrassing to number, that my own experience confirmed that as I attempted to keep God’s law by my own efforts I only got better acquainted with my sin. If someone reads this who is there now, and needs to be there, he needs to hate me, ignore what I’ve written and continue serving God. But if someone is ready to move on, well, I’m not necessary, but I would like to help if I can.

Addendum: May 3, 2021
Tables comparing Psalm 143:8; 143:9; 143:10; 143:11 and 143:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Psalm 143:8 (142:8); 143:9 (142:9); 143:10 (142:10); 143:11 (142:11) and 143:12 (142:12) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Hebrews 9:5, 6 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 143:8 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:8 (KJV)	Psalm 143:8 (NET)
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.	Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.	May I hear about your loyal love in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you.

Psalm 143:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀκουστὸν ποίησόν μοι τὸ πρωὶ τὸ ἔλεός σου ὅτι ἐπὶ σοὶ ἤλπισα γνώρισόν μοι κύριε ὁδὸν ἐν ᾗ πορεύσομαι ὅτι πρὸς σὲ ἦρα τὴν ψυχήν μου	ἀκουστὸν ποίησόν μοι τὸ πρωΐ τὸ ἔλεός σου, ὅτι ἐπὶ σοὶ ἤλπισα· γνώρισόν μοι, Κύριε, ὁδόν, ἐν ᾗ πορεύσομαι, ὅτι πρὸς σὲ ἦρα τὴν ψυχήν μου
Psalm 142:8 (NETS)	Psalm 142:8 (English Elpenor)
Make me hear your mercy in the morning, because in you I hoped. Make known to me, O Lord, a way in which I should go, because to you I lifted up my soul.	Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in thee; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to thee.

Psalm 143:9 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:9 (KJV)	Psalm 143:9 (NET)
Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.	Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.	Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord. I run to you for protection.

Psalm 143:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐξελοῦ με ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου κύριε ὅτι πρὸς σὲ κατέφυγον	ἐξελοῦ με ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου, Κύριε, ὅτι πρὸς σὲ κατέφυγον
Psalm 142:9 (NETS)	Psalm 142:9 (English Elpenor)
Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord; I fled to you for refuge.	Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to thee for refuge.

Psalm 143:10 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:10 (KJV)	Psalm 143:10 (NET)
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.	Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.	Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God. May your kind presence lead me into a level land.

Psalm 143:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
δίδαξόν με τοῦ ποιεῗν τὸ θέλημά σου ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ θεός μου τὸ πνεῦμά σου τὸ ἀγαθὸν ὁδηγήσει με ἐν γῇ εὐθείᾳ	δίδαξόν με τοῦ ποιεῖν τὸ θέλημά σου, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεός μου· τὸ πνεῦμά σου τὸ ἀγαθὸν ὁδηγήσει με ἐν γῇ εὐθείᾳ
Psalm 142:10 (NETS)	Psalm 142:10 (English Elpenor)
Teach me that I do your will, because you are my God. Your good spirit will guide me on level ground.	Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; thy good Spirit shall guide me in the straight [way].

Psalm 143:11 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:11 (KJV)	Psalm 143:11 (NET)
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.	Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.	O Lord, for the sake of your reputation, revive me. Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble.

Psalm 143:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἕνεκα τοῦ ὀνόματός σου κύριε ζήσεις με ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ἐξάξεις ἐκ θλίψεως τὴν ψυχήν μου	ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου, Κύριε, ζήσεις με, ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ἐξάξεις ἐκ θλίψεως τὴν ψυχήν μου
Psalm 142:11 (NETS)	Psalm 142:11 (English Elpenor)
For your name’s sake, O Lord, you will quicken me. In your righteousness you will bring my soul out of affliction.	Thou shalt quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake; in thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction.

Psalm 143:12 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:12 (KJV)	Psalm 143:12 (NET)
And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.	And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.	As a demonstration of your loyal love, destroy my enemies. Annihilate all who threaten my life, for I am your servant.

Psalm 143:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐλέει σου ἐξολεθρεύσεις τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου καὶ ἀπολεῗς πάντας τοὺς θλίβοντας τὴν ψυχήν μου ὅτι δοῦλός σού εἰμι ἐγώ	καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐλέει σου ἐξολοθρεύσεις τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου καὶ ἀπολεῖς πάντας τοὺς θλίβοντας τὴν ψυχήν μου, ὅτι ἐγὼ δοῦλός σού εἰμι
Psalm 142:12 (NETS)	Psalm 142:12 (English Elpenor)
And in your mercy you will destroy my enemies and ruin all who afflict my soul, because your slave I am.	And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy mine enemies, and wilt destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant.

Hebrews 9:5, 6 (NET)	Hebrews 9:5, 6 (KJV)
And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.	And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον· περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος	υπερανω δε αυτης χερουβιμ δοξης κατασκιαζοντα το ιλαστηριον περι ων ουκ εστιν νυν λεγειν κατα μερος	υπερανω δε αυτης χερουβιμ δοξης κατασκιαζοντα το ιλαστηριον περι ων ουκ εστιν νυν λεγειν κατα μερος

So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties.

Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τούτων δὲ οὕτως κατεσκευασμένων εἰς μὲν τὴν πρώτην σκηνὴν διὰ παντὸς εἰσίασιν οἱ ἱερεῖς τὰς λατρείας ἐπιτελοῦντες	τουτων δε ουτως κατεσκευασμενων εις μεν την πρωτην σκηνην διαπαντος εισιασιν οι ιερεις τας λατρειας επιτελουντες	τουτων δε ουτως κατεσκευασμενων εις μεν την πρωτην σκηνην δια παντος εισιασιν οι ιερεις τας λατρειας επιτελουντες

Romans, Part 17

Back to Romans, Part 35

Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 6

Back to Jedidiah, Part 3

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 8

¹ Walt Kelly, The Pogo Papers, 1953

² Romans 3:21, 22a (NET)

³ Romans 3:20a (NET)

⁴ Romans 3:20b (NET)

⁵ “We Have Met The Enemy, And They Are Ours”

⁶ Romans 3:22b-24 (NET)

⁷ Romans 3:25, 26 (NET)

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had Χερουβὶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had χερουβιμ (KJV: cherubims).

⁹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had διὰ παντὸς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had διαπαντος (KJV: always).

¹⁰ Acts 10:35 (NET)

¹¹ Matthew 5:20 (NET)

Romans, Part 15

Posted on August 30, 2012 by admin

O Lord, hear my prayer! David wrote. Pay attention to my plea for help! Because of your faithfulness and justice (Septuagint: δικαιοσύνη), answer me! Do not sit in judgment (Septuagint: κρίσιν, a form of κρίσις) on your servant, for no one alive is innocent (Septuagint: δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω) before you [Table].¹ David’s prayer is a good starting place for this part of Romans.

Now we know that whatever the law says, Paul continued, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.²

I planned to hurry to the next verse, assuming that I knew what this one was saying. I thought under the law would be υπο νομον in Greek. When I decided not to be so lazy and checked, I discovered I was wrong. It is εν τω νομω, in the law. It may not be a major difference. But it is more like εν ρωμη, in Rome,³ εν αυτω, in the gospel (literally, in it),⁴ εν σαρκι, in the flesh,⁵ εν τω νυν καιρω, in the present time,⁶ εν η εστηκαμεν, in which we stand,⁷ εν χριστω ιησου, in Christ Jesus,⁸ εν πνευματι αγιω, in the Holy Spirit,⁹ εν δυναμει πνευματος, in the power of the Spirit,¹⁰ rather than υπο νομον, under law.¹¹

Likewise I assumed that being held accountable had something to do with λογον, an account,¹² to explain,¹³ but I was wrong again. The word translated held accountable is υποδικος, a compound word made up of ὑπό (under) and δίκη. This compound word only occurs once in the New Testament. But in Acts καταδικην (a form of καταδίκη) is a sentence of condemnation,¹⁴ and δικη is translated as the pagan deity Justice (NET) or vengeance (KJV).¹⁵ Paul wrote the Thessalonians, With flaming fire he will mete out punishment (εκδικησιν, a form of ἐκδίκησις) on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus [See Addendum below].¹⁶ They will undergo (δικην) the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength [See Addendum below]…¹⁷ Jude wrote, You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day. So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment (δικην) of eternal fire.¹⁸

In that light it seems to me that the translation held accountable for υποδικος (under δικην) might understate the case a bit. Since I brought up Jude and Sodom, it seems only fair to bring up Ezekiel. In the end I am not trying merely to learn the meaning of Greek words, but to know God (Ezekiel 16:44-48 NET).

“‘Observe – everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” You are the daughter of your mother, who detested her husband and her sons, and you are the sister of your sisters who detested their husbands and their sons. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. Your older sister was Samaria, who lived north of you with her daughters, and your younger sister, who lived south of you, was Sodom with her daughters. Have you not copied their behavior and practiced their abominable deeds? In a short time you became even more depraved in all your conduct than they were! As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, your sister Sodom and her daughters never behaved as wickedly as you and your daughters have behaved.

This was addressed to the people of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel that remained loyal to Solomon’s son Rehoboam. One might miss in Jude’s emphasis on Sodom and Gomorrah that there was a time when God considered Judah more depraved than Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49-52 NET).

“‘See here – this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had majesty, abundance of food, and enjoyed carefree ease, but they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and practiced abominable deeds before me. Therefore when I saw it I removed them. Samaria has not committed half the sins you have; you have done more abominable deeds than they did. You have made your sisters appear righteous (Hebrew: וַתְּצַדְּקִי֙; Septuagint: ἐδικαίωσας, a form of δικαιόω) with all the abominable things you have done. So now, bear your disgrace, because you have given your sisters reason to justify their behavior. Because the sins you have committed were more abominable than those of your sisters; they have become more righteous (Hebrew: תִּצְדַּ֣קְנָה; Septuagint: ἐδικαίωσας, a form of δικαιόω) than you. So now, be ashamed and bear the disgrace of making your sisters appear righteous (Hebrew: בְּצַדֶּקְתֵּ֖ךְ; Septuagint: δικαιῶσαί, another form of δικαιόω).

Again, Jude mentioned Sodom’s abominable deeds but not that there was a time when God said that Judah had done more abominable deeds than Sodom or Samaria, the northern kingdom of Israel that rebelled against Rehoboam. And Jude did not mention God’s promised restoration (Ezekiel 16:53-58 NET).

“‘I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters (along with your fortunes among them) [See Table below], so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in consoling them. As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former status, Samaria and her daughters will be restored to their former status, and you and your daughters will be restored to your former status. In your days of majesty, was not Sodom your sister a byword in your mouth [See Table below], before your evil was exposed? Now you have become an object of scorn to the daughters of Aram and all those around her and to the daughters of the Philistines – those all around you who despise you. You must bear your punishment for your obscene conduct and your abominable practices, declares the Lord.’”

For no one is declared righteous (δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω) before him by the works of the law, Paul continued, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed – namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe [Table].¹⁹

Addendum: April 20, 2021
Note 12 in the NET claimed that 2 Thessalonians 1:8 was “An allusion to Jer 10:25, possibly also to Ps 79:6 and Isa 66:15.”

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Jeremiah 10:25 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 10:25 (NET)	Jeremiah 10:25 (NETS)	Jeremiah 10:25 (English Elpenor)
Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.	Vent your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you. Vent it on the peoples who do not worship you. For they have destroyed the people of Jacob. They have completely destroyed them and left their homeland in utter ruin.”	Pour out your anger on nations that do not know you and on generations that did not call on your name, because they have devoured Iakob and they have consumed him and his pasture they have made desolate.	Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee, and upon the families that have not called upon thy name: for they have devoured Jacob, and consumed him, and have made his pasture desolate.
Psalm 79:6 (Tanakh)	Psalm 79:6 (NET)	Psalm 78:6 (NETS)	Psalm 78:6 (English Elpenor)
Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.	Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not pray to you.	Pour out your wrath on nations that do not know you and on kingdoms that did not call on your name,	Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon thy name.
Isaiah 66:15 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 66:15 (NET)	Isaiah 66:15 (NETS)	Isaiah 66:15 (English Elpenor)
For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.	For look, the Lord comes with fire; his chariots come like a windstorm to reveal his raging anger, his battle cry, and his flaming arrows.	For see, the Lord will come like fire, and his chariots like a tempest, to render vengeance with wrath and repudiation with a flame of fire.	For, behold, the Lord will come as fire, and his chariots as a storm, to render his vengeance with wrath, and his rebuke with a flame of fire.

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:8a with Jeremiah 10:25a follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET Parallel Greek)	Jeremiah 10:25a (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 10:25a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν θεὸν	ἔκχεον τὸν θυμόν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα σε καὶ ἐπὶ γενεὰς αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο	ἔκχεον τὸν θυμόν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα σε καὶ ἐπὶ γενεάς, αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο
2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET)	Jeremiah 10:25a (NETS)	Jeremiah 10:25a (English Elpenor)
With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God	Pour out your anger on nations that do not know you and on generations that did not call on your name	Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee, and upon the families that have not called upon thy name

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:8a with Psalm 79:6 (78:6) follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET Parallel Greek)	Psalm 79:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 78:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν θεὸν	ἔκχεον τὴν ὀργήν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ γινώσκοντά σε καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλείας αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο	ἔκχεον τὴν ὀργήν σου ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ γινώσκοντά σε καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλείας, αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο,
2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET)	Psalm 78:6 (NETS)	Psalm 78:6 (English Elpenor)
With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God	Pour out your wrath on nations that do not know you and on kingdoms that did not call on your name,	Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon thy name.

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:8a with Isaiah 66:15 follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 66:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 66:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν θεὸν	ἰδοὺ γὰρ κύριος ὡς πῦρ ἥξει καὶ ὡς καταιγὶς τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐν θυμῷ ἐκδίκησιν καὶ ἀποσκορακισμὸν ἐν φλογὶ πυρός	᾿Ιδοὺ γὰρ Κύριος ὡς πῦρ ἥξει καὶ ὡς καταιγὶς τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐν θυμῷ ἐκδίκησιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀποσκορακισμὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν φλογὶ πυρός
2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET)	Isaiah 66:15 (NETS)	Isaiah 66:15 (English Elpenor)
With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God	For see, the Lord will come like fire, and his chariots like a tempest, to render vengeance with wrath and repudiation with a flame of fire.	For, behold, the Lord will come as fire, and his chariots as a storm, to render his vengeance with wrath, and his rebuke with a flame of fire.

Note 14 in the NET claimed that 2 Thessalonians 1:9 was “An allusion to Isa 2:10, 19, 21.”

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 2:10 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:10 (NET)	Isaiah 2:10 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:10 (English Elpenor)
Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.	Go up into the rocky cliffs, hide in the ground. Get away from the dreadful judgment of the Lord, from his royal splendor!	And now enter into the rocks, and hide in the earth from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	Now therefore enter ye into the rocks, and hide yourselves in the earth, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.
Isaiah 2:19 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:19 (NET)	Isaiah 2:19 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:19 (English Elpenor)
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	They will go into caves in the rocky cliffs and into holes in the ground trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.	carrying them into the caves and into the clefts of the rocks and into the holes of the earth—from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	having carried [them] into the caves, and into the clefts of the rocks, and into the caverns of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.
Isaiah 2:21 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:21 (NET)	Isaiah 2:21 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:21 (English Elpenor)
To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	so they themselves can go into the crevices of the rocky cliffs and the openings under the rocky overhangs, trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.	to enter the holes of the solid rock and the clefts of the rocks, from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	to enter into the caverns of the solid rock, and into the clefts of the rocks, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:9a with Isaiah 2:10 follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 2:10b (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:10b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ
2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET)	Isaiah 2:10b (NETS)	Isaiah 2:10b (English Elpenor)
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:9a with Isaiah 2:19 follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 2:19b (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:19b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ
2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET)	Isaiah 2:19b (NETS)	Isaiah 2:19b (English Elpenor)
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:9a with Isaiah 2:21 follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 2:21b (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:21b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ
2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET)	Isaiah 2:21b (NETS)	Isaiah 2:21b (English Elpenor)
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might

Tables comparing Psalm 143:1; Ezekiel 16:44; 16:45; 16:46; 16:47; 16:48; 16:49; 16:50; 16:51; 16:52; 16:53; 16:54; 16:55; 16:56; 16:57; 16:58; Jeremiah 10:25; Psalm 79:6; Isaiah 66:15; 2:10; 2:19 and 2:21 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Psalm 143:1 (142:1); Ezekiel 16:44 (16:44, 45a); 16:45 (16:45b); 16:46; 16:47; 16:48; 16:49; 16:50; 16:51; 16:52; 16:53; 16:54; 16:55; 16:56; 16:57; 16:58; Jeremiah 10:25; Psalm 79:6 (78:6); Isaiah 66:15; 2:10; 2:19 and 2:21 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing 2 Thessalonians 1:8 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 143:1 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:1 (KJV)	Psalm 143:1 (NET)
Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.	Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.	A psalm of David. O Lord, hear my prayer. Pay attention to my plea for help. Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me.

Psalm 143:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυιδ ὅτε αὐτὸν ὁ υἱὸς καταδιώκει κύριε εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου ἐνώτισαι τὴν δέησίν μου ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου ἐπάκουσόν μου ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου	Ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυΐδ, ὅτε αὐτὸν ὁ υἱὸς καταδιώκει. – ΚΥΡΙΕ, εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου, ἐνώτισαι τὴν δέησίν μου ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου, εἰσάκουσόν μου ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου
Psalm 142:1 (NETS)	Psalm 142:1 (English Elpenor)
A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. O Lord, listen to my prayer; give ear to my petition in truth; hearken to me in your righteousness.	[A Psalm of David, when his son pursued him.] O Lord, attend to my prayer: hearken to my supplication in thy truth; hear me in thy righteousness.

Ezekiel 16:44 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:44 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:44 (NET)
Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.	Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.	“‘Observe—everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.”

Ezekiel 16:44 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:44, 45a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ταῦτά ἐστιν πάντα ὅσα εἶπαν κατὰ σοῦ ἐν παραβολῇ λέγοντες καθὼς ἡ μήτηρ καὶ ἡ θυγάτηρ	ταῦτά ἐστι πάντα, ὅσα εἶπαν κατὰ σοῦ ἐν παραβολῇ λέγοντες· καθὼς ἡ μήτηρ, (45) καὶ ἡ θυγάτηρ
Ezekiel 16:44, 45a (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:44, 45a (English Elpenor)
These are all the things that they said about you in a comparison, saying, “Like mother (45) like daughter.”	These are all the things they have spoken against thee in a proverb, saying, (45) As is the mother, so is thy mother’s daughter:

Ezekiel 16:45 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:45 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:45 (NET)
Thou art thy mother’s daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite.	Thou art thy mother’s daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite.	You are the daughter of your mother, who detested her husband and her sons, and you are the sister of your sisters, who detested their husbands and their sons. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.

Ezekiel 16:45 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:45b (Septuagint Elpenor)
θυγάτηρ τῆς μητρός σου σὺ εἶ ἡ ἀπωσαμένη τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ ἀδελφὴ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου τῶν ἀπωσαμένων τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν ἡ μήτηρ ὑμῶν Χετταία καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν Αμορραῗος	θυγάτηρ τῆς μητρός σου σὺ εἶ ἡ ἀπωσαμένη τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ ἀδελφοὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου τῶν ἀπωσαμένων τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν· ἡ μήτηρ ὑμῶν Χετταία, καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ᾿Αμορραῖος
Ezekiel 16:45b (NETS)	Ezekiel 16: 45b (English Elpenor)
You are your mother’s daughter, she who thrust aside her husband and her children, and the sisters of your sisters are those who thrust aside their husbands and their children; your mother is a Chettite, and your father an Amorrite.	thou art she that has rejected her husband and her children; and the sisters of thy sisters have rejected their husbands and their children: your mother was a Chettite, and [your] father an Amorite.

Ezekiel 16:46 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:46 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:46 (NET)
And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.	And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.	Your older sister was Samaria, who lived north of you with her daughters, and your younger sister, who lived south of you, was Sodom with her daughters.

Ezekiel 16:46 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:46 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἡ ἀδελφὴ ὑμῶν ἡ πρεσβυτέρα Σαμάρεια αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ἡ κατοικοῦσα ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου καὶ ἡ ἀδελφή σου ἡ νεωτέρα σου ἡ κατοικοῦσα ἐκ δεξιῶν σου Σοδομα καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς	ἡ ἀδελφὴ ὑμῶν ἡ πρεσβυτέρα Σαμάρεια, αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς, ἡ κατοικοῦσα ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου· καὶ ἡ ἀδελφή σου ἡ νεωτέρα σου ἡ κατοικοῦσα ἐκ δεξιῶν σου Σόδομα καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς
Ezekiel 16:46 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:46 (English Elpenor)
Your elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters, she who was living on your left, and your younger sister who was living on your right is Sodoma and her daughters.	Your elder sister who dwells on thy left hand is Samaria, she and her daughters: and thy younger sister, that dwells on the right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.

Ezekiel 16:47 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:47 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:47 (NET)
Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.	Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.	Have you not copied their behavior and practiced their abominable deeds? In a short time you became even more depraved in all your conduct than they were!

Ezekiel 16:47 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:47 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐδ᾽ ὧς ἐν ταῗς ὁδοῗς αὐτῶν ἐπορεύθης οὐδὲ κατὰ τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτῶν ἐποίησας παρὰ μικρὸν καὶ ὑπέρκεισαι αὐτὰς ἐν πάσαις ταῗς ὁδοῗς σου	καὶ οὐδ᾿ ὧς ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν ἐπορεύθης, οὐδὲ κατὰ τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτῶν ἐποίησας· παρὰ μικρὸν καὶ ὑπέρκεισαι αὐτὰς ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς σου
Ezekiel 16:47 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:47 (English Elpenor)
And you did not even walk in their ways, nor did you act according to their lawless acts; in fact, you almost surpassed them in all your ways.	Yet notwithstanding thou hast not walked in their ways, neither hast thou done according to their iniquities within a little, but thou hast exceeded them in all thy ways.

Ezekiel 16:48 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:48 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:48 (NET)
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.	As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.	As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, your sister Sodom and her daughters never behaved as wickedly as you and your daughters have behaved.

Ezekiel 16:48 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:48 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ζῶ ἐγώ λέγει κύριος εἰ πεποίηκεν Σοδομα ἡ ἀδελφή σου αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησας σὺ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες σου	ζῶ ἐγώ, λέγει Κύριος, εἰ πεποίηκε Σόδομα ἡ ἀδελφή σου, αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς, ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησας σὺ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες σου.
Ezekiel 16:48 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:48 (English Elpenor)
I live, says the Lord, if your sister Sodoma has acted, she and her daughters, as you and your daughters acted!	[As] I live, saith the Lord, this Sodom and her daughters have not done as thou and thy daughters have done.

Ezekiel 16:49 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:49 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:49 (NET)
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.	Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.	“‘See here—this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had majesty, abundance of food, and enjoyed carefree ease, but they did not help the poor and needy.

Ezekiel 16:49 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:49 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πλὴν τοῦτο τὸ ἀνόμημα Σοδομων τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου ὑπερηφανία ἐν πλησμονῇ ἄρτων καὶ ἐν εὐθηνίᾳ οἴνου ἐσπατάλων αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς τοῦτο ὑπῆρχεν αὐτῇ καὶ ταῗς θυγατράσιν αὐτῆς καὶ χεῗρα πτωχοῦ καὶ πένητος οὐκ ἀντελαμβάνοντο	πλὴν τοῦτο τὸ ἀνόμημα Σοδόμων τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου, ὑπερηφανία· ἐν πλησμονῇ ἄρτων καὶ ἐν εὐθηνίᾳ οἴνου ἐσπατάλων αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς. τοῦτο ὑπῆρχεν αὐτῇ καὶ ταῖς θυγατράσιν αὐτῆς, καὶ χεῖρα πτωχοῦ καὶ πένητος οὐκ ἀντελαμβάνοντο
Ezekiel 16:49 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:49 (English Elpenor)
But this was the lawless act of Sodoma, your sister: arrogance. She and her daughters were indulging in excess of bread and in prosperous ease; this belonged to her and her daughters, and they were not holding the hand of the poor and the needy.	Moreover this was the sin of thy sister Sodom, pride: she and her daughters lived in pleasure, in fullness of bread [and] in abundance: this belonged to her and her daughters, and they helped not the hand of the poor and needy.

Ezekiel 16:50 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:50 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:50 (NET)
And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.	And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.	They were haughty and practiced abominable deeds before me. Therefore, when I saw it I removed them.

Ezekiel 16:50 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:50 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐμεγαλαύχουν καὶ ἐποίησαν ἀνομήματα ἐνώπιόν μου καὶ ἐξῆρα αὐτάς καθὼς εἶδον	καὶ ἐμεγαλαύχουν καὶ ἐποίησαν ἀνομήματα ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἐξῇρα αὐτὰς καθὼς εἶδον
Ezekiel 16:50 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:50 (English Elpenor)
And they were boasting and committed lawless acts before me, and I took them away, just as I saw.	And they boasted, and wrought iniquities before me: so I cut them off as I saw [fit].

Ezekiel 16:51 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:51 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:51 (NET)
Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.	Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.	Samaria has not committed half the sins you have; you have done more abominable deeds than they did. You have made your sisters appear righteous with all the abominable things you have done.

Ezekiel 16:51 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:51 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ Σαμάρεια κατὰ τὰς ἡμίσεις τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν σου οὐχ ἥμαρτεν καὶ ἐπλήθυνας τὰς ἀνομίας σου ὑπὲρ αὐτὰς καὶ ἐδικαίωσας τὰς ἀδελφάς σου ἐν πάσαις ταῗς ἀνομίαις σου αἷς ἐποίησας	καὶ Σαμάρεια κατὰ τὰς ἡμίσεις τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν σου οὐχ ἥμαρτε· καὶ ἐπλήθυνας τὰς ἀνομίας σου ὑπὲρ αὐτὰς καὶ ἐδικαίωσας τὰς ἀδελφάς σου ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἀνομίαις σου, αἷς ἐποίησας
Ezekiel 16:51 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:51 (English Elpenor)
And Samaria sinned not half of your sins, and you multiplied your lawless acts beyond them and made your sisters right by all your lawless acts that you committed.	Also Samaria has not sinned according to half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine iniquities beyond them, and thou hast justified thy sisters in all thine iniquities which thou hast committed.

Ezekiel 16:52 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:52 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:52 (NET)
Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.	Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.	So now, bear your disgrace, because you have given your sisters reason to justify their behavior. Because the sins you have committed were more abominable than those of your sisters; they have become more righteous than you. So now, be ashamed and bear the disgrace of making your sisters appear righteous.

Ezekiel 16:52 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:52 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ σὺ κόμισαι βάσανόν σου ἐν ᾗ ἔφθειρας τὰς ἀδελφάς σου ἐν ταῗς ἁμαρτίαις σου αἷς ἠνόμησας ὑπὲρ αὐτὰς καὶ ἐδικαίωσας αὐτὰς ὑπὲρ σεαυτήν καὶ σὺ αἰσχύνθητι καὶ λαβὲ τὴν ἀτιμίαν σου ἐν τῷ δικαιῶσαί σε τὰς ἀδελφάς σου	καὶ σὺ κόμισαι βάσανόν σου, ἐν ᾗ ἔφθειρας τὰς ἀδελφάς σου ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις σου, αἷς ἠνόμησας ὑπὲρ αὐτάς, καὶ ἐδικαίωσας αὐτὰς ὑπὲρ σεαυτήν· καὶ σὺ αἰσχύνθητι καὶ λάβε τὴν ἀτιμίαν σου ἐν τῷ δικαιῶσαί σε τὰς ἀδελφάς σου
Ezekiel 16:52 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:52 (English Elpenor)
And you shall bear your trial, for you ruined your sisters with your sins by which you acted laelessly beyond them and rendered them right beyond yourselves, and be ashamed, you, and receive your dishonor for rendering your sisters right.	Thou therefore bear thy punishment, for that thou hast corrupted thy sisters by thy sins which thou hast committed beyond them; and thou hast made them [appear] more righteous than thyself: thou therefore be ashamed, and bear thy dishonour, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.

Ezekiel 16:53 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:53 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:53 (NET)
When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:	When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:	“‘I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters (along with your fortunes among them),

Ezekiel 16:53 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:53 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὰς ἀποστροφὰς αὐτῶν τὴν ἀποστροφὴν Σοδομων καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῆς καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποστροφὴν Σαμαρείας καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῆς καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποστροφήν σου ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν	καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὰς ἀποστροφὰς αὐτῶν, τὴν ἀποστροφὴν Σοδόμων καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποστροφὴν Σαμαρείας καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποστροφήν σου ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν
Ezekiel 16:53 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:53 (English Elpenor)
And I will turn back your turning back, the turning back of Sodoma and her daughters, and I will turn back the turning back of Samaria and her daughters, and I will turn back your turning back in their midst	And I will turn their captivity, [even] the captivity of Sodom and her daughters; and I will turn the captivity of Samaria and her daughters; and I will turn thy captivity in the midst of them:

Ezekiel 16:54 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:54 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:54 (NET)
That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.	That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.	so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in consoling them.

Ezekiel 16:54 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:54 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅπως κομίσῃ τὴν βάσανόν σου καὶ ἀτιμωθήσῃ ἐκ πάντων ὧν ἐποίησας ἐν τῷ σε παροργίσαι με	ὅπως κομίσῃ τὴν βάσανόν σου καὶ ἀτιμωθήσῃ ἐκ πάντων, ὧν ἐποίησας ἐν τῷ παροργίσαι με
Ezekiel 16:54 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:54 (English Elpenor)
in order that you may bear your trial and be dishonored as a result of all that you have done when you provoked me.	that thou mayest bear thy punishment, and be dishonoured for all that thou hast done in provoking me to anger.

Ezekiel 16:55 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:55 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:55 (NET)
When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.	When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.	As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former status, Samaria and her daughters will be restored to their former status, and you and your daughters will be restored to your former status.

Ezekiel 16:55 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:55 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἡ ἀδελφή σου Σοδομα καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ἀποκατασταθήσονται καθὼς ἦσαν ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς καὶ Σαμάρεια καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ἀποκατασταθήσονται καθὼς ἦσαν ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς καὶ σὺ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες σου ἀποκατασταθήσεσθε καθὼς ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς ἦτε	καὶ ἡ ἀδελφή σου Σόδομα καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ἀποκατασταθήσονται καθὼς ἦσαν ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς, καὶ Σαμάρεια καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ἀποκατασταθήσονται καθὼς ἦσαν ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς, καὶ σὺ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες σου ἀποκατασταθήσεσθε καθὼς ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς ἦτε
Ezekiel 16:55 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:55 (English Elpenor)
And your sister Sodoma and her daughters shall be restored, just as they were from the beginning, and Samaria and her daughters shall be restored, just as they were from the beginning, and you and your daughters shall be restored, just as you were from the beginning.	And thy sister Sodom and her daughters shall be restored as they were at the beginning, and Samareia and her daughters shall be restored as they were at the beginning, and thou and thy daughters shall be restored as ye were at the beginning.

Ezekiel 16:56 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:56 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:56 (NET)
For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,	For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,	In your days of majesty, was not Sodom your sister a byword in your mouth,

Ezekiel 16:56 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:56 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἰ μὴ ἦν Σοδομα ἡ ἀδελφή σου εἰς ἀκοὴν ἐν τῷ στόματί σου ἐν ταῗς ἡμέραις ὑπερηφανίας σου	καὶ εἰ μὴ ἦν Σόδομα ἡ ἀδελφή σου εἰς ἀκοὴν ἐν τῷ στόματί σου ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ὑπερηφανίας σου
Ezekiel 16:56 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:56 (English Elpenor)
And surely Sodoma your sister was not as a report in your mouth in the days of your arrogance,	And surely thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the days of thy pride:

Ezekiel 16:57 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:57 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:57 (NET)
Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.	Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.	before your evil was exposed? Now you have become an object of scorn to the daughters of Aram and all those around her and to the daughters of the Philistines—those all around you who despise you.

Ezekiel 16:57 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:57 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πρὸ τοῦ ἀποκαλυφθῆναι τὰς κακίας σου ὃν τρόπον νῦν ὄνειδος εἶ θυγατέρων Συρίας καὶ πάντων τῶν κύκλῳ αὐτῆς θυγατέρων ἀλλοφύλων τῶν περιεχουσῶν σε κύκλῳ	πρὸ τοῦ ἀποκαλυφθῆναι τὰς κακίας σου, ὃν τρόπον νῦν ὄνειδος εἶ θυγατέρων Συρίας καὶ πάντων τῶν κύκλῳ αὐτῆς, θυγατέρων ἀλλοφύλων τῶν περιεχουσῶν σε κύκλῳ
Ezekiel 16:57 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:57 (English Elpenor)
before your evil acts were uncovered, as you are now an ignominy to the daughters of Syria and all the daughters of allophyles around her that enclose you all around?	before thy wickedness was discovered, even now thou art the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all that are round about her, [even] of the daughters of the Philistines that compass thee round about.

Ezekiel 16:58 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:58 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:58 (NET)
Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD.	Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD.	You must bear your punishment for your obscene conduct and your abominable practices, declares the Lord.

Ezekiel 16:58 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:58 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τὰς ἀσεβείας σου καὶ τὰς ἀνομίας σου σὺ κεκόμισαι αὐτάς λέγει κύριος	τὰς ἀσεβείας σου καὶ τὰς ἀνομίας σου, σὺ κεκόμισαι αὐτάς, λέγει Κύριος
Ezekiel 16:58 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:58 (English Elpenor)
Your impieties and your lawless acts—you have carried them off, says the Lord.	[As for] thine ungodliness and thine iniquities, thou hast borne them, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 10:25 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 10:25 (KJV)	Jeremiah 10:25 (NET)
Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.	Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.	Vent your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you. Vent it on the peoples who do not worship you. For they have destroyed the people of Jacob. They have completely destroyed them and left their homeland in utter ruin.”

Jeremiah 10:25 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 10:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔκχεον τὸν θυμόν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα σε καὶ ἐπὶ γενεὰς αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο ὅτι κατέφαγον τὸν Ιακωβ καὶ ἐξανήλωσαν αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν νομὴν αὐτοῦ ἠρήμωσαν	ἔκχεον τὸν θυμόν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα σε καὶ ἐπὶ γενεάς, αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο, ὅτι κατέφαγον τὸν ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ ἐξανήλωσαν αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν νομὴν αὐτοῦ ἠρήμωσαν
Jeremiah 10:25 (NETS)	Jeremiah 10:25 (English Elpenor)
Pour out your anger on nations that do not know you and on generations that did not call on your name, because they have devoured Iakob and they have consumed him and his pasture they have made desolate.	Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee, and upon the families that have not called upon thy name: for they have devoured Jacob, and consumed him, and have made his pasture desolate.

Psalm 79:6 (Tanakh)	Psalm 79:6 (KJV)	Psalm 79:6 (NET)
Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.	Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.	Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not pray to you.

Psalm 79:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 78:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔκχεον τὴν ὀργήν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ γινώσκοντά σε καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλείας αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο	ἔκχεον τὴν ὀργήν σου ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ γινώσκοντά σε καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλείας, αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο,
Psalm 78:6 (NETS)	Psalm 78:6 (English Elpenor)
Pour out your wrath on nations that do not know you and on kingdoms that did not call on your name,	Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon thy name.

Isaiah 66:15 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 66:15 (KJV)	Isaiah 66:15 (NET)
For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.	For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.	For look, the Lord comes with fire; his chariots come like a windstorm to reveal his raging anger, his battle cry, and his flaming arrows.

Isaiah 66:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 66:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἰδοὺ γὰρ κύριος ὡς πῦρ ἥξει καὶ ὡς καταιγὶς τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐν θυμῷ ἐκδίκησιν καὶ ἀποσκορακισμὸν ἐν φλογὶ πυρός	᾿Ιδοὺ γὰρ Κύριος ὡς πῦρ ἥξει καὶ ὡς καταιγὶς τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐν θυμῷ ἐκδίκησιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀποσκορακισμὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν φλογὶ πυρός
Isaiah 66:15 (NETS)	Isaiah 66:15 (English Elpenor)
For see, the Lord will come like fire, and his chariots like a tempest, to render vengeance with wrath and repudiation with a flame of fire.	For, behold, the Lord will come as fire, and his chariots as a storm, to render his vengeance with wrath, and his rebuke with a flame of fire.

Isaiah 2:10 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:10 (KJV)	Isaiah 2:10 (NET)
Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.	Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.	Go up into the rocky cliffs, hide in the ground. Get away from the dreadful judgment of the Lord, from his royal splendor!

Isaiah 2:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ νῦν εἰσέλθετε εἰς τὰς πέτρας καὶ κρύπτεσθε εἰς τὴν γῆν ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν	καὶ νῦν εἰσέλθετε εἰς τὰς πέτρας καὶ κρύπτεσθε εἰς τὴν γῆν ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν
Isaiah 2:10 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:10 (English Elpenor)
And now enter into the rocks, and hide in the earth from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	Now therefore enter ye into the rocks, and hide yourselves in the earth, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.

Isaiah 2:19 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:19 (KJV)	Isaiah 2:19 (NET)
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	They will go into caves in the rocky cliffs and into holes in the ground trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.

Isaiah 2:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἰσενέγκαντες εἰς τὰ σπήλαια καὶ εἰς τὰς σχισμὰς τῶν πετρῶν καὶ εἰς τὰς τρώγλας τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν	εἰσενέγκαντες εἰς τὰ σπήλαια καὶ εἰς τὰς σχισμὰς τῶν πετρῶν καὶ εἰς τὰς τρώγλας τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν
Isaiah 2:19 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:19 (English Elpenor)
carrying them into the caves and into the clefts of the rocks and into the holes of the earth—from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	having carried [them] into the caves, and into the clefts of the rocks, and into the caverns of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.

Isaiah 2:21 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:21 (KJV)	Isaiah 2:21 (NET)
To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	so they themselves can go into the crevices of the rocky cliffs and the openings under the rocky overhangs, trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.

Isaiah 2:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τοῦ εἰσελθεῗν εἰς τὰς τρώγλας τῆς στερεᾶς πέτρας καὶ εἰς τὰς σχισμὰς τῶν πετρῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν	τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὰς τρώγλας τῆς στερεᾶς πέτρας καὶ εἰς τὰς σχισμὰς τῶν πετρῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν
Isaiah 2:21 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:21 (English Elpenor)
to enter the holes of the solid rock and the clefts of the rocks, from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	to enter into the caverns of the solid rock, and into the clefts of the rocks, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 (NET)	2 Thessalonians 1:8 (KJV)
With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.	In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν θεὸν καὶ τοῖς μὴ ὑπακούουσιν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ	εν πυρι φλογος διδοντος εκδικησιν τοις μη ειδοσιν θεον και τοις μη υπακουουσιν τω ευαγγελιω του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου	εν πυρι φλογος διδοντος εκδικησιν τοις μη ειδοσιν θεον και τοις μη υπακουουσιν τω ευαγγελιω του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου

Paul’s OT Quotes – Romans 3:20

Romans, Part 16

Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 5

Back to Romans, Part 49

Back to Hannah’s Prayer, Part 3

Back to A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 1

Back to Romans, Part 43

Back to Christianity, Part 8

¹ Psalm 143:1, 2 (NET)

² Romans 3:19 (NET)

¹⁰ Romans 15:19 (NET)

¹¹ Romans 6:14, 15 (NET)

¹² Luke 16:2; Romans 14:12 (NET)

¹³ Acts 19:40 (NET)

¹⁴ Acts 25:15 (NET)

¹⁵ Acts 28:4

¹⁶ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had χριστου (KJV: Christ) following Jesus. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁷ 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9 (NET)

¹⁸ Jude 1:6, 7 (NET)

¹⁹ Romans 3:20-22a (NET)

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)

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