{"id":18464,"date":"2022-02-05T09:36:20","date_gmt":"2022-02-05T15:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=18464"},"modified":"2025-08-09T13:30:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T18:30:06","slug":"the-new-covenant-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=18464","title":{"rendered":"The New Covenant, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

I shared the first essay<\/a> of this series with two friends.\u00a0 Both preferred the judgment focus<\/a> of my Pastor\u2019s sermon, what I called \u201can invitation to do-it-yourself religion.\u201d[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 To one it was a desirable limit to \u201cgrace,\u201d which was seen as a come on to an open-ended commitment to do whatever a preacher says.\u00a0 The other saw it as the only path to righteousness since \u201cgrace\u201d is just an excuse for indulging whatever sins one wants and then saying, \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d at the end to get into heaven (i.e.<\/em>, to avoid hell).\u00a0 The unifying thread between these two beliefs is the current understanding of the grace of God.<\/p>\n

When I think, speak or write about grace <\/em>what I mean at the very least is the power to become the righteousness of God.\u00a0 God<\/a> made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become<\/a> the righteousness of God<\/em>.[2]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0In practical terms I think we become the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, receiving his indwelling Holy Spirit and walking in the continuous supply of his own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness<\/a>, and self-control<\/em>.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

My Pastor objected to the word power <\/em>for grace<\/em>.\u00a0 The connection to grace <\/em>is made for me when Paul asked the Lord three times about <\/em>[a thorn in the flesh<\/em>], that<\/em>\u00a0[this\u00a0messenger of Satan<\/a><\/em>] would depart from<\/em> [him]:[4]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0But <\/em>[the Lord<\/em>] said to me, \u201cMy grace<\/em> (\u03c7\u1f71\u03c1\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) is enough for you, for my<\/a> power<\/em> (\u03b4\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b1\u03bc\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) is made perfect<\/a> in weakness.\u201d\u00a0 So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power<\/em> (\u03b4\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b1\u03bc\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) of Christ may reside in me<\/em>.[5]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve grown up around people who feel that saying too much about the Holy Spirit robs Jesus of some of his glory.\u00a0 Jesus said (John 16:7-14 ESV):<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I[6]<\/sup><\/a><\/em> do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.\u00a0 But if I go, I will send him to you. \u00a0And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the[7]<\/sup><\/a><\/em> Father, and you will see me no longer;[8]<\/sup><\/a><\/em> concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. \u00a0When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into<\/a> all the truth<\/a>, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears[9]<\/sup><\/a><\/em> he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. \u00a0He will glorify me, for he will take<\/a> what is mine and declare it to you [Table<\/a>]<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the story of the raising of Lazarus Jesus hints at a proximity effect to his grace: Then Jesus told them plainly, \u201cLazarus has died, and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe.\u201d<\/em>[10]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 \u201cLord, if you had been here<\/em>, Martha seems to confirm this proximity effect, my brother would not have died<\/a><\/em> [Table<\/a>]. \u00a0But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will grant you.\u201d<\/em>[11]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0At the risk of angering hardcore Trinitarians<\/a> the Holy Spirit is Jesus omnipresent, Jesus without a proximity effect, Jesus unleashed throughout all space and time.<\/p>\n

Here, too, my Pastor objected to my description of the Holy Spirit citing Jesus\u2019 words: Then I<\/a> will ask the Father, and he will give you another <\/em>(\u1f04\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u1f04\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) Advocate to be<\/a> with you forever<\/em>.[12]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I asked whether\u2014If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up<\/a> residence with him<\/em>[13]<\/sup><\/a>\u2014should be understood as \u201cover and above\u201d the indwelling Holy Spirit.\u00a0 He said, no, and settled on the word through<\/em>.\u00a0 So, I\u2019ll amend my original statement: Through his Holy Spirit Jesus is omnipresent, without a proximity effect, unleashed throughout all space and time.<\/p>\n

A more expansive definition of grace is God so loved<\/em>\u2026that He gave<\/em>.\u00a0 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given<\/em> (\u03c7\u03b1\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03b8\u1f73\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1<\/a>, a form of \u03c7\u03b1\u03c1\u03af\u03b6\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>) to us by God<\/em>.[14]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his<\/a> one and only Son<\/em>.[15]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Ultimately Jesus is the grace of God.<\/p>\n

My faith needs some of the nuts and bolts, how Jesus is the grace of God to me.\u00a0 And here again Paul associated power with the grace that is Jesus: I pray that according to the wealth<\/a> of his glory<\/em> [the Father<\/em><\/a>] will grant<\/a> you to be strengthened<\/em> (\u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c9\u03b8\u1fc6\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03cc\u03c9<\/a>) with power<\/em> (\u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u1f71\u03bc\u03b5\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u03b4\u03cd\u03bd\u03b1\u03bc\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) through his Spirit in the inner person<\/em> [Table<\/a>], that Christ will dwell in your hearts through faith<\/em>.[16]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>I want to consider this grace of God and the new covenant in the light of my own experience as the types of ground Jesus described in the parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9<\/a>).\u00a0 The first type of ground He described was the path (Matthew 13:19 NET).<\/p>\n

When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand (\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b9\u1f73\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03af\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9<\/a>)<\/em> it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart; this is the seed sown along the path.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This describes me fairly accurately from about five years old to seventeen.\u00a0 When I said a sinner\u2019s prayer to escape hell, I meant that I disobeyed my parents sometimes.\u00a0 I was many years and a considerable psychic distance from acknowledging that I was from <\/em>[my] father<\/a> the devil, and<\/em> [I] want to do what<\/em> [my] father desires<\/em>.[17]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0I was like those who loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. \u00a0For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed<\/em>.[18]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know my deeds were evil.\u00a0 Quite the contrary, I resented anyone who called what I wanted \u201cevil.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cWhat I wanted\u201d was the epitome of righteousness in my mind, though I would not have used the term.\u00a0 I realized as I grew that what adults called righteousness <\/em>was often not anything I wanted at all.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t recall ever hearing Jesus\u2019 saying\u2014You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires<\/em>\u2014as if it applied to me.\u00a0 It was relatively recently<\/a> that I realized He spoke to those<\/em>\u2026who had believed him<\/em>.[19]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0It was relatively recently that I recognized this saying as one of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven<\/em>.[20]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0I was like one of the outsiders who heard most of Jesus\u2019 sayings as parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand <\/em>(\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u1f77\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd<\/a>, another form of \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03af\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9<\/a>).[21]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

This period of my life, being the path, came to an end when I chose to be an atheist.\u00a0 For a time I actively opted out of being any kind of soil for the seed of God\u2019s word.\u00a0 Even if I have treated it like some sort of necessity in these essays, atheism was not a foregone conclusion. \u00a0I had an alternative at seventeen.<\/p>\n

I was driven back to the Bible when God didn\u2019t punish<\/a> me for the \u201csin of premarital sex.\u201d\u00a0 But I rejected the Bible if it didn\u2019t agree with what I \u201cknew\u201d it was supposed to say from years of church and Sunday school, when I was the path, one who heard about the kingdom but didn\u2019t understand it, one who whatever he heard was snatched away by the evil one.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t realize I was that kind of ground at the time.\u00a0 There was a tacit assumption among those I knew that the three types of ground that didn\u2019t produce consistent fruit were destined for the lake of fire.\u00a0 I had said a sinner\u2019s prayer to Jesus to avoid hell.\u00a0 I was, therefore, good ground by definition.<\/p>\n

I have described my time as an atheist as a \u201cdecline that is such a clich\u00e9, it is too embarrassing to mention in detail.\u201d[22]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0There was an upside to becoming a clich\u00e9: I could no longer imagine myself to be the unique individual courageously forging my own path into the unknown.\u00a0 My path was well known and well-worn, most notably well known in the Bible, not that I acknowledged that consciously at the time.<\/p>\n

My flirtation[23]<\/sup><\/a> with atheism ended when I prayed, \u201cIf you\u2019re really out there, I really want to know you.\u201d[24]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Though I had an immediate hunger for the Bible from that moment on, I didn\u2019t study the Bible to know<\/em>\u2026the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom<\/em> [He] sent<\/em>.[25]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I studied to know the rules to obey to keep my end of the bargain.<\/p>\n

When I mentioned this to my Pastor, he thought it was a good way to start.\u00a0 For me it was possibly the only way to start.\u00a0 But I can\u2019t help wondering: what if I had believed Jesus saying that I was from my father the devil and wanted to do what my father desired?\u00a0 What if I had let his words create a healthy skepticism in me about those desires and thoughts, those feelings and reasons that came \u201cnaturally\u201d to my heart and mind?\u00a0 What if I had taken Him at his word at five or ten or twenty or even forty-years-old rather than compelling Him to prove to me for sixty-five years that I was from my father the devil and wanted to do what my father desired?<\/p>\n

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

The seed sown on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. \u00a0But he has no root<\/a> in himself and does not endure; when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This ground describes me between the ages of twenty-three and forty-three.\u00a0 As I searched the Bible for rules to obey to keep my part of the contract and then disobeyed them anyway, I heard Paul\u2019s lament (Romans 7:22-24 NET):<\/p>\n

For I delight in the law of God in my inner being. \u00a0But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to<\/a> the law of sin that is in my members [Table<\/a>]<\/em>. \u00a0Wretched man that I am!\u00a0 Who will rescue me from this body of death?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Paul believed that Jesus had rescued him: Thanks be<\/a> to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!<\/em>[26]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I didn\u2019t understand how at first, even though I was more curious than I had ever been before. \u00a0Though now I might be more inclined to translate \u03c7\u1f71\u03c1\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03c4\u1ff7 \u03b8\u03b5\u1ff7 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u1f38\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u1f77\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f21\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd[27]<\/sup><\/a> \u201cgrace from God through Jesus Christ our Lord\u201d and while I might appreciate more now that Paul may have given a very direct answer to his own rhetorical question, I wouldn\u2019t have understood it any better then.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know God or his grace\u2014not yet.<\/p>\n

Twenty years of springing up with joy only to fall away again, twenty years of being picked up, dusted off and put back together by Jesus one more time, slowly began to teach me to know Him and his grace.\u00a0 Paul wrote to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:11-13 NET):<\/p>\n

This saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him. \u00a0If we endure, we will also reign with him.\u00a0 If we deny[28]<\/sup><\/a><\/em> him, he will also deny us. \u00a0If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since[29]<\/sup><\/a><\/em> he cannot (\u03bf\u1f50<\/a> \u03b4\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>)<\/em> deny himself.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sometimes when I tell this story people want to credit me for continuing to study the Bible over those twenty years.\u00a0 I also ate food over that time, whenever I was hungry.\u00a0 Granted, eating food was instrumental in keeping me alive, but the hunger comes from God as did the food.\u00a0 Eventually, I began to understand that the one bringing forth in<\/em> [me] both the desire<\/em> and the effort\u2014for the sake of his good pleasure\u2014is God<\/em>.[30]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The Greek words translated desire <\/em>and effort <\/em>were not nouns but infinitive verbs: \u03b8\u1f73\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd<\/a> (a form of \u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>) and \u1f10\u03bd\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd<\/a> (a form of \u1f10\u03bd\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>).\u00a0 Eventually, I was able to make this connection to the hunger, the food and the eating.\u00a0 The hunger, \u03b8\u1f73\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd, and the food, the Bible, are from God.\u00a0 The eating, doing his will, \u1f10\u03bd\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd, becoming the righteousness of God in Him, is the outcome of his grace.\u00a0 And eventually I trusted Him and his grace more than I trusted myself\u2014good ground at last?<\/p>\n

Jesus continued (Matthew 13:22 NET):<\/p>\n

The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly[31]<\/sup><\/a><\/em> cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This type of ground characterizes me from about forty-four years of age to perhaps fifty-three.\u00a0 I got a fulltime job again with a steady paycheck.\u00a0 I married a woman with two children.\u00a0 I left all the \u201cspiritual stuff\u201d to the grace of God while I attended to more mundane matters. \u00a0This period of my life ended when my wife divorced<\/a> me.<\/p>\n

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

But as for the seed sown on good soil,[32]<\/sup><\/a><\/em> this is the person who hears the word and understands[33]<\/sup><\/a><\/em> (\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b9\u03b5\u1f77\u03c2<\/a>, another form of \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03af\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9<\/a>)<\/em>. \u00a0He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Who knows?\u00a0 I can\u2019t even imagine how to measure such a thing.\u00a0 My Pastor treated these measurements like ordinary agricultural yields.\u00a0 And he\u2019s right.<\/p>\n

If I think of a kernel of corn (maize<\/a>) growing to maturity, one ear of corn would easily be thirty times what was sown<\/em>.\u00a0 When I think about the time and attention, the forgiveness and patience, the mercy and grace the Lord has lavished upon me, what I share with others is a tiny fraction rather than a multiple.<\/p>\n

I planted<\/em>, Paul wrote the Corinthians, Apollos watered, but<\/a> God caused it to grow<\/em> (\u1f20\u1f7b\u03be\u03b1\u03bd\u03b5\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03b1\u1f50\u03be\u03ac\u03bd\u03c9<\/a>).[34]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 After all we\u2019ve been through together I can trust Him with that growth.<\/p>\n

Tables comparing John 16:7<\/a>; 16:10<\/a>; 2 Timothy 2:12, 13<\/a>; Matthew 13:22<\/a> and 13:23<\/a> in the NET and KJV follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>John 16:7 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

John 16:7 (KJV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. \u00a0For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.<\/td>\nNevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

NET Parallel Greek<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a><\/td>\n\n

Byzantine Majority Text<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u1fbf \u1f10\u03b3\u1f7c \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f00\u03bb\u1f75\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd \u03bb\u1f73\u03b3\u03c9 \u1f51\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd, \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c6\u1f73\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9 \u1f51\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd \u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 \u1f10\u03b3\u1f7c \u1f00\u03c0\u1f73\u03bb\u03b8\u03c9. \u1f10\u1f70\u03bd \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1 \u03bc\u1f74 \u1f00\u03c0\u1f73\u03bb\u03b8\u03c9, \u1f41 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u1f71\u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 |\u03bf\u1f50\u03ba \u1f10\u03bb\u03b5\u1f7b\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9| \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f51\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2\u0387 \u1f10\u1f70\u03bd \u03b4\u1f72 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u1ff6, \u03c0\u1f73\u03bc\u03c8\u03c9 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f51\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2<\/td>\n\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb \u03b5\u03b3\u03c9 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b1\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd \u03bb\u03b5\u03b3\u03c9 \u03c5\u03bc\u03b9\u03bd \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c6\u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c5\u03bc\u03b9\u03bd \u03b9\u03bd\u03b1 \u03b5\u03b3\u03c9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b5\u03bb\u03b8\u03c9 \u03b5\u03b1\u03bd \u03b3\u03b1\u03c1 \u03bc\u03b7 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b5\u03bb\u03b8\u03c9 \u03bf \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5\u03ba \u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b1\u03bd \u03b4\u03b5 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u03c9 \u03c0\u03b5\u03bc\u03c8\u03c9 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2<\/td>\n\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb \u03b5\u03b3\u03c9 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b1\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd \u03bb\u03b5\u03b3\u03c9 \u03c5\u03bc\u03b9\u03bd \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c6\u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c5\u03bc\u03b9\u03bd \u03b9\u03bd\u03b1 \u03b5\u03b3\u03c9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b5\u03bb\u03b8\u03c9 \u03b5\u03b1\u03bd \u03b3\u03b1\u03c1 \u03b5\u03b3\u03c9<\/a> <\/strong>\u03bc\u03b7 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b5\u03bb\u03b8\u03c9 \u03bf \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5\u03ba \u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b1\u03bd \u03b4\u03b5 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u03c9 \u03c0\u03b5\u03bc\u03c8\u03c9 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>John 16:10 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

John 16:10 (KJV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

concerning righteousness because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer;<\/td>\nOf righteousness, because I go to my <\/strong>Father, and ye see me no more;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

NET Parallel Greek<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a><\/td>\n\n

Byzantine Majority Text<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f73, \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u1f73\u03c1\u03b1 \u1f51\u03c0\u1f71\u03b3\u03c9 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba\u1f73\u03c4\u03b9<\/a> \u03b8\u03b5\u03c9\u03c1\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b5 \u03bc\u03b5<\/td>\n\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b5 \u03bf\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b1 \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5<\/a> <\/strong>\u03c5\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bf\u03c5\u03ba<\/a> \u03b5\u03c4\u03b9<\/a><\/strong> \u03b8\u03b5\u03c9\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03c4\u03b5 \u03bc\u03b5<\/td>\n\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b5 \u03bf\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b1 \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 <\/strong>\u03c5\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bf\u03c5\u03ba\u03b5\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b8\u03b5\u03c9\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03c4\u03b5 \u03bc\u03b5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>2 Timothy 2:12, 13 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 Timothy 2:12, 13 (KJV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

If we endure, we will also reign with him.\u00a0 If we deny him, he will also deny us.<\/td>\nIf we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

NET Parallel Greek<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a><\/td>\n\n

Byzantine Majority Text<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03b5\u1f30 \u1f51\u03c0\u03bf\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u1f7b\u03c3\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u0387 \u03b5\u1f30 \u1f00\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u1f79\u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03b1<\/a><\/strong>, \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c1\u03bd\u1f75\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f21\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2<\/td>\n\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c5\u03c0\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03b1<\/a> \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2<\/td>\n\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c5\u03c0\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since <\/strong>he cannot deny himself.<\/td>\nIf we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

NET Parallel Greek<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a><\/td>\n\n

Byzantine Majority Text<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03b5\u1f30 \u1f00\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd, \u1f10\u03ba\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9, \u1f00\u03c1\u03bd\u1f75\u03c3\u03b1\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1<\/a> <\/strong>\u1f11\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bf\u1f50 \u03b4\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9.<\/td>\n\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03b5\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bf\u03c5 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/td>\n\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03b5\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bf\u03c5 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>Matthew 13:22 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Matthew 13:22 (KJV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing.<\/td>\nHe also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this <\/strong>world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

NET Parallel Greek<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a><\/td>\n\n

Byzantine Majority Text<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u1f41 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u1f00\u03ba\u1f71\u03bd\u03b8\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u1f77\u03c2, \u03bf\u1f57\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd \u1f41 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bb\u1f79\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u1f00\u03ba\u03bf\u1f7b\u03c9\u03bd, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f21 \u03bc\u1f73\u03c1\u03b9\u03bc\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b1\u1f30\u1ff6\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f21 \u1f00\u03c0\u1f71\u03c4\u03b7 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c0\u03bb\u03bf\u1f7b\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c0\u03bd\u1f77\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bb\u1f79\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f04\u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b3\u1f77\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/td>\n\u03bf \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd \u03bf \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b7 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03bc\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b1\u03b9\u03c9\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5<\/a> <\/strong>\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b7 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03b7 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c0\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c0\u03bd\u03b9\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b3\u03b9\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/td>\n\u03bf \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd \u03bf \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b7 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03bc\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b1\u03b9\u03c9\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 <\/strong>\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b7 \u03b1\u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03b7 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c0\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c0\u03bd\u03b9\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b3\u03b9\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>Matthew 13:23 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Matthew 13:23 (KJV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. \u00a0He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.\u201d<\/td>\nBut he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

NET Parallel Greek<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a><\/td>\n\n

Byzantine Majority Text<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u1f41 \u03b4\u1f72 \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f74\u03bd \u03b3\u1fc6\u03bd \u03c3\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u1f77\u03c2, \u03bf\u1f57\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd \u1f41 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bb\u1f79\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u1f00\u03ba\u03bf\u1f7b\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b9\u03b5\u1f77\u03c2<\/a><\/strong>, \u1f43\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f74 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c6\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u1fd6 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u1fd6 \u1f43 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u1f11\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f79\u03bd, \u1f43 \u03b4\u1f72 \u1f11\u03be\u1f75\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1, \u1f43 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u1f71\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1<\/td>\n\u03bf \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd<\/a> <\/strong>\u03b3\u03b7\u03bd \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd \u03c3\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd \u03bf \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b9\u03c9\u03bd<\/a> \u03bf\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b7 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c6\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bf \u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03b5\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bf \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b5\u03be\u03b7\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03bf \u03b4\u03b5 \u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1<\/td>\n\u03bf \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd <\/strong>\u03b3\u03b7\u03bd \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd \u03c3\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd \u03bf \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b9\u03c9\u03bd \u03bf\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b7 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c6\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bf \u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03b5\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bf \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b5\u03be\u03b7\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03bf \u03b4\u03b5 \u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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

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