{"id":2389,"date":"2013-05-25T22:19:50","date_gmt":"2013-05-25T16:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=2389"},"modified":"2026-04-27T10:39:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T15:39:52","slug":"romans-part-44","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=2389","title":{"rendered":"Romans, Part 44"},"content":{"rendered":"

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters<\/i>, Paul continued, by the mercies <\/i>(\u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd<\/a>) of God<\/i>\u20261<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The Greek word \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd<\/a> (a form of \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>), translated mercies<\/i>, is the noun that corresponds to the verb translated compassion<\/i> in, I will have mercy<\/a> on whom I have mercy<\/i><\/b>, and I will have compassion <\/b><\/i>(\u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u1f75\u03c3\u03c9<\/a>, a form of \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03af\u03c1\u03c9<\/a>) on whom I have compassion <\/i><\/b>(\u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u1f77\u03c1\u03c9<\/a>).2<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 It was translated mercy<\/i> again in Paul\u2019s conclusion written to the Colossians: Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy<\/a> <\/i>(\u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u03bf\u1fe6<\/a>, another form of \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>), kindness, humility, gentleness<\/a>, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. \u00a0Just as the Lord<\/a> has forgiven you, so you also forgive others<\/i>.3<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Jesus said, love your enemies, and do good, and lend<\/a>, expecting nothing back. \u00a0Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the<\/a> Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. \u00a0Be merciful<\/a><\/i> (\u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u1f77\u03c1\u03bc\u03bf\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03af\u03c1\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd<\/a>), just as your Father is merciful<\/i> (\u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u1f77\u03c1\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd<\/a>).4<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The Greek word \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03af\u03c1\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd<\/a> is essentially the adjective of the noun \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2<\/a> and the verb \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u1f77\u03c1\u03c9<\/a>.\u00a0 Taken together these three passages give me some understanding of what it means\u00a0to present <\/i>[my body] as a sacrifice<\/i> in Paul\u2019s conclusion: Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice \u2013 alive, holy, and pleasing to God \u2013 which is your reasonable service<\/i>.5<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

It took me some time to get here.\u00a0 At first I thought the phrase by the mercies of God<\/i> (\u03b4\u03b9\u1f70<\/a> \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd<\/a> \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd<\/a> \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6<\/a> \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6<\/a>) applied only to Paul\u2019s exhortation.\u00a0 I thought that because of God\u2019s mercies to me it was reasonable that I present my body as a sacrifice to Him.\u00a0 My religion had no rite or ritual for accomplishing this, but it did have a saying: Those who attend faithfully on Sunday morning love the church; those who attend faithfully Sunday morning and Sunday evening love the Pastor; but those who attend faithfully on Sunday and Wednesday evening prayer meeting love the Lord.\u00a0 I assumed that presenting my body as a sacrifice had something to do with attending church every time the doors were open and doing whatever the Pastor said: Obey your leaders and submit to them<\/i>, the author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work<\/i>.6<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I might have continued trying to prove how much I loved God rather than being transformed by his love.\u00a0 But I continued studying the Bible and the Holy Spirit brought Scriptures to mind that disagreed with, or severely limited, the points my various Pastors made in their sermons. \u00a0It was a difficult and confusing time.\u00a0 But eventually I began to see the Bible, not as a rule book, but as a way to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom <\/i>[He] sent<\/i>.7<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The Bible changed then from a discussion of many things into a discussion of primarily one issue from many perspectives, namely, this eternal life in Jesus Christ.\u00a0 In that light it was easier to recognize that the phrase by the mercies of God<\/i> (\u03b4\u03b9\u1f70<\/a> \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd<\/a> \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd<\/a> \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6<\/a> \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6<\/a>) also described how to present my body as a sacrifice: \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70<\/a> (through) the mercies of God, sharing in his compassion<\/i>, clothed with <\/i>[his] heart of mercy<\/i>, his kindness,<\/i> his humility, <\/i>his gentleness, and <\/i>his patience<\/i>\u2026forgiving one another<\/i>\u2026Just as the Lord has forgiven <\/i>[me], being merciful just as<\/i> he is merciful<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Do not be conformed<\/i>8<\/sup><\/a> to this present world<\/i>,9<\/sup><\/a> Paul added more detail.\u00a0 I assume that this present world<\/i> is equivalent to the works of the flesh<\/i>:10<\/sup><\/a> hostilities, strife<\/a>, jealousy<\/a>, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, <\/i>and envying<\/i>.11<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I didn\u2019t leave sexual immorality<\/i> (\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1<\/a>), impurity, depravity, idolatry<\/a>, sorcery<\/i> and murder<\/i>12<\/sup><\/a> out of this list because I think they are any less the works of the flesh<\/i>.\u00a0 Given my background and upbringing they are the obvious works of the flesh while hostilities, strife<\/a>, jealousy<\/a>, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions,<\/i> and envying<\/i> might seem virtuous if directed against sin or sinners or heretics or people who don\u2019t accept my interpretation of the Bible.<\/p>\n

The word translated envying<\/i> for instance is \u03c6\u03b8\u1f79\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9<\/a> (a form of \u03c6\u03b8\u03cc\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>).\u00a0 Pilate knew that<\/i> [Jesus\u2019 accusers] had handed him over because of envy<\/i>13<\/sup><\/a> (\u03c6\u03b8\u1f79\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>, another form of \u03c6\u03b8\u03cc\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>).\u00a0 If I were writing myself as a character in a movie it would make perfect sense for that character to envy<\/i> Ingmar Bergman<\/a>, a creative genius, a talented and successful director of both theater and film. \u00a0So much in his films seems like anti-religious agitprop.\u00a0 I have never heard that he repented or showed any signs of faith in Jesus.\u00a0 By all rights I, like Bess from Lars Von Trier\u2019s<\/a> \u201cBreaking the Waves<\/a>,\u201d should say of Ingmar Bergman, \u201cHe will go to hell<\/a>; everyone knows that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet when I search myself I find instead that I hope against hope for God\u2019s mercy.\u00a0 I can\u2019t find an explanation for it apart from the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness<\/a>, and self-control<\/i> [Table<\/a>]14<\/sup><\/a> that floods into me and through me from the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 I am not as creative or talented or successful as Ingmar Bergman, but I have received a superabundance of mercy and grace<\/a> while he suffered unspeakably from religious minds, his own as well as those of others.\u00a0 Do not be conformed to this present world<\/i>, but be transformed by the renewing of your<\/i>15<\/sup><\/a> mind, <\/i>Paul continued in Romans, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God \u2013 what is good and well-pleasing and perfect <\/i>(\u03c4\u1f73\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>).16<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Love never ends<\/a><\/i> (\u03c0\u1f77\u03c0\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u03c0\u03af\u03c0\u03c4\u03c9<\/a>),17<\/sup><\/a> Paul wrote the Corinthians.\u00a0 According to the definitions listed<\/a> in the NET online Bible this means that love never 1) descends from a higher place to a lower; love never 1a) falls, 1a1) is thrust down 1b) (metaph.) falls under judgment, or comes under condemnation; love never 2) descends from an erect to a prostrate position 2a) falls down 2a1) is prostrated, or falls prostrate;18<\/sup><\/a> love never 2a2) is overcome by terror or astonishment or grief or under the attack of an evil spirit or of falling dead suddenly; love never 2a3) is dismembered like a corpse by decay 2a4) prostrates itself 2a5) renders homage or worship to one 2a6) falls out, falls from, perishes or is lost; love never 2a7) falls down, or falls into ruin 2b) is cast down from a state of prosperity 2b1) falls from a state of uprightness; love never 2b2) perishes, comes to an end, disappears, ceases; love never 2b3) loses authority, or no longer has force 2b4) is removed from power by death 2b5) fails of participating in, or misses a share in [Christ\u2019s salvation because love (\u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7<\/a>) is his salvation and his righteousness in a word].<\/p>\n

This was in contrast to prophecies<\/i>, that will be set aside<\/i>\u2026tongues<\/i>, that will cease<\/i>\u2026and knowledge<\/i>, that will be set aside<\/i>.19<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 For<\/a> we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect<\/i> (\u03c4\u1f73\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) comes<\/a>, the partial will be set aside<\/i>.20<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Love<\/i> not only transcends this coming perfection, it facilitates it according to John: whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected<\/i> (\u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u1f77\u03c9\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03cc\u03c9<\/a>). \u00a0By this we know that we are in him<\/i>.21<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ<\/i>,22<\/sup><\/a> Paul wrote the Ephesians. \u00a0It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God \u2013 a mature<\/i> (\u03c4\u1f73\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) person, attaining to the measure of Christ\u2019s full stature<\/i>.23<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I have begun to wonder: if the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers<\/i> aren\u2019t encouraging me to be perfected in God\u2019s love, are they acting as ambassadors for Christ<\/i>24<\/sup><\/a> or emissaries of the religious mind<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Paul wrote the Colossians, I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God \u2013 given to me for you \u2013 in order to complete<\/i>\u00a0(\u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u1ff6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03cc\u03c9<\/a>; or, fulfill<\/em>)\u00a0the word of God, that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now<\/a> been revealed to his saints. \u00a0God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches<\/a> of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. \u00a0We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature<\/i> (\u03c4\u1f73\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>; e.g., perfected in and by God\u2019s love) in Christ<\/a> <\/i>[Table<\/a>].25<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>When I consider the justice of God\u2019s mercy<\/a> in and through Christ I am reminded of Friedrich Nietzsche.\u00a0 Jesus said, Do not be afraid<\/a> of those who kill<\/a> the body but cannot kill the soul<\/i>.26<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The soul cannot be killed with weaponry.\u00a0 But Friedrich Nietzsche came about as close to being a soul killer as I can imagine a human being becoming.\u00a0 Who can calculate his devastating impact on the souls of academics and the intelligentsia?\u00a0 But if I imagine him in torment in hell for all eternity, cursing his nonexistent god, I realize that I can imagine no greater destruction of the personality I know as Friedrich Nietzsche than to find him one day clothed and in his right mind<\/i>,27<\/sup><\/a> and sitting at the feet of Jesus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Addendum<\/b>: April 27, 2026<\/span>
\nA table comparing Romans 12:2<\/a> in the KJV and NET follows.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Romans 12:2 (NET)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Romans 12:2 (KJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God\u2014what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nAnd be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Romans 12:2 (NET Parallel Greek)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Romans 12:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Romans 12:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bc\u1f74 \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u1f77\u03b6\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5<\/a> \u03c4\u1ff7 \u03b1\u1f30\u1ff6\u03bd\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u1f7b\u03c4\u1ff3, \u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u1f70 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u03c1\u03c6\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5 \u03c4\u1fc7 \u1f00\u03bd\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bd\u1f7d\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03bd\u03bf\u1f78\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03b4\u03bf\u03ba\u03b9\u03bc\u1f71\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u1f51\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f77 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03b8\u1f73\u03bb\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6, \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u1f78\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b5\u1f50\u1f71\u03c1\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u1f73\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b7 \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03b6\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5 \u03c4\u03c9 \u03b1\u03b9\u03c9\u03bd\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03c9 \u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u03c1\u03c6\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5 \u03c4\u03b7 \u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03bd\u03bf\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c5\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd<\/a><\/b> \u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b4\u03bf\u03ba\u03b9\u03bc\u03b1\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b8\u03b5\u03bb\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b1\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03c5\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b7 \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03b6\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9<\/a><\/b> \u03c4\u03c9 \u03b1\u03b9\u03c9\u03bd\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03c9 \u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u03c1\u03c6\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b7 \u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03bd\u03bf\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c5\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd<\/b> \u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b4\u03bf\u03ba\u03b9\u03bc\u03b1\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b8\u03b5\u03bb\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b1\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03c5\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n
Romans, Part 45<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Son of God – 1 John, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 6<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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1<\/sup><\/a> Romans 12:1a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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2<\/sup><\/a> Romans 9:15 (NET) Table<\/a> Select David\u2019s Forgiveness, Part 2<\/i><\/a> for a table comparing the Greek of Romans 9:15 with that of the Septuagint.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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3<\/sup><\/a> Colossians 3:12, 13 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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4<\/sup><\/a> Luke 6:35, 36 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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5<\/sup><\/a> Romans 12:1 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6<\/sup><\/a> Hebrews 13:17a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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7<\/sup><\/a> John 17:3 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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8<\/sup><\/a> The NET parallel Greek<\/a> text, NA28<\/sup><\/a> and Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a> had \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u1f77\u03b6\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5<\/a>, a 2nd<\/sup> person plural form of \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03af\u03b6\u03c9<\/a> in the present tense and imperative mood<\/a>, where the Byzantine Majority Text<\/a> had the infinitive form \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03b6\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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9<\/sup><\/a> Romans 12:2a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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10<\/sup><\/a> Galatians 5:19-21 (NET)<\/a> Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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11<\/sup><\/a> Galatians 5:20<\/a>, 21a (NET)<\/a> Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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12<\/sup><\/a> Galatians 5:19-21 (NET)<\/a> Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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13<\/sup><\/a> Matthew 27:18 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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14<\/sup><\/a> Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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15<\/sup><\/a> The Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a> and Byzantine Majority Text<\/a> had \u03c5\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd<\/a> here. The NET parallel Greek<\/a> text and NA28<\/sup><\/a> did not.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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16<\/sup><\/a> Romans 12:2 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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17<\/sup><\/a> 1 Corinthians 13:8a (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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18<\/sup><\/a> At the end of the movie \u201cThe Lord of the Rings \u2013 The Return of the King\u201d as the newly crowned king approached, the Hobbits\u2014Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin\u2014bowed.\u00a0 The king said, \u201cMy friends, you bow to no one<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0 Then he and all present knelt before them.\u00a0 In the context of the fruit of the Spirit love certainly does not fall prostrate before rules or laws:\u00a0 Against such things there is no law<\/i> (Galatians 5:23b NET).\u00a0 On the contrary, Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law<\/i> (Romans 13:10 NET).\u00a0 The fear that I might love too much, be too joyful, too peaceful, too patient, too kind, too good, too faithful, too gentle, or too controlled by the Holy Spirit, that I should intervene and hold myself aloof from being engulfed, buoyed up and carried along by that living stream that makes glad the city of God, that I should draw back to some Aristotelian mean between the extremes, is not from God.\u00a0 In this sense then I understand \u201cLove never falls prostrate\u201d (or never \u201crenders homage or worship\u201d), not that Love is god, but that God is love.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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19<\/sup><\/a> 1 Corinthians 13:8b (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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20<\/sup><\/a> 1 Corinthians 13:9, 10 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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21<\/sup><\/a> 1 John 2:5 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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22<\/sup><\/a> Ephesians 4:7 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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23<\/sup><\/a> Ephesians 4:11-13 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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24<\/sup><\/a> 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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25<\/sup><\/a> Colossians 1:25-28 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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26<\/sup><\/a> Matthew 10:28a (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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27<\/sup><\/a> Luke 8:35 (NET)<\/a> Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, Paul continued, by the mercies (\u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd) of God\u20261\u00a0 The Greek word \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd (a form of \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2), translated mercies, is the noun that corresponds to the verb translated compassion in, I will have mercy … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1736,20,6],"tags":[1741,1742,1743,1745,1737,1220,1744,413,415,1739,222,1738,1461,1617,635,1740,747],"class_list":["post-2389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-12","category-romans","category-section-two","tag-1-corinthians-138","tag-1-corinthians-139-10","tag-1-john-25","tag-colossians-125-28","tag-colossians-312-13","tag-ephesians-411-13","tag-ephesians-47","tag-galatians-519-21","tag-galatians-522-23","tag-hebrews-1317","tag-john-173","tag-luke-635-36","tag-matthew-1028","tag-movies-breaking-the-waves","tag-romans-121","tag-romans-122","tag-romans-915"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2389"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29660,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2389\/revisions\/29660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}