{"id":6810,"date":"2016-06-04T21:32:10","date_gmt":"2016-06-04T15:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=6810"},"modified":"2023-09-19T11:25:42","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T16:25:42","slug":"romans-part-76","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=6810","title":{"rendered":"Romans, Part 76"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people<\/em>.[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The words translated evil for evil<\/em> are \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u1f76 \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u1fe6 in Greek.\u00a0 Both \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd and \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u1fe6 are forms of \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>.\u00a0 Love is \u03bf\u1f50 \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u1f77\u03b6\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u1f79\u03bd (literally, \u201cnot counting\u201d or \u201cnot reckoning the evil\u201d) Paul wrote believers in Corinth.\u00a0 Love is not resentful<\/em> (NET<\/a>), does not take into account a wrong<\/em>\u00a0suffered<\/em> (NASB<\/a>), keeps no record of wrongs<\/em> (NIV<\/a>), are a few English translations.\u00a0 Love does no wrong<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03cc\u03c2) to a neighbor.\u00a0 Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law<\/em>.[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 So the love that is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit<\/a> (along with joy, peace, patience, etc.) fulfills \u03bc\u03b7\u03b4\u03b5\u03bd\u1f76 \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u1f76 \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u1f79\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 (literally, \u201cno one evil against evil deliver\u201d), part of the definition of love<\/a> in Paul\u2019s letter to the Romans, translated Do not repay anyone evil for evil<\/em> in the NET.<\/p>\n

The next clause, consider what is good before all people<\/em>, while accurate mostly seems to me to have been toned down some to become a rule I might obey in my own strength.\u00a0 The word translated consider<\/em> is \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03bf\u1f7b\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 (a form of \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>), \u201cto perceive before, foresee\u201d in the definition in the NET.\u00a0 In other words, demonstrate this foresight (apart from the Holy Spirit) at the very moment I am most offended at having been wronged (or burn in hell for all eternity).\u00a0 Have I belabored this point enough yet?\u00a0 And as I\u2019ve said over and over, I belabor it mostly for my own benefit since I\u2019m the one who seems most hell-bent on perceiving the Bible as a book of rules rather than as a Gospel of salvation!<\/p>\n

The word translated good<\/em> is \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f70 (a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>).\u00a0 I\u2019ve written elsewhere<\/a> contrasting the beautiful good of Jesus to the pious good of religious people.\u00a0 You are the light of the world<\/em>, Jesus said. \u00a0A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. \u00a0People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. \u00a0In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f70, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2) deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven<\/em>.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death. \u00a0Jesus said to them, \u201cI have shown you many good<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f70, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2) deeds from the Father. \u00a0For which one of them are you going to stone me?\u201d \u00a0The Jewish leaders replied, \u201cWe are not going to stone you for a good<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6, another form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2) deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God.\u201d<\/em>[4]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 It is probably worth noting that Jesus didn\u2019t turn to Genesis 1:26 and say, \u201cGod said, \u2018we will be made man.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 So the difficult (NET notes 84<\/a> and 85<\/a>) answer recorded in John 10:34-36 may serve as circumstantial evidence for an early date for vowel points<\/a>.\u00a0 But Jesus turned his listeners\u2019 attention back toward his beautiful good deeds (John 10:37, 38 NET):<\/p>\n

If I do not perform the deeds of my Father, do not believe me. \u00a0But if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the deeds, so that you may come to know and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus\u2019 beautiful good deeds recorded in John 1-9 are listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
2:1-11<\/a><\/td>\nJesus turned water into wine after his host ran out of wine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2:14-22<\/a><\/td>\nJesus cleansed the temple of thieves and profiteers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2:23<\/a><\/td>\nOther unspecified miraculous signs prompted many to believe in his Name<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4:4-42<\/a><\/td>\nJesus prophesied to a Samaritan woman<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4:46-54<\/a><\/td>\nJesus healed the son of the royal official of Capernaum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5:1-15<\/a><\/td>\nJesus healed a disabled man who did not believe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6:1-15<\/a><\/td>\nJesus fed more than 5,000 people, many of whom did not believe (John 6:26<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7:31<\/a><\/td>\nThe preponderance of miraculous signs persuaded many<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8:3-11<\/a><\/td>\nJesus\u2019 gracious answer to an angry mob dissuaded them from violence<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/a><\/td>\nJesus healed a man born blind<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

I debated whether I considered the cleansing of the temple a beautiful or pious good, but decided that the worthiness of the goal overshadowed the violence of the act.\u00a0 I included John 8:3-11 because it is still in the text, it is beautiful, I believe it is true, and otherwise don\u2019t have a dog in this fight (John 7:53 NET note 139<\/a>).\u00a0 But this exercise put something into focus for me I hadn\u2019t fully appreciated before.\u00a0 The religious minds of the religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus not so much for his words but for his beautiful good deeds which gave those words such weight with the people relative to their own teachings.\u00a0 \u201cNo one ever spoke<\/em>[5]<\/sup><\/a> like this man,\u201d<\/em>[6]<\/sup><\/a> the officers excused themselves for failing to arrest Jesus.<\/p>\n

The Holy Spirit does no miraculous signs through me, whether it is my disobedience, disbelief or that the people who raised me are correct that miraculous signs are no longer necessary because we have the New Testament. \u00a0(I haven\u2019t found the latter in the Bible myself.)\u00a0 Paul described a non-miraculous way to consider what is good before all people<\/em> as it pertained to financial matters (2 Corinthians 8:18-21 NET):<\/p>\n

And we are sending along with [Titus<\/a>]\u00a0<\/em> the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. \u00a0In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. \u00a0We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.\u00a0 For we are concerned (\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd, another form of \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03ad\u03c9)<\/em> about what is<\/em>\u00a0right (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f70, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2) not only before the Lord but also before men<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The sins of some people are obvious<\/em>, Paul wrote Timothy, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later. \u00a0Similarly good <\/em>(\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f70, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2) works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden<\/em>.[7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 And he contrasted beautiful good deeds with those which are not for Titus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Beautiful Good Deeds<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Those Which Are Not<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God<\/a> may be intent on engaging in good (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6\u03bd, another form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2) works.\u00a0 These things are good<\/a> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f70, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2) and beneficial for all people.<\/p>\n

Titus 3:8 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty.<\/p>\n

Titus 3:9 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

If possible<\/em>, Paul continued in Romans, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people<\/em>.[8]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The Greek word translated live peaceably<\/em> is \u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u1f7b\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 (a form of \u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>).\u00a0 The all people<\/em> part of this will be difficult for a soldier in battle.\u00a0 As for the rest of us: Salt is good<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f78\u03bd, another form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2), but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? \u00a0Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace<\/em> (\u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u1f7b\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9) with each other<\/em>.[9]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Paul added, live in peace<\/em> (\u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u1f7b\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9), and the God of love and peace<\/em> (\u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u1f75\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2, a form of \u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u03ae\u03bd\u03b7<\/a>) will be with you<\/em>,[10]<\/sup><\/a> and, Be at peace<\/em> (\u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u1f7b\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9) among yourselves<\/em>.[11]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

How do we fulfill these commands, admonitions, rules or laws?\u00a0 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace<\/em> (\u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u1f75\u03bd\u03b7), patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control<\/em>.[12]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 What I didn\u2019t say in the previous essay because of my own phobia of turning these verses back into rules I strive to obey in my own strength, I will say now since my phobia is so out in the open:\u00a0 We are given permission here to live as the Holy Spirit is prompting us to live.\u00a0 We are free to believe that, Against such things<\/em> [e.g., love, joy, peace<\/em>, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control<\/em>] there is no law<\/em>.[13]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Where the NET translators chose You must put away<\/a><\/em> for \u1f00\u03c1\u03b8\u1f75\u03c4\u03c9 \u1f00\u03c6\u1fbf \u1f51\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd, Young\u2019s Literal Translation reads: Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice,\u00a0and become one to another kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, according as also God in Christ did forgive you<\/em>.[14]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The verb \u1f00\u03c1\u03b8\u1f75\u03c4\u03c9 (a form of \u03b1\u1f34\u03c1\u03c9<\/a>) means to lift<\/em>.\u00a0 Let all of this be lifted from you by the mighty carrying capacity of that river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High<\/em>,[15]<\/sup><\/a> that fountain of water springing up to eternal life<\/em>,[16]<\/sup><\/a> the Holy Spirit who produces his fruit within me when I get out of his way and stop making sinful, theological or ecclesiastical excuses. \u00a0John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, \u201cLook, the Lamb of God who takes away<\/em> (\u03b1\u1f34\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd, another form of \u03b1\u1f34\u03c1\u03c9) the sin of the world!\u201d<\/em>[17]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends<\/em>, Paul continued in his letter to the Romans, but give place to God\u2019s wrath, for it is written,<\/em> \u201cVengeance<\/a> is mine<\/em><\/strong>, I will repay<\/strong><\/em>,\u201d says the Lord.<\/em>[18]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0I want to pause here briefly to highlight how God\u2019s sense of justice may differ from our own (Revelation 16:4-7 NET):<\/p>\n

Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. \u00a0Now I heard the angel of the waters saying: \u201cYou are just \u2013 the one who is and who was, the Holy One \u2013 because you have passed these judgments, because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets, so you have given them blood to drink. \u00a0They got what they deserved!\u201d \u00a0Then I heard the altar reply, \u201cYes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rather<\/a>,<\/em> Paul continued, if your enemy is hungry<\/em><\/strong>, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals<\/a> on his head<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good<\/em>.[19]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The good<\/em> with which we overcome evil is \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u1ff7 (a form of \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>) in Greek.\u00a0 According to Jesus, No one is good<\/em> (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u1f78\u03c2) except God alone<\/em>.[20]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The good<\/em> with which we overcome evil is God alone<\/em>: for by grace ye are having been saved, through faith, and this not of you\u2014of God the gift,\u00a0not of works, that no one may boast;\u00a0for of Him we are workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good<\/em> (\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2, another form of \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03cc\u03c2) works, which God did before prepare, that in them we may walk<\/em> (\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u1f75\u03c3\u03c9\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd, a form of \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>).[21]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 In the Spirit walk<\/em> (\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03ad\u03c9) ye, and the desire of the flesh ye may not complete<\/em>.[22]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

\n
Romans, Part 77<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 90<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/a>[1]<\/sup> Romans 12:17 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> Romans 13:10 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> Matthew 5:14-16 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> John 10:31-33 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> See: Matthew 9:1-8 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> John 7:46b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[7]<\/sup> 1 Timothy 5:24, 25 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[8]<\/sup> Romans 12:18 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[9]<\/sup> Mark 9:50 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[10]<\/sup> 2 Corithians 13:11b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[11]<\/sup> 1 Thessalonians 5:13b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[12]<\/sup> Galatians 5:22, 23a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[13]<\/sup> Galatians 5:23b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[14]<\/sup> Ephesians 4:31, 32 (YLT)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[15]<\/sup> Psalm 46:4 (ESV)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[16]<\/sup> John 4:14b (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[17]<\/sup> John 1:29 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[18]<\/sup> Romans 12:19 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[19]<\/sup> Romans 12:20, 21 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[20]<\/sup> Mark 10:18b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[21]<\/sup> Ephesians 2:8-10 (YLT)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[22]<\/sup> Galatians 5:16 (YLT)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.[1]\u00a0 The words translated evil for evil are \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u1f76 \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u1fe6 in Greek.\u00a0 Both \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd and \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u1fe6 are forms of \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03cc\u03c2.\u00a0 Love is \u03bf\u1f50 \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u1f77\u03b6\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u1f79\u03bd … 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":[1736,3116,20,2719],"tags":[990,3318,3314,3307,3313,1245,3319,977,415,416,3322,3310,3311,3321,3312,1195,3317,3309,3320,1358,3308,3316,637,1355,1046,1052,3315],"class_list":["post-6810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-12","category-love","category-romans","category-section-three","tag-1-corinthians-135","tag-1-thessalonians-513","tag-1-timothy-524-25","tag-2-corinthians-1311","tag-2-corinthians-818-21","tag-ephesians-28-10","tag-ephesians-431-32","tag-galatians-516","tag-galatians-522-23","tag-galatians-523","tag-john-129","tag-john-1031-33","tag-john-1037-38","tag-john-414","tag-john-746","tag-mark-1018","tag-mark-950","tag-matthew-514-16","tag-psalm-464","tag-revelation-164-7","tag-romans-1217","tag-romans-1218","tag-romans-1219","tag-romans-1220-21","tag-romans-1310","tag-titus-38","tag-titus-39"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6810","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=6810"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21879,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6810\/revisions\/21879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}