Psalm 22, Part 2

News coverage is heavily biased toward the activities of criminals, politicians and activists, a minority of people.  Yet this minority report can have an exaggerated influence on the socially constructed reality of a majority of people, especially if they are...

A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 4

Cain complained to יְהֹוָ֑ה (yehôvâh): Masoretic Text Septuagint Genesis 4:14 (Tanakh) Genesis 4:14 (NET) Genesis 4:14 (NETS) Genesis 4:14 (English Elpenor) Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the land; and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I...

Psalm 22, Part 1

Rather than add an extremely lengthy addendum to another essay, I chose to begin a series of essays on Psalm 22 in the Septuagint.  Here is a Gospel harmony of Jesus’ words. Matthew 27:45, 46 (NET) Mark 15:33, 34 (NET) Luke 23:44, 45a (NET) Now from noon until three,...

He Takes Away, Part 3

In 1882 George Matheson wrote: O Love, that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. I quote it here—especially “O Love, that wilt not let me go” —as the testimony of...

He Takes Away, Part 2

A gnat of a notion that takes away may not be the best translation of αἴρει (a form of αἴρω) in, He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me,[1] became important enough to address directly.  Here is a table of possible translations. Meanings of αἴρω...

He Takes Away, Part 1

He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me.[1]  I would like to say that I was blindsided by the suggestion that takes away may not be the best translation of αἴρει (a form of αἴρω) here.  But a quarterback searching downfield for an open receiver knows...

To Make Holy, Part 8

The next form of ἁγιάζω I want to consider is found in Jesus’ prayer to his Father: Set them apart (ἁγίασον, a form of ἁγιάζω) in the truth; your word is truth.[1]  But I’m making a slow pilgrimage through his prayer because I believe I can know his holiness here. ...