Tag Archives: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Westworld, Part 1

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Man: Bring her back online.[1]

A disembodied voice we’ll soon recognize as the voice of Bernard Lowe (Jeffrey Wright), head of programming at Westworld, speaks.  Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood) sits naked in a chair.  She is an android at Westworld, a host as androids are called there.

“It doesn’t get cold, doesn’t feel ashamed, doesn’t feel a solitary thing that we haven’t told it to.”[2]

In other words, Dolores sits naked because she is a slave.

Man: Can you hear me?

Dolores: Yes.  I’m sorry.  I’m not feeling quite myself.

Man: You can lose the accent.  Do you know where you are?

Dolores: I’m in a dream.[3]

She is not.  She is in one of the maintenance workrooms under Westworld.

Man: That’s right, Dolores.  You’re in a dream.  Would you like to wake up from this dream?

Dolores: Yes.  I’m terrified.

Man: There’s nothing to be afraid of, Dolores, as long as you answer my questions correctly.  Understand?

Dolores: Yes.[4]

This inquisition determines whether Dolores is allowed to serve above ground in the park or is confined to cold storage on sub-level 83, or not so cold storage as it turns out.  (The air conditioning is broken and no one is complaining.)

Man: Good.  First, have you ever questioned the nature of your reality?

Dolores sleeps in her bed as her inquisition continues as a voiceover.

Dolores: No

Dolores awakens.

Man: Tell us what you think of your world.

Dolores: Some people choose to see the ugliness in this world-

Dolores, dressed, descends the stairs.

Dolores: -the disarray.  I choose to see the beauty.  To believe there is an order to our days: a purpose.

Man: What do you think of the guests?

Dolores: You mean the newcomers?

An unnamed guest arriving at the park on the train talks to his unnamed companion.

Guest: First time I played it white hat.  My family was here.  We went fishing, did the gold hunt in the mountains.

Companion: And last time?

Guest: I came alone, went straight evil.  It was the best two weeks of my life.

Dolores: I like to remember what my father taught me: that at one point or another, we were all new to this world.  The newcomers are just looking for the same thing we are, a place to be free, to stake out dreams, a place with unlimited possibilities.[5]

Thus begins a three season reverie on human sin and freedom of choice by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy.  It prompted my own reverie about my own programming.

“You have to control people,”  Dad used to say.  Written down it seems like an imperative.  Perhaps it had something to do with my early attempts to control my younger brother and sister when Dad came home from work.  Perhaps that was just my own evil desire to dominate others and make them play by my rules.  It’s all too dim and dark for me to know for sure now.

By the time I actually recall my own memories of Dad’s saying, I didn’t hear it as a command for me to obey.  It was said with such bitterness, resentment or sarcasm I assumed he lamented a freedom to believe, to think, to say and to do whatever he wanted, a freedom of choice denied by a rule that people must be controlled.

Dolores was controlled even as an adult by the love of her father Peter Abernathy (Louis Herthum).  He in turn was controlled by her existence as his daughter.  He wanted her home before dark.

Dolores: Oh, I’m not a child anymore.  I’ll be just fine.

Peter: When I was a law man…

Dolores: Yes, Daddy, I know all about when you were a law man.  I know all your stories and so does every boy that ever came courting.

Peter: I know how boys think.  Was one myself once, given to all manner of drinking and mischief.

Dolores: Whatever happened to that fearsome ne’er-do-well?

Peter: He vanished the day I became your father.  I am what I am because of you, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Dolores: I know Daddy.  I’ll be home before dark.[6]

This particular form of control was programmed into human beings from the very beginning (Genesis 2:18-25 NET):

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.”  The Lord God formed out of the ground every living animal of the field and every bird of the air.  He brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.  So the man named all the animals, the birds of the air, and the living creatures of the field, but for Adam no companion who corresponded to him was found.  So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was asleep, he took part of the man’s side and closed up the place with flesh.  Then the Lord God made a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.  Then the man said, “This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become one family [Table].  The man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed [Table].

Together under most normal circumstances the man and his wife will produce a family to love and care for, and in a very real sense to be controlled by.  But why is such control necessary?  It seems to me that the freedom to believe, to think, to say and to do whatever I want is only workable as a way life if I’m alone on a tropical island.  Even there it could become a way of death.

Alone on a tropical island I would lie naked on the beach.  If I do nothing but lie naked on the beach I will die.  Fortunately, I was programmed by someone wiser than I am.  Eventually, the pain of sunburn or a sensation of thirst will drive me inland seeking shelter and fresh water.  In time I’ll have a sensation of hunger and search for food.  If my searches are successful, my time will be divided between lying naked on the beach and those searches for shelter from the sun, water to drink and food to eat.  Who, knows, I might even spend some time washing the sweat and grime off my naked body.

So, is it my choice to search for shelter, water and food?  Or am I enslaved to the cravings of my body?  Or, what becomes even more apparent in the context of three seasons of Westworld, am I enslaved to the Programmer who created me (Genesis 1:27 NET)?

God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

How I’ll react is determined in large part by how I feel about my Creator.  Am I grateful for his wisdom, punctuating my sunbathing with searches for shelter, water and food?  Or am I angry and resentful about it?

Theoretically, if I have the willpower, I remain free to lie stubbornly on the beach until I die.  If I do not lie naked on the beach until I die yet remain angry and resentful, it probably means I want to live in an imaginary world, a world where I never have any pain from sunburn and where slaves bring me water and food on demand.  You know, like “heaven,” or Westworld where Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy explore what life is like for slaves whose creator is less than love (1 John 4:7, 8 NET):

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love (1 Corinthians 13) is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God.  The person who does not love does not know God because God is love.

By day Dolores paints near the river that marks the boundary of the family-friendly area of the park.  Her “purpose,” like the catcher in the rye, is to warn children who might stray too close to that boundary.  At night she has a very different “purpose.”

After a day of coy flirtation with what seems like a returning guest, Theodore (Teddy) Flood (James Marsden), a more gentlemanly man than some, the sweet Dolores’ returns home to find her mother and father murdered.  Teddy kills the androids that killed them.  A mysterious Man in Black (Ed Harris) shows up to rape and possibly murder Dolores.  When Teddy intervenes, we learn that he, too, is an android, programmed to lose to the Man in Black or any other guest who happens along.

Dolores’ and Teddy‘s creator, Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins), is not love but merely a man as innately evil as any guest at the park.  In a maintenance session Ford (the god of this brave new world) confirmed to Teddy:[7]

Your job is not to protect Dolores, it’s to keep her here.  To ensure that the guests find her if they want to best the stalwart gunslinger and have their way with his girl.

Then this truth was erased from Teddy’s memory before he was put back in service in this man-made “heaven” called Westworld, that the rape of Dolores would be all the more appealing to sinful men night after night after night.  Love acted differently toward those He created (1 John 4:9, 10 NET):

By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him.  In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus, God’s one and only Son, believed the evil one comes and snatches truth from someone’s memory (Matthew 13:19 NET):

When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart…

A more realistic vision of a true heaven (a more sustainable heaven, at least) is a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, every moment of every day (and night) forever.  That should frighten even the least self-aware.  Paul wrote (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 NET):

For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died [Table].  And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.

I’m going to cut to the chase here.  The righteousness given to those who trust Jesus is the fruit of his Holy Spirit: God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control springing up within us to eternal life from his own Spirit dwelling in us.  The mission, should you choose to accept it, is to learn to be led by his Spirit, his love, his joy, his peace, his patience, his kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness and his self-control, rather than having some righteousness of your own derived from some law, his or anyone else’s, including your own.

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come [Table]!  And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation [Table].  In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us.  We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”  God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God [Table].[8]

Paul wrote to people in Philippi who believed Jesus (Philippians 2:12-16a NET):

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed (ὑπηκούσατε, a form of ὑπακούω), not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God [Table].  Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish[9] though you live in[10] a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world by holding on (ἐπέχοντες, a form of ἐπέχω) to the word of life…

Tables comparing Genesis 2:18; 2:19; 2:20; 2:21; 2:22; 2:23 and 1:27 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Genesis 2:18; 2:19; 2:20; 2:21; 2:22; 2:23 and 1:27 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Philippians 2:15 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 2:18 (Tanakh)

 Genesis 2:18 (KJV)

Genesis 2:18 (NET)
And HaShem G-d said: ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.’ And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.”

Genesis 2:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 2:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος ὁ θεός οὐ καλὸν εἶναι τὸν ἄνθρωπον μόνον ποιήσωμεν αὐτῷ βοηθὸν κατ᾽ αὐτόν Καὶ εἶπε Κύριος ὁ Θεός· οὐ καλὸν εἶναι τὸν ἄνθρωπον μόνον· ποιήσωμεν αὐτῷ βοηθὸν κατ᾿ αὐτόν

Genesis 2:18 (NETS)

Genesis 2:18 (English Elpenor)
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man is alone; let us make him a helper corresponding to him.” And the Lord God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone, let us make for him a help suitable to him.

Genesis 2:19 (Tanakh)

 Genesis 2:19 (KJV)

Genesis 2:19 (NET)
And out of the ground HaShem G-d formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them; and whatsoever the man would call every living creature, that was to be the name thereof. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. The Lord God formed out of the ground every living animal of the field and every bird of the air.  He brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.

Genesis 2:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 2:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔπλασεν ὁ θεὸς ἔτι ἐκ τῆς γῆς πάντα τὰ θηρία τοῦ ἀγροῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἤγαγεν αὐτὰ πρὸς τὸν Αδαμ ἰδεῗν τί καλέσει αὐτά καὶ πᾶν ὃ ἐὰν ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸ Αδαμ ψυχὴν ζῶσαν τοῦτο ὄνομα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔπλασεν ὁ Θεὸς ἔτι ἐκ τῆς γῆς πάντα τὰ θηρία τοῦ ἀγροῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἤγαγεν αὐτὰ πρὸς τὸν ᾿Αδάμ, ἰδεῖν τί καλέσει αὐτά. καὶ πᾶν ὃ ἐὰν ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸ ᾿Αδὰμ ψυχὴν ζῶσαν, τοῦτο ὄνομα αὐτῷ

Genesis 2:19 (NETS)

Genesis 2:19 (English Elpenor)
And out of the earth God furthermore formed all the animals of the field and all the birds of the sky and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and anything, whatever Adam called it as living creature, this was its name. And God formed yet farther out of the earth all the wild beasts of the field, and all the birds of the sky, and he brought them to Adam, to see what he would call them, and whatever Adam called any living creature, that was the name of it.

Genesis 2:20 (Tanakh)

 Genesis 2:20 (KJV)

Genesis 2:20 (NET)
And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. So the man named all the animals, the birds of the air, and the living creatures of the field, but for Adam no companion who corresponded to him was found.

Genesis 2:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 2:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Αδαμ ὀνόματα πᾶσιν τοῗς κτήνεσιν καὶ πᾶσι τοῗς πετεινοῗς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ πᾶσι τοῗς θηρίοις τοῦ ἀγροῦ τῷ δὲ Αδαμ οὐχ εὑρέθη βοηθὸς ὅμοιος αὐτῷ καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ᾿Αδὰμ ὀνόματα πᾶσι τοῖς κτήνεσι καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς πετεινοῖς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς θηρίοις τοῦ ἀγροῦ· τῷ δὲ ᾿Αδὰμ οὐχ εὑρέθη βοηθὸς ὅμοιος αὐτῷ

Genesis 2:20 (NETS)

Genesis 2:20 (English Elpenor)
And Adam gave names to all the cattle and to all the birds of the sky and to all the animals of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper like him. And Adam gave names to all the cattle and to all the birds of the sky, and to all the wild beasts of the field, but for Adam there was not found a help like to himself.

Genesis 2:21 (Tanakh)

 Genesis 2:21 (KJV)

Genesis 2:21 (NET)
And HaShem G-d caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the place with flesh instead thereof. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was asleep, he took part of the man’s side and closed up the place with flesh.

Genesis 2:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 2:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπέβαλεν ὁ θεὸς ἔκστασιν ἐπὶ τὸν Αδαμ καὶ ὕπνωσεν καὶ ἔλαβεν μίαν τῶν πλευρῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνεπλήρωσεν σάρκα ἀντ᾽ αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπέβαλεν ὁ Θεὸς ἔκστασιν ἐπὶ τὸν ᾿Αδάμ, καὶ ὕπνωσε· καὶ ἔλαβε μίαν τῶν πλευρῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνεπλήρωσε σάρκα ἀντ᾿ αὐτῆς

Genesis 2:21 (NETS)

Genesis 2:21 (English Elpenor)
And God cast a trance upon Adam, and he slept, and he took one of his ribs and filled up flesh in its place. And God brought a trance upon Adam, and he slept, and he took one of his ribs, and filled up the flesh instead thereof.

Genesis 2:22 (Tanakh)

 Genesis 2:22 (KJV)

Genesis 2:22 (NET)
And the rib, which HaShem G-d had taken from the man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. Then the Lord God made a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

Genesis 2:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 2:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὴν πλευράν ἣν ἔλαβεν ἀπὸ τοῦ Αδαμ εἰς γυναῗκα καὶ ἤγαγεν αὐτὴν πρὸς τὸν Αδαμ καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὴν πλευράν, ἣν ἔλαβεν ἀπὸ τοῦ ᾿Αδάμ, εἰς γυναῖκα καὶ ἤγαγεν αὐτὴν πρὸς τὸν ᾿Αδάμ

Genesis 2:22 (NETS)

Genesis 2:22 (English Elpenor)
And the rib that he had taken from Adam the Lord God fashioned into a woman and brought her to Adam. And God formed the rib which he took from Adam into a woman, and brought her to Adam.

Genesis 2:23 (Tanakh)

 Genesis 2:23 (KJV)

Genesis 2:23 (NET)
And the man said: ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Then the man said, “This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”

Genesis 2:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 2:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Αδαμ τοῦτο νῦν ὀστοῦν ἐκ τῶν ὀστέων μου καὶ σὰρξ ἐκ τῆς σαρκός μου αὕτη κληθήσεται γυνή ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς ἐλήμφθη αὕτη καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αδάμ· τοῦτο νῦν ὀστοῦν ἐκ τῶν ὀστέων μου καὶ σὰρξ ἐκ τῆς σαρκός μου· αὕτη κληθήσεται γυνή, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς ἐλήφθη αὕτη

Genesis 2:23 (NETS)

Genesis 2:23 (English Elpenor)
And Adam said, “This now is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of her husband she was taken.” And Adam said, This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of her husband.

Genesis 1:27 (Tanakh)

 Genesis 1:27 (KJV)

Genesis 1:27 (NET)
And G-d created man in His own image, in the image of G-d created He him; male and female created He them. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 1:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον κατ᾽ εἰκόνα θεοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτόν ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον, κατ᾿ εἰκόνα Θεοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτόν, ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς

Genesis 1:27 (NETS)

Genesis 1:27 (English Elpenor)
And God made humankind; according to divine image he made it; male and female he made them. And God made man, according to the image of God he made him, male and female he made them.

Philippians 2:15 (NET)

Philippians 2:15 (KJV)
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἵνα γένησθε ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι, τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα μέσον γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστραμμένης, ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ ινα γενησθε αμεμπτοι και ακεραιοι τεκνα θεου αμωμητα εν μεσω γενεας σκολιας και διεστραμμενης εν οις φαινεσθε ως φωστηρες εν κοσμω ινα γενησθε αμεμπτοι και ακεραιοι τεκνα θεου αμωμητα εν μεσω γενεας σκολιας και διεστραμμενης εν οις φαινεσθε ως φωστηρες εν κοσμω

[1] Westworld, Season 1, Episode 1: “The Original”

[2] Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins), Westworld, Season 1, Episode 3: “The Stray”

[3] Westworld, Season 1, Episode 1: “The Original”

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Westworld, Season 1, Episode 3, “The Stray”

[8] 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NET)

[9] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἄμωμα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αμωμητα (KJV: without rebuke).

[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had μέσον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν μεσω (KJV: in the midst).

Peter’s Second Gospel Proclamation, Part 3

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Peter’s second Gospel proclamation concluded (Acts 3:24-26 NET):

And all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed him, have spoken about and announced[1] these days.  You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed’ [Table].  God raised up his servant[2] and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.”

A survey of the prophecies to which Peter alluded would be interesting but I won’t pursue it here.  After a perfunctory disclaimer “Old Testament messianic prophecies quoted in the New Testament” lists several.

According to the note (72) in the NET Acts 3:25b is a quotation from Genesis 22:18.  A table comparing the Greek of Peter’s quotation with the Septuagint follows

Acts 3:25b (NET Parallel Greek)

 Genesis 22:18a (Septuagint BLB) Table

Genesis 22:18a (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐν τῷ σπέρματι σου [ἐν]ευλογηθήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ πατριαὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς

Acts 3:25b (NET)

 Genesis 22:18a (NETS)

Genesis 22:18a (English Elpenor)
‘And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’ And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed

The Greek word translated descendants in the NET (KJV: seed) was σπέρματι (a form of σπέρμα).  I bring it up because Paul commented on it (Galatians 3:16 NET):

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant (σπέρματι).  Scripture does not say, “and to the descendants (σπέρμασιν, a plural form of σπέρμα),” referring to many, but “and to your descendant (σπέρματι),” referring to one, who is Christ.

Note 36 in the NET cites four references in Genesis.  Three of the four were also translated σπέρματι in the Septuagint.

Reference BLB Septuagint Elpenor Sptuagint
Genesis 12:7 σπέρματί σπέρματί
Genesis 13:15 σπέρματί σπέρματί
Genesis 24:7 σπέρματί σπέρματί

In context Peter’s thought went from this singular descendant (KJV: seed) to a singular servant (παῖδα, a form of παῖς; KJV: Son).

Here I’ll focus on God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.[3]  The Greek word translated turning was not a form of μετανοέω or a form of ἐπιστρέφω (Acts 3:19 NET):

Therefore repent (μετανοήσατε, a form of μετανοέω) and turn back (ἐπιστρέψατε, a form of ἐπιστρέφω) so that your sins may be wiped out…

It was ἀποστρέφειν (a form of ἀποστρέφω).  I can’t help but think that Peter or the Holy Spirit alluded to a then present fulfillment of the prophecy Paul quoted (Romans 11:26, 27 NET):

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion;[4] he will remove (ἀποστρέψει, another form of ἀποστρέφω) ungodliness from Jacob.  And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

According to the note (21) in the NET Romans 11:26, 27a is a quotation from Isaiah 59:20, 21.  A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with the Septuagint follows:

Romans 11:26b, 27a (NET Parallel Greek)

 Isaiah 59:20, 21a (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 59:20, 21a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἥξει ἐκ Σιὼν ὁ ρυόμενος, ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ (27) καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιων ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ιακωβ (21) καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῗς ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ ᾿Ιακώβ (21) καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη

Romans 11:26b, 27a (NET)

 Isaiah 59:20, 21a (NETS)

Isaiah 59:20, 21a (English Elpenor)
The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. (27) And this is my covenant with them, the one who delivers will come for Zion’s sake, and he will turn impiety away from Jacob. (21) And this is the covenant to them from me, the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. (21) And this shall be my covenant with them,

I’ve never understood this quite so clearly.  And the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake (English Elpenor) the Septuagint reads.  That time was past when Paul wrote to those in Rome who believed Jesus: the deliverer had already come for Sion’s sake and Israel in large part (Romans 11:2-5) had rejected Him (Romans 11:11-15 NET).

I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they?  Absolutely not!  But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.  Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring?

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles.  Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry [Table], if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.  For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? [Table]

Paul changed ἕνεκεν (a form of ἕνεκα), for Sion’s sake, to ἐκ, out of Zion.  Since Israel rejected their deliverer/Redeemer/protector He no longer came exclusively for Sion’s sake.  For then, in Paul’s present, the Gospel was proceeding out of Zion to the whole world.  The Masoretic text reads to Zion, exclusively.

Masoretic Text

 Septuagint
Isaiah 59:20 (Tanakh/KJV) Isaiah 59:20 (NET) Isaiah 59:20 (NETS)

Isaiah 59:20 (English Elpenor)
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. “A protector comes to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” says the Lord. And the one who delivers will come for Zion’s sake, and he will turn impiety away from Jacob. And the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

This deliverer shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (English Elpenor) as confirmed by the Holy Spirit through Paul: he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.  But the Masoretes’ revision of the Scriptures according to masorah (“tradition”) limits this Redeemer unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob (Tanakh, KJV), or this protector to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds (NET).  In other words, his impact is limited currently to that select subset (Romans 11:5-7) of the whole of Jacob.

And this shall be my covenant with them, said the Lord.[5]  But Paul veered away from the rest of this quote (Isaiah 59:21b English Elpenor):

My Spirit which is upon thee, and the words which I have put in thy mouth, shall never fail from thy mouth, nor from the mouth of thy seed, for the Lord has spoken it, henceforth and for ever.

Since official Israel rejected Jesus (Acts 4:1-4) this promise doesn’t yet apply to all Israel.  So Paul and the Holy Spirit reiterated when it will apply: when I take away their sins.[6]

According to the note (22) in the NET Romans 11:27b is a quotation from Isaiah 27:9.  A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with the Septuagint follows:

Romans 11:27b (NET Parallel Greek) Isaiah 27:9b (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 27:9a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι αὐτοῦ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ
Romans 11:27b (NET) Isaiah 27:9b (NETS) Isaiah 27:9a (English Elpenor)
when I take away their sins. when I remove his sin, when I shall have taken away his sin;

Still, the Masoretic text speaks truthfully to contemporary Israel: them that turn from transgression in Jacob (namely, turn from their rejection of Jesus as Messiah) will receive the Redeemer, and He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.  God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities,[7] Peter promised in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The Greek word translated iniquities was πονηριῶν (a form of πονηρία).  Matthew recorded the following (Matthew 22:15-21 NET):

Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap [Jesus] with his own words.  They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.  You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality.  Tell us then, what do you think?  Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus realized their evil intentions (πονηρίαν, another form of πονηρία) and said, “Hypocrites!  Why are you testing me?  Show me the coin used for the tax.”  So they brought him a denarius.  Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?”  They replied, “Caesar’s.”  He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Jesus told his disciples: What comes out of a person defiles him.  For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, evil (πονηρίαι, another form of πονηρία), deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly [Table].  All these evils (πονηρὰ, a form of πονηρός) come from within and defile a person.[8]

As he spoke, a[9] Pharisee invited[10] Jesus to have a meal with him, so he went in and took his place at the table.  The Pharisee was astonished when he saw that Jesus did not first wash his hands before the meal.  But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness (πονηρίας, another form of πονηρία).[11]

For the love of Christ controls us, Paul wrote of the apostles, since we have concluded this, that[12] Christ died for all; therefore all have died.  And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.[13]

The love of Christ was ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ in Greek.  Given the way Paul described and defined ἀγάπη (1 Corinthians 13) I think this is shorthand for the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23).  Surely, it is Christ’s ἀγάπη in the sense that, as Jesus said, The Father and I are one,[14] and as He prayed, Everything I have belongs to you, and everything you have belongs to me.[15]  But perhaps more to the point for believers, this is Christ’s ἀγάπη in the sense that it is the same love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control[16] [Table] that “controlled” Jesus.

I used the past tense here only to accentuate the time He walked as a man on earth, rather than to suggest that love no longer controls (συνέχει, a form of συνέχω) Him.  So then, if anyone is in Christ, Paul continued (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NET):

he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come [Table]!  And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ[17] and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us.  We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”  God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God (δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ) [Table].

I think the righteousness of God we become is the love of Christ [that] controls us, understood as the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.[18]

Tables comparing Isaiah 27:9; 59:20 and 59:21 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Isaiah 27:9; 59:20 and 59:21 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Acts 3:24; 3:26; Romans 11:26; Luke 11:37; 2 Corinthians 5:14 and 5:18 in the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 27:9 (Tanakh)

 Isaiah 27:9 (KJV)

Isaiah 27:9 (NET)
By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up. So in this way Jacob’s sin will be forgiven, and this is how they will show they are finished sinning: They will make all the stones of the altars like crushed limestone, and the Asherah poles and the incense altars will no longer stand.

Isaiah 27:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 27:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἡ ἀνομία Ιακωβ καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν ἡ εὐλογία αὐτοῦ ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι αὐτοῦ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ὅταν θῶσιν πάντας τοὺς λίθους τῶν βωμῶν κατακεκομμένους ὡς κονίαν λεπτήν καὶ οὐ μὴ μείνῃ τὰ δένδρα αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ εἴδωλα αὐτῶν ἐκκεκομμένα ὥσπερ δρυμὸς μακράν διὰ τοῦτο ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἡ ἀνομία ᾿Ιακώβ, καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν ἡ εὐλογία αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ, ὅταν θῶσι πάντας τοὺς λίθους τῶν βωμῶν κατακεκομμένους ὡς κονίαν λεπτήν· καὶ οὐ μὴ μείνῃ τὰ δένδρα αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ εἴδωλα αὐτῶν ἐκκεκομμένα ὥσπερ δρυμὸς μακράν

Isaiah 27:9 (NETS)

Isaiah 27:9 (English Elpenor)
Because of this the lawlessness of Iakob will be removed.  And this is the blessing, when I remove his sin, when they make all the stones of the altars broken pieces like fine dust, and their trees will not remain, and their idols will be cut down like a forest far away. Therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be taken away; and this is his blessing, when I shall have taken away his sin; when they shall have broken to pieces all the stones of the altars as fine dust, and their trees shall not remain, and their idols shall be cut off, as a thicket afar off.

Isaiah 59:20 (Tanakh)

 Isaiah 59:20 (KJV)

Isaiah 59:20 (NET)
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. “A protector comes to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 59:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 59:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιων ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ιακωβ καὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ ᾿Ιακώβ

Isaiah 59:20 (NETS)

Isaiah 59:20 (English Elpenor)
And the one who delivers will come for Zion’s sake, and he will turn impiety away from Jacob. And the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

Isaiah 59:21 (Tanakh)

 Isaiah 59:21 (KJV)

Isaiah 59:21 (NET)
As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever. “As for me, this is my promise to them,” says the Lord.  “My Spirit, who is upon you, and my words, which I have placed in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and descendants from this time forward,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 59:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 59:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῗς ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη εἶπεν κύριος τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἐμόν ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ σοί καὶ τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἔδωκα εἰς τὸ στόμα σου οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ σπέρματός σου εἶπεν γὰρ κύριος ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, εἶπε Κύριος· τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἐμόν, ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ σοί, καὶ τὰ ρήματα, ἃ ἔδωκα εἰς τὸ στόμα σου, οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ σπέρματός σου· εἶπε γὰρ Κύριος, ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα

Isaiah 59:21 (NETS)

Isaiah 59:21 (English Elpenor)
And this is the covenant to them from me, said the Lord, my spirit that is upon you and my words that I have put in your mouth shall not fail out of your mouth or out of the mouth of your offspring, for the Lord has said it, from now on and forever. And this shall be my covenant with them, said the Lord; My Spirit which is upon thee, and the words which I have put in thy mouth, shall never fail from thy mouth, nor from the mouth of thy seed, for the Lord has spoken it, henceforth and for ever.

Acts 3:24 (NET)

Acts 3:24 (KJV)
And all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed him, have spoken about and announced these days. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ πάντες δὲ οἱ προφῆται ἀπὸ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν καθεξῆς ὅσοι ἐλάλησαν καὶ κατήγγειλαν τὰς ἡμέρας ταύτας και παντες δε οι προφηται απο σαμουηλ και των καθεξης οσοι ελαλησαν και προκατηγγειλαν τας ημερας ταυτας και παντες δε οι προφηται απο σαμουηλ και των καθεξης οσοι ελαλησαν και κατηγγειλαν τας ημερας ταυτας

Acts 3:26 (NET)

Acts 3:26 (KJV)
God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.” Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὑμῖν πρῶτον ἀναστήσας ὁ θεὸς τὸν παῖδα αὐτοῦ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτὸν εὐλογοῦντα ὑμᾶς ἐν τῷ ἀποστρέφειν ἕκαστον ἀπὸ τῶν πονηριῶν |ὑμῶν| υμιν πρωτον ο θεος αναστησας τον παιδα αυτου ιησουν απεστειλεν αυτον ευλογουντα υμας εν τω αποστρεφειν εκαστον απο των πονηριων υμων υμιν πρωτον ο θεος αναστησας τον παιδα αυτου ιησουν απεστειλεν αυτον ευλογουντα υμας εν τω αποστρεφειν εκαστον απο των πονηριων υμων

Romans 11:26 (NET)

Romans 11:26 (KJV)
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ οὕτως πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ σωθήσεται, καθὼς γέγραπται· ἥξει ἐκ Σιὼν ὁ ρυόμενος, ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ και ουτως πας ισραηλ σωθησεται καθως γεγραπται ηξει εκ σιων ο ρυομενος και αποστρεψει ασεβειας απο ιακωβ και ουτως πας ισραηλ σωθησεται καθως γεγραπται ηξει εκ σιων ο ρυομενος και αποστρεψει ασεβειας απο ιακωβ

Luke 11:37 (NET)

Luke 11:37 (KJV)
As he spoke, a Pharisee invited Jesus to have a meal with him, so he went in and took his place at the table. And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Ἐν δὲ τῷ λαλῆσαι ἐρωτᾷ αὐτὸν Φαρισαῖος ὅπως ἀριστήσῃ παρ᾿ αὐτῷ· εἰσελθὼν δὲ ἀνέπεσεν εν δε τω λαλησαι ηρωτα αυτον φαρισαιος τις οπως αριστηση παρ αυτω εισελθων δε ανεπεσεν εν δε τω λαλησαι ηρωτα αυτον φαρισαιος τις οπως αριστηση παρ αυτω εισελθων δε ανεπεσεν

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NET)

2 Corinthians 5:14 (KJV)
For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἡ γὰρ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ συνέχει ἡμᾶς, κρίναντας τοῦτο, ὅτι εἷς ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀπέθανεν, ἄρα οἱ πάντες ἀπέθανον η γαρ αγαπη του χριστου συνεχει ημας κριναντας τουτο οτι ει εις υπερ παντων απεθανεν αρα οι παντες απεθανον η γαρ αγαπη του χριστου συνεχει ημας κριναντας τουτο οτι ει εις υπερ παντων απεθανεν αρα οι παντες απεθανον

2 Corinthians 5:18 (NET)

2 Corinthians 5:18 (KJV)
And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ καταλλάξαντος ἡμᾶς ἑαυτῷ διὰ Χριστοῦ καὶ δόντος ἡμῖν τὴν διακονίαν τῆς καταλλαγῆς τα δε παντα εκ του θεου του καταλλαξαντος ημας εαυτω δια ιησου χριστου και δοντος ημιν την διακονιαν της καταλλαγης τα δε παντα εκ του θεου του καταλλαξαντος ημας εαυτω δια ιησου χριστου και δοντος ημιν την διακονιαν της καταλλαγης

[1] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had κατήγγειλαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had προκατηγγειλαν (KJV: have…foretold).

[2] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιησουν (KJV: Jesus) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[3] Acts 3:26 (NET)

[4] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: and) joining these clauses.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[5] Isaiah 59:21a (English Elpenor)

[6] Romans 11:27b (NET)

[7] Acts 3:26 (NET)

[8] Mark 7:20-23 (NET)

[9] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τις (KJV: a certain) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐρωτᾷ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηρωτα (KJV: besought).

[11] Luke 11:37-39 (NET)

[12] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ει (KJV: if) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[13] 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 (NET)

[14] John 10:30 (NET)

[15] John 17:10a (NET)

[16] Galatians 5:22b, 23a (NET)

[17] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιησου preceding Christ (KJV: Jesus).  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[18] Romans 8:14 (NET)

Romans, Part 50

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Love must be without hypocrisy,[1] Paul continued.  Actually, he wrote, Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος.  Paul wrote a lot about ἀγάπη.[2]  Love (ἀγάπη) does no wrong to a neighbor.  Therefore love (ἀγάπη) is the fulfillment of the law.[3]  What do you want? He asked the Corinthians.  Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love (ἀγάπῃ) and a spirit of gentleness?[4] He not only contrasted ἀγάπῃ to a rod of discipline but to knowledge: Knowledge puffs up (φυσιοῖ, a form of φυσιόω),[5] but love (ἀγάπη) builds up.[6]

Love (ἀγάπη) is patient, love (ἀγάπη) is kind, it is not envious.  Love does not brag, it is not puffed up (φυσιοῦται, a form of φυσιόω).  It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.  It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures (ὑπομένει, a form of ὑπομένω)[7] all things.[8]  Love (ἀγάπη) never ends.[9]  And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love (ἀγάπη).  But the greatest of these is love (ἀγάπη).[10]  Everything you do should be done in love (ἀγάπῃ).[11]

For the love (ἀγάπη) of Christ controls us, he continued to believers in Corinth, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.  And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.[12]  One of the ways Paul and his associates commended themselves was by genuine love (2 Corinthians 6:3-10 NET):

We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.  But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger, by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine (ἀνυποκρίτῳ, a form of ἀνυπόκριτος)[13] love (ἀγάπῃ), by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left, through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed; as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

God’s love (ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ) was part of Paul’s benediction to the Corinthians: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God (καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ; literally, “and this love of God’s”) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.[14]  God’s love comes to me as the fruit of his Spirit: the fruit (καρπὸς)[15] of the Spirit is love (ἀγάπη), joy (χαρὰ),[16] peace (εἰρήνη),[17] patience (μακροθυμία),[18] kindness, goodness, faithfulness (πίστις),[19] gentleness (πραΰτης),[20] and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.[21]  Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.  For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love (ἀγάπῃ).[22]

Paul prayed for the Ephesians that according to the wealth of his glory [the Father] may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις), so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love (ἀγάπῃ), you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus to know the love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη) of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.[23]  I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness (πραΰτητος, a form of πραΰτης), with patience (μακροθυμίας, a form of μακροθυμία), bearing with one another in love (ἀγάπῃ), making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (εἰρήνης, a form of εἰρήνη).[24]

So we are no longer to be children, Paul concluded for the Ephesians, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.  But practicing the truth in love (ἀγάπῃ), we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.  From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament.  As each one does its part, the body grows in love (ἀγάπῃ).[25]  Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved (ἀγαπητὰ, a form of ἀγαπητός)[26] children and live in love (ἀγάπῃ), just as Christ also loved (ἠγάπησεν, a form of ἀγαπάω) us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.[27]  Peace (Εἰρήνη) to the brothers and sisters, and love (ἀγάπη) with faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις), from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.[28]

And I pray this, Paul wrote the Philippians, that your love (ἀγάπη) may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit (καρπὸν, a form of καρπός) of righteousness [love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control] that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.[29]  My goal, he wrote the Colossians, is that their hearts, having been knit together in love (ἀγάπῃ), may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.[30]

To the church at Thessalonica Paul wrote: And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love (ἀγάπῃ) for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.[31]  We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith (πίστις) flourishes more and more and the love (ἀγάπη) of each one of you all for one another is ever greater.  As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.[32]

But the aim of our instruction, Paul wrote Timothy, is love (ἀγάπη) that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere (ἀνυποκρίτου, a form of ἀνυπόκριτος) faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις).[33]  I recall your sincere (ἀνυποκρίτου, a form of ἀνυπόκριτος) faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you.[34]  This sincere faith (πίστεως ἀνυποκρίτου, ἀνυποκρίτου πίστεως), as opposed to a hypocritical faith, comes from God in Christ through the fruit of the Holy Spirit, not from myself.  This love without hypocrisy (Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος) shares the same origin, the same path and delivery method.

Let no one look down on you because you are young, Paul admonished Timothy, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love (ἀγάπῃ), faithfulness (πίστει, a form of πίστις), and purity.[35]  Hold to the standard of sound (ὑγιαινόντων, a form of ὑγιαίνω)[36] words that you heard from me and do so with the faith (πίστει, a form of πίστις) and love (ἀγάπῃ) that are in Christ Jesus.  Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.[37]

Jesus warned us what was coming: Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you.  You will be hated by all the nations because of my name.  Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another.  And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love (ἀγάπη) of many will grow cold.  But the person who endures (ὑπομείνας, a form of ὑπομένω) to the end will be saved.[38]  This love without hypocrisy bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures (ὑπομένει, a form of ὑπομένω) all things.[39]

Just as the Father has loved (ἠγάπησεν, a form of ἀγαπάω)[40] me, Jesus said, I have also loved (ἠγάπησα, another form of ἀγαπάω) you; remain in my love (ἀγάπῃ).  If you obey my commandments (ἐντολάς, a form of ἐντολή),[41] you will remain in my love (ἀγάπῃ), just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments (ἐντολάς, a form of ἐντολή) and remain in his love (ἀγάπῃ).  I have told you these things so that my joy (χαρὰ) may be in you, and your joy (χαρὰ) may be complete.  My commandment (ἐντολὴ) is this – to love (ἀγαπᾶτε, a form of ἀγαπάω) one another just as I have loved (ἠγάπησα, a form of ἀγαπάω) you.[42]

As I’ve written before it is axiomatic to me that the way Jesus loved us was through that same love He received from the Holy Spirit that descended like a dove from heaven, and…remained on him.[43]  He prayed as much to his Father if one has ears to hear: I made known your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so that the love (ἀγάπη) you have loved (ἠγάπησας, a form of ἀγαπάω) me with may be in them, and I may be in them.[44]

Writing to the Corinthians about giving, Paul mentioned something about ἀγάπῃ which troubled the NET translators: But as you excel in everything – in faith (πίστει, a form of πίστις), in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love (ἀγάπῃ) from us that is in you – make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.[45]  The note in the NET reads:

“The reading ‘the love from us that is in you’ is very difficult in this context, for Paul is here enumerating the Corinthians’ attributes: How is it possible for them to excel ‘in the love from us that is in you’?  Most likely, because of this difficulty, several early scribes, as well as most later ones…altered the text to read “your love for us” (so NIV; Grk ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ).  The reading ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ is found, however, in excellent and early witnesses….As the harder reading it explains the rise of the other reading.  What, then, is the force of ‘in the love from us that is in you’?  Most likely, Paul is commending the Corinthians for excelling in deriving some inspiration from the apostles’ love for them.”

Now, I don’t think Paul was suddenly taking credit for the fruit of the Spirit—the love from us that is in you.  I believe he meant the love from God that he taught them. You, however, have followed my teaching, he wrote Timothy, my way of life, my purpose, my faith (πίστει, a form of πίστις), my patience (μακροθυμίᾳ), my love (ἀγάπῃ), my endurance, as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra.[46]  It seems to me a more literal translation of the Greek here would have been: “You, however, have followed [this] teaching [of mine], [this] way of life, [this] purpose, [this] faith, [this] patience, [this] love, [this] endurance…”  And this love from Paul’s teaching was in them because they believed.

And that is the key for us, too.  Now without faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists…[47]  To come to know and to believe the love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη) that God has in us[48] we must first believe that it is there for us.  It’s a little like learning to float.  I had to learn to trust the water, that it would bear me up.  And I had to reject the testimony of those who claimed otherwise.

[1] Romans 12:9a (NET)

[3] Romans 13:10 (NET)

[4] 1 Corinthians 4:21 (NET)

[6] 1 Corinthians 8:1b (NET)

[8] 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NET)

[9] 1 Corinthians 13:8a (NET)

[10] 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NET)

[11] 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NET)

[12] 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 (NET)

[14] 2 Corinthians 13:13 (NET)

[21] Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

[22] Ephesians 1:3, 4 (NET)

[23] Ephesians 3:16-19 (NET)

[24] Ephesians 4:1-3 (NET)

[25] Ephesians 4:14-16 (NET)

[27] Ephesians 5:1, 2 (NET)

[28] Ephesians 6:23 (NET)

[29] Philippians 1:9-11 (NET)

[30] Colossians 2:2, 3 (NET)

[31] 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13 (NET)

[32] 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 4 (NET)

[33] 1 Timothy 1:5 (NET)

[34] 2 Timothy 1:5 (NET)

[35] 1 Timothy 4:12 (NET)

[37] 2 Timothy 1:13, 14 (NET)

[38] Matthew 24:9-12 (NET)

[39] 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NET)

[42] John 15:9-12 (NET)

[43] John 1:32 (NET)

[44] John17:26 (NET)

[45] 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NET)

[46] 2 Timothy 3:10, 11a (NET)

[47] Hebrews 11:6 (NET)

[48] 1 John 4:16a (NET) Table

Fear – Exodus, Part 3

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The Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: “Release my people so that they may serve me!”’”[1]  This is the seventh plague on Egypt.  You are still exalting yourself against my people by not releasing them, the Lord continued.  I am going to cause very severe hail to rain down about this time tomorrow, such hail as has never occurred in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.  So now, send instructions to gather your livestock and all your possessions in the fields to a safe place.  Every person or animal caught in the field and not brought into the house – the hail will come down on them, and they will die![2]

Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared (yârêʼ)[3] the word of the Lord hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses, but those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field.[4]  The rabbis who translated the Septuagint used φοβούμενος (a form of φοβέω).[5]  Jesus told a parable about a judge who neither feared (φοβούμενος) God nor respected people.[6]  But even this judge could be persuaded by a widow’s persistence.  I will give her justice, the judge said, or in the end she will wear me out by her unending pleas.[7]  But even after six other plagues happened as prophesied by Moses there were still those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously.  The rabbis used προσέσχεν[8] (hold to), they did not hold to the word of the Lord.

It caused me to consider that those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously were actually hardened.  The judge did not fear God but could be persuaded by his own inconvenience.  To lose one’s animals and slaves is a major inconvenience.  Six out of six plagues would seemingly convince one that the seventh was possible if not likely.  Reason alone would persuade one to take precautions at least at the time of day prophesied simply to avoid the greater inconvenience of losing everything.  But only those who feared the word of the Lord acted rationally.  It gave me the impression that the others believed (though did not fear) that the word was the Lord’s, and acted contrary to his word because it was his word.  They were hardened.

The hail struck everything in the open fields, both people and animals, throughout all the land of Egypt.  The hail struck everything that grows in the field, and it broke all the trees of the field to pieces.  Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was there no hail.  So Pharaoh sent and summoned Moses and Aaron and said to them, “I have sinned this time!  The Lord is righteous, and I and my people are guilty.  Pray to the Lord, for the mighty thunderings and hail are too much!  I will release you and you will stay no longer.”[9]

Moses promised to pray that the hail cease.  But as for you, He said to Pharaoh, and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear (yârêʼ) the Lord God.[10]  In the Septuagint the rabbis used πεφόβησθε,[11] (afraid).  This form was not used in the New Testament.

When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder ceased, he sinned again: both he and his servants hardened their hearts.  So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he did not release the Israelites, as the Lord had predicted through Moses.[12]  Pharaoh certainly believed the word was the Lord’s as a fact, but he did not fear that word.  Here I begin to grasp the fear of the Lord as something that is combined with factual acceptance to become New Testament faith, as opposed to dead faith or faith alone.

This fear is obviously not a flight of terror but a conviction to act in accordance with the word (Septuagint: ῥῆμα) of the Lord.  In New Testament terms it would be equivalent to the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.[13]  And this is because it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.[14]  In a similar sense the New Testament meaning of the fear of the Lord is equivalent to the love of God: Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.  The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.  But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected.[15]

Luke used the phrase fear of the Lord in this association with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit: Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened.   Living[16] in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.[17]  At first glance Paul seemed to use fear of the Lord in a more fearful sense: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.  Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people…[18]

If I expand the context, however, Paul spoke first of faith: For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.[19]  While the natural person clings to this earthly tent for dear life we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.[20]  Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose, Paul continued (including by the way appearing before the judgment seat of Christ) is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.[21]  So is any of this a cause to be fearful?

Paul continued (2 Corinthians 5:6-9 NET):

Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord – for we live by faith, not by sight.  Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.

And what is this ambition to please him but the fear of the Lord?  Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.[22]  For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.  And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.[23]

And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us.  We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”  God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.[24]

So before Christ was crucified, rose again, ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit was given to provide this love, this desire and this effort, the Lord cultivated fear to motivate his people:  The Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, in order to display these signs of mine before him, and in order that in the hearing of your son and your grandson you may tell how I made fools of the Egyptians and about my signs that I displayed among them, so that you may know that I am the Lord.”[25]  Perhaps more to the point was Moses’ response to Israel’s fear when God spoke the law at Sinai: Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin.[26]

[1] Exodus 9:13 (NET)

[2] Exodus 9:17-19 (NET)

[4] Exodus 9:20, 21 (NET)

[6] Luke 18:2 (NET)

[7] Luke 18:5 (NET)

[9] Exodus 9:25-28 (NET)

[10] Exodus 9:30 (NET)

[12] Exodus 9:34, 35 (NET)

[13] Philippians 2:13 (NET)

[14] Romans 9:16 (NET)

[15] 1 John 2:3-5a (NET)

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the singular πορευομένη here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural πορευομεναι (KJV: walking).

[17] Acts 9:31 (NET) [Table] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the singular ἐπληθύνετο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural επληθυνοντο (KJV: were multiplied).

[18] 2 Corinthians 5:10, 11 (NET)

[19] 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NET)

[20] 2 Corinthians 5:4 (NET)

[21] 2 Corinthians 5:5 (NET)

[22] 2 Corinthians 5:11 (NET)

[23] 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 (NET)

[24] 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NET)

[25] Exodus 10:1, 2 (NET)

[26] Exodus 20:20 (NET)