Exploration, Part 1

Love is punishment. That’s the lesson I learned quite well from my elders. As I grew I began to recognize that they were consoling one another and exhorting one another not to compromise with the world around them, a psychological world that was preaching a different gospel. It’s difficult to believe that I never heard 1 Corinthians 13 as a child, but I don’t recall it. I know Paul’s distinction shocked me as an adult (1 Corinthians 4:21 ESV [Table]).

What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love (ἐν ἀγάπῃ) in a spirit of gentleness?

Though I realized that he probably used the phrase ἐν ράβδῳ, with a rod, hyperbolically for stern or even harsh words, I wouldn’t have distinguished those from love, because love is punishment (though I probably thought that love was a feeling that provoked one to punish the objects of one’s love).

In the introduction to these exploratory essays I simply declared “Don’t compromise with the world” a vague and open-ended application, difficult both to obey or to defend against the virtually unlimited latitude those who police such things could assume. Here, I’ll offer an example:

In my grandmother’s day, no decent Christian woman would wear lipstick. In my mother’s day, young stay-at-home housewives and mothers put on lipstick, sitting in the pew in church. In my day, young stay-at-home housewives and mothers were trained by professional make-up artists at church women’s groups how to apply their “warpaint” more effectively, because they competed deliberately and directly with their husbands’ female coworkers and secretaries.

I have no idea what goes on now. I no longer attend an upwardly mobile middle class American church. And I don’t write this to criticize three generations of women I have loved. All of us need more grace than the faith that God will punish us for our sins eventually, and more timely and pertinent direction than “Don’t compromise with the world.”

Paul wrote, what seems at first blush to be, about circumcision, a very specific compromise with the religious world of old covenant Judaism. I want to begin first with the laws of circumcision to highlight this jarring discontinuity between old and new covenants.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Genesis 17:9-14 (Tanakh)

Genesis 17:9-14 (NET)

Genesis 17:9-14 (NETS)

Genesis 17:9-14 (Elpenor English)

And G-d said unto Abraham: ‘And as for thee, thou shalt keep My covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations.

Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep the covenantal requirement I am imposing on you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

And God said to Abraam, “Now as for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.

And God said to Abraam, Thou also shalt fully keep my covenant, thou and thy seed after thee for their generations.

This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised.

This is my requirement that you and your descendants after you must keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.

And this is the covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and between your offspring after you throughout their generations: Every male of yours shall be circumcised,

And this [is] the covenant which thou shalt fully keep between me and you, and between thy seed after thee for their generations; every male of you shall be circumcised.

And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt Me and you.

You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskins. This will be a reminder of the covenant between me and you.

And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall exist as a covenant sign between me and you.

And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between me and you.

And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner, that is not of thy seed.

Throughout your generations every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not one of your descendants.

And a youngster of eight days shall be circumcised among you—every male—throughout your generations, the homebred of your household and the one bought with money from any son of a foreigner, who is not of your offspring.

And the child of eight days [old] shall be circumcised by you, every male throughout your generations, and [the servant] born in the house and he that is bought with money, of every son of a stranger, who is not of thy seed.

He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised; and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

They must indeed be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money. The sign of my covenant will be visible in your flesh as a permanent reminder.

The homebred of your household and the one bought with money shall be circumcised with circumcision, and my covenant shall be on your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with money shall be surely circumcised, and my covenant shall be on your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.’

Any uncircumcised male who has not been circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin will be cut off from his people—he has failed to carry out my requirement.”

And as for an uncircumcised male who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be destroyed from his kin, for he has scattered my covenant.”

And the uncircumcised male, who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from its family, for he has broken my covenant.

Circumcision was a prerequisite for eating the Passover.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Exodus 12:43-49 (Tanakh)

Exodus 12:43-49 (NET)

Exodus 12:43-49 (NETS)

Exodus 12:43-49 (Elpenor English)

And HaShem said unto Moses and Aaron: ‘This is the ordinance of the passover: there shall no alien eat thereof;

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover. No foreigner may share in eating it.

Then the Lord said to Moyses and Aaron, saying: This is the law of the pascha. No alien shall eat of it.

And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, This is the law of the passover: no stranger shall eat of it.

but every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.

But everyone’s servant who is bought for money, after you have circumcised him, may eat it.

And any domestic of anyone or purchased slave you shall circumcise him, and then he shall eat of it.

And every slave or servant bought with money– him thou shalt circumcise, and then shall he eat of it.

A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat thereof.

A foreigner and a hired worker must not eat it.

A resident alien or hired person shall not eat of it.

A sojourner or hireling shall not eat of it.

In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

It must be eaten in one house; you must not bring any of the meat outside the house, and you must not break a bone of it.

In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not take any meat outside of the house, and you shall not break a bone of it.

In one house shall it be eaten, and ye shall not carry of the flesh out from the house; and a bone of it ye shall not break.

All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.

The whole community of Israel must observe it.

The entire congregation of the sons of Israel shall do this.

All the congregation of the children of Israel shall keep it.

And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to HaShem, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

“When a resident foreigner lives with you and wants to observe the Passover to the Lord, all his males must be circumcised, and then he may approach and observe it, and he will be like one who is born in the land—but no uncircumcised person may eat of it.

But if any guest should draw near to you to keep the pascha to the Lord, you shall circumcise every male of his, and then he shall draw near to keep it, and he shall be like a native of the land. No uncircumcised person shall eat of it.

And if any proselyte shall come to you to keep the passover to the Lord, thou shalt circumcise every male of him, and then shall he approach to sacrifice it, and he shall be even as the original inhabitant of the land; no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.

One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.’

The same law will apply to the person who is native-born and to the resident foreigner who lives among you.”

There shall be one law for the local inhabitant and for the guest among you who has drawn near.

There shall be one law to the native, and to the proselyte coming among you.

Even a woman’s purification ritual after childbirth was synchronized to accommodate her son’s circumcision.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Leviticus 12:1-4 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 12:1-4 (NET)

Leviticus 12:1-4 (NETS)

Leviticus 12:1-4 (Elpenor English)

And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying:

The Lord spoke to Moses:

And the Lord spoke to Moyses, saying:

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: If a woman be delivered, and bear a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean.

“Tell the Israelites, ‘When a woman produces offspring and bears a male child, she will be unclean seven days, as she is unclean during the days of her menstruation.

Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: Any woman, if she is fertilized and bears a male child, shall also be unclean seven days, as at the days of the separation of her period, she shall be unclean.

Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Whatsoever woman shall have conceived and born a male child shall be unclean seven days, she shall be unclean according to the days of separation for her monthly courses.

And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised [Table].

On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised.

And on the eighth day she shall circumcise the flesh of his foreskin [Table].

And on the eighth day she shall circumcise the flesh of his foreskin.

And she shall continue in the blood of purification three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification be fulfilled.

Then she will remain thirty-three days in blood purity. She must not touch anything holy, and she must not enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.

And thirty-three days shall she remain in her unclean blood; she shall not touch anything holy or come into the holy place until the days of her purification are completed.

And for thirty-three days she shall continue in her unclean blood; she shall touch nothing holy, and shall not enter the sanctuary, until the days of her purification be fulfilled.

With that as background, I’ll turn to the new covenant, one of the things our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him1that are hard to understand2 (Galatians 5:1-5 ESV).

For freedom Christ3 has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace [Table]. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

The Greek word translated freedom in the phrase For freedom was ἐλευθερίᾳ, a form of ἐλευθερία in the dative case. A translator’s note (1) in the NET reads:

Translating the dative [Τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ] as “For freedom” shows the purpose for Christ setting us free; however, it is also possible to take the phrase in the sense of means or instrument (“with [or by] freedom”), referring to the freedom mentioned in 4:31 and implied throughout the letter.

So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.4 The slave (παιδίσκης, a form of παιδίσκη) and the free woman (τῆς ἐλευθέρας, a form of ἐλεύθερος) were Hagar and Sarah, understood allegorically as the old covenant and the new respectively (Galatians 4:21-26 ESV).

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children [Table]. But the Jerusalem above is free (ἐλευθέρα, another form of ἐλεύθερος), and she is our5 mother.

Jesus had referred to this same allegory, except that from his lips it sounds less like an allegory and more like the truth; truth which explains why He called Hagar back (Genesis 16) to endure Sarai’s harsh treatment, only to be sent away with her son Ishmael at the appropriate time (Genesis 21), in order that the story Moses recorded in the Torah could be read by Paul in the Spirit, understood allegorically (ἀλληγορούμενα, a participle of ἀλληγορέω) and explained to the Galatians to accomplish the Lord’s intended purpose (John 8:31b-36 ESV):

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” [Table]
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free (ἐλευθερώσῃ, a form of ἐλευθερόω), you will be free (ἐλεύθεροι, another form of ἐλεύθερος) indeed.”

It’s probably a good idea to pause and reflect on what has been gained here regarding the freedom of which Paul wrote: He likened it to being born of a free woman, Sarah rather than Hagar. He interpreted these women allegorically as two covenants. Hagar represented the law, the old covenant and the present Jerusalem, which is in slavery with her children. Sarah represented the Jerusalem above (ἄνω), which is free: What is born of the flesh is flesh, Jesus said to Nicodemus, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above (ἄνωθεν).’6

Jesus offered more detail concerning the slavery of the present Jerusalem and her children: everyone who practices (ποιῶν, a form of ποιέω) sin is a slave to sin. The [free of sin] son remains forever. So if the [free of sin] Son sets you free (ἐλευθερώσῃ, a form of ἐλευθερόω) [of sin], you will be free (ἐλεύθεροι, another form of ἐλεύθερος) [of sin] indeed. And Paul wrote: For freedom Christ has set us free.7

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (ἐλευθερία).8

Christ has set us free, Paul continued in his letter to the Galatians according to the ESV translation. The word order in the critical text (NET parallel Greek and NA28) is: Τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἡμᾶς Χριστὸς ἠλευθέρωσεν; literally, “For freedom us Christ has set free.” The placement of ἡμᾶς adds an emphasis with a flavor nearer to “For our freedom Christ has set free.” But Paul and the Holy Spirit didn’t choose ἡμῶν in the genitive case. It’s not wrong to associate the accusative pronoun ἡμᾶς with the verb ἠλευθέρωσεν, as it is found in the received text (Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text), following χριστος and preceding ἠλευθέρωσεν; literally, “Christ us has set free.” 

The Greek verb translated has setfree was ἠλευθέρωσεν, another form of ἐλευθερόω. Paul described that freedom to which Christ in his Spirit has set us free elsewhere (Romans 8:2 ESV [Table]):

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free (ἠλευθέρωσεν, another form of ἐλευθερόω) in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Paul continued in his letter to the Galatians: stand firm therefore. The ESV translators understood the verb στήκετε as a 2nd person plural imperative form of στήκω. It is a grammatically permissible way to understand στήκετε according to the Koine Greek Lexicon. It even makes some sense, if one assumes that Paul’s purpose was to supply those who were not standing firm with a Scriptural application to obey.

My argument is that Paul’s entire discourse in Galatians 5 calls that very assumption into question. There is another grammatically permissible way to understand στήκετε according to the Koine Greek Lexicon: as a 2nd person plural form of στήκω in the indicative mood. In other words, Paul stated a fact about those whom Christ has set free—“you stand firm”—further illustrating the nature of that freedom of which he wrote.

Paul continued: and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. The Greek verb ἐνέχεσθε is an imperative form of ἐνέχω according to the Koine Greek Lexicon. But the ESV translation dosubmit sounds a bit too much like the active voice. Again, this makes some sense if one assumes that Paul’s purpose was to supply those who were submitting to a yoke of slavery with a Scriptural application to obey: do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. But ἐνέχεσθε is in the middle/passive voice: “subject yourselves to, load yourselves down with, hold yourselves in” or “entangle yourselves” or “involve yourselves in.”

I’ve begun to pay more attention to Greek word order as a way to grasp an author’s tone: καὶ μὴ πάλιν ζυγῷ δουλείας ἐνέχεσθε, “and not (or, cannot) again to a yoke of slavery entangle yourselves.” The phrase καὶ πάλιν means “again and again.” So, if I consider καὶ μὴ πάλιν as the phrase καὶ πάλιν split by the negative particle μὴ, I get, “you cannot again and again to a yoke of slavery entangle yourselves.” Why? Those whom Christ has set free for freedom stand firm and do not obey a yoke of slavery.

Paul chose the Greek word translated slaveryδουλείας, a form of δουλεία—elsewhere (Romans 8:15 ESV):

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery (δουλείας, a form of δουλεία) to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

And (Romans 8:20, 21 ESV):

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope [Table] that the creation itself will be set free (ελευθερωθησεται, another form of ἐλευθερόω) from its bondage (δουλείας, a form of δουλεία) to corruption and obtain the freedom (ἐλευθερίαν, another form of ἐλευθερία) of the glory of the children of God.

Look: I, Paul, say to you, he continued, that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.9 The Greek words translated if you accept circumcision were ἐὰν περιτέμνησθε, a middle/passive form of the verb περιτέμνω. The translation you accept circumcision demonstrates how the ESV translators handled a middle/passive verb without any particular agenda. The Greek word translated advantage was ὠφελήσει, a form of ὠφελέω in the future tense.

Paul used another form of ὠφελέω elsewhere in a similar context (Romans 2:25 ESV).

For circumcision indeed is of value (ὠφελεῖ, another form of ὠφελέω in the present tense) if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

In all my years in locker rooms growing up, I only saw one uncircumcised male. And I didn’t grow up in a Jewish neighborhood. My mother explained that circumcision was performed today for cleanliness. In other words, a young mother can keep her infant son’s penis clean without fondling it overmuch, peeling back his tiny foreskin. My circumcision has become uncircumcision. And I’m glad. It would be terrible if Christ were of no advantage to me forever.

I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision, Paul continued, that he is obligated to keep the whole law.10 Here the Greek word translated who accepts circumcision was περιτεμνομένῳ, a middle/passive participle of the verb περιτέμνω. Paul and the Holy Spirit are giving us a good primer on middle/passive verbs in Koine Greek.

Then Paul’s discourse turned a corner as it were. His main concern was not circumcision as an act in itself. The apostle was actually concerned with the more intimate and pervasive issues of how one believes and how one obeys (Galatians 5:4 ESV [Table]).

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

I shared this essay with a brother who objected to You are severed as a translation of κατηργήθητε, a passive form of καταργέω in the aorist tense. The Koine Greek Lexicon online lists three options for the passive voice: “to be released from, to be severed from, to be removed from.” But since he brought it up, I hear You are severed as present or perfect tense, yet I’m hard-pressed to come up with a better option that would be strictly aorist. And my brother softened some as he saw ἀπὸ (from) explicitly in the text.

We know that our old self was crucified with him, Paul wrote elsewhere, in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing (καταργηθῇ, another passive form of καταργέω, “might be released, might be severed, might be removed”), so that we would no longer be enslaved (δουλεύειν, a form of δουλεύω) to sin.11 Do we then overthrow (καταργοῦμεν, another form of καταργέω in the active voice) the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.12

For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void (κατήργηται, another middle/passive form of καταργέω).13 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released (κατήργηται, another middle/passive form of καταργέω) from the law of marriage.14 But now we are released (κατηργήθημεν, another passive form of καταργέω) from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.15

Who are they who are severed (“released, removed”) from Christ16 and all that union with Christ entails? The circumcised? No, you who would be justified by the law: οἵτινες ἐν νόμῳ δικαιοῦσθε. The phrase would be justified is the ESV translation of δικαιοῦσθε, a middle/passive form of the verb δικαιόω. I’m tempted to strengthen the middle voice and forego the passive voice altogether here because of my own experience: “would justify yourselves.” But I must admit that would be justified is a clever word choice for δικαιοῦσθε, honoring the passive voice even as it highlights the self-righteousness of the action. So, our education in middle/passive verbs continues.

For by works of the law no human being will be justified (δικαιωθήσεται, another passive form of δικαιόω) in his sight, Paul wrote elsewhere, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.17 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified (δικαιοῦται, another middle/passive form of δικαιόω) by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified (δικαιωθῶμεν, another passive form of δικαιόω) by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified (δικαιωθήσεται, another passive form of δικαιόω) [Table].18

In the clause you who would be justified by the law, Paul surely referred to the law delivered by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. But in Greek ἐν νόμῳ, translated by the law in the ESV, points clearly to more than the law. In Paul’s letters ἐν νόμῳ describes an alternative path to ἐν Χριστῷ; ἐν νόμῳ indicates a different way of doing righteousness from the righteousness of God ἐν Χριστῷ, that is, in Christ. [Y]ou have fallen away from grace, he wrote to any who would be justified by the law19 (Galatians 5:5 ESV).

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

The assumption that Paul’s intent was to write Scriptural applications, principles—let’s be clear—rules for obedience like some new covenant Moses, informs not only expository preaching but Bible translation as well.

Galatians 5:1

Old Covenant (ESV)

New Covenant

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For freedom us Christ has set free; you stand firm, therefore you cannot again and again to a yoke of slavery entangle yourselves.

In the first example on the left, there is the grace of God in Jesus Christ—For freedom Christ has set us free—and two rules to obey—stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. In the second example on the right, there is the grace of God in Jesus Christ—“For freedom us Christ has set free”—and two Gospel truths to believe, two better promises—“you stand firm” [e.g., in Christ (ἐν Χριστῷ)], “therefore you cannot again and again to a yoke of slavery entangle yourselves.” The NIV translation sounds closer to this in its translation of ἐνέχεσθε: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.20 The verbatim translation on the right above, recast in better English, might read: “For our freedom Christ has us set free; therefore you stand firm and cannot entangle yourselves in a yoke of slavery again.”

Each of us must choose, I suppose, what translation sounds more like (Galatians 1:1-5 ESV):

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father [Table], to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Here is a question intended to help one choose wisely:

Does my obedience demonstrate my goodness for my glory, or does my obedience demonstrate God’s goodness to me, working in and through me for his glory?

Here are two bonus hints from Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 7:18 ESV; Galatians 2:19-21 NET).

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out [Table].
For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law (διὰ νόμου), then Christ died for nothing!

And finally here is one extra special bonus hint from Jesus the Christ (Mark 10:17, 18 ESV).

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

I’ll pick this up in another essay.

Tables comparing Genesis 17:9; 17:10; 17:11; 17:12; 17:13; 17:14; Exodus 12:43; 12:44; 12:45; 12:46; 12:47; 12:48; 12:49; Leviticus 12:1; 12:2 and 12:4 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Genesis 17:9; 17:10; 17:11; 17:12; 17:13; 17:14; Exodus 12:43; 12:44; 12:45; 12:46; 12:47; 12:48; 12:49; Leviticus 12:1; 12:2 and 12:4 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Galatians 5:1 and 4:26 in the KJV and NET follow.

Genesis 17:9 (Tanakh)

Genesis 17:9 (KJV)

Genesis 17:9 (NET)

And G-d said unto Abraham: ‘And as for thee, thou shalt keep My covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep the covenantal requirement I am imposing on you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

Genesis 17:9 (BLB Septuagint)

Genesis 17:9 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεὸς πρὸς Αβρααμ σὺ δὲ τὴν διαθήκην μου διατηρήσεις σὺ καὶ τὸ σπέρμα σου μετὰ σὲ εἰς τὰς γενεὰς αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς ῾Αβραάμ· σὺ δὲ τὴν διαθήκην μου διατηρήσεις, σὺ καὶ τὸ σπέρμα σου μετὰ σὲ εἰς τὰς γενεὰς αὐτῶν

Genesis 17:9 (NETS)

Genesis 17:9 (Elpenor English)

And God said to Abraam, “Now as for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. And God said to Abraam, Thou also shalt fully keep my covenant, thou and thy seed after thee for their generations.

Genesis 17:10 (Tanakh)

Genesis 17:10 (KJV)

Genesis 17:10 (NET)

This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. This is my requirement that you and your descendants after you must keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.

Genesis 17:10 (BLB Septuagint)

Genesis 17:10 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη ἣν διατηρήσεις ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σπέρματός σου μετὰ σὲ εἰς τὰς γενεὰς αὐτῶν περιτμηθήσεται ὑμῶν πᾶν ἀρσενικόν καὶ αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη, ἣν διατηρήσεις, ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σπέρματός σου μετὰ σὲ εἰς τὰς γενεὰς αὐτῶν· περιτμηθήσεται ὑμῶν πᾶν ἀρσενικόν

Genesis 17:10 (NETS)

Genesis 17:10 (Elpenor English)

And this is the covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and between your offspring after you throughout their generations: Every male of yours shall be circumcised, And this [is] the covenant which thou shalt fully keep between me and you, and between thy seed after thee for their generations; every male of you shall be circumcised.

Genesis 17:11 (Tanakh)

Genesis 17:11 (KJV)

Genesis 17:11 (NET)

And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt Me and you. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskins. This will be a reminder of the covenant between me and you.

Genesis 17:11 (BLB Septuagint)

Genesis 17:11 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ περιτμηθήσεσθε τὴν σάρκα τῆς ἀκροβυστίας ὑμῶν καὶ ἔσται ἐν σημείῳ διαθήκης ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν καὶ περιτμηθήσεσθε τὴν σάρκα τῆς ἀκροβυστίας ὑμῶν, καὶ ἔσται εἰς σημεῖον διαθήκης ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν

Genesis 17:11 (NETS)

Genesis 17:11 (Elpenor English)

And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall exist as a covenant sign between me and you. And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between me and you.

Genesis 17:12 (Tanakh)

Genesis 17:12 (KJV)

Genesis 17:12 (NET)

And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner, that is not of thy seed. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. Throughout your generations every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not one of your descendants.

Genesis 17:12 (BLB Septuagint)

Genesis 17:12 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ παιδίον ὀκτὼ ἡμερῶν περιτμηθήσεται ὑμῖν πᾶν ἀρσενικὸν εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν ὁ οἰκογενὴς τῆς οἰκίας σου καὶ ὁ ἀργυρώνητος ἀπὸ παντὸς υἱοῦ ἀλλοτρίου ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματός σου καὶ παιδίον ὀκτὼ ἡμερῶν περιτμηθήσεται ὑμῖν, πᾶν ἀρσενικὸν εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν, ὁ οἰκογενὴς καὶ ὁ ἀργυρώνητος, ἀπὸ παντὸς υἱοῦ ἀλλοτρίου, ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματός σου

Genesis 17:12 (NETS)

Genesis 17:12 (Elpenor English)

And a youngster of eight days shall be circumcised among you—every male—throughout your generations, the homebred of your household and the one bought with money from any son of a foreigner, who is not of your offspring. And the child of eight days [old] shall be circumcised by you, every male throughout your generations, and [the servant] born in the house and he that is bought with money, of every son of a stranger, who is not of thy seed.

Genesis 17:13 (Tanakh)

Genesis 17:13 (KJV)

Genesis 17:13 (NET)

He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised; and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. They must indeed be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money. The sign of my covenant will be visible in your flesh as a permanent reminder.

Genesis 17:13 (BLB Septuagint)

Genesis 17:13 (Elpenor Septuagint)

περιτομῇ περιτμηθήσεται ὁ οἰκογενὴς τῆς οἰκίας σου καὶ ὁ ἀργυρώνητος καὶ ἔσται ἡ διαθήκη μου ἐπὶ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν εἰς διαθήκην αἰώνιον περιτομῇ περιτμηθήσεται ὁ οἰκογενὴς τῆς οἰκίας σου καὶ ὁ ἀργυρώνητος, καὶ ἔσται ἡ διαθήκη μου ἐπὶ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν εἰς διαθήκην αἰώνιον

Genesis 17:13 (NETS)

Genesis 17:13 (Elpenor English)

The homebred of your household and the one bought with money shall be circumcised with circumcision, and my covenant shall be on your flesh for an everlasting covenant. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with money shall be surely circumcised, and my covenant shall be on your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

Genesis 17:14 (Tanakh)

Genesis 17:14 (KJV)

Genesis 17:14 (NET)

And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.’ And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. Any uncircumcised male who has not been circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin will be cut off from his people—he has failed to carry out my requirement.”

Genesis 17:14 (BLB Septuagint)

Genesis 17:14 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ ἀπερίτμητος ἄρσην ὃς οὐ περιτμηθήσεται τὴν σάρκα τῆς ἀκροβυστίας αὐτοῦ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ τοῦ γένους αὐτῆς ὅτι τὴν διαθήκην μου διεσκέδασεν καὶ ἀπερίτμητος ἄρσην, ὃς οὐ περιτμηθήσεται τὴν σάρκα τῆς ἀκροβυστίας αὐτοῦ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ, ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ τοῦ γένους αὐτῆς, ὅτι τὴν διαθήκην μου διεσκέδασε

Genesis 17:14 (NETS)

Genesis 17:14 (Elpenor English)

And as for an uncircumcised male who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be destroyed from his kin, for he has scattered my covenant.” And the uncircumcised male, who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from its family, for he has broken my covenant.

Exodus 12:43 (Tanakh)

Exodus 12:43 (KJV)

Exodus 12:43 (NET)

And HaShem said unto Moses and Aaron: ‘This is the ordinance of the passover: there shall no alien eat thereof; And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover. No foreigner may share in eating it.

Exodus 12:43 (BLB Septuagint)

Exodus 12:43 (Elpenor Septuagint)

εἶπεν δὲ κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν καὶ Ααρων λέγων οὗτος ὁ νόμος τοῦ πασχα πᾶς ἀλλογενὴς οὐκ ἔδεται ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ Εἶπε δὲ Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν καὶ ᾿Ααρών· οὗτος ὁ νόμος τοῦ πάσχα· πᾶς ἀλλογενὴς οὐκ ἔδεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ

Exodus 12:43 (NETS)

Exodus 12:43 (Elpenor English)

Then the Lord said to Moyses and Aaron, saying: This is the law of the pascha. No alien shall eat of it. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, This is the law of the passover: no stranger shall eat of it.

Exodus 12:44 (Tanakh)

Exodus 12:44 (KJV)

Exodus 12:44 (NET)

but every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. But everyone’s servant who is bought for money, after you have circumcised him, may eat it.

Exodus 12:44 (BLB Septuagint)

Exodus 12:44 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ πᾶν οἰκέτην τινὸς ἢ ἀργυρώνητον περιτεμεῖς αὐτόν καὶ τότε φάγεται ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα οἰκέτην ἢ ἀργυρώνητον περιτεμεῖς αὐτόν, καὶ τότε φάγεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ

Exodus 12:44 (NETS)

Exodus 12:44 (Elpenor English)

And any domestic of anyone or purchased slave you shall circumcise him, and then he shall eat of it. And every slave or servant bought with money– him thou shalt circumcise, and then shall he eat of it.

Exodus 12:45 (Tanakh)

Exodus 12:45 (KJV)

Exodus 12:45 (NET)

A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat thereof. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. A foreigner and a hired worker must not eat it.

Exodus 12:45 (BLB Septuagint)

Exodus 12:45 (Elpenor Septuagint)

πάροικος ἢ μισθωτὸς οὐκ ἔδεται ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ πάροικος ἢ μισθωτὸς οὐκ ἔδεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ

Exodus 12:45 (NETS)

Exodus 12:45 (Elpenor English)

A resident alien or hired person shall not eat of it. A sojourner or hireling shall not eat of it.

Exodus 12:46 (Tanakh)

Exodus 12:46 (KJV)

Exodus 12:46 (NET)

In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. It must be eaten in one house; you must not bring any of the meat outside the house, and you must not break a bone of it.

Exodus 12:46 (BLB Septuagint)

Exodus 12:46 (Elpenor Septuagint)

ἐν οἰκίᾳ μιᾷ βρωθήσεται καὶ οὐκ ἐξοίσετε ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας τῶν κρεῶν ἔξω καὶ ὀστοῦν οὐ συντρίψετε ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐν οἰκίᾳ μιᾷ βρωθήσεται, καὶ οὐκ ἐξοίσετε ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας τῶν κρεῶν ἔξω· καὶ ὀστοῦν οὐ συντρίψετε ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ

Exodus 12:46 (NETS)

Exodus 12:46 (Elpenor English)

In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not take any meat outside of the house, and you shall not break a bone of it. In one house shall it be eaten, and ye shall not carry of the flesh out from the house; and a bone of it ye shall not break.

Exodus 12:47 (Tanakh)

Exodus 12:47 (KJV)

Exodus 12:47 (NET)

All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. The whole community of Israel must observe it.

Exodus 12:47 (BLB Septuagint)

Exodus 12:47 (Elpenor Septuagint)

πᾶσα συναγωγὴ υἱῶν Ισραηλ ποιήσει αὐτό πᾶσα συναγωγὴ υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ ποιήσει αὐτό

Exodus 12:47 (NETS)

Exodus 12:47 (Elpenor English)

The entire congregation of the sons of Israel shall do this. All the congregation of the children of Israel shall keep it.

Exodus 12:48 (Tanakh)

Exodus 12:48 (KJV)

Exodus 12:48 (NET)

And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to HaShem, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. “When a resident foreigner lives with you and wants to observe the Passover to the Lord, all his males must be circumcised, and then he may approach and observe it, and he will be like one who is born in the land—but no uncircumcised person may eat of it.

Exodus 12:48 (BLB Septuagint)

Exodus 12:48 (Elpenor Septuagint)

ἐὰν δέ τις προσέλθῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς προσήλυτος ποιῆσαι τὸ πασχα κυρίῳ περιτεμεῖς αὐτοῦ πᾶν ἀρσενικόν καὶ τότε προσελεύσεται ποιῆσαι αὐτὸ καὶ ἔσται ὥσπερ καὶ ὁ αὐτόχθων τῆς γῆς πᾶς ἀπερίτμητος οὐκ ἔδεται ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐὰν δέ τις προσέλθῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς προσήλυτος ποιῆσαι τὸ πάσχα Κυρίῳ, περιτεμεῖς αὐτοῦ πᾶν ἀρσενικόν, καὶ τότε προσελεύσεται ποιῆσαι αὐτὸ καὶ ἔσται ὥσπερ καὶ ὁ αὐτόχθων τῆς γῆς· πᾶς ἀπερίτμητος οὐκ ἔδεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ

Exodus 12:48 (NETS)

Exodus 12:48 (Elpenor English)

But if any guest should draw near to you to keep the pascha to the Lord, you shall circumcise every male of his, and then he shall draw near to keep it, and he shall be like a native of the land. No uncircumcised person shall eat of it. And if any proselyte shall come to you to keep the passover to the Lord, thou shalt circumcise every male of him, and then shall he approach to sacrifice it, and he shall be even as the original inhabitant of the land; no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.

Exodus 12:49 (Tanakh)

Exodus 12:49 (KJV)

Exodus 12:49 (NET)

One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.’ One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. The same law will apply to the person who is native-born and to the resident foreigner who lives among you.”

Exodus 12:49 (BLB Septuagint)

Exodus 12:49 (Elpenor Septuagint)

νόμος εἷς ἔσται τῷ ἐγχωρίῳ καὶ τῷ προσελθόντι προσηλύτῳ ἐν ὑμῖν νόμος εἷς ἔσται τῷ ἐγχωρίῳ καὶ τῷ προσελθόντι προσηλύτῳ ἐν ὑμῖν

Exodus 12:49 (NETS)

Exodus 12:49 (Elpenor English)

There shall be one law for the local inhabitant and for the guest among you who has drawn near. There shall be one law to the native, and to the proselyte coming among you.

Leviticus 12:1 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 12:1 (KJV)

Leviticus 12:1 (NET)

And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, The Lord spoke to Moses:

Leviticus 12:1 (BLB Septuagint)

Leviticus 12:1 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων ΚΑΙ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων

Leviticus 12:1 (NETS)

Leviticus 12:1 (Elpenor Engish)

And the Lord spoke to Moyses, saying: And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Leviticus 12:2 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 12:2 (KJV)

Leviticus 12:2 (NET)

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: If a woman be delivered, and bear a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. “Tell the Israelites, ‘When a woman produces offspring and bears a male child, she will be unclean seven days, as she is unclean during the days of her menstruation.

Leviticus 12:2 (BLB Septuagint)

Leviticus 12:2 (Elpenor Septuagint)

λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς γυνή ἥτις ἐὰν σπερματισθῇ καὶ τέκῃ ἄρσεν καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ χωρισμοῦ τῆς ἀφέδρου αὐτῆς ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς· γυνή, ἥτις ἐὰν σπερματισθῇ καὶ τέκῃ ἄρσεν, καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας, κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ χωρισμοῦ τῆς ἀφέδρου αὐτῆς, ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται

Leviticus 12:2 (NETS)

Leviticus 12:2 (Elpenor Engish)

Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: Any woman, if she is fertilized and bears a male child, shall also be unclean seven days, as at the days of the separation of her period, she shall be unclean. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Whatsoever woman shall have conceived and born a male child shall be unclean seven days, she shall be unclean according to the days of separation for her monthly courses.

Leviticus 12:4 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 12:4 (KJV)

Leviticus 12:4 (NET)

And she shall continue in the blood of purification three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification be fulfilled. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. Then she will remain thirty-three days in blood purity. She must not touch anything holy, and she must not enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.

Leviticus 12:4 (BLB Septuagint)

Leviticus 12:4 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ τριάκοντα ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς καθήσεται ἐν αἵματι ἀκαθάρτῳ αὐτῆς παντὸς ἁγίου οὐχ ἅψεται καὶ εἰς τὸ ἁγιαστήριον οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται ἕως ἂν πληρωθῶσιν αἱ ἡμέραι καθάρσεως αὐτῆς καὶ τριάκοντα καὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας καθήσεται ἐν αἵματι ἀκαθάρτῳ αὐτῆς, παντὸς ἁγίου οὐχ ἅψεται καὶ εἰς τὸ ἁγιαστήριον οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται, ἕως ἂν πληρωθῶσιν αἱ ἡμέραι καθάρσεως αὐτῆς

Leviticus 12:4 (NETS)

Leviticus 12:4 (Elpenor Engish)

And thirty-three days shall she remain in her unclean blood; she shall not touch anything holy or come into the holy place until the days of her purification are completed. And for thirty-three days she shall continue in her unclean blood; she shall touch nothing holy, and shall not enter the sanctuary, until the days of her purification be fulfilled.

Galatians 5:1 (NET)

Galatians 5:1 (KJV)

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1 (NET Parallel Greek)

Galatians 5:1 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Galatians 5:1 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἡμᾶς Χριστὸς ἠλευθέρωσεν· στήκετε οὖν καὶ μὴ πάλιν ζυγῷ δουλείας ἐνέχεσθε τη ελευθερια ουν η χριστος ημας ηλευθερωσεν στηκετε και μη παλιν ζυγω δουλειας ενεχεσθε τη ελευθερια ουν η χριστος ημας ηλευθερωσεν στηκετε και μη παλιν ζυγω δουλειας ενεχεσθε

Galatians 4:26 (NET)

Galatians 4:26 (KJV)

But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Galatians 4:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Galatians 4:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Galatians 4:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἡ δὲ ἄνω Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἐλευθέρα ἐστίν, ἥτις ἐστὶν μήτηρ ἡμῶν η δε ανω ιερουσαλημ ελευθερα εστιν ητις εστιν μητηρ παντων ημων η δε ανω ιερουσαλημ ελευθερα εστιν ητις εστιν μητηρ παντων ημων

1 2 Peter 3:15b (ESV)

2 2 Peter 3:16b (ESV) Table

3 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the relative pronoun η (KJV: wherewith) preceding Christ. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

4 Galatians 4:31 (ESV)

6 John 3:6, 7 (NET)

7 Galatians 5:1 (ESV)

8 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV) Table

9 Galatians 5:2 (ESV)

10 Galatians 5:3 (ESV)

11 Romans 6:6 (ESV)

12 Romans 3:31 (ESV) Table

13 Romans 4:14 (ESV)

14 Romans 7:2 (ESV)

15 Romans 7:6 (ESV)

16 I’m thinking that You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law (Galatians 5:4a ESV) is a fairly self-conscious bookend to And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people (Genesis 17:14a Tanakh).

17 Romans 3:20 (ESV)

18 Galatians 2:15, 16 (ESV)

19 Galatians 5:4b (ESV) Table

20 Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

Language

I visit my mother in hospice every morning.  When she still spoke to me she asked me to pray that she could “get out of here.”  I told her I didn’t think that I could care for her at her home.  She said that wasn’t what she meant.  I didn’t answer her.  Later that same visit she sang:

I am the resurrection and the life,

He that believeth in me tho’ He were deade,

Yet shall He live,

Yet shall he live,

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me

shall never, never die.[1]

I recalled the context of these words: Lazarus, Martha’s brother, had died (John 11:21-27 NET):

Martha[2] said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.[3]  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will grant you.”

Jesus replied, “Your brother will come back to life again.”

Martha[4] said, “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”

She replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world.”

I’ve understood Martha’s answer to Jesus’ question as a very diplomatic and reverent, “No.”  Granted, Jesus had used the subjunctive of emphatic negation οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ, will never die (NET), shall never die (KJV).  She had most likely washed and prepared Lazarus’ body.  She probably supervised his burial four days earlier.  Jesus was talking crazy talk.  It had its impact on me.

From then on I have believed everyday that she who lives and believes in Jesus will never die.  And everyday I pray that my mother can be absent from the body, andpresent with the Lord.[5]  Almost everyday since, she has been quietly absent from her body and, I trust, present with the Lord.  She sings hymns and choruses aloud from time to time.

Once she woke and wanted to sit up to sketch.  She used to sketch all of the time, any time she sat down.  But she drifted off again before I could find a pencil or paper.  Another time I asked her if she really wanted to sketch.  She told me where her sketch pad and pencils were at home.  She has them now.

Mostly, I read while I sit with her.  A friend asked me to read “From Dawn to Decadence: 1500 to the Present, 500 Years of Western Cultural Life” by Jacques Barzun.  My friend lent me his own copy to seal the deal.  It’s 800 pages but I’m working my way through it slowly.

Considering the development of prose Mr. Barzun wrote:[6]

One 17C[entury] creation that was neither Baroque nor a pretended imitation of the ancients was its prose….

The modern languages took a much longer time to develop a prose worthy of the name than to find poetic meters that suited their idiom….In early modern times [writers] were hampered by their virtually native mastery of Latin: it spoiled the vernacular syntax. Thanks to its case endings, Latin leaves the writer free to throw the makings of his sentence into one spot or another without changing the sense. That cannot be done when meaning depends on the right sequence and right linking of words.

I’ve heard, and seen to a certain extent, a similar assessment of Greek.  But I find it difficult to believe.   Todd Engstrom‘s article on Academia.edu—“A Prepositional Phrase’s Contribution to the πίστις Χριστοῦ Debate in Romans 3:28”—caught my ear.

We will focus on the placement of the prepositional phrase χωρὶς ἔργων νόμου (“apart from works of law”) in Romans 3:28.  How does it contribute to the πίστις Χριστοῦ (“faith of Christ”) debate?  By having the prepositional phrase χωρὶς ἔργων νόμου (“apart from works of law”) modify the noun ἄνθρωπος (“man”), it bolsters the subjective genitive interpretation of πίστις Χριστοῦ (“faithfulness of Christ”).[7]

Generally, I avoid academic arguments these days.  As Jesus’ understanding of eternal life (John 17:3) has taken root and grown in me the desire to judge others’ “eternal destination” by their verbiage has weakened. But a paper about Greek word placement contributing to the meaning of the text was irresistible. Mr. Engstrom continued:

When we place the prepositional phrase χωρὶς ἔργων νόμου (“apart from works of law”) to modify the noun ἄνθρωπος (“man”), we get ἄνθρωπος χωρὶς ἔργων νόμου (“a man apart from works of law”).  Since “works of law” refers to the works required by the Law, we can interpret this as “a man apart from the deeds required by the Law.”[8]

So Mr. Engstrom’s English translation of Romans 3:28 became, “For we consider a man apart from works required by the law to be declared righteous by faithfulness [Table].”[9]  All in all I have no problem with this translation.  The word faithfulness would have bothered me in the past.

When I thought faithfulness was my efforts to obey my parents, the rules of my religion, the teaching of Jesus, the laws of my city, county, state or nation, the law of God and, finally, Paul’s definition of love recast as rules for me to obey, it would have bothered me a lot.  Mr. Engstrom was very careful, however, to stress that this is Christ’s faithfulness.  And now I know that faithfulness (πίστις) is one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit.

Mr. Engstrom, however, didn’t mean exactly what his English translation said:

Who is this man apart from the deeds required by the Law?  He is a Gentile.[10]

I’ll translate that back into Greek: λογιζόμεθα γὰρ δικαιοῦσθαι πίστει ἔθνος (“For we consider a Gentile to be declared righteous by faithfulness”).  It’s true enough.  But would it have gnawed at me as χωρὶς ἔργων νόμου (apart from the works of the law) had done?  Or would I have remained more content with my act?  If χωρὶς ἔργων νόμου is removed from Romans 3:28, my go to verse would become Galatians 2:16.

Mr. Engstrom had reworked that one, too, in a different paper.

With the adjectival use of ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, Paul’s thesis actually reads:

15 We are Jews by nature and not Gentile sinners; 16 knowing that a man from works of law is not declared righteous, except through the faith of Jesus Christ, and we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be declared righteous from the faith of Christ and not from works of the law, because out of the works of the law every flesh will not be declared righteous.[11]

Here even I could see that he had done a pretty good job of unraveling ἐὰν μὴ (except; literally: “if not”).  The translators of both the NET and KJV [Table] have rendered ἐὰν μὴ but.  I thought my knowledge of Greek was insufficient to understand it, which it was: I thought that linking a prepositional phrase to the word it followed was verboten in Greek, at least unnecessary.

This time, however, I didn’t want to translate ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου (“a man from works of law”) a Jew.  Perhaps the categories Jew and Gentile were fixed and more watertight in the first century than they are today, perhaps not.  But I am a Gentile who grew up in a Christian home and a Christian church and became “a man from works of law.”  God’s law was about the last law I came to, but Paul’s insistence that God’s law could not make me righteous eventually made me suspicious of all the other laws and rules I lived by.  It prompted me to seek out the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe [Table].[12]

So how’s that going?  Better.  Of course, if I measured my performance against some absolute standard—all Jesus, all of the time; I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me[13]—I’d probably conclude that I suck at this.  But as I wrote that, it occurred to me that I may have objective and subjective reversed.

I first wrote “objective standard”; “absolute standard” was an edit.  What I was thinking of originally as objective was my impression of the time spent alone with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  One guess who is the weak link in that chain.  I’ve tried to talk about this with someone who knows me.  I rejected her response out of hand and haven’t spoken of it since, because she began to tell me how wonderful I am.

I took that as a psychological attempt to make me feel better about myself.  I don’t want to feel better about myself.  I want to become the righteousness of God.[14]  Of course, if I actually perceived that I had become the righteousness of God I would feel much better about myself, and that, knowing me, would become the biggest stumbling block of all.  The Greek reads: γενώμεθα δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ (“become the righteousness of God in Him”).

If I take my friend’s assessment as more objective than mine, however, I must confess that outwardly at least more of Christ shows through me than all the sin I see in me alone with God, subjectivelyFor God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh.  By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled (πληρωθῇ, a form of πληρόω) in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.[15]

But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.[16]  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law [Table].[17]  Love does no wrong to a neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment (πλήρωμα) of the law.[18]

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.  I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill (πληρῶσαι, another form of πληρόω) them.[19]

Tables comparing John 11:21 and 11:24 in the NET and KJV follow.

John 11:21 (NET)

John 11:21 (KJV)

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

εἶπεν οὖν Μάρθα πρὸς |τὸν| Ἰησοῦν· κύριε, εἰ ἦς ὧδε οὐκ ἂν ἀπέθανεν ὁ ἀδελφός μου ειπεν ουν η μαρθα προς τον ιησουν κυριε ει ης ωδε ο αδελφος μου ουκ αν ετεθνηκει ειπεν ουν μαρθα προς τον ιησουν κυριε ει ης ωδε ο αδελφος μου ουκ αν ετεθνηκει

John 11:24 (NET)

John 11:24 (KJV)

Martha said, “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day.” Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

λέγει αὐτῷ Μάρθα· οἶδα ὅτι ἀναστήσεται ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει ἐν τῇ ἐσχάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ λεγει αυτω μαρθα οιδα οτι αναστησεται εν τη αναστασει εν τη εσχατη ημερα λεγει αυτω μαρθα οιδα οτι αναστησεται εν τη αναστασει εν τη εσχατη ημερα

[1]I am the resurrection

[2] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article preceding Martha.  The Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀπέθανεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ετεθνηκει (KJV: haddied)

[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article preceding Martha.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[5] 2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV)

[6] Jacques Barzun, From Dawn to Decadence: 1500 to the Present, 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, p. 363

[7] Todd Engstrom, “A Prepositional Phrase’s Contribution to the πίστις Χριστοῦ Debate in Romans 3:28,” pp. 6, 7

[8] Ibid., pp. 75, 76

[9] Ibid., p. 78

[10] Ibid., p. 76

[11] Todd A. Engstrom, “Is the prepositional phrase έξ έργων νόμου used adverbially or adjectivally in Galatians 2:16?,” p. 33

[12] Romans 3:22a (NET)

[13] Galatians 2:20a (NET)

[14] 2 Corinthians 5:21b (NET)

[15] Romans 8:3, 4 (NET)

[16] Galatians 5:16 (NET)  The Greek is καὶ ἐπιθυμίαν σαρκὸς οὐ μὴ τελέσητε (“and the desires of the flesh you never complete”).

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

[18] Romans 13:10 (NET)

[19] Matthew 5:17 (NET)

Is Sin Less Than Sin? Part 1

Whether sin (παραπτώματι, a form of παράπτωμα)1 is less than sin (ἁμαρτιῶν, a form of ἁμαρτία),2 was something I had to consider before concluding that 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 and Galatians 6:1-5 were covering the same subject matter.  I may not have ever connected the two in the King James translation of the Bible.  Galatians 6:1 was about restoring a person overtaken in a fault (παραπτώματι, a form of παράπτωμα) in a spirit of meekness.  A fault might be a crooked tie, or forgetting to take my hat off in the house.  1 Corinthians 5:1 was about such fornication (πορνεία) as is not so much as named (ονομαζεται, a form of ὀνομάζω) among the Gentiles.  The Greek word ονομαζεται (translated is named in Ephesians 3:15 NET) is not included in the text of 1 Corinthians 5:1 from which the NET was translated.

The difference between not permitted (NET) and not so much as named (KJV) is fairly significant.  Teenagers in my State are not permitted to drink alcohol.  Teenagers doing chores without being asked, is not so much as named.  And if it is named the name is probably derogatory.  The event is so rare that parents are suspicious what will come next (probably a request to do or have something that has already been forbidden).  I’m not sure what Paul and the Holy Spirit had in mind here.  Was the πορνεία of 1 Corinthians 5:1 unlawful among Gentiles, as it was among Jews, because it was committed frequently?  Or was it so rare that little or no language existed to discuss it?  I’ll proceed as if either is true.

A quick survey of Galatians is probably in order.  The letter begins (Galatians 1:1-7 NET):

From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead) and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia.  Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for3 our sins (ἁμαρτιῶν, a form of ἁμαρτία) to rescue us from this present evil age4 according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever!  Amen.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting (μετατίθεσθε, a form of μετατίθημι) the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel – not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ.

I am making the inference that circumcision was the form this desertion took (Galatians 2:3-5 NET):

Yet not even Titus, who was with me [in Jerusalem], was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek (Ἕλλην).  Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves.5  But we did not surrender to them even for a moment, in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

I am also inferring that (whether rightly or wrongly) the Galatians perceived that 1) Peter and James were behind this push to get Gentiles circumcised, or 2) at least were lending support or approval to such a movement (Galatians 2:11-14 NET).

But when Cephas6 came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he had clearly done wrong.  Until certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles.  But when they arrived, he stopped doing this and separated himself because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision.  And the rest of the Jews also joined with him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray with them by their hypocrisy (ὑποκρίσει, a form of ὑπόκρισις).7  But when I saw that they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas8 in front of them all, “If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not9 like a Jew, how10 can you try to force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Then Paul essentially paraphrased Peter’s address during the Jerusalem Council that had dealt with this issue (Galatians 2:15, 16 NET Table).

We are Jews by birth and not Gentile (ἐθνῶν, a form of ἔθνος) sinners (ἁμαρτωλοί, a form of ἁμαρτωλός), yet11 we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.  And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Here is a table with Paul’s statement from Galatians and Peter’s and James’ addresses from the Jerusalem Council.

Paul

Peter

James

We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.    And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law…

Galatians 2:15, 16 (NET)

Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose12 me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe.  And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them13 the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith.  So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?  On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the14 Lord Jesus,15 in the same way as they are.

Acts 15:7b-11 (NET)

Brothers, listen to me.  Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for16 his name.  The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written, “After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David;17 I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own” says the Lord, who makes these things18 known from long ago.19 Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God…

Acts 15:13b-19 (NET)

…because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Galatians 2:16 (NET)

… but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from20 things defiled by idols and   from sexual immorality (πορνεία) and from what has been strangled and from blood.  For Moses21 has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.

Acts 15:20, 21 (NET)

Comparing these side by side it is not too difficult to see that Peter might feel himself caught between a rock and a hard place with Paul and James.  Also it is not hard to imagine that James would have been slow to warm to Paul’s contention—so infuriating to religious minds—because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

 

 

Addendum: March 21, 2019
According to a note (54) in the NET, Acts 15:16, 17 was a quotation from Amos 9:11, 12 (Table1 below).  The note continued:

James demonstrated a high degree of cultural sensitivity when he cited a version of the text (the Septuagint [Table2 and Table3 below], the Greek translation of the Old Testament) that Gentiles would use.

Consider however the differences between the Septuagint and James’ quotation in Acts.

Amos 9:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Acts 15:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἀναστήσω τὴν σκηνὴν Δαυιδ τὴν πεπτωκυῗαν καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω τὰ πεπτωκότα αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ κατεσκαμμένα αὐτῆς ἀναστήσω καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω αὐτὴν καθὼς αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ αἰῶνος μετὰ ταῦτα ἀναστρέψω καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω τὴν σκηνὴν Δαυὶδ τὴν πεπτωκυῖαν καὶ τὰ |κατεσκαμμένα| αὐτῆς ἀνοικοδομήσω καὶ ἀνορθώσω αὐτήν

Amos 9:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Acts 15:17 (NET Parallel Greek)

ὅπως ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐφ᾽ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν ταῦτα ὅπως ἂν ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὸν κύριον καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐφ᾿ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομα μου ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς, λέγει κύριος ποιῶν ταῦτα

I’m willing to argue that these represent two independent translations of the Hebrew, and that the cultural insensitivity of the Masoretic text was not original.  Given that the extant manuscripts of the New Testament and the Septuagint are far older than those of the Masoretic text, the onus falls on those who favor the Masoretic text to demonstrate that James’ quotation recorded in Acts, and the Septuagint, are not original, and that the cultural insensitivity of the Masoretic text was the Holy Spirit’s original intent.

Another note (56) in the NET claimed that the latter part of James’ quotation was an allusion to Isaiah 45:21 (Table4 and Table5 below).  I’ve compared the Septuagint to James’ words in Acts to highlight their many differences.

Isaiah 45:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Acts 15:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

εἰ ἀναγγελοῦσιν ἐγγισάτωσαν ἵνα γνῶσιν ἅμα τίς ἀκουστὰ ἐποίησεν ταῦτα ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς τότε ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῗν ἐγὼ ὁ θεός καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλος πλὴν ἐμοῦ δίκαιος καὶ σωτὴρ οὐκ ἔστιν πάρεξ ἐμοῦ γνωστα απ αιωνος εστιν τω θεω παντα τα εργα αυτου

Tables comparing Amos 9:11, 12; and Isaiah 45:21 in the Tanakh and NET, and the tables comparing Amos 9:11; 9:12 and Isaiah 45:21 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  Following those are tables comparing Galatians 1:4; 2:4; 2:11; 2:14; Acts 15:7, 8; 15:11; 15:14; 15:16-18 and 15:20, 21 in the NET and KJV.

Amos 9:11, 12 (Tanakh)

Amos 9:11, 12 (NET)

In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: “In that day I will rebuild the collapsing hut of David.  I will seal its gaps, repair its ruins, and restore it to what it was like in days gone by.
That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. As a result they will conquer those left in Edom and all the nations subject to my rule.”  The Lord, who is about to do this, is speaking!

Amos 9:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Amos 9:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἀναστήσω τὴν σκηνὴν Δαυιδ τὴν πεπτωκυῗαν καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω τὰ πεπτωκότα αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ κατεσκαμμένα αὐτῆς ἀναστήσω καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω αὐτὴν καθὼς αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ αἰῶνος ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἀναστήσω τὴν σκηνὴν Δαυὶδ τὴν πεπτωκυῖαν καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω τὰ πεπτωκότα αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ κατεσκαμμένα αὐτῆς ἀναστήσω καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω αὐτὴν καθὼς αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ αἰῶνος,

Amos 9:11 (NETS)

Amos 9:11 (English Elpenor)

On that day I will raise up the tent of Dauid that is fallen and rebuild its ruins and raise up its destruction, and rebuild it as the days of old In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and will rebuild the ruins of it, and will set up the parts thereof that have been broken down, and will build it up as in the ancient days:

Amos 9:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Amos 9:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅπως ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐφ᾽ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν ταῦτα ὅπως ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, ἐφ᾿ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς, λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν πάντα ταῦτα.

Amos 9:12 (NETS)

Amos 9:12 (English Elpenor)

in order that those remaining of humans and all the nations upon whom my name has been called might seek out me, says the Lord who does these things. that the remnant of men, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, may earnestly seek [me], saith the Lord who does all these things.

Isaiah 45:21 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 45:21 (NET)

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Tell me!  Present the evidence!  Let them consult with one another!  Who predicted this in the past?  Who announced it beforehand?  Was it not I, the Lord?  I have no peer, there is no God but me, a God who vindicates and delivers; there is none but me.

Isaiah 45:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 45:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἰ ἀναγγελοῦσιν ἐγγισάτωσαν ἵνα γνῶσιν ἅμα τίς ἀκουστὰ ἐποίησεν ταῦτα ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς τότε ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῗν ἐγὼ ὁ θεός καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλος πλὴν ἐμοῦ δίκαιος καὶ σωτὴρ οὐκ ἔστιν πάρεξ ἐμοῦ εἰ ἀναγγελοῦσιν, ἐγγισάτωσαν, ἵνα γνῶσιν ἅμα τίς ἀκουστὰ ἐποίησε ταῦτα ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς· τότε ἀνηγγέλη ὑμῖν· ἐγὼ ὁ Θεός, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλος πλὴν ἐμοῦ· δίκαιος καὶ σωτὴρ οὐκ ἔστιν πάρεξ ἐμοῦ.

Isaiah 45:21 (NETS)

Isaiah 45:21 (English Elpenor)

If they will declare it, let them draw near so that they may know together who made from the beginning these things that are to be heard.  Then it was declared to you, I am God, and there is no other besides me; there is no righteous one or savior except me. If they will declare, let them draw nigh, that they may know together, who has caused these things to be heard from the beginning: then was it told you.  I am God, and there is not another beside me; a just [God] and a Saviour; there is none but me.

Galatians 1:4 (NET)

Galatians 1:4 (KJV)

who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

τοῦ δόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν, ὅπως ἐξέληται ἡμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος τοῦ ἐνεστῶτος πονηροῦ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πατρὸς ἡμῶν του δοντος εαυτον υπερ των αμαρτιων ημων οπως εξεληται ημας εκ του ενεστωτος αιωνος πονηρου κατα το θελημα του θεου και πατρος ημων του δοντος εαυτον περι των αμαρτιων ημων οπως εξεληται ημας εκ του ενεστωτος αιωνος πονηρου κατα το θελημα του θεου και πατρος ημων

Galatians 2:4 (NET)

Galatians 2:4 (KJV)

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

διὰ δὲ τοὺς παρεισάκτους ψευδαδέλφους, οἵτινες παρεισῆλθον κατασκοπῆσαι τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἡμῶν ἣν ἔχομεν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ἵνα ἡμᾶς καταδουλώσουσιν δια δε τους παρεισακτους ψευδαδελφους οιτινες παρεισηλθον κατασκοπησαι την ελευθεριαν ημων ην εχομεν εν χριστω ιησου ινα ημας καταδουλωσωνται δια δε τους παρεισακτους ψευδαδελφους οιτινες παρεισηλθον κατασκοπησαι την ελευθεριαν ημων ην εχομεν εν χριστω ιησου ινα ημας καταδουλωσωνται

Galatians 2:11 (NET)

Galatians 2:11 (KJV)

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he had clearly done wrong. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν Κηφᾶς εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν, κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῷ ἀντέστην, ὅτι κατεγνωσμένος ἦν οτε δε ηλθεν πετρος εις αντιοχειαν κατα προσωπον αυτω αντεστην οτι κατεγνωσμενος ην οτε δε ηλθεν πετρος εις αντιοχειαν κατα προσωπον αυτω αντεστην οτι κατεγνωσμενος ην

Galatians 2:14 (NET)

Galatians 2:14 (KJV)

But when I saw that they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἀλλ᾿ ὅτε εἶδον ὅτι οὐκ ὀρθοποδοῦσιν πρὸς τὴν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, εἶπον τῷ Κηφᾷ ἔμπροσθεν πάντων· εἰ σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ὑπάρχων ἐθνικῶς καὶ |οὐχὶ| Ἰουδαϊκῶς ζῇς, πῶς τὰ ἔθνη ἀναγκάζεις ἰουδαΐζειν αλλ οτε ειδον οτι ουκ ορθοποδουσιν προς την αληθειαν του ευαγγελιου ειπον τω πετρω εμπροσθεν παντων ει συ ιουδαιος υπαρχων εθνικως ζης και ουκ ιουδαικως τι τα εθνη αναγκαζεις ιουδαιζειν αλλ οτε ειδον οτι ουκ ορθοποδουσιν προς την αληθειαν του ευαγγελιου ειπον τω πετρω εμπροσθεν παντων ει συ ιουδαιος υπαρχων εθνικως ζης και ουκ ιουδαικως τι τα εθνη αναγκαζεις ιουδαιζειν

Acts 15:7, 8 (NET)

Acts 15:7, 8 (KJV)

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Πολλῆς δὲ ζητήσεως γενομένης ἀναστὰς Πέτρος εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ὑμεῖς ἐπίστασθε ὅτι ἀφ᾿ ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων ἐν ὑμῖν ἐξελέξατο ὁ θεὸς διὰ τοῦ στόματος μου ἀκοῦσαι τὰ ἔθνη τὸν λόγον τοῦ εὐαγγελίου καὶ πιστεῦσαι πολλης δε συζητησεως γενομενης αναστας πετρος ειπεν προς αυτους ανδρες αδελφοι υμεις επιστασθε οτι αφ ημερων αρχαιων ο θεος εν ημιν εξελεξατο δια του στοματος μου ακουσαι τα εθνη τον λογον του ευαγγελιου και πιστευσαι πολλης δε συζητησεως γενομενης αναστας πετρος ειπεν προς αυτους ανδρες αδελφοι υμεις επιστασθε οτι αφ ημερων αρχαιων ο θεος εν ημιν εξελεξατο δια του στοματος μου ακουσαι τα εθνη τον λογον του ευαγγελιου και πιστευσαι
And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ ὁ καρδιογνώστης θεὸς ἐμαρτύρησεν αὐτοῖς δοὺς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καθὼς καὶ ἡμῖν και ο καρδιογνωστης θεος εμαρτυρησεν αυτοις δους αυτοις το πνευμα το αγιον καθως και ημιν και ο καρδιογνωστης θεος εμαρτυρησεν αυτοις δους αυτοις το πνευμα το αγιον καθως και ημιν

Acts 15:11 (NET)

Acts 15:11 (KJV)

On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are.” But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ πιστεύομεν σωθῆναι καθ᾿ ὃν τρόπον κακεῖνοι αλλα δια της χαριτος κυριου ιησου χριστου πιστευομεν σωθηναι καθ ον τροπον κακεινοι αλλα δια της χαριτος του κυριου ιησου πιστευομεν σωθηναι καθ ον τροπον κακεινοι

Acts 15:14 (NET)

Acts 15:14 (KJV)

Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Συμεὼν ἐξηγήσατο καθὼς πρῶτον ὁ θεὸς ἐπεσκέψατο λαβεῖν ἐξ ἐθνῶν λαὸν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ συμεων εξηγησατο καθως πρωτον ο θεος επεσκεψατο λαβειν εξ εθνων λαον επι τω ονοματι αυτου συμεων εξηγησατο καθως πρωτον ο θεος επεσκεψατο λαβειν εξ εθνων λαον επι τω ονοματι αυτου

Acts 15:16-18 (NET)

Acts 15:16-18 (KJV)

‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

μετὰ ταῦτα ἀναστρέψω καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω τὴν σκηνὴν Δαυὶδ τὴν πεπτωκυῖαν καὶ τὰ |κατεσκαμμένα| αὐτῆς ἀνοικοδομήσω καὶ ἀνορθώσω αὐτήν μετα ταυτα αναστρεψω και ανοικοδομησω την σκηνην δαβιδ την πεπτωκυιαν και τα κατεσκαμμενα αυτης ανοικοδομησω και ανορθωσω αυτην μετα ταυτα αναστρεψω και ανοικοδομησω την σκηνην δαυιδ την πεπτωκυιαν και τα κατεσκαμμενα αυτης ανοικοδομησω και ανορθωσω αυτην
so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own,’ says the Lord, who makes these things That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὅπως ἂν ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὸν κύριον καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐφ᾿ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομα μου ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς, λέγει κύριος ποιῶν ταῦτα οπως αν εκζητησωσιν οι καταλοιποι των ανθρωπων τον κυριον και παντα τα εθνη εφ ους επικεκληται το ονομα μου επ αυτους λεγει κυριος ο ποιων ταυτα παντα οπως αν εκζητησωσιν οι καταλοιποι των ανθρωπων τον κυριον και παντα τα εθνη εφ ους επικεκληται το ονομα μου επ αυτους λεγει κυριος ο ποιων ταυτα παντα
known from long ago. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

γνωστὰ ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος γνωστα απ αιωνος εστιν τω θεω παντα τα εργα αυτου γνωστα απ αιωνος εστιν τω θεω παντα τα εργα αυτου

Acts 15:20, 21 (NET)

Acts 15:20, 21 (KJV)

but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἀλλὰ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τοῦ ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ τῆς πορνείας καὶ |τοῦ| πνικτοῦ καὶ τοῦ αἵματος αλλα επιστειλαι αυτοις του απεχεσθαι απο των αλισγηματων των ειδωλων και της πορνειας και του πνικτου και του αιματος αλλα επιστειλαι αυτοις του απεχεσθαι απο των αλισγηματων των ειδωλων και της πορνειας και του πνικτου και του αιματος
For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.” For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Μωϋσῆς γὰρ ἐκ γενεῶν ἀρχαίων κατὰ πόλιν τοὺς κηρύσσοντας αὐτὸν ἔχει ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς κατὰ πᾶν σάββατον ἀναγινωσκόμενος μωσης γαρ εκ γενεων αρχαιων κατα πολιν τους κηρυσσοντας αυτον εχει εν ταις συναγωγαις κατα παν σαββατον αναγινωσκομενος μωυσης γαρ εκ γενεων αρχαιων κατα πολιν τους κηρυσσοντας αυτον εχει εν ταις συναγωγαις κατα παν σαββατον αναγινωσκομενος

 


1 Galatians 6:1 (NET) Table

2 1 Corinthians 15:3 (NET)

3 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had ὑπὲρ here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had περι.

4 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article τοῦ preceding age.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

5 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καταδουλώσουσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καταδουλωσωνται (KJV: might bring…into bondage).

6 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Κηφᾶς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πετρος (KJV: Peter).

7 In other words, they were actors trying to have their own righteousness derived from the law.

8 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Κηφᾷ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πετρω (KJV: Peter).

9 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὐχὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουκ.

10 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πῶς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τι (KJV: why).

11 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δὲ here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

12 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐν ὑμῖν preceding chose (untranslated in the NET; NIV: among you), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν ημιν (KJV: among us).

13 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτοις here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

14 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοῦ here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

15 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had χριστου (KJV: Christ) following Jesus.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

16 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επι τω here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had simply τῷ.

17 In the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text David was spelled Δαυὶδ, and δαβιδ in the Stephanus Textus Receptus.

18 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παντα (KJV: all these things) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

19 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εστιν τω θεω παντα τα εργα αυτου (KJV: Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

20 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had απο here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

21 In the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text Moses was spelled Μωϋσῆς, and μωσης in the Stephanus Textus Receptus.