Tag Archives: Galatians 5:16-18

The Book of Life, Part 2

Posted on by

To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven1 spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation2 (ὄνομα) that you are alive, but in reality you are dead.3

This angel (ἀγγέλῳ) may be the human messenger of God to the Sardis Church. This message is addressed to a singular you: your (σου) deeds, you have (ἔχεις). It is probably most prudent for human messengers to assume it is addressed to them and for members of their congregations to assume it is addressed to them as individuals. It is worth noting that ὄνομα was used here in the sense of reputation, that for which one is known, falsely in this particular instance.

But4 you have (ἔχεις) a few individuals (ὀνόματα, a form of ὄνομα) in5 Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white because they are worthy.6

Here, however, I would assume that you have (ἔχεις) referred to the church in Sardis as a singular collective. And here, also, ὀνόματα, a plural form of ὄνομα was translated individuals, names understood as persons. The pertinent verse for a consideration of the book of life follows (Revelation 3:5 NET).

The one who conquers (νικῶν) will be dressed like them7 [i.e., the names in Sardis who have not stained their clothes] in white clothing, and I will never erase his name (ὄνομα) from the book of life (τῆς βίβλου τῆς ζωῆς), but will declare8 his name (ὄνομα) before my Father and before his angels.

This is an encouraging promise: Jesus (Revelation 1:12-18) will never (οὐ μὴ) erase (ἐξαλείψω) [the] name [of t]he one who conquers…from the book of life. This is called the subjunctive of emphatic negation,9 though ἐξαλείψω in this particular occurrence is in the future tense and indicative mood. It harmonizes perfectly with the Lord’s wish…for all come to repentance.10 The implication, however, that one who does not conquer may not be so blessed, coupled with the statement—If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire11—leaves a different impression.

This is as good a place as any to point out that name (ὄνομα) is not found in Revelation 20:15 in the Greek texts [see Table below] but was added by the translators. If I consider the different usages of ὄνομα in the previous passage, I begin to wonder if Jesus will declare the personal name of the one who conquers…before my Father and before his angels, or the reputation of the one who conquers. Likewise, is it the personal name of the one who conquers He will never erase…from the book of life? Or is it the reputation of the one who conquers that He will never erase…from the book of life?

I have thought that the book of life lists the names of those who will not be thrown into the lake of fire. Perhaps it contains the true reputation or character of the one who conquers instead. If I limited myself to considering only Revelation 3:1-5, I would assume that the one who conquers completes his or her deeds in the sight of Jesus’12 God,13 remembers what he or she has received and heard, obeys it, and repents,14 and doesn’t dribble food or drink on his or her clothing.

A little familiarity with Isaiah, however, persuades me that stained…clothes has more to do with sin than with sloppy eating or drinking (Isaiah 1:18 ESV Table):

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is fairly explicit about those whose place will be in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8 NET):

But as for the15 cowards, unbelievers,16 detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells,17 idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second18 death.19

So, I tend to add not being or doing these things to the list of requirements that defines the one who conquers. Without discounting any of these achievements, I recognize from many other statements in the Bible that the path to these achievements is not through my adherence to rules. That would be hypocrisy, the work of an actor.

I suspect that this sort of do-it-yourself religion was the reason Jesus told John to write to the angel of the church in Sardis,20 I have not found your deeds complete (πεπληρωμένα, a form of πληρόω) in the sight of my God.21 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,22 Jesus promised.

The path to all of these achievements is through Jesus Christ (John 14:5-7 NET):

Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How23 can we know the way?” Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have known24 me, you will know25 my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.”

All of these achievements are the work of God through Our Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:3, 5-8 NET):

Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God [Table]…I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God [Table]. What is born of the flesh is flesh, 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.’ The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

When asked, “What should we do, brothers?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”26

Paul wrote (Galatians 5:16-18 NET):

But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want [Table]. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

And again (Romans 8:1-4 NET):

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death [Table]. For 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, another form of πληρόω) in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

I admit that here and now I think of the sin he condemned (κατέκρινεν, a form of κατακρίνω) in my flesh as imprisoned there. The coward and unbeliever imprisoned in my flesh don’t prevent me from trusting Jesus or receiving his faith in God’s word. The detestable person imprisoned in my flesh doesn’t prevent Him from sharing his holiness with me. The murderer imprisoned in my flesh is not free to go on a killing spree. The sexual predator imprisoned in my flesh is restrained from victimizing women, men, girls, boys and animals, or making a religious rite of victimizing them. The magical thinking idol worshiper imprisoned in my flesh cannot stop me from hearing the Word of God, nor can the liar imprisoned there dissuade me from the truth of his word.

Still, the ultimate destination of all this sin he condemned in my flesh is the lake of fire27 along with Death and Hades,28 the place of the dead. It’s a very hopeful thing that when Jesus raises me up at29 the last day30 I’ll no longer be burdened with all this sinful residue. While I can appreciate in a hypothetical sense that those who define themselves by, or take pride in, the sin he condemned in their flesh may not perceive things quite this way, I see no reason to despair over the persistence of human sinfulness while I trust in the persistence of the One who does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.31 I’m willing to continue, expecting the book of life to be something more than a list of personal names (ὀνοματογραφία) of those who will not be thrown into the lake of fire.32

Thus far the Greek words translated the book were τῇ βίβλῳ (Revelation 20:15) and τῆς βίβλου (Revelation 3:5), forms of βίβλος. Now I’ll consider an occurrence of τὸ βιβλίον (Revelation 17:8 NET).

The33 beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth—all those whose names34 have not been written in (ἐπὶ) the book of life (τὸ βιβλίον τῆς ζωῆς) since the foundation of the world—will be astounded35 when they see that36 the beast was, and is not, but is to come.37

The words all those appear to have been added by the translators. They have no counterpart in the Greek text. So, The inhabitants of the earth…whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world—will be astounded. If I understand the singular τὸ ὄνομα (translated: names) as reputation or character, then I can assume it is the reputation or character of the one who conquers which has been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world and that those who do net yet possess this character, those who have not yet lived this reputation, those who have not yet received God’s salvation in Jesus Christ, will be astounded.

The alternative, that the names, τα ονοματα, are personal names implies that there are inhabitants of the earth for whom God never cared but predestined to be thrown into the lake of fire since the foundation of the world. Since that would make the Lord’s wish..for all to come to repentance38 not merely sentimental but a bald-faced lie, I will continue to consider that it is the reputation or character of the one who conquers which has been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world.

I’ll pick this up in another essay. The table mentioned above follows:

A note (41) in the NET reads: “The word ‘name’ is not in the Greek text, but is implied.”

Revelation 20:15 (NET)

Revelation 20:15 (KJV)
If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ εἴ τις οὐχ εὑρέθη ἐν τῇ βίβλῳ τῆς ζωῆς γεγραμμένος, ἐβλήθη εἰς τὴν λίμνην τοῦ πυρός και ει τις ουχ ευρεθη εν τη βιβλω της ζωης γεγραμμενος εβληθη εις την λιμνην του πυρος και ει τις ουχ ευρεθη εν τω βιβλιω της ζωης γεγραμμενος εβληθη εις την λιμνην του πυρος

Tables comparing Revelation 3:1; 3:4; 3:5; 3:2; 3:3; 21:8; John 14:5; 14:7 and Revelation 17:8 in the NET and KJV follow.

Revelation 3:1 (NET)

Revelation 3:1 (KJV)
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation that you are alive, but in reality you are dead. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ ἔχων τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας· οἶδα σου τὰ ἔργα ὅτι ὄνομα ἔχεις ὅτι ζῇς, καὶ νεκρὸς εἶ και τω αγγελω της εν σαρδεσιν εκκλησιας γραψον ταδε λεγει ο εχων τα πνευματα του θεου και τους επτα αστερας οιδα σου τα εργα οτι το ονομα εχεις οτι ζης και νεκρος ει και τω αγγελω της εν σαρδεσιν εκκλησιας γραψον ταδε λεγει ο εχων τα επτα πνευματα του θεου και τους επτα αστερας οιδα σου τα εργα οτι ονομα εχεις οτι ζης και νεκρος ει

Revelation 3:4 (NET)

Revelation 3:4 (KJV)
But you have a few individuals in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white because they are worthy. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ἀλλὰ ἔχεις ὀλίγα ὀνόματα ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἃ οὐκ ἐμόλυναν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν, καὶ περιπατήσουσιν μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἐν λευκοῖς, ὅτι ἄξιοι εἰσιν εχεις ολιγα ονοματα και εν σαρδεσιν α ουκ εμολυναν τα ιματια αυτων και περιπατησουσιν μετ εμου εν λευκοις οτι αξιοι εισιν αλλ ολιγα εχεις ονοματα εν σαρδεσιν α ουκ εμολυναν τα ιματια αυτων και περιπατησουσιν μετ εμου εν λευκοις οτι αξιοι εισιν

Revelation 3:5 (NET)

Revelation 3:5 (KJV)
The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my Father and before his angels. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Ὁ νικῶν οὕτως περιβαλεῖται ἐν ἱματίοις λευκοῖς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξαλείψω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῆς βίβλου τῆς ζωῆς καὶ ὁμολογήσω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ ο νικων ουτος περιβαλειται εν ιματιοις λευκοις και ου μη εξαλειψω το ονομα αυτου εκ της βιβλου της ζωης και εξομολογησομαι το ονομα αυτου ενωπιον του πατρος μου και ενωπιον των αγγελων αυτου ο νικων ουτος περιβαλειται εν ιματιοις λευκοις και ου μη εξαλειψω το ονομα αυτου εκ της βιβλου της ζωης και ομολογησω το ονομα αυτου ενωπιον του πατρος μου και ενωπιον των αγγελων αυτου

Revelation 3:2 (NET)

Revelation 3:2 (KJV)
Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about to die, because I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
γίνου γρηγορῶν καὶ στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰ ἃ ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν, οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκα σου |τὰ| ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ μου γινου γρηγορων και στηριξον τα λοιπα α μελλει αποθανειν ου γαρ ευρηκα σου τα εργα πεπληρωμενα ενωπιον του θεου γινου γρηγορων και στηρισον τα λοιπα α εμελλες αποβαλλειν ου γαρ ευρηκα σου τα εργα πεπληρωμενα ενωπιον του θεου μου

Revelation 3:3 (NET)

Revelation 3:3 (KJV)
Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
μνημόνευε οὖν πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας καὶ τήρει καὶ μετανόησον. ἐὰν οὖν μὴ γρηγορήσῃς, ἥξω ὡς κλέπτης, καὶ οὐ μὴ γνῷς ποίαν ὥραν ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ μνημονευε ουν πως ειληφας και ηκουσας και τηρει και μετανοησον εαν ουν μη γρηγορησης ηξω επι σε ως κλεπτης και ου μη γνως ποιαν ωραν ηξω επι σε μνημονευε ουν πως ειληφας και ηκουσας και τηρει και μετανοησον εαν ουν μη γρηγορησης ηξω επι σε ως κλεπτης και ου μη γνως ποιαν ωραν ηξω επι σε

Revelation 21:8 (NET)

Revelation 21:8 (KJV)
But as for the cowards, unbelievers, detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells, idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
τοῖς δὲ δειλοῖς καὶ ἀπίστοις καὶ ἐβδελυγμένοις καὶ φονεῦσιν καὶ πόρνοις καὶ φαρμάκοις καὶ εἰδωλολάτραις καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ψευδέσιν τὸ μέρος αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ λίμνῃ τῇ καιομένῃ πυρὶ καὶ θείῳ, ὅ ἐστιν ὁ θάνατος ὁ δεύτερος δειλοις δε και απιστοις και εβδελυγμενοις και φονευσιν και πορνοις και φαρμακευσιν και ειδωλολατραις και πασιν τοις ψευδεσιν το μερος αυτων εν τη λιμνη τη καιομενη πυρι και θειω ο εστιν δευτερος θανατος τοις δε δειλοις και απιστοις και αμαρτωλοις και εβδελυγμενοις και φονευσιν και πορνοις και φαρμακοις και ειδωλολατραις και πασιν τοις ψευδεσιν το μερος αυτων εν τη λιμνη τη καιομενη πυρι και θειω ο εστιν ο θανατος ο δευτερος

John 14:5 (NET)

John 14:5 (KJV)
Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Λέγει αὐτῷ Θωμᾶς· κύριε, οὐκ οἴδαμεν ποῦ ὑπάγεις· πῶς |δυνάμεθα| τὴν ὁδὸν |εἰδέναι| λεγει αυτω θωμας κυριε ουκ οιδαμεν που υπαγεις και πως δυναμεθα την οδον ειδεναι λεγει αυτω θωμας κυριε ουκ οιδαμεν που υπαγεις και πως δυναμεθα την οδον ειδεναι

John 14:7 (NET)

John 14:7 (KJV)
If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.” If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ |ἐγνώκατε| με, καὶ τὸν πατέρα μου |γνώσεσθε. καὶ| ἀπ᾿ ἄρτι γινώσκετε αὐτὸν καὶ ἑωράκατε |αὐτόν| ει εγνωκειτε με και τον πατερα μου εγνωκειτε αν και απ αρτι γινωσκετε αυτον και εωρακατε αυτον ει εγνωκειτε με και τον πατερα μου εγνωκειτε αν και απ αρτι γινωσκετε αυτον και εωρακατε αυτον

Revelation 17:8 (NET)

Revelation 17:8 (KJV)
The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth—all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world—will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Τὸ θηρίον ὃ εἶδες ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν καὶ μέλλει ἀναβαίνειν ἐκ τῆς ἀβύσσου καὶ εἰς ἀπώλειαν ὑπάγει, καὶ θαυμασθήσονται οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν οὐ γέγραπται τὸ ὄνομα ἐπὶ τὸ βιβλίον τῆς ζωῆς ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, βλεπόντων τὸ θηρίον ὅτι ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν καὶ παρέσται θηριον ο ειδες ην και ουκ εστιν και μελλει αναβαινειν εκ της αβυσσου και εις απωλειαν υπαγειν και θαυμασονται οι κατοικουντες επι της γης ων ου γεγραπται τα ονοματα επι το βιβλιον της ζωης απο καταβολης κοσμου βλεποντες το θηριον ο τι ην και ουκ εστιν καιπερ εστιν το θηριον ο ειδες ην και ουκ εστιν και μελλει αναβαινειν εκ της αβυσσου και εις απωλειαν υπαγειν και θαυμασονται οι κατοικουντες επι της γης ων ου γεγραπται τα ονοματα επι το βιβλιον της ζωης απο καταβολης κοσμου βλεποντων οτι ην το θηριον και ουκ εστιν και παρεσται

2 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article το preceding reputation (KJV: name). The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

3 Revelation 3:1 (NET)

4 The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἀλλ’. The Stephanus Textus Receptus had neither.

5 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had και (KJV: even) preceding in. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

6 Revelation 3:4 (NET)

7 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὕτως here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτος (KJV: the same).

9 Subjunctive of Emphatic Negation

a) This is a way to strongly deny that something will happen. It is the strongest way to negate something in Greek.

b) It is formed by using a double negative (ou mh) with an aorist subjunctive verb (or possibly future indicative). While ou plus the indicative denies a certainty, ou mh plus the subjunctive denies even the potentiality.

c) It is translated “certainly not” or “never”, with the English future tense

10 2 Peter 3:9b (NET) Table

11 Revelation 20:15 (NET)

12 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had μου here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not (KJV: God).

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

16 The Byzantine Majority Text had και αμαρτωλοις (“and sinners”) following unbelievers. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

18 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ὁ preceding second. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

19 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ὁ preceding death. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

20 Revelation 3:1a (NET)

21 Revelation 3:2b (NET)

22 Matthew 5:17 (NET)

23 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: and) preceding how. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

25 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γνώσεσθε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγνωκειτε αν (KJV: ye should have known).

26 Acts 2:37b, 38 (NET) Table

27 Revelation 21:8

28 Revelation 20:14 Table

30 John 6:40b (NET)

31 2 Peter 3:9b (NET) Table

32 Revelation 20:15 (NET)

33 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article Τὸ preceding beast. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

36 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὅτι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο τι.

A note (23) in the NET reads: Some translations take the ὅτι (hoti) here as causal: “because he was, and is not, but is to come” (so NIV, NRSV), but it is much more likely that the subject of the ὅτι clause has been assimilated into the main clause: “when they see the beast, that he was…” = “when they see that the beast was” (so BDAG 732 s.v. ὅτι 1.f, where Rev 17:8 is listed).

38 2 Peter 3:9b (NET) Table

Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 2

Posted on by

I’ll continue to contrast “Paul’s Regime” to “Jesus’ Regime.”  Paul finally turned his attention to the man who had his father’s wife as follows.

Paul’s Regime

Jesus’ Regime
For even though I am absent physically, I am present in spirit.  And I have already judged (κέκρικα, a form of κρίνω) the one who did this, just as though I were present.  When you (ὑμῶν) gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of our Lord Jesus, turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 5:3-5 (NET) Table1 Table2

 Furthermore, I will strike [Jezebel’s] followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts.  I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve.

Revelation 2:23 (NET)

The English translation of 1 Corinthians 5:3 might actually be clearer than the Greek.  I think Paul may have written something like, “I have already decided[1] as follows about what was done.”  Considering what he had already decided the translators cut through all that: I have already judged the one who did this…  Paul urged the believers in Corinth to turn this man over to Satan. [Addendum: January 25, 2024, see Addendum.]

The Greek word translated turn over is παραδοῦναι (a form of παραδίδωμι).  Paul also handed Hymenaeus and Alexander over (παρέδωκα, another form of παραδίδωμι) to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.[2]  I assume that to turn or hand one over to Satan was the antithesis of commending one to the grace of God.

After their first missionary journey Paul and Barnabas sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended (παραδεδομένοι, another form of παραδίδωμι) to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.[3]  Later, Paul chose Silas and set out, commended (παραδοθεὶς, another form of παραδίδωμι) to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters[4] for his second missionary journey after parting company with Barnabas over John Mark.  So I assume that both, being commended to the grace of God and being turned, or handed, over to Satan, were matters of prayer.  We’re not told how God responded to this prayer vis-à-vis the man who had his father’s wife.  What is recorded in Paul’s letters are the changes in his own perspective.

Here in 1 Corinthians Paul turned a man who committed πορνεία, one of the works of the flesh (σαρκός, a form of σάρξ), over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh (σαρκός, a form of σάρξ): Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality (πορνεία), impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things.  I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice (πράσσοντες, a form of πράσσω) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God![5]

But is the destruction (ὄλεθρον, a form of ὄλεθρος) of the flesh a work of Satan (Romans 7:4-6 NET)?

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.  For when we were in the flesh (σαρκί, another form of σάρξ), the sinful desires (ἁμαρτιῶν, a form of ἁμαρτία), aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.

But I say, live by the Spirit, Paul wrote the Galatians, and you will not carry out the desires (ἐπιθυμίαν, a form of ἐπιθυμία) of the flesh (σαρκὸς, a form of σάρξ).  For the flesh (σὰρξ) has desires (ἐπιθυμεῖ, a form of ἐπιθυμέω) that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh (σαρκός, a form of σάρξ), for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.[6]  The one thing I can say with certainty about the man who had his father’s wife is that he was not led by the Holy Spirit at the moment he chose to take her.  His flesh had taken control.

Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin (παραπτώματι, a form of παράπτωμα),[7] you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness.[8]  The spiritual (πνευματικοὶ, a form of πνευματικός) are those who live (περιπατεῖτε, a form of περιπατέω) by the Spirit (πνεύματι, a form of πνεῦμα).  Paul’s teaching in his letters to the Romans and Galatians doesn’t explain, expound or even hint at any reliance on Satan for blessing—for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord—or cursing—to be taught not to blaspheme.

In the movie Miracles From Heaven Jennifer Garner completed her stunning transformation from Elektra through adoptive-mother-to-be Vanessa in Juno to Christy the Christian mother of three girls.  There are spoilers here, and though Christy is based on an actual person Christy Beam, I am writing about a character in a film.

“No one here is going to hell,” Christy says to her three daughters.  “Unless you girls get your clothes dirty.  How many times have I told you not to play outside in your Sunday school dresses?”  Then she yells to her husband in the field, “Hey Kevin, I have to tell you not to play outside before church, too?”

With these few deft lines we understand that Christy has succumbed to the primary occupational hazard of motherhood: She doesn’t merely inhabit a world of rules and religion, she is its architect and chief executive.  When her middle daughter Anna is diagnosed with an incurable disease Christy is utterly lost.  Concerned about the cost of traveling every six weeks from Texas to a specialist in Boston she argues with Kevin (Martin Henderson).

Christy: I need to know how we’re going to do it.

Kevin: Well, We’ll figure it out.

Christy: No, No.  You can’t say that.  I hate when you say that!

Kevin: Well, I’m sorry, babe, but I don’t have any answers right now.

Christy: I need an answer!…I cannot operate under the assumption that it’s all just gonna be okay!

Kevin: It’s called faith, Christy.

Christy: I don’t have faith about anything.  I can’t even pray, Kevin.  I’m sorry.

Kevin: No.  I hear you.  But I can’t help you with your faith.

If I hadn’t known someone exactly like him, Kevin would have seemed like the least believable character in the film.  The man I knew grew up in the faith.  Being led by the Spirit was as natural to him as breathing.  The faith that is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit seemed like his own.  And he was just as tone deaf and incapable of explaining the Holy Spirit’s faith to someone for whom such faith was not natural as Kevin.  He was also just as persistent and consistent an example of that faith as Kevin.  Only his wife knew him intimately enough to perceive any wavering or inconsistency.

Christy talks with Pastor Scott (John Carroll Lynch):

Christy: Well, you could tell me why a loving God would let Annabel suffer the way she has.

Pastor Scott: I’m sorry.  I don’t have an answer for that.

While it was dramatically necessary for Christy to discover her own answer, and Pastor Scott probably didn’t know specifics in her particular case, I want to explore a similar situation recorded in the New Testament.

Lord, if you had been here, Lazarus’ sister Martha said to Jesus, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will grant you.[9]  This sickness will not lead to death, Jesus had said when he heard that Lazarus was sick, but to God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.[10]  Lazarus has died, He told his disciples, and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe.[11]  Jesus put Martha and Mary (not to mention Lazarus), whom he loved (ἠγάπα, a form of ἀγαπάω), through sickness and death so that when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead his disciples may believe.

Though raising Lazarus from the dead was effective enough among the Ἰουδαίων that the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too, for on account of him many of the Jewish people (Ἰουδαίων, a form of Ἰουδαῖος) from Jerusalem were going away and believing in Jesus,[12] it failed in its primary purpose for Jesus’ disciples.  Not only did they not wait expectantly for three days for Jesus to rise from the dead, they didn’t even believe it when someone told them it had happened.

Who were these infidels?

They were handpicked by Jesus Himself.  They were purified, purged of the evil among them in classic Old Testament fashion: Judas killed himself after he confessed his παραδοὺς (another form of παραδίδωμι).  But before the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost each remained a natural human (ψυχικὸς…ἄνθρωπος):

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.  But a natural (ψυχικὸς, a form of ψυχικός) man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.[13]

Though Jesus’ display of power over death failed to persuade natural humans to faith and hope it continued to eloquently expound the theme He thought was sufficiently demonstrated in the Old Testament writings: You must all be born from above.[14]  To be born from above entails, includes and ultimately means to be led by the Holy Spirit: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.[15]

In Miracles from Heaven Anna (Kylie Rogers), writhing in pain, says to her mother Christy, “Don’t you understand that it never stops hurting.  It never stops…I want to die…I want to go to heaven where there’s no pain…I’m sorry, Mommy.  I don’t want to make you sad.  I just want it to be over.”

This might have been the turning point of the story.  If my daughter complained this way to me I would fall on my face confessing to anything and everything.  But Anna’s doctor persuaded Christy that her daughter’s childlike faith was depression caused by prolonged illness.

When Anna fell and was trapped inside a rotten tree, however, Christy knelt and prayed the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV), not as a sing-song chant but, as a heartfelt expression of faith, not my will but yours be done.[16] Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, Paul wrote the Corinthians in a later letter, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.[17]

No viewer of the film is forced to believe that God healed Anna when Christy learned to rely on the faith (πίστις) of the Holy Spirit.   She clearly spells out an alternative to Anna’s specialist that is wholly compatible with progressive[18] evolution: “So you’re telling me that when this baby girl fell 30 feet, she hit her head just right and it didn’t kill her and it didn’t paralyze her and instead it healed her?”  If this explanation rings hollow, one may be hearing from the Spirit of God because a natural [human] does not accept the things of the Spirit of God.

Jesus’ Regime by contrast did not incite his followers to turn to Satan for remediation: Furthermore, I will strike her followers[19] with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts.  I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve.  Eventually Paul perceived the practical sense of this, too (Romans 12:17-21 NET):

Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.  Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.  Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head [Table].  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Preferring Jesus’ Regime in Revelation 2:18-29 to Paul’s Regime in 1 Corinthians 5[20] I have been brought full circle.  This world governed by God’s wrath is the world I thought I lived in before I became an atheist.  I didn’t expect to return here again.  But this time I am led by the Holy Spirit.  This time I believe that πορνεία has much more to do with the pagan worship practices of Exodus 32 and Numbers 25 than it does with two young people marrying, that is to say having sex, before receiving Church, State or even parental sanction.  This time I expect to weather my ordeal without serious incident.

Studying the various forms of παραδίδωμι has deeply colored my understanding of these things.  The table I constructed during that study is below.

παραδίδωμι

 NET

Reference

Jesus’ Arrest, Prosecution and Crucifixion (66)
παραδεδώκεισαν For [Pilate] knew that the chief priests had handed [Jesus] over because of envy. Mark 15:10
παραδίδως “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48
παραδιδόναι …Judas, one of the twelve, was going to betray him. John 6:71
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him)… John 12:4
παραδιδόντα For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. John 13:11
παραδιδόντος …the hand of the one who betrays me is with me on the table. Luke 22:21
παραδίδοσθαι The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. Matthew 17:22
…for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. Luke 9:44
παραδίδοται …the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified. Matthew 26:2
…woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Matthew 26:24
…the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Matthew 26:45
The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. Mark 9:31
…woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Mark 14:21
…the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Mark 14:41
…woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! Luke 22:22
παραδιδοὺς Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Matthew 26:25
Get up, let us go.  Look!  My betrayer is approaching! Matthew 26:46
Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man… Matthew 26:48
Now when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned… Matthew 27:3
Look!  My betrayer is approaching! Mark 14:42
Now the betrayer had given them a sign… Mark 14:44
Now Judas, the one who betrayed him… John 18:2
Now Judas, the one who betrayed him… John 18:5
“Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?” John 21:20
παραδῷ …Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him. Matthew 26:16
…how he might betray Jesus, handing him over to them. Luke 22:4
παραδώσει I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me. Matthew 26:21
The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. Matthew 26:23
I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me will betray me. Mark 14:18
I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me. John 13:21
παραδώσω What will you give me to betray him into your hands? Matthew 26:15
παραδώσων …and who it was who would betray him. John 6:64
παραδώσουσιν …and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged severely and crucified. Matthew 20:19
They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles. Mark 10:33
παραδοῖ …went to the chief priests to betray Jesus into their hands. Mark 14:10
So Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him. Mark 14:11
…the devil had already put into the heart of Judas…that he should betray Jesus John 13:2
παραδόντος I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
παραδοθῆναι …that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men… Luke 24:7
παραδοθήσεται …the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the experts in the law. Matthew 20:18
…the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and experts in the law. Mark 10:33
For he will be handed over to the Gentiles… Luke 18:32
παραδοθῶ …fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. John 18:36
παραδοῦναι …so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. Luke 20:20
So Judas agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus… Luke 22:6
παραδοὺς …and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Matthew 10:4
I have sinned by betraying innocent blood! Matthew 27:4
Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of greater sin. John 19:11
παρεδίδετο …the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread… 1 Corinthians 11:23
παρεδώκαμεν If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you. John 18:30
παρέδωκαν …led him away, and handed him over to Pilate… Matthew 27:2
For [Pilate] knew that they had handed [Jesus] over because of envy. Matthew 27:18
…led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Mark 15:1
…our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be condemned to death… Luke 24:20
Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me. John 18:35
παρεδώκατε …Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected… Acts 3:13
παρέδωκεν …he handed him over to be crucified. Matthew 27:26
…Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Mark 3:19
…he handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:15
But he handed Jesus over to their will. Luke 23:25
Then [Pilate] handed him over to them to be crucified. John 19:16
Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30
…he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all… Romans 8:32
…live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us… Ephesians 5:2
…just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her… Ephesians 5:25
παρεδόθη He was given over because of our transgressions… Romans 4:25

Arrest, Prosecution and Persecution of Jesus’ Followers (19)
παραδιδόντες When they arrest you and hand you over for trial… Mark 13:11
…they will seize you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. Luke 21:12
παραδιδοὺς I persecuted this Way even to the point of death, tying up both men and women and putting them in prison… Acts 22:4
Παραδώσει Brother will hand over brother to death… Matthew 10:21
Brother will hand over brother to death… Mark 13:12
παραδῶσιν Whenever they hand you over for trial, do not worry… Matthew 10:19
παραδώσουσιν Beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils… Matthew 10:17
Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. Matthew 24:9
…and they will betray one another and hate one another. Matthew 24:10
You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. Mark 13:9
…and will hand him [i.e., Paul] over to the Gentiles. Acts 21:11
παραδοθῆναι Now after John was imprisoned… Mark 1:14
παραδοθήσεσθε You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends… Luke 21:16
παραδοὺς …handing him [i.e., Peter] over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Acts 12:4
παρεδίδου …[Saul] dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Acts 8:3
παρεδίδουν …they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion… Acts 27:1
παρέδωκεν …the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard… (NKJV) Acts 28:16
παρεδόθη …Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned… Matthew 4:12
παρεδόθην …I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. Acts 28:17

Other Usages (35)
παραδεδωκόσι …who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 15:26
παραδεδομένοι …Antioch, where [Paul and Barnabas] had been commended to the grace of God… Acts 14:26
παραδέδοται …and the glory that goes along with it, for it [i.e., this whole realm] has been relinquished to me, and I [i.e., the devil] can give it to anyone I wish. Luke 4:6
παραδιδῷ Then comes the end, when he [i.e., Christ] hands over the kingdom to God the Father… 1 Corinthians 15:24
παραδιδόμεθα For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death[21] for Jesus’ sake… 2 Corinthians 4:11
παραδῷ Reach agreement quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, or he may hand you over to the judge… Matthew 5:25
…and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love… 1 Corinthians 13:3
παραδώσει …and the judge hand you over to the officer… Luke 12:58
παραδοῖ And when the grain is ripe, he sends in the sickle because the harvest has come. Mark 4:29
παραδοθεὶς Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters. Acts 15:40
παραδοθείσῃ …contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. Jude 1:3
παραδοθείσης …the holy commandment that had been delivered to them. 2 Peter 2:21
παραδοῦναι …turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh… 1 Corinthians 5:5
παρεδίδοσαν …they passed on the decrees that had been decided on by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the Gentile believers to obey. Acts 16:4
παρεδίδου …he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:23
παρέδωκα …maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 1 Corinthians 11:2
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you… 1 Corinthians 11:23
For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received… 1 Corinthians 15:3
…whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. 1 Timothy 1:20
παρέδωκαν …they have given themselves over to indecency… Ephesians 4:19
παρέδωκας …Sir, you entrusted me with five talents… Matthew 25:20
…Sir, you entrusted two talents to me… Matthew 25:22
παρεδώκατε Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. Mark 7:13
παρέδωκεν And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards… Matthew 18:34
…who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. Matthew 25:14
…change the customs that Moses handed down to us. Acts 6:14
…gave them over to worship the host of heaven… Acts 7:42
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity… Romans 1:24
For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Romans 1:26
…just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind… Romans 1:28
…delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment… (NKJV) 2 Peter 2:4
παρέδοσαν …the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses… Luke 1:2
παρεδόθη All things have been handed over to me by my Father. Mathew 11:27
All things have been given to me by my Father. Luke 10:22
παρεδόθητε …you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to… Romans 6:17

Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 3

Back to Romans, Part 83

Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 4

[1] When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided (κέκρικα, a form of κρίνω) to spend the winter there. (Titus 3:12 NET)

[2] 1 Timothy 1:20 (NET)

[3] Acts 14:26 (NET)

[4] Acts 15:40 (NET) Table

[5] Galatians 5:19-21 (NET)

[6] Galatians 5:16-18 (NET)

[7] In Paul’s letter to the Romans παραπτώματι was translated transgression, a violation of a specific command (Romans 5:15, 17; 11:11 NET). I wrote about the relationship between παράπτωμα and ἁμαρτία in Is Sin Less Than Sin? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

[8] Galatians 6:1a (NET)

[9] John 11:21, 22 (NET)

[10] John 11:4 (NET)

[11] John 11:14b, 15a (NET)

[12] John 12:10, 11 (NET)

[13] 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (NASB) Table

[14] John 3:7b (NET)

[15] Romans 8:14 (NET)

[16] Luke 22:42b (NET)

[17] 2 Corinthians 1:9 (NET)

[18] I think most evolution/creation arguments are tangential because the actual issues are mindless vs. mindful creation and progressive vs. degenerative evolution.

[19] Though it is not literal I think the NET translators were right to translate τέκνα (a form of τέκνον) followers here (Mark 10:24, Luke 13:34, John 1:12, John 8:39, John 11:52, Romans 8:16, Romans 8:17, Romans 9:7, Romans 9:8,  Ephesians 5:8, Philippians 2:15, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:2, 1 John 3:10, 1 John 5:2).

[20] I want to be very specific here because I think that Paul’s Regime in Galatians 6:1-5 is more of the faith of Jesus’ Regime in Revelation 2:18-29 and shows much more respect for the wrath of God.

[21] If Paul meant this exclusively for apostles it would belong in the category above (Arrest, Prosecution and Persecution of Jesus’ Followers).  But I take the Holy Spirit to mean that death to what controlled us.  Though that death is a one time event, I need to be brought back to it continually—constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake—because I am proud and slow to believe.

Is Sin Less Than Sin? Part 2

Posted on by

I’ll continue the survey of Galatians to understand the relationship of sin (παράπτωμα) to sin (ἁμαρτία).  Paul hinted at the attitude, activity and the content of the faith of those who were so quickly deserting (μετατίθεσθε, a form of μετατίθημι) the one who called [them] by the grace of Christ and [were] following a different gospel1 in a series of questions (Galatians 3:1-5 NET).

You foolish Galatians!  Who has cast a spell on you?2  Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified!3  The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) what you heard?  Are you so foolish?  Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort (σαρκὶ, a form of σάρξ)?  Have you suffered so many things for nothing? – if indeed it was for nothing.  Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) what you heard?

Here is the same information in a table:

Gospel I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting 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.

Galatians 1:6, 7 (NET)

 Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified!

Galatians 3:1 (NET)
Attitude …you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law…

Galatians 3:2 (NET)

 …you receive the Spirit…by believing (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) what you heard…

Galatians 3:2 (NET)
Activity …you [are] now trying to finish by human effort (σαρκὶ, a form of σάρξ)…

Galatians 3:3 (NET)

 …you began with the Spirit…

Galatians 3:3 (NET)
Faith God then give[s] you the Spirit and work[s] miracles among you by your doing the works of the law…

Galatians 3:5 (NET)

 God then give[s] you the Spirit and work[s] miracles among you by…your believing (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) what you heard.

Galatians 3:5 (NET)

If someone is as enamored with this different gospel (not that there really is another gospel) as I was, a question comes to mind: “Well, what am I supposed to do?”  Paul answered that question like this (Galatians 5:16-18 NET Table):

But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh (σαρκὸς, another form of σάρξ).  For the flesh (σάρξ) has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh (σαρκός, another form of σάρξ), for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under (ὑπό) the law.

Paul then contrasted the capabilities of the flesh (σάρξ) to that of the Holy Spirit.  I’ve put that contrast into a table similar to the one above.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting 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.

Galatians 1:6, 7 (NET)

 Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified!

Galatians 3:1 (NET)
Now the works of the flesh (σαρκός, another form of σάρξ) are obvious: sexual immorality (πορνεία), impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things.

Galatians 5:19-21a (NET) Table

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love (ἀγάπη), joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (πίστις), gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23a (NET) Table
I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

Galatians 5:21b (NET)

 Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:23b (NET)

It takes some faithfulness (πίστις) from the Holy Spirit to believe (πίστις) that He will supply all of this, especially in the face of an eruption of sin when the temptation is strongest to take back the reins, as it were.  Paul dealt with that more thoroughly in Romans 6 and 7, but there is some insight here as well (Galatians 2:17-21 NET Table).

But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages sin?  Absolutely not!  But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I [old man]4 am one who breaks God’s law.  For through the law I [old man] died to the law so that I [new man]5 may live to God.  I [old man] have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I [old man] who live, but Christ lives in me.  So the life I [new man] now live in the body, I [new man] live because of the faithfulness (πίστει, another form of πίστις) of the Son of God, who loved me [new man] and gave himself for me [new man].  I [new man] do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!

Paul continued this thought later (Galatians 5:2, 3 NET):

Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all!  And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated (ὀφειλέτης) to obey (ποιῆσαι, a form of ποιέω) the whole law.

Here regarding the law James mirrored Paul (James 2:10 NET):

For the one who obeys6 (τηρήσῃ, a form of τηρέω) the whole law but fails7 (πταίσῃ, a form of πταίω) in one point has become guilty of all of it.

So the one who sets out to obey part of the law (you let yourselves be circumcised according to the law) is obligated to obey the whole, and the one who fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.  One who believes these two statements are true searches diligently for another option.  Paul continued (Galatians 5:4-6 NET):

You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ;8 you have fallen away from grace!  For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith (πίστις) working (ἐνεργουμένη, a form of ἐνεργέω) through love (ἀγάπης, a form of ἀγάπη).

Both the faith and the love Paul mentioned above are aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, supplied by God to those who believe.  Truth be told the working (ἐνεργουμένη, a form of ἐνεργέω) is from God also: continue working out (κατεργάζεσθε, a form of κατεργάζομαι) your salvation with awe and reverence, for the one bringing forth (ἐνεργῶν, another form of ἐνεργέω) in you both the desire (θέλειν, a form of θέλω) and the effort (ἐνεργεῖν, another form of ἐνεργέω) – for the sake of his good pleasure (εὐδοκίας, a form of εὐδοκία) – is God.9  As Jesus said, Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased (εὐδόκησεν, a form of εὐδοκέω) to give you the kingdom.10

And just in case I think that Paul was a special case, that his crucifixion with Christ was a unique event (Galatians 5:24-6:1 NET Table):

Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.  Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin (παραπτώματι, a form of παράπτωμα), you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness.  Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.

This letter is about deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ, trying to be declared righteous by the law, being alienated from Christ, falling away from grace.  In context then there is nothing to indicate that Paul shifted gears and began to write about some unspecified παράπτωμα that was of lesser consequence than ἁμαρτία.

 

Addendum: June 4, 2019
Tables comparing Galatians 3:1; James 2:10 and Galatians 5:4 in the NET and KJV follow.

Galatians 3:1 (NET)

Galatians 3:1 (KJV)
You foolish Galatians!  Who has cast a spell on you?  Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified! O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
Ὦ ἀνόητοι Γαλάται, τίς ὑμᾶς ἐβάσκανεν, οἷς κατ᾿ ὀφθαλμοὺς Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς προεγράφη ἐσταυρωμένος ω ανοητοι γαλαται τις υμας εβασκανεν τη αληθεια μη πειθεσθαι οις κατ οφθαλμους ιησους χριστος προεγραφη εν υμιν εσταυρωμενος ω ανοητοι γαλαται τις υμας εβασκανεν τη αληθεια μη πειθεσθαι οις κατ οφθαλμους ιησους χριστος προεγραφη εν υμιν εσταυρωμενος

James 2:10 (NET)

James 2:10 (KJV)
For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

NET Parallel Greek

 Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text
ὅστις γὰρ ὅλον τὸν νόμον τηρήσῃ πταίσῃ δὲ ἐν ἑνί, γέγονεν πάντων ἔνοχος οστις γαρ ολον τον νομον τηρησει πταισει δε εν ενι γεγονεν παντων ενοχος οστις γαρ ολον τον νομον τηρησει πταισει δε εν ενι γεγονεν παντων ενοχος

Galatians 5:4 (NET)

Galatians 5:4 (KJV)
You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
κατηργήθητε ἀπὸ Χριστοῦ, οἵτινες ἐν νόμῳ δικαιοῦσθε, τῆς χάριτος ἐξεπέσατε κατηργηθητε απο του χριστου οιτινες εν νομω δικαιουσθε της χαριτος εξεπεσατε κατηργηθητε απο του χριστου οιτινες εν νομω δικαιουσθε της χαριτος εξεπεσατε

1 Galatians 1:6 (NET)

2 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τη αληθεια μη πειθεσθαι (KJV: that ye should not obey the truth) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

3 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν υμιν (KJV: among you) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

4 Romans 6:6, 7 (NET) We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  (For someone who has died has been freed from sin.)

5 Colossians 3:9, 10 (NET) Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.

8 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding Christ.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

9 Philippians 2:12b, 13 (NET) Table

10 Luke 12:32 (NET)