Isaiah 59:20-21 | The Gospel and the Religious Mind

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

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

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

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

Acts 3:25b (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 22:18a (Septuagint BLB) Table	Genesis 22:18a (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐν τῷ σπέρματι σου [ἐν]ευλογηθήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ πατριαὶ τῆς γῆς	καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς	καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς
Acts 3:25b (NET)	Genesis 22:18a (NETS)	Genesis 22:18a (English Elpenor)
‘And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’	And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed	And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Romans 11:26b, 27a (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 59:20, 21a (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 59:20, 21a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἥξει ἐκ Σιὼν ὁ ρυόμενος, ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ (27) καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη	ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιων ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ιακωβ (21) καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῗς ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη	ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ ᾿Ιακώβ (21) καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη
Romans 11:26b, 27a (NET)	Isaiah 59:20, 21a (NETS)	Isaiah 59:20, 21a (English Elpenor)
The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. (27) And this is my covenant with them,	the one who delivers will come for Zion’s sake, and he will turn impiety away from Jacob. (21) And this is the covenant to them from me,	the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. (21) And this shall be my covenant with them,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Isaiah 27:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 27:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἡ ἀνομία Ιακωβ καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν ἡ εὐλογία αὐτοῦ ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι αὐτοῦ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ὅταν θῶσιν πάντας τοὺς λίθους τῶν βωμῶν κατακεκομμένους ὡς κονίαν λεπτήν καὶ οὐ μὴ μείνῃ τὰ δένδρα αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ εἴδωλα αὐτῶν ἐκκεκομμένα ὥσπερ δρυμὸς μακράν	διὰ τοῦτο ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἡ ἀνομία ᾿Ιακώβ, καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν ἡ εὐλογία αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ, ὅταν θῶσι πάντας τοὺς λίθους τῶν βωμῶν κατακεκομμένους ὡς κονίαν λεπτήν· καὶ οὐ μὴ μείνῃ τὰ δένδρα αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ εἴδωλα αὐτῶν ἐκκεκομμένα ὥσπερ δρυμὸς μακράν
Isaiah 27:9 (NETS)	Isaiah 27:9 (English Elpenor)
Because of this the lawlessness of Iakob will be removed. And this is the blessing, when I remove his sin, when they make all the stones of the altars broken pieces like fine dust, and their trees will not remain, and their idols will be cut down like a forest far away.	Therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be taken away; and this is his blessing, when I shall have taken away his sin; when they shall have broken to pieces all the stones of the altars as fine dust, and their trees shall not remain, and their idols shall be cut off, as a thicket afar off.

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

Isaiah 59:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 59:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιων ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ιακωβ	καὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ ᾿Ιακώβ
Isaiah 59:20 (NETS)	Isaiah 59:20 (English Elpenor)
And the one who delivers will come for Zion’s sake, and he will turn impiety away from Jacob.	And the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

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

Isaiah 59:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 59:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῗς ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη εἶπεν κύριος τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἐμόν ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ σοί καὶ τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἔδωκα εἰς τὸ στόμα σου οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ σπέρματός σου εἶπεν γὰρ κύριος ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα	καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, εἶπε Κύριος· τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἐμόν, ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ σοί, καὶ τὰ ρήματα, ἃ ἔδωκα εἰς τὸ στόμα σου, οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ σπέρματός σου· εἶπε γὰρ Κύριος, ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα
Isaiah 59:21 (NETS)	Isaiah 59:21 (English Elpenor)
And this is the covenant to them from me, said the Lord, my spirit that is upon you and my words that I have put in your mouth shall not fail out of your mouth or out of the mouth of your offspring, for the Lord has said it, from now on and forever.	And this shall be my covenant with them, said the Lord; My Spirit which is upon thee, and the words which I have put in thy mouth, shall never fail from thy mouth, nor from the mouth of thy seed, for the Lord has spoken it, henceforth and for ever.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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