This is a continuation of my consideration of “5 Bible Passages That Caused Me to Lose My Faith” by Kristi Burke. Her first Bible passage was “Romans 9…the starting point of my deconstruction journey.”1 Though she began with verse 16, I started at the beginning of the chapter to gain some context.
I’ll pick up where I left off (Romans 9:22-24 NET):
But what if God, willing (θέλων, a form of θέλω) to demonstrate (ἐνδείξασθαι, a form of ἐνδείκνυμι) his wrath (Romans 1:18-32) and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
God’s demonstration of this contrast between the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy and his wrath on those who prepared themselves for destruction offended Ms. Burke: “I was fed one version of god who was a loving father but I’m learning about this completely different god who intentionally creates people to go to hell.”2 If I believed that the Lord’s wish…for all to come to repentance3 was subordinate to the wishes of every individual, I might be troubled by this, too. Apart from the Lord’s intervention—he has prepared beforehand (προητοίμασεν, a form of προετοιμάζω) for glory—we all share an innate propensity to prepare ourselves for destruction. But I believe that God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all4 and that Jesus will draw all to Himself.5
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”6 the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas (Acts 16:31a NET Table):
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…”
I can read this verse as written now, believing that I am saved primarily from my own sinfulness. When I believed what I was taught (or imagined I was being taught) in church, I believed that I was saved primarily from hell. I was explicitly instructed to add “before you die” as a condition to faith:
Believe in the Lord Jesus [before you die] and you will be saved [from hell].
I surveyed the 10 occurrences of forms of ᾅδης in the New Testament (see table below). All were translated hell in the KJV. Obviously, to be saved from KJV hell, one must trust the Lord before one dies. And there was a time I thought KJV hell was synonymous with the lake of fire of the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15 NET).
Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds [Table]. The sea gave up the7 dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the8 dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire [Table]. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.
There were 66 occurrences of forms of שְׁאוֹל (šᵊ’ôl) in the Masoretic text (see table below); 31 of them were translated hell in the KJV. Most forms of שְׁאוֹל (šᵊ’ôl) in the Masoretic text were translated with forms of ᾅδης in the Septuagint. Most occurrences of forms of שְׁאוֹל (šᵊ’ôl) mirror death as we perceive it.
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Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
||
|
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (Tanakh/KJV) |
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NET) |
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NETS) |
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (English Elpenor) |
| Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave (בִּשְׁא֕וֹל), whither thou goest. | Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave (šᵊ’ôl, בשאול), the place where you will eventually go. | Whatever your hand finds to do, as is your might, do! For there is no work and reasoning and knowledge and wisdom in Hades (ἐν ᾅδῃ), where you are going. | Whatsoever thine hand shall find to do, do with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Hades (ἐν ᾅδῃ) wither thou goest. |
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
||
|
Isaiah 14:11 (Tanakh/KJV) |
Isaiah 14:11 (NET) |
Isaiah 14:11 (NETS) |
Isaiah 14:11 (English Elpenor) |
| Thy pomp is brought down to the grave (שְׁא֛וֹל), and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. | Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol (šᵊ’ôl, שאול), as well as the sound of your stringed instruments. You lie on a bed of maggots, with a blanket of worms over you.’ | But your glory has gone down to Hades (εἰς ᾅδου)—your abundant joy; they will spread decay beneath you, and a worm will be your covering. | Thy glory has come down to Hades (εἰς ᾅδου), and thy great mirth: under thee they shall spread corruption, and the worm shall be thy covering. |
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Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
||
|
Isaiah 38:18 (Tanakh/KJV) |
Isaiah 38:18 (NET) |
Isaiah 38:18 (NETS) |
Isaiah 38:18 (English Elpenor) |
| For the grave (שְׁא֛וֹל) cannot praise thee, death (מָ֣וֶת) can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit (ב֖וֹר) cannot hope for thy truth. | Indeed Sheol (šᵊ’ôl, שאול) does not give you thanks; death (māveṯ, מות) does not praise you. Those who descend into the Pit (bôr, בור) do not anticipate your faithfulness. | For those who are in Hades (ἐν ᾅδου) will not praise you, nor will the dead (οἱ ἀποθανόντες) bless you, nor will those who are in Hades (ἐν ᾅδου) hope for your mercy. | For they that are in the grave (ἐν ᾅδου) shall not praise thee, neither shall the dead (οἱ ἀποθανόντες) bless thee, neither shall they that are in Hades (ἐν ᾅδου) hope for thy mercy. |
This very human understanding of death corresponds to the euphemism fallen asleep (κεκοίμηται, a form of κοιμάω) as Jesus used it (John 11:11b-15a NET):
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep (κεκοίμηται, a form of κοιμάω). But I am going there to awaken him.” Then the disciples replied,9 “Lord, if he has fallen asleep (κεκοίμηται, a form of κοιμάω), he will recover.” (Now Jesus had been talking about his death [θανάτου, a form of θάνατος], but they thought he had been talking about real sleep [τῆς κοιμήσεως τοῦ ὕπνου].)
Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died (ἀπέθανεν, a form of ἀποθνήσκω)…
Paul used κοιμηθησόμεθα (another form of κοιμάω) in a similar way (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52 NET):
Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep (κοιμηθησόμεθα), but we will all be changed [Table]—in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead (νεκροὶ, a form of νεκρός) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Now some Sadducees (who contend that there is no resurrection)10 asked Jesus a trick question about a woman and seven brothers: “In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman11 be? For all seven had married her.”12 First, Jesus corrected their misunderstanding of the coming age (Luke 20:34, 35 NET):
So Jesus13 said to them, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.14 But those who are regarded as worthy to share in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.15
Then Jesus elaborated on the resurrection (Luke 20:36, 37 NET):
In fact, they can no16 longer die (ἀποθανεῖν, another form of ἀποθνήσκω) because they are equal to angels (ἰσάγγελοι, a form of ἰσάγγελος) and are sons of God,17 since they are sons of the resurrection. But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob [Table].
Jesus went one step further to affirm something about God and those who have died as we perceive death (Luke 20:38 NET):
Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before him.
The Greek word translated live was ζῶσιν, a form of ζάω in the present tense. Technically, ζῶσιν might also indicate the subjunctive mood, “for all may live before him,” but I found no English translation other18 than the indicative mood.
One occurrence (perhaps two) of שְׁאוֹל (šᵊ’ôl) in the Masoretic text conveys this idea of living (ζώντων) inhabitants.
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Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
||
|
Isaiah 14:9, 10 (Tanakh/KJV) |
Isaiah 14:9, 10 (NET) |
Isaiah 14:9, 10 (NETS) |
Isaiah 14:9, 10 (English Elpenor) |
| Hell (שְׁא֗וֹל) from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. | Sheol (šᵊ’ôl, שאול) below is stirred up about you, ready to meet you when you arrive. It rouses the spirits of the dead for you, all the former leaders of the earth; it makes all the former kings of the nations rise from their thrones. | Hades (ὁ ᾅδης) beneath was embittered on meeting you; all the mighty who have ruled the earth rose up together against you—those who have roused from their thrones all the kings of the nations. | Hell (ὁ ᾅδης) from beneath is provoked to meet thee: all the great ones that have ruled over the earth have risen up together against thee, they that have raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. |
| All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? | All of them respond to you, saying: ‘You too have become weak like us! You have become just like us! | All will answer and say to you: “You too were taken even as we were, and you were counted among us!” | All shall answer and say to thee, Thou also hast been taken, even as we; and thou art numbered amongst us. |
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Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
||
|
Ezekiel 32:21 (Tanakh/KJV) |
Ezekiel 32:21 (NET) |
Ezekiel 32:21 (NETS) |
Ezekiel 32:21 (English Elpenor) |
| The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell (שְׁא֖וֹל) with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword. | The bravest of the warriors will speak to him from the midst of Sheol (šᵊ’ôl, שאול) along with his allies, saying: ‘The uncircumcised have come down; they lie still, killed by the sword.’ | And the giants in the depth of the hole (βόθρου) shall say to you, “You are greater than whom? Descend, and lie with the uncircumcised in the midst of those wounded by dagger.” | the giants also shall say to thee, Be thou in the depth of the pit (βόθρου): to whom art thou superior? yea, go down, and lie with the uncircumcised, in the midst of them [that are] slain with the sword. |
Jesus described a rich man in Hades calling out to Abraham (Luke 16:23, 24 NET):
And in Hades (τῷ ᾅδῃ), as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side [Table]. So he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue because I am in anguish in this fire.’
This survey helped me to understand why eternal life wasn’t about living forever when Jesus prayed: Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.19 More to the point in this essay, given that even Paul wrote of those who have fallen asleep in Christ,20 waiting to rise in the resurrection at the last day,21 it focused my attention on the question: What gave anyone hope that believing in the Lord Jesus, even before one dies, might save one from KJV hell?
Three22 Scriptures come to mind. I’ll consider those in another essay. The tables mentioned above follow:
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English Translations of Forms of ᾅδης |
|||
| Reference | Greek | KJV | NET |
| Matthew 11:23 | ᾅδου | to hell | to Hades |
| Matthew 16:18 | ᾅδου | of hell | of Hades |
| Luke 10:15 | ᾅδου | to hell | to Hades |
| Luke 16:23 | ᾅδῃ | hell | Hades |
| Acts 2:27 | ᾅδην | hell | Hades |
| Acts 2:31 | ᾅδην | hell | Hades |
| Revelation 1:18 | ᾅδου | of hell | of Hades |
| Revelation 6:8 | ᾅδης | Hell | Hades |
| Revelation 20:13 | ᾅδης | hell | Hades |
| Revelation 20:14 | ᾅδης | hell | Hades |
|
English Translations of Forms of שְׁאוֹל (šᵊ’ôl) |
||||
| Reference | Hebrew | KJV | NET | Septuagint (BLB/Elpenor) |
| Genesis 37:35 | שאלה | into the grave | to the grave | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Genesis 42:38 | שאולה | to the grave | to the grave | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ἅδου |
| Genesis 44:29 | שאלה | to the grave | to the grave | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Genesis 44:31 | שאלה | to the grave | to the grave | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Numbers 16:30 | שאלה | into the pit | to the grave | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Numbers 16:33 | שאלה | into the pit | into the pit | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Deuteronomy 32:22 | שאול | hell | Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| 1 Samuel (1 Kings) 2:6 | שאול | to the grave | to the grave | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| 2 Samuel (2 Kings) 22:6 | שאול | of hell | of Sheol | θανάτου / θανάτου |
| 1 Kings (3 Kings) 2:6 | שאל | to the grave | death | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| 1 Kings (3 Kings) 2:9 | שאול | to the grave | death | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Job 7:9 | שאול | to the grave | to the grave | εἰς ᾅδην / εἰς ᾄδην |
| Job 11:8 | משאול | than hell | than Sheol | τῶν ἐν ᾅδου / τῶν ἐν ᾃδου |
| Job 14:13 | בשאול | in the grave | in Sheol | ἐν ᾅδῃ / ἐν ᾅδῃ |
| Job 17:13 | שאול | the grave | the grave | ᾅδης / ᾅδης |
| Job 17:16 | שאל | of the pit | of death | εἰς ᾅδην / εἰς ᾅδην |
| Job 21:13 | שאול | to the grave | to the grave | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Job 24:19 | שאול | the grave | the grave | na / na |
| Job 26:6 | שאול | Hell | The underworld | ὁ ᾅδης / ὁ ᾅδης |
| Psalm 6:5 (6:6) | בשאול | in the grave | In Sheol | ἐν δὲ τῷ ᾅδῃ / ἐν δὲ τῷ ῞ᾼδῃ |
| Psalm 9:17 (9:18) | לשאולה | into hell | sent to Sheol | εἰς τὸν ᾅδην / εἰς τὸν ᾅδην |
| Psalm 16:10 (15:10) | לשאול | in hell | to Sheol | εἰς ᾅδην / εἰς ᾅδην |
| Psalm 18:5 (17:6) | שאול | of hell | of Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Psalm 30:3 (29:4) | שאול | the grave | Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Psalm 31:17 (30:18) | לשאול | in the grave | to the grave | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Psalm 49:14 (48:15) | לשאול | in the grave | to Sheol | ἐν ᾅδῃ / ἐν ᾅδῃ |
| שאול | in the grave | Sheol | ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ / ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ | |
| Psalm 49:15 (48:16) | שאול | of the grave | of Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Psalm 55:15 (54:16) | שאול | into hell | into Sheol | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Psalm 86:13 (85:13) | משאול | hell | of Sheol | ἐξ ᾅδου / ἐξ ᾅδου |
| Psalm 88:3 (87:4) | לשאול | unto the grave | Sheol | τῷ ᾅδῃ / τῷ ᾅδῃ |
| Psalm 89:48 (88:49) | שאול | of the grave | of Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Psalm 116:3 (114:3) | שאול | of hell | of Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Psalm 139:9 (138:8) | שאול | in hell | in Sheol | εἰς τὸν ᾅδην / εἰς τὸν ᾅδην |
| Psalm 141:7 | שאול | grave’s | of Sheol | τὸν ᾅδην / τὸν ᾅδην |
| Proverbs 1:12 | כשאול | as the grave | like Sheol | ὥσπερ ᾅδης / ὥσπερ ᾅδης |
| Proverbs 5:5 | שאול | on hell | to the grave | εἰς τὸν ᾅδην / εἰς τὸν ᾅδην |
| Proverbs 7:27 | שאול | to hell | to the grave | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Proverbs 9:18 | שאול | of hell | of the grave | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Proverbs 15:11 | שאול | Hell | Death | ᾅδης / ᾅδης |
| Proverbs 15:24 | משאול | from hell | to Sheol | ἐκ τοῦ ᾅδου / ἐκ τοῦ ᾅδου |
| Proverbs 23:14 | משאול | from hell | from death | ἐκ θανάτου / ἐκ θανάτου |
| Proverbs 27:20 | שאול | Hell | Death | ᾅδης / ᾅδης |
| Proverbs 30:16 | שאול | The grave | the grave | ᾅδης / na |
| Ecclesiastes 9:10 | בשאול | in the grave | in the grave | ἐν ᾅδῃ / ἐν ᾅδῃ |
| Song of Songs 8:6 | כשאול | as the grave | as Sheol | ὡς ᾅδης / ὡς ᾅδης |
| Isaiah 5:14 | שאול | hell | Death | ὁ ᾅδης / ὁ ᾅδης |
| Isaiah 7:11 | שאלה | ask it | as Sheol (Note 17) | na / na |
| Isaiah 14:9 | שאול | Hell | Sheol | ὁ ᾅδης / ὁ ᾅδης |
| Isaiah 14:11 | שאול | to the grave | to Sheol | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Isaiah 14:15 | שאול | hell | Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδην |
| Isaiah 28:15 | שאול | hell | Sheol | τοῦ ᾅδου / τοῦ ᾅδου |
| Isaiah 28:18 | שאול | hell | Sheol | τὸν ᾅδην / τὸν ᾅδην |
| Isaiah 38:10 | שאול | of the grave | of Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Isaiah 38:18 | שאול | the grave | Sheol | οἱ ἐν ᾅδου / οἱ ἐν ᾅδου |
| Isaiah 57:9 | שאול | hell | Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Ezekiel 31:15 | שאולה | to the grave | to Sheol | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Ezekiel 31:16 | שאולה | to hell | to Sheol | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Ezekiel 31:17 | שאולה | into hell | to Sheol | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Ezekiel 32:21 | שאול | of hell | of Sheol | βόθρου / βόθρου |
| Ezekiel 32:27 | שאול | to hell | to Sheol | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Hosea 13:14 | שאול | of the grave | of Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| שאול | O grave | O Sheol | ᾅδη / ᾅδη | |
| Amos 9:2 | בשאול | into hell | into the netherworld | εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου |
| Jonah 2:2 (2:3) | שאול | of hell | of Sheol | ᾅδου / ᾅδου |
| Habakkuk 2:5 | כשאול | as hell | as Sheol’s | καθὼς ὁ ᾅδης / καθὼς ᾅδης |
According to a note (87) in the NET Jesus quoted from Exodus 3:6 in Luke 20:37. A table comparing the Greek of his quotation to the Septuagint follows.
|
Luke 20:37b (NET Parallel Greek) Table |
Exodus 3:6a (Septuagint BLB) Table |
Exodus 3:6a (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| τὸν θεὸν Ἀβραὰμ καὶ θεὸν Ἰσαὰκ καὶ θεὸν Ἰακώβ | θεὸς Αβρααμ καὶ θεὸς Ισαακ καὶ θεὸς Ιακωβ | Θεὸς ῾Αβραὰμ καὶ Θεὸς ᾿Ισαὰκ καὶ Θεὸς ᾿Ιακώβ |
|
Luke 20:37b (NET) |
Exodus 3:6a (NETS) |
Exodus 3:6a (English Elpenor) |
| the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob | God of Abraam and God of Isaak and God of Iakob | the God of Abraam, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob |
Tables comparing Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 14:11; 38:18; 14:9; 14:10 and Ezekiel 32:21 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET; and tables comparing Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 14:11; 38:18; 14:9; 14:10 and Ezekiel 32:21 in the BLB and Elpenor versions of the Septuagint with the English translations from Hebrew and Greek, and tables comparing the Greek of Revelation 20:13; John 11:12; 11:15; Luke 20:33; 20:34, 35 and Luke 20:36 the NET and KJV follow.
| Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. | Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. | Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go. |
| πάντα ὅσα ἂν εὕρῃ ἡ χείρ σου τοῦ ποιῆσαι ὡς ἡ δύναμίς σου ποίησον ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ποίημα καὶ λογισμὸς καὶ γνῶσις καὶ σοφία ἐν ᾅδῃ ὅπου σὺ πορεύῃ ἐκεῖ | πάντα, ὅσα ἂν εὕρῃ ἡ χείρ σου τοῦ ποιῆσαι, ὡς ἡ δύναμίς σου ποίησον, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι ποίημα καὶ λογισμὸς καὶ γνῶσις καὶ σοφία ἐν ᾅδῃ, ὅπου σὺ πορεύῃ ἐκεῖ |
| Whatever your hand finds to do, as is your might, do! For there is no work and reasoning and knowledge and wisdom in Hades, where you are going. | Whatsoever thine hand shall find to do, do with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Hades wither thou goest. |
| Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. | Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. | Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol, as well as the sound of your stringed instruments. You lie on a bed of maggots, with a blanket of worms over you.’ |
| κατέβη δὲ εἰς ᾅδου ἡ δόξα σου ἡ πολλή σου εὐφροσύνη ὑποκάτω σου στρώσουσιν σῆψιν καὶ τὸ κατακάλυμμά σου σκώληξ | κατέβη εἰς ᾅδου ἡ δόξα σου, ἡ πολλὴ εὐφροσύνη σου· ὑποκάτω σου στρώσουσι σῆψιν, καὶ τὸ κατακάλυμμά σου σκώληξ |
| But your glory has gone down to Hades—your abundant joy; they will spread decay beneath you, and a worm will be your covering. | Thy glory has come down to Hades, and thy great mirth: under thee they shall spread corruption, and the worm shall be thy covering. |
| For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. | For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. | Indeed Sheol does not give you thanks; death does not praise you. Those who descend into the Pit do not anticipate your faithfulness. |
| οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἐν ᾅδου αἰνέσουσίν σε οὐδὲ οἱ ἀποθανόντες εὐλογήσουσίν σε οὐδὲ ἐλπιοῦσιν οἱ ἐν ᾅδου τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην σου | οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἐν ᾅδου αἰνέσουσί σε, οὐδὲ οἱ ἀποθανόντες εὐλογήσουσί σε, οὐδὲ ἐλπιοῦσιν οἱ ἐν ᾅδου τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην σου |
| For those who are in Hades will not praise you, nor will the dead bless you, nor will those who are in Hades hope for your mercy. | For they that are in the grave shall not praise thee, neither shall the dead bless thee, neither shall they that are in Hades hope for thy mercy. |
| Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. | Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. | Sheol below is stirred up about you, ready to meet you when you arrive. It rouses the spirits of the dead for you, all the former leaders of the earth; it makes all the former kings of the nations rise from their thrones. |
| ὁ ᾅδης κάτωθεν ἐπικράνθη συναντήσας σοι συνηγέρθησάν σοι πάντες οἱ γίγαντες οἱ ἄρξαντες τῆς γῆς οἱ ἐγείραντες ἐκ τῶν θρόνων αὐτῶν πάντας βασιλεῖς ἐθνῶν | ὁ ᾅδης κάτωθεν ἐπικράνθη συναντήσας σοι, συνηγέρθησάν σοι πάντες οἱ γίγαντες οἱ ἄρξαντες τῆς γῆς, οἱ ἐγείραντες ἐκ τῶν θρόνων αὐτῶν πάντας βασιλεῖς ἐθνῶν |
| Hades beneath was embittered on meeting you; all the mighty who have ruled the earth rose up together against you—those who have roused from their thrones all the kings of the nations. | Hell from beneath is provoked to meet thee: all the great ones that have ruled over the earth have risen up together against thee, they that have raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. |
| All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? | All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? | All of them respond to you, saying: ‘You too have become weak like us! You have become just like us! |
| πάντες ἀποκριθήσονται καὶ ἐροῦσίν σοι καὶ σὺ ἑάλως ὥσπερ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐν ἡμῖν δὲ κατελογίσθης | πάντες ἀποκριθήσονται καὶ ἐροῦσί σοι· καὶ σὺ ἑάλως, ὥσπερ καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἐν ἡμῖν δὲ κατελογίσθης |
| All will answer and say to you: “You too were taken even as we were, and you were counted among us!” | All shall answer and say to thee, Thou also hast been taken, even as we; and thou art numbered amongst us. |
| The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword. | The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword. | The bravest of the warriors will speak to him from the midst of Sheol along with his allies, saying: ‘The uncircumcised have come down; they lie still, killed by the sword.’ |
| καὶ ἐροῦσίν σοι οἱ γίγαντες ἐν βάθει βόθρου γίνου τίνος κρείττων εἶ κατάβηθι καὶ κοιμήθητι μετὰ ἀπεριτμήτων ἐν μέσῳ τραυματιῶν μαχαίρας | καὶ ἐροῦσί σοι οἱ γίγαντες· ἐν βάθει βόθρου γίνου, τίνος κρείττων εἶ; κατάβηθι καὶ κοιμήθητι μετὰ ἀπεριτμήτων ἐν μέσῳ τραυματιῶν μαχαίρας |
| And the giants in the depth of the hole shall say to you, “You are greater than whom? Descend, and lie with the uncircumcised in the midst of those wounded by dagger.” | the giants also shall say to thee, Be thou in the depth of the pit: to whom art thou superior? yea, go down, and lie with the uncircumcised, in the midst of them [that are] slain with the sword. |
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Revelation 20:13 (KJV) |
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| The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. | And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. |
| καὶ ἔδωκεν ἡ θάλασσα τοὺς νεκροὺς τοὺς ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ ὁ θάνατος καὶ ὁ ᾅδης ἔδωκαν τοὺς νεκροὺς τοὺς ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐκρίθησαν ἕκαστος κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν | και εδωκεν η θαλασσα τους εν αυτη νεκρους και ο θανατος και ο αδης εδωκαν τους εν αυτοις νεκρους και εκριθησαν εκαστος κατα τα εργα αυτων | και εδωκεν η θαλασσα τους νεκρους τους εν αυτη και ο θανατος και ο αδης εδωκαν τους νεκρους τους εν αυτοις και εκριθησαν εκαστος κατα τα εργα αυτων |
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John 11:12 (KJV) |
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| Then the disciples replied, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” | Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. |
| εἶπαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτῷ· κύριε, εἰ κεκοίμηται σωθήσεται | ειπον ουν οι μαθηται αυτου κυριε ει κεκοιμηται σωθησεται | ειπον ουν οι μαθηται αυτου κυριε ει κεκοιμηται σωθησεται |
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John 11:15 (KJV) |
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| and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” | And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. |
| καὶ χαίρω δι᾿ ὑμᾶς ἵνα πιστεύσητε, ὅτι οὐκ ἤμην ἐκεῖ· ἀλλὰ ἄγωμεν πρὸς αὐτόν | και χαιρω δι υμας ινα πιστευσητε οτι ουκ ημην εκει αλλ αγωμεν προς αυτον | και χαιρω δι υμας ινα πιστευσητε οτι ουκ ημην εκει αλλα αγωμεν προς αυτον |
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Luke 20:33 (KJV) |
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| In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her.” | Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. |
| ἡ γυνὴ οὖν ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει τίνος αὐτῶν γίνεται γυνή; οἱ γὰρ ἑπτὰ ἔσχον αὐτὴν γυναῖκα | εν τη ουν αναστασει τινος αυτων γινεται γυνη οι γαρ επτα εσχον αυτην γυναικα | εν τη ουν αναστασει τινος αυτων γινεται γυνη οι γαρ επτα εσχον αυτην γυναικα |
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Luke 20:34, 35 (KJV) |
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| So Jesus said to them, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. | And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: |
| καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου γαμοῦσιν καὶ γαμίσκονται | και αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους οι υιοι του αιωνος τουτου γαμουσιν και εκγαμισκονται | και αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους οι υιοι του αιωνος τουτου γαμουσιν και εκγαμισκονται |
| But those who are regarded as worthy to share in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. | But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: |
| οἱ δὲ καταξιωθέντες τοῦ αἰῶνος ἐκείνου τυχεῖν καὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τῆς ἐκ νεκρῶν οὔτε γαμοῦσιν οὔτε γαμίζονται | οι δε καταξιωθεντες του αιωνος εκεινου τυχειν και της αναστασεως της εκ νεκρων ουτε γαμουσιν ουτε εκγαμισκονται | οι δε καταξιωθεντες του αιωνος εκεινου τυχειν και της αναστασεως της εκ νεκρων ουτε γαμουσιν ουτε εκγαμιζονται |
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Luke 20:36 (KJV) |
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| In fact, they can no longer die because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, since they are sons of the resurrection. | Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. |
| οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀποθανεῖν ἔτι δύνανται, ἰσάγγελοι γάρ εἰσιν καὶ υἱοί εἰσιν θεοῦ τῆς ἀναστάσεως υἱοὶ ὄντες | ουτε γαρ αποθανειν ετι δυνανται ισαγγελοι γαρ εισιν και υιοι εισιν του θεου της αναστασεως υιοι οντες | ουτε γαρ αποθανειν ετι δυνανται ισαγγελοι γαρ εισιν και υιοι εισιν του θεου της αναστασεως υιοι οντες |
1 “5 Bible Passages That Caused Me to Lose My Faith,” Kristi Burke
2 Ibid.
4 Romans 11:32 (NET)
6 Acts 16:30b (NET)
7 The Net parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοὺς preceding dead. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.
8 The Net parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοὺς preceding dead. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.
9 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἶπαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπον (KJV: said).
10 Luke 20:27a (NET)
11 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἡ γυνὴ at the beginning of this clause. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.
12 Luke 20:33 (NET)
13 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αποκριθεις (KJV: answering) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.
14 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γαμίσκονται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκγαμισκονται.
15 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γαμίζονται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had εκγαμισκονται and the Byzantine Majority Text had εκγαμιζονται.
16 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὐδὲ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτε (KJV: Neither).
17 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding of God. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.
18 The Aramaic Bible in Plain English treats both ἔστιν and ζῶσιν as if they were not in the present tense, but both are still in the indicative mood: “But he was not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all of them were alive to him.”
According to Rev. Glenn David Bauscher in the introduction to his translation of the Aramaic New Testament: “Aramaic was the language of Jesus of Nazareth (‘Yeshua Netsari’ in Aramaic) and of his twelve disciples. The Peshitta New Testament is the only complete Aramaic New Testament known today which is held by a significant Christian denomination to be the original text written by the Apostles. The Church of The East has always held to this text as the original writing of the Apostles, preserved with word for word accuracy by its Scribes for nearly two thousand years with meticulous care and reverence.”
In an article titled “Be one of the few who has a copy of the Original New Testament!” Rev. Bauscher contends: “While the apostle Paul was carrying the gospel message to the West — ‘first to the Jew, then to the Gentile’ — Thomas was doing the same, except going in the opposite direction . . . to the East. The Church of the East became the largest Christian church of the middle ages, spreading the gospel message and building churches as far away as India and China, with 100 million members. The Muslim conquests and massacres of the 7th – 11th centuries, as well as the Mongol’s destruction of Christians and churches, left very few members of that great church remaining. This is history unknown to most in the West, but eastern Christians have not forgotten.”
19 John 17:3 (NET)
20 1 Corinthians 15:18a (NET)