Exploration, Part 7

Posted on February 8, 2025 by admin

Describing the freedom for which Christ has set us free¹ Paul highlighted: if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.² As he contrasted the curse (κατάραν, a form of κατάρα) on a life lived by works of the law (ἐξ ἔργων νόμου) to the miraculous life in the Spirit received by hearing with faith³ (ἐξ ἀκοῆς πίστεως) in Galatians 3, he asked rhetorically (Galatians 3:19a ESV):

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made…

In an article “Five Things About Deterrence” on the National Institute of Justice website, “Daniel S. Nagin succinctly summarized the current state of theory and empirical knowledge about deterrence.”

Research shows clearly that the chance of being caught is a vastly more effective deterrent than even draconian punishment.

With the Lord the “chance of being caught” is 100% and eternal punishment in a lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15) might have caused even Draco to blush. But without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.⁴ Yet even with faith Paul acknowledged (Romans 7:18b-24 ESV):

I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me [Table].

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members [Table]. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Paul answered his own rhetorical question—Why then the law?—with the words τῶν παραβάσεων χάριν προσετέθη (ESV: It was added because of transgressions). It is extremely unlikely that he intended the law to be understood as a deterrence to sin here. For the Greek word παραβάσεων, a plural form of παράβασις, was echoed in his explanation of the spread of sin in humanity (Romans 5:12-14 ESV).

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men (ἀνθρώπους, a plural form of ἄνθρωπος) because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression (παραβάσεως, a singular form of παράβασις) of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come [Table].

Now the law came in to increase the trespass (τὸ παράπτωμα),⁵ he concluded. It is no small task to persuade us that the old man (τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον) is a yoke of slavery⁶ to the sin God condemned…in the flesh through Christ, by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.⁷ We think of it—if we think of it at all—as our true self, our only lord and master. Mostly we obey its dictates unconsciously—“it’s just what I want to do”—until the Lord creates and begins to grow the new man (τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον) within us.

Only then do we begin to understand what Paul meant: Now if I do what I do not want (ὃ οὐ θέλω), it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.⁸ This confounding of desire (will) and action—For I do not understand my own actions…I do not do what I want (ὃ θέλω), but I do the very thing I hate⁹—might be one’s first indication that the new man has come into existence. And it may take one some time, experiencing the old man’s persistent sinfulness, to begin to appreciate Jesus’ words to Nicodemus: Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all (δεῖ ὑμᾶς) be born from above (ἄνωθεν).’¹⁰ Ironically, it’s only after you are not under the law (οὐκ ἐστὲ ὑπὸ νόμον) that you can look back and realize what it was like to be under the law: gaining the knowledge of sin through painful experience, learning how hopelessly sinful the old man (τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον) actually is.

Paul contrasted the free gift (τὸ χάρισμα) of Christ to the trespass (τὸ παράπτωμα) of Adam, the original old man:

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass (παραπτώματι, a form of παράπτωμα), much more have the grace of God and the free gift (ἡ δωρεὰ) by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift (τὸ δώρημα) is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass (ἐξ ἑνὸς, a form of εἷς) brought condemnation, but the free gift (τὸ δὲ χάρισμα) following many trespasses (πολλῶν παραπτωμάτων, another form of παράπτωμα) brought justification (δικαίωμα). For if, because of one man’s trespass (παραπτώματι, a form of παράπτωμα), death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift (τῆς δωρεᾶς, another form of δωρεὰ) of righteousness (τῆς δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη) reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as one trespass (παραπτώματος, another form of παράπτωμα) led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness (δικαιώματος, a form of δικαίωμα) leads to justification (δικαίωσιν, a form of δικαίωσις) and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience (τῆς παρακοῆς, a form of παρακοή) the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience (τῆς ὑπακοῆς, a form of ὑπακοή) the many will be made righteous (δίκαιοι, a form of δίκαιος). Now the law came in to increase the trespass (τὸ παράπτωμα), but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη) leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.¹¹

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made.¹² Is the law then contrary to the promises of God?¹³ Paul asked rhetorically (Galatians 3:21b-23 ESV):

Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life [e.g., create the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness (δικαιοσύνῃ) and holiness¹⁴], then righteousness (ἡ δικαιοσύνη) would indeed be by the law (ἐκ νόμου) [literally: “then the righteousness would indeed be by law”]. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned¹⁵ until the coming faith would be revealed.

So, we—walking according to the flesh, the old man which…is corrupt through deceitful desires¹⁶—were held captive (ἐφρουρούμεθα, a form of φρουρέω) under the law (ὑπὸ νόμον), imprisoned (συγκλειόμενοι, a present participle of συγκλείω) until the coming faith would be revealed. This is a fairly succinct description of the human condition vis-à-vis the law before Christ has set us free.¹⁷

So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified (δικαιωθῶμεν, a passive form of δικαιόω) by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring,¹⁸ heirs according to promise.¹⁹

The Greek word translated guardian was παιδαγωγὸς: “instructor, teacher, schoolmaster; tutor, a boy-leader, i.e., a servant whose office it was to take the children to school; pedagogue.” In this context I favor the law was our “servant whose office it was to take” us “to school,” the school of hard knocks, until Christ came or we came to the knowledge of sin that, I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out,²⁰ whichever comes first. The one who acknowledges that tends to go to the Lord in faith, saying, “This law thing isn’t working out for me. You got anything else?”

Men like David came essentially to that point (Psalm 51:1-17 ESV).

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions [Table]. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! [Table]

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me [Table]. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment [Table]. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me (e.g., “the old man”) [Table]. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart (e.g., “the new man”) [Table].

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow [Table]. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice [Table]. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities [Table]. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me [Table]. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me [Table]. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit [Table].

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you [Table]. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness [Table]. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise [Table]. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering [Table]. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise [Table].

Men like David proved to be few and far between: For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, Jesus said prior to his crucifixion and the inauguration of the new covenant, before his resurrection, ascension and giving his Holy Spirit to all who believe Him, and those who find it are few.²¹ I was not one of the few. The Lord Jesus drew me to Himself first and brought me later to the faith that this “law thing isn’t working out for me.”

In another essay I wrote:

My wife came home late one night several weeks after she told me she wanted a divorce. I heard her getting ready for bed in the next bedroom. I got up and started to walk toward the door. Before I crossed the threshold of my bedroom door I heard that still small voice, “What are you doing, Dan?” I stopped in the doorway. I was calm, not angry, lucid, and I was going to kill my wife. I started to shake and sweat as I made my way back to my bed. I don’t recall how long I sat there. Finally I made my way to my wife’s bedroom and half-confessed, half-blamed her for bringing demons into our home. It had to be demons, surely I could never kill my wife. I loved her. I said I loved her.

Now, about forty-seven years later, I can begin to understand what happened that night: I knew the Voice was God. I realized that He knew what I intended to do before I had thought consciously about it myself. The Voice, though clearly audible, did not enter from my ears. The Voice originated within that space I recognized as myself, yet it was not my voice. The Voice did not accuse me, reprimand me, quote a law or any Scripture. He simply asked me the most pertinent question. And that alone was sufficient to stop me from continuing in a sinful course of action—cold-blooded murder. The whole event was amazing!

So, did [I] honor [The Voice] as God or give thanks to him?²² No, I was too self-centered for that. I was more concerned about the black mark against my name as I worked to have a righteousness of my own that comes from the law.²³ I all but missed the righteousness that [had come] by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.²⁴ I couldn’t miss it entirely; it happened to me. But I thought it was a unique over-the-top experience due to the enormity of the circumstance rather than something normative. I was wrong—but perhaps not entirely wrong.

Though I believed none of it at the time, as I tried to be justified by the law I was severed from Christ, according to Paul, I had fallen away from grace.²⁵ Why did the Lord stop me from murdering my wife? At the time I thought it was for her benefit rather than mine (though I certainly enjoyed the benefit of not becoming a murderer). There was no condemnation in The Voice that questioned me—The Voice I obeyed without question apart from any command being uttered—but I was thoroughly chastened. I “knew” it was up to me to do better.

But where did that murderous intent come from in the first place? Even now it isn’t entirely clear to me.

Cold blooded murder isn’t mentioned in Paul’s list of the works of the flesh. I was many years then from understanding or receiving that Jesus said to the Jews who had believed (and continued to believe)²⁶ him:²⁷ You are of your father the devil, and your will (θέλετε, a 2^nd person plural form of the verb θέλω in the present tense and indicative mood) is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies [Table]. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.²⁸

Though I had begun to experience that strange schizophrenia of the conflict between the old and new self, I wasn’t yet ready to acknowledge them as anything more than Paul’s literary devices characterizing my behavior before I believed in Jesus and what I should be doing afterward (Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV).

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds [Table]. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart [Table]. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that²⁹ you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

The phrase [you] were taught in him (KJV: have been taught by him) was ἐν αὐτῷ ἐδιδάχθητε in Greek. The preposition ἐν followed by the pronoun αὐτῷ in the dative case can be translated: “in, on, at, by, with, within” according to the Koine Greek Lexicon online. I favor “by Him” because the Holy Spirit brings me back here again and again to understand what and how I do (ποιέω in Greek). And I don’t experience preachers or Bible teachers preaching or teaching this very often. That may be an implicit bias of expository preaching.

The phrase τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον (ESV: your old self; NET: the old man) only occurs in Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9. It was ὁ παλαιὸς ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος (ESV: our old self; NET: our old man) in Romans 6:6. The phrase τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον (ESV: the new self; NET: the new man) only occurs in Ephesians 4:24. The concept occurs again in Ephesians 2:15 as ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον (ESV/NET: one new man) and in Colossians 3:10 as τὸν νέον (ESV: the new self; NET: the new man; literally, “the new”), which connects this concept to Jesus’ discussion of new wine: Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37-39.

If the strict expository preacher or teacher only considers them when addressing these few passages, the old and new man will appear less important than the emphasis the Lord places upon them: 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.’³⁰…born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.³¹

At any rate, the night I didn’t murder my wife, I didn’t believe that either existed. Both τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον and τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον were merely euphemisms for my works, admonitions to stop sinning and start doing righteousness, rather than something already accomplished by the grace of God in Jesus Christ—ready, available, already present for me to receive through faith.

So I proceeded: “I [had] said I loved her. The next morning I set out to make my word true, not unlike Jephthah. I copied Paul’s definition of love on a piece of paper”³² (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NASB).

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails; [Table]

“I tacked it up on my bedroom wall by the door so I couldn’t leave that room without seeing it. I showed it to my wife. I promised her that this was my new law, that this is how I would love her.”³³ I did not write—You shall not murder³⁴—on a piece of paper and tack “it up on my bedroom wall by the door.” That is curious, given that I called love “my new law.” But Paul had written (Romans 13:10 NASB):

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.

Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”³⁵ (Matthew 22:37-40 NASB):

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment [Table]. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets” [Table].³⁶

And it’s highly likely that I had heard “The Law of Love” taught and preached:

The concept of the “Law of Love” is a central tenet in Christian theology, emphasizing the importance of love as the fulfillment of God’s commandments. This principle is deeply rooted in both the Old and New Testaments and is considered the essence of Christian ethical teaching.

And frankly, I was a bit frustrated with “Paul’s understanding of law” (e.g., my misunderstanding of Paul’s understanding of law), thinking that it was what had gotten me into this mess in the first place.

Though I had copied Paul’s description of love verbatim from the NASB, what I understood was:

Thou shalt be patient, thou shalt be kind, thou shalt not be jealous; thou shalt not brag, thou shalt not be arrogant. Thou shalt not act disgracefully, thou shalt not seek thine own benefit; thou shalt not be provoked, thou shalt not keep an account of a wrong suffered, thou shalt not rejoice in unrighteousness, thou shalt rejoice with the truth; thou shalt keep every confidence, thou shalt believe all things, thou shalt hope all things, thou shalt endure all things.

Thou shalt never fail…

Even that may not have been too bad, if I had thought of these as God’s promises rather than as commandments. I did not. I thought of them as laws for me to obey. I set about being perfected by the flesh³⁷ with a vengeance. The troubling thing was: it worked!—sort of—my wife didn’t die. I wrote elsewhere:

Though such things are difficult to measure, I think it is fair to say that I did incrementally better at not sinning by trying to love like this rather than trying not to sin.³⁸

I reflected on my own experience with my wife. I was far from perfect loving like God by attempting to keep the definition of his love as if it were law. But my wife survived it. She wasn’t raped. Even after our divorce she thought of me as one of the kindest men she knew.³⁹

I’ll pick this up in another essay. Tables comparing Galatians 3:23; 3:29 and Ephesians 4:21 in the KJV and NET follow.

Galatians 3:23 (NET)	Galatians 3:23 (KJV)
Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed.	But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Galatians 3:23 (NET Parallel Greek)	Galatians 3:23 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Galatians 3:23 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Πρὸ τοῦ δὲ ἐλθεῖν τὴν πίστιν ὑπὸ νόμον ἐφρουρούμεθα συγκλειόμενοι εἰς τὴν μέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι	προ του δε ελθειν την πιστιν υπο νομον εφρουρουμεθα συγκεκλεισμενοι εις την μελλουσαν πιστιν αποκαλυφθηναι	προ του δε ελθειν την πιστιν υπο νομον εφρουρουμεθα συγκεκλεισμενοι εις την μελλουσαν πιστιν αποκαλυφθηναι

Galatians 3:29 (NET)	Galatians 3:29 (KJV)
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.	And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:29 (NET Parallel Greek)	Galatians 3:29 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Galatians 3:29 (Byzantine Majority Text)
εἰ δὲ ὑμεῖς Χριστοῦ, ἄρα τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ σπέρμα ἐστέ, κατ᾿ ἐπαγγελίαν κληρονόμοι	ει δε υμεις χριστου αρα του αβρααμ σπερμα εστε και κατ επαγγελιαν κληρονομοι	ει δε υμεις χριστου αρα του αβρααμ σπερμα εστε και κατ επαγγελιαν κληρονομοι

Ephesians 4:21 (NET)	Ephesians 4:21 (KJV)
if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus.	If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Ephesians 4:21 (NET Parallel Greek)	Ephesians 4:21 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Ephesians 4:21 (Byzantine Majority Text)
εἴ γε αὐτὸν ἠκούσατε καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ ἐδιδάχθητε, καθώς ἐστιν ἀλήθεια ἐν τῷ Ἰησοῦ	ειγε αυτον ηκουσατε και εν αυτω εδιδαχθητε καθως εστιν αληθεια εν τω ιησου	ειγε αυτον ηκουσατε και εν αυτω εδιδαχθητε καθως εστιν αληθεια εν τω ιησου

Exploration, Part 8

¹ Galatians 5:1a (ESV) Table

² Galatians 5:18 (ESV)

³ Galatians 3:2 (ESV)

⁴ Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

⁵ Romans 5:20a (ESV)

⁶ Galatians 5:1b (ESV) Table

⁷ Romans 8:3b (ESV)

⁸ Romans 7:20 (ESV) Table

⁹ Romans 7:15 (ESV)

¹⁰ John 3:7 (NET)

¹¹ Romans 5:15-21 (ESV)

¹² Galatians 3:19a (ESV)

¹³ Galatians 3:21a (ESV)

¹⁴ Ephesians 4:24b (ESV)

¹⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had συγκλειόμενοι here, a present participle of συγκλείω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the participle συγκεκλεισμενοι (KJV: shut up) in the perfect tense.

¹⁶ Ephesians 4:22b (ESV)

¹⁷ Galatians 5:1a (ESV) Table

¹⁸ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the conjunction και connecting these clauses. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not

¹⁹ Galatians 3:24-29 (ESV)

²⁰ Romans 7:18b (ESV) Table

²¹ Matthew 7:14 (ESV) Table

²² Romans 1:21b (ESV) Table

²³ Philippians 3:9b (ESV)

²⁴ Philippians 3:9c (ESV)

²⁵ Galatians 5:4 (ESV) Table

²⁶ The Greek words translated who had believed were τοὺς πεπιστευκότας, a participle of πιστεύω in the perfect tense: “The basic thought of the perfect tense is that the progress of an action has been completed and the results of the action are continuing on, in full effect. In other words, the progress of the action has reached its culmination and the finished results are now in existence. Unlike the English perfect, which indicates a completed past action, the Greek perfect tense indicates the continuation and present state of a completed past action.” From Verb Tenses: Perfect Tense, Greek Verbs (Shorter Definitions), on Resources for Learning New Testament Greek online. In other words, who had believed and continued in their faith rather than who had believed but did so no longer.

²⁷ John 8:31a (ESV)

²⁸ John 8:44, 45 (ESV)

²⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had εἴ γε (NET: if indeed) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειγε (KJV: If so be that).

³⁰ John 3:6, 7 (NET)

³¹ John 1:13 (NET)

³² David’s Forgiveness, Part 6

³³ Ibid.

³⁴ Exodus 20:13 (ESV) Table

³⁵ Matthew 22:36 (NASB)

³⁶ See Jedidiah, Part 2 for tables comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotations to that of the Septuagint

³⁷ Galatians 3:3b (ESV)

³⁸ Jedidiah, Part 2

³⁹ David’s Forgiveness, Part 6

Exploration, Part 6

Posted on January 13, 2025 by admin

Paul continued to describe the freedom for which Christ has set us free¹ (Galatians 5:18-21 ESV).

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality (πορνεία), impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God [Table].

The Greek was: εἰ δὲ, But if, πνεύματι᾿, by the Spirit, ἄγεσθε, you are led. I want to pause here because I’ve misunderstood this clause while I thought walking by the Spirit was my work rather than a result of the freedom for which Christ has set us free; namely, the new man led by the Spirit of God.² I thought εἰ, if, cast doubt on the new man walking by the Spirit, which is embarrassing since I have sufficient philosophical background to recognize the antecedent of a conditional statement.

When Paul wrote εἰ δὲ, “But if,” ὃ οὐ θέλω, “that not I want,” [ἐγὼ] τοῦτο ποιῶ, “I this do” (ESV: Now if I do what I do not want³), it was not to cast doubt on a previously stated fact: For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.⁴ Rather, it was to highlight the consequent of that fact: it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.⁵ Likewise, “But if by the Spirit you are led” does not cast doubt on the fact that the new man is led by the Spirit of God. Rather, it highlights the consequent of that fact: you are not under the law.⁶

The Greek was: οὐκ ἐστὲ ὑπὸ νόμον; literally, “not you are under (or, under the authority of) law.” The old man (τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον), which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,⁷ ignores everything else that was written to pounce on this, saying, “O goody, now I can do whatever I want!” This is a perfect opportunity ἀποθέσθαι ὑμᾶς; literally, “to lay aside you,” κατὰ τὴν προτέραν ἀναστροφὴν, “in regard to the first (or, former) behavior (or, conduct, or, way of life),” τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον, “the old man (or, human).”⁸ So, “to lay aside you in regard to the former way of life, the old man.”

Paul had already characterized the behavior, conduct or way of life of the old man as how Gentiles walk (Ephesians 4:17-19 ESV):

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds [Table]. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart [Table]. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

The translation you must…walk treats the verb περιπατεῖν as a 2^nd person plural form of περιπατέω in the imperative mood. It is actually an infinitive in the present tense: “to walk.” The plural pronoun ὑμᾶς precedes περιπατεῖν but is not the subject of this clause: ὑμᾶς is in the accusative case and is most likely the direct object of the verb περιπατεῖν. In Romans 16:25a (ESV) for instance, Now to him who is able to strengthen you, the phrase to strengthen you was ὑμᾶς στηρίξαι, an infinitive form of στηρίζω in the aorist tense (Interlinear Bible: you to strengthen). Granted, to walk you wouldn’t sound right in English, though it may be closer to the actual meaning. The Interlinear Bible rendered Ephesians 4:17, This therefore I say and testify in [the] Lord No longer [are] you to walk as also the Gentiles are walking in [the] futility of the mind of them. Here the verb of being [are] was added to make the English flow better.

I resist the idea, however, that Paul used ἐν κυρίῳ (in the Lord) like an oath to bolster his testifying. It seems more likely he testified that “in the Lord no longer [are] you to walk as also the Gentiles walk in futility of their minds” (νοὸς, a genitive singular form of νοῦς; e.g., “their own intention”). Whether Paul and the Holy Spirit intended this as a rule to obey or an outcome of [being] ἐν κυρίῳ may be an open question, but I favor the latter.

In the received text (Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text) the adjective λοιπα, a plural form of λοιπός, was interposed between the (τὰ) and Gentiles (ἔθνη) (KJV: the other Gentiles) [Table]. It is absent from the critical text (NET Parallel Greek and NA²⁸). The critical text enjoys the cachet of being closer to the original text, but the editors trust their methods enough to remove words, phrases and clauses from the received text. Textus Receptus Bibles online offers several opportunities to compare the received texts to the current version of the critical text.

I wondered if Paul would have called Gentiles the other Gentiles in this context. It implies that the Ephesians were also Gentiles despite his previous address to them: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints (τοῖς ἁγίοις) who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus.⁹ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, he wrote the Romans, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles¹⁰ (ἐν τοῖς λοιποῖς ἔθνεσιν). He had previously addressed them: To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints (κλητοῖς ἁγίοις).¹¹

The plural the Gentiles (τὰ ἔθνη) followed by the verb περιπατεῖ (ESV: do), a 3^rd person singular form of περιπατέω, seems to render the Gentiles of Ephesians 4:17 as something more conceptual than actual (plural Gentiles engaged in singular activity). This is not to say that there were no actual Gentiles who behaved as Paul described, but that Paul, when writing about actual Gentiles, was well aware of the variety of Gentile behaviors, including doing what the law requires (Romans 2:12-16 ESV).

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous (δίκαιοι, a form of δίκαιος) before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified (δικαιωθήσονται, a form of δικαιόω) [Table]. For when Gentiles (ἔθνη, a plural form of ἔθνος), who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law [Table]. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

So what concept do Paul’s conceptual Gentiles of Ephesians 4:17 embody? It is evident by what follows that they were the old man entangled in a yoke of slavery to sin. They were in the flesh.

The Walk (doing) of the Gentiles (Ephesians 4:18, 19 ESV)	The Works of the Flesh (Galatians 5:19-21a ESV)
They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart [Table]. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.	Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality (πορνεία), impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these [Table].

But Gentiles were not without hope (Galatians 3:7-9 ESV):

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify (δικαιοῖ, a form of δίκαιος) the Gentiles (τὰ ἔθνη) by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations (πάντα τὰ ἔθνη) be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The phrase οἱ ἐκ πίστεως occurs twice above: (v. 7) those of faith, and (v. 9) those who are of faith. These are the new man, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God;¹² the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness;¹³ the saints who…are faithful in Christ Jesus;¹⁴ we who For our freedom Christ has us set free; therefore you stand firm and cannot entangle yourselves in a yoke of slavery again.¹⁵ As Jesus said to Nicodemus: Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’;¹⁶ literally, δεῖ, “it is necessary,” ὑμᾶς γεννηθῆναι, “you [plural] to be born,” ἄνωθεν, “from above” (e.g., by the Spirit of God).

The conceptual Gentiles Paul described had yet to receive¹⁷ The true light, which gives light to everyone.¹⁸ They had not yet believed in his name.¹⁹ But that is insufficient to invalidate Jesus’ promise to draw all to Himself. Christ redeemed us,²⁰ Paul wrote the Galatians, so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles (τὰ ἔθνη), so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith (διὰ τῆς πίστεως).²¹ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.²²

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach²³ the good news!” [Table]²⁴

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God [Table], not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.²⁵

The verb περιπατήσωμεν (ESV: we should walk), a 1^st person plural form of περιπατέω, is in the subjunctive mood and aorist tense. It follows the conjunction ἵνα (ESV: that). This is a purpose or result clause:

if the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action.

The aorist is said to be “simple occurrence” or “summary occurrence”, without regard for the amount of time taken to accomplish the action. This tense is also often referred to as the ‘punctiliar’ tense. ‘Punctiliar’ in this sense means ‘viewed as a single, collective whole,’ a “one-point-in-time” action, although it may actually take place over a period of time.²⁶

In other words, “we walk in” the good works, which God prepared beforehand, at some point in time undesignated by Paul’s statement of fact. I want to return again now to But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.²⁷

I hope it is clear that everyone born of Adam has an old man, enslaved to the flesh, pursuing its desires. That is who you are before you turn to faith in Christ. I hope it is clear how to become a new man born of the Spirit of God and led by the Spirit of God by changing your mind about Jesus (μετάνοια) and believing Him. I hope it is clear that He wants this for you and is drawing you to Himself. I’ll continue to consider what Paul meant by ὑπὸ νόμον (ESV: under the law).

He wrote elsewhere (Romans 7:1-6 ESV):

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding (κυριεύει, a form of κυριεύω) on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members lo bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

I’ll focus first on a married woman. The Greek was: ἡ γὰρ, For a, ὕπανδρος γυνὴ, married woman. Yes, ὕπανδρος can mean married, but in this context it may be more appropriate to understand it as: “For a subject-to-the-authority-of-a-husband woman,” or “For an under-a-man’s-authority woman.” The Greek continued: τῷ ζῶντι ἀνδρὶ, “by the life of husband (or, of man),” δέδεται νόμῳ, is bound by law. The ESV translation of δέδεται, is bound, sounds right if this were a passive form of δέω. The Koine Greek Lexicon actually lists a richer meaning for the middle/passive voice: “to lack, miss, stand in need of a person or thing; to be less, short (e.g., Quadratus says, “19½ years” as “20 years less 6 months”); to be in want or need; to be necessary; to ask for a thing from a person; to plead, pray, beseech, beg.” In other words, “For a subject-to-the-authority-of-a-husband woman by the life of husband stands in need by law.”

Paul may have had a very specific “subject-to-the-authority-of-a-husband woman” in mind here. Peter had held up Sarah as an example for wives (γυναῖκες): as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, he wrote.²⁸ Her story serves to illustrate Paul’s point (Genesis 12:11-13 ESV).

When [Abram] was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance [Table], and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live [Table]. Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake” [Table].

Paul continued (Romans 7:3a ESV):

Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives (γένηται, a form of γίνομαι) with another man while her husband is alive.

Sarai apparently obeyed Abram without protest as events transpired according to his word (Genesis 12:14-16a ESV).

When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful [Table]. And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house [Table]. And for her sake he dealt well with Abram… [Table]

Paul had already explained why Sarai wouldn’t be called an adulteress (Romans 5:12, 13 ESV):

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

My point (and Paul’s possibly) is that obeying the law of her husband Abram made it impossible for Sarai to obey the law, which came 430 years afterward:²⁹ “You shall not commit adultery.”³⁰ In other words, under the law of her husband Sarai was like Those who are in the flesh [who] cannot please God.³¹ But if her husband dies, Paul continued, she is free from that law (ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου), and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.³²

By all appearances, Abram didn’t free Sarai by dying. The story of Abram/Abraham and Sarai/Sarah is about God’s faithfulness to them, growing their faith in Him (and their faithfulness to Him) by his own love and grace throughout their lives (before the law was given). The writer of Hebrews summarized the outcome of Abraham’s faith (Hebrews 11:17-19 ESV):

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

So I assume that in the end Sarah was released from Abram’s fearful and Abraham’s prejudiced commandment, and that she, too, was enabled to live faithfully, both to her husband and to God. None of this is to say that the response Sarai/Sarah had to the predicament Abram/Abraham put her in isn’t endearing, romantic and sexy to the heart of man. It is to say that what is endearing, romantic or sexy to the heart of man is not necessarily, for those reasons alone, synonymous with the righteousness of God, the gift of righteousness.

Likewise, my brothers, Paul continued, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.³³ By all appearances, the plural you (ὑμεῖς), to whom Paul wrote, didn’t die. He expected them to be alive to hear or to read his letter, in which was already written (Romans 6:6-11 ESV):

We know that our old self (ὁ παλαιὸς ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος, aka our old man) was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved (δουλεύειν) to sin. For one who has died has been set free (δεδικαίωται, a form of δικαιόω) from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus [Table].

The phrase you…must consider yourselves was ὑμεῖς λογίζεσθε ἑαυτοὺς. It is clearly a truth to believe rather than a work to achieve. The work was accomplished by Christ: all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death³⁴…the life he lives he lives to God. So you also…consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus [Table].³⁵ Translating λογίζεσθε as an imperative form of λογίζομαι rather than as a statement of fact in the indicative mood was unnecessary. And λογίζεσθε is the only 2^nd person plural form of λογίζομαι in the present tense listed in the Koine Greek Lexicon online.

Once the old self has been crucified with Christ, you (ὑμεῖς), the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness,³⁶ also have died to the law through the body of Christ³⁷ and are free to serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.³⁸ For our freedom Christ has us set free; therefore you stand firm and cannot entangle yourselves in a yoke of slavery again.³⁹

For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.⁴⁰ The Greek was: ὅτε γὰρ, “For when,” ἦμεν, “we were,” ἐν τῇ σαρκί, “in the flesh,” τὰ παθήματα τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, “the sufferings (or misfortunes, or passions) of sin,” τὰ διὰ τοῦ νόμου, “through the law,” ἐνηργεῖτο, “were continually⁴¹ active.” This is what Paul meant by the phrase under the law⁴² (ὑπὸ νόμον). For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.⁴³

This knowledge is more than an intellectual awareness of sin, specified by law as that which is unlawful (Romans 7:7-13 ESV).

What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure [Table].

But if you are led by the Spirit, Paul explained another of the better promises of the new covenant, you are not under the law.⁴⁴ Why then the law?⁴⁵ he asked. I’ll pick this up in another essay.

According to a note (14) in the NET, Paul quoted from Joel 2:32 in Romans 10:13. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

Romans 10:13 (NET Parallel Greek)	Joel 2:32a (Septuagint BLB) Table	Joel 3:5a (Septuagint Elpenor)
πᾶς γὰρ ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου σωθήσεται	καὶ ἔσται πᾶς ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου σωθήσεται	καὶ ἔσται, πᾶς, ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου, σωθήσεται
Romans 10:13 (NET)	Joel 2:32a (NETS)	Joel 3:5a (English Elpenor)
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.	And it shall be, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,	And it shall come to pass [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved:

According to a note (18) in the NET, Paul quoted from Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 1:15 in Romans 10:15. Tables comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation from the critical text and the received text with that of the Septuagint follow.

Romans 10:15b (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 52:27a (Septuagint BLB) Table	Isaiah 52:27a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὡς ὡραῖοι οἱ πόδες τῶν εὐαγγελιζομένων [τὰ] ἀγαθά	ὡς ὥρα ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων ὡς πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου ἀκοὴν εἰρήνης ὡς εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀγαθά	ὡς ὥρα ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων, ὡς πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου ἀκοὴν εἰρήνης, ὡς εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀγαθά
Romans 10:15b (NET)	Isaiah 52:27a (NETS)	Isaiah 52:27a (English Elpenor)
“How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.”	like season upon the mountains, like the feet of one bringing glad tidings of a report of peace, like one bringing glad tidings of good things,	as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news:

Romans 10:15b (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Isaiah 52:27a (Septuagint BLB) Table	Isaiah 52:27a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ως ωραιοι οι ποδες των ευαγγελιζομενων ειρηνην των ευαγγελιζομενων τα αγαθα	ὡς ὥρα ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων ὡς πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου ἀκοὴν εἰρήνης ὡς εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀγαθά	ὡς ὥρα ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων, ὡς πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου ἀκοὴν εἰρήνης, ὡς εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀγαθά
Romans 10:15b (KJV)	Isaiah 52:27a (NETS)	Isaiah 52:27a (English Elpenor)
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!	like season upon the mountains, like the feet of one bringing glad tidings of a report of peace, like one bringing glad tidings of good things,	as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news:

Romans 10:15b (NET Parallel Greek)	Nahum 1:15a (Septuagint BLB)	Nahum 2:1a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὡς ὡραῖοι οἱ πόδες τῶν εὐαγγελιζομένων [τὰ] ἀγαθά	ἰδοὺ ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη οἱ πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου καὶ ἀπαγγέλλοντος εἰρήνην	ΙΔΟΥ ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη οἱ πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου καὶ ἀπαγγέλλοντος εἰρήνην
Romans 10:15b (NET)	Nahum 1:15a (NETS)	Nahum 2:1a (English Elpenor)
“How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.”	Behold, on the mountains are the feet of one who brings good tidings and who announces peace.	as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news:

Romans 10:15b (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Nahum 1:15a (Septuagint BLB)	Nahum 2:1a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ως ωραιοι οι ποδες των ευαγγελιζομενων ειρηνην των ευαγγελιζομενων τα αγαθα	ἰδοὺ ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη οἱ πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου καὶ ἀπαγγέλλοντος εἰρήνην	ΙΔΟΥ ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη οἱ πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου καὶ ἀπαγγέλλοντος εἰρήνην
Romans 10:15b (KJV)	Nahum 1:15a (NETS)	Nahum 2:1a (English Elpenor)
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!	Behold, on the mountains are the feet of one who brings good tidings and who announces peace.	as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news:

A table comparing Nahum 1:15 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and a table comparing the Greek of Nahum 1:15 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Nahum 1:15 (Tanakh)	Nahum 1:15 (KJV)	Nahum 1:15 (NET)
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.	Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.	Look! A herald is running on the mountains! A messenger is proclaiming deliverance: “Celebrate your sacred festivals, O Judah! Fulfill your sacred vows to praise God! For never again will the wicked Assyrians invade you; they have been completely destroyed.”

Nahum 1:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Nahum 2:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἰδοὺ ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη οἱ πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου καὶ ἀπαγγέλλοντος εἰρήνην ἑόρταζε Ιουδα τὰς ἑορτάς σου ἀπόδος τὰς εὐχάς σου διότι οὐ μὴ προσθήσωσιν ἔτι τοῦ διελθεῖν διὰ σοῦ εἰς παλαίωσιν συντετέλεσται ἐξῆρται	ΙΔΟΥ ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη οἱ πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου καὶ ἀπαγγέλλοντος εἰρήνην· ἑόρταζε, ᾿Ιούδα, τὰς ἑορτάς σου, ἀπόδος τὰς εὐχάς σου, διότι οὐ μὴ προσθήσωσιν ἔτι τοῦ διελθεῖν διὰ σοῦ εἰς παλαίωσιν. – Συντετέλεσται, ἐξῇρται
Nahum 1:15 (NETS)	Nahum 2:1 (English Elpenor)
Behold, on the mountains are the feet of one who brings good tidings and who announces peace. Celebrate your feasts, O Ioudas; pay your vows, for they shall not add any longer to pass on to becoming old.	Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that brings glad tidings, and publishes peace! O Juda, keep thy feasts, pay thy vows: for they shall no more pass through thee to [thy] decay. It is all over with him, he has been removed,

Exploration, Part 7

Back to Romans, Part 20

¹ Galatians 5:1a (ESV) Table

² Exploration, Part 5

³ Romans 7:20a (ESV) Table

⁴ Romans 7:15 (ESV)

⁵ Romans 7:20b (ESV) Table

⁶ Galatians 5:18b (ESV)

⁷ Ephesians 4:22b (ESV)

⁸ Ephesians 4:22a (NA²⁸)

⁹ Ephesians 1:1 (ESV)

¹⁰ Romans 1:13 (ESV)

¹¹ Romans 1:7a (ESV)

¹² John 1:13 (ESV)

¹³ Ephesians 4:24b (ESV)

¹⁴ Ephesians 1:1b (ESV)

¹⁵ Galatians 5:1 (EXP1) Table

¹⁶ John 3:7 (ESV) Here, again in Greek ὑμᾶς γεννηθῆναι: the plural accusative you is most likely the direct object of the passive infinitive verb to be born, but “it is necessary to be born you from above” would be very awkward in English. “It is necessary [for] you to be born from above” might suffice.

¹⁷ John 1:12a (ESV)

¹⁸ John 1:9a (ESV)

¹⁹ John 1:12b (ESV)

²⁰ Galatians 3:13a (ESV) Table

²¹ Galatians 3:14 (ESV)

²² Romans 10:17 (ESV) Table

²³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had των ευαγγελιζομενων ειρηνην (KJV: the gospel of peace) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁴ Romans 10:12-17 (ESV)

²⁵ Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

²⁶ From Verbal Moods: Subjunctive Mood and Verb Tenses: Aorist Tense respectively, Greek Verbs (Shorter Definitions), on Resources for Learning New Testament Greek online.

²⁷ Galatians 5:18 (ESV)

²⁸ 1 Peter 3:6a (ESV)

²⁹ Galatians 3:17a (ESV) Table I was curious how Hammurabi’s Code of Laws dealt with a wife’s adultery: “143. If she has committed adultery, then she shall be executed by being thrown into the water.” Then I was curious if there were any further developments in the dating of Hammurabi’s reign relative to the life of Abraham, and came across the following: “For many years, Abraham was believed to have lived at the same time as Hammurabi, king of Babylon. Later scholars would date Abraham to the period shortly before the reign of Hammurabi. However, the result of recent research is that the chronology of the ancient world is being redated. Hammurabi now appears to be a near contemporary of Moses instead of Abraham” (From “Abraham and the Chronology of Ancient Mesopotamia” by Matt McClellan in Answers Research Journal online.) This is a surprising enough conclusion that I remain a little skeptical, but I’ll continue to consider the evidence as I hear more about it.

³⁰ Exodus 20:14 (ESV) Table

³¹ Romans 8:8 (ESV)

³² Romans 7:3b (ESV)

³³ Romans 7:4 (ESV)

³⁴ Romans 6:3b (ESV)

³⁵ Romans 6:10b, 11 (ESV)

³⁶ Ephesians 4:24b (ESV)

³⁷ Romans 7:4a (ESV)

³⁸ Romans 7:6b (ESV)

³⁹ Galatians 5:1 (EXP1) Table

⁴⁰ Romans 7:5 (ESV)

⁴¹ “The imperfect tense shows continuous or linear type of action just like the present tense. It always indicates an action continually or repeatedly happening in past time. It portrays the action as going on for some extended period of time in the past.” From Verb Tenses: Imperfect Tense, Greek Verbs (Shorter Definitions), on Resources for Learning New Testament Greek online.

⁴² Galatians 5:18b (ESV)

⁴³ Romans 3:20 (ESV)

⁴⁴ Galatians 5:18 (ESV)

⁴⁵ Galatians 3:19a (ESV)

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 10

Posted on April 14, 2024 by admin

My mother told the following story about her firstborn son:

His father worked the evening shift. Perhaps it was the only shift the young man could get. Perhaps he did it deliberately to earn more per hour. She was alone with their infant son in the afternoon in an upstairs city apartment in summer heat. She put her firstborn in a stroller and pushed him up the street to a corner dairy for a chocolate milkshake.

As they sat in the shade outside the dairy, she offered her son his first taste of chocolate milkshake. He grabbed it from her and wouldn’t let go. There wasn’t money for another. She wasn’t at all certain her husband would agree that there had been money for the first one. So, the twenty-three-year-old mother did without while her son drank too much, too soon for one so small.

I’ve heard that story many times. The time I recall most now, I was telling it myself as my sister and I reminisced after Mom’s death. Like Scrooge pleading to “sponge away the writing on this stone,”¹ I tried vainly once again to repent of a deed done before I have any memory of doing it. My sister laughed and said, “She told that story because she thought it was funny. She loves you.”

I’ve reacted to that story many different ways at different times throughout my life. I don’t think it’s funny—not now. Though I don’t recall the event, I am all too familiar with that child. He is the sin that lives in me.² He is the evil…present with me when I want to do good.³ He is the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.⁴ He is unrestrained will: “I want.”

Though I say “unrestrained,” he was constrained somewhat by his stroller and the shortened reach of his chubby little arms. Do you still think he is funny? If I shout it in German, “Ich will!” perhaps you can hear the very worst of Adolf Hitler incipient in that child’s lust, a child who wouldn’t even share a chocolate milkshake with his own mother. Grant him power and he will covet and steal; he will rape and murder; he will try to conquer the world, shrieking a damnable lie: I AM AND THERE IS NO OTHER! No one I know has caused more harm to me or the people I love. And there is no one I would rather see condemned to the lake of fire for all eternity.

In another essay I began to consider the substance or body which cast the shadow of the scape-goat (English Elpenor) or the [goat] to be sent off (NETS) in Leviticus 16:8 (KJV, Septuagint) [Table]. And in another essay I wrote:

Truthfully, my religious mind wants I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin (Romans 7:14b NET) to apply to the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.³ My old man may well be the proximate cause of my unspirituality and slavery to sin, but Paul described an I, as I am seen here and now, that is comprised of both an old man and a new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth:⁴For I want to do the good, he wrote, but I cannot do it.⁵

My sister was right: my mother loved me even before I was “comprised of both an old man and a new man who has been created in God’s image.” She didn’t grab me by the ankles and bash my brains out on the hot pavement that day. The words the only true God spoke through Isaiah the prophet to Cyrus, another old man more powerful than mine, follow:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 45:4-8 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 45:4-8 (NET)	Isaiah 45:4-8 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:4-8 (English Elpenor)
For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect (בְּחִירִ֑י), I have even called thee [e.g., Cyrus] by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.	For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one (bāḥîr, בחירי), I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not submit to me.	For the sake of my servant Iakob and Israel my chosen (τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου), I will call you by name and receive you, but you did not know me,	For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel mine elect (τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου), I will call thee by thy name, and accept thee: but thou hast not known me.
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:	I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.	because I am the Lord God, and there is no other god besides me, and you did not know me,	For I am the Lord God, and there is no other God beside me; I strengthened thee, and thou hast not known me.
That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.	I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the Lord, I have no peer.	so that they who are from the rising of the sun and from its going down may know that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord God, and there is no other.	That they that [come] from the east and they that [come] from the west may know that there is no God but me. I am the Lord God, and there is none beside.
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.	I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.	I am the one who has prepared light and made darkness, who makes peace and creates evils; I am the Lord who does all these things.	I am he that prepared light, and formed darkness; who make peace, and create evil; I am the Lord God, that does all these things.
Drop down, ye heavens, from above (מִמַּ֔עַל), and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.	O sky, rain down from above (maʿal, ממעל)! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the Lord, create it.’”	Let heaven rejoice from above (ἄνωθεν), and let the clouds shower down righteousness; let the earth bring forth mercy, and let it bring forth righteousness as well; I am the Lord who created you.	Let the heaven rejoice from above (ἄνωθεν), and let the clouds rain righteousness: let the earth bring forth, and blossom [with] mercy, and bring forth righteousness likewise: I am the Lord that created thee.

Though I was born evil incarnate,⁵ not yet born from above (γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν),⁶ that evil dwelt by the grace of God in a cute and cuddly package. Most women by the grace of God find that cute and cuddly infant package adorable and appealing. I was born by the grace of God through an intensely intimate process that made my birth and my existence uniquely special to my mother. And so, I lived, not by any virtue of my own, but by the grace of a loving God who gave me a mother who loved me and hoped for me and named me Daniel, that I would grow to stand alone, if necessary, with God.

I’m torn here because I want to get back to studying the Bible but I know my mother would argue with my assessment of myself. It seems obligatory to address how I fooled my mother a large portion, if not most, of the time. I think it boils down to the same thing that surprises me now about the direct honesty of that evil infant. I can only rationalize it as naive ignorance. My earliest memory of my own motivation was that I wanted my mother, my father, anyone, everyone really, to think well of me, to speak well of me. I would attempt to do almost anything to hear their praise.

Trying to please all the people all of the time to win their praise was exhausting and led directly to what some call defiance. My little brother began life with that strategy. It seemed stupid and annoying to me, a waste of time when one is weak and unarmed. If you can’t please all the people all of the time and you can’t kill all the people all of the time, one must compromise: compliance rather than defiance is that compromise.

I tried to the best of my ability to comply as much as I was able with the demands of those I couldn’t kill or intimidate. Compliance can seem like obedience, even righteousness, to those who look on external appearance only. Compliance, to optimize my experience of winning the praise of others, fooled me, too. I wasn’t subtle enough to imagine any righteousness beyond compliance.

Jesus saying, Woe to you⁷ when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things⁸ to the false prophets,⁹ was just word salad to me. But in the right circumstances at the right time and place I could nod and “yea, verily” with the best of them, without ever hearing Jesus’ aspersion on the meaning of my life. Eventually, I was so accustomed to my strategy of maximizing praise and minimizing being screamed at by the minimal level of compliance required, even when I tried to learn from the Bible I only heard what I expected to hear.

John wrote (1 John 5:16 NET):

If anyone sees his fellow Christian (τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ) committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.

The fellow Christian John described here was also an I, as I am seen here and now, an I comprised of both an old man and a new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.¹⁰ This I is not the same as everyone fathered by God (1 John 5:18 NET [Table]):

We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one (ὁ πονηρὸς) cannot touch him.

This I is the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.¹¹ The evil one cannot touch (οὐχ ἅπτεται) him. In other words, the old man and the new man are distinct, though both dwell together within John’s fellow Christian. The Greek word ἅπτεται (NET: touch) is a passive form of ἅπτω in the middle voice: “to fasten to, touch, grab, attach, cling; to reach, get as far as.” To my mind cannot implies οὐ δύναται in Greek: an inability, a lack of power. But this is οὐχ ἅπτεται, “does not touch.” The old man, the devil, evil does not touch the new man, period, end of statement.

Making God the subject of the clause—but God protects the one he has fathered—while not wrong exactly, is not what the Greek actually says. The subject of this clause is ὁ γεννηθεὶς (NET: the one he has fathered): “the one he has fathered protects him.” The NET translators didn’t distinguish¹² between the everyone fathered by God (πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ) who does not sin (οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει) from the fellow Christian¹³ (τὸν ἀδελφὸν; literally, “the brother”) who does.

I assume that ὁ γεννηθεὶς (NET: the one he has fathered) refers to Jesus and his work on the cross in union with the new man who has been created in God’s image,¹⁴ while αὐτόν ¹⁵ (him) refers back to the singular πᾶς (NET: everyone) of everyone fathered by God.¹⁶

John made a similar distinction between his Dear friends (ἀγαπητοί, a form of ἀγαπητός) and the new man earlier in this same letter:

1 John 3:2 (NET)	1 John 3:6 (NET)
Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We¹⁷ know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him because we will see him just as he is.	Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him.
1 John 3:2 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 John 3:6 (NET Parallel Greek)
ἀγαπητοί, νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμεν, καὶ οὔπω ἐφανερώθη τί ἐσόμεθα. οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, ὅμοιοι αὐτῷ ἐσόμεθα, ὅτι ὀψόμεθα αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστιν	πᾶς ὁ ἐν αὐτῷ μένων οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· πᾶς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων οὐχ ἑώρακεν αὐτὸν οὐδὲ ἔγνωκεν αὐτόν

The NET translators chose whenever it is revealed for ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, where the KJV translators chose when he shall appear. Either way, we will be (ἐσόμεθα, a form of εἰμί) like him (i.e., like God, NET or like Jesus, KJV) at some future time because we will see (ὀψόμεθα, a form of ὁράω) him just as he is.¹⁸ This likeness to God or Jesus should, at a minimum, entail not sinning. And John confirmed that everyone who sins has neither seen (ἑώρακεν, another from of ὁράω) him nor known (ἔγνωκεν, a form of γινώσκω) him.¹⁹

Paul echoed and clarified this concept for John’s Dear friends (1 Corinthians 13:12 NET):

For now we see (βλέπομεν, a form of βλέπω) in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know (γινώσκω) in part, but then I will know fully (ἐπιγνώσομαι, a form of ἐπιγινώσκω), just as I have been fully known (ἐπεγνώσθην, another form of ἐπιγινώσκω).

This leads to the conclusion that John’s more absolute—has neither seen him nor known him—denoted everyone who sins (πᾶς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων) as the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.²⁰ Conversely, Everyone who resides in him does not sin, refers to the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.²¹

So, returning to the evil one (ὁ πονηρὸς) cannot touch (οὐχ ἅπτεται) him (αὐτοῦ):²² the NET translators apparently understood αὐτοῦ as a personal pronoun in the genitive case. I am more inclined to understand αὐτοῦ as an adverb: “the evil one does not touch here,” or “there.” In other words, John described the new man as a holy place where God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit meets with the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth as One.

I have lived as the old man, bereft of the new man. I am living as the new man, frustrated at times by that old man. I hope to live as the new man, separated entirely from the old man. When I began to consider the final judgment as a potential deadline for Jesus to have drawn all to Himself, I thought it was mostly for my convenience.

I have no authority or standing to tell Jesus that He can draw no one to Himself afterward, but final judgment is like an event horizon I have difficulty seeing beyond. While I am aware of no Christian theology which addresses Jesus’ drawing of all to Himself, or the impact of that drawing on the judgment of this world and the ruler of this world being driven out, I can’t now go back and pretend that I don’t hear Him saying (John 12:31, 32 NET):

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when (ἐὰν) I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all²³…to myself.

Considering the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires,²⁴ the sin that lives in me,²⁵ as that which cast the shadow of the scape-goat (English Elpenor) or the [goat] to be sent off (NETS) in Leviticus 16:8 (KJV, Septuagint) [Table] adds an interesting line of evidence to that convenience of my choice. Rashi’s commentary to Leviticus 16:8 reads:

And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he-goats: He would place one [he-goat] on his right and one on his left. Then, he would insert both his hands into an urn [which contained two lots, one bearing the inscription “to the Lord” and the other “to Azazel.” These lots were mixed up, and Aaron, with both hands inside the urn] took one lot in his right hand and the other in his left hand, and he would place them upon them [the he-goats]: [The one] upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to the Lord,” would be for God, while the one upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to Azazel,” would be sent off to Azazel. — [Yoma 39a]

Azazel: This is a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, as the Scripture says [in describing Azazel] (verse 22 below),“a precipitous land (אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה),” meaning a cut-off land [i.e., a sheer drop]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:28; Yoma 67b]

Assuming that Rashi was reaching back into an actual institutional memory of this ceremony, Jesus seems to have alluded to it in his description of final judgment (Matthew 25:31-33 NET):

When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people (αὐτοὺς) one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from (ἀπὸ) the goats [Table]. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

I’ll pick this up in another essay.

Tables comparing Isaiah 45:4; 45:5; 45:6; 45:7 and 45:8 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Isaiah 45:4; 45:5; 45:6; 45:7 and 45:8 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Luke 6:26 and 1 John 3:2 in the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 45:4 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 45:4 (KJV)	Isaiah 45:4 (NET)
For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.	For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.	For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one, I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not submit to me.

Isaiah 45:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 45:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἕνεκεν Ιακωβ τοῦ παιδός μου καὶ Ισραηλ τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου ἐγὼ καλέσω σε τῷ ὀνόματί σου καὶ προσδέξομαί σε σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἔγνως με	ἕνεκεν τοῦ παιδός μου ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου, ἐγὼ καλέσω σε τῷ ὀνόματί σου καὶ προσδέξομαί σε, σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἔγνως με
Isaiah 45:4 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:4 (English Elpenor)
For the sake of my servant Iakob and Israel my chosen, I will call you by name and receive you, but you did not know me,	For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel mine elect, I will call thee by thy name, and accept thee: but thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 45:5 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 45:5 (KJV)	Isaiah 45:5 (NET)
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:	I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:	I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.

Isaiah 45:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 45:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι πλὴν ἐμοῦ θεός καὶ οὐκ ᾔδεις με	ὅτι ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεός, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι πλὴν ἐμοῦ Θεός, ἐνίσχυσά σε καὶ οὐκ ᾔδεις με
Isaiah 45:5 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:5 (English Elpenor)
because I am the Lord God, and there is no other god besides me, and you did not know me,	For I am the Lord God, and there is no other God beside me; I strengthened thee, and thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 45:6 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 45:6 (KJV)	Isaiah 45:6 (NET)
That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.	That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.	I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the Lord, I have no peer.

Isaiah 45:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 45:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἵνα γνῶσιν οἱ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν ἡλίου καὶ οἱ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν πλὴν ἐμοῦ ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι	ἵνα γνῶσι οἱ ἀπ᾿ ἀνατολῶν ἡλίου καὶ οἱ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι Θεὸς πλὴν ἐμοῦ· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεός, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι
Isaiah 45:6 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:6 (English Elpenor)
so that they who are from the rising of the sun and from its going down may know that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord God, and there is no other.	That they that [come] from the east and they that [come] from the west may know that there is no God but me. I am the Lord God, and there is none beside.

Isaiah 45:7 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 45:7 (KJV)	Isaiah 45:7 (NET)
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.	I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.	I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.

Isaiah 45:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 45:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγὼ ὁ κατασκευάσας φῶς καὶ ποιήσας σκότος ὁ ποιῶν εἰρήνην καὶ κτίζων κακά ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν ταῦτα πάντα	ἐγὼ ὁ κατασκευάσας φῶς καὶ ποιήσας σκότος, ὁ ποιῶν εἰρήνην καὶ κτίζων κακά· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν πάντα ταῦτα
Isaiah 45:7 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:7 (English Elpenor)
I am the one who has prepared light and made darkness, who makes peace and creates evils; I am the Lord who does all these things.	I am he that prepared light, and formed darkness; who make peace, and create evil; I am the Lord God, that does all these things.

Isaiah 45:8 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 45:8 (KJV)	Isaiah 45:8 (NET)
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.	Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.	O sky, rain down from above! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the Lord, create it.’”

Isaiah 45:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 45:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εὐφρανθήτω ὁ οὐρανὸς ἄνωθεν καὶ αἱ νεφέλαι ῥανάτωσαν δικαιοσύνην ἀνατειλάτω ἡ γῆ ἔλεος καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἀνατειλάτω ἅμα ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ὁ κτίσας σε	εὐφρανθήτω ὁ οὐρανὸς ἄνωθεν, καὶ αἱ νεφέλαι ῥανάτωσαν δικαιοσύνην· ἀνατειλάτω ἡ γῆ καὶ βλαστησάτω ἔλεος, καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἀνατειλάτω ἅμα· ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος ὁ κτίσας σε
Isaiah 45:8 (NETS)	Isaiah 45:8 (English Elpenor)
Let heaven rejoice from above, and let the clouds shower down righteousness; let the earth bring forth mercy, and let it bring forth righteousness as well; I am the Lord who created you.	Let the heaven rejoice from above, and let the clouds rain righteousness: let the earth bring forth, and blossom [with] mercy, and bring forth righteousness likewise: I am the Lord that created thee.

Luke 6:26 (NET)	Luke 6:26 (KJV)
Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets.	Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Luke 6:26 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 6:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 6:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)
οὐαὶ ὅταν ὑμᾶς \|καλῶς\| εἴπωσιν πάντες οἱ ἄνθρωποι· κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ γὰρ ἐποίουν τοῖς ψευδοπροφήταις οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν	ουαι υμιν οταν καλως υμας ειπωσιν παντες οι ανθρωποι κατα ταυτα γαρ εποιουν τοις ψευδοπροφηταις οι πατερες αυτων	ουαι οταν καλως υμας ειπωσιν οι ανθρωποι κατα ταυτα γαρ εποιουν τοις ψευδοπροφηταις οι πατερες αυτων

1 John 3:2 (NET)	1 John 3:2 (KJV)
Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him because we will see him just as he is.	Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3:2 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 John 3:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 John 3:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἀγαπητοί, νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμεν, καὶ οὔπω ἐφανερώθη τί ἐσόμεθα. οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, ὅμοιοι αὐτῷ ἐσόμεθα, ὅτι ὀψόμεθα αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστιν	αγαπητοι νυν τεκνα θεου εσμεν και ουπω εφανερωθη τι εσομεθα οιδαμεν δε οτι εαν φανερωθη ομοιοι αυτω εσομεθα οτι οψομεθα αυτον καθως εστιν	αγαπητοι νυν τεκνα θεου εσμεν και ουπω εφανερωθη τι εσομεθα οιδαμεν δε οτι εαν φανερωθη ομοιοι αυτω εσομεθα οτι οψομεθα αυτον καθως εστιν

Back to Romans, Part 26

Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 8

Back to The Children of Promise, Part 2

¹ From “A Christmas Carol (Part 4)” by Charles Dickens. Movie: A Christmas Carol

² Romans 7:17b (NET) Table; Romans 7:20b (NET) Table

³ Romans 7:21 (NET)

⁴ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

⁵ Psalm 51:5 [Table]

⁶ John 3:7 (NET)

⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had υμιν (KJV: unto you) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not (NET note 87).

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τὰ αὐτὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ταυτα (KJV: so).

⁹ Luke 6:26 (NET)

¹⁰ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

¹¹ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

¹² NET note 49

¹³ 1 John 5:16a (NET)

¹⁴ Ephesians 4:24a (NET)

¹⁵ The NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τηρει εαυτον (KJV: keepeth himself) here. If one does not distinguish (NET note 49) between the new man and the sinning Christian, this becomes unintelligible: “the sinning Christian keepeth himself from sinning.”

¹⁶ 1 John 5:18a (NET) Table

¹⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: but) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁸ 1 John 3:2b (NET)

¹⁹ 1 John 3:6b (NET)

²⁰ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

²¹ Ephesians 4:24b (NET)

²² 1 John 5:18b (NET)

²³ I dropped the word people here, because that limitation is not in the Greek text: πάντας ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν.

²⁴ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

²⁵ Romans 7:20b (NET) Table

Nothing True, Part 1

Posted on March 17, 2023 by admin

The book of Job continues with a visitation by three friends. Job’s friends bring provocation rather than comfort, angering the Lord (Job 42:7, 8 NET):

After the Lord had spoken these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has [Table]. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job will intercede for you, and I will respect him, so that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

The Septuagint seems more expansive in its criticism of Job’s friends’ words than the Masoretic text.

Job 42:7, 8 (NETS)	Job 42:7, 8 (English Elpenor)
Now it happened after the Lord spoke all these words to Iob, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaimanite, “You have sinned, and your two friends, for you have spoken nothing true (ἀληθὲς οὐδὲν) in my presence, as has my attendant Iob.	And it came to pass after the Lord had spoken all these words to Job, [that] the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaemanite, Thou hast sinned, and thy two friends: for ye have not said anything true (ἀληθὲς οὐδὲν) before me, as my servant Job [has].
Now then, take seven calves and seven rams, and go to my attendant Iob, and he will make offerings for you, and Iob, my attendant, will pray for you, [because only his face will I accept] for, if not for him, I would have destroyed you; for what you spoke against my attendant Job is not true (ἀληθὲς).”	Now then take seven bullocks, and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and he shall offer a burnt-offering for you. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will only accept him: for but his sake, I would have destroyed you, for ye have not spoken the truth (ἀληθὲς) against my servant Job.

Apparently it is neither novel nor curious to translate נכונה (kûn), the thing that is right (Tanakh, KJV) or what is right (NET), ἀληθὲς in the Septuagint. The first occurrence in Genesis follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 41:32 (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 41:32 (NET)	Genesis 41:32 (NETS) Table	Genesis 41:32 (English Elpenor)
And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established (נָכ֤וֹן) by G-d, and G-d will shortly bring it to pass.	The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been decreed (kûn, נכון) by God, and God will make it happen soon.	And as for Pharao’s dream being repeated twice: because the matter that is from God will be real (ἀληθὲς ἔσται), and God will hasten to do it.	And concerning the repetition of the dream to Pharao twice, [it is] because the saying which is from God shall be true (ἀληθὲς ἔσται), and God will hasten to accomplish it.

The Hebrew word אלי (‘ēl) was translated of me (Tanakh, KJV) and about me (NET) in both Job 42:7 and 8. The rabbis who translated the Septuagint understood it as ἐνώπιόν μου, in my presence (NETS) and before me (English Elpenor), in verse 7, and κατὰ , against, in verse 8, if אלי (‘ēl) was the word they found in the Hebrew text they translated. Actually, the entire final clause is identical in the Hebrew of the Masoretic text.

The essentially Greek nature of the philosophical bent of my mind hears of me (Tanakh, KJV) and about me (NET) as a limitation of the Lord’s criticism specifically to what Job’s friends’ spoke about the Lord. Rather than assuming that the entire final clause of both verses 7 and 8 was altered by the Masoretes after the Septuagint was translated, perhaps I should understand that the rabbis foreknew the error of the essentially Greek nature of the philosophical bent of my mind.

Perhaps they have explained to me that אלי (‘ēl) does not limit the Lord’s criticism. On the contrary, since from him and through him and to him are all things,¹ Job’s friends have not said anything true (English Elpenor), and since Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil,² everything they said was against Job: The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one.³

Despite knowing the end and the beginning of the book of Job, when I’ve read it in the past I’ve gotten bogged down. My religious mind favors the arguments of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar over those of Job. I hope this study will help me to know God better and to discern the errors of my religious mind.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Job 2:11-13 (Tanakh/KJV)	Job 2:11-13 (NET)	Job 2:11-13 (NETS)	Job 2:11-13 (English Elpenor)
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil (הָֽרָעָ֣ה) that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.	When Job’s three friends heard about all this calamity (raʿ, הרעה) that had happened to him, each of them came from his own country—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to come to show sympathy for him and to console him	Now when his three friends heard of all the troubles (τὰ κακὰ) that had come upon him, they came to him, each one from his own country—Eliphaz, the king of the Thaimanites, Baldad, the tyrant of the Sauchites, Sophar, the king of the Minites. And they came to him of one accord, to comfort and to visit with him.	Now his three friends having heard of all the evil (τὰ κακὰ) that was come upon him, came to him each from his own country: Eliphaz the king of the Thaemans, Baldad sovereign of the Saucheans, Sophar king of the Kinaeans: and they came to him with one accord, to comfort and to visit him.
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.	But when they gazed intently from a distance but did not recognize him, they began to weep loudly. Each of them tore his robes, and they threw dust into the air over their heads.	But when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they cried out with a loud voice and wept; each of them tore his robe, and they sprinkled themselves with dust.	And when they saw him from a distance they did not know him; and they cried with a loud voice, and wept, and rent every one his garment, and sprinkled dust upon [their heads],
So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.	Then they sat down with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, yet no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.	They sat with him seven days, [and seven nights] and none of them spoke, for they saw that the calamity was dire and very great.	and they sat down beside him seven days and seven nights, and not one of them spoke; for they saw that his affliction was dreadful and very great.

I visited some with my mother everyday she was in hospice care, but nothing like this. Job was first to break the silence.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Job 3:1-3 (Tanakh/KJV)	Job 3:1-3 (NET)	Job 3:1-3 (NETS)	Job 3:1-3 (English Elpenor)
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed (וַיְקַלֵּ֖ל) his day.	After this Job opened his mouth and cursed (qālal, ויקלל) the day he was born.	After this Iob opened his mouth and cursed (κατηράσατο) his day,	After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed (κατηράσατο) his day,
And Job spake, and said,	Job spoke up and said:	saying:	saying,
Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.	“Let the day on which I was born perish, and the night that said, ‘A man has been conceived!’	“May the day perish in which I was born, and the night in which they said, ‘Look, a man-child!’	Let the day perish in which I was born, and that night in which they said, Behold a man-child!

Moses had a similar lament:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Numbers 11:10-15 (Tanakh)	Numbers 11:10-15 (NET)	Numbers 11:10-15 (NETS)	Numbers 11:10-15 (English Elpenor)
And Moses heard the people weeping, family by family, every man at the door of his tent; and the anger of HaShem was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased.	Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and when the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, Moses was also displeased.	And Moyses heard them weeping in their divisions. each one at his door. And the Lord was greatly angered with wrath, and before Moyses it was evil.	And Moses heard them weeping by their families, every one in his door: and the Lord was very angry; and the thing was evil in the sight of Moses.
And Moses said unto HaShem: ‘Wherefore hast Thou dealt ill with Thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in Thy sight, that Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?	And Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you afflicted your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of this entire people on me?	And Moyses said to the Lord, “Why have you mistreated your attendant, and why have I not found favor before you, to lay the onslaught of this people upon me?	And Moses said to the Lord, Why hast thou afflicted thy servant, and why have I not found grace in thy sight, that thou shouldest lay the weight of this people upon me?
Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that Thou shouldest say unto me: Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child, unto the land which Thou didst swear unto their fathers?	Did I conceive this entire people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your arms, as a foster father bears a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to their fathers?	Was it I who carried in the womb all this people, or was it I who gave birth to them, that you are saying to me, ‘Take them to your bosom, as a nurse might take up the sucking child,’ into the land, which you swore to their fathers?	Have I conceived all this people, or have I born them? that thou sayest to me, Take them into thy bosom, as a nurse would take her suckling, into the land which thou swarest to their fathers?
Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they trouble me with their weeping, saying: Give us flesh, that we may eat.	From where shall I get meat to give to this entire people, for they cry to me, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat!’	From where do I get meat to give to all this people? For they are weeping to me, saying, ‘Give us meat so that we may eat!’	Whence have I flesh to give to all this people? for they weep to me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
I am not able to bear all this people myself alone, because it is too heavy for me.	I am not able to bear this entire people alone, because it is too heavy for me!	I shall not be able to bear this people alone, because this thing is too heavy for me.	I shall not be able to bear this people alone, for this thing is too heavy for me.
And if Thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in Thy sight; and let me not look upon my wretchedness.’	But if you are going to deal with me like this, then kill me immediately. If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble.”	But if this is how you are going to treat me, kill me by slaying if I have found mercy with you so that I may not see my suffering.”	And if thou doest thus to me, slay me utterly, if I have found favour with thee, that I may not see my affliction.

Job lamenting the day of his birth seems benign by comparison.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Job 3:4 (Tanakh/KJV)	Job 3:4 (NET)	Job 3:4 (NETS)	Job 3:4 (English Elpenor)
Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above (מִמָּ֑עַל), neither let the light shine upon it.	That day—let it be darkness; let not God on high (maʿal, ממעל) regard it, nor let light shine on it!	May that day be darkness! And may the Lord above (ἄνωθεν) not seek it, or light come to it.	Let that night be darkness, and let not the Lord regard it from above (ἄνωθεν), neither let light come upon it.

I’ll pause here a moment to point out that the Hebrew word מִמָּ֑עַל (maʿal), from above (Tanakh/KJV), on high (NET) was translated ἄνωθεν, above (NETS), from above (English Elpenor), in the Septuagint. “I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus said to Nicodemus, “unless a person is born from above (ἄνωθεν), he cannot see the kingdom of God.”⁴ Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above (ἄνωθεν).’⁵

Job continued to lament the day of his birth:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Job 3:5-10 (Tanakh/KJV)	Job 3:5-10 (NET)	Job 3:5-10 (NETS)	Job 3:5-10 (English Elpenor)
Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.	Let darkness and the deepest shadow claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let whatever blackens the day terrify it.	But may darkness and deathly shadow seize it. May gloom come upon it.	But let darkness and the shadow of death seize it; let blackness come upon it;
As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.	That night—let darkness seize it; let it not be included among the days of the year; let it not enter among the number of the months!	May that day and night be cursed; may darkness carry it away! May it not exist among the days of the year or be numbered among the days of the months.	let that day and night be cursed, let darkness carry them away; let it not come into the days of the year, neither let it be numbered with the days of the months.
Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.	Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it!	Rather, may the night be anguish, and may gladness and joy not come upon it.	But let that night be pain, and let not mirth come upon it, nor joy.
Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning (לִוְיָתָֽן).	Let those who curse the day curse it—those who are prepared to rouse Leviathan⁶ (livyāṯān, לויתן).	Rather, may he who curses that day curse it—he who is about to subdue the great sea-monster (κῆτος).	But let him that curses that day curse it, [even] he that is ready to attack the great whale (κῆτος).
Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:	Let its morning stars be darkened; let it wait for daylight but find none, nor let it see the first rays of dawn,	May the stars of that night be dark; may it remain so and not be lit up, and may it not see the morning-star rising—	Let the stars of that night be darkened; let it remain [dark], and not come into light; and let it not see the morning star arise:
Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.	because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes.	because it did not shut the gates of my mother’s womb, for it would have put away trouble from my eyes.	because it shut not up the gates of my mother’s womb, for [so] it would have removed sorrow from my eyes.

Job wasn’t finished but I want to consider a similar lament voiced by Jeremiah:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Jeremiah 20:14-18 (Tanakh/KJV)	Jeremiah 20:14-18 (NET)	Jeremiah 20:14-18 (NETS)	Jeremiah 20:14-18 (English Elpenor)
Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.	Cursed be the day I was born! May that day not be blessed when my mother gave birth to me.	Cursed be the day on which I was born on it! The day on which my mother bore me—let it not be longed for!	Cursed be the day wherein I was born: the day wherein my mother brought me forth, let it not be blessed.
Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.	Cursed be the man who made my father very glad when he brought him the news that a baby boy had been born to him!	Cursed be the person who brought the good news to my father, saying, “A male child was born to you,” being glad.	Cursed be the man who brought the glad tidings to my father, saying, A male child is born to thee.
And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;	May that man be like the cities that the Lord destroyed without showing any mercy. May he hear a cry of distress in the morning and a battle cry at noon.	Let that person be like the cities that the Lord overthrew in anger and did not repent; let him hear a cry in the morning and a shouting at noon,	Let that man rejoice as the cities which the Lord overthrew in wrath, and repented not: let him hear crying in the morning, and loud lamentation at noon;
Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.	For he did not kill me before I came from the womb, making my pregnant mother’s womb my grave forever.	because he did not kill me in the womb, and my mother became my grave and the womb one of perpetual conception.	because he slew me not in the womb, and my mother became not my tomb, and her womb always great with me.
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?	Why did I ever come forth from my mother’s womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame.	Why is it that I came forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and my days continued in shame?	Why is it that I came forth of the womb to see troubles and distresses, and my days are spent in shame?

I’ll continue with Job’s lament in another essay.

Tables comparing Job 42:8; 2:11; 2:12; 2:13; 3:1; 3:2; 3:3; Numbers 11:10; 11:11; 11:12; 11:13; 11:14; 11:15; Job 3:4; 3:5; 3:6; 3:7; 3:8; 3:9; 3:10; Jeremiah 20:14; 20:15; 20:16; 20:17 and 20:18 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 42:8; 2:11; 2:12; 2:13; 3:1 (3:1, 2a); 3:2 (3:2b); 3:3; Numbers 11:10; 11:11; 11:12; 11:13; 11:14; 11:15; Job 3:4; 3:5; 3:6; 3:7; 3:8; 3:9; 3:10; Jeremiah 20:14; 20:15; 20:16; 20:17 and 20:18 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Job 42:8 (Tanakh)	Job 42:8 (KJV)	Job 42:8 (NET)
Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.	Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.	So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job will intercede for you, and I will respect him, so that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

Job 42:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 42:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
νῦν δὲ λάβετε ἑπτὰ μόσχους καὶ ἑπτὰ κριοὺς καὶ πορεύθητε πρὸς τὸν θεράποντά μου Ιωβ καὶ ποιήσει κάρπωσιν περὶ ὑμῶν Ιωβ δὲ ὁ θεράπων μου εὔξεται περὶ ὑμῶν ὅτι εἰ μὴ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ λήμψομαι εἰ μὴ γὰρ δι᾽ αὐτόν ἀπώλεσα ἂν ὑμᾶς οὐ γὰρ ἐλαλήσατε ἀληθὲς κατὰ τοῦ θεράποντός μου Ιωβ	νῦν δὲ λάβετε ἑπτὰ μόσχους καὶ ἑπτὰ κριοὺς καὶ πορεύθητε πρὸς τὸν θεράποντά μου ᾿Ιώβ, καὶ ποιήσει κάρπωσιν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν. ᾿Ιὼβ δὲ ὁ θεράπων μου εὔξεται περὶ ὑμῶν, ὅτι εἰ μὴ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ λήψομαι· εἰ μὴ γὰρ δι᾿ αὐτόν, ἀπώλεσα ἂν ὑμᾶς· οὐ γὰρ ἐλαλήσατε ἀληθὲς κατὰ τοῦ θεράποντός μου ᾿Ιώβ
Job 42:8 (NETS)	Job 42:8 (English Elpenor)
Now then, take seven calves and seven rams, and go to my attendant Iob, and he will make offerings for you, and Iob, my attendant, will pray for you, [because only his face will I accept] for, if not for him, I would have destroyed you; for what you spoke against my attendant Job is not true.”	Now then take seven bullocks, and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and he shall offer a burnt-offering for you. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will only accept him: for but his sake, I would have destroyed you, for ye have not spoken the truth against my servant Job.

Job 2:11 (Tanakh)	Job 2:11 (KJV)	Job 2:11 (NET)
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.	Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.	When Job’s three friends heard about all this calamity that had happened to him, each of them came from his own country—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to come to show sympathy for him and to console him.

Job 2:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 2:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ τρεῗς φίλοι αὐτοῦ τὰ κακὰ πάντα τὰ ἐπελθόντα αὐτῷ παρεγένοντο ἕκαστος ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας χώρας πρὸς αὐτόν Ελιφας ὁ Θαιμανων βασιλεύς Βαλδαδ ὁ Σαυχαίων τύραννος Σωφαρ ὁ Μιναίων βασιλεύς καὶ παρεγένοντο πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁμοθυμαδὸν τοῦ παρακαλέσαι καὶ ἐπισκέψασθαι αὐτόν	ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ τρεῖς φίλοι αὐτοῦ τὰ κακὰ πάντα τὰ ἐπελθόντα αὐτῷ, παρεγένοντο ἕκαστος ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας χώρας πρὸς αὐτόν· ᾿Ελιφὰζ ὁ Θαιμανῶν βασιλεύς, Βαλδὰδ ὁ Σαυχαίων τύραννος, Σωφὰρ ὁ Μιναίων βασιλεύς, καὶ παρεγένοντο πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁμοθυμαδόν, τοῦ παρακαλέσαι καὶ ἐπισκέψασθαι αὐτόν
Job 2:11 (NETS)	Job 2:11 (English Elpenor)
Now when his three friends heard of all the troubles that had come upon him, they came to him, each one from his own country—Eliphaz, the king of the Thaimanites, Baldad, the tyrant of the Sauchites, Sophar, the king of the Minites. And they came to him of one accord, to comfort and to visit with him.	Now his three friends having heard of all the evil that was come upon him, came to him each from his own country: Eliphaz the king of the Thaemans, Baldad sovereign of the Saucheans, Sophar king of the Kinaeans: and they came to him with one accord, to comfort and to visit him.

Job 2:12 (Tanakh)	Job 2:12 (KJV)	Job 2:12 (NET)
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.	And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.	But when they gazed intently from a distance but did not recognize him, they began to weep loudly. Each of them tore his robes, and they threw dust into the air over their heads.

Job 2:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 2:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτὸν πόρρωθεν οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν καὶ βοήσαντες φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἔκλαυσαν ῥήξαντες ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ στολὴν καὶ καταπασάμενοι γῆν	ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτὸν πόρρωθεν οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν· καὶ βοήσαντες φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἔκλαυσαν ρήξαντες ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ στολήν. καὶ καταπασάμενοι γῆν
Job 2:12 (NETS)	Job 2:12 (English Elpenor)
But when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they cried out with a loud voice and wept; each of them tore his robe, and they sprinkled themselves with dust.	And when they saw him from a distance they did not know him; and they cried with a loud voice, and wept, and rent every one his garment, and sprinkled dust upon [their heads],

Job 2:13 (Tanakh)	Job 2:13 (KJV)	Job 2:13 (NET)
So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.	So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.	Then they sat down with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, yet no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

Job 2:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 2:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
παρεκάθισαν αὐτῷ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας καὶ ἑπτὰ νύκτας καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν ἐλάλησεν ἑώρων γὰρ τὴν πληγὴν δεινὴν οὖσαν καὶ μεγάλην σφόδρα	παρεκάθισαν αὐτῷ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας καὶ ἑπτὰ νύκτας, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν ἐλάλησεν· ἑώρων γὰρ τὴν πληγὴν δεινὴν οὖσαν καὶ μεγάλην σφόδρα
Job 2:13 (NETS)	Job 2:13 (English Elpenor)
They sat with him seven days, [and seven nights] and none of them spoke, for they saw that the calamity was dire and very great.	and they sat down beside him seven days and seven nights, and not one of them spoke; for they saw that his affliction was dreadful and very great.

Job 3:1 (Tanakh)	Job 3:1 (KJV)	Job 3:1 (NET)
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.	After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.	After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born.

Job 3:1, 2a (Septuagint BLB)	Job 3:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μετὰ τοῦτο ἤνοιξεν Ιωβ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ (2) καὶ κατηράσατο τὴν ἡμέραν αὐτοῦ	ΜΕΤΑ τοῦτο ἤνοιξεν ᾿Ιὼβ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ καὶ κατηράσατο τὴν ἡμέραν αὐτοῦ
Job 3:1 (NETS)	Job 3:1 (English Elpenor)
After this Iob opened his mouth and cursed his day,	After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day,

Job 3:2 (Tanakh)	Job 3:2 (KJV)	Job 3:2 (NET)
And Job spake, and said,	And Job spake, and said,	Job spoke up and said:

Job 3:2b (Septuagint BLB)	Job 3:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
λέγων	λέγων
Job 3:2 (NETS)	Job 3:2 (English Elpenor)
saying:	saying,

Job 3:3 (Tanakh)	Job 3:3 (KJV)	Job 3:3 (NET)
Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.	Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.	“Let the day on which I was born perish, and the night that said, ‘A man has been conceived!’

Job 3:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 3:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπόλοιτο ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν ᾗ ἐγεννήθην καὶ ἡ νύξ ἐν ᾗ εἶπαν ἰδοὺ ἄρσεν	ἀπόλοιτο ἡ ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ ἐγεννήθην, καὶ ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη ᾗ εἶπαν· ἰδοὺ ἄρσεν
Job 3:3 (NETS)	3:3 (English Elpenor)
“May the day perish in which I was born, and the night in which they said, ‘Look, a man-child!’	Let the day perish in which I was born, and that night in which they said, Behold a man-child!

Numbers 11:10 (Tanakh)	Numbers 11:10 (KJV)	Numbers 11:10 (NET)
And Moses heard the people weeping, family by family, every man at the door of his tent; and the anger of HaShem was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased.	Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.	Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and when the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, Moses was also displeased.

Numbers 11:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Numbers 11:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἤκουσεν Μωυσῆς κλαιόντων αὐτῶν κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν ἕκαστον ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ κύριος σφόδρα καὶ ἔναντι Μωυσῆ ἦν πονηρόν	καὶ ἤκουσε Μωυσῆς κλαιόντων αὐτῶν κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν, ἕκαστον ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Κύριος σφόδρα, καὶ ἔναντι Μωυσῆ ἦν πονηρόν
Numbers 11:10 (NETS)	Numbers 11:10 (English Elpenor)
And Moyses heard them weeping in their divisions. each one at his door. And the Lord was greatly angered with wrath, and before Moyses it was evil.	And Moses heard them weeping by their families, every one in his door: and the Lord was very angry; and the thing was evil in the sight of Moses.

Numbers 11:11 (Tanakh)	Numbers 11:11 (KJV)	Numbers 11:11 (NET)
And Moses said unto HaShem: ‘Wherefore hast Thou dealt ill with Thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in Thy sight, that Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?	And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?	And Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you afflicted your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of this entire people on me?

Numbers 11:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Numbers 11:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς κύριον ἵνα τί ἐκάκωσας τὸν θεράποντά σου καὶ διὰ τί οὐχ εὕρηκα χάριν ἐναντίον σου ἐπιθεῖναι τὴν ὁρμὴν τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ	καὶ εἶπε Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κύριον· ἱνατί ἐκάκωσας τὸν θεράποντά σου, καὶ διατί οὐχ εὕρηκα χάριν ἐναντίον σου, ἐπιθεῖναι τὴν ὁρμὴν τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου ἐπ’ ἐμέ
Numbers 11:11 (NETS)	Numbers 11:11 (English Elpenor)
And Moyses said to the Lord, “Why have you mistreated your attendant, and why have I not found favor before you, to lay the onslaught of this people upon me?	And Moses said to the Lord, Why hast thou afflicted thy servant, and why have I not found grace in thy sight, that thou shouldest lay the weight of this people upon me?

Numbers 11:12 (Tanakh)	Numbers 11:12 (KJV)	Numbers 11:12 (NET)
Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that Thou shouldest say unto me: Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child, unto the land which Thou didst swear unto their fathers?	Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?	Did I conceive this entire people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your arms, as a foster father bears a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to their fathers?

Numbers 11:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Numbers 11:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μὴ ἐγὼ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβον πάντα τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον ἢ ἐγὼ ἔτεκον αὐτούς ὅτι λέγεις μοι λαβὲ αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν κόλπον σου ὡσεὶ ἄραι τιθηνὸς τὸν θηλάζοντα εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ὤμοσας τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν	μὴ ἐγὼ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβον πάντα τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, ἢ ἐγὼ ἔτεκον αὐτούς, ὅτι λέγεις μοι, λάβε αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν κόλπον σου, ὡσεὶ ἄραι τιθηνὸς τὸν θηλάζοντα, εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ὤμοσας τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν
Numbers 11:12 (NETS)	Numbers 11:12 (English Elpenor)
Was it I who carried in the womb all this people, or was it I who gave birth to them, that you are saying to me, ‘Take them to your bosom, as a nurse might take up the sucking child,’ into the land, which you swore to their fathers?	Have I conceived all this people, or have I born them? that thou sayest to me, Take them into thy bosom, as a nurse would take her suckling, into the land which thou swarest to their fathers?

Numbers 11:13 (Tanakh)	Numbers 11:13 (KJV)	Numbers 11:13 (NET)
Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they trouble me with their weeping, saying: Give us flesh, that we may eat.	Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.	From where shall I get meat to give to this entire people, for they cry to me, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat!’

Numbers 11:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Numbers 11:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πόθεν μοι κρέα δοῦναι παντὶ τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ ὅτι κλαίουσιν ἐπ᾽ ἐμοὶ λέγοντες δὸς ἡμῖν κρέα ἵνα φάγωμεν	πόθεν μοι κρέα δοῦναι παντὶ τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ; ὅτι κλαίουσιν ἐπ’ ἐμοί, λέγοντες· δὸς ἡμῖν κρέα, ἵνα φάγωμεν
Numbers 11:13 (NETS)	Numbers 11:13 (English Elpenor)
From where do I get meat to give to all this people? For they are weeping to me, saying, ‘Give us meat so that we may eat!’	Whence have I flesh to give to all this people? for they weep to me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

Numbers 11:14 (Tanakh)	Numbers 11:14 (KJV)	Numbers 11:14 (NET)
I am not able to bear all this people myself alone, because it is too heavy for me.	I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.	I am not able to bear this entire people alone, because it is too heavy for me!

Numbers 11:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Numbers 11:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ δυνήσομαι ἐγὼ μόνος φέρειν τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον ὅτι βαρύτερόν μοί ἐστιν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο	οὐ δυνήσομαι ἐγὼ μόνος φέρειν τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, ὅτι βαρύτερόν μοί ἐστι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο
Numbers 11:14 (NETS)	Numbers 11:14 (English Elpenor)
I shall not be able to bear this people alone, because this thing is too heavy for me.	I shall not be able to bear this people alone, for this thing is too heavy for me.

Numbers 11:15 (Tanakh)	Numbers 11:15 (KJV)	Numbers 11:15 (NET)
And if Thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in Thy sight; and let me not look upon my wretchedness.’	And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.	But if you are going to deal with me like this, then kill me immediately. If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble.”

Numbers 11:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Numbers 11:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἰ δὲ οὕτως σὺ ποιεῖς μοι ἀπόκτεινόν με ἀναιρέσει εἰ εὕρηκα ἔλεος παρὰ σοί ἵνα μὴ ἴδω μου τὴν κάκωσιν	εἰ δ’ οὕτω σὺ ποιεῖς μοι, ἀπόκτεινόν με ἀναιρέσει, εἰ εὕρηκα ἔλεος παρὰ σοί, ἵνα μὴ ἴδω τὴν κάκωσίν μου
Numbers 11:15 (NETS)	Numbers 11:15 (English Elpenor)
But if this is how you are going to treat me, kill me by slaying if I have found mercy with you so that I may not see my suffering.”	And if thou doest thus to me, slay me utterly, if I have found favour with thee, that I may not see my affliction.

Job 3:4 (Tanakh)	Job 3:4 (KJV)	Job 3:4 (NET)
Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.	Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.	That day—let it be darkness; let not God on high regard it, nor let light shine on it!

Job 3:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 3:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνη εἴη σκότος καὶ μὴ ἀναζητήσαι αὐτὴν ὁ κύριος ἄνωθεν μηδὲ ἔλθοι εἰς αὐτὴν φέγγος	ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη εἴη σκότος, καὶ μὴ ἀναζητήσαι αὐτὴν ὁ Κύριος ἄνωθεν, μηδὲ ἔλθοι εἰς αὐτὴν φέγγος
Job 3:4 (NETS)	Job 3:4 (English Elpenor)
May that day be darkness! And may the Lord above not seek it, or light come to it.	Let that night be darkness, and let not the Lord regard it from above, neither let light come upon it.

Job 3:5 (Tanakh)	Job 3:5 (KJV)	Job 3:5 (NET)
Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.	Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.	Let darkness and the deepest shadow claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let whatever blackens the day terrify it.

Job 3:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 3:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐκλάβοι δὲ αὐτὴν σκότος καὶ σκιὰ θανάτου ἐπέλθοι ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν γνόφος	ἐκλάβοι δὲ αὐτὴν σκότος καὶ σκιὰ θανάτου, ἐπέλθοι ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν γνόφος. καταραθείη ἡ ἡμέρα
Job 3:5 (NETS)	Job 3:5 (English Elpenor)
But may darkness and deathly shadow seize it. May gloom come upon it.	But let darkness and the shadow of death seize it; let blackness come upon it;

Job 3:6 (Tanakh)	Job 3:6 (KJV)	Job 3:6 (NET)
As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.	As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.	That night—let darkness seize it; let it not be included among the days of the year; let it not enter among the number of the months!

Job 3:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 3:5b, 6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καταραθείη ἡ ἡμέρα καὶ ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη ἀπενέγκαιτο αὐτὴν σκότος μὴ εἴη εἰς ἡμέρας ἐνιαυτοῦ μηδὲ ἀριθμηθείη εἰς ἡμέρας μηνῶν	(5b) καταραθείη ἡ ἡμέρα (6) καὶ ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη, ἀπενέγκαιτο αὐτὴν σκότος· μὴ εἴη εἰς ἡμέρας ἐνιαυτοῦ, μηδὲ ἀριθμηθείη εἰς ἡμέρας μηνῶν
Job 3:6 (NETS)	Job 3:6 (English Elpenor)
May that day and night be cursed; may darkness carry it away! May it not exist among the days of the year or be numbered among the days of the months.	let that day and night be cursed, let darkness carry them away; let it not come into the days of the year, neither let it be numbered with the days of the months.

Job 3:7 (Tanakh)	Job 3:7 (KJV)	Job 3:7 (NET)
Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.	Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.	Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it!

Job 3:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 3:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀλλὰ ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη εἴη ὀδύνη καὶ μὴ ἔλθοι ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν εὐφροσύνη μηδὲ χαρμονή	ἀλλὰ ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη εἴη ὀδύνη, καὶ μὴ ἔλθοι ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν εὐφροσύνη μηδὲ χαρμονή
Job 3:7 (NETS)	Job 3:7 (English Elpenor)
Rather, may the night be anguish, and may gladness and joy not come upon it.	But let that night be pain, and let not mirth come upon it, nor joy.

Job 3:8 (Tanakh)	Job 3:8 (KJV)	Job 3:8 (NET)
Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.	Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.	Let those who curse the day curse it—those who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.

Job 3:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 3:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀλλὰ καταράσαιτο αὐτὴν ὁ καταρώμενος τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην ὁ μέλλων τὸ μέγα κῆτος χειρώσασθαι	ἀλλὰ καταράσαιτο αὐτὴν ὁ καταρώμενος τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην, ὁ μέλλων τὸ μέγα κῆτος χειρώσασθαι
Job 3:8 (NETS)	Job 3:8 (English Elpenor)
Rather, may he who curses that day curse it—he who is about to subdue the great sea-monster.	But let him that curses that day curse it, [even] he that is ready to attack the great whale.

Job 3:9 (Tanakh)	Job 3:9 (KJV)	Job 3:9 (NET)
Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:	Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:	Let its morning stars be darkened; let it wait for daylight but find none, nor let it see the first rays of dawn,

Job 3:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 3:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
σκοτωθείη τὰ ἄστρα τῆς νυκτὸς ἐκείνης ὑπομείναι καὶ εἰς φωτισμὸν μὴ ἔλθοι καὶ μὴ ἴδοι ἑωσφόρον ἀνατέλλοντα	σκοτωθείη τὰ ἄστρα τῆς νυκτὸς ἐκείνης, ὑπομείναι καὶ εἰς φωτισμὸν μὴ ἔλθοι καὶ μὴ ἴδοι ἑωσφόρον ἀνατέλλοντα
Job 3:9 (NETS)	Job 3:9 (English Elpenor)
May the stars of that night be dark; may it remain so and not be lit up, and may it not see the morning-star rising—	Let the stars of that night be darkened; let it remain [dark], and not come into light; and let it not see the morning star arise:

Job 3:10 (Tanakh)	Job 3:10 (KJV)	Job 3:10 (NET)
Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.	Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.	because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes.

Job 3:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 3:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι οὐ συνέκλεισεν πύλας γαστρὸς μητρός μου ἀπήλλαξεν γὰρ ἂν πόνον ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν μου	ὅτι οὐ συνέκλεισε πύλας γαστρὸς μητρός μου· ἀπήλλαξε γὰρ ἂν πόνον ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν μου
Job 3:10 (NETS)	Job 3:10 (English Elpenor)
because it did not shut the gates of my mother’s womb, for it would have put away trouble from my eyes.	because it shut not up the gates of my mother’s womb, for [so] it would have removed sorrow from my eyes.

Jeremiah 20:14 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 20:14 (KJV)	Jeremiah 20:14 (NET)
Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.	Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.	Cursed be the day I was born! May that day not be blessed when my mother gave birth to me.

Jeremiah 20:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 20:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπικατάρατος ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν ᾗ ἐτέχθην ἐν αὐτῇ ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν ᾗ ἔτεκέν με ἡ μήτηρ μου μὴ ἔστω ἐπευκτή	᾿Επικατάρατος ἡ ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ ἐτέχθην ἐν αὐτῇ· ἡ ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ ἔτεκέ με ἡ μήτηρ μου, μὴ ἔστω ἐπευκτή
Jeremiah 20:14 (NETS)	Jeremiah 20:14 (English Elpenor)
Cursed be the day on which I was born on it! The day on which my mother bore me—let it not be longed for!	Cursed be the day wherein I was born: the day wherein my mother brought me forth, let it not be blessed.

Jeremiah 20:15 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 20:15 (KJV)	Jeremiah 20:15 (NET)
Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.	Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.	Cursed be the man who made my father very glad when he brought him the news that a baby boy had been born to him!

Jeremiah 20:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 20:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπικατάρατος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ εὐαγγελισάμενος τῷ πατρί μου λέγων ἐτέχθη σοι ἄρσεν εὐφραινόμενος	ἐπικατάρατος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ εὐαγγελισάμενος τῷ πατρί μου λέγων· ἐτέχθη σοι ἄρσην, εὐφραινόμενος
Jeremiah 20:15 (NETS)	Jeremiah 20:15 (English Elpenor)
Cursed be the person who brought the good news to my father, saying, “A male child was born to you,” being glad.	Cursed be the man who brought the glad tidings to my father, saying, A male child is born to thee.

Jeremiah 20:16 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 20:16 (KJV)	Jeremiah 20:16 (NET)
And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;	And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;	May that man be like the cities that the Lord destroyed without showing any mercy. May he hear a cry of distress in the morning and a battle cry at noon.

Jeremiah 20:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 20:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔστω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὡς αἱ πόλεις ἃς κατέστρεψεν κύριος ἐν θυμῷ καὶ οὐ μετεμελήθη ἀκουσάτω κραυγῆς τὸ πρωὶ καὶ ἀλαλαγμοῦ μεσημβρίας	ἔστω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὡς αἱ πόλεις, ἃς κατέστρεψε Κύριος ἐν θυμῷ καὶ οὐ μετεμελήθη· ἀκουσάτω κραυγῆς τῷ πρωΐ καὶ ἀλαλαγμοῦ μεσημβρίας
Jeremiah 20:16 (NETS)	Jeremiah 20:16 (English Elpenor)
Let that person be like the cities that the Lord overthrew in anger and did not repent; let him hear a cry in the morning and a shouting at noon,	Let that man rejoice as the cities which the Lord overthrew in wrath, and repented not: let him hear crying in the morning, and loud lamentation at noon;

Jeremiah 20:17 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 20:17 (KJV)	Jeremiah 20:17 (NET)
Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.	Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.	For he did not kill me before I came from the womb, making my pregnant mother’s womb my grave forever.

Jeremiah 20:17 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 20:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι οὐκ ἀπέκτεινέν με ἐν μήτρᾳ μητρὸς καὶ ἐγένετό μοι ἡ μήτηρ μου τάφος μου καὶ ἡ μήτρα συλλήμψεως αἰωνίας	ὅτι οὐκ ἀπέκτεινέ με ἐν μήτρᾳ μητρὸς καὶ ἐγένετό μοι ἡ μήτηρ μου τάφος μου καὶ ἡ μήτρα συλλήψεως αἰωνίας
Jeremiah 20:17 (NETS)	Jeremiah 20:17 (English Elpenor)
because he did not kill me in the womb, and my mother became my grave and the womb one of perpetual conception.	because he slew me not in the womb, and my mother became not my tomb, and her womb always great with me.

Jeremiah 20:18 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 20:18 (KJV)	Jeremiah 20:18 (NET)
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?	Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?	Why did I ever come forth from my mother’s womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame.

Jeremiah 20:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 20:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἵνα τί τοῦτο ἐξῆλθον ἐκ μήτρας τοῦ βλέπειν κόπους καὶ πόνους καὶ διετέλεσαν ἐν αἰσχύνῃ αἱ ἡμέραι μου	ἱνατί τοῦτο ἐξῆλθον ἐκ μήτρας τοῦ βλέπειν κόπους καὶ πόνους, καὶ διετέλεσαν ἐν αἰσχύνῃ αἱ ἡμέραι μου
Jeremiah 20:18 (NETS)	Jeremiah 20:18 (English Elpenor)
Why is it that I came forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and my days continued in shame?	Why is it that I came forth of the womb to see troubles and distresses, and my days are spent in shame?

Nothing True, Part 2

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 10

Back to Nothing True, Part 3

Back to Nothing True, Part 4

Back to Nothing True, Part 5

Back to Nothing True, Part 6

¹ Romans 11:36a (NET)

² Job 1:1b (NET) Table

³ 1 Corinthians 2:15 (NET) Table

⁴ John 3:3 (NET) Table

⁵ John 3:7 (NET)

⁶ Job 41

Christianity, Part 1

Posted on November 9, 2022 by admin

It’s not possible to “distinguish the mind of Christ from the ordinary religious mind” without broaching the subject of Christianity, yet I’ve hesitated to do so directly. Recently, however, I quoted For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all¹ with no comment whatsoever. I didn’t need to comment. I’ve studied the Greek enough now that I no longer pay any attention to the English translation.

Later, I had to go back and link show mercy to them all to a discussion of “the subjunctive mood…in a purpose or result clause” in Greek. While I appreciate that the Greek word is ἐλεήσῃ (“he may show”) not ἐλεήσει (“he will show”), the meaning is that He will show mercy to all. Or, if I want to be more mindful of the aorist tense, it looks to a moment when God will have shown mercy to all as an actual, factual moment in time.

In English, however, he may show mercy to them all means: 1) that God has permission to show mercy to them all; or something equally meaningless, 2) He might show mercy to them all or He might not. So I began to wonder: What is the point of translating the New Testament from Greek into English for the benefit and approval of those who already know the Greek, rather than for the enlightenment and edification of those who do not?

I recalled another instance where the NET translators did render aorist subjunctive verbs as if they were future indicative verbs: every knee will bow (κάμψῃ)…and every tongue confess (ἐξομολογήσηται), rather than every knee [may] bow…and every tongue [may] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 11:32 (NET Parallel Greek)	Philippians 2:9-11 (NET Parallel Greek)
συνέκλεισεν γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς πάντας εἰς ἀπείθειαν, ἵνα τοὺς πάντας ἐλεήσῃ	διὸ καὶ ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα, ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτι κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός
Romans 11:32 (NET)	Philippians 2:9-11 (NET)
For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.	As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Now both of these passages seem to be describing essentially the same thing. I can even hear the former as a cause of the latter. But I remember when I understood the latter as a demonstration of brute force, much like when Voldemort forced Harry Potter to bow before he attempted to murder him in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Divorced from its context the idea that God will show mercy to all hardly seems controversial. But in context the mercy shown to all is nothing less than salvation: So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.²

Jesus said (John 15:7-11 ESV):

If you abide (μείνητε, a form of μένω) in me, and my words abide (μείνῃ, another form of μένω) in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples [Table]. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide (μείνατε, another form of μένω) in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide (μενεῖτε, another form of μένω) in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide (μένω) in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be³ in you, and that your joy may be full.

It would be wonderful if Christianity were synonymous with abiding in Christ and his words abiding in us, but Christianity means many other things. Comedian Bill Burr had a church quip that became an internet meme and can elicit at least a chuckle even from churchgoers:

God’s everywhere, but I gotta go down to (church) to see him? And he’s mad at me down there, and I owe you money?

To the ordinary religious mind the lands and buildings, the administrative hierarchies and religious rituals, the rules and regulations of Christianity may seem more real and tangible than abiding in Christ and his words abiding in us. For my purposes in these essays abiding in Christ and his words abiding in us is the real and tangible while all other aspects of Christianity are human abstractions, peripheral, when they are not inimical, to abiding in Christ and his words abiding in us.

Fair or not Paul gets a lot of the blame or a lot of the credit for Christianity. So his letter to the Romans seems like a good place to start (Romans 2:1-16 ESV):

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things [Romans 1:18-32]. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed [Table].

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury [Table]. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality [Table].

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified [Table]. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law [Table]. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

I want to focus a moment, acknowledging that this might should be thought of as a continuation of Paul’s rhetorical question, another thing his reader might not be knowing: Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance [b]ut because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed?⁴

Who has this hard and impenitent heart? Those who are in the flesh cannot please God,⁵ Paul wrote. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again,’⁶ Jesus told Nicodemus. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.⁷

Paul explained why [t]hose who are in the flesh cannot please God: For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.⁸ He had already come to the following conclusion about himself: So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.⁹

With this as background I want to turn my attention to Jesus’ words about that day when, according to [Paul’s] gospel (εὐαγγέλιον), God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.¹⁰ He said (Matthew 25:31-46 ESV):

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people (αὐτοὺς, a form of αὐτός; literally: themselves) one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats [Table]. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me’ [Table]. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ [Table] And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ [Table] Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

So, what kind of people are all the nations gathered before the throne of the Son of Man? My religious mind has imagined that they are the righteous on Jesus’ right and the wicked on his left. The trouble with that idea is that There is no one righteous.¹¹ I turn again to Paul (Romans 3:10-18 ESV):

“None is righteous, no, not one [Table]; no one understands; no one seeks for God [Table]. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” [Table] [Table]. “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips” [Table]. “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness” [Table]. “Their feet are swift to shed blood [Table]; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known” [Table]. “There is no fear of God before their eyes” [Table].

If none is righteous, who could or should receive this amazing grace of Jesus? Jesus said that his Father made that decision: No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws (ἑλκύσῃ, a form of ἑλκύω) him.¹² So now I can imagine that some of the people gathered before the throne of the Son of Man are those God the Father chose not to draw to Jesus, while others are those He chose to draw. And those He chose to draw would be more like Paul: I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.¹³

Of course, Jesus promised that after He died as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world,¹⁴ He will draw all…to [Himself]: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.¹⁵ So now, if Jesus’ words abide in me I am compelled to imagine that everyone gathered before the throne of the Son of Man has been drawn to Jesus, that everyone standing there is more like Paul: I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.¹⁶

Jesus had already hinted at this outcome: It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—¹⁷ But here, my Christianity wants to argue and debate. So here I must decide Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen (ἀκούειν, a form of ἀκούω) to [my Christianity] rather than to God.¹⁸

A table comparing John 15:11 in the NET and KJV follows:

John 15:11 (NET)	John 15:11 (KJV)
I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.	These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

NET Parallel Greek Text	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ ἐν ὑμῖν ᾖ καὶ ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πληρωθῇ	ταυτα λελαληκα υμιν ινα η χαρα η εμη εν υμιν μεινη και η χαρα υμων πληρωθη	ταυτα λελαληκα υμιν ινα η χαρα η εμη εν υμιν μεινη και η χαρα υμων πληρωθη

Christianity, Part 2

Back to Wonders and False Wonders, Part 3

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 10

¹ Romans 11:32 (NET)

² Romans 9:16 (ESV) Table

³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ᾖ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεινη (KJV: might remain).

⁴ Romans 2:4, 5 (ESV) Table

⁵ Romans 8:8 (ESV)

⁶ John 3:7 (ESV)

⁷ John 3:6 (ESV)

⁸ Romans 8:7 (ESV)

⁹ Romans 7:25b (ESV) Table

¹⁰ Romans 2:16 (ESV)

¹¹ Romans 3:10a (NET)

¹² John 6:44a (ESV) Table

¹³ Romans 7:25b (ESV)

¹⁴ 1 John 2:2 (NET)

¹⁵ John 12:32 (ESV)

¹⁶ Romans 7:25b (ESV)

¹⁷ John 6:45 (ESV) Table

¹⁸ Acts 4:19b (ESV)

The New Covenant, Part 3

Posted on July 2, 2022 by admin

In an article, “All of America Must Be a Hard Target to Prevent Mass Shootings,” James Pinkerton wrote:

Reacting to an earlier school shooting, former Los Angeles police officer J. Warner Wallace identified four driving causes: “an increase in social media use”; “an increased dependency on prescription medicine”; “an increase in single parent households”; and “a decrease in traditional Christian values,” including, we can add, the belief that bad people go to hell where they are tormented forever. It’s too bad that the idea of hell, just as the notion of evil, has been mostly banished by our secular culture.

This article was written in response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

On May 24, 2022, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos fatally shot nineteen students and two teachers, and wounded seventeen other people, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, United States.¹

Mr. Ramos didn’t surrender to authorities but fought apparently to the death. If he had been raised with “‘traditional Christian values,’ including…the belief that bad people go to hell where they are tormented forever” would he have feared death more? Would he have feared death enough to dissuade him from shooting 39 people including his grandmother?² Clearly, I don’t know the answer to those questions, but asking them helps me understand why some would prefer to deprive Mr. Ramos (and everyone else) of weapons that can kill so many so fast.

Fear of death didn’t dissuade Adam and Eve from eating the fruit God had forbidden. Granted, death may have been an abstract concept until Cain killed Abel. The law God gave to Israel added many fearful punishments including death (Exodus 21:12-22:20; Leviticus 7:20-27; 19:5-10; 20:1-9; 24:13-23; 26:14-38) for noncompliance. Israel didn’t keep the law in a way that satisfied God.

People may have been more or less satisfied with the law depending on whether they were victimized by lawbreakers or not. I know none of the children or adults killed or wounded in Uvalde at the Robb Elementary School. I’m more or less satisfied that the laws in Uvalde did what they could. At least, I’m not persuaded that any new laws would help significantly to prevent such killings.

Mr. Ramos seemed willing to die for his cause, whatever he perceived that cause to be.³

“Ramos’s social media acquaintances said he openly abused animals such as cats and would livestream the abuse on Yubo.^[111] Other social media acquaintances said that he would also livestream himself on Yubo threatening to kidnap and rape girls who used the app, as well as threatening to commit a school shooting.^[109] “On May 14, Ramos sent a private Instagram message reading, ’10 more days’. A person responded, ‘Are you going to shoot up a school or something?’ He replied, ‘No, stop asking dumb questions. You’ll see.’

Neither the law nor the fear of death deterred him from his course. At least, no one has reported that he curled up in a fetal position and cried when surrounded by armed men. Perhaps, there were no witnesses by that point.

Paul wrote (Romans 8:3, 4 NET):

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 in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

This fulfillment of the righteous requirement of the law…in us, who…walk according to the Spirit got short shrift from me when avoiding hell was my hope of “salvation.” Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead to save each of us first and foremost from our sinful selves.

Paul continued (Romans 8:5 NET):

For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit.

What is born of the flesh is flesh, Jesus told Nicodemus, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’⁴

Now the works of the flesh are obvious, Paul wrote, sexual immorality, 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 such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!⁵

For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh…For the outlook of the flesh is death…because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.⁶

You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires,⁷ Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him,⁸ arguably the best of the best at suppressing the sins of the flesh while still in the flesh. I already admitted I didn’t take Jesus seriously here until recently.

I recall when my mother tried to teach me about hell by putting my hand in a gas flame on the stove. She failed. She wasn’t strong enough, whether physically or emotionally, to overcome my resistance.

That sounds obscene without context, but frankly, I don’t remember the context. I probably said or did something that highly offended her. I did that often. She told me many times how often she was surprised by the sinfulness of her precious first born baby boy. This was long after I had said a sinner’s prayer to Jesus to escape hell.

Mom was consistent in her expectation that someone born of God should be different. I see that now. At the time she was up against a religious establishment that defended its religious traditions, and I had said the sinner’s prayer those traditions required. At that time I resented being called sinful. So I lived 65 years before I could or would acknowledge that I in my flesh was from [my] father the devil.

Jesus continued to describe my father and my unwitting relationship to him (John 8:44b-46a NET):

He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature because he is a liar and the father of lies [Table]. But because I am telling you the truth, you do not believe me. Who among you can prove me guilty of any sin? [Table]

Jesus was not some egoist bolstering his own self-esteem by denigrating others. He is God, come to earth as a human being to, among other things, teach us what we did not understand, what we refused to understand, about ourselves (John 8:46b, 47 NET).

If I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me [Table]? The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond because you don’t belong to God.

I hear this as a relative measure. For I know that nothing good lives in me, Paul wrote, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.⁹ Even here, though, Paul recognized God’s law as the good (Romans 7:10b-12 NET):

So¹⁰ I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life brought death! For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it I died. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.

Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them [Pharisees and Herodians…Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection)] debating (Mark 12:28-34a NET).

When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’ [Table]. The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The expert in the law said to him, “That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him. And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” [Table]. When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Paul continued (Romans 7:13-17 NET):

Did that which is good, then, become¹¹ death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual—but I am unspiritual (KJV: carnal), sold into slavery to sin [Table]. For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate. But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me [Table].

I wasn’t so clear. The good was what I wanted, irrespective of God’s law. My faith in this understanding of the good reached its zenith when I became an atheist, but it didn’t vanish overnight. God’s laws were added more or less reluctantly over time to my understanding of the good as what I wanted, but still may not have entirely supplanted it on a day-to-day basis.

While I might have seen some benefit to a law that inhibits you from messing around with my wife, if I wanted yours more than you did and she wanted me more than you, I was kind of fuzzy why you or God should interfere with the good we wanted. So, I “loved” and lusted after a friend’s wife for twenty years.

To Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’ [Table] was a tall order when I thought of love as my feeling. It was all but impossible when I thought of the Gospel as an ultimatum: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or burn in hell for all eternity.” Socialized as a male American after Adolf Hitler’s death, during the reigns of Chairman Mao and Nikita Khrushchev anyone who made such an ultimatum was not one to be loved, but someone to be resisted to the death.

A better understanding of love (1 Corinthians 13) helped me to begin to love God. Even when I thought Paul’s description of love was rules for me to obey in my own strength, it gave me more practical things to do than trying to conjure a feeling of love. When I began to understand Paul’s description as God’s love, given freely to us as an aspect of the fruit of his Holy Spirit, everything began to change for the better. I began, in fact, to be born from above in practice.

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, Jesus taught, nor again¹² does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles. The good person out of the good treasury of his¹³ heart produces good, and the evil person¹⁴ out of his evil treasury¹⁵ produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills¹⁶ his¹⁷ heart.¹⁸

I didn’t know Mr. Ramos. I know the fruit of the Spirit through the word of God and personal experience. Mr. Ramos was not led by God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control when he shot 39 people. You people are from your father the devil, Jesus warned, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning…¹⁹

United States Congressmen take an oath of office:²⁰

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Members of the U.S. Congress have forsworn themselves to enact legislation to infringe “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms.”²¹ And the President of the United States, who made a similar oath,²² signed that legislation.²³ Mr. Ramos’ acts of political terrorism have apparently succeeded where others have failed. Was this his conscious purpose and cause? I have no way of knowing.

Jesus warned us of a powerful liar and murderer who incites people to obey his will (John 8:44b, 44a NET):

He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature because he is a liar and the father of lies.

You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires.

Do not be amazed that I said to you, Jesus said, ‘You must all be born from above.’²⁴

As I wrote this essay the Supreme Court of the United States of America barely affirmed the rather obvious fact that no right of abortion is mentioned in the document that constitutes the federal government of the United States. What impact might this tepid affirmation have on those who want a right of abortion, who want to destroy their unborn children, who want me (among others) to consider them righteous if they do so? I don’t know.

Considering the question, however, helps to confirm for me the relative futility of political action vis-a-vis the privilege of sharing the good news that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost (πρῶτος).²⁵ In other words, God in Christ has done all the heavy lifting to save sinners like you and me from our sinful selves. Know Him. [T]his is eternal life,²⁶ Jesus prayed.

“Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.

For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds, and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be my people.

And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.

For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer” [Table].²⁷

Tables comparing Romans 7:13; Luke 6:43 and 6:45 in the NET and KJV follow.

Romans 7:13 (NET)	Romans 7:13 (KJV)
Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.	Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τὸ οὖν ἀγαθὸν ἐμοὶ ἐγένετο θάνατος; μὴ γένοιτο· ἀλλὰ ἡ ἁμαρτία, ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία, διὰ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοι κατεργαζομένη θάνατον, ἵνα γένηται καθ᾿ ὑπερβολὴν ἁμαρτωλὸς ἡ ἁμαρτία διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς	το ουν αγαθον εμοι γεγονεν θανατος μη γενοιτο αλλα η αμαρτια ινα φανη αμαρτια δια του αγαθου μοι κατεργαζομενη θανατον ινα γενηται καθ υπερβολην αμαρτωλος η αμαρτια δια της εντολης	το ουν αγαθον εμοι γεγονεν θανατος μη γενοιτο αλλα η αμαρτια ινα φανη αμαρτια δια του αγαθου μοι κατεργαζομενη θανατον ινα γενηται καθ υπερβολην αμαρτωλος η αμαρτια δια της εντολης

Luke 6:43 (NET)	Luke 6:43 (KJV)
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,	For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν δένδρον καλὸν ποιοῦν καρπὸν σαπρόν, οὐδὲ πάλιν δένδρον σαπρὸν ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλόν	ου γαρ εστιν δενδρον καλον ποιουν καρπον σαπρον ουδε δενδρον σαπρον ποιουν καρπον καλον	ου γαρ εστιν δενδρον καλον ποιουν καρπον σαπρον ουδε δενδρον σαπρον ποιουν καρπον καλον

Luke 6:45 (NET)	Luke 6:45 (KJV)
The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.	A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ θησαυροῦ τῆς καρδίας προφέρει τὸ ἀγαθόν, καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ προφέρει τὸ πονηρόν· ἐκ γὰρ περισσεύματος καρδίας λαλεῖ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ	ο αγαθος ανθρωπος εκ του αγαθου θησαυρου της καρδιας αυτου προφερει το αγαθον και ο πονηρος ανθρωπος εκ του πονηρου θησαυρου της καρδιας αυτου προφερει το πονηρον εκ γαρ του περισσευματος της καρδιας λαλει το στομα αυτου	ο αγαθος ανθρωπος εκ του αγαθου θησαυρου της καρδιας αυτου προφερει το αγαθον και ο πονηρος ανθρωπος εκ του πονηρου θησαυρου της καρδιας αυτου προφερει το πονηρον εκ γαρ του περισσευματος της καρδιας λαλει το στομα αυτου

Back to Christianity, Part 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

Back to Exploration, Part 6

¹ “Robb Elementary School shooting,” Wikipedia

² “Robb Elementary School shooting,” Wikipedia: “Earlier in the day, he shot his grandmother in the forehead at home, severely wounding her.”

³ From “Robb Elementary School shooting – Perpetrator,” Wikipedia

⁴ John 3:6, 7 (NET)

⁵ Galatians 5:19-21 (NET) Table

⁶ Romans 8:5-8 (NET)

⁷ John 8:44a (NET) Table

⁸ John 8:31a (NET)

⁹ Romans 7:18 (NET) Table

¹⁰ In the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ verse 10 begins with ἐγὼ δὲ ἀπέθανον (NET: and I died). These words conclude verse 9 in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

¹¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐγένετο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had γεγονεν (KJV: made).

¹² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had πάλιν here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

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

¹⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ανθρωπος here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θησαυρου της καρδιας αυτου (KJV: treasure of his heart) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁶ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding what fills (KJV: abundance). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article της preceding heart. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁸ Luke 6:43-45 (NET)

¹⁹ John 8:44a (NET) Table

²⁰ SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OATH OF OFFICE

²¹ The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

²² Oath of Office for the Presidency

²³ “Joe Biden Signs Gun Control Law: ‘There’s Much More Work to Do’,” Breitbart

²⁴ John 3:7 (NET)

²⁵ 1 Timothy 1:15b (ESV)

²⁶ John 17:3 (NET)

²⁷ Hebrews 8:8b-12 (NET) [See Greek comparison tables]

The Book of Life, Part 3

Posted on May 31, 2022 by admin

The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people,¹ language, and nation, and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast,² everyone whose³ name⁴ has not been written since the foundation of the world in the⁵ book of life belonging to the Lamb who⁶ was killed.⁷

This is the fullest description of the book of life so far. The Greek words translated the book were τῷ βιβλίῳ in the NET, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text. In the Stephanus Textus Receptus the feminine article τη preceded the neuter noun βιβλίῳ. That noun in the dative case was followed by a string of three articles, two nouns and a participle all in the genitive case: τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου τοῦ⁸ ἐσφαγμένου.

For the most part, the genitive is often viewed as the case of possession. In more technical terms one noun in the genitive case helps to qualify another noun by showing its “class” or “kind”.⁹

So I have: “the book of the life of the lamb of the slain,” or “the book of the slain lamb’s life.” Or if one is inclined to play games with gender: “the slain lamb’s book of life.” Once the idea is purged from my thoughts—that the Lord wrote or had a list of personal names since the foundation of the world,¹⁰ that omission from this list condemned one to be thrown into the lake of fire,¹¹ that Peter lied about the existence of this list, writing, The Lord…does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance¹²—it is easy to understand “the book of the life of the lamb of the slain” as the New Testament.

The Greek word translated slain (KJV) and who was killed (NET) was ἐσφαγμένου, a participle of the verb σφάζω: “to kill, butcher, slaughter (by cutting the throat), slay for a sacrifice; to wound, maim, torment.” This word is like a synopsis of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

John¹³ saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb (ἀμνὸς) of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one about¹⁴ whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water¹⁵ so that he could be revealed to Israel.”¹⁶

After many of his disciples quit following him (John 6:67, 68 NET):

Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” Simon Peter answered him,¹⁷ “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life (ζωῆς αἰωνίου).

If the Holy Spirit had intended for me to understand the book of life as a list of personal names He could have written τῷ ὀνοματογραφίᾳ τῆς ζωῆς. But if anyone says that Jesus’ life is described throughout the Bible, I wouldn’t be inclined to argue. I just didn’t see that for myself until I began to understand that Jesus learned this life from the Scriptures I know as the Old Testament.

First, I had to learn that Jesus expressed genuine surprise when he asked Nicodemus, Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?¹⁸ He didn’t ridicule Nicodemus for ignorance of a novel concept that Jesus’ had made up in the moment: Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’¹⁹ Only then did I begin to recognize his life in the writings of the Old Testament.

The personal name of consequence in the slain Lamb’s book of life is not mine but Christ’s (Galatians 2:20 NET):

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

This is not Paul’s hyperbolic expression of his personal devotion to Christ but his declarative statement of mere Christianity. Anything, everything, less is hypocrisy, the work of an actor, one seeking to have [one’s] own righteousness derived from the law,²⁰ one rejecting the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness.²¹

He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name (ὄνομα) that is above every name (ὄνομα), so that at the name (ὀνόματι, a form of ὄνομα) of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.²²

The Greek word translated Jesus was Ἰησοῦ, a form of Ἰησοῦς. In the Septuagint Ἰησοῦ and Ἰησοῦς are the Greek name of Joshua (Exodus 17:9, 10 NET).

So Moses said to Joshua (Ἰησοῦ), “Choose some of our men and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”

So Joshua (Ἰησοῦς) fought against Amalek just as Moses had instructed him, and Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill [Table].

So even the name above every name has more to do with the reputation of One than his personal name. Joshua did many wonderful things, but it is not before Joshua that every knee will bow. Joshua is not the Lord that every tongue will confess because his name is Ἰησοῦς in Greek.

Another occurrence of the Lamb’s book of life follows (Revelation 21:27 NET):

but nothing ritually unclean²³ will ever enter into [the holy city, Jerusalem], nor anyone who does²⁴ what is detestable or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Again, names was added by the translators: but only those…written in the Lamb’s book of life. Here the book doesn’t seem like a literal book at all. Being written in the Lamb’s book of life sounds more like a euphemism for having a share in the Lamb’s life, for being in Christ (Philippians 3:5-11 NET):

I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee. In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless [Table]. But²⁵ these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ. More than that,²⁶ I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things—indeed, I regard them as dung!—that I may gain Christ [Table] and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness. My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead [Table].

Given this, I would understand one not found written in the book of life²⁷ as a euphemism for one not in Christ. I’ll consider one more occurrence of the book of life (Revelation 20:11, 12 NET).

Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it;²⁸ the earth and the heaven fled from his presence,²⁹ and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the³⁰ great and the³¹ small, standing before the throne.³² Then books were opened,³³ and another book was opened³⁴—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.

A note (34) in the NET acknowledged that ἄλλο βιβλίον ἠνοίχθη, ὅ ἐστιν τῆς ζωῆς is literally “another book was opened, which is of life.” I can understand these books concretely as the Bible with the New Testament which is of life highlighted: the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.³⁵

You yourselves are our letter, Paul wrote (2 Corinthians 3:2-11 NET):

written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.³⁶
Now we have such confidence in God through Christ. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills,³⁷ but the Spirit gives life.
But if the ministry that produced death—carved in letters on³⁸ stone tablets—came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective) [Table], how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be? For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation (κατακρίσεως, a form of κατάκρισις), how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in glory! For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it [Table]. For if what was made ineffective came with glory, how much more has what remains come in glory!

Conversely, I can understand “another book was opened, which is of life” abstractly as Christ Himself at the very moment when those whose life is hidden with Christ appear (Colossians 3:1-4 NET).

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your³⁹ life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.

I can’t understand the dead being judged by a list of personal names to which they have had no access. So the dead were judged (ἐκρίθησαν, a form of κρίνω) by what was written in the books, according to their deeds (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον).⁴⁰ Jesus said, (John 3:16-21 ESV):

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn (κρίνῃ, another form of κρίνω) the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him [Table]. Whoever believes in him is not condemned (κρίνεται, another form of κρίνω), but whoever does not believe is condemned (κέκριται, another form of κρίνω) already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment (κρίσις): the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) have been carried out (εἰργασμένα, a form of ἐργάζομαι) in God.”

For many live, Paul wrote, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears (Philippians 3:18-21 NET):

I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself [Table].

Does Jesus’ power (ἐνέργειαν, a form of ἐνέργεια; KJV: working) by which he is able to subject all things to himself extend to the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things⁴¹? I tend to answer this question in the affirmative because I remember when I believed none of it. I remember what “living” was like when I was written in the book of the slain Lamb’s life in these negative terms.

Tables comparing Exodus 17:9 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Exodus 17:9 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Revelation 13:7, 8; John 1:29-31; 6:68; Revelation 21:27; Philippians 3:7; Revelation 20:11, 12; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 3:6 and Colossians 3:4 in the NET and KJV follow.

Exodus 17:9 (Tanakh)	Exodus 17:9 (KJV)	Exodus 17:9 (NET)
And Moses said unto Joshua: ‘Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of G-d in my hand.’	And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.	So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”

Exodus 17:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 17:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Μωυσῆς τῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπίλεξον σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς καὶ ἐξελθὼν παράταξαι τῷ Αμαληκ αὔριον καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ βουνοῦ καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρί μου	εἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ· ἐπίλεξον σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς καὶ ἐξελθὼν παράταξαι τῷ ᾿Αμαλὴκ αὔριον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ βουνοῦ, καὶ ἡ ράβδος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρί μου
Exodus 17:9 (NETS)	Exodus 17:9 (English Elpenor)
iAnd Moyses said to Iesous, “Choose for yourself capable men, and go forth, and set up in battle array with Amalek tomorrow. And look, I stand on top of the hill, and the rod of God is in my hand.”	And Moses said to Joshua, Choose out for thyself mighty men, and go forth and set the army in array against Amalec to-morrow; and, behold, I [shall] stand on the top of the hill, and the rod of God [will be] in my hand.

Revelation 13:7, 8 (NET)	Revelation 13:7, 8 (KJV)
The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation,	And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
\|καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ποιῆσαι πόλεμον μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων καὶ νικῆσαι αὐτούς,\| καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ἐξουσία ἐπὶ πᾶσαν φυλὴν καὶ λαὸν καὶ γλῶσσαν καὶ ἔθνος	και εδοθη αυτω πολεμον ποιησαι μετα των αγιων και νικησαι αυτους και εδοθη αυτω εξουσια επι πασαν φυλην και γλωσσαν και εθνος	και εδοθη αυτω ποιησαι πολεμον μετα των αγιων και νικησαι αυτους και εδοθη αυτω εξουσια επι πασαν φυλην και λαον και γλωσσαν και εθνος

and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, οὗ οὐ γέγραπται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου τοῦ ἐσφαγμένου ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου	και προσκυνησουσιν αυτω παντες οι κατοικουντες επι της γης ων ου γεγραπται τα ονοματα εν τη βιβλω της ζωης του αρνιου εσφαγμενου απο καταβολης κοσμου	και προσκυνησουσιν αυτω παντες οι κατοικουντες επι της γης ων ου γεγραπται το ονομα εν τω βιβλιω της ζωης του αρνιου του εσφαγμενου απο καταβολης κοσμου

John 1:29-31 (NET)	John 1:29-31 (KJV)
On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!	The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τῇ ἐπαύριον βλέπει τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει· ἴδε ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ αἴρων τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου	τη επαυριον βλεπει ο ιωαννης τον ιησουν ερχομενον προς αυτον και λεγει ιδε ο αμνος του θεου ο αιρων την αμαρτιαν του κοσμου	τη επαυριον βλεπει ο ιωαννης τον ιησουν ερχομενον προς αυτον και λεγει ιδε ο αμνος του θεου ο αιρων την αμαρτιαν του κοσμου

This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’

This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὗτος ἐστιν ὑπὲρ οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον· ὀπίσω μου ἔρχεται ἀνὴρ ὃς ἔμπροσθεν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτος μου ἦν	ουτος εστιν περι ου εγω ειπον οπισω μου ερχεται ανηρ ος εμπροσθεν μου γεγονεν οτι πρωτος μου ην	ουτος εστιν περι ου εγω ειπον οπισω μου ερχεται ανηρ ος εμπροσθεν μου γεγονεν οτι πρωτος μου ην

I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν, ἀλλ᾿ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραὴλ διὰ τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγὼ ἐν ὕδατι βαπτίζων	καγω ουκ ηδειν αυτον αλλ ινα φανερωθη τω ισραηλ δια τουτο ηλθον εγω εν τω υδατι βαπτιζων	καγω ουκ ηδειν αυτον αλλ ινα φανερωθη τω ισραηλ δια τουτο ηλθον εγω εν τω υδατι βαπτιζων

John 6:68 (NET)	John 6:68 (KJV)
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.	Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ Σίμων Πέτρος· κύριε, πρὸς τίνα ἀπελευσόμεθα; ρήματα ζωῆς αἰωνίου ἔχεις	απεκριθη ουν αυτω σιμων πετρος κυριε προς τινα απελευσομεθα ρηματα ζωης αιωνιου εχεις	απεκριθη ουν αυτω σιμων πετρος κυριε προς τινα απελευσομεθα ρηματα ζωης αιωνιου εχεις

Revelation 21:27 (NET)	Revelation 21:27 (KJV)
but nothing ritually unclean will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.	And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς αὐτὴν πᾶν κοινὸν καὶ [ὁ] ποιῶν βδέλυγμα καὶ ψεῦδος εἰ μὴ οἱ γεγραμμένοι ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου	και ου μη εισελθη εις αυτην παν κοινουν και ποιουν βδελυγμα και ψευδος ει μη οι γεγραμμενοι εν τω βιβλιω της ζωης του αρνιου	και ου μη εισελθη εις αυτην παν κοινον και ποιουν βδελυγμα και ψευδος ει μη οι γεγραμμενοι εν τω βιβλιω της ζωης του αρνιου

Philippians 3:7 (NET)	Philippians 3:7 (KJV)
But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.	But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
[Ἀλλὰ] ἅτινα ἦν μοι κέρδη, ταῦτα ἥγημαι διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν ζημίαν	αλλ ατινα ην μοι κερδη ταυτα ηγημαι δια τον χριστον ζημιαν	αλλ ατινα ην μοι κερδη ταυτα ηγημαι δια τον χριστον ζημιαν

Revelation 20:11, 12 (NET)	Revelation 20:11, 12 (KJV)
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 a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ εἶδον θρόνον μέγαν λευκὸν καὶ τὸν καθήμενον ἐπ᾿ \|αὐτόν\|, οὗ ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου ἔφυγεν ἡ γῆ καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ τόπος οὐχ εὑρέθη αὐτοῖς	και ειδον θρονον λευκον μεγαν και τον καθημενον επ αυτου ου απο προσωπου εφυγεν η γη και ο ουρανος και τοπος ουχ ευρεθη αυτοις	και ειδον θρονον μεγαν λευκον και τον καθημενον επ αυτον ου απο προσωπου εφυγεν η γη και ο ουρανος και τοπος ουχ ευρεθη αυτοις

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.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ εἶδον τοὺς νεκρούς, τοὺς μεγάλους καὶ τοὺς μικρούς, ἑστῶτας ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου. καὶ βιβλία ἠνοίχθησαν, καὶ ἄλλο βιβλίον ἠνοίχθη, ὅ ἐστιν τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ ἐκρίθησαν οἱ νεκροὶ ἐκ τῶν γεγραμμένων ἐν τοῖς βιβλίοις κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν	και ειδον τους νεκρους μικρους και μεγαλους εστωτας ενωπιον του θεου και βιβλια ηνεωχθησαν και βιβλιον αλλο ηνεωχθη ο εστιν της ζωης και εκριθησαν οι νεκροι εκ των γεγραμμενων εν τοις βιβλιοις κατα τα εργα αυτων	και ειδον τους νεκρους τους μεγαλους και τους μικρους εστωτας ενωπιον του θρονου και βιβλια ηνεωχθησαν και αλλο βιβλιον ηνεωχθη ο εστιν της ζωης και εκριθησαν οι νεκροι εκ των γεγραμμενων εν τοις βιβλιοις κατα τα εργα αυτων

2 Corinthians 3:3 (NET)	2 Corinthians 3:3 (KJV)
revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.	Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
φανερούμενοι ὅτι ἐστὲ ἐπιστολὴ Χριστοῦ διακονηθεῖσα ὑφ᾿ ἡμῶν, ἐγγεγραμμένη οὐ μέλανι ἀλλὰ πνεύματι θεοῦ ζῶντος, οὐκ ἐν πλαξὶν λιθίναις ἀλλ᾿ ἐν πλαξὶν καρδίαις σαρκίναις	φανερουμενοι οτι εστε επιστολη χριστου διακονηθεισα υφ ημων εγγεγραμμενη ου μελανι αλλα πνευματι θεου ζωντος ουκ εν πλαξιν λιθιναις αλλ εν πλαξιν καρδιας σαρκιναις	φανερουμενοι οτι εστε επιστολη χριστου διακονηθεισα υφ ημων εγγεγραμμενη ου μελανι αλλα πνευματι θεου ζωντος ουκ εν πλαξιν λιθιναις αλλ εν πλαξιν καρδιαις σαρκιναις

2 Corinthians 3:6 (NET)	2 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)
who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.	Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὃς καὶ ἱκάνωσεν ἡμᾶς διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης, οὐ γράμματος ἀλλὰ πνεύματος· τὸ γὰρ γράμμα \|ἀποκτέννει\|, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζῳοποιεῖ	ος και ικανωσεν ημας διακονους καινης διαθηκης ου γραμματος αλλα πνευματος το γαρ γραμμα αποκτεινει το δε πνευμα ζωοποιει	ος και ικανωσεν ημας διακονους καινης διαθηκης ου γραμματος αλλα πνευματος το γαρ γραμμα αποκτενει το δε πνευμα ζωοποιει

Colossians 3:4 (NET)	Colossians 3:4 (KJV)
When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.	When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ (ἡ ζωὴ \|ὑμῶν\|), τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ	οταν ο χριστος φανερωθη η ζωη ημων τοτε και υμεις συν αυτω φανερωθησεσθε εν δοξη	οταν ο χριστος φανερωθη η ζωη ημων τοτε και υμεις συν αυτω φανερωθησεσθε εν δοξη

Back to Christianity, Part 6

Back to Who Am I? Part 16

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 1

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 3

Back to Exploration, Part 3

¹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had καὶ λαὸν here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had αὐτὸν here in the accusative case, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτω in the dative case (KJV: him).

³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the singular οὗ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural ων.

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the singular τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ (literally: the name of him) here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had τὸ ὄνομα, and the Stephanus Textus Receptus had the plural τα ονοματα (KJV: names).

⁵ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the masculine or neuter article τῷ preceding book, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had the feminine article τη.

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοῦ in the genitive case preceding was killed. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

⁷ Revelation 13:7, 8 (NET)

⁸ This article τοῦ is not found in the Stephanus Textus Receptus.

⁹ GREEK NOUNS (Shorter Definitions), Resources for Learning New Testament Greek

¹⁰ Revelation 17:8 (NET) Table

¹¹ Revelation 20:15 (NET) Table

¹² 2 Peter 3:9 (NET) Table

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

¹⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὑπὲρ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had περι (KJV: of).

¹⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τω preceding water. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁶ John 1:29-31 (NET)

¹⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: Then) preceding him. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁸ John 3:10 (NET) Table

¹⁹ John 3:7 (NET)

²⁰ Philippians 3:9a (NET)

²¹ Philippians 3:9b (NET)

²² Philippians 2:8-11 (NET)

²³ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had an adjective κοινὸν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had a participle κοινουν (KJV: that defileth).

²⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὁ ποιῶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ποιουν (KJV: worketh).

²⁵ The NET parallel Greek text had Ἀλλὰ here, where the NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byantine Majority Text had Ἀλλ’.

²⁶ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had μενοῦνγε here, where the Byantine Majority Text had μεν ουν.

²⁷ Revelation 20:15a (NET)

²⁸ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had αὐτόν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αυτου.

²⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the article τοῦ preceding presence (KJV: face). The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

³⁰ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοὺς preceding great. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

³¹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοὺς preceding small. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

³² The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had θρόνου here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had θεου (KJV: God).

³³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἠνοίχθησαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηνεωχθησαν.

³⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἠνοίχθη here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηνεωχθη.

³⁵ Revelation 20:12b (NET)

³⁶ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural καρδίαις in the dative case here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had the singular καρδιας in the genitive case (KJV: of the heart).

³⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἀποκτέννει here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αποκτεινει (KJV: killeth), and the Byzantine Majority Text had αποκτενει.

³⁸ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν preceding stone. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

³⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὑμῶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ημων (KJV: our).

⁴⁰ Revelation 20:12b (NET)

⁴¹ Philippians 3:18b, 19 (KJV)

Peter’s Second Gospel Proclamation, Part 2

Posted on June 6, 2021 by admin

Peter’s Gospel proclamation continued (Acts 3:17-20 NET):

And now, brothers, I know you acted in ignorance, as your rulers did too. But the things God foretold long ago through all the^[1] prophets—that his^[2] Christ would suffer—he has fulfilled in this way. Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed^[3] for you—that is, Jesus.

Peter’s invitation to repent (μετανοήσατε, a form of μετανοέω) and turn back (ἐπιστρέψατε, a form of ἐπιστρέφω) struck a familiar chord:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 46:8 (Tanakh) Table	Isaiah 46:8 (NET)	Isaiah 46:8 (NETS)	Isaiah 46:8 (English Elpenor)
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again (הָשִׁ֥יבוּ) to mind (לֵֽב), O ye transgressors.	Remember this, so you can be brave. Think (šûḇ, השיבו) about it (lēḇ, לב), you rebels!	Remember these things and groan; repent (μετανοήσατε), you who have gone astray; turn (ἐπιστρέψατε) in your heart,	Remember ye these things, and groan: repent (μετανοήσατε), ye that have gone astray, return (ἐπιστρέψατε) in your heart;

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 14:6 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 14:6 (NET)	Ezekiel 14:6 (NETS)	Ezekiel 14:6 (English Elpenor)
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent (שׁ֣וּבוּ), and turn (וְהָשִׁ֔יבוּ) yourselves from your idols; and turn away (הָשִׁ֥יבוּ) your faces from all your abominations.	“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Return (šûḇ, שובו)! Turn (šûḇ, והשיבו) from your idols, and turn your faces away (šûḇ, השיבו) from your abominations.	Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: Turn about (ἐπιστράφητε), and turn back (ἀποστρέψατε) from your practices and from all your impieties, and turn your faces around (ἐπιστρέψατε).	Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Be converted (ἐπιστράφητε), and turn (ἀποστρέψατε) from your [evil] practices, and from all your sins, and turn your faces back again (ἐπιστρέψατε).

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Zechariah 1:3 (Tanakh)	Zechariah 1:3 (NET)	Zechariah 1:3 (NETS)	Zechariah 1:3 (English Elpenor)
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye (שׁ֣וּבוּ) unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn (וְאָשׁ֣וּב) unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.	Therefore say to the people: The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘Turn (šûḇ, שובו) to me,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘and I will turn (šûḇ, ואשוב) to you,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.	And you will say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: Return (ἐπιστρέψατε) to me, and I will return (ἐπιστραφήσομαι) to you, says the Lord.	And thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord Almighty: Turn (ἐπιστρέψατε) to me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn (ἐπιστραφήσομαι) to you, saith the Lord of hosts.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Malachi 3:7 (Tanakh)	Malachi 3:7 (NET)	Malachi 3:7 (NETS)	Malachi 3:7 (English Elpenor)
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return (שׁ֚וּבוּ) unto me, and I will return (וְאָשׁ֣וּבָה) unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return (נָשֽׁוּב)?	From the days of your ancestors you have ignored my commandments and have not kept them. Return (šûḇ, שובו) to me, and I will return (šûḇ, ואשובה) to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you say, ‘How should we return (šûḇ, נשוב)?’	And you, O sons of Iakob, are not keeping a distance from the injustices of your fathers. You perverted my precepts and did not keep them. Return (ἐπιστρέψατε) to me, and I will return (ἐπιστραφήσομαι) to you, says the Lord Almighty. And you said, “How should we return (ἐπιστρέψωμεν)?”	but ye, the sons of Jacob, have not refrained from the iniquities of your fathers: ye have perverted my statutes, and have not kept them. Return (ἐπιστρέψατε) to me, and I will return (ἐπιστραφήσομαι) to you, saith the Lord Almighty. But ye said, Wherein shall we return (ἐπιστρέψομεν)?

In context Peter invited his fellow descendants of Israel to repent, change their minds about Jesus, and turn back from their rejection of Him. This is something more than ancient history for me. I rejected Jesus as thoroughly as any Jew present at Jesus’ trial before Pilate, and not for another would-be-messiah. I thought God could vanish in a “puff of logic.”

If he could not punish me to defend his holiness, if his holiness was little more than his own self-interest, maybe he wasn’t God at all. That’s when it hit. Oh my God, he isn’t at all! And he never was. I wasn’t happy with the conclusion, but at the time, I couldn’t escape its logic: God did not punish me for sin, therefore God was not.^[4]

He has spent the past fifty years of my life proving me wrong, and I am very grateful. So Peter’s invitation to repent and turn back from my ignorance and unbelief is welcome to my ear, εἰς τὸ ἐξαλειφθῆναι ὑμῶν τὰς ἁμαρτίας: in order to blot out, wipe away, obliterate, destroy, wipe out, erase, delete, re-plaster, plaster over, wash over [my] sins, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for [me]—that is, Jesus. Peter continued (Acts 3:21-23 NET):

This one heaven must receive until the time all things are restored, which God declared from times long ago through^[5] his holy^[6] prophets. Moses^[7] said,^[8] ‘The Lord your^[9] God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must obey him in everything he tells you. Every person who^[10] does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.’

According to the note (64) in the NET Acts 3:22 is a quotation from Deuteronomy 18:15.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Deuteronomy 18:15 (Tanakh) Table	Deuteronomy 18:15 (NET)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (English Elpenor)
A prophet will HaShem thy G-d raise up unto thee, from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;	The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you—from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him.	The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers; you shall hear him.	The Lord thy God shall raise up to thee a prophet of thy brethren, like me; him shall ye hear:

A table comparing the Greek of Peter’s quotation with the Septuagint follows:

Acts 3:22 (NET Parallel Greek)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (Septuagint BLB) Table	Deuteronomy 18:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
προφήτην ὑμῖν ἀναστήσει κύριος ὁ θεὸς \|ὑμῶν\| ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑμῶν ὡς ἐμέ· αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἂν λαλήσῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς	προφήτην ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου ὡς ἐμὲ ἀναστήσει σοι κύριος ὁ θεός σου αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε	προφήτην ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου ὡς ἐμὲ ἀναστήσει σοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε
Acts 3:22 (NET)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (English Elpenor)
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must obey him in everything he tells you.	The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers; you shall hear him.	The Lord thy God shall raise up to thee a prophet of thy brethren, like me; him shall ye hear:

You must obey him in everything he tells you,^[11] sounds like something I must do. The Greek word translated You must obey is ἀκούσεσθε (a form of ἀκούω). It is in the future tense, the middle voice (which allows for some participation of the subject you, 2^nd person plural) and the indicative mood. In other words, Peter promised his listeners in the name of God that they at some point in their future would hear Jesus, him shall ye hear.^[12]

Perhaps the last phrase—κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἂν λαλήσῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς (in everything he tells you)—was an extrapolation from Deuteronomy 18:18.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Deuteronomy 18:18 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 18:18 (NET)	Deuteronomy 18:18 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 18:18 (English Elpenor)
I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.	I will raise up a prophet like you for them from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them whatever I command.	I will raise up for them a prophet just like you from among their brothers, and I will give my word in his mouth, and he shall speak to them whatever I commanded him.	I will raise up to them a prophet of their brethren, like thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them as I shall command him.

Perhaps it was something Jesus told Peter personally or something he learned from his own experience denying Jesus, because in his own ignorance and unbelief he had refused to believe everything Jesus told him (Matthew 16:21-23 NET).

From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed and on the third day be raised. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: “God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s [Table].”

According to the note (67) in the NET Acts 3:23 is a quotation from Deuteronomy 18:19 and Leviticus 23:29.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Deuteronomy 18:19 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (NET)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (English Elpenor)
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.	I will personally hold responsible anyone who then pays no attention to the words that prophet speaks in my name.	And the person who does not hear his words, whatever the prophet may speak in my name, I will exact vengeance from him.	And whatever man shall not hearken to whatsoever words that prophet shall speak in my name, I will take vengeance on him.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Leviticus 23:29 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 23:29 (NET)	Leviticus 23:29 (NETS)	Leviticus 23:29 (English Elpenor)
For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from his people.	Indeed, any person who does not behave with humility on this particular day will be cut off from his people.	Any soul who does not humble himself on that particular day—that soul shall be utterly destroyed from his people.	Every soul that shall not be humbled in that day, shall be cut off from among its people.

Tables comparing the Greek of Peter’s quotation with the Septuagint follow:

Acts 3:23 (NET Parallel Greek)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔσται δὲ πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἥτις ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ τοῦ προφήτου ἐκείνου ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ	καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ ὅσα ἐὰν λαλήσῃ ὁ προφήτης ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου ἐγὼ ἐκδικήσω ἐξ αὐτοῦ	καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ὃς ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ ὅσα ἂν λαλήσῃ ὁ προφήτης ἐκεῖνος ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου, ἐγὼ ἐκδικήσω ἐξ αὐτοῦ
Acts 3:23 (NET)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (English Elpenor)
Every person who does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.’	And the person who does not hear his words, whatever the prophet may speak in my name, I will exact vengeance from him.	And whatever man shall not hearken to whatsoever words that prophet shall speak in my name, I will take vengeance on him.

Acts 3:23 (NET Parallel Greek)	Leviticus 23:29 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 23:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔσται δὲ πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἥτις ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ τοῦ προφήτου ἐκείνου ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ	πᾶσα ψυχή ἥτις μὴ ταπεινωθήσεται ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς	πᾶσα ψυχή, ἥτις μὴ ταπεινωθήσεται ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ, ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς
Acts 3:23 (NET)	Leviticus 23:29 (NETS)	Leviticus 23:29 (English Elpenor)
Every person who does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.’	Any soul who does not humble himself on that particular day—that soul shall be utterly destroyed from his people.	Every soul that shall not be humbled in that day, shall be cut off from among its people.

Perhaps this should be considered a paraphrase rather than a quotation. A composite of the two verses follows:

Acts 3:23a (NET Parallel Greek)	Leviticus 23:29a (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 23:29a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔσται δὲ
πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἥτις	πᾶσα ψυχή ἥτις	πᾶσα ψυχή, ἥτις
Acts 3:23b (NET)	Deuteronomy 18:19b (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 18:19b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ	ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ	ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ
Acts 3:23c (NET)	Leviticus 23:29b (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 23:29b (Septuagint Elpenor)
τοῦ προφήτου ἐκείνου
ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ	ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ	ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ

Every person who does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.^[13] The Greek words translated does not obey are μὴ ἀκούσῃ (KJV: will not hear). The verb ἀκούσῃ is in the active voice, so the idea of willful not hearing is very appropriate. Every person who will not hear Jesus will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.

The verb ἐξολεθρευθήσεται (a form of ἐξολεθρεύω) was translated will be destroyed and thus removed (KJV: shall be destroyed). It sounds ominous. I thought it meant that this person would spend eternity in the lake of fire. Now I realize that Dan the atheist who did not hear Jesus was destroyed and thus removed from the people only to be replaced by Dan the believer who hears Jesus and lives to know Him better.

Peter the ignorant unbeliever who denied even knowing the crucified Christ was also destroyed and thus removed from the people only to be replaced by Peter the Apostle who proclaimed this Gospel message to all who would hear. I can’t speak for Peter. As for me, I am certainly no one worthy of special favor.

Do not be amazed that I said to you, Jesus said, ‘You must all be born from above (δεῖ ὑμᾶς γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν, “it is necessary for you to be born from above, anew”).’^[14] And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.^[15]

Tables comparing Ezekiel 14:6; Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 3:7; Deuteronomy 18:18; 18:19 and Leviticus 23:29 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Ezekiel 14:6; Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 3:7; Deuteronomy 18:18; 18:19 and Leviticus 23:29 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Acts 3:18-20 and 3:21-23 in the NET and KJV follow.

Ezekiel 14:6 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 14:6 (KJV)	Ezekiel 14:6 (NET)
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.	Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.	“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Return! Turn from your idols, and turn your faces away from your abominations.

Ezekiel 14:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 14:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο εἰπὸν πρὸς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ισραηλ τάδε λέγει κύριος κύριος ἐπιστράφητε καὶ ἀποστρέψατε ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων ὑμῶν καὶ ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν ἀσεβειῶν ὑμῶν καὶ ἐπιστρέψατε τὰ πρόσωπα ὑμῶν	διὰ τοῦτο εἰπὸν πρὸς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ· τάδε λέγει Κύριος Κύριος· ἐπιστράφητε καὶ ἀποστρέψατε ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων ὑμῶν καὶ ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν ἀσεβειῶν ὑμῶν καὶ ἐπιστρέψατε τὰ πρόσωπα ὑμῶν
Ezekiel 14:6 (NETS)	Ezekiel 14:6 (English Elpenor)
Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: Turn about, and turn back from your practices and from all your impieties, and turn your faces around.	Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Be converted, and turn from your [evil] practices, and from all your sins, and turn your faces back again.

Zechariah 1:3 (Tanakh)	Zechariah 1:3 (KJV)	Zechariah 1:3 (NET)
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.	Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.	Therefore say to the people: The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘Turn to me,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘and I will turn to you,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Zechariah 1:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Zechariah 1:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐρεῗς πρὸς αὐτούς τάδε λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ ἐπιστρέψατε πρός με καὶ ἐπιστραφήσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς λέγει κύριος	καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς· τάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ· ἐπιστρέψατε πρός με, λέγει Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων, καὶ ἐπιστραφήσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, λέγει Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων
Zechariah 1:3 (NETS)	Zechariah 1:3 (English Elpenor)
And you will say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord.	And thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord Almighty: Turn to me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn to you, saith the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 3:7 (Tanakh)	Malachi 3:7 (KJV)	Malachi 3:7 (NET)
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?	Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?	From the days of your ancestors you have ignored my commandments and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you say, ‘How should we return?’

Malachi 3:6b, 7 (Septuagint BLB)	Malachi 3:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
(6b) καὶ ὑμεῗς υἱοὶ Ιακωβ οὐκ ἀπέχεσθε (7) ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδικιῶν τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν ἐξεκλίνατε νόμιμά μου καὶ οὐκ ἐφυλάξασθε ἐπιστρέψατε πρός με καὶ ἐπιστραφήσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ καὶ εἴπατε ἐν τίνι ἐπιστρέψωμεν	καὶ ὑμεῖς οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ιακὼβ οὐκ ἀπέχεσθε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδικιῶν τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν, ἐξεκλίνατε νόμιμά μου καὶ οὐκ ἐφυλάξασθε. ἐπιστρέψατε πρός με, καὶ ἐπιστραφήσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ. καὶ εἴπατε· ἐν τίνι ἐπιστρέψομεν
Malachi 3:7 (NETS)	Malachi 3:7 (English Elpenor)
And you, O sons of Iakob, are not keeping a distance from the injustices of your fathers. You perverted my precepts and did not keep them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty. And you said, “How should we return?”	but ye, the sons of Jacob, have not refrained from the iniquities of your fathers: ye have perverted my statutes, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, saith the Lord Almighty. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Deuteronomy 18:18 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 18:18 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 18:18 (NET)
I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.	I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.	I will raise up a prophet like you for them from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them whatever I command.

Deuteronomy 18:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 18:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
προφήτην ἀναστήσω αὐτοῗς ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτῶν ὥσπερ σὲ καὶ δώσω τὸ ῥῆμά μου ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ καὶ λαλήσει αὐτοῗς καθότι ἂν ἐντείλωμαι αὐτῷ	προφήτην ἀναστήσω αὐτοῖς ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτῶν, ὥσπερ σέ, καὶ δώσω τὰ ῥήματα ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ, καὶ λαλήσει αὐτοῖς καθ᾿ ὅτι ἂν ἐντείλωμαι αὐτῷ
Deuteronomy 18:18 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 18:18 (English Elpenor)
I will raise up for them a prophet just like you from among their brothers, and I will give my word in his mouth, and he shall speak to them whatever I commanded him.	I will raise up to them a prophet of their brethren, like thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them as I shall command him.

Deuteronomy 18:19 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (NET)
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.	And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.	I will personally hold responsible anyone who then pays no attention to the words that prophet speaks in my name.

Deuteronomy 18:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ ὅσα ἐὰν λαλήσῃ ὁ προφήτης ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου ἐγὼ ἐκδικήσω ἐξ αὐτοῦ	καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ὃς ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ ὅσα ἂν λαλήσῃ ὁ προφήτης ἐκεῖνος ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου, ἐγὼ ἐκδικήσω ἐξ αὐτοῦ
Deuteronomy 18:19 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 18:19 (English Elpenor)
And the person who does not hear his words, whatever the prophet may speak in my name, I will exact vengeance from him.	And whatever man shall not hearken to whatsoever words that prophet shall speak in my name, I will take vengeance on him.

Leviticus 23:29 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 23:29 (KJV)	Leviticus 23:29 (NET)
For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from his people.	For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.	Indeed, any person who does not behave with humility on this particular day will be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 23:29 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 23:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πᾶσα ψυχή ἥτις μὴ ταπεινωθήσεται ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς	πᾶσα ψυχή, ἥτις μὴ ταπεινωθήσεται ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ, ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς
Leviticus 23:29 (NETS)	Leviticus 23:29 (English Elpenor)
Any soul who does not humble himself on that particular day—that soul shall be utterly destroyed from his people.	Every soul that shall not be humbled in that day, shall be cut off from among its people.

Acts 3:18-20 (NET)	Acts 3:18-20 (KJV)
But the things God foretold long ago through all the prophets—that his Christ would suffer—he has fulfilled in this way.	But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ θεός, ἃ προκατήγγειλεν διὰ στόματος πάντων τῶν προφητῶν παθεῖν τὸν χριστὸν αὐτοῦ, ἐπλήρωσεν οὕτως	ο δε θεος α προκατηγγειλεν δια στοματος παντων των προφητων αυτου παθειν τον χριστον επληρωσεν ουτως	ο δε θεος α προκατηγγειλεν δια στοματος παντων των προφητων αυτου παθειν τον χριστον επληρωσεν ουτως

(19) Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, (20a) so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
(19) μετανοήσατε οὖν καὶ ἐπιστρέψατε \|εἰς\| τὸ ἐξαλειφθῆναι ὑμῶν τὰς ἁμαρτίας, (20a) ὅπως ἂν ἔλθωσιν καιροὶ ἀναψύξεως ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ κυρίου	μετανοησατε ουν και επιστρεψατε εις το εξαλειφθηναι υμων τας αμαρτιας οπως αν ελθωσιν καιροι αναψυξεως απο προσωπου του κυριου	μετανοησατε ουν και επιστρεψατε εις το εξαλειφθηναι υμων τας αμαρτιας οπως αν ελθωσιν καιροι αναψυξεως απο προσωπου του κυριου

(20b) and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for you—that is, Jesus.

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
(20b) καὶ ἀποστείλῃ τὸν προκεχειρισμένον ὑμῖν χριστόν Ἰησοῦν	και αποστειλη τον προκεκηρυγμενον υμιν ιησουν χριστον	και αποστειλη τον προκεχειρισμενον υμιν χριστον ιησουν

Acts 3:21-23 (NET)	Acts 3:21-23 (KJV)
This one heaven must receive until the time all things are restored, which God declared from times long ago through his holy prophets.	Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὃν δεῖ οὐρανὸν μὲν δέξασθαι ἄχρι χρόνων ἀποκαταστάσεως πάντων ὧν ἐλάλησεν ὁ θεὸς διὰ στόματος τῶν ἁγίων ἀπ᾿ αἰῶνος αὐτοῦ προφητῶν	ον δει ουρανον μεν δεξασθαι αχρι χρονων αποκαταστασεως παντων ων ελαλησεν ο θεος δια στοματος παντων αγιων αυτου προφητων απ αιωνος	ον δει ουρανον μεν δεξασθαι αχρι χρονων αποκαταστασεως παντων ων ελαλησεν ο θεος δια στοματος παντων των αγιων αυτου προφητων απ αιωνος

Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must obey him in everything he tells you.

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Μωϋσῆς μὲν εἶπεν ὅτι προφήτην ὑμῖν ἀναστήσει κύριος ὁ θεὸς \|ὑμῶν\| ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑμῶν ὡς ἐμέ· αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἂν λαλήσῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς	μωσης μεν γαρ προς τους πατερας ειπεν οτι προφητην υμιν αναστησει κυριος ο θεος υμων εκ των αδελφων υμων ως εμε αυτου ακουσεσθε κατα παντα οσα αν λαληση προς υμας	μωσης μεν γαρ προς τους πατερας ειπεν οτι προφητην υμιν αναστησει κυριος ο θεος ημων εκ των αδελφων υμων ως εμε αυτου ακουσεσθε κατα παντα οσα αν λαληση προς υμας

Every person who does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.’

And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἔσται δὲ πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἥτις ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ τοῦ προφήτου ἐκείνου ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ	εσται δε πασα ψυχη ητις αν μη ακουση του προφητου εκεινου εξολοθρευθησεται εκ του λαου	εσται δε πασα ψυχη ητις εαν μη ακουση του προφητου εκεινου εξολοθρευθησεται εκ του λαου

Peter’s Second Gospel Proclamation, Part 3

Back to Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 8

Back to David’s Forgiveness, Part 13

Back to Wonders and False Wonders, Part 2

Back to Wonders and False Wonders, Part 3

^[1] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτου (KJV: his) here. The Net parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[2] The Net parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had αὐτοῦ here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[3] The Net parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had προκεχειρισμένον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had προκεκηρυγμενον (KJV: which before was preached).

^[4] Who Am I? Part 3

^[5] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παντων (KJV: of all) following the mouth. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[6] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τῶν preceding holy. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

^[7] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ Moses was spelled Μωϋσῆς, and μωσης in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text. Also, the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had γαρ (KJV: For) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[8] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had προς τους πατερας (KJV: unto the fathers) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[9] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had ὑμῶν here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had ημων (e.g., “our”).

^[10] The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐὰν following who (KJV: which), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αν.

^[11] Acts 3:22b (NET)

^[12] Deuteronomy 18:15b (English Elpenor)

^[13] Acts 3:23 (NET)

^[14] John 3:7 (NET)

^[15] John 12:32 (NET)

A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 6

Posted on April 18, 2021 by admin

I intend to consider another description of cities of refuge to fortify the conviction that Genesis 9:5, 6 was God’s description of his own attitude and behavior toward murderers post-flood. He knew his own heart, his own judgments. There was no need for the detail and specificity found later in the law when that duty and authority was actually delegated to human beings. But first I want to consider something gleaned from the previous essay.

If I killed someone unintentionally in ancient Israel, fled to a city of refuge, was found not guilty of murder by the community and lived in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest, I would have kept the law. Likewise, if I murdered someone intentionally in ancient Israel, fled to a city of refuge, was found guilty of murder by the community, was handed over to the avenger of blood and executed, I would have kept the law. But would anyone declare me righteous before God? Or have I simply been brought to the knowledge of sin through the law?

Paul wrote (Romans 3:19, 20 NET):

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For no one is declared righteous (δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω) before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

A note (22) in the NET claimed that no one is declared righteous before him was an allusion to Psalm 143:2.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 143:2 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:2 (NET)	Psalm 142:2 (NETS)	Psalm 142:2 (English Elpenor)
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified (יִצְדַּ֖ק).	Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent (ṣāḏaq, יצדק) before you.	And do not enter into judgment with your slave, because no one living will be counted righteous (δικαιωθήσεται) before you.	And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no [man] living be justified (δικαιωθήσεται).

My purpose in this thread is to understand the Old Testament as Jesus understood it: Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’^[1] He seemed legitimately surprised by Nicodemus’ ignorance: Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?^[2] John described what it meant to be born from above (John 1:11-13):

[Jesus] came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children—children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.

Paul described some of the results of being born from above (Romans 8:5-14 NET):

God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled (πληρωθῇ, a form of πληρόω) in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but^[3] in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him [Table]. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you [Table].

So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.

And Paul continued (Galatians 5:14-24 NET):

For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another [Table]. 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. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, 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 such things will not inherit the kingdom of God [Table]!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,^[4] and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law:^[5] You shall not murder.^[6] It was easy to see how God’s own love springing up to eternal life from his Holy Spirit residing in me could keep me from intentional killing. How the fruit of his Spirit restrained unintentional killing took a bit longer to comprehend. God’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control springing up to eternal life also impacts how I work. When I am led by the Holy Spirit I am much less likely to shove someone impatiently or toss something without looking to see where it might land.

I began then to think of OSHA regulations as an attempt to legislate the fruit of the Holy Spirit. My religious mind did the same thing when I turned Paul’s definition of love (ἀγάπη) into rules I tried to obey in my own strength, before I believed that the fruit of the Spirit is the righteousness given by God (Romans 3:21-24 NET).

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (although it is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed—namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction [Table], for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified (δικαιούμενοι, another form of δικαιόω) freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets, Jesus said. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill (πληρῶσαι, another form of πληρόω) them.^[7]

The next description of cities of refuge is found in Deuteronomy.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Deuteronomy 19:1-3 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:1-3 (NET)	Deuteronomy 19:1-3 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:1-3 (English Elpenor)
When HaShem thy G-d shall cut off the nations, whose land HaShem thy G-d giveth thee, and thou dost succeed them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses;	When the Lord your God destroys the nations whose land he is about to give you and you dispossess them and settle in their cities and houses,	Now if the Lord your God annihilates the nations whose land your God is giving you and you dispossess them and live in their cities and in their houses,	And when the Lord thy God shall have destroyed the nations, which God gives thee, [even] the land, and ye shall inherit them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses,
thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which HaShem thy GOD giveth thee to possess it.	you must set apart for yourselves three cities in the middle of your land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession.	you shall set apart three cities for yourself in the midst of your land that the Lord your God is giving you.	thou shalt separate for thyself three cities in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God gives thee.
Thou shalt prepare (תָּכִ֣ין) thee the way, and divide the borders of thy land, which HaShem thy G-d causeth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every manslayer may flee thither.	You shall build (kûn, תכין) a roadway and divide into thirds the whole extent of your land that the Lord your God is providing as your inheritance; anyone who kills another person should flee to the closest of these cities.	Calculate (στόχασαί) for yourself the distance, and you shall divide into three regions your land that the Lord your God apportions you, and there shall be a refuge there for every murderer.	Take a survey (στόχασαί) of thy way, and thou shalt divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God apportions to thee, into three parts, and there shall be there a refuge for every manslayer.

It is interesting to note that though the NET translators understood תָּכִ֣ין (kûn) as a road building project, the rabbis who translated the Septuagint understood it as στόχασαί (a form of στοχάζω), a calculation of distance or a survey. Six cities of refuge were still the plan but were predicated on Israel’s faith and obedience.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Deuteronomy 19:8, 9 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:8, 9 (NET)	Deuteronomy 19:8, 9 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:8, 9 (English Elpenor)
And if HaShem thy G-d enlarge thy border, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which He promised to give unto thy fathers–	If the Lord your God enlarges your borders as he promised your ancestors and gives you all the land he pledged to them,	But if the Lord your God enlarges your borders, as he swore to your fathers, and he gives you all the land that he said he would give your fathers,	And if the Lord shall enlarge thy borders, as he sware to thy fathers, and the Lord shall give to thee all the land which he said he would give to thy fathers;
if thou shalt keep all this commandment to do it, which I command thee this day, to love HaShem thy G-d, and to walk ever in His ways—then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three;	and then you are careful to observe all these commandments I am giving you today (namely, to love the Lord your God and to always walk in his ways), then you must add three more cities to these three.	—if you give heed to do all these commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God and to walk in all his ways all the days—then you shall add for yourself three more cities to these three,	if thou shalt hearken to do all these commands, which I charge thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways continually; thou shalt add for thyself yet three cities to these three.

The law specified again who the cities of refuge were for:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Deuteronomy 19:4-7 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:4-7 (NET)	Deuteronomy 19:4-7 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:4-7 (English Elpenor)
And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in time past;	Now this is the law pertaining to one who flees there in order to live, if he has accidentally killed another without hating him at the time of the accident.	Now this is the ordinance for a murderer who flees there and shall live: He who strikes his neighbor unintentionally and did not hate him before yesterday or before the third day,	And this shall be the ordinance of the manslayer, who shall flee thither, and shall live, whosoever shall have smitten his neighbour ignorantly, whereas he hated him not in times past.
as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live;	Suppose he goes with someone else to the forest to cut wood and when he raises the ax to cut the tree, the ax head flies loose from the handle and strikes his fellow worker so hard that he dies. The person responsible may then flee to one of these cities to save himself.	and he who goes into the forest with his neighbor to gather wood and his hand is knocked aside when he cuts the wood with the ax, and the iron slips from the wood and happens to strike his neighbor, and he dies, this one shall flee to one of these cities and live,	And whosoever shall enter with his neighbour into the thicket, to gather wood, if the hand of him that cuts wood with the axe should be violently shaken, and the axe head falling off from the handle should light on his neighbour, and he should die, he shall flee to one of these cities, and live.
lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not deserving of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.	Otherwise the blood avenger will chase after the killer in the heat of his anger, eventually overtake him, [NET note 14: “and overtake him, for the road is long”] and kill him, though this is not a capital case since he did not hate him at the time of the accident.	lest the avenger of blood pursue after the murderer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him—if the road was rather long—and he strike his soul, and he dies, and to this one there is not a death sentence, since he did not hate him before yesterday and before the third day.	Lest the avenger of blood pursue after the slayer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him, if the way be too long, and slay him, though there is to this man no sentence of death, because he hated him not in time past.
Wherefore I command thee, saying: ‘Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.’	Therefore, I am commanding you to set apart for yourselves three cities.	Therefore I command you this thing, saying: You shall set apart three cities for yourself.	Therefore I charge thee, saying, Thou shalt separate for thyself three cities.

Likewise, the law specified who should not be allowed to remain in a city of refuge:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Deuteronomy 19:11-13 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:11-13 (NET)	Deuteronomy 19:11-13 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:11-13 (English Elpenor)
But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die; and he flee into one of these cities;	However, suppose a person hates someone else and stalks him, attacks him, kills him, and then flees to one of these cities.	But if there be a person hating his neighbor and he lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes his life and he dies and flees into one of these cities,	But if there should be in thee a man hating his neighbour, and he should lay wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him, that he die, and he should flee to one of these cities,
then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.	The elders of his own city must send for him and remove him from there to deliver him over to the blood avenger to die.	then the council of elders of his city shall send and take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, and he shall die.	then shall the elders of his city send, and take him thence, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the avengers of blood, and he shall die.
Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with thee.	You must not pity him, but purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.	Your eye shall not be sparing toward him, and you shall cleanse the innocent blood from Israel, and it shall be well with you.	Thine eye shall not spare him; so shalt thou purge innocent blood from Israel, and it shall be well with thee.

I’ll finish this example and consider one more example in another essay.

A comparison/contrast of the Greek of Romans 3:20a and Psalm 143:2b (142:2b) in the Septuagint follows:

Romans 3:20a (NET Parallel Greek)	Psalm 143:2b (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:2b (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σὰρξ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ	οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐνώπιόν σου πᾶς ζῶν	οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐνώπιόν σου πᾶς ζῶν
Romans 3:20a (NET)	Psalm 142:2b (NETS)	Psalm 142:2b (English Elpenor)
no one is declared righteous before him	no one living will be counted righteous before you.	in thy sight shall no [man] living be justified.

Tables comparing Psalm 143:2; Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 19:1; 19:2; 19:3; 19:8; 19:9; 19:4; 19:5; 19:6; 19:7; 19:11; 19:12 and 19:13 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Psalm 143:2 (142:2); Exodus 20:13 (20:15); Deuteronomy 19:1; 19:2; 19:3; 19:8; 19:19; 19:4; 19:5; 19:6; 19:7; 19:11; 19:12 and 19:13 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Galatians 5:23 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 143:2 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:2 (KJV)	Psalm 143:2 (NET)
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.	And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.	Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent before you.

Psalm 143:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ μὴ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς κρίσιν μετὰ τοῦ δούλου σου ὅτι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐνώπιόν σου πᾶς ζῶν	καὶ μὴ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς κρίσιν μετὰ τοῦ δούλου σου, ὅτι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐνώπιόν σου πᾶς ζῶν
Psalm 142:2 (NETS)	Psalm 142:2 (English Elpenor)
And do not enter into judgment with your slave, because no one living will be counted righteous before you.	And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no [man] living be justified.

Exodus 20:13 (Tanakh)	Exodus 20:13 (KJV)	Exodus 20:13 (NET)
Thou shalt not murder; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.	Thou shalt not kill.	“You shall not murder.

Exodus 20:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Exodus 20:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ φονεύσεις	οὐ φονεύσεις
Exodus 20:15 (NETS)	Exodus 20:15 (English Elpenor)
You shall not murder.	Thou shalt not kill.

Deuteronomy 19:1 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:1 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:1 (NET)
When HaShem thy G-d shall cut off the nations, whose land HaShem thy G-d giveth thee, and thou dost succeed them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses;	When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;	When the Lord your God destroys the nations whose land he is about to give you and you dispossess them and settle in their cities and houses,

Deuteronomy 19:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ ἀφανίσῃ κύριος ὁ θεός σου τὰ ἔθνη ἃ ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν καὶ κατακληρονομήσητε αὐτοὺς καὶ κατοικήσητε ἐν ταῗς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν τοῗς οἴκοις αὐτῶν	ΕΑΝ δὲ ἀφανίσῃ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τὰ ἔθνη, ἃ ὁ Θεὸς δίδωσί σοι τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν, καὶ κατακληρονομήσητε αὐτοὺς καὶ κατοικήσετε ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν τοῖς οἴκοις αὐτῶν
Deuteronomy 19:1 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:1 (English Elpenor)
Now if the Lord your God annihilates the nations whose land your God is giving you and you dispossess them and live in their cities and in their houses,	And when the Lord thy God shall have destroyed the nations, which God gives thee, [even] the land, and ye shall inherit them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses,

Deuteronomy 19:2 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:2 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:2 (NET)
thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which HaShem thy GOD giveth thee to possess it.	Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.	you must set apart for yourselves three cities in the middle of your land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession.

Deuteronomy 19:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τρεῗς πόλεις διαστελεῗς σεαυτῷ ἐν μέσῳ τῆς γῆς σου ἧς κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι	τρεῖς πόλεις διαστελεῖς σεαυτῷ ἐν μέσῳ τῆς γῆς σου, ἧς Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι
Deuteronomy 19:2 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:2 (English Elpenor)
you shall set apart three cities for yourself in the midst of your land that the Lord your God is giving you.	thou shalt separate for thyself three cities in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God gives thee.

Deuteronomy 19:3 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:3 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:3 (NET)
Thou shalt prepare thee the way, and divide the borders of thy land, which HaShem thy G-d causeth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every manslayer may flee thither.	Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.	You shall build a roadway and divide into thirds the whole extent of your land that the Lord your God is providing as your inheritance; anyone who kills another person should flee to the closest of these cities.

Deuteronomy 19:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
στόχασαί σοι τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ τριμεριεῗς τὰ ὅρια τῆς γῆς σου ἣν καταμερίζει σοι κύριος ὁ θεός σου καὶ ἔσται καταφυγὴ ἐκεῗ παντὶ φονευτῇ	στόχασαί σοι τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ τριμεριεῖς τὰ ὅρια τῆς γῆς σου, ἣν καταμερίζει σοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, καὶ ἔσται ἐκεῖ καταφυγὴ παντὶ φονευτῇ
Deuteronomy 19:3 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:3 (English Elpenor)
Calculate for yourself the distance, and you shall divide into three regions your land that the Lord your God apportions you, and there shall be a refuge there for every murderer.	Take a survey of thy way, and thou shalt divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God apportions to thee, into three parts, and there shall be there a refuge for every manslayer.

Deuteronomy 19:8 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:8 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:8 (NET)
And if HaShem thy G-d enlarge thy border, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which He promised to give unto thy fathers–	And if Jehovah thy God enlarge thy border, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;	If the Lord your God enlarges your borders as he promised your ancestors and gives you all the land he pledged to them,

Deuteronomy 19:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ ἐμπλατύνῃ κύριος ὁ θεός σου τὰ ὅριά σου ὃν τρόπον ὤμοσεν τοῗς πατράσιν σου καὶ δῷ σοι κύριος πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἣν εἶπεν δοῦναι τοῗς πατράσιν σου	ἐὰν δὲ ἐμπλατύνῃ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τὰ ὅριά σου, ὃν τρόπον ὤμοσε τοῖς πατράσι σου, καὶ δῷ σοι Κύριος πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, ἣν εἶπε δοῦναι τοῖς πατράσι σου,
Deuteronomy 19:8 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:8 (English Elpenor)
But if the Lord your God enlarges your borders, as he swore to your fathers, and he gives you all the land that he said he would give your fathers,	And if the Lord shall enlarge thy borders, as he sware to thy fathers, and the Lord shall give to thee all the land which he said he would give to thy fathers;

Deuteronomy 19:9 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:9 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:9 (NET)
if thou shalt keep all this commandment to do it, which I command thee this day, to love HaShem thy G-d, and to walk ever in His ways–then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three;	If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:	and then you are careful to observe all these commandments I am giving you today (namely, to love the Lord your God and to always walk in his ways), then you must add three more cities to these three.

Deuteronomy 19:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς ποιεῗν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας ἃς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεόν σου πορεύεσθαι ἐν πάσαις ταῗς ὁδοῗς αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας καὶ προσθήσεις σεαυτῷ ἔτι τρεῗς πόλεις πρὸς τὰς τρεῗς ταύτας	ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς ποιεῖν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας, ἃς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ἀγαπᾶν Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου, πορεύεσθαι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, προσθήσεις σεαυτῷ ἔτι τρεῖς πόλεις πρὸς τὰς τρεῖς ταύτας,
Deuteronomy 19:9 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:9 (English Elpenor)
—if you give heed to do all these commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God and to walk in all his ways all the days—then you shall add for yourself three more cities to these three,	if thou shalt hearken to do all these commands, which I charge thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways continually; thou shalt add for thyself yet three cities to these three.

Deuteronomy 19:4 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:4 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:4 (NET)
And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in time past;	And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;	Now this is the law pertaining to one who flees there in order to live, if he has accidentally killed another without hating him at the time of the accident.

Deuteronomy 19:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τοῦτο δὲ ἔσται τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ φονευτοῦ ὃς ἂν φύγῃ ἐκεῗ καὶ ζήσεται ὃς ἂν πατάξῃ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἀκουσίως καὶ οὗτος οὐ μισῶν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς ἐχθὲς καὶ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης	τοῦτο δὲ ἔσται τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ φονευτοῦ, ὃς ἂν φύγῃ ἐκεῖ καὶ ζήσεται· ὃς ἂν πατάξῃ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰδὼς καὶ οὗτος οὐ μισῶν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς χθὲς καὶ τρίτης
Deuteronomy 19:4 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:4 (English Elpenor)
Now this is the ordinance for a murderer who flees there and shall live: He who strikes his neighbor unintentionally and did not hate him before yesterday or before the third day,	And this shall be the ordinance of the manslayer, who shall flee thither, and shall live, whosoever shall have smitten his neighbour ignorantly, whereas he hated him not in times past.

Deuteronomy 19:5 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:5 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:5 (NET)
as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live;	As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:	Suppose he goes with someone else to the forest to cut wood and when he raises the ax to cut the tree, the ax head flies loose from the handle and strikes his fellow worker so hard that he dies. The person responsible may then flee to one of these cities to save himself.

Deuteronomy 19:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὃς ἂν εἰσέλθῃ μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον εἰς τὸν δρυμὸν συναγαγεῗν ξύλα καὶ ἐκκρουσθῇ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ τῇ ἀξίνῃ κόπτοντος τὸ ξύλον καὶ ἐκπεσὸν τὸ σιδήριον ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου τύχῃ τοῦ πλησίον καὶ ἀποθάνῃ οὗτος καταφεύξεται εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων καὶ ζήσεται	καὶ ὃς ἐὰν εἰσέλθῃ μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον εἰς τὸν δρυμὸν συναγαγεῖν ξύλα, καὶ ἐκκρουσθῇ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ τῇ ἀξίνῃ κόπτοντος τὸ ξύλον, καὶ ἐκπεσὸν τὸ σιδήριον ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου τύχῃ τοῦ πλησίον, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, οὗτος καταφεύξεται εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων καὶ ζήσεται
Deuteronomy 19:5 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:5 (English Elpenor)
and he who goes into the forest with his neighbor to gather wood and his hand is knocked aside when he cuts the wood with the ax, and the iron slips from the wood and happens to strike his neighbor, and he dies, this one shall flee to one of these cities and live,	And whosoever shall enter with his neighbour into the thicket, to gather wood, if the hand of him that cuts wood with the axe should be violently shaken, and the axe head falling off from the handle should light on his neighbour, and he should die, he shall flee to one of these cities, and live.

Deuteronomy 19:6 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:6 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:6 (NET)
lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not deserving of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.	Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.	Otherwise the blood avenger will chase after the killer in the heat of his anger, eventually overtake him, and kill him, though this is not a capital case since he did not hate him at the time of the accident.

Deuteronomy 19:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἵνα μὴ διώξας ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τοῦ αἵματος ὀπίσω τοῦ φονεύσαντος ὅτι παρατεθέρμανται τῇ καρδίᾳ καὶ καταλάβῃ αὐτόν ἐὰν μακροτέρα ᾖ ἡ ὁδός καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ τὴν ψυχήν καὶ ἀποθάνῃ καὶ τούτῳ οὐκ ἔστιν κρίσις θανάτου ὅτι οὐ μισῶν ἦν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς ἐχθὲς καὶ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης	ἵνα μὴ διώξας ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τοῦ αἵματος ὀπίσω τοῦ φονεύσαντος, ὅτι παρατεθέρμανται τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ καταλάβῃ αὐτόν, ἐὰν μακροτέρα ᾖ ἡ ὁδός, καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ ψυχήν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, καὶ τούτῳ οὐκ ἔστι κρίσις θανάτου, ὅτι οὐ μισῶν ἦν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς χθές, οὐδὲ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης
Deuteronomy 19:6 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:6 (English Elpenor)
lest the avenger of blood pursue after the murderer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him—if the road was rather long—and he strike his soul, and he dies, and to this one there is not a death sentence, since he did not hate him before yesterday and before the third day.	Lest the avenger of blood pursue after the slayer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him, if the way be too long, and slay him, though there is to this man no sentence of death, because he hated him not in time past.

Deuteronomy 19:7 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:7 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:7 (NET)
Wherefore I command thee, saying: ‘Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.’	Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.	Therefore, I am commanding you to set apart for yourselves three cities.

Deuteronomy 19:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο λέγων τρεῗς πόλεις διαστελεῗς σεαυτῷ	διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο λέγων· τρεῖς πόλεις διαστελεῖς σεαυτῷ
Deuteronomy 19:7 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:7 (English Elpenor)
Therefore I command you this thing, saying: You shall set apart three cities for yourself.	Therefore I charge thee, saying, Thou shalt separate for thyself three cities.

Deuteronomy 19:11 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:11 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:11 (NET)
But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die; and he flee into one of these cities;	But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:	However, suppose a person hates someone else and stalks him, attacks him, kills him, and then flees to one of these cities.

Deuteronomy 19:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ γένηται ἄνθρωπος μισῶν τὸν πλησίον καὶ ἐνεδρεύσῃ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπαναστῇ ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ ψυχήν καὶ ἀπεθάνῃ καὶ φύγῃ εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων	ἐὰ^[8] δὲ γένηται ἐν σοὶ ἄνθρωπος μισῶν τὸν πλησίον καὶ ἐνεδρεύσῃ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπαναστῇ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ ψυχήν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, καὶ φύγῃ εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων
Deuteronomy 19:11 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:11 (English Elpenor)
But if there be a person hating his neighbor and he lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes his life and he dies and flees into one of these cities,	But if there should be in thee a man hating his neighbour, and he should lay wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him, that he die, and he should flee to one of these cities,

Deuteronomy 19:12 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:12 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:12 (NET)
then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.	Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.	The elders of his own city must send for him and remove him from there to deliver him over to the blood avenger to die.

Deuteronomy 19:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀποστελοῦσιν ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ καὶ λήμψονται αὐτὸν ἐκεῗθεν καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς χεῗρας τῷ ἀγχιστεύοντι τοῦ αἵματος καὶ ἀποθανεῗται	καὶ ἀποστελοῦσιν ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ καὶ λήψονται αὐτὸν ἐκεῖθεν καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς χεῖρας τῶν ἀγχιστευόντων τοῦ αἵματος, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται
Deuteronomy 19:12 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:12 (English Elpenor)
then the council of elders of his city shall send and take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, and he shall die.	then shall the elders of his city send, and take him thence, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the avengers of blood, and he shall die.

Deuteronomy 19:13 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 19:13 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 19:13 (NET)
Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with thee.	Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.	You must not pity him, but purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.

Deuteronomy 19:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 19:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ καὶ καθαριεῗς τὸ αἷμα τὸ ἀναίτιον ἐξ Ισραηλ καὶ εὖ σοι ἔσται	οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ καὶ καθαριεῖς τὸ αἷμα τὸ ἀναίτιον ἐξ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ εὖ σοι ἔσται
Deuteronomy 19:13 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 19:13 (English Elpenor)
Your eye shall not be sparing toward him, and you shall cleanse the innocent blood from Israel, and it shall be well with you.	Thine eye shall not spare him; so shalt thou purge innocent blood from Israel, and it shall be well with thee.

Galatians 5:23 (NET)	Galatians 5:23 (KJV)
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.	Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
πραΰτης ἐγκράτεια· κατὰ τῶν τοιούτων οὐκ ἔστιν νόμος	πραοτης εγκρατεια κατα των τοιουτων ουκ εστιν νομος	πραοτης εγκρατεια κατα των τοιουτων ουκ εστιν νομος

A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 7

Back to Romans, Part 15

Back to A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 1

Back to Paul’s OT Quotes – Romans 3:20

Back to Language

Back to Peter’s Second Gospel Proclamation, Part 3

Back to Funeral, Part 3

Back to Westworld, Part 4

Back to The New Covenant, Part 2

Back to The Book of Life, Part 1

Back to The New Covenant, Part 3

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 9

Back to Christianity, Part 10

Back to Christianity, Part 13

Back to Keep Yourselves From Idols, Part 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 1

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

Back to Exploration, Part 5

Back to Exploration, Part 8

Back to Exploration, Part 9

^[1] John 3:7 (NET)

^[2] John 3:10 (NET) Table

^[3] The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA²⁸ had ἀλλ’.

^[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had πραΰτης here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πραοτης (KJV: Meekness).

^[5] Romans 13:10 (NET)

^[6] Exodus 20:13 (NET)

^[7] Matthew 5:17 (NET)

^[8] This may be a typo in the Elpenor Septuagint.

Psalm 22, Part 8

Posted on April 4, 2021 by admin

This is a continuing look into Psalm 22 as the music in Jesus’ heart as He endured the cross.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 22:14c (Tanakh) Table	Psalm 22:14c (NET)	Psalm 21:15c (NETS)	Psalm 21:15c (Elpenor English)
my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.	My heart is like wax; it melts away inside me.	my heart became like wax melting within my belly;	my heart in the midst of my belly is become like melting wax.

Since the Masoretic text and Septuagint agree here, I want to spend some time considering what might have been on Jesus’ heart (Hebrew: לִ֖בִּי; Greek: ἡ καρδία μου). Here are the first occurrences of לִבּ֔וֹ (lēḇ) in the Masoretic text.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 6:5, 6 (Tanakh)	Genesis 6:5, 6 (NET)	Genesis 6:5, 6 (NETS)	Genesis 6:5, 6 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart (לִבּ֔וֹ) was only evil continually.	But the Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds (lēḇ, לבו) was only evil all the time.	And when the Lord God saw that the wicked deeds of humans were multiplied on the earth and that all think attentively in their hearts (τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ) on evil things all the days,	And the Lord God, having seen that the wicked actions of men were multiplied upon the earth, and that every one in his heart (τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ) was intently brooding over evil continually,
And it repented HaShem that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart (לִבּֽוֹ) [Table].	The Lord regretted that he had made humankind on the earth, and he was highly offended (lēḇ, לבו) [Note 25: “and he was grieved to his heart”].	then God considered that he had made humankind on the earth, and he thought it over (διενοήθη).	then God laid it to heart^[1] that he had made man upon the earth, and he pondered [it] deeply (διενοήθη).

The end result of this repentance, regret, consideration and pondering was the flood (Genesis 6:9-8:20). But the flood didn’t change the evil thoughts of human hearts.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 8:21 (Tanakh)	Genesis 8:21 (NET)	Genesis 8:21 (NETS)	Genesis 8:21 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem smelled the sweet savour; and HaShem said in His heart (לִבּ֗וֹ): ‘I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart (לֵ֧ב) is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done [Table].	And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself (lēḇ, לבו) [Note 33: “in his heart”], “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds (lēḇ, לב) is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done.	And the Lord God smelled an odor of fragrance, and the Lord God, when he had given it thought (διανοηθείς), said, “I will not proceed hereafter to curse the earth because of the deeds of humans, for the mind (διάνοια) of humankind applies itself attentively to evil things from youth; so I will not proceed hereafter to smite all living flesh, as I have done.	And the Lord God smelled a smell of sweetness, and the Lord God having considered (διανοηθείς), said, I will not any more curse the earth, because of the works of men, because the imagination (διάνοια) of man is intently bent upon evil things from his youth, I will not therefore any more smite all living flesh as I have done.

Jesus continued this teaching about the human heart (Matthew 15:18, 19; Mark 7:20-23 NET):

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart (καρδίας, a form of καρδία), and these things defile a person. For out of the heart (καρδίας) come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

What comes out of a person defiles him. For from within, out of the human heart (καρδίας), come evil ideas, sexual immorality,^[2] theft,^[3] murder, adultery,^[4] greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. All these evils come from within and defile a person.

The first occurrences of לִבּ֔וֹ (lēḇ) in Genesis from the Masoretic text had me thinking this essay would be a contrast between the heart of human beings and the heart of God. As I made or studied the tables for these verses, however, I noticed that the rabbis who translated the Septuagint veered away from a mechanical translation (if a form of לֵב [lēḇ] was actually in the Hebrew they translated) whenever God was the subject. I took it to heart. It was a human heart, THE human heart, that melted like wax on the cross.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 68:2 (Tanakh)	Psalm 68:2 (NET)	Psalm 67:3 (NETS)	Psalm 67:3 (English Elpenor)
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax (דּ֖וֹנַג) melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.	As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax (dônāḡ, דונג) melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.	As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; as wax (κηρὸς) melts from before fire, so may sinners perish from before God.	As smoke vanishes, let them vanish: as wax (κηρὸς) melts before the fire, so let the sinners perish from before God.

David’s prayer got a very literal answer in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark when NAZIs, the contemporary archetype of evil, and their French collaborator literally melted like wax before the ark of the covenant. But NAZIs and their collaborators are not the only ones with evil human hearts, the source of evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly.

Do not be amazed that I said to you, Jesus said, ‘You must all be born from above.’^[5] Paul wrote of Jesus: For he hath made him…sin for us, who knew no sin…^[6] I don’t believe the phrase τὸν μὴ γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν (who knew no sin) means that Jesus lacked an evil human heart. Quite the contrary, the Word became flesh,^[7] John testified of Jesus. Jesus stated explicitly how He knew (γνόντα, a form of γινώσκω) no sin: the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.^[8]

Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,^[9] the beginning, the firstborn from the dead:^[10] Before his crucifixion He was a human being with an evil human heart so led by the Holy Spirit, so filled with God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that He knew no sin. But the Word become flesh did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew (ἐγίνωσκεν, another form of γινώσκω) what was in man.^[11] And God hath made him…sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made^[12] the righteousness of God in him.^[13]

The writer of Hebrews, who I think scribed what Jesus taught during the forty days between his resurrection and ascension, was fairly explicit about Jesus’ humanity (Hebrews 2:14-17; 4:15 NET):

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. For surely his concern (ἐπιλαμβάνεται, a form of ἐπιλαμβάνω) is not for angels, but he is concerned (ἐπιλαμβάνεται, a form of ἐπιλαμβάνω) for Abraham’s descendants. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect (κατὰ πάντα), so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted^[14] in every way just as we are (καθ᾿ ὁμοιότητα), yet without sin.

Through faith in Him we, too, receive his Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22 NET):

But it is God who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anointed us, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts (ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν) as a down payment.

Paul prayed for the inner strengthening each of us needs to be a dwelling place of God (Ephesians 3:14-19 NET):

I kneel before the Father [Table], from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he will grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person [Table], that Christ will dwell in your hearts (ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν) through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you will be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth [Table], and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God.

I can think of no better way to end this essay than to conclude with Paul’s own benediction (Ephesians 3:20, 21 NET):

Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond^[15] all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen [Table].

Tables comparing Genesis 6:5 and Psalm 68:2 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Genesis 6:5 and Psalm 68:2 (67:3) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Mark 7:21, 22; Hebrews 4:15 and Ephesians 3:20 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 6:5 (Tanakh)	Genesis 6:5 (KJV)	Genesis 6:5 (NET)
And HaShem saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.	And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.	But the Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time.

Genesis 6:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 6:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἰδὼν δὲ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὅτι ἐπληθύνθησαν αἱ κακίαι τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ πᾶς τις διανοεῗται ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐπιμελῶς ἐπὶ τὰ πονηρὰ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας	᾿Ιδὼν δὲ Κύριος ὁ Θεός, ὅτι ἐπληθύνθησαν αἱ κακίαι τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ πᾶς τις διανοεῖται ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐπιμελῶς ἐπὶ τὰ πονηρὰ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας,
Genesis 6:5 (NETS)	Genesis 6:5 (English Elpenor)
And when the Lord God saw that the wicked deeds of humans were multiplied on the earth and that all think attentively in their hearts on evil things all the days,	And the Lord God, having seen that the wicked actions of men were multiplied upon the earth, and that every one in his heart was intently brooding over evil continually,

Psalm 68:2 (Tanakh)	Psalm 68:2 (KJV)	Psalm 68:2 (NET)
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.	As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.	As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.

Psalm 68:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 67:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὡς ἐκλείπει καπνός ἐκλιπέτωσαν ὡς τήκεται κηρὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου πυρός οὕτως ἀπόλοιντο οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ θεοῦ	ὡς ἐκλείπει καπνός, ἐκλιπέτωσαν· ὡς τήκεται κηρὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου πυρός, οὕτως ἀπολοῦνται οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ
Psalm 67:3 (NETS)	Psalm 67:3 (English Elpenor)
As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; as wax melts from before fire, so may sinners perish from before God.	As smoke vanishes, let them vanish: as wax melts before the fire, so let the sinners perish from before God.

Mark 7:21, 22 (NET)	Mark 7:21, 22 (KJV)
For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder,	For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἔσωθεν γὰρ ἐκ τῆς καρδίας τῶν ἀνθρώπων οἱ διαλογισμοὶ οἱ κακοὶ ἐκπορεύονται, πορνεῖαι, κλοπαί, φόνοι	εσωθεν γαρ εκ της καρδιας των ανθρωπων οι διαλογισμοι οι κακοι εκπορευονται μοιχειαι πορνειαι φονοι	εσωθεν γαρ εκ της καρδιας των ανθρωπων οι διαλογισμοι οι κακοι εκπορευονται μοιχειαι πορνειαι φονοι

adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly.

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
μοιχεῖαι, πλεονεξίαι, πονηρίαι, δόλος, ἀσέλγεια, ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός, βλασφημία, ὑπερηφανία, ἀφροσύνη	κλοπαι πλεονεξιαι πονηριαι δολος ασελγεια οφθαλμος πονηρος βλασφημια υπερηφανια αφροσυνη	κλοπαι πλεονεξιαι πονηριαι δολος ασελγεια οφθαλμος πονηρος βλασφημια υπερηφανια αφροσυνη

Hebrews 4:15 (NET)	Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)
For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.	For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειρασμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθ᾿ ὁμοιότητα χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας	ου γαρ εχομεν αρχιερεα μη δυναμενον συμπαθησαι ταις ασθενειαις ημων πεπειραμενον δε κατα παντα καθ ομοιοτητα χωρις αμαρτιας	ου γαρ εχομεν αρχιερεα μη δυναμενον συμπαθησαι ταις ασθενειαις ημων πεπειραμενον δε κατα παντα καθ ομοιοτητα χωρις αμαρτιας

Ephesians 3:20 (NET)	Ephesians 3:20 (KJV)
Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think,	Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τῷ δὲ δυναμένῳ ὑπὲρ πάντα ποιῆσαι ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ ὧν αἰτούμεθα ἢ νοοῦμεν κατὰ τὴν δύναμιν τὴν ἐνεργουμένην ἐν ἡμῖν	τω δε δυναμενω υπερ παντα ποιησαι υπερ εκπερισσου ων αιτουμεθα η νοουμεν κατα την δυναμιν την ενεργουμενην εν ημιν	τω δε δυναμενω υπερ παντα ποιησαι υπερ εκπερισσου ων αιτουμεθα η νοουμεν κατα την δυναμιν την ενεργουμενην εν ημιν

Psalm 22, Part 9

Back to Peter’s Second Gospel Proclamation, Part 3

Back to Westworld, Part 1

Back to The New Covenant, Part 2

Back to Christianity, Part 9

Back to Christianity, Part 10

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 3

Back to Introduction-Section Seven

^[1] The phrase laid it to heart is an English translation of the Greek word ἐνεθυμήθη (a form of ἐνθυμέομαι).

^[2] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μοιχειαι (KJV: adulteries) preceding sexual immorality (KJV: fornications). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had κλοπαί here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

^[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had μοιχειαι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κλοπαί (KJV: Thefts).

^[5] John 3:7 (NET)

^[6] 2 Corinthians 5:21a (KJV) Table I deliberately dropped the words to be added by the translators. They are not in the Greek and they add nothing to my understanding.

^[7] John 1:14a (NET)

^[8] John 14:10b (KJV) Table

^[9] Hebrews 12:2b (NET) Table

^[10] Colossians 1:18b (NET)

^[11] John 2:25 (NET)

^[12] The Sephanus Textus Receptus had γινωμεθα here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had γενώμεθα (NET: would become).

^[13] 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) Table

^[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had πεπειρασμένον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πεπειραμενον (KJV: was…tempted).

^[15] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υπερ εκπερισσου (KJV: abundantly above).

The Gospel and the Religious Mind

An attempt to distinguish the mind of Christ from the ordinary religious mind.

Tag Archives: John 3:7