The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 2

Lazarus had been buried four days.  Jesus raised him from the dead (John 11:38-44).  John recalled the aftermath (John 11:45-53 NET):

Then many of the people, who had come with Mary and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in him.  But some of them went to the Pharisees and reported to them what Jesus had done [Table].  So the chief priests and the Pharisees called the council together and said, “What are we doing?  For this man is performing many miraculous signs.  If we allow him to go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary and our nation.”

Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, “You know nothing at all!  You do not realize that it is more to your[1] advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.”  (Now he did not say this on his own, but because he was high priest that year, he prophesied[2] that Jesus[3] was going to die for the Jewish nation, and not for the Jewish nation only, but to gather together into one the children of God who are scattered.)  So from that day they planned together[4] to kill him.

The Greek word translated perish was ἀπόληται (a form of ἀπόλλυμι).  I don’t think for a moment that Caiaphas meant: it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to burn in hell for all eternity.  Caiaphas feared something more like what happened in 70 AD.  But Caiaphas was high priest that year, John recalled, he did not say this on his own but prophesied.  So what did the Holy Spirit mean?  The events of 70 AD were not averted by Jesus’ death.

I tell you, my friends, Jesus said, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do [Table].  But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell (γέενναν, a form of γέεννα).  Yes, I tell you, fear him![5]

The Greek word ἀπόληται was also translated perish in, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.[6]  If I’m not careful I read this as Godgave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not burn in hell for all eternity but go to heaven.  This reading is so ingrained I find it difficult to accept Jesus’ judgment if He proposes different criteria for departing into the eternal fire (Matthew 25:31-46).

Condemning those, however, who have demonstrated no care or concern for Jesus’ brothers and sisters into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels[7] is consistent with Jesus’ teaching on the greatest commandment (Mark 12:28-34a NET):

Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating.  When he saw[8] that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”[9]  Jesus[10] answered,[11] “The most important[12] is:[13] ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one [Table].  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’[14] [Table].  The[15] second is:[16] ‘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[17] that he[18] is one, and there is no one else besides him.  And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind,[19] and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important[20] 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.”

For there is no partiality with God [Table], Paul wrote believers in Rome (Romans 2:11-16 NET).

For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish (ἀπολοῦνται, a form of ἀπόλλυμι) apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged (κριθήσονται, a form of κρίνω) by the law.  For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous [Table].  For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves [Table].  They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, on the day when God will judge (κρίνει, a form of κρίνω) the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.

We who have believed in Jesus, been born from above, received his Holy Spirit and rested in God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control have a clear advantage.  But do we have the monopoly on being among those who do not hear, Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels?  I could argue that we do.

Frankly, I expected so much more of the righteous before Godthose who do the law, than merely something other than the absolute negation[21] of those who saw a brother or sister of Jesus hungry andgave them nothing (οὐκ) to eatthirsty andgave [them] nothing (οὐκ) to drinka stranger anddid not (οὐ) receive them as a guest, naked anddid not (οὐ) clothe them, sick and in prison anddid not (οὐκ) visit them.[22]  Perhaps Jesus didn’t mean what it sounds like He said.

How can one go from nothing one does pleases God (Romans 3:10-18) to almost anything one does that demonstrates some care or concern for Jesus’ brothers or sisters is sufficient to be called righteous by the Judge and to hear: Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world?[23]  Surely, this implies that one has been deliveredfrom the power of darkness and transferredto the kingdom of the Son he loves[24] already!  But my argument falls apart faster than I can make it.

The great commission is to make disciples of all nations, not to save people from burning in hell for all eternity (Matthew 28:18-20 NET):

Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth[25] has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey (τηρεῖν, a form of τηρέω) everything I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”[26]

Should I be surprised if the righteousness of disciples exceeds that of those who escape the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels by demonstrating some care or concern for Jesus’ disciples?  (Yes, I’m equating Jesus’ disciples with his brothers or sisters.)  I’m tired of arguing with the Judge who has received all authority in heaven and on earth.  I lack standing to dispute with Him who gives life to whomever he wishes.[27]  As a matter of fear toward the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw me into hell I concede the point.

But who can live in a manner worthy of such a calling?

I begin to understand why the monastic system may have formed.  Don’t worry, I also see how it went awry.  Even if the master was led by the Holy Spirit, the initiates perceived that their master lived by following certain rules, and then eventually believed they could become like their master by obeying the rules they had mistakenly perceived as the source of the master’s way of life.  Still, I agree that the most important thing I do any and every day is to pray God’s grace and mercy for all in Jesus’ name.

He has tried to get me to reconsider my understanding of—Godgave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not burn in hell for all eternity but go to heaven—before.  I can grasp the absolute negation in Greek.  Those who hear, Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels,[28] don’t hear it because of some minor lapses in their care or concern for Jesus’ brothers and sisters.  But the qualified negation—so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life[29]—is more difficult for me to grasp.

My first stab at it was that the qualified negation allowed for the possibility that one could both perish and have eternal life.  A tear streaked my cheek as I recognized that ἀπόληται could hardly mean “burn in hell for all eternity” if that were true.  Though I value such emotional experiences I don’t take them as proof of truth necessarily.  I get all teary-eyed when Reggie (Freddy Rodriguez) steps up as the Guardian to defend the Narf (Bryce Dallas Howard) from a Scrunt in the movie Lady in the Water.

I consider that emotional experience a testament to M. Night Shyamalan’s skill as a  story-teller, which is not to disparage Bryce Dallas Howard’s skill portraying a vulnerable and precious child or Paul Giametti’s skill portraying a bereaved father desperate to nurture and protect her.  Jesus is a better story-teller than Mr. Shyamalan and I have all kinds of emotional reactions to being folded into his story.  Besides I’ve already imagined a possible scenario where I the old human burn for all eternity in a lake of fire even as I the new human am face to face with God.  How’s that for a salvation by faith predicated on a human choice?

I looked online for some help understanding the qualified negation in Greek.  I found some shock therapy on Gary Gagliardi’s site “Christ’s Words — What Is Lost in Translation from Greek.”  His translation of John 3:16 and his explanation of the qualified negation in that verse follow:

Therefore, since God was fond of the world order, he appointed the son unique in order that all believing in him might not want to cease to exist but might possess life eternal.

The negative “not” used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that “you don’t want” to do something, not that it isn’t done or don’t think something that might be true. If it wasn’t done or wasn’t true, the objective negative of fact would be used. The sense here is that the person doesn’t “want” to cease to exist.

The word translated as “shall…perish” means “to cease to exist.” The form is one of possibility not the future tense. With the negative used, the sense is “might not want to cease to exist”. This seems…[to] indicate that those who do not trust in him do not want to continue to exist. The sense is that not trusting in his promise equates to no trusting in a continued life and having access to it.

I’m not implying that this is the one and only true translation and interpretation of John 3:16.  All things considered Mr. Gagliardi’s translation qualifies as an outlier among English translations of John 3:16.  It is interesting as a potential translation as I try to overcome my misunderstanding.

At his arrest Jesus said, “I told you that I am he.  If you are looking for me, let these men go.”  And John added, He said this to fulfill the word he had spoken, “I have not lost a single one of those whom you gave me.”[30]  The word translated lost was ἀπώλεσα, an active form of ἀπόλλυμι:  “to ruin, destroy; to demolish, dismantle, trash, wreck; to lose; to take away; to conceal and make inaccessible; to be unavailable, be taken away; not to be found, have vanished, have gone missing.”  The negation is ουκ (a form of οὐ) the absolute negation, so nothing tricky about it.

Before I continue I want to back up and consider Mr. Gagliardi’s translation and explanation of ἀπώλετο in John 17:12.

At that time I was with them, I watched over them in your name, whoever you appointed to me, and I have defended them [formed them into a tribe] and none from them has been lost except the child of the lost so that what is written might be completed.

Also, from the translation, you wouldn’t know that the word translated as “lost” from “none of them have been lost” is the verb form of the same word translated as “perdition.” The verse actually says that none have been lost except for the son of the lost. The word’s primary meaning is “to destroy” so the translation would then come out as “none have been destroyed except the son of destruction.”

So this leads me to a Gospel harmony of how Judas was lost or “destroyed.”

Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16 (NET)

Mark 14:1,2, 10, 11 (NET)

Luke 22:1-6 (NET)

When Jesus had finished saying all these things (Matthew 24-25), he told his disciples,
“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, Two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.
and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
Then the chief priests[31] and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.
They planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. the chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to execute Jesus,
But they said, “Not during the feast, so that there won’t be a riot among the people.” For[32] they said, “Not during the feast, so there won’t be a riot among the people.”
for they were afraid of the people.
Then Satan[33] entered Judas, the one called[34] Iscariot, who was one of the twelve.
Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests Then Judas[35] Iscariot,[36] one of the twelve, went to the chief priests He went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard
to betray[37] Jesus into their hands. how he might betray Jesus, handing him over to them.
and said, “What will you give me to betray him into your hands?”
When they heard this, they were delighted and promised to give him money. They were delighted and arranged to give him money.
So they set out thirty silver coins for him.
So Judas agreed
From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him. So Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray[38] him. and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus
when no crowd was present.

John let this stand without comment in his Gospel narrative, except to reinforce at the last supper that the devil had already put into the heart of Judas[39] Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray[40] Jesus.[41]  Jesus specified which prophecy Judas would fulfill: I know the ones[42] I have chosen.  But this is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who eats my[43] bread has turned against me.’[44]

A table comparing this to Psalm 41:9b (the presumed source text) in the Septuagint follows.  It is more thought for thought than a word for word quotation.

John 13:18a (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 41:9b (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 40:10b (Septuagint Elpenor)

τρώγων μου τὸν ἄρτον ἐπῆρεν ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ τὴν πτέρναν αὐτοῦ ἐσθίων ἄρτους μου ἐμεγάλυνεν ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ πτερνισμόν ὁ ἐσθίων ἄρτους μου, ἐμεγάλυνεν ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ πτερνισμόν

John 13:18b (NET)

Psalm 40:10b (NETS)

Psalm 40:10b (English Elpenor)

The one who eats my bread has turned against me. he who would eat of my bread, magnified trickery against me. who ate my bread, lifted up [his] heel against me.

If I accept the NET translation piece of bread for ψωμίον, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy deliberately (John 13:21-27 NET):

When he had said these things (John 13:18-20), Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, “I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.”  The[45] disciples began to look at one another, worried and perplexed to know which of them he was talking about.  One[46] of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor.[47]  So Simon Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus who it was he was referring to.  Then the disciple whom Jesus loved[48] leaned back[49] against Jesus’ chest and asked him, “Lord, who is it?”  Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give[50] this piece of bread after I have dipped[51] it in the dish.”  Then[52] he dipped[53] the piece of bread in the dish and[54] gave it to Judas Iscariot,[55] Simon’s son.  And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him.  Jesus said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

Before I did this study I assumed that Jesus’ concern in the garden was that his remaining disciples were not arrested and killed.  Now I’m reasonably convinced that He was concerned that they not be arrested, threatened with death perhaps, and apart from Him and before receiving the Holy Spirit, be turned away from Him as Judas was.  In other words, He did not want them to be lost or “destroyed.”

Tables comparing Psalm 41:9 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Psalm 41:9 (40:10) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  Following those are tables comparing John 11:50, 51; 11:53; Matthew 28:18; 28:20; John 18:8; Matthew 26:3; Mark 14:2; 14:10, 11; Luke 22:3; John 13:2; 13:18; 13:22, 23 and 13:25, 26 in the NET and KJV.

Psalm 41:9 (Tanakh)

Psalm 41:9 (KJV)

Psalm 41:9 (NET)

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. Even my close friend whom I trusted, he who shared meals with me, has turned against me.

Psalm 41:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 40:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ γὰρ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τῆς εἰρήνης μου ἐφ᾽ ὃν ἤλπισα ὁ ἐσθίων ἄρτους μου ἐμεγάλυνεν ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ πτερνισμόν καὶ γὰρ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τῆς εἰρήνης μου, ἐφ᾿ ὃν ἤλπισα, ὁ ἐσθίων ἄρτους μου, ἐμεγάλυνεν ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ πτερνισμόν

Psalm 40:10 (NETS)

Psalm 40:10 (English Elpenor)

Indeed, the person at peace with me, in whom I hoped, he who would eat of my bread, magnified trickery against me. For even the man of my peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, lifted up [his] heel against me.

John 11:50, 51 (NET)

John 11:50, 51 (KJV)

You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.” Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

οὐδὲ λογίζεσθε ὅτι συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἄνθρωπος ἀποθάνῃ ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ μὴ ὅλον τὸ ἔθνος ἀπόληται ουδε διαλογιζεσθε οτι συμφερει ημιν ινα εις ανθρωπος αποθανη υπερ του λαου και μη ολον το εθνος αποληται ουδε διαλογιζεσθε οτι συμφερει ημιν ινα εις ανθρωπος αποθανη υπερ του λαου και μη ολον το εθνος αποληται
(Now he did not say this on his own, but because he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish nation, And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

(τοῦτο δὲ ἀφ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ οὐκ εἶπεν, ἀλλὰ ἀρχιερεὺς ὢν τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἐκείνου ἐπροφήτευσεν ὅτι ἔμελλεν Ἰησοῦς ἀποθνῄσκειν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἔθνους τουτο δε αφ εαυτου ουκ ειπεν αλλα αρχιερευς ων του ενιαυτου εκεινου προεφητευσεν οτι εμελλεν ο ιησους αποθνησκειν υπερ του εθνους τουτο δε αφ εαυτου ουκ ειπεν αλλα αρχιερευς ων του ενιαυτου εκεινου προεφητευσεν οτι εμελλεν ιησους αποθνησκειν υπερ του εθνους

John 11:53 (NET)

John 11:53 (KJV)

So from that day they planned together to kill him. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἀπ᾿ ἐκείνης οὖν τῆς ἡμέρας ἐβουλεύσαντο ἵνα ἀποκτείνωσιν αὐτόν απ εκεινης ουν της ημερας συνεβουλευσαντο ινα αποκτεινωσιν αυτον απ εκεινης ουν της ημερας συνεβουλευσαντο ινα αποκτεινωσιν αυτον

Matthew 28:18 (NET)

Matthew 28:18 (KJV)

Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ [τῆς] γῆς και προσελθων ο ιησους ελαλησεν αυτοις λεγων εδοθη μοι πασα εξουσια εν ουρανω και επι γης και προσελθων ο ιησους ελαλησεν αυτοις λεγων εδοθη μοι πασα εξουσια εν ουρανω και επι γης

Matthew 28:20 (NET)

Matthew 28:20 (KJV)

teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος διδασκοντες αυτους τηρειν παντα οσα ενετειλαμην υμιν και ιδου εγω μεθ υμων ειμι πασας τας ημερας εως της συντελειας του αιωνος αμην διδασκοντες αυτους τηρειν παντα οσα ενετειλαμην υμιν και ιδου εγω μεθ υμων ειμι πασας τας ημερας εως της συντελειας του αιωνος αμην

John 18:8 (NET)

John 18:8 (KJV)

Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he.  If you are looking for me, let these men go.” Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς· εἶπον ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι. εἰ οὖν ἐμὲ ζητεῖτε, ἄφετε τούτους ὑπάγειν απεκριθη ο ιησους ειπον υμιν οτι εγω ειμι ει ουν εμε ζητειτε αφετε τουτους υπαγειν απεκριθη ιησους ειπον υμιν οτι εγω ειμι ει ουν εμε ζητειτε αφετε τουτους υπαγειν

Matthew 26:3 (NET)

Matthew 26:3 (KJV)

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Τότε συνήχθησαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν τοῦ ἀρχιερέως τοῦ λεγομένου Καϊάφα τοτε συνηχθησαν οι αρχιερεις και οι γραμματεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι του λαου εις την αυλην του αρχιερεως του λεγομενου καιαφα τοτε συνηχθησαν οι αρχιερεις και οι γραμματεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι του λαου εις την αυλην του αρχιερεως του λεγομενου καιαφα

Mark 14:2 (NET)

Mark 14:2 (KJV)

For they said, “Not during the feast, so there won’t be a riot among the people.” But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἔλεγον γάρ μὴ ἐν τῇ ἑορτῇ, μήποτε ἔσται θόρυβος τοῦ λαοῦ ελεγον δε μη εν τη εορτη μηποτε θορυβος εσται του λαου ελεγον δε μη εν τη εορτη μηποτε θορυβος εσται του λαου

Mark 14:10, 11 (NET)

Mark 14:10, 11 (KJV)

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus into their hands. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Καὶ Ἰούδας Ἰσκαριὼθ ὁ εἷς τῶν δώδεκα ἀπῆλθεν πρὸς τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς ἵνα αὐτὸν παραδοῖ αὐτοῖς και ο ιουδας ο ισκαριωτης εις των δωδεκα απηλθεν προς τους αρχιερεις ινα παραδω αυτον αυτοις και ο ιουδας ο ισκαριωτης εις των δωδεκα απηλθεν προς τους αρχιερεις ινα παραδω αυτον αυτοις
When they heard this, they were delighted and promised to give him money.  So Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money.  And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες ἐχάρησαν καὶ ἐπηγγείλαντο αὐτῷ ἀργύριον δοῦναι. καὶ ἐζήτει πῶς αὐτὸν εὐκαίρως παραδοῖ οι δε ακουσαντες εχαρησαν και επηγγειλαντο αυτω αργυριον δουναι και εζητει πως ευκαιρως αυτον παραδω οι δε ακουσαντες εχαρησαν και επηγγειλαντο αυτω αργυριον δουναι και εζητει πως ευκαιρως αυτον παραδω

Luke 22:3 (NET)

Luke 22:3 (KJV)

Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Εἰσῆλθεν δὲ σατανᾶς εἰς Ἰούδαν τὸν καλούμενον Ἰσκαριώτην, ὄντα ἐκ τοῦ ἀριθμοῦ τῶν δώδεκα εισηλθεν δε ο σατανας εις ιουδαν τον επικαλουμενον ισκαριωτην οντα εκ του αριθμου των δωδεκα εισηλθεν δε σατανας εις ιουδαν τον επικαλουμενον ισκαριωτην οντα εκ του αριθμου των δωδεκα

John 13:2 (NET)

John 13:2 (KJV)

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ δείπνου γινομένου, τοῦ διαβόλου ἤδη βεβληκότος εἰς τὴν καρδίαν ἵνα παραδοῖ αὐτὸν Ἰούδας Σίμωνος |Ἰσκαριώτου| και δειπνου γενομενου του διαβολου ηδη βεβληκοτος εις την καρδιαν ιουδα σιμωνος ισκαριωτου ινα αυτον παραδω και δειπνου γενομενου του διαβολου ηδη βεβληκοτος εις την καρδιαν ιουδα σιμωνος ισκαριωτου ινα αυτον παραδω

John 13:18 (NET)

John 13:18 (KJV)

“What I am saying does not refer to all of you.  I know the ones I have chosen.  But this is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who eats my bread has turned against me.’ I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Οὐ περὶ πάντων ὑμῶν λέγω· ἐγὼ οἶδα τίνας ἐξελεξάμην· ἀλλ᾿ ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ· ὁ τρώγων μου τὸν ἄρτον ἐπῆρεν ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ τὴν πτέρναν αὐτοῦ ου περι παντων υμων λεγω εγω οιδα ους εξελεξαμην αλλ ινα η γραφη πληρωθη ο τρωγων μετ εμου τον αρτον επηρεν επ εμε την πτερναν αυτου ου περι παντων υμων λεγω εγω οιδα ους εξελεξαμην αλλ ινα η γραφη πληρωθη ο τρωγων μετ εμου τον αρτον επηρεν επ εμε την πτερναν αυτου

John 13:22, 23 (NET)

John 13:22, 23 (KJV)

The disciples began to look at one another, worried and perplexed to know which of them he was talking about. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἔβλεπον εἰς ἀλλήλους οἱ μαθηταὶ ἀπορούμενοι περὶ τίνος λέγει εβλεπον ουν εις αλληλους οι μαθηται απορουμενοι περι τινος λεγει εβλεπον ουν εις αλληλους οι μαθηται απορουμενοι περι τινος λεγει
One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἦν ἀνακείμενος εἷς ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, ὃν ἠγάπα |ὁ| Ἰησοῦς ην δε ανακειμενος εις των μαθητων αυτου εν τω κολπω του ιησου ον ηγαπα ο ιησους ην δε ανακειμενος εις των μαθητων αυτου εν τω κολπω του ιησου ον ηγαπα ο ιησους

John 13:25, 26 (NET)

John 13:25, 26 (KJV)

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved leaned back against Jesus’ chest and asked him, “Lord, who is it?” He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἀναπεσὼν |οὖν| ἐκεῖνος οὕτως ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ λέγει αὐτῷ· κύριε, τίς ἐστιν επιπεσων δε εκεινος επι το στηθος του ιησου λεγει αυτω κυριε τις εστιν επιπεσων δε εκεινος ουτως επι το στηθος του ιησου λεγει αυτω κυριε τις εστιν
Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.”  Then he dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.  And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἀποκρίνεται  [ὁ] Ἰησοῦς· ἐκεῖνος ἐστιν ᾧ ἐγὼ βάψω τὸ ψωμίον καὶ δώσω αὐτῷ. βάψας οὖν |τὸ| ψωμίον [λαμβάνει καὶ] δίδωσιν Ἰούδᾳ Σίμωνος Ἰσκαριώτου αποκρινεται ο ιησους εκεινος εστιν ω εγω βαψας το ψωμιον επιδωσω και εμβαψας το ψωμιον διδωσιν ιουδα σιμωνος ισκαριωτη αποκρινεται ο ιησους εκεινος εστιν ω εγω βαψας το ψωμιον επιδωσω και εμβαψας το ψωμιον διδωσιν ιουδα σιμωνος ισκαριωτη

[1] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑμῖν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ημιν (KJV: for us).

[2] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐπροφήτευσεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had προεφητευσε.

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

[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐβουλεύσαντ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συνεβουλευσαντο (KJV: took counsel together).

[5] Luke 12:4, 5 (NET)

[6] John 3:16b (NET)

[7] Matthew 25:41b (NET)

[8] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἰδὼν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειδως (KJV: perceiving).

[9] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πάντων here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πασων.

[10] The Stephanus Textus Receptu and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: And) preceding Jesus.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[11] The Stephanus Textus Receptu and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτω (KJV: him) following answered.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[12] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πασων των εντολων (KJV: of all the commandments) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

[14] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτη πρωτη εντολη (KJV: this is the first commandment) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[15] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: And) at the beginning of this clause.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[16] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ομοια (KJV: like) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[17] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἶπες here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπας (KJV: thou hast said).

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

[19] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και εξ ολης της ψυχης (KJV: and with all the soul) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[20] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had περισσότερον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πλειον (KJV: more).

[21] Here are a few essays where I began to grapple with the absolute and qualified or relative negation in New Testament Greek: Son of God – John, Part 2; Fear – Genesis, Part 7; Son of God – John, Part 3

[22] Matthew 25:42, 43 (NET)

[23] Matthew 25:34 (NET)

[24] Colossians 1:13 (NET)

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

[26] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αμην (KJV: Amen) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not

[27] John 5:21b (NET)

[28] Matthew 25:41 (NET)

[29] John 3:16b (NET)

[30] John 18:8, 9 (NET)

[31] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και οι γραμματεις (KJV: and the scribes) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[32] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γάρ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: But).

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

[34] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καλούμενον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επικαλουμενον (KJV: surnamed).

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

[36] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Iscariot was spelled Ἰσκαριὼθ, and ισκαριωτης in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[37] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had παραδοῖ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παραδω.

[38] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had παραδοῖ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παραδω.

[39] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Judas was spelled Ἰούδας, and ιουδα in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[40] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had παραδοῖ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παραδω.

[41] John 13:2b (NET)

[42] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τίνας here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the pronoun ους (KJV: whom).

[43] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had μου here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μετ εμου (KJV: with me).

[44] John 13:18b (NET)

[45] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: Then) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[46] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: Now) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[47] NET note 57 explains the idiom.

[48] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐκεῖνος οὕτως here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had simply εκεινος (KJV: He).

[49] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀναπεσὼν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επιπεσων (KJV: lying on).

[50] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ δώσω αὐτῷ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επιδωσω (KJV: shall give).

[51] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had βάψω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had βαψας.

[52] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὖν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: And).

[53] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had βαψας here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εμβαψας (KJV: had dipped).

[54] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had λαμβάνει καὶ (λαμβάνει was not translated in the NET) here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[55] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Ἰσκαριώτου here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ισκαριωτη.

Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 1

I received the following question in a personal email:

John 5: 28 and 29  “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out —  Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”

OK.  I don’t really like these verses because it’s like the verses about the sheep and the goats and the wheat and the tares.  It makes it seem like some people are going to be saved and others aren’t.

HOWEVER, couple it with Romans 7:14-20 and it seems to mean something else.  In Romans 7:20 “Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”

Now that verse seems like a real cop out!  I’ve never understood it very well.  But it seems to be saying that that part of the person doing “evil” is separate from the person himself or herself (maybe as far as east is from the west??).

So maybe John 5:28 and 29 can be talking about all us dead being raised and our “old selves” get condemned and our “new selves” live eternally with the Lord.  After all, the one on the white throne in Revelation said he was going to make all things new.

I hope the whole point is God’s going to save everybody!  Am I nuts???

Do not be amazed at this, Jesus said, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out – the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection resulting in condemnation (κρίσεως, a form of κρίσις).[1]  The first two things I noticed were, 1) the phrase do not be amazed at this invited me to look earlier in the passage for Jesus’ meaning, and 2) κρίσις (κρίσεως), judgment, was translated as if it were κατάκρισις[2] (κατακρίσεως),[3] a judgment against, condemnation.

In context, Jesus was answering Jewish leaders who wanted to kill him because not only was he breaking the Sabbath [by healing a man through the words, Stand up!  Pick up your mat and walk”[4]], but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God.[5]  For the Father loves the Son, Jesus continued, and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed.[6]  Then He specified two of these greater deeds:

Greater Deeds…so that you will be amazed…

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes (θέλει, a form of θέλω).[7]

John 5:21 (NET)

Furthermore, the Father does not judge (κρίνει, a form of κρίνω)[8] anyone, but has assigned all judgment (κρίσιν, another form of κρίσις) to the Son…

John 5:22 (NET)

And He did this so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father.  The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.[9]

So the themes of Jesus’ discourse are that the Son gives life to whomever he wishes, and the Father…has assigned all judgment to the Son.  These themes were repeated, just in case I missed them: For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself, and he has granted the Son authority to execute (ποιεῖν, a form of ποιέω)[10] judgment (κρίσιν, another form of κρίσις), because he is the Son of Man.[11]  So I wondered what prompted the translators to make such an abrupt change to Jesus’ stated themes (John 5:24, 25 NET):

I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned (εἰς κρίσιν οὐκ ἔρχεται; literally, “into judgment will not come” [or “go”]), but has crossed over from death to life.  I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming – and is now here – when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

A note in the NET acknowledged the more literal meaning: “Grk ‘and does not come into judgment.’”  There is a significant difference between not coming into judgment at all, and coming into judgment but not being condemned.  Consider Jesus’ words recorded by Matthew (25:31, 32 NET Table):

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 (ἔθνη, a form of ἔθνος)[12] will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

If the one who hears [Jesus’] message and believes the one who sent Him “does not come into judgment,” that one would not be present at this event as a participant.  It makes some sense, since the stated criteria for separating the “sheep” from the “goats” is not hearing Jesus’ message and believing the one who sent Him, but something else entirely (Matthew 25:35, 36, 40 NET).

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me…I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.

Conversely, the only people who would not hear the words, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,[13] are those who managed to live their entire lives without showing a single human kindness to one of the Lord’s brothers or sisters.  I, too, was socialized into essentially the same religion as the translators of the NET.  I can feel how this alone might give them cause to translate the phrase εἰς κρίσιν οὐκ ἔρχεται as will not be condemned (making the one who hears [Jesus’] message and believes the one who sent Him the “sheep” Jesus spoke about in Matthew’s Gospel).  But consider Peter’s response to the Jewish leaders who questioned him (Acts 4:8-12 NET):

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man – by what means this man was healed – let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy.  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone.  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”

We have taken this to mean that the only way to be saved is to hear [Jesus’] message and believe the One who sent Him.  And we have added to it, more or less, say a sinner’s prayer, get baptized, go to my church, like me, and tell me how good and wise I am to have understood this before you.  But if Jesus, who may give life to whomever he wishes, who has been granted the…authority to execute judgment, decides that not only those who hear his message and believe the One who sent Him, but those who show them kindness, are worthy of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, who am I to dispute Him?  Are they saved by some other name when it is Jesus who sits on the throne, judges them worthy and grants them life?  Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? He asked in a parable.  Or are you envious because I am generous (ἀγαθός)?[14]

Do not be amazed at this, Jesus continued his discourse with the Jewish leaders who wanted to kill Him, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out – the ones who have done what is good (ἀγαθὰ [another form of ἀγαθός] ποιήσαντες [a form of ποιέω]) to the resurrection resulting in life (εἰς[15] ἀνάστασιν[16] ζωῆς[17]), and the ones who have done what is evil (φαῦλα[18] πράξαντες[19]) to the resurrection resulting in condemnation (εἰς ἀνάστασιν κρίσεως).[20]  Viewed as I’ve been suggesting here one can’t arbitrarily assume that everyone who comes into judgment will be condemned.  Some, if not many, if not most, will hear the Lord say, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

So it seems more appropriate to me to translate the verse more literally: the ones who have done what is good, that is the ones who heard Jesus’ message and believed the One who sent Him, hear his voice and will come out [of their tombs]…to the resurrection resulting in life [they have eternal life[21]]; while those who have done [literally, practiced] what is evil (φαῦλα) [that is anything that kept them from hearing Jesus’ message and believing the One who sent Him] will come out [of their tombs]…to the resurrection resulting in judgment (as opposed to condemnation).

I can do nothing on my own initiative, Jesus concluded.  Just as I hear, I judge (κρίνω), and my judgment (κρίσις) is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.[22]


[1] John 5:28, 29 (NET)

[3] 2 Corinthians 3:9

[5] John 5:18 (NET)

[6] John 5:20 (NET)

[9] John 5:23 (NET)

[11] John 5:26, 27 (NET)

[13] Matthew 25:34 (NET)

[14] Matthew 20:15 (NET)

[20] John 5:28, 29 (NET)

[22] John 5:30 (NET)