Exploration, Part 10

I shared the previous essay with my Pastor. “Jesus didn’t call his hearers/followers actors,” he said. That’s true. He called their teachers and leaders actors. That the term also applied to his hearers/followers was my inference from Jesus’ words to the Jews who had believed him1 (and continued to believe Him). 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.

“If you abide in my word,” Jesus said despite their continuing faith, “you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”2

The Greek is: ἐὰν ὑμεῖς μείνητε (if [or, “whenever”] you [plural] abide), a form of μένω in the aorist tense: “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.”3

It is in the active voice: “Grammatical voice indicates whether the subject [plural you] is the performer of the action of the verb (active voice), or the subject is the recipient of the action (passive voice). If the subject of the sentence is executing the action, then the verb is referred to as being in the active voice.”4 And μείνητε is in the subjunctive mood: “The subjunctive mood indicates probability or objective possibility. The action of the verb will possibly happen, depending on certain objective factors or circumstances.”5 According to the Koine Greek Lexicon online μείνητε, a form of μένω means: “to remain, stay; to live, dwell, lodge; to adhere to and not contravene; to abide, continue, remain; to remain, last, persist, continue to live; to remain in force; to endure, bear with; to wait for.”

Where are you to remain, stay, to live, dwell, lodge, to abide, continue? What are you to adhere to and not contravene, to endure, bear with, to wait for? What will persist, continue to live, remain in force? The next words are ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ (“in the word of mine”): Jesus’ understanding of the Scriptures, illuminated by, but not limited to, the words which are highlighted in red in a red letter edition of the New Testament.

The very next word in this wordstring is the adverb ἀληθῶς (ESV: truly). The ESV translators assumed that ἀληθῶς modified ἐστε (ESV: you are) rather than μείνητε (ESV: abide). I want to consider the other occurrences of ἀληθῶς in John’s writing along with their translations in the ESV.

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 4:42

They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world [Table].”

τῇ τε γυναικὶ ἔλεγον ὅτι οὐκέτι διὰ τὴν σὴν λαλιὰν πιστεύομεν, αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκηκόαμεν καὶ οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου

John 6:14

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world [Table]!”

Οἱ οὖν ἄνθρωποι ἰδόντες ὃ ἐποίησεν σημεῖον ἔλεγον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης ὁ ἐρχόμενος εἰς τὸν κόσμον

Here, in both occurrences the adverb ἀληθῶς (ESV: indeed) modifies ἔστιν (ESV: is), the verb it follows.

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 7:26

And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ [Table]?

καὶ ἴδε παρρησίᾳ λαλεῖ καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ λέγουσιν. μήποτε ἀληθῶς ἔγνωσαν οἱ ἄρχοντες ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ χριστός

Here, the adverb ἀληθῶς (ESV: really) precedes the verb it modifies ἔγνωσαν (ESV: know).

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 7:40

When6 they heard these words,7 some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”

Ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου οὖν ἀκούσαντες τῶν λόγων τούτων ἔλεγον· οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης

Here again, the adverb ἀληθῶς (ESV: really) modifies ἔστιν (ESV: is), the verb it follows.

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 17:8

For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

ὅτι τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἔδωκάς μοι δέδωκα αὐτοῖς, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλαβον καὶ ἔγνωσαν ἀληθῶς ὅτι παρὰ σοῦ ἐξῆλθον, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας

Here, too, the adverb ἀληθῶς (ESV: in truth) modifies the verb it follows, ἔγνωσαν (ESV: theyhave come to know).

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 1:47

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

Εἶδεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἴδε ἀληθῶς Ἰσραηλίτης ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστιν

Here it is fairly clear that ἀληθῶς (ESV: indeed) modifies ἔστιν (ESV: there is; e.g., “there is truly no deceit”) rather than λέγει (ESV: said; e.g., “said truly”). But since ἀληθῶς actually occurs between ἴδε (ESV: Behold) and Ἰσραηλίτης (ESV: an Israelite), the translators treated it like a defining characteristic of a true Israelite as much as Jesus’ description of Nathanael. So, I’ll return now with these examples to John 8:31.

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 8:31

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

Ἔλεγεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τοὺς πεπιστευκότας αὐτῷ Ἰουδαίους· ἐὰν ὑμεῖς μείνητε ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ, ἀληθῶς μαθηταί μού ἐστε

The comma between ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ (ESV: in my word) and ἀληθῶς (ESV: truly) is not original to the Greek manuscripts. The placement of ἀληθῶς (ESV: truly) seems to function like a conjunction, coordinating and qualifying both clauses: If you abide in my wordtruly μαθηταί μού (ESV: my disciples) ἐστε (ESV: you are). The occurrence of ἀληθῶς in 1 John 2:5 is similar.

Reference

ESV

NA28

1 John 2:5

but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

ὃς δ’ ἂν τηρῇ αὐτοῦ τὸν λόγον, ἀληθῶς ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ τετελείωται· ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐσμεν

“But whoever keeps his word truly in him the love of God is perfected.” Peter offered us a profound example of not abiding in Jesus’ word truly.

Matthew 16:21, 22 (ESV)

Mark 8:31, 32 (ESV)

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again [Table].
And he said this plainly.
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”

Jesus’ word to the Jews who had believed him8 (and continued to believe Him) continued: and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”9 The Greek was καὶ γνώσεσθε, a form of the verb γινώσκω in the future tense and indicative mood (ESV: and you will know). It is a statement of fact, a promise from Jesus, but it is also in the middle voice.

The Greek middle voice shows the subject acting in his own interest or on his own behalf, or participating in the results of the verbal action. In overly simplistic terms, sometimes the middle form of the verb could be translated as “the performer of the action actually acting upon himself” (reflexive action).

The 2nd person plural you have something to do with the fulfillment of this promise; namely, abide in Jesus’ word truly, even as the work of an actor if necessary, playing a character by obeying a rule, before Jesus has made you one spirit with Him. What will you know if you abide in Jesus’ word truly? τὴν ἀλήθειαν (ESV: the truth), an accusative form of ἀλήθεια. You will know the only true (ἀληθινὸν, a form of ἀληθινός) God, and Jesus Christ whom [He has] sent.10I am the way, and the truth (ἀλήθεια), and the life,” Jesus said. “No one comes to the Father except through me.”11 [A]nd the truth (καὶ ἀλήθεια) will set you free (ἐλευθερώσει ὑμᾶς). For our freedom Christ has us set free, therefore you stand firm and cannot entangle yourselves in a yoke of slavery again.12

And here is a glimpse of other truth that can be gained from abiding in Jesus’ word truly; namely, the truth about you, specifically your enslavement to sin. But here, like Peter, the Jews who had believed him13 did not abide in Jesus’ word truly (John 8:33-38 ESV):

They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” [Table]

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices ( ποιῶν) sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what14 I have seen with my15 Father, and you do what you have heard16 from your father.”17

Here again, though Jesus offered the Jews who had believed him18 another opportunity to abide in his word truly, they did not (John 8:39-41a ESV).

They answered him,19Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were20 Abraham’s children, you would21 be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth (τὴν ἀλήθειαν) that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.”

Again, they did not abide in Jesus’ word truly (John 8:41b-43):

They said22 to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality (πορνείας, a form of πορνεία). We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them,23 “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me [Table]. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

Jesus was less patient with Peter, with whom He had spent much more time, when Peter refused to abide in Jesus’ word truly.

Matthew 16:23 (ESV)

Mark 8:33 (ESV)

But he turned  But turning 
and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter
and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man [Table].” and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man [Table].”

Eventually Jesus told the Jews who had believed him24 plainly (John 8:44, 45, 47 ESV):

You are of your father the devil, and your will (θέλετε, a form of the verb θέλω) 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…Whoever is of God (ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ) hears the words of God (τοῦ θεοῦ). The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God (ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἐστέ; e.g., at the then present time).”

To call Peter Satan, and to say to the Jews who had believed him,25 You are of your father the devil, truly, I infer that Jesus addressed the old self (τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον, aka “the old man”), which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.26 No new self (τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον, aka “the new man”), created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness,27 existed yet but Jesus.

Only Jesus was free to serve in the new way of the Spirit (ἐν καινότητι πνεύματος),28 while everyone else served in the old way of the written code,29 whether the law, the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees or Jesus’ commands. They were actors by definition, playing a role by obeying rules, no matter how sincerely. Every act of obedience was an act, a determined effort that was contrary to their true nature and actual character until Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension and the giving of the Holy Spirit.

I continued to be an actor for far too long even after I was born from above, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God,30 until I learned the new covenant from the Lord. For our freedom Christ has us set free, therefore you stand firm and cannot entangle yourselves in a yoke of slavery again.31 As Jesus said, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.32 The result ( καρπὸς) of the Holy Spirit is a continuous infusion of God’s own (Galatians 5:22b, 23 ESV):

…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law [Table].

In other words (Matthew 5:48 EXP8):

You will be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect [Table].

Paul relayed part of that perfection to foolish Galatians who attempted to be perfected by the flesh (Galatians 5:24 ESV):

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

The Greek is οἱ δὲ, And those, τοῦ Χριστοῦ, “of Christ” (the ESV translation—who belong to Christ Jesus—accentuates the possessive aspect of the genitive τοῦ Χριστοῦ), τὴν σάρκα, the flesh, ἐσταύρωσαν, “they” have crucified, σὺν τοῖς παθήμασιν καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις, “along with the ‘suffering, misfortune, passion’ and the ‘desire, longing, craving (in a good or bad sense); lust, concupiscence, coveting, a longing (esp. for what is forbidden); something desired in order to possess.’”

This is not a debatable point for those “of Christ” but something to receive through faith:

We know that our old self ( παλαιὸς ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος; NET: our old man) was crucified with him (συνεσταυρώθη, a passive form of συσταυρόω) in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.33

After He corrected Peter’s thinking—you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man [Table]34—Jesus continued (Mark 8:34-38 ESV):

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone35 would come after36 me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would37 save his life (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ) will lose it, but whoever loses38 his39 life (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ) for my sake and the gospel’s will save40 it. For what does it profit41 a man to gain42 the whole world and forfeit43 his soul (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ)? For44 what can a man give45 in return for his soul (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ)? For46 whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

The Greek words translated let him deny himself were ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν. The phrase is a little redundant but abundantly clear: ἀπαρνησάσθω, an imperative form of ἀπαρνέομαι, a command in the middle voice, means: “to deny, disown, abstain, renounce, reject, refuse” oneself. The reflexive pronoun ἑαυτὸν in the accusative case emphasizes that this denial is not a denial of things but explicitly himself (oneself), the direct object of the verb (NET: he must deny himself), rather than the indirect object (e.g., he must deny himself this, that or the other thing).

Jesus’ example, contemplating his own crucifixion, comes again to mind here (John 12:27, 28a ESV).

“Now is my soul ( ψυχή μου) troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”

Then privately He prayed to his Father (Mark 14:36 NET):

“Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

This is hypocrisy according to the “more general meaning that we use today: ‘a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.’”47 And that should tell you everything you need to know about the “more general meaning” of hypocrisy “that we use today.” Jesus did not act as an actor. He demonstrated righteousness in the flesh by denying Himself (Galatians 5:17, 18 ESV).

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do [Table]. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

When I think of the desires of the flesh, I think mostly of sex, especially kinky sex. But the desire to live (or not to be tortured to death) is a more basic desire of the flesh. Despite this most desperate desire of Jesus’ flesh the night He was arrested, He by the Spirit retained the knowledge of God: all things are possible for you. He did not lie to his all-knowing Father about the desire of his flesh: Take this cup away from me. And He denied Himself completely: Yet not what I will (θέλω), but what you will. And the Spirit strengthened Him.

Matthew 26:51-54 (ESV)

Mark 14:46-49 (ESV)

Luke 22:49-53 (ESV)

John 18:10, 11 (ESV)

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? [Table] But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

And they laid hands48 on him49 and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.50 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come51 out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.”

And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said,52 “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”53 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him [Table]. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out54 as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) [Table] So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” [Table]

Without taking anything away from the 2nd person plural μείνητε in the active voice, there is another possible way to understand Jesus’ instruction to the Jews who had believed him.55 The Greek words translated my word (τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ) in Jesus’ conditional statement If you abide in my word are in the dative case.

The dative is the case of the indirect object, or may also indicate the means by which something is done.

It is possible to understand Jesus’ word as the means by which you abide: “If you abide by means of my word truly my disciples you are,” by oneness with his Spirit rather than as an actor obeying rules: Whoever is of God (ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ) hears the words of God (τοῦ θεοῦ).56 This is what Paul called ὑπακοὴν πίστεως (Romans 1:5; 16:26), obedience of faith, to distinguish it from a righteousness pursued as if it were based on works.57 I’ll pick this up in another essay.

A table of the occurrences of ἀληθῶς in the New Testament from NA28 as translated in the ESV follows.

Examples of ἀληθῶς in the New Testament

Reference

ESV

NA28

Matthew 14:33

And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

οἱ δὲ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες· ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς εἶ

Matthew 26:73

After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.”

Μετὰ μικρὸν δὲ προσελθόντες οἱ ἑστῶτες εἶπον τῷ Πέτρῳ· ἀληθῶς καὶ σὺ ἐξ αὐτῶν εἶ, καὶ γὰρ ἡ λαλιά σου δῆλόν σε ποιεῖ

Matthew 27:54

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Ὁ δὲ ἑκατόνταρχος καὶ οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ τηροῦντες τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἰδόντες τὸν σεισμὸν καὶ τὰ γενόμενα ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα, λέγοντες· ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς ἦν οὗτος

Mark 14:70

But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

ὁ δὲ πάλιν ἠρνεῖτο. Καὶ μετὰ μικρὸν πάλιν οἱ παρεστῶτες ἔλεγον τῷ Πέτρῳ· ἀληθῶς ἐξ αὐτῶν εἶ, καὶ γὰρ Γαλιλαῖος εἶ

Mark 15:39

And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ κεντυρίων ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐξ ἐναντίας αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως ἐξέπνευσεν εἶπεν· ἀληθῶς οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος υἱὸς θεοῦ ἦν

Luke 9:27

But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ἀληθῶς, εἰσίν τινες τῶν αὐτοῦ ἑστηκότων οἳ οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσιν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ

Luke 12:44

Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

ἀληθῶς λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐπὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν αὐτοῦ καταστήσει αὐτόν

Luke 21:3

And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

καὶ εἶπεν· ἀληθῶς λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἡ χήρα αὕτη ἡ πτωχὴ πλεῖον πάντων ἔβαλεν

John 1:47

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

Εἶδεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἴδε ἀληθῶς Ἰσραηλίτης ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστιν

John 4:42

They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

τῇ τε γυναικὶ ἔλεγον ὅτι οὐκέτι διὰ τὴν σὴν λαλιὰν πιστεύομεν, αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκηκόαμεν καὶ οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου

John 6:14

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

Οἱ οὖν ἄνθρωποι ἰδόντες ὃ ἐποίησεν σημεῖον ἔλεγον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης ὁ ἐρχόμενος εἰς τὸν κόσμον

John 7:26

And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?

καὶ ἴδε παρρησίᾳ λαλεῖ καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ λέγουσιν. μήποτε ἀληθῶς ἔγνωσαν οἱ ἄρχοντες ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ χριστός

John 7:40

When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”

Ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου οὖν ἀκούσαντες τῶν λόγων τούτων ἔλεγον· οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης

John 8:31

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

Ἔλεγεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τοὺς πεπιστευκότας αὐτῷ Ἰουδαίους· ἐὰν ὑμεῖς μείνητε ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ, ἀληθῶς μαθηταί μού ἐστε

John 17:8

For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

ὅτι τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἔδωκάς μοι δέδωκα αὐτοῖς, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλαβον καὶ ἔγνωσαν ἀληθῶς ὅτι παρὰ σοῦ ἐξῆλθον, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας

Acts 12:11

When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Καὶ ὁ Πέτρος ἐν ἑαυτῷ γενόμενος εἶπεν· νῦν οἶδα ἀληθῶς ὅτι ἐξαπέστειλεν [ὁ] κύριος τὸν ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξείλατό με ἐκ χειρὸς Ἡρῴδου καὶ πάσης τῆς προσδοκίας τοῦ λαοῦ τῶν Ἰουδαίων

1 Thessalonians 2:13

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς εὐχαριστοῦμεν τῷ θεῷ ἀδιαλείπτως, ὅτι παραλαβόντες λόγον ἀκοῆς παρ’ ἡμῶν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐδέξασθε οὐ λόγον ἀνθρώπων ἀλλὰ καθώς ἐστιν ἀληθῶς λόγον θεοῦ, ὃς καὶ ἐνεργεῖται ἐν ὑμῖν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν

1 John 2:5

but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

ὃς δ’ ἂν τηρῇ αὐτοῦ τὸν λόγον, ἀληθῶς ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ τετελείωται· ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐσμεν

Tables comparing John 7:40; 8:38; 8:39; 8:41; Mark 8:34-38; 14:46-48; Luke 22:49 and 22:52 in the KJV and NET follow.

John 7:40 (NET)

John 7:40 (KJV)

When they heard these words, some of the crowd began to say, “This really is the Prophet!” Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

John 7:40 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 7:40 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 7:40 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου οὖν ἀκούσαντες τῶν λόγων τούτων ἔλεγον· οὗτος ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης πολλοι ουν εκ του οχλου ακουσαντες τον λογον ελεγον ουτος εστιν αληθως ο προφητης πολλοι ουν εκ του οχλου ακουσαντες τον λογον ελεγον ουτος εστιν αληθως ο προφητης

John 8:38 (NET)

John 8:38 (KJV)

I am telling you the things I have seen while with the Father; as for you, practice the things you have heard from the Father!” I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

John 8:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 8:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 8:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐγὼ ἑώρακα παρὰ τῷ πατρὶ λαλῶ· καὶ ὑμεῖς οὖν ἠκούσατε παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς ποιεῖτε εγω ο εωρακα παρα τω πατρι μου λαλω και υμεις ουν ο εωρακατε παρα τω πατρι υμων ποιειτε εγω ο εωρακα παρα τω πατρι μου λαλω και υμεις ουν ο εωρακατε παρα τω πατρι υμων ποιειτε

John 8:39 (NET)

John 8:39 (KJV)

They answered him, “Abraham is our father!” Jesus replied, “If you are Abraham’s children, you would be doing the deeds of Abraham. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

John 8:39 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 8:39 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 8:39 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀπεκρίθησαν καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ ἐστιν. λέγει αὐτοῖς |ὁ| Ἰησοῦς· εἰ τέκνα τοῦ Ἀβραάμ ἐστε, τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ |ἐ|ποιεῖτε απεκριθησαν και ειπον αυτω ο πατηρ ημων αβρααμ εστιν λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους ει τεκνα του αβρααμ ητε τα εργα του αβρααμ εποιειτε αν απεκριθησαν και ειπον αυτω ο πατηρ ημων αβρααμ εστιν λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους ει τεκνα του αβρααμ ητε τα εργα του αβρααμ εποιειτε αν

John 8:41 (NET)

John 8:41 (KJV)

You people are doing the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Jesus, “We were not born as a result of immorality! We have only one Father, God himself.” Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

John 8:41 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 8:41 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 8:41 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν. εἶπαν αὐτῷ· ἡμεῖς ἐκ πορνείας |οὐ γεγεννήμεθα|, ἕνα πατέρα ἔχομεν τὸν θεόν υμεις ποιειτε τα εργα του πατρος υμων ειπον ουν αυτω ημεις εκ πορνειας ου γεγεννημεθα ενα πατερα εχομεν τον θεον υμεις ποιειτε τα εργα του πατρος υμων ειπον ουν αυτω ημεις εκ πορνειας ου γεγεννημεθα ενα πατερα εχομεν τον θεον

Mark 8:34-38 (NET)

Mark 8:34-38 (KJV)

Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mark 8:34 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:34 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:34 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν ὄχλον σὺν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου |ἀκολουθεῖν|, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι και προσκαλεσαμενος τον οχλον συν τοις μαθηταις αυτου ειπεν αυτοις οστις θελει οπισω μου ελθειν απαρνησασθω εαυτον και αρατω τον σταυρον αυτου και ακολουθειτω μοι και προσκαλεσαμενος τον οχλον συν τοις μαθηταις αυτου ειπεν αυτοις οστις θελει οπισω μου ακολουθειν απαρνησασθω εαυτον και αρατω τον σταυρον αυτου και ακολουθειτω μοι
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and because of the gospel will save it. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

Mark 8:35 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:35 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:35 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν |αὐτοῦ| σῶσαι ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν |ἐμοῦ καὶ| τοῦ εὐαγγελίου σώσει αὐτήν ος γαρ αν θελη την ψυχην αυτου σωσαι απολεσει αυτην ος δ αν απολεση την ψυχην αυτου ενεκεν εμου και του ευαγγελιου ουτος σωσει αυτην ος γαρ αν θελη την ψυχην αυτου σωσαι απολεσει αυτην ος δ αν απολεση την εαυτου ψυχην ενεκεν εμου και του ευαγγελιου ουτος σωσει αυτην
For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life? For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Mark 8:36 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:36 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:36 (Byzantine Majority Text)

τί γὰρ ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον κερδῆσαι τὸν κόσμον ὅλον καὶ ζημιωθῆναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ τι γαρ ωφελησει ανθρωπον εαν κερδηση τον κοσμον ολον και ζημιωθη την ψυχην αυτου τι γαρ ωφελησει ανθρωπον εαν κερδηση τον κοσμον ολον και ζημιωθη την ψυχην αυτου
What can a person give in exchange for his life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:37 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:37 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:37 (Byzantine Majority Text)

τί γὰρ δοῖ ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ η τι δωσει ανθρωπος ανταλλαγμα της ψυχης αυτου η τι δωσει ανθρωπος ανταλλαγμα της ψυχης αυτου
For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 8:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτόν, ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων ος γαρ αν επαισχυνθη με και τους εμους λογους εν τη γενεα ταυτη τη μοιχαλιδι και αμαρτωλω και ο υιος του ανθρωπου επαισχυνθησεται αυτον οταν ελθη εν τη δοξη του πατρος αυτου μετα των αγγελων των αγιων ος γαρ εαν επαισχυνθη με και τους εμους λογους εν τη γενεα ταυτη τη μοιχαλιδι και αμαρτωλω και ο υιος του ανθρωπου επαισχυνθησεται αυτον οταν ελθη εν τη δοξη του πατρος αυτου μετα των αγγελων των αγιων

Mark 14:46-48 (NET)

Mark 14:46-48 (KJV)

Then they took hold of him and arrested him. And they laid their hands on him, and took him.

Mark 14:46 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 14:46 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 14:46 (Byzantine Majority Text)

οἱ δὲ ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῷ καὶ ἐκράτησαν αὐτόν οι δε επεβαλον επ αυτον τας χειρας αυτων και εκρατησαν αυτον οι δε επεβαλον επ αυτον τας χειρας αυτων και εκρατησαν αυτον
One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his ear. And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Mark 14:47 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 14:47 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 14:47 (Byzantine Majority Text)

εἷς δέ [τις] τῶν παρεστηκότων σπασάμενος τὴν μάχαιραν ἔπαισεν τὸν δοῦλον τοῦ ἀρχιερέως καὶ ἀφεῖλεν αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτάριον εις δε τις των παρεστηκοτων σπασαμενος την μαχαιραν επαισεν τον δουλον του αρχιερεως και αφειλεν αυτου το ωτιον εις δε τις των παρεστηκοτων σπασαμενος την μαχαιραν επαισεν τον δουλον του αρχιερεως και αφειλεν αυτου το ωτιον
Jesus said to them, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?

Mark 14:48 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 14:48 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 14:48 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ὡς ἐπὶ λῃστὴν ἐξήλθατε μετὰ μαχαιρῶν καὶ ξύλων συλλαβεῖν με και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις ως επι ληστην εξηλθετε μετα μαχαιρων και ξυλων συλλαβειν με και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις ως επι ληστην εξηλθετε μετα μαχαιρων και ξυλων συλλαβειν με

Luke 22:49 (NET)

Luke 22:49 (KJV)

When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we use our swords?” When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

Luke 22:49 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 22:49 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 22:49 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν τὸ ἐσόμενον εἶπαν· κύριε, εἰ πατάξομεν ἐν μαχαίρῃ ιδοντες δε οι περι αυτον το εσομενον ειπον αυτω κυριε ει παταξομεν εν μαχαιρα ιδοντες δε οι περι αυτον το εσομενον ειπον αυτω κυριε ει παταξομεν εν μαχαιρα

Luke 22:52 (NET)

Luke 22:52 (KJV)

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders who had come out to get him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs like you would against an outlaw? Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

Luke 22:52 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 22:52 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 22:52 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Εἶπεν δὲ Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τοὺς παραγενομένους ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ στρατηγοὺς τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ πρεσβυτέρους· ὡς ἐπὶ λῃστὴν ἐξήλθατε μετὰ μαχαιρῶν καὶ ξύλων ειπεν δε ο ιησους προς τους παραγενομενους επ αυτον αρχιερεις και στρατηγους του ιερου και πρεσβυτερους ως επι ληστην εξεληλυθατε μετα μαχαιρων και ξυλων ειπεν δε ο ιησους προς τους παραγενομενους επ αυτον αρχιερεις και στρατηγους του ιερου και πρεσβυτερους ως επι ληστην εξεληλυθατε μετα μαχαιρων και ξυλων

1 John 8:31a (ESV)

2 John 8:31b, 32 (ESV)

6 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πολλοι (KJV: Many) at the beginning of this clause. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

7 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the plural τῶν λόγων τούτων here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular τον λογον (KJV: this saying).

8 John 8:31a (ESV)

9 John 8:32 (ESV)

10 John 17:3b (ESV)

11 John 14:6 (ESV)

12 Galatians 5:1b (EXP1) Table

13 John 8:31a (ESV)

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

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

16 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἠκούσατε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο εωρακατε (KJV: which ye have seen).

18 John 8:31a (ESV)

19 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ εἶπαν preceding him (KJV: unto him), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και ειπον (KJV: and said).

20 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐστε here (NET: you are), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ητε (KJV: ye were).

21 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αν at the end of this clause. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

22 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπον ουν (KJV: Then said they) here, where NA28 had Εἶπαν [οὖν], and the NET parallel Greek text had simply εἶπαν.

23 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν here (not translated in the KJV). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

24 John 8:31a (ESV)

25 Ibid.

26 Ephesians 4:22b (ESV)

27 Ephesians 4:24b (ESV)

28 Romans 7:6b (ESV)

29 Romans 7:6c (ESV)

30 John 1:13b (ESV)

31 Galatians 5:1b (EXP1) Table

32 John 14:26 (ESV) Table

33 Romans 6:6 (ESV)

34 Mark 8:33b (ESV)

35 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἴ τις here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had οστις (KJV: Whosoever).

36 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀκολουθεῖν here, an infinitive form of ἀκολουθέω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ελθειν, an infinitive form of ἔρχομαι.

37 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐὰν preceding would (NET: wants; KJV: will), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αν.

39 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had αὐτοῦ following life, where the Byzantine Majority Text had εαυτου preceding it.

40 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτος (KJV: the same) preceding save. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

41 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὠφελεῖ (NET: benefit is it) here, a form of ὠφελέω in the present tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ωφελησει (KJV: shall it profit) in the future tense.

42 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κερδῆσαι here, an infinitive form of κερδαίνω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εαν κερδηση (KJV: if he shall gain) in the aorist tense and subjunctive mood.

43 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ζημιωθῆναι here, an infinitive form of ζημιόω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ζημιωθη (KJV: lose) in the subjunctive mood.

44 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had η (KJV: Or) here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γὰρ.

45 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δοῖ here, a form of δίδωμι in the 2nd aorist tense and subjunctive mood, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δωσει (KJV: shall…give) in the future tense and indicative mood.

46 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐὰν (NET: if) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αν.

48 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτων (KJV: their) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

49 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐτῷ (NET: of him) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επ αυτον (KJV: on him).

51 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐξήλθατε here, a form of ἐξέρχομαι in the aorist tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εξηλθετε (KJV: Are ye come out) in the 2nd aorist tense.

52 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἶπαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπον αυτω (KJV: said unto him).

55 John 8:31a (ESV)

56 John 8:47a (ESV)

57 Romans 9:32b (ESV) Table

Romans, Part 57

In this essay I’m looking at the aftermath of Jesus feeding five thousand plus people in the light of his assessment of the Jewish leaders (Ἰουδαῖοι, a form of Ἰουδαῖος)[1] as an answer to how the Father seeking his own is not self-seeking.  And ultimately it is a continuing part of my attempt to view—Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord[2]—as a definition of love (ἀγάπη) rather than as rules.  Matthew and Mark end this thread of their narratives focused on people who did not eat from the five loaves and two fish.

Matthew

Mark

After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.  When the people there recognized him, they sent word into all the surrounding area, and they brought all their sick to him.  They begged him if they could only touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Matthew 14:34-36 (NET)

After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored there.  As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus.  They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be.  And wherever he would go – into villages, towns, or countryside – they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Mark 6:53-56 (NET)

John grappled with the more distressing story of many who did eat from the five loaves and two fish (John 6:22-24 NET).

The next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake realized that only one small boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.  But some boats from Tiberias came to shore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.  So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”[3]

Jesus didn’t answer their question.  Instead He said to those who were part of the crowdfollowing him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick,[4] who saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, [and] began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world,”[5] who were going to come and seize him by force to make him king:[6] I tell you the solemn truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs (σημεῖα, a form of σημεῖον), but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted.[7]

They didn’t argue with Him about it.  In fact, they said something a bit later that confirms his assessment of their motives.[8]  And I’m reminded of Mark’s Gospel narrative, they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.[9]  Who and what did they believe instead of Jesus?

I’ll hazard a guess that they were afraid (ἐφοβοῦντο, a form of φοβέω) of the Jewish (Ἰουδαίους, a form of Ἰουδαῖος) religious leaders.  For the Jewish leaders (Ἰουδαῖοι, another form of Ἰουδαῖος) had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.[10]  We are disciples of Moses, the Ἰουδαῖοι said.  We know that God has spoken to Moses!  We do not know where this man comes from![11]

Jesus didn’t walk into anyone’s place of employment, interrupt him and say, Do not work for the food that disappears.  Instead, He said it to those who had spent their time, their effort and their money to follow Him not because [they] saw miraculous signs, but because [they] ate all the loaves of bread [they] wanted: Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life – the food which the Son of Man will give to you.  For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.[12]

I played the organ, and sometimes the piano, at a downtown mission the summer after I got my driver’s license.  The man who ran the mission was a nice enough guy in everyday life but an angry[13] preacher.  I felt sorry for the homeless men, sometimes a few women, sitting through that angry tirade everyday for the free meal that followed.  But as I look at it in this light, maybe they got what they paid for, indigestion.

Those who followed Jesus not because [they] saw miraculous signs, but because [they] ate all the loaves of bread [they] wanted seemed to grasp his meaning when He told them to work for the food that remains to eternal life.

What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?[14] they asked.

This is the deed God requires, Jesus answered, to believe in the one whom he sent.[15]

They understood that Jesus claimed to be the one God sent: Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you?  What will you do?[16]  Here they unmasked themselves, for they already had a sign in mind.  Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written,He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[17]  In other words, give us more free food and we’ll believe you.

I’m going to hazard another guess that what they really wanted wasn’t free food.  What they really wanted was confirmation of their own goodness and acceptability in God’s sight (Deuteronomy 28:12, 13 NET):

The Lord will open for you his good treasure house, the heavens, to give you rain for the land in its season and to bless all you do; you will lend to many nations but you will not borrow from any.  The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always end up at the top and not at the bottom, if you obey his commandments which I am urging you today to be careful to do.

Let me put this back in perspicuous form:  If you obey his commandments, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail.  If you obey his commandments, you will always end up at the top and not at the bottom.  Those who followed Jesus not because [they] saw miraculous signs, but because [they] ate all the loaves of bread [they] wanted didn’t feel like they were the head, at the top, under Roman rule.  It was a jarring, glaring, living example of denying the consequent, modus tollens, a deductively valid argument that they were not obeying the Lord’s commandments.  And it wasn’t from a lack of trying.  That needs to be clearly understood.

The Jewish Encyclopedia online defines Zealots (Hebrew, Ḳanna’im) as follows: “Zealous defenders of the Law and of the national life of the Jewish people; name of a party opposing with relentless rigor any attempt to bring Judea under the dominion of idolatrous Rome, and especially of the aggressive and fanatical war party from the time of Herod until the fall of Jerusalem and Masada. The members of this party bore also the name Sicarii, from their custom of going about with daggers (‘sicæ’) hidden beneath their cloaks, with which they would stab any one found committing a sacrilegious act or anything provoking anti-Jewish feeling.”[18]

“This unfailing ‘zeal for the Law’ became the standard of piety in the days of the Maccabean struggle against the Hellenizers. Thus it is asserted that when Mattathias slew the Jew whom he saw sacrificing to an idol, ‘he dealt zealously for the law of God, as did Phinehas[19] unto Zimri the son of Salu’; and Mattathias’ claim of descent from Phinehas implies that, like the latter, he obtained for his house the covenant of an everlasting priesthood (I Macc. ii. 24, 26, 54).”[20]

“‘Ḳanna’im’ was the name for those zealous for the honor and sanctity of the Law as well as of the sanctuary, and for this reason they at first met with the support and encouragement of the people and of the Pharisaic leaders, particularly those of the rigid school of Shammai.[21] It was only after they had been so carried away by their fanatic zeal as to become wanton destroyers of life and property throughout the land that they were denounced as heretic Galileans (Yad. iv. 8) and ‘murderers’ and that their principles were repudiated by the peace-loving Pharisees.”[22]

Jesus’ disciples were steeped in this milieu.  Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?[23]  This question was foremost in their minds moments before Jesus’ ascension.  And Jesus’ response to his faithful followers was, You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you[24]

So Jesus instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit, the source of the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control[25] that is the fulfillment of the law.[26]  Jesus was focused on the work his Father had sent Him to accomplish (Matthew 5:17-20 NET):

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.  I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them.  I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.  So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

So how did Jesus respond to those who followed Him not because [they] saw miraculous signs, but because [they] ate all the loaves of bread [they] wanted?

I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God (ἄρτος τοῦ θεοῦ) is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.[27]

Give us today our daily bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος).[28]  I wouldn’t alter the translation but it’s important to realize that as I pray this I’m asking, Give us today our daily Jesus, the fruit of his Spirit.  Sir (κύριε, a form of κύριος), give us this bread all the time,[29] those who followed Jesus not because [they] saw miraculous signs, but because [they] ate all the loaves of bread [they] wanted said.

Outwardly, they appeared to be doing right, following Jesus.  They said the right words: Sir (literally, Lord), give us this bread all the time.  The note in the NET reads: “The Greek κύριος (kurios) means both ‘Sir’ and ‘Lord.’ In this passage it is not at all clear at this point that the crowd is acknowledging Jesus as Lord. More likely this is simply a form of polite address (‘sir’).”  And I agree, for when Jesus clearly identified Himself as the ἄρτος τοῦ θεοῦ saying, I am the bread of life (ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς),[30] they began complaining about him.[31]

I am the bread of life.  The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.  But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe.  Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.  For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.  Now this is the will of the one who sent me – that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day.  For this is the will of my Father – for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.[32]

Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus (Ἰουδαῖοι, a form of Ἰουδαῖος) began complaining about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven…”[33]  The note in the NET reads: “Grk ‘Then the Jews.’ In NT usage the term ᾿Ιουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) may refer to the entire Jewish people, the residents of Jerusalem and surrounding territory, the authorities in Jerusalem, or merely those who were hostile to Jesus…Here the translation restricts the phrase to those Jews who were hostile to Jesus (cf. BDAG 479 s.v. ᾿Ιουδαῖος 2.e.β), since the ‘crowd’ mentioned in 6:22-24 was almost all Jewish (as suggested by their addressing Jesus as ‘Rabbi’ (6:25). Likewise, the designation ‘Judeans’ does not fit here because the location is Galilee rather than Judea.”

Yes, I get it.  The Jews who responded to Jesus this way were hostile or hardened.  There were other Jews who were not so hostile, who had heard and learned from the Father.[34]  But I think another important point that John and the Holy Spirit have made here is that it was “Jewishness” that began complaining about him because he said…  It was the religious mind, and the religious mind comes in many flavors, even scientific, even atheist, even Christian flavors.

Romans, Part 58

[1] John 5:16-47 (NET) Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders (Ἰουδαῖοι) began persecuting him (verse 16).

[2] Romans 12:11 (NET) Table

[3] John 6:25 (NET)

[4] John 6:2 (NET)

[5] John 6:14 (NET)

[6] John 6:15 (NET)

[7] John 6:26 (NET)

[8] John 6:31 (NET)

[9] Mark 6:52 (NET)

[10] John 9:22 (NET)

[11] John 9:28b, 29 (NET)

[12] John 6:27 (NET)

[13] James 1:20; 3:17, 18 (NET)

[14] John 6:28 (NET)

[15] John 6:29 (NET)

[16] John 6:30 (NET)

[17] John 6:31 (NET)

[18] Kaufmann KohlerZEALOTS, Jewish Encyclopedia

[19] Numbers 25 (NET)

[20] Kaufmann KohlerZEALOTS, Jewish Encyclopedia

[21] An interesting insight on Paul: Paul: At the Feet of Gamaliel?  In my zeal for God I persecuted the church (Philippians 3:6a NET).

[22] Kaufmann KohlerZEALOTS, Jewish Encyclopedia

[23] Acts 1:6 (NET) Table

[24] Acts 1:7, 8a (NET) Table

[25] Galatians 5:22, 23a (NET)

[26] Romans 13:10b (NET)

[27] John 6:32, 33 (NET)

[28] Matthew 6:11 (NET)

[29] John 6:34 (NET)

[30] John 6:35a (NET)

[31] John 6:41a (NET)

[32] John 6:35-40 (NET)

[33] John 6:41 (NET)

[34] John 6:45

Romans, Part 56

Ezekiel prophesied: For this is what the sovereign (ʼădônây,  אדני) Lord (yehôvih, יהוה) says: Look, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out.  As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will seek out my flock.   I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy, dark day.[1]  I will seek the lost and bring back the strays; I will bandage the injured and strengthen the sick, but the fat and the strong I will destroy.   I will feed them – with judgment![2]

I will save my sheep; they will no longer be prey.  I will judge between one sheep and anotherI will set one shepherd over them, and he will feed them – namely, my servant David.  He will feed them and will be their shepherd.  I, the Lord (yehôvâh,  יהוה), will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them; I, the Lord (yehôvâh,  יהוה), have spoken![3]

This is a fitting introduction to this section of the story of Jesus feeding five thousand plus people in the light of his assessment of the Jewish leaders (Ἰουδαῖοι, a form of Ἰουδαῖος)[4] as an answer to how the Father seeking his own is not self-seeking.  And ultimately it is a continuing part of my attempt to view—Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord[5]—as a definition of love (ἀγάπη) rather than as rules.

Matthew Mark Luke

John

And they said, “Should we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins and give it to them to eat?”  He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

Mark 6:37, 38a (NET)

They replied, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish – unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

Luke 9:13b (NET)

They said to him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”  “Bring them here to me,” he replied.

Matthew 14:17, 18 (NET)

When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.”

Mark 6:38b (NET)

One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “Here is a[6] boy who has[7] five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?” [Table]

John 6:8, 9 (NET)

If I accept John’s contention that— Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?”[8]—I get a slightly different picture of the situation.  I suspect that while Jesus taught and healed the people his disciples, anticipating, were on the lookout for food.  They didn’t really expect to spend two hundred silver coins, the amount Phillip assessed earlier that day: Philip replied, “Two hundred silver coins worth of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little.”[9]

Later that evening when they came to Jesus and said—This is an isolated place and the hour is already late.  Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves[10]—their compassion for the people was tinged by their perceived failure to find a sufficient supply of food.  Mark captured their astonishment when Jesus replied—You give them something to eatShould we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins [recalling Philip’s earlier assessment] and give it to them to eat?[11]

How many loaves do you have? Jesus asked.  Go and see.[12]

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?”[13]

Matthew

Mark Luke

John

Then he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass.

Matthew 14:19a (NET)

Then he directed them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties.

Mark 6:39, 40 (NET)

Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”  So they did as Jesus directed, and the people all sat down.

Luke 9:14b, 15 (NET)

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.)  So the men sat down…

John 6:10a (NET)

He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves.  He gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.  They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, twelve baskets full.

Matthew 14:19b, 20 (NET)

He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to his disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all.  They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full.

Mark 6:41-43 (NET)

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.  They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up – twelve baskets of broken pieces.

Luke 9:16, 17 (NET)

Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated.  He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted.  When they were all satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over,[14] so that nothing is wasted.”  So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten [Table].

John 6:11-13 (NET)

Not counting women and children, there were about five thousand men who ate.

Matthew 14:21 (NET)

Now there were five thousand men who ate the bread.

Mark 6:44 (NET)

(Now about five thousand men were there.)

Luke 9:14a (NET)

… about five thousand in number.

John 6:10b (NET)

I have nothing to add to this scene except the words of yehôvih (יהוה) through the prophet Ezekiel: In a good pasture I will feed them; the mountain heights of Israel will be their pasture.  There they will lie down in a lush pasture, and they will feed on rich grass on the mountains of Israel.  I myself will feed my sheep and I myself will make them lie down, declares the sovereign (ʼădônây,  אדני) Lord (yehôvih).[15]  Only John’s Gospel narrative picked up on this.

Matthew

Mark Luke

John

Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

John 6:14 (NET)

Immediately (εὐθέως) Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds [Table].

Matthew 14:22 (NET)

Immediately (εὐθὺς) Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd.

Mark 6:45 (NET)

And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.

Matthew 14:23a (NET)

After saying good-bye to them, he went to the mountain to pray.

Mark 6:46 (NET)

Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.

John 6:15 (NET)

Luke’s Gospel abandoned this particular narrative thread.

Matthew

Mark

John

When evening came, [Jesus] was there alone.  Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it.

Matthew 14:23b, 24 (NET)

When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land.  He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.

Mark 6:47, 48a (NET)

Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started to cross the lake to Capernaum.  (It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.)  By now a strong wind was blowing and the sea was getting rough.

John 6:16-18 (NET)

John’s Gospel narrative gives me the impression that Jesus’ disciples waited around for Him a bit longer than Matthew’s εὐθέως (translated, immediately NET or straightway KJV) or Mark’s εὐθὺς (translated, immediately NET or straightway KJV) led me at first to believe.  As I look at it now I think εὐθέως and εὐθὺς spoke more to Jesus’ urgency dismissing his disciples because he knew [the people who saw the miraculous sign] were going to come and seize him by force to make him king.

Matthew

Mark

John

As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea.  When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear.  But immediately (εὐθὺς) Jesus spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I.  Do not be afraid.”

Matthew 14:25-27 (NET)

As the night was ending, he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them.  When they saw him walking on the water they thought he was a ghost.  They cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified.  But immediately (εὐθὺς) he spoke to them: “Have courage!  It is I.  Do not be afraid.”

Mark 6:48b-50 (NET)

Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they caught sight of Jesus walking on the lake, approaching the boat, and they were frightened.  But he said to them, “It is I.  Do not be afraid.”

John 6:19, 20 (NET)

Only Matthew recorded what happened next.  I wonder if the tax collector’s prayer Jesus spoke[16] about was Matthew’s (also known as Levi).[17]

Matthew Mark

John

Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”  So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus [Table].  But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately (εὐθέως) Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith (ὀλιγόπιστε, a form of ὀλιγόπιστος), why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:28-31 (NET)

I have written about this before.[18]

Matthew

Mark

John

When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:32, 33 (NET)

Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished, because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6:51, 52 (NET)

Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately (εὐθέως) the boat came to the land where they had been heading.

John 6:21 (NET)

Matthew wrote, Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  Mark wrote, They were completely astonished, because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.  And John let both stand without comment.  This was curious until I stepped back into the scene.

If I crawl into the boat and look first through Matthew’s eyes as he watched Peter get out of the boat at Jesus’ command and walk on the water toward Him, it’s immaterial to me that Peter began to flounder.  Of course he did.  What was astonishing was that he stood and walked at all!  Truly, Jesus is the Son of God.

If, on the other hand, I get out of the boat with Peter (the presumed source of Mark’s Gospel narrative) and take those few tentative steps, see the wind whipping up the waves, fear and begin to sink… While it is not immaterial that Jesus reached out his hand and caught me, my focus is his question: why did you doubt?  And until the Holy Spirit was given, truly, Peter’s heart was hardened, as were the hearts of all the rest of Jesus’ disciples and all Israel (Isaiah 6 NET): it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.[19]

I’ll continue this thread in the next essay.

Romans, Part 57

[1] Ezekiel 34:11, 12 (NET)

[2] Ezekiel 34:16 (NET)

[3] Ezekiel 34:22-24 (NET)

[4] John 5:16-47 (NET) Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders (Ἰουδαῖοι) began persecuting him (verse 16).

[5] Romans 12:11 (NET) Table

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

[7] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὃς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο (KJV: which).

[8] John 6:5 (NET)

[9] John 6:7 (NET)

[10] Matthew 14:15 (NET)

[11] Mark 6:37 (NET)

[12] Mark 6:38a (NET)

[13] John 6:8, 9 (NET)

[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐπερίσσευσαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επερισσευσεν (KJV: remained over and above).

[15] Ezekiel 34:14, 15 (NET)

[16] Luke 18:9-14 (NET)

[17] Compare: Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:14-17, Luke 5:27-32 (NET)

[18] Romans, Part 17

[19] Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

The Will of God – Jesus, Part 2

Jesus fed about five thousand men (Not counting women and children)1 with five barley loaves and two fish.2  After they gathered the leftovers and filled twelve baskets,3 they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”4  This was a reference to Moses’ prophesy, 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.5

Immediately Jesus6 made the7 disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side (πέραν),8 while he dispersed the crowds.9  Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.10  Once Jesus finished praying he walked across the water, apparently intending to pass his disciples by.  But they saw him, thought he was a ghost, and were afraid.  So Jesus got into the boat with them (Mark 6:45-51).

The next day the crowds followed him across the lake.  “Rabbi, when did you get here?” they asked.  “I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus said, “you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted.  Do not work (ἐργάζεσθε, a form of ἐργάζομαι) for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life – the food which the Son of Man will give to you.  For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.”11

They asked, “What must we do (ποιῶμεν, a form of ποιέω) to accomplish (ἐργαζώμεθα, another form of ἐργάζομαι) the deeds (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) God requires?”  Jesus replied, “This is the deed (ἔργον) God requires – to believe (πιστεύητε, a form of πιστεύω) in the one whom he sent.”12  After a free lunch these same people called Jesus the prophesied prophet like Moses.  They were ready to make him king.  But when asked to believe in him, what He said about Himself? what He said about us? that we should think and do these things?—then the duplicity Jesus saw in them was revealed for all to see.

“Then what miraculous sign will you perform (ποιεῖς, another form of ποιέω), so that we may see (ἴδωμεν, a form of εἴδω) it and believe (πιστεύσωμεν, another form of πιστεύω) you?” they said.  “What will you do (ἐργάζῃ, another form of ἐργάζομαι)?”13  Obviously, feeding five thousand plus people with fives loaves and two fish wasn’t enough.  They required better proof than one free lunch if faith was on the table here.  “Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) from heaven to eat.’”14  In other words, give us unlimited free lunches and we might have something to talk about.

According to a note in the NET the people quoted Psalm 78:24 to Jesus.  It’s not a great quotation, more like a paraphrase, but here is the relevant portion of the Psalm, a Psalm of Asaph, one of David’s musicians (Psalm 78:18-32 NET).

They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.  They insulted God, saying, “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness?  Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out, streams gushed forth.  But can he also give us food?  Will he provide meat for his people?”  When the Lord heard this, he was furious.  A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel, because they did not have faith in God, and did not trust his ability to deliver them.  He gave a command to the clouds above, and opened the doors in the sky.  He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain (Septuagint: ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) of heaven.  Man ate the food of the mighty ones.  He sent them more than enough to eat.  He brought the east wind through the sky, and by his strength led forth the south wind.  He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.  He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes.  They ate until they were stuffed; he gave them what they desired.  They were not yet filled up, their food was still in their mouths, when the anger of God flared up against them.  He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.  Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.

“I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus answered, “it is not Moses who has given you the bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) from heaven [Table].  For the bread (ἄρτος) of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  “Sir, give us this bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) all the time!”15 they said.

“I am the bread (ἄρτος) of life,”16 Jesus said.  This wasn’t a difficult figure of speech.  It came from Moses, Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not.  So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna.  He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread (Septuagint: ἄρτῳ, another form of ἄρτος) alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord’s mouth.17

The one who comes to me will never go hungry, Jesus continued, and the one who believes (πιστεύων, another form of πιστεύω) in me will never be thirsty [Table].  But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe (πιστεύετε, a form of πιστεύω).  Everyone whom the Father gives (δίδωσιν, a form of δίδωμι) me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.  For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will (θέλημα) but the will (θέλημα) of the one who sent me.  Now this is the will (θέλημα) of the one who sent me – that I should not lose one person of every one he has given (δέδωκεν, another form of δίδωμι) me, but raise them all up at the last day.  For this is the will (θέλημα) of my Father – for everyone who looks (θεωρῶν, a form of θεωρέω) on the Son and believes (πιστεύων, another form of πιστεύω) in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day”18 [Table].

In my imagination I can see one person in that crowd nudge the fellow next to him and ask, “So, uh, does that mean he’s serving lunch, or not?”  The actual text reads, Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said, “I am the bread (ἄρτος) that came down from heaven.”19

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  He20 called a child, had him stand among them, and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!  Whoever then humbles21 himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”22  Then Jesus warned those who would become stumbling blocks (σκανδάλων, a form of σκάνδαλον) to one of these little ones who believe (πιστευόντων, another form of πιστεύω) in me [Table].23  But after that He affirmed his own faithfulness to the will of God with a story about a shepherd (Matthew 18:12-14 NET).

If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray?  And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing (θέλημα) that one of these little ones be lost [Table].

John began his Gospel account with this: [Jesus, the Word who was in the beginning with God, who was God]24 was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him.  He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him.  But to all who have received him – those who believe (πιστεύουσιν, another form of  πιστεύω) in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children – children not born by human parents or by human desire (θελήματος, a form of θέλημα) or a husband’s decision (θελήματος, a form of θέλημα), but by God.25

 

Addendum: January 31, 2021
As I made the tables for Psalm 78:18-32 it really struck home that neither miraculous signs nor punishment opened unregenerate eyes to see the kingdom of God: “I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus told Nicodemus, “unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God”26 [Table].  Was Jesus the only one who sang this psalm and understood that?  Did all the others, with religious minds, blame their ancestors for being unregenerate human beings and resolve to do better in their own unregenerate strength (e.g., the weakness of their flesh)?

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Psalm 78:34 (Tanakh) Psalm 78:34 (NET) Psalm 77:34 (NETS)

Psalm 77:34 (English Elpenor)

When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God. When he was killing them, they would seek him out, and they would turn to God and be early. When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.

I just assumed that they who sought him and them who were slain were two different but related groups.  Now suddenly, I’m questioning whether that assumption was contradicted by Jesus and this Psalm, which says of those who were yet living in their flesh:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Psalm 78:32 (Tanakh) Psalm 78:32 (NET) Psalm 77:32 (NETS)

Psalm 77:32 (English Elpenor)

For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things. Amidst all these things they still sinned, and they did not believe in his marvels. In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.

I’ll take a moment to at least consider the implications if they who sought him and them who were slain are one and the same (Luke 20:37, 38).

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Psalm 78:35-37 (Tanakh) Psalm 78:35-37 (NET) Psalm 77:35-37 (NETS)

Psalm 77:35-37 (English Elpenor)

And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. They remembered that God was their protector and that God Most High was their deliverer. And they remembered that God was there helper and God the Most High was their redeemer. And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. But they deceived him with their words and lied to him. And they deceived him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to him. And they deceived him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to him.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant. And their heart was not upright with him, nor were they true to his covenant. For their heart [was] not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

The first implication would be that God did his diagnostic work (διαγνωσθῇ, a form of διαγινώσκω; Table below) on both sides of the grave.  Second, being freed from sin and being raised (ἐγείρονται, a form of ἐγείρω) had no significant impact on the intrinsic weakness of human flesh.  Jesus told a teacher of Israel: 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.’27

Tables comparing Deuteronomy 18:15; Psalm 78:18; 78:19; 78:20; 78:21; 78:22; 78:23; 78:24; 78:25; 78:26; 78:27; 78:28; 78:29; 78:30; 78:31; 78:32; Deuteronomy 8:2; 8:3; Psalm 78:34; 78:35; 78:36 and 78:37 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Deuteronomy 18:15; Psalm 78:18 (77:18); 78:19 (77:19); 78:20 (77:20); 78:21 (77:21); 78:22 (77:22); 78:23 (77:23); 78:24 (77:24); 78:25 (77:25); 78:26 (77:26); 78:27 (77:27); 78:28 (77:28); 78:29 (77:29); 78:30 (77:30); 78:31 (77:31); 78:32 (77:32); Deuteronomy 8:2; 8:3; Psalm 78:34 (77:34); 78:35 (77:35); 78:36 (77:36) and 78:37 (77:37) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing John 6:9; 6:13; Matthew 14:22; 18:2 and 18:4 in the NET and KJV follow.

Deuteronomy 18:15 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 18:15 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 18:15 (NET)

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 thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet 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.

Deuteronomy 18:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 18:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

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

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 shall hear him. The Lord thy God shall raise up to thee a prophet of thy brethren, like me; him shall ye hear:

Psalm 78:18 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:18 (KJV)

Psalm 78:18 (NET)

And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.

Psalm 78:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐξεπείρασαν τὸν θεὸν ἐν ταῗς καρδίαις αὐτῶν τοῦ αἰτῆσαι βρώματα ταῗς ψυχαῗς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξεπείρασαν τὸν Θεὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, τοῦ αἰτῆσαι βρώματα ταῖς ψυχαῖς αὐτῶν

Psalm 77:18 (NETS)

Psalm 77:18 (English Elpenor)

And they tested God in their hearts by demanding food for their souls. And they tempted God in their hearts, in asking meat for [the desire of] their souls.

Psalm 78:19 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:19 (KJV)

Psalm 78:19 (NET)

Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? They insulted God, saying, “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness?

Psalm 78:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ κατελάλησαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ εἶπαν μὴ δυνήσεται ὁ θεὸς ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν ἐν ἐρήμῳ καὶ κατελάλησαν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ εἶπαν· μὴ δυνήσεται ὁ Θεὸς ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν ἐν ἐρήμῳ

Psalm 77:19 (NETS)

Psalm 77:19 (English Elpenor)

And they spoke against God and said, “Surely, God will not be able to spread a table in a wilderness? They spoke also against God, and said, Will God be able to prepare a table in the wilderness?

Psalm 78:20 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:20 (KJV)

Psalm 78:20 (NET)

Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out; streams gushed forth.  But can he also give us food?  Will he provide meat for his people?”

Psalm 78:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐπεὶ ἐπάταξεν πέτραν καὶ ἐρρύησαν ὕδατα καὶ χείμαρροι κατεκλύσθησαν μὴ καὶ ἄρτον δύναται δοῦναι ἢ ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ ἐπεὶ ἐπάταξε πέτραν καὶ ἐρρύησαν ὕδατα καὶ χείμαρροι κατεκλύσθησαν, μὴ καὶ ἄρτον δύναται δοῦναι ἢ ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ

Psalm 77:20 (NETS)

Psalm 77:20 (English Elpenor)

Even though he struck a rock and waters gushed out and wadis deluged, surely, he cannot also give bread or spread a table for his people?” Forasmuch as he smote the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people?

Psalm 78:21 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:21 (KJV)

Psalm 78:21 (NET)

Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; When the Lord heard this, he was furious.  A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel,

Psalm 78:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

διὰ τοῦτο ἤκουσεν κύριος καὶ ἀνεβάλετο καὶ πῦρ ἀνήφθη ἐν Ιακωβ καὶ ὀργὴ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸν Ισραηλ διὰ τοῦτο ἤκουσε Κύριος καὶ ἀνεβάλετο, καὶ πῦρ ἀνήφθη ἐν ᾿Ιακώβ, καὶ ὀργὴ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ,

Psalm 77:21 (NETS)

Psalm 77:21 (English Elpenor)

Therefore the Lord heard and was put out, and a fire was kindled in Iakob, and anger mounted against Israel, Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.

Psalm 78:22 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:22 (KJV)

Psalm 78:22 (NET)

Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: because they did not have faith in God and did not trust his ability to deliver them.

Psalm 78:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τῷ θεῷ οὐδὲ ἤλπισαν ἐπὶ τὸ σωτήριον αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τῷ Θεῷ οὐδὲ ἤλπισαν ἐπὶ τὸ σωτήριον αὐτοῦ

Psalm 77:22 (NETS)

Psalm 77:22 (English Elpenor)

because they had no faith in God nor did they hope in his saving power. Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.

Psalm 78:23 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:23 (KJV)

Psalm 78:23 (NET)

Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, He gave a command to the clouds above and opened the doors in the sky.

Psalm 78:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐνετείλατο νεφέλαις ὑπεράνωθεν καὶ θύρας οὐρανοῦ ἀνέῳξεν καὶ ἐνετείλατο νεφέλαις ὑπεράνωθεν καὶ θύρας οὐρανοῦ ἀνέῳξε

Psalm 77:23 (NETS)

Psalm 77:23 (English Elpenor)

And he commanded clouds above and opened heaven’s doors, Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.

Psalm 78:24 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:24 (KJV)

Psalm 78:24 (NET)

And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain of heaven.

Psalm 78:24 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔβρεξεν αὐτοῗς μαννα φαγεῗν καὶ ἄρτον οὐρανοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῗς καὶ ἔβρεξεν αὐτοῖς μάννα φαγεῖν καὶ ἄρτον οὐρανοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς

Psalm 77:24 (NETS)

Psalm 77:24 (English Elpenor)

and he rained down manna for them to eat, and heaven’s bread he gave them. and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven.

Psalm 78:25 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:25 (KJV)

Psalm 78:25 (NET)

Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full. Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full. Man ate the food of the mighty ones.  He sent them more than enough to eat.

Psalm 78:25 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἄρτον ἀγγέλων ἔφαγεν ἄνθρωπος ἐπισιτισμὸν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοῗς εἰς πλησμονήν ἄρτον ἀγγέλων ἔφαγεν ἄνθρωπος, ἐπισιτισμὸν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοῖς εἰς πλησμονήν

Psalm 77:25 (NETS)

Psalm 77:25 (English Elpenor)

Bread of angels man ate; provisions he sent them in abundance. Man ate angels’ bread; he sent them provision to the full.

Psalm 78:26 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:26 (KJV)

Psalm 78:26 (NET)

He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. He brought the east wind through the sky and by his strength led forth the south wind.

Psalm 78:26 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀπῆρεν νότον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἐπήγαγεν ἐν τῇ δυναστείᾳ αὐτοῦ λίβα ἀπῇρε Νότον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἐπήγαγεν ἐν τῇ δυνάμει αὐτοῦ Λίβα

Psalm 77:26 (NETS)

Psalm 77:26 (English Elpenor)

He removed a south wind from heaven, and he led on, by his dominance, a southwest wind, He removed the south wind from heaven; and by his might he brought in the south-west wind.

Psalm 78:27 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:27 (KJV)

Psalm 78:27 (NET)

He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.

Psalm 78:27 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔβρεξεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ὡσεὶ χοῦν σάρκας καὶ ὡσεὶ ἄμμον θαλασσῶν πετεινὰ πτερωτά καὶ ἔβρεξεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ὡσεὶ χοῦν σάρκας καὶ ὡσεὶ ἄμμον θαλασσῶν πετεινὰ πτερωτά

Psalm 77:27 (NETS)

Psalm 77:27 (English Elpenor)

and he rained upon them flesh like dust and winged birds like the sand of seas, And he rained upon them flesh like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas.

Psalm 78:28 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:28 (KJV)

Psalm 78:28 (NET)

And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes.

Psalm 78:28 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐπέπεσον εἰς μέσον τῆς παρεμβολῆς αὐτῶν κύκλῳ τῶν σκηνωμάτων αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπέπεσον ἐν μέσῳ παρεμβολῆς αὐτῶν κύκλῳ τῶν σκηνωμάτων αὐτῶν

Psalm 77:28 (NETS)

Psalm 77:28 (English Elpenor)

and they fell in the midst of their camp, all around their coverts. And they fell into the midst of their camp, round about their tents.

Psalm 78:29 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:29 (KJV)

Psalm 78:29 (NET)

So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They ate until they were beyond full; he gave them what they desired.

Psalm 78:29 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐφάγοσαν καὶ ἐνεπλήσθησαν σφόδρα καὶ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν ἤνεγκεν αὐτοῗς καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ ἐνεπλήσθησαν σφόδρα, καὶ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν ἤνεγκεν αὐτοῖς

Psalm 77:29 (NETS)

Psalm 77:29 (English Elpenor)

And they ate and were well filled, and what they craved he brought them; So they ate, and were completely filled; and he gave them their desire.

Psalm 78:30 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:30 (KJV)

Psalm 78:30 (NET)

They were not estranged from their lust.  But while their meat was yet in their mouths, They were not estranged from their lust.  But while their meat was yet in their mouths, They were not yet filled up; their food was still in their mouths

Psalm 78:30 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:30 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐκ ἐστερήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῶν ἔτι τῆς βρώσεως αὐτῶν οὔσης ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐστερήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῶν. ἔτι τῆς βρώσεως οὔσης ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν,

Psalm 77:30 (NETS)

Psalm 77:30 (English Elpenor)

they were not deprived of what they craved.  While their food was still in their mouth, They were not disappointed of their desire: [but] when their food was yet in their mouth,

Psalm 78:31 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:31 (KJV)

Psalm 78:31 (NET)

The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. when the anger of God flared up against them.  He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.

Psalm 78:31 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀνέβη ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν ἐν τοῗς πίοσιν αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς τοῦ Ισραηλ συνεπόδισεν καὶ ὀργὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀνέβη ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς, καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν ἐν τοῖς πλείοσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ συνεπόδισεν

Psalm 77:31 (NETS)

Psalm 77:31 (English Elpenor)

God’s wrath also rose against them, and he killed among their sleek ones, and the select of Israel he shackled. then the indignation of God rose up against them, and slew the fattest of them, and overthrew the choice men of Israel.

Psalm 78:32 (Tanakh)

Psalm 78:32 (KJV)

Psalm 78:32 (NET)

For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.

Psalm 78:32 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 77:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐν πᾶσιν τούτοις ἥμαρτον ἔτι καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τοῗς θαυμασίοις αὐτοῦ ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις ἥμαρτον ἔτι καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τοῖς θαυμασίοις αὐτοῦ

Psalm 77:32 (NETS)

Psalm 77:32 (English Elpenor)

Amidst all these things they still sinned, and they did not believe in his marvels. In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.

Deuteronomy 8:2 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 8:2 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 8:2 (NET)

And thou shalt remember all the way which HaShem thy G-d hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that He might afflict thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these 40 years through the wilderness so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not.

Deuteronomy 8:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 8:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ μνησθήσῃ πᾶσαν τὴν ὁδόν ἣν ἤγαγέν σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὅπως ἂν κακώσῃ σε καὶ ἐκπειράσῃ σε καὶ διαγνωσθῇ τὰ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου εἰ φυλάξῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἢ οὔ καὶ μνησθήσῃ πᾶσαν τὴν ὁδόν, ἣν ἤγαγέ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ὅπως ἂν κακώσῃ σε καὶ πειράσῃ σε καὶ διαγνωσθῇ τὰ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, εἰ φυλάξῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἢ οὔ

Deuteronomy 8:2 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 8:2 (English Elpenor)

And you shall remember all the way that the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness so that he might distress you in the wilderness so that he might distress you and test you and discern the things in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee in the wilderness, that he might afflict thee, and try thee, and that the things in thine heart might be made manifest, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.
Deuteronomy 8:3 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV) Deuteronomy 8:3 (NET)
And He afflicted thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every thing that proceedeth out of the mouth of HaShem doth man live. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna.  He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord’s mouth.
Deuteronomy 8:3 (Septuagint BLB) Deuteronomy 8:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐκάκωσέν σε καὶ ἐλιμαγχόνησέν σε καὶ ἐψώμισέν σε τὸ μαννα ὃ οὐκ εἴδησαν οἱ πατέρες σου ἵνα ἀναγγείλῃ σοι ὅτι οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ παντὶ ῥήματι τῷ ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος θεοῦ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἐκάκωσέ σε καὶ ἐλιμαγχόνησέ σε καὶ ἐψώμισέ σε τὸ μάννα, ὃ οὐκ ᾔδεισαν οἱ πατέρες σου, ἵνα ἀναγγείλῃ σοι, ὅτι οὐκ ἐπ᾿ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ παντὶ ῥήματι τῷ ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος Θεοῦ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος
Deuteronomy 8:3 (NETS) Deuteronomy 8:3 (English Elpenor)
And he distressed you and let you hunger and fed you with manna with which your fathers were not acquainted in order to announce to you that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that goes out through the mouth of God man shall live. And he afflicted thee and straitened thee with hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thy fathers knew not; that he might teach thee that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live.
Psalm 78:34 (Tanakh) Psalm 78:34 (KJV) Psalm 78:34 (NET)
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.
Psalm 78:34 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 77:34 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅταν ἀπέκτεννεν αὐτούς ἐξεζήτουν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπέστρεφον καὶ ὤρθριζον πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ὅταν ἀπέκτειναν αὐτούς, τότε ἐξεζήτουν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπέστρεφον καὶ ὤρθριζον πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν
Psalm 77:34 (NETS) Psalm 77:34 (English Elpenor)
When he was killing them, they would seek him out, and they would turn to God and be early. When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.
Psalm 78:35 (Tanakh) Psalm 78:35 (KJV) Psalm 78:35 (NET)
And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. They remembered that God was their protector and that God Most High was their deliverer.
Psalm 78:35 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 77:35 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ὁ θεὸς βοηθὸς αὐτῶν ἐστιν καὶ ὁ θεὸς ὁ ὕψιστος λυτρωτὴς αὐτῶν ἐστιν καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς βοηθὸς αὐτῶν ἐστι καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ῞Υψιστος λυτρωτὴς αὐτῶν ἐστι
Psalm 77:35 (NETS) Psalm 77:35 (English Elpenor)
And they remembered that God was there helper and God the Most High was their redeemer. And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.
Psalm 78:36 (Tanakh) Psalm 78:36 (KJV) Psalm 78:36 (NET)
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. But they deceived him with their words and lied to him.
Psalm 78:36 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 77:36 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἠπάτησαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῶν ἐψεύσαντο αὐτῷ καὶ ἠγάπησαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῶν ἐψεύσαντο αὐτῷ
Psalm 77:36 (NETS) Psalm 77:36 (English Elpenor)
And they deceived him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to him. Yet they loved him [only] with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
Psalm 78:37 (Tanakh) Psalm 78:37 (KJV) Psalm 78:37 (NET)
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.
Psalm 78:37 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 77:37 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῗα μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ αὐτοῦ ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῖα μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ αὐτοῦ
Psalm 77:37 (NETS) Psalm 77:37 (English Elpenor)
And their heart was not upright with him, nor were they true to his covenant. For their heart [was] not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.
John 6:9 (NET) John 6:9 (KJV)
“Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?” There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἔστιν παιδάριον ὧδε ὃς ἔχει πέντε ἄρτους κριθίνους καὶ δύο ὀψάρια· ἀλλὰ ταῦτα τί ἐστιν εἰς τοσούτους εστιν παιδαριον εν ωδε ο εχει πεντε αρτους κριθινους και δυο οψαρια αλλα ταυτα τι εστιν εις τοσουτους εστιν παιδαριον εν ωδε ο εχει πεντε αρτους κριθινους και δυο οψαρια αλλα ταυτα τι εστιν εις τοσουτους
John 6:13 (NET) John 6:13 (KJV)
So they gathered them up and filled 12 baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
συνήγαγον οὖν καὶ ἐγέμισαν δώδεκα κοφίνους κλασμάτων ἐκ τῶν πέντε ἄρτων τῶν κριθίνων ἃ ἐπερίσσευσαν τοῖς βεβρωκόσιν συνηγαγον ουν και εγεμισαν δωδεκα κοφινους κλασματων εκ των πεντε αρτων των κριθινων α επερισσευσεν τοις βεβρωκοσιν συνηγαγον ουν και εγεμισαν δωδεκα κοφινους κλασματων εκ των πεντε αρτων των κριθινων α επερισσευσεν τοις βεβρωκοσιν
Matthew 14:22 (NET) Matthew 14:22 (KJV)
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ |εὐθέως| ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς ἐμβῆναι εἰς |τὸ| πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους και ευθεως ηναγκασεν ο ιησους τους μαθητας αυτου εμβηναι εις το πλοιον και προαγειν αυτον εις το περαν εως ου απολυση τους οχλους και ευθεως ηναγκασεν ο ιησους τους μαθητας εμβηναι εις το πλοιον και προαγειν αυτον εις το περαν εως ου απολυση τους οχλους
Matthew 18:2 (NET) Matthew 18:2 (KJV)
He called a child, had him stand among them, And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος παιδίον ἔστησεν αὐτὸ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν και προσκαλεσαμενος ο ιησους παιδιον εστησεν αυτο εν μεσω αυτων και προσκαλεσαμενος ο ιησους παιδιον εστησεν αυτο εν μεσω αυτων
Matthew 18:4 (NET) Matthew 18:4 (KJV)
Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ὅστις οὖν ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὡς τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο, οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ μείζων ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν οστις ουν ταπεινωση εαυτον ως το παιδιον τουτο ουτος εστιν ο μειζων εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων οστις ουν ταπεινωσει εαυτον ως το παιδιον τουτο ουτος εστιν ο μειζων εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων

1 Matthew 14:21 (NET)

3 John 6:13 (NET)

4 John 6:14 (NET) Table

5 Deuteronomy 18:15 (NET)

7 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had αυτου (KJV: his) here.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

9 Matthew 14:22 (NET)

10 John 6:15 (NET) Table

11 John 6:25-27 (NET)

12 John 6:28, 29 (NET) Table

13 John 6:30 (NET)

14 John 6:31 (NET)

15 John 6:32-34 (NET)

16 John 6:35a (NET) Table

17 Deuteronomy 8:2, 3 (NET)

18 John 6:35b-40 (NET)

19 John 6:41 (NET)

20 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο ιησους (KJV: Jesus) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

22 Matthew 18:1-4 (NET)

25 John 1:10-13 (NET)

26 John 3:3 (NET)

27 John 3:6, 7 (NET)