The Book of Life, Part 1

Posted on April 29, 2022 by admin

If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.¹

This verse follows the one I quoted in another essay: Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.² This is the main reason I thought Death and Hades were euphemisms for “those who had died.”

If this is a prophecy of future unalterable events, then this knowledge makes the Lord’s wish…for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b) seem like sentiment. It gives me pause and another opportunity to consider my options if I stood before the judgment seat of Christ and He determined that it was best that I should be thrown into the lake of fire.

First, I believe his judgments are true and just.³ He does not judge by appearances, but…with right judgment.⁴ I can’t imagine all that might run through my mind at that moment, but one thing is certain because it is my practice: I would resolve to face the lake of fire one moment at a time in the strength of his Spirit, relying on God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.⁵

I doubt, however, that Jesus would throw his own Holy Spirit into the lake of fire. So, plan B would be to do everything in my power to cling to Him, to go wherever He is taken, at the moment the Lord withdrew his Holy Spirit. Failing that, well, frankly, I care very little for any residue of me apart from his Holy Spirit. He can dispose of it as He pleases.

None of this was of any concern to me in the beginning, after I prayed to know God. No matter what Jesus had done on the cross I knew the last mile was mine to walk alone. My salvation was ultimately in my hands. My faith differentiated me from all those who would be thrown into the lake of fire. As I wrote before, “I was still pretty cocky.”

“Whosoever will may come” seemed fair to me. It was a popular saying derived from Revelation 22:17 (KJV):

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.⁶ And let him that heareth say, Come.⁷ And let him that is athirst come.⁸ And⁹ whosoever will, let him take¹⁰ the¹¹ water of life freely.

Eternal life is available to all who will (θέλων, a form of θέλω) or want it. Those who do not want eternal life prefer the second death—the lake of fire.¹² Everyone should be smart enough to prefer eternal life to the lake of fire.

So in my early twenties my theology was little changed from that of my five-year-old self. The difference was that my twenty-something self read the Bible more than my five-year-old self. So my twenty-something self was both troubled and intrigued by Jesus’ words (John 6:44, 45 NET):

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day [Table]. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God’ [See Table below]. Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me [Table].

So Jesus taught that the Father’s drawing and teaching preceded my will, my desire, to come to Him for eternal life. Looking back at my own life I had to agree that this was true. But my hearing and my learning could still differentiate me from all those who would be thrown into the lake of fire.

There was another related stream (John 6:28, 29 NET):

So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?” Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires—to believe in the one whom he sent” [Table].

I didn’t have the NET at my disposal in my early twenties. I read the KJV or the NASB:

John 6:29 (KJV)	John 6:29 (NASB)
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.	Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

But I understood this passage as translated in the NET: that believing in Jesus was my work, the deed that would differentiate me from all those who would be thrown into the lake of fire. I heard Jesus’ response then as if He answered the question directly: What must we do (NET/Parallel Greek: τί ποιῶμεν)? Or What shall we do (KJV/Stephanus Textus Receptus: τι ποιουμεν)? Now, I assume that his answer was correcting the basic premise of the question (John 6:29b KJV/NASB):

This is the work of God (τοῦτο ἐστιν τὸ ἔργον τοῦ θεοῦ)…

I sat in the airport recently after seven very long days of work, waiting for my flight home. It was delayed four hours. Every sound everyone around me made annoyed me. I was ready to go off on someone, anyone, but the fruit of the Holy Spirit flooded into me—God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control¹³—against my will, contrary to my desire to lash out at someone.

Whether πιστεύητε (NET: believe) or πιστευσητε (KJV: ye believe) was original, both are in the subjunctive mood: “in order that you may [might] believe in the one whom he sent” is a very fair translation of ἵνα πιστεύητε [πιστευσητε] εἰς ὃν ἀπέστειλεν ἐκεῖνος once the idea that faith is my work is purged from my thinking. And as the result clause of This is the work of God it is fair to understand this as you will believe: “if the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action.”

In my twenties, though all of this was unknown to me, I did begin to hear Paul’s words as my own (Romans 7:15-25a NET):

For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate. But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me (ἡ |οἰκοῦσα| ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία) [Table]. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me (ἡ οἰκοῦσα ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία) [Table].

So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God in my inner being. But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to¹⁴ the law of sin that is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! [Table]

So it may be more accurate to describe my experience at the airport as the sin that lives in me wanted to go off on someone. For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.¹⁵ But when I’m tired and crabby, it feels like me.

I was like a wife who thinks she is too tired for sex but acquiesces to her husband’s desire anyway. After a while she begins to think to herself, “Okay, that’s not so bad.” A while later she thinks, “Yes, you can do that as long as you like.” And sometime after that she thinks, “Please, never stop doing that.”

I don’t want to carry this comparison too far. An orgasm as a sensation seems to have a definite endpoint with a hypersensitive discomfort whenever I’ve pushed through it. I’ve never actually experienced any endpoint to the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is more constant, more continuous, more eternal, if you will.

In my twenties and then through my thirties, the more I believed that the one bringing forth in [me] both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God,¹⁶ the better my behavior became. For it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.¹⁷ The more I relied on the fruit of his Spirit, the more I realized that faith, even my faithfulness (πίστις), is an aspect of his fruit.

But what does that leave me to differentiate myself from all those who will be thrown into the lake of fire? It’s one thing to say, “but for the grace of God…” It’s another thing entirely to come face-to-face with the fact that the only thing that differentiates me from all those who will be thrown into the lake of fire is God: his mercy, his patient instruction, his grace through Jesus Christ, his indwelling Spirit.

“Then who can be saved?”¹⁸ Jesus’ astonished disciples asked when He told them it was hard for those they had thought the best (at least, the blessed) among them to enter the kingdom of heaven. And here, I think Jesus answered their question directly in the context in which they had asked it (Matthew 19:26 ESV):

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man (ἀνθρώποις, a form of ἄνθρωπος; e.g., people, humankind) this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So now, it’s more difficult for me to gainsay the Lord’s wish…for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b) over some knowledge I think I have. I’ll look more seriously at the Book of Life (τῇ βίβλῳ τῆς ζωῆς) instead.

According to a note (68) in the NET Jesus quoted from Isaiah 54:13. The table below compares Jesus’ Greek to that of the Septuagint.

John 6:45 (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 54:13a (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 54:13a (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσονται πάντες διδακτοὶ θεοῦ	καὶ πάντας τοὺς υἱούς σου διδακτοὺς θεοῦ	καὶ πάντας τοὺς υἱούς σου διδακτοὺς Θεοῦ
John 6:45 (NET)	Isaiah 54:13a (NETS)	Isaiah 54:13a (English Elpenor)
And they will all be taught by God.	And I will make all your sons taught by God	And [I will cause] all thy sons [to be] taught of God

Where the passage in Isaiah had limited all (πάντας) to your sons (τοὺς υἱούς σου), Jesus expanded it to they will all (ἔσονται πάντες).

Tables comparing Isaiah 54:13 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Isaiah 54:13 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Revelation 19:2; 22:17 and Romans 7:23 in the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 54:13 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 54:13 (KJV)	Isaiah 54:13 (NET)
And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.	And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.	All your children will be followers of the Lord, and your children will enjoy great prosperity.

Isaiah 54:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 54:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ πάντας τοὺς υἱούς σου διδακτοὺς θεοῦ καὶ ἐν πολλῇ εἰρήνῃ τὰ τέκνα σου	καὶ πάντας τοὺς υἱούς σου διδακτοὺς Θεοῦ καὶ ἐν πολλῇ εἰρήνῃ τὰ τέκνα σου
Isaiah 54:13 (NETS)	Isaiah 54:13 (English Elpenor)
And I will make all your sons taught by God and your children to be in great peace.	And [I will cause] all thy sons [to be] taught of God, and thy children [to be] in great peace.

Revelation 19:2 (NET)	Revelation 19:2 (KJV)
because his judgments are true and just. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his servants poured out by her own hands!”	For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὅτι ἀληθιναὶ καὶ δίκαιαι αἱ κρίσεις αὐτοῦ· ὅτι ἔκρινεν τὴν πόρνην τὴν μεγάλην ἥτις ἔφθειρεν τὴν γῆν ἐν τῇ πορνείᾳ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐξεδίκησεν τὸ αἷμα τῶν δούλων αὐτοῦ ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτῆς	οτι αληθιναι και δικαιαι αι κρισεις αυτου οτι εκρινεν την πορνην την μεγαλην ητις εφθειρεν την γην εν τη πορνεια αυτης και εξεδικησεν το αιμα των δουλων αυτου εκ της χειρος αυτης	οτι αληθιναι και δικαιαι αι κρισεις αυτου οτι εκρινεν την πορνην την μεγαλην ητις διεφθειρεν την γην εν τη πορνεια αυτης και εξεδικησεν το αιμα των δουλων αυτου εκ της χειρος αυτης

Revelation 22:17 (NET)	Revelation 22:17 (KJV)
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say: “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.	And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ ἡ νύμφη λέγουσιν· ἔρχου. καὶ ὁ ἀκούων εἰπάτω· ἔρχου. καὶ ὁ διψῶν ἐρχέσθω, ὁ θέλων λαβέτω ὕδωρ ζωῆς δωρεάν	και το πνευμα και η νυμφη λεγουσιν ελθε και ο ακουων ειπατω ελθε και ο διψων ελθετω και ο θελων λαμβανετω το υδωρ ζωης δωρεαν	και το πνευμα και η νυμφη λεγουσιν ερχου και ο ακουων ειπατω ερχου και ο διψων ερχεσθω ο θελων λαβετω υδωρ ζωης δωρεαν

Romans 7:23 (NET)	Romans 7:23 (KJV)
But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members.	But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
βλέπω δὲ ἕτερον νόμον ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν μου ἀντιστρατευόμενον τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ νοός μου καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζοντα με \|ἐν\| τῷ νόμῳ τῆς ἁμαρτίας τῷ ὄντι ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν μου	βλεπω δε ετερον νομον εν τοις μελεσιν μου αντιστρατευομενον τω νομω του νοος μου και αιχμαλωτιζοντα με τω νομω της αμαρτιας τω οντι εν τοις μελεσιν μου	βλεπω δε ετερον νομον εν τοις μελεσιν μου αντιστρατευομενον τω νομω του νοος μου και αιχμαλωτιζοντα με εν τω νομω της αμαρτιας τω οντι εν τοις μελεσιν μου

The Book of Life, Part 2

Back to Christianity, Part 2

Back to Who Am I? Part 14

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 9

Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 7

Back to Keep Yourselves from Idols, Part 1

Back to Who Am I? Part 16

Back to Who Am I? Part 17

¹ Revelation 20:15 (NET)

² Revelation 20:14 (NET) Table

³ Revelation 19:2a (NET)

⁴ John 7:24 (ESV) Table

⁵ Galatians 5:22b, 23a (NET) Table

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἔρχου in the present tense here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ελθε in the 2^nd aorist tense.

⁷ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἔρχου in the present tense here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ελθε in the 2^nd aorist tense.

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐρχέσθω in the present tense here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ελθετω in the 2^nd aorist tense.

⁹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had και here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

¹⁰ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had λαβέτω in the 2^nd aorist tense here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had λαμβανετω in the present tense.

¹¹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article το here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

¹² Revelation 20:14b (NET) Table

¹³ Galatians 5:22b, 23a (NET) Table

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

¹⁵ Galatians 5:17 (NET) Table

¹⁶ Philippians 2:13 (NET) Table

¹⁷ Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

¹⁸ Matthew 19:25b (NET) Table

Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 3

Posted on December 8, 2013 by admin

Look, the Lord is ready to devastate the earth and leave it in ruins; he will mar its surface and scatter its inhabitants…The earth will be completely devastated and thoroughly ransacked. For the Lord has decreed this judgment.^[1]

As I understand the words this would be condemnation rather than judgment. This is an adverse sentence. The time for judgment has passed and the time of punishment has begun. There is no attempt here to distinguish, or make distinctions, or judge; for, Everyone will suffer – the priest as well as the people, the master as well as the servant, the elegant lady as well as the female attendant, the seller as well as the buyer, the borrower as well as the lender, the creditor as well as the debtor.^[2]

So, I thought, if there was a strong connection between the Hebrew word translated judgment in Isaiah 24:3 and the Greek word κρίσεως, I would have some justification for translating κρίσεως condemnation in John 5:28 and 29 where the ones who have done what is evil hear Jesus’ voice and come out of their tombs to the resurrection resulting in condemnation (κρίσεως, a form of κρίσις).^[3] But the Hebrew word dâbâr^[4] is the much more neutral word. The translators acknowledged that in a footnote: “Heb ‘for the Lord has spoken this word.’” The translators of the Septuagint simply used this, κυρίου ἐλάλησεν ταῦτα (“the Lord has spoken this”).

If I intend to walk away from my naïve assumption that “more bearable meant less condemned, a more bearable place in hell, less heat, less torture or something,” I need to come to some conclusion about what Jesus meant by ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως, translated on the day of judgment.^[5] I tell you, Jesus said, that on the day of judgment (ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως), people will give an account (λόγον, a form of λόγος)^[6] for every worthless word (πᾶν^[7] ρῆμα^[8] ἀργὸν^[9]) they speak (λαλήσουσιν, a form of λαλέω).^[10] I assume here that every worthless word they speak referred back to the Pharisees’ assertion that Jesus does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons!^[11] For Jesus said (Matthew 12:30-32 NET):

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven [Table]. Whoever speaks a word (εἴπῃ^[12] λόγον) against (κατὰ)^[13] the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against (εἴπῃ κατὰ) the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Whoever speaks a word against (εἴπῃ λόγον κατὰ) the Son of Man, seems to refer to, people will give an account (λόγον, a form of λόγος) for every worthless word (πᾶν ρῆμα ἀργὸν) they speak (λαλήσουσιν). The worthless (or, lazy) word spoken against (εἴπῃ λόγον κατὰ) Jesus is an ill-considered account (λόγον, a form of λόγος) of Jesus, contrary to his own; for instance, He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons! This can be forgiven, but be careful, Jesus warned, if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you,^[14] and whoever speaks against (εἴπῃ κατὰ) the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

I think the implication here is that one has used this account, this word against the Son of Man, as justification for disregarding Him. To that one who comes into judgment, who is called upon on the day of judgment to give an account for every worthless word he has spoken against the Son of Man, Jesus said, For by your words (λόγων, another form of λόγος) you will be justified (δικαιωθήσῃ, a form of δικαιόω),^[15] and by your words (λόγων, another form of λόγος) you will be condemned (καταδικασθήσῃ, a form of καταδικάζω).^[16]

Translating ἐκ γὰρ τῶν λόγων σου For by your words makes it seem as if Jesus meant the account already given in the past (πᾶν ρῆμα ἀργὸν, translated every worthless word), rather than the account (λόγον, a form of λόγος) this person has been called upon to give in that present moment on the day of judgment, as if that account is a mere formality. But to translate ἐκ γὰρ τῶν λόγων σου For by your [account] you will be justified, and by your [account] you will be condemned, would contradict the teaching of our religion that one’s eternal fate is determined long before any account can be given on the day of judgment. And granted, if one attempts to justify himself with more worthless words, the outcome of that judgment is foreordained, and that account will be little more than a mere formality.

The only account that matters at that moment (or this one, for that matter) is, God, be merciful (ἱλάσθητι, a form of ἱλάσκομαι)^[17] to me, sinner that I am!^[18] He had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, the writer of Hebrews said of Jesus, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement (ἱλάσκεσθαι, another form of ἱλάσκομαι) for the sins of the people.^[19] And of the one who prayed—God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am— Jesus said, I tell you that this man went down to his home justified (δεδικαιωμένος, another form of δικαιόω),^[20] because the mercy (ἱλάσθητι, a form of ἱλάσκομαι) the self-professed sinner requested was nothing less than the atonement (ἱλάσκεσθαι, another form of ἱλάσκομαι) Jesus was sent to make…for the sins of the people.

If I am safe assuming that ἐν τῇ κρίσει [a form of κρίσις], translated at the judgment, is equivalent to ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως [a form of κρίσις], translated on the day of judgment, than I can glean something of the anachronism of that time. The people of Nineveh, Jesus said, will stand up at the judgment (ἐν τῇ κρίσει) with this generation and condemn (κατακρινοῦσιν, a form of κατακρίνω)^[21] it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them – and now, something greater than Jonah is here!^[22] Here are two peoples from different times and places together in the same time and place. The queen of the South, Jesus continued, will rise up at the judgment (ἐν τῇ κρίσει) with this generation and condemn (κατακρινεῖ, another form of κατακρίνω) it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon – and now, something greater than Solomon is here!^[23]

I think it’s worth mentioning that neither the people of Ninevah nor the Queen of the South have the authority to condemn the people of Israel to hell. Nor do I think that was Jesus’ point. The discourse ends with Jesus’ saying, whoever does (ποιήσῃ, a form of ποιέω)^[24] the will (θέλημα)^[25] of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.^[26] When asked, “What must we do (ποιῶμεν, another form of ποιέω) to accomplish the deeds God requires (ἵνα ἐργαζώμεθα τὰ ἔργα τοῦ θεοῦ; literally, “that we work God’s works”)?” Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires (τοῦτο ἐστιν τὸ ἔργον τοῦ θεοῦ; literally, “this is God’s work”) – to believe in the one whom he sent.”^[27] “For this is the will (θέλημα) 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.”^[28] John related this faith to the love that is the fulfillment of the law and confidence in the day of judgment (1 John 4:15-19 NET).

If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God. And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him [Table]. By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment (ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεως), because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. We love because he loved us first.

And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message,^[29] Jesus told his disciples as He sent them to the lost sheep of the house of Israel…^[30] it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment (ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως) than for that town!^[31] Here I see a potential meaning for more bearable. Perhaps fewer people will rise up to condemn the wicked inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah than will rise up to speak their worthless words against those who saw the sick healed, the dead raised, and lepers cleansed but rejected the message, The kingdom of heaven is near!^[32]

Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 4

Back to Religious and Righteous Prayer

Back to Romans, Part 49

Back to Torture, Part 2

^[1] Isaiah 24:1, 3 (NET)

^[2] Isaiah 24:2 (NET)

^[5] Mathew 10:15 (NET)

^[7] a form of πᾶς

^[9] a form of ἀργός

^[10] Matthew 12:36 (NET)

^[11] Matthew 12:24 (NET)

^[12] a form of ῥέω

^[14] Matthew 12:28 (NET)

^[16] Matthew 12:37 (NET)

^[18] Luke 18:13 (NET)

^[19] Hebrews 2:17 (NET)

^[20] Luke 18:14a (NET)

^[22] Matthew 12:41 (NET)

^[23] Matthew 12:42 (NET)

^[26] Matthew 12:50 (NET)

^[27] John 6:28, 29 (NET)

^[28] John 6:40 (NET)

^[29] Matthew 10:14a (NET)

^[30] Matthew 10:6 (NET)

^[31] Matthew 10:15 (NET)

^[32] Matthew 10:7 (NET)

The Will of God – Jesus, Part 2

Posted on August 17, 2012 by admin

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 ἡ 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