Christianity, Part 7

There are 3 more occurrences of πάντας in Luke’s Gospel [see Table], the Greek word translated all people in: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people (πάντας, a form of πᾶς) to myself.1 First, I’ll continue to consider the implications of the occurrence in Luke 13:22-30.

When I remember that every natural person is opposed to my entrance through the narrow door into the kingdom of God, I’m less concerned about the aggressiveness of ἀγωνίζεσθε : Strive (ἀγωνίζεσθε, a form of ἀγωνίζομαι) to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door2 To enter through the narrow door requires some backbone or, more likely, the insistent drawing of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 10:7-10 ESV):

So Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door (θύρα) of the sheep. All who came before me3 are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door (θύρα). If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

In the clause Strive to enter through the narrow door,4 the Greek word translated through was διὰ. In the clause If anyone enters by me,5 the Greek word translated by (NET: through) was δι᾿. Both are followed by words in the genitive case, so I’ll ignore whatever differences I might perceive between through and by in English. My next concern is: When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door (θύραν, a form of θύρα).6

This is the end of Christianity as I understand it. Presumably, those inside the door still abide in Christ and his words abide in them7 but Christianity has no good news, nothing encouraging, to proclaim to those outside the shut door that is Jesus: Depart (πορεύεσθε, a form of πορεύομαι) from [Jesus], you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels,8 is all it has to say. But that isn’t what Jesus actually said here: Depart (ἀπόστητε, a form of ἀφίστημι) from me, all you workers of evil!9

Two different words were translated depart, and Jesus specified no destination in the latter example.10 Six of the seven occurrences of πορεύεσθε in the New Testament are accompanied by specific instructions regarding destination.11 There are only two occurrences of ἀπόστητε, but the other one has a stand-by-wait-and-see feel to it. I’ll contrast that to a typical example of πορεύεσθε in the table below:

Acts 5:17-20 (ESV)

Acts 5:33-39a (ESV)

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested12 the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the13 night an angel of the Lord opened14 the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go (πορεύεσθε, a form of πορεύομαι) and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” When they heard15 this (Acts 5:29-32), they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while [Table]. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away (ἀπόστητε, a form of ἀφίστημι) from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” [Table]

When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us’16 If I pay more attention to the mind of Christ this is not that bad a place to be when the door is Jesus (Luke 11:5-10 ESV):

And [Jesus] said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence (ἀναίδειαν, a form of ἀναίδεια) he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone (πᾶς) who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Here is another possible meaning of Jesus’ command to strive (ἀγωνίζεσθε); namely, the impudence (ἀναίδεια), “shamelessness, effrontery” and “persistence” to seek undeserved favor from a holy God. The hardened descendants of Jacob will demonstrate that impudence, “shamelessness, effrontery” and “persistence” according to Jesus’ parable (Luke 13:25b-27 ESV).

[T]hen [the master of the house] will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from’ [Table]. Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil[Table]!

It sounds ominous. But I expect this unexplained parable to resolve something like communion: By the authority of Jesus’ word bread is (ἐστιν) his body and wine is (ἐστιν) his blood when those who believe [d]o this in remembrance of [Him] to proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. This communion of faith is nothing like the cannibal/vampire fest those who abandoned Jesus imagined. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life,17 Jesus said.

In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all (πάντας, a form of πᾶς) the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.18

Focused on the fear of being cast out (ἐκβαλλομένους ἔξω), I might feel this as a bad thing. But the Lord Jesus has drawn hardened descendants of Jacob to a place where they desire the real kingdom of God rather than the imaginary kingdom they sought for themselves so many centuries earlier. (I assume here that ὄψησθε [a form of ὁράω], translated you see [ESV], is to be taken in its most concrete form [“to see (with the eyes), watch, behold, catch sight of, notice”]; and so, when you see places the resolution of this parable in some as yet future time.) Their weeping and gnashing of teeth is evidence of their desire to enter the real kingdom of God, and a hopeful sign if the door barring their entrance is Jesus: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted,19 He said.

An actual example of Jesus as a shut door follows (Matthew 15:21-25 ESV):

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying,20 “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David;21 my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged22 him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt23 before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

Notice her impudence, shamelessness, effrontery and persistence in the face of Jesus as a door that is shut to her. But also notice that impudence, shamelessness, effrontery and persistence alone is not sufficient to open the door (Matthew 15:26 ESV):

And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

I want to pause here to contrast Jesus’ words to this Canaanite woman to what Paul wrote about hardened descendants of Jacob, his kinsmen according to the flesh,24 who were not yet knocking at the door, weeping and gnashing [their] teeth, but often imprisoning, beating and seeking to kill him (Romans 9:4, 5 ESV):

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

The Canaanite woman didn’t despair at Jesus’ words but grew strong in faith and persisted (Matthew 15:27, 28 ESV):

She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Jesus perceived her faith by her words. By her words she demonstrated that she understood and agreed with Him.

When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know (οἶδα) where you come from.’25

One of the meanings of οἶδα, the Greek word translated know, is “to be able to recall.” I suppose it will be natural for the hardened descendants of Jacob to assume that the master of the house has forgotten them after so many years.

Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’26

But the master of the house will remember them perfectly:

[H]e will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!27

So, the master of the house will clarify the meaning of οἶδα for them: “I am not learning by observation” where you come from. Jesus said (Matthew 12:35-37 ESV):

The good person out of his good treasure28 brings forth good,29 and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,30 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

He spoke these words under the heading: For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.31 Will the hardened descendants of Jacob grow strong in faith and persist like the Canaanite woman? Will they understand and agree with the master of the house? He even gave them the words to say. Will they demonstrate by those words the new abundance of their changed hearts? “Lord, be merciful to me worker of evil that I am.”32

I’m more sanguine about that outcome since believing Jesus’ saying, And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.33 My Christianity won’t acknowledge that He even said it. But if one has the ears to hear, I think that hope is embedded in the words that conclude this parable (Luke 13:29, 30 ESV):

And people will come from east and west, and from34 north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.

Jesus said something similar to the chief priests and the elders of the people35 in the temple (Matthew 21:31b, 32 ESV):

Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you [Table]. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not36 afterward change your minds and believe him.

The Greek word translated before was προάγουσιν. It is a 3rd person plural form of προάγω in the indicative mood: “to lead forward, lead (someone) out, bring out; to move forward, move onward; to go before, lead the way, precede; to move ahead of; to move on to the next phase (e.g., move troops to the next battle); to induce to do; to happen before, come before.” It is an intriguing way to address those who wanted Jesus dead, his followers scattered and his words forgotten. But I’m thinking even more of that insight which brought so much hope and comfort to Paul (Romans 11:15-23 ESV):

For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? [Table] If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree [Table], do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but37 the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in” [Table]. That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud,38 but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither39 will he spare40 you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off [Table]. And even they,41 if they do not continue42 in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

And so, a parable about a door that is Jesus shut in the face of hardened descendants of Jacob sounds like an example of Jesus drawing πάντας to Himself when I believe what He said. The next two occurrences of πάντας in Luke’s Gospel follow (Luke 17:24, 26-30 ESV):

For as the lightning flashes43 and lights up the44 sky45 from one side to the other, so will the Son46 of Man be in his day…Just as it was in the days of Noah,47 so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage,48 until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all49 (πάντας, a form of πᾶς). Likewise, just as50 it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all51 (πάντας, a form of πᾶς)—so52 will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

Both occurrences of πάντας above are limited by the time and the extent of destruction, flood and fire and sulfur respectively. Here is the final occurrence in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 21:25-36 ESV):

“And there will be53 signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring54 of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation55 will not pass away56 until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.57

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come58 upon all (πάντας, a form of πᾶς) who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But59 stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength60 to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Here πάντας was limited by who dwell on the face of the whole earth at the moment they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.61 But it is limited further still: Whether [see note 60 below] praying that you may have strength (κατισχύσητε a form of κατισχύω) to escape all these things (ESV), or that ye may be accounted worthy (καταξιωθητε a form of καταξιόω) to escape all these things that shall come to pass (KJV), there is a pattern developing: [A]sk, and it will be given to you,62 Jesus promised. For everyone who asks receives63

There is another potential meaning of ἐκφυγεῖν, the Greek word translated to escape above: “to emerge (like a baby out of the womb).”64

Tables comparing the Greek of John 10:7, 8; Acts 5:18, 19; Matthew 15:22, 23; 15:25; 12:35, 36; Luke 17:24; 17:26-30; 13:29; Matthew 21:23; 21:32; Romans 11:18; 11:20, 21; 11:23; Luke 21:25; 21:33 and 21:35, 36 in the NET and KJV follow.

John 10:7, 8 (NET)

John 10:7, 8 (KJV)

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:7 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 10:7 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 10:7 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Εἶπεν οὖν πάλιν |ὁ| Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν |ὅτι| ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ θύρα τῶν προβάτων. ειπεν ουν παλιν αυτοις ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν οτι εγω ειμι η θυρα των προβατων ειπεν ουν παλιν αυτοις ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν οτι εγω ειμι η θυρα των προβατων
All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

John 10:8 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 10:8 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 10:8 (Byzantine Majority Text)

πάντες ὅσοι ἦλθον [πρὸ ἐμοῦ] κλέπται εἰσὶν καὶ λῃσταί, ἀλλ᾿ οὐκ ἤκουσαν αὐτῶν τὰ πρόβατα. παντες οσοι προ εμου ηλθον κλεπται εισιν και λησται αλλ ουκ ηκουσαν αυτων τα προβατα παντες οσοι ηλθον κλεπται εισιν και λησται αλλ ουκ ηκουσαν αυτων τα προβατα

Acts 5:18, 19 (NET)

Acts 5:18, 19 (KJV)

They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

Acts 5:18 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:18 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ ἔθεντο αὐτοὺς ἐν τηρήσει δημοσίᾳ και επεβαλον τας χειρας αυτων επι τους αποστολους και εθεντο αυτους εν τηρησει δημοσια και επεβαλον τας χειρας αυτων επι τους αποστολους και εθεντο αυτους εν τηρησει δημοσια
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

Acts 5:19 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:19 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:19 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Αγγελος δὲ κυρίου διὰ νυκτὸς |ἀνοίξας| τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς ἐξαγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἶπεν αγγελος δε κυριου δια της νυκτος ηνοιξεν τας θυρας της φυλακης εξαγαγων τε αυτους ειπεν αγγελος δε κυριου δια της νυκτος ηνοιξεν τας θυρας της φυλακης εξαγαγων τε αυτους ειπεν

Matthew 15:22, 23 (NET)

Matthew 15:22, 23 (KJV)

A Canaanite woman from that area came and cried out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is horribly demon-possessed!” And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

Matthew 15:22 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 15:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 15:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ Χαναναία ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων ἐκείνων ἐξελθοῦσα ἔκραζεν λέγουσα· ἐλέησον με, κύριε υἱὸς Δαυίδ· ἡ θυγάτηρ μου κακῶς δαιμονίζεται και ιδου γυνη χαναναια απο των οριων εκεινων εξελθουσα εκραυγασεν αυτω λεγουσα ελεησον με κυριε υιε δαβιδ η θυγατηρ μου κακως δαιμονιζεται και ιδου γυνη χαναναια απο των οριων εκεινων εξελθουσα εκραυγασεν αυτω λεγουσα ελεησον με κυριε υιε δαυιδ η θυγατηρ μου κακως δαιμονιζεται
But he did not answer her a word. Then his disciples came and begged him, “Send her away because she keeps on crying out after us.” But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

Matthew 15:23 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 15:23 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 15:23 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῇ λόγον. καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἠρώτουν αὐτὸν λέγοντες· ἀπόλυσον αὐτήν, ὅτι κράζει ὄπισθεν ἡμῶν ο δε ουκ απεκριθη αυτη λογον και προσελθοντες οι μαθηται αυτου ηρωτων αυτον λεγοντες απολυσον αυτην οτι κραζει οπισθεν ημων ο δε ουκ απεκριθη αυτη λογον και προσελθοντες οι μαθηται αυτου ηρωτων αυτον λεγοντες απολυσον αυτην οτι κραζει οπισθεν ημων

Matthew 15:25 (NET)

Matthew 15:25 (KJV)

But she came and bowed down before him and said, “Lord, help me!” Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

Matthew 15:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 15:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 15:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἡ δὲ ἐλθοῦσα προσεκύνει αὐτῷ λέγουσα· κύριε, βοήθει μοι η δε ελθουσα προσεκυνει αυτω λεγουσα κυριε βοηθει μοι η δε ελθουσα προσεκυνησεν αυτω λεγουσα κυριε βοηθει μοι

Matthew 12:35, 36 (NET)

Matthew 12:35, 36 (KJV)

The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Matthew 12:35 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 12:35 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 12:35 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ θησαυροῦ ἐκβάλλει ἀγαθά, καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ θησαυροῦ ἐκβάλλει πονηρά ο αγαθος ανθρωπος εκ του αγαθου θησαυρου της καρδιας εκβαλλει τα αγαθα και ο πονηρος ανθρωπος εκ του πονηρου θησαυρου εκβαλλει πονηρα ο αγαθος ανθρωπος εκ του αγαθου θησαυρου εκβαλλει αγαθα και ο πονηρος ανθρωπος εκ του πονηρου θησαυρου εκβαλλει πονηρα
I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Matthew 12:36 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 12:36 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 12:36 (Byzantine Majority Text)

λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶν ρῆμα ἀργὸν ὃ λαλήσουσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἀποδώσουσιν περὶ αὐτοῦ λόγον ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως λεγω δε υμιν οτι παν ρημα αργον ο εαν λαλησωσιν οι ανθρωποι αποδωσουσιν περι αυτου λογον εν ημερα κρισεως λεγω δε υμιν οτι παν ρημα αργον ο εαν λαλησωσιν οι ανθρωποι αποδωσουσιν περι αυτου λογον εν ημερα κρισεως

Luke 17:24 (NET)

Luke 17:24 (KJV)

For just like the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

Luke 17:24 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 17:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 17:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὥσπερ γὰρ ἡ ἀστραπὴ ἀστράπτουσα ἐκ τῆς ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανὸν εἰς τὴν ὑπ᾿ οὐρανὸν λάμπει, οὕτως ἔσται ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου [ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ αὐτοῦ] ωσπερ γαρ η αστραπη η αστραπτουσα εκ της υπ ουρανον εις την υπ ουρανον λαμπει ουτως εσται και ο υιος του ανθρωπου εν τη ημερα αυτου ωσπερ γαρ η αστραπη η αστραπτουσα εκ της υπ ουρανον εις την υπ ουρανον λαμπει ουτως εσται ο υιος του ανθρωπου εν τη ημερα αυτου

Luke 17:26-30 (NET)

Luke 17:26-30 (KJV)

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Luke 17:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 17:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 17:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ καθὼς ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Νῶε, οὕτως ἔσται καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου και καθως εγενετο εν ταις ημεραις του νωε ουτως εσται και εν ταις ημεραις του υιου του ανθρωπου και καθως εγενετο εν ταις ημεραις νωε ουτως εσται και εν ταις ημεραις του υιου του ανθρωπου
People were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage—right up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Luke 17:27 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 17:27 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 17:27 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἤσθιον, ἔπινον, ἐγάμουν, ἐγαμίζοντο, ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας εἰσῆλθεν Νῶε εἰς τὴν κιβωτὸν καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ κατακλυσμὸς καὶ ἀπώλεσεν πάντας ησθιον επινον εγαμουν εξεγαμιζοντο αχρι ης ημερας εισηλθεν νωε εις την κιβωτον και ηλθεν ο κατακλυσμος και απωλεσεν απαντας ησθιον επινον εγαμουν εξεγαμιζοντο αχρι ης ημερας εισηλθεν νωε εις την κιβωτον και ηλθεν ο κατακλυσμος και απωλεσεν απαντας
Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot, people were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

Luke 17:28 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 17:28 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 17:28 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁμοίως καθὼς ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Λώτ· ἤσθιον, ἔπινον, ἠγόραζον, ἐπώλουν, ἐφύτευον, ᾠκοδόμουν ομοιως και ως εγενετο εν ταις ημεραις λωτ ησθιον επινον ηγοραζον επωλουν εφυτευον ωκοδομουν ομοιως και ως εγενετο εν ταις ημεραις λωτ ησθιον επινον ηγοραζον επωλουν εφυτευον ωκοδομουν
but on the day Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Luke 17:29 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 17:29 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 17:29 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ᾗ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ ἐξῆλθεν Λὼτ ἀπὸ Σοδόμων, ἔβρεξεν πῦρ καὶ θεῖον ἀπ᾿ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἀπώλεσεν πάντας η δε ημερα εξηλθεν λωτ απο σοδομων εβρεξεν πυρ και θειον απ ουρανου και απωλεσεν απαντας η δε ημερα εξηλθεν λωτ απο σοδομων εβρεξεν πυρ και θειον απ ουρανου και απωλεσεν απαντας
It will be the same on the day the Son of Man is revealed. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Luke 17:30 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 17:30 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 17:30 (Byzantine Majority Text)

κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ ἔσται ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀποκαλύπτεται κατα ταυτα εσται η ημερα ο υιος του ανθρωπου αποκαλυπτεται κατα ταυτα εσται η ημερα ο υιος του ανθρωπου αποκαλυπτεται

Luke 13:29 (NET)

Luke 13:29 (KJV)

Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

Luke 13:29 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 13:29 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 13:29 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἥξουσιν ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν καὶ δυσμῶν καὶ ἀπὸ βορρᾶ καὶ νότου καὶ ἀνακλιθήσονται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ και ηξουσιν απο ανατολων και δυσμων και απο βορρα και νοτου και ανακλιθησονται εν τη βασιλεια του θεου και ηξουσιν απο ανατολων και δυσμων και βορρα και νοτου και ανακλιθησονται εν τη βασιλεια του θεου

Matthew 21:23 (NET)

Matthew 21:23 (KJV)

Now after Jesus entered the temple courts, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

Matthew 21:23 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 21:23 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 21:23 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἐλθόντος αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ διδάσκοντι οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ λέγοντες· ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιεῖς; καὶ τίς σοι ἔδωκεν τὴν ἐξουσίαν ταύτην και ελθοντι αυτω εις το ιερον προσηλθον αυτω διδασκοντι οι αρχιερεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι του λαου λεγοντες εν ποια εξουσια ταυτα ποιεις και τις σοι εδωκεν την εξουσιαν ταυτην και ελθοντι αυτω εις το ιερον προσηλθον αυτω διδασκοντι οι αρχιερεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι του λαου λεγοντες εν ποια εξουσια ταυτα ποιεις και τις σοι εδωκεν την εξουσιαν ταυτην

Matthew 21:32 (NET)

Matthew 21:32 (KJV)

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Matthew 21:32 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 21:32 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 21:32 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἦλθεν γὰρ Ἰωάννης πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης, καὶ οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ, οἱ δὲ τελῶναι καὶ αἱ πόρναι ἐπίστευσαν αὐτῷ· ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰδόντες οὐδὲ μετεμελήθητε ὕστερον τοῦ πιστεῦσαι αὐτῷ ηλθεν γαρ προς υμας ιωαννης εν οδω δικαιοσυνης και ουκ επιστευσατε αυτω οι δε τελωναι και αι πορναι επιστευσαν αυτω υμεις δε ιδοντες ου μετεμεληθητε υστερον του πιστευσαι αυτω ηλθεν γαρ προς υμας ιωαννης εν οδω δικαιοσυνης και ουκ επιστευσατε αυτω οι δε τελωναι και αι πορναι επιστευσαν αυτω υμεις δε ιδοντες ου μετεμεληθητε υστερον του πιστευσαι αυτω

Romans 11:18 (NET)

Romans 11:18 (KJV)

do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Romans 11:18 (NET Parallel Greek)

Romans 11:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Romans 11:18 (Byzantine Majority Text)

μὴ κατακαυχῶ τῶν κλάδων· εἰ δὲ κατακαυχᾶσαι οὐ σὺ τὴν ρίζαν βαστάζεις ἀλλὰ ἡ ρίζα σέ μη κατακαυχω των κλαδων ει δε κατακαυχασαι ου συ την ριζαν βασταζεις αλλ η ριζα σε μη κατακαυχω των κλαδων ει δε κατακαυχασαι ου συ την ριζαν βασταζεις αλλ η ριζα σε

Romans 11:20, 21 (NET)

Romans 11:20, 21 (KJV)

Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Romans 11:20 (NET Parallel Greek)

Romans 11:20 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Romans 11:20 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καλῶς· τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἐξεκλάσθησαν, σὺ δὲ τῇ πίστει ἕστηκας. μὴ ὑψηλὰ φρόνει ἀλλὰ φοβοῦ καλως τη απιστια εξεκλασθησαν συ δε τη πιστει εστηκας μη υψηλοφρονει αλλα φοβου καλως τη απιστια εξεκλασθησαν συ δε τη πιστει εστηκας μη υψηλοφρονει αλλα φοβου
For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Romans 11:21 (NET Parallel Greek)

Romans 11:21 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Romans 11:21 (Byzantine Majority Text)

εἰ γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τῶν κατὰ φύσιν κλάδων οὐκ ἐφείσατο, [μή πως] οὐδὲ σοῦ φείσεται ει γαρ ο θεος των κατα φυσιν κλαδων ουκ εφεισατο μηπως ουδε σου φεισηται ει γαρ ο θεος των κατα φυσιν κλαδων ουκ εφεισατο μηπως ουδε σου φεισεται

Romans 11:23 (NET)

Romans 11:23 (KJV)

And even they—if they do not continue in their unbelief—will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

Romans 11:23 (NET Parallel Greek)

Romans 11:23 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Romans 11:23 (Byzantine Majority Text)

κακεῖνοι δέ, ἐὰν μὴ ἐπιμένωσιν τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ, ἐγκεντρισθήσονται· δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς πάλιν ἐγκεντρίσαι αὐτούς και εκεινοι δε εαν μη επιμεινωσιν τη απιστια εγκεντρισθησονται δυνατος γαρ εστιν ο θεος παλιν εγκεντρισαι αυτους και εκεινοι δε εαν μη επιμεινωσιν τη απιστια εγκεντρισθησονται δυνατος γαρ ο θεος εστιν παλιν εγκεντρισαι αυτους

Luke 21:25 (NET)

Luke 21:25 (KJV)

“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Luke 21:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 21:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 21:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἔσονται σημεῖα ἐν ἡλίῳ καὶ σελήνῃ καὶ ἄστροις, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς συνοχὴ ἐθνῶν ἐν ἀπορίᾳ ἤχους θαλάσσης καὶ σάλου και εσται σημεια εν ηλιω και σεληνη και αστροις και επι της γης συνοχη εθνων εν απορια ηχουσης θαλασσης και σαλου και εσται σημεια εν ηλιω και σεληνη και αστροις και επι της γης συνοχη εθνων εν απορια ηχουσης θαλασσης και σαλου

Luke 21:33 (NET)

Luke 21:33 (KJV)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Luke 21:33 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 21:33 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 21:33 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ παρελεύσονται, οἱ δὲ λόγοι μου οὐ μὴ παρελεύσονται ο ουρανος και η γη παρελευσονται οι δε λογοι μου ου μη παρελθωσιν ο ουρανος και η γη παρελευσονται οι δε λογοι μου ου μη παρελθωσιν

Luke 21:35, 36 (NET)

Luke 21:35, 36 (KJV)

For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Luke 21:35 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 21:35 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 21:35 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὡς παγίς· ἐπεισελεύσεται γὰρ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς καθημένους ἐπὶ πρόσωπον πάσης τῆς γῆς ως παγις γαρ επελευσεται επι παντας τους καθημενους επι προσωπον πασης της γης ως παγις γαρ επελευσεται επι παντας τους καθημενους επι προσωπον πασης της γης
But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Luke 21:36 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 21:36 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 21:36 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀγρυπνεῖτε δὲ ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ δεόμενοι ἵνα κατισχύσητε ἐκφυγεῖν ταῦτα πάντα τὰ μέλλοντα γίνεσθαι καὶ σταθῆναι ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου αγρυπνειτε ουν εν παντι καιρω δεομενοι ινα καταξιωθητε εκφυγειν ταυτα παντα τα μελλοντα γινεσθαι και σταθηναι εμπροσθεν του υιου του ανθρωπου αγρυπνειτε ουν εν παντι καιρω δεομενοι ινα καταξιωθητε εκφυγειν παντα τα μελλοντα γινεσθαι και σταθηναι εμπροσθεν του υιου του ανθρωπου

1 John 12:32 (ESV)

2 Luke 13:24, 25a (ESV) Table

4 Luke 13:24a (ESV) Table

5 John 10:9b (ESV)

6 Luke 13:25a (ESV) Table

8 Matthew 25:41b (ESV)

9 Luke 13:27b (ESV) Table

10 I should revisit the Christians of Matthew 7:21-23. There was a third word ἀποχωρεῖτε translated depart. And there, too, no destination was specified. Perhaps I cursed them prematurely “as the distilled sin condemned in the flesh of Christians standing on Jesus’ left.” Could He be offering the hope for repentance even On that day?

11 In the seventh (Acts 16:36), go in peace, the implied destination is wherever Paul and Silas wanted to go, and only the manner of their going was stated precisely. Paul and Silas did not comply exactly with the jailer’s request (Acts 16:37-40).

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

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

16 Luke 13:25a (ESV) Table

17 John 6:63c (ESV) Table

18 Luke 13:28 (ESV)

19 Matthew 5:4 (ESV)

20 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἔκραζεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκραυγασεν αυτω (KJV: and cried unto him).

22 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἠρώτουν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηρωτων (KJV: and besought).

24 Romans 9:3b (ESV) Table

25 Luke 13:25 (ESV) Table

26 Luke 13:26 (ESV)

27 Luke 13:27 (ESV) Table

28 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had της καρδιας (KJV: of the heart) following treasury (KJV: treasure). The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

29 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article τα preceding good things. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

31 Matthew 12:34 (ESV)

33 John 12:32 (ESV)

34 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had ἀπὸ preceding north (KJV: the north). The Byzantine Majority Text did not.

35 Matthew 21:23a (ESV)

39 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had μή πως here in brackets, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μηπως (KJV: lestalso). The ESV translators seem to have ignored μή πως or μηπως entirely.

40 It seems important to point out that Paul used φείσεται here, a singular form of φείδομαι in the future tense and indicative mood. I take the singular to mean that Paul addressed Gentile believers as a collective rather than as individuals.

43 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article η (KJV: that) preceding flashes (KJV: lighteneth). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

45 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τῆς ὑπὸ preceding the sky (KJV: heaven), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had της υπ (KJV: under).

46 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had και (KJV: also) preceding the Son. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

47 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article του preceding Noah (KJV: Noe). The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

48 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐγαμίζοντο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εξεγαμιζοντο (KJV: they were given in marriage).

50 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καθὼς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και ως (KJV: also as).

53 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the plural verb ἔσονται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular verb εσται (KJV: there shall be).

54 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had a plural masculine/neuter noun ἤχους here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had a singular participle ηχουσης of the verb ἠχέω.

55 I understand this generation ( γενεὰ αὕτη) as the generation Jesus spoke about, though it is understandable if those who heard Him thought He meant their generation. Another option is that γενεὰ should be understood as the human race, though I’m not sure why that was necessary to state. Of course, I’m not facing the traumatic events described here yet either.

57 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had παρελεύσονται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παρελθωσιν (KJV: shallpass away). This, too, is the “Subjunctive of Emphatic Negation” in Greek: οὐ μὴ παρελεύσονται is the future tense in the indicative mood; οὐ μὴ παρελθωσιν is the aorist tense in the subjunctive mood.

59 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δὲ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: therefore).

60 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κατισχύσητε (a form of κατισχύω) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καταξιωθητε (a form of καταξιόω; KJV: ye may be accounted worthy).

61 Luke 21:27b (ESV)

62 Luke 11:9b (ESV)

63 Luke 11:10a (ESV)

64 This is from the definition of ἐκφεύγω in the Koine Greek Lexicon online.

Christianity, Part 6

There are 3 more occurrences of πάντας in Luke’s Gospel [see Table], the Greek word translated all people in: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people (πάντας, a form of πᾶς) to myself.1 But I’ve been waylaid by the occurrence in Luke 13:22-30.

In another essay I commented on the aggressive, if not violent, language of striving against the many seeking to enter a narrow door that might close at any moment: Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door2 It sounds a lot like what the Zealots actually did to foment the events that led to the massacre of 70 AD.

This language may not have affected those seeking a Messiah to lead them to overthrow the Roman superpower quite the way it affects me. Seeking an alternative explanation, however, I latch onto Jesus’ general theme of the difficulty of entering the kingdom of God (Mark 10:24 ESV [Table]):

And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!

The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τους πεποιθοτας επι τοις χρημασιν (KJV: for them that trust in riches) following how difficult it is (πῶς δύσκολον ἐστιν). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 didn’t limit this difficulty in any way. In other words, the editors of both the NA27 and NA28 have consistently concluded that τους πεποιθοτας επι τοις χρημασιν was a late addition to the original text. That doesn’t say anything about NA29 if other manuscripts are discovered or different strategies for organizing them chronologically are in vogue.

It seems worthwhile, however, to consider how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus spoke to descendants of Jacob, if not of Israel: “But3 woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” Jesus said, “For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.”4 If I can equate the kingdom of heaven here with the kingdom of God, the leaders of Israel at the time Jesus spoke these words made it difficult for people to follow Him into the kingdom: the Pharisees went out and conspired against [Jesus], how to destroy him.5

So how did events play out at Jesus’ arrest when Peter took the parable about entering the narrow door most literally and behaved the most like a Zealot?

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 (δέδωκεν, a form of δίδωμι) me?” [Table]6 And [Jesus] touched [Malchus’]7 ear and healed him.8

I don’t mean to suggest that Peter was consciously striving to enter through the narrow door9 when he struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.10 I assume that he reacted more instinctively out of affection for Jesus. I’m only saying that Peter’s action seems to align with the parable about entering the narrow door when I take the words (especially the Greek words) at face value.

The words most likely ringing in Peter’s ears at that moment were spoken earlier that evening (Luke 22:35-38 ESV):

And [Jesus] said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag11 or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said,12 “Nothing.”13 He said14 to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag15 take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell16 his cloak and buy17 one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment” [Table]. And they said,18 “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

So, Jesus’ disciples had two swords and Peter carried one of them. It is not merely difficult but potentially dangerous [John 18:8, 9] to interpret Jesus’ words without the mind of Christ: The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly19 to him, Paul wrote, and he is not able (δύναται, a form of δύναμαι) to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.20 And Jesus said, That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again (ἄνωθεν; NET: from above).21 In other words, You must be born of the Spirit.

Not only leaders and peers oppose one’s entrance through the narrow door into the kingdom of God, every natural born person opposes his or her own entrance therein. Strive to enter through the narrow door no longer seems so overstated, once I realize that all the world (including myself as I was born of my human parents) is opposed to me doing so.

I want to consider a completely different example of Jesus’ words (John 6:53-60 ESV):

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink [Table].

Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live22 because of me. This is the bread that came down from23 heaven, not like the bread24 the25 fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live26 forever.”

Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.27 When many of his disciples heard it, they said,28 “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” [Table]

The Greek word translated hard here was σκληρός, but this reaction to these particular words is perhaps the most on-the-nose example of how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God.29 The Greek word translated difficult was δύσκολον, a form of δύσκολος. The definition from “HELPS Word-studies” on Bible Hub reads:

dýskolos (an adjective, derived from 1418 /dys-, “difficult” and kolon, “food”) – properly, difficult (problematic) to digest; (figuratively) disagreeable, like when food “doesn’t go down well.” It is used only in Mk 10:24.

After this many30 of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life31 (i.e., to knowthe only true God, and Jesus Christ whom [He has] sent32) [Table]…

If I assume that those disciples who no longer walked with Jesus were drawn to Him by the free food, free healthcare, the novelty of his teaching or the excitement of the crowd, and that those who remained were drawn by the Father to the words of eternal life, I see Jesus enforcing his saying, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws (ἑλκύσῃ, a form of ἑλκύω) him.33 And [Jesus] said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted (δεδομένον, a form of δίδωμι) him by the34 Father.”35 Jesus’ equation of ἑλκύω and δίδωμι is a powerful indicator of the Father’s role in anyone who receives Jesus as Savior.

But the main reason I chose this parable is the explanation which resolves this hard saying:

Matthew 26:26-28 (ESV)

Mark 14:22-24 (ESV)

Luke 22:19, 20 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV)

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you,
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread,36 and after blessing37 it broke it and gave38 it to the disciples, and39 said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins [Table]. And as they were eating, he40 took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take;41 this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many [Table]. And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread [Table], and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said,42 “This is my body which is for you.43 Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as44 you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as45 you eat this bread and drink the46 cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until47 he comes.48

In hindsight it seems ridiculous to have abandoned Jesus over this, even if one was drawn only by the free food, free healthcare, the novelty of his teaching or the excitement of the crowd. But it is an opportune moment to recall why Jesus spoke in parables (Matthew 13:10-15 ESV):

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” [Table]

And [Jesus] answered them, “To you it has been given (δέδοται, a form of δίδωμι) to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given (δέδοται, a form of δίδωμι). For to the one who has, more will be given (δοθήσεται, a form of δίδωμι), and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them’ [Table].

Paul addressed this hardening: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.49 Concerned that the church in Ephesus might lose heart50 over what [he was] suffering for [them],51 he bowed his knees before the Father52that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being [Table], so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth [Table], and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.53

This strength (ἐξισχύσητε, a form of ἐξισχύω) or ability to comprehend both knowledge and the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge seems more like the strength or ability the many [who] will seek to enter and will not be able54 (ἰσχύσουσιν, a form of ἰσχύω) lack. Jesus said (Luke 11:9-13 ESV):

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone (πᾶς) who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

What father among55 you, if his son asks for56 a fish, will instead of57 a fish give him a serpent; or if58 he asks for59 an egg, will give60 him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give (δώσει, a form of δίδωμι) the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

I’ll pick this up in another essay. According to a note (23) in the NET, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 6:9, 10. The table below compares the Greek of Matthew 13:14 to Isaiah 6:9 in the Septuagint.

Matthew 13:14b (NET Parallel Greek Text) Table

Isaiah 6:9b (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 6:9b (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε, καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε

Matthew 13:14b (NET)

Isaiah 6:9b (NETS)

Isaiah 6:9b (English Elpenor)

You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend. ‘You will listen by listening, but you will not understand, and looking you will look, but you will not perceive’. Ye shall hear indeed, but ye shall not understand; and ye shall see indeed, but ye shall not perceive.

The table below compares the Greek of Matthew 13:15 to Isaiah 6:10 in the Septuagint.

Matthew 13:15 (NET Parallel Greek Text) Table

Isaiah 6:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 6:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν, μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου καὶ τοῗς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῗς ὀφθαλμοῗς καὶ τοῗς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσι τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσι καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσι, καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσι, καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς

Matthew 13:15 (NET)

Isaiah 6:10 (NETS)

Isaiah 6:10 (English Elpenor)

For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ For this people’s heart has grown fat, and with their ears they have heard heavily, and they have shut their eyes so that they might not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn–and I would heal them.” For the heart of this people has become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Tables comparing Isaiah 6:9 and 6:10 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Isaiah 6:9 and 6:10 in the BLB and Elpenor versions of the Septuagint with the English translations from Hebrew and Greek, and tables comparing the Greek of Matthew 23:13; Luke 22:51; 22:35, 36; 22:38; John 6:57-59; 6:66; 6:65; Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; Ephesians 3:13 and Luke 11:11, 12 in the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 6:9 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 6:9 (KJV)

Isaiah 6:9 (NET)

And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. He said, “Go and tell these people: “‘Listen continually, but don’t understand. Look continually, but don’t perceive.’

Isaiah 6:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 6:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν πορεύθητι καὶ εἰπὸν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε καὶ εἶπε· πορεύθητι καὶ εἰπὸν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ· ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε

Isaiah 6:9 (NETS)

Isaiah 6:9 (English Elpenor)

And he said, “Go, and say to this people: ‘You will listen by listening, but you will not understand, and looking you will look, but you will not perceive’. And he said, Go, and say to this people, Ye shall hear indeed, but ye shall not understand; and ye shall see indeed, but ye shall not perceive.

Isaiah 6:10 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 6:10 (KJV)

Isaiah 6:10 (NET)

Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Make the hearts of these people calloused; make their ears deaf and their eyes blind. Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.”

Isaiah 6:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 6:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου καὶ τοῗς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῗς ὀφθαλμοῗς καὶ τοῗς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσι τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσι καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσι, καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσι, καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς

Isaiah 6:10 (NETS)

Isaiah 6:10 (English Elpenor)

For this people’s heart has grown fat, and with their ears they have heard heavily, and they have shut their eyes so that they might not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn–and I would heal them.” For the heart of this people has become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Matthew 23:13 (NET)

Matthew 23:13 (KJV)

“But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Matthew 23:13 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 23:14 (Stepanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 23:13 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Οὐαὶ δὲ ὑμῖν, γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί, ὅτι κλείετε τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων· ὑμεῖς γὰρ οὐκ εἰσέρχεσθε οὐδὲ τοὺς εἰσερχομένους ἀφίετε εἰσελθεῖν ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι κλειετε την βασιλειαν των ουρανων εμπροσθεν των ανθρωπων υμεις γαρ ουκ εισερχεσθε ουδε τους εισερχομενους αφιετε εισελθειν ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι κλειετε την βασιλειαν των ουρανων εμπροσθεν των ανθρωπων υμεις γαρ ουκ εισερχεσθε ουδε τους εισερχομενους αφιετε εισελθειν

Luke 22:51 (NET)

Luke 22:51 (KJV)

But Jesus said, “Enough of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Luke 22:51 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 22:51 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 22:51 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ |ὁ| Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν· ἐᾶτε ἕως τούτου· καὶ ἁψάμενος τοῦ ὠτίου ἰάσατο αὐτόν αποκριθεις δε ο ιησους ειπεν εατε εως τουτου και αψαμενος του ωτιου αυτου ιασατο αυτον οαποκριθεις δε ο ιησους ειπεν εατε εως τουτου και αψαμενος του ωτιου αυτου ιασατο αυτον

Luke 22:35, 36 (NET)

Luke 22:35, 36 (KJV)

Then Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out with no money bag, or traveler’s bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?” They replied, “Nothing.” And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Luke 22:35 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 22:35 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 22:35 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ὅτε ἀπέστειλα ὑμᾶς ἄτερ βαλλαντίου καὶ πήρας καὶ ὑποδημάτων, μή τινος ὑστερήσατε; οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· οὐθενός και ειπεν αυτοις οτε απεστειλα υμας ατερ βαλαντιου και πηρας και υποδηματων μη τινος υστερησατε οι δε ειπον ουδενος και ειπεν αυτοις οτε απεστειλα υμας ατερ βαλαντιου και πηρας και υποδηματων μη τινος υστερησατε οι δε ειπον ουθενος
He said to them, “But now, the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Luke 22:36 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 22:36 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 22:36 (Byzantine Majority Text)

εἶπεν δὲ αὐτοῖς· ἀλλὰ νῦν ὁ ἔχων βαλλάντιον ἀράτω, ὁμοίως καὶ πήραν, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἔχων πωλησάτω τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀγορασάτω μάχαιραν ειπεν ουν αυτοις αλλα νυν ο εχων βαλαντιον αρατω ομοιως και πηραν και ο μη εχων πωλησατω το ιματιον αυτου και αγορασατω μαχαιραν ειπεν ουν αυτοις αλλα νυν ο εχων βαλαντιον αρατω ομοιως και πηραν και ο μη εχων πωλησει το ιματιον αυτου και αγορασει μαχαιραν

Luke 22:38 (NET)

Luke 22:38 (KJV)

So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” Then he told them, “It is enough.” And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

Luke 22:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 22:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 22:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)

οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· κύριε, ἰδοὺ μάχαιραι ὧδε δύο. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἱκανόν ἐστιν οι δε ειπον κυριε ιδου μαχαιραι ωδε δυο ο δε ειπεν αυτοις ικανον εστιν οι δε ειπον κυριε ιδου μαχαιραι ωδε δυο ο δε ειπεν αυτοις ικανον εστιν

John 6:57-59 (NET)

John 6:57-59 (KJV)

Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so the one who consumes me will live because of me. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

John 6:57 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 6:57 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 6:57 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καθὼς ἀπέστειλεν με ὁ ζῶν πατὴρ καγὼ ζῶ διὰ τὸν πατέρα, καὶ ὁ τρώγων με κακεῖνος ζήσει δι᾿ ἐμέ καθως απεστειλεν με ο ζων πατηρ καγω ζω δια τον πατερα και ο τρωγων με κακεινος ζησεται δι εμε καθως απεστειλεν με ο ζων πατηρ καγω ζω δια τον πατερα και ο τρωγων με κακεινος ζησεται δι εμε
This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread your ancestors ate, but then later died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.” This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

John 6:58 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 6:58 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 6:58 (Byzantine Majority Text)

οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ ἄρτος ὁ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, οὐ καθὼς ἔφαγον οἱ πατέρες καὶ ἀπέθανον· ὁ τρώγων τοῦτον τὸν ἄρτον ζήσει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ουτος εστιν ο αρτος ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας ου καθως εφαγον οι πατερες υμων το μαννα και απεθανον ο τρωγων τουτον τον αρτον ζησεται εις τον αιωνα ουτος εστιν ο αρτος ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας ου καθως εφαγον οι πατερες υμων το μαννα και απεθανον ο τρωγων τουτον τον αρτον ζησεται εις τον αιωνα
Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

John 6:59 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 6:59 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 6:59 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ταῦτα εἶπεν ἐν συναγωγῇ διδάσκων ἐν Καφαρναούμ ταυτα ειπεν εν συναγωγη διδασκων εν καπερναουμ ταυτα ειπεν εν συναγωγη διδασκων εν καπερναουμ

John 6:66 (NET)

John 6:66 (KJV)

After this many of his disciples quit following him and did not accompany him any longer. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

John 6:66 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 6:66 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 6:66 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἐκ τούτου πολλοὶ [ἐκ] τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ οὐκέτι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ περιεπάτουν εκ τουτου πολλοι απηλθον των μαθητων αυτου εις τα οπισω και ουκετι μετ αυτου περιεπατουν εκ τουτου πολλοι απηλθον των μαθητων αυτου εις τα οπισω και ουκετι μετ αυτου περιεπατουν

John 6:65 (NET)

John 6:65 (KJV)

So Jesus added, “Because of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come.” And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

John 6:65 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 6:65 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 6:65 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἔλεγεν· διὰ τοῦτο εἴρηκα ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς δύναται ἐλθεῖν πρός με ἐὰν μὴ ᾖ δεδομένον αὐτῷ ἐκ τοῦ πατρός και ελεγεν δια τουτο ειρηκα υμιν οτι ουδεις δυναται ελθειν προς με εαν μη η δεδομενον αυτω εκ του πατρος μου και ελεγεν δια τουτο ειρηκα υμιν οτι ουδεις δυναται ελθειν προς με εαν μη η δεδομενον αυτω εκ του πατρος μου

Matthew 26:26 (NET)

Matthew 26:26 (KJV)

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Matthew 26:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 26:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 26:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἐσθιόντων δὲ αὐτῶν λαβὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἄρτον καὶ εὐλογήσας ἔκλασεν καὶ δοὺς τοῖς μαθηταῖς εἶπεν· λάβετε φάγετε, τοῦτο ἐστιν τὸ σῶμα μου εσθιοντων δε αυτων λαβων ο ιησους τον αρτον και ευλογησας εκλασεν και εδιδου τοις μαθηταις και ειπεν λαβετε φαγετε τουτο εστιν το σωμα μου εσθιοντων δε αυτων λαβων ο ιησους τον αρτον και ευχαριστησας εκλασεν και εδιδου τοις μαθηταις και ειπεν λαβετε φαγετε τουτο εστιν το σωμα μου

Mark 14:22 (NET)

Mark 14:22 (KJV)

While they were eating, he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it. This is my body.” And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Mark 14:22 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 14:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 14:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἐσθιόντων αὐτῶν λαβὼν ἄρτον εὐλογήσας ἔκλασεν καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς καὶ εἶπεν· λάβετε, τοῦτο ἐστιν τὸ σῶμα μου και εσθιοντων αυτων λαβων ο ιησους αρτον ευλογησας εκλασεν και εδωκεν αυτοις και ειπεν λαβετε φαγετε τουτο εστιν το σωμα μου και εσθιοντων αυτων λαβων ο ιησους αρτον ευλογησας εκλασεν και εδωκεν αυτοις και ειπεν λαβετε φαγετε τουτο εστιν το σωμα μου

1 Corinthians 11:24-26 (NET)

1 Corinthians 11:24-26 (KJV)

and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:24 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Corinthians 11:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Corinthians 11:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ εὐχαριστήσας ἔκλασεν καὶ εἶπεν· τοῦτο μού ἐστιν τὸ σῶμα τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν· τοῦτο ποιεῖτε εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἀνάμνησιν και ευχαριστησας εκλασεν και ειπεν λαβετε φαγετε τουτο μου εστιν το σωμα το υπερ υμων κλωμενον τουτο ποιειτε εις την εμην αναμνησιν και ευχαριστησας εκλασεν και ειπεν λαβετε φαγετε τουτο μου εστιν το σωμα το υπερ υμων κλωμενον τουτο ποιειτε εις την εμην αναμνησιν
In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.” After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Corinthians 11:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Corinthians 11:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὡσαύτως καὶ τὸ ποτήριον μετὰ τὸ δειπνῆσαι λέγων· τοῦτο τὸ ποτήριον ἡ καινὴ διαθήκη ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ αἵματι· τοῦτο ποιεῖτε, ὁσάκις ἐὰν πίνητε, εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἀνάμνησιν ωσαυτως και το ποτηριον μετα το δειπνησαι λεγων τουτο το ποτηριον η καινη διαθηκη εστιν εν τω εμω αιματι τουτο ποιειτε οσακις αν πινητε εις την εμην αναμνησιν ωσαυτως και το ποτηριον μετα το δειπνησαι λεγων τουτο το ποτηριον η καινη διαθηκη εστιν εν τω εμω αιματι τουτο ποιειτε οσακις αν πινητε εις την εμην αναμνησιν
For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Corinthians 11:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Corinthians 11:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁσάκις γὰρ ἐὰν ἐσθίητε τὸν ἄρτον τοῦτον καὶ τὸ ποτήριον πίνητε, τὸν θάνατον τοῦ κυρίου καταγγέλλετε ἄχρι οὗ ἔλθῃ οσακις γαρ αν εσθιητε τον αρτον τουτον και το ποτηριον τουτο πινητε τον θανατον του κυριου καταγγελλετε αχρις ου αν ελθη οσακις γαρ αν εσθιητε τον αρτον τουτον και το ποτηριον τουτο πινητε τον θανατον του κυριου καταγγελλετε αχρις ου αν ελθη

Ephesians 3:13 (NET)

Ephesians 3:13 (KJV)

For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Ephesians 3:13 (NET Parallel Greek)

Ephesians 3:13 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Ephesians 3:13 (Byzantine Majority Text)

διὸ αἰτοῦμαι μὴ ἐγκακεῖν ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσιν μου ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν δόξα ὑμῶν διο αιτουμαι μη εκκακειν εν ταις θλιψεσιν μου υπερ υμων ητις εστιν δοξα υμων διο αιτουμαι μη εκκακειν εν ταις θλιψεσιν μου υπερ υμων ητις εστιν δοξα υμων

Luke 11:11, 12 (NET)

Luke 11:11, 12 (KJV)

What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

Luke 11:11 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 11:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 11:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)

τίνα δὲ ἐξ ὑμῶν τὸν πατέρα αἰτήσει ὁ υἱὸς ἰχθύν, |καὶ| ἀντὶ ἰχθύος ὄφιν αὐτῷ ἐπιδώσει τινα δε υμων τον πατερα αιτησει ο υιος αρτον μη λιθον επιδωσει αυτω ει και ιχθυν μη αντι ιχθυος οφιν επιδωσει αυτω τινα δε υμων τον πατερα αιτησει ο υιος αρτον μη λιθον επιδωσει αυτω η και ιχθυν μη αντι ιχθυος οφιν επιδωσει αυτω
Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

Luke 11:12 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 11:12 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 11:12 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἢ καὶ αἰτήσει ᾠόν, ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ σκορπίον η και εαν αιτηση ωον μη επιδωσει αυτω σκορπιον η και εαν αιτηση ωον μη επιδωσει αυτω σκορπιον

1 John 12:32 (ESV)

2 Luke 13:24, 25a (ESV) Table

4 Matthew 23:13 (ESV)

5 Matthew 12:14 (ESV)

6 John 18:10, 11 (ESV)

8 Luke 22:51b (ESV)

9 Luke 13:24a (ESV) Table

10 John 18:10b (ESV) Table

11 In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 moneybag (KJV: purse) was spelled βαλλαντίου, and βαλαντιου in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

14 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the conjunction δὲ (not translated in the NET) following said, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: Then).

15 In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 moneybag (KJV: purse) was spelled βαλλαντίου, and βαλαντιου in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

20 1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

21 John 3:6, 7 (ESV)

22 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ζήσει in the active voice here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ζησεται (KJV: shall live) in the middle voice.

24 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had το μαννα (KJV: manna) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

25 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υμων (KJV: your) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

26 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ζήσει in the active voice here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ζησεται (KJV: shall live) in the middle voice.

29 Mark 10:24b (ESV) Table

30 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐκ following many. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

31 John 6:66-68 (ESV)

32 John 17:3 (ESV)

33 John 6:44a (ESV) Table

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

35 John 6:65 (ESV)

36 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τον preceding bread. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

41 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had φαγετε (KJV: eat) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

42 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λαβετε φαγετε (KJV: Take, eat) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

43 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κλωμενον (KJV: broken) following you. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

46 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τουτο (KJV: this) following cup. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

47 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἄχρι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αχρις (KJV: till).

48 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αν preceding comes (KJV: come). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

49 Romans 11:25b (ESV) Table

50 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐγκακεῖν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκκακειν (KJV: that ye faint).

51 Ephesians 3:13b (ESV)

52 Ephesians 3:14b (ESV) Table

53 Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV)

54 Luke 13:24b (ESV) Table

56 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had αρτον μη λιθον επιδωσει αυτω ει (KJV: breadwill he give him a stoneif he ask) here. The Byzantine Majority Text had all of that except for having η at the end rather than ει. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

57 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μη preceding instead of (KJV: for). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

59 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αἰτήσει here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αιτηση (KJV: he shall ask).

60 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μη preceding will give (KJV: will he offer). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 6

I failed to come to a definitive conclusion whether the ones who have done what is evil (φαῦλα, a form of φαῦλος)[1] come out of their tombs to the resurrection resulting in[2] condemnation or judgment[3] (κρίσεως, a form of κρίσις).  My faith and my knowledge of God persuade me that judgment is the correct translation, but I can see how another’s faith and knowledge might lean toward condemnation (Mark 16:14-16 NET).

Then [Jesus] appeared to the eleven themselves, while they were eating, and he rebuked them for their unbelief (ἀπιστίαν, a form of ἀπιστία)[4] and hardness of heart, because they did not believe (ἐπίστευσαν, a form of πιστεύω)[5] those who had seen him resurrected.  He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  The one who believes (πιστεύσας, another form of πιστεύω) and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe (ἀπιστήσας, a form of ἀπιστέω)[6] will be condemned (κατακριθήσεται, a form of κατακρίνω).[7]

Here, the one who does not believe will be condemned, clearly, without question.  Is it wrong then to assume that John meant the same thing, but chose a less specific word to express it, and then correct or clarify his meaning in translation?  I’m not sure that I can say that it is.  I can only say that my experience with God has taught me to pay more attention to the words as written.

So who is He?  Is He an angry God who barely restrains Himself from torturing sinners?  Peter wrote, The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient (μακροθυμεῖ, a form of μακροθυμέω)[8] toward you, because he does not wish (βουλόμενος, a form of βούλομαι)[9] for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (μετάνοιαν, a form of μετάνοια).[10]  That sounds reasonable since God is love (ἀγάπη),[11] and Love (ἀγάπη) is patient (μακροθυμεῖ, a form of μακροθυμέω).[12]  And, He by no means leaves the guilty unpunished.[13]

So what do I mean as I pray daily, may your will (θέλημα)[14] be done (γενηθήτω, a form of γίνομαι; literally, become)[15] on earth as it is in heaven[16]?  Am I praying for the equitable distribution of punishment for sin according to the law?  Or am I praying that God will satisfy the desire of his heart for all to come to repentance?  I think I’m praying for the latter, but I can’t say that He didn’t reveal Himself to Jonathan Edwards as an angry God who tortures sinners.  I’m saying that it would be disingenuous to assert that He has revealed Himself like that to me.

So what about his salvation?  Is it a judgment (κρίσις), a separating of the righteous from sinners?  Or does it express the Lord’s desire to populate the earth with people who will forgive[17] the sins of others and love their enemies,[18] by his grace, filled with his love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and ἐγκράτεια,[19] demonstrating not their own righteousness but his, enjoying what they do, filled with his joy and peace?  Again, I think the latter is nearer the truth, but again, that is based entirely on my faith and my knowledge of God, as He has revealed Himself to me.  Clearly, I’m trying to know Someone whose deeds are superior to [my] deeds and [whose] plans [are] superior to [my] plans.[20]

The original question ended: “I hope the whole point is God’s going to save everybody!  Am I nuts???”  No, I don’t think there is anything “nuts” about that hope.  In fact, I know the questioner enough to know that this is the sincere hope of a gentle heart.  I also know she was born into a religion in which most people believe that Jesus answered, “Yes,” to the question, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”[21]  But Jesus actually said, “Exert (ἀγωνίζεσθε; a form of ἀγωνίζομαι)[22] every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”[23] 

A form of ἀγωνίζομαι was translated fighting (John 18:36 NET), exercise (1 Corinthians 9:25 NET), struggling (Colossians 1:29; 4:12 NET), struggle (1 Timothy 4:10 NET), compete (1 Timothy 6:12 NET) and competed (2 Timothy 4:7 NET).  Returning to the marriage analogy of Romans 7, trying to bear fruit alone is futile, seeking another than the One who was raised from the dead[24] is sinful, and lying there passively is no fun for anyone.  Exercise, compete, struggle, fight, bearing fruit is important enough to do badly until one learns to do it right.

Two things here: First, though it may seem like a non sequitur[25] to go directly to spiritual fruit from the word saved, most people who believe that Jesus answered yes to this question, believe it primarily because it confirms their observations that the fruit of salvation is lacking in many or most people around them.  And secondly, though it may sound like I’m reversing my position here, I have exercised, competed, struggled and fought to bear fruit, compelled by a God-given hunger and thirst for righteousness[26] and empowered by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.[27]

These essays are often about how wrongheaded I’ve been in that exercise, competition, struggling and fighting.  But if those mistakes were necessary to get from there to here, I would make them all again.  If it is possible for someone to avoid some of my mistakes by reading about them, praise the Lord!  If my writing discourages one from pursuing Christ and his righteousness, I apologize from the bottom of my heart!  If my writing encourages one to wait passively rather than to pursue Christ and his righteousness, stop reading my writing and get to work making as many of your own mistakes as soon as possible!

My dear Gentle Heart, though you have been harried and harassed by those who would make your heart harder, [you] have competed (ἠγώνισμαι, another form of ἀγωνίζομαι) well…[you] have kept the faith![28]  And though you haven’t budged in all these years, I want to consider at least the possibility of changing religions, to join with those who believe in universal salvation.  The problem isn’t finding both the hope and promise of universal salvation in Scripture.  The problem is what to make of all the “hell talk[29] in the Bible if universal salvation is true.

I found a website[30] that does a fairly effective job of eliminating “hell talk” from the Bible.  I admit I didn’t read every word, just enough to grasp the basic assumptions: 1) αἰώνιος[31] does not mean eternal[32] but a dispensational age[33]; 2) the book of Revelation was written before 70 A.D. so most of it refers to the fall of Jerusalem; and 3) punishment is not simply consequential but effectual in purging or purifying sin.

The benefits of believing that αἰώνιος does not mean eternal are obvious.  If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.[34]  The Greek τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον wouldn’t mean eternal fire but “fire for a dispensational age.”  The meaning isn’t altered much.  It would still be better to enter life crippled or lame than to spend a dispensational age in fire.  This one, since the fall of Jerusalem, is approaching two thousand years.

In, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!’”[35] εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον wouldn’t mean into the eternal fire but “into the fire of a dispensational age.”  The Greek εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον wouldn’t mean into eternal punishment in, “And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”[36]  But then, would εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον mean into eternal life?  Here the potential cost of this assumption begins to come into focus.  What becomes of Jesus’ words to Nicodemus if αἰώνιον means “a dispensational age” (John 3:14-16 NET)?

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον).”  For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον).

I’ve placed a table of the benefits and potential costs of this assumption at the end of this essay.

The assumption that Revelation was written before 70 A.D. is not mine, but is also one I don’t know how to argue.  Jesus certainly spoke before 70 A.D. and He certainly prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem.  Those prophecies confirmed Him as a prophet to be feared.[37]  Richard Wayne Garganta[38] wrote:[39]

“Christ was…referring to the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the elimination of the entire Jewish system in 70 AD – the end of the age…at the end of the Jewish age when severe judgments were to come, the angels or messengers to execute God’s judgments would separate Christians from others.  The bad were to suffer in the furnace of fire which was the burning city of Jerusalem.  The evil were also to perish in Gehenna [γεέννῃ].[40]  Gehenna in many Bibles is wrongly interpreted ‘hell’.  Gehenna was the garbage dump, the incinerator outside Jerusalem where the ‘fire was never quenched and the worm didn’t die.’  This was because garbage and the bodies of criminals were thrown there to be burned.  This is exactly what happened during the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.”

But does that mean that Jesus only prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem?  Consider his warning to his disciples that religious people would defame them and accuse them of evil, just as they accused Him of being Beelzebul.[41]  Do not be afraid of them, He counseled, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed.[42]  For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God,[43] Paul wrote the Romans.  Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul (ψυχὴν),[44] Jesus continued, speaking of those religious defamers from verse 25 and perhaps expanding his comments to others as well.  Instead, He continued, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul (ψυχὴν) and body in hell (γεέννῃ).[45]

If I limit the meaning of γεέννῃ here to “the garbage dump, the incinerator outside Jerusalem,” who was Jesus telling his disciples to fear?  Roman soldiers? because the cremation of a corpse is able to destroy both soul and body?  Was He reassuring them about their value above many sparrows, that the Father’s will protected their corpses from cremation?  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul (ψυχὴν)[46] by being cremated after his death?  And what about immolation?  Again it seems to me that eliminating hell from the equation is a potentially costly enterprise.

I can’t say for certain whether αἰώνιος means eternal or a dispensational age only.  I can only say I don’t want to stand before Jesus pretending that I can.  I don’t know whether Revelation was written before 70 A.D. or not.  I only know that I won’t stand before Jesus and tell Him to his face that He could not mean that γεέννῃ is a place of κόλασιν αἰώνιον (Hebrews 4:13 NET):

…no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

None of this is to say anything against Richard Wayne Garganta.  I don’t doubt his sincerity, only mine if I were to follow him.  At this moment in my journey, my faith and my knowledge of God don’t correspond exactly with his (though I appreciate the effort he has put into sharing them).  I’ll consider what I perceive as his third assumption in the next essay.

What follows is the table of benefits and potential costs if αἰώνιος means a dispensational age only.

αἰώνιος

Benefit

Potential Cost

Would ζωὴ αἰώνιος…

John 12:50; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:20 (NET)

…mean eternal life?
Would αἰώνιος ζωὴ…

John 17:3 (NET)

…mean eternal life?

 

αἰώνιον, a form of αἰώνιος

Benefit

Potential Cost

τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον…

Matthew 18:8 (NET)

…would not mean eternal fire Would ζωὴν αἰώνιον…

Matthew 19:16; Luke 18:30; John 3:15, 16, 36; 4:36; 5:24, 39; 6:27, 40, 47, 54; 10:28; 12:25; 17:2; Acts 13:48; Romans 2:7; 5:21; 6:22; Galatians 6:8; 1 John 3:15; Jude 1:21 (NET)

…mean eternal life?
εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον…

Matthew 25:41 (NET)

…would not mean into the eternal fire Would ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσει…

Matthew 19:29 (NET)

…mean will inherit eternal life?
εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον…

Matthew 25:46 (NET)

…would not mean into the eternal punishment Would εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον…

Matthew 25:46 (NET)

…mean into eternal life?
τίσουσιν ὄλεθρον αἰώνιον…

2 Thessalonians 1:9 (NET)

…would not mean the penalty of eternal destruction Would ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσω…

Mark 10:17; Luke 10:25; 18:18 (NET)

…mean inherit eternal life?
Would ἁλλομένου εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον…

John 4:14 (NET)

…mean springing up to eternal life?
Would εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον…

1 Timothy 1:16 (NET)

…mean for eternal life?
Would τὴν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον…

1 John 1:2, 2:25 (NET)

…mean the eternal life?
Would ζωὴν ἔχετε αἰώνιον…

1 John 5:13 (NET)

…mean you have eternal life?

 

αἰωνίου, a form of αἰώνιος

Benefit

Potential Cost

αἰωνίου ἁμαρτήματος…

Mark 3:29 (NET)

…would not mean an eternal sin. Would ρήματα ζωῆς αἰωνίου…

John 6:68 (NET)

…mean words of eternal life?
κρίματος αἰωνίου…

Hebrews 6:2 (NET)

…would not mean of…eternal judgment. Would αἰωνίου ζωῆς…

Acts 13:46 (NET)

…mean of eternal life?
πυρὸς αἰωνίου δίκην…

Jude 1:7 (NET)

…would not mean the punishment of eternal fire. Would τοῦ αἰωνίου θεοῦ…

Romans 16:26 (NET)

…mean of the eternal God?
Would τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς…

1 Timothy 6:12 (NET)

…mean of that eternal life?
Would ζωῆς αἰωνίου…

Titus 1:2; 3:7 (NET)

…mean of eternal life?
Would σωτηρίας αἰωνίου…

Hebrews 5:9 (NET)

…mean of eternal salvation?
Would πνεύματος αἰωνίου…

Hebrews 9:14 (NET)

…mean eternal Spirit?
Would τῆς αἰωνίου κληρονομίας…

Hebrews 9:15 (NET)

…mean the eternal inheritance?
Would διαθήκης αἰωνίου…

Hebrews 13:20 (NET)

…mean of the eternal covenant?

 

αἰωνίαν, a form of αἰώνιος

Benefit

Potential Cost

Would παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν…

2 Thessalonians 2:16 (NET)

…mean eternal comfort?
Would αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν…

Hebrews 9:12 (NET)

…mean eternal redemption?

 

αἰωνίους, a form of αἰώνιος

Benefit

Potential Cost

Would τὰς αἰωνίους σκηνάς…

Luke 16:9 (NET)

…mean the eternal homes?

Condemnation or Judgment? Part 7

Back to Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 8


7/1/16 Addendum: J. W. Hanson, in Universalism: The Prevailing Doctrine Of The Christian Church During Its First Five Hundred Years, seemed willing to accept this limitation of eternal life. Following Philo he suggested that only ἀΐδιος means eternal in the sense of everlasting, while αἰώνιος is an indefinite period of time. It this is true only God’s power and the chains of the angels who did not keep within their proper domain are everlasting.

Mr. Hanson wrote:

Philo, who was contemporary with Christ, generally used aidion to denote endless, and aionian temporary duration. He uses the exact phraseology of Matt. xxv: 46, precisely as Christ used it: “It is better not to promise than not to give prompt assistance, for no blame follows in the former case, but in the latter there is dissatisfaction from the weaker class, and a deep hatred and æonian punishment (chastisement) from such as are more powerful.” Here we have the precise terms employed by our Lord, which show that aionian did not mean endless but did mean limited duration in the time of Christ.

From III. Origin of Endless Punishment.
Philo’s Use of the Words.

[2] John 5:29b (NET)

[10] 2 Peter 3:9 (NET)

[11] 1 John 4:16 (NET) Table

[12] 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NET)

[13] Exodus 34:7b (NET)

[16] Matthew 6:10b (NET) Table

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

[20] Isaiah 55:9 (NET)

[21] Luke 13:23 (NET)

[23] Luke 13:24 (NET)

[28] 2 Timothy 4:7 (NET)

[34] Matthew 18:8 (NET)

[35] Matthew 25:41 (NET)

[36] Matthew 25:46 (NET)

[42] Matthew 10:26a (NET)

[43] Romans 8:19 (NET)

[44] Matthew 10:28a (NET)

[45] Matthew 10:28b (NET)

[46] Matthew 16:26a (NKJV)