Funeral, Part 2

This is the first Scripture reading from my mother’s funeral.  I selected passages that contained forms of ἀνίστημι to describe resurrection from the dead:

I have come down from heaven [Jesus said] not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.  Now this is the will of the one who sent me—that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up (ἀναστήσω, a form of ἀνίστημι) at the last day.  For this is the will of my Father—for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up (ἀναστήσω, a form of ἀνίστημι) at the last day.”[1]

Jesus began to teach [his disciples] that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and after three days rise again (ἀναστῆναι, another form of ἀνίστημι) [Table].  He spoke openly about this.  So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter[2] and said,[3] “Get behind me, Satan.  You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”[4]

As[5] they were coming down from[6] the mountain [after Jesus’ transfiguration], he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen (ἀναστῇ, another form of ἀνίστημι) from the dead.  They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising (ἀναστῆναι, another form of ἀνίστημι) from the dead meant.[7]

Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem,[8] and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.  For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; he will be mocked, mistreated, and spat on.  They will flog him severely and kill him.  Yet on the third day he will rise again (ἀναστήσεται, another form of ἀνίστημι).”  But the twelve understood none of these things.  This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what Jesus meant.[9]

Now on the first day of the week [after Jesus’ crucifixion], at early dawn,[10] the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared.[11]  They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but[12] when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were perplexed[13] about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire.[14] The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces[15] to the ground, but the men said[16] to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here, but[17] has been raised (ἠγέρθη, a form of ἐγείρω)!  Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again (ἀναστῆναι, another form of ἀνίστημι).”  Then the women remembered his words, and when they returned from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest….

But these[18] words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them.  But Peter got up (ἀναστὰς, another form of ἀνίστημι) and ran to the tomb.  He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth;[19] then he went home, wondering what had happened.[20]

For they did not yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise (ἀναστῆναι, another form of ἀνίστημι) from the dead.[21]

[Later Jesus appeared to them:] he said to them,[22] “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled [Table].”  Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise (ἀναστῆναι, another form of ἀνίστημι) from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  And look, I am sending you what my Father promised.  But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high [Table].[23]

I chose not to comment as my mother had written in her funeral notes, but did a second Scripture reading instead.  My mind scatters in many directions simultaneously when I speak.  Besides, my commentary was already embedded in my choice of Scriptures.

[After receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter proclaimed:] “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know—this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles [Table].  But God raised him up (ἀνέστησεν, another form of ἀνίστημι), having released him from the pains of death because it was not possible for him to be held in its power.  For David says about him,[24] I saw the Lord always in front of me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; my body also will live in hope, because you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor permit your Holy One to experience decay [Table].  You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of joy with your presence.’

“Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay [Table].  This Jesus God raised up (ἀνέστησεν, another form of ἀνίστημι), and we are all witnesses of it.  So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear.  For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,[25] ‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand [Table] until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”[26]

God raised him up (ἤγειρεν, another form ἐγείρω) on the third day [Peter proclaimed the Gospel to Gentiles] and caused him to be seen [Table], not by all the people, but by us, the witnesses God had already chosen, who ate and drank with him after he rose (ἀναστῆναι, another form of ἀνίστημι) from the dead.  He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead [Table].  About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”[27]

Paul [formerly a persecutor of those who believed Jesus] went to the Jews in the synagogue [at Thessalonica], as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed[28] them from the scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and to rise (ἀναστῆναι, another form of ἀνίστημι) from the dead, saying, “This Jesus[29] I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”[30]

The final Scripture reading was graveside:

[Paul was invited to speak at the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch]: But regarding the fact that he has raised (ἀνέστησεν, another form of ἀνίστημι) Jesus from the dead, never again to be in a state of decay, God has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David [Table].’  Therefore he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not permit your Holy One to experience decay [Table].’  For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, died, was buried with his ancestors, and experienced decay [Table], but the one whom God raised up did not experience decay.  Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you.  Watch out, then, that what is spoken about by the prophets does not happen to you: ‘Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish!  For I am doing a work in your days, a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you’” [Table].[31]

No one can come to me [Jesus said] unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I[32] will raise him up (ἀναστήσω, a form of ἀνίστημι) at[33] the last day.[34]  [I never think of this verse without recalling its companion]: And I, when I am lifted up (ὑψωθῶ, a form of ὑψόω) from the earth [Jesus said, to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to[35] die[36]] will draw all people to myself.”[37]

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose (ἀνέστη, another form of ἀνίστημι) again [Paul wrote those who believed Jesus in Thessalonica] so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep [through Jesus].  For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise (ἀναστήσονται, another form of ἀνίστημι) first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will always be with the Lord.  Therefore encourage one another with these words.[38]

 

According to a note (135) in the NET Acts 13:34b was a quotation from Isaiah 55:3.  A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows:

Acts 13:34b (NET Parallel Greek) Table

Isaiah 55:3b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Isaiah 55:3b (Septuagint Elpenor)

δώσω ὑμῖν τὰ ὅσια Δαυὶδ τὰ πιστά καὶ διαθήσομαι ὑμῗν διαθήκην αἰώνιον τὰ ὅσια Δαυιδ τὰ πιστά καὶ διαθήσομαι ὑμῖν διαθήκην αἰώνιον, τὰ ὅσια Δαυὶδ τὰ πιστά
Acts 13:34b (NET) Isaiah 55:3b (NETS) Isaiah 55:3 (English Elpenor)
I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, the sacred things of David that are sure. and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, the sure mercies of David.

According to a note (139) in the NET Acts 13:35b was a quotation from Psalm 16:10 (15:10).  A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows:

Acts 13:35b (NET Parallel Greek) Table

Psalm 16:10b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Psalm 15:10b (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ δώσεις τὸν ὅσιον σου ἰδεῖν διαφθοράν οὐδὲ δώσεις τὸν ὅσιόν σου ἰδεῗν διαφθοράν οὐδὲ δώσεις τὸν ὅσιόν σου ἰδεῖν διαφθοράν

Acts 13:35b (NET)

Psalm 15:10b (NETS)

Psalm 15:10b (English Elpenor)

You will not permit your Holy One to experience decay. or give your devout to see corruption. neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

According to a note (154) in the NET Acts 13:41 was a quotation from Habakkuk 1:5.  A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows:

Acts 13:41 (NET Parallel Greek) Table

Habakkuk 1:5 (Septuagint BLB) Table

Habakkuk 1:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἴδετε, οἱ καταφρονηταί, καὶ θαυμάσατε καὶ ἀφανίσθητε, ὅτι ἔργον ἐργάζομαι ἐγὼ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ὑμῶν, ἔργον ὃ οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε ἐάν τις ἐκδιηγῆται ὑμῖν ἴδετε οἱ καταφρονηταί καὶ ἐπιβλέψατε καὶ θαυμάσατε θαυμάσια καὶ ἀφανίσθητε διότι ἔργον ἐγὼ ἐργάζομαι ἐν ταῗς ἡμέραις ὑμῶν ὃ οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε ἐάν τις ἐκδιηγῆται ἴδετε, οἱ καταφρονηταί, καὶ ἐπιβλέψατε καὶ θαυμάσατε θαυμάσια καὶ ἀφανίσθητε, διότι ἔργον ἐγὼ ἐργάζομαι ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ὑμῶν, ὃ οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε, ἐάν τις ἐκδιηγῆται

Acts 13:41 (NET)

Habakkuk 1:5 (NETS)

Habakkuk 1:5 (English Elpenor)

Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish!  For I am doing a work in your days, a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you. Look, you despisers, and watch!  And marvel at marvelous things, and be annihilated!  For I am working a work in your days that you would not believe if someone should tell it. Behold, ye despisers, and look, and wonder marvelously, and vanish: for I work a work in your days, which ye will in no wise believe, though a man declare [it to you].

Tables comparing Mark 8:33; 9:9; Luke 18:31; 24:1; 24:3-6; 24:11, 12; Acts 17:2, 3 and John 12:33 in the NET and KJV follow.

Mark 8:33 (NET)

Mark 8:33 (KJV)

But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.  You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὁ δὲ ἐπιστραφεὶς καὶ ἰδὼν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἐπετίμησεν Πέτρῳ καὶ λέγει· ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου, σατανᾶ, ὅτι οὐ φρονεῖς τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀλλὰ τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ο δε επιστραφεις και ιδων τους μαθητας αυτου επετιμησεν τω πετρω λεγων υπαγε οπισω μου σατανα οτι ου φρονεις τα του θεου αλλα τα των ανθρωπων ο δε επιστραφεις και ιδων τους μαθητας αυτου επετιμησεν τω πετρω λεγων υπαγε οπισω μου σατανα οτι ου φρονεις τα του θεου αλλα τα των ανθρωπων

Mark 9:9 (NET)

Mark 9:9 (KJV)

As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Καὶ καταβαινόντων αὐτῶν ἐκ τοῦ ὄρους διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς ἵνα μηδενὶ ἃ εἶδον διηγήσωνται, εἰ μὴ ὅταν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῇ καταβαινοντων δε αυτων απο του ορους διεστειλατο αυτοις ινα μηδενι διηγησωνται α ειδον ει μη οταν ο υιος του ανθρωπου εκ νεκρων αναστη καταβαινοντων δε αυτων απο του ορους διεστειλατο αυτοις ινα μηδενι διηγησωνται α ειδον ει μη οταν ο υιος του ανθρωπου εκ νεκρων αναστη

Luke 18:31 (NET)

Luke 18:31 (KJV)

Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Παραλαβὼν δὲ τοὺς δώδεκα εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ, καὶ τελεσθήσεται πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα διὰ τῶν προφητῶν τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραλαβων δε τους δωδεκα ειπεν προς αυτους ιδου αναβαινομεν εις ιεροσολυμα και τελεσθησεται παντα τα γεγραμμενα δια των προφητων τω υιω του ανθρωπου παραλαβων δε τους δωδεκα ειπεν προς αυτους ιδου αναβαινομεν εις ιεροσολυμα και τελεσθησεται παντα τα γεγραμμενα δια των προφητων τω υιω του ανθρωπου

Luke 24:1 (NET)

Luke 24:1 (KJV)

Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέως ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα ἦλθον φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα τη δε μια των σαββατων ορθρου βαθεος ηλθον επι το μνημα φερουσαι α ητοιμασαν αρωματα και τινες συν αυταις τη δε μια των σαββατων ορθρου βαθεος ηλθον επι το μνημα φερουσαι α ητοιμασαν αρωματα και τινες συν αυταις

Luke 24:3-6 (NET)

Luke 24:3-6 (KJV)

but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

εἰσελθοῦσαι δὲ οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα |τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ| και εισελθουσαι ουχ ευρον το σωμα του κυριου ιησου και εισελθουσαι ουχ ευρον το σωμα του κυριου ιησου
While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἀπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθῆτι ἀστραπτούσῃ και εγενετο εν τω διαπορεισθαι αυτας περι τουτου και ιδου δυο ανδρες επεστησαν αυταις εν εσθησεσιν αστραπτουσαις και εγενετο εν τω διαπορεισθαι αυτας περι τουτου και ιδου ανδρες δυο επεστησαν αυταις εν εσθησεσιν αστραπτουσαις
The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὰ πρόσωπα εἰς τὴν γῆν εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτάς· τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν εμφοβων δε γενομενων αυτων και κλινουσων το προσωπον εις την γην ειπον προς αυτας τι ζητειτε τον ζωντα μετα των νεκρων εμφοβων δε γενομενων αυτων και κλινουσων το προσωπον εις την γην ειπον προς αυτας τι ζητειτε τον ζωντα μετα των νεκρων
He is not here, but has been raised!  Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

|οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλὰ ἠγέρθη.| μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ ουκ εστιν ωδε αλλ ηγερθη μνησθητε ως ελαλησεν υμιν ετι ων εν τη γαλιλαια ουκ εστιν ωδε αλλ ηγερθη μνησθητε ως ελαλησεν υμιν ετι ων εν τη γαλιλαια

Luke 24:11, 12 (NET)

Luke 24:11, 12 (KJV)

But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ρήματα ταῦτα, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς και εφανησαν ενωπιον αυτων ωσει ληρος τα ρηματα αυτων και ηπιστουν αυταις και εφανησαν ενωπιον αυτων ωσει ληρος τα ρηματα αυτων και ηπιστουν αυταις
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb.  He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

|Ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθεν πρὸς ἑαυτὸν θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.| ο δε πετρος αναστας εδραμεν επι το μνημειον και παρακυψας βλεπει τα οθονια κειμενα μονα και απηλθεν προς εαυτον θαυμαζων το γεγονος ο δε πετρος αναστας εδραμεν επι το μνημειον και παρακυψας βλεπει τα οθονια κειμενα μονα και απηλθεν προς εαυτον θαυμαζων το γεγονος

Acts 17:2, 3 (NET)

Acts 17:2, 3 (KJV)

Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue, as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed them from the scriptures, And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

κατὰ δὲ τὸ εἰωθὸς τῷ Παύλῳ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐπὶ σάββατα τρία διελέξατο αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν γραφῶν κατα δε το ειωθος τω παυλω εισηλθεν προς αυτους και επι σαββατα τρια διελεγετο αυτοις απο των γραφων κατα δε το ειωθος τω παυλω εισηλθεν προς αυτους και επι σαββατα τρια διελεξατο αυτοις απο των γραφων
explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying, “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

διανοίγων καὶ παρατιθέμενος ὅτι τὸν χριστὸν ἔδει παθεῖν καὶ ἀναστῆναι ἐκ νεκρῶν καὶ ὅτι οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ χριστὸς [] Ἰησοῦς ὃν ἐγὼ καταγγέλλω ὑμῖν διανοιγων και παρατιθεμενος οτι τον χριστον εδει παθειν και αναστηναι εκ νεκρων και οτι ουτος εστιν ο χριστος ιησους ον εγω καταγγελλω υμιν διανοιγων και παρατιθεμενος οτι τον χριστον εδει παθειν και αναστηναι εκ νεκρων και οτι ουτος εστιν ο χριστος ιησους ον εγω καταγγελλω υμιν

John 12:33 (NET)

John 12:33 (KJV)

(Now he said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die.) This he said, signifying what death he should die.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

τοῦτο δὲ ἔλεγεν σημαίνων ποίῳ θανάτῳ ἤμελλεν ἀποθνῄσκειν. τουτο δε ελεγεν σημαινων ποιω θανατω ημελλεν αποθνησκειν τουτο δε ελεγεν σημαινων ποιω θανατω εμελλεν αποθνησκειν

[1] John 6:38-40 (NET) Table

[2] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τω preceding Peter.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ λέγει here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεγων (KJV: saying).

[4] Mark 8:31-33 (NET)

[5] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Καὶ (not translated in the NET), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: And).

[6] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐκ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had απο.

[7] Mark 9:9, 10 (NET)

[8] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had  Ἰερουσαλήμ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιεροσολυμα.

[9] Luke 18:31-34 (NET)

[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the adverb βαθέως (not translated in the NET) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the potentially redundant adjective βαθεος (not translated in the KJV).

[11] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και τινες συν αυταις (KJV: and certain others with them) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

[13] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀπορεῖσθαι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had διαπορεισθαι (KJV: were much perplexed).

[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐσθῆτι ἀστραπτούσῃ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εσθησεσιν αστραπτουσαις (KJV: shining garments).

[15] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τὰ πρόσωπα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had το προσωπον.

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἶπαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπον.

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

[18] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ταῦτα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτων (KJV: their).

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

[20] Luke 24:1-9, 11, 12 (NET)

[21] John 20:9 (NET)

[22] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πρὸς αὐτούς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτοις (KJV: unto them).

[23] Luke 24:44-49 (NET)

[24] This quotation is discussed in detail in Peter’s First Gospel Proclamation Revisited, Part 3.

[25] There is a table comparing the Greek of Peter’s quotation with the Septuagint in Peter’s First Gospel Proclamation Revisited, Part 3.

[26] Acts 2:22-36 (NET)

[27] Acts 10:40-43 (NET)

[28] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had διελέξατο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had διελεγετο (KJV: reasoned).

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

[30] Acts 17:2, 3 (NET)

[31] Acts 13:34-41 (NET)

[32] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καγὼ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και εγω.

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

[34] John 6:44 (NET) Table

[35] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had ἤμελλεν here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had εμελλεν.

[36] John 12:33 (NET)

[37] John 12:32 (NET)

[38] 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 (NET)

Fear – Numbers, Part 3

Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, who were Reubenites, took men and rebelled against Moses, along with some of the Israelites, 250 leaders of the community, chosen from the assembly, famous men.[1]

Fear, the Hebrew word yârêʼ, doesn’t appear in the story of Korah’s rebellion.  That in itself is instructive.  Though there is plenty to be frightened of, there is no fear of the Lord here; it is difficult to find even a hint of reverence for God.  The rebels confronted Moses and Aaron and said, “You take too much upon yourselves, seeing that the whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them.  Why then do you exalt yourselves above the community of the Lord?”[2]

Accusing Moses of exalting himself above the community of the Lord was hitting below the belt.  He was the most reluctant Messiah: “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”[3] he had said.  Then he had caviled, “If I go to the Israelites and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ – what should I say to them?”[4]  He had fretted, “And if they do not believe me or pay attention to me, but say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you’?”[5]  He had made excuses, “O my Lord, I am not an eloquent man, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”[6]  He had all but refused to serve, angering[7] the Lord in the process, “O my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!”[8]

He had wholeheartedly admitted that he was burdened excessively, beyond [his] strength, so that [he] despaired even of living:[9] I am not able to bear this entire people alone, Moses had cried out to the Lord, because it is too heavy for me!  But if you are going to deal with me like this, then kill me immediately.  If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble.[10]  And his most profound hope was that all Israel would know the Lord and be holy in fact: “Are you jealous for me?” he had said when Joshua was offended because Eldad and Medad had prophesied in the camp.[11]  “I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”[12]

With his body Moses fell down with his face to the ground[13] when he heard the rebels’ accusation, but I wonder about his heart (Numbers 16:5-7 NET).

Then he said to Korah and to all his company, “In the morning the Lord will make known who are his, and who is holy.  He will cause that person to approach him; the person he has chosen he will cause to approach him.  Do this, Korah, you and all your company: Take censers, put fire in them, and set incense on them before the Lord tomorrow, and the man whom the Lord chooses will be holy.  You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!”

I’ll be the first to admit that it doesn’t pay to be too subtle with Moses’ matter-of-fact writing style,[14] but the brute fact of goading Korah and his accomplices into presenting strange fire before the Lord[15] sounds like sarcasm to me.  Moses spoke to Korah and the sons of Levi, but he summoned[16] Dathan and Abiram as a prince would summon unruly subjects.  They refused his summons and said, Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of the land that flows with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness?  Now do you want to make yourself a prince over us?  Moreover, you have not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards.  Do you think you can blind [continue to deceive] these men?[17]

It was another low blow.  It hadn’t been that long since Moses had interceded[18] for Dathan and Abiram, when the Lord wanted to strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them[19] after they had refused to enter the promised land because they feared the people living there rather than the Lord.  Reading the Bible in faith I am privy to the secret communication between the Lord and Moses that Dathan and Abiram heard about only through Moses.  Granted, they had rejected the privilege of hearing from the Lord when they said to Moses, “You speak to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak with us, lest we die.”[20]  Still, I want to consider the truth of Dathan’s and Abiram’s accusations, both literal and perceptual.

Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of the land that flows with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness?  Yes, Moses had led them out of Egypt, and, yes, they were going to die in the wilderness (Numbers 14:28-30a):

As I live, says the Lord, I will surely do to you just what you have spoken in my hearing.  Your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness – all those of you who were numbered, according to your full number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me.  You will by no means enter into the land where I swore to settle you.

Now do you want to make yourself a prince over us?  Moses had summoned them as a prince.

Moreover, you have not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards.  True, under Moses’ tenure as leader Dathan and Abiram would not inherit fields and vineyards in the promised land.  Their children might have: But I will bring in your little ones, whom you said would become victims of war, and they will enjoy the land that you have despised,[21] the Lord promised.  Dathan and Abiram, however, would die in the wilderness.

Do you think you can blind [continue to deceive] these men?  Slavery in Egypt didn’t seem so bad any longer.  But here they were wrong.  Moses had not deceived anyone.  Dathan and Abiram added up all the facts they perceived but came to the wrong sum.  How do I know?  Through faith, the very faith Dathan and Abiram did not have, though they saw with their eyes, and lived through, the circumstances I can only read about.

Moses was very angry[22]  Perhaps I should accept his anger as righteous indignation and let it go at that.  I certainly have in the past.  I would be willing to do so again, if not for the Scripture the Holy Spirit brings to my mind: Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters!  Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.  For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.[23]  Have no respect for their offering! Moses “interceded” with the Lord.  I have not taken so much as one donkey from them [no one accused him of stealing anything], nor have I harmed any one of them![24]

Let me say before I go any farther down this road, that apart from the Spirit of God raising the dead, I would have folded long before this if I were under Moses’ pressures.  But I do wonder here if Moses was concerned with justifying the Lord or himself.  And I probably ask the question because I’ve spent so much of my time and energy trying to justify myself.  Be that as it may, I can’t help but wonder if I am staring at the terminal moraine, if you will, of the most humble man in the world.[25]  Is this the foreshadowing of what would become explicit at the waters of Meribah?[26]

I am foreshadowing for those who know the story and will be explicit for any who do not.  Even Moses could not enter the promised land.  “Then who can be saved?”[27] Jesus’ astonished disciples exclaimed on a different subject.  But I think his answer still applies: “This is impossible for mere humans, but not for God; all things are possible for God.”[28]  And don’t fret too much for Moses.  He came back in the sequel (Luke 9:28-31 NET).

…Jesus took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up the mountain to pray.  As he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white.  Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with him.  They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem.

This followed Jesus’ promise, I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming (ἐρχόμενον, a form of ἔρχομαι) in his kingdom,[29] as Matthew recalled it.  The definition of ἔρχομαι in the NET lists “to appear, make one’s appearance…come forth, show itself” and “become known” as possible meanings.  These make some sense of Mark’s Gospel account (which I assume was Peter’s recollections), there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come (ἐληλυθυῖαν, another form of ἔρχομαι) with power.[30]  The vision[31] (ὅραμα) of not just one but three glorified sons of man was overwhelming to Peter in its power (Luke 9:32, 33 NET).

Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy, but as they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.  Then as the men were starting to leave, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here.  Let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah” – not knowing what he was saying.

For they were afraid (ἔκφοβοι, a form of ἔκφοβος) Mark wrote, and he did not know what to say.[32]  But God, the Father, made sure there was no confusion in the matter (Luke 9:34, 35 NET).

As [Peter] was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid (ἐφοβήθησαν, a form of φοβέω) as they entered the cloud.  Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One.  Listen to him!”

It’s a beautiful picture of the kingdom of God.  And the hope of, not being afraid,[33] but walking among them as one of them is wonderful beyond description.  It’s an occupational hazard of studying the Bible I suppose, but Jesus, Moses, Elijah, Peter, Paul, Abraham, David, Jephthah’s daughter, Mary and Abigail are more vibrant and alive to me than most of the people I see every day.  I can only imagine what it was like for Jesus to step out of that vision and back into the here and now.  I know what was on his mind.  The Scriptures make it abundantly clear that He was concerned that his disciples understood his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem.  The clock was ticking loudly then.

As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.  They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant.[34]  But while the entire crowd was amazed at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, “Take these words to heart, for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”  But they did not understand this statement; its meaning had been concealed from them, so that they could not grasp it.  Yet they were afraid (ἐφοβοῦντοto, another form of φοβέω) to ask him about this statement.[35]  They went out from there and passed through Galilee.  But Jesus did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.  They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”  But they did not understand this statement and were afraid (ἐφοβοῦντο, another form of φοβέω) to ask him.[36]  When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.  They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.”  And they became greatly distressed.[37]

Finally they began to hear Him.  They became greatly distressed which is understandable, maybe even commendable, but completely beside the point!  So with the foreknowledge of their unbelief weighing on his mind, Jesus walked down the mountain of transfiguration into an argument (Mark 9:14-18 NET).

When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law arguing with them.  When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran at once and greeted him.  He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

A member of the crowd said to him,[38] “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute [Table].   Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.  I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so.”

Then the Son of Man vented his own frustration, You unbelieving generation!  How much longer must I be with you?  How much longer must I endure you?[39]


[1] Numbers 16:1, 2 (NET)

[2] Numbers 16:3 (NET)

[3] Exodus 3:11 (NET)

[4] Exodus 3:13 (NET)

[5] Exodus 4:1 (NET)

[6] Exodus 4:10 (NET)

[8] Exodus 4:13 (NET)

[9] 2 Corinthians 1:8b (NET)

[10] Numbers 11:14, 15 (NET)

[11] Numbers 11:27 (NET)

[12] Numbers 11:29 (NET)

[13] Numbers 16:4 (NET)

[16] Numbers 16:12 (NET)

[17] Numbers 16:13, 14a (NET)

[20] Exodus 20:19 (NET)

[21] Numbers 14:31 (NET)

[22] Numbers 16:15a (NET)

[23] James 1:19, 20 (NET) Table

[24] Numbers 16:15b (NET)

[27] Mark 10:26b (NET)

[28] Mark 10:27 (NET)

[29] Matthew 16:28 (NET)

[30] Mark 9:1 (NET)

[32] Mark 9:6 (NET)

[34] Mark 9:9, 10 (NET)

[35] Luke 9:43b-45 (NET)

[36] Mark 9:30-32 (NET)

[37] Matthew 17:22, 23 (NET)

[39] Mark 9:19a (NET)