Adultery and X

Since I am uncomfortable with immorality as potentially too broad a translation of πορνεία I’ll treat it like an unknown X.  So if I remove X from the equations so to speak I get a clearer view of Jesus’ meaning without X.  I might even gain some insight into ways to solve for X where X = πορνεία.

Matthew 5:32 (NET) Table

Matthew 19:9 (NET) Table

I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife…makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife…and marries another commits adultery.

So there are two statements in Matthew 5:32 (NET): 1) everyone who divorces his wife makes her commit adultery (μοιχευθῆναι, a form of μοιχεύω), and 2) whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery (μοιχᾶται, a form of μοιχάω).  There is one statement in Matthew 19:9 (NET): 3) whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery (μοιχᾶται, a form of μοιχάω).  So I have three statements made by Jesus about divorce and adultery.  The missing statement from Matthew 19:9 in the NET is not particularly relevant to this consideration because it was identical to statement 2) in Matthew 5:32 (NET).

With this as a baseline I’ll put X back in to see what is changed by X.

Matthew 5:32 (NET)

Matthew 19:9 (NET)

I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for X, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for X, and marries another commits adultery.

What is fairly clear now is that the introduction of X did not alter the fact that the man divorced his wife in Matthew 5:32 (NET).  It did not change the facts that Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, nor that from the beginning it was not this way.1  The introduction of X has absolutely no bearing on the facts that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female [see Addendum below], and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ [see Addendum below]?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.2

The only facts available for alteration by X or the facts pertaining to adultery if/when a woman so divorced remarries.  I’m going to assume that X in this case was the husband’s doing.  When a wife is divorced because of the husband’s X, Jesus does not consider her remarriage adultery, not for her, not for the man who marries her.  Likewise in Matthew 19:9 (NET) Jesus does not consider the husband’s remarriage adultery if the wife does X.  And by no means, in either case, is it a command to divorce over XForgiveness, mercy, love and grace remain the standing order of the day.

My advice to anyone who, like me, is caught up in a divorce is to stop looking to rules like this to justify yourself.  But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.3  Jesus told of a man who stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’  I tell you that this man went down to his home justified4

The one who confesses divorce as sin and receives mercy, forgiveness and justification from God through Jesus Christ is free to marry again as the Lord leads.  The one who justifies divorce by laws, rules or principles disagrees with God through Jesus Christ, does not receive God’s mercy, forgiveness or justification, but relies on his own righteousness derived from the law.  If this one remarries after divorce it is adultery in Jesus’ eyes.  But all is not lost.  …if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.  Jesus told of a man who stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’  I tell you that this man went down to his home justified

 

Addendum: September 8, 2021
According to a note (6) in the NET Matthew 19:4b is a quotation of Genesis 1:27b and 5:2a.  Tables comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation with that of the Septuagint follow.

Matthew 19:4 (NET Parallel Greek) Table

Genesis 1:27b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Genesis 1:27b (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς

Matthew 19:4 (NET)

Genesis 1:27b (NETS)

Genesis 1:27b (English Elpenor)

made them male and female male and female he made them male and female he made them
Matthew 19:4 (NET Parallel Greek) Table Genesis 5:2a (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 5:2a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς
Matthew 19:4 (NET) Genesis 5:2a (NETS) Genesis 5:2a (English Elpenor)
made them male and female male and female he made them male and female he made them

According to a note (7) in the NET Matthew 19:5 is a quotation of Genesis 2:24.  A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

Matthew 19:5 (NET Parallel Greek)

Genesis 2:24 (Septuagint BLB) Table

Genesis 2:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἕνεκα τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ κολληθήσεται τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῗκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν
Matthew 19:5 (NET) Genesis 2:24 (NETS) Genesis 2:24 (English Elpenor)
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

A table comparing Genesis 5:2 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and a table comparing the Greek of Genesis 5:2 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Genesis 5:2 (Tanakh)

Genesis 5:2 (KJV)

Genesis 5:2 (NET)

male and female created He them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. He created them male and female; when they were created, he blessed them and named them “humankind.”

Genesis 5:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 5:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς καὶ ἐπωνόμασεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν Αδαμ ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς· καὶ ἐπωνόμασε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ᾿Αδάμ, ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς

Genesis 5:2 (NETS)

Genesis 5:2 (English Elpenor)

male and female he made them, and he blessed them.  And he named their name “Adam” on the day that he made them. male and female he made them, and blessed them; and he called his name Adam, in the day in which he made them.

1 Matthew 19:8 (NET) Table

2 Matthew 19:4-6 (NET) Table

3 1 John 1:9, 10 (NET)

4 Luke 18:13, 14 (NET) Table

Immorality

Perhaps this is as good a time as any to say that I take it for granted that Jesus spoke Greek, and that those who heard him understood him perfectly well in what was by then, more than three centuries after the conquest of Alexander the Great, their native tongue.  And yes, of course, the Greek they spoke and understood was shaded and colored by their own culture and heritage.

I first encounter the Greek word πορνεία in Matthew 5:31, 32 (NET):

“It was said, ‘Whoever1 divorces (ἀπολύσῃ, a form of ἀπολύω) his wife must give her a legal document.’  But I say to you that everyone2 who divorces3 (ἀπολύων, another form of ἀπολύω) his wife, except for [the cause (λόγου, a form of λόγος) of (KJV)] immorality (πορνείας, a form of πορνεία), makes (ποιεῖ, a form of ποιέω) her commit adultery (μοιχευθῆναι, a form of μοιχεύω), and whoever marries a divorced (ἀπολελυμένην, another form of ἀπολύω) woman commits adultery4 (μοιχᾶται, a form of μοιχάω).

The word ἀπολύω is a compound of ἀπό (off, away) and λύω (loosen).  So while it is perfectly legitimate to translate the off-loosening of a wife and sending her away with the word divorces in verse 31 and divorced in verse 32, it is equally legitimate to translate the off-loosening of another’s sin and sending it away as forgive and forgiven in Luke 6:37 (NET).5  A good precedent for translating ἀπολύω forgive is found in Matthew 18:27 (NET), The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave, where it is coupled with ἀφίημι.

The lord had compassion on that slave and released (ἀπέλυσεν, another form of ἀπολύω) him [e.g., from custody], and forgave (ἀφῆκεν, a form of ἀφίημι) him the debt.

More to the point, perhaps, these story images give me a vivid picture of what forgiveness is.  But I’m laboring this point because the first occurrence of ἀπολύω, as divorce, gives me a little more insight into Matthew 5:31 and 32.  Joseph considered sending away his fiancée Mary, Jesus’ mother (Matthew 1:18, 19 NET):

Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way.  While6 his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous (δίκαιος) man, and because he did not want (θέλων, a form of θέλω) to disgrace7 (δειγματίσαι, a form of δειγματίζω) her, he intended (ἐβουλήθη, a form of βούλομαι) to divorce (ἀπολῦσαι, another form of ἀπολύω) her privately.

Joseph is an interesting pivotal character between an old vision and a new vision of righteousness.  He could not be tainted by a wife who had known another man, but he was not willing to disgrace her either.  If he were fully under the old vision of righteousness he probably should have disgraced (δειγματίζω) her to completely absolve himself of wrongdoing.  But clearly his heart wasn’t in it.  So he planned to divorce or send her away privately, as opposed to forgive her privately when considered in context.  The story continues in Matthew 1:20 (NET):

When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David8, do not be afraid to take Mary9 as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

When Joseph married Mary as the angel of the Lord commanded he made the pivot into a new vision of righteousness.   He quietly bore the unrighteous assumptions of all who could count to nine, for who in first century Israel would ever believe an old Gentile excuse like, “a god did it,” particularly the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

There was a dark side to the old vision of righteousness.  Under law it is easy to mistake not-sin for righteousness.  In Matthew 19:3 (NET), some Pharisees came to [Jesus] in order to test (πειράζοντες, a form of πειράζω) him.  They asked,10 “Is it lawful11 (ἔξεστιν, a form of ἔξεστι) to divorce (ἀπολῦσαι, another form of ἀπολύω) a wife for any cause?”

I think it was wise to translate πειράζω test here.  The word can mean tempt to evil (1 Corinthians 10:9 NET), And let us not put Christ to the test (ἐκπειράζωμεν, a form of ἐκπειράζω), as some of them12 did (ἐπείρασαν, another form of πειράζω), and were destroyed by snakes; and (1 Corinthians 10:13 NET), No trial (πειρασμὸς, a form of πειρασμός) has overtaken you that is not faced by others.  And God is faithful (πιστός): He will not let you be tried (πειρασθῆναι, another form of πειράζω) beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial (πειρασμῷ, another form of πειρασμός) will also provide a way out so that you13 may be able to endure it.  It could also mean the prudent examination of any spiritual claim to authority (2 Corinthians 13:5a NET), Put yourselves to the test (πειράζετε, another form of πειράζω) to see if you are in the faith; examine (δοκιμάζετε, a form of δοκιμάζω) yourselves!

It is entirely possible that some of the Pharisees present intended exactly this latter kind of examination of Jesus when they questioned Him.  It is possible that some were curious whether Jesus agreed with them or not.  There was a dispute about divorce between the schools of Shammai and Hillel14 a generation earlier.  And it is possible that some had already judged Jesus as evil and were searching for evidence to condemn him.

The translation of the Pharisees question—Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?—is good politic but also probably reflects the actual situation.  It is possible that someone wanted confirmation of a growing suspicion: Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause at all, ever, under any circumstances?  Love, mercy and forgiveness were not unknown in Israel.  And ἔξεστι seems to me to carry the hope that the law, what is lawful, correlates in some positive way with righteousness.  (That hope was dashed by the way when Paul penned Romans 3:20 [NET], For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.)  And it is highly probable that many of the Pharisees asked Jesus, Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause that seems good to me?

Jesus did not turn to Exodus, Leviticus or Deuteronomy to answer the question, but to Genesis.  He answered15 (Matthew 19:4-6 NET):

“Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator16 made them male and female,17 and said, ‘For18 this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united19 with his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?20  So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined (συνέζευξεν, a form of συζεύγνυμι) together, let no one separate (χωριζέτω, a form of χωρίζω).”

So, to keep it clear in my own mind, Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees’ question—Is it ἔξεστιν (in the sense of right or righteous) to divorce a wife for any cause?—was a fairly emphatic, “No.”  Then the Pharisees asked an entirely different question (Matthew 19:7 NET), Why then did Moses21 command (ἐνετείλατο, a form of ἐντέλλω) us to give a certificate of dismissal22 and to divorce (ἀπολῦσαι, another form of ἀπολύω) her?23

Jesus answered (Matthew 19:8 NET), Moses24 permitted (ἐπέτρεψεν, a form of ἐπιτρέπω) you to divorce (ἀπολῦσαι, another form of ἀπολύω) your wives because of your hard hearts (σκληροκαρδίαν, a form of σκληροκαρδία), but from the beginning it was not this way.

Jesus’ next statement raises a few questions.  Was He continuing to address the Pharisees’ second question?  Their first question?  Both?  Or neither?  Jesus said (Matthew 19:9 NET):

Now I say to you that whoever divorces (ἀπολύσῃ, a form of ἀπολύω) his wife, except25 for immorality (πορνεία), and marries (γαμήσῃ, a form of γαμέω) another commits adultery26 (μοιχᾶται, a form of μοιχάω)[KJV, and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.]

If this statement refers back to the Pharisees’ first question, then it seems to provide an exception to no divorce and remarriage.  If it refers to the second question it seems to address an obscure point about πορνεία, presumably by the wife, exempting the husband’s remarriage after a divorce from being considered μοιχᾶται, committing adultery.  I’m having some difficulty predicting its meaning if it references both or neither question.  (There is no note explaining why the last half of the verse was removed from the NET.)

The disciples response (Matthew 19:10 NET)—If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better (συμφέρει, a form of συμφέρω) not to marry (γαμῆσαι, another form of γαμέω)!—is not particularly helpful to clarify the issue.  What it does imply is that men who want to divorce their wives and remarry, who believe that this statement is an exception to Jesus’ understanding of the issue, and who want to justify themselves by law, have a selfish interest in making the meaning of πορνεία as broad as possible.  And that makes me cautious about accepting immorality as the best possible translation of πορνεία.

 

 

Addendum: December 15, 2018
Tables comparing Matthew 5:31, 32; 1:18-20; 19:3; 1 Corinthians 10:9; 10:13; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Matthew 19:4, 5; 19:7-10 and Luke 6:37, 38 in the NET and KJV follow.

Matthew 5:31, 32 (NET)

Matthew 5:31, 32 (KJV)

“It was said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’ It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ἐρρέθη δέ· ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, δότω αὐτῇ ἀποστάσιον ερρεθη δε οτι ος αν απολυση την γυναικα αυτου δοτω αυτη αποστασιον ερρεθη δε οτι ος αν απολυση την γυναικα αυτου δοτω αυτη αποστασιον
But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶς ἀπολύων τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ παρεκτὸς λόγου πορνείας ποιεῖ αὐτὴν μοιχευθῆναι, |καὶ ὃς ἐὰν ἀπολελυμένην γαμήσῃ, μοιχᾶται| εγω δε λεγω υμιν οτι ος αν απολυση την γυναικα αυτου παρεκτος λογου πορνειας ποιει αυτην μοιχασθαι και ος εαν απολελυμενην γαμηση μοιχαται εγω δε λεγω υμιν οτι ος αν απολυση την γυναικα αυτου παρεκτος λογου πορνειας ποιει αυτην μοιχασθαι και ος εαν απολελυμενην γαμηση μοιχαται

Matthew 1:18-20 (NET)

Matthew 1:18-20 (KJV)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way.  While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Τοῦ δὲ |Ἰησοῦ| Χριστοῦ ἡ γένεσις οὕτως ἦν. μνηστευθείσης τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Μαρίας τῷ Ἰωσήφ, πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εὑρέθη ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου του δε ιησου χριστου η γεννησις ουτως ην μνηστευθεισης γαρ της μητρος αυτου μαριας τω ιωσηφ πριν η συνελθειν αυτους ευρεθη εν γαστρι εχουσα εκ πνευματος αγιου του δε ιησου χριστου η γεννησις ουτως ην μνηστευθεισης γαρ της μητρος αυτου μαριας τω ιωσηφ πριν η συνελθειν αυτους ευρεθη εν γαστρι εχουσα εκ πνευματος αγιου
Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ἰωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, δίκαιος ὢν καὶ μὴ θέλων αὐτὴν δειγματίσαι, ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν ιωσηφ δε ο ανηρ αυτης δικαιος ων και μη θελων αυτην παραδειγματισαι εβουληθη λαθρα απολυσαι αυτην ιωσηφ δε ο ανηρ αυτης δικαιος ων και μη θελων αυτην παραδειγματισαι εβουληθη λαθρα απολυσαι αυτην
When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου κατ᾿ ὄναρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ λέγων· Ἰωσὴφ υἱὸς Δαυίδ, μὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν Μαρίαν τὴν γυναῖκα σου· τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ πνεύματος ἐστιν ἁγίου ταυτα δε αυτου ενθυμηθεντος ιδου αγγελος κυριου κατ οναρ εφανη αυτω λεγων ιωσηφ υιος δαβιδ μη φοβηθης παραλαβειν μαριαμ την γυναικα σου το γαρ εν αυτη γεννηθεν εκ πνευματος εστιν αγιου ταυτα δε αυτου ενθυμηθεντος ιδου αγγελος κυριου κατ οναρ εφανη αυτω λεγων ιωσηφ υιος δαυιδ μη φοβηθης παραλαβειν μαριαμ την γυναικα σου το γαρ εν αυτη γεννηθεν εκ πνευματος εστιν αγιου

Matthew 19:3 (NET)

Matthew 19:3 (KJV)

Then some Pharisees came to him in order to test him.  They asked, “Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?” The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Καὶ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ Φαρισαῖοι πειράζοντες αὐτὸν καὶ λέγοντες· εἰ ἔξεστιν  ἀπολῦσαι τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ κατὰ πᾶσαν αἰτίαν και προσηλθον αυτω οι φαρισαιοι πειραζοντες αυτον και λεγοντες αυτω ει εξεστιν ανθρωπω απολυσαι την γυναικα αυτου κατα πασαν αιτιαν και προσηλθον αυτω οι φαρισαιοι πειραζοντες αυτον και λεγοντες αυτω ει εξεστιν ανθρωπω απολυσαι την γυναικα αυτου κατα πασαν αιτιαν
1 Corinthians 10:9 (NET)

1 Corinthians 10:9 (KJV)

And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

μηδὲ ἐκπειράζωμεν τὸν |Χριστόν|, καθώς τινες αὐτῶν ἐπείρασαν καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ὄφεων ἀπώλλυντο μηδε εκπειραζωμεν τον χριστον καθως και τινες αυτων επειρασαν και υπο των οφεων απωλοντο μηδε εκπειραζωμεν τον χριστον καθως και τινες αυτων επειρασαν και υπο των οφεων απωλοντο

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NET)

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others.  And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

πειρασμὸς ὑμᾶς οὐκ εἴληφεν εἰ μὴ ἀνθρώπινος· πιστὸς δὲ ὁ θεός, ὃς οὐκ ἐάσει ὑμᾶς πειρασθῆναι ὑπὲρ ὃ δύνασθε ἀλλὰ ποιήσει σὺν τῷ πειρασμῷ καὶ τὴν ἔκβασιν τοῦ δύνασθαι ὑπενεγκεῖν πειρασμος υμας ουκ ειληφεν ει μη ανθρωπινος πιστος δε ο θεος ος ουκ εασει υμας πειρασθηναι υπερ ο δυνασθε αλλα ποιησει συν τω πειρασμω και την εκβασιν του δυνασθαι υμας υπενεγκειν πειρασμος υμας ουκ ειληφεν ει μη ανθρωπινος πιστος δε ο θεος ος ουκ εασει υμας πειρασθηναι υπερ ο δυνασθε αλλα ποιησει συν τω πειρασμω και την εκβασιν του δυνασθαι υμας υπενεγκειν

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NET)

2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV)

Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!  Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test! Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε εἰ ἐστὲ ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἑαυτοὺς δοκιμάζετε· ἢ οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκετε ἑαυτοὺς ὅτι Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν; εἰ μήτι ἀδόκιμοι ἐστε εαυτους πειραζετε ει εστε εν τη πιστει εαυτους δοκιμαζετε η ουκ επιγινωσκετε εαυτους οτι ιησους χριστος εν υμιν εστιν ει μη τι αδοκιμοι εστε εαυτους πειραζετε ει εστε εν τη πιστει εαυτους δοκιμαζετε η ουκ επιγινωσκετε εαυτους οτι ιησους χριστος εν υμιν εστιν ει μη τι αδοκιμοι εστε
Matthew 19:4, 5 (NET)

Matthew 19:4, 5 (KJV)

He answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female, And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε ὅτι ὁ κτίσας ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις ουκ ανεγνωτε οτι ο ποιησας απ αρχης αρσεν και θηλυ εποιησεν αυτους ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις ουκ ανεγνωτε οτι ο ποιησας απ αρχης αρσεν και θηλυ εποιησεν αυτους
and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ εἶπεν· ἕνεκα τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ κολληθήσεται τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν και ειπεν ενεκεν τουτου καταλειψει ανθρωπος τον πατερα και την μητερα και προσκολληθησεται τη γυναικι αυτου και εσονται οι δυο εις σαρκα μιαν και ειπεν ενεκεν τουτου καταλειψει ανθρωπος τον πατερα αυτου και την μητερα και προσκολληθησεται τη γυναικι αυτου και εσονται οι δυο εις σαρκα μιαν

Matthew 19:7-10 (NET)

Matthew 19:7-10 (KJV)

They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?” They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· τί οὖν Μωϋσῆς ἐνετείλατο δοῦναι βιβλίον ἀποστασίου καὶ ἀπολῦσαι λεγουσιν αυτω τι ουν μωσης ενετειλατο δουναι βιβλιον αποστασιου και απολυσαι αυτην λεγουσιν αυτω τι ουν μωσης ενετειλατο δουναι βιβλιον αποστασιου και απολυσαι αυτην
Jesus said to them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from the beginning it was not this way. He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

λέγει αὐτοῖς ὅτι Μωϋσῆς πρὸς τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν ὑμῶν ἐπέτρεψεν ὑμῖν ἀπολῦσαι τὰς γυναῖκας ὑμῶν, ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς δὲ οὐ γέγονεν οὕτως λεγει αυτοις οτι μωσης προς την σκληροκαρδιαν υμων επετρεψεν υμιν απολυσαι τας γυναικας υμων απ αρχης δε ου γεγονεν ουτως λεγει αυτοις οτι μωσης προς την σκληροκαρδιαν υμων επετρεψεν υμιν απολυσαι τας γυναικας υμων απ αρχης δε ου γεγονεν ουτως
Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery.” And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται λεγω δε υμιν οτι ος αν απολυση την γυναικα αυτου ει μη επι πορνεια και γαμηση αλλην μοιχαται και ο απολελυμενην γαμησας μοιχαται λεγω δε υμιν οτι ος αν απολυση την γυναικα αυτου μη επι πορνεια και γαμηση αλλην μοιχαται και ο απολελυμενην γαμησας μοιχαται
The disciples said to him, “If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!” His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ  εἰ οὕτως ἐστὶν ἡ αἰτία τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μετὰ τῆς γυναικός, οὐ συμφέρει γαμῆσαι λεγουσιν αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου ει ουτως εστιν η αιτια του ανθρωπου μετα της γυναικος ου συμφερει γαμησαι λεγουσιν αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου ει ουτως εστιν η αιτια του ανθρωπου μετα της γυναικος ου συμφερει γαμησαι
Luke 6:37, 38 (NET)

Luke 6:37, 38 (KJV)

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Καὶ μὴ κρίνετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ κριθῆτε· καὶ μὴ καταδικάζετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ καταδικασθῆτε. ἀπολύετε, καὶ ἀπολυθήσεσθε και μη κρινετε και ου μη κριθητε μη καταδικαζετε και ου μη καταδικασθητε απολυετε και απολυθησεσθε και μη κρινετε και ου μη κριθητε μη καταδικαζετε και ου μη καταδικασθητε απολυετε και απολυθησεσθε
Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap.  For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.” Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

δίδοτε, καὶ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν· μέτρον καλὸν πεπιεσμένον σεσαλευμένον ὑπερεκχυννόμενον δώσουσιν εἰς τὸν κόλπον ὑμῶν· γὰρ μέτρῳ μετρεῖτε ἀντιμετρηθήσεται ὑμῖν διδοτε και δοθησεται υμιν μετρον καλον πεπιεσμενον και σεσαλευμενον και υπερεκχυνομενον δωσουσιν εις τον κολπον υμων τω γαρ αυτω μετρω ω μετρειτε αντιμετρηθησεται υμιν διδοτε και δοθησεται υμιν μετρον καλον πεπιεσμενον και σεσαλευμενον και υπερεκχυνομενον δωσουσιν εις τον κολπον υμων τω γαρ αυτω μετρω ω μετρειτε αντιμετρηθησεται υμιν

1 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had οτι preceding Whoever.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

2 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πᾶς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ος αν (KJV: whosoever).

3 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀπολύων here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had απολυση (KJV: shall put away).

5 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you… (Luke 6:37, 38a NET) Context plays an interesting role here.  If Jesus had said judge, and you will be judged; condemn, and you will be condemned the translators would have been more likely to translate ἀπολύετε and ἀπολυθήσεσθε (forms of ἀπολύω) in the next phrase, “send away, and you will be sent away.”  As it is ἀπολύετε and ἀπολυθήσεσθε are not negated like judge and condemn, but stand with Give, and it will be given to you

7 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δειγματίσαι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παραδειγματισαι (KJV: to make her a public example).

10 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτω (KJV: unto him) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

11 The Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had ανθρωπω (KJV: for a man) here.  The NET parallel Greek text did not.

12 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: also) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

13 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υμας (KJV: ye) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

16 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κτίσας here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ποιησας (KJV: he which made them).

25 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had ει μη here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had simply μὴ.

26 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και ο απολελυμενην γαμησας μοιχαται (KJV: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.