Luke 8:22-56

This passage was assigned in the preaching course I’m taking. It is extra to any assignment in the book:

Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, 3rd Edition by Bryan Chapell

It’s preface is Jesus’ response to those who informed Him that his mother and brothers desired to see Him: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear (ἀκούοντες, a present participle of ἀκούω) the word of God and do (ποιοῦντες, a present participle of ποιέω) it.”1

One2 day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke3 and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is4 your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes,5 which is opposite6 Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him7 a man from the city who had8 demons. For a long time9 he had worn no clothes,10 and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound11 with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon12 into the desert.) Jesus then asked him,13 “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,”14 for many demons had entered him. And they begged15 him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding16 there on the hillside, and they begged17 him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered18 the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

When the herdsmen saw what had happened,19 they fled and20 told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone,21 sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes22 asked23 him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged24 that he might be with him, but Jesus25 sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Now26 when Jesus returned,27 the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him [Table]. And there came a man named Jairus,28 who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians,29 she could not be healed by30 anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter31 said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”32 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out33 from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared34 in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter,35 your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”36 But Jesus on hearing this answered him,37 “Do not fear; only believe,38 and she will be well.” And when he came39 to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him,40 except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not41 dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But42 taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”43 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.44

The assignment this time was to determine the Source of Sorrow (SOS), Empowering Grace (EMP), Call to Action (CTA) and Road to Christ (RTC) for each story. And then determine the same for the entire passage by the overlap of the individual stories.

On a Boat in a Storm

Jesus’ question—Where (ποῦ) is your faith?45—hints at the Source of Sorrow here. The verb εστιν (is) does not occur in the NET parallel Greek text or NA28, the critical text, but only in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text, the received text. As I considered the phrase without a verb its tone changed from an accusation—“where did your faith go”—to a gentle reminder—“where your faith? in your own seamanship or in God?”

Luke seems to have described a different storm at a later time than that described by Matthew. I’m assuming here that Matthew and Levi were the same person:

Matthew 9:9-13 (ESV)

Mark 2:13-17 (ESV)

Luke 5:27-32 (ESV)

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew46 sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said47 to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he48 heard it, he said,49 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy,50 and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but51 sinners.”52

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as53 he reclined at table54 in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed55 him. And the scribes of the Pharisees,56 when they saw that he was eating57 with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why58 does he eat59 with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them,60 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”61

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything,62 he rose and followed63 him.

And Levi64 made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors65 and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but66 those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

The similarities are striking but the differences are also telling. Only Luke recorded that Levi (Matthew) was leaving everything67 (καταλιπὼν πάντα). And only Matthew recorded Jesus’ command to his and Matthew’s accusers: Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’68 These nuances make me quite comfortable with the idea that Matthew/Levi was Matthew the apostle and the author of the Gospel according to Matthew.

Matthew 10:1-4 (ESV)

Mark 3:13-19 (ESV)

Luke 6:12-16 (ESV)

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew69 the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;70 Simon the Zealot,71 and Judas Iscariot,72 who betrayed him.

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles73) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority74 to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve:75 Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew,76 and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,77 and Judas Iscariot,78 who betrayed him.

In these days he went out79 to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and80 James and John, and81 Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew,82 and Thomas, and83 James the son84 of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and85 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot,86 who87 became a traitor.

Only Matthew differentiated himself as the tax collector88 ( τελώνης). A table outlining these events follows.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Stilling of a Storm (8:23-27)
Healing the Gadarene Demoniacs (8:28-34)
The Call of Matthew (9:9-13) The Call of Levi (2:13-17) The Call of Levi (5:27-32)
Sending Out the 12 Apostles (10:1-4) Appointing the 12 Apostles (3:13-19) Choosing the 12 Apostles (6:12-16)
Stilling of a Storm (4:35-41) Stilling of a Storm (8:22-25)
Healing of a Demoniac (5:1-20) Healing of a Demoniac (8:26-39)

The storm described in Luke was clearly after these events, while the storm described by Matthew occurred before them. This has become considerably more important to me than completing this assignment. Why?

In an expository sermon, the homiletical outline is worded in principles derived from and supported by features of the text in its context. The preacher demonstrates how the text supports these principles and then applies them to the contemporary context of the listeners.89

…the finest expositors begin preparing each sermon by asking themselves the following question: What may I, with the authority of God’s Word, require of you as a result of what we discern this text means?90

I don’t do this for myself studying God’s Word. I won’t do it to anyone else. I’ve already acknowledged that at my best I receive the 2nd person imperatives of Scripture—you must—“as fair warnings: what God who works in [me], both to will and to work for his good pleasure91 is doing,”92 because of who He is in his faithfulness. At my best I recognize that I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.93 So, I’ll consider the advantages for knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom [He has] sent94 implicit in understanding the storms recorded by Matthew and Luke as two separate events.

The disciples began hearing and doing Jesus’ word: “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out.95 The storm caused them some question or doubt. It reminds me of Jesus’ parable (Mark 4:3-9 ESV):

Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.96 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds97 came and devoured it. Other98 seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately99 it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose,100 it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other101 seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing102 and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said,103 “He who has104 ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus explained the parable to his disciples (Mark 4:14-20 ESV):

The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them [Table]. And these are the ones105 sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately106 receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately107 they fall away. And others108 are the ones sown among thorns. They are109 those who hear the word, but the cares of the110 world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold [Table].

I only recall hearing this preached in one of two ways: Either as a fait accompli, too bad, so sad, most people spend eternity in the lake of fire. Or, with an implicit application that the soil, those who hear the word, should improve themselves somehow. The latter isn’t completely off the mark if one understands that God’s soil enrichment program is Himself, through faith in Jesus Christ, in the person of his own indwelling Holy Spirit. I don’t recall ever hearing that said in a sermon, but I have an exceptionally strong religious bias against sitting down with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and following Him through the Bible.

Whether I see the impact of these storms as tribulation or persecution, or the cares of the world, one advantage to understanding them as two separate events is that I see Jesus working to improve the soil that is his disciples. I might even see some development in the contrast between the storm Matthew recounted and the one here in Luke’s Gospel account. A gentle reminder—“where your faith?”—is not the same as Why are you “timid, fearful, cowardly, fainthearted; miserable, wretched, worthless; deserving pity, deserving contempt?”111 And they were afraid, Luke wrote, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey (ὑπακούουσιν, a form of ὑπακούω) him?”112

Luke and the Holy Spirit chose some interesting words here. The Greek word translated they were afraid was φοβηθέντες, a participle of φοβέω. It was the same word the rabbis chose to describe the people at Sinai (Exodus 20) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Exodus 20:15 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:18 (NET)

Exodus 20:18 (NETS)

Exodus 20:18 (Elpenor English)

And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled (וַיָּנֻ֔עוּ), and stood afar off. All the people were seeing the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the horn, and saw the mountain smoking—and when the people saw it they trembled with fear (nûaʿ, וינעו) and kept their distance. And the people were perceiving the sound and the flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking. Now all the people were afraid (φοβηθέντες) and stood at a distance. And all the people perceived the thundering, and the flashes, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and all the people feared (φοβηθέντες) and stood afar off,

The Greek word translated they marveled was ἐθαύμασαν, a 3rd person plural form of θαυμάζω. It was the same word the rabbis chose to describe the kings who encountered God as defender of Zion.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Psalm 48:2-5 (Tanakh/KJV)

Psalm 48:2-5 (NET)

Psalm 47:3-6 (NETS)

Psalm 47:3-6 (Elpenor English)

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. It is lofty and pleasing to look at, a source of joy to the whole earth. Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon; it is the city of the great king. since he planted it well, for the enjoyment of the whole earth, Mountains of Sion, the slopes of the north, the city of the great King— The city of the great King is well planted [on] the mountains of Sion, with the joy of the whole earth, [on] the sides of the north.
God is known in her palaces for a refuge. God is in its fortresses; he reveals himself as its defender. within its bastions God is known, when he supports it, God is known in her palaces, when he undertakes to help her.
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. For look, the kings assemble; they advance together. because, look, the kings assembled; they came together. For, behold the kings of the earth were assembled, they came together.
They saw it, and so they marvelled (תָּמָ֑הוּ); they were troubled, and hasted away. As soon as they see, they are shocked (tāmah, תמהו); they are terrified, they quickly retreat. They, when they saw it so, were astounded (ἐθαύμασαν); they were troubled; they were shaken; They saw, and so they wondered (ἐθαύμασαν): they were troubled, they were moved.

Though Jesus’ disciples may not have been ready intellectually to acknowledge Him as God in human flesh, they had already begun to respond to Him as others in the past had responded to their encounters with the living God, according to Luke’s and the Holy Spirit’s word choices. And still, I admit, I’m not exactly sure what Jesus expected from his disciples. What does faith look like when one encounters a life-threatening circumstance following the Lord?

Luke was apparently a fellow passenger and eye-witness to Paul’s faith in the storm they encountered on their way to Rome (Acts 27:21-26 ESV).

Since113 they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me (Acts 27:9, 10) and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now114 I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me115 an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”

The most likely Scriptural precedent for the disciples’ peril in the storms was the story of Jonah fleeing from the Lord.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Jonah 1:4-6 (Tanakh)

Jonah 1:4-6 (NET)

Jonah 1:4-6 (NETS)

Jonah 1:4-6 (Elpenor English)

But HaShem hurled a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. But the Lord hurled a powerful wind on the sea. Such a violent tempest arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break up! And the Lord aroused a wind in the sea, and a great surge came upon the sea, and the ship was in danger of breaking up. And the Lord raised up a wind on the sea; and there was a great storm on the sea, and the ship was in danger of being broken.
And the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. The sailors were so afraid that each cried out to his own god and they flung the ship’s cargo overboard to make the ship lighter. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold below deck, had lain down, and was sound asleep. And the mariners were afraid and cried out, each to their god. And they heaved the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to be lightened from them. But Jonas went down into the hold of the ship and was sleeping and snoring. And the sailors were alarmed, and cried every one to his god, and cast out the wares that were in the ship into the sea, that it might be lightened of them. But Jonas was gone down into the hold of the ship, and was asleep, and snored.
So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him: ‘What meanest thou that thou sleepest? arise, call upon thy G-d, if so be that G-d will think upon us, that we perish not.’ The ship’s captain approached him and said, “What are you doing asleep? Get up! Cry out to your god! Perhaps your god might take notice of us so that we might not die!” And the captain came to him and said to him, “Why are you snoring? Get up, invoke your god in order that the god might deliver us and we not perish.” And the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, Why snorest thou? arise, and call upon thy God, that God may save us, and we perish not.

Mark seems to have patterned his retelling of a story of Jesus’ disciples in a storm after the story of Jonah, recasting Jonah as Jesus and the shipmaster as Jesus’ frightened disciples (Mark 4:38 ESV):

But [Jesus] was in116 the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke117 him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

The sequencing of events seems to place Mark’s account of a storm at roughly the same time as Luke’s account rather than Matthew’s, but Jesus’ responses recorded in Mark seem to collapse the two (or more) events into one (Mark 4:40 ESV):

He said to them, “Why are you so118 afraid? Have you still no119 faith?”

A table comparing these responses in Greek and English translation follows:

Mark 4:40 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 8:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:40 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

τί δειλοί ἐστε τί δειλοί ἐστε οὔπω ἔχετε πίστιν ποῦ πίστις ὑμῶν

Mark 4:40 (ESV)

Matthew 8:26 (ESV)

Mark 4:40 (ESV)

Luke 8:25 (ESV)

Why are you so afraid? Why are you afraid Have you still no faith? Where is your faith?

The development I think I see in Luke’s account compared to Matthew’s vanishes in Mark’s account. And the point is well-taken. I’m a fan now. I want Jesus’ disciples to improve. I don’t want the Lord’s time and effort patiently teaching them to be wasted. But I also know that self-improvement fades to insignificance in the face of death and resurrection. I know that the main difference between Paul in Acts and Peter or John in Matthew or Luke is God Himself, through faith in Jesus Christ, in the person of his own indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul confessed (Galatians 2:19-21 NET):

For through…law (διὰ νόμου) I died to the law so that I may live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through…law (εἰ γὰρ διὰ νόμου δικαιοσύνη), then Christ died for nothing!

Plundering the Strong Man’s Goods

Accepting Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts of a storm as two separate events helps me see that Jesus, led by the Spirit, set out across the Sea of Galilee on two separate occasions to rescue men possessed by demons, and then He left again back across the sea.

Matthew 8:28 (ESV)

Luke 8:26, 27 (ESV)

And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way [Table].

Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.

Matthew 9:1 (ESV)

Luke 8:40 (ESV)

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city [Table].

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him [Table].

Freeing demon-possessed men doesn’t exhaust the meaning of plundering a strong man’s goods. All of us need his rescue from our father the devil. It does, however, present a vivid and dramatic demonstration.

Matthew 12:28, 29 (ESV)

Mark 3:27 (ESV)

Luke 11:20-22 (ESV)

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder120 his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house [Table].

But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house [Table].

But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you [Table]. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil [Table].

And it leads me to the conclusion that there was more to these storms than, “The collision of warm water and moist warm air with cooler air, leading to condensation and storm clouds.”121 Satan was able to conjure a windstorm to kill Job’s children (Job 1:18b, 19 ESV):

“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house [Table], and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you” [Table].

But Satan did nothing to Job without the Lord’s permission (Job 1:12 ESV [Table]):

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that [Job] has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Given that, the words recorded in Jonah are also true of the storms endured by Jesus’ disciples (Jonah 1:4a ESV):

But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea…

What about the storm Luke and Paul encountered on their way to Rome? What about the storm named Helene? I worked at a conference in Orlando last week, but my own experience of Helene is scarcely worth mentioning.

On the last day of the conference I was drenched in a brief downpour as we loaded the company van so one of the owners could get ahead of the storm on her way to Philadelphia. Being drenched, working in the heat in Orlando, is probably best described as a refreshing shower. I changed into shorts but wore the same shirt I was drenched in to dinner that evening. And being drenched caused my employer to tell me to take everyone back to the hotel in an Uber on the company card.

The next morning I flew out of Orlando about four hours earlier than originally planned, landed uneventfully in St. Louis, met briefly with friends and then drove home to Desloge under partly cloudy conditions. For the next day or so I studied Luke’s Gospel account with a gentle rain pattering on the porch outside my open sliding door. Others had different experiences. Many died.

“Here’s how Hurricane Helene brought ‘biblical devastation’ to western North Carolina in a near ‘worst-case scenario’” a CBS News headline online read.122 “CBS News has confirmed that at least 162 people across several states were killed by Helene. Buncombe County alone has reported more than 50 deaths, including a 7-year-old who was swept away by floodwaters with his grandparents.” Li Cohen, the credited author, explained the words “biblical devastation” in her headline.

In Buncombe County, home to Asheville, Emergency Services Assistant Director Ryan Cole told the Citizen-Times that “catastrophic devastation” didn’t accurately describe the impact the deluge had.
“It would go a little bit further and say we have biblical devastation through the county,” Cole said. “We’ve had biblical flooding here and it has been extremely significant.”

CBS News is a commercial enterprise. It makes sense, I suppose, that the implicit application in Ms. Cohen’s article, for those who have ears to hear, is to buy electric vehicles. And I suppose that I, flying to and from Orlando and driving to and from my home in an ordinary vehicle, am one of those to blame for the death of “a 7-year-old who was swept away by floodwaters with his grandparents,” according to Ms. Cohen’s informant

As unprecedented as Helene’s impact on the region was, there is a chance it won’t be the last.

“The rapid intensification of Helene over the Gulf, the amount of moisture available in its surrounding environment, and its manifestation as locally heavy — and in some cases, historically unheard of — rainfall amounts are all known side effects of a warmer atmosphere,” the [North Carolina State climate] office said.

Last year was already the warmest humans had ever recorded and 2024 has seen countless heat records. The continued use of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that are trapping heat within the atmosphere, increasing average temperatures that fuel extreme weather events like Helene.

As I sit here now grappling with my own reactions to our different experiences of Helene, the first explanation that comes to mind is geographical. Missouri wasn’t particularly harmed by this storm. I was never in any real danger in Orlando. I suspected that while I was still there. Having lived in Kissimmee I told my sister, alarmed for my safety by news reports, that “most hurricanes in the Orlando area are windy rainstorms with a really good press agent.”

As I consider that “7-year-old who was swept away by floodwaters with his grandparents,” I hear my religious beliefs screaming like some angry child: “If those dead people didn’t go to the right church, or do the right things, or believe or say the right things about Jesus, they will burn in the lake of fire for all eternity!” But even in the midst of that cacophany, I hear Jesus’ calm voice (Luke 20:38 ESV):

Now (δὲ) he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.

These were not just words Jesus spoke. This is the confidence Jesus lived. Consider his response to those mourning Jairus’ dead daughter (Luke 8:52-55 ESV):

And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once.

It is the same calm voice who said (Matthew 11:27-30 ESV):

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses (βούληται, a form of βούλομαι) to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls [Table]. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Again, these are more than mere words. His welcome was apparent in almost everything He did (Luke 8:40-42a ESV).

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him [Table]. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

The very next words in Luke’s Gospel account are: As Jesus went123 And that same calm voice said (John 6:44, 45 ESV):

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day [Table]. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me[Table]

This is the backstory as it were, what was actually going on within the woman who was healed by touching Jesus’ garment, and how she was drawn to Jesus (Luke 8:42b-44 ESV).

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

Jesus was aware that something had happened between God and someone—for I perceive that power has gone out from me124—but He seems to have been uncertain who that someone was until she confessed (Luke 8:47, 48 ESV).

And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well (σέσωκεν, a form of σώζω); go in peace.”

Mark elaborated some about this woman (Mark 5:27, 28 ESV):

She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If125 I touch even his garments, I will be made well (σωθήσομαι, another form of σώζω).”

But this elaboration seems to focus my attention too much on the circumstance of her faith—She had heard the reports about Jesus—and its content—If I touch even his garments—rather than the object and source of her faith; namely, Jesus Christ and the only true God who, according to Jesus, drew her to Him. This drawing leads me back again to that same calm voice (John 12:31, 32 ESV):

Now (νῦν) is the judgment of this world; now (νῦν) will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Hearing his calm voice, with his steady hand on the tiller of my life, I have hope that though I didn’t know that “7-year-old who was swept away by floodwaters” or “his grandparents,” there is yet a time when we may meet (not because I know their faith but because I know the faithfulness of my God) and we will share a common story much like Paul outlined for Titus (Titus 3:3-7 ESV).

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved (ἔσωσεν, another form of σώζω) us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit [Table], whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life [Table].

The postscript to Luke 8:22-56 is (Luke 9:1, 2 ESV):

And he called the twelve together126 and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.127

According to a note (32) in the NET, Jesus quoted from Hosea 6:6 in Matthew 9:13. A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

Matthew 9:13b (NET Parallel Greek)

Hosea 6:6a (Septuagint BLB) Table

Hosea 6:6a (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν

Matthew 9:13b (NET)

Hosea 6:6a (NETS)

Hosea 6:6a (English Elpenor)

I want mercy and not sacrifice I want mercy and not sacrifice I will [have] mercy rather than sacrifice

Tables comparing Exodus 20:18 (20:15); Psalm 48:2; 48:3; 48:4; 48:5; Jonah 1:4; 1:5 and 1:6 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Exodus 20:18; Psalm 48:2 (47:3); 48:3 (47:4); 48:4 (47:5); 48:5 (47:6); Jonah 1:4; 1:5 and 1:6 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Luke 8:22; 8:24-27; 8:29-35; 8:37, 38; 8:41; 8:43; 8:45-52; 8:54; Matthew 9:9; 9:11-13; Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:28-31; Matthew 10:3, 4; Mark 3:14-16; 3:18, 19; Luke 6:12; 6:14-16; Mark 4:3-6; 4:8-9; 4:16-19; Acts 27:21-23; Mark 4:38; 4:40; 5:28 and Luke 9:1, 2 in the KJV and NET follow.

Exodus 20:15 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:18 (KJV)

Exodus 20:18 (NET)

And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. All the people were seeing the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the horn, and saw the mountain smoking—and when the people saw it they trembled with fear and kept their distance.

Exodus 20:18 (BLB Septuagint)

Exodus 20:18 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἑώρα τὴν φωνὴν καὶ τὰς λαμπάδας καὶ τὴν φωνὴν τῆς σάλπιγγος καὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ καπνίζον φοβηθέντες δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἔστησαν μακρόθεν Καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἑώρα τὴν φωνὴν καὶ τὰς λαμπάδας καὶ τὴν φωνὴν τῆς σάλπιγγος καὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ καπνίζον· φοβηθέντες δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἔστησαν μακρόθεν

Exodus 20:18 (NETS)

Exodus 20:18 (Elpenor English)

And the people were perceiving the sound and the flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking. Now all the people were afraid and stood at a distance. And all the people perceived the thundering, and the flashes, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and all the people feared and stood afar off,

Psalm 48:2 (Tanakh)

Psalm 48:2 (KJV)

Psalm 48:2 (NET)

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. It is lofty and pleasing to look at, a source of joy to the whole earth. Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon; it is the city of the great king.

Psalm 48:2 (BLB Septuagint)

Psalm 47:3 (Elpenor Septuagint)

εὖ ῥιζῶν ἀγαλλιάματι πάσης τῆς γῆς ὄρη Σιων τὰ πλευρὰ τοῦ βορρᾶ ἡ πόλις τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ μεγάλου εὐρίζῳ ἀγαλλιάματι πάσης τῆς γῆς. ὄρη Σιών, τὰ πλευρὰ τοῦ Βορρᾶ, ἡ πόλις τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ μεγάλου

Psalm 47:3 (NETS)

Psalm 47:3 (Elpenor English)

since he planted it well, for the enjoyment of the whole earth, Mountains of Sion, the slopes of the north, the city of the great King— The city of the great King is well planted [on] the mountains of Sion, with the joy of the whole earth, [on] the sides of the north.

Psalm 48:3 (Tanakh)

Psalm 48:3 (KJV)

Psalm 48:3 (NET)

God is known in her palaces for a refuge. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. God is in its fortresses; he reveals himself as its defender.

Psalm 48:3 (BLB Septuagint)

Psalm 47:4 (Elpenor Septuagint)

ὁ θεὸς ἐν ταῖς βάρεσιν αὐτῆς γινώσκεται ὅταν ἀντιλαμβάνηται αὐτῆς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τοῖς βάρεσιν αὐτῆς γινώσκεται, ὅταν ἀντιλαμβάνηται αὐτῆς

Psalm 47:4 (NETS)

47:4 (Elpenor English)

within its bastions God is known, when he supports it, God is known in her palaces, when he undertakes to help her.

Psalm 48:4 (Tanakh)

Psalm 48:4 (KJV)

Psalm 48:4 (NET)

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. For look, the kings assemble; they advance together.

Psalm 48:4 (BLB Septuagint)

Psalm 47:5 (Elpenor Septuagint)

ὅτι ἰδοὺ οἱ βασιλεῖς συνήχθησαν ἤλθοσαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ὅτι ἰδοὺ οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς συνήχθησαν, ἤλθοσαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό

Psalm 47:5 (NETS)

Psalm 47:5 (Elpenor English)

because, look, the kings assembled; they came together. For, behold the kings of the earth were assembled, they came together.

Psalm 48:5 (Tanakh)

Psalm 48:5 (KJV)

Psalm 48:5 (NET)

They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. As soon as they see, they are shocked; they are terrified, they quickly retreat.

Psalm 48:5 (BLB Septuagint)

Psalm 47:6 (Elpenor Septuagint)

αὐτοὶ ἰδόντες οὕτως ἐθαύμασαν ἐταράχθησαν ἐσαλεύθησαν αὐτοὶ ἰδόντες οὕτως ἐθαύμασαν, ἐταράχθησαν, ἐσαλεύθησαν

Psalm 47:6 (NETS)

Psalm 47:6 (Elpenor English)

They, when they saw it so, were astounded; they were troubled; they were shaken; They saw, and so they wondered: they were troubled, they were moved.

Jonah 1:4 (Tanakh)

Jonah 1:4 (KJV)

Jonah 1:4 (NET)

But HaShem hurled a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. But the Lord hurled a powerful wind on the sea. Such a violent tempest arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break up!

Jonah 1:4 (BLB Septuagint)

Jonah 1:4 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ κύριος ἐξήγειρεν πνεῦμα εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ ἐγένετο κλύδων μέγας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ καὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἐκινδύνευεν συντριβῆναι καὶ Κύριος ἐξήγειρε πνεῦμα μέγα εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἐγένετο κλύδων μέγας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἐκινδύνευε τοῦ συντριβῆναι

Jonah 1:4 (NETS)

Jonah 1:4 (Elpenor English)

And the Lord aroused a wind in the sea, and a great surge came upon the sea, and the ship was in danger of breaking up. And the Lord raised up a wind on the sea; and there was a great storm on the sea, and the ship was in danger of being broken.

Jonah 1:5 (Tanakh)

Jonah 1:5 (KJV)

Jonah 1:5 (NET)

And the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. The sailors were so afraid that each cried out to his own god and they flung the ship’s cargo overboard to make the ship lighter. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold below deck, had lain down, and was sound asleep.

Jonah 1:5 (BLB Septuagint)

Jonah 1:5 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ναυτικοὶ καὶ ἀνεβόων ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν θεὸν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐκβολὴν ἐποιήσαντο τῶν σκευῶν τῶν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τοῦ κουφισθῆναι ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν Ιωνας δὲ κατέβη εἰς τὴν κοίλην τοῦ πλοίου καὶ ἐκάθευδεν καὶ ἔρρεγχεν καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ναυτικοὶ καὶ ἀνεβόησαν ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν θεὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκβολὴν ἐποιήσαντο τῶν σκευῶν τῶν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τοῦ κουφισθῆναι ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν. ᾿Ιωνᾶς δὲ κατέβη εἰς τὴν κοίλην τοῦ πλοίου καὶ ἐκάθευδε καὶ ἔρρεγχε

Jonah 1:5 (NETS)

Jonah 1:5 (Elpenor English)

And the mariners were afraid and cried out, each to their god. And they heaved the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to be lightened from them. But Jonas went down into the hold of the ship and was sleeping and snoring. And the sailors were alarmed, and cried every one to his god, and cast out the wares that were in the ship into the sea, that it might be lightened of them. But Jonas was gone down into the hold of the ship, and was asleep, and snored.

Jonah 1:6 (Tanakh)

Jonah 1:6 (KJV)

Jonah 1:6 (NET)

So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him: ‘What meanest thou that thou sleepest? arise, call upon thy G-d, if so be that G-d will think upon us, that we perish not.’ So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. The ship’s captain approached him and said, “What are you doing asleep? Get up! Cry out to your god! Perhaps your god might take notice of us so that we might not die!”

Jonah 1:6 (BLB Septuagint)

Jonah 1:6 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ προσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ πρωρεὺς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ τί σὺ ῥέγχεις ἀνάστα καὶ ἐπικαλοῦ τὸν θεόν σου ὅπως διασώσῃ ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ μὴ ἀπολώμεθα καὶ προσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ πρωρεὺς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τί σὺ ῥέγχεις; ἀνάστα καὶ ἐπικαλοῦ τὸν Θεόν σου, ὅπως διασώσῃ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀπολώμεθα

Jonah 1:6 (NETS)

Jonah 1:6 (Elpenor English)

And the captain came to him and said to him, “Why are you snoring? Get up, invoke your god in order that the god might deliver us and we not perish.” And the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, Why snorest οὐ thou? arise, and call upon thy God, that God may save us, and we perish not.

Luke 8:22 (NET)

Luke 8:22 (KJV)

One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

Luke 8:22 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν μιᾷ τῶν ἡμερῶν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνέβη εἰς πλοῖον καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· διέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς λίμνης, καὶ ἀνήχθησαν και εγενετο εν μια των ημερων και αυτος ενεβη εις πλοιον και οι μαθηται αυτου και ειπεν προς αυτους διελθωμεν εις το περαν της λιμνης και ανηχθησαν και εγενετο εν μια των ημερων και αυτος ενεβη εις πλοιον και οι μαθηται αυτου και ειπεν προς αυτους διελθωμεν εις το περαν της λιμνης και ανηχθησαν

Luke 8:24-27 (NET)

Luke 8:24-27 (KJV)

They came and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are about to die!” So he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they died down, and it was calm. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Luke 8:24 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)

προσελθόντες δὲ διήγειραν αὐτὸν λέγοντες· ἐπιστάτα ἐπιστάτα, ἀπολλύμεθα. ὁ δὲ διεγερθεὶς ἐπετίμησεν τῷ ἀνέμῳ καὶ τῷ κλύδωνι τοῦ ὕδατος· καὶ ἐπαύσαντο καὶ ἐγένετο γαλήνη προσελθοντες δε διηγειραν αυτον λεγοντες επιστατα επιστατα απολλυμεθα ο δε εγερθεις επετιμησεν τω ανεμω και τω κλυδωνι του υδατος και επαυσαντο και εγενετο γαληνη προσελθοντες δε διηγειραν αυτον λεγοντες επιστατα επιστατα απολλυμεθα ο δε εγερθεις επετιμησεν τω ανεμω και τω κλυδωνι του υδατος και επαυσαντο και εγενετο γαληνη
Then he said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!” And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Luke 8:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)

εἶπεν δὲ αὐτοῖς· ποῦ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν; φοβηθέντες δὲ ἐθαύμασαν λέγοντες πρὸς ἀλλήλους· τίς ἄρα οὗτος ἐστιν ὅτι καὶ τοῖς ἀνέμοις ἐπιτάσσει καὶ τῷ ὕδατι, καὶ ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ ειπεν δε αυτοις που εστιν η πιστις υμων φοβηθεντες δε εθαυμασαν λεγοντες προς αλληλους τις αρα ουτος εστιν οτι και τοις ανεμοις επιτασσει και τω υδατι και υπακουουσιν αυτω ειπεν δε αυτοις που εστιν η πιστις υμων φοβηθεντες δε εθαυμασαν λεγοντες προς αλληλους τις αρα ουτος εστιν οτι και τοις ανεμοις επιτασσει και τω υδατι και υπακουουσιν αυτω
So they sailed over to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

Luke 8:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ κατέπλευσαν εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γερασηνῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀντιπέρα τῆς Γαλιλαίας και κατεπλευσαν εις την χωραν των γαδαρηνων ητις εστιν αντιπεραν της γαλιλαιας και κατεπλευσαν εις την χωραν των γαδαρηνων ητις εστιν αντιπεραν της γαλιλαιας
As Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man from the town met him who was possessed by demons. For a long time this man had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among the tombs. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

Luke 8:27 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:27 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:27 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐξελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ὑπήντησεν ἀνήρ τις ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἔχων δαιμόνια καὶ χρόνῳ ἱκανῷ οὐκ ἐνεδύσατο ἱμάτιον καὶ ἐν οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔμενεν ἀλλ᾿ ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν εξελθοντι δε αυτω επι την γην υπηντησεν αυτω ανηρ τις εκ της πολεως ος ειχεν δαιμονια εκ χρονων ικανων και ιματιον ουκ ενεδιδυσκετο και εν οικια ουκ εμενεν αλλ εν τοις μνημασιν εξελθοντι δε αυτω επι την γην υπηντησεν αυτω ανηρ τις εκ της πολεως ος ειχεν δαιμονια εκ χρονων ικανων και ιματιον ουκ ενεδιδυσκετο και εν οικια ουκ εμενεν αλλ εν τοις μνημασιν

Luke 8:29-35 (NET)

Luke 8:29-35 (KJV)

For Jesus had started commanding the evil spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so he would be bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard. But he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.) (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

Luke 8:29 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:29 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:29 (Byzantine Majority Text)

|παρήγγελλεν| γὰρ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ἐξελθεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. (πολλοῖς γὰρ χρόνοις συνηρπάκει αὐτὸν καὶ ἐδεσμεύετο ἁλύσεσιν καὶ πέδαις φυλασσόμενος καὶ διαρρήσσων τὰ δεσμὰ ἠλαύνετο |ὑπὸ| τοῦ δαιμονίου εἰς τὰς ἐρήμους) παρηγγελλεν γαρ τω πνευματι τω ακαθαρτω εξελθειν απο του ανθρωπου πολλοις γαρ χρονοις συνηρπακει αυτον και εδεσμειτο αλυσεσιν και πεδαις φυλασσομενος και διαρρησσων τα δεσμα ηλαυνετο υπο του δαιμονος εις τας ερημους παρηγγειλεν γαρ τω πνευματι τω ακαθαρτω εξελθειν απο του ανθρωπου πολλοις γαρ χρονοις συνηρπακει αυτον και εδεσμειτο αλυσεσιν και πεδαις φυλασσομενος και διαρρησσων τα δεσμα ηλαυνετο υπο του δαιμονος εις τας ερημους
Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Luke 8:30 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:30 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:30 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐπηρώτησεν δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς· τί σοι ὄνομα ἐστιν; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· λεγιών, ὅτι εἰσῆλθεν δαιμόνια πολλὰ εἰς αὐτόν επηρωτησεν δε αυτον ο ιησους λεγων τι σοι εστιν ονομα ο δε ειπεν λεγεων οτι δαιμονια πολλα εισηλθεν εις αυτον επηρωτησεν δε αυτον ο ιησους λεγων τι σοι εστιν ονομα ο δε ειπεν λεγεων οτι δαιμονια πολλα εισηλθεν εις αυτον
And they began to beg him not to order them to depart into the abyss. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

Luke 8:31 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:31 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:31 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα μὴ ἐπιτάξῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον ἀπελθεῖν και παρεκαλει αυτον ινα μη επιταξη αυτοις εις την αβυσσον απελθειν και παρεκαλει αυτον ινα μη επιταξη αυτοις εις την αβυσσον απελθειν
Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and the demonic spirits begged Jesus to let them go into them. He gave them permission. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

Luke 8:32 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:32 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:32 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ ἀγέλη χοίρων ἱκανῶν βοσκομένη ἐν τῷ ὄρει· καὶ παρεκάλεσαν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐπιτρέψῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς ἐκείνους εἰσελθεῖν· καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτοῖς ην δε εκει αγελη χοιρων ικανων βοσκομενων εν τω ορει και παρεκαλουν αυτον ινα επιτρεψη αυτοις εις εκεινους εισελθειν και επετρεψεν αυτοις ην δε εκει αγελη χοιρων ικανων βοσκομενων εν τω ορει και παρεκαλουν αυτον ινα επιτρεψη αυτοις εις εκεινους εισελθειν και επετρεψεν αυτοις
So the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd of pigs rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Luke 8:33 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:33 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:33 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐξελθόντα δὲ τὰ δαιμόνια ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰσῆλθον εἰς τοὺς χοίρους, καὶ ὥρμησεν ἡ ἀγέλη κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν λίμνην καὶ ἀπεπνίγη εξελθοντα δε τα δαιμονια απο του ανθρωπου εισηλθεν εις τους χοιρους και ωρμησεν η αγελη κατα του κρημνου εις την λιμνην και απεπνιγη εξελθοντα δε τα δαιμονια απο του ανθρωπου εισηλθον εις τους χοιρους και ωρμησεν η αγελη κατα του κρημνου εις την λιμνην και απεπνιγη
When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

Luke 8:34 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:34 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:34 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ βόσκοντες τὸ γεγονὸς ἔφυγον καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀγρούς ιδοντες δε οι βοσκοντες το γεγενημενον εφυγον και απελθοντες απηγγειλαν εις την πολιν και εις τους αγρους ιδοντες δε οι βοσκοντες το γεγενημενον εφυγον και απηγγειλαν εις την πολιν και εις τους αγρους
So the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus. They found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Luke 8:35 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:35 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:35 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονὸς καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἀφ᾿ οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξῆλθεν ἱματισμένον καὶ σωφρονοῦντα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας |τοῦ| Ἰησοῦ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν εξηλθον δε ιδειν το γεγονος και ηλθον προς τον ιησουν και ευρον καθημενον τον ανθρωπον αφ ου τα δαιμονια εξεληλυθει ιματισμενον και σωφρονουντα παρα τους ποδας του ιησου και εφοβηθησαν εξηλθον δε ιδειν το γεγονος και ηλθον προς τον ιησουν και ευρον καθημενον τον ανθρωπον αφ ου τα δαιμονια εξεληλυθει ιματισμενον και σωφρονουντα παρα τους ποδας του ιησου και εφοβηθησαν

Luke 8:37, 38 (NET)

Luke 8:37, 38 (KJV)

Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and left. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

Luke 8:37 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:37 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:37 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῆς περιχώρου τῶν Γερασηνῶν ἀπελθεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, ὅτι φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συνείχοντο· αὐτὸς δὲ ἐμβὰς εἰς πλοῖον ὑπέστρεψεν και ηρωτησαν αυτον απαν το πληθος της περιχωρου των γαδαρηνων απελθειν απ αυτων οτι φοβω μεγαλω συνειχοντο αυτος δε εμβας εις το πλοιον υπεστρεψεν και ηρωτησαν αυτον απαν το πληθος της περιχωρου των γαδαρηνων απελθειν απ αυτων οτι φοβω μεγαλω συνειχοντο αυτος δε εμβας εις το πλοιον υπεστρεψεν
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Luke 8:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐδεῖτο δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ· ἀπέλυσεν δὲ αὐτὸν λέγων εδεετο δε αυτου ο ανηρ αφ ου εξεληλυθει τα δαιμονια ειναι συν αυτω απελυσεν δε αυτον ο ιησους λεγων εδεετο δε αυτου ο ανηρ αφ ου εξεληλυθει τα δαιμονια ειναι συν αυτω απελυσεν δε αυτον ο ιησους λεγων

Luke 8:41 (NET)

Luke 8:41 (KJV)

Then a man named Jairus, who was a leader of the synagogue, came up. Falling at Jesus’ feet, he pleaded with him to come to his house, And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

Luke 8:41 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:41 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:41 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ ᾧ ὄνομα Ἰάϊρος καὶ οὗτος ἄρχων τῆς συναγωγῆς ὑπῆρχεν, καὶ πεσὼν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας [τοῦ] Ἰησοῦ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ και ιδου ηλθεν ανηρ ω ονομα ιαειρος και αυτος αρχων της συναγωγης υπηρχεν και πεσων παρα τους ποδας του ιησου παρεκαλει αυτον εισελθειν εις τον οικον αυτου και ιδου ηλθεν ανηρ ω ονομα ιαειρος και αυτος αρχων της συναγωγης υπηρχεν και πεσων παρα τους ποδας του ιησου παρεκαλει αυτον εισελθειν εις τον οικον αυτου

Luke 8:43 (NET)

Luke 8:43 (KJV)

Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years but could not be healed by anyone. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

Luke 8:43 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:43 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:43 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ γυνὴ οὖσα ἐν ρύσει αἵματος ἀπὸ ἐτῶν δώδεκα, ἥτις οὐκ ἴσχυσεν ἀπ᾿ οὐδενὸς θεραπευθῆναι και γυνη ουσα εν ρυσει αιματος απο ετων δωδεκα ητις εις ιατρους προσαναλωσασα ολον τον βιον ουκ ισχυσεν υπ ουδενος θεραπευθηναι και γυνη ουσα εν ρυσει αιματος απο ετων δωδεκα ητις ιατροις προσαναλωσασα ολον τον βιον ουκ ισχυσεν υπ ουδενος θεραπευθηναι

Luke 8:45-52 (NET)

Luke 8:45-52 (KJV)

Then Jesus asked, “Who was it who touched me?” When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing against you!” And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

Luke 8:45 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:45 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:45 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς· τίς ὁ ἁψάμενος μου; ἀρνουμένων δὲ πάντων εἶπεν ὁ Πέτρος· ἐπιστάτα, οἱ ὄχλοι συνέχουσιν σε καὶ ἀποθλίβουσιν και ειπεν ο ιησους τις ο αψαμενος μου αρνουμενων δε παντων ειπεν ο πετρος και οι μετ αυτου επιστατα οι οχλοι συνεχουσιν σε και αποθλιβουσιν και λεγεις τις ο αψαμενος μου και ειπεν ο ιησους τις ο αψαμενος μου αρνουμενων δε παντων ειπεν ο πετρος και οι μετ αυτου επιστατα οι οχλοι συνεχουσιν σε και αποθλιβουσιν και λεγεις τις ο αψαμενος μου
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out from me.” And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

Luke 8:46 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:46 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:46 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν· ἥψατο μού τις, ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔγνων δύναμιν ἐξεληλυθυῖαν ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ ο δε ιησους ειπεν ηψατο μου τις εγω γαρ εγνων δυναμιν εξελθουσαν απ εμου ο δε ιησους ειπεν ηψατο μου τις εγω γαρ εγνων δυναμιν εξελθουσαν απ εμου
When the woman saw that she could not escape notice, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

Luke 8:47 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:47 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:47 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἰδοῦσα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ ὅτι οὐκ ἔλαθεν, τρέμουσα ἦλθεν καὶ προσπεσοῦσα αὐτῷ δι᾿ ἣν αἰτίαν ἥψατο αὐτοῦ ἀπήγγειλεν ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ὡς ἰάθη παραχρῆμα ιδουσα δε η γυνη οτι ουκ ελαθεν τρεμουσα ηλθεν και προσπεσουσα αυτω δι ην αιτιαν ηψατο αυτου απηγγειλεν αυτω ενωπιον παντος του λαου και ως ιαθη παραχρημα ιδουσα δε η γυνη οτι ουκ ελαθεν τρεμουσα ηλθεν και προσπεσουσα αυτω δι ην αιτιαν ηψατο αυτου απηγγειλεν αυτω ενωπιον παντος του λαου και ως ιαθη παραχρημα
Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Luke 8:48 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:48 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:48 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· θυγάτηρ, ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκεν σε· πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην ο δε ειπεν αυτη θαρσει θυγατερ η πιστις σου σεσωκεν σε πορευου εις ειρηνην ο δε ειπεν αυτη θαρσει θυγατερ η πιστις σου σεσωκεν σε πορευου εις ειρηνην
While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue leader’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

Luke 8:49 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:49 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:49 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ἔρχεται τις παρὰ τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου λέγων ὅτι τέθνηκεν ἡ θυγάτηρ σου· μηκέτι σκύλλε τὸν διδάσκαλον ετι αυτου λαλουντος ερχεται τις παρα του αρχισυναγωγου λεγων αυτω οτι τεθνηκεν η θυγατηρ σου μη σκυλλε τον διδασκαλον ετι αυτου λαλουντος ερχεται τις παρα του αρχισυναγωγου λεγων αυτω οτι τεθνηκεν η θυγατηρ σου μη σκυλλε τον διδασκαλον
But when Jesus heard this, he told him, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Luke 8:50 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:50 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:50 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀκούσας ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ· μὴ φοβοῦ, μόνον πίστευσον, καὶ σωθήσεται ο δε ιησους ακουσας απεκριθη αυτω λεγων μη φοβου μονον πιστευε και σωθησεται ο δε ιησους ακουσας απεκριθη αυτω λεγων μη φοβου μονον πιστευε και σωθησεται
Now when he came to the house, Jesus did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

Luke 8:51 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:51 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:51 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν οὐκ ἀφῆκεν εἰσελθεῖν τινα σὺν αὐτῷ εἰ μὴ Πέτρον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ τὸν πατέρα τῆς παιδὸς καὶ τὴν μητέρα εισελθων δε εις την οικιαν ουκ αφηκεν εισελθειν ουδενα ει μη πετρον και ιακωβον και ιωαννην και τον πατερα της παιδος και την μητερα ελθων δε εις την οικιαν ουκ αφηκεν εισελθειν ουδενα ει μη πετρον και ιωαννην και ιακωβον και τον πατερα της παιδος και την μητερα
Now they were all wailing and mourning for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep!” And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

Luke 8:52 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:52 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:52 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἔκλαιον δὲ πάντες καὶ ἐκόπτοντο αὐτήν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· μὴ κλαίετε, οὐ γὰρ ἀπέθανεν ἀλλὰ καθεύδει εκλαιον δε παντες και εκοπτοντο αυτην ο δε ειπεν μη κλαιετε ουκ απεθανεν αλλα καθευδει εκλαιον δε παντες και εκοπτοντο αυτην ο δε ειπεν μη κλαιετε ουκ απεθανεν αλλα καθευδει

Luke 8:54 (NET)

Luke 8:54 (KJV)

But Jesus gently took her by the hand and said, “Child, get up.” And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

Luke 8:54 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:54 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:54 (Byzantine Majority Text)

αὐτὸς δὲ κρατήσας τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς ἐφώνησεν λέγων· ἡ παῖς, ἔγειρε αυτος δε εκβαλων εξω παντας και κρατησας της χειρος αυτης εφωνησεν λεγων η παις εγειρου αυτος δε εκβαλων εξω παντας και κρατησας της χειρος αυτης εφωνησεν λεγων η παις εγειρου

Matthew 9:9 (NET)

Matthew 9:9 (KJV)

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. So he got up and followed him. And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Matthew 9:9 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 9:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 9:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ παράγων ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐκεῖθεν εἶδεν ἄνθρωπον καθήμενον ἐπὶ τὸ τελώνιον, Μαθθαῖον λεγόμενον, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι. καὶ ἀναστὰς ἠκολούθησεν αὐτῷ και παραγων ο ιησους εκειθεν ειδεν ανθρωπον καθημενον επι το τελωνιον ματθαιον λεγομενον και λεγει αυτω ακολουθει μοι και αναστας ηκολουθησεν αυτω και παραγων ο ιησους εκειθεν ειδεν ανθρωπον καθημενον επι το τελωνιον ματθαιον λεγομενον και λεγει αυτω ακολουθει μοι και αναστας ηκολουθησεν αυτω

Matthew 9:11-13 (NET)

Matthew 9:11-13 (KJV)

When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Matthew 9:11 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 9:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 9:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἰδόντες οἱ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· διὰ τί μετὰ τῶν τελωνῶν καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἐσθίει ὁ διδάσκαλος ὑμῶν και ιδοντες οι φαρισαιοι ειπον τοις μαθηταις αυτου δια τι μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιει ο διδασκαλος υμων και ιδοντες οι φαρισαιοι ειπον τοις μαθηταις αυτου δια τι μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιει ο διδασκαλος υμων
When Jesus heard this he said, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Matthew 9:12 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 9:12 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 9:12 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας εἶπεν· οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν οἱ ἰσχύοντες ἰατροῦ ἀλλ᾿ οἱ κακῶς ἔχοντες ο δε ιησους ακουσας ειπεν αυτοις ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι ισχυοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες ο δε ιησους ακουσας ειπεν αυτοις ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι ισχυοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες
Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9:13 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 9:13 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 9:13 (Byzantine Majority Text)

πορευθέντες δὲ μάθετε τί ἐστιν· ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν· οὐ γὰρ ἦλθον καλέσαι δικαίους ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλούς πορευθεντες δε μαθετε τι εστιν ελεον θελω και ου θυσιαν ου γαρ ηλθον καλεσαι δικαιους αλλ αμαρτωλους εις μετανοιαν πορευθεντες δε μαθετε τι εστιν ελεον θελω και ου θυσιαν ου γαρ ηλθον καλεσαι δικαιους αλλα αμαρτωλους εις μετανοιαν

Mark 2:15-17 (NET)

Mark 2:15-17 (KJV)

As Jesus was having a meal in Levi’s home, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

Mark 2:15 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 2:15 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 2:15 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ γίνεται κατακεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πολλοὶ τελῶναι καὶ ἁμαρτωλοὶ συνανέκειντο τῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· ἦσαν γὰρ πολλοὶ καὶ ἠκολούθουν αὐτῷ και εγενετο εν τω κατακεισθαι αυτον εν τη οικια αυτου και πολλοι τελωναι και αμαρτωλοι συνανεκειντο τω ιησου και τοις μαθηταις αυτου ησαν γαρ πολλοι και ηκολουθησαν αυτω και εγενετο εν τω κατακεισθαι αυτον εν τη οικια αυτου και πολλοι τελωναι και αμαρτωλοι συνανεκειντο τω ιησου και τοις μαθηταις αυτου ησαν γαρ πολλοι και ηκολουθησαν αυτω
When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

Mark 2:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 2:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 2:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς τῶν Φαρισαίων ἰδόντες ὅτι ἐσθίει μετὰ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ τελωνῶν ἔλεγον τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· ὅτι μετὰ τῶν τελωνῶν καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἐσθίει και οι γραμματεις και οι φαρισαιοι ιδοντες αυτον εσθιοντα μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων ελεγον τοις μαθηταις αυτου τι οτι μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιει και πινει και οι γραμματεις και οι φαρισαιοι ιδοντες αυτον εσθιοντα μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων ελεγον τοις μαθηταις αυτου τι οτι μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιει και πινει
When Jesus heard this he said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 2:17 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 2:17 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 2:17 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἀκούσας ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτοῖς [ὅτι] οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν οἱ ἰσχύοντες ἰατροῦ ἀλλ᾿ οἱ κακῶς ἔχοντες· οὐκ ἦλθον καλέσαι δικαίους ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλούς και ακουσας ο ιησους λεγει αυτοις ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι ισχυοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες ουκ ηλθον καλεσαι δικαιους αλλα αμαρτωλους εις μετανοιαν και ακουσας ο ιησους λεγει αυτοις ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι ισχυοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες ουκ ηλθον καλεσαι δικαιους αλλα αμαρτωλους εις μετανοιαν

Luke 5:28-31 (NET)

Luke 5:28-31 (KJV)

And he got up and followed him, leaving everything behind. And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

Luke 5:28 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 5:28 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 5:28 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ καταλιπὼν πάντα ἀναστὰς ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ και καταλιπων απαντα αναστας ηκολουθησεν αυτω και καταλιπων απαντα αναστας ηκολουθησεν αυτω
Then Levi gave a great banquet in his house for Jesus, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

Luke 5:29 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 5:29 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 5:29 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἐποίησεν δοχὴν μεγάλην Λευὶς αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἦν ὄχλος πολὺς τελωνῶν καὶ ἄλλων οἳ ἦσαν μετ᾿ αὐτῶν κατακείμενοι και εποιησεν δοχην μεγαλην ο λευις αυτω εν τη οικια αυτου και ην οχλος τελωνων πολυς και αλλων οι ησαν μετ αυτων κατακειμενοι και εποιησεν δοχην μεγαλην λευις αυτω εν τη οικια αυτου και ην οχλος τελωνων πολυς και αλλων οι ησαν μετ αυτων κατακειμενοι
But the Pharisees and their experts in the law complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

Luke 5:30 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 5:30 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 5:30 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἐγόγγυζον οἱ Φαρισαῖοι καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς αὐτῶν πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· διὰ τί μετὰ τῶν τελωνῶν καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἐσθίετε καὶ πίνετε και εγογγυζον οι γραμματεις αυτων και οι φαρισαιοι προς τους μαθητας αυτου λεγοντες δια τι μετα τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιετε και πινετε και εγογγυζον οι γραμματεις αυτων και οι φαρισαιοι προς τους μαθητας αυτου λεγοντες δια τι μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιετε και πινετε
Jesus answered them, “Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

Luke 5:31 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 5:31 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 5:31 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς |ὁ| Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν οἱ ὑγιαίνοντες ἰατροῦ ἀλλὰ οἱ κακῶς ἔχοντες και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν προς αυτους ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι υγιαινοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν προς αυτους ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι υγιαινοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες

Matthew 10:3, 4 (NET)

Matthew 10:3, 4 (KJV)

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

Matthew 10:3 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 10:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 10:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Φίλιππος καὶ Βαρθολομαῖος, Θωμᾶς καὶ Μαθθαῖος ὁ τελώνης, Ἰάκωβος ὁ τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καὶ Θαδδαῖος φιλιππος και βαρθολομαιος θωμας και ματθαιος ο τελωνης ιακωβος ο του αλφαιου και λεββαιος ο επικληθεις θαδδαιος φιλιππος και βαρθολομαιος θωμας και ματθαιος ο τελωνης ιακωβος ο του αλφαιου και λεββαιος ο επικληθεις θαδδαιος
Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Matthew 10:4 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 10:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 10:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Σίμων ὁ Καναναῖος καὶ Ἰούδας Ἰσκαριώτης ὁ καὶ παραδοὺς αὐτόν σιμων ο κανανιτης και ιουδας ισκαριωτης ο και παραδους αυτον σιμων ο κανανιτης και ιουδας ισκαριωτης ο και παραδους αυτον

Mark 3:14-16 (NET)

Mark 3:14-16 (KJV)

He appointed 12 so that they would be with him and he could send them to preach And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

Mark 3:14 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 3:14 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 3:14 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἐποίησεν δώδεκα ([οὓς καὶ ἀποστόλους ὠνόμασεν]), ἵνα ὦσιν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἵνα ἀποστέλλῃ αὐτοὺς κηρύσσειν και εποιησεν δωδεκα ινα ωσιν μετ αυτου και ινα αποστελλη αυτους κηρυσσειν και εποιησεν δωδεκα ινα ωσιν μετ αυτου και ινα αποστελλη αυτους κηρυσσειν
and to have authority to cast out demons. And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Mark 3:15 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 3:15 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 3:15 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἔχειν ἐξουσίαν ἐκβάλλειν τὰ δαιμόνια και εχειν εξουσιαν θεραπευειν τας νοσους και εκβαλλειν τα δαιμονια και εχειν εξουσιαν θεραπευειν τας νοσους και εκβαλλειν τα δαιμονια
To Simon he gave the name Peter; And Simon he surnamed Peter;

Mark 3:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 3:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 3:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)

[καὶ ἐποίησεν τοὺς δώδεκα,] καὶ ἐπέθηκεν ὄνομα τῷ Σίμωνι Πέτρον και επεθηκεν τω σιμωνι ονομα πετρον και επεθηκεν τω σιμωνι ονομα πετρον

Mark 3:18, 19 (NET)

Mark 3:18, 19 (KJV)

and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

Mark 3:18 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 3:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 3:18 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ Ἀνδρέαν καὶ Φίλιππον καὶ Βαρθολομαῖον καὶ Μαθθαῖον καὶ Θωμᾶν καὶ Ἰάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καὶ Θαδδαῖον καὶ Σίμωνα τὸν Καναναῖον και ανδρεαν και φιλιππον και βαρθολομαιον και ματθαιον και θωμαν και ιακωβον τον του αλφαιου και θαδδαιον και σιμωνα τον κανανιτην και ανδρεαν και φιλιππον και βαρθολομαιον και ματθαιον και θωμαν και ιακωβον τον του αλφαιου και θαδδαιον και σιμωνα τον κανανιτην
and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (20a) Now Jesus went home And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

Mark 3:19, 20a (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 3:19 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 3:19 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ Ἰούδαν Ἰσκαριώθ, ὃς καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτόν (20a) Καὶ ἔρχεται εἰς οἶκον· και ιουδαν ισκαριωτην ος και παρεδωκεν αυτον και ερχονται εις οικον και ιουδαν ισκαριωτην ος και παρεδωκεν αυτον και ερχονται εις οικον

Luke 6:12 (NET)

Luke 6:12 (KJV)

Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God. And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 6:12 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 6:12 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις ἐξελθεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ ὄρος προσεύξασθαι, καὶ ἦν διανυκτερεύων ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ τοῦ θεοῦ εγενετο δε εν ταις ημεραις ταυταις εξηλθεν εις το ορος προσευξασθαι και ην διανυκτερευων εν τη προσευχη του θεου εγενετο δε εν ταις ημεραις ταυταις εξηλθεν εις το ορος προσευξασθαι και ην διανυκτερευων εν τη προσευχη του θεου

Luke 6:14-16 (NET)

Luke 6:14-16 (KJV)

Simon (whom he named Peter), and his brother Andrew; and James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

Luke 6:14 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 6:14 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 6:14 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Σίμωνα (ὃν καὶ ὠνόμασεν Πέτρον), καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Φίλιππον καὶ Βαρθολομαῖον σιμωνα ον και ωνομασεν πετρον και ανδρεαν τον αδελφον αυτου ιακωβον και ιωαννην φιλιππον και βαρθολομαιον σιμωνα ον και ωνομασεν πετρον και ανδρεαν τον αδελφον αυτου ιακωβον και ιωαννην φιλιππον και βαρθολομαιον
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

Luke 6:15 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 6:15 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 6:15 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ Μαθθαῖον καὶ Θωμᾶν |καὶ| Ἰάκωβον Ἁλφαίου καὶ Σίμωνα τὸν καλούμενον ζηλωτὴν ματθαιον και θωμαν ιακωβον τον του αλφαιου και σιμωνα τον καλουμενον ζηλωτην ματθαιον και θωμαν ιακωβον τον του αλφαιου και σιμωνα τον καλουμενον ζηλωτην
Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Luke 6:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 6:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 6:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ Ἰούδαν Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰούδαν Ἰσκαριώθ, ὃς ἐγένετο προδότης ιουδαν ιακωβου και ιουδαν ισκαριωτην ος και εγενετο προδοτης ιουδαν ιακωβου και ιουδαν ισκαριωτην ος και εγενετο προδοτης

Mark 4:3-6 (NET)

Mark 4:3-6 (KJV)

“Listen! A sower went out to sow. Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

Mark 4:3 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἀκούετε. ἰδοὺ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων σπεῖραι ακουετε ιδου εξηλθεν ο σπειρων του σπειραι ακουετε ιδου εξηλθεν ο σπειρων του σπειραι
And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

Mark 4:4 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ σπείρειν ὃ μὲν ἔπεσεν παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ ἦλθεν τὰ πετεινὰ καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτό και εγενετο εν τω σπειρειν ο μεν επεσεν παρα την οδον και ηλθεν τα πετεινα του ουρανου και κατεφαγεν αυτο και εγενετο εν τω σπειρειν ο μεν επεσεν παρα την οδον και ηλθεν τα πετεινα και κατεφαγεν αυτο
Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

Mark 4:5 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:5 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:5 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἄλλο ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸ πετρῶδες ὅπου οὐκ εἶχεν γῆν πολλήν, καὶ εὐθὺς ἐξανέτειλεν διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν βάθος γῆς αλλο δε επεσεν επι το πετρωδες οπου ουκ ειχεν γην πολλην και ευθεως εξανετειλεν δια το μη εχειν βαθος γης αλλο δε επεσεν επι το πετρωδες οπου ουκ ειχεν γην πολλην και ευθεως εξανετειλεν δια το μη εχειν βαθος γης
When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Mark 4:6 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:6 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:6 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ὅτε ἀνέτειλεν ἥλιος ἐκαυματίσθη καὶ διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ρίζαν ἐξηράνθη ηλιου δε ανατειλαντος εκαυματισθη και δια το μη εχειν ριζαν εξηρανθη ηλιου δε ανατειλαντος εκαυματισθη και δια το μη εχειν ριζαν εξηρανθη

Mark 4:8, 9 (NET)

Mark 4:8, 9 (KJV)

But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times.” And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

Mark 4:8 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:8 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:8 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἄλλα ἔπεσεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν καὶ ἐδίδου καρπὸν ἀναβαίνοντα καὶ αὐξανόμενα καὶ ἔφερεν |ἓν| τριάκοντα καὶ ἓν ἑξήκοντα καὶ ἓν ἑκατόν και αλλο επεσεν εις την γην την καλην και εδιδου καρπον αναβαινοντα και αυξανοντα και εφερεν εν τριακοντα και εν εξηκοντα και εν εκατον και αλλο επεσεν εις την γην την καλην και εδιδου καρπον αναβαινοντα και αυξανοντα και εφερεν εν τριακοντα και εν εξηκοντα και εν εκατον
And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!” And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:9 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἔλεγεν· ὃς ἔχει ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω και ελεγεν αυτοις ο εχων ωτα ακουειν ακουετω και ελεγεν ο εχων ωτα ακουειν ακουετω

Mark 4:16-19 (NET)

Mark 4:16-19 (KJV)

These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

Mark 4:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ οὗτοι εἰσιν οἱ ἐπὶ τὰ πετρώδη σπειρόμενοι, οἳ ὅταν ἀκούσωσιν τὸν λόγον εὐθὺς μετὰ χαρᾶς λαμβάνουσιν αὐτόν και ουτοι εισιν ομοιως οι επι τα πετρωδη σπειρομενοι οι οταν ακουσωσιν τον λογον ευθεως μετα χαρας λαμβανουσιν αυτον και ουτοι εισιν ομοιως οι επι τα πετρωδη σπειρομενοι οι οταν ακουσωσιν τον λογον ευθεως μετα χαρας λαμβανουσιν αυτον
But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Mark 4:17 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:17 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:17 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ οὐκ ἔχουσιν ρίζαν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἀλλὰ πρόσκαιροι εἰσιν, εἶτα γενομένης θλίψεως ἢ διωγμοῦ διὰ τὸν λόγον εὐθὺς σκανδαλίζονται και ουκ εχουσιν ριζαν εν εαυτοις αλλα προσκαιροι εισιν ειτα γενομενης θλιψεως η διωγμου δια τον λογον ευθεως σκανδαλιζονται και ουκ εχουσιν ριζαν εν εαυτοις αλλα προσκαιροι εισιν ειτα γενομενης θλιψεως η διωγμου δια τον λογον ευθεως σκανδαλιζονται
Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

Mark 4:18 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:18 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἄλλοι εἰσὶν οἱ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπειρόμενοι· οὗτοι εἰσιν οἱ τὸν λόγον ἀκούσαντες και ουτοι εισιν οι εις τας ακανθας σπειρομενοι ουτοι εισιν οι τον λογον ακουοντες και ουτοι εισιν οι εις τας ακανθας σπειρομενοι οι τον λογον ακουοντες
but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:19 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:19 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:19 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ αἱ μέριμναι τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου καὶ αἱ περὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐπιθυμίαι εἰσπορευόμεναι συμπνίγουσιν τὸν λόγον καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται και αι μεριμναι του αιωνος τουτου και η απατη του πλουτου και αι περι τα λοιπα επιθυμιαι εισπορευομεναι συμπνιγουσιν τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται και αι μεριμναι του αιωνος τουτου και η απατη του πλουτου και αι περι τα λοιπα επιθυμιαι εισπορευομεναι συμπνιγουσιν τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται

Acts 27:21-23 (NET)

Acts 27:21-23 (KJV)

Since many of them had no desire to eat, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not put out to sea from Crete, thus avoiding this damage and loss. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

Acts 27:21 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 27:21 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 27:21 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Πολλῆς τε ἀσιτίας ὑπαρχούσης τότε σταθεὶς ὁ Παῦλος ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἶπεν· ἔδει μέν, ὦ ἄνδρες, πειθαρχήσαντας μοι μὴ ἀνάγεσθαι ἀπὸ τῆς Κρήτης κερδῆσαι τε τὴν ὕβριν ταύτην καὶ τὴν ζημίαν πολλης δε ασιτιας υπαρχουσης τοτε σταθεις ο παυλος εν μεσω αυτων ειπεν εδει μεν ω ανδρες πειθαρχησαντας μοι μη αναγεσθαι απο της κρητης κερδησαι τε την υβριν ταυτην και την ζημιαν πολλης δε ασιτιας υπαρχουσης τοτε σταθεις ο παυλος εν μεσω αυτων ειπεν εδει μεν ω ανδρες πειθαρχησαντας μοι μη αναγεσθαι απο της κρητης κερδησαι τε την υβριν ταυτην και την ζημιαν
And now I advise you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.

Acts 27:22 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 27:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 27:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ τὰ νῦν παραινῶ ὑμᾶς εὐθυμεῖν· ἀποβολὴ γὰρ ψυχῆς οὐδεμία ἔσται ἐξ ὑμῶν πλὴν τοῦ πλοίου και τανυν παραινω υμας ευθυμειν αποβολη γαρ ψυχης ουδεμια εσται εξ υμων πλην του πλοιου και τα νυν παραινω υμας ευθυμειν αποβολη γαρ ψυχης ουδεμια εσται εξ υμων πλην του πλοιου
For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

Acts 27:23 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 27:23 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 27:23 (Byzantine Majority Text)

παρέστη γάρ μοι ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὗ εἰμι [ἐγώ] ᾧ καὶ λατρεύω, ἄγγελος παρεστη γαρ μοι τη νυκτι ταυτη αγγελος του θεου ου ειμι ω και λατρευω παρεστη γαρ μοι ταυτη τη νυκτι αγγελος του θεου ου ειμι ω και λατρευω

Mark 4:38 (NET)

Mark 4:38 (KJV)

But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

Mark 4:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἐν τῇ πρύμνῃ ἐπὶ τὸ προσκεφάλαιον καθεύδων. καὶ ἐγείρουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· διδάσκαλε, οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι ἀπολλύμεθα και ην αυτος επι τη πρυμνη επι το προσκεφαλαιον καθευδων και διεγειρουσιν αυτον και λεγουσιν αυτω διδασκαλε ου μελει σοι οτι απολλυμεθα και ην αυτος επι τη πρυμνη επι το προσκεφαλαιον καθευδων και διεγειρουσιν αυτον και λεγουσιν αυτω διδασκαλε ου μελει σοι οτι απολλυμεθα

Mark 4:40 (NET)

Mark 4:40 (KJV)

And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Mark 4:40 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:40 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:40 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί δειλοί ἐστε; οὔπω ἔχετε πίστιν και ειπεν αυτοις τι δειλοι εστε ουτως πως ουκ εχετε πιστιν και ειπεν αυτοις τι δειλοι εστε ουτως πως ουκ εχετε πιστιν

Mark 5:28 (NET)

Mark 5:28 (KJV)

for she kept saying, “If only I touch his clothes, I will be healed.” For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

Mark 5:28 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 5:28 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 5:28 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἔλεγεν γὰρ ὅτι ἐὰν ἅψωμαι κὰν τῶν ἱματίων αὐτοῦ σωθήσομαι ελεγεν γαρ οτι καν των ιματιων αυτου αψωμαι σωθησομαι ελεγεν γαρ οτι καν των ιματιων αυτου αψωμαι σωθησομαι

Luke 9:1, 2 (NET)

Luke 9:1, 2 (KJV)

After Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Luke 9:1 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 9:1 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 9:1 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Συγκαλεσάμενος δὲ τοὺς δώδεκα ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς δύναμιν καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ δαιμόνια καὶ νόσους θεραπεύειν συγκαλεσαμενος δε τους δωδεκα μαθητας αυτου εδωκεν αυτοις δυναμιν και εξουσιαν επι παντα τα δαιμονια και νοσους θεραπευειν συγκαλεσαμενος δε τους δωδεκα εδωκεν αυτοις δυναμιν και εξουσιαν επι παντα τα δαιμονια και νοσους θεραπευειν
and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luke 9:2 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 9:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 9:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς κηρύσσειν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἰᾶσθαι [τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς] και απεστειλεν αυτους κηρυσσειν την βασιλειαν του θεου και ιασθαι τους ασθενουντας και απεστειλεν αυτους κηρυσσειν την βασιλειαν του θεου και ιασθαι τους ασθενουντας

1 Luke 8:21b (ESV) Table

2 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: Now) at the beginning of this clause, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δὲ.

3 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had διεγερθεὶς, a participle of διεγείρω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγερθεις (KJV: he arose), a participle of ἐγείρω.

6 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀντιπέρα, a form of the adverb ἀντιπέραν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αντιπεραν (KJV: over against).

7 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτω following there met. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

8 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ος ειχεν (KJV: which had), a 3rd person singular form of ἔχω in the imperfect tense here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had a present participle ἔχων.

9 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ here followed by χρόνῳ ἱκανῷ in the dative case, which the translators treated like the beginning of a new clause. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκ here followed by χρονων ικανων in the genitive case, which the translators treated like a modifier of the previous clause (KJV: which had devils long time).

10 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καὶ here followed by ιματιον ουκ ενεδιδυσκετο, a form of ἐνδιδύσκω in the imperfect tense, which the translators treated like the beginning of a new clause (KJV: and ware no clothes). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὐκ ἐνεδύσατο ἱμάτιον; ἐνεδύσατο is a form of ἐνδύω in the middle voice and aorist tense.

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

15 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had παρεκάλουν here, a 3rd person plural form of παρακαλέω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular form παρεκαλει (KJV: they besought).

16 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had βοσκομένη here, a singular participle of βόσκω in the nominative case, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural participle βοσκομενων in the genitive case.

18 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had εἰσῆλθον here, a 3rd person plural form of εἰσέρχομαι, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had the singular εισηλθεν.

19 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γεγονὸς here, a neuter participle of γίνομαι in the active voice, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the masculine γεγενημενον (KJV: was done) in the middle or passive voice.

20 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had απελθοντες (KJV: went) following fled and. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

23 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἠρώτησεν here, a singular form of ἐρωτάω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural ηρωτησαν (KJV: besought).

24 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐδεῖτο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εδεετο (KJV: besought). These appear to be alternate spellings of the same part of speech.

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

26 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγενετο (KJV: it came to pass) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

27 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑποστρέφειν here, an infinitive form of ὑποστρέφω in the present tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υποστρεψαι (KJV: was returned) in the aorist tense.

30 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀπ᾿ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υπ (KJV: of).

31 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και οι μετ αυτου (KJV: and they that were with him) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

32 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και λεγεις τις ο αψαμενος μου (KJV: and sayest thou, Who touched me) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

35 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θαρσει (KJV: be of good comfort) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

36 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had μηκέτι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had simply μη (KJV: not).

37 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεγων (KJV: saying). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

38 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πίστευσον here, an imperative form of πιστεύω in the aorist tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πιστευε in the present tense.

42 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκβαλων εξω παντας και (KJV: put them all out, and) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

44 Luke 8:22-56 (ESV)

45 Luke 8:25a (ESV)

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

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

50 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the neuter ἔλεος here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the masculine ελεον.

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

52 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις μετανοιαν (KJV: to repentance) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

53 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γίνεται here, a form of γίνομαι in the present tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγενετο (KJV: it came to pass) in the 2nd aorist tense.

54 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν τω preceding reclined at table (KJV: sat at meat). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

57 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὅτι ἐσθίει here, a 3rd person singular form of ἐσθίω in the present tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτον εσθιοντα (KJV: him eat), a present participle.

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

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

60 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὅτι (“that”) here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

61 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις μετανοιαν (KJV: to repentance) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

62 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πάντα here, a form of πᾶς, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had απαντα (KJV: all), a form of ἅπας.

64 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article ο preceding Levi. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

65 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τῶν preceding tax collectors. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

67 Luke 5:28a (ESV)

68 Matthew 9:13b (ESV)

70 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεββαιος ο επικληθεις (KJV: Lebbaeus, whose surname was) preceding Thaddeus. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

74 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θεραπευειν τας νοσους και (KJV: to heal sicknesses, and) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

84 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τον του preceding of Aphaeus. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

88 Matthew 10:3 (ESV)

89 The Path of Preparation: Four Necessary Steps, #4 Organize: Sequence and Order p. 101; Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

90 The Balance: A Generic Framework pp. 74, 75; Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 1

91 Philippians 2:13 (ESV)

93 Romans 7:18b (ESV) Table

94 John 17:3b (ESV)

95 Luke 8:22b (ESV)

96 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding to sow. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

97 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had του ουρανου (KJV: of the air) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

98 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: And).

99 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the adjective or adverb εὐθὺς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the adverb ευθεως.

101 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the plural adjective ἄλλα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular αλλο.

102 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐξανόμενα here, a participle of αὐξάνω in the passive voice, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυξανοντα (KJV: increased) in the active voice.

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

104 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὃς ἔχει here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο εχων (KJV: He that hath).

105 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ομοιως (KJV: likewise). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

108 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἄλλοι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτοι (KJV: these).

112 Luke 8:25b (ESV)

113 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: But).

118 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτως (KJV: so) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

119 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὔπω ἔχετε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πως ουκ εχετε (KJV: how is it that ye have no).

121 Bullet point #4 in answer to my question: what causes storms to form?

123 Luke 8:42b (ESV)

124 Luke 8:46b (ESV)

126 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had μαθητας αυτου (KJV: his twelve disciples) following twelve. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

127 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had [τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς] (NET: the sick), a form of the adjective ἀσθενής following to heal, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τους ασθενουντας (KJV: the sick), a participle of the verb ἀσθενέω.

Matthew 8:23-34

This passage was assigned in the preaching course I’m taking. It is extra to any assignment in the book:

Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, 3rd Edition by Bryan Chapell

It’s preface is Jesus’ response to an unnamed disciple asking leave to bury his father: Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.1

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.2 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they3 went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we4 are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

And when he came5 to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes,6 two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O7 Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons8 begged (παρεκάλουν, a form of παρακαλέω) him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away9 into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters [Table]. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, all the city came out to meet10 Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged (παρεκάλεσαν, another form of παρακαλέω) him to leave their region.11

The assignment was to determine the SOS, EMP, CTA and RTC for this passage. These acronyms are my Pastor’s technique for establishing a Fallen Condition Focus (FCF). The acronyms mean: Source of Sorrow (SOS), Empowering Grace (EMP), Call to Action (CTA) and Road to Christ (RTC).

Source of Sorrow (SOS)

No one but the demons recognized Jesus as God in human flesh: two demon-possessed men met12 Jesus and cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God?13 In the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text they even called Him by name: Jesus (ιησου).

John made it clear that Nathanael was a possible exception (John 1:47-49 ESV):

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus14 answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered15 him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the16 King of Israel!”

But Nathanael, perhaps better known as Bartholomew, was either not present or profoundly silent in these two stories. Matthew acknowledged Peter and John as potentially among those disciples who followed him (ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ) into the boat17 (Matthew 4:18-22 ESV).

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen [Table]. And he said to them, “Follow me (δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου), and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him (ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ). And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him (ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ).

The Holy Spirit had not yet revealed Jesus’ identity to Peter (Matthew 16:15-17 ESV):

[Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven [Table].

It would be many years before John wrote his majestic description of Jesus (John 1:1-5, 14 ESV):

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

At this particular time Peter and John were apparently among the men (ἄνθρωποι, a form of ἄνθρωπος) who marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this (ποταπός ἐστιν οὗτος), that even winds and sea obey (ὑπακούουσιν, a form of ὑπακούω) him?”18 It caught my attention that Matthew and the Holy Spirit called them men here rather than disciples. It reminded me of Paul’s complaint to the Corinthians over a different issue: are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way (κατὰ ἄνθρωπον, another form of ἄνθρωπος)?19 Presumably, the men continued to accompany Jesus, but disciples followed him as Lord and Christ, the Son of God in human flesh.

Jesus’ disciples are not mentioned again in Matthew’s Gospel account until he was called by Jesus (Matthew 9:9, 10 ESV).

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples (τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ).

Empowering Grace (EMP)

Jesus is God in human flesh (Matthew 17:1-9 ESV).

…Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light [Table]. And behold, there appeared20 to them Moses21 and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make22 three tents here, one for you and one for Moses23 and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell24 on their faces and were terrified (ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα). But Jesus came and touched25 them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear (φοβεῖσθε, another form of φοβέω).” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

And as they were coming down26 the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised27 from the dead.”

I’m more like Peter than I want to admit. Confronted with an unimaginable circumstance, his mind scrambled to make sense of it by latching on to an application, what he could, or should, do to make sense of it all. Whether I will make (ποιήσω in the NA27 and NA28) or let us make (ποιησωμεν in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text) is the more original text, the point is the same: Peter alone will make, or enlist James and John and lead them to make, three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.28

As he made Jesus equal to Moses the lawgiver and Elijah the prophet who was taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud29 gave Peter the true understanding of the vision: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.30 And the voice terrified Peter with the true application, what he should do in response to this vision: listen to him.31

Matthew recorded an incident which occurred the night Jesus was arrested: And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.32 It is easy, perhaps, to muddle the significance of this action. Only John, many years later named the assailant of the high priest’s servant: Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.33

Peter had made his motive and intent quite clear to Jesus (Matthew 16:21, 22 ESV):

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”

And Jesus had made his assessment of Peter’s motive and intent quite clear to Peter (Matthew 16:23 ESV):

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me (ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου), Satan (σατανᾶ, a form of σατανᾶς)! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” [Table].

Matthew also recorded Jesus’ response to Peter’s drawn sword (Matthew 26:52, 53 ESV [Table]):

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

I have no idea if Peter thought that or not. He had seen Jesus demonstrate his power and authority over the winds and the sea (Matthew 8:26b ESV) and over demons (Matthew 8:32b ESV). I assume he thought that Jesus, if properly motivated, could end all that transpired that night with a word. But Peter had also witnessed how patient and gracious Jesus was in response to the pleas of his frightened disciples (Matthew 8:25-26), demons (Matthew 8:29-32) and even Gentile villagers who begged Him to leave (Matthew 8:33-34). The postscript to these two stories reads (Matthew 9:1 ESV):

And getting into a34 boat he crossed over and came to his own city.

Call to Action (CTA)

The Call to Action is implied in the first verse of the passage: his disciples followed him (Matthew 8:23b ESV), bolstered by the preface, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”35 But how?

Peter followed Jesus literally for a few years. A voice from a bright cloud warned him to listen to Jesus after he had rebuked Jesus for saying that He would be killed, and on the third day be raised. Later Jesus said, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”36 But Peter’s drawn sword indicates that he held fast to his own religious belief: This shall never happen to you.

Jesus had instructed his disciples earlier that night (Matthew 26:31, 32 ESV):

“You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered[Table]. But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

He applied the prophetic Scripture to his disciples (Zechariah 13:7 [Table]):

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the Lord of hosts.
“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.

Peter listened neither to Jesus nor the prophet Zechariah (Matthew 26:33 ESV):

Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away” [Table].

So Jesus prophesied to Peter (Matthew 26:34 ESV):

Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

But Peter refused to listen to Him and encouraged, if not led, the rest of Jesus’ disciples to follow his mutiny (Matthew 26:35 ESV):

Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Frankly, I’ve never heard a sermon on Peter’s denial of Christ that didn’t at least imply an application that Peter should have played the man and proved both Jesus’ word and the Scripture false. Peter and the other disciples had one simple task to perform that night: Scatter. Stay alive. And then they were to regroup in Galilee three days later after Jesus’ resurrection.

So now, I see Peter, standing with his drawn sword, defying the will of God, the prophetic Scripture and Jesus Christ. Had he succeeded in his mission he would have become the enemy of every person alive at that time, every person who had ever lived up to that time, and every person who will live since that time, by robbing them of God’s salvation through his Son Jesus the Christ. Jesus didn’t let Peter succeed as his, and our, “enemy” or “adversary.”

He asked Peter a question (Matthew 26:54-56 ESV):

“But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me [Table]. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Road to Christ (RTC)

Peter’s time with Jesus wasn’t wasted. Once he and Jesus’ other disciples received the indwelling Holy Spirit sent by the Father, they were dramatically changed that very day. And here my likeness to Peter abruptly ends. Though I had received Jesus’ Holy Spirit after asking to know God, though I received a voracious appetite for the Bible after I received his Holy Spirit after I asked to know God, it wasn’t long before my religious mind came roaring back with a vengeance.

“Follow me,” Jesus’ oft repeated37 command stirred me but didn’t seem particularly practical since his ascension. I squandered most of my appetite and the God-given energy to satisfy that appetite in the early years searching the Bible for applications: rules I could obey to prove what I could do for God.

It took many years to realize that I could sit down with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and follow Him through the Bible, and get to know Him through the Scriptures. Duh! It took even more time to realize that knowing Him through his word and his Spirit transformed me into his likeness far better than any desire or effort of mine. And it took many more years for me to stop feeling guilty about all the time I “wasted” studying the Bible with Him when I “should” have been “doing” something “more productive.”

A voice from a bright cloud commanded Peter, James and John: listen (ἀκούετε, a form of ἀκούω) to him. Luke recorded a story about a woman who did just that, though she had never heard a voice from a bright cloud (Luke 10:38-40 ESV):

Now38 as they went on their way, Jesus39 entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.40 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened (ἤκουεν, another form of ἀκούω) to his teaching [Table]. But Martha was distracted with much serving (πολλὴν διακονίαν, a form of διακονία). And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve (διακονεῖν, an infinitive form of διακονέω) alone? Tell her then to help me.”

Jesus’ answer to Martha played no small role in helping me overcome my guilt studying the Bible, for Martha was directly serving Jesus’ immediate needs when he answered her (Luke 10:41, 42 ESV):

But the Lord41 answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled42 about many things, but one thing is necessary (χρεία). Mary43 has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from44 her.”

I recall being moved by a sermon on this story when I was young. It’s difficult to date when, but I must have been between nine and eleven. I could read the Bible and I was still talking to my mother about things like my reactions to a sermon. She hadn’t liked it. I don’t remember her words, only the emotional response I had to them; namely, that Jesus was unnecessarily harsh with Martha, and ultimately unfair to her. I did notice that preachers and Sunday school teachers covered for Jesus quite often, when He seemed unnecessarily harsh and ultimately unfair to people. Over time, I suppose, I just began to assume that Jesus was unnecessarily harsh and ultimately unfair to people.

I should probably get back to the text I’m supposed to be studying (Matthew 8:26a ESV):

And [Jesus] said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”

My assumption that Jesus was unnecessarily harsh and ultimately unfair to people coupled with the belief that faith was not a gift of God but entirely up to me, made Jesus’ words fairly meaningless. Rather, the meaning I ascribed to them had nothing to do with Jesus’ words. O you of little faith might as well have been “O you damned destined to burn in the lake of fire for all eternity!” That made his question unintelligible except as an expletive of utter exasperation, resignation or despair.

Who in his right mind would even want to hang out with this guy, much less follow him? But it is hard to imagine anything more painfully obvious in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry on earth than this: sinners liked to hang out with Jesus. It was those with religious minds who wanted Him dead.

Paul wrote, when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.45 And I prove his word true every moment of every day I live. Eventually, the Holy Spirit got me to take on O you of little faith directly. Looking at Greek text was still kind of a new thing for me. My first thought was that the phrase wasn’t even there. But by carefully looking up every word in the verse, I discovered that the “phrase” was one word in Greek: ὀλιγόπιστοι, a plural form of the adjective ὀλιγόπιστος.

What!?

My high school French came to mind: “My little cabbage” may not be exactly what I want to be called by anyone, but it was received as an endearing term by enough French-speaking people that mon petit chou was taught in my first semester class. It began to dawn on me that ὀλιγόπιστοι was Jesus’ pet name for his disciples: “my little faiths, my incredulous.” Only then did I fully recognize that He didn’t refuse to calm the storm because his “little faiths” were afraid: Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.46

I want to consider this storm before taking on Jesus’ question directly. I don’t spend much time on the water. I’ve spent most of my life in the middle of the United States of America. So, apart from the occasional tornado, a storm is something that happens in the sky. They are usually enjoyable to watch if one has the time. The Greek word translated storm in this passage was σεισμὸς, the etymological origin of the English word seismic. The disciples weren’t admiring some phenomenon happening afar off in the heavens. They were riding out an earthquake in the sea: great waves mounding up over their heads, crashing mountains of water down upon them, swamping their boat—and Jesus was asleep.

When I first moved to Florida, I had a mostly sleepless night through my first hurricane. I’ve lived through tornadoes, even two I heard right overhead. The Lord protected me and all that was mine. Driving in the dark through the Texas panhandle, my phone alerted me that a tornado had been sighted between mile marker x and y—my exact location. There was no place to pull off and hide. So I sped up and prayed until I got safely to Amarillo, where I could stop for the night. But a hurricane was a new experience. In the morning, however, I realized I’d wasted the night awake. I had slept through worse storms in both St. Louis and Chicago.

Be that as it may, whenever a hurricane was forecast and I was expected to drive recording equipment to a show from my home in Florida, I left early at my own expense to make sure the job got done. Regardless of the harm one may or may not suffer from a hurricane, traffic and travel times could be disrupted. And “at my own expense” usually meant that I stayed in hotels on points I had received from hotels paid for by my employer, and ate in restaurants on leftover per diem from other shows.

I assume then that Jesus’ question—Why are you afraid—was not about prudence. “We have an innate drive to survive this storm and until You woke up and calmed the storm things were not looking promising” would not have been a valid answer. The Greek word translated afraid was δειλοί, a plural form of δειλός: “timid, fearful, cowardly, fainthearted; miserable, wretched, worthless; deserving pity, deserving contempt.” Perhaps, the easiest way to answer Jesus’ question is to consider why Jesus, in exactly the same circumstance, was not “timid, fearful, cowardly, fainthearted; miserable, wretched, worthless; deserving pity, deserving contempt.”

Jesus was conceived (γεννηθὲν, a form of γεννάω)…from the Holy Spirit (ἐκ πνεύματος ἐστιν ἁγίου): As Joseph considered divorcing Mary because she was pregnant with Jesus behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear (φοβηθῇς, a form of φοβέω) to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.47

He was in the world, John wrote of Jesus, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born (ἐγεννήθησαν, another form of γεννάω), not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God (ἀλλ᾿ ἐκ θεοῦ).48

Jesus received the Spirit of God ([τὸ] πνεῦμα [τοῦ] θεοῦ): And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him [Table]; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”49

Now when they heard [Peter preach after he had received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-36)] they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent (μετανοήσατε, an imperative form of μετανοέω) and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος) [Table]. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls [Table].50

Jesus was led (ἀνήχθη, a form of ἀνάγω)…by the Spirit (ὑπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος) and believed the Scriptures (Matthew 4:1-10 ESV):

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man51 shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” [Table].52

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple [Table] and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”53

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”54 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve’” [Table].55

For all who are led by the Spirit of God (πνεύματι θεοῦ ἄγονται, a form of ἄγω) are sons of God,56 Paul wrote to the Romans. But I say, he wrote To the churches of Galatia,57 walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do [Table]. But if you are led by the Spirit (πνεύματι ἄγεσθε, another form of ἄγω), you are not under the law58 (Romans 8:2-4 ESV):

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death [Table]. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Follow me, Jesus—conceived from the Spirit, having received the Spirit of God, led by the Spirit and believing the Scriptures—said. And so, I return with the tempter’s Scriptural applications still ringing in my ears, to Peter, standing with his drawn sword, forcing his “heart and nerve and sinew”59 not to be “timid, fearful, cowardly, fainthearted; miserable, wretched, worthless; deserving pity, deserving contempt.”

But at that particular place, at that particular time, there was only one meaningful way to follow Jesus, one relevant application: “Scatter.” And at that particular place, at that particular time, none of Jesus’ disciples had the faith in the word of the only true God, or in Jesus Christ whom He sent, to do so willingly. Rather, they fled against their wills, contrary to their own stated beliefs or intentions, because God is faithful.

I find it to be a law that when I want to do right (τὸ καλόν, a form of καλός; i.e., “the beautiful”), evil lies close at hand.60 Given that, if I attempt to do right by following a complicated list of sometimes contradictory applications—I, or anyone else, has derived from Scripture—I am as likely as not to think, say or do the wrong thing at the wrong place at the wrong time. And it is completely unnecessary since now we can enter by the new and living way that he opened for us through61 his death and resurrection; He who was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.62 Follow Him.

According to a note (118) in the NET, Jesus alluded to Psalm 32:2 in John 1:47. A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ allusion with that of the Septuagint follows.

John 1:47b (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 32:2b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Psalm 31:2b (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐν δόλος οὐκ ἔστιν

οὐδὲ ἔστιν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ δόλος

οὐδέ ἐστιν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ δόλος

John 1:47b (NET)

Psalm 31:2b (NETS)

Psalm 31:2b (English Elpenor)

in whom there is no deceit

in his mouth there is no deceit

and [in]* whose mouth there is no guile

Tables comparing Matthew 8:22; 8:25; 8:28, 29; 8:31; 8:34; John 1:48, 49; Matthew 17:3, 4; 17:6, 7; 17:9; 9:1; Luke 10:38 and 10:41, 42 in the KJV and NET follow.

Matthew 8:22 (NET)

Matthew 8:22 (KJV)

But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 8:22 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 8:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 8:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι καὶ ἄφες τοὺς νεκροὺς θάψαι τοὺς ἑαυτῶν νεκρούς ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω ακολουθει μοι και αφες τους νεκρους θαψαι τους εαυτων νεκρους ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω ακολουθει μοι και αφες τους νεκρους θαψαι τους εαυτων νεκρους

Matthew 8:25 (NET)

Matthew 8:25 (KJV)

So they came and woke him up saying, “Lord, save us! We are about to die!” And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

Matthew 8:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 8:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 8:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ προσελθόντες ἤγειραν αὐτὸν λέγοντες· κύριε, σῶσον, ἀπολλύμεθα και προσελθοντες οι μαθηται αυτου ηγειραν αυτον λεγοντες κυριε σωσον ημας απολλυμεθα και προσελθοντες οι μαθηται ηγειραν αυτον λεγοντες κυριε σωσον ημας απολλυμεθα

Matthew 8:28, 29 (NET)

Matthew 8:28, 29 (KJV)

When he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were extremely violent, so that no one was able to pass by that way. And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

Matthew 8:28 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 8:28 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 8:28 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἐλθόντος αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πέραν εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν ὑπήντησαν αὐτῷ δύο δαιμονιζόμενοι ἐκ τῶν μνημείων ἐξερχόμενοι, χαλεποὶ λίαν, ὥστε μὴ ἰσχύειν τινὰ παρελθεῖν διὰ τῆς ὁδοῦ ἐκείνης και ελθοντι αυτω εις το περαν εις την χωραν των γεργεσηνων υπηντησαν αυτω δυο δαιμονιζομενοι εκ των μνημειων εξερχομενοι χαλεποι λιαν ωστε μη ισχυειν τινα παρελθειν δια της οδου εκεινης και ελθοντι αυτω εις το περαν εις την χωραν των γεργεσηνων υπηντησαν αυτω δυο δαιμονιζομενοι εκ των μνημειων εξερχομενοι χαλεποι λιαν ωστε μη ισχυειν τινα παρελθειν δια της οδου εκεινης
They cried out, “Son of God, leave us alone! Have you come here to torment us before the time?” And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

Matthew 8:29 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 8:29 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 8:29 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔκραξαν λέγοντες· τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί, υἱὲ τοῦ θεοῦ; ἦλθες ὧδε πρὸ καιροῦ βασανίσαι ἡμᾶς και ιδου εκραξαν λεγοντες τι ημιν και σοι ιησου υιε του θεου ηλθες ωδε προ καιρου βασανισαι ημας και ιδου εκραξαν λεγοντες τι ημιν και σοι ιησου υιε του θεου ηλθες ωδε προ καιρου βασανισαι ημας

Matthew 8:31 (NET)

Matthew 8:31 (KJV)

Then the demons begged him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

Matthew 8:31 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 8:31 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 8:31 (Byzantine Majority Text)

οἱ δὲ δαίμονες παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν λέγοντες· εἰ ἐκβάλλεις ἡμᾶς, ἀπόστειλον ἡμᾶς εἰς τὴν ἀγέλην τῶν χοίρων οι δε δαιμονες παρεκαλουν αυτον λεγοντες ει εκβαλλεις ημας επιτρεψον ημιν απελθειν εις την αγελην των χοιρων οι δε δαιμονες παρεκαλουν αυτον λεγοντες ει εκβαλλεις ημας επιτρεψον ημιν απελθειν εις την αγελην των χοιρων

Matthew 8:34 (NET)

Matthew 8:34 (KJV)

Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

Matthew 8:34 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 8:34 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 8:34 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἰδοὺ πᾶσα ἡ πόλις ἐξῆλθεν εἰς ὑπάντησιν τῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν παρεκάλεσαν ὅπως μεταβῇ ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων αὐτῶν και ιδου πασα η πολις εξηλθεν εις συναντησιν τω ιησου και ιδοντες αυτον παρεκαλεσαν οπως μεταβη απο των οριων αυτων και ιδου πασα η πολις εξηλθεν εις συναντησιν τω ιησου και ιδοντες αυτον παρεκαλεσαν οπως μεταβη απο των οριων αυτων

John 1:48, 49 (NET)

John 1:48, 49 (KJV)

Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

John 1:48 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 1:48 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 1:48 (Byzantine Majority Text)

λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· πόθεν με γινώσκεις; ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδον σε λεγει αυτω ναθαναηλ ποθεν με γινωσκεις απεκριθη ο ιησους και ειπεν αυτω προ του σε φιλιππον φωνησαι οντα υπο την συκην ειδον σε λεγει αυτω ναθαναηλ ποθεν με γινωσκεις απεκριθη ιησους και ειπεν αυτω προ του σε φιλιππον φωνησαι οντα υπο την συκην ειδον σε
Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!” Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

John 1:49 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 1:49 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 1:49 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· ραββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, σὺ βασιλεὺς εἶ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ απεκριθη ναθαναηλ και λεγει αυτω ραββι συ ει ο υιος του θεου συ ει ο βασιλευς του ισραηλ απεκριθη ναθαναηλ και λεγει αυτω ραββι συ ει ο υιος του θεου συ ει ο βασιλευς του ισραηλ

Matthew 17:3, 4 (NET)

Matthew 17:3, 4 (KJV)

Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Matthew 17:3 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 17:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 17:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἰδοὺ ὤφθη αὐτοῖς Μωϋσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας συλλαλοῦντες μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ και ιδου ωφθησαν αυτοις μωσης και ηλιας μετ αυτου συλλαλουντες και ιδου ωφθησαν αυτοις μωσης και ηλιας μετ αυτου συλλαλουντες
So Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Matthew 17:4 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 17:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 17:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν τῷ Ἰησοῦ· κύριε, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι· εἰ θέλεις, ποιήσω ὧδε τρεῖς σκηνάς, σοὶ μίαν καὶ Μωϋσεῖ μίαν καὶ Ἠλίᾳ μίαν αποκριθεις δε ο πετρος ειπεν τω ιησου κυριε καλον εστιν ημας ωδε ειναι ει θελεις ποιησωμεν ωδε τρεις σκηνας σοι μιαν και μωση μιαν και μιαν ηλια αποκριθεις δε ο πετρος ειπεν τω ιησου κυριε καλον εστιν ημας ωδε ειναι ει θελεις ποιησωμεν ωδε τρεις σκηνας σοι μιαν και μωση μιαν και μιαν ηλια

Matthew 17:6, 7 (NET)

Matthew 17:6, 7 (KJV)

When the disciples heard this, they were overwhelmed with fear and threw themselves down with their faces to the ground. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

Matthew 17:6 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 17:6 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 17:6 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ μαθηταὶ ἔπεσαν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα και ακουσαντες οι μαθηται επεσον επι προσωπον αυτων και εφοβηθησαν σφοδρα και ακουσαντες οι μαθηται επεσον επι προσωπον αυτων και εφοβηθησαν σφοδρα
But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Do not be afraid.” And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

Matthew 17:7 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 17:7 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 17:7 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ προσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἁψάμενος αὐτῶν εἶπεν· ἐγέρθητε καὶ μὴ φοβεῖσθε και προσελθων ο ιησους ηψατο αυτων και ειπεν εγερθητε και μη φοβεισθε και προσελθων ο ιησους ηψατο αυτων και ειπεν εγερθητε και μη φοβεισθε

Matthew 17:9 (NET)

Matthew 17:9 (KJV)

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Matthew 17:9 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 17:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 17:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ καταβαινόντων αὐτῶν ἐκ τοῦ ὄρους ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων· μηδενὶ εἴπητε τὸ ὅραμα ἕως οὗ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγερθῇ και καταβαινοντων αυτων απο του ορους ενετειλατο αυτοις ο ιησους λεγων μηδενι ειπητε το οραμα εως ου ο υιος του ανθρωπου εκ νεκρων αναστη και καταβαινοντων αυτων εκ του ορους ενετειλατο αυτοις ο ιησους λεγων μηδενι ειπητε το οραμα εως ου ο υιος του ανθρωπου εκ νεκρων αναστη

Matthew 9:1 (NET)

Matthew 9:1 (KJV)

After getting into a boat he crossed to the other side and came to his own town. And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

Matthew 9:1 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 9:1 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 9:1 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἐμβὰς εἰς πλοῖον διεπέρασεν καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν και εμβας εις το πλοιον διεπερασεν και ηλθεν εις την ιδιαν πολιν και εμβας εις το πλοιον διεπερασεν και ηλθεν εις την ιδιαν πολιν

Luke 10:38 (NET)

Luke 10:38 (KJV)

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

Luke 10:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 10:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 10:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἐν δὲ τῷ πορεύεσθαι αὐτοὺς αὐτὸς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς κώμην τινά· γυνὴ δέ τις ὀνόματι Μάρθα ὑπεδέξατο αὐτόν εγενετο δε εν τω πορευεσθαι αυτους και αυτος εισηλθεν εις κωμην τινα γυνη δε τις ονοματι μαρθα υπεδεξατο αυτον εις τον οικον αυτης εγενετο δε εν τω πορευεσθαι αυτους και αυτος εισηλθεν εις κωμην τινα γυνη δε τις ονοματι μαρθα υπεδεξατο αυτον εις τον οικον αυτης

Luke 10:41, 42 (NET)

Luke 10:41, 42 (KJV)

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

Luke 10:41 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 10:41 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 10:41 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ κύριος· Μάρθα Μάρθα, μεριμνᾷς καὶ θορυβάζῃ περὶ πολλά αποκριθεις δε ειπεν αυτη ο ιησους μαρθα μαρθα μεριμνας και τυρβαζη περι πολλα αποκριθεις δε ειπεν αυτη ο ιησους μαρθα μαρθα μεριμνας και τυρβαζη περι πολλα
but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.” But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Luke 10:42 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 10:42 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 10:42 (Byzantine Majority Text)

|ἑνὸς| δέ ἐστιν χρεία · Μαριὰμ γὰρ τὴν ἀγαθὴν μερίδα ἐξελέξατο ἥτις οὐκ ἀφαιρεθήσεται αὐτῆς ενος δε εστιν χρεια μαρια δε την αγαθην μεριδα εξελεξατο ητις ουκ αφαιρεθησεται απ αυτης ενος δε εστιν χρεια μαρια δε την αγαθην μεριδα εξελεξατο ητις ουκ αφαιρεθησεται απ αυτης

1 Matthew 8:22b (ESV)

3 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had οι μαθηται αυτου (KJV: his disciples) and the Byzantine Majority Text had οι μαθηται (“the disciples”) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

4 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ημας here in the accusative case, accentuating the WE who are perishing (ἀπολλύμεθα), whether that WE included Jesus or not. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not. I can see how ημας here might turn a studious pastor’s focus toward the failure of Jesus’ disciples and away from the grace of God.

7 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιησου (KJV: Jesus) preceding Son of God. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

11 Matthew 8:23-34 (ESV)

12 Matthew 8:28b (ESV)

13 Matthew 8:29b (ESV)

14 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article ο preceding Jesus. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

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

16 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ο preceding King. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

17 Matthew 8:23 (ESV)

18 Matthew 8:27 (ESV)

19 1 Corinthians 3:3b (ESV) Table

20 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὤφθη, a singular form of ὁράω in the passive voice here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural ωφθησαν.

22 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ποιήσω, a 1st person singular form of ποιέω in the indicative mood here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the 1st person plural ποιησωμεν (KJV: let us make) in the subjunctive mood.

24 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἔπεσαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επεσον. These appear to be alternate spellings for the same part of speech, though επεσον may also be understood as a 1st person singular form of πίπτω.

26 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἐκ (NET: from) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had απο (KJV: from).

27 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐγερθῇ, a form of ἐγείρω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αναστη (KJV: be risen again), a form of ἀνίστημι.

28 Matthew 17:4b (ESV)

29 Matthew 17:5b (ESV)

30 Matthew 17:5c (ESV)

31 Matthew 17:5d (ESV)

32 Matthew 26:51 (ESV)

33 John 18:10a (ESV) Table

34 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article το preceding boat. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

35 Matthew 8:22b (ESV)

36 Matthew 26:2 (ESV)

38 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγενετο (KJV: it came to pass) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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

40 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις τον οικον αυτης (KJV: into her house) at the beginning of this clause. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

43 In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Mary was spelled Μαριὰμ with γὰρ following. In the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text Mary was spelled μαρια, followed by δε (KJV: and).

45 Romans 7:21b (ESV)

46 Matthew 8:26b (ESV)

47 Matthew 1:20 (ESV) Table

48 John 1:10-13 (ESV)

49 Matthew 3:16, 17 (ESV)

50 Acts 2:37-41 (ESV)

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

52 For a table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation with that of the Septuagint see: Nothing True, Part 2.

53 For tables comparing the Greek of these quotations with that of the Septuagint see: A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 3.

54 For a table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation with that of the Septuagint see: A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 3.

55 For tables comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation to that of the Septuagint see: Romans, Part 4.

56 Romans 8:14 (ESV)

57 Galatians 1:2b (ESV)

58 Galatians 5:16-18 (ESV)

59 From the poem “If,” by Rudyard Kipling. This was my Dad’s favorite poem: Who Am I? Part 4

60 Romans 7:21 (ESV)

61 Hebrews 10:20a (ESV)

62 Romans 1:4b (ESV)

Romans, Part 61

I’m continuing to look at Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer,[1] as a description of love rather than as rules to obey.  I’m still focusing on the injustice (ἀδικίᾳ, a form of ἀδικία) love is not glad (or, does not rejoice)[2] about.  Two different things are revealed (ἀποκαλύπτεται, a form of ἀποκαλύπτω) in the first chapter of Romans.

Two Revelations

For the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God is revealed in the gospel…

Romans 1:17a (NET)

For the wrath (ὀργὴ, a form of ὀργή) of God is revealed from heaven…

Romans 1:18a (NET)

…from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous (δίκαιος) by faith will live.”

Romans 1:17b (NET)

…against all ungodliness and unrighteousness (ἀδικίαν, a form of ἀδικία) of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness (ἀδικίᾳ, a form of ἀδικία)…

Romans 1:18b (NET)

But I didn’t always think of these as two different things.  As I became an atheist, though I doubt that I actually thought through these particular verses, I believed that God’s righteousness was God’s wrath, at least it was the nexus where his righteousness impacted human beings.

I returned from atheism to a semblance of faith believing that the wrath (e.g., God’s righteousness) I had not experienced had been deferred to a later time, the end, the Revelation (Ἀποκάλυψις, a form of ἀποκάλυψις).  With this idea in mind I thought the wrath of Godrevealed from heaven was some unspecified vengeance against every kind of unrighteousness (ἀδικίᾳ), wickedness, covetousness, malice.  They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility.  They are gossips [Table], slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless [Table].[3]

No matter what the Scripture said I wouldn’t or couldn’t hear that God’s wrath revealed from heaven was that God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.[4]  It was beyond my powers of comprehension that He did this so that they are filled with every kind of unrighteousness (ἀδικίᾳ), wickedness, covetousness, malice.  They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility.  They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless.

As long as I refused to believe that it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy,[5] I couldn’t fathom the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God;[6] namely, that God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.[7]  I couldn’t reason that if in his wrath He hands people over to every kind of ἀδικίᾳ, in his non-wrathful state he keeps us from that same ἀδικίᾳ.  And I didn’t perceive that the true nexus of the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel is his love in us,[8] the love that is the fulfillment of the law,[9] the fruit of his Spirit.[10]

Half a millennium or so before Paul penned his letter to the Romans ἀδικίᾳ was a Greek goddess.  “There is also a chest made of cedar, Pausanias wrote, “with figures on it, some of ivory, some of gold, others carved out of the cedar-wood itself.  It was in this chest that Cypselus, the tyrant of Corinth, was hidden by his mother when the Bacchidae were anxious to discover him after his birth.  In gratitude for the saving of Cypselus, his descendants, Cypselids as they are called, dedicated the chest at Olympia.”[11]  Carved on the chest are the figures of a “beautiful woman…punishing an ugly one, choking her with one hand and with the other striking her with a staff.  It is Justice [δίκη] who thus treats Injustice [ἀδικίᾳ].”[12]

I’ll explore some sayings about δίκη (Dike) as a revelation of the religious mind, making no attempt to distinguish the creative reasoning of human beings from lying spirits.[13]  “Next he [Zeus] led away bright Themis (Divine Law),” Hesiod wrote, “who bare the Horai (Horae, Seasons), and Eunomia (Good Order), Dike (Justice), and blooming Eirene (Peace), who mind the works of mortal men.”[14]  “[S]he sits beside her father, Zeus the son of Kronos (Cronus), and tells him of men’s wicked heart, until the people pay for the mad folly of their princes who, evilly minded, pervert judgement and give sentence crookedly.”[15]

The latter saying sounds more like Satan the accuser than justice (Revelation 12:7-10 NET):

Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.  But the dragon was not strong enough to prevail, so there was no longer any place left in heaven for him and his angels.  So that huge dragon – the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan (Σατανᾶς), who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth,[16] and his angels along with him.  Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come, because the accuser (κατήγωρ, a form of κατηγορέω) of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses (κατηγορῶν, another form of κατηγορέω) them day and night before our God, has been thrown down.”

Perhaps δίκη gives a glimpse into how Satan perceives himself.  It certainly gives me a different impression of Plato’s eulogy:  “With [Zeus],” Plato wrote in Laws, “followeth Dike (Justice), as avenger of them that fall short of the divine law; and she, again, is followed by every man who would fain be happy, cleaving to her with lowly and orderly behavior…”[17]  It sounds like a revelation of Satan’s own longing and ambition.  “To thee revenge the punishment belong, chastising every deed unjust and wrong” says the Orphic Hymn 62 to Dike.[18]  This is essentially the meaning of δίκη in the New Testament (Acts 28:3, 4 NET).

When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.  When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer!  Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice (δίκη; KJV: vengeance) herself has not allowed him to live!”

Even when the goddess is forgotten the noun δίκη retains her meaning and purpose (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10a; Jude 1:6, 7 NET).

With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will undergo the penalty (δίκην, a form of δίκη; KJV: punished) of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he comes to be glorified among his saints and admired on that day among all who have believed…

You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.  So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality (ἐκπορνεύσασαι, a form of ἐκπορνεύω) and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment (δίκην, a form of δίκη; KJV: vengeance) of eternal fire.

Philostratus tired of δίκη or the inability of vengeance to produce righteousness in, or secure justice among, human beings: “I am sure that Dike (Justice) will appear in a very ridiculous light; for having been appointed by Zeus and by the Moirai (Fates) to prevent men being unjust to one another, she has never been able to defend herself against injustice.”  In the New Testament δίκη has nothing to do with overcoming ἀδικία in human beings.  Rather, God’s mercy and his love in us through faith in Jesus’ faithfulness crucifies our ἀδικίαν (a form of ἀδικία) and resurrects our new lives into his righteousness through the death and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 7:5, 6 NET).

For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.

For this reason we also, Paul wrote the Colossians, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects – bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.  He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves[19]

The word translated righteousness in—the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel—is δικαιοσύνη (Dikaiosyne), not a goddess but a daimona (δαίμων[20]).  “In the ancient Greek religion, daimon designates not a specific class of divine beings, but a peculiar mode of activity: it is an occult power that drives humans forward or acts against them: since daimon is the veiled countenance of divine activity, every deity can act as daimon…”[21]  The Orphic Hymn 63 says, “O blessed Dikaiosyne, mankind’s delight, the eternal friend of conduct just and right: abundant, venerable, honoured maid, to judgements pure dispensing constant aid, and conscience stable, and an upright mind…”[22]

To the religious mind Dikaiosyne merely dispenses “aid.”  Of course in the New Testament the daimon does not merely “aid” but possesses and takes control, not for anything resembling righteousness: two demon-possessed (δαιμονιζόμενοι, a form of δαιμονίζομαι) men coming from the tombs met [Jesus].  They were extremely violent, so that no one was able to pass by that way.[23]  As Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man from the town met him who was possessed[24] by demons (δαιμόνια, a form of δαιμόνιον).  For a long time this man had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among the tombs.[25]

Ancient Greeks were not unaware of these phenomena, they attributed them to κακοδαίμων: “The Hellenistic Greeks divided daemons into good and evil categories: agathodaimōn (ἀγαθοδαίμων “noble spirit”), from agathós (ἀγαθός “good, brave, noble, moral, lucky, useful”), and kakódaimōn (κακοδαίμων “malevolent spirit”), from kakós (κακός “bad, evil”).”[26]  I assume this determination was made according to how well the daemons’ activities corresponded to the determiner’s own desires: the κακοδαίμων thwarted as the ἀγαθοδαίμων aided those desires.  The derivation of δαίμων is “From δαίω daiō (to distribute fortunes)” according to Strong’s Concordance.

To the religious mind Dikaiosyne dispenses “aid” to those who make pure judgments.  I’m reminded of Peter’s surprise that Cornelius summoned him because an angel appeared and told him to do so: I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him.[27]  That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,[28]I have not come to call the righteous (δικαίους, a form of δίκαιος), but sinners to repentance,[29] –is a difficult truth for the religious mind to accept.

It is the truth suppressed by unrighteousness (ἀδικίᾳ).  The religious mind jealously guards its own righteousness as its own peculiar possession.  In my opinion Paul experienced a theological crisis[30] over this trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, and we read the Holy Spirit’s solution to that crisis when we read his letter to the Romans (Romans 3:5-9 NKJV).

But if our unrighteousness (ἀδικία) demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust (ἄδικος) who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)  Certainly not!  For then how will God judge the world?  For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?  And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.  What then?  Are we better than they?  Not at all.  For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

All unrighteousness (ἀδικίᾳ) is sin[31]  God will reward each one according to his workswrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness (ἀδικίᾳ).[32]  The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, and with every kind of evil (ἀδικίας, another form of ἀδικία) deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved.  Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.  And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil (ἀδικίᾳ) will be condemned.[33]  

What shall we say then?  Is there injustice (ἀδικία) with God?  Absolutely not!  For he says to Moses:I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.[34]

For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.  Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.  For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.[35]

This gives me a fairly extensive idea of the truth love rejoices about and the ἀδικία it does not.  Love is not glad about injustice (ἀδικίᾳ), but rejoices in the truth.[36]  Do not extinguish the Spirit,[37] Paul wrote the Thessalonians.  I will suggest that the quickest way to extinguish the Spirit is to take credit for his fruit or to believe that his fruit is anything but the gift of righteousness.[38]  [W]hen the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior.[39]

I’ll continue in the next essay.

Romans, Part 62

Back to Romans, Part 65

[1] Romans 12:12 (NET)

[2] 1 Corinthians 13:6 (NASB)

[3] Romans 1:29-31 (NET)

[4] Romans 1:28b (NET)

[5] Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

[6] Romans 11:33a (NET)

[7] Romans 11:32 (NET)

[8] John 17:26 (NET)

[9] Romans 13:10b (NET)

[10] Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

[11] Pausanias’ description of the Chest of Kypselos and other items at Olympia

[12] Pausanias’ description of the Chest of Kypselos and other items at Olympia

[13] 1 Kings 22:19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4; Ephesians 2:1-3 (NET)

[14] http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/HoraDike.html

[15] ibid

[16] I am very confused whether this is still future are already past: Then the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!”  So he said to them, “I saw Satan (σατανᾶν, a form of Σατανᾶς) fall like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:17, 18 NET)

[17] http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/HoraDike.html

[18] ibid

[19] Colossians 1:9-13 (NET)

[20] Then the demons (δαίμονες, a form of δαίμων) begged him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” (Matthew 8:31 NET)

[21] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemon_(classical_mythology)

[22] http://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Dikaiosyne.html

[23] Matthew 8:28 (NET)

[24] ἔχων [2192] δαιμόνια (literally, “had demons”)

[25] Luke 8:27 (NET)

[26] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemon_(classical_mythology)

[27] Acts 10:34, 35 (NET)

[28] 1 Timothy 1:15 (NET)

[29] Luke 5:32 (NET)

[30] https://religiousmind.net/2012/10/07/romans-part-23/; https://religiousmind.net/2012/08/04/romans-part-7/; https://religiousmind.net/2012/06/12/pauls-religious-mind/; https://religiousmind.net/2013/04/17/romans-part-42/

[31] 1 John 5:17a (NET)

[32] Romans 2:6, 8 (NET)

[33] 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NET)

[34] Romans 9:14-16 (NET)

[35] Romans 11:29-32 (NET)

[36] 1 Corinthians 13:6 (NET)

[37] 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NET)

[38] Romans 5:17 (NET)

[39] Titus 3:4-6 (NET)