Tag Archives: Romans 10:9

Fear – Exodus, Part 4

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Here I continue to see the Lord cultivating the fear that is a conviction to act in accordance with his word in Israel.  It happened at midnight – the Lord attacked all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the prison, and all the firstborn of the cattle.1  But the plague of the firstborn did not touch the Israelites who heard the word of the Lord and marked their doors with the blood of the Passover lamb: For the Lord will pass through to strike Egypt, and when he sees the blood on the top of the doorframe and the two side posts, then the Lord will pass over the door, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.2

Pharaoh got up in the night, along with all his servants and all Egypt, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no house in which there was not someone dead [Table].  Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron in the night and said, “Get up, get out from among my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, serve the Lord as you have requested [Table]!  Also, take your flocks and your herds, just as you have requested, and leave.  But bless me also” [Table] 3

And so the descendants of Israel (and others) left Egypt:  There were about 600,000 men on foot, plus their dependents [Table].  A mixed multitude also went up with them, and flocks and herds – a very large number of cattle [Table].4  A note (94) in the NET reads: “The ‘mixed multitude’ (עֵרֶב רַב, ’erev rav) refers to a great ‘swarm’ (see a possible cognate in 8:21[17]) of folk who joined the Israelites, people who were impressed by the defeat of Egypt, who came to faith, or who just wanted to escape Egypt (maybe slaves or descendants of the Hyksos). The expression prepares for later references to riffraff who came along.”

In this context of cultivating a fear of the Lord that is a conviction to act in accordance with his word I begin to see a purpose for hardening Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 14:1-4 NET).

The Lord spoke to Moses [Table]: “Tell the Israelites that they must turn and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you are to camp by the sea before Baal Zephon opposite it [Table].  Pharaoh will think regarding the Israelites, ‘They are wandering around confused in the land – the desert has closed in on them’ [Table].  I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them.  I will gain honor because of Pharaoh and because of all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”  So this is what they did [Table].

It happened as the Lord promised Moses (Exodus 14:5-7 NET):

When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and the king and his servants said, “What in the world have we done?  For we have released the people of Israel from serving us!”  Then he prepared his chariots and took his army with him.  He took six hundred select chariots, and all the rest of the chariots of Egypt, and officers on all of them.

If I am correct in seeing this fear that is a conviction to act in accordance with the word of the Lord as the functional equivalent in the Old Testament of the fruit of the Spirit,5 the desire and the effort brought forth by God for the sake of his good pleasure,6  because it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy,7  and the love of God8 that is the fulfillment of the law,9 then the contemporary Gentile response to the events of Exodus is telling.  It is a clear revelation of the ασεβεια in human hearts, the ungodliness (ἀσέβειαν, a form of ἀσέβεια) and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness;10 namely, the learned consensus that the Exodus didn’t happen as described in the Bible.  It is difficult to believe that God would do such things for anyone (the descendents of Israel), let alone for everyone (For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.11).

But orchestrating the events to cultivate such a fear could have the opposite effect, creating a fear that caused Israel to flee, in their hearts if not with their feet (Exodus 14:10-12 NET).

When Pharaoh got closer, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified (yârêʼ, וַיִּירְאוּ).  The Israelites cried out to the Lord [Table], and they said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the desert?  What in the world have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? [Table]  Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we can serve the Egyptians, because it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!’” [Table]

The rabbis who translated the Septuagint used ἐφοβήθησαν (a form of φοβέω) here.  The next occurrence of ἐφοβήθησαν in the New Testament is in Matthew’s Gospel when Christ, our Passover lamb, [was] sacrificed.12  Now from noon until three, darkness came over all the land [Table].  At about three o’clock Jesus shouted [the opening line of Psalm 22] with a loud voice…“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [Table]13  Apparently some bystanders didn’t know Aramaic (the language of Judah’s Babylonian/Persian captors and didn’t recognize the Psalm in that ancient tongue: Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? [8/19/2017: For a different take on this see, DID THE MESSIAH SPEAK ARAMAIC OR HEBREW? (PART 2) BY E.A.KNAPP]).  They said, This man is calling for Elijah14 (e.g., Eli, Eli—My God, My God).  Leave him alone!  Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.15

Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.  Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from16 top to bottom.  The earth shook and the rocks were split apart.  And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised17…Now when the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified (ἐφοβήθησαν, a form of φοβέω) and said, “Truly this one was God’s Son!”18

I doubt that the Centurion and his companions on Golgotha saw the curtain that separated the holy place from the most holy place ripped, though they may have seen or at least heard the commotion afterward.  I assume they witnessed the earthquake and the tombs opening.  Whether they saw any of the dead come out of their tombs depends on how limiting verse 53 is meant to be taken, They came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.19  I’m not sure I can make that kind of determination based only on ἐκ, which can mean out of or away from.  But whatever they saw and heard frightened them like the Israelites were frightened when they looked up, and there were the Egyptians marching after them.

But Moses, who was privy to God’s plan, said, Do not fear (yârêʼ, תִּירָאוּ)!  Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord that he will provide for you today; for the Egyptians that you see today you will never, ever see again.20  The word translated fear above was θαρσεῖτε (a form of θαρσέω) in the Septuagint.  When Jesus’ disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them: “Have courage (θαρσεῖτε)!  It is I.  Do not be afraid.”21

Israel crossed the sea on dry ground.  The Egyptians were drowned when they attempted to follow.  When Israel saw the great power that the Lord had exercised over the Egyptians, they feared (yârêʼ, וַיִּירְאוּ) the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.22  And so, for the moment, God had successfully cultivated that combination of faith and fear that is the functional equivalent of: if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved,23 and the fruit of the Spirit,24 the desire and the effort brought forth by God for the sake of his good pleasure,25  because it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy,26  and the love of God27 that is the fulfillment of the law.28

 

Addendum: April 15, 2026
According to a footnote (82) in the NET Jesus quoted from Psalm 22:1 in Matthew 27:46. The following table compares the Greek of that quotation with that of the Septuagint.

Matthew 27:46b (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 22:1b (BLB Septuagint) Table

Psalm 22:1b (Septuagint Elpenor)
Θεέ μου θεέ μου, ἱνατί με ἐγκατέλιπες ὁ θεὸς ὁ θεός μου πρόσχες μοι ἵνα τί ἐγκατέλιπές με Ο ΘΕΟΣ, ὁ Θεός μου, πρόσχες μοι· ἵνα τί ἐγκατέλιπές με

Matthew 27:46b (NET)

Psalm 22:1b (NETS)

Psalm 22:1b (English Elpenor)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

 God, my God, attend to me; why did you forsake me? O God, my God, attend to me: why hast thou forsaken me?

Tables comparing Exodus 12:23; 14:5; 14:6 and 14:7 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Exodus 12:23; 14:5; 14:6 and 14:7 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Matthew 27:47 and 27:51, 52 in the NET and KJV follow.

Exodus 12:23 (Tanakh)

Exodus 12:23 (KJV)

Exodus 12:23 (NET)
For HaShem will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, HaShem will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. For the Lord will pass through to strike Egypt, and when he sees the blood on the top of the doorframe and the two side posts, then the Lord will pass over the door, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.

Exodus 12:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 12:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ παρελεύσεται κύριος πατάξαι τοὺς Αἰγυπτίους καὶ ὄψεται τὸ αἷμα ἐπὶ τῆς φλιᾶς καὶ ἐπ᾽ ἀμφοτέρων τῶν σταθμῶν καὶ παρελεύσεται κύριος τὴν θύραν καὶ οὐκ ἀφήσει τὸν ὀλεθρεύοντα εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὰς οἰκίας ὑμῶν πατάξαι καὶ παρελεύσεται Κύριος πατάξαι τοὺς Αἰγυπτίους καὶ ὄψεται τὸ αἷμα ἐπὶ τῆς φλιᾶς καὶ ἐπ᾿ ἀμφοτέρων τῶν σταθμῶν, καὶ παρελεύσεται Κύριος τὴν θύραν καὶ οὐκ ἀφήσει τὸν ὀλοθρεύοντα εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὰς οἰκίας ὑμῶν πατάξαι

Exodus 12:23 (NETS)

Exodus 12:23 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord will pass by to strike the Egyptians, and he will see the blood upon the lintel and on both doorposts, and the Lord will pass by the door, and he will not allow the destroyer to enter into your house to strike. And the Lord shall pass by to smite the Egyptians, and shall see the blood upon the lintel, and upon both the door-posts; and the Lord shall pass by the door, and shall not suffer the destroyer to enter into your houses to smite [you].

Exodus 14:5 (Tanakh)

Exodus 14:5 (KJV)

Exodus 14:5 (NET)
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned towards the people, and they said: ‘What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us? And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and the king and his servants said, “What in the world have we done? For we have released the people of Israel from serving us!”

Exodus 14:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 14:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ βασιλεῖ τῶν Αἰγυπτίων ὅτι πέφευγεν ὁ λαός καὶ μετεστράφη ἡ καρδία Φαραω καὶ τῶν θεραπόντων αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν καὶ εἶπαν τί τοῦτο ἐποιήσαμεν τοῦ ἐξαποστεῖλαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ τοῦ μὴ δουλεύειν ἡμῖν καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ βασιλεῖ τῶν Αἰγυπτίων ὅτι πέφευγεν ὁ λαός· καὶ μετεστράφη ἡ καρδία Φαραὼ καὶ τῶν θεραπόντων αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν, καὶ εἶπαν· τί τοῦτο ἐποιήσαμεν τοῦ ἐξαποστεῖλαι τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραήλ, τοῦ μὴ δουλεύειν ἡμῖν

Exodus 14:5 (NETS)

Exodus 14:5 (English Elpenor)
And it was reported to the king of the Egyptians that the people had escaped. And the heart of Pharao and his attendants was turned against the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, sending away the sons of Israel so they are not subject to us?” And it was reported to the king of the Egyptians that the people had fled: and the heart of Pharao was turned, and that of his servants against the people; and they said, What is this that we have done, to let the children of Israel go, so that they should not serve us?

Exodus 14:6 (Tanakh)

Exodus 14:6 (KJV)

Exodus 14:6 (NET)
And he made ready his chariots, and took his people with him. And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: Then he prepared his chariots and took his army with him.

Exodus 14:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 14:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔζευξεν οὖν Φαραω τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ συναπήγαγεν μεθ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ ἔζευξεν οὖν Φαραὼ τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ συναπήγαγε μεθ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ

Exodus 14:6 (NETS)

Exodus 14:6 (English Elpenor)
Then Pharao hitched up his chariots and led away all his people together with him, So Pharao yoked his chariots, and led off all his people with himself:

Exodus 14:7 (Tanakh)

Exodus 14:7 (KJV)

Exodus 14:7 (NET)
And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them. And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. He took 600 select chariots, and all the rest of the chariots of Egypt, and officers on all of them.

Exodus 14:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 14:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ λαβὼν ἑξακόσια ἅρματα ἐκλεκτὰ καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν ἵππον τῶν Αἰγυπτίων καὶ τριστάτας ἐπὶ πάντων καὶ λαβὼν ἑξακόσια ἅρματα ἐκλεκτὰ καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν ἵππον τῶν Αἰγυπτίων καὶ τριστάτας ἐπὶ πάντων

Exodus 14:7 (NETS)

Exodus 14:7 (English Elpenor)
and he took six hundred choice chariots and all the cavalry of the Egyptians and the third-ranked officers over all of them. having also taken six hundred chosen chariots, and all the cavalry of the Egyptians, and rulers over all.

Matthew 27:47 (NET)

Matthew 27:47 (KJV)
When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

Matthew 27:47 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 27:47 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 27:47 (Byzantine Majority Text)
τινὲς δὲ τῶν ἐκεῖ ἑστηκότων ἀκούσαντες ἔλεγον ὅτι Ἠλίαν φωνεῖ οὗτος τινες δε των εκει εστωτων ακουσαντες ελεγον οτι ηλιαν φωνει ουτος τινες δε των εκει εστωτων ακουσαντες ελεγον οτι ηλιαν φωνει ουτος

Matthew 27:51, 52 (NET)

Matthew 27:51, 52 (KJV)
Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks were split apart. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Matthew 27:51 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 27:51 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 27:51 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Καὶ ἰδοὺ τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ ἐσχίσθη |ἀπ᾿| ἄνωθεν ἕως κάτω εἰς δύο καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐσείσθη καὶ αἱ πέτραι ἐσχίσθησαν και ιδου το καταπετασμα του ναου εσχισθη εις δυο απο ανωθεν εως κατω και η γη εσεισθη και αι πετραι εσχισθησαν και ιδου το καταπετασμα του ναου εσχισθη εις δυο απο ανωθεν εως κατω και η γη εσεισθη και αι πετραι εσχισθησαν
And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

Matthew 27:52 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 27:52 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 27:52 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ τὰ μνημεῖα ἀνεῴχθησαν καὶ πολλὰ σώματα τῶν κεκοιμημένων ἁγίων ἠγέρθησαν και τα μνημεια ανεωχθησαν και πολλα σωματα των κεκοιμημενων αγιων ηγερθη και τα μνημεια ανεωχθησαν και πολλα σωματα των κεκοιμημενων αγιων ηγερθη

1 Exodus 12:29 (NET) Table

2 Exodus 12:23 (NET)

3 Exodus 12:30-32 (NET)

4 Exodus 12:37b, 38 (NET)

6 Philippians 2:13 (NET) Table

7 Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

10 Romans 1:18 (NET)

11 Romans 11:32 (NET)

12 1 Corinthians 5:7b (NET) Table

13 Matthew 27:45, 46 (NET) Table

14 Matthew 27:47 (NET)

15 Matthew 27:49 (NET)

16 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the preposition ἀπ᾿ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had απο.

17 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἠγέρθησαν here, a plural form of ἐγείρω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular ηγερθη (KJV: arose).

18 Matthew 27:50-52, 54 (NET)

19 Matthew 27:53 (NET)

20 Exodus 14:13 (NET) Table

21 Matthew 14:26, 27 (NET) Table

22 Exodus 14:31 (NET) Table There are no more occurrences of ἐφοβήθη (the word the rabbis chose in the Septuagint) in the New Testament.

23 Romans 10:9 (NET)

25 Philippians 2:13 (NET) Table

26 Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

Son of God – John, Part 5

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Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s1 Portico.2  Religious leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense?  If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I told you and you do not believe (πιστεύετε, a form of πιστεύω).”3  They did not think it was true; they were not persuaded.4  The deeds (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) I do in my Father’s name testify (μαρτυρεῖ, a form of μαρτυρέω) about me.5  The ἔργα that Jesus did in his Father’s name testified that He is the Christ, as opposed to those who loved the darkness rather than the light, because their ἔργα were [full of labours, annoyances, and hardships].6

But7 you refuse to believe (πιστεύετε), Jesus continued, because8 you are not9 my sheep.10  The word translated refuse is simply οὐ, the absolute as opposed to the relative negation in Greek.  You believe not, Jesus said, because you are not my sheep.  They were hardened [Table], as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, to this very day.”11

My sheep listen (ἀκούουσιν, a form of ἀκούω) to my voice.12  This is in contrast to those who had not been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven:13  For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear (ἀκούουσιν) nor do they understand.14  And Paul wrote, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they?  Absolutely not!  But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.15

Still speaking of his sheep, Jesus said, I know (γινώσκω) them, and they follow me.16  These are they who are called according to [God’s] purpose, because those whom he foreknew (προέγνω, a form of προγινώσκω) he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.17

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand [Table].  The Father and I are one.18  Then by their actions the religious leaders proved Jesus’ original words, that they did not believe that his deeds testified that He was the Christ.  They picked up19 rocks again to stone him to death.20  I have shown you many good deeds from the Father, Jesus said.  For which one of them are you going to stone me?21  We are not going to stone you for a good deed, the religious leaders answered, but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God.22

They lacked the knowledge that was revealed to Peter by Jesus’ Father in heaven:23 You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.24  They did not share Nathaniel’s insight that Jesus was the Son of God and the king of Israel.25  Apparently the religious leaders assumed that the Christ would serve their interests as they perceived their interests not supersede them, certainly not question their leadership.  “Is it not written in your law,” Jesus answered them, “‘I26 said, you are gods’?  If those people to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ (and the scripture cannot be broken), do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?”27

There is a lot to say about this turn in Jesus’ argument.  I hope to get to it in time.  For the moment I want to highlight Jesus’ heart.  In the heat of debate he did not ask the religious leaders to believe that He was a new species of human being, born of the flesh of Adam through his mother Mary and born of the Spirit of his Father.  He simply referred to those instances in the book of Exodus where human judges, those entrusted to judge according to God’s law, were called elohim (הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים, a form of אֱלֹהִים), gods.28  If God called Israel’s judges gods, He reasoned, is it right to “say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?”

If I do not perform the deeds (ἔργα) of my Father, Jesus continued, do not believe (πιστεύετε) me.29  And here again He revealed his heart.  But if I do them, even if you do not believe (πιστεύητε, another form of πιστεύω) me, believe30 (πιστεύετε) the deeds (ἔργοις, another form of ἔργον)…31  Though he had hardened them so that by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles,32 though we live by faith, not by sight,33 though it is a true and trustworthy statement that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved,34 face-to-face with his beloved adversaries Jesus encouraged them to trust their sight, the deeds they saw Him accomplish, so that you may come to know (γνῶτε, another form of γινώσκω) and understand35 (γινώσκητε, another form of γινώσκω) that I am in the Father36 and the Father is in me.37

This was essentially what Jesus said to the messengers from John the Baptist when they asked, “‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”  At that38 very time Jesus cured many people of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and granted sight39 to many who were blind.  So he40 answered them, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: The41 blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed,42 the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them.  Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”43

The religious leaders tried unsuccessfully to seize Him again.  Jesus, however, continued performing the deeds (ἔργα) of [his] Father (John 11:1-4 NET).

Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived.  (Now it was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and wiped his feet dry with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick [Table].)  So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, look, the one you love is sick.”  When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness will not lead to death, but to God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

“Lazarus, come out!” Jesus said to the corpse that had laid four days in its tomb.  The one who had died came out, his feet and hands tied up with strips of cloth, and a cloth wrapped around his face.  Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go” [Table].44  “We have a law, the religious leaders said, and according to our law [Jesus] ought to die, because he claimed to be the Son of God!”45

Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, John concluded, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are recorded so that you may believe (πιστεύητε, another form of πιστεύω) that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing (πιστεύοντες, another form of πιστεύω) you may have life in his name.46  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, John wrote (or Jesus said) but that the world should be saved through him.47

 

Addendum: March 24, 2026
According to a note (84) in the NET Jesus quoted from Psalm 82:6 in John 10:34. The following table compares the Greek of that quotation with the Septuagint.

John 10:34b (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 82:6a (Septuagint BLB) Table

Psalm 81:6a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγὼ εἶπα· θεοί ἐστε ἐγὼ εἶπα θεοί ἐστε ἐγὼ εἶπα· θεοί ἐστε

John 10:34b (NET)

Psalm 81:6a (NETS)

Psalm 81:6a (English Elpenor)
I said, you are gods I said, “Gods you are, I have said, Ye are gods;

The following tables are examples in Exodus (e.g., the law) of forms of אֱלֹהִים (‘ĕlōhîm) understood as references to men according to a note (4) in the NET on Psalm 82:1.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Exodus 21:6 (Tanakh)

Exodus 21:6 (NET)

Exodus 21:6 (NETS)

Exodus 21:6 (English Elpenor)
then his master shall bring him unto G-d (הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים), and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever. then his master must bring him to the judges (‘ĕlōhîm, האלהים), and he will bring him to the door or the doorpost, and his master will pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever. his master shall lead him to the tribunal of God (τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ), and then he shall lead him to the door at the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with a small awl, and he shall be subject to him forever. his master shall bring him to the judgment-seat of God (τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ), and then shall he bring him to the door,– to the door-post, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him for ever.

Here הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים, a form of אֱלֹהִים (‘ĕlōhîm), unto G-d (Tanakh), to the judges (NET), was translated τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ, to the tribunal of God (NETS), to the judgment-seat of God (English Elpenor), in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Exodus 22:7, 8 (Tanakh)

Exodus 22:8, 9 (NET)

Exodus 22:8, 9 (NETS)

Exodus 22:8, 9 (English Elpenor)
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto G-d (הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים), to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods. If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house will be brought before the judges (‘ĕlōhîm, האלהים) to see whether he has laid his hand on his neighbor’s goods. But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall draw near before God (τοῦ θεοῦ) and swear that surely he himself has not acted wickedly against the entire deposit of the neighbor. But if the thief be not found, the master of the house shall come forward before God (τοῦ Θεοῦ), and shall swear that surely he has not wrought wickedly in regard of any part of his neighbour’s deposit,
For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith: ‘This is it,’ the cause of both parties shall come before G-d (הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים); he whom G-d (אֱלֹהִ֔ים) shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbour [Table]. In all cases of illegal possessions, whether for an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any kind of lost item, about which someone says ‘This belongs to me,’ the matter of the two of them will come before the judges (‘ĕlōhîm, האלהים), and the one whom the judges (‘ĕlōhîm, אלהים) declare guilty must repay double to his neighbor. With regard to any specific injustice concerning calf and draft animal and sheep and garment and any loss which is alleged, whatever in fact it might be, the trial of both parties shall come before God (τοῦ θεοῦ), and the one convicted by God (τοῦ θεοῦ) shall pay double in compensation to his neighbor [Table]. according to every injury alleged, both concerning a calf, and an ass, and a sheep, and a garment, and every alleged loss, whatsoever in fact it may be,– the judgment of both shall proceed before God (τοῦ Θεοῦ), and he that is convicted by God (τοῦ Θεοῦ) shall repay to his neighbour double.

In Exodus 22:8 (22:7) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים, a form of אֱלֹהִים (‘ĕlōhîm), unto G-d (Tanakh), the judges (NET), was translated τοῦ Θεοῦ, God (NETS, English Elpenor), in the Septuagint. And likewise in Exodus 22:9 (22:8) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים and אֱלֹהִ֔ים (‘ĕlōhîm) were translated G-d in the Tanakh (the judges in the Net) and τοῦ Θεοῦ, God and by God (NETS, English Elpenor), in the Septuagint.

Tables comparing Psalm 82:6; Exodus 21:6 and 22:8 (22:7) in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Psalm 82:6 (81:6); Exodus 21:6 and 22:8 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing John 10:23; 10:26; 10:31-33; 10:34; 10:38 and Luke 7:20-22 in the KJV and NET follow.

Psalm 82:6 (Tanakh)

Psalm 82:6 (KJV)

Psalm 82:6 (NET)
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. I thought, ‘You are gods; all of you are sons of the Most High.’

Psalm 82:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 81:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγὼ εἶπα θεοί ἐστε καὶ υἱοὶ ὑψίστου πάντες ἐγὼ εἶπα· θεοί ἐστε καὶ υἱοὶ ῾Υψίστου πάντες

Psalm 81:6 (NETS)

Psalm 81:6 (English Elpenor)
I said, “Gods you are, and sons of the Most High, I have said, Ye are gods; and all [of you] children of the Most High.

Exodus 21:6 (Tanakh)

Exodus 21:6 (KJV)

Exodus 21:6 (NET)
then his master shall bring him unto G-d, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever. then his master must bring him to the judges, and he will bring him to the door or the doorpost, and his master will pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.

Exodus 21:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 21:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
προσάξει αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τότε προσάξει αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν ἐπὶ τὸν σταθμόν καὶ τρυπήσει αὐτοῦ ὁ κύριος τὸ οὖς τῷ ὀπητίῳ καὶ δουλεύσει αὐτῷ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα προσάξει αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ τότε προσάξει αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν ἐπὶ τὸν σταθμόν, καὶ τρυπήσει ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ τὸ οὖς τῷ ὀπητίῳ, καὶ δουλεύσει αὐτῷ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα

Exodus 21:6 (NETS)

Exodus 21:6 (English Elpenor)
his master shall lead him to the tribunal of God, and then he shall lead him to the door at the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with a small awl, and he shall be subject to him forever. his master shall bring him to the judgment-seat of God, and then shall he bring him to the door,– to the door-post, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him for ever.

Exodus 22:7 (Tanakh)

Exodus 22:8 (KJV)

Exodus 22:8 (NET)
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto G-d, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods. If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods. If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house will be brought before the judges to see whether he has laid his hand on his neighbor’s goods.

Exodus 22:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 22:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ εὑρεθῇ ὁ κλέψας προσελεύσεται ὁ κύριος τῆς οἰκίας ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ὀμεῖται ἦ μὴν μὴ αὐτὸς πεπονηρεῦσθαι ἐφ᾽ ὅλης τῆς παρακαταθήκης τοῦ πλησίον ἐὰν δὲ μὴ εὑρεθῇ ὁ κλέψας, προσελεύσεται ὁ κύριος τῆς οἰκίας ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ὀμεῖται ἦ μὴν μὴ αὐτὸν πεπονηρεῦσθαι ἐφ᾿ ὅλης τῆς παρακαταθήκης τοῦ πλησίον

Exodus 22:8 (NETS)

Exodus 22:8 (English Elpenor)
But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall draw near before God and swear that surely he himself has not acted wickedly against the entire deposit of the neighbor. But if the thief be not found, the master of the house shall come forward before God, and shall swear that surely he has not wrought wickedly in regard of any part of his neighbour’s deposit,

John 10:23 (NET)

John 10:23 (KJV)
It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Portico. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

John 10:23 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 10:23 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 10:23 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ περιεπάτει |ὁ| Ἰησοῦς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ ἐν τῇ στοᾷ τοῦ Σολομῶνος και περιεπατει ο ιησους εν τω ιερω εν τη στοα του σολομωντος και περιεπατει ο ιησους εν τω ιερω εν τη στοα σολομωνος

John 10:26 (NET)

John 10:26 (KJV)
But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

John 10:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 10:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 10:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἀλλὰ ὑμεῖς οὐ πιστεύετε, ὅτι οὐκ ἐστὲ ἐκ τῶν προβάτων τῶν ἐμῶν αλλ υμεις ου πιστευετε ου γαρ εστε εκ των προβατων των εμων καθως ειπον υμιν αλλ υμεις ου πιστευετε ου γαρ εστε εκ των προβατων των εμων καθως ειπον υμιν

John 10:31-33 (NET)

John 10:31-33 (KJV)
The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

John 10:31 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 10:31 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 10:31 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ἐβάστασαν πάλιν λίθους οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἵνα λιθάσωσιν αὐτόν εβαστασαν ουν παλιν λιθους οι ιουδαιοι ινα λιθασωσιν αυτον εβαστασαν ουν παλιν λιθους οι ιουδαιοι ινα λιθασωσιν αυτον
Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?” Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

John 10:32 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 10:32 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 10:32 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· πολλὰ ἔργα |καλὰ| ἔδειξα ὑμῖν ἐκ τοῦ πατρός· διὰ ποῖον αὐτῶν ἔργον ἐμὲ λιθάζετε απεκριθη αυτοις ο ιησους πολλα καλα εργα εδειξα υμιν εκ του πατρος μου δια ποιον αυτων εργον λιθαζετε με απεκριθη αυτοις ο ιησους πολλα καλα εργα εδειξα υμιν εκ του πατρος μου δια ποιον αυτων εργον λιθαζετε με
The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy because you, a man, are claiming to be God.” The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

John 10:33 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 10:33 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 10:33 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι· περὶ καλοῦ ἔργου οὐ λιθάζομεν σε ἀλλὰ περὶ βλασφημίας, καὶ ὅτι σὺ ἄνθρωπος ὢν ποιεῖς σεαυτὸν θεόν απεκριθησαν αυτω οι ιουδαιοι λεγοντες περι καλου εργου ου λιθαζομεν σε αλλα περι βλασφημιας και οτι συ ανθρωπος ων ποιεις σεαυτον θεον απεκριθησαν αυτω οι ιουδαιοι λεγοντες περι καλου εργου ου λιθαζομεν σε αλλα περι βλασφημιας και οτι συ ανθρωπος ων ποιεις σεαυτον θεον

John 10:34 (NET)

John 10:34 (KJV)
Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

John 10:34 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 10:34 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 10:34 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς [ὁ] Ἰησοῦς· οὐκ ἔστιν γεγραμμένον ἐν τῷ νόμῳ ὑμῶν ὅτι ἐγὼ εἶπα· θεοί ἐστε απεκριθη αυτοις ο ιησους ουκ εστιν γεγραμμενον εν τω νομω υμων εγω ειπα θεοι εστε απεκριθη αυτοις ο ιησους ουκ εστιν γεγραμμενον εν τω νομω υμων εγω ειπα θεοι εστε

John 10:38 (NET)

John 10:38 (KJV)
But if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the deeds, so that you may come to know and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

John 10:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 10:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 10:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)
εἰ δὲ ποιῶ, κὰν ἐμοὶ μὴ πιστεύητε, τοῖς ἔργοις πιστεύετε, ἵνα γνῶτε καὶ γινώσκητε ὅτι ἐν ἐμοὶ ὁ πατὴρ καγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρί ει δε ποιω καν εμοι μη πιστευητε τοις εργοις πιστευσατε ινα γνωτε και πιστευσητε οτι εν εμοι ο πατηρ καγω εν αυτω ει δε ποιω καν εμοι μη πιστευητε τοις εργοις πιστευσατε ινα γνωτε και πιστευσητε οτι εν εμοι ο πατηρ καγω εν αυτω

Luke 7:20-22 (NET)

Luke 7:20-22 (KJV)
When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

Luke 7:20 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 7:20 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 7:20 (Byzantine Majority Text)
παραγενόμενοι δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ ἄνδρες εἶπαν· Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστὴς ἀπέστειλεν ἡμᾶς πρὸς σὲ λέγων· σὺ εἶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἢ ἄλλον προσδοκῶμεν παραγενομενοι δε προς αυτον οι ανδρες ειπον ιωαννης ο βαπτιστης απεσταλκεν ημας προς σε λεγων συ ει ο ερχομενος η αλλον προσδοκωμεν παραγενομενοι δε προς αυτον οι ανδρες ειπον ιωαννης ο βαπτιστης απεσταλκεν ημας προς σε λεγων συ ει ο ερχομενος η αλλον προσδοκωμεν
At that very time Jesus cured many people of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and granted sight to many who were blind. And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Luke 7:21 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 7:21 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 7:21 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐθεράπευσεν πολλοὺς ἀπὸ νόσων καὶ μαστίγων καὶ πνευμάτων πονηρῶν καὶ τυφλοῖς πολλοῖς ἐχαρίσατο βλέπειν εν αυτη δε τη ωρα εθεραπευσεν πολλους απο νοσων και μαστιγων και πνευματων πονηρων και τυφλοις πολλοις εχαρισατο το βλεπειν εν αυτη δε τη ωρα εθεραπευσεν πολλους απο νοσων και μαστιγων και πνευματων πονηρων και τυφλοις πολλοις εχαρισατο το βλεπειν
So he answered them, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

Luke 7:22 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 7:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 7:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· πορευθέντες ἀπαγγείλατε Ἰωάννῃ ἃ εἴδετε καὶ ἠκούσατε· τυφλοὶ ἀναβλέπουσιν, χωλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν, λεπροὶ καθαρίζονται καὶ κωφοὶ ἀκούουσιν, νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται, πτωχοὶ εὐαγγελίζονται και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες απαγγειλατε ιωαννη α ειδετε και ηκουσατε οτι τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται κωφοι ακουουσιν νεκροι εγειρονται πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες απαγγειλατε ιωαννη α ειδετε και ηκουσατε οτι τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται κωφοι ακουουσιν νεκροι εγειρονται πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται

1 In the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text Solomon’s was spelled Σολομῶνος, and σολομωντος in the Stephanus Textus Receptus. These appear to be alternate spellings of the same part of speech. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article τοῦ preceding Solomon’s. The Byzantine Majority Text did not.

2 John 10:23 (NET)

3 John 10:24, 25a (NET)

4 πιστεύετε was derived from πείθω.

5 John 10:25b (NET)

6 John 3:19 (NET)

10 John 10:26 (NET) The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καθως ειπον υμιν (KJV: as I said unto you) at the end of this clause. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

11 Romans 11:7b, 8 (NET) See Romans, Part 39 for a table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to the Septuagint.

12 John 10:27a (NET) Table

13 Matthew 13:11 (NET)

14 Matthew 13:13 (NET)

15 Romans 11:11 (NET)

16 John 10:27b (NET) Table

17 Romans 8:28b-30 (NET)

18 John 10:28-30 (NET)

19 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: Then) following picked up. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

20 John 10:31 (NET)

21 John 10:32 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐμὲ (NET: me) preceding stone, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had με (KJV: me) following.

22 John 10:33 (NET)

23 Matthew 16:17 (NET) Table

24 Matthew 16:16 (NET)

25 John 1:49 (NET) Table

26 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὅτι preceding this clause, understood in the NET as an indication of a direct quotation. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not. This clause is ἐγὼ εἶπα· θεοί ἐστε in Greek in the New Testament, and ἐγὼ εἶπα θεοί ἐστε in Psalm 82:6 (81:6) in the Septuagint.

27 John 10:34-36 (NET)

28 Exodus 21:6; 22:8, 9 (NET) A note (4) in the NET on Psalm 82:1 reads: “The present translation assumes that the Hebrew term אֱלֹהִים (ʾelohim, ‘gods’) here refers to the pagan gods who supposedly comprise El’s assembly according to Canaanite religion. Those who reject the polemical view of the psalm prefer to see the referent as human judges or rulers (אֱלֹהִים sometimes refers to officials appointed by God, see Exod 21:6; 22:8-9; Ps 45:6) or as angelic beings (אֱלֹהִים sometimes refers to angelic beings, see Gen 3:5; Ps 8:5).” So, I have chosen the passages in Exodus (from the first five books of the law) that are assumed to reference men for illustration here.

29 John 10:37 (NET)

30 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πιστευσατε here, a form of the verb πιστεύω in the imperative mood (e.g., “you must believe”), where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πιστεύετε, which can be understood in the imperative or indicative mood. I’ve come to understand this as multiplexing: The old man (τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον; “the old human”) reading in Greek hears a command in the imperative mood—“you must believe the deeds”—while the new man (τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον; “the new human”) hears a fact and a promise—“you believe the deeds.”

31 John 10:38a (NET)

32 Romans 11:11 (NET)

33 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NET)

34 Romans 10:9 (NET)

37 John 10:38b (NET)

38 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐκείνῃ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτη δε (KJV: And…that same).

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

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

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

42 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the conjunction καὶ (not translated in the NET) joining these clauses. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

43 Luke 7:20-23 (NET)

44 John 11:43b, 44 (NET)

45 John 19:7 (NET) Table

46 John 20:30, 31 (NET) Table

47 John 3:17 (NET) Table

Romans, Part 38

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For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law, Paul continued.  “The one who does these things will live by them [Table]” [Table].  But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart [Table], ‘Who will ascend into heaven? [Table]’” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss? [Table]” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).  But what does it say?  “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart [Table]” (that is, the word of faith that we preach)…1

I have already gone into this in some detail elsewhere, when it seemed appropriate to understand Paul’s rhetorical question: If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?2  Here I will simply point out the recurring pattern.  The righteousness that is by the law is an external code of conduct forced upon the sinful flesh of Adam.  There are rewards for compliance, and threats of violence and death for noncompliance.  The righteousness that is by faith wells up from the Holy Spirit and communes intimately with the spirit born from above, so intimately that this righteousness seems like that spirit’s own idea and longing.

Paul continued, because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord…3  There is a note (10) in the NET here: “Or ‘the Lord.’  The Greek construction, along with the quotation from Joel 2:32 in v. 13 (in which the same ‘Lord’ seems to be in view) suggests that κύριον (kurion) is to be taken as ‘the Lord,’ that is, Yahweh…”  Jesus was quite clear on the subject, saying, I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!4

Paul continued, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (σωθήσῃ, a form of σώζω).5  What this salvation is substantively is the righteousness that is by faith, a righteousness that comes from God through his Holy Spirit.  When Peter defended his actions with Cornelius, he said, He informed us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter [Table], who will speak a message (ρήματα, a form of ῥῆμα) to you by which you and your entire household will be saved (σωθήσῃ, a form of σώζω).”  Then as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us at the beginning.  And I remembered the word (ρήματος, another form of ῥῆμα) of the Lord, as he used to say, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”6 [Table].

For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness, Paul continued, and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.7  This translation is a little confusing.  It sounds like one possesses two different things by two different means:  1) my heart believes and thus has righteousness and 2) my mouth confesses and thus has salvation.  But the Greek word ἔχω (to have, to hold) is not found in the text.  The actual word is εἰς (into, unto): For with the heart one believes unto (εἰς) righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto (εἰς) salvation.8

I did not believe once upon a time and thus possess righteousness.  I did not confess once upon a time and thus possess salvation.  I believe and confess daily that I am utterly dependent on Christ’s righteousness and faithfulness.  Give us today our daily bread9 of this new life, the fruit of your Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law10 [Table].  What is our belief and confession (Titus 3:3-6 NET)?

For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another.  But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved (ἔσωσεν, another form of σώζω) 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 [Table], whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior.”

“And so, since we have been justified by his grace, since we are experiencing this salvation, this righteousness by faith (through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit),11 we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”12  Now having written that “we are experiencing this salvation, this righteousness by faith,” I certainly don’t mean that “our experience” is a 100% accurate translation of Christ’s righteousness.  When it came to his bout with coveting Paul wrote, For I want (θέλειν, a form of θέλω) to do the good, but I cannot do it [Table] (literally, For to wish is present in/with me, but not to do it).13  Still, he recognized that this desire was from God and not from himself or his own righteousness by the law, for the one bringing forth in you both the desire (θέλειν, a form of θέλω) and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.14

For the scripture says, Paul continued in Romans, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”  For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him.  For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (σωθήσεται, another form of σώζω).15

 

Addendum: August 10, 2025
According to a note (13) in the NET, Paul quoted from Isaiah 28:16 in Romans 10:11. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to that of the Septuagint follows.

Romans 10:11b (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 28:16b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Isaiah 28:16b (Septuagint Elpenor)

πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ οὐ καταισχυνθήσεται

καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῇ

καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῇ

Romans 10:11b (NET)

Isaiah 28:16b (NETS)

Isaiah 28:16b (English Elpenor)

Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.

and the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.

and he that believes [on him] shall by no means be ashamed.

According to a note (14) in the NET, Paul quoted from Joel 2:32 in Romans 10:13. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to that of the Septuagint follows.

Romans 10:13 (NET Parallel Greek)

Joel 2:32b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Joel 3:5b (Septuagint Elpenor)

πᾶς γὰρ ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου σωθήσεται

πᾶς ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου σωθήσεται

πᾶς, ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου, σωθήσεται

Romans 10:13 (NET)

Joel 2:32b (NETS)

Joel 3:5b (English Elpenor)

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,

whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved:

1 Romans 10:5-8 (NET)

2 Romans 3:3 (NET)

3 Romans 10:9a (NET)

5 Romans 10:9b (NET)

6 Acts 11:13-16 (NET)

7 Romans 10:10 (NET)

8 Romans 10:10 (NKJV)

10 Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

11 Titus 3:5b (NET)

12 Titus 3:7 (NET) Table

13 Romans 7:18b (NET)

14 Philippians 2:13 (NET) Table

15 Romans 10:11-13 (NET)