The Day of the Lord, Part 1

In another essay I quoted Paul: For [the day of the Lord] will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction ( υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας).1 It rattled my cage more than I realized at first. I didn’t even recognize that cage until it rattled. But now I have to consider whether my assumption that Jesus called Judas Iscariot ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας (NET: the one destined for destruction) is like Jesus’ disciples’ discussion about having2 no bread3 after He said: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!”4

To begin I’ll consider the day of the Lord ( ἡμέρα τοῦ κυρίου). Paul wrote (1 Corinthians 1:4-9 NET):

I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. For you were made rich in every way in him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge—just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν) Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

It seems important to me to simply repeat Paul’s words and let them really sink in: you were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord by God [who] is faithful. [Y]ou will be blameless on the day of our Lord because He will also strengthen you to the end. [Y]ou do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ because the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesusmade [you] rich in every way in him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge—just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you.

Again he wrote (2 Corinthians 1:13, 14 NET):

For we do not write you anything other than what you can read and also understand. But I hope that5 you will understand completely just as also you have partly understood us, that we are your source of pride just as you also are ours in the day of the Lord (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ κυρίου) Jesus.

While taking nothing away from the fact that God is faithful, by whom you were called (ἐκλήθητε, a form of καλέω) into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord,6 Paul, through his letters preserved in the New Testament, led me to Christ. I am a recipient of his ministry as much as anyone in Corinth.

Paul is my καύχημα: “a boast, object of boasting, exultation; glory, honour; pride, object of pride; rejoicing.” But I’ve assumed he wouldn’t care much for me. I am too slow, too hesitant to believe.

Even if that were so, if we were suddenly thrust together as I am now, it will not be so on the day of the Lord, when we both can smile and nod to one another, both made blameless by the same God and Father through the same Lord Jesus Christ. For I am sure of this very thing, Paul wrote, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until7 the day of Christ Jesus.8

Paul wrote (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NET):

Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you know quite well that the9 day of the Lord (ἡμέρα κυρίου) will come in the same way as a thief in the night. Now10 when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape (or, “emerge [like a baby out of the womb];” ἐκφύγωσιν, a form of ἐκφεύγω). But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would. For11 you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. So then we must not sleep as12 the rest, but must stay alert and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation. For God did not destine (ἔθετο, a form of τίθημι) us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ [Table]. He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep, we will come to life together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.

In this context it’s fairly obvious that you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would13 doesn’t mean that you will know when the day of the Lord is any more than they or them. It is simply that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord14 because He will also strengthen you to the end.15

It seems important to pin down who exactly you and they are here. Paul wrote (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 NET):

Now on the topic of brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.

So, you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters.16 The outsiders (τοὺς ἔξω), presumably, are [not] taught by God to love one another and are [not] practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters.

Paul also wrote (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 7, 8 NET):

For this is God’s will: that you become holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you know how to possess his own body in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God.

For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you [Table].

They, called the Gentiles who do not know God (τὰ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα τὸν θεόν) here, live in lustful passion. You will become holy; you will keep away from sexual immorality; you will know how to possess [your] own body in holiness and honor because you, presumably, know God and this is God’s will for you. God gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Again, Paul wrote (1 Thessalonians 2:11-16a NET);

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, exhorting and encouraging you17 and insisting that you live18 in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory. And19 so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe. For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things20 from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets21 and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved.

[Y]ou live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.22 They, called Jews (τῶν Ἰουδαίων) here, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely, are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved.23 But here it becomes quite clear that they are neither Jews nor Gentiles per se: For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea (e.g., in large part Jews), because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen (e.g., in large part Gentiles) as they in fact did from the Jews.24

So, what is the salient difference between you and they? [Y]ou received God’s message that you heard from us; you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe.25 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction.26 They, presumably, had not received God’s message and had not become imitators (μιμηταὶ, a form of μιμητής) of us and of the Lord.

Paul continued (1 Thessalonians 1:9. 10 NET):

For people everywhere report how you welcomed us27 and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the28 dead, Jesus our deliverer from29 the coming wrath.

How is Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath? The Greek word translated deliverer was ρυόμενον, a participle of the verb ῥύομαι: “properly, draw (pull) to oneself,” according to the HELPS Word-studies on Bible Hub. [Y]ou turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven. They, presumably, did not. So this is an indication of how they become you. An example of the inverse, you becoming they, follows:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Isaiah 2:6 (Tanakh/KJV)

Isaiah 2:6 (NET)

Isaiah 2:6 (NETS)

Isaiah 2:6 (English Elpenor)

Therefore thou hast forsaken (נָטַ֗שְׁתָּה) thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Indeed, O Lord, you have abandoned (nāṭaš, נטשתה) your people, the descendants of Jacob. For diviners from the east are everywhere; they consult omen readers like the Philistines do. Plenty of foreigners are around. For he has abandoned (ἀνῆκεν) his people, the house of Israel, because their country, like that of the allophyles, was filled with divinations as it had been at the beginning, and many allophyle children were born to them. For he has forsaken (ἀνῆκε) his people the house of Israel, because their land is filled as at the beginning with divinations, as the [land] of the Philistines,* and many strange children were born to them.

I want to pause here to consider forsaken (Tanakh, KJV, English Elpenor) and abandoned (NET, NETS). The Hebrew word was נָטַ֗שְׁתָּה (nāṭaš). The Greek word was ἀνῆκε(ν). I’m having a difficult time recalling or articulating what I thought forsaken or abandoned meant.

I’m reasonably convinced it was not “to let loose; to run wild; to let (someone/something) run free without restraint,” the first entry for ἀνῆκε(ν) (a form of ἀνίημι) in the Koine Greek Lexicon online. Staring at that definition, I have to admit it was my experience when I became an atheist. And it is what Paul described as the wrath (ὀργὴ) of Godrevealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness.30

Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of People

The Wrath of God Revealed from Heaven

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.31 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.32
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.33 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error [Table].34
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God,35 God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, 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]. Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.36

So, the opposite of this wrath, of being forsaken or abandoned is the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. For you were made rich in every way in him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge—just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.37

The Lord continued to describe through Isaiah how you became they:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Isaiah 2:7-9 (Tanakh/KJV)

Isaiah 2:7-9 (NET)

Isaiah 2:7-9 (NETS)

Isaiah 2:7-9 (English Elpenor)

Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: Their land is full of gold and silver; there is no end to their wealth. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. For their country was filled with silver and gold, and there was no number to their treasures, and the land was filled with horses, and there was no number to their chariots. For their land is filled with silver and gold, and there was no number of their treasures; their land also is filled with horses, and there was no number of chariots.
“Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: Their land is full of worthless idols; they worship the product of their own hands, what their own fingers have fashioned. And the land is filled with abominations, the works of their hands, and they did obeisance to the things their own fingers had made. And the land is filled with abominations, [even] the works of their hands; and they have worshipped [the works] which their fingers made.
And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive (תִּשָּׂ֖א) them not. Men bow down to them in homage, they lie flat on the ground in worship. Don’t spare (nāśā’, תשׁא) them! And so a person bowed down, and a man was humbled—and I will not forgive (ἀνήσω) them! And the mean man bowed down, and the great man was humbled: and I will not pardon (ἀνήσω) them.

Though the English versions of the Septuagint were translated to match the Masoretic text, the actual Greek word ἀνήσω (another form of ἀνίημι) sounds more like the Lord’s promise not to allow his people “to run wild” in the future, not “to let go,” not “to leave [them] uncared for” or “unattended.” In other words, they will not be forsaken or abandoned forever, nor will God’s wrath remain upon them forever. They will not be they forever, but will be restored to you.

Moses’ promises to Israel and Joshua respectively were translated in the Septuagint with two more forms of ἀνίημι: ἀνῇ and ἀνήσει.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 (NET)

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 (English Elpenor)

Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them; for HaShem thy G-d, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail (יַרְפְּךָ֖) thee, nor forsake thee.’ Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail (rāp̄â, ירפך) you or abandon you!” Be manly and strong; have no fear, nor be frightened, nor be terrified from before them, because the Lord your God, he who goes with you among you, will not forsake (ἀνῇ) you or abandon you.” Be courageous and strong, fear not, neither be cowardly neither be afraid before them; for [it is] the Lord your God that advances with you in the midst of you, neither will he by any means forsake (ἀνῇ) thee, nor desert thee.
And HaShem, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail (יַרְפְּךָ֖) thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.’ The Lord is indeed going before you—he will be with you; he will not fail (rāp̄â, ירפך) you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!” And the Lord, the one who goes with you, will not forsake (ἀνήσει) you or abandon you. Do not fear, nor be frightened. And the Lord that goes with thee shall not forsake (ἀνήσει) thee nor abandon thee; fear not, neither be afraid.

According to a note (9) in the NET 1 Thessalonians 5:8 contained an allusion to Isaiah 59:17. A comparison of the Greek of 1 Thessalonians 5:8 to Isaiah 59:17 in the Septuagint follows.

1 Thessalonians 5:8b (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 59:17a (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 59:17a (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐνδυσάμενοι θώρακα πίστεως καὶ ἀγάπης ἐνεδύσατο δικαιοσύνην ὡς θώρακα ἐνεδύσατο δικαιοσύνην ὡς θώρακα

1 Thessalonians 5:8b (NET)

Isaiah 59:17a (NETS)

Isaiah 59:17a (English Elpenor)

putting on the breastplate of faith and love he put on righteousness like a breastplate he put on righteousness as a breast-plate

In this passage about the Lord bringing salvation, the Lord’s δικαιοσύνην (righteousness) becomes πίστεως καὶ ἀγάπης (faith and love) when applied to human beings. The allusion continued:

1 Thessalonians 5:8c (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 59:17b (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 59:17b (Septuagint Elpenor)

περικεφαλαίαν ἐλπίδα σωτηρίας περιέθετο περικεφαλαίαν σωτηρίου ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς περιέθετο περικεφαλαίαν σωτηρίου ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς

1 Thessalonians 5:8c (NET)

Isaiah 59:17b (NETS)

Isaiah 59:17b (English Elpenor)

as a helmet our hope for salvation places a helmet of salvation on his head placed the helmet of salvation on his head

The Lord wears the helmet of salvation on his head (σωτηρίου ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς). Our helmet is our hope (ἐλπίδα), or “confident expectation,” for salvation (σωτηρίας), the very salvation He has acquired for us. What is absent from this allusion, as applied to human beings, is any mention of he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.38

Tables comparing Isaiah 59:17; 2:6; 2:7; 2:8; 2:9; Deuteronomy 31:6 and 31:8 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Isaiah 59:17; 2:6; 2:7; 2:8; 2:9; Deuteronomy 31:6 and 31:8 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Mark 8:16; 2 Corinthians 1:13; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3; 5:5, 6; 2:12-15 and 1:9, 10 in the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 59:17 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 59:17 (KJV)

Isaiah 59:17 (NET)

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. He wears his desire for justice like body armor, and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. He puts on the garments of vengeance and wears zeal like a robe.

Isaiah 59:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 59:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐνεδύσατο δικαιοσύνην ὡς θώρακα καὶ περιέθετο περικεφαλαίαν σωτηρίου ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς καὶ περιεβάλετο ἱμάτιον ἐκδικήσεως καὶ τὸ περιβόλαιον καὶ ἐνεδύσατο δικαιοσύνην ὡς θώρακα καὶ περιέθετο περικεφαλαίαν σωτηρίου ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς καὶ περιεβάλετο ἱμάτιον ἐκδικήσεως καὶ τὸ περιβόλαιον

Isaiah 59:17 (NETS)

Isaiah 59:17 (English Elpenor)

And he put on righteousness like a breastplate and places a helmet of salvation on his head, and he clothed himself with a garment of vengeance and with his cloak, And he put on righteousness as a breast-plate, and placed the helmet of salvation on his head; and he clothed himself with the garment of vengeance, and with his cloak,

Isaiah 2:6 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 2:6 (KJV)

Isaiah 2:6 (NET)

Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Indeed, O Lord, you have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. For diviners from the east are everywhere; they consult omen readers like the Philistines do. Plenty of foreigners are around.

Isaiah 2:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 2:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀνῆκεν γὰρ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ισραηλ ὅτι ἐνεπλήσθη ὡς τὸ ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς ἡ χώρα αὐτῶν κληδονισμῶν ὡς ἡ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ τέκνα πολλὰ ἀλλόφυλα ἐγενήθη αὐτοῖς ἀνῆκε γὰρ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ, ὅτι ἐνεπλήσθη ὡς τὸ ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς ἡ χώρα αὐτῶν κληδονισμῶν, ὡς ἡ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων, καὶ τέκνα πολλὰ ἀλλόφυλα ἐγενήθη αὐτοῖς

Isaiah 2:6 (NETS)

Isaiah 2:6 (English Elpenor)

For he has abandoned his people, the house of Israel, because their country, like that of the allophyles, was filled with divinations as it had been at the beginning, and many allophyle children were born to them. For he has forsaken his people the house of Israel, because their land is filled as at the beginning with divinations, as the [land] of the Philistines,* and many strange children were born to them.

Isaiah 2:7 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 2:7 (KJV)

Isaiah 2:7 (NET)

Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: Their land is full of gold and silver; there is no end to their wealth. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots.

Isaiah 2:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 2:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐνεπλήσθη γὰρ ἡ χώρα αὐτῶν ἀργυρίου καὶ χρυσίου καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἀριθμὸς τῶν θησαυρῶν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐνεπλήσθη ἡ γῆ ἵππων καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἁρμάτων αὐτῶν ἐνεπλήσθη γὰρ ἡ χώρα αὐτῶν ἀργυρίου καὶ χρυσίου, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἀριθμὸς τῶν θησαυρῶν αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐνεπλήσθη ἡ γῆ ἵππων, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἁρμάτων αὐτῶν

Isaiah 2:7 (NETS)

Isaiah 2:7 (English Elpenor)

For their country was filled with silver and gold, and there was no number to their treasures, and the land was filled with horses, and there was no number to their chariots. For their land is filled with silver and gold, and there was no number of their treasures; their land also is filled with horses, and there was no number of chariots.

Isaiah 2:8 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 2:8 (KJV)

Isaiah 2:8 (NET)

Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: Their land is full of worthless idols; they worship the product of their own hands, what their own fingers have fashioned.

Isaiah 2:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 2:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐνεπλήσθη ἡ γῆ βδελυγμάτων τῶν ἔργων τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν καὶ προσεκύνησαν οἷς ἐποίησαν οἱ δάκτυλοι αὐτῶν καὶ ἐνεπλήσθη ἡ γῆ βδελυγμάτων τῶν ἔργων τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ προσεκύνησαν, οἷς ἐποίησαν οἱ δάκτυλοι αὐτῶν

Isaiah 2:8 (NETS)

Isaiah 2:8 (English Elpenor)

And the land is filled with abominations, the works of their hands, and they did obeisance to the things their own fingers had made. And the land is filled with abominations, [even] the works of their hands; and they have worshipped [the works] which their fingers made.

Isaiah 2:9 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 2:9 (KJV)

Isaiah 2:9 (NET)

And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. Men bow down to them in homage, they lie flat on the ground in worship. Don’t spare them!

Isaiah 2:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 2:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔκυψεν ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἐταπεινώθη ἀνήρ καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀνήσω αὐτούς καὶ ἔκυψεν ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ἐταπεινώθη ἀνήρ, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀνήσω αὐτούς

Isaiah 2:9 (NETS)

Isaiah 2:9 (English Elpenor)

And so a person bowed down, and a man was humbled—and I will not forgive them! And the mean man bowed down, and the great man was humbled: and I will not pardon them.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NET)

Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them; for HaShem thy G-d, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!”

Deuteronomy 31:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 31:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀνδρίζου καὶ ἴσχυε μὴ φοβοῦ μηδὲ δειλία μηδὲ πτοηθῇς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν ὅτι κύριος ὁ θεός σου ὁ προπορευόμενος μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν οὐ μή σε ἀνῇ οὔτε μή σε ἐγκαταλίπῃ ἀνδρίζου καὶ ἴσχυε, μὴ φοβοῦ μηδὲ δειλιάσης μηδὲ πτοηθῇς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν, ὅτι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ὁ προπορευόμενος μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν, οὔτε μή σε ἀνῇ, οὔτε μή σε ἐγκαταλίπῃ

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 31:6 (English Elpenor)

Be manly and strong; have no fear, nor be frightened, nor be terrified from before them, because the Lord your God, he who goes with you among you, will not forsake you or abandon you.” Be courageous and strong, fear not, neither be cowardly neither be afraid before them; for [it is] the Lord your God that advances with you in the midst of you, neither will he by any means forsake thee, nor desert thee.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 31:8 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NET)

And HaShem, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.’ And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. The Lord is indeed going before you—he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!”

Deuteronomy 31:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 31:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ κύριος ὁ συμπορευόμενος μετὰ σοῦ οὐκ ἀνήσει σε οὐδὲ μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃ σε μὴ φοβοῦ μηδὲ δειλία καὶ Κύριος ὁ συμπορευόμενος μετὰ σοῦ οὐκ ἀνήσει σε, οὐδὲ μή σε ἐγκαταλίπῃ· μὴ φοβοῦ μηδὲ δειλία

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 31:8 (English Elpenor)

And the Lord, the one who goes with you, will not forsake you or abandon you. Do not fear, nor be frightened. And the Lord that goes with thee shall not forsake thee nor abandon thee; fear not, neither be afraid.

Mark 8:16 (NET)

Mark 8:16 (KJV)

So they began to discuss with one another about having no bread. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

Mark 8:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἀλλήλους ὅτι ἄρτους οὐκ ἔχουσιν και διελογιζοντο προς αλληλους λεγοντες οτι αρτους ουκ εχομεν και διελογιζοντο προς αλληλους λεγοντες οτι αρτους ουκ εχομεν

2 Corinthians 1:13 (NET)

2 Corinthians 1:13 (KJV)

For we do not write you anything other than what you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

2 Corinthians 1:13 (NET Parallel Greek)

2 Corinthians 1:13 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

2 Corinthians 1:13 (Byzantine Majority Text)

οὐ γὰρ ἄλλα γράφομεν ὑμῖν ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἃ ἀναγινώσκετε ἢ καὶ ἐπιγινώσκετε· ἐλπίζω δὲ ὅτι ἕως τέλους ἐπιγνώσεσθε ου γαρ αλλα γραφομεν υμιν αλλ η α αναγινωσκετε η και επιγινωσκετε ελπιζω δε οτι και εως τελους επιγνωσεσθε ου γαρ αλλα γραφομεν υμιν αλλ η α αναγινωσκετε η και επιγινωσκετε ελπιζω δε οτι και εως τελους επιγνωσεσθε

Philippians 1:6 (NET)

Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philippians 1:6 (NET Parallel Greek)

Philippians 1:6 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Philippians 1:6 (Byzantine Majority Text)

πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ὅτι ὁ ἐναρξάμενος ἐν ὑμῖν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἐπιτελέσει ἄχρι ἡμέρας Χριστοῦ |Ἰησοῦ| πεποιθως αυτο τουτο οτι ο εναρξαμενος εν υμιν εργον αγαθον επιτελεσει αχρις ημερας ιησου χριστου πεποιθως αυτο τουτο οτι ο εναρξαμενος εν υμιν εργον αγαθον επιτελεσει αχρις ημερας χριστου ιησου

1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3 (NET)

1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3 (KJV)

For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)

αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκριβῶς οἴδατε ὅτι ἡμέρα κυρίου ὡς κλέπτης ἐν νυκτὶ οὕτως ἔρχεται αυτοι γαρ ακριβως οιδατε οτι η ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν νυκτι ουτως ερχεται αυτοι γαρ ακριβως οιδατε οτι η ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν νυκτι ουτως ερχεται
Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Thessalonians 5:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Thessalonians 5:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὅταν |δὲ| λέγωσιν· εἰρήνη καὶ ἀσφάλεια, τότε αἰφνίδιος αὐτοῖς |ἐφίσταται| ὄλεθρος ὥσπερ ἡ ὠδὶν τῇ ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσῃ, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκφύγωσιν οταν γαρ λεγωσιν ειρηνη και ασφαλεια τοτε αιφνιδιος αυτοις εφισταται ολεθρος ωσπερ η ωδιν τη εν γαστρι εχουση και ου μη εκφυγωσιν οταν γαρ λεγωσιν ειρηνη και ασφαλεια τοτε αιφνιδιος αυτοις εφισταται ολεθρος ωσπερ η ωδιν τη εν γαστρι εχουση και ου μη εκφυγωσιν

1 Thessalonians 5:5, 6 (NET)

1 Thessalonians 5:5, 6 (KJV)

For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Thessalonians 5:5 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Thessalonians 5:5 (Byzantine Majority Text)

πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς υἱοὶ φωτός ἐστε καὶ υἱοὶ ἡμέρας. Οὐκ ἐσμὲν νυκτὸς οὐδὲ σκότους παντες υμεις υιοι φωτος εστε και υιοι ημερας ουκ εσμεν νυκτος ουδε σκοτους παντες υμεις υιοι φωτος εστε και υιοι ημερας ουκ εσμεν νυκτος ουδε σκοτους
So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἄρα οὖν μὴ καθεύδωμεν ὡς οἱ λοιποί ἀλλὰ γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν αρα ουν μη καθευδωμεν ως και οι λοιποι αλλα γρηγορωμεν και νηφωμεν αρα ουν μη καθευδωμεν ως και οι λοιποι αλλα γρηγορωμεν και νηφωμεν

1 Thessalonians 2:12-15 (NET)

1 Thessalonians 2:12-15 (KJV)

exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Thessalonians 2:12 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Thessalonians 2:12 (Byzantine Majority Text)

παρακαλοῦντες ὑμᾶς καὶ παραμυθούμενοι καὶ μαρτυρόμενοι εἰς τὸ περιπατεῖν ὑμᾶς ἀξίως τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ καλοῦντος ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ βασιλείαν καὶ δόξαν και μαρτυρουμενοι εις το περιπατησαι υμας αξιως του θεου του καλουντος υμας εις την εαυτου βασιλειαν και δοξαν και μαρτυρομενοι εις το περιπατησαι υμας αξιως του θεου του καλουντος υμας εις την εαυτου βασιλειαν και δοξαν
And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς εὐχαριστοῦμεν τῷ θεῷ ἀδιαλείπτως, ὅτι παραλαβόντες λόγον ἀκοῆς παρ᾿ ἡμῶν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐδέξασθε οὐ λόγον ἀνθρώπων ἀλλὰ καθώς ἐστιν |ἀληθῶς| λόγον θεοῦ, ὃς καὶ ἐνεργεῖται ἐν ὑμῖν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν δια τουτο και ημεις ευχαριστουμεν τω θεω αδιαλειπτως οτι παραλαβοντες λογον ακοης παρ ημων του θεου εδεξασθε ου λογον ανθρωπων αλλα καθως εστιν αληθως λογον θεου ος και ενεργειται εν υμιν τοις πιστευουσιν δια τουτο και ημεις ευχαριστουμεν τω θεω αδιαλειπτως οτι παραλαβοντες λογον ακοης παρ ημων του θεου εδεξασθε ου λογον ανθρωπων αλλα καθως εστιν αληθως λογον θεου ος και ενεργειται εν υμιν τοις πιστευουσιν
For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

1 Thessalonians 2:14 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Thessalonians 2:14 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Thessalonians 2:14 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὑμεῖς γὰρ μιμηταὶ ἐγενήθητε, ἀδελφοί, τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν τοῦ θεοῦ τῶν οὐσῶν ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ὅτι τὰ αὐτὰ ἐπάθετε καὶ ὑμεῖς ὑπὸ τῶν ἰδίων συμφυλετῶν καθὼς καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων υμεις γαρ μιμηται εγενηθητε αδελφοι των εκκλησιων του θεου των ουσων εν τη ιουδαια εν χριστω ιησου οτι ταυτα επαθετε και υμεις υπο των ιδιων συμφυλετων καθως και αυτοι υπο των ιουδαιων υμεις γαρ μιμηται εγενηθητε αδελφοι των εκκλησιων του θεου των ουσων εν τη ιουδαια εν χριστω ιησου οτι τα αυτα επαθετε και υμεις υπο των ιδιων συμφυλετων καθως και αυτοι υπο των ιουδαιων
who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

1 Thessalonians 2:15 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Thessalonians 2:15 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Thessalonians 2:15 (Byzantine Majority Text)

τῶν καὶ τὸν κύριον ἀποκτεινάντων Ἰησοῦν καὶ τοὺς προφήτας καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐκδιωξάντων καὶ θεῷ μὴ ἀρεσκόντων καὶ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις ἐναντίων των και τον κυριον αποκτειναντων ιησουν και τους ιδιους προφητας και υμας εκδιωξαντων και θεω μη αρεσκοντων και πασιν ανθρωποις εναντιων των και τον κυριον αποκτειναντων ιησουν και τους ιδιους προφητας και ημας εκδιωξαντων και θεω μη αρεσκοντων και πασιν ανθρωποις εναντιων

1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10 (NET)

1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10 (KJV)

For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

1 Thessalonians 1:9 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Thessalonians 1:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Thessalonians 1:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)

αὐτοὶ γὰρ περὶ ἡμῶν ἀπαγγέλλουσιν ὁποίαν εἴσοδον ἔσχομεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ πῶς ἐπεστρέψατε πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων δουλεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι καὶ ἀληθινῷ αυτοι γαρ περι ημων απαγγελλουσιν οποιαν εισοδον εχομεν προς υμας και πως επεστρεψατε προς τον θεον απο των ειδωλων δουλευειν θεω ζωντι και αληθινω αυτοι γαρ περι ημων απαγγελλουσιν οποιαν εισοδον εσχομεν προς υμας και πως επεστρεψατε προς τον θεον απο των ειδωλων δουλευειν θεω ζωντι και αληθινω
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Thessalonians 1:10 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Thessalonians 1:10 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἀναμένειν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ [τῶν] νεκρῶν, Ἰησοῦν τὸν ρυόμενον ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς ὀργῆς τῆς ἐρχομένης και αναμενειν τον υιον αυτου εκ των ουρανων ον ηγειρεν εκ νεκρων ιησουν τον ρυομενον ημας απο της οργης της ερχομενης και αναμενειν τον υιον αυτου εκ των ουρανων ον ηγειρεν εκ των νεκρων ιησουν τον ρυομενον ημας απο της οργης της ερχομενης

1 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NET)

3 Mark 8:16b (NET)

4 Mark 8:15b (NET)

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

6 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NET)

8 Philippians 1:6 (NET)

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

10 The NET parallel Greek text had δὲ here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had γαρ (KJV: For). The NA28 had neither.

13 1 Thessalonians 5:4 (NET)

14 1 Corinthians 1:8b (NET)

15 1 Corinthians 1:8a (NET)

16 1 Thessalonians 4:9b-10a (NET)

17 The NET parallel Greek text had παρακαλοῦντες ὑμᾶς καὶ παραμυθούμενοι (NET: exhorting and encouraging you) here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had it at the end of verse 11.

20 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had τὰ αὐτὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ταυτα (KJV: like things).

21 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιδιους (KJV: their own) preceding prophets. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

22 1 Thessalonians 2:12b (NET)

23 1 Thessalonians 2:15 (NET)

24 1 Thessalonians 2:14 (NET)

25 1 Thessalonians 2:13b (NET)

26 1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NET)

27 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἔσχομεν here (NET note 19: “what sort of entrance we had to you”), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had εχομεν.

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

30 Romans 1:18 (NET)

31 Romans 1:22, 23 (NET)

32 Romans 1:24 (NET) Table

33 Romans 1:25 (NET)

34 Romans 1:26, 27 (NET)

35 Romans 1:28a (NET)

36 Romans 1:28b-32 (NET)

37 1 Corinthians 1:4b-8 (NET)

38 Isaiah 59:17b (Tanakh)

Romans, Part 48

I want to continue with the next item in Paul’s list of the different gifts (χαρίσματα, a form of χάρισμα) we have according to the grace given to us.[2]  If [the gift] is leadership (προϊστάμενος, a form of προΐστημι), he must do so with diligence (σπουδῇ)…[4]

I want προϊστάμενος to mean προηγούμενοι (a form of προηγέομαι), go first and leave a trail.  That’s what the Holy Spirit says to me about leadership.  Follow me, Jesus said.  Paul wrote, Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness (προηγούμενοι, a form of προηγέομαι) in honoring one another.[6]  So when Paul used προηγούμενοι he wanted me to “lead the way” in honoring others.  When he wrote about leadership he used the word προϊστάμενος (a form of προΐστημι), which seems to imply a less itinerant existence, the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep by living among them and protecting them rather than dying for them.

To overcome my own bias I’ll start with things Paul didn’t mean about προϊστάμενος (leadership).  He certainly didn’t mean πλανάω, “to lead astray.”  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Paul asked rhetorically.  Do not be deceived (πλανᾶσθε, a form of πλανάω)!  The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not[7] inherit the kingdom of God.[8]  And the implication is that some claiming the gift of leadership were teaching these very things.

I don’t want this to come down disproportionately hard on those who favor the “Side A” position discussed on the Gay Christian Network website.[9]  My reasons can wait for another essay.  For now I will simply quote Paul’s own words (1 Corinthians 6:11 NET):

Some of you once lived this way.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

In other words, despite his assertion that such sinners will not inherit the kingdom of God, Paul did not dispute that God called, sanctified, and justified them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  The most anyone can assert about this passage is the Apostle’s fervent belief that sinners who were washed…sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God would not continue in sin.

Do not be deceived (πλανᾶσθε, a form of πλανάω): “Bad company corrupts good morals.”  Sober up as you should, and stop sinning!  For some have no knowledge of God – I say this to your shame![10]  Do not be deceived (πλανᾶσθε, a form of πλανάω).  God will not be made a fool.  For a person will reap what he sows, because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.[11]  But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving (πλανῶντες, another form of πλανάω) others and being deceived (πλανώμενοι, another form of πλανάω) themselves.[12]

Still, for Paul it was not a simple matter of “we” the good guys versus “they” the evil deceivers leading themselves and others astray:  For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled (πλανώμενοι, another form of πλανάω), enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives (διάγοντες, a form of διάγω) in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another.[14]  Here we are introduced to ἄγω, the primary verb to lead.  I’ll look at that after I finish with πλανάω.

The difference between Paul in his past as Saul along with others who were led astray, and Paul in his present as an Apostle of Christ, was the Father’s call through the resurrected Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit, God, in a word and not something intrinsic in Paul himself.  For the appeal we make does not come from error (πλάνης, a form of πλάνη) or impurity or with deceit, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.[17]

For Paul the word πλάνη (one led astray) not only described his former life but the natural state of all humanity.   Hear, for instance, how he described God’s wrath[18] on those who worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator:[19] God gave them over to dishonorable passions.  For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another.  Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error (πλάνης, a form of πλάνη) [Table].[20]

But in Christ we are all empowered to overcome our natural state: So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes (μεθοδείαν τῆς πλάνης).[22]  While there is nothing particularly wrong with translating πλάνης error or deceitful, it implies awareness and ill-purpose.  And we might be led astray by the earnest sincerity of one led astray, one who does not know that his method or way leads others astray, one who wasn’t gifted with leadership (προϊστάμενος, a form of προΐστημι).

Paul also wrote (2 Corinthians 2:4-11 NET Table1 Table2):

For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη) that I have especially for you.  But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well.  This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, so that now instead you should rather forgive (χαρίσασθαι, a form of χαρίζομαι) and comfort (παρακαλέσαι, a form of παρακαλέω) him.  This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.  Therefore I urge (παρακαλῶ, a form of παρακαλέω) you to reaffirm your love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη) for him.  For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything.  If you forgive (χαρίζεσθε, a form of χαρίζομαι) anyone for anything, I also forgive him – for indeed what I have forgiven (κεχάρισμαι, a form of χαρίζομαι) (if I have forgiven [κεχάρισμαι, a form of χαρίζομαι] anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ, so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes [νοήματα, a form of νόημα]).

I can’t help but think that the forgiveness, comfort and love that played such an important role in keeping the Corinthians from being exploited by Satan’s schemes might be key as well to thwarting people’s methods or ways that lead astray (μεθοδείαν τῆς πλάνης).

As I turn here to ἄγω it is possible to glean what the gift of leadership (προϊστάμενος, a form of προΐστημι) is like.  God’s kindness leads (ἄγει, a form of ἄγω) you to repentance.[27]  It is not too much to expect one with the gift of leadership to exhibit God’s kindness, forbearance, and patience.  The gifted leader exhorts us with: all who are led (ἄγονται, a form of ἄγω) by the Spirit of God are the sons of God,[28] and teaches us: if you are led (ἄγεσθε, a form of ἄγω) by the Spirit, you are not under the law.[29]  The gifted leader is not overly interested in money.  For the love of money is the root of all evils.  Some people in reaching for it have strayed (ἀπεπλανήθησαν, a form of ἀποπλανάω) from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.[31]

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, Paul wrote the Thessalonians, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over (προϊσταμένους, another form of προΐστημι) you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work.[32]  [The overseer] must manage (προϊστάμενον, another form of προΐστημι) his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.[33]  Though the overseer may be an itinerant position, one must exhibit that lay-down-his-life leadership at home first with his family.

Paul’s exhortation, Do not lag (σπουδῇ) in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord,[34] gives me a picture of the diligence (σπουδῇ) one should demonstrate in the exercise of God’s gift of leadership.   It is translated eagerness in, But as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness (σπουδῇ) and in the love from us that is in you – make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.[35]

Romans, Part 49

Back to My Reasons and My Reason, Part 1


[2] Romans 12:6a (NET)

[4] Romans 12:8 (NET)

[6] Romans 12:10 (NET)

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

[8] 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 (NET) Table

[10] 1 Corinthians 15:33, 34 (NET)

[11] Galatians 6:7, 8 (NET)

[12] 2 Timothy 3:13 (NET)

[14] Titus 3:3 (NET)

[17] 1 Thessalonians 2:3, 4 (NET)

[18] Romans 1:18 (NET)

[19] Romans 1:25 (NET)

[20] Romans 1:26, 27 (NET)

[22] Ephesians 4:14 (NET)

[27] Romans 2:4b (NET)

[28] Romans 8:14 (NET)

[29] Galatians 5:18 (NET)

[31] 1 Timothy 6:10 (NET)

[32] 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13 (NET)

[33] 1 Timothy 3:4 (NET)

[34] Romans 12:11 (NET) Table

[35] 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NET)

Romans, Part 4

There is something important to remember about ἀσέβεια (ungodliness).  If it is not overcome in people by the Spirit of God, the word of God, faith in the Lord Jesus, being born from above—it simply continues to function.  That sounds so simple.  But those plagued with ἀσέβεια, even after experiencing God’s wrath, don’t understand what they have experienced.  They don’t realize they’ve been given over in the desires (ἐπιθυμίαις, a form of ἐπιθυμία) of their hearts to impurity (ἀκαθαρσίαν, a form of ἀκαθαρσία), to dishonor (ἀτιμάζεσθαι, a form of ἀτιμάζω) their bodies (σώματα, a form of σῶμα) among themselves1 because they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.2  On the contrary, the religious minded among them in particular assume that this new demon worship with its cultic sexual practices is good and righteous.

Now here is where it gets confusing.  Religious minded people plagued with ἀσέβεια invent rules governing the proper ways to worship demons, and the correct methods to engage in cultic sexual practices.  And they teach their good and evil to the next generation.

Unrighteous Worship

The Wrath of God Revealed from Heaven

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped (ἐσεβάσθησαν, a form of σεβάζομαι) and served (ἐλάτρευσαν, a form of λατρεύω) the creation (κτίσει, a form of κτίσις) rather than the Creator (κτίσαντα, a form of κτίζω), who is blessed forever!  Amen.

Romans 1:25 NET

For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable (ἀτιμίας, a form of ἀτιμία) passions (πάθη, a form of πάθος).  For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones (παρὰ φύσιν, φύσιν is a form of φύσις), and likewise the men3 also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions (ὀρέξει, a form of ὄρεξις) for one another.  Men committed (κατεργαζόμενοι, a form of κατεργάζομαι) shameless acts (ἀσχημοσύνην, ἀσχημοσύνη) with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Romans 1:26, 27 NET

So one generation worshiped God as if He were a created thing.  And the next generation, or so, worshiped created things instead of God.  For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable (ἀτιμίας, a form of ἀτιμία) passions (πάθη, a form of πάθος).4  Here again ἀτιμία, like ἀτιμάζω and ἄτιμος, is a negation of τιμή.  I assume then that this is not the way to know how to possess my own body in holiness and honor (τιμῇ, a form of τιμή), but is more likely the lustful (ἐπιθυμίας, another form of ἐπιθυμία) passion (πάθει, another form of πάθος) like the Gentiles who do not know (εἰδότα, a form of εἴδω) God.5
The Greek word ἐσεβάσθησαν (a form of σεβάζομαι) translated worshiped in Romans 1:25 (NET) is only used here.  I imagine Paul and the Holy Spirit chose it because it comes from σέβομαι (a form of σέβω; to worship, honour, revere) like the negations ἀσεβής and ἀσέβεια (ungodliness).  The first occurrence in the New Testament of a form of λατρεύω, translated served (ἐλάτρευσαν) in Romans 1:25 (NET), is in Matthew 4:8-10 (NET).

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur.  And he said6 to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship (προσκυνήσῃς, a form of προσκυνέω) me.”  Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan!7 For it is written: ‘You are to worship (προσκυνήσεις, another form of προσκυνέω) the Lord your God and serve (λατρεύσεις, another form of λατρεύω) only him.’”

I’m always impressed when things work out like this in a word study, that the first occurrence of the word pretty much says it all.  I take it for granted that the Holy Spirit knew λατρεύω would lead here.  But I often wonder if the human author, Paul in this case, knew it as well.

He might have used δουλεύω in Romans 1:25.  That would have led to, No one can serve (δουλεύειν, a form of δουλεύω) two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve (δουλεύειν, a form of δουλεύω) God and money.8  But that is not anywhere near as appropriate to his theme as Jesus quoting the law to Satan.  If he had used διακονία I would have found, But Martha was distracted with all the preparations (διακονίαν, a form of διακονία) she had to make, so she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone?  Tell her to help me.”9  If Paul had used διακονέω, Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering (διηκόνουν, a form of διακονέω) to his needs,10  I would have at least been led to the end of the same story as λατρεύσεις (a form of λατρεύω).

In this instance I do think Paul was very aware of the law Jesus quoted, even if he did not have access yet to Matthew’s (or Luke’s) Gospel.  The word λατρεύσεις (λατρεύω) is used in the passage Jesus quoted (Deuteronomy 6:13) in the Septuagint.  And Paul certainly had λατρεύω on his mind.  For God, whom I serve (λατρεύω) in my spirit by preaching the gospel of his Son,11 is how Paul described his own service earlier in the same chapter.

The Greek word κτίσει (a form of κτίσις), translated creation in Romans 1:25 (NET), leads just as profoundly to Mark 10:6-8a (NET).  But from the beginning of creation (κτίσεως, another form of κτίσις) he12 made them male (ἄρσεν, a form of ἄῤῥην) and female (θῆλυ, a form of θῆλυς).  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother,13 and the two will become one flesh.  So when men exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation (κτίσει, a form of κτίσις) rather than the Creator14 God gave them over to dishonorable passions;15 namely, Men (ἄρσενες, another form of αρσην) committed shameless acts with men (ἄρσεσιν, another form of αρσην).16

What about the women?  I don’t know.  I can’t tell if they were seeking out other women or anal intercourse with men.  Both options seem to fit the symmetry of the language.  Both are equally against natural germination (παρὰ φύσιν, φύσιν is a form of φύσις).  The latter accords better with a “sprung bum,”17 which I assume is what Paul meant by the due penalty for their error.  But does this penalty only apply to men?  Again, I don’t know the answer.

These are sensitive issues and I want to continue in a more personal way in another essay.

 

Addendum: May 17, 2020
A note (17) in the NET indicated that Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 in Matthew 4:10.  First, here is a comparison of English translations from the Masoretic text and the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Deuteronomy 6:13 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 6:13 (NET) Deuteronomy 6:13 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 6:13 (Elpenor English)

Thou shalt fear HaShem thy G-d; and Him shalt thou serve, and by His name shalt thou swear. You must revere the Lord your God, serve him, and take oaths using only his name. The Lord your God you shall fear, and him you shall serve, and to him you shall cling, and by his name you shall swear. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve; and thou shalt cleave to him, and by his name thou shalt swear.

The clause and thou shalt cleave to him (καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν κολληθήσῃ) was added to the Septuagint or deleted from the Masoretic text.  Here is a comparison of the Greek from Matthew’s Gospel narrative to that of the Septuagint.

Matthew 4:10b (NET Parallel Greek)

Deuteronomy 6:13a (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 6:13a (Septuagint Elpenor)

κύριον τὸν θεόν σου προσκυνήσεις καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου φοβηθήσῃ καὶ αὐτῷ λατρεύσεις Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου φοβηθήσῃ καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύσεις

Matthew 4:10b (NET)

Deuteronomy 6:13a (NETS)

Deuteronomy 6:13a (English Elpenor)

You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him. The Lord your God you shall fear, and him you shall serve Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve

It didn’t sit quite right with me that Jesus changed fear (φοβηθήσῃ, a form of φοβέω) to worship (προσκυνήσεις, a form of προσκυνέω) in a quotation simply because Satan had said, throw yourself to the ground and worship (προσκυνήσῃς, another form of προσκυνέω) me.  So I searched προσκυνήσεις in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Exodus 20:5 (Tanakh) Exodus 20:5 (NET) Exodus 20:5 (NETS)

Exodus 20:5 (Elpenor English)

thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I HaShem thy G-d am a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me, You shall not do obeisance (προσκυνήσεις) to them, nor are you to serve them, for I am the Lord your God, a jealous god, repaying sins of fathers upon children up to the third and fourth generation to those who hate me, Thou shalt not bow down (προσκυνήσεις) to them, nor serve them; for I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God, recompensing the sins of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation to them that hate me,

Exodus 23:24 (Tanakh)

Exodus 23:24 (NET) Exodus 23:24 (NETS)

Exodus 23:24 (English Elpenor)

Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their doings; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars. “You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their standing stones to pieces. You shall not do obeisance (προσκυνήσεις) to their gods nor serve them.  You shall not act according to their practices, but with demolition shall demolish and by smashing shall smash their steles. Thou shalt not worship (προσκυνήσεις) their gods, nor serve them: thou shalt not do according to their works, but shalt utterly destroy them, and break to pieces their pillars.

Deuteronomy 5:9 (Tanakh) Table

Deuteronomy 5:9 (NET) Deuteronomy 5:9 (NETS) Table

Deuteronomy 5:9 (English Elpenor)

Thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I HaShem thy G-d am a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate Me, You must not worship or serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.  I punish the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons for the sin of the fathers who reject me, You shall not do obeisance (προσκυνήσεις) to them, nor are you to serve them, because I am the Lord your God, a jealous god, repaying the sins of fathers upon children to the third and fourth generation to those who hate me, Thou shalt not bow down (προσκυνήσεις) to them, nor shalt thou serve them; for I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God, visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation to them that hate me,

Deuteronomy 26:10 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 26:10 (NET) Deuteronomy 26:10 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 26:10 (English Elpenor)

And now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the land, which Thou, O HaShem, hast given me.’  And thou shalt set it down before HaShem thy G-d, and worship before HaShem thy G-d. So now, look!  I have brought the first of the ground’s produce that you, Lord, have given me.”  Then you must set it down before the Lord your God and worship before him. And now look, I have brought the first fruit of the produce of the land that you, O Lord, have given me, a land flowing with milk and honey.”  And you shall leave them before the Lord your God and do obeisance (προσκυνήσεις) before the Lord your God. And now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruits of the land, which thou gavest me, O Lord, a land flowing with milk and honey: and thou shalt leave it before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt worship (προσκυνήσεις) before the Lord thy God;

Psalm 81:9 (Tanakh)

Psalm 81:9 (NET) Psalm 80:10 (NETS)

Psalm 80:10 (English Elpenor)

There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. There must be no other god among you.  You must not worship a foreign god. There shall be no recent god among you, nor shall you do obeisance (προσκυνήσεις) to a foreign god. there shall be no new god in thee; neither shalt thou worship (προσκυνήσεις) a strange god.

Alluding to this synopsis of the law He had given Israel to protect them from Satan’s laws and religions, Jesus assured Satan with his own word that He would not submit to deceit as so many of his people had done.

A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation from Genesis in the NET with that of the Septuagint follows.

Mark 10:7, 8a (NET Parallel Greek)

Genesis 2:24 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 2:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῗκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν

Mark 10:7, 8a (NET)

Genesis 2:24 (NETS)

Genesis 2:24 (English Elpenor)

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and the two will become one flesh. Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation from Genesis in the Stephanus Textus Receptus with that of the Septuagint follows.

Mark 10:7, 8a (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Genesis 2:24 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 2:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ενεκεν τουτου καταλειψει ανθρωπος τον πατερα αυτου και την μητερα και προσκολληθησεται προς την γυναικα αυτου και εσονται οι δυο εις σαρκα μιαν ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῗκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν

Mark 10:7, 8a (KJV)

Genesis 2:24 (NETS)

Genesis 2:24 (English Elpenor)

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Tables comparing Deuteronomy 6:13; Exodus 20:5; 23:24; Deuteronomy 26:10; Psalm 81:9 and Genesis 2:24 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Deuteronomy 6:13; Exodus 20:5; 23:24; Deuteronomy 26:10; Psalm 81:9 (80:10) and Genesis 2:24 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  Then tables comparing Romans 1:27; Matthew 4:9, 10; 6:24 and Mark 10:6, 7 in the NET and KJV follow those.

Deuteronomy 6:13 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 6:13 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 6:13 (NET)

Thou shalt fear HaShem thy G-d; and Him shalt thou serve, and by His name shalt thou swear. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. You must revere the Lord your God, serve him, and take oaths using only his name.

Deuteronomy 6:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 6:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

κύριον τὸν θεόν σου φοβηθήσῃ καὶ αὐτῷ λατρεύσεις καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν κολληθήσῃ καὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ ὀμῇ Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου φοβηθήσῃ καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύσεις καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν κολληθήσῃ καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ ὀμῇ

Deuteronomy 6:13 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 6:13 (English Elpenor)

The Lord your God you shall fear, and him you shall serve, and to him you shall cling, and by his name you shall swear. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve; and thou shalt cleave to him, and by his name thou shalt swear.

Exodus 20:5 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:5 (KJV)

Exodus 20:5 (NET)

thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I HaShem thy G-d am a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me,

Exodus 20:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ προσκυνήσεις αὐτοῗς οὐδὲ μὴ λατρεύσῃς αὐτοῗς ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι κύριος ὁ θεός σου θεὸς ζηλωτὴς ἀποδιδοὺς ἁμαρτίας πατέρων ἐπὶ τέκνα ἕως τρίτης καὶ τετάρτης γενεᾶς τοῗς μισοῦσίν με οὐ προσκυνήσεις αὐτοῖς, οὐδὲ μὴ λατρεύσεις αὐτοῖς· ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, Θεὸς ζηλωτής, ἀποδιδοὺς ἁμαρτίας πατέρων ἐπὶ τέκνα, ἕως τρίτης καὶ τετάρτης γενεᾶς τοῖς μισοῦσί με

Exodus 20:5 (NETS)

Exodus 20:5 (English Elpenor)

You shall not do obeisance to them, nor are you to serve them, for I am the Lord your God, a jealous god, repaying sins of fathers upon children up to the third and fourth generation to those who hate me, Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them; for I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God, recompensing the sins of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation to them that hate me,

Exodus 23:24 (Tanakh)

Exodus 23:24 (KJV)

Exodus 23:24 (NET)

Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their doings; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars. Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. “You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their standing stones to pieces.

Exodus 23:24 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 23:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ προσκυνήσεις τοῗς θεοῗς αὐτῶν οὐδὲ μὴ λατρεύσῃς αὐτοῗς οὐ ποιήσεις κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν ἀλλὰ καθαιρέσει καθελεῗς καὶ συντρίβων συντρίψεις τὰς στήλας αὐτῶν οὐ προσκυνήσεις τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν, οὐ δὲ μὴ λατρεύσῃς αὐτοῖς· οὐ ποιήσεις κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν, ἀλλὰ καθαιρέσει καθελεῖς καὶ συντρίβων συντρίψεις τὰς στήλας αὐτῶν

Exodus 23:24 (NETS)

Exodus 23:24 (English Elpenor)

You shall not do obeisance to their gods nor serve them.  You shall not act according to their practices, but with demolition shall demolish and by smashing shall smash their steles. Thou shalt not worship their gods, nor serve them: thou shalt not do according to their works, but shalt utterly destroy them, and break to pieces their pillars.

Deuteronomy 26:10 (Tanakh)

Deuteronomy 26:10 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 26:10 (NET)

And now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the land, which Thou, O HaShem, hast given me.’  And thou shalt set it down before HaShem thy G-d, and worship before HaShem thy G-d. And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me.  And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God: So now, look!  I have brought the first of the ground’s produce that you, Lord, have given me.”  Then you must set it down before the Lord your God and worship before him.

Deuteronomy 26:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Deuteronomy 26:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἐνήνοχα τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τῶν γενημάτων τῆς γῆς ἧς ἔδωκάς μοι κύριε γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι καὶ ἀφήσεις αὐτὰ ἀπέναντι κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου καὶ προσκυνήσεις ἐκεῗ ἔναντι κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἐνήνοχα τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τῶν γενημάτων τῆς γῆς, ἧς ἔδωκάς μοι, Κύριε, γῆν ρέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι. καὶ ἀφήσεις αὐτὰ ἀπέναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου καὶ προσκυνήσεις ἔναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου

Deuteronomy 26:10 (NETS)

Deuteronomy 26:10 (English Elpenor)

And now look, I have brought the first fruit of the produce of the land that you, O Lord, have given me, a land flowing with milk and honey.”  And you shall leave them before the Lord your God and do obeisance before the Lord your God. And now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruits of the land, which thou gavest me, O Lord, a land flowing with milk and honey: and thou shalt leave it before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt worship before the Lord thy God;

Psalm 81:9 (Tanakh)

Psalm 81:9 (KJV)

Psalm 81:9 (NET)

There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. There must be no other god among you.  You must not worship a foreign god.

Psalm 81:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 80:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐκ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ θεὸς πρόσφατος οὐδὲ προσκυνήσεις θεῷ ἀλλοτρίῳ οὐκ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ Θεὸς πρόσφατος, οὐδὲ προσκυνήσεις Θεῷ ἀλλοτρίῳ

Psalm 80:10 (NETS)

Psalm 80:10 (English Elpenor)

There shall be no recent god among you, nor shall you do obeisance to a foreign god. there shall be no new god in thee; neither shalt thou worship a strange god.

Genesis 2:24 (Tanakh)

Genesis 2:24 (KJV)

Genesis 2:24 (NET)

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become one family.

Genesis 2:24 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 2:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῗκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν

Genesis 2:24 (NETS)

Genesis 2:24 (English Elpenor)

Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Romans 1:27 (NET)

Romans 1:27 (KJV)

and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another.  Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὁμοίως τε καὶ οἱ ἄρσενες ἀφέντες τὴν φυσικὴν χρῆσιν τῆς θηλείας ἐξεκαύθησαν ἐν τῇ ὀρέξει αὐτῶν εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἄρσενες ἐν ἄρσεσιν τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην κατεργαζόμενοι καὶ τὴν ἀντιμισθίαν ἣν ἔδει τῆς πλάνης αὐτῶν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἀπολαμβάνοντες ομοιως τε και οι αρρενες αφεντες την φυσικην χρησιν της θηλειας εξεκαυθησαν εν τη ορεξει αυτων εις αλληλους αρσενες εν αρσεσιν την ασχημοσυνην κατεργαζομενοι και την αντιμισθιαν ην εδει της πλανης αυτων εν εαυτοις απολαμβανοντες ομοιως τε και οι αρρενες αφεντες την φυσικην χρησιν της θηλειας εξεκαυθησαν εν τη ορεξει αυτων εις αλληλους αρσενες εν αρσεσιν την ασχημοσυνην κατεργαζομενοι και την αντιμισθιαν ην εδει της πλανης αυτων εν εαυτοις απολαμβανοντες

Matthew 4:9, 10 (NET)

Matthew 4:9, 10 (KJV)

And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.” And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ταῦτα σοι πάντα δώσω, ἐὰν πεσὼν προσκυνήσῃς μοι και λεγει αυτω ταυτα παντα σοι δωσω εαν πεσων προσκυνησης μοι και λεγει αυτω ταυτα παντα σοι δωσω εαν πεσων προσκυνησης μοι
Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan!  For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

τότε λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ὕπαγε, σατανᾶ· γέγραπται γάρ· κύριον τὸν θεόν σου προσκυνήσεις καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύσεις τοτε λεγει αυτω ο ιησους υπαγε σατανα γεγραπται γαρ κυριον τον θεον σου προσκυνησεις και αυτω μονω λατρευσεις τοτε λεγει αυτω ο ιησους υπαγε οπισω μου σατανα γεγραπται γαρ κυριον τον θεον σου προσκυνησεις και αυτω μονω λατρευσεις

Matthew 6:24 (NET)

Matthew 6:24 (KJV)

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and money. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Οὐδεὶς δύναται δυσὶ κυρίοις δουλεύειν· ἢ γὰρ τὸν ἕνα μισήσει καὶ τὸν ἕτερον ἀγαπήσει, ἢ ἑνὸς ἀνθέξεται καὶ τοῦ ἑτέρου καταφρονήσει. οὐ δύνασθε θεῷ δουλεύειν καὶ μαμωνᾷ ουδεις δυναται δυσι κυριοις δουλευειν η γαρ τον ενα μισησει και τον ετερον αγαπησει η ενος ανθεξεται και του ετερου καταφρονησει ου δυνασθε θεω δουλευειν και μαμμωνα ουδεις δυναται δυσιν κυριοις δουλευειν η γαρ τον ενα μισησει και τον ετερον αγαπησει η ενος ανθεξεται και του ετερου καταφρονησει ου δυνασθε θεω δουλευειν και μαμωνα

Mark 10:6, 7 (NET)

Mark 10:6, 7 (KJV)

But from the beginning of creation he made them male and female. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἀπὸ δὲ ἀρχῆς κτίσεως ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν |αὐτούς| απο δε αρχης κτισεως αρσεν και θηλυ εποιησεν αυτους ο θεος απο δε αρχης κτισεως αρσεν και θηλυ εποιησεν αυτους ο θεος
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα ενεκεν τουτου καταλειψει ανθρωπος τον πατερα αυτου και την μητερα και προσκολληθησεται προς την γυναικα αυτου ενεκεν τουτου καταλειψει ανθρωπος τον πατερα αυτου και την μητερα και προσκολληθησεται προς την γυναικα αυτου

1 Romans 1:24 (NET) Table

2 Romans 1:23 (NET)

4 Romans 1:26a (NET)

6 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἶπεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεγει (KJV: saith).

7 The Byzantine Majority Text had οπισω μου (“behind me”) here.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

8 Matthew 6:24 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had μαμωνᾷ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had μαμμωνα (KJV: mammon).

9 Luke 10:40 (NET)

10 Matthew 4:11 (NET)

11 Romans 1:9 (NET)

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

13 The Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ (KJV: and cleave to his wife) here.  The NET parallel Greek text did not.

14 Romans 1:25 (NET)

15 Romans 1:26 (NET)

16 Romans 1:27 (NET) ἄρσενες ἐν ἄρσεσιν (literally, “men in men”)

17 See the dialogue between Right and Wrong Logic from Clouds, translated by Moses Hadas, from The Complete Plays of Aristophanes, Bantam Book 1962, pp. 130, 131  In response to Wrong Logic’s argument that the gods did it, Right Logic replied: But what if your backside’s singed and rammed with the adulterer’s rod?  How will your argument then prevail to void the stretching of your bum?  Wrong Logic answered: And what’s the harm of a bottom stretched?  Tell me even one.  Wrong Logic proceeded to persuade Right Logic that the societal advantages of being a catamite to established men far outweighed the inconvenience of a sprung bum.