So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God.[1] Initially I took this to mean that Paul’s boast was about what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God.[2] So, I compared myself to Paul. I pray to the same Father through faith in the same Christ and have received the same Holy Spirit. What has He accomplished through me? I didn’t jump out of bed, beat on the wall and curse my neighbor for playing his music too loudly.[3]
Most believers I know prefer Peter to Paul. It’s a personality thing. I realize Paul wouldn’t have wasted his time on me. To him I would have seemed like the man who had his father’s wife. Maybe that has something to do with why I assume the one who caused sadness was the same man. Of him Paul wrote (2 Corinthians 2:6-8 NET):
This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
I love Paul. His words taught me to hear Jesus, who told this parable (Luke 13:6-9 NET):
“A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the worker who tended the vineyard, ‘For three years now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and each time I inspect it I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue to deplete the soil?’ But the worker answered him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year too, until I dig around it and put fertilizer on it. Then if it bears fruit next year, very well, but if not, you can cut it down.’”
I don’t know that God the Father is eager to cut me down. I know that even if He is frustrated with me Jesus has come back year after year with a request something like the parable above. Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.[4] So after I slept off the despair of comparing myself to Paul, I began to look at the Greek words he wrote.
I began to see that Paul’s boast (καύχησιν, a form of καύχησις) wasn’t so much about…things but about Gentiles who had become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.[5] This is as sure as my boasting (καύχησιν, a form of καύχησις) in you,[6] Paul wrote to infants in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). The King James translators were a bit less clear here (though the NKJV came around). So I’ll consider a few more examples. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to show [Titus and another brother] openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride (καυχήσεως, another form of καύχησις) in (ὑπὲρ, a form of ὑπέρ) you.[7] I have great confidence in (πρὸς, a form of πρός) you; I take great pride (καύχησις) on your behalf (ὑπὲρ, a form of ὑπέρ),[8] he wrote them. For if I have boasted (κεκαύχημαι, a form of καυχάομαι) to [Titus] about anything concerning you, Paul continued (2 Corinthians 7:14-16 NET):
I have not been embarrassed by you, but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting (καύχησις) to Titus about you has proved true as well. And his affection for you is much greater when he remembers the obedience (ὑπακοήν, a form of ὑπακοή) of you all, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident (θαρρῶ, a form of θαῤῥέω; translated am full of courage in 2 Corinthians 10:1 NET) in you.
Paul’s great confidence (παρρησία, a form of παῤῥησία) in the Corinthians was not really in them but to or toward them. His pride wasn’t in them but on their behalf. Some had been unrighteous…sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers…[9] But they were washed, [they] were sanctified, [they] were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.[10] Paul’s pride or boasting was in God on their behalf. It was his exhortation and his prayer believing that he had received his request. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement (παράκλησιν, a form of παράκλησις), and consolation.[11]
In Romans 15:17 the Greek word translated about the things that pertain to (KJV, things which pertain to) was πρὸς (a form of πρός). It was translated simply to in Romans 15:22, 23 (KJV, unto), 29 (KJV, unto), 30 and 32 (KJV, unto). There is another word right before πρὸς. It is τὰ (a form of τό; KJV: translated, in those). It wasn’t translated at all in Romans 15:1, 9, 11, 22, or 27, but these (they or them) is a reasonable translation in this context. So if I look at the Greek word for word— ἔχω οὖν καύχησιν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν[12]—I get something like “I have boasting in Christ Jesus these to [or perhaps, pertain to] the God.”[13]
Now, boasting about what Christ Jesus had accomplished through him to God doesn’t make a lot of sense. For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, Paul also wrote, he has something to boast (καύχημα) about – but not before God (ἀλλ᾿ οὐ πρὸς θεόν) [Table]. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[14] But boasting to the Romans about God (“I have boasting in Christ Jesus”) makes a lot more sense. We are your source of pride (καύχημα), Paul wrote the Corinthians, just as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.[15] For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of (καυχήσεως, another form of καύχησις) before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Paul wrote believers in Thessalonica. Is it not of course you? For you are our glory (δόξα) and joy![16]
I can join him wholeheartedly here: Look at what Christ Jesus’ utmost patience has accomplished through the worst (1 Timothy 1:12-17) of sinners (Romans 15:18-21 NET):
For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person’s foundation, but as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”
And so I am another Gentile brought to obedience (ὑπακοὴν, a form of ὑπακοή) by Paul’s word, having never witnessed his deeds or the power of signs and wonders, only the power of the Spirit of God. And so that’s what I’m going to go with, not because I think I know Greek better than the translators of the NET or the KJV. I most certainly do not. But I know that focusing on me, comparing myself to Paul, won’t get me anywhere like staying focused on God will. So I will leave it to the translators of the NET (since the translators of the KJV are long dead) to prove that πρὸς should be translated about the things that pertain to and that Paul intended to draw my focus from God to the things that pertain to God.
I had hoped that Grant Clay would help me here in his paper “Mission as Drama: A New Proposal for Pauline Theology.” But he glossed over Romans 15:17 (granted, it wasn’t the point of his paper), quoting from the ESV: “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.”[17] So here I am confronted with English words added[18] to the Greek text that pit Paul directly against Jesus’ teaching (Luke 17:10 NET):
“So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty (ὠφείλομεν, a form of ὀφείλω).’”
This attitude won’t win any accolades from the psychology department, but it accurately reflects a created cosmos where God’s divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence;[19] where God is the one bringing forth in [us] both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure;[20] where [our] God will supply [our] every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus;[21] where the kingdom and the power and the glory (δοξα) are his forever.[22] I am the Lord (yehôvâh, יהוה)! That is my name! I will not share my glory with anyone else, or the praise due me with idols.[23] “Let the one who boasts (καυχώμενος, another form of καυχάομαι), boast (καυχάσθω, another form of καυχάομαι) in the Lord,”[24] Paul quoted. And, the one who boasts (καυχώμενος, another form of καυχάομαι) must boast (καυχάσθω, another form of καυχάομαι) in the Lord.[25]
I want to look at two more words here. The Greek word translated I have fully preached above (also in KJV) was not a form of πληρόω plus a form of κήρυγμα (1 Corinthians 1:21) or a form of κηρύσσω (Romans 10:8). It was simply πεπληρωκέναι (a form of πληρόω). Paul wrote “I have fulfilled (or, filled up) the gospel of Christ.” I admit the first thing that occurred to me was Paul’s warning that he could get a little carried away when he started boasting (2 Corinthians 11:16-18 NET).
I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast (καυχήσωμαι, a form of καυχάομαι) a little. What I am saying with this boastful (καυχήσεως, another form of καύχησις) confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness. Since many are boasting (καυχῶνται, another form of καυχάομαι) according to human standards, I too will boast (καυχήσομαι, another form of καυχάομαι).
As I began to study πληρόω I found seven more instances where both the translators of the KJV and NET veered from fulfill or make full. First, referencing the passage of time, there are two instances where forms of πληρόω were translated he was full (ἐπληροῦτο, KJV) and he was about (Acts 7:23 NET), and were fulfilled (ἐπληροῦντο, KJV) and had passed (Acts 9:23 NET). But there are two other instances where πληρωθείσης (another form of πληρόω) was translated after (KJV) and had passed (Acts 24:27 NET), and πληρωθέντων (another form of πληρόω) was translated were expired (KJV) and had passed (Acts 7:30 NET). The NET translators apparently took the idea that forms of πληρόω were used for the passage of time to imply completion or completeness. A table follows were the NET translators chose complete for fulfill or make full.
|
Form of πληρόω |
Reference | KJV |
NET |
| ἐπλήρωσαν | Acts 14:26 | …the work which they fulfilled… | …the work they had now completed… |
| ἐπλήρου | Acts 13:25 | And as John fulfilled his course… | …while John was completing his mission… |
| πεπληρωμένη | John 16:24 | …that your joy may be full. | …so that your joy may be complete… |
| 1 John 1:4 | …that your[26] joy may be full. | …so that our joy may be complete… | |
| 2 John 1:12 | …that our joy may be full. | …so that our joy may be complete… | |
| πεπληρωμένην | John 17:13 | …that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. | …so they may experience my joy completed in themselves… |
| πεπλήρωται | John 3:29 | …this my joy therefore is fulfilled. | This then is my joy, and it is complete. |
| πληρῶσαι | Colossians 1:25 | …to fulfil the word of God… | …in order to complete the word of God. |
| πληρώσαντες | Acts 12:25 | …when they had fulfilled their ministry… | …when they had completed their mission… |
| πληρώσατε | Philippians 2:2 | Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded… | …complete my joy and be of the same… |
| πληρωθῇ | John 15:11 | …and that your joy might be full. | …and your joy may be complete… |
| 2 Corinthians 10:6 | …when your obedience is fulfilled. | …whenever your obedience is complete. | |
| πληροῖς | Colossians 4:17 | …that thou fulfil it. | See to it that you complete the ministry… |
I found one instance where even the KJV translators chose complete, while the NET translators reverted to filled.
| Form of πληρόω | Reference | KJV | NET |
| πεπληρωμένοι | Colossians 2:10 | And ye are complete in him… | …and you have been filled in him… |
There were three instances where the NET translators seemed to choose derivatives of completion or completeness.
| Form of πληρόω | Reference | KJV | NET |
| πεπλήρωμαι | Philippians 4:18 | …I am full, having received… | …I have all I need because I received… |
| πεπλήρωται | Galatians 5:14 | For all the law is fulfilled in one word… | …the whole law can be summed up in a… |
| πληρωθῶσιν | Revelation 6:11 | …as they were, should be fulfilled. | …until the full number was reached of… |
And that brings me to the final five instances were both KJV and NET translators veered from fulfill or make full. Four of them relate to completion or completeness.
| Form of πληρόω | Reference | KJV | NET |
| ἐπλήρωσεν | Luke 7:1 | Now when he had ended all his sayings… | After Jesus had finished teaching… |
| ἐπληρώθη | Acts 19:21 | After these things were ended… | …after all these things had taken place… |
| πεπληρωμένα | Revelation 3:2 | …I have not found thy works perfect… | …I have not found your deeds complete… |
| πληροῦν | Luke 9:31 | …he should accomplish at Jerusalem. | …he was about to carry out at Jerusalem. |
So as a further derivative of completion or completeness I have fully preached as a translation of πεπληρωκέναι makes some sense, if one also assumes that now there is nothing more to keep me in these regions[27] was Paul’s point in using it. Grant Clay in his paper “Mission as Drama: A New Proposal for Pauline Theology,” following the ESV which translated πεπληρωκέναι I have fulfilled the ministry, wrote:[28]
A possible background text for “sanctified Gentiles” and the Pauline mission in general is Is. 66:19-21…This is the one text in the Old Testament that seems to suggest that a “missionary movement” from Jerusalem to the nations which directly involves the Gentiles themselves and anticipates Paul’s unique commission to the Gentiles (cf. Acts 9; 26; Rom. 1:5). Therefore Rainer Riesner is surely on target by suggesting that “Paul read this text as being fulfilled in his own activity.”34
It’s an interesting suggestion. But why go so far afield? I would tend to stick to Paul’s own quotation of Isaiah 52:15.
| Romans 15:21 (NET) | Parallel Greek | Isaiah 52:15b Septuagint |
| Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand. | οἷς οὐκ ἀνηγγέλη περὶ αὐτοῦ |ὄψονται|, καὶ οἳ οὐκ ἀκηκόασιν συνήσουσιν | οἷς οὐκ ἀνηγγέλη περὶ αὐτοῦ ὄψονται καὶ οἳ οὐκ ἀκηκόασιν συνήσουσιν |
Still, it’s not as clear as something like “Paul preached from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum…where Christ has not been named so that the word of the prophet was fulfilled which said, Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” And that brings me to the final word I will consider in this essay.
The Greek word translated to preach (KJV, to preach the gospel) was not a form of κήρυγμα or a form of κηρύσσω. It was εὐαγγελίζεσθαι (a form of εὐαγγελίζω). It was translated to preach the gospel in 1 Corinthians 1:17. It means to announce good news, to bring good news, to announce glad tidings. Paul’s desire was to announce good news where Christ had not been named. I don’t want that to get lost in translation because Paul was fairly explicit about the kind of preaching the Corinthians had fallen for instead (2 Corinthians 11:4, 20 NET):
For if someone comes and proclaims (κηρύσσει, a form of κηρύσσω) another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed (ἐκηρύξαμεν, another form of κηρύσσω), or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel (εὐαγγέλιον) than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough!
For you put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly toward you, if someone strikes you in the face.
As a matter of completion or completeness the final instance where both the translators of the KJV and the NET veered from fulfill or make full was, And my God will supply[29] (KJV, shall supply) your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.[30]
| Form of πληρόω | Reference | KJV | NET |
| πληρώσει | Philippians 4:19 | But my God shall supply all your need… | And my God will supply your every need… |
The entire table of translations of πληρόω in the New Testament I used to write this essay follows.
| Form of πληρόω | Reference | KJV | NET |
| ἐπλήρωσαν | Acts 13:27 | …they have fulfilled them… | …and they fulfilled… |
| Acts 14:26 | …the work which they fulfilled… | …the work they had now completed… | |
| ἐπλήρωσεν | Luke 7:1 | Now when he had ended all his sayings… | After Jesus had finished teaching… |
| Acts 2:2 | …and it filled all the house… | …and filled the entire house… | |
| Acts 3:18 | …he hath so fulfilled. | …he has fulfilled in this way… | |
| Acts 5:3 | …why hath Satan filled thine heart to… | …why has Satan filled your heart to lie… | |
| ἐπληρώθη | Matthew 2:17 | Then was fulfilled that which was spoken… | …by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled… |
| Matthew 13:48 | …when it was full, they drew to shore… | When it was full, they pulled it ashore… | |
| Matthew 27:9 | Then was fulfilled that which was spoken… | …by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled… | |
| Mark 15:28 | And the scripture was fulfilled… | [omitted] | |
| John 12:3 | …the house was filled with the odour… | …the house was filled with the fragrance… | |
| Acts 19:21 | After these things were ended… | …after all these things had taken place… | |
| James 2:23 | And the scripture was fulfilled which… | And the scripture was fulfilled that says… | |
| ἐπλήρου | Acts 13:25 | And as John fulfilled his course… | …while John was completing his mission… |
| ἐπληροῦντο | Acts 9:23 | And after that many days were fulfilled… | Now after some days had passed… |
| Acts 13:52 | And the disciples were filled with joy… | And the disciples were filled with joy… | |
| ἐπληροῦτο | Acts 7:23 | And when he was full forty years old… | But when he was about forty years old… |
| πεπληρώκατε | Acts 5:28 | …ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine… | …you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching… |
| πεπληρωμένη | John 16:6 | …sorrow hath filled your heart. | …your hearts are filled with sadness… |
| Romans 13:8 | …loveth another hath fulfilled the law. | …loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. | |
| πεπληρωκέναι | Romans 15:19 | …I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. | …I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. |
| πεπλήρωμαι | 2 Corinthians 7:4 | …I am filled with comfort… | I am filled with encouragement… |
| Philippians 4:18 | …I am full, having received… | …I have all I need because I received… | |
| πεπληρωμένα | Revelation 3:2 | …I have not found thy works perfect… | …I have not found your deeds complete… |
| πεπληρωμένη | John 16:24 | …that your joy may be full. | …so that your joy may be complete… |
| 1 John 1:4 | …that your[26] joy may be full. | …so that our joy may be complete… | |
| 2 John 1:12 | …that our joy may be full. | …so that our joy may be complete… | |
| πεπληρωμένην | John 17:13 | …that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. | …so they may experience my joy completed in themselves… |
| πεπληρωμένοι | Romans 15:14 | …filled with all knowledge… | …filled with all knowledge… |
| Philippians 1:11 | Being filled with the fruits of righteousness… | …filled with the fruit of righteousness… | |
| Colossians 2:10 | And ye are complete in him… | …and you have been filled in him… | |
| πεπληρωμένους | Romans 1:29 | Being filled with all unrighteousness… | They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness… |
| πεπλήρωται | Mark 1:15 | The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand… | The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. |
| Luke 4:21 | …is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. | …this scripture has been fulfilled even as… | |
| John 3:29 | …this my joy therefore is fulfilled. | This then is my joy, and it is complete. | |
| John 7:8 | …my time is not yet full come. | …my time has not yet fully arrived… | |
| Galatians 5:14 | For all the law is fulfilled in one word… | …the whole law can be summed up in a… | |
| πληρῶσαι | Matthew 3:15 | …becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. | …is right for us to fulfill all righteousness… |
| Matthew 5:17 | I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. | …to abolish these things but to fulfill… | |
| Romans 15:13 | …the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace… | …the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace… | |
| Colossians 1:25 | …to fulfil the word of God… | …in order to complete the word of God. | |
| πληρώσαντες | Acts 12:25 | …when they had fulfilled their ministry… | …when they had completed their mission… |
| πληρώσατε | Matthew 23:32 | Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. | Fill up then the measure of your ancestors. |
| Philippians 2:2 | Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded… | …complete my joy and be of the same… | |
| πληρώσῃ | Ephesians 4:10 | …that he might fill all things. | …in order to fill all things. |
| 2 Thessalonians 1:11 | …and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness… | …and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith. | |
| πληρώσει | Philippians 4:19 | But my God shall supply all your need… | And my God will supply your every need… |
| πληρώσεις | Acts 2:28 | …thou shalt make me full of joy with… | …you will make me full of joy with your… |
| πληρωθῇ | Matthew 1:22 | …that it might be fulfilled which was… | …through the prophet would be fulfilled. |
| Matthew 2:15 | …that it might be fulfilled which was… | …through the prophet was fulfilled… | |
| Matthew 2:23 | …that it might be fulfilled which was… | …spoken by the prophets was fulfilled… | |
| Matthew 4:14 | That it might be fulfilled which was… | …Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled… | |
| Matthew 8:17 | That it might be fulfilled which was… | …by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled… | |
| Matthew 12:17 | That it might be fulfilled which was… | This fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah… | |
| Matthew 13:35 | That it might be fulfilled which was… | This fulfilled what was spoken by the… | |
| Matthew 21:4 | …was done, that it might be fulfilled… | This took place to fulfill what was… | |
| Matthew 27:35 | …that it might be fulfilled which was… | [omitted] | |
| Luke 22:16 | …until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of… | …until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of… | |
| John 12:38 | …Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled… | …Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled. | |
| John 13:18 | …that the scripture may be fulfilled… | But this is to fulfill the scripture… | |
| John 15:11 | …and that your joy might be full. | …and your joy may be complete… | |
| John 15:25 | …that the word might be fulfilled that… | …to fulfill the word that is written in… | |
| John 17:12 | …that the scripture might be fulfilled. | …so that the scripture could be fulfilled. | |
| John 18:9 | That the saying might be fulfilled… | He said this to fulfill the word he had… | |
| John 18:32 | …the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled… | …to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken… | |
| John 19:24 | …that the scripture might be fulfilled… | …to fulfill the scripture that says… | |
| John 19:36 | …that the scripture should be fulfilled… | …so that the scripture would be fulfilled… | |
| Romans 8:4 | …righteousness of the law might be fulfilled… | …the law may be fulfilled in us… | |
| 2 Corinthians 10:6 | …when your obedience is fulfilled. | …whenever your obedience is complete. | |
| πληρωθῆναι | Luke 24:44 | …that all things must be fulfilled… | …and the psalms must be fulfilled… |
| Acts 1:16 | …this scripture must needs have been fulfilled… | …the scripture had to be fulfilled… | |
| πληρωθήσεται | Luke 3:5 | Every valley shall be filled… | Every valley will be filled… |
| πληρωθήσονται | Luke 1:20 | …my words, which shall be fulfilled in… | …my words, which will be fulfilled in… |
| πληρωθῆτε | Ephesians 3:19 | …ye might be filled with all the fulness… | …you may be filled up to all the fullness… |
| Colossians 1:9 | …desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge… | …asking God to fill you with the knowledge… | |
| πληρωθείσης | Acts 24:27 | But after two years… | After two years had passed… |
| πληρωθέντων | Acts 7:30 | And when forty years were expired… | After forty years had passed… |
| πληρωθῶ | 2 Timothy 1:4 | …that I may be filled with joy… | …so that I may be filled with joy… |
| πληρωθῶσιν | Matthew 26:54 | ..then shall the scriptures be fulfilled… | …say it must happen this way be fulfilled? |
| Matthew 26:56 | …of the prophets might be fulfilled. | …of the prophets would be fulfilled. | |
| Mark 14:49 | …but the scriptures must be fulfilled. | …so that the scriptures would be fulfilled. | |
| Luke 21:24 | …the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. | …the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. | |
| Revelation 6:11 | …as they were, should be fulfilled. | …until the full number was reached of… | |
| πληροῖς | Colossians 4:17 | …that thou fulfil it. | See to it that you complete the ministry… |
| πληρούμενον | Luke 2:40 | …filled with wisdom… | …filled with wisdom… |
| πληρουμένου | Ephesians 1:23 | …the fulness of him that filleth all in all. | …the fullness of him who fills all in all. |
| πληροῦν | Luke 9:31 | …he should accomplish at Jerusalem. | …he was about to carry out at Jerusalem. |
| πληροῦσθε | Ephesians 5:18 | …but be filled with the Spirit… | …but be filled by the Spirit… |
[3] Who Am I? Part 6
[4] Romans 8:34b (NET) Table
[6] 1 Corinthians 15:31b (NET)
[9] 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 (NET) Table
[10] 1 Corinthians 6:11b (NET)
[12] See also Textus Receptus and the Byzantine/Majority Text
[13] According to an excerpt from Vincent’s Word Studies on biblehub.com τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν is a “technical phrase in Jewish liturgical language to denote the functions of worship (Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 5:1).” In Hebrews 2:17 (NET) τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν was translated in things relating to God. And in Hebrews 5:1 (NET) τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν was translated before God.
[15] 2 Corinthians 1:14b (NET)
[16] 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20 (NET)
[17] Grant Clay, Mission as Drama: A New Proposal for Pauline Theology, p.16
[18] Nathan Shank in a footnote (13) in his paper, “No Place Left: Strategic Priorities for Mission,” wrote: “The ‘work’ to which Paul refers is implied in the Greek: ἔχω οὖν [τὴν] καύχησιν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν (Rom 15:17). Again, ‘work’ is implied in the Greek: νυνὶ δὲ μηκέτι τόπον ἔχων ἐν τοῖς κλίμασι τούτοις (Rom. 15:23a).” In Acts 14:26 (NET) work (ἔργον) was explicit εἰς τὸ ἔργον ὃ ἐπλήρωσαν, translated for the work they had now completed. Even if ἔργον is implied, I’m convinced the “work” is God’s rather than Paul’s. From [Attalia] they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed (KJV, they fulfilled). When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all the things God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles (Acts 14:26, 27 NET).
[21] Philippians 4:19 (NET) Table
[22] Matthew 6:13b (NKVJ) This was omitted from the NET. See: Note 19
[25] 2 Corinthians 10:17 (NET)
[26] The parallel Greek of the NET has ἡμῶν here; Stephanus 1550 Textus Receptus has ημων; Byzantine/Majority Text has ημων; KJV has been translated from ὑμῶν according to Strong’s Concordance.
[28] Grant Clay, Mission as Drama: A New Proposal for Pauline Theology, pp.14-15
[29] See also: Romans, Part 70 and Jedidiah, Part 6