Father, Forgive Them – Part 5

Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.[1]  “That’s me,” I responded as I read that this time.  The Greek word translated enemies was ἐχθρούς (a form of ἐχθρός).  For if while we were enemies (ἐχθροὶ, another form of ἐχθρός), Paul wrote believers in Rome, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life?[2]  But I’d never thought of it this way before.

I had vaguely assumed that making his enemies a footstool referenced Jesus as He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.[3]  As I looked at other quotations of Psalm 110:1 in the New Testament it made a little sense why I had thought that.

NET and Parallel Greek

Matthew 22:44 Mark 12:36b Luke 20:42b, 43 Acts 2:34b, 35

Hebrews 1:13b

The[4] Lord said to my lord,Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under[5] your feet”’? The[6] Lord said[7] to my lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under[8] your feet.”’ The[9] Lord said to my lord, Sit at my right hand, The Lord said to my lord,Sit at my right hand Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
εἶπεν κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν σου εἶπεν κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν σου εἶπεν κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου εἶπεν [ὁ] κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου
ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου

There was another allusion to Psalm 110:1 in Hebrews 10:12, 13 (NET):

But when this priest[10] had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet.

There are some differences from the Septuagint mostly related to the changes from present to past tense, and from second and first to third person:

Hebrews 10:12b (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 110:1a (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 109:1a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου
Hebrews 10:13b (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 110:1b (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 109:1b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἕως τεθῶσιν οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτοῦ ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου

The noun ὑποπόδιον (footstool) in Hebrews 1:13, and 10:13, Acts 2:35 and Luke 20:43 was replaced by the adverb ὑποκάτω (under) in Matthew 22:44 and Mark 12:36.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ὑποπόδιον in both cases (Table1 and Table2) as did both versions of the Septuagint.

Matthew 22:44 (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 110:1 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 109:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν σου εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου ΕΙΠΕΝ ὁ Κύριος τῷ Κυρίῳ μου· κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου
Mark 12:36b (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 110:1 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 109:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν σου εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου ΕΙΠΕΝ ὁ Κύριος τῷ Κυρίῳ μου· κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου

The Hebrew was הדם (hădôm) and לרגליך (regel), also translated footstool in the Tanakh.

From Hebrew From Greek
Psalm 110:1 (Tanakh) Psalm 110:1 (KJV) Psalm 109:1 (NETS) Psalm 109:1 (Elpenor English)
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord said to my lord, “Sit on my right until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

According to Strong’s Concordance הדם (hădôm) was “From an unused root meaning to stamp upon.”  Paul alluded to Psalm 8:6 (1 Corinthians 15:24-28 NET; Table):

Then comes the end, when [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power.  For he must reign until[11] he has put[12] all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be eliminated is death.  For he has put everything in subjection under his feet.  But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him.  And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

Though Paul used ὑπὸ here both versions of the Septuagint had ὑποκάτω.  The other differences are accounted for by switching from 2nd to 3rd person and from the genitive to the accusative case.

1 Corinthians 15:27a (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 8:6b (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 8:7b (Septuagint Elpenor)
πάντα γὰρ ὑπέταξεν ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ σου πάντα ὑπέταξας ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ σου· πάντα ὑπέταξας ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ

Though I didn’t realize it before I did this study, the first verse of Psalm 8 in the Elpenor version of the Septuagint reads: Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ τῶν ληνῶν· ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυΐδ (“For the end, concerning the wine-presses, a Psalm of David”).  The writer of Hebrews quoted Psalm 8:6, You put all things under his control,[13] including ὑποκάτω (under).

Hebrews 2:8a (NET Parallel Greek) Psalm 8:6b (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 8:7b (Septuagint Elpenor)
πάντα ὑπέταξας ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ σου πάντα ὑπέταξας ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ σου· πάντα ὑπέταξας ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ

Yet this time for some inexplicable reason as I read—Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet—the planet-sized hassock of corpses evaporated back into my imagination as I recognized that Jesus’ planet-sized footstool is made of living people, people like Mary.

Now it was Mary[14] who anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and wiped his feet dry with her hair.[15]  I imagine it was just as inexplicable to her that she, a sinner, when she learned[16] that Jesus was dining[17] at the Pharisee’s housebrought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil;[18] weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.  She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfumed oil.[19]

Jesus explained the inexplicable: No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by[20] God.’  Everyone[21] who hears[22] and learns from the Father comes to me.[23]  I had misunderstood this as a severe limitation to my whosoever-will-may-come belief.  But the Holy Spirit contrasted it to the difficulty those willful few had finding their own way through the rituals of old covenant religion.  How[24] narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, Jesus summarized, and there are few who find it![25]

Mary[26]…sat[27] at[28] the Lord’s[29] feet and listened to what he said.[30]  And again, Mary[31] took three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus[32] about a week before his crucifixion.

I was formerly[33] a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man, the apostle Paul confessed.  But[34] I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly (ἀγνοῶν, a form of ἀγνοέω) in unbelief, and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.[35]  Father, forgive them, Jesus prayed, for they don’t know what they are doing.[36]  The Greek word translated know was οἴδασιν (a form of εἴδω; see).  They didn’t see what they were doing.  They acted ignorantly in unbelief (ἀπιστίᾳ).

When Jesus appeared to Paul (a.k.a. Saul) as a blinding light on the road to Damascus, He said, You are hurting (σκληρόν, a form of σκληρός) yourself by kicking against the goads.[37]  Paul’s religious mind fought so hard against that inexplicable drawing of God—denying what he was taught, heard and learned from the Father so completely—that the risen and ascended Lord Jesus was concerned about the harm he caused himself.  And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, Jesus had promised, will draw all people to myself,[38] even an angry jihadist like Saul.

This should not be forgotten though we may be more aware of what God’s abundant grace bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus made of him: for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort, Paul wrote from experience (Colossians 1:28, 29), for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.[39]

I had begun to hear—Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing—as something more than a limited and local prayer.  I regard it, in fact, as the singularly relevant prayer of a salvation that does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.[40]  But I was uncertain of God the Father’s answer to that prayer until that day I heard, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.  His enemies made into his footstool was Jesus’ joy (Hebrews 12:2b NET):

For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat[41] at the right hand of the throne of God.

Tables comparing Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42; 1 Corinthians 15:25; John 11:2; Luke 7:37; John 6:45; Matthew 7:14; Luke 10:39; John 12:3; 1 Timothy 1:13; Acts 26:14; Philippians 2:13 and Hebrews 12:2 in the NET and KJV follow.

Matthew 22:44 (NET) Matthew 22:44 (KJV)
The Lord said to my lord,Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
εἶπεν κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν σου ειπεν ο κυριος τω κυριω μου καθου εκ δεξιων μου εως αν θω τους εχθρους σου υποποδιον των ποδων σου ειπεν ο κυριος τω κυριω μου καθου εκ δεξιων μου εως αν θω τους εχθρους σου υποποδιον των ποδων σου
Mark 12:36 (NET) Mark 12:36 (KJV)
David himself, by the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The Lord said to my lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
αὐτὸς Δαυὶδ εἶπεν ἐν τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἁγίῳ εἶπεν κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν σου αυτος γαρ δαβιδ ειπεν εν τω πνευματι τω αγιω ειπεν ο κυριος τω κυριω μου καθου εκ δεξιων μου εως αν θω τους εχθρους σου υποποδιον των ποδων σου αυτος γαρ δαυιδ ειπεν εν πνευματι αγιω λεγει ο κυριος τω κυριω μου καθου εκ δεξιων μου εως αν θω τους εχθρους σου υποποδιον των ποδων σου
Luke 20:42 (NET) Luke 20:42 (KJV)
For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my lord, Sit at my right hand, And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
αὐτὸς γὰρ Δαυὶδ λέγει ἐν βίβλῳ ψαλμῶν εἶπεν κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου και αυτος δαβιδ λεγει εν βιβλω ψαλμων ειπεν ο κυριος τω κυριω μου καθου εκ δεξιων μου και αυτος δαυιδ λεγει εν βιβλω ψαλμων ειπεν ο κυριος τω κυριω μου καθου εκ δεξιων μου
1 Corinthians 15:25 (NET) 1 Corinthians 15:25 (KJV)
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
δεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν βασιλεύειν ἄχρι οὗ θῇ πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ δει γαρ αυτον βασιλευειν αχρις ου αν θη παντας τους εχθρους υπο τους ποδας αυτου δει γαρ αυτον βασιλευειν αχρις ου αν θη παντας τους εχθρους υπο τους ποδας αυτου
John 11:2 (NET) John 11:2 (KJV)
Now it was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and wiped his feet dry with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἦν δὲ Μαριὰμ ἡ ἀλείψασα τὸν κύριον μύρῳ καὶ ἐκμάξασα τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς, ἧς ὁ ἀδελφὸς Λάζαρος ἠσθένει ην δε μαρια η αλειψασα τον κυριον μυρω και εκμαξασα τους ποδας αυτου ταις θριξιν αυτης ης ο αδελφος λαζαρος ησθενει ην δε μαρια η αλειψασα τον κυριον μυρω και εκμαξασα τους ποδας αυτου ταις θριξιν αυτης ης ο αδελφος λαζαρος ησθενει
Luke 7:37 (NET) Luke 7:37 (KJV)
Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ ἥτις ἦν ἐν τῇ πόλει ἁμαρτωλός, καὶ ἐπιγνοῦσα ὅτι κατάκειται ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ Φαρισαίου, κομίσασα ἀλάβαστρον μύρου και ιδου γυνη εν τη πολει ητις ην αμαρτωλος επιγνουσα οτι ανακειται εν τη οικια του φαρισαιου κομισασα αλαβαστρον μυρου και ιδου γυνη εν τη πολει ητις ην αμαρτωλος και επιγνουσα οτι ανακειται εν τη οικια του φαρισαιου κομισασα αλαβαστρον μυρου
John 6:45 (NET) John 6:45 (KJV)
It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’  Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.  Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἔστιν γεγραμμένον ἐν τοῖς προφήταις· καὶ ἔσονται πάντες διδακτοὶ θεοῦ· πᾶς ὁ ἀκούσας παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ μαθὼν ἔρχεται πρὸς ἐμέ εστιν γεγραμμενον εν τοις προφηταις και εσονται παντες διδακτοι του θεου πας ουν ο ακουσας παρα του πατρος και μαθων ερχεται προς με εστιν γεγραμμενον εν τοις προφηταις και εσονται παντες διδακτοι θεου πας ουν ο ακουων παρα του πατρος και μαθων ερχεται προς με
Matthew 7:14 (NET) Matthew 7:14 (KJV)
How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it! Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
|τί| στενὴ ἡ πύλη καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ζωὴν καὶ ὀλίγοι εἰσὶν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν οτι στενη η πυλη και τεθλιμμενη η οδος η απαγουσα εις την ζωην και ολιγοι εισιν οι ευρισκοντες αυτην τι στενη η πυλη και τεθλιμμενη η οδος η απαγουσα εις την ζωην και ολιγοι εισιν οι ευρισκοντες αυτην
Luke 10:39 (NET) Luke 10:39 (KJV)
She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ τῇδε ἦν ἀδελφὴ καλουμένη Μαριάμ , [ἣ] καὶ παρακαθεσθεῖσα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας τοῦ κυρίου ἤκουεν τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ και τηδε ην αδελφη καλουμενη μαρια η και παρακαθισασα παρα τους ποδας του ιησου ηκουεν τον λογον αυτου και τηδε ην αδελφη καλουμενη μαρια η και παρακαθισασα παρα τους ποδας του ιησου ηκουεν τον λογον αυτου
John 12:3 (NET) John 12:3 (KJV)
Then Mary took three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped his feet dry with her hair.  (Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.) Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
Ἡ οὖν Μαριὰμ λαβοῦσα λίτραν μύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου ἤλειψεν τοὺς πόδας |τοῦ| Ἰησοῦ καὶ ἐξέμαξεν ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ· (ἡ δὲ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσμῆς τοῦ μύρου.) η ουν μαρια λαβουσα λιτραν μυρου ναρδου πιστικης πολυτιμου ηλειψεν τους ποδας του ιησου και εξεμαξεν ταις θριξιν αυτης τους ποδας αυτου η δε οικια επληρωθη εκ της οσμης του μυρου η ουν μαρια λαβουσα λιτραν μυρου ναρδου πιστικης πολυτιμου ηλειψεν τους ποδας του ιησου και εξεμαξεν ταις θριξιν αυτης τους ποδας αυτου η δε οικια επληρωθη εκ της οσμης του μυρου
1 Timothy 1:13 (NET) 1 Timothy 1:13 (KJV)
even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
τὸ πρότερον ὄντα βλάσφημον καὶ διώκτην καὶ ὑβριστήν, ἀλλὰ ἠλεήθην, ὅτι ἀγνοῶν ἐποίησα ἐν ἀπιστίᾳ τον προτερον οντα βλασφημον και διωκτην και υβριστην αλλ ηλεηθην οτι αγνοων εποιησα εν απιστια τον προτερον οντα βλασφημον και διωκτην και υβριστην αλλα ηλεηθην οτι αγνοων εποιησα εν απιστια
Acts 26:14 (NET) Acts 26:14 (KJV)
When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?  You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads.’ And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
πάντων τε καταπεσόντων ἡμῶν εἰς τὴν γῆν ἤκουσα φωνὴν λέγουσαν πρός με τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ· Σαοὺλ Σαούλ, τί με διώκεις; σκληρόν σοι πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν παντων δε καταπεσοντων ημων εις την γην ηκουσα φωνην λαλουσαν προς με και λεγουσαν τη εβραιδι διαλεκτω σαουλ σαουλ τι με διωκεις σκληρον σοι προς κεντρα λακτιζειν παντων δε καταπεσοντων ημων εις την γην ηκουσα φωνην λαλουσαν προς με και λεγουσαν τη εβραιδι διαλεκτω σαουλ σαουλ τι με διωκεις σκληρον σοι προς κεντρα λακτιζειν
Philippians 2:13 (NET) Philippians 2:13 (KJV)
for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας ο θεος γαρ εστιν ο ενεργων εν υμιν και το θελειν και το ενεργειν υπερ της ευδοκιας ο θεος γαρ εστιν ο ενεργων εν υμιν και το θελειν και το ενεργειν υπερ της ευδοκιας
Hebrews 12:2 (NET) Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Ἰησοῦν, ὃς ἀντὶ τῆς προκειμένης αὐτῷ χαρᾶς ὑπέμεινεν σταυρὸν αἰσχύνης καταφρονήσας ἐν δεξιᾷ τε τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ θεοῦ κεκάθικεν αφορωντες εις τον της πιστεως αρχηγον και τελειωτην ιησουν ος αντι της προκειμενης αυτω χαρας υπεμεινεν σταυρον αισχυνης καταφρονησας εν δεξια τε του θρονου του θεου εκαθισεν αφορωντες εις τον της πιστεως αρχηγον και τελειωτην ιησουν ος αντι της προκειμενης αυτω χαρας υπεμεινεν σταυρον αισχυνης καταφρονησας εν δεξια τε του θρονου του θεου κεκαθικεν

[1] Hebrews 1:13b (NET)

[2] Romans 5:10 (NET)

[3] Revelation 19:15b (NASB) Table

[4] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ο preceding Lord.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[5] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑποκάτω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υποποδιον (KJV: footstool).

[6] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had had the article ο preceding Lord.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[7] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had εἶπεν here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had λεγει.

[8] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑποκάτω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υποποδιον (KJV: footstool).

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

[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὗτος here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτος (KJV: this man).

[11] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἄχρι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αχρις (KJV: till).

[12] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the particle αν preceding has put.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[13] Hebrews 2:8a (NET)

[14] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Mary was spelled Μαριὰμ, and μαρια in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[15] John 11:2a (NET)

[16] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had καὶ preceding learned.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

[17] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κατάκειται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ανακειται (KJV: sat at meat).

[18] Luke 7:37 (NET)

[19] Luke 7:38b (NET)

[20] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article του (KJV: of) here.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[21] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: therefore) following Everyone.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[22] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had ἀκούσας here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had ακουων.

[23] John 6:44a, 45 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐμέ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had με.

[24] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had τί here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had οτι (KJV: Because).

[25] Matthew 7:14 (NET)

[26] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Mary was spelled Μαριάμ, and μαρια in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[27] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had παρακαθεσθεῖσα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παρακαθισασα.

[28] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πρὸς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παρα.

[29] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κυρίου here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιησου.

[30] Luke 10:39b (NET)

[31] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Mary was spelled Μαριάμ, and μαρια in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[32] John 12:3a (NET)

[33] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article τὸ preceding formerly, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τον.

[34] The NET parallel Greek text and Byzantine Majority Text had ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and NA28 had αλλ.

[35] 1 Timothy 1:13 (NET)

[36] Luke 23:34a (NET) Table

[37] Acts 26:14b (NET)

[38] John 12:32 (NET)

[39] Philippians 2:13 (NET) The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ο preceding God.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[40] Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

[41] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had κεκάθικεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had εκαθισεν (KJV: is set down).

Romans, Part 24

Much more then, Paul continued, because we have now been declared righteous (δικαιωθέντες, a form of δικαιόω) by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath (ὀργῆς, a form of ὀργή).1  I had a tendency to think of this as present or future wrath.  That may also be true, but as he continued his discussion of how sin entered the world and how the Lord Jesus’ one righteous act was the agency through which came righteousness leading to life for all people,2 it is evident that the past tense of the wrath revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness3 was on Paul’s mind.

So, because we have now been declared righteous (δικαιωθέντες, a form of δικαιόω) by his blood, we will be saved through him from 1) the impure desires of human hearts,4 2) dishonorable passions,5 and 3) depraved minds,6 as well as the sins associated with God’s wrath in Romans 1:18-32For if while we were enemies we were reconciled (κατηλλάγημεν, a form of καταλλάσσω) to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled (καταλλαγέντες, another form of καταλλάσσω), will we be saved by his life?7  Though I may be reading too much into the text I think it is possible to gauge Paul’s progress through his troubles and affliction by the word translated reconciled above.

To the married I give this command – not I, but8 the Lord – a wife should not divorce a husband (but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled [καταλλαγήτω, another form of καταλλάσσω] to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife.9  Here in 1 Corinthians reconciliation seems almost like the second best choice to remaining unmarried if a wife divorces her husband.  This I assume was written before Romans.  After Romans, in 2 Corinthians, I encounter the word translated reconciled again (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NET).

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come! [TableAnd all these things are from God who reconciled (καταλλάξαντος, another form of καταλλάσσω) us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation (καταλλαγῆς, a form of καταλλαγή) [Table].  In other words, in Christ God was reconciling (κκαταλλάσσων, another form of κκαταλλάσσω) the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation (καταλλαγῆς, a form of καταλλαγή).  Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us.  We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled (καταλλάγητε, another form of καταλλάσσω) to God!”  God made the one who did not know (γνόντα, a form of γινώσκω) sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God [Table].

Not only this, Paul continued in Romans, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation (καταλλαγὴν, another form of καταλλαγή).10  I don’t see any particular problem with reading Paul’s attitude toward our reconciliation with God back into the reconciliation of a wife with her husband.

So then, Paul continued, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned11  Thus began a contrast between Adam and Jesus.  A similar contrast can be found in 1 Corinthians 15.  In fact the contrasting mate to this opening statement is found there rather than in Romans.

Adam

Jesus

So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned…

Romans 5:12 (NET)

[the Lord Jesus] must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet [Table].  The last enemy to be eliminated is death.

1 Corinthians 15:25, 26 (NET)

Paul’s rationale for this particular contrast is more apparent in 1 Corinthians.

Adam

Jesus

For since death12 came through a man…

1 Corinthians 15:21a (NET)

…the resurrection of the dead also came through a man.

1 Corinthians 15:21b (NET)

In his letter to the Romans Paul veered away a bit from this same presentation.  First, he offered the following explanation (Romans 5:13, 14 NET):

…for before the law was given, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting (ἐλλογεῖται, a form of ἐλλογέω) for sin when there is no law.  Yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam (who is a type of the coming one) transgressed Table.

In other words, not everyone transgressed the specific command God gave to Adam alone before Eve was created, You may freely eat fruit from every tree of the orchard [Table] (including the tree of life), but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die [Table].13  After Adam disobeyed God and gained knowledge of evil he had sons and daughters in his own likeness, according to his image.14

But the gracious gift (i.e., reconciliation) is not like the transgression,15 Paul returned to his contrast of Adam and Jesus.

Adam

Jesus

For if the many died through the transgression of the one man…

Romans 5:15b (NET)

…how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply to the many!

Romans 5:15c (NET)

And the gift is not like the one who sinned.16

Adam

Jesus

For judgment, resulting from the one transgression, led to condemnation…

Romans 5:16b (NET)

…but the gracious gift from the many failures led to justification.

Romans 5:16c (NET)

For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one…

Romans 5:17a (NET)

…how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!

Romans 5:17b (NET)

Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression…

Romans 5:18a (NET)

…so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people.

Romans 5:18b (NET)

For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners…

Romans 5:19a (NET)

…so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:19b (NET)

Now the law came in, Paul explained, so that the transgression (i.e., the breaking of specific commandments as Adam did) may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more17

Adam

Jesus

…so that just as sin reigned in death…

Romans 5:21a (NET)

…so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:21b (NET)

Eternal life can be a difficult concept for those of us socialized in the value and necessity of death.  Perhaps the easiest way to present that socialization is through the 2011 film “In Time.”  Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer) served as the objective character in the movie and presented the normative assumption, “Everyone can’t live forever.  Where would we put them?”  Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried), the convert from the dark side concurred, “We’re not meant to live forever.”  Her father Philippe (Vincent Kartheiser) said, “everyone wants to live forever,” but in his role as the personification of evil that meant only foolish people want this, and that desire will always keep evil men like Philippe Weis in power.  Philippe quipped, “for a few to be immortal, many must die.”  And the protagonist Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) countered, “No one should be immortal if even one person has to die.”

Paul, however, paired eternal life with the gift of God’s credited righteousness.  Once God’s righteousness begins to take root and flourish in one the possibility and desirability of eternal life (not mere immortality) become obvious.  This same contrast in 1 Corinthians complements the contrast in Romans.

Adam

Jesus

For just as in Adam all die…

1 Corinthians 15:22a (NET)

…so also in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:22b (NET)

The first man, Adam, became a living person”…

1 Corinthians 15:45a (NET)

…the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:45b (NET)

Here I can relate this contrast to Jesus’ explanation to Nicodemus, I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God [Table].  What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not be amazed that I said to you, “You must all be born from above.”18

 

Addendum: March 28, 2024
According to a note (27) in the NET, Paul quoted from Genesis 2:7 in 1 Corinthians 15:45. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to that of the Septuagint follows.

1 Corinthians 15:45a (NET Parallel Greek)

Genesis 2:7b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Genesis 2:7b (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγένετο ὁ πρῶτος ἄνθρωπος Ἀδὰμ εἰς ψυχὴν ζῶσαν ἐγένετο ὁ ἄνθρωπος εἰς ψυχὴν ζῶσαν ἐγένετο ὁ ἄνθρωπος εἰς ψυχὴν ζῶσαν

1 Corinthians 15:45a (NET)

Genesis 2:7b (NETS)

Genesis 2:7b (English Elpenor)

The first man, Adam, became a living person the man became a living being the man became a living soul

Tables comparing the Greek of 1 Corinthians 7:10 and 15:21 in the NET and KJV follow.

1 Corinthians 7:10 (NET)

1 Corinthians 7:10 (KJV)

To the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord—a wife should not divorce a husband nd unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

1 Corinthians 7:10 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Corinthians 7:10 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Corinthians 7:10 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Τοῖς δὲ γεγαμηκόσιν παραγγέλλω, οὐκ ἐγὼ ἀλλὰ ὁ κύριος, γυναῖκα ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς μὴ χωρισθῆναι τοις δε γεγαμηκοσιν παραγγελλω ουκ εγω αλλ ο κυριος γυναικα απο ανδρος μη χωρισθηναι τοις δε γεγαμηκοσιν παραγγελλω ουκ εγω αλλ ο κυριος γυναικα απο ανδρος μη χωρισθηναι

1 Corinthians 15:21 (NET)

1 Corinthians 15:21 (KJV)

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:21 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Corinthians 15:21 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Corinthians 15:21 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐπειδὴ γὰρ δι᾿ ἀνθρώπου θάνατος, καὶ δι᾿ ἀνθρώπου ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν επειδη γαρ δι ανθρωπου ο θανατος και δι ανθρωπου αναστασις νεκρων επειδη γαρ δι ανθρωπου ο θανατος και δι ανθρωπου αναστασις νεκρων

1 Romans 5:9 (NET)

7 Romans 5:10 (NET)

9 1 Corinthians 7:10, 11 (NET)

10 Romans 5:11 (NET)

11 Romans 5:12 (NET)

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

13 Genesis 2:16, 17 (NET)

14 Genesis 5:3 (NET) Table

16 Romans 5:16a (NET)

17 Romans 5:20 (NET)

18 John 3:5-7 (NET) Table