Exploration, Part 10

I shared the previous essay with my Pastor. “Jesus didn’t call his hearers/followers actors,” he said. That’s true. He called their teachers and leaders actors. That the term also applied to his hearers/followers was my inference from Jesus’ words to the Jews who had believed him1 (and continued to believe Him). The Greek words translated who had believed were τοὺς πεπιστευκότας, a participle of πιστεύω in the perfect tense:

The basic thought of the perfect tense is that the progress of an action has been completed and the results of the action are continuing on, in full effect. In other words, the progress of the action has reached its culmination and the finished results are now in existence. Unlike the English perfect, which indicates a completed past action, the Greek perfect tense indicates the continuation and present state of a completed past action.

“If you abide in my word,” Jesus said despite their continuing faith, “you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”2

The Greek is: ἐὰν ὑμεῖς μείνητε (if [or, “whenever”] you [plural] abide), a form of μένω in the aorist tense: “The aorist is said to be ‘simple occurrence’ or ‘summary occurrence’, without regard for the amount of time taken to accomplish the action. This tense is also often referred to as the ‘punctiliar’ tense. ‘Punctiliar’ in this sense means ‘viewed as a single, collective whole,’ a ‘one-point-in-time’ action, although it may actually take place over a period of time.”3

It is in the active voice: “Grammatical voice indicates whether the subject [plural you] is the performer of the action of the verb (active voice), or the subject is the recipient of the action (passive voice). If the subject of the sentence is executing the action, then the verb is referred to as being in the active voice.”4 And μείνητε is in the subjunctive mood: “The subjunctive mood indicates probability or objective possibility. The action of the verb will possibly happen, depending on certain objective factors or circumstances.”5 According to the Koine Greek Lexicon online μείνητε, a form of μένω means: “to remain, stay; to live, dwell, lodge; to adhere to and not contravene; to abide, continue, remain; to remain, last, persist, continue to live; to remain in force; to endure, bear with; to wait for.”

Where are you to remain, stay, to live, dwell, lodge, to abide, continue? What are you to adhere to and not contravene, to endure, bear with, to wait for? What will persist, continue to live, remain in force? The next words are ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ (“in the word of mine”): Jesus’ understanding of the Scriptures, illuminated by, but not limited to, the words which are highlighted in red in a red letter edition of the New Testament.

The very next word in this wordstring is the adverb ἀληθῶς (ESV: truly). The ESV translators assumed that ἀληθῶς modified ἐστε (ESV: you are) rather than μείνητε (ESV: abide). I want to consider the other occurrences of ἀληθῶς in John’s writing along with their translations in the ESV.

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 4:42

They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world [Table].”

τῇ τε γυναικὶ ἔλεγον ὅτι οὐκέτι διὰ τὴν σὴν λαλιὰν πιστεύομεν, αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκηκόαμεν καὶ οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου

John 6:14

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world [Table]!”

Οἱ οὖν ἄνθρωποι ἰδόντες ὃ ἐποίησεν σημεῖον ἔλεγον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης ὁ ἐρχόμενος εἰς τὸν κόσμον

Here, in both occurrences the adverb ἀληθῶς (ESV: indeed) modifies ἔστιν (ESV: is), the verb it follows.

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 7:26

And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ [Table]?

καὶ ἴδε παρρησίᾳ λαλεῖ καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ λέγουσιν. μήποτε ἀληθῶς ἔγνωσαν οἱ ἄρχοντες ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ χριστός

Here, the adverb ἀληθῶς (ESV: really) precedes the verb it modifies ἔγνωσαν (ESV: know).

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 7:40

When6 they heard these words,7 some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”

Ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου οὖν ἀκούσαντες τῶν λόγων τούτων ἔλεγον· οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης

Here again, the adverb ἀληθῶς (ESV: really) modifies ἔστιν (ESV: is), the verb it follows.

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 17:8

For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

ὅτι τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἔδωκάς μοι δέδωκα αὐτοῖς, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλαβον καὶ ἔγνωσαν ἀληθῶς ὅτι παρὰ σοῦ ἐξῆλθον, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας

Here, too, the adverb ἀληθῶς (ESV: in truth) modifies the verb it follows, ἔγνωσαν (ESV: theyhave come to know).

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 1:47

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

Εἶδεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἴδε ἀληθῶς Ἰσραηλίτης ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστιν

Here it is fairly clear that ἀληθῶς (ESV: indeed) modifies ἔστιν (ESV: there is; e.g., “there is truly no deceit”) rather than λέγει (ESV: said; e.g., “said truly”). But since ἀληθῶς actually occurs between ἴδε (ESV: Behold) and Ἰσραηλίτης (ESV: an Israelite), the translators treated it like a defining characteristic of a true Israelite as much as Jesus’ description of Nathanael. So, I’ll return now with these examples to John 8:31.

Reference

ESV

NA28

John 8:31

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

Ἔλεγεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τοὺς πεπιστευκότας αὐτῷ Ἰουδαίους· ἐὰν ὑμεῖς μείνητε ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ, ἀληθῶς μαθηταί μού ἐστε

The comma between ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ (ESV: in my word) and ἀληθῶς (ESV: truly) is not original to the Greek manuscripts. The placement of ἀληθῶς (ESV: truly) seems to function like a conjunction, coordinating and qualifying both clauses: If you abide in my wordtruly μαθηταί μού (ESV: my disciples) ἐστε (ESV: you are). The occurrence of ἀληθῶς in 1 John 2:5 is similar.

Reference

ESV

NA28

1 John 2:5

but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

ὃς δ’ ἂν τηρῇ αὐτοῦ τὸν λόγον, ἀληθῶς ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ τετελείωται· ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐσμεν

“But whoever keeps his word truly in him the love of God is perfected.” Peter offered us a profound example of not abiding in Jesus’ word truly.

Matthew 16:21, 22 (ESV)

Mark 8:31, 32 (ESV)

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again [Table].
And he said this plainly.
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”

Jesus’ word to the Jews who had believed him8 (and continued to believe Him) continued: and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”9 The Greek was καὶ γνώσεσθε, a form of the verb γινώσκω in the future tense and indicative mood (ESV: and you will know). It is a statement of fact, a promise from Jesus, but it is also in the middle voice.

The Greek middle voice shows the subject acting in his own interest or on his own behalf, or participating in the results of the verbal action. In overly simplistic terms, sometimes the middle form of the verb could be translated as “the performer of the action actually acting upon himself” (reflexive action).

The 2nd person plural you have something to do with the fulfillment of this promise; namely, abide in Jesus’ word truly, even as the work of an actor if necessary, playing a character by obeying a rule, before Jesus has made you one spirit with Him. What will you know if you abide in Jesus’ word truly? τὴν ἀλήθειαν (ESV: the truth), an accusative form of ἀλήθεια. You will know the only true (ἀληθινὸν, a form of ἀληθινός) God, and Jesus Christ whom [He has] sent.10I am the way, and the truth (ἀλήθεια), and the life,” Jesus said. “No one comes to the Father except through me.”11 [A]nd the truth (καὶ ἀλήθεια) will set you free (ἐλευθερώσει ὑμᾶς). For our freedom Christ has us set free, therefore you stand firm and cannot entangle yourselves in a yoke of slavery again.12

And here is a glimpse of other truth that can be gained from abiding in Jesus’ word truly; namely, the truth about you, specifically your enslavement to sin. But here, like Peter, the Jews who had believed him13 did not abide in Jesus’ word truly (John 8:33-38 ESV):

They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” [Table]

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices ( ποιῶν) sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what14 I have seen with my15 Father, and you do what you have heard16 from your father.”17

Here again, though Jesus offered the Jews who had believed him18 another opportunity to abide in his word truly, they did not (John 8:39-41a ESV).

They answered him,19Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were20 Abraham’s children, you would21 be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth (τὴν ἀλήθειαν) that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.”

Again, they did not abide in Jesus’ word truly (John 8:41b-43):

They said22 to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality (πορνείας, a form of πορνεία). We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them,23 “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me [Table]. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

Jesus was less patient with Peter, with whom He had spent much more time, when Peter refused to abide in Jesus’ word truly.

Matthew 16:23 (ESV)

Mark 8:33 (ESV)

But he turned  But turning 
and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter
and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man [Table].” and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man [Table].”

Eventually Jesus told the Jews who had believed him24 plainly (John 8:44, 45, 47 ESV):

You are of your father the devil, and your will (θέλετε, a form of the verb θέλω) is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies [Table]. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me…Whoever is of God (ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ) hears the words of God (τοῦ θεοῦ). The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God (ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἐστέ; e.g., at the then present time).”

To call Peter Satan, and to say to the Jews who had believed him,25 You are of your father the devil, truly, I infer that Jesus addressed the old self (τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον, aka “the old man”), which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.26 No new self (τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον, aka “the new man”), created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness,27 existed yet but Jesus.

Only Jesus was free to serve in the new way of the Spirit (ἐν καινότητι πνεύματος),28 while everyone else served in the old way of the written code,29 whether the law, the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees or Jesus’ commands. They were actors by definition, playing a role by obeying rules, no matter how sincerely. Every act of obedience was an act, a determined effort that was contrary to their true nature and actual character until Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension and the giving of the Holy Spirit.

I continued to be an actor for far too long even after I was born from above, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God,30 until I learned the new covenant from the Lord. For our freedom Christ has us set free, therefore you stand firm and cannot entangle yourselves in a yoke of slavery again.31 As Jesus said, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.32 The result ( καρπὸς) of the Holy Spirit is a continuous infusion of God’s own (Galatians 5:22b, 23 ESV):

…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law [Table].

In other words (Matthew 5:48 EXP8):

You will be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect [Table].

Paul relayed part of that perfection to foolish Galatians who attempted to be perfected by the flesh (Galatians 5:24 ESV):

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

The Greek is οἱ δὲ, And those, τοῦ Χριστοῦ, “of Christ” (the ESV translation—who belong to Christ Jesus—accentuates the possessive aspect of the genitive τοῦ Χριστοῦ), τὴν σάρκα, the flesh, ἐσταύρωσαν, “they” have crucified, σὺν τοῖς παθήμασιν καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις, “along with the ‘suffering, misfortune, passion’ and the ‘desire, longing, craving (in a good or bad sense); lust, concupiscence, coveting, a longing (esp. for what is forbidden); something desired in order to possess.’”

This is not a debatable point for those “of Christ” but something to receive through faith:

We know that our old self ( παλαιὸς ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος; NET: our old man) was crucified with him (συνεσταυρώθη, a passive form of συσταυρόω) in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.33

After He corrected Peter’s thinking—you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man [Table]34—Jesus continued (Mark 8:34-38 ESV):

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone35 would come after36 me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would37 save his life (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ) will lose it, but whoever loses38 his39 life (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ) for my sake and the gospel’s will save40 it. For what does it profit41 a man to gain42 the whole world and forfeit43 his soul (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ)? For44 what can a man give45 in return for his soul (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ)? For46 whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

The Greek words translated let him deny himself were ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν. The phrase is a little redundant but abundantly clear: ἀπαρνησάσθω, an imperative form of ἀπαρνέομαι, a command in the middle voice, means: “to deny, disown, abstain, renounce, reject, refuse” oneself. The reflexive pronoun ἑαυτὸν in the accusative case emphasizes that this denial is not a denial of things but explicitly himself (oneself), the direct object of the verb (NET: he must deny himself), rather than the indirect object (e.g., he must deny himself this, that or the other thing).

Jesus’ example, contemplating his own crucifixion, comes again to mind here (John 12:27, 28a ESV).

“Now is my soul ( ψυχή μου) troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”

Then privately He prayed to his Father (Mark 14:36 NET):

“Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

This is hypocrisy according to the “more general meaning that we use today: ‘a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.’”47 And that should tell you everything you need to know about the “more general meaning” of hypocrisy “that we use today.” Jesus did not act as an actor. He demonstrated righteousness in the flesh by denying Himself (Galatians 5:17, 18 ESV).

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do [Table]. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

When I think of the desires of the flesh, I think mostly of sex, especially kinky sex. But the desire to live (or not to be tortured to death) is a more basic desire of the flesh. Despite this most desperate desire of Jesus’ flesh the night He was arrested, He by the Spirit retained the knowledge of God: all things are possible for you. He did not lie to his all-knowing Father about the desire of his flesh: Take this cup away from me. And He denied Himself completely: Yet not what I will (θέλω), but what you will. And the Spirit strengthened Him.

Matthew 26:51-54 (ESV)

Mark 14:46-49 (ESV)

Luke 22:49-53 (ESV)

John 18:10, 11 (ESV)

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? [Table] But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

And they laid hands48 on him49 and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.50 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come51 out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.”

And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said,52 “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”53 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him [Table]. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out54 as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) [Table] So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” [Table]

Without taking anything away from the 2nd person plural μείνητε in the active voice, there is another possible way to understand Jesus’ instruction to the Jews who had believed him.55 The Greek words translated my word (τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ) in Jesus’ conditional statement If you abide in my word are in the dative case.

The dative is the case of the indirect object, or may also indicate the means by which something is done.

It is possible to understand Jesus’ word as the means by which you abide: “If you abide by means of my word truly my disciples you are,” by oneness with his Spirit rather than as an actor obeying rules: Whoever is of God (ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ) hears the words of God (τοῦ θεοῦ).56 This is what Paul called ὑπακοὴν πίστεως (Romans 1:5; 16:26), obedience of faith, to distinguish it from a righteousness pursued as if it were based on works.57 I’ll pick this up in another essay.

A table of the occurrences of ἀληθῶς in the New Testament from NA28 as translated in the ESV follows.

Examples of ἀληθῶς in the New Testament

Reference

ESV

NA28

Matthew 14:33

And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

οἱ δὲ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες· ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς εἶ

Matthew 26:73

After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.”

Μετὰ μικρὸν δὲ προσελθόντες οἱ ἑστῶτες εἶπον τῷ Πέτρῳ· ἀληθῶς καὶ σὺ ἐξ αὐτῶν εἶ, καὶ γὰρ ἡ λαλιά σου δῆλόν σε ποιεῖ

Matthew 27:54

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Ὁ δὲ ἑκατόνταρχος καὶ οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ τηροῦντες τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἰδόντες τὸν σεισμὸν καὶ τὰ γενόμενα ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα, λέγοντες· ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς ἦν οὗτος

Mark 14:70

But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

ὁ δὲ πάλιν ἠρνεῖτο. Καὶ μετὰ μικρὸν πάλιν οἱ παρεστῶτες ἔλεγον τῷ Πέτρῳ· ἀληθῶς ἐξ αὐτῶν εἶ, καὶ γὰρ Γαλιλαῖος εἶ

Mark 15:39

And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ κεντυρίων ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐξ ἐναντίας αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως ἐξέπνευσεν εἶπεν· ἀληθῶς οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος υἱὸς θεοῦ ἦν

Luke 9:27

But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ἀληθῶς, εἰσίν τινες τῶν αὐτοῦ ἑστηκότων οἳ οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσιν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ

Luke 12:44

Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

ἀληθῶς λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐπὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν αὐτοῦ καταστήσει αὐτόν

Luke 21:3

And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

καὶ εἶπεν· ἀληθῶς λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἡ χήρα αὕτη ἡ πτωχὴ πλεῖον πάντων ἔβαλεν

John 1:47

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

Εἶδεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἴδε ἀληθῶς Ἰσραηλίτης ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστιν

John 4:42

They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

τῇ τε γυναικὶ ἔλεγον ὅτι οὐκέτι διὰ τὴν σὴν λαλιὰν πιστεύομεν, αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκηκόαμεν καὶ οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου

John 6:14

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

Οἱ οὖν ἄνθρωποι ἰδόντες ὃ ἐποίησεν σημεῖον ἔλεγον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης ὁ ἐρχόμενος εἰς τὸν κόσμον

John 7:26

And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?

καὶ ἴδε παρρησίᾳ λαλεῖ καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ λέγουσιν. μήποτε ἀληθῶς ἔγνωσαν οἱ ἄρχοντες ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ χριστός

John 7:40

When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”

Ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου οὖν ἀκούσαντες τῶν λόγων τούτων ἔλεγον· οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης

John 8:31

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

Ἔλεγεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τοὺς πεπιστευκότας αὐτῷ Ἰουδαίους· ἐὰν ὑμεῖς μείνητε ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ, ἀληθῶς μαθηταί μού ἐστε

John 17:8

For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

ὅτι τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἔδωκάς μοι δέδωκα αὐτοῖς, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλαβον καὶ ἔγνωσαν ἀληθῶς ὅτι παρὰ σοῦ ἐξῆλθον, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας

Acts 12:11

When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Καὶ ὁ Πέτρος ἐν ἑαυτῷ γενόμενος εἶπεν· νῦν οἶδα ἀληθῶς ὅτι ἐξαπέστειλεν [ὁ] κύριος τὸν ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξείλατό με ἐκ χειρὸς Ἡρῴδου καὶ πάσης τῆς προσδοκίας τοῦ λαοῦ τῶν Ἰουδαίων

1 Thessalonians 2:13

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

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

1 John 2:5

but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

ὃς δ’ ἂν τηρῇ αὐτοῦ τὸν λόγον, ἀληθῶς ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ τετελείωται· ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐσμεν

Tables comparing John 7:40; 8:38; 8:39; 8:41; Mark 8:34-38; 14:46-48; Luke 22:49 and 22:52 in the KJV and NET follow.

John 7:40 (NET)

John 7:40 (KJV)

When they heard these words, some of the crowd began to say, “This really is the Prophet!” Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

John 7:40 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 7:40 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 7:40 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου οὖν ἀκούσαντες τῶν λόγων τούτων ἔλεγον· οὗτος ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης πολλοι ουν εκ του οχλου ακουσαντες τον λογον ελεγον ουτος εστιν αληθως ο προφητης πολλοι ουν εκ του οχλου ακουσαντες τον λογον ελεγον ουτος εστιν αληθως ο προφητης

John 8:38 (NET)

John 8:38 (KJV)

I am telling you the things I have seen while with the Father; as for you, practice the things you have heard from the Father!” I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

John 8:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 8:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 8:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐγὼ ἑώρακα παρὰ τῷ πατρὶ λαλῶ· καὶ ὑμεῖς οὖν ἠκούσατε παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς ποιεῖτε εγω ο εωρακα παρα τω πατρι μου λαλω και υμεις ουν ο εωρακατε παρα τω πατρι υμων ποιειτε εγω ο εωρακα παρα τω πατρι μου λαλω και υμεις ουν ο εωρακατε παρα τω πατρι υμων ποιειτε

John 8:39 (NET)

John 8:39 (KJV)

They answered him, “Abraham is our father!” Jesus replied, “If you are Abraham’s children, you would be doing the deeds of Abraham. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

John 8:39 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 8:39 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 8:39 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀπεκρίθησαν καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ ἐστιν. λέγει αὐτοῖς |ὁ| Ἰησοῦς· εἰ τέκνα τοῦ Ἀβραάμ ἐστε, τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ |ἐ|ποιεῖτε απεκριθησαν και ειπον αυτω ο πατηρ ημων αβρααμ εστιν λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους ει τεκνα του αβρααμ ητε τα εργα του αβρααμ εποιειτε αν απεκριθησαν και ειπον αυτω ο πατηρ ημων αβρααμ εστιν λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους ει τεκνα του αβρααμ ητε τα εργα του αβρααμ εποιειτε αν

John 8:41 (NET)

John 8:41 (KJV)

You people are doing the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Jesus, “We were not born as a result of immorality! We have only one Father, God himself.” Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

John 8:41 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 8:41 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 8:41 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν. εἶπαν αὐτῷ· ἡμεῖς ἐκ πορνείας |οὐ γεγεννήμεθα|, ἕνα πατέρα ἔχομεν τὸν θεόν υμεις ποιειτε τα εργα του πατρος υμων ειπον ουν αυτω ημεις εκ πορνειας ου γεγεννημεθα ενα πατερα εχομεν τον θεον υμεις ποιειτε τα εργα του πατρος υμων ειπον ουν αυτω ημεις εκ πορνειας ου γεγεννημεθα ενα πατερα εχομεν τον θεον

Mark 8:34-38 (NET)

Mark 8:34-38 (KJV)

Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mark 8:34 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:34 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:34 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν ὄχλον σὺν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου |ἀκολουθεῖν|, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι και προσκαλεσαμενος τον οχλον συν τοις μαθηταις αυτου ειπεν αυτοις οστις θελει οπισω μου ελθειν απαρνησασθω εαυτον και αρατω τον σταυρον αυτου και ακολουθειτω μοι και προσκαλεσαμενος τον οχλον συν τοις μαθηταις αυτου ειπεν αυτοις οστις θελει οπισω μου ακολουθειν απαρνησασθω εαυτον και αρατω τον σταυρον αυτου και ακολουθειτω μοι
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and because of the gospel will save it. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

Mark 8:35 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:35 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:35 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν |αὐτοῦ| σῶσαι ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν |ἐμοῦ καὶ| τοῦ εὐαγγελίου σώσει αὐτήν ος γαρ αν θελη την ψυχην αυτου σωσαι απολεσει αυτην ος δ αν απολεση την ψυχην αυτου ενεκεν εμου και του ευαγγελιου ουτος σωσει αυτην ος γαρ αν θελη την ψυχην αυτου σωσαι απολεσει αυτην ος δ αν απολεση την εαυτου ψυχην ενεκεν εμου και του ευαγγελιου ουτος σωσει αυτην
For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life? For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Mark 8:36 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:36 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:36 (Byzantine Majority Text)

τί γὰρ ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον κερδῆσαι τὸν κόσμον ὅλον καὶ ζημιωθῆναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ τι γαρ ωφελησει ανθρωπον εαν κερδηση τον κοσμον ολον και ζημιωθη την ψυχην αυτου τι γαρ ωφελησει ανθρωπον εαν κερδηση τον κοσμον ολον και ζημιωθη την ψυχην αυτου
What can a person give in exchange for his life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:37 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:37 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:37 (Byzantine Majority Text)

τί γὰρ δοῖ ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ η τι δωσει ανθρωπος ανταλλαγμα της ψυχης αυτου η τι δωσει ανθρωπος ανταλλαγμα της ψυχης αυτου
For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 8:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 8:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 8:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτόν, ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων ος γαρ αν επαισχυνθη με και τους εμους λογους εν τη γενεα ταυτη τη μοιχαλιδι και αμαρτωλω και ο υιος του ανθρωπου επαισχυνθησεται αυτον οταν ελθη εν τη δοξη του πατρος αυτου μετα των αγγελων των αγιων ος γαρ εαν επαισχυνθη με και τους εμους λογους εν τη γενεα ταυτη τη μοιχαλιδι και αμαρτωλω και ο υιος του ανθρωπου επαισχυνθησεται αυτον οταν ελθη εν τη δοξη του πατρος αυτου μετα των αγγελων των αγιων

Mark 14:46-48 (NET)

Mark 14:46-48 (KJV)

Then they took hold of him and arrested him. And they laid their hands on him, and took him.

Mark 14:46 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 14:46 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 14:46 (Byzantine Majority Text)

οἱ δὲ ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῷ καὶ ἐκράτησαν αὐτόν οι δε επεβαλον επ αυτον τας χειρας αυτων και εκρατησαν αυτον οι δε επεβαλον επ αυτον τας χειρας αυτων και εκρατησαν αυτον
One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his ear. And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Mark 14:47 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 14:47 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 14:47 (Byzantine Majority Text)

εἷς δέ [τις] τῶν παρεστηκότων σπασάμενος τὴν μάχαιραν ἔπαισεν τὸν δοῦλον τοῦ ἀρχιερέως καὶ ἀφεῖλεν αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτάριον εις δε τις των παρεστηκοτων σπασαμενος την μαχαιραν επαισεν τον δουλον του αρχιερεως και αφειλεν αυτου το ωτιον εις δε τις των παρεστηκοτων σπασαμενος την μαχαιραν επαισεν τον δουλον του αρχιερεως και αφειλεν αυτου το ωτιον
Jesus said to them, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?

Mark 14:48 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 14:48 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 14:48 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ὡς ἐπὶ λῃστὴν ἐξήλθατε μετὰ μαχαιρῶν καὶ ξύλων συλλαβεῖν με και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις ως επι ληστην εξηλθετε μετα μαχαιρων και ξυλων συλλαβειν με και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις ως επι ληστην εξηλθετε μετα μαχαιρων και ξυλων συλλαβειν με

Luke 22:49 (NET)

Luke 22:49 (KJV)

When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we use our swords?” When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

Luke 22:49 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 22:49 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 22:49 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν τὸ ἐσόμενον εἶπαν· κύριε, εἰ πατάξομεν ἐν μαχαίρῃ ιδοντες δε οι περι αυτον το εσομενον ειπον αυτω κυριε ει παταξομεν εν μαχαιρα ιδοντες δε οι περι αυτον το εσομενον ειπον αυτω κυριε ει παταξομεν εν μαχαιρα

Luke 22:52 (NET)

Luke 22:52 (KJV)

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders who had come out to get him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs like you would against an outlaw? Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

Luke 22:52 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 22:52 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 22:52 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Εἶπεν δὲ Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τοὺς παραγενομένους ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ στρατηγοὺς τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ πρεσβυτέρους· ὡς ἐπὶ λῃστὴν ἐξήλθατε μετὰ μαχαιρῶν καὶ ξύλων ειπεν δε ο ιησους προς τους παραγενομενους επ αυτον αρχιερεις και στρατηγους του ιερου και πρεσβυτερους ως επι ληστην εξεληλυθατε μετα μαχαιρων και ξυλων ειπεν δε ο ιησους προς τους παραγενομενους επ αυτον αρχιερεις και στρατηγους του ιερου και πρεσβυτερους ως επι ληστην εξεληλυθατε μετα μαχαιρων και ξυλων

1 John 8:31a (ESV)

2 John 8:31b, 32 (ESV)

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

7 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the plural τῶν λόγων τούτων here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular τον λογον (KJV: this saying).

8 John 8:31a (ESV)

9 John 8:32 (ESV)

10 John 17:3b (ESV)

11 John 14:6 (ESV)

12 Galatians 5:1b (EXP1) Table

13 John 8:31a (ESV)

14 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο (KJV: that which).

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

16 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἠκούσατε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο εωρακατε (KJV: which ye have seen).

18 John 8:31a (ESV)

19 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ εἶπαν preceding him (KJV: unto him), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και ειπον (KJV: and said).

20 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐστε here (NET: you are), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ητε (KJV: ye were).

21 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αν at the end of this clause. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

22 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπον ουν (KJV: Then said they) here, where NA28 had Εἶπαν [οὖν], and the NET parallel Greek text had simply εἶπαν.

23 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν here (not translated in the KJV). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

24 John 8:31a (ESV)

25 Ibid.

26 Ephesians 4:22b (ESV)

27 Ephesians 4:24b (ESV)

28 Romans 7:6b (ESV)

29 Romans 7:6c (ESV)

30 John 1:13b (ESV)

31 Galatians 5:1b (EXP1) Table

32 John 14:26 (ESV) Table

33 Romans 6:6 (ESV)

34 Mark 8:33b (ESV)

35 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἴ τις here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had οστις (KJV: Whosoever).

36 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀκολουθεῖν here, an infinitive form of ἀκολουθέω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ελθειν, an infinitive form of ἔρχομαι.

37 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐὰν preceding would (NET: wants; KJV: will), where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αν.

39 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had αὐτοῦ following life, where the Byzantine Majority Text had εαυτου preceding it.

40 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτος (KJV: the same) preceding save. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

41 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὠφελεῖ (NET: benefit is it) here, a form of ὠφελέω in the present tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ωφελησει (KJV: shall it profit) in the future tense.

42 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κερδῆσαι here, an infinitive form of κερδαίνω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εαν κερδηση (KJV: if he shall gain) in the aorist tense and subjunctive mood.

43 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ζημιωθῆναι here, an infinitive form of ζημιόω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ζημιωθη (KJV: lose) in the subjunctive mood.

44 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had η (KJV: Or) here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γὰρ.

45 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δοῖ here, a form of δίδωμι in the 2nd aorist tense and subjunctive mood, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δωσει (KJV: shall…give) in the future tense and indicative mood.

46 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐὰν (NET: if) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αν.

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

49 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐτῷ (NET: of him) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επ αυτον (KJV: on him).

51 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐξήλθατε here, a form of ἐξέρχομαι in the aorist tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εξηλθετε (KJV: Are ye come out) in the 2nd aorist tense.

52 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἶπαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπον αυτω (KJV: said unto him).

55 John 8:31a (ESV)

56 John 8:47a (ESV)

57 Romans 9:32b (ESV) Table

Romans, Part 36

What shall we say then? Paul continued, that the Gentiles who did not pursue (διώκοντα, a form of διώκω) righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη) obtained it (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη), that is, a righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη) that is by faith, but Israel even though pursuing (διώκων, another form of διώκω) a law of righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, another form of δικαιοσύνη) did not attain it [Table].1  In other words, people who really worked at achieving righteousness by pursuing God’s law did not attain that righteousness, while people who did not pursue righteousness at all did attain it.

Isolated from any context, this sounds extraordinarily unfair.  But this decision was made so far beyond any judgment of mine regarding what is fair, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.2

When Rebekah had conceived children by one man, Paul had written earlier, our ancestor Isaac – even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works [ἔργων, a form of ἔργον] but by his calling [καλοῦντος, a form of καλέω]) – it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,”3 just as it is written:Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated4 [Table].5  Complaining about this is about as productive as complaining about who my parents were.  But just as God knows my parents and my upbringing, what advantages or debilities that afforded me, He knows who has received mercy and who He has hardened: God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens (σκληρύνει, a form of σκληρύνω) whom he chooses to harden.6

Why not? Paul continued.  Why didn’t Israel attain the righteousness they pursued by law?  Because they pursued it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον).7  Paul wasn’t writing about faith alone, dead faith that produces no works: So also faith, if it does not have works (ἔργα, another form of ἔργον), is dead being by itself.8  Instead he wrote of deeds that have been done in God through faith in His credited righteousness: For everyone who does evil deeds (φαῦλα, a form of φαῦλος), Jesus said, hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds (ἔργα, another form of ἔργον) will not be exposed.  But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds (ἔργα, another form of ἔργον) have been done in God.9

Israel did not attain righteousness because they pursued it by dead works, if you will, apart from faith in the righteousness that comes from God:  For ignoring the righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη) that comes from God, Paul wrote early in the next chapter, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη) they did not submit to God’s righteousness (δικαιοσύνῃ, another form of δικαιοσύνη).10

One more point of clarification before moving on:  The Gentiles who did not pursue (διώκοντα, a form of διώκω) righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη) before Paul preached the Gospel to them, did pursue it afterward, but not a law of righteousness (except those he wrote to at Galatia and Colossae in order to correct that very error).  Paul’s instructions to the young Gospel preacher Timothy are helpful here: pursue (δίωκε, another form of διώκω) righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη) (e.g., the righteousness that comes from God), godliness, faithfulness (πίστιν, a form of πίστις), love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη), endurance (ὑπομονὴν, a form of ὑπομονή), and gentleness11 (πραϋπαθίαν, a form of πραϋπάθεια);12 and again, pursue (δίωκε, another form of διώκω) righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη), faithfulness (πίστιν, a form of πίστις), love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη), and peace (εἰρήνην, a form of εἰρήνη), in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart.13  I note again how much of this flows directly from the Holy Spirit: the fruit of the Spirit is love (ἀγάπη), joy, peace (εἰρήνη), patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (πίστις), gentleness (πραΰτης), and self-control.  Against such things there is no law [Table].14

They stumbled over the stumbling stone, Paul wrote of those who pursued a law of righteousness, just as it is written,Look, I am laying in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumble and a rock that will make them fall, yet the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.15  I think it is worthwhile to unpack this a bit.  The first phrase is very reminiscent of Isaiah 28:16.

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Paul (NET)

Blue Letter Bible (Septuagint)

NET Bible (Greek parallel text)

1

Look, I am laying in Zion a stone…

Romans 9:33

ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐμβαλῶ εἰς τὰ θεμέλια16 Σιων λίθον

Isaiah 28:16

ἰδοὺ τίθημι ἐν Σιὼν λίθον

Romans 9:33

Look, I am laying a stone in Zion, Isaiah wrote, an approved stone, set in place as a precious cornerstone for the foundation [Table]…I will make justice the measuring line, fairness the plumb line…17  The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose ἐγὼ ἐμβαλῶ (I throw) a stone, which is quite evocative of Moses and the stone tablets of the law: When he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became extremely angry.  He threw the tablets from his hands and broke them to pieces at the bottom of the mountain.18  Paul did not believe that the cornerstone for the foundation (θεμέλια) stone (λίθον, a form of λίθος) of Zion was the law.  He chose the word τίθημι (I will lay) instead.

For no one can lay (θεῖναι, a form of τίθημι) any foundation (θεμέλιον, another form of θεμέλιος) other than what is being laid, Paul wrote the Corinthians, which is Jesus Christ.19  And Jesus said, I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me [Table] – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down (τίθημι) my life for the sheep…This is why the Father loves me – because I lay down (τίθημι) my life, so that I may take it back again.  No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down (τίθημι) of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down (θεῖναι, a form of τίθημι), and I have the authority to take it back again.20

Then Paul alluded to Isaiah 8:14 [Table]—a stone that will cause people to stumble and a rock that will make them fall—but he didn’t quote from the Septuagint.  Indeed this is what the Lord told me, Isaiah wrote.  He took hold of me firmly and warned me not to act like these people (Isaiah 8:11-16 NET):

“Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ every time these people say the word.  Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified [Table].  You must recognize the authority of the Lord who commands armies.  He is the one you must respect; he is the one you must fear.  He will become a sanctuary, but a stone that makes a person trip, and a rock that makes one stumble – to the two houses of Israel.  He will become a trap and a snare to the residents of Jerusalem [Table].  Many will stumble over the stone and the rock, and will fall and be seriously injured, and will be ensnared and captured.”  Tie up the scroll as legal evidence, seal the official record of God’s instructions and give it to my followers.

So Paul equated the stone the Lord would lay and the stone He would become to Jacob (the two houses of Israel).  Did the translators of the Septuagint make this connection?  It’s hard to say.  They amended the text apparently to read, “and ye shall not come against [him] as against a stumbling-stone, neither as against the falling of a rock.”21

Finally Paul concluded with, yet the one who believes in him will not be put to shame, which is quite similar to the end of Isaiah 28:16 in the Septuagint.

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Paul (NET)

Blue Letter Bible (Septuagint)

NET Bible (Greek parallel text)

2

…yet the one who believes in him will not be put to shame

Romans 9:33

καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῇ

Isaiah 28:16

καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ οὐ καταισχυνθήσεται

Romans 9:33

The differences here are subtle.  The Septuagint “uses the stronger negation, οὐ μὴ, whereas the NT uses the more normal weaker negation of merely, ‘οὐ‘.”22  The words καταισχυνθῇ and καταισχυνθήσεται are different forms of the same verb (καταισχύνω).  “Thus, the difference here is only in regards to the mood and tense of the verb, having the aorist form and subjunctive mood in the LXX [Septuagint] and the future form and indicative mood in the NT.  In the end since the subjunctive can be said to represent the verbal action (or state) as uncertain but probable (GGBB, 461), both Greek texts look forward to a future pleasant fulfillment for those who trust in him.  While the LXX’s subjunctive may be a bit weaker in force, do not forget the strong οὐ μὴ which precedes the subjunctive, thus putting away any doubt as to its completion.  Both Greek texts follow the MT equally as well, and the sense is not changed by this variation.”23

 

Addendum (6/20/2015): Jim Searcy has published that the Septuagint is a hoax written by Origen and Eusebius 200 hundred years after Christ.  “In fact, the Septuagint ‘quotes’ from the New Testament and not vice versa…”  His contention is that the “King James Version is the infallible Word of God.”  So, I’ll re-examine the quotations above with the KJV.

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Paul (KJV)

KJV

NET Bible (Greek parallel text)

1

Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone…

Romans 9:33

Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone…

Isaiah 28:16

ἰδοὺ τίθημι ἐν Σιὼν λίθον προσκόμματος

Romans 9:33

I’ll leave it to others to reason why Origen or Eusebius changed τίθημι (I lay) to ἐμβαλῶ (I throw) in their false Septuagint rather than copying Paul here.

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Paul (KJV)

KJV

NET Bible (Greek parallel text)

2

…and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Romans 9:33

…he that believeth shall not make haste.

Isaiah 28:16

καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ οὐ καταισχυνθήσεται

Romans 9:33

The KJV here is similar to the NET: The one who maintains his faith will not panic.24 If the original Hebrew read make haste or panic rather than be ashamed (καταισχυνθήσεται), I leave it to Mr Searcy or others to understand why Paul changed it and why Origen or Eusebius almost (καταισχυνθῇ) but not quite copied Paul.

 

Addendum: April 21, 2025
Tables comparing Isaiah 28:17; Exodus 32:19; Isaiah 8:11; 8:13; 8:15 and 8:16 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Isaiah 28:17; Exodus 32:19; Isaiah 8:11; 8:13; 8:15 and 8:16 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing 1 Timothy 6:11 in the KJV and NET follow.

Isaiah 28:17 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 28:17 (KJV)

Isaiah 28:17 (NET)

Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. I will make justice the measuring line, fairness the plumb line; hail will sweep away the unreliable refuge, the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.

Isaiah 28:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 28:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ θήσω κρίσιν εἰς ἐλπίδα ἡ δὲ ἐλεημοσύνη μου εἰς σταθμούς καὶ οἱ πεποιθότες μάτην ψεύδει ὅτι οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ὑμᾶς καταιγίς καὶ θήσω κρίσιν εἰς ἐλπίδα, ἡ δὲ ἐλεημοσύνη μου εἰς σταθμούς, καὶ οἱ πεποιθότες μάτην ψεύδει· ὅτι οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ὑμᾶς καταιγίς

Isaiah 28:17 (NETS)

Isaiah 28:17 (English Elpenor)

And I will turn judgment into hope, and my mercy will become weight balances, and as for you who trust vainly in falsehood, I tell you that the tempest will not pass you by; And I will cause judgment [to be] for hope, and my compassion shall be for [just] measures, and ye that trust vainly in falsehood [shall fall]: for the storm shall by no means pass by you,

Exodus 32:19 (Tanakh)

Exodus 32:19 (KJV)

Exodus 32:19 (NET)

And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. When he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became extremely angry. He threw the tablets from his hands and broke them to pieces at the bottom of the mountain.

Exodus 32:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 32:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἡνίκα ἤγγιζεν τῇ παρεμβολῇ ὁρᾷ τὸν μόσχον καὶ τοὺς χορούς καὶ ὀργισθεὶς θυμῷ Μωυσῆς ἔρριψεν ἀπὸ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ τὰς δύο πλάκας καὶ συνέτριψεν αὐτὰς ὑπὸ τὸ ὄρος καὶ ἡνίκα ἤγγιζε τῇ παρεμβολῇ, ὁρᾷ τὸν μόσχον καὶ τοὺς χορούς, καὶ ὀργισθεὶς θυμῷ Μωυσῆς ἔρριψεν ἀπὸ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ τὰς δύο πλάκας, καὶ συνέτριψεν αὐτὰς ὑπὸ τὸ ὄρος

Exodus 32:19 (NETS)

Exodus 32:19 (English Elpenor)

Now when he was drawing near to the camp, he sees the calf and the dancing, and being enraged with anger, Moyses threw from his hands the two tablets and shattered them beneath the mountain. And when he drew nigh to the camp, he sees the calf and the dances; and Moses being very angry cast the two tables out of his hands, and broke them to pieces under the mountain.

Isaiah 8:11 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 8:11 (KJV)

Isaiah 8:11 (NET)

For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Indeed this is what the Lord told me quite forcefully. He warned me not to act like these people:

Isaiah 8:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 8:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὕτως λέγει κύριος τῇ ἰσχυρᾷ χειρὶ ἀπειθοῦσιν τῇ πορείᾳ τῆς ὁδοῦ τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου λέγοντες Οὕτω λέγει Κύριος· τῇ ἰσχυρᾷ χειρὶ ἀπειθοῦσι τῇ πορείᾳ τῆς ὁδοῦ τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου λέγοντες

Isaiah 8:11 (NETS)

Isaiah 8:11 (English Elpenor)

Thus says the Lord, With a strong hand do they reject the course of the way of this people, saying: Thus saith the Lord, With a strong hand they revolt from the course of the way of this people, saying,

Isaiah 8:13 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 8:13 (KJV)

Isaiah 8:13 (NET)

Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. You must recognize the authority of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He is the one you must respect; he is the one you must fear.

Isaiah 8:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 8:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

κύριον αὐτὸν ἁγιάσατε καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται σου φόβος Κύριον αὐτὸν ἁγιάσατε, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται σου φόβος

Isaiah 8:13 (NETS)

Isaiah 8:13 (English Elpenor)

Sanctify the Lord himself, and he himself will be your fear. Sanctify ye the Lord himself; and he shall be thy fear.

Isaiah 8:15 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 8:15 (KJV)

Isaiah 8:15 (NET)

And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Many will stumble over the stone and the rock, and will fall and be seriously injured, and will be ensnared and captured.”

Isaiah 8:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 8:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

διὰ τοῦτο ἀδυνατήσουσιν ἐν αὐτοῖς πολλοὶ καὶ πεσοῦνται καὶ συντριβήσονται καὶ ἐγγιοῦσιν καὶ ἁλώσονται ἄνθρωποι ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ ὄντες διὰ τοῦτο ἀδυνατήσουσιν ἐν αὐτοῖς πολλοὶ καὶ πεσοῦνται καὶ συντριβήσονται, καὶ ἐγγιοῦσι καὶ ἁλώσονται ἄνθρωποι ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ

Isaiah 8:15 (NETS)

Isaiah 8:15 (English Elpenor)

Therefore, many among them shall become powerless, and they shall fall and be crushed, and people who are in safety shall draw near and be taken. Therefore many among them shall be weak, and fall, and be crushed; and they shall draw nigh, and men shall be taken securely.

Isaiah 8:16 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 8:16 (KJV)

Isaiah 8:16 (NET)

Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Tie up the scroll as legal evidence, seal the official record of God’s instructions, and give it to my followers.

Isaiah 8:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 8:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τότε φανεροὶ ἔσονται οἱ σφραγιζόμενοι τὸν νόμον τοῦ μὴ μαθεῖν Τότε φανεροὶ ἔσονται οἱ σφραγιζόμενοι τὸν νόμον τοῦ μὴ μαθεῖν

Isaiah 8:16 (NETS)

Isaiah 8:16 (English Elpenor)

Then shall become manifest those who seal up the law so that they might not learn. Then shall those who seal themselves that they may not learn the law be made manifest.

1 Timothy 6:11 (NET)

1 Timothy 6:11 (KJV)

But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

1 Timothy 6:11 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 Timothy 6:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 Timothy 6:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Σὺ δέ, ὦ ἄνθρωπε θεοῦ, ταῦτα φεῦγε· δίωκε δὲ δικαιοσύνην εὐσέβειαν πίστιν, ἀγάπην ὑπομονὴν πραϋπαθίαν συ δε ω ανθρωπε του θεου ταυτα φευγε διωκε δε δικαιοσυνην ευσεβειαν πιστιν αγαπην υπομονην πραοτητα συ δε ω ανθρωπε του θεου ταυτα φευγε διωκε δε δικαιοσυνην ευσεβειαν πιστιν αγαπην υπομονην πραοτητα

1 Romans 9:30, 31 (NET)

2 Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

3 For a table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to that of the Septuagint see Who Am I? Part 14

4 For a table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to that of the Septuagint see Who Am I? Part 14

5 Romans 9:10-12 (NET)

6 Romans 9:18 (NET)

7 Romans 9:32a (NET) Table

8 James 2:17 (NET)

9 John 3:20, 21 (NET)

10 Romans 10:3 (NET)

12 1 Timothy 6:11b (NET)

13 2 Timothy 2:22 (NET)

14 Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

15 Romans 9:32b, 33 (NET) Table

16 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations (θεμέλια, a form of θεμέλιος) of the prison were shaken (Acts 16:26 NET).

17 Isaiah 28:16a, 17a (NET)

18 Exodus 32:19 (NET)

19 1 Corinthians 3:11 (NET) Table

20 John 10:14, 15, 17, 18a (NET)

22 This website about the use of the Septuagint in the New Testament is no longer available.

23 This website about the use of the Septuagint in the New Testament is no longer available.

24 Isaiah 28:16b (NET) Table