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(Tap footnote to read it.  Old Testament quotations are underlined.  "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love".  However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior.  It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings.  (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".)  Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé".  Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing.  It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )

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New Testament History

Matthew

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Matthew Chapter 1

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Jesus’ Genealogy
  1. The genealogy scroll of Jesus the Anointed;1Most translations say “Jesus Christ” here. Contrary to popular belief, “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name; it’s a descriptive title. “Christ” is a transliteration of the Greek word “Χριστός” (Christos), with “Christ” being the Greek word and the “os” ending indicating its function in the sentence. Christ(os) literally means “anointed one” or “one who has been anointed”. the son of David, the son of Abraham.
  2. Abraham fathered Isaac. And Isaac fathered Jacob. And Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers.
  3. And Judah fathered Perez and Zerah from Tamar. And Perez fathered Hezron. And Hezron fathered Ram.
  4. And Ram fathered Amminadab. And Amminadab fathered Nahshon. And Nahshon fathered Salmon.
  5. And Salmon fathered Boaz from Rahab. And Boaz fathered Obed from Ruth. And Obed fathered Jesse.
  6. And Jesse fathered David the king. And David fathered Solomon from the widow of Uriah.
  7. And Solomon fathered Rehoboam. And Rehoboam fathered Abijah. And Abijah fathered Asa.
  8. And Asa fathered Jehoshaphat. And Jehoshaphat fathered Joram. And Joram fathered Uzziah.
  9. And Uzziah fathered Jotham. And Jotham fathered Ahaz. And Ahaz fathered Hezekiah.
  10. And Hezekiah fathered Manasseh. And Manasseh fathered Amos. And Amos fathered Josiah.
  11. And Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers before the deportation to Babylon.
  12. And after the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel. And Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel.
  13. And Zerubbabel fathered Abiud. And Abiud fathered Eliakim. And Eliakim fathered Azor.
  14. And Azor fathered Zadok. And Zadok fathered Achim. And Achim fathered Eliud.
  15. And Eliud fathered Eleazar. And Eleazar fathered Matthan. And Matthan fathered Jacob.
  16. And Jacob fathered Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, the One being called “the Anointed”.
  17. Therefore, all the generations from Abraham until David were 14 generations. And from David until the deportation to Babylon were 14 generations. And from the deportation to Babylon until the Anointed were 14 generations.
Jesus’ Conception and Birth
  1. Now, the birth of Jesus the Anointed was like this: having been betrothed to Joseph, His mother Mary was found having a child in her womb from the Holy Spirit before they came together.
  2. Yet Joseph her husband – being righteous and not wishing to publicly disgrace her – resolved to send her away secretly.
  3. And having been greatly troubled2“having been greatly troubled” is a single word in Greek. This difficult to translate word literally means being in a state of passionate response/thinking, typically producing inner turmoil. by these things, behold; an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying; “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child which was conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
  4. “And she will bear a son, and you will call His name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.
  5. “And all this has happened so it might be fulfilled, what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:
  6. Behold! The virgin will carry a child in her womb and will bear a son. And they will call His name Immanuel;”3quotation/allusion to Isaiah 7:14 which is translated: “God with us”.
  7. And having been woken from his sleep, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took her as his wife.
  8. Also, he wasn’t knowing her intimately until she gave birth to a son, and he called His name Jesus.

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Matthew Chapter 2

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The Magi Visit
  1. Now, Jesus was born in Bethlehem1the Hebrew word “Bethlehem” translates as “house of bread”, aka: a bakery. God arranged it so the bread of life (Jesus) was born in a town named “bakery”. of Judea in the days of Herod the king. And Behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem
  2. saying: “Where is the One who was born King of the Jews? For we perceived His star in the east and came to bow down at His feet.”2“bow down at… …feet” is one word in Greek, often translated “worship”. It comes from the Greek words: “pros” (meaning “towards”) and “kyneo” (meaning “to kiss”). It literally refers to bowing down on your hands and knees and kissing the ground in front of a superior or authority figure. Some Egyptian pictographs have the hand outstretched, as if to send the “kiss” toward the one being revered.
  3. And having heard this, King Herod was perplexed and deeply shaken,3“perplexed and deeply shaken” is a single word in Greek, with that exact definition. and all Jerusalem with him.
  4. And having gathered all the chief priests and scribes4“scribes” In the New Testament, this Greek word is typically applied to those learned in the Mosaic Law. of the people, he was asking them where the Anointed is born.
  5. And they answered him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for it’s *written through the prophet this way:
  6. And you Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah. For He will go out from you leading; He who will shepherd My people Israel.”5quotation/allusion to Micah 5:2
  7. Then having secretly called the Magi, Herod learned from them the precise time of the star’s appearing.
  8. And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said; “Having traveled there, search carefully for the young child. And as soon as you find Him, report back to me so that having come, I also might bow down at His feet.”6“bow down at… …feet” is one word in Greek, often translated “worship”. It comes from the Greek words: “pros” (meaning “towards”) and “kyneo” (meaning “to kiss”). It literally refers to bowing down on your hands and knees and kissing the ground in front of a superior or authority figure. Some Egyptian pictographs have the hand outstretched, as if to send the “kiss” toward the one being revered.
  9. And they listened to the king and traveled there.  And behold, the star which they saw in the east was going before them until it arrived; then it stood over where the child was.
  10. And having seen the star, they rejoiced with extremely great joy.
  11. And having gone into the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother. And having fallen down they bowed low at His feet.7“bowed low at… …feet” is one word in Greek, often translated “worship”. It comes from the Greek words: “pros” (meaning “towards”) and “kyneo” (meaning “to kiss”). It literally refers to bowing down on your hands and knees and kissing the ground in front of a superior or authority figure. Some Egyptian pictographs have the hand outstretched, as if to send the “kiss” toward the one being revered. And having opened their store of treasures, they offered Him gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
  12. And having been divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they returned to their land by another way.
The Escape to Egypt
  1. Now, after they left, behold; an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph saying, “After waking up, take the child and His mother and flee to Egypt and live there until I tell you, for Herod intends to seek the child to kill Him.”
  2. And having been woken, he took the child and His mother by night and fled into Egypt.
  3. And he was living there until the death of Herod so it might be fulfilled, what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying; “I called My son out of Egypt.”8quotation/allusion to Hosea 11:1
Herod’s wrath
  1. Then Herod – having seen that he was mocked by the Magi – was greatly enraged.  And having sent orders, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem and all in its districts, from two years old and under according to the precise time that he learned from the Magi.
  2. Then it was fulfilled: what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, saying;
  3. A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and much wailing, it’s Rachel weeping for her children and she wasn’t wanting to be comforted, because they are no more.”9quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 31:15
  4. Now, when Herod died, behold; an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
  5. saying: “After waking up, take the child and His mother and travel into the land of Israel, for the men seeking the life of the child have died.
  6. And having been woken, he took the child and His mother and entered into the land of Israel.
  7. But having heard that Archelaus is reigning as king over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was frightened to go there. And having been divinely warned in a dream, he departed into the regions of Galilee.
  8. And having arrived, he settled down in a city called Nazareth so what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, that He will be called a Nazarene.10quotation/allusion to Isaiah 11:1 “Nazarene” refers to the inhabitants of the town of Nazareth, which likely takes it’s name from the Hebrew word “Netzer”. Netzer refers to a shoot that springs up from a stump and thus this is likely a reference to Isaiah 11:1, which foretells that the Messiah will be a “netzer” from the trunk of Jesse (David’s father). Thus, in this sense Jesus was a “netzer-ene” (Nazarene, with “ene” indicating origin; thus originating from a netzer.)

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Matthew Chapter 3

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John The Baptizer
  1. Then in those days, John the Baptizer comes preaching in the desert of Judea
  2. and saying: “Repent!1“Repent” this Greek word doesn’t speak of remorse or guilt for wrong actions. Rather, it literally means to “think differently after” or to “reconsider”, with an assumed change in behavior. To both the Hebrews and 1st century Greeks/Romans, a change in mind was synonymous with a change in behavior; you couldn’t have the first without the second. for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”
  3. For this is the man spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, saying; “The voice urgently pleading in the desert: prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.”2quotation/allusion to Isaiah 40:3
  4. And John himself was wearing his robe made from camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist,3quotation/allusion to 2 Kings 1:8, which describes the prophet Elijah as “a hairy man with a leather belt around his waist”. and his food was locusts and wild honey.
  5. At that time, Jerusalem was going out to him; and all Judea, and all the area around the Jordan.
  6. And they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River and openly confessing their sins.
  7. And having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them; “You offspring of serpents!4“You offspring of serpents!” This isn’t mere name calling. Satan is always represented as a serpent. Therefore, calling them the “offspring of serpents” is akin to saying they are Satan’s children/followers. Further, this understanding makes John’s comment in 3:9 make much more sense. Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?”5“wrath” the Greek word refers to anger or wrath that has built up over a longer period. This isn’t an outburst of anger in the moment; it’s matured over time.
  8. “Therefore, produce fruit worthy of repentance.”6See note on 3:2
  9. “And don’t presume to say among yourselves; “We have Abraham as a father”. For I tell you that God has the power to raise up children of Abraham from these stones.”
  10. “And already, the axe is laid near the root7“root” the Greek word here can also mean “descendant”, which is quite relevant considering the context. of the trees. Therefore, every tree not producing good fruit is cut off and thrown into the fire.”
  11. “Indeed, I baptize you in water toward repentance.  But the One coming after me is mightier than I; He whose sandals I’m not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.”
  12. “He whose winnowing fork8“winnowing fork” is a literal translation of the Greek word here. A “winnowing fork” is used for “winnowing”. Winnowing is the process of separating the useful/edible grain from the useless chaff. Chaff is the husks and stem fragments of a grain plant that are useless for anything. You “winnow” by using a winnowing fork to throw the mixture up into the air. The wind blows away the lighter chaff, while the heavier grain falls back down to be collected. This process was done on a “threshing floor”, which had to be cleaned prior to use because food was prepared (winnowed) there. is in His hand. And He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing floor and will gather His grain into the barn.  But the chaff He will burn completely with unquenchable fire.
Jesus’ baptism
  1. Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan, to John to be baptized by9“by” the Greek word here can also mean “under”, sometimes with the connotation of authority; i.e. “under” in the sense of authority. him.
  2. But John was stubbornly hindering Him, saying; “I have a need to be baptized by10see previous note. you, and you come to me?”
  3. But answering, Jesus said to him; “Let that go, just for now. For it’s proper for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.”  Then he lets it go.
  4. And having been baptized, Jesus immediately came up away from the water.  And behold; the heavens were opened [to Him] and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him.
  5. And behold; there was a voice from the heavens saying; “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

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Matthew Chapter 4

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Jesus’ Temptation
  1. Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the Accuser.1“Accuser” The Greek word used here is “διάβολος” (diabolos), and it’s the root of our English word “devil”. Much like “Christ” (see note on Matt 1:1) “devil” isn’t a name but a descriptive title.
  2. And having fasted2“fasting” doesn’t always refer to a complete denial of food.  Long fasts were often done with little or unpleasant food.  Jesus might not have forgone food and drink entirely, but rather was living on little or unpleasant food. forty days and forty nights, He was hungry afterwards.
  3. And having approached, the one tempting Him told Him; “If you are God’s Son, command these stones so they become bread.
  4. But answering, He said; “It is *written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every spoken word3“spoken word” the Greek word here refers only to words that are spoken, never to words that are written. proceeding from God’s mouth.”4quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 8:3
  5. Then, the Accuser takes Him to the holy city and stood Him on the pinnacle of the temple.
  6. And he tells Him; “If you are God’s Son, throw yourself down. For it is *written: “He will give orders to His angels concerning you.”5quotation/allusion to Psalm 91:11 Also, “They will raise you up on their hands, lest you stumble when your foot strikes against a stone.”6quotation/allusion to Psalm 91:12
  7. Jesus was declaring to him; “Again, it is *written: you shall not test the Lord your God.”7quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 6:16
  8. Again, the Accuser takes Him to a very high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
  9. And he told Him; “I will give you all these things if, having bowed down, you worship me.”
  10. Then Jesus tells him; “Depart Satan! For it is *written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve Him alone.”8quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 6:13
  11. Then the Accuser leaves Him and behold, angels came and were serving Him.
  12. Now, because He heard that John was arrested, He went back into Galilee.
  13. And having left Nazareth, He came and settled down in Capernaum by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
  14. so the word spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying;
  15. Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea across the Jordan; Galilee of the gentiles.
  16. The people sitting in darkness saw a great light. And to the men sitting in the land and shadow of death, a light rose on them.”9quotation/allusion to Isaiah 9:1-2
Jesus Begins Teaching and Healing
  1. From that time on, Jesus began to proclaim and say; “Repent!10“Repent” this Greek word doesn’t speak of remorse or guilt for wrong actions. Rather, it literally means to “think differently after” or to “reconsider”, with an assumed change in behavior. To both the Hebrews and 1st century Greeks/Romans, a change in mind was synonymous with a change in behavior; you couldn’t have the first without the second. All that meaning is captured by a single Greek word here. for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”
  2. Now, while walking beside the Sea of Galilee He saw two brothers – Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother – casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
  3. And He tells them; “Come! Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”
  4. And having immediately dropped the nets, they followed Him.
  5. And having gone forward from there, He saw others. Two brothers – James the son of Zebedee and John his brother – were in a boat with Zebedee their father adjusting their nets and He called them.
  6. And having immediately left the boat and their father, they followed Him.
  7. Further, He was going through all Galilee; teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every chronic disease and every sickness in the people.
  8. Now, the news about Him went out into all of Syria and they brought all the sick to Him: those having various chronic diseases, and persisting torments, and being demon possessed, and having seizures, and paralytics, and He cured them.
  9. Further, many crowds followed Him from Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

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Matthew Chapter 5

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The Sermon on the Mountain
  1. Then having seen the crowds, He went up to the mountain.  And having sat down, His disciples approached Him.
  2. And having opened His mouth, He was teaching them, saying;
  3. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
  4. “Blessed are the men who are mourning, because they will be comforted.
  5. “Blessed are the strong but gentle,1“strong but gentle” this Greek word is often translated “meek” or “gentle”.  However, it doesn’t mean the absence of power as “meek” would suggest. Instead, it specifically refers to strength or power that is gently exercised without undue harshness. i.e. some who is strong but applies their strength gently. because they will inherit the land.
  6. “Blessed are the men hungering and thirsting for righteousness, because they will be satisfied.
  7. “Blessed are the merciful, because they will receive mercy.
  8. “Blessed are the pure of heart, because they will see God.
  9. “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.
  10. “Blessed are the men who have been persecuted on account of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
  11. “Blessed are you when they disgrace and accuse2“disgrace and accuse” is one word in the Greek.  It can mean either, but both definitions were included because they both fit the context, and it seems likely that both were intended. you, and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you, lying about you on account of Me.
  12. “Rejoice and jump for joy; because your reward is numerous in the heavens, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
  13. “You are the salt of the land, but if the salt has become tasteless,3“become tasteless” is literally “become foolish”, as in “a fool is tasteless”. The double meaning here of foolish and tasteless is probably intended, and demonstrates some clever wordplay on Jesus’ part. by what will it be salted?  It’s potent enough for nothing any longer except being thrown outside to be trampled under foot by men.
  14. “You are the light of the world. A city laying on a hill isn’t able to be hidden.
  15. “And they don’t light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on the lampstand and shines light to all men in the house.
  16. “In the same way, let your light shine before men so they might see your good works, and might glorify your Father in the heavens.
Jesus and the Law
  1. “Don’t think that I came to relax4“relax” the Greek word here literally means “loosen thoroughly”, often with the connotation of overthrowing or destroying because “loosen” can also mean dissolve. It comes from “thoroughly loosening” the straps of a pack animal at the end of a night or journey. Thus, it also has the connotation of ending something. The translation “relax” was chosen here because it best fits the context. Jesus spend the rest of the chapter “tightening” the moral standard of God’s (moral) law. the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to relax; but to fulfill.5“fulfill” could also be translated “complete”. The following verses do not touch on the Mosaic Law, but rather moral behavior.  Jesus “completed” God’s moral law in this passage because He extended guilt to our hearts, not just our actions.  Jesus didn’t relax God’s moral standard as revealed by the law and the prophets here; He completed it.
  2. “For amen I tell you; until heaven and earth pass away, one iota6“iota” is the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet, and the term can be applied to the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet (yod) as well. or one diacritic mark7“diacritic marks” are little lines or dots that change the meaning or sound of a word. For example, in the word “fiancé”, the little line above the “e” indicates a change of pronunciation. English rarely uses them, but Greek does.  Hebrew sometimes does, but they weren’t introduced into Hebrew until the mid first millennium.  However, this more likely refers to the slight extensions on certain Hebrew letters that distinguish them from other letters. definitely won’t pass away from the law until it all happens.
  3. “Therefore, if someone relaxes8“relaxes” literally “loosens”; see note on verse 17. the least one of these commandments – and teaches others the same – he will be called least in the kingdom of the heavens. But, whoever keeps and teaches it; he will be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.
  4. “For I tell you; unless your righteousness abounds greater than the scribes9“scribes” In the New Testament, this Greek word is typically applied to those learned in the Mosaic Law. and Pharisees, you definitely won’t enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
  5. “You heard that the ancients were told: “you shall not murder“,10quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:13 and whoever commits murder will be liable to judgement.
  6. “But I tell you; every man being angry with his brother[without cause]11“without cause” This phrase is present in the majority of manuscripts, including some early and important ones, but isn’t present in several earlier manuscripts.  Some of the earliest church fathers such as Irenaeus of Lyon (died 202 AD), Cyprian (died 258 AD), and Origen (died 253 AD) quoted it, and it’s present in the Diatessaron of Tatian (late 100s), Apostolic Constitutions (late 300s), and some early Syrian and Coptic translations as well.  However, several church fathers from slightly later explicitly argued against including it, saying it was a spurious addition to soften Jesus’s words.  Modern scholarly consensus is that it isn’t original, but most scholars will admit that it “is widespread from the second century onwards” (Metzger). will be liable to judgement. And whoever might say to his brother “You airhead”12“airhead” the word used here is transliterated, apparently from Aramaic. It literally means “empty-headed”, or a fellow who is stupid or without sense. will be liable to the Sanhedrin.13The Sanhedrin was the highest Jewish court of the day. And whoever might say “You fool” will be liable to the fire of the Valley of Hinnom.14Most translations render this “hell” but any lexicon will tell you it’s a proper noun referring to a specific valley – the Valley of Hinnom – just outside Jerusalem. Symbolically, it’s where the Jews believed the wicked were punished in the afterlife.  But this might refer to Israel’s history instead. Two kings of Israel sacrificed babies as burnt offerings to the pagan gods Baal and Moloch in the Valley of Hinnom. (2 Chronicles 28:1-3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 7:30-31) As a result, God sentenced them to judgement through the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 19:1-11) Their sentence was carried out about 20 years later when Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem. He burned almost everything and enslaved all Judah. (2 kings 25:1-12) It was the worst sentence/judgement Israel had yet seen.  This happened again a few decades after Jesus’ death when Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.
  7. “Therefore, if you offer your gift on the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
  8. “leave your gift there before the altar and depart; first be reconciled to your brother and then go offer your gift.
  9. “Be reconciling quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge; and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.
  10. “Amen I tell you; you definitely won’t depart from that place until you pay the last penny.15“penny” the Greek word here refers to the smallest Roman coin, made from copper.
  11. “You heard that it was said: “You shall not have sex with another man’s wife.”16quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:14.  “have sex with another man’s wife” is one word in the Greek, typically translated “commit adultery”. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was typically called fornication.
  12. “But I tell you; every man looking at a wife17“wife” in Greek, there is no separate word for “woman” versus “wife”. They are the exact same word, and only context determines which is meant. Given the context of the preceding verse (see note on previous verse) “wife” is contextually more likely. in order to covet18“covet” the Greek word used here was also used twice in quoting the 10th commandment. (Romans 7:7 and Romans 13:9)  It properly refers to any strong desire whether good or bad, and is typically translated “craving” in the BOS Bible. her, already had sex with the other man’s wife19“had sex with the other man’s wife” see note on previous verse. in his heart.
  13. “And, if your right eye makes you stumble; remove it and throw it away from you. For it’s better for you that one of your organs might perish rather than your whole body being thrown into the Valley of Hinnom.20“Valley of Hinnom” is literal; see note on Matthew 5:22.
  14. “And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it’s better for you that one of your organs might perish and not have your whole body go into the Valley of Hinnom.21“Valley of Hinnom” is literal; see note on Matthew 5:22.
  15. “And it was said: “whoever sends away22“send away” is literal here, though it’s typically translated divorce in this passage. The same word is used of Jesus “sending away” crowds and Pilate “sending away” (releasing) Barabbas. Paul uses a different Greek word when talking about divorce in 1 Corinthians. For the relation between “send away” and divorce, see note(s) in next verse. his wife must give her a divorce certificate.23quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 24:1
  16. “And I tell you: every man only sending away24“sending away” is literal; see note on previous verse his wife – except for the reason of fornication – makes her commit adultery.25The Hebrew divorce procedure is found in Deut 24:1 and had three parts: 1) write a divorce certificate. 2) Give it to your wife. 3) Send her away from your house. However, if a man “sent her away” (kicked her out of his house) without a divorce certificate in that culture, she was destitute. She was still legally married because she didn’t have a divorce certificate, so she couldn’t marry anyone else without being an adulteress. Often, her only resort to feed herself was prostitution… which resulted in her committing adultery anyway. He “makes her commit adultery” (sex with another man while still married) to feed herself.  And whoever might marry a woman who has been merely26“merely” see previous note sent away is guilty of sex with another man’s wife.27“he is guilty of sex with another man’s wife” see note on Matthew 5:27
  17. “Again, you heard that the ancients were told: “You shall not make false oaths.”28quotation/allusion to Leviticus 19:12 And: “You shall fulfill your oaths to the Lord.29quotation/allusion to Numbers 30:2, and Deuteronomy 23:21-23
  18. “But I tell you not to make oaths at all. Not by heaven, because it’s the throne of God;
  19. “nor by the land, because it is a footstool for His feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.
  20. “Nor shall you make an oath on your head, because you aren’t able to make one hair white or black.
  21. “So, let your word be meaningful; yes, if yes – no, if no.  More than these is from evil.
  22. “You heard that it was said: “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”30quotation/allusion to Leviticus 24:20
  23. “But I tell you not to forcefully resist31“forcefully resist” the Greek word used here is also a military term referring to troops “holding the line” against the opposing army, typically by fighting back. i.e. taking a firm stand and refusing to be moved. the wicked. On the contrary; whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn and offer him the other.32“the one who strikes your right cheek”.  Jesus was almost certainly side-specific on purpose. In that culture, the right hand was used for clean tasks at the left was used for “dirty” tasks. (Such as wiping yourself; remember, there was no toilet paper.) Therefore, you would never hit someone with your left hand. If someone strikes your right cheek with their right (clean) hand, they must be giving you a backhanded slap. Backhanded slaps are only given to inferiors; never equals. If you offer your other cheek (your left) they are faced with a dilemma. If they strike you again with their right hand, they’ve slapped you as one slaps an equal, essentially making you their equal. But to backhand you as an inferior, they must use their left (unclean) hand– which would dishonor them as much as you. This was a non-violent way of resisting and simultaneously asserting your humanity.
  24. “And to the man intending to sue you and take your tunic, give him your cloak also.
  25. “And whoever will force you to go one mile, go with him two.
  26. “Give to the man asking of you and don’t turn away from the man wanting to borrow from you.
  27. “You heard that it was said: You shall ^love your neighbor33quotation/allusion to Lev 19:18 and you shall hate your enemy.
  28. “But I tell you; ^love your enemies and pray for the men persecuting you. [Bless the men cursing you. Do good to the men insulting and slandering34“insulting and slandering” is one word in Greek.  It can mean either, and both meanings were likely intended. you and hating you]
  29. “so that you might become sons of your Father in the heavens, because He makes His sun rise on evil and good and He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
  30. “For if you ^love the men ^loving you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
  31. “And if you only greet your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Don’t even the pagans do the same?
  32. “Therefore, you shall be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Matthew Chapter 6

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Don’t Seek the praise of men
  1. “Now, beware not to do your righteousness in front of men in order to be seen1“be seen” The Greek word here is “θεάομαι” (theaomai), which refers to spectators who watch something, like a theater. In fact, theaomai is the root of the Greek word “θέατρον” (theatron); which both means “theater” and is the root of our English word “theater”. by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in the heavens.
  2. “Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, don’t sound a trumpet in front of you like the hypocrites2“hypocrites” the Greek word here literally refers to a “theater actor”. In those days, actors often wore masks during their performances and thus were (figuratively) a “two-faced” person; i.e. they say one thing and do another. Jesus was using some clever wordplay here. (see note on previous verse) do in the synagogues and on the crowded streets so they might be glorified by men.  Amen I tell you; they trade away3“trade away” is a single word in Greek meaning “to have something, because far away from something else“. their reward.
  3. “But when you’re doing a charitable deed, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
  4. “so your charitable deed might be done in secret.  And your Father  – the One seeing what’s done in secret – will reward you.
  5. “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites.  For they love *standing to pray in the synagogues and on the corners of wide streets so they might be seen by men. Amen I tell you; they trade away4“trade away” is a single word in Greek meaning “to have something, because far away from something else“. their reward.
  6. “But when you pray, go into your inner room. And having shut your door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father – the One seeing what’s done in secret – will reward you.
  7. “And, when praying, don’t prattle endlessly like the pagans, for they assume that they will be listened to in their long-windedness.
  8. “Therefore, don’t become like them, for God your Father has seen what you have a need for before you ask Him.
The Lord’s Prayer
  1. “Therefore, you pray this way; “Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.
  2. “Let your kingdom come.   Let your will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven.
  3. “Give us our daily bread today,
  4. “and forgive us our debts,5“debts” the Greek word used here can also have the connotation of a sin or offense. just as we also forgave those indebted to us.
  5. “And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from evil. [For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory through the ages. Amen.]
  6. “For if you forgive men their missteps,6“missteps”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) which is also used in Ephesians 2:1 in the phrase: “dead in your ‘paraptóma’ and sins”.  It carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
  7. “But if you don’t forgive men [their missteps], neither will your Father forgive your missteps.
  8. “Now, when you fast; don’t become gloomy like the hypocrites. For they neglect their faces so they might be seen as fasting to men.  Amen I tell you; they trade away7“trade away” is a single word in Greek meaning “to have something, because far away from something else“. their reward.
  9. “When you’re fasting however, anoint your head with oil and wash your face,
  10. “So that you might not appear as fasting to men, but to your Father in secret. And your Father – the One seeing what’s done in secret – will reward you.
Treasure in heaven
  1. “Don’t store up treasures for yourselves on the earth where moth and eating consume, and where thieves break in and steal.
  2. “But, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven; where neither moth nor eating consumes, and where thieves don’t break in or steal.
  3. “For wherever your treasure is, your heart will be there also.
  4. “The lamp of the body is the eye.  Therefore, if your eye isn’t warped,8“eye isn’t warped” According to some sources, this is an idiom which means “to be generous”, in the sense of giving to others/charity.  This makes excellent sense when you consider the context.  The phrase is literally “is not warped”, with “not warped” being a single Greek word that literally means “without folds” (Thayers).   It carries a similar moral connotation of “upright”, in the sense of not being crooked, bent, evil, etc.  While “isn’t folded” would be more literally correct, it would be confusing because we don’t associate “folding” with crooked morals.  However, we do associate “warped” with them; hence the translation choice here. your whole body will be full of light.
  5. “But if your eye is evil,9“eye is evil” according to some sources, this is an idiom which means “to be stingy”.  i.e. hoarding your wealth in an unhealthy way. your whole body will be full of darkness.  Therefore, if the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness?10In Greek, an interrogative pronoun (similar to our word “how”) is used, making it a question.  Many translations end this sentence with an exclamation point, which makes it a statement rather than a true question.  Jesus may have intended it as a rhetorical question, but it’s hard to be certain from the text.  Therefore, it has been translated as a question here.
  6. “No one can serve as a slave for two lords.  For either he will hate one and he will ^love the other, or he will be devoted to one and will despise the other.  You cannot serve as a slave to God and the treasure you trust in.11“the treasure you trust in” is a single word in Greek, with that exact meaning.
Don’t be anxious
  1. “Because of this I tell you: don’t be anxious about your life, what you might eat or what you might drink; nor about your body and how you might clothe yourselves.  Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes?
  2. “Look at the birds of the sky, that they don’t plant, nor harvest, nor gather into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them.  Aren’t you more valuable than they are?
  3. “And who among you is able to add one hour to his life by being anxious?
  4. “And about clothes; why are you anxious?  Study to fully understand12“Study to fully understand” is one word in Greek.  It means to understand something by studying it thoroughly.  This word is related to the Greek word for “disciple”, but has the added force of an intensifying prefix. the lilies of the field; how do they grow?  They don’t exhaust themselves with work nor do they spin.13Spinning is an ancient process of turning animal fibers (hair) into thread, which was then woven into fabric, which was made into clothes.  Spinning was a very labor intensive process before modern machinery.
  5. “But I tell you: not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
  6. “And, if God clothes the grass of the field like this – despite it being here today and tomorrow being thrown into a furnace – won’t He much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
  7. “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying: what will we eat?  Or, what will we drink?  Or, how will we clothe ourselves?
  8. “For the nations diligently seek all of these, for your heavenly Father *knows that you need them all.
  9. “But seek first the kingdom [of God] and His righteousness, and all these will be added to you.
  10. “Therefore, don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble on its own.

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Matthew Chapter 7

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Judging Hypocritically
  1. “Do not judge, so you might not be judged.
  2. “For you will be judged by whatever verdict you judge.  And you will be measured by whatever standard you measure.
  3. “And why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t consider the log in your eye?
  4. “Or how will you tell your brother: “Let me remove the splinter from your eye.” and look: the log is in your eye.
  5. “You hypocrite!  First, remove the log from your eye; and then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.
Asking, gifts, and the narrow way
  1. “Don’t give what’s holy to dogs,1Wild dogs were regarded as scavengers and loathed much like coyotes or raccoons are today.  The lexicon even mentions that dog could refer to “a man of impure mind, an impudent man” (Thayer’s Greek lexicon) or even a “spiritual predator” (HELPS Word Studies). nor throw your pearls in front of pigs, lest they will trample them with their feet and having turned, they might tear you to pieces.
  2. “Ask and it will be given to you.  Seek and you will find.  Knock and it will be opened to you.
  3. “For every man asking, receives; and the man seeking, finds; and to the man knocking, it will be opened.
  4. “Or what man is among you who – when his son will ask for bread – he won’t give him a stone will he?
  5. “Or if he will ask for a fish, he won’t give him a snake will he?
  6. “Therefore, if you being evil *know to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in the heavens give good things to the men asking Him?
  7. In all things therefore – whatever you desire that men might do for you – you must also do thusly to them, for this is the law and the prophets.
  8. “Enter through the narrow gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way leading to ruin,2“ruin” this word is often translated “destruction”, but it more accurately implies a “loss of well-being” rather than a “loss of being” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary).   i.e. they don’t cease to exist (which would be “destruction”) but rather their quality of life is destroyed.  The word “destruction” can also have that connotation, but “ruin” seems to fit the Greek word better. and the men entering through it are many.
  9. “For narrow is the gate, and *constricting is3“constricting is” is a single word in the Greek.  It refers to compressing via pressure, in a way that makes you feel constricted, restricted, or hemmed in. the way leading to life, and the men finding it are few.
Know them by their fruit
  1. “Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothes, but inside they are marauding wolves.
  2. “You will know them from their fruit.  They don’t gather grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles do they?
  3. “So every good tree produces noble fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit.
  4. “A good tree isn’t able to produce bad fruit, nor is a rotten tree able to produce noble fruit.
  5. “Every tree not producing noble fruit is cut off and thrown into the fire.
  6. “Therefore, you will know them from their fruit.
  7. “Not every man saying to Me: “Lord, Lord” will enter into the kingdom of the heavens; but only the man doing the will of My Father in the heavens.
  8. “Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord; didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name didn’t we cast out demons, and in your name didn’t we perform many miracles?”
  9. “And then I will agree with them but say: “I never knew you.  Depart from Me; you men working without regard for God’s commands.4“without regard for God’s commands” is one word in Greek, and is more literally “ignoring God’s law”.  It’s a noun, and literally means “those who are without law”; i.e. those who –  either by ignorance or by rebellion – don’t obey God’s (moral) law. 5quotation/allusion to Psalm 6:8
Foundations compared
  1. “Therefore, every man who hears these words of Mine and does them will be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
  2. “And the rain fell down, and the floods came, and the winds blew; and they battered that house.  And it didn’t fall, for its foundation had been built on the rock.
  3. “And every man hearing these words of Mine and not doing them, he will be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand.6In Israel, heavy rains from the hills cut long “trenches” through the limestone rock.  One of these water-cut trenches is called a “wadi”.  Most of the time, these are essentially dry riverbeds.  However, when heavy rains come, they turn back into streams or rivers for a time.  Often, the water comes through the wadi so fast that it resembles a flash-flood.  At the bottom of a wadi is sand.  Its likely Jesus was talking about someone who built a house in a (temporarily dry) riverbed – a wadi – that is known to flood.  That would be foolish indeed.
  4. “And the rain fell down, and the floods came, and the winds blew; and they battered that house.  And it fell, and its fall was great.
  5. And it happened, when Jesus finished these words, that the crowds were stunned in amazement at His teaching.
  6. For He was teaching them like one having authority,7“authority” It’s possible that the “authority” that stunned the crowd was a technical term.   Properly called “semikhah”, the Jewish word literally means “laying on of hands”.  Its origins (as a technical term of authority) go back to Moses.  Moses was given authority by God, and God commanded him to pass some of that “authority” to Joshua by “laying hands on him” in the sight of the people.  (Num27:15-23, Deut 34:9)  The Jews believed this authority was then passed down through “laying on of hands” to Jesus’ day.  Rabbis with semikhah had the authority to make decisions in the meaning of the Law and other spiritual matters.  In Jesus case, that meant a new interpretation of the Law.  However, ordinary scribes (Torah teachers) could only teach what those with semikhah had established. and not like their scribes.8This Greek word literally means a “scribe”, or someone who writes as their profession.  However, it’s often used in the New Testament for those learned in the Mosaic Law.

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Matthew Chapter 8

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Jesus heals a leper
  1. And Him having come down from the mountain, many crowds followed Him.
  2. And behold, a leper1A “leper” is a person suffering from “leprosy” (also called “Hansen’s Disease” in modern times).  The disease is caused by the bacteria “M. leprae“.  Symptoms includes the outbreak of unsightly skin sores and nerve damage. It was a great social stigma in the ancient world and remains so to this day in many places.  The Jews believed that leprosy was caused by sin.  Therefore they believed that only the promised messiah would be able to cure leprosy, because only God could forgive sin.  The leper coming to Jesus could be construed as an act of faith on his part. approached and was bowing down at His feet, saying; “Lord, if you want to, you are able to cleanse me.”
  3. And having extended His hand, He touched him saying, “I want to; be cleansed.”  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
  4. And Jesus tells him, “See that you tell no one.  But go show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded as evidence for them.”
The Centurion’s faith
  1. And Him having entered Capernaum, a centurion2“centurion” was a rank in the Roman military. A normal centurion was in charge of 80 soldiers, plus ~20 support staff. However, there were different levels of centurion.  The highest ranking centurions could be in charge of up to 1000 men. approached Him, imploring Him
  2. and saying: “Lord, my servant boy has been lying sick in the house, paralyzed and being horribly tormented.
  3. And He tells him: “I will go heal him.”
  4. But answering, the centurion was saying; “Lord, I’m not worthy that you might enter under my roof.  But only say the word and my servant boy will be healed.
  5. “For I’m also a man under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I tell this one “Go”, and he goes. And to another “Come”, and he comes.  And to my slave “Do this”, and he does it.”
  6. And having heard this, Jesus marveled and told the men following Him; “Amen I tell you; I found no one in Israel with such great faith.
  7. “And, I tell you that many from the east and the west will arrive and will recline at the table3“recline” is literal.  In ancient times, they laid down on a low table to eat. Thus, “reclining” in those days is similar to “sitting down” today to share a meal. with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens.
  8. “But the sons of this kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”
  9. And Jesus told the centurion, “Go; let it happen to you just as you believed.”  And his servant boy was healed in that hour.
Jesus heals many
  1. And having come into Peter’s house, Jesus saw his4“his” that is, Peter’s mother-in-law, which is clear in Greek but less so in English. mother-in-law *lying sick with a fever.
  2. And He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and was serving Him.
  3. And when it became evening, they brought many demon-possessed men to Him and He cast out the spirits with a word, and He healed all having a sickness,
  4. so what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet it might be fulfilled, saying: “He took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.”5quotation/allusion to Isaiah 53:4
  5. And having seen a great crowd around Him, Jesus gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea.
The Cost of following Jesus
  1. And having approached Him, one scribe told Him: “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
  2. And Jesus tells him: “The foxes have dens and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere He might rest His head.”
  3. And another of His disciples said to Him; “Lord, first allow me to go and bury my father.”
  4. But Jesus tells him; “Follow Me and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Jesus Calms the Storm
  1. And having stepped into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
  2. And behold; a great storm began on the sea so that the boat is covered by the waves, but He was sleeping.
  3. And having approached Him, they woke Him up saying; “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
  4. And He tells them; “Why are you fearful?  O, you men of little faith.”  Then having woken up He scolded the winds and the sea, and a great calm began.
  5. Then the men marveled, saying; “What kind of man6“What kind of man” is one word in Greek.  It can also be mean “from what country/region?”  And in that case is used to inquire about someone’s origins.  Thus, they could be asking where He’s from. is this?  Because even the winds and the sea listen to Him.”
Demons sent into pigs
  1. And having come to the other side of the sea to the land of the Gadarenes,7The Gadarenes lived in the city Gadara, which was south-east of the Sea of Galilee.  It was an important Hellenized (Greek) city, and one of the ten cities of the Decapolis. two demon-possessed men met Him after coming out of the tombs.  They were very violent, so someone isn’t able to pass through that way.
  2. And behold; they cried out saying; “What’s between you and us, Son of God?  Did you come here to torment us before the proper season?”
  3. Now, far away from them was a large herd of pigs feeding.
  4. So the demons were imploring Him, saying; “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
  5. And He told them “Go.”  And having gone out, they went into the pigs.  And behold; all of the herd dashed down the steep bank into the sea and died in the waters.
  6. Now, the men feeding them fled.  And having gone into the city, they reported all of this, even about the demon-possessed men.
  7. And behold; all of the city went out to meet Jesus.  And having seen Him, they begged that He might depart from their region.8“region” is literally “regions”

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Matthew Chapter 9

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Jesus heals a paralyzed man
  1. And having stepped into a boat, He crossed over the sea and came to His own city.
  2. And behold; they were bringing to Him a paralyzed man *lying on a bed mat.  And having seen their faith, Jesus told the paralyzed man: “Have courage child; your sins are forgiven.”
  3. And behold; some of the scribes1“scribes” In the New Testament, this word is often used of those learned in the Mosaic Law. said to themselves “This man blasphemes!”
  4. And *knowing their thoughts, Jesus said; “Why do you ponder evil in your hearts?
  5. “For which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say; ‘Get up and walk’?
  6. “However, so you might *know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…”  Then He tells the paralyzed man; “After getting up, pick up your bed mat, and go to your house.”
  7. And after getting up, he went to his house.
  8. And having seen this, the crowds were alarmed and they glorified God; the One who gave such authority to men.
Jesus and the Tax Collectors
  1. And passing on from there, Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting in a tax-collector’s office.  And He says to him: “Follow Me.”  And having stood up, he followed Him.
  2. And it happened that He’s reclining2“reclining” is literal.  In ancient times, they didn’t sit at a table, they “reclined” at a low table.  Thus, reclining often meant eating together. in the house and behold: many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining at the table with Jesus and His disciples.
  3. And having seen this, the Pharisees were saying to His disciples; “Why does your teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners?”
  4. But having heard this He said; “Healthy men don’t have a need of a doctor, but sick men do.
  5. “But having departed, learn what is true: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice‘,3quotation/allusion to Hosea 6:6 for I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Fasting and Wineskins
  1. Then the disciples of John come to Him, saying; “Why do we and the Pharisees often fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”
  2. And Jesus told them; “The groomsmen4“groomsmen” is literally “sons of the bridal chamber”.  In that age, this referred to the men who helped the groom prepare whatever was needed for the wedding, especially the “bridal chamber” (honeymoon suite).  The closest modern equivalent is groomsmen. aren’t able to mourn as long as the groom is with them, are they?  But the days will come when the groom was taken away from them, and then they will fast.
  3. And no one puts an unshrunk cloth patch on an old cloak, for its patch pulls away from the cloak and it becomes a worse tear.
  4. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins.5“wineskins” is literal, and refers to a leather “bag” used to hold liquids.  The phrase “new wine” refers to un-fermented grape juice.  As it ferments, it releases gas which causes the wineskin to stretch.  However, if an “old wineskin” is used with “new wine” (unfermented grape-juice), the gasses from the fermentation will stretch the already stretched leather bag so that it splits.  This makes the leather bag useless and the wine is spilled out and lost.  Old wineskins could be used for already fermented wine or other liquids, and thus were still useful.  And if they do, the wineskins tear, and the wine spills out, and the wineskins are ruined.  But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.
Raising the Dead and healing an issue of blood
  1. While He’s telling them these things, behold; one of the Jewish elders came.  He was bowing low on his knees before Him, saying: “My daughter died just now.  But come lay your hand on her and she will live.”
  2. And having stood up, Jesus and His disciples were following him.
  3. And behold; there was a woman suffering from constant menstrual bleeding6“suffering from constant menstrual bleeding” is one word in the Greek.  It refers to a continuous flow of blood, aka: a hemorrhage.  It doesn’t specifically mean menstrual blood, but this exact word is used to refer to a menstrual blood in the Septuagint in Leviticus 15:33 and by medical writers. for twelve years.  Having approached from behind, she touched the edge of His cloak,
  4. for she was saying within herself; “If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed.”7In Malachi 4:2, it says that “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.”  The Hebrew word translated “wings” in that verse is “כָּנָף” (kanaph).  It means any extremity, including wings and also the edge of a garment.  It could be accurately translated “healing in the edge of His clothes”.  This woman likely knew this verse, and that’s probably why she specifically touched the edge of His cloak.  The Jews believed Malachi 4:2 was a prophecy about the Messiah, so by touching His cloak, she was almost certainly expressing her faith that Jesus was the Messiah.  This is quite possibly why Jesus said her faith healed her.
  5. And having turned and seen her, Jesus said; “Have courage daughter; your faith has healed you.”  And the woman was healed from that hour on.
  6. And having come to the house of the Jewish elder, and having seen the flute players and the crowd making a noisy outcry,
  7. Jesus was saying; “Leave.  For the girl didn’t die, but is sleeping.”  And they were laughing at Him.
  8. And, when the crowd was sent outside, He entered, grabbed her hand, and the girl was raised up.
  9. And the news of this went through that whole land.
Jesus Heals the Blind and Demon Possessed
  1. And passing on from there, two blind men followed Jesus, crying out and saying; “Show us mercy, Son of David8“Son of David” was a title of the promised messiah in Jewish eyes.  This stems from 2 Samuel 7:12-13, in which God promised David would have a descendant who would sit on the throne forever.  This could be construed as an act of faith by the blind men..”
  2. And having come into the house, the blind men approached Him and Jesus says to them; “Do you believe that I’m able to do this?”  They say to Him; “Definitely Lord.”
  3. Then He touched their eyes, saying; “Let it happen to you according to your faith.”
  4. And their eyes were opened.  And Jesus sternly warned them, saying; “See that you let no one know.”
  5. But after going out, they spread the news about Him in that whole land.
  6. And while they’re leaving, behold; they brought a mute, demon-possessed man to Him.
  7. And when the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke.  And the crowds marveled, saying; “Something like this was never seen in Israel.”
  8. But the Pharisees were saying; “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
The Harvest
  1. And Jesus was going around to all the cities and villages; teaching in their synagogues, and announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every chronic disease and every sickness.
  2. And having seen the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them because they were *troubled and *cast away, like sheep not having a shepherd.
  3. Then He says to His disciples; “Truly, the harvest is great but the workers are few.”
  4. “Therefore, implore the Lord of the harvest so that He might send out workers into His harvest.”

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Matthew Chapter 10

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Instructing the Twelve
  1. And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out, and to heal every chronic disease and every sickness.
  2. And these are the names of the twelve apostles.  First, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother. Also, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother.
  3. Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
  4. Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, the man who also betrayed Him.
  5. Jesus sent out these twelve, having commanded them by saying; “Don’t go near the way of the gentiles and don’t go into a city of the Samaritans.”
  6. “But rather go to the *lost sheep of the house of Israel.
  7. “And while traveling, proclaim saying; ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near’.
  8. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received; freely give.
  9. “Don’t acquire gold, nor silver, nor copper in your money belts.1“money belts” in that age, belts were often hollow and used as a safe way to store money.
  10. “Don’t bring a food pouch for the way, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff.  For the worker is worthy of his food.
  11. “Now, whatever city or village you enter into, carefully inquire who is worthy in it, and remain there until you leave.
  12. “Then entering into the house, greet it.
  13. “And if the house is truly worthy, let your peace come on it.  But if it’s not worthy, let your peace return to you.
  14. “And whoever didn’t welcome you nor hear your words, then going outside that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
  15. “Amen I tell you; it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than that city.
Warning about Persecution
  1. “Behold; I send you out like sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore, become shrewd as serpents and pure as doves.
  2. “But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the Sanhedrins,2A Sanhedrin was a Jewish court that had authority in both civil and religious matters.  There was a lesser Sanhedrin in cities of significant size, and the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.  The Great Sanhedrin functioned like a Supreme Court over the lesser Sanhedrins. and will flog you in their synagogues.
  3. “And also, you’ll be brought to governors and kings because of Me; to be a witness to them and to the gentiles.
  4. “And when they hand you over, don’t be anxious about how or what you might say, for you will be given what to say in that very hour.
  5. “For you aren’t the men speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is the One speaking through you.
  6. “And brother will betray brother to death, and a father will betray his child, and children will rise up against parents and will put them to death.
  7. “And you will be hated by all because of My name.  But the man who endured to the end; he will be saved.
  8. “And when they persecute you in that city, flee to another.  For amen I tell you: you definitely won’t have finished fleeing through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
  9. “A disciple isn’t above the teacher, nor a slave above his master.
  10. It’s enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master.  If they called the master of the house Beelzebub,3From the Hebrew phrase “Baal Zebub” that translates as “lord of the flies”.   It’s likely a play on words for the pagan Canaanite god Baal.  One of his names was “Ba’al Zevul”, which roughly translates as “Lord of the exalted house”.  Since “Ba’al Zevul” sounds very similar to “Baal Zebub”, it was likely a derogatory Hebrew nickname for the Canaanite god.  Apparently, the title was later applied to an actual demon.  There is some debate on whether Beelzebub is a nickname for Satan, or for another high ranking demon. how much more the members of his household?
Fear God, not Man
  1. “Therefore, don’t be scared of them.  For nothing is *hidden which won’t be uncovered; and there’s nothing secret which won’t be known.
  2. “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light.  And what you hear whispered in the ear, preach on the rooftops.
  3. “And don’t fear the men killing the body, but not able to kill the life.4“life” the Greek word here is “ψυχή” (psuché), usually translated “soul” here.  However, it does not mean the part of us which survives death and goes to reward or punishment (Biblically that’s our spirit.  In Revelation 8:9, animals are said to have “psuché”.)  Psuché literally means “breath” and is usually translated “life”.  It refers to the life; the vital force which – together with the body – enables a person to live.  It can also refer to mind, will, emotions, and desires, which together make up a person’s identity.  The exact same word is used in verse 39. where we must lose our psuché to gain it.  But rather, fear the One able to destroy5“destroy” the Greek word here is “ἀπόλλυμι” (apollumi).  It means to utterly lose (as in Matthew 10:6), to ruin, or to destroy.  Its root word emphasizes the loss incurred, not the destruction. both body and life6“life” see note earlier in verse in the Valley of Hinnom.7“the Valley of Hinnom” Most translations render this “hell” but any lexicon will tell you it’s a proper noun referring to a specific valley – the Valley of Hinnom – just outside Jerusalem. Symbolically, it’s where the Jews believed the wicked were punished in the afterlife.  But this might refer to Israel’s history instead. Two kings of Israel sacrificed babies as burnt offerings to the pagan gods Baal and Moloch in the Valley of Hinnom. (2 Chronicles 28:1-3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 7:30-31) As a result, God sentenced them to judgement through the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 19:1-11) Their sentence was carried out about 20 years later when Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem. He burned almost everything and enslaved all Judah. (2 kings 25:1-12) This happened again a few centuries later when Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. See following note. 8Verse Note: While Jesus might have been referring to judgement in the afterlife, it’s unlikely. (See note on the word “soul” in this verse.)  He might’ve been referring to the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  If you look at “soul” here in the sense of “identity” (again, see note) it makes some sense. Some of those trapped inside Jerusalem during the siege became so depraved, what they did isn’t fit to be put into print.  That could count as a destruction of “body and soul/identity”.
  4. “Aren’t two sparrows sold for a brass coin?9“a brass coin” is literally and specifically an “assarion”.  It was worth one tenth of a drachma.  And one among them won’t fall to the ground without your Father willing it.
  5. “And even the hairs on your head are all *numbered.
  6. “So don’t fear; you have more value than many sparrows.
  7. “Therefore; every man who will endorse Me in front of men, I will also endorse him in front of My Father in the heavens.
  8. “But whoever denies Me in front of men, I will also deny him in front of My Father in the heavens.
  9. “Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword.
  10. For I came to divide; a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a bride against her mother-in-law.
  11. And a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.10quotation/allusion to Micah 7:6
  12. “The man loving his father or mother more than Me isn’t worthy of Me.  And the man loving his son or daughter more than Me isn’t worthy of Me.
  13. “And whoever doesn’t take his cross and follow after Me isn’t worthy of Me.
  14. “The man who found his life11“life”The Greek word here is “ψυχή” (psuché); (see note on verse 28 above.)  It refers to the life; the vital force which – together with the body – enables a person to live.  It can also refer to mind, will, emotions, and desires, which together make up a person’s identity.  This latter sense adds an interesting nuance of meaning to this verse. will lose it.  And the man who lost his life12“life” see previous note. because of Me will find it.
  15. “The man welcoming you welcomes Me.  And the man welcoming Me welcomes the One who sent Me.
  16. “The man welcoming a prophet because13“because” literally “in the name of”, which in that culture was an idiom that was equivalent to “because”. he’s a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward.  And the man welcoming a righteous man because14“because” literally “in the name of”, which in that culture was an idiom that was equivalent to “because”. he’s righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward.
  17. “And whoever merely gives one of these little ones a cup of cool water to drink because15“because” literally “in the name of”, which in that culture was an idiom that was equivalent to “because”. he’s a disciple; amen I tell you; he definitely won’t lose his reward.

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Matthew Chapter 11

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  1. And it happened that when Jesus finished instructing His twelve disciples, He left there to teach and to proclaim in their cities.
John the Baptizer’s Question
  1. Now John – having heard of the works of the Anointed while in prison – sent two of his disciples and
  2. said to Him; “Are you the Coming One,1“The Coming One” There are several Old Testament passages that the Jews believed referred to the messiah, which talk of Him “coming”.  (For example, Psalm 118:26, Psalm 40:7-8, and Malachi 3:1).  John was probably referring to Zechariah 9:9, which talks about the “coming King”, and in verse 11 speaks of setting prisoners free. Therefore, John was probably asking if Jesus was the messiah, and if so would he be freed. or should we wait for another?”
  3. And answering them, Jesus said; “When you go, report to John what you hear and see:
  4. The blind see, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor are given good news.2Verse note: Jesus answered John’s question using a Jewish Rabbinic method called “remez” (or hint).  Jesus quotes portions of Isaiah 35:5-6, (blind, lame, deaf), Isaiah 42:6-7 (blind again) and Isaiah 61:1 (good news).  All three passages refer to the coming messiah/king, so Jesus was confirming that He was indeed Him.  However, in all three passages Jesus left off a part about setting prisoners free.  This was likely Jesus telling John that He was indeed the messiah, but John wouldn’t be set free.  This last part explains the following verse.
  5. “And blessed is he who doesn’t stumble at Me.”
  6. And while those men are leaving, Jesus began to tell the crowds about John: “What did you come out to the desert to watch?3“to watch” The Greek word here is “θεάομαι” (theaomai), which refers to spectators who watch something, like in a theater. In fact, theaomai is the root of the Greek word “θέατρον” (theatron); which both means “theater” and is the root of our English word “theater”. A reed shaken by the wind?
  7. But what did you go out to see?  A man *clothed in soft clothes?  Look; the men wearing soft clothes are in the houses of kings.
  8. But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  I tell you, yes!  And far more than a prophet.
  9. “This is he about whom it is *written; “Behold; I send out My messenger before your presence; he who will carefully prepare your way before you.”4quotation/allusion to Malachi 3:1
  10. “Amen I tell you: among those born from women, none has risen greater than John the Baptizer.  Yet the least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is.
  11. “And from the days of John the Baptizer until now, men force their way into5men force their way into” is a single word in Greek.  Most translations render it in the passive voice here (“suffers violence”).  However, the endings for the Greek middle voice and passive voice are the same in many verbs, this one included.  Therefore, it can be accurately translated as either passive or middle voice.  In the middle voice, it means to “use force” or to “force your way”.  When compared with a parallel passage in Luke 16:16 (which uses a verb that’s definitely middle voice) it seems the middle voice was intended.  However, that’s not certain and the passive voice is a legitimate translation here. the kingdom of the heavens, and zealous men seize it. 6Verse note: the latter half of this verse likely refer to the zeal with which John’s (and later Jesus’) disciples followed them.  In Luke 5:18-19, some men literally tore up a roof to get someone to Jesus.  In John 6:15, they wanted to make Jesus king by force.
  12. “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
  13. “And if you desire to accept it, he is Elijah; the man about to come.
  14. “The man having ears, let him hear.
This Wicked Generation
  1. “And to what will I compare this generation?  It’s like small children sitting in the markets who are calling to others,
  2. “They say: ‘We played the flute for you and you didn’t dance.  We cried out in mourning and you didn’t grieve.’
  3. “For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say; ‘he has a demon.’
  4. “The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say; ‘Look; this man is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’  Indeed, wisdom was declared righteous by her deeds.”
  5. Then He started to condemn the cities in which most of His miracles happened because they didn’t repent.7“”Repent” this Greek word doesn’t speak of remorse or guilt for wrong actions. Rather, it literally means to “think differently after” or to “reconsider”, with an assumed change in behavior. To both the Hebrews and 1st century Greeks/Romans, a change in mind was synonymous with a change in behavior; you couldn’t have the first without the second.
  6. “Woe to you Chorazin!  Woe to you Bethsaida!  For if the miracles which happened in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon,8Tyre and Sidon were ancient cities against which God prophesied destruction at length, especially against Tyre.  (Isaiah 23, Ezekiel chapters 26-28) they would’ve repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.9Sackcloth and ashes was a common way for Jews to mourn or express great regret.  The “sackcloth” was a rough weave, probably equivalent to modern day burlap or canvas.  They would throw ashes on their heads and clothes to indicate the regret or grief.
  7. “Further I tell you: it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgement than for you.
  8. “And you Capernaum.  You won’t be raised up to heaven, but will go down to the underworld,10The Greek word here is “ᾍδης” (Hades).  Hades was the name of the Greek god of the underworld, and the word became synonymous with the underworld itself.  In Greek mythology, the underworld (Hades) was the place that all departed spirits went, whether good or bad.  It is directly equivalent to the Hebrew world “sheol”. because if the miracles which happened in you had happened in Sodom, it would remain to this day.
  9. “Further I tell you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgement than for you.
Rest for the Weary
  1. At that time, Jesus began to speak and said; “I praise11“Praise”.  The Greek word here has a primary connotation of confession and agreement.  It also has a nuanced meaning of praise and thanks.  Given the context, “praise” was chosen.  However, the other meanings are certainly applicable and probably intended. you, Father – Lord of heaven and earth – because you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to children.
  2. “Yes Father, because it happening this way was pleasing before you.
  3. “All things were delivered to Me by My Father.  And no one truly knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone truly know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
  4. “Come to Me, all you men exhausting yourselves working12“exhausting yourselves working” is one word in Greek.  It literally means to tire yourself out – to become weary – from doing hard work or labor.  Interestingly, this doesn’t say working is bad.  It refers to exhausting yourself from working. and *overloaded with burdens, and I will give you rest.13quotation/allusion to Exodus 33:14, which says (in context it’s Yahweh/God speaking) “and He said; “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”  Jesus was almost certainly making a claim to His deity by saying that He would do what God promised to do.
  5. “Take up My yoke14A “yoke” is shaped like an upside-down “U”, and was put over the necks of oxen to enable them to pull with their shoulders. It’s what enables them to do hard work because they can put their full strength into the effort. upon you and learn from Me.  For I’m strong but gentle and humble of heart;15this is a double quotation/allusion to two different verses. In Deuteronomy 18:15, Moses says that God will raise up a prophet like him, and concludes with “you must listen to him.”  The Jews believed this was a messianic prophecy.  Numbers 12:3 says that Moses was the most humble man on the earth.  By quoting Moses here, Jesus was saying He was the promised Messiah, and that they should listen to/obey Him. and you will find rest for your souls.16quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 6:16.  Jesus statement here cannot be properly understood without reading that verse.  The verse reads: “Thus says Yahweh; “Stand at the road and look. Ask for the ancient paths – the good way – and walk in it, and you will find rest for your soul. But they said, “We won’t walk in it.” Jesus was saying they would only find rest if they were obedient.  Further, the ending of the verse is “we won’t walk in it”, which is likely an allusion to their disobedience.
  6. “For My yoke17see note on previous verse. is pleasant and My burden is easy to bear.

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Matthew Chapter 12

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Working on the Sabbath
  1. At that time, Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbaths, and His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat heads of grain.
  2. And having seen this, the Pharisees said to Him; “Look, your disciples are doing what isn’t lawful to do on the Sabbath.”
  3. So He told them; “Didn’t you read what David did when he and the men with him were hungry?”
  4. “How he entered God’s house and they ate the consecrated bread, which wasn’t lawful for him nor for the men with him to eat, but was only for the priests?
  5. “Or didn’t you read in the law that the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath1The Mosaic law required sacrifices to be made in the temple twice a day, every day. (Exodus 29:38) Even on the Sabbath they were offered.  Of course, the priests had to work to perform the sacrifice. on the Sabbaths and yet are innocent?
  6. “And I tell you that One greater than the temple is here.
  7. “And if you had understood what is written: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”2quotation/allusion to Hosea 6:6 you wouldn’t have condemned the innocent.
  8. “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Healing on the Sabbath
  1. And having departed from there, He went into their synagogue.
  2. And behold; a man having a withered hand was there.  And so they might accuse Him, they asked Him saying; “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbaths?”
  3. Then He said to them; “What man will be among you who will have only one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on one of the Sabbaths, won’t he grab it and lift it out?
  4. “Therefore, how much more valuable is a man than a sheep?  So then, it’s lawful to do good on the Sabbaths.”
  5. Then He tells the man, “Reach out your hand.”  And he reached it out and it was restored to health like his other.
  6. And having gone out, the Pharisees held a council against Him, so they might destroy Him.
  7. But having known this, Jesus departed from there.  And many crowds followed Him and He healed them all.
  8. And He warned them, so they might not make Him known.
  9. This was so it might be fulfilled; what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying:
  10. Behold; My servant whom I chose, My beloved in whom My soul found pleasure. I will put My Spirit on Him and He will announce justice to the nations.
  11. He won’t argue angrily, nor will He cry out,3“cry out” Is one word in Greek.  It can mean any sort of loud “cry”, shout, or shriek; but especially those made by animals. It’s root comes from the “caw” sound a raven makes. nor will someone hear His voice in the wide streets.
  12. He won’t crush a reed that has been broken, and He won’t quench a smoldering wick until He leads justice into victory.4quotation/allusion to Isaiah 42:1-4
  13. “And in His name, the gentiles will hope.”
A Divided House
  1. Then a blind and mute demon-possessed man was brought to Him, and He healed him so the mute man was able to speak and to see.
  2. And all the crowds were marveling and were saying; “This man can’t be the Son of David,5“Son of David” was a title of the promised messiah in Jewish eyes.  This stems from 2 Samuel 7:12-13, in which God promised David would have a descendant who would sit on the throne forever. can He?”
  3. But having heard this, the Pharisees said; “This man doesn’t cast out demons except by Beelzebub,6From the Hebrew phrase “Baal Zebub” that translates as “lord of the flies”.   It’s likely a play on words for the pagan Canaanite god Baal.  One of his names was “Ba’al Zevul”, which roughly translates as “Lord of the exalted house”.  Since “Ba’al Zevul” sounds very similar to “Baal Zebub”, it was likely a derogatory Hebrew nickname for the Canaanite god.  Apparently, the title was later applied to an actual demon.  There is some debate on whether Beelzebub is a nickname for Satan, or for another high ranking demon (see following note). a ruler7“a ruler” The Greek word here could mean the one of greatest authority, but it doesn’t have to.  It means any “ruler”, not necessarily the one of highest authority.  The traditional interpretation of this word in this verse is “prince”. of the demons.”
  4. But *knowing their thoughts, He said to them; “Every kingdom that’s divided against itself is desolated. And every city or house that’s divided against itself won’t stand.
  5. “And if Satan casts out Satan, he was divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?
  6. “And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, then by whom do your sons cast them out? Because of this, they will be your judges.
  7. “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God came upon you.
  8. “Or; how is someone able to enter a mighty man’s house and to openly steal his goods unless he first ties up the mighty man?  And then he will plunder his house.
  9. “The man not being with Me is against Me, and the man not assembling with Me scatters.
  10. “Because of this, I tell you that every sin and blasphemy towards men will be forgiven.  But blasphemy against the Spirit won’t be forgiven.
  11. “And whoever might speak a word against the Son of Man, he will be forgiven.  But whoever might speak against the Holy Spirit, he won’t be forgiven; neither in this age, nor in the age about to come.
Know them by their fruit
  1. “Either make the tree lovely and its fruit lovely, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten.  For a tree is known by the fruit.
  2. “You offspring of serpents!8Satan is typically represented as a serpent. Therefore, calling them “offspring of serpents” is akin to saying they are Satan’s children or followers.  How are you able to speak good things while being evil?  For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
  3. “The good man brings out good things from the good storehouse of his heart.9“storehouse of his heart” is one word in Greek.  It refers to a place where treasure is stored, and can include things “treasured” in the heart or mind of a person. And the wicked man brings out wicked things from the wicked storehouse of his heart.10“storehouse of his heart” is one word in Greek.  It refers to a place where treasure is stored, and can include things “treasured” in the heart or mind of a person.
  4. “But I tell you that every careless word that men will speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgement.
  5. “For by your words, you will be declared righteous.  And by your words, you will be condemned as guilty.
The Sign of Jonah
  1. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him, saying; “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
  2. But answering, He told them; “A wicked generation and an adulteress11The traditional interpretation here is “a wicked and adulterous generation”.  However, the word translated “adulteress” is a noun here, not an adjective. Additionally, a feminine singular pronoun – “she” in English – is used later in the verse.  In order to make the traditional interpretation fit, “she” must be changed to the neuter pronoun, “it”.  Jesus was calling that whole generation an “adulteress”, or a woman guilty of adultery. seeks a sign, and a sign won’t be given to her, except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
  3. “For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
  4. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation in the judgement and will condemn it because they repented,12“repented” this Greek word doesn’t primarily speak of remorse or guilt for wrong actions. Rather, it literally means to “think differently after” or to “reconsider”, with an assumed change in behavior. To both the Hebrews and 1st century Greeks/Romans, a change in mind was synonymous with a change in behavior; you couldn’t have the first without the second. at the preaching of Jonah.  And behold; One greater than Jonah is here.
  5. The queen of the south will be raised in the judgement with this generation, and she will condemn it because she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom.  And behold; One greater than Solomon is here.
The Evil Spirit Returns
  1. “Now, when the unclean spirit comes out of the man, it travels through waterless places seeking rest and doesn’t find it.
  2. “Then it says: “I’ll return to my house; from where I left.”  And having gone back, it finds the house vacant, having been *swept and beautifully *decorated.
  3. “Then it goes and takes with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself.  And having entered the house, they settle down there and the end of that man becomes worse than the beginning.  It will also be like that for this wicked generation.
Sons do the Father’s will
  1. Now, while He’s speaking to the crowds, behold; His mother and brothers had been standing outside seeking to speak to Him.
  2. So someone told Him; “Look, your mother and your brothers are *standing outside seeking to speak to you.”
  3. But answering the man telling Him this, He said; “Who is My mother?  And who are My brothers?”
  4. And having reached His hand toward His disciples, He said; “Look, My mother and My brothers.
  5. “For whoever does the will of My Father in the heavens; he is My brother and sister and mother.”

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Matthew Chapter 13

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The Parable of the Sower
  1. Later in that day, Jesus left the house and was sitting beside the sea.
  2. And many crowds were gathered to Him, so He stepped into a boat to sit down, and the whole crowd had stood on the seashore.
  3. And He told them many things in parables, saying; “Behold, the man sowing seed went out to sow.
  4. “And in his sowing, some seeds indeed fell beside the road.1“the road” is literal.  However, it can also be translated “the way”, which is how it’s typically translated in the BOS Bible for good reason.  In the early Christian church, they often referred to the Christian life as “The Way”.  Interestingly, the seed fell “beside” or “next to” “the way”.  And having come down, the birds devoured them.
  5. “And other seeds fell on rocky places where it didn’t have much soil. And it sprang up at once because it doesn’t have depth in the soil.
  6. “But it was scorched when the sun rose, and it was dried up because it doesn’t have a root.
  7. “And other seeds fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
  8. “And other seeds fell on the good soil and they were bearing fruit; indeed, some a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.
  9. “The man having ears, let him hear.”
Why Jesus Spoke in Parables
  1. And having approached Him, the disciples said to Him; “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
  2. And answering, He told them; “Because it has been granted for you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens.  But it hasn’t been granted to those men.
  3. “For whoever has, more will be given to him and he will have abundance.  But whoever doesn’t have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
  4. “I speak to them in parables because of this, because while seeing, they don’t see.  And while hearing, they don’t hear, nor do they understand.
  5. “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, saying: “You will hear in your ear and definitely won’t understand; and you will see, and despite seeing definitely won’t perceive.
  6. For the heart of this people grew calloused and their ears barely listened, and their eyes shut.  Lest, when they see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and they return, and I will heal them.”2quotation/allusion to Isaiah 6:9-10
  7. “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
  8. “For amen I tell you that many prophets and righteous men yearned to see what you see, and didn’t see it; and yearned to hear what you hear, and didn’t hear it.
The Parable Explained
  1. “Therefore, you must hear and understand3“hear and understand” is one word in the Greek.  It literally means to hear, sometimes with the connotation of understanding what is being said.  In this passage, it’s in the imperative mood, making it a command. the parable of the man who sowed seed.
  2. To every man hearing the word of the kingdom and not understanding it, the evil one comes and openly steals what has been sown in his heart.  This is the seed which was sown beside the road.
  3. “Now, the seed which was sown on the rocky places: this is the man hearing the word and immediately receiving it with great joy.
  4. “But he doesn’t have root in himself, but is temporary; only lasting for a season.4“temporary; only lasting for a season” is one word in the Greek.  Its’ colloquial meaning is “temporary”, but the full technical meaning is “lasting (only) for a season”.  Technically, including both is double translating a Greek word.  However, the additional nuance of the full definition adds meaning to the verse, therefore it was included.  And when constricting distress5“constricting distress ” The Greek word here focuses on the internal distress of an external situation.  It refers to a narrow place that makes someone feel confined, trapped, and without options.  This could indicate that Jesus was referring to the rocky seed falling away because they find the Christian life is too restricting/confining. or persecution happened because of the word, he immediately falls away.
  5. “Now, the seed which was sown among the thorns: this is the man hearing the word, and the anxiety of this age and the deception of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
  6. “Now, the seed which was sown on good soil: this is the man hearing the word and understanding it who truly bears fruit and produces.  Indeed, some produce a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.
The Wheat and False Wheat (tares)
  1. He set another parable before them, saying; “The kingdom of the heavens can be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.”
  2. “But when the men laid down to sleep, his enemy came and sowed false wheat6“False wheat” is one word in Greek.  It refers to the plant “Lolium temulentum”, commonly called darnel, cockle, tares, and false wheat.  Darnel looks almost identical to wheat until the ear appears at maturity (the ear is different from wheat).  Further, wheat is brown when ripe, whereas darnel is black.  The differences between wheat and darnel are subtle and hard to spot while growing, but obvious and easily spotted when the plants mature.  This made it a frustrating weed for much of human history. among the true wheat and departed.
  3. “And when the crop sprouted and made fruit, then the false wheat was also revealed.
  4. “So having come to the master of the house, the slaves said to him; “Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field?  So how does it have false wheat?”
  5. “And he was telling them; “A man an enemy did this.”  And the slaves say to him; “Then, do you want us to go out and gather them?”
  6. “And he says; “No, lest when gathering the false wheat you might uproot the true wheat with them.
  7. “Allow both to grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the harvesters; “First gather the false wheat and tie them into bundles to burn them, but gather the true wheat into my barn.”
The Mustard Seed, Leaven, and Reason for Parables
  1. He set another parable before them, saying; “The kingdom of the heavens is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field;
  2. “which is truly smaller than all the common7The word “common” is not in the Greek, but was added to provide cultural context. The mustard seed was the smallest seed of all the plants that the Jews cultivated. seeds.  But when it’s grown, it’s greater than the garden plants and becomes a tree.  Therefore, the birds of the air come and make nests on its branches.”
  3. He told them another parable; “The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until it was all mixed and began to rise.”8“was… …mixed and began to rise” is one word in Greek.  It means to mix some type of leaven (such as yeast, sourdough, etc.) into dough in order to make it rise.
  4. Jesus said all these things to the crowds in parables, and He was speaking nothing to them without a parable,
  5. so that it might be fulfilled; what was spoken through the prophet, saying; “I will open My mouth in parables.  I will declare things which have been hidden from the foundation of the world.”9quotation/allusion to Psalm 78:2
The Parable of the False Wheat (Tares) Explained
  1. Then having sent away the crowds, He went into the house. And His disciples approached Him saying; “Explain to us the parable of the false wheat in the field.”
  2. Then answering, He said: “The man sowing the good seed is the Son of Man;
  3. “and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the false wheat, these are the sons of the evil one,
  4. “and the enemy who sowed them is the Accuser;10“the Accuser” The Greek word used here is “διάβολος” (diabolos), and it’s the root of our English word “devil”. Much like “Christ” (see note on Matt 1:1) “devil” isn’t a name but a descriptive title.  Matthew uses the name “Satan” only 4 times in his gospel, far less than Mark and Luke, but even more than John (who only uses it once). and the harvest is the culmination of the age, and the harvesters are the angels.
  5. “So just as the false wheat is gathered and completely burned by fire, it will be just like this in the culmination of the age.
  6. “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather all the baits that ensnare11“baits that ensnare” is a single word in the Greek.  It specifically refers to a “bait stick”, meaning the trigger stick of a trap or snare to which the bait is attached.  Think of the part of a mouse trap to which you affix the cheese. On reaching for the bait, the “bait stick” triggers the trap and ensnares the unsuspecting victim. out of His kingdom and the men acting without regard for God’s commands,12“without regard for God’s commands ” is one word in Greek, and is more literally “without regard for God’s law”. It’s a noun, and literally means “those who are without law”; i.e. those who – either by ignorance or by rebellion – don’t obey God’s (moral) law.
  7. “and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
  8. Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun13quotation/allusion to Daniel 12:3 in the kingdom of their Father. The man having ears, let him hear.
The kingdom is like: treasure, pearl, dragnet
  1. “The kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure that has been hidden in a field, which having found it, a man hid again.  And for the joy of finding it, he departs and sells all that he has and buys that field.
  2. “Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a traveling merchant searching for magnificent pearls.
  3. “And having found one extremely valuable pearl, he left and *sold all that he had and bought it.
  4. “Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a dragnet14“dragnet” is literal.  It’s a slang term for a type of fishing net that’s properly called a “seine”.  A dragnet is a long net with weights at the bottom and floats at the top.  It’s dragged through the sea either by men walking or boats.  Notably, it catches everything between the surface and the bottom of the net, regardless of the type of fish the fishers want to catch. that was cast into the sea and gathered every kind of fish.
  5. “Which when it was filled, they pulled it up to the shore.  And having sat down, they collected the good fish into containers; but they threw out the rotten fish.
  6. “It will be like this in the culmination of the age.  The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the midst of the righteous,
  7. “and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”
  8. “Did you understand all these things?”  They tell Him; “Yes.”
  9. Then He told them; “Because of this, every scribe15“scribe” in the New Testament, this Greek word is typically applied to those learned in the Mosaic Law. discipled into the kingdom of the heavens is like a man – a master of a house – who brings out new and old things from the treasury of his heart.”16“the treasury of his heart” is one word in Greek.  It refers to a place where valuable things are stored, which can include thoughts or ideas stored in the heart or mind.
Jesus returns to Nazareth
  1. And it happened, when Jesus finished these parables, that He left that place.
  2. And having come into His hometown,17“hometown” is literally “fatherland”, as in the place his father lived/lives.  This was another way of saying the place He came from, i.e. His hometown. He was teaching them in their synagogue so that they are stunned in amazement and saying: “From where did this man get this wisdom and the power to perform miracles?
  3. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
  4. And indeed, aren’t all His sisters with us?  So then, where did He get all these things?
  5. And they were being offended at Him.  But Jesus told them; “A prophet isn’t without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”
  6. And He didn’t do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

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Matthew Chapter 14

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The Death of John the Baptist
  1. At that time, Herod the Tetrarch1“Tetrarch” is composed of two Greek words; the first means “four”, the second means “ruler”.  Properly, it means someone who rules over a fourth part of a region.  Essentially, this means a minor governor. heard the news of Jesus.
  2. And he told his servants; “This is John the Baptist.  He was raised from the dead and these miraculous powers are working in him because of this.”
  3. For having seized John, Herod bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.
  4. For John was saying to him; “It’s not lawful for you to have her.”
  5. Although wishing to kill him, Herod was frightened of the crowd because they were regarding him as a prophet.
  6. And having celebrated Herod’s birthday feast, the daughter of Herodias2“daughter of Herodias” History tells us that her name was Salome, who had become Herod’s stepdaughter at this point.  A common estimate for her birth year is 14 AD, meaning she was in her mid-teens when she danced before Herod. One common theory is that Salome danced sensually to entice, but that seems unlikely given these two facts. danced in their midst and pleased Herod.
  7. For this reason, he promised with a vow to give her whatever she asked.
  8. But having been urged by her mother, she says; “Give me John the Baptist’s head, here on a platter.”
  9. And the king – having been deeply grieved because of his vows and the men reclining3“recline” in the first century, you didn’t “sit” at a table in chairs.  Rather, you laid down with your feet sticking out in a reclining position. at the table with him – commanded John’s head to be given.
  10. And having sent orders, he had John beheaded in the prison.
  11. And his head was brought on a platter, and it was given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
  12. And having come forward, his disciples took the body and buried it.  And having gone to Jesus, they told Him.
Feeding the Five Thousand
  1. And having heard this, Jesus withdrew from there on His own by boat to a desolate place. And having heard this, the crowds followed Him on foot from the cities.
  2. And having gone out, He saw a great crowd and was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
  3. Now, it having become evening, the disciples approached Him saying; “This place is desolate, and the dinner hour has already passed. Therefore, dismiss the crowds so that after going into the towns, they might buy food for themselves.”
  4. But Jesus told them; “They have no need to leave. You give them something to eat.”
  5. And they tell Him; “We don’t have anything here except five loaves and two fish.”
  6. And He said; “Bring them here to Me.”
  7. And having commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish.  Having looked up to heaven, He spoke a blessing.  And having broken the loaves, He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
  8. And all ate and were satisfied.  And they picked up the pieces left over, twelve baskets full.
  9. Now, the men eating were about five thousand men, without counting women and children.
Jesus Walks On Water
  1. And He immediately compelled the disciples to step into the boat and to go before Him to the other side of the sea, until He sent away the crowds.
  2. And having sent away the crowds, He went up to the mountain on His own to pray. And it having become evening, He was there alone.
  3. Now, the boat was already many stadia4a “stadia” is ~606 English feet, or ~185 meters. from the land, and it was being buffeted by the waves for the wind was hostile.
  4. And in the fourth watch of the night,5“fourth watch of the night” Both the Jews and Romans divided the night into four “watches”, each approximately three hours long.  The fourth watch was between 3am and 6am. Depending on the specific time that this took place and the time of year, it could’ve pitch black or during the fairly light dawn hours. He went to them walking on the sea.6quotation/allusion to Job 9:8 and Job 38:16
  5. And having seen Him walking on the sea, the disciples were deeply shaken, saying; “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out from fear.
  6. And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying; “Have courage: I Am.7“I Am” the Greek construction here is identical to John 8:58, where Jesus proclaims His Deity, thus the translation “I Am” here.  This is a reference several Old Testament passages, primarily Exodus 3:14 where God appears to Moses and reveals Hisself as “I Am”.  Don’t fear.”
  7. And answering Him, Peter said; “Lord, if it’s you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
  8. And He said; “Come.”  And having come down out of the boat, Peter walked on the waters and came to Jesus.
  9. But seeing the violent wind, he was frightened.  And having begun to sink into the sea, he cried out saying; “Lord save me!”
  10. And having reached out His hand, Jesus immediately caught him and says to him; “O you of little faith; why did you doubt?”
  11. And as they entered into the boat, the wind ceased.
  12. And the men in the boat bowed down at His feet,8“bowed down at… …feet” is one word in Greek, often translated “worship”, which isn’t inaccurate (Jesus is God, and thus is worthy of our worship).  It comes from the Greek words: “pros” meaning “towards”, and “kyneo” meaning “to kiss”.  It literally refers to bowing down on your hands and knees and kissing the ground in front of a superior or authority figure.  Some Egyptian pictographs have the hand outstretched, as if to send the “kiss” toward the one being revered. saying; “Truly, you are God’s Son.”
Healing at Gennesaret
  1. And having crossed over the sea, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
  2. And having recognized Him, the men of that place sent messengers into that whole neighboring region, and they brought all the men being sickly to Him.
  3. And they were begging Him, so they might merely touch the fringe of His robe, and as many as touched it were completely cured.9Malachi 4:2 speaks of the “sun of righteousness” which has “healing in it’s wings”.  The Jews believed this prophecy referred to the Messiah. The Hebrew word translated “wings” literally means any extremity (wing, arm, leg, etc.), including the “extremity” – or fringe – of a garment. Thus they believed touching the fringe of the Messiah’s robe would bring healing.  This is almost certainly an indication that they believed Jesus was the Messiah, because they applied a Messianic prophecy to Him.

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Matthew Chapter 15

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Man’s Tradition vs God’s Commandments
  1. Then some scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem approach Jesus, saying;
  2. “Why do your disciples defy the tradition of the elders?  For, they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”
  3. But answering, He said to them; “And why do you defy the command of God because of your tradition?
  4. “For God commanded; ‘Honor your father and mother‘,1quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:12 and: ‘The man cursing2“cursing” the Greek word which means to curse literally means to speak evil of.  Likewise, the Greek word for bless literally means to speak well of.  Therefore, in this verse it could also be translated “speaks evil of”.  Either or both could be intended. his father or mother must end in death.’3quotation/allusion to Exodus 21:17
  5. “But you say; ‘Someone may tell his father or mother; ‘If you might be helped by something from me, it’s a gift to God instead.’4it’s a gift to God instead”.  In Greek, this phrase is only one word, “δῶρον” meaning “gift” or “sacrifice”.  Mark 7:11 uses the word “Corban”, which is specifically a gift consecrated/devoted to God.   The Pharisees believed that it was wrong to use something which was devoted/consecrated to God for “normal” use.   Therefore, the Pharisees said if a man devoted (gave) everything he owned to God, he couldn’t use it for another purpose (such as helping family).  However, there was no time requirement to deliver his goods, so he could keep them indefinitely while avoiding his obligations.  This loophole was apparently invented by the Pharisees to allow men to shirk the Biblical and moral obligation of taking care of their own parents.
  6. “He definitely won’t honor his father [or his mother], and thus you nullified God’s command because of your tradition.
  7. “You hypocrites!  Isaiah prophesied about you rightly, saying;
  8. This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me
  9. and they worship Me pointlessly, teaching the precepts of men as doctrines.”5quotation/allusion to Isaiah 29:13
What Defiles A Man
  1. And having summoned the crowd, He told them; “Listen and understand:
  2. It’s not something entering into the mouth that defiles a man, but something coming out of the mouth; this defiles the man.”
  3. Then having approached Him, the disciples say; “Do you *know that the Pharisees were offended after hearing this word?”
  4. And answering, He said; “Every plant that My heavenly Father didn’t plant will be pulled up by the roots.
  5. “Leave them alone.  They are blind guides of the blind; and if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
  6. And answering, Peter said to Him; “Explain this parable to us.”
  7. But He said; “Are you men also still without understanding,6“without understanding” is one word in Greek.  It specifically refers to those who are unable or unwilling to put facts together in a coherent manner.  Thus it also has the connotation of being foolish or stupid. even now?”
  8. “Don’t you recognize that everything entering into the mouth proceeds into the stomach and is expelled into a sewage pit.7“sewage pit” the Greek word here literally means “a place of sitting apart”, referring to a drain or latrine for human waste.
  9. “But the things coming out of the mouth come out of the heart, and these defile a man.
  10. “For from the heart come out wicked thoughts,8“thoughts” the Greek word here indicates back-and-forth reasoning, sometimes with yourself.  It also carries the connotation of leading to confusion or doubting. murders, men having sex with other men’s wives,9“men having sex with other men’s wives” is one word in Greek, usually translated “adulteries” in this verse.  However, the Greek (and Hebrew) words specifically mean a man (married or unmarried) having sex with another man’s wife.  The Hebrews divided sexual sins into two classes based on the marital status of the woman.  A man having sex with another man’s wife (or betrothed) was adultery.   A man having sex with an unmarried woman was fornication. Both are serious sins, but they are differentiated by the Greek and Hebrew words. fornications, thefts, perjuries, and blasphemies.
  11. “These are the things defiling a man.  But to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile a man.”
The Canaanite Woman’s Faith
  1. And having departed from there, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
  2. And behold; a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him.  She was crying out and saying; “Have mercy on me Lord, Son of David.10“Son of David” was a title of the promised messiah in Jewish eyes. This stems from 2 Samuel 7:12-13, in which God promised David would have a descendant who would sit on the throne forever. This could be construed as declaration of faith by the Canaanite woman.  My daughter is grievously demon possessed.”
  3. But He didn’t answer her a word.  And having approached Him, His disciples were urging Him saying; “Send her away because she cries out after us.”
  4. But answering her, He said; “I wasn’t sent to anyone except to the *lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
  5. But having come to Him, she was bowing down at His feet, saying; “Lord, help me.”
  6. But answering, He said; “It’s not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the pet dogs.”11pet dogs” The Greek word here is the diminutive form of the Greek word that means “dog”.  Hence, a small dog or a puppy.  The implication is of a household pet (which would probably be beloved), but it doesn’t have to be a pet.
  7. But she said; “Yes Lord, for even the pet dogs eat from the breadcrumbs falling from their masters’ table.”
  8. Then answering, Jesus said to her; “O woman, your faith is great!  Let it happen to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Feeding Four Thousand
  1. And having departed from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee.  And having gone up to the mountain, He was sitting there.
  2. And many crowds approached Him, having with themselves lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others.  And they dropped12“dropped” is literal.  The Greek word means to throw or set down carelessly (drop).  It’s used 7 times in the New Testament, 6 of which it’s typically translated “throw” or “cast”. them at His feet, and He healed them.
  3. So the crowd marveled at seeing the mute speaking, and the crippled made whole, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing.  And they glorified the God of Israel.
  4. And having summoned His disciples, Jesus said; “I’m moved with compassion for the crowd, because they already remain with Me three days and don’t have anything they could eat.  And I don’t wish to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
  5. And the disciples say to Him; “From where in this wilderness would we get so much bread as to satisfy so numerous a crowd?”
  6. And Jesus says to them; “How many loaves of bread do you have?”  And they said; “Seven, and a few small fish.”
  7. And having commanded the crowd to recline13“recline” is literal.  In the 1st century, they didn’t sit at a table.  Rather, they laid down with their feet sticking out. on the ground,
  8. He took the seven loaves and the fish.  And having given thanks, He broke them.  And He was giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
  9. And all ate and were satisfied.  And they picked up the leftover pieces, seven baskets full.
  10. Now, the men eating were four thousand men, without counting women and children.
  11. And having sent away the crowds, He stepped into the boat and came to the region of Magadan.

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Matthew Chapter 16

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Looking For A Sign
  1. And having approached Jesus intent on testing Him, the Pharisees and Sadducees asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.
  2. And answering, He told them; “It having become evening, you say: ‘It’ll be good weather, for the sky is red’.
  3. And in the morning you say: ‘today will be a storm, for the sky is red cloudy’.  Indeed, you know how to discern the sky’s appearance, but you aren’t able to discern the signs of the times.
  4. A wicked generation and an adulteress1“adulteress” the traditional interpretation here is “a wicked and adulterous generation”.  However, the word translated “adulteress” is a noun here, not an adjective. Additionally, a feminine singular pronoun – “she” in English – is used later in the verse.  In order to make the traditional interpretation fit, “she” must be changed to the neuter pronoun, “it”.  Jesus was calling that whole generation an “adulteress”, or a woman guilty of adultery.seeks a sign. And a sign won’t be given to her except the sign of Jonah.”  And having left them behind, He departed.
The Leaven of the Pharisees
  1. And having come to the other side of the sea, the disciples forgot to take bread.
  2. Then Jesus told them; “Look out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
  3. And they were reasoning among themselves, saying; “He said this because we didn’t bring bread.”
  4. But having known this, Jesus said; “Why are you reasoning among yourselves?  Because you don’t have bread?  O you men of little faith.
  5. “You don’t yet understand nor remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you picked up?
  6. “Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you picked up?
  7. “How do you not understand that I didn’t speak to you about bread?  Now, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
  8. Then they understood that He didn’t say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ teaching.
Jesus, the Rock on Which the Church is Built
  1. Then having come to the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus was questioning His disciples, saying; “Who do men declare the Son of Man to be?”
  2. And they said; “Indeed, some say John the Baptizer, but others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
  3. He says to them; “But who do you declare Me to be?”
  4. And answering, Simon Peter said; “You are the Anointed; The Son of the living God.”
  5. And answering, Jesus told him; “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood didn’t reveal this to you, but My Father in the heavens.
  6. And I also tell you that you are Peter.  And on that2“that”, the Greek demonstrative pronoun is traditionally translated “this” here.  While some say that the church was build on the ‘rock’ of Peter (since his name means rock), that’s impossible because in Greek, the word here is grammatically feminine, while Peter is grammatically masculine.  In order for the demonstrative pronoun to refer to Peter, it would need to match grammatical gender with the word Peter by being masculine, which it isn’t. rock I will build My church, and the gates of the underworld3“underworld” the Greek word here is “ᾍδης” (Hades).  Hades was the name of the Greek god of the underworld, and the word became synonymous with the underworld itself.  In Greek mythology, the underworld (Hades) was the place that all departed spirits went, whether good or bad.  It is directly equivalent to the Hebrew world “sheol”. won’t overpower her.
  7. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens.  And whatever you bind on earth will have been bound4“will have been bound” is two words in Greek.  The first is the Greek word for “to exist” in the future tense, so “will be”.  The second is the Greek work for “bind”.  Here it’s in the Greek Perfect tense here, which indicates an action that was completed in the past that results in a state that’s ongoing until the present. in the heavens.  And whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed5“will have been loosed” Is two words in Greek.  The first is the Greek word for “to exist” in the future tense, so “will be”.  The second is the Greek work for “loosen”, which is in the Greek Perfect tense here. The perfect tense is (sort of) a combination of our past and present tenses.  It indicates an action that was completed in the past that results in a state that’s ongoing until the present. in the heavens.
  8. Then He clearly ordered the disciples, so they would tell no one that He is the Anointed.
  9. From that time on, Jesus the Anointed began to show His disciples that it’s essential for Him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer many things from the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised up on the third day.
  10. And having taken Him aside, Peter began to scold Him, saying; “God forbid6“God forbid” is one word in Greek.  The primary meaning is “merciful” or to “have mercy”, and it’s only used one other place: Hebrews 8:12 where it’s typically translated “merciful”.  A more colloquial meaning was “God have mercy”, in the sense of forbidding something because God was merciful. you Lord; this definitely won’t happen to you.”
  11. But having turned around, He said to Peter; “Get behind Me Satan!  You’re an offense to Me because you aren’t thinking the things of God, but the things of men.”
The Cost of Discipleship
  1. Then Jesus told His disciples; “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, and pick up his cross, and follow Me.
  2. “For whoever wants to save his life7“life” the Greek word here is “ψυχή” (psuché).  It literally means “breath” and is usually translated “life”, though sometimes it’s translated “soul”.  It refers to the life; the vital force which – together with the body – enables a person to live.  It can also refer to mind, will, emotions, and desires, which together make up a person’s identity.  This latter sense adds an interesting nuance of meaning to this verse. will lose it.  But whoever loses his life8“life” see previous note for My sake will find it.
  3. “For how will a man be benefited if he gains the whole world but loses his life?9“life” the Greek word here is “ψυχή” (psuché).  It’s typically translated “soul” in this verse, but “life” in the previous verse.  That destroys the parallelism and distorts this verse, making it sound like this verse is about the afterlife.  However, psuché does not mean the part of us which survives death and goes to reward or punishment. (Biblically that’s our spirit.  In Revelation 8:9, animals are said to have “psuché”.)  Psuché literally means “breath” and is usually translated “life”.  It refers to the life; the vital force which – together with the body – enables a person to live.  It can also refer to mind, will, emotions, and desires, which together make up a person’s identity, or soul in that sense.  Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?10“life” see previous note
  4. “For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels.  And then ‘He will pay back each according to his deeds’.11quotation/allusion to Psalms 62:12 and Proverbs 24:12
  5. “Amen I tell you: some who are *standing here definitely won’t taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

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Matthew Chapter 17

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The Transfiguration
  1. And after six days, Jesus takes Peter, and James, and John his brother with Him and He leads them up to a high mountain on their own.
  2. And He was transfigured in front of them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light.
  3. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, discussing with Him.
  4. Then answering, Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, I’ll make three tabernacles1A tabernacle is a moveable structure like a tent. However, they are typically much more rigid, expensive, and much nicer.  In the Old Testament, God didn’t have a temple until Solomon’s day.  Before that, He “dwelled” in a tabernacle built to exacting standards. here: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
  5. While he’s still speaking, behold, a shining cloud overshadowed them.  And behold, a voice came from the cloud saying: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”
  6. And having heard this, the disciples fell on their face and were extremely terrified.
  7. And Jesus approached, and having touched them He said: “Stand up and don’t fear.”
  8. And having lifted their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.
  9. And while coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying: “Tell no one of the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”
  10. And the disciples questioned Him, saying: “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
  11. And answering, He said: “Indeed, Elijah comes first and will restore all things.
  12. “But I tell you that Elijah already came.  And they didn’t recognize him, but did whatever they wished to him.  In the same way also, the Son of Man is about to suffer under them.”
  13. Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptizer.
Healing a Demon Possessed Boy
  1. And having come to the crowd, a man approached Him, falling on his knees before Him
  2. and saying: “Lord, have mercy on my son because he is epileptic and suffers terribly.  For he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.
  3. “And I brought him to your disciples, and they couldn’t heal him.”
  4. Then answering, Jesus said: “O, you unbelieving and *perverted generation.  How long will I be with you?  How long will I put up with you?  Bring him here to Me.”
  5. And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon went out from him, and the boy was healed from that very hour.
  6. Then having approached Jesus in private, the disciples said: “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”
  7. And He tells them: “Because of your weak faith. For amen I tell you: if you had faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain: “Move from here to there” and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.
  8. [“But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.]2This textual variant is essentially identical to Mark 9:29 – so it changes nothing doctrinally – but the authenticity of this verse to Matthew’s gospel is disputed.  There are strong arguments on both sides, but the argument doesn’t center on theology.  It is merely about if this verse was copied over from Mark’s gospel by scribes, or original to Matthew.
  9. And while being assembled in Galilee, Jesus told them: “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.
  10. “And they will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”  And they were deeply grieved.
The Temple Tax
  1. And when they came to Capernaum, the men collecting the two-drachma3A “drachma” is an ancient Greek silver coin that weighed 4.3 grams, or 0.15 ounces. tax approached Peter and said: “Doesn’t your teacher pay the two-drachma tax?”
  2. He says: “Yes.”  And having gone into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying: “What do you think Simon?  From whom do the kings of the earth take taxes or tribute?  From their sons or from strangers?”
  3. And Peter said: “From the strangers.” Jesus was saying to him: “Then the sons are free.”
  4. “But, so that we don’t offend them, having gone to the sea, cast a fishhook and pick up the fish that comes up first.  And having opened its mouth, you’ll find a statér4“statér”, an Greek coin worth four drachma. worth four drachma.  Having taken that coin, give it to them for Me and you. “

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Matthew Chapter 18

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The Greatest in the Kingdom
  1. In that hour, the disciples approached Jesus saying: “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens?”
  2. And having summoned a young child, He stood the child in their midst,
  3. and He said: “Amen I tell you: If you aren’t changed and become like the little children, you definitely won’t enter the kingdom of the heavens.
  4. “Therefore, whoever will humble himself like this young child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens.
  5. “And whoever welcomes one such young child in My name, he welcomes Me.
  6. “But whoever lays bait to ensnare1“lays bait to ensnare” is a single word in the Greek. It specifically refers to a “bait stick”, meaning the trigger stick of a trap or snare to which the bait is attached. Think of the part of a mouse trap to which you affix the cheese. On reaching for the bait, the “bait stick” triggers the trap and ensnares the unsuspecting victim.  It can also refer to offending someone or someone stumbling, and is often used those ways. one of these little ones believing in Me, it’s better for him that a heavy millstone should be hung around his neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea.
  7. “Woe to the world for the baits that ensnare.2“baits that ensnare” the noun form of the verb used in verse 6, see note on verse 6 For it’s necessary for the baits that ensnare to come, yet woe to the man through whom this bait that ensnares comes.
  8. “And if your hand or your foot ensnares3“ensnares” see footnote on “bait that ensnares” in verse 6, since this is the same Greek word. you, cut it off and throw it from you.  It’s better for you to enter into the life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the fire of ages.4“fire of ages” is literal, though it’s traditionally translated “eternal fire” here.  However, that’s less literal and “fire of ages” captures the severity of the fire, which the traditional interpretation doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) here is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 when the disciples asked about the “culmination of the age“.
  9. “And if your eye ensnares you, pluck it out and throw it from you. It’s better for you to enter into the life one-eyed, than having two eyes and to be thrown into the fire of the Valley of Hinnom.5Most translations render this “hell” but any lexicon will tell you it’s a proper noun referring to a specific valley – the Valley of Hinnom – just outside Jerusalem. Symbolically, it’s where the Jews believed the wicked were punished in the afterlife.  However, it also has historical significance which is lost when it’s merely translated “hell”.  Two kings of Israel sacrificed babies as burnt offerings to the pagan gods Baal and Moloch in the Valley of Hinnom. (2 Chronicles 28:1-3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 7:30-31) As a result, God sentenced them to judgement through the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 19:1-11) Their sentence was carried out about 20 years later when Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem. He burned almost everything and enslaved all Judah. (2 kings 25:1-12) It was the worst judgement Israel had yet seen. This happened again a few decades after Christ when Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.
  10. “See that you don’t scorn one of these little ones. For I tell you: their angels in the heavens continually see the face of My Father in the heavens.
  11. [“For the Son of Man came to save the *lost.]6It’s unclear whether this verse was originally part of Matthew or added later, and there are good arguments on both sides of the debate.  It’s nearly identical to Luke 19:10, so it changes nothing doctrinally.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
  1. “What do you think?  If any man happens to have one hundred sheep and one of them was led astray, won’t he surely7“won’t… …surely”  The Greek here is a stronger word for “no” than is typically used and always carries an emphatic sense. leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and having departed from there, seek the one led astray?
  2. “And if he happens to find it, amen I tell you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which haven’t been led astray.
  3. “Thus, it’s not the will of your Father in the heavens that one of these little ones should perish.
Church Discipline
  1. “Now, if your brother sins [against you],8There is a great debate on whether the words “against you” were original to Matthew. Several of the earliest manuscripts don’t contain “against you”, but the vast majority of later manuscripts do. The context of verse 21 (with Peter asking how many times to forgive someone who sins “against me”) would support the longer reading.  However, the context of the previous verse is about sheep who are “led astray” and those who hurt “little children”, which wouldn’t include offenses “against you”.  There is also Galatians 6:1, which – though a different book – would seem to support the shorter reading.  On the other hand, the sheer volume of manuscripts that support the longer reading can’t be ignored.  The debate is ongoing. go rebuke him with evidence of his fault9“rebuke him with evidence of his fault” is one word in Greek.  It means to correct or expose something (typically bad/wrong), which includes the idea of supporting evidence for the correction or exposition. between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you won over your brother.
  2. “But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you so that “By the mouth of two or three witnesses, every spoken word might be confirmed.”10quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 19:15
  3. “But if he disregards them, tell the church assembly.  But if he also disregards the church assembly, let him be exactly like a pagan and a tax collector to you.
  4. “Amen I tell you all: Whatever you bind11“Binding and Loosing” were recognized legal terms in the Jewish faith.  Binding and loosing meant to “forbid” or to “permit” a practice in the faith.  Josephus says that that the Pharisees “became the administrators of all public affairs so as to be empowered to banish and readmit whom they pleased, as well as to loose and to bind.”  Jesus gave the church assembly to the authority to do what previously only the Pharisees – the religious elite – had been permitted to do.  Given the context here, it likely means to bind (forbid) or to loose (permit) associating with someone who has fallen into sin.  However, it could also refer to forbidding or permitting religious practices, though that idea isn’t contained in the immediate context. on earth will have been bound12“will have been bound” is two words in Greek.  The first is the Greek word for “to exist” in the future tense, so “will be”.  The second is the Greek work for “bind”.  Here it’s in the Greek Perfect tense here, which indicates an action that was completed in the past that results in a state that’s ongoing until the present. in heaven. And whatever you loose13“loose”, see note on “bind” earlier in this verse on earth will have been loosed14“will have been loosed is two words in Greek.  The first is the Greek word for “to exist” in the future tense, so “will be”.  The second is the Greek work for “loose”.  Here it’s in the Greek Perfect tense here, which indicates an action that was completed in the past that results in a state that’s ongoing until the present. in heaven.
  5. “Again, amen I tell you all: If two of you on earth agree about any matter – if they ask for that – it will become so for them through My Father in the heavens.
  6. “For where two or three are *gathered together in My name, I’m there in their midst.”
Forgiveness and the Unforgiving Slave
  1. Then having approached Jesus, Peter said to Him: “Lord, how often shall I forgive my brother when he will sin against me? Up to seven times?”
  2. Jesus tells him: “I don’t tell you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
  3. “Because of this, the kingdom of the heavens can be compared to a man – a king – who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
  4. “And having begun to settle his accounts, one debtor who owed ten thousand talents15A “talent” is not a coin but a measure of weight.  It was about 75lbs, or 3000 silver shekels in weight. A talent of silver was worth about 6,000 denarii, which was the going rate for a day’s worth of unskilled labor.  However, the Greek word translated “ten thousand” here can also mean “countless” in a figurative sense, so the exact number might not be important. was brought to him.
  5. “But with him having nothing to repay the debt, the master ordered him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he has, and the debt to be repaid.
  6. “So having fallen down, the slave was bowing at his feet,16“was bowing at… …feet” is one word in Greek, often translated “worship”. It comes from the Greek words: “pros” (meaning “towards”) and “kyneo” (meaning “to kiss”). It literally refers to bowing down on your hands and knees and kissing the ground in front of a superior or authority figure. Some Egyptian pictographs have the hand outstretched, as if to send the “kiss” toward the one being revered. saying: “Be patient with me and I will repay all of it to you.”
  7. “And having been moved with compassion, that slave’s master released him and forgave him the debt.
  8. “But having departed, that slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii.17“denarii” is the plural of “denarius”, an ancient silver coin.  It was the going wage for a day’s worth of manual labor. And having seized him, he was choking him, saying: “Pay back what you owe!”
  9. “Then having fallen down, his fellow slave was begging him, saying: “Be patient with me and I will pay you back.”
  10. “Yet he wasn’t willing.  But having departed, he threw him into prison until he paid back what’s owed.
  11. “So having seen the things which happened, his fellow slaves were extremely grieved.  And having gone to their master, they explained all that happened.
  12. “Then having summoned him, his master says to him: “You wicked slave! I forgave all that debt for you because you begged me.
  13. “Weren’t you also required to have mercy on your fellow slave, just like I also had mercy on you?
  14. “And having been provoked to anger, his master handed him over to the prison torturers18“prison torturers” is one word in Greek.  It refers to a prison guard whose job it was to extract information from prisoners through torture. until that man paid back all that’s owed [to him].
  15. “And My heavenly Father will do likewise to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from your heart.”

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Matthew Chapter 19

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  1. And it happened, when Jesus finished these words, He departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
  2. And many crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.
Marriage and Separation
  1. And some Pharisees approached Him, testing Him and saying: “Is it lawful for a man to send away1“send away” is literal here, though it’s typically translated divorce in this passage. The same word is used of Jesus “sending away” crowds and Pilate “sending away” (releasing) Barabbas. Paul uses a different Greek word when talking about divorce in 1 Corinthians. The Hebrew divorce procedure is found in Deut 24:1 and had three parts: 1) write a divorce certificate. 2) Give it to your wife. 3) Send her away from your house. However, if a man “sent her away” (kicked her out of his house) without a divorce certificate, in that culture she was destitute. She was still legally married because she didn’t have a divorce certificate, so she couldn’t marry anyone else without being an adulteress. Often, her only resort to feed herself was prostitution.  There was a debate as to whether this was lawful according to the Mosaic Law. This was one of the two great debates centering on divorce. (See following note for the other debate) The Pharisees cleverly asked about both in a single question here.  Jesus’ response makes it clear that spouses should live together as long as they are married. his wife for every2“every reason” is literal.  During Jesus day, there was a great debate between the rabbinic schools of Shammai and Hillel on what was an acceptable reason for a divorce (or merely “sending away”; see previous note).  The Hebrew divorce procedure is found in Deut 24:1 and includes this preamble: “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and she doesn’t find favor in his eyes because he finds some indecency in her…“.  The school of Shammai took the “indecency” part to mean there must be some kind of sexual indiscretion/exposure before a man could divorce her.  While Hillel’s school focused on the “not finding favor” part.  They said anything he didn’t like – even burning his dinner – could be grounds for divorce.  Essentially, Hillel’s school said a man could divorce his wife for “every reason”.  This was one of the two great debates centering on divorce. (See previous note for the other debate) The Pharisees cleverly asked about both in a single question here. reason?”3“reason” The Greek word here is often used in the judicial sense of an accusation of a crime.
  2. And answering, He said: “Didn’t you read that from the beginning, the One who created them made them male and female?4Quotation/allusion to Genesis 1:26-27
  3. “And He said: For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will be5 Most translations use the word “become” here, but the Greek word for “become” isn’t in this passage despite Matthew using it with great latitude elsewhere.  In this verse, it’s simply the Greek word that means is/are/am/be/being/etc. in one flesh,6Quotation allusion to Genesis 2:24.  Jesus appears to be talking solely about a physical union here (not a spiritual one). Paul makes this clearer in 1 Corinthians 6:16, where the Genesis 2:24 is also applied to sex with prostitutes.
  4. “so they’re no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore, what God yoked together,7“yoked together” is literal.  A “yoke” is a contoured wooden beam used to join two beast of burden (cows, oxen, etc.) together so they can pull a heavy load together. man must not separate.8“separate” the Greek word here literally means to depart, vacate, or “create space”; or to “place room between” (Strong’s).  See note on “send away” in verse 3. Paul uses this word in 1 Corinthians 7 in the section on divorce, but it’s not translated divorce there.  There, it’s typically translated “leave” instead.
  5. They say to Him: “So why did Moses command to give her a scroll of divorce and to send her away?”9quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 24:1, which lists the three things a man must do to divorce his wife. The final two parts of the divorce procedure were to give the wife a scroll of divorce and send her away from his house.  See note on verse 3.
  6. He tells them: “Moses allowed you to send away10see note on “send away” in verse 3. your wives because of your hardness of heart, but from the beginning it hasn’t happened this way.
  7. “But I tell you that whoever sends away11see note on “send away” in verse 3. his wife not on account of sexual immorality, and married another woman of the same kind12“another woman of the same kind” is one word in Greek, with that exact definition.  The “of the same kind” part likely refers to a woman who is merely “sent away” and not properly divorced. See note on “send away” in verse 3. is guilty of sex with another man’s wife.13“is guilty of sex with another man’s wife” is one word in the Greek, typically translated “commits adultery”. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was still a serious sin, but the not the specific sin of adultery. [And the man who married her who has been merely sent away is guilty of sex with another man’s wife.]14This textual variant is essentially identical to Mathew 5:32.  There is debate over whether it was copied over from that verse, or Matthew wrote it in both places.
  8. His disciples say to Him: “If the accusation against15“accusation against“, the Greek word here is usually used in the judicial sense of an accusation of a crime. a man with wife is like this, it’s better not to marry.”
  9. And He told them: “Not all receive this word, but only those to whom it has been given.
  10. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb.  And there are eunuchs who were made into eunuchs by men.  And there are eunuchs16“eunuchs”, the Greek word for eunuch literally means “alone in bed”, and can refer either to a man who is castrated, or to one who voluntarily abstains from marriage and sex. who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. The man able to receive this, let him receive it.
Let the Children Come
  1. Then some young children were brought to Him so He might lay hands on them and pray, but the disciples scolded them.
  2. But Jesus said: “Allow the young children, and don’t forbid them to come to Me.  For the kingdom of the heavens is of such a kind.
  3. And having laid hands on them, He departed from there.
The Rich Young Man
  1. And behold; having approached Him, one man said: “Teacher, what good should I do so that I might have the life of ages?17“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?”
  2. And He said to him: “Why are you asking Me about good?  Only one is good.  But if you wish to enter into the life, keep the commandments.”
  3. He says to Him: “What sort of commandments?”  And Jesus said: “You shall not murder, you shall not have sex with another man’s wife,18“have sex with another man’s wife” is one word in the Greek, typically translated “commit adultery”. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was typically called fornication or sexual immorality. you shall not steal, you shall not commit perjury.19quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:13-16
  4. honor your father and mother,20quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:12 and you shall ^love your neighbor as yourself.”21quotation/allusion to Leviticus 19:18
  5. The young man says to Him: “I vigilantly observed all of these; what do I still lack?”
  6. Jesus was declaring to him: “If you desire to be perfect, go, sell the things you’re possessing, and give the money to the poor, and you will have stored-up treasure in the heavens, and come follow Me.
  7. But having heard this word, the young man departed grieving, for he was a man having many properties.22“properties” the Greek word here can refer to possessions, but more properly refers to land or real estate with buildings.
  8. And Jesus told His disciples: “Amen I tell you: A rich man will enter into the kingdom of the heavens with difficulty.
  9. “And again I tell you: It’s easier for a camel23“camel”.  The Greek word for camel is almost identical to the Greek word for a rope. (“καμιλου vs. καμήλου”) Some contest that Jesus said “rope”.  However, there’s very little manuscript evidence for this and all of them are 9th century or later.  Others contest that Jesus was referring to a small gate – called a “eye of the needle” gate – in Jerusalem that was only large enough for an unladen camel to pass through.  The story goes, these smaller gates allowed entrance after dark when the main gates closed, but it was difficult because you had to unpack the camel before it could fit through the tiny “needle gate”.  However, there is no historical evidence for this and the story only dates to the 9th century at the earliest. to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
  10. And having heard this, the disciples were incredibly stunned, saying: “Then who’s able to be saved?”
  11. And having scrutinized them, Jesus said to them: “This is impossible with men: but all things are possible with God.”
  12. Then answering, Peter said to Him: “Look, we left everything24“everything” is literally “all things and followed you.  Therefore, what will our reward be?”
  13. And Jesus said to them: “Amen I tell you: in the renewal when the Son of Man sits down on His glorious throne, you men who followed Me, you will also sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
  14. “And every man who left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, [or wife,] or children, or lands, for My name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit the life of ages.”25“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?”  Virtually all lexicons define αἰών (the noun form) as “age”, but some want to change the adjective form’s meaning to “eternal” instead of “age-long” or “of ages”.  This despite “of ages” conveying a similar – and more literally accurate – meaning.
  15. “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

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Matthew Chapter 20

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Parable of the Worker’s Pay
  1. “For the kingdom of the heavens is like a man – a master of a house – who at dawn immediately went out to hire workmen for his vineyard.
  2. “And having agreed with the workmen to pay a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.
  3. “And having gone out about the third hour,1“The third hour”, the Jews counted hours from dawn, which was typically around 6:00 in the morning. Therefore, “the third hour” is about 9:00am. he saw other workmen *standing idle in the marketplace.
  4. “And he told those men: “You also go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever is right.”
  5. “And they went.  And having gone out again about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did the same thing again.
  6. “And having gone out at about the eleventh hour, he found other workmen *standing idle.  And he says to them: “Why have you stood here idle all day?
  7. “They tell him: “Because no one hired us.” He tells them: “You also go into the vineyard. [And you will receive whatever is right.]
  8. “And when it became evening, the master of the vineyard says to his foreman: “Call the workmen and pay them their wage, beginning from the last, up to the first.
  9. “And having come forward, the men hired about the eleventh hour received a denarius each.
  10. “And having come forward, the men hired first assumed that they would receive more, but they also received a denarius each.
  11. “And having received it, they were grumbling against the master of the house,
  12. “saying: “These last men only worked one hour, and you made them equal to us: the men who bore the whole day’s burden and the scorching heat.”
  13. “But answering one of them, he said: “Friend,2“Friend” this Greek word is only used three times on the Bible.  All of them are in Matthew, and all are in the sense of a false friend.  One lexicon says it refers to someone posing as a friend, but who really has their own interests in mind. I don’t wrong or hurt3“wrong or hurt” is one word in Greek, and can mean either or both depending on the context you.  Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius?”
  14. “Take what’s yours and go.  But I wish to give this last man the same as you.
  15. “Or, isn’t it lawful for me to do what I desire with what’s mine?  Or, is your eye evil with greed4“eye evil with greed” the phrase “evil eye” is an idiom which means “to be stingy” or “to be greedy”.  See also, Matthew 6:23. because I’m generous?”
  16. “In this way, the last will be first, and the first last. [for many are called, but few are chosen.]
Jesus Predicts His Death again
  1. And going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside privately and He told them on the way: “Behold,
  2. “we go up to Jerusalem.  And the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death.
  3. And they will hand Him over to the gentiles to mock, and to flog, and to crucify; and on the third day He will be raised again.
The Greatest in the Kingdom
  1. Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Him with her sons, bowing down at His feet5“bowing down at his feet” is one word in Greek, often translated “worship”. It comes from the Greek words: “pros” (meaning “towards”) and “kyneo” (meaning “to kiss”). It literally refers to bowing down on your hands and knees and kissing the ground in front of a superior or authority figure. Some Egyptian pictographs have the hand outstretched, as if to send the “kiss” toward the one being revered. and asking something from Him.
  2. And He said to her: “What do you desire?”  She says to Him: “Say that in your kingdom, these two sons of mine might sit down with one at your right hand, and one at your left hand.”
  3. But answering, Jesus said to them: “You don’t *know what you ask.  Are you able to drink the cup that I’m about to drink?  [Or to be baptized in the baptism that I’m baptized?]  They tell Him: “We are able.”
  4. He tells them: “Indeed, you will drink My cup [and you will be baptized in the baptism that I’m baptized.] But to sit on My right hand and on My left hand: this isn’t Mine to give.  But that’s for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
  5. And having heard this, the ten were indignant about the two brothers.
  6. And having summoned them, Jesus said: “You *know that the rulers of the gentiles exercise authority over them, and their great men dominate them.
  7. “It shall not be this way among you, but whoever desires to become great among you, he will be your servant.
  8. “And whoever desires to be first among you, he will be your slave,
  9. “just as the Son of Man didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a purchase price6“purchase price” this Greek word often referred to the price required to buy a slave’s freedom. for many.”
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
  1. And while departing from Jericho, a great crowd followed Him.
  2. And having heard that Jesus is passing by, behold: two blind men sitting along the road cried out saying: “Lord, have mercy on us Son of David.”7“Son of David” was a title of the promised messiah in Jewish eyes. This stems from 2 Samuel 7:12-13, in which God promised David would have a descendant who would sit on the throne forever. This could be construed as an act of faith by the blind men.
  3. But the crowd scolded them so they might be silent, but they cried out louder, saying: “Lord, have mercy on us Son of David.”
  4. And having stopped, Jesus called them and said: “What do you want Me to do for you?”
  5. They say to Him: “Lord, we ask that our eyes might be opened.”
  6. and having been moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes and at once they recovered their sight, and they followed Him.

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Matthew Chapter 21

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The Triumphal Entry
  1. And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent out two disciples,
  2. saying to them: “Go into the village before you, and at once you’ll find a donkey which has been tied, and a colt with her.  Having untied them, bring them to Me.
  3. “And if someone says anything to you, you will say that: ‘The Lord has need of them.’ and he will send them immediately.”
  4. And this has happened so what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying:
  5. Tell the daughter of Zion: Behold! Your King comes to you,1Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 62:11. strong but gentle2“strong but gentle” this Greek word is often translated “meek” or “gentle”.  However, it doesn’t mean the absence of power as “meek” would suggest. Instead, it specifically refers to strength or power that is gently exercised without undue harshness.  i.e. some who is strong, but applies his strength gently. and *mounted on a donkey, even on a colt; the foal of a beast of burden.”3Quotation/allusion to Zechariah 9:9
  6. Then having gone and done as Jesus instructed them, the disciples
  7. brought the donkey and the colt, and they put their cloaks on them, and He sat on them.
  8. And the largest crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and were spreading them on the road.
  9. And the crowds preceding Him and the crowds following Him were crying out, saying: “Hosanna4“Hosanna” A Hebrew word which means “save now”, or “please save now”. It was originally a cry for help, but apparently indicates exultation or joy. The “na” suffix indicates intense emotion, hence the emphatic sense here. to the Son of David!5“Son of David” was a title of the promised messiah in Jewish eyes. This stems from 2 Samuel 7:12-13, in which God promised David would have a descendant who would sit on the throne forever. This could be construed as an act of faith by ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­the crowds. *Blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord!6Quotation/allusion to Psalm 118:26 Hosanna in the highest!”
  10. And having entered into Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying: “Who is this?”
  11. And the crowds were saying: “This is the prophet, Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Cleansing the Temple
  1. And Jesus entered into the temple and threw out all the men buying and selling in the temple, and He overturned the money-changers’ tables, and the chairs of the men selling the doves.
  2. And He tells them: “It is *written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer‘,7Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 56:7 but you are making it a den of robbers.”8Quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 7:11
  3. And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
  4. But having seen the wondrous deeds that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David!”, the chief priests and scribes were incensed.
  5. And they said to Him: “Do you hear what these children say?”  And Jesus tells them, “Absolutely.  Did you never read: “From the mouth of infants and nursing babes, you prepared praise for yourself.”9quotation/allusion to Psalm 8:2?”
  6. And having left them behind, He went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.
The Fig Tree Withers
  1. And while returning to the city early in the morning, He was hungry.
  2. And having seen one fig tree on the road, He went to it and found nothing on it except leaves alone.  And He says to it: “Fruit won’t come from you any longer, not through the age.”  And the fig tree instantly withered.
  3. And having seen this, the disciples marveled, saying: “How did the fig tree wither instantly?”
  4. And answering, Jesus said to them: “Amen I tell you: If you have faith and don’t doubt, you’ll not only do the miracle of the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain: ‘be lifted up and thrown into the sea’, it will happen.
  5. “And all things – as many as you ask in prayer while believing – you will receive.
Jesus’ Authority Challenged
  1. And after He went into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached Him while He’s teaching, saying: “By what authority are you doing these things?  And who gave you this authority?”
  2. But answering, Jesus told them: “I’ll also ask you one question, which – if you answer Me – I’ll also tell you by what authority I do these things.
  3. “From where was the baptism of John: from heaven, or from men?”  And they were reasoning among themselves, saying: “If we say ‘from heaven’, He will say to us: “Then why didn’t you believe him?”.
  4. But if we say ‘from men’ we fear the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.
  5. And answering Jesus, they said: “We don’t *know.”  And He was also telling them: “Then neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.
A Parable of Two Sons
  1. “But what do you think?  A man had two children.  And having approached the first, he said: “Child, go work in the vineyard today”.
  2. “And answering, he said: “Sir, I’m not willing.”  But having regretted it later, he went.
  3. “And having approached the second, he said the same thing.  And answering, he said: “I will sir.” and he didn’t go.
  4. “Which of the two did the will of the father?”  They say: “The first.”  Jesus says to them: “Amen I tell you: the tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God before you.
  5. “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him.  And having seen this, you didn’t even regret it afterwards to believe him.
The Wicked Vinegrowers
  1. “Hear another parable: There was a man, a master of a house, who planted a vineyard.  And He placed a fence around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a fortified tower,10Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 5:1-2 and hired it out to vinegrowers, and traveled to a foreign country.
  2. “And when the season of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the vinegrowers to receive his fruit.
  3. “And the vinegrowers took his slaves: and indeed they beat one, and killed another, and another they stoned.
  4. “Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first time, and they did the same to them.
  5. “But afterwards, he sent his son to them, saying: “They will be turned in shame and revere11“will be turned in shame and revere” is one word in Greek.  It means “to turn about”, often in shame or away from shame and to revere something else. my son”.
  6. “But having seen the son, the vinegrowers said among themselves: “This is the heir.  Come: we should kill him and gain his inheritance.
  7. “And having seized him, they threw him outside the vineyard and killed him.
  8. “Therefore, when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to these vinegrowers?”
  9. They tell Him: “He will horribly destroy those horrible men.12“He will horribly destroy those horrible men” is literally “He will wickedly destroy those wicked men”, but not in the sense of the destruction being wicked.  Rather, the sense is “let the punishment fit the crime”. i.e. let “the wicked meet a wicked end”.  Therefore, “horribly/horrible” was chosen to avoid this confusion, and to avoid making the reader think the lord’s actions were wicked.  And he will hire out the vineyard to other vinegrowers, who will give him the fruit in their seasons.
  10. Jesus says to them: “Did you never read in the scriptures? The stone which the men building rejected; this became the head corner stone.  This happened from the Lord, and it’s marvelous in our eyes.13Quotation/allusion to Psalm 118:22-23
  11. “Because of this, I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a people14“people” is literal.  It’s the Greek word ” ἔθνος” (ethnos), which is typically translated “Gentiles” or “nations”. producing its fruit.
  12. “And the man who falls on this stone will be shattered, but whomever it falls on, it will crush him to pieces and scatter him like chaff.”15“will crush… …to pieces and scatter him like chaff” is one word In Greek.  It refers to the process of winnowing, where the whole grain is slightly crushed to break the (useless) chaff from the (useful) grain. Then, the mixture is thrown into the air so the wind carries the chaff away, while the heavier (useful) grain falls back to the earth.  See note on Matthew 3:12 for more information on winnowing,
  13. And having heard His parables, the chief priests and Pharisees knew that He speaks about them.
  14. And they’re seeking to seize Him, but they were frightened of the crowds because they were regarding Him as a prophet.

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Matthew Chapter 22

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The Parable of the Wedding Feast
  1. And answering, Jesus again spoke to them in parables, saying:
  2. “The kingdom of the heavens can be compared to a man – a king – who prepared a wedding feast for his son.
  3. “And he sent his slaves to call the men who have been invited to the wedding feast, and they weren’t willing to come.
  4. “Again, he sent other slaves, saying: “Tell the men who have been invited: “behold, I have prepared my dinner.  My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered and everything is1“everything is” is literally “all things are ready.  Come to the wedding feast.”
  5. “But having not cared, they departed: one to his own farm, and another to his business.
  6. “And having seized his slaves, the rest spitefully injured and killed them.
  7. “And the king was enraged.  And having sent his armies, he destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
  8. “Then he says to his slaves: “The wedding feast is indeed ready, but the men who have been invited weren’t worthy.
  9. “Therefore, travel on the highways and roads, and invite as many as you find to the wedding feast.
  10. “And having gone out to the roads, those slaves gathered all whom they found – both evil and good – and the wedding feast was filled with the men reclining at the table.
  11. “And having entered to observe the men reclining at the table, the king saw a man there not *dressed in wedding clothes.
  12. “And he says to him: “Friend,2“Friend” this Greek word is only used three times on the Bible.  All of them are in Matthew, and all are in the sense of a false friend.  One lexicon says it refers to someone posing as a friend, but who really has their own interests in mind. how did you enter here without having wedding clothes?” But he was speechless.
  13. “Then the king told the servants: “Having bound his hands and feet, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
  14. “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Paying Caesar’s tax
  1. Then having left, the Pharisees held a council on how they might trap Him in a word.
  2. And they send their disciples to Him, along with Herod’s supporters, saying: “Teacher, we *know that you are true and you teach the way of God in truth.  And you don’t worry about anyone, for you don’t look at the appearance of men.
  3. “Therefore tell us what you think: Is it lawful to pay the poll tax3A “poll tax” (also called a “head tax or “capitation”) is a tax on every liable individual in a nation.  This specific tax was paid yearly, and could only be paid in Roman money, not Jewish money. to Caesar, or not?
  4. But having known their wickedness, Jesus said: “You hypocrites; Why do you test Me?
  5. “Show Me the coin used for the poll tax.”  And they brought Him a denarius.
  6. And He says to them: “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?”
  7. They tell Him: “Caesar’s.”  Then He tells them: “Therefore, repay the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God.”
  8. And having heard this, they marveled.  And having left Him, they departed.
Marriage in the Resurrection
  1. On that same day, some Sadducees (the men saying there is no resurrection) approached Him and questioned Him,
  2. saying: “Teacher, Moses said that If any man dies without having children, his brother shall marry his wife, and he shall raise up seed for his brother.”4Quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 25:5
  3. “Now, seven brothers were among us, and the first died after he married.  And not having seed, he left his wife to his brother.
  4. “And the second did the same, and the third, until the seventh.
  5. “Then last of all, the woman died.
  6. “Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven?  For all had her.”
  7. And answering, Jesus told them: “You go astray, not *knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.
  8. “For in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are their daughters given in marriage: but they are like angels of God in heaven.
  9. “But concerning the resurrection of the dead, didn’t you read what was spoken to you by God, saying:
  10. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”5Quotation/allusion to Exodus 3:6 He isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living.”
  11. And having heard this, the crowds were stunned at His teaching.
The Greatest Commandment
  1. And the Pharisees – having heard that He silenced the Sadducees – were gathered together at the same place.
  2. And testing Him, one lawyer from among them questioned Him, saying:
  3. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
  4. And He was declaring to him: “You shall ^love the Lord your God in your whole heart, and in your whole soul, and in your whole mind.6Quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 6:5
  5. “This is the great and foremost commandment,
  6. “and the second is similar to it: You shall ^love your neighbor as yourself.7Quotation/allusion to Leviticus 19:18
  7. “The whole law hangs on these two commandments, and the prophets do also.”
Whose Son is The Anointed?
  1. And while the Pharisees were *gathered together, Jesus questioned them,
  2. saying: “What do you think about the Anointed?  Whose son is He?”  They tell Him: “David’s.”
  3. He says to them: “Then how does David call Him Lord while in the Spirit, saying:
  4. The Lord said to my Lord: sit at My right hand until I place your enemies underneath your feet.8Quotation/allusion to Psalm 110:1
  5. “Therefore, if David calls Him Lord, how is He his son?”
  6. And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare to question Him any longer from that day on.

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Matthew Chapter 23

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Do As They Say, Not As They Do
  1. Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and His disciples,
  2. saying: “The scribes and Pharisees sat down on Moses’ seat.
  3. “Therefore in all things – as many as they tell you – do and observe.  But don’t act according to their deeds, for they speak and don’t act.
  4. “They tie up heavy [and oppressive] burdens and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they aren’t willing to move them with their finger.
  5. “And they do all their deeds to be seen by men, for they broaden their phylacteries1a “phylactery” was a small leather case worn on the body like an amulet.  It contained four important passages of scripture (Ex 13:1-10, Ex 11-16, Duet 6:4-9 , Deut 13-21).  They were strapped to left arm facing the heart, or to the head and/or wrist to signify that God through the scriptures should guide all thoughts and actions.  They did this as an extremely literal way of looking at Deuteronomy 6:8. and enlarge their tassels.2“Tassels” In Numbers 15:37-40, God commanded Israel to put blue tassels on the corners of their garments so they would remember to obey Him when they saw them.  These tassels were called “tzitzit”, and apparently the Pharisees preferred large ones to ensure everyone knew that they were complying with that command.
  6. “And they love the chief place at dinners, and the chief seats at the synagogues,
  7. “and the greetings in the assemblies or markets,3“assemblies or markets” is one word in Greek.  It can mean either a place of assembly by men, or by implication a market.  Technically, including both translations is double translating (translating the same word twice two different ways).  However, both meanings were included because both are relevant and equally likely. and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by men.
  8. “But you shouldn’t be called ‘Rabbi’, for only One is your teacher and all of you are brothers.
  9. “And you shouldn’t call anyone on the earth your father, for One is your Father, and He’s in heaven.
  10. “Nor should you be called master teachers,4“master teacher” is one word in Greek, referring to a leader who guides by instructing.  In Modern Greek, this word refers to a “professor”. because One is your master teacher; the Anointed.
  11. “But the greatest among you will be your servant.
  12. “And whoever will exalt himself will be humbled, and whoever will humble himself will be exalted.
Woe to the scribes and Pharisees
  1. “But woe to you scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – because you shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men.  For you don’t enter, nor allow the men entering to enter.
  2. [“Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – because you devour widows’ houses and are praying long prayers for appearance’s sake. Because of this, you will receive a greater judgement.]
  3. “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – because you travel across the sea and dry land to make one convert to Judaism.   And when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of the Valley of Hinnom5“the Valley of Hinnom” most translations render this “hell” but any lexicon will tell you it’s a proper noun referring to a specific valley – the Valley of Hinnom – just outside Jerusalem. Symbolically, it’s where the Jews believed the wicked were punished in the afterlife. However, it also has historical significance which is lost when it’s merely translated “hell”. Two kings of Israel sacrificed babies as burnt offerings to the pagan gods Baal and Moloch in the Valley of Hinnom. (2 Chronicles 28:1-3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 7:30-31)  Because of this, God sentenced them to judgement through the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 19:1-11) Their sentence was carried out about 20 years later when Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem. He burned almost everything and enslaved all Judah. (2 kings 25:1-12).  Jesus words here about “sons of the Valley of Hinnom” likely indicates He was condemning them as being just as guilty as those kings. as you are.
  4. “Woe to you blind guides, you men saying: “Whoever swears by the temple, it’s nothing.  But whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.”
  5. “You foolish and blind men!  For which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctified the gold?
  6. “And you say: “Whoever swears by the altar, it’s nothing.  But whoever swears by the gift that’s on it, he is obligated.
  7. “You blind men! For which is greater: the gift, or the altar sanctifying the gift?”
  8. “Therefore, the man who swore by the altar, he swears by it and by all the things upon it.
  9. “And the man who swore by the temple, he swears by it and by the One inhabiting it.
  10. “And the man who swore by heaven, he swears by the throne of God and by the One sitting upon it.
  11. “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – because you pay tithes of mint, and dill, and cumin, and neglected the weightier parts of the law: justice, and mercy, and faithfulness.  But it was necessary to do these without neglecting those.
  12. “You blind guides! You men straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel!
  13. “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – because you clean the outside of the cup and the dish,6“dish”, this Greek word refers to a dish in/on which light food or appetizers are served.  Specifically, expensive or choice food which is delightful, but doesn’t satisfy hunger. but within they’re full of robbery and no self-control.
  14. “You blind Pharisee!  First clean the inside of the cup [and the dish], so its outside might also become clean.
  15. “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – because you are like tombs which have been whitewashed.  Which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead bones and all impurity.
  16. “And in the same way, you indeed appear outwardly righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and have no regard for God’s commands.7“no regard for God’s commands ” is one word in Greek, and is more literally “no regard for God’s law”. It’s a noun, and literally means “those who are without law”; i.e. those who – either by ignorance or by rebellion – don’t obey God’s (moral) law.
  17. “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – because you build the tombs of the prophets and beautifully decorate the mausoleums8“mausoleums” the Greek word here refers to a monument and/or memorial tomb.  The word “mausoleum” means a free-standing tomb constructed as a monument or memorial for a deceased person. of the righteous.
  18. “And you say: “If we were living in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t be partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.
  19. “So then, you yourselves testify that you’re sons of the men who murdered the prophets.
  20. “And you; complete the standard of your fathers.
  21. “You snakes!  You offspring of serpents!  How will you escape from the sentence of the Valley of Hinnom?9“Valley of Hinnom” most translations render this “hell” but any lexicon will tell you it’s a proper noun referring to a specific valley – the Valley of Hinnom – just outside Jerusalem. Symbolically, it’s where the Jews believed the wicked were punished in the afterlife. However, it also has historical significance which is lost when it’s merely translated “hell”. Two kings of Israel sacrificed babies as burnt offerings to the pagan gods Baal and Moloch in the Valley of Hinnom. (2 Chronicles 28:1-3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 7:30-31) As a result, God sentenced them to judgement through the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 19:1-11) Their sentence was carried out about 20 years later when Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem. He burned almost everything and enslaved all Judah. (2 kings 25:1-12) It was the worst judgement Israel had yet seen. This happened again a few decades after Jesus when Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. Here, Jesus was likely making a double reference to punishment in the afterlife and earthly judgement.
Lament Over Jerusalem
  1. “Because of this, behold!  I send prophets, and wise men, and scribes to you. You will kill and crucify some of them, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues, and some you will persecute from city to city,
  2. “so that all the righteous blood being shed on the earth will come upon you: from the blood of righteous Abel up to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
  3. “Amen I tell you: all these things will come upon this generation.
  4. “O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem; you’re the one killing the prophets and stoning the men who have been sent to her.  How often I wished to gather your children the way that a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and yet you didn’t want to.
  5. “Behold!  Your house is left to you desolate.
  6. “For I tell you: you definitely won’t see Me from now until you say: *blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord.”

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Matthew Chapter 24

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The Temple’s Destruction Prophesied
  1. And having gone out from the temple, Jesus was departing and His disciples approached Him to show Him the temple buildings.
  2. But answering, He told them: “Don’t you see all these things?  Amen I tell you: there definitely won’t be one stone left upon another stone here which won’t be torn down.
  3. And while He’s sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him in private saying; “Tell us: when will these things be?  And what’s the sign of your coming and the culmination1“culmination” is literal, though many translations render it “end”. It refers to an end which is not merely a cessation, but rather the completion and can indicate ushering in the next time era. of the age?
  4. And answering, Jesus told them; “Watch out, lest someone leads you astray.
  5. “For many will come in My name, saying; “I am the Anointed” and they will lead many astray.
  6. “And you will be about to hear of wars and rumors of wars.  Behold, don’t be alarmed for it must happen, but it’s not yet the end.
  7. “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places,
  8. “but all these things are merely the beginning of the birth pains.
  9. Then they will hand you over into persecution, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of My name.
  10. “And then many will fall away, and they will betray one another, and they will hate one another.
  11. “And many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray.
  12. “And because disregard for God’s commands2“disregard for God’s commands” is one word in Greek, and is more literally “disregard for God’s law”.  It’s a noun, and literally means “those who are without law”; i.e. those who –  either by ignorance or by rebellion – don’t obey God’s (moral) law. is to be multiplied, the ^love of many will grow cold.
  13. “But the man who endured to the end, he will be saved.
  14. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole inhabited world3“inhabited world” is one word in Greek, and is more literally “the world inhabited by Romans”.  This Greek word originally referred to those who lived in Greece, excluding all others.  Later – after they were absorbed into the Roman Empire – it came to mean those who lived in the Roman Empire, excluding those outside it.  However, it’s occasionally used in a broader context to mean the entire inhabited world. as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
  15. “Therefore, when you see that the abomination of desolation4Quotation/allusion to Daniel 9:27 (the one spoken of through Daniel the prophet) *standing in the holy place, (let the man reading this understand)
  16. “then let the men in Judea flee to the mountains.
  17. “The man on the housetop must not come down to take things from his house,
  18. “and the man in the field must not turn back to take his cloak.
  19. “But woe to the women having a child in their womb, and to the women nursing in those days.
  20. “And pray that your flight won’t happen in winter, nor on a Sabbath.
  21. “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as hasn’t happened from the beginning of the world until now; and it most definitely won’t5“and it most definitely won’t”.  In Greek, this is a triple negative (and not, no, not) to add very strong emphasis.  While double negatives are occasionally used to add emphasis in Greek, triple negatives are extremely rare and make the statement even more definitively negative.  Since English double negatives cancel each other out (instead of adding emphasis) the words “most definitely” were added to keep the very strong emphatic sense of the Greek. happen again.
  22. “And unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.
  23. “Then if someone tells you; “behold, here is the Anointed”, or “He’s here” don’t believe it.
  24. “For false anointed ones and false prophets will arise.  And they will give great signs and wonders in order to lead many astray; if possible, even the elect.
  25. “Behold; I have forewarned you.
The Coming of the Son of Man
  1. “So if they tell you; “Behold; He’s in the wilderness!” don’t go out.   Or if they say “Behold; He’s in the inner rooms!” don’t believe it.
  2. “For just as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
  3. “Wherever the carcass might be, the vultures will be gathered there.
  4. “And immediately after the tribulation of those days: The sun will be darkened and the moon won’t give its light.6Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 13:10  And the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.7Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 34:4
  5. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes8“tribes” the Greek word here refers to a people descended from a common ancestor.  In the New Testament, it’s almost exclusively applied to the twelve tribes of Israel, who descended from Jacob. of the land will mourn.  And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.9Quotation/allusion to Daniel 7:13
  6. “And He will send His angels with a great trumpet call.  And they will gather His elect from the four winds; from the ends of the heavens10“heavens” the Greek word for “sky” is the exact same as the word for “heaven”.  Only context determines which is intended, so “sky” is equally correct here. as far as their other ends.
The Fig Tree Explained
  1. “Now, learn from the parable of the fig tree.  When its branch at last becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
  2. “And likewise, when you see all these things, you know that He is near; right at the doors.
  3. “Amen I tell you: this generation definitely won’t pass away until all these things happen.
  4. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words definitely won’t pass away.”
Keep Watch
  1. “But concerning that day and hour, no one *knows except the Father alone; not even the angels of the heavens nor the Son.
  2. “For just as the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.
  3. “For as in those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving daughters in marriage, until that day Noah entered into the ark,
  4. “and they didn’t know until the flood came and took all of it away; the coming of the Son of Man will also be like this.
  5. “At that time, two men will be in the field; one is taken, and one is left.
  6. “Two women are grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.
  7. “So keep watch because you don’t *know what day your Lord comes.
  8. “And know this: if the master of the house had known what watch of the night the thief comes in, he would’ve watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
  9. “Because of this, you also must become ready, because the Son of Man comes in that hour you don’t expect.
  10. “Who then is the faithful and prudent slave whom the lord set over his household of servants to give them food in the proper season?
  11. “Blessed is that slave whom his lord will find doing likewise when he comes.
  12. “Amen I tell you: he will set him over all of his possessions.
  13. “But if that wicked slave says in his heart: “My lord delays”,
  14. “and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and he eats and drinks with the drunkards,
  15. Then the lord of that slave will come on a day which he doesn’t expect and in an hour which he doesn’t know.
  16. And he will cut him in two and will set his place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

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Matthew Chapter 25

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The Parable of the Ten Virgins
  1. “At that time, the kingdom of the heavens will be compared to ten virgins, who having taken their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom.
  2. “And five of them were foolish and five were prudent,
  3. “for the foolish took their lamps but didn’t take oil with them.
  4. “But the prudent took oil in flasks with their lamps.
  5. “And while the bridegroom is delaying, they all became drowsy and were sleeping.
  6. “And in the middle of the night, a great cry *happened: “Behold the bridegroom!  Go out to meet him!”
  7. “Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
  8. “And the foolish said to the prudent; “Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.”
  9. “But the prudent answered, saying; “Never.  There definitely isn’t enough for both us and you. Instead, go to the men selling oil and buy it for yourselves.”
  10. “But while they’re going away to buy oil, the bridegroom came.  And the virgins who were ready entered into the wedding feast with him and the door was shut.
  11. “And later the remaining virgins also come, saying; “Lord, lord; open for us.”
  12. “But answering, he said; “Amen I tell you: I don’t *know you.”
  13. “Therefore, keep watch because you don’t *know the day nor the hour [in which the Son of Man comes].
The Parable of the Talents
  1. “For it’s just like a man traveling to a foreign country, who called his own slaves and handed over his possessions to them.
  2. “And indeed, he gave five talents1A “talent” is not a coin but a measure of weight. It was about 75lbs, or 3000 silver shekels in weight. A talent of silver was worth about 6,000 denarii, which was the going rate for a day’s worth of unskilled labor. to one, and two talents to another, and one talent to another; to each according to his own ability.  And he immediately traveled to a foreign country.
  3. “Having gone, the man who received five talents traded with them and gained another five.
  4. “Likewise, the man with two gained another two.
  5. “But having departed, the man who received one talent dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s silver.
  6. “And after much time passed, the master of those slaves comes and settles accounts with them.
  7. “And having approached, the man who received five talents brought another five talents, saying; “Master, you handed me five talents. Behold, I gained another five talents.”
  8. “His master was telling him; “Well done good and faithful slave.  You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many. Enter into the joy of your master.”
  9. “And having also approached, the man who received two talents said; “Master, you handed me two talents.  Behold, I gained another two talents.
  10. “His master was telling him; “Well done good and faithful slave.  You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many. Enter into the joy of your master.”
  11. “And having also approached, the man who has received one talent said; “Master, I knew you, that you’re a harsh man, reaping where you didn’t sow and gathering where you didn’t scatter seed.”
  12. “And having been afraid, I departed and hid your talent in the ground. Behold, you have what’s yours.”
  13. “But answering, his master told him; “You wicked and lazy slave!  You had known that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter seed.
  14. “Therefore, it was proper for you to invest my silver with the bankers, and having come back I would’ve recovered my money with interest.
  15. “Therefore, take the talent from him and give it to the man having ten talents.
  16. “For to every man who has, more will be given and he will have abundance. But the man who doesn’t have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
  17. “Also, cast out the useless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
The Sheep and the Goats
  1. “And when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne.
  2. “And all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
  3. “And indeed, He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left.
  4. “Then the King will tell the men on His right; “Come, you men who have been blessed by My Father; inherit the kingdom *prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
  5. “For I hungered, and you gave Me food to eat.  I thirsted, and you gave Me a drink.  I was a foreigner, and you were hospitable to Me.
  6. I was naked, and you clothed Me. I was sick, and you visited Me. I was in prison, and you came to Me.”
  7. “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying; “Lord, when did we see you hungering and fed you, or thirsting and gave you a drink?
  8. “And when did we see you as a foreigner and were hospitable, or see you naked and clothed you?
  9. “And when did we see you being sick or in prison and came to you?
  10. “And answering, the King will tell them; “Amen I tell you: whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.
  11. And then He will tell the men on His left; “Depart from Me, you men who have been cursed into the fire of ages2“fire of ages” is literal. It’s traditionally translated “eternal fire” here, but that’s less literal and “fire of ages” also captures the severity of the fire, which the traditional interpretation doesn’t. *prepared for the Accuser3“The Accuser” is literal.  The Greek word used here is “διάβολος” (diabolos), and it’s the root of our English word “devil”. Much like “Christ” (see note on Matt 1:1) “devil” isn’t a name but rather a descriptive title. and his angels.
  12. For I hungered and you didn’t give Me food to eat.  I thirsted, and you didn’t give Me a drink.
  13. I was a foreigner, and you weren’t hospitable to Me; naked, and you didn’t clothe Me; sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.
  14. “And then they will answer, saying; “Lord, when did we see you hungering, or thirsting, or a foreigner, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t serve you?”
  15. “Then He will answer them, saying; “Amen I tell you: whatever you didn’t do for one of the least of these, you didn’t do for Me.
  16. And these will depart into the punishment of ages,4“punishment of ages” is literal.  It’s traditionally translated “eternal punishment” here, but that’s less literal and “punishment of ages” also captures the severity of the punishment, which the traditional interpretation doesn’t. but the righteous into the life of ages.”5“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.

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Matthew Chapter 26

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  1. And it happened when Jesus finished all these words, that He said to His disciples,
  2. “You have known that the Passover happens after two days, and the Son of Man is handed over to be crucified.”
(More) Plotting to Kill Jesus
  1. Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the courtyard of the high priest called Caiaphas.
  2. And they held a council so they might seize and kill Jesus by treachery.
  3. But they were saying; “Not during the feast, so it won’t become a riot among the people.”
The Woman Anoints Jesus with Scented Oil
  1. And while Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,1A “leper” is a person suffering from “leprosy” (also called “Hansen’s Disease” in modern times). The disease is caused by the bacteria “M. leprae“. Symptoms includes the outbreak of unsightly skin sores and nerve damage. It was a great social stigma in the ancient world and remains so to this day in many places. The Jews believed that leprosy was caused by sin. Therefore they believed that only the promised messiah would be able to cure leprosy, because only God could forgive sin.
  2. a woman having an alabaster bottle of very expensive scented oil approached Him.  And she poured it on His head while He’s reclining at the table.
  3. But having seen this, the disciples were indignant, saying; “For what purpose was this waste?
  4. “For this was able to be sold for much and the money to be given to the poor.
  5. But having known this, Jesus told them; “Why do you cause trouble for the woman?  For, she did a lovely deed to Me.
  6. “For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have Me.
  7. “For this woman who poured this scented oil on My body did it to prepare Me for burial.
  8. “Amen I tell you: wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.
Judas Betrays Jesus
  1. Then having departed, one of the twelve – the man called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests.
  2. He said; “What do you intend to give me if I will hand Him over2“hand… …over” The Greek word here can also be translated “betray” to you?”  And they paid thirty pieces of silver to him.
  3. And from then on, he was seeking an opportunity so he might hand Him over.
The Last Supper
  1. Now, on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples approached Jesus, saying; “Where do you intend that we should prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
  2. And He said; “Go into the city to a specific3“specific” this Greek word is used when someone’s name is known, but not used.  Likely because it’s not important in this case. man and tell him: “The teacher says: My time is near.  I am celebrating the Passover at your house with My disciples.”
  3. And the disciples did as Jesus instructed them and prepared the Passover.
  4. And when it became evening, He was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
  5. And while they’re eating, He said to them; “Amen I tell you: one of you will betray Me.”
  6. And being deeply grieved, each one of them began to say to Him; “It’s not I Lord, is it?”
  7. And answering, He said; “The man who dipped his hand in the bowl with Me, he will betray Me.
  8. “Indeed the Son of Man departs, just as it’s *written about Him. But woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for him if that man wasn’t born.”
  9. But answering, Judas – the man betraying Him – said; “It’s not I Rabbi, is it?”  He tells him; “You said it.”
  10. And while they’re eating, Jesus took bread and after a blessing, He broke it.  And having given it to the disciples, He said; “Take, eat; this is My body.”
  11. And having taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying; “Drink from it, all of you.”
  12. “For this is My blood of the covenant poured out for the benefit of many, for the forgiveness of sins.
  13. “And I tell you: I definitely won’t drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it fresh with you in My Father’s kingdom.
  14. And having sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter’s Denial Predicted
  1. Then Jesus tells them; “All of you will stumble because of Me on this night, for it’s *written: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.4Quotation/allusion to Zechariah 13:7
  2. “But after being raised, I will go before you into Galilee.”
  3. But answering, Peter told Him; “If all others will stumble because of you, I will never stumble.”
  4. Jesus was telling him; “Amen I tell you: on this night – before a rooster crows – you will deny Me three times.”
  5. Peter tells Him; “Even if it’s necessary for me to die with you, I definitely won’t deny you.”  And all the disciples said the same thing.
The Garden of Gethsemane
  1. Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane and tells the disciples; “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
  2. And having taken along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be deeply grieved and troubled.
  3. Then He tells them; “My soul is engulfed in sorrow, even to death.  Stay here and keep watch with Me.”
  4. And having gone forward a little farther, He fell on His face, praying and saying; “My Father; let this cup pass from Me if it’s possible. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.
  5. And He goes to the disciples and finds them sleeping.  And He says to Peter; “Couldn’t you keep watch like this for one hour with Me?
  6. “Keep watch and pray so you won’t enter into temptation.  Indeed, the spirit is eager but the flesh is weak.”
  7. Again, having departed for a second time, He prayed saying; “My Father, if it’s not possible for this cup to pass unless I drink it, let your will be done.”
  8. And having come again, He found them sleeping, for their eyes were *burdened.
  9. And having left them again, He departed and prayed for a third time, saying the same word again.
  10. Then He comes to the disciples and tells them; “You can sleep and rest later. Behold; the hour has drawn near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
  11. “Wake up, we should go.  Behold; the man betraying Me has drawn near.”
Jesus is Arrested
  1. And while He’s still talking, behold; Judas – one of the twelve – came, and with him was a great crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and elders of the people.
  2. And the man betraying Him gave them a sign, saying; “He is whomever I kiss; seize Him.”
  3. And having approached Jesus immediately, he said; “Hello Rabbi” and kissed Him.
  4. And Jesus said to him; “Friend, why are you here?”  Then having approached Him, they laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.
  5. And behold; having reached out his hand, one of the men with Jesus drew his sword.  And having struck the high priest’s slave, he cut off his ear.
  6. “Then Jesus tells him; “Return your sword to its place, for all who take up a sword will perish by a sword.”
  7. “Or, do you think that I’m not able to call on My Father, and right now He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
  8. “How then could the scriptures be fulfilled, that say it must happen this way?”
  9. In that hour, Jesus said to the crowds; “Why did you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a violent robber?5“violent robber” is one word in Greek.  It refers to someone who steals through force, as opposed to a burglar or thief who steals through stealth.  I was sitting every day in the temple teaching, and you didn’t seize Me then.
  10. “And all this has happened so the prophets’ writings might be fulfilled.”  Then having left Him, all the disciples fled.
Jesus’ Trial
  1. Then the men who seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
  2. But Peter was following Him from afar, until the high priest’s courtyard.  And having gone inside, he was sitting with the servants to see the outcome.
  3. Now, the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin6The Sanhedrin was the highest Jewish court of the day. were seeking false testimony against Jesus so they might put Him to death.
  4. And they didn’t find any, though many approached as false witnesses.  But having approached later, two said:
  5. “This man was saying: “I’m able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.”
  6. And having stood up, the high priest said to Him; “You answer nothing?  Why are these men testifying against you?”
  7. But Jesus was remaining silent.  And the high priest said to Him; “I put you under oath7“I put… …under oath” is one word in Greek, with that exact meaning. by the living God, so tell us if you are the Anointed, the Son of God.
  8. Jesus tells him; “You said it.  Nevertheless, I tell you: from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.8Quotation/allusion to Daniel 7:13
  9. “Then the high priest tore his robes, saying; “He blasphemed!  Why would we still have need of witnesses?  Behold; you heard His blasphemy just now.
  10. “What do you think?”  And answering, they said; “He’s guilty and deserves9“guilty and deserves” is one word in Greek.  It was a legal/forensic term which indicated guilt for a crime, and thus also that the accused was deserving of punishment. death.”
  11. Then they spat in His face, and punched Him, and the synagogue attendants10synagogue attendants”  In Greek, this clause simply reads “and the slapped Him”, with no referent to who this other party is.  However, the parallel passage in  Mark 14:65 tells us, hence the translation here. slapped11“slapped”.  The Greek word here could also mean “to strike with a rod” Him,
  12. saying; “Prophesy to us Anointed One: who is the man who hit you?”
Peter Denies Jesus
  1. Now, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one servant girl approached him, saying; “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.”
  2. But he denied it before all of them, saying; “I don’t *know what you’re talking about.”
  3. Then having departed out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and tells the men there; “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
  4. And again, he denied it with an oath, saying; “I don’t *know the man.”
  5. But having approached him after a little while, the men *standing there said to Peter; “Surely you’re also one of them, for even your accent makes you obvious.”
  6. Then he began to curse and to make an oath, saying; “I don’t *know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.
  7. And Peter was reminded of the word Jesus had *spoken, that: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”  And having gone outside, he wept bitterly.

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Matthew Chapter 27

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  1. And it having become morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people held a council against Jesus so they could put Him to death.
  2. And having bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.
Judas Hangs Himself
  1. Then having seen that He was condemned and regretting it, Judas – the man betraying Him – returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
  2. saying: “I sinned by betraying innocent blood.”  And they said: “What’s that to us?  You will see to it.”
  3. And having thrown the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed.  And having left, he hanged himself.
  4. But having picked up the pieces of silver, the chief priests said: “It’s not lawful to put them into the temple treasury,1“temple treasury” is one word in Greek.  The word is “κορβᾶν” (corban) and is also used in Mark 7:11.  It specifically refers to gifts that were devoted/consecrated to God, and hence could also mean the place where such gifts were stored. since it’s the price of blood.”
  5. Then having taken counsel, they bought the potter’s field with them, to be a burial place for foreigners.
  6. For this reason, that field was called “field of blood” up to this day.
  7. Then it was fulfilled, what was spoken through the prophet [Jeremiah],2There is a textual variant here.  Some manuscripts don’t give the prophet’s name, some identify it as Jeremiah, and some as Zechariah.  The quote is from Zechariah, but sometimes a scroll was identified by the first book in that scroll, and Zechariah could’ve been part of a scroll that started with Jeremiah. saying: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the One who has been priced by the sons of Israel, on whom they set a price,
  8. and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.3Quotation/allusion to Zechariah 11:12-13
Jesus Before Pilate
  1. Then Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned4“questioned” the Greek word here could also be translated “interrogated”. Him, saying: “Are you King of the Jews?”  And Jesus was declaring: “You said5“You said” is literally “You say” or “You are saying”.  However, “you said” conveys the idomatic sense better in English it.”
  2. And during His accusation by the chief priests and elders, He answered no one.
  3. Then Pilate says to Him: “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?”
  4. And He didn’t answer him, not even in regard to one word, so the governor began to marvel greatly.
  5. Now at the festival, the governor had been accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd whom they were wanting.
  6. And at that time, they were holding a notorious prisoner called [Jesus] Barabbas.
  7. Therefore, while having them *assembled, Pilate said to them: “Whom do you wish I would release to you: [Jesus] Barabbas, or Jesus called the Anointed?”
  8. For he had known that they betrayed Him because of malicious envy.6“malicious envy” is one word in Greek.  It refers to envy/jealousness that doesn’t seek to take what another has, but rather to tear down the object of the envy.
  9. And while he’s sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, saying: “Let nothing happen between you and that righteous man, for today I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.”
  10. But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds so they might ask for Barabbas, but kill Jesus.
  11. And answering, the governor said to them: “Which of the two do you wish I would release for you?”  And they said: “Barabbas.”
  12. Pilate says to them: “Then what should I do with Jesus called the Anointed?”  They all say: “Let Him be crucified.”
  13. But he was saying: “For what evil that He did?”  But they were vehemently crying out, saying: “Let Him be crucified!”
  14. And having seen that nothing is helping – but rather it’s becoming a riot – Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying: “I’m innocent of this man’s blood.  You will see to it yourselves.”
  15. And answering, all the people said: “His blood is on us and on our children.”
  16. Then Pilate released Barabbas for them.  And having flogged Jesus, he handed Him over so He would be crucified.
Jesus is Mocked and Crucified
  1. Then having taken Jesus with them into the Praetorium,7“Praetorium” could refer to either the governor’s residence or the camp of the Roman military.  In this case, context tells use the latter is intended. the governor’s soldiers gathered the whole cohort8“cohort”.  The cohort was a basic unit of the Roman military, which consisted of 480 soldiers, plus 120 servants.  A standard cohort was comprised of 6 “centuries”, which consisted of 80 men, plus 20 servants.  However, the first cohort in every Roman Legion was composed of five double strength centuries, or 800 soldiers plus 200 servants. against Him.
  2. And having stripped off His clothes, they clothed Him in a scarlet ruler’s robe.9“ruler’s robe” is one word in Greek (chlamys).  It refers to a short robe or cloak often worn by various rulers, such as kings, governors, or even emperors.  It was also worn by soldiers and military officers.
  3. And having woven a crown of thorns, they put it on His head and put a reed in His right hand.  And having fallen on their knees before Him, they mocked Him, saying: “Hail King of the Jews!”
  4. And having spit on Him, they took the reed and were hitting Him on His head.
  5. And when they finished mocking Him, they stripped the ruler’s robe off of Him, and clothed Him in His clothes, and led Him away to crucify Him.
  6. And going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon.  They forced this man so he would carry His cross.
  7. And having come to a place called Golgotha (which is called: “place of a skull”),
  8. they gave Him wine which has been mixed with gall10gall is a bitter herb. to drink.  And having tasted it, He didn’t want to drink it.
  9. And having crucified Him, they distributed His clothes by casting a lot [so it might be fulfilled, what was spoken by the prophet: “They split My garments among themselves, and they cast a lot for My clothing“].11The second half of this verse is present in some Greek manuscripts, but not the majority.  It is strongly attested by Old Latin evidence however.  Further, this variant ends with the same Greek word as the first half of the verse (κλῆρον).  This makes it very susceptible to accidental omission, because one of the more common errors is when two lines end with the same word, scribes were liable to accidentally skip everything in between.  Further, it’s a quotation/allusion to Psalm 22:18, which Jesus quotes a few verses later in verse 46.
  10. And sitting down, they were guarding Him there.
  11. And they put His accusation above His head, *written this way: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
  12. At that time, two violent robbers12“violent robber” is one word in Greek.  It refers to someone who steals through force, as opposed to a burglar or thief who steals through stealth. are crucified with Him: one on the right hand, and one on the left.
  13. Now, the men passing by were slandering13“slandering” this word is typically translated “blaspheme”, but also means slander.  It’s quite possible this double meaning was intentional by Matthew. Him, shaking their heads
  14. and saying: “You man destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days; save yourself.  And if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
  15. And likewise mocking, the chief priests with the scribes and elders were saying:
  16. “He saved others, but He isn’t able to save Himself.  He’s the King of Israel?  Let Him come down from the cross right now and we’ll believe in Him.”
  17. He *trusts in God; let Him rescue Him now if He desires to.14Quotation/allusion to Psalm 22:8  For He said: “I am God’s Son”.”
  18. And likewise even the robbers who were crucified with Him were insulting Him.
Jesus’ Death
  1. Then darkness came over all the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour.
  2. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, saying: “Eli, Eli; lama sabachthani.” That is translated: “My God, My God; why did you abandon Me?15Quotation/allusion to Psalm 22:1
  3. And having heard this, some of the men *standing there were saying: “This man calls for Elijah.”
  4. And having immediately run up and taken a sponge, one of them both filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and he was giving Him a drink.
  5. And the rest were saying: “Leave Him alone.  We’ll see if Elijah comes and will save Him.” 16Some manuscripts add: “But having taken a spear, another pierced His side and water and blood came out.” to the end of this verse.  However, this is regarded as a later addition by nearly all New Testament scholars, probably in an attempt to harmonize with John 19:34.  The vast, overwhelming majority of manuscripts don’t support this addition.
  6. And having cried out again in a loud voice, Jesus gave up His spirit.
  7. And behold; the veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the land was shaken, and the rocks were split.
  8. And the tombs were opened and many of the saints’ bodies who have fallen asleep were raised.
  9. And having gone out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.
  10. Then the centurion17“centurion” was a rank in the Roman military. A normal centurion was in charge of 80 soldiers, plus ~20 support staff. However, there were different levels of centurion. The highest ranking centurions could be in charge of up to 1000 men. and the men keeping watch over Jesus with him – having seen the earthquake and the things which happened – were awestruck and terrified,18“awestruck and terrified” is literally “extremely afraid/awestruck”, with “extremely” being a separate Greek word.  The Greek verb “φοβέω” here can mean to “fear” or “awe” or “revere” depending on the context.  Sometimes more than one meaning is intended, as is likely the case here.  Technically, including both awe and fear is double translating (translating the same word twice two different ways).  However, both meanings were included because both are relevant, equally likely, and it’s likely that Matthew intended both. saying: “Truly this man was God’s Son.”
  11. Now, many women were there watching from afar who followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him,
  12. among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Jesus is Buried
  1. And it having become evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph (who himself was also discipled by Jesus) came forward.
  2. Having approached Pilate, this man asked for the body of Jesus.  Then Pilate commanded it to be delivered to him.
  3. And having taken the body, Joseph wrapped it in a clean linen cloth
  4. and put it in his new tomb, which he cut in the rock.  And having rolled a great stone over the door of the tomb, he departed.
  5. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
  6. Now, on the next day (which is after the Sabbath preparation day) the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered before Pilate,
  7. saying: “Lord, we remembered that that man – the deceiver – said while still living: “After three days, I rise again.”
  8. Therefore, order the tomb to be secured until the third day, lest having come at some time, His disciples steal Him and tell the people He was raised from the dead, and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
  9. Pilate was declaring to them: “You have a guard.  Go, secure it as you have seen fit.
  10. And having gone, they secured the tomb by setting a seal19“setting a seal” is one word in Greek. Commonly, this was done by melting wax and using a signet ring to make an impression before the wax had fully cooled.  If the wax seal was broken, it was impossible to fix without using the signet ring again.  This served as a form of signature in the ancient world. on the stone, along with a guard.

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Matthew Chapter 28

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Jesus’ Resurrection
  1. And after the Sabbaths – it being dawn on the first day of the week – Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
  2. And behold; a great earthquake happened.  For having descended from heaven and approached the tomb, an angel of the Lord rolled away the stone and was sitting on top of it.
  3. And his appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow.
  4. And the men guarding the tomb trembled from fear of him and became like dead men.
  5. But answering, the angel told the women: “Don’t fear, for I *know that you seek Jesus, the man who has been crucified.”
  6. “He isn’t here, for He was raised from the dead, just as He said.  Come, see the place where He was lying.
  7. “And having gone quickly, tell His disciples that He was raised from the dead. And behold; He is going before you into Galilee; you will see Him there. Behold; I told you.”
  8. And having quickly gone away from the tomb with reverent fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples.
  9. And [also, as they were going to tell His disciples,] behold; Jesus met them, saying: “Rejoice!” And having approached Him, they bowed down at His feet and grabbed His feet.
  10. Then Jesus tells them: “Don’t fear.  Go, tell My brothers so they go into Galilee, and they will see Me there.”
The Soldiers’ Deception
  1. And while they’re leaving, behold; some of the guard went into the city and reported all the things which happened to the chief priests.
  2. And having been assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave the soldiers sufficient silver coins,
  3. saying: “Say that His disciples came by night and stole Him while we’re sleeping.”
  4. “And if this is heard by the governor, we will persuade him and will keep you out of trouble.”
  5. And having taken the silver coins, they did as they were instructed.  And this report was spread widely among the Jews up until the present day.
The Great Commission
  1. And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus directed them.
  2. And having seen Him, they bowed down at His feet.1“bowed down at… …feet” is one word in Greek, often translated “worship”. It comes from the Greek words: “pros” (meaning “towards”) and “kyneo” (meaning “to kiss”). It literally refers to bowing down on your hands and knees and kissing the ground in front of a superior or authority figure. Some Egyptian pictographs have the hand outstretched, as if to send the “kiss” toward the one being revered.  But some doubted.
  3. And having approached them, Jesus spoke to them saying: “All authority in heaven and on the earth was given to Me.
  4. So go2“Go” In Greek, this is a passive aorist participle.  However, when a passive aorist participle is followed by an imperative aorist verb (a command), the passive participle should be understood as a command of instrumentality.  That is, the participle is commanded so that the main imperative verb’s action can be accomplished.  Thus, the word “go” isn’t a focus in this verse; the entirety of the focus is on the following verb “disciple”.  See following note.  (Note: in some passages, the Holy Spirit inspired an aorist passive participle + an imperative in one place but inspired a double imperative in a parallel verse.  Examples include: Matt 28:7 + Mark 16:7, Matt 9:6 + Mark 2:11, and Mark 11:2 + Luke 19:30.)  disciple3“disciple” most translations translate it “make disciples” here.  However the Greek verb focuses on the process of raising current disciples up to maturity, not just creating new disciples. The word is used only four times in the Bible: Matthew 13:52, Matthew 27:57, Matthew 28:19, and Acts 14:21.  In each case, the focus is on raising disciples to maturity, not creating new disciples.  While it certainly can include the idea of turning non-disciples into disciples, that’s not the word’s primary focus. all the nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit
  5. and teaching them to observe all things, as many as I commanded you.  And behold: I’m with you on all days until the culmination of the age.

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Mark

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Mark Chapter 1

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John the Baptizer
  1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus the Anointed, God’s Son.
  2. Just as it is *written in [Isaiah the prophet]:1“Isaiah the prophet” many manuscripts have “the prophets” insteadBehold, I am sending My messenger before your face; he who will fully prepare your way.”2quotation/allusion to Malachi 3:1, which Mark appears to be using as a ‘preface’ of sorts to the following verse, which is a quote from Isaiah.  Also, see previous note.
  3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.”3quotation/allusion to Isaiah 40:3
  4. John appeared; the man baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance4“repentance” this Greek word it doesn’t speak of remorse or guilt for wrong actions. Rather, it literally means to “think differently after” or to “reconsider”, with an assumed change in behavior. To both the Hebrews and 1st century Greeks/Romans, a change in mind was synonymous with a change in behavior; you couldn’t have the first without the second. for forgiveness of sins.
  5. And the whole region of Judea was going out to him, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
  6. And John was *clothing himself with camel’s hair clothes and had a leather belt around his waist,5quotation/allusion to 2 Kings 1:8, which describes the prophet Elijah as “a hairy man with a leather belt around his waist”. and eating locusts and wild honey.
  7. And he was proclaiming, saying: “He who is coming after me is mightier than I; He whom I’m not worthy of stooping down to untie the strap of His sandals.
  8. “I baptized you in water; but He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus is baptized, tempted, and calls disciples
  1. And it happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
  2. And immediately coming up from the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit coming down on Him like a dove.
  3. And a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in you I’m well pleased.”
  4. And immediately the Spirit drives Him out into the wilderness.
  5. And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan.  And He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.
  6. And after John was handed over to prison, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God,
  7. and saying that: “The time has been fulfilled and the kingdom of God has drawn near.  Repent!6“Repent” this Greek word doesn’t speak of remorse or guilt for wrong actions. Rather, it literally means to “think differently after” or to “reconsider”, with an assumed change in behavior. To both the Hebrews and 1st century Greeks/Romans, a change in mind was synonymous with a change in behavior; you couldn’t have the first without the second. and believe in the gospel.
  8. And passing along the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew (Simon’s brother) casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
  9. And Jesus told them: “Come, follow Me and I will make you become fishers of men.”
  10. And having immediately left the nets, they followed Him.
  11. And having gone a little further, He saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, and they were in the boat mending the nets,
  12. and He called them immediately.  And having left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, they went away after Him.
Jesus heals many
  1. And they enter into Capernaum; and having entered immediately into the synagogue on the Sabbaths, He was teaching.
  2. And they were being stunned on account of His teaching, for He was teaching them like a man having authority7“authority” It’s possible that the “authority” that stunned the crowd was a technical term.   Properly called “semikhah”, the Jewish word literally means “laying on of hands”.  Its origins (as a technical term of authority) go back to Moses.  Moses was given authority by God, and God commanded him to pass some of that “authority” to Joshua by “laying hands on him” in the sight of the people.  (Num27:15-23, Deut 34:9)  The Jews believed this authority was then passed down through “laying on of hands” to Jesus’ day.  Rabbis with semikhah had the authority to make decisions in the meaning of the Law and other spiritual matters.  In Jesus case, that meant a new interpretation of the Law.  However, ordinary scribes (Torah teachers) could only teach what those with semikhah had established. and not like the scribes.
  3. And immediately there was a man with an unclean spirit in their synagogue, and he cried out
  4. saying: “What’s between you and us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did you come to ruin us?  I *know who you are, the Holy One of God.”
  5. And Jesus rebuked him saying: “Be silent and come out of him.”
  6. And the unclean spirit made him convulse, and having cried out in a loud voice, it came out of him.
  7. And all of them were amazed, so as to discuss to themselves, saying: “What is this new teaching with authority?  He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey Him.
  8. And the report about Him immediately went out everywhere into the whole neighboring region of Galilee.
  9. And having come out of the synagogue, they immediately went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
  10. Now, Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, and immediately they speak to Him about her.
  11. And having approached and grasped her hand, He raised her up and the fever left her, and she was serving them.
  12. Now, it having become evening after the sun set, they were bringing to Him all the men being sick and the demon-possessed men.
  13. And the whole city was *gathering together at the door.
  14. And He healed many sick with various diseases and cast out many demons; and He wasn’t permitting the demons to speak because they had known Him [to be the Anointed].
Jesus leaves and heals a leper
  1. And having risen very early in the morning with much night remaining, He went out and departed into a desolate place, and He was praying there.
  2. And Simon and the men with him went after Him.
  3. And when they found Him, they also tell Him that: “Everyone is8“everyone is” is literally “all are” seeking you.”
  4. And He tells them: “We should depart into the neighboring towns by another way so I might proclaim there also, for I came for this.
  5. And He went, proclaiming in their synagogues and in the whole of Galilee, and casting out demons.
  6. And a leper comes to Him, imploring Him, and falling on his knees, and saying to Him: “If you want to, you are able to cleanse me.”
  7. And having been moved with compassion and extended His hand, He touched him and tells him: “I want to; be cleansed.”
  8. And immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was cleansed.
  9. And having sternly warned him, He immediately sent him away.
  10. And He tells him: “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the priest and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing,9quotation/allusion to Leviticus 14:2-32 for a testimony for them.”
  11. And having gone out, he began to proclaim it often and to widely report the matter, so that He was no longer able to openly enter into a city, but He was out at solitary places, and they were going to Him from all sides.

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Mark Chapter 2

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The paralyzed man and forgiving sins
  1. And having entered into Capernaum again after some days, it was heard that He’s in a house.
  2. And many were assembled, so it was no longer possible to make space, not even at the door, and He was speaking the word to them.
  3. And they come, bringing a paralyzed man to Him carried by four men.
  4. And not being able to bring him near Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof over where He was.  And having dug through it, they lower the bed-mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.
  5. And having seen their faith, Jesus tells the paralyzed man: “Child, your sins are forgiven.”
  6. Now, some of the scribes are sitting there and reasoning in their hearts:
  7. “Why is this man speaking this way?  He is blaspheming.  Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?”
  8. And having immediately known in His Spirit that they are reasoning in themselves this way, Jesus says to them: “Why are you reasoning these things in your hearts?
  9. “Which is easier to say to the paralyzed man: ‘your sins are forgiven’, or to say: ‘Rise, and pick up your bed mat, and walk’?
  10. “But so you might *know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins…”  He tells the paralyzed man:
  11. “I tell you: rise, pick up your bed mat and go to your house.”
  12. And he was raised immediately.  And having picked up the bed mat, he went out in front of all, for all to be astonished and to glorify God, saying: “We never saw anything like this!”
Calling Levi (Matthew)
  1. And He went out again along the sea, and all the crowd was coming to Him and He was teaching them.
  2. And while passing by, He saw Levi (the son of Alphaeus) sitting at the tax collector’s booth.  And He tells him: “Follow Me.”  And having risen, he followed Him.
  3. And it happens that He went to recline at the table1“recline” is literal.  In ancient times, they laid down on a low table to eat. Thus, “reclining” in those days is similar to “sitting down” today to share a meal. in his house.  And many tax collectors and sinners were reclining at the table with Jesus and His disciples, for they were many and were following Him.
  4. And having seen Him eating with sinners and tax collectors, the scribes of the Pharisees were saying to His disciples: “Why is He eating with tax collectors and sinners?”
  5. And having heard this, Jesus tells them: “The healthy men have no need of a physician, but the sick men do.  I didn’t come to call righteous men, but sinners.”
Fasting and wineskins
  1. And the disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting.  And they come and say to Him: “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”
  2. And Jesus told them: “The groomsmen2“groomsmen” is literally “sons of the bridal chamber”.  In that age, this referred to the men who helped the groom prepare whatever was needed for the wedding, especially the “bridal chamber” (honeymoon suite).  The closest modern equivalent is groomsmen. aren’t able to fast while the bridegroom is with them, are theyFor as long a time as they have the bridegroom with them, they aren’t able to fast.
  3. “But the days will come when the bridegroom was taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
  4. “No one sews an unshrunk cloth patch on an old cloak.  And if he does, the patch pulls away from it (the new from the old) an even worse tear happens.
  5. “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins.  And if he does, the wine will break the wineskins and the wine is ruined, and the wineskins too.  But new wine is put into new wineskins.
Lord of the Sabbath
  1. And it happened that He used to pass through the grain fields on the Sabbaths.  And His disciples began to make their way, plucking the heads of grain.
  2. And the Pharisees were saying to Him: “Behold, why are they doing what’s not lawful to do on the Sabbaths?”
  3. And He tells them: “Did you never read what David did when he had a need and hungered, he and the men with him?”
  4. “How he entered into the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of presentation, which isn’t lawful for anyone to eat except the priests; and he even gave it to the men being with him.”
  5. And He was telling them: “The Sabbath came into being because of man, and not man because of the Sabbath.”
  6. “So then, the Son of Man is Lord even over the Sabbath.”

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Mark Chapter 3

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Healing on the Sabbath and casting out demons
  1. And He entered into the synagogue again, and a man having a *withered hand was there.
  2. And they were watching Him closely to see if He will heal him on the Sabbaths so they might accuse Him.
  3. And He tells the man having the withered hand: “Rise, stand in our midst.”
  4. And He says to them: “Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbaths?  To save a life or to kill?”  But they were keeping silent.
  5. And having looked around at them with anger, grieved at the hardness of their heart, He tells the man: “Extend your hand.”  And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
  6. And having gone out, the Pharisees immediately were offering counsel against Him with the Herodians, on how they might destroy Him.
  7. And Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples, and a great crowd followed from Galilee, and from Judea,
  8. and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon; hearing how much He was doing, a great crowd came to Him.
  9. And He instructed His disciples so a boat might wait on Him because of the crowd, so they don’t constrict Him.
  10. For He healed many, so others tried to press upon Him so that as many as had diseases might touch Him.
  11. And whenever the unclean spirits were seeing Him, they were falling down before Him and were crying out, saying: “You are the Son of God.”
  12. And He was rebuking them often, so they wouldn’t make Him known.
The twelve
  1. And He ascends up to the mountain and summons whom He Himself was wanting, and they went to Him.
  2. And He appointed twelve [whom He also called apostles] so they might be with Him, and so He might send them to proclaim,
  3. and to have authority to cast out demons.
  4. And He appointed the twelve, and added the name Peter to Simon,
  5. and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (He also added to them the name Boanerges, which is translated: “Sons of Thunder”),
  6. and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,
  7. and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Divided against itself
  1. And He goes into a house and the crowd assembles again, so they aren’t even able to eat bread.
  2. And having heard this, the men from His family went out to grab Him, for they were saying: “He’s out of His mind.”
  3. And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying: “He has Beelzebul.”1“Beelzebul” from the Hebrew phrase “Baal Zebub” that translates as “lord of the flies”.   It’s likely a play on words for the pagan Canaanite god Baal.  One of his names was “Ba’al Zevul”, which roughly translates as “Lord of the exalted house”.  Since “Ba’al Zevul” sounds very similar to “Baal Zebub”, it was likely a derogatory Hebrew nickname for the Canaanite god.  Apparently, the title was later applied to an actual demon.  There is some debate on whether Beelzebub is a nickname for Satan, or for another high ranking demon. And: “He casts out demons by the ruler of demons.”
  4. And having summoned them, He was speaking to them in parables: “How is Satan able to cast out Satan?
  5. “And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom isn’t able to stand.
  6. “And if a house is divided against itself, that house won’t be able to stand.
  7. “And if Satan rose against himself and was divided, he isn’t able to stand, but is coming to an end.
  8. “But having entered into the house of the strong man, no one is able to plunder his goods unless he first ties up the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
  9. “Amen I tell you that all things will be forgiven the sons of men; their sins and their blasphemies, whatever they blasphemed.
  10. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit doesn’t have forgiveness through the age,2“through the age” this Greek phrase “εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα” is omitted from most modern translations, despite it being present in all three the source texts from which the vast majority of modern translations are translated.  Including this phrase makes the verse harmonize perfectly with Matthew and Luke’s account. but is guilty of the sin of ages.”
  11. (He said this because they were saying: “He has an unclean spirit”.)
  12. And His mother and His brothers come; and standing outside, they sent word to Him, summoning Him.
  13. And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they tell Him: “Behold; your mother, and your brothers, and your sisters are outside seeking you.”
  14. And answering them, He says: “Who is My mother and My brothers?”
  15. And having looked around at the men who are sitting in a circle around Him, He says: “Behold, My mother and My brothers.
  16. “For whoever does the will of God; this is My brother, and sister, and mother.”

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Mark Chapter 4

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The parable of the sower
  1. And again He began to teach along the sea.  And the largest crowd assembles to Him, so He stepped into a boat to sit in the sea, and all the crowd was on the land facing toward the sea.
  2. And He was teaching them many things in parables, and He was telling them in His teaching:
  3. “Listen!  Behold: the man sowing seed went out to sow.
  4. “And it happened when he went to sow that some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and devoured it.
  5. “And other seed fell on a rocky place where it didn’t have much soil.  And it immediately sprang up because it didn’t have1“because it didn’t have” is literally: “because it not to have” deep roots in the soil.
  6. “And it was scorched when the sun rose, and it withered because it didn’t have2“because it didn’t have” is literally: “because it not to have” a deep root.
  7. “And other seed fell into the thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked it, and it gave no fruit.
  8. “And other seeds fell into the good soil.  And springing up and increasing, it was giving fruit; and one was bearing thirtyfold, and one sixtyfold, and one a hundredfold.”
  9. And He was saying: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The parable explained
  1. And when He was alone, the men around Him with the twelve were asking Him about the parables.
  2. And He was telling them: “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you.  But to those outside, all teaching happens in parables,
  3. “so that: While seeing they might see and not discern; and while hearing they might hear and not understand; lest at some time they turn and it might be forgiven them.”3quotation/allusion to Isaiah 6:9-10
  4. And He tells them: “Haven’t you understood this parable?  And how will you understand all the parables?
  5. “The man sowing seed sows the word.
  6. Now, these are the ones where the word is sown beside the road; and when they heard, Satan immediately comes and removes the word which has been sown into them.
  7. And likewise, these are the ones sown on the rocky places; who when they heard the word, they immediately receive it with joy.
  8. And they don’t have root in themselves, but are temporary; only lasting for a season.4“temporary; only lasting for a season” is one word in the Greek.  Its’ colloquial meaning is “temporary”, but the full technical meaning is “lasting (only) for a season”.  Technically, including both is double translating a Greek word.  However, the additional nuance of the full definition adds meaning to the verse, therefore it was included.  Afterwards when tribulation or persecution happened because of the word, they immediately fall away.
  9. And others are the ones sown into the thorns.  These are the men who heard the word,
  10. and the cares of the age, and the deception of wealth, and the rest of their cravings entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
  11. And these are the men sown on the good soil: all who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit; one thirtyfold, and one sixtyfold, and one a hundredfold.”
  12. And He was telling them: “The lamp isn’t brought in so it might be put under a measuring basket or under the bed, is it?  Isn’t it brought in so it might be put on the lampstand?
  13. “For nothing is hidden except so it might be revealed, nor did a secret thing happen, but that it might come to light.
  14. “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Kingdom of God is like…
  1. And He was telling them: “Watch out what you listen to. It will be measured to you by whatever standard you measure, and more will be added to you.
  2. For whoever has, more will be given to him.  And whoever doesn’t have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
  3. And He was saying: “The kingdom of God is like this: like a man who throws the seed on the soil,
  4. “and he sleeps and rises night and day, and how the seed might sprout and grow, he doesn’t *know.
  5. “Of its own accord the soil bears fruit; first a sprout, next a head, next full grown grain in the head.
  6. Yet when the fruit allows, he immediately sends the sickle because the harvest has arrived.”
  7. And He was saying: “How might we compare the kingdom of God?  Or by what parable might we establish it?
  8. It’s like a mustard seed, which is smaller than all the cultivated5The word “cultivated” is not in the Greek, but was added to provide cultural context. The mustard seed was the smallest seed of all the plants that the Jews cultivated. seeds on the earth when it is sown on the earth.
  9. And when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the garden plants and makes great branches so the birds of the air are able to nest under its shade.”
  10. And He was speaking the word to them through many such parables, as they were able to hear.
  11. Yet He wasn’t speaking to them without a parable, but He was explaining all things in private to His own disciples.
Jesus calms the storm
  1. And it having become evening on that day, He tells them: “Let us pass to the other side of the sea.
  2. And having sent away the crowd, they take Him with them since He was in the boat.  And other boats were with Him.
  3. And a great storm of wind comes, and the waves were rushing into the boat, so the boat is already being filled.
  4. And He was in the stern of the ship, sleeping on a cushion.  And they wake Him and say to Him: “Teacher, don’t you care that we are perishing?!”
  5. And having been awakened, He scolded the wind and told the sea: “Silence; be still.”6quotation/allusion to Psalm 107:28-29  And the wind ceased raging, and it became a great calm.
  6. And He said to them: “Why are you fearful?  Don’t you have faith yet?”
  7. And they were terrified with great fear, and were saying to one another: “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

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Mark Chapter 5

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Casting out Legion
  1. And they came to the other side of the sea, into the land of the Gerasenes.
  2. And Him having gone out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit immediately went out of the tombs and met Him,
  3. a man who had his dwelling in the tombs.  And no one was able to bind him any longer, not even with a chain,
  4. because he often was *bound with shackles and chains and the chains were *broken by him, and the shackles were *shattered, and no one was strong enough to subdue him.
  5. And all through the night and day in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out and cutting himself with stones.
  6. And having seen Jesus from far away, he ran and bowed down before Him.
  7. And having cried out in a loud voice, he says: “What’s between you and me Jesus; Son of the Most High God?  I adjure you by God not to torment me.”
  8. For He was saying to him: “Unclean spirit, come out of the man.”
  9. And Jesus was asking him: “What’s your name?”  And he says to Him: “My name is Legion, because we are many.”
  10. And he was begging Him many times so He might not send them out of the region.
  11. Now, a large herd of pigs was there, feeding near the mountain.
  12. And they begged Him saying: “Send us into the pigs so we might enter into them.”
  13. And He allowed them.  And having come out, the unclean spirits entered into the pigs, and rushed the herd down the steep bank into the sea, and about 2000 were drowning in the sea.
  14. And the men feeding them fled and reported this in the city, and in the country, and they went out to see what’s *happened.
  15. And they come to Jesus and see the demon-possessed man sitting *clothed and sober-minded (the man who *had the Legion) and they were frightened.
  16. And the men who saw it described to them how it happened with the demon-possessed man, and about the pigs.
  17. And they began to beg Him to depart from their region.
  18. And with Him entering into the boat, the man who was demon possessed was begging Him that he might be with Him.
  19. And He didn’t permit him, but tells him: “Go to your home, to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.
  20. And the man departed and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus did for him, and all were marveling.
Jairus’ Daughter, and healing a bloody flow
  1. And Jesus having crossed over to the other side of the sea in the boat again, a great crowd was gathered to Him, and He was beside the sea.
  2. And one of the synagogue rulers named Jairus comes to Him.  And having seen Him, falls at His feet.
  3. And he begs Him repeatedly saying: “My little daughter is holding herself at the point of death.  So having come, would you lay hands on her so she might be healed and live?”
  4. And He departed with him, and a numerous crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.
  5. And there’s a woman living with a bloody flow1“bloody flow” is literal, almost certainly a reference to constant menstrual bleeding. This made her ceremonially unclean; see Leviticus 15:19-24.  Additionally, what to do about menstrual bleeding that went on for an extended time was covered in Leviticus 15:25-30. for twelve years,
  6. and having suffered much under many physicians, and having spent all of her money, and yet she benefitted nothing; but rather she became2“became” is literally “became into” worse.
  7. Having heard about Jesus, and having come up behind Him in the crowd, she touched His cloak.
  8. For she was saying, “If I only touch His clothes, I will be healed.”3quotation/allusion to Malachi 4:2, which says that “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.”  The Hebrew word translated “wings” in that verse is “כָּנָף” (kanaph).  It means any extremity, including wings and also the edge of a garment.  It could be accurately translated “healing in the edge of His clothes”.  This woman likely knew this verse, and that’s probably why she specifically touched the edge of His cloak in Matthew’s account.  The Jews believed Malachi 4:2 was a prophecy about the Messiah, so by touching His cloak, she was almost certainly expressing her faith that Jesus was the Messiah.  This is quite possibly why Jesus said her faith healed her.
  9. And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she realized that her body has been healed of the scourge.
  10. And immediately having known in Himself that power went out of Him, and having turned in the crowd, Jesus was saying: “Who touched My clothes?”
  11. And His disciples were saying to Him: “You see the crowd pressing in on you, and you say ‘Who touched Me’?”
  12. And He was looking around to see the woman who did this.
  13. Now, having been frightened and trembling, *knowing what has happened to her, the woman came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.
  14. And He told her: “Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be healthy from your scourge.”
  15. While He’s still speaking, messengers come from the synagogue ruler’s house saying: “Your daughter died; why still trouble the teacher?”
  16. Now, having heard this word spoken, Jesus says to the synagogue ruler: “Don’t fear, only believe.”
  17. And He didn’t allow anyone to follow with Him except Peter, and James, and John (the brother of James).
  18. And they come to the synagogue ruler’s house, and He sees a commotion, and weeping, and much wailing.
  19. And having entered into the house, He says to them: “Why do you make a commotion and weep?  The child didn’t die, but is sleeping.”
  20. And they were derisively laughing at Him.  Now, having thrown all of them out, He takes the father and mother of the child with Him, and the men with Him, and enters into where the child was.
  21. And having taken the child’s hand, He tells her: “Talitha koum.”  Which is translated: “Little girl, I tell you: rise.”
  22. And immediately the little girl rose and was walking (for she was twelve years old).  And they were immediately overwhelmed with great amazement.
  23. And He instructed them often so no one might know this, and He commanded her to be given food to eat.

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Mark Chapter 6

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Jesus in His hometown
  1. And He went out from there and comes into His hometown,1“hometown” is literally “fatherland”, as in the place his father lived/lives.  This was another way of saying the place He came from, i.e. His hometown and His disciples are following Him.
  2. And it having become the Sabbath, He began to teach in the synagogue.  And many of the men listening were being stunned, saying: “From where did this man get these teachings, and what’s this wisdom that was given to Him?  And such miracles are happening through His hands.
  3. “Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joseph, and Judas, and Simon?  And aren’t His sisters here with us?”  And they were being offended by Him.
  4. And Jesus was telling them: “A prophet isn’t without honor except in his hometown, and among his kinsmen, and in his household.”
  5. And He wasn’t able to do even one miracle there, except having laid hands on a few sick, He healed them.
  6. And He was marveling because of their unbelief.  And He was traveling around the villages teaching.
Sending out The Twelve
  1. And He summons the twelve, and began to send them out two-by-two, and He was giving them authority over the unclean spirits.
  2. And He instructed them that they should take nothing for the road, except a staff only; not bread, not a traveler’s bag, not money in the belt,
  3. but *putting sandals on their feet, and not to clothe themselves with two tunics.
  4. And He was telling them: “Wherever you enter into a house, remain there until you go out from that town.
  5. “And whatever place didn’t welcome you nor listen to you; departing from there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.  [Amen I tell you: it will be more tolerable for Sodom or Gomorrah in the day of judgement than for that town.]”
  6. And having gone out, they proclaimed that all should repent.
  7. And they were casting out many demons, and were anointing many sick with oil and were healing them.
The death of John the Baptizer
  1. And King Herod heard, for His name became well known.  And they were saying: “John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead and these miraculous powers are working in Him because of this.”
  2. But others were saying: “He’s Elijah.”  Yet others were saying: “He’s a prophet like one of the prophets.”
  3. And having heard of it, Herod was saying: “John whom I beheaded; that man was raised from the dead.”
  4. For having sent men, Herod himself seized John and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he married her.
  5. For John was saying to Herod: “It’s not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother.”
  6. Now, Herodias was holding a grudge against him and was wanting to kill him, and wasn’t able to
  7. for Herod was fearing John, *knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and he was keeping him safe.  And having heard him, he was perplexed often and was hearing him gladly.
  8. And an opportune day came when Herod made a dinner on his birthday for his nobles, and commanders, and the leading men of Galilee.
  9. And having come in and danced, the daughter of Herodias2“daughter of Herodias” History tells us that her name was Salome, who had become Herod’s stepdaughter at this point.  A common estimate for her birth year is 14 AD, meaning she was in her mid-teens when she danced before Herod. One common theory is that Salome danced sensually to entice, but that seems unlikely given these two facts. pleased Herod and the men reclining at the table with him.  And the king told the young girl: “Ask me for whatever you desire and I will give it to you.”
  10. And he swore an oath to her: “Whatever that you ask me for, I will give it to you; up to half my kingdom.”
  11. And having gone out, she said to her mother: “What shall I ask for?”  Now, she said: “The head of John the Baptizer.”
  12. And having immediately entered with haste to see the king, she asked saying: “I desire that you give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter at once.”
  13. And having become deeply grieved because of his oaths and the men reclining at the table with him, the king didn’t want to refuse her.
  14. And having immediately sent an executioner, the king commanded him to bring his head. And having gone, he beheaded him in the prison.
  15. And he brought his head on a platter and gave it to the young girl, and the young girl gave it to her mother.
  16. And having heard this, his disciples came and picked up his body and put it in a tomb.
The apostles return from being sent out
  1. And the apostles assemble themselves to Jesus and reported to Him all things; whatever they did and whatever they taught.
  2. And He tells them: “You come here by yourselves to a secluded place on your own and rest a little.”  For the men coming and the men going were many and they weren’t even having an opportunity to eat.
  3. And they departed in the boat into a secluded place on their own.
  4. And many saw them traveling and recognized them.  And they ran with them there on foot from all the cities and arrived before them.
  5. And having gone out, He saw a numerous crowd and was moved with compassion on them because they were like sheep not having a shepherd, and He began to teach them many things.
Feeding 5000
  1. And the hour was already late, so having approached Him, His disciples were saying: “This place is secluded and the hour is already late.
  2. “Send them away, so that having gone into the surrounding country and villages, they might buy something to eat for themselves.”
  3. But answering, He told them: “You give them something to eat.”  And they tell Him: “Having departed, should we buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
  4. But He says to them: “How many loaves do you have?  Go see.”  And having learned, they say: “Five, and two fish.”
  5. And He commanded them to make all the groups recline by groups on the green grass.
  6. And the groups reclined by groups of hundreds and of fifties.
  7. And having taken the five loaves and the two fish, and having looked up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves, and He was giving them to His disciples so they might set it before them.  And He divided the two fish among all of them.
  8. And all ate and were satisfied.
  9. And they picked up twelve baskets full of bread pieces and of fish.
  10. And the men who ate the bread were five thousand men.
Jesus calms a storm
  1. And He immediately compelled His disciples to embark into the boat and to go before Him to the other side of the sea, to Bethsaida, while He dismisses the crowd.
  2. And having withdrawn from them, He departed to the mountain to pray.
  3. And it having become evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea and He was alone on the land.
  4. And having seen them being buffeted while rowing (for the wind was hostile to them), He comes to them walking on the sea3quotation/allusions to Job 9:8 at about the fourth watch of the night,4The fourth watch of the night was from 3am until 6am. and He was intending to pass by them.
  5. But having seen Him walking on the sea, they thought that it’s a ghost and cried out,
  6. for all saw Him and were deeply shaken.  And He immediately spoke with them and tells them: “Be courageous; I Am; don’t be frightened.”
  7. And He came up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased raging.  And they were exceedingly abundantly marveling in themselves,
  8. for they didn’t understand from the bread, but their hearts were *hardened.
Jesus heals many
  1. And having crossed over to the land, they came to Gennesaret and were anchored,
  2. and having immediately recognized Him as they departed from the boat,
  3. some men ran around that whole region and began to carry the men having afflictions on bed mats to wherever they were hearing that He is.
  4. And wherever He was entering – into villages, or into cities, or into countrysides – they were putting the sick men in the marketplaces, and were begging Him so they might just touch the fringe of His clothing; and as many as touched Him were being healed.5In Malachi 4:2, it says that “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.”  The Hebrew word translated “wings” in that verse is “כָּנָף” (kanaph).  It means any extremity, including wings and also the edge of a garment.  It could be accurately translated “healing in the edge of His clothes”.  These people likely knew this verse, and that’s probably why they specifically wanted to touch the fringe of His cloak.  The Jews believed Malachi 4:2 was a prophecy about the Messiah, so by touching His clothing, they were almost certainly expressing their faith that Jesus was the Messiah.

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Mark Chapter 7

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What defiles a man
  1. And having come from Jerusalem, the Pharisees and some of the scribes assemble themselves to Him,
  2. and having seen that some of His disciples are eating bread with unclean hands (that is, unwashed;
  3. for holding fast to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands ceremonially with the fist.1“with the fist” is one word in Greek, with that exact literal meaning.  However, there is some debate as to what that means.  Some contend that it means vigorously, diligently, or ‘with strength’ as implied by the fist.  Some contend that it means from the elbow down to the fist, and there are other interpretations.  Regardless, most scholars agree that this goes beyond just washing the hands for cleanliness before you eat and ventures into ceremonial tradition that had to be done a specific way to count.
  4. And after returning from the market, they don’t eat unless they wash.  And there are many other traditions that they received to hold fast to; washings of cups, and pitchers, and utensils, and couches for eating.)
  5. And the Pharisees and the scribes interrogate Him: “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat the bread with unwashed hands?”
  6. But He told them: “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is *written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, yet their heart keeps far away from Me.
  7. ” ‘Yet they worship Me vainly, teaching the precepts of men as doctrines’.2quotation/allusion to Isaiah 29:13
  8. “Having disregarded the command of God, you are holding to the tradition of men [washings of pitchers and cups, and you do many other similar such things].”
  9. And He was telling them: “You ‘nobly’3“nobly” this word is used here in the sense of “bitter irony” (Thayers), or sarcasm. do away with the commandment of God so you might keep your tradition.
  10. “For Moses said: ‘honor your father and your mother‘,4quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:12, and Deuteronomy 5:16 and ‘The man cursing father or mother must end in death‘.5quotation/allusion to Leviticus 20:9 and Exodus 21:17
  11. “But you say that if a man says to his father or his mother: ‘If you might be helped by something from me, it’s Corban6“Corban” is specifically a gift consecrated/devoted to God.   The Pharisees believed that it was wrong to use something which was devoted/consecrated to God for “normal” use.  Therefore, the Pharisees said if a man devoted (gave) everything he owned to God, he couldn’t use it for another purpose (such as helping family).  However, there was no time requirement to deliver his goods, so he could keep them indefinitely while avoiding his obligations.  This loophole was apparently invented by the Pharisees to allow men to shirk the Biblical and moral obligation of taking care of their own parents. (that is, a gift to God).
  12. “You no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother,
  13. annulling the word of God through your tradition which you handed down.  And you do many similar such things.”
  14. And having summoned the crowd again, He was telling them: “All of you listen to Me and understand.
  15. “There’s nothing from the outside of a man which is able to defile him after entering into him.  But the things coming out of the man are the things defiling the man.
  16. “[If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.]”
  17. And when He went away from the crowd into the house, His disciples were asking Him about the parable.
  18. And He says to them: “So, are you also undiscerning?  Don’t you comprehend that nothing entering into a man from the outside is able to defile him?
  19. That’s because it doesn’t enter into his heart, but into the stomach and goes out into the sewage pit.” 7“sewage pit” the Greek word here literally means “a place of sitting apart”, referring to a drain or latrine for human waste.  (Thus cleansing all foods.)8“cleansing all foods” There are two basic interpretations of this phrase.  (1) Says the body cleanses the food by extracting the good and expelling the bad.  (2) Says that this is Jesus abolishing the distinction between clean and unclean foods that was laid down in the Mosaic Law.
  20. And He was saying: “What’s coming out of a man; that defiles the man.
  21. “For from within the heart of men come out evil deliberations, fornications, thefts, murders, men having sex with other men’s wives,9“men having sex with other men’s wives” is one word in Greek, usually translated “adultery” in this verse.  However, the Greek (and Hebrew) words specifically mean a man (married or unmarried) having sex with another man’s wife.  The Hebrews divided sexual sins into two classes based on the marital status of the woman.  A man having sex with another man’s wife (or betrothed) was adultery.  A man having sex with an unmarried woman was fornication.  Both are serious sins, but they are differentiated by the Greek and Hebrew words.
  22. “covetousness, wickedness, deceit, wanton debauchery, an evil eye of envy,10“of envy” This was added to indicate the “evil eye” had an idiomatic meaning of being envious or even greedy. blasphemy, arrogant pride, and foolishness.
  23. “All these evils come out from within, and they defile a man.”
The Syrophoenician Woman
  1. And having risen, He departed from there into the region of Tyre [and Sidon].  And having entered into a house, He wasn’t wanting anyone to know, and He wasn’t able to escape notice.
  2. But having heard about Him, a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet.
  3. Now the woman was a gentile, Syrophoenician by ethnicity, and she was asking Him so He might cast the demon out of her young daughter.
  4. And He was telling her: “First allow the children to be satisfied, for it’s not good to take the children’s bread and to throw it to the pet dogs.11“pet dogs”  The Greek word here literally means a “little dog”, which has a diminutive connotation, and thus an affectionate sense.  It could also mean a literal “little dog”, which could indicate a puppy. Translating it “pet puppies” is possible.  Regardless there is an affectionate sense here and Jesus didn’t use this in a derogatory way.
  5. But she answered and says to Him: “Yes Lord, and the pet dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”
  6. And He told her: “Because of this statement, go; the demon has come out of your daughter.”
  7. And having departed to her house, she found the child *lying on the bed and the demon *departed.
Jesus heals a deaf man
  1. And having gone out of the region of Tyre again, He came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee in the midst of the region of the Decapolis.
  2. And they bring a man to Him who is deaf and has a speech impediment, and they implore Him so He might put a hand on him.
  3. And having taken him aside from the crowd on his own, He put His fingers into his ears; and having spit He touched his tongue.
  4. And having looked up to heaven, He sighed12“sighed” could also be translated “groaned” and tells him: “Ephphatha!”  (That is, “Be opened!”)
  5. And immediately his ears were opened and the impediment of his tongue was undone, and he was speaking correctly.
  6. And He instructed them that they tell no one.  But the more He was instructing them, the more abundantly they were proclaiming it.
  7. And they were stunned beyond measure, saying: “He has done all things nobly; He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

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Mark Chapter 8

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Feeding four thousand
  1. In those days – with the crowd again being great and not having anything they could eat – He summoned the disciples and tells them:
  2. “I’m moved with compassion for the crowd because they already remain with Me three days and don’t have something they could eat.
  3. “And if I send them away to their homes without eating, they will grow weary on the way, and some of them have come from afar.”
  4. And His disciples answered Him: “From where will anyone here be able to satisfy these men with bread on account of this wilderness.
  5. And He was asking them: “How many loaves do you have?”  And they said “Seven.”
  6. And He instructs the crowd to recline on the ground.  And having taken the seven loaves and having given thanks, He broke them and was giving them to His disciples so they might set the food before the crowd, and they set it before the crowd.
  7. And they also had a few small fish.  And having blessed them, He directed these fish to be set before them too.
  8. And they ate and were satisfied.  And they picked up seven large baskets full of leftover pieces.
  9. Now, there were about four thousand men and He sent them away.
If a sign will be given
  1. And having immediately entered into the boat with His disciples, He came to the region of Dalmanutha.
  2. And the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, testing Him by seeking a sign from heaven from Him.
  3. And having sighed deeply in His spirit, He says: “Why is this generation seeking a sign?  Amen I tell you: may God do such to Me and more1may God do such to Me and more” This phrase was added because the Greek literally reads ” Amen I tell you: if this generation will be given a sign”.  This is in imitation of a Hebrew idiom often found in the Old Testament which is usually phrased “May God do ____ to me and more if I do ____”, which is an extremely strong negative statement in the Old Testament. if this generation will be given a sign.”
Forgetting Bread
  1. And having left them, He again embarked into a boat and departed to the other side of the sea.
  2. And they forgot to take bread, and except one loaf they didn’t have any with themselves in the boat.
  3. And He was instructing them saying: “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
  4. And they were reasoning to one another that He said this because they don’t have bread.
  5. And having known this, He tells them: “Why are you reasoning because you don’t have bread?  Don’t you yet understand nor comprehend?  Do you have *hardening in your heart?
  6. Having eyes, do you not see?  And having ears, do you not listen?2quotation/allusion to Ezekiel 12:2 and/or Jeremiah 5:21  And don’t you remember?
  7. “When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?”  They tell Him: “Twelve”
  8. He said: “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of pieces did you pick up?”  And they say: “Seven”
  9. And He was saying to them: “Do you not yet understand?”
Healing a blind man
  1. And they come to Bethsaida.  And they bring a blind man to Him and implore Him so He might touch him.
  2. And having taken the blind man’s hand, He brought him out of the village.  And having spit on his eyes and having put His hands on him, He was asking him: “Do you see anything?”
  3. And having looked up, he was answering: “I see men that look like trees, I see them walking around.”
  4. Then He put His hands on his eyes again, and he looked and he was restored, and he was seeing each and every thing clearly.
  5. And He sent him to his home, saying: “Don’t even enter into the village, [nor tell anyone in the village].”
Who Jesus is
  1. And Jesus and His disciples went out into the villages of Caesarea Philippi.  And on the way, He was questioning His disciples, saying to them: “Who do men declare Me to be?”
  2. And they answered Him, saying: “Some say John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others say one of the prophets.”
  3. And He was questioning them: “But who do you declare Me to be?”  Answering, Peters tells Him: “You are the Anointed.”
  4. And He warned them so they might tell no one about Him.
  5. And He began to teach them that it’s necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things; and to be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes; and to be killed; and after three days to rise from the dead,
  6. and He was stating this word plainly.  And having taken Him aside, Peter began to rebuke Him.
  7. But having turned and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and says: “Get behind Me Satan, because you aren’t minding the things of God, but the things of men.
How to follow Jesus
  1. And having summoned the crowd along with His disciples, He told them: “If anyone wants to come follow after Me, he must utterly deny himself, and pick up his cross, and follow Me.
  2. “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life on account of Me and the good news; He will save it.
  3. “For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world and to lose his life?3“life” the Greek word here is “ψυχή” (psuché), usually translated “soul” here.  However, it’s the same world that’s universally translated “life” in the preceding verse.  Further, it does not mean the part of us which survives death and goes to reward or punishment (Biblically that’s our spirit.  In Revelation 8:9, animals are said to have “psuché”.)  Psuché literally means “breath” and is usually translated “life”.  It refers to the life; the vital force which – together with the body – enables a person to live.  It can also refer to mind, will, emotions, and desires, which together make up a person’s identity.
  4. “For what might a man give as a price in exchange for his life?4“life” see previous note
  5. “For whoever 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.”

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Mark Chapter 9

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  1. And He was telling them: “Amen I tell you that there are some men *standing here who definitely won’t taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come in power.
The Transfiguration
  1. And after six days, Jesus takes Peter and James and John with Himself and leads them up to a high mountain alone on their own, and He was transfigured in front of them.
  2. And His clothes became an exceedingly radiant white, such as a launderer on the earth isn’t able to whiten this way.
  3. And Elijah with Moses appeared to them, and they were discussing with Jesus.
  4. And answering, Peter tells Jesus: “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here, and should we make three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah?”
  5. (For he hadn’t known how he should respond, for they were frightened.)
  6. And a cloud formed, overshadowing them and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son; Listen to Him.”
  7. And having looked around, they suddenly no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus alone.
  8. And while they’re descending from the mountain, He commanded them that they describe what they saw to no one until the Son of Man rose from the dead.
  9. And they held onto that statement, discussing among themselves what is meant by ‘to rise from the dead’.
  10. And they were questioning Him, saying: “Why do the scribes say that it’s necessary for Elijah to come first?”
  11. And He was declaring to them: “Having come first, Elijah indeed restores all things.  And yet how is it *written of the Son of Man, that He should suffer many things and be despised?
  12. “but I tell you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they were wanting, just as it has been written of him.”
Casting out a mute demon
  1. And having come to the rest of the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some scribes disputing with them.
  2. And having seen Him, immediately all the crowd were stunned.  And running to Him, they were welcoming Him.
  3. And He asked them: “What are you disputing with them?”
  4. And one man from the crowd answered Him: “Teacher, I brought my son having a mute spirit to you.
  5. “And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and he is wasting away.1“wasting away” is literal, but this could also be understood as rigid, since dried/withered things often become rigid.  And I spoke to your disciples so they might cast it out, and they weren’t strong enough.”
  6. And answering him, He says: “Oh unbelieving generation!  How long will I be with you?  How long will I put up with you?  Bring him to Me.”
  7. And they brought him to Him.  And having seen Him, the spirit immediately made him convulse violently.  And having fallen on the ground, he was rolling and foaming at the mouth.
  8. And He questioned his father: “It’s *happened like this with him for how long a time?”  And he said “From childhood.
  9. “And it also often threw him into fire and into waters so it might destroy him.  But if you’re able to do something, then having been moved with compassion on us, help us.”
  10. And Jesus said to him: “If you are able?  All things are possible to the man who’s believing.”
  11. Having immediately cried out, the child’s father was saying: “I believe, help my unbelief.”
  12. And Jesus, having seen that a crowd is running to them, He rebuked the unclean spirit, telling it: “Mute and deaf spirit, I order you: come out of him and you should enter into him no more.”
  13. And having cried out and with much convulsing, it came out and he became like a dead man, enough for many to say that he died.
  14. And having taken hold of his hand, Jesus raised him up and he arose.
  15. And with Him having entered into a house, His disciples were questioning Him on His own: “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”
  16. And He told them: “This kind is able to go out by nothing, except by prayer.”
Jesus predicts His death again
  1. Having gone out from there, they were passing through Galilee and He wasn’t wanting anyone to know,2“He wasn’t wanting anyone to know” is more literally “He wasn’t wanting that anyone should know”
  2. for He was teaching His disciples and was telling them: “The Son of Man is handed over into the hands of men and they will kill Him.  And having been killed, He will rise on the third day.”
  3. Yet they weren’t understanding the matter and were fearing to question Him about it.
Who is the greatest?
  1. And they went to Capernaum.  And having been in the house, He was questioning them: “What were you discussing on the way?”
  2. But they were keeping silent, for on the way they discussed with one another who was the greatest.
  3. And having sat down, He summoned the twelve and tells them: “If someone wants to be first, he will be last of all and a servant of all.”
  4. And having taken a young child, He stood him in their midst.  And having embraced him, He told them:
  5. “Whoever welcomes one of the children such as this in My name welcomes Me.  And whoever welcomes Me doesn’t welcome Me, but the One who sent Me.”
  6. John was reporting to Him: “Teacher, we saw someone [who doesn’t follow us] casting out demons in your name, and we were hindering him because he wasn’t following us.”
  7. But Jesus said.  “Don’t hinder him, for there’s no one who will do a miracle in My name and then will be able to quickly speak evil of Me.
  8. “For whoever isn’t against us is for us.
  9. “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you are the Anointed’s in name, amen I tell you that he definitely won’t lose his reward.
  10. “And whoever makes one of these little ones believing in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a large millstone is put around his neck and he was *thrown into the sea.
  11. “And if your hand makes you stumble, cut it off; it’s better for you to enter into the life maimed than having two hands and to depart into the Valley of Hinnom,3“the Valley of Hinnom” Most translations render this “hell” but any lexicon will tell you it’s a proper noun referring to a specific valley – the Valley of Hinnom – just outside Jerusalem. Symbolically, it’s where the Jews believed the wicked were punished in the afterlife.  It was also very significant in judgement in Israel’s history as well. Two kings of Israel sacrificed babies as burnt offerings to the pagan gods Baal and Moloch in the Valley of Hinnom. (2 Chronicles 28:1-3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 7:30-31) As a result, God sentenced them to judgement through the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 19:1-11) Their sentence was carried out about 20 years later when Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem. He burned almost everything and enslaved all Judah. (2 kings 25:1-12) This happened again a few centuries later when Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. into the unquenchable fire.
  12. [“Where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire isn’t quenched.]4Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 66:24
  13. “And if your foot makes you stumble, cut it off; it’s better for you to enter into the life crippled than having two feet and to be cast into the Valley of Hinnom, [into the unquenchable fire].
  14. [“Where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire isn’t quenched.]5Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 66:24
  15. “And if your eye makes you stumble, cast it out; it’s better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than having two eyes and to be cast into the Valley of Hinnom,
  16. Where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire isn’t quenched.6Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 66:24
  17. “For everyone will be salted with fire, [and every sacrifice will be salted with salt].
  18. “The salt is good, but if the salt becomes tasteless, by what will you season it?  Have salt in yourselves and be peaceful with one another.”

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Mark Chapter 10

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Marriage and Separation
  1. And having arisen from there, He goes into the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan.  And the crowds assemble to Him again, and as He had been accustomed, He was teaching them again.
  2. And having approached intent on testing Him, the Pharisees were questioning Him about if it’s lawful for a husband to send away1“send away” is literal here.  It’s typically translated “divorce” in this verse, though properly translated as “send away” in verse 4. The same word is used of Jesus “sending away” crowds and Pilate “sending away” (releasing) Barabbas. Paul uses a different Greek word when talking about divorce in 1 Corinthians. The Hebrew divorce procedure is found in Deut 24:1 and had three parts: (1) write a divorce certificate. (2) Give it to your wife. (3) Send her away from your house. However, if a man “sent her away” (kicked her out of his house) without a divorce certificate, in that culture she was destitute. She was still legally married because she didn’t have a divorce certificate, so she couldn’t marry anyone else without being an adulteress. Often, her only resort to feed herself was prostitution.  There was a debate as to whether this was lawful according to the Mosaic Law. This was one of the two great 1st century Jewish debates centering on divorce. (See note on Matthew 19:3 for the other debate) a wife.
  3. And answering, He said to them: “What did Moses instruct you?”
  4. And they said: “Moses allowed us to write a scroll of divorce and to send her away.”2quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 24:1
  5. And Jesus told them: “He wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart.”
  6. “But from the beginning of creation He made them male and female.3quotation/allusion to Genesis 1:27
  7. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother [and will be joined to his wife],
  8. And the two will be4Most translations use the word “become” here, but the Greek word for “become” isn’t in this passage despite Mark using it with great latitude elsewhere.  In this verse, it’s simply the Greek word that means is/are/am/be/being/etc. in one flesh.5quotation/allusion to Genesis 2:24  Jesus appears to be talking solely about a physical union here (not a spiritual one). Paul makes this clearer in 1 Corinthians 6:16, where Genesis 2:24 is also applied to sex with prostitutes.  So then they are no longer two, but one flesh.
  9. “Therefore what God joined together, man must not separate.”
  10. And when in the house again, the disciples were asking Him about this.
  11. And He tells them: “Whoever sent away his wife and married another woman of the same kind,6“another woman of the same kind” is one word in Greek with that exact definition.  The “of the same kind” part is often omitted in translation for readability, but is essential in this passage.  The “of the same kind” part likely refers to a woman who is merely “sent away” and not properly divorced. See note on “send away” in verse 2. He is guilty of sex with another man’s wife7“is guilty of sex with another man’s wife” is one word in the Greek, typically translated “commits adultery”. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was still a serious sin, but the not the specific sin of adultery. on account of her.
  12. “And if a wife sent away her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.8“commits adultery” the Greek word here specifies that she was still married to someone other than the new husband, presumably to the husband she “sent away”; see notes on previous verse and also verse 2.
Jesus and the little children
  1. And they were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
  2. But having seen this, Jesus was indignant and told them: “Allow the little children to come to Me.  Don’t hinder them, for the kingdom of God is of such a kind as this.
  3. “Amen I tell you: whoever doesn’t welcome the kingdom of God like a little child definitely won’t enter into it.”
  4. And having embraced them, He was blessing them, laying hands on them.
The rich young ruler
  1. And while traveling on His journey, one man ran up and having fallen on his knees before Him was questioning Him: “Good teacher, what should I do so I might inherit the life of ages?”
  2. But Jesus told him: “Why call Me good?  No one is good except God alone.
  3. “You *know the commandments: you should not murder, you should not have sex with another man’s wife,9quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:14  “have of sex with another man’s wife” is one word in the Greek, typically translated “commits adultery”. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was still a serious sin, but the not the specific sin of adultery. you should not steal, you should not commit perjury, you should not defraud,10“you shall not defraud” this statement is unique to Mark’s gospel.  It’s possible that this was an expansion of “you shall not commit perjury”, in the sense of swearing to do something and then not doing it, which would be fraud. you must honor your father and mother.11quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:12-16
  4. And he was telling Him: “Teacher, I kept all these commandments from my youth.”
  5. And having looked at him, Jesus ^loved him and told him: “You fall short in one thing.  Go sell whatever you have, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow Me.”
  6. But his face having fallen at this word, he departed grieving, for he was a man having many properties.
  7. And having looked around, Jesus tells His disciples: “Oh, how the men having riches will enter into the kingdom of God with difficulty.”
  8. And the disciples were dumbfounded at His words.  But answering again, Jesus tells them: “Children, how difficult it is [for the men who have trusted in riches] to enter into the kingdom of God.
  9. “It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
  10. And the men were exceedingly stunned, saying to themselves: “And who then is able to be saved?”
  11. Having looked at them, Jesus says: “It’s impossible with men, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
  12. Peter began to tell Him: “Behold, we left all things and have followed you.”
  13. Jesus was saying: “Amen I tell you, there’s no man who left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, [or wife,] or children, or fields for My sake and the sake of the good news,
  14. “unless he receives a hundred times more now in this season: houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and fields, with persecutions; and in the coming age, the life of ages.
  15. “But many of the first will be last; and the last, first.”
Jesus predicts His death again
  1. And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them and they were dumbfounded, and the men following were frightened.  And having taken the twelve alongside again, He began to tell them the things about to happen to Him.
  2. “Behold, We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they will sentence Him to death, and they will hand Him over to the gentiles.
  3. “And they will ridicule Him, and will spit on Him, and will flog Him, and will kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.
Christian leadership
  1. And James and John (the two sons of Zebedee) approach Him, saying to Him: “Teacher, we want that whatever we ask of you, you would do it for us.”
  2. And He said to them: “What do you want Me to do for you?”
  3. And they told Him: “Grant to us that one of us would sit at your right hand and one at your left hand in your glory.”
  4. But Jesus told them: “You don’t *know what you’re asking.  Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized in the baptism which I am baptized in?”
  5. And they told Him: “We are able.”  And Jesus told them: “You will drink the cup which I drink, and you will be baptized in the baptism with which I am baptized.
  6. “But to sit at My right hand or at My left hand isn’t Mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.”
  7. And having heard this, the ten began to be indignant about James and John.
  8. And having summoned them, Jesus tells them: “You *know that the men seeming to rule the gentiles exercise authority over them and their great men dominate them.
  9. “But it isn’t this way among you, but whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant.
  10. “And whoever wants to become first among you will be a slave of all.
  11. “For even the Son of Man12quotation/allusion to Daniel 7:13 didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a purchase price13“purchase price” this Greek word often referred to the price required to buy a slave’s freedom. in exchange for many.”
Healing Bartimaeus the blind beggar
  1. And they come to Jericho.  And while He and His disciples and a large crowd are departing from Jericho, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus (a blind beggar) was sitting along the road.
  2. And having heard that it’s Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and to say: “Son of David14“Son of David” was a title of the promised messiah in Jewish eyes. This stems from 2 Samuel 7:12-13, in which God promised that David would have a descendant who would sit on the throne forever. This could be construed as an act of faith by Bartimaeus., Jesus; have mercy on me.”
  3. And many were rebuking him so he might be silent, but he was crying out much more: “Son of David, have mercy on me.”
  4. And having stood, Jesus commanded:  “Invite him to Me.”  And they invite the blind man, telling him: “Have courage, get up; He is inviting you.”
  5. And having thrown off his cloak, he leapt up and went to Jesus.
  6. And answering him, Jesus said: “What do you want Me to do for you?”  And the blind man told Him: “Rabbi, I ask that I might recover my sight.”
  7. And Jesus told him: “Go, your faith has healed you.”  And immediately he recovered his sight, and he was following Him on the road.

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Mark Chapter 11

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The Triumphal Entry
  1. And when they draw near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, He sends out two of His disciples
  2. and tells them: “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately after entering into it you will find a colt *tied, on which no one among men sat yet.  Untie it and bring it here.
  3. “And if anyone says to you: ‘Why are you doing this?’  Reply: ‘Because the Lord has need of it, and He sends it back here soon.”
  4. And they departed and found the colt *tied by the door outside on the street, and they untie it.
  5. And some of the men *standing there were saying to them: “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
  6. And they spoke to them just as Jesus commanded, and they allowed them.
  7. And they bring the colt to Jesus, and they throw their cloaks on it and He sat on it.
  8. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread branches cut from the fields.
  9. And the men preceding Him and the men following Him were crying out: “Hosanna!1“Hosanna”  A Hebrew word transliterated into Greek.  Originally a cry for help roughly translating to “save now!”, it eventually became a cry of adoration and/or exultation.  *Blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord!”2quotation/allusion to Psalm 118:26
  10. “*Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!  Hosanna in the highest!”
  11. And He entered into Jerusalem, into the temple.  And having looked at all things and the hour already being late, He went out into Bethany with the twelve.
The fig tree
  1. And all of them having gone out from Bethany the next day, He was hungry.
  2. And having seen a fig tree having leaves from afar, He went to see if perhaps He will find something on it.  And having come to it, He found nothing except leaves, for it wasn’t the season of figs.
  3. And answering, He told it: “May no one eat fruit from you anymore through the age.”  And His disciples were listening.
Cleansing the temple
  1. And they go into Jerusalem.  And having entered into the temple, He began to cast out the men selling and the men buying in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the chairs of the men selling doves.
  2. And He wasn’t allowing that anyone would carry a vessel through the temple.
  3. And He was teaching and was telling them: “Hasn’t it been written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations‘?3quotation/allusion to Isaiah 56:7  But you have made it a robbers’ den.”4quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 7:11
  4. And the chief priests and the scribes heard this, and were seeking how they might kill Him, for they were fearing Him, for everyone in the crowd was being stunned on account of His teaching.
  5. And when it became evening, they were departing to go outside the city.
Return to the fig tree and prayer
  1. And passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree *withered from the roots up.
  2. And having remembered, Peter says to Him: “Rabbi, look; the fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
  3. And answering, Jesus tells them: “Have faith in God.
  4. “Amen I tell you that whoever says to this mountain: ‘Be removed and cast into the sea’ and didn’t doubt in his heart but believes that what he says happens, it will be so for him.
  5. “Because of this, I tell you that all things whatsoever you pray and ask for, believe that you received it and it will be so for you.
  6. “And when you stand firm in praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive them so your Father in the heavens might also forgive you of your missteps.5“missteps” The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”.  It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) which is also used in Ephesians 2:1 in the phrase: “dead in your ‘paraptóma’ and sins”.  It carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional.
  7. [But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in the heavens forgive your missteps.]”
The Pharisees test Jesus again
  1. And they come again into Jerusalem.  And while He’s walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders come to Him.
  2. And they were saying to Him: “By what sort of authority are you doing these things?  Or who gave you this authority so you might do these things?”
  3. But Jesus told them: “I will ask you one question and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
  4. “The baptism of John; was it from heaven or from men?  Answer Me.”
  5. And they were reasoning to themselves saying: “[What might we say?]  If we say ‘from heaven’, He will say ‘So why didn’t you believe him?’.
  6. “But if we say ‘from men’…” they were fearing the people, for all were holding that John was truly a prophet.
  7. And answering Jesus, they say: “We don’t *know.”  And Jesus tells them: “Then neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.”

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Mark Chapter 12

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The Wicked Vinegrowers
  1. And He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard, and he placed a fence around it, and dug a wine-vat,1a “wine-vat” is where the juice collects after being pressed out in a wine press. and built a tower,2quotation/allusion to Isaiah 5:2 and rented it out to vinegrowers, and went to another country.
  2. “And he sent a slave to the vinegrowers at the proper season so he might receive the fruit of the vineyard from the vinegrowers.
  3. “But having seized him, they beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
  4. “And again he sent another slave to them, and they struck that man on the head and shamefully mistreated him.
  5. “And he sent another and they killed him.  And he sent many others, indeed they are beating some but killing others.
  6. “Even more, he had one beloved son, he sent him to them last, saying: “They will be turned in shame and revere3“will be turned in shame and revere” is one word in Greek.  It means “to turn about”, often in shame or away from shame and to revere something else. my son.”
  7. “Yet those vinegrowers said to themselves: “This is the heir.  Come, we should kill him and the inheritance will be ours.”
  8. “And having seized him, they killed him and threw him outside the vineyard.
  9. “Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do?  He will come and will destroy the vinegrowers and will give the vineyard to others.
  10. “Did you not even read this scripture: “The stone which the men building rejected, this became the head corner stone.
  11. This happened from the Lord, and is marvelous in our eyes.4quotation/allusion to Psalm 118:22-23
  12. And they were seeking to seize Him, and were frightened of the crowd for they knew that He spoke the parable against them.  And having left Him, they departed.
Paying Caesar’s Tax
  1. And they send some of the Pharisees and Herod’s supporters to Him so they might entrap Him in a statement.
  2. And having come, they say to Him: “Teacher, we *know that you are true and you don’t worry about anyone, for you don’t look at the appearance of men, but you teach the way of God in truth.  Is it lawful to pay the poll tax5A “poll tax” (also called a “head tax or “capitation”) is a tax on every liable individual in a nation.  This specific tax was paid yearly, and could only be paid in Roman money, not Jewish money. to Caesar or not?  Should we pay or should we not pay?
  3. But *knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them: “Why are you testing Me?  Bring Me a denarius so I might see it.”
  4. And they brought one, and He says to them: “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?”  And they told Him: “Caesar’s”
  5. And Jesus told them: “Repay the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God.”  And they were marveling on account of Him.
Marriage and the resurrection
  1. And some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) come to Him and were questioning Him, saying:
  2. “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if anyone’s brother dies and leaves a wife behind, and doesn’t leave a child, that his brother should take the wife and raise up seed for his brother.6quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 25:5-6
  3. There were seven brothers, and the first took a wife and before dying he didn’t leave seed.”
  4. “And the second took her and died, not having left behind seed; and the third did likewise.
  5. “And the seven brothers didn’t leave seed.  Last of all, the woman also died.
  6. “In the resurrection when they rise, of them whose wife will she be?  For all seven had her as a wife.”
  7. Jesus was telling them: “Don’t you mislead yourselves because of this: that you haven’t understood the scriptures nor the power of God?”
  8. “For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in the heavens.
  9. “But concerning the dead, that they rise, didn’t you read in the book of Moses how God spoke to him at the bush, saying: “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”7quotation/allusion to Exodus 3:6
  10. “He isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living.  You greatly mislead yourselves.”
The greatest commandment
  1. And having approached, one of the scribes heard them discussing together.  Having seen that He answered them well, he questioned Him: “Which commandment is foremost of all?”
  2. Jesus answered: “The foremost commandment is: Listen O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
  3. And you shall ^love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength.8quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 6:4
  4. The second is this: you shall ^love your neighbor as yourself.9quotation/allusion to Leviticus 19:18  There isn’t another commandment greater than these.”
  5. And the scribe told Him: “Teacher, you spoke nobly on this truth, that He is One and there isn’t another except Him,
  6. “And to ^love Him with your whole heart, and with your whole intellect, and with your whole strength, and to ^love your neighbor as yourself is abundantly better than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
  7. And having seen him – that he answered prudently – Jesus told him: “You aren’t far from the kingdom of God.”  And no one was daring to question Him any longer.
Is the Anointed David’s son?
  1. And answering in teaching, Jesus was saying in the temple: “How are the scribes saying that the Anointed is David’s son?
  2. “David himself said in the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand until I put your enemies underneath your feet.10quotation/allusion to Psalm 110:1
  3. David himself calls Him Lord, and so how is He his son?”  And the numerous crowd was gladly listening to Him.
Of Scribes and widows
  1. And He was saying in His teaching: “Watch out for the scribes, the men wanting to walk about in expensive robes,11“expensive robes” this Greek word refers to a stolé, which was primarily worn by the upper classes. and want greetings in the marketplaces,
  2. and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at suppers;
  3. the men devouring the houses of widows and praying long prayers as a pretense.  These men will receive abundantly more judgement.”
  4. And having sat down opposite the treasury, He was observing how the crowd throws money into the treasury.  And many rich men were throwing in much money.
  5. And having come, one poor widow threw in two lepta, which is equal to a penny.
  6. And having summoned His disciples, He told them: “Amen I tell you that this poor widow threw in more than all the men throwing money into the treasury.
  7. For all others threw in money from their overflow, but she gave from her poverty.  She threw in all of whatever she had; her whole livelihood.

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Mark Chapter 13

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The temple’s destruction foretold
  1. And while He’s departing from the temple, one of His disciples tells Him: “Teacher, behold what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!”
  2. And Jesus told him: “You see these great buildings?  There definitely won’t be one stone left upon another stone here which won’t be torn down.”
  3. And while He’s sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew were questioning Him in private,
  4. “Tell us, when will these things be?  And what’s the sign when all these things are about to be fulfilled?”
  5. And Jesus began to tell them: “Watch out, lest someone misleads you.”
  6. “Many will come in My name saying “I am the Anointed“, and they will mislead many.
  7. “And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be shaken.  It must happen, but it’s not yet the end.
  8. “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be earthquakes in various places.  There will be famines.  These are the beginning of birth pains.
  9. “But you, watch out for yourselves; they will hand you over to the Sanhedrins and to synagogues, you will be flogged, and you will stand before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
  10. “And it’s necessary for the good news to be proclaimed to all nations first.
  11. “And when they lead you away, handing you over, don’t be anxious beforehand about what you might say.  But whatever is given to you in that hour, say that.  For you aren’t the men speaking, but the Holy Spirit is.
  12. “And brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise up against their parents and will put them to death.
  13. “And you will be hated by all men because of My name.  But the man who endured to the end, that man will be saved.
  14. “And when you see the Abomination of Desolation,1quotation/allusion to Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31, and Daniel 12:11 [the one which was spoken of by the prophet Daniel], *standing where it shouldn’t be – let the man reading this understand – then let the men in Judea flee into the mountains.
  15. “Yet the man on the roof must not come down, nor go in to take anything from his house.
  16. “and the man in the field must not turn back to the things behind him to take his cloak.
  17. “But woe to the women having a child in their womb, and to the women nursing in those days.
  18. “And pray that it won’t happen in winter,
  19. “for in those days there will be a tribulation of such a kind that something like it hasn’t happened from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and it definitely won’t happen again.
  20. “And if the Lord didn’t cut those days short, no flesh would be saved.  But for the sake of the elect whom He selected, He cut the days short.
  21. “And then if someone tells you: ‘Look, the Anointed is here’ or ‘Look He is there’, don’t believe him.
  22. “For false anointed ones and false prophets will arise, and they will give signs and wonders in order to mislead the elect, if possible.
  23. “But you, watch out; I have forewarned you of all these things.”
  24. “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon won’t give its light.2quotation/allusion to Isaiah 13:10
  25. And the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.3quotation/allusion to Isaiah 34:4
  26. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with much power and glory.4quotation/allusion to Isaiah 7:13-14
  27. “And then He will send the angels, and He will gather His elect from the four winds;5quotation/allusion to Zechariah 2:6 and Deuteronomy 30:4 from earth’s end as far as heaven’s end.
  28. “And learn from the parable of the fig tree: When its branch at last becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
  29. “In this way also, you know that He is near at the doors when you see these things happening.
  30. “Amen I tell you that this generation definitely won’t pass away until all these things happen.
  31. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words [definitely] won’t pass away.
  32. “But concerning that day or hour, no one *knows except the Father, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son.
  33. “Watch out, be vigilant; for you don’t *know when the time is.
  34. It’s like a man traveling to another country who left his house and gave his slaves authority for each to do his work, and he commanded the doorkeeper that he should keep watch.
  35. “So keep watch, for you don’t *know when the master of the house is coming: whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn,
  36. “lest having come unexpectedly, He might find you sleeping.
  37. “And what I tell you, I tell all men: keep watch.”

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Mark Chapter 14

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The plot to kill Jesus
  1. Now, after two days it would be the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread.  And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might kill Him after having taken Him by covert trickery.
  2. For they were saying: “Not at the feast, lest then there will be a riot among the people.”
The woman anoints Jesus
  1. And Him being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper while He’s reclining at the table, a woman having a very expensive alabaster bottle of scented oil of pure nard came to Him.  Having broken the alabaster bottle, she poured it on His head.
  2. But some were indignant to one another, saying: “For what purpose has this waste of scented oil happened?
  3. “For this scented oil was able to be sold for more than 300 denarii1300 denarii was approximately 1 years’ worth of wages for a laborer, a single denarius being the going wage for a day’s labor. and the money to be given to the poor.”  And they were sternly admonishing her.
  4. But Jesus said: “Leave her alone.  Why do you cause trouble for her?  She did a noble thing to Me.”
  5. “For you always have the poor with you, and you are able to do good to them whenever you want, but you don’t always have Me.
  6. “She did what she was able.  She did this beforehand to anoint My body for embalming.
  7. “And amen I tell you, wherever the good news might be proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be mentioned for a memorial of her.”
Judas plans to betray Jesus
  1. And Judas Iscariot (one of the twelve) departed to the chief priests so he might betray Him to them.
  2. And having heard this, they rejoiced and promised to give him silver.  And he was seeking how he might betray Him at an opportune moment.
Passover preparations
  1. And on the first day of unleavened bread, at the time they were sacrificing the Passover lamb, His disciples say to Him: “Having departed, where do you intend that we should prepare so you might eat the Passover?”
  2. And He sends two of His disciples and tells them: “Go into the city and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you.  Follow him.
  3. “And wherever he enters, tell the master of the house that the teacher says: ‘where is My guest room where I might eat the Passover with My disciples?’
  4. “And he will show you a large upper room that’s *furnished and prepared, and prepare for us there.”
  5. And the disciples went out, and came into the city, and found things just as He told them, and they prepared the Passover.
  6. And it having become evening, He comes with the twelve.
The last supper
  1. And while they’re reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said: “Amen I tell you that one of you will betray Me, the man eating with Me.”
  2. They began to be grieved and to tell Him one-by-one: “Surely not I?”
  3. But He told them: “It’s one of the twelve, the man dipping with Me into the bowl.
  4. “For the Son of Man is indeed departing, just as it’s *written about Him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed.  It would be better for him if that man wasn’t born.”
  5. And while they are eating, having taken bread and spoken a blessing, He broke it, and gave it to them, and said: “Take it, this is My body.”
  6. And having taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them and they all drank from it.
  7. And He told them: “This is My blood of the covenant, the blood poured out for the sake of many.
  8. “Amen I tell you that I definitely won’t drink of the fruit of the vine any longer, until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
  9. And having sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The disciples will stumble
  1. And Jesus tells them: “You all will stumble [because of Me on this night], because it’s *written: “I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.”2quotation/allusion to Zechariah 13:7
  2. “But after I’m raised, I will go before you into Galilee.”
  3. But Peter was declaring to Him: “But I won’t, even if all others will stumble.”
  4. And Jesus tells him: “Amen I tell you that today on this night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.
  5. But he was vehemently saying: “If it’s necessary for me to die with you, I definitely won’t deny you!”  And they all were saying the same thing too.
The Garden of Gethsemane
  1. And they go into a place whose name is Gethsemane, and He tells His disciples: “Sit here while I pray.”
  2. And He takes Peter, and James, and John with Him, and He began to be greatly distressed and troubled.
  3. And He tells them: “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death.  Stay here and keep watch.”
  4. And having gone onwards a little way, He was falling on the ground and was praying that if it’s possible, the hour might pass away from Him.
  5. And He was saying: “Abba,3“Abba” is a Greek form of the Hebrew word for father.  It is a term of greater closeness and familiarity than “father”, though the degree of closeness is widely debated.  Some think “Papa” or “Daddy” is appropriate, while others say that’s is too familiar and prefer “Dad” or perhaps “Pa”.  Some of the latter group prefer to render as an adjective and would translate it “dear father”. Father, all things are possible for you.  Remove this cup from Me, but not what I desire, but what you desire.”
  6. And He comes and finds them sleeping, and He says to Peter: “Simon, are you sleeping?  Weren’t you strong enough to watch for one hour?”
  7. “Keep watch and pray so you won’t enter into temptation.  The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.”
  8. And having departed again He prayed, saying the same word.
  9. And having come again, He found them sleeping for their eyes were burdened, and they hadn’t known how they should answer Him.
  10. And He comes a third time and says to them: “Are you still sleeping and resting?  That’s enough.  The hour has come.  Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinful men.
  11. “Get up, we should go.  Behold, the man betraying Me has drawn near.”
Jesus is arrested
  1. And immediately while He’s still speaking, Judas (one of the twelve) approaches, and with him a crowd armed with swords and clubs from the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders.
  2. Now, the man betraying Him had given them a sign, saying: “Whomever I kiss, He is the one.  Seize Him and take Him away securely.
  3. And having come, he immediately approached Him and says: “Rabbi.”  And he kissed Him.
  4. And they laid hands on Him and seized Him.
  5. But having drawn his sword, one of the men *standing nearby struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.
  6. And answering, Jesus said to them: “Why did you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a violent robber?4“violent robber” is one word in Greek.  It refers to someone who steals through force, as opposed to a burglar or thief who steals through stealth.
  7. “I was with you in the temple every day teaching and you didn’t seize Me.  But this is happening so the scriptures might be fulfilled.”
  8. And having abandoned Him, all of them fled.
  9. And a young man was following Him *clothed only with a linen cloth on his naked body, and they seize him.
  10. But having abandoned the linen cloth, he fled naked.
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
  1. And they led Jesus away to where the high priest, and all the chief priests, and the elders, and the scribes assemble.
  2. And Peter followed Him from afar until he was within5Literally “into within” the courtyard of the high priest.  And he was sitting with the synagogue attendants and warming himself at the fire.
  3. Now, the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin6The Sanhedrin was the highest Jewish court of the day. were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they weren’t finding any.
  4. For many were testifying falsely against Him and their testimonies weren’t identical.
  5. And having stood, some men were testifying falsely against Him, saying:
  6. “We heard Him saying: ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another not made with hands’.”
  7. And not even their testimony on this was identical.
  8. And having stood in their midst, the high priest questioned Jesus saying: “You don’t answer anything to what these men testify against you?”
  9. But He was keeping silent and didn’t answer anything.  Again the high priest was questioning Him and says to Him: “Are you the Anointed, the Son of the Blessed One?”
  10. And Jesus said: “I Am.  And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”7quotation/allusion to Daniel 7:13
  11. And having torn his clothes, the high priest says: “Why would we still have need of witnesses?
  12. “You heard the blasphemy!  How does it appear to you?”  And all condemned Him to be worthy of death.
  13. And some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold His face, and to punch Him, and to tell Him: “Prophesy!”  And the synagogue attendants received Him with slaps.
Peter denies Jesus
  1. And Peter being below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s serving girls comes.
  2. And having seen Peter warming himself and having looked at him, she says: “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”
  3. But he denied it, saying: “I neither *know nor understand what you’re talking about.”  And he went out to the vestibule, [and a rooster crowed].
  4. And having seen him, the serving girl began to say again to the men *standing nearby: “This man is one of them.”
  5. But he was denying it again.  And after a little while, again the men *standing nearby were saying to Peter: “Truly you are one of them, for you’re even a Galilean, [and your speech resembles Galileans].”
  6. But he began to curse and to swear an oath: “I don’t *know this man of whom you’re speaking!”
  7. And immediately a rooster crowed for a second time.  And Peter remembered the word Jesus told him that: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”  And having broken down, he was weeping.

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Mark Chapter 15

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Jesus before Pilate
  1. And having immediately formed a council at dawn, the chief priests with the elders, and scribes and the whole Sanhedrin bound Jesus, carried Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
  2. And Pilate questioned Him: “Are you the King of the Jews?”  And answering him, He says: “You said1“You said” is literally “You say” or “You are saying”.  However, “you said” conveys the idomatic sense better in English it.”
  3. And the chief priests were accusing Him of many things.
  4. And Pilate was questioning Him again, saying: “You don’t answer anything?  Look at how many things they’re accusing you of.”
  5. But Jesus no longer answered anything, so then Pilate began to marvel.
  6. Now at the festival, he would usually release one prisoner to them whom they were requesting.
  7. And there was one man named Barabbas who was *bound with his fellow rebels, who had committed murder in the rebellion.
  8. And having risen, the crowd began to ask him to do just as he usually was doing for them.
  9. But Pilate answered them saying: “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews for you?”
  10. For he was recognizing that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
  11. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so he might release Barabbas to them instead.
  12. And answering again, Pilate was saying to them: “Then what should I do to the One whom you call the King of the Jews?”
  13. And again they cried out: “Crucify Him!”
  14. But Pilate was saying to them: “For what evil that He did?”  But they cried out “Crucify Him!” abundantly more.
  15. And Pilate – resolving to do what was acceptable to the crowd – released Barabbas to them.  And having flogged Jesus, he handed Him over so He would be crucified.
Jesus is mocked and crucified
  1. Now, the soldiers led Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and assemble the whole cohort.2“cohort”.  The cohort was a basic unit of the Roman military, which consisted of 480 soldiers plus 120 servants.  A standard cohort was comprised of 6 “centuries”, which consisted of 80 men plus 20 servants.  However, the first cohort in every Roman Legion was composed of five double strength centuries, or 800 soldiers plus 200 servants.
  2. And they clothe Him in purple, and having braided a crown of thorns, they put it on Him.
  3. And they began to greet Him: “Hail King of the Jews!”
  4. And they were hitting His head with a reed and were spitting on Him; and bending the knees, they were bowing down to Him.
  5. And when they had mocked Him, they stripped the purple robe off of Him and clothed Him in His [own] clothes.  And they lead Him out so they might crucify Him.
  6. And they compel a man coming from the country and passing by – Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus –  so that he would carry His cross.
  7. And they bring Him to Golgotha, the place which is translated: “Place of a Skull.”
  8. And they were offering Him wine *mixed with myrrh, but He didn’t take it.
  9. And after crucifying Him, they also distribute His clothes, casting a lot for them to see who should take what.
  10. Now it was the third hour3The third hour is approximately 9 in the morning. and they crucified Him.
  11. And there was a *written inscription of the charge against Him: “The King of the Jews”
  12. And they crucify two robbers with Him, one on His right hand and one on His left.
  13. [And the scripture was fulfilled, the one saying: “And He was counted with the lawless.”]4quotation to Isaiah 53:12
  14. And the men passing by were slandering Him, shaking their heads, and saying: “Aha!  You’re the man destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days.
  15. Having descended from the cross, save yourself.”
  16. In a similar way also, the chief priests with the scribes are mocking Him to one another and were saying: “He saved others; He isn’t able to save Himself.
  17. “The Anointed, the King of Israel!  Let Him come down from the cross now so we might see and believe.”  And the men who were *crucified with Him were insulting Him.
The death of Jesus
  1. And it having become the sixth hour,5The sixth hour is about noon darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.6The ninth hour is approximately 3 in the afternoon
  2. And at the ninth hour, Jesus called out in a loud voice: “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”, which is translated: “My God, My God, why did you abandon Me?”7quotation/allusion to Psalm 22:1
  3. And having heard this, some of the men *standing nearby were saying: “Behold, He calls for Elijah.”
  4. And having run up, and filled a sponge with vinegar, and wrapped it around a reed, one of them was giving Him a drink, saying: “Leave Him alone; we’ll see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”
  5. But having uttered a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last.
  6. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
  7. And having seen that He breathed His last this way, the centurion *standing opposite Him said: “Truly this man was God’s Son.”
  8. Now, there were also women watching from afar, among whom were also Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Little and Joseph, and Salome.
  9. (Women who were following Him and were serving Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women came up with Him to Jerusalem.)
The burial of Jesus
  1. And it already having become evening, since it was the Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),
  2. having come, Joseph of Arimathea – a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who himself was also awaiting the kingdom of God – boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
  3. But Pilate wondered if He already *died.  And having summoned the centurion, he asked him if He already died.
  4. And having learned the answer from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
  5. And having bought a fine linen cloth and taken Him down, he wrapped Him in the fine linen cloth and put Him in a tomb which was *cut out of a rock.  And he rolled a stone onto the door of the tomb.
  6. Now, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph were watching where He was *laid.

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Mark Chapter 16

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The empty tomb
  1. And the Sabbath having passed, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that having gone to the tomb, they might anoint Him.
  2. And they go to the tomb very early on the first day of the week, the sun having already risen.
  3. And they were saying among themselves: “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”
  4. And having looked up, they see that the stone has been rolled away (for it was exceedingly large).
  5. And having entered into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right *clothed with a white robe and they were alarmed.
  6. And he tells them: “Don’t be alarmed.  You seek Jesus the Nazarene, the One who has been crucified.  He was raised!  He isn’t here!  Behold, the place where they laid Him.
  7. “But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you into Galilee.  You will see Him there, just as He told you.”
  8. And having gone out, they fled from the tomb, for trembling and amazement was gripping them.  And they said nothing to anyone, for they were frightened.
The disputed “Longer ending” of Mark

Translator’s note1Modern scholarly consensus is that verses 9-20 were added to the Gospel of Mark at a very early date and weren’t original to Mark.  To support this, they will point out that this passage isn’t present in the earliest copies of the New Testament, and that some early church fathers (such as Eusebius) explicitly reject it.  Further, some manuscripts which include it suggest that it’s absent from even earlier manuscripts.  The existence of the “intermediate ending” (see note on the following section) is also cited as evidence against it being original.  The typical reason offered for the addition is because Mark ending at verse 8 seems unfinished and unsatisfying.  On the other side, those who favor its inclusion will cite Irenaeus (circa ~180) who quotes it as scripture, and who is earlier that our earliest manuscripts.  They will also point out that it’s present in the vast majority of manuscripts, including many early manuscripts.

  1. Now, having arisen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.
  2. Having gone, that woman reported it to the men who had been with Him, who were mourning and weeping.
  3. And having heard that He lives and was seen by her, those men disbelieved her.
  4. And after these things, He appeared in another form to two of them while they’re walking, traveling into the country.
  5. And having gone, those men reported it to the rest, and they didn’t believe them either.
  6. But later while they are reclining at the table, He appeared to the eleven and rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart because they didn’t believe the men who saw Him *risen [from the dead].
  7. And He told them: “Having gone into the entire world, proclaim the good news to all creation.
  8. “The man who believed and was baptized will be saved, but the man who disbelieved will be condemned.
  9. “Now, these signs will follow the men who believed: They will cast out demons in My name, they will speak new tongues,
  10. and they will pick up snakes [with their hands], and if they drink anything deadly, it definitely won’t hurt them.  They will lay hands on the sick and they will be well.”
  11. Therefore after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was indeed taken up into heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God.
  12. And having gone out, those men proclaimed everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the signs following them.
The highly disputed “intermediate ending” of Mark

Translator’s note2There is essentially no scholarly support for this “intermediate ending” being original to Mark, and the overwhelming vast majority of translations don’t include it.  It has only been included here for completeness.  This ending’s existence has been cited as evidence that Mark ended at verse 8.  The reasoning is because if Mark ended at verse 20, then there would be no reason for this section to exist in the first place.

  • [And they concisely proclaimed all these things which were *instructed to Peter and the men with him.  And through them from east to west, Jesus Himself sent out the sacred and imperishable proclamation of the salvation of ages.  Amen.]

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Luke

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Luke Chapter 1

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Luke’s preface
  1. Insomuch as many put their hand to compose a complete narrative concerning the matters which have been accomplished among us,
  2. just as the men who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning delivered them to us;
  3. it also seemed good to me – having carefully *investigated all things from the beginning – to write them to you in consecutive order, noblest Theophilus,
  4. so you might know the reliability of the matters about which you were orally instructed.
John the Baptizer’s birth foretold
  1. In the days of King Herod, there was a Judean priest named Zechariah from Abijah’s division of priests, and his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
  2. And both were righteous in the sight of God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
  3. And there was no child for them because Elizabeth was barren and both of them were *advanced in their years.
  4. Now, it happened when he was to serve as a priest in the presence of God in the order of his division of priests
  5. according to the custom of the priesthood, he obtained by lot to burn incense after having entered into the temple of the Lord.
  6. And all the multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
  7. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, *standing to the right of the altar of incense.
  8. And having seen him, Zechariah was deeply shaken and fear fell upon him.
  9. And the angel told him: “Don’t fear Zechariah, because your prayer was heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son for you, and you shall call his name John.
  10. “And he will be a source of joy and ecstatic delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
  11. “for he will be great in the Lord’s sight, and he definitely shouldn’t drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
  12. “And he will return many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
  13. “And he will go before Him in Elijah’s power and spirit to return the fathers’ hearts to the children,1quotation/allusion to Malachi4:5-6 and the disobedient to the prudence of the righteous, to make ready a people *prepared for the Lord.”
  14. And Zechariah said to the angel: “By what sign will I know this?  For I’m an old man and my wife is *advanced in her years.
  15. And answering, the angel told him: “I am Gabriel who has stood before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to announce these glad tidings to you.
  16. “And behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until that day when these things happen, because you didn’t believe my words which will be fulfilled in their season.”
  17. And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were marveling at the delay in his temple service.
  18. And having gone out, he wasn’t able to speak to them.  And they recognized that he has seen a vision in the temple.  And he was signing to them and was remaining mute.
  19. And it happened that when the days of his priestly service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
  20. Now after these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and was hiding herself for five months, saying:
  21. “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days in which He favorably regarded me, to cut off my disgrace among men.”
Jesus birth foretold
  1. Now, in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee which had the name Nazareth,
  2. to a virgin *betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, from the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
  3. And having come to her, he said: “Greetings, you have been given grace.  The Lord is with you.  [You have been blessed among women.]
  4. Yet she was perplexed and deeply shaken2“perplexed and deeply shaken” this is one word in Greek, which refers to inner agitation that produces confusion and troubles the person. by the statement, and was confusedly pondering what kind of greeting this may be.
  5. And the angel told her: “Don’t be frightened Mary, for you found grace with God.
  6. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.
  7. “He will be great, and will be called Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
  8. “And He will rule over the house of Jacob through the ages, and there won’t be an end to His kingdom.”
  9. And Mary said to the angel: “How will this be?  Since I’m not knowing a man intimately.”
  10. And answering, the angel told her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  And for this reason, the holy child born will be called the Son of God.
  11. “And behold your relative Elizabeth; she also has conceived a son in her old age.  And this is the sixth month for the woman called ‘barren’,
  12. “because no word from God will be impossible.”
  13. And Mary said: “Behold, the Lord’s slave; may it happen to me according to your word.”  And the angel departed from her.
Mary visits Elizabeth
  1. And having arisen in those days, Mary travelled into the hill country with enthusiastic haste, into a city of Judah.
  2. And she entered into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
  3. And it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leapt.  And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
  4. and she called out with a loud outcry and said: “You are *blessed among women and *blessed is the fruit of your womb!
  5. “And from where was this honor bestowed on me, that the mother of my Lord might come to me?
  6. “For behold, when the voice of your greeting entered into my ears, the baby in my womb leapt in ecstatic delight.
  7. “And blessed is the woman who believed that there will be a fulfillment to the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.”
  8. And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
  9. “and my spirit jumped for joy in God my savior,
  10. “because He looked with favor on the humiliation of His slave.  For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed,
  11. “because the Mighty One did great things for me, and holy is His name.
  12. “And His mercy lasts for generations and generations to the men fearing Him.3quotation/allusion to Psalm 103:17
  13. “He did a mighty work by His arm, He scattered those who were haughty in the reasoning of their heart.
  14. “He tore down rulers from thrones and raised up the humble.
  15. “He filled hungry men with good things, and sent away rich men empty.
  16. “He helped His servant boy Israel in remembrance of His mercy,
  17. “just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed through the age.”
  18. And Mary stayed with her for about three months and then returned to her home.
John is born
  1. Now for Elizabeth, the time for her to give birth was completed and she bore a son.
  2. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord magnified His mercy with her, and they were rejoicing with4“rejoicing with” could also mean “congratulating”; either meaning or both could be intended. her.
  3. And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child.  And they were calling him Zechariah after the name of his father.
  4. And answering, his mother said: “Absolutely not.  Rather, he will be called John.”
  5. And they said to her: “There’s no one from your family who is called by this name.”
  6. And they were gesturing to his father to learn what he may want him to be called.
  7. And having requested a writing tablet, he wrote saying: “His name is John.”  And they all marveled.
  8. And instantly his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he was speaking, blessing God.
  9. And fear came upon all the men neighboring them, and all these words were being discussed in the whole hill country of Judea.
  10. And all the men who heard it put it in their heart, saying: “So then, what will this child be?”  For also, the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah prophesies
  1. And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying:
  2. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel because He looked after and made redemption5“redemption” this Greek word properly refers to paying the price needed to release someone from prison or debt, and especially the price paid to free a slave. for His people,
  3. “and He raised a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant boy David,
  4. “just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from of old:
  5. salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all the men hating us6“quotation/allusion to Psalm 106:10
  6. “to accomplish mercy with our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
  7. “to grant us the oath that He swore to our father Abraham,
  8. that having been rescued from the hand of our enemies, we would be able to serve Him without fear
  9. “in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
  10. “And you child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,7quotation/allusion to Malachi 3:1
  11. “to offer knowledge of salvation to His people by the forgiveness of their sins.
  12. “through the compassionate tender mercies of our God, by which He will look after us like a sunrise from on high,
  13. to illuminate the men in darkness and those sitting in the shadow of death,8quotation/allusion to Isaiah 9:2 to make straight our feet in the way of peace.”
  14. Now, the child was growing and was strengthening in spirit, and he was in the wilderness places until the day of his proclamation to Israel.

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Luke Chapter 2

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Jesus is born
  1. Now in those days, it happened that an edict went out from Caesar Augustus to register all of the inhabited world.1“inhabited world” is one word in Greek, and is more literally “the world inhabited by Romans”.  This Greek word originally referred to those who lived in Greece, excluding all others.  Later – after they were absorbed into the Roman Empire – it came to mean those who lived in the Roman Empire, excluding those outside it.  However, it’s occasionally used in a broader context to mean the entire inhabited world.
  2. This was the first registration that happened during Quirinius’s governing Syria.
  3. And all were going to be registered, each man to his own city.
  4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth into Judea, into the city of David which is called Bethlehem because of him being from David’s house and lineage,
  5. to register with Mary, the woman who was *betrothed to him, her being pregnant.
  6. And when they are there, it happened that the days for her to give birth were completed.
  7. And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there wasn’t a place for them in the inn.
Shepherds and angels
  1. And some shepherds were in the same region, spending the night in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
  2. And an angel of the Lord stood over them, and the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were frightened with great fear.
  3. And the angel told them: “Don’t fear, for behold; I am proclaiming good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people,
  4. “because a savior was born for you today in David’s city, who is the Anointed, the Lord.
  5. “And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby *wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
  6. And suddenly, a multitude of the heavenly army was with the angel, praising God and saying:
  7. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among the men who please Him.2“who please Him” is literally “of His good pleasure” or “of His delight”, and such good pleasure is caused by living lives that are pleasing to Him.  It should be noted that grammatically in Greek, the peace is only wished on those “who please Him”, and not on all men generally.
  8. And it happened that when the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds were saying to one another: “We should definitely go as far as Bethlehem and see this thing which *happened, which the Lord made known to us!”
  9. And having hastened, they went and found both Mary and Joseph, and also the baby lying in the manger.
  10. And having seen this, they made it known about the matter which was spoken to them concerning this child.
  11. And all the men who heard marveled concerning the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
  12. But Mary was keeping all these matters to herself, pondering them in her heart.
  13. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God on account of all the things which they heard and saw, just as it was told to them.
Jesus in the temple as an infant
  1. And when the eight days before His circumcision3quotation/allusion to Leviticus 12:3 were completed, then His name was called Jesus; the name He was called by the angel before His conception in the womb.
  2. And when the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses,4quotation/allusion to Leviticus 12:4-6  they brought Him up into Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord,
  3. (just as it’s *written in the Lord’s law that: “Every male opening a womb shall be called holy to the Lord“)5quotation/allusion to Numbers 3:13
  4. and to offer a sacrifice according to what was *spoken in the law of the Lord; a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.6quotation/allusion to Leviticus 12:8
  5. And behold, a man was in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.  And this man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
  6. And it was *revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he wasn’t to see death before he saw the Lord’s Anointed.
  7. And led by the Spirit, he came into the temple when the parents of the child also brought Jesus to do for Him according to what was *customary under the law.
  8. And he welcomed Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:
  9. “Master, now you are dismissing your slave in peace according to your word,
  10. “because my eyes saw your salvation
  11. “which you prepared before the face of all peoples;
  12. “a light for the revelation to the gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel.”
  13. And His father and mother were marveling on account of the things said about Him.
  14. And Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: “Behold, this One is appointed for the ruin and resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign to be hostilely disputed.
  15. “And also, a large sword will go through your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”
  16. And there was a prophetess; Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was greatly *advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her virginity ended.
  17. And she was a widow until 84 years old, who wasn’t departing from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
  18. And having been present at that hour, she was giving thanks to God and was speaking about Him to all the men expectantly waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
  19. And when they accomplished all things according to the Lord’s law, they returned to Galilee, into their city Nazareth.
Jesus in the temple as a boy
  1. Now, the child was growing and was becoming strong, being filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was upon Him.
  2. And His parents were traveling to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover.
  3. And when He became twelve years old, they go up according to the custom of the feast.
  4. And having finished the days of the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem during their return, but His parents didn’t know.
  5. And having thought Him to be in their caravan, they went a day’s journey and were carefully seeking Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
  6. And having not found Him, they returned to Jerusalem, carefully seeking Him.
  7. And it happened that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and questioning them.
  8. And all the men listening to Him were marveling on account of His understanding and answers.
  9. And having seen Him, they were dumbfounded.  And His mother said to Him: “Child, why did you do this to us?  Behold, your father and I were being tormented while we were seeking you.”
  10. And He said to them: “Why7Literally “because why” were you seeking Me?  Hadn’t you known that it’s necessary for Me to be in My Father’s house?”
  11. And they didn’t understand the statement that He spoke to them.
  12. And He went down with them and came into Nazareth, and He was submitting Himself to them.  And His mother was carefully keeping all these matters in her heart.
  13. And Jesus was advancing in wisdom, and maturity, and grace with God and men.

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Luke Chapter 3

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John the Baptizer’s message
  1. Now, in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign – with Pontius Pilate governing Judea and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother being tetrarch over the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias being tetrarch of Abilene –
  2. during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to Zechariah’s son John in the wilderness.
  3. And he went into all the region neighboring the Jordan River, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
  4. as it’s *written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice crying in the wilderness: prepare the Lord’s way, make His paths straight.”
  5. Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill will be brought low; and the crooked will be straight, and the rough ways made into smooth ways.
  6. And all flesh will see the salvation of God.”1quotation/allusion to Isaiah 40:3-5
  7. So he was telling the crowds traveling out to be baptized by him: “You offspring of vipers, who forewarned you to flee from the wrath which is about to come.
  8. “Therefore, produce fruit befitting repentance.  And don’t begin to say in yourselves: ‘We have Abraham as a father’, for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
  9. “And also, the axe is already laid near the root of the tree.  Therefore, every tree not producing good fruit is cut off and thrown into the fire.”
  10. And the crowds were questioning him, saying: “So what should we do?”
  11. And answering, he was telling them: “Let the man who has two tunics share with the man who doesn’t have one, and let the man who has food do the same.”
  12. And also, some tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him: “Teacher, what should we do?”
  13. And he said to them: “Collect nothing more beyond the tax which was prescribed for you to collect.”
  14. And also some men serving as soldiers were asking him, saying: “What should we also do?”  And he told them: “You should extort or intimidate2“extort or intimidate” is one word in Greek which can mean either, thus both definitions were included.  Further, “intimidate” would mean in the sense of using the threat of force to induce unlawful compliance. no man, nor should you falsely accuse or defraud3“falsely accuse or defraud” is one word in Greek which can mean either, thus both definitions were included. anyone.  Also, be satisfied with your wages.”
  15. And all the people are thinking and reasoning in their hearts about John, whether or not he may be the Anointed.
  16. John answered, saying to all: “I indeed baptize you with water, but One mightier than I is coming; He who I’m not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals.  He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.
  17. “He whose winnowing fork4“winnowing fork” is a literal translation of the Greek word here. A “winnowing fork” is used for “winnowing”. Winnowing is the process of separating the useful/edible grain from the useless chaff. Chaff is the husks and stem fragments of a grain plant that are useless for anything. You “winnow” by using a winnowing fork to throw the mixture up into the air. The wind blows away the lighter chaff, while the heavier grain falls back down to be collected. This process was done on a “threshing floor”, which had to be cleaned prior to use because food was prepared (winnowed) there. is in His hand to thoroughly cleanse His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”
  18. So exhorting them with many other things, he was proclaiming the good news to the people.
  19. But Herod the Tetrarch, being convicted by him concerning Herodias (the wife of his brother) and concerning all the evils that Herod did,
  20. he also added this on top of all: he confined John in prison.
The baptism and genealogy of Jesus
  1. Now, it happened that among the baptisms of all the people, Jesus was also baptized. And while He’s praying, heaven was opened
  2. and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son. In you I am well-pleased.”
  3. And Jesus was about thirty years old when beginning His ministry, being – as it was supposed – a son of Joseph, son of Heli,
  4. son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,
  5. son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,
  6. son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Joseph, son of Judah,
  7. son of Joannan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,
  8. son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,
  9. son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,
  10. son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,
  11. son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,
  12. son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon,
  13. son of Amminadab, [son of Admin,] son of Ram,5“Ram” some of the manuscripts which “son of Admin” have “Arni” instead of Ram son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah.
  14. son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,
  15. son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Herber, son of Shelah.
  16. son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,
  17. son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan,
  18. son of Enosh, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

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Luke Chapter 4

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The temptation of Jesus
  1. And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was being led by the Spirit into the wilderness
  2. for forty days, being tempted by the Accuser.1“Accuser” The Greek word used here is “διάβολος” (diabolos), and it’s the root of our English word “devil”.  Much like “Christ” (see note on Matt 1:1) it isn’t a name but a descriptive title.  And He ate nothing in those days, and having completed them, He hungered.
  3. And the Accuser said to Him: “If you are God’s Son, command this stone so it might become bread.”
  4. And Jesus answered to him: “It is *written that: Man shall not live on bread alone, [but on every word from God.]2quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 8:3
  5. And having led Him [up to a high mountain], he showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a single moment of time.
  6. And the Accuser said to Him: “I will give authority over all this to you, and its glory, because it has been handed over to me and I could give it to whoever I desire.
  7. “Therefore, all this will be yours if you worship me.”
  8. And answering, Jesus told him: “It is *written: You shall worship the Lord your God and you shall serve Him only.”3quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 10:20[
  9. And he led Him to Jerusalem, and stood Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and told Him: “If you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here.
  10. “For it is *written that: “He will give orders to His angels concerning you, to carefully guard you.”4quotation/allusion to Psalm 91:11
  11. Also, “They will raise you up on their hands, so you don’t ever strike your foot against a stone.”5quotation/allusion to Psalm 91:12
  12. And answering, Jesus told him: “It has been spoken: You shall not test the Lord your God.”6quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 6:16
  13. And having finished every temptation, the Accuser departed from Him until an opportune time.
Jesus is rejected in His hometown
  1. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee and a report about Him went out into the whole region.
  2. And He was teaching in their synagogues, being esteemed by all.
  3. And He came to Nazareth where He was *raised.  And according to His *custom, He entered into the synagogue on the Sabbaths and stood up to read.
  4. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him.  And having unrolled the scroll, He found the place where it was *written:
  5. The Lord’s Spirit is upon Me, because of which He anointed Me to proclaim the good news to the poor.  He has sent Me [to heal the *crushed in heart], to proclaim a pardon to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; to release the oppressed with a pardon,
  6. to proclaim a year of the Lord’s favor.”7quotation/allusion to Isaiah 61:1-2
  7. And having rolled up the scroll, He handed it to synagogue attendant.  He sat down and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
  8. And He began to say to them: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
  9. And all were testifying about Him and were marveling at the graceful words coming from His mouth.  And they were saying: “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”8“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”.  The negation in this phrase is emphatic.
  10. And He said to them: “Doubtless you will quote this proverb to Me: Physician, heal yourself.  Whatever we heard of that’s happening in Capernaum, also do it here in your hometown.”
  11. But He said: “Amen I tell you that no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.
  12. “But in truth I tell you that there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was shut up for three years and six months,9quotation/allusion to 1 Kings 17:1 when the famine became great on all the land.
  13. “And Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to a woman who was a widow in Zarephath of the land of Sidon. 10quotation/allusion to 1 Kings 17:9
  14. “And there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet and not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 11quotation/allusion to 2 Kings 5:1-14
  15. And hearing these things, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.
  16. And having risen, they threw Him out of the city and led Him away as far as the ridge of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him over the cliff.
  17. But having walked through their midst, He was departing.
Jesus casts out a demon
  1. And He went down into Capernum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbaths.
  2. And they were stunned by His teaching because His message was with authority.
  3. And a man having the spirit of an unclean demon was in the synagogue, and he cried out in a loud voice:
  4. “Ah!12“Ah!”  An expression of surprise, fear, and sometimes indignation.  What’s between us and you Jesus of Nazareth?  Did you come to destroy us?  I *know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
  5. And Jesus rebuked him, saying: “Be silent and come out of him.”  And the demon having thrown him into their midst, it came out of him; not having injured him at all.
  6. And astonishment came upon all of them, and they were discussing with one another, saying: “What a word this is, because He commands the unclean spirits in authority and power, and they come out!”
  7. And a report about Him was spreading abroad into every area of the neighboring region.
Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and many others
  1. And having risen from the synagogue, He entered into the house of Simon.  Now, Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they requested of Him concerning her.
  2. And having stood over her, He rebuked the fever and it left her.  And having instantly arisen, she was serving them.
  3. And during the setting of the sun, everyone who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to Him.  And putting His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.
  4. And demons were also going out from many, crying out and saying: “You are the Son of God.”  And rebuking them, He wasn’t allowing them to speak because they had known Him to be the Anointed.
  5. And having gone out once it became day, He traveled into a solitary place and the crowds were seeking Him.  And they came to Him and were holding Him back so He wouldn’t depart from them.
  6. But He said to them: “It’s necessary for Me to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to other cities too, because I was sent on account of this.
  7. And He was proclaiming in the synagogues of Judea.

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Luke Chapter 5

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Jesus calls Simon Peter
  1. Now, it happened during the crowd’s pressing on Him to also hear the word of God, that He was *standing beside the lake of Gennesaret.
  2. And He saw two boats *standing beside the lake.  And having disembarked from them, the fishermen were washing the nets.
  3. And having embarked into one of the boats – which was Simon’s – He asked him to put out to sea a short distance from the land.  And having sat down, He was teaching the crowds from the boat.
  4. And when He ceased speaking, He said to Simon: “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
  5. And answering, Simon said: “Master, we caught nothing despite having exhausted ourselves working through the whole night.  But on account of your word, I will lower the nets.”
  6. And having done this, they enclosed an enormous multitude of fishes, and their nets were tearing.
  7. And they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come assist them.  And they came and filled both boats so they both were almost sinking.
  8. And having seen this, Simon Peter fell down before Jesus’s knees, saying: “Go away from me Lord, because I’m a sinful man.”
  9. For astonishment had gripped him and all the men with him on account of the catch of fish which they took,
  10. and James and John – the sons of Zebedee who were partners with Simon – were also likewise astonished.  And Jesus said to Simon: “Don’t be frightened; from now on you will be catching men.”
  11. And having beached the boats on the land and left everything behind, they followed Him.
Jesus heals a leper
  1. And it happened during His being in one of the cities that behold: there was a man full of leprosy.  And having seen Jesus and fallen on his face, he begged Him saying: “Lord you are able to cleanse me if you want to.”
  2. And having extended His hand, He touched him, saying: “I want to; be cleansed.”  And the leprosy immediately departed from him.
  3. And He instructed him to tell no one, but said: “Having departed, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifice concerning your cleansing, just as Moses commanded1quotation/allusion to Leviticus 14:1-32 for a testimony to them.
  4. But the report about Him was spreading more, and many crowds were coming together to hear Him and to be healed from their sicknesses.
  5. Yet He was withdrawing into the wilderness and praying.
Jesus forgives sins and heals a paralyzed man
  1. And it happened during one of the days that He was teaching, that sitting nearby were some Pharisees and teachers of the law who were *coming from every village of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem.  And the Lord’s power was there for Him to heal.
  2. And behold: there are men carrying a man on a bed-mat who was *paralyzed, and they were seeking to carry him in and to put him before Him.
  3. And not having found a way they might carry him in because of the crowd, having gone up onto the roof, they lowered him with the bed-mat through the roofing tiles into the crowd’s midst before Jesus.
  4. And having seen their faith, He said: “Man, your sins have been forgiven you.”
  5. And the scribes and Pharisees began to reason, saying: “Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?”
  6. And having known their reasonings, answering Jesus said to them: “Why do you reason in your hearts?
  7. “Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins have been forgiven you’, or to say: ‘Rise and walk’?
  8. “But so you might *know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins–”  He said to the *paralyzed man:  “–I tell you: rise; and having picked up your bed-mat, go to your house.”
  9. And having instantly risen before them and having picked up the bed-mat on which he was lying, he departed to his house, glorifying God.
  10. And astonishment seized all, and they were glorifying God and were filled with reverent fear, saying: “We saw wonderfully strange things today.”
Jesus calls Levi (Matthew)
  1. And after these things, He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax collector’s booth and said to him: “Follow Me.”
  2. And having abandoned everything and risen, he was following Him.
  3. And Levi made a great feast for Him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them at the table.
  4. And the Pharisees and their scribes were grumbling at His disciples, saying: “Why are you eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”
  5. And answering, Jesus said to them: “The men who are well have no need of a physician, but the men who are sick do.
  6. “I haven’t come to call righteous men, but sinful men to repentance.”
  7. And they said to Him: “John’s disciples are frequently fasting and doing prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do likewise.  But your disciples are eating and drinking.”
  8. And Jesus said to them: “You aren’t able to make the groomsmen2 “groomsmen” is literally “sons of the bridal chamber”.  In that age, this referred to the men who helped the groom prepare whatever was needed for the wedding, especially the “bridal chamber” (honeymoon suite).  The closest modern equivalent is groomsmen. fast while the bridegroom is with them, are you?
  9. “But the days will also come when the bridegroom was taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”
  10. And He was telling a parable to them: “Having torn a patch from a new garment, no one puts it on an old garment.  And if they do otherwise, the new will also tear and the old garment won’t match the patch from the new.
  11. “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins.  And if they do otherwise, the new wine will tear the wineskins and it will be spilled out, and the wineskins will be ruined.
  12. “But new wine must be put into new wineskins.
  13. “And having drunk the old wine, no one wants the new; for he says ‘The old is better’.”

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Luke Chapter 6

Luke Chapter 7

Luke Chapter 8

Luke Chapter 9

Luke Chapter 10

Luke Chapter 11

Luke Chapter 12

Luke Chapter 13

Luke Chapter 14

Luke Chapter 15

Luke Chapter 16

Luke Chapter 17

Luke Chapter 18

Luke Chapter 19

Luke Chapter 20

Luke Chapter 21

Luke Chapter 22

Luke Chapter 23

Luke Chapter 24

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John

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John Chapter 1

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The Word
  1. In the beginning, the Word was existing;1The Greek verb translated “was existing” here and throughout the chapter is in the imperfect ‘tense’, indicating an ongoing action. It’s typically rendered “was” here, but that tends to indicate a past tense completed action, not an ongoing action. The difference is significant here, as the ongoing existence of the Word (Jesus) is central to the idea Him having no beginning. Further, the verb form here is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew verb in God’s “I Am” statement from Exodus 3:14. and the Word was existing with God and the Word was existing as God.
  2. He was existing in the beginning with God.
  3. All things came into existence through Him; and apart from Him, not even one thing that came into existence has come into existence.
  4. Life was existing in Him, and the life was existing as the light of men.
  5. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness didn’t grasp it.
  6. Having been sent from God, a man came into existence; his name was John.
  7. He came as a witness so he might testify about the light, so all might believe through him.
  8. He wasn’t existing as the light, but came so he might witness about the light.
  9. The true light was existing, which illuminates every man coming into the world. 2John 1:9 verse note: This verse is interpreted differently, with some translations (such as KJV/NKJV) rendering it substantially similar to the BOS Bible, and many others rendering it something like this: “The true light, which illuminates every man, was coming into the world“. This second translation is less plausible because the participle “coming” is in the accusative masculine just like the Greek words “all” and “man”, while the word “light” is in the nominative neuter. The rules of Greek would thus seem to prohibit linking “coming” with “the light” because of gender and case disagreement. Further, the case, gender, and number match seems to clearly link “coming” with “every man”. Additionally, the verb “was existing” is very widely separated from “coming” with no linking mechanism between them.
  10. He was existing in the world, and the world came into existence through Him, and the world didn’t know Him.
  11. He came to His own, and His own didn’t receive Him.
  12. But as many as received Him, He gave them authority to become children of God: the men who believe in His name,
  13. who were born not from blood, nor from fleshly desire, nor from man’s will, but from God.
  14. And the Word became flesh and encamped among us, and we gazed at His glory; glory as the only unique One3“only unique” The Greek word here doesn’t quite mean “only”; it means “only one in its class” or “unique of its kind.” Outside the Bible it has been used of the only legitimate heir of a monarch, as opposed to other children from concubines (slave wives in the Bible) who weren’t eligible to inherit. from the Father, full of grace and truth.
  15. John testifies about Him, and he has cried out saying: “This is He of whom I said: “The One who comes after me *is before me, because He was existing before me.” “
  16. Because from His fullness we all received grace in exchange for grace.
  17. Because the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus the Anointed.
  18. No one has even seen God at any time; the only unique God4“only unique” See note on verse 14. – the One who’s in the bosom of the Father – He explained Him.
The Testimony of John
  1. And this is the testimony of John when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him so they might ask him: “Who are you?”
  2. And he confessed, and didn’t deny, and he confessed that: “I’m not the Anointed.”
  3. And they asked him: “What then, are you Elijah?” And he says: “I’m not.” They asked: “Are you the prophet?” And he answered: “No.”
  4. Therefore they said to him: “Who are you? So we might give an answer to the men who sent us, what do you say about yourself?”
  5. He was declaring: “I’m a voice calling in the wilderness: “Make the Lord’s path straight5Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 40:3 just as Isaiah the prophet said.”
  6. And those men were *sent by the Pharisees.
  7. And they asked him and said to him: “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Anointed, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
  8. John answered them saying: “I baptize in water; yet in your midst *stands He who you don’t *know,
  9. “the One coming after me; He of whom I’m not worthy, even that I might untie the strap of His sandal.”
  10. These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
  11. The next day, he sees Jesus coming to him and says: “Behold, the Lamb of God; the One who takes away the sin of the world!”
  12. “It’s He about whom I said: “After me comes a man who *is before me because He was existing before me.”
  13. “And I hadn’t known Him, but I came baptizing with water so He might be revealed to Israel through this.”
  14. And John testified saying: “I have gazed at the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and He remained on Him.”
  15. “And I hadn’t known Him, but the One who sent me to baptize in water, He told me: “He on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him; He is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.”
  16. “And I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
Jesus calls disciples
  1. The next day, John had been standing there again with two of his disciples.
  2. And having seen Jesus walking, he says: “Behold the Lamb of God.”
  3. And the two disciples heard him speaking and followed Jesus.
  4. And Jesus – having turned and observed them following Him – He says to them: “What do you seek?” And they told Him: “Rabbi–” (which is translated ‘teacher’) “–where are you staying?”
  5. He tells them: “Come and you will see.” Therefore, they went and saw where He is staying and they stayed with Him that day. It was about the tenth hour.
  6. Andrew (the brother of Simon Peter) was one of the two who heard from John and followed Him.
  7. He first finds his own brother Simon and says to him: “We have found the Messiah.” (Which is translated ‘the Anointed’)
  8. He led him to Jesus. Having gazed at him, Jesus said: “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas.” (which means ‘Peter’)
  9. The next day, He wanted to depart into Galilee. And Jesus finds Philip and tells him: “Follow me.”
  10. And Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
  11. Philip finds Nathaniel and tells him: “We have found He of whom Moses wrote in the law, and the prophets did too; Jesus from Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
  12. And Nathaniel told him: “Is anything good able to come from Nazareth?” Philip says to him: “Come and see.”
  13. Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to Him and He says about him: “Behold, he’s truly an Israelite in whom there’s no deceit.”
  14. Nathaniel says to Him: “From where do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him: “Before Philip came to call you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
  15. Nathaniel answered Him: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.”
  16. Jesus answered and said to him: “You believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”
  17. And He tells him: “Amen, Amen I tell you all:6“you all” The Greek pronoun translated “you” here is plural. The word “all” was added to indicated this. You will see heaven *opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

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John Chapter 2

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Water to wine
  1. And the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
  2. And Jesus and His disciples were also invited to the wedding.
  3. And having run out of wine, the mother of Jesus tells Him: “They have no wine.”
  4. And He tells her: “Woman, what’s that to Me and you?  My hour hasn’t come yet.”
  5. His mother tells the servants: “Do whatever He might tell you.”
  6. Now, six stone water jars for the ceremonial purification of the Jews were laying there, having space for two or three metretae.1“metretae” A unit of liquid measure equal to about 8.75 gallons or about 33 liters.
  7. Jesus tells them: “Fill the water jars with water.”  And they filled them up to the top.
  8. And He tells them: “Now draw some out and carry it to the master of the feast.”  And they carried it to him.
  9. Now, when the master of the feast tasted the water which has become wine and hadn’t known where it came from – but the servants who *drew the water had known – the master of the feast calls the bridegroom
  10. and tells him: “Every man sets out the good wine first, and when they’ve gotten drunk sets out the inferior wine.  You have kept the good wine until now.”
  11. This the beginning of His signs – Jesus did in Cana of Galilee; and He revealed His glory and His disciples believed in Him.
  12. After this He went down into Capernaum – He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples – and they remained there not many days.
Cleansing the temple and Passover
  1. And the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
  2. And in the temple He found the men who sell oxen, and sheep, and doves, and the moneychangers who sit there.
  3. And having made a whip of cords, He drove all of them out of the temple with both their sheep and oxen, and He poured out the moneychangers’ coins, and He overturned the tables.
  4. And He told the men who sell doves: “Take these things away from here; don’t make My Father’s house a market house!”
  5. His disciples were reminded that it is *written: “The zeal of your house will consume Me.”2quotation/allusion to Psalm 69:9
  6. Therefore, the Jews answered and said to Him: “Because you do these things, what sign do you show us?”
  7. Jesus answered and said to them: “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days.”
  8. Therefore the Jews said: “This temple was built in forty and six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”
  9. (But He was speaking about the temple of His body.)
  10. Therefore when He was raised from the dead, His disciples were reminded that He was saying this, and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus spoke.
  11. And while He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, many at the feast believed in His name after observing the signs that He was doing.
  12. But Jesus Himself wasn’t entrusting Himself to them because He knows all men,
  13. and because He has no need that someone might testify about a man, for He knows what’s in the man.

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John Chapter 3

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Nicodemus talks to Jesus
  1. Now, there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
  2. This man came to Him at night and said to Him: “Rabbi, we *know that you have come from God as a teacher, for no one is able to do these signs which you do unless God is with him.”
  3. Jesus answered and told him: “Amen, amen I tell you: unless someone was born from above, he isn’t able to see the kingdom of God.
  4. Nicodemus says to Him: “How is a man able to be born while being old?  He isn’t able to enter into his mother’s womb a second time and be born, is he?”
  5. Jesus answered: “Amen, amen I tell you: unless someone was born of water and Spirit, he isn’t able to enter into the kingdom of God.
  6. “What has been born from flesh is flesh; and what has been born from the Spirit is spirit.
  7. “Don’t marvel that I told you ‘it’s necessary for you all to be born from above’.”
  8. “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you don’t *know where it comes from and where it goes; it’s this way with every man who is *born from the Spirit.”
  9. Nicodemus answered and said to Him: “How are these things able to happen?”
  10. Jesus answered and told him: “You are the teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?”
  11. “Amen, amen I tell you that we speak of what we *know, and we testify of what we have seen, and you men aren’t receiving our testimony.
  12. “If I told you men about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
  13. “And no one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven; the Son of Man [the One who is in heaven].
  14. “And just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, in this way also, it’s necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up,
  15. “so every man who believes in Him might have the life of ages.
  16. “For God ^loved the world in this way, that He gave His only unique Son, so that every man who believes in Him might not perish, but might have the life of ages.
  17. “For God didn’t send the Son into the world so He might judge the world, but so the world might be saved through Him.
  18. “The man who believes in Him isn’t judged, but the man who doesn’t believe has been judged already because he hasn’t believed in the name of the only unique Son of God.
  19. “And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and men ^loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil.
  20. “For every man who practices evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light so that his works won’t be exposed.
  21. “But the man who practices the truth comes to the light so that his works which have been done in God might be revealed.
John testifies again
  1. After these things, Jesus and His disciples went into the land of Judea, and He was staying with them and was baptizing.
  2. And John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim because many waters were there, and many were arriving and being baptized,
  3. for John wasn’t thrown into prison yet.
  4. Therefore, a debate arose among John’s disciples with a Jew about cleansing.
  5. And they came to John and told him: “Rabbi, He who was with you across the Jordan, of whom you have testified, look: He baptizes and everyone goes to Him.”
  6. John answered and said: “A man isn’t able to receive [even one thing] unless it has been given to him from heaven.
  7. “You yourselves testify of me that I said: “I’m not the Anointed”, but that I have been sent before Him.
  8. “The man who has the bride is a bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom (the man who has stood and*listens to him) rejoices in joy because of the bridegroom’s voice.  Therefore, this joy of mine has been fulfilled.
  9. “It’s necessary for Him to increase, but for me to decrease.
  10. “The One who comes from above is above all.  The man from the earth is from the earth and speaks from the earth.  The One who comes from heaven is above all.
  11. “What He has seen and has heard; of this He testifies and no one receives His testimony.
  12. “The man who received His testimony set his seal that God is true.
  13. “For He who God sent speaks the words of God, for He doesn’t give the Spirit by measure.
  14. “The Father ^loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
  15. “The man who believes in the Son of God has the life of ages.  The man who disbelieves the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

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John Chapter 4

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The Samaritan woman
  1. Therefore, when Jesus knew that the Pharisees heard that Jesus makes and baptizes more disciples than John,
  2. (Although Jesus Himself wasn’t baptizing but His disciples were)
  3. He left Judea and departed again towards Galilee,
  4. and it was necessary for Him to pass through Samaria.
  5. Therefore, He comes to a city of Samaria called Sychar near the piece of land which Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
  6. And Jacob’s well was there, so *tiring from the journey, Jesus was sitting wearily on the well.  It was about the sixth hour.
  7. A woman comes out of Samaria to draw water.  Jesus tells her: “Give me water to drink.”
  8. (For His disciples had departed into the city so they might buy food.)
  9. So the Samaritan woman says to Him: “How do you – being a Jew – ask to drink from me, being a Samaritan woman.”  (For Jews don’t associate with Samaritans.)
  10. Jesus answered and told her: “If you had known the gift of God, and who is the One who tells you: ‘Give me water to drink’, you would’ve asked Him and He would’ve given you living water.”
  11. The woman tells Him: “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket and the well is deep, so from where do you get the water which lives?
  12. “You aren’t greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well, and drank from it himself with his sons and his livestock, are you?”
  13. Jesus answered and told her: “Every man who drinks from this water will thirst again.”
  14. “But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him definitely won’t thirst into the age.  But the water that I will give him will become a spring of water welling up into the life of ages.
  15. The woman tells Him: “Sir, give me this water so I won’t thirst nor travel here to draw water.”
  16. He tells her: “Go call your husband and come here.”
  17. The woman answered and told Him: “I don’t have a husband.”  Jesus tells her: “You spoke rightly in saying: ‘I don’t have a husband’,
  18. “for you had five husbands; and he whom you have now isn’t your husband.  You have spoken this truly.”
  19. The woman says to Him: “Sir, I see that you’re a prophet.
  20. “Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you Jews say that the place where it’s necessary to worship is in Jerusalem.”
  21. Jesus tells her: “Woman, believe Me that an hour comes when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
  22. “You Samaritans worship what you haven’t known.  We Jews worship what we have known, because salvation is from the Jews.
  23. “But an hour comes and now is when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. For the Father also seeks such men; the men who worship Him.
  24. “God is Spirit, and it’s necessary for the men who worship Him to worship in spirit and truth.
  25. The woman tells Him: “I *know that the Messiah1“Messiah”  A Hebrew word which mean “anointed”, just as the Greek word “Χριστός” (christos, often transliterated as “Christ”) also means “anointed”. is coming; the One who is called the Anointed.  When He comes, He will disclose all things to us.”
  26. Jesus tells her: “I – the One who speaks to you – am He.”
  27. And His disciples came upon this and were marveling that He was speaking with a woman.  Yet no one said “What do you seek?” or “Why do you speak with her?”
  28. Therefore the woman left her water jar, and departed into the city, and says to the men:
  29. “Come see a man who told me all I did.  Can He be the Anointed?”
  30. They went out of the city and were coming towards Him.
  31. In the meantime, the disciples were urging Him saying: “Rabbi, eat.”
  32. But He told them: “I have food to eat that you don’t *know about.”
  33. So the disciples were saying to one another: “No one brought Him something to eat, did they?”
  34. Jesus tells them: “My food is that I do the will of the One who sent Me and accomplish His work.
  35. “Don’t you say that it’s still four months and then the harvest comes?  Behold, I tell you: lift your eyes and observe the fields, because they are already white for the harvest.”
  36. “The man who reaps receives a wage and collects fruit for the life of ages, so that the man who sows might rejoice together with the man who reaps.
  37. “For in this the saying is true: “The man who sows is one, and the man who reaps another.”
  38. “I sent you to reap what you haven’t toiled for.  Others have toiled for it, and you have entered into their labor.”
  39. And many of the Samaritans from that city believed in Him through the report of the woman testifying: “He told me all I did.”
  40. So when the Samaritans came to Him they were asking Him to remain with them.  And He remained there for two days,
  41. and many more believed because of His message.
  42. And they were telling the woman: “We no longer believe just because of your report, for we have heard and we *know that this truly is the Savior of the world.”
Healing the royal official’s son
  1. And after the two days He went out from there into Galilee,
  2. for Jesus Himself testified that a prophet doesn’t have honor in His own hometown.
  3. So when He came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him, having seen all the great things He did in Jerusalem at the feast, for they also went to the feast.
  4. So He went to Cana of Galilee again (where He made the water into wine).  And in Capernaum was a royal official whose son was sick.
  5. This man – having heard that Jesus arrives from Judea into Galilee – went to Him and was asking so He might come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.
  6. So Jesus told him: “If you men don’t see signs and wonders, you definitely won’t believe.”
  7. The royal official says to Him: “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
  8. Jesus tells him: “Go, your son lives.”  The man believed the word that Jesus told him and was going away,
  9. and while he’s already going down, his slaves met him saying that his boy lives.
  10. So he inquired from them in what hour he got better.  So they told him: “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.”
  11. So the father knew that it had happened in that hour which Jesus told him: “Your son lives.”  And he himself believed, and all his household.
  12. And again, this is the second sign Jesus did after having come from Judea into Galilee.

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John Chapter 5

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The Bethesda pool healing
  1. A feast of the Jews was after these things, and Jesus went up into Jerusalem.
  2. Now, in Jerusalem near the sheep gate is a pool having five porches, the pool which in Hebrew is called Bethesda.
  3. A crowd of the men being sick were lying in these porches – the blind, the lame and the withered – [waiting for the water’s movement.
  4. For an angel was occasionally descending into the pool and stirring the water.  Therefore, the man who entered first after the stirring of the water became well from whatever sickness he was being held by at that time.]
  5. And a man was there for thirty and eight years, having an infirmity in himself.
  6. Jesus – having seen him lying there and having known that he had already been there a long time – He says to him: “Do you want to become well?”
  7. The man who was sick answered Him: “Sir, I don’t have a man to help so that when the water is stirred, he might put me into the pool.  And while I’m going by myself, another descends before me.”
  8. Jesus tells him: “Rise, pick up your bed mat, and walk.”
  9. Immediately the man became well, and picked up his bed mat, and was walking.  But on that day it was the Sabbath,
  10. so the Jews were saying to the man who has been healed: “It’s the Sabbath, and it’s not lawful for you to pick up your bed mat.”
  11. But he answered them: “The man who made me well, that man told me ‘Pick up your bed mat and walk’.”
  12. So they asked him: “Who is the man who told you: ‘Pick up your bed mat and walk’?”
  13. But the man who was healed hadn’t known who it is, for Jesus slipped away in a crowd that was in that place.
  14. After these things, Jesus finds him in the temple and told him: “Behold, you have become well.  Sin no more, so something worse doesn’t happen to you.”
  15. The man departed and reported to the Jews that Jesus is the man who made him well.
Jesus’ Deity
  1. And the Jews were persecuting Jesus because of this; because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.
  2. But Jesus answered them: “My Father works until now, and I work.”
  3. So the Jews were seeking to kill him more because of this; because He was not only breaking the Sabbath, but also because He was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal to God.
  4. So Jesus answered and was telling them: “Amen, amen I tell you: the Son isn’t able to do anything from Himself unless it’s something He sees the Father doing.  For whatever He does, likewise the Son also does these things.
  5. “For the Father loves the Son, and shows all things to Him that He Himself does.  And He will show Him greater works than these so you might marvel.
  6. “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, in this way also the Son gives life to whom He wills.
  7. “For neither does the Father judge anyone, but He has given all judgement to the Son,
  8. “so they might honor the Son just as they honor the Father.   The man who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father, the One who sent Him.
  9. “Amen, amen I tell you, that the man who hears my message and believes the One who sent Me has the life of ages; and he doesn’t go into judgement, but has passed from death into life.
  10. “Amen, Amen I tell you that an hour is coming – and now is – when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the men who heard it will live.
  11. “For just as the Father has life in Himself, in this way also He gave life to the Son, to have it in Himself.
  12. “And He gave Him authority to make judgement because He is the Son of Man.
  13. “Don’t marvel at this, because an hour is coming in which all the men in the tombs will hear His voice,
  14. “and they will come out: the men who did good into the resurrection of life, but the men who practiced wickedness into the resurrection of judgement.
  15. “I’m able to do nothing from Myself.  I judge just as I hear, and My judgement is righteous because I don’t seek My will, but the will of the One who sent me.
Testimony about Jesus
  1. “If I testify about myself, My testimony isn’t considered true.
  2. “It’s another man who testifies about Me, and I *know that the testimony which he testifies about Me is true.
  3. “You men have sent for John, and he has testified of the truth.
  4. “And the testimony I receive isn’t from man, but I say these things so you might be saved.
  5. “That man was the lamp that burns and shines, and you wanted to greatly rejoice in his light for a time.
  6. “But I have testimony greater than John’s.  For the works which the Father has given to Me so I might accomplish them; these same works that I do testify about Me that the Father has sent Me.
  7. “And the One who sent Me, (the Father) has testified about Me, and you haven’t ever heard His voice nor seen His form.
  8. “And you don’t have His word remaining in you because you don’t believe Him whom He sent.
  9. “You examine the scriptures because you think you have the life of ages in them; and these scriptures are the ones who testify about Me.
  10. “And you aren’t willing to come to Me so you might have life.
  11. “I don’t receive glory from men.
  12. “But I *know you; that you don’t have the ^love of God in yourselves.
  13. “I have come in the name of My Father and you don’t receive Me.  If another comes in his own name, you will receive that man.
  14. “How are you able to believe while receiving glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that’s from the only God?
  15. “Don’t think that I will prosecute you to the Father.  There is one who prosecutes you: Moses, in whom you have hoped.
  16. “For if you believed in Moses you would believe in Me, for he wrote about Me.
  17. “And if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

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John Chapter 6

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Feeding five thousand
  1. After these things, Jesus departed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (also called Tiberius).
  2. And a great crowd was following Him because they were observing the signs that He was doing on the men who are sick.
  3. And Jesus went up to the mountain and was sitting there with His disciples.
  4. And the Passover – the feast of the Jews – was near.
  5. So having lifted up His eyes, and having seen that a great crowd is coming to Him, Jesus tells Philip: “Where might we buy bread so these men might eat?”
  6. (And He was saying this to test him, for He had known what He was intending to do.)
  7. Philip answered Him: “Two hundred denarii1“denarii” is the plural of denarius, which was a 1st century coin that was the standard wage for a day’s worth of unskilled labor. worth of bread isn’t enough for them, so that each might receive a little piece.”
  8. One of His disciples – Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter – tells Him:
  9. “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.  But what are those for so many?”
  10. Jesus said: “Make the men recline to eat.”  And there was much grass in the place, so the men reclined.  Their number was about five thousand.
  11. Therefore Jesus took the bread, and having given thanks He distributed it to the men who reclined.  And He did likewise with the fish, distributing as much as they were wanting.
  12. And when they were satisfied, He tells His disciples: “Collect the pieces which remain so that nothing might perish.”
  13. So they collected them and filled twelve baskets of pieces from the five loaves of barley which remained from the men who had eaten.
  14. So having seen that sign He did, the men were saying: “This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world.”
  15. So Jesus – having known that they intend to come and to seize Him so they might make Him king – went back to the mountain again, by Himself alone.
  16. Now, when it became evening His disciples went down to the sea.
  17. And having entered into a boat, they were going across the sea to Capernaum.  And it had already become dark and Jesus hadn’t come to them.
  18. And the sea was being stirred by a great wind blowing.
  19. Therefore, having rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia,2a “stadia” is ~606 English feet, which is ~185 meters. they see Jesus walking on the sea3quotation/allusion to Job 9:8 and Job 38:16 and coming near the boat, and they were afraid.
  20. But He tells them: “I Am;4“I Am” the Greek construction here is identical to John 8:58, where Jesus proclaims His Deity.  However, it could also be translated “it is I”, which is more common.  This is possibly a reference several Old Testament passages, primarily Exodus 3:14 where God appears to Moses and reveals His name is “I Am”. don’t fear.”
  21. Therefore they were willing to receive Him into the boat.  And immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
The bread of life
  1. The next day, the crowd that was *standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat except one, and that Jesus didn’t embark into the boat with His disciples, but His disciples departed alone.
  2. But other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord gave thanks.
  3. So when the crowd saw that Jesus isn’t there, nor His disciples, they embarked in the boats and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
  4. And having found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him: “Rabbi, when did you *come here?”
  5. Jesus answered and told them: “Amen, amen I tell you: you seek Me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the bread and were satisfied.
  6. “Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains into the life of ages, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father set a seal on Him.”
  7. So they said to Him: “What might we do, so we work the works of God?”
  8. Jesus answered and told them: “This is the work of God: that you believe in Him who He sent.”
  9. So they said to Him: “Then what sign do you do so we might see and believe you?  What work do you do?
  10. “Our fathers ate mana in the wilderness, just as it’s *written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”5quotation/allusion to Psalm78:24
  11. So Jesus told them: “Amen, amen I tell you: It wasn’t Moses who has given you bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
  12. “For the bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
  13. So they said to Him: “Sir, always give us this bread.”
  14. Jesus told them: “I am the bread of life.  The man who comes to Me definitely won’t hunger, and the man who believes in Me definitely won’t ever thirst.”
  15. “But I told you that you have seen Me and yet you don’t believe.
  16. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the man who comes to Me I definitely won’t cast out,
  17. “because I have come down from heaven; not so I might do My will, but the will of the One who sent me.
  18. And this is the will of the One who sent Me: that of all He has given Me, I lose none of it; but will raise it up at the last day.
  19. “For this is the will of My Father: that every man who gazes at the Son and believes in Him should have the life of ages, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
  20. So the Jews were grumbling about Him because He said “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
  21. And they were saying: “Isn’t this Jesus?  The son of Joseph, whose father and mother we *know?  How does He now say ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
  22. Jesus answered and told them: “Don’t grumble with one another.
  23. “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father – the One who sent Me – draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
  24. “It is *written in the prophets: ‘And they will all be instructed of God.’6quotation/allusion to Isaiah 54:13  Every man who heard from the Father and learned comes to Me.
  25. “Not that anyone has seen the Father except the One from the God; He has seen the Father.
  26. “Amen, amen I tell you: the man who believes has the life of ages.
  27. “I am the bread of life.
  28. “Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and they died.
  29. “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, so that anyone might eat of it and not die.
  30. “I am the bread which lives, which came down from heaven.  If anyone ate of this bread, he will live into the age.  And the bread that I also will give – My flesh – is life for the sake of the world.”
  31. So the Jews were arguing with one another, saying: “How is this man able to give us His flesh to eat?”
  32. So Jesus told them: “Amen, amen I tell you: unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you don’t have life in yourselves.”
  33. “The man who chews My flesh and drinks My blood has the life of ages, and I will raise him up at the last day.
  34. “For My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
  35. “The man who chews My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me and I in him.
  36. “Just as the Father who lives sent Me, and I live because of Father, so also the man who chews on Me will also live because of Me.
  37. “This is the bread which came down from heaven, and not as the fathers ate and died; the man who chews this bread will live into the age.”
  38. He said these things while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
  39. So having heard this, many of His disciples said: “This is a hard message; who is able to hear it?”
  40. And Jesus, *knowing in Himself that His disciples grumble about this, He told them: “Does this offend you?
  41. “So, what if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?
  42. “It’s the Spirit who gives life; the flesh benefits nothing.  The words that I have spoken to you are Spirit, and they are life.
  43. “But there are some of you who don’t believe.”  For Jesus had known from the beginning who the men who don’t believe are, and who is the man who will betray Him.
  44. And He was saying: “Because of this, I have told you that no one is able to come to Me unless it has been given to him by the Father.
  45. From this, many of His disciples departed to go back home, and were walking with Him no longer.
  46. So Jesus said to the twelve: “Don’t you also want to leave?”
  47. Simon Peter answered Him: “Lord, to whom will we go?  You have the words of the life of ages,
  48. “and we *believe and *know that you are the Holy One of God.”
  49. Jesus answered them: “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve?  And one of you is a devil.”
  50. And He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the twelve; for he was intending to betray Him.

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John Chapter 7

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The Feast of Tabernacles
  1. And Jesus was walking in Galilee after these events, for He wasn’t wanting to walk in Judea because the Jews there were seeking to kill Him.
  2. Now, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near.
  3. So His brothers told Him: “Depart from here and go into Judea, so your disciples there will also see your works that you do.
  4. “For no one does something in secret if he seeks to be known in public.  If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”
  5. (For not even His brothers were believing in Him.)
  6. So Jesus tells them: “My time isn’t come yet; but your time is always ideal.
  7. “The world isn’t able to hate you, but it hates Me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
  8. “You go up to the feast; I’m not going up to this feast now because My time hasn’t been completed yet.”
  9. And having said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.
  10. But when His brothers went up to the feast, then He also went up.  Not openly, but in secret.
  11. Therefore, the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying “Where is He?”
  12. And there was much grumbling about Him in the crowds.  Indeed, some were saying: “He’s good.”  But others were saying: “No, but He misleads the people.”
  13. Yet no one was speaking about Him openly for fear of the Jews.
Jesus teaching
  1. And it already being midway through the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and was teaching.
  2. Therefore the Jews were marveling, saying: “How does this man *know the scriptures, not having studied?”
  3. So Jesus answered and told them: “My teaching isn’t Mine, but from the One who sent Me.”
  4. “If someone wants to do His will, he will know about this teaching; whether it’s from God or if I speak from Myself.
  5. “The man who speaks from himself seeks his own glory.  But the One who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him; He is true, and unrighteousness isn’t in Him.1quotation/allusion to Psalm 92:15
  6. “Hasn’t Moses given you the law, and not one of you keeps the law.  Why do you seek to kill Me?”
  7. The crowd answered: “You have a demon; who seeks to kill you?”
  8. Jesus answered and told them: “I did one work and you all marvel.
  9. “Moses has given you circumcision because of this, and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man (not that it’s from Moses, but from the fathers.)
  10. “If a man receives circumcision on Sabbath so the law might not be broken, why are you angry with Me because I made the whole man healthy on the Sabbath?”
  11. “Don’t judge according to outward appearance, but judge with a righteous judgement.
The People’s reaction
  1. Therefore, some of the men from Jerusalem were saying: “Isn’t this the man who they seek to kill?
  2. “And look, He speaks openly and they say nothing to Him; not ever.  Have the rulers recognized that this is the Anointed?
  3. “But we *know where this man is from.  But when the Anointed comes, no one knows where He is from.”
  4. So Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying: “You *know Me and you *know where I’m from.  And I haven’t come from Myself, but the One who sent Me is true; He who you don’t *know.
  5. “I *know Him because I’m from Him, and He sent Me.”
  6. Therefore they were seeking to seize Him, and no one laid a hand on Him because His hour hadn’t come yet.
  7. And many of the crowd believed in Him and were saying: “When the Anointed comes, He won’t do more of the signs which this man did, will He?”
  8. The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers so they might seize Him.
  9. So Jesus said: “I’m still with you for a short time, and then I go to the One who sent Me.
  10. “You will seek Me and won’t find Me; and where I am, you aren’t able to come.”
  11. So the Jews said to themselves: “Where is He about to go that we won’t find Him?  He isn’t about to travel into the Dispersion2“The Dispersion” refers to the Jews who were spread across – i.e. dispersed – throughout the Roman Empire. and teach the Greeks is He?
  12. “What’s this word that He spoke: ‘You will seek Me and won’t find Me, and where I am you aren’t able to come’?”
The last day of the feast
  1. Now, on the last day — the great day of the feast — Jesus had stood and he cried out saying: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
  2. “The man who believes in Me will be just as the scripture said: “Streams of living water will flow out from his inner man.”3“inner man” This Greek word literally refers to organs in the abdominal cavity, like the stomach and the womb.  It metaphorically refers to the “inner man”
  3. (And He said this about the Spirit, who the men who believed in Him were about to receive, for the Spirit wasn’t given yet, because Jesus wasn’t glorified yet.)
  4. So having heard these words, some from the crowd were saying: “This is truly the Prophet.”
  5. Others were saying: “This is the Anointed.”  And others were saying: “No, for can the Anointed come out of Galilee?
  6. “Didn’t the scripture say that the Anointed comes from the seed of David and from Bethlehem, the town where David was from?”
  7. Therefore, a schism happened in the crowd because of Him.
  8. And some of them were wanting to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
  9. Therefore, the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to those officers: “Why didn’t you bring Him?”
  10. The officers answered: “A man never spoke like this; [not as this man speaks.]”
  11. So the Pharisees answered them: “Have you also been misled?
  12. “None of the rulers believed in Him, or any of the Pharisees, have they?
  13. “But this crowd who doesn’t know the law are accursed.”
  14. Nicodemus – the man who formerly came to Him – being one of them, he says to them:
  15. “Our law doesn’t judge a man unless it first heard from Him and knows what he does, does it?”
  16. They answered and told him: “Aren’t you also from Galilee?  Search the scriptures and see that the prophet isn’t raised out of Galilee.”
  17. [

Note: To read John 7:53-8:11  (the story of the woman caught in adultery, which most scholars believe wasn’t written by Johnclick here; link opens in new tab.

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John Chapter 8

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Note: to read John 7:53-8:11  (the story of the woman caught in adultery, which most scholars believe wasn’t written by Johnclick here; link opens in new tab.

Jesus and testimony
  1. Therefore, Jesus spoke to them again saying: “I am the light of the world.  The man who follows me definitely won’t walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
  2. So the Pharisees told Him: “You testify about yourself; your testimony isn’t true.”
  3. Jesus answered and told them: “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true because I *know where I came from and where I’m going.  But you don’t *know where I come from or where I’m going.
  4. “You judge according to the flesh; I don’t judge anyone.
  5. “But even if I judge, My judgement is true because I’m not alone, but it’s I and the Father who sent Me.
  6. “And even in your law it is *written that the testimony of two men is true.1quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 19:15
  7. I am the One who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me also testifies about Me.”
  8. So they were saying to Him: “Where is your Father?”  Jesus answered: “You haven’t known me nor My Father.  If you had known Me, you would’ve also known My father.”
  9. He spoke these words in the treasury while teaching in the temple, and no one seized Him because His hour hadn’t come yet.
From below and from above
  1. So again He told them: “I depart and you will seek Me, and you will die in your sin.  Where I depart to, you aren’t able to come.”
  2. So the Jews were saying: “He won’t kill Himself, will He?  Because He says ‘Where I depart to, you aren’t able to come’.”
  3. And He was telling them: “You are from below, and I am from above.  You are from this world, I am not from this world.
  4. “Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins, for if you don’t believe that I am,2“I am” Many translations reader this “I am He” here, with the “He” referring to Jesus being the Anointed (messiah).  However, the word “He” is not found in the text.  It’s an interpretation which is supported by the context, but still an interpretation and by no means certain. you will die in your sins.”
  5. Therefore, they were saying to Him: “Who are you?”  Jesus told them: “I’m telling you that, even from the beginning.”
  6. “I have many things to say and to judge concerning you.  But the One who sent Me is true, and what I heard from Him, I speak these things to the world.”
  7. (They didn’t understand that He was speaking to them about the Father)
  8. So Jesus told them: “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am,3“I am” see previous note, on verse 24. and that I do nothing from Myself.  But I speak these things just as the Father taught Me.
  9. “And the One who sent Me is with Me.  He didn’t leave Me alone because I always do what’s pleasing to Him.”
  10. Through Him speaking these things, many believed in Him.
Of which father?
  1. So Jesus was saying to the Jews who have believed in Him: “If you remain in My word, you’re truly My disciples.
  2. And you will know the truth, and the truth will free you.”
  3. They answered to Him: “We’re Abraham’s seed, and we’re *enslaved to no one at any time.  How do you say that ‘You will become free’?”
  4. Jesus answered them: “Amen, amen I tell you that every man who practices sin is a slave of the sin.
  5. “And the slave doesn’t remain in the house into the age; the son remains into the age.
  6. “So if the Son frees you, you will truly be free.”
  7. “I *know that you are Abraham’s seed, but you seek to kill Me because My word isn’t making a make a place in you.
  8. “I speak what I have seen with the Father.  Therefore, you also do what you heard from your father.”
  9. They answered and told Him: “Our father is Abraham.”   Jesus tells them: “If you are Abraham’s children, you should be doing the works of Abraham.”
  10. “But now you seek to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.  Abraham didn’t do this.
  11. “You do the works of your father.”  So they told Him: “We haven’t been born from fornication; we have one Father; God.”
  12. Jesus told them: “If God was your Father, you would ^love Me, for I came from God and am here.  I haven’t even come of My own initiative, but He sent Me.
  13. “Why don’t you understand my speech?  Because you aren’t able to hear My word.
  14. “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the cravings of your father.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and he wasn’t standing in the truth because there isn’t truth in him.  Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks it from his own initiative because he’s a liar, and the father of lying.
  15. “And you don’t believe Me because I speak the truth.
  16. “Which of you convicts Me of sin?  If I speak the truth, why don’t you believe Me?
  17. “The man who is of God hears the words of God.  You don’t hear because of this, because you aren’t of God.”
I Am
  1. The Jews answered and told Him: “Don’t we rightly say that you’re a Samaritan and have a demon?”
  2. Jesus answered.  “I don’t have a demon, but I honor My Father and you dishonor Me.
  3. “And I don’t seek My glory, there is One who seeks it and judges.
  4. “Amen, amen I tell you: if someone keeps my word, he definitely won’t see death into the age.”
  5. Therefore the Jews told Him: “Now we *know that you have a demon.  Abraham died, and the prophets too; and yet you say: ‘if someone keeps My word, he definitely won’t taste death into the age’.
  6. “You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you?  And the prophets died too.  Who do you make yourself out to be?”
  7. Jesus answered: “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing.  My Father is the One who glorifies Me; He of whom you say: ‘He is our God’.
  8. “And you don’t *know Him, but I *know Him.  And I say that if I don’t *know Him, I will be like you men: a liar.  But I *know Him and keep His word.
  9. “Your father Abraham jumped for joy that he might see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced.”
  10. Therefore, the Jews said to Him: “You don’t have fifty years yet, and you have seen Abraham?”
  11. Jesus told them: “Amen, amen I tell you: before Abraham was, I Am.”4quotation/allusion to Exodus 3:14
  12. Therefore, they picked up stones so they might throw them at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple [going through their midst and was departing this way].

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John Chapter 9

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Jesus heals a man who was born blind
  1. And while passing by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.1“Blind from birth” The 1st century Jews believed that there were four miracles that only the Messiah would be able to perform.  (1) Cleansing leprosy.  The Jews believed that leprosy was the result of sin, based on Numbers 12:9-10 and 2 Chronicles 26:19-20.  Since only God could forgive sin (what they believed was the cause of leprosy) then only God or Messiah could cleanse a leper.  (2) Casting out a mute demon.  The Jewish exorcists had success in casting out demons, but first needed to know the demon’s name.  Thus if the demon-possessed man couldn’t speak, the demon couldn’t be cast out except by God Himself.  (3) Raising the dead after three days.  The Jews believed that a dead person’s spirit remained near the body for three days, and afterward decay set in and the spirit departed.  Thus, only God would be able to heal a person dead for longer than 3 days.  (4) Healing a man born with birth defects.  They believed birth defects were caused by sin based on a faulty interpretation of Exodus 34:7 (while ignoring the whole of Ezekiel 18, which repudiates this idea thoroughly.)  Since only God can forgive sin, they believed that only God or Messiah could heal a man born with birth defects.
  2. And His disciples asked Him a question, saying: “Rabbi, who sinned; this man or his parents that he was born blind?”
  3. Jesus answered: “Neither this man sinned, nor his parents; but this happened so the works of God might be revealed in him.
  4. It’s necessary for us to work the works of the One who sent Me as long as it’s day; night is coming when no one is able to work.
  5. “While I’m in the world, I’m the light of the world.”
  6. Having said these things, He spat on the ground, and made mud from the spit, and spread the mud on the man’s eyes.
  7. And He told him: “Go wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated ‘sent’).  So he went away, and washed, and came back seeing.
  8. So the neighbors and the men observing him before – that he was a beggar – they were saying: “Isn’t this the man who’s usually sitting and begging?”
  9. Others were saying: “It’s him.”  Others were saying: “No, but he’s similar to him.”  That man was saying: “I am him.”
  10. So they were saying to him: “So how were your eyes opened?”
  11. That man answered: “The man who is called Jesus made mud and spread it on my eyes, and He told me ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash’.  So having gone and washed, I recovered my sight.”
  12. And they said to him: “Where is this man?”  He says: “I don’t *know.”
The Pharisees interrogate the man
  1. They bring him – the formerly blind man – to the Pharisees.
  2. (Now, the day on which Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes was a Sabbath.)
  3. So the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received sight.  And he told them: “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see.”
  4. So some of the Pharisees were saying: “This man isn’t from God because He doesn’t keep the Sabbath.”  But others were saying: “How is a sinful man able to do such signs?”  And there was a schism among them.
  5. So they again say to the blind man: “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?”  And he said: “He is a prophet.”
  6. So the Jews didn’t believe it about him – that he was blind and received sight – until they summoned the parents of the man who received sight.
  7. And they asked them saying: “Is this your son, of whom you say that he was born blind?  So how does he see now?”
  8. So his parents answered and said: “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.
  9. “But how he sees now, we don’t know.  Or who opened his eyes, we don’t know.  Ask him; he has reached maturity.  He will speak about himself.”
  10. His parents said these things because they were fearing the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if someone confessed Him as the Anointed, he would become expelled from the synagogue.
  11. His parents said: “he has reached maturity; ask him” because of this.
  12. So they summoned the man who was previously blind a second time and told him: “Give glory to God by testifying honestly:2“Give glory to God” is an idiom that means to place someone under and oath to tell the truth.  The Pharisees were commanding the man not to lie because doing so would dishonor God, while telling the truth would give glory to God.  The phrase “by testifying honestly” was added to make the idiom clear. we *know that this man is a sinner.”
  13. Then that man answered: “If He is a sinner, I don’t *know.  I do *know one thing: that while formerly being blind, now I see.”
  14. So they said to him: “What did He do to you?  How did He open your eyes?”
  15. He answered them: “I already told you and you didn’t listen.  Why do you want to hear it again?  You don’t want to become His disciples too, do you?”
  16. And they insulted him and said: “You are a disciple of that man, but we are disciples of Moses.
  17. “We *know that God has spoken to Moses, but we don’t *know where this man is from.”
  18. The man answered and told them: “That is indeed a marvelous thing; that He opened my eyes and you don’t *know where He is from.”
  19. “We *know that God doesn’t hear sinners.  But if someone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.
  20. “From the world’s beginning, it was never heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man *born blind.
  21. “Unless this man was from God, He would be able to do nothing.”
  22. They answered and told him: “You were born entirely in sins, and you teach us?”  And they cast him out.
Jesus talks to the man
  1. Jesus heard that they cast him out, and having found him, He said: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
  2. He answered and said: “And who is He Lord, so I might believe in Him?”
  3. Jesus told Him: “You have seen Him, and He is the One who speaks with you.”
  4. And he was declaring: “I believe Lord.”  And he bowed down before3“bowed down before”  is one word in Greek, often translated “worship”. It comes from the Greek words: “pros” (meaning “towards”) and “kyneo” (meaning “to kiss”). It literally refers to bowing down on your hands and knees and kissing the ground in front of a superior or authority figure. Some Egyptian pictographs have the hand outstretched, as if to send the “kiss” toward the one being revered. Him.
  5. And Jesus said: “I came into the world for judgement, so that the men who don’t see might see; and the men who see might become blind.”
  6. The Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and they said: “We aren’t also blind, are we?”
  7. Jesus told them: “If you were blind, you wouldn’t have sin.  But since you now say ‘We see’, your sin remains.”

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John Chapter 10

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The good shepherd
  1. “Amen, amen I tell you: the man who doesn’t enter into the sheep-fold through the door, but climbs in another way; that man is a thief and a robber.
  2. “But the One who enters in through the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
  3. “The doorkeeper opens for him, and the sheep hear his voice, and he summons his own sheep by name and leads them out.
  4. “When he ushered all his own sheep out, he travels ahead of them and the sheep follow him because they have known his voice.
  5. “And they definitely won’t follow a stranger, but will flee from him because they haven’t known the voice of strangers.”
  6. Jesus told them this metaphor, but those men didn’t know what He was telling them.
  7. So again He told them: “Amen, amen I tell you: I am the door of the sheep.
  8. “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.
  9. “I am the door.  If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved.  And he will enter in and go out and will find pasture.
  10. “The thief doesn’t come unless it’s so he might steal, kill, and destroy.  I came so they might have life, and have it abundantly.
  11. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sake of the sheep.
  12. “And the hired servant – not being the shepherd, the sheep aren’t his own – sees the wolf coming, and abandons the sheep, and flees.  And the wolf seizes them and scatters them,
  13. “because he’s a hired servant and he doesn’t care about the sheep.
  14. “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me.
  15. “Just as the Father knows Me, I also know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sake of the sheep.
  16. “And I have other sheep which aren’t from this fold.  It’s necessary for Me to bring those also, and they will hear My voice, and they will become one flock under one shepherd.
  17. “The Father ^loves me because of this; because I lay down My life so I might take it again.
  18. “No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.  I have authority to lay it down, and have authority to take it again.  I received this command from My Father.”
  19. A schism happened again among the Jews because of these words.
  20. Many of them were saying: “He has a demon and speaks like a madman.  Why listen to Him?”
  21. Others were saying: “These words aren’t those of a demon-possessed man.  A demon isn’t able to open blind men’s eyes, is it?”
  22. This happened at the time of the Feast of Dedication1“Feast of Dedication” is another name for Hanukkah.  in Jerusalem.  It was winter.
I and the Father are One
  1. And Jesus was walking in the temple in the Colonnade of Solomon,
  2. So the Jews surrounded Him and were saying to Him: “How long do you keep our souls in suspense?  Tell us plainly if you are the Anointed.”
  3. Jesus answered them: “I told you and you don’t believe.  The works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify about Me.2Jesus had just healed a man born blind; see note on John 9:1
  4. “But you don’t believe because you aren’t of My sheep.
  5. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
  6. “I give them the life of ages, and they definitely won’t perish into the age, and no one will snatch them from My hand.
  7. “My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them from the Father’s hand.
  8. “I and the Father are one.”
  9. So the Jews again picked up stones so they might stone Him.
  10. Jesus answered them: “I showed you many noble works from the Father; for which work do you stone Me?”
  11. The Jews answered Him: “We don’t stone you for a noble work, but for blasphemy, and because you – being a man – make yourself God.”
  12. Jesus answered them: “Isn’t it *written in your law: ‘I said you are gods‘.3quotation/allusion to Psalms 82:6
  13. “If He called those men gods – to whom the word of God came – and the scripture isn’t able to be annulled,
  14. why do you say ‘you blaspheme’ about He who the Father made holy and sent into the world, because I said I’m the Son of God?”
  15. “If I don’t do the works of My Father, don’t believe me.”
  16. “But if I do, then even if you don’t believe Me, believe the works, so you might have known and might understand that the Father is in Me and I’m in the Father.
  17. Therefore they were seeking to seize Him again, but He went out of their hand.
  18. And He again departed across the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He remained there.
  19. And many came and were saying: “John did nothing for a sign, but as much as John said about this man, everything was true!”
  20. And many believed in Him there.

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John Chapter 11

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Lazarus dies
  1. Now a man was sick; Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary, and Martha her sister.
  2. (And Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was the woman who anointed the Lord with scented oil and wiped His feet with her hair.)
  3. So the sisters sent word to Him saying: “Behold Lord, he who you love is sick.”
  4. But having heard this, Jesus said: “This sickness isn’t leading to death, but for the sake of God’s glory, so the Son of God might be glorified through it.”
  5. (And Jesus ^loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.)
  6. So when He heard that Lazarus is sick, He then remained in the place that He was staying two more days.
  7. Then after that, He tells the disciples: “Let us go into Judea again.”
  8. The disciples tell Him: “Rabbi, the Jews were seeking to stone you just now, and you go there again?”
  9. Jesus answered: “Aren’t there twelve hours in the day?  If someone walks in the day he doesn’t stumble because he sees this world’s light.
  10. “But if someone walks in the night, he stumbles because the light isn’t in him.”
  11. He said these things, and after that tells them: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go so I might wake him up.”
  12. So His disciples said: “Lord, he will be healed if he has fallen asleep.”
  13. And Jesus had spoken about his death, but those men thought that He speaks about a restful sleep.
  14. So Jesus then told them plainly: “Lazarus died.”
  15. “And I rejoice that I wasn’t there for your sake, so you might believe.  But let us go to him.”
  16. So Thomas (called Didymus) told his fellow disciples: “Let us go too, so we might die with him.”
  17. So having arrived, Jesus found him already having four days in the tomb.
Lazarus is raised
  1. And Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia1“fifteen stadia”.  A stadia is equal to 607 feet, so fifteen stadia is 9105 feet, or 1.72 miles. away.
  2. Now, many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary so they might comfort them concerning their brother.
  3. So when Martha heard that Jesus is coming, she met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.
  4. So Martha told Jesus: “Lord, if you were here, my brother wouldn’t have died.
  5. “But even now, I *know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
  6. Jesus tells her: “Your brother will rise.”
  7. Martha tells Him: “I *know that he will rise in the resurrection at the last day.”
  8. Jesus told her: “I am the resurrection and the life.  The man who believes in Me will live even if he dies.”
  9. “And every man who lives and believes in Me definitely won’t die, into the age.  Do you believe this?”
  10. She tells Him: “Yes Lord; I *believe that you are the Anointed; the Son of God, the One who is coming into the world.
  11. And having said this, she departed and called her sister Mary privately, saying: “The Teacher is coming and He is summoning you.”
  12. And when that woman heard, she quickly stood and was going to Him.
  13. And Jesus hadn’t yet come into the village, but was still at the place where Martha met Him.
  14. So having seen that Mary quickly stood and went out, the Jews who are with her in the house and comforting her followed her, thinking that she goes to the tomb so she might weep there.
  15. So when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, telling Him: “Lord, if you were here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”
  16. Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, he was indignant in Spirit and agitated in Himself.
  17. And He said: “Where have you laid him?”  They tell Him: “Lord, come and see.”
  18. Jesus wept.
  19. So the Jews were saying: “See how He loves him.”
  20. But some of them said: “Isn’t this the man who opened the eyes of the blind man?  He’s able to do that, so also this man shouldn’t have died.”
  21. So again being indignant in Himself, Jesus  comes to the tomb.  It was a cave, and a stone was lying over it.
  22. Jesus says: “Remove the stone.”  Martha, the sister of the man who has died, tells Him: “Lord, it must already stink, for it’s been four days.”
  23. Jesus tells her: “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you will see the glory of God?”
  24. So they removed the stone.  And Jesus lifted His eyes up and said: “Father, I thank you that you heard Me.
  25. “And I had known that you always hear Me, but I said it because of the crowd which *stands around, so they might believe that you sent Me.”
  26. And having said these things, He cried out in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!”
  27. The man who was *dead came out, *bound feet and hands with graveclothes,2“graveclothes” usually strips of linen cloth wound around the body. and his head had been wrapped in a head cloth.   Jesus tells them: “Unbind him and allow him to go.”
  28. So many of the Jews who came to Mary and observed what He did believed in Him.
  29. But some of them departed to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus did.
The Pharisees plot against Jesus.  Again.
  1. So the chief priests and Pharisees gathered a council together and were saying: “What should we do, because this man does many signs.”
  2. “If we allow Him to continue this way, all will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take both our place and the nation away.”
  3. But one of them – Caiaphas, being the high priest that year – told them: “You don’t *know anything.
  4. “Nor do you consider that it’s more profitable for you that one man might die for the sake of the people, and not have the whole nation perish.”
  5. And he didn’t say this from himself, but being the high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was intending to die for the sake of the nation.
  6. And not only for the sake of the nation, but also so He might assemble together into one the children of God who have been dispersed.
  7. So they took council from that day on so they might kill Him.
  8. So Jesus was no longer walking openly among the Jews, but departed from that place into the region near the wilderness, into a city named Ephraim.  And He remained there with the disciples.
  9. Now, the Passover of the Jews was drawing near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the region before the Passover so they might purify themselves.
  10. So the Jews were seeking Jesus, and while standing with one another in the temple were saying: “What do you think?  That He definitely won’t come to the feast?”
  11. And the chief priests and Pharisees had given a command that if someone knows where He is, He should report it so that they might arrest Him.

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John Chapter 12

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Mary Anoints Jesus’ feet.
  1. So six days before the Passover, Jesus came into Bethany where Lazarus was, who Jesus raised from the dead.
  2. So they made dinner for Him there, and Martha was serving it, and Lazarus was one of the men who reclined1“reclined” In the 1st century, they didn’t sit at a table.  Rather, they laid down with their feet sticking out. at the table with Him.
  3. So having taken a litra2“Litra” a Roman pound, approximately equal to 12 ounces or 328 grams of very expensive scented oil of pure nard,3“nard” also called ‘spikenard’ is the plant Nardostachys jatamansi, which grows on subalpine zones of the Himalayas.  The oil extracted from the plant is very fragrant, and various parts of the plant have medicinal use as well. Mary anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair.  And the house filled with the scent of the oil.
  4. But Judas Iscariot – one of His disciples and the man who was about to betray Him – says:
  5. “Why wasn’t this scented oil sold for three hundred denarii4“denarii” is the plural of denarius, which was the going rate for a day’s worth of manual labor.  Thus, 300 denarii was approximately a year’s worth of wages, since they only worked six days a week, the seventh being the Sabbath. and the money given to the poor?”
  6. But he said this not because the poor were concerning to him, but because he was a thief.  And having the moneybag, he was taking what was put into it.
  7. So Jesus said: “Permit her, so she might keep it for the day of My burial.
  8. “For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have Me.”
  9. So a great crowd of the Jews learned that He is there and they came; not only because of Him, but also so they might see Lazarus who He raised from the dead.
  10. And the chief priests took counsel so they might also kill Lazarus,
  11. because many were leaving the Jews and were believing in Jesus because of him.
The Triumphal Entry
  1. The next day – having heard that Jesus is coming to Jerusalem – the great crowd which came to the feast
  2. took palm tree branches and went out for a meeting with Him.  And they were shouting: “Hosanna!  *Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord,5quotation/allusion to Psalm 118:26 and the King of Israel!”
  3. And having found a young donkey, He sat on it; just as it is *written:
  4. Don’t fear daughter of Zion.  Behold, your King comes sitting on a donkey’s colt.”6quotation/allusion to Zechariah 9:9
  5. His disciples didn’t understand these things at first.  But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were *written of Him, and that they did these things to Him.
  6. So the crowd that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were testifying.
  7. And the crowd met Him because of this, because they heard He had done this sign.
  8. So the Pharisees said to themselves: “You see that you don’t benefit anything.  Behold, the world went after Him.”
The hour has come
  1. Now, some of the men who went up to Jerusalem so they might worship at the feast were Greeks.
  2. So these men came to Philip (the man from Bethsaida of Galilee) and they were asking him, saying: “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
  3. Philip goes and tells Andrew; Andrew and Philip go tell Jesus.
  4. and Jesus answers them, saying: “The hour has come so the Son of Man might be glorified.
  5. “Amen, Amen I tell you: unless a wheat seed which fell into the ground dies, it remains alone.  But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
  6. “The man who loves his life loses it, and the man who hates his life in this world will keep for the life of ages.
  7. “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me.  And where I am, My servant will be there also.  If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
  8. “My soul is *troubled now, and what might I say?  ‘Father save Me from this hour?’ But I came because of this; for this hour.
  9. “Father, glorify your name.”  Therefore a voice came from heaven: “I both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
  10. So the crowd *stood, and having heard it was saying: “It was thunder.”  Others were saying “An angel has spoken to Him.”
  11. Jesus answered and said: “This voice hasn’t come for My sake, but for your sake.”
  12. “Judgement is now in this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
  13. “And if I’m lifted up7“lifted up”, this is an idiom referring to crucifixion from the earth, I will draw8“draw” this Greek word could also be translated “drag”, as that’s a more common usage in the New Testament. all men to Myself.”
  14. He was saying this, indicating what sort of death He was about to die.
  15. So the crowd answered Him: “We heard from the law that the Anointed remains into the age.  How do you say that it’s necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up?  Who is this Son of Man”
  16. So Jesus told them: “The light is still with you a short time.  Walk while you have the light so the darkness might not seize you.  And the man who walks in the darkness doesn’t *know where he goes.
  17. “Believe the light while you have the light, so you might become sons of light.”  Jesus said these things and, having departed, He was hidden from them.
The people’s unbelief
  1. But despite Him *doing so many signs in front of them, they weren’t believing in Him,
  2. so the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which said: “Lord, who believed our report?  And to whom was the Lord’s arm revealed?9quotation/allusion to Isaiah 53:1
  3. They weren’t able to believe because of this, because again Isaiah said:
  4. He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their hearts, lest they see with their eyes and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”10quotation/allusion to Isaiah 6:10
  5. Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke about Him.
  6. But nevertheless, even of the rulers many believed in Him.  But they weren’t confessing Him because of the Pharisees, so they wouldn’t become expelled from the synagogue.
  7. For they ^loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.
  8. And Jesus cried out and said: “The man who believes in Me doesn’t believe in Me, but in the One who sent Me.
  9. “And the man who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.
  10. “I am a light which has come into the world, so that every man who believes in Me might not remain in darkness.
  11. “And if someone hears My words and doesn’t keep them, I don’t judge him; for I didn’t come so I might judge the world, but so I might save the world.
  12. “The man who rejects Me and doesn’t receive My words has one who judges him: the word which I spoke.  That will judge him on the last day,
  13. “because I didn’t speak from Myself, but the One who sent Me – the Father Himself – has given Me a commandment about what I should say and what I should speak.
  14. “And I *know that His commandment is the life of ages.  So what I speak, I speak just as the Father has spoken to Me.”

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John Chapter 13

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Washing the disciples’ feet
  1. And before the feast of the Passover, Jesus *knew that His hour had come, that He would depart from this world to the Father, having ^loved His own who were in the world; He ^loved them to the end.
  2. And while dinner is happening, the Accuser had already *put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot (son of Simon) so he might betray Him.
  3. *Knowing that the Father gave all things into His hands, and that He came from God and departs to God,
  4. He rises from dinner and sets His outer garments down.  And having taken a towel, He girded Himself.1“girded Himself”.  This is a cultural reference, referring to the process of tying a belt or rope around the waist to gather the long robes and prevent them from getting in the way of work.  It figuratively came to mean getting ready for action or work.
  5. Afterwards, He pours water into the washing basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel in which He was girded.
  6. So He comes to Simon Peter who says to Him: “Lord, you wash my feet?”
  7. Jesus answered and told him: “You *don’t perceive what I’m doing now, but you will understand after these things.”
  8. Peter tells Him: “You definitely won’t wash my feet through the age.”  Jesus answered him: “If I don’t wash you, you don’t have a share with Me.”
  9. Simon Peter tells Him: “Lord, don’t only wash my feet, but also my hands and head.”
  10. Jesus tells him: “The man who has bathed doesn’t have a need to wash anything except the feet, but is wholly clean.  And you men are clean, but not all of you.”
  11. (For He had known the man who betrays Him; because of this He said: “Not all of you are clean.”)
  12. So when He had washed their feet, and taken His outer garments, and reclined at the table again, He said to them: “Do you know what I have done for you?
  13. “You call Me teacher and Lord, and you speak rightly for I am.
  14. “So if I – the Lord and teacher – washed your feet, you also are obligated to wash one another’s feet.
  15. “For I gave you an example, so that just as I did, you also should do.
  16. “Amen, amen I tell you: a slave isn’t greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the man who sent him.
  17. “If you *know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Judas’ betray predicted
  1. “I don’t speak about all of you – I *know who I chose – but this is happening so the scripture might be fulfilled: ‘The man who eats My bread raised his heel against Me.’2Quotation/allusion to Psalm 41:9
  2. “I tell you of this now before it happened, so when it happened you might believe that I Am.”3quotation/allusion to Exodus 3:14
  3. “Amen, amen I tell you: the man who receives someone I sent receives Me.  And the man who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”
  4. Having said these things, Jesus was agitated in spirit, and He testified and said: “Amen, amen I tell you that one of you will betray Me.”
  5. The disciples were looking at one another, being perplexed about whom He speaks.
  6. One of His disciples was reclining in the bosom of Jesus; he who Jesus ^loved.
  7. Therefore, Simon Peter gestures to him [and tells him] to ask: “Who is it that He speaks about?”
  8. So that man, having leaned on the chest of Jesus, he says to Him: “Lord, who is it?”
  9. So Jesus answers: “That man is he to whom I will dip the morsel and give it to him.”  So having dipped the morsel, He takes it and gives it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
  10. And after taking the morsel, then Satan entered into that man.  So Jesus tells him: “What you do, do faster.”
  11. And none of the men who recline at the table knew why He said this to him.
  12. For since Judas was holding the moneybag, some were supposing that Jesus tells him: “Buy what we have need of for the feast”, or that he should give something to the poor.
  13. So having received the morsel, that man immediately went out.  It was night.
Peter’s denial predicted
  1. So when he went out, Jesus says: “The Son of Man is glorified now, and God is glorified in Him.”
  2. “If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.
  3. “Little children, I’m with you for a short time.  You will seek Me, and just as I told the Jews, I also tell you now: ‘Where I go, you aren’t able to come’.
  4. “I give a new commandment to you, that you should ^love one another.  Just as I ^loved you, so also you should ^love one another.
  5. “All will know that you are My disciples by this: if you have ^love among one another.”
  6. Simon Peter says to Him: “Lord, where are you going?”  Jesus answered him: “Where I go, you aren’t able to follow Me now.  But you will follow later.”
  7. Peter says to Him: “Lord, why am I not able to follow you now?  I will lay down my life for your sake.”
  8. Jesus answers: “You will lay down your life for Me?  Amen, amen I tell you that the rooster definitely won’t crow until you will deny Me three times.

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John Chapter 14

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Dwellings
  1. “Don’t let your heart be shaken.  You believe in God; also believe in Me.1“You believe in God, also believe in Me” The Greek here is slightly ambiguous, since the verb “believe” here (repeated twice in the this clause) in both cases could either be indicative (statement of fact = “you believe”) or imperative (a command = “believe”).  Additionally though less probably, either instance could be interrogative (question = “do you believe?”).  Thus it could be translated one of 9 ways, and all are equally valid.  Here are the four most likely meanings:  (1) “Believe in God and believe in Me” (both imperative(2) “You believe in God; also believe in Me.” (first indicative, second imperative(3) “Do you believe in God?  Also believe in Me.” (first interrogative, second imperative(4) “You believe in God and you believe in Me.”  (both indicative)
  2. There are many dwellings in My Father’s house, and I would have told you if there weren’t because I’m going to prepare a place for you.
  3. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will bring you to Myself, so you also might be where I am.
  4. “And you *know the way to the place I go.”
  5. Thomas says to Him: “Lord, we don’t *know where you’re going; how are we able to know the way?”
  6. Jesus tells him: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
  7. “If you men had known Me, you would have known My Father also.  And now you know Him and have seen Him.”
  8. Philip says to Him: “Lord, show us the Father and that is satisfying for us.”
  9. Jesus tells him: “I’m with you men for so much time and you haven’t known Me Philip?  The man who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say ‘show us the Father’?
  10. “Don’t you believe that I’m in the Father and the Father is in Me?  The words that I speak to you I don’t speak from Myself, but the Father dwelling in Me does His works.
  11. “Believe Me that I’m in the Father and the Father is in Me.  But if not, believe because of the works themselves.
  12. “Amen, amen I tell you: the man who believes in Me, that man will also do the works that I do.  And he will do greater works than these because I’m going to the Father.
  13. “And whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so the Father might be glorified in the Son.
  14. “If you ask Me something in My name, I will do it.
Another Advocate, the Holy Spirit
  1. “If you ^love Me, you will keep My commandments,
  2. “and I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate,2“Advocate” this Greek word as a legal term for a lawyer in NT times, and thus also has the idea of an advisor.   In the widest sense, it was also a general term for one who offers aid. so He might be with you into the age.
  3. He is the Spirit of Truth, who the world isn’t able to receive because it doesn’t see Him nor know Him.  You know Him because He dwells with you and will be in you.
  4. “I won’t leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
  5. There’s still a short time, and then the world no longer sees Me; but you see Me.  Because I live, you also will live.
  6. “In that day you will know that I’m in My Father, and you in Me,  and I in you.
  7. “The man who has My commandments and keeps them, that is the man who ^loves Me.  And the man who ^loves Me will be ^loved by My Father; and I will ^love him and will reveal Myself to him.”
  8. Judas (not Iscariot) says to Him: “Lord, and what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”
  9. Jesus answered and told him: “If anyone ^loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will ^love him, and We will go to him and will make Our dwelling with him.
  10. “The man who doesn’t ^love Me doesn’t keep My words.  And the word that you hear isn’t Mine, but it’s from the Father who sent Me.
  11. “I have told you these things while remaining with you.
  12. “But the Advocate – the Holy Spirit who the Father will send in My name – He will teach you all things and will remind you of all things that I told you.
  13. “I leave you peace; I give you My peace, I don’t give to you as the world does.  Don’t be shaken in your heart nor fearfully timid.
  14. “You heard that I told you: ‘I am departing and am coming to you’.  If you were ^loving Me, you would’ve rejoiced that I am going to the Father because the Father is greater than I.
  15. “And now I have told you before it happens, so when it happens you might believe.
  16. “I won’t speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world is coming and he doesn’t have anything in Me.
  17. “But so the world might know that I ^love the Father, and just as the Father commanded Me, I do it this way.   Rise, so we might go from here.”

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John Chapter 15

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Vines and branches
  1. “I am the true vine and My Father is the vinegrower.
  2. “Every branch that’s in Me but not bearing fruit, He removes it.  And every branch which bears fruit He cleans it by pruning1“cleans… …by pruning” is one word in Greek, which means to clean something by purging it of anything unclean, and was thus applied to pruning. so it might bear more fruit.
  3. “You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
  4. “Remain in Me, and I in you.  Just as the branch isn’t able to bear fruit from itself if it doesn’t remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.
  5. I am the vine, you are the branches.  The man who remains in Me and I in him; this man bears much fruit because without Me you are able to do nothing.
  6. “If someone doesn’t remain in Me, he’s cast out like a branch and withered.  And they collect them and cast them into the fire and it’s burned.
  7. “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you desire and it will happen for you.
  8. “My Father is glorified in this, that you might bear much fruit, and you will become My disciples.
Love one another
  1. “Just as the Father ^loved Me, I also ^loved you; remain in My ^love.
  2. “If you keep My commandments you will remain in My ^love, just as I have kept the commandments of My Father and I remain in His ^love.
  3. “I have told you these things so My joy might be in you, and your joy might be full.
  4. “This is My commandment, that you should ^love one another just as I ^loved you.
  5. “No one has greater ^love than this: that someone lays down his life for his friends.
  6. “You are My friends if you do what I command you.
  7. “I call you slaves no longer, because a slave doesn’t *know what his master is doing.  But I *call you friends, because I declared to you all things that I heard from My Father.
  8. “You didn’t choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you, so you might go and bear fruit and your fruit might remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He might give you.
  9. “These things I command you so you might ^love one another.
The world will hate you
  1. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before you.
  2. “If you were of the world, the world would be loving its own.  But because you aren’t of the world, but I chose you from the world, the world hates you because of this.
  3. “Remember the word I told you: A slave isn’t greater than his master.  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.
  4. “But they will do all these things to you because of My name, because they haven’t known the One who sent Me.
  5. “If I hadn’t come and spoken to them, they wouldn’t have sin.  But now they don’t have an excuse for their sin.
  6. “The man who hates Me also hates My Father.
  7. “If I hadn’t done works among them that no other did, they wouldn’t have sin.  But now they have both seen and hated both Me and My Father.
  8. “But this happened so the word which is *written in their law might be fulfilled: “They hated me without cause.”2quotation/allusion to Psalm 69:4 and/or Psalm 35:19
  9. “When the Advocate whom I will send to you from the Father comes – the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father – He will testify about Me.
  10. “And you also testify, because you are with Me from the beginning.”

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John Chapter 16

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The Spirit will come
  1. “I have said these things to you so you might not stumble.
  2. “They will make you exiles from the synagogue, but an hour is coming that every man who killed you did so because he thought to offer a service to God.
  3. “And they will do these things because they didn’t know the Father nor Me.
  4. “But I have said these things so that when their hour came, you remember that I said them to you.  And I didn’t say these things to you from the beginning because I was with you.
  5. “And now I’m going to the One who sent Me, and none of you asks Me: Where are you going?
  6. “But grief has filled your hearts because of these things I have told you.
  7. “But I tell you the truth: It’s better for you that I go away.  For if I don’t go away, the Helper definitely won’t come to you.  Yet if I go, I will send Him to you.
  8. “And having come, He will convict the world about sin, and about righteousness, and about judgement.
  9. “About sin because they don’t believe in Me.
  10. “And about righteousness because I’m going away to the Father, and you’ll see Me no more.”
  11. “And about judgement because the ruler of this world has been judged.
  12. “Yet I have many things to tell you, but you aren’t able to bear them now.
  13. “But when He – the Spirit of Truth – comes, He will lead you into all truth.  For He won’t speak from Himself, but He will speak whatever He hears; and He will report to you the things which are coming.
  14. “He will glorify Me, because He will take what’s Mine and report it to you.
  15. “All things whatsoever that the Father has are Mine.  Because of this, I said that He will take what’s Mine and report it to you.
Coming and departing
  1. “A little longer and then you see Me no longer.  And a little longer again and then you will see Me [because I’m going away to the Father].”
  2. So some of His disciples said to one another: “What’s this that He’s telling us: ‘a little longer and then you don’t see Me’, and ‘a little longer again and then you will see Me’, and ‘because I’m going away to the Father’?”
  3. So they were saying: “What is this that He’s saying: ‘A little longer’?  We don’t *know what He’s saying.”
  4. Jesus knew that they were wanting to ask Him, and He tells them: “Are you inquiring with one another because I said: ‘A little longer and then you don’t see Me’, and ‘a little longer again and then you will see Me.’?
  5. “Amen, Amen I tell you that you will weep and you will mourn, but the world will rejoice.  You will be grieved, but your grief will become joy.
  6. “The woman has pain when she gives birth because her hour came.  But when she birthed the child, she remembers the tribulation no longer because of her joy that a man was born into the world.
  7. “So you also have grief now; but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
  8. “And in that day, you won’t ask Me anything.1” you won’t ask Me anything” could also be translated ” you won’t question Me about anything”  the difference is small, but potentially significant.  Amen, amen I tell you: anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
  9. “Until now, you asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive so your joy might be full.
  10. “I have spoken these things to you in parables.  An hour is coming when I will speak to you in parables no more, but will report plainly about the Father to you.
  11. “In that day you will ask in My name, and I don’t tell you that I will ask the Father concerning you,
  12. “for the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.
  13. “I came out from the Father and have come into the world.  I am leaving the world again and departing to the Father.”
  14. His disciples say: “Behold, you speak in plainness now and speak nothing in a parable.
  15. “We *know that you have known all things, and you have no need that you should ask anyone.  We believe in this: that you came out from God.”
  16. Jesus answered them: “Now you believe?
  17. “Behold, and hour is coming and has come that you will be scattered – each to his own – and leave Me alone.  And yet I’m not alone because the Father is with Me.
  18. “I have spoken these things to you so you might have peace in Me.  You have tribulation in the world, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

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John Chapter 17

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Glorify the Son
  1. Jesus said these things, and having lifted His eyes to heaven He said: “Father, the hour has come.  Glorify your Son so the Son might glorify you.
  2. “Just as you gave Him authority over all flesh, so He might give the life of ages to all them who you have given to Him.
  3. “And this is the life of ages: that they might know you – the only true God – and He who you sent: Jesus the Anointed.
  4. “I glorified you on the earth, having accomplished the work that you have given Me, so I might do it.
  5. “And now Father; glorify Me with yourself, with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
  6. “I revealed your name to the men who you gave Me out of the world.  They were yours, and you gave them to Me, and they have kept your word.
  7. “Now they have known that all things – as much as you have given Me – are of you,
  8. “because the words that you gave to Me, I have given to them.  And they received them and truly knew that I came out from you, and they believed that you sent Me.
  9. “I ask concerning them.  I don’t ask concerning the world, but concerning who you have given Me, because they are yours.
  10. “And all My things are yours, and your things Mine; and I have been glorified in them.
Unity
  1. “And I’m in the world no longer, and they are in the world, and I am going to you.  Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given to Me, so they might be one just as we are One.
  2. “When I was with them, I was keeping them in your name, which you have given to Me.  And I guarded them, and none of them perished except the son of ruin, so the scriptures might be fulfilled.
  3. “But now I’m going to you, and I say these things in the world so they might have My joy which has been completed in themselves.
  4. “I have given them your word, and the world hated them because they aren’t of the world, just as I’m not of the world.
  5. “I don’t ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from evil.1“evil” could also be translated “the evil one“, since the Greek construction is slightly ambiguous.
  6. “They aren’t of the world, just as I’m not of the world.
  7. “Make them holy by the truth; your word is truth.
  8. “Just as you sent Me into the world, I sent them into the world.
  9. “And I make Myself holy for their sake, so they also might be *made holy in truth.
  10. “I ask not only for these men, but also for the men who believe in Me through their word,
  11. “so all might be one; just as you Father are in Me and I in you, so also they might be in Us, so the world might believe that you sent Me.
  12. “And the glory that you have given me, I have given to them so they might be one, just as We are one.”
  13. “I in them and you in Me, so they might have been perfected into one, so the world might know that you sent Me and loved them just as you loved Me.
  14. “Father, I desire that where I am, those who you have given to Me might also be with Me; so they might observe My glory which you have given to Me because you loved Me before the foundation of the world.
  15. “Righteous Father, even though the world didn’t know you, yet I knew you, and these men knew that you sent Me.
  16. “And I made your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved Me might be in them, and I in them.”

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John Chapter 18

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Jesus is arrested
  1. Having said these things, Jesus went out with His disciples across the winter-stream1“winter-stream” refers to a river that only flows in the Middle Eastern equivalent of winter, which can also have heavy rain in addition to snow.  Large amounts of water can flow through it during the winter period of heavy rains, but it’s dry most of the rest of the year. of Kidron where a garden was, into which He and His disciples entered.
  2. And, Judas – the man who is betraying Him – had also known the place because Jesus often gathered there with His disciples.
  3. So Judas, having received the cohort and officers from the chief priests and from the Pharisees, goes there with torches, and lanterns, and weapons.
  4. So *knowing everything which is coming upon Him, Jesus also went out and said to them: “Who do you seek?”
  5. They answered Him: “Jesus the Nazarene.”  He tells them: “I Am.”  (And Judas – the man who is betraying Him – had been standing with them.)
  6. So as He told them: “I Am.”, they drew back and fell to the ground.
  7. So He questioned them again: “Who do you seek?”  And they answered Him: “Jesus the Nazarene.”
  8. Jesus answered: “I told you that I Am.  So if you seek Me, allow these men to depart.”
  9. This happened so the word which He spoke might be fulfilled that: “Who you have given to Me, I lost not a one of them.”
  10. So having a sword, Simon Peter unsheathed it and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his right ear, and his name was Malchus.
  11. So Jesus told Peter: “Put the sword into its scabbard.  The cup that the Father has given me, won’t I certainly drink from it?”
  12. So the cohort, and the officers, and the Jewish commanders seized Jesus and bound Him,
  13. and they led Him to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year.
  14. And, Caiaphas was the man who counseled the Jews that it’s profitable for one man to die for the sake of the people.
Peter’s first denial
  1. Now, Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus.  And since that disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest, he also entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,
  2. but Peter had stood outside at the door.  So the other disciple (who was an acquaintance of the high priest) went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.
  3. So the servant girl who was the doorkeeper says to Peter: “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?”  He says: “I’m not.”
  4. Now, having *made a bed of coals because it was cold, the officers and the slaves had stood near it and they were warming themselves.  And Peter also was *standing with them and warming himself.
Jesus before the high priest
  1. So the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
  2. Jesus answered him: “I have spoken with open boldness to the world.  I taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews assemble, and spoke nothing in secret.
  3. “Why do you question Me?  Question the men who have heard what I spoke to them.  Behold, they *know what I said.”
  4. And having said these things to him, one of the officers *standing there gave Jesus a slap after saying: “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”
  5. Jesus answered him: “If I spoke evil, testify about the evil.  But if I spoke rightly, why do you strike Me?”
  6. So Annas sent Him *bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter’s second and third denials
  1. Now, Simon Peter was *standing and warming himself.  So they said to him: “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?”  He denied it and said: “I’m not.”
  2. One of the high priest’s slaves – being a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off – says: “Didn’t I see you in the garden with Him?”
  3. So Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Jesus before Pilate
  1. So they lead Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium.  Now, it was early and they didn’t enter into the Praetorium so they wouldn’t be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
  2. So Pilate went out to them and said: “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
  3. They answered and told him: “If He weren’t doing evil, would we have delivered Him to you?”
  4. So Pilate told them: “You take Him and judge him according to your law.”  The Jews said to him: “It’s not lawful for us to kill anyone.”
  5. (This happened so the word of Jesus which He spoke might be fulfilled, signifying what sort of death He was about to die.)
  6. So Pilate entered into the Praetorium again and called Jesus and said to Him: “Are you King of the Jews?”
  7. Jesus answered: “Do you say this from yourself, or did others tell you this about Me?”
  8. Pilate answered: “I’m not a Jew am I?  Your nation and the chief priests delivered you to me; what did you do?”
  9. Jesus answered: “My kingdom isn’t of this world.  If My kingdom were of this world, My subordinates would have been fighting so I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews.  But presently, My kingdom isn’t of this place.
  10. So Pilate said to Him: “Then you are a king?”  Jesus answered: “You say that I am a king.  For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: so I might testify to the truth.  Every man who is of the truth hears My voice.
  11. Pilate says to Him: “What is truth?”  And having said this again, he went out to the Jews and tells them: “I find nothing guilty in Him.
  12. “But it’s a custom with you that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover.  So, do you intend that I release the King of the Jews to you?”
  13. So they cried out again saying: “Not this man, but Barabbas.”  (And Barabbas was violent robber.)

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John Chapter 19

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Jesus is mocked and sentenced
  1. So, then Pilate took Jesus and flogged Him.
  2. And having woven a crown of thorns, the soldiers put it on His head and clothed Him in a purple robe.
  3. And they were going to Him and were saying: “Hail, the King of the Jews!” and were giving Him slaps.
  4. And Pilate went out to the Jews again and tells them: “Behold, I bring Him out to you so you might know that I find nothing guilty in Him.”
  5. So Jesus went out wearing the thorny crown and purple robe, and he tells them: “Behold the man.”
  6. So when they saw Him, the chief priests and the officers cried out saying: “Crucify! Crucify!”  Pilate tells them: “Take Him and crucify Him yourselves, for I find no guilt in Him.”
  7. The Jews answered him: “We have a law, and according to the law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be God’s Son.
  8. So when Pilate heard this statement, he feared even more.
  9. And he went into the Praetorian again and says to Jesus: “Where are you from?”  But Jesus didn’t give him an answer.
  10. So Pilate says to Him: “You don’t speak to me?  Don’t you *know that I have authority to release you, and I have authority to crucify you?”
  11. Jesus answered him: “You wouldn’t have any authority over Me unless it has been given to you from above.  Because of this, the man who delivered Me to you has a greater sin.”
  12. From this, Pilate was seeking to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying: “If you release this man, you aren’t a friend of Caesar.  Every man who makes Himself out to be a king contradicts Caesar.”
  13. So having heard these words, Pilate brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgement seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Hebrew: Gabbatha.
  14. Now, it was the Day of Preparation for the Passover, and it was about the sixth hour.  And he tells the Jews: “Behold your king!”
  15. So they cried out: “Away!  Away with this man!  Crucify Him!”  Pilate says to them: “Should I crucify your king?”  The chief priests answered: “We have no king except Caesar.”
Jesus is crucified
  1. So then he handed Him over to them so He might be crucified.  So they took Jesus,
  2. and carrying His own cross, He went out to the place which is called “place of a skull”, which in Hebrew is called ‘Golgotha’,
  3. where they crucified Him and two others with Him, one on one side and one on the other side, and Jesus in between.
  4. And Pilate also wrote a placard and put it on the cross, and it was *written: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
  5. So many of the Jews read this placard because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was *written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
  6. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate: “Don’t write ‘the King of the Jews’, but instead write: ‘this man said: I’m King of the Jews’.”
  7. Pilate answered: “I have written what I have written.”
  8. So when the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His garments and made four portions, one portion for each soldier.  But the tunic was seamless from the top down because it was entirely woven.
  9. So they said to one another: “We shouldn’t tear it, but we should cast lots for it to decide whose it will be.”  This happened so the scripture might be fulfilled, the one which says: “They divided My garments among themselves, and they cast a lot for my clothing.”1quotation/allusion to Psalm 22:18  So the soldiers indeed did these things.
  10. Now, His mother had been standing by Jesus’ cross, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
  11. So having seen His mother and the disciple who He ^loved *standing there, Jesus says to His mother: “Woman, behold your son.”
  12. Next He says to the disciple: “Behold your mother.”  And from that hour on, the disciple took her into his own household.
Jesus’ death and burial
  1. After this, *knowing that all things have been accomplished so the scriptures might be fulfilled, Jesus says: “I thirst.”
  2. A vessel full of sour wine was lying nearby, so having put a sponge filled with sour wine on a hyssop stalk, they brought it to His mouth.
  3. So when Jesus took the sour wine, He said: “It has been finished!”  And having bowed His head, He handed over His spirit.
  4. So since it was a Sabbath preparation day, and so that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a great holy day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and they might be taken away.
  5. So the soldiers came and indeed broke the legs of the first man, and the other man who was crucified with Him.
  6. But having come to Jesus, they didn’t break His legs when they saw that He already *died.
  7. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
  8. And the man who has seen this has testified, and his testimony is true.  And that man knows that he is speaking the truth, so you also might believe,
  9. for these things took place so the scripture might be fulfilled: “Not a bone of His will be broken.”2quotation/allusion to Psalm 34:20, and also tangentially to Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12
  10. And again another scripture says: “They will see He who they pierced.”3quotation/allusion to Zechariah 12:10
  11. And after these things, Joseph from Arimathea – being a disciple of Jesus, but concealing this because of the fear of the Jews – asked Pilate so he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate allowed it.  So he came and took away His body.
  12. And Nicodemus – the man who first came to Him at night – also came bearing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 100 litras.4“litras” is the plural of litra, which was a Roman pound.  It’s approximately equivalent to twelve ounces, or 327.5 grams.
  13. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the custom for Jews to prepare a body for burial.
  14. Now, at the place where He was crucified was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb in which no one has ever been laid.
  15. So they laid Jesus there because of the preparation day of the Jews, because it was near the tomb.

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John Chapter 20

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The empty tomb
  1. Now, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb early, with it still being dark, and she sees that the stone has been removed from the tomb.
  2. So she runs and comes to Simon Peter and the other disciple who Jesus loved and she tells them: “They took the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t *know where they put Him.”
  3. So Peter and the other disciple went out and were going to the tomb.
  4. And the two were running together, and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first.
  5. And having stooped down, he sees the linen wrappings lying there, yet he didn’t enter.
  6. So Simon Peter also comes following him, and he entered the tomb and observes the linen wrappings lying there,
  7. and the head cloth (which was on His head) not lying with the linen wrappings, but *folded separately in another place.
  8. So the other disciple – the one who came to the tomb first – then also entered and saw and believed,
  9. for they hadn’t yet understood the scripture, that it’s necessary for Him to rise from the dead.
  10. So the disciples departed to their own homes.
  11. But Mary had stood at the tomb, weeping outside.  So as she was weeping, she stooped down into the tomb,
  12. and she sees two angels in white sitting – one at the head and one at the feet – where the body of Jesus had been lying.
  13. And those angels say to her: “Woman, why are you weeping?”  She tells them: “Because they took my Lord, and I don’t *know where they put Him.”
  14. Having said these things, she turned around and sees Jesus *standing there, and she hadn’t known that it’s Jesus.
  15. Jesus says to her: “Woman, why are you weeping?  Who are you seeking?”  Thinking that He’s the gardener, she tells Him: “Sir, if you carried Him away, tell me where you put Him and I will take Him away.”
  16. Jesus says to her: “Mary.”  Having turned, that woman says to Him in Hebrew: “Rabboni?” (which means: “teacher”)
  17. Jesus tells her: “Don’t cling to Me, for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father.  But go to My brothers and tell them: ‘I’m ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God’.”
  18. Mary Magdalene goes to the disciples, announcing that “I have seen the Lord!” and those things He told her.
 Jesus appears to the disciples
  1. So it being evening that same day (the first of the week) and the doors having been *shut where the disciples were because of fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst.  And He tells them: “Peace be with you.”
  2. And having said this, He showed both His hands and His side to them.  So having seen the Lord, the disciples rejoiced.
  3. So Jesus told them again: “Peace be with you.  Just as the Father has sent Me out, I also send you.”
  4. And having said this, He breathed on them and tells them: “Receive the Holy Spirit.
  5. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they have been forgiven.  If you retain someone’s sins, they have been retained.”
  6. But Thomas (one of the twelve, the man called “Didymus”) wasn’t with them when Jesus came.
  7. So the other disciples were telling him: “We have seen the Lord!”  But he told them: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I definitely won’t believe.”
  8. And after eight days, His disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them.  Jesus comes despite the *shut doors, and He stood in their midst and said: “Peace be with you.”
  9. Next He tells Thomas: “Bring your finger here and see My hands, and bring your hand and put it into My side; and don’t be unbelieving, but believing.
  10. Thomas answered and said to Him: “My Lord and My God.”
  11. Jesus tells him: “You have believed because you have seen Me; blessed are the men who didn’t see and yet believed.”
  12. So indeed, Jesus did many other signs in His disciples’ presence which haven’t been written in this book.
  13. But these have been written so you might believe that Jesus is the Anointed, the Son of God, and that by believing you might have life in His name.

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John Chapter 21

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The 3rd appearance of Jesus
  1. After these things, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples again at the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself this way:
  2. Simon Peter, and Thomas (the man who is called Didymus), and Nathanael the man from Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others from His disciples were together.
  3. Simon Peter tells them: “I’m going to fish.”  They say to him: “We’re also coming with you.”  They went out and embarked into the boat, and they caught nothing that night.
  4. And it having become morning already, Jesus stood at the shore, yet the disciples hadn’t known that it’s Jesus.
  5. So Jesus says to them: “Children, don’t you have any fish?”  They answered Him: “No.”
  6. And He tells them: “Throw the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find fish.”  So they threw it, and they were no longer able to drag it in from the plethora of fish.
  7. So the disciple who Jesus ^loved says to Peter: “It’s the Lord!”  So having heard that it’s the Lord, Simon Peter put on his outer tunic (for he was stripped for work) and threw himself into the sea.
  8. And the other disciples in the boat came dragging the net with the fish, for they weren’t far from the land, but about 200 cubits1“cubits”, the plural of “cubit”, which is about 18 inches, or about 46 centimeters.  Thus, 200 cubits is about 300 feet. away.
  9. So when they disembarked onto the land, they see a coal-fire lying there, and fish placed on it, and bread.
  10. Jesus tells them: “Bring some of the fish which you caught just now.”
  11. So Simon Peter went up and pulled the net full of large fish to the land; 153 fish, and though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.
  12. Jesus tells them: “Come, eat breakfast.” But none of the disciples dared to ask Him “Who are you?”, *knowing that it’s the Lord.
  13. Jesus comes and takes the bread and gives it to them, and He did likewise with the fish.
  14. This was already the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after having been raised from the dead.
Jesus, Peter, and John
  1. So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus says to Simon Peter: “Simon son of John, do you ^love Me more than these men?”  He tells Him: “Yes Lord, you *know that I love2“love” The Greek word here is “φιλέω” (phileó), and it denotes warm feelings of affection, friendship and kinship, or a great fondness for someone or something.  The contrast with “ἀγαπάω” (agapaó) used earlier in this verse can be adequately understood as a heart/head difference.  Thus, agapaó is the “love” based on the will, choice and the mind; whereas phileó is the “love” based on emotions, feelings, and the heart. you.”  He says to him: “Feed my lambs.”
  2. He says to him again for a second time: “Simon son of John, do you ^love Me?”  He tells Him: “Yes Lord, you *know that I love you.”  He says to him: “Shepherd My sheep.”
  3. He says to him the third time: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”  Peter was grieved because the third time He said to him: “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him: “Lord, you *know all things. You know that I love you.”  Jesus tells him: “feed My sheep.
  4. “Amen, amen I tell you: when you were younger, you were girding yourself3“girding yourself” is a cultural reference, referring to the process of tying a belt or rope around the waist to gather their long robes and prevent them from getting in the way of work.  It can also carry the connotation of clothing yourself.  It figuratively came to mean getting ready for action or work. and were walking where you were wanting.  But when you grow old, you will reach out your hands and another will gird you and will bring you where you don’t desire.
  5. And He said this, signifying by what kind of death he will glorify God.  And having said this, He tells him: “Follow Me.”
  6. Having turned, Peter sees the disciple who Jesus ^loved following (who also reclined at the supper on His chest and said: “Lord, who is the man who betrays you?”)
  7. So having seen that man, Peter says to Jesus: “Lord, and what about this man?”
  8. Jesus tells him: “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me.”
  9. So this saying went out among the brothers, that this disciple doesn’t die.  But Jesus didn’t tell him that he doesn’t die, but only: “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
  10. This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and the man who wrote these things, and we *know his testimony is true.
  11. Now, there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if every one would be written, I think not even the world itself would have space for the books which would be written.

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Acts

 

Paul’s Epistles

Romans

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Romans Chapter 1

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Greeting
  1. Paul, a slave of Jesus the Anointed, called to be an apostle and *set apart for God’s gospel
  2. which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy scriptures,
  3. concerning His Son, the One who was born from the seed of David according to the flesh,
  4. the One who was declared God’s Son in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead; Jesus the Anointed, our Lord.
  5. through whom we received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith in all the gentiles for His name’s sake,
  6. including in you, who are also called to be of Jesus the Anointed.
  7. To all the men in Rome who are beloved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
Paul and the Gospel
  1. First, I indeed thank my God through Jesus the Anointed for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in the whole world.
  2. For God – who I serve in my spirit by the gospel of His Son – is my witness of how unceasingly I make mention of you,
  3. always imploring in my prayers that somehow now at last by the will of God, I will successfully travel to come to you
  4. For I long to see you so I might impart some spiritual gift to you, for you to be strengthened.
  5. And that is, I wish to be encouraged together among you through each other’s faith, both your faith and mine.
  6. And brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant that I frequently purposed to come to you (and was hindered until now), so I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the gentiles.
  7. I’m indebted to both Greeks and barbarians; to both wise and foolish.
  8. Thus for me, I’m also ready to preach the gospel to you, the men in Rome.
  9. For I’m not ashamed of the gospel, for it’s the power of God for salvation to every man who believes, both to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
  10. For God’s righteousness is revealed in it from faith to faith, just as it is *written: “And the righteous shall live by faith.”1quotation/allusion to Habakkuk 2:4
God’s wrath upon unrighteousness
  1. For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, the men who suppress the truth by unrighteousness.
  2. because what’s known of God is obvious among them, for God revealed it to them.
  3. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes – both His eternal power and divine nature – are clearly seen, being understood by the created things for them to be without excuse,
  4. because while having known God, they didn’t glorify Him as God or thank Him, but they became futile in their reasoning and their foolish heart was darkened.
  5. Though professing to be wise, they became fools.
  6. And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into a likeness of the image of corruptible man, and birds, and four-legged animals, and creeping things.2“creeping things” is one word in Greek, which can refer to reptiles, especially snakes.
  7. Therefore, God handed them over to the cravings of their hearts; to impurity, to disgrace their bodies among them,
  8. who changed the truth of God into a lie, and reverently feared and served the creation instead of the One who created it, who is blessed through the ages. Amen.
  9. Because of this, God handed their men3“their men” is more literally “them” in the masculine form.  However, since gender matters to this verse, “their men” was chosen to avoid readers misinterpreting “them” as applying to both genders.  It should be noted that the word “their” in the later phrase “their females” is also masculine. over to disgraceful, depraved passions; for both they and4“both they and” is a single word in Greek which properly means “both and”.  It’s a less common conjugation, though is used seven times in Romans 1, every time with the meaning of “both and”.  The antecedent for the “both” part is clearly the men in the first clause, thus “they” was added for clarity. their females exchanged the natural use of intercourse5“use of intercourse” is one word in Greek.  It should be noted that the Greek word χρῆσις (chrésis) refers specifically to intercourse, which requires penetration by the male.  While this verse is typically translated and interpreted to apply to female homosexuality, that is impossible because χρῆσις requires a male’s involvement.  Without a male, it isn’t χρῆσις.  There is no instance in all of Greek literature where χρῆσις is applied to female homosexuality.  The early church fathers applied this verse not to female homosexuality, but to sodomy, which requires a male penetrating another person (male or female).  Thus the “natural use of intercourse” (vaginal intercourse) is contrasted with sodomy, which is “close beside but contrary to nature”.  The “female homosexuality” interpretation of this verse arose primarily after the church began to use a Latin translation of the Bible instead of the original Greek, and thus the specificity of χρῆσις was lost in translation. for the one that’s close beside but contrary to6“close beside but contrary to” is one word in Greek.  It’s the Greek word “παρά” (para) which is the root of our word parallel.  The primary meaning is “close beside”, but when followed by a word in the Greek accusative case – which it is here – it also gains the nuance of being “contrary to”. nature.
  10. And doing the same thing, the males both rejected the natural use of the female and were inflamed in their lust for one another; males in7“in” is literal, almost certainly a reference to the sodomy that homosexual males engage in. males, bringing about their shame and receiving in themselves the recompense that was proper for their error.
  11. And as they didn’t see fit to have recognition of God, God handed them over to a perversely unfit mind, to do the things which aren’t proper;
  12. *filling themselves with all unrighteousness, depravity, covetousness, wickedness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malevolence, secret slanderers;
  13. slanderous, abhorring God, violent, arrogant, boasters, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
  14. without understanding, covenant-breakers, without familial affection, and without mercy.
  15. Men who, while having known the righteous judgement and ordinance of God – that the men who practice such things are worthy of death – not only do them, but also join in approvingly with the men who practice them.

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Romans Chapter 2

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God’s righteous, impartial judgement
  1. Therefore, you O man are inexcusable, every man of you who’s judging.  For by what you judge the other man, you condemn yourself; for the man who’s judging practices the same things.
  2. Yet we *know that the judgement of God is based on truth upon the men who practice such things.
  3. And consider this O man; you man judging the men practicing such things (even while doing them yourself), do you think that you will escape the judgement of God?
  4. Or do you scorn the richness of His benevolence, and forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the benevolence of God leads you to repentance.
  5. And according to your hardness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgement of God,
  6. who will repay to each according to his deeds.1quotation/allusion to Psalm 62:12
  7. To the men who by endurance in good work are seeking glory, and honor, and incorruptibility: the life of ages2“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?”
  8. But to the men of selfish ambition and men who disobey the truth (also being persuaded of unrighteousness): anger and wrath.
  9. Tribulation and anguish will come upon every man’s soul who practices wickedness; both to the Jew first and then to the Greek.
  10. But glory, and honor, and peace to every man who practices good; both to the Jew first and also to the Greek,
  11. for there’s no partiality with God.
Obedience matters, not circumcision
  1. For as many as sinned without the law will also perish without the law.  And as many as sinned with the law will be judged by the law.
  2. For the hearers of the law aren’t righteous with God, but the doers of the law will be proved righteous –
  3. (For when the gentiles who don’t have the law do the things of the law by nature, these men who don’t have the law are a law to themselves,
  4. who clearly demonstrate the work of the law written in their hearts, witnessing together with their conscience, and between one another, their thoughts are accusing or even defending them.
  5. – on that day when God judges the hidden things of men through Jesus the Anointed according to my gospel.
  6. But if you bear the name of ‘Jew’, and rely on the law, and boast in God,
  7. and you know His will, and you examine the things to prove what is excellent, being taught from the law,
  8. and you are *confident in yourself to be both a guide to blind men and a light to the men in darkness;
  9. a strict schoolmaster of foolish men, a teacher of immature men, having the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth in the law;
  10. therefore, you man who teaches another, don’t you teach yourself?  You man who preaches not to steal, do you steal?
  11. You man who says not to have sex with another man’s wife,3“have sex with another man’s wife” is one word in the Greek, typically translated “commit adultery”. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was called fornication. do you have sex with another man’s wife?  You man who detests idols, do you rob temples?
  12. You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God through a deliberate violation of the law?
  13. For: “the name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you4quotation/allusion to Ezekiel 36:20 just as it is *written.
  14. For circumcision indeed benefits you if you practice the law.  But if you are a deliberate violator of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
  15. Therefore, if the uncircumcised man keeps the ordinances of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be considered as circumcision?
  16. And the uncircumcised man by birth who is fulfilling the law will judge you to be a deliberate violator of the law through the letter of the law and circumcision.
  17. For the one with the appearance of a Jew isn’t, nor the one with the appearance of circumcision in the flesh,
  18. but the man who’s a Jew internally is a Jew; who also has circumcision of the heart in spirit, not in the letter, whose approval isn’t from men, but from God.

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Romans Chapter 3

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God is righteous
  1. Then what is the advantage of the Jew?  Or what is the benefit of the circumcision?
  2. Much in every way.  For indeed, it’s primarily that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
  3. For what if some disbelieved?  Their unbelief won’t nullify the faithfulness of God will it?
  4. May it never be!  But let God be true though every man is a liar; just as it is *written: “that you might be made righteous in your words, and will prevail when you’re to be judged.”1quotation/allusion to Psalm 51:4
  5. But if our unrighteousness proves God’s righteousness, what will we say: is God – the One who inflicts wrath – unrighteous?  (I speak as a man might.)
  6. May it never be!  Otherwise, how will God judge the world?
  7. But if the truth of God overflowed for His glory by my lie, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
  8. And why not say: “let us do evil so good might come”?  Just as we’re blasphemously charged with saying and as some report us to say; their condemnation is just.
No man is righteous
  1. What then, are we better?  Not at all!  For we previously brought an accusation against both Jews and Greeks that all are under sin.
  2. Just as it is *written: “There is none righteous, not even one.
  3. There is no man who understands, there is no man who seeks God.
  4. All turned away; together they became like worthless spoiled milk.2” they have become like worthless spoiled milk” is one word in Greek, originally referring to milk that had spoiled, and thus was worthless and good for nothing.  Thus, this word also has the connotation of being corrupt/spoiled/ruined.  There is no man who does good; there isn’t even one.”3quotation/allusion to Psalm 14:1-3
  5. Their throat is a *open grave, their tongues were continually deceiving.”4quotation/allusion to Psalm 5:9  “The venom of asps5an “asp” is a highly poisonous snake who’s venom is very often fatal when left untreated.  Further, the venom works quickly, making it even more dangerous. is under their lips;”6quotation/allusion to Psalm 140:3
  6. whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”7quotation/allusion to Psalm 10:7
  7. Their feet are swift to spill blood,
  8. complete ruin and misery are in their ways,
  9. and they didn’t know the way of peace.”8quotation/allusion to Isaiah 59:7-8
  10. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”9quotation/allusion to Psalm 36:1
  11. Yet we have known that whatever the law says, it speaks to the men under the law so that every mouth might be stopped, and all the world might be brought to trial, being guilty10“might be brought to trial, being guilty” is one word in Greek.  It refers to bringing someone who is guilty to trial to answer for their crimes.   It can also refer to the sentence of the condemned. before God.
  12. Therefore, no flesh will be made righteous in His sight by the works of the law, for through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Righteousness from God through Jesus
  1. But now, the righteousness of God has been made known apart from the law, being testified of by the law and the prophets;
  2. even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus the Anointed for all the men who believe.  For there’s no distinction,
  3. for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
  4. being made righteous by His freely given grace through the repurchase payment11“repurchase payment” is one word in Greek, typically translated “redemption”.  It properly refers to the price paid to “buy back” something that had been lost. in Jesus the Anointed,
  5. who God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood for a demonstration of His righteousness, by the forbearance of God through the overlooking of sins which we have previously committed,
  6. for the demonstration of His righteousness in the present season, for Him to be righteous and also making righteous the man whose faith is in Jesus.
  7. Where then is the boasting?  It was excluded.  Because of what Law?  Of works?  By no means, but through the law of faith.
  8. For we consider a man to be made righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.
  9. Or is God only God of the Jews?  Isn’t He also God of the gentiles?  Yes!  Of the gentiles too,
  10. since there’s indeed one God who will make the circumcision righteous by faith and the uncircumcision righteous through the same faith.
  11. Then, do we nullify the law through faith?  May it never be!  Instead, we establish the law.

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Romans Chapter 4

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Righteousness from works vs faith
  1. Therefore, what will we say that Abraham has discovered?  (Who is our father according to the flesh.)
  2. For if Abraham was made righteous by works, he has a reason to boast (but not to God).
  3. For what does scripture say: “And Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”1quotation/allusion to Genesis 15:6
  4. Now, to the man who works, his wage isn’t credited as grace, but as what’s owed.
  5. But to the man who doesn’t work but believes on the One who makes the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness,
  6. Just as David also speaks of how blessed is the man for whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
  7. Blessed are the men whose lawless deeds were forgiven, and whose sins were covered;
  8. blessed is the man to whom the Lord definitely won’t credit his sin.”2quotation/allusion to Psalm 32:1
  9. Then, is this blessing only on the circumcision, or also on the uncircumcision?  (For we say faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.)3quotation/allusion to Genesis 15:6
  10. Then how was it credited?  While being in circumcision or in uncircumcision?  Not while in circumcision, but while in uncircumcision.
  11. And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith he had while in uncircumcision, for him to be the father of all the men who believe while in uncircumcision, for it to be credited to them as righteousness also.
  12. And the father of circumcision isn’t only father to the men of circumcision, but also to the men who walk in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham while in uncircumcision.
Through faith, not law
  1. For the promise – for him to be an heir to the world – wasn’t given to Abraham or his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
  2. For if the men of the law are heirs, faith has been made void and the promise has been nullified.
  3. For the law brings about wrath; but where there’s no law, there’s no deliberate sin either.
  4. Therefore, it’s from faith so that it’s by grace, for all the seed to be certain of the promise; not only to the seed of the law, but also to the seed of Abraham’s faith, who is the father of us all.
  5. Just as it is *written: “I have established you as a father of many nations.”4quotation/allusion to Genesis 17:5   He believed before God, the One who gives life to the dead and calls the things which don’t exist into being.
  6. With hope against hope, Abraham believed the promise for him to become the father of many nations, according to what has been spoken: “So will your seed be.”5quotation/allusion to Genesis 15:5
  7. And not having been weak in faith, he considered his own body as [already] *dying (being about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
  8. But he didn’t doubt the promise of God in unbelief, but was strengthened in faith; having given glory to God
  9. and having been fully convinced that what God has promised, He is also able to do.
  10. And therefore: “It was credited to him as righteousness.”6quotation/allusion to Genesis 15:6
  11. Yet it wasn’t written that “it was credited to him” because of him alone,
  12. but also because of us (to whom it’s about to be credited); to the men who believe on the One who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
  13. who was handed over because of our missteps7“missteps”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) and carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional., and was raised for the sake of us being made righteous.

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Romans Chapter 5

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Peace with God
  1. Therefore, having been made righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus the Anointed.
  2. Through whom we also *have access by faith into this grace in which we *stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
  3. And not only that, but we also rejoice in tribulations; *knowing that tribulation produces endurance,
  4. and endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
  5. And hope doesn’t make us ashamed because the ^love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit; the One who was given to us.
  6. For with us still being weak, the Anointed died for the sake of the ungodly at the opportune time.
  7. For rarely will someone die for the sake of a righteous man, though for the sake of a good man perhaps someone might even dare to die.
  8. But God is proving His own ^love for us, because with us still being sinners, the Anointed died for our sake.
  9. Therefore, having now been made righteous by His blood, how much more will we be saved from wrath through Him!
  10. For if we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son while being enemies, then having been reconciled, how much more will we be saved by His life!
  11. And not only this, but we’re also rejoicing in God through our Lord, Jesus the Anointed, through whom we now received our reconciliation.
Death through Adam’s sin, life through Jesus’ righteousness
  1. Because of this, just as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death spread to all men, because all sinned.
  2. For sin was in the world until the law, but sin isn’t charged to an account when there’s no law.
  3. But regardless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over the men who didn’t sin in the likeness of the deliberate sin of Adam, who is a type of the One who is about to come.
  4. But the gift of grace isn’t like the misstep.1“misstep”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) and carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional.  For if the many died by one man’s misstep, so also the grace of God and the gift by the grace of one man – Jesus the Anointed – overflowed much more to the many.
  5. And the gift isn’t like what came through the one who sinned. For indeed, the judgement from one resulted in a sentence of punishment, but the gift of grace from many missteps resulted in our being made righteous.
  6. For if death reigned through the one misstep of the one, how much more will the men receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus the Anointed!
  7. So therefore, just as a sentence of punishment came to all men through one misstep, so also being made righteous in life came to all men through one righteous deed.
  8. For just as the many were made sinners through the disobedience of one man, so also the many will be made righteous through the obedience of One man.
  9. And the law entered so the missteps might abound.  But where sin abounded, grace super-abounded,
  10. so just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to the life of ages2“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?” through Jesus the Anointed our Lord.

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Romans Chapter 6

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Dead to sin, Alive to the Anointed
  1. Therefore, what will we say?  Might we continue in sin so grace might abound?
  2. May it never be!  How will we who died to sin still live in it?
  3. Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Jesus the Anointed were baptized into His death?
  4. Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, so just as the Anointed was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we might also walk in newness of life.
  5. For if we have become united with the likeness of His death, we will also be the same in the likeness of His resurrection,
  6. knowing this: that our old man was crucified with Him, so the body of sin might be nullified, to enslave us to sin no longer.
  7. For the man who died has been absolved from sin.
  8. And if we died with the Anointed, we believe that we will also live with Him,
  9. *knowing that the Anointed (having been raised from the dead) no longer dies; death no longer has authority over Him.
  10. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
  11. And you likewise must consider yourselves to be indeed dead to sin, but alive to God in Jesus the Anointed.
  12. Therefore, don’t let sin reign in your mortal body in order to obey its cravings,
  13. nor present your parts as tools of unrighteousness in sin, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your parts as tools of righteousness to God.
  14. For sin won’t have authority over you, for you aren’t under the law, but under grace.
Sin into death, obedience into righteousness
  1. What then, might we sin because we aren’t under the law but under grace?   May it never be!
  2. Don’t you *know that whoever you present yourselves to as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him who you obey?  (Whether of sin into death or of obedience into righteousness.)
  3. But grace be to God because while you were formerly slaves of sin, yet you became obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were delivered,
  4. and having been freed from sin, you were enslaved to righteousness.
  5. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.  For just as you presented your parts as slaves to impurity and lawlessness resulting in more lawlessness, so now present your parts as slaves to righteousness leading into becoming holy.
  6. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.
  7. Therefore, what fruit did you have then on account of the things about which you’re now ashamed?  For the end of those things is death.
  8. But presently – having been freed from sin and having been made slaves to God – you have your fruit for becoming holy, and the end is the life of ages.1“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?”
  9. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of grace in God is the life of ages2“life of ages” see previous note. in Jesus the Anointed, our Lord.

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Romans Chapter 7

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The law, sin, and death
  1. Or don’t you know brothers – for I speak to men knowing the law – that the law has authority over a man for as long as the time he lives?
  2. For the married woman is *bound by law to her husband while he’s living.  But if the husband dies, she is *severed from the law concerning the husband.
  3. So then, if she became joined to another man while her husband is living, she will publicly be called an adulteress.  But she is free from the law if the husband dies, so she’s not an adulteress though having become joined to another man.
  4. So then my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of the Anointed for you to become1“become” this word can also be mean to be born. joined to another, the One who was raised from the dead so we might bear fruit to God.
  5. For when we were in the flesh, sinful passions were working in our limbs through the law to bear the fruit of death.
  6. But now, we were severed from the law, having died to what we were bound by in order for us to serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
  7. Then what will we say?  Is the law sin?  May it never be!  But I didn’t recognize sin except through the law, for I hadn’t even been aware of covetousness except the law was saying: “You shall not covet.”2quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21
  8. But having taken an opportunity through the commandment, sin produced all sorts of covetousness in me; for apart from the law, sin is dead.
  9. Yet I once was alive apart from the law; but having come, the commandment revived the sin and I died.
  10. And the commandment that was to result in life for me was found to result in death.
  11. For having taken an opportunity through the commandment, sin thoroughly deceived me and through it put me to death.
  12. So then the law is indeed holy; and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
Desiring to do good but not doing it
  1. Therefore, did something good become death to me?  May it never be!  But it was sin – so it might be revealed as sin – working out death in me through what’s good so sin might become sinful beyond excess through the commandment.
  2. For we *known that the law is spiritual but I’m fleshly, having been *sold under sin’s authority.
  3. For I don’t understand what I do.  For what I desire, this I don’t do.  But what I hate, this I do.
  4. But if what I don’t desire, this I do; I agree with the law that the law is good.
  5. And now I no longer do it, but the sin which dwells in me.
  6. For I *know that good doesn’t dwell in me (that is, in my flesh).  For the desire to do good is present in me, but the doing of good isn’t.
  7. For I don’t do the good that I desire, but the evil that I don’t desire, this I practice.
  8. And if what I don’t desire, this I do; it’s no longer I who do it, but the sin which dwells in me.
  9. Therefore, through the law I find the principle that evil is present in me, me the man who desires to do good,
  10. for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
  11. But I see another law in my limbs, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner to the law of sin which is present in my limbs.
  12. What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?
  13. But grace be to God through Jesus the Anointed our Lord!  So then, I myself indeed serve God’s law with my mind, but sin’s law with my flesh.

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Romans Chapter 8

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Walking in Flesh vs Spirit
  1. Therefore, there is now no sentence of punishment to the men in Jesus the Anointed [who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.]1This textual variant is disputed, with the majority of manuscripts supporting its inclusion, but the earliest manuscripts supporting its omission. The exact same words occur in verse 4.  It possible that scribes copied this down from there to “soften” the verse, or that Paul repeated it for emphasis. The debate is ongoing.
  2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus the Anointed set you free from the law of sin and death.
  3. For the law was powerless in that it was weak through the flesh.  But God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh; and concerning sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
  4. so the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, the men who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
  5. For the men who are walking according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh, but the men walking according to the Spirit, mind the things of the Spirit.
  6. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
  7. because the mind of the flesh has hostility for God because it’s not subject to the law of God, nor can it be.
  8. And the men who are in the flesh aren’t able to please God.
  9. But you aren’t in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed God’s Spirit dwells in you.  But if someone doesn’t have the Spirit of the Anointed, this man isn’t of Him.
  10. But if the Anointed is in you, your body is indeed dead because of sin.  But the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
  11. But if the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised Jesus the Anointed [from the dead] will also resurrect your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
  12. So then brothers, we aren’t debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
  13. For if you live according to the flesh, you’re about to die.  But if you put the deeds of the body to death by the Spirit, you will live.
Adoption as Sons
  1. For as many as are led by God’s Spirit, these are sons of God.
  2. For you didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to fear again, but you received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry “Abba,2“Abba” is a Greek form of the Hebrew word for father.  It is a term of greater closeness and familiarity than “father”, though the degree of closeness is widely debated.  Some think “Papa” or “Daddy” is appropriate, while others say that’s is too familiar and prefer “Dad” or perhaps “Pa”.  Some of the latter group prefer to render as an adjective and would translate it “dear father”. Father.”
  3. The same Spirit testifies together with our spirit that we are children of God.
  4. And if children, also heirs; indeed, we’re heirs of God and co-heirs with the Anointed, if indeed we suffer with Him so we might also be glorified together with Him.
  5. For I conclude that the sufferings of the present season aren’t worthy of comparison to the glory which is about to be revealed to us.
  6. For the creation eagerly awaits in earnest expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.
  7. For the creation was subjected to futility; not voluntarily, but because of the One who subjected it in the confidence
  8. that the creation itself will also be freed from the slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
  9. For we have known that all creation groans together and suffers birthing pains until now.
  10. And not only that, but even we ourselves – though having the firstfruit of the Spirit – even we ourselves groan in ourselves eagerly awaiting the adoption as sons; the ransoming back3“ransoming back” is one word in Greek, typically translated “redemption”.  It properly refers to a released secured by paying a ransom. of our body.
  11. For we were saved in this hope.  But hope that’s seen isn’t hope, for does someone hope for what he sees?
  12. but if we hope for what we don’t see, we eagerly await through patient endurance.
  13. And likewise also, the Spirit helps our weakness, for we don’t *know what we should pray for as is proper, but the Spirit Himself intercedes with groanings that can’t be expressed in words.
  14. And the One who searches hearts *knows what’s in the mind of the Spirit, because He intercedes on behalf of the saints before God.
  15. And we *know that [God] works all things together for good to the men who ^love God, to the men who are being called according to His purpose,
  16. because those whom He knew beforehand, He also appointed beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the firstborn among many brothers.
  17. And who He appointed beforehand, these He also called.  And who He called, these He also made righteous.  And who He made righteous, these He also glorified.
Nothing can separate us from God
  1. What then will we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?
  2. Indeed, He who didn’t spare His own Son but handed Him over for all our sake, how could He not also freely give all things to us with Him?
  3. Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?  God is the One who makes righteous.
  4. Who is the man who condemns?  For Jesus the Anointed – the One who died and was raised [from the dead] and who is at the right hand of God – who also intercedes on our behalf.
  5. Who will separate us from the ^love of the Anointed?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
  6. Just as it is *written: “We are put to death all day long for your sake; we were considered like sheep of slaughter.”4quotation/allusion to Psalm 44:22
  7. But in all these things, we are more than conquerors through the One who ^loved us.
  8. For I am *convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things which have been present, nor things to come, nor powers,
  9. nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the ^love of God in Jesus the Anointed, our Lord.

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Romans Chapter 9

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Concern for Jews
  1. I speak the truth in the Anointed.  I don’t lie; my conscience is testifying with me in the Holy Spirit
  2. that my grief is great, and the deep sorrow in my heart is unceasing.
  3. For I was wishing myself to be anathema1“anathema” likely because of the Bible, this Greek word has entered the English vocabulary.  In Greek it literally means to curse someone, or more specifically to offer a curse to them to devote them to God’ destruction.  It can also have the connotation of being abominable and/or detestable.separated from the Anointed – for the sake of my brothers; my kinsmen according to the flesh,
  4. who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory, and the covenants, and the Mosaic legislation, and the sacred service, and the promises;
  5. to whom belong the forefathers, and from whom came the Anointed according to the flesh; the One who is God over all and blessed through the ages, Amen.
  6. But it’s not that the word of God has failed, for not all the men of Israel are these men of Israel.
  7. Nor are all children because they’re Abraham’s seed, but “In Isaac your seed will be called.”2quotation/allusion to Genesis 21:12
  8. That is, it’s not these children of the flesh who are children of God; but the children of the promise are considered to be seed.
  9. For the word of promise was this: “At this time, I will come and there will be a son through Sarah.”3quotation/allusion to Genesis 18:10
  10. And not only that, but also Rebecca having her conception by one man, Isaac our father.
  11. For while not yet having been born nor having done anything good or evil – so the purpose of God in regard to His elect might remain not from works, but from the One who calls –
  12. it was said to her: “The older will serve the younger.”4quotation/allusion to Genesis 25:23
  13. Just as it is *written: “Jacob I ^loved, but Esau I hated.”5quotation/allusion to Malachi 1:2
The Potter and the Clay
  1. Then what will we say?  There isn’t injustice with God is there?  May it never be!
  2. For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”6quotation/allusion to Exodus 33:15
  3. So then it’s not up to the man desiring nor the man running, but to God having mercy.
  4. For the scripture says of Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this: so that I might demonstrate My power in you, and so that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”7quotation/allusion to Exodus 9:16
  5. So then He has mercy on whom He desires and He hardens whom He desires.
  6. Therefore you will say to me: “Then why does He still find fault?  For who has resisted His will?”
  7. On the contrary O man, who are you?  The man who contradicts God?  The thing that’s molded won’t say to the One who molded it: “Why did you make me this way?”, will it?
  8. Or doesn’t the potter have the authority over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
  9. And what if God – desiring to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known – bore in much patience the vessels of wrath *fit for destruction?
  10. And so He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,
  11. who He also called us, not only from the Jews, but also from the gentiles.
  12. Just as He also says in Hosea: “I will call the man who isn’t My people, My people; and the woman who hasn’t been ^loved, the woman who has been ^loved.”8quotation/allusion to Hosea 2:23
  13. And: “it will be in the place where it was said to them, “you aren’t My people”, there they will be called sons of the living God.” 9quotation/allusion to Hosea 1:10
  14. Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel might be as the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
  15. For the Lord will do His word; fulfilling and swiftly executing it upon the land.”10quotation/allusion to Isaiah 10:22
  16. And as Isaiah has foretold: “Unless the Lord of hosts had left us seed, we would’ve become like Sodom and we would’ve been made like Gomorrah.” 11quotation/allusion to Isaiah 1:9
  17. Then what will we say?  That the gentiles not pursuing righteousness attained righteousness?  (And that righteousness is from faith)
  18. But Israel pursuing a law of righteousness didn’t attain to that law?
  19. Why?  Because it wasn’t from faith, but as from works, they stumbled at the stone of stumbling,
  20. just as it is *written: “Behold, I place a stone of stumbling in Zion, and a rock of offense.  And the man who believes on Him won’t be put to shame.” 12quotation/allusion to Isaiah 28:16

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Romans Chapter 10

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Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
  1. Brothers, the delight of my heart and earnest prayer to God on their behalf is indeed for their salvation.
  2. For I testify about them (that they have zeal for God) but it’s not according to accurate knowledge.
  3. For not knowing God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own [righteousness], they weren’t submitted to the righteousness of God.
  4. For the end of the law is the Anointed, for righteousness to every man who believes.
  5. For Moses writes of the righteousness from the law: “The man who does them, he will live by them.”1quotation/allusion to Leviticus 18:5
  6. But the righteousness from faith speaks this way: “You shouldn’t say in your heart “who will ascend into heaven?”2quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 30:12 (that is, to bring the Anointed down.)
  7. or “Who will descend into the abyss?”3quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 30:13; the Greek word for “abyss” here can refer to anything for which the bottom is not known.  In the Septuagint, it was used for the deep sea in several places. (That is, to bring the Anointed up from the dead)
  8. But what does it say?  “The spoken word is near you; in your mouth and in your heart.”4quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 30:14  That’s the spoken word of faith which we proclaim.
  9. That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
  10. For someone believes with the heart resulting in righteousness, and someone confesses with the mouth resulting in salvation.
  11. For the scripture says: “Every man who believes on Him won’t be put to shame.”5quotation/allusion to Isaiah 28:16
  12. For there’s no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all the men who call on Him.
  13. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”6quotation/allusion to Joel 2:32
  14. Therefore, how could they call on Him whom they didn’t believe?  And how could they believe on Him whom they didn’t hear?  And how could they hear without someone proclaiming?
  15. And how could they proclaim if they weren’t sent?  Just as it is *written: “How beautiful are the feet [of the men who proclaim the good news of peace;] of the men who proclaim the good news of good things.”7quotation/allusion to Isaiah 52:7
Not all Listened
  1. But not all listened to the good news.  For Isaiah says: “Lord, who believed our report?”8quotation/allusion to Isaiah 53:1
  2. So faith is from hearing, and hearing through a spoken word about the Anointed.
  3. But I say: “Didn’t they definitely hear?”  Indeed; “Their voice went out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the world.”9quotation/allusion to Psalm 19:4
  4. But I say: “Didn’t Israel definitely know?”  First, Moses says: “I will make you jealous by those who aren’t a nation; I will anger you by a nation without understanding.”10quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 32:21
  5. Then Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by the men not seeking Me; I became manifest to the men not inquiring after Me.”11quotation/allusion to Isaiah 65:1
  6. But to Israel he says: “I extended My hands the whole day to a people who disobey and contradict Me.”12quotation/allusion to Isaiah 65:2

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Romans Chapter 11

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Israel’s Remnant
  1. Therefore I say: “Didn’t God reject His people?”  May it never be!  For I’m also an Israelite of Abraham’s seed, of Benjamin’s tribe.
  2. God didn’t reject His people whom He knew beforehand.  Or haven’t you known what the Scripture says in Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel:
  3. Lord, they killed your prophets, they tore down your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.”1quotation/allusion to 1 Kings 19:10
  4. But what does the divine response tell him?  “I reserved seven thousand men for Myself who didn’t bow the knee to Baal.” 2quotation/allusion to 1 Kings 19:18
  5. Then in this way also, there *is a remnant in the present season according to the election of grace.
  6. And if its by grace, it’s no longer from works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.  [And if its from works, it’s no longer grace; otherwise, the work is no longer work.]
  7. What then?  What Israel is seeking, they didn’t obtain it; but the elect obtained it and the rest were hardened,
  8. just as it is *written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor; to not see with the eyes, and to not hear with the ears, until the present day.”3quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 29:4, and Isaiah 29:10
  9. And David says: “Let their table be for a snare, and for a trap, and for a stumbling block, and for a recompense to them.
  10. Let their eyes be darkened to not see, and oppressively bend their back through all time.”4quotation/allusion to Psalm 69:22-23
  11. Therefore I say: “Didn’t they stumble so they might fall?”  May it never be!  But by their misstep,5 “misstep”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) and carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. salvation came to the gentiles in order to make them jealous.
  12. But if their misstep brought riches to the world, and their loss brought riches to the gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring?
  13. But I speak to you, the gentiles.  In as much as I’m indeed an apostle to the gentiles, I magnify my ministry
  14. if somehow I will make my kinsmen of flesh jealous and will save some of them.
  15. For if their rejection brought the world’s reconciliation, what could their acceptance bring, except life from the dead?
Grafting in
  1. And if the firstfruit is holy, the whole lump is also.  And if the root is holy, the branches are also.
  2. But if some of the branches were broken off and you – though being a wild olive tree – were grafted in among them, and became a fellow partaker of the richness of the olive tree’s root,
  3. don’t boast over the branches. But if you exalt yourself over them, remember that you don’t sustain the root, but the root sustains you.
  4. Then you will say: “Branches were broken off so I might be grafted in.”
  5. Rightly so; they were broken off by unbelief; but you *stand by faith.  Don’t be high-minded, but fear:
  6. for if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.
  7. Therefore, behold the benevolence and severity of God.  Indeed, severity upon the men who fell; but the benevolence of God to you if you remain in benevolence, otherwise you also will be cut off.
  8. And yet if they don’t continue in unbelief, they will be grafted in.  For God is able to graft them in again.
  9. For if you were cut off from a wild olive tree by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
All Israel will be saved
  1. For brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery so you won’t be wise in your own estimation; that a partial hardening of Israel has happened until the fullness of the gentiles might come in.
  2. And all Israel will be saved in this way, just as it is *written: “He will come from Zion; the One who delivers by drawing to Himself.6“delivers by drawing to Himself” is one word in Greek.  It properly means to rescue or deliver someone by pulling them out of danger toward yourself.  He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”7quotation/allusion to Isaiah 59:20
  3. And “This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”8quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 31:33-34
  4. As it concerns the gospel, they are indeed enemies because of you.  But as it concerns the election, they are beloved because of the forefathers.
  5. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
  6. For just as you were once disobedient to God, but now were shown mercy because of the disobedience of these men,
  7. in this way also, these men were now disobedient for your mercy, so now they also might be shown mercy.
  8. For God enclosed all in disobedience so He might show mercy to all.
  9. O, the depth of the riches, and wisdom, and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgements and unfathomable are His ways!
  10. For who knew the mind of the Lord, or who became His advisor?
  11. Or “Who gave to Him first and it will be repaid to him?”9quotation/allusion to Job 41:11
  12. Because all things are from Him, and through Him, and for Him.  To Him be the glory through the ages!  Amen.

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Romans Chapter 12

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Living Sacrifices
  1. Therefore brothers, because of the compassions of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice; holy and pleasing to God as your reasonable service in response.
  2. And don’t be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for you to prove by testing what is the good, and pleasing, and perfect will of God.
  3. For through the grace which was given to me, I tell every man among you not to be overly proud beyond what’s proper to think, but to think so as to be sober-minded as God distributed a measure of faith to each.
  4. For just as we have many parts in one body, but all the parts don’t have the same function,
  5. in this way, we the many parts are one body in the Anointed, and individually parts of one another,
  6. but having different gifts of grace according to the grace which was given to us.  If prophecy, in proportion to faith;
  7. if service, in serving; or the man who teaches in teaching;
  8. or the man who exhorts in exhortation; the man who gives in generosity; the man who leads with diligent zeal; the man who shows mercy with cheerfulness.
  9. Let ^love be without hypocrisy; abhorring evil, adhering to good.
  10. Be tenderly devoted to one another in brotherly love, preferring one another in honor,
  11. not slothful in diligent zeal, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,
  12. rejoicing in hope, enduring in tribulation, constantly persevering in prayer,
  13. contributing to the needs of the saints, and pursuing hospitality.
  14. Bless the men who persecute you; bless and don’t curse.
  15. You are to rejoice with those who are rejoicing, to weep with those who are weeping;
  16. being of the same mind toward one another, not minding haughty things, but associating with humble men; don’t become wise in your own estimation;
  17. repaying evil for evil to no one, but respecting good in the sight of all men;
  18. If possible, from what depends on you, living in peace with all men;
  19. not avenging yourselves beloved, but give a place for God’s wrath.  For it is *written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.”1quotation/allusion to Proverbs 24:29 says the Lord.
  20. But “If your enemy hungers, feed him.  If he thirsts, give him a drink.  For in doing this, you will heap fiery coals on his head.”2quotation/allusion to Proverbs 25:21-22
  21. Don’t be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

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Romans Chapter 13

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Submission to Authorities
  1. Let every soul be submitted to the authorities surpassing him or her, for there’s no authority except under God and the ones that exist have been appointed by God.
  2. Therefore, the man who sets himself against the authority has resisted the mandate of God; and the men who have resisted shall incur judgement on themselves.
  3. For the rulers aren’t a terror to a good deed, but to evil.  And do you want to not fear the authority?  Do good and you will have praise from the authority.
  4. For he is a servant of God to you for good.  But if you do evil, be frightened for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain.  For he is a servant of God; an avenger for wrath to the man who practices evil.
  5. Therefore, it’s necessary to be submitted; not only because of wrath, but also because of conscience.
  6. For because of this, you also pay taxes; for they are servants of God, continually attending on this same thing.
  7. Repay to all what is owed; tax to whom tax is due; the toll to whom the toll is due, fear to whom fear is due, honor to whom honor is due.
  8. Owe nothing to anyone, except to ^love one another; for the man who ^loves another has fulfilled the law.
  9. For “You shall not have sex with another man’s wife.”1quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18.  “have sex with another man’s wife” is one word in the Greek, typically translated “commit adultery”. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was called fornication.You shall not murder2quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17You shall not steal3quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:15 and Deuteronomy 5:19 [“You shall not testify falsely4quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:16 and Deuteronomy 5:20] “You shall not covet“,5quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21 and if there’s any other commandment, it is summarized in this statement: “You shall ^love your neighbor as yourself.”6Quotation/allusion to Leviticus 19:18
  10. ^Love doesn’t do evil to its neighbor.  Therefore, ^love is the fulfillment of the law.
Clothe yourselves in the Anointed
  1. And do this *knowing the season; that it’s already the hour for you to awaken from sleep.  For now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
  2. The night progressed and the day has drawn near.  Therefore, we should cast off the works of darkness and clothe ourselves with the war equipment7“war equipment” is one word in Greek.  It refers to the various tools, implements, and weapons used to wage war.  The Greek word is “ὅπλον” (hoplon), which was one name for the large wooden shield from which the “Hoplites” in the ancient Grecian military got their name. of light.
  3. We should walk properly as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in immoral sex and wanton debauchery, not in strife and jealousy.
  4. But clothe yourselves with the Anointed Lord Jesus, and don’t make provision for the cravings of the flesh.

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Romans Chapter 14

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The weaker brother
  1. Now, welcome the man who is weak in faith, but not to pass judgement on his reasonings.
  2. Indeed, a man who believes is able to eat all things; but the man who is weak eats only vegetables.
  3. Let the man who eats not disdain the man who doesn’t eat; and let the man who doesn’t eat not judge the man who does eat, for God welcomed him.
  4. Who are you to judge the household servant of another?  He stands or falls to his own master, but he will stand; for the Lord is able to make him stand.
  5. For indeed, one esteems a day above another day, but another esteems every day evenly.  Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind.
  6. The man who observes the day, observes it to the Lord.  [And the man who doesn’t observe the day, doesn’t observe it to the Lord.]  The man who eats, eats to the Lord for he thanks God.  And the man who doesn’t eat, doesn’t eat to the Lord and he thanks God.
  7. For none of us lives for himself and none dies for himself.
  8. For both if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord.  Therefore, both if we live and if we die, we are the Lord’s.
  9. For the Anointed died and lived again for this: so He might rule over both the dead and the living.
  10. But you, why do you judge your brother?  Or also, why do you disdain your brother?  For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God.
  11. For it is *written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will confess to God.”1quotation/allusion to Isaiah 45:23
  12. So then, each of us will give an account concerning himself to God.
  13. Therefore, we should no longer judge one another, but rather resolve this: not to put a stumbling block or bait that ensnares2“bait that ensnares” is a single word in the Greek. It specifically refers to a “bait stick”, meaning the trigger stick of a trap or snare to which the bait is attached. Think of the part of a mouse trap to which you affix the cheese. On reaching for the bait, the “bait stick” triggers the trap and ensnares the unsuspecting victim.  It can also refer to offending someone or to someone stumbling. before your brother.
  14. I have known and have been convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean because of itself, except to the man who considers something to be unclean; to that man, it’s unclean.
  15. For if your brother is grieved because of food, you no longer walk according to ^love.  Don’t utterly ruin with your food that man for whose sake the Anointed died.
  16. Therefore, don’t let your good be slandered as evil.
  17. For the kingdom of God isn’t eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
  18. For the man who serves the Anointed in these things is pleasing to God and approved by men.
  19. So then, we should pursue the things of peace, and the things for building up into one another.
  20. Don’t demolish3“demolish” this Greek word is often translated “destroy” here.  It can refer to the tearing down of a buildings, though it has many other nuances of meaning depending on the context. the work of God for the sake of food.  All things are indeed clean, but they are evil to the man who eats because of bait that ensnares.4“bait that ensnares” see note on verse 13.
  21. It’s good neither to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor anything by which your brother stumbles, or is ensnared, or is weak.
  22. The faith that you have, have it in yourself in the sight of God.  Blessed is the man who doesn’t condemn himself in what he approves.
  23. But if the man who doubts eats, he has condemned himself because it’s not from faith, and everything that’s not from faith is sin.

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Romans Chapter 15

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The weaker brother (continued)
  1. Now, we (the strong) ought to bear with the weaknesses of the weak and not to please ourselves.
  2. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good for building him up.
  3. For even the Anointed didn’t please Himself, but just as it is *written: “The slanders of the men slandering you fell on Me.”1quotation/allusion Psalm 69:9
  4. For whatever was previously written, it was [all] written for our instruction, so through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
  5. And may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Jesus the Anointed,
  6. so that single-mindedly with one mouth you might glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed.
  7. Therefore, accept one another just as the Anointed also accepted you, to the glory of God.
The work of the Anointed
  1. For I say that the Anointed has become a servant to the circumcision for the sake of the truth of God, in order to confirm the promises given to the fathers.
  2. and to the gentiles for the sake of mercy, to glorify God.  Just as it is *written: “Because of this, I will confess praise to you among the gentiles, and I will sing to your name.”2quotation/allusion to 2 Samuel 22:50 and Psalm 18:49
  3. And again it says: “Rejoice with His people you gentiles.”3quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 32:43
  4. And again: “Praise the Lord all you gentiles; and exalt Him all peoples.”4quotation/allusion to Psalm 117:1
  5. And again, Isaiah says: “There will be the root of Jesse; and the One who arises to rule over the gentiles; on Him the gentiles will hope.”5quotation/allusion to Isaiah 11:10
  6. And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in you to believe, for you to overflow in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
  7. And my brothers, I myself am also *convinced concerning you, that you yourselves are full of goodness, *filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another.
  8. And I wrote to you more boldly, in part reminding you because of the grace which was given to me by God
  9. for me to be a minister of Jesus the Anointed to the gentiles, ministering as a priest of the gospel of God so the offering of the gentiles might become acceptable, having been *made holy by the Holy Spirit.
  10. Therefore in Jesus the Anointed, I have a reason for boasting of the things pertaining to God.
  11. For I won’t dare to speak of anything that the Anointed didn’t accomplish through me for the obedience of the gentiles in word and deed,
  12. by the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit [of God], for me to have fulfilled the proclamation of the gospel of the Anointed from Jerusalem and around as far as Illyricum.
  13. And so I’m earnestly desiring to proclaim the gospel where the Anointed wasn’t named, so I won’t build on another man’s foundation.
  14. But just as it is *written: “To whom it wasn’t reported concerning Him, they will see, And men who haven’t heard will understand.”6quotation/allusion to Isaiah 52:15
  15. And because of that, I was often being hindered from coming to you.
Paul’s travel plans
  1. But now, no longer having a place in these regions and having a yearning to come to you for many years,
  2. I hope to see you while passing through when I travel into Spain and to be equipped by you there if I might be satisfied in part by your company first.
  3. But now I travel to Jerusalem, ministering to the saints.
  4. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution to the poor saints in Jerusalem.
  5. For, they were pleased and they are debtors of them.  For if the gentiles shared in their spiritual things, they ought to minister to them in earthly things also.
  6. Therefore, having accomplished this and having sealed this fruit to them, I will depart through you into Spain.
  7. And I have known that coming to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Anointed.
  8. And brothers, I urge you now through our Lord Jesus the Anointed and through the ^love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God for me,
  9. so I might be delivered from the men in Judea who refuse to believe, and so my service for Jerusalem might be acceptable to the saints,
  10. so that having come to you with joy through the will of God, I might be refreshed in spirit with you.
  11. And the God of peace be with you all.  Amen.

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Romans Chapter 16

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Personal Greetings
  1. Now, I commend our sister Phoebe to you, (who’s also a servant of the church in Cenchrea)
  2. so you might receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and so you might stand by her in that matter1“matter” the Greek word here is singular, apparently indicating that Phoebe was dealing with some matter affecting her personally.  Given her status as a patroness, it’s possible she had some business which required attention, and the church of Rome was to “stand by” her in this matter. if she needs you, for she also became a patroness of many, even of me myself.
  3. Greet Prisca2“Prisca” is the proper form of “Priscilla”, the latter being more informal and familiar. and Aquila, my fellow workers in Jesus the Anointed –
  4. who risked their neck for my life; whom not only I thank, but also all the churches of the gentiles –
  5. and also greet the church at their house.  Greet Epenetus, my beloved who is the firstfruit of Asia for the Anointed.
  6. Greet Mary, who often laboriously toiled for you.
  7. Greet Andronicus and Junia,3“Junia” there is some debate whether this name is feminine or masculine.  The only way to tell is with the accents on the Greek letters, but manuscripts lacked accents until the late first millennium.   Most of the early church fathers seemed to think she was female, while most of the (later) manuscripts with accents support the masculine reading.  Both the feminine and masculine forms are rare in Greek, but the masculine form is almost unheard of.  The evidence certainly tilts toward feminine, but masculine cannot be wholly ruled out. my kinsmen and fellow prisoners with me, who are well-known by4“who are well-known by”.  There is a great debate as to how this phrase should be translated because one of the people being discussed is likely a woman (see note on “Junia”).  Egalitarian Christians argue it should be translated: “who are notable among the apostles”, making Junia/Junias an apostle and – they argue – a woman in authority in the early church.  Complementarian and Patriarchal Christians prefer “who are well-known by the apostles”, which excludes Junia/Junias from being an apostle.  Dan Wallace, who literally wrote the book on advanced Greek grammar, argues that “well-known by” has the better syntactic evidence.  Further, even if “among” is the proper understanding, it doesn’t necessarily make Junia/Junias and apostle, since the wording is still unclear.  For example: Shakespeare is “notable among modern literary scholars”, but that doesn’t make him a modern literary scholar.  Further, in 2 Cor 1:24, Paul – who always identifies as an apostle – makes it clear that he has no authority, even over churches that he planted.  Thus, whether Junia/Junias was an apostle or not, he or she didn’t possess any authority. the apostles, and who *were in the Anointed earlier than me.
  8. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
  9. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in the Anointed, and my beloved Stachys.
  10. Greet Apelles, who’s proved as genuine in the Anointed.  Greet the men of Aristobulus’ household.
  11. Greet Herodion my kinsman.  Greet the men of Narcissus’ household who are in the Lord.
  12. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who laboriously toil in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who often laboriously toiled in the Lord.
  13. Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, also his mother and mine.
  14. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.
  15. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.
  16. Greet one another with a holy kiss.  All the churches of the Anointed greet you.
Beware divisive men
  1. Now brothers, I urge you to watch out for men causing divisions and snares contrary to the teaching that you learned and turn away from them.
  2. For such men don’t serve our Lord the Anointed, but their own appetite; and they thoroughly deceive the hearts of the naïve through smooth speech, flattery and blessings.5“flattery and blessings” is one word in Greek.  It can mean either depending on the context, but since both seem applicable here, both were included.
  3. For word of your obedience went forth to all.  Therefore, I rejoice over you.  But I desire you to be wise in good yet innocent in evil.
  4. And the God of peace will soon crush the Adversary under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with you.  Amen.
Final greetings and closing
  1. My fellow worker Timothy greets you, also Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater my kinsmen.
  2. I, Tertius – the man who wrote down this letter – greet you in the Lord.
  3. Gaius my host greets you, and the whole church.  The steward of the city Erastus greets you, and the brother Quartus.
  4. The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with you all.  Amen.
  5. Now, to the One who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus the Anointed, according to the revelation of the mystery *kept secret during the time of ages,
  6. but now both having been revealed through prophetic scriptures according to the command of the God of ages, and having been made known to all the gentiles for the obedience of faith
  7. to the only wise God through Jesus the Anointed, to whom be the glory through the ages.  Amen.

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1 Corinthians

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1 Corinthians Chapter 1

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Greeting From Paul and Sosthenes
  1. Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus the Anointed through God’s will, and Sosthenes our brother,
  2. to the church of God living in Corinth, (who have been made holy in Jesus the Anointed) called to be holy with all the men who call on the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed in every place, both theirs and ours;
  3. grace1“grace” The Greek word here is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace” or “gift”.  It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place.  The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis) for someone.  A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron.  The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful”.  Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation.  A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons.  The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met.  Christian Grace and Faith is well picture by this system.  The Heavenly Patron (God the Father) freely gave a gift (Jesus’ blood), and the clients who accept it (Christians) are expected to “be faithful” out of gratitude. to you and peace from God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
  4. I thank my God always concerning you, for God’s grace which was given to you in Jesus the Anointed,
  5. because in everything you were made rich in Him; in every word and all knowledge,
  6. even as the testimony of the Anointed was secured in you,
  7. so you don’t lack – not even in one gift2or “grace”, see note on verse 3.as you’re eagerly awaiting the unveiling of our Lord, Jesus the Anointed,
  8. who will also secure you until the end; blameless in the day of our Lord, Jesus the Anointed.
  9. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, our Lord, Jesus the Anointed.
Call for Unity
  1. But brothers, I urge you because of the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed that you all speak the same thing, and that there wouldn’t be divisions among you, and that you might be joining together3“joining together” is a single difficult-to-translate word in Greek. It properly means to “fully adjust” so the object is prepared and in a proper working order.  Thus, it can also have the sense of repairing/mending something which was already prepared so it’s prepared again, or joining two things together a first time so they function properly.  Further, the passive and middle voice of this verb share the same ending.  Therefore, Paul could be saying they should “join themselves together” (middle voice) or “be joined together” (passive voice).  Either or both could’ve been intended. in the same mind and in the same judgement.
  2. For about you my brothers, it was revealed to me by Chloe’s men that there are quarrels among you.
  3. Now, I mean this: each of you says: “I’m indeed following Paul.” or “I’m following Apollos.” or “I’m following Cephas.”4“Cephas” is Aramaic for “a rock”, and is another name for the disciple/apostle Peter. or “I’m following the Anointed.”
  4. Has the Anointed been divided?  Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he?”  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
  5. I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
  6. so someone can’t say that you were baptized in my name.
  7. Now, I also baptized the household of Stephanas.  But about the rest, I don’t *remember if I baptized any other.
  8. For the Anointed didn’t send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel.  And not in wise speech, so the cross of the Anointed won’t be emptied of its power and value.5“emptied of its power and value” is one word in Greek.  It’s in the passive form here, which means to be emptied out, which can carry the connotation of losing power, losing value, or both.  I.e. it becomes powerless and/or valueless.
Wisdom of God and Foolishness of Man
  1. For the preaching of the cross is indeed foolishness to the men who perish; but it’s the power of God to us, the men who are saved.
  2. For it is *written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will nullify the intelligence of the intelligent.”6Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 29:14
  3. Where is the wise man?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the debater of this age?  Didn’t God surely prove the wisdom of the world foolish?7“prove… …foolish” is one word in Greek.  It can also mean to make something foolish; either or both senses might’ve been intended.
  4. For since in God’s wisdom, the world didn’t know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save the men who believe through the foolishness of the gospel’s proclamation.
  5. And since Jews ask for miraculous signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
  6. we also preach the Anointed who has been crucified, (which indeed is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles).
  7. But to the called – both Jews and Greeks – God’s Anointed is the power and wisdom of God.
  8. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
  9. For look at your calling brothers; that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many are powerful, and not many are of noble birth.
  10. But God chose the world’s foolish so He might shame the wise.  And God chose the world’s weak so He might shame the strong.
  11. And God chose the world’s low-born; and the things which are *despised; and the things which are not, so He might abolish the things which are,
  12. so that no flesh might boast before God.
  13. But because of Him, you are in Jesus the Anointed, who became wisdom to us from God, and also righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption,
  14. so that just as it is *written; “The man who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.8Quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 9:23-24

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1 Corinthians Chapter 2

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God’s Wisdom (Continued)
  1. And having come to you brothers, I didn’t come with excellent speech or wisdom; I came proclaiming the testimony of God to you.
  2. For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus the Anointed, and that He has been crucified.
  3. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
  4. And my word and my preaching weren’t in persuasive words of wisdom; but in a demonstration1“demonstration” the Greek word here means to demonstrate something as proof of something else. of the Spirit and of power,
  5. so your faith wouldn’t be in men’s wisdom, but in God’s power.
  6. Now, we do speak wisdom among the mature; but not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, the men who come to nothing.2“come to nothing” The Greek word here refers to rendering something completely inactive or inert, so it’s without force, ability or power; to do away with something completely.
  7. But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery which has been hidden; which God predestined before the ages for our glory,
  8. which none of the rulers of this age has understood.  For if they had understood it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory.
  9. But just as it is *written; “which the eye didn’t see, and the ear didn’t hear, and it didn’t enter3literally “sprung up” or “arisen” into the heart of man how much God prepared for the men who ^love Him.”
  10. For God revealed them to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
  11. For who among men *knows the depths of the man, except the man’s spirit within him?   And likewise, no man *knows the depths of God, except the Spirit of God.
  12. But we didn’t receive the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so we might have known the things which were graced to us by God.
  13. Things of which we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit interpreting4“interpreting” This Greek word has the root meaning of “judging together”, with the idea of putting two things together and comparing them, which leads to a proper understanding of what’s being compared.  Thus it can be translated as combine, compare, or interpret depending on the context. spiritual things with spiritual wisdom.
  14. But the natural man doesn’t welcome the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him and he isn’t able to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
  15. But the spiritual man discerns all things, but he is discerned by no one.
  16. For who understood the Lord’s mind?  Who will instruct Him?5Quotation/allusion to Isaiah 40:13 But we have the mind of the Anointed.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 3

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Spirit and Flesh
  1. And brothers, I couldn’t talk to you as spiritual men, but as men of the flesh; like infants in the Anointed.
  2. I gave you milk to drink not solid food, for you couldn’t receive it yet.  But you still can’t even now,
  3. for you’re still fleshly.   For where jealousy and quarreling are among you, aren’t you fleshly?  And don’t you walk according to man?
  4. For when someone says, “I’m indeed following Paul.” but another says, “I’m following Apollos.” aren’t you fleshly men?
  5. Therefore, who is Apollos?  And who is Paul?  Servants through whom you believed, and each one just as the Lord gave.
  6. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
  7. So neither the man who plants nor the man who waters is anyone, but only the One who causes the growth: God.
  8. Now, the man who plants and the man who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
  9. For we are fellow workers of God – of God’s field – and you are God’s building.
Christ is the Foundation, and Testing by Fire
  1. According to the grace of God which was given to me, I laid the foundation like a wise master craftsman, but another builds on it.  And each man must carefully examine how he builds on it.
  2. For no one can lay another foundation besides the one already laid, which is Jesus the Anointed.
  3. Now if anyone builds gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw on the foundation, then
  4. the work of each will become obvious.  For the day will make it clear because it’s revealed in fire, and the fire itself will test what sort of work each is.
  5. If anyone’s work which he built will remain, he will receive his wages.1wages is literal.  It’s traditionally translated “reward” here, which isn’t wrong, but that’s less literal.
  6. If anyone’s work will burn up, he will suffer loss.  However he himself will be saved, but like as through a fire.
  7. Don’t you *know that you are God’s temple, and the Spirit of God dwells in you?
  8. If someone ruinously corrupts2“ruinously corrupts” is one word in Greek, typically translated “destroy” here.  It literally means to corrupt, rot, or spoil something so that it wastes away to ruin.  It’s typically associated with moral corruption/decay leading to ruin. the temple of God, God will ruinously corrupt him; for God’s temple is holy, whoever you are.
  9. Let no one utterly deceive himself: if someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so he might become wise.
  10. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is *written; “He’s the One who traps the wise in their craftiness.”3quotation/allusion to Job 5:13
  11. And again, “the Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are futile.4quotation/allusion to Psalm 94:11
  12. So then, let no one boast in men, for all things are yours.
  13. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas,5“Cephas” is Aramaic for “a rock”, and is another name for the disciple/apostle Peter. or the world, or life, or death, or things *present, or things about to come; all are yours.
  14. But you belong to the Anointed, and the Anointed belongs to God.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 4

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Judging and being judged
  1. Let any man consider us like this: as servants of the Anointed and stewards of God’s mysteries.
  2. Furthermore, in this case it’s required that someone among the stewards should be found faithful.
  3. But to me, it’s a most trivial thing that I’m examined by you, or by a human court.  But I don’t examine myself either,
  4. for I have been aware of nothing against myself, but I haven’t been made righteous by this, yet the One who examines me is the Lord.
  5. So then, don’t judge anything before the proper time – until the Lord comes – who will also reveal the hidden things of darkness and will expose the plans1“plans”, The Greek word here could also be translated “motives”, “counsel”, “purposes”, etc. of their hearts.  And then appropriate praise will come to each from God.
Don’t go beyond what’s written
  1. And brothers, I applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, so that in us you might learn not to go beyond what is *written; so not even one of you are puffed up, favoring one over another.
  2. For who considers you better?  And what do you have that you didn’t receive?  But if you received it, why do you boast like you didn’t receive it?
  3. You already are *satisfied.  You were already rich.  You reigned without us, and I wish you really did reign so we might also reign with you.
  4. For I think that God displayed us (the apostles) last as proof,2“displayed… …as proof” is one word in Greek.  It means to prove that something is what it appears to be, like men about to die,3“about to die” is one word in Greek, which could also be translated “condemned to death”. because we became a spectacle4“spectacle” The Greek word here is “θέατρον” (theatron), which both means “theater” and is the root of our English word “theater”.  It can also mean a “spectacle”, like one would see in a theater. to the world, to both angels and men.
  5. We’re foolish for the Anointed, but you’re prudent in the Anointed.  We’re weak, but you’re strong.  You’re greatly honored, but we’re without honor.
  6. Up to this present hour, we both hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and are beaten5“beaten” This Greek word specifically refers to being struck with a closed fist; i.e. “punched”, and wander without a home,
  7. and we exhaust ourselves working with our own hands. Being insulted, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
  8. being slandered, we encourage.  We became like the scum of the world, like all scraped-off refuse6“scraped-off refuse” is one word in Greek.  It properly refers the filth or scum that you scrape off while cleaning.  It also metaphorically referred to men of despicable character. until now.
  9. I’m not shaming you by writing these things, but admonishing you as my beloved children.
  10. For even if you have ten-thousand7“ten thousand” this Greek word was also to indicate “countless”, so that would also be an accurate translation here. tutors8“tutors” is one word in Greek.  It refers to a legally appointed instructor who had charge over a boy, and especially his moral development.  It was usually a slave and typically the boy couldn’t even leave the house without this tutor’s permission. in the Anointed, nevertheless you don’t have many fathers, for I fathered you in Jesus the Anointed through the gospel.
  11. Therefore I urge you: become imitators of me.
  12. Because of this, I sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Jesus the Anointed, just like I teach everywhere, in every church.
  13. But some of you were puffed up like I’m not coming to you.
  14. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord wills.  And I will know; not the word of the men who have been puffed up, but the power.
  15. For the kingdom of God isn’t in word, but in power.
  16. What do you wish?  That I come to you with a rod?  Or in ^love and a spirit of gentle strength?9“gentle strength” is one word in Greek.  It comes from the root “pra-” which is typically translated “meek”.  It more accurately refers to power that’s exercised gently, without harshness.  Our English word “meek” lacks the Greeks word’s blend of gentleness, reserve, and strength.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 5

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Rebuking Fornication
  1. Fornication is actually reported among you.  And fornication of such a kind, it’s not even done among the pagans, insomuch as someone has the wife of his father.
  2. And you are *puffed up.  And more, you weren’t grieved at all, so that the man who did this deed might be removed from your midst.
  3. For indeed I’m absent in body, but present in spirit. And like I’m present, I have already judged the man who committed thus this deed.
  4. When you (and I in spirit) are assembled with the power of our Lord Jesus, then in the name of our Lord Jesus1There are four ways to assemble the three significant parts of this verse with the infinitive verb “to deliver” in the beginning of the next verse. The principle parts are: the phrase “in the name” (of our Lord Jesus), the participle “being assembled”, the phrase “with the power” (of our Lord Jesus).   In a shortened form, here are the ways to look at it: (1) “Assembled in the name… with the power of Jesus deliver…”  (2) “Assembled in the name and with the power…  deliver…”  (3) “Assembled… in the name and with the power deliver…”  (4) “Assembled with the power… in the name of Jesus deliver…”  Versions #2 and #3 seem out of place because they repeat the authority/power twice in the same clause.  While #1 has no obvious issues, the phrase “in the name” is more commonly used of pronouncements in the New Testament, (as in 2 Thessalonians 3:6; Acts 3:6; Acts 16:18).  Therefore (#4) was chosen.
  5. you are to deliver such a man to Satan for the ruin of the flesh, so that his spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord.
  6. Your boast isn’t good.  Don’t you *know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
  7. Purge the old leaven so you might be a new lump of dough, just as you are unleavened.  For also our Passover lamb was sacrificed – the Anointed –
  8. so we might observe the feast;2During the Feast of Unleavened Bread (The Passover), the Jews were required by the Mosaic Law to remove all the leaven/yeast from their houses, and to abstain from eating leaven. (Exodus 12:15-20)  Those who ate leaven during this period were “cut off” from the people.   In the law, there was a symbolic connection between leaven and sin, which Jesus also alluded to. (Matthew 16:6-12).  Thus, being “unleavened” can symbolize righteousness or being without the stain of sin. not in old leaven, nor in the leaven of malice and wickedness, but in the unleavened bread of purity and truth.
Don’t socialize with “Christian” fornicators
  1. I wrote to you in my letter that you aren’t to socialize with fornicators,
  2. not at all meaning the fornicators of this world – or the coveters, and robbers, or idolaters – since then you’d need to depart from the world.
  3. But now, I wrote telling you not to socialize with anyone calling himself a brother if he’s a fornicator, or a coveter, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or a robber.  Don’t even eat with such a man.
  4. For why is it my place to judge the men outside the church?  Don’t you judge the men inside the church?
  5. However, God judges the men outside.  Remove that wicked man from among you.3quotation/allusion to several verses in Deuteronomy, namely: 13:5, 17:7, 21:21, 22:21

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1 Corinthians Chapter 6

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Lawsuits Among Believers
  1. Does any of you – when he has a case against another brother – dare to bring it to court before the unjust and not before the saints?
  2. Or don’t you *know that the saints will judge the world?  And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy of the smallest court cases?
  3. Don’t you *know that we will judge angels?  How much more the ordinary things of life?
  4. So if you indeed have judgements in the ordinary things of life, why appoint those men who aren’t *esteemed in the church to judge?
  5. I say this to your shame.  So isn’t there even one wise man among you who will be able to judge between his brothers?
  6. But instead, brother goes to court against brother, and this before unbelievers!
  7. Therefore, it’s indeed actually already a loss for you that you have lawsuits among one another.  Why not suffer wrong instead?  Why not be defrauded instead?
  8. But you do wrong and defraud, and do this to brothers!
Fornication And The Body
  1. Or don’t you *know that the unrighteous won’t inherit the kingdom of God?  Don’t be misled; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor men who have sex with other men’s wives,1“men who have sex with other men’s wives” is one word in Greek, usually translated “adulterers” in this verse. However, the Greek (and Hebrew) words specifically mean a man (married or unmarried) having sex with another man’s wife. Whereas the English word “adultery” means either spouse engaging in sex with someone else. The Hebrews divided sexual sins into two classes based on the marital status of the woman. A man having sex with another man’s wife (or betrothed) was adultery. A man having sex with an unmarried woman was fornication. Both are serious sins, but they are differentiated by the Greek and Hebrew words. nor effeminate men,2“effeminate men” This Greek word usually has the meaning of “soft”, but when used in a negative sense it can refer to “perversely effeminate” men.  This has three possible connotations, all of which Paul likely intended.  (1) Men who intentionally behaved like women, i.e. dressing in female clothing and behaving in an effeminate manner.  (2) This could be an allusion to early transgenderism.  We have Sumerian and Akkadian texts from ~2500 BC which document transgender or transvestite priests.  There are other accounts of transgenderism scattered throughout ancient history as well.  (3) It could refer to a (typically pubescent) boy who was the sexual companion – voluntary or not – of an adult man (pederasty).  In this sense, the boy is “perversely effeminate” because he is serving the function of a woman during sex (being penetrated; see Romans 1:26-27 and footnotes.).  This last meaning is unlikely though, especially given the next item on this list. nor men who sleep with other men,3“men who sleep with other men” is one word in Greek.  It literally means “a man in bed with another man“, but is more properly “a man engaging in sexual activity with another man“.  Male homosexuality is also mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:10 (using the same word in a similar list), in Romans 1:27 by description, and in Leviticus 18:22, and Leviticus 20:13.
  2. nor thieves, nor coveters, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor robbers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
  3. And some of you were these things; but you washed yourselves;4“you washed yourselves” is one word in the Greek middle voice, however virtually all modern translations change it to the passive voice (you were washed) with no justification.  English doesn’t have the middle voice, but it’s similar to our active voice except the agent is more involved with the result.  For example: “I sacrificed a cow” is in the active voice. “I sacrificed a cow for my benefit” or “…for myself” is the middle voice.  Given that the verb here for “wash” includes the connotation of water, it could refer to baptism.  Or it could refer to being washed in the “water of life” at the point of salvation.  Or, more likely that the believers in question have “washed themselves” of the sins mentioned in the previous two verses. but you were made holy; but you were declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, and by the Spirit of our God.
  4. All things are lawful for me, but all things aren’t profitable.  All things are lawful for me, but I won’t be mastered by anything.
  5. Foods for the stomach and the stomach is for foods, but God will nullify5“nullify” the Greek word here means to make something completely idle and/or to no effect, which can have a peripheral meaning of abolishing something (by making it of no effect). both of them.6literally “both this and these”, referring to the stomach and foods respectively.  And the body isn’t for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body.
  6. And God both raised the Lord and will fully raise us through His power.
  7. Don’t you *know that your bodies are parts of the Anointed?  So having taken the parts of the Anointed, should I make them parts of a prostitute?  May it never happen!
  8. Or don’t you *know that the man joining himself to a prostitute is one body with her?  For it says: the two will be in one flesh.7Quotation allusion to Genesis 2:24.
  9. But the man who joins to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
  10. Flee fornication.  Every sin whatsoever that a man commits is outside the body.  But the man who fornicates sins against his own body.
  11. Or don’t you *know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, who you have from God?  And you aren’t your own,
  12. for you were bought with a price.  So then, glorify God in your body [and in your spirit, which are both God’s]

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1 Corinthians Chapter 7

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Marriage and Sex
  1. Now, about what you wrote.  It’s noble for a man to not touch1“touch” this Greek word has the basic meaning of “touch” It’s most often used to indicate a simple touch, like Jesus “touching” various sick people to heal them.  However, it can vary considerably in nuance depending on the context.  At the other end of the spectrum, it can mean to “touch sexually”, which is interesting considering the same word can also be used of kindling a fire.  It can also mean to “fasten or adhere to” perhaps in an affectionate sense, like how we would use the words “snuggle” or cuddle”.  It can also mean to feel around with the fingers; i.e. to “grope”. a woman sexually.
  2. But because of temptation to fornication, let each man have the wife to himself,2“wife to himself” is literal, though most translations render it “his own wife” making it more similar to Paul’s statement in the second half of the verse regarding wives (see following footnote).  However, the two clauses are different.  The Greek word translated “himself” here is “ἑαυτοῦ” (heautou). In this verse, it’s a 3rd person singular masculine reflexive pronoun, of which English has exactly one: “himself”.  For some reason, Paul made a distinction between how husbands “have” their wives vs. how wives “have” their husbands.  This difference has been accurately translated here, but we won’t speculate on why Paul made the two clauses different. and let each wife have her husband.3literally “her own husband”, but not in the sense of ownership, like the wife “owns” the husband.  Rather, it’s an emphatic way to refer to the wife’s ‘own’ husband, as opposed to a man who isn’t her husband.  The Greek word is “ἴδιος” (idios), and it’s often used of ownership in a non-exclusive sense.  Example: “his own city” in Matthew 9:1, “his own country” in John 4:44, “his own language” in Acts 2:6, and “on their own” in Matthew 17:1, plus many similar passages.  It refers to something that ‘belongs’ to someone, but usually not exclusively to that person. As an example, this same Greek word is used twice in verse 4, and translated “own” both times.
  3. Let the husband give what is owed4“give what is owed” is literal, and the two Greek words used here implies the payment (or repayment) of a debt, or – more likely – the fulfillment of an obligation which they are required to fulfill. to the wife, and likewise also the wife to the husband.
  4. The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does.  And likewise also, the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
  5. Don’t defraud5“defraud” is literal.  The Greek word literally means to take away or deprive someone of something that is rightfully theirs. each other, except by agreement for a suitable time, that you might devote yourselves to prayer; and then be together again so Satan won’t tempt you through your lack of self-control.
  6. But I say this as a concession not as a command.
  7. Now, I wish all men to even be like myself, but each has his own gift from God.  Indeed, one man has this gift, but another man that.
  8. But I tell the unmarried and the widows that it’s good for them if they remain single like I am.
  9. But if they can’t exercise self-control, let them marry; for it’s better to marry than to burn.
On Divorce
  1. And to the men who have married,6“the men who have married” is an definite article + participle phrase in Greek.  Nearly all translations change the gender of this (masculine) definite article + participle phrase at the beginning of the verse (changing it from “the men who are married” into the genderless “the married”). I command (not I, but the Lord) that a wife isn’t to be separated7“to be separated” is literal, as the Greek verb is a passive infinitive.  Nearly all translations change this verb to an active verb, often with the imperative sense (“must not separate from”), making the wife the active agent of the verb. In this word specifically, it can have reflexive force (“to separate herself”) in some cases. from her husband.
  2. But if she was indeed separated, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to the husband.  Also, a husband isn’t to divorce his wife.
  3. And to the rest, I say (I, not the Lord) if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she happily agrees8“happily agrees” is one word in Greek, with that exact meaning.  It could also be translated “happily consents” or “happily approves”.  It’s only used 6 times; once here, once in the following verse, plus in Luke 11:48, Acts 8:1, Acts 20:22, and Romans 1:32.  The latter three of which clearly mean enthusiastic approval of something, and Luke 11:48 clearly leans that way also. to live with him, let him not divorce her.
  4. And if any wife has an unbelieving husband and he happily agrees9“happily agrees” is one word in Greek, with that exact meaning.  It could also be translated “happily consents” or “happily approves”.  It’s only used 6 times; once here, once in the previous verse, plus in Luke 11:48, Acts 8:1, Acts 20:22, and Romans 1:32.  The latter three of which clearly mean enthusiastic approval of something, and Luke 11:48 clearly leans that way also. to live with her, let her not divorce the husband.
  5. For the unbelieving husband has been made holy by the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been made holy by the husband.  For otherwise your children are unclean; but now they’re holy.
  6. But if the unbeliever separates himself,10“separates himself” is literally “is separated”.  However, this Greek word can have reflexive force (himself/herself/itself) even in the passive voice. let him be separated.  The brother or sister isn’t *under bondage in such cases.  But God has called you to peace.
  7. For wife, how do you *know if you will save the husband?  Or husband, how do you *know if you will save the wife?
Walk in Your Calling
  1. Only as the Lord assigned to each; only as God has called each; so he must walk.  And I give instructions like this in all the churches.
  2. Was someone called who has been circumcised?  Let him not become uncircumcised.11“become uncircumcised” is one word in Greek, with a literal meaning of “to draw out/over”.  Some Jews would use implements to stretch the foreskin so it would again cover the glans, thus simulating what an uncircumcised male would look like.  This was done for multiple reasons, but one was to participate in the Olympic Games (in which competitors were traditionally nude). Has someone been called while uncircumcised?   Let him not become circumcised.
  3. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing; but observing God’s commandments is what matters.
  4. Let each man remain in the calling in which he was called.
  5. Were you called as a slave?  Don’t let it concern you.  But also, if you’re able to become free, it’s better to make use of the opportunity.
  6. For the slave who was called in the Lord is a freedman12“freedman” the Greek word here refers to a slave who has been freed, not a person born into freedom. of the Lord.  Likewise, the free man who was called is a slave of the Anointed.
  7. You were bought with a price; don’t become slaves of men.
  8. Brothers, in whatever state each was called, let him remain in that state with God.
To marry or not marry
  1. Now concerning the virgins, I don’t have a commandment from the Lord.  However, I give counsel as one who has received mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
  2. Therefore, I think this is good – because of the *impending distress – that it’s good for a man to be just as he is.
  3. Have you been bound to a wife?  Don’t seek release.  Have you been released from a wife?  Don’t seek a wife.
  4. But also, you didn’t sin if you married.  And if the virgin marries, she didn’t sin.  However, such men will have trouble in the flesh and I want to spare you.
  5. And I declare this brothers: the opportune moment is *shortened so that from now on, even the men who have wives might be like they don’t have a wife,
  6. and the men weeping like they aren’t weeping, and the men rejoicing like they aren’t rejoicing, and the men buying like they aren’t taking possession,
  7. and the men who use this world like they aren’t making full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away.
  8. Now, I wish you to be free from care.  The unmarried man cares for the things of the Lord, and how he might please the Lord.
  9. But the man who married cares for the things of the world, how he might please the wife,
  10. and he *divides himself.13Or “he is *divided”.  The passive and middle endings for this word are identical, so either could be intended.  And the unmarried woman and the virgin cares for the things of the Lord; that she might be holy in both body and spirit.  But the woman who married cares for the things of the world, how she might please her husband.
  11. Now, I say this for your own benefit, not so I might throw a restraint14“restraint” the Greek word here refers to a rope with a slipknot – like a cowboy’s lasso – used to catch animals, and restrain them from escaping after they are caught. on you, but toward the honorable and devoted service to the Lord without distraction.
  12. Now, if someone thinks he acts unjustly over his virgin daughter15“daughter” was added for clarity, as the Greek word for “virgin” here is feminine.  Some translations alter verses 36-38 so they refer to a fiancée and his betrothed.  Most translations which mistranslate these verses will mistranslate “virgin” as “betrothed”, completely leave out the clause “if she is past the bloom of youth”, and add the word “passion” somewhere to make this interpretation fit.  Further, in verse 38 they will usually mistranslate the Greek verb which means “to give in marriage” (and more specifically to betroth a daughter to a husband) as “marry” or something similar. – if she is past the bloom of youth16“past the bloom of youth” is one word in Greek.  There are two views as to its meaning.  (1) “The bloom of youth” refers to menstruation and “past” this bloom means the girl has not only begun to menstruate, but also has been menstruating long enough to be regular.  Historically, this would’ve happened at 15-16 years old, though women did marry younger.  (2) “Past the bloom of youth” refers to a woman who is past her prime and thus past the ideal age to be married; i.e. an “old maid”.  Some ancient sources fixed this at 20 years old. and thus ought17“ought” is the weakest possible way to translate the Greek word used here.  It more literally means “is morally or legally obligated” The word was originally a financial term that literally meant to owe or be indebted to. (It’s used of debts in Matthew 18:28, 30, and 34.)  In New Testament times, it referred to anything which someone was legally or morally obligated to do, which included obligations to the gods. to be married – let him do what he wishes; he doesn’t sin, let the daughters marry.
  13. But a man who has stood firm in his heart (not having a need, but having authority over his own will) and has judged this in his own heart to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well.
  14. And so, the man who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage18“gives… …daughter in marriage” is one word in Greek, with that exact meaning.  It properly refers to a father betrothing his daughter to a husband.  (In betrothal, the groom-to-be pays a bride price to literally buy a man’s daughter to be his wife; see Exodus 22:16-17, and the footnote on 1 Thessalonians 4:4.)  Many translations translate this word as “marry” in this verse as if the man were marrying the girl himself (see the first footnote on verse 36), but this Greek word never means that.  It only ever means a father betrothing his daughter to a husband, and never means a man marrying a woman himself. does well, and the man who doesn’t give her in marriage will do better.
  15. A wife has been bound for as long a time as her husband lives.  But if her husband dies, she’s free to be married to who she wishes, but only in the Lord.
  16. But in my opinion, she’s more blessed if she remains the way she is; and I think I also have God’s Spirit.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 8

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Things Sacrificed to Idols
  1. Now, about things sacrificed to idols.  We *know that we all have knowledge; knowledge puffs up, but ^love builds up.
  2. If anyone thinks to have known anything, he didn’t yet know as it’s required to know.
  3. But if anyone ^loves God, he is *known by Him.
  4. Therefore, about food sacrificed to idols; we have known that an idol in the world is nothing, and that there’s no God except One.
  5. For indeed, even if some are being called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
  6. But to us, there’s one God – the Father – from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord – Jesus the Anointed – through1or “because of”, as the Greek word can – and does – mean either depending on the context.  It also quite possible Paul left it slightly ambiguous, and intended both meanings. whom all things exist, and we exist through2or “because of”; see previous note. Him.
  7. But this knowledge isn’t in all men.  And until now, some are accustomed to eating food sacrificed to an idol as if the idol is real; and their conscience – being weak – is defiled.3“is defiled” could also be translated “they defile themselves” as the endings for the passive voice and middle voice are the exact same for this Greek word.  The idea is these Christians with a weak conscience believes the food is consecrated to the idol, and thus eating food consecrated to another god would displease the True God.  While Paul says that since the other “god” don’t even exist, the food can’t be consecrated to a god who doesn’t exist.
  8. But food won’t bring us closer to God; we neither fall short if we don’t eat, nor excel if we do eat.
  9. But beware, lest your liberty in this somehow becomes a stumbling block to the weak.
  10. For if someone sees you (the man who has knowledge) reclining at the table in an idol’s temple, with his conscience being weak, won’t he be encouraged to eat the things sacrificed to idols?
  11. For then the man who’s weak is ruined by your knowledge, the brother for whom the Anointed died.
  12. And thus, in sinning against the brothers and wounding their conscience which is weak, you sin against the Anointed.
  13. Therefore, if food ensnares my brother, I definitely won’t eat meat sacrificed to idols through the age, so I won’t ensnare my brother.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 9

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The Rights of the Apostles
  1. Am I not free?  Am I not an apostle?  Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord?  Aren’t you my work in the Lord?
  2. If I’m not an apostle to others, then at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
  3. My defense1The Greek word here is “ἀπολογία” (apologia) is the root of our English word “apologetics”.  It specifically refers to a verbal defense, and the term was used for a legal defense in court. It implies providing compelling evidence to answer an accusation or objection that was raised. to the men who examine me is this:
  4. Don’t we definitely have the right to eat and to drink?
  5. Don’t we definitely have the right to bring along a believing2literally “a sister wife”, with sister indicating a wife who is Christian. wife? (Just as also the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas3“Cephas” is Aramaic for “a rock”, and is another name for the disciple/apostle Peter. do.)
  6. Or do only Barnabas and I not have the right to not work?
  7. Who ever serves as a soldier at his own expense?  Who plants a vineyard and doesn’t eat of its fruit?  Or who shepherds a flock and doesn’t drink from the milk of the flock?
  8. I don’t speak these things according to man, do I?  Or doesn’t the law also say these things?
  9. For it is *written in the law of Moses; “you shall not muzzle an ox that’s threshing4quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 25:4  Threshing is part of the process for separating chaff from grain.  Threshing involves beating the grain to break the chaff free from the grain.  It was typically done on a “threshing floor” with either a tool or by animals.  Once the chaff is broken free, you then “winnow” the chaff and grain mixture by throwing it in the air so the wind carries away the lighter, useless chaff, while the heavier grain falls back to the earth. Once ground into flour and cooked, the grains are ready to eat.  God isn’t concerned about the oxen, is He?
  10. Or does He speak entirely for our sake?  For it was written for our sake, because the man who plows ought to plow in expectation, and the man who threshes5“threshes” is literal. See note on previous verse does so in expectation to partake of the grain.
  11. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it a great thing if we will reap material things from you?
  12. If others partake of their right from you, couldn’t we do so more?  But we didn’t make use of this right, but instead, we patiently endure all things so we wouldn’t put any hindrance on the gospel of the Anointed.
  13. Don’t you *know that the men who work in the temple eat the food from the temple?  And don’t the men who serve at the altar have a share in the altar sacrifices?
  14. And in this way, the Lord appointed for the men who proclaim the gospel to live from the gospel.
  15. But I haven’t used any of these rights.  (And I didn’t write these things so it might become this way with me.)  For it’s better for me to die than that anyone will make my boasting empty.
  16. For if I proclaim the gospel, there isn’t a boast for me, for a compulsion is placed on me; for woe is me if I don’t proclaim the gospel.
  17. For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
  18. What then is my reward?  That in preaching the gospel free of charge, I might offer the gospel without needing to make full use of my right in the gospel.
All things to all men
  1. For while being free from all men, I made myself a slave to all men so I might gain more of them.
  2. And I became like a Jew to the Jews, so I might win the Jews.  To men under the law, like I’m under the law – though not being under the law myself – so I might win men under the law.
  3. To men without the law,6“without the law” is one word in Greek.  It can mean “lawless” in the sense of wicked, but it can also refer to those without the Mosaic Law; i.e. Gentiles.  That is likely the intended sense here. like a man without the law – though not being without God’s law, but lawful in the Anointed – so I might win men without the law.
  4. I became weak to the weak, so I might win the weak.  I *become all things to all men, so that by all means I might save some.
  5. But I do all things for the gospel’s sake, so I might become a fellow partaker in it.
  6. Don’t you *know that the men who run in a race all indeed run, but only one receives the prize?  Run like this so you might seize it.
  7. And every man who competes uses self-control in all things. Then these men indeed compete so they might receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
  8. Therefore, I run like this, but not like I’m running aimlessly.  I box like this, but not like I’m punching the air.
  9. But I discipline my body and make it my slave, lest after having preached to others, I myself might become disqualified.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 10

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Warnings from Israel’s History
  1. For I don’t want you to be ignorant brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
  2. and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
  3. and all ate the same spiritual food,
  4. And all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from the spiritual rock following them; and the rock was the Anointed.
  5. But God wasn’t pleased with most of them, for their bodies were scattered in the desert.
  6. Now, these things became examples to us; for us not to be coveters1or “cravers”; either is a correct translation of this Greek word. of wicked things, just as they also coveted.2or “craved them“; either is a correct translation of this Greek word.
  7. And don’t become idolaters, just as some of them did.  As it is *written; “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose to play.”3quotation/allusion to Exodus 32:4-6
  8. Nor should we fornicate, just as some of them fornicated and twenty three thousand fell in one day.
  9. Nor should we test the Anointed, just as some of them tested Him and were destroyed by the serpents.
  10. And don’t grumble, just as some of them grumbled and perished4“perished” The Greek word here is in the middle voice, not the active voice, making the agent significantly more involved in the result. Translating it “killed themselves” wouldn’t be out of place.  This is likely a reference to Numbers 16:41-49, where all of Israel grumbled against Moses and Arron, ascribing to them the fault of God’s divine judgement on Korah’s rebellion. by the destroyer.
  11. Now, these things were happening to them as examples and were written as a warning to us, to whom the ends of the ages have come.
  12. Therefore, the man who thinks he *stands; let him beware, lest he fall.
  13. Temptation hasn’t seized you except what’s common to man.  But God is faithful, who won’t allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear, but with the temptation will also make the way to escape, so you’ll be able to endure it.
  14. Therefore my beloved, flee from idolatry.
  15. I speak as I would to prudent men; you judge what I declare.
Things sacrificed to idols
  1. Isn’t the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of the Anointed?  Isn’t the bread that we break a participation in the body of the Anointed?
  2. Since there’s one bread, we the many are one body, for we all partake from the one bread.
  3. Look at Israel according to the flesh.  Aren’t the men who eat the sacrifices partakers in the altar?
  4. Therefore, what do I mean?   That what is sacrificed to idols is anything?  Or that an idol is anything?
  5. Rather, I mean that what [the gentiles] sacrifice, they sacrifice it to demons and they don’t sacrifice it to God.  Now, I don’t want you to become partakers with demons.
  6. You aren’t able to drink the Lord’s cup and the demons’ cup.  You aren’t able to partake of the Lord’s table and the demons’ table.
  7. Or, do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?  We aren’t stronger than Him, are we?
  8. All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.  All things are lawful, but not all things edify.
  9. Let no one seek to edify himself, but to edify another.
Eat everything
  1. Eat everything which is sold in the meat market, investigating nothing for your conscience’ sake.
  2. For “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”5quotation/allusion to Psalm 24:1
  3. If someone among the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, investigating nothing for conscience’ sake.
  4. But if someone tells you; “This is sacrificed to an idol.” Don’t eat it because of the man who revealed it, and his conscience. [For The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.6quotation/allusion to Psalm 24:1]7The majority of manuscripts have the bracketed portion in this verse, but it is missing from some early manuscripts that some scholars consider important.  Most modern Bibles don’t include it.
  5. Now, I certainly don’t mean your own conscience, but the conscience of the other man.  For why is my freedom decided by another man’s conscience?
  6. If I partake by grace, why am I slandered over the food for which I give thanks?
  7. Therefore, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God.
  8. Become inoffensive, both to Jews and Greeks, and to the church of God,
  9. just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many so they might be saved.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 11

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  1. Become imitators of me, just as I also imitate the Anointed.
On Men and Women
  1. Now, I commend you because you have remembered me in all things and you hold tightly to the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
  2. And I want you to *know that the Anointed is the head of every man, and the man is the head of woman, and God is the head of the Anointed.
  3. Every man who is praying or prophesying while having something hanging down from1hanging down from” is the Greek word “κατὰ” (kata), often translated “on” here.  It primarily means “down” or “down from”, but it has many uses and one of the largest semantic ranges of any Greek word. Here it’s used in the sense of “hanging down from”, of which there are two main interpretations.  (1) Paul is referring to head coverings.  In Rabbinic custom, men wore a prayer shawl called a “Tallit”, which they would drape over their heads while they prayed out of reverence for God, to indicate they weren’t worthy to look on His face.  This shawl would thus “hang down” from their heads.  (2) The second view says Paul is referring to hair which is long enough to “hang down”.  This makes much more sense contextually because verses 2-16 have a chiastic structure, and verse 4’s counterpart in verse 14 is clearly referencing long hair on men. his head dishonors his head.
  4. But every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered dishonors her head.  For she is one and the same with the woman who has shaved her head.2“the woman who has shaved her head” could also be translated “the woman who is *shaved” because the endings for the Greek middle and passive voice are the same for this word.  This almost certainly refers to the women of the Isle of Lesbos, not terribly far from Corinth.  (It’s likely where the term “lesbian” came from.)  Lucian of Samosata (125 – 180 AD) wrote in Dialogues of the Courtesans about a character named Megilla who was a “rich Lesbian woman” who had the “skin of her head which was shaved close“.  He also writes of: “women like that in Lesbos, with faces like men, and unwilling to consort with men, but only with women, as though they themselves were men“.  These women from the Isle of Lesbos rejected every form of male authority, and signified this partially by shaving off their hair, or cutting it very short like men did.
  5. For if a woman doesn’t cover her head, let her also cut off her hair.3“let her… …cut off her hair” is more literally “shear herself”, which is a technical term specifically referring to shearing sheep.  After being sheared, a sheep’s hair is extremely short – ideally less than an inch (25mm) – like a modern buzz cut.  But if it’s shameful for a woman to cut off her hair,4“to cut off her hair” see previous note. or to be shaved, let her cover her head.
  6. For indeed, man is obligated5“is obligated” is one word in Greek, with that exact meaning.  It was originally a financial term that literally meant to owe or be indebted to. (It’s used of debts in Matthew 18:28, 30, and 34.)  This included moral obligations to deities and others.  In New Testament times, it referred to anything which someone was legally or morally obligated to do. not to cover his head since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
  7. For man doesn’t originate from woman, but woman from man.
  8. For also, man wasn’t created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake.
  9. Because of this, the woman is obligated6“is obligated” is one word in Greek, with that exact meaning.  It was originally a financial term that literally meant to owe or be indebted to. (It’s used of debts in Matthew 18:28, 30, and 34.)  This included moral obligations to deities and others.  In New Testament times, it referred to anything which someone was legally or morally obligated to do. to have7Many translations add the phrase “a symbol of” before the word authority, altering the sense to be about a hat or veil.  (Thankfully, some italicize it to show it’s an addition) authority upon8“upon” Some translations pervert this verse by making it sound as if the woman has authority over her own head.  However, that isn’t the intention of the Greek.  The authority on “her head” is another’s authority over her. her head, because of the angels.9“because of the angels” These three Greek words (διὰ τοὺς ἀγγέλους) are among the most confusing, and therefore most commented on in the whole Bible.  The most common interpretations are: (1.) The early church believed that angels were present during their gatherings.  Thus this could be either an example for them showing the women were under authority, or because it was fitting because of the angelic presence. (2.)  Paul is using an analogy/example as a warning, and the angels referred to here are the fallen angels before they fell.  They fell because they rebelled by refusing to observe their place in God’s created order. (Jude 1:6)  This theory says Paul is saying women must observe their place in God’s order (under male authority) or else they are rebelling like the angels did. (3.)  This theory says “διὰ ” (dia, here translated “because of”) should be translated “through” which is another one of its primary meanings.  The idea is the authority is conveyed or applied through the angels somehow.  (4.)  This refers to head coverings, and that women should have their heads covered like the angels covered their faces in Isaiah 6:2.
  10. Yet in the Lord, neither is woman separate from man, nor man separate from woman.
  11. For just as the woman came out of the man, so also the man is born through the woman; But all things come from God.
  12. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for an uncovered woman to pray to God? 10Most translations move the word “uncovered” to the end of the sentence, and add “with her head” so it reads “…to pray to god with her head uncovered?” However, that changes the word uncovered from adjectival to substantive, which isn’t keeping with the Greek.
  13. And doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it’s indeed a disgrace to him?
  14. But if a woman has long hair, it’s a glory to her?  For the long hair has been given to her instead of11“instead of” many translations translate this “for” here, which is correct in some cases. (Example: Matthew 5:38, “and eye for an eye”)  However, it more properly means “in exchange for” or “instead of” because the Greek word refers to a substitute.  Thayer’s Greek Lexicon specifically mentions this passage as a place where “instead of” is the correct translation. a cloth covering.12“cloth covering” The Greek word used here is specific to clothing of some kind, including veils, mantles, robes, etc.  It is different than the words for covering used earlier, which can indicate any kind of covering, including hair.
  15. But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no other custom; nor do the churches of God.
The Lord’s Supper
  1. Now, in instructing this I don’t commend you because you don’t assemble for the better, but for the worse.
  2. For first: when you’re gathering in the church assembly, I hear there are indeed divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
  3. For it’s even necessary for there to be factions13“factions” this Greek word refers to a division of a religious group that is separated from the main group and follows its own tenants.  It’s often translated “sect” in the context of the Pharisees and Sadducees being a sect of Judaism.  Modern denominations are a good example of “sects” of Christianity. among you so the genuine14“genuine” This Greek word was used to describe coins that had been verified to not be counterfeit or corrupted. ones among you might also become evident.
  4. Therefore, when you’re assembling at the same place, it’s not to eat the Lord’s supper.
  5. For each takes his own dinner to eat before the others and indeed, one is hungry but another is drunk.
  6. Don’t do that!  For don’t you have houses in which to eat and to drink?  Or do you scorn the church of God and shame the men who have nothing?  What should I tell you?  Should I commend you in this?  I don’t commend you!
  7. For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you; that the Lord Jesus – on the night He on which was betrayed – took bread.
  8. And having given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, broken for your benefit; do this in remembrance of Me.”
  9. And likewise after supper He took the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.  As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
  10. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
  11. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the Lord’s body and blood.
  12. But let a man examine15“examine” The Greek word here doesn’t focus on proving something is bad, but rather on testing and/or examining something to show that it’s good. himself, and in this manner let him eat of the bread and let him drink of the cup.
  13. For the man who eats and drinks without considering the body eats and drinks judgement on himself.
  14. Because of this, many among you are weak and sick, and enough16“enough” could also be translated “sufficient” or “ample” of you sleep.17“sleep” the Greek word can also be used of the “sleep” of death, and hence can mean to die.
  15. For if we were evaluating ourselves, we wouldn’t be coming under judgement.
  16. But while being judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so we won’t be condemned with the world.
  17. Therefore my brothers, wait for one another when you’re assembling in order to eat.
  18. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home so you won’t be assembled for judgment.  And I will arrange the rest as soon as I come.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 12

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Spiritual Gifts
  1. Now brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant about spiritual things.
  2. You *know that when you were pagans, you were being led to mute idols, just like men being led astray.
  3. Therefore, I declare to you that no one speaking in God’s Spirit says “Jesus is anathema1“anathema” likely because of the Bible, this Greek word has entered the English vocabulary.  In Greek it literally means to curse someone, or more specifically to offer a curse to them to devote them to God’ destruction.  It can also have the connotation of being abominable and/or detestable.“, and no one is able to say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
  4. Now, there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit.
  5. And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord.
  6. And there are varieties of powers but the same God, the One who works all things in all men.
  7. Now, to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the benefit of all.
  8. For indeed, a word of wisdom is given to one through the Spirit, but to another a word of knowledge by the same Spirit.
  9. To a different one faith is given by the same Spirit, but to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit.
  10. To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to a different one the tongues of various nations,2“nations” is more accurately “ethnicities” or “races”.  The Greek word refers to the offspring of a common ancestor, and thus families, races, or nations.  It’s used this way consistently throughout the New Testament, and is sometimes translated “kinds” – as in various kinds of families/races/nations – but it retains the focus on a common ancestor, and thus should be translated accordingly. but to another the interpretation of tongues.
  11. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each individually just as He wills.
Many Parts, One Body
  1. For just as the body has many parts and is one body; and just as all the parts of the body are one body though being many parts; so also is the Anointed.
  2. For also we were all baptized into one body in one Spirit, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free men.  And we were all given one Spirit to drink.
  3. For also, the body isn’t one part, but many.
  4. If the foot says, “Because I’m not a hand, I’m not part of the body” it doesn’t stop being part of the body because of this.
  5. And if the ear says, “Because I’m not an eye, I’m not part of the body” it doesn’t stop being part of the body because of this.
  6. If the whole body was an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?  If the whole body was an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
  7. But at this moment, God placed the parts in the body – each one of them – just as He willed.
  8. But if all were one part, where would the body be?
  9. But now, there are indeed many parts, but only one body.
  10. And the eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t have need of you”.  Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t have need of you”.
  11. But rather it’s much better; the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are essential.
  12. And parts of the body which we presume to be less honorable, these we clothe with far greater honor; and our indecent parts have far greater modesty.
  13. But our presentable parts have no need of that.  But God orchestrated3“orchestrated”  The Greek word used here means to mix disparate elements together to produce a unified and harmonious whole. the body, having given far greater honor to the parts which fall short,
  14. so there might not be division in the body, but the parts might have the same concern for one another.
  15. And if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it.  And if one part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.
Spiritual Gifts
  1. Now, you are the body of the Anointed and parts of it individually.
  2. And to those in the church, God indeed appointed apostles initially,4“initially” is more literally “first”, but not in the sense of importance or authority.  Some take “first” to mean that apostles have greater authority because they are first on this list, and then ascribe a descending hierarchy based on a gift’s position on this list.  That is manifestly not Paul’s intent here.  The word used for “first” here is “πρῶτον” (proton) which carries the connotation of time, not authority.  By contrast, the Greek word “ἀρχή” (arché) does mean first in the sense of time and/or authority, and is sometimes translated “ruler”. prophets second, teachers third, afterwards miracles, after that gifts of healing, helps, administration,5“administration” This Greek word properly refers to the pilot (though not the captain) of a sailing ship, who guides the ship under the captain’s direction.  This has the idea of directing day-to-day affairs to keep the ship on course; hence “administration”. and tongues of various nations.6“nations” see note on verse 10
  3. All aren’t apostles are they? All aren’t prophets are they? All aren’t teachers are they? All don’t work miracles do they?
  4. All don’t have gifts of healing do they?  All don’t speak in tongues do they?  All don’t interpret do they?
  5. But zealously desire the greater gifts.  And further, I show you a most excellent way.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 13

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^Love
  1. If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels but don’t have ^love, I have become a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
  2. And if I have prophecy, and have understood all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but don’t have ^love; I am nothing.
  3. And if I give all that I possess to feed1“I give… …to feed” Is one word in Greek.  It properly refers to giving out food in small portions to feed someone or something. the poor, and if I deliver my body to prison so that I might boast but don’t have ^love; I gain nothing.
  4. ^Love is patient, it’s kind.  ^Love isn’t jealous, ^love doesn’t boast, it isn’t puffed up,
  5. It doesn’t act indecently, it doesn’t seek things for itself, it isn’t easily angered, it doesn’t take into account a wrong suffered.
  6. it doesn’t rejoice at unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.
  7. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
  8. ^Love never fails.  But if there are prophecies, they will be abolished;2“they will be abolished” is one Word in Greek, literally meaning to render something as completely without force or power, making it idle and of no effect.  Thus, it also means to abolish, because the force has been completely removed.  It’s the same word used to refer to knowledge later in the verse. if tongues, they will cease, if knowledge, it will be abolished.3“it will be abolished” is one Word in Greek, literally meaning to render something as completely without force or power, making it idle and of no effect.  Thus, it also means to abolish, because the force has been completely removed.  It’s the same word used to refer to prophecies earlier in the verse
  9. For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
  10. But when the perfect comes, the partial will be abolished.
  11. When I was a child, I was talking like a child, I was understanding like a child, I was reasoning like a child.  When I *became a man I *ceased the childish things.
  12. For now we see through a mirror4“mirror” The Greek word here refers to a metallic mirror, not a glass one. in puzzling obscurity,5“puzzling obscurity” The Greek word here literally refers to a riddle or enigma which obscures something. but then face to face.  I know in part now, but then I will know Him fully, even as I was fully known.
  13. But now these three things remain: faith, hope, and ^love; and the greatest of these is ^love.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 14

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Prophecy and Tongues
  1. Earnestly pursue ^love, yet zealously desire the spiritual gifts, and especially that you might prophesy.
  2. For the man who speaks in a tongue doesn’t speak to men, but to God.  For no one understands him, but he speaks mysteries in his spirit.
  3. But the man who prophesies speaks to men for building up, and encouragement, and consolation.
  4. The man who speaks in a tongue builds himself up; but the man who prophesies builds up the church.
  5. And I want all of you to speak in tongues, but prefer that you prophesy.  And the man who prophesies is greater than the man who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so the church might receive edification.
  6. And now brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in a teaching?
  7. Even lifeless things making a sound – whether flute or harp – if they don’t have a distinction in the sounds, how will it be recognized what’s played on the flute or harp?
  8. For also, if a trumpet makes an unrecognizable sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
  9. And it’s the same way with you; unless you make easily understood1“easily understood” The Greek word here more literally means “clear to the understanding” words with your tongue, how will it be known what’s spoken?  For you’ll be speaking into the air.
  10. There are, perhaps, a great many national2“national” is more accurately “ethnic” or “racial”.  The Greek word refers to the offspring of a common ancestor, and thus families, races, or nations.  It’s used this way consistently throughout the New Testament, and sometimes translated “kinds” – as in various kinds of families/races/nations – but it retains the focus on a common ancestor, and thus should be translated accordingly. languages in the world, and none is without meaning.
  11. Therefore, if I don’t *know the meaning of the language, I will be an incomprehensible foreigner3“incomprehensible foreigner” This Greek word here is “βάρβαρος” (barbaros), which is a technical word referring to anyone who didn’t speak Greek.  The Greek thought themselves so superior, that over time it became nearly an insult, and is the root of our word “barbarian”. to the man who speaks, and the man who speaks an incomprehensible foreigner4“incomprehensible foreigner” see previous note. to me.
  12. It’s also this way with you.   Since you are zealous for spiritual gifts for the building up of the church, so then seek to make them abound.
  13. For this reason, let the man who speaks in a tongue pray that he might interpret.
  14. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
  15. Therefore, what is fruitful?  I will pray with the spirit, but I will also pray with the mind.  I will sing with the spirit, but I will also sing with the mind.
  16. Otherwise if you bless in spirit, how will the man who fills the place of the ungifted say “Amen” at your thankfulness, since he doesn’t *know what you say?
  17. For you indeed give thanks well, but the other man isn’t built up.
  18. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
  19. But in the church, I want to speak five words with my mind so I might also teach others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
  20. Brothers, don’t become children in your thoughts – yet be infants in evil – but become mature in your thoughts.
  21. It is *written in the law; “By other tongues, and by other men’s lips I will speak to this people; and they won’t listen to Me even this way, says the Lord.”5quotation/allusion to Isaiah 28:11-12
  22. So then, tongues exist for a sign, not to the men who believe, but to unbelieving men.  But prophecy isn’t for unbelieving men, but for the men who believe.
  23. Therefore, if the whole church assembles at the same place and all speak in tongues, but ungifted men or unbelievers enter, won’t they say that you speak as madmen?
  24. But if all prophesy and any unbeliever or ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all and examined by all.
  25. The secrets of his heart become revealed, and thus having fallen on his face he will worship God, declaring that God is truly among you.
Be Orderly When You Assemble
  1. Therefore brothers, what is proper?  Whenever you assemble, each has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation; let all things be done for building up one another.
  2. And if someone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two (or at the most three) and each in turn; and one must interpret.
  3. But if there’s no interpreter, he must be silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
  4. And let two or three prophets speak and let the others6“others” In Greek, this is a single word which means “another of the same kind”, which contextually refers to prophets. judge what’s prophesied.
  5. But if something is revealed to another who’s sitting, let the first be silent.
  6. For you are all able to prophecy one by one, so that all might learn and all might be strengthened.7“strengthened” Other possible interpretations of this word in this context include: exhorted, encouraged, instructed, admonished.
  7. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
  8. For God isn’t the God of chaos, but of peace.   As in all the churches of the saints,
  9. [your] women must be silent in the church assemblies.  For it’s not allowed for them to speak, but they must submit themselves,8“submit themselves” The Greek word here is “ὑποτάσσω” (hupotassó) The endings for its middle and passive voice are the same, so either could’ve been intended.  In the middle voice, it contains reflexive force and thus has the connotation of voluntary obedience, so “wives must obey” is more accurate to the intended sense (though less literal, despite this meaning being in the lexicons).  In the passive voice it could be translated “must be submitted”.  The middle voice is more likely because the passive voice could indicate that their submission/obedience is being done to them (i.e. they’re being made to submit). just as the law also says.9“just as the law also says” Paul might be referring to the submission aspect here.  In that case, the only verse in the law that might fit is Genesis 3:16.
  10. But if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it’s shameful for a woman to speak in the church assembly.  10Verse Note: in the list of things done in the assembly (verses 26-32), the Greek words which could be used to determine the genders of the teachers, prophets, etc. are all masculine.  None of them are feminine or neuter.
  11. Or did the word of God come from you?  Or did it only come to you?
  12. If someone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, he must recognize that the things I write to you are the Lord’s command.
  13. But if someone doesn’t know this, he isn’t known.11The Greek word “ἀγνοέω” (agnoeó) is used twice in this verse; once in the active indicative with negation (“won’t know”) and once in the middle/passive indicative (“he isn’t known”).  It literally means to “not know” a person or thing, and can refer to willful ignorance.  In this latter sense it carries the connotation of sinning.  Many commentators have suggested this is a reference to Matthew 7:23, saying that the man “isn’t known” by God for his “willful ignorance”/sin.   There is a textual variant in this verse which makes the second instance a 3rd person imperative (command = “let him not be known”). In this view, the command to not know the man is likely pointing to church discipline, again likely because of his “willful ignorance”.
  14. So my brothers, zealously desire to prophesy and don’t forbid speaking in tongues,
  15. yet do all things properly and with order.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 15

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The Gospel
  1. Now brothers, I declare to you the gospel that I preached to you, which you also received and in which you *stand.
  2. Through which you’re also saved by the word that I preached to you if you hold fast to it, otherwise1“otherwise you believed in vain” There are two ways to take this clause, centering on how to translate the phrase “ἐκτός εἰ μή” (here translated “otherwise”).  The word “ἐκτός” means “outside” or “without” or “except”, while “εἰ μή” when used together this way means “unless” or “except”.  The first way to take this clause – used in the BOS Bible – is to translate it “without unless”, (shortened to “otherwise” for readability”) and the meaning is clear: unless they hold fast to the Gospel their faith is in vain.  The second way to take this clause is to translate it “unless except”, which is typically taken to mean that if the Gospel Paul preached isn’t true, then their faith is in vain. The first view has a much stronger contextual argument in this passage (and is also supported by Romans 11:17-24, especially verse 22) and thus was chosen here. you believed in vain.
  3. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received; that the Anointed died for our sins according to the scriptures,
  4. and that He was buried, and that He has been raised on the third day according to the scriptures,
  5. and that He was seen by Cephas,2“Cephas” is Aramaic for “a rock”, and is another name for the disciple/apostle Peter. and then the twelve.
  6. Afterwards, He was seen by more than five hundred brothers at once; many of whom remain until now, but some were put to sleep.
  7. Afterwards, He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
  8. And last of all – like to one born at the wrong time – He was also seen by me.
  9. For I’m the least of the apostles, who isn’t worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God.
  10. But by God’s grace,3“Grace” The Greek word here is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace” or “gift”.  It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place.  The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis).  A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron.  The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful”.  Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation.  A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons.  The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met.  Christian Grace and Faith is well picture by this system.  The Heavenly Patron (God the Father) freely gave a gift (Jesus’ blood), and the clients who accept it (Christians) are expected to “be faithful” out of gratitude. I am what I am; and His grace to me didn’t become void.   But I toiled far more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
  11. Therefore we preach like this – whether I or they – and you believed like this.
The Necessity of Resurrection
  1. Now, if the Anointed is proclaimed – that He has been raised from the dead – how can some among you say that there’s no resurrection of the dead?
  2. But if there’s no resurrection of the dead, not even the Anointed has been raised.
  3. And if the Anointed hasn’t been raised, then our preaching is worthless and your faith is worthless.
  4. Then we’re even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that He raised the Anointed, whom He didn’t raise if the dead aren’t raised.
  5. For if the dead aren’t raised, not even the Anointed has been raised.
  6. And if the Anointed hasn’t been raised, your faith is useless; you’re still in your sins.
  7. Then also, the men who were put to sleep in the Anointed perished.
  8. If we are *hoping in the Anointed in this life only, we’re more pitiable than all men.
  9. And now, the Anointed has been raised from the dead; the firstfruit of the men who have been put to sleep.
  10. For since death came through a man, resurrection of the dead also came through a man.
  11. For just as in Adam all die, thus also in the Anointed, all will be made alive,
  12. but each in his own order: the Anointed as the firstfruit, then the men of the Anointed at His coming.
  13. Then comes the end, when He hands the kingdom over to the God and Father, when He has abolished every ruler and every authority and power.
  14. For He must reign until He put all the enemies under His feet.
  15. The last enemy to be abolished is death.
  16. For He put all things in subjection under His feet.4quotation/allusion to Psalm 8:6  But when He said that “He has put all things in subjection”, it’s obvious that the One who put all things in subjection to Him is the exception.
  17. And when all things are made subject to Him, then even the Son Himself will be made subject to the One who made all things subject to Him, so that God might be all in all.
  18. So then, what will the men who are baptized for the dead do?  If the dead aren’t actually raised, why are they even baptized for them?  5Verse Note: Just north of Corinth, there was a town called “Eleusis”.  The Eleusian mystery religion practiced a rite in the sea that was similar to baptism.  They did this for the dead in order to “guarantee” a good afterlife.  Notice, Paul uses the word “them” and the first sentence does create a sense of distance as if he was talking about those outside the church.  Paul virtually never uses “them” to refer to Christians, only those outside the church.  It’s like Paul was referring to the Eleusian’s practice, saying in effect “even the pagans believe in the resurrection of the dead.”
  19. Also, why are we in peril every hour?
  20. As sure as my boast in you brothers – which I have in our Anointed Lord Jesus – I die every day.
  21. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for6“for” this Greek preposition – “κατά” (kata) – has a very large range of meanings.  It could also be translated “according to”, “in the manner of”, “as a”, and a few others. man, what does it gain me?  If the dead aren’t raised, we could eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
  22. Don’t be misled; bad companions ruinously corrupt7“ruinously corrupt” is one word in Greek.  It literally means to corrupt, rot, or spoil something so that it wastes away to ruin.  It’s typically associated with moral corruption/decay leading to ruin. good moral habits.8“moral habits” The Greek word here refers to the habits, customs, and behavior patterns that a person exercises on a daily basis.  It especially refers to ones that are good, moral, and ethical. The Greek word here is “ἦθος” (éthos), which is the root of our word “ethics”.
  23. Sober up righteously and don’t sin, for some have willful ignorance of God.  I say this to your shame.
The Manner of Resurrection
  1. But some will say, “How are the dead raised?”  And, “What kind of body do they come with?”
  2. You fool!  What you sow doesn’t come to life unless it dies.
  3. And what you sow isn’t the body that it will become after you sow, but a bare seed.  (Perhaps of wheat or one of the others.)
  4. But God gives it a body just as He willed, and He gives each of the seeds its own body.
  5. Not all flesh is the same flesh, but indeed there’s one of men, but another flesh of cattle, yet another flesh of birds, and another of fish.
  6. And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies.  But indeed, the glory of the heavenly is one kind, but the glory of the earthly another.
  7. The sun’s glory is one kind, and the moon’s glory another, and the stars’ glory another. (For star differs from star in glory.)
  8. The resurrection of the dead is also like this.  It’s sown in decay, it’s raised in incorruptibility.
  9. It’s sown in shame, it’s raised in glory.  It’s sown in weakness, it’s raised in power.
  10. It’s sown a natural body, it’s raised a spiritual body.  If there’s a natural body, there’s also a spiritual one.
  11. And as it is *written, “the first man – Adam – became a living being;9Quotation/allusion to Genesis 2:7.  The Greek word translated “being” here is “ψυχή” (psuché), which sometimes translated “soul”.  It doesn’t mean the part of us which survives death and goes to reward or punishment (Biblically that’s our spirit.  In Revelation 8:9, animals are said to have “psuché”.)  Psuché literally means “breath” and is often translated “life”.  It refers to the life; the vital force which – together with the body – enables a person to live.  It can also refer to mind, will, emotions, and desires, which together make up a person’s identity. the last Adam a life-giving spirit.
  12. But the spiritual wasn’t first, but the natural; afterwards came the spiritual.
  13. The first man was made from the dust of the earth; the second man came from heaven.
  14. Just as the man made of dust was, so also the men made of dust are; and just as the man of heaven is, so also the men of heaven are.
  15. And just as we bore the image of the man made of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.
  16. Now I declare this brothers: flesh and blood isn’t able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor is decay able to inherit incorruptibility.
  17. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We won’t all be put to sleep, but we’ll all be changed
  18. in an instant – in the blink of an eye – at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
  19. For this corruptible body must clothe itself in incorruptibility, and this mortal body clothe itself in immortality.
  20. And when this corruptible body has clothed itself in incorruptibility and this mortal body has clothed itself in immortality, then it will happen, the word which is *written, “Death was swallowed in victory.10quotation/allusion to Isaiah 25:8
  21. O Death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?11quotation/allusion to Hosea 13:14
  22. Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
  23. But grace12“grace” The Greek word here is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace” or “gift”.  It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place.  The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis).  A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron.  The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful”.  Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation.  A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons.  The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met.  Christian Grace and Faith is well picture by this system.  The Heavenly Patron (God the Father) freely gave a gift (Jesus’ blood), and the clients who accept it (Christians) are expected to “be faithful” out of gratitude.  Paul is not only talking about being grateful to God, but also “being faithful”; i.e. to reciprocate charis to God in return for His charis to us. be to God; the One who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus the Anointed.
  24. Therefore my beloved brothers, become steadfast; immovable, always overflowing in the Lord’s work, *knowing that your exhausting labor isn’t in worthless in the Lord.

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1 Corinthians Chapter 16

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The Collection for the Saints
  1. Now, about the collection for the saints.1We know from elsewhere in Bible that this collection was for the poor believers in Jerusalem.  This is almost certainly because of the famine prophetically predicted in Acts 11:28.  In Acts 11:29-30 they decided to take up a collection for the relief of the brothers in Judea.  In verse 30, Barnabas and Paul (still called “Saul” there) were put in charge of collecting it.  Just as I directed the churches in Galatia, you also do likewise.
  2. Every first of the week, let each of you set something aside, saving if he prospers so there aren’t any collections when I come.
  3. And when I arrive, then whoever you approve of, I will send these men with letters to carry your gift2“gift” The Greek word here is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace” or “gift”.  It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place.  The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis) for someone.  A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron.  The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful”.  Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation.  A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons.  The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met.  Christian Grace and Faith is well picture by this system.  The Heavenly Patron (God the Father) freely gave a gift (Jesus’ blood), and the clients who accept it (Christians) are expected to “be faithful” out of gratitude. to Jerusalem.
  4. And if it’s appropriate for me also to go, they will travel with me.
  5. Now, I’ll come to you after I travel through Macedonia, for I’m traveling through Macedonia.
  6. Then perhaps I will remain with you, or perhaps I’ll even spend the winter so you might equip me for wherever I might travel.
  7. For I don’t want to see you only in passing right now.  Indeed, I hope to remain with you some time, if the Lord allows.
  8. But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost.
  9. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and many are opposing it.
Closing Exhortations
  1. Now if Timothy comes, see that he becomes without fear toward you, for he’s doing the Lord’s work, just as I am also.
  2. Therefore, no one should treat him with contempt, but equip him in peace so he might come to me, for I expect him with the brothers.
  3. Now about the brother Apollos.  I greatly encouraged him so he should go to you with the brothers, and it was altogether not his will that he comes now; but he will come when he has a good opportunity.
  4. Be vigilant; stand firm in the faith; act like men; become strong.
  5. Let all things you do be done in ^love.
  6. Now I encourage you brothers.  You *know the household of Stephanas, that it’s the firstfruit of Achaia,3“Achaia” was a province of Rome which included most of Greece. and they set themselves to the service of the saints.
  7. So also, submit yourselves to men like these, and every man who works together and labors.
  8. But I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus because these men filled the void you left,
  9. for they refreshed my spirit and yours.  Therefore, recognize men like these.
  10. The churches of Asia greet you.  Aquila and Prisca4“Prisca” is the proper form of “Priscilla”, the latter being more informal and familiar. greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church at their house.
  11. All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
  12. This greeting is by my own hand – Paul.
  13. If someone doesn’t love5“love” the Greek word for love here isn’t the usual “ἀγαπάω” (agapao), which is the verb form of “ἀγάπη” (agape,); see footnote before the chapter. Here it’s “φιλέω” (phileó) which indicates brotherly affection and warm feelings of friendship or intimacy. the Lord, let him be anathema.6“anathema” likely because of the Bible, this Greek word has entered the English vocabulary.  In Greek it literally means to curse someone, and more specifically to offer a curse on them to devote them to God’s destruction.  It can also have the connotation of being abominable and/or detestable.  Our Lord, come!7“Our Lord, come!” this is an Aramaic phrase transliterated into Greek.  It very likely refers to judgement, as the phrase “come” is often applied to mean “come in judgement” in both the Old and New Testaments.
  14. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
  15. My ^love is with all of you in the Anointed Jesus.  [Amen.]

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2 Corinthians

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2 Corinthians Chapter 1

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Greetings from Paul and Timothy
  1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus the Anointed through the will of God, and Timothy our brother: to the church of God living in Corinth, together with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia.1“Achaia” was a province of Rome which included most of Greece.
  2. Grace2“Grace” The Greek word here is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace” or “gift”.  It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place.  The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis).  A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron.  The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful”.  Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation.  A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons.  The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met.  Christian Grace and Faith is well picture by this system.  The Heavenly Patron (God the Father) freely gave a gift (Jesus’ blood), and the clients who accept it (Christians) are expected to “be faithful” out of gratitude. to you and peace from God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
  3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus the Anointed; the Father of all compassions3“compassions” could also be translated “mercies” and God of all comfort.
  4. He’s the One who comforts us in all our tribulation, so we can comfort the men in every tribulation through the comfort that we ourselves are comforted by God,
  5. Because just as the sufferings of the Anointed overflow into us, likewise our comfort also overflows through the Anointed.
  6. But if we’re afflicted, it’s for your comfort and salvation.  If we’re comforted, it’s for your comfort, which works in the endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.
  7. And our hope for you is unshakeable, *knowing that since you’re partakers in the sufferings, so also you’re partakers in the comfort.
  8. For brothers, we don’t want you to be ignorant of our affliction which happened in Asia; that we were burdened so excessively beyond our strength that we despaired even of life.
  9. But we *have the sentence of death in ourselves.  So we aren’t *trusting in ourselves, but in God, the One who raises the dead,
  10. who rescued us from so great a death, (and will rescue us) in whom we also still *hope that He will rescue us.
  11. And you’re joining in helping for our sake through prayer so thanks may be given for our sake by many people4“people” is literally “faces” for the grace given to us through many prayers.
  12. For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that in God’s purity and simplicity – not in the wisdom of the flesh but with the grace of God – we acted in the world; and more abundantly towards you.
  13. For we don’t write other things to you except what you already read or even understand, and I hope that you will understand until the end,
  14. just as you also understood us in part.  So we’re boasting of you, just as you also will boast of us in the day of our Lord Jesus.
A Change of Travel Plans
  1. And with this confidence, I was previously intending to come to you so you might have grace a second time,
  2. and then to pass into Macedonia through you.  And again from Macedonia to come to you, and be sent by you into Judea.
  3. Therefore in resolving this, I didn’t then make light of it, did I?  Or do I resolve what I resolve according to the flesh, so with me there’s both “definitely yes”5“definitely yes” is literally “Yes! Yes!”  It’s a repetition of an affirmative that can have emphatic sense. It was here translated “definitely yes” to more accurately convey the parallelism with the follow statement (see following note). and “definitely no”?6“definitely no”. In Greek, this is a double negative (no, no) to add emphasis. Since English double negatives cancel each other out (instead of adding emphasis) the word “definitely” was added to keep the emphatic sense of the Greek.
  4. But God is faithful because our word to you isn’t both “Yes” and “No”.
  5. For the Son of God, Jesus the Anointed, the One who was proclaimed among you through us – through me, and Silvanus, and Timothy – wasn’t both “Yes” and “No”.  But in Him it has become “Yes.”
  6. For as many as God’s promises are, the “Yes” is in Him.  Therefore, the “Amen” is also through Him for the glory of God through us.
  7. But the One confirming us with you in the Anointed (and having anointed us) is God.
  8. He’s also the One who set His seal on us and gave us the down payment7“down payment” is literal.  The Greek word here is imported from Hebrew and refers to “earnest money” given as a surety that the rest of the payment will be given. of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
  9. And I call God as a witness upon my soul that I didn’t come to Corinth yet in order to spare you.
  10. Not that we have authority over8“we have authority over” is one word in Greek.  Often – and incorrectly – translated “lord it over”.  It comes from “κύριος” (kurios), which is typically translated “Lord” (as in “the Lord Jesus”) and literally means “to be lord of” in the sense of “to have authority over”.  There are Greek words which indicate oppressive authority which could be translated “lord it over”, but they aren’t used here. your faith, but we’re fellow workers for your joy, for you *stand firm in the faith.

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2 Corinthians Chapter 2

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Not Coming in Grief
  1. For I decided this within myself that I wouldn’t come to you in grief again.
  2. For if I grieve you again, who will make me glad1“who will make me glad” is literally “who is the man who makes me glad“, because the underlined portion is an article + participle phrase. except the man being grieved by me?
  3. And I wrote this same thing so that having come, I wouldn’t have grief from men who ought to rejoice with me, *trusting in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.
  4. For I wrote to you from much distress and anguish of heart, through many tears.  Not so you might be grieved, but so you might know the ^love that I have so abundantly for you.
  5. But if someone has grieved anyone, he hasn’t grieved me (so I’m not putting a burden on2“I’m… …putting a burden on” is one word in Greek with that exact meaning, though it can also mean “to be burdensome”.  It can mean to “overload” someone in a figurative sense, and thus can mean to be “severe”. you), but in part he grieves all of you.
  6. This punishment by the many3“This punishment by the many” is likely a reference to Church discipline which Jesus set forth in Matthew 18:15-20.  In Paul’s previous letter to the Corinthians, He mentioned an immoral man who was sleeping with his father’s wife.  Paul told the Corinthians to put him out of the church and shun him (as Jesus directed).  This certainly was a “punishment by the many” and Paul says that’s sufficient, probably recognizing that God Himself will deal with the man. is sufficient for such a man.
  7. So on the contrary, it’s better for you to forgive and to comfort him; lest somehow such a man be swallowed by abundant grief.
  8. For this reason, I urge you to reaffirm your ^love to him.
  9. For I also wrote for this reason: so I might test you and know the result,4“test you and… …the result ” is one word in Greek.  It properly refers to the process or result of a test/trial, and can include the evidence used to come to the result. whether you’re obedient in all things.
  10. And whoever you forgive for anything, I do also.  And for whatever I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) it’s for your sake in the sight of the Anointed,
  11. so we aren’t taken advantage of by Satan, for we aren’t ignorant of his schemes.
  12. And having come to Troas for the gospel of the Anointed, a door has also been opened for me by the Lord.
  13. But I don’t *have rest in my spirit because of me not finding Titus my brother.  But having bid them farewell, I departed into Macedonia.
  14. But grace be to God, the One who always leads us in triumph5“leads… …in triumph” is one word in Greek.  It properly refers a victor parading around to celebrate their victory, and displaying the defeated enemy as part of the procession. in the Anointed, and the fragrance of the knowledge of Him manifesting through us in every place.
  15. For we are a sweet fragrance of the Anointed to God in the men who are saved and in the men who perish,
  16. to whom an odor from death indeed leads into death, and to whom an odor from life leads into life.  And who is fit for these things?
  17. For we aren’t like the many who are peddling the word of God.  But as from purity, but as from God, we speak before God in the Anointed.

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2 Corinthians Chapter 3

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The New and Old Covenants
  1. Do we begin to commend ourselves again?  Or do we need letters of commendation for you (or from you) as some do?
  2. You are our letter, which is *written in our hearts, being known and being read by all men,
  3. revealing that you’re a letter of the Anointed, served by us, *written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.  Not on stone tablets, but on fleshly tablets of the heart.
  4. And we have confidence like this toward God through the Anointed.
  5. Not that from ourselves we’re fit to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our fitness is from God,
  6. who also made us fit servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit.  For the letter kills, but the Spirit brings to life.
  7. But if the ministry of death (in letters that have been engraved on stones) happened in such glory that the sons of Israel weren’t able to gaze into the face of Moses because of the glory on his face (which is nullified),
  8. how will the ministry of the Spirit not be in more glory?
  9. For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness overflows in much more glory.
  10. For even what was *glorified, now isn’t *glorified in this respect because of the glory which surpasses it.
  11. For if what is nullified came through glory, what remains is much more in glory.
  12. And having such a hope, we therefore employ much boldness.
  13. And not like Moses, who was putting a veil on his face so the sons of Israel couldn’t gaze into the end of what was nullified.
  14. But their minds were hardened.1“were hardened” could also be translated “were made calloused”.  The Greek word refers to making something harder which carries the connotation of being insensate, like a callous.  For the same veil remains until this present day, not being unveiled by the reading of the old covenant because it’s nullified in the Anointed.
  15. But whenever Moses is read until today, a veil lies over their hearts.
  16. And whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
  17. Now the Lord is Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
  18. But we all with an *unveiled face reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as it’s from the Spirit of the Lord.

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2 Corinthians Chapter 4

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Cost and Reward of the Gospel
  1. Because of this, we don’t lose heart (just as we received mercy in having this ministry).
  2. But we renounced the hidden things of shame; not walking in craftiness nor deceitfully corrupting1“deceitfully corrupting” is one word in Greek.  It properly refers to using deceptive bait to ensnare, like concealing a fishhook with a worm, and the resulting corruption that results from being ensnared. the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth are commending ourselves to every conscience of men in the sight of God.
  3. But even if our gospel is *veiled, it’s *veiled to the men who perish
  4. by the god of this age, who blinded the minds of the unbelieving so they won’t clearly see the light of the gospel of the glory of the Anointed, who is the image of God.
  5. For we don’t preach about ourselves, but about the Anointed Lord Jesus.  But we ourselves are your slaves for the sake of Jesus.
  6. For God is the One who said, “Out of darkness, light will shine”, who shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus the Anointed.
  7. And we have this treasure in earthen vessels so the surpassing power is God’s, and not from us.
  8. In everything we’re being hard-pressed, but not being crushed; being perplexed, but not despairing;
  9. Being persecuted, but not being abandoned; being struck down, but not being destroyed;
  10. Always carrying the death of Jesus in our body, so the life of Jesus might also be apparent in our body.
  11. For we – the men who live – are continually delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, so the life of Jesus might also be apparent in our mortal flesh.
  12. So then death works in us, but life in you.
  13. But having the same spirit of faith according to what is *written, “I believed, therefore I spoke2quotation/allusion to Psalm 116:10 we also believe, therefore we also speak,
  14. *knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us with you.
  15. For all things are for your sake, so thanksgiving might overflow to the glory of God through the grace which overflowed to more men.
  16. Therefore, we don’t lose heart.  And also, if our outward man decays, yet our inner man is renewed day by day.
  17. For our momentary, light persecution is producing for us the weight of the glory of ages, which is abundantly beyond measure.
  18. We aren’t keeping our eyes on the things we see, but on the things we don’t see.  For the things we see only last for a season; but the things we don’t see last for ages.

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2 Corinthians Chapter 5

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Cost and Reward of the Gospel
  1. For we *know that if our earthly house (the tent of our body1“tent of our body” is one word in Greek. It literally means “tent”, but figuratively means the body in which our spirit dwells.) is destroyed, we have a building from God; a house of ages in the heavens which is made without hands.
  2. For we also groan internally in this tent, longing to clothe ourselves in our dwelling from heaven.
  3. And indeed, if we clothe ourselves we won’t be found naked.
  4. For we also groan internally as the men who are in the tent; being burdened since we don’t want to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe ourselves so the mortal might be swallowed up by life.
  5. But the One who prepared us for this same thing is God, who gave us the down payment2“down payment” is literal.  The Greek word here is imported from Hebrew and refers to “earnest money” given as a surety that the rest of the payment will be given. of the Holy Spirit.
  6. Therefore, we’re always being courageous, *knowing that while being at home in the body, we’re away from our home with the Lord.
  7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
  8. Yet we’re courageous, and think it better to be away from our home in the body and to be at home with the Lord.
  9. Therefore, we’re also zealous to be pleasing to Him, whether being at home or being away from home.
  10. For all of us must be revealed before the judgement seat of the Anointed so each might receive back the things done through the body, whether good or evil; to each according to what he did,
  11. Therefore, *knowing the reverent fear3“reverent fear” is one word in Greek.  It’s primary meaning is “fear”, but it can also mean “awe” or “reverence” depending on the context.  (The Hebrew word for “fear” has the same range of meaning)  Since both fear and reverence are appropriate toward God, both definitions were included.  Further, the word can mean both, and both were likely intended. of the Lord, we convince men and we have been obvious to God, and I also hope to have been obvious in your consciences too.
Jesus’ death and Reconciliation
  1. We aren’t commending ourselves to you again; but giving you an opportunity to boast on our behalf, so you might have an answer to the men who boast in appearance and not in the heart.
  2. For if we were beside ourselves, it’s for God; if we’re of sound mind, it’s for you.
  3. For the ^love of the Anointed compels us, having judged this: that One died for the sake of all, therefore all died.
  4. And He died for the sake of all, so the men who live might no longer live for themselves; but for the sake of the One who died and was raised for them.
  5. So then, from now on we *view no one according to the flesh.  Even if we have known the Anointed according to the flesh, yet now we don’t know Him that way anymore.
  6. Therefore, if anyone is in the Anointed, he’s a new creation. The original things passed away; behold, the new things have come.
  7. And all things are from God, the One who reconciled us to Himself through the Anointed and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
  8. so that in the Anointed, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not taking their missteps4“missteps”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) and is also used in Ephesians 2:1 in the phrase: “dead in your ‘paraptóma’ and sins”. It carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. into account against them, and having put the message of reconciliation in us.
  9. Therefore, we are ambassadors on behalf of the Anointed.   As God is calling through us, we plead on behalf of the Anointed: “Be reconciled to God”.
  10. He made the One who didn’t know sin into sin for our sake, so we might become God’s righteousness in Him.

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2 Corinthians Chapter 6

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Grace Through Trials
  1. And working together with Him, we also encourage you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
  2. For He says, “I heard you in an ideal, acceptable season; and I rushed to your aid in a day of salvation.1quotation/allusion to Isaiah 49:8  Behold; now is the ideal season of favor.  Behold; now is the day of salvation.
  3. We’re putting nothing offensive in anyone’s way, so the ministry won’t be discredited.
  4. But in everything we’re establishing ourselves as God’s servants by much endurance in afflictions, in distresses, in calamities,
  5. in beatings, in imprisonments, in chaos, in exhaustion, in sleepless nights, in fasts,
  6. in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in benevolence,2“benevolence” this Greek word refers to kindness that is both practical (meeting real needs) and morally upright.  It also contains the idea of integrity. in the Holy Spirit, in sincere ^love,
  7. in the word of truth, in God’s power through the war equipment3“war equipment” is one word in Greek.  It refers to the various tools, implements, and weapons used to wage war.  The Greek word is “ὅπλον” (hoplon), which was one name for the large shield from which the “Hoplites” in the ancient Grecian military got their name. of righteousness in the right hand and the left hand.
  8. Through glory and disgrace, through praise and slander, regarded as deceivers and yet true,
  9. as being unknown and yet being fully known, as dying and behold we live, as being disciplined, and not being put to death.
  10. As being grieved, but always rejoicing; as poor, but making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
  11. Our mouth has opened freely to you Corinthians; our heart has grown for you.
  12. You aren’t restrained by us, but you’re restrained in your feelings.
  13. And in return for the same, (I speak as to children) you must also be grown.
Don’t Become Unequally Yoked
  1. Don’t become unequally yoked4“unequally yoked” is literal. A “yoke” is a contoured wooden beam used to join two beast of burden (cows, oxen, etc.) together so they can pull a heavy load together. with unbelievers.  For what alliance do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what association does light have with darkness ?
  2. And what harmony does the Anointed have with Belial?5“Belial” is likely a reference to Satan.  It likely comes from a Hebrew word which means “worthlessness”.  This could also be a play on words with a double meaning, asking: “what does someone who’s anointed (to God) have in common with worthlessness?”  Or what portion6“portion” this Greek word sometimes referred to the division of an inheritance, which is likely the sense here.  Unbelievers and believers have a different “inheritance”, and thus can’t share it. can a believer share with an unbeliever?
  3. And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols?  For we are the living God’s temple, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them.  And I will be their God and they will be My people.7quotation/allusion to Leviticus 26:11-12, & Ezekiel 37:27
  4. Therefore, “come out from their midst and be separate8quotation/allusion to Isaiah 52:11 says the Lord.  “And don’t touch an impure thing9continued quotation/allusion to Isaiah 52:11 and I will welcome you.
  5. And “I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me says the Lord Almighty.”

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2 Corinthians Chapter 7

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Perfecting Holiness
  1. Therefore, having these promises beloved, we should cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, completing holiness in the reverent fear1“reverent fear” is one word in Greek.  Its primary meaning is “fear”, but it can also mean “awe” or “reverence” depending on the context.  (The Hebrew word for “fear” has the same range of meaning)  Since both fear and reverence are appropriate toward God (and both were likely intended) both definitions were included. of God.
  2. Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we exploited no one.
  3. I don’t speak for your condemnation, for I have previously said that you’re in our hearts, for us to die together and to live together.
  4. My confidence in you is great; my boast on your behalf is great; I have been filled with comforting encouragement;2“comforting encouragement” is on word in Greek.  It typically translated one or the other based on context, but the context here is slightly ambiguous so both were included. I exceedingly overflow with joy at all our affliction.
  5. For also, no one *had rest for our flesh at our coming into Macedonia.  But we’re being hard pressed in everything; conflicts are outside, fears are within.
  6. But God – the One who comforts the lowly – comforted us by the arrival of Titus.
  7. And not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, reporting to us your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, in order for me to rejoice more.
  8. Because even if I grieved you in the letter, I don’t regret it (even if I was regretting it).  For I see that that letter grieved you, even if only for a while.
  9. I rejoice now; not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved into repentance.3“repentance” this Greek word doesn’t primarily speak of remorse or guilt for wrong actions. Rather, it literally means to “think differently after” or to “reconsider”, with an assumed change in behavior. To both the Hebrews and 1st century Greeks/Romans, a change in mind was synonymous with a change in behavior; you couldn’t have the first without the second. All that meaning is captured by a single Greek word here.  For you were grieved according to God’s will, so that through us you might suffer loss in nothing.
  10. For the grief according to God’s will produces repentance leading into salvation without regret; but the world’s grief produces death.
  11. For behold, this same thing – to be grieved according to God’s will – produced much diligence in you, much verbal defense, much indignation, much fear, much longing, much zeal, and much vindication.  In everything, you proved yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
  12. So even though I wrote to you, it wasn’t for the man who did wrong, nor for the man who suffered wrong; but for your diligence to be revealed to you on our behalf in the sight of God.
  13. Because of this, we have been encouraged.4or “comforted” the Greek word here can mean either depending on the context.  And by our encouragement, we rejoiced even more abundantly at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
  14. For if I have boasted anything to him about you, I wasn’t put to shame.  But just as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boast to Titus became truth.
  15. And his affections toward you are abundant, remembering the obedience of you all, and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.
  16. I rejoice that I’m confident in you in everything.

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2 Corinthians Chapter 8

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Macedonia Generosity
  1. And we declare to you brothers, the grace of God which has been given among the churches of Macedonia.
  2. That in much testing through affliction, the abundance of their joy and the depth of their poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.
  3. For I testify that according to their ability – even beyond their ability – they gave voluntarily,
  4. imploring us with much supplication to let them join in the grace and the partnership in the ministry of the saints.
  5. And not only as we hoped, but they gave of themselves, first to the Lord and then to us through God’s will.
  6. For we encouraged Titus so that just as he began before you, so also he might complete this grace in you too.
  7. But just as you overflow in everything (in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all eager diligence, and the ^love from us to you) so you should overflow in this grace also.
  8. I don’t speak as a command, but because of the eager diligence of others and to prove your ^love is genuine.
  9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed .  That while being rich, He became poor for your sakes, so through His poverty you might become rich.
  10. And I give an opinion on this matter; for this is beneficial for you, who since last year had already begun not only to work, but also to desire to work.
  11. Now then, also complete the work so just as you had the eagerness to desire, so also you’ll have the eagerness to complete it from what you have.
  12. For if the eagerness is present, it’s acceptable according to what a man has; not according to what he doesn’t have.
  13. For this isn’t so that others have ease and you have affliction, but so there’s equality.
  14. At the present season, your overflow would go to those in need, so also their overflow might go into your need, so there might be equality.
  15. Just as it is *written, “The man who gathered much didn’t have abundance; the man who gathered little didn’t lack.1quotation/allusion to Exodus 16:18
Praising Titus
  1. But grace be to God, the One putting the same eagerness for you in the heart of Titus.
  2. For he indeed welcomed our appeal; and being more eager, he went out to you of his own accord.
  3. And we sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the churches.
  4. And not only that, but he was also elected2“he was… …elected” is one word in Greek.  It literally means “to vote by stretching out the hand”, or to “elect by a show of hands”, sometimes with the idea of appointing someone to an office or position. by the churches as our fellow traveler in this act of grace, which is administered by us for our readiness and the glory of the Lord Himself.
  5. We’re taking care of this gift, lest someone discredit us through this abundant gift which is administered by us.
  6. For we take care to be noble; not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
  7. And we sent with them our brother, whom we proved to be eagerly diligent many times, in many things, and now he’s much more eagerly diligent because of his great trust in you.
  8. Whether concerning Titus – who’s my partner and a fellow worker to you – or our brothers who are messengers of the churches, they’re a glory to the Anointed
  9. Therefore, show them proof of your ^love and the reason for our boast about you in front of the churches.

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2 Corinthians Chapter 9

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Arrangements for the Gift
  1. For indeed, it’s superfluous for me to write to you about service to the saints.
  2. For I *know your eagerness, which I boast about on your behalf to the Macedonians; that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal provoked more of them.
  3. But I sent the brothers so our boast about you wouldn’t be empty in this matter, so you might be *prepared, just as I was saying.
  4. Lest if the Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we – not to mention you – might be put to shame in this confidence.
  5. Therefore, I thought it was essential to urge the brothers so they might go to you and prepare beforehand this blessing from you which has been already promised.  Thus, it’s ready to be given as a blessing and not as from reluctant greed.1“greed” could also be translated “covetousness”.  Paul seems to be saying the gift should freely given without a greedy wish that they wouldn’t have to give what they’d promised.
  6. Yet remember this: the man sowing sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the man sowing on blessings will also reap on blessings,
  7. just as each has decided in the heart; not from grief or from compulsion, for God ^loves a joyfully voluntary2“joyfully voluntary” is one word in Greek, which properly means joyful and not under compulsion; i.e. voluntary and happy about it. giver.
  8. And God can make all grace overflow into you, so having all you need always in everything, you might overflow in every good work.
  9. Just as it is *written, “He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness endures through the age.”3Quotation/allusion to Psalm 112:9.  “through the age” is typically translated “eternal” here.  But the Greek word translated “age” here is “αἰών” (aion), which means a time span with a beginning and an end.  It’s also used in Matthew 24:3 to talk about the “culmination (end) of the age.”
  10. And the One supplying seed for the man sowing will also abundantly provide bread for food, and will multiply your seed for sowing, and will grow the fruits of your righteousness,
  11. enriching you in everything; into all generosity which through us produces thanksgiving to God.
  12. For the ministry of this service is not only completely supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through much thanksgiving4literally “many thanksgivings” to God.
  13. Because this service is proof of your genuineness,5“proof of your genuineness” is one word in Greek.  It’s a noun, derived from the adjective “δόκιμος” (dokimos) which means something that has been tested to prove it’s genuine.  It was used of testing coins to prove they weren’t counterfeit or mixed with lesser metals. they’re glorifying God at the submission of your confession to the gospel of the Anointed, and the generosity of your partnership to them and to all men.
  14. And their earnest prayer is on your behalf; longing for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
  15. Grace6“Grace” The Greek word here is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace” or “gift”.  It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place.  The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis) for someone.  A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron.  The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful”.  Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation.  A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons.  The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met.  Christian Grace and Faith is well picture by this system.  The Heavenly Patron (God the Father) freely gave a gift (Jesus’ blood), and the clients who accept it (Christians) are expected to “be faithful” out of gratitude. be to God for His indescribable gift!

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2 Corinthians Chapter 10

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Paul Defends His Ministry
  1. And I, Paul, myself urge you through the gentle strength and kindness of the Anointed, whose face is indeed humble when I’m among you, but while being absent I’m bold to you.
  2. And while not being present, I implore you to be bold in the confidence that I consider to be daring, to some of the men considering us like men walking according to the flesh.
  3. For though walking in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh.
  4. For the weapons1“weapons” this Greek word refers to the various tools, implements, and especially weapons used to wage war.  The Greek word is “ὅπλον” (hoplon), which was one name for the large wooden shield from which the “Hoplites” in the ancient Grecian military got their name. of our warfare aren’t carnal, but powerful through God to tear down strongholds,
  5. tearing down arguments and every battlement rising up against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of the Anointed,
  6. and in being ready to avenge all disobedience when your obedience might be completed.
  7. You see things according to outward appearance.  If someone has persuaded himself to be of the Anointed, let him consider this about himself again; that just as he’s in the Anointed, so also are we.
  8. For even if I boast somewhat more abundantly about our authority – which the Lord gave to build up and not to tear you down – I won’t be ashamed,
  9. so I wouldn’t seem like I desire to frighten you through the letters.
  10. For indeed they declare, “The letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak and his word is *worthless.”2“worthless” The Greek word here literally means to treat something as having no value, and thus to despise it or treat it with contempt.
  11. Let such a man consider this: That just as we are in word through letters while being absent, so also we are in action while being present.
  12. For we don’t dare to classify or to compare ourselves with some who are commending themselves.  But they – measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves – they don’t understand.
  13. But we won’t boast about things beyond our measure, but only according to the measure of the region that God allotted to us; a measure which reaches as far as you.
  14. For we don’t overextend ourselves like we aren’t reaching to you.  For also, as far as you came, we came before you in the gospel of the Anointed.
  15. We aren’t boasting in things beyond our measure (in labors which belong to another).  But we’re hoping to be abundantly enlarged among you in your growing faith according to our region,
  16. to proclaim the gospel in the regions beyond you; not to boast in the readiness of another’s region.
  17. Yet “The man who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.3quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 9:24
  18. For it’s not the man commending himself who is proved genuine,4“proved genuine” this Greek word is an adjective.  It was used of coins that had been tested to prove they were genuine coins, and not counterfeit or mixed with lesser metals (corrupted) but that man whom the Lord commends.

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2 Corinthians Chapter 11

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Paul’s Further Defense
  1. O, I wish you were bearing with me in a little foolishness; and yet you do bear with me.
  2. For I’m jealous over you with a godly jealousy.  For I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to the Anointed.
  3. But I fear, lest somehow – as the serpent in his cunning thoroughly deceived Eve – your minds might be ruinously corrupted away from the simplicity and the purity in the Anointed.
  4. For indeed, if a man coming preaches another Jesus whom we didn’t preach; or you receive a different spirit which you didn’t receive, or a different gospel which you didn’t accept; you bear with it well.
  5. For I think to have fallen short in nothing compared to these ‘super apostles’.
  6. But even if I’m unskilled in speech, yet I’m not in knowledge.  But we made this clear to you in every way in all things.
  7. Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so you might be exalted?  (Because I preached the gospel of God to you freely.)
  8. I robbed other churches, having accepted provisions from them for my service to you.
  9. And while being present with you and being in need I didn’t burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need.  And in everything I kept – and will keep – myself not burdensome to you.
  10. The truth of the Anointed is in me, so this boast of mine won’t be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
  11. Why?  Because I don’t ^love you?  God *knows I do!
  12. But what I do – and will do – I do so I might cut off the opportunity of the men desiring an opportunity to be found just as we also are in what they boast about.
  13. For such men are false apostles; treacherous workers disguising themselves as apostles of the Anointed.
  14. And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light.
  15. Therefore, it’s no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
Paul’s Sarcastic and “Foolish” Boasting
  1. Again I say: no one should think me to be foolish.  But even if I’m otherwise, receive me like a foolish man so I also might boast a little.
  2. What I say in this confident boasting I don’t say according to the Lord, but like in foolishness.
  3. Since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
  4. For being wise, you gladly tolerate foolish men.
  5. For you tolerate it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes from you, if someone exalts himself, if someone hits your face.
  6. I speak in shame because it’s like we have been weak.  But in whatever someone might dare (I speak in foolishness) I also dare.
  7. Are they Hebrews?  I am too.  Are they Israelites? I am too.  Are they Abraham’s seed?  I am too.
  8. Are they servants of the Anointed?  I am more so.  (I speak like I’m insane)  In abundant labors, in abundant imprisonments, in wounds beyond measure, and often in danger of various deaths.
  9. I received forty lashes minus one from the Jews five times.
  10. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I shipwrecked; I have spent a night and a day in the deep sea.
  11. I’m on frequent journeys, in danger of rivers, in danger of robbers, in danger from my nation, in danger from the gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, in danger at sea, in danger among false brothers,
  12. In hard labor and exhausting work, in frequent sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, in frequent fasts; and in the cold and nakedness.
  13. Apart from external things, there’s the pressure of my daily concern for all the churches.
  14. Who’s weak and I’m not weak?  Who’s ensnared by sin and I’m not burned?
  15. If I must boast, I will boast of things showing my weakness.
  16. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus (the One who is blessed through the ages) *knows that I’m not lying.
  17. In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the Damascenes’ city to arrest me.
  18. And I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

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2 Corinthians Chapter 12

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Paul’s Sarcastic Boasting Continues
  1. To boast is necessary, but indeed it’s not profitable, yet I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
  2. I have known a man in the Anointed fourteen years ago.  (I haven’t known whether in the body or out of the body, I don’t *know; God *knows) Such a man was snatched up to the third heaven.
  3. And I have known such a man, (whether in the body or separate from the body, I haven’t known; God has known)
  4. that he was snatched up into paradise and heard unspeakably holy1“unspeakably holy” is one word in Greek which refers to words which are so holy they either cannot or should not be spoken by man words which aren’t lawful for man to speak.
  5. I will boast about such a man, but I won’t boast about myself except in my weaknesses.
  6. For even if I wanted to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool for I would speak the truth.  But I refrain, lest someone think of me more than what he sees in me or hears of me,
  7. and the exceeding greatness of my revelations.  Therefore, a thorn in the flesh was given to me so I don’t exalt myself;2“exalt myself” could also be translated “be exalted” because the middle and passive endings for this Greek word are the same. a messenger of Satan to torment me so I don’t exalt myself.3“I don’t exalt myself” could also be translated “won’t be exalted” because the middle and passive endings for this Greek word “exalt” are the same.
  8. I begged the Lord about this three times so it might depart from me.
  9. And He has said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for My power is completed in weakness.”   Therefore I would rather boast most gladly in my weakness so the power of the Anointed might encamp4“encamp”  The Greek word here literally means to pitch a tent and live there. on me.
  10. Therefore I’m pleased in weaknesses, in injuries, in calamities, in persecutions, and in distresses for the sake of the Anointed; for when I’m weak, then I’m strong.
  11. I have become like a foolish man; you compelled me to for I ought to be commended by you.  For I fell short of the ‘super apostles’ in nothing, even if I am nothing.
  12. Indeed, the signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all endurance; in signs of both wonders and miracles.
  13. For in what were you inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself didn’t burden you?  Forgive me for this ‘injustice’.
Paul’s Upcoming Visit
  1. Behold, this third time I’m ready to come to you, and I won’t burden you.  For I don’t seek what’s yours, but you.  For the children aren’t obligated to save up for the parents, but the parents to save up for the children.
  2. But I will most gladly spend – and will be completely spent – for the sake of your souls.  If I’m ^loving you abundantly, am I ^loved less?
  3. But so be it.  I didn’t burden you, but – being cunning – I took you through trickery.
  4. Of any man whom I have sent to you, I didn’t exploit you through him, did I?
  5. I urged Titus to go and sent the brother with him.  Titus didn’t exploit you, did he?  Didn’t we walk in the same spirit?  Didn’t we walk in the same steps?
  6. Do you think that we are defending ourselves to you all along?  We speak in front of God in the Anointed.  And beloved, all things are for the sake of building you up.
  7. For I fear, lest having come to you, I perhaps might not find you as I desire, and I might not be found by you as you desire.  Lest perhaps there is quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, slanders, covert slanders, arrogance, and disorder.
  8. Lest having come again, my God might humble me before you and I might mourn many of the men who have sinned beforehand and didn’t repent of the impurity, and fornication, and wanton debauchery that they did.

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2 Corinthians Chapter 13

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Examine Yourselves
  1. This will be the third time I come to you.  “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be confirmed.”1quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 19:15
  2. I have warned you beforehand.   And as I did while being present the second time, and though being absent now, I warn the men who have sinned beforehand and all the rest: that if I come to the same behavior again, I won’t spare anyone,
  3. since you seek proof that the Anointed – who isn’t weak toward you but powerful among you – speaks in me.
  4. For also, He was crucified from weakness but He lives by God’s power.  For also, we are weak in Him but we will live with Him by God’s power in you.
  5. Test yourselves to see if you’re in the faith; examine yourselves.  Or don’t you yourselves know that Jesus the Anointed is in you, unless you’re tested and proved counterfeit.2“tested and proved counterfeit” is one word in Greek.  The root word refers to the testing of coins to prove they were genuine and not counterfeit.  It’s used here with a negative prefix, meaning they didn’t “pass the test” and thus were/are counterfeit.
  6. But I hope that you will know that we’re tested and proved not counterfeit.3“tested and proved… …counterfeit” is one word in Greek, here combined with a negative (not).  See note on previous verse.
  7. And we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so we might appear tested and proved genuine,4“tested and prove genuine” is one word in Greek.  It was used of coins that had been tested to prove they were genuine coins, and not counterfeit or mixed with lesser metals (corrupted) but so you might do what is right.  (Even if we appear tested and proved counterfeit)
  8. For we don’t have any power against the truth, but for the truth.
  9. For we rejoice when we’re weak but you’re strong.  And we pray for your completion in this.
  10. Because of this, I write these things while being absent so while being present I won’t treat you severely, according to the authority that the Lord gave me to build up and not to tear down.
Closing
  1. Finally brothers, rejoice!  Be perfected, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace; and the God of ^love and peace will be with you.
  2. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
  3. All the saints greet you.
  4. May the grace of the Anointed Lord Jesus, and the ^love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  [Amen]

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Galatians

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Galatians Chapter 1

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Greeting from Paul
  1. Paul, an apostle not sent from men nor through man but through Jesus the Anointed and God the Father – the One who raised Him from the dead –
  2. and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia:
  3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus,
  4. the One who gave Himself for our sins, so He might rescue us from the evil age which is *present, according to the will of our God and Father,
  5. to whom be the glory through the ages of the ages.1“through the ages of the ages” is literal, often translated “forever and ever”.  However, the traditional interpretation lacks the past element of a more literal translation.  Further, the Greek word often translated “forever” here (αἰών, “aion”) literally means “age”, meaning a time span with a beginning and an end.  It’s also used in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the culmination (end) of the age?”  Amen.
Don’t Desert the True Gospel
  1. I marvel that you’re so quickly turning away from the One who called you by the grace of the Anointed for a different gospel,
  2. which isn’t really another gospel, except there are some deeply shaking you and wanting to corrupt the gospel of the Anointed.
  3. But even if we or an angel from heaven preaches a gospel to you that’s close beside but contrary to2“close beside but contrary to” is one word in Greek.  It’s the Greek word “παρά” (para) which is the root of our word parallel.  The primary meaning is “close beside”, but when followed by a word in the Greek accusative case – which it is here – it also gains the nuance of being “contrary to”. the gospel which we preached to you, let him be anathema!3“anathema” likely because of the Bible, this Greek word has entered the English vocabulary.  In Greek it literally means to curse someone, and more specifically to offer a curse on them to devote them to God’s destruction.  It can also have the connotation of being abominable and/or detestable.
  4. As we have forewarned you, so now I say again: if anyone preaches a gospel to you that’s close beside but contrary to4see note on previous verse what you received, let him be anathema!5see note on previous verse
  5. For now, do I seek favor from men, or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  Yet if I was pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a slave of the Anointed.
  6. For brothers, I make known to you the gospel which was preached by me, that it’s not from man.
  7. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it; but I received it through a revelation of Jesus the Anointed.
  8. For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, that I was persecuting the church of God exceedingly beyond measure and was ravaging it.
  9. And I was blazing a trail6“blazing a trail” is one word in Greek with that exact meaning.  The Greek word refers to a pioneer cutting through brushwood to create a path, exactly like the English idiom “blaze a trail” in Judaism beyond many men of the same age7“men of the same age” is one word in Greek meaning “of the same age”, and here it’s a masculine word. in my nation, being abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
  10. But when God (the One who set me apart from my mother’s womb and who called me through His grace) was pleased
  11. to reveal His Son in me so I might preach His gospel among the gentiles, I didn’t immediately consult with flesh and blood.
  12. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the men who were apostles before me, but I departed into Arabia and returned again to Damascus.
  13. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas8“Cephas” is Aramaic for “a rock”, and is another name for the disciple/apostle Peter. and remained with him fifteen days.
  14. But I didn’t see the other apostles except James, the brother of the Lord.
  15. (And what I write to you, behold: in the sight of God I don’t lie.)
  16. Afterwards I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
  17. Now, my face was unknown to the churches of Judea who are in the Anointed.
  18. And they were only hearing that: “The man previously persecuting us now preaches the gospel of the faith which he was formerly ravaging.”
  19. And they were glorifying God because of me.

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Galatians Chapter 2

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Paul’s story continues
  1. Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem again with Barnabas, having taken Titus with me also.
  2. And I went up because of a revelation and related to them the gospel that I preach among the gentiles (but did so privately to the esteemed men) lest in some way I run or ran in vain.
  3. But not even Titus who was with me – though being a Greek – was compelled to be circumcised,
  4. but because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who infiltrated us to spy on our liberty which we have in Jesus the Anointed, hoping that they will enslave us.
  5. To whom we didn’t yield in obedience even for an hour so the truth of the gospel might remain for you.
  6. And from the men esteemed to be something (what sort of men they were before makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality1“God shows no partiality” is more literally “God doesn’t accept the face of man”. To “accept the face” is a Hebrew idiom meaning to show partiality or favoritism to someone.) for the esteemed men added nothing to my message.
  7. But on the contrary, having seen that I have been entrusted to spread the gospel to the uncircumcised (just as Peter is to the circumcised,
  8. for the One who worked in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised also worked in me toward the gentiles)
  9. and having known the grace which was given to me, James and Cephas2“Cephas” is Aramaic for “a rock”, and is another name for the disciple/apostle Peter. and John – the men esteemed to be pillars – gave Barnabas and me the right hand of partnership so we might go to the gentiles, but they to the circumcised.
  10. They only asked that we remember the poor; and I was eager to do that same thing.
Paul Confronts Peter
  1. But when Cephas3“Cephas” is Aramaic for “a rock”, and is another name for the disciple/apostle Peter. came to Antioch, I firmly opposed him to his face because he was *condemning himself.
  2. For he was eating with the gentiles before some men came from James.  But when they came, he was withdrawing and was separating himself, fearing the circumcised men.
  3. And the rest of the Jews also acted hypocritically with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
  4. But when I saw that they aren’t walking uprightly with regard to the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas4“Cephas” is Aramaic for “a rock”, and is another name for the disciple/apostle Peter. in front of all of them, “If you (being a Jew) live like a gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the gentiles to live like Jews?”
  5. We’re Jews by birth and aren’t sinners from among the gentiles.
  6. But *knowing that a man isn’t made righteous by works of the law but through faith in Jesus the Anointed, we also believed in Jesus the Anointed so we might be made righteous by faith in the Anointed and not by works of the law, because no flesh will be made righteous by works of the law.
  7. But if seeking to be made righteous in the Anointed and we ourselves were found sinners, then is the Anointed a servant of sin?  May it never be!
  8. For if I build again those things which I tore down, I establish myself as a deliberate sinner.
  9. For through the law, I died to the law so I might live to God.
  10. I have been crucified with the Anointed; and I no longer live, but the Anointed lives in me.  And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God; the One who ^loved me and gave Himself for my sake.
  11. I don’t set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law then the Anointed died for nothing.

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Galatians Chapter 3

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Righteousness through Grace, not Law
  1. You foolish Galatians!  Who bewitched you [not to be persuaded of the truth], before whose eyes Jesus the Anointed was publicly portrayed as having been crucified.
  2. I only want to learn this from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
  3. Are you foolish this way?  Having begun by the Spirit are you now perfecting yourselves1“perfecting yourselves” could also be translated “being perfected” because the ending for the middle and passive voices are the same for same this Greek word. by the flesh?
  4. Did you suffer so many things pointlessly?  (If it really even was pointlessly.)
  5. Therefore, the One abundantly supplying the Spirit to you and working miracles among you, does He do it by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
  6. Just as “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”2quotation/allusion to Genesis 15:6
  7. Therefore, know that the men of faith; these are sons of Abraham.
  8. And having foreseen that God makes the gentiles righteous by faith, the scripture preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying that: “In you, all the nations will be blessed.”3quotation/allusion to Genesis 22:18
  9. So then, the men of faith are blessed with Abraham, the man of faith.
  10. For as many as works of the law are, they are under a curse.  For it is *written: “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue keeping all things which have been written in the book of the law, to do them.”4quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 27:26
  11. And that no one is made righteous before God by the law is obvious because “The righteous will live by faith.”5quotation/allusion to Habakkuk 2:4
  12. And the law isn’t from faith, but: “The man who does them will live by them.”6quotation/allusion Leviticus 18:5
  13. The Anointed purchased us from the curse of the law by having become a curse for us, because it is *written: “Cursed is every man hanging on a tree.”7quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 21:23
  14. So in Jesus the Anointed, the blessing of Abraham might be in the gentiles so we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
  15. Brothers, let me now speak in the way of man: even when a mere man has ratified a covenant, no one annuls it or makes an addition.
  16. And the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.  It doesn’t say “and to the seeds” like they were many; but “and to your seed” like there is one, who is the Anointed.
  17. And I say this: the covenant has been ratified beforehand by God.  The law which has come into being 430 years later doesn’t annul it, for it to abolish the promise.
  18. For if the inheritance is from the law, it’s no longer from a promise.  But God has graced8“grace” The Greek word here is a verb form of “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace” or “gift”.  It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place.  The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis) for someone.  A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron.  The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful”.  Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation.  A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons.  The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met.  Christian Grace and Faith is well picture by this system.  The Heavenly Patron (God the Father) freely gave a gift (Jesus’ blood), and the clients who accept it (Christians) are expected to “be faithful” out of gratitude. it to Abraham through a promise.
Why the Law came
  1. Then why the law?  Because of deliberate sins it was put into place, having been carefully arranged through angels in the hand of a mediator, until the seed might come to whom the promise has been made.
  2. (Now, a mediator isn’t for one man only, but God is one.)
  3. Then is the law opposed to the promises of God?  May it never be!  For if a law able to give life was given, then righteousness would truly be from the law.
  4. But the scripture imprisoned all things under sin, so the promise from faith in Jesus the Anointed might be given to the men believing.
  5. And before the faith came, we were being guarded under the law, being imprisoned until the faith about to be revealed came.
  6. So the law has become a strict schoolmaster9“strict schoolmaster” The Greek word here refers to a man (typically a slave) who was in charge of a boy’s education and discipline. The boy wasn’t even allow to leave the house with this man’s permission, and they were regarded as being very strict in discipline. for us, leading into the Anointed so we might be made righteous by faith.
  7. But faith having come, we’re no longer under a strict schoolmaster.
  8. For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus the Anointed.
  9. For as many of you as were baptized into the Anointed, you clothed yourselves with the Anointed.
  10. There’s neither Jew nor Greek, there’s neither slave nor free, there isn’t male and female, for all of you are one in Jesus the Anointed.
  11. And if you are the Anointed’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

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Galatians Chapter 4

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Sons and heirs
  1. And I say this: for as long a time as the heir is a child, he differs from a slave in nothing though being lord of all things.
  2. But he’s under guardians and stewards until the time appointed beforehand by the father.
  3. In this way also, when we were children, we were *serving as slaves under the elementary principles of the world.
  4. But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son; having been born from a woman and born under the law,
  5. so He might buy back the men under the law, so we might receive the adoption as sons.
  6. And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out “Abba,1“Abba” is a Greek form of the Hebrew word for father.  It is a term of greater closeness and familiarity than “father”, though the degree of closeness is widely debated.  Some think “Papa” or “Daddy” is appropriate, while others say that’s is too familiar and prefer “Dad” or perhaps “Pa”.  Some of the latter group prefer to render as an adjective and would translate it “dear father”. Father!”
  7. So then you’re no longer a slave, but a son.  And if a son, then also an heir through God.
  8. But not *knowing God at that former time, you indeed served as slaves to the men who by nature aren’t gods.
  9. But now having known God – and more, having been known by God – how do you return again to the weak and destitute elementary principles, to which you want to serve as slaves all over again?
  10. You carefully observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
  11. I fear for you, lest somehow in vain I have exhausted myself working for you.
  12. I implore you brothers: become like I am, because I also became like you.  You wronged me in nothing.
  13. Now, you *know that I formerly preached the gospel to you through2“through” could also be translated “because of”, since that is this Greek word’s other primary meaning. an infirmity of the flesh.
  14. And in your test by my infirm flesh, you didn’t treat me with contempt nor reject me in disgust.  But like an angel of God, you welcomed me like Jesus the Anointed.
  15. Where then is your declaration of blessedness?  For I testify of you that if possible, you would’ve given me your eyes after having plucked them out.
  16. So have I become your enemy by speaking truth to you?
  17. They are jealous for you.  Not nobly, but they want to exclude you so you might be jealous for them.
  18. And it’s always noble to be jealous for a noble thing, and not only when I’m present with you.
  19. My children, for whom I again go through birthing pains until the Anointed might be formed in you,
  20. and I was wishing to be present with you now and to change my tone, because I’m perplexed and have doubts in you.
Hagar and Sarah, Slave and Free
  1. Tell me, you men wishing to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
  2. For it is *written that Abraham had two sons; one from the slave woman and one from the free woman.
  3. But indeed: the son from the slave woman has been born according to the flesh; but the son from the free woman through the promise,
  4. (about which we’re speaking allegorically) for these are two covenants.  Indeed, one is from Mount Sinai birthing into slavery, which is Hagar.
  5. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she serves as a slave with her children.
  6. But the Jerusalem above is free, who is our mother.
  7. For it is *written: “Be glad you barren woman, you woman not giving birth.  Break forth and shout you woman not suffering birthing pains, because the children of the desolate woman are many more than of the woman having a husband.”3quotation/allusion to Isaiah 54:1
  8. But brothers, you are children of promise like Isaac.
  9. But just as when the son who was born according to the flesh was persecuting the son born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
  10. But what does the scripture say?  “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman definitely won’t inherit with the son of the free woman.” 4quotation/allusion to Genesis 21:10
  11. Therefore brothers, we aren’t children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

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Galatians Chapter 5

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Freedom
  1. The Anointed set us free for freedom; therefore stand firm and don’t entangle yourselves again in a yoke of slavery.
  2. Behold; I Paul tell you that if you circumcise yourself, the Anointed will gain you nothing.
  3. And again, I testify to every man being circumcised: he is a debtor who must keep the whole law.
  4. Whoever is made righteous by the law, you were severed from the Anointed; you fell from grace.
  5. For we eagerly await the hope of righteousness by faith through the Spirit.
  6. For in Jesus the Anointed, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power, but only faith working through ^love.
  7. You were running well; who hindered you? (To not be persuaded of the truth?)
  8. This persuasion isn’t from the One calling you.
  9. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
  10. I *believe in you in the Lord, that you will think nothing else.  But the man deeply shaking you will endure the judgement, whoever he might be.
  11. And brothers, why am I still persecuted if I still preach circumcision?  (Then the stumbling block of the cross has been nullified.)
  12. O, I wish the men turning you upside down1“turning you upside down” is one word in Greek, often translated “upsetting” here.  It literally mean to turn upside down, with a figurative meaning of upsetting or stirring up trouble. will also cut off their genitals.2“cut off their genitals” the Greek word here literally means to “cut off” and can refer to removing the whole male reproductive organ, which is likely in this context.
  13. For you were called to freedom brothers; only, not freedom as a pretext for the flesh, but you must serve one another through ^love.
  14. For all of the law is *fulfilled in one statement, in the statement: “You shall ^love your neighbor as yourself.”3Quotation/allusion to Leviticus 19:18
  15. But if you bite and devour one another; watch out, lest you are consumed by one another.
Walking in Spirit vs. Flesh
  1. And I say: walk in the Spirit and you definitely won’t accomplish the craving of the flesh.
  2. For the flesh craves what’s contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what’s contrary to the flesh.  For these two stubbornly oppose one another, so you don’t do those things which you desire.
  3. But if you’re led by the Spirit, you aren’t under the law.
  4. Now, the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: fornication, impurity, wanton debauchery,
  5. idolatry, sorcery,4“sorcery” the Greek word here is “φαρμακεία” (pharmakeia) which is the root of our word “pharmacology” and “pharmaceuticals”.  It refers to mixing ingredients to produce effects when ingested, which can be either positive or negative depending on the context. As a doctor, Luke (author of Luke’s Gospel) would’ve engaged in “pharmakeia” in the positive sense of making medicine.  The negative sense was often associated with mixing compounds (often hallucinogenic) in order to contact spirits or other ‘gods’.  Such potions were also used in other ‘magical’ arts which the Bible condemns. hostility, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions,5“selfish ambitions” this Greek word refers to attempting to attract followers, offices, and/or power for one’s own gain at the expense of others. pointless divisions, factions,6“factions” This word could also be translated “sects”, and is the various “sects” of 1st century Judaism.  A modern equivalent might be “denominations”.  See 1 Corinthians 11:19.
  6. spiteful envy, drunkenness, debauched parties, and things like these.  About which I forewarn you – just as I did forewarn you – that the men practicing such things won’t inherit God’s kingdom.
  7. But the fruit of the Spirit is: ^love, joy, peace, patience, benevolence,7“benevolence” this Greek word refers to kindness that is both practical (meeting real needs) and morally upright.  It also contains the idea of integrity. goodness, faithfulness,
  8. gentle strength, and self-control; there isn’t a law against such things.
  9. Now the men who belong to Jesus the Anointed crucified the flesh with its passions and cravings.
  10. If we live by the Spirit, we should also march in lock-step with8“march in lock-step with” is one word in Greek, which properly refers to walking in a regular cadence or rhythm, and thus can refer to military style marching in lock-step. the Spirit.
  11. We shouldn’t become conceited braggarts, provoking one another or envying one another.

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Galatians Chapter 6

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Bearing Burdens
  1. Brothers, even if a man is overtaken in some misstep1“misstep”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) and carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. you (the spiritual men) restore such a man in a spirit of gentle strength, while watching yourself lest you also be tempted.
  2. Bear one another’s burdens and thus you will fulfill the law of the Anointed.
  3. For if someone thinks himself to be something while being nothing, he deceives himself.
  4. But let each man test the work that he himself does, and then he will have a boast for himself alone and not for another.
  5. For each will bear his own load.
Sowing and Reaping
  1. Now, let the man being taught the word share in all good things with the man teaching.
  2. Don’t be misled; God isn’t mocked.  For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
  3. For the man sowing into his own flesh will reap ruinous corruption from the flesh.  But the man sowing into the Spirit will reap the life of ages2“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?” from the Spirit.
  4. And we shouldn’t grow weary while doing good, for we will reap our own harvest at an opportune time after not growing faint.
  5. So therefore, as we have an opportune time, we should do good toward all men, but especially toward the men of the household of faith.
Conclusion and Closing
  1. See how I wrote to you in large letters with my own hand.
  2. As many as want to look good in the flesh, these men compel you to be circumcised; but only so they aren’t persecuted for the cross of Jesus the Anointed.
  3. For not even the men being circumcised keep the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so they might boast in your flesh.
  4. But for me to boast; may it never be!   Except in the cross of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
  5. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but be a new creation.
  6. And as many as will walk by this standard, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
  7. From now on, let no one give me wearying troubles, for I bear the brand-marks3“brand marks” refers to marks cut into the skin of slaves to show who their owner was.  Sometimes they were cut in and scarred, other times they were burned in, like how cattle were branded in the American west. of Jesus on my body.
  8. The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with your spirit brothers, amen.

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Ephesians

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Ephesians Chapter 1

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Greetings From Paul
  1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus the Anointed through the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Jesus the Anointed.
  2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
  3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, the One who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens through the Anointed.
  4. Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, for us to be holy and blameless before Him in ^love,
  5. having appointed us beforehand to the adoption as sons for Himself through Jesus the Anointed, according to the good pleasure of His will,
  6. to praise the glory of His grace, which He graced to us in the One who is ^*loved.
  7. In whom we have the repurchase payment1“repurchase payment” is one word in Greek, typically translated “redemption”.  It properly refers to the price paid to “buy back” something that had been lost. through His blood; the forgiveness of missteps2“missteps”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) which is also used in Ephesians 2:1 in the phrase: “dead in your ‘paraptóma’ and sins”.  It carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. according to the riches of His grace,
  8. which He abundantly supplied to us in all wisdom and prudence,
  9. having made known the mystery of His will to us, according to His good pleasure which He planned beforehand in Him,
  10. for the stewardship of the fullness of the opportune time, to gather together all things in the Anointed; both the things in the heavens and the things on the earth.
  11. In whom we also received a share in Him, having been appointed beforehand according to the set forth purpose of the One working all things according to the plan of His will,
  12. for us (the men who first *hoped in the Anointed) to be for the praise of His glory.
  13. In whom you also (having heard the true message of the gospel of your salvation, in whom you also believed) were sealed3“were sealed” is one word in Greek. Commonly, this was done by melting wax and using a signet ring to make an impression before the wax had fully cooled.  If the wax seal was broken, it was impossible to fix without using the signet ring again.  This served as a form of signature in the ancient world. with the promised Holy Spirit,
  14. who is the down payment4“down payment” is literal.  The Greek word here is imported from Hebrew and refers to “earnest money” given as a surety that the rest of the payment will be given. of our inheritance; a repurchase payment5“repurchase payment” is one word in Greek, typically translated “redemption”.  It properly refers to the price paid to “buy back” something that had been lost. for a purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
  15. Because of this, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your ^love towards all the saints, I also
  16. don’t stop giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
  17. so the God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed – the Father of glory – might give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him,
  18. *enlightening the eyes of your heart for you to have seen what is the hope of His calling; what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
  19. and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us (the men believing) according to the mighty work of His strength,
  20. which He has worked in the Anointed, having raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavens,
  21. far above every ruler, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name being named; not only in this age, but also in the age about to come.
  22. And He made all things subject under His feet and placed Him as head over all things for the sake of the church,
  23. which is His body, the fullness of the One filling all in all.

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Ephesians Chapter 2

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Dead in Sins, Alive in the Anointed
  1. And you, being dead in your missteps1“missteps”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) and carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. and sins
  2. in which you once walked, in accordance with the age and this world, in accordance with the ruler of the power of the air; the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience,
  3. among whom we all also once lived in the cravings of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and its thoughts.  And we were children of wrath by nature, just like the rest.
  4. But God, being rich in mercy because of His great ^love with which He ^loved us,
  5. and despite us being dead in our missteps, He made us alive together with the Anointed (you are and have been saved by grace)2“Grace” The Greek word here is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace” or “gift”.  It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place.  The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis) for someone.  A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron.  The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful”.  Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation.  A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons.  The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met.  Christian Grace and Faith is well picture by this system.  The Heavenly Patron (God the Father) freely gave a gift (Jesus’ blood), and the clients who accept it (Christians) are expected to “be faithful” out of gratitude.
  6. And He raised us up together with Him, and seated us together with Him in the heavens in Jesus the Anointed,
  7. so in the coming ages He might demonstrate the surpassing riches of His grace in His benevolence toward us in Jesus the Anointed.
  8. For you are *saved by grace through faith.  And this isn’t from you; it’s the gift of God,
  9. and not from works so no one may boast.
  10. For we are His workmanship, created in Jesus the Anointed for good works which God prepared beforehand so we might walk in them.
  11. Therefore, remember that you were formerly gentiles in the flesh (the men being called “uncircumcised” by the men being called “circumcised”, which is done in the flesh with human hands)
  12. because at that time, you were separated from the Anointed, having been alienated from citizenship in Israel and aliens to the covenants of promise; not having hope and godless in the world.
  13. But now in Jesus the Anointed, you men who were once far away became near by the blood of the Anointed.
  14. For He Himself is our peace; the One who made both into one and destroyed the barrier of the dividing wall of hostility
  15. by having annulled in His flesh the law of commandments contained in ordinances; so that in Himself, He might form the two into one new man, making peace.
  16. And so He might fully reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, having killed the hostility through it.
  17. And having come, He proclaimed the gospel: peace to you, the men who were far away, and peace to the men who were near,3quotation/allusion to Isaiah 57
  18. because through Him, we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
  19. So therefore, you’re no longer aliens and foreigners, but are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
  20. having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus the Anointed Himself being the cornerstone.
  21. In whom all construction fitted together is growing into a temple that’s holy to the Lord,
  22. in whom you also are built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

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Ephesians Chapter 3

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The Mystery of the Gospel
  1. For this reason, I Paul, am the prisoner of Jesus the Anointed for you the gentiles,
  2. if indeed you heard of the stewardship of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
  3. that He made known to me the mystery by revelation, just as I wrote before in brief.
  4. Which by reading it, you’re able to comprehend my understanding in the mystery of the Anointed,
  5. which wasn’t made known to the sons of men in other generations as it now was revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit,
  6. for the gentiles to be fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Jesus the Anointed through the gospel,
  7. of which I became a servant according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me, according to the work of His power.
  8. This grace was given to me – who’s less than the least of all saints – to proclaim to the gentiles the gospel of the incomprehensible riches of the Anointed,
  9. and to enlighten all men to see what is the stewardship of the mystery *hidden from the ages by God, the One who created all things.
  10. So now, the multi-faceted wisdom of God would be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms through the church,
  11. according to the plan of ages, which He accomplished in Jesus the Anointed, our Lord,
  12. in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
God’s Love and Glory
  1. Therefore, I beg you not to grow weary at my afflictions for you, which is your glory.
  2. For this reason, I bow my knees in prayer to the Father [of our Lord Jesus the Anointed],
  3. from whom every family line1“family line” is one word in Greek and refers to a group of people descended from a common ancestor. Thus, it can mean a family, tribe, or even a nation with a common ancestor. in the heavens and on the earth is named,
  4. so according to the riches of His glory, He might grant you to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit,
  5. for the Anointed to dwell in your hearts through faith, you being *rooted and *grounded in ^love,
  6. so you might be strong enough to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth,
  7. and to know the ^love of the Anointed that’s surpassing knowledge so you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
  8. Now, to the One able to do far above all things that we ask or think according to the power working in us,
  9. to Him be the glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed throughout all generations, through the age of the ages.2“through the age of the ages” is literal, though most translations render it “forever and ever”.  While that could be the intended sense, “through the age of the ages” quite possibly indicates the “greatest of all the ages”, much in the same way we might say the “battles of battles” to indicate the greatest battle ever. This would likely refer to the “age” of the New Heavens and New Earth in Revelation 21-22, which will indeed last forever.  Amen.

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Ephesians Chapter 4

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Unity
  1. Therefore, I – the prisoner of the Lord – urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling in which you were called,
  2. with all humility and gentle strength with patience; bearing with one another in ^love and
  3. being eagerly diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
  4. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling,
  5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
  6. one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.
Spiritual gifts and growth
  1. And grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the gift of the Anointed.
  2. Therefore it says: “Having ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives and gave gifts to men.”1quotation/allusion to Psalm 68:18
  3. (Now, in saying “He ascended” what is meant except that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth?2“lower parts of the earth” is a euphemism for the underworld where the dead reside.
  4. The One who descended is also the same One who ascended far above all the heavens so He might fill all things)
  5. And indeed, He gifted the apostles, also the prophets, also the evangelists, also the shepherds and teachers,3“shepherds and teachers” go together as one and aren’t two separate items on this list, though this is less clear in English.  The lack of the definite article (“the” in English) before “teachers” and the lack of the Greek conjunction “δὲ” (de) which separates all the other giftings makes this clear.
  6. for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of the Anointed,
  7. until we all might attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfected man; into the full standard of maturity set by the Anointed.
  8. so we might no longer be infants, being tossed by the waves and carried to-and-fro by every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men using craftiness to accomplish a deceitful scheme.
  9. But speaking the truth in ^love, we should grow in all things into Him who is the head; the Anointed.
  10. From whom the whole body is being fitted and being joined together through what every joint supplies, according to the work in proportion to each one’s part, which causes the body’s growth to build itself up in ^love.
Right Living
  1. Therefore I say this and testify in the Lord: You’re no longer to walk as the gentiles also walk in the futility of their mind.
  2. Having been *darkened in their understanding and being *alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance which is in them because of the hardness of their hearts.
  3. Who having become *calloused, gave themselves up to wanton debauchery to work all impurity with greediness.
  4. But you didn’t learn the Anointed this way,
  5. if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, just as the truth is in Jesus.
  6. You are to set aside what’s in accordance with the former way of life – the old man ruinously corrupting4“ruinously corrupting” is one word in Greek, typically translated “destroy” here.  It literally means to corrupt, rot, or spoil something so that it wastes away to ruin.  It’s typically associated with moral corruption/decay leading to ruin. according to its deceitful cravings –
  7. and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
  8. and to clothe yourself with the new man, which was formed according to God’s design in true righteousness and holiness.
  9. Therefore, having set aside falsehood, “each man must speak truth with his neighbor5quotation/allusion to Zechariah 8:16 because we are parts of one another.
  10. Be angry, and yet don’t sin.”6quotation/allusion to Psalm 4:4  Don’t let the sun set on your exasperation,7“exasperation” could also be translated “anger” or “wrath”.  It properly refers to irritation or exasperation which has been provoked, possibly to the point of anger or wrath.
  11. nor give the Accuser an opportunity.
  12. The man who’s stealing must no longer steal.  But rather let him work hard, working nobly with his own hands so he might have something to give to the man having a need.
  13. Don’t let any rotten word depart from your mouth, but only a good word for building up as needed, so it might give grace to the men hearing it.
  14. And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the day of repurchase. 8“repurchase” this Greek word properly refers to the price paid to “buy back” something that was lost, often translated “redemption” here.
  15. Let all bitterness, and rage, and anger, and clamoring, and slander be removed from you, along with all wickedness.
  16. And be benevolent and tenderhearted to one another; forgiving each other just as God also forgave you in the Anointed.

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Ephesians Chapter 5

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Imitate God
  1. Therefore, be imitators of God like beloved children,
  2. and walk in ^love, just as the Anointed also ^loved us and gave Himself up for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.
  3. But fornication and all impurity or coveting must not even be named among you, just as is appropriate for saints.
  4. (Also, obscenity and foolish talk or crude joking, which weren’t proper; but rather giving thanks.)
  5. For you *know this; understanding that every fornicator, or impure man or covetous man who is an idolater doesn’t have an inheritance in the kingdom of the Anointed and God.
  6. Let no one deceive you with empty words or reasoning,1“words or reasoning” is one word in Greek, which is “λόγος” (logos).  It properly refers to a reasoned thought which is then expressed through words.  Thus it can focus on the reasoning side or the word side depending on the context.  In this context, both are relevant and likely intended, so both definitions were included. for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
  7. Therefore, don’t become fellow partakers with them.
  8. For you were once darkness, but now you’re light in the Lord; walk as children of light.
  9. For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,
  10. examining what is pleasing to the Lord.
  11. And don’t become a fellow partaker in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather, also expose them.
  12. For it’s shameful to even speak of the things being done by them in secret.
  13. But all things being exposed become visible by the light, for everything becoming visible is light.
  14. Therefore it says: “Awake, you sleeping man and rise from the dead, and the Anointed will shine upon you.”2This isn’t a scriptural quotation or allusion.  Some believe it was an early Christian hymn.
  15. Therefore, carefully watch how you walk; not as unwise men, but as wise men,
  16. seizing the opportune time because the days are evil.
  17. Because of this, don’t become foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.
  18. And don’t be drunk with wine, in which is wasteful excess,3“wasteful excess” this Greek word is comes from “ἀ”(a) as a negative prefix (like “amoral” meaning “not moral”) and the Greek word “σῴζω”(sozo) which means “to save”.  It means “that which isn’t saved”, but not in a salvation sense.  Rather, it means things which are wasted (thrown out) because they aren’t saved for later use by the user.  It thus has the sense of “wasting” on useless things, and can refer to the consequences of such wasteful excess. but be filled by the Spirit:
  19. speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music4“making music” primarily refers to playing an instrument, but could also refer to singing or perhaps humming. to the Lord in your heart,
  20. always giving thanks to our God and Father for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed,
  21. and men5“men submitting themselves to one another”  is two words in Greek.  The first is a masculine plural participle (“men submitting themselves”).  The second word is a masculine plural reciprocal pronoun (“to one another”).  Since both the participle and reciprocal pronoun are masculine, men are being told to submit to “one another”, meaning other men. submitting themselves to one another in reverent fear6“reverent fear” is one word in Greek.  Its primary meaning is “fear”, but it can also mean “awe” or “reverence” depending on the context.  (The Hebrew word for “fear” has the same range of meaning)  Since both fear and reverence are appropriate toward God, both definitions were included.  Further, the word can mean both, and both were likely intended. of the Anointed.
Husbands and Wives
  1. The wives [must submit themselves]7“must submit themselves” There’s a textual variant in this verse centering on the verb for “submit”.  In the source text for most modern translations, the word “submit” isn’t present and is implied/carried over from verse 21 (“men submitting themselves”).  However, this omission is based on extremely scant textual evidence.  Very few manuscripts (just: P46 B Cl Hiermss) don’t have an imperative verb (a command) here.  Those manuscripts are early, but belong to a textual family known for omission. Every other manuscript has an imperative verb (a command) in either the 3rd person (“they must submit themselves“) or 2nd person (“you must submit yourselves“).  The third person reading was chosen here because it has far more support from early manuscripts.  Also, the endings for the middle and passive voice for this Greek verb are the same.  In the middle voice, it contains reflexive force and thus has the connotation of voluntary obedience, so “wives must obey” is more accurate to the intended sense (though less literal, despite this meaning being in the lexicons).  In the passive voice it could be translated “must be submitted”.  The middle voice is more likely intended because the passive voice could indicate that their submission/obedience is being done to them (i.e. they’re being made to submit). to their own husbands in the same manner as8“in the same manner as” is one word in Greek, which indicates the manner or way of doing something.  It’s typically translated simply “as” here.  Some take “as” to mean that a wife’s submission to her husband is done out of submission to the Lord.  While that’s not untrue, the Greek points to how her submission is done, not why it’s done. they do to the Lord,
  2. because the husband is head of the wife, even as the Anointed is the head of the church.  (He Himself being the body’s savior.)
  3. But in the same manner as the church submits itself to the Anointed, in this way also, wives should submit themselves to their husbands in everything.
  4. Husbands, ^love your wives, just as the Anointed also ^loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so
  5. that He might make her holy; having cleansed her by washing9“washing” this Greek word properly refers to a bath for washing yourself, either public or private.  It was used by some Patristic fathers as a synonym for baptism which is possibly part of the sense here, though likely not the primary meaning. her in water by the spoken word,10“spoken word”  The Greek word used here refers only to words that are spoken, never to words that are written.
  6. so He might present the church to Himself in glory; having no spot or wrinkle or any such things, but so she might be holy and blameless.
  7. In this way also, husbands are obligated11“are obligated” is one word in Greek with that exact meaning.  It was originally a financial term that literally meant to owe or be indebted to. (It’s used of debts in Matthew 18:28, 30, and 34.)  This included moral obligations to deities and others.  In New Testament times, it referred to anything which someone was legally or morally obligated to do. to ^love their own wives as their own bodies.  The man ^loving his own wife ^loves himself.
  8. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Anointed also does to the church,
  9. because we are parts of His body; [of His flesh and of His bones.12quotation allusion to Genesis 2:23]13“of His flesh and of His bones” this textual variant is interesting.  While some of the earliest manuscripts omit it, it has support from very early church fathers like Irenaeus, as well as early Bible translations.  It’s possible it was original to Paul and accidentally omitted via parablepsis. (A scribe accidentally skipping everything between two occurrences of the same word).  In Greek, the shorter readings ends with “τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ” (the body of Him), while the longer reading ends with “τῶν ὀστέων αὐτοῦ” (the bones of Him).  If the longer reading is original, and if the scribe accidentally skipped from the first instance of “αὐτοῦ” to the second, it would perfectly explain the deletion.  On the other hand, there seems to be no clear reason for it being added.  However, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t have been.
  10. Because of this, a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife, and the two will be in one flesh.14quotation/allusion to Genesis 2:24; 1 Corinthians 6:16 makes it clear that this is a reference to sex, not anything more.  More literally it reads “and the two will be into one flesh”.  In the Old testament, “into” is often used to speak of sex (e.g. Ruth 4:13, where Boaz “went into her” and then she conceived) which is another indication that “two will be in one” refers only to sex, as opposed to sex in addition to something else.
  11. This mystery is great, but I speak about the Anointed and about the church.
  12. And nevertheless, each one of you must ^love his own wife in the same way as he does to himself; but the wife must see that she reveres15“reveres” is the weakest possible way to accurately translate the Greek word here.  It’s the same Greek word that’s used in the phrase “reverently fear the Lord”.  Therefore, translating it “the wife must see that she reverently fears her husband” would be more consistent with typical biblical usage.  While its primary meaning is “fear”, it can also have the additional nuance of to “awe” or to “revere”.  In that last sense, it means “to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience” (Thayer’s).  It’s typically translated “reverently fear” in the BOS Bible, and the noun form of this word is used in verse 21 of this very chapter. her husband.

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Ephesians Chapter 6

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Children and Fathers
  1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
  2. Honor your father and mother–” (which is the first commandment with a promise)
  3. “–so it may be well with you, and you will be long-lived on the earth.”1quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:12
  4. And fathers, don’t provoke or exasperate2“provoke or exasperate… …to anger” is one word in Greek, which means to provoke and/or exasperate someone to anger. your children to anger, but bring them up to maturity by discipline and admonishment in the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
  1. Slaves, obey your masters in the flesh with fear and trembling in sincerity of your heart, like you do with the Anointed.
  2. And not only while the master watches3“only while the master watches” is one word in Greek, which literally means “eye-service”.  That is, only provide good service while the master watches. like people-pleasers do, but like slaves of the Anointed doing the will of God from the heart,
  3. serving with goodwill like it’s to the Lord and not to men,
  4. *knowing that whatever good each man does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether he’s a slave or free.
  5. And masters, do the same things to them by giving up threatening, *knowing that their master and also yours is in the heavens, and there’s no partiality with Him.
The Armor of God
  1. From now on, be empowered in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
  2. Clothe yourself with the full armor of God so you’re able to stand against the deceitful schemes of the Accuser,
  3. because our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the rulers of this world’s darkness; against the evil spiritual forces in the heavenly places.
  4. Because of this, take up the full armor of God so you might be able to oppose4The Greek word used here is also a military term referring to troops “holding the line” against the opposing army, typically by fighting back. i.e. taking a firm stand and refusing to be moved. them in the day of evil, and having done all things, to stand firm.
  5. Therefore stand firm; having girded your loins in truth,5quotation/allusion to Isaiah 11:5 and having clothed yourself with the breastplate of righteousness,6quotation/allusion to Isaiah 59:17
  6. and having put your feet in the preparation of the gospel of peace,7quotation/allusion to 52:7
  7. and in all things,8“in all things”  There’s a textual variant here, centering on the preposition that begins the sentence.  The Textus Receptus and many later minuscule manuscripts have “ἐπί πᾶσιν”.  That could be translated either “above all” indicating importance, or “over all”, being a word picture of soldier holding a shield over his head to protect himself from enemy arrows.  Other manuscripts read “ἐν πᾶσιν”, which would mean “in all”, or “in everything”. having taken up the shield of faith; by which you’ll be able to quench all the *flaming arrows of the evil one.
  8. And welcome the helmet of salvation,9quotation/allusion to Isaiah 59:17 and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s spoken word,10“spoken word” The Greek word used here refers only to words that are spoken, never to words that are written.  Most translation add the definite article here (“the” in English) to make it “the word of God”, but the definite article isn’t present here in Greek.
  9. through all prayer and supplication, praying in every season in the Spirit.  And to the same purpose, being vigilant with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
  10. Also pray for me, so I might be given a word whenever I open my mouth in boldness to make known the mystery of the gospel,
  11. for which I’m an ambassador in a chain; so I might be bold in it, as I ought to speak.
Closing
  1. Now, so you also *know the news concerning me and what I’m doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make all things known to you,
  2. whom I sent to you for this same purpose: so you might know everything about us and so he might encourage your hearts.
  3. Peace to the brothers, and ^love with faith from God the Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
  4. Grace be with all the men ^loving our Lord Jesus the Anointed in incorruptible sincerity.

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Philippians

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Philippians Chapter 1

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Greetings and Thanks from Paul and Timothy
  1. Paul and Timothy, slaves of Jesus the Anointed, to all the saints in Jesus the Anointed who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons,
  2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
  3. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
  4. (always in every prayer of mine for all of you) making the prayer with joy
  5. on account of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now;
  6. *convinced of this very thing: that the One who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus the Anointed.
  7. Accordingly, it’s right for me to feel this concerning all of you, because I have you in my heart.  All of you are fellow partakers of grace with me, in both my bonds and in the verbal defense and confirmation of the gospel.
  8. For God is my witness of how I long for all of you in the affection of Jesus the Anointed.
  9. And I pray this: that your ^love might overflow still more and more in true knowledge and all discernment,
  10. for you to test and prove genuine the excellent things so you might be sincerely pure1“sincerely pure” is one word in Greek. It comes from two other Greek words, the first meaning the shining of the sun, the second to judge.  Together, it means to be judged righteous or pure and sincere after being see in the full light, with the implication of being thoroughly examined and still found pure. and blameless until the day of the Anointed,
  11. being *filled with the fruit of righteousness through Jesus the Anointed, to God’s glory and praise.
Advancing the Gospel
  1. But brothers, I want you to know that the things which happened to me have come about for more advancement of the gospel,
  2. for my bonds in the Anointed to become obvious in the whole Praetorium,2“Praetorium” could refer to either the governor’s residence or the camp of the Roman military.  Sometimes it is applied the military men who guard the governor’s residence, and in this sense could be translated “palace guard”. and to all the rest.
  3. And *trusting in the Lord because of my bonds, most of the brothers more abundantly dare to speak the word [of God] fearlessly.
  4. And indeed, some proclaim the Anointed because of envy and strife, but also some because of goodwill.
  5. Indeed, the men of goodwill proclaim out of ^love, *knowing that I’m appointed to the verbal defense of the gospel.
  6. But the other men proclaim the Anointed out of selfish ambition; not out of pure motives, but expecting to raise the affliction of my bonds.
  7. For why does that matter?  Except that in every way – whether because of pretext or truth – the Anointed is proclaimed, and I rejoice in this; yes, and I will rejoice!
  8. For I have known that this will result in my deliverance through your prayer and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus the Anointed,
  9. according to the eager expectation and my sure hope that I will be ashamed in nothing.  But in all boldness – as always and also now – the Anointed will be magnified in my body; whether through life or through death.
  10. For to me, to live is the Anointed and to die is gain.
  11. But if I’m to live in flesh, this allows my fruitful work.  And which will I choose?  I don’t know.
  12. And I’m hard-pressed by the two, having a longing to depart and be with the Anointed, for that’s very much better.
  13. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
  14. And being *confident of this, I have known that I will remain and stay with all of you for your advancement and joy in the faith,
  15. so your boast in me might overflow in Jesus the Anointed through my coming to you again.
  16. Only behave as heavenly citizens3“behave as… …citizens” is one word in Greek, which means to behave like a citizen ought to by obeying the laws and conducting yourself accordingly. worthy of the gospel of the Anointed, so whether having come and having seen you or being absent, I might hear about you; that you stand firm in one spirit, striving together as one soul in the faith of the gospel,
  17. and without being terrified in anything by the men opposing you, which is a sign of their destruction but is salvation to you.  And this is from God,
  18. because for the sake of the Anointed, you were granted not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
  19. having the same struggle such as you saw in me, and now hear of in me.

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Philippians Chapter 2

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Unity and the Anointed’s Attitude
  1. Therefore, if there’s any encouragement in the Anointed, if any ^loving comfort, if any partnership of the Spirit, if any affections and compassions,
  2. fulfill my joy: so you might have the same understanding; having the same ^love, united in your souls with one understanding.
  3. Doing nothing from selfish ambition nor from baseless pride, but from humility; esteeming one another far more than yourselves, and
  4. each man not only looking out for their own interests, but also for each others’.
  5. Have this understanding in you which was also in Jesus the Anointed:
  6. Who, being in the form of God, didn’t consider being equal with God something to be grasped,
  7. but emptied Himself; having taken the form of a slave and having come in the likeness of men.
  8. And having been found as a man in form, He humbled Himself by having become obedient even to death, and even death on a cross.
  9. Therefore, God also exceedingly exalted Him and graced Him with the name above every name,
  10. so at the name of Jesus, every knee might bow,1quotation/allusion to Isaiah 45:23 in the heavens and on the earth and under the earth,
  11. and every tongue confess that Jesus the Anointed is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Obedient and blameless
  1. So then my beloved, just as you always obeyed – not only as in my presence, but now much more in my absence – work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
  2. For God is the One working in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.
  3. Do all things without grumbling and disputing,
  4. so you might become blameless and pure children of God; unblemished in the midst of a crooked and *perverted generation among whom you shine like lights in the world,
  5. holding fast to the word of life, so my boast on the day of the Anointed might be that I didn’t run in vain and didn’t exhaust myself working in vain.
  6. But even if I’m poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and ministry of your faith, I’m glad and rejoice with all of you.
  7. And you also do the same; be glad and rejoice with me.
Sending Timothy
  1. Now, I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so I also might be encouraged by knowing the news concerning you,
  2. for I have no one like-minded who will genuinely care for the matters concerning you.
  3. For all seek their own interests, not the interests of Jesus the Anointed.
  4. But you know his proven worth, that like a father with a child he served with me in the gospel.
  5. Therefore, I indeed hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see to the things which concern me.
  6. And I’m *confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.
Commending Epaphroditus
  1. Now, I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus back2“back” Philippians 4:18 makes it clear that the church at Philippi sent Epaphroditus to Paul with gifts, and thus he was sending him back.  This context would’ve been obvious to the original readers and adds significant clarity to the next few verses, so was included. to you (my brother, and fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and a minister in my need)
  2. since he was longing [to see] all of you and distressed because you heard that he was sick.
  3. For he was also sick almost to death, but God had mercy on him.  And not only on him, but also on me so I wouldn’t have grief upon grief.
  4. Therefore I sent him more eagerly, so having seen him again you might rejoice and I might be less grieved.
  5. Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and hold such men in honor
  6. because he even came near to death for the work of the Anointed, having disregarded his life so he might fill up your deficit towards my ministry.

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Philippians Chapter 3

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Gain and Loss in the Gospel
  1. Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.  Indeed, it’s not irksome for me to write the same things to you, but it’s without danger1“without danger” is one word in Greek.  It comes from two words, the first is a negative prefix, the second means to topple or fall. Thus it means “not falling”, with the connotation of being safe/secure (no danger) because of a secure footing or foundation. to you.
  2. Beware of the dogs.  Beware of the wicked workmen.  Beware of the mutilation of circumcision.
  3. For we are the true circumcision; the men worshipping in God’s Spirit and boasting in Jesus the Anointed and not having *trusted in the flesh,
  4. although I could have even trusted in the flesh.  If some other man thinks to have trusted in the flesh, I could more.
  5. Circumcised the eighth day, from the nation of Israel (the tribe of Benjamin) a Hebrew of Hebrews. Regarding the law: a Pharisee.
  6. Regarding zeal: persecuting the church.  Regarding righteousness by the law, having become blameless.
  7. But whatever things were my gain, I *consider these things loss because of the Anointed.
  8. But more, I therefore also truly consider all things to be a loss because of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus the Anointed, because of whom I lost all things and consider them refuse2“refuse” refers to all kinds of waste that was thrown to dogs (which were reviled in that culture).  That included scraps of garbage, leftovers, muck, and even dung in some cases. so I might gain the Anointed,
  9. and might be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but righteousness through faith in the Anointed; the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,
  10. to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the partnership in His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
  11. so somehow I might attain to the resurrection from the dead.
  12. Not that I already received it, or already have been perfected.  But I pursue it so I might seize it, for that’s why I was also seized by Jesus the Anointed.
  13. Brothers, I don’t consider myself to have seized it.  But one thing I indeed do, forgetting the things behind and reaching toward the things ahead,
  14. I pursue the goal towards the prize of the upward calling of God in Jesus the Anointed.
  15. Therefore, as many as are mature should have this opinion.  And if you have a different opinion in anything, God will reveal this to you also.
  16. Nevertheless, in what we attained, we are to walk in the same [standard, and to have the same opinion.]
  17. Brothers, become fellow imitators of me and observe the men walking in this way, just as you have an example in us.
  18. For many men – of whom I often was telling you, and now weeping I say – many men walk as enemies of the cross of the Anointed,
  19. men whose end is utter ruin, whose God is the belly and whose glory is in their shame; the men who set their minds on earthly things.
  20. For our citizenship already exists in the heavens, from which we also eagerly await a savior; the Anointed Lord Jesus,
  21. who will transform our humble body into conformity with His glorious body by the effective power which even enables Him to submit all things to Himself.

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Philippians Chapter 4

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Stand Firm in the Lord
  1. So then my beloved and longed-for brothers – my joy and crown – stand firm in the Lord this way beloved.
  2. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to have the same mind in the Lord.
  3. Yes, I also ask you my true colleague:1“colleague” is more literally “yokefellow”, which refers to people who are bound together (yoked together) in marriage, business, office, or other endeavor.  This word is only used here in the Bible, and could possibly be a proper name. help reconcile these women who labored together in the gospel with me, and with Clement, and with the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life.
  4. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I will say rejoice!
  5. Let your gentle fairness2“gentle fairness” is one word in Greek.  It refers to a sense of justice and fairness that isn’t strict in the sense of the letter of the law, but it conforms to the spirit of the law instead.  Thus, it’s “gentle” in its application. be known by all men.  The Lord is near.
  6. Be anxious about nothing; but let your requests be made known to God in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving,
  7. and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus the Anointed.
  8. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is venerable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if anything is morally upright and if anything is praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
  9. What you also learned, and received, and heard, and saw in me, practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you.
The Philippians’ Gift
  1. Now, I greatly rejoiced in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me.  And you were being concerned about that, but were lacking an opportunity to show it.
  2. Not that I speak from needful poverty, for I learned to be content3“content” is literally “self-sufficient”, in the sense of being internally self-sufficient by not allowing external forces to shake the internal disposition. in whatever situation I am in.
  3. I also have known how to be humble, and I have known how to overflow.  In everything and in all things, I also have been instructed in the secret to be full and to hunger; and to overflow and to be in need;
  4. I have strength in all things through the One strengthening me.
  5. Nevertheless, you did well by having partnered in my affliction.
  6. And also, you Philippians *know that in the beginning of the gospel (when I departed from Macedonia) not one church partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.
  7. For even in Thessalonica, both once and even twice you sent provisions for my needs.
  8. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit multiplying into your account.
  9. But I have all things and overflow.  I have been filled, having welcomed from Epaphroditus the gifts from you: a sweet, fragrant smell; an acceptable sacrifice which is pleasing to God.
  10. And my God will supply everything you need according to His riches in glory through Jesus the Anointed.
  11. Now, to our God and Father be the glory through the ages of the ages,4“through the ages of the ages” is literal, often translated “forever and ever”.  However, the traditional interpretation lacks the past element of a more literal translation.  Further, the Greek word often translated “forever” here (αἰών, “aion”) literally means “age”, meaning a time span with a beginning and an end.  It’s also used in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the culmination (end) of the age?” Amen.
  12. Greet every saint in Jesus the Anointed.  The brothers with me greet you.
  13. All the saints greet you, but especially those from Caesar’s household.
  14. The grace of the Anointed Lord Jesus be with your spirit.  [Amen]

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Colossians

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Colossians Chapter 1

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Greeting from Paul and Timothy
  1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus the Anointed through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
  2. to the saints and faithful brothers in the Anointed at Colossae; grace to you and peace from God our Father.
  3. We always give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed while praying about you,
  4. having heard of your faith in Jesus the Anointed and the ^love that you have for all the saints
  5. because of the hope being stored for you in the heavens, which you previously heard in the word of truth; the gospel.
  6. The gospel which is present in you, just as it’s also bearing fruit and growing in all the world as it also was among you from the day you heard and recognized the grace of God in truth.
  7. Just as you learned from Epaphras – our beloved fellow servant – who is a faithful servant of the Anointed on our behalf,
  8. and the man who revealed your ^love to us in the Spirit.
  9. And because of this, we don’t stop praying and asking for you from the day we heard, so you might be filled with accurate knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,
  10. for you to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing in everything and in every good work, bearing fruit and growing in the accurate knowledge of God;
  11. being empowered with all strength according to His glorious might, into all endurance and patience with joy;
  12. giving thanks to the Father; the One who made you fit for a portion of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
  13. He who rescued us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His ^beloved Son,
  14. in whom we have the repurchase payment1“repurchase payment” is one word in Greek, typically translated “redemption”.  It properly refers to the price paid to “buy back” something that had been lost. and the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus’ Authority
  1. He who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over2“firstborn over” In Jewish culture, “firstborn” was as much a title as an indication of birth order.  This can be seen in 1 Chronicles 26:10, 1 Chronicles 5:1, Genesis 48:17-20, and God Himself declares someone who was not born first to be His firstborn (of Israel) in Jeremiah 31:9.  Thus, “firstborn” can – and did – sometimes indicate rank among brothers instead of the birth order.  While Jesus wasn’t “born first” because He is uncreated, (John 1:1), Christians are called His “brothers” and this Jesus could rightly be called “firstborn” in the sense or preeminence and authority. This is consistent with its 1st century usage and immediate context of the passage. all creation,
  2. because all things in the heavens and on the earth were created in Him, the visible and the invisible; whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.
  3. And He is before all things and in Him all things *hold together.
  4. And He is the head of the body (the church) who is the beginning; the firstborn from the dead, so He might become the One having preeminence in all things,
  5. because it pleased God for all fullness to dwell in Him,
  6. and through Him to fully reconcile all things to Himself – whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens – having made peace through Him, through the blood of His cross.
  7. And you were formerly *alienated yourselves and enemies in your mind and wicked works,
  8. but now He fully reconciled you by His fleshly body through death, to present you holy and unblemished and blameless in His sight,
  9. if indeed you remain in the faith; firmly *established and steadfast, and not removing yourself from the hope of the gospel that you heard, the gospel which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I Paul became a minister.
The Mystery of the Gospel
  1. Now, I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and I fill up in my flesh what lacks in afflictions of the Anointed for the sake of His body, which is the church.
  2. Of which I became a servant according to the stewardship from God, which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;
  3. the mystery which has been concealed from the ages and from the generations, but now was revealed to His saints.
  4. To whom God willed to make known what is the glorious richness of this mystery among the gentiles, which is the Anointed in you; the hope of glory.
  5. He whom we proclaim; admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom so we might present every man perfect in the Anointed.
  6. And for this I exhaust myself working; striving according to His power, which works powerfully in me.

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Walk in the Lord
  1. For I want you to have known how great a struggle I have on behalf of you, and the men in Laodicea, and as many as haven’t seen my face in the flesh,
  2. so their hearts might be encouraged, having been knit together in ^love, even into all the wealth of the full assurance of understanding, to full knowledge of the mystery of God: the Anointed,
  3. in whom all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom are hidden.
  4. I say this so that no one uses false reasoning to mislead1“uses false reasoning to mislead” is one word in Greek, with that exact meaning. you by persuasive speech.
  5. For even if I’m absent in the flesh, yet I’m with you in spirit; rejoicing and seeing your order2“order” This Greek word is a military terms which refers to soldiers in a disciplined and orderly military formation. and the steadfastness of your faith in the Anointed.
  6. Therefore, just as you received the Anointed Lord Jesus, walk in Him:
  7. being firmly *rooted in Him, and being built up in Him, and being established in the faith just as you were taught, and overflowing in thanksgiving.
  8. Watch out, lest there will be someone carrying you off like spoils of war through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men or according to the principles of the world and not according to the Anointed,
  9. because all the fullness of Deity dwells bodily in Him.
  10. And you are *completed in Him who is the head of every ruler and authority,
  11. in whom also you were circumcised in a circumcision done without hands by the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of the Anointed,
  12. having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the work of God, the One who raised Him from the dead.
  13. And you – being dead in your missteps3“missteps”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) and carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. and the uncircumcision of your flesh – He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven all our missteps,
  14. having blotted out the handwriting in the decrees against us, which was hostile to us.  And He has removed it from our midst, having nailed it to the cross.
  15. And having completely disarmed the rulers and the authorities, He made a public show of them, having triumphed over4“having triumphed over” is one word in Greek.  It properly refers a victor parading around to celebrate their victory, and displaying the defeated enemy as part of the procession. them by the cross.
  16. Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you by your food and by your drink, or by your participation in a festival, or a new moon, or Sabbaths,
  17. which are a shadow of what’s about to happen; but the substance is of the Anointed.
  18. Let no one defraud you of your reward with a wrong judgement,5“defraud… …of your reward with a wrong judgement” Is one word in Greek.  It properly refers to an incorrect judgement call made by an umpire, referee, or arbiter which disqualifies someone, and hence robs them of their rightful prize or reward. delighting in false humility and the worship of angels, detailing what he has claimed to see; being vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
  19. and not holding fast to the Head; from whom all the body – being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments – grows in the growth from God.
  20. If you died with the Anointed to the elementary principles of the world, why do you submit yourselves to regulations as if living in the world –
  21. “don’t handle” and “don’t taste” and “don’t touch”
  22. (which are all things that perish with use) – according to the precepts and teachings of men?
  23. These things are indeed reported as having wisdom in self-made religion, and false humility, and severe treatment of the body – but have no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

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Colossians Chapter 3

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Seek the things above
  1. Therefore, if you were raised with the Anointed, seek the things above where the Anointed is: sitting at the right hand of God.
  2. Set your minds on the things above, not on the things on the earth.
  3. For you died and your life is *hidden with the Anointed in God.
  4. When the Anointed (who is your life) is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
  5. Therefore, put to death your earthly parts: fornication, impurity, depraved passion, wicked craving and covetousness (which is idolatry).
  6. Because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience,
  7. in which you also once walked when you were living in them.
  8. But now, you must also cast off all these things: wrath, outbursts of anger, malice, slander, and foul language from your mouth.
  9. Don’t lie to one another, having completely stripped off the old man with his practices
  10. and having clothed yourselves with the new man; the man being renewed in full knowledge according to the image of the One who created him,
  11. where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free; but the Anointed is all and in all.
  12. Therefore, clothe yourselves as God’s chosen, *^loved and holy, with inward compassion, benevolence, humility, gentle strength,1“gentle strength” is one word in Greek.  It comes from the root “pra-” which is typically translated “meek”  It more accurately refers to power that’s exercised gently, without harshness.  Our English word “meek” lacks the Greeks word’s blend of gentleness, reserve, and strength. and patience,
  13. bearing with one another and forgiving yourselves.  If anyone has a complaint against someone, then just as the Lord forgave you, in this way also you should forgive.
  14. Yet above all of these, clothe yourselves with ^love, which is a bond of maturity.
  15. And let the peace of the Anointed arbitrate2“arbitrate” This Greek word properly refers to someone acting as an umpire or referring in the games.  i.e. the one who acts as an arbiter, making a call when two sides are opposed. in your hearts, into which you were also called in one body.  Also, be thankful.
  16. Let the word of the Anointed dwell in you richly, teaching in all wisdom and admonishing yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing in grace to God in your hearts.
  17. And everything – whatever you might do in word or deed – do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus; giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Conduct for Christian households
  1. Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as was always fitting3“was always fitting” is one word in Greek, here in the imperfective tense indicating a continual and ongoing action in the past.  Some scholars say this refers to what has always been proper and thus should continue to be.  Some say Paul is appealing to prior practice to reinforce it in the present.  And yet others say that: “The past tense involved perhaps implies an essential (a priori) obligation” of what was “owed.” (J. B. Lightfoot; this idea is explicitly stated in 1 Corinthians 11:9-10) in the Lord.
  2. Husbands, ^love your wives and don’t be harsh or embittered4“harsh or embittered” is one word in Greek.  In the middle voice, it means to become embittered, in the passive voice it means to be harsh.  However, the middle and passive endings are the same for this particular Greek word, so either could’ve been intended and it’s likely that both were intended.  Therefore, both were included. toward them.
  3. Children obey your parents in all things, for this is pleasing in the Lord.
  4. Fathers, don’t provoke or exasperate your children to anger,5“provoke or exasperate… …to anger” is one word in Greek, with that exact meaning., so they won’t be broken in spirit.
  5. Slaves, obey your masters of flesh in all things.  Not only while the master watches6“only while the master watches” is one word in Greek, which literally means “eye-service”.  That is, only providing good service while the master watches. like people-pleasers do but in purity of heart, reverently fearing the Lord.
  6. Whatever you might do, work from the soul as for the Lord and not for men,
  7. *knowing that you will receive the reward of the inheritance from the Lord.  You serve our Lord the Anointed.
  8. For the man doing wrong will receive back for what he did wrong and there is no partiality.

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Colossians Chapter 4

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Continued instruction
  1. Masters, give your slaves what is right and fair, *knowing that you also have a master in heaven.
  2. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being alert in it with thanksgiving.
  3. At the same time, praying also for us so God might open a door for us to speak the word: the mystery of the Anointed (because of which I also have been bound),
  4. so I might make it clear as it’s necessary for me to speak.
  5. Walk in wisdom toward the men outside, taking full advantage of the opportune time
  6. with your speech always spoken in grace, *seasoned with salt, to *know how you ought to answer each one.
Personal Greetings
  1. The beloved brother, and faithful servant, and fellow slave in the Lord Tychicus will make known to you all the news in regard to me,
  2. whom I sent to you for the same purpose; so you may know the news about us, and so he may encourage your hearts,
  3. together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother who is one of you.  They will make known to you all the news here.
  4. My fellow prisoner Aristarchus greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; welcome him if he comes to you),
  5. and Jesus who is called Justus.  These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God from the men who are circumcised, who became a comfort to me.
  6. Epaphras (who is one of you) greets you; a slave of Jesus the Anointed who’s always striving for you in his prayers so you might stand mature and fully *convinced in all the will of God.
  7. For I testify about him, that he has much concern for you, and the men in Laodicea, and the men in Hierapolis.
  8. Luke, the beloved physician greets you, and also Demas.
  9. Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and also Nymphas and the church at [his]1“his” there is a textual variant on this verse centering on the pronoun, here translated “his”.  Some manuscripts read αὐτοῦ (his), some read αὐτῆς (her), and still others read αὐτῶν (singular neuter, so “it”).  The pronoun refers to Nymphas, which could either be a masculine name or a feminine name (Nympha) depending on the accent.  Unfortunately, manuscripts weren’t accented until centuries after the originals were lost, so that doesn’t help determine gender.  Manuscript evidence is divided.  The Majority Text supports the masculine reading, though the lateness of the manuscripts doesn’t make that conclusive.  Given the divided manuscript evidence, Majority Text support, and lexical definitions as masculine, a masculine pronoun was chosen. house.
  10. And when this letter is read in your presence, make it so this letter may also be read in the Laodiceans’ church, and so you also may read the letter from Laodicea.
  11. And tell Archippus: “See to the ministry that you received in the Lord, so you might complete it.”
  12. This greeting is by my hand – Paul.  Remember my chains.  Grace be with you.  [Amen]

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1 Thessalonians

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1 Thessalonians Chapter 1

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Greetings from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy
  1. Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus: grace to you and peace [from God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.]
  2. We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;
  3. unceasingly remembering your work of faith, and labor of ^love, and enduring hope in our Lord Jesus the Anointed before our God and Father.
  4. *Knowing of your election brothers (who have been ^loved by God),
  5. because our gospel didn’t come to you only in word but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much full assurance.  Just as you *know what we became among you, because of you;
  6. and you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having welcomed the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
  7. so you became an example to all the men believing in Macedonia and in Achaia.
  8. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth loud and clear1“has sounded forth loud and clear”  Is one word in Greek, here in the perfect tense.  It refers to a sound that “sounds forth”, either loudly or clearly.  Since both are possible meanings and it’s possible – even likely – that both were intended, both were included. from you.  Not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place that your faith toward God has gone out, so we have no need to say anything.
  9. For they report about us what kind of reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the true and living God,
  10. and to await His Son from the heavens – whom He raised from the dead – Jesus, the One delivering us from the coming wrath.

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1 Thessalonians Chapter 2

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The Ministry
  1. For brothers, you yourselves *know that our coming to you hasn’t been in vain.
  2. But having previously suffered and having been mistreated in Philippi, (just as you have known) we were bold in our God to speak the gospel of God to you amid much conflict.
  3. For our exhortation isn’t from error, nor from impurity, nor in deceit.
  4. But just as we have been tested and proved genuine by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak.  Not as pleasing men, but God, the One testing our hearts and proving them genuine.
  5. For neither were we ever found with a word of flattery (as you have known) nor with a pretense for greed (God is our witness),
  6. nor seeking glory from men, nor from you, nor from others; though being empowered to be burdensome as the Anointed’s apostles.
  7. but we became gentle in your midst, as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
  8. And affectionately desiring you this way, we were pleased to impart not only the gospel of God to you, but also our own souls1“soul” The Greek word here is “ψυχή” (psuché).  It does not mean the part of us which survives death and goes to reward or punishment (Biblically that’s our spirit.  In Revelation 8:9, animals are said to have “psuché”.)  Psuché literally means “breath” and is usually translated “life”.  It refers to the life; the vital force which – together with the body – enables a person to live.  It can also refer to mind, will, emotions, and desires, which together make up a person’s identity. because you became beloved to us.
  9. For brothers, you remember our laborious toil and hard labor.  While working night and day in order not to put a burden on any of you, we proclaimed the gospel of God to you.
  10. You are witnesses (and God too) of how devoutly, and righteously, and blamelessly we behaved toward you, the men believing.
  11. Just as you *know how (as a father to his own children)
  12. we were admonishing you, and encouraging you, and solemnly charging each one of you to walk in a manner worthy of God; the One calling you into His own kingdom and glory.
  13. And because of this, we also incessantly give thanks to God that having received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not like the word of men, but like it’s truly the word of God, which also works in you; the men believing.
  14. For brothers, you became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Jesus the Anointed, because you also suffered the same things as them from your own countrymen, just as they also did from the Jews.
  15. the men who also killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and drove us out.  And they’re not pleasing to God and are hostile to all men,
  16. hindering us and forbidding2“hindering us and forbidding” is one word in Greek, which can mean either or both depending on the context. us to speak to the gentiles (so they might be saved) to always complete the full measure of their sins.  But wrath came upon them until the end.
Paul wanting to see them
  1. But brothers, having been bereaved of you for a short time (in presence, not in heart) we were abundantly eager with great desire to see your face.
  2. Therefore, we wanted to come to you.  Indeed, I Paul tried both once and twice, and Satan hindered us.
  3. For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting?  Or is it not you also?  (Before our Lord Jesus at His coming.)
  4. For you are our glory and joy.

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1 Thessalonians Chapter 3

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Timothy’s Visit and Report
  1. Therefore, enduring it no longer, we were pleased to be left behind in Athens alone.
  2. And we sent Timothy – our brother and fellow worker of God in the gospel of the Anointed – to firmly strengthen you and to encourage you for the sake of your faith,
  3. so no one is shaken by these tribulations.  For you yourselves have known that we are destined for this.
  4. For even when we were with you, we were forewarning you that we’re about to suffer tribulation, just as it also came to pass, and you have known this.
  5. Enduring it no longer because of this, I also sent Timothy to ascertain your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor might become worthless.
  6. But now, Timothy came from you to us and announced to us the good news of your faith and ^love, and that you always have a good recollection of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you.
  7. Because of this brothers, we were encouraged about you in all our distress and tribulation through your faith.
  8. because now we live if you stand firm in the Lord.
  9. For what gratitude can we give to God about you on account of all the joy with which we rejoice before our God because of you,
  10. greatly imploring night and day for us to see your face and to supply the insufficiencies in your faith.
  11. And may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.
  12. And may the Lord make you abound and overflow in ^love for one another and for all men, just as we also do for you,
  13. in order to strengthen and establish1“strengthen and establish” is one word in Greek, which can mean either depending on the context. It literally means to “fix firmly”, with the idea of either setting something up in a firm position (establish) or adding support to make it firm (strengthen). your hearts as blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. [Amen]

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1 Thessalonians Chapter 4

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Walk to Please God
  1. Finally then brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus that just as you received from us how it’s necessary for you to walk and to please God (just as you also walk now), so you should overflow more,
  2. for you *know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
  3. For this is the will of God: that you become holy, you are to keep far away1“to keep far away” is one word in Greek.  It also contains the sense of gaining something else because you have discarded the old thing. from fornication,
  4. and each of you is to *know how to purchase2“to purchase” is literal.  It’s one word in Greek meaning to acquire or to obtain, with the very strong implication of purchasing.  This exact same word in the exact same form is used in Acts 8:20, where Simon the sorcerer wished “to purchase” God’s gift with money.  It was sometimes used of “acquiring” a wife in marriage by paying a bride price to her father; see note on verse 6.  (For this usage, see Ruth 4:10 in the Septuagint and in the apocryphal book Sirach 36:29.)  Some contend it means “to possess” here, in the sense of “gain mastery over”.  However, the word only means “to possess” when in the perfect tense, and it’s not in the perfect tense here, nor anywhere else in the New testament.  Further, the Greek word for “vessel” is also used in 1 Peter 3:7 referencing wives (“the weaker vessel“), and it was used in reference to wives in other writings as well.  The word “weaker” was added (in italics to indicate a translator addition) to make the reference to wives clear.  It’s worth noting that the Greek word translated “fornication” in the previous verse can also refer “whoredom” in the sense of prostitution. Thus, Paul could be drawing a parallel between paying for fornication/prostitution vs. legitimately acquiring a wife. a weaker vessel3weaker vessel” See previous note for himself in holiness and honor,
  5. not in lustful passion just as even the gentiles do (not *knowing God),
  6. and not to defraud and to take advantage of his brother in the matter4“matter”.  This Greek word generally refers to anything which a person does; i.e. his affairs or deeds.  It can also refer to business affairs.  Given the context of verse 4, some say this refers to Christians paying a bride price to “purchase” a wife from her father (see note on verse 4) who is a fellow Christian and thus a “brother”.  (Their rational being verse 4, 1 Corinthians 7:36-38, Exodus 22:16-17, and Numbers 30:3-5; their assumption in Numbers 30 being that even marriage vows can be annulled). because the Lord is an avenger concerning all these things, just as we also forewarned you and solemnly testified.
  7. (For God didn’t call us to impurity, but in holiness.)
  8. Consequently, the man rejecting this doesn’t reject man, but God, the One also giving His Holy Spirit to you.
  9. But concerning brotherly love, you have no need for me to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to ^love one another.
  10. For you also do the same for all the brothers in the whole of Macedonia.  Yet brothers, we encourage you to overflow more,
  11. and to eagerly seek to live a quiet life,5“to live a quiet life” is one word in Greek.  It refers to those who aren’t “running hither and thither” (Thayer’s) but instead are restful and mind their own business. and to attend to your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, just as we commanded you,
  12. so you might walk properly toward the men outside the church and so no one might have a need.
The Lord’s Return
  1. Now brothers, we don’t want you to be ignorant about the men sleeping so you won’t be grieved even as the rest are (the men not having hope).
  2. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in this way also, God will bring with Him the men who fell asleep through Jesus.
  3. For we declare this to you by a word from the Lord, that we – the men living and remaining until the coming of the Lord – definitely won’t precede the men who fell asleep,
  4. because the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a commanding shout – with the voice of an archangel and with God’s trumpet – and the dead in the Anointed will rise first.
  5. Afterwards we – the men living and remaining – will be snatched up together with them in the clouds and meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
  6. So then, encourage one another with these words.

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1 Thessalonians Chapter 5

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The Lord’s Day
  1. But concerning the times and the seasons brothers, you have no need for me to write to you.
  2. For you yourselves have accurately known that the Lord’s day comes in this way: like a thief in the night.
  3. When they say: “Peace and security” then destruction comes upon them suddenly, like labor pains of a woman having a child in her womb; and they definitely won’t escape.
  4. But brothers, you aren’t in darkness that the day might seize you like a thief.
  5. For you’re all sons of light and sons of day.  We aren’t of night nor of darkness.
  6. So therefore we shouldn’t sleep like the rest of them, but we should watch and be sober.
  7. For the men sleeping, sleep at night; and the men becoming drunk are drunk at night.
  8. But we – being of the day – should be sober, having clothed ourselves with the breastplate of faith and ^love, and the helmet of the hope of salvation,
  9. because God didn’t appoint us for wrath, but for obtainment of salvation through our Lord Jesus the Anointed,
  10. the One who died on our account, so whether we watch or we sleep, we might live together with Him.
  11. Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also do.
Proper Christian Conduct
  1. Now brothers, we ask you to *notice the men toiling among you, and leading you in the Lord, and admonishing you;
  2. and to greatly esteem them in ^love because of their work.  Be at peace among yourselves.
  3. And we encourage you brothers: admonish the disorderly,1“disorderly” This Greek word refers to someone who isn’t living in the proper “appointed order”.  It was used of soldiers who wouldn’t remain in formation and of people who deviated from the proper way of life. encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
  4. See that no one repays anyone evil in exchange for evil, but always pursue good to one another and to all.
  5. Rejoice always.
  6. Pray without ceasing.
  7. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus the Anointed.
  8. Don’t quench the Spirit.
  9. Don’t disregard or despise2“disregard or despise” is one word in Greek.  It means to ignore something or to treat it as being of no value/worth.  In the latter sense, it also carries the connotation of treating it contemptuously. prophecies.
  10. And examine all things; hold fast to the good.
  11. Keep far away from every form of evil.
Final Blessing
  1. Now may the God of peace Himself make you completely holy; and may your spirit, and soul, and body be wholly preserved; blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus the Anointed.
  2. The One calling you is faithful, who will also make it happen.
  3. Brothers, pray for us.
  4. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
  5. I solemnly charge you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
  6. The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with you.  [Amen]

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2 Thessalonians

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2 Thessalonians Chapter 1

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Greetings from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy
  1. Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
  2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
  3. We’re obligated to thank God always concerning you brothers, just as is fitting because your faith increases beyond measure, and the ^love of all – of each one of you – abounds to one another.
  4. So then we ourselves can boast of you in the churches of God; for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you bear.
Righteous judgement
  1. This is undeniable proof of the righteous judgement of God, for you to be deemed worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer,
  2. since indeed it’s righteous for God to repay the men afflicting you with affliction.
  3. And you (the men being afflicted) will rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
  4. delivering avenging justice1“avenging justice” is one word in Greek, often translated “vengeance” here.  It comes from two words, the first meaning “out from” and the second meaning “justice” or “judge”.  It properly refers to “meeting out justice as judgement” especially to avenge a wrongdoing.  It focuses on the righteousness of the judgement, not a personal sense of revenge. on the men not *knowing God and on the men not obediently listening to the gospel of our Lord Jesus,
  5. They will suffer the sentence of their verdict: the ruin of ages,2“ruin of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the magnitude of the ruin, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal destruction” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?”  Virtually all lexicons define αἰών (the noun form) as “age”, but some want to change the adjective form’s meaning to “eternal” instead of “age-long” or “of ages”.  This despite “of ages” conveying a similar – and more literally accurate – meaning. away from the Lord’s presence and away from the glory of His power,
  6. when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at by all the men who believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
  7. For which we also always pray concerning you, that He might deem you worthy of the calling of our God, and He might fulfill every delight of goodness and faithful work in power,
  8. so the name of our Lord Jesus might be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Anointed Lord Jesus.

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2 Thessalonians Chapter 2

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The Day of the Lord
  1. Now brothers, we implore you concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus the Anointed and our assembling together to Him,
  2. for you not to be quickly shaken nor to be troubled in your mind, not even by a spirit, nor by a word, nor by a letter (as if from us), as saying that the day of the Lord is already *here.
  3. No one should deceive you in any way, because it won’t come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness – the son of destruction – is revealed,
  4. the man opposing and exalting himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so as for him to sit down in the temple of God, falsely demonstrating that he himself is God.
  5. Don’t you remember that while still being with you, I was saying these things to you?
  6. And now you *know the thing restraining him, for he is to be revealed in his proper time.
  7. For the mystery of lawlessness already works; only the man restraining it presently hinders it until he might be taken from the midst.
  8. And then the lawless man will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and will bring to nothing by His appearance at His coming,
  9. The lawless man who’s coming in the work of Satan in all power, and signs, and false wonders,
  10. and in every unrighteous deceit for the men perishing because they didn’t welcome the ^love of the truth in order for them to be saved.
  11. And because of this, God sends an effective delusion on them, for them to believe the lie,
  12. so that all the men who didn’t believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness might be judged.
Stand Firm
  1.  But we’re obligated to thank God always concerning you brothers, *^loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation by becoming holy through the Spirit and by faith in the truth,
  2. into which He also called you through our gospel, for obtainment of the glory of our Lord Jesus the Anointed.
  3. So then brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions which you were taught, whether through word or through letter from us.
  4. And our Lord Jesus the Anointed Himself, and God our Father – the One who ^loved us and gave us the comforting encouragement of ages and good hope by grace –
  5. may He encourage your hearts and may He strengthen you in every work and good word.

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2 Thessalonians Chapter 3

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A Prayer Request
  1. Finally brothers, pray for us; that the word of the Lord might spread quickly and be glorified, just as it also was with you,
  2. and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked men, for not all are of the faith.
  3. But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and keep you from the evil one.
  4. And we are *confident in the Lord concerning you, that you both are doing and will do the things we command.
  5. And may the Lord direct your hearts into the ^love of God and into the patient endurance of the Anointed.
Those who walk improperly
  1. Now brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, we command you to withdraw yourself from every brother walking improperly1“improperly” This Greek word refers to living one’s life in a manner that’s disorderly or unruly in the sense of being insubordinate or rebellious.  i.e. living life outside of God’s appointed order and guidelines.  It comes from a military term which means to step out of rank. and not according to the tradition that you received from us.
  2. For you yourselves *know how it’s necessary to imitate us, because we weren’t behaving improperly2“behaving improperly” see note on previous verse. among you.
  3. Nor did we eat bread from anyone without payment, but in laborious toil and wearisome labor we were working day and night in order not to burden any of you.
  4. Not that we don’t have a right, but so we might offer ourselves as an example to you, for you to imitate us.
  5. For even when we were with you, we were commanding this to you: that if anyone isn’t willing to work, let him not eat either.
  6. For we hear that some among you are walking improperly; working at nothing, but being busybodies.3“being busybodies” is one word in Greek.  It refers to those who don’t “waste their labor” by attending to other’s business, or by working at trifling, useless matters instead of to what’s important.
  7. Now, we command and admonish such men by the Anointed Lord Jesus, so that working in a tranquil life,4“a tranquil life” is one word in Greek.  It refers to those who aren’t “running hither and thither” (Thayer’s) but instead are restful and mind their own business. they may eat their own bread.
  8. And brothers, you shouldn’t grow weary of doing good.
  9. But if anyone doesn’t obey our word by letter, take note of this man and don’t socialize with him so he might turn from his ways in shame.5“he might turn from his ways in shame” is one word in Greek.  It means to turn from something in shame, with the idea of rethinking what they have been doing because of the shame.
  10. Yet don’t think of him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Closing
  1. Now, may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace in every way through everything.  The Lord be with you all.
  2. This greeting is in my hand – Paul, which is my mark of authenticity in every letter.  I write in this manner.
  3. The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with all of you.  [Amen]

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1 Timothy

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1 Timothy Chapter 1

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Greeting and Warning about False Teaching
  1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus the Anointed according to the command of God our savior and of Jesus the Anointed, our hope;
  2. To Timothy, my true1“true” This Greek word more precisely means “legitimate” or “genuine”, sometimes with the sense of being dear because of this. It was used of a child born inside of wedlock, who was thus a “legitimate” child. child in the faith; grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Jesus the Anointed, our Lord.
  3. Just as I urged you to remain in Ephesus before traveling into Macedonia, so you should solemnly charge some men not to teach other doctrines,
  4. nor to pay attention to fables and endless genealogies, which bring meaningless controversies rather than the stewardship of God, the stewardship by faith.
  5. And the goal of this instruction is ^love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
  6. From which some – having missed the mark – were turned away to worthless discussion,
  7. wanting to be teachers of the law but not understanding, neither what they say nor about what they confidently assert.
  8. Yet we *know that the law is good if someone uses it lawfully,
  9. *knowing this: that the law isn’t laid down for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and profane, the patricidal and matricidal, murderers,
  10. fornicators, men who sleep with other men,2“men who sleep with other men” is one word in Greek.  It literally means “a man in bed with another man“, but is more properly “a man engaging in sexual activity with another man“.  Male homosexuality is also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9 (using the same word in a similar list), in Romans 1:27 by description, and in Leviticus 18:22, and Leviticus 20:13.  Male homosexuality is always considered wicked in the Bible.  In the Law, it was one of only three sexual sins which warranted the death penalty, the other two being adultery (a man having sex with another man’s wife) and bestiality. slavers and kidnappers,3“slavers and kidnappers” is one word in Greek.  It properly refers to those who kidnap people and sell them into slavery. liars, perjurers, and any other thing which opposes sound teaching,
  11. according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.
  12. I have gratitude for the One who strengthened me – the Anointed Jesus our Lord – that He considered me faithful, having appointed me to service,
  13. though formerly being a blasphemer and a persecutor and violently insolent.  But I was shown mercy because – being ignorant – I did it in unbelief.
  14. But the grace of our Lord greatly abounded with faith and ^love, which are in Jesus the Anointed.
  15. The saying is trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance: that Jesus the Anointed came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
  16. But I was shown mercy because of this, so that in me (the chief sinner) Jesus the Anointed might prove His perfect patience as an example to the men about to believe in Him for the life of ages.4“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?”.
  17. Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God; be honor and glory through the ages of the ages.5“to the ages of the ages” is literal, often translated “forever and ever”.  However, the traditional interpretation lacks the past element of a more literal translation.  Further, the Greek word often translated “forever” here (αἰών, “aion”) literally means “age”, meaning a time span with a beginning and an end.  It’s also used in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the culmination (end) of the age?”  Amen.
  18. I entrust this charge to you my child Timothy – according to the preceding prophecies concerning you – that by them you might wage the good war,
  19. having faith and a good conscience which some – having cast it away – shipwrecked concerning the faith.
  20. Among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so they might be taught through punishment6“they might be taught through punishment” is one word in Greek.  It specifically refers to the training of children by “chastisement”; i.e. punishments/discipline to train them to behave correctly. not to blaspheme.

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1 Timothy Chapter 2

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Pray for all
  1. First of all therefore, I urge intercessions, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings to be made on behalf of all men;
  2. for kings and all the men being in authority so we might lead a tranquil and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity.
  3. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior,
  4. who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
  5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men; the man Jesus the Anointed,
  6. the One who gave Himself as a full repurchase price1“full repurchase price” is one word in Greek, typically translated ransom.  The root refers to the price paid to free a slave. for all; the testimony given in their own fitting times.
  7. To which I was appointed a herald and an apostle – I speak the truth; I don’t lie – a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth.
  8. Therefore, I long for the men in every place to pray; raising holy hands without anger and dissension.
Concerning Women
  1. Likewise also, women are to adorn themselves in respectable apparel with reserve2“reserve” is literally “shamefacedness” in the sense of turning from what is unbecoming because it’s shameful. and self-control; not in braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or expensive clothing;
  2. but in what is proper for women professing fear of God through good works.
  3. A woman must learn in tranquil silence,3“tranquil silence” is one word in Greek.  It denotes an inner calm and reserve which is expressed by outward action.  It’s used four times in the Bible: this verse, the following verse, in Acts 22:2 (denoting “silence”), and in 2 Thessalonians 3:12 referring to leading a “tranquil life”. in all submission.
  4. But I don’t permit a woman to teach nor to have authority over a man but to be in tranquil silence.4“tranquil silence” see note on previous verse
  5. For Adam was formed first, and then Eve.
  6. And Adam wasn’t deceived; but having been thoroughly deceived, the woman has come into transgression.
  7. Yet she will be saved through childbearing,5“she will be saved through childbearing” This almost certainly does not indicate that women somehow attain salvation through giving birth to children.  It is likely Paul dealing with Gnosticism, which was a huge problem as early as Paul’s day.  The Gnostics believed in an physical vs spiritual dualism, elevating the spiritual and deriding the physical.  As a consequence, some Gnostics forbade marriage (as in 1 Timothy 4:3).  They also had some strange ideas about the creation, with some believing that Eve was created first or that Adam, not Eve, was deceived (which Paul corrected in verses 13 and 14 respectively).  Some of the more extreme Gnostics believed that since the earthly/fleshly was wicked, having children was wicked/sinful, some even to the point of saying it endangered salvation.  It’s likely Paul was correcting this error, saying that women will be saved “through childbearing”, in the sense of “you can be saved while bearing children” because it’s not a sin, not that childbearing itself would save them. if they6“they” the switch here from singular (“she”) in the first half of the verse to plural (“they”) is accurate to the Greek. remain in faith, and ^love, and holiness with self-control.

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1 Timothy Chapter 3

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Qualifications for Overseers
  1. This saying is trustworthy: if any man aspires to an overseer’s office,1“an overseer’s office” is one word in Greek which comes from a Greek word meaning “to stare intently”.  While our English word “overseer” focuses on authority, the Greek word focuses on “keeping an eye on” those allotted to your charge in the sense of caring for them. he longs for a good work.
  2. Therefore, it’s required for an overseer to be above reproach, a married man who isn’t promiscuous,2“a married man who isn’t promiscuous” is more literally “a one woman man”.  Because the Greek word for “man” can also mean “husband”, and since “woman” can also mean “wife”, many take this to mean “husband of one wife”.  However, that’s impossible because of 1 Timothy 5:9, which (using the same words) speaks of widows “*being a one man woman”.  See note on that verse.  A widow by definition can’t be the “wife of one husband” because her husband is dead.  Others have suggested this is a prohibition on second marriages, but Paul explicitly allows remarriage in 1 Corinthians 7.  Still others have suggested this is a prohibition on polygamy, but this is extremely unlikely because polygamy was already a serious criminal offense in the Roman Empire (our word “romantic” originally meant “to be like the Romans”; i.e. monogamous.)  Despite the Roman aversion to more than one wife, they embraced the practice of extra-marital lovers for both men and women.  Thus the phrase “one woman man” was an idiom, probably borrowed from the Latin “univera” (“one man”, which was used on Roman gravestones to indicate a woman who’d never had sex outside of marriage) and applied to men.  Further: this list would contain no prohibition on sexual sins if “one woman man” isn’t an idiom.  The idiom implies the man is married, but doesn’t guarantee it; again, see footnote on 1 Timothy 5:9. temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, willing and able to teach,
  3. not given to wine, not pugnacious, but gentle and just3“gentle and just” is one word in Greek.  It refers to a sense of justice that isn’t strict in the sense of the letter of the law, but it conforms to the spirit of the law instead.  Thus, it’s “gentle” in its application., peaceable, without the love of money,
  4. managing his own house well, having his children in submission with all dignity,
  5. (but if a man doesn’t *know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of a church of God?)
  6. and not a new convert, so he doesn’t become puffed up and fall into judgement like the Accuser.
  7. And it’s also required for him to have a good reputation from men outside the church so he might not fall to slander and a snare of the Accuser.
Qualifications for Deacons
  1. Likewise, deacons must be dignified, not double-tongued, not turning to much wine, not fond of dishonest gain,
  2. but holding to the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
  3. And let these men also be tested first, then let them serve after being found blameless.
  4. (Likewise, women must be dignified, temperate, not slanderous, and faithful in all things.)
  5. Deacons must be a married man who isn’t promiscuous,4“a married man who isn’t promiscuous” see note on verse 2. managing their children and their own households well.
  6. For the men who served well acquire good standing for themselves and much confidence in the faith; the faith in Jesus the Anointed.
Why Paul wrote
  1. I write these things to you, hoping to come to you in haste.
  2. But I wrote so if I delay, you might *know how it’s required to conduct yourself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God; a pillar and support of the truth.
  3. And as all agree: great is the mystery of godliness; He who was revealed in the flesh, declared righteous in the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in the world, and was taken up in glory.

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1 Timothy Chapter 4

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Apostasy in later times
  1. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to misleading spirits and doctrines of demons,
  2. through the hypocrisy of liars; *searing their own conscience so they can’t feel it.1“*searing…  …so they can’t feel it” is one word in Greek.  It means to sear something with branding iron, which results in the flesh being rendered unfeeling/insensate,
  3. forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God created for reception with thanksgiving by the faithful men who also *know the truth.
  4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing being received with thanksgiving is worthy of being rejected,
  5. for it’s made holy through the word of God and prayer.
Godly Behavior
  1. In laying these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Jesus the Anointed, being nourished by the words of the faith, and of the good teaching that you have closely followed.
  2. But avoid profane fables and old wives’ myths,2“old wives’ myths” is two words in Greek.  The first is an adjective meaning “of, or relating to old women” and the second means a tale, myth, or fable.” but rather strenuously train3“strenuously train” is one word in Greek.  It literally means to train naked or in a loincloth, and was used of athletes who trained themselves for the Olympic games, which were conducted clad thus.  Figuratively – as it’s used here – it means to constantly train with rigorous effort and practice. yourself in godliness.
  3. For the exercise of bodily denial for spiritual growth4“exercise of… …denial for spiritual growth” Is one word in Greek.  It properly refers to denying the body for the purpose of attaining “enlightenment” or spiritual growth.  This was a core tenant of Asceticism, which grew out of Gnosticism.  From this letter, both seemed to be a problem in the early church. is of little benefit, but godliness is beneficial for all things, holding a promise of life in the present and in the time about to come.
  4. The saying is trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance.
  5. For we toil and strive for this, because we *hope in the living God, who is the savior of all men, especially of believers.
  6. Command and teach these things.
  7. Let no one disdain your youth,5“youth” This Greek word could be used of men up until they were forty years old.  1 Timothy was written 14 years after Timothy started traveling with Paul in Acts 16:1.  Even if Timothy was only 16 in Acts 16:1, he would’ve been 30 when this letter was written.  If Timothy was a bit older – which is likely – he would’ve been in his mid or late 30s when this letter was written. but become a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in ^love, in faith, and in purity.
  8. Until I come, pay attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.
  9. Don’t neglect the gift in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the body of elders.
  10. Diligently ponder these things; be absorbed in them so your progress might be apparent to all.
  11. Pay attention to yourself and to the teaching; remain in them.  For in doing this, you will save both yourself and the men hearing you.

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1 Timothy Chapter 5

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Godly Behavior (Continued)
  1. Don’t rebuke an older man, but encouragingly reprove him as a father, and younger men as brothers,
  2. older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters in all purity.
Concerning Widows
  1. Honor widows who are truly widows.
  2. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to be pious to their own household and to give back recompense to their widowed ancestors; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
  3. Now, the woman who’s truly a widow and has been left alone *hopes in God and continues with petitions and prayers night and day.
  4. But the woman living extravagantly has died while living.
  5. And command these things so they might be above reproach.
  6. But if any man doesn’t provide for his own, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
  7. Let a widow be enrolled who’s not less than sixty years old; *being a woman who isn’t promiscuous,1“*being a woman who isn’t promiscuous” is more literally “having been – and being – a one man woman”, typically translated “having been the wife of one husband.” However, the Greek verb typically translated “having been” (translated “*being” in the BOS Bible) is in the perfect tense, which is (sort of) a combination of our past and present tenses.  It indicates action which is completed in the past and results in an ongoing state in the present.  By definition, a widow cannot remain in the state of being the “wife of one husband” in the present because – by definition – a widow isn’t married and thus doesn’t have a husband.  The phrase “one man woman” was an idiom referring to a woman who wasn’t promiscuous.  It almost certainly comes from the Latin phrase “univera” (“one man”) which was used on Roman gravestones to indicate a woman who’d never had sex outside of marriage.  See also the note on 1 Timothy 3:2.
  8. who’s bearing witness in good works, if she brought up children, if she was hospitable to strangers, if she washed the saints’ feet, if she gave aid to those being oppressed, if she pursued every good work.
  9. But refuse to enroll younger widows.  For when their sensual desires grow contrary to the Anointed, they want to marry,
  10. incurring judgement because they cast aside their first faith.
  11. And at the same time, they also learn to be lazy; going about to various houses.  And they’re not only lazy, but also foolish babblers and meddling busybodies saying improper things.
  12. Therefore, I’m resolved that younger women are to marry, to bear children, to manage their household, and to give the one opposing us no opportunity for slander on their account.
  13. For some of these women already turned away after Satan.
  14. If any believing woman has dependent widows, let her give aid to them and don’t let the church be burdened, so the church might give aid to those who are truly widows.
Concerning Elders and Various Instructions
  1. Let the elders who *lead well be deemed worthy of double honor, especially the men laboriously toiling in the word and in teaching.
  2. For the scripture says: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it’s treading out grain.”2quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 25:4 And: “The workman is worthy of his wages.”3“The workman is worthy of his wages.” Isn’t a quotation/allusion of any specific verse in the Old Testament, but it’s direct quote of Luke 10:7.  This could be Paul saying (indirectly) that Luke’s gospel was inspired by God, and thus is scripture.
  3. Don’t accept an accusation against an elder except by two or three witnesses.
  4. But rebuke the men sinning in the sight of all, so the rest might also have fear of sin.
  5. I solemnly charge you in the sight of God, and Jesus the Anointed, and the chosen angels, that you might keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing from partiality.
  6. Lay hands on no one hastily, nor share in the sins of others.  Keep yourself pure.
  7. No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
  8. The sins of some men are obvious now, going before them into judgement.  But also, some men’s sins appear later.
  9. Likewise also, good works are obvious; and men having works that are otherwise aren’t able to be concealed.

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1 Timothy Chapter 6

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Various instructions (Continued)
  1. However many are under a yoke as slaves, let them consider their own masters worthy of all honor so the name of God and our teaching won’t be blasphemed.
  2. Now, let the men having believing masters not despise them because they are brothers.  But rather, let them serve because the men being helped by their good service are believers and beloved.  Teach and encourage these things.
  3. If someone teaches another doctrine and doesn’t agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus the Anointed and with the teaching conforming to godliness,
  4. he is *puffed up; understanding nothing but having an unhealthy interest concerning controversies and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, slanders, evil suspicions,
  5. and perverse disputes; ruinously *corrupting men in mind and *defrauding them of the truth, supposing godliness to be a means of gain.
  6. But godliness with contentment is a means of great gain.
  7. For we brought nothing into the world, so nor can we carry anything out of it.
  8. But if we have food and clothes; we will be content with these.
  9. But the men strongly desiring to become rich fall into temptation, and a trap, and many foolish and harmful cravings which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
  10. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils, which in aspiring for it, some were led astray from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
  11. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, ^love, endurance, and gentle strength.
  12. Fight the good fight of the faith.  Seize the life of ages1“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?”. into which you were called, and confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
  13. I charge you in the sight of God (the One giving life to all things), and Jesus the Anointed (the One who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate),
  14. you are to keep the commandment without blemish and above reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus the Anointed,
  15. which He will display in His own time: the blessed and only ruler – the King of the men being kings and the Lord of the men being lords.
  16. the One alone having immortality and dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no one among men saw, nor is able to see; to whom be honor and the dominion of ages.  Amen.
  17. To the rich in the present age; instruct them not to be arrogant nor to *trust in the uncertainty of riches but in God; the One richly providing us with all things for enjoyment.
  18. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
  19. storing up for themselves a good foundation for what is about to come, so they might seize the life which is truly life.
  20. O Timothy, keep the deposit entrusted to you, turning away from profane, worthless babblings and contradictions that are falsely called knowledge,
  21. which in professing them, some went astray from the faith.  Grace be with you. [Amen]

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2 Timothy

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2 Timothy Chapter 1

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Greeting and Encouragement
  1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus the Anointed through God’s will, according to the promise of life in Jesus the Anointed,
  2. to my beloved child Timothy: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Jesus the Anointed our Lord.
  3. I am thankful to God (whom I serve with a pure conscience as my ancestors did) as I unceasingly have remembrance of you in my prayers night and day,
  4. *remembering your tears, longing to see you so I might be filled with joy,
  5. having received remembrance of the sincere faith in you, which first dwelled in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice.  And I am *persuaded that it’s also in you.
  6. For this reason, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
  7. For God didn’t give us a spirit of cowardly timidity, but of power, and ^love, and self-control.
  8. Therefore, you shouldn’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord (nor of me, His prisoner) but suffer with me for the gospel according to the power of God,
  9. the One who saved us and called us with a holy calling.  Not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us by Jesus the Anointed before the time1“time” literally: “times” of the ages.
  10. And now having been revealed through the appearance of our savior Jesus the Anointed having indeed abolished death and having illuminated life and immortality through the gospel,
  11. of which I was appointed a herald, and an apostle, and a teacher.
  12. I also suffer these things for this reason, but I’m not ashamed.  For I *know in whom I *believe, and I’m *persuaded that He’s able to keep my deposit until that day.
  13. Hold fast to the example of sound words which you heard from me, in the faith and ^love which are in Jesus the Anointed.
  14. Keep the good deposit entrusted to you through the Holy Spirit; the One dwelling in us.
  15. You *know this: that all the men in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
  16. May the Lord give mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and wasn’t ashamed of my chain.
  17. But having been in Rome, he earnestly searched for me and found me.
  18. May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord in that day!  And you know very well how much he served in Ephesus too.

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2 Timothy Chapter 2

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Be Strengthened
  1. So you my child, be strengthened by the grace which is in Jesus the Anointed.
  2. And what you heard from me among many witnesses, entrust these things to faithful men who will also be fit to teach others.
  3. Suffer with me as a good soldier of Jesus the Anointed.
  4. No one serving as a soldier entangles himself in the affairs of life so he might please the man who enlisted him.
  5. And also, if someone competes as an athlete, he isn’t crowned victorious unless he competes lawfully.
  6. It’s proper for the farmer toiling to partake of the first fruits.
  7. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.
  8. Remember Jesus the Anointed, from the seed of David, has been raised from the dead according to my gospel,
  9. by which I suffer evil, even to being bound in chains like a criminal; but the word of God hasn’t been bound.
  10. Because of this, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so they also might obtain the salvation in Jesus the Anointed with the glory of ages.
  11. The saying is trustworthy: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him.
  12. If we endure, we will also reign with Him.  If we will deny Him, He will also deny us.
  13. If we’re unfaithful, He remains faithful; for He isn’t able to deny Himself.
  14. Remind them of these things, solemnly charging them in the sight of God not to quarrel about words, which is profitable for nothing except the ruin of the men hearing it.
An approved workman
  1. Be zealous to present yourself to God as an approved workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
  2. But avoid profane, worthless babblings for they will lead to more ungodliness
  3. and their talk will have growth like gangrene.  Among whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
  4. who went astray concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened and they overthrow the faith of some.
  5. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God *stands, having this seal: “The Lord knew the men being His”, and: “Everyone calling on the name of the Lord must depart from unrighteousness”.
  6. Now, in a great house there aren’t only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and clay vessels.  And indeed, some are for honor, but some for dishonor.
  7. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor; having been made holy, useful to the Master, and having been prepared for every good work.
  8. And flee youthful cravings and pursue righteousness, faith, ^love, and peace with the men calling on the name of the Lord from a pure heart.
  9. But shun foolish and ignorant controversies, *knowing that they give birth to quarrels.
  10. Now, it’s not proper for a slave of the Lord to quarrel, but to be gentle toward all, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
  11. correcting the men opposing us in gentle strength, lest at some time God might give them repentance for knowledge of the truth,
  12. and they might recover their senses, coming out of the snare of the Accuser after having been *captured by him to do his will.

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2 Timothy Chapter 3

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The last days
  1. But realize this: trying times will come in the last days.
  2. For men will be selfish lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters1“boasters” this Greek word properly refers to someone who makes boastful, fantastic claims but can’t follow through.  Therefore, they constantly seek a new audience because their old audience loses interest when they realize the man is full of empty words. arrogant, slanderous blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
  3. without familial affection, not willing to make peace, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
  4. betrayers, reckless, *puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
  5. having a form of godliness but *denying its power.  And turn away from men such as these.
  6. For from these are the men creeping into houses and captivating foolish women *burdened with sins, being led astray by various cravings;
  7. always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
  8. And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth; Men who are utterly *depraved in mind, falling the test2“falling the test” is one word in Greek.  It was used of counterfeit coins which were tested and “failed the test” to see if they were genuine. concerning the faith.
  9. But they won’t advance much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to all, as the foolishness of those two also became obvious.
All Scripture is God-breathed
  1. But you closely followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, forbearance, ^love, endurance,
  2. persecutions, sufferings, such as happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra; such persecutions I endured!  And the Lord delivered me from all of them.
  3. And also, all the men desiring to live devoutly in Jesus the Anointed will be persecuted.
  4. But wicked men and swindling imposters will blaze a trail3“blazing a trail” is one word in Greek with that exact meaning.  The Greek word refers to a pioneer cutting through brushwood to create a path, exactly like the English idiom “blaze a trail” to worse; leading some astray and being led astray.
  5. But you: abide in what you learned and were assured of, *knowing which men you learned them from,
  6. and that from infancy you have known the sacred writings, the ones able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus the Anointed.
  7. All scripture is God-breathed and useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
  8. so the man of God might be prepared; having been fully equipped for every good work.

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2 Timothy Chapter 4

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Preach the Word
  1. I solemnly charge you in the sight of God and Jesus the Anointed – the One about to judge the living and the dead – and by His appearing and by His kingdom:
  2. preach the word.  Be ready in season and out of season: convict with evidence, rebuke, and admonish in all patience and instruction.
  3. For there will be a time when they won’t endure sound teaching.  But with an itching ear they will gather heaps of teachers to themselves according to their own cravings,
  4. and they will indeed turn away from hearing the truth and will be turned aside to myths.
  5. But you: be sober in all things, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fully complete your ministry.
  6. For I’m already poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is *at hand.
  7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
  8. From now on, a crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord – the righteous judge – will repay to me in that day.  And not only to me, but also to all the men who have ^loved His appearing.
Final instructions and greetings
  1. Make haste to come to me quickly,
  2. for having ^loved the present age, Demas deserted me and went to Thessalonica.  Crescens went to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia.
  3. Only Luke is with me.  And having taken Mark along, bring him with yourself for he’s useful to me in the ministry.
  4. But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
  5. Bring the cloak that I left behind in Troas with Carpus when you come, and the books, especially the parchments.
  6. Alexander the coppersmith did much harm to me.  The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
  7. whom also you must watch carefully, for he greatly opposed our words.
  8. No one was beside me in my first defense, but all deserted me.  May it not be counted against them.
  9. Yet the Lord stood beside me and strengthened me, so that through me, the proclamation might be fully accomplished and all the gentiles might hear.  And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
  10. The Lord will deliver me from every wicked deed and will preserve me for His heavenly kingdom; to whom be the glory through the ages of the ages.  Amen.
  11. Greet Prisca1“Prisca” is a more familiar, diminutive form of Priscilla.  It was likely a nickname. and Aquila, also the household of Onesiphorus.
  12. Erastus remained in Corinth.  And with Trophimus being sick, I left him in Miletus.
  13. Make haste to come before winter.  Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers.
  14. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.  [Amen]

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Titus

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Titus Chapter 1

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Greeting
  1. Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus the Anointed according to the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth; the truth according to godliness,
  2. in the hope of the life of ages1“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?” which God – who cannot lie – promised before the time2“time” literally: “times” of the ages,
  3. and revealed His word in His own seasons by the proclamation with which I was entrusted, according to the commandment of God our savior.
  4. To Titus, my true3“true” This Greek word more precisely means “legitimate” or “genuine”, sometimes with the sense of being dear because of this. It was used of a child born inside of wedlock who was thus a “legitimate” child. child in our common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Jesus the Anointed, our savior.
Qualifications for Elders
  1. For this reason I left you in Crete, so you might set in order what is lacking, and might appoint elders in every town as I instructed you.
  2. If someone is blameless, a married man who isn’t promiscuous, 4“a married man who isn’t promiscuous” is more literally “a one woman man”.  Because the Greek word for “man” can also mean “husband”, and since “woman” can also mean “wife”, many take this to mean “husband of one wife”.  However, that’s impossible because of 1 Timothy 5:9, which (using the same words) speaks of widows “*being a one man woman”.  See note on that verse.  A widow by definition can’t be the “wife of one husband” because her husband is dead.  Others have suggested this is a prohibition on second marriages, but Paul explicitly allows remarriage in 1 Corinthians 7.  Still others have suggested this is a prohibition on polygamy, but this is extremely unlikely because polygamy was already a serious criminal offense in the Roman Empire (our word “romantic” originally meant “to be like the Romans”; i.e. monogamous.)  Despite the Roman aversion to more than one wife, they embraced the practice of extra-marital lovers for both men and women.  Thus the phrase “one woman man” was an idiom, probably borrowed from the Latin “univera” (“one man”, which was used on Roman gravestones to indicate a woman who’d never had sex outside of marriage) and applied to men.  Further: this list would contain no prohibition on sexual sins if “one woman man” isn’t an idiom.  The idiom implies the man is married, but doesn’t guarantee it; again, see footnote on 1 Timothy 5:9. having believing children, not under accusation of wasteful excess5“wasteful excess” this Greek word is comes from “ἀ”(a) as a negative prefix (like “amoral” meaning “not moral”) and the Greek word “σῴζω”(sozo) which means “to save”.  Thus it means “that which isn’t saved”, but not in a salvation sense.  Rather, it means things which are wasted (thrown out) because they aren’t saved for later use by the user.  It thus has the sense of “wasting” on useless things, and can refer to the consequences of such wasteful excess. or rebellious,
  3. for an overseer is required to be blameless as God’s steward; not arrogantly willful, not inclined to anger, not given to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of dishonest gain,
  4. but hospitable, a lover of good, of sound mind, righteous, holy, and self-controlled;
  5. holding firmly to the faithful teaching according to the message, so he might be able to both encourage by teaching what’s sound, and to refute with evidence6“refute with evidence” is one word in Greek.  It means to correct or expose something (typically bad/wrong), which includes the idea of supporting evidence for the correction or exposé.  Also used in Matthew 18:15 when referring to church discipline. the men contradicting it.
False teachers
  1. For there are many rebellious men; [both] empty talkers and deceivers, especially the men of the circumcision
  2. whom it’s necessary to silence; who subversively overthrow whole households, teaching what’s not proper for the sake of sordid gain.
  3. One of them – their own prophet – said: “Cretans are always liars, wicked beasts, and lazy gluttons.”
  4. This testimony is true; because of which you must severely rebuke them with evidence7“rebuke… …with evidence” is one word in Greek.  It means to correct or expose something (typically bad/wrong), which includes the idea of supporting evidence for the correction or exposition.  Also used in Matthew 18:15 when referring to church discipline. (There translated “rebuke… …with evidence”) so they might be sound in the faith,
  5. not turning to Jewish myths and commandments of men turning away from the truth.
  6. All things are pure to the pure.  But to the men who have defiled themselves and to the unbelievers, nothing is pure.  Rather, they have defiled both their mind and conscience.
  7. They openly profess to *know God but they deny Him in their works, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good work.

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Titus Chapter 2

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Proper Christian conduct
  1. But you: speak things which are appropriate for sound doctrine.
  2. Old men are to be sober, dignified, self-controlled, being sound in faith, in ^love, and in perseverance.
  3. Likewise, aged women are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderous, nor *enslaved to much wine, but being teachers of good,
  4. so they might admonish1“admonish” The Greek word here more precisely means to “bring back to (good) sense” or to “make sober-minded”, often with the sense of reminding via correction.  It meant to “correct,” “control,” or “moderate” in classical Greek.  Thus while the common rendering of “teach” isn’t wrong, it lacks the corrective force of the original Greek word. the young women to be loving to their husbands, loving to their children,
  5. self-controlled, pure, workers at home, and good; submitting themselves to their own husbands so the word of God won’t be blasphemed.
  6. Likewise, encourage the younger men to be of sound mind.
  7. in all things offering yourself as an example in good works; with incorruptible purity in instruction, in dignity,
  8. in sound speech that’s beyond reproach so the man opposing might be turned in shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
  9. Slaves are to be submitted to their own masters, to be fully pleasing in all things; not contradicting,
  10. not embezzling, but demonstrating all good faithfulness so they might adorn the teaching of God our savior in all things.
  11. For the grace of God appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
  12. teaching us through discipline2“teaching… …through discipline” is one word in Greek.  It refers to the strict rearing of children through discipline/chastisement so they reach maturity properly.  Also used in Hebrews 12:7 and Luke 23:16 in a similar context. so that – having denied ungodliness and worldly cravings – we might live prudently, and righteously, and devoutly in the present age;
  13. eagerly awaiting the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus the Anointed.
  14. Who gave Himself for our sake, so He might purchase3“purchase… …back” this Greek word properly means to buy back something that was originally yours us back from all lawlessness and might cleanse a people as a possession for Himself, who are zealous for good works.
  15. Speak these things, and admonish and rebuke with all instruction.4“instruction” could also be translated “authority”  Let no one despise you.

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Titus Chapter 3

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Christian Conduct
  1. Remind them to be submitted to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
  2. to slander no one, to be peaceable, equitable, demonstrating all gentle strength1“gentle strength” this Greek word is often translated “meek” or “gentle”.  However, it doesn’t mean the absence of power as “meek” would suggest. Instead, it specifically refers to strength or power that is gently exercised without undue harshness. i.e. some who is strong but applies their strength gently. towards all men.
  3. For we were also once foolish, disobedient, wandering astray, being slaves to various cravings and sensual pleasures; passing life in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
  4. But when the benevolence and the love of mankind appeared in God our savior –
  5. not by works of righteousness that we did, but according to His mercy – He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
  6. whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus the Anointed our savior,
  7. so that having been made righteous by that grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of the life of ages.2“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t.  The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?”
  8. The saying is trustworthy.  And concerning these things, I strongly desire you to emphatically affirm them so the men who have believed in God might be careful to devote themselves to good works.  These things are noble and profitable for men.
  9. But shun foolish controversies, and genealogies, and strife, and quarrels about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
  10. Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition,
  11. *knowing that such a man has been corrupted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
Personal instruction
  1. When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make haste to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
  2. Diligently equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos for the journey so they might lack nothing.
  3. And let our own men also learn to devote themselves to good works for the essential needs so they might not be unfruitful.
  4. All the men with me greet you.  Greet the men loving us in the faith.  Grace be with all of you.  [Amen]

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Philemon

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Greeting
  1. Paul – a prisoner of Jesus the Anointed – and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved brother and fellow worker;
  2. and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church at your house.
  3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
  4. I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
  5. hearing of your ^love and the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and for all the saints,
  6. praying so that the partnership of your faith might become effective in the knowledge of every good thing in us for the Anointed.
  7. For I had great joy and encouragement on account of your ^love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother.
Concerning Onesimus
  1. Therefore, having much boldness in the Anointed to order you to do what is fitting,
  2. but for the sake of ^love, I would rather implore you – being such a man as Paul, an old man – and now also a prisoner of Jesus the Anointed.
  3. I implore you concerning my own child Onesimus whom I fathered in my chains,
  4. (he was once useless to you, but now is useful to both me and you)
  5. whom I sent back to you himself (he is my own heart)
  6. whom I was strongly desiring to keep with myself so he might minister to me on your behalf in my chains for the gospel.
  7. But I wanted to do nothing without your consent, so your good deed might not be like it’s from compulsion, but from a voluntary choice.
  8. For perhaps he was separated from you for a while because of this, so you might have him for an age.
  9. And no longer as a slave, but more than a slave; a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
  10. Therefore, if you have me as a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
  11. But if he wronged you somehow, or he owes you, charge this to my account:
  12. I Paul wrote this with my own hand and I will repay it, so I don’t have to mention that you yourself are also indebted to me.
  13. Yes brother; may I benefit from you in the Lord!  Refresh my heart in the Anointed.
  14. I wrote to you being *confident of your obedience, *knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
  15. And at the same time, also prepare a lodging for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given freely to you.
  16. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Jesus the Anointed, greets you,
  17. as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke; my fellow workers.
  18. The grace of the Anointed Lord Jesus be with your spirit. [Amen]

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General Epistles

Hebrews

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Hebrews Chapter 1

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Superiority of the Son over Angels
  1. God, having previously spoken to the patriarchs1“patriarchs” is literally “fathers”.  Patriarchs was chosen to preserve the alliteration present in Greek.  See note at the end of this verse. in plentiful parts and in plentiful ways by the prophets,  2Heb 1:1 Verse note: This verse contains alliteration in Greek, which has been preserved here.  A slightly more literal translation without the alliteration would read: “God, having spoken to the fathers long ago in many parts and many ways by the prophets,
  2. spoke to us in these last days by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the ages;
  3. who being the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His substance; both upholding all things by the spoken word of power, and having accomplished the cleansing of sins through Himself, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
  4. Having become so much greater than the angels, He has inherited a name that’s so much more excellent than theirs.
  5. For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son; today I have fathered you.”?3quotation/allusion to Psalm 2:7  And again: “I will be a Father to Him, and He will be a Son to Me.”?4quotation/allusion to 2 Samuel 7:14
  6. And again, when He brought the firstborn into the inhabited world He says: “And let all God’s angels worship Him.”5quotation/allusion to Psalm 97:7
  7. And indeed, He says of the angels: “The One making His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.”6quotation/allusion to Psalm 104:4
  8. But He says of the Son: “Your throne O God, lasts through the age of the age, and the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
  9. You ^loved righteousness and hated lawlessness.7“lawlessness” this Greek word is more literally “ignoring God’s law”.  It’s a noun, and literally means “those who are without law”; i.e. those who – either by ignorance or by rebellion – don’t obey God’s (moral) law.  Because of this, God – your God – anointed you above your companions with the oil of ecstatic delight.”8quotation/allusion to Psalm 45:6-7
  10. And “Lord, in the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands.
  11. They will perish but you remain; and all will grow old like a robe.
  12. And you will roll them up like a cloak and they will be changed like a robe, but you are the same and your years won’t cease.”9quotation/allusion to Psalm 102:25-27
  13. But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand until I put your enemies under your feet as a footstool.”10quotation/allusion to Psalm 110:1
  14. Aren’t they all ministering spirits, being sent out for service for the sake of the men about to inherit salvation?

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Hebrews Chapter 2

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Pay attention, lest we drift away
  1. Because of this, it’s abundantly necessary for us to pay attention to the things we heard, lest we drift away at some time.
  2. For if the word which was spoken through angels was dependable, and every deliberate sin and disobedience received a just recompense,
  3. how will we escape after having carelessly disregarded so great a salvation?  (Which first began to be declared by the Lord)  And having received it, it was confirmed for us by the men who heard.
  4. God is testifying together with them in both signs and wonders, and various miracles, and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to His will.
  5. For it wasn’t to angels that He subjected the world about to come, about which we speak.
  6. But someone solemnly testified somewhere, saying: “What is man that you remember him; or a son of man that you care for him?
  7. You made him lower than the angels for a short time, you crowned him with glory and honor [and you appointed him over the works of your hands.]
  8. You made all things subject under his feet.”1quotation/allusion to Psalm 8:4-6  For to subject all things to him, He left nothing not subject to him.  But at present, we don’t yet see that all things have been subjected to him.
  9. But having been *made lower than the angels for a little while, we see that Jesus has been crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that He might taste death for everyone by God’s grace.
Jesus made like His brothers
  1. For it was fitting for Him – because of whom are all things, and through whom are all things – to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings, having brought many sons to glory.
  2. For both the One making them holy and the men being made holy are all from One Father.  For that reason He isn’t ashamed to call them brothers,
  3. saying: “I will declare your name to my brothers, I will sing hymns of praise to you in the midst of the assembly2“assembly” this Greek word is usually translated “church”, but can be translated either way depending on the context.”3quotation/allusion to Psalm 22:22
  4. And again: “I will be *trusting in Him.”4quotation/allusion to Isaiah 8:17  And again: “Behold, I and the children whom God gave to Me.”5quotation/allusion to Isaiah 8:17
  5. Therefore, since the children have shared blood and flesh, He also similarly took part in the same, so through His death He might nullify the one holding the power of death (that is, the Accuser)
  6. and might release those who were being bound in slavery through fear of death throughout their whole time to live.
  7. For surely He doesn’t help angels, but He helps Abraham’s seed.
  8. Therefore, He was obligated to be made like His brothers in all things, so He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God, in order to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
  9. For in that He Himself has suffered when He was tempted, He is able to come to the aid of the men being tempted.

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Hebrews Chapter 3

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Carefully consider Jesus
  1. Therefore holy brothers – partakers of the heavenly calling – carefully consider the apostle and high priest of our confession: Jesus.
  2. who’s being faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses also was in His whole house.
  3. For He has been deemed worthy of greater glory than Moses, for the One who built the house has much greater honor than the house itself.
  4. For every house is built by someone, but the One who built all things is God.
  5. And Moses was indeed faithful as a willing servant in His whole house for a testimony of the things which would be spoken.
  6. But the Anointed is faithful as a Son over His house – whose house we are if we hold fast to our confidence and the boast of our hope, [firm until the end].
  7. Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says: “If you hear His voice today,
  8. you shouldn’t harden your hearts as in provocation, as in the day of testing in the wilderness,
  9. where your fathers tested Me in a test, even though they saw My works for forty years.
  10. Therefore, I was grievously angry with that generation and I said: “They always go astray in their heart, and they didn’t know My ways”.
  11. So I swore in My wrath: “They will not enter into My rest”.”1quotation/allusion to Psalm 95:7-11
The danger of unbelief
  1. Watch out brothers, lest at some time there will be an evil heart of unbelief in any of you to depart from the living God.
  2. But encourage one another, each and every day, as long as that day is called today, so any of you won’t be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
  3. For we have become partakers in the Anointed, if we hold fast from the beginning of our assurance, firm until the end.
  4. As it’s said: “If you hear His voice today, you shouldn’t harden your hearts as in provocation.”2quotation/allusion to Psalm 95:7-8
  5. For who provoked God after hearing?  But wasn’t it all the men who came out of Egypt through Moses?
  6. And with whom was He grievously angry for forty years if not the men who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
  7. And to whom did He swear that they will not enter into His rest if not the men who disobeyed?
  8. And we see that they weren’t able to enter because of unbelief.

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Hebrews Chapter 4

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God’s Rest
  1. Therefore we should fear, lest at some time some of you might seem to have fallen short while the promise to enter into His rest remains.
  2. For we are *hearing the gospel being proclaimed just as they also did, but they didn’t profit in hearing the message, it not being *united with faith in the men who heard.
  3. For we (the men who believed) enter into the rest, just as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath: “They will not enter into My rest”.1quotation/allusion to Psalm 95:11  although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
  4. For He has spoken this way somewhere about the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.”2quotation/allusion to Genesis 2:2
  5. And again in this passage, “They will not enter into My rest.”3quotation/allusion to Psalm 95:11
  6. Therefore, since it remains for some to enter into it, and the men to whom the good news was formerly proclaimed didn’t enter in because of disobedience,
  7. He again appoints a day “today” (saying it through David after so long a time) just as it has been previously said: “If you hear His voice today, you shouldn’t harden your hearts.”4quotation/allusion to Psalm 95:7-8
  8. For if Joshua had given them rest, He wouldn’t be speaking about another day after that day.
  9. Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God.
  10. For the man who entered into His rest, he also rested himself from his works, just as God did from His own.
  11. Therefore, we should be diligently zealous to enter into that rest so someone won’t fall into disobedient unbelief by the same example.
  12. For the Word of God is living and effective, and He is sharper than every double-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, and also of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart.
  13. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and *laid bare to His eyes, to whom we must give an account.
  14. Therefore, having a great high priest who has passed through the heavens (Jesus, the Son of God) we should hold fast to our confession.
  15. For we don’t have a high priest not able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One having been *tempted in all things the same way as we are, yet without sin.
  16. Therefore, we should approach the throne of grace with boldness so we might receive mercy and might find grace for help in our time of need.

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Hebrews Chapter 5

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Jesus our high priest
  1. For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, so he might offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,
  2. while being able to gently and compassionately forbear1“gently and compassionately forbear” is one word in Greek.  It indicates moderated empathy which isn’t too strong or too weak. with the men being ignorant and wandering astray, since he himself is also bound by weakness.
  3. And because of this, just as he’s obligated to offer sacrifices for sins for the people, so he must also offer them for himself.
  4. And no one takes the honor on himself, but he’s called by God, just as Aaron also was.
  5. So also, the Anointed didn’t glorify Himself by becoming a high priest, but He was glorified by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son, today I have fathered you.”2quotation/allusion to Psalm 2:7
  6. Just as He also says in another place: “You are a priest through the age, according to the order of Melchizedek.”3 quotation/allusion to Psalm 110:4
  7. Who in the days of His flesh offered both prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His reverent fear of God.4“reverent fear of God” is one word in Greek, and different from the Greek words typically translated “(reverent) fear of God”.  It could also be translated “pious fear of God” and focuses on a sense of holy reverence and veneration towards God that’s not contained in the phrase which is usually translated “(reverent) fear of God”.  This word is used only twice, the other place being Hebrews 12:28
  8. Though being a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.
  9. And having been perfected, He became the author of the salvation of ages to all the men obeying Him,
  10. having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
  11. About this, there’s many a word for us to say and it’s hard to explain since you have become lazy in hearing.
  12. For you also ought to be teachers by this time, but again you have need of someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God from the beginning.  And you have become like men having need of milk and not of solid food.
  13. For every man partaking only of milk fails because of inexperience5“fails because of inexperience” is one word in Greek.  It refers to someone who fails when tested because they don’t have adequate knowledge, skills, and/or experience. with the word of righteousness, for he’s an infant.
  14. But solid food is for mature men; the men having their perception strenuously *trained6“strenuously *train” is one word in Greek.  It literally means to train naked or in a loincloth, and was used of athletes who trained themselves for the Olympic games, which were conducted clad thus.  Figuratively – as it’s used here – it means to constantly train with rigorous effort and practice. through habitual practice for the discernment of both good and evil.

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Hebrews Chapter 6

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Press on to perfect maturity
  1. Therefore, having left the elementary teaching of the Anointed, we should press on to perfect maturity, not again laying a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God,
  2. of instruction on baptisms, and the laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and the judgement of ages.
  3. And we will do this if God allows.
  4. For it’s impossible for the men who were once enlightened – who tasted both the heavenly gift and became partakers of the Holy Spirit,
  5. and tasted both God’s good word and the powers of the coming age
  6. and then fell away – it’s impossible to restore them to repentance again since they’re again crucifying the Son of God for themselves and publicly shaming Him.
  7. For the land which drank the rain often coming upon it and producing forage useful for the benefit of those men for whom it’s also tilled partakes of a blessing from God.
  8. But the land bearing thorns and thistles is worthless and near a curse, the end of which leads into burning.
  9. But beloved, we are *convinced of better things concerning you, and of you having salvation, even though we speak like this.
  10. For God isn’t unjust, so as to overlook your work and the ^love that you showed toward His name, having served the saints and still serving them.
  11. Now we yearn for each of you to show the same diligent zeal toward the full assurance of the hope until the end,
  12. so you might not become dull, but imitators of the men inheriting the promises through faith and patience.
God promises are sure
  1. For having made the promise to Abraham – since God had no one greater to swear by – He swore by Himself,
  2. saying: “I will surely bless you exceedingly1“exceedingly” is literally “blessing”, using Hebraic repetition for emphasis and magnitude and I will multiply you exceedingly2“exceedingly” is literally “multiplying”, using Hebraic repetition for emphasis and magnitude.”3quotation/allusion to Genesis 22:17
  3. And having patiently endured in this way, he obtained the promise.
  4. For men swear an oath by one who’s greater, and confirmation of the oath brings every dispute of theirs to an end.
  5. In this way – being abundantly determined to prove the unchangeableness of His plan to the heirs of the promise – God guaranteed it with an oath,
  6. so that through two unchangeable matters in which it’s impossible for God to lie, we – the men who fled to Him for refuge – might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us,
  7. which we have like an anchor of the soul; both firm and steadfast, even entering into the inner veil,4“veil”  this Greek word is used in other places to refer to the veil in the temple which separated the Holy place from the Most Holy Place.
  8. where our forerunner – Jesus – entered for our sake, having become a high priest through the age according to the order of Melchizedek.

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Hebrews Chapter 7

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A priest like Melchizedek
  1. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, the man who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
  2. to whom Abraham also distributed a tenth of all.  Indeed, when translated his name first means: “king of righteousness”, and then also “king of Salem”, that is “king of peace”.
  3. Without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life.  But having been made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continuously.
  4. And see how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth from the best spoils of war.
  5. And indeed, men from the sons of Levi – after receiving the office of priest – have a command to take a tenth from the people according to the law, (that is, from their brothers) though both have come from Abraham’s loin.
  6. But the man not tracing his ancestry from them has collected a tenth from Abraham and has blessed the man having the promises.
  7. And beyond all contention, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
  8. And indeed, dying men receive tithes here; but there it’s being testified that he lives.
  9. And, so to speak1“so to speak” is literally “so to a word to speak”, even Levi (the man receiving tithes) has paid tithes through Abraham,
  10. for he was still in the loin of his father when Melchizedek met him.
  11. Therefore, if perfection was indeed through the Levitical priesthood – for the people have received it under the law – why was there still need for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?
  12. For in the priesthood being changed; a change of law also happens by necessity.
  13. For the One about whom these things are spoken *belongs to another tribe, from which no one has attended the altar.
  14. For it’s obvious that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.
  15. And it’s still more abundantly evident if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,
  16. who hasn’t become a priest according to a fleshly commandment in the law, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
  17. For scripture testifies that: “You are a priest through the age, according to the order of Melchizedek.”2quotation/allusion to Psalm 110:4
  18. For indeed, a nullification of the preceding commandment happens because it’s weak and useless,
  19. for the law perfected nothing, but it’s an introduction to a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
  20. And accordingly it wasn’t without an oath; for indeed, other men *became and are priests without an oath.
  21. But He swore with an oath by the One saying to Him: “The Lord swore with an oath and won’t change His mind; you are a priest through the age.”3quotation/allusion to Psalm 110:4
  22. Accordingly, Jesus also has become the guarantee of a much better covenant.
  23. And indeed, the men who have become priests are many because they are prevented from continuing by death.
  24. But because He remains through the age, He has a permanent priesthood.
  25. For which reason, He is also able to save the men approaching God through Him to the utmost, always living to intercede on their behalf.
  26. For such a high priest indeed was fitting for us; holy, innocent, and undefiled; *separated from sinners and having become higher than the heavens,
  27. who doesn’t have a need to offer sacrifices every day as the high priests do – first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people – for He did this once for all in having offered Himself.
  28. For the law appoints men having weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath that’s after the law appoints a Son who has been perfected through the age.

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Hebrews Chapter 8

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The priesthood of the Anointed
  1. Now, the sum of the things being said is this: we have such a high priest who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
  2. an official minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man.
  3. For every high priest is appointed in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices, so it’s necessary for this One to also have something that He might offer.
  4. Therefore if He was on earth, He indeed wouldn’t even be a priest since there are men offering the gifts according to the law,
  5. who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses – being about to complete the tabernacle – has been divinely admonished; for He says: “Behold, you shall make all things according to the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.”1quotation/allusion to Exodus 25:40
  6. But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, insomuch as He’s also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted as law2“enacted as law” is one word in Greek.  It properly means to legislate in the sense of enacting a law. upon better promises.
The Old and New Covenants
  1. For if that first covenant had been faultless, a place for a second wouldn’t have been sought.
  2. For finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming says the Lord, and I will bring a new covenant to fulfillment3“I will bring… …to fulfillment” is one word in Greek with that exact meaning.  It focuses on an end which isn’t merely “termination”, but rather culmination or fulfillment. with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
  3. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took their hand in Mine to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they didn’t remain in My covenant and I disregarded them says, the Lord.”
  4. Because this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; putting My laws into their mind and I will write them on their hearts.  And I will be God to them, and they will be a people for Me.
  5. And each man definitely won’t teach his neighbor or each man teach his brother saying: ‘Know the Lord’, because all will know Me; from the least of them to the greatest,
  6. because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and I definitely won’t remember their sins anymore.”4quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 31:31-34
  7. By saying “a new covenant“, He has declared the first obsolete; and the covenant growing old and aging is near disappearing.

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Hebrews Chapter 9

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The earthly temple
  1. So indeed, even the first covenant had both regulations for sacred service and an earthly Holy Place.
  2. For a tabernacle was constructed, in which the first room had both the lampstand and the table, and also the consecrated bread; that room is called the ‘Holy Place
  3. Then behind the second veil was a tabernacle room, being called the ‘Holy of Holies’,
  4. having the golden altar of incense and the Ark of the Covenant *covered with gold on all sides, in which was the golden jar holding the manna, and the staff of Aaron which budded, and the tablets of the covenant.
  5. And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, about which now isn’t the time to speak in detail.
  6. And with these things *constructed this way, the priests indeed enter into the first tabernacle room all through the year when performing the sacred services.
  7. But into the second, only the high priest enters once a year and not without bringing blood, which he offers for himself and the sins of the people committed in ignorance.
  8. By this, the Holy Spirit is revealing that the way into the Holy of Holies hasn’t yet been made known while the tabernacle’s first room still has standing,
  9. which is a parable for the *present season in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, though not being able to perfect the conscience of the man ministering.
  10. It’s only in foods, and drinks, and various washings, and fleshly ordinances until the season of reformation being put into place.
  11. But the Anointed appeared as high priest of the good things which came through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands.  It’s not of this creation,
  12. nor through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood He entered once for all into the Holy of Holies, having obtained the repurchase price1“repurchase price” is one word in Greek, referring to paying the price needed to release someone from prison or debt, and especially the price paid to free a slave. of ages.
  13. For if sprinkling the blood of goats, and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer on the men who have been defiled makes them holy for the purification of the flesh,
  14. how much more will the blood of the Anointed – who through the Spirit of ages offered Himself to God unblemished – purify our conscience from dead works in order to serve the living God?
  15. And because of this, He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that by His death which happened for a repurchase payment2“repurchase payment” is one word in Greek, typically translated “redemption”.  It properly refers to the price paid to “buy back” something that had been lost. from missteps3“missteps”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) which is also used in Ephesians 2:1 in the phrase: “dead in your ‘paraptóma’ and sins”.  It carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. under the first covenant, so the men who have been called might receive the promise of the inheritance of ages.
  16. For where there’s a covenant, it’s necessary to establish the death of the man who made it.
  17. For a covenant is upheld after death, since it isn’t ever in force while the man who made it lives.
  18. Therefore, not even the first covenant was *inaugurated without blood.
  19. For when every commandment according to the law was spoken by Moses to all the people, then having taken the blood of calves and goats with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he sprinkled it on both the book itself and all the people,
  20. saying: “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded for you.”4quotation/allusion to Exodus 24:8
  21. And he likewise sprinkled the tabernacle, and also all the vessels of the ministry with blood.
  22. And according to the law, you could almost say that5you could almost say that” this sense is implied by the single word “almost”. all things are purified by blood and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
  23. Therefore, it’s indeed necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves were purified with better sacrifices than those.
  24. For the Anointed didn’t enter into the Holy Places made by hands (which are copies of the true ones) but into heaven itself; to appear now in the presence of God for our sake.
  25. And not so He might offer Himself frequently, just as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies every year with the blood of another.
  26. Otherwise, it would be necessary for Him to suffer frequently from the foundation of the world.  But now, once at the culmination of the ages, He has been revealed for the annulment of sin through His sacrifice.
  27. And insomuch as it’s appointed to men once to die and after this is judgement,
  28. so also the Anointed – having been offered once to bear the sins of many – will appear for a second time without sin for salvation to the men eagerly awaiting Him.

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Hebrews Chapter 10

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The Anointed’s Sacrifice
  1. For the law – having a shadow of the good things coming but not the form of those same matters – is never able to perfect the men approaching every year with the same sacrifices that they offer continuously.
  2. Otherwise wouldn’t they have ceased being offered?  Because then the men ministering wouldn’t still have sins on their conscience once they have been cleansed.
  3. But in them there’s a reminder of sins every year.
  4. For it’s impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
  5. Therefore, entering into the world He says: “You didn’t desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for Me.
  6. You weren’t pleased by burnt offerings and offerings concerning sin.
  7. Then I said: “Behold I come–” in the scroll of the book it is *written about Me: “–to do your will O God.” 1quotation/allusion to Psalm 40:6-8
  8. Saying above “Sacrifices, and offerings, and burnt offerings, and offerings concerning sin you didn’t desire nor were pleased2quotation/allusion to Psalm 40:6 which are offered according to the law.
  9. Then He *says: “Behold, I come to do your will.”3quotation/allusion to Psalm 40:7-8   He takes away the first so He might establish the second.
  10. By that will, we are *made holy once for all through the offering of the body of Jesus the Anointed.
  11. And indeed, every priest *stands ministering every day and frequently offering the same sacrifices which are never able to take away sins.
  12. But this One, having offered one sacrifice for sins into perpetuity, sat down at the right hand of God,
  13. from then on waiting until His enemies are placed as a footstool for His feet.4quotation/allusion to Psalm 110:1
  14. For by one offering, He has perfected into perpetuity the men being made holy.
  15. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for afterward He has said:
  16. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; putting My laws into their hearts and I will write them on their mind.”5quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 31:33
  17. And their sins and their disregard for My commands6“disregard for My commands” is one word in Greek, and is more literally “disregard for God’s law”.  It’s a noun, and literally means “those who are without law”; i.e. those who – either by ignorance or by rebellion – don’t obey God’s (moral) law. I definitely won’t remember any longer.”7quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 31:34
  18. And where there’s forgiveness of these, there’s no longer an offering concerning sin.
Approach with a sincere heart
  1. Therefore brothers, having confidence for entrance into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus,
  2. by which He inaugurated a new and living way for us through the veil (that is, His flesh)
  3. and having a great priest over the house of God,
  4. we should approach with a sincere heart in the full assurance of faith; having been *sprinkled clean in our hearts from an evil conscience, and having been *washed in body with pure water.
  5. We should hold fast to the confession of our hope firmly, for the One who promised is faithful.
  6. And we should consider one another as a provocation for ^love and good works,
  7. not abandoning the assembling of ourselves together – as is the habit of some – but admonishing one another, and so much more as you see the day drawing near.
  8. For if we are voluntarily sinning after we’ve received the full knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice concerning sins remains,
  9. but some terrifying expectation of judgement and the zeal of a fire that’s about to consume the adversaries.8quotation/allusion to Isaiah 26:11
  10. Anyone who broke the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
  11. How much worse a punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who trampled the Son of God underfoot, and considered the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy contemptibly mundane,9“contemptibly mundane” is one word in Greek.  It properly refers to something which had been stripped of its value because it’s been treated as ordinary or common.  This can also contain the idea of profaning or being unclean because common (i.e. not holy/set apart) and insulted the Spirit of grace?
  12. For we *know the One who said: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.”10quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 32:35  And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”11quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 32:36
  13. It’s terrifying to fall into the hands of the living God.
Remember and be bold
  1. But remember the former days, in which you endured the sufferings of a great conflict after having been enlightened,
  2. being truly made a spectacle in this by both slanders and tribulations.  But in this, you became comrades with the other men being treated this way,
  3. for you both sympathized with the prisoners and welcomed the plundering of the things you possessed with joy, knowing yourselves to have a better possession and a lasting one.
  4. Therefore you shouldn’t cast aside your boldness, which has a great reward.
  5. For you have need of endurance, so that after having done the will of God, you might obtain the promise.
  6. For yet in a very little while, the One coming will come and will not delay.”
  7. But My righteous will live by faith12quotation/allusion to Habakkuk 2:3-4 and if he shrinks back, My soul takes no pleasure in him.
  8. But we aren’t shrinking back into ruin, but have faith for the preservation of the soul.

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Hebrews Chapter 11

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Faith
  1. And faith is the assurance of what’s hoped for; the convincing evidence of matters not seen,
  2. for by this the elders were commended.
  3. By faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by the spoken word of God, so what is seen hasn’t been made from the things which are visible.
  4. By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, through which he was testified to be righteous by God testifying of his gifts, and through it he still speaks though having died.
  5. By faith Enoch was transferred up (to not see death) and he wasn’t found because God transferred him.1quotation/allusion to Genesis 5:24  For before the transference, he is *reported to have pleased God.
  6. (But without faith, it’s impossible to please God.  For it’s necessary for the man approaching God to believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of the men diligently seeking Him.)
  7. By faith Noah – having been reverently fearful after having been divinely instructed about things not yet seen – prepared an ark for his household’s salvation, by which he condemned the world and became an heir in accordance with the righteousness of faith.
  8. By faith, Abraham obeyed after being called to depart into a place that he was going to receive for an inheritance, and he departed not knowing where he would go.
  9. By faith he lived as a foreigner in the land of the promise like it belonged to another, having lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow heirs of the same promise.
  10. For he was awaiting the city having foundations whose architect and builder is God.
  11. By faith, even [barren] Sarah herself received strength for conception of seed, even despite the season of old age, since she considered the One who promised faithful.
  12. And therefore, from one man (even him *regarded as near dead) were born descendants like the stars of heaven in multitude, and as countless as the sand by the shore of the sea.2quotation/allusion to Genesis 22:17
  13. All these men died in faith, not having received the promises, but only having seen and having welcomed them from afar, and having confessed that they are foreigners and wanderers on the land.
  14. For the men saying such things declare that they seek a homeland.
  15. And indeed, if they were remembering that place from which they left, they always had the opportunity to return.
  16. But now, they yearn for a better homeland; that is, a heavenly one.  Therefore, God isn’t ashamed of them, to be called their God, for He prepared a city for them.
  17. By faith Abraham *offered up Isaac while being tested.  The man who welcomed the promises was even offering up his only genuine heir,
  18. he to whom it was said: “Your seed will be called through Isaac3quotation/allusion to Genesis 21:12
  19. Having reasoned that God was even able to raise him from the dead, from which he also received him back in a figurative sense.4“figurative sense” is literally “parable”.
  20. By faith Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esau concerning what was coming.
  21. By faith while dying, Jacob blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped while leaning on the top of his staff.
  22. By faith while dying, Joseph made mention concerning the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
  23. By faith, Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after having been born, because they saw that the infant was beautiful and didn’t fear the decree of the king.
  24. By faith, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter after having become grown,
  25. having chosen to endure adversity with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin,
  26. having esteemed the reproach of the Anointed greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking away from everything else5“he was looking away from everything else” is one word in Greek.  It means to fix the gaze so intently on one thing that you look away from (don’t pay attention to) anything else. towards the reward.
  27. By faith he departed Egypt; not having feared the wrath of the king, for he persevered like a man seeing the invisible One.
  28. By faith he has kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood so the one destroying the firstborn might not touch them.
  29. By faith they crossed through the Red Sea as through dry land, after which the Egyptians were swallowed up when they made an attempt.
  30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled for seven days.
  31. By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with the men who rebelled, having received the spies with peace.
  32. And what more might I say?  For the time will fail me while describing about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and both David and Samuel, and also the prophets.
  33. Who through faith conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, closed the mouths of lions,
  34. quenched the power of fire, escaped the sword’s point, were empowered from weakness, became mighty in war, and made foreign armies flee.
  35. Women received back their dead by resurrection and others were tortured, not having awaited release so they might obtain a better resurrection.
  36. And others received a trial of mockings and floggings, and still others of chains and imprisonment.
  37. They were stoned, [tried,] sawn in two, slain by the sword in slaughter; they went about in sheepskins, in goat skins, being in need, being afflicted, being tormented –
  38. men of whom the world wasn’t worthy – wandering in deserts, and mountains, and caves, and holes in the earth.
  39. And though having been commended through their faith, all these men didn’t receive the promise.
  40. God planned something better concerning us, so they wouldn’t be perfected without us.

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Hebrews Chapter 12

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Run with Endurance
  1. Consequently, we also – having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and having set aside every burden and easily ensnaring sin – we should run with endurance the race being set before us,
  2. looking away from everything else except1“looking away from everything else except” is one word in Greek with that exact meaning. the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus, who in exchange for the joy set before Him endured the cross, having disregarded its shame, and He has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  3. For consider the One who has endured such opposition from sinners against Himself so you won’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.
The Lord’s Discipline
  1. In struggling against sin, you didn’t yet resist as far as shedding blood,
  2. and you have completely forgotten the admonishment that is addressed to you as sons: “My son, don’t disregard the Lord’s discipline, nor faint when being rebuked by Him.
  3. For the Lord disciplines whom He ^loves, and scourges every son whom He welcomes.”2quotation/allusion to Proverbs 3:11-12
  4. You endure discipline, for God treats you as sons; for what son exists whom his father doesn’t discipline?
  5. But if you are without discipline (of which all have been partakers) then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
  6. Furthermore, we indeed had discipliners in our fathers of the flesh and we were revering them.  And won’t we much more be submitted to the Father of spirits and shall live?
  7. For indeed, they were disciplining us for a few days according to the discipline seeming best to them.  But His is the discipline benefiting us, for us to partake in His holiness.
  8. And indeed, all discipline doesn’t seem to be a joy in the present, but grief.  But afterwards it returns the peaceful fruit of righteousness to the men who have been strenuously trained3“strenuously trained” is one word in Greek.  It literally means to train naked or in a loincloth, and was used of athletes who trained themselves for the Olympic games, which were conducted clad thus.  Figuratively – as it’s used here – it means to constantly train with rigorous effort and practice. through it.
  9. Therefore, lift up the *weary hands and the *weak knees
  10. and make the paths straight for your feet, so the lame won’t be dislocated,4“dislocated” could also be translated “turned away” or “turned out” (of joint).  It was used as a medical term for spraining or dislocation.  However, elsewhere it’s used for “turning away” in the sense of wandering into error. but rather might be healed.
Pursue peace and holiness
  1. Pursue peace with all men, and holiness (without which no one will see the Lord),
  2. watching carefully, lest someone falling short of the grace of God, or lest some root of bitterness springing up might disturb you, and through this many might be defiled;
  3. lest there’s some fornicator or profane man, like Esau who sold his own firstborn’s birthright for one meal.
  4. For you *know that even wishing to inherit the blessing afterward, he was rejected; for he didn’t find a place for a changed mind although he earnestly sought it with tears.
  5. For you haven’t approached a mountain capable of being touched, and *burning fire, and darkness, and blackness, and a whirlwind,
  6. and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice of words, which the men who heard begged the word not to be spoken to them anymore,
  7. for they weren’t enduring the thing being commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”5quotation/allusion to Exodus 19:12-13
  8. And the thing appearing was so fearful that Moses said: “I’m terrified and trembling.”6quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 9:19
  9. But you have approached Mount Zion, and the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem) and myriads of angels,
  10. and the festival assembly, and the church of the firstborn *enrolled in the heavens, and God the judge of all, and the *perfected righteous spirits,
  11. and the mediator of a new covenant (Jesus), and the sprinkled blood of purification speaking of better things than the blood of Abel.
  12. See that you don’t refuse the One speaking.  For if these men didn’t escape on earth after having refused the One divinely warning them, then much more we won’t escape the One who is from the heavens after turning away from Him,
  13. whose voice shook the earth back then.  But now, He has promised saying: “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”7quotation/allusion to Haggai 2:6
  14. And the phrase “Yet once more” plainly declares the removal of the things being shaken as *created things, so the things not being shaken might remain.
  15. Therefore, in receiving an unshakable kingdom we should have grace, through which we might minister to God in a pleasing way, with pious reverence and fear.
  16. For also, our God is an utterly consuming fire.

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Hebrews Chapter 13

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Miscellaneous instructions
  1. Let brotherly love continue.
  2. Don’t overlook hospitality to strangers, for through this some hosted angels without knowing it.
  3. Remember the prisoners as if being *bound with them; and the men being oppressed since you yourselves are also being oppressed in body.
  4. Marriage should be considered1“Marriage should be considered honorable by all” could also be translated “Marriage is honorable in all”.  The Greek sentence lacks a verb, so the sense must be supplied by translators.  Because Greek often omits verbs and carries them over from previous sentences/verses, and because this verse is in the middle of a long list of commands, imperative force was chosen here.  However, a verb of being (“is”) wouldn’t be incorrect either.  Either or both senses could’ve been intended. honorable by all, and the bed should be undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and men who have sex with other men’s wives.2“men who have sex with other men’s wives” is one word in Greek, it’s masculine here and thus usually translated “adulterers” in this verse. However, the Greek (and Hebrew) words specifically mean a man (married or unmarried) having sex with another man’s wife (or betrothed). While the English word “adultery” means either spouse having sex with someone else, the Biblical words – both Greek and Hebrew – divide sexual sins into two classes based on the marital status of the woman. A man having sex with another man’s wife (or betrothed) was adultery. A man having sex with an unmarried woman was fornication. Both are very serious sins – see the final clause of this verse – but they are differentiated by the Greek and Hebrew words.
  5. Your way of life should be without the love of money, being content with what you possess; for He Himself has said: “I definitely won’t desert you, and most definitely won’t3“and most definitely won’t”.  In Greek, this is a triple negative (and not, no, not) to add very strong emphasis.  While double negatives are occasionally used to add emphasis in Greek, triple negatives are extremely rare and make the statement even more definitively negative.  Since English double negatives cancel each other out (instead of adding emphasis) the words “most definitely” were added to keep the very strong emphatic sense of the Greek. forsake you.”4quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 31:6
  6. So being confident, we are to say: “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what shall man do to me?5quotation/allusion to Psalm 118:6
  7. Remember the men leading you – whoever spoke the word of God to you – whose faith you should imitate, carefully observing the outcome of their conduct.
  8. Jesus the Anointed is the same yesterday, and today, and through the ages.
  9. Don’t be led astray by various and strange doctrines, for it’s good for the heart to be established by grace, not foods, by which the men walking in them weren’t benefited.
  10. We have an altar from which the men ministering in the tabernacle don’t have authority to eat.
  11. For the bodies of the animals whose blood is brought into the Holy of Holies by the high priest as an offering concerning sin, those bodies are burned outside the camp.
  12. Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate so He might make the people holy through His own blood.
  13. Accordingly, we should go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
  14. For we don’t have an enduring city here, but we seek the coming one.
  15. Therefore, through Him we should offer a sacrifice of praise to God through everything; that is, the fruit of our lips confessing His name.
  16. Yet don’t overlook the doing of good and fellowship, for God is well-pleased with such sacrifices.
  17. Be persuaded6“Be persuaded” is one word in Greek, typically translated “obey” in this verse.  It occurs over 50 times in the New Testament and is almost always translated persuade/convince/trust, etc., which is also the word’s primary definition.  (It’s also the root of the Greek word translated “faith”.) Thus, “be persuaded” is literal, while the traditional translation of “obey” is interpretive.  Further, “obey” cannot be the intended sense here; see Matthew 20:25-26, and notice the future tense with imperative force in verse 26.  Further, it’s in the passive voice here, meaning something is  being done to the subject (“be persuaded), and not the subject doing something (“obey”). by the men leading you and yield7“yield” this Greek word properly refers to yielding of combatants.  A modern analogy might be when a modern wrestler “yields” the fight to his opponent, granting the opponent victory.  This word is only used in this verse, and nowhere else in the New Testament. to them (for they keep watch for the sake of your souls as if they will be giving an account) so that they might do this with joy and not internal groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.
  18. Pray for us; for we’re persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves nobly in all things.
  19. And I greatly urge you to do this, so I might be restored to you more quickly.
Closing and benediction
  1. Now, may the God of peace – the One who brought back from the dead the Great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the covenant of ages, our Lord Jesus –
  2. equip you with everything good in order to do His will; working in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus the Anointed, to whom be the glory through the ages of the ages, Amen.
  3. And I urge you brothers, bear with this word of encouragement for I wrote to you in few words.
  4. You know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you if he comes sooner.
  5. Greet all the men leading you and all the saints.  The men from Italy greet you.
  6. Grace be with you all, [Amen].

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James

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James Chapter 1

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Endurance and Wisdom
  1. James, a slave of God and of the Anointed Lord Jesus, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion;1“the Dispersion” refers to the Jews who were spread across – i.e. dispersed – throughout the Roman Empire. greetings.
  2. My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various trials,
  3. knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
  4. And let endurance have its perfect work so you might be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
  5. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it from God – the One giving generously to all and not scorning – and it will be given to him.
  6. Yet let him ask in faith, doubting nothing.  For the man doubting is *like a sea wave, being blown by the wind and being tossed by the breeze.
  7. For that man must not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
  8. That man is double-minded, completely unstable in all his ways.
  9. But let the brother of low position boast in his high position,
  10. and let the rich man boast in his low estate because he will pass away like a grassy flower.
  11. For the sun rose with its scorching heat and withered the grass, and its flower fell, and the beauty of its appearance perished.  In this way also, the rich man will wither in his pursuits.
  12. Blessed is the man who endures a trial, because after having become approved, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to the men ^loving Him.
  13. Let no one who’s being tempted say: “I’m being tempted by God.”  For God is unable to be tempted by evil and He Himself tempts no one.
  14. But each is tempted, being drawn away and enticed by his own craving.
  15. Then having conceived, a craving gives birth to sin.  And having been accomplished, sin delivers death.
  16. Don’t be misled my beloved brothers.
Doers of the word
  1. Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above; coming down from the Father of lights with whom there’s no change or shifting shadow.
  2. And having been resolved, He birthed us by the word of truth, for us to be a kind of firstfruit of His creatures.
  3. *Know this my beloved brothers, and let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
  4. for man’s anger doesn’t produce God’s righteousness.
  5. Therefore, having set aside all filthiness and abundant wickedness, welcome the implanted word in gentle strength;2“gentle strength” this Greek word is often translated “meek” or “gentle”.  However, it doesn’t mean the absence of power as “meek” would suggest. Instead, it specifically refers to strength or power that is gently exercised, without undue harshness. i.e. some who is strong but applies their strength gently. the word  able to save your souls3“souls” The Greek word here is “ψυχή” (psuché).  It does not mean the part of us which survives death and goes to reward or punishment (Biblically that’s our spirit.  In Revelation 8:9, animals are said to have “psuché”.)  Psuché literally means “breath” and is usually translated “life”.  It refers to the life; the vital force which – together with the body – enables a person to live.  It can also refer to mind, will, emotions, and desires, which together make up a person’s identity.
  6. And become doers of the word, and not hearers only (who are deceiving themselves.)
  7. Because if someone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this man is *like a man considering his natural face in a mirror.
  8. For he considered himself, and *departs, and immediately he forgot what kind of man he was.
  9. But the man who carefully inspected the perfect law (the law of liberty) and remained in it didn’t become a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work.  This man will be blessed in his deeds.
  10. If someone appears to be religious while not bridling his tongue (but deceiving his heart), this man’s religion is worthless.
  11. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep yourself unsullied by the world.

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James Chapter 2

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Don’t show Partiality
  1. My brothers, hold to the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus the Anointed, but not with partiality.
  2. For if a man comes into your synagogue wearing a gold ring and magnificent clothes, and also a poor man in filthy clothes comes in,
  3. yet you’re attentive to the man wearing the magnificent apparel and say: “You sit here honorably” and to the poor man you say: “You, stand there or sit under my footstool”,
  4. didn’t you distinguish between yourselves and become judges with wicked thoughts?
  5. Listen my beloved brothers: didn’t God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to the men ^loving Him?
  6. Yet you dishonored the poor.  Don’t the rich oppress you and don’t they drag you into the courts?
  7. Don’t they blaspheme the noble name by which you were called?
  8. Nevertheless, if you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture: “You shall ^love your neighbor as yourself“,1quotation/allusion to Leviticus 19:18 you do well.
  9. But if you show partiality you commit a sin, being convicted by the law as deliberate violators.
  10. For whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles at one point has become guilty of all of it.
  11. For the One who said you shouldn’t have sex with another man’s wife2Quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:14; “have sex with another man’s wife” is one word in the Greek, typically translated “commit adultery”. However, the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was called fornication. also said you shouldn’t murder.3Quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:13  Yet if you don’t have sex with another man’s wife but do murder, you have become a deliberate violator of the law.
  12. Speak this way and act this way; like someone about to be judged by the law of liberty,
  13. for judgement is merciless to the man who didn’t show mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgement.
Faith and Works
  1. My brothers, what is the benefit if someone claims to have faith but has no works?  That faith isn’t able to save him, is it?
  2. If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacking daily food,
  3. and someone from among you says to them: “Depart in peace; warm and feed yourselves”,4“warm and feed yourselves” could also be translated “be warmed and fed”.  Both Greek verbs here have the same inflections for the middle voice (warm and feed yourselves) and the passive voice (be warmed and fed), making either a legitimate translation. but didn’t give them the things necessary for the body, what’s the benefit?
  4. In this way also, faith by itself is dead if it doesn’t have works.
  5. But someone will say: “You have faith and I have works”.  Demonstrate your faith to me without works and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
  6. You believe that God is one.  You do well.  Even the demons believe and tremble.
  7. And do you want to realize, O empty-headed man, that faith without works is useless?
  8. Wasn’t our father Abraham proved righteous by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
  9. You see that his faith was working together with his works, and by the works his faith was perfected.
  10. And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: “And Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”5quotation/allusion to Genesis 15:6 and he was called a friend of God.
  11. You see that a man is proved righteous by works and not by faith alone.
  12. And likewise also, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute proved righteous by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?
  13. For just as the body without the spirit is dead, in this way also faith without works is dead.

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James Chapter 3

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The Tongue
  1. My brothers, not many of you should become teachers, *knowing that we will receive greater judgement.
  2. For we all stumble in many ways.  If someone doesn’t stumble in speaking, this is a perfect man; indeed, he’s able to bridle the whole body.
  3. And if we put bits into horses’ mouths for them to be influenced by us, we also direct their whole body.
  4. Also look at the ships: while being so great and being propelled by fierce winds, they are directed by the smallest rudder wherever the impulse of the man steering decides.
  5. In this way also, the tongue is a small part and boasts great things. See how such a small fire ignites such a great forest.
  6. The tongue is also a fire, a world of unrighteousness.  The tongue is appointed among our parts defiling the whole body, even igniting the course of nature, and being ignited by the Valley of Hinnom.1“Valley of Hinnom” is literal, though most translations render it “hell”.  Any lexicon will tell you it’s a proper noun referring to a specific valley – the Valley of Hinnom – just outside Jerusalem. Symbolically, it’s where the Jews believed the wicked were punished in the afterlife.  Further, Israel’s wickedness in this valley provoked God to prophesy and then bring about Israel’s captivity by Babylon, (Jeremiah 19:1-11, and 2 kings 25:1-12) making it one of the most infamous landmarks in Israel.
  7. For every race of both beasts and birds; of both reptiles and aquatic animals is being tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
  8. But no one among men is able to tame the tongue; it’s a completely unstable evil, full of deadly poison.
  9. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men; the men who have been made in the likeness of God.
  10. From the same mouth comes out a blessing and a curse.  My brothers, these things ought not to be this way.
  11. Can fresh and bitter water flow from the same spring’s opening?
  12. My brothers, a fig tree isn’t able to produce olives, is it?  Or a grape-vine, figs?  Neither is a saltwater spring able to produce fresh water.
  13. Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him demonstrate his works from good conduct in the gentle strength2“gentle strength” this Greek word is often translated “meek” or “gentle”.  However, it doesn’t mean the absence of power as “meek” would suggest. Instead, it specifically refers to strength or power that is gently exercised, without undue harshness. i.e. some who is strong but applies their strength gently. of wisdom.
  14. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish-ambition in your heart, don’t boast and lie against the truth.
  15. This isn’t the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
  16. For where jealousy and selfish-ambition are, chaos and every wicked deed are also there.
  17. But the wisdom from above is indeed pure first, then peaceful, compassionately just, inclined to obedience, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and without hypocrisy.
  18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by the men making peace.

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James Chapter 4

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The Source of Disputes and Quarrels
  1. From where come the fights, and from where come the quarrels among you?  Aren’t they from your passions on each side waging war among your members?
  2. You crave and don’t have, you murder and envy and aren’t able to obtain; you dispute and quarrel.  You don’t have because you don’t ask.
  3. You ask and don’t receive because you ask wickedly so you might squander it on your passions.
  4. You adulteresses!  Don’t you *know that friendship with the world is hostility to God?  Therefore, whoever decides to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
  5. Or do you suppose that the scripture speaks pointlessly? The spirit which dwelled in us yearns with envy,1James 4:5 verse note. This verse is notoriously difficult to translate, especially the second clause, with multiple legitimate constructions possible.  Some constructions have God being jealous over our (human) spirit, some have God desiring the (Holy) Spirit placed in us, and there are others as well. Most take the second clause as a scripture quotation, but there’s no scripture in the Old Testament which matches James words here.  Therefore, it hasn’t been translated as a quotation because it doesn’t match any Old Testament scripture, and because it flows neatly into the following verse with the translation chosen here.
  6. but He gives greater grace.  Therefore it says: “God arrays Himself in battle against the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”2quotation/allusion to Psalm 138:6
  7. Therefore submit yourselves to God, but resist the Accuser and he will flee from you.
  8. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.  Cleanse your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts you double-minded.
  9. Grieve, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into gloom.
  10. Be humbled in the sight of the Lord and He will exalt you.
  11. Brothers, don’t slander one another.  The man slandering a brother or judging his brother also slanders the law and judges the law.  And if you judge the law, you aren’t a doer of the law but a judge of it.
  12. There is one lawgiver and judge; the One able to save and to destroy.  But who are you, O man, judging your neighbor?
  13. You men saying: “Come now, today or tomorrow we’ll travel into that city and we’ll work a year there, and will trade, and will gain a profit”;
  14. men who don’t know what tomorrow brings.  What is your life?  For you’re merely vapor, appearing for a short time and afterwards vanishing.
  15. Instead, you are to say: “If the Lord wills, we will also live and will do this or that.”
  16. But now you boast in your arrogance.  All such boasting is wicked.
  17. Therefore, to a man *knowing to do good and not doing it, it’s sin to him.

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James Chapter 5

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The wicked rich and their fate
  1. Come now you rich; weep, wailing over the miseries which are coming upon you.
  2. Your wealth has rotted, and your clothes have become moth-eaten.
  3. Your gold and silver has corroded, and their rust will be for a testimony against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You stored up treasure in the last days.
  4. Behold, the wage of the workmen who harvested your fields, the man who has been defrauded by you, calls out; and the cries of the men who harvested have entered into the ears of the Lord of hosts.
  5. You lived luxuriously on the earth, and lived self-indulgently; you fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
  6. You condemned and murdered the righteous; he doesn’t resist you.
  7. Therefore brothers, patiently persevere until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, patiently persevering for it until it receives the early and late rain.
  8. You also must patiently persevere.  Strengthen your hearts because the coming of the Lord *draws near.
Miscellaneous instruction
  1. Brothers, don’t internally groan against one another so you might not be judged.  Behold, the Judge *stands before the doors.
  2. Brothers, as an example of affliction and patience perseverance, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
  3. Behold, we consider the men who persevered blessed.  You heard of Job’s perseverance, and you saw the outcome of the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
  4. But before all things my brothers, don’t swear an oath; neither by heaven, nor the earth, nor any other oath.  But let your yes be yes and your no be no, so you might not fall under judgement.
  5. Is someone among you suffering hardship?  Let him pray.  Is someone cheerful?  Let him sing.
  6. Is someone among you sick?  Let him summon the elders of the church and let them pray over him, having anointed him with oil in the name of the Lord,
  7. and the prayer of faith will save the man being sick and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him.
  8. Therefore, confess the sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you might be healed.  A righteous man’s prayer is very powerful, accomplishing much.
  9. Elijah was a man of the same nature as us, and he prayed a prayer for it not to rain, and it didn’t rain on the land for three years and six months.
  10. And again he prayed, and the sky gave rain and the land grew its fruit.
  11. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone returns him,
  12. let him know that the man who returned a sinner from his wandering path will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

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1 Peter

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1 Peter Chapter 1

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Greeting from Peter
  1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus the Anointed to the elect sojourners of the Dispersion1“the Dispersion” refers to the Jews who were spread across – i.e. dispersed – throughout the Roman Empire. in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
  2. according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the Spirit making you holy, for obedience and purification by the sprinkled2“purification by the sprinkled” is one word In Greek.  It refers to blood which was sprinkled on someone or something for ceremonial purification. blood of Jesus the Anointed; may grace and peace be multiplied to you.
  3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed , the One who – according to His great mercy – rebirthed us into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus the Anointed from the dead,
  4. into an inheritance that’s imperishable, and undefiled, and unfading; *reserved for you in the heavens.
  5. Men who are being guarded by God’s power through faith for the salvation that’s ready to be revealed in the last season,
  6. in which you jump for joy, though if necessary you are grieved by various trials now for a short time
  7. so that the tested authenticity of your faith – which is more precious than perishing gold though refined through fire – might be found; leading into praise, and glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus the Anointed.
  8. He whom you ^love though not having seen Him.  For whom you greatly rejoice with inexpressible joy and *full of glory; though not seeing Him, yet now believing in Him,
  9. and receiving back the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your being.3“being” The Greek word here is “ψυχή” (psuché), typically translated “soul”. However, It does not mean the part of us which survives death and goes to reward or punishment (Biblically that’s our spirit.  In Revelation 8:9, animals are said to have “psuché”.)  Psuché literally means “breath” and is usually translated “life”.  It refers to the life; the vital force which – together with the body – enables a person to live.  It can also refer to mind, will, emotions, and desires, which together make up a person’s identity, and by extension their entire being.
  10. Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought out and diligently searched; the men who prophesied concerning the grace to you,
  11. diligently searching into what (or what sort of) season the Spirit of the Anointed in them was revealing, and predicting the Anointed’s sufferings and the glories after them.
  12. Prophets to whom it was revealed that they weren’t serving themselves, but you, in the matters which now were reported to you through the men who proclaimed the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; matters into which the angels yearn to look.
Be holy, for He is Holy
  1. Therefore, having girded the loins4“having girded the loins”.  This is a cultural reference, referring to the process of tying a belt or rope around the waist to gather their long robes and prevent them from getting in the way of work.  It figuratively came to mean getting ready for action or work. of your mind and being sober, set your hope completely on the grace being brought to you by the revelation of Jesus the Anointed.
  2. As obedient children, don’t be conforming yourselves to the former cravings you had in your ignorance,
  3. but as the One who called you is holy, you yourselves must also become holy in all your conduct,
  4. because it is *written: “You shall be holy because I am holy.”5quotation/allusion to Leviticus 11:44
  5. And if you call upon the Father – the One impartially judging according to the work of each man – sojourn in reverent fear during the time of your sojourn,
  6. *knowing that you weren’t purchased back from your futile way of life handed down by your fathers with perishable silver or gold,
  7. but with the precious blood of the Anointed, like an unblemished and unstained lamb.
  8. Indeed, He was *known beforehand – before the foundation of the world – but He was revealed in the last times for your sake.
  9. You who through Him believe in God; the One who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, in order for your faith and hope to be in God.
  10. And having *purified your souls by obedience to the truth leading into unfeigned brotherly love, fervently ^love one another from [a pure] heart,
  11. having been *born again not from perishable seed, but from imperishable seed through the living and abiding word of God,
  12. because “all flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like a grassy flower.  The grass withered and the flower faded away,
  13. but the word of the Lord remains through the age.”6quotation/allusion to Isaiah 40:6-8  And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

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1 Peter Chapter 2

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Living Stones
  1. Therefore, having set aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisy, and envies, and all slanders,
  2. like newborn babies, yearn for rational and pure milk, so that by it you might grow up in your salvation,
  3. if you tasted that the Lord is benevolent.
  4. To whom we’re approaching; a living stone that has indeed been rejected by men, but chosen and precious in God’s sight.
  5. And as living stones, you yourselves are being built as a spiritual house into a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus the Anointed.
  6. Therefore, it’s contained in scripture: “Behold, I establish a stone in Zion; a chosen, precious cornerstone and the man believing on Him definitely won’t be put to shame.1quotation/allusion to Isaiah 28:16
  7. Therefore the honor is to you, the men believing.  But to disbelieving men, “The stone that the men building rejected, this became2“became” is literally “became into” the head corner stone,”3quotation/allusion to Psalm 118:22
  8. and “A stumbling stone, and a rock of offense.”4quotation/allusion to Isaiah 8:14  Men who stumble by disbelieving the word, and they were appointed to that stumbling.
  9. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession,5quotation/allusion to Exodus 19:5-6, though in a different order so you might publicly proclaim the moral excellence of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
  10. You who once weren’t a people, but now are the people of God; men who hadn’t received mercy, but now have received mercy.6quotation/allusion to Hosea 2:23
  11. Beloved, I urge you as strangers and sojourners to trade away the fleshly cravings which wage war against the soul,
  12. keeping your conduct among the gentiles noble, so that in whatever they slander you as evildoers, from observing your noble deeds they might glorify God in the day of the visitation of judgement.7“visitation of judgement” is one word in Greek. It can refer to most any kind of visitation, but can especially refer to a visitation of judgement.  However, while the idea of judgement is implied, it’s only implied.  Therefore “of judgement” was italicized to indicate a translator clarification.
Submission to Authorities
  1. Be submitted to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme,
  2. or to governors as sent by him for just vengeance against evildoers, but praise of men doing good,
  3. because this is the will of God; to silence the ignorance of foolish men through doing good
  4. as free men, and not using freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God.
  5. Honor all, ^love the brotherhood, reverently fear God, and honor the king.
  6. Household servants, be submitting to your masters in all reverent fear; not only to the good and reasonable, but also to the perverse.
  7. For this bestows favor, if someone suffering unjustly endures grief for the sake of conscience towards God.
  8. For what credit is there if you’ll endure even being punched because of sinning?  But if you’ll even endure suffering because of doing good, this bestows favor in the sight of God.
  9. For you were called into this because the Anointed also suffered for your sake, leaving behind an example for you so you might closely follow His footsteps.
  10. He who didn’t commit sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.”8quotation allusion to Isaiah 53:9
  11. Who while being reviled wasn’t reviling in return; while suffering he wasn’t uttering threats, but was handing Himself over to the One judging justly.
  12. He who bore our sins in His body on the cross9“cross” the Greek word here literally means “wood”, but can also refer to anything made of wood., so that after having become dead to sins, we might live to righteousness; by whose wounds you were healed.
  13. For you were like sheep wandering astray, but now you were returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

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1 Peter Chapter 3

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Wives and Husbands
  1. In the same way, wives be submitting to your own husbands so that even if any disobey the word, they will be won over without a word through the conduct of the wives,
  2. having observed your pure conduct in reverent fear,1“reverent fear” is one word in Greek, and is the same word that’s used in the phrase “reverent fear of the lord”.  It’s possible that this reverent fear is directed towards God, but also possible it’s directed towards the husband since Ephesians 5:33 commands wives to “reverently fear” their husbands with this same word.  Either or both could’ve been intended.
  3. whose primary adornment must not be the external adornment of elaborate hair-braiding and wearing of gold, or even the wearing of clothes,
  4. but the hidden man of the heart; in the incorruptible adornment of gentle strength2“gentle strength” this Greek word is often translated “meek” or “gentle”.  However, it doesn’t mean the absence of power as “meek” would suggest. Instead, it specifically refers to strength or power that is gently exercised without undue harshness.  i.e. some who is strong but applies their strength gently. and a tranquil spirit which is very precious in the sight of God.
  5. For in this way also in the past, the holy women of old hoping in God were adorning themselves, submitting themselves to their own husbands.
  6. Just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him ‘lord’;3“lord” could also be translated “master”, as the Greek word means both.  “Master” is possibly the intent because in Hebrew (the language Sarah spoke), the word for “husband” more accurately means “master” or “owner”. whose children you became if you’re doing good and not fearing anyone’s consternation.
  7. In the same way, husbands be dwelling with your wives with knowledge and understanding,4“knowledge and understanding” is one word in Greek, which primarily means “knowledge”, but very regularly has the sense of understanding as well. since the female is the weaker vessel; giving them due honor since they’re also joint-heirs of the grace of life, in order for your prayers not to be hindered.
Good and evil, blessing and suffering
  1. And finally, all are to be like-minded, sympathetic, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, and humble,
  2. not repaying evil in exchange for evil, or insult in exchange for insult; but on the contrary blessing, because you were called into this so you might inherit a blessing.
  3. For “the man desiring to ^love life and to see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil, and his lips are not to speak deceit.
  4. Let him also turn away from evil and let him do good.  Let him seek peace and let him pursue it.
  5. Because the Lord’s eyes are on the righteous, and His ears towards their prayer.  But the Lord’s face is against men doing evil.”5quotation/allusion to Psalm 34:12-16
  6. And who is the man who will harm you if you become zealous for what’s good?
  7. But even if you suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed.  “And you shouldn’t fear what they fear, nor should you be shaken.”6quotation/allusion to Isaiah 8:12
  8. And sanctify the Anointed as Lord in your hearts, always prepared for a verbal defense to every man asking you for an account concerning the hope in you, but with gentle strength and reverent fear,
  9. having a good conscience so the men slandering your good conduct in the Anointed might be ashamed by what they say against you.
  10. For to suffer while doing good (if the will of God wills it) is better than doing evil,
  11. because the Anointed also suffered once concerning sins – the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous – so He might bring you to God.  Having indeed been put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit,
  12. and having gone in that state, He proclaimed to the spirits in prison
  13. who formerly disobeyed when the forbearance of God was waiting in the days of Noah while the ark was being built; in which a few – that is, eight souls – were saved through the water.
  14. Which also is a picture of the baptism which now saves you; not a removal of filth from flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus the Anointed.
  15. He who is at God’s right hand, having been brought into heaven, with angels and authorities and powers having been submitted to Him.

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1 Peter Chapter 4

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Suffering and sin
  1. Therefore, since the Anointed suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same mind because the man who suffered in the flesh *stops seeking sin,
  2. for him to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for men’s cravings, but for the will of God.
  3. For the time which has passed is sufficient for the gentiles to have accomplished their purpose: *traveling in wanton debaucheries, cravings, drunkenness, debauched festivals, drinking contests, and lawless idolatries.
  4. In which they’re shocked by you not running with them into the same overflow of wasteful excess, so they’re slandering you.
  5. Men who will give an account to the One who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
  6. For to this end, the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so they might indeed be judged according to men in the flesh, but might live according to God in the spirit.
  7. Now, the end of all things has drawn near.  Therefore, be of sound mind and be sober for prayers,
  8. above all things having fervent ^love among yourselves, because ^love covers a multitude of sins.
  9. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
  10. As each received a gift for serving one another, use them as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
  11. If someone speaks, speak as oracles of God; if someone serves, serve as from the strength which God supplies, so that God might be glorified in all things through Jesus the Anointed, to whom is the glory and the power through the ages of the ages, Amen.
Don’t be shocked by trials
  1. Beloved, don’t be shocked by the fiery trial happening among you for your testing, as though some strange thing is happening to you.
  2. But rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Anointed, exulting so you might also rejoice in the revelation of His glory.
  3. if you’re insulted in the name of the Anointed, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.  [Indeed, He’s blasphemed by them, but glorified by you.]
  4. For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a meddlesome troublemaker.
  5. But if someone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name1“in this name” likely refers to the name “Christian”, which was a pejorative term used by non-Christians at the time.
  6. because the season of judgement is to begin with the house of God. And if it begins with us first, what is the outcome for the men disobeying the gospel of God?
  7. And “if the righteous man is saved with difficulty, where will the ungodly and sinner appear?”2quotation/allusion to Proverbs 11:31
  8. And therefore, let the men suffering in accordance with the will of God entrust their souls to the faithful creator by doing what’s right.

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1 Peter Chapter 5

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Final instructions
  1. I urge the elders among you – as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Anointed, and a partaker in the glory about to be revealed –
  2. shepherd the flock of God among you, looking after1“looking after” is one word in Greek.  It focuses on care by “looking after” someone or something by paying close attention to it. them not because of compulsion, but voluntarily according to God; and not for dishonest gain, but eagerly;
  3. and not like you’re exercising authority over the men in your lot, but becoming examples to the flock.
  4. And when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive back the unfading crown of glory.
  5. In the same way, younger men2“younger men” is one word in Greek.  In Roman society, boys would cease to be children between 14 and 16 at the yearly festival Liberalia.  At this point, the boy became a man in the sense of becoming legally responsible for his own actions.  However, he didn’t become a man with full rights in society until he turned 25, and had restrictions on what he could do until that age.  Hebrew culture had a similar arrangement, beginning at the bar-mitzvah and also ending at about 25.  These “younger men” were often considered irresponsible and prone to making bad decisions, which is a possible reason for Peter’s instruction here.  Modern science has shown that a male brain finishes development at about 25, giving this distinction between “men” and “young men” a biological component that the ancients apparently noticed via behavior. be submitted to the elders.  And all of you, gird yourselves3“gird yourselves” is one word in Greek, which can also carry the connotation of clothing yourself. “Girding” is a cultural reference, referring to the process of tying a belt or rope around the waist to gather their long robes and prevent them from getting in the way of work.  It figuratively came to mean getting ready for action or work. with humility towards one another because “God arrays Himself in battle against the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”4quotation/allusion to Psalm 138:6
  6. Therefore, be humbled under the mighty hand of God so He might elevate you in a proper season,
  7. having cast all your anxiety upon Him because He cares about you.
  8. Be sober-minded.  Keep watch.  Your adversary the Accuser walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour,
  9. whom you must resist, firm in the faith, *knowing that the same sufferings are to perfect5“to perfect” could also be translated “to be accomplished”.  The Greek word literally means to “bring to an end” (Thayers), which can have to connotation of accomplishing, completing, or perfecting, depending on context. your brotherhood in the world.
  10. And after having suffered a short time, the God of all grace – the One who called you into His glory of ages by Jesus the Anointed – He will prepare, establish, strengthen, and ground you.
  11. To Him be the dominion through the ages of the ages, Amen.
Closing
  1. I wrote to you through a few words through Silvanus, (As I consider him a faithful brother) admonishing and testifying this to be the true grace of God, in which you must stand.
  2. The fellow elect woman in Babylon greets you, and so does Mark my son.
  3. Greet one another with a kiss of ^love.  Peace to all of you who are in the Anointed.  [Amen]

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2 Peter

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2 Peter Chapter 1

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Greeting and instruction
  1. Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus the Anointed, to the men who obtained by divine lot1“obtained by divine lot” is one word in Greek. It refers to the process of “casting lots”, which is similar in concept – though not practice – to the modern practice of drawing straws.  In the Old Testament and before the Holy Spirit came they would often draw lots, trusting that God would make the lot fall to the correct person. For example, see Acts 1:24-26 which is the last time this is recorded to have been done, probably because afterward the Holy Spirit came. a faith that’s as equally precious as ours by the righteousness of our God and savior Jesus the Anointed,
  2. may grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
  3. as His divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of the One who called us by His own glory and moral excellence,
  4. through which He has given us great and precious promises, so that through these you might become sharers in the divine nature, having fled the corruption that’s in the world in its cravings.2“cravings” is literally “craving”
  5. And also for this same reason, having supplied all diligent zeal, also supply moral excellence in your faith; and in moral excellence, knowledge;
  6. and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control, perseverance; and in perseverance, godliness;
  7. and in godliness, brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, ^love.
  8. For you possessing and increasing in these things makes you become neither lazy nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus the Anointed.
  9. For in whoever these things aren’t present, he is blind; being short-sighted and having received forgetfulness of his cleansing from his former sins.
  10. Therefore brothers, be more zealously diligent to make your calling and election firm, for by doing these things you definitely won’t ever stumble,
  11. for in this way, entrance into the kingdom of ages of our Lord and savior Jesus the Anointed will be richly supplied to you.
  12. Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you about these things, although you have known and have been strengthened by the truth present in you.
  13. And I consider it right – as long as I’m in this tent – to stir you up in remembrance,
  14. *knowing that the setting aside of my tent is impending, just as our Lord Jesus the Anointed also revealed to me.
  15. And also, I will always be diligently zealous in order for you to have a lasting memory of these things after I make my departure.
  16. For we didn’t follow skillfully *crafted myths when we declared the power and coming of our Lord Jesus the Anointed to you, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
  17. For having received honor and glory from God the Father, such a voice was conveyed to Him by the Majestic Glory: “This is My beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased.”
  18. And it having been conveyed from heaven, this is the voice we heard while being with Him on the holy mountain.
  19. And we have the more certain prophetic word, which you do well by taking heed of it, like a lamp shining in a dark place until that day dawns, and the morning star rises in your hearts,
  20. knowing this first, that every prophecy in scripture isn’t for someone’s own interpretation.
  21. For no prophecy was ever driven by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were being driven by the Holy Spirit.

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2 Peter Chapter 2

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A warning about False Teachers
  1. But there were also false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you who will secretly introduce destructive heresies or sects,1“heresies or sects” is one word in Greek, and it can mean either depending on the context.  In the New Testament it most often means “sects”, as in a subdivision of a particular group, and this verse is the only place it’s usually translated “heresies”. even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.
  2. And many will follow after their wanton debaucheries, through whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
  3. And in covetousness, they will exploit you with deceitfully crafted words; men whose judgement from long ago isn’t idle, and their destruction doesn’t sleep.
  4. For if God didn’t spare angels who sinned, but having cast them into Tartarus.2“having cast them into Tartarus” is one word in Greek, with that exact meaning.  Tartarus belongs to Greek mythology, and was originally the place where the Titans were imprisoned.  This is significant because this passage relates to fallen angels, who like the Titans fought against the gods of Greek mythology and were thrown into Tartarus for their crimes.  If Peter was writing this letter to a Greek audience, the allusion would’ve been unmistakable. He handed them over in chains of black darkness while keeping them for judgement;
  5. and if He didn’t spare the ancient world but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others when He brought the flood on the ungodly world;
  6. and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction; (*establishing an example of what’s coming upon the ungodly by having reduced them to ashes)
  7. and if He rescued righteous Lot, who was being worn down by the wantonly debauched conduct of lawless men;
  8. (For while dwelling among them day by day, that righteous man was being tormented in his righteous soul by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds.)
  9. then the Lord *knows how to rescue the devout from temptation and how to keep the unrighteous punished for the day of judgement,
  10. and especially the men walking after the flesh in defiled cravings3“cravings” is literally “craving” and scorning divine authority. Foolishly bold, self-gratifying; they don’t tremble when blaspheming glory,
  11. where even angels – being greater in strength and power – don’t bring a blasphemous judgement against them4Note: See Jude 1:9 for context before the Lord.
  12. But like unreasoning animals, these men – *born as creatures of instinct for capture and ruinous corruption – will also be ruinously corrupted by their ruinous corruption by blaspheming what they don’t know,
  13. suffering injustice as a wage of doing injustice, considering self-indulgent extravagance in the day as pleasure, blots and blemishes reveling in their deceptions while feasting with you,
  14. having eyes full of sex with other men’s wives5“sex with other men’s wives” is one word in Greek. It literally means “an adulteress”, but can be used as an adjective as it is here.  It should be noted that the Greek word (and Hebrew too) is more limited in scope than our English word adultery. In English, “adultery” means illicit sex between a married person – man or woman – and someone who isn’t their spouse. In Greek (and Hebrew also), it meant “a man having sex with another man’s wife”. A married man having sex with an unmarried woman was called fornication. and incessant sin; enticing unstable souls, having a heart strenuously *trained in covetousness, cursed children
  15. having abandoned the straight way, they wandered astray; having followed after the way of Balaam the son of Beor who ^loved the wage of unrighteousness.
  16. (But he had a rebuke for his own deliberate defiance through a mute donkey, and having spoken in a man’s voice, it restrained the prophet’s madness.)
  17. These men are springs without water and mists being driven by a hurricane; men for whom the black darkness has been reserved.
  18. For while speaking arrogant vanity, through fleshly cravings and wanton debaucheries they entice the men barely escaping from the men walking in deviant error.
  19. Promising them freedom while being slaves of ruinous corruption themselves.  For by what someone has been overcome, by that he has been enslaved.
  20. For if after having escaped the pollutions of the world through full knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus the Anointed, but then they are *overcome, (having been entangled in these pollutions again) the last state *is worse for them than the first.
  21. For it was better for them not to have fully known the way of righteousness than having fully known it, to turn from the holy commandment which was delivered to them.
  22. It has happened to them like the true proverb: “A dog returned to its own vomit, and after washing a sow returned to her muddy wallow.”

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2 Peter Chapter 3

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The Lord doesn’t delay
  1. Beloved, this is already the second letter I write to you, by which I stir up your sincerely pure1“sincerely pure” is one word in Greek. It comes from two other Greek words, the first meaning the shining of the sun, the second to judge.  Together, it means to be judged righteous or pure and sincere after being see in the full light, with the implication of being thoroughly examined and still found pure. mind in remembrance,
  2. to remember the words which have been spoken beforehand by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and savior through your apostles.
  3. Knowing this first, that in the last days scoffers will come with scoffing, walking according to their own cravings
  4. and saying: “Where is the promise of His coming?  For from the time that the fathers fell asleep, all things remain as they were from the beginning of creation.”
  5. For this willingly escapes their notice: that the heavens were existing long ago, and by the word of God the earth has been established from water and through water,
  6. through which the world then perished, having been flooded with water.
  7. But the heavens and the earth exist now by the same word, *reserved for fire that’s being kept for the day of judgement and the ruin of ungodly men.
  8. But beloved, don’t let this one thing escape your notice: that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
  9. The Lord doesn’t delay the promised fulfillment, as some consider delay.  But He patiently endures for you, not intending2“intending” The Greek word βούλομαι (boulomai) is often translated “desiring” or “wishing” in this verse, but it contains much more force than a mere wish or desire.  It means a resolute or determined plan that is intended to be carried out.  Compare in Matthew 11:27 and 1 Corinthians 12:11, among other verses. for any to perish, but to make space for the repentance of all.
  10. But the Lord’s day will arrive like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a great rushing sound, and the elements will be dissolved by burning with intense heat, and the earth and the works in it [won’t be found].3“won’t be found”.  This passage contains one of the most difficult textual variants in the New Testament, centering on the final verb of the sentence. The Critical Text reads εὑρεθήσεται (heurethēsetai = “will be found/discovered”), while the more traditional textual reading in the Majority Text and Textus Receptus read κατακαήσεται (katakaesetai = “will be burned up”).  Additionally, some ancient translations into other languages include a negation before the heurethēsetai reading, making it “will not be found”.  However, this reading has no support from Greek manuscripts.  That makes the options (1) “will be found out” in the sense of judicial discovery.  (2) “will be burned up” in the obvious sense. (This variant has strong support from the immediate context of the passage.(3) “won’t be found” in the sense of destruction.  The BOS Bible has stuck to its source text on this difficult variant, and thus its translation shouldn’t be considered an endorsement of this reading over the others.
  11. With all these being dissolved this way, what sort of men ought you to be?  Holy in conduct and godliness,
  12. looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved by being set on fire, and the elements melt by burning with intense heat.
  13. But we look for the new heavens and the new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness dwells.
  14. Therefore beloved, while looking for these things, be zealously diligent to be found spotless and unblemished by Him, and at peace.
  15. And regard the forbearance of our Lord as salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom which was given to him.
  16. And as in all his letters, he’s speaking in them about these things, in which some things are difficult to understand, which the unlearned and unstable twist to their own ruin, as they also twist the rest of the scriptures.
  17. Therefore, you beloved – knowing this beforehand – watch out so you might not fall from your own steadfastness, having been led away by the deceitful error of lawless men.
  18. But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior, Jesus the Anointed.  To Him be the glory both now and to the day of ages.  Amen.

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1 John

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1 John Chapter 1

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Life and Light
  1. What was existing from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have perceived with our eyes, what we observed, and our hands felt concerning the Word of life.
  2. And the life was revealed, and we have perceived, and testify, and report to you the life of ages which was existing with the Father and was revealed to us.
  3. What we have perceived and we have heard, we also report to you so you might also have fellowship with us; and also our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus the Anointed.
  4. And we write these things so our joy might be *made complete.
  5. And this is the message that we have heard from Him and declare to you; that God is light, and in Him there is absolutely no1“there is absolutely no” is more literally “not is none”, using a double negative to add emphasis.  Since English double negatives cancel each other out instead of adding emphasis, the word ‘absolutely’ was used to keep the emphatic sense of the Greek. darkness.
  6. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and don’t practice the truth.
  7. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from every sin.
  8. If we say that we don’t have sin, we mislead ourselves and the truth is not in us.
  9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just so He might forgive us our sins and cleanse us from every unrighteousness.
  10. If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make Him a liar and His word isn’t in us.

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1 John Chapter 2

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If you know Him, keep His commandments
  1. My little children, I write these things to you so you might not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father; Jesus the Anointed, the Righteous One.
  2. And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
  3. And by this we know that we *know Him: if we keep His commandments.
  4. The man saying: “I *know Him” and not keeping His commandments is a liar and the truth isn’t in him.
  5. But whoever keeps His word, truly the ^love of God has been perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him.
  6. The man claiming to dwell in Him, that man is also obligated to walk in the same way as He walked.
  7. Beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning.  The old commandment is the word which you heard.
  8. Then again, I write a new commandment to you which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness passes away and the true light already shines.
  9. The man claiming to be in the light and yet hating his brother is in the darkness until now.
  10. The man ^loving his brother remains in the light and there isn’t a stumbling block1“stumbling block” is a single word in the Greek. It specifically refers to a “bait stick”, meaning the trigger stick of a trap or snare to which the bait is attached. Think of the part of a mouse trap to which you affix the cheese. On reaching for the bait, the “bait stick” triggers the trap and ensnares the unsuspecting victim.  It can also refer to offending someone, or to stumbling, or the means by which someone stumbles. in him.
  11. But the man hating his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t *know where he is going because the darkness blinded his eyes.
  12. Little children, I write to you because your sins have been forgiven through His name.
  13. Fathers, I write to you because you *know Him who existed from the beginning.  Young men, I write to you because you have overcome the evil one.  Young children, I wrote to you because you *know the Father.
  14. Fathers, I wrote to you because you *know Him who existed from the beginning. Young men, I wrote to you because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Don’t ^love the world
  1. Don’t ^love the world nor the things in the world.  If anyone ^loves the world, the ^love of the Father isn’t in him,
  2. because everything in the world – the craving of the flesh, and the craving of the eyes, and the arrogance of life – isn’t from the Father but is from the world.
  3. And the world is passing away, and its cravings2“cravings” is literally “craving”, but the man doing the will of God remains through the age.
  4. Young children, it’s the last hour.  And just as you heard that the anti-anointed is coming, and now many anti-anointeds have appeared, from which we know that it’s the last hour.
  5. They went out from us, but they weren’t of us.  For if they were of us, they would have remained with us. But they went out so it might be obvious that they aren’t all of us.
  6. And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have known this.
  7. I didn’t write to you because you haven’t known the truth, but because you have known it, and because every lie isn’t from the truth.
  8. Who is the liar except the man denying, who says that Jesus isn’t the Anointed?  This is the anti-anointed; the man denying the Father and the Son.
  9. Every man denying the Son doesn’t have the Father either.  The man confessing the Son also has the Father.
Remain in Him
  1. What you heard from the beginning, let it remain in you.  If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father.
  2. And this is the promise that He Himself promised to us: the life of ages.
  3. I wrote these things to you concerning the men leading you astray.
  4. And you, the anointing that you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need that anyone might teach you.  But just as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true and isn’t a lie; and just as it taught you, you remain in Him.
  5. And now little children, remain in Him so we might have boldness when He appears and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
  6. If you have known that He is righteous, you also know that every man doing righteousness has been born of Him.

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1 John Chapter 3

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Children of God keep His commands
  1. Behold what kind of ^love the Father has given to us, so we might be called children of God; and we are.  The world doesn’t know us because of this, because it didn’t know Him.
  2. Beloved, we are now children of God, and it wasn’t yet revealed what we will be.  We *know that when He is revealed, we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is.
  3. And every man having this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.
  4. Every man practicing sin also practices disregard for God’s commands,1“disregard for God’s commands” is one word in Greek, and is more literally “ignoring God’s law”.  It’s a noun, and literally means “those who are without law”; i.e. those who –  either by ignorance or by rebellion – don’t obey God’s (moral) law. and sin is disregard for God’s commands.
  5. And you *know that He was revealed so He might take away sins; and there is no sin in Him.
  6. Every man remaining in Him doesn’t continue in sin.  Every man continually sinning hasn’t seen Him and hasn’t known Him.
  7. Little children, let no one mislead you; the man practicing righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous.
  8. The man practicing sin is from the Accuser because the Accuser sins from the beginning.  The Son of God was revealed for this, so He might dissolve the works of the Accuser.
  9. Every man who has been born of God doesn’t practice sin because His seed remains in him, and he isn’t able to sin because he has been born of God.
  10. By this, the children of God and the children of the Accuser are obvious; every man not practicing righteousness isn’t of God, and neither is the man not ^loving his brother,
  11. because this is the message that you heard from the beginning so we might ^love one another.
  12. Not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother.  And for what reason did he slay him?  Because his works were evil but his brother’s were righteous.
  13. And so brothers, don’t marvel if the world hates you.
  14. We *know that we have passed over from death into life because we ^love our brothers.  The man not ^loving remains in death.
  15. Every man hating his brother is a murderer, and you *know that every murderer doesn’t have the life of ages remaining in him.
  16. By this we have known ^love, because He laid down His life for our sake.  And we’re obligated to lay down our lives for our brothers’ sake.
  17. But whoever has a livelihood in the world, and sees his brother having a need, and shuts his heart from his brother, how does the ^love of God remain in him?
  18. Little children, we shouldn’t ^love in word nor in tongue, but by action and truth.
  19. And by this we will know that we are of the truth, and will reassure our heart before Him,
  20. because if our heart condemns us, know that God is greater than our heart and He knows all things.
  21. Beloved, if our heart doesn’t condemn us, we have confidence towards God.
  22. And if2“if” many translations leave out the Greek conjunction “ἐὰν” (ean, which is roughly equivalent to the English word “if”) here due to the difficultly of translating the Greek grammar here to English  Literally in Greek it’s: “and whatever if we ask we receive from Him…”. we ask, we receive whatever we ask from Him because we keep His commandments and do pleasing things in His sight.
  23. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son, Jesus the Anointed, and that we ^love one another, just as He gave the commandment to us.
  24. And the man keeping His commandments remains in Him, and He in him.  And by this we know that He remains in us, from the Spirit whom He gave to us.

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1 John Chapter 4

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Test spirits
  1. Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
  2. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses Jesus the Anointed has come in the flesh is from God.
  3. And every spirit that doesn’t confess Jesus [the Anointed has come in the flesh] isn’t from God, and this is the spirit of the anti-anointed, which you have heard that is coming, and now is already in the world.
  4. You are from God little children.  And you have overcome them because the One in you is greater than the one in the world.
  5. They are from the world.  Because of this, they speak from the world and the world hears them.
  6. We are from God.  The man knowing God hears us.  He who isn’t from God doesn’t hear us.  From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
^Love
  1. Beloved, we should ^love one another because ^love is from God, and every man who is ^loving has been born from God and knows God.
  2. The man who is not ^loving didn’t know God because God is ^love.
  3. The ^love of God was revealed among us by this, that God has sent His only unique1“only unique” The Greek word here properly means “only one in its class” or “unique of its kind.”  Outside the Bible it has been used of the only legitimate heir of a monarch, as opposed to other children from concubines (slave wives in the Bible) who weren’t eligible to inherit. Son into the world so we might live through Him.
  4. In this is ^love: not that we have ^loved God, but that He ^loved us and sent His Son as a propitiation for our sins.
  5. Beloved, if God ^loved us this way, we also are obligated to ^love one another.
  6. No one has ever seen God.  If we ^love one another, God remains in us and His ^love is *perfected in us.
  7. By this we know that we remain in Him and He in us, because He has given to us from His Spirit.
  8. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the savior of the world.
  9. Whoever confesses that Jesus [the Anointed] is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God.
  10. And we have known and have believed the ^love which God has in us.  God is ^love, and the man remaining in ^love remains in God and God remains in him.
  11. By this ^love has been perfected with us, so we might have confidence in the day of judgement, because just as He is, we are also in this world.
  12. There isn’t fear in ^love, but perfect ^love casts out fear because fear has punishment.  And the man fearing hasn’t been perfected in ^love.
  13. We ^love because He first ^loved us.
  14. If someone says: “I ^love God” and hates his brother, he is a liar.  For the man not ^loving his brother whom he has seen isn’t able to ^love God whom he hasn’t seen.
  15. And this is the commandment we have from Him, that the man ^loving God should also ^love his brother.

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1 John Chapter 5

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Belief, Obedience, and Testimony
  1. Every man believing that Jesus is the Anointed has been born from God.  And every man ^loving the One who fathered Him also ^loves the man who has been born from Him.
  2. By this we know that we ^love the children of God, when we ^love God and keep His commandments.
  3. For this is the ^love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments aren’t burdensome,
  4. because everything *born from God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory which overcame the world: our faith.
  5. And who is the man overcoming the world except the man believing that Jesus is the Son of God?
  6. This is the One who came through water and blood, Jesus the Anointed; not by water only, but by the water and by the blood.  And the Spirit is the One testifying because the Spirit is the truth.
  7. For there are three testifying [in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
  8. And there are three testifying on earth:]1This textual variant commonly called the “Johannine Comma”, which is one of the most significant textual variants in scripture. It’s absent from nearly all Greek manuscripts, but present in nearly all Latin ones. It was cited as scripture in the early 200s by Cyprian, and possibly earlier by Tertullian, though the latter’s allusion is more vague.  Jerome (347-420 AD) specifically mentions this as a passage which was removed by “unfaithful translators” (likely a reference to the Arians, who control much of the Greek-speaking church for a time).  There is a strong grammatical argument for its inclusion as well, as omitting it causes a major grammatical error that even children likely wouldn’t make, much less a brilliant author like John. Gregory of Nazanzius (329-390 AD) made this same grammatical argument.  However, the modern scholarly consensus is that this wasn’t original to John based on the paucity of Greek manuscripts which contain it.  The debate is ongoing. the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three are in one accord.
  9. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, because this is the testimony of God that He has testified concerning His Son.
  10. The man believing in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.  The man not believing God has made Him a liar because he hasn’t believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning His Son.
  11. And the testimony is this: that God gave the life of ages to us, and this life is in His Son.
  12. The man having the Son has the life.  The man not having the Son of God doesn’t have the life.
  13. I wrote these things to you – the men believing in the name of the Son of God – so you might *know that you have the life of ages [and so you might believe in the name of the Son of God].
  14. And this is the confidence that we have towards Him, that if we ask something according to His will, He hears us.
  15. And if we *know that He hears us if2“if” many translations leave out the Greek conjunction “ἐὰν” (ean, which is roughly equivalent to the English word “if”) here due to the difficultly of translating the Greek grammar here into English  Literally in Greek it is: “And if we have known that He hears us whatever if we might ask…”. we ask whatever we ask, then we *know that we have the requests that we have asked from Him.
Final Instruction
  1. If someone sees his brother sinning a sin that doesn’t lead to death, he shall ask and He will give life to him, to the men sinning a sin not leading to death.  There is sin that leads to death; I don’t say that he should ask concerning that sin.
  2. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that doesn’t lead to death.
  3. We *know that every man who has been born from God doesn’t continually sin, but the One who was born from God keeps him, and the evil one doesn’t touch him.
  4. We *know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the evil one’s power.
  5. And we *know that the Son of God is present and has given us understanding so we might know Him who is true, and we are in the true One, in His Son Jesus the Anointed.  He is the true God and the life of ages.
  6. Little children, guard yourselves from idols.  [Amen]

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2 John

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Walking in Truth
  1. The elder, to the elect lady and her children whom I ^love in truth.  And not only I, but also all the men who *know the truth,
  2. because of the truth remaining in us, and it will be with us through the age.
  3. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus the Anointed, the Son of the Father, in truth and ^love.
  4. I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, just as we received a commandment from the Father.
  5. And now I ask you lady – not as writing a new commandment to you, but what we had from the beginning – that we might ^love one another.
  6. And this is ^love: that we walk according to His commandments.  This is the commandment, just as you heard from the beginning so you might walk in it,
  7. because many deceivers went out into the world, the men not confessing Jesus the Anointed coming in the flesh.  This is the deceiver and the anti-anointed.
  8. Watch yourselves, so you might not lose what we worked for, but might receive back a full wage.
  9. Every man going too far and not remaining in the teaching of the Anointed doesn’t have God.  But the man remaining in the teaching; this man has both the Father and the Son.
  10. If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bear this teaching, don’t receive him into the house, and don’t say to him “Greetings!”
  11. for the man saying to him “Greetings!” participates in his evil works.
  12. Having many things to write to you, I resolved not to do so with paper and ink.  But I expect to come to you and to speak mouth to mouth so our joy might be *filled.
  13. The children of your elect sister greet you.  [Amen]

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3 John

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Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius
  1. The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I ^love in truth.
  2. Beloved, I pray for you to prosper in all things and to be healthy, just as your soul prospers.
  3. For I rejoiced greatly at the brothers’ coming and their testifying of the truth in you, just as you walk in the truth.
  4. I have no greater joy than these things, that I might hear of my children walking in the truth.
  5. Beloved, you faithfully do whatever you work for the brothers, (and also do this for strangers)
  6. men who testified of your ^love before the church, for whom you will do honorably by having sent them forward in a manner worthy of God.
  7. For they went out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the pagans.
  8. Therefore, we’re obligated to accept such men so that we might become fellow workers in the truth.
  9. I wrote something to the church, but the man loving to be first among them, Diotrephes, doesn’t welcome us.
  10. Because of this, if I come, I will call to mind his works that he is doing, prattling against us with evil words.  And not being satisfied by these, he himself doesn’t welcome the brothers either, and he hinders the men resolving to do so and casts them out of the church.
  11. Beloved, don’t imitate evil, but good.  The man doing good is from God.  The man doing evil hasn’t seen God.
  12. Good testimony of Demetrius has been given by all, and by the truth itself.  And we also testify, and you *know that our testimony is true.
  13. I had many things to write to you, but I don’t want to write to you through pen and ink.
  14. But I hope to see you very soon, and we will speak mouth to mouth.  Peace to you.  The friends greet you.  Greet the friends by name.

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Jude

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Warning about false “Christians”
  1. Jude, a slave of Jesus the Anointed and brother of James, to the called men who are *^loved by God the Father and *kept by Jesus the Anointed;
  2. may mercy, and peace, and ^love be multiplied to you.
  3. Beloved, using all diligent zeal to write to you concerning our common salvation, I had a compulsion to write to you; encouraging you to earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
  4. For some men secretly snuck in; men who have been written of beforehand long ago for this judgement; ungodly men changing the grace of our God into wanton debauchery and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus the Anointed.
  5. But I’m resolved to remind you (though you *knew all this at one time) that Jesus, after having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed the men who didn’t believe.
  6. And the angels who didn’t keep to their own domain but abandoned their own dwelling, He has kept them in eternal chains under darkness for judgement on the great day.
  7. Like Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them – which in a similar way as these indulged in fornication and went after strange flesh – are set forth as an example of undergoing the sentence of the fire of ages.
  8. Yet likewise also, these dreaming men indeed defile the flesh, and reject divine authority, and blaspheme glory.
  9. But Michael the archangel – when disputing with the Accuser while he was reasoning about Moses’ body – didn’t dare to bring forward a blasphemous judgment, but said “May the Lord rebuke you.”
  10. But these men indeed blaspheme whatever they haven’t seen. And whatever they understand naturally, like unreasoning animals, they ruinously corrupt themselves by these things.
  11. Woe to them, because they were led in the way of Cain, and they rushed into the error of Balaam for a reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
  12. These are the hidden reefs fearlessly feasting together with you at your ^love feasts, shepherding only themselves, clouds without water, being carried away by winds, autumn trees without fruit, having died twice, having been uprooted,
  13. wild waves of the sea foaming up1“foaming up” is one word in Greek.  It refers to how refuse tends to collect on the crests of waves and thus is visible for a long way. their own shame, wandering stars for whom the black darkness has been reserved through the age.
  14. And also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men saying: “Behold, the Lord came among ten thousands of His holy ones,
  15. to execute judgement against all, and to convict with evidence all the ungodly concerning all their works of ungodliness that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the unyieldingly harsh things that ungodly sinners spoke against Him.”
  16. These men are grumblers, complainers, following after their cravings, and their mouth speaks exaggerations; flattering others’ appearances for the sake of profit.
  17. But you beloved, remember the words which have been spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus the Anointed,
  18. that they were telling you that in the last time, there will be scoffers following after their own ungodly cravings.
  19. These are the men creating divisions, naturally earthly, not having the Spirit.
  20. But you beloved – building yourselves up in your most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit –
  21. keep yourselves in the ^love of God, expectantly welcoming the mercy of our Lord Jesus the Anointed for the life of ages.
  22. And indeed, show mercy to men who are doubting,
  23. and save others by snatching them from the fire, and show mercy to others with fear, even hating the clothing which has been stained by the flesh.
  24. Now, to the One able to guard you without stumbling and to establish you unblemished in exultation in the sight of His glory,
  25. to our only God and savior through Jesus the Anointed our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now, and through all the ages.  Amen.

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Prophecy

Revelation

 

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