Bible verses about "cynicism" | JMNT

¹⁰ yet especially (or: most of all) the people continually passing from one place to another after flesh (= aspects of the natural realm; = expressions or experiences of the estranged self or the human nature that has been conformed to the System) in defiling (polluting; staining) lust (over-desire; full passion), even habitually thinking disparagingly (scorning; despising; down-thinking) of lordship (ownership; constituted authority). [These are] presumptuous folks (audacious ones), self-pleasing people (willfully arrogant ones), continuously slandering (defaming; speaking injuriously about; obscuring the light of; vilifying) reputations,

¹ I am asking (or: saying), then, God does not (or: did not) thrust away His people, does He (or: did He)? [cf Ps. 94:14] Certainly not (May it not happen)! For I myself am also (or: also exist being) an Israelite, forth from out of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe Benjamin. ² God does not (or: did not) thrust away His people – whom He by experience intimately foreknew! Or have you not seen, and thus perceive, in [the passage of] Elijah, what the Scripture is saying as he is repeatedly encountering in God (or: hitting on target when conversing with God), concerning the sphere and condition of (or: down against) Israel? ³ "O Lord [= O Yahweh], they kill Your prophets! They dig down under (thus: undermine to demolish) Your altars! And as for me, I was left under, alone (or: I'm the only one left below), and they continually seek (are continuously trying to find) my soul (my breath; = they want to kill me)." [1 King 19:10, 14] ⁴ To the contrary, what does the useful transaction (the deliberative instruction; the oracle) say to him? "I leave down (or: reserve) to Myself (for Myself; in Myself) [other MSS: They have been leaving for Myself] seven thousand adult males, those men who do not bend a knee to Baal." [1 Kings 19:18] ⁵ Thus then, also, within the present season (or: In this way, therefore, even in the current appropriate situation and in union with the present fertile moment) a destitute remainder (or: a forsaken minority under the effect of lack; a left-behind surviving group; a worn-smooth, plain, inferior, unsculptured, unembossed part; a remnant) has been birthed (has come to be and exists) down from a selection of grace (in accord with an election which is grace and a choosing-out for favor). ⁶ Now since (or: if) [it is] by grace (in a gift of favor), [it is] no longer from out of works (deeds; actions)! Otherwise grace (the joyous gift of favor) comes to be no longer grace (or: Else grace is no longer birthed, or comes to be, grace; [some MSS add: but if from out of works, it is no longer grace, otherwise the work is no longer work]). ⁷ What, then? That which Israel is constantly searching for (or: seeking out), this it did not encounter (or: did not hit upon the mark, and thus, obtain), yet The Selected One (the Picked-out and Chosen One; or: the choice collection; the elect – that which is chosen out) hit upon the mark, encountered and obtained it. But the rest (the folks remaining) were petrified (were turned into stone; were made calloused and were hardened), ⁸ just as it has been and now stands written, "God gives (or: at one point gave) to them a spirit (breath-effect and attitude) of stupor, from receiving a piercing blow (or: deep sleep; a senseless mental condition), eyes of the [condition] not to see, ears of the [condition] not to hear, until this very day (or: until today's day)." [Deut. 29:4; Isa. 29:10] ⁹ And David is saying, "Let their table be birthed into a snare (a trap) and into a wild beast trap-net and into a trap-stick, even into an effect of repayment to them (for them; in them). ¹⁰ "Let their eyes be darkened, not to see, and let them bend (or: bow) their back together [in bondage] through all (or: every [situation])." [Ps. 69:22-23] ¹¹ I am asking, then, they do not stumble that they should fall, do they? Certainly not! On the contrary, by (or: in) the result of their fall to the side the Deliverance (the Rescue, Salvation, health and wholeness; the restoration to the original state and condition) [is] in (for; to) the nations (the ethnic multitudes; the non-Jews; the Gentiles; the pagans) unto "the [situation] to bring jealousy alongside them (or: in order to provoke them to jealousy)." [Deut. 32:21] ¹² Now since (or: if) the effect of their fall to the side [brings, or, is] enrichment of the world (universe; = all humanity; or: the realm of the secular; or: the ordered System [outside of Israel]) and the effect of their lessened condition (result of their diminishing from an overthrow) [brings, or, is] enrichment of the nations (ethnic multitudes; non-Jews; Gentiles), how much exceedingly more the effects of their filled-full condition (the result of their full measure with the entire contents)! ¹³ So I am presently speaking for and to you, the nations (the ethnic multitudes; the non-Jews; the Gentiles; the pagans). In as much as (or: For as long as), indeed then, I myself am an emissary (envoy; missionary; one sent on a mission with a commission) pertaining to and belonging to [the] ethnic multitudes (nations; non-Jewish groups; Gentiles; pagans), I am continually building the reputation, appearance and notions of my service and dispensing (or: I am glorifying the function and execution of my attending in waiting upon [you folks]), ¹⁴ if somehow, possibly, I may arouse my own flesh (= my own people) to jealousy and can deliver (or: should save; as a future: I will rescue and make whole) certain folks (or: some) from among them. ¹⁵ You see, since (or: if) their casting away (or: their rejection [of the good news]) [is, means or brings the] conciliation of the aggregate of humanity (the changing of the universal system to another level of existence; the complete change for the arranged order to be other than it was; the world's change from enmity to friendship), what [will be] the receiving (the acceptance; the taking or drawing toward one's self as a companion or associate) [of them, (or: the receiving of it)] if not life forth from out of the midst of dead folks?! ¹⁶ Now since (or: But if) the Firstfruit [is] holy (set-apart and consecrated; sacred), the kneaded mixture (the result of the lump which is mingled and reduced to a uniform consistency by treading, kneading or beating) also [is]; and since (or: if) the Root [is] holy (set-apart, sacred, different from the norm), so also [are] the branches (the shoots; the boughs). ¹⁷ Now since some (or: if certain ones) of the branches are broken off (or: were at one point broken out of [the tree]), yet you yourself, being a wild olive tree of the field or forest, you are (or: were) grafted in within (or: among) them, you also came to be (are birthed; are become) a joint-participant (a partner taking in common together with; a co-partaker) of the Root and of the Fatness (= sap) of The Olive Tree (or: of the oil of the olive). ¹⁸ Stop boasting against (or: Do not be constantly vaunting or exulting over) the branches! Now since you are habitually boasting and exulting (priding yourself), you yourself are not bearing (supporting; sustaining; carrying) The Root, but rather, The Root you! ¹⁹ You will say (or: declare), then, "Branches are broken off (or: were broken out of [the tree]) to the end that I may be grafted in." ²⁰ Beautifully [put]! (Ideally [said]!; Well [conceived]!) In lack of faith or trust (or: By unbelief; Because of lack of allegiance) they are broken off (or: were broken out of the midst), yet you yourself stand in faith (or: by trust; with confidence). Stop being haughty (Don't constantly have high opinions; Do not continually think lofty things), but to the contrary, [be constantly having] an attitude and mindset of respectful awe (or: [Godly] fear; healthy respect)! ²¹ For you see, since (or: if) God spares not (or: did not spare) the natural branches (the branches down from, or, in accord with, nature), neither will He continue sparing you! ²² Observe, perceive and consider, then, God's useful kindness (benevolent utility) and abruptness (sheer cutting-off; rigorous severity) – on the one hand upon those falling: abruptness (sheer cutting-off); on the other hand (or: yet) upon you: God's useful kindness (benign, profitable utility), provided (or: if) you should persistently remain in (or: with; by) the useful kindness (or: = continue to be kind and useful). Otherwise you, also, will proceed in being cut out! ²³ Now they also, if they should not persistently remain in the lack of faith and trust (or: unbelief), they will proceed in being grafted in, for God is able (capable; is constantly powerful) to graft them back in again! ²⁴ For since (or: if) you yourself were cut out of the olive tree [which is] wild (of the field or forest) by nature, and then to the side of nature (perhaps: = outside of, or contrary to, nature) you are (or: were at one point) grafted in – into a fine (beautiful; cultivated; garden) olive tree – to how much greater an extent (or: for how much rather) will these, the ones in accord with nature, proceed in being engrafted into their own olive tree! ²⁵ For I am not willing for you folks to continue being ignorant of this secret (or: mystery), brothers (= fellow believers; family), in order that you folks may not continue being prudent, thoughtful or discreet by [other MSS: among or within; other MSS: beside] yourselves (= be conceited), that a petrifying, from a part (a stone-like hardening in some measure; a callousness [extending over] a part), has been birthed and come into existence in Israel (or: has happened to Israel) until which [time] (or: to the point of which [situation]) the effect of the full measure (or: the results of the entire contents; or: = the full impact and full compliment of forces) from the nations (or: of the ethnic multitudes) may enter in. [comment: Does the last clause refer to the entrance of the Roman legions into Jerusalem? Or, is this referring to the fullness of all ethnic multitudes, which now includes Israel, entering into the kingdom, since vs. 32, below, says that God has locked up all mankind in disobedience, etc., so as to have mercy upon all?] ²⁶ And thus, all Israel will progressively be delivered (rescued, saved, made whole and restored to their original position), according as it has been written, "The One continuously dragging out of danger and drawing to Himself (The Rescuer; The Deliverer) will repeatedly arrive and be present from out of Zion; He will continue turning irreverence away from Jacob. ²⁷ "And this [is] the arrangement for them from beside Me (or: And this [will be] My covenant in, to and for them) when I take away their failures (deviations; sins; mistakes; misses of the target; shooting amiss of the goal)." [Isa. 59:20-21; 27:9] ²⁸ Corresponding to (With respect to; In accord with; Down from) the Good News (the message of goodness and well-being), on the one hand, [they were] enemies (hostile ones; ones regarded as enemies) because of (or: through; with a view to) you folks; on the other hand, according to (in accord with; down from; corresponding to) the selection (the choosing out; the election) [they are] loved ones, because of (with a view to) the fathers (= ancestors), ²⁹ for the grace-effects and the calling of God (or: for you see, the results of God's joyous favor and invitation) [are] void of regret and without change in purpose (or: unregretted; not to be regretted afterward; are not subject to recall; = are never taken back). ³⁰ For just as you folks were once (or: at one time) incompliant to God (or: unconvinced, disobedient, unwilling to be persuaded and stubborn by God), yet now (at the present time) you folks are (or: were) mercied (made the recipients of mercy) by (or: in; with) the incompliance (disobedience; stubbornness; lack of being convinced) of these folks. ³¹ Thus, also, these now (at the present time) are incompliant (stubborn; disobedient; unconvinced) by (or: for; to) your mercy, to the end that they also may now be mercied (would be the recipients of mercy). ³² For you see, God encloses, shuts up and locks all mankind (everyone; the entire lot of folks) into incompliance (disobedience; stubbornness; lack of being convinced), to the end that He could (or: would; should) mercy all mankind (may make everyone, the all, recipients of mercy)! ³³ O, the depth of God's riches (wealth; resources) and wisdom and intimate, experiential knowledge and insight! How unsearchable (inscrutable) the effects of His decisions (the results of the distinctive separations, judicial awards, judgments and evaluations from Him), and untrackable (untraceable) His ways (paths; roads). ³⁴ For, "Who knows (knew by intimate experience) the Lord's [= Yahweh's] mind? Or, who becomes (or: came to be) His planning adviser (His design counselor; the one who makes determinations with Him)?" [Isa. 40:13] ³⁵ Or, "Who gives to Him first, and it will continue being repaid to him?" [Job. 41:3] ³⁶ Because, forth from out of the midst of Him, then through the midst of Him (or: through means of Him), and [finally] into the midst of Him, [is; will be] the whole (everything; [are] all things; or: = Because He is the source, means and goal/destiny of all things – everything leads into Him)! By Him (In Him; To Him; For Him; With Him) [is] the glory (the manifestation of that which calls forth praise; the reputation; the notion; the opinion; the imagination; the credit; the splendor) on into the ages. It is so (Amen; So be it; Count on it)!

²⁰ So Jesus proceeds saying to them, "Because of your little trust and small faith-confidence. For truly (amen) I am now saying to you men, if you can progressively hold trust, and habitually have faith – as a mustard seed (grain of mustard), you folks will say to this mountain, 'Move at once, from this place [to over] there! (= Change locations!),' and it will be transferring (moving). And so, nothing will continue being impossible for (or: to; in; with) you men."

¹³ No longer, then, should we continue judging (making decisions about; discriminating against; separating away) one another, but rather, to a greater extent you folks must decide this: not to continue placing (or: setting) the stumbling-block (that which results in tripping) for or in the brother; neither a snare (a trap-spring; a cause for tripping or becoming trapped).