Malachi 2 Cross References - JMNT

⁹ "Furthermore, do not presume to be habitually saying among yourselves, 'We continue having Abraham [as] a father,' for I am now saying to you that God continues able (or: constantly has power) to at once raise up (or: awaken) children to Abraham (or: for Abraham; in Abraham) from out of these stones!

¹² "Whose winnowing fork (or: shovel) [is] within His hand, and He will proceed thoroughly cleaning up (clearing, scouring and cleansing) His threshing floor and then will progressively gather (bring together) His grain into the storehouse (granary; barn), yet the chaff (straw and husks) He will continue completely burning, in an inextinguishable Fire."

²¹ "You folks heard that it was said to (or: by) the original peoples (or: the beginning humans; the archaic ones; the ancient folks; those of the early period), 'You folks will not continue murdering.' [Ex. 20:13] Yet whoever may commit murder will continue being held within the decision (= held under the control of the crisis or the judging). ²² "However, I Myself am now saying to you people that everyone, who – from internal swelling or agitated emotions of his natural disposition, or from the fruition of his mental bent – is habitually being randomly impulsive to, or without cause repeatedly intensely angry with, his brother (= fellow member of the society) will continue being held within the decision (= under control of the judging of the local court). Now whoever may at some point say to his brother, 'Raca (an Aramaic word of verbal abuse: contemptible imbecile; worthless good-for-nothing; senseless empty-head; brainless idiot; blockhead)!' will continue being held within (= accountable to) the Sanhedrin (the ruling Jewish council). Yet whoever may at some point say, 'Inept moron (Stupid scoundrel; Despicable fool; Perverse idiot)!' will continue being held within (= accountable to) [placement] into the [part of] the Valley of Hinnom which pertains to the fire (i.e., the incinerator for refuse in the dump outside of Jerusalem). [note: Dallas Willard, in his book The Divine Conspiracy, HarperSanFrancisoc, 1998, p. 151-2, points out that raca was a word of contempt, and contempt, he says, is "a studied degradation of another," or, it is meant to "mark [someone] out" as being "contemptible." He further shows that using expressions of contempt "breaks the social bond" and excludes, pushes a person away, and leaves him isolated. Willard cites Prov. 14:16; 18:2 and 26:11 as Biblical definitions of a "fool;" he states that this word "is a combination of stupid perversity and rebellion against God"]

²⁷ "You folks hear (or: heard) that it was declared, 'You will not continue committing adultery!' [Ex. 20:13] ²⁸ "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you people that every man who is continuing in, or, repeatedly looking at and observing (constantly watching or leering at; = fantasizing over) a [married] woman, with a view toward the [situation, or, condition] to crave her (to experience strong passion for her, or, to desire to rush in a heat of emotion upon her), has already committed adultery with her, within his heart!

²⁸ "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you people that every man who is continuing in, or, repeatedly looking at and observing (constantly watching or leering at; = fantasizing over) a [married] woman, with a view toward the [situation, or, condition] to crave her (to experience strong passion for her, or, to desire to rush in a heat of emotion upon her), has already committed adultery with her, within his heart! ²⁹ "So if your right eye is habitually a bait-stick which entraps you, immediately tear it out and throw it away from you! You see, it constantly brings things together for benefit and advantage in (for; to) you folks that one of your members should loose itself away (may destroy itself; could come to be lost), so that your whole body should not be thrown into the Valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna – the city dump [= to dishonor you by giving no burial; to treat you as a criminal]).

³¹ "Now it was declared, 'Whoever should dismiss (loose-away; = divorce) his wife, let him give a certificate of divorce (or: a divorce; a standing-off and away) to her.' [Deut. 24:1; note: separation equaled a legal divorce; the document would pertain to property, child custody, and/or return of the dowry; it would also protect her from a charge of committing adultery if she was with another unmarried man] ³² "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you folks that every man proceeding in dismissing (loosing-away) his wife – outside of a case of infidelity (fornication; prostitution; sexual misconduct) – proceeds in making her a subject of adultery. [comment: this would annul their then current practice for a man to be able to divorce his wife just for whatever reason he might choose; this statement by Jesus was a great advance toward cultural equality of the sexes] ³³ "Again, you folks hear (or: heard) that is was declared to (or: by) the original peoples (or: the beginning humans; the archaic ones; the ancient folks; those of the early period), 'You will not repeatedly break an oath (swear without performing; swear falsely; commit perjury),' and further, 'You will habitually give back (repay) to the Lord [= Yahweh] your oaths.' [Lev. 19:12] ³⁴ "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you folks to absolutely (altogether) not grab hold of a sacred object or make reference to a sacred sphere, so as to affirm an oath or swear confirmation – neither within the heaven (the atmosphere), because it is God's throne (seat of rule); ³⁵ "nor within the earth, because it is a footstool for His feet [Isa. 66:1]; nor [referencing] into Jerusalem, because it is ‘a city belonging to and having reference to the great King.’ [Ps. 48:2] ³⁶ "Neither within your head should you [mentally] touch something sacred so as to affirm an oath, because you continue having no power (or: ability) to make one hair shining white (to have the character of bright light) or black. ³⁷ "So let your word habitually be 'Yes,' [and mean] yes; [or] 'No,' [and let] 'no' [end the matter]. Now the thing [which is] in excess of these is (or: exists being) forth from out of the midst of the bad condition [of mankind] (the situation of hard labor, pain and misery; or: the evil, malevolent and wicked [thought]).

⁴³ "You folks hear (or: heard) that it was declared, 'You will habitually love the one near to you (your neighbor or associate) ' [Lev. 19:18] – and yet you will constantly regard your enemy with ill will (hate the one hostile to you). ⁴⁴ "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you folks: Be constantly loving your enemies (urging toward reunion with, and accepting as persons standing on the same ground, those folks hostile to you; [comment: this could have applied to the Romans, as well as to personal enemies]), and be habitually praying over (on behalf of) the people continuously persecuting you –

²¹ "So brother will continue giving over (turn in) brother unto death – and a father, a child – and children will continue standing up upon (or: rising up against or attacking) parents and will from time to time murder them, or cause them to be put to death.

¹⁸ "You see, John came neither habitually eating nor constantly drinking, and people are continually saying, 'He continues having and holding a demon (Hellenistic concept and term: = an animistic influence).' ¹⁹ "The Son of the Man (the son of mankind; humanity's son; = the son of Adam; or: the Human Being) comes regularly eating and continuously drinking, and people are repeatedly saying, 'Look, see a person [who is] a glutton and a drunkard (one who habitually drinks too much wine), a friend of tax collectors (customs and tribute agents; or: tax farmers) and outcasts (sinners; folks that the religious people considered "worldly" and by way of life ceremonially unclean and thus separated from the religious community: outcasts of society who failed to measure up to religious and cultural standards; irreligious people)!' Well, Wisdom was set and deemed in right relationship with fairness and equity in the Way pointed out – from its deeds (works and actions)!"

² "Why (= Through what reason or situation) are your disciples habitually side-stepping (thus, deviating from) the tradition of the Elders? For example, they are not regularly washing [their] hands [to make them ritually clean] whenever they may be periodically eating bread (= a meal)." ³ So He, giving a decided reply, said to them, "Why (or: Through what situation or reasoning) are you people habitually side-stepping and deviating from God's implanted goals (impartation of the finished product within; inward directives) through your tradition? ⁴ "For God said, 'Be habitually honoring and expressing value for the father and the mother,' [Ex. 20:12] and, 'The person habitually saying a bad, ugly or worthless word or message to or concerning (= verbally abusing) father or mother, let him progressively come to fruition (or: reach his end; be finished) in (or: by) death.' [Ex. 21:17] ⁵ "Yet you, yourselves, are habitually maintaining, 'Whoever may at some point say to the father or the mother, "Whatever from me should have benefited or helped you [is now] a 'gift' [cf "Corban," Mark 7:11; meaning: a gift to God; i.e., it is consecrated for God's use, and can at any time be claimed for Temple use, and is thus unusable for any other purpose],

¹⁴ "Abandon them at once! (other choices: Divorce them; Let them flow away; Leave them; Leave them [alone]; Send them away; Let them go!) They exist being blind guides of the Path (or: blind leaders of the Way). Now if a blind person should ever lead or guide [another] blind person, both people will proceed to be falling into a pit!"

¹⁹ "For example, from out of the heart (the core of our being) habitually come forth worthless reasonings (wicked designs; considerations having a bad quality; miserable and laborious dialogues and arguments), murders, adulteries, fornications and prostitutions, sexual immoralities (fornications; prostitutions), thefts, false testimonies (or: false presentations of evidence), blasphemies (malicious slanders; abusive misrepresentations).

³ Later, Pharisees came to Him, examining, testing and trying to put Him to the proof, as well as proceeding to ask if [a man] is normally allowed by Law and custom to loose-away (dismiss; divorce) his wife in correspondence to every cause (= for any sort of grounds or reason). [note: "every cause" was a technical term from current Jewish law that had been introduced by Rabbi Hillel; it allowed a man to divorce his wife if she did anything he disliked – even, e.g., for burning his food while cooking it] ⁴ So He, giving a discerning reply, said, "Do (or: Did) you men not read that the Creator (the Framer and Founder; [other MSS: the Maker]) 'makes (or: made) them male and female,' from [the] beginning? [Gen. 1:27; 5:2]

⁴ So He, giving a discerning reply, said, "Do (or: Did) you men not read that the Creator (the Framer and Founder; [other MSS: the Maker]) 'makes (or: made) them male and female,' from [the] beginning? [Gen. 1:27; 5:2] ⁵ "Further on it said, For this reason a man (person; human) will completely leave behind the father and the mother, and he will be glued to and joined in his wife, and so the two will be existing progressively into one flesh'? [Gen. 2:24]

⁵ "Further on it said, For this reason a man (person; human) will completely leave behind the father and the mother, and he will be glued to and joined in his wife, and so the two will be existing progressively into one flesh'? [Gen. 2:24] ⁶ "Consequently, they no longer exist being two, but rather [are] one flesh. Therefore, what God yokes together (or: coupled together with a yoke), let no human proceed to be splitting apart or separating."

⁶ "Consequently, they no longer exist being two, but rather [are] one flesh. Therefore, what God yokes together (or: coupled together with a yoke), let no human proceed to be splitting apart or separating." ⁷ They proceeded saying to Him, "Why, then, did Moses impart the directive whose end in view was to give a little scroll of divorce (a standing-away; apostasy; defection) and to release her (or: loose her away)?" [Deut. 24:1, 3] ⁸ Jesus then answers them, "Moses, facing (or: with a view toward) your hardheartedness, completely turned directions and made concession to you people, allowing you to divorce your wives. Yet from [the] beginning it had not happened in this way. ⁹ "Now I am saying to you that whoever may loose-away or divorce his wife (or: woman) – [when it is] not upon [the case of] infidelity (fornication; sexual misconduct) – and then should marry another woman, he is continuing in committing adultery. Also, the man involved in marrying a woman having been divorced proceeds in committing adultery." [comment: Jesus here sides with Rabbi Shammai who held the earlier interpretation of Deut. 24:1-4 that marital unfaithfulness was the only cause for divorce]

¹⁷ So He said to him, "Why are you now proceeding in asking Me about the Good? One continuously exists being (or: is) the Good. (or: What do you now inquire of Me concerning 'goodness and virtue'? Excellence {Intrinsic value; Quality; Good; Virtue} is one {or: unity; oneness}.) Yet, if you continue desiring and intending to enter into the Life, continue habitually observing, guarding and keeping the implanted goals (impartation of the finished product within; inward directives)." ¹⁸ He then responds to Him, "Which (or: Which sort; Which ones)?" So Jesus affirms, "These: 'You will not continue committing murder. 'You will not continue committing adultery, 'You will not continue stealing. 'You will not continue bearing a false witness or giving a false testimony.' [Ex. 20:13]

¹⁶ And so, they sent off their disciples with the Herodians (supporters and members of the political associates of Herod) on a mission to Him, as a group, saying, "Teacher, we have seen and now know that you are genuine and honest (truthful; trustworthy; dependable; true), and further, you habitually teach God's way (path; road) in truth and reality. Furthermore, it is not normally a concern or worry to you about anyone, for you are not constantly looking into peoples' faces [to see their reaction] or observing their outward appearance [to take into account their social position].

¹⁶ "It will be a tragic fate for you, blind guides of the way and leaders on the path, folks who are constantly saying, 'Whoever should lay hold of a sacred object in the Temple (or: swear within, or in union with, the Temple), it is nothing (= it does not matter). Yet whoever should lay hold of the gold of the Temple, as a sacred object (or: swear an oath pertaining to a connection with the gold of the Temple), he continues indebted and is owing [it].' ¹⁷ "[You are] senseless morons (stupid folks), as well as blind ones! For which is greater: the gold, or the Temple which is setting apart and consecrating the gold? ¹⁸ "Further, [you say], 'Whoever grabs hold of the altar as a sacred object (or: Whoever may swear an oath in connection with the altar), it means nothing. Yet, whoever should lay hold of the gift (or: may swear an oath in connection with the offering) which is on top of it, he continues indebted and is owing [it].' ¹⁹ "Senseless morons and blind ones! You see, which one [is] more important (greater): the gift (offering), or the altar which is constantly setting the gift (the offering) apart and consecrating [it]? ²⁰ "Therefore, the person laying hold of the altar for a religious purpose (or: swearing an oath in conjunction with the altar), continues holding onto it (or: swearing in relation to it) as well as in union with all the things which are on top of it. ²¹ "Also, the person holding onto something in the Temple, or swearing in union with it, continues to hold onto it – or swearing in its midst – and also to, and in union with, the one making His home down in (dwelling in; inhabiting) it. ²² "Further, the one taking hold of something within heaven (or: in union with the atmosphere, sky or outer space), or swearing in its midst, continues to hold onto, and is swearing in the presence of, God's throne, as well as the One constantly sitting on top of it. [comment: the term heaven refers figuratively to the Temple; the ark was "God's throne"] ²³ "O the tragic fate by (or: for; with) you folks – scholars, theologians and experts in the Scriptures and [the] Pharisees – [you] under-discerning folks who live by close inspection of minor details [see 6:3, above]: [it is] that you habitually give away a tenth (or: tithe back) from the mint and the dill and the cummin, and yet you abandon and let flow away the weightier (= more important) matters of the Law [= Torah]: the justice (equity; fairly evaluated decisions), the mercy, and the trust (the faith; the faithfulness and the fidelity; the reliance and the reliability; the confidence). Now these things it continued being binding and necessary [for you] to do and perform – and not to abandon (send away; set aside) those things! ²⁴ "Blind 'guides and leaders' of the way: constantly filtering and straining [out] the gnat, yet habitually gulping (drinking; swallowing) down a camel!

⁸ "Abandoning (Sending off; Divorcing; Letting go) the implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive) of and from God, you folks continuously keep a strong hold on the traditions of and from men." [some MSS add: – baptisms (= ceremonial washings) of pots (pitchers, jugs) and cups, and you are constantly doing many other similar things of this sort] ⁹ Further, He went on to say to them, "You men keep on beautifully (adroitly) setting aside God's implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive and purposed destiny) so that you can keep and maintain your tradition, ¹⁰ "For instance, Moses said, 'Be habitually honoring and constantly expressing value for your father and your mother,' [Ex. 20:12] and, 'Let the one habitually saying something worthless, of bad quality, corrupt, or evil to or about father or mother progressively come to an end by (or: in) death (or: = be put to death).' [Ex. 21:17] ¹¹ "Yet you folks are yourselves constantly saying [that] a person (a man) can at any time say to father or mother, 'Whatever of mine by which you might have been helped or benefited [is] Corban (or: a korban; = an oblation, offering or sacrifice) ' – which is an approach present (a gift dedicated to God and usable for no other purpose). ¹² "You continue allowing him to no longer do a single thing (or: And so you people still continue releasing him to do nothing) for father or mother! ¹³ "This is habitually invalidating (depriving of lordship; making void of authority) the Word of God (God's Logos; God's thought and idea; God's message) by (or: in) your tradition which you folks give over (= handed down) – and you are constantly doing many such things of this kind (or: repeatedly performing many such similar [rituals] along this line)." ¹⁴ So, calling the crowd to Himself again, He began saying to them, "Everyone listen to Me (or: Hear Me – all of you folks –), and understand (or: let it flow together so as to get the meaning).

² At one point, the Pharisees were coming toward [Him] and began questioning Him – being in the habit of repeatedly putting Him to the test, so as to examine Him, or even to tempt Him or to get Him off His guard – whether it is allowed by custom and the Law for an adult male to loose-away (divorce; dismiss) a wife. ³ So He, giving a considered reply, asked them, "What did (or: does) Moses impart as a goal for you folks (or: give as the end in mind to you people)?" ⁴ And they said, "Moses turned it upon [us] (= gives it to our management, thus permitting [us]) to write a little scroll of divorce (of putting off and standing away), and to loose [her] away (dismiss [her])." [Deut. 24:1, 3] ⁵ So now Jesus said to them, "He wrote this implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive) for (or: to) you people with a view to (or: directed toward) the dryness and hardness of your hearts, ⁶ "however, from [the] beginning of creation 'He made them (or: forms and constructs them) male, and female.' [Gen.1:27; 5:2]

⁶ "however, from [the] beginning of creation 'He made them (or: forms and constructs them) male, and female.' [Gen.1:27; 5:2] ⁷ 'On account of this, a person (a human; mankind; or: a man) will proceed completely leaving his/her father and mother,'

⁷ 'On account of this, a person (a human; mankind; or: a man) will proceed completely leaving his/her father and mother,' ⁸ 'and the two people will proceed coming into an existence of being one flesh,' [Gen. 2:24] [note: Westcott & Hort and Panin follow the above reading of vs. 7, with Aleph, B & other MSS. The Concordant Text and Tasker include, while Nestle-Aland & Griesbach bracket the following addition to vs. 7: '... and will continue joined (glued; welded) together with and focused toward his wife,'] [note: this latter reading suggests being matrilocal] with the result that they no longer exist being two [people], but rather, one flesh.

⁸ 'and the two people will proceed coming into an existence of being one flesh,' [Gen. 2:24] [note: Westcott & Hort and Panin follow the above reading of vs. 7, with Aleph, B & other MSS. The Concordant Text and Tasker include, while Nestle-Aland & Griesbach bracket the following addition to vs. 7: '... and will continue joined (glued; welded) together with and focused toward his wife,'] [note: this latter reading suggests being matrilocal] with the result that they no longer exist being two [people], but rather, one flesh. ⁹ "Therefore, what God yokes together, humanity (a person; mankind; a man) must not be continually separating (or: by customary action be putting apart)." ¹⁰ Then, [having entered] into the house again (= when indoors once more), the disciples kept on asking Him about this. ¹¹ So He proceeds saying to them, "Whoever may loose-away (dismiss; divorce) his wife and should marry another woman proceeds to commit adultery on her. ¹² "Also, if she [i.e., the wife], upon loosing-away (divorcing) her adult male, should marry another man, she proceeds in committing adultery." [comment: thus, it is the same for both husband and wife; in this verse, Jesus points out that the action could be initiated by the wife]

¹⁴ On arrival, they proceeded to say to Him, "O teacher, we have seen and thus now know that you are constantly genuine (habitually exist being real and true [perhaps here: = truthful]) and [that] it is not a care or concern for you about anyone, for you are not continually looking into [the] face of humans (may here = not looking at men's outward appearance or being unduly influenced by man-made prestige; or: not showing consideration for people; or: not concerned for what response you get from mankind), but to the contrary, [your eyes are] upon truth. You habitually teach God's way (the path whose source is God [= the path of life which He directs]; the road of God [= the road He takes]). [Tell us,] is it lawfully allowed (permissible in the Torah) and ethically right to give [the] poll tax to Caesar, or not?

⁶ Now both continued being (or: were) fair and equitable folks [who followed] the way pointed out in right and just relationships before (in front of and in the sight of) God, habitually going their way within all the implanted goals (impartations of the finished product within; inward directives) and effects of equity (or: results of just and rightwised dealings springing from right relationships) whose source and origin is the Lord [= Yahweh] (or: in union with all the Lord's [= Yahweh's] commandments as well as the results of being in the way pointed out) [being] blameless (or: un-blamable) ones.

¹⁶ "Later, he will proceed turning many of the sons (= people) of Israel back upon [the] Lord [= Yahweh] their God. ¹⁷ "And so, he himself will continue advancing in His presence (or: going forward in His sight) – within and in union with a breath-effect (or: wind) and ability having the character and qualities of Elijah (or: in association with Elijah's spirit and power; or: in an attitude and an ability which is Elijah [= God is Yah]) – ‘to turn back hearts of fathers upon children,’ [Mal. 3:23] and stubborn folks (or: incompliant ones; unpersuaded people) in a thoughtful (sensible; prudent) frame of mind which has the character and qualities of fairness, equity, rightwised relationships, and justice which pertain to the Way pointed out: to prepare and make a people having been fully formed into vessels and utensils, as well as being completely furnished and supplied with equipment, by, for and in [the] Lord [= Yahweh]."

⁷³ "an oath (solemn promise) which He swore to Abraham, our father,

⁸ "Be at once, then, producing fruit of corresponding value to (or: of equal worth of; worthy of) the aforementioned change of mind and way of thinking! And so, you should not start (or: begin) to be repeatedly saying among yourselves, 'We continue having Abraham [as; for] a father,' for I am now saying to you folks that God continues able (constantly has power) to raise up children to (or: for) Abraham from out of the midst of these stones!

¹¹ "'Even the dust being caused to cling unto our feet – from out of your town –we are now in the process of wiping off for you people (= with regard to you folks; [see note: ch. 9:5])! Furthermore, continue knowing this by intimate experience, that God's reigning (or: sovereignty; kingdom) had drawn near and is close enough to touch (= has arrived; = is accessible)!'

²⁹ Yet he, still wanting to justify himself (make himself 'right' [in the argument]; show himself to be righteous and on the right path; or: do himself justice), said to Jesus, "And so, who is my neighbor (associate; the one close to me)?"

⁴² "But in contrast, tragic will be the fate for you Pharisees (or: among you, the Pharisees), because you consistently give away one tenth (or: habitually pay tithes) from the mint and the rue, as well as every edible plant (garden herb or vegetable), and yet you folks are consistently (or: continually) bypassing the decisions which yield the justice (or: the judging) and the love of God (or: which have their origin in, and express the character of, God). Now it was continuing binding and necessary to do these things, and not to bypass [other MSS: and yet not continue to {other MSS: not at any point} send away, or to the side,] those things.

⁴⁵ Now a certain man of those versed in the Law (a legal expert; a Torah lawyer and interpreter), in giving a considered reply, is then saying to Him, "Teacher, in (or: by) constantly saying these things you continue invading our territory and outraging us by violating our rights – thus, insulting us, too!" ⁴⁶ So He said, "Tragic will be the fate for you men versed in the Law (Torah lawyers), too, because you are constantly burdening people (humans) [with] cargos (or: loads) [that are] hard to bear (= intolerable burdens), and yet you folks are continuing to not even lightly touch the loads with one of your fingers!

³⁵ "It is neither well placed (thus: fit to be put) into soil nor into manure. Folks normally throw it outside. Let the person presently having ears to now hear (or: to continue to listen and hear), continue listening and habitually hearing."

¹⁸ "Every man repeatedly loosing-away (dismissing; divorcing) his [current] wife, and then proceeding in marrying a different woman is in the act of committing adultery. And also the man habitually (or: one after another) marrying a woman having been loosed-away (divorced) from a husband is in the act of committing adultery. [comment: Jesus is here condemning the then current practices of the male-dominated marriage/divorce arrangements of those who followed the school of Hillel, which taught that a man could divorce his wife "for any reason"]

¹⁸ "Were none found returning to give glory to God, except this foreigner (person of another birth, race or nation)?"

²¹ And so they questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, we have seen and so know that you habitually speak and are repeatedly teaching correctly (or: straightly), and you consistently do not receive folks or show partiality based on peoples' faces or appearances, but to the contrary you continuously teach the Way of God (or: God's path) based on truth and reality.

⁴⁵ Now, while all the people continued listening (or: in the hearing of all the people), He said to the disciples, ⁴⁶ "Be habitually holding your focus and attention away from the scholars and theologians (the scribes; the Torah, or, Bible experts) – those continuously wanting to be habitually walking around in religious and stately robes and being fond of deferential greetings in the marketplaces (i.e., in public, where folks often gather), and [liking] prominent (or: front) seating in the synagogues (places of corporate worship and study of the Scriptures), as well as first places of reclining (or: prominent or best couches; = the places of honor) at banquets – ⁴⁷ "folks who [in reality] are habitually devouring the houses (or: eating down the households) of the widows, and then in pretense (or: for a front which is put to make a show or an appearance for pretext) they are constantly making long prayers. These people will continue and progressively be receiving more excessive result of judgment (or: will get a more abundant effect of the separating and the decision)."

²⁸ Yet, being turned toward them, Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not continue crying for Me (or: stop weeping on and over My [account])! Much more be constantly weeping for yourselves and for your children (or: on your own [account] and over your children's [situation]), ²⁹ "because – look and consider! – days are progressively coming in which they will proceed declaring, 'Happy [are] the sterile and barren women, and the wombs which do not give birth, and breasts which do not nourish!' ³⁰ "At that time, 'They will begin saying to the mountains, "Fall at once upon us!" and to the mounds (or: hills), "At once veil (cover; = hide) us!"' [note: quoting Hos. 10:8, referring to Israel's "high places" of idolatry]

³⁹ In calculated reply, they said to Him, "OUR father is Abraham!" Jesus then says to them, "If (or: Since) you folks are Abraham's children, be continually doing Abraham's deeds (actions; works). [other MSS: If you folks were Abrahams' children, were you ever doing Abraham's works (deeds; acts)?]

⁴¹ "You folks habitually do your father's works (deeds; actions)." Therefore they said to Him, "We ourselves were not born out of prostitution (or: fornication). We have one Father: God!"

⁵³ "You are yourself not greater than our father Abraham – who died – are you? Even the prophets died! Who are you continually making yourself [to be]?"

⁵⁶ "Abraham, your father, was exceedingly glad (or: exulted) to the end that he could see My day, and he saw (caught sight of; beheld; observed; perceived) [it] and then was graced (or: favored; or: rejoiced; was made glad)."

²⁰ "Most assuredly (It is certainly true; Amen, amen), I am saying to you, the person habitually receiving (taking with the hand, embracing and accepting) whomever I will send (or: may send) is continually receiving Me (taking Me with the hand, embracing and accepting Me). Now the one habitually receiving Me is continually receiving (embracing and accepting) the One sending Me."

² "Every tender branch (shoot or twig which can easily be broken) within Me not habitually bearing (bringing forth; = producing) fruit He regularly lifts up and takes it away. And every one consistently bearing the fruit He periodically clears (or: seasonally cleanses) by pruning, to the end that it can continue bearing more (a greater amount of) fruit.

²¹ Then Jesus again said to them, "Peace (or: Harmony and prosperity [= Shalom]) to and for you folks! Correspondingly (or: According; On the same level; In the same sphere; In line with) as the Father has sent Me forth with a mission and as an Emissary (Representative), I Myself also am progressively (or: repeatedly; or: one after another) sending (dispatching) you folks." ²² And saying this, He suddenly blows on, and says to, them (or: He breathes within [them], so as to inflate them [note: same verb as used in Gen. 2:7, LXX], and is saying to them), "Receive a set-apart spirit! (or: Get [the] Holy Spirit!; take the Sacred Breath!; or: Receive a sacred attitude),

²⁵ "You yourselves are the sons of the prophets and of that which was thoroughly set in order and arranged through the covenant, which God fully arranged (or: covenanted) to, and with a view toward, your fathers (= ancestors), progressively saying to Abraham, 'And so, within and in union with your Seed, all the families (or: kinship groups; clans; tribes) of the earth (or: land) shall proceed being blessed and will continue having words of goodness, ease and well-being spoken to and about them.' [Gen. 22:18; 26:4]

² So he affirmed, "Men... brothers and fathers, listen, and now hear! The God of the glory (or: The God of the manifestation which called forth praise; or: The God which pertains to, and is, the glory [of Israel]) was perceived (or: seen) by our father (or: forefather; patriarchal ancestor) Abraham – [he] being in Mesopotamia, before the [situation for] him to settle down (= take up residence) within Haran –

²⁶ "And so, on the following day, he was seen by them as [some] men continued fighting [D* adds: and he saw them behaving unfairly and bringing injury], and thus he began attempting to negotiate with them a change into peace, saying, 'Men! You are brothers (= fellow countrymen)! Why [is it] that you continue injuring one another and behaving unfairly (or: unjustly)?'

¹⁷ This girl, repeatedly following Paul and [the rest of] us down [to the river], kept on crying out and shrieking, constantly saying, "These people (or: humans) are slaves of the Most High God [= El Ha Elyon], who are constantly and progressively bringing the news down and are announcing to you folks [other MSS: to us] a way (or: path) of safety and deliverance (or: health, wholeness and salvation)."

²⁵ "Neither is He continuously provided for, attended or habitually served by human hands – as constantly being in want, or having a need of something – He Himself being the One constantly giving to all people (or: all things) life and breath and all things (or: everything; the whole [universe])!

¹⁸ "'to open back up their eyes again; to turn [their eyes; or: them] back: away from darkness (a realm of the shadow; dimness and obscurity) into Light, even from the authority and privilege of the adversary (or: that is, from the right which comes from out being the opponent), and upon God; to receive a flowing away of deviations and a release from failures, mistakes and occasions of missing the goal (or: a forgiveness of sins) and an allotted inheritance among and in union with the folks having been – and now remaining – set apart in, with and for faith which [leads] into Me (or: centered within the people now made holy by trust [which is] by the One [having come] into the midst of Me; or: within those having been consecrated for loyalty, sanctified with faith and now set apart to trusting conviction [that has brought them] unto Me).'

¹⁹ [and] likewise (or: besides) you have confidence in yourself (or: you have persuaded yourself) to be a guide or an escort of blind folks on the way or in the path; a light within [the] darkness (obscurity of the shadow areas; dimness of the gloom), 20. a trainer (instructor; corrector; discipliner; educator) of senseless ones (folks without will, heart or guts; imprudent ones; foolish ones); a teacher of infants (ones not yet able to speak), while habitually having (or: holding) the outward form (rough sketch; outline; framework; semblance) of the experiential knowledge and of the truth (or: reality) within, or in union with, the Law (= Torah)...

²¹ You then, the one habitually teaching another (a different one), are not habitually teaching yourself! You, the one constantly preaching (proclaiming; heralding), “Do not steal,” are habitually stealing! ²² The person continually saying not to be committing adultery, you are habitually committing adultery! You, the one repeatedly detesting idols (responding to forms, shapes or concepts as an abomination, as something that is foul and stinks), are in the habit of robbing temples (despoiling or profaning the sanctuary)! [note: vss. 21-22 can also be rendered as questions] ²³ You who are boasting in law (or: [the] Law [= Torah]; or: a law), through the transgression of (stepping across the line of; stepping to the side of; deviating from) the Law, you are constantly dishonoring (devaluing) God, ²⁴ for according as it has been, and stands, written [in the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures)], "Because of you, God’s NAME [Yahweh?] is continuously being blasphemed (vilified; misrepresented; slandered; given a false image which hinders the Light) among the ethnic multitudes (nations; non-Jews; Gentiles)." [Isa. 52:5; Ezk. 36:20]

¹ What then shall we declare Abraham – our forefather according to the flesh (or: the first founder of our family, in line with natural descent) – to have found? (or: What, consequently, will we say? Is Abraham found [as] our preferred father on the level or sphere of flesh?)

⁷ What, then, shall we say (or: declare)? [Is] the Law (or: custom) sin (error; failure to hit the target; deviation from the goal)? Certainly not (May it not come to be)! Instead (or: But rather) I did not (or: do not) at any point experientially and intimately know the Sin, if not through Law ([= Torah]; or: custom). For besides, I had not seen and thus had not known (become conscious of) the full passion (earnest desire; lust; coveting; emotion upon something) if the Law and the custom were not continuously saying (or: except the [Torah] kept on saying), "You will continue not putting strong emotions upon something (or: You shall not repeatedly have a strong impulse or desire; You will not constantly crave or covet [other folks' possessions or their gods])." [Ex. 20:17; Deut. 5:21; comment: the "I" of this passage = Adam (Gen. 3) /Israel (Ex. 32) /Paul (in his pre-Christian experience)] ⁸ Yet the Sin (or: the failure; the error; the mistake; the missing of the target; the deviation from the goal), taking (receiving in the hand and thus, getting) a starting point (a base of operation; an occasion; a means of beginning) through the implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive; commandment [to Adam, then to Israel]), works (or: worked) down to effect and produce within me every full passion, strong impulse, over-desire and craving emotion upon things – for apart from Law (or: a custom; or: [Torah]) sin (error; failure; missing the target) [is] dead (or: [was] lifeless). ⁹ Now I was at one time (or: formerly) habitually living apart from Law (or: I was once alive, independent from custom and [Torah]); yet, in connection with the coming of the implanted goal (of the impartation of the finished product within; of the inward commandment and directive), the Sin becomes alive again (or: deviation, failure, error and the missing of the target revived and comes back to life), but I die (or: and I died; yet I die). ¹⁰ Also, the implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive; commandment) – the one [meant to lead] into Life – this was found by me (for me; in me; to me) [to be leading] into death.

¹⁰ Yet not only so, but further, Rebecca, also, continued having a marriage-bed (= was habitually having sexual intercourse and conceiving children) from the midst of one man, Isaac, our father (= ancestor).

²¹ [It is] beautiful (fine; as it ought to be; profitable; ideal) not to eat meat (animal flesh), neither to drink wine, nor even that in which your brother habitually stumbles (strikes himself against [it]), or is being constantly snared, or is continually weak.

¹³ being incessantly defamed (slandered; plied with ill-rumors; other MSS: blasphemed), we regularly called them to our sides (normally entreated and offered assistance). We were made to be as that which comes from cleaning all around (as the off-scouring results; as the filthy refuses) of the world (from the organized System of culture, religion, economy and government) – wiped-off filth and scum of all things and all people – until right now!

⁶ But to the contrary, a brother is constantly being brought to court (sued; judged; evaluated and decided about) with a brother (= by a fellow believer; or: member of the same family) – and this upon [the basis and situation] of unbelievers! ⁷ Indeed, it is already (or: to begin with [= even before going to court]) therefore wholly an effect of a lessened condition in (a result of a diminishing from an overthrow for) you folks – that you continue having lawsuits with one another. Why not rather continue suffering wrong (or: be repeatedly treated unfairly and unjustly)? Why not rather continue being defrauded (or: being deprived from; or, as a middle: allowing yourselves to be cheated)? ⁸ Yet instead, you yourselves are constantly committing wrong (being unfair and unjust; living contrary to the Way pointed out) and are repeatedly defrauding (cheating; depriving from [someone]) – and this [to] brothers (= fellow believers; = members of the Family)!

² Well, because of prostitutions (= the dangers of sexual immorality, or the lure of pagan temple prostitutes), let each man continually hold and be permanently having a wife (or: woman) for himself, and each woman be constantly holding and permanently having her own husband.

¹⁴ You see, the unbelieving husband (man void of faith) has been made set-apart and remains holy and sacred within (or: in union with) the wife, and the unbelieving wife (woman void of faith) has been made set-apart and remains holy and sacred within (or: in union with) the brother (= the believing husband) – otherwise, the consequence is your children being unclean. Yet now they are set-apart (holy and sacred ones; folks different from the common).

⁶ to the contrary, to us (or: for us; with us) [there is] one God, the Father, from out of the midst of Whom [is] the whole (or: [are] all things) – and we [directed and proceeding] into Him – even one Lord (or: as well as one Owner and Master), Jesus Christ: through Whom [is] the whole (or: [are] all things) – and we through means of and through the midst of Him!

²⁰ Over [the situation] in regard to Christ, then (or: Then for Christ's sake), we are elders of God, performing as ambassadors from God, as [Him] continually calling alongside to give comfort and relief (performing as a Paraclete) through us. We are constantly begging and urgently asking, on behalf of Christ (or: for Christ's sake): "Be fully transformed in, be correspondingly altered by, be changed from an enemy to be a friend with, be reconciled to, and be altered to be another [person] by, God!" (or: "You folks must be completely exchanged in God; or: Be conciliated to, for and with God!"),

¹⁴ Do not of yourself continue (or: Stop) becoming yoked differently (or: unevenly yoked; yoked with ones of a different sort) with folks without faith (or: by those without trust; to unbelievers; with disloyal people), for, what mutual holding (having-with: sharing; partnership; communion; membership) [have] rightwised living and lawlessness (or: fairness/equity, and a lack of following rules; [covenant membership] in right relationship which accords with the Way pointed out, and inequity or wrong which come from violation of law), or what common existing (participation; partnership; sharing) [is] in light [directed] toward, or face to face with, darkness (or: [is there] for light with dimness from murky obscurity in the realm of shadows)? ¹⁵ And what joining of voice (concord, agreement and harmony of sound) has Christ [when faced] toward Belial [Hebrew word for "worthlessness"]? Or what part for one full of faith and trust (or: portion in a believer) [corresponds] with one who lacks faith (an unbeliever; one who is not trustworthy or loyal)? ¹⁶ Now what mutual deposit (or: concurrence or agreement arrived by group decision) [does] God's Temple [have] with idols (or: external forms or appearances; or: phantoms of the mind; unsubstantial images or forms)? For, you see, we [other MSS: you folks] continuously exist being (we/you are) a temple of [the] living God, just as God said, "I will proceed to make My home and will continue walking about within and among them (= I will habitually reside, as in a house, and live My life within and among them), and I will proceed existing being (or: I will continue being) their God, and they will proceed existing being (or: will continue being) My people." [Lev. 26:12; etc.] ¹⁷ On which account [the] Lord [= Yahweh] says, "Instantly go forth from out of their midst and be instantly marked off by boundaries so as to be defined and restricted – and do not continue (or: stop) touching what is unclean (= ceremonially defiled), [Isa. 52:11] and then I, Myself, will constantly admit you folks and receive you into [Myself; My family], [Ezk. 20:41] ¹⁸ "and so I will proceed into being a Father for you, and you will proceed in being (or: will continue being) sons and daughters in Me (by Me; to Me; for Me), says [the] Lord [= Yahweh] the All-strong (Almighty)." [2 Sam. 7:14; Isa. 43:6]

¹⁸ "and so I will proceed into being a Father for you, and you will proceed in being (or: will continue being) sons and daughters in Me (by Me; to Me; for Me), says [the] Lord [= Yahweh] the All-strong (Almighty)." [2 Sam. 7:14; Isa. 43:6]

⁶ Now from those continuing to be disposed to thinking and imagination (or: from those being supposed to continue with a reputation; or: from the folks yet forming opinions) – whatever sort of men they formerly (or: once) were being matters nothing (makes no difference; carries nothing through) to me (or: for me) [because] God is not in the habit of receiving a person's face (= taking people at face value; or: responding to man's outward appearance or presentation). So you see, those continuing to be disposed to thinking and imagination (or: those being supposed to continue with a reputation; those yet forming opinions) of themselves put nothing new forward for me (or: from themselves placed forward [as a suggestion] nothing back in me; = contributed or added nothing to me).

¹⁴ and yet you folks did not despise or treat as nothing your [other MSS: my] ordeal (or: trial; testing) – located within my flesh (= in my human weaknesses) – nor did you spit it out (= reject it as loathing; [note: perhaps referring to the practice of spitting to break the spell of “an evil eye” – a common pagan belief]), but to the contrary, you took me in your arms and welcomed me as God's agent (or: messenger) – as Jesus Christ!

⁶ one God and Father of all humans the One upon all people and moving through all people, and within the midst of all humanity and in union with all people and all things.

²⁵ Wherefore, upon at once putting the false (or: the Lie) away from yourselves [as clothing or habits], be continuously speaking Truth and reality, each one with his associate (the one near him; his neighbor), because we are (we continually exist being) members [as of a body] of one another (or: limbs or body parts belonging to one another and having our source in each other).

⁴ And so you fathers: do not continually bring along inherent fervor to (or: irritate; exasperate to anger; bring impulse alongside) your children, but rather be continually nourishing them within child-training discipline and education, and then the placing (or: setting) of the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] in the mind (or: as well as the Master's mind-set; or: and the Owner's admonition; or: and instruction about the Lord).

⁹ For they themselves are continuously reporting concerning us of what sort an entrance (or: introduction) we had toward you, and how you turned about toward God from the idols (forms; images seen; external appearances; pagan concepts and world views) to continuously be a slave to, for and with the living and true (or: real) God, ¹⁰ even to constantly dwell and remain (or: abide) back up again (or: fully lodge; or: stay up) [with] His Son – [living] from out of the heavens! (or: His Son, whose origin is from the midst of the atmospheres) – Whom He raised from out of the midst of dead folks, Jesus, the One constantly rescuing (or: repeatedly and progressively dragging) us to Himself from out of the midst of (other MSS: away from) the repeatedly (or: periodically; continuously; progressively) coming violent emotions (inherent fervor; mental disposition of teeming desire; passionate impulse; or: anger; internal teeming & agitation; outburst of rage; wrath).

⁶ Thus, no one is to be continuously overstepping and have more (hold advantage) in his brother's affair (result of doing; transaction-effect; development from a matter; = cheat his fellow believers in business dealings), because [the] Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] [is] a maintainer of right (an executor of justice and equity from the Way pointed out) concerning all these people and things, just as we also told you before and certified with solemn witness throughout.

⁸ Consequently, then, the person continuously setting aside (or: displacing) is not setting aside (or: displacing; or: = disregarding) a human (or: person), but God, even the One continuously giving His Sacred Breath into us (or: repeatedly imparting His Spirit, the Holy One, unto us; constantly gifting His set-apart Breath-effect [to flow] into us).

⁴ habitually putting himself at the head of (= lead, provide for and protect) his own household so as to beautifully (ideally; finely) stand before and lead them, having children in the midst of, and centered in, humble alignment for support (or: within subjection) with all majestic seriousness (dignity and gravity which inspire awe) – ⁵ now if anyone does not know (has not seen and is not aware) to put himself or herself at the head of (= lead, provide for and protect) her or his own household so as to stand before and lead them, how will she or he be thoughtful of, take an interest in, and take care of, God's called-out community?

¹¹ Women (or: Wives) [of the community], similarly, [should be] serious (dignified with majestic gravity, inspiring awe), not devils (or: adversaries; women who thrust things through folks), sober (unintoxicated; clear-headed; moderate in habits), full of faith and trust (or: faithful; trustworthy; loyal) in all things. ¹² Let those giving supporting service be adult males having a relationship with one woman (or: husbands of one wife), habitually placing themselves in front of their children, as well as their own households, to beautifully (or: finely; ideally) lead, protect and provide [for them].

¹⁵ Make haste, with earnest endeavor and diligence, to place yourself alongside as an approved and qualified workman, in and by God (or: to hand yourself over to and for God, as a tried and approved workman), one without cause for shame, consistently cutting a straight and direct [path {cf Prov. 3:6 and 11:5, LXX} in, to, or with] the Word of the Truth (or: habitually cutting an upright and erect [line through] the Word of Truth; continually cutting with the message of reality in a straight direction; constantly making a straight cut {or: wound} with the speech of this Reality; also: = dealing straightforwardly with the discourse of Reality; or: repeatedly dividing and marking out straight [boundaries] by the Reason which is Truth). ¹⁶ Yet continue staying at the periphery, going out around so as to avoid the profane, empty voices (the speeches or discussions without content which cross the threshold into the sphere of that which is not set-apart). You see, they will cut a passage forward (progress; advance) upon more aspects of irreverence (things pertaining to impiety or attitudes that lack awe),

²⁴ Now it is continually binding for (or: it is a constant necessity to) a slave of [the] Lord (= Yahweh's or Christ's slave) not to be habitually fighting (or: it is not necessary for the Lord's slave to be battling or contending), but to the contrary [he/she] is to be gentle (kind; mild) toward all, qualified, skillful and able in teaching, one holding up under poor conditions (or: having an upward focus in bad situations; holding an “up attitude” in regard to evil), ²⁵ in accommodating meekness and with consideration constantly educating (training; disciplining; instructing; correcting) those habitually setting themselves in complete opposition or who offer resistance. May not God at some time give a change of thinking to them (or: Would not God grant in them and supply for them a change of mind), [directing and leading them] into a full and accurate experiential knowledge of Truth and reality?

¹³ Now people of a bad condition and of an harmful disposition (useless and malicious humans who bring misery and hard labor), as well as sorcerers (folks who wail and cast spells; or: impostors and swindlers; those who juggle a situation), will continue cutting a path forward upon the worse (or: will be advancing and making progress from bad to worse), repeatedly leading [folks] astray (or: causing [folks] to wander [from the Path]) and progressively being led astray (or: caused to wander).

⁶ [Now] if anyone is normally not one being called up, or arraigned, before a judge (= habitually exists being one free from reproach); [is] a husband of one woman (or: wife), having trusting and believing children (or: born-ones that are full of faith); [is] not one in the midst of a [legal] charge (or: an accusation; being considered in a category) of being a person without healthful wholeness (or: of being unwholesome; being in a desperate case without hope of safety; being prodigal; being wasteful; being on an unsaved course; being incorrigible; being dissolute and debauched) nor [of] insubordinate [qualities] (things not put in submission; things not placed under the arrangement; un-subjected and unruly [traits]) ⁷ – for you see, it continues binding and necessary for the person who sets his eyes upon the distant goal, having a full-scope view, and successfully hits the target (or: the one who surveys, inspects and watches upon; the scout; the tender guardian who oversees with attentive care) to continue being one [that is] not normally called up, or arraigned, before a judge (= to habitually exist being one free from reproach). As God's house administrator (house manager; house dispenser and distributor; estate steward), [he should] not [be] one who pleases himself (or: gives himself to pleasure): not impulsive (prone to passion, irritation or anger; not ruled by his own mental bent, disposition or propensities; not one teeming with internal swelling or motion), not addicted to wine (or: beside himself with wine; = not a drunk), not quarrelsome and apt to strike another, not one eager for dishonorable, deformed or ugly gain. ⁸ But to the contrary, [he should be] fond of strangers (have affection for foreigners; be hospitable), [be] fond of the good and have affection for virtue and excellence, [be] whole, healthy and liberated (sound) in frame of mind and disposition ([be] sane), [be] fair and equitable, and in rightwised relationships within the Way pointed out, [be] loyal, dutiful and pure from all crime, [produce] inner strength ([be] self-controlled), ⁹ habitually holding himself firmly to (or: clinging face-to-face to) the full-of-faith Word (message; thought; idea; Logos; or: the faithful word) – down from, corresponding to and in line with the Teaching and training – to the end that he can be powerful and able both to be constantly encouraging (habitually performing as a paraclete; repeatedly exhorting; continually calling folks alongside to give them assistance or relief) in the teaching that continues being sound and healthy, and to repeatedly put to the proof so as to convince by demonstration, or to refute by exposure of the test, the folks habitually speaking in opposition and contradicting.

¹² Exercise sight (Be continuously observing), brothers, [so] there shall not once be (or: exist) in any of you folks a bad, useless or misery-gushed heart (a heart causing labor, sorrow or pain) of unfaithfulness (or: from disloyalty, disbelief or distrust; or: the source and character of which is an absence of faith and trust), in withdrawing (or: standing away and aloof; separating or revolting) from the living God.

⁹ Then again, we indeed used to have instructors (educators; teachers of boys; discipliners) – the fathers of our flesh (= human parents) – and we continued being repeatedly turned among [them] (or: turned within and caused to reflect; = we listened to them and obeyed). To a much greater extent, shall we not be continually placed under and humbly arranged and aligned by the Father of the spirits (or: the Progenitor of breath-effects and Mentor of attitudes)? And then we shall proceed living (or: progressively live)!

¹⁴ Yet each person is repeatedly probed and put to the proof (tested and tried in an ordeal), being continuously dragged (or: drawn) out and entrapped under his own over-covering passion (by his own longing, craving or lust; by what he sets his desires upon). ¹⁵ Thereafter, with the over-covering passion conceiving (seizing together so as to become pregnant), it continuously gives birth to failure (or: repeatedly brings forth an offspring of missing the target; progressively bears sin). Now the failure (error; sin; missing of the target), being brought to full term (being finished off; being fully formed with all its parts; being brought to its goal) continues producing (keeps generating; from pregnancy progressively bears forth) death.

¹⁹ My brothers (= Dear family), if someone among you may be led astray (caused to wander) away from the Truth and reality, and someone should (or: would) turn him back, ²⁰ continue knowing from experience and realize that this one turning back a sinner (a failure; one missing the goal; one living in error or under a mistake) out of [the] straying of his way (or: from the midst of his path of wandering), will proceed delivering (rescuing; saving; making healthy and whole) a soul (= a person) from out of the midst of death, and “will cover [the] fullness of [his] mistakes (errors; failures to hit the target; deviations; sins).” [Prov. 10:12] [written circa A.D. 47-48 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

¹¹ If anyone is normally speaking, [let it be] as God's little words (= inspired sayings, messages, thoughts and ideas); if anyone is habitually providing attending service and dispensing, [let it be] as out of [the] strength which God is continually supplying (furnishing; providing), to the end that, in union with all people (and: within all things), God may be constantly glorified (may habitually receive a good reputation) through Jesus Christ, in Whom (by Whom; for Whom; to Whom; with Whom) is (or: exists) the glory (the manifestation of that which calls forth praise; the good reputation) and the strength (the might), on into the ages of the ages (or: into the indefinite time periods of the ages; into the superlative times of the eons).

³ while continuing in knowing this first, by experience, that upon [the] last (or: final [phases]) of these (or: the) days mockers (scoffers) will proceed coming and going – in mocking (scoffing; deriding), according to their own cravings (or: in correspondence to their personal full passions), folks continually traveling from one place to another (or: = people normally ordering their lives according to their personal desires) – ⁴ even saying, "Where is the promise of His presence? For since the fathers were put (or: lulled) to sleep, all things (or: everything) constantly remain (s) thus (in this way or manner) throughout, from [the] beginning of creation (the framing; the reduction from a state of disorder)."

⁵ And falsehood was (or: is) not found within their mouth, for they are (or: exist being) without blemish (are flawless, blameless and without defect).

⁷ repeatedly saying in a great (loud) voice, "You people should reverence (or: Be respecting and fearing) God, and give glory to Him (or: grant Him a reputation; give a good opinion in Him), because the hour of His deciding (judging; judicial process; making-distinction-between) came (or: went; comes), and you must worship the One making (the Maker; the One constructing and forming) the atmosphere (or: sky; heaven) and the earth (or: land; ground) and the sea and springs of water."

⁹ And so the people (the humans) were burned [with] great heat, and they blasphemed (spoke insultingly of; slandered; misrepresented; vilified; hindered the Light of) the Name of God – the One having authority upon these plagues – and they did (or: do) not change their minds (their way of thinking) to give Him glory (or: to have a good opinion of Him).

²⁰ And yet the little wild animal (beast) was pressed and caught (or: is arrested), and with him the false prophet (the lying prophet) – the one that did (or: who does) the signs in his presence (or: before him), in which he led astray (or: he deceives) the folks taking the imprinted mark (carve-effect) of the little wild animal, and continually worshiping its image – the two were cast (or: thrown) into the lake (or: basin; artificial pool; marshy area) of the Fire: the one continuously burning within the midst of [the] Deity (or: the lake of the fire which constantly burns in union with the Divine Nature).

⁸ "But for the timid (cowardly) folks and for faithless ones (unbelieving people) and for abominable folks (detestable ones) and for murderers, and for prostitutes and for sorcerers (enchanters; users of drugs) and for idolaters and for all the liars (the false ones): their portion [of the inheritance?] [is] within the lake (or: basin; artificial pool; marshy area) continuously burning with Fire and Deity, which is the Second Death."