Mark 12 Cross References - JMNT

¹ And so He started (or: begins) to be speaking to them in parables (illustrations from things cast or placed alongside for comparison): "A person (or: man; human) planted a vineyard, then put (or: places) a fence around [it], dug a pit (or: excavates a trough for a vat; [a place under the winepress where the extracted juice could be collected, or a hole to place a large press-vessel in, to steady it]) and erected (or: constructs; builds) a tower. Next he leased it to tenant-farmers (or: let it out to cultivators and vineyard keepers) and traveled abroad. ² "Now in the appropriate season he commissioned a slave and sent him off, as an emissary, to the tenant-farmers (cultivators and vineyard keepers), to the end that he could take (or: receive) some of the fruits of the vineyard from the tenant-cultivators. ³ "But taking hold of (or: grabbing and seizing) him, they scourged (severely whipped and beat) [him] and sent [him] off empty (= empty-handed). ⁴ "Now again he commissioned and sent off another slave to them, and they battered that one's head [other MSS: they pelted with stones] and they dishonored [him] [other MSS: they sent {him} off in dishonor]. ⁵ "Then he commissioned and sent off another one, and that one they killed. And [there were] many other – some of whom [they] were, one after another, scourging (whipping and beating), on the one hand, yet others of whom, on the other hand, [they] kept on killing, one after another. ⁶ "He still had one person, and had kept on holding him: his beloved son. He then also commissioned and sent him off last, to them, collecting his thoughts and saying, 'They will proceed turning back on themselves and will continue respecting my son.' ⁷ "Yet those tenant-farmers said to themselves and toward each other, 'This one is the heir (the one receiving the allotment of the inheritance). Come! Let us (or: We should) kill him, and the inheritance will proceed to be ours!' [note: there was a law that the estate of a proselyte who dies and has no heir may be regarded as ownerless property which can be claimed by anyone, those presently occupying it having first choice – J. Jeremias] ⁸ "So seizing [him], they at once killed him, then threw him out of [their] midst – outside the vineyard. ⁹ "What will the owner of the vineyard proceed in doing? He will in succession be coming and then destroying the tenant-farmers! Next he will proceed to give the vineyard to other folks. ¹⁰ "Have you folks not yet read this Scripture? – 'A rock (or: stone) which the builders rejected and threw away after examining it, this one comes into being [the] head of [the] corner [note: could = the keystone, or, the cornerstone]. ¹¹ 'This [head] came into existence from beside [the] Lord [= Yahweh], and He (or: it) is Wonderful (or: marvelous; remarkable; or: Amazing) in our eyes'?" [Ps. 118:22-23] ¹² So they further continued seeking [a way] to take a strong grasp of Him (= to arrest Him), for in this experience they knew that He said the parable directing it toward them – and yet they were afraid of the crowd. Then, abandoning Him, they went off. ¹³ Next they commissioned some of the Pharisees and the Herodians (members of Herod's political party) and sent them off to Him so that they might catch (or: trap, as in hunting or fishing) Him by a word (or: in a question; with an argument; by some verbal snare; in [His] message). 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? ¹⁵ "Should (or: May) we give (= pay), or should (or: may) we not give?" Now He, having seen and perceived, and thus now knowing their close inspection of the Scriptures and attention to details (or: their perverse scholarship and hyper-criticism; their discernment from a low position), said to them, "Why do you men continue putting Me to the test (or: continually trying to examine me)? Bring Me a denarius (a Roman silver coin) so that I can see [it]." So they brought it. ¹⁶ He then says to them, "Whose [is] this image and inscription?" So they said to Him, "Caesar's." ¹⁷ So Jesus said, "Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar (or: Pay off to Caesar the things that come from Caesar), and to God what comes from and belongs to God." And they began marvelling (being amazed and astounded) at Him (or: upon who He is, and His ability in responding). ¹⁸ Now progressively approaching Him are [some] Sadducees – folks who normally say that there is to be no resurrection – and they began asking (or: questioning) Him, saying, ¹⁹ "O teacher, Moses wrote (or: writes) to us that, 'If anyone's brother should die, and should leave-down-behind a widow (or: wife) and yet should not leave a child remaining, that his brother should receive the widow and take her as a wife and then should cause a seed (= offspring; a posterity) to rise up out [of their union] for (or: to) his brother.' [Deut. 25:5-6] ²⁰ "There were seven brothers, and the first took a wife and, upon dying, leaves no seed (offspring). ²¹ "Next the second one took (or: received) her and then he died, leaving-down no seed, and the third similarly. ²² "So the seven also received (took; got) her and yet left behind no seed. Last of them all, the woman also died. ²³ "In the resurrection, then, whenever they may be rising (or: standing) up, of which of them will she continue being a wife – for the seven had (or: possessed) her as a wife?" ²⁴ Jesus affirmed to them, "Are you folks not, therefore (for this reason), constantly deceived and led astray, having not seen, perceived, thus not knowing or being acquainted with the Scriptures – nor yet God's power (or: the ability of God)? ²⁵ "For whenever they can be standing up again (or: should be rising up) from out of the midst of dead ones, men neither continue marrying (taking wives), nor [are women] continuing being given in marriage, but to the contrary, they continue being (or: constantly exist being), as it were, agents – within the atmospheres (or: like messengers in the midst of the heavens; or: as folks with the message, centered in the skies)! [comment: this may be foreshadowing the new arrangement where women are no longer “given” in marriage, but are equal, everyone being God’s agents] ²⁶ "But concerning (or: about) the dead folks – that they are continually (or: constantly; habitually; progressively; repeatedly) being aroused and raised up – did (or: do) you folks not read within the scroll of Moses, at the thornbush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I [am] the God of Abraham, as well as Isaac's God and Jacob's God'? [Ex. 3:6] ²⁷ "He is not a God of dead folks, but to the contrary, of continuously living ones. You men are continuing much deceived, habitually wandering astray (= missing the point)." ²⁸ Now while approaching, one of the scribes (experts in the Law; Torah interpreters; scholars; theologians), hearing their discussing and questioning together [and] seeing (perceiving) that He beautifully gave a discerning answer to them, made inquiry upon Him, "Which and of what sort is [the] foremost (= most important) implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive) of them all?" ²⁹ So Jesus gave a decided reply to him, "Foremost (= Most important) is, 'Be habitually listening and hearing [and, thus, obeying], O Israel, [the] Lord [= Yahweh] [is] our God. [The] Lord [Yahweh] is (continually exists being) one. [note: the Sh’ma] ³⁰ 'And so, you folks will be loving [the] Lord [= Yahweh] your God from out of the midst of your whole heart, and from out of the midst of your whole soul, and from out of the midst of your whole intellect (throughout the midst of your entire comprehension and full mental ability), and from out of the midst of your whole strength.' [Deut. 6:4-5] ³¹ " [The] second one [is] the same [or, with other MSS: And {the} second one [is] like this one], 'You folks will continue loving your near-one (or: neighbor; associate) as he were (or: like) yourself.' [Lev. 19:18] There is no other investment with authorization (implanted goal; impartation of the finished product within; inward directive) greater than these!" ³² The scribe (scholar) said to Him, "Teacher, in truth you spoke beautifully (= you gave a fine answer), that He is one and there is no other more than (or: besides) Him. ³³ "And this 'to be constantly loving Him' from a whole heart and from the whole understanding, even out of the whole strength, and then to be habitually loving the near-one (neighbor; associate) as he were (or: like) oneself – it is excessively more than the effect of all of the whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices." ³⁴ Then Jesus, seeing and perceiving him, that he responded intelligently from considered discernment, said to him, "You are (exist being) not far from God's reign (the sovereign influence, activity and kingdom of and from God)." And so no one any longer continued daring to ask Him a question. ³⁵ Then, in giving a considered response while continuing in teaching within the temple courts (or: grounds), Jesus began to say, "How are the scribes (scholars; theologians) normally saying that the Christ (the Anointed One; = the Messiah) is David's son (or: a son of David; = a descendant of David)? ³⁶ "David, himself (or: This same David), within the midst of the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: in union with the Holy Spirit; in the Sacred Attitude) said, 'The Lord [= Yahweh] said to my Lord (Master), "Continue sitting at My right, until when I should place (or: put) Your enemies down under Your feet [other MSS: {as} a foot-stool for Your feet]."' [Ps. 110:1] ³⁷ "David himself (or: This very David) keeps terming Him 'Lord' ('Master'); so from where (from what source) is He his son?" And the large crowd continued listening to Him with pleasure. ³⁸ Then within His teaching He went on to say, "Be constantly noting (looking out for; observing and considering; wary of) the scribes (scholars and theologians) – those continually wanting to be walking around in robes and [desiring] greetings within the marketplaces, ³⁹ "as well as front seats (= places of honor) in the synagogues, and prominent reclining places at dinners; ⁴⁰ "those habitually eating-down (devouring; consuming) the houses of the widows and those constantly making long prayers as a 'front' (for 'appearances;' as a pretense; for a pretext) – these will continue taking to themselves and receiving a more excessive result of judgment!" ⁴¹ Later, sitting down opposite and across from but facing the [temple] treasury, He began watching how the crowd continued throwing (casting; tossing) copper coins into the treasury collection box, and [how] many rich folks, one after another, kept on throwing many [coins]. ⁴² Now there is coming one woman – a destitute widow. She threw two small, thin copper coins (leptons; mites) – which is of very little value (a quadrans; a farthing; = a value of a fraction of a Roman cent). ⁴³ So, calling His disciples to Himself, He said to them, "Truly (Amen), I now say to you men that this destitute widow threw more than all those continuously throwing [money] into the treasury collection box, ⁴⁴ "for everyone threw from out of their exceeding excess (or: surplus), yet she, from out of her poverty (need; want; deficiency; being behind) threw [in] all, as much as she had – her entire livelihood (the whole of what gives her a living)."

¹⁰ Then, approaching, the disciples said to Him, "Why (Through what [purpose; motive]) are you continuing to speak to them in parables (here: = illustrative riddles; = Hebrew masal)?" ¹¹ So giving a decided response, He said to them, "To (or: For; With) you folks it has been given to intimately experience and insightfully know the secrets (mysteries) of the reign of the heavens (or: the kingdom which is the heavens; the royal rule which pertains to and has its origin in the heavens, and which emanates from the atmospheres), yet it has not been given to those people. ¹² "You see, whoever continues possessing (presently and habitually holds [understanding]; repeatedly has [something]), to him it (or: something; or: [understanding]) will continue being given and he will habitually be made to superabound (or: have more than enough); yet whoever does not continue possessing (habitually holding; repeatedly having), even what he does have will be progressively taken away from him. ¹³ "Therefore I continue speaking in parables (with illustrations) to them, because while seeing (or: observing) they continue not seeing, and during listening (or: hearing) they are not hearing (or: listening) – neither are they comprehending or understanding (having things flow together so as to get the picture or see the relationships). ¹⁴ "And so the prophecy of Isaiah is progressively being filled up in (or: for; by) them – the one continuing in saying, 'In listening you folks will keep on hearing, and yet you can by no means have things flow together so as to get the picture or see the relationships (or: comprehend or understand), and while constantly looking, you will continue observing, and yet you can by no means see so as to perceive. ¹⁵ 'For the heart of this people was made thick and fat, and thus has become impervious, dull and insensitive, and with the ears they hear heavily, and are thus hard of hearing, and they shut (or: closed) their eyes (or: they squint their eyes), lest at some time they might see with [their] eyes and should then be listening and hearing with [their] ears, and with the heart they could make things flow together so as to comprehend – and they might turn about! And so, I will progressively cure and heal them!' [Isa. 6:9-10] (or: ... and they squint their eyes! At some point should they not see with [their] eyes, and continue listening so as to hear with [their] ears, and thus understand in the heart? And then they can turn around, and I will continue healing them!')

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds, and apart from parables He was, and continued, speaking nothing to them, ³⁵ so that the [prophecy; oracle] being declared through the prophet would (or: could) be fulfilled, [which] continues saying, "I will repeatedly open My mouth in parables (illustrations); I will constantly disgorge and spew out things having been hidden from [the; a] casting-down (a laying of a foundation; or, metaphorically: a conception [as used in Heb. 11:11, "a casting-down of seed"]) [other MSS add: of {the} organized System (or: world; cosmos; universe; or: the world of culture and religion)]." [Ps. 78:2]

²⁸ "But how is it normally seeming to you men (= What are you now thinking of this situation; What is your opinion)? A man had two children. Upon coming to the first one, he said, 'Child, be going (or: lead the way) under [my directive] today, and continue working in the vineyard.

¹⁴ "You know, [it is] just as a person [who is] periodically (or: presently about to be) traveling abroad calls (or: summoned) his own slaves and turns over to them his possessions (or: and then gave over to them [control of] the goods and property normally being his subsistence).

² Then He was continuing to teach them many things in parables (illustrations by comparison; [note: used for Hebrew masal in the LXX, so = a variety of figures of speech: riddle; proverb; ethical maxim; by-word; allegory; fable; enigmatic saying that is meant to stimulate intense thinking]) and was saying to them in the course of His teaching,

¹¹ So He began saying to them, "The secret (mystery; [J. Jeremias: singular, = its present irruption]) of God's kingdom (or: of the sovereign reign of God as King) has been given and so stands as a gift to (or: for; in) you folks; yet to (for; in) those outside, everything (all things; the whole) continues to come to be birthed in parables (= are in obscure, illustrative riddles), ¹² "to the end that, 'continuously looking (observing), they may continually look (observe) and yet can (may; should; would) not see so as to perceive, and constantly (or: repeatedly) hearing, they may continually hear, and yet can (may; should; would) not make things flow together so as to comprehend or understand, nor can they at some point turn about (or: unless they turn upon [their path]) and the results (effects) of [their] sins and mistakes should be sent away (set aside; divorced; forgiven) for (or: in) them.'" [Isa. 6:9-10; note: this reading follows synagogue paraphrase, as witnessed in the Peshitta and the Targum, while differing from the Hebrew and LXX – J. Jeremias] ¹³ He further says to them, "Have you not seen, so as to know and perceive, this parable (obscure illustrative comparison)? (or: You folks have not seen this parable [= Heb. masal: dark saying; riddle].) So how will you folks come to personally know (have intimate and experiential understanding of) all the parables (illustrations, or, riddles)?

³³ So by means of many parables (illustrative comparisons) of this kind He continued speaking the message (the Word; the Logos; the thought and the idea) to them – according as they continued being able to continue hearing (or: continued having power to be repeatedly listening). ³⁴ Now apart from a parable (illustrative comparison) He was not in the habit of speaking to them. Yet privately and in accord to a person's own [ability] He was routinely loosening all things upon (or: habitually releasing all for; so: explaining and interpreting everything to) His own disciples (students; learners; apprentices).

¹ And so He started (or: begins) to be speaking to them in parables (illustrations from things cast or placed alongside for comparison): "A person (or: man; human) planted a vineyard, then put (or: places) a fence around [it], dug a pit (or: excavates a trough for a vat; [a place under the winepress where the extracted juice could be collected, or a hole to place a large press-vessel in, to steady it]) and erected (or: constructs; builds) a tower. Next he leased it to tenant-farmers (or: let it out to cultivators and vineyard keepers) and traveled abroad. ² "Now in the appropriate season he commissioned a slave and sent him off, as an emissary, to the tenant-farmers (cultivators and vineyard keepers), to the end that he could take (or: receive) some of the fruits of the vineyard from the tenant-cultivators. ³ "But taking hold of (or: grabbing and seizing) him, they scourged (severely whipped and beat) [him] and sent [him] off empty (= empty-handed). ⁴ "Now again he commissioned and sent off another slave to them, and they battered that one's head [other MSS: they pelted with stones] and they dishonored [him] [other MSS: they sent {him} off in dishonor]. ⁵ "Then he commissioned and sent off another one, and that one they killed. And [there were] many other – some of whom [they] were, one after another, scourging (whipping and beating), on the one hand, yet others of whom, on the other hand, [they] kept on killing, one after another. ⁶ "He still had one person, and had kept on holding him: his beloved son. He then also commissioned and sent him off last, to them, collecting his thoughts and saying, 'They will proceed turning back on themselves and will continue respecting my son.' ⁷ "Yet those tenant-farmers said to themselves and toward each other, 'This one is the heir (the one receiving the allotment of the inheritance). Come! Let us (or: We should) kill him, and the inheritance will proceed to be ours!' [note: there was a law that the estate of a proselyte who dies and has no heir may be regarded as ownerless property which can be claimed by anyone, those presently occupying it having first choice – J. Jeremias] ⁸ "So seizing [him], they at once killed him, then threw him out of [their] midst – outside the vineyard. ⁹ "What will the owner of the vineyard proceed in doing? He will in succession be coming and then destroying the tenant-farmers! Next he will proceed to give the vineyard to other folks. ¹⁰ "Have you folks not yet read this Scripture? – 'A rock (or: stone) which the builders rejected and threw away after examining it, this one comes into being [the] head of [the] corner [note: could = the keystone, or, the cornerstone]. ¹¹ 'This [head] came into existence from beside [the] Lord [= Yahweh], and He (or: it) is Wonderful (or: marvelous; remarkable; or: Amazing) in our eyes'?" [Ps. 118:22-23] ¹² So they further continued seeking [a way] to take a strong grasp of Him (= to arrest Him), for in this experience they knew that He said the parable directing it toward them – and yet they were afraid of the crowd. Then, abandoning Him, they went off.

³⁴ "[It is] like a person (human), a traveler (one who journeys away from home and country), leaving his home and giving the authority to his slaves – to each one his work – and imparts a directed goal in the gatekeeper (or: to the doorkeeper; for the person in charge of the entry) that he should be constantly watchful and alert.

¹⁰ So He said, "To (or: For; With; In; Among) you folks it has been given (or: granted; gifted) to intimately know from experience the secrets (or: mysteries) of (or: pertaining to; whose source is; or: which are) God's reign (or: kingdom; sovereign influence and activity). Yet to (for; in; among) the rest (the remaining folks) [it is given] in illustrations (parables; things cast alongside for comparison), to the end that, ‘while constantly looking, they can not (or: may not; would not) be presently seeing, and while repeatedly listening, they can (or: could; should; would) not make things flow together so as to understand (comprehend; = get the meaning).’ [Isa. 6:9]

⁶ So He went on to tell this illustration (or: parable): "A certain man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard, and so he came seeking (or: searching all over) within it for fruit – and he found none. ⁷ "Then he said to the person who took care of the vineyard, 'Look, for three years now I have been repeatedly coming, constantly searching for fruit within this fig tree, and I continue finding none. Therefore, cut it out [of the vineyard]. For what reason does it also continue making this spot of ground completely idle and unproductive?' ⁸ "But the [vineyard keeper], giving a considered response, then says to him, 'Master (or: Sir; Lord), leave it this year also, until which [time] I can dig and spread manure around it. ⁹ "'And if it should indeed produce fruit [as we progress] into the impending [season], [well and good] – yet if not, you will certainly proceed having it cut out.'"

¹³ "Later, after not many days, upon gathering everything together the younger son traveled from his homeland into a far country – and there he squandered (thoroughly scattered; dissipated) his substance for existing (or: essence; or: property; [portion of] the estate), constantly living as one having no chance of safety or preservation (one not being in a condition of health, wholeness or salvation; the disposition and life of one who is abandoned and reckless).

¹² Therefore He said, "A certain man of noble birth traveled into a far off country (a distant land) to take possession for himself (or: to receive to himself) a kingdom and its reign, and then to at once return.

⁹ Now after that, He began to tell this illustration (parable) to the people: "A person planted a vineyard and then let it out to tenant-farmers (or: leased it to vine-dressers). Next he left home on a journey (or: travels abroad) for an extended period (a considerable time that is sufficient [for the vineyard to produce fruit]). ¹⁰ "And then, in the appropriate season, he sent off a slave to the tenant-farmers (vine-dressers) with the purpose that they will proceed giving to him [his portion] from the fruit (or: crop) of the vineyard. But the tenants (vineyard workers; cultivators), after whipping (lashing) and beating [him] to the point or removing skin, sent him forth (or: out) and away empty-handed. ¹¹ "So next, he put forth a different slave to send. Yet that one also, after lashing and beating [him] – as well as dishonoring [him] – they sent forth and away empty-handed. ¹² "Then he put forth a third one to send – but, after wounding, injuring and traumatizing this one, they threw [him] out. ¹³ "So the owner (lord) of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do?... I will proceed sending my son, the beloved one (may signify: the only one). All things being equal, chances are they will proceed being turned within so as to be showing respect to this one.' ¹⁴ "Now upon seeing him, the tenant-farmers (vineyard cultivators) began reasoning and deliberating with one another, one after another saying, 'This one is the heir! We should (or: Let us) at once kill him off, so that the inheritance can (or: may) come to be ours!' ¹⁵ "And so, after throwing him outside the vineyard, they killed [him]. What, therefore, will the owner (lord) of the vineyard proceed doing to them?... ¹⁶ "He will proceed in coming and will be progressively destroying these tenant-farmers, and then he will be progressively giving the vineyard to other folks." Now upon hearing [this], they said, "May it not happen (or: come to that)!" ¹⁷ But He, looking intently at them (or: staring in their [faces]), said, "What, then, is the [meaning of] this having been written, 'A stone which the builders rejected – after examining it – has come to be [placed] into [the] head (= source) of [the] corner (or: ended up as the keystone)'? [Ps. 118:22] ¹⁸ "Every person falling upon that stone will be progressively crushed together and shattered, yet upon whom it may (or: should) fall, it will continue winnowing him [like grain]." ¹⁹ At this, the scribes (scholars and theologians) and the chief priests sought (tried to find [some way]) to throw [their] hands on Him in that very hour, and yet they feared the people. You see, they realized that He spoke this illustration (parable) [with an aim] toward them.

⁹ So they asked Him, "Where are you presently intending [that] we should make [the] preparations?"

¹ "I Myself am (exist being) the true (genuine; real) Grapevine, and My Father is (continues being) the One who tends the soil (the Farmer; the One who tills and works the Land; the Cultivator; the Gardener). 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. ³ "You folks, yourselves, are already cleared (cleansed) and pruned ones through and because of the word (Logos; message; thought; idea) which I have spoken to you (in you; for you; among you). ⁴ "You folks remain (dwell; abide; stay) within and in union with Me – and I, Myself, [will remain] within and in union with you. Correspondingly as the tender branch is not being consistently able (having continuing power) to repeatedly bear fruit from itself unless it should continually remain (stay; dwell) within (in union with; on) the grapevine, in the same way, neither [can] you folks, unless you may constantly remain (stay; dwell) within (in union with; centered in) Me. ⁵ "I Myself am the Grapevine; you folks [are] the tender branches (shoots or twigs that can be easily broken). The person continuously remaining (dwelling; abiding) within the midst of Me – and I within the midst of and in union with him – this one is repeatedly bearing (bringing forth; = producing) much fruit. [It is the case] that apart from (or: separated from) Me you folks continue having ability and power to do (make; construct; create; form; perform; produce) nothing! ⁶ "If anyone can (or: would; should) not continuously remain (dwell; abide; stay) within the midst of and in union with Me, he is cast (or: thrown) outside – as the tender branch (twig; shoot) – and is caused to dry up and wither. And, they are constantly gathering (or: leading) them together [as in a bundle, or in a synagogue]. And then, they are normally throwing (or: casting) [them] into the fire – and it is progressively kindled (repeatedly ignited; or: habitually lit and progressively burned). ⁷ "If you people can (or: would; should) remain (abide) within the midst of and in union with Me – and My gush-effects (flow of declarations; results of spoken words) can (should; would) remain (abide) within the midst of and in union with you – seek in petition whatever you folks may habitually purpose (constantly intend; repeatedly will; continuously want or desire), and it will proceed coming to be in and among you folks (it will progressively occur for you; it will continue being birthed by you; it will habitually happen to you). ⁸ "My Father is (or: was) glorified (given a good reputation and a manifestation which calls forth praise) within the midst of this, so that you men can continuously bear (or: would keep on bringing forth) much fruit, and thus can (or: would) come to be [with other MSS: will continue becoming] disciples (learners; students; apprentices) by Me (or: in Me; to Me; for Me; with Me; [other MSS: My disciples]).

³⁸ "This one is the man coming to be in the midst of the called-out community which was our fathers within the desert (which consisted of our ancestors in the desolate places of the wilderness) – along with the agent (or: messenger), the one continuing in speaking to him in Mount Sinai – he who received continuously living little Words (or: thoughts; ideas; verbal expressions; oracles) to give to you folks [other MSS: to us] (or: to grant for you people; to deliver among you; to bestow in you) –

⁴⁶ "– who found grace and favor in the sight of (or: before) God, and so he asked to find a camping site (a tenting place; the results and effects of pitching a tabernacle; = a place for a habitation with covering shade) for the God [p74, B, D and other MSS read: in the house] of Jacob. ⁴⁷ "However, Solomon built (constructed) a house for Him.

¹ What then [is] the advantage (the thing given by the surplus of abundance which results in pre-eminence, prerogative and superiority) of the Jew, or what [is] the furthering benefit of the circumcision? ² Much, in accord with every turn (i.e., from every angle, or, in every way), for first [of all] (or: in the first place; foremost; mainly), indeed, that they were (or: are) entrusted with God’s brief utterances (little words; [note: the diminutive of Logos; often translated: “oracles”]).

⁴ the very ones who are Israelites, whose [is] the placing in the condition of a son (or: the deposit of the Son; the setting in place which is the Son; the constituting as a son) and the glory (the things which call forth praise and bring a splendid reputation) and the arrangements(or: covenants; [other MSS: the Covenant) and the placing of the Law (or: even the setting of custom and legislation by/as [Torah]) and the sacred service and the promises, ⁵ whose [are] the fathers (= ancestors) and forth from out of the midst of whom [is] the Christ, the [descendant] down the line of flesh (or: on the level of the human realm) – the One continuously being upon all mankind: God, worthy of praise and blessing on into the ages! It is so (or: – corresponding to natural descent – [is] the Anointed One [= the Messiah] who exists being God: One with a message of goodness, ease and well-being – superimposed on all things – on into the indefinite time periods! Amen – count on it)!

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!

³⁴ "Now when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent off his slaves to the farmers (= tenant-cultivators) for the purpose of receiving and taking his [share of] the fruits.

⁴⁸ "But the person not knowing or understanding – yet doing [things] deserving of blows (or: a beating) – will proceed in being flayed (severely whipped) [with] few lashes. So to everyone to whom much was given, much will continue being sought for from him (at his side or situation); and to whom they set much alongside (or: committed to and put in charge of much), of him they will continue more excessively requesting and demanding.

¹⁰ "And then, in the appropriate season, he sent off a slave to the tenant-farmers (vine-dressers) with the purpose that they will proceed giving to him [his portion] from the fruit (or: crop) of the vineyard. But the tenants (vineyard workers; cultivators), after whipping (lashing) and beating [him] to the point or removing skin, sent him forth (or: out) and away empty-handed.

¹ Long ago (or: In the old days), in many parts (or: fragments; divided portions; = bit by bit) and in much-traveled ways consisting of many turns and directions, God, having spoken to (or: by; in; with) the fathers – in (= through; in [the words of]) the prophets –

³⁴ "Because of this – look and consider! – I, Myself, am continuing in commissioning and sending off to you people prophets, wise people and scholars (scribes; theologians of the Law). Of them, [some] you folks will proceed to be killing, and [some] you will proceed to crucify (put to death on stakes). Further, of them [some] you people will continue severely whipping (scourge; lash) within your synagogues, and then you, yourselves, will continue pursuing and persecuting [them] from city to city (or: town to town), ³⁵ "so that upon you, yourselves, can (or: should) come all [the] just (equitable; rightwised) blood being continuously poured out (or: spilled) upon the Land – from the blood of rightwised (just; fair; in-right-relationship) Abel, until the blood of Zechariah, the son of Barachiah (or: Baruch), whom you people murdered between the Temple and the altar. ³⁶ "Assuredly, I am now saying to you people, it will progressively move toward this point, and then arrive – all these things! – upon this generation! ³⁷ "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The one repeatedly killing the prophets, and habitually stoning the people sent off with a mission to her. How many times (or: How often) I wanted (intended; purposed; longed) to progressively gather your children together upon [Myself] in the manner in which a hen normally gathers her chicks together under [her] wings – and you did not want [it] (or: you do not intend [it]).

⁴⁷ "It will be so tragic for you, because (or: It is so tragic among you, that) you folks habitually build and erect the memorial tombs of the prophets, but your fathers (or: forefathers; ancestors) killed them off (or: murdered them)! ⁴⁸ "Really (or: Consequently; Accordingly then), you folks exist being witnesses (or: continuously are folks who testify and give evidence) and you are constantly approving, thinking well of and giving endorsement to the actions (deeds; works) of your fathers (and: forefathers), because they indeed killed them off, and now you yourselves continue building the [memorial] houses [other MSS: their tombs]! ⁴⁹ "That is why (or: On account of this) the Wisdom of God also said, 'As emissaries I will proceed sending off prophets and representatives unto them (or: into the midst of them) – and they will proceed killing off [some] from out of their midst, and then they will proceed to pursue (chase; press forward [on] and persecute; [other MSS: banish]) [others],' ⁵⁰ "So thus, the blood of all of the prophets – that having been [other MSS: being constantly or repeatedly] poured out from the casting down (the founding; the foundation; or: may = the conceiving) of [the] ordered system (world of culture, economy, religion and government) – can (or: should; would) at some point (or: suddenly) be searched out to be required and exacted from this generation: ⁵¹ "from Abel's blood until the blood of Zechariah – the man losing himself (or: perishing; being destroyed) between the altar and the House – yes, I continue saying (or: am now saying) to you folks, it will progressively be sought out and exacted from this generation.

³³ "Moreover, it continues being binding and necessary for Me to continue journeying today, tomorrow and on the following one [other MSS: in the one still coming], because it continues being inadmissible (not acceptable; = unthinkable) for a prophet to be destroyed outside of Jerusalem! ³⁴ "Jerusalem, O Jerusalem! – the one constantly killing off the prophets, and repeatedly stoning the people having been sent off as emissaries (missionaries; representatives) to her – how often (how many times) I wanted and intended to at once completely gather together and assemble your children, in the manner in which a hen [gathers] her own brood (or: chicks) under [her] wings, and yet you people did not want [it]!

¹⁰ "And then, in the appropriate season, he sent off a slave to the tenant-farmers (vine-dressers) with the purpose that they will proceed giving to him [his portion] from the fruit (or: crop) of the vineyard. But the tenants (vineyard workers; cultivators), after whipping (lashing) and beating [him] to the point or removing skin, sent him forth (or: out) and away empty-handed. ¹¹ "So next, he put forth a different slave to send. Yet that one also, after lashing and beating [him] – as well as dishonoring [him] – they sent forth and away empty-handed. ¹² "Then he put forth a third one to send – but, after wounding, injuring and traumatizing this one, they threw [him] out.

⁵² "Which one of the prophets (those who had light ahead of time and spoke before the people) did your fathers [D* reads: those men] not persecute and pursue? And they killed off those predicting concerning (or: bringing down the announcement in advance about) the coming of the Just One (the Fair, Equitable, Right One that is in rightwised relationships that accord with the Way pointed out) – of Whom you yourselves became betrayers (or: traitors) and murderers:

¹⁵ even from those killing-off the Lord Jesus, as well as the prophets; even from those driving us out and continuously displeasing God, and from folks contrary to (or: in opposition against) all humans (or: people),

³⁶ But different ones took a trial (or: received a test) of mockings (scoffings), and of scourgings, and further, of bonds and imprisonment (= put in chains and thrown in jail). ³⁷ They were stoned, they were cut in two with a saw, they were put to the proof (tried; tested), they passed away in a slaughter (or: by murder) with sword, they went around (wandered) in sheepskins, in goat skins, continuously being behind (being in want; being in the rear), being constantly pressed (squeezed; afflicted), habitually being held in the bad (being maltreated; having it bad) –

¹² be continuously rejoicing and repeatedly express extreme exultation, because your wage (compensation; reward) [is] much (large; great), within the heavens (or: atmospheres [that surround you])! You see, they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

³⁵ "And then the farmers (vinedressers), upon taking hold of his slaves, thrashed one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶ "So again, he sent off other slaves – more than the first ones – and they did the same to them!

⁶ "and the rest [of them], forcibly taking hold of his slaves, insolently violated their human rights and then killed [them].

³⁷ "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The one repeatedly killing the prophets, and habitually stoning the people sent off with a mission to her. How many times (or: How often) I wanted (intended; purposed; longed) to progressively gather your children together upon [Myself] in the manner in which a hen normally gathers her chicks together under [her] wings – and you did not want [it] (or: you do not intend [it]).

¹³ "Nevertheless, I now say to you men that Elijah as well has come, so as to be here, and they do to Him (or: did with him) as many things as they were desiring and are still purposing – correspondingly as it has been written on Him (or: concerning him)."

²² "You people continue existing being happy and blessed whenever mankind (people; humanity) may hate you or treat you with ill-will, and whenever they may mark you off by boundaries, so as to separate you, and may even insult or denounce [you], or defame [your] character and reputation, and then may even throw out your (collective, or, individual) name as worthless, harmful or wicked – on account of the Son of the Man (= the eschatological Messianic figure; or: = Adam's son; the Son of mankind). ²³ "You folks be continuously rejoicing and then jump for joy (or: frisk about) within that day, for, look and consider! – the wage and reward (or: the compensation) belonging to you folks [is] much (or: vast; great) within the midst of and in union with the heaven (or: in the atmosphere)! You see, their fathers (= ancestors) kept on treating the prophets the very same way (or: repeatedly did to the prophets in accord with the same things).

³⁶ "Continue becoming compassionate people, just as your Father continuously exists being compassionate!

²³ "Look and consider! The Virgin will proceed holding (having) one within the womb (= The young woman of marriageable age will become pregnant) and then will proceed giving birth to a Son, and they will repeatedly call His name 'Emmanuel,'" [Isa. 7:14] which is normally being translated and interpreted, "God [is] with us." (or: "God Himself {literally: The God} [is present] with us.")

¹⁷ And then – look and consider! – a Voice (or: sound) from out of the midst of the atmosphere (or: the sky and the heavens), repeatedly saying, "This is My Son, the Beloved One in Whom I take pleasure and imagine thoughts of well-being (or: This One exists being My dearly loved and esteemed Son, in Whom I approve)!"

²⁷ "All people were (or: Everything was) given to Me by, and under, My Father, and yet no one is by habit completely or accurately knowing the Son in an intimate and personal way – except the Father – nor does anyone continue having an intimate experiential full-knowledge of the Father – except the Son, as well as to or in whomever the Son in now desiring (wanting) to unveil [Him].

⁵ Now consider this! While he was still speaking, a cloud composed of light (or: a cloud full of light; a cloud radiating light; a luminous cloud; an illuminated cloud) suddenly brought shade upon them (or: cast a shadow over them; overshadowed, or enveloped them). And think of this! A Voice – from out of the midst of the cloud – progressively saying, "This Man continues existing being My Son! The Beloved One (or: The One exemplifying and expressing My love) within Whom I think good thoughts (or: in Whom I imagine thoughts of wellness and ease; in Whom I appear well; in Whom I approve and of Whom I have a good opinion). Make it a habit to listen, to continue paying attention, and then to [really] hear Him (implies: obey Him)!"

⁶³ Yet Jesus continued silent. And so the high (ruling; ranking) priest said to Him, "I now bind you to speak out an oath in accord with the living God (or: Down from the living God, I am now exorcising you; or: I now bind you by oath in correspondence with the living God) that you should say to us if you, yourself, are the Christ (the Anointed one; = the Messiah) – God's son (= the one having the same relationship to God and to the people as did Israel as a nation, or Israel's king)?"

¹¹ And a Voice was birthed (or: a sound occurred) from out of the midst of the heavens (or: [torn] atmospheres; or: = the sky and outer space; or = the realms of God's presence; or = the holy places of the realms of spirit): "You Yourself are (or: continue being; habitually exist being) My Son – the Beloved One! I seem at ease and appear well and prosperous in union with and within the midst of You (or: I delight in You; I think and imagine ease and wellness within You; I am well-pleased and approve in You)!"

⁷ And then a cloud formed, progressively overshadowing (casting shade upon) them. Next a voice sounded (came into existence; was birthed) from out of the midst of the cloud, saying, "This One is (ongoingly exists being) My Son, the Beloved One. Be habitually hearing, listening to [and thus, obeying] Him!"

²² and [for] the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: the Holy Spirit; the Sacred Attitude) to descend (step down) – in bodily perceptual appearance as a dove (or: pigeon) – upon Him, and [for] a Voice from out of the midst of heaven (or: a Sound from [the] atmosphere, or sky,) to birth Itself: "You, Yourself, are (continuously exist being) My Son – the Beloved One! I have good thoughts within the midst of You (or: I take delight in You; I am disposed to good things and wellness in union with You; In You I think ease and imagine well-being; [instead of this last sentence, D reads, and this reading is found in various second and third century church fathers, over a wide geographic area from Spain to North Africa, to Palestine: Today I, Myself, have given birth to You])!"

³⁵ And then a Voice was birthed (or: a Sound occurred) from out of the midst of the cloud, progressively laying it out and saying, "This Man is (or: exists being) My Son, the Man having been selected, picked out and chosen! From Him you men continue hearing (or: You folks be habitually listening to Him)."

¹⁴ And so The Word (the Idea; the Thought; the Reason; the Discourse; the Message; The Collected Expression of Rational Logic; The Logos; = the meaning, plan and rational purpose of the ordered universe) births Itself flesh (or: became flesh; came to be [in] flesh; came into existence being flesh; = God's thought, the ground of all real existence, became projected into creation as an immanent power within the world of mankind, inhabiting flesh), and lives in a tent, within us (or: set up a tent and tabernacled among us), and we view (attentively gaze at; looked at so as to contemplate) Its (or: His) glory (Its manifestation which calls forth praise; Its appearance which creates and effects opinions in regard to the whole of human experience; = His manifest presence): a glory (= prestige and importance; reputation and opinion-forming appearance) as of an only-begotten one at a father’s side (or: [the] glory from [the presence of the] Father, as a uniquely-born One), full of grace and truth (filled with favor as well as reality and genuineness).

¹⁸ No one at any time has seen God. The only-begotten (uniquely-born) God [other MSS: Son], the One continuously existing, [moving, directed and leading] into the Father’s place of safety and intimacy (bosom; breast; chest; folds of a garment; inlet or bay), that One interprets and explains by unfolding and bringing [Him] out.

³⁴ "And so I myself have seen and given witness, and thus now bear testimony, that this One is God’s Son (or: continuously exists being the Son which is God; or: the Son having the character and qualities of God; or: the Son from God)."

⁴⁹ Nathaniel considered and replied to Him, "Rabbi, You – You are the Son of God! You – You are Israel’s King!"

¹⁶ "For thus God loves the world (the universe; the ordered arrangement; the organized system [of life and society]; or: = all mankind), so that He gives His uniquely-born [with other MSS: the only-begotten] Son, (or, reading wste as an adverb: You see, in this manner God loves the sum total of created beings as being the Son: He gives the Only-begotten One; or: reading wV te: For you see, [it is] in this way [that] God loves the aggregate of humanity – even as it were His Son: He gives the uniquely-born One), to the end that all (or: everyone) – the one habitually believing, putting confidence and trusting into Him – would not lose or destroy himself, or cause himself to fall into ruin, but rather can continuously have (or: would habitually possess and hold) eonian life (age-durative life with qualities derived from the Age [of the Messiah]; living existence of and for the ages). [note 1): I have here given the “fact” sense of the aorist tense of the verbs “love” and “give” rather than the simple past tense. The statement by Jesus is a “timeless” fact of God; it signifies that the object of His love and His gift (that object being the cosmos, the universe, the world of men and created beings) is in view as a whole, and both the love and the gift are presented as fact, as one complete whole (punctiliar) which exists apart from any sense of time (i.e., coming from the realm or sphere of the “eternal,” or, “the Being of God;” note 2): Paul Tillich defines "love" (agape): the whole being's drive and movement toward reunion with another, to overcome existential separation; an ecstatic manifestation of the Spiritual Presence; acceptance of the object of love without restriction, in spite of the estranged, profanized and demonized state of the object; – Systematic Theology III, pp 134-138] ¹⁷ "For God does not send forth His [other MSS: the] Son as an Emissary, or Representative, into the world (or: System; aggregate of humanity) to the end that He should continuously separate and make decisions about the world (or: would at some point sift and judge the System, or the aggregate of humanity), but to the contrary, to the end that the world would be delivered (or: that the System could be healed and made whole; that the ordered arrangement should be restored to health; that the aggregate of mankind may be saved – rescued and re-established in its original state): through Him! ¹⁸ "The one habitually believing and progressively placing trust into Him is not being continuously sifted or evaluated (is not habitually being separated for decisions or being judged). The one not habitually trusting and believing has already been sifted and evaluated (separated for a decision; judged) and that decision yet exists, because he has not believed so that he trusts into the Name [note: “name” is a Semitism for the person, or his authority, or his qualities] of the uniquely-born Son of God (or: into God’s Son – the only-begotten One).

³⁵ "The Father continuously loves the Son, and He has given all humanity (or, as a neuter: all things) [to Him] so that He has it (or: them) as a gift within His hand.

²³ "to the end that everyone (or: all mankind) may continuously be honoring the Son (or: would habitually value, and constantly find worth in, the Son), correspondingly as they may be continually honoring the Father. The one not habitually honoring (valuing; finding worth in) the Son is not habitually honoring (valuing; finding worth in) the Father – the One sending Him."

¹ Long ago (or: In the old days), in many parts (or: fragments; divided portions; = bit by bit) and in much-traveled ways consisting of many turns and directions, God, having spoken to (or: by; in; with) the fathers – in (= through; in [the words of]) the prophets – ² upon [the] last of these days spoke to us in a Son whom He placed (or: sets) [as; to be] Heir of all (or: One who receives all humanity as an allotment; or: heir of all things; or: One who received everything as his allotted inheritance) through Whom He also made the ages (or: formed and constructed the various designated periods of time [which compose existence, as well as God's influence and activities]);

⁶ Now again, when He brought the Firstborn into the habitable world He is saying, "And so, let all God's agents (or: people with the message) give homage to Him (or: worship and reverence Him; kiss toward and do obeisance to Him; = show respect and give honor to Him)." [Ps. 97:7b]

⁹ Within this, God's Love is instantly manifested (or: was at one point made visible; is made apparent and clear) within us (or: among us), in that (or: because) God has sent (dispatched) His uniquely-born (or: only-begotten) Son as a Representative (Envoy; Emissary) into the ordered System (world of society, culture, religion and government; or: the cosmos; or: = the aggregate of humanity), to the end that we would live (or: can experience life) through Him.

¹¹ And so this is the evidence (or: exists being the testimony, witness and attested affirmation): that God gives (or: gave; grants) Life pertaining to, and having the quality of the Age (life whose source is the Age [of Messiah]; eonian life; Life of, for and on through the ages) to, for and in us, and this very Life continuously exists within His Son (or: is in union with the Son which is Him)! ¹² The one continually holding (or: constantly having; progressively possessing) the Son continuously holds (constantly has; progressively possesses) the Life. The person not continuously holding (constantly having) God's Son does not now have (or: hold) the Life. [comment: it seems that the Son is the Life]

⁹ And they repeatedly sing a new song (ode; hymn), constantly saying, "You are worthy to take (of equal value to receive) the scroll (or: codex; book) and to open its seals, because You were (or: are) slaughtered and bought us by God (for God; in God; with God), within Your blood (or: in union with the blood which is You), from out of the midst of every tribe and tongue (or: language) and people and ethnic multitude (or: nation). ¹⁰ "And You made (or: make; form; construct) them [minuscule 792, the Clementia Vulgate (1592) and Primasius (sixth century) read: us] kings [other MSS: a kingdom] and priests in (for; to; by) our God, and they [the Armenian, Clementia Vulgate (1592) and Primasiua read: we] continue reigning [reading with Westcott & Hort (following A); other MSS: they will reign] upon the Land (or: the earth)." ¹¹ Next I saw and also heard a sound (or: a voice) of many agents forming a circle around the throne, the living ones, and the elders. And the number of them [is; was] innumerable groups of innumerable groups (myriads of myriads), even thousands of thousands, ¹² repeatedly saying with a great voice, "The little Lamb, the One having been slaughtered, is worthy (of value) to take (receive) the power and ability, as well as wealth and riches, and wisdom and strength and honor and glory (or: reputation) and blessing." ¹³ And all creation (or: every creature) which exists within the sky (or: atmosphere; heaven), and on the earth, even down under the earth (or: ground; soil), as well as which is upon the sea – even all things (the whole; everything) within them – I heard repeatedly saying, "The blessing and the honor and the glory (good reputation) and the strength (might) [are] in (by; for; to; with) the One continuously sitting upon the throne, and in (by; to; for) the little Lamb, on into the ages of the ages."

³ Now, upon hearing [of it], King Herod was shaken (disturbed; unsettled; agitated; irritated with anxiety; stirred up) – as well as all Jerusalem along with him! ⁴ Then on gathering together all the chief (or: ranking) priests and scribes (theologians; experts in the Law and Torah) of the People [= those of the Jewish culture and religion], he, one after another, repeatedly investigated from them, ascertaining beside them where the Christ (the Anointed One; = the Messiah) is traditionally being born. ⁵ So they said to him, "Within Bethlehem [Hebrew: House of Bread], of the Judean [district], for thus it stands written through the prophet, ⁶ 'And you, Bethlehem, [in the] land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders (= leading cities) of Judah, for from out of you will proceed coming forth a Leader and Mentor, which very One will shepherd (= guide, nourish, care for and protect) My People, Israel.'" [Mic. 5:1] ⁷ Thereupon Herod, at that time, secretly and covertly calling the "great ones" (the magi), ascertained accurately (exactly) from them the time (= the date) of the star's continued appearing and shining (or: of the appearing star; = How long has the star been appearing since its rising in the East? [Vincent's rendering is similar]). ⁸ So then, sending them into Bethlehem, he said, "As you are going on your way, you men make a diligent search for [him] and inquire exactly concerning the little boy, while examining [the situation]. Now whenever (or: as soon as) you may find [him], report back to me so that, upon coming, I also can myself do it obeisance (or: pay homage to him)." ⁹ Now they, upon hearing from the king, journeyed on their way and – note and consider this! – the star which they saw in [its] rising (or: within the East, the place of rising; or: perceived [when being] in the East) was still leading the way ahead of them (or: began preceding them and kept on in front of them) until coming above where the young Boy was, [and] it was caused to stand (or: to take a stand; = made to stop; or: was established). ¹⁰ Now upon seeing the star, they experienced joy – great joy. ¹¹ Then, when coming into the house, they saw the little Boy with Mary, His mother, and at once falling down, they did obeisance, so as to pay homage and worship Him. And upon opening up their treasure-chests, they brought to Him their offerings (approach-presents): gold; frankincense; myrrh. ¹² However, upon being communicated useful and needed advice (or: an oracle; a divine warning and message; a response to someone who consults) – down from (or: as a result of; in correspondence to) a dream – not to return (to not bend [their path] back) toward Herod, they withdrew from the region (vacated the area) and returned into their country through another road (path; way). ¹³ Now, upon their withdrawing from the region [of Bethlehem?] and returning into their country, – note and consider this! – an agent from [the] Lord [= Yahweh's messenger] progressively makes himself visible (or: as was the custom, is again made to appear) down from (or: in association with) a dream to (or: in) Joseph, proceeding in saying, "Upon being roused, and getting up, take along the young Boy – as well as His mother – and progressively flee into Egypt. Then continue being (or: existing) there until I can (or: should) speak to you, for Herod proceeds about to be continuously seeking the young Boy, his purpose being to destroy Him!"

¹⁶ Then Herod, seeing (= realizing) that he was played as a fool (duped; tricked; treated with scorn) by the great ones (scholars; wise men; astrologers), was extremely furious (was caused to breathe violently in a heat of passion; was enraged), so, dispatching [soldiers] (or: sending off agents), he took up (= put to death) all the boys within Bethlehem and in all its boundaries (= districts; surrounding areas) – those from two years and under (or: younger), corresponding to the time which he had accurately ascertained from those great ones (scholars).

¹² So they further continued seeking [a way] to take a strong grasp of Him (= to arrest Him), for in this experience they knew that He said the parable directing it toward them – and yet they were afraid of the crowd. Then, abandoning Him, they went off.

⁴⁷ Consequently, the chief (or: ranking) priests and the Pharisees gathered [the] Sanhedrin (= convoked a council of the leaders of the Jewish religious and political culture), and they began to say, "What are we presently doing, seeing that this man is repeatedly doing many signs? ⁴⁸ "If we let him go on in this way (or: If we disregard him in this manner; or: Suppose we thus abandon, neglect or leave him alone), they will all progressively put trust (will continue believing) into him, the Romans will proceed to come, and they will progressively take away both our place and our nation (= political station, culture and corporate ethnic identity)." ⁴⁹ Yet one of them, Caiaphas, being chief priest of that year, said to them, "You people have not seen, nor perceived, nor know anything, ⁵⁰ "neither are you logically reasoning or taking into account the fact that he is progressively bringing it together for you (or: it is advantageously bringing things together for you), so that one man can die over (or: to the end that one person should and would die away for the sake of [in the sense of "instead of"]) the People, and not [that] the whole nation should destroy itself!"

²³ "This Man, given up out of the midst in and by the specific, determined, bounded (limited) plan (intended purpose, design and counsel) and foreknowledge (intimate knowledge which was experienced beforehand) of God (or: whose source and character was God; or: which pertained to and was God), you folks, through the hand (= agency) of people not bound by the Law (= folks without knowledge of and not living in accordance to the Torah), took up and assassinated by fastening [Him] to [an execution stake (or: a cross)],

²⁸ "We commanded to you men, with a direct order, not to keep on teaching upon the [authority and basis of] this Name – and look! – you folks have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and now you continue purposed and determined to bring upon us (= hold us responsible for) the blood of this man!"

²⁷ "You see, those presently residing (dwelling; having a permanent home) in Jerusalem, along with their rulers, not knowing this or even the voices of the prophets – those being regularly and repeatedly read in accord with every sabbath – they fulfilled [them] in judging [Him] (or: not recognizing or knowing, and being ignorant about, this One, by judging [Him] they fulfilled the voices of the prophets which are continuously being read, down on every sabbath). ²⁸ "And even though not finding in Him even one cause for (or: grounds deserving) death [D* adds: after judging Him they turned {Him} over to Pilate {and}], they asked Pilate to take Him up to be executed.

³³ "Listen, and hear another illustration (parable): There was a man (human), a householder, who planted a vineyard. Then he put a fence (or: wall; hedge) around it and excavated a trough-shaped receptacle as a winepress. Next he erected a viewing tower, then he leased [the vineyard] out to farmer who would cultivate and dress the vines. With that, he left his home country and traveled abroad.

³⁹ "And so, upon taking hold of him, they threw him out – outside of the vineyard –and they killed [him].

¹⁵ "And so, after throwing him outside the vineyard, they killed [him]. What, therefore, will the owner (lord) of the vineyard proceed doing to them?...

¹¹ For you see, the bodies of those animals, whose blood is still repeatedly being brought [some MSS add: concerning sin] into the set-apart (or: holy) places by means of the chief priest, are habitually being burned down outside of the Camp. ¹² Wherefore Jesus also suffered (and/or: had experiences of His bodily senses and emotions) outside of the gate [p46 and others: the Camp], so that He may set-apart (or: would make holy and sacred) the People through His own blood. [comment: this was a fulfillment of the Day of Atonement] ¹³ Now then, we can keep on coming out (or: should be progressively going out) toward Him – outside of the Camp – habitually bearing His reproach (= the censure and disgrace which He bore; or: the insult which pertains to Him). [comment: this was a call to participate in His sacrifice, and also to leave Judaism (or: religion), and thus to bear the same reproach and insults that He bore; it is also a call to bear away from them the mistakes and failures of others – John 20:23]

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! ¹⁰ "Now you see, the ax is already continuing lying [being focused] toward (or: facing toward) the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree not habitually (repeatedly; = seasonally) producing beautiful (ideal; fine) fruit is customarily being cut out [of the orchard or garden], and is normally thrown into a fire. [comment: to be used for fuel] ¹¹ "I myself, on the one hand, continue immersing you folks in water, [which proceeds] into the midst of a change in thinking ([leading you] into a change of perception, frame of mind and mode of thought – into a change of understanding and a turning back [to Yahweh]). On the other hand, the One progressively coming close after me is (exists being) stronger than me (or: I), whose sandals I am not competent (or: adequate) to lift up and carry off. He, Himself, will proceed immersing (baptizing) you folks within the midst of a set-apart Breath-effect and Fire (or: will repeatedly submerge you to the point of saturation, in union with [the] Holy Spirit, even to the permeation of a Sacred Attitude, as well as with [the] Fire) – 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."

¹¹ "Now I further say to you that many people from eastern lands, as well as western regions, will continue arriving. And they will one-after-another be made to recline [and dine] with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, within the reign and sovereign rule of the heavens (or: the kingdom of the atmospheres). ¹² "Yet the 'sons of the kingdom (or: reign; = those who were in line to inherit the kingdom; or: = those who were supposed to manifest its reign)' will be progressively thrown out into the external darkness (external obscurity of the shadows). There [= outside the banqueting building] it will continue be 'weeping and grinding of teeth' (or: The crying and the gnashing of teeth will be in that [outdoor] place, or situation)." [note: grinding/gnashing of teeth = either regret, or anger] ¹³ So Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! In the same way that you trusted, let it come to be for you (or: Just as you believe, let it be birthed and happen with you)!" And so the orderly (manservant; servant boy) was healed and made whole in that hour.

⁴⁵ "At that time it continues journeying on its way, and then proceeds taking along with itself seven different spirits (attitudes; breath-effects; winds) more good-for-nothing and useless (base, wicked, knavish, grievously oppressive and evil) than itself, and upon entering, it settles down and continues dwelling there in the house. So the last [circumstances] of that person becomes progressively worse than the first ones. Thus in this way will it also proceed being with (or: for; in; to) this good-for-nothing and wicked generation."

⁴⁰ "Therefore, whenever the owner of the vineyard may come, what will he proceed to be doing to those farmers (vinedressers)?" ⁴¹ They, as a group, say to Him, "Worthless men (Evil, bad, ugly and malicious fellows)! He will proceed to destroy them in an ugly and vicious way! And then, he will proceed to lease out the vineyard to other vinedressers (farmers; cultivators), who will be habitually giving away (rendering) to him his due share of the fruits, in their proper seasons."

⁴³ "Because of this, I am now saying to you men that God's reign (or: the kingdom of God; the influence and activity of God's sovereignty) will be progressively lifted up away from you folks, and it (or: she) will proceed being given to an ethnic multitude (or: nation; people group) consistently producing its (or: her) fruit!

⁷ "So the king inwardly swelled with fury and was made to teem with anger. And then, sending his soldiers (troops), he destroyed those murderers and set their city in flames.

³⁴ "Because of this – look and consider! – I, Myself, am continuing in commissioning and sending off to you people prophets, wise people and scholars (scribes; theologians of the Law). Of them, [some] you folks will proceed to be killing, and [some] you will proceed to crucify (put to death on stakes). Further, of them [some] you people will continue severely whipping (scourge; lash) within your synagogues, and then you, yourselves, will continue pursuing and persecuting [them] from city to city (or: town to town), ³⁵ "so that upon you, yourselves, can (or: should) come all [the] just (equitable; rightwised) blood being continuously poured out (or: spilled) upon the Land – from the blood of rightwised (just; fair; in-right-relationship) Abel, until the blood of Zechariah, the son of Barachiah (or: Baruch), whom you people murdered between the Temple and the altar. ³⁶ "Assuredly, I am now saying to you people, it will progressively move toward this point, and then arrive – all these things! – upon this generation! ³⁷ "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The one repeatedly killing the prophets, and habitually stoning the people sent off with a mission to her. How many times (or: How often) I wanted (intended; purposed; longed) to progressively gather your children together upon [Myself] in the manner in which a hen normally gathers her chicks together under [her] wings – and you did not want [it] (or: you do not intend [it]). ³⁸ "Look, and think about this! ‘Your House is progressively left [to be] a wilderness (desert; desolate place) for you people (or: is now abandoned to you).’ [Jer. 22:5]

²⁷ "'What is more, You folks bring here these enemies of mine – the ones not wanting me to reign as king over (or: upon) them – and at once slaughter them in front of me by slashing their throats!'"

⁴¹ And then, as He came near, upon seeing (or: viewing and perceiving) the City, He wept (or: wailed; or: lamented; or: cried, shedding tears as an expression of grief) upon it (= over its condition and situation), ⁴² then saying, "If you, even you yourself, knew by intimate experience or had discerned in this day the things [leading, moving or tending] toward peace (= shalom; [other MSS: your peace])! – but at this time it is (or: has been) hidden from your eyes – ⁴³ "that days will proceed arriving upon you, and your enemies will be progressively setting up an encampment beside you and will continue casting up a mound beside [you and] a staked fortification (or: rampart) on (or: next to) you, and next will proceed to encircle and surround you, then continue bringing and enclosing pressure on you from every side! ⁴⁴ "Later, they will proceed in dashing you to the ground and razing you, as well as your children within the midst of you – then they will continue not leaving stone upon stone (or: a stone on a stone) within you – in return for what things? Because you do not know the season (or: had no intimate or personal awareness so as to recognize the occasion; have no insights about the fertile moment) of your visitation and inspection."

¹⁵ "And so, after throwing him outside the vineyard, they killed [him]. What, therefore, will the owner (lord) of the vineyard proceed doing to them?... ¹⁶ "He will proceed in coming and will be progressively destroying these tenant-farmers, and then he will be progressively giving the vineyard to other folks." Now upon hearing [this], they said, "May it not happen (or: come to that)!"

⁴⁶ Continuing bold, expressing the inherent right to speak the whole truth publicly with freedom from reprisal, both Paul and Barnabas said, "It was a matter of constraint, compulsion, and pressed indispensability [for] God's Logos (Word; message; idea) to be spoken to you folks first! Yet since you folks continue to push it away from yourselves, and are repeatedly judging (or: deciding) yourselves [to be] not worthy of the eonian life (the life pertaining to the Age [of Messiah]; the life whose source and character is from the Age), look! We are now being turned (or, as a middle: progressively turning ourselves) unto the nations (the ethnic multitudes; the Gentiles; the non-Jews). ⁴⁷ "You see, thus has the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] directed to us: 'I have placed (or: set) you unto [being] a light of nations (ethnic multitudes; non-Jews), [in order for] you to be [placed] into the midst of a deliverance (a rescue and a return to health and wholeness; a restoring to the original state of being and condition) as far as [the] last [point] of the earth!'" [Isa. 49:6] ⁴⁸ Now upon hearing [this], the non-Jews (the [folks of the] nations and ethnic groups) began rejoicing and continued glorifying (enhancing the reputation of) the message from God (God's Logos: God's Word and idea). And so they trusted and believed – whoever were folks having been set and arranged into an eonian life (or: into life which has is source and quality from the Age).

²³ Then, having themselves arranged a day with him, more folks came to him, into [his] place of lodging, to whom he continued setting forth, explaining from out of [his] midst, while progressively giving thorough evidence and double witness of God's reign (or: the sovereign influence, actions and kingdom of God), besides constantly using persuading and convincing [reasoning with] them concerning Jesus – both from the Law (= Torah) of Moses and from the Prophets – from early morning until evening. ²⁴ And so [some] folks, on the one hand, began being progressively persuaded and convinced by (or: in) the things being continuously spoken and laid out, yet on the other hand, [other] folks continued without faith and trust (or: persisted in unbelief). ²⁵ So, continuing in being out of harmony (dissonant; discordant; without symphony; = at odds and in disagreement) toward one another, they began loosing themselves away (continued dismissing themselves, one after another) with Paul's speaking one gush-effect (or: comment; declaration): "The set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit) beautifully (finely; ideally; aptly; fittingly) speaks (or: spoke) through Isaiah the prophet – to your fathers – saying, ²⁶ "'Go your way at once to this People and say, "By listening (or: In hearing), you people will continue hearing (or: listening) and yet by no means would you understand (or: could you make things flow together). And then, while constantly looking and observing, you folks will continue looking and observing, and yet by no means would you see (or: could you perceive). ²⁷ "You see, the heart of this People was made fat and thick (fleshy and stout; clotted and coarse; massive and gross; = thick-witted and stupid) and with [their] ears they hear heavily (= with difficulty and without response), and they squint or close their eyes – lest at some point they would (or: could) see with [their] eyes and should hear with [their] ears, and would understand (make things fit together) with the heart, and then could turn about and return – and so, I will proceed progressively (or: one-after-another) healing them!"' [Isa. 6:9-10] ²⁸ "Therefore, continue letting it be known by you folks that this restoration to health and wholeness – this rescue, deliverance and salvation – was (or: has been) sent off to, for, and among the ethnic people groups (the multitudes of the nations)! And they themselves will keep on listening, then in and for themselves will continue (or: be progressively) hearing!"

³⁰ What, then, shall we continue declaring? That [the] nations (ethnic multitudes; Gentiles; non-Israelites) – the ones not constantly pursuing (pressing forward rapidly after) rightwisedness (covenant inclusion which is right and fair relationship with equitable dealings in accord to the Way pointed out; a turning in the right direction on the Path) – overtook, seized and took-down this rightwisedness as a possession: yet [it is] a rightwisedness (a turning to equity and justice in the Way; = covenant membership and participation) that [is] forth from out of the midst of faith, trust and conviction (or: [Christ's] faithfulness)! ³¹ However Israel, habitually pursuing a Law which was rightwisedness (right and fair relationship with equitable dealings in accord to the way pointed out [to them]; right living on the path) did not precede [the others] into [that] principle or custom (or: did not outstrip or sooner arrive unto [such] a law or custom [other MSS add: which was justice and rightwised living]; = did not reach, ahead of other folks, what the Torah promised). ³² Through what cause (or: Why)? Because [it was] not forth from out of a source of faith, trust and conviction, but rather as from out of works (actions) as its source. They dash against, trip and stumble on (or: by) the Stone that caused the Stumbling-effect, ³³ Just as it has been written, "Look and consider! I am repeatedly placing in Zion a 'Stone of Stumbling,' and a 'Rock of a trap-snare.' And the one habitually believing upon Him (or: It) will not continue being brought to shame, disgrace, or disappointment." [Isa. 28:16]

²⁰ Yet Isaiah is daring and risking without restraint, and is saying, "I am (or: was) found by, among and within those not seeking or trying to find Me; I become (or: became; was birthed) apparent (visible; obvious to sight; manifest) in (or: by; to; with; among) the ones not inquiring about Me." [Isa. 65:1a]

³ But He said to them, "Do (or: Did) you folks not read what David – as well as those with him – did when he got hungry:

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]

¹⁶ And so they said to Him, "Are you listening and hearing what these people are repeatedly saying?" So Jesus is then saying to them, "Yes! Did you men never read that, 'From out of the mouth of babes, and infants still nursing at the breast, You completely harmonize – by thoroughly adjusting and knitting together – praise for Yourself'?" [Ps. 8:3]

⁴² Jesus is then saying to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'A stone which the builders rejected as the result of a test – this one is birthed into (or: comes to be for) a head of a corner (= a keystone; a capstone; a cornerstone). This [head] was birthed (came into existence) from [the] Lord's [=Yahweh's] side (or: presence), and it is wonderful and marvelous in our eyes'? [Ps. 118:22-23]

³¹ "Yet concerning the resurrection of the dead ones, did you not read the thing spoken to, and for, you folks by God, continually saying,

²⁵ And so He then says to them, "Did you men never once read what David did when he had need and was hungry – he and those with him?

²⁶ "But concerning (or: about) the dead folks – that they are continually (or: constantly; habitually; progressively; repeatedly) being aroused and raised up – did (or: do) you folks not read within the scroll of Moses, at the thornbush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I [am] the God of Abraham, as well as Isaac's God and Jacob's God'? [Ex. 3:6]

¹⁴ "Now whenever you folks may see 'the abomination of the desolation' (or: the detestable thing which results in a region becoming uninhabited, lonely and like a desert; or: the loathing and abhorrence which pertains to a wasted condition; [Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11]) standing where it is binding not [to stand] (or: where it is not proper; where it must not) – let the one reading continue directing his mind and using his intellect [here] (= figure out what this means) – then let those within the midst of Judea progressively take flight, and continue fleeing into the mountains (or: hill country).

³ Then, giving a decided response, Jesus said to them, "Did you men not even read this which David did when he, himself – as well as those with him – got hungry?

¹⁷ But He, looking intently at them (or: staring in their [faces]), said, "What, then, is the [meaning of] this having been written, 'A stone which the builders rejected – after examining it – has come to be [placed] into [the] head (= source) of [the] corner (or: ended up as the keystone)'? [Ps. 118:22] ¹⁸ "Every person falling upon that stone will be progressively crushed together and shattered, yet upon whom it may (or: should) fall, it will continue winnowing him [like grain]."

¹¹ "This One is the Stone – the One being treated as nothing (or: with scorn and contempt) and being disregarded by and under you folks, the builders (or: the 'architects'); the One coming into [the position of] being 'Head of [the] corner (or: Source of [the] angle; = the Corner Foundation Stone from which the walls are built; or: = Headstone, or, Keystone; = the Summit of the building)!' [Ps. 118:22] ¹² "And thus, the rescue and deliverance – the restoration to health and wholeness, the safety and salvation, and the return to our original state and condition – is in absolutely no other person! For neither is there a different name under the [dome of the] sky (or: heaven) that has been given, and now exists as a gift, among mankind (or: in the midst of humanity) within which it continues binding and necessary for us to be saved (restored to health and wholeness; delivered and kept safe; returned to our original state and condition)!"

³³ Just as it has been written, "Look and consider! I am repeatedly placing in Zion a 'Stone of Stumbling,' and a 'Rock of a trap-snare.' And the one habitually believing upon Him (or: It) will not continue being brought to shame, disgrace, or disappointment." [Isa. 28:16]

²⁰ being fully built as a house upon the foundation of the sent-forth representatives (or: emissaries) and prophets (folks who had light ahead of time), Jesus Christ continuously being a corner-foundation [stone] of it (or: there being an extreme point of the corner, or, capstone: Jesus Christ Himself), ²¹ within and in union with Whom all the home-building (all the construction of the house; or: = every house that is constructed, or, the entire building), being continuously fitted [and] progressively framed together (closely and harmoniously joined together; made a common joint by a word), is continuously and progressivelygrowing into a set-aparttemple (or: separate, different and holy inner sanctuary) within [the] Lord [= Christ, or, Yahweh]: ²² within the midst of (or: in union with) Whom you folks, also, are continuously and progressively being formed a constituent part of the structure (or: being built together into a house) into God's down-home place (place of settling down to dwell; abode; permanent dwelling) within [the] Spirit (or: in spirit; or: in the midst of a Breath-effect and an attitude).

⁷ Therefore, in (or: for; with) you folks – those habitually trusting (constantly believing and remaining convinced) – [is] the Precious and Honorable One (or: To you then, who continue loyal, [He is] valuable). Yet for (or: to; in; with) those continuing being without faith (or: being habitually distrustful; being constantly unbelieving or disloyal), [He is] "A Stone which those in process of building the house reject (or: threw away after inspecting and trying) – this One is brought to be (or: was birthed) into [position of] Head and Source of [the] corner, " [Ps. 118:22] ⁸ also [He is] "A Stone that [people] strike against and that causes a stumbling-effect, even a Rock-mass which functions as a trap-spring (designed to be a snare), " [Isa. 8:14] who, continuing being unpersuaded (unconvinced and thus, uncompliant or stubborn), are repeatedly stumbling by (or: in) the Word (or: who are constantly stumbling, habitually being disobedient to the message), into which [situation] they were placed (= as it was planned).

¹² So they all continued being put out of place (or: set out of themselves) with amazement and were bewildered (or: perplexed), [some] saying one to another, "What is this now purposing (or: intending; resolving) to be?"

³² "God resurrected (raised; made to stand back up again) this Jesus – of which and of Whom we are all witnesses (folks who saw what happened and who now give evidence and testimony)! ³³ "Being, then, lifted up high by the right hand of God, and exalted to, and thus being at, God's right hand, as well as receiving the promise of the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: the promise which comes from the Holy Spirit; or: the promise which is the Sacred Spirit and Attitude) at the side of, and from, the Father, He poured out this which you folks are now both continuously seeing (or: observing) and keep on hearing. ³⁴ "For you see, David did not climb up (or: it [was not] David [who] ascended) into the heavens (or: skies; atmospheres), yet he himself continues laying it out and saying, 'The Lord [= Yahweh] said (or: says) to my Lord (or: my Master), "Continue seating Yourself at My right [hand; plural: = positions of power, honor and authority], ³⁵ "until I may place (put; set) Your enemies (folks hostile to You) [as] a footstool for Your feet."' [Ps. 110:1] ³⁶ "Therefore, let all [the] house of Israel, for a certainty and without slipping or tripping, come to progressively know by intimate experience that God made and creates Him [to be] both* Lord (Master; Owner) and Christ ([the] Anointed One; [= Messiah]) – this Jesus, whom you folks put to death on a stake (crucified)!" [*note: "both" omitted by p91]

¹² Now Peter, upon seeing [this], gave a decided reply to the people: "Men! Israelites! (or: Men of Israel!) Why do you folks continue amazed with wonder upon this [occurrence; or: man]? Or, why do you continue staring and gazing intently at us – as if by our own power and ability or godliness (religiousness; devout conduct; piety) [we] had been making him to be walking around? ¹³ "The God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob – the God of our fathers – brought glory (a manifestation which calls forth praise) and a good reputation to His Servant (or: Boy) Jesus, Whom indeed you folks turned over (gave aside; [D adds: unto judgment]) and renounced (or: disown; denied) before Pilate's face – [he] having decided to be releasing that One! ¹⁴ "But then you yourselves renounced (disowned; denied) the set-apart and fair Person (the holy and just One Who personified the Way pointed out; the consecrated and rightwised One), and instead you demanded for yourselves an adult man [who is] a murderer – to be at once graciously surrendered to you, as a favor. ¹⁵ "So you folks killed-off the Inaugurator of the Life (or: Life's Originator; the Author, Founder, Leader, Prince and Initiator of the Life) – Whom God raised up out from among the midst of dead folks, of which and of Whom we ourselves are witnesses, and continue being both evidence and testimony. ¹⁶ "Consequently, by the faith (and: in the trust; with the loyalty and reliability) of (or: which has its source in) His Name, His Name at once made this person firm, solid and stable – whom you now continue watching and gazing at, and have seen so thus know – and the faith, trust, loyalty and faithfulness that [is] through and by means of Him both gave and gives to him the entire allotment of whole and complete soundness... in front of you all!

⁴⁰ "Therefore see to it [that] the thing having been declared within the Prophets (= the writings of those who had light ahead of time) may not be coming upon you folks, ⁴¹ 'Continue looking and keep on directing your eyes, you scorners and despisers who maintain a down frame of mind, and be at once wondering and marveling in amazement – and then be caused to disappear (be made invisible), because I Myself am progressively accomplishing a work in your days – a work which you folks can not trust or put your faith in (or: would not believe) even if someone would relate [it] in detail to you.'" [Hab. 1:5] [D adds: And they {i.e., those hearing him} were silent.]

⁸ To me, the one far inferior to (or: less than the least among) all of those set apart (or: the saints; the holy people), was given this grace and joyous favor: to myself address the nations (non-Jews; Gentiles; ethnic multitudes) with the good news of (or: whose source is) the untrackable (untraceable; or: not-searched-out and unexplored) riches of the Christ (or: to for myself declare and bring to the ethnic groups the message of goodness, ease and well-being of the unexploreable wealth which is the Anointed One), ⁹ and to illuminate all people (give light to everyone) [as to] what [are] the house-rules (or: [is] the administration and management of the household) of the secret (or: mystery) pertaining to that having been hidden (concealed) away, apart from the ages (or: disassociated from the [past] periods of time), within the midst of God in the One forming and founding (framing, building and settling from a state of disorder and wildness) all things (the Whole; everything) ¹⁰ to the end that now (at this present time), in union with the highest heavens, God's greatly diversified (exceedingly varied in colors, as a tapestry that depicts a scene; or: = many-phased) wisdom could be made known through the called-out community to the governments (or: rulers; sovereignties; chief ones) as well as to the authorities and folks with privilege among those situated upon elevated positions (or: made known through the summoned and gathered congregation: by the original members and the folks who have the right, that is, among the upper-heavenly folks; or: made known by means of the ecclesia with the founders and people having the privilege in union with these celestial ones and within the midst of the things situated upon the atmospheres), ¹¹ in accord with (or: down from; corresponding to) a purpose of the ages (a fore-designed aim, plan and object [which He is bent on achieving] of the unspecified time-periods) which He formed (forms; made; constructs; produced) within the Christ by our Lord, Jesus,

²⁷ to whom God wills (or: at one point purposed; or: intends) to make known by intimate experience, what [are] the riches of the glory of this Secret (or: the wealth which has its source in this sacred mystery's manifestation which calls forth praise) within the multitudes (among the nations; in the Gentiles; IN UNION WITH the swarms of ethnic groups), which is (or: exists being) Christ within you folks, the expectation of and from the glory (or: which is [the] Anointed in union with you people: the hope of the manifestation which calls forth praise; or: which is [the] Anointing within the midst of you folks – the expectation which is the glory),

¹⁶ and so confessedly (admittedly; with common consent and sameness of speech) great is the secret (or: mystery) of the reverence (the standing in awe of goodness, with adoration; the healthful devotion and virtuous conduct of ease, in true relation to God): which is made visible (manifested) within flesh (= a physical body), is rightwised (set in equity and right relationship in the Way pointed out; also = is placed in covenant) in spirit (in union with Breath-effect), is seen by agents (or: messengers), is heralded (preached) within multitudes (among nations and ethnic groups), is trusted and believed within [the] world (an ordered system; secular culture), is received back in good opinion and reputation. (or: Who [some MSS read: God; others: He] was brought to clear light within flesh (= the natural realm); was shown righteous and just (= set in covenant) within spirit and attitude; was seen by agents; was proclaimed among Gentiles {non-Jews}; was believed within [the] world of society, religion, and government; was taken back up again, within glory – a manifestation which calls forth praise!)

²⁶ "Yet if we should say, 'From out of humans,' we continue fearing about the crowd (= are afraid of how the crowd might react), for they all are in the habit of holding John as a prophet."

⁴⁵ And so, upon hearing His illustrations (parables), the chief and ranking priests – as well as the Pharisees – knew by this experience that He had been speaking about them. ⁴⁶ And although still seeking to seize Him, they were fearful about the crowd (= were afraid of how the crowd might react), since they had been holding Him into [the position of] (or: for; [other MSS: as]) a prophet."

²² Well, upon hearing [that], [some] felt admiration [while others] were simply amazed, [then some] were dumbfounded. And so, letting Him alone to continue on (or: rejecting and abandoning Him), they went off.

¹⁸ Now the chief (or: ranking) priests and the scribes (experts in the Law; theologians) heard [about this] and began continuously trying to find how they could (or: should) destroy Him, for you see, they continued fearing Him, because all the crowd (or: the entire throng) was continually being struck from, and astounded (astonished) at, His teaching.

³² "But on the other hand, should we say, 'Forth from humans'?" They had been fearing the crowd, for everyone (all [the] folks) continued holding John as being real – that he was a prophet (or: progressively had it that John in reality was a prophet),

⁶ "Yet if we should say (or: reply),'From humans,' all the people will proceed in hurling stones down on us, for they have been persuaded and remain confident that John is to be permanently [held as and reckoned] a prophet."

¹⁹ At this, the scribes (scholars and theologians) and the chief priests sought (tried to find [some way]) to throw [their] hands on Him in that very hour, and yet they feared the people. You see, they realized that He spoke this illustration (parable) [with an aim] toward them.

²⁵ Then some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, "Is not this one he whom they (= the group of leaders) are presently seeking to kill?

³⁰ Then they began seeking to catch hold of and arrest (or: seize) Him – but still no one laid a hand upon Him, because His hour had not yet come.

⁴⁴ So some of them were wanting (intending; willing) to catch hold of and arrest Him, but yet no one laid hands on Him.

⁶ Now on this occasion, Jesus said to them, "You men be constantly seeing, and be then attentive in holding [yourselves] away from the leaven (yeast) which comes from, characterizes, [and puffs up or permeates] the Pharisees and Sadducees."

¹⁵ At that time the Pharisees, after going their way, took counsel together so that they could lay a snare in a verbal expression (thought; idea; word) and would trap Him. 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]. ¹⁷ "Tell us, then, how it normally seeming to you (= what are you now thinking of this situation; What is your opinion): Is it normally allowed by [our] custom and Law to give (= pay) a poll (or: census) tax to Caesar (the Roman emperor), or not?" ¹⁸ But Jesus, knowing by intimate experience their worthlessness (their poor character and wicked intent), says, "Why are you men constantly examining and testing Me, you people who make close inspection of the writings so as to be opinionated and hyper-critical, having all the answers (see 6:2, above)? ¹⁹ "Show (Exhibit) to Me the coin used for the poll tax." So they brought a denarius (silver coin) to Him, ²⁰ and He is then saying to them, "Whose [is] this image, and the inscription?" ²¹ They are then answering, "Caesar's." At that point He proceeds in response to them, "Give back, then, Caesar's things (or: that which belongs to Caesar) to Caesar – and God's things (or: that which belongs to God) to God." ²² Well, upon hearing [that], [some] felt admiration [while others] were simply amazed, [then some] were dumbfounded. And so, letting Him alone to continue on (or: rejecting and abandoning Him), they went off.

⁶ At that, on going out, the Pharisees at once were offering [other MSS: made, or, did a] joint-counsel and design with the Herodians (the supporters and adherents of Herod Antipas) in reference to and against Him, so that they could (or: might) destroy Him.

¹⁵ Then He began instructing, and continued to be fully setting things in order for them, saying, "Be continuously looking and observing, so as to be seeing with perception! Be constantly taking note of and look out for so as to beware of the leavening agent (or: the yeast; = the pervading elements of fermentation and fomentation) of the Pharisees as well as the leavening agent of Herod [i.e., = the pervading doctrines and theology of the structured and organized religion, as well as current governmental politics]."

⁵⁴ repeatedly (or: constantly) lying in wait to ambush Him, constantly seeking to pounce on and catch (or: trap) something from out of His mouth (= from His own words).

²⁰ Then, while watching [Him] closely from the side, they dispatched men [who were to be] let down within the midst [of His teaching] as spies and eavesdroppers, manifesting their own opinions and interpreting themselves to be in accord with the way pointed out (or: critically judging themselves to be honest and upright), with the purpose that could lay hold upon (or: catch) and seize His word (or: message), so as to hand Him over to the rule (or: domain) and authority of the governor. 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. ²² "[Therefore tell us:], is it allowed by our custom and the Law for us to give (= pay) [the] annual land tax to Caesar (i.e., the Roman Emperor), or not?" ²³ Now mentally pinning down their capabilities and contemplating what they were up to, He said to them, ²⁴ "Why are you now testing Me? Show Me a denarius." So they showed [one] to Him, and He said, "Whose image and inscription does it have?" So they replied, "Caesar's." ²⁵ And so He said to them, "Well then, give back Caesar's thing to Caesar – and God's things to God." ²⁶ But they had no strength to get a grasp on [so as to comprehend] or to take a firm hold upon [so as to control or make use of] that which He spoke (or: the effect of the flow of His spoken words) in front of the people – and so they remained silent (kept still), while wondering in amazement, and marvelling on His discerning response.

²⁵ He then says, "Yes." However, upon coming into the house, Jesus anticipates and gets ahead of him by saying, "What do you normally think or suppose (or: What is your usual opinion), Simon? From which people are the kings of the land (or: earth) normally taking (or: receiving; = collecting) payment of duties (taxes; customs; tributes) or a census tax (or: poll tax) – from their sons (= family; perhaps = their own tribe or people; perhaps idiomatically = their own citizens), or from the aliens (strangers; those belonging to another, perhaps a conquered country)?" ²⁶ Now at [his] saying, "From the aliens (strangers; those not belonging to their families, tribes or people)," Jesus affirms, "Consequently then, the sons (their own family and people) exist being (are) freemen (thus, tax-free and exempt). ²⁷ "Yet, so that we would not be, as it were, bait on a trap-spring and thus snare them or cause them to stumble in regard to us, after going on your way unto the lake (or: sea), cast a fishhook [into the lake/sea], and pick up the first fish coming up. Then, upon opening up its mouth, you will find a stater (a silver coin worth four drachmas). Taking [it], give that to them on behalf of Me, as well as you."

¹⁷ "Tell us, then, how it normally seeming to you (= what are you now thinking of this situation; What is your opinion): Is it normally allowed by [our] custom and Law to give (= pay) a poll (or: census) tax to Caesar (the Roman emperor), or not?"

⁴⁵ So upon coming, immediately approaching Him he is saying, "Rabbi!" Then he affectionately kissed (or: = gave a prolonged kiss to) Him.

²² "[Therefore tell us:], is it allowed by our custom and the Law for us to give (= pay) [the] annual land tax to Caesar (i.e., the Roman Emperor), or not?"

² Now [once there], they began to be progressively bringing charges and speaking down against Him, while accusing [Him], one after another saying, "We found this man time after time completely turning (or: We find this person progressively subverting and inciting revolt for) our nation and culture group – as well as habitually hindering and forbidding [folks] to continue paying taxes to Caesar – and repeatedly terming himself to now be Christ ([the] Anointed One; = the Messiah), a king!"

¹⁸ "The one continuously speaking or randomly talking from himself is normally seeking his own reputation (or: glory); yet the One constantly seeking the reputation (or: glory) of the One sending Him, this One is true (continues being genuine and real), and dishonesty (injustice; that which is contrary to fairness, equity and rightwised relationships in the Way pointed out) does not exist within Him.

⁶ For you see, because of this you folks continually fulfill the obligation by paying tribute-taxes brought on by a foreign ruler – for they are God's public servants (officials; officers), men constantly attending to (staying by and persisting at) this very thing [i.e., duties].

² For since (or: if) I, myself, continually cause you anxiety (sadness; sorrow; grief; pain), who (or: which one) [is] the person constantly putting me in a good frame of mind (habitually cheering me and putting my mind at ease), if not (or: except) the one being constantly made sorrowful, sad, upset and anxious by me?

¹⁷ For we are not – as the majority [are] – ones performing as hucksters in shameful traffic for unworthy gain, constantly peddling and marketing God's message (God's thought and idea; the Word of God; God's Logos), but to the contrary, we are constantly and habitually speaking as from out of the midst of that which is decided about when viewing in clear sunlight – and further, as from out of the midst of God; down within, in union with, and in the place of, God – within Christ! (or: but in contrast, we are progressively speaking in an Anointing – as [being] forth from God [and] in God’s presence!)

¹ Because of this – while continuously possessing (having and holding) this attending service and dispensing of provision – correspondingly as we were mercied (shown mercy), we do not habitually behave with a bad attitude, or perform in a worthless manner, or act from out of a mood or motive that is poor in quality, or, become discouraged.

¹¹ Being, then, folks having seen and thus knowing the Lord's fear (or: the respectful fear from, and which is, the Owner and Master [= Christ]; the respect and reverence pertaining to or coming from [Yahweh]), we are constantly persuading mankind (habitually convincing people; one after another making humans confident). So we have been, and thus remain, manifested (set in the light so as to be clearly seen) in God (by God; for God; to God; with God), yet I am also continually expecting (or: hoping expectantly) to have been manifested within your consciences.

¹⁶ so that we, from the present moment (or: from now) [on], have seen and thus know (or: perceive; or: are acquainted [with]) no one on the level of (or: in the sphere of; in correspondence to) flesh (= the estranged human nature; = the self enslaved to the System), if even we have intimately, by experience, known Christ ([the] Anointed One) on the level of flesh (or: = in the sphere of estranged humanity; or: = in correspondence to a self oriented to the System), nevertheless we now (in the present moment) no longer continue [thus] knowing [Him or anyone].

¹⁰ Come now, am I at the present moment habitually appealing to humans, or God? (or: am I right now constantly trying to convince and persuade mankind, or God ?) Or, am I repeatedly seeking to keep on pleasing and accommodating people (humans)? If I had been still continuing to please and accommodate people (mankind), I would not have been being Christ's slave.

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).

¹¹ Now when Cephas came into Antioch, I stood in opposition to him in relation to the appearance of the external situation (or: I resisted him face to face; or: I stood face to face with him, on his behalf), because he was continuing in a state of having been discovered to be down [over an issue] (or: he was now one having condemned himself from a negative experience; or: was being found at fault), ¹² for you see, prior to the coming of some from Jacob (or: James), he had been habitually eating together with those of the multitudes (the nations; the non-Jewish ethnic groups; the Gentiles). Yet when they came, he began steadily withdrawing, and continued separating by marking off boundaries for himself, constantly fearing those from among [the] Circumcision (= the Jewish culture and religion). ¹³ And so the rest of the Jews also, as a group, came under the decision to separate with (or: to) him, so that even Barnabas was jointly brought along (or: led away together) by their [Law]-based separation (or: their perverse judgment which ended in a base decision; or: = legalistic behavior). ¹⁴ But then, when I saw that they did not continue walking straight (having a straight foot [print]; walking an upright course) toward the Truth (or: face to face with the reality) of message of goodness and ease, I said to Cephas, in front of everyone (or: all),"If you, being inherently a Jew, are now habitually living as the ethnic multitudes (like the nations; as a Gentile), and not like a Jew, how is it [that] you are continuing to compel (to strongly urge) the multitudes (the nations; the non-Jewish ethnic groups; the Gentiles) to be now Judaizing (progressively living according to Jewish custom and religion)?

⁴ but rather, to the degree that and according as we have been approved by testing under God to be entrusted [with] the message of goodness, ease and well-being, thus we are continuously speaking: not as constantly pleasing to people, but rather [as] to the God [Who is] repeatedly testing our hearts!

¹⁸ But Jesus, knowing by intimate experience their worthlessness (their poor character and wicked intent), says, "Why are you men constantly examining and testing Me, you people who make close inspection of the writings so as to be opinionated and hyper-critical, having all the answers (see 6:2, above)?

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.

²³ Now mentally pinning down their capabilities and contemplating what they were up to, He said to them,

²⁴ Yet Jesus, Himself, was not habitually entrusting Himself to them (or: had not been adhering Himself to them, or committing Himself for them; or: kept on refusing to trust Himself to them), because of the [situation for] Him to be continuously (habitually; progressively) knowing all people by intimate experience and through insight, ²⁵ and because He was not having (had not been continually holding) a need requiring that anyone should bear witness (or: give testimony or evidence) about mankind (or: humanity; the [corporate] Man), for He Himself was constantly (had been habitually) knowing by intimate experience what was continuing to be within mankind (the human; the [corporate] Man).

¹⁷ "Simon of John [or: Jonah]," He continues, a third [time] saying to him, "Do you like Me and are you habitually My friend, having fondness and affection for Me?" Peter was made to grieve and be sad and sorry, because He said to him, the third [time], "Are you habitually My friend, liking and having fondness and affection for Me?" So he said to Him, "O Lord, You, Yourself, have seen and know all things. YOU continue knowing by progressive intimate experience that I like You and continue as a friend with affection and fondness for You." Jesus says to him, "As a herdsman, be habitually feeding (or: grazing) and tending My sheep [other MSS: small sheep]!

⁹ Then Peter [said] to her, "Why [is it] that it came in symphony to you folks (or: was voiced together by [both] of you) to make [this] attempt [with] the Spirit of [the] Lord (or: to test [Yahweh's, or, Christ's] Breath-effect)? Look and see! The feet of the folks just now burying your husband [are] at the door (or: gate), and they will proceed in carrying you out!"

⁹ Neither should (or: may) we keep on putting the Anointed One (or: Christ) to outrageous tests [with other MSS: put the Lord (= Christ or Yahweh) to the proof, out of {personal motives}; with others: try-out God] just as some of them tested and tried [Him] – and were being destroyed (loosed-away) by the serpents, day by day. [Num. 21:5-9]

¹³ And no creature (thing formed, framed or created) is (or: exists being) out of sight (not manifest; concealed) in His (or: in Its – i.e., the Word's) presence, but all things [are] naked and have been gripped and bent back at the neck [thus, exposing the face and throat] to (or: in; by) His (or: Its) eyes, face to face with Whom (or: Which) in us (or: to us; for us; with us) [is] this Word (or: with a view to Whom by us [is] the message and the account; or: toward whom, for us and among us, [comes] the Idea and the Reason).

²³ And I will proceed killing her children within death, and all the called-out assemblies shall know that I am the One continuously searching the kidneys and hearts, and I will continue giving to each one of you down from (in accord to; in the sphere of; to the level of) your [plural] actions (deeds; works).

¹⁹ Nevertheless (or: However), God's firm and solid deposit which is placed down (a deposit of money; treasure; or: a foundation; basis) stands, continuing to hold (or: have) this seal: " [The] Lord [= Yahweh] knows (or: knew) by intimate experience those being of Him (or: the ones that belong to Him; those having Him as their source), " [Num. 16:5; Nah. 1:7] and: "Let everyone repeatedly naming the Name of [the] Lord [= Yahweh or Christ] (or: by habit using the Lord's name) stand away from (withdraw from; keep away from) injustice (that which is unfair and inequitable, which negates relationship and does not correspond to the Way pointed out).” [Num. 16:26]

¹² "The one habitually conquering (repeatedly overcoming) – I will continue making (forming; constructing; creating; producing) him [to be] a pillar (or: column) in My God’s Temple, and he (or: it) may nevermore (by no means any more) come (or: go) out (outside), and I will proceed to write upon him My God’s Name, and the name of the City of My God: 'The New Jerusalem' – the one habitually descending from out of the atmosphere (or: heaven), from God – and My new Name [Vatican MS #1006 and others read: and the new name].

³³ Then the crowds began being struck out of themselves from amazement (were being driven out of their composure with astonishment) upon hearing His teaching.

⁴⁶ No one had power or ability to give a word or thought in considered response to Him, neither did anyone – from that day – dare (or: have courage) to any longer put a question to Him.

³⁰ 'And so, you folks will be loving [the] Lord [= Yahweh] your God from out of the midst of your whole heart, and from out of the midst of your whole soul, and from out of the midst of your whole intellect (throughout the midst of your entire comprehension and full mental ability), and from out of the midst of your whole strength.' [Deut. 6:4-5]

¹⁹ But Peter and John, giving a decided reply, said to them, "You men judge and decide whether it is right (in accord with the Way pointed out) in God's sight to continue listening to (and thus: obeying) you rather than God. ²⁰ "For you see, we ourselves are not able not to be constantly speaking [about] the things which we saw and heard."

¹³ Also stop constantly placing your members (or: body parts) alongside (providing and presenting them) [as] tools (or: instruments) of injustice (disregard for what is right; activities discordant to the Way pointed out); but rather, you folks at once place yourselves alongside for disposal to God (or: stand yourselves with God, at [His] side; by and in God, present yourselves; set yourselves alongside [each other], for God) as it were being folks continually alive forth from out of the midst of dead ones, and your members [as] tools (instruments) of fair and equitable dealing in the Way pointed out in and by God (of justice and solidarity, for God; of being turned in the right direction, to God; of rightwised covenant relationships with God),

¹ Consequently, brothers, I am repeatedly calling you folks alongside to exhort, implore and encourage you, through God's compassions to stand your bodies alongside (or: to set or place your bodies beside) [the] Well-pleasing, Set-apart (Holy; Different-from-the-usual), Living Sacrifice by God (or: in God; for God; to God; with God), [this being] your sacred service which pertains to thought, reason and communication (or: your reasoned and rational service; the logical and Word-based service from you folks).

⁷ Render (give away in answer to a claim; pay) the debts (the duties; what is owed) to everyone: to the tax [collector], the tax; to the [one collecting] civil support tax, the civil government tax; to [whom] fear [is due], fear; to the one [due] honor and value, honor and value.

¹⁹ Or, have you folks not seen so as to know that your body (or: the body of you folks) is a temple of the set-apart spirit (or: a sanctuary belonging to the Holy Spirit; a holy place and a holy of holies which pertains to the Sacred Breath; or: that the body, which is you folks, exists being a divine habitation which has the qualities and characteristics of the Holy Attitude) – within the midst of you (or: in union with you folks; or: among you people) – which you people constantly hold and progressively possess from God? And further, you are not folks belonging to yourselves (or: Also then, you people do not exist from yourselves), ²⁰ for you people were bought, as at a marketplace: [there was] value and honor involved in the price (or: [you are] of value) (or: = for you were bought and paid for; or: for from a valuable price you folks were bought at market). By all means then, glorify God (bring a good reputation to God; manifest that which calls forth praise to God) within your body (or: within the midst of the body which you folks are)!

²⁴ Now if everyone may be prophesying, one after another, and some unbeliever (person without faith) or an ordinary uninstructed person may at some point enter, he is progressively being given the proof [of the situation], being exposed to convincing arguments, by everyone – [and] by everyone continues being sifted, sorted and held up so that a decision [regarding the situation] can come to him! ²⁵ The hidden things of his heart are now progressively coming to be set in clear light, and thus – falling upon [his] face – he will proceed to be worshiping God, progressively proclaiming back [to you] that God is existentially within, essentially in union with, and is presently being among you folks!

¹⁴ for you see, Christ's love (urge for accepting reunion) continuously holds us together. [We are] deciding (discerning; judging) this: that [some MSS add: since] One Person (or: Man) died over [the situation of] all mankind (or: for the sake of all); consequently all people died (or: accordingly, then, all humanity died). ¹⁵ And further, He died over all humanity (over [the situation] of, and for the sake of all) to the end that those living may (or: could; would) no longer live for themselves (to themselves; in themselves; by themselves), but rather for (or: in; by; to; with) the One dying and then being awakened and raised up over them (over their [situation]; for their sakes),

¹⁷ Value everyone (Honor all)! Habitually love (Practice loving) the brotherhood (= the organism of fellow-believers)! Practice reverence to God (or: Habitually fear God; Be constantly respecting and revering God)! Be continuously valuing and showing honor to the king (or: the One Who reigns).

²³ During that day, [some] Sadducees – folks normally saying [that] there is to be no resurrection – came to Him and inquired of Him, proceeding to lay out this proposition: ²⁴ "Teacher, Moses says, 'If anyone should die off while still not having children, his brother shall in addition marry his [i.e., the brother's] wife, and shall make seed (= offspring) to stand up for his brother.' [Deut. 25:5-6] ²⁵ "Now there were seven brothers among us. And the first one, having married, came to [his] end (or: finished [his] life) and so – not having seed (= offspring) – leaves behind his wife to (or: for) his brother. ²⁶ "In the same way, also, the second one, and then the third one – on until [all] seven. ²⁷ "Now subsequently to all of them, the woman died. ²⁸ "Therefore, within the resurrection, of which one of the seven will she proceed in being a wife – for you see, they all had her?" ²⁹ Now Jesus, giving a discerning response, says to them, "You men are repeatedly being deceived and are continually caused to wander astray (or: off track) [from] not having seen the Scriptures with perception, nor yet knowing or being acquainted with God's power and ability. ³⁰ "You see, within the resurrection folks are neither repeatedly marrying, nor are they constantly being given in marriage. To the contrary, they constantly exist as agents (or: messengers) – within the atmosphere (or: heaven). ³¹ "Yet concerning the resurrection of the dead ones, did you not read the thing spoken to, and for, you folks by God, continually saying, ³² "'I, Myself, am (continuously exist being) the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? [Ex. 3:6] He is not the God of dead folks, but rather of continuously living people." ³³ Then the crowds began being struck out of themselves from amazement (were being driven out of their composure with astonishment) upon hearing His teaching.

²⁷ Now later, some of the Sadducees – folks normally saying there is to be no resurrection – upon approaching ²⁸ posed a question to Him, presently saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote to (or: for) us, 'If anyone's brother should die off, and having a wife, this man may be childless, that his brother should take the wife (i.e., the widow) and should be raising up out of [her] a seed (= offspring; progeny) to and for his brother (i.e., to preserve the man's family line).' [Deut. 25:5] ²⁹ "Now then, there were seven brothers; and the first, upon taking a wife, died childless. ³⁰ "And so the second got the wife, and this one also died childless. ³¹ "Then the third took her. Now, similarly also, the seven men did not leave children behind, and also died off. ³² "Lastly, the woman also died off. ³³ "Therefore, in the resurrection, of which of them does the woman become a wife – for you see, the seven men had her [as] a wife?" ³⁴ So Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age (= those now living and having the qualities and characteristics of this present time and arrangement) are normally marrying and being given in marriage. ³⁵ "Yet those folks being considered worthy (of complete equal value) of that Age – even to hit the target of the resurrection, the one out from among [the] dead folks – are neither normally marrying nor are being habitually given in marriage, ³⁶ "for you see, neither are they any longer able to die off, for they exist being (or: are) the equivalence of agents (or: identical to and the same thing as messengers) and they are God's sons (= the offsprings of God) – being sons of the resurrection (= the offsprings of, and from, the resurrection; or: = those having the qualities and characteristic of the resurrection). ³⁷ "Yet that the dead people are habitually (or: repeatedly; or: continuously) being raised up, even Moses divulged (or: discloses) at the thornbush, as he continues terming (or: speaking of) [the] Lord [= Yahweh] 'the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' [Ex. 3:6] ³⁸ "Yet He is not a God of dead folks, but to the contrary, of continuously living ones – for you see, in Him (and: with Him; and: by Him; and: to Him) all people are continuously living." ³⁹ Now, giving an approving response, some of the scribes (scholars and theologians; Torah experts) said, "Well said, Teacher (or: [Rabbi], you answered beautifully and ideally)." ⁴⁰ You see, they were no longer daring, or having courage, to continue asking Him a single question (or: anything).

¹ Now during their continued speaking to the people, the chief (or: ranking) priests, the officer of the Temple guard (= the Controller of the Temple), and the Sadducees stood near them, in opposition, and at last took a stand upon [the scene], ² being progressively annoyed, exasperated, vexed through and through, and in a thoroughly worthless and knavish attitude because of their continuing to teach the people, and to be bringing down the announcement and be fully proclaiming in [the case of] Jesus (or: in union with Jesus; in the sphere [or: authority] of Jesus) the resurrection from out of the midst of dead folks.

⁶ Now Paul, knowing from personal experience that in the Sanhedrin (High Council) the one part (or: party) is of [the] Sadducees, yet the different part [is] of [the] Pharisees, suddenly cries out, "Men! Brothers (= Fellow Jews)! I myself am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I myself am presently being judged (or: am now standing on trial) concerning [the] expectation – even [the] resurrection of dead folks!" ⁷ Well, during his saying this, there came to be a taking of a stand creating a dispute between Pharisees and Sadducees, and so the whole group was split (torn apart). ⁸ You see, Sadducees are indeed normally saying there is not to be a resurrection – neither [are there] agent (or: messenger) or spirit (or: breath-effect), yet Pharisees normally concede both (or: consent and agree to all [of it]). ⁹ So a great outcry broke out with shouts and screaming, and then standing up, some of the scribes (theologians; Torah experts) of the party of the Pharisees began fighting through the midst, contending vehemently, as a group saying, "We continue finding nothing wrong (bad; worthless) in this person! Now since (or: if) a spirit (or: breath-effect) or an agent (or: messenger) spoke (or: speaks) to him..."

¹³ Now if there is presently no resurrection of dead people (or: if there continues being no resurrection of dead ones; if a resurrection of dead ones does not constantly exist), neither has Christ been awakened and raised up. ¹⁴ So if Christ has not been awakened and raised up, our message which we preach [is] consequently empty and without content – and your [other MSS: our] faith and trust [is] empty and vacuous, ¹⁵ and further, we [thus] continue to be found being false witnesses, from and concerning God, because we bring testimony and evidence down from God that He awakened and raised up the Christ – Whom, consequently, He did not raise up, if indeed dead ones are not really being habitually (or: periodically; one after another) awakened and raised up! ¹⁶ For if dead ones are not habitually (or: presently, one after another; periodically) being awakened and raised up, neither has Christ been awakened and raised up. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been awakened and raised up, your faith and trust exists being devoid of success and results – you are still within the midst of and in union with your mistakes, failures and sins! ¹⁸ Consequently, also, those falling asleep within the midst of and in union with Christ lose themselves (or: loose-away and destroy themselves).

¹⁸ the very ones who miss the mark, deviating around the truth (or: reality), repeatedly saying a [other MSS: the] resurrection has already occurred, and constantly turn back (or: turn again; overturn) the faith, trust and loyalty of certain folks (or: of some).

²⁵ "Now there were seven brothers among us. And the first one, having married, came to [his] end (or: finished [his] life) and so – not having seed (= offspring) – leaves behind his wife to (or: for) his brother. ²⁶ "In the same way, also, the second one, and then the third one – on until [all] seven. ²⁷ "Now subsequently to all of them, the woman died. ²⁸ "Therefore, within the resurrection, of which one of the seven will she proceed in being a wife – for you see, they all had her?"

²⁹ "Now then, there were seven brothers; and the first, upon taking a wife, died childless. ³⁰ "And so the second got the wife, and this one also died childless. ³¹ "Then the third took her. Now, similarly also, the seven men did not leave children behind, and also died off. ³² "Lastly, the woman also died off. ³³ "Therefore, in the resurrection, of which of them does the woman become a wife – for you see, the seven men had her [as] a wife?"

²⁹ Now Jesus, giving a discerning response, says to them, "You men are repeatedly being deceived and are continually caused to wander astray (or: off track) [from] not having seen the Scriptures with perception, nor yet knowing or being acquainted with God's power and ability.

²⁷ Upon looking at and within them, Jesus then is saying, "On the side of humanity (or: with mankind) [it is] impossible, but on the other hand, not on the side of God (or: not with God), for all things [are] possible at God's side (or: everything is able [to happen] with God)."

³⁷ "because at God's side (or: from beside God) every declaration (gush-effect; result of the flow; saying) will not proceed being impossible!" (or: because in God's presence – corem Deo – nothing [of] every effect of rhema speaking will continue being void of power or ability!";or: for with God, no declaration [at] all will progress being a powerless impossibility!")

³⁹ "You folks continuously search (or, as an imperative: Be constantly searching) the Scriptures, because within them you yourselves are habitually presuming to be presently and continuously holding eonian life (or: because you folks are normally supposing for yourselves to be habitually having – in union with them – life pertaining to, and having the qualities and characteristics of, the Age [perhaps: = the life of the coming age]), and those [Scriptures] are (exist being) the ones continuously testifying about Me (constantly giving evidence concerning and bearing witness around Me).

⁹ You see, they had not seen and did not as yet discern (perceive; know) the Scripture that it is necessary for (binding upon) Him to rise up (to stand up; to arise) forth from out of the midst of dead ones.

¹¹ Now these folks were (or: existed being) more noble (well-born; = noble-minded and having the character that comes from being raised in a good family) than those in Thessalonica. [They were] folks who received and welcomed the Logos (the Word; the message; the idea) with all eagerness (rushing forward), repeatedly examining again, separating back and sifting up and down the Scriptures – day by day – to determine if these continue having it thus (or: holding it in this way).

⁴ You see, as much as was written before was written [leading] into the teaching (the instruction and training) [which is] ours (or: was written unto and for our instruction), to the end that through the persistent remaining-under to give support (the humble yet relentless endurance in handling the blows), and through the calling-alongside of the Scriptures (or: through the Scriptures' comfort, consolation, relief, aid, support and performance as a Paraclete) we may constantly hold expectation (or: have expectant hope).

¹⁹ And further, [I pray that you may know] what [is] the continually surpassing greatness (or: the constantly transcendent, repeatedly overshooting and thrown-beyond huge extent) of His ability and power [being given] unto, and into, us the people continuously believing, progressively trusting and constantly loyal in accord with (or: down from; corresponding to) the operation (or: energizing; internal working) of force (or: might) of His strength,

²¹ Who will continue actively transfiguring (progressively refashioning and remodeling; continuously changing the form of) our body from the low condition and status (or: the body of our humiliation; or: the body which is us, pertaining to this lowliness) [which is] joint-formed in, by and with the body of His glory (or with other MSS: into the [situation] for it to be brought into existence conformed to, and having the same form together with, His body, from that which calls forth praise and has the character of His good reputation]), down from (or: in accord with; in the sphere of; along the lines of; to the level of; following the pattern of; stepping along with; commensurate with; as directed by) the inward operation (energy; in-working) of the [conditions or situation for] Him to be continuously able (or: with power) also to humbly align The Whole to and in Himself (or: to subject and subordinate all things for Himself; to arrange everything under so as to have full control and to support [it] by and with Himself).

¹⁵ and that from an infant (babe) you have seen and thus know [the] sacred Scriptures (or: Temple writings): the ones being constantly able (those continuously having power) to give you wisdom – [that leads you] into deliverance (wholeness, good health, rescue and salvation) – through Jesus' faith, resident within Christ (or: through means of the faith and trust that [exists] in Jesus [the] Anointed; by faith which is Jesus in union with an Anointing). ¹⁶ All Scripture [is] God-breathed, and [is] beneficial to furtherance toward instruction (or: Every inspired-of-God [temple] writing [is] also profitable {of advantage; [gives] augmentation} with a view to teaching and training), toward (with a view to) testing unto proof (or, negatively: exposure; laying bare), toward full restoration to straightness (or: straightening-up upon; = improvement), toward child-training (education; discipline) of the person within the Way pointed out (the one in rightwised [covenantal] relationships with fair and equitable dealing), ¹⁷ to the end that God's [corporate] Person (or: the person belonging to God; the human having his origin in God; humanity in relation to God) may be exactly fitted (can exist being precisely prepared; would be entirely suited), being one having been completely furnished and equipped toward every good work (with a view to every virtuous and excellent action).

³⁰ "You see, within the resurrection folks are neither repeatedly marrying, nor are they constantly being given in marriage. To the contrary, they constantly exist as agents (or: messengers) – within the atmosphere (or: heaven).

³⁵ "Yet those folks being considered worthy (of complete equal value) of that Age – even to hit the target of the resurrection, the one out from among [the] dead folks – are neither normally marrying nor are being habitually given in marriage, ³⁶ "for you see, neither are they any longer able to die off, for they exist being (or: are) the equivalence of agents (or: identical to and the same thing as messengers) and they are God's sons (= the offsprings of God) – being sons of the resurrection (= the offsprings of, and from, the resurrection; or: = those having the qualities and characteristic of the resurrection).

⁴² Thus also (or: In this way too) [is] the resurrection of the dead people. It is habitually (repeatedly; presently; one after another) being sown within corruption (or: in union with decay and ruin; in perishability); it is being habitually (or: presently; repeatedly; one after another) awakened and raised up within incorruption (non-decayability; imperishableness). ⁴³ It is constantly being sown within dishonor (in union with lack of value; in the midst of worthlessness), it is being habitually (or: repeatedly; constantly; one after another; progressively) awakened and raised up within, and in union with, power and ability. ⁴⁴ It is habitually (continually; repeatedly; presently) being sown a body having the qualities and characteristics of a soul (a soulish body; or: = a body animated by soul; or: = a natural entity); it is habitually (repeatedly; constantly; presently; one after another) being awakened and raised up a spiritual body (a body having the qualities and characteristics of the Breath-effect; or: = a spiritual entity). Since there is a soulish body (or: = body animated by soul), there also is (or: exists) a spiritual one (or: = one animated by spirit). [comment: note the germinal connection between the two – they are a progression of the same body] ⁴⁵ Thus also (or: In this way also), it has been written, "The first human (or: man), Adam, came for existence (or: was birthed) into [being] a living soul" [Gen. 2:7]; the Last Adam into [being] a continuously life-making (life-engendering; life-creating; life-giving) Spirit (or: Breath-effect; Attitude). ⁴⁶ Nevertheless, the spiritual [is] not first, but rather the one having the qualities and characteristics of a soul (the soulish), then afterwards, the spiritual (that pertaining to and having the qualities of Breath-effect and Attitude). ⁴⁷ The first human (person; man) [was/is] forth from out of the earth (land; ground; soil; dirt), made of moist soil and mud (or: having the quality and characteristics of moist dirt that can be poured; soilish), the Second Human (Person; Man; [p 46 reads: {is} spiritual; other MSS add: {is} the Lord]) [is made] of heaven (or: sky; atmosphere). [note: the phrases describing the material of the two humans are parallel in the Greek of the first textual reading] ⁴⁸ As [is] the person made of and having the character and quality of moist soil or mud (or: pourable dirt), of such sort also [are] the people [who are] made of and have the character and quality of moist soil or mud (soil-ish folks); and likewise, as [is] the Heavenly Person (or: the one made of and having the quality and character of the supra-heaven), of such sort also [are] the supra-heavenly people – those made of and having the quality and character of the supra-heaven (or: the finished and perfected atmosphere, or the added sky). ⁴⁹ And correspondingly as we bear and wear the image of the dusty person, [p46 adds: doubtless] we can and should [B reads: will] also bear and wear the image of the supra-heavenly One (or: belonging to the One having the quality and character of the finished and perfected atmosphere; or: from the fully-heaven [sphere]; of the added-sky person). ⁵⁰ Now I am saying this, brothers (= fellow members and believers), that flesh and blood (= humans in their estranged condition; = people of dust who have not been resurrected) have no power and continue unable to inherit or receive and participate in an allotted portion of God's reign (kingdom or sovereign action) – neither is corruption and decay (the perishable) continuing on to inherit (participate in the allotment of) the Incorruption (Imperishability). ⁵¹ See (Look and consider)! I am progressively telling you a secret ([the] mystery)! We, indeed, shall not all continue falling asleep, yet we all will continue being changed (or: On the one hand, not all of us will continue [dying], but on the other hand, we all will be progressively altered; or: We all shall not continue being put to repose, and so we all shall keep on being transformed; or: All of us shall not continue sleeping, but we all will continue being rearranged to be another or made to be otherwise), ⁵² within the midst of an instant (or: in union with what is uncut and indivisible), in a rapid sweep or blink of an eye, within, or in union with, the midst of the last or final trumpet. You see, the trumpet will continue sounding (or: For He will proceed to be trumpeting; Indeed, it will keep on trumpeting), and the dead people will one-after-another be awakened and raised up [A, D and others: will keep on standing back up again; will continue being resurrected] incorruptible (imperishable). And so we ourselves will keep on, one-after-another being changed (or: progressively be made otherwise, altered and transformed). ⁵³ For it continues being necessary (it is habitually binding) for this perishable and corruptible to at some point plunge (or: sink) in and clothe itself with (or: slip on; put on) incorruption and imperishability, and for this mortal (one that is subject to death) to at some point plunge and sink in and clothe itself with (or: put on; slip on as a garment) immortality (or: the absence of death; deathlessness; undyingness). ⁵⁴ Now whenever [other MSS add: this corruptible would (or: may) put on incorruption and] this mortal would (or: may) plunge, sink in and clothe itself with (or: slip on; put on) the Immortality, then will continue taking place (or: proceed being birthed; successively come into existence) the word (the thought; the message; the saying) which has been written, "The Death was drunk down and swallowed into Victory (or: overcoming)!" [Isa. 25:8]

²² But to the contrary, you folks have approached so that you are now at Mount Zion – even in a city of a continuously living God; in "Jerusalem upon heaven" (or: in a Jerusalem pertaining to and having the character and qualities of a superior, or added, heaven and atmosphere; or: in Jerusalem [situated] upon, and comparable to, the atmosphere) – also among ten-thousands (or: myriads) of agents and messengers (people with a/the message): ²³ [that is] in (or: to) an assembly of an entire people (or: an assembly of all; a universal convocation) and in (or: to) a summoning forth (or: a called-out and gathered community) of firstborn folks having been copied (from-written, as from a pattern; or: enrolled; registered) within [the; or: various] atmospheres (or: heavens), and in (or: to; with) God, a Judge (an Evaluator and Decider) of all mankind, even among (or: to; with) spirits of just folks (or: breath-effects from those who are fair and equitable and in right relationship within the Way pointed out) having been brought to the destined goal (perfected; finished; matured; made complete),

² Beloved ones, now (at the present time) we continuously exist being God's children (born-ones; bairns from the standpoint of origin), and it has not yet been made visible (or: it is not yet apparent or manifested) what we will proceed in being. We have perceived, and thus know (or: are aware) that if it (or: He) should be (or: whenever it {or: He} may be) made visible, apparent and manifested, [then] folks like to Him (like-ones to Him; ones like Him; people resembling Him) we will be existing, because we will continue seeing and will be progressively perceiving Him just as (according and exactly as; in the manner that) He constantly exists (or: He is).

³¹ "Yet concerning the resurrection of the dead ones, did you not read the thing spoken to, and for, you folks by God, continually saying, ³² "'I, Myself, am (continuously exist being) the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? [Ex. 3:6] He is not the God of dead folks, but rather of continuously living people."

¹⁰ "Have you folks not yet read this Scripture? – 'A rock (or: stone) which the builders rejected and threw away after examining it, this one comes into being [the] head of [the] corner [note: could = the keystone, or, the cornerstone].

³⁷ "Yet that the dead people are habitually (or: repeatedly; or: continuously) being raised up, even Moses divulged (or: discloses) at the thornbush, as he continues terming (or: speaking of) [the] Lord [= Yahweh] 'the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' [Ex. 3:6]

³⁰ "And then – with forty years having been filled full (or: fulfilled) – within the midst of the desolate place (the wilderness; the desert) of Mount Sinai, an agent (or: messenger; [D & others add: of the Lord]) – in union with [the] flame of a fire in a bramble (or: thornbush) – was seen by him. ³¹ "So Moses, upon seeing [it], was shocked and filled with wonder, marveling at the sight (or: vision; or: the result and effect of what was seen). Now during his progressive approaching to take note and focus his mind down [on it], a Voice of [the] Lord was birthed (or: a sound of [Yahweh] occurred, or, came to be; [D reads: the Lord {= Yahweh} spoke to him, saying]), ³² "'I Myself [am] the God of your fathers (= ancestors): the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.' So Moses, coming to be in a tremble was not continuing to have courage to be focusing [his] mind or taking notice, or considering [what was happening]!

²⁴ Jesus affirmed to them, "Are you folks not, therefore (for this reason), constantly deceived and led astray, having not seen, perceived, thus not knowing or being acquainted with the Scriptures – nor yet God's power (or: the ability of God)?

¹⁷ According as it has been and stands written, "A father of many multitudes (nations; ethnic groups) I have placed (put; set; deposited) you" [Gen. 17:5] – [while he was being] down in the midst of and facing [the One] Whom (or: down in a place that was in opposition, of which; or: in line with and in union with, yet being on the opposite side of the matter) he believed, which was God (or: he trusted in [the message] which was God; or: he relied upon [the idea] which [came] from God; or: he gained confidence from God) – the One continuously (habitually; or: repeatedly; periodically) making the dead ones alive, and (or: even) continuously calling (or: repeatedly and habitually summoning) the things not existing as existing (or: = not being into continuously being) –

⁹ For into this [situation] Christ not only died away, but also now lives, to the end that He would (or: should) be Lord (Owner; Master; Possessor) both of dead folks as well as of living people.

¹⁰ "on account of which I was burdened by (or: weighed down with grief for; heavy at heart with) that generation, and said, 'They are always led astray (caused to wander) by (or: in) the heart; they do not personally or intimately know My ways.'

¹³ Down from faith (or: In line with confidence; Corresponding to trust; In the sphere of loyal allegiance and faithfulness) all these folks died off, not taking hold of (or: receiving; [other MSS: not being ones carrying off to themselves for kindly keeping]) the promises, but still, after seeing them forward at a distance, and drawing them to themselves and clinging to them, even speaking alike (saying the same thing; confessing in verbal agreement) that they are, and continue being, strangers and sojourners (or: foreigners and alien residents living in a foreign place) upon the land (or: earth). ¹⁴ For those (or: people) constantly saying such things are continuously shining within because (or: are causing to clearly appear that) they are habitually seeking upon (or: in earnest seeking for) a father-land (a land of the Father). ¹⁵ And if, indeed, they were still being mindful of and continued remembering that from which they came forth (or: went out) they would have continued having a fitting season (situation; occasion) to bend back up again (or: return), ¹⁶ yet now they are continuously stretching themselves out in order to touch a superior (stronger and better) one: this is one belonging to the superior-heaven (or: that is, pertaining to the One upon the atmosphere; or: this exists being one from the added, superimposed heaven). Wherefore God is habitually not ashamed of them, to be called upon [as] their God. You see, He prepared (made ready) a city for (or: by; with; among) them.

¹⁹ "Whoever, then, should loosen [even] one of the least of these the implanted goals (impartations of the finished product within; inward directives) – and should teach humans (people) to that effect – he will repeatedly be called "least" (or: a least one; or: = insignificant) within the reign of the heavens (or: the kingdom which pertains to the atmosphere and [reaches] the sky). Yet, whoever may practice (or: should perform and do) as well as teach – this person will continue being called "great" within the reign of the heavens (the kingdom which pertains to the atmosphere and [reaches] the sky).

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]

³⁴ Now, after hearing that He had muzzled (put to silence) the Sadducees, the Pharisees were gathered together on the same [issue/place/purpose]. ³⁵ Then one of them – a legal expert (or: one versed in the Mosaic Law; proficient in the Torah) – asked a question, testing Him, ³⁶ "Teacher, what kind of implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive) [is] great (or: which [is the] most important precept) within the Law (= Torah)? ³⁷ So He affirms to him, "' You will continue loving [the] Lord [= Yahweh], your God, in union with your whole heart – and within the midst of the core of your being, and in union with your whole soul – and within the midst of your entire soul-life, and in union with your whole intellectual capacity – and within the midst of your whole thinking process and comprehension.' [Deut. 6:5] ³⁸ "This continuously exists being the great and foremost (or: first) implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive). ³⁹ "Yet [the] second one [is] like it: 'You will continue loving your associate (or: overcoming existential separation from your neighbor; participating with the one close to you) as he were yourself.' [Lev. 19:18] ⁴⁰ "In the midst of (or: In union with; Within) these two imparted, goal-oriented directives the whole Law – as well as the prophets – is continuously being hung!"

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!

²⁵ Later – look and consider! – a certain man versed in the Law (a lawyer and a legal theologian; a Torah expert) rose (or: stood) up, proceeding to put Him on trial and test [Him] out by saying, "Teacher, by doing what shall I proceed in inheriting eonian life (or: in what performing will I proceed to be enjoying an allotment of a life which has the character and qualities of the Age [of Messiah] and an age-enduring life)?" ²⁶ So He said to him, "Within the Law, what has been written? How are you in the habit of reading [it] (or: How are you normally reading what stands written in the [Torah])?" ²⁷ Now making a discerning reply, the man said, "'You will be constantly loving [the] Lord [= Yahweh] your God from out of your whole (= entire) heart, and in union with your whole soul (or: within your entire self and soul-life), and in union with and in the midst of your whole (= entire) strength,’ and in union with and within your whole (= entire) mind (intellect; comprehension; understanding) ' – and 'your neighbor (the one close to you; your associate) as being yourself.'" [Deut. 6:4; Lev. 19:18] ²⁸ So He said to him, "With discernment you answered correctly. Be habitually doing this and you will continue living."

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.

³⁹ Now, giving an approving response, some of the scribes (scholars and theologians; Torah experts) said, "Well said, Teacher (or: [Rabbi], you answered beautifully and ideally)."

³⁷ "The person habitually having fondness and affection for father and mother over and above for Me is not suitable for Me (or: worthy or of equal value with regards to Me). Likewise the person continuing in having fondness and affection for a son or daughter over and above for Me is not suitable for Me (worthy of Me).

⁹ "and you folks should not call [anyone] on the earth your father, because you see, One is your Father: the heavenly One (the One having the character and qualities of the atmosphere and heaven)!

³² The scribe (scholar) said to Him, "Teacher, in truth you spoke beautifully (= you gave a fine answer), that He is one and there is no other more than (or: besides) Him. ³³ "And this 'to be constantly loving Him' from a whole heart and from the whole understanding, even out of the whole strength, and then to be habitually loving the near-one (neighbor; associate) as he were (or: like) oneself – it is excessively more than the effect of all of the whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices."

²⁷ Now making a discerning reply, the man said, "'You will be constantly loving [the] Lord [= Yahweh] your God from out of your whole (= entire) heart, and in union with your whole soul (or: within your entire self and soul-life), and in union with and in the midst of your whole (= entire) strength,’ and in union with and within your whole (= entire) mind (intellect; comprehension; understanding) ' – and 'your neighbor (the one close to you; your associate) as being yourself.'" [Deut. 6:4; Lev. 19:18]

³⁰ since indeed (or: if after all; [other MSS: seeing that God [is] One (or: [there is] one God; [it is the] one God; = God [is; tends toward] Union; [Deut. 6:4,Shema]) Who from out of faithfulness (or: forth from [His] faith, trust and loyalty) will, by rightwising [them], progressively make Circumcision right, just and free from guilt, placing them in the Way pointed out and setting them in solidarity within right relationships – and (or: as well as) Uncircumcision through means of the [same] faithfulness (by means of this trust, faith and loyalty).

⁴ Therefore, concerning the eating of the [foods] that were offered in sacrifice to idols, we have seen and know that an idol is nothing (or: = meaningless) within [the] System (in the world of [our] culture or religion, or within the midst of the created universe), and that [there is] no other God, except One.

²⁰ Now there is no mediator of one (= when one person is concerned or is acting alone). Yet (or: Now) God is One. [note: to make a promise, one is sufficient – there is no need for a middleman]

⁵ Yet the purpose and goal of the notification (the message and announcement which is brought alongside and passed on) continues being love (the whole being's drive and movement toward reunion with another, to overcome existential separation; acceptance of the object of love without restriction, in spite of the estranged, profanized and demonized state of the object – Paul Tillich) forth from out of the midst of a clean heart and a good conscience (virtuous knowing-together; profitable impression of reality) and of unhypocritical faith (or: unfeigned trust; or: loyalty that is not overly critical; or: belief that lacks the qualities of being overly concerned with small details or hyper-evaluations),

⁵ for God [is] One, and One [is the] Mediator of God and mankind, a Man, Christ Jesus (or: for [there is] one God, and one medium between God and humans, [the] human, Anointed Jesus),

¹⁹ You continuously believe (or: trust; are convinced) that God is One (or: that God exists being One; that One exists being God; or: that there is one God). [Deut. 6:4] You are performing (doing) beautifully (excellently; ideally) – even the demons (Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influences) continuously believe (or: presently trust; are constantly loyal; are normally convinced [about this]), and constantly shudder (bristle; shiver; are ruffled). [comment: in this last phrase Jacob is either making an ontological statement about “demons, ” or he is using sarcasm, referring in a derogatory manner to the Jews who also believe this; Jesus used the term diablos (devil; one who thrusts-through folks) to refer to Judas in John 6:70; He used the term satan when speaking to Peter in Mark 8:33; this phrase could also refer to the superstitious mindsets of folks who have believed Jewish or pagan myths, or have accepted animistic influences into their thinking]

²⁵ By the only God (or: To God alone; In God alone), our Deliverer (Rescuer; Safe-keeper; Savior; Restorer) – through Jesus Christ our Lord (Master; Owner) – [is] glory (or: a manifestation of that which calls forth praise; a good reputation), greatness, strength, and authority (right and privilege from out of Being) both now and on into all the ages (eons; indefinite periods of time)! Amen (It is so; Count on it). [written circa A.D. 60-62 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

¹² "Therefore, all things – as many as you folks may continue wanting or should by habit be purposing – that people (mankind; men) should be habitually doing to or for you, thus also (or: likewise), you folks, yourselves, be continuously doing to and for them (or: = Treat others in the way that you yourselves would like to be treated). You see, THIS is (or: exists being; = is the meaning of) the Law and the Prophets (= this sums up the message of the Scriptures)!

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] ¹⁹ -720'You will continue honoring and expressing value to the father and the mother.' [Ex. 20:12] 'You will continue loving the one near you (your neighbor and associate) as he were yourself,'" [Lev. 19:18]

³⁹ "Yet [the] second one [is] like it: 'You will continue loving your associate (or: overcoming existential separation from your neighbor; participating with the one close to you) as he were yourself.' [Lev. 19:18]

³⁶ "Which one of these three now seems (appears) to you to have come to be a neighbor (associate; close-one) of the person falling into the midst of the bandits (highwaymen)?" ³⁷ Now he said, "The person doing the mercy (performing the [act of] compassion) with him." So Jesus said to him, "Be now going on your way, and you yourself be habitually doing (performing) likewise (similarly; in the same way)."

⁸ You folks are not to be continual debtors (or: do not be in the habit of owing even one thing) to anyone, except to be constantly loving one another, for the person continually loving the different one (or: the other person) has made full the Law (has fulfilled law [or: = Torah] and custom) (or: You see, the one constantly loving has fulfilled the other, different law). ⁹ You see, the [Law, or Torah, says or prophesies], "You will not continue committing adultery," "You will not continue committing murder," "You will not continue stealing," "You will not continue to over-desire (crave; covet; lust)," [Ex. 20:13-14; Deut. 5:17- 18] and if any different implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive), it continues being summed up in this word, namely, "You will continue loving your near one (participate with uniting and unambiguous acceptance with your close one, associate, or neighbor) as yourself." [Lev. 19:18]

⁴ The Love (or: This love) is habitually even-tempered, taking a long time to be in a heat of passion (is constantly long-enduring and patient; continues long-suffering; is slow to progress toward feelings which cause violent breathing or rushing emotions) – it continues being usefully kind. The Love (or: This love) is not constantly boiling with jealousy and envy. The Love is not continuously bragging or “showing off” – it is not habitually being puffed up; it is not conceited or arrogant. ⁵ It is not repeatedly indecent in manner or behavior (it does not continually display lack of [good] form, rudeness or improper demeanor); it is not habitually self-seeking (or: not constantly pursuing its own interests or rights); it is not continually caused to be sharp [in response] nor aroused to irritation or upset emotions; it is not habitually keeping account of the worthless thing, nor logically considering something of bad quality, nor counting the injury. ⁶ It does not continue to rejoice upon [seeing or hearing of] the injustice, nor is it happy about dishonesty, inequity, or lack of the qualities of the Way pointed out, yet it repeatedly rejoices with the Truth (or: takes delight together in Reality). ⁷ [Love] continuously covers all mankind; it is habitually loyal to all humanity; it constantly has an expectation for all mankind; it is continuously remaining under and giving support to all people. (or, since “all” can also be neuter: It progressively puts a protecting roof over all things; it is habitually trusting in, and believing for, all things; it is continually hoping in or for all things; it keeps on patiently enduring all things.) ⁸ The Love (or, again: This love) never – not even once – fails (falls out or lapses; = becomes fruitless or ineffectual; [other MSS: falls down; collapses]). Now, whether prophecies (or: situations of light ahead of time) will be rendered useless and unproductive (or: idled-down to be inactive and unemployed, discarded or, nullified) or languages will stop themselves (or: tongues will restrain themselves so as to cease [speaking]; “utterances of ecstasy” will cease of themselves), or whether intimate or experiential knowledge (or: insight; gnosis) will be rendered useless and unproductive (be idled-down to be inactive and unemployed, discarded or, nullified)

¹⁴ For, the entire Law has been fulfilled and stands filled up within one word (or: within one thought or idea; within one saying or message) – within the one: "You will continue to love [agapao; cf vs. 6b, above] your near-one (your associate; your neighbor; the one close by your position), as (in the same way as; or: as he/she were) yourself." [Lev. 19:18; comment: this one "expressed thought" is the idea and purpose of the Word]

⁸ Since, however (or: If, really), you are continuously bringing to its goal (finishing; bringing to fruition; perfecting; ending; bringing to a close; fulfilling) the royal law (or: kingly custom; sovereign distribution; rule fit to guide a king), you are performing beautifully (doing ideally; producing excellently), down from and in accord with the Scripture, "You will continue loving your neighbor (the one near you; your associate) as yourself." [Lev. 19:18] ⁹ Yet if you habitually show favoritism (accept faces; behave with partiality), you are continuously working error (a miss of the target; a failure; sin) being ones by proof of guilt repeatedly convicted as transgressors (folks stepping aside or across [the line]), under the Law (or: exposed as deviators by the custom). ¹⁰ For you see, whoever perhaps kept (or: may have guarded and observed) the whole Law, yet possibly at some point stumbled in one thing, had become held (or: caught) within all [its aspects] (or: = is liable for and susceptible to everything). ¹¹ You see, the One saying, "You should (or: may) not commit adultery, " also said, "You should (or: may) not murder." [Ex. 20:13] Now if you are not committing adultery, yet you are now being a murderer, you have come to be (you have been birthed) a transgressor of (a deviator from; [p74 and A read: one who stands away from]) law (or: custom). ¹² Thus keep on speaking and thus keep on doing (performing): as those being continuously about to be separated and decided about (evaluated; judged; made a distinction between; scrutinized) through means of a law (or: custom; [p74: word; message]) of freedom and liberty. ¹³ For you see, the separating and deciding (or: scrutinizing and judging) is merciless to the one not performing mercy. Mercy is consistently speaking loudly and boasting down against evaluating and separating (making decisions; scrutinizing; judging)!

¹⁷ But whoever may continuously have the world's means of living (or: may habitually hold the sustenance of the life pertaining to the secular ordered System), and may habitually gaze upon his brother [who is] continuously having a need, and may close shut (or: would slam and lock) his intestines (= his compassions) away from him, how is God's love dwelling (abiding; remaining; staying) within him (or, reading as a future: how will God's love dwell in him)? ¹⁸ Little children (little born-ones), we should not be habitually loving in word (by a word or thought), nor even in (or: by) the tongue, but rather within action (deed; work) and truth (or: reality). ¹⁹ And within this we shall come to know by our own experience that we continuously exist (or: are) from out of the midst of the Truth (Reality), and so before Him (in front of Him; in His very presence) we shall progressively persuade (prevail upon; convince; win over; reassure; set at ease; render tranquil) our hearts,

⁷ Beloved ones, we are (or: can and should be) continuously loving one another, because love (or: the urge toward reunion and acceptance) exists continuously (or: is) from out of the midst of God, and every one continuously loving has been born, and exists being a born-one, from out of the midst of God, and constantly experiences intimate knowledge of God (or: comes to know by experiences from God; gains knowledge and insight by the experience which is God). ⁸ The one not habitually loving has not come to know God by intimate experience, because God continuously exists being Love (or: for God is Love and Acceptance).

²¹ And we continuously hold (or: have) this implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward and purposed directive of destiny) from Him, to the end that the person continuously loving God can, should and would also habitually love (accept and drive toward reunion with) his brother (= his fellow believer, or his fellow human being).

²⁹ So Jesus gave a decided reply to him, "Foremost (= Most important) is, 'Be habitually listening and hearing [and, thus, obeying], O Israel, [the] Lord [= Yahweh] [is] our God. [The] Lord [Yahweh] is (continually exists being) one. [note: the Sh’ma]

¹³ "Now, upon going your way, learn and become a disciple of what [this] is and means, 'I am presently desiring, habitually intending and progressively purposing mercy, and not a sacrifice!' [Hos. 6:6] You see, I am not (or: did not) come to call 'righteous folks' (people who were supposedly in right relationship with God and community and who were convinced that they walked in accord with the path pointed out), but on the contrary, outcasts ('sinners' who knew that they were neither connected nor in right relationship, nor approved in their way of life: failures)."

⁷ "But, if you had come to personally (or: by intimate experience or insight) know what [this] is (or: = means), 'I am habitually wanting (desiring), repeatedly intending and continuously purposing mercy, and not sacrifice,' [Hos. 6:6] you folks would not ever oppose fairness, equity and justice, while you degrade the way pointed out in condemning the guiltless ones (the blameless and innocent folks) [cf vs. 5, above: = the priests of the new order].

¹ If ever I could habitually speak (or as an indicative: If I continuously speak) in or with the languages of the human groups (or: by the tongues of mankind) – or even of the agents (or: messengers) – yet am not constantly having and continuously holding love, I have come to be a continuously sounding (or: blaring; booming out; resounding) [piece of] brass (or: copper; bronze) or a repeatedly clashing basin or a continuously clanging cymbal! ² Even if I am continuously holding light ahead of time (or: repeatedly have prophecy), and I may have seen, and thus know, all the secrets (or: every mystery) and all the intimate knowledge (or: insight; gnosis), and if I now continuously possess all the faith and trust – so as to repeatedly transport mountains (or: to change the place and position of mountain after mountain) – yet do not habitually possess (or: progressively have) love, I am (I exist being) nothing! ³ If further I should dole out all my habitual subsistences in morsels of food – even if I should hand over my body! – so that I could boast [C, D and other later MSS read: so that I will be burned], and yet do not habitually possess and progressively have love, I continue being benefited (furthered; augmented; helped; profited) in not even one thing. [note: love (agape) – "unambiguous love;" "an ecstatic manifestation of the Spiritual Presence;" "the drive toward reunion;" "participation in the other one;" "the acceptance of the other one as a person... the power of reunion with the other person as one standing on the same ultimate ground..." – Paul Tillich, Systematic Theology III, pp 134-137; Perspectives on 19th and 20th Century Protestant Theology, p 200]

⁸ Up above, in saying that,"You do not will (purpose, intend), neither think well of (or: approve), sacrifice and offering and the result and effect of whole burnt-offerings, even concerning sin (failure; error) [offerings]" – which things, down from and in accord with Law and custom, continue being repeatedly offered –

²⁰ He will not proceed to break down a reed that has been bruised (or: break in pieces a reed that has been crushed), and He will not proceed to extinguish a flax lamp-wick that is continuing in being wrapped in smoke and made to smolder – until He can thrust-forth [the] separation-derived decision into a victory (or: cast-out judging – unto victory)!

⁴⁰ You see, they were no longer daring, or having courage, to continue asking Him a single question (or: anything).

¹⁹ But we know from having seen that whatever the Law ([Torah]; or: custom) continues saying, it continues speaking to and for those within the Law (or: custom) – to the end that every mouth may be shut (fenced in; hedged around; stopped; barred; silenced)! And so all the world (ordered System of religion, culture, economy, and government; or: secular society; or: = all humanity) can come to be "under fair and equitable dealings," in God (or: would become subject to a just decision and a pointing out of the Way, by God; or: should come to be liable to God, "under what is right"; or: may be brought to a just trial with God). ²⁰ On account of that (or: Wherefore), no flesh (= person) [at] all will proceed to be put in right relationship (be rightwised; be justified; be made right; be made free from guilt, placed in the Way pointed out; = placed in covenant relationship) before Him (in His sight; face to face with Him in His presence; corem Deo) from out of works of Law (or: deeds or accomplishments springing from Law; performance of Laws' cultus; or: observance of custom or Torah), for you see, through Law [comes] a full, clear, exact, added and experience-gained knowledge of sin (or: from failure; having the character of a missing of the target; which is deviation and error).

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).

¹⁹ You see, I myself through [the] Law died by [the] Law (or: to [the] Law; in [the] Law; with [the] Law), to the end that I could and would live by God, in God, for God, to God and with God!

⁶ [with] your word (your conversation; your message) – at all times within grace (or: = always favorable) – being one having been prepared and fitted by salt (or: seasoned in salt; or: = one being interesting and not insipid), [and for you] to have seen, and thus be aware, how it continues binding for you folks to be habitually answering each person with discernment (or: making a decided reply to or separating [issues] away in order to respond with a decision for each individual).

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. ¹⁰ You see, many folks, especially those from out of the Circumcision (= the Jews), are (constantly exist being) insubordinate ones (not submitted to the arrangement; un-subjected to the order), empty, vain and profitless talkers, even seducers of the intellect (deceivers of the mind; people who mislead thinking), ¹¹ who it continues necessary to repeatedly muzzle (gag; put something upon their mouth; or: reign them in), who are habitually turning-back whole households [i.e., into the Law cultus of Judaism] (or: = constantly upsetting entire families), repeatedly teaching things which it is binding to not [teach]: a “grace” of ugly (deformed; disgraceful) profit, gain or advantage!

²⁷ Now later, as Jesus continues leading [the crowd] in passing along from that place, two blind men followed Him [who] kept on crying out, repeatedly saying, "Mercy us (Give mercy to us), O Son of David (this phrase may = "O descendant of David who also displays David's qualities and reminds us of the king of Israel;" or, it may be a phrase = "Messiah")!"

⁴¹ Now during the Pharisees' having been gathered together, Jesus inquired of them, laying out the question, ⁴² "How does it normally seem to you (or: What do you folks now think and what is your view) concerning the Anointed One (the Christ; = the Messiah): Whose Son (or: Descendant) is He?" They, as a group, are replying to Him, "David's." ⁴³ He then says to them, "How, then, is David – within and in union with [the] Spirit (or: in spirit; in the effect of [His] Breath; in attitude) – normally calling Him 'Lord' (Master)?, saying, ⁴⁴ "' [The] Lord [= Yahweh] said to my Lord (Master), "Be continuously sitting from out of (or: = at) My right-hand [parts] until I should place (or: put) Your alienated ones (or: folks filled with hate and hostility; enemies) down under Your feet"'? [Ps. 110:1] ⁴⁵ "Since (or: If), therefore, David is normally calling Him, 'Lord (Master), 'how does He exist being His 'Son'?"

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "You folks come out as upon a robber (highwayman) or an insurrectionist – with knives, swords, staffs and clubs – to jointly seize (or: apprehend) Me. Daily I used to habitually sit facing you men within the Temple grounds, constantly teaching, and you did not take hold of Me (= lift a hand against Me or attempt to arrest Me).

²⁷ Later, they proceed coming again into Jerusalem. Then, during His progressively walking around within the midst of the temple grounds (or: courts), the chief (or: ranking) priests, the scribes (theologians; experts in the Law; scholars) and the elders (or: older men) proceed to be coming toward Him,

⁴⁷ Later, He was repeatedly teaching, daily, within the midst of the Temple courts and grounds. But the chief (or: ranking) priests and the scribes (scholars; Torah experts; theologians) – along with the foremost folks (or: leaders) of the people – kept on trying to find [a way] to destroy Him,

¹ On one of the days during His continuing in teaching the people within the Temple courts (or: grounds), as well as declaring the good news of ease and wellbeing, it then happened [that] the chief (or: leading; ranking) priests and the theologians (scribes; Torah-teachers; scholars) – together with the elders – suddenly took a stand upon the scene.

⁴¹ In turn, He said to them, "How are they normally saying [that] the Christ (the Anointed One; = the expected Messiah) is to be David's son (= a descendant of David)? ⁴² "For David himself says in the scroll of Psalms, '[The] Lord [= Yahweh] said to my Lord, "Continue sitting, from My right (= Be constantly ruling from out of My high positions of power and places of honor) ⁴³ Until I should be placing (setting) those hostile to You [as] a footstool of Your feet.' [Ps. 110:1] ⁴⁴ "Therefore, David is habitually calling Him 'Lord (Master; Owner),' and so how is He his Son?"

³⁷ Now He was [during] the days repeatedly teaching within the Temple courts and grounds, yet [during] the nights, after going out into the mountain, He was making it a habit to spend the night (camp out) [in the midst of] the Mount of Olives.

⁴² "Does not the Scripture say that the Christ (the Anointed One; = Messiah) is proceeding in (or: normally) coming from out of the seed of David [2 Sam. 7:12], and from Bethlehem [Micah 5:2], the village where David was?"

²⁰ Jesus considered and replied to him, "I Myself have publicly (outspokenly with boldness and freedom of speech which is the right of a citizen) spoken in the System (or: to the world of religion, culture, economics and government). I at all times taught in a synagogue, and within the Temple courts, where all the Jews are habitually coming together, and I have spoken nothing within a hidden place.

¹⁶ "Men! Brothers (= Fellow believers)! It was continuing necessary and binding for the Scripture to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit (or: the Set-apart Breath-effect and Sacred Attitude) foretold (or: spoke in advance) through the mouth of David, concerning (or: about) Judah (or: Judas) – the one coming to be a guide for (or: to) the folks seizing and arresting Jesus –

²⁵ So, continuing in being out of harmony (dissonant; discordant; without symphony; = at odds and in disagreement) toward one another, they began loosing themselves away (continued dismissing themselves, one after another) with Paul's speaking one gush-effect (or: comment; declaration): "The set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit) beautifully (finely; ideally; aptly; fittingly) speaks (or: spoke) through Isaiah the prophet – to your fathers – saying,

²⁵ For it is binding and necessary for Him to be continuously reigning (ruling as King; exercising sovereignty) until which [time or situation] (or: until where) He would put (or: may place; could set) all the things that have or hold ruin (or: the enemies) under His feet.

¹⁶ All Scripture [is] God-breathed, and [is] beneficial to furtherance toward instruction (or: Every inspired-of-God [temple] writing [is] also profitable {of advantage; [gives] augmentation} with a view to teaching and training), toward (with a view to) testing unto proof (or, negatively: exposure; laying bare), toward full restoration to straightness (or: straightening-up upon; = improvement), toward child-training (education; discipline) of the person within the Way pointed out (the one in rightwised [covenantal] relationships with fair and equitable dealing),

¹³ Now to a certain one (or, as in vs. 5: Now in which one '85?) of the agents (or: folks with a message) He once said, "Sit at (or: out of [the authority of]) My right [hand; side] until I may place your foes (or: hostile ones) a footstool of your feet (or: = turn your enemies into your footstool [= a supportive role])." [Ps. 110:1]

⁷ Therefore (or: For this reason), just as the set-apart Breath-effect continues saying (or: On account of which, as in the same vein, the Holy Spirit is presently laying out the idea), "Today, if you could (or: can) hear His voice, ⁸ "you would not be hardening your hearts, as in the incitement to bitter feelings (or: the being exasperated and provoked; or: = the rebellion) down from the day of putting to the proof by ordeals in the desert,

⁷ again, He is determining (or: He is again defining and setting bounds around) a certain day, "Today!" In David He is saying, after so long a time, just as it has been said before, "Today, if you would hear His voice, you would not be hardening your hearts." [Ps. 95:7-8]

¹² Yet on the other hand this One, after at one point offering one sacrifice – stretched for the whole length – over [the situation of] sins (or: on behalf of failures and errors), sat within the right [part or side] of God (or: at the right [hand] of God; centered in God's [place of power, honor and acceptance]) on into the whole length (or: extended into the unbroken continuance), ¹³ continuously, one after another, taking hold with the hand to embrace and welcome from out of the rest (the remaining and leftover) until the hated ones that belong to Him (His enemies; the ruiners that He has; folks who are hostile in relation to Him) can be placed [as] a footstool of His feet (= would be set in a humble and supportive position in relation to His body).

¹¹ constantly searching into which season or what kind of situation the Spirit of Christ (or: Christ's spirit; or: the Breath-effect which is the Anointed One), resident within them, was continuing to point to, making [it] evident and clearly visible, repeatedly testifying (witnessing; giving evidence) beforehand about the effects of the experiences and results of the sufferings [projected] into Christ, and the glories (the manifestations which call forth praise; the good opinions and reputations; the appearances of things) after these things,

²¹ for you see, previously enlightened information (or: prophecy) was (or: is) not at any time brought by (or: in; for) [the] will (intent; resolve; purpose) of a human, but rather being continuously carried by (or: swept along under [the influence of]) [the] set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit), [some MSS add: set-apart; holy] people spoke (or: speak) from God.

⁵ "The blind folks are habitually seeing again, and the lame and crippled folks are continually walking about. The lepers are one-after-another being cleansed, and deaf people are habitually hearing. [Isa. 35:5-6] Even dead people are one-by-one being awakened and raised up [Isa. 26:14] – and the poor folks, the destitute ones, are continually having the good news of ease and wellness announced to them. [Isa. 61:1]

²⁵ Speaking from a discerning and decided perception within that fitting situation (or: during that particular season [of ministry]; or: at that strategic moment), Jesus said, "I continue outwardly acclaiming My concurrence with You, publicly saying the same thing as You, O Father – Owner, Lord and Master of the heaven and of the earth (or: of the sky and atmosphere, as well as of the land) – that You hide (or: because You hid) these things from 'wise folks' (or: 'clever people') and 'understanding, intelligent, intellectuals,' and You unveil (or: revealed; disclosed) them to infants (babes who are not yet able to speak; = untutored, untaught, ordinary folks).

⁴⁶ And although still seeking to seize Him, they were fearful about the crowd (= were afraid of how the crowd might react), since they had been holding Him into [the position of] (or: for; [other MSS: as]) a prophet."

⁴⁸ and yet they were not finding the [solution for] what they could do, for you see, all the people – continuously listening – kept hanging on His [words].

³⁸ And so, all the people kept on arising early in the morning [to come] to Him within the Temple courts (or: grounds), to continue listening to and hearing Him.

⁴⁶ Then the subordinate officials, after consideration, replied, "Never (Not even once) did a human (a person; a man) speak thus (like this; in this way)!" ⁴⁷ The Pharisees then pointedly questioned them, "Have not you men also been led astray (or: been deceived)? ⁴⁸ "Not anyone from out of the rulers (chiefs; leaders) or from out of the Pharisees put trust, confidence or belief into him, do they? ⁴⁹ "But this crowd, which is having no habitual, experiential or intimate knowledge of the Law, continues being those under a curse (are those upon whom a curse rests)." [comment: they said this because they viewed the "crowd" as people who did not keep the Law]

⁹ Then many of the common folks (or: the vast crowd) from out of the Jews became aware (or: got to know) that He is there, and they come (or: came) – not only because of Jesus, but also so that they might see and become acquainted with Lazarus, whom He raised up from out of the midst of dead ones.

³ about (concerning; with reference to) His Son – the One coming into existence (or: birthing Himself) from out of David’s sperm (or: Davidic seed; = David's descendant), down from and in the line of succession of flesh (or: = in the sphere of the natural realm); ⁴ the One being bounded (marked off, thus defined; separated, and so designated; divided away, and so determined; or: appointed) God’s Son (or: a Son Who is God; or: a Son from, or having the character and qualities of, God; = God's Regent, cf Ps. 2; 2 Sam. 7:14) immersed within the midst of power and in union with ability, down from (or: corresponding to and on a level with; in the sphere of) a Breath-effect of set-apartness (or: an attitude of holiness and sacredness; a spirit pertaining to being set apart) forth from out of a resurrection (a standing back up again) from among dead folks – Jesus Christ, our Lord (Master and Owner),

⁵ whose [are] the fathers (= ancestors) and forth from out of the midst of whom [is] the Christ, the [descendant] down the line of flesh (or: on the level of the human realm) – the One continuously being upon all mankind: God, worthy of praise and blessing on into the ages! It is so (or: – corresponding to natural descent – [is] the Anointed One [= the Messiah] who exists being God: One with a message of goodness, ease and well-being – superimposed on all things – on into the indefinite time periods! Amen – count on it)!

⁵ Listen and hear, my beloved brothers! Did not God at one point choose (call and speak out; pick out; select) for Himself the poor folks in the System (or: Does not God Himself lay out and collect the beggars and those who slink and cower with wretchedness in the world of society, culture, religion and government) – rich folks in faith, trust, loyalty and conviction, and also heirs (those who possess by distribution of an allotment) of the reign and kingdom which He promised to and assured for those continually loving Him?

¹⁶ "I, Jesus, sent (or: send) My agent to bear witness to you people [concerning] these things [being imposed] upon the called-out communities (or: to testify these things to, by or in you, over the [situation of the] summoned-forth assemblies). I am (I continuously exist being) the Root and the Offspring (Race; Genus) of David, The Bright (Radiant) Morning Star.

⁵ "And further, whenever you folks may by habit be praying, you will not be as the overly judging and critical folks (hupokrites: see vs. 2, above), because they are constantly liking to be habitually praying while standing in the midst of the synagogues and on the corners of the broad streets and city squares – so that they can be visible to people (or: be manifested and caused to shine for mankind). I am saying to you truly: They are presently holding their full payment!

¹⁷ "So constantly hold your attention toward protecting yourself from humanity. You see, they will periodically be giving you folks over (turning you in) unto [their] local city councils and courts, and then they will proceed scourging you with lashes and whips.

¹ At that time, Jesus speaks to the crowds – as well as to His disciples – then saying, ² "The scribes (scholars; theologians; experts in the Law [Torah]) sit upon Moses' seat. ³ "Therefore, you people be constantly doing and keeping (observing; maintaining) everything – as many things as they should tell you. But do not continue doing or performing according to their works or actions, for you see, they are habitually 'saying,' and yet they are not doing or performing (= they are 'all talk and no action'). ⁴ "So they habitually tie up and bind heavy loads (or: burdensome cargos), and then constantly place [these] as an addition upon the shoulders of people (or: mankind) – yet they, themselves, are not willing to budge or put them in motion with their finger (or: = to 'lift a finger' to help carry them)! ⁵ "Still, they are habitually doing all their works (or: performing all their acts) for the purpose of being viewed and gazed at by people (= their conduct is to attract public attention). You see, they habitually make their phylacteries (protective amulets: small boxes worn on themselves which encase certain Scripture verses; used to safeguard themselves) broad, and are normally enlarging the hems and borders [of their garments], as well as lengthening the fringe or corner tassels [as a reminder to keep the commandments]. ⁶ "Now they like the most prominent places of reclining during the evening meals (or: = the places of honor at banquets) and the front seats in the synagogues, ⁷ "as well as the formal salutations within the marketplaces, and [just love] to be called 'Rabbi' (Heb. = my master, or, great one; used for teachers; equivalent to our 'Dr.') by people.

⁴³ "Tragic will be the fate for you Pharisees (or: among you, the Pharisees), because you habitually love the front place of sitting (or: highly regard the prominent seat; = the most important place in a meeting) in the synagogues, as well as the greetings (= deferential recognitions) within the marketplaces.

⁷ So He went on to tell an illustration (a parable) to the folks having been invited [to the meal] – as He was holding His attention on how, one after another, they continued choosing (picking out) for themselves the first reclining places (= the most prominent seats that were considered places of honor and importance) – while saying to them, ⁸ "Whenever you may be invited (or: called) unto wedding festivities (or: a marriage feast) by someone, you should not recline (= sit down) into the first (= most honorable or important) place, lest at some point there may be a person having been invited by him [who is held] in more honor ([who is] more distinguished) than you, ⁹ "and then, upon coming [up], the person inviting both you and him will proceed saying to you, 'Give [the] place to this person.' And at that point you begin, with shame and disgrace, to continue holding down (= occupying and retaining) the last place (= the place of least honor). ¹⁰ "But instead, whenever you may be invited (or: called), after going on your way, fall back into (= assume a position in) the last (= least distinguished) place, so that, whenever the person having invited you may come, he will proceed saying to you, 'Friend, walk (or: move) on up to a higher (more upward) [position].' At that point it will continue being a manifestation of esteem for you (or: there will proceed being glory on you; it will habitually be a good reputation to you) in the sight and presence of all those reclining back [at the dinner] with you (i.e., all your fellow guests), ¹¹ "because everyone habitually exalting himself (lifting himself up; = promoting himself) will be habitually brought (or: made) low (be progressively humbled; be constantly demoted), and yet the person habitually making and bringing himself low (humbling and demoting himself) will be habitually exalted (lifted up; promoted)."

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)."

⁹ I wrote something to (or: for) the called-out community, but Diotrephes, the one constantly liking to be their leader (to be pre-eminent among them and dominate them), is habitually not thoroughly receiving or accepting us (or: repeatedly not fully acknowledging us).

² For if a gold-ringed adult male, in a shining or radiant robe, may enter into your gathering (or: synagogue), but then a poor person (one reduced to beggary; an indigent) in a dirty or filthy robe (or: shabby clothing) may also enter, ³ and you should look upon (or: gaze upon and regard) the one wearing the shining robe (= expensive, new clothes), and you may say, "You sit here in a fine and beautiful [manner or position] (= in a place of honor), " and to the poor one you may say, "You stand there, " or, "You sit under my footstool (= on the floor near my feet; = a place beneath my position), "

⁷ "Now during praying, you folks should not babble (or: make repetitious utterances; stack up meaningless phrases; or: stutter; speak without thinking; use empty words) – even as those of the ethnic multitudes (pagans; nations). You see, they habitually imagine and continuously suppose that in their much speaking (or: using many words; or: saying the same thing many times) they will be fully heard and really listened to.

²² "What is more, I now say to you folks, it will consequently be more endurable in, and for, Tyre and Sidon, in [the] day of separation and decision, than for you folks! ²³ "And as for you, Capernaum! Will you proceed to be 'exalted as far as heaven (or: the sky) '? No! 'You will brought down and "mounted" (as a female by a male) as far as the Unseen (Hades; = Sheol; the grave; the abode of the dead)!' [Isa. 14:13, 15] Because if the powers and abilities, being birthed and happening within you, had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained in place unto today. ²⁴ "What is more, I now say to you folks, that it will consequently be more endurable in, and for, [the] land of Sodom, in [the] day of separation and decision, than for you folks!"

¹³ "And so, tragic will be the fate for you, scribes (scholars; theologians; Law experts) and Pharisees – [you] overly critical and perverse folks who make decisions from a low point of view [see: 6:2, above]! – because you consistently shut and lock up the reign of the heavens in front of mankind (or: the sovereign rule of the atmospheres, which is in the presence of people; or: the activity and influence of the realm of the sky and heaven which is resident within, and moves toward, humans; or: the kingdom moving from within the midst and face to face with people). For you, yourselves habitually do not enter, nor yet are you by practice allowing (or: letting flow on) those repeatedly coming into [your realm of influence] to continue to go in.

³³ "[You] snakes! [You] offspring (brood) of vipers (poisonous serpents)! How can you flee and escape from the judging which has the qualities, character and significance of the valley of Hinnom (= the sentence to the city dump [Greek: Gehenna]; the deciding which pertains to the waste depository of the city)?

⁴⁷ "Now that slave who by experience is knowing and personally understanding his owner's (his lord's; his master's) will and intent – and yet is not preparing (or: making ready) or performing with an aim toward his [owner's] will or intent – will proceed in being flayed (severely whipped) [with] many lashes. ⁴⁸ "But the person not knowing or understanding – yet doing [things] deserving of blows (or: a beating) – will proceed in being flayed (severely whipped) [with] few lashes. So to everyone to whom much was given, much will continue being sought for from him (at his side or situation); and to whom they set much alongside (or: committed to and put in charge of much), of him they will continue more excessively requesting and demanding.

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)."

⁶ for you see, forth from out of the midst of these folks are the people repeatedly slipping-in, into the houses, (or: worming their way into households) and habitually leading into captivity little women [note: this is the diminutive of "women, " thus, perhaps: women of undeveloped character, ability, or inward stature. While the word for “woman” is feminine, the noun “little women” and the following participles are neuter – or neutral – so this rare word may be a figure for what was a cultural view for “feminine” aspects of all people, e.g., their feelings and emotions, or general receptive qualities] – those having been piled on and now being heaped up with failures (errors; misses of the target; deviations from the goal; sins), being constantly, or from time to time, led by (or: in; to) various (diverse; many-colored) over-desires (or: full passions; wants and wishes that are rushed upon) [A adds: and gratifications],

⁶ Now the chief (ranking) priests, upon taking in hand the silver [coins], said, "It is not allowed by custom or Law to throw them into the temple treasury (the gift receptacle; the corban), since it is the price of blood."

¹ Now later, upon looking up, He saw the rich people, one after another, tossing their gifts into the treasury (a guarded collection box for offerings). ² But in contrast, He saw a certain needy, working-class widow in the midst of dropping two mites (small copper coins of very little value) there, ³ and He said, "Really (or: Truly), I am saying to you folks that this destitute widow cast [in] more than all of them. ⁴ "For you see, all these folks tossed the gifts into [the treasury] from out of their surplus and the excess of wealth that continually surrounds [them], but this woman, from out of her [situation] of lack and want, dropped [in] all her livelihood (= all she had to live on) which she was normally (or: presently) having."

²⁰ These declarations from the gush (or: sayings which resulted from the flow) He spoke within the treasury area, while teaching within the Temple courts (or: grounds; porches), and still no one caught hold of or apprehended Him, because His hour had not yet come, so as to be present.

⁴² "And further, whoever should give only a cup of cold water to drink to one of these little ones, into [the place of regard and function] that pertains to the reputation and vocation of a disciple, assuredly, I now say to you, he can by no means be lose his wage or reward.

²⁹ So they determined a plan (marked off the horizon) [that] each of them, according as any of the disciples prospered and thrived (= could afford), is to send [something] unto a relief service (or: to a dispensing of aid) for the brothers (= fellow members of the called-out community) presently settled permanently (or: dwelling) in Judea,

² how that within the midst of much testing and proving which came through pressure, tribulation, oppression and affliction, the superabundance of their joy – also contrasted with the depth of their destitution (poverty, and/or life as beggars) – superabounds into the wealth (or: riches) of their singleness [of heart and purpose] and simplicity (un-complexity; or: openness and sincerity in generous sharing with others),

¹² You see, if the eagerness continues lying before [a person], [it is] well-embraced and very acceptable – in proportion to whatever one may normally possess (have and hold), not corresponding to what he does not normally have.

⁶ Now this [is the reality]: the person who is habitually sowing sparingly (in a limited way) will also continue reaping (or: harvesting) sparingly; and the person who is habitually sowing on [the basis of] good thoughts and words (or: with or for added blessings; or: bountifully; with things well and fully laid out and arranged for ease) will also continue reaping upon [those] good thoughts and words (or: with added blessings; or: bountifully; with things well laid out and arranged for added ease) – ⁷ each one [doing; giving] correspondingly (or: accordingly) as he has before chosen in (or: by) the heart, not from out of anxiety (sorrow; pain; distress) nor compulsion, for "God habitually and continuously loves a cheerful (merry) giver." [Prov. 22:8 LXX] ⁸ Moreover, God is constantly able with continuous power to furnish all grace to surround and to make every favor superabound into you folks, to the end that, continuously having every ability in yourselves to ward things off and constantly holding all self-sufficiency and complete contentment at all times [and] within every [situation] and in union with every person, you can (or: may; should; would) continuously superabound into every good action and noble work,

⁸ "What she possesses, she performs (or: What she had, she used). She undertakes, beforehand, to anoint My body with aromatic ointment, [leading] into a preparation of [My] corpse for burial.

⁴³ At the same time (or: In this situation), [there was] a woman who – being continuously in a [condition of] a flowing issue of blood (a hemorrhage) for twelve years [and] one who was spending [her] whole livelihood on physicians – had no strength... [able] to be cured [by] no one.

¹² "And the younger of them said to [his] father, 'Father, give to me the part of the estate (the existing substance; the property; the essence) normally falling upon [me].' So he apportioned (divided in two parts and distributed) to (or: for; between) them the livelihood (or: [the means of] living). [note: Jewish law allotted one-half as much to the younger as to the older]

³⁰ "'But when this son of yours came – the one eating down (or: devouring) your livelihood with prostitutes – you slaughtered (sacrificed) the grain-fed young animal (e.g.: fat and choice calf)!'

² how that within the midst of much testing and proving which came through pressure, tribulation, oppression and affliction, the superabundance of their joy – also contrasted with the depth of their destitution (poverty, and/or life as beggars) – superabounds into the wealth (or: riches) of their singleness [of heart and purpose] and simplicity (un-complexity; or: openness and sincerity in generous sharing with others), ³ because – I continue bearing witness and testifying that – corresponding to [their] power and in accord with [their] ability, and even beyond [their] actual power and ability, [they are] those who act spontaneously and voluntarily from their own initiative,

¹⁰ Now I greatly rejoice (or: rejoiced) within the Lord [= in union with Christ or Yahweh] that now, at last, you folks shoot up to flourish to the extent to be constantly focusing your thinking over me (to continuously have my concerns intently in mind; to repeatedly take thought on my behalf) – upon which, also, you folks were progressively thinking, yet you continued without a fitting situation (you were being out of season; you kept on lacking the opportunity). ¹¹ Not that I am suggesting a need, for I learned and so know to be self-sufficient (to be contented by warding-off my own [needs]; or: to have independent provisions) within whatever circumstances or situations [that] I am. ¹² I am aware of [what it is like] to be repeatedly made low [on provisions], as well as aware of [what it is like] to be continuously surrounded by more than enough (or: I have seen, and thus know, both to be humbled, and I have seen, and thus know, to be constantly and excessively abounding). I have been instructed to shut the mouth, and I am initiated into the secret (or: mystery): within everything and within the midst of all things (or: among all people), both to be (or: [how] to be) habitually feeding until satisfied, and to be (or: as well as [how] to be) habitually hungry; both to be (or: [how] to be) constantly and excessively abounding (continuously surrounded by more than enough), and to be (or: as well as [how] to be) repeatedly in need (or: lacking). ¹³ I constantly have strength for all things among all people, [from being] in union with and within the midst of the One continuously enabling me (empowering me; infusing me with power and ability): Christ! ¹⁴ Moreover you folks performed beautifully (acted ideally; did virtuously; produced finely), sharing (partnering; participating; having common association) together with me in my pressure (squeezing; tribulation; trouble; oppression). ¹⁵ Now you Philippians have seen, and thus are aware (or: know), that within the original period (or: the beginning) of the message of goodness, ease and well-being (good news), when I went (or: came) out from Macedonia, not one called-out community expressed common being (or: communicated; participated; partnered; held common association; shared) with me (or: for me), [leading] into a discourse (or: with regard to an account or a matter of discussion; = injecting a thought) of giving and of receiving (or: of getting; of taking), except you folks, alone (or: only), ¹⁶ because even in Thessalonica both once, and even twice!, you folks sent [provision] into my need. ¹⁷ Not that I am in the habit of really seeking the gift! But rather, I am in the habit of really seeking the constantly abounding fruit which is overflowing into your discourse (or: your account; your word; your matter of discussion; your message; your thought).

¹⁷ But whoever may continuously have the world's means of living (or: may habitually hold the sustenance of the life pertaining to the secular ordered System), and may habitually gaze upon his brother [who is] continuously having a need, and may close shut (or: would slam and lock) his intestines (= his compassions) away from him, how is God's love dwelling (abiding; remaining; staying) within him (or, reading as a future: how will God's love dwell in him)?