Matthew 23 Cross References - JMNT

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. ⁸ "But you folks should not be called 'Rabbi,' because One is your Teacher! Now you people all exist being brothers, 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)! ¹⁰ "Neither should you people be called leaders or guides, because One exists being your Leader and Guide: the Anointed One (the Christ; = the Messiah)! ¹¹ "Now the greatest (= most prominent or highest ranking) among you will continue being your attending servant, ¹² "So, whoever shall exalt (= promote) himself will be progressively humbled and brought low, and whoever shall humble himself (bring or make himself low; = demote and make himself of little significance) will continue being lifted up and exalted (= promoted). 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. ¹⁴ [This vs. is omitted by Nestle-Aland, W&H, Tasker, and Panin; Griesbach makes it vs. 13, and brackets, as 14, vs. 13, above; it is absent in the early codices; it is included in the Byzantine/Majority text (TR), based only upon later MSS: "It will be a tragic fate for you, scribes and Pharisees – hupokrites (see 6:2, above)! For you constantly consume (eat down; devour; swallow up) the houses belonging to widows (or: the households of widows), and then continue praying a long [time], for a disguise (as a pretext). Because of this you will receive a more abundant effect of judgment.] ¹⁵ "It will be a tragic fate for you, scribes and Pharisees – perverse scholars who live by separation and have all the answers [see 6:2, above]! Because you habitually go around the sea and dry [land] to make one convert (proselyte), and whenever he may become (should be birthed) [one], you proceed making him a son of the valley of Hinnom (= a person having the character and qualities of a city dump, or a part of a refuse depository [Greek: Gehenna]) twice as much as yourselves. ¹⁶ "It will be a tragic fate for you, blind guides of the way and leaders on the path, folks who are constantly saying, 'Whoever should lay hold of a sacred object in the Temple (or: swear within, or in union with, the Temple), it is nothing (= it does not matter). Yet whoever should lay hold of the gold of the Temple, as a sacred object (or: swear an oath pertaining to a connection with the gold of the Temple), he continues indebted and is owing [it].' ¹⁷ "[You are] senseless morons (stupid folks), as well as blind ones! For which is greater: the gold, or the Temple which is setting apart and consecrating the gold? ¹⁸ "Further, [you say], 'Whoever grabs hold of the altar as a sacred object (or: Whoever may swear an oath in connection with the altar), it means nothing. Yet, whoever should lay hold of the gift (or: may swear an oath in connection with the offering) which is on top of it, he continues indebted and is owing [it].' ¹⁹ "Senseless morons and blind ones! You see, which one [is] more important (greater): the gift (offering), or the altar which is constantly setting the gift (the offering) apart and consecrating [it]? ²⁰ "Therefore, the person laying hold of the altar for a religious purpose (or: swearing an oath in conjunction with the altar), continues holding onto it (or: swearing in relation to it) as well as in union with all the things which are on top of it. ²¹ "Also, the person holding onto something in the Temple, or swearing in union with it, continues to hold onto it – or swearing in its midst – and also to, and in union with, the one making His home down in (dwelling in; inhabiting) it. ²² "Further, the one taking hold of something within heaven (or: in union with the atmosphere, sky or outer space), or swearing in its midst, continues to hold onto, and is swearing in the presence of, God's throne, as well as the One constantly sitting on top of it. [comment: the term heaven refers figuratively to the Temple; the ark was "God's throne"] ²³ "O the tragic fate by (or: for; with) you folks – scholars, theologians and experts in the Scriptures and [the] Pharisees – [you] under-discerning folks who live by close inspection of minor details [see 6:3, above]: [it is] that you habitually give away a tenth (or: tithe back) from the mint and the dill and the cummin, and yet you abandon and let flow away the weightier (= more important) matters of the Law [= Torah]: the justice (equity; fairly evaluated decisions), the mercy, and the trust (the faith; the faithfulness and the fidelity; the reliance and the reliability; the confidence). Now these things it continued being binding and necessary [for you] to do and perform – and not to abandon (send away; set aside) those things! ²⁴ "Blind 'guides and leaders' of the way: constantly filtering and straining [out] the gnat, yet habitually gulping (drinking; swallowing) down a camel! ²⁵ "How tragic is the fate in you people – scribes (scholars, etc.) and Pharisees: overly-critical interpreters [see 6:2, above]! For you folks are habitually cleansing the outside of the cup and of the fine side dish – yet inside they continuously contain a full load from snatching (plunder; pillage; = the fruits of forceful greed) and lack of strength (or: self-indulgence). ²⁶ "Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the fine side dish – so that its outside can also come to be (be birthed) clean! ²⁷ "Tragic will be the fate of you Law scholars and Pharisees – you who recite a front of your own opinions and answers (or: overly-critical folks; [see 6:2, above])! [It will be] because you continue closely resembling whitewashed (i.e., smeared or plastered with lime) tombs (sepulchers; grave sites), which indeed, from outside, continue being made to appear in the prime of beauty, for a time – yet inside they contain a full load of bones of dead folks, as well as every uncleanness. ²⁸ "In this way you, yourselves, also on the one hand are continually made to outwardly appear to people [to be] just (fair, righteous, in right relationships, and in accord with the way pointed out) – yet inside you continuously exist being men glutted and distended, full of opinionated answers (or: perverse detail-oriented scholarship; hyper-criticism and judgmentalism; well-sifted wicked interpretations) and lawlessness (= practice which is contrary to the Law [Torah]). ²⁹ "It will be a tragic fate for you, theologians (scholars of the Law) and Pharisees [who are also] overly judging and critical [see 6:2, above]. Because, [you see], you are repeatedly building the tombs (sepulchers) of the prophets, and are constantly adorning and decorating the memorial grave monuments of just and rightwised folks, ³⁰ "and you are habitually saying, 'If we had been existing in the days of our fathers (= ancestors), we would not have been participants (partners; ones who shared in common and took part) in [spilling] the blood of the prophets.' ³¹ "As a result, you are continually giving evidence in yourselves (testifying to and for yourselves) that you exist being sons of those that were murdering the prophets, ³² "And so, you, yourselves... Fill full the measure of your fathers! 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)? 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] ³⁹ "You see, I now say to you, you should by no means perceive (or: see) Me from this time on, until you folks should at some point say, 'The One periodically coming in [the] Lord's [= Yahweh's] Name is One having been given – and still having – words of ease and wellness (or: having been given the Blessing)!'" [Ps. 118:26]

¹⁰ With that, upon calling the crowd to Himself, He said to them, "Be constantly listening, so as to hear. And let things flow together, so as to understand: ¹¹ "The things normally and habitually entering into the mouth do not repeatedly make the person unclean (common; contaminated; defiled; polluted). To the contrary, [it is] the things habitually emerging and flowing forth from out of the mouth – this is constantly making the person contaminated (unclean; common)!" ¹² At that point, after approaching, the disciples proceed saying to Him, "Did You see, or are You aware, that the Pharisees were caused to trip the bait stick and stumble into [their own] trap (or: were snared and offended; perhaps: were horrified) at hearing [that] thought and idea (or: the word; the message; = that remark)?" ¹³ Yet He, giving a decided reply, said, "Every plant, which My Father – the heavenly One (or: the One Who inhabits, and can be compared to, the atmosphere) – did not plant, will be pulled out by the roots. ¹⁴ "Abandon them at once! (other choices: Divorce them; Let them flow away; Leave them; Leave them [alone]; Send them away; Let them go!) They exist being blind guides of the Path (or: blind leaders of the Way). Now if a blind person should ever lead or guide [another] blind person, both people will proceed to be falling into a pit!" ¹⁵ Now Peter, after trying to separate the elements of the discourse and to discern the meaning of what He had spoken, said to Him, "Expound the parable in distinct terms and explain the meaning to (or: for) us (or: Tell us plainly the interpretation of the illustration)." ¹⁶ So Jesus said, "At this point in time, do you folks, as well, continue being unable to let things flow together, and are you without comprehension? ¹⁷ "Are you not habitually using your minds and your intelligence to carefully think, that everything normally and habitually flowing into the mouth is progressively moving on into the stomach and then the intestines, and later is periodically discharged (or: thrust out) into a toilet or a sewer? ¹⁸ "Yet the things constantly emerging and flowing forth out of the mouth are continually coming forth from out of the midst of the heart (the core of the individual; the self as a whole, at its deepest level, which is the individual's animating and driving force [note: I owe these last phrases to Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity]) – and those things continually make the person contaminated, defiled, ceremonially unclean and common. ¹⁹ "For example, from out of the heart (the core of our being) habitually come forth worthless reasonings (wicked designs; considerations having a bad quality; miserable and laborious dialogues and arguments), murders, adulteries, fornications and prostitutions, sexual immoralities (fornications; prostitutions), thefts, false testimonies (or: false presentations of evidence), blasphemies (malicious slanders; abusive misrepresentations). ²⁰ "These continue being the things that are making the person contaminated (unclean; defiled; common) – yet to eat a meal with unwashed hands does not make the person common, contaminated or unclean!"

¹⁴ So, calling the crowd to Himself again, He began saying to them, "Everyone listen to Me (or: Hear Me – all of you folks –), and understand (or: let it flow together so as to get the meaning).

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;

¹ Under these circumstances, [with] a crowd of tens of thousands (myriads) being gathered together upon [the event] – so as to be time after time trampling (or: stepping down on) one another – He began a discourse to His disciples first: "Be constantly holding your attention toward, and continuously guarding yourselves from, the yeast permeating the Pharisees, which is to put texts under close inspection, to sift and separate, and then give an answer, an interpretation, an opinion (or: to live by separating things yet, under-discern; or: being overly critical and making judgments from a low view; or: perverse scholarship which focuses on tiny distinctions). [comment: their yeast would inflate them with pride]

⁵⁷ "So why are you people not also habitually discerning and deciding for yourselves [what is] right (just; the fair and equitable course to follow which accords with the Way pointed out)?

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 –

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,

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 –

² "Why (= Through what reason or situation) are your disciples habitually side-stepping (thus, deviating from) the tradition of the Elders? For example, they are not regularly washing [their] hands [to make them ritually clean] whenever they may be periodically eating bread (= a meal)." ³ So He, giving a decided reply, said to them, "Why (or: Through what situation or reasoning) are you people habitually side-stepping and deviating from God's implanted goals (impartation of the finished product within; inward directives) through your tradition? ⁴ "For God said, 'Be habitually honoring and expressing value for the father and the mother,' [Ex. 20:12] and, 'The person habitually saying a bad, ugly or worthless word or message to or concerning (= verbally abusing) father or mother, let him progressively come to fruition (or: reach his end; be finished) in (or: by) death.' [Ex. 21:17] ⁵ "Yet you, yourselves, are habitually maintaining, 'Whoever may at some point say to the father or the mother, "Whatever from me should have benefited or helped you [is now] a 'gift' [cf "Corban," Mark 7:11; meaning: a gift to God; i.e., it is consecrated for God's use, and can at any time be claimed for Temple use, and is thus unusable for any other purpose], ⁶ "'he shall by no means honor [a request for help from] his father (= he will be rid of the duty to honor his father; or: he will not [in this] be not honoring his father).' And thus you people at once invalidate (make void of authority; cancel and make of no effect) God's idea, word and message through you tradition! ⁷ " [You] perverse scholars who in micro-scrutinizing make decisions from a low position [see ch. 6:2]! Isaiah beautifully and aptly prophesies about (or: concerning) you folks, continually saying, ⁸ -720 'This people habitually honor Me with [their] lips, yet it constantly holds their heart far away from Me (or: yet their heart continuously holds [itself] off, distant from Me). ⁹ 'So they habitually revere Me and commit acts of devotion to Me in vain (to no profit; fruitlessly), repeatedly giving instruction concerning teachings [that are] directions coming from mankind (or: constantly teaching for " [the] teachings" [the] results of inner goals and commands of humans {or: man made rules}).'" [Isa. 29:13]

³⁰ "So, upon going to the different one, he said similarly. Now, giving a considered reply, he said, 'I [go], sir,' – and yet, he did not go off.

²⁹ So Peter, along with the sent-forth folks, in giving a decisive reply, said, "It continues binding and necessary to with persuaded faithfulness habitually obey and yield to God as the Ruler, rather than humans (people)!

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

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

¹ Every soul (or: = Everyone) is to be continuously placed and arranged, or aligned, in a supportive position by superior (or: excelling) authorities (or: must be subjected to rulers holding dominion and jurisdiction above [him]; [p46, D*, F, G read: To every superior authority you folks must subject yourselves]). For an authority does not exist except under God (or: For there is no authority, except by God), and the existing ones are those which have been arranged and set in order, under God (placed in their relative positions by God).

⁵ continuously holding (having) a form of reverence (virtuous conduct; pious awe) yet being folks having refused (or: turned their back on) and now denying its power and ability! And so, be habitually turning your steps in a direction away from these folks and avoid them,

¹⁶ They are repeatedly adopting the same terms of language, and habitually making confession and avowing to have perceived and now know God, yet they are constantly denying (repudiating; disowning; refusing) [this] by the works (in the actions and things done), continuing being detestable (abominable), incompliant (stubborn; disobedient; unpersuasive) and disqualified (disapproved; rejected after trial) with a view toward every good work (excellent and virtuous activity).

²⁸ "So everyone come here, toward Me! – all those constantly weary and exhausted from toil and labor, as well as folks having been caused to carry a load, and continuing burdened down – and I, Myself, will refresh you and cause you folks to rest. ²⁹ "At once lift up My crossbeam (or: the yoke which is Me; the balance beam that comes from and pertains to Me) upon you people, and instantly learn from Me, because I am (or: I continuously exist being) mild-tempered (gentle, kind and considerate) and humble (low) in the heart, and ‘you folks will continue finding refreshment and discovering rest in and for your souls (the whole inner person; the mind, emotions and nerves).’ [Jer. 6:16] ³⁰ "You see, My crossbeam (or: the yoke which is Me; the balance beam that comes from and pertains to Me) is useful and kindly obliging, and My load (the burden that is Me and which pertains to Me) continues being light (not heavy)."

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!

⁴⁶ So He said, "Tragic will be the fate for you men versed in the Law (Torah lawyers), too, because you are constantly burdening people (humans) [with] cargos (or: loads) [that are] hard to bear (= intolerable burdens), and yet you folks are continuing to not even lightly touch the loads with one of your fingers!

¹⁰ "Therefore, why are you folks at this time (or: now) continuing to test (or: constantly trying; repeatedly examining and attempting to prove) God [by attempting] to put (place; set) upon the neck of the students (disciples) a yoke which neither our fathers (= ancestors) were, nor we ourselves are, strong enough [even] to pick up, [much less] to carry?

²⁸ "You see, it seemed [good; productive] to the set-apart Breath-effect (or: in the Holy Spirit) and to (or: among) us to have not even one more burden to be placed upon you folks – besides these necessary and essential things:

¹³ For not even the folks being presently (or: currently getting) circumcised (or, as a middle: habitually circumcising [people]; requiring [the practice of] circumcision; [other MSS: having been circumcised]) are themselves habitually keeping (guarding; protecting; observing; maintaining) [the] Law, but even so, they constantly want and intend you folks to proceed to be circumcised, so that they may have cause for boasting in your flesh [ritual or religion].

²⁴ Now I am saying to you, to the rest (the remaining) within Thyatira – whoever are not holding this teaching – who do not know "the depths of satan (the adversary), " as they are saying, I will proceed casting no other burden (weight) upon you.

¹ "Now you folks make it a habit to hold to close attentiveness [so as] not to be doing your fairness, equity or rightwised behavior – all which comprise the Way pointed out – in front of people, in order to be observed by them, otherwise you do not continue holding wages (or: having a reward) alongside of (from beside; = from the presence of) your Father – the One in the atmosphere and the firmament, and in union with and within the midst of the heavens. ² "Therefore, whenever, as is your custom you may be making gifts of mercy (be performing acts of mercy; be doing alms or giving to charity), you should not blow a trumpet in front of you (= toot your own horn ahead of your actions) – even as the overly judging and critical folks (hupokrites; or: those who put texts under close inspection to sift and separate and then give an answer, an interpretation, an opinion; or: those who live by separating things yet who under-discern; or: those who make judgments from a low view; or: those who under-estimate reality; or: perverse scholars who focus on tiny distinctions) are constantly doing in the synagogues and on the narrow urban streets and alleys, so that they can receive a reputation from people (be recognized and glorified by humans). I am saying to you truly: They are presently holding their full payment! ³ "So during your customary making gifts of mercy, do not let your left hand become aware of what your right hand continues doing, ⁴ "so that your gift of mercy can continue existing within the hidden [realm; place] (or: may be in hiding), and then your Father – the One continuously looking within the hidden [realm; place] (or: observing amidst the concealed) – will continue giving back to you! 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! ⁶ "Now as for you, individually, whenever you may by habit be praying, enter into your storeroom (or: barn; granary; chamber) and, upon shutting (locking; barring) your door (or: gate), pray to your Father – the One within the hidden [realm; place]. So then your Father – the One continuously seeing within the secret [realm; place] – will continue giving back to and in you (or: = giving in answer for your expectation; or: will habitually be paying you). 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. ⁸ "So then, you folks should not be made to resemble them, for before the occasion for you to ask Him, God, your Father, has seen and thus knows (is aware) of what things you continue having need. ⁹ "Therefore, be continuously praying in this way: 'O our Father – the One within and in union with the heavens! (or: in the midst of the atmosphere and firmament!) Make Your Name to be set-apart and kept holy (or: treated as sacred). ¹⁰ Make Your reign and kingdom come. Make Your will (the effect of Your intent and purpose) come into existence (happen; come to be; be birthed) – as within heaven (or: [the] atmosphere), so also upon earth. ¹¹ Give to us (Provide for us) today our bread (= food) necessary for existence (for being) and for the coming day. ¹² And then, send away the results of our debts for us (let the effects of our obligations flow away in us; cancel our indebtedness), as we also dismiss and send away the debts for those who owe us (let the obligations owed to us flow away; cancel the loans of our debtors). ¹³ Also, may You not bring (or: carry) us into an ordeal or a putting to the proof – neither by trial, nor by temptation, nor by examination. But to the contrary, rescue us away from the bad situation (the wicked person; the miserable condition; the painful labor; the unprofitable endeavor; the malicious man). [later MSS add: because Yours is the reign (kingdom) and the ability (power) and the manifestation which calls forth praise (the reputation; the glory), on into the ages. It is true (Make it so; Amen).]' ¹⁴ "You see, if you folks should (or: can) send away (let flow off; forgive; dismiss) for (or: from) people (or: mankind) the effects of their falling to the side [of the Way; of the Path pointed out] (or: their trespasses; their false steps and offenses; their goof-ups and blunders), your heavenly Father (or: your Father Who inhabits, and can be compared to, the atmosphere) will continue sending away, dismissing, forgiving and letting [things; some MSS add: the effects of your falling to the side] flow off for (or: in) you, as well. ¹⁵ "Yet if you folks should not send away for (or: from) people the effects of their falling to the side, neither will your Father continue sending away (dismissing; forgiving; letting flow away) the effects of your falling to the side, offending or goofing. ¹⁶ "Now whenever you may periodically fast, do not proceed to become sad-faced or stern, gloomy people – as the overly judging and critical folks [see vs. 2, above] for they habitually remove the light from (or: disguise or distort) their faces so that they can continue to be visible to people (or: be manifested for mankind and appear) [as] ones in the process of fasting. I continue saying to you truly: They are presently holding their full payment!

²⁰ Now look and consider this! – A woman [who was] constantly hemorrhaging (bleeding) for twelve years [thus, being ceremonially unclean, and so, required to keep away from others so as not to contaminate them], suddenly approaching, crept up from behind [and] touched the fringe (or: tassels) on the border of His cloak (outer garment),

¹⁵ Consequently He said to them, "You men are the ones constantly justifying yourselves in the sight of people (or: show yourselves as being fair and equitable to humans), but God continuously knows your hearts by intimate experience! The fact is, the thing [which is] high and lofty among humans [is] a disgusting and nauseating thing (something which is the result of filth and nastiness) in God's sight.

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)."

⁴⁴ "How are you folks, yourselves, able to trust or believe, when habitually getting a reputation and receiving fame (or: repeatedly taking opinions and glory) from one another, and yet you folks are not constantly seeking the glory (or: reputation; opinion; manifestation which calls forth praise) which comes from the only God (or: from God alone)?

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.

⁴³ for they loved and held precious the opinion, esteem and reputation (the glory; the manifestation which calls forth praise) of the humans (or: from people) rather than even the opinion, esteem and reputation (the glory; the manifestation which calls forth the praise) of, and which come from, God.

¹⁵ Certain folks (or: Some), indeed, are also habitually proclaiming (or: are even heralding publishing and preaching) the Christ through (or: because of) envy, jealousy and rivalry, as well as strife (discord; debate); yet also, certain ones (or: some) through delight (or: because of a good disposition and a good opinion [about it]; or: through thinking well [of it and/or people]; because of approval [of the message]; or: = because they are pleased to do it).

³ nothing down from (or: along the line of; corresponding to; or: descending to) party interests (hireling-like contention; faction; self-serving; or: from a motive of financial gain, or to enhance one's career) nor down from (or: along the line of; corresponding to; or: descending to) empty reputation (futile opinion; vainglory; fruitless appearance) – but rather, in humility (or: by an attitude of being in a low station; in humbleness of disposition and way of thinking) constantly considering one another (or: each other) [as] those habitually holding [a position] above yourselves (or: [as] being superior in regard to yourselves), ⁴ the one continuously occupying an opposite position (or: constantly lying as the opposing counterpart) and repeatedly lifting (or: raising) himself up over all (or: upon everything) being normally called God or an effect of worship (or: reverent awe), so as to cause him to be seated – down into the midst of the temple of God (or: God's dwelling place) – continuously displaying himself, that this/it is God (or: continuously pointing out that he himself is a god)?

²¹ So He said to her, "What are you continuing in wanting (or: = What's you purpose)?" She then replies to Him, "Say that these – my two sons – can (or: should) sit, one at Your right (the place of power and authority) and one on Your left (the place of honor with a good name), within the reign of Your kingdom."

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. ⁴⁴ "Tragic will be your fate, you scholars (theologians; scribes) and Pharisees – the overly judging and critical folks (hupokrites; or: those who put texts under close inspection to sift and separate and then give an answer, an interpretation, an opinion; or: those who live by separating things yet who under-discern; or: those who make judgments from a low view; or: those who under-estimate reality; or: perverse scholars who focus on tiny distinctions), because you exist being as unseen (or: = are unmarked) memorial tombs (= graves having the characteristics of Hades), and so the people (or: mankind) habitually walking around on top [of them] have not seen and so do not know (= without realizing) [it]!" [note: contact with a grave rendered a person ceremonially unclean] ⁴⁵ Now a certain man of those versed in the Law (a legal expert; a Torah lawyer and interpreter), in giving a considered reply, is then saying to Him, "Teacher, in (or: by) constantly saying these things you continue invading our territory and outraging us by violating our rights – thus, insulting us, too!" ⁴⁶ So He said, "Tragic will be the fate for you men versed in the Law (Torah lawyers), too, because you are constantly burdening people (humans) [with] cargos (or: loads) [that are] hard to bear (= intolerable burdens), and yet you folks are continuing to not even lightly touch the loads with one of your fingers! 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. ⁵² "Tragic will be the fate for you experts in the Law (Torah lawyers), because you lifted up and carried away (or: lift up and carry off; took and remove) the Key of the intimate, experiential, personal knowledge and insight. You, yourselves, do (or: did) not enter [so as to experience and gain insight] and you hinder, block, prevent and forbid the folks periodically entering (or: going into the midst)." ⁵³ And from there (or: Then from that time and place), upon His going out, the scribes (scholars and theologians) and the Pharisees began to fiercely keep on holding (or: hemming) [Him] in (or: started to progressively bring dreadful entanglement on [Him]) and to repeatedly get Him to speak without [His first] thinking (literally: speak from the mouth) concerning more things, 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).

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)."

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)."

¹⁰ In sisterly love (or: By fond affection, as for members of a family,) unto one another, [be] tenderly affectionate folks who express warm regard, being people constantly taking the lead in the honor (by and with the estimation of value or worth) of one another (or: habitually esteeming one another first in value; constantly giving preference to one another in respect).

¹ My brothers (= fellow believers, or, fellow Israelites, or, Family), stop, or do not have the habit of, holding the faith of Jesus Christ, our Lord (Master; Owner), Who is the glory (the manifestation Who calls forth praise), in respect of persons (or: do not persist in holding our Lord's [= Yahweh's or Christ's] trust in partiality or favoritism, or in the receiving of faces or personalities, thus affecting the reputation of Jesus Christ). 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), " ⁴ are you not thoroughly separated and disconnected within yourselves (or: discriminating and making a distinction among yourselves) and have birthed yourselves to become (or: caused yourselves to be) judges having the qualities of evil reasonings (or: decision makers whose motives are wicked designs and harmful logistics)?

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).

⁸ "But you folks should not be called 'Rabbi,' because One is your Teacher! Now you people all exist being brothers,

⁵ Then, after considering, Peter proceeds in saying to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is a beautiful (ideal; fine) [situation for] us to continue being (or: existing) here! So we could (or: should) construct three tents (tabernacles): one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

⁵¹ Then, giving to him a discerning response, Jesus said, "What do you now want (intend for) Me to do for you?" So the blind man said to Him, "Rabboni (= My Master), [it is] that I can see again (or: recover my sight)!"

³⁸ Now Jesus, being suddenly turned and then viewing (or: gazing at) them following, is saying to them, "What are you seeking (or: What do you habitually look for)?" Yet they said to Him, "Rabbi," – which, being translated and explained, is normally being called (or: termed) "Teacher" – "where are you presently staying (or: habitually remaining and dwelling)?"

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

² This one comes (or: goes; came; went) to Him by night, and says (or: said) to Him, "Rabbi, we have seen and thus know that You are a Teacher having come, and are here, from God, for no one is able (or: continues having power) to constantly be doing (making; producing) these signs (or: habitually performing these authenticating tokens and attesting signals), which You are constantly doing (performing; producing), unless God would continue being with him (or: if God should not be constantly with him)."

²⁶ So they went to (or: come toward) John, and said (or: say) to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across (on the other side of) the Jordan [River], to whom you have borne witness (or: for whom you have testified), look (see; consider), this one is continually immersing (baptizing), and everyone is (or: all are) constantly coming toward (or: going to) him."

²⁵ And later, upon finding Him – on the other side of the sea (or: lake) – they said to Him, "Rabbi, when (or: at what time) have you come to be here (or: in this place)?"

¹⁶ Jesus then says to her, "Miriam [other MSS: Mary]!" Now, at once twisting herself about, spinning and springing to [Him] (or: being [inwardly] turned), that one (= she) is exclaiming to Him, in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" – which is normally translated and interpreted, "O Teacher [D reads: My lord (or master), my teacher]."

²⁵ " [It is] sufficient and enough for the student (or: disciple) that he can come to be as his teacher, and the slave as his owner. Since (or: If) people call and surname the Sovereign (Master and Sole Owner) of the house (the Householder) 'Beelzeboul' [spellings vary; = lord of the flies, a Philistine deity], how much rather (or: more) those of His household.

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)!"

¹⁰ "Neither should you people be called leaders or guides, because One exists being your Leader and Guide: the Anointed One (the Christ; = the Messiah)!

⁴⁹ And so, upon immediately coming to Jesus, he says, "Continue rejoicing (= Greetings; Hello), Rabbi," and then he gave Him an intense (or: prolonged, exaggerated) kiss.

³² "But I Myself urgently asked concerning you, [Simon], to the end that your trust and faith would not leave from out of [you] (or: = give out). And so at some point, you yourself, upon turning around, make your brothers immovable (or: stabilize and establish your fellow members)."

¹³ "You men are repeatedly addressing (calling) Me 'Teacher (= Rabbi)' and 'Lord (Master),' and you keep on speaking (or: saying [it]) beautifully (ideally; finely), for I am. ¹⁴ "If I Myself, then, the Lord and the Teacher, wash your feet, you men also are constantly indebted (obliged; continuously owe it) to be habitually washing one another's feet,

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 But you! Why are you constantly judging (discriminating against; separating away; making a decision about) your brother (= fellow believer; or: = fellowman)? Or why are you also habitually making light of (making nothing out of; setting at naught; treating with scorn or contempt) your brother? For you see, we will all continue standing in attendance alongside on God's elevated place (platform or stage which is ascended by steps, from which one speaks in a public assembly; or: we will all repeatedly present ourselves at the seat, dais or throne which is God [some MSS: Christ]),

¹² Now I am saying this because each of you is habitually saying, "I, myself, am indeed [a follower] of Paul," yet [another], "I myself belong to Apollos," and [another], "As for me, I [am] of Cephas' [group]," but [another], "I, myself, [am] from Christ." ¹³ Christ has been parted and remains divided into fragments! (or, as a question: Has Christ been fragmented into divided parts?) Paul was not crucified over (on behalf of; [other MSS: concerning]) you folks! Or were you baptized (immersed) into the name of Paul?

³ For you see, in which place (or: insofar as) [there is] jealousy and strife and folks standing apart (divisions and disunities) among you folks – are you not existing being fleshly folks (people adapted to flesh and self), even constantly walking around (= living your life) according to, on the level of, in the sphere of, and corresponding to humanity? ⁴ For whenever anyone repeatedly says, "I myself am indeed of Paul (belong to Paul; have my association with Paul)," yet a different one [says], "I, myself, of Apollos" – are you not continuing being fleshly humans (= people acting like the estranged flesh; = non-spiritual)? ⁵ What, then (or: So then, what), is Apollos? And what is Paul? [They are] attending servants and dispensers of [spiritual] provisions, through whom you folks came to believe and trust – even as the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] gave (or: gives) to and in each one.

²⁴ Not that we are constantly acting like your owners and exercising lordship with regard to the faith (or: performing like masters over your loyalty and trust), but to the contrary, we exist being (or: we are) fellow workers regarding and pertaining to your joy, for you folks have taken a stand and now stand firm by trust (or: in and for the faith; with confident loyalty).

⁵ For you see, we are not constantly preaching (proclaiming; heralding) ourselves, but rather, Christ Jesus [as] Lord (or: [the] Anointed Jesus, [the] Lord, Master and Owner; or: = [the] Lord Jesus [as the] Messiah), yet ourselves [as] your slaves, because of Jesus,

¹⁵ forth from Where (or: out of the midst of Whom) every family (lineage; kindred; descent; paternal group) within heaven and upon earth (or: in [the] sky or atmosphere, and on [the] land) is one after another being named (or: spoken of, or to, by name; or: designated),

¹ Paul, one sent with a mission pertaining to Christ Jesus (or: an envoy of [the] Anointed Jesus; an emissary who has his origin in Christ Jesus) through God's will, and Timothy, the brother (or: = fellow believer; or: the brother Timothy), ² To the set-apart folks (the holy ones; the sacredly different people) within Colossae – even to ones full of faith (or: to faithful and trusting people) – to [the] brothers within Christ (or: and to loyal fellow believers [who are] in union with [the] Anointed [other MSS add: Jesus]): Grace and joyous favor (or: The act that produces happiness, which was granted [to all] as a favor), as well as peace and harmony [= shalom], to you folks from God our Father [other MSS read: from God, our Father and Lord, Jesus Christ].

¹ My brothers (= fellow members), do not continue to become many teachers (or: stop becoming a bunch of instructors; or: let not many of you folks proceed to be made teachers), seeing, and knowing, that we shall receive [a] greater effect from the decision (or: will take more intense scrutiny and evaluation; will get a stronger result of the separation; will receive heavier judgment),

³ Nor yet as ones constantly exercising down-oriented lordship (acting as owners or masters, bearing down with demands) of the members of the inheritance (of those who are the allotments of the heritage; or: of those considered to be small objects to be used in assigning positions or portions), but to the contrary, progressively becoming beaten models (types made by the strike of a hammer; examples) for the little flock,

⁹ I, John, your brother and joint-participant (or: sharer of common-being/partnered-existence) within the pressure (squeezing; affliction; tribulation; oppression) and kingdom (or: reign; sovereign rule and activity) and persistent remaining-under (steadfast, humble and supportive endurance), in union with (or: within; [Griesbach and other MSS: of; originating in; pertaining to]) Jesus Christ (= [the] Messiah),

¹⁰ And so I fell before his feet to worship him, and he is saying to me, "See and perceive! No! (= Don't do that!) I am your fellow-slave and [am] from among your brothers (or: = even belonging to [a group of] your fellow believers) – the ones constantly holding (having) the witness of (or: the testimony pertaining to, and the evidence about) Jesus – Give worship to God! You see, the evidence of (or: testimony pertaining to; witness about) Jesus is the spirit of The Prophecy (or: For the Breath-effect which is prophecy is the evidence for, and comes from, Jesus)."

⁹ And he is saying to me, "See! No! I am your fellow-slave, even of (belonging to; from among) your brothers – of (or: belonging to and from among) the prophets and of those continuously keeping and observing the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

⁸ "So then, you folks should not be made to resemble them, for before the occasion for you to ask Him, God, your Father, has seen and thus knows (is aware) of what things you continue having need. ⁹ "Therefore, be continuously praying in this way: 'O our Father – the One within and in union with the heavens! (or: in the midst of the atmosphere and firmament!) Make Your Name to be set-apart and kept holy (or: treated as sacred).

³² "You see, the ethnic multitudes (the nations; the pagans; the non-Jews) are habitually in eager pursuit of these things – spending all of their energy in seeking them! After all, your heavenly Father (or: your Father Who inhabits, and can be compared to, the atmosphere) has seen and knows that you folks repeatedly have need for all of these things.

¹¹ "Since, then (or: If, therefore), you folks – being miserable, bad and useless as you are – have seen [in life] and now know to be habitually giving good gifts (or: the results of virtue and excellence) to your own children, how much more will your Father – the One within and in union with the heavens and within the midst of the atmospheres – continue giving good, excellent things as well as virtues to those continuing in requesting from Him (or: asking Him)?

¹ "Men! Brothers (= Fellow Jews) and fathers! Listen, and hear my defense to you now!"

¹⁴ For as many as are being continuously led by God’s Spirit (or: habitually brought or conducted in [the] Breath-effect which is God; progressively driven along with an attitude from God), these folks are God’s sons (these continuously exist being sons of God; or: = these are folks who have the character and qualities of God). [comment: echo of the Exodus] ¹⁵ For you folks did (or: do) not receive again a spirit of slavery to fear (or: get slavery’s spirit or breath-effect again, unto fear; or: take an attitude which personifies being a slave [in Egypt or under the Law, leading] into fear again), but rather you received a spirit of being placed as a son (or: a Breath-effect which set you in the position of a son; or: you receive an attitude of one having been adopted [in accord with Greek or Roman law]), within which (or: in union with Whom) we are habitually crying out, “Abba (Dad), O Father!” ¹⁶ The same Spirit (or: spirit; or: The Breath-effect Himself; or: This very attitude) is constantly witnessing together with our spirit (is continuously bearing joint-testimony to our spirit; is habitually co-witnessing for our spirit; is progressively adding confirming testimony and evidence in our attitude) that we are, and continuously exist being, God’s children (ones born of God; children from God [not of the child-escort {Gal. 3:24}], by natural descent). ¹⁷ Now since children (or: Yet if ones born by natural descent), also heirs (possessors and enjoyers of an allotted inheritance; those who hold sway over the allotted portion): on the one hand, God’s heirs, on the other, Christ’s joint-heirs (or: indeed possessors and enjoyers of an allotment pertaining to God and from God, yet possessors and enjoyers together in an allotment pertaining to Christ and belonging to Christ) if so be (or: provided) that we are continually affected by sensible experiences together – feeling together; receiving impressions, undergoing passion or suffering together – to the end that we may also be glorified together (or: can be given a shared appearance; would together receive a manifestation of that which calls forth praise; should be given a joint-approval and a joint-reputation; may be thought of and imagined together [in covenant relationship]).

¹⁵ For should you folks proceed to have a vast multitude (a myriad; ten thousand) of child-escorts and guardians within Christ (or: tutors or educators in an Anointing), in contrast [you do] not [have] many fathers, because in one moment I myself fathered (gave birth to; generated) you people within and in union with Christ Jesus – through means of the message of abundant wellness (the news of fortunate and ideal ease; the news of goodness).

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

¹ You should not inflict blows upon (or: = verbally attack; severely criticize; give reproofs to) an older man. To the contrary, habitually call [him] alongside, as a father, to aid, give relief and assist, to encourage and exhort (= be a paraclete to him). [Treat] younger men as brothers, ² older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, within all purity and propriety.

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

¹ You people at once consider (or: look and perceive) what kind of (what sort of; what unusual, foreign or exotic) love (or: acceptance) the Father has given to (or: in; for) us [other MSS: you], which we now have as a gift, to the end that we can (may; should; would) be called (or: named) God's children (born-ones; bairns)! And we are! Because of this (On account of this; Therefore) the System (the world; the realm of the secular and religious; the ordered arrangement of culture, religion, economy and government) is not habitually having experiential or intimate knowledge of us (does not know or have insight into us [other MSS: you]), because it did not know (or: it does not have an intimate, experiential knowledge of) Him.

²⁶ "It is not this way among you folks; but to the contrary, whoever may be now wanting or should continue intending to become great (or: = to make himself to be important) among you, he will continue (or: proceed in) being your attending servant. ²⁷ "And whoever may now be wanting or should continue intending to be first (or: foremost; = prominent) among you folks, he will continue (or: proceed in) being your slave.

⁴³ "Yet it does not exist (or: it is not) this way among you folks. To the contrary, whoever may continue intending (wishing; desiring; wanting; purposing) to become great (or: a great or important person) among you will continue existing being your attending servant. ⁴⁴ "And whoever may continue intending (desiring; purposing) to be first among you folks will continue existing being a slave of everyone (or: all).

²⁶ "Yet you men [are] not [to be] thus (or: [are] not [to behave] in this way), but to the contrary, let the greater among you come to be like (or: as) the younger; and the one normally leading like (or: as) the person normally giving attending service. ²⁷ "For who [is] greater? – the one normally reclining [at a meal], or the person that habitually serves [the meal]? [Is it] not the one normally reclining [at the meal]? Yet I Myself am in your midst as the person constantly giving attending service.

¹⁴ "If I Myself, then, the Lord and the Teacher, wash your feet, you men also are constantly indebted (obliged; continuously owe it) to be habitually washing one another's feet, ¹⁵ "for I give (or: gave) an underlying example (or: result of something pointed out as a specimen or illustration shown under your eyes) to you folks, so that just (accordingly; correspondingly) as I Myself do (or: did) for (to; in; among) you, you men should also be repeatedly doing.

¹⁹ You see, continually being free from out of the midst of all things and from all people (or: from everything), I enslave myself to all people (or: everything and everyone), to the end that I can (may; would) gain [all] the more folks.

²³ Are they Christ's attending servants? – I am speaking as one being beside himself (or: insane) – I [am] over and above [them] (or: I, more so; = I surpass [them])! In toilsome labors and weariness more exceedingly; in prisons and jails more often; in blows (stripes or beatings) surpassingly; in deaths many times (= in near-death situations often).

¹³ For you folks were called upon the foundation of (on the basis of; for the purpose of) freedom, [my] brothers. Only not (or: Just not) the freedom [which is leading] into a starting point (or: unto an opportunity, occasion or incentive; to a base of operation) for (to; in; by; with) the flesh [comment: = circumcision with the flesh ordinances and ceremonial laws of Judaism; or: = personal license for the estranged human nature], but to the contrary, through the Love [agape: cf vs. 6b, above] be continuously slaving for one another (serving and performing the duties of a slave to each other).

⁵ You see, this way of thinking (this attitude and disposition) is continuously within and among you folks (or, as an imperative: So let this minding be habitually within you folks) – which [is] also within Christ Jesus, ⁶ Who, starting and continuing as inherently existing (or: beginning under; subsisting) within God's form (or: in an outward mold which is God), He does not consider the [situation] to be equals in and by God a plunder (or: a pillaging; a robbery; a snatching; or: a thing or situation seized and held), (or: Who, [although] constantly humbly and supportively ruling in union with an external shape and an outward appearance from God, did not give consideration to a seizure: the [situation] to continuously exist being the same things with God, even on the same levels in God, or equal [things; aspects] to God,) ⁷ but to the contrary, He empties Himself (or: removed the contents of Himself; made Himself empty), receiving (or: taking; accepting) a slave's form (external shape; outward mold), coming to be (or: birthing Himself) within an effect of humanity's (mankind's; people's) likeness. ⁸ And so, being found in an outward fashion, mode of circumstance, condition, form-appearance (or: character, role, phase, configuration, manner) as a human (a person; a man), He lowers Himself (or: humbled Himself; made Himself low; degrades Himself; levels Himself off), coming to be (or: birthing Himself) a submissive, obedient One (one who gives the ear and listens) as far as (or: to the point of; until) death – but death of a cross (torture stake)!

³ "The destitute folks [are] happy in spirit and attitude, because the reign of the heavens is continually belonging to, and made up of, them (or: Blessed [are] those dependent for support on the Spirit, for the kingdom from the sky and the atmosphere is continuing to pertain to them; The people who need to beg for sustenance [are made] happy by the Breath-effect because the effect of the sovereignty of the heavens is being a source in and for them; The financially poor folks [exist being] happy with an attitude that the sovereign influence and activity from the atmospheres continuously exists with reference to them)!

⁴ "Therefore, whoever will be progressively bringing himself low in attitude, situation and condition, so as to be humble, insignificant and unimportant in his own eyes, like this young child – this person is the greatest (= most important) with the heaven's reign (or: the kingdom emanating from the atmospheres).

⁵¹ "He makes strength (performs [with] might) within His arm – He thoroughly scatters proud and haughty folks (or: those arrogant people who hold themselves above [others]) along with [the] intellectual insights of their hearts (or: by [the] attitudes of their hearts; in the comprehension of their hearts). ⁵² "He takes down folks of power and ability from thrones, and then lifts up high folks of low status (or: He also exalts humble folks).

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)."

¹⁴ "I am now saying to you folks, this man walked down into his home being one having been rightwised (turned in the right direction and placed in right relationship within the Way pointed out), rather than that one, because everyone [who is] constantly lifting himself up (exalting himself) will be brought low and humbled. Yet the person habitually humbling himself and placing himself in a low position will be lifted up and exalted."

⁶ Yet He is constantly and progressively giving greater (= more abundant; more intense; larger; more frequent) grace and favor, therefore it is saying "God continuously sets Himself in opposition to, and aligns Himself against, those that show themselves above (the proud; the assuming), but He habitually gives grace and favor to the low ones (the unassuming ones; the humble ones; those of low rank)." [Prov. 3:34]

⁵ Likewise (or: In like manner), you younger people be humbly placed, arranged and aligned by (or: subjected for support to) older folks. Yet all of you folks (or: everyone) tie on yourselves, as an outer garment (like a slave's apron), the humble attitude (the lowliness of thinking) to one another [other MSS add: continuously being ones that are humbly aligned], because "God habitually sets Himself in opposition, being resistant to those who try to appear conspicuously above others (to haughty and proud ones), yet He constantly gives grace and favor to humble (or: lowly) folks." [Prov. 3:34]

³¹ "Which of the two did the will of the father?" They [as a group] are saying, "The first one." [other MSS read vs. 29-31 thus: "Now he, giving a considered reply, said,' I {go}, sir,' and yet he did not go off. So, upon approaching the second one, he said likewise. Yet he, giving a determined reply, said, 'I will not! 'Subsequently, he thought better of it {and} went forth. Which of {these} two fulfilled the desire of {his} father?" They are saying, "The latter one."] Jesus said, "That's right (You got it; Amen)! I am now saying and laying it out for you that the tax (or: tribute; toll) collectors (or: tax farmers; businessmen who bought the contract to collect taxes for the government) and the prostitutes are constantly preceding you men into God's reign (or: the kingdom of God; the sovereign activity of God)! ³² "You see, John came toward you men within the path (or: on the road) of fairness and equity, in accord with the way pointed out, and in the right relationship which pertains to justice – and you men did not trust him or put your faith in him (or: you did not believe him). However, the tax collectors and the prostitutes trusted him (put their faith in him; believed him), yet you men – upon seeing [this] – still did not change your thoughts or interests (or: regret your behavior and think better of it) [so as] to trust in him (put faith in and believe him).

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. ¹⁴ [This vs. is omitted by Nestle-Aland, W&H, Tasker, and Panin; Griesbach makes it vs. 13, and brackets, as 14, vs. 13, above; it is absent in the early codices; it is included in the Byzantine/Majority text (TR), based only upon later MSS: "It will be a tragic fate for you, scribes and Pharisees – hupokrites (see 6:2, above)! For you constantly consume (eat down; devour; swallow up) the houses belonging to widows (or: the households of widows), and then continue praying a long [time], for a disguise (as a pretext). Because of this you will receive a more abundant effect of judgment.] ¹⁵ "It will be a tragic fate for you, scribes and Pharisees – perverse scholars who live by separation and have all the answers [see 6:2, above]! Because you habitually go around the sea and dry [land] to make one convert (proselyte), and whenever he may become (should be birthed) [one], you proceed making him a son of the valley of Hinnom (= a person having the character and qualities of a city dump, or a part of a refuse depository [Greek: Gehenna]) twice as much as yourselves.

²⁵ "How tragic is the fate in you people – scribes (scholars, etc.) and Pharisees: overly-critical interpreters [see 6:2, above]! For you folks are habitually cleansing the outside of the cup and of the fine side dish – yet inside they continuously contain a full load from snatching (plunder; pillage; = the fruits of forceful greed) and lack of strength (or: self-indulgence).

²⁷ "Tragic will be the fate of you Law scholars and Pharisees – you who recite a front of your own opinions and answers (or: overly-critical folks; [see 6:2, above])! [It will be] because you continue closely resembling whitewashed (i.e., smeared or plastered with lime) tombs (sepulchers; grave sites), which indeed, from outside, continue being made to appear in the prime of beauty, for a time – yet inside they contain a full load of bones of dead folks, as well as every uncleanness.

²⁹ "It will be a tragic fate for you, theologians (scholars of the Law) and Pharisees [who are also] overly judging and critical [see 6:2, above]. Because, [you see], you are repeatedly building the tombs (sepulchers) of the prophets, and are constantly adorning and decorating the memorial grave monuments of just and rightwised folks,

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. ⁴⁴ "Tragic will be your fate, you scholars (theologians; scribes) and Pharisees – the overly judging and critical folks (hupokrites; or: those who put texts under close inspection to sift and separate and then give an answer, an interpretation, an opinion; or: those who live by separating things yet who under-discern; or: those who make judgments from a low view; or: those who under-estimate reality; or: perverse scholars who focus on tiny distinctions), because you exist being as unseen (or: = are unmarked) memorial tombs (= graves having the characteristics of Hades), and so the people (or: mankind) habitually walking around on top [of them] have not seen and so do not know (= without realizing) [it]!" [note: contact with a grave rendered a person ceremonially unclean]

⁵² "Tragic will be the fate for you experts in the Law (Torah lawyers), because you lifted up and carried away (or: lift up and carry off; took and remove) the Key of the intimate, experiential, personal knowledge and insight. You, yourselves, do (or: did) not enter [so as to experience and gain insight] and you hinder, block, prevent and forbid the folks periodically entering (or: going into the midst)."

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] ⁵⁰ Nicodemus, the one previously going to Him – being one of them (or: = a part of their group), proceeds saying to them, ⁵¹ "Our Law (or: custom) is not in the habit of judging (or: No law of ours is proceeding to decide about) the person (man; human) unless it can (or: except it should) first hear from his side and can (or: should; may; would) know with intimate experiential knowledge what he is habitually doing (repeatedly or presently practicing)!" ⁵² They thoughtfully replied, and say to him, "You are not also from out of the Galilee [area], are you? Search (or: Examine) and see, that a prophet is not usually awakened (not normally raised up) from out of the midst of the Galilee [district]!"

²² His parents said these things because they had been fearing the Jews (= religious authorities), for the Jews (= Jewish leadership) had put it together and agreed, so that if anyone should ever confess (acknowledge; avow) Him Christ (or: express the same idea, that He is [the] Anointed), he should come to be [put] away from the synagogue (= be excommunicated; = be cut off from membership in the synagogue, and thus be considered an outcast).

²⁴ Then a second time they summoned the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give glory (the credit and reputation) to God. We have seen and now know that this man is a sinner (one who misses the goal; or: an outcast)."

³⁴ They decisively replied, and said to him, "You yourself were wholly born within sins [idiom = You bastard!] – and are YOU now teaching us?" And so they cast him out (threw him outside).

¹⁷ "Nevertheless, so that it may not all the more be disseminated and spread abroad, on into the People [at large], let us make threats to them [that they] no longer are to continue speaking on (= about, or, on the authority and basis of) this Name to even one individual of humanity!" ¹⁸ And so, after calling them, they ordered [them] to cease making any utterance at all, as well as to terminate teaching anywhere, on [the authority or basis of] the Name of Jesus.

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!"

⁴⁰ Next, upon calling the sent-forth folks to their presence, after severely lashing (flogging; whipping) [them], they gave orders not to continue speaking upon the [authority and basis of the] Name of Jesus. Then they released them.

¹ Now on that day great persecution, pursuit and [D adds: pressure] was birthed (occurred) upon the called-out community [that was] within Jerusalem, so they were all – except for the sent-forth emissaries (representatives) [D*& 1175 add: who alone remained in Jerusalem] – dispersed and scattered as seeds down among the regions (or: territories) of Judea and Samaria.

⁸ But Elymas (Arabic meaning: the wise one), the magus – for in this way is his name being normally translated and interpreted – kept on standing in face-to-face opposition to them, repeatedly seeking to twist in two and thoroughly turn the proconsul away from the faith.

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), ¹⁶ while continuously forbidding us (cutting us off; preventing us) to speak to the nations (the ethnic groups; the non-Israelite multitudes; the Gentiles) – to the end that they may be delivered (saved; rescued; healed and made whole) – always [proceeding] unto that which fills up their own failures (errors; deviations; sins)! But inherent fervor (or: swelling passion; teeming desire; or: anger; wrath; agitation of soul) advances upon them unto a purpose (or: on into [the] final act; or: in the end; on into the midst of a destined goal).

⁸ Now, in the manner which (or: by the turn or method that) Jannes and Jambres took a stand in opposition to (or: resisted and opposed) Moses, thus, also, these are continually taking a stand in opposition to (opposing and resisting) the Truth and reality: people (humans) being ones having had the mind decayed down (ruined and spoiled down; corrupted; depraved; put into a sorry state), folks failing to meet the test (disqualified ones) on all sides of (or: about) the faith (or: = ones whose trust does not pass the test from any angle).

¹⁵ – from whom you, yourself, also be constantly guarding yourself against, for he stands (or: stood) in opposition to our words (or: thoughts, ideas and messages).

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!"

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)? 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!

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!"

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],

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!

³ and in greed (desire to take advantage in order to have more), by formed (molded; fabricated, and thus, counterfeit) words, they will constantly exploit you (use you for business; market you; use you in trade and travel by sea), to whom (or: for which folks) the sentence (or: the result of the evaluation; the effect of a separating process) [coming] from long ago (or: out of old times; forth from old) is not continuing inactive (is not constantly unemployed; is not remaining idle), and their loss (or: destruction) is not nodding in sleep or taking a nap.

¹⁴ people always having bulging eyes very full of an adulteress (= for nothing but adultery), and being unceasing regarding sin and error; people by habit using bait to entrap unstable souls (= people); folks constantly having a heart that has been exercised (trained in gymnastic discipline) regarding greed (desire for advantage and riches); children of a cursing (or: having the qualities and character of [the] curse). ¹⁵ By practice leaving behind [other MSS: at one point abandoning] [the; a] straight path (road; Way), they were (or: are) led astray (or: caused to wander), following out the path (road; way) of Balaam of Bosor [other MSS: Beor] who loved [the] wage of injustice (inequity; wrongdoing; unrighteousness; nonobservance of the Way pointed out).

²² "However, I Myself am now saying to you people that everyone, who – from internal swelling or agitated emotions of his natural disposition, or from the fruition of his mental bent – is habitually being randomly impulsive to, or without cause repeatedly intensely angry with, his brother (= fellow member of the society) will continue being held within the decision (= under control of the judging of the local court). Now whoever may at some point say to his brother, 'Raca (an Aramaic word of verbal abuse: contemptible imbecile; worthless good-for-nothing; senseless empty-head; brainless idiot; blockhead)!' will continue being held within (= accountable to) the Sanhedrin (the ruling Jewish council). Yet whoever may at some point say, 'Inept moron (Stupid scoundrel; Despicable fool; Perverse idiot)!' will continue being held within (= accountable to) [placement] into the [part of] the Valley of Hinnom which pertains to the fire (i.e., the incinerator for refuse in the dump outside of Jerusalem). [note: Dallas Willard, in his book The Divine Conspiracy, HarperSanFrancisoc, 1998, p. 151-2, points out that raca was a word of contempt, and contempt, he says, is "a studied degradation of another," or, it is meant to "mark [someone] out" as being "contemptible." He further shows that using expressions of contempt "breaks the social bond" and excludes, pushes a person away, and leaves him isolated. Willard cites Prov. 14:16; 18:2 and 26:11 as Biblical definitions of a "fool;" he states that this word "is a combination of stupid perversity and rebellion against God"]

²⁹ "So if your right eye is habitually a bait-stick which entraps you, immediately tear it out and throw it away from you! You see, it constantly brings things together for benefit and advantage in (for; to) you folks that one of your members should loose itself away (may destroy itself; could come to be lost), so that your whole body should not be thrown into the Valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna – the city dump [= to dishonor you by giving no burial; to treat you as a criminal]).

⁴⁴ "You folks, in particular, are (exist and have your being) from out of, and have your source in, the ancestor who cast [an object] through [someone] (or: the father, the devil; or: the devil father; or: the father – the one thrusting [words or issues] through [folks/groups] and dividing them), and you are habitually wanting (willing; intending; purposing) to be constantly doing your father's passionate cravings (full-rushing over-desires). That one was existing being a murderer (a killer of humanity) from [his/its] beginning (or: from [the] start; from [its] origin; or: from headship, chieftainhood, government or rule), and he/it has not stood and does not now stand within the Truth (or: it had not made a stand in union with reality), because truth is not (openness and reality does not exist) within him (or: it). Whenever he/it may be speaking the lie, he/it is continuing speaking from out of his own things – because he/it is (or: continues existing being) a liar, and its father [note: either the father of the lie, or of the liar].

¹⁰ "both Phrygia and Pamphylia; Egypt and the parts of Libya which is down toward Cyrene, as well as the temporary residents from Rome (or: the repatriated Romans); both Jews and proselytes (converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabians (or: Arabs) –

⁵ And the idea (word; thought) brought satisfaction in the eyes (in the sight; = in the judgment and view) of all the full multitude, and so they selected (picked out; chose) Stephen, an adult man full of trust (and: faith; or: trustworthiness) and set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit; or: a consecrated attitude), as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch,

¹⁰ "O you son of an adversary (of one who throws something through another person; = one who has the character and qualities of a devil), all full of fish-bait (or: filled with every fraud and deceit) and every thing that is done adroitly and with ease (knavish schemes and roguish tricks) – enemy of all fairness, equity, rightwised behavior and just relationships which constitute the Way pointed out (= covenant principles)! You will not of yourself cease thoroughly perverting and twisting in two (or: distorting) the straight ways and paths of [the] Lord [= Yahweh, or, Christ],

⁴³ So with the breaking up of the gathering (the dissolving of the synagogue assembly), many of the Jews and the reverent proselytes (Gentiles who wished to embrace the Jewish faith) followed Paul and Barnabas who, in continuing to speak to them, began persuading and convincing them to be habitually remaining focused toward God's grace and favor. [D adds: Now accordingly it happened {for} God's Logos (Word; message; idea; reason) to go throughout the whole of the city].

² Yet the Jews [who] were at that point being unconvinced (or: stubborn) rose up on [the situation; D reads: But the synagogue leaders of the Jews, and synagogue rulers brought persecution upon them – against those of the rightwised Way – ] and acted in a worthless manner so as to badly effect the souls (inner lives) of the non-Jews (folks of the nations; = the Greeks that were involved) in a negative manner in regard to the brothers [= either those with Paul and Barnabas, or, those of the synagogue who had become brothers; D adds: but the Lord soon granted peace {to the situation}].

¹⁹ So [C, D & E add: during their continuing to spend time {there} and repeatedly teaching, certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium came upon [the scene], and [with other MSS: from their repeated arguments, publicly] persuaded the crowds [other MSS add: to separate from them, saying that they were not even speaking truth, but rather were all constantly lying]. And so, after stoning Paul, they proceeded to be violently dragging [him] outside of the city, continuing in presuming him to have died.

⁵ Now the [D adds: unpersuaded; unconvinced] Jews, becoming jealous and taking to themselves certain worthless men (= degenerates) from the market-place loafers (ones who are idle and hung out on the streets) as associates and forming a mob, began starting a riot in the city. Then, after assaulting the house of Jason [note: probably Paul and Silas' host], they continued in seeking to lead them before the populace (or: into the midst of the mob). ⁶ Yet upon not finding them, they began violently dragging (or: forcefully trailing) Jason and certain brothers before the city rulers (or: officials), repeatedly yelling, "The people that are causing the inhabited areas of the Empire to be roused up out of its situation (or: are inciting tumults and insurrections in the State; or: = are upsetting the inhabited land, causing folks to get up and take a stand) – these folks are now present in this place also;

¹³ Now as soon as the Jews from Thessalonica came to know (or: learned) that the Logos of God (or: God's Word and message) was proclaimed by (or: brought down as a public announcement under) Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, repeatedly shaking (agitating) and stirring up (disturbing) the crowds [D adds: not ceasing].

¹⁷ They are constantly zealous over you folks (= These folks are constantly showing you great attention in order to win you over) – [though] not beautifully (or: ideally; in a fine way). But on the other hand they are constantly willing (intending; wanting) to shut you out (to exclude you), so that you folks might be habitually zealous over them (= trying to win their favor).

¹² As many as continually want (intend; will; purpose) to make a good impression (a pleasing appearance; a fair face, front or facade) within flesh [i.e., in a flesh system or religion], these are habitually urging, or trying to compel or force, you folks (or: making you feel obliged) to proceed to be circumcised – only so that they may not be continually pursued and persecuted for (or: in; with) the cross of Christ Jesus (or: by the execution stake that pertains to the Anointed Jesus).

³ immersedamong which folks we all also were once twisted up (or: entangled; overturned; upset) within the cravings (full longings; over-desires) of our flesh (= the estranged human nature, or the alienated self; or: = system of our works and sacrificial religion), continually doing the will (or: producing the intentions) of the flesh (= our existence while in bondage, or the duties of religion), and of the divided thoughts and things passing through the mind. Furthermore, we were continuously existing in essence (in natural condition; by instinct) being children of natural impulse (natural disposition; inherent fervor and swelling passion; teeming desire; or: anger; wrath) even as (or: as also) the rest (the remaining ones) [were].

³³ "Again, you folks hear (or: heard) that is was declared to (or: by) the original peoples (or: the beginning humans; the archaic ones; the ancient folks; those of the early period), 'You will not repeatedly break an oath (swear without performing; swear falsely; commit perjury),' and further, 'You will habitually give back (repay) to the Lord [= Yahweh] your oaths.' [Lev. 19:12] ³⁴ "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you folks to absolutely (altogether) not grab hold of a sacred object or make reference to a sacred sphere, so as to affirm an oath or swear confirmation – neither within the heaven (the atmosphere), because it is God's throne (seat of rule); ³⁵ "nor within the earth, because it is a footstool for His feet [Isa. 66:1]; nor [referencing] into Jerusalem, because it is ‘a city belonging to and having reference to the great King.’ [Ps. 48:2]

⁵ "Yet you, yourselves, are habitually maintaining, 'Whoever may at some point say to the father or the mother, "Whatever from me should have benefited or helped you [is now] a 'gift' [cf "Corban," Mark 7:11; meaning: a gift to God; i.e., it is consecrated for God's use, and can at any time be claimed for Temple use, and is thus unusable for any other purpose], ⁶ "'he shall by no means honor [a request for help from] his father (= he will be rid of the duty to honor his father; or: he will not [in this] be not honoring his father).' And thus you people at once invalidate (make void of authority; cancel and make of no effect) God's idea, word and message through you tradition!

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

¹⁷ "[You are] senseless morons (stupid folks), as well as blind ones! For which is greater: the gold, or the Temple which is setting apart and consecrating the gold?

¹⁹ "Senseless morons and blind ones! You see, which one [is] more important (greater): the gift (offering), or the altar which is constantly setting the gift (the offering) apart and consecrating [it]?

²⁴ "Blind 'guides and leaders' of the way: constantly filtering and straining [out] the gnat, yet habitually gulping (drinking; swallowing) down a camel!

²⁶ "Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the fine side dish – so that its outside can also come to be (be birthed) clean!

¹⁰ "For instance, Moses said, 'Be habitually honoring and constantly expressing value for your father and your mother,' [Ex. 20:12] and, 'Let the one habitually saying something worthless, of bad quality, corrupt, or evil to or about father or mother progressively come to an end by (or: in) death (or: = be put to death).' [Ex. 21:17] ¹¹ "Yet you folks are yourselves constantly saying [that] a person (a man) can at any time say to father or mother, 'Whatever of mine by which you might have been helped or benefited [is] Corban (or: a korban; = an oblation, offering or sacrifice) ' – which is an approach present (a gift dedicated to God and usable for no other purpose). ¹² "You continue allowing him to no longer do a single thing (or: And so you people still continue releasing him to do nothing) for father or mother! ¹³ "This is habitually invalidating (depriving of lordship; making void of authority) the Word of God (God's Logos; God's thought and idea; God's message) by (or: in) your tradition which you folks give over (= handed down) – and you are constantly doing many such things of this kind (or: repeatedly performing many such similar [rituals] along this line)."

³⁹ Then Jesus says to him, "I came into this world (or: ordered System of control and subjection) into a result of sifting and deciding (an effect of separation; a judgment): to the end that the folks NOT habitually seeing and observing can (or: may; would) be constantly seeing and observing, and the ones habitually seeing and observing should (or: would; may) become blind ones." ⁴⁰ And so those from out of the Pharisees – being with Him – heard these things, and said to Him, "We ourselves are not also blind ones, are we?" ⁴¹ Jesus says to them, "If you men had been and were continuing being blind ones, you were not holding and would not be having sin (error; a miss of the goal; failure). Yet now you continue saying that, 'We are continuously seeing and habitually observing.' Your error (sin; failure; miss of the target) continues remaining (is habitually dwelling; constantly abides).

³ Now I continue solemnly asserting (attesting; affirming; witnessing), again, to every person (or: human) proceeding to be circumcised, that he is, and continues being, a debtor (one under obligation) to do (to perform; to produce) the whole Law [= the entire Torah]!

¹² Now before all things (= above all; but especially; or: before all mankind), my brothers, do not be in the habit of promising by swearing [to, or, by] either the heaven (or: atmosphere; sky), nor the earth (or: land), nor any other oath. But let your affirmation continually be, "Yes, " and the negative, "No, " to the intent that you may not fall under a process of judging (or: fall by an act of separating for a decision, or by scrutinizing, or by discriminating).

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).

⁹ because within Him all the effect of the fullness of the Deity (the result of the filling from the Godship and feminine aspect of the Divine Nature) is repeatedly corporeally (or: bodily, as a whole; embodied; as a body) settling down and progressively taking up permanent residence (or: is continuously dwelling in person),

³⁴ "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you folks to absolutely (altogether) not grab hold of a sacred object or make reference to a sacred sphere, so as to affirm an oath or swear confirmation – neither within the heaven (the atmosphere), because it is God's throne (seat of rule);

⁴⁹ 'The heaven (or: sky; atmosphere) [is] a throne for (or: to) Me, and the earth (or: land) [is] a footstool for My feet. What kind (or: sort) of house will you folks proceed constructing for Me,' [the] Lord [= Yahweh] continues saying, 'or what is [the] place of My stopping down to rest?

² And then, immediately, I in myself came to exist within spirit (or: in myself I came to be within [the] Spirit; I birthed myself in union with a Breath-effect) – and now consider this! – A throne being laid down and lying within the atmosphere (or: heaven), and upon the throne [was] One continuously sitting. ³ And the One continuously sitting [was; is] for appearance (or: to [my] vision) like a jasper stone and a carnelian. And a rainbow, similar in appearance to an emerald, [was; is] around the throne.

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). ²⁰ "You see, I am here saying to you people that if your fairness and equity ([covenantal] justice, rightwisedness, and right relationships which conform to the Way pointed out) should not habitually exceed and abound more than [that] of the scribes (experts in the Law; scholars; theologians) and Pharisees, in no way can you folks enter into the reign of the heavens (or: the kingdom which is, and pertains to, the heavens; the sovereign rule of the atmospheres)!

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].

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!"

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.

¹² "'I habitually fast twice a week; I continually tithe (give the tenth of) everything – as much as I continue acquiring.'

²² Now the Spirit's fruit (or: So the fruit whose origin and source is the Spirit; But the fruit which is Breath-effect; Yet the fruit of the Attitude) is: love (unrestricted acceptance and the drive to overcome existential separation), joy, peace (or: harmony; [= shalom]), length before a stirring of emotion (slowness of rushing toward something; long-enduring; longsuffering; patience), useful kindness, goodness (virtuousness), faith (or: faithfulness; trust; trustworthiness; loyalty; reliance; reliability; allegiance; fidelity), ²³ gentle friendliness (meekness; mildness), inner strength (self-control). [The] Law is not down from such things (or: In the sphere of such things [the] Law does not exists; There is no law against such things; Law does not correspond to and is not on the level of such things).

⁴ "Or how will you folks proceed in declaring to your brother, 'Allow [me], I can extract the speck (splinter) from your eye' – and now consider as you look! – a rafter (log; beam) [is] within the midst of your own eye?

² "Why (= Through what reason or situation) are your disciples habitually side-stepping (thus, deviating from) the tradition of the Elders? For example, they are not regularly washing [their] hands [to make them ritually clean] whenever they may be periodically eating bread (= a meal)." ³ So He, giving a decided reply, said to them, "Why (or: Through what situation or reasoning) are you people habitually side-stepping and deviating from God's implanted goals (impartation of the finished product within; inward directives) through your tradition? ⁴ "For God said, 'Be habitually honoring and expressing value for the father and the mother,' [Ex. 20:12] and, 'The person habitually saying a bad, ugly or worthless word or message to or concerning (= verbally abusing) father or mother, let him progressively come to fruition (or: reach his end; be finished) in (or: by) death.' [Ex. 21:17]

²⁴ "Now again (or: Furthermore), I continue saying to you folks, it is easier for a camel to squeeze through a needle's eye (hole) than for a rich, wealthy person to enter into God's reign (or: kingdom influence and sovereign activities)."

¹⁶ "It will be a tragic fate for you, blind guides of the way and leaders on the path, folks who are constantly saying, 'Whoever should lay hold of a sacred object in the Temple (or: swear within, or in union with, the Temple), it is nothing (= it does not matter). Yet whoever should lay hold of the gold of the Temple, as a sacred object (or: swear an oath pertaining to a connection with the gold of the Temple), he continues indebted and is owing [it].'

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." ⁷ After consulting together, they bought with them the Field of the Potter to serve as a burial ground for the strangers and foreigners (= non-local folks). ⁸ For this reason that field has been called " [The] Field of Blood" until today.

⁷ So the theologians (scribes; scholars of the Law) and the Pharisees began attentively observing from the side, [to see] if He continues treating, caring for, curing or instigating therapy or ongoing treatment on the sabbath, to the end that they could find [something] to proceed to accuse and to bring a charge against Him. ⁸ Yet He Himself had seen, and thus knew, their reasonings and dialogues, so He said to the adult male – the one having the withered hand, "Proceed to get up, and put yourself into the midst [of us]." And so, upon standing up, he stood [thus]. ⁹ Then Jesus said to them, "I now ask you men if on the sabbath it is allowed by custom and Law to do good, perform virtue and produce excellence, or to do bad, perform worthlessness and produce ugliness; to heal (deliver; restore to health and wholeness; save) a person, or to destroy one (or: to rescue someone, or to lose a soul)?" ¹⁰ Then, after looking around at them all, He said to him, "Stretch out your hand." So he does – and his hand was moved from its fixed, static condition, and was returned to a normal condition (or: restored) as the other one.

²⁸ Then they are progressively leading Jesus from Caiaphas into the Roman governor's headquarters (the Praetorium). Now it was early in the morning (between 3 and 6 A.M.), and they did not enter into the governor's headquarters so that they would not be polluted (defiled; made ceremonially impure), but still could eat the Passover meal.

⁴⁰ Then they all yelled again, saying, "Not this fellow, but rather, Bar-Abba [meaning: a father's son, or: the son of the father]!" Now Bar-Abba had been a robber (one who appropriates what is not his by violence, and openly).

⁴ Even when returning from a marketplace, they are not in the habit of eating unless they can (or: should; would) ritually sprinkle or dip (= wash; baptize) themselves – and there are many other similar things which they accepted and take to their sides to be constantly holding fast: immersions (baptisms; = washings; ritual sprinklings) of cups and pitchers and copper vessels (or: bronze utensils), and of couches (beds; mats). ⁵ So both the Pharisees and the scribes continued with a question to Him: "Why are your disciples not continuing to walk (= conduct themselves; order their manner of living) in accord with and corresponding to the tradition of the Elders (the older men; the men of former times), but to the contrary they continue to eat the bread (= the meal) with ritually unclean (unwashed; common) hands?" ⁶ Yet He insightfully and decidedly said to them, "Isaiah beautifully (aptly; ideally) prophesies (or: prophesied) about (or: concerning) you the overly judging and critical folks (hupokrites; or: those who put texts under close inspection to sift and separate and then give an answer, an interpretation, an opinion; or: those who live by separating things yet who under-discern; or: those who make judgments from a low view; or: those who under-estimate reality; or: perverse scholars who focus on tiny distinctions), as it has been written [D reads: and said]: 'This people continues honoring Me with [their] lips, yet their heart is habitually distant (continues holding [itself] far) from Me. ⁷ 'But they habitually venerate Me (show Me adoration and reverence in worship and pious deeds) futilely (uselessly; ineffectually; fruitlessly; in vain), repeatedly teaching the results of men's directions (or: the effects of human commands, ordinances, precepts and implanted goals) for "teaching".' [Isa. 29:13] ⁸ "Abandoning (Sending off; Divorcing; Letting go) the implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive) of and from God, you folks continuously keep a strong hold on the traditions of and from men." [some MSS add: – baptisms (= ceremonial washings) of pots (pitchers, jugs) and cups, and you are constantly doing many other similar things of this sort] ⁹ Further, He went on to say to them, "You men keep on beautifully (adroitly) setting aside God's implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive and purposed destiny) so that you can keep and maintain your tradition,

³⁹ So the Lord said to him, "At this time you Pharisees are normally (or: habitually) cleansing [by washing] the outside of the cup and the dish – yet the inside of you folks continues being brimming and crammed full (so as to be replete) of plundering (acquiring booty; seizing and carrying off; rapacity) and worthlessness (badness of conditions; unsoundness and miserableness; wickedness and depravity; evil and malice; disadvantageousness; unprofitableness; that which brings toilsome labor). ⁴⁰ "Thoughtless, unreasonable and senseless people! Did not the One making (forming; constructing) the outside also make (form; create) the inside?

³³ "You folks either make the tree ideal (fine and beautiful), and thus its fruit ideal (fine and beautiful), or make the tree rotten, and its fruit [will be] rotten (decayed). You see, the tree is habitually being known and experienced from out of the [or: its] fruit.

⁴⁵ "A good and virtuous person continually brings forth the good and virtuous thing from out of the midst of the good treasure of his heart, while the worthless (wicked; spoiled; degenerate; unsound) person normally brings forth the worthless and unsound (wicked and degenerate) thing from out of the midst of the treasure within his heart. You see from out of the midst of the effect from the surrounding abundance of [the] heart his mouth is continually speaking.

¹ Therefore, beloved ones, continuing in possessing (having and holding) these – the [aforementioned] promises – we can and should cleanse ourselves off from every stain, pollution or ceremonial defilement of flesh (= the estranged human nature; = a self oriented to the System) and of spirit (or: from flesh as well as from a spirit or attitude; or: pertaining to an alienated persona, or even to an attitude bound to the System), while progressively bringing the state and condition of being set-apart (holiness) to a successful completion (or: in continuing to perform dedicated consecration amidst its destined goal), centered in a reverence from God (or: in union with respect, with regard to God; in God’s fear; [p46 reads: in God's love]).

²² we can be continuously and progressively approaching with a true heart in fullness of faith (or: in faith's being brought to the full), the hearts having been sprinkled from a misery-gushed consciousness of what is evil or unserviceable (or: a joint-knowledge full of labor; a conscience in a bad condition), and then the body having been bathed in and by clean water.

⁸ Draw near in God (or: Approach by God; Be close at hand for God; Be or stay near to God), and He will progressively draw near in you (or: continue being or staying near to you; habitually be close at hand for you)! You failing folks (ones missing the target; sinners), cleanse [your] hands (= your actions)! You two-souled folks (or: double-minded ones; people with split affections and loyalties), purify (make of one substance) [your] hearts!

⁴⁴ "Tragic will be your fate, you scholars (theologians; scribes) and Pharisees – the overly judging and critical folks (hupokrites; or: those who put texts under close inspection to sift and separate and then give an answer, an interpretation, an opinion; or: those who live by separating things yet who under-discern; or: those who make judgments from a low view; or: those who under-estimate reality; or: perverse scholars who focus on tiny distinctions), because you exist being as unseen (or: = are unmarked) memorial tombs (= graves having the characteristics of Hades), and so the people (or: mankind) habitually walking around on top [of them] have not seen and so do not know (= without realizing) [it]!" [note: contact with a grave rendered a person ceremonially unclean]

³ At that point Paul said to him, "God is now about to be striking you, you whitewashed wall! And so you yourself are now sitting, continuing in judging me according to the Law, and at the same time [you are] transgressing the Law (acting illegally) [by] proceeding in ordering me to be repeatedly struck (or: beaten)!"

³⁴ "Offspring ([You] effects of the births) of poisonous snakes (vipers; serpents; [comment: perhaps equating them to satan])! How are you able to habitually say good and virtuous things, being inherently good-for-nothing and useless folks (being worthless and knavish; being folks in a sorry plight and oppressed by grievous toils; existing being base and wicked; continuously being ones characterized by evil)? You see, from out of the midst of the effect of the excess from the heart's surrounding abundance, the mouth is continually speaking. ³⁵ "The good and virtuous person is habitually extracting and spurting out good and virtuous things from out of the midst of the Good and Virtuous Treasure-house. And yet the good-for-nothing and useless person is continuously extracting and spurting out worthless, oppressive, knavish, base, wicked and evil things from out of the mist of the worthless treasure-house.

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].

²¹ "for, from inside of the person (man; human) – from out of the midst of the heart – the worthless reasonings (base conversations; dialogues of poor quality; evil thoughts and schemes; bad ideas and designs) constantly issue forth: [for example], prostitutions, acts of sexual immorality or involvements in fornication; thefts; murders; ²² "adulteries; situations of wanting more than one's share (thoughts of greed; feelings of coveting), bad conditions which bring pain, gushes of misery, anguish or hard labor (or: acts of wickedness; malicious deeds; evil doings); bait to catch someone with deceit, treachery, guile or fraud; loose conduct (indecency); an evil eye (= a focus toward malice or mischief); villainous and light-hindering slander, harmful and abusive speech, or blasphemy; pride, arrogance and haughtiness; acting without thinking (or: imprudence; unreasonableness; inconsiderateness; lack of purpose; folly). ²³ "All these bad situations and misery-causing things are habitually issuing forth from within, and repeatedly contaminate the person (continuously make the human common, polluted and ritually unclean)."

¹² For the Word of God (or: God's thought, idea and message; or: the expressed Logos from God; or: the Word which is God) [is] living (or: alive), and active (working; operative; energetic; at work; productive) and more cutting above every two-mouthed sword, even passing through (penetrating) as far as a dividing (or: parting; partitioning) of soul and spirit (or: of inner self-life and breath-effect), both of joints and marrows, even able to discern (separate; judge; decide) concerning thoughts (ponderings; reflections; in-rushings; passions) and intentions (notions; purposes) of a heart (= core of the being). 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).

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]!

²⁹ "Men! Brothers (= Fellow Believers; or: = Fellow Jews)! Allow me to say to you folks, with freeness of speech and with outspoken frankness and boldness, concerning the patriarch David – that he both came to [his] end and was buried, and his memorial tomb is among us until this day.

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!

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.

²² "He is then saying to him, 'From out of your own mouth I am now deciding about you, you worthless (good-for-nothing; malignant) slave! You had seen so as to know, did you, that I, myself, am a harsh person – constantly withdrawing what I did not deposit and repeatedly reaping what I did not sow (or: plant)?

⁵¹ "'Stiff-necked (= Obstinate and proud) men' and 'people uncircumcised in hearts and ears!' [Ex. 32:9; Lev. 26:41] You yourselves are ever repeatedly falling in opposition against (or: are always by habit resisting and clashing with) the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: the Holy Spirit; Sacred Attitude)! – as your fathers (or: ancestors), so also you folks! 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:

¹⁶ while continuously forbidding us (cutting us off; preventing us) to speak to the nations (the ethnic groups; the non-Israelite multitudes; the Gentiles) – to the end that they may be delivered (saved; rescued; healed and made whole) – always [proceeding] unto that which fills up their own failures (errors; deviations; sins)! But inherent fervor (or: swelling passion; teeming desire; or: anger; wrath; agitation of soul) advances upon them unto a purpose (or: on into [the] final act; or: in the end; on into the midst of a destined goal).

⁷ Now upon seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees [two religious and political sects of the Jewish culture] repeatedly or in turn coming upon the immersion (baptism) [event], he said to them, "O offspring (progeny; brood) of vipers (poisonous snakes)! Who secretly pointed out to you people (gave you a private, confidential suggestion) to flee, so as to escape, away from the inherent fervor (the internal swelling that gives rise to an impulse and mental bent which may be expressed in strong emotion, such as anger or wrath; a vigorous upsurge of [God's] nature) which is progressively about to be [demonstrated]?

³⁴ "Offspring ([You] effects of the births) of poisonous snakes (vipers; serpents; [comment: perhaps equating them to satan])! How are you able to habitually say good and virtuous things, being inherently good-for-nothing and useless folks (being worthless and knavish; being folks in a sorry plight and oppressed by grievous toils; existing being base and wicked; continuously being ones characterized by evil)? You see, from out of the midst of the effect of the excess from the heart's surrounding abundance, the mouth is continually speaking.

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. ³⁵ "And then the farmers (vinedressers), upon taking hold of his slaves, thrashed one, killed another, and stoned another.

⁷ However, he [i.e., John] kept on saying to the crowds that were one after another going their way out to be immersed by him, " [You] offsprings (or: Results of the births) of poisonous snakes (vipers), who (or: what) privately suggested (or: secretly showed; pointed out under [cover]) to you folks to be at once taking flight (fleeing) away from the progressively impending inherent fervor (internal swelling towards fruition; agitation of soul; or: anger; wrath)?

³ Yet I continue fearing lest somehow, as the serpent thoroughly deceived (or: seduces; fully deludes) Eve within its capability for every work (its cunning ability in all crafts and actions; its readiness to do anything), the results of directing your minds should be decayed (could be ruined; would be spoiled or corrupted) away from the singleness [of purpose] and simplicity [of being] – even the purity – which [focuses us] into the Christ (or: [leads] into the Anointing).

³ how shall we proceed fleeing out (or: escaping), in not caring for (or: neglecting) so great a deliverance (rescue; healing and restoration to health and wholeness), which – after receiving a beginning (or: a headship and place of ruling; a high estate; a principality [see Jude 6]) to be repeatedly and progressively spoken [of] through the Lord (or: by means of [Christ or Yahweh]) – was made firm into us and was guaranteed as valid by those who heard,

²⁹ By how much worse punishment (= heavier the sentence) do you suppose he will be thought worthy and counted deserving: the one trampling down the Son of God, and considering the blood of the arrangement (or: covenant) common (= profane) – within which he was set-apart (made sacred and holy) – even insulting the Breath-effect of joyous favor (or: Spirit of Grace)?

²⁵ Continue looking, and see! You folks should not at any point ask to the side for yourselves (or: beg for release; decline; refuse; or: = turn your back on) the One continuously speaking (or: the Speaker)! For since (or: if) those asking aside for themselves (begging off; refusing; or: = turning their backs) did not by flight escape (or: flee out from) the one constantly managing (conducting business and instructing) upon earth (or: [the] land), much more we [will not escape], that is those habitually turning ourselves away from the One from [the] atmospheres and heavens,

⁹ And so thrown (or: hurled; cast; tossed) is (or: was) the great dragon, the serpent from the very beginning (or: the original, or ancient, serpent) – the one being continuously called "slanderer" (one who thrusts something through [folks]; false accuser; separator; a "devil;" one who casts something throughout the midst [to cause division]) and the adversary (the opponent; the satan; [p47 and other MSS: one who stands in opposition; a counter-worker]), the one continuously causing the whole inhabited area of the earth to wander (or: that which causes straying; the one continually deceiving). It was (or: is) hurled (thrown; cast; tossed) into the earth (or: Land), and its agents were (or: are) thrown (cast; tossed) with it.

¹⁶ "Now look, and really see this situation: I, Myself, am now sending you folks off – being emissaries on a mission – as sheep within the midst of [a pack of] wolves! Therefore, habitually come to be thoughtful, prudent, cautious and discreet (or: = wary and on the alert; = observant, decisive and timely) – as the snakes [are]; and yet [still] unmixed (pure; = without negative characteristics added) – as the doves [are]. 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.

²³ "Now whenever they may continue chasing you or be repeatedly persecuting you in this [particular] city, proceed taking flight (escaping) into a different one, for, truly – I now say to you folks – you can under no circumstances complete the circuit of (or: finish [visiting]) the cities (or: towns) of Israel until the Son of the Man (humanity's son; = Adam's son; or: = the awaited Messianic figure) should go (or: comes; can come).

⁵² So He said to them, "Therefore (or: That being the situation; For this reason), every scribe (well-trained writer, translator or scholar; or: theologian; expert and instructor in the Law), being one taught, schooled and made a disciple by the reign from the atmospheres (or: in the kingdom of the heavens) exists being (or: is) like a person (a human) – a householder (an owner of a home) – who is habitually extracting and spurting out from the midst of his store of treasures things fresh and new in character and quality, as well as old, well-worn and even obsolete."

¹⁹ "Therefore, while going on your way, instruct and make disciples (at some point enlist students and apprentices) of all the ethnic multitudes (the pagans; the Gentiles; the nations; the non-Israelites), habitually immersing them [i.e., the people (masculine pronoun)] (or: one-after-another [B & D read: at some point] baptizing them to the point of infusion and saturation) into the Name which has reference to, belongs to, has its origin and character in, and which represents, the Father and the Son, as well as the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: the Name from the Father, as well as from the Son, and even which is the Holy Spirit; or: the Name of the Father and of the Son – even of the Holy Spirit; or: the Father's Name, even the Son's, and which pertains to the Sacred Breath; or: the Name belonging to the Father and the Son, and which is the Sacred Attitude; or: the Name of the Father, and then of the Son, and which comes from the se-apart Spirit; or: the Name which represents the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; or: the Name which comes from the Father, belongs to the Son, and corresponds to the Holy result of the Breath), [note: Eusebius gives this as "Go and make disciples of all the nations in my name." – Eusebius: The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine, translated by G. A. Williamson, Barnes & Noble Books, 1995, p 111. Williamson footnotes: "Matt. 28:19, in a simpler, perhaps a more primitive form." comment: this may have been a paraphrase; it may come from a lost MS tradition; it may represent an interpretation of this verse in the early AD 300's; cf Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5] ²⁰ "constantly teaching and progressively training them to habitually watch over, guard, keep and maintain everything (or: all things) – as many things as I Myself implanted as goals (imparted as the finished product within; gave as interior, destiny-laden directives) in and for you folks. And now – look and consider this! – I Myself continuously am (exist being) with you folks all the days, on until the joint-goal (or: the conjunction; the end [of all] brought together; the conclusion, consummation and fruition; the combined finished product and actualization) of the age (or: which is that Age [= the Age of the Messiah]; or: as far as the attending and associated end of this age; or: until the consummation brought by the Age [of Messiah])." [written circa A.D. 40-60 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]

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.

⁴⁷ "and then, upon the [authority and basis of] His Name, a change of mind and thinking – [proceeding, or, leading] into a flowing away of failures (a sending away of mistakes; a forgiveness of sins; a divorcing of the situations of missing the target; an abandonment of guilt; a release from error) – is to be proclaimed by heralds unto all the ethnic multitudes and nations (or: the Gentiles; the non-Israelites), beginning (or: with folks starting) from Jerusalem.

² "They will continue making you outcasts – ones turned away from the synagogues (= they will continue cutting you off from the rights and privileges of the Jewish society). But further, an hour is progressively coming with the result that everyone in the process of killing you folks off may imagine (suppose; hold the opinion of; think) [himself] to be proceeding in presenting (bearing forward) an offering of sacred service to God,

²¹ Then Jesus again said to them, "Peace (or: Harmony and prosperity [= Shalom]) to and for you folks! Correspondingly (or: According; On the same level; In the same sphere; In line with) as the Father has sent Me forth with a mission and as an Emissary (Representative), I Myself also am progressively (or: repeatedly; or: one after another) sending (dispatching) you folks."

⁸ "Nevertheless, you folks will progressively receive power and will continue taking to yourselves ability [at, or with, the] coming of the Set-apart Breath-effect (the Holy Spirit and Sacred Attitude) upon you folks – and you will keep on being My witnesses (those who testify and give evidence of what they have seen and experienced; and later: martyrs; = you will continue telling about Me), both within Jerusalem and within all Judea and Samaria... even as far as [the] end of the Land (or: the extremity and farthest point of the earth)."

⁵⁸ Then after casting [him] forth, outside of the city, they began stoning [him] (throwing stones at him to kill him). And the witnesses put off their outer garments, [depositing them] beside the feet of a certain young man being normally called Saul. ⁵⁹ Then as they continued stoning Stephen, [he] continued making an appeal and repeatedly saying, "O Lord Jesus, at once welcome and receive my breath-effect (or: spirit)!"

¹ Now Saul, still continuously inhaling and breathing (or: in-spiriting and blowing [out]; animated with the spirit of) threatening and murder (or: slaughter) into the midst of the Lord's [= Yahweh's or Christ's] disciples (or: students; learners), after going to the head (chief; ranking) priest, ² requested from him letters [to take] into Damascus – to the synagogues – so that if he should be finding anyone being [a part] of (or: belonging to) the Way (or: the Path; the Road), he could lead [them] – both men and women – bound, into Jerusalem.

²⁷ Now during these days prophets (folks having light ahead of time who spoke this light before folks) came (or: went) down from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

² And so he took up Jacob (or: James), the brother of John, and assassinated [him] with a (or: by [the]) sword.

¹ Now there were prophets (folks who had light ahead of time and spoke it before folks) and teachers within the midst of Antioch, down in (or: corresponding to; or: to accord with) the called-out community currently being [there]: both Barnabas and Simeon – the one normally being called " [the] Black" (or: Niger) – as well as Lucius, the man from Cyrene (a Greek colony in north Africa; or: Cyrenian, being the name of another man there), and Manaen (or: Manahen) – a person who was brought up with (or: a foster brother of; a childhood companion of; one educated and nurtured with) Herod, the tetrarch (provincial or district ruler) – and Saul.

³² Both Judah and Silas – they also being prophets – assisted, gave relief to, comforted and encouraged the brothers (= fellow believers; members) through much discourse, and they established [them] (or: they helped and made the brothers to settle and rest upon [the Logos; the Word] through many a word, thought and idea).

¹⁹ "And so I myself said, 'Lord, they themselves continue being well-versed and understand that in one synagogue after another I myself was repeatedly imprisoning and flaying (flogging) the folks trusting and believing upon You. ²⁰ "'Then when the blood of Stephen, Your witness, was being progressively poured out, I myself was also standing by and continuing in consenting (approving; endorsing) as well as guarding the outer garments of those in the process of assassinating (murdering) him.'

⁶ Now we habitually speak wisdom among the mature folks (or: in the midst of the finished, complete, or perfect ones who have arrived at the goal; or: = among "initiates," or destined ones), yet not a wisdom of or from this age, neither of the rulers (chief people; leaders) of this age – of or from those progressively and successively being brought down to idleness and ineffective uselessness (= being one by one fired from their jobs; or: gradually nullified and rendered inoperative).

¹⁰ Corresponding to, in accord with and to the level of God's grace and favor [which are] being given to (or: by) me, as a skillful master-carpenter (a wise chief-builder; a clever head-artisan; [the] learned and insightful leading-builder; wise architect, engineer or foreman; a wise originating begetter) I lay [other MSS: have laid] a foundation (or: laid a foundation [Stone]), yet another is progressively building a house upon [it]. Now let each one continue watching to observe (= take care) how he keeps on building the house upon [it] (or: upon the house),

³ Wherefore, I am now proceeding to make known to you folks that no one – speaking within God's Spirit (or: speaking in union with the Breath-effect of God; speaking in the sphere of a Breath which is God) – is in the habit of saying, "Jesus [is] a result of something set up as an offering to a deity (or thus: Jesus [is] accursed)!" And no one is able (normally has power) to say, "Jesus [is] Lord (or: Lord Jesus; perhaps: = Jesus [is] Yahweh)!" except within and in union with [the] Holy Spirit (or: in a set-apart and consecrated spirit and attitude; in [the] Sacred Breath). ⁴ Now there continue being different distributions (divided-out apportionments) of the effects of favor and the results of grace, yet the same Spirit (Breath-effect; Attitude), ⁵ and there are different distributions of attending services (divided-out apportionments of dispensings), and yet the same Lord (or: Owner; Master; [= Christ or Yahweh]); ⁶ also there continue being different distributions of the results of inner workings and the effects of inward operations, and still, the same God – the One continuously working inwardly and progressively activating all things within and in union with all people (or: constantly energizing and operating the whole within the midst of all things). ⁷ Yet in, to, for and with each person the manifestation (clear display in light) of the Breath-effect (or: from the Spirit) is continuously being given [with a view] to and [leading] toward progressively bringing [folks or things] together, face-to-face with the constant mutual bearing-together for benefit, advantage, expedience and the common good [of all]. ⁸ For you see, on the one hand, in (or: to; for; with; by) one person a word (a thought, message or expression; [the] reason) of wisdom (or: a wise idea) is repeatedly or from time-to-time or progressively being given. In (or: To; For; With; By) another person, on the other hand, [is given] a word (thought; message; expression; [the] reason) of intimate, experiential knowledge, insight or realization (gnosis) – in accord with (or: down from; in the sphere of; in line with) the same Breath (or: Spirit). ⁹ In (To; For; With; By) a different person [is given] faith (trust; loyalty; belief; conviction; trustworthiness), within and in union with the same effect of the Breath (or: Spirit; Attitude); yet in (to; for; by; with) another the effects of grace, and the results of joyous favor, which result in healings – within and in union with the one Breath-effect (or: Spirit; Attitude). ¹⁰ Yet in (to; for) another person [is given] the effects and results of inner workings and operations of abilities, powers and influences; still in (to; for; by) another [is given] a prophecy (or: light ahead of time), and in (to; for; by) another [is given] thorough discernings, distinguishings or discriminations pertaining to spirits (or: separations from spirits throughout [oneself]; [the] siftings and complete separations which lead to a thorough decision or judgment of spirits or attitudes). Yet, in (to; for; by) a different person [are given] races and species (families and classes) of languages (or: tongues), then in (to; for; by) another one [are given] translations and interpretations of languages (tongues). ¹¹ Now the one and the same Spirit (or: Breath-effect; Attitude) is habitually working within (energizing, activating and operating) all these things, constantly dividing, apportioning and distributing in (to; for) each person his own [effect of grace], correspondingly as He progressively intends (is habitually willing; continuously purposes).

²⁴ Five times by Jews I received forty [stripes; lashes], less one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked – I have done night and day within the midst of the depth [of the sea], even hitting bottom;

⁸ For this reason He (or: it) is constantly saying, "Going up (or: Stepping up; Ascending) into a height (unto [the] summit) He led (or: leads) captive a captive multitude (or: He led 'captivity' captive). He gave (or: gives) gifts to mankind (or: to, for and in humanity)." [Ps. 68:18] ⁹ Now (or: Yet) this "He went up (ascended),"what is it if not (or: except) that He also [first] descended (stepped down) into the lower parts (or: the under regions) of the earth (or: land)? ¹⁰ The One stepping down (descending) is Himself also the One stepping up (ascending) far above (back up over) all of the heavens (or: atmospheres; skies), to the end that He would at once fill the Whole (permeate and saturate everything; or: make all things full; bring all things to full measure and completion). ¹¹ And He Himself at one point gave (or: gives; [p46: has given and it now exists as a gift]), on the one hand (or: indeed), the folks sent off with a commission (the emissaries; the representatives), yet also those who have light ahead of time andspeak it before others (the prophets), and on the other hand those who announce goodness and well-being and bring good news, and then the shepherds, and finally teachers (or: the shepherds-and-instructors), ¹² facing and with a viewtoward the bringing down of the fresh and timely, for the preparation (mending; knitting together; adjusting; fitting; repairing; perfectly adjusting adaptation; equipping; completely furnishing) of the set-apart folks (the saints; the holy ones) untoa work (or: into an action; into the midst of a deed or task) of attending service, [leading] unto (or: into) construction (house-building) of the body which is the Christ (or: whose source, character and quality is from the Anointed One; or: the body formed by the Anointing),

²⁸ Whom [other MSS: Which] we ourselves habitually proclaim down the line (or: announce in accord with the pattern), constantly putting [Him] into the minds of every person (or: human) and repeatedly teaching every person (or: human), within the sphere of all wisdom, to the intent that we may place every person (or: human) finished (mature; perfect with respect to purpose; complete; as having reached the goal of destiny) by [our] side, within and in union with Christ [other MSS add: Jesus],

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) –

¹⁰ And so the folks continuously having a house down upon the earth (or: the ones normally dwelling upon the Land) are continuously rejoicing upon them, and they will continue being gladdened (or: made happy) and will proceed sending presents to each other, because these, the two prophets, tested and examined (applied the touchstone to test the purity of the metal of) those continuously having a house down upon the earth (or: ground).

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.

⁴ In faith, by trust, with loyal confidence and to express faithful allegiance, Abel offered to God much more of a sacrifice than (or: compared to) Cain, through which he was given witness (a testimony) to be one in accord with the Way pointed out, with fairness and equity in rightwised relationship (a just one), God's continuous witnessing [being] upon his gifts [with other MSS: a continual testimony upon his gifts, by and in God]; and through it [i.e., faith and God's testimony] he, being dead, is still continuously speaking.

²⁴ and in (or: to) Jesus, a Medium (or: an agency; an intervening substance; a middle state; one in a middle position; a go-between; an Umpire; a Mediator) of a new and fresh (young; recently-born) arrangement (covenant; settlement; a deposit which moves throughout in every direction; a placing through the midst; a will and testament), and to and in blood of sprinkling, and to One continuously speaking something superior to (or: stronger and better than) Abel.

¹¹ because this is the message [other MSS: promise; or: complete announcement] which you heard (or: hear) from [the] beginning, so that we are habitually (or: to the end that we would or could progressively be) loving (accepting and participating in) one another – ¹² not [living] like (or: not just as) Cain. He was existing, and continued being, from out of the condition (or: situation; or: one; thing; = influence) causing misery and hard labor (the unprofitable attitude; the worthless mindset; the wicked intent; the toilsome situation; the sorry plight), and so he slaughtered (killed by cutting his jugular vein) his brother. And on what score (or: for what pleasure) did he slaughter him? Because his works (actions) were gushed with misery and hard labor (were wicked or evil; were toilsome; were unprofitable and worthless), but those of his brother [were] ones in accord with the Way pointed out (just ones; righteous ones; fair and equitable ones; rightwised ones).

²⁴ And within her was (or: is) found blood of prophets and of set-apart folks – even of all those having been slaughtered upon the Land (or: earth). [comment: cf Matt. 23:34-38]

³⁴ "It is true (Amen; Truly; Count on it), I now say to you folks, that this generation can by no means pass by until all these things can happen (should occur; may be come to be).

³⁰ "Truly I am now saying to you folks that this generation may under no circumstances pass on by until which [time; situation] all these things should come to be (occur; happen; be birthed). ³¹ "The heaven and the earth (or: The sky and the land) will progressively pass on by, yet My words (or: thoughts and ideas; messages) will under no circumstances pass on by.

³² "I now proceed telling you that this very generation can under no circumstances pass on by (or: may by no means pass along) until all these things can happen (or: should occur). ³³ "The sky and the land (or: This heaven and earth) will be progressively passing on by, yet My words (thoughts and ideas; or: messages) will under no circumstances proceed to be passing on by.

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.

³ "And then he sent off his slaves with the mission to call the folks having been invited unto the marriage festivities – and yet, they continued unwilling to go (or: kept on, one after another, not intending or desiring to come; = not wanting to attend).

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

³⁰ "and you are habitually saying, 'If we had been existing in the days of our fathers (= ancestors), we would not have been participants (partners; ones who shared in common and took part) in [spilling] the blood of the prophets.'

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.'

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]! ³⁵ "Look and consider this – your house (or: House; = the Temple; or: household [a figure of the entire people]) is being progressively left and abandoned [other MSS add: {and} desolate – depopulated like a desert; cf Jer. 22:5] to you people (or: is habitually sent away because of you; or: is repeatedly forgiven for you folks)! So I am now saying to you folks that under no circumstances may you see Me, until you can (or: should; would) say, 'The One progressively coming in union with [the] Lord's Name [= in the authority of the Name of Yahweh] is One having been blessed with good words of ease and wellbeing!'" [Ps. 118:26]

¹⁷ "So he sent off his slave on an errand, at the hour of the dinner, to say to those having been invited, 'Be now progressively coming, because already the results of [our] preparation are ready.' ¹⁸ "And then one by one (or: from one [mind or motive]) they all began to proceed in making excuses and to beg off with declining requests. The first one said to him, 'I just bought a field and I continue having necessity of going out to see it. I am now asking you, Have me excused.' ¹⁹ "And a different person said, 'I just bought five yokes (= pairs; teams) of oxen (or: cattle), and I am presently on my way to prove them (to examine and test them out), I am now asking you, Have me excused.' ²⁰ "Then still another person said, 'I just married a wife, and because of this, I am unable to come.'

²⁸ "But now the [older brother] swelled with internal teeming, expressing his natural disposition with agitation and irritation (or: grew angry or enraged), and then was not willing (or: wanting; intending) to enter. So his father, upon coming out, began calling him to his side and continued entreating him.

¹⁴ "Now (or: However) his fellow citizens began hating (or: continued with ill-will against) him, and so they sent off a delegation (a body of ambassadors) after him [note: presumably to the one who was to make him a king], as a group [to be] saying, 'We continue not wanting or intending this man to reign as king upon (or: over) us.' ¹⁵ "Later, after receiving and taking (or: obtaining) the kingdom and its reign, it occurred within the [situation for] him to come back that he spoke [a directive for] these slaves – to whom he had given the silver coins – to be summoned to him so that he might personally come to know what they gained by trading and conducting business. ¹⁶ "So the first one happened along, saying, 'Master (or: Sir), your mina worked itself and earned ten more minas!' ¹⁷ "Then he said to him, 'Well done, [you are] an excellent slave! Because you came to be faithful and trustworthy in a least thing (= a small matter), be constantly holding (or: having) top authority over ten towns (or: cities).' ¹⁸ "Next came the second one, saying, 'Your mina, sir (master), made five minas.' ¹⁹ "So he to this one, also, 'And you, yourself, progressively come to be on top of five towns (or: cities).' ²⁰ "And then the different one came, saying, 'Sir (or: Master), look! [Here is] your mina which I continued having lying away reserved (or: stored) within a handkerchief (or: piece of cloth). ²¹ "'You see, I was constantly fearing and wary of you, because you are a harsh person (or: an austere, severe, demanding man). You habitually take or pick up what you did not deposit, and you are repeatedly reaping what you did not sow.' ²² "He is then saying to him, 'From out of your own mouth I am now deciding about you, you worthless (good-for-nothing; malignant) slave! You had seen so as to know, did you, that I, myself, am a harsh person – constantly withdrawing what I did not deposit and repeatedly reaping what I did not sow (or: plant)? ²³ "'And so why (through what reason or circumstance) did you not give my silver coin upon a table (= with the money changers, or, at a bank), and I, upon coming, could make a transaction with it – together with what it produced (offspring; = interest)?' ²⁴ "And so, he said to those standing by, 'Take the mina away from him and give [it] to the one now having the ten minas.' ²⁵ "'But master,' they interposed to him, 'he [already] now has ten minas!' ²⁶ "'I continue saying to you people, that to everyone presently and habitually possessing (having and holding), [more] will be given; yet from the one not presently or habitually possessing (having or holding), that which he continues holding [onto] will be lifted up and taken away. 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!'" ²⁸ And then, after saying these things, He began to make His way, ahead [of the crowd] and in front [of them], progressively walking up into Jerusalem. ²⁹ Then it came to pass, as He neared Bethphage and Bethany – at (or: facing toward) the mountain being normally called Olivet (or: the Mount of Olives) – [that] He sent off two of the disciples on a mission, saying, ³⁰ "Be now going, under [these directions], down into the village facing [us] within which, after entering, you will find a colt tied [there] – one upon which not even one person at any time sat down. And then, after loosing [it], lead it [here]. ³¹ "And if anyone may be asking you, 'Why (For what [purpose]) are you now loosing [it]?' you will respond in this way, 'The Lord (or: Master) is now having need of it.'" ³² So, after leaving, those who were sent off found [it] just as He told them. ³³ Now upon their having loosed the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you now loosing the colt?" ³⁴ So they said, "The Lord (or: Master) is now having need of it." ³⁵ Then they led it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks (or: outer garments) upon the colt, they mounted Jesus on [it]. ³⁶ Now then, during His traveling along, folks began strewing, scattering and spreading out their cloaks and outer garments on the path, under [Him]. ³⁷ But at His already progressively drawing near to the road descending the slope from the Mount of Olives, the entire multitude of the disciples started continuously rejoicing – to be repeatedly praising God, in a great (or: loud) voice, concerning all of the powers and abilities (= works and deeds of power) which they had seen and perceived, ³⁸ repeatedly and one after another saying, "Having been spoken well of and blessed [is] the One presently and progressively coming in [the authority of] and in union with the Name of [the] Lord [= Yahweh]: the King! [Ps. 118:26] Peace and shalom within the midst of heaven (or: in [the] atmosphere), and a manifestation which calls forth praise (or: glory and a good reputation) in union with the highest places, and in [the authority of the] highest Ones!" ³⁹ Then some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, at once give [your] valued advice to your disciples [to restrain and silence them]!" ⁴⁰ And yet, giving discerning and decided response, He said, "I am now saying to you folks, If these people will proceed to be silent and continue keeping quiet, the stones will proceed crying out, screaming and exclaiming (or: breaking into cheers)!" 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."

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 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),

⁷ Now whenever they may complete (finish; make an end of) their witness (or: testimony), the little animal (or: beast) – the one repeatedly climbing up (or: ascending) out of the Deep – will proceed making war (or: do battle) with them, and will progressively overcome (or: conquer) them, and then will proceed in killing them. ⁸ And so their fallen dead body will be upon [other MSS: And their fall will be into] the broad place (street; square; plaza) of The Great City – whatever, spiritually, is normally being called (or: named) "Sodom" and "Egypt" – where also their Lord was crucified (or: where their Lord, also, was executed on a torture stake).

⁶ Then I saw the woman, being continuously drunk from out of the blood of the set-apart folks and from out of the blood of the witnesses of Jesus, and seeing her I wondered (marveled) a great wonder (or: I wondered, “ [It is] a great marvel!”).

² Yet He, giving a decided response, says to them, "You are not looking at all these things, are you (or: Do you not observe all this)? Truly (or: Count on it; or: Assuredly), I am now saying to you folks, there can under no circumstances be a stone left or allowed to be upon [another] stone which will not be progressively loosed down to bring utter destruction."

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).

³⁵ "Look and consider this – your house (or: House; = the Temple; or: household [a figure of the entire people]) is being progressively left and abandoned [other MSS add: {and} desolate – depopulated like a desert; cf Jer. 22:5] to you people (or: is habitually sent away because of you; or: is repeatedly forgiven for you folks)! So I am now saying to you folks that under no circumstances may you see Me, until you can (or: should; would) say, 'The One progressively coming in union with [the] Lord's Name [= in the authority of the Name of Yahweh] is One having been blessed with good words of ease and wellbeing!'" [Ps. 118:26]

⁶ He said, "These things at which you folks continue gazing with attentive interest – days will progress in coming in which a stone will not continue being left here upon a stone, which will not be progressively loosed down in complete destruction."

²⁰ "Now later, when you folks see Jerusalem being continuously surrounded by encamped armies, at that time realize and know from that experience that her desolation has drawn near and is now present.

²⁴ "And so, folks will keep on falling by [the] mouth of a sword, and [others] will proceed being led captive into all the nations (or: into the midst to unite with every ethnic group) – and Jerusalem will continue being progressively trampled by and under pagans (non-Jews; those of the nations) until where they can (or: should) be fulfilled. And then there will progress being seasons of the ethnic multitudes (or: fitting situations pertaining to the nations; or: occasions which have the qualities and characteristics of the pagans; or: fertile moments with regard to non-Jews). [cf Rev. 11]

¹³ Here they set up (or: put on the stand) false witnesses, one after another saying, "This man is not ceasing from continually speaking gush-effects (or: declarations) down against this set-apart (or: holy; sacred) place and the Law. ¹⁴ "For instance, we have heard him repeatedly saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy (demolish; dismantle) this place and he will change the customs which Moses handed down to (and: for) us."

⁹ By now the crowds who were proceeding – progressively leading ahead of Him – as well as those who were continuing in following, kept on crying out, repeatedly saying, "O save us now by (or: Hosanna to) the Son of David! The One progressively coming in [the] Lord's [= Yahweh's] Name is One having been blessed with words of ease and wellness. O save us, among the highest ones (or: Hosanna within the midst of the highest places)!" [Ps. 118:25-26]

²⁶ Furthermore, it was for (or: to; in) him – having been transacted by dealings by (or: under) the set-apart Breath-effect (or: the Holy Spirit; the Sacred Attitude) – to not see or know death before he would see and know the Christ of [the] Lord (= Yahweh's Anointed One, the Messiah). ²⁷ And so, within the midst of the Breath-effect and in union with the Spirit (or: in the midst of the Sacred Attitude) he came into the Temple courts (or: grounds). And within the [situation for] the parents to bring the little boy Jesus, for them to do and perform according to and in correspondence with the practice having been done by custom of the Law concerning Him, ²⁸ he, himself, then received Him into [his] arms and spoke good words about God, and said, ²⁹ "At this time (or: Right now) you are in the process of loosing away, releasing and freeing Your slave, O Sovereign Owner, corresponding to Your gush-effect, in union with Peace (the result of the declaration flowing from You within the midst of peace [= shalom]). ³⁰ "because my eyes see and perceive Your Deliverance (Your Salvation; Your Safety; Your Health and Wholeness; Your Restoration to the original state and condition),

²² "All mankind and All things were given over to Me by and under My Father, and yet no one is in constant, intimate, experiential knowledge of Who the Son is (exists being), except the Father, nor Who is the Father, except the Son – and whomsoever the Son is now wanting and continuing intending to at some point unveil (uncover; reveal; disclose) [Him]." ²³ And then, being turned toward the disciples, He said privately, "Happy and blessed [are] the eyes [that] are constantly observing and seeing the things which you folks are now continually observing and seeing,

²² Now later, He said to the disciples, "Days will proceed in coming when you folks will continue strongly yearning and desiring to see one of the days of the Son of the Man (the Son of Mankind; = Adam's Son; = the anticipated eschatological messianic figure) – and yet you will not continue (or: proceed to be) seeing [it].

²¹ Then He [p66c & others: Jesus] again said to them, "I Myself am progressively leading the way under (or: I am Myself proceeding to withdraw and go away), and so you folks will continue looking for Me (or: seek to find Me) and you yourselves will progressively (or: one after another) die and decay within your errors (failures; misses of the target; deviations; sins). Under where I Myself progressively lead the way (or: To where I am Myself proceeding to withdraw and go away) you folks continue having no power (or: are presently unable) to go (or: to come)."

²⁴ "Therefore I said to you that you will progressively die and decay within your errors (failures; sins; times of falling short or to the side of the target), for, unless you come to trust and believe that I, Myself, am (or: that, as for Me, I exist and continue being; or; that I am Myself Existence and Being), you folks will progressively die and rot within your failures (sins; etc.)!"

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

⁹ Jesus is then saying to him, "I continue being (I am) with you folks so much time, and you have not come to intimately and experientially know Me, Philip? The one having seen Me has seen, and now perceives, the Father! How are you now saying, 'Show us the Father'?

¹⁹ "Yet a little [while; longer] and the System (world; religious and secular society; ordered arrangement) no longer continues viewing (attentively watching) Me, but YOU people are constantly watching (attentively and contemplatively viewing) Me. Because I Myself am continuously living, you folks will also continue living [other MSS: will also of, or in, yourselves continue living].

²⁵ For I am not willing for you folks to continue being ignorant of this secret (or: mystery), brothers (= fellow believers; family), in order that you folks may not continue being prudent, thoughtful or discreet by [other MSS: among or within; other MSS: beside] yourselves (= be conceited), that a petrifying, from a part (a stone-like hardening in some measure; a callousness [extending over] a part), has been birthed and come into existence in Israel (or: has happened to Israel) until which [time] (or: to the point of which [situation]) the effect of the full measure (or: the results of the entire contents; or: = the full impact and full compliment of forces) from the nations (or: of the ethnic multitudes) may enter in. [comment: Does the last clause refer to the entrance of the Roman legions into Jerusalem? Or, is this referring to the fullness of all ethnic multitudes, which now includes Israel, entering into the kingdom, since vs. 32, below, says that God has locked up all mankind in disobedience, etc., so as to have mercy upon all?]

¹⁴ But further, the results of their mental conceptions, intellectual workings and thought processes were petrified (made to be a stony concretion; were hardened and made callous [note: the word became a medical term for being covered with thick skin]), for until this very day the same head-covering (veil) continues remaining (dwelling; abiding) upon the reading of the old covenant (arrangement; thorough placement) – it [i.e., the reading of the old, or the old covenant itself] continues not being uncovered or unveiled – because it [i.e., the old covenant and arrangement] continues being progressively and fully unemployed and brought down to doing no work and being made useless, ineffective and nullified within Christ (or: = the old arrangement and covenant is nullified in union with [the] Anointing, and in the midst of Christ). ¹⁵ Still furthermore, until today, whenever Moses should be repeatedly read [e.g., in the synagogue], a head-covering (veil) continues lying upon their heart (= the innermost being of the group). ¹⁶ Yet whenever the time should be reached when it [= the heart] would (or: can; may; should; or: shall at some point) twist and turn upon, so as to face toward, [the] Lord [= Christ], "the head-covering (veil) is by habit progressively taken from around [it]." [note: a quote of Ex. 34:34 LXX, where Moses would enter in to speak with Yahweh; the same act was performed by the husband, on the bride, after the wedding ceremony] ¹⁷ Now the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] continuously exists being the Spirit (or: Yet the Breath-effect is the Lord), so where [the] Lord's Breath-effect (Spirit; Attitude) [blows, there is] freedom (or: and so in the place in which the Breath-effect – the Spirit – which is [the] Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] [blows], liberty [comes]). ¹⁸ But we all, ourselves – having a face that has been uncovered and remains unveiled [note: as with Moses, before the Lord, Ex. 34:34] – being folks who by a mirror are continuously observing, as ourselves, the Lord's [= Yahweh's or Christ's] glory (or: being those who progressively reflect – from ourselves as by a mirror – the glory of [our] Owner), are presently being continuously and progressively transformed into the very same image, from glory into glory – in accord with and exactly as – from [the] Lord's Breath-effect (or: from [the] Spirit and Attitude of [the] Lord [= Christ or Yahweh]). [comment: considering the context of this chapter, this may refer to the transformation from glory of Moses, into the glory of Christ; or, it may be speaking of a from time to time transfiguration from the glory of humanity into the glory of the Anointing, on an individual basis]