Thursday, February 23, 2012

John 1:38,39

"And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What do you seek?

And they said said unto him, My-Much (which is to say, being after-translated, Teacher), Where abideth thou?

He saith unto them, Be coming and be perceiving."

The Etymological New Testament translates as "My-Much" rather than as Rabbi in order to reflect the very literal Aramaic components of the word typically translated as Rabbi.  And we gain, perhaps, a little insight into why Jesus taught (in Matthew 23) that we should not call someone "My-Much."

In answer to their basic question about him, Jesus replied with something close to an invitation.  The ENT once again makes the present tense emphatic in Jesus' answer: Be coming and be perceiving. A continuous invitation to see and understand!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

John 1:35,36

"Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his learners; and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Be perceiving the Lamb of Placer!"

The Greek word usually translated "disciple" comes from the root sense of "to learn", not "to be disciplined."  The Etymological New Testament is ultra-literal in translating MATHETES as "learner."  In this case it was two persons. who were learning from John, who heard his cry concerning Jesus.

When significant, the ENT makes the Greek present tense explicit. In this passage, John issues a challenge: Be perceiving.  Continually, habitually perceive this Lamb of Placer.  The very literal and emphatic language makes our necessary practice clear.  Our need is for non-stop perception of Jesus as Lamb.  

Sunday, February 12, 2012

John 1:33

"And I had not perceived him: but the one who sent me to dip in water, the same said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt perceive the Wind down-stepping, and abiding upon him, the same is he who is dipping in Holy Wind."

John had not perceived Jesus, not really.  But just as surely as John knew his 'sending' to dip in water, so he knew that he would see one upon whom the Wind would descend or, ultra-literally, "down-step" as in the Etymological New Testament.  Like John, we must be open and sensitive to the wind, its motions and swirling patterns.  More importantly, whereas John's ministry of dipping in water was a transient thing, this being dipped in Holy Wind is "abiding."   So, the wind helps us to know.  And, it is that in which we are plunged.


And when these things happen, we will perceive Jesus.