"that you may be children of your Abba who is in upward-vision: for the same maketh the sun to rise on the misery-gushing and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust."
After teaching us love our enemies and to "toward-good-have" those who persecute us, Jesus make clear the result of this non-violent love: we are then children of our Abba who is in upward-vision. And this is the same One who oversees the indiscriminate sunlight. Rather than "the evil and the righteous", the Etymological New Testament has more literally "the misery-gushing" and "the just." There are those humans who are passionate about justice/righteousness. And there are those who gush with misery/evil. Yet, upward-vision's sunlight blesses all. And so should we.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
Matthew 5:43, 44
"You have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy; but I say unto you, love your enemies, and toward-good-have for those who persecute you."
There had been a time when Israel understood that they were to kill their enemy without pity: men, women, children and suckling babe. 1 Samuel 15. Nursing children were to be exterminated for what their ancestors had done almost four centuries previous. Now Jesus brings a new message and increasing light.
Part of this new message is that we are to "toward-good-have" for those who persecute us. This three part Greek word is translated with hyphens in the Etymological New Testament. Typically "prayer", this word indicates that we are to hold others (even those who hate us) in goodness or well-being. This is the concrete practice of loving one's enemies: the willingness to pray or hold them toward the good.
There had been a time when Israel understood that they were to kill their enemy without pity: men, women, children and suckling babe. 1 Samuel 15. Nursing children were to be exterminated for what their ancestors had done almost four centuries previous. Now Jesus brings a new message and increasing light.
Part of this new message is that we are to "toward-good-have" for those who persecute us. This three part Greek word is translated with hyphens in the Etymological New Testament. Typically "prayer", this word indicates that we are to hold others (even those who hate us) in goodness or well-being. This is the concrete practice of loving one's enemies: the willingness to pray or hold them toward the good.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Matthew 5:40, 41
"And if any human would go to law with thee, and take away thy tunic, from-let to him thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, under-lead with him two."
Jesus had already taught that, as we resist evil, we are to resist it non-violently. And now he gets specific. If any human (the Etymological New Testament differentiates "male" from "human" in the Greek text) uses the law to take your undergarment, then "from-let" to him your outer garment. The Greek word often translated "to forgive" comes from a two part word meaning literally "to let go from." Whether it is someone else' wrongs or our own outer garment, there are times to "from-let." In this verse, it is a way to resist evil without employing violence.
In the same way the ENT translates ultra-literally with the word "under-lead." By acquiescing to being compelled to go a mile, we begin to transform the relationship from victim/abuser to something new.
In addition to providing interesting information about etymologies, the ENT also allows the reader to see how the same word is uses in a variety of passages where it simply cannot be translated by the same English word. It is fascinating to read the New Testament and see the number of things that we are to "from-let."
Jesus had already taught that, as we resist evil, we are to resist it non-violently. And now he gets specific. If any human (the Etymological New Testament differentiates "male" from "human" in the Greek text) uses the law to take your undergarment, then "from-let" to him your outer garment. The Greek word often translated "to forgive" comes from a two part word meaning literally "to let go from." Whether it is someone else' wrongs or our own outer garment, there are times to "from-let." In this verse, it is a way to resist evil without employing violence.
In the same way the ENT translates ultra-literally with the word "under-lead." By acquiescing to being compelled to go a mile, we begin to transform the relationship from victim/abuser to something new.
In addition to providing interesting information about etymologies, the ENT also allows the reader to see how the same word is uses in a variety of passages where it simply cannot be translated by the same English word. It is fascinating to read the New Testament and see the number of things that we are to "from-let."
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