Monday, February 18, 2013

Matthew 5:28

"but I say unto you, that every one who doth view-cast on a woman to on-feel after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Some verses of Scripture seem particularly prone to misinterpretation.  Or to strange and even esoteric application.  Through ultra-literal translation, the Etymological New Testament provides a way for us to take our time as we consider Jesus' teaching on adultery. 

Two words of interest in this verse are "view-cast" and "on-feel."  Through literal translation of the Greek components of these words, the ENT helps suggest the nature of this adultery of the heart.  In both cases, the Greek text uses intensifiers:  view-casting and on-feeling.  This is an action and mental state that require time and prolonged focus of our heart.  The issue for Jesus in this passage is not casual interest, but something much more intense.  To stay after someone with "on-feel" is to begin to cross the line of healthy sexuality. 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Matthew 5:25

"Well-mind with thy adversary quickly, while thou art with the same, in the way; lest the adversary beside-give thee to the judge, and the judge beside-give thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."

Jesus' instruction in this verse above is to come to terms, to be reconciled with your adversary.  The Etymological New Testament provides the ultra-literal translation "well-mind" for this sense of concord we are to reach with those who consider themselves our opponents. Coming to a place of agreement, of wellness with those who work against us: this can be a way forward in tough situations.  If we do not make the effort to "well-mind" with an adversary, then we may find ourselves "beside-given", derailed to our own prison, entrapped by our own hubris. 

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Matt 5:21

"You have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in-had of judgment:"

The Greek word that the Etymological New Testament translates as "in-had" is often rendered "danger" by many versions in this passage.  The ENT's translation reflects the literal two part Greek word that means to hold or have very closely. In Hebrews 2, the word is usually translated as "bondage" rather than danger or guilt.  In the papyrus, the word is used of a broad range of things that can bind us to themselves.  That binding agent can be something like killing (as in the verse above) or zeal or even passionate love. 

In the verse above, Jesus makes the observation that the act of killing binds us with judgment.  We are "in-had" of judgment.  Similarly, as the next verse will show, it is our core thoughts and attitudes which bind us to certain outcomes in our lives.  We can be bound to love...or to its opposite.