Blog Archives

May 30th, 2026

5/30/2026

This Sunday’s title may be the First Sunday after Pentecost, but it is more widely known as Trinity Sunday. This is the Sunday which is given as a reminder of the foundational teaching that God is certainly one God, yet he is also three “Persons”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The word “triune” tries to get across this amazing point of the three in one. The Gospel Reading for this Sunday is commonly known as the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). It contains the mandate to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is also the Sunday when the Athanasian Creed is confessed, and much could be said about that Creed, especially since it is not well known. Fortunately there are some helpful introductory words about that Creed in the Lutheran Service Book.

Within the writings of this website, we are currently going through the Gospel according to John, translating a section of the text at a time in a unique way, in the order in which it appears in the text, without skipping any parts. We are currently in what has been called chapter twelve of that Gospel account.

If you are familiar with the writings of this website, you would know that it has been stated many times that the texts are translated in an EXTREMELY literal fashion. There are certainly countless ways to translate a text. That particular type of translation will be defined in the next two paragraphs. If you are familiar with this style of translation, you may bypass the next two paragraphs.

The first significant thing to mention regarding the description of this type of translation is that the verse numbers will not be included within the text itself. Both the chapter numbers and verse numbers were added quite later after the text was written, and they are certainly helpful when someone is searching for a particular text, but the structure they imply is not always helpful. These numerical designations tend to focus the reader on the very beginning of the text, where the writer started, and that is usually not be the most important thing that the writer wants the reader to remember. The words are much more important than the numbers, and often those words lead the reader near the middle and/or the end in some way.

It should also be noted that the words with hyphens occur when more than one English word is used to describe a single word of the ancient Greek. And some of the words chosen below are meant to point out the close connection that often occurs between the English and Greek languages. (The word “phone” will come up again; hopefully that is not too distracting.) It is also important to mention that the order of the words below is also the same order that is in the ancient Greek. This may help to show the important words, especially when another word besides the verb is first in the sentence or phrase. (The verb is usually first in Greek.) Sometimes this emphasis is shown with a “(!)”. The exception to this translation order is that there are just a small number of words (like “therefore”, “now”) that are usually second in a sentence that are meant to be first when translated. It should be said that repetition of words should be noted as another type of emphasis. One more thing to mention is that the verbs in capital letters are called HISTORICAL PRESENTS. That is when a verb in a past tense is expected, but a verb in the present tense is given. This special characteristic of some of the verbs has been explained elsewhere in these writings, and it may be helpful to read some of the other writings of this website. With all of the above things to consider, it will probably be helpful to have another translation or a study bible nearby as you read the text below.

So what follows is an EXTREMELY literal translation of a part of what has been called the twelfth chapter of the Gospel according to John (12:20-36), with Jesus just having entered Jerusalem on what is now known as Palm Sunday. We are getting very near the end:

Now  they-were  Hellenists,  some  out-of  the-ones  going-up,  in-order-that  they-might-kiss-toward  in  the  Feast;  therefore  these(!),  they-came-toward  to-Philip,  the-one  from  Bethsaida  of-the  Galilee,  and  they-were-asking  him  saying,  “Lord,  we-want  the  Jesus  to-see.”

HE-COMES,  the  Philip,  and  HE-SAYS  to-the  Andrew;  HE-COMES  Andrew  and  Philip,  and  THEY-SAY  to-the  Jesus.  Now  the  Jesus(!),  HE-ANSWERS  them  saying,  “It-has-come,  the  hour,  in-order-that  he-may-be-glorified,  the  Son  of-the  Anthropoid.  Amen,  amen,  I-am-saying  to-you,  if  not  the  grain  of-the  wheat,  having-fallen  into  the  ground,  it-dies;  it,  alone,  it-remains;  now  if  it-dies,  much  fruit  it-bears;  the-one  brotherly-loving  the  psyche  of-him,  he-loses  it,  and  the  one-hating  the  psyche  of-him  in  the  cosmos,  this  into  life  eternal  he-will-guard  it. If  me,  anyone  deacons,  me  let-him-follow,  and  where  I-am,  I,  there  also  the  deacon,  the  my,  he-will-be;  if  anyone,  me  deacons,  he-will-honor  him,  the  Father.  Presently  the  psyche  of-me  it-has-been-troubled,  and  what  may-I-say?  Father  save  me  out-of  the  hour,  this?  But-on-the-contrary,  on-account-of  this  I-came  into  the  hour,  this.  Father,  doxa  of-you,  the  name.”

Therefore  it-came,  a-phone  out-of  the  heaven,  “Both  I-doxated,  and  again  I-will-doxa.”  Therefore  the  crowd(!),  the-one  standing,  and  having-heard,  it-was-saying  “Thunder  to-have-happened.”  Others  were-saying,  “An-angel(!)  to-him  he-has-spoken.”

He-answered,  Jesus,  and  he-said,  “Not  on-account-of  me,  the  phone,  this,  it-has-happened,  but-on-the-contrary,  on-account-of  you.  Presently  judgment  is  of-the  world,  this;  now  the  ruler  of-the  cosmos(!),  this,  it-shall-be-thrown-out,  outside.  And-I,  if  I-am-lifted-up  out-of  the  earth,  all(!)  I-will-drag  toward  myself.”  Now  this  he-was-saying,  signing  by-what-kind-of  death  he-was-about  to-die.

Therefore  it-answered  him,  the  crowd,  “We,  we-heard  out-of  the  Law  that  the  Christ  remains  into  the  eon,  and  how  do-you-say,  you,  that  it-is-necessary  to-be-lifted-up,  the  Son  of-the  Anthropoid?  Who  is  this,  the  Son  of-the  Anthropoid?”

Therefore  he-said  to-them,  the  Jesus,  “Still  a-micron  time,  the  light  in  you  it-is.  Walk-around  as  the  light  you-have,  in-order-that  not  darkness  you,  it-overtakes;  and  the-one  walking-around  in  the  darkness  not  he-knows  where  he-is-going-away.  As  the  light  you-have,  believe  into  the  light,  in-order-that  sons  of-light  you-may-become.”  These-things  he-was-speaking,  Jesus,  and  having-come-away,  he-was-hidden  from  them.

0 Comments

May 23rd, 2026

5/23/2026

0 Comments

The extremely long season of Pentecost has officially begun, and this Sunday’s title is the Day of Pentecost. It may be said that it is tempting to preach on the Second Reading, that of the Pentecost event of Acts 2(:1-21). But this is the reading for every year of the Three-Year Series, as well as the One-Year Series. The Gospel Reading appointed for this year, Year A, is an extremely short one (John 7:37-39), and it mentions that the Spirit had not yet been given, so to talk about Pentecost and its Gospel-centeredness would fit in very well with the text.

It may be also said that, within the writings of this website, we are also currently going through the Gospel according to John, translating a section of the text at a time, in the order in which it appears in the text, without skipping any parts, so that by the end of the church year, during the month of November, we would be at the end of studying that Gospel account. We are currently a bit farther along in that Gospel account than the Gospel Reading. We are beginning what is usually called chapter twelve of that account. And that chapter, at its end, contains a significant halfway point within the progression of the account. But more on that later, God willing. The previous chapter dealt with the resurrection of Lazarus, and that miracle led to his enemies wanting Jesus dead. So the tension has definitely increased quite recently. And the important entrance into Jerusalem, which is below, is a strong testament to that.

If you are familiar with the writings of this website, you would know that the texts are translated in an EXTREMELY literal fashion. There are countless ways to translate a text. And that particular type of translation will be defined in the next two paragraphs. If you are familiar with this style of translation, you may bypass the next two paragraphs.

The first significant thing to mention regarding the description of this type of translation is that the verse numbers will not be included within the text itself. Both the chapter numbers and verse numbers were added quite later after the text was written, and they are certainly helpful when someone is searching for a particular text, but the structure they imply is not always helpful. These numerical designations tend to focus the reader on the very beginning of the text, and that is usually not the most important thing to remember. (If this were a history lesson, then the beginning might be important.) The words are much more important, and within those words, the text usually has some sort of structure. And the important section tends to be near the end.

It should also be noted that the words with hyphens occur when more than one English word is used to describe a single word of the ancient Greek. And some of the words chosen below are meant to point out the close connection that often occurs between the English and Greek languages. It is also important to mention that the order of the words below is also the same order that is in the ancient Greek. This may help to show the important words, especially when another word besides the verb is first in the sentence or phrase; the verb is usually first in Greek. Sometimes this emphasis is shown with a “(!)”. The exception to this translation order is that there are just a small number of words (like “therefore”, “now”) that are usually second in a sentence that are meant to be first when translated. It should be said that repetition of words should be noted as an emphasis. One more thing to mention is that the verbs in capital letters are called HISTORICAL PRESENTS. That is when a verb in a past tense is expected, but a verb in the present tense is given. This special characteristic of some of the verbs has been explained elsewhere in these writings, and it may be helpful to read some of the other writings of this website. With all of the above things to consider, it will probably be helpful to have another translation or a study bible nearby as you read the text below.
What follows is an EXTREMELY literal translation of basically the first half of what has been called the twelfth chapter of the Gospel according to John (12:1-19), with Jesus on his way into Jerusalem:

Therefore  the  Jesus(!),  pro  hex  days  of-the  Pascha,  he-came  into  Bethany,  where  he-was,  Lazarus,  whom  he-raised  out-of  dead-ones,  Jesus.  Therefore  they-made  for-him  a-supper  there,  and  the  Martha  was-deaconing;  now  the  Lazarus,  one  he-was  out-of  the-ones  reclining  with  him;  therefore  the  Mariam(!),  having-taken  a-pound  of-ointment,  of-nard,  pure,  much-expense,  she-anointed  the  feet  of-the  Jesus,  and  she-wiped-off  with-the  hairs  of-her,  the  feet  of-him;  now  the  house  was-filled  out-of  the  odor  of-the  ointment.

Now  HE-SAYS,  Judas,  the  Iscariot,  one  out-of  the  disciples  of-him,  the-one  being-about  him  to-give-over,  “On-account-of  what,  this,  the  ointment,  not  was-sold  for-three-hundred  denarii  and  given  to-poor?”  Now  he-said  this,  not  because  about  the  poor  it-mattered  to-him,  but-on-the-contrary,  because  a-klepto  he-was,  and  the  moneybag  having,  the-things  being-thrown,  he-carried.

Therefore  he-said,  the  Jesus,  “Leave  her,  in-order-that  into  the  day  of-the  burial-preparation  of-me  she-may-keep  it;  for  the  poor  always  you-have  with  yourselves,  now  me,  not  always  you-have.”  Therefore  it-knew,  the  crowd,  great,  out-of  the  Jews,  that  there  he-is,  and  they-came,  not  on-account-of  the  Jesus  mono,  but-on-the-contrary,  in-order-that  also  the  Lazarus  they-might-see,  whom  he-raised  out-of  dead-ones.  Now  they-took-counsel,  the  archpriests,  in-order-that  also  the  Lazarus  they-might-kill,  because  many,  on-account-of  him,  they-were-going-away,  of-the  Jews,  and  they-were-believing  into  the  Jesus.

On-the  morrow,  the  crowd,  great,  the-one  having-come  into  the  feast,  having-heard  that  he-is-coming,  the  Jesus,  into  Jerusalem,  they-took  the  branches  of-the  palm-trees,  and  they-came-out  into  a-meeting  with-him,  and  they-were-shouting,  “Hosanna,  having-been-blessed,  the-one  coming  in  name  of-Lord,  and  the  king  of-the  Israel.”  Now  having-found,  the  Jesus,  a-young-donkey,  he-sat  upon  it,  just-as  it-is  having-been-written,  “Do-not  be-afraid,  daughter  of-Zion;  behold,  the  king  of-you,  he-is-coming,  sitting  upon  colt  of-a-donkey.”

These-things(!),  not  they-knew,  of-him  the  disciples,  the  proton,  but-on-the-contrary,  when  he-was-glorified,  Jesus,  then  they-remembered  that  these-things  were  upon  him,  having-been-written,  and  these-things  they-did  to-him.  Therefore  it-was-witnessing,  the  crowd,  the-one  being  with  him  when  the  Lazarus,  he-called  out-of  the  tomb,  and  he-raised  him  out-of  dead-ones.  On-account-of  this  also,  it-encountered  him,  the  crowd,  because  they-heard  this,  him  to-have-done,  the  sign.  Therefore  the  Pharisees  said  toward  themselves,  “Behold  that  not  you-are-profiting  nothing;  see,  the  cosmos,  after  him,  it-came-away.”

0 Comments

May 16th, 2026

5/16/2026

0 Comments

The season of Easter still continues, but only for one more Sunday. And its perspective is quite unique, since the ascension of Jesus was celebrated on the previous Thursday. This Sunday’s title is the Seventh Sunday of Easter, and no matter what year we are in with the three-year series, the Gospel Reading for this Sunday is from the so-called seventeenth chapter of the Gospel according to John. This year, being year A, the text is the first part of that chapter (John 17:1-11).

Within the writings of this website, we are also currently going through the Gospel according to John, translating a little bit of the text at a time, in the order in which it appears in the text, without skipping any parts. And we are currently not as far along in the book as chapter seventeen. At the present time we are dealing with what is called chapter eleven of that account, and that chapter deals with the resurrection of Lazarus.

With such a long chapter (fifty-seven verses), these writings were also broken into three parts. The previous writing dealt with the main part of Jesus resurrecting Lazarus after he had been in the tomb for four days. This week’s writing will deal with the ramifications of that miracle, and they will be significant. Because Jesus made someone alive, his enemies now want him dead.

If you are familiar with the writings of this website, you would know that the texts are translated in an EXTREMELY literal fashion. There are countless ways to translate a text. And that particular type of translation will be defined in the next two paragraphs. If you are familiar with this style of translation, you may bypass the next two paragraphs.

The first significant thing to mention regarding the description of this type of translation is that the verse numbers will not be included within the text itself. Both the chapter numbers and verse numbers were added quite later after the text was written, and they are certainly helpful when someone is searching for a particular text, but their structure is not always helpful. The words are much more important, and within those words the text has a structure.

It should also be noted that the words with hyphens occur when more than one English word is used to describe a single word of the ancient Greek. And some of the words chosen below are meant to point out the close connection that often occurs between the English and Greek languages. It is also important to mention that the order of the words below is also the same order that is in the ancient Greek. This may help to show the important words, especially when another word besides the verb is first in the sentence or phrase; the verb is usually first in Greek. Sometimes this emphasis is shown with a “(!)”. The exception to this translation order is that there are just a small number of words (like “therefore” and “now”) that are usually second in a sentence that are meant to be first when translated. It should be said that repetition of words should be noted as an emphasis. One more thing to mention is that, although it does not happen within the text below, but it was very frequent in the previous verses, the verbs in capital letters are called HISTORICAL PRESENTS. That is when a verb in a past tense is expected, but a verb in the present tense is given. This special characteristic of some of the verbs has been explained elsewhere in these writings, and it may be helpful to read some of the other writings of this website. With all of the above things to consider, it will probably be helpful to have another translation or a study bible nearby as you read the text below.

What follows is an EXTREMELY literal translation of some of what could be called the third and last part of the eleventh chapter of the Gospel according to John (11:45-57); these are the ramifications after the resurrection of Lazarus:

Therefore  many  out-of  the  Jews,  the-ones  having-come  toward  the  Mariam  and  having-beheld  the-thing-which  he-did,  they-believed  into  him.  Now  some  out-of  them,  they-came-away  toward  the  Pharisees,  and  they-said  to-them  the-things-which  he-did,  Jesus.

Therefore  they-synagogued,  the  archpriests  and  the  Pharisees,  a-Sanhedrin,  and  they-were-saying,  “What  are-we-doing,  because  this,  the  man,  many(!)  he-does  signs.  If  we-allow  him  thus,  all  will-believe  into  him,  and  they-will-come,  the  Romans,  and  they-will-take  of-us  both  the  place  and  the  ethnos.”

Now  one,  a-certain-one  out-of  them,  Caiphas,  archpriest  being  of-the  year,  that-one,  he-said  to-them,  “You,  not  you-know  anything,  nor  do-you-consider  that  It-is-better  for-you  that  one  anthropoid  should-die  on-behalf  of-the  people,  and  not  whole(!),  the  ethnic  be-destroyed.”  Now  this,  from  himself,  not  he-said,  but-on-the-contrary,  archpriest  being  of-the  year,  that,  he-prophesied  that  he-was-about-to,  Jesus,  to-die  on-behalf-of  the  ethnos.  And  not  on-behalf-of  the  ethnos  mono,  but-on-the-contrary,  in-order-that  also  the  children  of-the  God,  the-ones  having-been-scattered,  he-might-synagogue  into  one.

Therefore  from  that,  the  day,  they-took-counsel  in-order-that  they-might-kill  him.  Therefore  the  Jesus  no-longer  openly  walked-around  in  the  Jews,  but-on-the-contrary,  he-came-away  from-there  into  the  land  near  the  wilderness,  into  Ephraim,  being-called,  a-city,  and-there  he-remained  with  the  disciples.

Now  it-was  near,  the  Pascha  of-the  Jews,  and  they-went-up,  many,  into  Jerusalem,  out-of  the  land  pro  the  Pascha,  in-order-that  they-might-purify  themselves.  Therefore  they-were-seeking  the  Jesus,  and  they-were-saying  with  one-another  in  the  temple,  standing,  “What  does-it-seem  to-you,  that  certainly  not  he-will-come  into  the  Feast?”  Now  they-had-given,  the  archpriests  and  the  Pharisees,  commandments  in-order-that,  if  anyone  knows  where  he-is,  he-should-inform,  so-that  they-might-arrest  him.

0 Comments

May 09th, 2026

5/9/2026

0 Comments

The season of Easter continues on, with this Sunday having the title of the Sixth Sunday of Easter. It may also be mentioned that this Sunday is Mother’s Day. This is also the Sunday before the day of Ascension. Lots of things are going on. As was mentioned in the last writing of this website, the Gospel Reading for this Sunday continues immediately after last week’s text from that very different Gospel account, the Gospel according to John (14:15-21).

With the writings of this website, we are also currently going through the Gospel according to John, translating a little bit of the text at a time, in the order in which it appears in the text, and also without skipping any parts at all. We are currently dealing with what is typically called chapter eleven of that account, the chapter deals with the resurrection of Lazarus. Last week’s writing dealt with the introductory part of that event, that Jesus holds off going to see Lazarus. Now in this writing below, Jesus appears by Lazarus, and the one Jesus loved has been dead for FOUR days. It is a significant miracle. But it does not have to be mentioned in the other accounts.

The other three Gospel accounts mention a lot of similar things, and that would make sense because their living creature is connected to creatures that are on the ground. All four living creatures are parts of the Lord’s throne and, as a throne shows the glory, the ramifications, and the significance of the person sitting on it, the living creatures that connect to the three similar accounts are three creatures that are on the ground. The living creature that may be connected to the Gospel according to John is the eagle, and the eagle gives a very different perspective. And it should be said that is not a competition as to how long a person is in the tomb. God can literally do anything he wants. And this is in the EXTREME, because he is ALL powerful, all knowing, and present everywhere.

If you are familiar with the writings of this website, you would know that the texts are translated in an EXTREMELY literal fashion. And that type of translation will be defined in the next two paragraphs. If you are familiar with this style of translation, you may bypass the next two paragraphs.

The first significant thing to mention regarding the description of this type of translation is that the verse numbers will not be included within the text itself. Both the chapter numbers and verse numbers were added quite later after the text was written, and they are certainly helpful when someone is searching for a particular text, but their structure that they give is not always helpful. The words are more important, and within the words are structures to the text.

It should also be noted that the words with hyphens occur when more than one English word is used to describe a single word of the ancient Greek. And some of the words chosen below are meant to point out the close connection that sometimes occurs between the English and Greek languages. (Hopefully that is not too distracting.) It may also be said that the meaning of some words can depend upon the context. It is also important to mention that the order of the words below is also the same order that is in the ancient Greek. This may help to show the important words, especially when another word besides the verb is first in the sentence or phrase; the verb is usually first in Greek. The exception to this translation order is that there are just a small number of words (like “therefore” and “now”) that are usually second in a sentence or phrase that are meant to be first when translated. It should be said that repetition of words is sometimes frequent and should be noted as an emphasis. There are also some minor textual issues in the text below. And it should also be said that there are significantly numerous ways to translate a text. One more thing to mention is that the verbs in capital letters are called HISTORICAL PRESENTS. That is when a verb in a past tense is expected, but a verb in the present tense is given. This special characteristic of some of the verbs has been explained elsewhere in these writings, and it may be helpful to read some of the other writings of this website. With all of the above things to consider, it will probably be helpful to have another translation or a study bible nearby as you read the text below.

What follows is an EXTREMELY literal translation of some of what could be called the second part of the eleventh chapter of the Gospel according to John (11:17-44); it is the significant portion of what is known as the resurrection of Lazarus:

Therefore  having-come,  the  Jesus,  he-found  him,  four(!)  already  days  having  in  the  tomb.  Now  it-was  the  Bethany,  near  the  Jerusalem,  as  away,  stadia  fifteen.  Now  many  out-of  the  Jews,  they-had-come  toward  the  Martha  and  Mariam,  in-order-that  they-might-console  them  concerning  the  brother.  Therefore  the  Martha,  as  she-heard  that  Jesus,  he-is-coming,  she-met  him;  now  Mariam  in  the  house  she-was-sitting.

Therefore  she-said,  the  Martha,  toward  the  Jesus,  “Lord,  if  you-had-been  here,  not  he-would  have-died,  the  brother  of-me.  But-on-the-contrary,  even  now  I-know  that  as-much-as  ever  you-ask-for-yourself,  the  God;  he-will-give  to-you,  the  God.”

HE-SAYS  to-her,  the  Jesus,  “He-will-rise-up-again,  the  brother  of-you.”

SHE-SAYS  to-him,  the  Martha,  “I-know  that  he-will-rise-up-again  in  the  rising-up  in  the  eschaton  day.”

He-said  to-her,  the  Jesus,  “I,  I-am  the  rising-up  and  the  life;  the-one  believing  into  me,  even-if  he-dies,  he-will-live,  and  all  the-ones  living  and  believing  into  me,  certainly  not  he-will-die  into  the  age.  Believe-you  this?”

SHE-SAYS  to-him,  “Yes,  Lord;  I,  I-have-believed  that  you,  you-are  the  Christ,  the  Son  of-the  God,  the-one  into  the  cosmos  coming.”  And  this  having-said,  she-came-away,  and  she-phoned  Mariam,  the  sister  of-her  secretly,  having-said,  “The  teacher  is-present  and  he-is-phoning  you.

Now  that-one,  as  she-heard,  SHE-RISES  quickly,  and  she-was-coming  toward  him.  Now  not-yet  he-had-come,  the  Jesus,  into  the  village,  but-on-the-contrary,  he-was  still  in  the  place  where  she-met  him,  the  Martha.  Therefore  the  Jews,  the-ones  being  with  her  in  the  house  and  consoling  her,  having-seen  the  Mariam,  that  quickly  she-rose-up  and  she-came-out,  they-followed  her,  having-thought  that  she-is-going-away  into  the  tomb,  in-order-that  she-may-weep  there.

Therefore  the  Mariam,  as  she-came  where  he-was,  Jesus,  having-seen  him,  she-fell,  of-him,  toward  the  feet,  saying  to-him,  “Lord,  if  you-had-been  here,  not  would  of-me  he-had-died,  the  brother.”

Therefore  Jesus,  as  he-saw  her  weeping  and  the-ones  coming-with  her,  Jews,  weeping,  he-snorted  in-the  spirit,  and  he-shook  himself,  and  he-said,  “Where  have-you-placed  him?”

THEY-SAY  to-him,  “Come  and  see.”

He-shed-tears,  the  Jesus.

Therefore  they-were-saying,  the  Jews,  “See  how  he-brotherly-loved  him.”

Now  some  out-of  them  said,  “Not  he-was-able  this-man,  the-one  having-opened-up  the  eyes  of-the  blind-man  to-make,  in-order-that  also  this-man  not  he-should-die?”

Therefore  Jesus,  again  snorting  in  himself,  HE-COMES  into  the  tomb.  Now  it-was  a-cave,  and  a-stone  was-lying-upon,  upon  it.  HE-SAYS,  the  Jesus,  “Lift  the  stone.”

SHE-SAYS  to-him,  the  sister  of-the-one  having-finished,  Martha,  “Lord,  already  it-smells;  for  to-the-fourth  it-is.”

HE-SAYS  to-her,  the  Jesus,  “Did-not  I-say  to-you  that  if  you-believe,  you-will-see  the  glory  of-the  God?”  Therefore  they-lifted  the  stone.

Now  the  Jesus,  he-lifted  the  eyes  up,  and  he-said,  “Father,  I-eucharist  to-you  that  you-heard  me.  Now  I,  I-knew  that  always  me,  you-hear;  but-on-the-contrary,  because-of  the  crowd,  the-ones  standing-around,  I-said;  in-order-that  they-may-believe  that  you,  me,  you-did-send-out.”  And  these-things  having-said,  with-a-phone,  a-mega-one,  he-shouted,  “Lazarus,  come  out.”

He-came-out,  the-one  having-died,  having-been-bound  the  feet  and  the  hands  with-bandages,  and  the  eyes  of-him  with-a-napkin  it-had-been-bound-around.  HE-SAYS  to-them,  the  Jesus,  “Loosen  him,  and  allow  him  to-go-away.”

0 Comments

May 02nd, 2026

5/2/2026

0 Comments

The season of Easter continues on, and the title for this Sunday is the Fifth Sunday of Easter. We are also getting closer to that special day named simply “Ascension”. It is also special since that wonderful celebration is on a Thursday. The Gospel Reading for this Sunday continues on in that special account, the Gospel according to John (14:1-14). It is somewhat unusual that this reading is getting closer to the Gospel Reading for the next Sunday, the very same chapter, but the next few verses.

The writings of this website are also currently going through the Gospel according to John, and last week’s writing was closer to the Gospel Reading of the previous Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, in the section of that account normally called chapter ten. With the writings of this website, we translate a little bit of the text at a time, in the order in which it appears in the text, without skipping any parts. We will be dealing with what is typically called chapter eleven of that account, and that chapter deals with the resurrection of Lazarus. And it is translated in an EXTREMELY literal fashion. And that type of translation will be defined in the next two paragraphs.

Now if you are very familiar with this style of translation, you may bypass this paragraph and the next one. The first significant thing to mention regarding the description of this type of translation is that the verse numbers will not be included within the text itself. Hopefully that is not too bothersome. Both the chapter numbers and verse numbers were added quite later after the text was written, and they are certainly helpful when someone is searching for a particular text, but their structure that they give is not always helpful. They may even be somewhat distracting from the message. It is the words and not the numbers that are truly important.

It should also be noted that the words with hyphens occur when more than one English word is used to describe a single word of the ancient Greek. And some of the words chosen below are meant to point out the close connection that sometimes occurs between the English and Greek languages. It may also be said that the meaning of some words often depends heavily upon the context. It is also important to mention that the order of the words below is also the same order that is in the ancient Greek. This may help to show the important words, especially when another word besides the verb is first in the sentence; the verb is usually first in Greek. The exception to this translation order is that there are just a small number of words (like “therefore” and “now”) that are usually second in a sentence that are meant to be first when translated. It should be said that repetition of words is sometimes frequent and should be noted as an emphasis. One more thing to mention is that the verbs in capital letters are called HISTORICAL PRESENTS. That is when a verb in a past tense is expected, but a verb in the present tense is given. This special characteristic of some of the verbs has been explained elsewhere in these writings, and it may be helpful to read some of the other writings of this website. With this in mind, it may also be helpful to have another translation or a study bible nearby as you read the text below.

What follows is an EXTREMELY literal translation of some of what could be called the first part of the eleventh chapter of the Gospel according to John (11:1-16). That eleventh chapter is basically dedicated to the resurrection of Lazarus. It may also be said that a significant amount of space is given to this miracle of Jesus. It should be noted that some critics of Christianity may think that, because this is not included in the other accounts, it did not really happen; after all, it is significant for a person to be dead for four days, and then to come back to life. That is an EXTREMELY significant event. That is even longer than Jesus was in the tomb! Why is it not mentioned elsewhere? The issue rests with what is deemed significant. If the problem with humanity would simply be a lack of good information, then more information is helpful. But sinful humanity is dealing with a much more serious issue. This world is a sinful world; help is desperately needed. And a savior, one who rescues, the God-man Jesus arrives on the scene. (One more thing to note is that there is are mentions of two different types of love in the text below. There is the brotherly love, a love that is used in name of the city of Philadelphia, and then there is the special type of love, the love that God had to give his Son in John 3:16, that type of love you may have heard before; it is agape, and it is phonetically spelled ah-gah’-pay.)

Now  it-was  a-certain-man  being-without-strength,  Lazarus  from  Bethany,  out-of  the  village  of-Maria  and  Martha,  of- the  sister  of-her.  Now  it-was  Maria,  the-one  having-anointed  the  Lord  with-ointment  and  having-wiped-off  the  feet  of-him  with-the  hairs  of-her,  of-whom  the  brother  Lazarus  was-without-strength.  Therefore  they-sent-out,  the  sisters,  toward  him  saying,  “Lord,  see,  he-whom  you-brotherly-love,  he-is-without-strength.”

Now  having-heard,  the  Jesus  said,  “This,  the  without-strength,  not  it-is  toward  death,  but-on-the-contrary,  for-the-sake-of  the  glory  of-the  God,  in-order-that  he-may-be-glorified,  the  Son  of-the  God,  through  it.”

Now  he-agaped,  the  Jesus,  the  Martha  and  the  sister  of-her,  and  the  Lazarus.  Therefore  when  he-heard  that  he-is-without-strength,  then  indeed  he-remained  in  which  he-was,  place,  duo  days;  thereupon  after  this  HE-SAYS  to-the  disciples, “Let-us-lead  into  the  Judea  again.”

THEY-SAY  to-him,  the  disciples,  “Rabbi,  presently  they-were-seeking  you,  to-stone,  the  Jews,  and  again  you-are-going-away  there?”

He-answered,  Jesus,  “Not  twelve  hours  are-there  of-the  day?  If  anyone  walks-around  in  the  day,  not  does-he-stumble,  because  the  light  of-the  world,  this,  he-sees.  Now  if  anyone  walks-around  in  the  night,  he-stumbles,  because  the  light  not  is  in  him.”  These-things  he-said,  and  after  this  HE-SAYS  to-them,  “Lazarus,  the  friend  of-us  has-fallen-asleep,  but-on-the-contrary,  I-am-traveling  in-order-that  I-may-awaken  him.”

Therefore  they-said,  the  disciples,  to-him,  “Lord,  if  he-has-fallen-asleep,  he-will-be-saved.”  Now  he-had-spoken,  the  Jesus,  concerning  the  death  of-him,  now  these-men  thought  that  concerning  the  sleep  of-the  slumber  he-says.

Therefore  then  he-said  to-them,  the  Jesus,  plainly,  “Lazarus  died,  and  I-rejoice  for-the-sake-of  you,  in-order-that  you-may-believe,  that  not  I-was  there;  but-on-the-contrary,  let-us-lead  toward  him.”

Therefore  he-said,  Thomas,  the-one  being-called  Twin,  to-the  fellow-disciples,  “Let-us-lead  also  we,  in-order-that  we-may-die  with  him.”

One more thing could be mentioned. This is the third time in this Gospel account that the special title “Lord” is used by the writer to describe Jesus. (Not included are the times that Jesus is called the Lord by someone in the event.) It is interesting that the first time, in what is known as chapter four and verse one, that was a connection to baptism. And the next time is what is known as chapter six and verse twenty-three, that was a connection to eating Jesus’ body and drinking his blood. And this time there is a connection to an anointing. These are all special actions which point us to a very special Lord, the Lord of heaven and earth, and not just words.

0 Comments

A Sabbath Day's Journey

May 30th, 2026

May 23rd, 2026

May 16th, 2026

May 09th, 2026

May 02nd, 2026

Archives