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September 28th, 2025

9/28/2025

The season of Pentecost continues on, and this Sunday is known as the “Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost”. The Gospel Reading for this Sunday, as in many weeks past, skips a few verses after the previous week’s reading. But this time they are literally only a few verses. Last week’s reading was Luke 16:1-15. This week’s reading is Luke 16:19-31.
The writings of this website are not skipping ANY verses within the text. These writings are currently going through the Gospel according to Luke. What is below could be called an EXTREMELY literal translation of a part of the Gospel according to Luke, in a way which is hopefully not too distracting. The distractions of chapter and verse divisions have been left out of the translation, and hopefully that is helpful.

The order of the words in the translation below is the order in which they appear within the language of the New Testament. Usually the verb is at the front of the sentence, and when another part of the sentence is before that, a clear emphasis is to be understood. (Below Peter has the phrase “with you” very early in his words to Jesus, to emphasize his dedication; but it will soon become clear how that turned out.)

The hyphens are below to show how many English words are in a single Greek word. And the English words that are often chosen are designed to show how often the Greek words are somewhat similar to the English. And some of the words in English were chosen to show how rare some of the words in Greek were.

With such a translation, it is highly recommended that the text is studied with the help of another translation or a study bible. And it should be said that there are a large number of ways in which the text could be translated in this way. So here is a unique translation of what could be called the second part of chapter twenty-two of the Gospel according to Luke (22:24-38) This is very much near the end of the account, and Jesus is with his disciples in what is known as the upper room (although the argument as to which disciple is the greatest has been made in other places; and hopefully that is not too surprising):

Now  it-happened  also,  a-love-of-strife  in  them,  the  which  of-them  he-seems  to-be  greater.  Now  the  one  said  to-them,  “The  kings  of-the  ethnics  lord-it-over  them,  and  the-ones  having-authority-over  them,  good-workers  they-are-called.  Now  you,  not  thus,  but-on-the-contrary,  the  greater-one  in  you,  let-him-become  as  the  newer-one,  and  the  one  governing,  as  the  deacon.  For  who  is-greater,  the-one  reclining  or  the-one  being-deacon?  Yes-not  the-one  reclining?  Now  I,  in  the-midst  of-you,  I-am  as  the-one  being-a-deacon.  Now  you,  you-are  the-ones  having-remained-throughout  with  me,  in  the  testings  of-me;  and-I  bequeath  to-you  as  he-bequeathed  to-me,  the  Father  of-me,  a-kingdom;  that  you-may-eat  and  you-may-drink  upon  the  table  of-me  in  the  kingdom  of-me,  and  you-will-sit  upon  thrones,  the  twelve  tribes,  judging  the  Israel.  Simon,  Simon,  behold,  the  Satan  asked-out-for  you,  the  to-sift  as  the  grain;  now  I,  I-requested  concerning  you,  that  not  you-might-leave-out,  the  faith  of-you;  and  you,  when  having-turned,  support  the  brothers  of-you.”

Now  the-one  said  to-him,  “Lord,  with  you,  prepared  I-am,  both  into  prison  and  into  death  to-travel.”

Now  the-one  said,  “I-am-saying  to-you,  Peter,  not  it-will-sound  today,  a-rooster,  until  thrice,  me  you-will-deny,  to-know.”

And  he-said  to-them,  “When  I-sent-out  you  without  a-moneybag  and  a-pouch   and  sandals,  not  of-anything  you-had-a-lacking?”

Now  the-ones  said,  “Nothing.”

Now  he-said  to-them,  “But-on-the-contrary,  at-this-time,  the-one  having  a-moneybag,  let-him-take-up,  likewise  also  a-pouch,  and  the-one  not  having,  let-him-sell  the  garment  of-him,  and  let-him-buy-in-the-agora  a-sword.  For  I-am-saying  to-you  that  this,  the-thing  having-been-written,  it-is-necessary  to-be-finished  in  me,  the-thing.  ‘And  with  lawless-men  he-was-counted’,  for  also  the-thing  concerning  me,  an-end  it-has.”

Now  the-ones  said,  “Lord,  behold,  swords  here,  two.”

Now  the-one  said,  “Enough  it-is.”

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September 20th, 2025

9/20/2025

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The season of Pentecost continues on, and this Sunday is known as the “Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost”. (This Sunday also happens to be Mission Observance Sunday at the congregation, but to talk about the texts for Mission Observance Sunday might be a bit distracting for the momentum that has been building for the past several months within the Gospel according to Luke. And the Gospel Reading for Mission Observance happens to be the last few verses of that Gospel account.) This Sunday’s usual Gospel Reading for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost does not jump as far the Mission Observance reading, but it is still a jump. Last week’s reading was Luke 15:1-10, and this week’s reading is Luke 16:1-15.

Within the writings of this website, we are also going through the Gospel according to Luke, but without skipping over any parts. And the writings are much farther along than the sixteenth chapter. These are the last few hours of Jesus’ life, before his death on the cross. That is certainly a memorable and important occasion. And this time a short section is given. But it includes the important institution of what is known as the Lord’s Supper (and it is also called the Eucharist). And the Gospel according to Luke contains a unique perspective with some unique words.

If this is your first encounter with these writings, it should be noted that what follows is an EXTREMELY literal account of the text. It can be difficult in some places, and having a study bible or at least another translation is encouraged so that there can be some understanding when some of those words are EXTREMELY unique.

Seeing the original language of the text is also important, and with such a translation, sometimes more of it can be seen than what is in a typical translation. The order of the words in English below shows the original order of the words in the Greek text. This helps to determine the importance of a word other than the verb, if that word is at or near the beginning of the sentence.

The hyphens are designed to show how many English words are in a single Greek word. And the English words that are often chosen are designed to show how often the Greek words are somewhat similar to the English, although the meaning can change slightly, since some of these words have been around for many centuries. And do not forget that the writer is a doctor, and doctors may tend to use some rare words that are not used by most people.

So what follows, as was mentioned above, is an EXTREMELY literal translation of what could be called the first part of chapter twenty-two of the Gospel according to Luke (22:1-23):

Now  it-was-drawing-near,  the  Feast  of-the  Unleavened,  the  being-called  Pascha.  And  they-were-seeking,  the  archpriests  and  the  grammatists,  the  how  they-might-take-away  him;  for  they-were-fearing  the  people.

Now  he-came-into,  Satan,  into  Judas,  the  being-called  Iscariot,  being  out-of  the  arithmetic  of-the  twelve;  and  having-come-away,  he-conversed-with  the  archpriests  and  strategists,  the  how,  to-them,  he-might-betray  him.  And  they-rejoiced,  and  they-agreed,  to-him,  silver  to-give.  And  he-confessed-out,  and  he-was-seeking  a-good-time,  of-the  to-betray  him,  apart-from  a-crowd  to-them.

Now  it-came,  the  day  of-the  Unleavened,  in  which  it-was-necessary  to-be-sacrificed,  the  Pascha;  and  he-sent-out  Peter  and  John,  having-said,  “Having-traveled,  prepare  for-us  the  Pascha,  in-order-that  we-may-eat.”

Now  the-ones  said  to-him,  “Where  do-you-want  we-may-prepare?”

Now  the-one  said  to-them,  “Behold,  having-come-into,  you,  into  the  city,  he-will-meet  you,  a-man,  a-jar  of-water  carrying;  follow  him  into  the  house  into  which  he-travels-into;  and  you-will-tell  to-the  house-despot  of-the  house,  ‘He-says  to-you,  the  Teacher,  “Where  is  the  breaking-up,  where  the  Pascha,  with  the  disciples  of-me,  I-may-eat?”’  That-one,  to-you,  he-will-show  an-upper-room,  mega,  having-been-spread;  there  prepare.”  Now  having-come-away,  they-found  just-as  he-had-told  them,  and  they-prepared  the  Pascha.
And  when  it-happened,  the  hour,  he-reclined,  and  the  apostles  with  him.  And  he-said  toward  them,  “With-desire,  I-desired  this,  the  Pascha,  to-eat  with  you,  before  the  me,  to-suffer.  For  I-am-saying  to-you  that  certainly  not  I-eat  it,  until  when  it-is-fulfilled  in  the  kingdom  of-the  God.”

And  having-received  a-cup,  eucharistic,  he-said,  “Take  this  and  divide-up  into  yourselves;  for  I-am-saying  to-you  that  certainly  not  I-will-drink  from  the  now,  from  the  produce  of-the  vine,  until  which  the  kingdom  of-the  God  comes.”  And  having-taken  a-bread,  eucharistic,  he-broke,  and  he-gave  to-them,  saying,  “This  is  the-body  of-me,  the  on-behalf-of  you  being-given;  this  do,  into  the  my  remembrance.”  And  the  cup,  likewise,  after  the  to-eat-supper,  saying,  “This  the  cup,  the  new  disposition,  in  the  blood,  my,  the  on-behalf-of  you,  being-poured-out.”

“Nevertheless  behold,  the  hand  of-the  one-betraying  me,  with  me,  upon  the  table.  Because  indeed,  the  Son  of-the  Man,  according-to  the-thing  having-been-determined,  he-travels,  nevertheless  woe  to-the  man,  that-one,  through  whom  he-is-betrayed.”  And  they,  they-began  to-debate  toward  themselves,  the  which  then,  he-is  out-of  them,   the  this-thing  about  to-accomplish.

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September 13th, 2025

9/13/2025

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The season of Pentecost continues, and this Sunday is the “Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost”. And it should be noted that, as previous weeks have jumped over a few verses in the text from the previous Sunday, this Sunday’s Gospel Reading continues immediately after last Sunday’s reading, although it is numbered as the next chapter. The text for this Sunday is Luke 15:1-10.

It may be noted that another chapter number may not indicate a significant change from the previous verses and chapters. And although many of the sections start with the word in English “now”, that may not indicate a chronological connection to the event which follows. The Gospel according to Luke may be described as “orderly” (see the first few verses of the work for more detail), this part of the account deals with various topics, and the current one has to do with sin and repentance. And such a topic is usually not very popular. But it is an important one.

It may also be said that some people may not be fond of the EXTREMELY literal translation of the biblical texts within these writings. One of the reasons for such a translation is to encourage the reader to have another bible translation or a study bible nearby, so that a difficult text could be explained more clearly. To depend only upon on the translations of these writings for understanding may be very difficult.

It should also be said that this that such a translation is helpful to make a transition to the original language of the New Testament, that of ancient Greek. The words given below are in the same order as the words in the Greek text (expect for the postpositive words—those that normally appear as the second word in the sentence, but they are given first in the translation). And the hyphens below are given if there is more than one word in English to explain a single Greek word.

It should also be said that some of the English words chosen have been deliberately chosen to show how close they are to the Greek language, although the meaning could have changed over the centuries. I have also warned the readers in some of the previous writings that the writer of this gospel account was a doctor that had a huge vocabulary. Some people who know Greek may not know all the words of the text, and there is an attempt to show the rarity of some of these words within the translation.
The following should be stated clearly at the start: What follows is a LONG text. It contains the entire topic of the temple, and the temple is a big topic. And Jerusalem, because of the temple, is an important city.

The first part of the text is the widow’s gift into the treasury, and Jesus has some important things to say about that. Then there is the topic of the destruction of the temple, and that topic goes on for a while, and also connected to that topic is the idea of The End. You may wish to break up your reading into more than one session. So what follows, as was mentioned above, is an EXTREMELY literal translation of what is known as the twenty-first chapter of the Gospel according to Luke:

Now  having-looked-up,  he-saw  the-ones  throwing  into  the  guarded-treasury,  the  gifts  of-them,  rich-ones.  Now  he-saw  a-certain  widow,  poor,  throwing  there  lepta,  two,  and  he-said,  “Truly,  I-am-saying  to-you  that  the  widow,  this,  the  poor,  more  than-all  she-threw,  for  all  these,  out-of  the  thing-abounding  to-them,  they-threw  into  the  gifts,  now  this-one,  out-of  the  deficiency  of-her,  all  the  livelihood  which  she-had,  she-threw.”

And  some  speaking  about  the  temple,  that  with-stones,  good  and  offerings  it-has-been-adorned,  he-said,  “These-things  which  you-behold,  they-will-come,  days,  in  which  not  there-will-be-left,  stone  upon  stone,  which  not  will-be-destroyed-completely.”

Now  they-questioned  him  saying,  “Teacher,  therefore  when  these-things  will-it-be?  And  what  the  sign  when  they-are-about,  these-things,  to-happen?”

Now  the-one  said,  “Look,  that-not  you-are-led-astray;  for  many  will-come  upon  the  name  of-me  saying,  ‘I,  I-am,’  and  ‘The  time  has-drawn-near.’  Do-not  journey  after  them.  Now  when  you-hear  of-wars  and   riots,  do-not  be-terrified,  for  it-is-necessary,  these-things  to-happen  first,  but-on-the-contrary  not  immediately  the  end.”

Then  he-was-saying  to-them,  “It-will-raise-up,  a-nation  upon  a-nation  and  a-kingdom  upon  a-kingdom;  both  earthquakes,  great  and  according-to  place;  famines  and  pestilences  there-will-be,  both  terrors  and  from  heaven  signs,  great-ones,  there-will-be.  Now  before  these-things,  all,  they-will-throw-upon,  upon  you,  the  hands  of-them,  and  they-will-persecute,  giving-you-over  into  the  synagogues  and  prisons,  being-led-away  upon  kings  and  governors  for-the-sake-of  the  name  of-me;  it-will-turn-out  to-you  into  a-witness.  Therefore,  put  in  the  hearts  of-you  not  to-practice-beforehand  to-make-an-apology.  For  I,  I-will-give  to-you  a-mouth  and  wisdom,  which  not  they-will-be-able  to-withstand  or  to-contradict,  all  the-ones  opposing  you.  Now  you-will-be-given-over  also  by  parents  and  brothers  and  relatives  and  friends,  and  they-will-kill  from  you,  and  you-will-be,  being-hated  by  all,  on-account-of  the  name  of-me.  And  a-hair  out-of  the  head  of-you,  certainly  not  it-will-perish;  in  the  remaining-under  of-you,  you-will-gain  the  souls  of-you.”
“Now  when  you-see  being-surrounded  by  army-camps,  Jerusalem,  then  know  that  it-has-come-near,  the  desolation  of-it.  Then  the-ones  in  the  Judea,  let-them-flee  into  the  mountains,  and  the-ones  in  midst  of-it,  let-them-depart-out,  and  the-ones  in  the  country,  not  let-them-come-into,  into  it,  because  days  of-vengeance  these  are,  of-the  to-be-fulfilled,  all  the-things  having-been-written.  Woe  to-the-ones  in  gastric  having,  and  to-the-ones  nursing  in  those  the  days,  for  there-will-be  distress,  great,  upon  the  earth,  and  wrath  to-the  people,  this.  And  they-will-fall  by-mouth  of-sword,  and  they-will-be-taken-captive  into  the  nations,  all;  and  Jerusalem  will-be,  being-trampled  by  nations,  until  which  they-are-fulfilled  appointed-times  of-nations.”
“And  there-will-be  signs  in  sun  and  moon  and  stars,  and  upon  the  earth,  distress  of-nations  in-perplexity  of-roaring  of-sea  and  surf,  fainting  people,  from  fear  and  expectation  of-the  things-coming-upon  the  inhabited-earth,  for  the  powers  of-the  heavens,  they-will-be-shaken.  And  then  they-will-see  the  Son  of-the  Man  coming  in  a-cloud  with  power  and  glory,  much.  Now  beginning,  these-things  to-happen,  stand-up-straight  and  lift-up  the  heads  of-you,  because  it-is-coming-near,  the  redemption  of-you.”

And  he-told  a-parable  to-them,  “See  the  fig-tree  and  all  the  trees.  When  they-throw-before  already,  seeing  from  yourselves  you-know,  that  already,  near  the  summer  is;  Thus  also  you,  when  you-see  these-things  happening,  you-know  that  near  is  the  kingdom  of-the  God.  Amen,  I-am-saying  to-you  that  certainly  not  it-will-pass-away,  the  generation,  this,  until  which  all-things  happen.  The  heaven  and  the  earth,  they-will-pass-away,  now  the  words  of-me  certainly  not  they-will-pass-away.  Now  pay-attention  to-yourselves  in-order-that-not  they-become-burdened  of-you,  the hearts,  with  drinking  and  drunkenness  and  anxieties  of-life,  and  it-come-upon,  upon  you  suddenly,  the  day,  that,  as  a-trap;  for  it-will-come-upon,  upon  all  the-ones  sitting  upon  face  of-all  the  earth.  Now  be-watchful  in  every  time,  begging  that  you-may-be-strong  to-escape  these-things,  all,  the-ones  being-about  to-happen,  and  to-stand  before  the  Son  of-the  Man.”

Now  he-was  the  days  in  the  temple  teaching,  now  the  nights  coming-out,  he-was-lodging  into  the  mountain,  the-one  being-called  “Of-olives”.  And  all  the  people  came-in-the-morning  toward  him  in  the  temple  to-hear  him.

Congratulations; you made it to the end!

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September 06th, 2025

9/6/2025

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The season of Pentecost continues, and this Sunday is the “Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost”. As in previous weeks, the Gospel Reading for this week continues after a little jump from the text that was last Sunday’s reading. The text for this Sunday is Luke 14:25-35. The jump that was made starts the text by mentioning that MANY crowds were traveling WITH Jesus, and that did not happen too often. Did they know that Jesus was headed to Jerusalem to die on a cross? We will see.

It has also been mentioned before that the current writings of this website are also going through the Gospel according to Luke, from beginning to end, not skipping any parts. And we are currently looking at what is called chapter twenty. And Jesus is in Jerusalem during this time, and the tension is at an all-time high. It was just related that the writers and the arch-priests were trying to lay their hands on Jesus.

It will probably be helpful to relate that the text below has been translated in an EXTREMELY literal fashion. And with that style of translation, there are still many different ways in which the translation could go. Having another bible translation or study bible nearby may be helpful in a study of the text below. The English words are given in the order in which they appear in the appear in the text. The hyphens are designed to help the reader see how many English words have been given to explain one Greek word. It should also be said that some of the English words chosen have been deliberately chosen to show how close they are to the Greek language. (The point should also be made that this English-Greek connection does not take into account that the meanings of words often change over the centuries.) It should also be said that the writer of this biblical text was a doctor, and since doctors tend to have a great vocabulary, some of these Greek words are extremely rare, and the attempt is to reflect that also in the translation. So what follows is an extremely literal translation of Luke 20:20-47:

And  keeping-alongside  they-sent-out  those-in-ambush,  hypocritical  themselves  righteous  to-be,  that  they-might-lay-hold-upon  him  a-word,  so-as  to-give-over  him  to-the  arch  and  to-the  authority  of-the  ruler.  And  they-questioned  him  saying,  “Teacher,  we-know  that  rightly  you-are-saying,  and  you-teach,  and  not  you-receive  a-face,  but-on-the-contrary  upon  truth,  the  way  of-the  God  you-teach;  is-it-lawful  for-us  to-Caesar,  tribute  to-give  or  not?”

Now  fully-knowing  their  the  skill-to-do-all,  he-said  toward  them,  “Show  to-me  a-denarius.  Of-whom  it-has  an-icon  and  epigraph?”

Now  the-ones  said,  “Of-Caesar.”

Now  the-one  said  toward  them,  “So-now  give-over  the-things  of-Caesar  to-Caesar  and  the-things  of-the  God  to-the  God.”  And  not  they-had-strength  to-lay-upon  of-him  a-word  in-the-presence-of  the  people,  and  marveling  upon  the  answer  of-him,  they-were-silent.

Now  having-come-toward,  some  of-the  Sadducees,  the-ones  anti-saying  a-resurrection  not  to-be,  they-questioned  him  saying,  “Teacher,  Moses  wrote  to-us,  ‘If  of-anyone  a-brother  dies,  having  a-wife,  and  this-one  childless  is,  that  he-should-take,  the  brother  of-him,  the  wife,  and  he-should-raise-up  seed  for-the  brother  of-him.’  Therefore,  seven  brothers  there-were,  and  the  first,  having-taken  a-wife,  he-died  childless;  and  the  second  and  the  third  took  her,  now  similarly  also  the  seven,  not  they-left-behind  children,  and  they-died.  Lastly  also  the  woman  died.  Therefore  the  woman  in  the  resurrection,  of-which  of-them  she-becomes  wife?  For  the  seven  had  her,  wife.”

And  he-said  to-them,  the  Jesus,  “The  sons  of-the  eon,  this,  they-marry  and  they-are-given-in-marriage,  now  the-ones  counted-worthy  of-the  eon,  that,  to-obtain  and  of-the  resurrection  of-the,  out-of  dead,  neither  they-marry  nor  they-are-given-in-marriage;  for  not-even  to-die  more  they-are-able,  for  equal-to-angels  they-are,  and  sons,  they-are  of-God,  of-the  resurrection,  sons  being.  Now  that  they-are-raised,  the  dead,  even  Moses  pointed-out  upon  the  bush,  as  he-calls  Lord  the  God  of-Abraham  and  God  of-Isaac  and  God  of-Jacob;  now  God,  not  he-is  of-dead-persons,  but-on-the-contrary  of-living;  for  all  to-him  live.”

Now  having-answered,  some  of-the  writers  said,  “Teacher,  well  you-said.”  For  no-more  they-were-daring  to-question  him  nothing.

Now  he-said  toward  them,  “How  they-say  the  Christ  to-be  of-David  son?  For  himself,  David,  he-says  in  bible  of-psalms,  ‘He-said,  Lord  to-the  lord  of-me:  “Sit  at  right  of-me,  until  when  I-place  the  enemies  of-you,  a-footstool  of-the  feet  of-you.”’  Therefore  David,  Lord,  him  he-calls,  and  how  of-him  a-son  he-is?”

Now  hearing  all  the  people,  he-said  to-the  disciples  of-him,  “Pay-attention-to  from  the  writers,  the-ones  wanting  to-walk-about  in-stoles  and  brotherly-loving  greetings  in  the  agoras  and  proto-seats  in  the  synagogues  and  proto-recliners  in  the  suppers,  the-ones  they-eat-up  the  houses  of-the  widows  and  outward-showing  macro  they-pray;  these  will-receive  more-severe  judgment.”

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A Sabbath Day's Journey

September 28th, 2025

September 20th, 2025

September 13th, 2025

September 06th, 2025

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