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December 29th, 2024

12/29/2024

A blessed Christmas to you! And it may be obvious to you that this Sunday has the title of the ‘First Sunday after Christmas’. The Gospel Reading for this Sunday is the same as the previous year (although this year is the year we primarily look at the Gospel according to Luke), Luke 2:22-40. There is not much in the Gospel according to Mark about Jesus as a baby.

The current writings of this website are also going through the Gospel according to Luke, and they started at the beginning of the church year, the same time that this Gospel account looks at the things that surrounded Jesus’ birth. So this next section of the Gospel according to Luke that will be given in a VERY literal translation is probably a VERY familiar text, that of the birth of Jesus. In some congregations on Christmas Eve the text may still be spoken aloud in the King James Version. That could almost be called an ancient tradition.

One of the benefits to giving a very literal translation is that the reader gets an idea of how many words in the original language go into the English language. This can also indicate some of the extravagancy of the vocabulary used by the writer.  The hyphens are given to indicate just one word in the Greek. Taking into account some of the vocabulary below, you may wish to study the text in other translations (including the King James Version) or a study bible.

Another reason for an extremely literal translation is that it often breaks the big, rare words into words which are more familiar. It may make it a bit easier to read. But, again, it may make it more difficult. What follows is an example.

Given the extreme familiarity of this text, you probably have already heard that the word usually translated as ‘inn’ (the place where there was no room) does not usually indicate a hotel as we know it. The word given is given below is extremely literal, indicating that a trip may be ‘broken up’ into parts, and people would choose to stop somewhere. Given the small size of Bethlehem, the place where people usually stayed was probably connected to someone’s home. Now what follows is a very literal translation of Luke 2:1-20:

Now  it-happened  in  the  days,  those,  it-went-out,  a-dogma,  from  Kaiser  Augustus  to-be-registered,  all  the  inhabited-earth.  This  registration,  first,  it-happened,  being-governor  of-the  Syria,  Cyrenius.  And  they-were-going,  all,  to-be-registered,  each-man  into  the  of-himself,  city.

Now  he-went-up  also,  Joseph,  from  the  Galilee,  out-of  a-city,  Nazareth,  into  the  Judea,  into  a-city  of-David,  which  is-called  Bethlehem,  because-of  the  to-be  him  out-of  house  and  family  of-David,  to-be-registered  with  Mariam,  the  having-been-betrothed  to-him,  being  pregnant.

Now  it-happened  in  the  to-be  them  there,  they-were-fulfilled,  the  days,  of-the  to-give-birth  her,  and  she-gave-birth,  the  son  of-her,  the  firstborn,  and  she-swaddled  him,  and  she-laid-down  him  in  a-manger,  because  not  there-was  for-them  a-place  in  the  breaking-up.

And  shepherds,  they-were  in  the  country,  the  same,  making-a-field-a-courtyard  and  guarding  a-guard  of-the  night  over  the  flock  of-them.  And  an-angel  of-Lord  stood-upon  them,  and  glory  of-Lord  shone-around  them,  and  they-feared  a-fear,  great.  And  he-said  to-them  the  angel:  “Not  do-fear;  for  behold,  I-evangelize  to-you  a-joy,  great,  which  it-will-be  to-all  the  people,  because  he-was-born  for-you  today  a-Savior,  who  he-is  Christ,  Lord,  in  city  of-David.  And  this  for-you  a-sign,  you-will-find  a-babe,  having-been-swaddled  and  lying  in  a-manger.”

And  suddenly  it-happened  with  the  angel  a-multitude,  of-army  heavenly,  praising  the  God  and  saying,  “Glory  in  highest  to-God,  and  upon  earth,  peace,  in  men  of-good will.”

And  it-happened  as  they-went-away  from  them,  into  the  heaven,  the  angels,  the  shepherds  were-saying  toward  one-another,  “Let-us-go-through  indeed  until  Bethlehem,  and  let-us-see  the  thing,  this,  the  having-happened  which  the  Lord  made-known  to-us.”  And  they-came,  having-hurried,  and  they-found  the  both,  Mariam  and  the  Joseph,  and  the  babe,  lying  in  the  manger;  now  having-seen,  they-made-known  concerning  the  word,  the  having-been-spoken  to-them  concerning  the  child,  this.  And  all  the-ones  having-heard,  they-marveled  concerning  the-things  having-been-spoken  by  the  shepherds  toward  them;  now  the  Mariam,  all,  she-was-keeping-with  the  things,  these,  throwing-together  in  the  heart  of-her.  And  they-returned,  the  shepherds,  glorifying  and  praising  the  God,  at  all-things  which  they-heard  and  they-saw,  as  it-was-spoken  toward  them.

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December 21st, 2024

12/21/2024

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This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Advent and the last one of the Advent season. The Gospel Reading for this Sunday jumps back to the beginning of the Gospel according to Luke, and the text is Luke 1:39-45, with the option of including verses 46 through 56.

The current writings of this website are also going through the Gospel according to Luke, and the website writings of last week finished with verse 56 with its very literal translation. In that writing essentially the angel visits Mary (or Mariam), she becomes pregnant, and she basically she has some poetry to say. In the text below, John is born, and his father, Zechariah, also says some poetry. So there is a similar structure to these texts.

It is interesting that there also is a contrast between the two people of Mary and Zechariah. When the angel appeared to Mary and said that she would become pregnant, she basically asked how this could happen, since she had not KNOWN a man (see 1:34). Zechariah, on the other hand, when notified that his wife would have a son, asked how he would KNOW this, since both he and his wife were old (see 1:18). That ends up being a more serious issue.

To know something continues to be an important aspect of the culture, especially in the modern and post-modern era. The phrase “Knowledge itself is power” came relatively recently from Francis Bacon (of the 1500’s), but support of this is seen much earlier in history. Scriptures often give good reminders that all knowledge is ultimately from the All-Knowing One.

What follows is just one option of a very literal translation of Luke 1:57-80 (the hyphens are designed to help the reader know how many words in English are used in the Greek, the language of the New Testament; the text may be a little confusing, especially with the poetry, but the translation may help to point out important aspects, especially when a word other than the verb appears early in the sentence; it may be extremely helpful to study the text with other translations or a study bible):

Now  in-the  Elisabeth  it-was-fulfilled,  the  appointed-time  of-the  to-give-birth,  her,  and  she-bore  a-son.  And  they-heard  the  dwelling-around-ones  and  the  relatives  of-her  that  he-magnified,  Lord,  the  mercy  of-him  with  her,  and  they-were-rejoicing-with  her.

And-it-happened  in  the  day,  the  eighth,  they-came  to-circumcise  the  child,  and  they-were-calling  him  by  the  name  of-the  father  of-him,  Zechariah.  And  having-answered,  the  mother  of-him,  she-said:  “No,  but-on-the-contrary,  he-will-be-called  John.”

And  they-said  toward  her,  “No-one  it-is  from  the  relatives  of-you  who  is-called  in-the  name  in-this.”  Now  they-were-nodding  to-the  father  of-him,  the  what  might  he-want  to-be-called  him.  And  having-asked  a-tablet,  he-wrote,  saying:  John  is  name  of-him.  And  they-marveled,  all.  Now  it-was-opened  the  mouth  of-him  instantly,  and  the  tongue  of-him,  and  he-was-speaking,  eulogizing  the  God.

And  it-happened  upon  all,  fear,  the  ones-dwelling-around  them,  and  in  whole,  the  hill-country  of-the  Judea,  they-were-talked-through  all  the  sayings,  these.  And  they-put  all  the  ones-having-heard  in  the  heart  of-them,  saying,  “What  then,  the  child,  this,  he-will-be?”  For indeed,  hand  of-Lord,  it-was  with  him.

And  Zechariah,  the  father  of-him,  he-was-filled  of-Spirit,  Holy,  and  he-prophesied,  saying,  “Eulogy,  Lord,  the  God  of-the  Israel,  because  he-looked-upon,  and  he-made  redemption  to-the  people  of-him,  and  he-raised  a-horn  of-salvation  for-us  in  house  of-David,  child  of-him;  just-as  he-spoke  through  mouth  of-the  holy-ones  from  age  of-prophets  of-him,  salvation  out-of  enemies  of-us,  and  out-of  hand  of-all  the  ones-hating  us,  to-make  mercy  with  the  fathers  of-us,  and  to-remember  covenant,  holy,  of-him,  oath  which  he-swore  toward  Abram,  the  father  of-us,  the  to-give  us  fearless  out-of  the-hand  of-enemies,  having-been-rescued  to-serve  him  in  holiness  and  righteousness  before  him,  in-all  the  days  of-us.”

“And  now,  you,  child,  a-prophet  of-Most-High  you-will-be-called,  for  you-will-go-before,  before  Lord  to-prepare  ways  of-him,  the  to-give  a-knowledge  of-salvation  to-the  people  of-him,  in  forgiveness  of-sins  of-them,  because  of-intestines  of-mercy  of-God  of-us,  in  which  it-will-look-upon  us  a-rising  from  height,  to-an-epiphany  to-the-ones  in  darkness  and  shadow  of-death  sitting,  to  make-straight  the  feet  of-us  into  a-way  of-peace.”  Now  the  child  he-was-growing,  and  he-was-being strengthened  in-spirit,  and  he-was  in  the  deserts  until  day  of-exhibiting  of-him  toward  the  Israel.

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December 14th, 2024

12/14/2024

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This Sunday is known as the Third Sunday in Advent. And the Gospel reading for this Sunday jumps all the way to Luke 7:18-28; there is also the option of including verses 29 through 35.

As was mentioned in the writings of last week, we have recently started to go through the Gospel according to Luke in the order that was made by the writer. There will be no jumps in these studies of the text.

Now there will be some significantly different emphases from the other two Gospel accounts that are very similar to this one (the Gospel according to Matthew and the Gospel according to Mark). And to make those differences a bit more noticeable, the translation of the text below will be called a very literal translation.

In much the same way that a typical doctor has a significantly different vocabulary, the writer of this Gospel account (who, by the way, was also a doctor), uses some significantly different vocabulary. To help point that out, instead of a somewhat-literal translation that was used with the other two accounts, the following translation will be (and will be called) very literal.

With such a translation, the hyphens will point out the multiple words in English that are just one word in Greek (the language of the New Testament). Such a translation may be especially difficult to follow for someone reading the text for the first (or second) time. As part of an informal ‘bible study’, you may wish to look at other translations or a study bible to help with your understanding of the text.

Such a translation may also remind you that the Greek language has some similarities to the English, and to learn such a language is not an impossible thing. (By the way it could be said to almost all people that the first language you learned was definitely the most difficult one; you simply do not remember most of those difficulties.)

What follows could be called a very literal translation of Luke 1:26-56 (and it should be said at this point that there are still A LOT of different ways to translate this text).

Now  in  the  month,  the  sixth,  he-was-sent-out,  the  angel,  Gabriel,  from  the  God,  into  a-city  of-the  Galilee,  to-which  name  Nazareth,  toward  a-virgin  having-been-engaged  to-a-man,  to-whom  name  Joseph,  out-of  house  of-David,  and  the  name  of-the  virgin,  Mariam.  And  having-come-into  toward  her,  he-said,  “Rejoice,  having-been-graced-one,  the  Lord  with  you.”  Now  the-one  upon  the  word,  she-was-thoroughly-troubled,  and  she-was-dialoguing  of-what-kind  it-might-be,  the  greeting,  this.  And  he-said,  the  angel,  to-her,  “Not  do-fear,  Mariam;  for  you-found  grace  with  the  God.  And  behold,  you-will-conceive  in  womb,  and  you-will-bear  a-son,  and  you-will-call  the  name  of-him  Jesus.  This-one  will-be  mega,  and  Son  of-Highest,  he-will-be-called,  and  he-will-give  to-him,  Lord  the  God,  the  throne  of-David,  of-the  Father  of-him,  and  he-will-reign  over  the  house  of-Jacob  into  the  ages,  and  of-the  kingdom  of-him  not  it-will-be  an-end.”

Now  she-said,  Mariam,  toward  the  angel,  “How  will-be  this,  since  a-man  not  I-know?”

And  having-answered  the  angel,  he-said  to-her,  “Spirit  Holy,  he-will-come-upon  upon  you,  and  power  of-Highest,  it-will-overshadow  you;  wherefore  also,  the  one-being-born  Holy  he-will-be-called,  Son  of-God.  And  behold,  Elisabeth,  the  relative  of-you,  also  she  she-has-conceived  a-son  in  old-age  of-her,  and  this  month,  sixth  it-is,  with-her  the-one  being-called  sterile;  because  not  it-will-be-impossible  with  the  God,  all  word.”

Now  she-said  Mariam,  “Behold,  the  slave  of-Lord.  May-it-be  to-me  according-to  the  word  of-you.”  And  he-came-away  from  her,  the  angel.

Now  having-risen-up  Mariam,  in  the  days,  these,  she  traveled  into  the  hill-country  with  haste  into  a-city  of-Juda.  And  she-came-into  into  the  house  of-Zachariah  and  she-greeted  the  Elisabeth.

And  it  happened  as  she-heard  the  greeting of-the  Mariam,  the  Elisabeth,  he  jumped,  the  infant  in  the  womb  of-her,  and  she-was-filled  of-Spirit,  Holy,  the  Elisabeth,  and  she-called-out  a-cry,  mega,  and  she-said,  “Eulogized  you,  in  women,  and  having-been-eulogized  the  fruit  of-the  womb  of-you.  And  from-where  to-me  this,  that  she-comes  the  mother  of-the  Lord  of-me,  toward  me?  For  behold,  as  it-happened  the  call  of-the  greeting  of-you  into  the  ears  of-me,  he-jumped  in  exaltation,  the  infant  in  the  womb  of-me.  And  happy,  the-one  having-believed  that  it-will-be  a-completion  to-the-things  having-been-spoken  to-her  from  Lord.”

And  she-said,  Mariam,  “It-makes-mega  the  soul  of-me,  the  Lord,  and  it-is-exalted,  the  spirit  of-me,  upon  the  God,  the  Savior  of-me;  because  he-looked-upon,  upon  the  humiliation  of-the  slave  of-him.  For  behold,  from  the  now,  they-will-be-call-happy  me,  all  the  generations;  because  he-did  to-me  mega-things,  the  Mighty-one.  And  holy,  the  name  of-him,  and  the  mercy  of-him  into  generations  and generations  to-the-ones  fearing  him.  He-did  power  in  arm  of-him,  he-scattered  proud-ones  in-understanding  of-heart  of-them.  He-pulled-down  dynasties  from  thrones,  and  he-exalted  humble-ones,  hungering-ones  he-filled  of-good-things,  and  rich-ones  he-sent-out-away  empty.  He-has-taken-upon  Israel,  servant  of-him,  to-remember  mercy,  just-as  he-spoke  toward  the  fathers  of-us,  to  Abram  and  to-the  seed  of-him,  into  the  age.”  Now  she-remained,  Mariam  with  her,  as  months,  three;  and   she-returned  into  the  house  of-her.

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December 08th, 2024

12/8/2024

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If you have been following along, you would know that this Sunday is the Second Sunday in Advent. And it is the year of the C Series, and so the Gospel reading for this Sunday is from the Gospel according to Luke (3:1-14, and there is also the option of extending the reading to verse 20).

In the writings of this website, we are going through the Gospel according to Luke in the order that was given by the writer. Last week’s writing looked at the introduction of the book. This week’s writing will look at the very next section, at the events behind the birth of the man known as John the Baptist.

The following could be called a very literal translation of that next section, that what is termed Luke 1:5-25 (you may wish to look at or other translations or even a study bible to help with your understanding of the text; and it may be helpful to say that with such a translation, generally the earlier a word is in the sentence, the more important it will be; and it may also be helpful to say that the hyphens will point out that multiple words in English are based upon single words in the original Greek; and your feedback regarding such a translation would be very much appreciated).

It-happened in the days of-Herod, king of-the Judea, priest a-certain, by-name Zachariah, from set-days of-Abijah, and wife for-him, from the daughters of-Aaron, and the name of-her, Elizabeth. Now they-were righteous, both, before the God, going in all the commandments, and righteous-deeds of-the Lord, blameless. And not there-was for them a-child, according-as she-was the Elizabeth, sterile, and both, having advanced in the days of-them, they-were.

Now it-happened in the being-priest him, in the order of the set-days of-him before the God, according-to the custom of-the priesthood, his-lot-was the to-burn-incense, having-come-into, into the shrine of-the Lord, and all the multitude was of-the people, praying outside in-the hour of-the incense. Now he-appeared to-him, an-angel of-Lord, standing by right of-the altar of-the incense. And he-was-shaken, Zachariah, having-seen, and fear fell-upon upon him.

Now he-said toward him, the angel, “Not do-fear, Zachariah, because-of-that it-was-heard-favorably, the request of-you, and the wife of-you, Elizabeth, will-bear a-son for-you, and you-will-call the name of-him John; and it-will-be joy for-you and exaltation, and many over the birth of-him, they-will-rejoice. For he-will-be mega in-eyes-of the Lord, and wine and strong-drink certainly not he-will-drink, and of-Spirit, Holy, he-will-be-filled, even from womb of-mother of-him, and many of-the sons of-Israel he-will-turn-back upon Lord, the God of-them; and he, he-will-go-before, in-eyes-of him, in spirit and power of-Elijah, to-turn-back hearts of-fathers upon children, and disobedient in understanding of-the-righteous, to-prepare for-Lord a-people having-been-equipped.”

And he said, Zachariah, toward the angel, “According-to what will-I-know this? For I, I-am a-presbyter, and the wife of-me having-advanced in the days of-her.”

And having-answered the angel, he-said to-him, “I, I am Gabriel, the-one standing-beside in-eyes-of the God, and I-was-sent-out to-speak toward you and to-evangelize to-you these-things; and behold, you-will-be being-silent and not being-able to-speak until which day it-happens these-things, because, which, not you-believed the words of-me, which they-will-be-fulfilled into the appointed-time of-them.”

And it-was, the people, expecting the Zachariah, and they-were-marveling in the to-delay in the shrine, him. Now having-come-out not he-was-able to-speak to-them, and they-recognized that a-vision he-had-beheld in the shrine; and he, he-was signaling to-them, and he-was-remaining blunted.

And it-happened, as they-were-fulfilled, the days of-the service of-him, he-came-away into the house of-him. Now after these, the days, she-conceived, Elizabeth, the wife of-him, and she was-concealing herself, months five, saying, “Thus to-me he-has-done, Lord, in days in-which he-looked-upon, to-take-away disgrace of-me in people.

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A Sabbath Day's Journey

December 29th, 2024

December 21st, 2024

December 14th, 2024

December 08th, 2024

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