December 20th, 2025

The season of Advent continues on for one more Sunday. And so this Sunday’s title is the Fourth Sunday in Advent. The Gospel Reading for this Sunday is a great text, Matthew 1:18-25. It is a great text because many biblical books at their start often give a hint as to what to expect structurally, and it seems like this happens in this text. At the middle and the end of this text is the name Jesus, and that gives a structure as to what is important as the sermons and the actions of Jesus are laid out within this book. In the middle of this Gospel account, Jesus starts to go to Jerusalem to die and rise, and he does just that at the end. And, surprisingly, this structure also fits with Jesus’ coming in the “middle” of time and at the end of time. And it should be no surprise that ANY coming of Jesus is important.

If you have been recently reading the writings of this website, you would know that we are currently going through the very different Gospel according to John. With the last writing, we finished what is usually called the first chapter of that Gospel account.

On the other hand, if you are unfamiliar with the writings of this website, there are some things that should be mentioned.  First of all, it should be said that this is an EXTREMELY literal translation. Such a translation may be seen as a type of first step, to get an idea of what is important in the words which have been laid out within the text.

When it comes to the text, words are definitely important. And so, to help with that emphasis, the words with the hyphens occur when more than one English word was used to help translate a single Greek word, the language of the New Testament. And when it comes to words, it should also be said that the order of words is also important. Generally speaking, the verbs appear early within the sentence, and any words before that may receive a special emphasis. One more thing to note is regarding the so-called “historical presents” (when a past-tense verb is expected, but a present one is given), that they are given in all capital letters. They are meant to all work together to bring glory to Jesus and, ultimately, to God, the Father Almighty.

In conclusion, it should be said that since this translation is an unusual one, it will probably be helpful to have another bible translation or a study bible nearby, to help you with your study of God’s Word.

There are many different translations of the text, even into the one language of English. As promised, what follows is an EXTREMELY literal translation of John 2:1-11:

And  in-the  day,  the  third,  a-wedding  happened  in  Cana  of-the  Galilee,  and  she-was,  the  mother  of-the  Jesus,  there;  now  they-were-called,  both  the  Jesus  and  the  disciples  of-him,  into  the  wedding.  And  having-failed  wine,  SHE-SAYS, the  mother  of-the  Jesus,  toward  him,  “Wine  not  they-have.”

And  HE-SAYS  to-her,  the  Jesus,  “What  to-me  and  to-you,  woman?  Not-yet  it-is-come,  the  hour  of-me.”

SHE-SAYS,  the  mother  of-him,  to-the  deacons,  “The  what  ever  he-says  to-you,  do.”  Now  they-are  there,  stone  hydrias,  hex,  according-to  the  catharsis  of-the  Jews,  lying,  containing  each  measures,  duo  or  trice.

HE-SAYS  to-them,  the  Jesus,  “Fill  the  hydrias  of-water.”  And  they-filled  them,  up-to  top.  And  HE-SAYS  to-them,  “Draw  presently  and  carry  to-the  master-of-the-feast.”  Now  the-ones  carried.

Now  as  he-tasted,  the  master-of-the-feast,  the  water,  wine  having-become,  and  not  he-knew  from-where  it-is,  now  the  deacons  knew,  the-ones  having-drawn  the  water,  HE-CALLS  the  bridegroom,  the  master-of-the-feast,  and  HE-SAYS  to-him,  “Every  man,  first  the  good  wine  sets,  and  when  they-become-drunk,  the  lesser;  you,  you-have-kept  the  good  wine  until  presently.” ​

This  he-did,  beginning  of-the  signs,  the  Jesus,  in  Cana  of-the  Galilee,  and  he-manifested  the  glory  of-him,  and   they-believed  into  him,  the  disciples  of-him.