Sunday, March 30, 2025

Matthew 22 in the Unitarian Standard Version

 


1 And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying, 2 The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, 3 and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come. 4 Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatted beasts(a) are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; 6 and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 But the king was enraged(b); and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were called(c) were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, call to the marriage feast. 10 And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: 12 and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few chosen.

15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in [his] talk. 16 And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites? 19 Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar`s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar`s; and unto God the things that are God`s.(d) 22 And when they heard it, they marvelled, and left him, and went away.

23 On that day there came to him Sadducees, saying that there is no resurrection: and they asked him, 24 saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up offspring unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren(e): and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his brother; 26 in like manner the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And after them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection therefore whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not [the] God of the dead, but of the living. 33 And when the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

34 But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, gathered themselves together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, trying him: 36 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 And he said unto him, Thou shalt love Jehovah(f) thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second like [unto it] is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets.

41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, What think ye of the Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, [The son] of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in the spirit call him Lord, saying,

44 Jehovah(g) said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet?

45 If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, neither dared any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Footnotes

(a) ASV: fatlings
(b) ASV: wroth
(c) ASV: bidden
(d) Jesus’s injunction to "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s" is a tacit endorsement of property rights."To say certain things 'are' anyone’s assumes ownership." Lawrence W. Reed, Was Jesus a Socialist?"
(e) Tobit 3:8 and 7:11
(f) ASV has "the Lord" here. The Greek text does not have the definite article "the", so it should read "Thou shalt love Lord thy God", a situation that cries for a name, such as it was written in Deuteronomy 6:4, 5: "Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah: and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
Phillip W. Comfort in his New Testament Text and Translation Commentary, wrote of this passage: "This is a verbatim quotation of Deut 6:5, with the exception of the last word, which is 'might' instead of 'mind.'" That's not true. Deut. 6:5 has "Jehovah thy God" instead of "the Lord thy God." These mainstream Bible "Scholars" have such a blind spot when it comes to the Divine Name. This is troubling and should not be overlooked.
(g) Jehovah is placed here instead of "the Lord." I cannot imagine anyone in the 1st century actually saying "lord" here instead of YHWH. The usual English translation of "The Lord said to my Lord" appears to blur the distinction being made at Ps 110:1. "By the Lord that said, is meant 'Jehovah' the Father."~John Gill; "Jehovah said unto Adonai. Quoted from Psa_110:1."~Bullinger.
At Ps 110:1 the word for "lord" in Hebrew is Adoni, a word never used for "God". Adoni is used for humans and angels. The title "Adonai" is used for God. The difference seems small to the lay reader, but it is significant.

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If the doctrine of the Trinity be true, it is, no doubt, in the highest degree important and interesting. Since, therefore, the evangelists give no certain and distinct account of it, and say nothing of its importance, it may be safely inferred that it was unknown to them. The doctrine of Transubstantiation implies a physical impossibility, whereas that of the Trinity, as unfolded in the Athanasian Creed, implies a mathematical one; and to this only we usually give the name of contradiction.~Thomas Jefferson

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Saturday, March 29, 2025

Matthew 21 in the Unitarian Standard Version

 

Introducing the Unitarian Standard Version Bible

1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying unto them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose [them], and bring [them] unto me. 3 And if any one say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord(a) hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,

5 Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.

6 And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them, 7 and brought the ass, and the colt, and put garments on them; and he sat thereon. 8 And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of [the] Lord(b); Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.

12 And Jesus entered into the temple, and cast out all those selling and buying in the temple(c), and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; 13 and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye are making it a den of thieves. 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were moved with indignation, 16 and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise?(d) 17 And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.

18 Now in the morning, returning to the city, he hungered. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away? 21 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven(e) or from men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven(d); he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him? 26 But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. 28 But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard. 29 And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went. 30 And he came to the other, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I [go], sir: and went not. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the tax-collectors(f) and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the tax-collectors(e) and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.

33 Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenant farmers, and went into another country. 34 And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the tenant farmers, to receive his fruits. 35 And the tenant farmers took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner. 37 But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But the tenant farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and have his inheritance. 39 And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those tenant farmers? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other tenant farmers, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures,

The stone which the builders rejected,
The same was made the head of the corner;
This was from [the] Lord,(g)
And it is marvelous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 [And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.](h) 45 And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46 And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet.

Footnotes

(a) Lord, Greek: Kyrios/KURIOS. The word is used as a title of respect of men in authority, as well as the Divine. "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Php 2:11
(b) From Ps 118:26: "Blessed be he that cometh in the name of Jehovah." (see Darby's Preface, Bullinger Appendix 98, NWT, Heinfetter, Bible Stories: Memorable Acts of the Ancient Patriarchs, Judges and Kings, Volume 2 by William Scolfield 1803 and ED)
(c) those selling and buying - TOUS PWLOUNTAS KAI AGORAZONTAS/tous polountas kai agorazontas. This is an example of an article-noun-kai-noun construction. According to Granville Sharp, when the definite article (the/tous) does not occur before the second noun then the two nouns are referring to the same person. This "rule" is then used to blur the lines between God and Savior at Titus 2:13 and 2 Peter 1:1. However, Matthew 21:12 provides a clear exception to this "rule." "Take an example from the New Testament. In Matt. xxi. 12 we read that Jesus 'cast out all those that were selling and buying in the temple,' TOUS PWLOUNTAS KAI AGORAZONTAS. No one can reasonably suppose that the same persons are described as both selling and buying. In Mark, the two classes are made distinct by the insertion of TOUS before AGORAZONTAS; here it is safely left to the intelligence of the reader to distinguish them. In the case before us, the omission of the article before AGORAZONTAS seems to me to present no difficulty, - not because SWTHROS is made sufficiently definite by the addition of HMWN (Winer), for, since God as well as Christ is often called "our Saviour," H DOXA TOU MEGALOU QEOU KAI SWTHROS HMWN, standing alone, would most naturally be understood of one subject, namely, God, the Father; but the addition of IHSOU CRISTOU to SWTHROS HMWN changes the case entirely, restricting the SWTHROS HMWN to a person or being who, according to Paul's habitual use of language, is distinguished from the person or being whom he designates as hO QEOS, so that there was no need of the repetition of the article to prevent ambiguity. So in 2 Thess. i. 12, the expression KATA THN CARIN TOU QEOU HMWN KAI KURIOU would naturally be understood of one subject, and the article would be required before KURIOU if two were intended; but the simple addition of IHSOU CRISTOU to KURIOU makes the reference to the two distinct subjects clear without the insertion of the article." Ezra Abbot
(d) Psalms 8:2 LXX
(e) NEB, REB, GNT has "God" here instead of heaven.
(f) KJV: Publicans. "In Jesus’ day, the land owners rented their land for farmers to grow crops. A portion of that crop or the money derived from the crop was paid back to the land owner with other portions going to the king (government) and even more to Caesar (Rome). To make matters worse, there was a temple tax (called the 10% tithe) to boot!  Tax collectors were detested in the days of Jesus." ~Bill Sardi
(g) Jehovah, from Psalm 18:22, 23 (See also Bullinger App. 98; Darby preface, Keys of the Kingdom Holy Bible-Kindle Edition, ED, Heinfetter
(h) Verse omitted by some Bibles and ancient texts.

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From Henry Ware (1832):

 'If the Apostles worshiped God in three persons, it will so appear in their conduct and writings; this circumstance will characterize their devout expressions everywhere. And this the more especially, because they were Jews, - a people who worshipped God with a strict and most jealous regard to his unity. They could not have changed their practice in this particular without the change being most strikingly observable. Yet we have no intimation of such a change. They appear to have gone on with the worship of the One God of their fathers, without any alteration. Look at this fact. When Paul was converted, he must have passed supposing the Trinity to be a christian doctrine from believing Jesus a blasphemous impostor, to believing him the Lord Jehovah. Is there the least hint of such an amazing change? He speaks with admiration and rapture of the new views and feelings which he enjoyed with his new faith. But all the rest together was not so astonishing and wonderful as this particular change. Yet he nowhere alludes to it. Is it then possible that it could have been so? that so great a revolution of feeling should have taken place, and no intimation of it be found in any act or expression? He speaks frequently of his prayers. And how? 'I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom.' It is plain therefore to whom Paul directed his worship. - His epistles contain many doxologies and ascriptions of praise to God. And in what terms? Always to One person, God the Father. And not once, either in his epistles, or in any other writing of the Bible, is a doxology to be found, which ascribes praise to Father, Son and Spirit, or to the Trinity in any form. This fact is worth remarking. The New Testament contains, I think, twenty-eight ascriptions in various forms; and from not one of them could you learn that the doctrine of the Trinity had been dreamt of in that day."
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Sunday, March 23, 2025

Matthew 20 in the Unitarian Standard Version

 

Introducing the Unitarian Standard Version Bible

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius(a) a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle; 4 and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh [hour] he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard. 8 And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a denarius. 10 And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a denarius. 11 And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, 12 saying, These last have spent [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. 13 But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 [Or] is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.

17    And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man(b) shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, 19    and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.

20 Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, paid homage(c) to [him], and asking a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able. 23 He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right and left this is not mine to give(d); but [it is for them] for whom it hath been prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; 27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant: 28 even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

29 And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, have mercy on us Lord, thou son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace: but they cried out the more, saying, have mercy on us Lord, thou son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34    And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.

Footnotes

(a) denarius: MLB has "twenty-five cents"; Worsley NT has "a penny"; NAB has "daily wage"; CCB has "a silver coin"; Unvarnished has "drachma"; ASV has "shilling", AT has "a dollar"; Knox has "silver piece"; Williams has "twenty cents".
(b) "The phrase Son of Man is addressed to the prophet Ezekiel, in the book called by his name, nearly the same number of times that it is applied by our Lord to himself in the Gospels. For what reason that prophet is thus distinguished has been variously, but not satisfactorily, explained." Robert Aspland (An Attempt to ascertain the import of the title "Son of Man" [1821], p. 10)
(c) The ASV uses "worshipping" here. However, many Bibles do not use the word "worship" at this verse. The word "worship" was used in the past, of others besides Deity. For example: Lot “worshipped” the two strangers that came to Sodom (Genesis 19:1). Abraham “worshipped” the pagan leaders of the land in which he lived (Genesis 23:7). Jacob “worshipped” his older brother when they met after being apart for years (Genesis 33:3). Joseph had a dream that his parents and brothers “worshipped” him (Genesis 37:10). Joseph’s brothers “worshipped” him (Genesis 43:26). Joshua “worshipped” an angel (Joshua 5:14). Ruth “worshipped” Boaz (Ruth 2:10). David “worshipped” Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:41). Abigail “worshipped” David (1 Samuel 25:41). The servant in the parable “worshipped” his master (Matthew 18:26).
(d) "not mine to give." Jesus did not have the authority to grant status in heaven, proving that he is not Almighty God.

"I dislike this vulgar prayer, 'Holy Trinity, one God! have mercy on us!' as altogether savouring of barbarism. We repudiate such expressions as being not only insipid, but profane." - Abridged from CALVIN: Tractat. Theol. p. 796.

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Saturday, March 22, 2025

Matthew 19 in the Unitarian Standard Version

 

Introducing the Unitarian Standard Version Bible

1 And it came to pass(a) when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judaea beyond the Jordan; 2 and great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

3 And there came unto him some Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful [for a man](b) to put away (divorce) his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who created [them] from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? 6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put [her] away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery(c). 10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry. 11 But he said unto them, Not all men can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother`s womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven`s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should lay his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven(d). 15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

16 And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honor father and mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I observed: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions(e).

23 And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle`s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 And Jesus looking upon [them] said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee; what then shall we have? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And whosoever hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name`s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life. 30 But many shall be last [that are] first; and first [that are] last.

Footnotes

(a) Interesting fact: The phrase "and it came to pass" is used 1430 times in the Book of Mormon
(b) The ASV has these words in brackets to indicate that they are not in the Greek text. The Westcott & Hort Greek text does not have anthropos/man, however, the TR, MT, UBS3 and the NA28 do. The UBS3 gives it a C rating for its doubtfulness.
(c) 5G: "Jesus' pronouncements are recorded in three independent sources, but the wording varies. The disagreement indicates some confusion about his counsel, or at least about how his counsel was to be interpreted." See also: Philip W. Comfort, New Testament Text and Translation Commentary, Accordance electronic ed. (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008), 56-57.
(d) "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Riverside New Testament
(e) See The Love of Money: Another Reason Why Jesus Was Crucified, By Bill Sardi for a good commentary on this passage.

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"About the time of the beginning of our Era there was a period of great unrest among the thinkers of the world. Greek philosophy, Platonism, Neo-Platonism, Manichaeism, Montanism, Gnosticism, made great inroads on the older faiths, and Judaism underwent many changes. Then, when Christianity came, it too met with all the other competing ideas, and while at first it was fairly free from Pagan ideas, it soon adopted the policy of making converts by adapting itself to their views, so as not to make a change from one of the other faiths to Christianity too abrupt or difficult.

For instance, at a very early stage of Christianity, they believed in One God; the belief was Unitarian; by about the beginning of the third century the belief that Jesus was a son of God, and was himself a God, prevailed quite generally, and then when a third person, the Holy Ghost, was accepted by the church, the belief was Trinitarian." Otto Augustus Wall M.D., Ph.G., Ph.M. 1920

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Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Matthew 18 in the Unitarian Standard Version

 

Introducing the Unitarian Standard Version Bible

1 In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And he called to him a little child, and set it in the midst of them, 3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me: 6 But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and [that] he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! occasions must come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh! 8 And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. 9 And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna(a) of fire. 10 See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels(b) do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, will he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

15 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he hear [thee] not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. 17 And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the tax-collector. 18 Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again truly I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21 Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not [wherewith] to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all he has, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down and paid homage(c) to him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denarii: and he laid hold on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay, if thou owest anything. 29 So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: 33 shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. 35 So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.

Footnotes

Verse 11 [For the Son of man came to save that which was lost] is omitted as it is a later addition.
(a) ASV has "hell of fire" here, with a footnote reading "Gehenna of fire" which is what the Greek text has.
(b) NEB has "guardian angels" here.
(c) ASV has "worshipped" here, though the referent is an earthly king.

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“The hocus-pocus phantasm of a God like another Cerberus, with one body and three heads, had its birth and growth in the blood of thousands and thousands of martyrs... In fact, the Athanasian paradox that one is three, and three but one, is so incomprehensible to the human mind, that no candid man can say he has any idea of it, and how can he believe what presents no idea? He who thinks he does, only deceives himself. He proves, also, that man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without a rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such persons, gullibility which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand of reason, and the mind becomes a wreck.

[Letter to James Smith discussing Jefferson's hate of the doctrine of the Christian trinity, December 8 1822]”

Thomas Jefferson, Letters of Thomas Jefferson

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Saturday, March 15, 2025

Matthew 17 in the Unitarian Standard Version

 

Introducing the Unitarian Standard Version Bible

1 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: 2 and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light. 3 And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. 4 And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 5 While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son(a), in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touching them, said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, save Jesus himself, alone.

9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead. 10 And the disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? 11 And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things: 12 but I say into you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them. 13 Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling to him, 15 saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and off-times into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17 And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked it; and the demon went out of him: and the boy was cured from that hour.

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out? 20 And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

22 And while they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men; 23 and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry.(b)

24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel(c) came to Peter, and said, Doth not your teacher pay the half-shekel? 25 He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers? 26 And when he said, From strangers, Jesus said unto him, Therefore the sons are free. 27 But, lest we cause them to stumble, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a shekel(d): that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Footnotes

Verse 21 [But this kind goeth not out save by prayer and fasting] is a later addition to the Greek text.
(a) "a host of learned Trinitarians have not scrupled to affirm, that a pre-eminence and a subordination obtain among the three persons in the Godhead; that the Father is the Source, the Fountain, the Head, the Principle of being; and that the Son and the Holy Ghost derived their existence and their attributes from the Father; language than which none can more clearly imply superiority, inferiority, and inequality; or, in other words, that the Father, and he only, is the true God." John Wilson, Unitarian Principles Confirmed by Trinitarian Testimonies, 1855
(b) Capel has "they were very distressed"
(c) TCNT has "collectors of the temple tax"
(d) The Greek text has "stater" here; AT has "a dollar" and Moffatt has "four drachmas."

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Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Matthew 16 in the Unitarian Standard Version

 

Introducing the Unitarian Standard Version Bible

1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But he answered and said unto them, [When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the heaven is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times.](a) 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed.

5 And the disciples came to the other side and forgot to take bread. 6 And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, We took no bread. 8 And Jesus perceiving it said, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have no bread? 9 Do ye not yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11 How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 12 Then understood they that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? 14 And they said, Some [say] John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ(b), the Son of the living God. 17 But Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades(c) shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ(b).

21 From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. 22 And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men. 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake(d), and follow me. 25 For whosoever would save his soul(e) shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his soul for my sake shall find it. 26 For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds. 28 Verily I say unto you that there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Footnotes

(a) The words in brackets are omitted in some ancient mss.
(b) the Christ: "the Anointed" ED, "the Messiah" NEB
(c) Wisdom 16:13
(d) ASV has "cross" here. From Appendix 162 of Bullinger's Companion Bible: "In the Greek N.T. two words are used for 'the cross', on which the Lord was put to death. The word stauros; which denotes and upright pale or stake, to which the criminals were nailed for execution. The word xulon, which generally denotes a piece of a dead log of wood or timber, for fuel or for any other purpose.  It is not like dendron, which is used of a living, or green tree, as in Matt. 21:8.  Rev. 7:1, 3; 8:7; 9:4, &c. As this latter word xulon is used for the former stauros, it shows us that the meaning of each is exactly the same.  The verb stauros means to drive stakes (*1). Our English word "cross" is the translation of the Latin crux; but the Greek stauros no more means a crux than the word 'stick' means a 'crutch'. Homer uses the word stauros of an ordinary pole or stake, or a single piece of timber (*2).  And this is the meaning and usage of the word throughout the Greek classics (*3).
It never means two pieces of timber placed across one another at any angle, but always of one piece alone.  Hence the use of the word xulon (No. 2, above) in connection with the manner of our Lord's death, and rendered 'tree' in Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29.  Gal. 3:13.  1Pet. 2:24.  This is preserved in our old Eng. name rood, or rod.  See the Encycl. Brit., 11th (Camb.) ed., vol. 7, p. 505 d."
(e) ASV has "life" here. I'm using "soul" for the sake of consistency, as the ASV uses "soul" elsewhere (See Matt. 10:28). The Greek word YUCHN/psyche allows for both renderings.

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Mark 1 in the Unitarian Standard Version Bible

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