Rom8v28 doing Good

Romans 8:28 KJV And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rom 8:28 ERV We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan.

Romans 8:28 jvb.1 And we [well] know that [in every activity producing] good [God works with] them that love God, those who are the called according to his purpose.

_ This post is a continuation and amplification of earlier remarks at: http://j.mp/2Rom8_28GodAids
or http://intwocities.blogspot.com/2015/06/rom8v28-god-assists.html

_ My .1 translation above is a modification of my translation in the earlier post.

_ [well] - According to Thayer, the sense of the Greek verb in this verse is “it is well known or acknowledged among us”. He cites examples of Paul and other using the verb in this and other similar constructions to commend “something well known” for “thoughtful consideration”.

_ [in every activity producing] good – When “all things” is taken as accusative and the object of the verb “work with” rather than the traditional nominative case and verb subject, “for good” modifies the object of the verb rather than the verb.

_ [God works with] – The reasons for making “God” the subject of the verb rather than “all things” has been given briefly in the prior post linked above. With “God” as the subject, the general sense is, as Gingrich tells us “in everything God helps (or works for or with) those who love God to obtain what is good.” Friberg's entry for the verb is also of value, “of persons work (together) with, help, cooperate (with) (1Co 16.16); (2) of things join together, unite with (Jam 2.22); in Rom 8.28 manuscripts vary between pa,nta (all) and o` qeo,j (God) as the subject; a third possible subject is pneu/ma (Spirit) in 8.27 ”. The discussion below outlines some of the benefits in terms of consistency with various levels of context and the enhancement of our understanding of the walk of the believer.

Rom 8:16 KJV The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

_ There is an interesting parallel between verses 16 and 28. The Holy Spirit assists the believer's begotten-again spirit in bearing witness to the inner man. God assists the believer in is doing true spiritual good.

Eph 2:10 KJV For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

_ It seems to me that the times when God works with the believer in producing true good is during his walking in a pre-ordained good work.

1Pe 5:7 KJV Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

_ God,s providential care for the believer is sure during all the varieties of human experience, including the worst of offenses. But the special help given during a pre-ordained good work is something else and has eternal value.

Mat 6:20 KJV But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

2Co 4:17 LITV (Jay Green's literal version) For the lightness of our present affliction works out for us an eternal weight of glory, surpassing moment by surpassing moment;

_ When the believer is involved in a truly good work, he is actively (and necessarily) helped in this work by God. Treasure, an eternal weight of glory, is being reserved in heaven. And he is spiritually aware of, and encouraged by this. It is the momentary lightness of the affliction accompanying each good work that encourages. The affliction comes from acting contrary to the world, the flesh, and the devil. It reminds us of our weakness and dependence upon God. The active spiritual assistance of God makes the affliction accompanying a good work light and momentary. This provides assurance and peace and joy.

2Co 1:3-5 Darby Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions, and God of all encouragement; (4) who encourages us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to encourage those who are in any tribulation whatever, through the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged of God. (5) Because, even as the sufferings of the Christ abound towards us, so through the Christ does our encouragement also abound.

_ When the encouragement overwhelms the pain of the tribulation, the momentary lightness of the affliction affirms a truly good work and there is joy.

I2C 150625aa Rom8v28 doing Good | I2C | 150625 1355 et | 

Rom3v1to2 Jay Green translations

Rom 3:1-2 MKJV Then what is the superiority of the Jew? Or what is the profit of circumcision? (2) Much, by every way! Chiefly, indeed, because they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

It is my peculiar opinion that the biblical teaching about biblical inspiration is actually more glorious than the best traditional, commonly accepted by a vast majority throughout history of properly baptized humanity, teaching of the plenary verbal (every word) inspiration (directly inspired by God and perfect) of the original manuscripts.

Our Lord spoke of the permanence of every Hebrew letter, even the smallest in Mat 5.18. John, in Rev 1.8, seems to imply that the Lord exerts similar letter by letter inspiration in the Greek alphabet from its first to its last letter. (It may be that the spelling variants in manuscript copies are meaningful and the associated ancient dialect has clues to the meaning.)

The verses quoted above, Rom 3.1-2, imply that the spoken words of God, spoken to the spiritual inner ear generally, were entrusted for exact written preservation to the nation of Israel, not just the original writers. This entrustment seems to be a part of the covenant at Sinai when Moses and implicitly later prophets, including the Baptist, our Lord, the apostles, and others having prophetic New Testament special spiritual offices (and possibly, gifts) became mediators between God and Israel. Inspiration of collectors, editors, and copyists is implied as part of the entrustment to the Nation.

The entrustment lasted while there was valid testimony (a “faithful remnant”) under the law of Moses. It may have ended by 70 ad when the Temple was destroyed, possibly as no longer needed. It may have lasted to 200 ad when under the leadership of Rabbi Akiba Judaism was radically redefined. The only true inheritor of first century Judaism is the Christian Assembly.

After the end of the faithful remnant outside of the Assembly, providence rather than inspiration was used by God to ensure the faithfulness of the written record of His spoken revelation to us. The Old Testament has been best preserved by the rigorous copyist discipline that remained in a Judaism that lacked a faithful remnant. (This has been confirmed by some very early copies of some books recently discovered near the Dead Sea.) The New Testament has been preserved through the great multiplicity of copies which show little in the way of significant variation.

I believe that we should keep an open mind about the variations. Their consistency with biblical context at all levels from passage to whole Bible is important. The contemporary common Greek usage is a consideration. The work of textual scholarship is important. Above all, the spiritual peace given by a begotten again eternally righteous spirit supported by the indwelling Holy Spirit is key. But even this may change as growth reveals a new aspect of Truth.

For me, the two late 20th Century scholars who made the best choices among the Greek manuscripts are Jay Green, and, a bit later, Maurice Robinson.

This post was prompted by a reader's comment I just submitted to Amazon on Jay Green's MKJV. The link is to their page for the book. Lord willing, I intend to copy the comment to their pages for other Jay Green translations.

Modern King James Version of the Holy Bible ... [/]  Jay P., Sr. Green 

Most accurate translator 

My experience with this translation by Green is limited, But based largely on his literal translation and his interlinears, this translation has my hearty endorsement. 

This translation and his literal translation are available on the free and very excellent E-Sword software downloads. It might be wise to see for yourself before spending the considerable present price of a printed copy. (Be glad to know of link to Green's interlinears online and/or downloadables.) 

Green was probably the best translator of the late 20th century. He believed that the traditional Greek texts underlying the King James Version were much superior to those very ancient texts discovered in the 19th century. Those very ancient texts have led translators astray for two centuries and counting. Green believed, I think rightly, that the very ancient texts survived because they had been judged to be inferior copies and had been stored in the back closet rather than kept on shelves in rooms used for copying.

Today scholarship seems to have moved ahead of Green and King James' men. I prefer the Majority Text and even more the Byzantine Textform of Pierpont and Robinson. The more stable Eastern Roman Empire evidently provided a better home for accurate copying than the often barbarian occupied West. Looking forward to a good translation of Pierpont-Robinson, or even the Majority Text 

But Green is to be much preferred for accuracy over other translators of the last two centuries. (Even more accurate, naturally, is his literal version.)

I2C 150618aa Rom3v1to2 Jay Green translations | I2C | 150618 1243 et |

Rom8v28 God assists

Romans 8:28 KJV And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:28 ERV We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan.
Romans 8:28 jvb And [it is well known (Thayer)] that [in everything producing good God assists (See below. More explanation and possible changes later, Lord willing.)] them that love God, [those] who are the called according to his purpose.

_ It seemed best to add a fair amount of interpretation in the translation above instead of being overly literal. Most of the additions and changes to traditional translation make implied meanings obvious in English. Brackets designate unfamiliar or novel choices in translation and interpretation. Comments below (and, Lord willing, later posts on the verse) attempt to explain rather than prove choices, particularly those bracketed.

_ In 1951 my Sunday School teacher, Dr. Herbert S. Mekeel, firmly taught us college kids that “God”, not “things” is the proper subject of the sentence in this verse. Dr. Mekeel was the leading evangelical pastor in the Albany-Troy-Schenectady, New York, area, so his opinion has some weight. I have remembered this and have found nothing to refute it, save tradition, but it is only recently that I have studied the verse in depth. The various non-traditional changes that I have made in my translation above reflect this study. Lord willing, I will discussing these changes in later posts. This post copies NET Bible Notes for the verse and links to much valuable background information on the verse, its context, the grammar and meaning in the original language, its amplification in other passages, and, most importantly, its usefulness in the walk of the believer.

_ The history of Dr. Mekeel's church and his pastorate are interesting. Scroll down for his 42 year pastorate in the 255 year history of his church: http://j.mp/0Mekeel1stPres or http://www.preschurchschdy.org/index.php/about/our-history

_ The NET Bible note on the verse presents the exegetical rationale for the non-traditional translations that make “God” rather than “things” the subject of the sentence, as both the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) and I have given above: -

__ Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together 32 [now 33, I think] for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,
__ [Note] 32 [33 in later copy linked below] tc ὁ θεός (ho theos, "God") is found after the verb συνεργεῖ (sunergei, "work") in v. Rom 8:28 by î46 A B 81 sa; the shorter reading is found in ‌א‎‏‎ C D F G Ψ 33 1739 1881 Û latt sy bo. Although the inclusion is supported by a significant early papyrus, the alliance of significant Alexandrian and Western witnesses favors the shorter reading. As well, the longer reading is evidently motivated by a need for clarification. Since ὁ θεός is textually suspect, it is better to read the text without it. This leaves two good translational options: either "he works all things together for good" or "all things work together for good." In the first instance the subject is embedded in the verb and "God" is clearly implied (as in v. Rom 8:29). In the second instance, πάντα (panta) becomes the subject of an intransitive verb. In either case, "What is expressed is a truly biblical confidence in the sovereignty of God" (C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans [ICC], 1:427).

_ See the above NET Bible text and note as updated and in context at http://j.mp/0Rom8NET or https://lumina.bible.org/bible/Romans+8 (Scroll down to paragraph beginning with (verse) “26” in the text panel and scroll down to note “33” in the NET Notes panel.)

_ The excellent and comprehensive exegetical commentary on this verse from the 52 volume Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges may be found in a free and very valuable E-Sword installation ( http://www.e-sword.net/downloads.html or http://j.mp/0GetE-Sword ) and also directly to the chapter at: http://j.mp/0Rom8Cambridge or http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/romans/8.htm (scroll down to “Romans 8:28”).

_ An excellent general exposition of Romans 8.28 may be found at: https://bible.org/seriespage/17-solace-suffering-sovereignty-god-romans-828 or http://j.mp/0Rom8_28Solace
_ Our understanding of the verse may be greatly improved by a bible.org article: http://j.mp/Ro8_28Cbig or https://bible.org/article/do-all-things-really-work-together-good-romans-828-its-context
_ An outstanding article on how to improve our walk with our Lord may be found at: http://j.mp/0FocusedWalk or https://bible.org/article/faith-under-fire

I2C 150616aa Rom8v28 God assists | I2C | 150616 1217 et |