"Without a Cause" or "Rashly" in Matt. 5:22?

Recently I purchased a copy of this book through Amazon. 

It's Adam Boyd's translation of the Byzantine Text. Haven't had a chance to look at it much but I did take the time to open to Matt. 5:22 today and was a little taken aback at how the word eikē was rendered. Here's how Boyd renders the first clause of Matt. 5:22:

"But I say to you that everyone who is rashly angry with his brother will be subject to judgment...."

Good reader, I'm not sure the word "rashly" works here. The term implies a notion that seems foreign to the Greek word. "Rashly" carries the negative connotations of impulsiveness and lack of foresight. It suggests a failure to consider potential hazards, that is, a decision that acts recklessly and over-hastily. Jesus, on the other hand, seems to be condemning anger that happens without a reason, justification, or cause. The anger in view is unwarranted, arbitrary, and indefensible. It's groundless, it's baseless, it's unjustified. 

I approach this one gently, because I know just how difficult the work of translation can be. But if we're looking to use one English word to render the one Greek adverb, instead of "rashly" maybe we should consider something like "unjustifiably" or "groundlessly." Then again, I'm just fine with the NKJV's "without a cause." 

Have a wonderful Lord's Day tomorrow! 

Houghton's New Textual Commentary: Matt. 5:22

Let's return now to the famous variant in Matt. 5:22 (go here for Houghton's entry). 

You guys, this is where the rubber meets the road (or, as we used to say in California, where the chili meets the cheese) -- examining actual variants. Let me walk you through what Houghton has to say and then I'll give you my final conclusion.

Houghton: " ... the majority of witnesses include the qualification eikē...." 

Me: Agreed.

Houghton: The reading eikē "is missing from a few witnesses, some of which are weighty ...."

Me: Again, I have no problem with this observation. 

Houghton: The longer reading could be the result of "a mitigation of the commandment never to be angry."

Me: This is true. Metzger argued this, as did Don Carson in both his Matthew commentary and his book The Sermon on the Mount.

Houghton: The longer reading is in keeping with the context since "there is a qualification in the comparable prohibition at Matt. 5:32 (allowing a justification for divorce), which provides a parallel for an original limitation here."

Me: Bravo! Houghton may have derived this observation from my NovT article. But there I also gave another example of qualification, namely the word "falsely" (pseudomenoi) in Matt. 5:11. As you know, this participle was placed in square brackets in UBS5, but UBS6 has removed the brackets from around the word. In short, then, I have argued that Matthew's Sermon on the Mount (as compared with Luke's) seems to have not one, not two, but three important qualifications.

a) Matt. 5:11: "When you are reviled and persecuted and lied about because you are a follower of me, be happy about it, unless, of course, what people are saying about you in true!"

b) Matt. 5:32: "I'm telling you that a man who divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery if she marries again, assuming, of course, that no fornication has occurred."

c) Matt. 5:22: "You have heard what your ancestors were told: 'You must not murder.' But I tell you that if you are only angry with a brother or a sister, you are in danger of judgment, unless, of course, you have a valid reason for your anger."

Houghton: The reading eikē "could have been omitted through assimilation, or possibly overlooked (it occurs at the end of a line in Codex Sinaiticus)."

Me: I couldn't agree more. Plus, if we take the work of Andrew Wilson seriously (following Royse), scribes were far more likely to omit something than add it.

Houghton: At the end of the day, "with several studies in favour of the originality of the longer reading and the limited attestation of the shorter reading, there is room for uncertainty." 

Me: I'm confused. On the one hand, Dr. Houghton appears to be saying the variant is pretty much a toss up. Yet he still supports the shorter reading. 

My conclusion? Despite the early and widespread attestation in favor of eikē, despite the real possibility that the shorter reading could easily have arisen in an attempt to make Jesus look less indulgent toward anger, despite the fact that an accidental omission may also account for the origin of the shorter reading, and despite all the "uncertainty" caused by recent studies, UBS6 continues to prefer the omission of eikē and even gives it a "B" rating (= "The Committee is fairly confident in this reconstruction of the text," p. 32). I obviously would have wanted the decision to go the other way (you can read my essay here). 

Et voilà the "Scorecard"  (Dave versus UBS6):

Dave: 0

UBS6: 1

Next up: John 3:13. 

Joy in Training Is Essential

Just back from another solid strength training session at the Y. I'm not going to lie. Yes, I do a lot of weight lifting and that helps me stay lean, but I do it because I enjoy it. I enjoy the feeling that things like weight lifting and walking and cycling give me. You feel the endorphins that come out, you know, just by moving your body. I really enjoy that relaxing feeling I get at the end of a lifting or cardio session. 

Ultimately I train these arms of mine not so much because I need them to get up a mountain or to paddle out and catch a wave or even to hold a grandbaby, but ultimately because I enjoy the process. And in that sense, exercise kind of happens on autopilot because, as I'm sure you're aware, getting lean is the byproduct of doing things you enjoy. 

Enjoyment is crucial for athletic success, my friend. It not only fuels intrinsic motivation but acts as an antidote to burnout, fatigue, and self-doubt. It drives long-term dedication and increases energy and effort investment. 

Joy in training is essential. 

Today's Steps

You are your grandkids' example. You are who they want to be. So keep showing up no matter what. At the gym. At home. At work. Hit your daily step count. Yes, it's boring stuff. The only way to make it interesting is by reminding yourself of why you're doing it. That's your fuel. You are becoming a completely different guy who holds himself to higher standards and better habits. The habits that come with getting in shape go far beyond the gym. 

Remember that. 

Houghton's New Textual Commentary: Preface and Introduction

The Preface and Introduction to Houghton's Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament does an excellent job of telling the "why" and "how" behind the book's creation. Here are a few takeaways:

The book purports to "describe the differing readings at each point, considering the evidence in support of each and explaining why the form in the editorial text has been chosen." 

The book adds English renderings of variants.

The volume claims "to present a new guide based on current scholarship."

It refers to "other publications which may be useful to those wishing to study a particular variant in more detail or to explore a differing interpretation of the data."

Technical terms are explained in a Glossary. From my count, the glossary includes 97 terms, including:

asyndeton

catena

CGBM

codex

conflation 

dittography

eclecticism

external evidence

harmonisation

initial text

internal evidence

Koine

lemma

majuscule

nomen sacrum

secondary evidence

text-type

Textus Receptus

uncial

Western non-interpolation

witness

The book is "neither a record of the committee's decisions nor an endorsement of every reading adopted as the editorial text... [R]ather than defending the committee's text, it seeks to present a rationale for each decision which indicates which of the alternate readings are worthy of serious consideration. The author has tried to make the best case for the reading printed in the editorial text, while representing differing possibilities and points of view."

Care to examine a variant unit together? Below is Matt. 5:22. I'll post my own observations later. In the meantime, what do you think? Has the author made the best case for the reading followed in UBS6 while fairly representing dissenting points of view?

NOTE: The authors mentioned in footnote 7 are:

P. Wernberg-Møller: "A Semitic Idiom in Matt. v.22." NTS 3.1: 71-73.

David Alan Black: "Jesus on Anger: the Text of Matthew 5:22a Revisited." NovT 30: 1-8. 

Ulrich Victor: "Textkritischer Kommentar zu ausgewählten Stellen des Matthäusevangeliums." FilNeot 22: 55-90. 

You CAN Lose Weight

A couple of years ago, I was beginning to feel old and fat. I wanted to make a change. So I decided to go from 35 percent body fat down to 15 percent. And by the grace of God, I did. I went from looking like this:

To looking like this:

The strategies I used to lose fat and build muscle are time-tested principles that anyone can use. So if you're stuck at a high body fat, read on.

If you want to lose weight as quickly as possible, I would advise that you lift heavy in the gym. The best way to build muscle while losing fat is to challenge your muscles. And the only way you can do that is to go heavy in the gym. If you go to the gym and all you're doing is lifting weights you're already used to, weights that you're comfortable with, your muscles are not going to grow. If, while trying to lose body fat, you do not actively preserve your muscle, your body is going to burn your muscle as well. To avoid this, make sure you're challenging your muscles in the gym. You need to make sure you're lifting heavy. In my experience, the best exercises you can do are those that train multiple muscle groups at the same time, like bench presses and pullups. When I lift 3 days a week, I focus on these compound exercises with the result that my physique has improved dramatically. You will also want to lift weights mindfully. Make sure every rep is controlled. 

The second thing you will want to do is move more daily. Walking is one of the best ways to burn fat quickly. The more steps you take, the more fat you can burn. Ideally, try to take at least 10,000 steps each day. Get a device that can track your steps and make sure you hit this target at least 6 days a week. Walking is one of the most underrated ways to lose fat. So walk as much as you can if you want to lose weight. Today I walked 7 miles on the treadmill and then got in another 600 steps by parking as far away as I could from the store while I did my grocery shopping. 

The next thing you'll want to do is plan your meals ahead of time. I do this each and every day. When I wake up in the morning I know exactly what I will be having for breakfast and lunch that day. Breakfast is simply a plain sausage biscuit at Bojangles along with two cups of their delicious coffee. That gives me enough protein and carbs to get my day underway. For lunch I will have rice with either beef or chicken and vegetables. Here's what I ate today. 

My meal consisted of jasmine rice topped with teriyaki chicken mixed in with water chestnuts and mushrooms. As a side dish, I had a bowl of raw carrots. Of course, I drink nothing but water with my meals. 

Lastly, you'll want to make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. These days, I don't play around with my sleep. I am in bed at 9:00 p.m. sharp and I sleep between 9-11 hours. As a result I can see how much energy I have during the day. I can see a difference in how much discipline I have to resist the urge to overeat. I can see a difference in how lean I am. If I were you, I would take my sleep very seriously. I would plan to go to bed at the same time every night. There's no point in doing all the training and steps if you're not going to get enough sleep. Remember, fat loss isn't hard. I lost 45 pounds in a year. I didn't just lose weight. I lost fat. And I retained all of my muscle during my weight loss journey. 

Folks, progress in fitness comes from two things: simplicity and consistency. By focusing on the basics, you CAN achieve lasting results. Stop procrastinating, Start today. 

The Waikiki Wall

Been to Waikiki? Then you're familiar with the Waikiki Wall ("da Wall"). It was built in 1951 to form a shallow, waveless area for families and snorkelers. It's a premier sunset-viewing spot for tourists and locals alike. The wall creates playful waves favored by bodyboarders. 

When the surf is small, I usually dump my surfboard and grab my bodyboard and surf "da Wall." Great memories! Here I am last summer heading to Teddy's Bigger Burgers on Kapahulu Ave for some grub after a fun day of bodyboarding. 

It's also a premier (and free) location to view the weekly fireworks show from the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel. Don't miss it if you're ever in Waikiki! 

Houghton's New Textual Commentary: Bibliography

This hardcover book arrived today. 

H. A. G. Houghton is Reader in New Testament Textual Scholarship at the University of Birmingham, where he received his doctorate with a dissertation titled Augustine's Text of John. He is an ordained Anglican minister. 

Thus far I've scanned the book from cover to cover. In the coming days I'll be sharing my initial impressions of this replacement for Metzger's classic volume of the same title. For now, I'll only mention that the book concludes with a 21-page Bibliography with 303 entries. A bibliography is essential in a book to provide credibility or explore topics further. It also situates a book within a wider professional or academic conversation. For what it's worth, authors/editors/co-editors receiving two or more entries in the bibliography include:

14: 

• Elliott, J.K.
• Wassermann, Tommy

10: 

• Aland, Barbara
• Aland, Kurt

8: 

• Strutwolf, Holger

7:

• Wachtel, Klaus

6: 

• Epp, Eldon J.

5: 

• Fee, Gordon D.
• Houghton, H. A. G.

4: 

• Jongkind, Dirk
• Gurry, Peter

3: 

• Mink, Gerd 
• Ross, J. M.
• Schmid, Ulrich

2: 

• Fellows, Richard
• Fitzmeyer, Joseph
• Head, Peter
• Kilpatrick, George
• Malik, Peter
• Nongbri, Brent
• Osburn, Carroll
• Silva, Moisés
• Skeat, T.C.
• Williams, P.J. 

To these I might add authors/editors associated with Southeastern Seminary:

• Maurice Robinson (1 entry)
• Paul Himes (1 entry) -- Paul was one of my doctoral students.
• Charles Quarles (2 entries) 
• Yours truly (4 entries) 

Oh, I also see that my Festschrift edited by Danny Akin and Thomas Hudgins is cited twice (essays by J. K. Elliott and Tommy Wassermann). 

I'll talk about other features of this book later. I'm eager to see what's said about such passages as Matt. 5:22 and John 3:13! 

Fat Loss and the Law of Diminishing Returns

Sure felt good to get back to the gym today. 

I missed my workout yesterday because I was having my first ever colonoscopy. The prep that cleans out your system was BREW-TALL. Please tell me I'm not the only person to have this experience. The procedure itself, however, was quick and easy (I was asleep the whole time). Funny trivia: The unit of money in Costa Rica is called the "colon." It's named after good ol' Chris Columbus (Colón). What's even crazier is that in Ancient Greek, a kōlon is a single unit of thought or, in poetry, a line that functions as a rhythmic member. I spend a lot of time talking about kōlons (or kōla) in my journal articles like the ones on Phil. 2:1-4 and Rom. 12:9-21. 

At any rate, one thing I'm learning as I engage in strength training is that muscle growth becomes naturally harder over time the more overall mass you put on. Talk about the law of diminishing returns! The same thing is true for fat loss. The leaner you become, the harder it becomes to lean down further. I kid you not. Once you hit around 15% body fat, for each percentage point you begin to drop lower than that it's going to to get increasingly harder. That's because our bodies are genetically hardwired to carry a certain amount of body fat for basic survival purposes. The lower body fat percentage you aim for, the more your body is going to fight back. When it comes down to basics, fat loss is primarily just a matter of maintaining an ongoing calorie deficit that stimulates your body to break down its fat stores for use as energy. This will probably mean you're going to have to either slightly reduce your caloric intake or else increase your activity level. Sometimes you need to do both at the same time. 

In the end, it's mostly a matter of self-discipline and being willing to dial in your training and your nutrition. In most cases, it's just a matter of being more deliberate with everything. You're going to be on relatively low calories and you're going to have to increase your activity level as well. So it really comes down to basic discipline and hard work if you decide that getting leaner is worth it for you.  

Thanks for reading about my journey. Exercise is so much more than physical. It's about determination, discipline, accomplishment, success, and especially complete dependence on the Lord for strength and energy. It makes you a better person. 

A Man Called Bezalel (Exod. 31:1-3)

Just back from a morning walk. 

Yes, everything looks bleak, but even in the dead of winter I still think the farm looks lovely. After all, this house isn't just a house. It's my home. Don't you just love that word? "Home" implies attachment, comfort, security, family, being oneself, and especially -- love. It's cozy, familiar, and tailored to the individual. "Home" is a feeling, not just a physical structure. And if it's a structure you built yourself, it's all the more special. 

Becky and I were living in our 1811 farmhouse (Maple Ridge) when we decided to build our new house (Bradford Hall). We wanted it to look like an antebellum home, so it would have 5 wood burning fireplaces and wood flooring (from our own pines) and 14-foot high ceilings and period wallpaper. Much of the work would be done by our son, who in fact drew up the initial plans, produced exact architectural blueprints, and submitted those drawings to the county for approval. (They said yes.) Then he began the long process of construction with his own hands. There's literally not a day that goes by when I do not think to myself, "That design over there -- how in the world did he think that up?" 

Whenever I think of Nathan's skilled hands, I think of a man named Bezalel in Exod. 31:1-3. Did you know this is the first person in the entire Bible said to have been "filled with the Ruach Elohim" -- the Spirit of God? It wasn't Adam or Noah or Abraham or Moses or even Jesus. It was a regular guy who was given the ability "to make artistic designs ... to work with gold, silver, and bronze ... to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts." To do this, the text says that Bezalel needed three things:

• Hokhma or "wisdom -- the practical ability to design and create.
• Tebuna or "understanding" --- the mental capacity to grasp instructions and see how things fit together.
• Da'at or "knowledge" -- mastery of the technical skills and material required for the work.

This describes our son to a T. And me? Pretty much the exact opposite. I like to tell people I can't even replace a light bulb without instructions. Was I still handy to have around? Of course. "Hey dad, bring me the skill saw." Or "Dad, would you mind painting the dental molding in the dining room?" Or, "While I'm finishing up here, why don't you grab us some pizza?" On days when we would slaughter and butcher one of our cows, he and his mother handled all the finessed cuts of meat. I was put in charge of the hamburger. You get the pic. 

Interesting how God works. What Moses did with his mouth and staff, Bezalel did with his hands and tools. What Dave does in the classroom and study, his son does in barns and fields. But the great thing is that God has chosen both of us to bring his vision into reality. I'm reminded of something I wrote in an essay years ago called Toward a Definition of Church.  

"A wide diversity of gifts, callings, and ministries (1 Cor. 12:4-6) requires that each believer discover his or her own gift and help others to discover theirs. Some (like the Twelve in Acts 6:4) are called to the diakonia of the word, while others (like the Seven in Acts 6:1) are called to the diakonia of social ministry. Neither ministry is superior or inferior to the other; both ministries are ways of serving God. (The Greek text gives the sense that the work of serving those in need is on a par with the work of prayer and teaching.)"

Practically speaking, the work of the Seven was done by the hand of God just as the Twelve's work was by done by the same hand. 

My friend, whether you realize it or not, you are CREATIVE, and God wants to fill you with his Spirit to create something that will display his glory to others. Every time I look at my "home," I'm reminded of that. Every gift -- be it the gift of writing a book or teaching a class, or the gift of building a house or repairing a tractor -- comes directly from the hand of our gracious God. 

Praise his name! 

P.S. It's fascinating to me that the apostle Paul, though a brilliant scholar and writer, was also a trained tentmaker, a trade he undoubtedly learned early in life. The profession was in line with his later role as a Pharisee and allowed him to avoid charging others for his ministry. In first century Jewish culture, it was often expected that even highly educated individuals (like Rabbis and Pharisees) would learn a trade. I've never introduced myself as a farmer who teaches Greek. But I suppose I do think of myself as a Greek teacher who farms. When I'm working on the farm, my brain is "offline." That almost always leads to subsequent mental fertility. From the studies I've read (like this one), it's not uncommon for people to have an intellectual brainstorm while mindlessly working with their hands. Scrubbing a dirty water trough? Awsome. Invigorating. Gives me pleasure for days. 

And might even lead to a blog post. 😉

Paul's (??) Letter to the Hebrews

Just ordered this exciting new book. 

It even contains a chapter titled, "The Pauline Authorship of Hebrews." Ah, my kind of book exactly. Most modern Catholic scholars I'm aware of favor an anonymous author, as do most Protestant scholars. But I guess there are still traditionalists among the Catholics. 

My thanks to Brian Small for calling my attention to this book. 

The Joy of the Marathon

Yesterday at the gym I met someone who loves running half marathons but also wants to get into marathoning. When I asked her which race she was contemplating for her first 26.2 miler, she said, "I've heard good things about the Flying Pig in Cincy. Have you ever done it?" With a big smile on my face, I held up several fingers. "Yep. Three times. It's my favorite race at that distance. In fact, the Pig was my very first marathon. It was truly an unforgettable experience." I think I convinced her.

Crossing from Cincy into Kentucky at the start of the Flying Pig Marathon. 

Marathoning has provided the flavor in my life. It's given me the opportunity not only for adventure but for travel. 

Cincinnati has got to be one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited. 

Not being a talented runner, I've proven that ordinary runners like me are capable of chasing down big goals. Also rewarding have been the friendships and shared hardships along the way. 

With David McGillivray, director of the Boston Marathon. 

Perhaps as much as anything, the sport has given me the opportunity to enjoy God's creation. I am thankful for the opportunity to run outdoors, and I find solace, excitement, and joy in observing our outdoor world. I am extremely grateful to be running, especially at my age. I'll never forget the finish at the Flying Pig. As I ran, the grim determination that had scarred my face for all those miles vanished and was replaced by a big smile. The last 200 yards gave me the chance to savor my accomplishment, think back to all the preparation I had done, and reflect on all that had occurred during the hours I was on the course. 

I could taste the finish line, and it felt great. Marathoning has shown me that man's physical and mental strength is well beyond the limits that most people think possible. 

There are not enough minutes in the day to ever thank God enough for all the blessings this sport has given me through the years. Someone has said, "We enjoy the most what we acquire the hardest." And what do we enjoy the most? The things we work hard for. That's why I enjoy marathoning. It's one of the hardest and most satisfying things I have ever had to achieve. This video captures it all. 

Thanks for reading. 

Keep Going!

Today's workout was so much fun! 

Wherever you are in your journey, the key is to never stop trying. Just do the following:

1. Keep showing up.

2. Get right back on track when falling off.

Keep going guys and gals! 

Let's become the best version of ourselves NOW. 

We Love Vocabulary!

Especially when Greek words have English cognates or derivatives!

Tonight we're covering the third declension. "Declension" is just a fancy way of saying "how nouns are formed." Here's part of our vocab:

As always, wherever possible I give at least one English term that's related to the Greek word:

• hematology
• onomatopoeia
• pyromaniac
• rhetoric
• sperm
• somatic
• etc. 

We always get a good laugh out of the word onomatopoeia. If you payed attention to your English teacher in high school, you'll know that onomatopoeia is when a word's pronunciation imitates its sound. It's one of many poetic devices dealing with the sounds of a language. Obvious English examples are:

• Both bees and buzzards buzz.
• Don't let your cell phone beep during the movie.
• The dishes fell to the ground with a clatter.
• The cabinet opened with a distinct creak.
• The root beer fizzed over the top of the mug.
• Jason gulped down the Pepsi.
• The wolves howled at the moon.
• Time just keeps on ticking.
• The bullet whizzed by his ear.
• Tyler zipped up his sleeping bag.

But here's the deal. The New Testament also contains several examples of onomatopoeia. Did you know that? Here are just three examples:

• In Mark 14:64, the Greek word for spitting (ptuō) imitates the sound of the action when people begin to spit at Jesus.
• In 1 Cor. 10:10, the Greek word for grumbling (gonguzō) imitates the repetitive "muttering" sound people make when they're discontent.
• In Mark 5:38, the Greek word for wailing (alalazō) describes loud lamenting. (In Ethiopia, one will often hear people going "alalalalalalala" during times of mourning or despair.)

Tonight we'll be revving up our vocab and making a big splash into the roaring river of sizzling Greek nouns! Wish you could join us! 

Heading Back to Liberty

It will be great to get back to Liberty University a week from Wednesday to visit old friends and speak in a couple of classes. The topics I've been asked to speak on are (1) seven marks of a New Testament church (based on my book by that title) and (2) why we translated Greek poetry as English poetry in the ISV. As for this last question, I owe the impetus to John Bowden, who translated Barth's biography from German into English. 

Notice how he rendered one example of Swiss German into delightfully poetic English.

This is pure genius even though in places he obviously had to resort to paraphrasing. (The German literally says, "You dear people, listen to me. Now I don't have to go to school since it walked me over to the Pope.") Hence the following translations in the ISV:

Being the base translator for the New Testament in the ISV was the hardest thing I have ever done in my career but also the most rewarding. Undoubtedly, the New Testament contains significant examples of "poetry" in the original Greek! 

Great Teachers Are First of All Great Students

In the ISV, we rendered the adjective didaktikon in 1 Tim. 3:2 as "teachable" rather than the more usual "able to teach." The word probably contains both ideas. This only makes sense. Great teachers are great students. Always. They are first teachable and lifelong students of the word. That's why I am always so excited to be a part of conferences like this one at Clearview where dozens of pastors are in attendance to hone their skills. 

Likeness Education Is NOT Optional

The biblical model of leadership training is not only being taught concepts but also watching how other leaders conduct themselves -- their teaching, conduct, aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, and sufferings (2 Tim. 2:2; 3:10-11). That's because true Christian education is always likeness education. 

A degree from a qualified school can help but can never replace this model of education in the church. 

Caring Less (and More)

I'll never get tired of watching people start to care less about which Bible version they're using and more about spending time in God's word daily. 

True Spirituality

I don't know who needs to hear this, but studying for a Greek exam is just as spiritual as preaching a Sunday morning sermon. 

An Anniversary to Remember

As you all know, this year I'm celebrating the golden anniversary of God's amazing mercy in my life. 50 years ago grace favored me. I was asked to teach Greek at Biola. I wondered, honestly wondered, "Are they serious?" I said "yes" anyway. In the intervening half century, I have fallen short of my ideals many times, but the Lord has never failed me. Thank you Jesus! All glory to you! 

My Rendition of "Deus, Deus Meus" ("O God, my God")

Worshipping tonight in Latin by singing along. What a beautiful performance by this chorale. 

The English translation is provided in the video's description. When I did my own translation of the Latin, it led to this more word-for-word rendering:

O God, my God, I have searched for you from dawn.

My soul thirsts for you.

How many times has my flesh longed for you

in a deserted, impassible, and waterless land.

Thus I have appeared before you in the holy place,

that I might behold your power and your glory.

Because your mercy is better than life, my lips shall praise you.

Thus I will bless you in my life,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Now let's try and turn this into English poetry:

O God, the God I seek at dawn,

My soul still thirsts, though night is gone.

My flesh has longed for You once more

In barren lands that stretch before.

Within Your holy place I stand,

To see Your power and glory grand.

Your mercy's gift exceeds my days,

So shall my lips pour endless praise.

Through all my life, me heart shall sing;

I bless You, Lord, my Everything! 

I love Latin! 

Read the Greek First

Reading the Greek text for yourself before consulting the commentaries is an underrated form of self-mastery. 

There's No Age Limit on Surfing

My summer plans call, as you know, for 10 days of surfing in Hawaii. I will be 74. Surfing may look effortless, but it's actually a full-body workout. It requires strong leg muscles for balance and control while riding the wave. But it also requires constant shoulder and back work supported by strong biceps performance while paddling. The closest gym equivalent is the pullup, which is one reason I work so hard on this exercise. 

As you can see, everyone one of the muscles I am working here is used in surfing. I hope to be able to surf for at least another decade if I'm able. Legendary surfers like Woody Brown and Doc Ball surfed well into their late 80s. I don't ever remember learning how to surf as a kid. We just surfed. Thankfully, there's no age limit on surfing!

Did Paul Wear Nikes?

A number of years ago I decided to compare the letter to the Hebrews with the 13 Pauline epistles. I placed each side by side and began compiling a list of similarities, affinities, and parallels. The results blew me away. Eventually I distilled these affinities and published them in a book. Of the many similarities I noticed, metaphors were high up on the list. In particular, the author of Hebrews makes rich use of athletic imagery. The book is filled with vivid sports-related metaphors encouraging such traits as perseverance, discipline, and fortitude. 

• Heb. 12:1-2 clearly echoes the stadium race, the most celebrated context in Greek athletics. 
• Heb. 10:32-26 compares the endurance of the believer to an athlete's courage and stamina. 
• Heb. 12:5-11 draws on the analogy of the training (Greek paideia) the athlete goes through while preparing for a competition. 
• And Heb. 5:14 uses the vocabulary of gymnastic training (Greek gumnazō) to emphasize spiritual and moral conditioning. 

This powerful imagery is brilliantly paralleled in the writings of Paul. Just read:

• 1 Cor. 9:24-27.
• Phil. 3:12-14.
• 1 Tim. 6:12
• 2 Tim. 4:7

In these passages Paul depicts the believer as a disciplined athlete for whom a divine reward awaits. Thus, athletic metaphors bridge the gap between Paul and Hebrews in a way found in no other New Testament author. I suspect that Paul, whose youth was spent in a very cosmopolitan city like Tarsus (a major center of Greek education and one that hosted numerous athletic festivals), was deeply familiar with athletic culture and therefore was able to deliberately use it as a metaphor in his 14 writings. 

But did Paul himself ever train like an athlete? Probably not. The Jews of his day viewed participation in Greco-Roman games as idolatrous. His education was rabbinical, not secular. But figuratively speaking, Paul was an athlete of the first degree even though he never wore Nikes. He fully embraced an athlete's discipline and perseverance. He endured hardship and so ultimately finished his race, receiving an imperishable crown. 

As you know, my own journey into athletics stems largely from Paul's description of an athlete. I'm not going to get into everything here, but suffice it to say I was tired of being out of shape and not living up to my own standards or my potential. I've never been someone who accepts defeat without giving it my best shot. Yet I wasn't 100% committed. I kind of wanted to get fit but not with my whole heart. But this time it was different. I was already 71 and my 70-year warranty had expired (Psalm 90:10). I had no idea how many more years the Lord would give me (I still don't), but there was no way I was going to live the rest of my life like that. One question kept nagging at me: If not now, when? 

This time it was all or nothing. I snapped out of my apathy and it changed the course of my entire life. I decided, if the Lord would allow it, to get fit again. My weight, as you know, went from 240 to 193 pounds. I started seeing hunger as a gift, a signal that fat was actually being melted. "Hunger" shifted from suffering to success. I began intermittent fasting, eating 2 meals a day. Once I started seeing progress I knew I was on the right track. I felt confident in the Lord that I would keep losing fat and hit my goal weight. I began walking 15,000 steps per day. And that made it easier for me to control my appetite. The weight was slowly but steadily dropping. That supercharged my motivation. And, because I was still weight training 3 days a week, I didn't lose much muscle. I finally hit my goal of 15% body fat. To put everything into perspective, imagine taking two 22.5 pound dumbbells and pulling that much fat from your body. 

This week's steps. 

During this process I encountered several weight loss plateaus. Not losing scale weight can be discouraging, but a plateau can actually be a good thing. Often your body uses this phase to recover, adapt, and recalibrate your hormones. It's not a loss of progress. It's merely a readjustment. I also noticed that weight can stay the same while fat keeps dropping. This whole experience was like being a freshman in college. I learned so much along the way. But the biggest lesson I learned was this: With God, nothing is impossible. With his help, you can achieve anything you set your mind to it. Jim Elliott put it unforgettably: "Wherever you are, be all there, and live to the hilt whatever you are convinced is the will of God for your life." 

Looking back on my fitness journey (which is still very much in progress), it reminds me why I wanted to get fit in the first place -- not just staying in shape for the sake of my family and my ministry, but consistently pushing myself to become better in all areas of my life to the glory of God and the good of others. Likewise in the Christian life. Faith's ultimate "victory" lies in perseverance to the end, like a good athlete. 

Thank you, Paul, for reminding us of that. 

The leaner me I never thought was possible. 

Love

Thinking of my sweetheart on this Valentine's Day. We would have been married 50 years. Even on the hardest days of her illness she would ask about me. Her voice still visits in sudden ways. Her love keeps reappearing in those small surprises. There are other people in my life, but none like her. 

Love, you were the very best, the cream of my life, more beautiful to me than any Hawaiian sunrise. I will love you forever. 

Farm Life

Today my son and his family were here sowing clover in a number of our fields. Sheep love clover in their hay and pasture. It's an excellent forage, especially for lactation, and lactation is something going on all the time around here it seems.

Clover also provides high levels of fiber, protein, and calcium compared to pure grasses. While daddy was working on the tractor, the boys (there are 7 of them) kept themselves busy as only farm boys can do. A farm can be one of the richest classroom environments a child can have. On a farm, children learn by doing -- feeding animals, fixing fences, handling tools. 

They observe the seasons, the soils, the weather patterns, and learn responsibility, persistence, and problem-solving. Farm life especially fosters teamwork, family unity, and respect for wildlife and game. 

Even an ice storm can build character in real-world experiences. Welcome to the winter Olympics! 

Why, observing animals can even make a world-class mimicker out of you.

Did I mention how we love the smell of honest sweat and manure? And I haven't even scratched the surface of farm life! 

Today's Sauntering and Scarfing

Sauntering:

Treadmills get you nowhere lol. 

Scarfing: 

Yes, I cooked this myself. Tikka masala. Look at it. Restaurant quality. Now that you've done it once, it's a thousand times easier yea verily and forevermore. Amen. 

How's your day going? 

If You're Ever in Switzerland ...

Be sure to visit Zermatt. If you do, this is the kind of view you'll be treated to. Can't wait to get back there this summer Lord willing! 

The Best Classrooms

Here's something I've noticed about teaching after years in the classroom. The best classrooms are warm and supportive but also focused on the subject matter. On the other hand, the worst classrooms have an overabundance of verbal praise and self-esteem talk. The best teachers I've had were respectful to their students but demanded hard work. Too much praise encourages students to be satisfied with their performance rather than informing them about where they might need improvement. The most effective teachers were not just excellent communicators of the subject matter but motivators to encourage students to be the best they can possibly be. We must cease listening to the siren call that learning is primarily affective without a certain amount of external incentive. High-expectation language should be a norm among teachers. 

Never Lower Your Standards

Many students today are weak -- not because they lack potential, but because they lack standards. 

The Benefits of Running

"Taking a well-trained body through a grueling 26.2-mile race does immeasurably more for the self-concept and self-esteem than years with the best psychiatrist." -- Cardiologist George Sheehan.

Crossing the finish line at the St. George (Utah) Marathon in 2017. It was a PR day for me.  

Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Expedition" Returns to Raleigh

I simply cannot believe that Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" is returning to the North Carolina Symphony in April. This was the first concert I heard after Becky's homegoing and I will forever associate the final movement ("The Great Gate of Kiev") with the believer being welcomed into glory. 

Bought my ticket yesterday. Praise God for the healing power of music! 

Pursuing Fitness with the Right Heart

As you know, I'm an ordinary guy who has battled with being overweight for years. Three years ago my doctor labeled me as obese since I was 35 percent body fat. Labels can be difficult to shed because, for better or for worse, they can become our identity. And it's difficult to let go of that. 

At the beginning of last year I weighed 240+ pounds. I told the Lord my insecurities and desire to get back into shape and he fully supported me. Moreover, he was happy to help me. 240 turned into 230, then 220, then 210, and then 200. Before I knew it I was too small for all my pants and it was such a good feeling. Fast forward to today. My overall health is much, much better. I am now 193 pounds and for the first time in decades I can see a flat tummy when I look in the mirror without having to hold my stomach in. 

I am extremely grateful for the physique the Lord has given me, my sustainable progress, and my current goals. Weight loss is an investment. Fitness is something that will give back to you your whole health, including mental. I am now living a healthy life that I believe glorifies God. My doctor says I have turned my health around and reversed my age. It feels so good to treat my body the way God designed it to be treated. I am so glad I was able to persevere and come out on the other side. I am also thankful that I can share my testimony with you. I thank God because he was there from the beginning encouraging me when I felt like giving up. 

I share this with you to give God the glory he deserves. If he can do this for me at 73, think of what he can do for you. He is not done with me or you yet. Begin every day by asking God for strength and wisdom. Focus on becoming healthy to be better able to serve him and his kingdom. Celebrate progress, no matter how small, as a blessing from his hand. When you struggle and fail, accept his mercies as new every morning. Do what toddlers do when they fall down -- get back up again. 

Never give up on yourself because God is able to do anything but fail. Start with small goals and be consistent. Rely on his strength to overcome food addictions or emotional eating, always turning to him rather than relying upon your own will power. Acknowledge that every step, every ounce of discipline, every bit of strength comes from him. Meditate on verses like "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?" and "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God." Be grateful for every new day regardless of how you feel or the ups and downs of fitness. 

The best way to have Christ on this journey with you is to read the Bible as part of your daily routine. Take care of your body, but prioritize your relationship with God above all. Whether overweight or lean, God values your heart, your faith, and your deeds much, much more than your outward appearance. On the other hand, when you pursue your health with the right heart, you are truly honoring him. 

God bless all of you on your own health and fitness journey!

Today's steps.

Yes, We Spoil Our Animals

Don't Let Failure Define You

Oh, I wish I could say this to everyone I meet at the gym. Don't just exist in your workouts. Likewise, as a teacher of Greek for 50 years now, I wish I could shout from the mountaintops: don't just come to Greek class unprepared to work and work hard. It should NEVER be acceptable to get a D or an F on a quiz or an exam. 

If you want to build strength and see results in your waistline, then you absolutely have to train hard enough. Sadly, many people I see at the gym day in and day out do not train hard enough to see results from their workouts. I can promise you that getting gains has nothing to do with the type of music you listen to when you are working out. 

It has nothing to do with how many selfies you take while at the gym. 

The only thing that matters is effort. 

Many of us never work hard enough -- be it in the gym or in the classroom -- to see the results we are capable of. How sad! Somebody is paying good money for you to attend seminary. And it's likely you are paying good money to belong to your gym. Your goal when you train at the gym should always be to do something that you did not do the day before. Nobody is ever going to be able to tell you whether your effort is where it ought to be. Only you know the answer. That said, we all know what effort should feel like -- and it should never feel easy. Nothing in life is worth having if it isn't a struggle to get in the first place. You have got to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Training with intensity is the only way you will reach your goals. Consistency combined with intensity is where gains really come. 

I remember a class I took in seminary where I barely scraped by with a D. Pride blinded me so badly that I tried to blame others for my lack of discipline. Maybe you're a student who is in the same boat today. God placed the seeds of success in my failure that semester. That failure -- along with others -- made me the man and teacher I am today. And that failure would prepare me for a life of faithfulness. 

Whatever your circumstances, I'm sure you have experienced failure. One of the most limiting things you can do is to see yourself as a failure. Don't let a past failure steal your success today. Your greatest failure may be the greatest turning point in your life. If you are a student, please, I beg you, give it everything you have. Remember, one day you will be teaching the very word of God to others. Listen to the words of those who have gone before you into pulpit ministry.

John Calvin: "No one will ever be a good minister of the Word of God unless he first of all is a scholar."

Charles Spurgeon: "He who no longer sows in the study will no more reap in the puplit."

Bishop Phillips Brooks: "Learn to study for the sake of truth, learn to think for the profit and the joy of thinking."

Billy Graham: "I've preached too much and studied too little."

My Bible study this morning found me in Acts chapter 6. 

In verse 4 we read, "We will give ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word." I might paraphrase this as, "We will continue to maintain our focus with supreme effort...."

If you're a gym goer, I ask you: "Do you have the intent to do the best you can for every single one of your sets?"

If you're a Greek student, I ask you: "When you come to class, are you fully present, and are you really trying to give it your absolute best?"

If you answered "no" to either question, let me remind you: When you follow Jesus, the God of the resurrection, you don't have to let failure define you. Instead, you can allow failure to become a launching pad that catapults you into your best days on this earth.

In Christ, your potential is unlimited. 

Loving Me Some Modern Hebrew

As I sit here in my campus office I am excited beyond words to be back in the classroom this week after more than 7 weeks off. In my "spare" time I'm also working through my Greek grammar in Modern Hebrew. 

What a joy! It's a great way to learn a foreign language. Here's a sample paradigm from chapter 3:

But notice this:

The present tense of the verb "to be" has no equivalent in Hebrew! Unlike many verbs in Hebrew, the verb haya lacks a Qal participle and present-tense forms. Instead, the present is either implied or expressed with particles and suffixes. However, the past and future tenses are fully functional. 

So there is a verb "to be" in Hebrew. It's just omitted in the present tense, where pronouns serve to replace it. That said, Hebrew does have the infinitive of haya. Thus "To be or not to be" looks like this:

Discovering this has been the highlight of my day so far! 

How to Pronounce "Codex Bezae"

The answer might surprise you. 

The Text of 1 John 3:1: A Brief Observation

I was up early this morning having some fun time in this amazing book: 

I'm not a huge fan of the 4th edition. The editor did an okay job, but his additional chapter doesn't add much to the topic in my opinion. Not to mention the fact that the quality of the plates is much better in the previous editions. But that's neither here nor there. 

As you all know, I am a HUGE fan of the Byzantine text. In fact, in every one of my journal articles dealing with textual variants in the New Testament, I ended up siding with the Byzantine text:

• Eph 1:1 (Grace Theological Journal)
• John 3:13 (Grace Theological Journal)
• Matt. 5:22 (Novum Testamentum)
• 1 John 2:20 (Filologia Neotestamentaria)
• Mark 6:20 (New Testament Studies)

(All of my journal articles are available here for no charge, by the way.) That said, I do think the Byzantine text can be wrong and in fact has been wrong. Not often, but it does happen. Case in point: 1 John 3:1. 

By the way, I'm currently writing an endorsement for a forthcoming book on scribal habits in New Testament manuscripts. It will appear in this series. It's one of the most exciting works on textual criticism I've read in some time. This study confirms the findings of Royse (and others) that scribes generally tended to omit rather than add to the text. It's time, the author says, for the text-critical community to abandon its general acceptance of the canon "prefer the shorter reading." Cases of homoeoteleuton, he concludes, are especially common. This is, in fact, what I believe may very well have happened here in 1 John 3:1. To see this, it might be helpful to display the text using uncial script, following this guide:

Here now are the words in question.

It seems pretty clear to me that we're dealing with an instance of homoeoteleuton here. "What about the external evidence?" you ask. It seems to favor the longer reading, which is both early and widespread. Once again, I am being lured back to the old views of Harry Sturz: the Byzantine text is of very high quality, but when it stands alone its readings may not comport with the autographic text. Perhaps the same thing can be said for Mark 1:2 (these are my two "test cases"). 

Forgive me if all of this is old hat to you. Sometimes the pump doesn't need to be primed. As much as I love dabbling in textual questions, I'm sharing in the blessings of the gospel more than I have in my entire life. Sharing my faith with the people around me at the gym and elsewhere has become the most fun, exciting, and fulfilling adventure of my 65 years of following Jesus. Of course, living on mission doesn't mean we are less concerned about academics. Nothing could be further from the truth. God's word is our supreme motivation. But we do all this for the sake of the gospel. Honestly, the last thing we need is another translation controversy. A little refining? Sure. A little sanding off the rough edges? Absolutely. But a battle? I think you know me well enough to know I don't think that's very helpful.

Enjoy the Super Bowl!