Matthew 5:44

5:44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you,

Matthew 6:12

6:12 and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:14-15

6:14 “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 6:15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.

Matthew 18:16

18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established.

Romans 12:20

12:20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.

Romans 12:2

12:2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Romans 3:13-14

3:13Their throats are open graves,

they deceive with their tongues,

the poison of asps is under their lips. 10 

3:14Their mouths are 11  full of cursing and bitterness. 12 


tc Most mss ([D] L [W] Θ Ë13 33 Ï lat) read “bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you,” before “those who persecute you.” But this is surely a motivated reading, importing the longer form of this aphorism from Luke 6:27-28. The shorter text is found in א B Ë1 pc sa, as well as several fathers and versional witnesses.

tn Or “as even we.” The phrase ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς (Jw" kai Jhmei") makes ἡμεῖς emphatic. The translation above adds an appropriate emphasis to the passage.

tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense: “people, others.”

sn A quotation from Deut 19:15.

sn A quotation from Prov 25:21-22.

tn Although συσχηματίζεσθε (suschmatizesqe) could be either a passive or middle, the passive is more likely since it would otherwise have to be a direct middle (“conform yourselves”) and, as such, would be quite rare for NT Greek. It is very telling that being “conformed” to the present world is viewed as a passive notion, for it may suggest that it happens, in part, subconsciously. At the same time, the passive could well be a “permissive passive,” suggesting that there may be some consciousness of the conformity taking place. Most likely, it is a combination of both.

tn Grk “to this age.”

sn The verb translated test and approve (δοκιμάζω, dokimazw) carries the sense of “test with a positive outcome,” “test so as to approve.”

tn Grk “their throat is an opened grave.”

10 sn A quotation from Pss 5:9; 140:3.

11 tn Grk “whose mouth is.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

12 sn A quotation from Ps 10:7.