The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy,Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
Preface
Purchased from my employer, the Canadian Bible Society @ Cafe Logos, Vancouver. This text review continues...
Purchased from my employer, the Canadian Bible Society @ Cafe Logos, Vancouver. This text review continues...
Note: This 2018 article was revised on October 9, 2023 for an entry on academia.edu. I now have a different employer, but still am an academic writer...
Biblical considerations
Matthew 7:21-23
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Footnotes: Matthew 7:22 Or works of power
Matthew 7:21-23 New King James Version (NKJV)
This is the version used by the Orthodox Study Bible
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
---
Before reviewing the related commentary from the Orthodox text, I have some curiosity with the New Testament Greek...
Bible Study Tools
ἀνομίαν
Bauer:
Lawlessness (71).
ἀνομία is the root word. (71)
In the context of Matthew 7: 23, it is a lawless deed (72), therefore those who practice lawless deeds (72). I can further connect this within the New Testament in that those who practice lawless deeds (1 Corinthians 6) shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, and these people (Revelation 22) are outside the culminated Kingdom of God.
Sin is lifestyle for the 'Lord, Lord' people and sin is a struggle for those under grace, until culminated perfection in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).
From the New American Standard Bible:
1 Corinthians 6: 9
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [f]effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
f. 1 Corinthians 6:9 I.e. effeminate by perversion
(Not simply an effeminate person)
Revelation 22: 15
15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
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The Orthodox Study Bible
An interesting take from the notes of the Orthodox text as it takes 21-22 as a testimony of the deity of Jesus Christ.(page 22). Therefore, Jesus Christ (as God the Son, my add) speaks the will of the Father (page 22). Only God can execute a final judgement. (22). God's final judgement in Jesus Christ is aware of those that practice lawlessness and yet ironically embrace an extremely corrupted form of Christianity that replies on works righteousness.
Practically, for example, ponder on those that embrace the cultural Christian Church and yet deny biblical orthodoxy when it suits his/her form of works righteousness. A form of redefining God and dogma for his/her own worldview. This opposed to a contextual Scripture approach, where a person would embrace biblical sanctification to produce the works guided by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, being in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans, Galatians).
Biblical considerations
Matthew 7:21-23
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Footnotes: Matthew 7:22 Or works of power
Matthew 7:21-23 New King James Version (NKJV)
This is the version used by the Orthodox Study Bible
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
---
Before reviewing the related commentary from the Orthodox text, I have some curiosity with the New Testament Greek...
Bible Study Tools
ἀνομίαν
Bauer:
Lawlessness (71).
ἀνομία is the root word. (71)
In the context of Matthew 7: 23, it is a lawless deed (72), therefore those who practice lawless deeds (72). I can further connect this within the New Testament in that those who practice lawless deeds (1 Corinthians 6) shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, and these people (Revelation 22) are outside the culminated Kingdom of God.
Sin is lifestyle for the 'Lord, Lord' people and sin is a struggle for those under grace, until culminated perfection in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).
From the New American Standard Bible:
1 Corinthians 6: 9
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [f]effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
f. 1 Corinthians 6:9 I.e. effeminate by perversion
(Not simply an effeminate person)
Revelation 22: 15
15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
---
The Orthodox Study Bible
An interesting take from the notes of the Orthodox text as it takes 21-22 as a testimony of the deity of Jesus Christ.(page 22). Therefore, Jesus Christ (as God the Son, my add) speaks the will of the Father (page 22). Only God can execute a final judgement. (22). God's final judgement in Jesus Christ is aware of those that practice lawlessness and yet ironically embrace an extremely corrupted form of Christianity that replies on works righteousness.
Practically, for example, ponder on those that embrace the cultural Christian Church and yet deny biblical orthodoxy when it suits his/her form of works righteousness. A form of redefining God and dogma for his/her own worldview. This opposed to a contextual Scripture approach, where a person would embrace biblical sanctification to produce the works guided by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, being in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans, Galatians).
Theology Always Matters
Matthew 7:21-23
Ellison writes that preaching and even miracles are not necessarily indication of seeking and serving the true God. Ellison (1986: 1129). Works performed need to be considered in light of the character of those that perform them. (1129).
France explains that superficial discipleship is ultimately rejected by God and Christ. France (1985: 148). It is not indicated as necessarily insincere discipleship, but it does not meet the divine standards. (148).
Good works do not qualify a disciple that does not meet God and Christ's criteria for entrance into the Kingdom of God.
This passage from Matthew 7 was preached on by the pastor at a church I attended. He opined that the persons under judgement knew God, but God did not know them. They had accepted Christ, but God and Christ did not have Lordship over them.
Those under judgement were relying on works righteousness as opposed to trusting in God and Christ as Lord and Saviour.
The pastor then stated that the theology of the persons under judgement was not a key issue as in they had proper theology because they knew of the Biblical God and Jesus Christ.
However, I reason that theology is always in a sense a key issue. Theology always matters.
The judged persons had a knowledge of the Biblical God and Jesus Christ; enough that they could in this supernatural realm of judgement described, recognize Jesus Christ as Lord.
This however, may not be difficult in the spiritual judgement context described. It may be obvious. But that is speculation.
This false disciples appeal to works righteousness.
The pastor correctly pointed out that in the judging presence of God any kind of works righteousness approach by humanity to God is error.
But, I would add that is it also clearly theologically in error.
Romans 1-9, describes the universal sinfulness of humankind, by nature and choice and that only the atoning and resurrection work of Christ for sin, applied to believers as justification (righteousness) will save any one for the Kingdom of God.
Galatians (2) states that man is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ.
In other words, faith in his atoning and resurrection work applied to persons in Christ.
Ephesians 1-2
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Ephesians 1 explains that those in Christ are chosen by God; therefore God knows who he has chosen.
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before [d]Him. In love
5 [e]He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the [f]kind intention of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Ephesians 2: 1-10
Ephesians 2 explains that those in Christ are saved by grace through faith unto good works, and not by works or works righteousness.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [ag]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
BAUER, WALTER. (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.
BRUCE, F.F. (1987) Romans, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
CAIRD, GEORGE B. (1977) Paul's Letters from Prison Paperback, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
COAD, F. ROY (1986) ‘Galatians’, in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/ Zondervan.
COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
DUNN, JAMES D.G. (1988) Romans, Dallas, Word Books.
DUNNETT, WALTER M. (2001) Exploring The New Testament, Wheaton, Crossway Books.
ELLISON, H.L. (1986) ‘Matthew’, in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
FEE, GORDON D. (1987) The First Epistle To The Corinthians, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
FRANCE, R.T. (1985) Matthew, Grand Rapids, IVP, Eerdmans.
GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
KLEIN, WILLIAM W., CRAIG, C. BLOMBERG, AND ROBERT L. HUBBARD, JR. (1993) Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, London, Word Publishing.
LIGHTFOOT, JOHN B. (1993) The Destination of the Epistle to the Ephesians in Biblical Essays, New York, Macmillan.
MARSH, PAUL, W. (1986) ‘1 Corinthians’, in F.F. Bruce, (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.
MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.
The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
