- Matthew 5:44
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- Matthew 5:44
- (KJV)
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- (1611 KJV)
But I say vnto you, Loue your enemies, blesse them
that curse you, doe good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully vse you, and persecute you:
- (1587 Geneva Bible)
But I say vnto you, Loue your enemies:
blesse them that curse you: doe good to them that hate you, and pray
for them which hurt you, and persecute you,
- (1526 Tyndale)
But I saye vnto you love youre enimies. Blesse
the that coursse you. Do good to them that hate you. Praye for them
which doo you wronge and persecute you
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- Counterfeit Versions
- (CSB) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- (NIV) But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you,
- (NASV) "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you,
- (NLT) But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
- (ESV) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you,
- (CEV) But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who
mistreats you.
- (1901 ASV) but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that
persecute you;
- (HCSB) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you,
- (RSV) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you,
- (NAB-Roman Catholic) But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for
those who persecute you,
- (NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) However, I say to YOU: Continue to love YOUR
enemies and to pray for those persecuting YOU;
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- Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
- egw de legw umin agapate touV ecqrouV umwn eulogeite touV
katarwmenouV umaV kalwV poieite touV misountaV umaV kai proseucesqe
uper twn ephreazontwn umaV kai diwkontwn umaV
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- Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
- egw de legw umin agapate touV ecqrouV umwn kai proseucesqe uper twn
diwkontwn umaV
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- Corrupted Manuscripts
- This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
- Omit “bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,”
- Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus -
Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
- 1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century
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- Omit “despitefully use you, and”
- Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus -
Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
- 1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century
-
- Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
- Contains “bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,”
- Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
- D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
- L 019 - Seventh century
- W 032 - Fourth/fifth century
- Theta 038 - Ninth century
-
- Contains “despitefully use you, and”
- Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
- D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
- L 019 - Seventh century
-
- Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
- Omit “bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,”
- Lachmann, Karl - 1842
- Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
- Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
- Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
- Westcott and Hort - 1881
- Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
- Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
- Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
- Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
- United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
- Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902
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- Omit “despitefully use you, and”
- Lachmann, Karl - 1842
- Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
- Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
- Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
- Westcott and Hort - 1881
- Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
- Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
- Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
- Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
- United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
-
- Affected Teachings
- This verse contains some instructions to the true child of God
concerning their witness which is evidence of their transformation. First of
all, when someone is cursing us, which means they are wishing evil against
us, we are not to return evil for evil, instead we are to show them kindness
in words. We do not curse them, we bless them and seek their best and not
their worst. Then there are those who are going to hate us because of our
testimony for Christ. Instead of us thinking up vengeful acts against them,
we are to do good to them. How many times has a person hated us and
sometimes they might need a little help and the Lord may engineer their
circumstances so that you are the only one who can help them. Then there are
those who will despitefully use us. The word “despitefully” carries with it
the meaning of “mistreat us.” How many times have believers been used by
those in the world to advance themselves while the believer is left behind?
This happens every day. Sometimes the world uses our talents or money and
makes believe they are appreciative when in reality they are just using us.
The Lord Jesus Christ makes sure that we will take no acts of vengeance
against anyone who does these things. Instead we are to bless them, pray for
them, do good for them, and finally love them. No one says it is going to be
easy. When the Gnostics left out these words by chopping up the verse, they
were acting on their own mindsets. In the academic world there is cut throat
competition to be the tops in the field. What kind of a person would earn
the respect of their colleagues if it looked like they were being walked
over. Arrogance and pride were at the heart of the butchering of this verse
and it is a shame that the modern translators have allowed the arrogance of
the Gnostics to have survived. Sixteen words have been removed from the
verse.
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