Jesus, Paul and Peter
Living a Fruitful Life
By Jonathan Mitchell
Jesus:
"I, Myself, AM the Grapevine; you folks [are] the tender branches (shoots or twigs that can be easily broken). The person continuously remaining (dwelling; abiding) within the midst of Me - and I within the midst of and in union with him - this one is repeatedly bearing (bringing forth; = producing) much fruit. [It is the case] that apart from (or: Because separated from) Me you folks continue having ability and power to do (make; construct; create; form; perform; produce) nothing!" (Jn. 15::5)
"In this is (or: was) My Father glorified (caused to appear and be recognized; given a good reputation and a manifestation which calls forth praise): that you folks can continuously bear (or: would keep on bringing forth) much fruit, and thus can (or: would) come to be [with other MSS: will continue becoming] disciples (learners; students; apprentices) by Me (or: in Me; to Me; for Me; with Me; [other MSS: My disciples]). Correspondingly as (or: In the same sphere as; To the same degree as) the Father loves and accepts Me - and I, Myself, also love and accept you folks - at once begin to remain (abide; dwell; stay) within the midst of (and: in union with; centered in) My own Love (acceptance; drive toward reunion)! [comment: His Love is the Vine - vss. 4-5, above - and He is the Love - vs. 10, below]
"Whenever (or: If) you folks can take note of, watch over, guard, preserve, keep in view, and maintain, My implanted goals (impartations of the finished product within; inward directives; interior purposes and destinies), [by this] you will continue remaining (abiding; dwelling) within the midst of, in union with, and centered in, the Love which is Me (My love; the acceptance and urge toward union, from Me), correspondingly as (or: to the same level as) I, Myself, have watched over, taken note of, guarded, and now keep and maintain, My Father's implanted goals (impartations of the finished product within; inward directives; interior purposes and destinies) and continuously remain (or: dwell) within the midst of the LOVE, acceptance, Self-giving, and urge toward reunion, from, and which is, Him."(Jn. 15:8-10) [cf 1 Jn. 4:8]
Paul:
"Now the Spirit's Fruit (or: So the fruit from the Spirit; But the fruit which is Breath-effect; Yet the fruit of the Attitude) is: Love (unrestricted, self-giving acceptance of another person as standing on the same ground as one stands; the drive to overcome existential separation; acceptance of the object of love without restriction, in spite of the estranged, profanized and demonized state of the object), Joy, Peace (a Joining; binding together; [Jn. 14:27]), Length of Time before a stirring of emotion (slowness of rushing forward; long-enduring; patience; putting anger far away), useful Kindness (actionable empathy - Caletha Ellis), Goodness ([cf Eph. 5:9; virtuousness; [2 Thes. 1:11b]), Faith (or: faithfulness; trust; loyalty; reliability; allegiance; fidelity), gentle Friendliness (or: absence of ego dominance; mildness), inner Strength (self-control; [1 Cor. 9:25]). [The] Law is not down from (or: in accord with; a suppression of) such things
(or: In the sphere of such [virtues], [the] Law does not exist; There is no code or custom against such Things; Law does not correspond to, is not along the line of, and is not on the level of, such Things)." (Gal. 5:22-23) [cf Jn. 15:5; Rom. 5:5; 1 Cor. 13; 1 Thes. 1:6b; 1 Jn. 4:16]
Peter:
"May Grace and Peace (or: Favor and harmony from the Joining) be multiplied (or: caused to increase) to you folks (or: by you; in you; for you) within full (or: accurate; complete; added) intimate and experiential knowledge and insight of God, even Jesus, our Lord (or: from God, as well as from Jesus, Who is our Master; or: of God, and of our Owner, Jesus), just as all those things [leading] toward life and reverence (standing in awe of goodness, with adoration; the well-being of devotion and virtuous conduct from ease, in true relation to God) [are] being now available for us from having been freely given to us (or: presented as a gift in us) from His divine power (or: inherent faculty and ability; means of influence) through the full (accurate; complete; added) intimate and experiential knowledge of the One calling us to His own (or: by His own; for His own; in His own; [other MSS read: through; by means of]) Glory (or: assumed appearance; praise-inducing manifestation) and excellence in nobleness (i.e., virtues of: braveness, courage, good character, quality, self-restraint, magnificence, benevolence, reliability, moral valor). [cf 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Jn. 3:2] [It is] through means of which things - the precious (valuable; honorable) and greatest effects of the promises - [that] He has freely given (or: [which] He Himself has presented as a gift) to us, to the end that through these [gifts], you folks would come to be (or: could come into existence being; should be born) people of common-being from a divine essence and nature (or: folks having a partnered share that is based upon a common existence from a divine born-instinct and native condition; or: fellow participants of a germination which is divine), while fleeing from the corruption (ruin; decay) within the domination System (or: that is united with the secular realm; or: centered in the ordered world of society, religion, culture, economy and government; or: in the center of the aggregate of mankind), [which is] in the midst of passionate cravings (rushing emotions; lusts; violent over-desires; [or, with p72 & Aleph: fleeing the strong desire of corruption within the world]). [cf 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Eph. 4:24; Heb. 12:10]
"Yet, also, this same (or: And yet for this very cause): while bringing into and alongside (i.e., making full use of) all diligent haste, you folks at once fully lead the chorus of (or: completely choreograph and outfit) the excellence and nobleness (virtues of braveness, courage, good character, quality, self-restraint, magnificence, benevolence, reliability and valor) [being inherent] within your faith and trust; along with the intimate, experiential knowledge and insight [being] within the excellence and nobleness (virtues of braveness, courage, good character, quality, self-restraint, magnificence, benevolence, reliability, moral valor) [cf 2 Pet. 3:18] also the inner strength and self-restraint [which is inherent] within the intimate, experiential knowledge, as well as the persistent remaining under in humble support (or: steadfast, patient endurance) [being inherently] within the inner strength and self-restraint; and then the reverence (ease of virtuous conduct from true relation to God) [inherent] within the persistent remaining under in humble support (or: steadfast, patient endurance); and further, the brotherly affection (fondness for the fellow believers) [resident] within the reverence (awe with goodness; well-being of devout, virtuous conduct in the ease of true relation to God); and then finally, the Love (uniting acceptance) within the brotherly affection. [cf Jn. 13:34-35; 1 Cor. 13; Gal. 6:10; 1 Thes. 3:12; 5:15; 1 Jn. 4:21]
"You see, these things are constantly subsisting (or: supportively sub-governing; humbly ruling; beginning from below) as a possession in you folks [or, with A and others: are continually existing alongside being present for you] and are repeatedly being more than enough (abounding) - neither [being] inactive (or: ineffective) nor unfruitful (or: unproductive). He is continually setting [these] down and causing [them] to stand in accord [in you] unto the accurate, additional (or: full), experiential and intimate knowledge of our Lord (or: Owner; Master), Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 1:2-8)
Jonathan
Return To Jonathan Mitchell's Page