First General Letter of Këph
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From: - To: ¶ Këph, delegate of Yâhuwshúa` the Anointed One, to the resident aliens of the dispersion of Yisrâ’Ë´l: of Póntus, of Galatía, of Kappadokía, of Asía, and Bithunía, chosen… …according to the foreknowledge of the Power, His Father, by purification of spirit unto obedience, with the sprinkling of the Anointed One Yâhuwshúa`’s blood: favor and shâlówm (peace, reconciliation, completeness) be multiplied to you. Hope of things yet to come ¶ Blessed be the Power and Father of our Sovereign Yâhuwshúa` the Anointed One, 1
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the One - according to His great mercy having procreated us anew through Yâhuwshúa` the Anointed One’s resurrection from among the dead, for a hope of living, and for an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance, guarded in the heavens for… …those of us being protected by the Force of Yâ-hwéh, and through persuasion for a rescue ready to be disclosed during a latter feast season1… [Yowm Kippuríym, see Deuteronomy 32: 42] …wherein ye will jump for joy forever! Though it is necessary just now to be put to grief for a little while by various trials, in order that the proving of ye of the persuasion, through being proved through fire, might be found much more
The Great and Terrible Day of Yâ-hwéh will come on a Yowm Kippuríym, a 10th day of the 7th (Hebrew) month, which is the latter feast season of the True calendar. 1
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precious than refined gold, for praise and esteem and honor at the disclosure2 of Yâhuwshúa`, that Deliverer Whom not having seen, ye do affectionately love; and for Whom right now, not seeing - yet believing, ye jump for joy with unspeakable joy; so ye might be honored when you are provided the purpose of your persuasion, the deliverance of your lives3! A deliverance about which those predicators investigated, who foretold
Yâhuwshúa` will suddenly come to His temple (Mal. 3: 1) seal His servants (YchezqË´’l 9: 3-4) at the 6th Seal Great and Terrible Day of Yâ-hwéh (Disclosure 6: 12 – 7: 8; Yâhuw’Ë´l 2: 31-32) 3 “Soul” means “animus” of our bodies, “animation” which contains our identity. This means the SURVIVAL of the remnant of Yisrâ’Ë´l through the 6th Seal judgment of Yisrâ’Ë´l, the House of the Power (incl. Christianity) at the Great and Terrible Day of Yâhwéh. The establishment’s redefinition of soul as eternally undying negates the survival aspect of this statement. We have translated nephésh as “self” nearly always in this translation. 2
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about the persuasion that was to be, which has been given4 unto you. So they Searched about what time period it was that the spirit of the Anointed One dwelling within them5 was explaining and testifying beforehand, when the sufferings of the Anointed One and His honors after these would happen, And it was disclosed to all who were seeking that those things [the deliverance (vv. 9-10) by that persuasion] were not useful for them but for us, which now have been announced to you through the ones within the spirit of the Pure One sent forth from the heavens, announcing to you the glad tidings, in which envoys desire to delight in6.
Present in the Aramaic translation, the Greek simply says “favor”. The “Old Testament Prophets” were inspired by the spirit of Yâhuwshúa`, Who is Yâhwéh. Any questions? 6 Most likely `Ivríyth (Hebrew): “Châphë´ts”, meaning to delight in, and properly to incline to, by implication (lit. but rarely) to bend; fig. To be pleased with. This other 4 5
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How to behave ¶ Due to which, having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, maturely hope on the favor being brought to you at Yâhuwshúa` the Deliverer’s disclosure, In that manner of attentively obedient children; not fashioning yourselves to the former cravings you had within your ignorance; Rather be ye also yourselves pure in all behavior, according as the One Who called you is pure; Because it has been written: “…And you shall be pure ones for I am pure:” [Leviticus 11: 44 and 45] And if ye call on the Father, the One Who judges impartially and according to the
meaning was translated into the Greek as “Parakúpsai”, to stoop near. More evidence of an `Ivríyth (Hebrew) original. 5
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work of each; behave ye during the time of your foreign residence in fear,
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…Due to being ransomed from error understanding that ye were ransomed from your profitless7 behavior handed down from your fathers, not with corruptible things, with silver or with gold, rather, with precious blood, of the Lamb in Whom there is no blemish or spot, Who is the Anointed One; Having been indeed appointed to this before the world’s foundation [The Scroll of the Yâshâ´r 23: 70-71], and manifested at the latter times for the sake of… …those of you being persuaded through Him unto the Power, Who raised Him up
Referring to our fathers’ useless worship of foreign false mighty ones such as “God” (Demon, Fortune), “Lord” (Bá`al, Señor, Domine), “Diós” (Zeus, penetrator), “the saints” (ancestral worship), “the Pope” as infallible (emperor worship), Chëzúç (Vision of Zeus) spelled Jesús, and even “the Virgin Mary” (Astarte, Aphrodite)! 7
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from among the dead and gave to Him the Honor: thus both your persuasion and hope are to be in Yâ-hwéh. As your selves have been purified by the attentive obedience of the Truth (through the spirit) unto an unfeigned brotherly love, affectionately love ye one another earnestly from a purged heart, having been procreated from the First not from corruptible seed, rather of incorruptible Seed - through the living Word of Yâ-hwéh [Yâhuwshúa`] that abides for the ages; [Luwqá’ 8: 11] …Unto the Glad Tidings Which is why: “All, of the flesh, are herbage; and all of its beauty like a flower of the field! Herbs wither, flowers fall, [because the 7
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spirit of Yâ-hwéh, it blows on it – definitely the people are herbage. Herbs wither, flowers fall,] But the Word of our mighty Ones is established forever!” [Yshá`Yâhuw 40: 6-8] 25.
But this [Word (vv 22-24, 2: 2)] is the message the glad tidings announced unto you: “Climb up on the high mountain, O herald of the glad tidings of Tsiyyówn! Raise your voice in the shout, O herald of the glad tidings of Yruwshâláim! Lift it up, have no fear! Say to the towns of Yâhuwthâ´h: ‘Here is your mighty Ones!’”8 [Yshá`Yâhuw 40: 9] It is very likely this verse, which is immediately following the ones quoted, was included here, yet omitted by establishment censors who wanted to cover up the true glad tidings (His coming back to Tsiyyówn at Yruwshâláim) which did contradict their false tradition of “going to heaven”. Yet the Word which he is speaking of, Yâhuwshúa`, contains the glad tidings in its meaning. See also Romans 10: 15, where they did the same omission. 8
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(See Romans 10: 15) Chapter 2 Desire the unadulterated scripture that has His name ¶ Therefore, having left behind all malice and all deceit and role-faking and spite and all the mispronunciations9, in that manner of newborn infants, crave ye intensely to possess the unadulterated milk which contains the Word, in order that ye may grow by It, [To the `Ivríym 5: 12, Letter of Bar-Nâvíy 6: 17] if perhaps ye did experience that Yâ-hwéh is kind, 1.
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Literally translated as it appears in the Greek translation due to the context, this word also means “defamations, maledictions, or accusations”, as it appears in other translations, including the Aramaic, which also makes sense in this view, since violations of the third commandment, corrupting His name, constitute all of these things also. 9
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The chosen few vs. the appointed sheep of slaughter towards Whom ye are approaching: a Living Stone, Who by humans is indeed disapproved, but by the Power (’Ël) is chosen, and valued; And yourselves, as living stones, are being edified a spiritual house, and a pure priesthood to offer spiritual offerings acceptable to the Power through Yâhuwshúa` the Anointed One, which is why it is included within the scripture: “…Here I am, to lay in Tsiyyówn10 a Stone, a tested Stone, a valued Cornerstone for a sure Foundation; the
Mount Tsiyyówn is also Mount MowriyYâ´hu, and the same mountain on which the hanging of Yâhuwshúa` was done from the gallows-cross, as the place of the skull is part of the same mountain outside the city wall of Yruwshâláim. 10
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one trusting shall not be disappointed11!” [Yshá`Yâhuw 28: 16] Therefore the value is for you who trust. But for those rebelliously unpersuadable: “The Stone the builders rejected has come to be for the Chief Cornerstone:” [Psalms 118: 22] “…But as a striking Stone and as an obstacle Rock [MattithYâ´huw 21: 44, YirmYâ´huw 6: 21] that makes them fall, for both of the houses of Yisrâ’Ë´l, for a trap and for a snare to Yruwshâláim’s inhabitants: And of them, the Many will stumble and they will fall and they will be broken and they will be ensnared and they will be captured;” [Yshá`Yâhuw 8: 14-15] 8.
Bar-Nâvíy quotes this as “shall live forever”, although this may be an interpretation of the meaning of this verse. 11
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who flail against it, being rebelliously unpersuadable to the Word12, unto which they also were appointed. [Yshá`Yâhuw 8: 16]
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Recalled Yisrâ’Ë´l: the remnant Now ye are a chosen tribe, a Kingdom priesthood, a pure nation, a people for an acquisition, so that ye might celebrate the manly valors of the One Who called you out of the darkness into His wonderful Light! Ye are those who once were “Lo’-`Ammíy” (Not My people) but now are Yâ-hwéh’s people; those who were “Lo’-Ruchâ´mâh” (Not pitied)
“Yâ-hwéh Yâhuwshúa`”
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but now received mercy. [Paraphrase of Howshë´`á 2: 23]
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Our behavior among those of this world ¶ Beloved: as foreigners and visiting aliens, I implore you to abstain from fleshly cravings which war against the self; Maintaining your behavior among the heathen masses right, in order that, from having witnessed the good works, they may honor Yâ-hwéh on the Day of Reckoning concerning that which they now speak against you as evildoers. Therefore, be subordinate to every human institution due to Yâ-hwéh: whether to a king, as to a superior, Or to governors, in that manner of one sent through Him for avenging evildoers, but praising well doers, 13
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Because thus is the will of Yâ-hwéh: doing goodness to put to silence the senseless humans who do not acknowledge Yâhwéh. In the manner of sons of freedom, yet not holding the freedom in that manner of a cloak of malice, rather using freedom in that manner of Yâ-hwéh’s bondmen. Appreciate all, affectionately love the brotherhood, fear Yâ-hwéh, and value the king. ¶ Those Household servants among you are to be subject in all fear to your masters, not only to those good and gentle, rather also to those crooked. Called for acceptable suffering For this is proof of favor: if for the sake of Yâ-hwéh’s conscience anyone endures sadness, suffering unjustly.
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For, if sinning and being knocked ye endure it, what sort of renown is it? Instead, if doing goodness and suffering ye endure it, this is favorable with the mighty Ones. For ye were called for this, because the Anointed One also suffered over us, leaving us an pattern, in order that ye should follow afterwards in His steps; “…Who did no violence, neither was deceit in His mouth:” [Yshá`Yâhuw 53: 9]
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Who was slandered, yet did not slander in return; and suffering, did not threaten, but gave His case over to the One Who judges equitably. 15
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And Who bore up our sins Himself, in His body upon the gallows-cross13, in order that, by sins being dead, by justification we may be made to live,
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“…by His bruises the curing is for us. All of us like the sheep, did go astray, each of us turned to his own way…” [Yshá`Yâhuw 53: 5-6]
Nevertheless ye have been returned, now, to the Shepherd and Overseer14 of your lives. Chapter 3 Instructions for women The Greek translation says here “wood” or “tree”. In `Ivríyth (Hebrew): `ëts means wood or tree or gallows (which were crosses in that time-period). Note that the Aramaic translation uses here a word meaning “gallows”. Therefore the cross is found throughout all the scriptures, even the Tenákh. 14 Note that this is the only place this term is found in the Peshitta Aramaic translation, and it is applied to Yâhuwshúa`. All other places where the Greek says it (episkopos), it is “elder” there. There is apparently some usurpation of authority going on. 13
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¶ Similarly, women are to be subject to your own husbands in order that, even if any are rebelliously unpersuadable to the Word, they may be gained without words due to the behavior of their women, Having witnessed your clean behavior done within fear15. Whose display of order, let it not be the outward one of elaborate braiding of hair, or of decorating oneself about with gold, or of dressing up in clothing; Instead, let it be the hidden decoration of the human heart, by the incorruptible display of order of the gentle and calm spirit, which is extremely precious in the sight of Yâ-hwéh.
Fear (“phóbos”, from which comes phobia) remains the best translation of what includes REVERENCE, RESPECT, DEFERENCE, AWE. These are things we are to feel for Yâhwéh, just as women for their husbands (Eph. 5: 22-33, 1 Qorinthíym 11:3). If the husband is good, and the woman is proper, FEAR won’t be TERROR, ANXIETY, FRIGHT, APPREHENSION, just as we would feel for Yâ-hwéh, if we are rebellious and disobedient. 15
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For thus also did the pure women from before, those hoping on Yâ-hwéh, display order themselves: being subject to their own husbands; As Sârâ´h attentively obeyed ’Avrâhâ´m, calling him ’Athonâ´y (my Sovereign) [Scroll of Yâshâ´r 23: 6, Genesis 18: 12] - of whom ye became daughters, doing good and not fearing not even one alarm! Instructions for husbands ¶ Those who are husbands similarly: cohabiting according to knowledge as with a more delicate implement, apportioning value to the women in that manner as with joint-heirs of the favor of eternal Life, so that your prayers may not be disconnected. How to have a happy home in Him
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¶ And the goal is for all to be of a same mind, sympathizing, brotherly loving, compassionate, humbly minded, Not giving back evil for evil, or slander for slander, but on the contrary – blessing, understanding that ye were called for this: in order that ye should inherit a blessing. 10.
“Come, sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of Yâ-hwéh16: Who is the man who wishes to love life and to see good days? Restrain your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. [e.g. Exodus 23: 1317] Deviate away from evil, and do goodness! Seek shâlówm (peace, 11.
A valuable lesson, this is the beginning of wisdom, the fear of Yâ-hwéh. “And to all I said to you, you shall observe, and the name of other mighty ones you shall not invoke, you shall not let it be heard on your lips.” 16 17
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reconciliation, completeness) and pursue it!” [Psalms 34: 12-14] 12.
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Because: “The eyes of Yâ-hwéh are towards the righteous ones, and His ears are towards their calling.” [Psalms 34: 15] But: “The face of Yâ-hwéh is against ones doing evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.” [Psalms 34: 16] And who is he who shall injure you, if ye should be zealous of good? Suffering for the Truth is blessed ¶ Nevertheless, if ye should also suffer for the sake of the justification, be ye happy!
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“[Because thus says Yâ-hwéh to me, as though with a strong hand upon me, and He warned me to not allow myself to be persuaded to walk in the way of this people, saying: “You shall not call ‘a heretical sect’ to everything that this people calls ‘a heretical sect’] and their fear you shall not fear, and you shall not dread: But you shall consider Yâ-hwéh the Anointed18 pure (within your hearts), [and He is to be your fear and He is to be your dread: and He will be for a place for asylum! …]” [Yshá`Yâhuw 8: 11-14] 15.
and always be prepared to give an explanation to everyone that asks you a reason about the hope of the persuasion The “Yehuwthíy” scribes put “of Hosts” in the Masoretic text Yshá`Yâhuw, but Këph quotes this as saying Yâ-hwéh is the Anointed as per the Aramaic and most of the Greek translations. It is likely this is the way the quote originally read in Yshá`Yâhuw, a reason the “Yehuwthím” would balk at accepting the Anointed, since the Anointed is Yâ-hwéh’s Person. 18
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within you, instead of having meekness and dread, having a good conscience. This is so ones who slander you as evildoers may be ashamed, as ones who reviled your good behavior within the Anointed One; For it is better, if the will of Yâ-hwéh wishes it, to suffer while doing good than doing evil, The Example to follow because the Anointed One also once did suffer concerning sins, the Just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to the Power (’Ël), having been put to death indeed in flesh, but made alive in spirit, in which, He proclaimed it also having gone to those spirits in prison [4: 6](Sh’ówl),
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who formerly were rebelliously unpersuadable, when once, in the days of Nóach, the longsuffering of Yâ-hwéh accepted the box (ark) being prepared, on the hope of their repentance19, inside which those few (that is, eight souls), were preserved intact through the waters, an immersion of which also a Counterpart now rescues us: not a putting off of the dirt of the flesh, rather when you profess Yâ-hwéh20 unto a good conscience - a requirement for the Power - an immersion through Yâhuwshúa` the Anointed One’s resurrection, Who is gone into the heavens at the right hand of the Power, envoys and authorities and forces having been subjected to Him!
Present in the Aramaic translation. Present in the Aramaic translation, and by its having been omitted from the Greek translation, causes much misinterpretation of this verse. 19 20
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Chapter 4 Live for Him; leave behind the heathen ways ¶ Therefore, as the Anointed One has suffered for us in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same understanding: that he who has suffered death in His flesh has desisted from sin, For us to no longer be made to live for the will of the sons of men; rather to desire Yâ-hwéh’s will the time remaining to live in the Body. For the time that has passed is enough for us to have labored at the will of the heathen masses, having walked about in licentiousness, lusts, excessive wine drinking, revels, drunken-sprees, and unscriptural image worshipping. And look! Now they think it strange, scorning your not running together with them to the same gushing abandon. 1.
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Those are who shall render an account to Yâ-hwéh, Who is prepared to judge the living and the dead. For unto this purpose were the glad tidings announced, even to the dead21 [Glad Tidings of Nikódemos 17], in order that they might indeed be judged as humans in the flesh, but might live as Yâhwéh in the spirit. But the goal of all things has drawn near! Therefore, be sane and keep sober for prayers; But before all things, maintain intent affectionate love among yourselves, because “affectionate love will cover a multitude of sins”! [Proverbs 10: 12]
This debunks Seventh-Day Adventist, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and most of their daughter “Yahshua” sects’ doctrine of the dead having no consciousness and the nonexistence of a hell or (underground) Pardë´ç (orchard-garden, `Ë´then). There are many more verses they can’t stand, and they twist others to support their error. 21
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Be hospitable to each other, without grumbling, Just as each has received a gift, serve it for each other, as virtuous house managers of the varieties of Yâ-hwéh’s favor. If anyone speaks – let it be like the Word of Yâ-hwéh. If anyone attends – let it be as from the strength which Yâ-hwéh supplies; in order that by all things ye do, the mighty Ones may be honored by the hand of Yâhuwshúa` the Anointed One – for Whom is the Honor and the Might for the ages of the ages, ’Âmë´n (Certainly). The testing in the Judgment ¶ Beloved: do not be surprised about the Fire for trial to be generated among you, as if something unheard of is to happen to you, because it is for your proving. [Yshá`Yâhuw 4: 4, 42: 23 - 43: 1-2,
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Mal’âkhíy 3: 222, MattithYâ´huw 3: 11, Márquwç 9: 49, 1 Qorinthíym 3: 13] Instead, just as ye have a share of the Anointed One’s sufferings, be happy, in order that at the disclosure of His Honor ye may delight, jumping for joy! And if ye are reproached for the sake of the name of the Anointed One, be happy, because the name of honor and the spirit of Yâ-hwéh repose upon you! [On their part He is scorned, but on your part He is honored.23] Therefore let not anyone of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a nosy meddler into others’ matters24!
But who is to endure the Day of His coming? And who is the one standing when He appears? Because He is like the fire of a refiner, or like the soap of launderers! 23 Not found in 3/8 Greek translations nor in the Aramaic. 24 Not in the Aramaic translation. It is however a strong warning against gossiping and “enquiring minds”. 22
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But if anyone of you suffer as a “Christian”, let him not be ashamed, but let him honor Yâ-hwéh by this name, because the Season of the Judgment is to begin from Bë´yth-’Ël (the House of the Power)25! But if first from us, what is the end of those rebelliously unpersuadable to the glad tidings of Yâ-hwéh? “If the righteous on the earth receives his due, how much more the wicked and the errant?” [Proverbs 11: 3126]
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Apostate Yisrâ’Ë´l (Christianity) can’t stand this verse, which debunks their dogma that they will escape any judgment, and escape the season of judgment in a “rapture” to heaven. They don’t even think they will go through the preceding 4th Seal Great Tribulation, in which ¼ of them die! See Âmówç 3: 14-15, 5: 4-5 – using the following key: Bë´yth-’Ël (the House of the Power) = Christianity, Gilgâ´l (Circumcision of flesh) = Judaism, B’ë´r Shéva` (the Pit of the Oath) = Islam (’Âllâ´h is “imprecation”, Yishmâ`Ë´’l has no inheritance), Captivity = 1st death, and “come to naught” also means “be for a worshipped image”. 26 Realizing this verse is a quote corrects the inserted notion that there is difficulty for the justified righteous to eke by on the Day of Judgment. 28
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So thus, let also those who suffer death according to the will of Yâ-hwéh deposit their lives, as to a trustworthy Creator, by doing virtue.
Chapter 5 What establishment clergy missed? (YirmYâ´huw 23, YchezqË´’l 34) ¶ I implore of those elders who are among you, I being a fellow elder27 and witness of the sufferings of the Anointed One, and a partaker of His honor about to be revealed: Pasture the flock of Yâ-hwéh that is committed to you, and take care of it spiritually28 not by duress, instead, by its 1.
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Këph was the Elder of Yruwshâláim (see Gal. 1: 18). 28 Here as per the Aramaic translation. The authority-usurping establishment scribes changed this in the Greek translation to “exercising supervision”, an authority of the Anointed. 27
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own will. Not for greed of sordid gain, instead from your wholesome heart. Not as if you were Yâ-hwéh29 over your portion of the flock, instead, becoming models of the flock; So when the Chief Shepherd has been manifested, ye shall receive the unfading Crown of Honor! Younger believers: be humble! ¶ Similarly, you younger ones: be subject to elder ones, and bind on the humility apron of bondservice, being subject all one to another, because: “(Yâ-hwéh) indeed mocks the mockers, but grants favor to the humble.” [Proverbs 3: 34]
Per the Aramaic translation. Other translations say “exercise sovereignty”, but it makes even more sense this way. Isn’t this a direct repudiation of what the Roman Catholic “Pope” does, pretending to be His representative, or thinking to change His commandments? 29
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Therefore be humbled by the mighty hand of Yâ-hwéh, in order that He may exalt you at the Season of Inspection. Having thrown all of your worries upon Him, because it does matter to Him about you! How to resist Ha-Sâţâ´n (the Adversary) ¶ Be sober! Keep vigil! Because your adversary, the Adversary, walks at large like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may swallow up whole, whom resist ye firmly by the persuasion, understanding that the same sufferings are being imposed on your brotherhood that is within the world. But as we suffer a little while, the Power (’Ël) of all favor, Who has called us for His endless honor by the hand of the Anointed Yâhuwshúa`, grants us Himself 31
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to be perfected, established, strengthened, and to be founded forever! For Him are the Honor and the Might for the ages of the ages! ’Âmë´n (Certainly). Closing greetings ¶ I have written briefly as I thought, through Siluanús, your trustworthy brother, exhorting and testifying that this true favor of Yâ-hwéh for which ye stand exists. The convocation of the Chosen One that is within Bâvél, and Márquwç, my son, bid you shâlówm (peace, reconciliation, completeness). Bid one another shâlówm (peace, reconciliation, completeness) with a kiss of affectionate love. Shâlówm (peace, reconciliation, completeness) is with you all
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who are within the Anointed Yâhuwshúa`! ’Âmë´n (Certainly). First General Letter of Këph
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