But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that this measureless power comes from God and not from us. We are troubled in every way, but not distressed; see no way out, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; cast down, but not destroyed; always carrying in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be visible in our body. For while we live, we are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be visible in our mortal flesh. Therefore, even though death is at work in us, so too is life. – 2 Corinthians 4:7-11
Tag Archives: scripture paraphrase
Scriptures for Epiphany
Here are the scriptures for Epiphany paraphrased in a more contemporary fashion.
Isaiah 60:1-6
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For behold, even though darkness covers the earth,
and deep darkness the people;
the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses’ arms.
Then you shall see and shine like the sun.
Your heart will be filled with awe and enlarged,
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover your lands,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah.
All those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.
Ephesians 3:1-13
For this reason, I, Paul, am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles. For surely you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you. And you must know how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote before in a few words. That is why, when you read this, you may begin to see my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations it was not made known to humankind, but now it has been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. And the mystery is this: that the Gentiles have become joint heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
I am a servant of this gospel through the gift of God’s grace, given to me by the working of God’s power. This grace was given to me, even though I am the very least of all the saints, so that the good news of the measureless riches of Christ might be brought to the Gentiles. And more, that everyone would see the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things. Indeed it is now through the church that the great wisdom of God is being made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This is all in accordance with the eternal purpose that God placed in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through our faith in him. Therefore I ask you not to lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are, in fact, your glory.
Matthew 2:1-18
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, while King Herod ruled, magi from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? We have seen his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was greatly disturbed, as was all of Jerusalem with him. So he convened all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked of theme where the anointed one was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what the prophet wrote:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the princes of Judah;
for from you shall come a leader
who will shepherd my people Israel.” ’
Then, in secret, Herod summoned the magi and learned from them the time when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I too may go and pay him homage.’ After the magi heard what the king had to say, they departed; and behold, the star they had seen in the east went before them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw the star, they were overcome with joy. They entered the house, saw the child with Mary his mother; and fell down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Afterward, having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another way.
And when they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Rise and take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Remain there until tell you, for Herod will search for the child in order to kill him. So Joseph rose and took the child and his mother and left for Egypt that very night. They stayed there until Herod’s death in order to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
Herod, seeing that he had been deceived by the magi, became enraged. He sent his soldiers out to kill all the male children under two years of age who were in Bethlehem or nearby areas, according to the time he had learned from the magi. This too was a fulfillment of words spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning; Rachel wailing for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they were no more.
Matthew 2:1-18 – My Paraphrase
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the time of King Herod, magi from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and convening all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the princes of Judah;
for from you shall come a leader
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the time when the star had appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star that they had seen in the east went before them, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. And upon entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way.
And when they had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Rise and take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until tell you, for Herod will seek the child to kill him. And he rose and took the child and his mother and left for Egypt that night. They remained there until Herod’s death in order to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
Then Herod, seeing that he had been deceived by the magi, became enraged and sent and killed all the male children under two years of age who were in Bethlehem or nearby regions, according to the time he had discovered from the magi. Thus what was spoken by the prophet Jeremish was fulfilled: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning; Rachel wailing for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they were no more.
Ephesians 3:1-13 – My Paraphrase
For this reason, I, Paul, am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— for surely you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote before in a few words. Therefore, when you read this, you may perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ, which in former generations was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles have become joint heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given to me by the working of his power. Unto me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to bring to the Gentiles the good news of the measureless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. I ask you therefore not to lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.
Psalm 72:1-7; 10-14 – My Paraphrase
Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son.
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice.
May the mountains bring prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor.
May they revere you while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish and peace abound,
until the moon is no more.
May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
bring him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.
May all kings fall down before him,
all nations serve him.
For he delivers the needy when they call,
the poor and those who have no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
and precious is their blood in his sight.
Isaiah 60:1-6 – My Paraphrase
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and deep darkness the people;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses’ arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall be in awe and enlarged,
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.
Luke 2:21-40 – My Paraphrase
After eight days had passed, the child was circumcised and given the name Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the time for Mary’s purification according to the law of Moses was finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to offer him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they made a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord: “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Anointed One. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was the custom under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all people: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And the child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “See, this child is destined for the fall and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign which will be spoken against. Yes, a sword will pierce your own soul too, and the inner thoughts of many will be revealed.”
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. And upon entering that very moment, she began to give thanks to God and to tell all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem about the child. When they had completed everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.
Isaiah 63:7-9 – My Paraphrase
I will remember the loving kindness of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Eternal One, because of all the Lord has done for us, and the great goodness he has bestowed on the house of Israel because of his compassion and the greatness of his mercy. For the Lord said, “Surely they are my people, children who will not be untrue.” And so he became their defender. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Galatians 4:4-7 – My Paraphrase
But when the right time had come, God sent his Son. He was born of a woman and born under the Law, in order to free those under the Law, so that we might be adopted as God’s children. And now that we are God’s sons and daughters, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to cry out, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer slaves, but God’s children, and since you are sons and daughters, God has also made you heirs.
Luke 14:1, 7-11 – My Paraphrase
Luke 14:1, 7-11
And it came to pass that one sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
And he told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor,
saying to them,
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast,
do not recline at table in the place of honor,
lest a more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this person,’
and then you would proceed with shame to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you, he may say,
‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
