The Greek word μετανοέω literally means to ‘change one’s mind’ or ‘change one’s thinking’ and is translated accordingly in this translation. It is usually translated as ‘repent.’
While this translator acknowledges that the Greek word ‘διαθήκη’ was at times used in Greek literature to mean an agreement between two parties, he contends that it is used almost exclusively in the New Testament to mean ‘testament’ – that is, a disposition of property by a will of one party for the benefit of another. This is especially clear in passages such as Galatians 3:15-17 and Hebrews 9:16-17.
This translation translates εὐαγγελίου as ‘excellent announcement’. It is usually translated as “Gospel” which came from an Old English word meaning ‘good tale’ or ‘good spell’ (i.e. ‘good formula of words’).
The Greek noun πίστις, meaning ‘faith’, is sometimes articulated (i.e. is preceded by a definite article) and sometimes not. Of course, if the article is present in Greek, it is present in this translation. It is this translator’s observation that, when the word is preceded with a definite article, the noun phrase is referring to the objective, central body of teaching of the Bible – in other words, ‘the objective things which are to be believed’ instead of ‘the person’s subjective believing’.
The Greek word ἡ δόξα and its cognates are translated as ‘glory’, etc. Let the reader consider its definitions according to the Liddell-Scott lexicon: – II. The opinion which others have of one, estimation, reputation, credit, honor, glory; δοξάζω – to think, imagine, suppose, fancy, conjecture; 3. Absolute – to hold an opinion.
The Greek word ἅγιος and its cognates are translated as ‘holy’, etc. Again, let the reader consider its definitions of it and its cognates according to the Liddell-Scott lexicon: – “devoted to the gods, sacred; holy” – ἁγνίζω “to cleanse away, especially by water; ἅγνος – “of things and places dedicated to gods, hallowed, holy.”
When ‘Holy Spirit’ is not preceded by ‘the’, the words may refer to the regenerated holy spirit that disciples of Jesus have or to the third Person of the Trinity. Context must decide. Sometimes it is the wider context of the New Testament that clearly suggests that the latter meaning is to be preferred.
The Greek word κηρύσσω and its cognates are translated as ‘herald’, etc. The word describes the activity of an agent of a king who announces the king’s decree to his people. The noun form – in English also ‘herald’ – is the name for the person who makes such announcements.
The Greek word Χριστὸς is transliterated as ‘Christ’. It is an adjective which means ‘anointed’. In the New Testament this adjective is often used as a noun and the title for Jesus. In this translation the word is translated as ‘Anointed’ instead of transliterated as ‘Christ’. The reason is that English readers may not know what the word means and, of course, the meaning is extremely significant!
The Greek word ἁμαρτάνω and its cognates refer to the failure of a person to attain a desired goal, such as hitting the mark when shooting arrows at a target. In the New Testament the implied goal is to live exactly as God intended for us! Thus, this translation translates the verb form as ‘morally fail’ and the noun as ‘moral failure’. Other translations typically translate this word as ‘sin’.
The Greek word ὑπακούω is translated as ‘hearken’ or ‘be persuaded’. The Greek verb here literally means ‘under-hear.’ It is often translated ‘obey.’ True enough, obedience is the result. But, the word itself actually refers to the hearing and persuasion that precedes this obedience.
This translator has noticed that often when the Greek word for ‘Lord’ (Κυρίος) appears in the New Testament WITHOUT a definite article, it seems quite likely that it is referring to the personal Old Testament name for God – namely, ‘YaHWeH’.
This is undoubtedly true when the New Testament quotes an Old Testament passage which includes this sacred name. For example, in Mark 1:3 where Mark is quoting from Isaiah 40:3. Isaiah is indeed talking about “the Way of YaHWeH”; and so, this translation translates this noun phrase in Mark 1:3 as “the Way of YaHWeH”.
You will find that the transliteration of some names are spelled differently than you are used to seeing. For example, in several places the Greek name is Ἰάκωβον. Clearly it should be transliterated as ‘Jacob’ instead of ‘James’.
In other cases, the transliteration of a Greek name is different because the best manuscripts have a different spelling. For example, in the Gospels 98% of the Greek manuscripts, including the best line of transmission (f35) have the spelling ‘Capernaum’ whereas the NU has ‘Capharnaum’.