3. Yet have I sent<\/em> ] Although instructions to make the collection were needless, it was not needless for me to send the brethren. See note on 2Co 9:1<\/em><\/span>. For I have sent<\/em>, the Greek has I sent<\/em>. But see notes on ch. 2Co 8:18<\/span>; 2Co 8:22<\/span>, and Introduction.<\/p>\n our boasting<\/em> ] Literally, ‘our ground of<\/strong> boasting,’ but see ch. 2Co 5:12<\/span>. It was not that St Paul expected no result from the collection, but feared that it might be one out of all proportion to what his expressions of confidence in the Corinthian Church would have led other Churches to expect.<\/p>\n in this behalf<\/em> ] Rather, in this respect<\/strong>, i.e. in regard to the matter of the collection. He had not hesitated to speak of their other good qualities. See 1Co 1:4-8<\/span>; and for the expression see ch. 2Co 3:10<\/span>.<\/p>\n Yet have I sent the brethren – <\/B>The brethren referred to in 2Co 8:18<\/span>, 2Co 8:22-23<\/span>.<\/P> Lest our boasting of you – <\/B>That you were disposed to contribute, and that you were already prepared, and that the contribution was ready.<\/P> Should be in vain – <\/B>Lest anything should have occurred to prevent the collection. I have sent them that they may facilitate it, and that it may be secure and certain.<\/P> In this behalf – <\/B>In this respect. That is, lest our boasting of you, in regard to your readiness to contribute to relieve the needs of others, should be found to have been ill-grounded.<\/P> <\/p>\n Verse 3<\/span>. Yet have I sent the brethren<\/B><\/I>] Titus and his companions, mentioned in the preceding chapter.<\/P> <\/P> That, as I said, ye may be ready<\/B><\/I>] And he wished them to be ready, that they might preserve the good character he had given them: this was for their honour<\/I>; and if they did not take care to do so, he might be reputed a liar<\/I>; and thus both they and himself be ashamed<\/I> before the Macedonians, should any of them at this time accompany him to Corinth.<\/P><\/p>\n I did not send the brethren so much to move you to this work, or quicken you to it, for you yourselves purposed it a year ago, and showed a forwardness in it; the motion proceeded from yourselves, and you showed a readiness to it, which gave me occasion to boast of you to the churches of Macedonia; but I thought you might forget it, and I would not have <\/P> our boasting in vain on this behalf.<\/B> And besides, I would have the work done, that your alms might not be to gather when I come, (as he had said, 1Co 16:2<\/span>), but might be in a readiness to be taken and carried away; for that is signified here by being <\/P> ready, <\/B>not that readiness of mind of which he had before spoken, and which he had before mentioned as what he had found in them. <\/P> <\/p>\n 3. have I sent<\/B>we should say,”I send”; whereas the ancients put it in the past, the timewhich it would be by the time that the letter arrived. <\/P> the brethren<\/B> (2Co 8:18<\/span>;2Co 8:22<\/span>) Titus and the twoothers. <\/P> should be in vain in thisbehalf<\/B>“should be proved futile in this particular,<\/I>“however true in general (2Co 7:4<\/span>).A tacit compliment, softening the sharp monition. <\/P> as I said<\/B>as I wassaying (2Co 9:2<\/span>).<\/P><\/p>\n Yet have I sent the brethren<\/strong>,…. Titus, and the other two mentioned in the foregoing chapter: one manuscript reads, “we have sent”; and the Ethiopic version, “they have sent”, that is, the Macedonians; but the common reading is best. It might be objected, that since the apostle knew the forwardness of their minds, how ready they were a year ago, and had boasted so much of their liberality, that it must be unnecessary to send the brethren to them, to stir them up to this work; which objection is prevented by observing the reason of his sending them:<\/p>\n lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf<\/strong>: or, “in this part”, in this particular thing, , “concerning this business”, or affair of beneficence to the poor, as the Syriac version renders it. He had boasted of them with respect to other things besides this; but he was chiefly concerned, knowing the frailty and changeableness of human nature, and how possible it was that their forwardness might abate, and they grow cold and indifferent to such service, lest his glorying of them should be in vain in this particular instance; wherefore he sent the brethren to put them on, that as they had begun they would finish:<\/p>\n that as I said ye may be ready<\/strong>, That as he had said to the Macedonians, that they were ready in mind, it might appear to be so; or as he had ordered them in his former epistle, they might be actually ready; have their collection ready made, so that there might be no gathering when he came.<\/p>\n I sent <\/B> (<\/SPAN><\/span>). Not literary plural with this epistolary aorist as in 2Cor 9:18<\/span>; 2Cor 9:22<\/span>.<\/P> That ye may be prepared <\/B> ( <\/SPAN><\/span>). Perfect passive subjunctive in the final clause, “that ye may really be prepared,” “as I said” ( <\/SPAN><\/span>) and not just say that ye are prepared. Paul’s very syntax tells against them. <\/P> <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 ) “Yet have I sent the brethren,”<\/strong> (epempsa de tous adelphous) “and I sent the (willing) brethren;” The term rendered “sent” is from a root word meaning to be sent, not by priority of authority, but by persuasion of influence, to urge you to complete what you have purposed.<\/p>\n 2) “Lest our boasting of you “<\/strong> (hina me to katichema hemon to huper humon) “in order that our boasting on your behalf;” 2Co 8:6<\/span>; 2Co 8:17-18<\/span>; 2Co 8:22<\/span>.<\/p>\n 3) “Should be in vain in this behalf<\/strong> (kenothe ento merei touto) “Should not be empty in this respect,” or in vain regarding this matter, to cause both you all and me to be embarrassed, Jas 1:22<\/span>; 1Co 15:58<\/span>; Mat 15:9<\/span>; Mar 7:7<\/span>; Gal 2:2<\/span>; Gal 4:11<\/span> or void in this respect, 1Co 9:15<\/span>.<\/p>\n 4) “That, as I said,”<\/strong> (hina kathos elegon) “in order that, as I said;” 1Pe 3:15<\/span>.<\/p>\n 5) “Ye may be ready,”<\/strong> (pareskeuasmenoi hete) “ye were having been prepared,” already, with your work completed, 1Ti 6:18<\/span>; Tit 3:1<\/span>.<\/p>\n 3. But I have sent the brethren. He now brings forward the reason — why it is that, while entertaining a favorable opinion as to their willingness, he, nevertheless, sets himself carefully to exhort them. “I consult,” says he, “my own good name and yours; for while I promised in your name, we would, both of us in common, incur disgrace, if words and deeds did not correspond. Hence you ought to take my fears in good part.” <\/p>\n (3) Yet have I sent<\/strong> the brethren . . .<\/strong>This, then, was his purpose in the new mission. He wanted the performance not to fall short of the promise. They must be found ready, their money collected. (Comp. 1Co. 16:2<\/span>.)<\/p>\n In this behalf.<\/strong>Perhaps, in<\/em> this particular,<\/em> or, in this respect,<\/em> would be more in harmony with modern English phraseology.<\/p>\n 3<\/strong>. <\/strong> The brethren<\/strong> The three brethren<\/strong>, Titus, Luke, and Erastus. Grotius quotes from Maimonides the statement that the Jews were accustomed to place three commissioners over any movement of contribution.<\/p>\n ‘But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect, so that, even as I said, you may be prepared, lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, you) should be put to shame in this confidence.’<\/p>\n So he now assures them that he has not sent the three men because of the church’s perceived reluctance to give, but so as to ensure that the church were prepared in readiness for a visit by the Macedonians, who might well visit them when he himself comes to see them. What he does not want is for them to be put to shame if the Macedonians arrived and found no collection ready. This would shame both him and them, him because he has been glorying in their readiness, and them because they will lose face.<\/p>\n 2Co 9:3<\/span> . Connection:<\/em> Although in regard to the collection<\/em> I do not need to write<\/em> to you, and that for the reason stated in 2Co 9:2<\/span> , I have yet not been able to omit the sending of the brethren<\/em> for this purpose, in order that, etc. Paul by this would direct attention not to the general<\/em> object of this mission, but to the special<\/em> one of having all things ready before his arrival<\/em> . See what follows. On , which may often be translated etsi tamen<\/em> , comp. Xen. Anab<\/em> . ii. 3. 10, and Khner in loc<\/em> . The same is more strongly expressed by , Ellendt, Lex. Soph.<\/em> II. p. 76, or , Viger. p. 536.<\/p>\n ] Titus and the two others, 2Co 8:17<\/span> ff.<\/p>\n .] on account of the following , which first adds<\/em> the special reference to the general, is not to be understood of the special<\/em> described in 2Co 9:2<\/span> , but is to be taken generally: in order that that, of which we boast on your behalf<\/em> ( is here materies gloriandi<\/em> , and not equivalent to ), might not become empty<\/em> (1Co 9:15<\/span> ), i.e.<\/em> might not be found without reality in this point<\/em> , in the matter of the collection, if, namely, on our arrival it should be found that your benevolent activity had come to a standstill or become retrograde. See 2Co 9:4<\/span> . In the addition (comp. 2Co 3:10<\/span> ) there lies an “ acris cum tacita laude exhortatio<\/em> ” (Estius); for Paul has not a similar anxiety in respect to other sides of the (comp. 2Co 7:4<\/span> ). Billroth considers . . as pointing to 2Co 9:4<\/span> , and takes . . . of the special boast in 2Co 9:2<\/span> : “ in this respect, namely, inasmuch as, if Macedonians come with me we are put to shame<\/em> .” Involved, because lies between; and at variance with the parallel of 2Co 9:4<\/span> .<\/p>\n . . .] forms, with the following . . ., a positive parallel to the previous negative . Comp. on repeated in parallel clauses, Rom 7:13<\/span> ; Gal 3:14<\/span> ; Gal 4:5<\/span> .<\/p>\n 3.<\/strong> ] But<\/strong> (contrast, not to in 2Co 9:1<\/span> , but to above; implying fear lest he should have been making a vain boast concerning them) I sent<\/strong> (epistolary past, as in ch. 2Co 8:18<\/span> ; 2Co 8:22 ) the brethren, in order that our matter of boasting concerning you<\/strong> ( , our whole<\/em> ‘materies gloriandi,’ not = ) may not in this particular be proved empty<\/strong> ( , does not belong to , but to ‘that our boast of you, so ample and various ch. 2Co 7:4<\/span> , may not break down in this one department.’ Estius, in marg., well calls it ‘acris cum tacita laude exhortatio apostolica’); that, as I said<\/strong> (when? in 2Co 9:2 ? or, in his boasting to the Macedonians? or, in 1Co 16:1 ?<\/p>\n Most naturally, in 2Co 9:2<\/span><\/em> . If he had meant, to the Macedonians<\/em> , it would probably have been , as above: if in<\/em> 1Co 16<\/span> , it would have been more clearly expressed.<\/p>\n If so, refers merely to the word<\/em> .), ye may be prepared<\/strong> , (see above on 2Co 9:2 ),<\/p>\n 2Co 9:3<\/span> . . . . . but<\/em> (the corresponding to of 2Co 9:1<\/span> ) I have sent<\/em> (the epistolary aorist; cf.<\/em> 2Co 8:18<\/span> ) the brethren<\/em> ( cf.<\/em> 2Co 8:16-22<\/span> ), that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void<\/em> ( cf.<\/em> esp. 1Co 9:15<\/span> ) in this respect, i.e.<\/em> , in the matter of actually gathering the money, as distinct from their general readiness to be liberal (2Co 8:10<\/span> ), in order that, even as I said, sc.<\/em> , to the Macedonians to whom he had repeatedly boasted of Corinthian generosity (2Co 9:2<\/span> ), ye may be prepared<\/em> .<\/p>\n have. Omit. <\/p>\n sent, Greek. pempo. App-174. <\/p>\n lest = in order that (Greek. hina). not, Greek me. App-105. <\/p>\n boasting = glorying. Greek. kauchema. See Rom 4:2. <\/p>\n in vain = made void. Greek. kenoo. See Php 1:2, Php 1:7. <\/p>\n in. Greek. en. App-104. <\/p>\n behalf = part. Greek. meros. <\/p>\n that = in order that. Greek. hina<\/p>\n said = was saying. <\/p>\n 3.] But (contrast, not to in 2Co 9:1, but to above; implying fear lest he should have been making a vain boast concerning them) I sent (epistolary past, as in ch. 2Co 8:18; 2Co 8:22) the brethren, in order that our matter of boasting concerning you (, our whole materies gloriandi, not =) may not in this particular be proved empty ( , does not belong to , but to -that our boast of you, so ample and various-ch. 2Co 7:4, may not break down in this one department. Estius, in marg., well calls it acris cum tacita laude exhortatio apostolica); that, as I said (when? in 2Co 9:2? or, in his boasting to the Macedonians? or, in 1Co 16:1?<\/p>\n Most naturally, in 2Co 9:2. If he had meant, to the Macedonians, it would probably have been , as above: if in 1 Corinthians 16, it would have been more clearly expressed.<\/p>\n If so, refers merely to the word .), ye may be prepared, (see above on 2Co 9:2),<\/p>\n 2Co 9:3. , I sent) before me, 2Co 9:5.- , in this respect [behalf]) He makes a limitation.- , as I was saying, 2Co 9:2.<\/p>\n 2Co 9:3<\/p>\n 2Co 9:3 <\/p>\n But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect;-He sent Titus and his two companions lest they should fail to complete the work of which he had gloried, and his glorying would seem to be without ground.<\/p>\n that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:-So these brethren were sent to them to urge them that they might be ready. [It is plain that he could not have told the Macedonians that the collection at Corinth had already been made, because he not only knew that such was not the fact, but in this very passage refers to the work as yet to be accomplished. The fact is that he had said the Corinthians were ready to do their part in the business, now he urges them to complete it.] <\/p>\n have: 2Co 9:4, 2Co 7:14, 2Co 8:6, 2Co 8:17-24 <\/p>\n ye may: 2Co 9:5, 1Co 16:1-4, Tit 3:1 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Pro 3:28 – General 1Co 16:2 – that 2Co 12:21 – my God<\/p>\n 2Co 9:3. It is easy to forget about a duty, especially if the occasion for doing it is delayed some time. Hence Paul sent the brethren on ahead to remind the brethren at Corinth about it to be ready, lest his boasting should be in vain.<\/p>\n 2Co 9:3. But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect (as if we had gone too far in commending your eagerness); that, even as I said, ye may be prepared: lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.[1]<\/p>\n [1] The received reading here (confidence of boasting) is manifestly a gloss (from chap. 2Co 11:17).<\/p>\n As confident and fully persuaded as the apostle was of the readiness and willingness of mind that was found in the Corinthians towards this charitable contribution, yet he judgeth it both expedient and necessary to send the brethren before to them, to get all things ready, the collection finished and over; that so when he himself, and the Macedonians, should come to Corinth, he might not be put to blush for them, having made great boasts of their charity, but finding no deeds: and also he desires their collection may be ready, with respect to themselves, that so their beneficence may appear to be their own free bounty, and not a collection difficultly extorted from them, as from covetous men, who give grudgingly and unwilligly. <\/p>\n Note here, 1. That it is very lawful for the ministers of Christ to use an holy craft, and innocent guilt, to draw men to a speedy compliance with their duty, sometimes by engaging their reputation in it, and sometimes alluring them by just praises to the doing of it. Thus our apostle did here.<\/p>\n Note, 2. That the readiness which St. Paul here presses them to, is not the readiness of the mind, but the readiness of the action: he was well satisfied, that they were ready in their preparation of the mind long ago, but he presses them to finish the collection, of which he had so much boasted to the Macedonians.<\/p>\n Note, 3. How the blessed apostle did consult the Corinthians’ honour and reputation equally with his own and was as desirous to prevent reflection upon them as upon himself; he would not have them ashamed, no more than himself, at his coming among them.<\/p>\n Note, 4. That a liberal free-giving to the saints in distress, is called here kharis khae enlogia, grace and blessing: we translate it bounty. It is called grace, because an heart to give liberally is wrought in us by the grace of God; the world shuts up our hearts till God opens them; and if the heart be open, the hands will not be shut: and works of charity are a blessing of God with our substance, and the way and means to produce his blessing upon our substance. Giving to distressed saints in proportion to what God has given us, is by Almnighty God accounted a blessing of him, and a blessing of our fellow-brethren; and whoever thus blesses God shall be blessed by him.<\/p>\n Note, 5. That the Corinthians being a very rich and wealthy people, the apostle stirs them up to an abundant charity. Where God gives much, he expects much: but how many, alas, grudge God a little of his own; and how difficultly is that little drawn from them, like drops of blood! Whereas to give alms purely to satisfy the importunity of others, or out of shame, misses of its reward before God.<\/p>\n Verse 3<\/strong> <\/strong> Titus and two other brethren ( 2Co 8:16-22 ) were sent by Paul to take up the collection so that Paul’s good words about the Corinthian readiness would not prove empty. <\/p>\n 2Co 9:3-7. Yet have I sent the brethren Above mentioned before me; lest our boasting of you should be in vain Lest you should be found unprepared. To make up beforehand To complete before my arrival; your bounty Or gift; whereof ye had notice before Greek, , spoken of before, namely, by me to the Macedonians. Or, as some understand the expression, formerly announced to the saints in Judea. That the same might be ready When I come; as a bounty Or free gift, willingly bestowed; and not as of covetousness <\/p>\n A thing extorted, or wrung by importunity from covetous persons. But this I say This I wish you to keep in mind as an important declaration; He who soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly, &c. A general rule: God will proportion the reward to the work, and the temper whence it proceeds. Every man as he purposeth, &c. As he finds himself inclined from his own bountiful disposition, and not as being constrained thereto by me or any other; not grudgingly , from grief, as if he were sorry to part with his money; or of necessity Because he is ashamed to refuse. For In matters of charity; God loveth a cheerful giver Nor can that be acceptable to him which is given with reluctance and by constraint.<\/p>\n But I have sent the brethren [Titus and the other two], that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared: <\/p>\n Verse 3 <\/p>\n The brethren; those referred to in the last chapter. (2 Corinthians 8:16-18,22.)–In this behalf; in this respect.<\/p>\n Paul planned to bring some Macedonians with him to Corinth. The "if" does not imply doubt about this possibility in the Greek text. The first class condition in the Greek text describes a condition Paul assumed to be true for the sake of the argument. In this case we could translate the Greek word for "if" as "when" (cf. Joh 12:32; 1Jn 2:28). Nevertheless there was a possibility that Paul and his Macedonian companions might find the Corinthians unprepared when they arrived. Paul evidently mentioned his intention as an added incentive for the Corinthians to complete their collection.<\/p>\n "There were two situations Paul wished to avoid. One was that his repeated and confident boast to the Macedonians about the Corinthians’ ’eagerness to help’ (2Co 9:2) and their expected ’readiness’ on his arrival should turn out to be without foundation (2Co 9:3). The other was that when the delegates of the Macedonian churches (not to be confused with the two companions of Titus) arrived at Corinth with Paul on his forthcoming visit (2Co 12:14; 2Co 13:1-2), the Corinthians would be still unprepared and this would lead to his acute embarrassment-not to mention that of the Corinthians themselves (2Co 9:4)." [Note: Harris, pp. 374-75.] <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n "He is not afraid that they will refuse to give, but he is afraid that they may be dilatory for want of organization. It will produce a bad impression if the money is not ready when it is wanted. He carefully limits his anxiety to ’this particular.’" [Note: Plummer, p. 254.] <\/span><\/p>\n Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 3. Yet have I sent ] Although instructions to make the collection were needless, it was not needless for me to send the brethren. See note on 2Co 9:1. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 9:3”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28905"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28905\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"