Have you EVER been angry without a cause?

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Paidion
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Have you EVER been angry without a cause?

Post by Paidion » Wed Apr 11, 2018 7:35 pm

(Mt 5:22 AKJV) _But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment...
Everyone I've ever encountered who became angry (including myself) had a reason for his anger. I cannot even imagine anyone being angry without any cause for his anger. In my mind, that phrase (without a cause) entirely destroys the impact of Jesus' teaching. Indeed it makes Jesus' instruction meaningless since no one ever becomes angry about nothing.

However, there is good reason to believe that the Greek word "εικη" which has been translated in this verse as "without a cause" was not in the original. First I looked at my copy of all the extant Greek papyri of New Testament passages prior to the year A.D. 300. Only one contained Matthew 5:22, and even that one was legible only in the first part of the verse. One couldn't determine whether or not it contained the word "εικη." Next I looked at the classic early codices that include the New Testament. In both Vaticanus (A.D. 300-325) and Sinaiticus (A.D. 330-360) "εικη" does not occur in Matthew 5:22. However it DOES occur in Alexandrinus (A.D. 400-440). Did some copyist who sometimes got angry with others add the word to justify himself?

The following translations do not include "without a cause" or any equivalent:
ASV, Darby, ESV, LEB, NHEB, NRSV, Wey.
There are probably many others.
Paidion

Man judges a person by his past deeds, and administers penalties for his wrongdoing. God judges a person by his present character, and disciplines him that he may become righteous.

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MMathis
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Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 11:15 am

Re: Have you EVER been angry without a cause?

Post by MMathis » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:02 am

Maybe "just" cause would fit the situation. Firing an employee "for cause" is usually defined by a predetermined list of offenses, such as stealing. Maybe it no more complicated than that. Having been in management all my working days, when I read that verse it was clear to me what He meant.

2 cents-keep the change. :D
MMathis
Las Vegas NV

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