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Does anyone else find it interesting that often times the God-inspired New Testament writers would “quote”/paraphrase or refer to an Old Testament passage of Scripture to “fit” the exegesis of the verse(s) they are writing – regardless of “proper” grammar, syntax, language rules, etc.
For example, in Mark 1:2-3, Mark quotes two prophets – Malachi and Isaiah – regarding John the Baptist’s preparing the way for the LORD, but he changes Malachi’s prophecy from John preparing the way for YHWH (aka Jehovah) to preparing the way for Jesus!
Malachi 3:1 Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before >>>Me…<<<
Mark 1:2 As it is written in the Prophets:
“Behold, I send My messenger before >>>Your [Jesus’]<<< face, who will prepare Your [Jesus'] way before You [Jesus].
Another example, in Hebrews 1:8-9, Paul (we will presume) quotes the Greek Septuagint's translation of Psalm 45:6-7:
Your throne, O [ὁ] God [Θεὸς], is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God [ὁ Θεὸς], Your God [ὁ Θεὸς], has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
Hebrews 1:8-9 But to the Son [Jesus] He [the Father - see verses 5-7] says:
“Your throne, O [ὁ] God [Θεὸς], is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God [ὁ Θεὸς], Your God [ὁ Θεὸς], has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Psalm 45:6-7 - like the second quote in Hebrews 1:5 is paraphrased from 2 Samuel 7:14 ("I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son") - is a Messianic prophesy with a short-term fulfillment in Solomon and a long-term fulfillment in Christ... though Solomon was not God's only-begotten (unique) Son as is Christ - nor is he God, as is Christ in Psalm 45:6-7. The psalmists - the sons of Korah - were referring to a king as God. No one else besides Jesus could qualify for that title!
Yet another example is in the very next three verses, Hebrews 1:10-12, which is a "quote"/paraphrase in which Paul has the Father addressing the Son as the creator of the heavens and the earth - and being unchanging (Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.), but the "quote"/paraphrase is from the psalmist crediting God with being the creator of the heavens and the earth - and being unchanging in Psalm 102:25-27!
Psalm 102:25-27 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. 27 But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.
Hebrews 1:10-12 NKJV And:
“You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.”
To you who have gone to all the lengths to learn grammar, syntax, language rules, etc.of Hebrew and Greek only to find that the inspired New Testament writers had modified the text to fit what God had in mind for them to write and it has been right in front of your eyes for nearly two millennia, I wish I could say, "I feel for you!"
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