Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the New Testament, known as The Expanded Bible; being entitled: New Testament: The [ expanded ] Bible: Study the Bible While You Read. John 10:11-13 read as follows:
"11 'I am the good shepherd [contrast Zech. 11:17]. The good shepherd *gives [lays down] his life for the sheep. 12 The *worker who is paid to keep the sheep [Lhired hand] is different from the shepherd who owns them. When the worker sees a wolf coming, he runs away and leaves the sheep alone. Then the wolf *attacks [or snatches; seizes] the sheep and scatters them. 13 The man runs away because he is only a *paid worker [hired hand] and does not really care about the sheep.'"
Jesus also said in verse sixteen, "16 'I have other sheep that are not in this *flock [fold; pen; Ca reference to future Gentile followers of Christ], and I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd'" ( please read verses one through twenty-one to get the immediate context ).
Luke ( see 1:3 and Acts 1:1 ) recorded the following in Acts 20:28: "28 *Be careful for [Keep watch over] yourselves and for all the *people [Lflock] the Holy Spirit has *given to you to oversee [Lmade you overseers/guardians; John 21:16]. You must be like shepherds to the church of God, which he *bought [or obtained] with the *death of his own Son [Lwith the blood of his own (Son); or with his own blood]." The New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:17, 18; Romans 16:16; and Ephesians 1:15-23 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ) is comprised of Christians ( see Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ); chapter 11 ( especially verse 26, for example ); Romans 12:1-5 ( especially verse 5, for example ); and Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ). Since the overseers, here, are to be "like shepherds to the church of God," this means that each of us, as a Christian, is a sheep.
Jesus ( the Chief Shepherd - see 1 Peter 5:4, and see also James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10, for example ) owns us ( as is indicated in the first verse twelve, above ). He is not merely a paid worker and will, therefore, not leave us and run away when the wolf comes. He cares so much for us that He laid down His life for us ( see verses thirteen and eleven above, respectively, and see also Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33, for example ), for example ).
Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see John 17:1, 3, and 17 and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ). If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>.
NOTE: Since in-line bullets are not available in the formatting of this weblog, asterisks "*" were used to "show where to begin the replacement of a word or words before the set of brackets with the word or words within the set of brackets." [ See New Testament, The [ expanded ] Bible, THOMAS NELSON, NASHVILLE, DALLAS, MEXICO CITY, RIO DE JANEIRO, BEIJING, The Expanded Bible, New Testament, Copyright 2009 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., p. xi. ]
Moreover, since the superscript function is also not available in the formatting of this weblog, the smallest font size was used for the characters "L" and "C," associated with their respective markers ( or sigla ): the complete list of the ones employed in this weblog posting is provided below:
"[ ] EXPANSION: Other possible ways of translating a word, phrase, clause, or sentence. . . ." [ Ibid. ]
"[or] ALTERNATE: A different translation possibility that takes the meaning of the original language in a different direction than the base text does. . . ." [ Ibid., p. xii. ]
"L LITERAL: A more literal rendering of the original language, allowing the reader to see why translations make varying choices. . . ." [ Ibid. ]
"C COMMENT: Briefly provides historical, cultural, theological, or other explanatory information to help readers better understand a verse or passage. . . ." [ Ibid. ]
"REFERENCE: Provides cross-references to parallel passages, quotations from or allusions to another part of the Bible. These usually appear within a bracket. . . ." [ Ibid., p. xiii. ]
