Transformation In The Epistles A Literal Translation of the Greek And Commentary Revised Version By Edward Kurath 2 Transformation In The Epistles Revised Copyright © 2019 by Edward Kurath Published by: Divinely Designed 24326 Winder Place, Golden, Colorado 80403 www.divinelydesigned.com This book is copyrighted, but you may make quotations from it without prior written permission of up to 40,000 words of the content, provided that a proper acknowledgment is made regarding the source, as follows: From “Transformation In The Epistles” by Edward Kurath, Copyright 2019 by Edward Kurath. ISBN 978-1-7923-0223-7 First printing April 2019 Printed in the United States of America Copyright Permissions: All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version ® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. We have also made extensive use of the World English Bible by Johnson, Michael Paul, Kihei, Hawaii: Crossreach Publications. That Bible translation is not copyrighted, but the publisher asks that we give them credit wherever we use their work. Quotations from Zodhiates, taken from “The Complete Word Study Dictionary” by Spiros Zodhiates, Copyright © 1992 AMG Publishers. Used with permission of AMG Publishers, 6815 Shallowford Rod., Chattanooga, TN 37421. Endnotes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are quotes from “I Will Give You Rest,” Copyright © 2003 by Edward Kurath, Post Falls, ID. Endnotes #8A through #8K are quotes from “Exceedingly Great And Precious Promises,” Copyright © 2012 by Edward Kurath, Post Falls, ID. 3 Transformation Works! • The provisions that we have been given through Jesus Christ really work. • They are intensely practical, and will change our lives in this sinful world. • However, if our lives are going to be changed, we need to be taught HOW to appropriate His provisions. • The Epistles of the New Testament reveal them, but translating the Greek into English in the past has resulted in a loss of understanding. • Endnotes #1 through #7 in this book teach these principles in simple language. I first presented these principles in this way in a prior book of mine, I Will Give You Rest. • Below are some testimonies about how Jesus used these principles, as presented in I Will Give You Rest, to help Christians appropriate into their lives what He has provided. • This Translation and commentary will show you how important these principles were to the first century church. See What Others Say By Lindsay Rosenthal (Idaho) “All I can say is this book changed my life. It changed my whole family . For the first time in my life I am truly living. I have a freedom and a peace that most people spend their whole lives striving for.” By B. O. (Dublin, Ireland) “Having struggled with depression, phobia, and shame, I am now experiencing lasting hope, freedom and peace in my heart . .” By Larry (California) “The book ranks among the best I have read in my life. Next to the Bible itself, it may be the best. I would highly recommend it to others” By R. B., counselor and teacher (Jacksonville, Florida) “Something happens when it is either read or told; it captivates and moves people. I have read the book several times and have highlighted it so when I teach I am simply telling the highlighted parts. It's anointed. I am finding in all of my groups that we end up with Ed's book even if we start with something else. People who have been in such bondage for so long are seeing the light.” 4 By CK “This book has been the most influential book in my life outside the Bible. I have given it to 4 people who also find it very helpful.” By Mikka Paanannen (Turku, Finland) “We have been going through your book in our Living Waters group in Turku. There is a treasure buried in your book that we are eagerly digging and taking hold on. And that is the treasure of THE GOOD NEWS, THE GOSPEL to those who suffer of brokenness.” By Nancy (Centreville, VA) “At last, I have discovered the answer to so many of my struggles in Ed Kurath's book. After years of treading a path to the self help section of my local book store (with no significant change in my life), I was recommended I will Give you Rest. This book has made an enormous impact in my ability to understand my past, see why I kept experiencing reoccurring wounds and learn why I was not able to gain inner healing and lasting change. I thank God for the manner in which Ed communicates the principles in this book. I am amazed how I kept missing God's invitation to heal me throughout my life. I tell others' it is so simple, I missed it! Please don't miss your opportunity for the most amazing transformation and paradigm change you will ever experience. My relationship with God, my family, friends and myself have been significantly enhanced. My life is transforming in the most blessed way. Thank you so very much, Ed!!” By Amazon reader Ed Kurath is the best example of a Christian who takes his own journey and personal pain, then turns it into the means to do ministry to others in a way that is compacting and lasting. This book is simply-written and profound from cover to cover. I first became emotionally healed from applying the truths in this book to my own life, then have used it to mentor women down through the past 12 years or so. I would recommend this book to counselors, ministers, lay-ministers and anyone who just wants to attain the freedom to which Christ is calling them. I keep copies of it on hand for friends and family. There is a way to win the spiritual war you are in. Jesus will show you HOW in the Epistles! 5 Table of Contents Foreword 6 Preface 9 Introduction 15 Translations Romans 30 1 Corinthians 106 2 Corinthians 159 Galatians 196 Ephesians 226 Philippians 258 Colossians 278 1 Thessalonians 306 2 Thessalonians 321 1 Timothy 331 2 Timothy 351 Titus 362 Philemon 369 Hebrews 373 James 428 1 Peter 457 2 Peter 481 1 John 497 2 John 529 3 John 537 Jude 538 Endnotes 544 Glossary 871 Bibliography 834 Endnotes Numerical Index 837 Endnotes Alphabetical Index 843 Resources & Contact Information 849 6 Foreword Why another translation and commentary? Aren’t there thousands already? What can possibly be said that has not already been said? No other commentary I have ever read asks and answers the questions of my heart the way this one does. This literal translation and commentary devotes itself exclusively to focusing on what the epistles of the New Testament tell us about the process of God transforming us into the image of Jesus. This is the process by which God matures us in Christ so that we are no longer children tossed about by every wind of doctrine, the trickery of men (Ephesians 4:14), or every wind of our culture. The author goes into great detail to explain the nuts and bolts of HOW we can become like Jesus, how we can exchange our sin for His holiness. He also exposes how our culture subverts us in our efforts to do this. This book is not for anyone seeking an easy, safe ride into the Kingdom of God. It cost Jesus everything to do God’s will. He gave up His life to bring us into relationship with His Father. Following Him will cost us everything that stands in the way of our obedience to God. Why? It’s simple: everything that stands in the way causes us pain and loss. How do I know that? I learned the hard way, the same way any of us learn. Doing all the outward things in life that supposedly please God, I checked off everything on my list: working hard every day, praying, tithing, going to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. In addition, I attended a women’s prayer meeting weekly on Tuesdays. I took class after class at church on how to improve myself as a Christian. I studied my Bible and took Bible classes in my church. Despite such monumental effort and dedication, the life of peace and joy escaped me. I came up empty- handed! I was on medication for depression for approximately 20 years. I was in counseling twice a month for many of those years. I read Christian self-improvement books like my Dad used to read the newspaper: every single day. My church prayed with me. They were Foreword 7 compassionate. But even they could not figure out the cause of my suffering. They could not discern my problem, nor could I. It never got any better. It got much worse. Why did this intense expense of energy and thought not achieve in me the perfect Christian life and experience? God had a better plan. In total desperation, I made an appointment with Edward Kurath, the prayer counselor who authored this book. Ed’s office was eight hours away from me, so I took a week’s vacation from work to do a week of intensive counseling with Ed. Intensive counseling is where you are in one-on-one counseling for three hours a day for five consecutive days. Each day you spend in counseling, you devote an additional three hours alone with just yourself and Jesus doing a homework assignment Ed gives you, which is always a prayer assignment: talk to Jesus about this, ask Him about that.