Abundance

This could be the shortest post ever. In my reading this morning I noticed one of the most egregious examples of religious massaging of the text I have seen.

John 10:10b says

ἐγὼ ἦλθον ἵνα ζωὴν ἔχωσιν καὶ περισσὸν ἔχωσιν.

The NIV says

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full

The Greek says, literally

I came in order that they should have life and they should have abundance

Abundance, beyond the regular amount, more than sufficient, surplus, etc etc is a positive asset to the great Shepherd’s sheep, showing His care for them and for them to be able to fulfil their assignments. So why pretend it isn’t there and instead make it a qualifier of life? In the. Greek these are inescapably two separate things Jesus has come that we might have. Jesus makes a clear statement: the thief comes to steal kill and destroy; I came to give them life and abundance.

Perhaps it is because we would prefer that if God gives, He also takes away. We need to realise that when Job said those words, he was expressing his own self righteousness, not truth about God. (“He gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord”. You have probably sung that as part of a worship chorus.)

The truth is that God has given us ALL THINGS. Including life and ABUNDANCE.