Jesus is using irony. He does not think there are any people who are righteous and do not need to repent. Alternate Translation: "those who think they are righteous"
Mat 11:25
the wise and understanding
Jesus is using irony. He does not think these people are really wise. Alternate Translation: "people who think they are wise and understanding"
Mat 26:68
you Christ
Those hitting Jesus do not really think he is the Christ. They call him this to mock him.
Mat 27:29
Hail, King of the Jews
They were saying this to mock Jesus. They were calling Jesus "King of the Jews," but they did not really believe he was a king. And yet what they were saying was true.
Mat 27:42
He saved others, but he cannot save himself
Possible meanings are 1) the Jewish leaders do not believe that Jesus saved others or that he can save himself, or 2) they believe he did save others but are laughing at him because now he cannot save himself.
Mat 27:42
He is the King of Israel
The leaders are mocking Jesus. They call him "King of Israel," but they do not really believe he is king. Alternate Translation: "He says that he is the King of Israel"
Mrk 2:17
I did not come to call righteous people, but sinful people
Jesus expects his hearers to understand he came for those who want help. Alternate Translation: "I came for people who understand they are sinful, not for people who believe they are righteous"
Mrk 7:9
How well you reject the commandment ... keep your tradition
Jesus uses this ironic statement to rebuke his listeners for forsaking God's commandment. Alternate Translation: "You think you have done well in how you have rejected the commandment of God so you may keep your own traditions, but what you have done is not good at all"
Mrk 15:18
Hail, King of the Jews
The greeting "Hail" with a raised hand was only used to greet the Roman emperor. The soldiers did not believe that Jesus was the king of the Jews. Rather they said this to mock him.
Mrk 15:32
Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down
The leaders did not believe that Jesus is the Christ, the King of Israel. Alternate Translation: "He calls himself the Christ and the King of Israel. So let him come down" or "If he is really the Christ and the King of Israel, he should come down"
Luk 5:32
righteous people
Some people think they are righteous. Jesus refers to them by the way they think about themselves even though he knows that they are not righteous. Alternate Translation: "people who think they are righteous"
Luk 10:21
the wise and understanding
The words "wise" and "understanding" are nominal adjectives that refer to people with these qualities. Because God had concealed truth from them, these people were not actually wise and understanding, even though they thought they were. Alternate Translation: "from people who think they are wise and have understanding"
Luk 13:33
it is not acceptable to kill a prophet away from Jerusalem
The Jewish leaders claimed to serve God. And yet their ancestors killed many of God's prophets in Jerusalem, and Jesus knew that they would kill him there too. Alternate Translation: "it is in Jerusalem that the Jewish leaders kill God's messengers"
Luk 22:64
Prophesy! Who is the one who hit you?
The guards did not believe that Jesus was a prophet. Rather, they believed that a real prophet would know who hit him even if he could not see. They called Jesus a prophet, but they were teasing him and showing him why they did not think that he was a prophet. Alternate Translation: "Prove that you are a prophet. Tell us who hit you!" or "Hey prophet, who hit you?"
Luk 23:35
He saved others. Let him save himself
Luke records the ironic words of the rulers. The only way Jesus could save others was by dying instead of saving himself.
Luk 23:39
Save yourself and us
The criminal did not really think that Jesus could rescue them from the cross.
Jhn 7:28
You both know me and know where I come from
John uses irony in this statement. The people believe that Jesus is from Nazareth. They do not know that God sent him from heaven and that he was born in Bethlehem. Alternate Translation: "You all know me and you think you know where I come from"
Jhn 10:32
For which of those works are you stoning me?
This question uses irony. Jesus knows the Jewish leaders do not want to stone him because he has done good works.
Jhn 19:3
Hail, King of the Jews
The greeting "Hail" with a raised hand was only used to greet Caesar. As the soldiers use the crown of thorns and the purple robe to mock Jesus, it is ironic that they do not recognize that he is indeed a king.
1Co 1:25
the foolishness of God is wiser than people, and the weakness of God is stronger than people
Possible meanings are 1) Paul is speaking ironically about God's foolishness and weakness. Paul knows God is not foolish or weak. Alternate Translation: "what seems to be the foolishness of God is wiser than people's wisdom, and what seems to be the weakness of God is stronger than the people's strength" or 2) Paul is speaking from the point of view of the Greek people who may think God is foolish or weak. Alternate Translation: "what people call God's foolishness is really wiser than what people call wisdom, and what people call God's weakness is really stronger than people's strength"
1Co 3:18
let him become a "fool"
that person should be willing to have people who do not believe call him a fool
1Co 4:8
General Information:
Paul uses irony here to shame the Corinthians and make them realize that they are sinning when they are proud of themselves and their teachers.
1Co 4:10
We are fools ... in dishonor
Paul uses irony to shame the Corinthians so they will think about what he is saying.
1Co 11:19
For there must also be factions among you
Possible meanings 1) The word "must" indicates that that this situation is likely to happen. Alternate Translation: "For there will probably be factions among you" or 2) Paul was using irony to shame them for having factions. Alternate Translation: "For you seem to think that there must be factions among you" or "For you seem to think that you must divide yourselves"
1Co 11:19
so that those who are approved may be recognized among you
Possible meanings are 1) "so that people will know the most highly regarded believers among you" or 2) "so that people can display this approval to the others among you." Paul may have been using irony, saying the opposite of what he wanted the Corinthians to understand, to shame them.
2Co 3:7
Now the service that produced death ... came in such glory
Paul emphasizes that although the law leads to death, it was still very glorious.
2Co 11:5
those so-called super-apostles
Paul uses irony here to show that those teachers are less important then people say there are. Alternate Translation: "those teachers whom some think are better than anyone else"
2Co 11:8
I robbed other churches
This is an exaggeration to emphasize that Paul received money from churches who were not obligated to give to him. Alternate Translation: "I accepted money from other churches"
2Co 11:19
You are wise yourselves!
Paul is shaming the Corinthians by using irony. Alternate Translation: "You think you are wise, but you are not!"
2Co 11:21
I will say to our shame that we were too weak to do that
I shamefully admit that we were not bold enough to treat you like that. Paul is using irony to tell the Corinthians that it was not because he was weak that he treated them well. Alternate Translation: "I am not ashamed to say that we had the power to harm you, but we treated you well"
2Co 12:11
super-apostles
Paul uses irony here to show that those teachers are less important then people say they are. See how this is translated in [2 Corinthians 11:05](../11/05.md). Alternate Translation: "those teachers whom some think are better than anyone else"
2Co 12:13
Forgive me for this wrong!
Paul is being ironic to shame the Corinthians. Both he and they know that he has done them no wrong, but they have been treating him as though he has wronged them.
2Co 12:16
But, since I am so crafty, I am the one who caught you by deceit
Paul uses irony to shame the Corinthians who think he lied to them even if he did not ask them for money. Alternate Translation: "but others think I was deceptive and used trickery"
Gal 3:1
Who has put a spell on you?
Paul is using irony and a rhetorical question to say that the Galatians are acting as though someone has put a spell on them. He does not really believe that someone has put a spell on them. Alternate Translation: "You behave as if someone has put a spell on you!"
Gal 3:2
This is the only thing I want to learn from you
This continues the irony from verse 1. Paul knows the answers to the rhetorical questions he is about to ask.
Gal 5:4
you who would be justified by the law
Paul is speaking ironically here. He actually teaches that no one can be justified by trying to do the deeds required by the law. Alternate Translation: "all you who think you can be justified by doing the deeds required by the law" or "you who want to be justified by the law"
Eph 4:21
I assume that you have heard ... and that you were taught
Paul knows that the Ephesians have heard and been taught.
Phm 1:19
not to mention
I do not need to remind you or "You already know." Paul says he does not need to tell Philemon this, but then continues to tell him anyway. This emphasizes the truth of what Paul is telling him.
2Pe 2:13
They will receive the reward of their wrongdoing
Peter speaks of the punishment that the false teachers will receive as if it were a reward. Alternate Translation: "They will receive what they deserve for their wrongdoing"