This is Not Not Going to Happen

If you spotted the error, kudos. It’s a common error. I was proofreading an article and saw that I put the word “not” twice: “It is not not…” I had made that mistake many times, but this time I laughed it off and told myself that if I really wanted to make the point emphatic I could leave the extra not in there.

But then something struck me. That’s exactly what the Greeks did. Some verses in the New Testament use a double negative for emphasis. They had more than one word for “not.” If you translate the sentence literally word-for-word it says “not not.” Those two words in Greek are ou may.

In the King James Version of Matthew 24:35, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not (ou may) pass away.” This is why the New King James Version says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” This is like the difference between saying today “That won’t happen” and “There’s no way that will happen.” Jesus could have used one “not,” but He used two. He is saying emphatically that His words will never, ever under any circumstances pass away. Neither time nor the forces of hell itself will destroy the Bible.

In I Thessalonians 5:3 Paul wrote, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not (ou may) escape.” For some reason the NKJV just has “And they shall not escape.” But the point is clear. People can deny the coming of the Lord, but they will by no means escape it. They can ignore it or laugh at it or procrastinate about getting ready for it, but when it comes there will be no way they can avoid it.

On a positive note, Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I shall in no wise (ou may) cast out” (John 6:37). The NKJV has “I will by no means cast out.” There is no way Jesus will turn away penitent souls who come to Him. That means there is absolutely no excuse for neglecting to come to Him for forgiveness. Will Jesus refuse adulterers and drunks if they are willing to turn from their sins and obey Him? Will He reject atheists and idolaters who sincerely want to be Christians? Jesus’ emphatic response is “No way!”

Kerry

West End church of Christ • November 16, 2025