I understand your point of view. I obviously disagree with it. There are many ways to approach this from other angles. Maybe it'll come up again. What makes no sense to me and to some others I read here and elsewhere, is that someone can offer or even hand another a gift, but the receiver doesn't do anything to agree to or reach out to receive it. It seems like theological tradition overriding practicality.
Again, please stop telling me what I'm trying to do, especially that I'm trying to be eisegetical, which is the last thing I'm trying to do with God's Word. Eisegesis vs. exegesis was the first thing I got straight with my first Greek professor in response to my first question when the semester began.
I usually quote the NKJ but only because I got used to doing searches in it. If you have a different preference, I'm happy to look at it. I don't think it's productive to quote Greek texts on these threads, so I'll bring out the Greek or respond to it as necessary. I'll add info or change words to be more literal or will elaborate a range of meaning if I think it's helpful.
NKJ John 6:27 "Do not labor (work) for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."
- Jesus is talking to unbelievers who were following Him around when He was on the earth. So, His command is to them and we are looking for principles that may apply to others including us.
- Jesus commands them to not work for the food which perishes or the perishing food.
- When Jesus says "but" (alla) He effectively repeats the command to not work and changes it to a positive command to work for the food which remains/lasts into/for eternal life which (eternal life) the Son of Man will give to you (the unbelievers)...
It seems like we're saying the same thing - that Jesus is commanding them to work for food which will last. So, how is this not a command from Jesus to work for food which in context is His teaching?
How am I eisegeting but you're not changing or deleting or reading past Jesus' words?
We can start here. Please bring out anything you think makes your case.
I'm going to break up these posts to attempt to not intermix topics.