It is deplorable that so much opposition has arisen against this first saying. Some would exclude it entirely, and others try to tone it down.

The reasoning of some is as follows: those who killed Jesus were reprobates. God does not in any sense bless reprobates. Therefore Jesus cannot have asked that they be forgiven. Besides, the verb here used has a very wide meaning (this, by the way, is true). Conclusion: Jesus must have meant, “Father, hold back thy wrath; do not immediately pour out the full measure of thy fury.”

作者顯然對這樣的推理和結論(神不會去愛他所棄絕的，所以耶穌不會求父去赦免他
們)不以為然。