Commentary on the Gospel of John
Commentary on the Gospel of John (Book I)
1. How Christians are the Spiritual Israel.
2. The 144,000 Sealed in the Apocalypse are Converts to Christ from the Gentile World.
3. In the Spiritual Israel the High-Priests are Those Who Devote Themselves to the Study of Scripture.
4. The Study of the Gospels is the First Fruits Offered by These Priests of Christianity.
5. All Scripture is Gospel; But the Gospels are Distinguished Above Other Scriptures.
6. The Fourfold Gospel. John's the First Fruits of the Four. Qualifications Necessary for Interpreting It.
7. What Good Things are Announced in the Gospels.
8. How the Gospels Cause the Other Books of Scripture Also to Be Gospel.
9. The Somatic and the Spiritual Gospel.
10. How Jesus Himself is the Gospel.
11. Jesus is All Good Things; Hence the Gospel is Manifold.
12. The Gospel Contains the Ill Deeds Also Which Were Done to Jesus.
13. The Angels Also are Evangelists.
14. The Old Testament, Typified by John, is the Beginning of the Gospel.
15. The Gospel is in the Old Testament, and Indeed in the Whole Universe. Prayer for Aid to Understand the Mystical Sense of the Work in Hand.
16. Meaning of Beginning. (1) in Space.
17. (2) in Time. The Beginning of Creation.
18. (3) of Substance.
19. (4) of Type and Copy.
20. (5) of Elements and What is Formed from Them.
21. (6) of Design and Execution.
22. The Word Was in the Beginning, I.e., in Wisdom, Which Contained All Things in Idea, Before They Existed. Christ's Character as Wisdom is Prior to His Other Characters.
23. The Title Word Is to Be Interpreted by the Same Method as the Other Titles of Christ. The Word of God is Not a Mere Attribute of God, But a Separate Person. What is Meant When He is Called the Word.
24. Christ as Light; How He, and How His Disciples are the Light of the World.
25. Christ as the Resurrection.
26. Christ as the Way.
27. Christ as the Truth.
28. Christ as Life.
29. Christ as the Door and as the Shepherd.
30. Christ as Anointed (Christ) and as King.
31. Christ as Teacher and Master.
32. Christ as Son.
33. Christ the True Vine, and as Bread.
34. Christ as the First and the Last; He is Also What Lies Between These.
35. Christ as the Living and the Dead.
36. Christ as a Sword.
37. Christ as a Servant, as the Lamb of God, and as the Man Whom John Did Not Know.
38. Christ as Paraclete, as Propitiation, and as the Power of God.
39. Christ as Wisdom and Sanctification and Redemption.
40. Christ as Righteousness; As the Demiurge, the Agent of the Good God, and as High-Priest.
41. Christ as the Rod, the Flower, the Stone.
42. Of the Various Ways in Which Christ is the Logos.
Commentary on the Gospel of John (Book II)
1
2. In What Way the Logos is God. Errors to Be Avoided on This Question.
3. Various Relations of the Logos to Men.
4. That the Logos is One, Not Many. Of the Word, Faithful and True, and of His White Horse.
5. He (This One) Was in the Beginning with God.
6. How the Word is the Maker of All Things, and Even the Holy Spirit Was Made Through Him.
7. Of Things Not Made Through the Logos.
8. Heracleon's View that the Logos is Not the Agent of Creation.
9. That the Logos Present in Us is Not Responsible for Our Sins.
10. That Which Was Made Was Life in Him, and the Life Was the Light of Men. This Involves the Paradox that What Does Not Derive Life from the Logos Does Not Live at All.
11. How No One is Righteous or Can Truly Be Said to Live in Comparison with God.
12. Is the Saviour All that He Is, to All?
13. How the Life in the Logos Comes After the Beginning.
14. How the Natures of Men are Not So Fixed from the First, But that They May Pass from Darkness to Light.
15. Heracleon's View that the Lord Brought Life Only to the Spiritual. Refutation of This.
16. The Life May Be the Light of Others Besides.
17. The Higher Powers are Men; And Christ is Their Light Also.
18. How God Also is Light, But in a Different Way; And How Life Came Before Light.
19. The Life Here Spoken of is the Higher Life, that of Reason.
20. Different Kinds of Light; And of Darkness.
21. Christ is Not, Like God, Quite Free from Darkness: Since He Bore Our Sins.
22. How the Darkness Failed to Overtake the Light.
23. There is a Divine Darkness Which is Not Evil, and Which Ultimately Becomes Light.
24. John the Baptist Was Sent. From Where? His Soul Was Sent from a Higher Region.
25. Argument from the Prayer of Joseph, to Show that the Baptist May Have Been an Angel Who Became a Man.
26. John is Voice, Jesus is Speech. Relation of These Two to Each Other.
27. Significance of the Names of John and of His Parents.
28. The Prophets Bore Witness to Christ and Foretold Many Things Concerning Him.
29. The Six Testimonies of the Baptist Enumerated. Jesus' Come and See. Significance of the Tenth Hour.
30. How John Was a Witness of Christ, and Specially of The Light.
Commentary on the Gospel of John (Book IV)
Commentary on the Gospel of John (Book V)
From the Preface
2. How Scripture Warns Us Against Making Many Books.
3. The Apostles Wrote Little.
4
Commentary on the Gospel of John (Book VI)
1. The Work is Taken Up After a Violent Interruption, Which Has Driven the Writer from Alexandria. He Addresses Himself to It Again, with Thanks for His Deliverance, and Prayer for Guidance.
2. How the Prophets and Holy Men of the Old Testament Knew the Things of Christ.
3. Grace and Truth Came Through Jesus Christ. These Words Belong to the Baptist, Not the Evangelist. What the Baptist Testifies by Them.
4. John Denies that He is Elijah or The Prophet. Yet He Was A Prophet.
5. There Were Two Embassies to John the Baptist; The Different Characters of These.
6. Messianic Discussion with John the Baptist.
7. Of the Birth of John, and of His Alleged Identity with Elijah. Of the Doctrine of Transcorporation.
8. John is a Prophet, But Not the Prophet.
9. John I. 22.
10. Of the Voice John the Baptist is.
11. Of the Way of the Lord, How It is Narrow, and How Jesus is the Way.
12. Heracleon's View of the Voice, and of John the Baptist.
13. John I. 24, 25. Of the Baptism of John, that of Elijah, and that of Christ.
14. Comparison of the Statements of the Four Evangelists Respecting John the Baptist, the Prophecies Regarding Him, His Addresses to the Multitude and to the Pharisees, Etc.
15. How the Baptist Answers the Question of the Pharisees and Exalts the Nature of Christ. Of the Shoe-Latchet Which He is Unable to Untie.
16. Comparison of John's Testimony to Jesus in the Different Gospels.
17. Of the Testimony of John to Jesus in Matthew's Gospel,
18. Of the Testimony in Mark. What is Meant by the Saviour's Shoes and by Untying His Shoe-Latchets.
19. Luke and John Suggest that One May Loose the Shoe-Latchets of the Logos Without Stooping Down.
20. The Difference Between Not Being Sufficient And Not Being Worthy.
21. The Fourth Gospel Speaks of Only One Shoe, the Others of Both. The Significance of This.
22. How the Word Stands in the Midst of Men Without Being Known of Them.
23. Heracleon's View of This Utterance of John the Baptist, and Interpretation of the Shoe of Jesus.
24. The Name of the Place Where John Baptized is Not Bethany, as in Most Copies, But Bethabara. Proof of This. Similarly Gergesa Should Be Read for Gerasa, In the Story of the Swine. Attention is to Be Paid to the Proper Names in Scripture, Which are Often Written Inaccurately, and are of Importance for Interpretation.
25. Jordan Means Their Going Down. Spiritual Meanings and Application of This.
26. The Story of Israel Crossing Jordan Under Joshua is Typical of Christian Things, and is Written for Our Instruction.
27. Of Elijah and Elisha Crossing the Jordan.
28. Naaman the Syrian and the Jordan. No Other Stream Has the Same Healing Power.
29. The River of Egypt and Its Dragon, Contrasted with the Jordan.
30. Of What John Learned from Jesus When Mary Visited Elisabeth in the Hill Country.
31. Of the Conversation Between John and Jesus at the Baptism, Recorded by Matthew Only.
32. John Calls Jesus a Lamb. Why Does He Name This Animal Specially? Of the Typology of the Sacrifices, Generally.
33. A Lamb Was Offered at the Morning and Evening Sacrifice. Significance of This.
34. The Morning and Evening Sacrifices of the Saint in His Life of Thought.
35. Jesus is a Lamb in Respect of His Human Nature.
36. Of the Death of the Martyrs Considered as a Sacrifice, and in What Way It Operates to the Benefit of Others.
37. Of the Effects of the Death of Christ, of His Triumph After It, and of the Removal by His Death of the Sins of Men.
38. The World, of Which the Sin is Taken Away, is Said to Be the Church. Reasons for Not Agreeing with This Opinion.
Commentary on the Gospel of John (Book X)
1. Jesus Comes to Capernaum. Statements of the Four Evangelists Regarding This.
2. The Discrepancy Between John and the First Three Gospels at This Part of the Narrative, Literally Read, the Narratives Cannot Be Harmonized: They Must Be Interpreted Spiritually.
3. What We are to Think of the Discrepancies Between the Different Gospels.
4. Scripture Contains Many Contradictions, and Many Statements Which are Not Literally True, But Must Be Read Spiritually and Mystically.
5. Paul Also Makes Contradictory Statements About Himself, and Acts in Opposite Ways at Different Times.
6. Different Accounts of the Call of Peter, and of the Imprisonment of the Baptist. The Meaning of Capernaum.
7. Why His Brothers are Not Called to the Wedding; And Why He Abides at Capernaum Not Many Days.
8. How Christ Abides with Believers to the End of the Age, and Whether He Abides with Them After that Consummation.
9. Heracleon Says that Jesus is Not Stated to Have Done Anything at Capernaum. But in the Other Gospels He Does Many Things There.
10. Significance of Capernaum.
11. Why the Passover is Said to Be that of the Jews. Its Institution: and the Distinction Between Feasts of the Lord And Feasts Not So Spoken of.
12. Of the Heavenly Festivals, of Which Those on Earth are Typical.
13. Spiritual Meaning of the Passover.
14. In the First Three Gospels the Passover is Spoken of Only at the Close of the Ministry; In John at the Beginning. Remarks on This. Heracleon on the Passover.
15. Discrepancy of the Gospel Narratives Connected with the Cleansing of the Temple.
16. The Story of the Purging of the Temple Spiritualized. Taken Literally, It Presents Some Very Difficult and Unlikely Features.
17. Matthew's Story of the Entry into Jerusalem. Difficulties Involved in It for Those Who Take It Literally.
18. The Ass and the Colt are the Old and the New Testament. Spiritual Meaning of the Various Features of the Story. Differences Between John's Narrative and that of the Other Evangelists.
19. Various Views of Heracleon on Purging of the Temple.
20. The Temple Which Christ Says He Will Raise Up is the Church. How the Dry Bones Will Be Made to Live Again.
21. That the Son Was Raised Up by the Father. The Charge Brought Against Jesus at His Trial Was Based on the Incident Now Before Us.
22. The Temple of Solomon Did Not Take Forty-Six Years to Build. With Regard to that of Ezra We Cannot Tell How Long It Took. Significance of the Number Forty-Six.
23. The Temple Spoken of by Christ is the Church. Application to the Church of the Statements Regarding the Building of Solomon's Temple, and the Numbers Stated in that Narrative.
24. The Account of the Building of Solomon's Temple Contains Serious Difficulties and is to Be Interpreted Spiritually.
25. Further Spiritualizing of Solomon's Temple-Building.
26. The Promises Addressed to Jerusalem in the Prophets Refer to the Church, and are Still to Be Fulfilled.
27. Of the Belief the Disciples Afterwards Attained in the Words of Jesus.
28. The Difference Between Believing in the Name of Jesus and Believing in Jesus Himself.
29. About What Beings Jesus Needed Testimony.
30. How Jesus Knew the Powers, Better or Worse, Which Reside in Man.
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book I)
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book II)
The Unity and Harmony of Scripture.
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book X)
1. The Parable of the Tares: the House of Jesus.
2. Exposition of the Parable.
3. The Shining of the Righteous. Its Interpretation.
4. Concerning the Parable of the Treasure Hidden in the Field. The Parable Distinguished from the Similitude.
5. The Field and the Treasure Interpreted.
6. The Exposition Continued.
7. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price. The Formation and Difference of Pearls.
8. The Parable Interpreted is the Light of These Views.
9. Christ the Pearl of Great Price.
10. The Pearl of the Gospel in Relation to the Old Testament.
11. The Parable of the Drag-Net.
12. The Divine Scriptures Compared to a Net.
13. Relation of Men to Angels.
14. The Disciples as Scribes.
15. The Householder and His Treasury.
16. Parables in Relation to Similitudes. Jesus in His Own Country.
17. The Brethren of Jesus.
18. Prophets in Their Country.
19. Relation of Faith and Unbelief to the Supernatural Powers of Jesus.
20. Different Conceptions of John the Baptist.
21. Herod and the Baptist.
22. The Dancing of Herodias. The Keeping of Oaths.
23. The Withdrawal of Jesus.
24. The Diverse Forms of Spiritual Sickness.
25. Healing Precedes Participation in the Loaves of Jesus.
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book XI)
1. Introduction to the Feeding of the Five Thousand.
2. Exposition of the Details of the Miracle.
3. The Exposition of Details Continued. The Sitting Down on the Grass. The Division into Companies.
4. The Multitudes and the Disciples Contrasted.
5. The Disciples in Conflict. Jesus Walks Upon the Waters.
6. Interpretation of the Details in the Narrative. Application Thereof to All Disciples.
7. The Healing of the Sick on the Other Side. The Method of Healing.
8. Concerning the Phariseesand Scribes Who Came and Inquired, Why Do Your Disciples Transgress the Tradition of the Elders?
9. Explanation of Corban.
10. The Traditions of the Elders in Collision with Divine Law.
11. Exposition of the Prophecy of Isaiah Quoted by Jesus.
12. Things Clean and Unclean According to the Law and the Gospel.
13. The Offence of the Pharisees.
14. Why the Pharisees Were Not a Plant of God. Teaching of Origen on the Bread of the Lord.
15. Eating with Unwashed Heart Defiles the Man.
16. Concerning the Canaanitish Woman. Meaning of the Borders of Tyre and Sidon.
17. Exposition of the Details in the Narrative.
18. Concerning the Multitudes Who Were Healed. Comparison of the Mountain Where Jesus Sat to the Church.
19. Concerning the Seven Loaves. The Narrative of the Feeding of the Four Thousand Compared with that of the Five Thousand.
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book XII)
1. Concerning Those Who Asked Him to Show Them a Sign from Heaven.
2. Why the Pharisees Asked a Sign from Heaven.
3. The Answer of Jesus to Their Request.
4. Why Jesus Called Them an Adulterous Generation. The Law as Husband.
5. Concerning the Leaven of the Pharisees.
6. The Meaning of Leaven. Jesus' Knowledge of the Heart.
7. Relative Magnitude of Sins of the Heart and Actual Sins.
8. The Leaven Figurative Like the Water Spoken of by Jesus to the Woman of Samaria.
9. Concerning the Question of Jesus in Cæsarea, Who Do Men Say that I Am? Different Conceptions of Jesus.
10. The Answer of Peter.
11. The Promise Given to Peter Not Restricted to Him, But Applicable to All Disciples Like Him.
12. Every Sin— Every False Doctrine is a Gate of Hades.
13. The Gates of Hades And the Gates of Zion Contrasted.
14. In What Sense the Keys Are Given to Peter, and Every Peter. Limitations of This Power.
15. Relation of the Former Commission Given by Jesus to the Disciples, to His Present Injunction of Silence. Belief and Knowledge Contrasted.
16. Gradual Growth in Knowledge of the Disciples.
17. Reasons for that Gradual Knowledge.
18. Jesus Was at First Proclaimed by the Twelve as a Worker and a Teacher Only.
19. Importance of the Proclamation of Jesus as the Crucified.
20. Why Jesus Had to Go to Jerusalem.
21. The Rebuke of Peter and the Answer of Jesus.
22. Importance of the Expressions Behind And Turned.
23. Peter as a Stumbling-Block to Jesus.
24. Self-Denial and Cross-Bearing.
25. Reference to the Saying of Paul About Crucifixion with Christ.
26. The Less of Life; And the Saving of It.
27. Life Lost to the World is Saved.
28. The Exchange for One's Life.
29. The Coming of the Son of Man in Glory.
30. The Word Appears in Different Forms; The Time of His Coming in Glory.
31. The Simpler Interpretation of the Promise About Not Tasting of Death.
32. Standing by the Saviour.
33. Interpretation of Tasting of Death.
34. Meaning of Until. No Limitation of Promise.
35. Scriptural References to Death.
36. Concerning the Transfiguration of the Saviour.
37. Force of the Words Before Them.
38. The Garments White as the Light.
39. Jesus Was Transfigured— As He Was Praying.
40. Discussion of the Saying of Peter.
41. Figurative Interpretation of the Same.
42. The Meaning of the Bright Cloud.
43. Relation of Moses and Elijah to Jesus. The Injunction of Silence.
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book XIII)
1. Relation of the Baptist to Elijah. The Theory of Transmigration Considered.
2. The Spirit and Power of Elijah — Not the Soul— Were in the Baptist.
3. Concerning the Epileptic.
4. Spiritual Epileptics.
5. The Deaf and Dumb Spirit.
6. Influence of the Moon and Stars on Men.
7. The Power of Faith.
8. Jesus' Prediction of His Delivery Into the Hands of Men.
9. Satan and the Delivery Of Jesus.
10. Concerning Those Who Demanded the Half-Shekel.
11. The Freedom of Sons.
12. The Stater Allegorized.
13. The Sacred Half-Shekel.
14. Concerning Those Who Said, Who is the Greatest? And Concerning the Child that Was Called by Jesus.
15. Greatness Varies in Degree.
16. Why the Great are Compared to Little Children.
17. The Little Ones and Their Stumbling-Blocks.
18. Who Was the Little Child Called by Jesus.
19. The Parallel Passages in Mark and Luke.
20. The World and Offences. Various Meanings of World.
21. The Woe Does Not Apply to the Disciples of Jesus.
23. In What Sense Necessary.
24. The Offending Hand, or Foot, or Eye.
25. The Eye or Hand Allegorized.
26. The Little Ones and Their Angels.
27. When the Little Ones are Assigned to Angels.
28. Close Relationship of Angels to Their Little Ones.
29. The Little Ones and the Perfect.
30. The Sinning Brother.
31. The Power to Bind on Earth and in Heaven.
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book XIV)
1. The Power of Harmony in Relation to Prayer.
2. The Harmony of Husband and Wife.
3. The Harmony of Body, Soul, and Spirit.
4. Harmony of the Old and New Covenants.
5. The Limit of Forgiveness.
6. Concerning the King Who Made a Reckoning with His Own Servants, to Whom Was Brought a Man Who Owed Ten Thousand Talents.
7. Exposition Continued: the King and the Servants.
8. The Principle of the Reckoning.
9. The Time Occupied by the Reckoning.
10. The Man Who Owed Many Talents.
11. The Servant Who Owed a Hundred Pence.
12. The Time of the Reckoning.
13. No Forgiveness to the Unforgiving.
14. How Jesus Finished His Words.
15. How Men Followed Jesus.
16. Concerning the Pharisees and Scribes Tempting Jesus (by Asking) Whether Was Lawful for a Man to Put Away His Wife for Every Cause.
17. Union of Christ and the Church.
18. The Bill of Divorcement.
19. The Divorce of Israel.
20. Christ and the Gentiles.
21. Union of Angels and the Souls of Men.
22. The Marriage of Church Dignitaries.
23. Some Laws Given by Concession to Human Weakness.
24. Jewish Criticism of the Law of Christ.
25. Chastity and Prayer.
Genesis 1
Genesis 2
Genesis 3
Genesis 4
Genesis 5
Genesis 6
Genesis 7
Genesis 8
Genesis 9
Genesis 10
Genesis 11
Genesis 12
Genesis 13
Genesis 14
Genesis 15
Genesis 16
Genesis 17
Genesis 18
Genesis 19
Genesis 20
Genesis 21
Genesis 22
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Genesis 24
Genesis 25
Genesis 26
Genesis 27
Genesis 28
Genesis 29
Genesis 30
Genesis 31
Genesis 32
Genesis 33
Genesis 34
Genesis 35
Genesis 36
Genesis 37
Genesis 38
Genesis 39
Genesis 40
Genesis 41
Genesis 42
Genesis 43
Genesis 44
Genesis 45
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Genesis 48
Genesis 49
Genesis 50
Exodus 1
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Exodus 14
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Exodus 16
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Exodus 40
Leviticus 1
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Leviticus 26
Leviticus 27
Numbers 1
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Numbers 32
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Numbers 35
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Deuteronomy 1
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Deuteronomy 3
Deuteronomy 4
Deuteronomy 5
Deuteronomy 6
Deuteronomy 7
Deuteronomy 8
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Deuteronomy 10
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Deuteronomy 12
Deuteronomy 13
Deuteronomy 14
Deuteronomy 15
Deuteronomy 16
Deuteronomy 17
Deuteronomy 18
Deuteronomy 19
Deuteronomy 20
Deuteronomy 21
Deuteronomy 22
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Deuteronomy 24
Deuteronomy 25
Deuteronomy 26
Deuteronomy 27
Deuteronomy 28
Deuteronomy 29
Deuteronomy 30
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Deuteronomy 33
Deuteronomy 34
Joshua 1
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Judges 1
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Ruth 1
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1 Samuel 1
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2 Samuel 1
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1 Chronicles 1
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1 Chronicles 20
1 Chronicles 21
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2 Chronicles 1
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2 Chronicles 36
Ezra 1
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Nehemiah 1
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Nehemiah 4
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Esther 1
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Job 1
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Job 22
Job 23
Job 24
Job 25
Job 26
Job 27
Job 28
Job 29
Job 30
Job 31
Job 32
Job 33
Job 34
Job 35
Job 36
Job 37
Job 38
Job 39
Job 40
Job 41
Job 42
Psalms 1
Psalms 2
Psalms 3
Psalms 4
Psalms 5
Psalms 6
Psalms 7
Psalms 8
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Psalms 12
Psalms 13
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Psalms 15
Psalms 16
Psalms 17
Psalms 18
Psalms 19
Psalms 20
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Psalms 22
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Psalms 25
Psalms 26
Psalms 27
Psalms 28
Psalms 29
Psalms 30
Psalms 31
Psalms 32
Psalms 33
Psalms 34
Psalms 35
Psalms 36
Psalms 37
Psalms 38
Psalms 39
Psalms 40
Psalms 41
Psalms 42
Psalms 43
Psalms 44
Psalms 45
Psalms 46
Psalms 47
Psalms 48
Psalms 49
Psalms 50
Psalms 51
Psalms 52
Psalms 53
Psalms 54
Psalms 55
Psalms 56
Psalms 57
Psalms 58
Psalms 59
Psalms 60
Psalms 61
Psalms 62
Psalms 63
Psalms 64
Psalms 65
Psalms 66
Psalms 67
Psalms 68
Psalms 69
Psalms 70
Psalms 71
Psalms 72
Psalms 73
Psalms 74
Psalms 75
Psalms 76
Psalms 77
Psalms 78
Psalms 79
Psalms 80
Psalms 81
Psalms 82
Psalms 83
Psalms 84
Psalms 85
Psalms 86
Psalms 87
Psalms 88
Psalms 89
Psalms 90
Psalms 91
Psalms 92
Psalms 93
Psalms 94
Psalms 95
Psalms 96
Psalms 97
Psalms 98
Psalms 99
Psalms 100
Psalms 101
Psalms 102
Psalms 103
Psalms 104
Psalms 105
Psalms 106
Psalms 107
Psalms 108
Psalms 109
Psalms 110
Psalms 111
Psalms 112
Psalms 113
Psalms 114
Psalms 115
Psalms 116
Psalms 117
Psalms 118
Psalms 119
Psalms 120
Psalms 121
Psalms 122
Psalms 123
Psalms 124
Psalms 125
Psalms 126
Psalms 127
Psalms 128
Psalms 129
Psalms 130
Psalms 131
Psalms 132
Psalms 133
Psalms 134
Psalms 135
Psalms 136
Psalms 137
Psalms 138
Psalms 139
Psalms 140
Psalms 141
Psalms 142
Psalms 143
Psalms 144
Psalms 145
Psalms 146
Psalms 147
Psalms 148
Psalms 149
Psalms 150
Proverbs 1
Proverbs 2
Proverbs 3
Proverbs 4
Proverbs 5
Proverbs 6
Proverbs 7
Proverbs 8
Proverbs 9
Proverbs 10
Proverbs 11
Proverbs 12
Proverbs 13
Proverbs 14
Proverbs 15
Proverbs 16
Proverbs 17
Proverbs 18
Proverbs 19
Proverbs 20
Proverbs 21
Proverbs 22
Proverbs 23
Proverbs 24
Proverbs 25
Proverbs 26
Proverbs 27
Proverbs 28
Proverbs 29
Proverbs 30
Proverbs 31
Ecclesiastes 1
Ecclesiastes 2
Ecclesiastes 3
Ecclesiastes 4
Ecclesiastes 5
Ecclesiastes 6
Ecclesiastes 7
Ecclesiastes 8
Ecclesiastes 9
Ecclesiastes 10
Ecclesiastes 11
Ecclesiastes 12
Song of Solomon 1
Song of Solomon 2
Song of Solomon 3
Song of Solomon 4
Song of Solomon 5
Song of Solomon 6
Song of Solomon 7
Song of Solomon 8
Isaiah 1
Isaiah 2
Isaiah 3
Isaiah 4
Isaiah 5
Isaiah 6
Isaiah 7
Isaiah 8
Isaiah 9
Isaiah 10
Isaiah 11
Isaiah 12
Isaiah 13
Isaiah 14
Isaiah 15
Isaiah 16
Isaiah 17
Isaiah 18
Isaiah 19
Isaiah 20
Isaiah 21
Isaiah 22
Isaiah 23
Isaiah 24
Isaiah 25
Isaiah 26
Isaiah 27
Isaiah 28
Isaiah 29
Isaiah 30
Isaiah 31
Isaiah 32
Isaiah 33
Isaiah 34
Isaiah 35
Isaiah 36
Isaiah 37
Isaiah 38
Isaiah 39
Isaiah 40
Isaiah 41
Isaiah 42
Isaiah 43
Isaiah 44
Isaiah 45
Isaiah 46
Isaiah 47
Isaiah 48
Isaiah 49
Isaiah 50
Isaiah 51
Isaiah 52
Isaiah 53
Isaiah 54
Isaiah 55
Isaiah 56
Isaiah 57
Isaiah 58
Isaiah 59
Isaiah 60
Isaiah 61
Isaiah 62
Isaiah 63
Isaiah 64
Isaiah 65
Isaiah 66
Jeremiah 1
Jeremiah 2
Jeremiah 3
Jeremiah 4
Jeremiah 5
Jeremiah 6
Jeremiah 7
Jeremiah 8
Jeremiah 9
Jeremiah 10
Jeremiah 11
Jeremiah 12
Jeremiah 13
Jeremiah 14
Jeremiah 15
Jeremiah 16
Jeremiah 17
Jeremiah 18
Jeremiah 19
Jeremiah 20
Jeremiah 21
Jeremiah 22
Jeremiah 23
Jeremiah 24
Jeremiah 25
Jeremiah 26
Jeremiah 27
Jeremiah 28
Jeremiah 29
Jeremiah 30
Jeremiah 31
Jeremiah 32
Jeremiah 33
Jeremiah 34
Jeremiah 35
Jeremiah 36
Jeremiah 37
Jeremiah 38
Jeremiah 39
Jeremiah 40
Jeremiah 41
Jeremiah 42
Jeremiah 43
Jeremiah 44
Jeremiah 45
Jeremiah 46
Jeremiah 47
Jeremiah 48
Jeremiah 49
Jeremiah 50
Jeremiah 51
Jeremiah 52
Lamentations 1
Lamentations 2
Lamentations 3
Lamentations 4
Lamentations 5
Ezekiel 1
Ezekiel 2
Ezekiel 3
Ezekiel 4
Ezekiel 5
Ezekiel 6
Ezekiel 7
Ezekiel 8
Ezekiel 9
Ezekiel 10
Ezekiel 11
Ezekiel 12
Ezekiel 13
Ezekiel 14
Ezekiel 15
Ezekiel 16
Ezekiel 17
Ezekiel 18
Ezekiel 19
Ezekiel 20
Ezekiel 21
Ezekiel 22
Ezekiel 23
Ezekiel 24
Ezekiel 25
Ezekiel 26
Ezekiel 27
Ezekiel 28
Ezekiel 29
Ezekiel 30
Ezekiel 31
Ezekiel 32
Ezekiel 33
Ezekiel 34
Ezekiel 35
Ezekiel 36
Ezekiel 37
Ezekiel 38
Ezekiel 39
Ezekiel 40
Ezekiel 41
Ezekiel 42
Ezekiel 43
Ezekiel 44
Ezekiel 45
Ezekiel 46
Ezekiel 47
Ezekiel 48
Daniel 1
Daniel 2
Daniel 3
Daniel 4
Daniel 5
Daniel 6
Daniel 7
Daniel 8
Daniel 9
Daniel 10
Daniel 11
Daniel 12
Hosea 1
Hosea 2
Hosea 3
Hosea 4
Hosea 5
Hosea 6
Hosea 7
Hosea 8
Hosea 9
Hosea 10
Hosea 11
Hosea 12
Hosea 13
Hosea 14
Joel 1
Joel 2
Joel 3
Amos 1
Amos 2
Amos 3
Amos 4
Amos 5
Amos 6
Amos 7
Amos 8
Amos 9
Obadiah 1
Jonah 1
Jonah 2
Jonah 3
Jonah 4
Micah 1
Micah 2
Micah 3
Micah 4
Micah 5
Micah 6
Micah 7
Nahum 1
Nahum 2
Nahum 3
Habakkuk 1
Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk 3
Zephaniah 1
Zephaniah 2
Zephaniah 3
Haggai 1
Haggai 2
Zechariah 1
Zechariah 2
Zechariah 3
Zechariah 4
Zechariah 5
Zechariah 6
Zechariah 7
Zechariah 8
Zechariah 9
Zechariah 10
Zechariah 11
Zechariah 12
Zechariah 13
Zechariah 14
Malachi 1
Malachi 2
Malachi 3
Malachi 4
Tobit 1
Tobit 2
Tobit 3
Tobit 4
Tobit 5
Tobit 6
Tobit 7
Tobit 8
Tobit 9
Tobit 10
Tobit 11
Tobit 12
Tobit 13
Tobit 14
Judith 1
Judith 2
Judith 3
Judith 4
Judith 5
Judith 6
Judith 7
Judith 8
Judith 9
Judith 10
Judith 11
Judith 12
Judith 13
Judith 14
Judith 15
Judith 16
Esther (Greek) 1
Esther (Greek) 2
Esther (Greek) 3
Esther (Greek) 4
Esther (Greek) 5
Esther (Greek) 6
Esther (Greek) 7
Wisdom of Solomon 1
Wisdom of Solomon 2
Wisdom of Solomon 3
Wisdom of Solomon 4
Wisdom of Solomon 5
Wisdom of Solomon 6
Wisdom of Solomon 7
Wisdom of Solomon 8
Wisdom of Solomon 9
Wisdom of Solomon 10
Wisdom of Solomon 11
Wisdom of Solomon 12
Wisdom of Solomon 13
Wisdom of Solomon 14
Wisdom of Solomon 15
Wisdom of Solomon 16
Wisdom of Solomon 17
Wisdom of Solomon 18
Wisdom of Solomon 19
Sirach 1
Sirach 2
Sirach 3
Sirach 4
Sirach 5
Sirach 6
Sirach 7
Sirach 8
Sirach 9
Sirach 10
Sirach 11
Sirach 12
Sirach 13
Sirach 14
Sirach 15
Sirach 16
Sirach 17
Sirach 18
Sirach 19
Sirach 20
Sirach 21
Sirach 22
Sirach 23
Sirach 24
Sirach 25
Sirach 26
Sirach 27
Sirach 28
Sirach 29
Sirach 30
Sirach 31
Sirach 32
Sirach 33
Sirach 34
Sirach 35
Sirach 36
Sirach 37
Sirach 38
Sirach 39
Sirach 40
Sirach 41
Sirach 42
Sirach 43
Sirach 44
Sirach 45
Sirach 46
Sirach 47
Sirach 48
Sirach 49
Sirach 50
Sirach 51
Baruch 1
Baruch 2
Baruch 3
Baruch 4
Baruch 5
1 Maccabees 1
1 Maccabees 2
1 Maccabees 3
1 Maccabees 4
1 Maccabees 5
1 Maccabees 6
1 Maccabees 7
1 Maccabees 8
1 Maccabees 9
1 Maccabees 10
1 Maccabees 11
1 Maccabees 12
1 Maccabees 13
1 Maccabees 14
1 Maccabees 15
1 Maccabees 16
2 Maccabees 1
2 Maccabees 2
2 Maccabees 3
2 Maccabees 4
2 Maccabees 5
2 Maccabees 6
2 Maccabees 7
2 Maccabees 8
2 Maccabees 9
2 Maccabees 10
2 Maccabees 11
2 Maccabees 12
2 Maccabees 13
2 Maccabees 14
2 Maccabees 15
1 Esdras 1
1 Esdras 2
1 Esdras 3
1 Esdras 4
1 Esdras 5
1 Esdras 6
1 Esdras 7
1 Esdras 8
1 Esdras 9
Prayer of Manasses 1
Matthew 1
Matthew 2
Matthew 3
Matthew 4
Matthew 5
Matthew 6
Matthew 7
Matthew 8
Matthew 9
Matthew 10
Matthew 11
Matthew 12
Matthew 13
Matthew 14
Matthew 15
Matthew 16
Matthew 17
Matthew 18
Matthew 19
Matthew 20
Matthew 21
Matthew 22
Matthew 23
Matthew 24
Matthew 25
Matthew 26
Matthew 27
Matthew 28
Mark 1
Mark 2
Mark 3
Mark 4
Mark 5
Mark 6
Mark 7
Mark 8
Mark 9
Mark 10
Mark 11
Mark 12
Mark 13
Mark 14
Mark 15
Mark 16
Luke 1
Luke 2
Luke 3
Luke 4
Luke 5
Luke 6
Luke 7
Luke 8
Luke 9
Luke 10
Luke 11
Luke 12
Luke 13
Luke 14
Luke 15
Luke 16
Luke 17
Luke 18
Luke 19
Luke 20
Luke 21
Luke 22
Luke 23
Luke 24
John 1
John 2
John 3
John 4
John 5
John 6
John 7
John 8
John 9
John 10
John 11
John 12
John 13
John 14
John 15
John 16
John 17
John 18
John 19
John 20
John 21
Acts 1
Acts 2
Acts 3
Acts 4
Acts 5
Acts 6
Acts 7
Acts 8
Acts 9
Acts 10
Acts 11
Acts 12
Acts 13
Acts 14
Acts 15
Acts 16
Acts 17
Acts 18
Acts 19
Acts 20
Acts 21
Acts 22
Acts 23
Acts 24
Acts 25
Acts 26
Acts 27
Acts 28
Romans 1
Romans 2
Romans 3
Romans 4
Romans 5
Romans 6
Romans 7
Romans 8
Romans 9
Romans 10
Romans 11
Romans 12
Romans 13
Romans 14
Romans 15
Romans 16
1 Corinthians 1
1 Corinthians 2
1 Corinthians 3
1 Corinthians 4
1 Corinthians 5
1 Corinthians 6
1 Corinthians 7
1 Corinthians 8
1 Corinthians 9
1 Corinthians 10
1 Corinthians 11
1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 14
1 Corinthians 15
1 Corinthians 16
2 Corinthians 1
2 Corinthians 2
2 Corinthians 3
2 Corinthians 4
2 Corinthians 5
2 Corinthians 6
2 Corinthians 7
2 Corinthians 8
2 Corinthians 9
2 Corinthians 10
2 Corinthians 11
2 Corinthians 12
2 Corinthians 13
Galatians 1
Galatians 2
Galatians 3
Galatians 4
Galatians 5
Galatians 6
Ephesians 1
Ephesians 2
Ephesians 3
Ephesians 4
Ephesians 5
Ephesians 6
Philippians 1
Philippians 2
Philippians 3
Philippians 4
Colossians 1
Colossians 2
Colossians 3
Colossians 4
1 Thessalonians 1
1 Thessalonians 2
1 Thessalonians 3
1 Thessalonians 4
1 Thessalonians 5
2 Thessalonians 1
2 Thessalonians 2
2 Thessalonians 3
1 Timothy 1
1 Timothy 2
1 Timothy 3
1 Timothy 4
1 Timothy 5
1 Timothy 6
2 Timothy 1
2 Timothy 2
2 Timothy 3
2 Timothy 4
Titus 1
Titus 2
Titus 3
Philemon 1
Hebrews 1
Hebrews 2
Hebrews 3
Hebrews 4
Hebrews 5
Hebrews 6
Hebrews 7
Hebrews 8
Hebrews 9
Hebrews 10
Hebrews 11
Hebrews 12
Hebrews 13
James 1
James 2
James 3
James 4
James 5
1 Peter 1
1 Peter 2
1 Peter 3
1 Peter 4
1 Peter 5
2 Peter 1
2 Peter 2
2 Peter 3
1 John 1
1 John 2
1 John 3
1 John 4
1 John 5
2 John 1
3 John 1
Jude 1
Revelation 1
Revelation 2
Revelation 3
Revelation 4
Revelation 5
Revelation 6
Revelation 7
Revelation 8
Revelation 9
Revelation 10
Revelation 11
Revelation 12
Revelation 13
Revelation 14
Revelation 15
Revelation 16
Revelation 17
Revelation 18
Revelation 19
Revelation 20
Revelation 21
Revelation 22
Preface.
1. All who believe and are assured that grace and truth were obtained through Jesus Christ, and who know Christ to be the truth, agreeably to His own declaration, I am the truth, derive the knowledge which incites men to a good and happy life from no other source than from the very words and teaching of Christ. And by the words of Christ we do not mean those only which He spoke when He became man and tabernacled in the flesh; for before that time, Christ, the Word of God, was in Moses and the prophets. For without the Word of God, how could they have been able to prophesy of Christ? And were it not our purpose to confine the present treatise within the limits of all attainable brevity, it would not be difficult to show, in proof of this statement, out of the Holy Scriptures, how Moses or the prophets both spoke and performed all they did through being filled with the Spirit of Christ. And therefore I think it sufficient to quote this one testimony of Paul from the Epistle to the Hebrews, in which he says: By faith Moses, when he had come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of the Egyptians. Moreover, that after His ascension into heaven He spoke in His apostles, is shown by Paul in these words: Or do you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me?
2. Since many, however, of those who profess to believe in Christ differ from each other, not only in small and trifling matters, but also on subjects of the highest importance, as, e.g., regarding God, or the Lord Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit; and not only regarding these, but also regarding others which are created existences, viz., the powers and the holy virtues; it seems on that account necessary first of all to fix a definite limit and to lay down an unmistakable rule regarding each one of these, and then to pass to the investigation of other points. For as we ceased to seek for truth (notwithstanding the professions of many among Greeks and Barbarians to make it known) among all who claimed it for erroneous opinions, after we had come to believe that Christ was the Son of God, and were persuaded that we must learn it from Himself; so, seeing there are many who think they hold the opinions of Christ, and yet some of these think differently from their predecessors, yet as the teaching of the Church, transmitted in orderly succession from the apostles, and remaining in the Churches to the present day, is still preserved, that alone is to be accepted as truth which differs in no respect from ecclesiastical and tradition.
3. Now it ought to be known that the holy apostles, in preaching the faith of Christ, delivered themselves with the utmost clearness on certain points which they believed to be necessary to every one, even to those who seemed somewhat dull in the investigation of divine knowledge; leaving, however, the grounds of their statements to be examined into by those who should deserve the excellent gifts of the Spirit, and who, especially by means of the Holy Spirit Himself, should obtain the gift of language, of wisdom, and of knowledge: while on other subjects they merely stated the fact that things were so, keeping silence as to the manner or origin of their existence; clearly in order that the more zealous of their successors, who should be lovers of wisdom, might have a subject of exercise on which to display the fruit of their talents—those persons, I mean, who should prepare themselves to be fit and worthy receivers of wisdom.
4. The particular points clearly delivered in the teaching of the apostles are as follow:—
First , That there is one God, who created and arranged all things, and who, when nothing existed, called all things into being— God from the first creation and foundation of the world— the God of all just men, of Adam, Abel, Seth, Enos, Enoch, Noe, Sere, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the twelve patriarchs, Moses, and the prophets; and that this God in the last days, as He had announced beforehand by His prophets, sent our Lord Jesus Christ to call in the first place Israel to Himself, and in the second place the Gentiles, after the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel. This just and good God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself gave the law and the prophets, and the Gospels, being also the God of the apostles and of the Old and New Testaments.
Secondly , That Jesus Christ Himself, who came (into the world), was born of the Father before all creatures; that, after He had been the servant of the Father in the creation of all things— For by Him were all things made — He in the last times, divesting Himself (of His glory), became a man, and was incarnate although God, and while made a man remained the God which He was; that He assumed a body like to our own, differing in this respect only, that it was born of a virgin and of the Holy Spirit: that this Jesus Christ was truly born, and did truly suffer, and did not endure this death common (to man) in appearance only, but did truly die; that He did truly rise from the dead; and that after His resurrection He conversed with His disciples, and was taken up (into heaven).
Then, Thirdly , the apostles related that the Holy Spirit was associated in honour and dignity with the Father and the Son. But in His case it is not clearly distinguished whether He is to be regarded as born or innate, or also as a Son of God or not: for these are points which have to be inquired into out of sacred Scripture according to the best of our ability, and which demand careful investigation. And that this Spirit inspired each one of the saints, whether prophets or apostles; and that there was not one Spirit in the men of the old dispensation, and another in those who were inspired at the advent of Christ, is most clearly taught throughout the Churches.
5. After these points, also, the apostolic teaching is that the soul, having a substance and life of its own, shall, after its departure from the world, be rewarded according to its deserts, being destined to obtain either an inheritance of eternal life and blessedness, if its actions shall have procured this for it, or to be delivered up to eternal fire and punishments, if the guilt of its crimes shall have brought it down to this: and also, that there is to be a time of resurrection from the dead, when this body, which now is sown in corruption, shall rise in incorruption, and that which is sown in dishonour will rise in glory. This also is clearly defined in the teaching of the Church, that every rational soul is possessed of free-will and volition; that it has a struggle to maintain with the devil and his angels, and opposing influences, because they strive to burden it with sins; but if we live rightly and wisely, we should endeavour to shake ourselves free of a burden of that kind. From which it follows, also, that we understand ourselves not to be subject to necessity, so as to be compelled by all means, even against our will, to do either good or evil. For if we are our own masters, some influences perhaps may impel us to sin, and others help us to salvation; we are not forced, however, by any necessity either to act rightly or wrongly, which those persons think is the case who say that the courses and movements of the stars are the cause of human actions, not only of those which take place beyond the influence of the freedom of the will, but also of those which are placed within our own power. But with respect to the soul, whether it is derived from the seed by a process of traducianism, so that the reason or substance of it may be considered as placed in the seminal particles of the body themselves, or whether it has any other beginning; and this beginning, itself, whether it be by birth or not, or whether bestowed upon the body from without or no, is not distinguished with sufficient clearness in the teaching of the Church.
6. Regarding the devil and his angels, and the opposing influences, the teaching of the Church has laid down that these beings exist indeed; but what they are, or how they exist, it has not explained with sufficient clearness. This opinion, however, is held by most, that the devil was an angel, and that, having become an apostate, he induced as many of the angels as possible to fall away with himself, and these up to the present time are called his angels.
7. This also is a part of the Church's teaching, that the world was made and took its beginning at a certain time, and is to be destroyed on account of its wickedness. But what existed before this world, or what will exist after it, has not become certainly known to the many, for there is no clear statement regarding it in the teaching of the Church.
8. Then, finally, that the Scriptures were written by the Spirit of God, and have a meaning, not such only as is apparent at first sight, but also another, which escapes the notice of most. For those (words) which are written are the forms of certain mysteries, and the images of divine things. Respecting which there is one opinion throughout the whole Church, that the whole law is indeed spiritual; but that the spiritual meaning which the law conveys is not known to all, but to those only on whom the grace of the Holy Spirit is bestowed in the word of wisdom and knowledge.
The term [ἀσώματον], i.e., incorporeal, is disused and unknown, not only in many other writings, but also in our own Scriptures. And if any one should quote it to us out of the little treatise entitled The Doctrine of Peter , in which the Saviour seems to say to His disciples, I am not an incorporeal demon, I have to reply, in the first place, that that work is not included among ecclesiastical books; for we can show that it was not composed either by Peter or by any other person inspired by the Spirit of God. But even if the point were to be conceded, the word [ἀσώματον] there does not convey the same meaning as is intended by Greek and Gentile authors when incorporeal nature is discussed by philosophers. For in the little treatise referred to he used the phrase incorporeal demon
