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Numbers 18

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1 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM πρός-P *ἀαρών-N---ASM λέγω-V1--PAPNSM σύ- P--NS καί-C ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM σύ- P--GS καί-C ὁ- A--NSM οἶκος-N2--NSM πατριά-N1A-GSF σύ- P--GS λαμβάνω-VF--FMI2P ὁ- A--APF ἁμαρτία-N1A-APF ὁ- A--GPM ἅγιος-A1A-GPM καί-C σύ- P--NS καί-C ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM σύ- P--GS λαμβάνω-VF--FMI2P ὁ- A--APF ἁμαρτία-N1A-APF ὁ- A--GSF ἱερατεία-N1A-GSF σύ- P--GP

2 καί-C ὁ- A--APM ἀδελφός-N2--APM σύ- P--GS φυλή-N1--ASF *λευί-N---GSM δῆμος-N2--ASM ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM σύ- P--GS προςἄγω-VB--AMD2S πρός-P σεαυτοῦ- D--ASM καί-C προςτίθημι-VC--APD3P σύ- P--DS καί-C λειτουργέω-V2--PAD3P σύ- P--DS καί-C σύ- P--NS καί-C ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM σύ- P--GS μετά-P σύ- P--GS ἀπέναντι-P ὁ- A--GSF σκηνή-N1--GSF ὁ- A--GSN μαρτύριον-N2N-GSN

3 καί-C φυλάσσω-VF--FMI3P ὁ- A--APF φυλακή-N1--APF σύ- P--GS καί-C ὁ- A--APF φυλακή-N1--APF ὁ- A--GSF σκηνή-N1--GSF πλήν-D πρός-P ὁ- A--APN σκεῦος-N3E-APN ὁ- A--APN ἅγιος-A1A-APN καί-C πρός-P ὁ- A--ASN θυσιαστήριον-N2N-ASN οὐ-D προςἔρχομαι-VF--FMI3P καί-C οὐ-D ἀποθνήσκω-VF2-FMI3P καί-C οὗτος- D--NPM καί-C σύ- P--NP

4 καί-C προςτίθημι-VC--FPI3P πρός-P σύ- P--AS καί-C φυλάσσω-VF--FMI3P ὁ- A--APF φυλακή-N1--APF ὁ- A--GSF σκηνή-N1--GSF ὁ- A--GSN μαρτύριον-N2N-GSN κατά-P πᾶς-A1S-APF ὁ- A--APF λειτουργία-N1A-GSF ὁ- A--GSF σκηνή-N1--GSF καί-C ὁ- A--NSM ἀλλογενής-A3H-NSM οὐ-D προςἔρχομαι-VF--FMI3S πρός-P σύ- P--AS

5 καί-C φυλάσσω-VF--FMI2P ὁ- A--APF φυλακή-N1--APF ὁ- A--GPM ἅγιος-A1A-GPM καί-C ὁ- A--APF φυλακή-N1--APF ὁ- A--GSN θυσιαστήριον-N2N-GSN καί-C οὐ-D εἰμί-VF--FMI3S θυμός-N2--NSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPM υἱός-N2--DPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM

6 καί-C ἐγώ- P--NS λαμβάνω-VX--XAI1S ὁ- A--APM ἀδελφός-N2--APM σύ- P--GP ὁ- A--APM *λευίτης-N1M-APM ἐκ-P μέσος-A1--GSM ὁ- A--GPM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM δόμα-N3M-ASN δίδωμι-VM--XMPASN κύριος-N2--DSM λειτουργέω-V2--PAN ὁ- A--APF λειτουργία-N1A-APF ὁ- A--GSF σκηνή-N1--GSF ὁ- A--GSN μαρτύριον-N2N-GSN

7 καί-C σύ- P--NS καί-C ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM σύ- P--GS μετά-P σύ- P--GS διατηρέω-VF--FAI2P ὁ- A--ASF ἱερατεία-N1A-ASF σύ- P--GP κατά-P πᾶς-A3--ASM τρόπος-N2--ASM ὁ- A--GSN θυσιαστήριον-N2N-GSN καί-C ὁ- A--ASN ἔνδοθεν-D ὁ- A--GSN καταπέτασμα-N3M-GSN καί-C λειτουργέω-VF--FAI2P ὁ- A--APF λειτουργία-N1A-APF δόμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSF ἱερατεία-N1A-GSF σύ- P--GP καί-C ὁ- A--NSM ἀλλογενής-A3H-NSM ὁ- A--NSM προςπορεύομαι-V1--PMPNSM ἀποθνήσκω-VF2-FMI3S

8 καί-C λαλέω-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM πρός-P *ἀαρών-N---ASM καί-D ἐγώ- P--NS ἰδού-I δίδωμι-VX--XAI1S σύ- P--DP ὁ- A--ASF διατήρησις-N3I-ASF ὁ- A--GPF ἀπαρχή-N1--GPF ἀπό-P πᾶς-A3--GPM ὁ- A--GPM ἁγιάζω-VT--XPPGPN ἐγώ- P--DS παρά-P ὁ- A--GPM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM σύ- P--DS δίδωμι-VX--XAI1S αὐτός- D--APN εἰς-P γέρας-N3--ASN καί-C ὁ- A--DPM υἱός-N2--DPM σύ- P--GS μετά-P σύ- P--AS νόμιμος-A1--ASN αἰώνιος-A1B-ASN

9 καί-C οὗτος- D--ASN εἰμί-V9--PAD3S σύ- P--DP ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GPN ἁγιάζω-VT--XPPGPN ἅγιος-A1A-GPN ὁ- A--GPN κάρπωμα-N3M-GPN ἀπό-P πᾶς-A3--GPN ὁ- A--GPN δῶρον-N2N-GPN αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ἀπό-P πᾶς-A3--GPN ὁ- A--GPN θυσίασμα-N3M-GPN αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ἀπό-P πᾶς-A1S-GSF πλημμέλεια-N1A-GSF αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ἀπό-P πᾶς-A1S-GPF ὁ- A--GPF ἁμαρτία-N1A-GPF ὅσος-A1--APN ἀποδίδωμι-V8--PAI3P ἐγώ- P--DS ἀπό-P πᾶς-A3--GPN ὁ- A--GPN ἅγιος-A1A-GPN σύ- P--DS εἰμί-VF--FMI3S καί-C ὁ- A--DPM υἱός-N2--DPM σύ- P--GS

10 ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN ἅγιος-A1A-DSN ὁ- A--GPN ἅγιος-A1A-GPN ἐσθίω-VF--FMI2P αὐτός- D--APN πᾶς-A3--NSN ἀρσενικός-A1--NSN ἐσθίω-VF--FMI3S αὐτός- D--APN σύ- P--NS καί-C ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM σύ- P--GS ἅγιος-A1A-NPN εἰμί-VF--FMI3S σύ- P--DS

11 καί-C οὗτος- D--NSN εἰμί-VF--FMI3S σύ- P--DP ἀπαρχή-N1--NSF δόμα-N3M-GPN αὐτός- D--GPM ἀπό-P πᾶς-A3--GPN ὁ- A--GPN ἐπίθεμα-N3M-GPN ὁ- A--GPM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM σύ- P--DS δίδωμι-VX--XAI1S αὐτός- D--APN καί-C ὁ- A--DPM υἱός-N2--DPM σύ- P--GS καί-C ὁ- A--DPF θυγάτηρ-N3--DPF σύ- P--GS μετά-P σύ- P--GS νόμιμος-A1--ASN αἰώνιος-A1B-ASN πᾶς-A3--NSM καθαρός-A1A-NSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM οἶκος-N2--DSM σύ- P--GS ἐσθίω-VF--FMI3S αὐτός- D--APN

12 πᾶς-A1S-NSF ἀπαρχή-N1--NSF ἔλαιον-N2N-GSN καί-C πᾶς-A1S-NSF ἀπαρχή-N1--NSF οἶνος-N2--GSM καί-C σῖτος-N2--GSM ἀπαρχή-N1--NSF αὐτός- D--GPM ὅσος-A1--APN ἄν-X δίδωμι-VO--AAS3P ὁ- A--DSM κύριος-N2--DSM σύ- P--DS δίδωμι-VX--XAI1S αὐτός- D--APN

13 ὁ- A--NPN πρωτογένημα-N3M-NPN πᾶς-A3--NPN ὅσος-A1--NPN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF γῆ-N1--DSF αὐτός- D--GPM ὅσος-A1--APN ἄν-X φέρω-VA--AAS3P κύριος-N2--DSM σύ- P--DS εἰμί-VF--FMI3S πᾶς-A3--NSM καθαρός-A1A-NSM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM οἶκος-N2--DSM σύ- P--GS ἐσθίω-VF--FMI3S αὐτός- D--APN

14 πᾶς-A3--NSN ἀναθεματίζω-VT--XMPNSN ἐν-P υἱός-N2--DPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM σύ- P--DS εἰμί-VF--FMI3S

15 καί-C πᾶς-A3--NSN δια ἀναοἴγω-V1--PAPNSN μήτρα-N1A-ASF ἀπό-P πᾶς-A1S-GSF σάρξ-N3K-GSF ὅς- --APN προςφέρω-V1--PAI3P κύριος-N2--DSM ἀπό-P ἄνθρωπος-N2--GSM ἕως-P κτῆνος-N3E-GSN σύ- P--DS εἰμί-VF--FMI3S ἀλλά-C ἤ-C λύτρον-N2N-DPN λυτρόω-VC--FPI3S ὁ- A--NPN πρωτότοκος-A1B-NPN ὁ- A--GPM ἄνθρωπος-N2--GPM καί-C ὁ- A--APN πρωτότοκος-A1B-APN ὁ- A--GPN κτῆνος-N3E-GPN ὁ- A--GPN ἀκάθαρτος-A1B-GPN λυτρόω-VF--FMI2S

16 καί-C ὁ- A--NSF λύτρωσις-N3I-NSF αὐτός- D--GSM ἀπό-P μηνιαῖος-A1A-GSM ὁ- A--NSF συντίμησις-N3I-NSF πέντε-M σίκλος-N2--GPM κατά-P ὁ- A--ASM σίκλος-N2--ASM ὁ- A--ASM ἅγιος-A1A-ASM εἴκοσι-M ὀβολός-N2--NPM εἰμί-V9--PAI3P

17 πλήν-D πρωτότοκος-A1B-APN μόσχος-N2--GPM καί-C πρωτότοκος-A1B-APN πρόβατον-N2N-GPN καί-C πρωτότοκος-A1B-APN αἴξ-N3G-GPM οὐ-D λυτρόω-VF--FMI2S ἅγιος-A1A-NPN εἰμί-V9--PAI3S καί-C ὁ- A--ASN αἷμα-N3M-ASN αὐτός- D--GPN προςχέω-VF2-FAI2S πρός-P ὁ- A--ASN θυσιαστήριον-N2N-ASN καί-C ὁ- A--ASN στέαρ-N3T-ASN ἀναφέρω-VF--FAI2S κάρπωμα-N3M-ASN εἰς-P ὀσμή-N1--ASF εὐωδία-N1A-GSF κύριος-N2--DSM

18 καί-C ὁ- A--APN κρέας-N3--APN εἰμί-VF--FMI3S σύ- P--DS καθά-D καί-C ὁ- A--NSN στηθύνιον-N2N-NSN ὁ- A--GSN ἐπίθεμα-N3M-GSN καί-C κατά-P ὁ- A--ASM βραχίων-N3N-ASM ὁ- A--ASM δεξιός-A1A-ASM σύ- P--DS εἰμί-VF--FMI3S

19 πᾶς-A3--NSN ἀφαίρεμα-N3M-NSN ὁ- A--GPN ἅγιος-A1A-GPN ὅσος-A1--APN ἄν-X ἀποαἱρέω-VB--AAS3P ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM κύριος-N2--DSM σύ- P--DS δίδωμι-VX--XAI1S καί-C ὁ- A--DPM υἱός-N2--DPM σύ- P--GS καί-C ὁ- A--DPF θυγάτηρ-N3--DPF σύ- P--GS μετά-P σύ- P--GS νόμιμος-A1--ASN αἰώνιος-A1B-ASN διαθήκη-N1--NSF ἅλς-N3--GSM αἰώνιος-A1B-GSM εἰμί-V9--PAI3S ἔναντι-P κύριος-N2--GSM σύ- P--DS καί-C ὁ- A--DSN σπέρμα-N3M-DSN σύ- P--GS μετά-P σύ- P--AS

20 καί-C λαλέω-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM πρός-P *ἀαρών-N---ASM ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF γῆ-N1--DSF αὐτός- D--GPM οὐ-D κληρονομέω-VF--FAI2S καί-C μερίς-N3D-NSF οὐ-D εἰμί-VF--FMI3S σύ- P--DS ἐν-P αὐτός- D--DPM ὅτι-C ἐγώ- P--NS μερίς-N3D-NSF σύ- P--GS καί-C κληρονομία-N1A-NSF σύ- P--GS ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM ὁ- A--GPM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM

21 καί-C ὁ- A--DPM υἱός-N2--DPM *λευί-N---GSM ἰδού-I δίδωμι-VX--XAI1S πᾶς-A3--ASN ἐπιδέκατος-A1--ASN ἐν-P *ἰσραήλ-N---DSM ἐν-P κλῆρος-N2--DSM ἀντί-P ὁ- A--GPF λειτουργία-N1A-GPF αὐτός- D--GPM ὅσος-A1--APN αὐτός- D--NPM λειτουργέω-V2--PAI3P λειτουργία-N1A-ASF ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF σκηνή-N1--DSF ὁ- A--GSN μαρτύριον-N2N-GSN

22 καί-C οὐ-D προςἔρχομαι-VF--FMI3P ἔτι-D ὁ- A--NPM υἱός-N2--NPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASF σκηνή-N1--ASF ὁ- A--GSN μαρτύριον-N2N-GSN λαμβάνω-VB--AAN ἁμαρτία-N1A-ASF θανατηφόρος-A1B-ASF

23 καί-C λειτουργέω-VF--FAI3S ὁ- A--NSM *λευίτης-N1M-NSM αὐτός- D--NSM ὁ- A--ASF λειτουργία-N1A-ASF ὁ- A--GSF σκηνή-N1--GSF ὁ- A--GSN μαρτύριον-N2N-GSN καί-C αὐτός- D--NPM λαμβάνω-VF--FMI3P ὁ- A--APN ἁμάρτημα-N3M-APN αὐτός- D--GPM νόμιμος-A1--ASN αἰώνιος-A1B-ASN εἰς-P ὁ- A--APF γενεά-N1A-APF αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM οὐ-D κληρονομέω-VF--FAI3P κληρονομία-N1A-ASF

24 ὅτι-C ὁ- A--APN ἐπιδέκατος-A1--APN ὁ- A--GPM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ὅσος-A1--APN ἄν-X ἀποὁρίζω-VA--AAS3P κύριος-N2--DSM ἀφαίρεμα-N3M-ASN δίδωμι-VX--XAI1S ὁ- A--DPM *λευίτης-N1M-DPM ἐν-P κλῆρος-N2--DSM διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN εἶπον-VX--XAI1S αὐτός- D--DPM ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM οὐ-D κληρονομέω-VF--FAI3P κλῆρος-N2--ASM

25 καί-C λαλέω-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM πρός-P *μωυσῆς-N1M-ASM λέγω-V1--PAPNSM

26 καί-D ὁ- A--DPM *λευίτης-N1M-DPM λαλέω-VF--FAI2S καί-C εἶπον-VF2-FAI2S πρός-P αὐτός- D--APM ἐάν-C λαμβάνω-VB--AAS2P παρά-P ὁ- A--GPM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ὁ- A--ASN ἐπιδέκατος-A1--ASN ὅς- --NSN δίδωμι-VX--XAI1S σύ- P--DP παρά-P αὐτός- D--GPM ἐν-P κλῆρος-N2--DSM καί-C ἀποαἱρέω-VF2-FAI2P σύ- P--NP ἀπό-P αὐτός- D--GSM ἀφαίρεμα-N3M-ASN κύριος-N2--DSM ἐπιδέκατος-A1--ASN ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSN ἐπιδέκατος-A1--GSN

27 καί-C λογίζομαι-VS--FPI3S σύ- P--DP ὁ- A--APN ἀφαίρεμα-N3M-APN σύ- P--GP ὡς-C σῖτος-N2--NSM ἀπό-P ἅλων-N3--GS καί-C ἀφαίρεμα-N3M-ASN ἀπό-P ληνός-N2--GSF

28 οὕτως-D ἀποαἱρέω-VF2-FAI2P καί-C σύ- P--NP ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GPN ἀφαίρεμα-N3M-GPN κύριος-N2--GSM ἀπό-P πᾶς-A3--GPN ἐπιδέκατος-A1--GPN σύ- P--GP ὅσος-A1--APN ἐάν-C λαμβάνω-VB--AAS2P παρά-P ὁ- A--GPM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM καί-C δίδωμι-VF--FAI2P ἀπό-P αὐτός- D--GPM ἀφαίρεμα-N3M-ASN κύριος-N2--DSM *ἀαρών-N---DSM ὁ- A--DSM ἱερεύς-N3V-DSM

29 ἀπό-P πᾶς-A3--GPN ὁ- A--GPN δόμα-N3M-GPN σύ- P--GP ἀποαἱρέω-VF2-FAI2P ἀφαίρεμα-N3M-ASN κύριος-N2--DSM ἤ-C ἀπό-P πᾶς-A3--GPF ὁ- A--GPF ἀπαρχή-N1--GPF ὁ- A--ASN ἁγιάζω-VT--XMPASN ἀπό-P αὐτός- D--GSM

30 καί-C εἶπον-VF2-FAI2S πρός-P αὐτός- D--APM ὅταν-D ἀποαἱρέω-V2--PAS2P ὁ- A--ASF ἀπαρχή-N1--ASF ἀπό-P αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C λογίζομαι-VS--FPI3S ὁ- A--DPM *λευίτης-N1M-DPM ὡς-C γένημα-N3M-ASN ἀπό-P ἅλων-N3--GS καί-C ὡς-C γένημα-N3M-ASN ἀπό-P ληνός-N2--GSF

31 καί-C ἐσθίω-VF--FMI2P αὐτός- D--ASN ἐν-P πᾶς-A3--DSM τόπος-N2--DSM σύ- P--NP καί-C ὁ- A--NPM οἶκος-N2--NPM σύ- P--GP ὅτι-C μισθός-N2--NSM οὗτος- D--NSM σύ- P--DP εἰμί-V9--PAI3S ἀντί-P ὁ- A--GPF λειτουργία-N1A-GPF σύ- P--GP ὁ- A--GPF ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSF σκηνή-N1--DSF ὁ- A--GSN μαρτύριον-N2N-GSN

32 καί-C οὐ-D λαμβάνω-VF--FMI2P διά-P αὐτός- D--ASN ἁμαρτία-N1A-ASF ὅτι-C ἄν-X ἀποαἱρέω-V2--PAS2P ὁ- A--ASF ἀπαρχή-N1--ASF ἀπό-P αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C ὁ- A--APN ἅγιος-A1A-APN ὁ- A--GPM υἱός-N2--GPM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM οὐ-D βεβηλόω-VF--FAI2P ἵνα-C μή-D ἀποθνήσκω-VB--AAS2P

   

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Apocalypse Revealed # 17

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17. The firstborn from the dead. This symbolically means, and which is Divine good itself.

No one as yet knows what it is to be firstborn from the dead. Moreover, the ancients debated what it symbolized. They knew that the firstborn symbolized the first or primary constituent from which sprung everything having to do with the church. Many also believed that it was truth in doctrine and faith, but a few thought it was truth in act and deed, which constitutes goodness of life. We will see that the latter is the first and primary constituent of the church, and therefore that, properly speaking, it is what is meant by the firstborn.

First, however, we must say something about the opinion of those who believed that truth in doctrine and faith is the first and primary constituent of the church, thus the firstborn. They believed this because truth is learned first, and because the church is a church in consequence of its truth, though not before the truth is lived. Prior to that it exists only in the thought and memory of the intellect, and not in any action of the will; and truth that is not truth in act or deed has no life in it. It is merely like a tree abounding in branches and leaves without any fruit, or like knowledge without any useful application. Or it is like a foundation upon which a house is being built for people to live in. These things are first in time, but they are not first in end, and those which are first in end are primary. For first in end is the living in the house, while the first in time is the foundation. The first in end, too, is useful application, while the first in time is knowledge. Likewise, when a tree is planted, the first in end is its fruit, while first in time are its branches and leaves.

[2] The same is the case with the intellect, which is formed first in a person, but to the end that the person may put into practice what he sees with the intellect. Otherwise the intellect is like a preacher who teaches rightly but lives an evil life.

Every truth, furthermore, is sown in the inner self and takes root in the outer one. Consequently, unless the truth that is sown takes root in the outer self, which it does by being put into practice, it becomes like a tree placed not in the ground but on top of it, which in the radiating heat of the sun immediately wilts.

This root is something a person takes with him after death if he has put truths into practice, but not the person who has known and acknowledged them in faith only.

Now, because many of the ancients made what is first in time first in end or primary, therefore they said that something firstborn symbolized truth in the church in doctrine and faith, unaware that it is the firstborn apparently, but not actually.

[3] Those, however, who made truth in doctrine and faith primary, were all condemned, because not a bit of practice or deed, or of life, was found in that truth. Cain, who was the firstborn of Adam and Eve, was condemned for that reason. That he symbolizes truth in doctrine and faith may be seen in Angelic Wisdom Regarding Divine Providence 242.

For the same reason too, Reuben, who was the firstborn of Jacob, was condemned by his father (Genesis 49:3-4), and the birthright was taken from him (1 Chronicles 5:1). In the spiritual sense Reuben means truth in doctrine and faith, as we will see hereafter.

The firstborn of Egypt were all struck down, having been condemned, and in the spiritual sense they mean nothing else than truth in doctrine and faith apart from goodness of life - truth which in itself is lifeless.

The goats mentioned in Daniel and Matthew 1 mean no others than people who possess a faith apart from life, as discussed in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding Faith, nos. 61-68.

Around the time of the Last Judgment, people who possessed a faith apart from life were rejected and condemned, as may be seen in A Continuation Concerning the Last Judgment 16[1]ff.

[4] It can be seen from these few considerations that the firstborn of the church is not truth in doctrine and faith, but truth in practice or deed, which constitutes goodness of life. For the church does not exist in a person until truth becomes a matter of life, and when truth becomes a matter of life, it is then goodness. That is because the thought of the intellect and memory do not flow into the will and through the will into practice. Rather the will flows into the thought and memory of the intellect and acts. Moreover, whatever issues from the will through the intellect does so from affection, which is a matter of love, through thought, which is a matter of the intellect. And it is all called good and enters into the life. Therefore the Lord says that he who does the truth does it in God (John 3:21).

[5] Since John represented goodness of life, and Peter the truth of faith (see no. 5 above), therefore John is said to have reclined at the Lord's breast and followed Jesus, and not Peter (John 21:18-23). The Lord also said of John that John would remain till He came (John 21:22-23), thus to the present day, which is the day of the Lord's coming. Consequently the Lord is now teaching goodness of life for people who will be constituents of His New Church, which is the New Jerusalem.

In sum, the firstborn is that which truth first produces from good, thus what the intellect produces from the will, because truth has to do with the intellect, and good with the will. This first element is primary, because it is like a seed from which everything else springs.

[6] As for the Lord, He is the "firstborn from the dead" because in respect to His humanity He is truth itself united to Divine good, from whom all people live, who in themselves are dead.

The like is meant in Psalms,

I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalms 89:27)

This is said of the Lord's humanity.

So it is that Israel is called the firstborn (Exodus 4:22-23). "Israel" means truth in practice, "Jacob" truth in doctrine; and because no church is formed in consequence of the latter alone, therefore Jacob was named Israel. (In the highest sense, however, Israel means the Lord.)

[7] Because of this representation of the firstborn, all the firstborn of people and animals were consecrated to Jehovah (Exodus 13:2, 12; 22:28-29).

Because of this representation of the firstborn, in the Israelite church the Levites were taken in place of all the firstborn, and it is said that they therefore belonged to Jehovah (Numbers 3:12-13, 40-46; 18:15-18). For Levi symbolizes truth in practice, which constitutes goodness of life, and therefore his descendants were given the priesthood, on which subject more later.

For the same reason, too, the firstborn was given a double portion of the inheritance, and he is called the beginning of strength (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).

[8] The firstborn symbolizes the primary constituent of the church because natural births in the Word symbolize spiritual births, and what first produces them in a person is then meant by his firstborn. For the church does not exist in him until the doctrinal truth conceived in the inner self is given birth in the outer self.

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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.