Explanation of John 3
Por Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 3
Verses 3:1, 2. That some in the perverted church, in consequence of the miracles which the Lord worked, seek conjunction with him, and acknowledge his doctrine to be divine.
Verse 3:3. To whom it is taught, that man cannot attain any perception of heavenly good and truth, except by regeneration.
Verses 3:4, 5. This however is understood by those of the perverted church, according to a natural idea, and not according to a spiritual idea, and therefore they are further instructed, that regeneration is effected by a reception of the truths of faith in man's understanding, and by a love and life in conformity with those truths.
Verses 3:6, 7. Because man is at first born merely natural, but has the capacity of afterwards becoming spiritual, by a life according to truths derived from the Word, and therefore he ought not to regard regeneration as a strange, or irrational operation.
Verse 3:8. Yet that scarcely any of the innumerable arcana of regeneration come to the knowledge and perception of man.
Verses 3:9, 10. This cannot be comprehended by those of the perverted church, who are in the knowledges of external truth, when yet those knowledges ought to have conducted them to the apprehension of internal truth.
Verses 3:11, 12. For the literal or external sense of the Word proceeds from, and is filled with, the interior things of the divine truth and wisdom, which things are rejected by those who remain in the love of mere natural things, and who, on that account, cannot comprehend celestial and spiritual things.
Verse 3:13. For celestial and spiritual things can only be comprehended by those who receive into their minds and lives the divine truth, inasmuch as the divine truth alone comes down from heaven, and therefore is alone capable of elevating any into the things of heaven.
Verses 3:14, 15. That this divine truth therefore assumed a sensual corporeal principle here on earth, to the intent that sensual corporeal men might have a divine object of faith presented to them, and being thus elevated to conjunction with that object, might be preserved from the defilement and death of merely sensual and corporeal life.
Verse 3:16. That this was effected from the divine love, to the intent that mankind might no longer continue immersed in mere natural love, but might be raised into the sphere of celestial and spiritual love.
Verses 3:17, 18. Wherefore God assumed the Human [nature] to the intent that mankind might conjoin goodness and truth in their minds and lives, since a right faith in the Divine Humanity of the Lord leads to such conjunction, whereas a want of that faith leads to separation.
Verses 3:19, 20. For the Divine Humanity of the Lord is divine truth, and if divine truth be rejected in consequence of evil love, then nothing appertains to man but the false principle of evil.
Verse 3:21. On the other hand, if divine truth be loved and obeyed, man is conducted to the Lord's Divine Humanity, because he is willing to acknowledge that all the good which he wills and does is from that divine source.
Verses 3:22, 23, 24. That when the Lord had finished these sayings, he instructs the perverted church in the truths of purification, which truths also were taught in abundance by those who were principled in charity and faith, whilst they were in a state of freedom.
Verses 3:25, 26, 27. Nevertheless these truths are received with doubt by those of the perverted church, and therefore it is taught that all purifying truth is from the Divine Truth, and thus that all wisdom, intelligence, reason, and science, are not of man, but of the Lord in his Divine Humanity.
Verses 3:28, 29. And that the design of all representative truth is only to prepare mankind for the reception of the Divine Truth, that thus good and truth may be conjoined in the church, and the church may rejoice in being instructed concerning the precepts of faith, and in receiving them in faith and obedience.
Verses 3:30, 31. Thus the Divine Truth becomes all in all in the church, as being inmost truth, and all other good and truth only administer externally.
Verses 3:32, 33. For the Divine Truth testifies concerning the Lord, both as to his divine wisdom and divine love, and notwithstanding its being rejected by the generality of mankind, brings conviction along with it to those who receive it.
Verses 3:34, 35. Which truth is from the Lord's Divine Humanity, whose intelligence and wisdom are infinite, being in eternal union with the divine good, and thus possessing the all of that good.
Verse 3:36. Whosoever therefore receives truth from that Divine Humanity with a right faith, is made partaker also of the divine good, but whoever rejects it, can have no apprehension of that good, but remains in his own natural evils.
Psalms 107
1
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2
Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
3
And gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4
They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in.
5
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6
Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses,
7
he led them also by a straight way, that they might go to a city to live in.
8
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9
For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.
10
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron,
11
because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the Most High.
12
Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was none to help.
13
Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bonds in sunder.
15
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16
For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut through bars of iron.
17
Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, and because of their iniquities.
18
Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death.
19
Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, he saves them out of their distresses.
20
He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves.
21
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22
Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with singing.
23
Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters;
24
These see Yahweh's works, and his wonders in the deep.
25
For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves.
26
They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.
27
They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
28
Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress.
29
He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still.
30
Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven.
31
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful works for the children of men!
32
Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the seat of the elders.
33
He turns rivers into a desert, water springs into a thirsty ground,
34
and a fruitful land into a salt waste, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35
He turns a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs.
36
There he makes the hungry live, that they may prepare a city to live in,
37
sow fields, plant vineyards, and reap the fruits of increase.
38
He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn't allow their livestock to decrease.
39
Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
40
He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
41
Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, and increases their families like a flock.
42
The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.
43
Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh. A Song. A Psalm by David.
