The Bible

 

Johannes 1

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1 Im Anfang war das Wort, und das Wort war bei Gott, und das Wort war Gott.

2 Dieses (O. Er) war im Anfang bei Gott.

3 Alles ward durch dasselbe, (O. ihn) und ohne dasselbe (O. ihn) ward auch nicht eines, das geworden ist.

4 In ihm war Leben, und das Leben war das Licht der Menschen.

5 Und das Licht scheint in der Finsternis, und die Finsternis hat es nicht erfaßt.

6 Da war ein Mensch, von Gott gesandt, sein Name Johannes.

7 Dieser kam zum Zeugnis, auf daß er zeugte von dem Lichte, damit alle durch ihn glaubten.

8 Er war nicht das Licht, sondern auf daß er zeugte von dem Lichte.

9 Das war das wahrhaftige Licht, welches, in die Welt kommend, jeden Menschen erleuchtet. (d. h. sein Licht auf jeden Menschen scheinen läßt. And. üb.: welches jeden in die Welt kommenden Menschen erleuchtet)

10 Er war in der Welt, und die Welt ward durch ihn, und die Welt kannte ihn nicht.

11 Er kam in das Seinige, und die Seinigen (Eig. in das Eigene, und die Eigenen) nahmen ihn nicht an;

12 so viele ihn aber aufnahmen, denen gab er das echt, Kinder Gottes zu werden, denen, die an seinen Namen glauben,

13 welche nicht aus Geblüt, noch aus dem Willen des Fleisches, noch aus dem Willen des Mannes, sondern aus Gott geboren sind.

14 Und das Wort ward Fleisch und wohnte (Eig. zeltete) unter uns (und wir haben seine Herrlichkeit angeschaut, eine Herrlichkeit als eines Eingeborenen vom Vater), voller Gnade und Wahrheit;

15 (Johannes zeugt von ihm und rief und sprach: Dieser war es, von dem ich sagte: Der nach mir Kommende ist mir vor, (W. vor geworden; so auch v 30) denn er war vor mir) (O. eher als ich)

16 denn aus seiner Fülle haben wir alle empfangen, und zwar Gnade um Gnade.

17 Denn das Gesetz wurde durch Moses gegeben; die Gnade und die Wahrheit ist durch Jesum Christum geworden.

18 Niemand hat Gott jemals gesehen; der eingeborene Sohn, der in des Vaters Schoß ist, der hat ihn kundgemacht.

19 Und dies ist das Zeugnis des Johannes, als die Juden aus Jerusalem Priester und Leviten sandten, damit sie ihn fragen sollten: Wer bist du?

20 Und er bekannte und leugnete nicht, und er bekannte: Ich bin nicht der Christus.

21 Und sie fragten ihn: Was denn? Bist du Elias? Und er sagt: Ich bin’s nicht. Bist du der Prophet? Und er antwortete: Nein.

22 Sie sprachen nun zu ihm: Wer bist du? auf daß wir Antwort geben denen, die uns gesandt haben; was sagst du von dir selbst?

23 Er sprach: Ich bin die "Stimme eines ufenden in der Wüste: Machet gerade den Weg des Herrn", (S. die Anm. zu Mat. 1,20) wie Jesaias, der Prophet, gesagt hat. (Jes. 40,3)

24 Und sie waren abgesandt von (W. aus (aus der Mitte der)) den Pharisäern.

25 Und sie fragten ihn und sprachen zu ihm: Was taufst du denn, wenn du nicht der Christus bist, noch Elias, noch der Prophet?

26 Johannes antwortete ihnen und sprach: Ich taufe mit (W. in) Wasser; mitten unter euch steht, den ihr nicht kennet,

27 der nach mir Kommende, dessen ich nicht würdig bin, ihm den iemen seiner Sandale zu lösen.

28 Dies geschah zu Bethanien, jenseit des Jordan, wo Johannes taufte.

29 Des folgenden Tages sieht er Jesum zu sich kommen und spricht: Siehe, das Lamm Gottes, welches die Sünde der Welt wegnimmt.

30 Dieser ist es, von dem ich sagte: Nach mir kommt ein Mann, der mir vor ist, denn er war vor mir. (O. eher als ich)

31 Und ich kannte ihn nicht; aber auf daß er Israel offenbar werden möchte, deswegen bin ich gekommen, mit (W. in) Wasser taufend.

32 Und Johannes zeugte und sprach: Ich schaute den Geist wie eine Taube aus dem Himmel herniederfahren, und er blieb auf ihm.

33 Und ich kannte ihn nicht; aber der mich gesandt hat, mit (W. in) Wasser zu taufen, der sprach zu mir: Auf welchen du sehen wirst den Geist herniederfahren und Auf ihm bleiben, dieser ist es, der mit (W. in) Heiligem Geiste tauft.

34 Und ich habe gesehen und habe bezeugt, daß dieser der Sohn Gottes ist.

35 Des folgenden Tages stand wiederum Johannes und zwei von seinen Jüngern,

36 und hinblickend auf Jesum, der da wandelte, spricht er: Siehe, das Lamm Gottes!

37 Und es hörten ihn die zwei Jünger reden und folgten Jesu nach.

38 Jesus aber wandte sich um und sah sie nachfolgen und spricht zu ihnen: Was suchet ihr? Sie aber sagten zu ihm: abbi (was verdolmetscht heißt: Lehrer), wo hältst du dich auf?

39 Er spricht zu ihnen: Kommet und sehet! (Nach and. Les.: und ihr werdet sehen) Sie kamen nun und sahen, wo er sich aufhielt, und blieben jenen Tag bei ihm. Es war um die zehnte Stunde.

40 Andreas, der Bruder des Simon Petrus, war einer von den zweien, die es von Johannes gehört hatten und ihm nachgefolgt waren.

41 Dieser findet zuerst seinen eigenen Bruder Simon und spricht zu ihm: Wir haben den Messias gefunden (was verdolmetscht ist: Christus). (O. Gesalbter)

42 Und er führte ihn zu Jesu. Jesus blickte ihn an und sprach: Du bist Simon, der Sohn Jonas’; du wirst Kephas heißen (was verdolmetscht wird: Stein). (Griech.: Petros (Petrus))

43 Des folgenden Tages wollte er aufbrechen nach Galiläa, und er findet Philippus; und Jesus spricht zu ihm: Folge mir nach.

44 Philippus aber war von Bethsaida, aus der Stadt des Andreas und Petrus.

45 Philippus findet den Nathanael und spricht zu ihm: Wir haben den gefunden, von welchem Moses in dem Gesetz geschrieben und die Propheten, Jesum, den Sohn des Joseph, den von Nazareth.

46 Und Nathanael sprach zu ihm: Kann aus Nazareth etwas Gutes kommen? (Eig. sein) Philippus spricht zu ihm: Komm und sieh!

47 Jesus sah den Nathanael zu sich kommen und spricht von ihm: Siehe, wahrhaftig ein Israelit, in welchem kein Trug ist.

48 Nathanael spricht zu ihm: Woher kennst du mich? Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Ehe Philippus dich rief, als du unter dem Feigenbaum warst, sah ich dich.

49 Nathanael antwortete und sprach zu ihm : abbi, du bist der Sohn Gottes, du bist der König Israels.

50 Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Weil ich dir sagte: Ich sah dich unter dem Feigenbaum, glaubst du? du wirst Größeres als dieses sehen.

51 Und er spricht zu ihm: Wahrlich, Wahrlich, ich sage euch: Von nun an werdet ihr den Himmel geöffnet sehen und die Engel Gottes auf- und niedersteigen auf den Sohn des Menschen.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #81

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81. "'And have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.'" This symbolizes their effort and work in acquiring for themselves and also teaching the constituents of religion and its accompanying doctrine.

The name of Jehovah or the Lord in the Word does not mean His name, but everything by which He is worshiped. And because He is worshiped in accordance with doctrine in the church, His name means everything pertaining to doctrine, and in the broadest sense, everything pertaining to religion.

These are the meanings of the name of Jehovah, and the reason is that in heaven the only names found are ones that reflect a person's character, and God's character includes everything by which He is worshiped.

One who is not aware of this symbolic meaning of a name in the Word can understand it only as a name; and in this alone there is nothing pertaining to worship and religion.

[2] Someone who keeps in mind, therefore, this symbolic meaning of "the name of Jehovah" when it is mentioned in the Word, will of himself understand its symbolic meaning in the following passages:

In that day you will say: "Confess to Jehovah, call upon His name." (Isaiah 12:4)

...O Jehovah, we have waited for You; the desire of our soul is for Your name... ...by You we make mention of Your name. (Isaiah 26:8, 13)

From the rising of the sun My name shall be called on. (Isaiah 41:25)

...from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to My name...; for My name shall be great among the nations... ...you profane (My name) when you say, "The table of Jehovah is defiled...." But you sneer at (My name)..., when you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick. (Malachi 1:11-13)

...all peoples walk in the name of their god, but we will walk in the name of Jehovah our God... (Micah 4:5)

Everyone who is called by My name, for My glory I have created him, I have formed him... (Isaiah 43:7)

You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain; ...Jehovah will not hold him innocent who takes His name in vain. (Deuteronomy 5:11)

They were to worship Jehovah in one place, where He should put His name (Deuteronomy 12:5, 11, 13-14, 18; 16:2, 6, 11, 15-16). And so on in many other places. Who does not see that the name in them does not mean simply a name?

[3] It is the same with the name of the Lord in the New Testament, as in the following places:

(Jesus said,) "You will be hated by all because of My name. (Matthew 10:22; cf. 24:9-10)

...where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)

Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters... for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and... eternal life. (Matthew 19:29)

As many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12)

...many believed in His name... (John 2:23)

He who does not believe is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:17-18)

...believing (they will) have life in His name. (John 20:31)

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! (Matthew 21:9; 23:39; Luke 13:35, cf. 19:38)

[4] In respect to His humanity the Lord is the name of the Father, as witness the following:

Father, glorify Your name. (John 12:28)

Hallowed be Your name (and) Your kingdom come. (Matthew 6:9-10)

See also Exodus 23:20-21. 3

"Name" in the case of other people refers to a quality of worship, as in the following:

(A shepherd) calls his own sheep by (their) name... (John 10:3)

You have a few names in Sardis... (Revelation 3:4)

I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem..., and My new name. (Revelation 3:12)

And the like elsewhere.

It can be seen from this now that the statement, "You have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary," symbolizes their effort and work in acquiring for themselves and also teaching the constituents of religion and its accompanying doctrine.

  
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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.

The Bible

 

Luke 19

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1 He entered and was passing through Jericho.

2 There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn't because of the crowd, because he was short.

4 He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.

5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."

6 He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully.

7 When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner."

8 Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much."

9 Jesus said to him, "Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost."

11 As they heard these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God would be revealed immediately.

12 He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13 He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, 'Conduct business until I come.'

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, 'We don't want this man to reign over us.'

15 "It happened when he had come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business.

16 The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.'

17 "He said to him, 'Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'

18 "The second came, saying, 'Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.'

19 "So he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'

20 Another came, saying, 'Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief,

21 for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn't lay down, and reap that which you didn't sow.'

22 "He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn't lay down, and reaping that which I didn't sow.

23 Then why didn't you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?'

24 He said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas.'

25 "They said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'

26 'For I tell you that to everyone who has, will more be given; but from him who doesn't have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.

27 But bring those enemies of mine who didn't want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.'"

28 Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29 It happened, when he drew near to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples,

30 saying, "Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat. Untie it, and bring it.

31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say to him: 'The Lord needs it.'"

32 Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them.

33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

34 They said, "The Lord needs it."

35 They brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on them.

36 As he went, they spread their cloaks in the way.

37 As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen,

38 saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!"

39 Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

40 He answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out."

41 When he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it,

42 saying, "If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes.

43 For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side,

44 and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you didn't know the time of your visitation."

45 He entered into the temple, and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,

46 saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of robbers'!"

47 He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him.

48 They couldn't find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.