The Bible

 

Genesis 1:16

Study

       

16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

Commentary

 

Good

  
To Charity, by João Zeferino da Costa

It seems rather circular to say that “good” in the Bible represents good, but in a general sense it's true! The case is this: The Lord is love itself given form and expression as wisdom itself, and that Divine Love and Divine Wisdom flow down into us, into the world and into the Bible in an unending stream with endless variety. Divine Love gives rise to our loves, our affections, our desires for good and the joy we can feel; Divine Wisdom gives rise to facts, knowledge, intelligence, understanding and human wisdom. And the more we can bring those two aspects of our lives into harmony, the more elevated we can become -- which will in turn make us happier, more useful, and ultimately more angelic.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #479

Study this Passage

  
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479. 'Calling the name' or 'calling by name' means in the Word knowing a person's character, as shown already. Here it means knowing the character of the Most Ancient Church, which was as follows: Man was taken from the ground, that is, was regenerated by the Lord, for Adam is the ground; afterwards when he became celestial, he was above others Man by virtue of faith inherent in love to the Lord.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.