Arcana Coelestia #49
49. Verse 26 And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and they will have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, 1 and over the beasts, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
To people in the Most Ancient Church with whom the Lord spoke face to face, the Lord appeared as Man. (Much can be told about those people, but this is not the time to do so.) For this reason they called nobody man except the Lord and whatever may have been His. They did not even call themselves man, but only the things which they perceived that they had from the Lord, such as every good stemming from love and every truth of faith. These things were said to be human because they were the Lord's.
[2] In the Prophets therefore, in the highest sense, 'man' and 'son of man' are used to mean the Lord. In the internal sense they are used to mean wisdom and intelligence, and so everyone who is regenerate, as in Jeremiah,
I looked to the earth, and behold, a void and an emptiness, and towards the heavens, and behold, they had no light. I looked, and behold there was no man; and all the birds of the air 1 had fled. Jeremiah 4:23, 25.
In Isaiah where in the internal sense 'man' means a regenerate person, the Lord Himself as the One Man is meant in the highest sense,
Thus said Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and He who formed him, It was I that made the earth and it was I that created man upon it; My hands stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. Isaiah 45:11-13
[3] The Lord was therefore seen by the Prophets as Man, for example by Ezekiel,
Above the firmament in appearance like a sapphire stone there was the likeness of a throne, and above the likeness of a throne, there was a likeness, as the appearance of a Man upon it above. Ezekiel 1:26.
And the One whom Daniel saw was called 'a Son of Man', or what amounts to the same, Man,
I looked, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like the Son of Man was coming; and He came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. And to Him was given dominion and glory and kingdom; and all peoples, nations, and languages will serve Him. His dominion is the dominion of an age, which will not pass away, and His kingdom one that will not perish. Daniel 7:13-14.
[4] Moreover the Lord quite often calls Himself the Son of Man or Man, and, as is done in Daniel, foretells His entry into glory,
They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and glory. Matthew 24:23, 30.
The literal sense of the Word is called 'the clouds of heaven', its internal sense 'power and glory'. The internal sense, in every single detail, focuses exclusively on the Lord and His kingdom. Consequently it is the spiritual sense which contains power and glory.
Footnotes:
1. literally, bird of the heavens (or the skies)
1 Corinthians 12
1
Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant.
2
You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.
3
Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God's Spirit says, "Jesus is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," but by the Holy Spirit.
4
Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5
There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.
6
There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.
7
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
8
For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
9
to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;
10
and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.
11
But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
12
For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
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For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
14
For the body is not one member, but many.
15
If the foot would say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the body," it is not therefore not part of the body.
16
If the ear would say, "Because I'm not the eye, I'm not part of the body," it's not therefore not part of the body.
17
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
18
But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.
19
If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20
But now they are many members, but one body.
21
The eye can't tell the hand, "I have no need for you," or again the head to the feet, "I have no need for you."
22
No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23
Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety;
24
whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,
25
that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26
When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28
God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.
29
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?
30
Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?
31
But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
