The Bible

 

Genesis 1:3

Study

       

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #48

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

48. From these considerations it is now clear that the fifth state is one in which a person speaks from faith which is part of the understanding and in so doing confirms himself in truth and good; and that what he produces at that point are the animate things called 'the fish of the sea and the birds of the air. 1 It is also clear that the sixth state exists when he utters truths and performs good deeds from faith which is part of the understanding and so from love which is part of the will. What he produces at that point is called a living creature and a beast. And because at that point he begins to act both from faith and from love simultaneously, he becomes a spiritual man, who is called an image; and this is dealt with next.

Footnotes:

1. literally, birds of the heavens (or the skies)

  
/ 10837  
  

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

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Heaven and Hell #154

Study this Passage

  
/ 603  
  

154. How the States of Angels in Heaven Change

By "the changes of angels' states," we mean their changes in regard to love and faith and therefore in regard to wisdom and intelligence - to the state of their life, that is. States are attributes of life and of matters that pertain to life; and since angelic life is a life of love and faith and thereby of wisdom and intelligence, states are attributes of these, and we talk about states of love and faith and states of wisdom and intelligence. Now we need to describe how these states change for angels.

  
/ 603  
  

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