From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2101

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

2101. 'All born in his house, and everyone purchased with his silver, and every male among the men of Abraham's house' means those inside the Church in whom truths of faith have been joined to goods. This is clear from the meaning of 'those born in the house' as celestial people, from the meaning of 'those bought with silver' as spiritual people - these being people inside the Church, dealt with above in 2048, 2051, 2052; and also from the meaning of 'male' as those who possess the truth of faith, also dealt with above in 2046. From what appears in those paragraphs it is evident that people inside the Church are meant with whom truths of faith have been joined to goods.

  
/ 10837  
  

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

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2048

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

2048. That 'he who is born in the houses means celestial people, and 'he who is the purchase of silver' spiritual people, and so those who are inside the Church, is clear from the meaning of 'him born in the house' as those inside the house. In the Word 'a house' means that which is celestial because this is inmost. Consequently 'the house of God' means in the universal sense the Lord's kingdom, in a less universal sense the Church, and in a particular sense the individual himself in whom the Lord's kingdom or Church exists. When a person is called 'a house' it means the celestial side of faith with him, but when he is called 'a temple' it means the truth of faith with him. So 'he who is born in the house' here means celestial people. That 'the purchase of silver' or one bought with silver means spiritual people however is clear from the meaning of 'silver' as truth, and so the spiritual side of faith, dealt with in Volume One, in 1551.

[2] The expression celestial is used of those who are governed by love to the Lord, and because the Most Ancient Church which existed before the Flood was governed by that love it was a celestial Church. The expression spiritual is used of those who are governed by love towards the neighbour and so by the truth of faith. This was the character of the Ancient Church that existed after the Flood. The difference between celestial people and spiritual has been dealt with many times in Volume One. Anyone may see that there are heavenly arcana here, that is to say, in the requirement to circumcise those born in the house and those bought with silver, also sons who were foreigners, and in the fact that those persons are mentioned repeatedly, for example, in verses 13, 23, 27, that follow. These arcana are not apparent however except from the internal sense, that is to say, that those born in the house and those bought with silver mean celestial people and spiritual, and so those inside the Church - while 'the son who is a foreigner and not of your seed' means those outside the Church.

  
/ 10837  
  

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