3. Van zodanig leven beroofd, is het Woord ten aanzien van de letter dood. Het is met het Woord als met de mens, die, zoals in de christelijke wereld bekend is, uiterlijk is en innerlijk; de uitwendige mens, afgescheiden van de innerlijke, is slechts een lichaam en dus dood, maar het is de innerlijke mens die leeft, en aan de uitwendige mens het leven geeft. De innerlijke mens is zijn ziel; zo ook is het Woord naar de letter slechts als een lichaam zonder ziel.

1767. ¹ Genesis 15

SACRED SCRIPTURE, OR THE WORD, AND HOW IT CONCEALS WITHIN ITSELF DIVINE MATTERS WHICH ARE FULLY VISIBLE TO GOOD SPIRITS AND TO ANGELS

When the Word of the Lord is being read by someone who loves the Word and leads a charitable life - even by one who, because he is simple-hearted, believes what is written and has not formed opinions that are contrary to the truth of faith that lies within the internal sense - the Lord also sets the Word before the angels. The Lord does so in such beauty and such loveliness, using representatives as well, with indescribable variations, each of which accords with the angels' entire state at the time, that every detail is perceived as if it had life. This life is that which is present within the Word and from which the Word was given birth when it was sent down from heaven. By reason of this, although in the letter it appears rough and imperfect, the Word of the Lord is such that inwardly there are concealed spiritual and celestial things, which are fully visible to good spirits and to angels while it is being read by man.

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