From Swedenborg's Works

 

The Lord #2

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2. We can see clearly that the specific Word meant here is the Word made known through Moses, the prophets, and the evangelists, since this is the actual divine truth from which angels get all their wisdom and from which we get our spiritual intelligence. In fact, angels in the heavens have the very same Word that we have in the world, though for us in the world it is earthly, while in the heavens it is spiritual. Further, since it is divine truth, the Word is also something divine that is emanating, and this is not only from the Lord but is the Lord himself.

Since it is the Lord himself, absolutely everything written in the Word is about the Lord alone. From Isaiah to Malachi every detail has to do with the Lord, either directly or in an opposite, negative sense.

No one has seen this before, but anyone who knows this and thinks of it can see it while reading, especially given the knowledge that in the Word there is not only an earthly meaning but a spiritual one as well; and that in this latter meaning the names of persons and places are used to mean something about the Lord and therefore something about heaven and the church that come from him-or something opposed to the Lord.

Since absolutely everything in the Word is about the Lord, and since the Word is the Lord because it is divine truth, we can see why it says “The Word became flesh and lived among us; and we saw his glory” [John 1:14]. We can also see why it says “While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of the light. I have come into the world as a light; anyone who believes in me will not remain in darkness” [John 12:36, 46]. “Light” is divine truth and therefore the Word.

For this reason, even nowadays anyone who turns to the Lord alone while reading the Word and who prays to him will find enlightenment in it.

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

The Bible

 

John 1:1-3

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1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

  

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #9200

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9200. 'You shall not afflict' means that they are not to be defrauded of them. This is clear from the meaning of 'afflicting', when it has reference to those who wish to receive instruction in truths and to be led to good, as defrauding, in this instance as not defrauding them since it says 'you shall not afflict'. Various places in the Word mention these three together, the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow, for example in David,

Jehovah who guards the sojourner, [and upholds] the orphan and the widow. Psalms 146:7-9.

In Jeremiah,

Do not defraud the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow. Jeremiah 22:3.

In Ezekiel,

In you they have dealt with the sojourner by means of acts of oppression; in you they have defrauded the orphan and the widow. Ezekiel 22:6-7.

In Moses,

Do not turn aside the judgement of the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow. Deuteronomy 24:17; 27:19.

In the same author,

What remains in fields, olivegroves, and vineyards shall be for the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow. Deuteronomy 24:19-22; 26:12-13.

In the same author,

Jehovah executes judgement for the orphan and the widow, and loves the sojourner. Deuteronomy 10:18.

The three are similarly mentioned together in the present chapter,

A sojourner you shall not afflict and shall not oppress; any widow or orphan you shall not afflict.

When these three are mentioned together in this way they present for the angels a single meaning, namely that among people in the Church good and truth should be joined together as true order requires; that is, they should be joined in a reciprocal manner - truth to good, and good to truth. For the sojourner is used to mean those who wish to receive instruction in things of the Church, widows to mean good joined to truth, and orphans truth joined to good; that is, they are joined together in a reciprocal manner. It is similar with all other things mentioned in the Word. When the internal sense of those things is explained they seem to be diffuse; but with the angels they combine and present one entire meaning, indeed one complete idea.

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