.
THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY
NEW TESTAMENT
A TRANSLATION INTO
MODERN ENGLISH
Made from the original Greek ( WESTCOTT
& HORT'S TEXT) by a company of
about twenty scholars representing
the various sections of the
Christian Church
REVISED EDITION
New York Chicago Toronto
Fleming H. Revell Company
London and Edinburgh
Copyright
1900 — 1901—1902 — 1903 — 1904
BY FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY
Entered at Stationer's Hall
All rights reserved
ft
PREFACE.
ENGLISH-SPEAKING people of to-day have not, until quite
A TtTntoatl°n recently. had the opportunity of reading the Bible in the
Modem English of their own time. Though in the course of the
last hundred years the Bible has been translated into the
vernacular of most countries, the language of our Bible remains the English
of three hundred years ago.
This translation of the New Testament is an endeavour to do for the Eng- lish nation what has been done already for the people of almost all other countries — to enable Englishmen to read the most important part of their Bible in that form of their own language which they themselves use. It had its origin in the recognition of the fact that the English of the Authorized Version (closely followed in that of the Revised Version), though widely valued for its antique charm, is in many passages difficult, or even quite un- intelligible to the modern reader. The retention, too, of a form of English no longer in common use is liable to give the impression that the contents of the Bible have little to do with the life of to-day. The Greek used by the New Testament writers was not the Classical Greek of some centuries earlier, but the form of the language spoken in their own day. Moreover the writers represent those whose utterances they record as using the words and phrases of every-day life.
We believe that the New Testament will be better understood by modern readers if presented in a modern form ; and that a translation of it, which presents the original in an exalted literary and antiquated dress, cannot, despite its " aroma " and the tender memories that have gathered around it, really make the New Testament for the reader of to-day the living reality that it was to its first readers. In this respect the present translation differs altogether in its aim from that of the Revised Version of 1881. No attempt is made in that Version to translate the original into the language of our own time. Its authors state in their preface :
" We have faithfully adhered to the rule that the alterations to be introduced should be ex- pressed, as far as possible, in the language of the Authorized Version, or of the Versions that preceded it."
Our constant effort, on the contrary, has been to exclude all words and
iv. PREFACE.
phrases not used in current English. \Ve have, however, followed the modern practice of using an older phraseology in the rendering of poetical passages, and of quotations from tHe Old Testament, and in the language of prayer.
The translation of 1611, known as the "Authorized Ver- Neitber a
Revision nor sion," was the outcome of many successive revisions of the a Paraphrase. translation completed by Tyndale in 1534, which was, at least to some extent, founded on that completed by Wycliffe about 1380. Further, the last named translation was not made from the original Greek, but from the Latin Version, known as the Vulgate. The present translation is not a revision of any previous one, but is made directly from the Greek. Nor is it a paraphrase. A paraphrase might be useful as a help to the inter- pretation of the New Testament, but it would not be the New Testament itself. Yet, on the other hand, our work is more than a verbal translation. No purely verbal rendering can ever adequately represent the thoughts con- veyed in the idioms of another language. In this translation, not only has every word been carefully weighed, but also the emphasis placed upon every word, and the effort has been made to give the exact force and meaning in idiomatic modern English.
The Greek Since the publication of the Authorized Version of 1611, Text. more than 1,500 manuscripts of the whole or of parts of the
New Testament have been discovered or have become accessible, and among them are the three oldest and most important. The Greek text here trans- lated, that of Westcott and Hort, is mainly founded on the oldest manuscripts, and may be said to represent that form of the text of the New Testament which was generally in use in the Church at the end of the Third Century. Parallel A large amount of time and care has been expended
Passages. upon those passages of the gospels which record the same, or similar, events or discourses, in order to show the remarkable similarities, and the no less remarkable divergences, which abound in them. Such pas- sages are common in the first three gospels, while in the fourth they are more numerous than is generally supposed. Dr. Westcott writes :
"The English reader has a right to expect that he will find in the Revision which is placed in his hands a faithful indication of the verbal agreement or difference between the several narratives."
In addition to such help as that referred to by Dr. Westcott, the English reader should now be able, to some extent, to study the origins of the gospels, and to discern their relation to a common source. Great advances have been made in the study of this subject since the issue of the Authorized and even
PREFACE. V.
of the Revised Version. There are still, however, minute points where such an indication as that required by Dr. Westcott seems impossible.
The numerous and important quotations from the Old Quotations _
and lestament are in this translation set out in modern form;
"p^J^s"^* but minor quotations (i. <•., those not specially introduced as quotations) from the Old Testament, the Apocrypha, the Book of Enoch, and other sources, are placed between single inverted com- mas; while, at the foot of the pages, references are given to some of the vast number of places, in which the writers consciously or unconsciously bor- row the phraseology of the Old Testament. This will enable the reader to see how familiar the writers were with the very words and phrases of the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament, and how insensibly it influenced them in describing the events of their own day.
Proper The names of persons and places we have, as a rule, left
Names. jn ^ forms wjth which English readers have been made familiar by the Authorized and Revised Versions, except where a change in the spelling seemed likely to show the correct pronunciation.
We have attempted to give measures of space and time, Measures, Coins, the values of coins, and also official titles in their nearest
and Titles. f i- u i
English equivalents.
Bracketed A few passages, numbering fourteen in all, will be found
Passages. placed between square brackets. These are judged by
Westcott and Hort " not to have originally formed part of the work in which
they occur," but to be " stray relics from the Apostolic or sub- Apostolic age."
The three most important of these will be found at pages 39 and 210.
Order of the The order, in which the Books and Letters of the New Books. Testament appear in this translation, is due to the desire not to inconvenience a reader, familiar with the old order, more than is neces- sary, but, at the same time, to make an advance in the direction of such a chronological arrangement, as modern research has rendered possible. Three main divisions have been adopted, suggested by the character of the books — Historical Books, Letters, and an Apocalypse ; and, in the sub-divisions, the Letters have been grouped under the names of those writers to whom they have been traditionally attributed. Within these sub-divisions the Books and Letters stand in a probable chronological arrangement.
It is certain that our translation will not be acceptable to those who regard any attempt to re-translate the New Testament as undesirable, if not danger- ous. It is, nevertheless, hoped that, by this modern translation, the New Testament may become a living reality to many by whom the Authorized Version, with all its acknowledged beauties, is but imperfectly understood or nerer read.
VI. PREFACE.
In this hope, we now commend this translation, which has been under- taken as a labour of love, to the good-will of all English-speaking people, and to the blessing of Almighty God.
THE TRANSLATORS. September, 1904.
NOTE.
The " Tentative Edition " of this Translation was issued in three parts be- tween 1898 and 1901. In that Edition we endeavoured to discover what was practicable in a modern translation of the New Testament, before issuing a permanent edition. This Revision of our Translation, rendered necessary by the large demand for our " Tentative Edition " in every part of the English- speaking world, amounts practically to a careful re-translation made in the light of experience derived from our previous attempts, and of the many valuable criticisms that have been received.
THE ORDER
OF THE
BOOKS AND LETTERS
AS ARRANGED IN THIS TRANSLATION
|
MARK |
PAGE •7 |
EPHESIANS . |
PACK |
|
MATTHEW .... |
41 |
PHILIPPIANS |
• 3Q7 |
|
LUKE JOHN |
. 101 |
I. TIMOTHY . . II. TIMOTHY |
. . 405 |
|
TITUS .... |
42t |
||
|
ACTS |
|||
|
JAMES |
HEBREWS . . . |
. . 429 |
|
|
/ J |
I. PETER |
451 |
|
|
I. THESSALONIANS II. THESSALONIANS . |
. 28l . 289 |
II. PETER . . . JUDE .... |
. 461 . 460 |
|
GALATIANS .... I. CORINTHIANS . |
• 295 • 3°7 |
I. JOHN .... |
. 475 |
|
II. CORINTHIANS . |
• 331 |
II JOHN |
|
|
ROMANS .... |
• 349 |
III. JOHN . . . |
489 |
|
COLOSSIANS . . . PHILEMON . |
• 375 . *8* |
REVELATION |
. 4Q-* |
CONTENTS.
A — THE HISTORICAL BOOKS.
L— THE GOSPELS.
(i). THE SYNOPTICAL GOSPELS.
(a). ACCORDING TO MARK.
I. — THE PREPARATION. Chap. i. i — 13. PAGE
The Baptist and his Message 5
The Baptism of Jesus 5
The Temptation of Jesus . . 5
II. — THE WORK IN GALILEE. Chaps, i. 14 — 9. 50.
Jesus begins His Work 6
The first Disciples 6
Cure of a possessed Man 6
Cure of Peter's Mother-in-law and of many others ...... 6
Jesus retires for Prayer 7
Cure of a Leper 7
Cure of a paralyzed Man 7
Call of Levi 8
The Disciples blamed for not observing" the Law 8
Cure of a Man with a Withered Hand 9
Cures by the Lake-side 9
The twelve Apostles 10
Jesus and His Relations JO
Jesus accused of Acting by the Help of Satan 10
The true Brotherhood IO
Parable of the Sower .... ,~ —.—i*^. 10
Lesson from a Lamp II
Parable of the Seed growing unobserved 12
Parable of the Mustard Seed 12
Jesus stills a Storm 12
Cure of a Madman 12
The Raising of the Daughter of Jaeirus 13
Cure of an afflicted Woman 14
Jesus teaches at Nazareth 15
The Mission of the twelve Apostles 15
The Death of the Baptist 15
The Return of the Apostles 16
Tesus feeds five thousand by the Lake of Galilee 1 6
A*
x. CONTENTS.
ACCORDING TO MARK— Cont.
THE WORK IN GALILEE — Cont. PAGE
Jesus walks on the Water 17
Jesus at Gennesaret 17
The Disciples blamed for neglecting Ceremonies 17
Cure of a Syrian Girl near Tyre 18
Cure of a deaf Mute 19
Jesus feeds four thousand 19
Warning against the Teaching of the Pharisees 20
Cure of a blind Man at Bethsaida 20
Peter's Confession of the Christ 20
Jesus foretells His Death 21
A Call to renounce Self 21
The Transfiguration 21
A Question about Elijah 21
Cure of an Epileptic Boy 22
Jesus a second time foretells His Death .23
Jesus teaches at Capernaum —
On Humility 23
On Toleration 23
Against hindering Others 23
III. — THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM. Chap. 10. i — 52.
A Question' about Divorce 24
Jesus blesses little Children 24
The Responsibilities of Wealth 24
Jesus a third time foretells His Death 25
The Request of James and John 26
The Dignity of Service 26
Cure of blind Bartimaeus 26
IV. — THE LAST DAYS. Chaps, n. i — 15. 47.
Jesus enters Jerusalem • 27
The fruitless Fig Tree 27
Jesus in the Temple 27 esus and the Chief Priests 28
Parable of the wicked Tenants 28
A Question about Tribute 29
A Question about the Resurrection 29
The Great Commandment 30
Christ the Son of David 30
Warnings against the Teachers of the Law 31
The Widow's Offering 31
Jesus foretells the Destruction of the Temple and the End of
the Age '. 31
The Need for Watchfulness 32
The Plot against Jesus 33
Jesus anointed by a Woman at Bethany 33
Judas agrees to betray Jesus 33
The Passover 33
The " Lord's Supper " 34
Peter's Fall foretold 34
Jesus in Gethsemane 34
CONTENTS. xi
ACCORDING TO MARK— Cont.
THE LAST DAYS — Cont. PAGE
The Arrest of Jesus 35
Jesus before the High Priest . . . .' 35
Peter disowns Jesus 36
Jesus before the Roman Governor 36
The Crucifixion of Jesus 37
The Death of Jesus 38
The Burial of Jesus 38
V. — THE RISEN LIFE ANNOUNCED. Chap. 16. 1—20.
The Resurrection of Jesus 39
A Late Appendix 39
Another Appendix 40
(A). ACCORDING TO HATTHEW.
I. — THE BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND INFANCY. Chaps, i. i — 3. 23.
The Ancestors of Jesus 43
The Birth of Jesus 44
The Visit of the Astrologers 45
The Flight into Egypt 45
II. — THE PREPARATION. Chaps. 3. i — 4. u.
The Baptist and his Message 46
The Baptism of Jesus 47
The Temptation of Jesus 47
III. — THE WORK IN GALILEE. Chaps. 4. 12 — 18. 35.
Jesus settles at Capernaum .48
Jesus begins His Work .48
The first Disciples ,48
Jesus preaches in Galilee .49
The Sermon on the Mount —
The Happy . . 49
A real Disciple of Jesus .49
Lesson from a Lamp .49
The old Law and the new —
on Anger eo
on Impurity co
on Divorce ... 50
on Oaths ei
on Revenge . . . v~. — ." . ... ... 51
on Love ei
About Giving ... 51
About Praying 52
The " Lord's Prayer " 52
About Fasting 52
The true Treasure 52
Light and Darkness 52
True Service 52
The Cares of Life 53
On Judging Others 53
Encouragement to Prayer 53
Xll. CONTENTS.
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW— Cont.
THE WORK IN GALILEE — Cont. PAGE
The Golden Rule 53
The two Roads • • • • 54
True and false Teachers 54
The two Foundations 54
Cure of a Leper 54
Cure of an Officer's Servant 55
Cure of Peter's Mother-in-law and of many others 55
Tests of Sincerity 55
Jesus stills a Storm 56
Cure of two Madmen 56
Cure of a paralyzed Man 56
Call of Matthew 57
Jesus blamed for His Companions 57
The Disciples blamed for not Fasting 57
The Raising of the Daughter of Jaeirus 57
Cure of an afflicted Woman 57
Cure of two blind Men 58
Cure of a dumb Man 58
The Need for Workers 58
The twelve Apostles 58
The Mission of the twelve Apostles 59
The Cost of Christ's Service 60
The Baptist's Message to Jesus 60
The Testimony of Jesus to the Baptist 6 1
The Doom of the Towns of Galilee 6r
The Child-like Mind 62
Jesus invites the Weary 62
The Disciples blamed for not observing the Law 62
Cure of a man with a withered Hand 62
Cure of a blind and dumb Man 63
Jesus accused of Acting by the Help of Satan 63
Words a test of Character 64
Warning against seeking Signs 64
Danger of imperfect Reformation 64
The true Brotherhood 64
Parable of the Sower 65
Parable of the Tares 66
Parable of the Mustard Seed 66
Parable of the Leaven 66
Parable of the Tares explained 67
Parable of the Treasure ; 67
Parable of the Pearl 67
Parable of the Net 67
New and Old Truths 67
Jesus teaches at Nazareth 67
The Death of the Baptist 68
Jesus feeds five thousand by the Lake of Galilee 68
Jesus walks on the Water 69
Jesus at Gennesaret 69
The Disciples blamed for neglecting Ceremonies 69
CONTENTS. xiii.
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW— Cent.
THE WORK IN GALILEE — Cont. PAGE
Cure of a Syrian Girl near Tyre 70
Jesus cures many Persons 71
Jesus feeds four thousand 71
Signs of the Times . .• 71
Warning against the Teaching of the Pharisees 72
Peter's Confession of the Christ 72
Jesus foretells His Death 72
A Call to renounce Self 73
The Transfiguration 73
A Question about Elijah 73
Cure of an epileptic Boy 74
The Power of Faith 74
Jesus a second time foretells His Death 74
A Question about the Temple-rate 74
On Humility 75
Against hindering Others 75
Parable of the lost Sheep 75
On dealing with Wrong-doers 75
Encouragement to united Prayer 76
Parable of the unforgiving Servant 76
IV. — THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM. Chaps. 1 9. i — 20. 34.
A Question about Divorce f6
Jesus blesses little Children 77
The Responsibilities of Wealth 77
Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard 78
Jesus a third time foretells His Death 79
The Request of the Mother of James and John 79
The Dignity of Service 79
Cure of two blind Men 80
V. — THE LAST DAYS. Chaps, ai. i — 37. 66.
Jesus enters Jerusalem 80
Jesus in the Temple 81
The fruitless Fig Tree 81
Jesus and the Chief Priests 81
Parable of the two Sons 82
Parable of the wicked Tenants 82
Parable of the Marriage Feast 83
A Question about Tribute . . .~Jr~7TT' 83
A Question about the Resurrection .84
The Great Commandment 84
Christ the Son of David 85
Warnings against the Teachers of the Law 85
Jesus denounces the Pharisees 85
Jesus laments the fate of Jerusalem 86
Jesus foretells the Destruction of the Temple and the End of the
Age 87
The Need for Watchfulness 88
Parable of the Good and Bad Servants 89
Parable of the ten Bridesmaids 89
XIV. CONTENTS.
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW— Cont.
THE LAST DAYS — Cont. PAGE
Parable of the Talents 89
The Great Judgment 90
The Plot against Jesus 91
Jesus anointed by a Woman at Bethany 91
Judas agrees to betray Jesus 92
The Passover 92
The " Lord's Supper " 92
Peter's Fall foretold 92
Jesus in Gethsemane 93
The Arrest of Jesus 93
Jesus before the High Priest 94
Peter disowns Jesus 95
The End of Judas 95
Jesus before the Roman Governor 96
The Crucifixion of Jesus 96
The Death of Jesus 97
The Burial of Jesus 98
VI. — THE RISEN LIFE. Chap. 28. 1—20.
The Resurrection of Jesus 98
Jesus appears to the Apostles 99
(<•). ACCORDING TO LUKE.
DEDICATION. Chap. i. i — 4 103
I. — THE BIRTH, PARENTAGE, INFANCY, AND BOYHOOD. Chaps, i. 5—2. 52.
The Birth of the Baptist foretold 103
The Birth of Jesus foretold 104
Mary's visit to Elizabeth 105
The Birth and Circumcision of the Baptist 106
The Birth and Circumcision of Jesus 107
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple 107
The Boyhood of Jesus 108
II. — THE PREPARATION. Chaps. 3. i — 4. 13.
The Baptist and his Message . . . ••>.• 109
The Baptism of Jesus no
The Ancestors of Jesus no
The Temptation of Jesus ill
III. — THE WORK IN GALILEE. Chaps. 4. 14 — 9. 50.
Jesus begins His Work 112
Jesus teaches at Nazareth 1 1 2
Cure of a possessed Man 113
Cure of Peter's Mother-in-law and of many others 113
Jesus retires to a lonely Place .... 113
The great Catch of Fish "4
Cure of a Leper 1 14
Cure of a paralyzed Man .' . 115
CallofLevi "5
CONTENTS. XV.
ACCORDING TO LUKE— Cont.
THE WORK IN GALILEE — Cont. PAGE
Jesus blamed for His companions 115
The Disciples blamed for not observing the Law 115
Cure of a Man with a withered Hand 116
The twelve Apostles 117
The Sermon on the Mount —
The Happy 117
The Unhappy 117
The New Law —
on Love 117
on Revenge 117
The Golden Rule 117
On judging Others 118
True and false Teachers 118
The two Foundations 118
Cure of an Officer's Servant 119
Raising of a Widow's Son „ 119
The Baptist's Message to Jesus 119
The Testimony of Jesus to the Baptist 120
Jesus anointed by a Woman , 120
Women who ministered to Jesus 121
Parable of the Sower 121
Lesson from a Lamp 122
The true Brotherhood 122
Jesus stills a Storm 123
Cure of a Madman 123
The raising of the Daughter of Jaeirus 124
Cure of an afflicted Woman 124
The Mission of the twelve Apostles 125
Herod and the Baptist 125
The Return of the Apostles 125
Jesus feeds five thousand by the Lake of Galilee 125
Peter's Confession of the Christ 126
Jesus foretells His Death 126
A Call to renounce Self 126
The Transfiguration 126
Cure of an epileptic Boy 127
Jesus a second time foretells His Death 127
On Humility 127
On Toleration 127
IV. — THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM. Chaps. 9. 51 — 19. 28.
Tests of Sincerity 128
The Mission of the Seventy 128
The Doom of the Towns of Galilee 129
The Return of the Seventy 129
The Childlike Mind 129
The Great Commandment 129
The Good Samaritan 130
The Sisters of Bethany 130
The " Lord's Prayer " 131
xvi. CONTENTS,
ACCORDING TO LUKE— Cont.
THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM— Cont. FACE
Persistence in Prayer 131
Encouragement to Prayer 131
Cure of a dumb Man 131
Jesus accused of Acting by the Help of Satan 131
Danger of imperfect Reformation 132
Warning against seeking Signs 132
Lesson from a Lamp 132
Light and Darkness 132
Jesus denounces the Pharisees 132
A Plot against Jesus 133
Warnings and Encouragements 133
Instances of Covetousness 134
The Cares of Life 134
The true Treasure 135
Watchfulness 135
Parable of the good and bad Servants 135
The Cost of Christ's Service 136
Signs of the Times 136
The Settlement of Disputes 136
The Meaning of Calamities 136
The barren Fig Tree 136
A Woman healed on the Sabbath 137
Parable of the Mustard Seed 137
Parable of the Leaven 137
The narrow Door 137
A Message to Herod Antipas 138
Jesus laments the Fate of Jerusalem 138
Cure of a dropsical Man 138
Lessons on Humility and Hospitality 139
Parable of the great Dinner 139
The Cost of Self-denial 14°
A real Disciple of Jesus 14°
Parable of the lost Sheep 14°
Parable of the lost Coin 14°
Parable of the lost Son 141
Parable of the dishonest Steward I42
True Service 142
Jesus rebukes the Pharisees I42
Parable of the rich Man and Lazarus 143
Against hindering Others 143
On dealing with Wrong-doers 143
The Power of Faith 143
Duty 143
Jesus heals ten Lepers 144
The Coming of the Kingdom 144
Parable of the corrupt Judge 145
Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-gatherer 145
Jesus blesses little Children 145
The Responsibilities of Wealth 146
Jesus a third time foretells His Death 146
CONTENTS. XVU.
ACCORDING TO LUKE— Cent.
THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM — Cont. PAGE
Cure of a blind Man 147
Zacchaeus the Tax-gatherer 147
Parable of the Pounds 147
V. — THE LAST DAYS. Chaps. 19. 29—33. 56.
Jesus enters Jerusalem 148
Jesus in the Temple 149
Jesus and the Chief Priests 149
Parable of the wicked Tenants 150
A Question about Tribute 150
A Question about the Resurrection 151
Christ the Son of David 151
Warnings against the Teachers of the Law 152
The Widow's Offering 152
Jesus foretells the Destruction of the Temple and the End of the
Age 152
The Need for Watchfulness 153
The Plot against Jesus 154
Judas agrees to betray Jesus 154
The Passover 154
The " Lord's Supper " 154
The Dignity of Service 155
Peter's Fall foretold 155
The End at Hand 155
Jesus on the Mount of Olives 155
The Arrest of Jesus 156
Jesus before the High Priest 156
Peter disowns Jesus 156
Jesus before the Chief Priests 157
Jesus before the Roman Governor 157
Jesus before Herod 157
Jesus again before the Roman Governor 158
The Crucifixion of Jesus 158
The penitent Robber 159
The Death of Jesus 159
The Burial of Jesus 159
VI. — THE RISEN LIFE. Chap. 24. i — 53.
The Resurrection of Jesus 160
Jesus appears on the road to Emmaus 160
Jesus appears to the Apostles 161
Jesus ascends to Heaven . . 162
(2). A LATER GOSPEL. ACCORDING TO JOHN.
INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — 18 165
I. — THE PREPARATION. Chap. i. 19 — 51.
The Testimony of the Baptist to Jesus 166
The first Disciples of Jesus 167
XV111. CONTENTS.
ACCORDING TO JOHN— Cont.
II. — THE WORK IN JUDAEA, GALILEE, AND SAMARIA. Chaps.
a. i — ii. 57. PAGE
Jesus at a Wedding at Cana 168
Jesus at Capernaum 168
Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem 168
The Visit of Nicodemus to Jesus 169
The Baptist's Testimony to Jesus in Judaea 170
Jesus and the Woman of Samaria 171
Jesus cures an Officer's Son in Galilee 173
Jesus cures a Cripple in Jerusalem on the Sabbath 173
Jesus defends His Action and explains His Mission 174
Jesus feeds five thousand by the Lake of Galilee . 175
Jesus walks on the Water 176
Jesus teaches at Capernaum —
The Bread of Life 176
Jesus and His Brothers 179
Jesus teaches at the Festival of Tabernacles in Jerusalem . . . 179
The " Living Water " 180
The " Light of the World " 181
Jesus defends His Mission and Authority 181
Jesus cures a Man born blind 183
The » Good Shepherd " 185
Jesus at the Re-dedication Festival ... 186
Jesus retires beyond the Jordan 187
Jesus raises Lazarus to Life at Bethany 187
The Chief Priests plot the Death of Jesus . ... 189
Jesus retires to Ephraim 190
III. — THE LAST DAYS. Chaps. 12. i — 19. 42.
Jesus anointed by Mary at Bethany 190
Jesus publicly enters Jerusalem for the Last Time 191
Jesus closes His public Ministry 191
Jesus washes the Disciples' Feet 193
Jesus points out the Betrayer 194
Jesus teaches His Disciples privately —
The New Commandment 194
The Way 195
The Helper ; 195
The Vine and the Branches 196
The World and the Spirit of Truth 197
Words of Farewell 198
The Prayer of Jesus , 199
Jesus in Gethsemane 200
The Arrest of Jesus . 201
Peter disowns Jesus 201
Jesus before the High Priest 201
Jesus before the Roman Governor 202
The Crucifixion of Jesus 204
The Death of Jesus 204
The Burial of Jesus . . . . i 205
CONTENTS. XIX.
ACCORDING TO JOHN— Cent.
IV. — THE RISEN LIFE. Chaps. 20. i — 21. 25. PAGE
The Resurrection of Jesus 205
Jesus appears to Mary 206
Jesus appears to the Apostles 206
Jesus appears to Thomas 207
The Object of this Gospel 207
A later Appearance of Jesus 207
Jesus' last Words to Peter 208
Conclusion 209
A PASSAGE ABOUT AN ADULTERESS 210
II.— THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
ACTS OF APOSTLES.
I. — THE CHURCH AND THE JEWS. Chaps, i. i — 12. 25. Doings of the Apostles Peter and John —
Introduction 213
Ascension of Jesus ...213
The Apostles in Jerusalem 214
Appointment of Matthias 214
The Gift of the Holy Spirit 215
Peter's Address 215
Early Days of the Christian Society 217
Cure of a lame Beggar 217
Peter's Address in the Temple 218
Peter and John before the Council 219
The Common Fund 220
Punishment of Ananias and Sapphira 221
Miracles done by the Apostles 221
Peter and John again before the Council 222
Appointment of " The Seven ". 223
Stephen's Ministry and Trial 224
Stephen's Defense 224
Stephen's Martyrdom 227
The First Persecution 227
Philip's Ministry in Samaria 227
Peter and John at Samaria 228
Philip and the Abyssinian 228
Saul's Conversion 229
Saul at Damascus 230
Saul at Jerusalem and Tarsus 231
Peter's Miracles at Lydda and Jaffa 231
Peter and Cornelius 232
First Conversion of Gentiles 234
Peter's Defense of his Action . . 234
" Christians " at Antioch 235
Errand of Barnabas and Saul to Judrea 236
Persecution of the Church by Herod Agrippa I 236
Herod's Death 237
XX. CONTENTS.
ACTS OF APOSTLES— Cont.
11.— THE CHURCH AND THE GENTILES. Chaps. 13. i — 28.31. PAGE Doings of the Apostle Paul —
Paul's first Missionary Journey —
The Start from Antioch 237
Paul and Barnabas at Cyprus 238
Paul and Barnabas at Pisidian Anlioch 238
Paul and Barnabas at Iconium 240
Paul and Barnabas at Lystra 241
Paul and Barnabas return to Pisidian Antioch .... 241 Paul and Barnabas again at Syrian Antioch .... 242 The Council at Jerusalem 242
Paul's second Missionary Journey —
Paul separates from Barnabas 244
Paul joined by Timothy at Lystra 244
Paul determines to cross to Macedonia 245
Paul at Philippi 245
Paul at Thessalonica 246
Paul at Bercea 247
Paul at Athens 247
Paul at Corinth 249
Paul's Return 249
Paul's third Missionary Journey —
Tour in Galatia 250
ApollcJs 250
Paul at Ephesus 250
Paul plans to visit Jerusalem and Rome 251
The Riot at Ephesus 25 1
Paul again in Greece and Macedonia 252
Paul at Troas 253
Paul at Miletus 253
Paul at Tyre 254
Paul at Csesarea 255
Paul arrives at Jerusalem 255
Paul's Arrest 256
Paul's Defense to the People of Jerusalem 257
Paul's claim as a Roman Citizen 258
Paul before the High Council of the Jews 258
The Plot against Paul 259
Paul sent to Coesarea 260
Paul before Felix 260
Paul before Festus 262
Paul before Herod Agrippa II 263
Paul's Voyage to Rome 265
Paul is shipwrecked .... 267
Paul at Malta 267
Paul's Voyage to Rome continued 268
Paul at Rome . . 268
CONTENTS. XXI.
B.— THE LETTERS.
I.— THE LETTER ATTRIBUTED TO ST. JAMES. FROM JAflES.
I. — GREETING. Chap. i. i 275
II. — ADVICE UPON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. Chap. i. 2—27.
Trials 275
Lack of Wisdom 275
Wealth and Poverty 275
Temptation 275
True Religion 276
III. — WARNING UPON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. Chaps, a. i — 5. 6.
On the Treatment of the Poor 276
On " Faith and Works " 277
On the Control of the Tongue 278
Against false Wisdom 278
Against Party-Strife 278
Against Presumption 279
Against Oppression 279
IV. — CONCLUDING EXHORTATIONS. Chap. 5. 7 — 20.
Christian Patience 280
Against Oaths 280
The Power of Prayer 280
The Blessedness of Saving a Soul 280
II.— THE LETTERS ATTRIBUTED TO ST. PAUL.
(i). AN EARLY GROUP.
(«). TO THE THESSALONIANS.-I.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i.
Greeting 283
II. — THE APOSTLE AND HIS CONVERTS. Chaps, i. 2 — 3. 13.
His Thankfulness for their Faith and its Influence 283
His Life amopg them 284
Their Persecution by their Fellow-citizens . 284
Frustrated Plans 285
Timothy's Mission 285
The Apostle's Prayer for his Converts 285
III. — ADVICE UPON THE DAILY LIFE. Chap. 4. i — 12.
Warning against Immorality '. 286
Brotherly Love 286
The Duty of Work 286
IV. — THE DEAD IN CHRIST AT THE COMING OF THE LORD. Chaps. 4. 13 — 5. n.
The Living and the Dead 286
The Time of the Lord's Coming 287
The Necessity for Watchfulness 287
xxii. CONTENTS.
TO THE THESSALONIANS.— I.— Cont. V. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 5. 12 — 28. PAGE
Final Counsels 287
Farewell 288
(b). TO THE THESSALONIANS. -II.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — 2.
Greeting , , 291
II. — THE APOSTLE AND HIS CONVERTS. Chap. i. 3 — 12.
His Thankfulness and Confidence 291
His Prayer for them 292
III. — EVENTS THAT MUST PRECEDE THE LORD'S COMING. Chap. 2. 1—17.
The " Man of Sin " and the " Great Apostasy " 292
The Need for Steadfastness 292
IV. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 3. i — 18.
Mutual Prayer 293
The Duty of Work 293
The Apostle's Autograph Farewell 293
(2). THE MAIN GROUP.
(a). TO THE QALATIANS.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — 10.
Greeting 297
The Apostle's Disappointment 297
II. — THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE APOSTLE'S GOSPEL. Chaps. i. ii— a. 14.
Its Special Revelation 297
His Special Call 298
His independent Action 298
His Rebuke to Peter 299
III. — THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL. Chaps, a. 15 — 4. 31.
The Failure of the Law 299
The Galatians misled as to the Law 299
Faith, not Law, the Ground of Acceptance 300
The Purpose of the Law 301
The Effect of the Gospel 301
The retrograde Spirit of the Galatians 301
The Apostle and his Converts 302
An Allegory of the Law and the Gospel 302
IV — THE GOSPEL IN THE DAILY LIFE. Chaps. 5. i— 6. 10.
Christian Freedom 303
The Limits of Christian Freedom 303
The Guidance of the Spirit 303
V. — CONCLUSION IN THE APOSTLE'S OWN HANDWRITING. Chap.
6. 11—18 305
CONTENTS. xxiii.
(6). TO THE CORINTHIANS.— I.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — 9. PAGE
Greeting 309
The Apostle's Thankfulness and Confidence 309
II THE STATE OF THE CHURCH AT CORINTH. Chaps, i. 10 — 6. 20.
Prevalence of Party Spirit 309
The Power of the Cross 310
" Weakness " and " Strength." 310
Philosophy and Revelation ... 311
The true Position and Work of the Apostles 312
A flagrant case of Immorality 314
Lawsuits between Christians 314
The Sacredness of the Body 315
III. — ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE CHURCH AT CORINTH.
Chaps. 7. i — 1 4. 40. On Marriage —
The Apostle's Views 315
Marriages with Unbelievers 316
Christianity independent of Conditions of Life 316
Difficulties connected with Marriage 317
On Heathen Festivals —
A Question of Conscience 318
The Apostle's Example 318
A Warning from History 320
The Apostle's Conclusions 320
On Public Worship —
As to Covering the Head 321
As to the " Lord's Supper " 322
On Spiritual Gifts —
Their Variety and Unity 323
Love the greatest of all 324
The Gift of the " Tongues " and the Gift of Preaching . . 324 The Necessity for Order 326
IV. — THE APOSTLE'S TEACHING AS TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE
DEAD. Chap. i5. i — 58 327
V. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 16. i — 24.
The Collection for the Poor at Jerusalem 329
The Apostle's Plans 329
Timothy 330
Apollos 330
Exhortations ' . 330
Farewells 330
The Apostle's own Farewell 330
(0. TO THE CORINTHIANS.-II.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i— u.
Greeting 333
The Apostle's Thanksgiving for Encouragement 333
CONTENTS.
TO THE CORINTHIANS.— II.— Coat.
II. — THE APOSTLE'S RELATIONS WITH HIS CONVERTS. Chaps.
I. 12 — 3. 3. PAGE
The Purity of his Motives 334
The Postponement of his Visit 334
His Converts the Vindication of his Ministry 335
III. — THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLES. Chaps. 3. 4 — 6. 10.
The Glory of the Gospel contrasted with the Glory of the Law . 335
The Weakness of the Apostles 336
Christ their Motive and Strength 337
IV. — THE APOSTLE AND HIS CONVERTS. Chaps. 6. n — 7. 16.
His Appeal for their Love 339
His Warning against Heathen Influences 339
His Anxieties and Encouragements 339
V. — THE PALESTINE FAMINE FUND. Chaps. 8. 1—9. 15.
The Example of the Macedonian Churches 340
The Completion of the Collection at Corinth 341
Titus and others to assist 341
The Spirit in which to make the Collection . . . , 342
VI. — THE APOSTLE'S CLAIMS AND AUTHORITY. Chaps. 10. i — 12. 10.
The Assertion of his Authority 342
His Right as an Apostle 343
His Claims for Consideration; his Life and Work 344
His Visions 345
VII. — CONCLUSION.— Chaps. 12. n— 13. 14-
A Remonstrance 34-6
A Defence 34&
A Warning 34^
Farewells 347
(</). TO THE ROMANS.
I INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. 1-13.
The Apostle's Greeting 35*
The Apostle's Thankfulness and Hope 351
II. — FAITH THE ONE GROUND OF ACCEPTANCE WITH GOD. Chaps. i. 14—5. 21.
The Divine Ideal for Mankind 352
Failure of the Gentile to reach this Ideal 352
Failure of the Jew to reach this Ideal 353
The One Hope for Jew and Gentile alike 354
Faith the Ground of Acceptance before the Coming of the Law 356
Results of attaining the Divine Ideal 357
The Divine Ideal recovered in the Christ 35^
CONTENTS.
TO THE ROMANS— Cont.
III. — CONSIDERATION OF DIFFICULTIES ARISING FROM THIS TEACHING.
Chaps. 6. i — 8. 39. PAGE
Is this Faith consistent with a Sinful Life ? 358
Can Law deliver from a Sinful Life ? 359
God's Deliverance through the Christ and the Holy Spirit . .301
IV. — THE JEWS' REJECTION OF THE CHRIST. Chaps. 9. i — n. 36.
The Apostle's Lament over Israel 363
The Justice of Israel's Rejection by God ....'."' 363
The Cause of Israel's Rejection 364
The merciful Purpose in Israel's Rejection 366
V. — ADVICE UPON THE DAILY LIFE OF CHRISTIANS. Chaps. 12 i— 15. 21.
On Christian Sacrifice 368
On Christian Membership 368
On Christian Duties 368
On Obedience to the Authorities . . . 369
On Brotherly Love 369
On the Approach of " The Day " 370
On Consideration for the Scrupulous 370
On the Reception of the Gentiles 37 1
VI CONCLUSION. Chaps i5. 22 — 16. 27.
Personal Plans 372
The Bearer of the Letter 373
Personal Greetings 373
A Doxology 374
(3). THE GROUP WRITTEN DURING THE ROMAN IMPRISONMENT.
(a). TO THE COLOSSIANS.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — 12.
Greeting 377
The Apostle's Thankfulness and Prayer 377
II. — THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE CHRIST. Chap. i. 13 — 29.
His Deliverance 378
His Pre-eminence 378
His Reconciliation 378
The Apostle's Share in this Work 378
III. — CHRIST AND THE GNOSTIC TEACHING. Chaps. 2. 1—3. 4-
The Wisdom of God in Christ 379
Union with Christ 379
This Union obscured by Gnostic Teaching 379
Sharing Christ's Death ... 380
Sharing Christ's Resurrection 380
XXVI. CONTENTS.
TO THE COLOSSI ANS—Gmt.
IV. — THE GOSPEL IN THE DAILY LIFE. Chaps. 3. 5 — 4. 6. PAGE
The Old Life and the New 380
Christian Family Life 381
Rules for Christian Life 381
V. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 4. 7 — 18.
The Bearers of the Letter 381
Personal Greetings and Messages 382
The Apostle's own Farewell 382
(6). TO PHILEHON.
I. —INTRODUCTION. I — 3 385
II. — THE APOSTLE'S REQUEST CONCERNING A RUN-AWAY SLAVE.
4—22 385
III. — MESSAGES AND BLESSING. 23 — 25 386
(0- TO THE EPHESIANS.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — 14.
Greeting 389
The Apostle's Ascription of Praise 389
il. — THE POWER OF GOD DISPLAYED IN CHRIST, THE HEAD OF THE
CHURCH. Chaps, i. 15 — 2. 22.
Prayer for Knowledge of this Power 390
This Power displayed in the Resurrection of Christ 390
This Power displayed in the Conversion of the Gentiles .... 390 This Power displayed in the Union of Jew and Gentile within
the Church 391
III. — THE APOSTLE'S DIVINE COMMISSION TO THE GENTILES. Chap.
3. I— 21.
The Gospel made known to the Church through the Apostle . 391 The Gospel made known to the Heavenly Powers through the
Church 392
Prayer that the Church may comprehend this Gospel 392
Doxology 392
IV. — THE GOSPEL AND THE DAILY LIFE. Chaps. 4. i— 6. 20.
Unity in Christ 392
The New Life and the Old 393
Precepts for the Daily Life 394
Christian Family Life 395
The Christian's Armour 396
V. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 6. 21—24 396
CONTENTS. xxvii.
(if). TO THE PHILIPPIANS.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — n. PAGE
Greeting . 399
The Apostle's Thankfulness and Prayer 399
II. — THE APOSTLE IN PRISON AT ROME. Chap. i. 12 — 26.
The Results of his Imprisonment 399
The Spread of the Gospel 400
Life or Death 400
III. — THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. Chaps, i. 27 — 2. 18.
Unity 400
Humility 401
The Great Example 401
Following this Example 401
IV. — PERSONAL PLANS. Chaps. 2. 19 — 3. i.
Timothy 401
Epaphroditus 402
V. — JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY. Chap. 3. 2 — 21.
The Apostle's Warning 402
The Apostle's Experience 402
The Apostle's Example 403
VI. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 4. i — 23.
Exhortations 403
The Gift from Philippi 404
Farewell 404
(4). A LATE GROUP OF PASTORAL LETTERS. (a). TO TIMOTHY.— I.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — 20.
Greeting 407
Warning against False Teaching 407
The Apostle's Thankfulness for his Call to the Ministry . . .408 His Charge to Timothy 408
II. — GENERAL DIRECTIONS ON CHURCH-MATTERS. Chaps. 2. i — 3. 13.
Public Prayer 408
Public Testimony -.-— .-rr^ 4°8
Public Worship 408
Presiding Officers 409
Assistant Officers 409
III.— SPECIAL DIRECTIONS TO TIMOTHY. Chaps. 3. 14—6. 2.
On Dealing with False Teachers 410
On the Development of his Powers 410
On his Relations with those under his Care 411
On the Provision for Widows 411
As to the Officers of the Church 411
On various Subjects 412
As to Slaves . 412
xxviii. CONTENTS.
TO TIMOTHY.— I.— Cont.
IV. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 6. 3 — 21. t>AGfl
False Teaching 412
True Wealth 412
Personal Exhortations 413
Blessing 413
(b). TO TIMOTHY.— II.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — 18.
Greeting 417
An Appeal to Timothy 417
Onesiphorus 418
II. — INJUNCTIONS TO TIMOTHY. Chaps, a. i — 4. 8.
The Service of the Good News 418
The Danger of Controversy 418
Impending Evils 419
III. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 4. 9 — 22.
Personal Messages 420
Farewells and Blessing 421
(0 TO TITUS.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — 4.
Greeting 425
II. — THE MISSION OF TITUS IN CRETE. Chaps, i. 5—3. n.
The Appointment of Officers of the Church 425
On Dealing with False Teachers 426
On his Relations with those under his Care 426
The inspiring Motive 426
Directions as to his Teaching 427
III. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 3. 12 — 15.
Farewell Messages, and Blessing 427
III.— THE ANONYMOUS LETTER TO HEBREWS.
TO HEBREWS.
I. — THE PARAMOUNT POSITION OF THE CHRIST AS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW REVELATION. Chaps, i. i — 6. 20.
His Superiority to Angels 431
His Superiority to Moses and Joshua 433
His Superiority to Aaron 435
The Superiority of the Christian's Position 436
II. — THE PARAMOUNT PRIESTHOOD OF THE CHRIST. Chaps. 7. 1-8. 13.
Parallel with the Priesthood of Melchizedek 437
Superior to the Levitical Priesthood 439
CONTENTS. XXIX.
TO HEBREWS— Cont.
III. — THE SUPERIORITY OF THE NEW REVELATION TO THE OLD.
Chaps. 9. i — 10. 18. PAGE
As regards its Sanctuary 440
As regards its Power to purify 440
As regards its High Priest 441
As regards its Sacrifices 441
IV. — ENCOURAGEMENT AND WARNING BASED ON THE PREVIOUS
TEACHING. Chap. 10. 19 — 39 442
V. — HEROES OF FAITH. Chaps, n. i — la. 13.
The Power of their Faith 444
The Encouragement of their Endurance 446
The Purpose of Discipline 446
VI. — CONCLUSION. Chaps. ia. 14 — 13. 25.
Exhortations 447
Warnings 447
Certain Christian Virtues 448
Loyalty to Christ and the Leaders in the Church 448
Final Requests, Messages, and Blessing 448
IV.— THE LETTERS ATTRIBUTED TO ST. PETER. (a). FROfl PETER.— I.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. i. i — 2.
Greeting 453
II. — THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE OF SALVATION. Chap. i. 3—12 . . . 453 III. — THE. CHRISTIAN'S CHARACTER. Chaps, i. 13 — a. 10.
Holiness of Life 454
Brotherly Love 454
Innocence 455
Consecration 455
IV. — PRACTICAL EXHORTATIONS IN VIEW OF THE DANGERS OF THE TIMES. Chaps, a. n — 4. 19.
The Necessity of setting a good Example 455
Submission to the Civil Authorities 455
The Duty of Servants 456
The Relations between Husbands and Wives 456
Christian Sympathy and Forbearance 456
Endurance after the Example of Christ 457
Renunciation of the Heathen Life 457
Self control, Love and Service 45^
The Ordeal of Suffering 458
V. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 5. i — 14.
Special Exhortations 458
General Exhortations 459
Messages and Blessing ....... f . ........ 459
XXX. CONTENTS.
(£). FROM PETER.— II.
I. — INTRODUCTION. Chap. I. i — n. PAGE
Greeting 463
Christian Privileges and Christian Life 463
II. — THE TRANSFIGURATION AND THE " SECOND COMING " OF THE
CHRIST. Chap. i. 12 — 21 464
III. — WARNING AGAINST SEPARATING CHRISTIANITY FROM A HOLY
LIFE. Chap. 2. i — 22 464
IV. — A REASSERTION OF THE " SECOND COMING " OF THE CHRIST. Chap. 3. i— 1 8.
Long-delayed but certain 466
" The Day of the Lord " 466
The needful Preparation 466
V.— THE LETTER ATTRIBUTED TO ST. JUDE.
FROM JUDE.
I. — INTRODUCTION, i — 2.
Greeting 471
II. — WARNINGS AGAINST THE MORAL CORRUPTION INTRODUCED BY FALSE TEACHERS. 3 — 23.
The Object of the Letter 471
The false Teachers and their certain Doom 47 1
A Christian's Altitude towards these Teachers 472
III. — ASCRIPTION. 24 473
VI.— THE LETTERS ATTRIBUTED TO ST. JOHN.
(a). FROfl JOHN.— I.
I.— THE IMMORTAL LIFE. Chaps, i. i — a. 17.
Manifested in Christ . , 477
Lived in the Light 477
II. — WARNINGS AGAINST ANTI-CHRIST. Chap. a. 18 — 29.
The Anti-Christs 478
The Christian's Consecration 479
III. — THE PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF GOD'S CHILDREN. Chap. 3. i — 24.
The Father's Love 479
The Children's Lives 479
Love of " The Brethren " 480
IV. — TRUE AND FALSE INSPIRATION. Chap. 4. i — 6.
The Test of Inspiration 481
V. — LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE OF MAN. Chap. 4. 7 — 21 481
CONTENTS, XXXI.
FROM JOHN.— I— Cont.
VI. — A CHRISTIAN'S FAITH AND CONFIDENCE. Chap. 5. i — 21. PAGE
Faith ........................ 482
The Three-fold Testimony ................ 482
Confidence ...................... 482
(6). FROn JOHN.— II. (f). FROn JOHN — III.
C.— AN APOCALYPSE. THE REVELATION OF JOHN.
I. — MESSAGES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES. Chaps, i. 4 — 3. 22 . . 497
II. — THE VISION OF THE SEVEN SEALS. Chaps. 4. i — 8. i . . .501
III. — THE VISION OF THE SEVEN TRUMPET-BLASTS. Chaps. 8. 2 —
II. 19 ..................... 506
IV. — THE VISION OF SEVEN SYMBOLICAL FIGURES. Chaps. 12. i —
i4. 20 ............. ......... 510
V. — THE VISION OF THE SEVEN CURSES. Chaps. i5. i — 16. 21 . . 513
VI. — THE DOOM OF THE ENEMIES OF THE CHRIST. Chaps. i7. i —
20. 15 ...................... 515
VII. — THE NEW CREATION. Chaps, ai. i — 22. 5 ........ 520
VIII. — CONCLUSION. Chap. 22. 6 — 21 .............. 522
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS.
THE GOOD NEWS- ACCORDING TO MARK. ACCORDING TO MATTHEW. ACCORDING TO LUKE. ACCORDING TO JOHN.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
ACCORDING TO MARK.
'THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK'.
COMPILED AT AN UNCERTAIN DATE LATER THAN ss A.D.
THIS gospel contains " the earliest and the simplest picture of the ministry of Jesus," but tells nothing of his birth or early life. It appears to be the work of the John Mark who is men- tioned more than once in the New Testament, and to have been compiled from information gathered from the Apostle Peter (whose convert Mark is supposed to have been), as well as from other sources, both written and oral. Of these sources it is plain that the compilers of ' The Gospels according to St. Matthew and St. Luke ' also availed themselves, as well as, in all probability, of a draft of this gospel. It is evident from the writer's habit of translating Aramaic words, and using Latin expressions, that his Life of Jesus was intended for readers of the Western World ; a view confirmed by many interesting traditions of the Western Church. From the absence of much of the Teaching of Jesus given in ' The Gospels according to St. Matthew and St. Luke,' it has been inferred that this was not available in a connected form for the compiler of the present gospel.
ACCORDING TO MARK.
The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ. i 1
I. — THE PREPARATION. It is said in the Prophet Isaiah — 2
The Baptist
and his ' Behold ! I send my Messenger before thy face ; Message. j_je shall prepare thy way.'
'The voice of one crying- aloud in the Wilderness : 3 " Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.'"
And in fulfilment of this, John the Baptizer appeared in the 4 Wilderness, proclaiming a baptism upon repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. The whole of Judaea, as well as all the 5 inhabitants of Jerusalem, went out to him ; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. John was clad in clothing of camels' hair, with a belt of leather 6 round his waist, and lived on locusts and wild honey ; and he 7 proclaimed —
"There is coming after me one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to stoop down and unfasten his sandals. I 8 have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
The Now about that time Jesus came from Naza- 9
Baptism or reth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the
jesus. Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of 10 the water, he saw the heavens rent apart, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him, and from the heavens came n a voice —
"Thou art my Son, the Beloved ; in thee I delight."
The Immediately afterwards the Spirit drove Jesus 12
Temptation out into the Wilderness ; and he was there in the 13
of Jesus. Wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and among the wild beasts, while the angels ministered to him.
Ps. 2. 2. 2-3 Mai. 3. i ; Isa. 40. 3. 6 2 Kings i. 8. 1 Ps. 118. 26. " Ps. a.?; Isa. 42. i.
MARK, 1.
II. — THE WORK IN GALILEE.
Jesus begins After John had been committed to prison, Jesus 14 his work. went to Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of
God—
" The time has come, and the Kingdom of God is at hand ; 15
repent, and believe the Good News."
The first As Jesus was going along the shore of the 16 Disciples. Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother
Andrew casting a net in the Sea, for they were fishermen.
"Come and follow me," Jesus said, "and I will set you to 17
fish for men."
They left their nets at once, and followed him. Going 18,
on a little further, he saw James, Zebediah's son, and his
brother John, who also were in their boat mending the nets.
Jesus at once called them, and they left their father Zebediah 20
in the boat with the crew, and went after him.
Cure or they walked into Capernaum. On 21
a possessed the next Sabbath Jesus went into the Synagogue
Man. an(j began to teach. The people were amazed 22 at his teaching, for he taught them like one who had authority, and not like the Teachers of the Law. Now there was in their 23 Synagogue at the time a man under the power of a foul spirit, who called out :
"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have 24 you come to destroy us ?• I know who you are — the Holy One of God ! " But Jesus rebuked the spirit : 25
" Be silent ! come out from him."
The foul spirit threw the man into a fit, and with a loud 26 cry came out from him. And they were all so amazed that 27 they kept asking :
"What is this? Strange teaching indeed ! He gives his commands with authority even to the foul spirits, and they obey him ! "
And the fame of Jesus spread at once in all directions, through 28 the whole neighbourhood of Galilee.
Cure As soon as they had come out from the Syna- 29
M 0hPr"*nri*w £°&ue> tney wen*» with James and John, into and of'many' the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's 30
others. mother-in-law was lying ill with fever, and they at once told Jesus about her. Jesus went up to her and, 31 grasping her hand, raised her up ; the fever left her, and she began to wait upon them.
In the evening, after sunset, the people brought to Jesus 32
W Pan. a. 44. 2« Ps. 16, 19,
MARK 1—2. 7
all who were ill or possessed by demons ; and the whole city 33 was gathered round the door. Jesus cured many who were 34 ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons, and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ.
jesus retires In the morning, long before daylight, Jesus 35 for prayer, rose and went out, and, going to a lonely spot, there began to pray. But Simon and his companions has- 36 tened after him ; and, when they found him, they exclaimed : 37
" Every one is looking for you ! " But Jesus said to them : 38
" Let us go somewhere else, into the country towns near, that I may make my proclamation in them also ; for that was why I came."
And he went about making his proclamation in their Syna- 39 gogues all through Galilee, and driving out the demons.
cure One day a leper came to Jesus and, falling on 40
of a. Leper, his knees, begged him for help.
" If only you are willing," he said, " you are able to make me clean."
Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and 41 touched him, saying as he did so :
" I am willing ; become clean."
Instantly the leprosy left the man, and he became clean ; and 42, then Jesus, after sternly warning him, immediately sent him away, and said to him : 44
" Be careful not to say anything to any one ; but go and show yourself to the Priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure." The man, however, went away, and began to speak about it 45 publicly, and to spread the story so widely, that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town, but stayed outside in lonely places ; and people came to him from every direction.
Cure of Some days later, when Jesus came back to i a paralyzed Capernaum, the news spread that he was in a
Man. house there ; and so many people collected 2 together, that after a while there was no room for them even round the door ; and he began to tell them his Message. And some people came bringing to him a paralyzed man, who 3 was being carried by four bearers. Being, however, unable 4 to get him near to Jesus, owing to the crowd, they removed the roofing below which Jesus was ; and, when they had made an opening, they let down' the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man : 5
' Child, your sins are forgiven." »:**_:
44 Lev. 13. 49.
8 MARK, 2.
But some of the Teachers of the Law who were sitting there 6 were debating in their minds :
" Why does this man speak like this ? He is blaspheming ! 7 Who can forgive sins except God ? "
Jesus, at once intuitively aware that they were debating with 8 themselves in this way, said to them :
" Why are you debating in your minds about this ? Which 9 is easier ? — to say to the paralyzed man ' Your sins are for- given ' ? or to say ' Get up, and take up your mat, and walk about ' ? But that you may know that the Son of Man has 10 power to forgive sins on earth " — here he said to the para- lyzed man — "To you I say, Get up, take up your mat, and n return to your home."
The man got up, and immediately took up his mat, and went 12 out before them all ; at which they were amazed, and, as they praised God, they said :
" We have never seen anything like this ! "
can of Jesus went out again to the Sea ; and 13
Levi. an the people came to him, and he taught them. As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of 14
Alphaeus, sitting in the tax-office, and said to him : ' ' Follow me. " Levi got up and followed him.
And later on he was in his house at table, and a number of 15 tax-gatherers and outcasts took their places at table with Jesus and his disciples ; for many of them were following him. When 16 the Teachers of the Law belonging to the party of the Pharisees saw that he was eating in the company of such people, they said to his disciples :
" He is eating in the company of tax-gatherers and out- casts ! " Hearing this, Jesus said : 17
" It is not those who are in health that need a doctor, but those who are ill. I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast."
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were 18 Tb*am«d' for* keeping a fast, and people came and asked Jesus : not observing "Why is it that John's disciples and the
the Law. disciples of the Pharisees fast, while yours do
. -, *) *
not ? "
Jesus answered : 19
"Can the bridegroom's friends fast, while the bridegroom is with them ? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the 20 bridegroom will He parted from them, and they will fast then — when that day comes. No man ever sews a piece of 21 unshrunk cloth on an old garment ; if he does, the patch tears away from it — the new from the old — and a worse rent is w Dan. 7. 13.
MARK, 2—3. 9
made. And no man ever puts new wine into old wine-skins ; 22 if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are lost. But new wine is put into fresh skins."
One Sabbath, as Jesus was walking through the corn- 23 fields, his disciples began to pick the ears of wheat as they went along.
" Look ! " the Pharisees said to him, " why are they doing 24 what is not allowed on the Sabbath ? "
" Have you never read," answered Jesus, " what David did 25 when he was in want and hungry, he and his companions — how he went into the House of God, in the time of Abiathar 26 the High Priest, and ate 'the consecrated bread,' which only the priests are allowed to eat, and gave some to his comrades as well ? " Then Jesus added : 27
"The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath ; so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath." 28
On another occasion Jesus went into a Syna- i a. Ma.™ with gog116. where there was a man whose hand was
a withered withered. And they watched Jesus closely, to 2
Hand. see jf jje ,wouid cure the man on the Sabbath, so that they might have a charge to bring against him.
"Stand out in the middle," Jesus said to the man with 3 the withered hand ; and to the people he said : 4
"Is it allowable to do good on the Sabbath — or harm? to save a life, or destroy it ? "
As they remained silent, Jesus looked round at them in anger, 5 grieving at the hardness of their hearts, and said to the man :
" Stretch out your hand."
The man stretched it out ; and his hand had become sound. Immediately on leaving the Synagogue, the 6
Pharisees and the Herodians united in laying a plot against Jesus, to put him to death.
cures by Then Jesus went away with his disciples to 7 *"» the Sea, followed by a great number of people
Lake-side. from Gai;iee. And a great number, hearing of all that he was doing, came to him from Judaea, from 8 Jerusalem, from Edom, from beyond the Jordan, and from the country round Tyre and Sidon. So Jesus told his dis- g ciples to keep a small boat close by, for fear the crowd should crush him. For he had cured many of them, and so people 10 kept crowding upon him, that all who were afflicted might touch him. The foul spirits, too, whenever they caught sight n of him, flung themselves down before him, and screamed out :
"You are the Son of God " ! But he repeatedly warned them not to make him known. 12
» i Sam. 21. 6. " Ps. 2. 7.
B*
10 MARK,
The twelve And Jesus made his way up the hill, and called 13 Apostles, those whom he wished; and they went to him. And he appointed twelve — whom he also named ' Apostles ' — 14 that they might be with him, and that he might send them out as his Messengers, to preach, and with power to drive 15 out demons. So he appointed the Twelve — Peter (which was 16 the name that Jesus gave to Simon), James, the son of Zebediah, 17 and his brother John (to whom he gave the name of Boanerges, which means the Thunderers), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, 18 Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscaridt, the man that betrayed 19 him.
Jesus went into a house ; and again a crowd 20 and his collected, so that they were not able even to eat Relations, their food. When his relations heard of it, they 21 went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of
.his mind. And the Teachers of the Law, who 22
JOHUS accused i r i -j
of Acting had come down from Jerusalem, said : by the Help "He has Baal-zebub in him, and he drives
of Satan. ^& <jemons out j,y the he\p of Baal-zebub, their chief." So Jesus called them to him, and answered them in parables : 23
"How can Satan drive out Satan? When a kingdom is 24 divided against itself, it cannot last ; and when a household is 25 divided against itself, it will not be able to last. So, if Satan 26 is in revolt against himself and is divided, he cannot last — his end has come ! No man who has got into a strong man's 27 house can carry off his goods, without first securing him ; and not till then will he plunder his house. I tell you that 28
men will be forgiven everything — their sins, and all the slanders that they utter ; but whpever slanders the Holy Spirit remains 29 unforgiven to the end ; he has to answer for an enduring sin." This was said in reply to the charge that he had a foul spirit 30 in him.
The true And hife mother and his brothers came, and 31 Brotherhood, stood outside, and sent to ask him to come to them. There was a crowd sitting round Jesus, and some of 32 them said to him :
" Look, your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you."
"Who is my mother? and my brothers ?" was his reply. 33 Then he looked around on the people sitting in a circle round 34 him, and said :
" Here are my mother and my brothers ! Whoever does 35 the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Parable Jesus again began to teach by the Sea ; and, i ^ of the sower. as an immense crowd was gathering round him, he got into a boat, and sat in it on the Sea, while all
MARK, 4. 11
the people were on the shore at the water's edge. Then 2 he taught them many truths in parables ; and in the course of his teaching he said to them :
" Listen ! The sower went out to sow ; and presently, as he 3, 4 was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path ; and the birds came, and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where 5 it had not much soil, and, having no depth of soil, sprang up at once ; but, when the sun rose, it was scorched, and, having no 6 root, withered away. Some of the seed fell among brambles ; 7 but the brambles shot up and completely choked it, and it yielded no return. Some fell into good soil, and, shooting up 8 and growing, yielded a return, amounting to thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold." And Jesus said : 9
" Let any one who has ears to hear with hear."
Afterwards, when he was alone, his followers and the 10 Twelve asked him about his parables ; and he said : 1 1
"To you the hidden truth of the Kingdom of God has been imparted ; but to those who are outside it all teaching takes the form of parables, that — '
' Though they have eyes, they may see without perceiving ; 12
And though they have ears, they may hear without understanding; Lest some day they should turn and be forgiven.'
You do not know the meaning of this parable ! " he went 13 on; "then how will you understand all the other para- bles? The sower sows the Message. The people meant 14, i by the seed that falls along the path are these — where the Message is sown, but, as soon as they have heard it, Satan immediately comes and carries away the Message that has been sown in them. So, too, those meant by the seed sown on the rocky 16 places are the people who, when they have heard the Mes- sage, at once accept it joyfully ; but, as they have no root, they 17 stand only for a short time ; and so, when trouble or persecu- tion arises on account of the Message, they fall away at once. Those meant by the seed sown among the brambles are 18 different ; they are the people who hear the Message, but 19 the cares of life, and the glamour of wealth, and cravings for many other things come in and completely choke the Message, so that it gives no return. But the people meant 20 by the seed sown on the good ground are those who hear the Message, and welcome it, and yield a return, thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold. " Lesson from And Jesus said to them : 21
a. Lamp. " Is a lamp brought to be put under the corn- measure or under the couch, instead of being put on the lamp- stand? Nothing is hidden unless it is some day to comevto 22 light, nor was anything ever kept hidden but that it should
12 Isa. 6. 10.
12 MARK, 4-5.
some day come into the light of day. Let all who have 23
ears to hear with hear. Take care what you listen to," said 24 Jesus. "The measure you mete will be meted out to you, and more will be added for you. For, to those who have, more will 25 be given ; while, from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away."
Jesus also said : 26
Parable o-f the J . . . __. , -. „ . . ...
seed growing This is what the Kingdom of God is like — unobserved, like a man who has scattered seed on the ground, and then sleeps by night and rises by day, while the seed is 27 shooting up and growing — he knows not how. The ground 28 bears the crop of itself — first the blade, then the ear, and then the full grain in the ear ; but, as soon as the crop is ready, 29 immediately he ' puts in the sickle because harvest has come.' " Parable Jesus also said : 30
oVthe0 " To what can we liken the Kingdom of God ? 31
Mustard seed. or by what can we illustrate it? Perhaps by the growth of a mustard-seed. This seed, when sown in the ground, though it is smaller than all other seeds, yet, when 32 sown, shoots up, and becomes larger than any other herb, and puts out great branches, so that even ' the wild birds can roost in its shelter.'"
With many such parables Jesus used to speak to the people 33 of his Message, as far as they were able to receive it ; and to 34 them he never used to speak except in parables ; but in private to his own disciples he explained everything.
j««us stniM In the evening of the same day, Jesus said to 35
a storm, them :
' ' Let us go across. "
So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them, just 36 as he was, in the boat ; and there were other boats with him. A violent squall came on, and the waves kept dashing into the 37 boat, so that the boat was actually filling. Jesus was in the 38 stern asleep upon the cushion ; and the disciples roused him and cried :
" Teacher ! is it nothing to you that we are lost ? " Jesus rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea : 39 "Hush! Be still !" Then the wind dropped, and a great calm followed.
"Why are you so timid?" he exclaimed. "Have you 40 no faith yet ? " But they were struck with great awe, and said to one another: 41
" Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey - him ? "
cur* or a And they came to the other side of the Sea — i
Madman, the country of the Gerasenes ; and, as soon as 2 Jesus had got out of the boat, he met a man coming out of
39 Joel 3. 13. 88 Dan. 4. ia.
MARK, 5. 13
the tombs, who was under the power of a foul spirit, and 3 who made his home in the tombs. No one had ever been able to secure him, even with a chain ; for, though he had many times 4 been left secured with fetters and chains, he had snapped the chains and broken the fetters to pieces, and no one could master him. Night and day alike, he was continually shrieking in 5 the tombs and among the hills, and cutting himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed to 6 the ground before him, shrieking out in a loud voice : 7
"What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God ? For God's sake do not torment me ! " For Jesus had said : 8
" Come out from the man, you foul spirit." 9
And he asked him : " What is your name ? "
"My name," he said, "is Legion, for there are many of us ; " and he begged Jesus again and again not to send them 10 away out of that country. There was a large drove of 1 1
Jigs close by, feeding on the hill-side. And the spirits begged 12 esus :
" Send us into the pigs, that we may take possession of them."
Jesus gave them leave. They came out, and entered into 13 the pigs ; and the drove — about two thousand in number — rushed down the steep slope into the Sea and were drowned in the Sea. On this the men who tended them ran away, 14
and carried the news to the town, and to the country round ; and the people went to see what had happened. When they 15 came to Jesus, they found the possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind — the very man who had had the ' Legion ' in him-^and they were awe-struck. Then those who 16 had seen it related to them all that had happened to the possessed man, as well as about the pigs ; upon which they 17 began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. As 18
Jesus was getting into the boat, the possessed man begged him to let him stay with him. But Jesus refused. 19
"Go back to your home, to your own people," he said, " and tell them of all that the Lord has done for you, and how he took pity on you. "
So the man went, and began to proclaim in the district of 20 the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done for him ; and every one was amazed.
By the time Jesus had re-crossed in the boat to 21 ofRthe'ne the opposite shore, a great number of people had Daughter of gathered to meet him, and were standing by the
jaeirus. gea ^nd one of tne Presidents of the 22
Synagogue, whose name was Jaeirus, came and, as soon as he saw Jesus, threw himself at his feet with repeated entreaties. 23 " My little daughter," he said, " is at the point of death ; I
14 MARK, 6.
beg you to come and place your hands on her, that her life
may be spared. "
So Jesus went with him. A great number of people 24
Cure of followed Jesus, and kept pressing round him. an afflicted Meanwhile a woman who for twelve years had 25 woman. suffered from haemorrhage, and undergone 26 much at the hands of many doctors, (spending all she had without obtaining any relief, but, on the contrary, growing 27 worse), heard about Jesus, came behind in the crowd, and touched his cloak.
"If I can only touch his clothes," she said, "I shall get 28 well ! "
At once the mischief was stopped, and she felt in herself that 29 she was cured of her complaint. Jesus at once became 30 aware of the power that had gone out from him, and, turning round in the crowd, he said :
" Who touched my clothes ? "
"You see the people pressing round you," exclaimed his 31 disciples, " and yet you say ' Who touched me ? ' " But Jesus looked about to see who had done it. Then the 32, woman, in fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and threw herself down before him, and told him the whole truth.
" Daughter," he said, "your faith has delivered you. Go, 34 .and peace be with you ; be free from your complaint."
Before he had finished speaking, some people from the 35 house of the President of the Synagogue came and said :
"Your daughter is dead! Why should you trouble the Teacher further ? "
But Jesus, overhearing what they were saying, said to the 36 President of the Synagogue :
" Do not be afraid ; only have faith."
And he allowed no one to accompany him, except Peter, 37 James, and John, the brother of James. Presently they 38 reached the President's house, where Jesus saw a scene of confusion — people weeping and wailing incessantly.
"Why this confusion and weeping?" he said on entering. 39 "The little child is not dead ; she is asleep."
They began to laugh at him ; but he sent them all out, and 40 then, with the child's father and mother and his companions, went into the room where she was lying. Taking her hand, 41 Jesus said to her :
" Taleitha, koum ! " — which means ' Little girl, I am speak- ing to you — Rise ! '
The little girl stood up at once, and began to walk about ; 42 tor ^lif was twelve years old. And, as soon as they saw it, they were overwhelmed^ with amazement ; but Jesus repeatedly 43 i autioned them not to let any one know of it, and told them to give her something to eat.
, 6. 15
that place, Jesus, followed by i teaches at his disciples, went to his own part of the Nazareth, country. When the Sabbath came, he 2
began to teach in the Synagogue ; and the people, as they listened, were deeply impressed.
"Where did he get this?" they said, "and what is this wisdom that has been given him ? and these miracles which he is doing ? Is not he the carpenter, the son of Mary, and 3 the brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon ? And are not his sisters, too, living here among us ? " This proved a hindrance to their believing in him ; on which 4 Jesus said :
"A Prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and among his own relations, and in his own home." And he could not work any miracle there, beyond placing 5 his hands upon a few infirm persons, and curing them ; and he wondered at the want of faith shown by the people. 6
The Mission Jesus went round the villages, one after another, of the twelve teaching. He called the Twelve to him, 7
Apostles. ant] began to send them out as his Messengers, two and two, and gave them authority over foul spirits. He 8 instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey — not even bread, or a bag, or pence in their purse ; but they 9 were to wear sandals, and not to put on a second coat.
"Whenever you go to stay at a house," he said, "remain 10 there till you leave that place ; and if a place does not wel- 1 1 come you, or listen to you, as you go out of it shake off the dust that is on the soles of your feet, as a protest against them." So they set out, and proclaimed the need of repentance. 12 They drove out many demons, and anointed with oil many 13 who were infirm, and cured them.
The Death ot Now King Herod heard of Jesus ; for his name 14 the Baptist, had become well known. People were saying — "John the Baptizer must have risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him." Others again said — "He is Elijah," and others — "He is a 15 Propliet, like one of the great Prophets. " But when Herod 16 heard of him, he said — "The man whom I beheaded— John- he must be risen ! "
For Herod himself had sent and arrested John, and put him 17 in prison, in chains, to please Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because Herod had married her. For John had said 18 to Herod — 'You have no right to be living with your brother's wife.' So Herodias was incensed against John, and wanted 19 to put him to death, but was unable to do so, because Herod 20 stood in fear of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and protected him. He had listened to John, but still
16 MARK, 6.
remained much perplexed, and yet he found pleasure in listen- ing to him. A suitable opportunity, however, occurred 21 when Herod, on his birthday, gave a dinner to his high offi- cials, and his generals, and the foremost men in Galilee. And 22 when his daughter— that is, the daughter of Herodias — came in and danced, she delighted Herod and those who were dining with him. ' Ask me for whatever you like,' the King said to the girl, ' and I will give it to you ' ; and he swore to her that 23 he would give her whatever she asked him — up to half his kingdom. The girl went out, and said to her mother ' What must I ask for ? ' ' The head of John the Baptizer,' answered her mother. So she went in as quickly as possible to the King, 25 and made her request. 'I want you,' she said, 'to give me at once, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist. ' The King was 26 much distressed ; yet, on account of his oath and of the guests at his table, he did not like to refuse her. He immediately 27 despatched one of his bodyguard, with orders to bring John's head. The man went and beheaded John in the prison, and, 28 bringing his head on a dish, gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard of it, 29 they came and took his body away, and laid it in a tomb.
The When the Apostles came back to Jesus, they 30
Return of the told him all that they had done and all that they
Apostles. had taught.
" Come by yourselves privately to some lonely spot," he said, 31 " and rest for a while " — for there were so many people coining and going that they had not time even to eat. So they 32 set off privately in their boat for a lonely spot. And many 33 people saw them going, and recognised them, and from all the towns they flocked together to the place on foot, and got there before them. On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a 34
great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them, be- cause they were ' like sheep without a shepherd ' ; and he began
to teach them many things. When it grew 35
Josus •feeds , ...... J , t • j • i
flve thousand Iate> '1IS disciples came up to him, and said : by the Lake "This is a lonely spot, and it is already late.
of Gniiioe. §enj t]ie peOpie away, so that they may go to 36 the farms and villages around and buy themselves something to eat."
But Jesus answered : " It is for you to give them something 37 to eat."
"Are we to go and buy twenty pounds' worth of bread,' they asked, " to give them to eat ? "
" How many loaves have you?" he asked ; "go, and see." 38 When they had found out, they told him : " Five, and two tisliL-s." Jesus directed them to make all the people take their 39 84 Num. 27. 17.
MARK, 6—7. 17
seats on the green grass, in parties ; and they sat down 40 in groups — in hundreds, and in fifties. Taking the five 41 loaves and the two fishes, Jesus looked up to Heaven, and said the blessing ; he broke the loaves into pieces, and gave them to his disciples for them to serve out to the people, and he divided the two fishes also among them all. Every one 42 had sufficient to eat ; and they picked up enough broken 43 pieces to fill twelve baskets, as well as some of the fish. The 44 men who ate the bread were five thousand in number.
Immediately afterwards Jesus made his dis- 45
walks on the ciples get into the boat, and cross over in advance, water. jn tne direction of Bethsaida, while he himself was dismissing the crowd. After he had taken leave of the people, 46 he went away up the hill to pray. When evening fell, the 47 boat was out in the middle of the Sea, and Jesus on the shore alone. Seeing them labouring at the oars — for the wind was 48 against them — about three hours after midnight Jesus came towards them, walking on the water, intending to join them. But, when they saw him walking on the water, they thought 49 it was a ghost, and cried out ; for all of them saw him, and 50 were terrified. But Jesus at once spoke to them.
" Courage ! " he said, " it is I ; do not be afraid ! " Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind dropped. 51 The disciples were utterly amazed, for they had not under- 52 stood about the loaves, their minds being slow to learn.
Jesus at When they had crossed over, they landed at 53
Gennesaret. Gennesaret, and moored the boat. But they had 54 no sooner left her than the people, recognizing Jesus, hurried 55 over the whole country-side, and began to carry about upon mats those who were ill, wherever they heard he was. So 56 wherever he went — to villages, or towns, or farms — they would lay their sick in the market-places, begging him to let them touch only the tassel of his cloak; and all who touched were made well.
One day the Pharisees and some of the Teachers 1 Tht»i°lmedle8 of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered for neglecting round Jesus. They had noticed that some of his 2
ceremonies, disciples ate their food with their hands 'defiled,' by which they meant unwashed. (For the Pharisees, and 3 indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors. When they come from market, they will not eat 4 without first sprinkling themselves ; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans). So 5 the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question —
«« Num. 15. 38.
18 MARK, 7.
" How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands ? " His answer was :
" It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words —
' This is a people that honour me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me ; But vainly do they worship me,
For they teach but the precepts of men.'
You neglect God's commandments and hold to the traditions of men. Wisely do you set aside God's commandments," he ex- claimed, "to keep your own traditions ! For while Moses said
' Honour thy father and thy mother,' and
* Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,' you say ' If a man says to his father or mother " Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Korban " ' (which means 'Given to God') — why, then you do not allow him to do anything further for his father or mother! In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down ; and you do many similar things." Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said :
"Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words. There is nothing external to a man, which by going into him can ' defile ' him ; but the things that come out from a man are the things that defile him."
When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying.
" What, do even you understand so little?" exclaimed Jesus. " Do not you see that there is nothing external to a man, which by going into a man, can ' defile ' him, because it does not pass into his heart, but into his stomach, and is afterwards got rid of?" — in saying this Jesus pronounced all food 'clean.'
" It is what comes out from a man," he added, "that defiles him, for it is from within, out of the hearts of men, that there come evil thoughts — unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, haughti- ness, folly ; all these wicked things come from within, and do defile a man."
cure or * ®n living tnat place, Jesus went to the dis-
syrinn Giri trict of Tyre and Sidon. And he went into
near Tyre. a house, and did not wish anyone to know it, but
could not escape notice. For a woman, whose little daughter
had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and
came and threw herself at his feet — the woman was a foreigner,
a native of Syrian Phoenicia — and she begged him to drive the
demon out of her daughter.
«-' Isa. 39. 13. 10 Exod. ao. ia ; ai. 17.
MARK, 7-8. 19
"Let the children be satisfied first," answered Jesus. 27 " For it is not fair to take the children's food, and throw it to dogs."
" Yes, Master," she replied ; "even the dogs under the table 28 do feed on the children's crumbs."
"For saying- that," he answered, "you may go. The 29 demon has gone out of your daughter."
The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, 30 and the demon gone.
Cupe On returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus 31
or a dear went, by way of Sidon, to the Sea of Galilee, across
Mute. the district of the Ten Towns. Some 32
people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. Jesus took him aside from the crowd quietly, put his fingers 33 into the man's ears, and touched his tongue with saliva. Then, looking up to Heaven, he sighed, and said to the man: 34
" Ephphatha ! " which means ' Be opened.'
The man's ears were opened, the string of his tongue was 35 freed, and he began to talk plainly. Jesus insisted upon their 36 not telling any one ; but the more he insisted, the more per- severingly they made it known, and a profound impression 37 was made upon the people.
"He has done everything well!" they exclaimed. "He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak ! "
About that time, when there was again a great i Jesus feeds crowd of people who had nothing to eat, Jesus
•Tour thousand. ,. , . . r r. . t> » •>
called his disciples to him, and said :
" My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they 2 have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat ; and if I send them away to their homes hungry, they 3 will break down on the way ; and some of them have come a long distance."
" Where will it be possible," his disciples answered, "to get 4 sufficient bread for these people in this lonely place ? "
" How many loaves have you ? " he asked. 5
"Seven," they answered.
Jesus told the crowd to sit down upon the ground. Then he 6 took the seven loaves, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve out ; and they served them out to the crowd. They had also a few 7 small fish ; and, after he had said the blessing, he told the disciples to serve out these as well. The people had sufficient 8 to eat, and they picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left. There were about four thousand people. 9 Then Jesus dismissed them. Immediately afterwards, 10
getting into the boat with his disciples, Jesus went to the district of Dalmanutha.
20 MARK, 8.
warning Here the Pharisees came out, and began to against the argue with Tesus, asking: him for some sigfn from
Teaching ,11 . *. !_• o- 1 • j IT
of the tne heavens, to test him. Sighing deeply, Jesus
Pharisees, said :
" Why does this generation ask for a sign ? I tell you, no sign shall be given it."
So he left them to themselves, and, getting into the boat again, went away to the opposite shore.
Now the disciples had forgotten to take any bread with them, one loaf being all that they had in the boat. So Jesus gave them this warning.
"Take care," he said, "beware of the leaven of the Phari- sees and the leaven of Herod."
They began talking to one another about their being short of bread. And, noticing this, Jesus said to them :
"Why are you talking about your being short of bread? Do not you yet see or understand ? Are your minds still so slow of comprehension ? ' Though you have eyes, do you not see ? and though you have ears, do you not hear ? ' Do not you remember, when I broke up the five loaves for the five thou- sand, how many baskets of broken pieces you picked up ? "
"Twelve," they said.
" And when the seven for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you pick up ? "
" Seven," they said.
" Do not you understand now ? " he repeated.
They came to Bethsaida. There some
of aUfoMnd people brought a blind man to Jesus, and begged Man him to touch him. Taking the blind man's at Bethsaida. hanci( Jesus led him to the outskirts of the village, and, when he had put saliva on the man's eyes, he placed his hands on him,- and asked him : " Do you see any- thing ? " The man looked up, and said :
" I see the people, for, as they walk about, they look to me like trees."
Then Jesus again placed his hands on the man's eyes ; and the man saw clearly, his sight was restored, and he saw every- thing with perfect distinctness. Jesus sent him to his home, and said : " Do not go even into the village."
Afterwards Jesus and his disciples went into the n villages round Caesarea Philippi ; and on the of way he asked his disciples this question — The Christ. ,« Who do pe0pie say that i am ? »
"John the Baptist," they answered, " but others say Elijah, while others say one of the Prophets."
" But you, he asked, " who do you say that I am ? "
W Jcr. $. ai.
MARK, 8—9. 21
To this Peter replied :
"You are the Christ."
On which J esus charged them not to say this about him to any one. 30 Jesus Then he began to teach them that the Son of 31
foroteiis his Man must undergo much suffering, and that he t>«ath. must be rejected by the Councillors, and the Chief Priests, and the Teachers of the Law, and be put to death, and rise again after three days. This statement he made 32 openly. But Peter took Jesus aside, and began to rebuke him. Jesus, however, turning round and seeing his disciples, 33 rebuked Peter.
"Out of my sight, Satan ! " he exclaimed. " For you look at things, not as God does, but as man does."
A can Calling the people and his disciples to him, 34
to renounce JeSUS Said :
Self. « if any man wishes to walk in my steps, let
him renounce self, take up his cross, and follow me. For 35 whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, will lose his life shall save it. What good is it to a man to gain the whole 36 world and forfeit his life ? For what could a man give that is 37 of equal value with his life ? Whoever is ashamed of me and of 38 my teaching, in this unfaithful and wicked generation, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his Father's Glory with the holy angels. I tell you," he added, i ' ' that some of those who are standing here will not know death, till they have seen the Kingdom of God come in power."
The Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, 2
Tran««eura- James, and John, and led them up a high moun- tion. tarn alone by themselves. There his appearance was transformed before their eyes, and his clothes became 3 of a more dazzling white than any bleacher in the world could make them. And Elijah appeared to them, in company 4 with Moses ; and they were talking with Jesus.
"Rabbi," said Peter, interposing, "it is good to be here; 5 let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. " For he did not know what to say, because they 6 were much afraid. Then a cloud came down and enveloped 7 them ; and from the cloud there came a voice —
"This is my Son, the Beloved ; him you must hear." And suddenly, on looking round, they saw that there was now 8 no one with them but Jesus alone. As they were going 9
down the mountain-side, Jesus cautioned them not * Q"e"t.i.°" to relate what they had seen to anyone, till after " the Son of Man should have risen again from the dead. They seized upon these words and discussed with one 10 another what this ' rising from the dead ' meant
Hos. 6. 2. 7 Ps. 2. 7 ; Isa. 42. i.
22 MARK, Q.
" How is it," they asked Jesus, " that our Teachers of the II Law say that Elijah has to come first ? "
" Elijah does indeed come first," answered Jesus, "and re- 12 establish everything ; and does not Scripture speak, with regard to the Son of Man, of his undergoing much suffering and being utterly despised? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and 13 people have treated him just as they pleased, as Scripture says of him."
When they came to the other disciples, they saw 14 an epileptic a great crowd round them, and some Teachers of
B°y- the Law arguing with them. But, as soon as they 15 saw Jesus, all the people, in great astonishment, ran up and greeted him.
" What are you arguing about with them ? " Jesus asked. 16
" Teacher," answered a man in the crowd, " I brought my 17 son to see you, as he has a dumb spirit in him ; and, wherever 18 it seizes him, it dashes him down ; he foams at theimouth and grinds his teeth, and he is pining away. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they failed."
"O faithless generation !" exclaimed Jesus. "How long 19 must I be with you ? how long must I have patience with you ? Bring the boy to me."
They brought him to Jesus ; but no sooner did the boy see 20 him than the spirit threw him into convulsions ; and he fell on the ground, and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
" How long has he been like this? " Jesus asked the boy's 21 father.
"From his childhood," he answered; "and it has often 22 thrown him into fire and into water to put an end to his life ; but, if you can possibly do anything, take pity on us, and help us ! "
"Why say 'possibly'?" Jesus replied. "Everything is 23 possible for one who has faith." The hoy's father immediately cried out : 24
" I have faith ; help my want of faith ! "
But, when Jesus saw that a crowd' was quickly collecting, he 25 rebuked the foul spirit :
" Deaf and dumb spirit, it is I who command you. Come out from him and never enter him again."
With a loud cry the spirit threw the boy into repeated convul- 26 sions, and then came out from him. The boy looked like a corpse, so that most of them said that he was dead. But Jesus 27 took his hand, and lifted him ; and he stood up. When Jesus 28 had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately :
" Why could not we drive it out ? "
" A spirit of this kind," he said, " can be driven out only by 29 prayer.
" Mai. 4. s-6.
MARK, 9. 23
Leaving that place, Jesus and his disciples went 30 a. second t"ime, on their way through Galilee; but he did not foretells ' wish any one to know it, for he was instructing 31 his Death. j-,js disciples, and telling them — "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of his fellow men, and they will put him to death, but, when he has been put to death, he will rise again after three days." But the disciples did not understand his meaning and were 32 afraid to question him.
Jesus They came to Capernaum. When Jesus 33
teaches at had gone into the house, he asked them : Capernaum. " What were you discussing on the way ? "
on But they were silent ; for on the way they had 34
Humility. been arguing with one another which was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said : 35
" If any one wishes to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all."
Then Jesus took a little child, and placed it in the middle of 36 them. Folding it in his arms, he said to them :
" Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even a 37 little child like this is welcoming me, and any one who welcomes me is welcoming not me, but him who sent me as his Messenger. "
On " Teacher," said John, " we saw a man driving 38
Toleration, out demons by using your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he did not follow us."
"None of you must prevent the man," answered Jesus, 39 " for no one will use my name in working a miracle, and yet find it easy to speak evil of me. He who is not against 40 us is for us. If any one gives you a cup of water be- 41
cause you belong to Christ, I tell you, he shall assuredly not lose Against his reward. And, if any one puts a snare in 42
hindering the way of one of these lowly ones who believe in others. me> }(• would be far better for him if he had been thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. If your hand proves a snare to you, cut it off. 43
It would be better for you to enter the Life maimed, than to have both your hands and go into the Pit, into the inextinguish- able fire. If your foot proves a snare to you, cut it off. It 45 would be better for you to enter the Life lame, than to have both your feet and be thrown into the Pit. If your eye proves 47 a snare to you, tear it out. It would be better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the Pit, where ' their worm does 48 not die, and the fire is not put out.' For it is by fire that every 49 one will be salted. Salt is good, but, if the salt should 50
lose its saltness, what will you use to season it ? You must have salt in yourselves, and live at peace with one another,"
?1 Bos. 6. 2. « Isa. 66. 24.
24 MARK, 1O.
III. THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM.
A Question ^n leavmg that place, Jesus went into the dis- i 1( about trict of Judaea on the other side of the Jordan. Divorce. Crowds gathered about him again ; and again, as
usual, he began teaching them. Presently some Phari- 2
sees came up and, to test him, asked :
" Has a husband the right to divorce his wife ? "
" What direction did Moses give you ? " replied Jesus. 3
" Moses," they said, " permitted a man to ' draw up in writ- 4
ing a notice of separation and divorce his wife. ' "
" It was owing to the hardness of your hearts," said Jesus, 5
" that Moses gave you this direction ; but, at the beginning of 6
the Creation, God ' made them male and female.'
' For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, 7, 8 and the man and his wife shall become one ; '
so that they are no longer two, but one. What God himself, 9 then, has yoked together man must not separate." When they were indoors, the disciples asked him again about 10 this, and he said : 1 1
" Any one who divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of adultery against his wife ; and, if the woman 12 divorces her husband and marries another man, she is guilty of adultery."
jesus blesses Some of the people were bringing little children 13 little to Jesus, for him to touch them ; but the disciples
Children, found fault with those who had brought them. When, however, Jesus saw this, he was indignant. 14
' ' Let the little children come to me, " he said , " do not hinder them ; for it is to the childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs. I tell you, unless a man receives the Kingdom of 15 God like a child, he will not enter it at all."
Then he folded the children in his arms, and, placing his hands 16 on them, gave them his blessing.
The Re- And, as Jesus was resuming his journey, a man 17 spons.bii.tios came running up to him, and threw himself on
of wealth. njs knees before him.
"Good Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to gain Immortal Life?"
"Why do you call me good?" answered Jesus. " No one 18 is good but God. You know the commandments — 19
' Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not say what is false about others. Do not cheat. Honour thy father and thy mother.' "
* Deut. 14. i. « Gen. i. 37. 1 Gen. a. 34. '» Deut. 5. 17—20.
MARK, 1O. 25
" Teacher," he replied, " I have observed all these from my 20 childhood."
Jesus looked at the man, and his heart went out to him, and he 21 said :
"There is still one thing wanting in you ; go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven ; then come and follow me."
But the man's face clouded at these words, and he went away 22 distressed, for he had great possessions.
Then Jesus looked round, and said to his disciples : 23
" How hard it will be for men of wealth to enter the Kingdom of God ! "
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said 24 again :
"My children, how hard a thing it is to enter the Kingdom of God ! It is easier for a camel to get through 25 a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
" Then who can be saved ? " they exclaimed in the greatest 26 astonishment. Jesus looked at them, and answered : 27
"With men it is impossible, but not with God ; for every- thing is possible with God."
"But we," began Peter, "we left everything and have 28 followed you.'
"I tell you," said Jesus, "there is no one who has left 29 house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or land, on my account and on account of the Good News, who will not receive a hundred times as much, even now in the 30 present — houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and land — though not without persecutions, and, in the age that is coming, Immortal Life. But many who are 31 first now will then be last, and the last will be first."
Jesus > wnen thev were on their way, going up 32
a third time, to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in front of the foretells Apostles, who were filled with misgivings ; while >eath" those who were following behind were alarmed. Gathering the Twelve round him once more, Jesus began to tell them what was about to happen to him.
" Listen ! " he said. " We are going up to Jerusalem ; and 33 there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law, and they will condemn him to death, and they will give him up to the Gentiles, who will mock him, 34 spit upon him, and scourge him, and put him to death ; and after three days he will rise again."
34 Hos. 6. 2.
26 MARK, 1O.
The Request James and John, the two sons of Zebediah, went 35
of James to Jesus, and said :
and John. " Teacher, we want you to do for us what- ever we ask."
"What do you want me to do for you ?" he asked. 36
" Grant us this," they answered, " to sit, one on your right, 37 and the other on your left, when you come in glory. "
"You do not know what you are asking," Jesus said to 38 them. "Can you drink the cup that I am to drink? or receive the baptism that I am to receive ? "
"Yes," they answered, "we can." 39
"You shall indeed drink the cup that I am to drink," Jesus said, "and receive the baptism that I am to receive, but as to 40 a seat at my right or at my left — that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." The Dignity On hearing of this, the ten others were at first 41 of service, very indignant about James and John. But 42 Jesus called the ten to him, and said :
"Those who are regarded as ruling among the Gentiles lord it over them, as you know, and their great men oppress them. But among you it is not so. No, whoever wants 43 to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you must be 44 the servant of all ; for even the Son of Man came, not to be 45 served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Cure of They came to Jericho. When Jesus 46
blind was going out of the town with his disciples and Bartimaeus. a large crowd, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road-side. Hearing that it 47 was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to call out :
"Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me."
Many of the people kept telling him to be quiet ; but the 48 man continued to call out all the louder :
" Son of David, take pity on me."
Then Jesus stopped. " Call him," he said. 49
So they called the blind man.
"Courage!" they exclaimed. "Get up; he is calling you."
The man threw off his cloak, sprang up, and came to 50 Jesus.
" What do you want me to do for you ? " said Jes,us, address- 51 ing him.
"Rabboni," the blind man answered, "I want to recover my sight."
" You may go," Jesus said ; "your faith has delivered you." 52 Immediately he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus along the road.
MARK, 11. 27
IV.— THE LAST DAYS.
jesus enters When they had almost reached Jerusalem, as far i Jerusalem, as Bcthphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent on two of his disciples.
" Go to the village facing you," he said ; "and, as soon as 2 you get there, you will find a foal tethered, which no one has ever ridden ; untie it, and bring it. And, if any one says to 3 you 'Why are you doing that?', say 'The Master wants it, and will be sure to send it back here at once.' " The two disciples went, and, finding a foal tethered outside a 4 door in the street, they untied it. Some of the by-standers said 5 to them : ' ' What are you doing, untying the foal ? " and the two 6 disciples answered as Jesus had told them ; and they allowed them to go. Then they brought the foal to Jesus, and, when 7 ' they had laid their cloaks on it, he seated himself upon it. Many of the people spread their cloaks on the road, while 8 some strewed boughs which they had cut from the fields ; and those who led the way, as well as those who followed, 9 kept shouting :
" ' God save him !
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord ! '
Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our father David ! 10
' God save him from on high ! ' "
Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went into the Temple Courts ; n and, after looking round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The The next day, after they had left Bethany, Jesus 1 2
fruitless became hungry; and, noticing a fig-tree at a 13 Fie Tree, distance in leaf, he went to it to see if by any chance he could find something on it ; but, on coming up to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. So, addressing the tree, he exclaimed : 14
" May no man ever again eat of your fruit ! " And his disciples heard what he said.
Jesus They came to Jerusalem. Jesus went 15
in the into the Temple Courts, and began to drive out Temple, those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of the pigeon-dealers, and would not allow any one to carry any- 16 thing across the Temple Courts. Then he began to teach. 17
" Does not Scripture say," he asked,
" ' My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all the nations ' ?
But you have made it ' a den of robbers. ' "
Now the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law heard this, 18
» Ps. 1 18. 25, 26. 10 Ps. 148. i. "Isa. 56. 7; Jer. 7. ii.
28 MARK, 11—12.
and began to look for some way of putting Jesus to death ; for they were afraid of him, since all the people were greatly impressed by his teaching. As soon as evening fell, 19
Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
As they passed by early in the morning, they noticed that 20 the fig-tree was withered up from the very roots. Then Peter 21 recollected what had occurred.
"Look, Rabbi," he exclaimed, "the fig-tree which you doomed is withered up ! "
"Have faith in God!" replied Jesus. "I tell you that if 22, any one should say to this hill ' Be lifted up and hurled into the sea ! ', without ever a doubt in his mind, but in the faith that what he says will be done, he would find that it would be. And therefore I say to you ' Have faith that whatever you ask 24 for in prayer is already granted you, and you will find that it will be.' And, whenever you stand up to pray, forgive any 25 grievance that you have against any one, that your Father who is in Heaven also may forgive you your offences."
jesus They came to Jerusalem again. While 27
and the Jesus was walking about in the Temple Courts, chief priests. the Chief Priests, the Teachers of the Law, and the Councillors came up to him.
"What authority have you to do these things?" they said. 28 "Who gave you the authority to do them ? "
" I will put one question to you," said Jesus. " Answer me 29 that, and then I will tell you what authority I have to act as I do. It is about John's baptism. Was it of divine or human 30 origin ? Answer me that." They began arguing together : 31
"If we say 'divine,' he will say 'Why then did not you
believe him ? ' Yet can we say ' human ' ? " 32
They were afraid of the people, for every one regarded John as undoubtedly a Prophet. So their answer to Jesus was — "We 33 do not know."
" Then I," replied Jesus, " refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things."
Parable And Jesus began to speakto them in parables : i ;
or the wicked "A man once planted a vineyard, put a fence
Tenants, round it, dug a wine-press, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad. At the proper time 2 he sent a servant to the tenants, to receive from them a share of the produce of the vintage ; but they seized him, and beat him, 3 and sent him away empty-handed. A second time the owner 4 sent a servant to them ; this man, too, the tenants struck on the head, and insulted. He sent another, but him they killed ; 5 and so with many others — some they beat and «ome they killed. He had still one son, who was very dear tv. tarn ; and 6
1 Isa. 5 i, a.
MARK, 12. 29
him he sent to them last of all. ' They will respect my son,' he said. But those tenants said to one another ' Here is 7 the heir ! Come, let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.' So they seized him, and killed him, and threw his 8 body outside the vineyard. What will the owner of the vine- 9 yard do ? He will come and put the tenants to death, and he will let the vineyard to others. Have you never 10
read this passagfe of Scripture ? —
' The very stone which the builders despised Has now itself become the corner-stone ; This corner-stone has come from the Lord, 1 1
And is marvellous in our eyes.'"
After this his enemies were eager to arrest him, but they were 12 afraid of the crowd ; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed the parable. So they let him alone, and went away.
A Question Afterwards they sent to Jesus some of the' 13 about Pharisees and of the Herodians, to set a trap for
Tribute. him in the course of conversation. These men 14 came to him and said :
"Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and are not afraid of any one, for you pay no regard to a man's position, but teach the Way of God honestly ; are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not? Should we pay, or 15 should we not pay ? " Knowing their hypocrisy, Jesus said to them :
"Why are you testing me ? Bring me a florin to look at." And, when they had brought it, he asked : 16
" Whose head and title are these ? "
"The Emperor's," they said ; and Jesus replied : 17
" Pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God." And they wondered at him.
A Question Next came some Sadducees — the men who 18 about the maintain that there is no resurrection. Their Resurrection, question was this —
" Teacher, in our Scriptures Moses decreed that, should a 19 man's brother die, leaving a widow but no child, the man should take the widow as his wife, and raise up a family for his brother. There were once seven brothers ; of whom 20 the eldest took a wife, but died and left no family; and 21 the second took her, and died without family ; and so did the third. AJ* the seven died and left no family. The woman 22 herself di"d te^t of all. At the resurrection whose wife will 23 she be, ? ( ser'<en brothers having had her as their wife ? "
10-11 ps. 1,8. 22, 23. 19 Deut. 25. 5, 6.
30 MARK, 12.
" Is not the reason of your mistake," answered Jesus, " your 24 ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God ? When 25 men rise from the dead, there is no marrying or being married ; but they are as angels in Heaven. As to the dead, 26 and the fact that they rise, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to
him thus —
i
' I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ' ?
He is not God of dead men, but of living. You are 27 greatly mistaken."
The Great Then came up one of the Teachers of the Law 28 command* who had heard their discussions. Knowing that ment. Jesus had answered them wisely, he asked him this question :
"What is the first of all the commandments? "
"The first," answered Jesus, "is — 29
' Hear, O Israel ; the Lord our God is the one Lord ; and 30 thbu shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.'
The second is this — 31
' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thou dost love thyself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
" Wisely answered, Teacher!" exclaimed the Teacher of the 32 Law. "It is true, as you say, that ' there is one God,' and that ' there is no other besides him ' ; and to ' love him with 33 all one's heart, and with all one's understanding, and with all one's strength,' and to 'love one's neighbour as one loves oneself is far beyond all 'burnt-offerings and sacrifices.'" Seeing that he had answered with discernment, Jesus said to 34 him :
" You are not far from the Kingdom of God." After that no one ventured to question him further.
Christ While Jesus was teaching in the Temple 35
the son of Courts, he asked :
David. « How is it that the Teachers of the Law say
that the Christ is to be David's son ? David said himself, 36 speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit —
' The Lord said to my lord : "Sit at my right hand, Until I put thy enemies beneath thy feet.'"
David himself calls him ' lord,' how comes it, then, that he 37 is to be his son ? "
'* Exod. 3. a— 6. »-30 Dcut. 6. 4, 5. 81 Lev. 19. 18. » Deut. 6. 4, 5. «• Dcut. 4. 39 ; Lev. 19. 18 ; i Sam. 15. aa. *> PS, no. i.
MARK, 12—13. 31
The mass of the people listened to Jesus with a^aTnJt the delight. In the course of his teaching, 38
Teachers of JeSUS Said :
the Law. "See that you are on your guard against the Teachers of the Law, who delight to walk about in long robes, and to be greeted in the streets with respect, and to 39 have the best seats in the Synagogues, and places of honour at dinner. They are the men that rob widows of their homes, 40 and make a pretence of saying long prayers. Their sentence will be all the heavier. " The widows Then Jesus sat down opposite the chests for 41
offering, the Temple offerings, and watched how the people put money into them. Many rich people were putting in large sums ; but one poor widow came and put in two 42 farthings, which make a half-penny. On this, calling his 43 disciples to him, Jesus said :
" I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others who were putting money into the chests ; for every 44 one else put in something from what he had to spare, while she, in her need, put in all she had — everything that she had to live on."
Jesus As Jesus was walking out of the Temple i 13
foretells the Courts, one of his disciples said to him : o^eT^mpre "Teacher, look what fine stones and buildings and the End these are ! "
of the Age. " Do you see these great buildings?" asked 2 Jesus. " Not a single stone will be left here upon another, which shall not be thrown down."
When Jesus had sat down on the Mount of Olives, facing 3 the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew questioned him privately : "Tell us when this will be, and what will be the 4 sign when all this is drawing to its close." Then Jesus began : 5 "See that no one leads you astray. Many will take my 6 name, and come saying ' I am He ', and will lead many astray. And, when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, 7 do not be alarmed ; such things must occur; but the end is not yet. For ' nation will rise against nation, and kingdom 8 against kingdom ' ; there will be earthquakes in various places ; there will be famines. This will be but the beginning of the birth-pangs. See to yourselves ! They will betray you to courts 9 of law ; and you will be taken to Synagogues and beaten ; and you will be brought up before governors and kings for my sake, that you may bear witness before them. But the 10 Good News must first be proclaimed to every nation. When- 1 1 ever they betray you and hand you over for trial, do not be anxious beforehand as to what you shall say, but say what- ever is given you at the moment ; for it will not be you who
7 Dan. 2. 28. 8 Isa. 19. 2.
32 MARK, 13.
speak, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child ; and children will turn against their parents, and cause them to be put to death ; and you will be hated by every one on account of my Name. Yet the man that endures to the end shall be saved. As
soon, however, as you see ' the Foul Desecration ' standing where he ought not " (the reader must consider what this means) "then those of you who are in Judaea must take refuge in the mountains ; and a man on the house-top must not go down, or go in to get anything otit of his house ; nor must one who is on his farm turn back to get his cloak. And alas for the women that are with child, and for those that are nurs- ing infants in those days ! Pray, too, that this may not occur in winter. For those days will be a time of distress, the like of which has not occurred from the beginning of God's creation until now — and never will again. And, had not the Lord put a limit to those days, not a single soul would escape ; but, for the sake of God's own chosen People, he did limit them. And at that time if any one should say to you
' Look, here is the Christ ! ' ' Look, there he is ! ', do not believe it ; for false Christs and false Prophets will arise, and display signs and marvels, to lead astray, were it possible, even God's People. But sec that you are on your guard ! I have told you all this beforehand. In those days, after
that time of distress, ' the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light, the stars will be falling from the heavens,' and 'the forces that are in the heavens will be convulsed.' Then will be seen the 'Son of Man coming in clouds ' with great power and glory ; and then he will send the angels, and gather his People from the four winds, from one end of the world to the other.
The Need Learn the lesson taught by the fig-tree. As for soon as its branches are full of sap, and it is watchfulness, bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near. And so may you, as soon as you see these things hap- pening, know that he is at your doors. I tell you that even the present generation will not pass away, until all these things have taken place. The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about
'That Day, 'or 'The Hour,' no one knows — not even the angels in Heaven, nor yet the Son — but only the Father. See that you are on the watch ; for you do not know when the time will be. It is like a man going on a journey, who leaves his home, puts his servants in charge — each having his special duty — and orders the porter to watch. Therefore watch, for you cannot be sure when the Master of the house is coming —
12 Mic. 7. 6. H Dan. la. n. W Gen. 19. 26. l» Dan. 12. i. 22 Deut. 13. i. 2< Ida. 13. 10. 2» Isa. 34. 4. » Dan. 7. 13. ft Deut. 30. 4 ; Zech. a. 6 ;
Deut. a& 64.
MARK, 14. 33
whether in the evening, at midnight, at daybreak, or in the morning — lest he should come suddenly and find you asleep. 36 And what I say to you I say to all — Watch ! " 37
The Plot ^ was now *wo days before the Festival of the i 14 against Passover and the Unleavened Bread. The
jesus. Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law were looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus by stealth, and to put him to death ; for they said : ' ' Not during the Festival, 2 for fear of a riot."
When Jesus was still at Bethany, in the house 3 anointed by °^ Simon the leper, while he was at table, a
a woman woman came with an alabaster jar of choice
at Bethany, spikenard perfume of great value. She broke the jar, and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those 4 who were present said to one another indignantly :
"Why has the perfume been wasted like this? This per- 5 fume could have been sold for more than thirty pounds, and the money given to the poor."
" Let her alone," said Jesus, as they began to find fault with 6 her, "why are you troubling her? This is a beautiful deed that she has done for me. You always have the poor with you, 7 and whenever you wish you can do good to them ; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could ; she 8 has perfumed my body beforehand for my burial. And I tell you, 9 wherever, in the whole world, the Good News is proclaimed, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her." Judas agrees After this, Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, 10
to betray went to the Chief Priests, to betray Jesus to
Jesus. them. They were glad to hear what he said, n and promised to pay him. So he looked for a way to betray Jesus opportunely.
Tne On the first day of the Festival of the Un- 12
Passover, leavened Bread, when it was customary to kill the Passover lambs, his disciples said to Jesus :
" Where do you wish us to go and make preparations for your eating the Passover ? " Jesus sent forward two of his disciples and said to them : 13
" Go into the city, and there a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you ; follow him ; and, wherever he goes in, say to 14 the owner of the house ' The Teacher says — Where is my room where I am to eat the Passover with my disciples ?' He 15 will himself show you a large upstairs room, set out ready ; and there make preparations for us."
So the disciples set out and went into the city, and found 16 everything just as Jesus had told them ; and they prepared the Passover.
c
34 MARK, 14.
In the evening he went there with the Twelve, and, when 17, they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said :
" I tell you that one of you is going to betray me — one who is eating with me."
They were grieved at this, and began to say to him, one after 19 another :
" Can it be I ? "
"It is one of you Twelve," said Jesus, "the one who is 20 dipping his bread beside me into the dish. True, the Son 21 of Man must go, as Scripture says of him, yet alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is being betrayed ! For that man ' it would be better never to have been born ! ' " The 'Lord's While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, 22
supper.' and, after saying the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said :
"Take it ; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, and, after saying the thanksgiving, gave 23 it to them, and they all drank from it. •
"This is my Covenant-blood," he said, "which is poured 24 out on behalf of many. I tell you that I shall never again 25 drink of the juice of the grape, until that day when I shall drink it new in the Kingdom of God."
They then sang a hymn, and went out up the Mount of Olives. 26 Peter's Fail Presently Jesus said to them : 27
foretold. " All of you will fall away ; for Scripture says —
' I will strike down the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
Yet, after I have risen, I shall go before you into Galilee." 28
" Even if every one else falls away," said Peter, "yet I shall 29
not."
" I tell you," answered Jesus, " that you yourself to-day — 30
yes, this very night — before the cock crows twice, will disown
me three times."
But Peter vehemently protested : 31
" Even if I must die with you, I shall never disown you !"
And they all said the same.
Presently they came to a garden known as 32 Jesus in Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples " Sit
Ccthsemane. . '. .. -•' „
down here while I pray.
He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to show 33 signs of great dismay and deep distress of mind.
"I am sad at heart," he said, "sad even to death ; wait 34 here, and watch."
Going on a little further, he threw himself on the ground, and 35 began to pray that, if it were possible, he might be spared that hour. 36
" P» 41. 9. 21 Enoch 38. a. 24 Exod. 34. & » Zech. 13. 7.
MARK, 14. 35
"Abba, Father," he said, "all things are possible to thee ; take away this cup from me ; yet, not what I will, but what thou wiliest."
Then he came and found the three Apostles asleep. 37
"Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could not you watch for one hour ? Watch and pray," he said to them 38 all, "that you may not fall into temptation. True, the spirit is eager, but human nature is weak."
Again he went away, and prayed in the same words ; and 39, 40 coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy ; and they did not know what to say to him. A third 41 time he came, and said to them :
" Sleep on now, and rest yourselves. Enough ! My time has come. Hark ! the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of wicked men. Up, and let us be going. Look ! 42 my betrayer is close at hand. "
The And just then, while he was still speaking, 43
Arrest of Judas, who was one of the Twelve, came up ; jesua. ancj with him a crowd of people, with swords and clubs, sent by the Chief Priests, the Teachers of the Law, and the Councillors. Now the betrayer had arranged a 44 signal with them.
"The man whom I kiss," he had said, "will be the one ; arrest him and take him away safely."
As soon as Judas came, he went up to Jesus at once, and said : 45 "Rabbi!" and kissed him. Then the men seized Jesus, 46 and arrested him. One of those who were standing by 47 drew his sword, and struck at the High Priest's servant, and cut off his ear. But Jesus interposed, and said to the men : 48
"Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs, to take me? I have been among you day after 49 day in the Temple Courts teaching, and yet you did not arrest me ; but this is in fulfilment of the Scriptures."
And all the. Apostles forsook him, and fled. One young 50,51
man did indeed follow him, wrapped only in a linen sheet. They tried to arrest him ; but he left the sheet in their hands, 52 and fled naked.
Then they took Jesus to the High Priest ; and 53 befor'e'the all the Chief Priests, the Councillors, and the High Priest. Teachers of the Law assembled. Peter, who had 54 followed Jesus at a distance into the court-yard of the High Priest, was sitting there among the police-officers, warming himself at the blaze of the fire. Meanwhile the Chief Priests 55 and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such evidence against Jesus as would warrant his being put to death, but they could not find any ; for, though there were many who 56 gave false evidence against him, yet their evidence did not
36 MARK, 14-15.
agree. Presently some men stood up, and gave this false evidence against him —
' ' We ourselves heard him say ' I will destroy this Temple made with hands, and in three days build another made without hands.' "
Yet not even on that point did their evidence agree. Then the High Priest stood forward, and questioned Jesus.
"Have you no answer to make?" he asked. "What is this evidence which these men are giving against you ? "
But Jesus remained silent, and made no answer. A second time the High Priest questioned him.
"Are you," he asked, "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
"I am," replied Jesus, "and you shall all see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty ; and ' coming in the clouds of heaven'." At this the High Priest tore his vestments.
"Why do we want any more witnesses?" he exclaimed. "You heard his blasphemy ? What is your verdict ? " They all condemned him, declaring that he deserved death. Some of those present began to spit at him,
and to blindfold his eyes, and strike him, saying, as they did so, " Now play the Prophet ! " and even the police-officers received him with blows.
Peter disowns While Peter was in the court-yard down below, Jesus. one of the High Priest's maidservants came up ; and, seeing Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him, and exclaimed :
"Why, you were with Jesus, the Nazarene ! " But Peter denied it.
" I do not know or understand what you mean," he replied. Then he went out into the porch ; and there the maidservant, on seeing him, began to say again to the by-standers :
" This is one of them ! "
But Peter again denied it. Soon afterwards the by-standers again said to him :
" You certainly are one of them ; why, you are a Galilean ! " But he began to swear with the most solemn imprecations :
" I do not know the man you are speaking about." At that moment, for the second time, a cock crowed ; and Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him — ' Before a cock has crowed twice, you will disown me three times ' ; and, as he thought of it, he began to weep.
jeaus boforo ^s soon as it was daylight, the Chief Priests, the Roman after holding a consultation with the Councillors Governor. an(j Teachers of the Law— that is to say, the
* Ps. no. i ; Dan. 7. 13.
MARK, 15. 37
whole High Council — put Jesus in chains, and took him away, and gave him up to Pilate.
"Are you the King of the Jews ? " asked Pilate. 2
" It is true," replied Jesus.
Then the Chief Priests brought a number of charges against 3 him ; upon which Pilate questioned Jesus again. 4
"Have you no reply to make?" he asked. "Listen, how many charges they are bringing against you." But Jesus still made no reply whatever ; at which Pilate was 5 astonished. Now, at the Feast, Pilate used to grant the 6
people the release of any one prisoner whom they might ask for. A man called Barabbas was in prison, with the rioters 7 who had committed murder during a riot. So, when the crowd 8 went up and began to ask Pilate to follow his usual custom, he answered : 9
' ' Do you want me to release the ' King of the Jews ' for you ? " For he was aware that it was out of jealousy that the Chief 10 Priests had given Jesus up to him. But the Chief Priests n incited the crowd to get Barabbas released instead. Pilate, 12 however, spoke to them again :
"What shall I do then with the man whom you call the ' King of the Jews ' ? " Again they shouted : " Crucify him ! " 13
" Why, what harm has he done? " Pilate kept saying to them. 14 But they shouted furiously : " Crucify him ! "
And Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas 15 to them, and, after scourging Jesus, gave him up to be crucified.
The soldiers then took Jesus away into the court-yard — that 16 is the Government House — and they called the whole garrison together. They dressed him in a purple robe, and, having 17 twisted a crown of thorns, put it on him, and then began to 18 salute him.
" Long life to you, King of the Jews ! " they said. And they kept striking him on the head with a rod, spitting 19 at him, and bowing to the ground before him — going down on their knees ; and, when they had left off mocking him, they 20 took off the purple robe, and put his own clothes on him.
The And they led Jesus out to crucify him ; and 21
crucifixion they compelled a passer-by, Simon from Cyrene,
of Jesus. Wh0 was on nis way m from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus to go with them to carry his cross. They brought Jesus to the place which was known as 22 Golgotha — a name which means ' Place of a Skull.' There 23 they offered him drugged wine ; but Jesus refused it. Then 24 they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots for them, to settle what each should take. It was nine in 25
33 PS. 69. 31. 24 ps. 32. ,§.
38 MARK, 15.
the morning- when they crucified him. The words of the 26 charge against him, written up over his head, ran thus —
'THE KING OF THE JEWS.'
And with him they crucified two robbers, one on the right, 27 and the other on the left. The passers-by railed at 29
him, shaking their heads, as they said :
"Ah ! you who 'destroy the Temple and build one in three days,' come down from the cross and save yourself! " 30
In the same way the Chief Priests, with the Teachers of the 31 Law, said to one another in mockery :
"He saved others, but he cannot save himself! Let the 32 Christ, the 'King of Israel,' come down from the cross now, that we may see it and believe."
Even the men who had been crucified with Jesus reviled him.
The Death At midday, a darkness came over the whole 33
ot Jesus, country, lasting till three in the afternoon. And, 34 at three, Jesus called out loudly :
" ' Eloi, Eloi, lama sabacthani ? ' " which means ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' Some of those standing round heard this, and said : 35
" Listen ! He is calling for Elijah ! "
And a man ran, and, soaking a sponge in common wine, put 36 it on the end of a rod, and offered it to him to drink, saying as he did so :
" Wait and let us see if Elijah is coming to take him down." But Jesus, giving a loud cry, expired. The Temple 37,
curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The 39
Roman Officer, who was standing facing Jesus, on seeing the way in which he expired, exclaimed :
" This man must indeed have been ' God's Son ' ! " There were some women also watching from a distance, 40 among them being Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James the Little and of Joseph, and Salome — all of whom 41 used to accompany Jesus when he was in Galilee, and attend on him — besides many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.
The Burial The evening had already fallen, when, as it was 42 of jesus. the Preparation Day — the day before the Sabbath — Joseph from Ramah, a Councillor of good position, who was 43 himself living in expectation of the Kingdom of God, came and ventured to go in to see Pilate, and to ask for the body of Jesus. But Pilate was surprised to hear that he had already died. So 44 he sent for the Officer, and asked if he were already dead ; and, 45 on learning from the Officer that it was so, he gave the corpse
» Ps. a». 7. 34 Ps. it. i. *» Ps. 69. ai. » Wi»d. of Sol. a. 18,
MARK, 15-16. 39
to Joseph. Joseph, having bought a linen sheet, took Jesus 46 down, and wound the sheet round him, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of the rock ; and then rolled a stone up against the entrance of the tomb. Mary of Magdala 47
and Mary, the mother of Joseph, were watching to see where he was laid.
V. — THE RISEN LIFE ANNOUNCED.
The When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, I
Resurrection Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought
of Jesus, some spices, so that they might go and anoint the body of Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week 2 they went to the tomb, after sunrise. They were saying to 3 one another :
"Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb ? "
But, on looking up, they saw that the stone had already been 4 rolled back ; it was a very large one. Going into the tomb, 5 they saw a young man sitting on their right, in a white robe, and they were dismayed. But he said to them : 6
"Do not be dismayed; you are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified ; he has risen, he is not here ! Look ! Here is the place where they laid him. But 7 go, and say to his disciples and to Peter ' He is going before you into Galilee ; there you will see him, as he told you.'" They went out, and fled from the tomb, for they were trembling 8 and bewildered ; and they did not say a word to any one, for they were frightened ;*******
A LATE APPENDIX. (Inserted in some manuscripts from an ancient source).
[After his rising again, early on the first day of the week, 9 Jesus appeared first of all to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had driven out seven demons. She went and told the news to 10 those who had been with him and who were now in sorrow and tears ; yet even they, when they heard that he was alive and 1 1 had been seen by her, did not believe it. Afterwards, 12
altered in appearance, he made himself known to two of , them, as they were walking, on their way into the country. They also went and told the rest, but they did not believe 13 even them. Later on, he made himself known to the 14
Eleven themselves as they were at a meal, and reproached them with their want of faith and their stubbornness, because
40 MARK, 16.
they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen from the dead. Then he said to them : 15
" Go into all the world, and proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved ; 16 but he who refuses to believe will be condemned. More- 17 over these signs shall attend those who believe. In my Name they shall drive out demons ; they shall speak with 'tpngues' ; they shall take up serpents in their hands ; and, it they drink 18 any poison, it shall not hurt them ; they will place their hands on sick people and they shall recover."
So the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up 19 into Heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. But they set 20 out, and made the proclamation everywhere, the Lord work- ing with them, and confirming the Message by the signs which attended it.]
ANOTHER APPENDIX.
[But all that had been enjoined on them they reported briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterwards Jesus him-
self sent out by them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal Salvation.]
19 a King's a. u ; Ps. no. i
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW.
COMPILED AT AN UNCERTAIN DATE LATER THAN 60 A.D.
THIS gospel^ in common with the 'The Gospel according to St. Luke,' incorporates the greater part of the record of the ministry of Jesus given in ' The Gospel according to St. Mark.'/ It is probable that the compiler was able to make use of the same sources as St. Mark had at his disposal, and perhaps even of St. Mark's gospel itself. Beyond this,> he was able to add tq that record a very important collection of the Sayings of Jesus?! from some source of which the compiler of ' The i Gospel according to St. Luke ' was also able to avail himself. / The gospel, in its present form, begins with a preface giving an account of the birth of Jesus, and concludes with an appendix giving an account of his resurrection, j These are evidently from sources other than those from which the body of the work was derived.)
The standpoint of the compiler of this gospel is clearly that of a Jew writing primarily for converts from Judaism, one marked feature being the prominence given to the fulfilment of Jewish prophecy.
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW.
I. — THE BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND INFANCY.
A Genealogy of fesus Christ, a descendant of David and \ 1 A braham.
The Abraham was the father of Isaac, 2
Ancestors of Isaac of Jacob,
Jesus. Jacob of Judah and his brothers,
Judah of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was 3
Tamar,
Perez of Hezron, Hezron of Ram,
Ram of Amminadab, 4
Amminadab of Nashon, Nashon of Salmon,
Salmon of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, 5
Boaz of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed of Jesse, Jesse of David the King. 6
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother
was Uriah's widow,
Solomon of Rehoboam, 7
Rehoboam of Abijah, Abijah of Asa,
Asa of Jehoshaphat, 8
Jehoshaphat of Jehoram, Jehoram of Uzziah,
Uzziah of Jotham, 9
Jotham of Ahaz, Ahaz of Hezekiah,
Hezekiah of Manasseh, 10
Manasseh of Ammon,
1 Ps. a. a.
44 MATTHEW, 1.
Ammon of Josiah,
Josiah of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time II of the Exile to Babylon.
After the Exile to Babylon — 12
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel of Abiud, 13
Abiud of Eliakim, Eliakim of Azor,
Azor of Zadok, 14
Zadok of Achim, Achim of Eliud,
Eliud of Eleazar, 15
Eleazar of Matthan, Matthan of Jacob, Jacob of Joseph, the husband of Mary, who 16
was the mother of Jesus, who is called
' Christ '.
So the whole number of generations from Abraham to David 17 is fourteen ; from David to the Exile to Babylon fourteen ; and from the Exile to Babylon to the Christ fourteen.
The The birth of Jesus Christ took place as follows: — 18
Birth or His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but, jesus. before the marriage took place, she found herself to be with child by the power of the Holy Spirit. Her husband, 19 Joseph, was a religious man and, being unwilling to expose her to contempt, resolved to put an end to their betrothal privately. He had been dwelling upon this, when an 20
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.
"Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary for your wife, for her child has been conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. She shall give birth to a son ; 21 and you shall give him the name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins."
All this happened in fulfilment of these words of the Lord in 22 the Prophet, where he says —
' Behold ! the virgin shall be with child and shall give birth to a son, 23 And they will give him the name Immanuel '
— a word which means ' God is with us.' When Joseph 24
awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had
23 Isa. 7. 14.
MATTHEW, 1—2. 45
directed him. He made Mary his wife, but did not live with 25 her as her husband until after the birth of her son ; and to this son he gave the name Jesus.
The visit After the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem in Judaea, i
of the in the reign of King Herod, some Astrologers Astrologers. frOm the East arrived in Jerusalem, asking : 2
"Where is the new-born King of the Jews ? for we saw his star in the east, and have come to do homage to him." When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and 3 so, too, was all Jerusalem. He called together all the Chief 4 Priests and Teachers of the Law in the nation, and questioned them as to where the Christ was to be born.
"At Bethlehem in Judaea," was their answer ; " fbr it is said 5 in the Prophet —
4 And thou, Bethlehem in Judah's land, . 6
Art in no way least among the chief cities of Judah ; For out of thee will come a Chieftain —
One who will shepherd my people Israel.' "
Then Herod secretly sent for the Astrologers, and ascertained 7 from them the date of the appearance of the star ; and, sending 8 them to Bethlehem, he said : " Go and make careful inquiries about the child, and, as soon as you have found him, bring me word, that I, too, may go and do homage to him." The Astrologers heard what the King had to say, and then 9 continued their journey. And the star which they had seen in the east led them on, until it reached, and stood over, the place where the child was. At the sight of the star they 10 were filled with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child n with his mother Mary, and fell at his feet and did homage to him. Then they unpacked their treasures, and offered to the child presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But 12 afterwards, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road.
The Flight After they had left, an angel of the Lord 13 into Egypt, appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said :
"Awake, take the child and his mother, and seek refuge in Egypt ; and stay there until I bid you return, for Herod is about to search for the child, to put him to death." Joseph awoke, and, taking the child and his mother by 14 night, went into Egypt, and there he stayed until Herod's 15 death ; in fulfilment of these words of the Lord in the Prophet, where he says —
' Out of Egypt I called my Son.'
When Herod found that he had been trifled with by the 16 Astrologers, he was very angry. He sent and put to death all
6 Mic. 5. a. 16 Hos. ii. i.
46 MATTHEW, 2-3.
the boys in Bethlehem and the whole of that neighbourhood, who were two years old or under, guided by the date which he had ascertained from the Astrologers. Then were ful- 17
filled these words spoken in the Prophet Jeremiah, where he says —
'A voice was heard in Ramah, 18
Weeping" and much lamentation ; Rachel, weeping for her children,
Refused all comfort because they were not.'
But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared 19 in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said :
"Awake, take the child and his mother, and go into the 20 Land of Israel, for those who sought to take the child's life are dead."
And he awoke, and, taking the child and his mother, went into 21 the Land of Israel. But, hearing that Archelaus had succeeded 22 his father Herod as King of Judaea, he was afraid to go back there ; and, having been warned in a dream, he went into the part of the country called Galilee. And there he settled in the 23 town of Nazareth, in fulfilment of these words in the Prophets — ' He will be called a Nazarene.'
II. — THE PREPARATION.
The Baptist About that time John the Baptist first appeared, i and hi* proclaiming in the Wilderness of Judaea : Message. «< Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at 2 hand."
This is he who was spoken of in the Prophet Isaiah, where 3 he says —
' The voice of one crying aloud in the Wilderness : " Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight."'
John wore clothing made of camels' hair, with a belt of 4 leather round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, and all Judaea, as 5
well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him and 6 were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
When, however, John saw many of the Pharisees and 7 Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them :
"You brood of vipers! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgement? Let your life, then, 8
18 Jcr. 31. 15. -•" Exod. 4. 19. - Dan. a. 44. 8 Isa. 40. 3. * a Kings i. 8.
MATTHEW, 3-4. 47
prove your repentance ; and do not think that you can say 9 among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham ! Already the axe is lying at the root of the 10 trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I, indeed, baptize you 1 1 with water to teach repentance ; but He who is Coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will clear his 12 threshing-floor, and store his grain in the barn, but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire."
The Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, 13
Baptism of to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried 14 Jesus. t0 prevent him.
"It is I," he said, "who need to be baptized by you ; why then do you come to me ? "
"Let it be so for the present," Jesus answered, "since 15 it is fitting for us thus to satisfy every claim of religion." Upon this, John consented. After the baptism of Jesus, and 16 just as he came up from the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending, like a dove, and alighting upon him, and from the heavens there came a voice which 17 said :
"This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight."
The Then Jesus was led up into the Wilderness by the i
Temptation Spirit to be tempted by the Devil. And, after he 2
of Jesus. iiatj fasted for forty days and forty nights, he became hungry. And the Tempter came to him, and 3
said :
" If you are God's Son, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." But Jesus answered : " Scripture says — 4
' It is not on bread alone that man is to live, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Then the Devil took him to the Holy City, and, placing him on 5 the parapet of the temple, said to him : 6
"If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for Scripture says —
' He will give his angels commands about thee, And on their hands they will upbear thee,
Lest ever thou should'st strike thy foot against a stone.' "
" Scripture also says," answered Jesus, 7
" ' Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.'"
» Ps. 118. 26. 17 ps. 2. 7 ; Isa. 42. i. »Ps. 2. 7. 4Deut. 8. 3. 6 Ps. 91. 11—12. 7 Deut. 6. 16.
48 MATTHEW, 4.
The third time, the Devil took Jesus to a very high moun- tain, and, showing him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour, said to him :
" All these I will give you, if you will fall at my feet and do homage to me." Then Jesus said to him :
"Begone, Satan ! for Scripture says —
' Thou shalt do homage to the Lord thy God, and worship him only.' "
Then the Devil left him alone, and angels came and min- istered to him.
III. — THE WORK IN GALILEE.
jeaus settles When Jesus heard that John had been com- at mitted to prison, he retired to Galilee. After-
Capernaum. wards, leaving Nazareth, he went and settled at Capernaum, which is by the side of the Sea, within the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali ; in fulfilment of these words in the Prophet Isaiah —
' The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, The land of the Road by the Sea, and beyond the Jordan,
With Galilee of the Gentiles — The people who were dwelling in darkness
Have seen a great Light, And, for those who were dwelling in the shadow-land of Death,
A Light has risen ! '
At that time Jesus began to proclaim —
J*hi1*wo*l?k.n* " Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
The first As Jesus was walking along the shore of the Disoipies. Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers — Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew — casting a net into the Sea ; for they were fishermen.
"Come and follow me," Jesus said, "and I will set you to fish for men."
The two men left their nets at once and followed him. Going further on, he saw two other men who were also brothers, James, Zebediah's son, and his brother John, in their boat with their father; mending their nets. Jesus called them,
10 Deut. 6. 13. M-16 Isa. 9. i— a.
MATTHEW, 4-5. 49
and they at once left their boat and their father, and followed 22 him.
Jesus And Jesus went all through Galilee, teaching 23
preaches in their Synagogues, proclaiming the Good in Gaiiiee. News of the Kingdom, and curing every kind of diseasa and every kind of sickness among the people ; and his fame spread all through Syria. They brought 24 to him all who were ill with any form of disease, or who were suffering pain — any who were either possessed by demons, or were lunatic, or paralyzed ; and he cured them. And he 25 was followed by large crowds from Galilee, the district of the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, Judaea, and from beyond the Jordan.
On seeing the crowds of people, Jesus went up i
the hill ; and, when he had taken his seat, his
j* • i 1 • 111
disciples came up to him ; and he began to teach 2
them as follows : The Happy. " Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the 3 Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are the mourners, for they shall be comforted. 4
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 5
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for 6
they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy. 7
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 8
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons of 9
God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of 10
righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people taunt you, and persecute you, n and say everything evil about you — untruly, and on my ac- count. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward in Heaven 12 will be great ; for so men persecuted the Prophets who lived before you.
A real ^ *S y°U W^° arg ^e ^3^ °^ ^e earth 5 t)Ut, if 13
Disciple of the salt should lose its strength, what will you Jesus. use to restore its saltness ? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown away, and trampled underfoot. It is you who are the Light of the world. A town that stands 14 Lesson from on a hill cannot be hidden. Men do not light 15
a. Lamp. a lamp and put it under the corn-measure, but on the lamp-stand, where it gives light to every one in the house. Let your light so shine before the eyes of your fellow- 16 men, that, seeing your good actions, they may praise your Father who is in Heaven.
The old Law Do not think that I have come to do a*vay with 17 and the new— the Law or the Prophets ; I have not come to do away with them, but to complete them. For I tell you, 18
3 Jsa. 61. i. * Isa. $i. 3. * Ps. 37. n. 8 ps. 34. 4.
50 MATTHEW, 5.
until the heavens and the earth disappear, not even the smallest letter, nor one stroke of a letter, shall disappear from the Law until all is done. Whoever, therefore, breaks one of these commandments, even the least of them, and teaches others to do so, will be the least-esteemed in the Kingdom of Heaven ; but whoever keeps them, and teaches others to do so, will be esteemed great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Indeed I tell you that, unless your religion is above that of the Teachers of the Law, and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
on You have heard that to our ancestors it was
Anger, said —
' Thou shall not commit murder,' and
' Whoever commits murder shall be liable to answer for it to the Court.'
I , however, say to you that any one wTio cherishes anger against his brother shall be liable to answer for it to the Court ; and whoever pours contempt upon his brother shall be liable to answer for it to the High Council, while whoever calls down curses upon him shall be liable to answer for it in the fiery Pit. Therefore, when presenting your gift at the altar, if even there you remember that your brother has some grievance against you, leave your gift there, before the altar, go and be reconciled to your brother first, then come and present your gift. Be ready to make friends with your opponent, even when you meet him on your way to the court ; for fear that he should hand you over to the judge, and the judge to his officer, and you should be thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not come out until you have paid the last penny. You have heard that it was said —
on Impurity, < xhou shalt not commit adultery.'
I, however, say to you that any one who looks at a woman with an impure intention has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye is a snare to you, take it out and throw it away. It would be best for you to lose one part of your body, and not to have the whole of it thrown into the Pit. And, if your right hand is a snare to you, cut it off and throw it away. It would be best for you to lose one part of your body, and not to have the whole of it go down to the Pit. on It was also said —
' Let any one who divorces his wife serve her with a notice of separation.'
I, however, say to you that any one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of her unchastity, leads to her
1 Exod. ao. 13 ; Enoch 27. 2 ; 90. 26, 27. 27 Exod. to. 14. 3l Deut. 24. 3.
MATTHEW, 5-6. 51
committing adultery ; while any one who marries her after her divorce is guilty of adultery.
on Again, you have heard that to our ancestors it 33
oaths, was said —
' Thou shalt not break an oath, but thou shalt keep thine oaths as a debt due to the Lord.'
I, however, say to you that you must not swear at all, either 34 by Heaven, since that is God's throne, or by the earth, since 35 that is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the Great King. Nor should you swear by your head, since you 36 cannot make a single hair either white or black.- Let your 37 words be simply ' Yes ' or ' No ' ; anything beyond this comes from what is wrong.
on You have heard that it was said — 38
Revenge, , ^ gye fQf afl e^Q &n£j & tooth for a tooth.'
I, however, say to you that you must not resist wrong ; but, 39 if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also ; and, when any one wants to go to law with you, 40 to take your coat, let him have your cloak as well ; and, if 41 any one compels you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to him who asks of you ; and, from him who wants to 42 borrow from you, do not turn away.
You have heard that it was said — 4?
on '°
Love. * Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thy
enemy.'
I, however, say to you — Love your enemies, and pray for those 44 who persecute you, that you may become Sons of your Father 45 who is in Heaven ; for he causes his sun to rise upon bad and good alike, and sends rain upon the righteous and upon the unrighteous. For, if you love only those who love you, what 46 reward will you have ? Even the tax-gatherers do this ! And, 47 if you show courtesy to your brothers only, what are you doing more than others ? Even the Gentiles do this ! You, 48
then, must become perfect — as your heavenly Father is perfect.
About Take care not to perform your religious duties i
Giving. in public in order to be seen by others ; if you do, your Father who is in Heaven has no reward for you.
Therefore, when you do acts of charity, do not have a 2 trumpet blown in front of you, as hypocrites do in the Syna- gogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. There, I tell you, is their reward ! But, when you do acts of 3 charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your charity may be secret ; and your Father, 4 who sees what is in secret, will recompense you.
33 Num. 30. 2; Deut. 23. 21. ** Isa. 66. i. 38 ps. 48. 2. 38 Exod. 21. 24. « Lev. 19. 18. « Deut. 18. 13.
52 MATTHEW, 6.
About And, when you pray, you are not to behave as 5
Praymg. hypocrites do. They like to pray standing in the Synagogues and at the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. There, I tell you, is their reward ! But, when 6 one of you prays, let him go into his own room, shut the door, and pray to his Father who dwells in secret ; and his Father, who sees what is secret, will recompense him. When 7
praying, do not repeat the same words over and over again, as is done by the Gentiles, who think that by using many words they will obtain a hearing. Do not imitate them ; for God, your 8 Father, knows what you need before you ask him. You, 9
therefore, should pray thus — The 'Lord's 'Our Father, who art in Heaven, Prayer.' May thy name be held holy,
thy Kingdom come, 10
thy will be done —
on earth, as in Heaven. Give us to-day 1 1
the bread that we shall need ; And forgive us our wrong-doings, 12
as we have forgiven those who have
wronged us ; And take us not into temptation, 13
but deliver us from Evil.'
For, if you forgive others their offences, your heavenly Father 14 will forgive you also ; but, if you do not forgive others their 15 offences, not even your Father will forgive your offences.
About And, when you fast, do not put on gloomy looks, 16
Fasting, as hypocrites do who disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. That, I tell you, is their reward ! But, when one of you fasts, let him anoint his 17 head and wash his face, that he may not be seen by men to be 18 fasting, but by his Father who dwells in secret ; and his Father, who sees what is secret, will recompense him.
The true Do not store up treasures for yourselves on 19 Treasure, earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves 20 in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, 21 there will your heart be also. The lamp of the body is 22
Light ana the eye. If your eye is unclouded, your whole body Darkness, will be lit up ; but, if your eye is diseased, your 23 whole body will be darkened. And, if the inner light is darkness, how intense must that darkness be ! No one can serve 24
True two masters, for either he will hate one and love the service, other, or else he will attach himself to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both GoJ and Money.
• Isa. »6. ao ; a Kings 4. 33.
MATTHEW, 6—7. 53
The Cares That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious 25
or Life. about your life here — what you can get to eat or drink ; nor yet about your body — what you can get to wear. Is not life more than food, and the body than its clothing? Look at the wild birds — they neither sow, nor 26 reap, nor gather into barns ; and yet your heavenly Father feeds them ! And are not you more precious than they ? But which of you, by being anxious, can prolong 27 his life a single moment? And why be anxious about 28 clothing ? Study the wild lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin ; yet I tell you that even Solomon in 29 all his splendour was not robed like one of these. If God 30 so clothes even the grass of the field, which is living to-day and to-morrow will be thrown into the oven, will not he much more clothe you, O men of little faith ? Do not then ask 31 anxiously ' What can we get to eat ? ' or ' What can we get to drink ? ' or ' What can we get to wear ? ' All these are the 32 things for which the nations are seeking, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But first seek his 33 Kingdom and the righteousness that he requires, and then all these things shall be added for you. Therefore do not be 34 anxious about to-morrow, for to-morrow will bring its own anxieties. Every day has trouble enough of its own.
On . Do not judge, that you may not be judged, i judging For, just as you judge others, you will yourselves 2 others. be judged, and the measure that you mete will be meted out to you. And why do you look at the straw in 3 your brother's eye, while you pay no attention at all to the beam in yours ? How will you say to your brother ' Let me 4 take out the straw from your eye,' when all the time there is a beam in your own ? Hypocrite ! Take out the beam from 5 your own eye first, and then you will see clearly how to take out the straw from your brother's. Do not give what 6
is sacred to dogs ; nor yet thrftw your pearls before pigs, lest they should trample them under their feet, and then turn and attack you. Ask, and your prayer shall 7
Encourage- ^e granted ; search, and you shall find ; knock,
ment and the door shall be opened to you. For 8 to Prayer. he that asks receives, he that searches finds, and to him that knocks the door shall be opened. Who 9 among you, when his son asks him for a loaf, will give him a stone, or when he asks for a fish, will give him a 10 snake? If you, then, wicked though you are, know n how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give what is good to
The those that ask him ! Do to others what- 12
Golden Rule, ever you would wish them to do to you ; for that is the teaching of both the Law and the Prophets.
54 MATTHEW, 7-8.
The Go in by the small gate. Broad and spacious
two Roads, is the road that leads to destruction, and those
that go in by it are many ; for small is the gate, and narrow
the road, that leads to Life, and those that find it are
few.
True and false Beware of false Teachers— men who come to Teachers, you in the guise of sheep, but at heart they are ravenous wolves. By the fruit of their lives you will know them. Do people gather grapes from thorn- bushes, or figs from thistles ? So, too, every sound tree bears good fruit, while a worthless tree bears bad fruit. A sound tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a worthless tree bear good fruit. Every tree that fails to bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Hence it is by the fruit of their lives that you will know such men. Not
every one who says to me ' Master ! Master ! ' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. On ' That Day ' many will say to me ' Master, Master, was not it in your name that we taught, and in your name that we drove out demons, and in your name that we did many miracles ? ' And then I shall say to them plainly ' I never knew you. Go from my presence, you who live in sin.'
The two Every one, therefore, that listens to this teaching Foundations, of mine and acts upon it may be compared to a prudent man, who built his house upon the rock. The rain poured down, the rivers rose, the winds blew and beat upon that house, but It did not fall, for its foundations were upon the rock. And every one that listens to this teaching of
mine and does not act upon it may be compared to a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain poured down, .the rivers rose, the winds blew and struck against that house, and it fell ; and great was its downfall."
By the time that Jesus had finished speaking, the crowd was filled with amazement at his teaching. For he taught th in like one who had authority, and not like their Teachers of the Law.
Cure When Jesus had come down from the hill, great i
of o. L«p«r. crowds followed him. And he saw a leper 2
who came up, and bowed to the ground before him, and said : " Master, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean."
Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying as he did 3 so :
" I am willing ; become clean."
MI»a. a. n. 2= Ps. 6. 8.
MATTHEW, 8. 55
Instantly he was made clean from his leprosy ; and then Jesus 4 said to him :
" Be careful not to say a word to any one, but go and show yourself to the Priest, and offer the gift directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure."
After Jesus had entered Capernaum, a Captain 5 an officer's in the Roman army came up to him, entreating
Servant. nis help.
"Sir," he said, "my manservant is lying ill at my house 6 with a stroke of paralysis, and is suffering terribly."
" I will come and cure him," answered Jesus. 7
" Sir," the Captain went on, " I am unworthy to receive you 8 under my roof ; but only speak, and my manservant will be cured. For I myself am a man under the orders of others, 9 with soldiers under me ; and, if I say to one of them ' Go,' he goes, and to another ' Come,' he comes, and to my slave ' Do this,' he does it."
Jesus was surprised to hear this, and said to those who were 10 following him :
"Never, I tell you, in any Israelite have I met with such faith as this ! Yes, and many will come in from Sast and West 1 1 and take their places beside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven ; while the heirs to the Kingdom will 12 be ' banished into the darkness ' outside ; there, there will be weeping and grinding of teeth." Then Jesus said to the Captain : 13
" Go now, and it shall be according to your faith." And the man was cured that very hour.
When Jesus went into Peter's house, he saw 14
of Peter1 Peter's mother-in-law prostrated with fever. On 1 5 Mother-in. Law his taking her hand, the fever left her, and she and of many rose and began to wait upon him.
In the evening the people brought to Jesus many 16 who were possessed by demons ; and he drove out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were ill, in fulfilment of these 17 words in the Prophet Isaiah —
' He took our infirmities on himself, and bore the burden of our diseases.'
Tests or Seeing a crowd round him, Jesus gave orders 18
Sincerity. to gO acrOSS.
And a Teacher of the Law came up to him, and said : 19
" Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
" Foxes have holes," answered Jesus, " and wild birds their 20 roosting-places, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
' ' Master," said another, who was a disciple, " let me first go 21 and bury my father."
4 Lev. 13. 49. 11 Mai. i. n. l- Enoch 10. 4. W Isa. 53. 4. 2° Dan. 7. 13.
56 MATTHEW, 8-9.
But Jesus answered : 22
" Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead." jesus stiiis Then he got into the boat, followed by his dis- 23
a storm, ciples. Suddenly so great a storm came on upon 24 the Sea, that the waves broke right over the boat. But Jesus was asleep ; and the disciples came and roused him. 25
" Master," they cried, " save us ; we are lost ! "
"Why are you so timid?" he said. "O men of little 26 faith!""
Then Jesus rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and a great calm followed. The men were amazed, and 27
exclaimed :
" What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him ! " cure of two And on getting to the other side — the country 28
Madmen, of the Gadarenes — Jesus met two men who were possessed by demons, coming out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one was able to pass that way. Suddenly 29 they shrieked out :
" What do you want with us, Son of God ? Have you come here to torment us before our time ? "
A long way off, there was a drove of many pigs, feeding ; and 30, 3 the foul spirits began begging Jesus':
" If you drive us out, send us into the drove of pigs."
" Go," he said. 32
The spirits came out, and entered the pigs ; and the whole drove rushed down the steep slope into the Sea, and died in the water. At this the men who tended them ran 33
away and went to the town, carrying the news of all that had occurred, and of what had happened to the possessed men. At the news the whole town went out to meet Jesus, and, when 34 they saw him, they entreated him to go away from their neighbourhood.
cure of Afterwards Jesus got into a boat, and, crossing i 9 a paralyzed over, came to his own city. And there 2
Man. some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man :
" Courage, Child ! your sins are forgiven." Then some of the Teachers of the Law said to themselves : 3
"This man is blaspheming!" Knowing their thoughts, Jesus exclaimed : 4
" Why do you cherish such wicked thoughts ? Which, I ask, 5 is the easier ? — to say ' Your sins are forgiven ' ? or to say ' Get up, and walk about ' ? But, that you may know that the Son 6 of Man has power on earth to forgive sins " — then he said to the paralyzed man — " Get up, take up your bed, and return to your home." The man got up and went to his home. When 7,8
the crowd saw this, they were awe-struck, and praised God for giving such power to men.
MATTHEW, 9. 57
Can of As Jesus went along, he saw a man, called 9
Matthew. Matthew, sitting in the tax-office, and said to him :
" Follow me." Matthew got up and followed him.
And, later on, when he was at table in the 10
Jesus blamed .
for his house, a number or tax-gatherers and outcasts companions. caiTie in and took their places at table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they n sa"id to his disciples :
"Why does your Teacher eat in the company of tax-
Sitherers and outcasts ? " • n hearing this, Jesus said : 12
"It is not those who are in health that need a doctor, but those who are ill. Go and learn what this means — 13
' I desire mercy, and not sacrifice ' ;
for I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast."
... Then John's disciples came to Jesus, and asked : 14
The Disciples ,,-,•,„ J , j ,, -p., • e \ 1-1
blamed for Why do we and the Pharisees last while your
not Fasting, disciples do not ? "
Jesus answered : 15
" Can the bridegroom's friends mourn as long as the bride- groom is with them ? But the days will come, when the bride- groom will be parted from them, and they will fast then. No 16 man ever puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment ; for such a patch tears away from the garment, and a worse rent is made. Nor do people put new wine into old wine- 17 skins ; for, if they do, the skins burst, and the wine runs out, and the skins are lost ; but they put new wine into fresh skins, and so both are preserved."
While Jesus was saying this, a President of a 18
The Raisins o J J ? ,
of the Synagogue came up and bowed to the ground Daughter o* before him.
jaeirus. „ My daughter," he said, "has just died ; but come and place your hand on her, and she will be restored to life."
So Jesus rose and followed him, and his disciples went 19 also. But meanwhile a woman, who had been suffer- 20
Cure of 'in& fr°nl haemorrhage for twelve years, came up an afflicted behind and touched the tassel of his cloak.
woman. " If I only touch his cloak," she said to herself, 21
"I shall get well." Turning and seeing her, Jesus said : 22
" Courage, Daughter ! your faith has delivered you." And the woman was delivered from her malady from that very hour. When Jesus reached the President's house, seeing 23
13 Hos. 6. 6. 20 Num. 15. 38.
58 MATTHEW, 9— 1O.
the flute-players, and a number of people all in confusion, he said:
" Go a"way, the little girl is not dead ; she is asleep." 24
They began to laugh at him ; but, when the people had been 25 sent out, Jesus went in, and took the little girl's hand, and she rose. The report of this spread through all that 26
part of the country.
As Jesus was passing on from there, he was 27 "t^o" followed by two blind men, who kept calling out :
blind Men. «« Take pity on us, Son of David ! " .
When he had gone indoors, the blind men came up to him ; 28 and Jesus asked them :
" Do you believe that I am able to do this ? "
" Yes, Master ! " they answered. Upon that he touched their eyes, and said : 29
" It shall be according to your faith."
Then their eyes were opened. Jesus sternly cautioned 30
them. " See that no one knows of it," he said. But the men 31 went out, and spread the news about him through all that part of the country.
cure of a Just as they were going1 out, some people 32
dumb Man. brought up to Jesus a dumb man who was possessed by a demon ; and, as soon as the demon had been 33 driven out, the dumb man spoke. The people were astonished at this, and exclaimed :
" Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel ! " But the Pharisees said : 34
"He drives out the demons by the help of the chief of the demons."
The Need Jesus went round all the towns and the vil- 35 for lages, teaching in their Synagogues, proclaiming
worker*. the Good News of the Kingdom, and curing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
But, when he saw the crowds, his heart was moved with com- 36 passion for them, because they were distressed and harassed, ' like sheep without a shepherd ' ; and he said to his disciples : 37
"The harvest is abundant, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray to the Owner of the harvest to send labourers 38 to gather in his harvest." The twelve Calling his twelve Disciples to him, Jesus gave i
Apo«tie«. them authority over foul spirits, so that they could drive them out, as well as the power of curing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
The names of the twelve Apostles are these : 2
First Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew ; James the son of Zebediah, and his brother John ; Philip and Bartholomew ; 3
86 Num. 27. 17.
MATTHEW, 1O. 59
Thomas, and Matthew the tax-gatherer ;
James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus ;
Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot — the Apostle who 4
betrayed him.
The Mission These twelve Jesus sent out as his Messengers, 5
of the twelve after giving them these instructions —
Apostles.
" Do not go to the Gentiles, nor enter any Samaritan town, but make your way rather to the lost sheep of Israel. And on 6, 7 your way proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, make the lepers clean, drive 8 out demons. You have received free of cost, give free of cost. Do not provide yourselves with gold, or silver, g
or pence in your purses ; not even with a bag for the journey, 10 or a change of clothes, or sandals, or even a staff; for the worker is worth his food. Whatever town or village you u visit, find out who is worthy in that place, and remain there till you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. Then, 12, 13 if the house is worthy, let your blessing rest upon it, but, if it is unworthy, let your blessing return upon yourselves. If no one welcomes you, or listens to what you say, as you 14 leave that house or that town, shake off its dust from your feet. I tell you, the doom of the land of Sodom and Gomorrah 15 will be more bearable in the ' Day of Judgement ' than the doom of that town.
Remember, I am sendingyou out as my Messengers like sheep 16 among wolves. So be as wise as serpents, and as blameless as 17 doves. Be on your guard against your fellow men, for they will betray you to courts of law, and scourge you in their Syna- gogues ; and you will be brought before governors and kings 18 for my sake, that you may witness for me before them and the nations. Whenever they betray you, do not be anxious as to how 19 you shall speak or what you shall say, for what you shall say will be given you at the moment ; for it will not be you who 20 speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks within you. Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child ; 21 and children will turn against their parents, and cause them to be put to death ; and you will be hated by every one on 22 account of my Name. Yet the man that endures to the end shall be saved. But, when they persecute you in one town, escape to 23 the next ; for, I tell you, you will not have come to the end of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A 24
scholar is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a scholar to be treated like his 25 teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Baal-zebub, how much more the mem- bers of his household ! Do not, therefore, be afraid of them. 26 There is nothing concealed which will not be revealed, nor
15 Enoch 10. 6. 21 Mic. 7. 6.
60 MATTHEW, 1O— 11.
anything- hidden which will not become known. What I tell you in the dark, say agam in the light ; and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul ; rather be afraid of him who is able to destroy both soul and body in the Pit. Are not two sparrows sold for a half- penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's knowledge. While as for you, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not, therefore, be afraid ; you are of more value than many sparrows. Every one,
therefore, who shall acknowledge me before his fellow men, I, too, will acknowledge before my Father who is in Heaven ; but, if any one disowns me before his fellow men, I, too, will disown him before my Father who is in Heaven.
The cost -D° n°t- ima§Tme that I have come to bring
of Christ's peace upon the earth. I have come to bring, not
Service, peace, but the sword. For I have come to set —
'a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And the man who does not take his cross and follow in my steps is not worthy of me. He who has found his life will lose it, while he who, for my sake, has lost his life shall find it.
He who welcomes you is welcoming me ; and he who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his Messenger. He who welcomes a Prophet, because he is a Prophet, shall receive a Prophet's reward ; and he who welcomes a good man, because he is a good man, shall receive a good man's reward. And, if any one gives but a cup of cold water to one of these lowly ones because he is a disciple, I tell you that he shall assuredly not lose his reward."
After Jesus had finished giving directions to his twelve Disciples, he left that place in order to teach and preach in their towns.
The Baptist's Now John had heard in prison what the Christ 2 Message to was doing, and he sent a message by his disciples 3
•*••«•« and asked —
"Are you 'The Coming One,' or are we to look for some one else ? "
»-»« Mic. 7. 6. 3 Ps. n& 26.
MATTHEW, 11. 61
The answer of Jesus to the question was — 4
" Go and report to John what you hear and see — The blind 5 recover their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are made clean and the deaf hear, the dead, too, are raised to life, and the Good News is told to the poor. And blessed is the man 6 who finds no hindrance in me."
While these men were going back, Jesus began 7
Testimony of ^° sav ^° ^e crowds with reference to John :
jcsus to "WhatdidyougooutintotheWildernesstolook 8
the Baptist. a£ p ^ reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see ? A man richly dressed ? Why, those who wear rich things are to be found in the courts of kings ! What, then, did you go for ? To see a Prophet ? Yes, I tell 9 you, and far more than a Prophet. This is the man of whom 10 Scripture says —
' Behold, I am myself sending- my Messenger before thy face, And he shall prepare thy way before thee.'
I tell you, no one born of a woman has yet appeared who is 1 1
S -eater than John the Baptist ; and yet the lowliest in the ingdom of Heaven is greater than he. From the time of 12 John the Baptist to this very hour, the Kingdom of Heaven has been taken by force, and men using force have been seizing it. For the teaching of all the Prophets and of the 13 Law continued till the time of John ; and — if you are ready to 14 accept it — John is himself the Elijah who was destined to come. Let him who has ears hear. But to 15, 16
what shall I compare the present generation ? It is like little children sitting in the market-places and calling out to 17 their playmates —
' We have played the flute for you, but you have not danced ; We have wailed, but you have not mourned. '
For, when John came, neither eating nor drinking, men said 18 ' He has a demon in him ' ; and now that the Son of Man has 19 come, eating and drinking, they are saying ' Here is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and outcasts ! ' And yet Wisdom is vindicated by her actions." The Doom of Then Jesus began to reproach the towns in 20 the Towns of which most of his miracles had been done, be- caiiiee. cause they had not repented :
"Alas for you, Chorazin ! Alas for you, Bethsaida ! For, if 21 the miracles which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Yet, I tell you, the doom of Tyre and Sidon will be more 22 bearable in the ' Day of Judgement ' than yours. And 23
you, Capernaum ! Will you ' exalt yourself to Heaven ' ? ' You shall go down to the Place of Death. ' For, if the miracles
8 Isa. 61. i. 10 Mai. 3. i. 23 Isa. 14. 13—15.
62 MATTHEW, 11—12.
which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing to this day* Yet, I tell you, the 24 doom of Sodom will be more bearable in the ' Day of J udge- ment' than yours."
The At that same time Jesus uttered the words : 25
chiid-iike " I thank thee, Father, Lord of
Mind. Heaven and earth, that, though thou
hast hidden these things from the wise and learned, thou hast revealed them to the child-like ! Yes, Father, 26
I thank thee that this has seemed good to thee.
Everything has been committed to me by my Father ; nor 27 does any one fully know the Son, except the Father, or fully know the Father, except the Son and those to whom the Son
Jesus may choose to reveal him. Come to me, 28
invites the all you who toil and are burdened, and I will
weary. gjve yOU res£ i Take my yoke upon you, and 29 learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly-minded, and ' you shall find rest for your souls ' ; for my yoke is easy, and my 30 burden is light."
About the same time Jesus walked through the i
The Disciples r < « r- i i ,1 TT* j* • i
blamed for corn-fields one Sabbath. His disciples were not observing hungry, and began to pick some ears of wheat
the Law. ancj eaj. them But, when the Pharisees saw this, 2 they said :
" Look ! your disciples are doing what it is not allowable to do on a Sabbath ! "
" Have not you read," replied Jesus, "what David did, when 3 he and his companions were hungry — how he went into the 4 House of God, and how they ate the consecrated bread, though it was not allowable for him or his companions to eat it, but only for the priests ? And have not you read in the Law that, 5 on the Sabbath, the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath and yet are not guilty? Here, however, I tell you, there is 6 something greater than the Temple ! And had vou learnt the 7 meaning of the words —
' I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,'
you would not have condemned those who are not guilty. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." 8
Passing on, Jesus went into their Synagogue, 9 a Mai? with ant^ there he saw a man with a withered hand. 10 a withered Some people asked Jesus whether it was allowable Hand. to work a cure on t|ie Sabbath — so that they might have a charge to bring against him. But Jesus said to them : u
W Enoch 10. 6. 29 Jer. 6. 16. « i Sam. 21. 6. ^ Hos. 6. 6.
MATTHEW, 12. 63
" Which of you, if he had only one sheep, and that sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath, would not lay hold of it and pull it out? And how much more precious a man is than a 12 sheep ! Therefore it is allowable to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man. 13
" Stretch out your hand."
The man stretched it out ; and it had become as sound as the other. On coming out, the Pharisees plotted against 14
Jesus, to put him to death.
Jesus, however, became aware of it, and went away from 15 that place. A number of people followed him, and he
cured them all ; but he warned them not to make him known, 16 in fulfilment of these words in the Prophet Isaiah — 17
' Behold ! the Servant of my Choice, 18
My Beloved, in whom my heart delights ! I will breathe my spirit upon him,
And he shall announce a time of judgement to the Gentiles. He shall not contend, nor cry aloud, 19
Neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets ; A bruised reed he will not break, 20
And a smouldering1 wick he will not quench,
Till he has brought the judgement to a victorious issue,
And on his name shall the Gentiles rest their hopes.' 21
Cure of a blind Then some people brought to Jesus a possessed 22 and dumb man, who was blind and dumb ; and he cured Man- him, so that the man who had been dumb both talked and saw. At this all the people were astounded. 23
"Is it possible that this is the son of David?" they exclaimed. But the Pharisees heard of it and said : 24
"He drives out demons only by the help of Je8"/A^""ed Baal-zebub the chief of the demons." by the Help Jesus, however, was aware of what was passing 25
of Satan. jn tjle;r mjncJS) ancj sajd to them .
"Any kingdom divided against itself becomes a desolation, and any town or household divided against itself will not last. So, if Satan drives Satan out, he must be divided against 26 himself; and how, then, can his kingdom last? And, if it 27 is by Baal-zebub's help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out ? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges. But, if it is by the help of 28 the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God must already be upon you. How, again, can any one 29 get into a strong man's house and carry off his goods, without first securing him ? And not till then will he plunder his house. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does 30 not help me to gather is scattering. Therefore, I 31
tell you, men will be forgiven every sin and slander ; but
J8 Isji. 41- 8 ; 42. i. 19-21 jsa. 42. 2_4.
64 MATTHEW, 12.
slander against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever 32 speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in the present age, or in the age to come.
words ^ou must assume either that both tree and fruit 33
a. Test of are good, or that both tree and fruit are worthless ; character, since it is by its fruit that a tree is known. You 34 brood of vipers ! how can you, evil as you are, say anything good ? For what fills the heart will rise to the lips. A good 35 man, from his good stores, produces good things ; while an evil man, from his evil stores, produces evil things. I 36
tell you that for every careless thing that men say, they must answer on the ' Day of Judgement.' For it is by your words 37 that you will be acquitted, and by your words that you will be condemned."
At this point, some Teachers of the Law and -*8
Warning _, . *. . •»
against seeking Pharisees interposed.
signs. "Teacher," they said, "we want to see some
sign from you. "
" It is a wicked and unfaithful generation," answered Jesus, 39 " that is asking for a sign, and no sign shall be given it except the sign of the Prophet Jonah. For, just as 'Jonah was inside 40 the sea-monster three days and three nights,' so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. At the Judgement, the men of Nineveh will stand up with this 41 generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's proclamation ; and here is more than a Jonah ! At 42 the Judgement the Queen of the South will rise up with the present generation, and will condemn it, because she came from the very ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon ; and here is more than a Solomon !
Dan er ^° sooner does a foul spirit leave a man, 43
or imperfect than it passes through places where there is no Reformation. water, in search of rest, and does not find it. Then it says ' I will go back to the home which I left ' ; but, 44 on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, and swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more 45 wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there ; and the last state of that man proves to be worse than the first. So, too, will it be with this wicked generation."
The true While he was still speaking to the crowds, his 46 Brotherhood, motherand brothers were standing outside, asking to speak to him. Some one told him this, and Jesus replied : 47,
" Who is my mother ? and who are my brothers ? " Then, stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said : 49
40 Jon. i. 17. 42 i Kings 10. a— 4,
MATTHEW, 12-13. 65
" Here are my mother and my brothers ! For any one who 50 does the will of my Father who is in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Parable That same day, when Jesus had left the house i ; of the sower, and was sitting by the Sea, such great crowds 2 gathered round him, that he got into a boat, and sat in it, while all the people stood upon the beach. Then he told them 3 many truths in parables.
" The sower," he began, " went out to sow ; and, as he was 4 sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it had not 5 much soil, and, having no depth of soil, sprang up at once. As soon as the sun had risen, it was scorched, and, having no 6 root, withered away. Some, again, feH into the brambles ; 7 but the brambles shot up and choked it. Some, however, fell 8 on good soil, and yielded a return, sometimes one hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold. Let him who 9
has ears hear."
Afterwards his disciples came to him, and said : 10
" Wny do you speak to them in parables ? "
" To you," answered Jesus, "the knowledge of the hidden n truths of the Kingdom of Heaven has been imparted, but not to those. For, to all who have, more will be given, and they shall 12 have abundance ; but, from all who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. That is why I speak to them 13 in parables, because, though they have eyes, they do not see, and though they have ears, they do not hear or understand. And in them is being fulfilled that prophecy of Isaiah which 14 says —
' You will hear with your ears without ever understanding1,
And, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiv- ing.
For the mind of this nation has grown dense, 15
And their ears are dull of hearing, Their eyes also have they closed ; Lest some day they should perceive with their eyes, And with their ears they should hear,
And in their mind they should understand, and should turn — And I should heal them.'
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they 16 hear ; for I tell you that many Prophets and good men have 17 longed for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never saw them, and to hear the things which you are hearing, yet never heard them.
Listen, then, yourselvesto the parable of the Sower. When 18, any one hears the Message of the Kingdom without under-
14-15 Isa. 6. 9—10.
66 MATTHEW, 13.
standing it, the Evil One comes and snatches away what has been sown in his mind. This is the man meant by the seed which was sown along the path. By the seed which was 20 sown on rocky places is meant the man who hears the Message, and at once accepts it joyfully ; but, as he has no root, he 21 stands for only a short time ; and, when trouble or persecu- tion arises on account of the Message, he falls away at once. By the seed which was sown among the brambles is meant 22 the man who hears the Message, but the cares of life and the glamour of wealth completely choke the Message, so that it gives no return. But by the seed which was sown on the 23 good ground is meant the man who hears the Message and understands it, and really yields a return, sometimes one hun- dred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold. "
Parable Another parable which Jesus told them was 24
of the Tares, this —
"The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But, while every one was asleep, 25 his enemy eame and sowed tares among the wheat, and then went away. So, when the blades of corn shot up, and came 26 into ear, the tares made their appearance also. On this the 27 owner's servants came to him, and said ' Was not it good seed that you sowed in your field ? Where, then, do the tares in it come from ? '
'An enemy has done this,' was his answer. 28
' Do you wish us, then,' they asked, ' to go and gather them together ? '
'No,' said he, 'for fear that, while you are gathering the 29 tares, you should root up the wheat as well. Let both grow 30 side by side till harvest ; and then I shall say to the reapers, Gather the tares together first, and tie them in bundles for burning ; but bring all the wheat into my barn.' "
Parable Another parable which he told them was this — 31 or the "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a miisi.ird-
Mustard seed, seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. This seed is smaller than all other seeds, but, when it has 32 grown up, it is larger than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that ' the wild birds come and roost in its branches.'"
Parable This was' another parable which Jesus related — 33 or the "The Kingdom of Heaven is like some yeast
Leaven. which a woman took and covered up in three pecks of flour, until the whole had risen."
Of all this Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables ; indeed to 34 them he used never to speak at all except in parables, in fulfil- 35 ment of these words in the Prophet —
' I will speak to them in parables ;
I will utter things kept secret since the foundation of the world.' » Dan. 4. i a. » Pa. 78. a.
MATTHEW, 13. 67
Parable Then Jesus left the crowd, and went into the 36 of the Tares house. Presently his disciples came to
explained, him, and said :
" Explain to us the parable of the tares in the field." And he answered : " The sower of the good seed is the Son of 37 Man. The field is the world. By the good seed is meant the 38 People of the Kingdom. The tares are the wicked, and the 39 enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest-time is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. And, just 40 as the tares are gathered and burnt, so it will be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will 41 gather from his kingdom all that hinders and those who live in sin, and 'will throw them into the fiery furnace,' where 42 there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
Then shall the righteous shine, like the sun, in the Kingdom 43 of their Father. Let him who has ears hear.
Parable Tne Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hid- 44 of the den in a field, which a man found and hid again, Treasure. an(j then, in his delight, went and sold everything that he had, and bought that field.
Parable Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mer- 45 of the Pearl, chant in search of choice pearls. Finding one of 46 great value, he went and sold everything that he had, and bought it.
Parable Or again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net 47 of the Net. which was cast into the sea, and caugnt fish of all kinds. When it was full, they hauled it up on the beach, 48 and sat down and sorted the good fish into baskets, but threw the worthless ones away. So will it be at the close of the age. 49 The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous, and ' will throw them into the fiery furnace,' where 50 there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
New Have you understood all this?" Jesus asked. 51
and old " Yes," they answered.
Truths. Then he added : 52
" So every Teacher of the Law, who has received instruction about the Kingdom of Heaven, is like a householder who pro- duces from his stores things both new and old."
Jesu When Jesus had finished these parables, he 53
teaches at withdrew from that place. Going to his own part 54 Nazareth. of the country, he taught the people in their Synagogue in such a manner that they were deeply impressed. "Where did he get this wisdom?" they said, "and the miracles ? Is not he the carpenter's son ? Is not his mother 55 called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, too — are not they all living 56 among us ? Where, then did he get all this ? "
4J Enoch 54. 6. <3 Dan. 12. 3. & Enoch 54. 6.
68 MATTHEW, 13-14.
These things proved a hindrance to their believing in him ; 57 whereupon Jesus said :
"A Prophet is not without honour, except in his own country and in his own house."
And he did not work many miracles there, because of their 58 want of faith.
The Death of At that time Prince Herod heard of the fame of the Baptist. Jesus, and said to his attendants :
" This must be John the Baptist ; he must be risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him."
For Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and shut him up in prison, to please Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother Philip. For John had said to him ' You have no right to be living with her.' Yet, though Herod wanted to put him to death, he was afraid of the people, because they looked on John as a Prophet. But, when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before his guests, and so pleased Herod, that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, the girl said ' Give me here, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist.' The king was distressed at this ; yet, on account of his oath and of the guests at his table, he ordered it to be given her. He sent and beheaded Johninthe prison ; and his head was brought on a dish and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. Then John's
disciples came, and took the body away, and buried it ; and went and told Jesus.
When Jesus heard of it, he retired privately in a
flve't^ou'sand boat to a lonely spot. The people, however, heard
by the Lake of his going, and followed him in crowds from the
or oaiiiee. towns on foot- On getting out of the
boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them ; and hecured all thesickamong them. In
the evening the disciples came up to him, and said :
" This is a lonely spot, and the day is now far advanced ; send the crowds away, that they may go to the villages, and buy themselves food.
But Jesus said : "They need not go away, it is for you to give them something to eat."
" We have nothing here," they said, "except five loaves and two fishes."
" Bring them here to me," was his reply.
Jesus ordered the people to take their seats on the grass ; and, .taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to Heaven, and said the blessing, and, after he had broken the loaves, gave them to his disciples ; and they gave them to the crowds. Every one had sufficient to eat, and they picked up
MATTHEW, 14-15. .69
enough of the broken pieces that were left to fill twelve baskets. The men who ate were about five thousand in 21 number, without counting women and children.
jesus Immediately afterwards Jesus made the disci- 22
walks on the pies get into a boat and cross over in advance of
water. him, while he dismissed the crowds. After dis- 23 missing the crowds, he went up the hill by himself to pray ; and, when evening fell, he was there alone. The 24
boat was by this time some miles from shore, labouring in the waves, for the wind was against her. Three hours 25
after midnight, however, Jesus came towards the disciples, walking on the water. Bat, when they saw him walking on 26 the water, they were terrified.
" It is a ghost," they exclaimed, and cried out for fear. But Jesus at once spoke to them. 27
" Courage ! " he said, " It is I ; do not be afraid ! "
" Master," Peter exclaimed, "if it is you, tell me to come to 28 you on the water."
And Jesus said : " Come." 29
So Peter got down from the boat, and walked on the water, and went towards Jesus ; but, when he felt the wind, he was 30 frightened, and, beginning to sink, cried out :
" Master ! Save me ! " Instantly Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught hold of him. 31
" O man of little faith ! " he said, " Why did you falter ? " When they had got into the boat, the wind dropped. But 32, 33 the men in the boat threw themselves on their faces before him, and said :
"You are indeed God's Son."
Jesus at When they had crossed over, they landed at 34 Gennesaret. Gennesaret. But the people of that place, recog- 35 nizing Jesus, sent out to the whole country round, and brought to him all who were ill, begging him merely to let them touch 36 the tassel of his cloak ; and all who touched- were made perfectly well.
Then some Pharisees and Teachers of the Law i 15 Theb?amed °" came to Jesus, and said : for neglecting " How is it that your disciples break the tra- 2
ceremonies, ditions of our ancestors ? For they do not wash their hands when they eat food." His reply was : 3
" How is it that you on your side break God's commandments out of respect for your own traditions ? For God said — 4
' Honour thy father and mother,' and
' Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,'
4 Exod. 20. 12 ; Exod. 21. 17.
70. MATTHEW, 15.
but you say ' Whenever any one says to his father or mother " Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is ' Given to God,' " he is in no way bound to honour his father.' In this way you have nullified the words of God on account of your traditions. Hypocrites ! It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you —
' This is a people that honour me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me ; But vainly do they worship me,
For they teach but the precepts of men.'"
Then Jesus called the people to him, and said :
"Listen, and mark my words. It is not what enters a man's mouth that ' defiles ' him, but what comes out from his mouth — that does defile him ! "
On this his disciples came up to him, and said :
" Do you know that the Pharisees were shocked on hearing what you said ? "
" Every plant," Jesus replied, "that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them be ; they are but blind guides ; and, if one blind man guides another, both of them will fall into a ditch."
Upon this, Peter said to Jesus :
" Explain this saying to us."
"What, do even you understand nothing yet?" Jesus ex- claimed. " Do not you see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is afterwards expelled ? But the things that come out from the mouth proceed from the heart, and it is these that defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts — murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that defile a man ; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
cur* or* On going away from that place, Jesus retired to
Syrian oiri the country round Tyre and Sidon. There,
noarTyro. a Canaanite woman of that district came out and began calling to Jesus :
"Take pity on me, Master, Son of David ; my daughter is grievously possessed by a demon."
But Jesus did not answer her a word ; and his disciples came up and begged him to send her away.
"She keeps calling out after us," they said.
" I was not sent," replied Jesus, " to any one except the lost sheep of Israel."
But the woman came, and, bowing to the ground before him, said :
"Master, help me
*-• Isa. 29. 13.
MATTHEW, 15-16. 71
c< It is not fair," replied Jesus, " to take the children's food 26 and throw it to dogs."
"Yes, Master," she said, "for even dogs do feed on the scraps 27 that fall from their owners' table. "
" Your faith is great," was his reply to the woman ; " it shall 28 be as vou wish ! " And her daughter was cured that very hour.
Jesus ^n leaving that place, Jesus went to the shore 29
cures'many of the Sea of Galilee ; and then went up the hill,
Persons. ancj sa^ down. Great crowds of people came 30 to him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, or dumb, and many others. They put them down at his feet, and he cured them ; and the crowd were astonished, 31 when they saw the dumb talking, the cripples made sound, the lame walking about, and the blind with their sight restored ; and they praised the God of Israel.
Jesus feeds Afterwards Jesus called his disciples to him, 32 four thousand, and said :
" My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat ; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, for fear that they should break down on the way."
" Where can we," his disciples asked, " in a lonely place find 33 enough bread for such a crowd as this ? "
" How many loaves have you ? " said Jesus. 34
" Seven," they answered, " and a few small fish." Telling the crowd to sit down on the ground, Jesus took the 35, seven loaves and the fish, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke them, and gave them to the disciples ; and the disciples gave them to the crowds. Every one had sufficient to eat, and 37 they picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left. The 38 men who ate were four thousand in number, without counting women and children. Then, after dismissing the 39
crowds, Jesus got into the boat, and went to the neighbour- hood of Magadan.
signs of Here the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, i j the rimes, and, to test Jesus, requested him to show them some sign from the heavens. But Jesus answered : 2
[" In the evening you say ' It will be fine weather, for the sky is as red as fire.' But in the morning you say ' To-day it 3 will be stormy, for the sky is as red as fire and threatening.' You learn to read the sky ; yet you are unable to read the signs of the times !] A wicked and unfaithful generation 4
is asking for a sign, but no sign shall be given it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and went away.
72 MATTHEW, 16.
Now the disciples had crossed to the opposite 5 warning shore, and had forgotten to take any bread.
against the T*IT •*" s-
Teaching Presently Jesus said to them : 6
of the "Take care and be on your guard against the
Pharisees. jeaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." But the disciples began talking among themselves about their 7 having brought no bread. On noticing this, Jesus said : 8
"Why are you talking among yourselves about your being short of bread, O men of little faith ? Do not you yet see, nor 9 remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took away ? Nor yet the seven loaves for the four 10 thousand, and how many basketfuls you took away? How n is it that you do not see that I was not speaking about bread ? Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Then they understood that he had told them to be on their 12 guard, not against the leaven of bread, but against the teach- ing of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
On coming into the neighbourhood of Caesarea 13 Co*nfession Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples this question — of " Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
the Christ. « Some say John the Baptist," they answered, 14 " others, however, say that he is Elijah, while others again say Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets."
" But you," he said, " who do you say that I am ? " 15
And to this Simon Peter answered : "You are the Christ, 16 the Son of the Living God."
"Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah," Jesus replied. 17 " For no human being has revealed this to you; but my Father who is in Heaven. Yes, and I say to you, Your 18 name is 'Peter' — a Rock, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the Powers of the Place of Death shall not pre- vail over it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. 19 Whatever you forbid on earth will be held in Heaven to be forbidden, and whatever you allow on earth will be held in Heaven to be allowed."
Then he charged his disciples not to tell any one that he 20 was the Christ.
Jesu. ^At that time Jesus Christ began to explain to foretells hi* his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and Death. undergo much suffering at the hands ofjthe Coun- cillors, and Chief Priests, and Teachers of the Law, and be put to death, and rise on the third day. But Peter took Jesus aside, and began to rebuke him.
M Job 38. 17. 1» Isa. aa. aa. !" Hos. 6. a.
MATTHEW, ie— IT. 73
"Master," he said, "please God that shall never be your fate ! " Jesus, however, turning to Peter, said : 23
" Out of my way, Satan ! You are a hindrance to me ; for you look at things, not as God does, but as man does."
A can Then Jesus said to his disciples : 24
to renounce " If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him self. renounce self, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and who- 25 ever, for my sake, loses his life shall find it. What good 26 will it do a man to gain the whole world, if he forfeits his life ? or what will a man give that is of equal value with his life ? For the Son of Man is to come in his Father's Glory, with his 27 angels, and then he ' will give to every man what his actions deserve.' I tell you, some of those who are standing here will 28 not know death till they have seen the Son of Man coming into his Kingdom."
The ^'x days later, Jesus took with him Peter, and i
Transfigure, the brothers James and John, and led them up
tion. a high mountain alone. There his appearance 2 was transformed before their eyes ; his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. And all 3 at once Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.
"Master," exclaimed Peter, interposing, "it is good to be 4 here ; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, 5 and there was a voice from the cloud which said —
"This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight; him you must hear."
The disciples, on hearing this, fell on their faces, greatly 6 afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying as he 7 did so :
" Rise up, and do not be afraid."
When they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus 8 himself alone. As they were going down the moun- 9
tain side, Jesus gave them this warning — "Do not speak of this vision to any one, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."
A Question " How is it," his disciples asked, "that our 10 about Elijah. Teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?"
" Elijah indeed does come," Jesus replied, "and will restore n everything ; and I tell you that Elijah has already come, and 12 people have not recognized him, but have treated him just as
» Ps. 6a. 13. 6 Pa. 2. 7 ; Isa. 42. i. U Mai. 4. 5.
74 MATTHEW, 17.
they pleased. In the same way, too, the Son of Man is destined to undergo suffering at men's hands." Then the disciples understood that it was of John the Baptist that he had spoken to them.
cure or When they came to the crowd, a man came up an epileptic to Jesus, and, kneeling down before him, said :
Boy- "Master, take pity on my son, for he is
epileptic and suffers terribly ; indeed, he often falls into the fire and into the water ; I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him."
The Power "O faithless and perverse generation !" Jesus of Faith, exclaimed, "how long must I be among you? how long must I have patience with you ? Bring the boy here to me."
Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy ; and he was cured from that very hour. Afterwards the
disciples came up to Jesus, and asked him privately: "Why was it that we could not drive it out ? "
"Because you have so little faith," he answered; "for, I tell you, if your faith were only like a mustard-seed, you could say to this mountain ' Move from this place to that ! ' and it would be moved ; and nothing would be impossible to you."
While Jesus and his disciples were together in 22
a eecond^«me,Galilee' he said to th.em :
foretells ' ' The Son of Man is destined to be betrayed into his Death. ftiQ hands of his fellow-men, and they will put 23
him to death, but on the third day he will rise."
And the disciples were greatly distressed.
A Question After they had reached Capernaum, the collec- 24 about the tors of the Temple-rate came up to Peter, and
Temple-rate. said :
" Does not your Master pay the Temple-rate ? "
"Yes," answered Peter. 25
But, on going into the house, before he could speak, Jesus
said :
"What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly
kings take taxes or tribute ? From their sons, or from
others ? "
" From others," answered Peter. 26
"Well then," continued Jesus, "their sons go free. Still, 27
that we may not shock them, go and throw a line into the
Sea ; take the first fish that rises, open its mouth, and you
" Deut. 3». 5. 28 HOB. 6. a.
MATTHEW, 17-18. 75
will find in it a piece of money. Take that, and give it to the collectors for both of us. "
on On the same occasion the dfsciples came to i
Humility. Jesus, and asked him :
"Who is really the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of 2 them, and then said : 3
"I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all. Therefore, any one who will humble himself like this child — 4 that man shall be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And 5 any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me. But, if any one puts a 6 Against snare in the way of one of these lowly ones who
hindering believe in me, it would be best for him to be sunk others. jn fae depths of the sea with a great millstone hung round his neck. Alas for the world because of 7
such snares ! There cannot but be snares ; yet alas for the man who is answerable for the snare !
If your hand or your foot is a snare to you, cut it off, and 8 throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the aeonian fire. If your eye is a snare to you, 9 take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fiery Pit.
Beware of despising one of these lowly ones, for in Heaven, 10 I tell you, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in Heaven. What think you? If a man owns a 12 Parable hundred sheep, and one of them strays, will he of the not leave the ninety-nine on the hills, and go and lost sheep, search for the one that is straying? And, if he 13 succeeds in finding it, I tell you that he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine which did not stray. So, 14 too, it is the will of my Father who is in Heaven that not one of these lowly ones should be lost. on dealing ^ your Brother does wrong, go to him and 15
with convince him of his fault when you and he are wrong-doers, alone. If he listens to you, you have won your Brother. But, if he does not listen to you, take with you one 16 or two others, so that ' on the evidence of two or three witnesses, every word may be put beyond dispute.' If he 17 refuses to listen to them, speak to the Church ; and, if he also refuses to listen to the Church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.
I tell you, all that you forbid on earth will be held in 18 Heaven to be forbidden, and all that you allow on earth will
16 Deut. 19. 15.
76 MATTHEW, 18—19. '
be held in Heaven to be allowed. Again, I tell you 19
Encourage- that, if but two of you on earth agree as to what ment to they shall pray for, whatever it be, it will be united Prayer, granted them by my Father who is in Heaven. For where two or three have come together in my Name, I 20 am present with them."
Then Peter came up, and said to Jesus : 21
'of-The* " Master, how often am I to forgive my Brother
unforgiving' when he wrongs me? As many as seven
But Jesus answered : 22
"Not seven times, but ' seventy times seven. ' And there- 23
fore the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he had begun 24 to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him six million pounds ; and, as he could not pay, his master ordered 25 him to be sold towards the payment of the debt, togetherwith his wife, and his children, and everything that he had. Thereupon 26 the servant threw himself down on the ground before him and said 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' The 27 master was moved with compassion ; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt. But, on going out, that same servant 28 came upon one of his fellow-servants who owed him ten pounds. Seizing him by the throat, he said ' Pay what you owe me.' Thereupon his fellow-servant threw himself on the 29 ground, and begged for mercy. ' Have patience with me,' he said, 'and I will pay you.' But the other would not, but went 30 and put him in prison till he should pay his debt. When his 31 fellow-servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and went to their master and laid the whole matter before him. Upon that the master sent for the servant, 32 and said to him ' You wicked servant ! When you begged me for mercy, I forgave you the whole of that debt. Ought 33 not you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow-servant, just as I showed mercy to you ? ' Then his master, in anger, 34 handed him over to the gaolers, until he should pay the whole of his debt. So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, 35
unless each one of you forgives his Brother from his heart."
IV.— THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM.
A Question ^ ^le conclusion of this teaching, Jesus with- about drew from Galilee, and went into that district of Divorce. Judaea which is on the other side of the Jordan. Great crowds followed him, and he cured them there,
22 Gen. 4. 24.
MATTHEW, 19. 77
Presently some Pharisees came up to him, and, to test him, 3 said : ' ' Has a man the right to divorce his wife for every cause ? "
" Have not you read," replied Jesus, " that at the beginning 4 the Creator ' made them male and female,' and said— 5
' For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother,
and be united to his wife, and the man and his wife shall
become one ' ?
So that they are no longer two, but one. What God himself, 6 then, has yoked together man must not separate."
"Why, then," they said, "did Moses direct that a man should 7 ' serve his wife with a notice of separation and divorce her ' ? "
" Moses, owing to the hardness of your hearts," answered 8 Jesus, "permitted you to divorce your wives, but that was not so at the beginning. But I tell you that any one who 9 divorces his wife, except on the ground of her unchastity, and marries another woman, is guilty of adultery."
" If that," said the disciples, " is the position of a man with 10 regard to his wife, it is better not to marry."
" It is not every one, "replied Jesus, "who can accept this n teaching, but only those who have been enabled to do so. Some men, it is true, have from birth been disabled for 12 marriage, while others have been disabled by their fellow men, and others again have disabled themselves for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let him accept it who can."
Jesus blesses Then some little children were brought to Jesus, .13 uttie for him to place his hands on them, and pray ;
children, but the disciples found fault with those who had brought them. Jesus, however, said : 14
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs." So he placed his hands on them, and then went on his way. 15
- a man came up to Jesus, and said : 16
sponsibiiities " Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain of wealth, i mmortal Life ? "
" Why ask me about goodness?" answered Jesus. " There 17 is but One who is good. If you want to enter the Life, keep the commandments."
"What commandments ? " asked the man. 18
" These," answered Jesus : —
" ' Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not say what is false about others. Honour thy father and thy mother.' 19
And
' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thou dost thyself." 4 Gen. i. 27. 6 Gen. a. 24. 1 Deut. 24. i. J8— 19 Exod. 20. 12—17 '• Lev. 19. 18.
78 MATTHEW, 19-2O.
" I have observed all these," said the young man. "What 20 is still wanting in me ? "
" If you wish to be perfect," answered Jesus, " go and sell 21 your property, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven ; then come and follow me."
On hearing these words, the young man went away distressed, 22 for he had great possessions.
At this, Jesus said to his disciples : 23
" I tell you that a rich man will find it hard to enter the Kingdom of Heaven ! I say again, it is easier for a camel to 24 get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven ! " On hearing this, the disciples exclaimed in great astonishment : 25
" Who then can possibly be saved ? " But Jesus looked at them, and said : 26
" With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible."
Then Peter turned and said to Jesus :
"But we — we left everything, and followed you; what, 27 then, shall we have ? "
" I tell you," answered Jesus, "that at the New Creation, 28 1 when the Son of Man takes his seat on his throne of glory,' you who followed me shall be seated upon twelve thrones, as judges of the twelve tribes of Israel. Every one who has left 29 houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or land, on account of my Name, will receive many times as much, and will 'gain Immortal Life.' But many who 30
are first now will then be last, and those who are last will be first. For the Kingdom of Heaven is like an em- i
ployer who went out in the early morning to hire Parable labourers for his vineyard. He agreed with the 2
OT tnc - . _ •" . ».|. • m
Labourer* labourers to pay them two shillings a day, and in the sent them into his vineyard. On going out 3
vineyard. aga;n( about nine o'clock, he saw some others standing in the market-place, doing nothing. ' You also may 4 go into my vineyard,' he said, 'and I will pay you what is fair.' So the men went. Going out again about mid-day and 5 about three o'clock, he did as before. When he went out about 6 five, he found some other men standing there, and said to them ' Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing? '
' Because no one has hired us,' they answered. 7
'You also may go into my vineyard,' he said. In the evening the owner of the vineyard said to his steward 8 ' Call the labourers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first.' Now when those who 9 had been hired about five o'clock went up, they received two shillings each. So, when the first went up, they thought 10
2* Enoch 6a. 3 ; 108. ia. » Enoch 40. 9.
MATTHEW, 2O. 79
that they would receive more, but they also received two shillings each; on which they began to grumble at their n employer.
'These last,' they said, 'have done only one hour's work, 12 and yet you have put them on the same footing with us, who have borne the brunt of the day's work, and the heat.'
' My friend,' was his reply to one of them, ' I am not treat- 13 ing you unfairly. Did not you agree with me for two shillings ? Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this 14 last man the same as to you. Have not I the right to do as I 15 choose with what is mine ? Are you envious because I am liberal ? ' So those who are last will be first, and the 16
first last."
When Jesus was on the point of going up to 17 a thje«Tt/me, Jerusalem, he gathered the twelve disciples round foretells him by themselves, and said to them as they were
his Death. on t|lejr way .
" Listen ! We are going up to Jerusalem ; and there the Son 18 of Man will be betrayed to the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law, and they will condemn him to death, and give him 19 up to the Gentiles for them to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify ; and on the third day he will rise."
Then the mother of Zebediah's sons came to 20 oVthrMoth'er nmi with her sons, bowing to the ground, and
of James begging a favour.
and John. « what is it that you want ?" he asked. 21
" I want you to say," she replied, "that in your Kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right, and the other on your left."
" You do not know what you are asking," was Jesus' answer. 22 " Can you drink the cup that I am to drink ? "
" Yes," they exclaimed, "we can."
"You shall indeed drink my cup," he said, "but as to 23 a seat at my right and at my left — that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about 24 the two brothers. Jesus, however, called the ten to him, and 25 said : The Dignity " The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them
of service, as you know, and their great men oppress them. Among you it is not so. No, whoever wants to become great 26, among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you, must be your slave ; just as the 28
9 Hos. 6. a,
80 MATTHEW, 2O— 21.
Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. "
As they were going out of Jericho, a great 29
two blind crowd followed him. Two blind men who were 30
"ton. sitting by the road-side, hearing that Jesus was passing, called out :
" Take pity on us, Master, Son of David ! "
The crowd told them to be quiet ; but the men only called out 31 the louder :
"Take pity on us, Master, Son of David ! " Then Jesus stopped and called them. 32
1 ' What do you want me to do for you ? " he said.
" Master," they replied, " we want our eyes to be opened." 33 So Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and 34 immediately they recovered their sight, and followed him.
V. — THE LAST DAYS.
jesu« enters When they had almost reached Jerusalem, i Jerusalem, having come as far as Bethphage, on the Mount
of Olives, Jesus sent on two disciples.
"Go to the village facing you," he said, "and you will 2
immediately find an ass tethered, with a foal by her s-ide ;
untie her, and lead her here for me. And, if any one says 3
anything to you, you are to say this — ' The Master wants
them ' ; and he will send them at once."
This happened in fulfilment of these words in the Prophet — 4
' Say to the daughter of Zion — 5
" Behold, thy King is coming to thee, Gentle, and riding on an ass, And on the foal of a beast of burden." '
So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 6 They led the ass and the foal back, and, when they had put 7 their cloaks on them, he seated himself upon them. The 8 immense crowd of people spread their cloaks in the road, while some cut branches off the trees, and spread them on the road. The crowds that led the way, as well as those that 9 followed behind, kept shouting :
" God save the Son of David !
Blessed is He who conies in the name of the Lord ! God save him from on high ! "
When he had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred, 10 and asked — "Who is this?", to which the crowd replied — n "This is the Prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
•'• K.I. 62. ii ; Zech. 9. 9. '•' Pa. 118. 25—16 ; PR. 148. i.
MATTHEW, 21. 81
Jesus Jesus went into the Temple Courts, and drove 12
in the out all those who were buying and selling there. Temple. fje overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of the pigeon-dealers, and said to them : 13
" Scripture says —
' My House shall be called a House of Prayer ' ;
but you are making it ' a den of robbers. ' '
While he was still in the Temple Courts, some blind and some 14 lame people came up to him, and he cured them. But, 15
when the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law saw the wonderful things that Jesus did, and the boys who were calling out in the Temple Courts " God save the Son of David ! ", they were indignant, and said to him : 16
" Do you hear what these boys are saying ? " "Yes, "answered Jesus; " butdidyou never read the words —
' Out of the mouths of babes and suckling's thou hast called forth perfect praise ' ? "
Then he left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and 17 spent the night there.
Tne The next morning, in returning to the city, Jesus 18
fruitless became hungry ; and, noticing a solitary fig tree 19 Fie Tree, by the road-side, he went up to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. So he said to it :
" Never again shall fruit be gathered off you." And suddenly the fig tree withered up. When the disciples 20 saw this, they exclaimed in astonishment : " How suddenly the fig tree withered up ! "
"I tell you," replied Jesus, "if you have faith, withont 21 ever a doubt, you will do not only what has been done to the fig tree, but, even if you should say to this hill ' Be lifted up and hurled into the sea ! ', it would be done. And what- 22 ever you ask for in your prayers will, if you have faith, be granted you."
Jesus After Jesus had come into the Temple Courts, 23
and the the Chief Priests and the Councillors of the Nation chief Priests, came up to him as he was teaching, and said :
" What authority have you to do these things ? Who gave you this authority ? "
" I, too," said Jesus in reply, " will ask you one question ; if 24 you will give me an answer to it, then I, also, will tell you what authority I have to act as I do. It is about John's 25 baptism. What was its origin ? divine or human ? " But they began arguing among themselves :
" If we say ' divine,' he will say to us ' Why then did not you
13 Isa. 56. 7 ; Jer. 7. 11. " ps. g. 2.
82 MATTHEW, 21.
believe him?' But if we say 'human,' we are afraid of the 26
people, for every one regards John as a Prophet."
So the answer they gave Jesus was — " We do not know." 27
"Then I," he said, " refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things. What do you think of this ? There 28
Parable was a man wh° 'iac^ two sons. He went to the of the elder and said ' Go and work in the vineyard
two sons, to-day, my son.'
' Yes, sir,' he answered ; but he did not go. Then the father 29, went to the second son, and said the same. ' I will not,' he answered ; but afterwards he was sorry and went. Which 31 of the two sons did as his father wished ? "
" The second," they said.
" I tell you," added Jesus, "that tax-gatherers and prosti- tutes are going into the Kingdom of God before you. For 32 when John came to you, walking in the path of righteousness, you did not believe him, but tax-gatherers and prostitutes did ; and yet you, though you saw this, even then were not sorry, nor did you believe him.
Parable Listen to another parable. A man, who 33
of the wicked was an employer, once planted a vineyard, put a Tenant*, fence round it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad. When 34 the time for the vintage drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to receive his share of the produce. But the tenants 35 seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. A second time the owner sent some servants, a larger 36 number than before, and the tenants treated them in the same way. As a last resource he sent his son to them. ' They will 37 respect my son,' he said. But the tenants, on seeing his son, 38 said to each other ' Here is the heir ! Come, let us kill him, and get his inheritance.' So they seized him, and threw 39 him outside the vineyard, and killed him. Now, when the 40 owner of the vineyard conies, what will he do to those tenants ? "
" Miserable wretches ! " they exclaimed, " he will put them 41 to a miserable death, and he will let out the vineyard to other tenants, who will pay him his share of the produce at the proper times." Then Jesus added : " Have you never read in the Scriptures? — 42
' The very stone which the builders despised —
Has now itself become the corner-stone ; This corner-stone has come from the Lord, And is marvellous in our eyes.'
And that, I tell you, is why the Kingdom of God will be 43 taken from you, and given to a nation that does produce
x Isa. 5. i— a. « Ps. 118. aa.
MATTHEW, 21-22. 83
the fruit of the Kingdom. Yes, and he- who falls on 44
this stone will be dashed to pieces, while any one on whom it falls — it will scatter him as dust."
After listening to these parables, the Chief Priests and the 45 Pharisees saw that it was about them that he was speaking ; yet, although eager to arrest him, they were afraid of the 46 crowds, who regarded him as a Prophet.
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables. i
" The Kingdom of Heaven," he said, "may be 2
'oi^he* compared to a king who gave a banquet in
Marriage honour of his son's wedding. He sent his 3
Feast. servants to call those who had been invited to the banquet, but they were unwilling to come. A second time he 4 sent some servants, with orders to say to those who had been invited ' I have prepared my breakfast, my cattle and fat beasts are killed and everything is ready; come to the banquet.' They, however, took no notice, but went off, one to his farm, 5 another to his business ; while the rest, seizing his servants, 6 ill-treated them and killed them. The king, in anger, sent 7 his troops, put those murderers to death, and set their city on fire. Then he said to his servants ' The banquet is pre- 8 pared, but those who were invited were not worthy. So 9 go to the cross-roads, and invite every one you find to the banquet.' The servants went out into the roads and collected 10 all the people whom they found, whether bad or good ; and the bridal-hall was filled with guests. But, when the king went 1 1 in to see his guests, he noticed there a man who had not put on a wedding-robe. So he said to him ' My friend, how is it 12 that you came in here without a wedding-robe ? ' The man was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants 'Tie him 13 hand and foot, and ' put him out into the darkness ' outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.' For 14 many are called, but few chosen."
A Question Then the Pharisees went away and conferred 15 about together as to how they might lay a snare for
Tribute. Jesus in the course of conversation. They sent 16 their disciples, with the Herodians, to say to him :
"Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and that you teach the Way of God honestly, and are not afraid of any one ; for you pay no regard to a man's position. Tell us, 17 then, what you think. Are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not ? " Perceiving their malice, Jesus answered : 18
"Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the 19 coin with which the tax is paid." And, when they had brought him a florin, he asked : 20
" Whose head and title are these ? "
18 Enoch 10. 4.
84 MATTHEW, 22.
"The Emperor's," they answered: on which he said to 21 them :
"Then pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God."
They wondered at his answer, and left him alone and went 22 away.
A Question That same day some Sadducees came up to 23 about the Jesus, maintaining that there is no resurrection. Resurrection. Their question was this :— "Teacher, Moses said — 24
' Should a man die without children, the man's brother shall become the husband of the widow, and raise a family for his brother.'
Now we had living among us seven brothers ; of whom the 25 eldest married and died, and, as he had no family, left his wife for his brother. The same thing happened to the second and 26 the third brothers, and indeed to all the seven. The woman 27 herself died last of all. At the resurrection, then, whose 28 wife will she be out of the seven, all of them having had her ? "
" Your mistake," replied Jesus, " is due to your ignorance of 29 the Scriptures, and of the power of God. For at the resur- 30 rection there is no marrying or being married, but all who rise are as angels in Heaven. As to the resurrection of the dead, 31 have you not read these words of God —
' I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the 32 God of Jacob ' ?
He is not the God of dead men, but of living."
The crowds, who had been listening to him, were greatly 33
struck with his teaching.
The oreat When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had 34 command- silenced the Sadducees, they collected together.
mont. Then one of them, a Student of the Law, to test 35 him, asked this question —
"Teacher, what is the great commandment in the Law?" 36
His answer was : 37
" ' Thou shalt love the Lord thy God wjth all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.'
This is the great first commandment. The second, which 38, is like it, is this —
' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thou dost thyself.'
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the 40 Prophets."
* Deut. 35. 5. 33 Exod. 3, 6, 37 pwt. $, s. 89 Lev. 19. 18.
MATTHEW, 22—23. 85
Christ Before the Pharisees separated, Jesus put this 41
the son ot question to them —
David. « What do you think about the Christ ? Whose 42
son is he ? "
" David's," they said.
"How is it, then," Jesus replied, "that David, speaking 43 under inspiration, calls him ' lord,' in the passage —
' The Lord said to my lord : " Sit at my right hand, 44
Until I put thy enemies beneath thy feet " ' ?
Since, then, David calls him 'lord,' how is he David's son?" 45 No one could say a word in answer ; nor did any one after 46 that day venture to question him further.
Then Jesus, speaking to the crowds and to his disciples, i said : 2
warnings "The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees against the now occupy the chair of Moses. Therefore 3 Teachers of practise and lay to heart everything: that they tell
the Law. , , , . r 11 j.i_ • ' i r ^i
you, but do not follow their example, for they preach but do not practise. While they make up heavy loads .4 and pile them on other men's shoulders, they decline, them- selves, to lift a finger to move them. All their actions are 5 done to attract attention. They widen their phylacteries, and increase the size of their tassels, and like to have the place 6 of honour at dinner, and the best seats in the Synagogues, and 7 to be greeted in the markets with respect, and to be called 1 Rabbi ' by everybody. But do not you allow yourselves to be 8 called ' Rabbi,' for you have only one Teacher, and you your- selves are all Brothers. And do not call any one on the earth 9 your ' Father,' for you have only one Father, the heavenly Father. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called ' Leaders,' 10 for you have only one Leader, the Christ. The man who would 1 1 be the greatest among you must be your servant. Who- 12
ever shall exalt himself will be humbled, and whoever shall humble himself will be exalted.
Jesus ^ut a^as f°r y°u> Teachers of the Law and 14
denounces Pharisees, hypocrites that you are ! You turn the Pharisees, the key of the Kingdom of Heaven in men's faces. For you do not go in yourselves, nor yet allow those who try to go in to do so. Alas for you, Teachers of the Law 15
and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are ! You scour land and sea to make a single convert, and, when he is gained, you 'make him twice as deserving of the Pit as you are yourselves. Alas for you, you blind guides ! You 16
say ' If any one swears by the Temple, his oath counts for nothing ; but, if any one swears by the gold of the Temple, his
« Ps. no. i.
86 MATTHEW, 23.
oath is binding on him ' ! Fools that you are and blind ! 17 Which is the more important ? the gold ? or the Temple which has given sacredness to the gold ? You say, too, 18 ' If any one swears by the altar, his oath counts for nothing, but, if any one swears by the offering placed on it, his oath is binding on him ' ! Blind indeed ! Which is the more 19 important? the offering? or the altar which gives sacred- ness to the offering ? Therefore a man, swearing by the 20 altar, swears by it and by all that is on it, and a man, 21 swearing by the Temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it, while a man, swearing by Heaven, swears by 22 the throne of God, and by him who sits upon it. Alas 23
for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are ! You pay tithes on mint, fennel, and car ra way-seed, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law — justice, mercy, and good faith. These last you ought to have put into practice, without neglecting the first. You blind guides, 24 to strain out a gnat and to swallow a camel ! Alas for 25
you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are ! You clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are filled with the results of greed and self- indulgence. You blind Pharisee ! First clean the inside of 26 the cup and the dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and 27
Pharisees, hypocrites that you are ! You are like white-washed tombs, which indeed look fair outside, while inside they are filled with dead men's bones and all kinds of filth. It 28 is the same with you. Outwardly, and to others, you have the look of religious men, but inwardly you are full of hypo- crisy and sin. Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and 29 Pharisees, hypocrites that you are ! You build the tombs of the Prophets, and decorate the monuments of religious men, and say ' Had we been living in the days of our ances- 30 tors, we should have taken no part in their murder of the Prophets ! ' By doing this you are furnishing evidence against 31 yourselves that you are true children of the men who murdered the Prophets. Fill up the measure of your ancestors' guilt. 32 You serpents and brood of vipers ! How can you escape being 33 sentenced to the Pit ? That is why I send you Prophets, wise 34 men, and Teachers of the Law, some of whom you will crucify and kill, and some of whom you will scourge in your Syna- gogues, and persecute from town to town ; in order that upon 35 your heads may fall every drop of innocent 'blood spilt on earth,' from the blood of innocent Abel down to that of Zechariah, Barachiah's son, whom you murdered between the Temple jo*u» iam«nta {inc* tne a'tar- All this, I tell you, will come'home 36
tho fata to the present generation. or j«ru>ai«m. Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! she who slays the 37
28 Enoch 9. i.
MATTHEW, 23—24. 87
Prophets and stones the messengers sent to her Oh, how
often have I wished to gather your children round me, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not come ! Verily, your House is left to you desolate ! For nevermore, I tell you, shall you see me, until you say —
' Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord ! ' "
Jesus Leaving the Temple Courts, Jesus was walking i '
fbreteiia the away, when his disciples came up to draw his o^herTem0|Tie attention to the Temple buildings. and the End " Do you see all these things?" was his 2 of the Age. answer. "I tell you, not a single stone will be left here upon another, which will not be thrown down." So, while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his dis- 3 ciples came up to him privately and said: "Tell us when this will be, and what will be the sign of your Coming, and of the close of the age."
Jesus replied to them as follows : 4
"See that no one leads you astray; for many will take 5 my name, and come saying ' I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of 6 wars ; take care not to be alarmed, for such things must occur ; but the end is not yet here. For ' nation will rise 7 against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 'and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All this, how- 8 ever, will be but the beginning of the birth-pangs ! When 9 that time comes, they will give you up to persecution, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my Name. And then many will fall away, 10 and will betray one another, and hate one another. Many n false Prophets, also, will appear and lead many astray ; and, 12 owing to the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. Yet the man that endures to the end shall be 13 saved. And this Good News of the Kingdom shall be pro- 14 claimed throughout the world as a witness to all nations ; and then will come the end. As soon, then, as you see 15
' the Foul Desecration ', mentioned by the Prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place," (the reader must consider what this means) "then those of you who are in Judaea must 16 take refuge in the mountains ; and a man on the house-top 17 must not go down to get the things that are in his house ; nor must one who is on his farm turn back to get his cloak. 18 And alas for the women that are with child, and for those that 19 are nursing infants in those days ! Pray, too, that your flight 20
38 Jer. 22. 5. 39 Ps. 118. 26. 6 Dan. 2. 28. ? Isa. 19. 2. 10 Isa. 8. 15. !' Dan. iz. ii ; 8. n.
88 MATTHEW, 24.
may not take place in winter, nor on a Sabbath ; for that will 21 be ' a time of great distress, the like of which has not occurred from the beginning of the world down to the present time ' — no, nor ever will again. And, had not those days been limited, 22 not a single soul would escape ; but for the sake of ' God's People' a limit will be put to them. And, at that time, if 23
any one should say to you ' Look ! here is the Christ ! ' or ' Here he is ! ', do not believe it ; for false Christs and false Prophets will 24 arise, and will display great signs and marvels, so that, were it possible, even God's People would be led astray. Remember, 25 I have told you beforehand. Therefore, if people say to you 26 ' He is in the Wilderness ! ', do not go out there ; or ' He is in an inner room !', do not believe it ; for, just as lightning will start 27 from the east and flash across to the west, so will it be with the Coming of the Son of Man. Wherever a dead body lies, 28 'there will the vultures flock.' Immediately after the 29
distress of those days, ' the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light, the stars will fall from the heavens,' and ' the forces of the heavens will be convulsed. ' Then will 30 appear the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens ; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn, when they see the ' Son of Man coming on the clouds of the heavens," with power and great glory ; and he will send his angels, with a great trumpet, 31 and they will gather his People round him from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. The Need Learn the lesson taught by the fig tree. As 32
for soon as its branches are full of sap, and it is watchfuines*. bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near. And so may you, as soon as you see all these things, 33 know that he is at your doors. I tell you, even the pre- 34 sent generation will not pass away, till all these things have taken place. The heavens and the earth will pass 35 away, but my words shall never pass away. But about 36
that Day and Hour, no one knows — not even the angels of Heaven, nor yet the Son — but only the Father himself. For, 37 just as in the days of Noah, so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood they went on 38 eating and drinking, marrying and being married, up to the very day on which Noah entered the ark, taking no notice till 39 the flood came and swept them one and all away ; and so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man. At that time, of 40 two men on a farm one will be taken and one left ; of two 41 women grinding with the hand-mill one will be taken and one left. Therefore watch ; for you cannot be sure on what day 42 your Master is coming. But this you do know, that, had the 43 owner of the house known at what time of night the thief
21 Dan. 12. i. » Enoch i. i. 24 Deut. 13. i. ™ Isa. 34. 15. » Dan. la. i ; Iita.. 13. to ; 34. 4. 30-31 Zcch. ia. la; Dan. 7. 13; Isa. 27. 13; Zech. a. 6j Dcut. 30. 4 ; a8. 64. «-3» Gen. 7. 7.
MATTHEW, 24-25. 89
was coming, he would have been on the watch, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, do you 44 also prepare, since it is just when you are least expecting him that the Son of Man will come. Who, then, is 45
that trustworthy, careful servant, who has been placed bv his master over his household, to give them
Parable of the / ./..... -, TT -11 ^.u
good and bad their food at the proper time ? Happy will that 46
servants, servant be whom his master, when he comes home, shall find doing this. I tell you that his master will put 47 him in charge of the whole of his property. But, should he 48 be a bad servant, and say to himself ' My master is a long time in coming,' and begin to beat his fellow-servants, and 49 eat and drink with drunkards, that servant's master will come 50 on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of 51 which he is unaware, and will flog him severely, and assign him his place among the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
parable Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten i of the ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out Bridesmaids to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were 2 foolish, and five were prudent. The foolish ones took their 3 lamps, but took no oil with them ; while the prudent ones, 4 besides taking their lamps, took oil in their jars. As the 5 bridegroom was late in coming, they all became drowsy, and slept. But at midnight a shout was raised — ' The Bride- 6 groom is coming ! Come out to meet him ! ' Then all the 7 bridesmaids awoke and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish 8 ones said to the prudent ' Give us some of your oil ; our lamps are going out.' But the prudent ones answered 'No, for 9 fear that there will not be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell it, and buy for yourselves.' But 10 while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom came ; and the bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the banquet, and the door was shut. Afterwards the other brides- 1 1 maids came. 'Sir, Sir,' they said, 'open the door to us!' But the bridegroom answered 'I tell you, I do not know 12 you.' Therefore watch, since you know neither the 13
Day nor the Hour.
Parable ^or ^ *s as th°ugh a man, going on his travels, 14 oVthe called his servants, and gave his property into
Talents, their charge. He gave three thousand pounds 15 to one, twelve hundred to another, and six hundred to a third, in proportion to the ability of each. Then he set out on 16 his travels. The man who had received the three thousand pounds went at once and traded with it, and made another three thousand. So, too, the man who had received the 17 twelve hundred pounds made another twelve hundred. But 18 the man who had received the six hundred went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. After a long 19
90 MATTHEW, 25.
time the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the three thousand 20 pounds came up and brpught three thousand more. ' Sir,' he said, ' you entrusted me with three thousand pounds ; look, I have made another three thousand ! '
'Well done, good, trustworthy servant!' said his master. 21 ' You have been trustworthy with a small sum ; now I will place a large one in your hands ; come and share your master's joy ! ' Then the one who had received the twelve hundred pounds 22 came up and said ' Sir, you entrusted me with twelve hun- dred pounds ; look, I have made another twelve hundred ! '
' Well done, good, trustworthy servant ! ' said his master. 23 ' You have been trustworthy with a small sum ; now I will place a large one in your hands ; come and share your master's joy ! '
The man who had received the six hundred pounds came up, 24 too, and said ' Sir, I knew that you were a hard man ; you reap where you have not sown, and gather up where you have not winnowed ; and, in my fear, I went and hid your money in 25 the ground ; look, here is what belongs to you ! '
' You lazy, worthless servant ! ' was his Master's reply. 26 ' You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather up where I have not winnowed ? Then you ought to have 27 placed my money in the hands of bankers, and I, on my return, shbuld have received my money, with interest. There- 28 fore,' he continued, ' take away from him the six hundred pounds, and give it to the one who has the six thousand. For, 29 to him who has, more will be given, and he shall have abund- ance ; but, as for him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him. As for the useless servant, ' put 30 him out into the darkness ' outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.'
The Great When the Son of Man has come in his glory 31 judgement, and all the angels with him, then he ' will take his seat on his throne of glory ' ; and all the nations will be 32 gathered before him, and he will separate the people — just as a shepherd separates sheep from goats — placing the sheep on 33 his right hand, and the goats on his left. Then the King will 34 say to those on his right ' Come, you who are blessed by my Father, enter upon possession of the Kingdom prepared for you ever since the beginning of the world. For, when I was 35 hungry, you gave me food ; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink ; when I was a stranger, you took me to your homes ; when I was naked, you clothed me ; when I fell ill, you visited 36 me ; and when I was in prison, you came to me.' Then the Righteous will answer ' Lord, when did we see you 37 hungry, and feed you ? or thirsty, and give you drink ? When 38 did we see you a stranger, and take you to our homes ? or 30 Enoch 10. 4. ::l /oh. 14. 5 ; Enoch 62. 5.
MATTHEW, 25-26. 91
naked, and clothe you ? When did we see you ill, or in 39 prison, and come to you ? '
And the King will reply ' I tell you, as often as you did it 40 to one of these my Brothers, however lowly, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those on his left ' Go from my presence, 41 accursed, into the ' aeonian fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels.' For, when I was hungry, you gave me 42 no food ; when I was thirsty, you gave me no drink ; when I 43 was a stranger, you did not take me to your homes ; when I was naked, you did not clothe me; and, when I was ill and in prison, you did not visit me.'
Then they, in their turn, will answer ' Lord, when did we see 44 you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and did not supply your wants ? '
And then he will reply ' I tell you, as often as you failed to 45 do it to one of these, however lowly, you failed to do it to me.' And these last will go away ' into aeonian punishment,' but 46 the righteous 'into aeonian life.'"
The Plot When Jesus had finished all this teaching, he i against said to his disciples :
jesus. « YOU know that in two days' time the Festival 2
of the Passover will be here ; and that the Son of Man is to be given up to be crucified."
Then the Chief Priests and the Councillors of the Nation met 3 in the house of the High Priest, who was called Caiaphas, and 4 plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death ; but they said : " Not during the Festival, for fear of 5 causing a riot."
After Jesus had reached Bethany, and while he 6 anointed by was m tne house of Simon the leper, a woman 7
a. woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of very costly at Bethany. perfume) ancj poured the perfume upon his head as he was at table. The disciples were indignant at seeing this. 8
"What is this waste for?" they exclaimed. "It could 9 have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to poor people."
"Why are you troubling the woman ?" Jesus said, when 10 he noticed it. " For this is a beautiful deed that she has done to me. You always have the poor with you, but you n will not always have me. In pouring this perfume on my 12 body, she has done it for my burying. I tell you, wher- 13 ever, in the whole world, this Good News is proclaimed, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her."
41 Enoch 54. i, 5. ** Dan. 12. 2.
92 MATTHEW, 26.
judas agrees ^ was then that one of the Twelve, named
to betray Judas Iscariot, made his way to the Chief Priests,
Jesus. an(j said " What are you willing to give me, if I
betray Jesus to you ? " The Priests ' weighed him out thirty
pieces of silver ' as payment. So from that time Judas looked
for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
The On the first day of the Festival of the Unleavened
Passover. Bread, the disciples came up to Jesus, and said :
" Where do you wish us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover ? "
"Go into the city to a certain man," he answered, "and say to him ' The Teacher says — My time is'near. I will keep the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and prepared the Passover.
In the evening Jesus took his place with the twelve disciples, and, while they were eating, he said :
" I tell you that one of you will betray me." In great grief they began to say to him, one by one :
"Can it be I, Master ? "
"The one who dipped his bread beside me in the dish," replied Jesus, "is the one who will betray me. True, the Son of Man must go, as Scripture says of him, yet alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is being betrayed ! For that man ' it would be better never to have been born ! ' " And Judas, who was betraying him, turned to him and said :
"Can it be I, Rabbi?"
" It is," answered Jesus. The ' Lord's While they were eating, Jesus took some bread,
supper.' and, after saying the blessing, broke it and, as he gave it to his disciples, said :
" Take it and eat it ; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, and, after saying the thanksgiving, gave it to them, with the words :
" Drink from it, all of you ; for this is my Covenant-blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. And I tell you that I shall never, after this, drink of this juice of the grape, until that day when I shall drink it new with you in the Kingdom of my Father." p*ter*s Fail They then sang a hymn, and went out to
roretoid. the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them :
"Even you will all fall away from me to-night. Scripture says —
' I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
i»Zech. ii. ia. M Enoch 38. a. » Exod. 24. 8. « Zech. 13. 7.
MATTHEW, 26. 93
But, after I have risen, I shall go before you into Galilee." 32
" If everyone else falls away from you," Peter answered, " I 33
shall never fall away ! "
" I tell you," replied Jesus, " that this very night, before the 34
cock crows, you will disown me three times ! "
" Even if I must die with you," Peter exclaimed, " I shall 35
never disown you ! "
All the disciples spoke in the same way.
Jesus in Then Jesus came with them to a garden called 36 cethsemane. Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples :
" Sit down here while I go and pray yonder."
Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebediah, he 37 began to show signs of sadness and deep distress of mind.
"I am sad at heart," he said, "sad even to death; wait 38 here, and watch with me."
Going on a little further, he threw himself on his face in 39 prayer.
" My Father," he said, "if it is possible, let me be spared this cup ; only, not as I will, but as thou wiliest." Then he came to his disciples, and found them asleep. 40
" What ! " he said to Peter, " could none of you watch with me for one hour ? Watch and pray, that you may not fall into 41 temptation. True, the spirit is eager, but human nature is weak. " Again, a second time, he went away, and prayed. . 42
" My Father," he said, " if I cannot be spared this cup, but must drink it, thy will be done ! "
And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes 43 were heavy. So he left them, and went away again, and 44 prayed a third time, again saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples, and said : 45
"Sleep on now, and rest yourselves. Hark! my time is close at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of wicked men. Up, and let us be going. Look ! my 46 betrayer is close at hand."
The And, while he was still speaking, Judas, who 47
Arrest o* was one of the Twelve, came in sight ; and with jesus. him was a great crowd of people, with swords and clubs, sent from the Chief Priests and Councillors of the Nation. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with 48 them.
"The man whom I kiss," he had said, "will be the one; arrest him."
So he went up to Jesus at once, and exclaimed : " Welcome, 49 Rabbi ! " and kissed him ; on which Jesus said to him : 50
" Friend, do what you have come for." Thereupon the men went up, seized Jesus, and arrested him.
3» Ps. 43. 5.
94 MATTHEW, 26.
Suddenly one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his 51 hand, and drew his sword, and striking the High Priest's servant, cut off his ear.
"Sheathe your sword," Jesus said, "for all who draw the 52 sword will be put to the sword. Do you think that I cannot ask 53 my Father for help, when he would at once send to my aid more than twelve legions of angels ? But in that case how would 54 the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that this must be? " Jesus at the same time said to the crowds : 55
" Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs, to take me ? I have sat teaching day after day in the Temple Courts, and yet you did not arrest me. " The whole of this occurred in fulfilment of the Prophetic Scrip- 56 tures. Then the disciples all forsook him and fled.
Je-us Those who had arrested Jesus took him to 57
before the Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the Teachers High prieat. of the Law and the Councillors had assembled. Peter followed him at a distance as far as the court-yard of the 58 High Priest, and went in and sat down among the police- officers, to see the end. Meanwhile the Chief Priests and the 59 whole of the High Council were trying to get such false evidence against Jesus, as would warrant putting him to death, but they 60 did not find any, although many came forward with false evidence. Later on, however, two men came forward and 61 said :
" This man said ' I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three days.'" Then the High Priest stood up, and said to Jesus : 62
" Have you no answer? What is this evidence which these men are giving against you ? "
But Jesus remained silent. On this the High Priest said to 63 him :
" I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."
"It is true,' Jesus answered; "moreover I tell you all 64 that hereafter you shall ' see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the heavens.' " Then the High Priest tore his robes. 65
"This is blasplumy!" he exclaimed. "Why do we want any more witnesses ? You have just heard his blasphemy ! What is your decision ? " 66
They answered :
" He deserves death."
Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt 67 blows at him, saying as they did so : 68
W p8. 1 19. i ; Dan. 7. 13.
MATTHEW, 26-27. 95
"Now play the Prophet for us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you ? " .
peter disowns Peter, meanwhile, was sitting outside in the 69
jesus. court-yard ; and a maidservant came up to him, and exclaimed :
" Why, 5'ou were with Jesus the Galilean ! " But Peter denied it before them all. 70
" I do not know what you mean," he replied.
When he had gone out into the gateway, another maid saw 71 him, and said to those who were there :
" This man was with Jesus of Nazareth ! " Again he denied it with an oath : 72
" I do not know the man ! "
But soon afterwards those who were standing by came up and 73 said to Peter:
' ' You also are certainly one of them ; why, your very way of speaking proves it ! " Then Peter began to swear, with most solemn imprecations : 74
" I do not know the man."
At that moment a cock crowed ; and Peter remembered the 75 words which Jesus had said — ' Before a cock has crowed, you will disown me three times ' ; and he went outside, and wept bitterly.
The End of At daybreak all the Chief Priests and the Coun- i
Judas. cillors of the Nation consulted together against Jesus, to bring about his death. They put him in chains and led 2 him away, and gave him up to the Roman Governor, Pilate.
Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that Jesus was con- 3 demned, repented of what he had done, and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests and Councillors.
" I did wrong in betraying a good man to his death," he 4 said.
" What has that to do with us ? " they replied. " You must see to that yourself."
Judas flung down the pieces of silver in the Temple, and left ; 5 and went away and hanged himself. The Chief Priests 6
took the pieces of silver, but they said :
" We must not put them into the Temple treasury, because they are blood-money."
So, after consultation, they bought with them the ' Potter's 7 Field ' for a burial-ground for foreigners ; and that is why that 8 field is called the ' Field of Blood ' to this very day. Then 9
it was that these words spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled—
' They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him who
was valued, whom some of the people of Israel valued, and 10
gave them for the Potter's field, as the Lord commanded me.' »-io Zech. ii. 13.
96 MATTHEW, 27.
before Mean while Jesus was brought before the Roman
tn*e*Roman Governor.
Governor. "Are you the King of the Jews?" asked the Governor.
" It is true," answered Jesus.
While charges were being brought against him by the Chief Priests and Councillors, Jesus made no reply. Then Pilate said to him :
" Do not you hear how many accusations they are making against you ? "
Yet Jesus made no reply — not even a single word ; at which the Governor was greatly astonished. Now, at the
Feast, the Governor was accustomed to grant the people the release of any one prisoner whom they might choose. At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So, when the people had collected, Pilate said to them :
" Which do you wish me to release for you ? Barabbas ? or Jesus who is called ' Christ ' ? "
For he knew that it was out of jealousy that they had given Tesus up to him. While he was still on the Bench,
his wife sent this message to him —
" Do not have anything to do with that good man, for I have been very unhappy to-day in a dream on account of him." But the Chief Priests and the Councillors persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to kill Jesus. The Governor, how- ever, said to them :
' ' Which of these two do you wish me to release for you ? "
" Barabbas," they answered.
"What then," Pilate asked, "shall I do with Jesus who is called ' Christ ' ? "
" Let him be crucified," they all replied.
" Why, what harm has he done ? " he asked. But they kept shouting furiously: "Let him be crucified !" When Pilate saw that his efforts were unavailing, but that, on the contrary, a riot was beginning, he took some water, and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying as he did so :
" I am not answerable for this bloodshed ; you must see to it yourselves." And all the people answered :
" His blood be on our heads and on our children's ! " Then Pilate released Barabbas to them ; but Jesus he scourged, and gave him up to be crucified.
TH« After that, the Governor's soldiers took Jesus with
crucifixion them into the Government House, and gathered
or JOVUB. tne wnoie garrison round him. They stripped
him, and put on him a red military cloak, and, having twisted
some thorns into a crown, put it on his head, and a rod in
MATTHEW, 27. 97
his right hand, and then, going down on their knees before him, they mocked him.
" Long life to you, King of the Jews ! " they said. They spat at him and, taking the rod, kept striking him on 30 the head ; and, when they had left off mocking him, they took 31 off the military cloak, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to be crucified.
As they were on their way out, they came upon a man from 32 Cyrene of the name of Simon ; and they compelled him to go with them to carry the cross. On reaching a place 33
named Golgotha (a place named from its likeness to a skull), they gave him some wine to drink which had been mixed with 34 gall ; but, after tasting it, Jesus refused to drink it. When 35 they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among them by casting lots. Then they sat down, and kept watch over 36 him there. Above his head they fixed the accusation against 37 him written out —
'THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.'
At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on 38 the right, the other on the left. The passers-by railed 39
at him, shaking their heads as they said : 40
" You who ' destroy the Temple and build one in three days,' save yourself! If you are God's Son, come down from the cross ! "
In the same way the Chief Priests, with the Teachers of the 41 Law and Councillors, said in mockery :
" He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the 42 ' King of Israel ' ! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He has trusted in God ; if God 43 wants him, let him deliver him now ; for he said ' I am God's Son.'" Even the robbers, who were crucified with him, 44 reviled him in the same way.
The D«ath After mid-day a darkness came over all the 45
of jesus. country, lasting till three in the afternoon. And 46 about three Jesus called out loudly :
" Eloi, Eloi, lema sabacthani " — that is to say, ' O my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? ' Some of those standing by heard this, and said : 47
" The man is calling for Elijah ! "
One of them immediately ran and took a sponge, and, filling 48 it with common wine, put it on the end of a rod, and offered it to him to drink. But the rest said : 49
" Wait and let us see if Elijah is coming to save him." [However another man took a spear, and pierced his side ; and water and blood flowed from it.] But Jesus, uttering 50 another loud cry, gave up his spirit. Suddenly the 51
« Ps. 69. 21. 35 ps. 22. jg. 39 ps. 22. 7. 43 ps. 22. 8. « Ps. 23. I. 48 Ps. 69. 21.
98 MATTHEW, 27-28.
Temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, the rocks were torn asunder, the tombs opened, and 52 the bodies of many of God's People who had fallen asleep rose, and they, leaving their tombs, went, after the resurrec- 53 tion of Jesus, into the Holy City, and appeared to many people. The Roman Captain, and the men with him 54
who were watching Jesus, on seeing the earthquake and all that was happening, became greatly frightened and exclaimed :
"This must indeed have been God's Son ! "
There were many women there, watching from a distance, 55 who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee and had been at-- tending on him. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary 56 the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebediah's
The Burial When evening had fallen, there came a rich 57
of Jesus, man belonging to Ramah, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. He went to see Pilate, 58 and asked for the body of Jesus ; upon which Pilate ordered it to be given him. So Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in 59 a clean linen sheet, and laid it in his newly-made tomb which 60 he had cut in the rock ; and, before he left, he rolled a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary of 61
Magdala and the other Mary remained behind, sitting in front of the grave.
The next day — that is, the day following the Preparation- 62 Day — the Chief Priests and Pharisees came in a body to Pilate, and said : 63
"Sir, we remember that, during his lifetime, that impostor said ' I shall rise after three days.' So order the tomb to be 64 made secure till the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal him, and then say to the people ' He lias risen from the dead,' when the latest imposture will be worse than the first."
"You may have a guard," was Pilate's reply; "go and 65 make the tomb as secure as you can."
So they went and made the tomb secure, by sealing the stone, 66 in presence of the guard.
VI.— THE RISEN LIFE.
The After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week
Ro«urroction began to dawn, Mary of Magdala and the other of jo«u«. Mary had gone to look at the grave, when sud- denly a great earthquake occurred. For an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and seated himself upon it. His appearance was as
" Wisd. of Sol. a. 18.
MATTHEW, 28. 99
dazzling as lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow ; and, in their terror of him, the men on guard trembled violently 4 and became like dead men. But the angel, addressing the 5 women, said :
" You need not be afraid. I know that it is Jesus, who was crucified, for whom you are looking. He is not here ; for he 6 has risen, as he said he would. Come, and see the place where he was lying ; and then go quickly and say to his 7 disciples ' He has risen from the dead, and is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Remember, I have told you."
On this they left the tomb quickly, in awe and great joy, and ran 8 to tell the news to the disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. 9
"Welcome ! " he said.
The women went up to him, and clasped his feet, bowing to the ground before him. Then Jesus said to them :
," Do not be afraid ; go and tell my brothers to set out for 10 Galilee, and they shall see me there."
While they were still on their way, some of the guard came 1 1 into the city, and reported to the Chief Priests everything that had happened. So the}' and the Councillors met and, after 12 holding a consultation, gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and told them to say that his disciples came in the 13 night, and stole him while they were asleep; "and should 14 this matter come before the Governor," they added, "we will satisfy him, and see that you have nothing to fear." So the soldiers took the money, and did as they were 15 instructed. And this story has been current among the
Jews from that day to this.
jcsus The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the 16
appears to the mountain where Jesus told them to meet him;
Apostles, and, when they saw him, they bowed to the 17 ground before him ; although some felt doubtful. Then Jesus came up, and spoke to them thus : 18
" All authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me. Therefore go ^nd make disciples of all the nations, 19 baptizing them into the Faith of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to lay to heart all the com- 20 mands that I have given you ; and, remember, I myself am with you every day until the close of the age." 18 Enoch 6a. 6.
THE GOOD NEWS ACCORDING TO LUKE.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE'.
• COMPILED AT AN UNCERTAIN DATE LATER THAN 60 A.D.
The compiler of this gospel was probably the Luke who also compiled the ' Acts of the Apostles ' and appears in that book as a companion of St. Paul. That apostle's influence may apparently be traced in the selection of many of the incidents and parables that are peculiar to this record of the Life and Teaching of Jesus.
I In addition to the record of the ministry given in ' The Gospel according to St. Mark 'Awhich appears to rest largely on information derived from the Apostle Peter, and the greater part of which is embodied hereVthis gospel contains much of the teaching of Jesus which is also recorded in ' The Gospel ac- cording to St. Matthew,' as well as a quantity of additional and very important matter. /The sources from which this matter was drawn cannot yet be identified with certainty ; but the compiler evidently aimed at presenting a more complete pic- ture of the Life of Jesus than had hitherto been attempted. His standpoint appears to be that of a converted Gentile, writing for his fellow-converts.
There is nothing to show where this gospel was compiled, though it was probably outside Palestine. It is not clear that it was originally drawn up in its present form ; nor can its date be fixed with any certainty. Its compiler is evidently at times translating from the Aramaic language, and at other times writing, with greater ease, of events of which he had learnt from Greek sources. Apparently he was not himself an eye-witness of the Life that he records. The tradition that he was a doctor by profession is to some extent supported by the internal evidence of this gospel.
OTAT« TEACHER* COLUXC ' HANTA BARBARA. CALIFORNIA
ACCORDING TO LUKE.
DEDICATION.
To Az> Excellency, Theophilus.
Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us, just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and aftei wards became bearers of the Message. A nd, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you, in order that vou may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story -which you have heard from the lips of others.
I. — THE BIRTH, PARENTAGE, INFANCY, AND BOYHOOD.
The Birth *n t'ie re'lSn °^ Herod, King of Judaea, there 5 of the was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to Baptist the Division called after Abijah. His wife,- whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous people, who lived blameless 6 lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. But they had no child, Elizabeth 7 being barren ; and both of them were advanced in years.
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before 8 God, during the turn of his Division, it fell to him by lot, in 9 accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense ; and, as it was the Hour 10 of Incense, the people were all praying outside. And an 1 1 angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense. Zechariah was startled at the sight and 12 was awe-struck. But the angel said to him : 13
" Do not be afraid, Zechariah ; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall
104 LUKE, 1.
call by the name John. He shall be to you a joy and a 14 delight ; and many shall rejoice over his birth. For he shall 15 be great in the sight of the Lord ; he shall not drink any wine or strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth, and shall reconcile many of the 16 Israelites to the Lord their God. He shall go before him in the 17 spirit and with the power of Elijah, 'to reconcile fathers to their children ' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. "
" How can I be sure of this? " Zechariah asked the angel. 18 " For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."
"1 am Gabriel," the angel answered, "who stand in the 19 presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And now you shall be silent and 20 unable to .speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due ccoirse."
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wonder- 21 ing at his remaining so long in the Temple. When he came 22 out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb. And, as soon as his term 23
of service was finished, he returned home.
After this his wife, Elizabeth, expecting to become a mother, 24 lived in seclusion for five months.
"This is what the Lord has done for me," she said, " now 25 that he has deigned to take away the reproach under which I have been living."
The Birth ^ix months later the angel Gabriel was sent 26 of Jesus from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, foretold, to a maiden there who was betrothed to a man
named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
Gabriel came into her presence and said :
" Hail, you who have been highly favoured ! The Lord is
with you."
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to
herself what such a greeting could mean, when the angel
spoke again :
" Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
And now, you shall be with child and give birth to a son,
and you shall give him the name Jesus. The child shall be
K;at and shall be called 'Son of the Most High,' and the rd God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, and he shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever ; and to his kingdom there shall be no end."
" How can this be ? " Mary asked the angel. " For I have no husband."
" Num. 6. 3. " Mai. 4. 5-6. ** Isa. 9. 7.
LUKE, 1. 105
"The Holy Spirit shall descend upon you," answered the 35 angel, "and the Power of the Most High shall overshadow you ; and therefore the child will be called ' holy,' and ' Son of God.' And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a 36 son in her old age ; and it is now the sixth montli with her, though she is called barren ; for no promise from God shall 37 fail to be fulfilled."
" I am the servant of the Lord," exclaimed Mary ; " let it be 38 with me as you have said." .
Then the angel left her.
Mary's visit Soon after this Mary set out, and made her 39 to Elizabeth, way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah ; and there she went into Zechariah's house and greeted 40 Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child 41 moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried aloud : 42
" Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child ! But how have I this honour, that the mother of my 43 Lord should come to me ? For, as soon as your greeting 44 reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight ! Happy indeed is she who believed chat the promise which she 45 received from the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said : 46
" My soul exalts the Lord,
My spirit delights in God my Saviour ; 47
For he has remembered his servant in her lowliness ; 48
And from this hour all ages will count me happy !
Great things has the Almighty done for me ; 49
And holy is his name. From age to age his mercy rests 50
On those who reverence him.
Mighty are the deeds of his arm ; 51
He scatters the proud with their own devices, He casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he 52
uplifts,
The hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty 53 away.
He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, 54
Ever mindful of his mercy (As he promised to our forefathers) 55
For Abraham and his race for ever."
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then 56 returned to her home.
35 Exod. 13. 12 ; Ps. 2. 7. 3? Gen. 18. 14. ** Ps. 104. i. 47 i Sam. 2. i : Ps. 95. i (Septuagint). ** i Sam. i. n ; i>»al. 3. 12. *> Ps. 126. 3; in. 9. "0 Ps. 103. 17. 51 Ps. 89. 10 ; Job 5. 13. 52 Job 12. 18 — 19 ; 5. n ; Enoch 46. 5. "3 Ps. 107. 9 ; 34. 10 (Septuagint). & Isa. 41. 8 — 9 ; Ps. 98. 3. *> Mic. 7. 20; Gen. 13. 17.
E*
106 LUKE, 1.
The Birth and When Elizabeth's time came, she gave birth to 57 circumcision a son ; and her neighbours and relations, hearing 58 of the Baptist. of tne g-reat goodnes-s of the Lord to her, came to share her joy. A week later they met to circumcise 59
the child, and were about to call him ' Zechariah ' after his father, when his mother interposed : 60
" No, he is to be called John."
" You have no relation of that name ! " they exclaimed ; and 61, they made signs to the •child's father, to find out what he wished the child to be called. Asking for a writing-tablet, he 63 wrote the words — 'His name is John.' Every one was sur- prised ; and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the 64 use of his tongue, and began to bless God. All their 65
neighbours were awe-struck at this ; and throughout the hill- country of Judaea the whole story was much talked about ; and all who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another — 66 " What can this child be destined to become ? " For the Power of the Lord was with him.
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, 67 and, speaking under inspiration, said :
" Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, 68
Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance, And has raised up for us the Strength of our Salvation 69
In the House of his servant David —
As he promised by the lips of his holy Prophets of old — 70
Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that 71 hate us,
Showing mercy to our forefathers, 72
And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham — 73
That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies, 74
And should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, 75 In his presence all our days.
And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, 76
For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,
To give to his people the knowledge of salvation 77
In the forgiveness of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God, 78
Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,
To give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of 79-
death, And guide our feet into the Way of Peace."
The child grew and became strong in spirit ; and he lived in i the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.
«P». 41. 13; Exod. 3. 16; Ps. in. 9. » Ps. 18. a; 80. 24, 20. 71 ps. I06. lo. 7>Mic. 7. ao; Ps. 105. 8; Dan. ii. 38. W Mic. 7. 20. 76 Mai. 3. i. 78 Zech. 6. la. (Septuagint). 7» I8a. 9. a ; Ps. 107. 10 ; Isa. 59. 8.
LUKE, 2. 107
The Birth and About that time an edict was issued by the i circumcision Emperor Augustus that a census should be
of Jesus, taken of the whole Empire. (This was the 2 first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria). And every one went to his own town to be regis- 3 tered. Among others Joseph went up from the town 4
of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the town of David, in Judaea — because he belonged to the family and house of David — to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, 5 who was about to become a mother. While they 6
were there her time came, and she gave birth to her first child, 7 a son. And because there was no room for them in the inn, she swathed him round and laid him in a manger.
In that same country-side were shepherds out iii the open 8 fields, watching their flocks that night, when an angel of 9 the Lord suddenly stood by them, and the Glory of the Lord shone around them ; and they were seized with fear.
" Have no fear," the angel said. " For I bring you good 10 news of a great joy in store for all the nation. This day there 1 1 has been born to you, in the town of David, a Saviour, who is Christ and Lord. And this shall be the sign for you. You 12 will find the infant swathed, and lying in a manger." Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of 13 the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing —
" Glory to God on high, 14
And on earth peace among men in whom he finds pleasure."
Now, when the angels had left them and gone back to 15 Heaven, the shepherds said to one another :
" Let us go at once to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, of which the Lord has told us." So they went quickly, and found Mar}- and Joseph, and the 16 infant lying in a manger ; and, when they saw it, they told of 17 all that had been said to them about this child. All who 18 heard the shepherds were astonished at their story, while Mary 19 treasured up all that they said, and dwelt upon it in her thoughts. And the shepherds went back, giving glory and 20 praise to God for all that they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Eight days after the birth of the child, when it was time to 21 circumcise him, he received the name Jesus — the name given him by the angel before his conception.
When the period of purification of mother and 22 Presentation child, enjoined by the Law of Moses, came to an of Jesus in end, his parents took the child up to Jerusalem
5 Temple. to present h|m to ^g Lord, in compliance 23 with the Law of the Lord that ' every first-born male shall be " Ps. 2. 2. 22 Lev. 12. 6. 23 Exod. 13. 2.
108 LUKE, 2.
dedicated to the Lord,' and also to offer the sacrifice enjoined 2^ in the Law of the Lord — ' a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons. '
There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, 25 a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expecta- tion of the Consolation of Israel, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit 26 that he should not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple Courts, 27 and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the Law, Simeon himself 28 took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said :
" Now, Lord, thou wilt let thy servant go, 29
According- to thy word, in peace,
For my eyes have seen the Salvation 30
Which thou hast prepared in the sight of all nations — 31
A Light to bring light to the Gentiles, 32
And to be the Glory of thy people Israel."
While the child's father and mother were wondering at what 33 was said about him, Simeon gave them his blessing, and said 34 to Mary, the child's mother :
" This child is appointed to be the cause of the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign much spoken against — yes, the sword will pierce your own heart — and so the thoughts 35 in many minds will be disclosed."
There was also a Prophetess named Hannah, a daughter of 36 Phanuel and of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband for seven years after marriage, and then a widow, till she had reached the age of 37 eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshipped God night and day. At that moment 38 she' came up, and began publicly to thank God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the deliverance of Jerusalem. The Boyhood When the child's parents had done everything 39
of enjoined by the Law of the Lord, they returned joaus. to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong and wise, and the bless- 40 ing of God was upon him.
Every year the child's parents used to go to Jerusalem at the 41 Passover Festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, 42
they went according to custom to Jerusalem, and had finished 43 their visit ; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus re- mained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it. Think- 44 ing that he was with their fellow-travellers, they went one day's u Lev. ii. 8. 30 Isa. 40. 5 ; 52. 10. y* Isa. 44. 6 ; 49. 6. " Isa. 8. 15.
LUKE, 2-3. 109
journey before searching for him among their relations and acquaintances ; and then, as they did not find him, they returned 45 to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him. It was not till the 46 third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting among the Teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions. All who listened to him marvelled at his intelligence 47 and his answers. His parents were amazed when they saw 48 him, and his mother said to him :
" My child, why have you treated us like this ? Your father and I have been searching for you in great distress. "
" What made you search for me?" he answered. "Did 49 not you know that I must be in my Father's House ? " His parents did not understand what he meant. However he 50, went down with them to Nazareth, and submitted himself to their control; and his mother treasured all that was said in her heart.
And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and 52 'gained the blessing of God and men.'
II. — THE PREPARATION.
The Ba tist ^n *'ie fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor i 3 and his Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was Governor of Message. Judaea, Herod Ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip Ruler of the territory comprising Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Ruler of Abilene, and when Annas and Caiaphas 2 were High Priests, a Command from God came to John, the son of Zechariah, while he was in the Wilderness. And John went 3 through the whole district of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism upon repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. This was in ful- 4 filment of what is said in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah —
' The voice of one crying aloud in the Wilderness t " Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make his paths straight. Every chasm shall be filled, 5
Every mountain and hill shall be levelled, The winding- ways shall be straightened, The rough roads made smooth,
And all mankind shall see the Salvation of God." ' 6
And John said to the crowds that went to be baptized by 7 him :
" You brood of vipers ! who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgement ? Let your lives, then, prove your 8
K i Sam. 2. 36. 4— * Isa. 40. 3—5.
110 LUKE, 3.
repentance ; and do not begin to say among yourselves ' Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham ! Already, 9 indeed, the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
" What are we to do then ? " the people asked. 10
" Let the man who has two coats, ' answered John, "share n with him who has none ; and the man who has food do the same." Even tax-gatherers came to be baptized, and said to John : 12
" Teacher, what are we to do ? "
" Do not collect more than you have authority to demand," 13 John answered. And when some soldiers' on active service 14 asked " And we— what are we to do ? ", he said :
" Never use violence, or exact anything by false accusation ; and be content with your pay. "
Then, while the people were in suspense, and were all 15 debating with themselves whether John could be the Christ, John, addressing them all, said : 16
" I, indeed, baptize you with water ; but there is coming one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to unfasten his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing-fan is in his. hand, that he may clear his 17 threshing-floor, and store the grain in his barn, but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire."
And so with many different exhortations John told his Good 18 News to the people. But Prince Herod, being rebuked by 19 John respecting Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, and for all the evil things that he had done, crowned them all by 20 shutting John up in prison.
The Now after the baptism of all the people, and 21
Baptism of when Jesus had been baptized and was still pray-
jesua. ing, tne heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit 22 descended, in a visible form, like a dove, upon him, and from the heavens came a voice —
"Thou art my Son, the Beloved ; in thee I delight."
The When beginning his work, Jesus was about 23
Ancestor* or thirty \vars old. He was regarded as the son of
Jesus. Joseph, whose ancestors were — Eli Amos Joseph
Mattith 24 Nahum Josheh
Levi Azaliah Johanan 27
Melchiah Nogah Rhesa
Janna Mattith 26 Zerubbabel
Joseph Mattithiah Shealtiel
Mattithiah 25 Shimei Neriah
M Ps. 1 18. 26. '-*•' Ps. a. t ; Isa. 42. i.
LUKE, 3-4. Ill
Melchiah 28 Nathan Reu
Addi David Peleg
Cosam Jesse 32 Eber
Elmodam Obed Shelah
Er Boaz Kenan 36
Joshua 29 Salah Arpachshad
Eliezer Nahshon Shem
Joram Amminadab 33 Noah
Mattith Ami Lamech
Levi Hezron Methuselah 37
Simeon 30 Perez Enoch
Judah Judah Jared
Joseph Jacob 34 Mahalalel
Jonam Isaac Kenan
Eliakim Abraham Enosh 38
Meleah 31 Terah Seth and
Menan Nahor Adam the son of
Mattithiah Serug 35 GOD.
The On returning- from the Jordan, full of the Holy i <
Temptation Spirit, Jesus was led by the power of the Spirit
of Jesus, through the Wilderness for forty days, tempted by 2 the Devil. All that time he ate nothing ; and, when it
was over, he became hungry. So the Devil said to him : 3
" If you are God's Son, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread. "
And Jesus answered him : " Scripture says — • 4
' It is not on bread alone that man is to live.' "
And the Devil led Jesus up, and, showing him in a single 5 moment all the kingdoms of the earth, said to him : 6
" I will give you all this power, and the splendour of them ; for it has been given into my hands and I give it to whom I wish. If you, therefore, will do homage before me, it shall all 7 be yours. "
And Jesus answered him : " Scripture says — 8
' Thou shalt do homage to the Lord thy God, and worship
him only.'"
The Devil next led him into Jerusalem, and, placing him on 9 the parapet of the Temple, said :
" If you are God's Son throw yourself down from here, for 10 Scripture says —
' He will give his angels commands about thee, to guard
thee safely,'
and II
' On their hands they will upbear thee, Lest ever thou shouldst strike thy foot against a stone.'"
3 Ps. 2. 7. •* Deut. 8. 3. 8 Deut. 6. 13. w-U Ps. 91. 11— la..
112 LUKE, 4
But Jesus answered him : " It is said — 12
' Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.' "
When he had tried every kind of temptation, the Devil left 13 Jesus, till another opportunity.
III. — THE WORK IN GALILEE.
jeaus begins Moved by the power of the Spirit, Jesus returned 14
HI* work, to Galilee. Reports about him spread through all that neighbourhood ; and he began to teach in their Syna- 15 gogues, and was honoured by every one.
Jesus Coming to Nazareth, where he had been brought 16
teaches at up, Jesus, as was his custom, went on the Nazareth. Sabbath into the Synagogue, and stood up to read the Scriptures. The book given him was that of the 17 Prophet Isaiah ; and Jesus opened the book and found the place where it says —
' The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 18
For he has consecrated me to bring Good News to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to captives and restoration
of sight to the blind, To set the oppressed at liberty,
To proclaim the accepted year of the Lord.' 19
Then, closing the book and returning it to the attendant, he 20 sat down. The eyes of all in the Synagogue were fixed upon him, and Jesus began : 21
"This very day this passage has been fulfilled in your hearing."
All who were present spoke well of him, and were astonished 22 at the beautiful words that fell from his lips.
" Is not he Joseph's son ? " they asked.
"Doubtless, "said Jesus, "you will remind me of the saying — 23 'Doctor, cure yourself;' and you will say 'Do here in your own country all that we have heard has been done at Caper- naum.' I tell you," he continued, " that no Prophet is accept- 24 able in his own country. There were, doubtless, many widows 25 in Israel in Elijah's days, when the heavens were closed for three years and six months, and a severe famine prevailed throughout the country ; and yet it was not to one of them that 26 Elijah was sent, but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidonia. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the 27
• « Dcut. 6. 16. 18-19 I,a. g,. ,_a. •» , Kings 17. 9.
LUKE, 4. 113
Prophet EHsha, yet it was not one of them who was made clean, but Naaman the Syrian."
All the people in the Synagogue, as they listened to this, 28 became enraged. Starting up, they drove Jesus out of the 29 town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town stood, intending to hurl him down. But he passed through 30 the middle of the crowd and went on his way.
cure of Then Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city 31 a possessed in Galilee. On the Sabbath he taught
Man. the people. They were amazed at his teaching, 32 because his words were spoken with authority. In the Syna- 33 gogue there was a man with the spirit of a foul demon in him, who called out loudly :
"Stop! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? 34 Have you come to destroy us ? I know who you are — the Holy One of God ! " But Jesus rebuked the demon. 35
" Be silent ! Come out from him," he said. The demon flung the man down in the middle of the people, and then came out from him, without causing him further harm. And they were all lost in amazement, and kept saying 36 • to one another :
"What words are these? For he gives his commands to the foul spirits with a marvellous authority, and they come out." And rumours about Jesus travelled through every place in the 37 neighbourhood.
On leaving the Synagogue, Jesus went into 38 of Peter's Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was Mother-in-iaw suffering from a severe attack of fever, and they and .?* mar>y asked Jesus to cure her. Bending over her, he TO
others. , J. .. .. , ,- , Jy
rebuked the fever ; the fever left her, and she immediately got up and began to wait upon them.
At sunset, all who had friends suffering from various 40 diseases took them to Jesus ; and he placed his hands upon every one of them and cured them. And even demons came 41 out from many people, screaming ' You are the Son of God.' Jesus rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. Jesus retires ^ daybreak, Jesus went out and walked to a 42
to a lonely spot. But crowds of people began to look lonely Place. for him ; and they came to where he was and tried to detain him and prevent his leaving them. Jesus, 43 however, said to them :
" I must take the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, for that was why I was sent." And he continued to make his proclamation in the Synagogues 44 of Judaea.
?* jPs. 16. 10,
114 LUKE, 5.
The Once, when the people were pressing round i
great Catch Jesus as they listened to God's Message, he of Fish. happened to be standing by the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats close to the shore. The 2 fishermen had gone away from them and were washing the nets. So, getting into one of the boats, which belonged to 3 Simon, Jesus asked him to push off a little way from the shore, and then sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon : 4
" Push off into deep water, and all throw out your nets for a • haul."
"We have been hard at work all night, Sir," answered 5 Simon, " and have not caught anything, but, at your bidding, I will throw out the nets."
They did so, and enclosed such a great shoal of fish that their 6 nets began to break. So they signalled to their partners in 7 the other boat to come and help them ; and they came and filled both the boats so full of fish that they were almost sink- ing. When Simon Peter saw this, he threw himself down at 8 Jesus' knees, exclaiming :
" Master, leave me, for I am a sinful man ! "
For he and all who were with him were lost in amaze- 9 ment at the haul offish which they had made; and so, too, 10 were James and John, Zebediah's sons, who were Simon's partners.
" Do not be afraid," Jesus said to Simon ; " from to-day you shall catch men."
And, when they had brought their boats to shore, they left n everything, and followed him.
cure On one occasion Jesus was staying in a town, 12
or a. Leper, when he saw a man who was covered with leprosy. When the leper saw Jesus, he threw himself on his face and implored his help :
" Master, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean."
Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying as he did 13 so :
" I am willing ; become clean."
Instantly the leprosy left the man ; and then Jesus impressed 14 upon him that he was not to say a word to any one, " but," he added, "set out and show yourself to the Priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing, in the manner directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure." However, the story about 15 Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came together to listen to him, and to be cured of their illnesses ; but Jesus 16 used to withdraw to lonely places and pray. 14 Lev. 13. 49.
LUKE, 5. 115
cure of ^n one °f tnose days, when Jesus was teaching, 17 a paraiyzod some Pharisees and Doctors of the Law were Man. sitting near by. (They had come from all the villages in Galilee and Judaea, and from Jerusalem ; and the power of the Lord was upon Jesus, so that he could work cures.) And there some men brought on a bed a man who 18 was paralyzed. They tried to get him in and lay him before Jesus ; but, finding no way of getting him in, owing to the 19 crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him through the tiles, with his pallet, into the middle of the people and in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, Jesus said : 20
" Friend, your sins have been forgiven you."
The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began debating 21 about this.
"Who is this man who speaks so blasphemously?" they asked. " Who can forgive sins except God ? " When Jesus became aware of the way in which they were 22 debating, he turned to them and exclaimed :
"What are you debating with yourselves? Which is the 23 easier ? — to say ' Your sins have been forgiven you ' ? or to say ' Get up, and walk about ' ? But that you may know that 24 the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins — " here he spoke to the paralyzed man — "To you I say, Get up, and take up your pallet, and go to your home."
Instantly the man stood up before their eyes, took up what 25 he had been lying on, and went to his home, praising God. The people, one and all, were lost in amazement, 26
and praised God ; and in great awe they said :
" We have seen marvellous things to-day ! "
can of After this, Jesus went out ; and he noticed a 27 Levi. tax-gatherer, named Levi, sitting in the tax-office, and said to him : " Follow me."
Levi left everything and got up and followed him. And 28,
Jesus blamed ^ev' gave a great entertainment at his house, in for his honour of Jesus ; and a large number of tax- Companions, gatherers and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law belonging to their 30 party complained of this to the disciples of Jesus.
" Why do you eat and drink with tax-gatherers and out- casts ? " In answer Jesus said : 31
" It is not those who are well that need a doctor, but those who are ill. I have not come to call the religious, but the 32 outcast, to repent."
The Disciples "John's disciples," they said to Jesus, "often 33 blamed for fast ant| sa pravers ancj so do the disciples of the
not observing J \ , J . . ,r. , . ...
the Law. Pharisees, while yours are eating and drinking !
2* Dan. 7. 13.
116 LUKE, 5—6.
But Jesus answered them : 34
"Can you make the bridegroom's friends fast while the bridegroom is with them ? But the days will come — a time 35 when the bridegroom will be parted from them ; and they will fast then, when those days come." Then, as an illustration, Jesus said to them : 36
" No man ever tears a piece from a new garment and puts it upon an old one ; for, if he does, he will not only tear the new garment, but the piece from the new one will not match the old. And no man puts new wine into old wine-skins ; for, if 37 he does, the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine itself will run out, and the skins be lost. But new wine 38 must be put into fresh skins. No man after drinking 39
old wine wishes for new. 'No,' he says, 'the old is excel- lent.'"
One Sabbath Jesus was walking through cornfields, and i his disciples were picking the ears of wheat, and rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
" Why are you doing what it is not allowable to do on the 2 Sabbath ? " asked some of the Pharisees. Jesus' answer was : 3
" Have not you read even of what David did, when he was hungry, he and his companions — that he wenf into the House 4 of God, and took the consecrated bread and ate it, and gave some to his companions, though only the priests are allowed to eat it?" Then Jesus added : 5
" The Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
On another Sabbath Jesus went into the Syna- 6 a MaiT with g°gue an^ taught ; and there was a man there a withered whose right hand was withered. The Teachers of 7
H*nd- the Law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely, to see if he would work cures on the Sabbath, so that they might find a charge to bring against him. Jesus, however, 8 kiK-w what was in their minds, and said to the man whose hand was withered :
" Stand up and come out into the middle." The man stood up ; and Jesus said to them : 9
" I ask you, is it allowable to do good on the Sabbath — or harm ? to save a life, or let it perish ? " Then, looking round at them all, he said to the man : 10
" Stretch out your hand."
The man did so ; and his hand had become sound. But n
the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were goaded to madness, and consulted together what they could do to Jesus.
* i Sam. ai. 6.
LUKE, 6. 117
The twelve Now about that time, Jesus went out, up the hill, 12
Apostles, to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came, he summoned his disciples, and 13 chose twelve of them, whom he also named ' Apostles.' They were Simon (whom Jesus also named Peter), and his brother 14 Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, 15 Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon known as the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who proved a traitor. 16 Afterwards Jesus came down the hill with them and took 17 his stand on a level place. With him were a large crowd of his disciples, and great numbers of people from the whole of Judaea, Jerusalem, and the coast district of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be restored to health. Those, 18 too, who were troubled with foul spirits were cured ; and 19 every one in the crowd was trying to touch him, because a power went out from him which restored them all. Then, 20
THE 'SERMON raising his eyes and looking at his disciples, Jesus
ON THE spoke as follows :
MOUNT.' « giessecj are vou who are poor, for yours is the The Kingdom of God.
Happy. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be 21 satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they expel you 22 from among them, and taunt you, and reject your Name as an evil thing — on account of the Son of Man. Then indeed you 23 may be glad and dance for joy, for be sure that your reward in Heaven will be great ; for that is what their ancestors did to the Prophets.
The But 'alas for you who are rich,' for you have 24
unhappy, had your comforts in full.
Alas for you who are sated now, for you will hunger. 25
Alas for you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Alas for you when all men speak well of you ; for this is what 26 their ancestors did to the false Prophets.
The New ^ut to vou w^° hear I say — Love your enemies, 27 Law— show kindness to those who hate you, bless those 28
on Love, who curse you, pray for those who insult you. When a man gives one of you a blow on the cheek, offer the 29 on other cheek as well ; and, when any one takes
Revenge, away your cloak, do not keep back your coat either. Give to every one who asks of you ; and, when 30 any one takes away what is yours, do not demand its return.
The Do to others as you wish them to do to you. If 31, Golden Rule, you love only those who love you, what thanks will be due to you ? Why, even the outcast love those who love them ! For, if you show kindness only to those who show 33
20 Isa. 61. i. 24 Enoch 94. 8.
118 LUKE, 6-7.
kindness to you, what thanks will be due to you ? Even the outcast do thatf If you lend only to those from whom 34 you expect to get something, what thanks will be due to you ? Even the outcast lend to the outcast in the hope of get- ting as much in return ! But love your enemies, and 35 show them kindness, and lend to them, never despairing. Then your reward shall be great, and you shall be Sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the thankless and the bad. Learn to be merciful — even as your Father is 36
On merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be 37
judging judged ; do not condemn, and you will not be con- others, demned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and others will give to you. A generous measure, pressed and shaken down, and running over, will they pour into your lap ; 38 for the measure that you mete will be meted out to you in return."
Then, speaking in parables, Jesus said : 39
' ' Can one blind man guide another ? Will they not both fall into a ditch ? A scholar is not above his teacher ; yet every 40 finished scholar shall be like his teacher. And why do 41
you look at the straw in your brother's eye, while you pay no attention at all to the beam in your own ? How can you 42 say to your brother ' Brother, let me take out the straw in your eye,' while you yoursejf do not see the beam in your own ? Hypocrite ! Take out the beam from your own eye first, and then you will see clearly how to take out the straw in your brother's. There is no such thing as a good tree bear- 43
True and false nlg worthless fruit, or, on the other hand, a worth- Teachers, less tree bearing good fruit. For every tree is 44 known by its own fruit. People do not gather figs off thorn bushes, nor pick a bunch of grapes off a bramble. A good 45 man, from the good stores of his heart, brings out what is good ; while a bad man, from his bad stores, brings out what is bad. For what fills a man's heart will rise to his lips. Why 46
Th« two do You call me ' Master ! Master ! ' and yet fail to Foundations, do what I tell you ? Every one who comes to me 47 and listens to my teaching and acts upon it — I will show you to whom he may be compared. He may be compared to a man 48 building a house, who dug, and went deep, and laid the foundation upon the rock. Then, when a flood came, the river swept down upon that house, but had no power to shake it, because it had been built well. But those who have 49 listened and not acted upon what they have heard may be compared to a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation. The river swept down upon it, and the house immediately collapsed ; and great was the crash that followed."
When Jesus had brought to a conclusion all that he then had I to say to the people, he entered Capernaum.
LUKE, 7. 119
cure of A Captain in the Roman army had a slave 2 an officer's whom he valued, and who was seriously ill —
servant, almost at the point of death. And, hearing about 3 Jesus, he sent some Jewish Councillors to him, with the request that he would come and save his slave's life. When 4 they found Jesus, they earnestly implored him to do so.
" He is a man who deserves that you should show him this favour," they said, " for he is devoted to our nation, and him- 5 self built our Synagogue for us."
So Jesus went with them. But, when he was no great distance 6 from the house, the Captain sent some friends with the message —
" Do not trouble yourself, Sir ; for I am unworthy to receive you under my roof. That was why I did not even venture to 7 come to you myself; but speak, and let my manservant be cured. For I myself am a man under the orders of others, with 8 soldiers under me ; and if I say to one of them ' Go,' he goes, and to another ' Come,' he comes, and to my slave ' Do this,' he does it."
Jesus was surprised to hear these words from him ; and, turn- 9 ing to the crowd which was following him, he said :
" I tell you, nowhere in Israel have I met with such faith as this ! "
And, when the messengers returned to the house, they found 10 the slave recovered.
Raising of a Shortly after, Jesus went to a town called Nain, n widow's son. his disciples and a great crowd going with him. Just as he approached the gate of the town, there was a dead 12 man being carried out for burial — an only son, and his mother was a widow. A large number of the people of the town were with her. When he saw her, the Master was moved 13 with compassion for her, and he said to her : " Do not weep." Then he went up and touched the bier, and the bearers 14 stopped ; and Jesus said :
" Young man, I am speaking to you — Rise ! " The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus restored 15 him to his mother. Every one was awe-struck and 16
began praising God.
"A great Prophet has arisen among us," they said ; "and God has visited his people."
And this story about Jesus spread all through Judaea, and in 17 the neighbouring countries as well.
The Baptist's ^H these events were reported to John by his 18 Message to disciples. So he summoned two of them, and 19
Jesus. sent them to the Master to ask — " Are you ' The Coming One,' or are we to look for some one else ? "
i»Ps. 118. 26.
120 LUKE, 7.
When these men found Jesus, they said : 20
"John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask — ' Are you 'The Coming One,' or are we to look for somebody else ? ' ' At that very time Jesus had cured many people of diseases, 21 afflictions, and wicked spirits, and had given many blind people their sight. So his answer to the question was : 22
" Go and report to John what you have witnessed and heard — the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the Good News is told to the poor. And blessed' is the man who 23 finds no hindrance in me."
When John's messengers had left, Jesus, 24 Testimony of speaking to the crowds, began to say with
jesus to reference to John :
the Baptist. "What did you go out into the Wilderness to 25 look at ? A reed waving in the wind ? If not, what did you go out to see ? A man dressed in rich clothing ? Why, those who are accustomed to fine clothes and luxury live in royal palaces. What then did you go to see ? A Prophet ? Yes, I 26 tell you, and far more than a Prophet. This is the very man 27 of whom Scripture says —
' Behold, I am sending- my Messenger before thy face, And he shall prepare thy way before thee.'
There is, I tell you, no one born of a woman who is greater 28 than John ; and yet the lowliest in the Kingdom of God is greater than he."
(All the people, when they heard this, and even the tax- 29 gatherers, having accepted John's baptism, acknowledged the justice of God. But the Pharisees and the Students of the 30 Law, having rejected John's baptism, frustrated God's purpose in regard to them.)
"To what then," Jesus continued, "shall I compare the 31 people of the present generation ? What are they like ? They 32 are like some little children who are sitting in the market- place and calling out to one another —
' We have played the flute for you, but you have not danced ; We have wailed, but you have not wept ! '
For now that John the Baptist has come, not eating bread or 33 drinking wine, you are saying 'He has a demon in him'; and now that the Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, 34 you are saying ' Here is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and outcasts.' And yet Wisdom is vindicated 35 by all her children."
of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with 36 •noint*d by him, so Jesus went to his house and took his • woman, place at table. Just then a woman, who 37
22 Isa. 61. i. -a Mai. 3. i.
LUKE, 7—8. 121
was an outcast in the town, having ascertained that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of per- fume, and placed herself behind Jesus, near his feet, weeping. 38 Then she began to make his feet wet with her tears, and she dried them with the hair of her head, repeatedly ki sing his feet and anointing them with the perfume. When the
Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself: 39
" Had this man been ' The Prophet,' he would have known who, and what sort of woman, this is who is touching him, and that she is an outcast." But, addressing him, Jesus said : 40
" Simon, I have something to say to you."
" Pray do so, Teacher," Simon answered ; and Jesus began : 'There were two people who were in debt to a money-lender ; 41 one owed fifty pounds, and the other five. As they were 42 unable to pay, he forg-ave them both. Which of them, do you think, will love him the more ? "
" I suppose," answered Simon, " it will be the man to whom 43 he forgave the greater debt. "
"You are right, "said Jesus, and then, turning to the woman, 44 he said to Simon :
"Do you see this woman ? I came into your house — you gave me no water for my feet, but she has made my feet wet with tears and dried them with her hair. You did not give me one 45 kiss, but she, from the moment I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint even my head with oil, 46 but she has anointed my feet with perfume. And for this, 47 I tell you, her sins, many as they are, have been pardoned, because she has loved greatly ; but one who has little pardoned him, loves but little."
Then he said to the woman : " Your sins have been pardoned. " 48 On this, those at table began to say to one -another : 49
" Who is this man who even pardons sins ? " But Jesus said to the woman : 50
" Your faith has delivered you ; go, and peace be with you."
women who Shortly afterwards, Jesus went on a journey i 8 ministered through the towns and villages, proclaiming the to Jesus. Good News of the Kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as some women who had been cured 2 of wicked spirits and of infirmities. They were Mary, known as Mary of Magdala (from whom seven demons had been expelled), and Joanna (the wife of Herod's steward, Chuza), 3 and Susannah, and many others — all of whom ministered to Jesus and his Apostles out of their means.
Parable Once, when a great crowd was collecting, and, 4 €* the sower, when the people of town after town were flocking to Jesus, he spoke to them in the form of a parable :
' ' The sower went out to sow his seed ; and, as he was sowing, $
122 LUKE, 8.
some of the seed fell along the path and was trodden upon ; and the wild birds ate it up. Other seed fell upon rock, 6 and, as soon as it began to grow, having no moisture, withered away. Other seed fell in the middle of brambles, 7 but the brambles grew up with it and choked it entirely. Other seed fell into rich soil, and grew, and gave a hundred- 8 fold return." After saying this, Jesus cried aloud :
" Let him who has ears to hear with hear."
His disciples asked Jesus the meaning of this parable. 9
"To you, "he said, "the knowledge of the hidden truths of the 10 Kingdom of God has been imparted, but to others in parables only, that ' though they have eyes they may not see, and though they have ears, they may not understand.' This is the parable — 1 1
The seed is God's Message. By the seed which fell along the 12 path are meant those who hear the Message ; but then comes the Devil and carries away the Message from their minds, to prevent their believing it and being saved.
By the seed which fell upon the rock are meant those who, as 13 soon as they hear the Message, welcome it joyfully ; but they have no root, and believe it only for a time, and, when the time of temptation comes, they draw back.
By that which fell among the brambles are meant those who 14 hear the Message, but who, as they go on their way, are com- pletely choked by this world's cares and wealth and pleasures, and bring nothing to perfection.
But by that in the good ground are meant those who, having 15 heard the Message, keep it in the good, rich soil of their hearts, and patiently yield a return. LoHson from No man sets light to a lamp and then covers it 16
a. Lamp. with a bowl or puts it underneath a couch, but he puts it on a lamp-stand, so that anyone who comes in may see the light. Nothing is hidden which will not be brought into 17 the light of day, nor ever kept hidden which will not some day become known and come into the light of day. Take 18
care, then, how you listen. For, to all those who have, more will be given ; while, from all those who have nothing, even what they seem to have will be taken away."
The true Presently Jesus' mother and brothers came 19 Brotherhood, where he was, but they were not able to join Ifim on account of the crowd. So word was brought to him — 20 ' Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.' His reply, spoken to them all, was : 21
" My mother and my brothers are those who listen to God's teaching and do what it bids."
JO I .... 6. 10.
LUKE, 8. 123
jesus stiiis One day about that time, Jesus got into a boat 22
a storm, with his disciples and said to them : "Let us go across the lake." So they put off. While they were sailing, 23 Jesus fell asleep. A squall swept down upon the lake, and their boat was filling and they were in danger. So the 24 disciples came and roused him.
" Sir, Sir," they cried, "we are lost!"
Jesus rose and rebuked the wind and the rushing waves, and they fell, and a calm followed.
" Where is your faith ? " he exclaimed. 25
But in great awe and amazement they said to one another :
"Who can this be, that he commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him ? "
cure of a And tney reached the country of the Gerasenes, . 26
Madman, which is on the opposite side to Galilee ; and, on 27 getting ashore, Jesus met a man, who had demons in him, coming out of the town. For a long time this man had worn no clothing, and he had not lived in a house, but in the tombs. Catching sight of Jesus, he shrieked out and threw himself 28 down before him, and in a loud voice exclaimed :
" What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God ? I beseech you not to torment me."
For Jesus was commanding the foul spirit to come out from 29 the man. On many occasions it had seized him, and, even when secured with chains and fetters, and watched, he would break through anything that bound him, and be driven by the demon into the Wilds.
" What is your name ? " Jesus asked. 30
"Legion," he answered (for many demons had taken pos- session of him) ; and the demons begged Jesus not to order 31 them away into the bottomless pit. There was a drove 32
of many pigs close by feeding upon the hill-side ; and the demons begged Jesus to give them leave to enter into them. Jesus gave them leave. They came out from the man and took 33 possession of the pigs ; and the drove rushed down the steep slope into the lake and were drowned. When the men 34
who tended them saw what had happened, they ran away, and carried the news to the town, and to the country round. The 35 people went out to see what had happened, and, when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at Jesus' feet ; and they were awe-struck. Those who had seen it told them how 36 the possessed man had been delivered ; upon which all the 37 people in the neighbourhood of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, for they were terrified. Jesus got into a boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone out 38 begged Jesus to let him be with him ; but Jesus sent him away.
" Go back to your home," he said, " and relate the story of 39 all that God has done for you."
124 LUKE, a
So the man went through the whole town and proclaimed, as he went, all that Jesus had done for him.
On his return, Jesus was welcomed by the people ; 40 Thof*the'ne for every one was looking out for him. And 41
Daughter of a man named Jaeirus, who was a Presi- jaeirus. dent of the Synagogue, came to Jesus, and threw himself at Jesus' feet, with entreaties that he would come to his house, because his only daughter, who was about 42
cure or twelve years old, was dying. _ As Jesus
an afflicted was going, the people were pressing closely round
woman, him. And a woman, who had suffered from 43 haemorrhage for twelve years, and whom no one could cure, came up behind and touched the tassel of his cloak. Instantly 44 the haemorrhage ceased.
" Who was it that touched me ? " Jesus asked ; and, 45 while every one was denying having done so, Peter ex- claimed :
" Why, Sir, the people are crowding round you and pressing upon you ! "
" Somebody touched me," said Jesus ; " for I felt that power 46 had gone out from me."
Then the woman, when she saw that she was discovered, came 47 forward trembling, and threw herself down before him ; and, in presence of all the people, she told him her reason for touch- ing him, and that she had been cured instantly.
"Daughter," he said, "your faith has delivered you. Go, 48 and peace be with you."
Before he had finished speaking, some one came from the 49 house of the President of the Synagogue and said :
"Your daughter is dead! Do not trouble the Teacher further." But Jesus, hearing this, spoke to the President : 50
" Do not be afraid ; only have faith, and she shall yet be delivered. "
When he reached the house, he did not allow any one to go in 51 with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother. And every one was weeping and mourning for 52 her.
"Do not weep," Jesus said, "she is not dead; she is asleep." They began to laugh at him, for they knew that she was 53 dead. But, taking her by the hand, Jesus said in a loud 54 voice :
"Child, rise!"
The child's spirit returned to her, and she instantly stood up ; 55 and Jesus ordered them to give her something to eat. Her 56 parents were amazed, but Jesus impressed on them that they were not to tell any one what had happened.
*• Num. 15. 38.
LUKE, 9. 125
The Mission Jesus called the Twelve together.and gave them i 9 of the twelve power and authority over all demons, as well
Apostles, as to cure diseases. He sent .them out as his Mes- 2 sengers, to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and to work cures.
"Do not," he said to them, "take anything for your 3 journey ; not even a staff, or a bag, or bread, or any silver, or a change of clothes with you. Whatever house you go to stay 4 in, remain there, and leave from that place. If people do not 5 welcome you, as you leave that town, shake even the dust off your feet, as a protest against them."
Then they set out and went from village to village, telling the 6 Good News and curing people everywhere.
Prince Herod heard of all that was happen- 7 and ing, and was perplexed, because it was said by the Baptist, some that John must be risen from the dead. Some again said that Elijah had appeared, and others that 8 one of the old Prophets had risen again. But Herod himself 9 said :
"John I beheaded ; but who is this of whom I hear such things ? " And he endeavoured to see him.
The When the Apostles returned, they related 10
Return of the to Jesus all that they had done. Then
Apostles. Jesus retired privately to a town called Bethsaida, taking the Apostles with him. But the people recognized him 1 1 and followed him in crowds ; and Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, while he cured those who were in need of help. The day was draw- 12
ing to a close, when the Twelve came up to him,
Jesus feeds j • j .
flve thousand and said . by the Lake Send the crowd away, so that they may make
of Galilee, their way to the villages and farms round about, and find themselves lodgings and provisions, for we are in a lonely spot here."
But Jesus said : " It is for you to give them something to 13 eat."
"We have not more than five loaves and two fishes," they answered ; "unless indeed we are to go and buy food for all these people." (For the men among them were about five thousand.) 14
"Get them seated in companies," was his reply, "about fifty in each."
This they did, and got all the people seated. Taking 15, i the five loaves and the two fishes, Jesus looked up to Heaven and said the blessing over them. Then he broke them in pieces, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. Every one had sufficient to eat, and 17 what was left of the broken pieces was picked up — twelve baskets.
126 LUKE, 9.
Peter's Afterwards, when Jesus was alone, praying,
Confession his disciples joined him, and he asked them this of question —
" Who do the people say that I am ? "
"John the Baptist," was their answer; "others, however, say that you are Elijah, while others say that one of the old Prophets has risen again."
" But you," he went on, " who do you say that I am ? " And to this Peter answered :
"The Christ of God."
Jesus, however, strictly charged them not to say this to any
jesus one > 'ie t°ld them that the Son of Man must
foretells his undergo much suffering, and be rejected by the
Death. Councillors, and Chief Priests, and Teachers
of the Law, and be put to death, and rise on the third
A can ^av- ^nc* to a'l Present he said :
to renounce " If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let 8elf- him renounce self, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake, loses his life — that man shall save it. What good does it do a man if, when he has gained the whole world, he has lost or forfeited himself? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my teaching, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him, when he comes in his Glory and the Glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Indeed, I tell you,
some who are standing before me will not know death, till they have seen the Kingdom of God."
The About eight days after speaking these words,
Transfigure- Jesus went up the mountain to pray, taking with
tson. iiml Peter, John, and James. As he was pray- ing, the aspect of his face was changed, and his clothing became of a glittering whiteness. And all at once two men were talking- with Jesus ; they were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in a glorified state, and spoke of his departure, which was destined to take place at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overpowered by sleep but, suddenly becoming wide awake, they saw Jesus glorified and the two men who were standing beside him. And, as Moses and Elijah were passing away from Jesus, Peter exclaimed :
" Sir, it is good to be here ; let us make three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what he was saying ; and, while he was speaking, a cloud came down and enveloped them ; and they were afraid, as they passed into the cloud ; and from the cloud came a voice which said —
'•a Hos. 6. a. 3» Ps. a. 7 ; Isa. 42. i ; Enoch 40. 5.
LUKE, 9. 127
" This is my. Son, the Chosen One ; him you must hear. "
And, as the voice ceased, Jesus was found alone. The 36 Apostles kept silence, and told no one about any of the things that they had seen.
cur or next day, when they had come down from 37
an epileptic the mountain, a great crowd met Jesus. And 38 B°y- just then a man in the crowd shouted out :
" Teacher, I entreat you to look at my son, for he is my only child ; all at once a spirit will seize him, suddenly shriek out, 39 and throw him into convulsions till he foams, and will leave him only when he is utterly exhausted. I entreated your 40 disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not."
"O faithless and perverse generation !" Jesus exclaimed ; 41 " how long must I be with you and have patience with you? Lead your son here."
While the boy was coming up to Jesus, the demon dashed him 42 down and threw him into convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, and cured the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all present were struck with awe at the 43 majesty of God.
In the midst of the general astonishment at all a second time that Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples : foretells "Listen carefully to my words. For the Son 44
s Death. Q^ ]yjan js jestined to be betrayed into the hands of his fellow men."
But the disciples did not understand the meaning of this ; 45 it had been concealed from them so that they did not see it, and they were afraid to question him as to what he meant.
On A discussion arose among the disciples as 46
Humility, to which of them was the greatest ; and Jesus, 47 knowing of the discussion that was occupying their thoughts, took hold of a little child, and placed it beside him, and then 48 said to them :
"Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even this little child is welcoming me ; and any one who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his Messenger. For whoever is lowliest among you all — that man is great. "
On Thereupon John said : 49
Toleration. " Sir, we saw a man driving out demons by using your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow you with us."
"None of you must prevent him," Jesus said to John; 50 " he who is not against you is for you."
« Deut. 32. 5.
128 LUKE, 9-1O.
IV. — THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM.
As the days before his being taken up to Heaven were 5 growing few, Jesus set his face resolutely in the direction of Jerusalem ; and he sent on messengers in advance. On 5:
their way, they went into a Samaritan village to make prepara- tions for him, but the people there did not welcome him, 5; because his face was set in the direction of Jerusalem. When 5. James and John saw this, they said :
" Master, do you wish us to call for fire to come down from the heavens and consume them ? "
But Jesus turned and rebuked them. And they made their 5, way to another village.
Tests of And, while they were on their way, a man said 5'
Sincerity. to JeSUS :
" I will follow you wherever you go."
" Foxes have holes," he replied, " and wild birds their roost- 5! ing-places, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another man Jesus said : ''Follow me." 51
" Let me first go and bury my father," said the man. But Jesus said : 6<
" Leave the dead to bury their dead ; but go yourself and carry far and wide the news of the Kingdom of God."
" Master," said another, " I will follow you ; but first let me 6: say good-bye to my family." But Jesus answered : 6:
" No one who looks back, after putting his hand to the plough, is fitted for the Kingdom of God."
After this, the Master appointed seventy-two i
• lie Mission t «• • « « •
or the other disciples, and sent them on as his seventy. Messengers, two and two, in advance, to every town and place that he was himself intending to visit.
"The harvest," he said, " is abundant, but the labourers are 2 few. Therefore pray to the Owner of the harvest to send labourers to gather in his harvest. Now, go. Remember, I 3 am sending you out as my Messengers like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse with you, or a bag, or sandals; 4 and do not stop to greet any one on your journey. Whatever 5 house you go to stay at, begin by praying for a blessing on it. Then, if any one there is deserving of a blessing, 6 your blessing will rest upon him; but if not, it will come back upon yourselves. Remain at that same house, and 7 eat and drink whatever they offer you ; for the worker is worth his wages. Do not keep changing from one house to another. Whatever town you visit, if the people welcome you, eat 8 what is set before you; cure the sick there, and tell people 9
Ma Kings i. 10,
LUKE, 1C. 129
' The Kingdom of God is close at hand.' But, whatever town 10 you go to visit, if the people do not welcfime you, go out into its streets and say ' We wipe off the very dust of your 1 1 town which has clung to our feet ; still, be assured that the Kingdom of God is close at hand.' I tell you that the 12 doom of Sodom will be more bearable on ' That Day ' than the doom of that town. Alas for you, Chorazin ! Alas 13
The Doom of ^or vou> Bethsaida ! For, if the miracles which the Towns of have been done in you had been done in Tyre Gaiiiee. ancj Sidon, they would have sat in sackcloth and ashes and repented long ago. Yet the doom of Tyre 14 and Sidon will be more bearable at the Judgement than yours. And you, Capernaum ! Will you ' exalt your- 15
self to Heaven ' ? ' You shall go down to the Place of Death.' He who listens to you is listening to me, 16
and he who rejects you is rejecting me ; while he who rejects me is rejecting him who sent me as his Messenger."
When the seventy-two returned, they exclaimed 17 The Return of j0fuiiy . "Master, even the demons submit to
J J J
the Seventy. , UAJT i-jo
us when we use your name. And Jesus replied : 10 " I have had visions of Satan, fallen, like lightning from the heavens. Remember, I have given you the power to ' trample 19 upon serpents and scorpions,' and to meet all the strength of the Enemy. Nothing shall ever harm you in any way. Yet 20 do not rejoice in the fact that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names have been enrolled in Heaven." The chiid-Mke At that same time, moved to exultation by the 21 Mind. . Holy Spirit, Jesus said :
" I thank thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that, though thou hast hidden these things from the wise and learned, thou hast revealed them to the childlike ! Yes, Father, I thank thee that this has seemed good to thee.
Everything has been committed to me by my Father ; nor 22 does any one know who the Son is, except the Father, or who the Father is, except the Son and those to whom the Son may choose to reveal him."
Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said to them alone : 23
' ' Blessed are the eyes that see what you are seeing ; for, I tell 24 you, many Prophets and Kings wished for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never saw them, and to hear the things which you are hearing, yet never heard them."
Just then a Student of the Law came forward 25
i ne ui*O£tT T *• i
command- to test Jesus further-
ment. " Teacher," he said, "what must I do if I am
to ' gain Immortal Life' ? "
12 Isa. 2. ii. ** Isa. 14. 13, 15. 19 Ps. 91. 13. 2° Enoch 40. 9.
F
130 LUKE, 10.
" What is said in the Law ? " answered Jesus. " What do 26 you read there ? " His reply was — 27
" ' Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with 'all thy strength, and with all thy mind ; and thy neighbour as thou dost thyself.' "
" You have answered right," said Jesus ; " do that, and you 28 shall live."
But the man, wanting- to justify himself, said to Jesus : " And 29 who is my neighbour ? " To which Jesus replied : 30
The Good " A man was once going down from Jerusalem Samaritan, to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him of everything, and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. As it chanced, a priest was going down 31 by that road. He saw the man, but passed by on the opposite side. A Levite, too, did the same ; he came up to the spot, 32 but, when he saw the man, passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan, travelling that way, came upon the man, and, 33 when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. He went 34 to him and bound up his wounds, dressing them with oil and wine, and then put him on his own mule, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out 35 four shillings and gave them to the inn-keeper. 'Take care of him,' he said, 'and whatever more you may spend I will myself repay you on my way back.' Now which, 36 do you think, of these three men," asked Jesus, "proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?"
"The one that took pity on him," was the answer ; on which 37 Jesus said :
"Go and do the same yourself."
The As they continued their journey, Jesus came 38
sisters of to a village, where a woman named Martha
Bethany, welcomed him to her house. She had a sister 39 called Mary, who seated herself at the Master's feet, and* listened to his teaching ; but Martha was distracted by the 40 many preparations that she was making. So she went up to Jesus and said :
" Master, do you approve of my sister's leaving me to make preparations alone ? Tell her to help me."
"Martha, Martha," replied the Master, "you are anxious and 41 trouble yourself about many things ; but only a few are 42 necessary, or rather one. Mary has chosen the good part, and it shall not be taken away from her."
« Deut. 6. 5 ; Lev. 19. 18. '•» Lev. 18. 5.
LUKE, n. isi
The « Lord's One day Jesus was at a certain place praying, i \
Prayer.' and, when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him :
" Master, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."
" When you pray," Jesus answered, " say — 2
' Father, May thy name be held holy, thy Kingdom come. Give us each day the bread 3
that we shall need ; And forgive us our sins, 4
for we ourselves forgive every one who wrongs us ; And take us not into temptation.'"
Persistence Je*US als° Said tO then} : 5
in Suppose that one of you who has a friend
Prayer. were to go to him in the middle of the night and say ' Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has 6 arrived at my house after a journey, and I have nothing to offer him ' ; and suppose that the other should answer from 7 inside ' Do not trouble me ; the door is already fastened, and my children and I are in bed ; I cannot get up and give you anything' ; I tell you that, even though he will not get up and 8 give him anything because he is a friend, yet because of his persistence he will rouse himself and give him what he wants. And so I say to you — Ask, and your prayer 9
Encourage- snall be granted : search, and you shall find ; ment knock, and the door shall be opened to you.
to Prayer. por he that asks receives, he that searches 10 finds, and to him that knocks the door shall be opened. What u father among you, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead, or, if he asks for an egg, will give him 12 a scorpion ? If you, then, naturally wicked though you 13 are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him ! "
euro of a. Once Jesus was driving out a dumb demon, 14 dumb Man. and, when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke. The people were amazed at this ; but some 15
of them said : ' ' He drives out demons by the help of Baal-zebub, Jesus accused ^e cn'ef °^ the demons " ; while others, to test 16 °^>f8Act?nee him, asked him for some sign from the heavens. by the Help Jesus himself, however, was aware of what they 17 of Satan. were thinking, and said to them : "Any kingdom wholly divided against itself becomes a desolation ; and a divided house falls. So, too, if Satan is 18 wholly divided against himself, how can his kingdom last ? Yet you say that I drive out demons by the help of B#al- zebub. But, if it is by Baal-zebub's help that I drive out 19 demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges. But, if 20 it is by the hand of God that I drive out demons, then the
182 LUKE, H.
Kingdom of God must already be upon you. When a strong 21 man is keeping guard, fully armed, over his own mansion, his property is in safety ; but, when one still stronger has attacked 22 and overpowered him, he takes away all the weapons on which the other had relied, and divides his spoil. He who is not 23 with me is against me, and he who does not help me to
o.-xn er of gather is scattering. No sooner does a 24
imperfect foul spirit leave a man, than it passes through Reformation, places where there is no water, in search of rest ; and finding none, it says ' I will go back to the home which I left ' ; but, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, swept, 25 and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven 26 other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there ; and the last state of that man proves to be worse than the first."
As Jesus was saying this, a woman in the crowd, raising her 27 / voice, exclaimed :
" Happy was the mother who bore you and nursed you ! " But Jesus replied : 28
" Rather, happy are those who listen to God's Message and keep it."
wamin ^s tne crowds increased, Jesus began to 29
agaTnst speak :
seeking siens. " This generation is a wicked generation. It is asking a sign, but no sign shall be given it except the sign of Jonah. For, as Jonah became a sign to the people of 30 Nineveh, so shall the Son of Man be to this generation. At 31 the Judgement the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation, and will condemn them, because she came from the very ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon ; and here is more than a Solomon ! At the Judge- 32 ment the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's proclama- tion ; and here is more than a Jonah ! No one sets 33
Lesson light to a lamp, and then puts it in the cellar or from a Lamp, under the corn-measure, but he puts it on the lamp-stand, so that any one who comes in may see the Light and h'ght. The lamp of the body is your eye. 34
Darkness. When your eye is unclouded, your whole body, also, is lit up ; but, as soon as your eye is diseased, your body, also, is darkened. Take care, therefore, that the inner Light 35 is not darkness. If, then, your whole body is lit up, and no 36 corner of it darkened, the whole will be lit up, just as when a lamp, gives you light by its brilliance."
As Jesus finished speaking, a Pharisee asked 37 him to breakfast with him, and Jesus went in and the Pharisees, took his place at table. The Pharisee noticed, to 38
LUKE, 11-12. 133
his astonishment, that Jesus omitted the ceremonial washing before breakfast. But the Master said to him : 39
"You Pharisees do, it is true, clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are filled with greed and wickedness. Fools ! did not the maker of the out- 40 side make the inside too ? Only give away what is in them in 41 charity, and at once you have the whole clean. But alas for 42 you Pharisees ! You pay tithes on mint, rue, and herbs of all kinds, and pass over justice and love to God. These last you ought to have put into practice without neglecting the first. Alas for you Pharisees ! You delight to have the front seat in 43 the Synagogues, and to be greeted in the markets with respect. Alas for you ! You are like unsuspected graves, over which 44 men walk unawares." Here one of the Students of the Law interrupted him by saying : 45
" Teacher, when you say this, you are insulting us also." But Jesus went on : 46
"Alas for you, too, you Students of the Law! You load men with loads that are too heavy to carry, but do not, your- selves, touch them with one of your fingers. Alas for you ! 47 You build the monuments of the Prophets whom your ancestors killed. You are actually witnesses to your ancestors' 48 acts and show your approval of them, because, while they killed the Prophets, you build tombs for them. That is why 49 the Wisdom of God said — " I will send to them Prophets and Apostles, some of whom they will persecute and kill, in order 50 that the ' blood ' of all the prophets ' that has been spilt ' since the creation of the world may be exacted from this generation — from the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah, who 51 was slain between the altar and the House of God." Yes, I tell you, it will be exacted from this generation. Alas for you 52 Students of the Law ! You have taken away the key of the door of Knowledge. You have not gone in yourselves and you have hindered those who try to go in."
A Plot When Jesus left the house, the Teachers of the 53
against jesus. Law and the Pharisees began to press him hard and question him closely upon many subjects, laying traps for 54 him, so as to seize upon anything that he might say.
Warnings and
Meanwhile the people had gathered in thou- _ _ sands, so that they trod upon one another, when Encourage- Jesus, addressing himself to his disciples, began ments. j^y sayingr to them :
"Be on your guard against the leaven — that is, the hypo- crisy— of the Pharisees. There is nothing, however covered up, which will not be uncovered, nor anything kept secret which will not become known. Hence all that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have
60 Enoch 9. i.
134 LUKE, 12.
spoken in the ear, within closed doors, will be proclaimed upon the housetops. To you who are my friends I
say, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but after that can do no more. I will show you of whom you should be afraid. Be afraid of him who, after killing you, has the power to fling you into the Pit. Yes, I say, be afraid of him. Are not five sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them has escaped God's notice. No, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid ; you are of more value than many sparrows. Every one, I tell you, who shall acknow-
ledge me before his fellow men, the Son of Man, also, will acknowledge before God's angels ; but he, who disowns me before his fellow men, will be altogether disowned before God's angels. Every one who shall say anything against the
Son of Man will be forgiven, but for him who slanders the Holy Spirit there will be no forgiveness. Whenever they
take you before the Synagogue Courts or the magistrates or other authorities, do not be anxious as to how you will defend yourselves, or what your defence will be, or what you will say ; for the Holy Spirit will show you at the moment what you ought to say."
instances " Teacher," a man in the crowd said to Jesus, or " tell my brother to share the property with me." covetousness. 3ut Jesus said to him :
" Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter between you ? " And then he added :
"Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness ; for even in the height of his prosperity a man's true Life does not depend on what he has." Then Jesus told them this parable —
" There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile ; and he began to ask himself ' What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops ? This is what I will do,' he said ; ' I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them ; and I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years ; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.' But God said to the man ' Fool ! This very night your life is being demanded ; and as for all that you have prepared — who will have it ? '
So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God." Tho c«r«« And Jesus said to his disciples :
of ur*. "That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about the life here — what you can get to eat ; nor yet about your body — what you can get to wear. For life is more than food, and the body than its clothes. Think of the ravens — they neither sow nor reap ; they have neither storehouse nor
LUKE, 12. 135
barn ; and yet God feeds them ! And how much more precious are you than birds ! But which of you, by being anxious, 25 can prolong his life a moment ? And, if you cannot do even 26 the smallest thing, why be anxious about other things ? Think 27 of the lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin ; yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendour was nc<: robed like one of these. If, even in the field, God so clothes the grass 28 which is living to-day and to-morrow will be thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith ! And you — do not be always seeking what you can get to eat 29 or what you can get to drink ; and do not waver. These are the 30 things for which all the nations of the world are seeking, and your Father knows that you need them. No, seek his Kingdom, 31 and these things shall be added for you. So do not be afraid, 32 my little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom. Sell what belongs to you, and give in 33
The true charity. Make yourselves purses that will not Treasure, wear out — an inexhaustible treasure in Heaven, where no thief'comes near, or moth works ruin. For where your 34 treasure is, there also will your heart be. Make your- 35
selves ready, with your lamps alight ; and be like 36 watchfulness. men wjlo are waiting for their Master's return from his wedding, so that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him at once. Happy are those servants whom, 37 on his return, the Master will find watching. I tell you that he will make himself ready, and bid them take their places at table, and will come and wait upon them. Whether it is late 38 at night, or in the early morning that he comes, if he finds all as it should be, then happy are they. This you do know, 39 that, had the owner of the house known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the watch, and would not have let his house be broken into. Do you also prepare, 40 for when you are least expecting him the Son of Man will come."
Parable of the "Master," said Peter, "are you telling this 41 eood and bad parable with reference to us or to every one ? "
servants. " Who, then," replied the Master, "is that 42 trustworthy steward, the careful man, who will be placed by his master over his establishment, to give them their rations at the proper time ? Happy will that servant be whom his 43 master, when he comes home, shall find doing this. His 44 master, I tell you, will put him in charge of the whole of his property. But should that servant say to himself ' My 45 master is a long time coming,' and begin to beat the men- servants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, that servant's master will come on a day when 46 he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is un- aware, and will flog him severely and assign him his place among the untrustworthy. The servant who knows his 47
136 LUKE, 12-18.
master's wishes and yet does not prepare and act accordingly will receive many lashes ; while one who does not know his 48 master's wishes, but acts so as to deserve a flogging, will receive but few. From every one to whom much has been given much will be expected, and from the man to whom much has been entrusted the more will be demanded. I came 49
The cost to cast ^re uPon the eai"th ; and what more can o* Christ's I wish, if it is already kindled ? There is a 50
service, baptism that I must undergo, and how great is my distress until it is over ! Do you think that I am here to 51 give peace on earth ? No, I tell you, but to cause division. For from this time, if there are five people in a house, they 52 will be divided, three against two, and two against three.
' Father will be opposed to son and son to father, mother tq 53 daughter and daughter to mother, mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law.' "
signs of And to the people Jesus said : 54
the Times. " When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once ' There is a storm coming,' and come it does. And 55 when you see that the wind is in the south, you say ' It will be burning hot, 'and so it proves. Hypocrites! You know how to 56 judge of the earth and the sky; how is it, then, that you cannot judge of this time ? Why do not you yourselves decide 57
The what is right ? When, for instance, you are going 58 Settlement with your opponent before a magistrate, on your or Disputes. wav to the court do your best to be quit of him ; for fear that he should drag you before the judge, when the judge will hand you over to the bailiff of the court, and the bailiff throw you into prison. You will not, I tell you, come 59 out until you have paid the very last farthing."
The Just at that time some people had come to tell i
Meaning of Jesus about the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate calamities. iiacj mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. "Do you suppose," replied Jesus, "that, because these 2 Galilaeans have suffered in this way, they were worse sinners than any other Galilaeans ? No, I tell you ; but, unless you 3 repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen 4 men at Siloam on whom the tower fell, killing them all, do you suppose that they were worse offenders than any other inhabitants of Jerusalem ? No, I tell you ; but, unless you 5 repent, you will all perish in the same manner." And Jesus told them this parable — 6
Th "A man, who had a fig tree growing in his
barren vineyard, came to look for fruit on it, but r\f Tree, could not find any. So he said to his gardener 7 ' Three years now I have come to look for fruit on this fig tree,
B» Mic. 7. 6.
LUKE, 13. 137
without finding any ! Cut it down. Why should it rob the soil ? '
'Leave it this one year more, Sir,' the man answered, 'till 8 I have dug round it and manured it. Then, if it bears in 9 future, well and good ; but if not, you can have it cut down.' "
A woman Jesus was teaching on a Sabbath in one of 10 healed on the the Synagogues, and he saw before him a woman 1 1
sabbath, who for eighteen years had suffered from weak- ness, owing to her having an evil spirit in her. She was bent double, and was wholly unable to raise herself. When 12 Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said :
" Woman, you are released from your weakness." He placed his hands on her, and she was instantly made 13 straight, and began to praise God. But the President of the 14 Synagogue, indignant that Jesus had worked the cure on the Sabbath, interposed and said to the people :
" There are six days on which work ought to be done ; come to be cured on one of those, and not on the Sabbath."
" You hypocrites ! " the Master answered him. " Does not 15 every one of you let his ox or his ass loose from its manger, and take it out to drink, on the Sabbath ? But this woman, a 16 daughter of Abraham, who has been kept in bondage by Satan for now eighteen years, ought not she to have been released from her bondage on the Sabbath ? "
As he said this, his opponents all felt ashamed ; but all the 17 people rejoiced to see all the wonderful things that he was doing.
So Jesus said : 18
Parable "What is the Kingdom of God like? and to
or the what can I liken it? It is like a mustard-seed 19 Mustard Seed. which a man took and put in his garden. The seed grew and became a tree, and ' the wild birds roosted in its branches.' "
And again Jesus said : . 20
Parable "To what can I liken the Kingdom of God?
of the It is like some yeast which a woman took and 21 Leaven. covered in three pecks of flour, until the whole had risen."
The narrow Jesus went through towns and villages, teach- 22
Door. ing as he went, and making his way towards Jerusalem.
" Master," some one asked, "are there but few in the path 23 of Salvation ? " And Jesus answered :
" Strive to go in by the small door. Many, I tell you, will 24 seek to go in, but they will not be able when once the 25 19 Dan. 4. 12.
F*
138 LUKE, 13-14.
master of the house has got up and shut the door, while you begin to say, as you stand outside and knock, ' Sir, open the door for us.' His answer will be — ' I do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say ' We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets,' and his reply will be — ' I do not know where you come from. Leave my presence, all you who are living in wickedness.'
There, there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets, in the Kingdom of God, while you yourselves are being driven out- side. People will come from East and West, and from North and South, and take their places at the banquet in the Kingdom of God. There are some who are last now who will then be first, and some who are first now who will then be last ! "
Just then some Pharisees came up to Jesus and to said :
Herod Antipas. " Go away and leave this place, for Herod wants to kill you." But Jesus answered :
" Go and say to that fox ' Look you, I am driving out demons and shall be completing cures to-day and to-morrow, and on the third day I shall have done.' But to-day and to-morrow and the day after I must go on my way, because it cannot be that a Prophet should meet his end outside Jerusalem. Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! she who slays the Prophets and stones JOBUS lament* ^ie messengers sent to. her — Oh, how often have I the Fate wished to gather your children round me, as a of Jerusalem. iien takes her brood under her wings, and you would not come ! Verily your House is left to you desolate ! and never, I tell you, shall you see me, until you say —
' Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
». ^n one occasion, as Jesus was going, on a ai Sabbath, into the house of one of the leading Man. Pharisees to dine, they were watching him closely. There he saw before him a man who was suffering from dropsy.
" Is it allowable," said Jesus, addressing the Students of the Law and the Pharisees, "to work a cure on the Sabbath, or is it not ? "
They remained silent. Jesus took hold of the man and cured him, and sent him away. And he said to them :
" Which of you, finding that his son or his ox has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath Day?"
V Pi. 6. 8. » Mai. i. 1 1. M Jer. xa. 5 ; Ps. 1 18. a6.
LUKE, 14. 139
And they could not make any answer to that. 6
Lessons on Observing that the guests were choosing the 7 Humility ana best places for themselves, Jesus told them this Hospitality, parable—
' ' When you are invited by any one to a wedding banquet, do 8 not seat yourself in the best place, for fear that some one of higher rank should have been invited by your host ; and he who 9 invited you both will come and say to you ' Make room for this man,' and then you will begin in confusion to take the lowest place. No, when you are invited, go and take the lowest 10 place, so that, when he who has invited you comes, he may say to you ' Friend, come higher up ' ; and then you will be honoured in the eyes of all your fellow-guests. For every one n who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Then Jesus went on to say to the man who had invited 12 him :
"When you give a breakfast or a dinner, do not ask your friends, or your brothers, or your relations, or rich neighbours, for fear that they should invite you in return, and so you should be repaid. No, when you entertain, invite the poor, the 13 crippled, the lame, the blind ; and then you will be happy 14 indeed, since they cannot recompense you ; for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the good."
Parable of ^ne °^ t^ie guests heard what he said and ex- 15
the gre«t claimed :
Dinner. <> Happy will he be who shall eat bread in the
Kingdom of God ! " But Jesus said to him : 1 6
" A man was once giving a great dinner. He invited many people, and sent his servant, when it was time for the dinner, to 17 say to those who had been invited ' Come, for everything is now ready.' They all with one accord began to ask to be excused. 18 The first man said to the servant ' I have bought a field and am obliged to go and look at it. I must ask you to consider me excused.' The next said 'I have bought five pairs of 19 bullocks, and I am on my way to try them. I must ask you to consider me excused' ; while the next said ' I am just 20 married, and for that reason I am unable to come.' On 21 his return the servant told his master all these answers. Then in anger the owner of the house said to his servant ' Go out at once into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in here the poor, and the crippled, and the blind, and the lame.' Presently the servant said ' Sir, your order has been 22 carried out, and still there is room.'
'Go out,' the master said, ' into the roads and hedgerows, 23 and make people come in, so that my house may be filled ; for I tell you all that not one of those men who were invited 24 will taste my dinner.'"
140 LUKE, 14-15.
The cost ay> wnen great crowds of people were 25
of walking with Jesus, he turned and said to them :
Seif-deniai. « jf any man comes to me and does not hate his 26 father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes and his very life, he can be no disciple of mine. Whoever does not carry his own cross, and walk in my 27 steps, can be no disciple of mine. Why, which of you, 28 when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and reckon the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it ? — for 29 fear that, if he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, every one who sees it should begin to laugh at him, and say 30 ' Here is a man who began to build and was not able to finish!' Or what king, when he is setting out to fight 31 another king, does not first sit down and consider if with ten thousand men he is able to meet one who is coming- against him with twenty thousand ? And if he cannot, then, while 32 the other is still at a distance, he sends envoys and asks for terms of peace. And so with every one of you who does 33
A real not bid farewell to all he has — he cannot be Disciple of a disciple of mine. Yes, salt is good ; 34
Jesus. but, jf the salt itself should lose its strength, what shall be used to season it ? It is not fit either for the land or 35 for the manure heap. Men throw it away. Let him
who has ears to hear with hear ! "
The tax-gatherers and the outcasts were all drawing near i to Jesus to listen to him ; but the Pharisees and the Teachers 2 of the Law found fault.
"This man always welcomes outcasts, and takes meals with them ! " they complained. So Jesus told them this 3 parable —
Parable "What man among you who has a hundred 4
of the sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the
lost sheep, ninety-nine out in the open country, andgoafterthe lost sheep till he finds it ? And, when he has found it, he puts it 5 on his shoulders rejoicing ; and, on reaching home, he calls 6 his friends and his neighbours together, and says ' Come and rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' So, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over 7 one outcast that repents, than over ninety-nine religious men, who have no need to repent. Or again, what 8
Parable woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses of the one of them, does not light a lamp, and sweep
tost coin. tne nousC) an(i search carefully until she finds it ? And, when she has found it, she calls her friends and neigh- 9 bours together, and says ' Come and rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost.' So, I tell you, there is 10 rejorcing in the presence of God's angels over one outcast that repents."
LUKE, 15. 141
Then Jesus continued : n
Parable " ^ man had two sons; and the younger of 12 of the them said to his father ' Father, give me my share lost son of the inheritance. ' So the father divided the property between them. A few days later the younger son got 13 together all that he had, and went away into a distant land ; and there he squandered his inheritance by leading a dissolute life. After he had spent all that he had, there was a severe famine 14 through all that country, and he began to be in actual want. So he went and engaged himself to one of the people of that 15 country, who sent him into his fields to tend pigs. He even 16 longed to satisfy his hunger with the bean-pods on which the pigs were feeding ; and no one gave him anything. But, 17 when he came to himself, he said ' How many of my father's hired servants have more bread than they can eat, while here am I starving to death ! I will get up and go to my 18 father, and say to him "Father, I sinned against Heaven and against you ; I am no longer fit to be called your son ; 19 make me one of your hired servants.'" And he got 20
up and went to his father. But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was deeply moved ; he ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him. ' Father,' 21 the son said, ' I sinned against Heaven and against you ; I am no longer fit to be called your son ; make me one of your hired servants.'
But the father turned to his servants and said ' Be quick and 22 fetch a robe — the very best — and put it on him ; give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet ; and bring the 23 fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry ; for here 24 is my son who was dead, and is alive again, was lost, and is found.' So they began making merry. Meanwhile the 25
elder son was out in the fields ; but, on coming home, when he got near the house, he heard music and dancing, and he 26 called one of the servants and asked what it all meant. 'Your brother has come back,' the servant told him, 'and 27 your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.'
This made him angry, and he would not go in. But his father 28 came out and begged him to do so. 'No,' he said to his father, 29 * look at all the years I have been serving you, without ever once disobeying you, and yet you have never given me even a kid, so that I might have a merry-making with my friends. But, no sooner has this son of yours come, who has eaten up 30 your property in the company of prostitutes, than you have killed the fattened calf for him.'
'Child,' the father answered, 'you are always with me, 31 and everything that I have is yours. We could but make merry 32 and rejoice, for here is your brother who was dead, and is alive ; who was lost, and is found. ' "
142 LUKE, 16.
Parable Jesus said to his disciples : I
of the "There was a rich man who had a steward ;
dishonest ancj this steward was maliciously accused to him
of wasting his estate. So the master called him 2 and said ' What is this that I hear about you ? Give in your accounts, for you cannot act as steward any longer.'
' What am I to do,' the steward asked himself, ' now that my 3 master is taking the steward's place away from me ? I have not strength to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I know what 4 I will do, so that, as soon as I am turned out of my stewardship, people may welcome me into their homes.' One by one he 5 called up his master's debtors. ' How much do you owe my master ? ' he asked of the first. ' Four hundred and forty 6 gallons of oil,' answered the man. ' Here is your agreement,' he said ; ' sit down at once and make it two hundred and twenty. And you,' the steward said to the next, 'how much 7 do you owe ? ' ' Seventy quarters of wheat,' he replied. ' Here is your agreement,' the steward said ; ' make it fifty-six.' His 8 master complimented this dishonest steward on the shrewdness of his action. And indeed men of the world are shrewder in dealing with their fellow-men than those who have the Light. And I say to you ' Win friends for yourselves 9
with your dishonest money,' so that, when it comes to an end, there may be a welcome for you into the Eternal Home. He who is trustworthy in the smallest matter is trustworthy 10 in a great one also ; and he who is dishonest in the smallest matter is dishonest in a great one also. So, if you have proved n untrustworthy with the 'dishonest money,' who will trust you with the true ? And, if you have proved untrustworthy with 12
True what does not belong to us, who will give you Service. what is really our own ? No servant can 13
serve two masters, for, either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will attach himself to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
JeBu. All this was said within hearing of the 14
rebukes the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they
Pharisee*, began to sneer at Jesus.
"You," said Jesus, "are the men who justify themselves 15 before the world, but God can read your hearts ; and what is highly esteemed among men may be an abomination in the sight of God. The Law and the Prophets sufficed until 16
the time of John. Since then the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been told, and everybody has been forcing his way into it. It would be easier for the heavens and the 17
earth to disappear than for one stroke of a letter in the Law to be lost. Every one who divorces his wife and marries 18
another woman is an adulterer, and the man who marries a divorced woman is an adulterer.
8 Enoch 108. ii. " Enoch 63. 10. U Enoch 63. 10.
LUKE, 16-17. 143
Parable of There was once a rich man, who dressed in 19 the rich Man purple robes and fine linen, and feasted every day and Lazarus. [n grreat splendour. Near his gateway there had 20 been laid a beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores, and who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the 21 rich man's table. Even the very dogs came and licked his sores. After a time the beggar died, and was taken by the 22 angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In the Place of Death he looked up in his torment, 23 and saw Abraham at a distance and Lazarus at his side. So he 24 called out ' Pity me, Father Abraham, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering agony in this flame.'
'Child,' answered Abraham, 'remember that you in 25 your lifetime received what you thought desirable, just as Lazarus received what was not desirable ; but now he has his consolation here, while you are suffering agony. And not 26 only that, but between you and us there lies a great chasm, so that those who wish to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they cross from there to us.'
' Then, Father,' he said, ' I beg you to send Lazarus to my 27 father's house — for I have five brothers — to warn them, so that 28 they may not come to this place of torture also.'
' They have the writings of Moses and the Prophets,' replied 29 Abraham ; ' let them listen to them.'
'But, Father Abraham,' he urged, 'if some one from the 30 dead were to go to them, they would repent.'
' If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets,' answered 31 Abraham, ' they will not be persuaded, even if some one were to rise from the dead.' "
A inst Jesus said to his disciples : i
hindering "It is inevitable that there should be snares; others. ve£ alas for him who is answerable for them ! It 2 would be good for .him if he had been flung into the sea with a mill-stone round his neck, rather than that he should prove a snare to even one of these lowly ones. Be on your guard ! If 3 On deaiin your brother does wrong, reprove him ; but, if he
with " repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you 4 wrong-doers, seven times a day, but turns to you every time and says ' I am sorry,' you must forgive him." The Power " Give us more faith," said the Apostles to the 5 or Faith. Master ; but the Master said : 6
" If your faith were only like a mustard-seed, you could say to this mulberry tree ' Be up-rooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
Which of you, if he had a servant ploughing, 7 Duty' or tending the sheep, would say to him, when he came in from the fields, ' Come at once and take your place
144 LUKE, 17.
at table,' instead of saying ' Prepare my dinner, and then make 8 yourself ready and wait on me while I am eating and drinking, and after that you shall eat and drink yourself ? Does he feel 9 grateful to his servant for doing what he is told ? And so with 10 you — when you have done all that you have been told, still say ' We are but useless servants ; we have done no more than we ought to have done. ' "
Jesus On the way to Jerusalem Jesus passed between 1 1
heals ten Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering 12
Lepers. a village, ten lepers met him. Standing still, some distance off, they called out loudly : 13
"Jesus! Sir! pity us !" When Jesus saw them, he said : 14
" Go and show yourselves to the priests."
And, as they were on their way, they were made clean. One of 15 them, finding he was cured, came back, praising God loudly, and threw himself on his face at Jesus' feet, thanking him for 16 what he had done ; and this man was a Samaritan.
"Were not all the ten made clean?" exclaimed Jesus. 17 " But the nine — where are they? Were there none to come 18 back and praise God except this foreigner ? Get up," he said to 19 him, "and go on your way. Your faith has delivered you."
The comin Being once asked by the Pharisees when the 20
of the Kingdom of God was to come, Jesus answered : Kingdom. "The Kingdom of God does not come in a way that admits of observation, nor will people say 'Look, here 21 it is!' or 'There it is!'; for the Kingdom of God is within you ! The day will come," he said to his disciples, 22
" when you will long to see but one of the days of the Son of Man, and will not see it. People will say to you 'There he 23 is ! ' or ' Here he is ! ' Do not go and follow them. For, just 24 as lightning will lighten and flare from one side of the heavens to the other, so will it be with the Son of Man. But 25 first he must undergo much suffering, and he must be rejected by the present generation. As it was in the days 26 of Noah, so will it be again in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being 27 married, up to the very day on which Noah entered the ark, and then the flood came and destroyed them all. So, too, in 28 the days of Lot. People were eating-, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building ; but, on the very day on which Lot 29 came out of Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from the skies and destroyed them all. It will be the same on the day 30 on which the Son of Man reveals himself. On that day, if a 31 man is on his house-top and his goods in the house, he must not go down to get them ; nor again must one who is on the
" Lev. 13. 49. * Gen. 7. 7. »-«i Gen. 19. 24, 26.
LUKE, 17-18. 145
farm turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever is eager to 32, get the most out of his life will lose it ; but whoever will lose it shall preserve it. On that night, I tell you, of two men upon 34 the same bed, one will be taken and the other left ; of two women 35 grinding together, one will be taken and the other left."
"Where will it be, Master? " interposed the disciples. 37
"Where there is a body," said Jesus, "'there will the vultures flock.'"
Parable Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them i \ of the that they should always pray and never despair, corrupt judge. "There was," he said, "in a certain town a 2 judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for man. In the 3 same town there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a time the judge refused, but afterwards he said to 4 himself ' Although I am without fear of God or regard for man, yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, 5 to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.' " Then the Master added : 6
" Listen to what this iniquitous judge says ! And God — will 7 not he see that his own People, who cry to him night and day, have justice done them — though he holds his hand ? He 8 will, I tell you, have justice done them, and that soon ! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth ? "
Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that 9 they were religious, and who regarded every one else with scorn, Jesus told this parable —
Parable " Two men went up into the Temple Courts to 10
of the pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-
'and'the9 gatherer. The Pharisee stood forward and began 1 1 Tax-gatherer, praying to himself in this way — -
'O God, I thank thee that I am not like other men — thieves, rogues, adulterers — or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast 12 twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.' Meanwhile the tax-gatherer stood at a distance, not ventur- 13 ing even ' to raise his eyes to Heaven ' ; but he kept striking his breast and saying 'O God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' This man, I tell you, went home pardoned, rather than the 14 other ; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, while every one who humbles himself shall be exalted."
Some of the people were bringing even their ic
Jesus blesses . , . T *> '». ' , , °
little babies to Jesus, for him to touch them ; but, when Children, the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them. Jesus, however, called the little 7.6 children to him.
37 Isa. 34. 15. 7 Enoch 47. i, z. *3 Enoch 13. 5.
146 LUKE, 18.
" Let the little children come to me," he said, " and do not hinder them ; for it is to the childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs. I tell you, unless a man receives the Kingdom 17 of God like a child, he will not enter it at all."
The Re- one °^ ^'ie Presidents asked Jesus this
aponsibilities question -
of wealth. "Good Teacher, what must I do if I am to gain Immortal Life?"
" Why do you call me good? " answered Jesus. " No one is good but God. You know the commandments--
' Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honour thy father and thy mother.' "
" I have observed all these," he replied, " from childhood." Hearing this, Jesus said to him :
"There is one thing still lacking in you; sell every thing that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven ; then come and follow me." But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich. Seeing this, Jesus said to his
disciples :
"How hard it is for men of wealth to enter the Kingdom of God ! It is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God ! "
" Then who can be saved ? " asked those who heard this. But Jesus said :
"What is impossible with men is possible with God."
" But we," said Peter, "we left what belonged to us and followed you."
" I tell you," he answered, " that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, on account of the Kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much in the present, and in the age that is coming Immortal Life."
Gathering the Twelve round him, Jesus said to . thi"Ut?me, them :
roret«ii« " Listen ! We are going up to Jerusalem ; and hi* Death, there everything that is written in the Prophets will be done to the Son of Man. For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat upon ; they will scourge him, and then put him to death ; and on the third day he will rise again."
The Apostles did not comprehend any of this ; his meaning was unintelligible to them, and they did not understand what he was saying.
*> Exod. ao. la— 16. 38 Hos. 6. a.
LUKE, 18-19. 147
Cure of ^S Jesus was gating near Jericho, a blind man 35 a blind was sitting by the road-side, begging. Hearing 36
Man- a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter ; and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was 37 passing, he shouted out : 38
"Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me ! "
Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he 39 continued to call out the louder :
" Son of David, take pity on me ! "
Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. 40 And, when he had come close up to him, Jesus asked him :
" What do you want me to do for you ? " 41
" Master," he said, " I want to recover my sight." And Jesus said : " Recover your sight, your faith has delivered 42 you."
Instantly he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus, 43 praising God. And all the people, on seeing it, gave
glory to God.
zacchaeus Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through i the the town. There was a man there, known 2
Tax-gatherer, by the name of Zacchaeus, who was a commis- sioner of taxes and a rich man. He tried to see what Jesus 3 was like ; but, being short, he was unable to do so because of the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a 4 mulberry tree, to see Jesus, for he knew that he must pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and 5 said to him :
"Zacchaeus, be quick and come down, for I must stop at your house to-day."
So Zacchaeus got down quickly, and joyfully welcomed him. 6 On seeing this, every one began to complain : 7
" He has gone to stay with a man who is an outcast." But Zacchaeus stood forward and said to the Master : 8
" Listen, Master ! I will give half my property to the poor, and, if I have defrauded any one of anything, I will give him back four times as much."
" Salvation has come to this house to-day," answered Jesus, 9 "for even this man is a son of Abraham. The Son of Man 10 has come to ' search for those who are lost ' and to save them. "
As the people were listening to this, Jesus went n oVThe on to tell them a parable. He did so because he Pounds. was near Jerusalem, and because they thought that the Kingdom of God was going to be proclaimed at once. He said : 12
"A nobleman once went to a distant country to receive his appointment to a Kingdom and then return. He called ten 13
, 34. 16.
148 LUKE, 19.
of his servants and gave them ten pounds each, and told them to trade with them during his absence. But his subjects 14 hated him and sent envoys after him to say ' We will not have this man as our King.' On his return, after 15
having been appointed King, he directed that the servants to whom he had given his money should be summoned, so that he might learn what amount of trade they had done. The first 16 came up, and said ' Sir, your ten pounds have made a hundred.'
' Well done, good servant !' exclaimed the master. 'As you 17 have proved trustworthy in a very small matter, I appoint you governor over ten towns.' When the second came, he said 18 'Your ten pounds, Sir, have produced fifty.' So the master 19 said to him 'And you I appoint over five towns.' Another 20 servant also came and said ' Sir, here are your ten pounds ; I have kept them put away in a handkerchief. For I was afraid 21 of you, because you are a stern man. You take what you have not planted, and reap what you have not sown.' The 22 master answered ' Out of your own mouth I judge you, you worthless servant. You knew that I am a stern man, that I take what I have not planted, and reap what I have not sown ? Then why did not you put my money into a bank? And I, on 23 my return, could have claimed it with interest. Take away 24 from him the ten pounds,' he said to those standing by, 'and give them to the one who has the hundred.'
' But, Sir,' they interposed, ' he has a hundred pounds 25 already ! '
' I tell you,' he answered, ' that, to him who has, more will 26 be given, but, from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But as for my enemies, 27
these men who would not have me as their King, bring them here and put them to death in my presence.'" After saying this, Jesus went on in front, going up to 28 Jerusalem.
V.— THE LAST DAYS.
jesus enter* It was when Jesus had almost reached Beth- 29 Jerusalem, phage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, that he sent on two of the disciples.
" Go to the village facing us," he said, " and, when you get 30 there, you will find a foal tethered, which no one has yet ridden ; untie it and lead it here. And, if anybody asks 31 you 'Why are you untying it?,' you are to say this — 'The Master wants it.' "
So the two who were sent went and found it as Jesus had 32 told them. While they were untying the foal, the owners 33 asked them — " Why are you untying the foal ? " And the two 34 disciples answered — "The Master wants it."
LUKE, 19-20. 149
Then they led it back to Jesus, and threw their cloaks on the 35 foal and put Jesus upon it. As he went along, the people kept 36 spreading their cloaks in the road. When he had almost 37 reached the place where the road led down the Mount of Olives, every one of the many disciples began in their joy to praise God loudly for all the miracles that they had seen :
" Blessed is He who comes — 38
Our King — in the name of the Lord ! Peace in Heaven, And glory on high."
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him : 39
"Teacher, reprove your disciples." But Jesus answered : 40
" I tell you that if these men are silent, the very stones will call out."
When he drew near, on seeing the city, he wept over it, and 41 said : 42
"Would that you had known, while yet there was time — even you — the things that make for peace ! But now they have been hidden from your sight. For a time is coming upon 43 you when your enemies will surround you with earthworks, and encircle you, and hem you in on all sides ; they will 44 trample you down and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know ' the time of your visitation.' "
Jesus Jesus went into the Temple Courts and began 45
in the to drive out those who were selling, saying as he 46
Temple. did so :
" Scripture says — ' My House shall be a House of Prayer' ; but you have made it ' a den of robbers.' "
Jesus continued to teach each day in the Temple Courts ; 47 but the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law were eager to take his life, and so also were the leading men. Yet they 48 could not see what to do, for the people all hung upon his words.
Jeai On one of these days, when Jesus was teaching
and* the the people in the Temple Courts and telling the chief Priests. Good News, the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law, joined by the Councillors, confronted him, and ad- dressing him, said :
"Tell us what authority you have to do these things. Who is it that has given you this authority ? "
"I, too," said Jesus in reply, "will ask you one question.
38 ps. 118. 25, 26; Zech. 9. 9. « Ps. 137. 9. 46 Isa. 56. 7 ; Jer. 7. n.
150 LUKE, 2O.
Give me an answer to it. It is about John's baptism — was it 4
of divine or of human origin ? "
But they began arguing together : 5
" If we say ' divine,' he will say ' Why did not you believe him?' But, if we say 'human,' the people will all stone us, 6 for they are persuaded that John was a Prophet." So they answered that they did not know its origin. 7
"Then I," said Jesus, "refuse to tell you what authority I 8 have to do these things."
parable But Jesus began to tell the people this parable — 9 oftne'wicked "A man once planted a vineyard, and then let
Tenants, it out to tenants, and went abroad for a long while. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, that they 10 should give him a share of the produce of the vineyard. The tenants, however, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. The owner afterwards sent another servant ; but the tenants 1 1 beat and insulted this man too, and sent him away empty- handed. He sent a third « but they wounded this man also, 12 and threw him outside. ' What shall I do ? ' said the owner of 13 the vineyard. * I will send my son, who is very dear tome. Perhaps they will respect him.' But, on seeing him, the tenants 14 consulted with one another. ' Here is the heir ! ' they said. ' Let us kill him, and then the inheritance will become ours.' So they threw him outside the vineyard and killed him. 15 Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them ? He will 16 come and put those tenants to death, and will let the vineyard to others."
" Heaven forbid ! " they exclaimed when they heard it. But 17 Jesus looked at them and said :
" What then is the meaning of this passage ? —
' The very stone which the builders despised Has now itself become the corner-stone.'
Every one who falls on that stone will be dashed to pieces, while 18 any one on whom it falls — it will scatter him as dust."
After this the Teachers of the Law and the Chief Priests were 19 eager to lay hands on Jesus then and there, but they were afraid of the people ; for they saw that it was at them that he A Question ^at* anilcd this parable. Having watched 20
about their opportunity, they afterwards sent some Tribute, spies, who pretended to be good men, to catch Jesus in the course of conversation, and so enable them to give him up to the Governor's jurisdiction and authority. Tin. se men asked Jesus a question. They said : 21
"Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and that you do not take any account of a man's posi- tion, but teach the Way of God honestly ; are we right in 22 paying tribute to the Emperor or not ? "
•Isa. 5. i. " Ps. 118. 22.
LUKE, 2O. 151
Seeing through their deceitfulness, Jesus said to them : 23
" Show me a florin. Whose head and title are on it?" 24
"The Emperor's," they said ; and Jesus replied : 25
"Well then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the
Emperor, and to God what belongs to God."
They could not lay hold of this answer before the people ; 26
and, in their wonder at his reply, they held their tongues.
A Question Presently there came up some Sadducees, who 27 about the maintain that there is no resurrection. Their Resurrection, question was this — "Teacher, Moses laid down for us in his writings that — 28
' Should a man's married brother die, and should he be childless, the man should take the widow as his wife, and raise up a family for his brother.'
Well, there were once seven brothers ; of whom the eldest, 29 after taking a wife, died childless. The second and third 30 brothers both took her as their wife ; and so, too, did all seven 31 — dying without children. The woman herself was the last 32 to die. About the woman, then — at the resurrection, whose 33 wife is she to be, all seven brothers having had her as their wife ? "
"The men and women of this world," said Jesus, "marry 34 and are given in marriage ; but, for those who are thought 35 worthy to attain to that other world and the resurrection from the dead, there is no marrying or being married, nor 36 indeed can they die again, for they are like angels and, having shared in the resurrection, they are God's Sons. As to the 37 fact that the dead rise, even Moses indicated that, in the passage about the Bush, when he calls the Lord —
' The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
Now he is not God of dead men, but of living. For in his 38 sight all are alive."
" Well said, Teacher ! " exclaimed some of the Teachers of 39 the Law, for they did not venture to question him any 40 further.
Christ ^ut Jesus said to them : 41
the son of " How is it that people say that the Christ is
David. t0 be David's son ? For David, in the Book of 42 Psalms, says himself —
' The Lord said to my lord : " Sit at my right hand, Until I put thy enemies as a stool for thy feet." ' 43
David, then, calls him ' lord,' so how is he David's son ? " 44
» Deut. 25. 5— 6. 37 Exod. 3. 2— 6. 38 4 Mace. 16. 25. *&-43 Ps. no. i.
152 LUKE, 20-21.
While all the people were listening, Jesus said 45
Warn I n gs « . . • -
against the to the disciples I
Teachers of " Be on your guard against the Teachers of the 46
the Law. Law> Wh0 delight to walk about in long robes, and like to be greeted in the streets with respect, and to have the best seats in the Synagogues, and places of honour at dinner. These are the men who rob widows of their houses, 47 and make a pretence of saying long prayers. Their sentence will be all the heavier." The widow's Looking up, Jesus saw the rich people putting i
offering, their gifts into the chests for the Temple offer- ings. He saw, too, a widow in poor circumstances putting 2 two farthings into them. On this he said : 3
" I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others ; for every one else here put in something from what 4 he had to spare, while she, in her need, has put in all she had to live upon."
Jesus When some of them spoke about the Tejnple 5
foretells the being decorated with beautiful stones and offer- of^htTr^ple in&s, Jesus said:
and the End " As for these things that you are looking 6 of the Age. a^ a time is coming when not one stone will be left upon another here, which will not be thrown down."
So the disciples questioned Jesus : " But, Teacher, 7 when will this be? and what sign will there be when this is near ? " And Jesus said : 8
" See that you are not led astray ; for many will take my name, and come saying ' I am He,' and ' The time is close at hand.' Do not follow them. And, when you hear of wars 9 and disturbances, do not be terrified, for these things must occur first ; but the end will not be at once." Then he said to them : 10
" ' Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom,' and there will be great earthquakes, and plagues n and famines in various places, and there will be terrible appearances and signs in the heavens. Before all this, they will 12 lay hands on you and persecute you, and they will betray you to Synagogues and put you in prison, when you will be brought before kings and governors for the sake of my Name. Then 13 will be your opportunity of witnessing for me. Make up your 14 minds, therefore, not to prepare your defence ; for I will myself 15 give you words, and a wisdom which all your opponents together will be unable to resist or defy. You will be betrayed 16 even by your parents and brothers and relations and friends,
" Dan. a. a8. "> Isa. 19. a.
LUKE, 21. 153
and they will cause sqme of you to be put to death, and you 17 will be hated by every one on account of my Name. Yet 18 not a single hair of your heads shall be lost ! By your 19 endurance you shall win yourselves Life. As soon, 20
however, as you see Jerusalem surrounded by armed camps, then you may know that the hour of her desecration is at hand. Then those of you who are in Judaea must take 21 refuge in the mountains, those who are in Jerusalem must leave at once, and those who are in the country places must not go into it. For these are to be the Days of Vengeance, 22 when all that Scripture says will be fulfilled. Alas for the 23 women that are with child, and for those that are nursing infants in those days ! For there will be great suffering in the land, and anger against this people. They will fall by the edge 24 of the sword, and will be taken prisoners to every land, and 'Jerusalem will be under the heel of the Gentiles,' until their day is over — as it shall be. There will be signs, too, in the 25 sun and moon and stars, and on the earth despair among the nations, in their dismay at the roar of the sea and the surge. Men's hearts will fail them through dread of what is coming 26 upon the world ; for ' the forces of the heavens will be con- vulsed.' Then will be seen the ' Son of Man coming in a cloud ' 27 with power and great glory. And, when these things 28
begin to occur, look upwards and lift your heads, for your deliverance will be at hand."
The Need Then he taught them a lesson thus — 29
tor " Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. As 30 Watchfulness, soon as they shoot, you know, as you look at them, without being told, that summer is near. And so 31 may you, as soon as you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. I tell you that even 32 the present generation will not pass away till all has taken place. The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my 33 words will never pass away. Be on your guard lest 34
your minds should ever be dulled by debauches or drunken- ness or the anxieties of life, and lest ' That Day ' should come suddenly upon you, like a snare. For come it will upon all 35 who are living upon the face of the whole earth. Be on the 36 watch at all times, and pray that you may have strength to escape all that is destined to happen, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man."
During the days, Jesus continued to teach in the Temple 37 Courts, but he went out and spent the nights on the hill called the ' Mount of Olives.' And all the people would get up early 38 in the morning and come to listen to him in the Temple Courts.
o. 7. 24 Zech. 12. 3 (S«ptuagtfnt). 25 ™ Dan. 7. 13 ; Jer. 7. 13. 28 Enoch 51. 2.
Hos. o. 7. 24 Zech. 12. 3 (S«ptuagtfnt). 25 ps. 65. 7. 26 Isa. 34. 4.
Isa. 24. 17.
154 LUKE, 22.
Feast of the Unleavened Bread, known as i agamat the Passover, was near. The Chief Priests 2
jesus. ancj the Teachers of the Law were looking for an opportunity of destroying Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
judas agrees Now Satan took possession of Judas, who was 3 to betray known as Iscariot, and who belonged to the
jesus. Twelve ; and he went and discussed with the Chief 4 Priests and Officers in charge at the Temple the best way of betraying Jesus to them. They were glad of this, and 5 agreed to pay him. So Judas assented, and looked for an 6 opportunity to betray Jesus to them, in the absence of a crowd.
The When the day of the Festival of the Unleavened 7
Passover. Bread came, on which the Passover lambs had to be killed, Jesus sent forward Peter and John, saying to them : 8
" Go and make preparations for our eating the Passover."
"Where do you wish us to make preparations?" they 9 asked.
" Listen," he answered, " when you have got into the city, a 10 man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow him into whatever house he enters ; and you shall say to the owner of the 1 1 house ' The Teacher says to you — Where is the room where I am to eat the Passover with my disciples?' The man will 12 show you a large upstairs room, set out ; there make prepara- tions."
So Peter and John went on, and found everything just as Jesus 13 had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
When the time came, Jesus took his place at table, and the 14 Apostles with him.
" I have most earnestly wished," he said, " to eat this Pass- 15 over with you before I suffer. For I tell you that I shall not 16 eat it again, until it has had its fulfilment in the Kingdom of God."
Then, on receiving a cup, after saying the thanksgiving, he 17 said :
" Take this and share it among you. For I tell you that I 18 shall not, after to-day, drink of the juice of the grape, till the . Kingdom of God has come."
The 'Lord** Then Jesus took some bread, and, after saying 19
supper.* the thanksgiving, broke it and gave to them, with the words :
" This is my body, [which is now to be given on your behalf. Do this in memory of me." And in the same wav with the cup, after supper, saying : 20
"This cup is the New Covenant made by my blood which is being poured out on your behalf.] Yet see ! the hand of the 21 man that is betraying me is beside me upon the table ! True, 22
» Exod. 24. 8.
LUKE, 22. 155
the Son of Man is passing, by the way Ordained for him, yet alas for that man by whom he is being betrayed ! " Then they began questioning one another which of them it 23 could be that was going to do this. The Dignity And a dispute arose among them as to which 24
of service, of them was to be regarded as the greatest. Jesus, 25 however, said :
"The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their oppressors are styled ' Benefactors.' But with you it must 26 not be so. No, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who leads like him who serves. Which is 27 the greater — the master at the table or his servant? Is not it the master at the table? Yet I myself am among you as one who serves. You are the men who 28
have stood by me in my trials ; and, just as my Father 29 has assigned me a Kingdom, I assign you places, so that 30 you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and be seated upon twelve thrones as judges of the twelve tribes of
Peter's Fail Israel. Simon ! Simon ! listen. Satan 31
foretold, demanded leave to sift you all like wheat, but 32 I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. And you, when you have returned to me, are to strengthen your Brothers."
" Master," said Peter, " with you I am ready to go both to 33 prison and to death."
" I tell you, Peter," replied Jesus, "the cock will not crow 34 to-day till you have disowned all knowledge of me three times."
The Then he said to them all : 35
End at "When I sent you out as my Messengers,
Hand. without either purse, or bag, or sandals, were you in need of anything ? "
"No; nothing," they answered.
" Now, however," he said, "he who has a purse must take 36 it and his bag as well ; and he who has not must sell his cloak and buy a sword. For, I tell you, that passage of Scripture 37 must be fulfilled in me, which says —
' He was counted among the godless ' ;
indeed, all that refers to me is finding its fulfilment."
" Master," they exclaimed, " look, here are two swords ! " 38 " Enough ! " said Jesus.
Jesi Jesus then went out, and made his way as usual 39
on the Mount to the Mount of Olives, followed by his dis-
of oiives. ciples. And, when he reached the spot, he said 40 to them :
" Pray that you may not fall into temptation."
*l Isa. 53. 12.
156 LUKE, 22.
Then he withdrew about a stone's throw, and knelt down and 41 began to pray.
" Father," he said, " if it is thy pleasure, spare me this cup ; 42 only, not my will but thine be done."
[Presently there appeared to him an angel from Heaven, who 43 strengthened him. And, as his anguish became intense, he 44 prayed still more earnestly, while his sweat was like great drops of blood falling on the ground.] Then he rose from 45 praying, and came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow.
" Why are you asleep ? " he asked them. " Rise and pray, 46 that you may not fall into temptation."
The While he was still speaking, a crowd ap- 47
Arrest o* peared in sight, led by the man called Judas, jeaus. who was one of the Twelve. Judas approached Jesus, to kiss him ; on which Jesus said to him : 48
"Judas, is it by a kiss that you betray the Son of Man ? " But when those who were round Jesus saw what was going to 49 happen, they exclaimed :
" Master, shall we use our swords ? "
And one of them struck the High Priest's servant and cut off - 50 his right ear ; on which Jesus said : " Let me at least do this "; 51 and, touching his ear, he healed the wound. Then, turning to 52 the Chief Priests and Officers in charge at the Temple and Councillors, who had come for him, he said :
" Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs ? When I was with you day after day in the Temple 53 Courts, you did not lay hands on me ; but now your tim3 has come, and the power of Darkness."
Je-us Those who had taken Jesus prisoner took him 54
before the away into the house of the High Priest. Peter fol- High Priest, lowed at a distance. But, when they had lit afire in 55 the centre of the court-yard and had all sat down there, Peter seated himself in the middle of them. Presently a maidservant 56 peter disowns saw n'm sitting near the blaze of the fire. Fixing jesus. her eyes on him, she said :
" Why, this man was one of his companions ! " But Peter denied it. 57
" I do not know him," he replied.
A little while afterwards some one else — a man — saw him and 58 said :
" Why, you are one of them ! " " No," Peter said, " I am not." About an hour later another man declared positively : 59
" This man also was certainly with him. Why, he is a GalSlaean ! "
But Peter said : "I do not know what you are speaking 60 about."
LUKE, 22-23. 157
Instantly, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. And the 61 Master turned and looked at Peter ; and Peter remembered the words that the Master had said to him — " Before a cock has crowed to-day, you will disown me three times" ; and he went 63 outside and wept bitterly.
The men that held Jesus kept making sport of him and 63 beating him. They blindfolded him and then questioned 64 him.
"Now play the Prophet," they said; "who was it that struck you ? " And they heaped many other insults on him. 65
Jesus At daybreak the National Council met — both 66
before the the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law —
Chief Priests. ancj took Jesus before their High Council. " If you are the Christ," they said, " tell us so." 67
"If I tell you," replied Jesus, "you will not believe me;
and, if I question you, you will not answer. But from this 68, (
hour ' the Son of Man will be seated on the right hand of God
Almighty.'"
"Are you, then, the Son of God ? " they all asked. 70
" It is true," answered Jesus, " I am."
At this they exclaimed : 71
" Why do we want any more evidence ? We have heard it
ourselves from his own lips ! "
. _ Then they all rose in a body and led Jesus i 2
jewus oeToro i-\«i *<ii •_*
the Roman before Pilate. And they began to accuse him : 2
Governor. " This is a man whom we found misleading our people, preventing them from paying taxes to the Emperor, and giving out that he himself is ' Christ, a King.'"
" Are you the King of the Jews ? " Pilate asked him. 3
" It is true," replied Jesus. But Pilate, turning to the Chief Priests and the people, said : 4
" I do not see anything to find fault with in this man." But they insisted : 5
" He is stirring up the people by his teaching all through Judaea ; he began with Galilee and has now come here." Hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilaean ; and, 6, 7 having satisfied himself that Jesus came under Herod's juris- diction, he sent him to Herod, who also was at Jerusalem at the Jesus before time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was ex- 8
Herod. ceed'mgly pleased, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, having heard a great deal about him ; and he was hoping to see some sign given by him. So he questioned 9 him at some length,'but Jesus made no reply. Meanwhile the 10 Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law stood by and vehemently accused him. And Herod, with his soldiers, treated n Jesus with scorn ; he mocked him by throwing a gorgeous robe 69 Ps. no. i ; Dan. 7. 13.
158 LUKE, 23.
round him, and then sent him back to Pilate. And
Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, for before that there had been ill-will between them.
So Pilate summoned the Chief Priests, and the aeajn8beVore leading men, and the people, and said to them :
the Roman ' ' You brought this man before me charged with
Governor, misleading the people ; and yet, for my part, though I examined him before you, I did not find this man to blame for any of the things of which you accuse him ; nor did Herod either ; for he has sent him back to us. And, as a fact, he has not done anything deserving death ; so I shall have him scourged, and then release him." But they began to shout as one man :
" Kill this fellow, but release Barabbas for us." (Barabbas was a man who had been put in prison for a riot that had broken out in the city and for murder.) Pilate, how- ever, wanting to release Jesus, called to them again ; but they kept calling out :
" Crucify, crucify him ! "
" Why, what harm has this man done? " Pilate said to them for the third time. " I have found nothing in him for which he could be condemned to death. So I will have him scourged, and then release him."
But they persisted in loudly demanding his crucifixion ; and their clamour gained the day. Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been put in prison for riot and murder, as they demanded, and gave Jesus up to be dealt with as they pleased.
The And, as they were leading Jesus away, they
Crucifixion laid hold of Simon from Cyrene, who was on his
of Jeaus. way jn from the country, and they put the cross on his shoulders, for him to carry it behind Jesus. There
was a great crowd of people following him, many being women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. So Jesus turned and said to them :
"Women of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. A time, I tell you, is coming, when it will be said — ' Happy are the women who are barren, and those who have never borne children or nursed them ! ' At that time people will begin to say to the mountains ' Fall on us,' and to the hills 'Cover us.' If what you see is done while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry? " There were two others also, criminals, led out to be executed with Jesus.
When they had reached the place called 'The Skull,' there they crucified Jesus and the criminals, one on the right, and one on the left
80 Hos. 10. 8. 31 Ezek. 20. 47.
LUKE, 23. 159
[Then Jesus said : 34
1 ' Father, forgive them ; they do not know what they are
doing."]
His clothes they divided among them by casting lots. Mean- 35
while the people stood looking on. Even the leading men said
with a sneer :
" He saved others, let him save himself, if he is God's Christ,
his Chosen One."
The soldiers, too, came up in mockery, bringing him common 36
wine, and saying as they did so : 37
"If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself."
Above him were the words — 38
'THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.'
The One of the criminals who were hanging beside 39
penitent Jesus railed at him.
Robber. « Are notyou the Christ? Save yourself and us," he said. But the other rebuked him. 40
" Have not you," he said, "any fear of God, now that you are under the same sentence ? And we justly so, for we are 41 only reaping our deserts, but this man has not done anything wrong. Jesus," he went on, " do not forget me when you have 42 come to your Kingdom." And Jesus answered : 43
" I tell you, this very day you shall be with me in Paradise."
The Death It was nearly mid-day, when a darkness came 44
or Jesus. over the whole country, lasting till three in the afternoon, the sun being eclipsed ; and the Temple curtain was 45 torn down the middle. Then Jesus, with a loud cry, said : 46
" Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit."
And with these words he expired. The Roman Captain, 47
on seeing what had happened, praised God, exclaiming :
" This must have been a good man ! "
All the people who had collected to see the sight watched what 48 occurred, and then went home beating their breasts. All 49 the friends of Jesus had been standing at a distance, with the women who accompanied him from Galilee, watching all this.
The Burial Now there was a man of the name of Joseph, 50
of Jesus, who was a member of the Council, and who bore a good and upright character. (This man had not assented to 51 the decision and action of the Council.) He belonged to Ramah, a town in Judaea, and lived in expectation of the Kingdom of God. He now went to see Pilate, and asked for 52 the body of Jesus ; and, when he had taken it down, he wrapped 53 it in a linen sheet, and laid him in a tomb cut out of stone,
*» Ps. 22. 18. 35 ps. 23. 7 ; Enoch 40. 5. M Ps. 6q. ai. « Ps. 31. 5. V Wisd. of Sol. 2. i& 49 ps. 38. „.
160 LUKE, 23-24.
in which no one had yet been buried. It was the Pre- 54
paration Day, and just before the Sabbath began. The 55
women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how the body of Jesus was laid, and then 56 went home, and prepared spices and perfumes.
VI.— THE RISEN LIFE.
The During the Sabbath they rested, as directed by
Resurrection the commandment. But very early on the first i 2
of jeaus. day Of the week they went to the tomb, taking with them the spices that they had prepared. They found that 2 the stone had been rolled away from the tomb ; and, on going 3 into it, they could not find the body [of the Lord Jesus]. While 4 they were at a loss to account for this, all at once two men stood beside them, in dazzling clothing. But, when in their 5 fear the women bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them :
"Why are you looking among the dead for him who is living? [He is not here ; but he has risen.] Remember how 6 he spoke to you before he left Galilee — how he said that the 7 Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of wicked men, and be crucified, and rise again on the third day." Then they remembered the words of Jesus, and, on returning 8, 9 from the tomb, they told all this to the Eleven and to all the rest. There were Mary of Magdala, and Joanna, and Mary, 10 the mother of James. The other women, too, spoke about this to the Apostles. What they said seemed to the Apostles mere 1 1 nonsense, and they did not believe them.
[But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping down he 12 saw nothing but the linen wrappings, and he went away, wondering to himself at what had taken place.]
jesus appears ^ happened that very day that two of the disci- 13 on the road pies were going to a village called Emmaus, to Emmaus. which was about seven miles from Jerusalem,
talking together, as they went, about all that had just taken 14
place. While they were talking about these things and 15
discussing them, Jesus himself came up and went on their
way with them ; but their eyes were blinded so that they 16
could not recognize him.
" What is this that you are saying to each other as you walk 17
along ? " Jesus asked.
They stopped, with sad looks on their faces, and then one of 18
them, whose name was Cleopas, said to Jesus :
"Are you staying by yourself at Jerusalem, that you have
not heard of the things that have happened there within the
last few days ? "
LUKE, 24. 161
"What things do you mean ? " asked Jesus. 19
" Why, about Jesus of Nazareth," they answered, " who, in the eyes of God and all the people, was a Prophet, whose power was felt in both his words and actions ; and how the 20 Chief Priests and our leading men gave him up to be sentenced to death, and afterwards crucified him. But we 21 were hoping that lie was the Destined Deliverer of Israel ; yes, and besides all this, it is now three days since these things occurred. And what is more, some of the women among "22 us have greatly astonished us. They went to the tomb at daybreak and, not finding the body of Jesus there, came and 23 told us that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he was alive. So some of our number went to the tomb 24 and found everything just as the women had said ; but they did not see Jesus." Then Jesus said to them : 25
"O foolish men, slow to accept all that the Prophets have said ! Was not the Christ bound to undergo this suffering 26 before entering upon his Glory ? "
Then, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained 27 to them all through the Scriptures the passages that referred to himself. When they got near the village to which 28
they were walking, Jesus appeared to be going further ; but 29 they pressed him not to do so.
" Stay with us," they said, " for it is getting towards evening, and the sun is already low."
So Jesus went in to stay with them. After he had 30
taken his place at table with them, he took the bread and said the blessing, and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him ; but he 31 disappeared from their sight.
" How our hearts glowed," the disciples said to each other, 32 "while he was talking to us on the road, and when he ex- plained the Scriptures to us ! "
Then they immediately got up and returned to Jerusalem, 33 where they found the Eleven and their companions all together, who told them that the Master had really risen, and had 34 appeared to Simon. So they also related what had happened 35 during their walk, and how they had recognized Jesus at the Breaking of the Bread.
Jesi While they were still talking about these things, 36
appears to the Jesus himself stood among them, [and said
Apostles. " Peace be with you."] In their terror and alarm 37 they thought they saw a spirit, but Jesus said to them : 38
" Why are you so startled ? and why do doubts arise in your minds ? Look at my hands and my feet, and you will 39 know that it is I. Feel me, and look at me, for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see that I have."
[After saying this he showed them his hands and his feet.]
G
162 LUKE, 24.
While they were still unable to believe it all for very joy, 41 and were wondering if it were true, Jesus said to them :
" Have you anything here to eat ? "
They handed him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and 42, ate it before their eyes.
" This is what I told you," he said, " when I was still with 44 you — that everything- that had been written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms, must be fulfilled."
Then he enabled them to understand the meaning of the 45 Scriptures, saying to them : 46
"Scripture says that the Christ should suffer, and that he should rise again from the dead on the third day, and that 47 repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed on his authority to all the nations — beginning at Jerusalem. You 48 yourselves are to be witnesses to all this. And now I am my- 49 self about to send upon you that which my Father has promised. But you must remain in the city until you have been invested with power from above."
Je-| After this, Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, 50
ascends to and there raised his hands and blessed them. As 51
Heaven, he was in the act of blessing them, he left them
[and was carried up into Heaven.] They [bowed to the ground 52
before him and] returned to Jerusalem full of joy; and they 53 were constantly in the Temple Courts, blessing God.
el a Kings a. n.
THE GOOD NEWS ACCORDING TO JOHN.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN'.
WRITTEN AT EPHESUS AT AN UNCERTAIN DATE LATER THAN 80 A.D.
THIS gospel appears to embody the doctrine concerning Christ which was accepted in the Ephesian Church in Asia Minor by the end of the First Century. It was not authorita- tively attributed to the Apostle John till towards the end of the Second Century after Christ ; but it may safely be ascribed, if not to St. John himself, to some writer brought up in the Church of Ephesus, over which that Apostle so long presided.
The writer apparently proposed to himself to illustrate the spirit of the ' Gospel of Love ' by such incidents in the life of Jesus as best suited his purpose ; at the same time correct- ing previous gospels, and making such additions to them, as his information enabled him to do. There is no attempt at a regular connected narrative ; and the writer allows himself such freedom in commenting upon the teaching of Jesus, that it is not always easy to tell where that teaching ends and the writer's comment begins.
It is to the great struggle between Light and Darkness, Death and Life — words much in use and much debated in the current philosophy of Ephesus — that the writer devotes his attention, rather than to the external incidents of a story which has already been told, and which is plainly viewed by him from a greater distance of time than is the case with the compilers of the three other gospels.
ACCORDING TO JOHN.
INTRODUCTION. .
In the Beginning the Word was ; I
And the Word was with God ; And the Word was God.
He was in the Beginning with God ; 2
Through him all things came into being, 3
And nothing came into being apart from him.
That which came into being in him was Life ; 4
And the Life was the Light of Man ;
And the Light shines in the darkness, 5
And the darkness never overpowered it.
There appeared a man sent from God, whose name was John ; 6 He came as a witness — to bear witness to the Light 7
That through him all men might believe.
He was not the Light, 8
But he came to bear witness to the Light.
That was the True Light which enlightens every man coming 9
into the world.
He was in the world ; 10
And through him the world came into being — Yet the world did not know him.
He came to his own — 1 1
Yet his own did not receive him.
But to all who did receive him he gave power to become 12
Children of God — To those who believe in his Name. For not to natural conception, nor to human instincts, nor to 13
will of man did they owe the new Life, But to God.
1 Gen. i. i ; Pa. 33. 6. 3 \yisd. of Sol. 9. i. « Ps. 36. 9.
166 JOHN, 1.
And the Word became Man, and dwelt among us, 14
(We saw his glory — the glor^of the Only Son sent from the
Father),
Full of love and truth. (John bears witness to him ; he cried aloud — for it was he 15
who spoke —
" ' He who is Coming ' after me is now before me, For he was ever First ") ;
Out of his fulness we have all received some gift, 16
Gift after gift of love ;
For the Law was given through Moses, 17
Love and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No man has ever yet seen God ; 18
God the Only Son, who is ever with the Father — He has revealed him.
I. — THE PREPARATION.
When the Jews sent some Priests and Levites 19 nyto J°hn !rom Jerusalem, to ask— " Who are Baptist to you ? ", his statement was this : he confessed 20
desus. antj did not deny it} he confessed — "I am not the Christ."
" What then ? " they asked. " Are you Elijah ? " 21
"No, "he said, " I am not." "Are you ' the Prophet ' ? " He answered " No."
"Who then are you?" they continued ; "tell us, that we 22 may have some answer to give to those who have sent us. What do you say about yourself? "
" I," he answered, " am — 23
1 The voice of one crying1 aloud in the Wilderness — " Straighten the way of the Lord " ',
as the Prophet Isaiah said."
These men had been sent from the Pharisees ; and their next 24,
question was :
"Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor yet ' the Prophet ' ? "
John's answer was — " I baptize with water, but among you 26 stands one whom you do not know ; he is coming after me, 27 yet I am not worthy even to unfasten his sandal." All this took place at Be.tb.any, across the Jordan, where John 28 was then baptizing.
The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him, and 29 exclaimed :
" Here is the Lamb of God, who is to take away the sin of
J* Lev. a6. ii. » Pa. 118. a6. • " P». a. a. « Mai. 4. 5; Deut. 18. 15. » Jsa. 40. 3. » Deut. 18. 15. *» Isa. 53. 7, la,
JOHN, 1. 167
the world! It was of him that I spoke when I said 'After me 30 there is coming a man who is now before me, for he was ever First.' I myself did not know him, but, that he may be 31 made known to Israel, I have come, baptizing with water." John also made this statement — 32
" I have seen the Spirit descending- as a dove out of the heavens, and it remained upon him. I myself did not know 33 him, but he who sent me to baptize with water, he said to me ' He upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remain- ing upon him — he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' This I have seen myself, and I have declared my belief that he 34 is the Son of God."
The first next ^ay, when John was standing 35
Disciples with two of his disciples, he looked at Jesus as 36
of Jesus. ]ie passed and exclaimed :
" There is the Lamb of God ! "
The two disciples heard him say this, and followed Jesus. 37 But Jesus turned round, and saw them following. . 38
" What are you looking for? " he asked.
" Rabbi," they answered (or, as we should say, "Teacher"), " where are you staying ? "
" Come, and you shall see," he replied. 39
So they went, and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was then about four in the after- noon. One of the two, who heard what John said and 40
followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first 41 found his own brother Simon, and said to him : " We have found the Messiah ! " (a word which means ' Christ,' or ' Con- secrated '.) Then he brought him to Jesus. Fixing his eyes 42 on him, Jesus said :
" You are Simon, the son of John ; you shall be called Kephas " (which means ' Peter,' or ' Rock ').
The following day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He 43 found Philip, and said to 1iim : " Follow me." Philip was from Bethsaida, and a fellow-townsman of Andrew 44 and Peter. He found Nathanael and said to him : 45
"We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and of whom the Prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph's son ! "
' ' Can anything good come out of Nazareth ? " asked 46 Nathanael.
"Come and see," replied Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said : , 47
" Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit! "
" How, do you know me ? " asked Nathanael. 48
" Even before Philip called you," replied Jesus, " when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
34 Ps. 2. 7. *? Gen. 27. 35.
168 JOHN, 1—2.
"Rabbi," Nathanael exclaimed, "you are the Son of God, 49 you are King of Israel ! "
" Do you believe in me," asked Jesus, "because I told you 50 that I saw you under the fig tree? You shall see greater things than those! In truth I tell you, "he added, "you shall 51 all see Heaven open, and ' the angels of God ascending and descending ' upon the Son of Man."
II. — THE WORK IN JUDAEA, GALILEE, AND SAMARIA.
je«usat;i Two days after this there was a wedding at i
wedding at Cana in Galilee, and Jesus' mother was there.
cana. Jesus himself, too, with his disciples, was 2 invited to the wedding. And, when the wine ran short, his 3 mother said to him : " They have no wine left."
"What do you want with me?" answered Jesus. "My 4 time has not come yet."
His mother said to the servants: "Do whatever he tells you." 5 There were standing there six stone water-jars, in accordance 6 with the Jewish rule of ' purification,' each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants : " Fill the water-jars with water; " 7 and, when they had filled them to the brim, he added : 8
"Now take some out, and carry it to the Master of the Feast." The servants did so. And, when the Master of the Feast had 9 tasted the water which had now become wine, not knowing where it had come from — although the servants who had taken out the water knew — he called the bridegroom and said to him : 10
" Every one puts good wine on the table first, and inferior wine afterwards, when his guests have drunk freely ; but you have kept back the good wine till now ! " This, the first sign of his mission, Jesus gave at Cana in n Galilee, and by it revealed his glory ; and his disciples believed in him.
j.«u.;,, After this, Jesus went down to Capernaum — 12 c«p«rnaum. he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples ; but they stayed there only a few days.
j««u« «t the Then, as the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus 13 Tompio in went up to Jerusalem. In the Temple Courts he 14
j«ruMi«m. found people who were selling bullocks, sheep, and pigeons, and the money-changers at their counters. So 15 he made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the Temple
<• Ps. a. 6. « Gen. aS. la ; Dan. 7. 13.
JOHN, 2—3. 169
Courts, and the sheep and bullocks as well ; he scattered the money of the money-changers, and overturned their tables, and said to the pigeon-dealers : 16
" Take these things away. Do not turn my Father's House into a market-house." His disciples remembered that Scripture said — 17
' Zeal for thy House will consume me.'
Upon this the Jews asked Jesus : 18
" What sign are you going to show us, since you act in this way ? "
" Destroy this temple," was his answer, " and I will raise it 19 in three days."
" This Temple," replied the Jews, "has been forty-six years 20 in building, and are you going to ' raise it in three days ' ? " But Jesus was speaking of his body as a temple. After- 21,
wards, when he had risen from the dead, his disciples remem- bered that he had said this ; and they believed the passage of Scripture, and the words which Jesus had spoken.
While Jesus was in Jerusalem, during the Passover Festival, 23 many came to trust in him, when they saw the signs of his mission that he was giving. But Jesus did not trust himself 24 to them, since he could read every heart, and because he did 25 not need that others should tell him what men were ; for he could of himself read what was in men.
The visit of Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, i ! Nicodemus who was a leading man among the Jews. This 2
to Jesus, man came to Jesus by night, and said to him :
" Rabbi, we know that you are a Teacher come from God ; for no one could give such signs as you are giving, unless God were with him."
"In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is 3 reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
" How can a man," asked Nicodemus, " be born when he is 4 old ? Can he be born a second time ? "
" In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, " unless a man owes 5 his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. All that owes its birth to human nature is human, 6 and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. Do not 7 wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound of 8 it, but you do not know whence it comes, or where it goes ; it is the same with every one that owes his birth to the Spirit."
" How can that be ? " asked Nicodemus.. 9
" What ! You a teacher of Israel," exclaimed Jesus, " and 10
17 ps. 69. 9. 19 Hos. 6. 2. 3 Dan< 2< ^
G*
170 JOHN, 3.
yet do not understand this !. In truth I tell you that we speak 1 1 of what we know, and state what we have seen ; and yet you do not accept our statements. If, when I tell you earthly things, 12 you do not believe me, how will you believe me when I tell you of heavenly things? No one has ascended to Heaven, except 13 him who descended from Heaven — the Son of Man himself. And, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the 14 Son of Man be lifted up ; that every one who believes in him 15 may have Immortal Life."
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that 16 every one who believes in him may not be lost, but have Immortal Life. For God did not send his Son into the world 17 to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him escapes condemnation, 18 while he who does not believe in him is already condemned, because he has not believed in the only Son of God. The 19 ground of his condemnation is this, that though the Light has come into the world, men preferred the darkness to the Light, because their actions were wicked. For he who lives 20 an evil life hates the light, and will not come to it, for fear that his actions should be exposed ; but he who acts up to the 21 truth comes to the light, that his actions may be shown to have been done in dependence upon God.
After this, Jesus went with his disciples into the 22 TTe«ftfmo'ny* country parts of Judaea ; and there he stayed with to Jesus them, and baptized. John, also, was baptizing 23
in Judaea. aj- Aenon near Salim, because there were many streams there ; and people were constantly coming and being baptized. (Forjohn had notyet been imprisoned). Now 24,
a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew on the subject of ' purification ;' and the disciples came to 26 John and said :
" Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, and to whom you have yourself borne testimony — he, also, is baptizing, and everybody is going to him." John's answer was — 27
"A man can gain nothing but what is given him from Heaven. You are yourselves witnesses that I said ' I am 28 not the Christ,' but 'I have been sent before him as a Messenger.' It is the bridegroom who has the bride ; but the 29 bridegroom's friend, who stands by and listens to him, is filled with joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. This joy I have felt to the full. He must become greater, and 30 I less."
He who comes from above is above all others ; but a child 31 of earth is earthly, and his teaching is earthly, too. He who
13 Prov. 30. 4.
JOHN, 8-4. 171
comes from Heaven is above all others. He states what he 32 has seen and what he heard, and yet no one accepts his state- ment. They who did accept his statement attested the fact 33 that God is true. For he whom God sent as his Messenger 34 gives us God's own teaching, for God does not limit the gift of the Spirit. The Father loves his Son, and has put every- 35 thing in his hands. He who believes in the Son has Immortal 36 Life, while he who rejects the Son will not even see that Life, but remains under ' God's displeasure.'
jesua nd Now, when the Master heard that the Pharisees i
the woman had been told that he was making and baptizing or Samaria, rnore disciples than John (though it was not 2 Jesus himself, but his disciples, who baptized), he left Judaea, 3 and set out again for Galilee. He had to pass through 4
Samaria, and, on his way, he came to a Samaritan town called 5 Shechem, near the plot of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's Spring was there, and Jesus, being tired after 6 his journey, sat down beside the spring, just as he was. It was then about mid-day. A woman of Samaria came to draw 7 water ; and Jesus said to her — " Give me some to drink," for 8 his disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
" How is it," replied the Samaritan woman," that you who 9 are a Jew ask for water from a Samaritan woman like me ? " (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans).
" If you knew of the gift of God," replied Jesus, "and who 10 it is that is saying to you 'Give me some water, 'you would have asked him, and he would have given you 'living water'."
"You have no bucket, Sir, and the well is deep," she said ; n "where did you get that 'living water?' Surely you are 12 not greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us the well, and used to drink from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle ! "
"All who drink of this water," replied Jesus, "will be 13 thirsty again ; but whoever once drinks of the water that I 14 will give him shall never thirst any more ; but the water that I will give him shall become a spring welling up within him — a source of Immortal Life."
"Give me this water, Sir," said the woman, "so that I 15 may not be thirsty, nor have to come all the way here to draw water."
"Go and call your husband," said Jesus, "and then come 16 back."
" I have no husband," answered the woman. 17
"You are right in saying 'I have no husband,'" replied Jesus, "for you have had five husbands, and the man 18 with whom you are now living is not your husband ; in saying that, you h«ve spoken the truth."
36 Ps. 78. 31. * Gen. 48. 22 (Septuagint Version). M Enoch 17. 4. M Jer. a. 13.
172 JOHN, 4.
" I see, Sir, that you are a Prophet !" exclaimed the woman. 19 " It was on this mountain that our ancestors worshipped ; 20 and yet you Jews say that the proper place for worship is in Jerusalem."
"Believe me," replied Jesus, "a time is coming when it 21 will be neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem that you will worship the Father. You Samaritans do not know what 22 you worship ; we know what we worship, for Salvation comes from the Jews. But a time is coming, indeed it is already 23 here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father spiritually and truly ; for such are the worshippers that the Father desires. God is Spirit ; and those who worship him 24 must worship spiritually and truly."
"I know," answered the woman, "that the Messiah, who 25 is called the Christ, is coming ; when once he has come, he will tell us everything."
" I am he," Jesus said to her, " I who am speaking to you." 26
At this moment his disciples came up, and were surprised 27 to find him talking with a woman ; but none of them asked ' What do you want ? ' or ' Why are you talking with her ? ' So the woman, leaving her pitcher, went back to the town, 28 and said to the people :
"Come and see someone who has told me everything that 29 I have done. Can he be the Christ ? " And the people left the town and went to see Jesus. 30
Meanwhile the disciples kept saying to him : 31
"Take something to eat, Rabbi."
"I have food to eat," he answered, "of which you know 32 nothing."
"Can any one have brought him anything to eat?" the 33 disciples said to one another.
"My food," replied Jesus, "is to do the will of him who 34 sent me, and to complete his work. Do not you say that it 35 still wants four months to harvest ? Why, look up, and see how white the fields are for harvest ! Already the reaper is 36 receiving wages and gathering in sheaves for Immortal Life, so that sower and reaper rejoice together. For here the 37 proverb holds good — 'One sows, another reaps.' I have 38 sent you to reap that on which you have spent no labour ; others have laboured, and you have entered upon the results of their labour."
Many from that town came to believe in Jesus — Samaritans 39 though they were — on account of the woman's statement — 'He has told me everything that I have done.' And, when 40 these Samaritans had come to Jesus, they begged him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. But far more came 41 to believe in him on account of what he said himself, and 42 they said to the woman :
" It-is no longer because of what you say that we believe in
JOHN, *--5. 173
him, for we have heard him ourselves and know that he really is the Saviour of the world."
After these two days Jesus went on to Galilee ; 43 an officer** f°r he himself declared that ' a Prophet is not 44 son in honoured in his own country.' When he entered 45 Gahiee. Galilee, the Galilaeans welcomed him, for they had seen all that he did at Jerusalem during the Festival, at which they also had been present.
So Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had turned 46 the water into wine. Now there was one of the King's
officers whose son was lying ill at Capernaum. When this 47 man heard that Jesus had returned from Judaea to Galilee, he went to him, and begged him to come down and cure his son ; for he was at the point of death. Jesus answered : 48
" Unless you all see signs and wonders, you will not believe."
" Sir," said the officer, "come down before my child dies." 49 And Jesus answered : "Go, your son is living." The man 50 believed what Jesus said to him, and went ; and, while he was 51 on his way down, his servants met him, and told him that his child was living. So he asked them at what time the boy 52 began to get better.
" It was yesterday, about one o'clock," they said, " that the fever left him."
By this the father knew that it was at the very time when 53 Jesus had said to him ' Your son is living ' ; and he himself, with all his household, believed in Jesus. This was 54
the second occasion on which Jesus gave a sign of his mission on coming from Judaea to Galilee.
Sometime after this there was a Jewish Festival ; i a'crippieTn a°d Jesus went up to Jerusalem. There is 2
Jerusalem on in Jerusalem, near the Sheep-gate, a Bath with the sabbath. £ve coionnacies round it. It is called in Hebrew 'Bethesda.' In these colonnades a large number of afflicted 3 people were lying — blind, lame, and crippled. One man who 5 was there had been afflicted for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw 6 the man lying there, and, finding that he had been in this state a long time, said to him :
" Do you wish to be cured ? "
" I have no one, Sir," the afflicted man answered, "to put 7 me into the Bath when there is a troubling of the water, and, while I am getting to it, some one else steps down before me."
" Stand up, "said Jesus, "take up your mat, and walkabout." 8 The man was cured immediately, and took up his mat and 9 began to walk about.
174 JOHN, 5.
Now it was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who 10 had been cured :
" This is the Sabbath ; you must not carry your mat."
" The man who cured me," he answered, " said to me 'Take n up your mat and walk about.' "
" Who was it," they asked, " that said to you ' Take up your 12 mat and walk about ' ? "
But the man who had been restored did not know who it 13 was ; for Jesus had moved away, because there was a crowd there. Afterwards Jesus found the man in the Temple 14
Courts, and said to him :
" You are cured now ; do not sin again, for fear that some- thing worse may befall you."
The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who 15 had cured him. And that was why the Jews began to perse- 16 cute Jesus — because he did things of this kind on the Sabbath. But Jesus replied : 17
" My Father works to this very hour, and I
Jesus defends i t j>
his Action work also."
and explains This made the Jews all the more eager to kill him, 18 hi* Mission, because not only was he doing away with the Sabbath, but he actually called God his own Father — putting himself on an equality with God. So Jesus made this 19
further reply :
" In truth I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself; he does only what he sees the Father doing ; whatever the Father does, the Son does also. For the Father loves his Son, and 20 shows him everything that he is doing ; and he will show him still greater things — so that you will be filled with wonder. For, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them Life, so 21 also the Son gives Life to whom he pleases. The Father him- 22 self does not judge any man, but has ' entrusted the work of judging entirely to his Son,' so that all men may honour the 23 Son, just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son fails to honour the Father who sent him. In 24
truth I tell you that he who listens to my Message and believes him who sent me, has Immortal Life, and does not come under condemnation, but has already passed out of Death into Life. In truth I tell you that a time is coming, indeed it is already 25 here, when the Dead will listen to the voice of the Son of God, and when those who listen will live. For, just as the Father 26 has inherent Life within him, so also he has granted to the Son to have inherent Life within him ; and, because he is Son of 27 Man, he has also given him authority to act as judge. Do not 28 wonder at this ; for the time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice, and will come out — those 29 who have done good rising to Life, and those who have lived evil lives rising for condemnation. I can do nothing 30
«-« Enoch 69. aj.
JOHN, 5-6. 175
of myself; I judge as I am taught ; and the judgement that I give is just, because my aim is not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
If I bear testimony to myself, my testimony is not trust- 31 worthy ; it is another who bears testimony to me, and I know 32 that the testimony which he bears to me is trustworthy. You 33 have yourselves sent to John, and he has testified to the Truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man ; I am say- 34 ing this for your Salvation. He was the ' Lamp that was 35 burning ' and shining, and you were ready to rejoice, for a time, in his light. But the testimony which I have is of 36 greater weight than John's ; for the work that the Father has given me to carry out — the work that I am doing — is in itself proof that the Father has sent me as his Messenger. The 37 Father who has sent me has himself borne testimony to me. You have neither listened to his voice, nor seen his form ; and 38 you have not taken his Message home to your hearts, because you do not believe him whom he sent as his Messenger. You 39 search the Scriptures, because you think that you find in them Immortal Life ; and, though it is those very Scriptures that bear testimony to me, you refuse to come to me to have 40 Life. I do not receive honour from men, but I know 41,
this of you, that you have not the love of God in your hearts. I 43 have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me ; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How 44 can you believe in me, when you receive honour from one another and do not desire the honour which comes from the only God ? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the 45 Father ; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have been resting your hopes. For, had you believed Moses, you would 46 have believed me, for it was of me that Moses wrote ; but, if 47 you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my teaching ? "
After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee — i «Jvee8tho^l*d otherwise called the Lake of Tiberias. A great 2 by the Lake crowd of people, however, followed him, because of -Gai i ieo. thev saw tne signs of his mission in his work among those who were afflicted. Jesus went up the hill, 3 and sat down there with his disciples. It was near the time 4 of the Jewish Festival of the Passover. Looking up, and 5 noticing that a great crowd was coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip :
" Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat? " He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he meant 6 to do.
85 Ecclesiasticus 48. i.
176 JOHN, 6.
" Twenty pounds' worth of bread," answered Philip, " would 7 pot be enough for each of them to have a little. "
" There is a boy here," said Andrew, another of his disciples, 8 Simon Peter's brother, "who has five barley loaves and two 9 fishes ; but what is that for so many ? "
" Make the people sit down," said Jesus. ic
It was a grassy spot ; so the men, who numbered about five thousand, sat down, and then Jesus took the loaves, and, after 11 saying the thanksgiving, distributed them to those who were sitting down ; and the same with the fish, giving the people as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, Jesus said 12 to his disciples :
"Collect the broken pieces that are left, so that nothing may be wasted."
The disciples did so, and filled twelve baskets with the n pieces of the five barley loaves, which were left after all had eaten.
When the people saw the signs which Jesus gave, they said : 14
" This is certainly ' the Prophet who was to come ' into the world."
But Jesus, having discovered that they were intending to come it and carry him off to make him King, retired again up the hill, quite alone.
JCBUS When evening fell, his disciples went down it
walks on the to the Sea, and, getting into a boat, began to i't
water. cross to Capernaum. By this time darkness had set in, and Jesus had not yet come back to them ; the Sea, li too, was getting rough, for a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed three or four miles, they caught sight of him walking on the water and approaching the boat, and they were frightened. But Jesus said to them :
" It is I ; do not be afraid ! "
And after this they were glad to take him into the boat ; and the boat at once arrived off the shore, for which they had been making.
Je.u. The people who remained on the further side
teaches at of the Sea had seen that only one boat had been
Capernaum, there, and that Jesus had not got into it with his
The Bread or disciples, but that they had left without him.
Llf*- Some boats, however, had come from Tiberias,
from near the spot where they had eaten the bread after the
Master had said the thanksgiving. So, on the next day, when
the people saw that Jesus was not there, or his disciples either,
they themselves got into the boats, and went to Capernaum to
look for him. And, when they found him on the other side of
the Sea, they said :
" When did you get here, Rabbi ? "
" Deut. 1 8. 15; Pi. 118. 26.
JOHN, 6. 177
" In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, " it is not on account 26 of the signs which you saw that you are looking for me, but because you had the bread to eat and were satisfied. Work, 27 not for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for Immortal Life, which the Son of Man will give you ; for upon him the Father — God himself — has set the seal of his approval."
"How," they asked, "are we to do the work that God 28 would have us do ? "
" The work that God would have you do," answered Jesus, 29 "is to believe in him whom God sent as his Messenger."
" What sign, then," they asked, " are you giving, which we 30 may see, and so believe you ? What is the work that you are doing ? Our ancestors had the manna to eat in the desert ; as 31 Scripture says —
' He gave them bread from Heaven to eat.' "
"In truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "Moses did not give 32 you the Bread from Heaven, but my Father does give you the true Bread from Heaven ; for the Bread that God gives is that 33 which comes down from Heaven, and gives Life to the world."
" Master," they exclaimed, " give us that Bread always ! " 34
"I am the Life-giving Bread," Jesus said to them; "he 35 that comes to me shall never be hungry, and he that believes in me shall never thirst again. But, as I have said already, 36 you have seen me, and yet you do not believe in me. All 37
those whom the Father gives me will come to me ; and no one who comes to me will I ever turn away. For I have come down 38 from Heaven, to do, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me ; and his will is this— that I should not lose one of all 39 those whom he has given me, but should raise them up at the Last Day. For it is the will of my Father that every one who 40 sees the Son, and believes in him, should have Immortal Life ; and I myself will raise him up at the Last Day."
Upon this the Jews began murmuring against Jesus for 41 saying — ' I am the Bread which came down from Heaven.'
" Is not this Jesus, Joseph's son," they asked, " whose father 42 and mother we know ? How is it that he now says that he has come down from Heaven ? "
" Do not murmur among yourselves," said Jesus in reply. 43 " No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me 44 draws him to me ; and I will raise him up at the Last Day. It is said in the Prophets — 45
' And they shall all be taught by God.'
Every one who is taught by the Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that any one has seen the Father, except him 46
81 Exod. 16. 4, 15. *" Isa. 54. 13.
178 JOHN, 6.
who is from God — he has seen the Father. In truth I tell you, he who believes in me has Immortal Life. I am the Life-giving Bread. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, and yet died. The Bread that comes down from Heaven is such that whoever eats of it will never die. I am the Living Bread that has come down from Heaven. If any one eats of this Bread, he will live for ever ; and the Bread that I shall give is my flesh, which I will give for the Life of the world."
Upon this the Jews began disputing with one another :
" How is it possible for this man to give us his flesh to eat ? "
" In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, " unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, you have not Life within you. He who takes my flesh for liis food, and drinks my blood, has Immortal Life ; and I will raise him up at the Last Day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood true drink. He who takes my flesh for his food, and drinks my blood, remains united to me, and I to him. As the Living Father sent me as his Messenger, and as I live because the Father lives, so he who takes me for his food shall live because I live. That is the Bread which has come down from Heaven — not such as your ancestors ate, and yet died ; he who takes this Bread for his food shall live for ever." All this Jesus said in a Synagogue, when he was teaching in Capernaum.
On hearing it, many of his disciples said :
" This is harsh doctrine ! Who can bear to listen to it ? " But Jesus, aware that his disciples were murmuring about it, said to them :
" Is this a hindrance to you? What, then, if you should see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives Life ; mere flesh is of no avail. In the teach- ing that I have been giving you there is Spirit and there is Life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe in me." For Jesus knew from the first who they were that did not believe in him, and who it was that would betray him ; and he added :
" This is why I told you that no one can come to me, unless enabled by the Father.
After this many of his disciples drew back, and did not go about with him any longer. So Jesus said to the
Twelve :
" Do you also wish to leave me ? "
But Simon Peter answered : " Master, to whom shall we go? Immortal Life is in your teaching ; and we have learnt to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God."
" Did not I myself choose you to be the Twelve?" replied Jesus ; "and yet, even of you, one is playing the ' Devil's' part." » P«. 16. io. W Esther 7. 4. .
JOHN, 6-7. 179
He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who was about to 71 betray him, though he was one of the Twelve.
Jesus and After this, Jesus went about in Galilee, for he i his would not do so in Judaea, because the Jews
Brothers. were eager to put him to death. When the 2 Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, his brothers said to 3 him:
"Leave this part of the country, and go into Judaea, so that your disciples, as well as we, may see the work that you are doing. For no one does a thing privately, if he is seeking 4 to be widely known. Since you do these things, you should show yourself publicly to the world." For even his brothers did not believe in him. 5
"My time," answered Jesus, "is not come yet, but your 6 time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it does 7 hate me, because I testify that its ways are evil. Go yourselves 8 up to the Festival ; I am not going to this Festival yet, because my time has not yet come." After telling them this, he stayed on in Galilee. 9
But, when his brothers had gone up to the Festival, Jesus 10 also went up — not publicly, but privately. The Jews were n looking for him at the Festival and asking 'Where is he?'; and 12 there were many whispers about him among the people, some saying ' He is a good man ; ' others : ' No ! he is leading the people astray.' No one, however, spoke freely about him, for fear of the Jews. 13
About the middle of the Festival week, Jesus 14 at the Festival went up into the Temple Courts, and began. of Tabernacles teaching. The Jews were astonished. 15
in Jerusalem. " How has this man got his learning," they asked, " when he has never studied ? " So, in reply, Jesus said : 16
" My teaching is not my own ; it is his who sent me. If 17 any one has the will to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching is from God, or whether I speak on my own authority. The man who speaks on his own authority seeks 18 honour for himself; but the man who seeks the honour of him that sent him is sincere, and there is nothing false in him. Was not it Moses who gave you the Law ? Yet not one of you 19 obeys it ! Why are you seeking to put me to death ? "
' ' You must be possessed by a demon ! " the people exclaimed. 20 " Who is seeking to put you to death ? "
" There was one thing I did," replied Jesus, " at which you 21 are all still wondering. But that is why Moses has instituted . 22
180 JOHN, 7
circumcision among you — not, indeed, that it began with him, but with our ancestors — and that is why you circumcise even on a Sabbath. When a man receives circumcision on a 23 Sabbath to prevent the Law of Moses from being broken, how can you be angry with me for making a man sound and well on a Sabbath ? Do not judge by appearances ; judge justly." 24
At this some of the people of Jerusalem exclaimed : 25
" Is not this the man that they are seeking to put to death ? Yet here he is, speaking out boldly, and they say nothing to 26 him ! Is it possible that our leading men have really dis- covered that he is the Christ ? Yet we know where this man 27 is from f but, when the Christ comes, no one will be able to tell where he is from."
Therefore, Jesus, as he was teaching in the Temple Courts, 28 raised his voice and said :
" Yes ; you know me, and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on my own authority, but he who sent me may be trusted ; and him you do not know. I do know him, for it is 29 from him that I have come, and he sent me as his Messenger." So they sought to arrest him ; but no one touched him, for his 30 time was not come yet. Many of the people, however, 31
believed in him.
"When the Christ comes," they said, "will he give more signs of his mission than this man has given ? "
The Pharisees heard the people whispering about him in this 32 way, and so the Chief Priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him ; on which Jesus said : 33
" I shall be with you but a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will look for me, and you will not 34 find me ; and you will not be able to come where I shall be."
"Where is this man going," the Jews asked one another, 35 " that we shall not find him ? Will he go to our countrymen abroad, and teach foreigners ? What does he mean by saying 36 ' You will look for me, and you will not find me ; and you will not be able to come where I shall be ' ? "
The 'Living On the last and greatest day of the Festival, 37 water.' Jesus, who was standing by, exclaimed :
" If any one thirsts, let him come to me, and drink. He 38
who believes in me As Scripture says, Out of his heart
shall flow rivers of ' Living Water.' "
(By this he meant the Spirit, which those who had believed in 39 him were to receive ; for the Spirit had not yet come, because Jesus had not yet been exalted.) Some of the people, 40
when they heard these words, said :
" This is certainly ' the Prophet ' ! " ; others said : " This is 41 the Christ ! " ; but some asked :
" What ! does the Christ come from Galilee ? Is not it said 42
«• Jer. a. 13 ; Enoch 17, 4. « Deut. 18. 15. «* Pa. a. a. « P». 89. 3—4 ; Mic. 5. a.
JOHN, 7—8. 181
in Scripture that it is of the race of David, and from Bethlehem, the village to which David belonged, that the Christ is to come ? "
So there was a sharp division among the people en account of 43 Jesus. Some of them wanted to arrest him, and yet no one 44 touched him.
When the officers returned to the Chief Priests and Pharisees, 45 they were asked :
" Why have you not brought him ? "
" No man ever spoke as he speaks ! " they answered. 46
"What! have you been led astray too?" the Pharisees 47 replied. " Have any of our leading men believed in him, or 48 any of the Pharisees ? As for these people who do not know 49 the Law— they are cursed ! "
But one of their number, Nicodemus, who before this had 50 been to see Jesus, said to them :
"Does our Law pass judgement on a man without first giving 51 him a hearing, and finding out what he has been doing ? "
" Are you also from Galilee ?" they retorted. " Search, and 52 you will find that no Prophet is to arise in Galilee ! "
The 'Light Jesus again addressed the people. *ia ;
of "I am the Light of the World," he said. He
the world.1 w]lo follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life."
"You are bearing testimony to yourself !" exclaimed the 13 Pharisees, "your testimony is not trustworthy."
" Even if I bear testimony to myself," answered Jesus, " my 14 testimony is trustworthy ; for I know where I came from, and where I am going ; but you do not know where I come from, nor where I. am going. You judge by appearances ; I judge no one. 15 Yet, even if I were to judge, my judgement would be trust- 16 worthy ; because I am not alone, but the Father who sent me is with me. Why, in your own Law it is said that the testi- 17 mony of two persons is trustworthy. I, who bear testimony 18 to myself, am one, and the Father who sent me also bears testimony to me."
"Where is your father, then ? " they asked. 19
"You know neither me nor my Father," replied Jesus. " If you had known me, you would have also known my Father."
These statements Jesus made in the Treasury, while teach- 20 ing in the Temple Courts. Yet no one arrested him, for his time had not then come.
Je.us defends JeSUS aS^n sPoke to the People. 21
his Mission "I am going away," he said, "and you will and Authority. ]ook for m6) but vou wjn die in your sin ; you cannot come where I am going."
17 Deut. 17. 6. * (See page 210).
182 JOHN, 8.
" Is he going to kill himself," the Jews exclaimed, " that he 22 says — ' You cannot go where I am going ' ? "
"You," added Jesus, "are from below, I am from above ; 23 you are of this present world, I am not ; and so I told you that 24 you would die in your sins, for, unless you believe that I am what I am, you will die in your sins."
" Who are you ? " they asked. 25
"Why ask exactly what I have been telling you?" said Jesus. " I have still much that concerns you to speak of and 26 to pass judgement on ; yet he who sent me may be trusted, and I speak to the world only of the things which I have heard from him."
They did not understand that he meant the Father. So Jesus 27, added :
"When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will understand that I am what I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but that I say just what the Father has taught me. Moreover, he who sent me is with me ; he has not left me 29 alone ; for I always do what pleases him. "
While he was speaking in this way, many came to believe in 30 him.
So Jesus went on to say to those Jews who had believed him : 31
" If you remain constant to my Message, you are truly my disciples ; and you shall find out the Truth, and the Truth will 32 set you free."
"We are descendants of Abraham," was their answer, " and 33 have never yet been in slavery to any one. What do you mean by saying ' you will be set free ' ? "
" In truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "every one who sins is a 34 slave to sin. And a slave does not remain in the home always ; 35 but a son remains always. If, then, the Son sets you free, you 36 will be free indeed ! I know that you are descendants of 37 Abraham ; yet you are seeking to put me to death, because my Message finds no place in your hearts. I tell you what I 38 have myself seen in the presence of my Father ; and you, in the same way, do what you have learnt from your father."
" Our father is Abraham," was their answer. 39
" If you are Abraham's children," replied Jesus, "do what Abraham did. But, as it is, you are seeking to put me to 40 death — a man who has told you the Truth as he heard it from God. Abraham did not act in that way. You are doing what 41 your own father does. "
"We are not bastards," they said, "we have one Father — God himself."
" If God were your Father," Jesus replied, "you would have 42 loved me, for I came out from God, and now am here ; and I have not come of myself, but he sent me as his Messenger. How is it that you do not understand what I say? It is because 43 you cannot bear to listen to my Message. As for you, you are 44
JOHN, 8-9. 183
children of your father the Devil, and you are determined to do what your father loves to do. He was a murderer from the first, and did not stand by the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he does what is natural to him ; because he is a liar, and the father of lying. But, as for me, 45 it is because I speak the truth to you that you do not believe me. Which of you can convict me of sin ? Why then do not 46 you believe me, if I am speaking truth ? He who comes from 47 God listens to God's teaching ; the reason why you do not listen is because you do not come from God. "
"Are not we right, after all," replied the Jews, "in saying 48 that you are a Samaritan, and are possessed by a demon ? "
"I am not possessed by a demon," Jesus answered, "but 49 I am showing reverence for my Father ; and yet you have no reverence for me. Not that I am seeking honour for 50 myself; there is one who is seeking my honour, and he decides. In truth I tell you, if any one lays my 51
Message to heart, he will never really die."
" Now we are sure that you are possessed by a demon," the 52 Jews replied. "Abraham died, and so did the Prophets ; and yet you say ' If any one lays my Message to heart, he will never know death.' Are you greater than our ancestor Abraham, 53 who died ? And the Prophets died too. Whom do you make yourself out to be ? "
" If I do honour to myself," answered Jesus, " such honour 54 counts for nothing. It is my Father who does me honour — and you say that he is your God ; and yet you have not learnt 55 to know him ; but I know him ; and, if I were to say that I do not know him, I should be a liar like you ; but I do know him, and I lay his Message to heart. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced 56 that he would see my day ; and he did see it, and was glad. "
" You are not fifty years old yet," the Jews exclaimed, "and 57 have you seen Abraham ? "
"In truth I tell you/? replied Jesus, "before Abraham 58 existed I was."
At this they took up stones to throw at him ; but Jesus hid him- 59 self, and left the Temple Courts.
Jesus As Jesus passed by, he saw a man who had i
cures a. Man been blind from his birth.
bom blind. « Rabbi," asked his disciples, " who was it that 2 sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind ? "
" Neither the man nor the parents," replied Jesus ; " but he 3 was born blind that the work of God should be made plain in him. We must do the work of him who sent me, while it is 4 day ; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I 5 am in the world, I am the Light of the world." Saying this, Jesus spat on the ground, made clay with the 6 saliva, and put it on the man's eyes.
184 JOHN, 9.
" Go," he said, " and wash your eyes in the Bath of Siloam " 7 (a word which means ' Messenger '). So the man went and washed his eyes, and returned able to see.
Upon this his neighbours, and those who had formerly 8 known him by sight as a beggar, exclaimed :
" Is not this the man who used to sit and beg ? "
"Yes," some said, " it is " ; while others said : " No, but he 9 is like him." The man himself said : "I am he."
" How did you get your sight, then ? " they asked. 10
"The man whom they call Jesus," he answered, "made n clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me ' Go to Siloam arid wash your eyes.' So I went and washed my eyes, and gained my sight."
" Where is he ? " they asked. 12
" I do not know," he answered.
They took the man, who had been blind, to the Pharisees. 13 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and gave 14 him his sight. So the Pharisees also questioned the man as 15 to how he had gained his sight.
" He put clay on my eyes," he answered, "and I washed them, and I can see."
' ' The man cannot be from God, " said some of the Pharisees, 16 " for he does not keep the Sabbath."
" How is it possible," retorted others, " for a bad man to give signs like this ? "
So there was a difference of opinion among them, and they 17 again questioned the man :
" What do you yourself say about him, for it is to you that he has given sight ?
" He is a Prophet," the man replied.
The Jews, however, refused to believe that he had been 18 blind and had gained his sight^^|^^hey had called his parents and questioned them. ^^^BBk.
" Is this your son," they asker^H^io ;, you say was born 19 blind ? If so, how is it that he can see now ? "
"We know that this is our son," answered the parents, 20 "and that he was born Wind ; but how it is that he can see 21 now we do not know ; nor do we know who it was that gave him his sight. Ask him — he is old enough — he will tell you about himself."
His parents spoke in this way because they were afraid of the 22 Jews ; for the Jews had already agreed that, if any one should acknowledge Jesus as the Chnst, he should be expelled from their synagogues. This was why his parents said ' He is old 23 enough ; ask him.' So the Jews again called the man 24
who had been blind, and said to him :
" Give God the praise ; we know that this is a bad man."
" I know nothing about his being a bad man," he replied ; 25
JOHN, 9—10. 185
"one thing I do know, that although I was blind, now I can see. "
" What did he do to you ? " they asked. " How did he give 26 you your sight ? "
" I told you just now," he answered, "and you did not listen. 27 Why do you want to hear it again ? Surely you also do not want to become his disciples ? "
"You are his disciple," they retorted scornfully; "but we 28 are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses ; 29 but, as for this man, we do not know where he comes from."
" Well," the man replied, " this is very strange ; you do not 30 know where he comes from, and yet he has given me my sight ! We know that God never listens to bad men, but, when a man 31 is god-fearing and does God's will, God listens to him. Since 32 the world began, such a thing was never heard of as any one's giving sight to a person born blind. If this man had not been 33 from God, he could not have done anything at all."
" You," they retorted, " were born totally depraved ; and are 34 you trying to teach us ? " So they expelled him.
Jesus heard of their having put him out ; and, when he had 35 found the man, he asked :
" Do you believe in the Son of Man ? "
" Tell me who he is, Sir," he replied, " so that I may believe 36 in him."
' ' Not only have you seen him, " said Jesus ; ' ' but it is he who 37 is now speaking to you."
"Then, Sir, I do believe," said the man, bowing to the 38 ground before him ; and Jesus added : 39
" It was to put men to the test that I came into this world, in order that those that cannot see should see, and that those that can see should become blind." Hearing this, some of the Pharisees who were with him said : 40
" Then are we blind too ? "
"If you had been blind," replied Jesus, "you would have 41 had no sin to answer for ; but, as it is, you say ' We can see,' and so your sin remains.
The 'Good 1° truth I tell you, whoever does not go into i
shepherd.1 the sheepfold through the door, but climbs up at some other place, that man is a thief and a robber ; but 2 the man who goes in through the door is shepherd to the sheep. For him the watchman opens the door ; and the sheep 3 listen to his voice ; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. When he has brought them all out, he walks 4 in front of them, and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but will run away 5 from him ; because they do not know a stranger's voice."
This was the allegory that Jesus told them, but they did not 6 understand of what he was speaking.
186 JOHN, 10.
So he continued :
" In truth I tell you, I am the Door for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers ; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the Door ; he who goes in through me will be safe, and he will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy ; I have come that they may have Life, and may have it in greater fulness. I
am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man who is not a shepherd, and who does not own the sheep, when he sees a wolf coming, leaves them and runs away ; then the wolf seizes them, and scatters the flock. He does this because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd ; and I know my sheep, and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep besides, which do not belong to this fold ; I must lead them also, and they will listen to my voice ; and they shall become one flock under ' one Shepherd.' This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life — to receive it again. Np one took it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it again. This is the command which I received from my Father."
In consequence of these words a difference of opinion agai-n arose among the Jews. Many of them said : " He is possessed by a demon and is mad ; why do you listen to him ? " Others 'said : " This is not the teaching of one who is possessed by a demon. Can a demon give sight to the blind ? "
josua at tho Soon after this the Festival of the Re-dedication Re-dedication was held at Jerusalem. It was winter; and Jesus
Festival. was Walking in the Temple Courts, in the Colon- nade of Solomon, when the Jews gathered round him, and said :
" How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us so frankly."
" I have told you so," replied Jesus, " and you do not believe me. The work that I am doing in my Father's name bears testimony to me. But you do not believe me, because you are not of my flock. My sheep listen to my voice ; I know them, and they follow me; and I give them Immortal Life, and they shall not be lost ; nor shall anyone snatch them out of my hands. What my Father has entrusted to me is more than all else ; and no one can snatch anything out of the Father's hands. The Father and I are one.
The Jews again brought stones to throw at him ; and seeing this, Jesus said :
8 Ps. 1 18. a6. *« Ezek. 34. 33. » , Mace. 4. 59.
JOHN, 10—11. 187
" I have done before your eyes many good actions, inspired by the Father ; for which of them would you stone me ? "
"It is not for any good action that we would stone you," 33 answered the Jews, " but for blasphemy ; and because you, who are only a man, make yourself out to be God. "
" Are there not," replied Jesus, " these words in your Law — 34 'I said " Ye are gods " ' ?
If those to whom God's words were addressed were said to be 35 ' gods ' — and Scripture cannot be set aside — do you say of one 36 whom the Father has consecrated and sent as his Messenger to the world ' You are blaspheming,' because I said ' I am God's Son '? If I am not doing the work that my Father is doing, 37 do not believe me ; but, if I am doing it, even though you do 38 not believe me, believe what that work shows ; so that you may understand, and understand more and more clearly, that the Father is in union with me, and I with the Father." Upon this the Jews again sought to arrest him ; but he escaped 39 their hands.
Jesus retires Then Jesus again crossed the Jordan to the 40 beyond the place where John used to baptize at first, and
Jordan. stayed there some time, during which many 41 people came to see him.
"John gave no sign of his mission," they said ; "but every- thing that he said about this man was true." And many learnt to believe in Jesus there. 42
Now a man named Lazarus, of Bethany, was i \; Lfuaru^t' to* b~ml? ^' ! ne belonged to the same village as Life at Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose 2
Bethany, brother Lazarus was ill, was the Mary who anointed the Master with perfume, and wiped his feet with her hair. The sisters, therefore, sent this message to Jesus 3 — ' Master, your friend is ill ' ; and, when Jesus heard it, he 4 said :
' This illness is not to end in death, but is to redound to the honour of God, in order that the Son of God may be honoured through it."
Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus. Yet, 5, 6 when he heard of the illness of Lazarus, he still stayed two days in the place where he was. Then, after that, he said 7 to his disciples :
" Let us go to Judaea again."
" Rabbi," they replied, " the Jews were but just now seeking 8 to stone you ; and are you going there again ? "
"Are not there twelve hours in the day?" answered Jesus. 9 " If a man walks about in the day-time, he does not stumble,
*» Ps. 82. 6.
188 JOHN, 11.
because he can see the light of the sun ; but, if he walks about to
at night, he stumbles, because he has not the light."
And, when he had said this, he added : n
" Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep ; but I am going that I may wake him. "
"If he has fallen asleep, Master, he will get well," said the 12 disciples.
But Jesus meant that he was dead ; they, however, supposed 13 that he was speaking of natural sleep. Then he said to them 14 plainly :
" Lazarus is dead ; and I am glad for your sakes that I was 15 not there, so that you may learn to believe in me. But let us go to him."
At this, Thomas, who was called 'The Twin,' said to his 16 fellow-disciples :
" Let us go too, so that we may die with him."
When Jesus reached the place, he found that Lazarus had 17 been four days in the tomb already. Bethany being only about 18 two miles from Jerusalem, a number of the Jews had come 19 there to condole with Martha and Mary on their brother's death. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went 20 to meet him ; but Mary sat quietly at home.
" Master," Martha said to Jesus, " if you had been here, my 21 brother would not have died. Even now, I know that God 22 will grant you whatever you ask him."
" Your brother shall rise to life," said Jesus. 23
" I know that he will," replied Martha, " in the resurrection 24 at the Last Day."
"I am the Resurrection and the Life," said Jesus. "He 25 that believes in me shall live, though he die ; and he who 26 lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? '
'• Ves Master," she answered ; "I have learnt to believe 27 that you are the Christ, the Son of God, 'who was to come' into the world."
After saying this, Martha went and called her sister Mary, 28 and whispered :
" The Teacher is here, and is asking for you." As soon as Mary heard that, she got up quickly, and went to 29 meet him. Jesus had not then come into the village, but was 30 still at the place where Martha nad met him. So the Jews, who 31 were in the house with Mary, condoling with her, when they saw her get up quickly and go out, followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb ki weep there. When Mary came 32 where Jesus was and saw him, she threw herself at his feet.
"Master," she exclaimed, "if you had been here, my .brother would not have died ! " When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come 33
«7Ps. 118. a6.
JOHN, 11. 189
with her weeping also, he groaned deeply, and was greatly distressed.
" Where have you buried him ? " he asked. 34
"Come and see, Master," they answered.
Jesus burst into tears. 35
"How he must have loved him!" the Jews exclaimed; 36
but some of them said : 37
" Could not this man, who gave sight to the blind man, have also prevented Lazarus from dying ? "
Again groaning inwardly, Jesus came to the tomb. It was 38 a cave, and a stone lay against the mouth of it.
" Move the stone away," said Jesus. 39
" Master," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, " by this time the smell must be offensive, for this is the fourth day since his death."
"Did not I tell you," replied Jesus, "that, if you would 40 believe in me, you should see the glory of God ? " So they moved the stone away ; and Jesus, with uplifted eyes, 41 said :
" Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard my prayer ; I knew that thou always hearest 42
me ; but I say this for the sake of the people standing near, so that they may believe that thou hast sent me as thy Messenger."
Then, after saying this, Jesus called in a loud voice : 43
" Lazarus ! come out ! "
The dead man came out, wrapped hand and foot in a winding- 44 sheet ; his face, too, had been wrapped in a cloth.
" Set him free," said Jesus, " and let him go."
In consequence of this, many of the Jews, who had come to 45 visit Mar)' and had seen what Jesus did, learnt to believe in him. Some of them, however, went to the Pharisees, and 46 told them what he had done.
Upon this the Chief Priests and the Pharisees 47 Ohief Priest* called a meeting of the High Council, and said : plot the Death "What are we to do, now that this man is
or Jesus, giving so many signs ? If we let him alone as we 48 are doing, every one will believe in him ; and the Romans will come and will take from us both our City and our Nationality." One of them, however, Caiaphas, who was High Priest 49 that year, said to them :
"You are utterly mistaken. You do not consider that it 50 is better for you that one man should die for the people, rather than that the whole nation should be destroyed." Now he did not say this of his own accord ; but, as High Priest 51
48 Dan. n. 30 (Septuagint Version).
190 JOHN, 11—12.
that year, he prophesied that Jesus was to die for the nation — and not for the nation only, but also that he might unite 52 in one body the Children of God now scattered far and wide. So from that day they plotted to put Jesus to 53
death.
Jesus ^n consequence of this, Jesus did not go about 54
retires to publicly among the Jews any more, but left that Ephraim. neighbourhood, and went into the country bor- dering on the Wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. But the Jewish Festival 55
of the Passover was near ; and many people had gone up from the country to Jerusalem, .for their ' purification,' before the Festival began. So they looked^ for Jesus there, and said 56 to one another, as they stood in the Temple Courts :
"What do you think? Do you think he will come to the Festival ? "
The Chief Priests and the Pharisees had already issued orders 57 that, if any one learnt where Jesus was, he should give informa- tion, so that they might arrest him.
III.— THE LAST DAYS.
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to i anointed by Bethany, where Lazarus, whom he had raised
wary from the dead, was living. There a supper was 2 at Bethany. given \n \i\s honour, at which Martha waited, while Lazarus was one of those present at the table. So Mary 3 took a pound of choice spikenard perfume of great value, and anointed the feet of Jesus with it, and then wiped them with her hair. The whole house was filled with the scent of the perfume. One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was about 4 to betray Jesus, asked :
"Why was not this perfume sold for thirty pounds, and the 5 money given to poor people ? "
He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because 6 he was a thief, and, being in charge of the purse, used to take what was put in it.
"Let her alone," said Jesus, "that she may keep it 7 till the day when .my body is being prepared for burial. The 8 poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me."
Now great numbers of the Jews found out that Jesus was at 9 Bethany ; and they came there, not solely on his account, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. The 10 Chief Priests, however, plotted to put Lazarus, as well as Jesus, to death, because it was owing to him that many of the Jews n had left them, and were becoming believers in Jesus.
JOHN, 12. 191
On the following day great numbers of people 12 Je8U'n^8licly who had come to the Festival, hearing that Jesus Jerusalem for was on his way to Jerusalem, took palm-branches, 13 the Last Time. ancj went out to meet him, shouting as they went:
" ' God save Him !
Blessed is He who Comes in the name of the Lord ' — The King of Israel ! "
Having found a young ass, Jesus seated himself on it, in 14 accordance with the passage of Scripture—1
' Fear not, Daughter of Zion ; 15
Behold, thy King is coming to thee, Sitting on the foal of an ass.'
His disciples did not understand all this at first ; but, when 16 Jesus had been exalted, then they remembered that these things had been said of him in Scripture, and that they had done these things for him. Meanwhile the people who 17
were with him, when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, .were telling what they had seen. This, indeed, was why the crowd met him — because people had 18 heard that he had given this sign of his mission. So the 19 Pharisees said to one another :
" You see that you are gaining nothing ! Why, all the world has run after him ! "
Jesus closes Among those who were going up to worship at 20 his public the Festival were some Greeks, who went to 21 Ministry. Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee, and said : " Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
Philip went and told Andrew, and then together they went 22 and told Jesus. This was his reply — 23
"The time has come for the Son of Man to be exalted. In 24 truth 1 tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains solitary ; but, if it dies, it becomes fruitful. He who loves his lite loses it ; while he who hates his 25 life in the present world shall preserve it for Immortal Life. If a man is ready to serve me, let him follow me ; and 26 where I am, there my servant shall be also. If a man is ready to serve me, my Father will honour him. Now 1 am distressed 27 at heart and what can I say ? Father, bring me safe through this hour — yet it was for this very reason that I came to this hour — Father, honour thine own name." 28
At this there came a voice from Heaven, which said :
" I have already honoured it, and I will honour it again." The crowd of bystanders, who heard the sound, said that 29 it was thundering. Others said: "An angel has been speaking to him."
13 PS. 1 1 8. 25, 26. 14-15 Zech. 9. 9. 27 Ps. 42. 0,
192 JOHN, 12.
" It was not for my sake that the voice came," said Jesus, 30 " but for yours. Now this world is on its trial. Now the Spirit 31 that is ruling this world shall be driven out ; and I, when 32 I am lifted up from the earth, shall draw all men to myself." By these words he indicated what death he was destined to die. 33
" We," replied the people, " have learnt from the Law that 34 the 'Christ is to remain for ever'; how is it, then, that you say that the Son of Man must be ' lifted up ' ? Who is this ' Son of Man ' ? " .
"Only a little while longer," answered Jesus, "will 35 you have the Light among you. Travel on while you have the Light, so that darkness may not overtake you ; he who travels in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you still have the Light, believe in the Light, that you 36 may be ' Sons of Light.' "
After he had said this, Jesus went away, and hid himself from them. But, though Jesus had given so many signs of 37
his mission before their eyes, they still did not believe in him, in fulfilment of the words of the Prophet Isaiah, where he 38 says —
' Lord, who has believed our teaching? And to whom has the might of the Lord been revealed ? '
The reason why they were unable to believe is given by Isaiah 39 elsewhere, in these words —
' He has blinded their eyes, and blunted their mind, 40
So that they should not see with their eyes, and perceive with their mind, and turn —
And I should heal them.'
Isaiah said this, because he saw Christ's glory ; and it was of 41 him that he spoke. Yet for all this, even among the 42
leading men there were many who came to believe in Jesus ; but, on account of the Pharisees, they did not acknowledge it, for fear that they should be expelled from their Synagogues ; for 43 they valued honour from men more than honour from God.
But Jesus had proclaimed : 44
".He who believes in me believes, not in me, but in him who sent me ; and he who sees me sees him who sent me. I have 45, come as a Light into the world, that no one who believes in me should remain in the darkness. When any one hears my teach- 47 ing^ and pays no heed to it, I am not his judge ; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, 48 and disregards my teaching, has a judge already — the very Message which I have delivered will itself be his judge at the Last Day. For I have not delivered it on my own 49 authority ; but the Father, who sent me, has himself given me his command as to what I should say, and what message
•* Isa. 9. 7 (Aramaic Version). *• Enoch 108. n. 88 ISA. 53. i. *> Isa. 6. 10. « Isa. 6. 1—3.
JOHN, 12—13. 193
I should deliver. And I know that Immortal Life lies in keep- 50 ing his command. Therefore, whatever I say, I say only what the Father has taught me."
Jesus washes Before the Passover Festival began, Jesus knew i j the Disciples' that the time had come for him to leave the world Feet. an(j g0 t0 the Father. He had loved those who were his own in the world, and he loved them to the last. The Devil had already put the thought of betray- 2
ing Jesus into the mind of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon ; and at supper, Jesus — although knowing that the Father had 3 put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was to return to God — rose from his place, and, taking 4 off his upper garments, tied a towel round his waist. He 5 then poured some water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel which was tied round him. When he came to Simon Peter, Peter 6 said :
"You, Master ! Are you going to wash my feet ? " "You do not understand now what I am doing," replied 7 Jesus, " but you will learn by and by."
" You shall never wash my feet ! " exclaimed Peter. 8
"Unless I wash you," answered Jesus, "you have nothing in common with me."
"Then, Master, not my feet only," exclaimed Simon Peter, 9 " but also my hands and my head."
"He who has bathed," replied Jesus, "has no need to 10 wash, unless it be his feet, but is altogether clean ; and you," he said to the disciples, "are clean, yet not all of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that u was why he said 'You are not all clean.' When he 12
had washed their feet, and had put on his upper garments and taken his place, he spoke to them again.
" Do you understand what I have been doing to you? " he asked. "You yourselves call me 'the Teacher' and 'the 13 Master', and you are right, for I am both. If I, then — 'the 14 Master ' and ' the Teacher ' — have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet ; for I have given you an 15 example, so that you may do just as I have done to you. In 16 truth I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor yet a messenger than the man who sends him. Now that you 17 know these things, happy are you if you do them. I am not 18 speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen ; but this is in fulfilment of the words of Scripture — • ' ' He that is eating my bread has lifted his heel against me.'
18 Ps. 41. 9.
H
194 JOHN, 13.
For the future I shall tell you of things before they take place, 19 so that, when they take place, you may believe that I am what I am. In truth I tell you, he who receives any one that I 20 send receives me ; and he who receives me receives him who sent me."
jesus After saying this, Jesus was much troubled, 21
points out and said solemnly :
the Betrayer. " in truth I tell you that it is one of you who will betray me."
The disciples looked at one another, wondering whom he 22 meant. Next to Jesus, in the place on his right hand, was 23 one of his disciples, whom he loved. So Simon Peter made 24 signs to that disciple, and whispered :
" Tell me who it is that he means."
Being in this position, that disciple leant back on Jesus' 25 shoulder, and asked him :
"Who is it, Master?"
" It is the one," answered Jesus, " to whom I shall give a 26 piece of bread after dipping it in the dish." And, when Jesus had dipped the bread, he took it and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot : and it was then, after 27 he had received it, that Satan took possession of him. So Jesus said to him :
" Do at once what you are going to do."
But no one at table understood why he said this to J udas. Some 28, thought that, as Judas kept the purse, Jesus meant that he was to buy some things needed for the Festival, or to give some- thing to the poor. After taking the piece. <5f bread, Judas 30 went out immediately ; and it was night.
. . . When Judas had gone out, Jesus said : 31
Jesus teaches . •> . _ ?»» 11 1^1 j°
his Disciples Now the Son ot Man has been exalted, and privately. Gocj has been exalted through him ; and God will 32 The New exalt him with himself — yes, he will exalt him command, forthwith. My children, I am to be with 33
'"*• you but a little while longer. You will look for
me ; and what I said to the Jews — ' You cannot come where
I am going ' — I now say to you. I give you a new command- 34
ment — Love one another ; love one another as I have loved
you. It is by this that every one will recognize you as my 35
disciples — by your loving one another."
" Where are you going, Master? " asked Peter. 36
" I am going where you cannot now follow me," answered
Jesus, " but you shall follow me later."
" Why cannot I follow you now, Master? " asked Peter. " I 37
will lay down my life for you."
" Will you lay down your life for me ? " replied Jesus. " In 38
truth I tell you, the cock will not crow till you have disowned
me three times.
JOHN, 14. 195
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in i ; e ay* God ; believe also in me. In my Father's Home 2 there are many dwellings. If it had not been so, I should have told you, for I am going to prepare a place for you. And, 3 since I go and prepare a place for you, I shall return and take you to be with me, so that you may be where I am ; and 4 you know the way to the place where I am going."
"We do not know where you are going, Master," said 5 Thomas ; " so how can we know the way ? "
Jesus answered : " I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life ; 6 no one ever comes to the Father except through me. If you 7 had recognized me, you would have known my Father also ; for the future you will recognize him, indeed you have already seen him."
" Master, show us the Father," said Philip, "and we shall 8 be satisfied."
" Have I been all this time among you," said Jesus, "and 9 yet you, Philip, have not recognized me ? He who has seen me has seen the Father, how can you say, then, ' Show us the Father ' ? Do not you believe that I am in union with 10 the Father, and the Father with me ? In giving you my teach- ing I am not speaking on my own authority ; but the Father himself, always in union with me, does his own work. Believe 1 1 me," he said to them all, "when I say that I am in union with the Father and the Father with me, or else believe me on account of the work itself. In truth I tell you, 12
he who believes in me will himself do the work that I am doing ; and he will do greater work still, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask, in my Name, 13 Twill do, that the Father may he honoured in the Son. If 14 you ask anything, in my Name, I will do it.
If you love me, you will lay my commands to 15 Helper. heart) and j w;n ask the pather, and he will give 16
you another Helper, to be with you always — the Spirit of 17 Truth. The world cannot receive this Spirit, because it does not see him or recognize him, but you recognize him, because he is always with you, and is within you. I will not 18
leave you bereaved ; I will come to you. In a little while the 19 world will see me no more, but you will still see me ; because I am living, you will be living also. At that time you will 20 recognize that I am in union with the Father, and you with me, and I with you. It is he who has my commands and 21 lays them to heart that loves me ; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal my- self to him."
"What has happened, Master," said Judas (not Judas 22 Iscariot), "that you are going to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world ? "
2 Enoch 39. 4.
196 JOHN, 14-15.
" Whoever loves me," Jesus answered, "will lay my Message 23 to heart ; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. He who does not 24 love me will not lay my Message to heart ; and the Message to which you are listening is not my own, but that of the Father who sent me.
I have told you all this while still with you, but the Helper 25, — the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my Name — he will teach you all things, and will recall to your minds all that I have said to you. Peace be with you ! My own 27
peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, or dismayed. You heard 28 me say that I was going away and would return to you. Had you loved me, you would have been glad-that I was going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And this I have 29 told you now before it happens, that, when it does happen, you may still believe in me. I shall not talk with you much more, 30 for the Spirit that is ruling the world is coming. He has nothing in common with me ; but he is coming that the world 31 may see that I love the Father, and that I do as the Father commanded me. Come, let us be going.
The vine I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Vine- i j and the grower. Any unfruitful branch in me he takes 2 Branches, away, and he cleanses every fruitful branch, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the 3 Message that I have given you. Remain united to me, and I will 4 remain united to you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains united to the vine ; no more can you, unless you remain united to me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. 5 He that remains united to me, while I remain united to him — he bears fruit plentifully ; for you can do nothing apart from me. If any one does not remain united to me, 6
he is thrown away, as a branch would be, and withers up. Such branches are collected and thrown into the fire, and are burnt. If you remain united to me, and my teaching remains 7 in your hearts, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be yours. It is by your bearing fruit plentifully, and so showing your- 8 selves my disciples, that my Father- is honoured. As the 9 Father has loved me, so have I loved you ; remain in my love. If you lay my commands to heart, you will remain in my love ; 10 just as I have laid the Father's commands to heart and remain in his love. I have told you all this so that my n
own joy may be yours, and that your joy may be complete. This is my command — Love one another, as I have loved 12 you. No one can give greater proof of love than by laying 13 down his life for his friends. And you are. my friends, if you 14 do what I command you. I no longer calljmi 'servants,' 15 because a servant does not know what his master is doing ;
JOHN, 15-16. 197
but I have given you the name of 'friends,' because I made known to you everything that I learnt from my Father. It 16 was not you who chose me, but I who chose you, and I ap- pointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that should remain, so that the Father might grant you whatever you ask in my Name.
The world ^ am &ivm§' vou these commands that you 17 and the Spirit may love one another. If the world hates 18
of Truth, you, you know that it has first hated me. If you 19 belonged to the world, the world would love its own. Be- cause you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world — that is why the world hates you. Remember 20 what I said to 3rou — ' A servant is not greater than his master.' If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you ; if they have laid my Message to heart, they will lay yours to heart also. But they will do all this to you, because you believe in my 21 Name, for they do not know him who sent me. If I 22
had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin to answer for ; but as it is, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done 23, among them such work as no one else ever did, they would have had no sin to answer for ; but, as it is, they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. And so is fulfilled 25 what is said in their Law —
' They hated me without cause.'
But, when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the 26 Father — the Spirit of Truth, who comes from the Father — he will , bear testimony to me ; yes, and you also are to bear 27 testimony, because you have been with me from the first.
I have spoken to you in this way so that you may not falter, i j They will expel you from their Synagogues ; indeed the time 2 is coming when any one who kills you will think that he is making an offering to God. They will do this, because they 3 have not learnt to know the Father, or even me. But I have 4 spoken to you of these things that, when the time for them comes, you may remember that I told you about them myself. I did not tell you all this at first, because I was with you. But 5 now I am to return to him who sent me ; and yet not one of you asks me — ' Where are you going ? ', although your hearts 6 are full of sorrow at all that I have been saying to you. Yet-I 7 am only telling you the truth ; it is for your good that I should go away. For otherwise the Helper will never come to you, but, if I leave you, I will send him to you. And he, 8
when he comes, will bring conviction to the world as to Sin, and as to Righteousness, and as to Judgement ; as to Sin, for 9 men do not believe in me ; as to Righteousness, for I am 10
25 Ps. 35. 19.
198 JOHN, 16
going to the Father, and you will see me no longer ; as to 1 1 Judgement, for the Spirit that is ruling this world has been condemned. I have still much to say to you, but you 12
cannot bear it now. Yet when he — the Spirit of Truth — 13 comes, he will guide you into all Truth ; for he will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of all that he hears ; and he will tell you of the things that are to come. He will honour me ; because he will take of what is mine, 14 and will tell it to you. Everything that the Father has is 15 mine ; that is why I said that he takes of what is mine, and will tell it to you.
words ^n a little while you will no longer see me ; and 16
of then in a little while you will see me indeed."
Farewell. At this some of his disciples said to one another : 17
"What does he mean by saying to us ' In a little while you will not see me, and then in a little while you will see me indeed ' ; and by saying ' Because I am going to the Father ' ? What does he mean by 'In a little while'?" they said; 18 ".we do not know what he is speaking about." Jesus saw that they were wanting to ask him a question, and 19 said :
"Are you trying to find out from one another what I meant by saying ' In a little while you will not see me ; and then in a little while you will see me indeed'? In truth I tell you 20 that you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice ; you will suffer pain, but your pain shall turn to joy. A woman 21 in labour is in pain because her time has come ; but no sooner is the child born, than she forgets her trouble in her joy that a man has been born into the world. You, in the same 22 way, are sorry now ; but I shall see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy. And 23 at that time you will not ask me anything ; in truth I tell you, if you ask the Father for anything, he will grant it to you in my Name. So far you have not asked for anything, 24 in my Name ; ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
I have spoken to you of all this in figures ; a time is 25 coming, however, when I shall not speak any longer to you in figures, but shall tell you about the Father plainly. You 26 will ask, at that time, in my Name ; and I do not say that I will intercede with the Father for you ; for the Father himself 27 loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from the Father. I came out from the Father, and 28 have come into the world ; and now I am to leave the world, and go to the Father."
"At last," exclaimed the disciples, "you are using plain 29 words and1 not speaking- in figures at all. Now we are sure 30 that you know everything, and need not wait for any one to » Isa, 66. 14.
JOHN, lfc-17. Ito
question you. This makes qs believe that you did come from God."
" Do you believe that already ? " Jesus answered. " Listen ! 31, 32 a time is coming — indeed it has already come — when you are to be scattered, each going his own way, and to leave me alone ; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have spoken to you in this way, so that in me you may 33 find peace. In the world you will find trouble ; yet, take courage ! I have conquered the world."
The Prayer After saying this, Jesus raised his eyes heaven- i 17
of wards, and said :
Je*us- " Father, the hour has come ; honour
thy Son, that thy Son may honour thee ; even as thou gavest him power over all mankind, 2
that he should give Immortal Life to all those whom thou hast given him. And the Im- 3
mortal Life is this — to know thee the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent as thy Messenger. I have honoured thee on 4
earth by completing the work which thou hast given me to do ; and now do thou honour me, 5
Father, at thy own side, with the honour which I had at thy side before the world began.
I have revealed thee to those whom thou 6
gavest me from the world ; they were thy own, and thou gavest them to me ; and they have laid thy Message to heart. They 7
recognize now that everything that thou gavest me was from thee ; for I have given 8
them the teaching which thou gavest me, and they received it, and clearly understood that I came from thee, and they believed that thou „
hast sent me as thy Messenger. I 9
intercede for them ; I am noi interceding for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me, for they are thy own — all that 10
is mine is thine, and all that is thine is mine — and I am honoured in them. Now I am n
to be in this world no longer, but they are still to be in the world, and I am to come to thee. Holy Father, keep them by that revelation of thy Name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. Whilst I was with them, I it
kept them by that revelation, and I have guarded them ; and not one of them has been lost, except that lost soul — in fulfil- ment.of Scripture. But now I am to come 13
200 JOHN, 17—18.
to thee ; and I am speaking thus, while
still in the world, that they may have
my own joy, in all its fulness, in their
hearts. I have given them thy Mes- 14
sage ; and the world hated them, because
they do not belong to the world, even as I
do not belong to the world. I do not ask 15
thee to take them out of the world, but to
keep them from Evil. They do not belong 16
to the world, even as I do not belong to the
world. Consecrate them by the Truth ; thy 17
Message is Truth. Just as thou hast sent me 18
as thy Messenger to the world, so I send them
as my Messengers to the world. And it is 19
for their sakes that I am consecrating myself,
so that they also may be truly consecrated.
But it is not only for them that I am inter- 20
ceding, but also for those who believe in me through their Message, that they all may be 21
one — that as thou, Father, art in union with me and I with thee, so they also may be in union with us — and so the world may believe that thou hast sent me as thy Messenger. I have 22
given them the honour which thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are one — I in 23
union with them and thou with me — that so they may be perfected in their union, and thus the world may know that thou hast sent me as thy Messenger, and that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me. Father, my 24
desire for all those whom thou hast given me is that they may be with me where I am, so that theymaysee the honourwhich thou hastgiven me ; for thou didst love me before the begin- ningofthe world. O righteous Father, 25
though the world did not know thee, I knew thee ; and these men knew that thou hast sent me as thy Messenger. I have made thee 26
known to them, and will do so still ; that the love that thou hast had for me may be in their hearts, and that I may be in them also."
When Jesus had said this, he went out with his jo«ua in disciples and crossed the brook Kedron to a place
Qethvemano. , , . , . , , •
where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples went. The place was well known to Judas, the betrayer, for Jesus and his disciples had often met there. So Judas, who had obtained the soldiers of the Roman garrison,
JOHN, 18. 201
and some police-officers from the Chief Priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, aware of all that was coming upon him, went to meet 4 them, and said to them :
" For whom are you looking? "
"Jesus of Nazareth," was their answer. 5
" I am he," said Jesus.
(Judas, the betrayer, was also standing with them.) When Jesus said ' I am he,' they drew back and fell to the 6 ground. So he again asked for whom they were looking, and 7 they answered : "Jesus of Nazareth."
" I have* already told you that I am he," replied Jesus, "so, 8 if it is for me that you are looking, let these men go." This was in fulfilment of his words — ' Of those whom thou 9 hast given me I have not lost one.'
At this, Simon Peter, who had a sword with him, drew it, 10 and struck the High Priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. But Jesus said to n Peter :
" Sheathe your sword. Shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me ? "
So the soldiers of the garrison, with their Com- 12 The manding Officer and the Jewish police, arrested Teaus? Jesus and bound him, and took him first of 13
all to Annas. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year. It was Caiaphas 14 who had counselled the Jews, that it was best that one man should die for the people.
Meanwhile Simon Peter followed Jesus, and 15 Peter disowns so did another disciple. That disciple, being well-known to the High Priest, went with Jesus into the High Priest's court-yard, while Peter stood outside 16 by the door. Presently the other disciple — the one well-known to the High Priest — went out and spoke to the portress, and brought Peter in. So the maidservant said to Peter : 17
"Are not you also one of this man's disciples? " " No, I am not," he said.
The servants and police-officers were standing round a char- 18 coal fire (which they had made because it was cold), and were warming themselves. Peter, too, was with them, standing and warming himself.
The High Priest questioned Jesus about his 19
Jesus ,. • i & . i_ , i • , .•
before the disciples and about his teaching.
High priest. " For my part," answered Jesus, "I have 20 spoken to all the world openly. I always taught in some Synagogue, or in the Temple Courts, places where all the Jews assemble, and I never spoke of anything in secret. Why 21 question me ? Question those who have listened to me as
H*
UMIAK?
tlrftTt TKACH«R» HAWTA »ARBA*A
202 JOHN, 18.
to what I have spoken about to them. They must know what I said."
When Jesus said this, one of the police-officers, who was 22 standing near, gave him a blow with his hand.
" Do you answer the High Priest like that? " he exclaimed.
" If I said anything wrong, give evidence about it," replied 23 Jesus ; " but if not, why do you strike me ? " Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the High Priest. 24
Meanwhile Simon Peter was standing there, warming him- 25 self ; so they said to him :
"Are not you also one of his disciples?" Peter denied it.
" No, I am not," he said.
One of the High Priest's servants, a relation of the man whose 26 ear Peter had cut off, exclaimed :
" Did not I myself see you with him in the garden ? " Peter again denied it ; and at that moment a cock crowed. 27
. . From Caiaphas they took Jesus to the Govern- 28
Jesus DOToro __ r ._ i«i • T-»
the Roman ment House. It was early in the morning. But
Governor, they did not enter the Government House them- selves, lest they should become 'defiled,' and so be unable to eat the Passover. Therefore Pilate came outside to speak to them. 29
"What charge do you bring against this man ? " he asked.
" If he had not been a criminal, we should not have given 30 him up to you," they answered.
"Take him yourselves," said Pilate, "and try him by your 31 own Law."
"We have no power to put any one to death," the Jews replied — in fulfilment of what Jesus had said when indicating 32 the death that he was destined to die.
After that, Pilate went into the Government House again, 33 and calling Jesus up, asked him :
" Are you the King of the Jews ? "
"Do you ask me that yourself?" replied Jesus, "or did 34 others say it to you about me ? "
" Do you take me for a Jew ? " was Pilate's answer. " It is 35 your own nation and the Chief Priests who have given you up to me. What have you done ? "
"My kingly power," replied Jesus, "is not due to this 36 world. If it had been so, my servants would be doing their utmost to prevent my being given up to the Jews ; but my kingly power is not from the world."
" So you are a King after all ! " exclaimed Pilate. 37
"Yes, it is true I am a King," answered Jesus. "I was born for this, I have come into the world for this— to bear testimony to the Truth. Every one who is on the side of Truth listens to my voice."
" What is Truth ? " exclaimed Pilate. 18
JOHN, 18-19. 203
After saying this, he went out to the Jews again, and said : " For my part, I find nothing with which he can be charged.
It is, however, the custom for me to grant you the release of 39
one man at the Passover Festival. Do you wish for the
release of the King of the Jews ? "
" No, not this man," they shouted again, " but Barabbas ! " 40
This Barabbas was a robber.
After that, Pilate had Jesus scourged. The soldiers made a 1,2 crown with some thorns and put it on his head and threw a purple robe round him. They kept coming up to him and 3 saying : " Long live the King of the Jews ! " and they gave him blow after blow with their hands. Pilate again came 4
outside, and said to the people :
" Look ! I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find nothing with which he can be charged." Then Jesus came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and 5 the purple robe ; and Pilate said to them :
" Here is the man ! "
When the Chief Priests and the police-officers saw him, they 6 shouted :
" Crucify him ! Crucify him ! "
" Take him yourselves and crucify him," said Pilate. " For my part, I find nothing with which he can be charged."
" But we," replied the Jews, " have a Law, under which he 7 deserves death for making himself out to be the Son of God."
When Pilate heard what they said, he became still more 8 alarmed ; and, going into the Government House again, he 9 sa'd to Jesus :
" Where do you come from ? " But Jesus made no reply. So Pilate said to him : 10
"Do you refuse to speak to me? Do not you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you ? "
"You would have no power over me at all," answered Jesus, 1 1 " if it had not been given you from above ; and, therefore, the man who betrayed me to you is guilty of the greater sin." This made Pilate anxious to release him; but the Jews 12 shouted :
" If you release that man, you are no friend of the Emperor ! Any one who makes himself out to be a King is setting him- self against the Emperor ! "
On hearing what they said, Pilate brought Jesus out, and 13 took his seat upon the Bench at a place called 'The Stone Pavement' — in Hebrew 'Gabbatha.' It was the Passover 14 Preparation Day, and about noon. Then he said to the Jews :
" Here is your King ! "
204 JOHN, 19.
At that the people shouted : 15
" Kill him ! Kill him ! Crucify him ! " " What ! shall I crucify your King ? " exclaimed Pilate. "We have no King but the Emperor," replied the Chief
Priests ; whereupon Pilate gave Jesus up to them to be 16
crucified.
So they took Jesus ; and he went out, carrying 17 The his cross himself, to the place which is named from °o7je8uL!n a skull> or« in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they 18
crucified him, and two others with him — one on each side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also had these 19 words written and put up over the cross —
'JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.'
These words were read by many of the Jews, because the 20 place where Jesus was crucified was near the city ; and they were written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Jewish 21 Chief Priests said to Pilate :
" Do not write ' The King of the Jews ', but write what the man said — ' I am King of the Jews.' " But Pilate answered : 22
"What I have written, I have written."
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes 23 and divided them into four shares — a share for each soldier — and they took the coat also. The coat had no seam, being woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said to one 24 another :
" Do not let us tear it, but let us cast lots for it, to see who shall have it. " This was in fulfilment of the words of Scrip- ture—
' They shared my clothes among them, And over my clothing- they cast lots.'
That was what the soldiers did. Meanwhile near the cross 25 of Jesus were standing his mother and his mother's sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved, 26 standing near, he said to his mother :
"There is your son." Then he said to that disciple : 27
"There is your. mother." And from that very hour the disciple took her to live in his house.
Afterwards, knowing that everything was now 28 Tr.iMu*!' finished, Jesus said, in fulfilment of the words of
Scripture : "I am thirsty." There was a bowl standing there full ot common wine ; so 29
** Ps. aa. 18. »-» P». 69. 31.
JOHN, 19-20. 205
they put a sponge soaked in the wine on the end of a hyssop- ' , stalk, and held it up to his mouth. When Jesus had received 30 the wine, he exclaimed :
"All is finished !" Then, bowing his head, he resigned his spirit to God.
It was the Preparation Day, and so, to prevent the bodies 31 from remaining on the crosses during the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a great day), the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed. Accordingly the soldiers 32 came and broke the legs of the first man, and then those of the other who had been crucified with Jesus ; but, on coming 33 to him, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his 34 side with a spear, and blood and water immediately flowed from it. This is the statement of one who actually saw it — 35 and his statement may be relied upon, and he knows that he is speaking the truth — and it is given in order that you also may be convinced. For all this took place in fulfilment of 36 the words of Scripture —
' Not one of its bones shall be broken.'
And there is another passage which says — 37
' They will look upon him*whom they pierced.'
After this, Joseph of Ramah, a disciple of Jesus — 38 The Burial but a secret one, owing to his fear of the Jews — of Jesus. begged Pilate's permission to remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him leave ; so Joseph went and removed the body. Nicodemus, too — the man who had 39 formerly visited Jesus by night — came with a roll of myrrh and aloes, weighing nearly a hundred pounds. They took the body 40 of Jesus, and wound it in linen with the spices, according to the Jewish mode of burial. At the place where Jesus had been 41 crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a newly-made tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because of 42 its being the Preparation Day, and as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
IV.— THE RISEN LIFE.
On the first day of the week, early in the morn-
The ;ng> while it was still dark, Mary of Magdala
Reo"je^u*8rn went to the tomb, and saw that the stone had
been removed. So she came running to Simon
Peter, and to that other disciple who was Jesus' friend, and
said to^ them :
"They have taken away the Master out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him ! "
*'• Exod. 12. 46. 37 Zech. 12. 10.
206 JOHN, 20.
Upon this, Peter started off with that other disciple, and 3 they went to the tomb. The two began running together ; 4 but the other disciple ran faster than Peter, and reached the tomb first. Stooping down, he saw the linen wrappings lying 5 there, but did not go in. Presently Simon Peter came 6 following behind him, and went into the tomb ; and he looked at the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth which 7 had been upon Jesus' head, not lying with the wrappings, but rolled up on one side, separately. Then the other disciple, 8 who had reached the tomb first, went inside too, and he saw for himself and was convinced. For they did not then under- 9 stand the passage of Scripture which says that Jesus must rise again from the dead. The disciples then returned to their 10 companions.
jesus Meanwhile Mary was standing close outside the 1 1
.appears to tomb, weeping. Still weeping, she leant forward
Mary. jnto tne tomb, and perceived two angels clothed 12 in white sitting there, where the body of Jesus had been lying, one where the head and the other where the feet had been.
" Why are you weeping ? " asked the angels. 13
"They have taken my Master away," she answered, "and I do not know where they have laid him."
After saying this, she turned round, and looked at Jesus stand- 14 ing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
"Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" he 15 asked. Supposing him to be the gardener, Mary answered :
" If it was you, Sir, who carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away myself."
" Mary ! " said Jesus. 16
She turned round, and exclaimed in Hebrew :
" Rabboni ! " (or, as we should say, ' Teacher ').
" Do not hold me," Jesus said; "for I have not yet ascended 17 to the Father. But go to my Brothers, and tell them that I am ascending to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God."
Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had 18 seen the Master, and that he had said this to her.
Jesus I" l'ie evening of the same day — the first day 19
appears to of the week — after the doors of the room, in the Apostles. which the disciples were, had been shut for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said : " Peace be with you " ; after which he showed them his hands 20 and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Master. Again Jesus said to them : " Peace be with 21 you. As the Father has sent me as his Messenger, so I am Bending you." A ter saying this, he breathed on them, and said : 22
JOHN, 20-21. 207
" Receive the Holy Spirit; if you remit any one's sins, they 23 have been remitted ; and, if you retain them, they have been retained."
jesus But Thomas, one of the Twelve, called ' The 24
appears to Twin,' was not with them when Jesus came ; so 25
Thomas. the rest of the disciples said to him : "We have seen the Master ! "
" Unless I see the marks of the nails in his hands," he ex- claimed, "and put my finger into the marks, and. put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later the disciples were again in the house, and 26 Thomas with them. After the doors had been shut, Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas : 27
" Place your finger here, and look at my hands ; and place your hand here, and put it into my side ; and do not refuse to believe, but believe." And Thomas exclaimed : 28
" My Master, and my God ! "
" Is it because you have seen me that you have believed ? " 29 said Jesus. " Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed ! "
The ob ect There were many other signs of his mission 30 of this that Jesus gave in presence of the disciples, which oospei. are not recorded in this book ; but these have 31 been recorded that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God— and that, through your belief in his Name, you may have Life.
A . Later on, Jesus showed himself again to the i
Appearance disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. It was in this 2
of Jesus. way : — Simon Peter, Thomas, who was called 'The Twin,' Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, Zebediah's sons, and two other disciples of Jesus, were together, when Simon 3 Peter said : "I am going fishing."
"We will come with you," said the others. They went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night. Just as day was breaking, Jesus came and stood on 4 the beach ; but the disciples did not know that it was he.
" My children," he said, " have you anything to eat ? " 5
" No," they answered.
" Cast your net to the right of the boat," he said, " and you 6 will find fish." So they cast the net, and now they could not haul it in on
208 JOHN, 21.
account of the quantity of fish. Upon this the disciple whom 7 Jesus loved said to Peter :
" It is the Master !"
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Master, he fastened his coat round him (for he had taken it off), and threw him- self into the Sea. But the rest of the disciples came in the 8 boat (for they were only about a hundred yards from shore), dragging the net full of fish. When they had come 9
ashore, they found a charcoal fire ready, with some fish already on it, and some bread as well.
" Bring some of the fish which you have just caught," said 10 Jesus. So Simon Peter got into the boat and hauled the net 1 1 ashore full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them ; and yet, although there were so many, the net had not been torn.
And Jesus said to them : " Come and breakfast." 12
Not one of the disciples ventured to ask him who he was, knowing that it was the Master. Jesus went and took the 13 bread and gave it to them, and the fish too. This was 14
the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had risen from the dead.
JOBUS' When breakfast was over, Jesus said to Simon 15
Last word* Peter :
to Pater. « Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the others ? "
"Yes, Master," he atiswered, "you know that I am your friend."
" Feed my lambs," said Jesus. Then, a second tune, Jesus asked : 16
" Simon, son or John, do you love me?"
"Yes, Master," he answered, "you know that I am your friend."
"Tend my sheep," said Jesus. The third time, Jesus said to him : 17
" Simon, son of John, are you my friend ? " Peter was hurt at his third question being ' Are you my friend ? ' ; and exclaimed :
" Master, you know everything ! You can tell that I am your friend."
"Feed my sheep," said Jesus. "In truth I tell you," he 18 continued, " when you were young, you used to put on your own girdle, and walk wherever you wished ; but, when you have grown old, you will have to stretch out your hands, while some one else puts on your girdle, and takes you where you do not wish.
ijesus said this to show the death by which Peter was to 19 .honour God, and then he added : " Follow me."
Peter turned round, and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved 20
JOHN, 21. 209
following — the one who at the supper leant .back on the Master's shoulder, and asked him who it was that would betray him. Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus : 21
" Master, what about this man ? "
"If it is my will that he should wait till I come," 22 answered Jesus, " what has that to do with you ? Follow me yourself."
So the report spread among the Brethren that that dis- 23 ciple was not to die ; yet Jesus did not say that he was not to die, but said *' If it is my will that he should wait till I come, what has that to do with you ? "
It is this disciple who states these things, and 24 conclusion. WJIQ recorcje(j tiiem • an(j we know that his state- ment is true.
There are many other things which Jesus did ; but, if every 25 one of them were to be recorded in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not hold the books that would be written.
210
A PASSAGE ABOUT AN ADULTERESS.
(Inserted in some manuscripts from an ancient source, and found either after John 7. $jf or after Luke 21. j8.)
[And every one went home except Jesus, who went to the Mount of Olives. But he went again into the Temple
Courts early in the morning, and all the people came to him ; and he sat down and taught them. Presently, how-
ever, the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought a' woman who had been caught in adultery, and placed her in the middle of the Court, and said to Jesus :
"Teacher, this woman was found in the very act of adultery. Now Moses, in the Law, commanded us to stone1 such women to death ; what do you say ? "
They said this to test him, in order to have a charge to bring against him. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. However, as they continued asking him, he raised himself, and said :
" Let the man among you who has never done wrong throw the first stone at her."
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. When they heard that, they went out one by one, beginning with the eldest ; and Jesus was left alone with the woman in the middle of the Court. Raising himself, Jesus said to her :
" Woman, where .are they ? Did no one condemn you ? "
" No one, Sir," she answered.
" Neither do I condemn you," said Jesus ; " go, and do not sin again."]
1 Deut. za. 24.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
COMPILED AT ROME AT AN UNCERTAIN DATE LATER THAN 64 A.D.
THIS Book contains an account of the principal events in the first years of the Church's history after the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. These events group themselves round the names of St. Peter and St. Paul ; and in this Book the first twelve chapters relate mainly St. Peter's work among Jews, and the last sixteen St. Paul's work among people of other nations. The history ends with the imprisonment of the latter in Rome.
There is strong support for the view that St. Luke was the author or compiler of the Book, and (from the use of the pro- noun "we "in several sections) that he took part in many of the events related.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
I. — THE CHURCH AND THE JEWS. Doings of the Apostles Peter and John,
The first account which I drew up, Theophilus, i "' dealt with all that Jesus did and taught from the very first, down to that day on which he was taken up to 2 Heaven, after he had, by the help of the Holy Spirit, given in- structions to the Apostles whom he had chosen. With abun- 3 dant proofs, he showed himself to them, still living, after his death ; appearing to them from time to time during forty days, and speaking of all that related to the Kingdom of God. And 4 once, when he had gathered them together, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the fulfilment of the Father's promise — "that promise," he said, "of which you have heard me speak ; for, while John baptized with 5 water, you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit before many days have passed."
Ascension So, when the Apostles had met together, they 6
of Jesus, asked Jesus this question —
" Master, is this the time when you intend to re-establish the Kingdom for Israel ? " His answer was : 7
"It is not for you to know times or hours, for the Father has reserved these for his own decision ; but you shall receive 8 power, when the Holy Spirit shall have descended upon you, and shall be witnesses for me not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and td the ends of the earth."
No sooner had Jesus said this than he was caught up before 9 their eyes, and a cloud received him from their sight. While 10 they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them, and u said :
" Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up into the heavens ? This very Jesus, who has been taken from you
* Dan. 2. 44.
214 THE ACTS, 1.
into the heavens, will come in the very way in which you have seen him go into the heavens." The Apostles Then the Apostles returned to Jerusalem from 12
in the hill called Olivet, which is about three quarters
Jerusalem. of ^ mile From the city.
When they reached Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs 13 room, where they were staying. There were there Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. They all united in devoting 14 themselves to Prayer, and so did some women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Appointment About this time, at a meeting of the Brethren, 15 of when there were about a hundred and twenty
Matthias, present, Peter rose to speak.
" Brothers," he said, " it was necessary that the prediction 16 of Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit made by the lips of David about Judas, who acted as guide to the men that arrested Jesus, for he was one of our number and had his 17 part allotted him in this work of ours."
(This man had bought a piece of land with the price of his 18 treachery ; and, falling heavily, his body had burst open, and all his bowels protruded. This became known to every one living 19 in Jerusalem, so that the field came to be called, in their lan- guage, ' Akeldama,' which means the ' Field of Blood.')
"For in the Book of Psalms," Peter continued, "it is said — 20
' Let his dwelling- become desolate, And let no one live in it ' ; and also —
' His office let another take.'
Therefore, from among the men who have been with us all the 21 time that Jesus, our Master, went in and out among us — from his baptism by John down to that day on which he was 22 taken from us — s<5me one must be found to join us as a witness of his resurrection."
So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabas, whose 23 other name was Justus, and Matthias ; and they offered this 24 prayer —
"O Lord, who readest all hearts, show which of these two men thou hast chosen to take the place in this apostolic work, which 25
Judas has abandoned, to go to his proper place."
'•" Ps. fg. 15 ; Ps. 109. 8. '•» Num. 24. 25.
THE ACTS, 1-2. 215
Then they drew lots between them ; and, the lot having fallen 26 on Matthias, he was added to the number of the eleven Apostles.
The Gift of I" ^ie course °f the Festival at the close of the i the Harvest the disciples had all met together, when 2 Holy spirit, suddenly there came from the heavens a noise like that of a strong wind rushing by ; it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. Then there appeared tongues of 3 what seemed to be flame, separating, so that one settled on each of them ; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, 4 and began to speak with strange 'tongues' as the Spirit prompted their utterances.
Now there were then staying in Jerusalem religious Jews 5 from every country in the world ; and, when this sound was 6 heard, numbers of people collected, in the greatest excitement, because each of them heard the disciples speaking in his own language. They were utterly amazed, and kept asking in 7 astonishment :
"What! Are not all these men who are speaking Gali- leans ? Then how is it that we each of us hear them in our 8 own native language ? Some of us are Parthians, some 9 Medes, some Elamites ; and some of us live in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Roman Asia, in 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the districts of Libya adjoining Cyrene ; some of us are visitors from Rome, either Jews by birth or converts, and some are Cretans and Ara- n bians — yet we all alike hear them speaking in our own tongues of the great things that God has done." They were all utterly amazed and bewildered. 12
" What does it mean ? " they asked one another. But there were some who said with a sneer : " They have had 13 too much new wine."
Peter's Then Peter, surrounded by the eleven other 14
Addre<M». Apostles, stood up, and, raising his voice, ad- dressed the crowd.
" Men of Judaea," he began, " and all you who are staying in Jerusalem, let me tell you what this means. Mark well my words. These men are not drunk, as you suppose ; for it is 15 only now nine in the morning ! No ! This is what is spoken 16 of in the prophet Joel —
'It shall come about in the last days,' God says, 17
' That I will pour out my Spirit on all mankind ; Your sons and your daughters shall become Prophets, Your young men shall see visions, And your old men dream dreams ;
" Joel 2. 28.
216 THE ACTS, 2.
Yes, even on the slaves — for they are mine — both men and 18
women, I will in those days pour out my Spirit,
And they shall become Prophets ;
And I will show wonders in the heavens above, 19
And signs on the earth below —
Blood and fire and mist of smoke ;
The sun shall become darkness, 20
And the moon blood-red,
Before the Day of the Lord comes — that great and awful
day.
Then shall every one who invokes the Name of the Lord 21 be saved.'
Men of Israel, listen to what I am saying. Jesus of Nazareth, 22 a man whose mission from God to you was proved by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God showed among you through him, as you know full well — he, I say, in accordance with 23 God's definite plan and with his previous knowledge, was betrayed, and you, by the hands of lawless men, nailed him to a cross and put him to death. But God released him from 24 the pangs of death and raised him to life, it being impossible for death to retain its hold upon him. Indeed it was to him 25 that David was referring when he said —
' I have had the Lord ever before my eyes,
For he stands at my right hand, that I should not be disquieted. Therefore my heart was cheered, and my tongue told its delight ; 26
Yes, even my body, too, will rest in hope ; For thou wilt not abandon my soul to the Place of Death, 27
Nor surrender me, thy holy one, to undergo corruption. Thou hast shown me the path to life, 28
Thou wilt fill me with gladness in thy presence.'
Brothers, I can speak to you the more confidently about the 29 Patriarch David, because he is dead and buried, and his tomb is here among us to this very day. David, then, Prophet as 30 he was, knowing that God ' had solemnly sworn to him to set one of his descendants upon his throne,' looked into the future, 31 and referred to the resurrection of the Christ when he said that ' he had not been abandoned to the Place of Death, nor had his body undergone corruption.' It was this Jesus, 32 whom God raised to life ; and of that we are ourselves all witnesses. And now that he has been exalted to the right 33 hand of God, and has received from the Father the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, he has begun to pour out that gift, as you yourselves now see and hear. It was not David who 34 went up into Heaven ; for he himself says —
' The Lord said to my master : "Sit on my right hand, Till I put thy enemies as a footstool under thy feet." ' 35
W-» Joel a. *)-3*. »-* Ps. 16. 8-n. *> Ps. i3a. n. »*-» Ps. no. i.
THE ACTS, 2-3. 217
So let the whole nation of Israel know beyond all doubt, that 36 God has made him both Lord and Christ — this very Jesus whom you crucified."
When the people heard this, they were conscience-smitten, 37 and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles :
" Brothers, what can we do ? "
"Repent," answered Peter, "and be baptized every one 38 of you in the Faith of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins ; and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and 39 also for all those now far away, who may be called by the Lord our God."
With many other words Peter enforced his teaching, while 40 the burden of his exhortations was — " Save yourselves from the perverse spirit of this age." So those who accepted 41
his teaching were baptized, and about three thousand people joined the disciples on that day alone. They devoted them- 42 selves to the teaching of the Apostles and to the Common Life of the Church, to the Breaking of the Bread and to the Prayers.
A deep impression was made upon every one, 43
Ea<>!rrthey* ana< many wonders and signs were done at the
Christian hands of the Apostles. All who became believers 44 society. jn Christ held everything for the common use ; they sold their property and their goods, and shared the pro- 45 ceeds among them all, according to their individual needs. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the 46 Temple Courts, and to the Breaking of Bread at their homes, while they partook of their food in simple-hearted gladness, praising God, and winning the good-will of all the people. 47 And the Lord daily added to their company those who were in the path of Salvation.
Cure One day, as Peter and John were going up into i
or » lame the Temple Courts for the three o'clock Prayers,
••Mar. a man, who had been lame from his birth, was 2 being carried by. This man used to be set down every day at the gate of the Temple called 'the Beautiful Gate,' to beg of those who went in. Seeing Peter and John on the point of 3 entering, he asked them to give him something. Peter fixed 4 his eyes on him, and so did John, and then Peter said : "Look at us."
The man was all attention, expecting to get something from 5 them ; but Peter added : 6
" I have no gold or silver, but I give you what I have. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I bid you walk." Grasping the lame man by the right hand, Peter lifted him up. 7
89 Dan. 9. 7 ; Joel a. 32.
218 THE ACTS, 8.
Instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong, and, leaping 8 up, he stood and began to walk about, and then went with them into the Temple Courts, walking, and leaping, and praising God. All the people saw him walking about and praising 9 God ; and, when they recognized him as the man who used to 10 sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, they were utterly astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.
While the man still clung to Peter and John, the people all u quickly gathered round them in the Colonnade named after Solomon, in the greatest astonishment. On seeing this, Peter 12 said to the people :
Peter'* " ^en °^ Israel, wny are you surprised at this ?
Addres/in and why do you stare at us, as though we, by the Temple. any power or piety of our own, had enabled this man to walk ? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the 13 God of our ancestors, has done honour to his Servant Jesus — him whom you gave up and disowned before Pilate, when he had decided to set him free. You, I say, disowned the 14 Holy and Righteous One, and asked for the release of a murderer ! The very Guide to Life you put to death ! But 15 God raised him from the dead — and of that we are ourselves witnesses. And it is by faith in the Name of Jesus, that this 16 man, whom you all see and know, has — by his Name — been made strong. Yes, it is the faith inspired by Jesus that has made this complete cure of the man, before the eyes of you all. And yet, my Brothers, I know that you acted as you did 17 from ignorance, and your rulers also. But it was in this way 18 that God fulfilled all that he had long ago foretold, as to the sufferings of his Christ, by the lips of all the Prophets. There- 19 fore, repent and turn, that your sins may be wiped away ; so that happier times may come from the Lord himself, and that 20 he may send you, in Jesus, your long-appointed Christ. But 21 Heaven must be his home, until the days of the Universal Restoration, of which God has spoken by the lips of his holy Prophets from the very first. Moses himself said — 22
4 The Lord your God will raise up from among your brothers a Prophet, as he raised me. To him you will listen when- ever he speaks to you. And it shall be that should any one 23 among the people not listen to that Prophet, he will be utterly destroyed.'
Yes, and all the Prophets from Samuel onwards, and all their 24 successors who had a message to deliver, told of these days. You yourselves are the heirs of the Prophets, and heirs, too, of 25 the Covenant which God made with your ancestors, when he said to Abraham —
' In your descendants will all the nations of the earth be blessed.'
U Exod. 3. 15 ; laa. 53. 13. " Enoch 38. a. 21 Mai. 4. 6. *J-29 Deut. 18. 15—19 ; Lev. 23. 39. '•* Gen. 13. 3.
THE ACTS, 3-4. 219
For you, first, God raised up his Servant, and sent him to bless 26 you, by turning each one of you from his wicked ways."
Peter and While Peter and John were still speaking to i « John before the people, the Chief Priests, with the Officer in the council, charge at the Temple and the Sadducees, came up to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the 2 people, and because, through Jesus, they were preaching the resurrection from the dead. They arrested the Apostles and, 3 as it was already evening, had them placed in custody till the next day. Many, however, of those who had heard the Apostles' 4 Message became believers in Christ, the number of the men alone amounting to about five thousand.
The next day, a meeting of the leading men, the Councillors, 5 and the Teachers of the Law was held in Jerusalem. There 6 were present Annas the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alex- ander, and all who were of High-Priestly rank. They had 7 Peter and John brought before them, and questioned them.
"By what power," they asked, "or in whose name have men like you done this thing ? " On this, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke as follows : 8
"Leaders of the people and Councillors, since we are on 9 our trial to-day for a kind act done to a helpless man, and are asked in what way the man here before you has been cured, let me tell you all and all the people of Israel, that 10 it is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead— it is, I say, by his Name that this man stands here before you lame no longer. Jesus is 'the stone which, scorned by you the n builders, has yet become the corner stone.' And Salvation 12 is in him alone ; for there is no other Name in the whole world, given to men, to which we must look for our Salva- tion."
When the Council saw how boldly Peter and John spoke, and 13 found that they were uneducated men of humble station, they were surprised, and realized that they had been companions of Jesus. But, when they looked at the man who had been healed, 14 standing there with them, they had nothing to say. So they 15 ordered them out of court, and then began consulting together.
1 ' What are we to do to these men ? " they asked one another. 16 "That a remarkable sign has been given through them is obvious to every one living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But, to prevent this thing from spreading further among 17 the people, let us warn them not to speak in this Name any more to any one whatever."
So they called the Apostles in, and ordered them not to 18 speak or teach in the Name of Jesus. But Peter and John 19 replied :
11 Ps. 118. 21—22. 12 Enoch 4. 2.
220 THE ACTS, 4.
"Whether it is right, in the sight of God, to listen to you rather than to him — judge for yourselves, for we cannot help 20 speaking of what we have seen and heard."
However, after further warnings, the Council set them at 21 liberty, not seeing any safe way of punishing them, because of the people, for they were all praising God for what had occurred ; for the man who was the subject of this miracu- 22 lous cure was more than forty years old.
After they had been set at liberty, the Apostles went to their 23 friends and told them what the Chief Priests and the Councillors had said to them. All who heard their story, moved by a 24 common impulse, raised their voices to God in prayer :
"O Sovereign Lord, it is thou who hast ' made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them,' and who, by the 25
lips of our ancestor, thy servant David, who spoke under the influence of the Holy Spirit, hast said —
' Why did the nations rage,
And the peoples form vain designs ?
The king's of the earth set their array, 26
And its rulers gathered together,
Against the Lord and against his Christ.'
There have indeed gathered together in this 27
city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou hast consecrated the Christ, not Herod and Pontius Pilate only, but the nations and the people of Israel besides — yet only to do 28
what thou, by thy power and of thy own will, didst long ago destine to be done. Now, 29
therefore, O Lord, mark their threats, and enable thy servants, with all fearlessness, to tell thy Message, while thou stretchest out 30
thy hand to heal, and causest signs and won- ders to take place through the Name of thy holy Servant Jesus."
When their prayer was ended, the place in which they were 31 assembled was shaken ; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to tell God's Message fearlessly.
The Tne wh°le body of those who had become 32
common believers in Christ were of one heart and mind. Fund. Not one of them claimed any of his goods as his
WExod. ao. ii. !»-a>P.. a. i.
THE ACTS, 4-5. 221
own, but everything was held for the common use. The 33 Apostles continued with great power to bear their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's blessing rested upon them all abundantly. Nor was there any one 34 in need among them, for all who were owners of land or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the sales and laid them at the Apostles' feet ; and then every one received 35 a share in proportion to his wants. A Levite of 36
Cyprian birth, named Joseph, (who had received from the Apostles the additional name of ' Barnabas ' — which means ' The Consoler, ') sold a farm that belonged to him, and brought 37 the money and laid it at the Apostles' feet.
punishment o* There was, however, a man named Ananias, i Ananias and who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property,
Sapphira. ancj) with her connivance, kept back some of the 2 proceeds. He brought only a part and laid it at the Apostles' feet.
"Ananias," Peter exclaimed, "how is it that Satan has so 3 taken possession of your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit, and kept back a part of the money paid for the land ? While it was unsold, was not it your own ? and after it was 4 sold, was not the money at your own disposal ? How did you come to think of such a thing? You have lied, not to men, but to God ! "
As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired ; and 5 every one who heard of it was appalled. The young men got 6 up, and, winding the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it.
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not 7 knowing what had happened.
"Is it true," Peter asked, addressing her, "that you sold 8 your land for such a sum ? "
" Yes," she answered, " we did."
Then Peter said : " How did you come to agree to provoke 9 the Spirit of the Lord ? Listen ! The foot-steps of those who have buried your husband are at the door ; and they will carry you out too."
Instantly Sapphira fell down at Peter's feet and expired. On 10 coming in, the young men found her dead ; so they carried her out and buried her by her husband's side. The whole n
Church and all who heard of these events were appalled.
Many signs and wonders continued to occur 12
Miracles done ,t i *« < .1 • ^ »•*
by the among the people, through the instrumentality Apostles. Of the Apostles, whose custom it was to meet all together in the Colonnade of Solomon ; but of the rest no one 13 ventured to join them. On the other hand, the people were full of their praise, and still larger numbers, both of men and 14
222 THE ACTS, 5.
women, as they became believers in the Lord, were added to their number. The consequence was that people would bring 15 out their sick even into the streets, and lay them on mattresses and mats, in the hope that, as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some one of them. Besides this, the 16 inhabitants of the towns round Jerusalem flocked into the city, bringing with them their sick and those who were troubled by foul spirits ; and they were cured every one.
At this the High Priest was roused to action, 17 .totm'again an^ ne an^ all his supporters (who formed the before party of the Sadducees), moved by jealousy, the council, arrested the Apostles, and had them placed in 18 custody. An angel of the Lord, however, opened the 19
prison doors at night and led them out.
"Go," he said, "and stand in the Temple Courts, and tell 20 the people the whole Message of this new Life." When they heard this, they went at daybreak into the Temple 21 Courts, and began to teach. The High Priest and his
party, on their arrival, summoned the High Council, including all the leading men among the Israelites, and sent to the gaol to fetch the Apostles. But, when the' officers got there, they 22 did not find them in the prison ; so they returned and re- ported that, while they had found the gaol barred securely 23 and the guards posted at the doors, yet, on opening them, they had not found any one inside. When the Officer in 24 charge at the Temple and the Chief Priests heard their story, they were perplexed about the Apostles and as to what all this would lead to. Presently, however, some one came and 25
told them, that the men whom they had put in prison were ac- tually standing in the Temple Courts, teaching the people. On 26 this, the Officer went with his men and fetched the Apostles' — without using violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people — and then brought them before the Council. 27 The High Priest demanded an explanation from them.
" We gave you strict orders," he said, " not to teach in this 28 Name. Yet you have actually flooded Jerusalem with your teaching, and you wajit to make us responsible for the death of this man." To this Peter and the Apostles replied : 29
"We must obey God rather than men. The God of our 30 ancestors raised Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a cross. It is this Jesus whom God has exalted to 31 his right hand, to be a Guide and a Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to 32 the truth of this, and so is the Holy Spirit — the gift of God to those who obey him." The members of the Council became frantic with rage on hearing 33
THE ACTS, 5-6. 223
this, and were for putting the Apostles to death. But 34
Gamaliel, a Pharisee, who was a Doctor of the Law and who was held in universal respect, rose in the Council, and directed that the men should be taken out of court for a little while. He then said : 35
" Men of Israel, take care as to what you intend to do with these men. For not long ago Theudas appeared, professing 36 to be somebody, and was joined by a body of some four hun- dred men. But he was killed ; and all his followers scattered and dwindled away. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared 37 at the time of the census, and induced people to follow him ; yet he, too, perished and all his followers were dispersed. And, 38 in this present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these men, but to let them alone, for, if their designs and their work are merely of human origin, they will come to an end ; but, if they are of divine origin, you will be powerless to 39 put an end to them — or else you may find yourselves fighting against God ! "
The Council followed his advice, and, calling the Apostles in, 40 had them flogged, and then, after cautioning them not to speak in the Name of Jesus, set them free. But the Apostles 41
left the Council, rejoicing that they had been thought worthy to suffer disgrace for that Name ; and never for a single day, 42 either in the Temple Courts or in private houses, did they cease to teach, or to tell the Good News of Jesus, the Christ.
. . . . About this time, when the number of the disci- i
Appointment , ' . , .
or pies was constantly increasing, complaints were 'The seven.' made by the Jews of foreign birth against the native Jews, that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. The Twelve, therefore, called together the 2 general body of the disciples and said to them :
" It is not well for us to see to" the distribution at the tables and neglect God's Message. Therefore, Brothers, look for 3 seven men of reputation among yourselves, wise and spiri- tually-minded men, and we will appoint them to attend to this matter ; while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to 4 Prayer, and to the delivery of the Message."
This proposal was unanimously agreed to ; and the disciples 5 chose Stephen — a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit — and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a former convert to Judaism ; and they brought 6 these men to the Apostles, who, after praying, placed their hands on them.
So God's Message spread, and the number of the disciples 7
224 THE ACTS, 6—7.
continued to increase rapidly in Jerusalem, and a large body of the priests accepted the Faith.
sto hen's Meanwhile Stephen, divinely helped and streng- 8 Ministry'and thened, was showing great wonders and signs
Trial. among the people. But some members 9
of the Synagogue known as that of Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and Visitors from Cilicia and Roman Asia, were roused to action and began disputing with Stephen ; yet they 10 were quite unable to withstand the wisdom and the inspira- tion with which he spoke. Then they induced some men to n assert that they had heard Stephen saying blasphemous things against Moses, and against God ; and they stirred up the 12 people, as well as the Councillors and the Teachers of the Law, and set upon Stephen, and arrested him, and brought him before the High Council. There they produced witnesses 13 who gave false evidence.
"This man," they said, "is incessantly saying things against this Holy Place and the Law ; indeed, we have heard 14 him declare that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this Place, and change the customs handed down to us by Moses." The eyes of all the members of the Council were riveted upon 15 Stephen, and they saw his face looking like the face of an angel.
Stephen's Then the High Priest asked : " Is this true ?" i Defence. And, upon that, Stephen spoke as follows : 2
" Brothers and Fathers, hear what I have to say. God,
who manifests himself in the Glory, appeared to our an- cestor Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, and before he settled in Haran, and said to him — ' Leave your country 3 and your kindred, and come into the country that I will show you.' On this, Abraham left the country of the Chaldaeans 4 and settled in Haran ; and from there, after his father's death, God caused him to migrate into this very country, in which you are now living. God did not at that time give him any 5 part of it, not even a foot of ground. But he promised to ' give him possession of it and his descendants after him,' though at that time he had no child. God's words were 6 these — ' Abraham's descendants shall live in a foreign country, where they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years. But I myself will judge the nation, to which they will 7 be enslaved,' God said, 'and after that they shall leave the country and worship me in this place.'' Then God made with 8 Abraham the Covenant of Circumcision ; and under it Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him when he was eight days old ; and Isaac became the father of Jacob ; and
* P§. at). 3. * Gen. ia. i. • Deut. a. 5 ; Gen. 17. 8. *— 7 Gen. 15. 13—14. * Exod. 3. 13. 8 Gen. 7. 10; ai. 4.
THE ACTS, 7. 225
Jacob of the Twelve Patriarchs. The Patriarchs, out 9
of jealousy, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt ; but God was with him, and delivered him out of all his troubles, and 10 enabled him to win favour and show wisdom before Pharaoh, King of Egypt, who appointed him Governor of Egypt and of his whole household. Then a famine spread over the whole n of Egypt and Canaan, causing great distress, and our ancestors could find no food. Hearing, however, that there was corn 12 in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors there on their first visit. In 13 the course of their second visit, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh. Then 14 Joseph sent an urgent invitation to his father Jacob and to his relations, seventy-five persons in all ; and so Jacob went 15 down into Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also, and 16 their bodies were removed to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. As the time drew near 17
for the fulfilment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people increased largely in numbers in Egypt, until a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to the 18 throne. This king acted deceitfully towards our race and 19 ill-treated our ancestors, making them abandon their own infants, so that they should not be reared. It was just at this 20 time that Moses was born. He was an exceedingly beautiful child, and for three months was brought up in his own father's house ; and, when he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh 21 found him and brought him up as her own son. So Moses 22 was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and proved his ability both by his words and actions. When he 23
was in his fortieth year, he resolved to visit his brother Israelites ; and, seeing an Israelite ill-treated, he defended 24 him, and avenged the man, who was being wronged, by striking down the Egyptian. He thought his brothers 25 would understand that God was using him to save them ; but they failed to do so. The next day he again appeared 26 upon the scene, when some of them were fighting, and tried to make peace between them. 'Men,' he said, 'you are brothers ; how is it that you are ill-treating one another?' But the man who was ill-treating his fellow workman 27 pushed Moses aside saying — ' Who made you a ruler and judge over us ? Do you mean to make away with me as you 28 did yesterday with that Egyptian ? ' At these words Moses 29 took to flight, and became an exile in Midian ; and there he had two sons born to him. Forty years had passed 30
when there appeared to him, in the Desert of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he was 31
9 Gen. 37. ii, 28. 1° Gen. 39. 21 ; 41. 37, 40, 43, 55 ; Ps. 105. 21. 11—12 Gen. 42. 3 Gen. 45. i. !•*— 15 Gen. 46. 27; Exod. i. 6. 16 Joshua 24. 32; Gen. 50. 1 -19 Exod. I. 7—17. 20-29 Exod. 2. 2—15. 30 Exod. 3, I— IO. '
226 THE ACTS, 7.
astonished at the vision ; but on his going nearer to look at it more closely, the voice of the Lord was heard to say — ' I am 32 the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses trembled, and did not dare to look. Then 33 the Lord said to him — ' Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot where you are standing- is holy ground. I have seen the 34 oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. Come now and I will send you into Egypt.' This same Moses, 35
whom they had disowned with the words — ' Who made you a ruler and a judge ? ' was the very man whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, under the guidance of the angel that had appeared to him in the bush. He it was who led them 36 out, after he had shown wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the Desert during forty years. This was the 37 Moses who said to the people of Israel—' God will raise up for
S>u, from among your brothers, a Prophet, as he raised up me.' e, too, it was who was present at the assembly in the Desert, 38 with the angel who talked to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and who received living truths to impart to you. Yet our ancestors refused him obedience ; more than that, 39 they rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, while they said to Aaron — ' Make us Gods who will lead the 40 way for us, since, as for this Moses who has brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' That was 41 the time when they made the Calf and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held festivities in honour of their own handiwork ! So God turned from them and left them to the worship of the 42 Starry Host, as is written in the Book of the Prophets —
' Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me, O House of Israel,
All those forty years in the Desert ?
You took with you the tabernacle of Moloch 43
And the Star of the god Rephan —
The images which you had made to worship. Therefore I will exile you beyond Babylon.'
Our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Revelation in the 44 Desert, constructed, just as he who spoke to Moses had directed him to make it, after the model which he had seen. This 45 Tabernacle, which was handed down to them, was brought into this country by our ancestors who accompanied Joshua (at the conquest of the nations that God drove out before their advance), and remained here until the time of David. David 46 found favour with God, and prayed that he might find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who 47
*!— ** Exod. 3. i — to. M Exod. 3. 14. M Exod. 7. 3 ; 15. 4 ; Num. 14. -53.
»7 Deut. 18. 15. 3» Num. 14. 3. «-4i Exod. 33. 1—8. «-*» Jer. 8. 'a ;
Amos, 5. 35—37. ** Exod. 27. 21 ; Exod. 35. i, 40. *> Deut. 4. 38. <• P«. 133. 5.
THE ACTS, 7-8. 227
built a House for God. Yet it is not in buildings made by 48 hands that the Most High dwells. As the Prophet says —
' The heavens are a throne for me, 49
And the earth a stool for my feet. What manner of House will you build me, saith the Lord,
Or what place is there where I may rest ?
Was it not my hand that made all these things ? ' 50
O ! stubborn race, heathen in heart and ears, you are for 51 ever resisting the Holy Spirit ; your ancestors did it, and you are doing it still. Which of the Prophets escaped persecution 52 at their hands ? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One ; of whom you, in your turn, have now become the betrayers and murderers — you who received the 53 Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it."
Stephen's As they listened to this, the Council grew fnan- 54 •Martyrdom, tic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen. He, filled as he was with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes in- 55 tently on the heavens, and saw the Glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand.
"Look," he exclaimed, "I see Heaven open and the Son 56 of Man standing at God's right hand ! "
At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all 57 rushed upon him, forced him outside the city, and began to 58 stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, while he 59 cried to the Lord : " Lord Jesus ! receive my spirit ! " Falling on his knees, he called out loudly : 60
"Lord ! do not charge them with this sin ; " and with these words he fell asleep.
Saul approved of his being put to death. i 8
The First On that very day a great persecution broke out Persecution, against the Church which was in Jerusalem ; and its members, with the exception of the Apostles, were all scattered over the districts of Judaea and Samaria. Some 2 religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him. But Saul began to devastate the Church ; he entered house 3 after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.
Mi
Now those who were scattered in different •try'in directions went from place to place proclaiming
Philip's
Samaria, the Good News. Philip went down to the city of 5 Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ. The people, 6 one and all, listened attentively to what Philip told them, when they heard of, and saw, the miracles which he was
i Kings 6. i. O— so Isa. 66. 1—2. sl Exod. 33. 3 ; Jer. 9. 26 ; 6. 10 ; Isa. 63. 10.
228 THE ACTS, 8.
working. For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them ; and many who were paralyzed or lame were cured, so that there was great rejoicing- throughout that city.
There was staying in the city a man named Simon, who had been practising magic there and mystifying the Samari- tan people, giving himself out to be some great Being. Every one, high and low, paid attention to him. 'This man,' they used to say, ' must be that Power of God which men call " The Great Power.'" And they paid attention- to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts. However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them the Good News about the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon believed, and after his baptism -attached himself to Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great miracles constantly occurring.
When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the
antfjohn Samaritans had welcomed God's Message, they at sent Peter and John to them ; and they, on their
Samaria. arrival( prayed that the Samaritans might re- ceive the Holy Spirit. (As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them ; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon
saw that it was through the placing of the Apostles' hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said :
" Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands upon any one, he may receive the Holy Spirit."
"A curse upon you and upon your money," Peter ex- claimed, " for thinking that God's free gift can be bought with gold ! You have no share or part in our Message, for your 'heart is not right with God.' Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possi- ble, you may be forgiven for such a thought ; for I see that you have fallen into the ' bitterness of envy ' and the ' fetters of sin.'"
" Pray to the Lord for me, all of you," Simon answered, "so that none of the things you have spoken of may befall me."
Peter and John, having borne their testimony and delivered the Lord's Message, returned to Jerusalem, telling the Good News, as they went, in many Samaritan villages.
Philip Meanwhile an angel of the Lord had said to
and the Philip :
At>y..inian. «« §et out on & journey southwards, along the
21 P». 78. 37. » Deut. 39. 18 ; I«a. 58. 6.
THE ACTS, 8—9. 229
road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (It is now deserted).
So Philip set out on a journey ; and on his way he came upon 27 an official of high rank, in the service of Candace, Queen of the Abyssinians. He was her Treasurer, and had been to Jerusalem to worship, and was now on his way home, sitting 28 in his carriage and reading the Prophet Isaiah. The Spirit 29 said to Philip :
" Go up to the carriage yonder and keep close to it." So Philip ran up, and he heard the Abyssinian reading the 30 Prophet Isaiah.
" Do you understand what you are reading ? " he asked.
"How can I," the other answered, "unless some one will 31 explain it to me ? " and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side. The passage of Scripture which he was reading 32 was this —
' Like a sheep, he was led away to slaughter,
And as a lamb is dumb in the hands of its shearer, So he refrains from opening1 his lips.
In his lowly condition justice was denied him. 33
Who will tell the story of his generation ? For his life is cut off from earth.'
"Now," said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, "tell 34 me, of whom is the Prophet speaking ? Of himself, or of some one else ? "
Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told 35 him the Good News about Jesus. Presently, as they were 36 going along the road, they came to some water, and the Treasurer exclaimed :
" Look ! here is water ; what is to prevent my being bap- tized ? "
So he ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into 38 the water — both Philip and the Treasurer — and Philip baptized him. But, when they came' up out of the water, the Spirit of 39 the Lord caught Philip away, and the Treasurer saw no more of him ; for he continued his journey with a joyful heart. But 40 Philip was found at Ashdod, and, as he went on his way, he told the Good News in all the towns through which he passed, till he came to Caesarea.
soul's Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous
conversion, threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest, and asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorizing him, if he found there any supporters of the Cause, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem.
32-33 isa. S3. 7, 8.
230 THE ACTS, 9.
While on his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, sud- 3 denly a light from the heavens flashed around him. He fell 4 to the ground and heard a voice saying to him — " Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me ? "
" Who are you, Lord ? " he asked. 5
" I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," the voice an- swered ; "yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be 6 told what you must do."
The men travelling with Saul were meanwhile standing 7 speechless ; they heard the sound of the voice, but saw no one. When Saul got up from the ground, though his eyes were 8 open, he could see nothing. So his men led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus ; and for three days 9 he was unable to see, and took nothing either to eat or to drink.
u| Now there was at Damascus a disciple named 10
at Ananias, to whom, in a vision, the Lord said :
Damascus. "Ananias."
" Yes, Lord," he answered.
" Go at once," said the Lord, " to the ' Straight Street ', and n ask at Judas's house for a man named Saul, from Tarsus. He is at this moment praying, and he has seen, in a vision, a man 12 named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him, so that he may recover his sight."
" Lord," exclaimed Ananias, " I have heard from many 13 people about this man — how much harm he has done at Jerusalem to your People there. And, here, too, he holds 14 authority from the Chief Priests to put in chains all those who invoke your Name."
But the Lord said to him : "Go, for this man is my chosen 15 instrument to uphold my Name before the Gentiles and their kings, and the people of Israel. I will myself show him all 16 that he has to suffer for my Name."
So Ananias went, entered the house, and, placing his hands 17 on Saul, said :
" Saul, my Brother, I have been sent by the Lord — by Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here — so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Instantly it seemed as if a film fell from Saul's eyes, and his 18 sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and, 19 after he had taken food, he felt his strength return.
Saul stayed for some days with the disciples who were at Damascus, and at once began in the Synagogues to pro- 20 claim Jesus as the Son of God. All who heard him were 21 amazed.
" Is not this," they asked, " the man who worked havoc in Jerusalem among those that invoke this Name, and who had
THE ACTS, 9. 231
also come here for the express purpose of having such persons put in chains and taken before the Chief Priests ? " Saul's influence, however, kept steadily increasing, and he 22 confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by the proofs that he gave that Jesus was the Christ.
After some time the Jews laid a plot to kill Saul, but it 23 became known to him. They even watched the gates day 24 and night, to kill him ; but his disciples let him down by 25 night through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
saui at ^n h*s ari"ival in Jerusalem, Saul attempted to 26 Jerusalem join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, and Tarsus. as they did not believe that he was really a dis- ciple. Barnabas, however, taking him by the hand, brought 27 him to the Apostles, and told them the whole story of how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord, and how the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out fear- lessly in the Name of Jesus. After that, Saul remained in 28 Jerusalem, in close intercourse with the Apostles ; and he 29 spoke fearlessly in the Name of the Lord, talking and argu- ing with the Jews of foreign birth, who, however, made attempts to kill him. But, when the Brethren found this out, 30 they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him on his way to Tarsus.
And so it came about that the Church, throughout Judaea, 31 Galilee, and Samaria, enjoyed peace and became firmly estab- lished ; and, ordering its life by reverence for the Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Peter, while travelling from place to place 32 MiTac*««"at throughout the country, went down to visit the
Lydda People of Christ living at Lydda. There he found 33 and jatra. a jjj^ named Aeneas, who had been bed-ridden
for eight years with paralysis.
"Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ cures you. Get 34
up, and make your bed."
Aeneas got up at once ; and all the inhabitants of Lydda and 35
of the Plain of Sharon saw him, and came over to the Lord's
side.
At Jaffa there lived a disciple whose name was Tabitha, 36 which is in Greek 'Dorcas' — a Gazelle. Her life was spent in doing kind and charitable actions. Just at that time she 37 was taken ill, and died ; and they had washed her body and laid it out in an upstairs room. Jaffa was near Lydda, 38
232 THE ACTS, 9-1O.
and the disciples, having heard that Peter was at Lydda, sent two men with the request that he would come on to them with- out delay. Peter returned with them at once. On his arrival, 39 he was taken upstairs, and all the widows came round him in tears, showing the coats and other clothing which Dorcas had made while she was among them. But Peter sent everybody 40 out of the room, and knelt down and prayed. Then, turning to the body, he said :
"Tabitha! stand up."
She opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up. Giving her 41 his hand, Peter raised her up, and, calling in the widows and others of Christ's People, presented her to them alive. This 42 became known all through Jaffa, and numbers of people came to believe in the Lord. And Peter stayed some days 43
at Jaffa with a tanner named Simon.
Peter There was then in Caesarea a man named i
and Cornelius, a Captain in the regiment known
Cornelius. as tne ' Italian Regiment,' a religious man and 2 one who reverenced God, with all his household. He was liberal in his charities to the people, and prayed to God con- stantly. One afternoon, about three o'clock, he distinctly saw 3 in a vision an angel from God come to him, and call him by name. Cornelius fixed his eyes on him and, in great alarm, 4 said : " What is it, Lord ? "
"Your prayers and your charities," the angel answered, "have been an- acceptable offering to God. And now, send 5 messengers to Jaffa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter. He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, 6 who has a house near the sea."
When the angel, who had spoken to him, had gone, Cornelius 7 called two menservants and a religious soldier, who was one of his constant attendants, and, after telling them the whole 8 story, sent them to Jaffa.
On the next day, while these men were on their way, just 9 as they were nearing the town, Peter went up on the house- top about mid-day to pray. He became hungry and wanted 10 something to eat ; but, while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance, and saw that the heavens were open, and that some- n thing like a great sail was descending, let down by its four corners towards the earth. In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, 12 reptiles, and birds. Then he was aware of a voice which said 13 — "Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat."
" No, Lord, I cannot," answered Peter, "for I have never 14 eaten anything ' defiled ' and ' unclean '."
Again he was aware of a voice which said — "What God 15 has pronounced ' clean ', do not regard as ' defiled '."
* Enoch 99. 3.
THE ACTS, 1O. 233
This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all 16 taken up into the heavens.
While Peter was still perplexed as to the meaning of the 17 vision that he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius, having enquired the way to Simon's house, came up to the gate, and 18 called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there. Peter was still pondering 19
over the vision, when the Spirit said to him :
"There are two men looking for you at this moment. Go 20 down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Peter went down to the men and said : 21
' ' I am the man for whom you are looking. What is your reason for coming ? " The men replied : 22
"Our captain, Cornelius, a pious man who reverences God and is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, has been instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house, and to listen to what you have to say." Upon this Peter invited them in and entertained them. 23
The next day he lost no time in setting out with them, accompanied by some of the Brethren from Jaffa ; and the 24 day following he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them, and had invited his relations and intimate friends to meet them. So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius 25
met him, and, throwing himself at Peter's feet, bowed to the ground. Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so : 26
" Stand up, I am only a man like yourself."
Talking with him as he went, Peter entered the house, where 27 he found a large gathering of people, to whom he said : 28
"You are doubtless aware that it is forbidden for a Jew to be intimate with a foreigner, or even to enter his house ; and yet God has shown me that I ought not to call any man 'defiled' or 'unclean.' That was why I came, when I 29 was sent for, without raising any objection. And now I ask your reason for sending for me."
"Just three days ago this very hour," Cornelius said, "I 30 was in my house, saying the Afternoon Prayers, when a man in dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me. 'Cornelius,' 31 he said, ' your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God. Therefore send to Jaffa, and invite 32 the Simon, who is also known as Peter, to come here. He is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, near the sea.' Accordingly I sent to you at once, and you have been so good 33 as to come. And now we are all here in the presence of God, to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say." Then Peter began. 34
"I see, beyond all doubt," he said, "that 'God does not w Deut. 10. 17.
1°
234 THE ACTS, 1O— 11,
show partiality,' but that in every nation he who reverences 35 him and does what is right is acceptable to him. God has 36 sent his Message to the Israelites and told them, through Jesus Christ, the Good News of peace — and Jesus is Lord of all ! You yourselves know the story which spread through all 37 Judaea, how, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed — the story, I mean, of Jesus of Nazareth, 38 and how God consecrated him his Christ by enduing him with the Holy iSpirit and with power ; and how he went about doing good and curing all who were under the power of the Devil, because God was with him. We are ourselves, too, 39 witnesses to all that he did in Judaea and in Jerusalem ; yet they put him to death by hanging him on a cross ! This Jesus 40 God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear, not 41 indeed to every one, but to witnesses chosen beforehand by God — to us, who ate and drank with him after his resurrec- tion from the dead. Further, God charged us to proclaim to 42 the people, and solemnly affirm, that it is Jesus who has been appointed by God Judge of the living and the dead. To him 43 it is that all the Prophets bear witness, when they say that every one who believes in him receives through his Name forgiveness of sins."
First Before Peter had finished' saying these words, 44
conversion the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to of Gentile*. ^jie Message. Those converts from Judaism, 45 who had come with Peter, were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed even upon the Gentiles ; for 46 they heard them speaking with ' tongues ' and extolling God. At this Peter asked :
"Can any one refuse the water for the baptism of -these 47 people, now that they have received the Holy Spirit as we did ourselves ? "
And he directed that they should be baptized in the Faith of 48 Jesus Christ ; after which they asked him to stay there a few days longer.
The Apostles and the Brethren throughout i or Judaea heard that even the Gentiles had wel-
HiB Action, corned God's Message. But, when Peter 2
went up to Jerusalem, those who were converts from Judaism began to attack him on the ground that he had visited people 3 who were not circumcised, and had taken meals with them. So Peter began to relate the facts to them as they had oc- 4 curred.
" I was in the town of Jaffa," he said, " and was praying ; 5 and, while in a trance, I saw a vision. There was something like a great sail descending, let down by its four corners put of the heavens ; and it came right down to me. Looking 6
*• P». 147. 18—19 ; Isa. 52. 7. *8 Isa. 61. i. » Deut. ai. a*.
THE ACTS, 11. 225
intently at it, I began to distinguish quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds ; and I also heard a voice saying to 7 me — 'Stand up, Peter, kill something and eat.' 'No, Lord, 8 I cannot,' I answered, ' for nothing ' defiled ' or ' unclean ' has ever passed my lips.' Then a second time there came a voice 9 from the heavens. "What God has pronounced 'clean'," it said, "you must not call 'defiled'." This happened three 10 times, and then all was drawn up again into the heavens. At that moment three men, who had been sent from Caesarea n to see me, came up to the house in which we were. The 12 Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six Brothers also went with me. And, when we came into the man's house, he told us how he had seen the angel 13 standing in his house, and how the angel had said to him — ' Send to Jaffa and fetch the Simon, who is also known as Peter ; for he will tell you truths, which will prove the 14 means of Salvation to you and all your household.' I had 15 but just begun to speak," continued Peter, "when the Holy Spirit fell on them, exactly as on us at the first ; and I recalled 16 the saying of the Master — 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' Since then, God 17 had given them the very same gift as he gave us when we became believers in Jesus Christ the Master — who was I that I could thwart God ? "
On hearing this statement, they said no more, but broke out 18 into praise of God. "So even to the Gentiles," they ex- claimed, "God has granted the repentance which leads to Life ! "
'Christians' Now those who had been scattered in different 19
atAntioch. directions, in consequence of the persecution that followed upon the death of Stephen, went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the Message — but only to Jews. Some of them, however, who were men of 20
Cyprus and Cyrene, on coming to Antioch, addressed them- selves also to the Jews of foreign birth, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with 21 them, so that a great number who had learnt to believe came over to the Lord's side. The news about them reached 22
the ears of the Church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. On coming there he saw to his great joy 23 these tokens of the loving-kindness of God, and encouraged them all to make up their minds to be faithful to the Lord — for 24 Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith — and a large number of people took their stand on the Lord's side. Afterwards Barnabas left for Tarsus to look 25 for Saul ; and, when he had found him, he brought him to 26
iSWisd. of Sol. 12. 10.
236 THE ACTS, 11-12.
Antioch. And so it came about that, for a whole year, they attended the meetings of the Church there, and taught a large number of people ; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ' Christians.'
During this time, some Prophets came to 27 Barnabaeand Antioch from Jerusalem. One of them, named 28 Saul to Agabus, came forward and, under the influence Judaea. Qf ^e Spirit, foretold a great famine that was to spread over all the world — a famine which occurred in the reign of Claudius. So the disciples, without exception, deter- 29 mined, in proportion to their means, to send something to help the Brethren living in Judaea. And this they did, sending it to 30 the Officers of the Church by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Persecution It was at that time that King Herod began to i of the illtreat some of the members of the Church. He 2
ChHerodby had James, the brother of John, beheaded ; and, 3
Agrippa i. when he saw that the Jews were pleased with this, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the Festival of the Unleavened Bread.) After seizing Peter, Herod 4 put him in prison, and entrusted him to the keeping of four Guards of four soldiers each, intending, after the Passover, to bring him up before the people. So Peter was kept in prison, 5 but meanwhile the prayers of the Church were being earnestly offered to God on his behalf. Just when Herod was 6
intending to bring him before the people, on that very night Peter was asleep between two soldiers, chained to them both, while there were sentries in front of the door, guarding the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a 7 light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side, and roused him with the words : " Get up quickly." The chains dropped from his wrists, and then the angel said : 8 " Put on your girdle and sandals."
When Peter had done so, the angel added: "Throw your cloak round you and follow me."
Peter followed him out, not knowing that what was 9 happening under the angel's guidance was real, but thinking that he was seeing a vision. Passing the first Guard, and 10 then the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself; and, when they had passed through that, and had walked along one street, all at once the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said : 1 1
" Now I know beyond all doubt that the Lord has sent his angd, and has rescued me from Herod's hands and from all that the Jewish people have been expecting."
THE ACTS, 12-18. 237
As soon as he realized what had happened, he went to the 12 house of Mary, the mother of John who was also known as Mark, where a number of people were gathered together, praying. On his knocking at the door in the gate, a maid- 13 servant, named Rhoda, came to answer it. She recognized 14 Peter's voice, but in her joy left the gate unopened, and ran in, and told them that Peter was standing outside.
" You are mad ! " they exclaimed. 15
But, when she persisted that it was so, they said :
" It must be his spirit ! "
Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, and, when they opened 16 the gate and saw him, they were amazed. Peter signed to 17 them with his hand to be silent, and then told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, adding :
"Tell James and the Brethren all this."
Then he left the house, and went away to another place. In 18
the morning there was a great stir among the soldiers — what could have become of Peter ! And, when Herod had 19 made further search for him and failed to find him, he closely questioned the Guard, and ordered them away to execution. Then he went down from Judaea to stay at Caesarea.
Herod'* It happened that Herod was deeply offended 20 Death. with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but they went in a body to him, and, having succeeded in winning over Blastus, the Chamberlain, they begged Herod for a recon- ciliation, because their country was dependent on the King's for its food-supply. On an appointed day Herod, wearing his 21 state-robes, seated himself on his throne, and delivered an oration. The people kept shouting : " It is the voice of God, 22 and not of a man ! "
Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not 23 give God the glory ; and he was attacked with worms, and died.
Meanwhile the Lord's Message kept extending, and spread- 24 ing far and wide.
When Barnabas and Saul had carried out their mission, 25 they returned to Jerusalem, and took with them John, who was also known as Mark.
II. — THE CHURCH AND THE GENTILES. Doings of the Apostle Paul.
PAUL'S FIRST Among the members of the Church at Antioch
MISSIONARY there were several Prophets and Teachers —
JOURNEY. Barnabas, Simeon who was known by the name
TH« start of ' Black ', Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, foster-
from Antioch. brother of Prince Herod, and Saul. While
238 THE ACTS, 13.
they were engaged in the worship of the Lord and were fasting, the Holy Spirit said :
"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them."
Accordingly, after fasting and prayer, they placed their hands 3 on them and dismissed them.
Paul and Barnabas and Saul, sent on this mission, as 4 Barnabas at they were, by the Holy Spirit, went down to
Cyprus. Seleucia, and from there sailed to Cyprus. On 5 reaching Salamis, they began to tell the Message of God in the Jewish Synagogues ; and they had John with them as an assistant.
After passing through the whole island, they reached Paphos, 6 where they found an astrologer who pretended to be a Prophet — a Jew by birth, whose name was Barjoshua. He was at 7 the court of the Governor, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelli- gence, who sent for Barnabas and Saul and asked to be told God's Message. But Elymas, the astrologer (for that is the 8 meaning of the word), opposed them, eager to divert the Governor's attention from the Faith. However, Saul (who is 9 the same as Paul), full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on him and said : 10
"You incarnation of deceit and all fraud ! You son of the Devil ! You opponent of all that is good ! Will you never cease to divert ' the straight paths of the Lord ' ? Listen ! The hand of the Lord is upon you even now, and you will be n blind for a time and unable to see the sun." Immediately a mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went feeling about for some one to guide him. When the Governor 12 saw what had happened, he became a believer in Christ, being greatly impressed by the teaching about the Lord.
After this, Paul and his companions set sail 13 BaTiTaba's'at from Paphos and went to Perga in Pamphylia, pisidian where John left them and returned to Jerusa- Antiooh. iern. The others went on from Perga and 14
arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. There they went into the Syna- gogue on the Sabbath and took their seats. After the reading 15 of the Law and the Prophets, the Presidents of the Synagogue sent them this message — " Brothers, if you have any helpful words to address to the people, now is the time to speak." So Paul rose and, motioning with his hand, spoke as follows : 16
" Men of Israel and all here who reverence God, hear what I have to say. The God of this people Israel chose 17
our ancestors, and during their stay in Egypt increased the prosperity of the people, and then ' with uplifted arm brought them out from that land.' For about rorty years ' he bore with 18 10 Hos. 14. 9. » Exod. 6. 6. W Deut. i. 31.
THE ACTS, 13. 239
them in the Desert ' ; then, after destroying seven heathen 19 nations in Canaan, he allotted their land to this people — for about four hundred and fifty years. In later times he gave 20 them Judges, of whom the Prophet Samuel was the last. And, 21 when they demanded a king, God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. After removing him, he raised David to the throne, 22 and bore this testimony to him—' In David, the son of Jesse, I have found a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my purposes.' It was from this man's descendants 23 that God, in accordance with his promise, gave Israel a Saviour — Jesus ; John having first proclaimed, before the 24 appearance of Jesus, a baptism upon repentance for all the people of Israel. As John was drawing towards the end of 25 his career, he said ' What do you suppose that I am ? I am not the Christ. But there is ' ' One Coming " after me, whose very sandal I am not worthy to untie.' Brothers, 26
descendants of Abraham, and all those among you who re- verence God, it was to us that the Message of this Salvation was sent. The people of Jerusalem and their leading men, 27 failing to recognize Jesus, and not understanding the utter- ances of the Prophets that are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. They found no ground at all 28 for putting him to death, and yet demanded his execution from Pilate ; and, after carrying out everything written 29 about him, they took Jesus down from the cross, and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead ; and 30, he appeared for many days to those who had gone up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and who are now witnesses for him to the people. We also have good news to tell you, 32 about the promise made to our ancestors — that our children 33 have had this promise completely fulfilled to them by God, by his raising Jesus. That is just what is said in the second Psalm—
' Thou art my Son ; this day I have become thy Father.'
As to his raising Jesus from the dead, never again to return 34 to corruption, this is what is said —
' I will give to you the sacred promises made to David ; '
and, therefore, in another Psalm it is said — 35
' Thou wilt not give up thy Holy One to undergo corruption.'
David, after obediently doing God's will in his own time, ' fell 36 asleep and was laid by the side of his ancestors', and did
undergo corruption ; but Jesus, whom God raised from the 37
dead, did not undergo corruption. I would, therefore, 38
19 Dcut. 7. i; Joshua 14. i. 22 Ps. 80. 20; i Sam. 13. 14. 26 ps. z,8. ,6. 33 ps. 2. 7. « Isa. 55. 3. 35 Ps. j6. 10. 30 i Kings x. 10.
240 THE ACTS, 18-14.
have you know, Brothers, that through Jesus forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, and that, in union with him, 39 every one who believes in him is absolved from every sin from which under the Law of Moses you could not be absolved. Beware, therefore, that what is said in the Prophets does not 40 come true of you —
4 Look, you despisers, and wonder, and perish ; 41
For I am doing" a deed in your days — A deed which, though told you in full, you will never believe '."
As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the Synagogue, the 42 people begged for a repetition of this teaching on the next Sabbath. After the congregation had dispersed, many of the 43 Jews, and of the converts who joined in their worship, followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue to rely upon the loving-kindness of God.
On the following Sabbath, almost all the city gathered to 44 hear God's Message. But the sight of the crowds of people 45 filled the minds of the Jews with jealousy, and they kept con- tradicting Paul's statements in violent language. Then Paul 46 and Barnabas spoke out fearlessly, and said :
" It was necessary that the Message of God should be told to you first ; but, since you reject it and reckon yourselves not worthy of the Immortal Life — we turn to the Gentiles ! For 47 this is the Lord's command to us —
' I have destined thee for a Light to the Gentiles, A means of Salvation to the ends of the earth '."
On hearing this, the Gentiles were glad and extolled God's 48 Message ; and all those who had been enrolled for Immortal Life became believers in Christ ; and the Lord's Message was 49 carried throughout that district. But the Jews incited the 50 women of position who worshipped with them, and the leading men of the town, and started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their neighbour- hood. They, however, shook the dust off their feet in protest, 51 and went to Iconium, leaving the disciples full of joy and of 52 the Holy Spirit.
p^, The same thing occurred in Iconium, where i
and Barnabas Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish Syna- «t iconium. gogue, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed in Christ. But the 2 Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles, and poisoned their minds against the Brethren. Therefore Paul 3 and Barnabas spent a long time there, and spoke out fear- lessly, relying upon the Lord, who confirmed the Message of his Love by permitting signs and wonders to take place at
« Hab. i. 5. « lea. 49. 6.
THE ACTS, 14. 241
their hands. But the townspeople were divided, some siding 4 with the Jews, some with the Apostles ; and, when there was 5 an attempt on the part of both Gentiles and Jews, with their leading men, to resort to violence and to stone them, the 6 Apostles heard of it, and took refuge in Lystra and Derbe, towns in Lycaonia, and in the district round, and there they 7 continued to tell the Good News.
In the streets of Lystra there used to sit a 8 and Barnabas man who had no power in his feet ; he had been
at Lystra. lame from his birth, and had never walked. This 9 man was listening to Paul speaking, when Paul, fixing his eyes on him, and seeing that he had the faith to be healed, said loudly : " Stand upright on your feet." 10
The man leaped up, and began walking about, and the n crowd, seeing what Paul had done, called out in the Lycaonian language :
"The Gods have made themselves like men and have come down to us."
So they called Barnabas 'Zeus,' and Paul ' Hermes,' because 12 he took the lead in speaking ; and the priest of Zeus- 13 beyond-the-Walls, accompanied by the crowd, brought bul- locks and garlands to the gates, with the intention of offering sacrifices. But, when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul 1,4 heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd.
"Friends, why are you doing this?" they shouted. "We 15 are only men like yourselves, and we have come with the Good News that you should turn away from these follies to a living God, ' who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them.' In bygone times he permitted all 16 the nations to go their own ways. Yet he has not failed to 17 give you, in the good he does, some revelation of himself — sending you from Heaven rain and fruitful seasons, and gladdening your hearts with plenty and good cheer." Even with this appeal they could hardly restrain the people 18 from offering sacrifice to them.
Presently, however, there came some Jews from Antioch 19 and Iconium who, after they had won over the people, stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the town, thinking him to be dead. But, when the disciples had gathered round him, he got 20 up and went back into the town ; the next day he went with
Barnabas to Derbe. After telling the Good 21
Ba"nabas News throughout that town, and making a return number of converts, they returned to Lystra,
^AntTocn*" Iconium> a°d Antioch, reassuring the minds of 22
the disciples, urging them to remain true to the Faith, and showing that it is only through many troubles that we can enter the Kingdom of God. They also appointed Officers 23
IB Ps. 146. 5—6.
242 THE ACTS, 14-15.
for them in every Church, and, after prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had learnt to believe". Paul and Barnabas then went through Pisidia, and 24 came into Pamphylia, and, after telling the Message at Perga, 25
went down to Attaleia. From there they sailed to 26 Barnabas Antioch — the place where they had been com-
mitted to the gracious care of God for the work
at Syrian which they had now finished. After their 27
Antioch. arr;vai( they gathered the Church together, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do, and especially how he had opened to the Gentiles the door of faith ; and at Antioch they stayed with the disciples for a 28 considerable time.
council ^u' cei"tain persons came down from Judaea, i at and began to teach the Brethren that, unless
Jerusalem, they were circumcised, in accordance with the custom enjoined by Moses, they could not be saved. This 2 gave rise to a serious dispute, and much discussion, between Paul and Barnabas and these men, and it was therefore settled that Paul and Barnabas and others of their number should go up to Jerusalem, to consult the Apostles and Officers of the Church about the matter under discussion.
The Church, therefore, sent them on their journey, and they 3 made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the story of the conversion of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the Brethren. On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were 4 welcomed by the Church, as well as by the Apostles and the Officers, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do. Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who 5
had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.
The Apostles and the Officers of the Church held a meeting 6 to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter 7
rose and said :
"You, my Brothers, know well that long ago God singled me out — that through my lips the Gentiles should hear the Message of the Good News, and become believers in Christ. Now God, who reads all hearts, declared his acceptance 8 of the Gentiles, by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between them and 9 us, when he purified their hearts • by their faith. Why, 10 then, do you now provoke God, by putting on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our ancestors nor we were
THE ACTS, 15. 243
able to bear? No, it is through the loving-ferygiess of the n Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that'ie Fhave been saved." Rx>
Every voice in the assembly was hushed, as tfviy listened 12 to Barnabas and Paul, while they gave an account .of all the signs and wonders which God had shown among the Gentiles through them. After they had finished speaking, James 13
addressed the Council.
"Brothers," he began, " hear what I have to say. Simon 14 has described the manner in which God first visited the Gentiles, in order to take from among them a people to bear his Name. And that is in harmony with the words of the 15 Prophets, where they say —
' " After this I will return ; 16
And I will rebuild the House of David which has fallen — Its very ruins I will rebuild,
And will set it up once more ;
That so the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord — 17
Even all the Gentiles on whom my Name has been bestowed,"
Says the Lord, as he does these things, foreknown from of old.' 18
In my judgement, therefore, we should not add to the 19 difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we 20 should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eat- ing the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood. For in 21 every town, for generations past, there have been those who preach Moses, read as he is in the Synagogues every Sabbath."
It was then decided by the Apostles and the Officers, with the 22 assent of the whole Church, to choose some of their number, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Those chosen were Judas (called Barsabas) and Silas, who were leading men among the Brethren. They were bearers of the 23 following letter —
' The Apostles, and the Brothers who are the Officers of the Church, send their greetings to the Brethren of Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. As we had heard that some of our number had upset 24
you by their assertions, and unsettled your minds — without instructions from us — we met and decided to 25
choose certain men and send them to you with our dear brothers Barnabas and Paul, who have sacrificed 26
themselves for the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are accordingly sending Judas and Silas, and 27
they will tell you by word of mouth what we are now writing. We have, therefore, decided, under the 28
guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden
16— isjer. I2. ,5; Amos 9. n — 12; Isa. 45. 21.
244 THE ACTS, 15-16.
upon $n evtyond these necessary conditions — that you 29
abstaid tlom food offered to idols, from blood, from eatingjauhe flesh of strangled animals, and from impurP.y. If you guard yourselves against such things, it will be well with you. Farewell.'
So the bearers of this letter were sent on their way, and 30 went down to Antioch. There they called a meeting of all the Brethren, and delivered the letter, the reading of which caused 31 great rejoicing by its encouraging contents. Judas and Silas, 32 who were themselves Prophets, further encouraged the Brethren by many an address, and strengthened their faith. After some stay, they were dismissed with kind farewells from 33 the Brethren, and returned to those who had sent them.
Paul and Barnabas, however, remained in Antioch, where 35 they taught and, with the help of many others, told the Good News of the Lord's Message.
Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas : 36 o, " Let us go back, and visit the Brethren in
SECOND &. , . ; ... , T ,,
MISSIONARY every town in which we have told the Lord s JOURNEY. Message, and see how they are prospering."
Paul Barnabas wished to take with them John, 37 separates whose other name was Mark ; but Paul felt 38 B rnaba ^iat ^^ ou&ht not to take with them the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to their work. This caused such 39 unpleasant feeling between them that they parted, Barnabas taking Mark and sailing for Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas 40 for his companion and, after he had been committed by the Brethren to the gracious care of the Lord, started on his journey and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches in the Faith.
Paul joined Among other places Paul went to Derbe by Timothy and Lystra. At the latter place they found a at Lyatra. disciple, named Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess who had become a believer in Christ, while his father was a Greek, and who was well spoken of by the Brethren in 2 Lystra and Iconium. Wishing to take this man with him on 3 his journey, Paul caused him to be circumcised on account of the Jews in that neighbourhood, for they all knew that his father had been a Greek. As they travelled from town 4
to town, they gave the Brethren the decisions which had been reached by tne Apostles and Officers of the Church at Jerusalem, for them to observe.
So the Churches grew stronger in the Faith, and increased 5 in numbers from day to day.
THE ACTS, 16. 245
They next went through the Phrygian district 6 determines °f Galatia, but were restrained by the Holy Spirit to cross to from delivering the Message in Roman Asia. Macedonia, when they reached the borders of Mysia, they 7 attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. Passing through Mysia, they went down to 8 Troas ; and there one night Paul saw a vision. A Macedonian 9 was standing and appealing to him — ' Come over to Mace- donia and help us.' So, immediately after Paul had seen the 10 vision, we looked for an opportunity to cross over to Mace- donia, concluding that God had summoned us to tell the Good News to the people there.
Paul at Accordingly we set sail from Troas, and ran u
phiiippi. before the wind to Samothrace, reaching Neapolis the next day. From there we made our way to Phiiippi, 12 which is the principal city of that part of Macedonia, and also a Roman Settlement.
In that city we spent several days. On the Sabbath we 13 went outside the gate to the river-side, where we supposed there would be a Place of Prayer ; and we sat down and talked to the women who were gathered there. Among 14 them was a woman, named Lydia, belonging to Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth, who was accustomed to join in the worship of God. The Lord touched this woman's heart, so that she gave attention to the Message delivered by Paul, and, 15 when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us to become her guests.
"Since you have shown your conviction," she said, "that I really am a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house." And she insisted on our doing so.
One day, as we were on our way to the Place of Prayer, we 16 were met by a girl possessed by a divining spirit, who made large profits for her masters by fortune-telling. This girl 17 followed Paul and the rest of us, calling out :
"These men are servants of the most high God, and they are bringing you news of a way to Salvation." She had been doing this for several days, when Paul, much 18 vexed, turned and said to the spirit within her :
" In the Name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave her." That very moment the spirit left her. When her 19
masters saw that there was no hope of further profit from her, they seized Paul and Silas, dragged them into the public square to the authorities, and took them before the Magistrates. 20
"These men are causing a great disturbance in our town," they complained; "they are Jews, and they are teaching 21 customs which it is not right for us, as Romans, to sanction or adopt." On this the mob rose as one man against them, and the 22
246 THE ACTS, 16-17.
Magistrates stripped them of their clothing- and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After beating- them severely, the 23 Magistrates put them in prison, with orders to the Governor of the Gaol to keep them in safe custody. On receiving so 24 strict an order, the Governor put them into the inner cell, and secured their feet in the stocks. About midnight, while 25
Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and while the prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was 26 an earthquake of such violence that the Gaol was shaken to its foundations ; all the doors flew open, and all the prisoners' chains were loosened. Roused from his sleep, and seeing the 27 prison doors open, the Governor drew his sword intending to kill himself, in the belief that the prisoners had escaped. But 28 Paul called out loudly :
" Do not harm yourself; we are all here."
Calling for a light, the Governor rushed in, and flung himself 29 trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. Then he led them 30 out, and said :
" What must I do to be saved ? "
" Believe in Jesus, our Lord," they replied, "and you shall 31 be saved, you and your household too."
Then they spoke to him of God's Message, and to all his 32 household as well. And that very hour of the night he took 33 them and washed their wounds, and he himself and every one belonging to him were baptized without delay. Afterwards he 34 took them up to his house and set before them something to eat, rejoicing that he, with all his household, had come to believe in God. In the morning the Magistrates sent the 35
police with an order for the men to be discharged. The 36 Governor of the Gaol told Paul of his instructions.
"The Magistrates have sent an order for your discharge," he said, "so you had better leave the place at once and go quietly away." But Paul's answer to them was : 37
"They have flogged us in public without trial, though we are Roman citizens, and they have put us in prison, and now they are for sending us out secretly ! No, indeed ! Let them come and take us but themselves."
The police reported his words to the Magistrates, who, on 38 hearing that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, were alarmed, and went to the prison, and did their best to con- 39 ciltate them. Then they took them out, and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they went 40 to Lydia's house, and, after they had seen the Brethren, and encouraged them, they left the place.
p»ui at After passing through Amphipolis and Apol- i Tho«..ionica. Ionia, Paul and Silas came to Thessalomca. Here the Jews had a Synagogue ; and, following his usual 2
THE ACTS, 17. 247
custom, Paul joined them, and for three Sabbaths addressed them, drawing his arguments from the Scriptures. He laid 3 before them and explained that the Christ must undergo suffering and rise from the dead ; and "It is this man," he declared, "who is the Christ — this Jesus about whom I am telling you."
Some of the people were convinced, and threw in their lot with 4 Paul and Silas, as did also a large body of Greeks who were accustomed to join in the Jewish services, and a great number of women belonging to the leading families. But the 5
Jews, becoming jealous, engaged some worthless fellows from the streets, and, getting a mob together, kept the city in an uproar. They attacked Jason's house, with the intention of bringing Paul and Silas before the Popular Assembly ; and, 6 not finding them there, they proceeded to drag Jason and some of the Brethren before the City Magistrates, shouting out :
"These men, who have turned the world upside down, have now come here, and have been harboured by Jason ! They are 7 all defying the decrees of the Emperor. They say that some one else is king — a man called Jesus ! "
On hearing this, the people and the City Magistrates were 8 much concerned ; and, before letting them go, they took bail 9 from Jason and the others.
Paul That very night the Brethren sent Paul and 10
at Beroea Silas off to Beroea ; and on reaching that place, they went to the Jewish Synagogue. These Jews of Beroea n were better disposed than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the Message with great readiness, and daily ex- amined the Scriptures to see if what was said was true. As a 12 consequence, many of them became believers in Christ, besides a considerable number of Greek women of position, and of men also. But, when the Jews of Thessalonica found out 13
that God's Message had been delivered by Paul at Beroea, they came there too, exciting and disturbing the minds of the people. Immediately upon that, the Brethren sent Paul off 14 on his way to the sea coast, but both Silas and Timothy stayed behind in Beroea. The friends who escorted Paul took 15 him as far as Athens, and, after receiving a message for Silas and Timothy to join him as quickly as possible, they started on their return.
Paul While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, 16
at Athens, his heart was stirred at seeing the whole city full of idols. So he argued in the Synagogue with the Jews and 17 with those who joined in their worship, as well as daily in the public Square with those who happened to be there. Among others, some Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers joined 18 issue with him. Some would ask "What is this prater
248 THE ACTS, 17.
wanting to make out?", while others would say "He seems to be a Preacher of foreign Deities." (This was because he was telling the Good News about Jesus and the Resurrec- tion). So they laid hold of him and took him to the Court of 19 Areopagus.
"May we hear," they asked, "what new teaching this is which you are giving? For you are bringing some strange 20 things to our notice, and we should like to know what they mean."
(All Athenians and the foreigners staying in the city found no 21 time for anything else but telling, or listening to, the last new thing.) So Paul took his stand in the middle of the Court, 22 and said —
" Men of Athens, on every hand I see signs of your being very devout. For as I was going about, looking at your 23 sacred shrines, I came upon an altar with this inscription — 'To AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What, therefore, you worship in ignorance, that I am now proclaiming to you. The God 24 who made the world and all things that are in it — he, Lord as he is of Heaven and Earth, does not dwell in Temples made by hands, nor yet do human hands minister to his 25 wants, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives, to all, life, and breath, and all things. He made all races of 26 men from one stock, apd caused them to settle on all parts of the earth's surface — fixing a time for their rise and fall, and the limits of their settlements — that they might search for God, 27 if by any means they might feel their way to him and find him. And yet he is not really far from any one of us ; for in him 28 we live and move and are. To use the words of some of your own poets —
' His offspring, too, are we.'
Therefore, as the offspring of God, we must not think that 29 the Deity has any resemblance to anything made of gold, or silver, or stone — a work of human art and imagination. True, God looked with indulgence on the days of men's ignor- 30 ance, but now he is announcing to every one everywhere the need for repentance, because he has fixed a day on which he 31 intends to 'judge the world with justice,' by a man whom he has appointed — and of this he has given all men a pledge by raising this man from the dead."
On hearing of a resurrection of the dead, some began jeering, 32 but others said that they would hear what he had to say about that another time. And so Paul left the Court. There were, 33, however, some men who joined him, and became believers in Christ. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Court of Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and several others.
»« P». 146. 5—6. 26 iga. 4a. &. 96 Gen. 9. 19. » Aratus 5. »i Pa. 9. 8 ;
4a. &. 96 Gen. 9. Enoch 41. 9.
THE ACTS, 18. 249
Pau| On leaving- Athens, Paul next went to Corinth, i j
at There he met a Jew of the name of Aquila, a 2
Corinth. native of Pontus, who, with his wife Priscilla, had lately come from Italy, in consequence of the order which had been issued by the Emperor Claudius for all Jews to leave Rome. Paul paid them a visit, and, since their trade was the 3 same as his, he stayed and worked with them — their trade was tent-making-. Every Sabbath Paul gave addresses in the 4 Synagogue, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks.
But, when Silas and Timothy had .come down from Mace- 5 donia, Paul devoted himself entirely to delivering the Message, earnestly maintaining before the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. However, as they set themselves against him 6 and became abusive, Paul shook his clothes in protest and said to them :
"Your blood be on your own heads. My conscience is clear. From this time forward I shall go to the Gentiles." So he left, and went to the house of a certain Titius Justus, who 7 had been accustomed to join in the worship of God, and whose house was next door to the Synagogue. Crispus, the 8 President of the Synagogue, came to believe in the Lord, and so did all his household ; and many of the Corinthians, as they listened to Paul, became believers in Christ and were baptized. One night the Lord said to Paul, in a 9
vision :
" Have no fear, but continue to speak, and refuse to be silenced ; for I am with you, and no one shall do you harm, 10 for I have many People in this city."
So he settled there for a year and a half, and taught God's n Message among the people.
While Gallio was governor of Greece, the Jews made a 12 combined attack on Paul, and brought him before the Gover- nor's Bench, charging him with persuading people to worship 13 God in a way forbidden by the Law. Just as Paul was on the 14 point of speaking, Gallio said to the Jews :
"Jews, if this were a case of misdemeanour or some serious crime, there would be some reason for my listening patiently to you ; but, since it is a dispute about words, and 15 names, and your own Law, you must see to it yourselves. I do not choose to be a judge in such matters."
Saying this, he drove them back from the Bench. Then 16, they all set upon Sosthenes, the President of the Synagogue, and beat him in front of the Bench, but Gallio did not trouble himself about any of these things.
Paul's Paul remained there some time after this, and 18
Return. then took leave of the Brethren, and sailed to Syria with Priscilla and Aquila, but not before his head had been shaved at Cenchreae, because he was under a vo'w.
»-10 Isa. 43. 5-
250 THE ACTS, 18-19.
They put into Ephesus, and there Paul, leaving- his com- 19 panions, went into the Synagogue and addressed the Jews. When they asked him to prolong his stay, he declined, saying 20 however, as he took his leave, " I will come back again to 21 you, please God," and then set sail from Ephesus. On reach- 22 ing Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and exchanged greetings with the Church, and then went down to Antioch. PAUL'S THIRD After making some stay in Antioch, he set out 23 MISSIONARY on a tour through the Phrygian district of Galatia, ^"ur'fn" strengthening the faith of all the disciples as he
Qalatia. Went.
Meanwhile there had come to Ephesus an 24
Apoiios. Alexandrian Jew, named Apollos, an eloquent man, who was well-versed in the Scriptures. He had been 25 well-instructed in the Cause of the Lord, and with burning zeal he spoke of, and taught carefully, the facts about Jesus, though he knew of no baptism but John's. This man began 26 to speak out fearlessly in the Synagogue ; and, when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the Cause of God to him more carefully still. When he wanted to 27 cross to Greece, the Brethren furthered his plans, and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival he proved of great assistance to those who had, through the loving-kindness of God, become believers in Christ, for he 28 vigorously confuted the Jews, publicly proving by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
p»ui While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed i
•t Epheaus. through the inland districts of Roman Asia, and went to Ephesus. There he found some disciples, of whom he 2 asked :
" Did you, when you became believers in Christ, receive the Holy Spirit?"
"No," they answered, "we did not even hear that there was a Holy Spirit."
" What then was your baptism?" Paul asked. 3
"John's baptism," was their answer.
"John's baptism was a baptism upon repentance," rejoined 4 Paul, "and John told the people (speaking of the 'One Coming ' after him) that they should believe in him — that is in Jesus."
On hearing this, they were baptized into the Faith of the Lord 5 Jesus, and, after Paul had placed his hands on them, the Holy 6 Spirit descended upon them, and they began to speak with ' tongues ' and to preach. There were about twelve of them 7 in all.
P.aul went to the Synagogue there, and for three months 8 spoke out fearlessly, giving addresses and trying to convince
* Pa. 1 18. a6.
THE ACTS, 19. 251
his hearers, about the kingdom of God. Some of them, how- 9 ever, hardened their hearts and refused to believe, denouncing the Cause before the people. So Paul left them and withdrew his disciples, and gave daily addresses in the lecture-hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all who lived in 10 Roman Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the Lord's Message.
God did miracles of no ordinary kind by Paul's hands ; so that people would carry home to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body, and their diseases would leave them and the wicked spirits go out of them. An 13
attempt was made by some itinerant Jews, who were exorcists, to use the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who had wicked spirits in them.
" I adjure you," they would say, " by the Jesus, whom Paul preaches."
The seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish Chief Priest, were doing 14 this ; but the wicked spirit answered them : 15
" Jesus I acknowledge, and Paul I know, but you — who are you ? "
Then the man, in whom this wicked spirit was, sprang upon 16 them, mastered both of them, and so completely overpowered them, that they fled out of the house, stripped of their clothes, and wounded. This incident came to the knowledge of all 17 the Jews and Greeks living at Ephesus ; they were all awe- struck, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was held in the highest honour. Many, too, of those who had become 18 believers in Christ came with a full confession of their practices ; while a number of people, who had practised 19 magic, collected their books and burnt them publicly ; and on reckoning up the price of these, they found it amounted to five thousand pounds. So irresistibly did the Lord's 20
Message spread and prevail.
Sometime after these events Paul resolved to 21 ^o'viait"1* S° through Macedonia and Greece, and then Jerusalem make his way to Jerusalem. "And after I have and Rome. \^en there," he said, " I must visit Rome also." So he sent to Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, 22 while he himself stayed for some time longer in Roman Asia. The RI t Just about that time a great disturbance arose 23 at about the Cause. A silversmith named Demetrius, 24
Ephesus. wno made silver models of the shrine of Artemis, and so gave a great deal of work to the artisans, got these 25 men together, as well as the workmen engaged in similar occupations, and said :
"Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this
252 THE ACTS, 19-2O.
work, and you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but 26 in almost the whole of Roman Asia, this Paul has convinced and won over great numbers of people, by his assertion that those Gods which are made by hands are not Gods at all. So that not only is this business of ours likely to fall into dis- 27 credit, but there is the further danger that the Temple of the great Goddess Artemis will be thought nothing of, and that she herself will be deprived of her splendour — though all Roman Asia and the whole world worship her." When they heard this, the men were greatly enraged, and 28 began shouting — " Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ! " The 29 commotion spread through the whole city, and the people rushed together into the amphitheatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, two Macedonians who were Paul's travelling companions. Paul wished to go into the amphi- 30 theatre and face the people, but the disciples would not let him, while some of the chief religious officials of the province, 31 who were friendly to him, sent repeated entreaties to him not to trust himself inside. Meanwhile some were shouting one 32 thing and some another, for the Assembly was all in con- fusion, most of those present not even knowing why they had met. But some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the 33 Jews had pushed to the front, and he waved his hand to show that he wanted to speak in their defence to the people. How- 34 ever, when they recognised him as a Jew, one cry broke from them all, and they continued shouting for two hours — " Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ! "
When the Recorder had succeeded in quieting the crowd, he 35 said :
" Men of Ephesus, who is there, I ask you, who needs to be told that this city of Ephesus is the Warden of the Temple of the great Artemis, and of the statue which fell down from Zeus ? As these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep 36 calm and do nothing rash ; for you have brought these men 37 here, though they are neither robbers of Temples nor blasphe- mers of our Goddess. If, however, Demetrius and the 38 artisans who are acting with him have a charge to make against any one, there are Court Days and there are Magis- trates ; let both parties take legal proceedings. But if you 39 want anything more, it will have to be settled in the regular Assembly. For I tell you that we are in danger of being pro- 40 ceeded against for to-day's riot, there being nothing to account for it ; and in that case we shall be at a loss to give any reason for this disorderly gathering." With these words he dismissed the Assembly. 41
p»ui again in When the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the i 2O or*«ce and disciples, and, with encouraging words, bade them
*'•• irooHhviv «nd <itxrtpi\ on liic lonrnpv tn IVf nrAHonin-
Macodoni
goodbye, and started on his journey to Macedonia.
THE ACTS, 2O. 253
After going through those districts and speaking many 2 encouraging words to the disciples, he went into Greece, where he stayed three months. He was about to sail to 3 Syria, when he learnt that a plot had been laid against him by the Jews ; so he decided to return by way of Mace- donia. He was accompanied by Sopater the son of Pyrrhus, 4 of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus of Roman Asia. These men went to 5 PaUl Troas and waited for us there ; while we our- 6
at Troas. selves sailed from Philippi after the Passover, and joined them five days later at Troas, where we stayed for a week.
On the first day of the week, when we had met for the 7 Breaking of Bread, Paul, who was intending to leave the next day, began to address those who were present, and prolonged his address till midnight. There were a good 8 many lamps in the upstairs room, where we had met ; and a 9 young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, was gradually overcome with great drowsiness, as Paul continued his address. At last, quite overpowered by his drowsiness, he fell from the third storey to the ground, and was picked up for dead. But Paul went down, threw himself upon him, and 10 put his arms round him.
" Do not be alarmed," he said, " he is still alive." Then he went upstairs ; and, after breaking and partaking of n the Bread, he talked with them at great length till daybreak, and then left. Meanwhile they had taken the lad away alive, 12 and were greatly comforted.
Paul We started first, went on board ship, and 13
at Miletus, sailed for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. This was by his own arrangement, as he in- tended to go by land himself. So, when he met us at Assos, 14 we took him on board and went on to Mitylene. The day 15 after we had sailed from there, we arrived off Chios, touched at Samos the following day, and the next day reached Miletus ; for Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so as to 16 avoid spending much time in Roman Asia. He was making haste to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the Festival at the close of the Harvest.
From Miletus, however, he sent to Ephesus and invited the 17 Officers of the Church to meet him ; and, when they came, he tS spoke to them as follows :
"You know well the life that I always led among you from the very first day that I set foot in Roman Asia, serving the 19 Lord, as I did, in all humility, amid the tears and trials which fell to my lot through the plots of the Jews. I never shrank 20 from telling you anything that could be helpful to you, or from
254 THE ACTS, 2O-21.
teaching you both in public and in private. I earnestly pointed 21 both Jews and Greeks to the repentance that leads to God, and to faith in Jesus, our Lord. And now, under spiritual 22 constraint, I am here on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that in town after town 23 the Holy Spirit plainly declares to me that imprisonment and troubles await me. But I count my life of no value to myself, 24 if only I may complete the course marked out for me, and the task that was allotted me by the Lord Jesus — which was to declare the Good News of the Love of God. And now, I 25 tell you, I know that none of you will ever see my face again — you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the Kingdom. Therefore I declare to you this day, that my 26 conscience is clear in regard to the fate of any of you, for I 27 have not shrunk from announcing the whole purpose of God regarding you. Be watchful over yourselves, and over the 28 whole flock, of which the Holy Spirit has placed you in charge, to shepherd the Church of God, which he won for himself at the cost of his life. I know that, after my de- 29 parture, merciless wolves will get in among you, who will not spare the flock ; and from among yourselves, too, men will 30 arise, who will teach perversions of truth, so as to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be on your guard, re- 31 membering how for three years, night and day, I never ceased, even with tears, to warn each one of you. And now I 32 commend you to the Lord and to the Message of his Love — a Message which has the power to build up your characters, and to give you your place among all those who have become Christ's People. I have never coveted any one's gold or silver 33 or clothing. You, yourselves, know that these hands of mine 34 provided not only for my own wants, but for my companions also. I left nothing undone to show you that, labouring as I 35 laboured, you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said himself — ' It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down and prayed 36 with them all. All were in tears ; and throwing their 37 arms round Paul's neck, they kissed him again and again, grieving most of all over what he had said — that they would 38 never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship. .
Paul When we had torn ourselves away and had i ;
•t Tyro. set sail, we ran before the wind to Cos ; the next day we came to Rhodes, and from there to Patara, where we 2 found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, and went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on the left, we 3 sailed to Syria, and put into Tyre, where the ship was to
» Pa. 74. a. *> Deut. 33. 3—4.
THE ACTS, 21. 255
discharge her cargo. There we found the disciples and 4 stayed a week with them. Speaking under the influence of the Spirit, they warned Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem. However, when we had come to the end of our visit, we 5 went on our way, all the disciples with their wives and children escorting us out of the city. We knelt down on the beach, and prayed, and then said good-bye to one another ; 6 after which we went on board, and they returned home.
Pau, After we had made the run from Tyre, we 7
at landed at Ptolemais, and exchanged greetings
caesarea. wjth the Brethren there, and spent a day with them. The next day we left, and reached Caesarea, where 8 we went to the house of Philip, the Missionary, who was one of ' the Seven,' and stayed with him. He had four unmarried 9 daughters, who had the gift of prophecy. During our 10
visit, which lasted several days, a Prophet, named Agabus, came down from Judaea. He came to see us, and, taking n Paul's girdle, and binding his own feet and hands with it, said :
"This is what the Holy Spirit says — 'The man to whom this girdle belongs will be bound like this at Jerusalem by the Jews, and they will give him up to the Gentiles '." When we heard that, we and the people of the place began 12 to entreat Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. It was then .that 13 Paul made the reply :
"Why are you weeping and breaking my heart like this? For my part, I am ready not only to be bound, but even to suffer death at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus." So, as he would not be persuaded, we said no more to him, 14 only adding — "The Lord's will be done."
Pau| At the end of our visit, we made our prepara- 15
arrives at tions, and started on our way up to Jerusalem. Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with 16 us, and brought Mnason with them, a Cypriot disciple of long standing, with whom we were to stay. On our arrival 17
at Jerusalem, the Brethren there gave us a hearty welcome ; and the next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the 18 Officers of the Church were present. After greeting them, 19 Paul related in detail all that God had done among the Gentiles through his efforts ; and, when they had heard it, they 20 began praising God, and said to Paul :
" You see, Brother, that the Jews who have become believers in Christ may be numbered by tens of thousands, and they are all naturally earnest in upholding the Jewish Law. Now they 21 have heard it said about you, that you teach all Jews in foreign countries to forsake Moses, for you tell them not to circumcise their children or even to observe Jewish customs. Well now, 22
256 THE ACTS, 21.
as they are certain to hear of your arrival, do what we are 23 going to suggest. We have four men here, who have of their own accord put themselves under a vow. Join these men, 24 share their purification, and bear their expenses, so that they may shave their heads ; and then all will see that there is no truth in what they have been told about you, but that, on the contrary, you yourself rule your life in obedience to the Jewish Law. As to the Gentiles who have become believers in Christ, 25 we have sent our decision that they should avoid food offered to idols, and blood, and the flesh of strangled animals, and impurity."
On this, Paul joined the men, and the next day shared their 26 purification, and went into the Temple, and gave notice of the expiration of the period of purification when the usual offering should have been made on behalf of each of them.
Paul's But, just as the seven days were drawing to a 27
Arrest. close, the Jews from Roman Asia caught sight of Paul in the Temple, and caused great excitement among all the people present, by seizing Paul and shouting : 28
" Men of Israel ! help ! This is the man who teaches every one everywhere against our People, our Law, and this Place ; and, what is more, he has actually brought Greeks into the Temple and defiled this sacred place."
(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in Paul's 29 company in the city, and were under the belief that Paul had taken him into the Temple.) The whole city was stirred, 30 and the people quickly collected, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, when the doors were immediately shut. They were bent upon killing him, when it was 31
reported to the Officer commanding the garrison, that all Jerusalem was in commotion. He instantly got together 32 some officers and men, and charged down upon the crowd, who, when they saw the Commanding Officer and his men, stopped beating Paul. Then he went up to Paul, arrested him, 33 ordered him to be doubly chained, and proceeded to inquire who he was, and what he had been doing. Some of the crowd 34 said one thing, and some another ; and, as he could get no defi- nite reply on account of the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. When Paul reached the steps, he was 35 actually being carried by the soldiers, owing to the violence of the mob ; for the people were following in a mass, shouting 36 out: ",Kill him!"
Just as he was about to be taken into the Fort, Paul said to 37 the Commanding Officer :
" May I speak to you ? "
44 Do you know Greek?" asked the Commanding Officer. " Are not you, then, the Egyptian who some time ago raised 38
36 Num. 6. j.
THE ACTS, 21—22. 257
an insurrection and led the four thousand Bandits out into the Wilderness ? "
" No," said Paul, " I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen 39 of a city of some note ; and I beg you to give me permission to speak to the people."
The Commanding- Officer gave his permission, and Paul, stand- 40 ing on the steps, made signs with his hand to the people, and, when comparative silence had been obtained, he spoke to them in Hebrew, as follows :
" Brothers and Fathers, listen to the defence i
Defence to which I am about to make." the People of When they heard that he was speaking to them 2
Jerusalem. jn Hebrew, they were still more quiet ; and Paul went on :
" I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but I was brought 3 up in this city under the teaching of Gamaliel, and educated in accordance with the strict system of our ancestral Law. I was as zealous in God's service as any of you who are here to- day. In my persecution of this Cause I did not stop even at 4 the taking of life. I put in chains, and imprisoned, men and women alike — and to that the High Priest himself and all the 5 Council can testify. For I had letters of introduction from them to our fellow Jews at Damascus, and I was on my way to that place, to bring those whom I might find there prisoners to Jerusalem for punishment. While I was 6
still on my way, just as I was getting close to Damascus, about mid-day, suddenly there flashed from the heavens a great light all round me. I fell to the ground, and heard a 7 voice saying to me ' Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me ? ' ' Who are you, Lord ? ' I replied. Then the voice said ' I am 8 Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.' The men with 9 me saw the light, but did not hear the speaker's voice. Then 10 I said 'What am I to do, Lord?' 'Get up and go into Damascus,' the Lord said to me, 'and there you shall be told all that you have been appointed to do.' In consequence n of that dazzling light I could not see, but my companions led me by the hand, till I reached Damascus. There a man named 12 Ananias, a strict observer of our Law, well spoken of by all the Jewish inhabitants, came to see me. Standing close to me, he 13 said 'Saul, my Brother, recover your sight.' And then and there I recovered my sight and looked up at him. Then he 14 said ' The God of our ancestors has appointed you to learn his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear words from his lips ; for you shall be a witness for him to all the world of what 15 you have just seen and heard. And now why wait any longer? 16 Be baptized at once, wash away your sins, and invoke his Name. After my return to Jerusalem, while I was 17
praying one day in the Temple, I fell into a trance, and saw 18 Jesus saying to me ' Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once,
K
258 THE ACTS, 22-23.
because they will not accept your testimony about me.' ' Lord,' 19 I answered, ' these people know that I used to imprison and scourge, in Synagogue after Synagogue, those who believed in you ; and, when the blood of your martyr, Stephen, was being 20 shed, I was myself standing by, approving of his death, and took charge of the clothes of those who were murdering him. But Jesus said to me ' Go ; for I will send you to the Gentiles 21 far away '. "
Paul's claim ^P to this Pomt the people had been listening 22 as a Roman to Paul, but at these words they called out :
citizen. « j^ill fo\m \ A fellow like this ought not to have
been allowed to live ! "
As they were shouting, tearing off their clothes, and throwing 23 dust in the air, the Commanding Officer ordered Paul to be 24 taken into the Fort, and directed that he should be examined under the lash, that he might find out the reason for their outcry against him. But just as they had tied him up to be 25 scourged, Paul said to the Captain standing near :
"Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman citizen, uncon- victed ? "
On hearing this, the Captain went and reported it to the Com- 26 manding Officer.
" Do you know what you are doing ? " he said. " This man is a Roman citizen." So the Commanding Officer went up to Paul and said • 27
" Tell me, are you a Roman citizen ? "
"Yes," replied Paul.
" I had to pay a heavy price for my position as citizen," said 28 the Officer.
" I am one by birth," rejoined Paul.
The men who were to have examined Paul immediately drew 29 back, and the Officer, finding that Paul was a Roman citizen, was alarmed at having put him in chains.
On the next day the Commanding Officer, wish- 30 b4fbr«the '"& *° finc^ out the real reason why Paul was de- Hieh council nounced by the Jews, had his chains taken off, of the jaw*. and directed the Chief Priests and the whole of the
High Council to assemble, and then took Paul down and
brought him before them. Paul fixed his eyes upon the i
Council, and began :
" Brothers, for my part, I have always ordered my life
before God, with a clear conscience, up to this very day.
At this, the High Priest Ananias ordered the men standing 2
near to strike him on the mouth ; whereupon Paul turned to 3
him and said :
" God will strike you, you white-washed wall ! Are you
sitting there to try me in accordance with law, and yet, in
defiance of law, order me to be struck ? "
THE ACTS, 23. 259
The people standing near said to Paul : 4
" Do you know that you are insulting God's High Priest? " "I did not know, Brothers, that it was the High Priest," 5
said Paul, "for Scripture says —
'Of the Ruler of thy People thou shalt speak no ill'."
Noticing that some of those present were Sadducees and others 6 Pharisees, Paul called out in the Council : 1
" Brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of Pharisees. It is on the question of hope for the dead and of their resurrection that I am on my trial."
As soon as he said this, a dispute arose between the Pharisees 7 and the Sadducees ; and there was a sharp division of opinion among those present. (For Sadducees say there is no such 8 thing as a resurrection, and that there is neither angel nor spirit, while Pharisees believe in both.) So a great uproar 9 ensued, and some of the Teachers of the Law belonging to the Pharisees' party stood up and hotly protested :
" We find nothing whatever wrong in this man. Suppose a spirit did speak to him, or an angel —
The dispute was becoming so violent, that the Commanding 10 Officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces between them, ordered the Guard to go down and rescue him from them, and take him into the Fort.
That night the Lord came and stood by Paul, and said : u
"Courage ! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem and you must bear witness in Rome also."
The Plot 1° the morning the Jews combined together, 12 against Paul, and took an oath that they would not eat or drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty in the 13 plot ; and they went to the Chief Priests and the Councillors, 14 and said :
" We have taken a solemn oath not to touch food till we have killed Paul. So we want you now, with the consent of the 15 Council, to suggest to the Commanding Officer that he should bring Paul down before you, as though you intended to go more fully into his case ; but, before he comes here, we will be ready to make away with him."
However, the son of Paul's sister, hearing of the plot, went to 16 the Fort, and on being admitted, told Paul about it. Paul i? called one of the Captains of the garrison and asked him to take the lad to the Commanding Officer, as he had something to tell him. The Captain went with the lad to the Command- 18 ing Officer, and said :
" The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this lad to you, as he has something to tell you."
The Commanding Officer took the lad by the hand, and, step- 19 ping aside, asked what it was he had to tell him. 5 Exod. 22. 28.
260 THE ACTS, 23-24.
" The Jews have agreed," answered the lad, " to ask you to 20 bring Paul down before the Council to-morrow, on the plea of your making further inquiry into his case. But do not let them 2 1 persuade you, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, who have taken an oath that they will not eat or drink, till they have made away with him ; and they are at this very moment in readiness, counting upon your promise." The Commanding Officer then dismissed the lad, cautioning 22 him not to mention to anybody that he had given him that information. Then he called two Captains, and ordered 23
Paul sent them to have two hundred men ready to go to to Caesarea, as well as seventy troopers and two
caesarea. hundred lancers, by nine o'clock that night, and 24 to have horses ready for Paul to ride, so that they might take him safely to Felix, the Governor. To him he wrote a letter, 25 somewhat as follows —
' Claudius Lysias sends his compliments to His Ex- 26
cellency Felix the Governor. The man whom 27
I send with this had been seized by the Jews, and was on the point of being killed by them, when I came upon them with the force under my command, and rescued him, as I learnt that he was a Roman citizen. Wish- 28
ing to ascertain exactly the ground of the charges they made against him, I brought him before their Council, when I found that their charges were connected with 29
questions of their own Law, and that there was noth- ing alleged involving either death or imprisonment. Having, however, information of a plot against the 30
man, which was about to be put into execution, I am sending him to you at once, and I have also directed his accusers to prosecute him before you.'
The soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took charge 31 of Paul and conducted him by night to Antipatris ; and on the 32 next day, leaving the troopers to go on with him, they returned to the Fort. On arriving at Caesarea, the troopers delivered the 33 letter to the Governor, and brought Paul before him. As soon 34 as Felix had read the letter, he enquired to what province Paul belonged, and, learning that he came from Cilicia, he said :
" I will hear all you have to say as soon as your accusers 35 have arrived."
And he ordered Paul to be kept under guard in Herod's Government House.
Paul Five days afterwards the High Priest Ananias i
b«for« F«IJM. came down with some of the Councillors and a barrister named Tertullus. They laid an information with the Governor against Paul ; and, when the hearing came on, 2 Tertullus began his speech for the prosecution.
"We owe it to your Excellency," he said, "that we are 3
THE ACTS, 24. 261
enjoying profound peace, and we owe it to your foresight that this nation is constantly securing reforms — advantages which we very gratefully accept at all times and places. But — not to 4 be tedious — I beg you, with your accustomed fairness, to listen to a brief statement of our case. We have found this man a 5 public pest ; he is one who stirs up disputes among the Jews all the world over, and is a ringleader of the Nazarene heretics. He even attempted to desecrate the Temple itself, but we 6 caught him ; and you will be able, by examining him on all 8 these points, to satisfy yourself as to the charges which we are bringing against him."
The Jews also joined in the attack and bore out his state- 9 ments. On a sign from the Governor, Paul made 10
this reply :
" Knowing, as I do, for how many years you have acted as Judge to this nation, it is with confidence that I undertake my own defence. For you can easily ascertain that it is not more 1 1 than twelve days ago that I went up to worship at Jerusalem, where my prosecutors never found me holding discussions with 12 any one, or causing a crowd to collect — either in the Temple, or in the Synagogues, or about the city ; and they cannot establish 13 the charges which they are now making against me. This, 14 however, I do acknowledge to you, that it is as a believer in the Cause which they call heretical, that I worship the God of my ancestors. At the same time, I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets ; and I have a hope that rests in God — a hope which they also 15 cherish — that there will one day be a resurrection of good and bad alike. This being so, I strive at all times to keep my 16 conscience clear before both God and man. After some years' 17 absence I had come to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and to make offerings ; and it was while engaged in this that they 18 found me in the Temple, after completing a period of purifica- tion, but not with any crowd or disorder. There were, how- 19 ever, some Jews from Roman Asia who ought to have been here before you, and to have made any charge that they may have against me — Or. else let my opponents here say what 20 they found wrong in me when I was before the Council, except 21 as to the one sentence that I shouted out as I stood among them — ' It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial before you to-day '. "
Felix, however, adjourned the case — though he had a fairly 22 accurate knowledge of all that concerned the Cause — with the promise :
"When Lysias, the Commanding Officer, comes down, I will give my 'decision in your case."
So he gave orders to the Captain in charge of Paul to keep him 23 in custody, but to relax the regulations, and not to prevent any of his personal friends from attending to his wants.
262 THE ACTS, 24*-25.
Some days later Felix came with his.wife Drusilla, who was 24 herself a Jewess, and, sending for Paul, listened to what he had to say about faith in Christ Jesus. But, while Paul 25 was speaking at length about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgement, Felix became terrified, and interrupted him —
" Go for the present, but, when I find an opportunity, I will send for you again."
He was hoping, too, for a bribe from Paul, and so he used 26 to send for him frequently and talk with him.
But, after the lapse of two years, Felix was succeeded by 27 Porcius Festus ; and, wishing to gain popularity with the Jews, he left Paul a prisoner.
Paul Three days after Festus had entered upon i
before his Province, he left Caesarea and went up to Festus. Jerusalem. There the Chief Priests and the 2 leading men among the Jews laid an information before him against Paul, and asked a favour of him, to Paul's injury — 3 to have Paul brought to Jerusalem. All the while they were plotting to make away with him on the road. But Festus 4 answered that Paul was in prison at Caesarea, and that he himself would be leaving for that place shortly.
" So let the influential men among you," he said, " go down 5 with me, and, if there is anything amiss in the man, charge him formally with it."
After staying among them some eight or ten days, Festus 6 went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the Bench, and ordered Paul to be brought before him. On Paul's 7 appearance, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem sur- rounded him, and made many serious charges, which they failed to establish. Paul's answer to the charge was — ' I have 8 not committed any offence against the Jewish Law, or the Temple, or the Emperor.' But, as Festus wished to gain 9 popularity with the Jews, he interrupted Paul with the ques- tion :
"Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges before me there ? "
" No," replied Paul, " I am standing at the Emperor's Bar, 10 where I ought to be tried. I have not wronged the Jews, as you yourself are well aware. If, however, I am breaking n the law and have committed any offence deserving death, I do not ask to escape the penalty ; but, if there is nothing in the accusations of these people, no one has the power to give me up to them. I appeal to the Emperor." Upon that. Festus, after conferring with his Council, answered : 12
"You have appealed to the Emperor : to the Emperor you shall go."
THE ACTS, 25-26. 263
Paul before Some days later King Agrippa and Bernice came 13 Herod down to Caesarea, and paid a visit of congratula-
Agrippa.ii. tjon to pestus ; and, as they were staying there 14 for several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the King.
"There is a man here," he said, "left a prisoner by Felix, about whom, when Icame tojerusalem, the Jewish Chief Priests 15 and the Councillors laid an information, demanding judge- ment against him. My answer to them was, that it was not the 16 practice of Romans to give up any man to his accusers till the accused had met them face to face, and had also had an oppor- tunity of answering the charges brought against him. So they 17 met here, and without loss of time I took my seat on the Bench the very next day, and ordered the man to be brought before me. But, when his accusers came forward, they brought 18 no charge of wrong-doing such as I had expected ; but I found 19 that there were certain questions in dispute between them about their own religion, and about some dead man called Jesus, whom Paul declared to be alive. And, as I was at a loss 20 how to enquire into questions of this kind, I asked Paul if he were willing to go up to Jerusalem, and there be put upon his trial. Paul, however, appealed to have his case reserved 21 for the consideration of his August Majesty, so I ordered him to be detained in custody, until I could send him to the Emperor."
"I should like to hear this man myself," Agrippa said to 22 Festus.
"You shall hear him to-morrow," Festus answered.
So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come in full 23 state and had entered the Audience Chamber, with the superior officers and the principal people of the city, by the order of Festus Paul was brought before them. Then Festus said : 24
" King Agrippa, and all here present, you see before you the man about whom the whole Jewish people have applied to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly asserting that he ought not to be allowed to live. I found, however, that he had not done 25 anything deserving death ; so, as he had himself appealed to his August Majesty, I decided to send him. But I have noth- 26 ing definite to write about him to my Imperial Master ; and for that reason I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examining him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me absurd to send 27 a prisoner, without at the same time stating the charges made against him." Turning to Paul, Agrippa said : i
" You are at liberty to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defence.
" I have been congratulating myself, King Agrippa," he 2 said, " that it is before you that I have to make my defence to- day, with regard to all the charges brought against me by Jews, especially as you are so well-versed in all the customs 3
264 THE ACTS, 26.
and questions of the Jewish world. I beg you therefore to give me a patient hearing. My life, then, from youth 4
upwards, was passed, from the very first, among my own nation, and in Jerusalem, and is within the knowledge of all Jews ; and they have always known — if they choose to give 5 evidence — that, in accordance with the very strictest form of our religion, I lived a true Pharisee. Even now, it is because 6 of my hope in the promise given by God to our ancestors that I stand here on my trial — a promise which our Twelve Tribes, 7 by earnest service night and day, hope to see fulfilled. It is for this hope, your Majesty, that I am accused — and by Jews themselves ! Why do you all hold it incredible that God 8 should raise the dead ? I myself, it is true, once 9
thought it my duty to oppose in every way the Name of Jesus of Nazareth ; and I actually did so at Jerusalem. 10 Acting on the authority of the Chief Priests, I myself threw many of the People of Christ into prison, and, when it was pro- posed to put them to death, I gave my vote for it. Time after n time, in every Synagogue, I tried by punishments to force them to blaspheme. So frantic was I against them, that I pursued them even to towns beyond our borders. It 12
was while I was travelling to Damascus on an errand of this kind, entrusted with full powers by the Chief Priests, that at 13 mid-day, your Majesty, I saw right in my path, coming from the heavens, a light brighter than the glare of the sun, which shone all round me and those travelling with me. We all fell 14 to the ground, and then I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew — ' Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me ? By kicking against the goad you are punishing yourself.' ' Who 15 are you, Lord?' I asked. And the Lord said : ' I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting ; but get up and stand upright ; 16 for I have appeared to you in order to appoint you a servant and a witness of those revelations of me which you have already had, and of those in which I shall yet appear to you, since I am choosing you out from your own people and from 17 the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, and 18 to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God ; so that they may receive pardon for their sins, and a place among those who have become God's People, by faith in me.' After that, King Agrippa, I did not fail to 19
obey the heavenly vision ; on the contrary, first to those at 20 Damascus and Jerusalem, and then through the whole of Judaea, and to the Gentiles as well, I began to preach repent- ance and conversion to God, and a life befitting that repentance. This is why the Jews seized me in the Temple, and made 21 attempts upon my life. However I have received help from 22 God to this very day, and so stand here, and bear my testimony to high and low alike — without adding a word to J« Ezelc. a. i. " i Chron. 16. 35. 17—18 Jga. 42. 7( ,e; Deut. 33. 3, 4.
THE ACTS, 26-27. 265
what the Prophets, as well as Moses, declared should happen — that the Christ must suffer, and that, by rising from the 23 dead, he was destined to be the first to bring news of Light, not only to our nation, but also to the Gentiles."
While Paul was making this defence, Festus called out 24 loudly :
"You are mad, Paul ; your great learning is driving you mad. "
"I am not mad, your Excellency," he replied; "on the 25 contrary, the statements that I am making are true and sober. Indeed, the King knows about these matters, so I speak 26 before him without constraint. I am sure that there is nothing whatever of what I have been telling him that has escaped his attention ; for all this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets ? I know 27 you do." But Agrippa said to Paul : 28
" You are soon trying to make a Christian of me ! "
"Whether it is soon or late," answered Paul, " I would to 29 God that not only you, but all who are listening to me, might to-day become just what I am myself — except for these chains ! "
Then the King rose, with the Governor and Bernice and 30 those who had been sitting with them, and, after retiring, dis- 31 cussed the case among themselves.
"There is nothing," they said, "deserving death or im- prisonment in this man's conduct " ; and, speaking to Festus, 32 Agrippa added :
"The man might have been discharged, if he had not appealed to the Emperor."
Paul's ^s **• was Decided that we were to sail to Italy, i
voyage to Paul and some other prisoners were put in charge Rome. of a Captain of the Augustan Guard, named Julius. We went on board a ship from Adramyttium, which was on 2 the point of sailing to the ports along the coast of Roman Asia, and put to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, went with us. The next day we put into Sidon, where Julius 3 treated Paul in a friendly manner, and allowed him to go to see his friends and receive their hospitality. Putting to sea 4 again, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the wind was against us ; and, after crossing the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, 5 we reached Myra in Lycia. There the Roman Officer 6
found an Alexandrian ship on her way to Italy, and put us on board of her. For several days our progress was slow, and it 7 was only with difficulty that we arrived off Cnidus. As the wind was still unfavourable when we came off Cape Salmone,
268 THE ACTS, 27.
we sailed under the lee of Crete-, and with difficulty, by keeping 8 close in shore, we reached a place called ' Fair Havens,' near which was the town of Lasea.
This had taken a considerable time, and sailing was already 9 dangerous, for the Fast was already over ; and so Paul gave this warning.
"My friends," he said, "I see that this voyage will be 10 attended with injury and much damage, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our own lives also."
The Roman Officer, however, was more influenced by the cap- 1 1 tain and the owner than by what was said by Paul. And, as the 12 harbour was not a suitable one to winter in, the majority were in favour of continuing the voyage, in the hope of being able to reach Phoenix, and winter there. Phoenix was a Cretan harbour, open to the north-east and south-east. So, 13
when a light wind sprang up from the south, thinking that they had found their opportunity, they weighed anchor and kept along the coast of Crete, close in shore. But shortly 14 afterwards a hurricane came down on us off the land — a north-easter, as it is called. The ship was caught by it 15 and was unable to keep her head to the wind, so we had to give way and let her drive before it. Running under the lee 16 of a small island called Cauda, we only just managed to secure the ship's boat, and, after hoisting it on board, the men frapped 17 the ship. But, afraid of being driven on to the Syrtis Sands, they lowered the yard, and then drifted. So violently were we 18 tossed about by the storm, that the next day they began throw- ing the cargo overboard, and, on the following day, threw out 19 the ship's tackle with their own hands. As neither sun nor 20 stars were visible for several days, and, as the gale still con- tinued severe, all hope of our being saved was at last aban- doned. It was then, when they had gone a long time 21 without food, that Paul came forward, and said :
" My friends, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and so incurred this injury and damage. Yet, even as things are, 1 urge you not to lose courage, for 22 there will not be a single life lost among you — only the ship. For last night an angel of the God to whom I 23 belong, and whom I serve, stood by me, and said — ' Have 24 no fear, Paul ; you must appear before the Emperor, and God himself has given you the lives of all your fellow- voyagers.' Therefore, courage, my friends ! for I believe God, 25 that everything will happen exactly as I have been told. We 26 shall, however, have to be driven on some island."
It was now the fourteenth night of the storm, and we were 27. drifting about in the Adriatic Sea, when, about midnight, the sailors began to suspect that they were drawing near land. So they took soundings, and found twenty fathoms of water. 28 After waiting a little, they took soundings again, and found
THE ACTS, 27-28. 267
fifteen fathoms. Then, as they were afraid of our being driven 29 Upon some rocky coast, they let go four anchors from the stern, and longed for daylight. The sailors wanted to leave 30
the ship, and had lowered the boat, on pretence of running out anchors from the bows, when Paul said to the Roman 31 Officer and his men :
" Unless the sailors remain on board, you cannot be saved." Upon that the soldiers cut the ropes which held the boat, and 32 let her drift away. In the interval before daybreak 33
Paul kept urging them all to take something to eat. , j
"It is a fortnight to-day," he said, "that, owing to your anxiety, you have gone without food, taking nothing. So 34 I urge you to take something to eat ; your safety depends upon it, for not one of you will lose even a hair of his head." With these words he took some bread, and, after saying the 35 thanksgiving to God before them all, broke it in pieces, and began to eat ; and the men all felt cheered and had something to 36 eat themselves. There were about seventy-six of us on board, 37 all told. After satisfying their hunger, they further lightened 38 the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. When 39
Paul is daylight came, they could not make out what shipwrecked, land it was, but, observinga creek in which there was a beach, they consulted as to whether they could run the ship safely into it. Then they cast off, and abandoned the 40 anchors, and at the same time unlashed the gear of the steer- ing oars, hoisted the foresail to the wind, and made fcr the beach. They got, however, into a kind of channel, and 41 there ran the ship aground. The bows stuck fast and could not be moved, while the stern began breaking up under the strain. The advice of the soldiers was that the prisoners 42
should be killed, for fear that any of them should swim away and make their escape. But the Roman Officer, anxious 43 to save Paul, prevented their carrying out their intention, and ordered that those who could swim should be the first to jump into the sea and try to reach the shore ; and that the 44 rest should follow, some on planks, and others on different pieces of the ship. In these various ways every one managed to get safely ashore.
Paul When we were all safe, we found that the i
at Malta, island was called Malta. The natives showed us 2 marked kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all under shelter, because it had come on to rain and was cold. Paul had 3 gathered a quantity of dry sticks and laid them on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, 4 they said to one another :
" Evidently this man is a murderer, for, though he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
268 THE ACTS, 28.
However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and took no 5 harm. The natives were expecting inflammation to set in, or 6 that he would suddenly fall dead ; but, after waiting for a long time, and seeing that there was nothing amiss with him, they changed their minds and said that he was a God.
In that neighbourhood there was an estate belonging to the 7 Governor of the island, whose name was Publius. He took us up to his house, and for three days entertained us most courteously. It happened that the father of Publius was ly- 8 ing ill of fever and dysentery. So Paul went to see him ; and, after praying, he placed his hands on him and cured him. After this, all the people in the island who had any illness came 9 to Paul, and were cured. They also presented us with many ic gifts, and when we set sail they put supplies of necessaries on board.
Paul's vo age After three months, we set sail in a ship that n to Rome had wintered in the island. She was an Alexan-
continued. dr;an vessel, and had the Twin Sons of Zeus for her figure-head. We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three 12 days, and from there we worked to windward and so got to 13 Rhegium. A day later a south wind sprang up and took us to Puteoli in two days. There we found some of the Brethren, 14 and were urged to stay a week with them ; after which we went on to Rome. The Brethren there had heard about us, 15 and came out as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet.us. At sight of them Paul thanked God and was much cheered.
On our reaching Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, 16 except for the soldier who was in charge of him.
Paul Three days after our arrival, Paul invited the
at Rom*, leading Jews to meet him ; and, when they came, he spoke to them as follows :
"Brothers, although^! had done nothing hostile to the in- terests of our nation or to our ancestral customs, yet I was sent from Jerusalem as a prisoner, and handed over to the Romans. The Romans, when they had examined me, were ready'to release me, because there was nothing in my conduct deserv- ing death. But, as the Jews opposed my release, I was com- pelled to appeal to the Emperor — not, indeed, that I had any charge to make against my own nation. This, then, is my reason for urging you to come to see me and talk with me ; because it is for the sake of the Hope of Israel that I am here in chains."
" We," was their reply, " have not had any letter about you from Judaea, nor have any of our fellow-Jews come and reported or said anything bad about you. But we shall be
THE ACTS, 28. 269
glad to hear from you what your views are, for, with regard to this sect, we are well aware that it is spoken against on all sides."
They then fixed a day with him, and came to the place 23 where he was staying, in even larger numbers, when Paul proceeded to lay the subject before them. He bore his testi- mony to the Kingdom of God, and tried to convince them about Jesus, by arguments drawn from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets — speaking from morning till even- ing. Some were inclined to accept what he said ; 24 others, however, rejected it. So, as they disagreed among 25 themselves, they began to disperse, Paul adding only —
" True, indeed, was the declaration made by the Holy Spirit, through the Prophet Isaiah to your ancestors—
' Go to this nation and say — 26
" You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, And, though you have eyes, you will see without ever
perceiving'."
For the mind of this nation has grown dense, 27
And their ears are dull of hearing, Their eyes also have they closed ; Lest some day they should see with their eyes, And with their ears they should hear,
And in their mind they should understand, and should turn — And I should heal them.'
Understand, then, that this Salvation of God was sent for the 28 Gentiles ; and they will listen."
For two whole years Paul stayed in a house which he rented 30 for himself, welcoming all who came to see him, proclaiming 31 the Kingdom of God, and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, with perfect fearlessness, unmolested.
26-27 Isa. 6. 9-10. » Ps. 67. a.
THE LETTERS.
THE LETTER OF JAMES. THE LETTERS OF PAUL—
TO THE THESSALONIANS I. AND II.
TO THE GALATIANS.
TO THE CORINTHIANS I. AND II.
TO THE ROMANS.
TO THE COLOSSIANS.
TO PHILEMON.
TO THE EPHESIANS.
TO THE PHILIPPIANS.
TO TIMOTHY I. AND II.
TO TITUS.
THE LETTER TO HEBREWS.
THE LETTERS OF PETER I. AND II.
THE LETTER OF JUDE.
THE LETTERS OF JOHN I., II. AND III.
THE LETTER OF JAMES.
FROM JAMES
ST. JAMES'S LETTER TO CHRISTIANS OF JEWISH ORIGIN.
WRITTEN PROBABLY AT JERUSALEM AFTER 44 A.D.
THIS Letter is believed to have been written by the James who was known to the Early Church as ' James the Just.' He was not an Apostle, but was one of the brothers of Jesus, and presided over the Church at Jerusalem, in which position he came into contact with large numbers both of Jews and Christians (Acts 12. 17; 15. 13). The Letter is addressed to converts from Judaism, and speaks, in strong condemnation, of vices which prevailed in the corrupt society of Jerusalem, and into which the recent converts to Christianity were, to some extent, relapsing. There are indications in the Letter that some, at all events, of those for whom it was intended had been passing through days of persecution — possibly the persecution by Herod Agrippa I., 44 A.D. (Acts 12. i), in which the Apostle James was martyred. The writer of this Letter met with a similar fate in 63 A.D.
FROM
.:•-'. JAMES. •'," i':{
I. — GREETING.
JAMES, a Servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, i 1 greets
The Twelve Tribes that are living abroad.
II. — ADVICE UPON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.
Trials. ^fy Brothers, whatever may be the temptations 2
that beset you from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing, knowing, as you do, that the 3 testing of your faith develops endurance. And let endurance ^4 do its work perfectly, so that you may be altogether perfect, and in no respect deficient.
If one of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask 5 vwsdom! wisdom from the God who gives freely to every one
without reproaches, and it will be given to him. But 6 let him ask with confidence, never doubting ; for the man who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven hither and thither at the mercy of the wind— such a man must not expect that he will re- 7 ceive anything from the Lord, vacillating as he is, irresolute at 8 every turn. Let a Brother in humble circumstances be 9
proud of his exalted position, but a rich Brother of Wp^^ert"ld humiliation ; for the rich man will pass away 10
' like the flower of the grass.' As the sun rises, n and the hot wind blows, ' the grass withers, its flower fades,' and all its beauty is gone. So is it with the rich man. In the midst of his pursuits he will come to an untimely end.
Blessed is the man who remains firm under 12 >mptation. temptat;on) for) when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of Life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. Let no one say, when he is tempted, 13 "It is God who is tempting me ! " For God, who cannot be
10-" Isa. 40, £—7, 12 Dan. 13. 12.
276 JAMES, 1-2.
tempted to do wrong, does not himself tempt any one. A 14 man is in every case tempted by his own passions — allured and enticed by them. Then Passion conceives and gives 15 birth to Sin, and Sin, on reaching maturity, brings forth Death. Do not be deceived, my dear Brothers. Every 16,
good thing given us, and every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down to us from the Maker of the Lights in the heavens, who is himself never subject to change or to eclipse. Because 18 he so willed, he gave us Life, through the Message of the Truth, so that we should be, as it were, an earnest of still further creations.
Mark this, my dear Brothers : — Let every one 19 Religion. ^e quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get
angry; for the anger of man does not forward the 20 righteous purpose of God. Therefore, have done with all 21 filthiness and whatever wickedness still remains, and in a humble spirit receive that Message which has been planted in your hearts and is able to save your souls. Put that 22
Message into practice, and do not merely listen to it — deceiving yourselves. For, when any one listens to it and does not 23 practice it, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. He looks at himself, then goes on his way, and immediately 24 forgets what he is like. But he who looks carefully into the 25 perfect Law, the Law of Freedom, and continues to do so, not listening to it and then forgetting it, but putting it into prac- tice— that man will be blessed in what he does. When 26 a man appears to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue, but imposes upon his own conscience, that man's religious observances are valueless. That religious observance which 27 is pure and spotless in the eyes of God our Father is this — to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep one- self uncontaminated by the world.
ill. — WARNING UPON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.
on the My Brothers, are you really trying to combine
Treatment faith in Jesus Christ, our glorified Lord, with the ^£J£* worship of rank ? Suppose a man should enter your Synagogue, with gold rings and in grand clothes, and suppose a poor man should come in also, in shabby clothes, and you are deferential to the man who is wearing grand clothes, and say — "There is a good seat for you here, but to the poor man— "You must stand ; or sit down there by my footstool," is not that to make distinc- tions among yourselves, and to show yourselves prejudiced judges? Listen, my dear Brothers. Has not God
chosen those who are poor in the things of this world to be rich
JAMES, 2. £77
through their faith, and to possess the Kingdom which he has promised to those who love him ? But you — you insult the 6 poor man ! Is not it the rich who oppress you ? Is not it they who drag you into law-courts ? Is not it they who malign that 7 honourable Name which has been bestowed upon you ? Yet, if 8 you keep the royal law which runs — 'Thou shalt love thy neigh- bour as thou dost thyself,' you are doing right ; but, if you 9 worship rank, you commit a sin, and stand convicted by that same law of being offenders against it. For a man who 10
has laid the Law, as a whole, to heart, but has failed in one particular, is liable for breaking all its provisions. He who said 1 1 ' Thou shalt not commit adultery ' also said ' Thou shalt not murder.' If, then, you commit murder but not adultery, you are still an offender against the Law. Therefore, speak and 12 act as men who are to be judged by the ' Law of Freedom.' For there will be justice without mercy for him who has not 13 acted mercifully. Mercy triumphs over Justice.
My Brothers, what is the good of a man's saying 14 On ' Faith that he has faith, if he does not prove it by actions ? ^"J^, Can such faith save him ? Suppose some Brother 15
or Sister should be in want of clothes and of daily bread, and one of you were to say to them — " Go, and peace 16 be with you ; find warmth and food for yourselves," and yet you were not to give them the necessaries of life, what good would it be to them ? In just the same way faith, if not followed by 17 actions, is, by itself, a lifeless thing. Some one, indeed, may 18 say — "You are a man of faith, and I am a man of action." " Then show me your faith," I reply, "apart from any actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions." It is a part of 19 your Faith, is it not, that there is one God ? Good ; yet even the demons have that faith, and tremble at the thought. Now 20 do you really want to understand, you foolish man, how it is that faith without actions leads to nothing ? Look at our 21 ancestor, Abraham. Was not it the result of his actions that he was pronounced righteous after he had offered his son, Isaac, on the altar? You see how, in his case, faith and actions 22 went together ; that his faith was perfected as the result of his actions ; and that in this way the words of Scripture came 23 true — "Abraham believed God, and that was regarded by God as righteousness," and " He was called the friend of God." You see, then, that it is as the result of his actions that a man is 24 pronounced righteous, and not of his faith only. Was not it 25 the same with the prostitute, Rahab ? Was not it as the result of her actions that she was pronounced righteous, after she had welcomed the messengers and hastened them away by a different road ? Exactly as a body is dead without a spirit, 26 so faith is dead without actions.
8 Lev. 19. 18. H Exod. 20. 13 — 14 ; Deut. 5. 17 — 18. 21 Gen. 22. 2. 9. 23 Gen. 15. 6 ; Isa. 41. 8.
278 JAMES, 3-4.
On I do not want many of you, my Brothers, to i
the control become teachers, knowing, as you do, that we Ton*1*!*, who teach shall be judged by a more severe
standard than others. We often make mistakes, 2 every one of us. Any one who does not make mistakes when speaking is indeed a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body as well. When we put bits into horses' mouths, to make them 3 obey us, we control the rest of their bodies also. Again, think 4 of ships. Large as they are, and even when driven by fierce winds, they are controlled by a very small rudder and steered in whatever direction the man at the helm may determine. So 5 is it with the tongue. Small as it is, it is a great boaster. Think how tiny a spark may set the largest forest ablaze I And the 6 tongue is like a spark. Among the members of our body it proves itself a very world of mischief; it contaminates the whole body ; it sets the wheels of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by the flames of the Pit. For while all sorts of beasts 7 and birds, and of reptiles and creatures in the sea, are tame- able, and actually have been tamed by man, no human being 8 can tame the tongue. It is a restless plague ! It is charged with deadly poison ! With it we bless our Lord and Father, 9 and with it we curse men who are made 'in God's likeness.' From the very same mouth come blessings and curses ! My 10 Brothers, it is not right that this should be so. Does a spring 1 1 give both good and bad water from the same source ? Can a 12 fig tree, my Brothers, bear olives ? or a vine bear figs ? No, nor can a brackish well give good water.
Against Who among you claims to be wise and intelli- 13
raise gent ? Let him show that his actions are the out- >m' come of a good life lived in the humility of true wisdom. But, while you harbour envy and bitterness and a spirit 14 of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or lie to the detriment of the Truth. That is not the wisdom which comes from above ; 15 no, it is earthly, animal, devilish. For, where envy and rivalry 16 exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of base actions. But the wisdom from above is, before every thing 17 else, pure ; then peace-loving, gentle, open to conviction, rich in compassion and good deeds, and free from partiality and insincerity. And righteousness, its fruit, is sown in peace 18 by those who work for peace.
Acainst What is the cause of the fighting and quarrel- i < Party-strife, ling that goes on among you ? Is not it to be found in the desires which are always at war within you ? You crave, yet do not obtain. You murder and 2 rage, yet cannot gain your end. You quarrel and fight. You do not obtain, because you do not ask. You ask, yet do not 3 receive, because you ask for a wrong purpose — to spend what
'•> Gen. i. 36.
JAMES, 4-5. 279
you get upon your pleasures. Unfaithful people ! Do not 4 you know that to be friends with the world means to be at enmity with God ? Therefore whoever chooses to be friends with the world makes himself an enemy to God. Do you sup- 5 pose there is no meaning in the passage of Scripture which asks — ' Is envy to result from the longings of the Spirit which God has implanted within you ? ' No ; the gift that God gives 6 is for a nobler end ; and that is why it is said — ' God is opposed to the haughty, but gives help to the humble.' There- 7
fore submit to God ; but resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Make 8 your hands clean, you sinners ; and your hearts pure, you vacillating men ! Grieve, mourn, and lament ! Let your 9 laughter be turned to mourning, and your happiness to gloom ! Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 10
Do not disparage one another, Brothers. He who dis- n parages his Brother, or passes judgement on his Brother, dis- parages the Law and passes judgement on the Law. But, if you pass judgement on the Law, you are not obeying it, but judging it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge — he who 12 has the power both to save and to destroy. But who are you that pass judgement on your neighbour?
A a.net Listen to me, you who say ' To-day or to-morrow 13 Presumption, we will go to such and such a town, spend a year
there, and trade, and make money,' and yet you do 14 not know what your life will be like to-morrow ! For you are but a mist appearing for a little while and then disappearing. You ought, rather, to say ' If the Lord wills, we shall live and 15 do this or that.' But, as it is, you are constantly boasting 16 presumptuously! All such boasting is wicked. He, then, who 17 knows what is right but fails to do it — that is sin in him.
Listen to me, you rich men, weep and wail for i opp^aefon. tj16 miseries that are coming upon you ! Your 2
riches have wasted away, and your clothes have become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are rusted ; and 3 the rust on them shall be evidence against you, and shall eat into your very flesh. It was fire, so to speak, that you stored up for yourselves in these last days. I tell you, the wages of 4 the labourers who mowed your fields, which you have been fraudulently keeping back, are crying out against you, and the outcries of your reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts ! You have lived on earth a life of extravagance and 5 luxury ; you have indulged your fancies in a time of bloodshed. You have condemned, you have murdered, the Righteous One ! 6 Must not God be opposed to you ?
6 Prov. 3. 34. 3 Prov. 16. 27. 4 Deut. 24, 15, 17 : Mai. 3. 5 ; Isa. 5. 9. 8 Jer. 12. 3.
JAMES, 5.
IV. — CONCLUDING EXHORTATIONS. Be patient, then, Brothers, till the Coming- of 7
cnristian . « T i T-» ,1 c i * f
Patience, the Lord. Even the farmer has to wait for the precious fruit of the earth, watching over it patiently, till it has had the spring and summer rains. And 8 you must be patient also, and not be discouraged ; for the Lord's Coming is near. Do not make complaints against one 9 another, Brothers, or judgement will be passed upon you. The Judge is already standing at the door ! Brothers, as an 10 example of the patient endurance of suffering, take the Prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those 1 1 who displayed such endurance blessed ! You have heard, too, of Job's endurance, and have seen what the Lord's purpose was, for ' the Lord is full of pity and compassion.'
Above all things, my Brothers, never take an 12 oath, either by heaven, or by earth, or by any- thing else. With you let ' Yes ' suffice for yes, and ' No ' for no, so that you may escape condemnation.
If any one of you is in trouble, let him pray; 13 The Power jf anv one is happy, let him sing hymns If 14
Prayer. anv one °f vou 1S '^> ^et him send for the Officers of the Church, and let them pray over him, after anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The 15 prayer offered in faith will save the man who is sick, and the Lord will raise him from his bed ; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one 16 another and pray for one another, that you may be cured. Great is the power of a good man's fervent prayer. Elijah was 17 only a man like ourselves, but, when he prayed fervently that it might not rain, no rain fell upon the land for three years and a half. And, when he prayed again, the clouds brought rain, 18 and the land bore crops. My Brothers, should one of 19
you be led astray from the Truth, and some one Bleslednes* bring him back again, be sure that he who brings 20 of saving a sinner back from his mistaken ways will save a SOUL that man's soui from Death, and throw a veil over countless sins.
1 Deut 11.14. u Da"- "• ™ '• p»- I03- 8. n Prov. 10. 13.
THE LETTERS OF PAUL.
TO THE THESSALONIANS I.
ST. PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS.
WRITTEN PROBABLY DURING HIS STAY AT CORINTH, IN THE COURSE OF HIS SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY, ABOUT 52 A.D.
THESSALONICA, now the Turkish town of Salonica, was an important seaport in Macedonia, on the great highway by which trade travelled between Europe and Roman Asia. Attracted, probably, by its large Jewish population, and by its admirable position as a centre for the diffusion of his Message, the Apostle Paul visited the town in the course of his second missionary journey (Acts 17), preaching in the Synagogue, and working at his trade as a tent-maker (I. Thess. 2. 9 ; II. Thess. 3. 8). At first he gained many converts, but after a short time his unbelieving countrymen succeeded in arousing a strong opposition against him and his companions. This was carried so far that a mob collected and attacked the house in which they were staying, and Paul and Silas barely escaped with their lives. Leaving Thessalonica, they went on to Beroea, and from there to Athens and Corinth. But while the Apostle was at Athens, news reached him that the little Christian community, from which he had thus been compelled to part, was itself suffer- ing persecution. On hearing this, the keen interest which he felt in their welfare made him eager to return to them (2. 18). But, this proving at the time impossible, he sent Timothy to them, to obtain further information, and to comfort and en- courage them amidst their sufferings (3. 2). Upon Timothy's return to Corinth, with good news of the faith and love shown by the Thessalonian converts, the Apostle wrote this Letter.
ro THE
THESSALONIANS. I.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
To the Thessalonian Church in union with God Greeting. the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, FROM Paul, Silas, and Timothy. May God bless you and give you peace.
II. — THE APOSTLE AND HIS CONVERTS.
We always mention you in our prayers and thank God 2 for you all ; recalling continually before our God and Father 3
the efforts that have resulted from your faith, HIS Thank- ^e jojj prompted by your love, and the patient
rulneas for . ^ • j « \ • TJ
their Faith, endurance sustained by your hope in our Lord and its Jesus Christ. Brothers, whom God loves, we 4 ice' know that he has chosen you, because the Good 5 News that we brought came home to you, not merely as so many words, but with a power and a fulness of conviction due to the Holy Spirit. For you know the life that we lived among you for your good. And you yourselves began to follow, not 6 only our example, but the Master's also ; and, in spite of much suffering, you welcomed the Message with a joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, and so became a pattern to all who believed 7 in Christ throughout Macedonia and Greece. For it was 8 from you that the Lord's Message resounded throughout Macedonia and Greece ; and, more than that, your faith in God has become known far and wide ; so that there is no need for us to say another word. Indeed, in speaking about 9 us, the people themselves tell of the reception you gave us, and how, turning to God from your idols, you became servants of the true and living God, and are now awaiting the return 10 from Heaven of his Son whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, our deliverer from the Coming Wrath.
284 I. THESSALONIANS, 2.
Yes, Brothers, you yourselves know that your i HI* Life reception of us was not without result. For, 2
u although we had experienced suffering and ill-treatment, as you know, at Philippi, we had the courage, by the help of our God, to tell you God's Good News in spite of great opposition. Our appeal to you 3 was not based on a delusion, nor was it made from un- worthy motives, or with any intention of misleading you. But, having been found worthy by God to be entrusted with 4 the Good News, therefore we tell it ; with a view to please, not men, but God who proves our hearts. Never at any time, 5 as you know, did we use the language of flattery, or make false professions in order to hide selfish aims. God will bear witness to that. Nor did we seek to win honour from men, 6 whether from you or from others, although, as Apostles of Christ, we might have burdened you with our support. But 7 we lived among you with the simplicity of a child ; we were like a woman nursing her own children. In our strong affec- 8 tion for you, that seemed to us the best way of sharing with you, not only God's Good News, but our very lives as well — so dear had you become to us. You will not have forgotten, Brothers, 9 our labour and toil. Night and day we used to work at our trades, so as not to be a burden to any of you, while we pro- claimed to you God's Good News. You will bear witness, and 10 God also, that our relations with you who believed in Christ were pure, and upright, and beyond reproach. Indeed, you n know that, like a father with his own children, we used to encourage and comfort every one of you, and solemnly plead with you ; so that you should make your daily lives 12 worthy of God who is calling you into the glory of his King- dom.
, _ This, too, is a reason why we, on our part, are 13
Thoir Peraecu- ,. ' ,. ' , , . ,, , *. . . . •*
tion by their continually thanking God — because, in receiving Feiiow. the teaching that you had from us, you accepted citizen*. jt^ nQj. as tne teacn;ng of man, but as what it really is — the teaching of God, which is even now doing its work within you who believe in Christ. For you, Brothers, began 14 to follow the example of the Churches of God in Judaea which are in union with Jesus Christ; you, in your turn, suffering at the hands of your fellow-citizens, in the same way as those Churches did at the hands of the Jews — the men who killed 15 both the Lord Jesus and the Prophets, and persecuted us also. They do not try to please God, and they are enemies to all man- kind, for they would prevent us from sneaking to the Gentiles 16 with a view to their Salvation, and thus are always ' filling up the measure of their iniquity.' But the Wrath of God has come upon them to the full !
*Jer. ii. 90. I* Gen. 15. 16.
I. THESSALONIANS, 2-4. 285
As for ourselves, Brothers, our having been 17 Frustrated bereaved of you even for a short time — though in pians. body only, and not in spirit— made us all the more eager to see your faces again ; and the longing to do so was strong upon us. That was why we made up our minds to 18 go to see you — at least I, Paul, did, more than once — but Satan put difficulties in our way. For what hope or joy will 19 be ours, or what crown shall we have to boast of, in the presence of our Lord Jesus, at his Coming, if it be not you ? You are our pride and our delight ! 20
And so, as we could bear it no longer, we i Timothy's made up our minds to remain behind alone at
°"' Athens, and sent Timothy, our Brother and 2 God's Minister of the Good News of the Christ, to strengthen you, and to encourage you in your faith, so that none of you 3 should be shaken by the troubles through which you are passing. You yourselves know that we are destined to meet with such things. For, even while we were with you, 4 we warned you beforehand that we were certain to encounter trouble. And so it proved, as you know. Therefore, since I 5 could no longer endure the uncertainty, I sent to make inquiries about your faith, fearing that the Tempter had tempted you, and that our toil might prove to have been in vain. But, when Timothy recently returned to us from 6
you with good news of your faith and love, and told us how kindly you think of us — always longing, he said, to see us, just as we are longing to see you — on hearing this, we felt 7 encouraged about you, Brothers, in the midst of all our diffi- culties and troubles, by your faith. For it is new life to us to 8 know that you are holding fast to the Lord. How can we thank 9 God enough for all the happiness that you are giving us in the sight of our God ? Night and day we pray most earnestly 10 that we may see you face to face, and make good any de- ficiency in your faith.
May our God and Father himself, and Jesus, 1 1 The Apostle's our Lord, make the way plain for us to come to his "converts, you. And for you, may the Lord fill you to 12
overflowing with love for one another and for every one, just as we are filled with love for you ; and so make 13 your hearts strong, and your lives pure beyond reproach, in the sight of our God and Father, at the Coming of our Lord Jesus, with all his Holy Ones.
III. — ADVICE UPON THE DAILY LIFE.
Further, Brothers, we beg and exhort you in the name of our Lord Jesus to carry out more fully than ever — as indeed you are already doing — all that you have heard from us as to
286 I. THESSALONIANS, 4.
what your daily life must be, if it is to please God. For you 2 have not forgotten the directions that we gave you on the authority of our Lord Jesus.
For this is God's purpose — that you should be 3 warning pure ; abstaining from all immorality ; each of 4 immorauty. vou recognizing the duty of taking one woman
for his wife, purely and honourably, and not for 5 the mere gratification of his passions, like the Gentiles who know nothing of God ; none of you over-reaching or taking 6 advantage of his Brother in such matters. ' The Lord takes vengeance' upon all who do such things, as we have already warned you and solemnly declared. For God's Call to us does 7 not permit of an impure life, but demands purity. Therefore 8 he who disregards this warning disregards, not man, but God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
As to love for the Brethren there is no need to 9 Brotherly write to you ; for you have yourselves been taught
Love' by God to love one another ; and indeed you 10 do act in this spirit towards all the Brethren throughout Macedonia.
Yet, Brothers, we urge you to still further The Duty ot efforts. Make it your ambition to live quietly, 1 1
>r " and to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we directed you ; so that your conduct 12 may win respect from those outside the Church, and that you may not want for anything.
IV. — THE DEAD IN CHRIST AT THE COMING OF THE LORD.
We do not wish you to remain in ignorance, 13 The Living Brothers, with regard to those who have passed *De»*d!* to their rest, that your grief may not be like that
of others, who have no hope. For, as we believe 14 that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring, with Jesus, those who through him have passed to their rest. This we tell you on the authority of the Lord — 15
that those of us who are still living at the Coming of the Lord will not anticipate those who have passed to their rest. For, with a 16 loud summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the trumpet-call of God, the Lord himself will come down from Heaven. Then those who died in union with Christ shall rise 17 first ; and afterwards we who are still living shall be caught up in the clouds, with them, to meet the Lord in the air ; and so we shall be for ever with the Lord. Therefore, com- 18
fort one another with what I have told you.
• P«. 79. 6 ; Jcr. 10. a$. • P». 94. i. • Ezek. 37. 14.
I. THESSALONIANS, 5. 287
.The Time ot ^u* as *° *'ie times and the moments, there i 5 the Lord's is no need, Brothers, for any one to write to
coming. vou YOU yourselves know well that the Day 2 of the Lord will come just as a thief comes in the night. When people are saying 'All is quiet and safe,' it is then that, 3 like birth-pains upon a woman with child, Ruin comes sud- denly upon them, and there will be no escape ! You, however, 4 Brothers, are not in darkness, that the daylight should take you by surprise as if you were thieves. For you all are ' Sons 5 of Light ' and ' Sons of the Day.'
We have nothing to do with night, or dark- The Necessity ness. Therefore let us not sleep as others do. 6 watchfulness. No, let us be watchful and self-controlled. It is 7
at night that men sleep, and at night that drunkards get drunk. But let us, who belong to the Day, 8 control ourselves, and put on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of Salvation as a helmet. For God destined us, not 9 for Wrath, but to win Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we are still watching 10 or have fallen asleep, we may live with him. There- n
fore encourage one another, and try to build up one another's characters, as indeed you are doing.
V.— CONCLUSION.
Final We beg you, Brothers, to value those who toil 12
counsels, among you, and are your leaders in the Lord's service, and give you counsel. Hold them in the very greatest 13 esteem and affection for the sake of their work. Live at peace with one another. We entreat you also, Brothers — 14
warn the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, give a helping hand to the weak, and be patient with every one. Take care 15 that none of you ever pays back wrong for wrong, but always follow the kindest course with one another and with every one. Always be joyful ; never cease to 16,
pray ; under all circumstances give thanks to God. For 18 this is his will for you as made known in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit ; do not make light of preaching. Bring everything to the test ; cling to what is good ; shun every form of evil. May God himself, the giver
of peace, make you altogether holy ; and may your spirits, souls, and bodies be kept altogether faultless until the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you will not 24 fail you ; he will complete his work.
8 Isa. 59. 17. 22 Job i. i ; 2. 3.
288 I. THESSALONIANS, 5.
Brothers, pray for us. 25
Greet all the Brothers with a sacred kiss. I 26, 27
Farewell. a(jjure yOU jn the Lord's name to have this letter read to all the Brethren.
May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 28
TO THE THESSALONIANS II.
ST. PAUL'S SECOND LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS.
WRITTEN PROBABLY DURING HIS STAY AT CORINTH, IN THE COURSE OF HIS SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY, ABOUT 53 A.D.
IT is probable that about a year intervened between the Apostle's two Letters to this Macedonian Church. The Thessalonians had misunderstood what he had said in the first Letter as to the nearness of the time of Christ's Return to the earth ; a misunderstanding which led to the neglect of the ordinary duties of life, accompanied by unrestrained religious excitement. To correct this misapprehension, and to urge them to fortitude, calmness and industry, St. Paul wrote this second Letter.
TO THE
THESSALONIANS. II.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
To the Thessalonian Church in union with God "n& our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, FROM Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
May God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.
II. —THE APOSTLE AND HIS CONVERTS.
His Brothers, it is our duty always to thank
Thankfulness God about you, as is but right, considering the
and wonderful growth of your faith, and because, 9nce- without exception, your love for one another is continually increasing. So much is this the case that we ourselves speak with pride, before the Churches of God, of the patience and faith which you have shown, in spite of all the persecutions and troubles that you are enduring. These persecutions will vindicate the justice of God's judgement, and will result in your being reckoned worthy of God's Kingdom, for the sake of which you are now afflicted ; since God deems it just to inflict suffering upon those who are now inflicting suffering upon you, and to give relief to you who are suffering, as well as to us, at the Appearing of the Lord Jesus from Heaven with his mighty angels, ' in flaming fire.' Then he will ' inflict punishment upon those who refuse to know God, and upon those who turn a deaf ear ' to the Good News of Jesus, our Lord. These men will pay the penalty of unutterable Ruin — banished ' from the presence of the Lord and from the glorious manifestation of his might, when he comes to be honoured in his People, 'and to be revered in all who have learnt to believe in him (for you also believed our testimony) — as he will be on ' That Day.' With this in view, our constant
8 Isa. 66. 14 — 15 ; Jer. 10. 25 ; Ps. 79. 6. 9—10 isa. 2. I0> lx> I9> 2I ; ps. gcj. 7 ; 68. 35 (Septuagint) ; Isa. 49. 3.
292 II. THESSALONIANS, 1—2.
His Prayer prayer for you is that our God may count you •for them, worthy of the Call that you have received, and by his power make perfect your delight in all goodness and the efforts that have resulted from your faith. Then, in the loving- kindness of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, will the name of Jesus, our Lord, be honoured in you, and you in him.
III. — EVENTS THAT MUST PRECEDE THE LORD'S COMING.
The As to the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and i
'Man of sin,' our being gathered to meet him, we beg you, and the 'Great Brothers, not lightly to let your minds become 2
asy' unsettled, nor yet to be disturbed by any revelation, or by any message, or by any letter, purporting to come from us, to the effect that the Day of the Lord is come. Do not let any 3 one deceive you, whatever he may do. For it will not come until after the Great Apostasy, and the appearing of that Incarna- tion of Wickedness, that Lost Soul, who so opposes himself to 4 every one that is spoken of as a God or as an object of worship, and so exalts himself above them, that he seats himself in the Temple of God, and displays himself as God ! Do 5
not you remember how, when I was with you, I used to speak to you of all this ? ' And you know now what the restraining 6 influence is which prevents his appearing before his appointed time. Wickedness, indeed, is already at work in secret ; but 7 only until he who at present restrains it is removed out of the way. Then will 'Wickedness Incarnate ' appear, but the Lord 8 Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his lips, and annihilate him by the splendour of his Coming. For at the Coming 9 of the Lord there will be great activity on the part of Satan, in the form of all kinds of deceptive miracles, signs, and marvels, as well as of wicked attempts to delude — to the ruin 10 of those who are on the path to destruction, because they have never received and loved the Truth to their own Salvation. That is why God places them under the influence of a delusion, 1 1 to cause them to believe a lie ; so that sentence may be passed 12 on all those who refuse to believe the Truth, but delight in wickedness.
The Need But, Brothers, whom the Lord loves, it is our 13
*or duty always to thank God about you, for, •tedfMtneM. from the first, God chose you for Salvation through the purifying influence of the Spirit, and your belief in the Truth. To this you were called by the Good 14 News which we brought you, to attain to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand firm then, Brothers, and hold 15
1? Isa. 66. 5. « Dan. n. 36—37; Ezek. a8. a. 8 Isa. n. 4; Job 4. 9. is Dcut. 33. i a.
II. THESSALONIANS, 2-3. 293
fast to the truths that we taught you, whether by word or by letter. And may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and 16
God our Father, who loved us and, in his loving-kindness, gave us unfailing consolation and good ground for hope, console your hearts, and strengthen you to do and to say all 17 that is right.
IV. — CONCLUSION.
Mutual 1° conclusion, Brothers, pray for us — pray that i
Prayer. the Lord's Message may spread rapidly, and be received everywhere with honour, as it was among you ; and that we may be preserved from wrong-headed and wicked 2 men — for it is not every one who believes in Christ.
But the Lord will not fail you ; he will give you strength, 3 and guard you from Evil. Yes, and the confidence that 4 our union with the Lord enables us to place in you leads us to believe that you are doing, and will do, what we direct you. May the Lord bring you to the love of God, and 5
to the patience of the Christ.
The Duty We urge you, Brothers, in the name of the 6 of work. Lord Jesus Christ, to avoid any Brother who is living an ill-ordered life, which is not in agreement with the teaching that you received from us. For you know well that 7 you ought to follow our example. When we were with you, our life was not ill-ordered, nor did we eat any one's bread without 8 paying for it. Night and day, labouring and toiling, we used to work at our trades, so as not to be a burden upon any of you. This was not because we had not a right to receive 9 support, but our object was to give you a pattern for you to copy. Indeed, when we were with you, what we urged 10 upon you was — ' If a man does not choose to work, then he shall not eat. ' We hear that there are among you people who 1 1 are living ill-ordered lives, and who, instead of attending to their own business, are mere busy-bodies. All such people 12 we urge, and entreat, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to attend quietly to their business, and earn their own living. You, Brothers, must not grow weary of doing 13
what is right. If any one disregards what we have said in this 14 letter, mark that man and avoid his company, that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not think of him as an enemy, but caution 15 him as you would a Brother. May the Lord, from 16
whom all peace comes, himself give you his peace at all times and in ^11 ways. May he be with you all.
The Apostle's *> Pau^> a^d this greeting in my own hand- 17 Autograph writing. It is my signature to every letter. This Farewell. js how j write. May the blessing of our Lord 18 Jesus Christ be with you all.
TO THE GALATIANS.
ST. PAUL'S LETTER TO THE CHRISTIANS IN GALATIA.
WRITTEN PROBABLY DURING HIS STAY AT EPHESUS, ABOUT 54 A.D.
THE Roman province of 'Galatia,' in Asia Minor, included, not only the district which had previously borne that name, but also various adjacent districts subsequently included. Hence it is uncertain whether, in the New Testament, the name is used in its wider or in its narrower sense. Nor is it possible to fix with certainty the date of the Apostle's visits to 'Galatia,' or of this Letter to his converts there.
The Christian Churches in ' Galatia ' appear to have been founded by St. Paul about the year 51 A. D., while he was on his second missionary journey (Acts 16. 6). Three years later he re-visited the district in the course of his third journey (Acts 1 8. 23). He appears to have been seriously ill on the first- mentioned occasion, but his impulsive converts gave him an eager welcome, and soon became devotedly attached to him (Gal. A. 13 — 15). After he had left them, however, their enthusiasm for him and for his Message gradually cooled, and the present Letter was written as the result of information which reached him, that his converts were being led astray by teachers from Jerusalem, who impugned his apostolic authority and personal character, and insisted that all Christians ought to observe the Jewish Law and be circum- cised.
St. Paul was now, for the first time, face to face with the question whether Christianity could stand alone as a new and universal religion, or could exist only as ' a modified and extended Judaism.' His reply takes the form, first, of a personal narrative in which he establishes the direct revela- tion to him of what he delights to call ' his Gospel ' by the Christ himself, and its independence of Judaism; and, then, of a brief statement of the teaching (afterwards developed at length in his Letter to the Christians at Rome) that mere obedience to Law can never ensure a man's being 'pronounced righteous ' fryTibd ; for this, the Apostle argues, can follow only upon faith in the Christ. The Law, intended only to be provisional, has been superseded by the Gospel.
TO THE
GALATIANS.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
To the Churches in Galatia, i
Greeting. pROM Paul, an Apostle whose commission is not from men and is given, not by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead ; AND FROM all the Brothers here. 2
May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, bless you 3 and give you peace. For Christ, to rescue us from this present wicked age, gave himself for our sins, in accor- 4 dance with the will of our God and Father, to whom be 5 ascribed all glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Apostle's ^ am astonished at your so soon deserting him, 6 Disappoint- who called you through the love of Christ,
ment. for a different 'Good News,' which is really no 7 Good News at all. But then, I know that there are people who are harassing you, and who want to pervert the Good
News of the Christ. Yet even if we or if an angel from 8
Heaven were to tell you any other ' Good News ' than that which we told you, may he be accursed ! We have said it 9 before, and I repeat it now — If any one tells you a 'Good News ' other than that which you received, may he be accursed !
Is this, I ask, trying to conciliate men, or God ? Am I ic seeking to please men ? If I were still trying to please men, I should not be a servant of Christ.
II. — THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE APOSTLE'S GOSPEL.
its special I would remind you, Brothers, that the Good n Revelation. News which I told is no mere human invention. I, at least, did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but 12 it came to me through a revelation made by Jesus Christ.
L*
298 GALATIANS, 1-2.
His special You heard, no doubt, of my conduct when I 13
can. was devoted to Judaism — how I persecuted the Church of God to an extent beyond belief, and made havoc of it, and how, in my devotion to Judaism, I surpassed many of my 14 contemporaries among my own people in my intense earnest- ness in upholding the traditions of my ancestors. But 15 when God, who had set me apart even before my birth, and who called me by his love, saw fit to reveal his Son 16 in rne, so that I might tell the Good News of him among the Gentiles, then at once, instead of consulting any human being, or even going up to Jerusalem to see those who were 17 Apostles before me, I went into Arabia, and came back again to Damascus. Three years afterwards I went up to 18 Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Peter, and I stayed a fortnight with him. I did not, however, see any other 19 Apostle, except James, the Master's brother. (As to what I 20 am now writing to you, I call God to witness that I am speaking the truth). Afterwards I went to the districts of Syria and 21 Cilicia. But I was still unknown even by sight to the Christian 22 Churches in Judaea; all that they had heard was — 'Themanwho 23 once persecuted us is now telling the Good News of the very Faith of which he once made havoc.' And they praised God 24
Hj- on my account. Fourteen years afterwards i '
independent I went up to Jerusalem again with Barnabas,
Action. amj j took Titus also with me. It was in 2 obedience to a revelation that I went ; and I laid before the Apostles the Good News that I am proclaiming among the Gentiles. I did this privately before those who are thought highly of, for fear that I might possibly be taking, or might have already taken, a course which would prove useless. Yet even 3 my companion, Titus, though a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised. But, on account of the false Brothers who 4 had stolen in, the men who had crept in to spy upon the liberty which we have through union with Christ Jesus, in order to bring us back to slavery — why, we did not for a moment yield 5 submission to them, that the Truth of the Good News might be yours always ! Of those who are thought some- 6 what highly of — what they once were makes no difference to me ; God does not recognise human distinctions — those, I say, who are thought highly of added nothing to my Message. On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the 7 Good News for the Gentiles, just as Peter had been for the Jews. For he who gave Peter power for his mission to the 8 Jews gave me, also, power to go to the Gentiles. Recognizing 9 the charge entrusted to me, James, Peter, and John, who were regarded as pillars of the Church, openly acknowledged Barnabas and me as fellow-workers, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. Only we were to 10
1 " Isa. .}•). i.
GALATIANS, 2-3. 299
remember the poor — the very thing I was myself anxious to HI* Rebuke do. But, when Peter came to Antioch, I n
to Peter, opposed him to his face ; for he stood self-con- demned. Before certain persons came from James, he had 12 been in the habit of eating with the Gentile converts ; but, when they came, he began to withdraw and hold aloof, for fear of offending those who still held to circumcision. The 13 rest of the Jewish converts were guilty of the same hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led away by it. But, when I saw 14 that they were not dealing straightforwardly with the Truth of the Good News, I said to Peter, before them all, " If you, who were born a Jew, adopt Gentile customs, instead of Jewish, why are you trying to compel the Gentile converts to adopt Jewish customs ? "
III. — THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL.
The Failure We, though we are Jews by birth and not out- 15 or the Law. casts of Gentile origin, know that no one is 16 pronounced righteous as the result of obedience to Law, but only through faith in Christ Jesus. So we placed our faith in Christ Jesus, in order that we might be pronounced righteous, as the result of faith in Christ, and not of obedience to Law ; for such obedience ' will not result in even one soul's being pronounced righteous.' If, while seeking to be pronounced 17 righteous through union with Christ, we were ourselves seen to be outcasts, would that make Christ an agent of sin? Heaven forbid ! For, if I rebuild the very things that I pulled 18 down, I prove myself to have done wrong. I, indeed, ig through Law became dead to Law, in order to live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. So it is no longer I that 20 live, but it is Christ who lives in me ; and, as for my present earthly life, I am living it by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not reject 21
the love of God. If righteousness comes through Law, then there was no need for Christ to die !
The Gaiatians Foolish Galatians ! Who has been fascinating i misled as to you — you before whose very eyes Jesus Christ
the Law. was depicted upon the cross ? Here is the one 2 thing that I want to find out from you — Did you receive the Spirit as the result of obedience to Law, or of your having listened with faith ? Can you be so foolish ? After beginning with 3 what is spiritual, do you now end with what is external? Did you go through so much to no purpose? — if indeed it 4 really was to no purpose ! He who supplies you abundantly 5 with his Spirit and endows you with such powers — does he do
16 Ps. 143. a.
800 GALATIANS, 8.
this as the result of obedience to Law? or as the result of your having listened with faith ? It is just as it was with Abraham —
' He had faith in God, and his faith was regarded by God as righteousness.'
Faith not see' t^6"' ^at those whose lives are based 7
Law,' the on faith are the Sons of Abraham. And Scripture, 8 Ground of foreseeing that God would pronounce the Gentiles
Acceptance. rjghteous ag the result Qf fajth> foretold the Good
News to Abraham in the words —
' Through thee all the Gentiles shall be blessed.'
And, therefore, those whose lives are based on faith share the 9 blessings bestowed upon the faith of Abraham.
All who rely upon obedience to Law are under a curse, for 10 Scripture says —
' Cursed is every one who does not abide by all that is written in the Book of the Law, and do it.'
Again, it is evident that no one is pronounced righteous before 1 1 God through Law, for we read —
' Through faith the righteous man shall find Life.' But the Law is not based on faith ; no, its words are — 12
' Those who practise these precepts will find Life through them.'
Christ ransomed us from the curse pronounced in the Law, by 13 taking the curse on himself for us, for Scripture says — ' Cursed is any one who is hanged on a tree.'
And this he did that the blessing given to Abraham might be 14 extended to the Gentiles through their union with Jesus Christ ; that so, through our faith, we also might receive the promised gift of the Spirit.
To take an illustration, Brothers, from daily life : — No one 15 sets aside even an agreement between two men, when once it has been confirmed, nor does he add conditions to it. Now it was to Abraham that the promises were made, ' and to 16 his offspring.' It was not said ' to his offsprings,' as if many persons were meant, but the words were 'to thy offspring,' showing that one person was meant — and that was Christ. My point is this : — An agreement already confirmed by God 17 cannot be cancelled by the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, so as to cause the promise to be set aside. If our heritage is the result of Law, then it has ceased 18 to be the result of a promise. Yet God conferred it on Abraham by a promise.
• Gen. 15. 6. » Gen. u. 3 ; 18. 18. » Deut. a*. a6. " Hab. a. 4. " Lev 18. 5. W Deut. ai. aj. "' Gen. ia. 7.
GALATIANS, 3—4. 301
The Purpose What, then, you ask, was the use of the Law ? 19 of the Law. It was a. later addition, to make men conscious of their wrong-doings, and intended to last only till the coming of that ' offspring ' to whom the promise had been made ; and it was delivered through angels by a mediator. Now 20 mediation implies more than one person, but God is one only. Does that set the Law in opposition to God's promises ? 21 Heaven forbid ! For, if a Law had been given capable of bestowing Life, then righteousness would have actually owed its existence to Law. But the words of Scripture represent 22 the whole world as being in bondage to sin, so that the promised blessing, dependent, as it is, upon faith in Jesus Christ, may be given to those who have faith in him.
Before the coming of faith, we were kept under the guard of 23 the Law, in bondage, awaiting the Faith that was destined to be revealed. Thus the Law has proved a guide to lead us to Christ, 24 in order that we may be pronounced righteous as the result of faith. But now that faith has come we no longer need a guide. 25 The Effect ^*or vou are a^ Sons of God, through your faith 26 of the in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized 27 Qospei. mto union with Christ clothed yourselves with Christ. All distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and 28 freeman, male and female, have vanished ; for in union with Christ Jesus you are all one. And, since you belong to 29 Christ, it follows that you are Abraham's offspring and, under the promise, sharers in the inheritance.
• My point is this : — As long as the heir is under age, there is i < no difference between him and a slave, though he is master of the whole estate. He is subject to the control of guardians 2 and stewards, during the period for which his father has power to appoint them. And so is it with us ; when we were under 3 age, as it were, we were slaves to the puerile teaching of this world ; but, when the full time came, God sent his Son — born 4 a woman's child, born subject to Law — to ransom those who 5 were subject to Law, so that we might take our position as sons.
And it is because you are sons that God sent into our hearts 6 the Spirit of his Son, with the cry — ' Abba, our Father.' You, 7 therefore, are no longer a slave, but a son ; and, if a son, then an heir also, by God's appointment.
Yet formerly, in your ignorance of God, you 8 crade'sViHt became slaves to ' gods 'which were no gods. But 9
of the now that you have found God — or, rather, have
Gaiatians. been found by him — how is it that you are turn-
ing back to that poor and feeble puerile teaching, to which
yet once again you are wanting to become slaves ? You are 10
scrupulous in keeping Days and Months and Seasons and
COl__X"- BAMTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
302 GALATIANS, 4.
Years ! You make me fear that the labour which I have spent n on you may have been wasted.
TH A ostie ^ entreat you, Brothers, to become like me, as 12 andPhi*8 I became like you. You have never done me any Converts, wrong. You remember that it was owing to 13 bodily infirmity that on the first occasion I told you the Good News. And as for what must have tried you in my condition, it 14 did not inspire you with scorn or disgust, but you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God— or Christ Jesus himself! What has become, then, of your blessings? For I can bear 15 witness that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me ! Am I to think, then, that I 16 have become your enemy by telling you the truth? Certain 17 people are seeking your favour, but with no honourable object. No, indeed, they want to isolate you, so that you will have to seek their favour. It is always honourable to have your favour 18 sought in an honourable cause, and not only when I am with you, my dear children — you for whom I am again enduring a 19 mother's pains, till a likeness to Christ shall have been formed in you. But I could wish to be with you now and speak in a 20 different tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Tell me, you who want to be still subject to 21 *rthie£^ Law— Why do not you listen to the Law ? Scrip- 22 and the ture says that Abraham had two sons, one the oospei. child of the slave-woman and the other the child of the free woman. But the child of the slave-woman was 23 born, in the course of nature, while the child of the free woman was born in fulfilment of a promise. This story may 24 be taken as an allegory. The women stand for two Covenants. One Covenant, given from Mount Sinai, produces a race of slaves and is represented by Hagar (the word Hagar meaning 25 in Arabia Mount Sinai) and it ranks with the Jerusalem of to- day, for she and her children are in slavery. But the Jerusalem 26 above is free, and she it is who is our mother. For Scripture 27 says —
1 Rejoice, thou barren one, who dost never bear, Break into shouts, thou who art never in labour, For many are the children of her who is desolate — aye, more than of her who has a husband.'
As for ourselves, Brothers, we, like Isaac, are children born in 28 fulfilment of a promise. Yet at that time the child born in the 29 course of nature persecuted the child born by the power of the Spirit ; and it is the same now. But what does the passage 30 of Scripture say ?
' Send away the slave-woman and her son ; for the slave's son shall not be co-heir with the son of the free woman.' . '*> Isa. 54. i. 30 Gen. 21. 10.
GALATIANS, 4-5. 303
And so, Brothers, we are not children of a slave, but of her 31 who is free.
IV. — THE GOSPEL IN THE DAILY LIFE.
Christian It is for freedom that Christ set us free ; stand i Freedom, firm therefore, and do not again be held under the yoke of slavery.
Understand that I, Paul, myself tell you that if you allow 2 yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will avail you nothing. I 3 again declare to every one who receives circumcision, that he binds himself to obey the whole Law. You have severed 4 yourselves from Christ — you who are seeking to be pronounced righteous through Law ; you have fallen away from love. For 5 we, by the help of the Spirit, are eagerly waiting for the ful- filment of our hope — that we may be pronounced righteous as the result of faith. If a man is in union with Christ Jesus, 6 neither is circumcision nor the omission of it anything, but faith, working through love, is everything.
You were once making good progress ! Who has hindered 7 you from obeying the Truth ? The persuasion brought to bear 8 on you does not come from him who calls you. A little leaven 9 leavens all the dough. I, through my union with the Lord, 10 am persuaded that you will learn to think with me. But the man who is disturbing your minds will have to bear his punish- ment, whoever he may be. If I, Brothers, am still n proclaiming circumcision, whyam I still persecuted ? It seems that the Cross has ceased to be an obstacle ! I could 12 even wish that the people who are unsettling you would go further still and mutilate themselves.
The Limit* of Remember, Brothers, to you the Call came to 13 Christian give you freedom. Only do not make your free- Freedom, dom an opportunity for self-indulgence, but serve
one another in a loving spirit. Indeed, the whole Law has 14
been summed up in this one precept —
' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thou dost thyself.*
But, if you are continually wounding and preying upon one 15 another, take care that you are not destroyed by one another. The Guidance This is what I have to say : — Let your steps be 16 of the guided by the Spirit, and then you will never gratify spirit. the cravings of your earthly nature. For these 17 cravings of our earthly nature conflict with the Spirit, and the Spirit with our earthly nature — they are two contrary princi- ples— so that you cannot do what you wish. But, if you follow 18 M Lev. 19. 18.
304 GALATIANS, 5-6.
the guidance of the Spirit, you are not subject to Law. The 19 sins of our earthly nature are unmistakeable. They are sins like these — unchastity, impurity, indecency, idolatry, sorcery, 20 quarrels, strife, jealousy, outbursts of passion, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, feelings of envy, drunkenness, revelry, 21 and the like. And I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who indulge in such things will have no place in the Kingdom of God. But the fruit produced by the Spirit is love, 22 joy, peace, forbearance, kindliness, generosity, trustfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law ! 23 And those who belong to Jesus, the Christ, have already 24 crucified their earthly nature, with its passions and its cravings.
Since our Life is due to the Spirit, let us rule our conduct 25 also by the Spirit. Do not let us grow vain, and provoke or 26 envy one another. Brothers, even if a man should be i
caught committing a sin, you who are spiritually minded should, in a gentle spirit, help him to recover himself, taking care lest any one of you also should be tempted. Bear 2
one another's burdens, and so carry out the Law of the Christ. If a man imagines himself to be somebody, when he is really 3 nobody, he deceives himself. Let every one test his own 4 work, and then his cause for satisfaction will be in himself and not in a comparison of himself with his neighbour ; for every 5 one must bear his own load. ... He, however, who 6 is being instructed in the Message ought always to share his blessings with the man who instructs him.
Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. What a 7 man sows that he will reap. For he who sows the field of his 8 earthly nature will from that earthly nature reap corruption ; while he who sows the field of the spirit will from that spirit reap Immortal Life. Let us never tire of doing right, for at 9 the proper season we shall reap our harvest, if we do not grow weary. Therefore, I say, as the opportunity ID
occurs, let us treat every one with kindness, and especially members of the Household of the Faith.
V.— CONCLUSION IN THE APOSTLE'S OWN HAND-WRITING.
See in what large letters I am writing with my own n hand. Those who wish to appear to advantage in 12
regard to outward observances are the very people who are trying to compel you to be circumcised ; and they do it only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Jesus, the Christ. Even these men who are circumcised do not themselves keep 13 the Law ; yet they want you to be circumcised, so that they may boast of your observance of the rite. But, for my part, 14 may 1 never boast of anything except the cross of Jesus Christ,
GALATIANS, 8. 305
our Master, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision nor 15 the omission of it anything ; but a new nature is everything. May all who rule their conduct by this principle find peace 16 and mercy — they who are the Israel of God.
For the future let no one trouble me ; for I bear the marks 17 of Jesus branded on my body.
May the blessing of Jesus Christ, our Lord, rest on your 18 souls, Brothers. Amen.
16 Pa. 135. j ; ia& 6.
TO THE CORINTHIANS. I.
ST. PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS.
WRITTEN PROBABLY DURING HIS STAY AT EPHESUS, IN THE COURSE OF HIS THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY, ABOUT 54 A.D.
CORINTH was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia. It contained a large, mixed population of Greeks, Jews, and Italian freedmen. The community — famous for its trade, its festivals and games of world-wide renown, its wealth and its luxury — was highly cultured, but grossly immoral. The Christian Church at Corinth was founded by St. Paul during the year and a half that he stayed in that city in the course of his second missionary journey (Acts 18. n) ; and this Letter to his Corinthian converts was probably written at Ephesus towards the close of St. Paul's stay there on his third missionary journey (Acts 19). News had been brought to the Apostle of dissensions and disorders which had arisen in the Cnurch at Corinth (i Cor. i. n) ; and about the same time he received a letter from that Church, asking guidance from him in several important matters (i Cor. 7. i). These were the circumstances under which he wrote the present Letter of rebuke and advice.
TO THE
CORINTHIANS. I.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
To the Church of God in Corinth, to those who i-: Greeting. nave been consecrated by union with Christ Jesus
and called to become his People, and also to all, wherever
they may be, who invoke the Name of our Lord Jesus
Christ — their Master and ours, FROM Paul, who has been called to be an Apostle of Jesus
Christ by the will of God, AND FROM Sosthenes, our Brother. May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and 3
give you peace.
I always thank God about you for the blessing 4 ThankftHnesa bestowed upon you in Christ Jesus. For through 5
and union with him you were enriched in every way — confidence. m yOur power to preach, and in your knowledge of the Truth ; and so became yourselves a confirmation of my 6 testimony to the Christ. And thus there is no gift in which 7
Jou are deficient, while waiting for the Appearing of our Lord esus Christ. And God himself will strengthen you to the 8 end, so that at the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ you may be found blameless. God will not fail you, and it is he who 9 called you into communion with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
II. — THE STATE OF THE CHURCH AT CORINTH.
But I appeal to you, Brothers, by the Name of 10 Prevalence o*our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree in what you profess, *" and not to allow divisions to exist among you, but to be united — of one mind and of one opinion. For I have n been informed, my Brothers, by the members of Chloe's house-
310 I. CORINTHIANS, 1.
hold, that party feeling exists among you. I mean this, 12 that every one of you says either ' I follow Paul,' or ' I Apollos,' or ' I Kephas,' or ' I Christ.' You have rent the Christ in 13 pieces ! Was it Paul who was crucified for you ? or were you baptized into the Faith of Paul ? I am thankful that I 14 did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that 15 no one can say that you were baptized into my Faith. I 16 baptized also the household of Stephanas. I do not know that I baptized any one else. My mission from Christ was 17 not to baptize, but to tell the Good News ; not, however, in the language of philosophy, lest the cross of the Christ should be robbed of its meaning.
The Message of the Cross is indeed mere folly 18 Tth«Pcro1fc°r to those who are' in the path to Ruin, but to us who are in the path of Salvation it is the very power of God. For Scripture says — 19
' I will bring the philosophy of the philosophers to nought, And the shrewdness of the shrewd I will make of no account.'
Where is the Philosopher? where the Teacher of the Law? 20 where the Disputant of to-day ? Has not God shown the world's philosophy to be folly ? For since the world, in God's 21 wisdom, did not by its philosophy learn to know God, God saw fit, by the ' folly ' of our proclamation, to save those who believe in Christ ! While Jews ask for miraculous 22 signs, and Greeks study philosophy, we are proclaiming 23 Christ crucified ! — to the Jews an obstacle, to the Gentiles mere folly, but to those who have received the Call, whether 24 Jews or Greeks, Christ, the Power of God and the Wisdom of God ! For God's ' folly ' is wiser than men, and God's ' weak- 25 ness ' is stronger than men. 'weakness1 Look at the facts of your Call, Brothers. There 26
«nd are not many among you who are wise, as men 'strength.' reckon wisdom, not many who are influential, not many who are high-born ; but God chose what the world 27 counts foolish to put its wise men to shame, and God chose what the world counts weak to put its strong things to shame, and God chose what the world counts poor and insignificant — 28 things that to it are unreal — to bring its 'realities' to nothing, so that in his presence no human being should boast. But 29, you, by your union with Christ Jesus, belong to God ; and Christ, by God's will, became not only our Wisdom, but also our Righteousness, Holiness, and Deliverance, so that — 31 in the words of Scripture —
' Let him who boasts make his boast of the Lord ! ' » Isa. 29. 14. a> Isa. 19. ii— ia ; 33. 18. « Jer. 9. 34.
I. CORINTHIANS, 2—3. 811
Philosophy For my own part, Brothers, when I came to i 2 and ' you, it was with no display of eloquence or
Revelation, philosophy that I came to tell the hidden purpose of God ; for I had determined that, while with you, I would 2 know nothing but Jesus Christ — and him crucified ! Indeed, 3 when I came among- you, I was weak, and full of fears, and in great anxiety. My Message and my Proclamation were not 4 delivered in the persuasive language of philosophy, but were accompanied by the manifestation of spiritual power, so that 5 your faith should be based, not on the philosophy of man, but on the power of God.
Yet there is a philosophy that we teach to those whose faith 6 is matured, but it is not the philosophy of to-day, nor that of the leaders of to-day — men whose downfall is at hand. No, 7 it is a divine philosophy that we teach, one concerned with the hidden purpose of God — that long-hidden philosophy which God, before time began, destined for our glory. This philo- 8 sophy is not known to any of the leaders of to-day ; for, had they known it, they would not have crucified our glorified Lord. It is what Scripture speaks of as — 9
'What eye never saw, nor ear ever heard, What never entered the mind of man —
Even all that God has prepared for those who love him.'
Yet to us God revealed it through his Spirit ; for the Spirit 10 fathoms all things, even the inmost depths of God's being. For what man is there who knows what a man is, except n the man's own spirit within him ? So, also, no one compre- hends what God is, except the Spirit of God. And as for us, 12 it is not the Spirit of the World that we have received, but the Spirit that comes from God, that we may realize the blessings given to us by him. And we speak of these gifts, not in Ian- 13 guage taught by human philosophy, but in language taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things in spiritual words. The merely intellectual man rejects the teaching of the Spirit 14 of God ; for to him it is mere folly ; he cannot grasp it, because it is to be understood only by spiritual insight. But the man with spiritual insight is able to understand 15 everything, although he himself is understood by no one. For ' who has so comprehended the mind of the Lord as 16 to be able to instruct him ? ' We, however, have the very mind of Christ.
But I, Brothers, could not speak to you as men with spiritual i 3 insight, but only as worldly-minded — mere infants in the Faith of Christ. I fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you 2 were not then able to take it.
9 Isa. 64. 4. 16 Isa. 40. 13.
312 I. CORINTHIANS, 3-4.
No, and even now you are not able ; you are 3 Politio'n'and stiW worldly. While there exist among you
work of the jealousy and party feeling, is it not true that you
Apostles. are Worldly, and are acting merely as other men do? When one says 'I follow Paul,' and another 'I 4 follow Apollos,' are not you like other men ? What, I ask, is 5 Apollos ? or what is Paul ? Servants through whom you were led to accept the Faith ; and that only as the Lord helped each of you. I planted, and Apollos watered, but it was God who 6 caused the growth. Therefore neither the man who plants, 7 nor the man who waters, is of any account, but only God who causes the growth. In this the man who plants and the 8 man who waters are one ; yet eacli will receive his own reward in proportion to his own labour. For we are God's fellow 9 workers ; you are God's harvest field, God's building.
In fulfilment of the charge which God had entrusted to me, 10 I laid the foundation like a skilful master-builder ; but another man is now building upon it. Let every one take care how he builds ; for no man can lay any other foundation than the 1 1 one already laid — Jesus Christ. Whatever is used by those 12 who build upon this foundation, whether gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, the quality of each man's work 13 will become known, for the Day will make it plain ; because that Day is to be ushered in with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of every man's work. If any man's work, 14 which he has built upon that foundation, still remains, he will gain a reward. If any man's work is burnt up, he will suffer 15 loss ; though he himself will escape, but only as one who has passed through fire.
Do not you know that you are God's Temple, and that God's 16 Spirit has his home in you ? If any one destroys the Temple 17 of God, God will destroy him ; for the Temple of God is sacred, and so also are you.
Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you imagines 18 that, as regards this world, he is a wise man, let him become a ' fool,' that he may become wise. For in God's sight this 19 world's wisdom is folly. Scripture tells of —
' One who catches the wise in their own craftiness,' and it says again — 20
'The Lord sees how fruitless are the deliberations of the wise.' Therefore let no one boast about men ; for all things are 21 yours — whether Paul, or Apollos, or Kephas, or the world, or 22 life, or death, or the present, or the future — all things are yours ! But you are Christ's and Christ is God's. 23
Let men look upon us as Christ's servants, and as stewards i 4 of the hidden truths of God. Now what we look for in 2
19 Job 5. jj, 13. *> Ps. 94. xi.
I. CORINTHIANS, 4. 313
stewards is that they should be trustworthy. But it weighs 3 very little with me that I am judged by you or by any human tribunal. No, I do not even judge myself ; for, though I am 4 conscious of nothing against myself, that does not prove me innocent. It is the Lord who is my judge. Therefore do not 5 pass judgement before the time, but wait till the Lord comes. He will throw light upon what is now dark and obscure, and will reveal the motives in men's minds ; and then every one will receive due praise from God.
All this, Brothers, I have, for your sakes, applied to Apollos 6 and myself, so that, from our example, you may learn to observe the precept — ' Keep to what is written,' that none of you may speak boastfully of one teacher to the disparagement of another. For who makes any one of you superior to others? 7 And what have you that was not given you ? But if you received it as a gift, why do yon boast as if you had not ? Are 8 you all so soon satisfied ? Are you so soon rich ? Have you begun to reign without us ? Would indeed that you had, so that we also might reign with you ! For, as it seems to me, 9 God has exhibited us, the Apostles, last of all, as men doomed to death. We are made a spectacle to the universe, both to angels and to men ! We, for Christ's sake, are 'fools,' but 10 you, by your union with Christ, are men of discernment. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honoured, but we are despised. To this very hour we go hungry, thirsty, and n naked ; we are beaten ; we are homeless ; we work hard, 12 toiling with our own hands. We meet abuse with blessings, we meet persecution with endurance, we meet slander with 13 gentle appeals. We have been treated as the scum of the earth, the vilest of the vile, to this very hour.
It is with no wish to shame you that I am writing like this ; 14 but to warn you as my own dear children. Though you 15 may have thousands of instructors in the Faith of Christ, yet you have not many fathers. It was I who, through union with. Christ Jesus, became your father by means of the Good News. Therefore I entreat you — Follow my 16 example. This is my reason for sending Timothy to 17
you. He is my own dear faithful child in the Master's service, and he will remind you of my methods of teaching the Faith of Christ Jesus — methods which I follow everywhere in every Church.
Some, I hear, are puffed up with pride, thinking that I am 18 not coming to you. But come to you I will, and that soon, if it 19 please the Lord ; and then I shall find out, not what words these men use who are so puffed up, but what power they possess ; for the Kingdom of God is based, not on words, but 20 on power. What do you wish ? Am I to come to you with a 21 rod, or in a loving and gentle spirit ?
20 Dan. 2. 44.
314 I. CORINTHIANS, 5-6.
A fl rant There is a wide-spread report respecting a case i
caeo of of immorality among you, and that, too, of a immorality, kind that does not occur even among the Gentiles — a man, I hear, is living with his father's wife ! Instead 2 of grieving over it and taking steps for the expulsion of the man who has done this thing, is it possible that you are still puffed up ? For I myself, though absent in body, 3
have been present with you in spirit, and in the name of our Lord Jesus I have already passed judgement, just as if I had been present, upon the man who has acted in this way. I have 4 decided — having been present in spirit at your meetings, when the power of the Lord Jesus was with us — to deliver such a man 5 as this over to Satan, that what is sensual in him may be destroyed, so that his spirit may be saved at the Day of the Lord. Your boasting is unseemly. Do not you know 6
that even a little leaven leavens all the dough ? Get rid en- 7 tirely of the old leaven, so that you may be like new dough — free from leaven, as in truth you are. For our Passover Lamb is already sacrificed — Christ himself ; therefore let us keep our 8 festival, not with the leaven of former days, nor with the leaven of vice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
I told you, in my letter, not to associate with immoral 9 people — not, of course, meaning men of the world who are 10 immoral, or who are covetous and grasping, or who worship idols; for then you would have to leave the world altogether. But, as things are, I say that you are not to associate with any 1 1 one who, although a Brother in name, is immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or abusive, or a drunkard, or grasping — no, not even to sit at table with such people. What have I to do 12 with judging those outside the Church ? Is it not for you to judge those who are within the Church, while God 13 judges those who are outside ? ' Put away the wicked man from among you.'
Lawsuit* Can it be that, when one of you has a dispute i b«twe«n with another, he dares to have his case tried
Christians, before the heathen, instead of before Christ's People ? Do not you know that Christ's People will try the 2 world ? And if the world is to be tried by you, are you unfit to try the most trivial cases ? Do not you know that we are 3 to try angels — to say nothing of the affairs of this life ? Why, 4 then, if you have cases relating to the affairs of this life, do you set to try them men who carry no weight with the Church ? To your shame I ask it. Can it be that there is 5 not one man among you wise enough to decide between two of his Brothers? Must Brother go to law with Brother, and 6 that, too, before unbelievers ? To begin with, it is undoubtedly 7
7 Exod. 12. 21. 13 Oeut. 22. 24.
I. CORINTHIANS, e~7. 315
a loss to you to have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather let yourselves be wronged ? Why not rather let yourselves be cheated ? Instead of this, you wrong and 8 cheat others yourselves — yes, even your Brothers ! Do not 9 you know that wrong-doers will have no share in God's Kingdom ? Do not be deceived. No one who is
immoral, or an idolater, or an adulterer, or licentious, or a sodomite, or a thief, or covetous, or a drunkard, or abusive, or 10 grasping, will have any share in God's Kingdom. Such 1 1
some of you used to be ; but you washed yourselves clean ! you became Christ's People ! you were pronounced righteous through the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the Spirit of our God !
The Everything is allowable for me ! Yes, but every- 12
sacredness of thing is not profitable. Everything is allowable the Body. for me i Yes, but for my part, I will not let myself be enslaved by anything. Food exists for the stomach, and 13 the stomach for food ; but God will put an end to both the one and the other. The body, however, exists, not for im- morality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body ; and, as 14 God has raised the Lord, so he will raise up us also by the exercise of his power. Do not you know that your bodies are 15 Christ's members? Am I, then, to take the members that belong to the Christ and make them the members of a prostitute? Heaven forbid ! Or do not you know that a man who unites 16 himself with a prostitute is one with her in body (for ' the two,' it is said, ' will become one ') ; while a man who is united with 17 the Lord is one with him in spirit? Shun all immorality. 18 Every other sin that men commit is something outside the body ; but an immoral man sins against his own body. Again, do not you know that your body is a shrine of the Holy 19 Spirit that is within you — the Spirit which you have from God ? Moreover, you are not your own masters ; you were 20 bought, and the price was paid. Therefore, honour God in your bodies.
III. — ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE CHURCH AT CORINTH.
With reference to the subjects about which you i
ON MARRIAGE. 111 it r
The Apostle's wrote to me : — It would be well for a man to
views. remain single. But, owing to the prevalence of 2 immorality, I advise every man to have his own wife, and every woman her husband. A husband should give his wife 3 her due, and a wife her husband. It is not the wife, but the 4
16 Gen. a. 24.
316 I. CORINTHIANS, 7.
husband, who exercises power over her body ; and so, too, it is not the husband, but the wife, who exercises power over his body. Do not deprive each other of what is due — unless it is 5 only for a time and by mutual consent, so that your minds may be free for prayer till you again live as man and wife — lest Satan should take advantage of your want of self-control and tempt you. I say this, however, as a concession, not 6 as a command. I should wish every one to be just what I am 7 myself. But every one has his own gift from God — one in one way, and one in another.
My advice, then, to those who are not married, and to 8 widows, is this : — It would be well for them to remain as I am myself. But, if they cannot control themselves, let them 9 marry, for it is better to marry than to be consumed with passion. To those who are married my direction is — ic
yet it is not mine, but the Master's — that a woman is not to leave her husband (if she has done so, let her remain as she is, 1 1 or else be reconciled to her husband) and also that a man is not
Marriages to divorce his wife. To all others I say — I, ii
with not the Master : — If a Brother is married to a unbelievers. WOman, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with him, he should not divorce her; and a woman who is i^ married to a man, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with her, should not divorce her husband. For, through his wife, the i^ husband who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ's People ; and the wife who is an unbeliever has become assooiated with Christ's People through our Brother whom she has married. Otherwise your children would be 'defiled,' but, as it is, they belong to Christ's People. How- i< ever, if the unbeliever wishes to be separated, let him be so. Under such circumstances neither the Brother nor the Sister is bound ; God has called you to live in peace. How can you i( tell, wife, whether you may not save your husband ? and how can you tell, husband, whether you may not save yo'ur wife?
In any case, a man should continue to live in the i; independent condition which the Lord has allotted to him, and or conditions in which he was when God called him. This
°ruf*- is the rule that I lay down in every Church. Was it a man already circumcised when he was called ? Then he should not efface his circumcision. Has a man been called when uncircumcised ? Then he should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing ; the want of it is nothing ; but to ic keep the commands of God is everything. Let every one 2C remain in that condition of life in which he was when the Call came to him. Were you a slave when you were called ? 21 Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best. For the man who was a 22
I. CORINTHIANS, 7. 817
slave when he was called to the Master's service is. the Master's freed-man ; so, too, the man who was free when called is Chris t's slave. You were bought, and the price was paid. Do 23 not let yourselves become slaves to men. Brothers, let every 24 one remain in the condition in which he was when he was called, in close communion with God.
Difficulties With regard to unmarried women, I have no 25 ^"wJth***' command from the Master to give you, but I tell Marriage, you my opinion, and it is that of a man whom the Master in his mercy has made worthy to be trusted.
I think, then, that, in view of the time of suffering that has 26 now come upon us, what I have already said is best — that a man should remain as he is. Are you married to a wife? 27 Then do not seek to be separated. Are you separated from a wife ? Then do not seek for a wife. Still, if you should marry, 28 that is not wrong ; nor, if a young woman marries, is that wrong. But those who marry will have much trouble to bear, and my wish is to spare you. What I mean, Brothers, 29
is this : — The time is short. Meanwhile, let those who have wives live as if they had none, those who are weeping as if not 30 weeping, those who are rejoicing as if not rejoicing, those who buy as if not possessing, and those who use the good things of 31 the world as using them sparingly ; for this world as we see it is passing away. I want you to be free from anxiety. The 32 unmarried man is anxious about the Master's Cause, desiring to please him ; while the married man is anxious about worldly. 33 matters, desiring to please his wife ; and so his interests are divided. Again, the unmarried woman, whether she is old or 34 young, is anxious about the Master's Cause, striving to be pure both in body and in spirit, while the married woman is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please her husband. I say 35 this for your own benefit, not with any intention of putting a halter round your necks, but in order to secure for the Master seemly and constant devotion, free from all distraction.
If, however, a father thinks that he is not acting fairly 36 by his unmarried daughter, when she is past her youth, and if under these circumstances her marriage ought to take place, let him act as he thinks right. He is doing nothing wrong — let the marriage take place. On the other hand, a 37 father, who has definitely made up his mind, and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has come to the decision, in his own mind, to keep his un- married daughter at home, will be doing right. In short, the 38 one who consents to his daughter's marriage is doing right, and yet the other will be doing better.
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives ; but, if 39 the husband should pass to his rest, the widow is free to marry any one she wishes, provided he is a believer. Yet 40
318 I. CORINTHIANS, 7—9.
she will be happier if she remains as she is — in my opinion, for I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
ON With reference to food that has been offered in i
HEATHEN sacrifice to idols — We are aware that all of us ^ou'^sti"* have knowledge ! Knowledge breeds conceit,
"of " * while love builds up character. If a man thinks 2 conscience, that he knows anything, he has not yet reached that knowledge which he ought to have reached. On the other 3 hand, if a man loves God, he is known by God. With 4
reference, then, to eating food that has been offered to idols — we are aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one. Even supposing that there are so- 5 called ' gods ' either in Heaven or on earth — and there are many such ' gods ' and ' lords ' — yet for us there is only one God, the 6 Father, from whom all things come (and for him we live), and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come (and through him we live). Still, it is not every one 7
that has this knowledge. Some* people, because of their association with idols, continued down to the present time, eat the food as food offered to an idol ; and their consciences, while still weak, are dulled. What we eat, however, will not 8 bring us nearer to God. We lose nothing by not eating this food, and we gain nothing by eating it. But take care 9 that this right of yours does not become in any way a stumbling-block to the weak. For if some one should see you 10 who possess this knowledge, feasting in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is a weak man, become so hardened that he, too, will eat food offered to idols ? And so, through this 1 1 knowledge of yours, the weak man is ruined — your Brother for whose sake Christ died ! In this way, by sinning against your 12 Brothers and injuring their consciences, while still weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat makes my 13 Brother fall, rather than make my Brother fall, I will never eat meat again.
The Apo«tie'« Am I not free ? Am I not an Apostle ? Have Example. I not seen our Lord Jesus ? Are not you your- selves my work achieved in union with the Lord ? Ill am not an Apostle to others, yet at least I am to you ; for you are the seal that stamps me as an Apostle in union with the' Lord.
The defence that I make to my critics is this : — Have not we 3, a right to food and drink ? Have not we a right to take a wife 5 with us, if she is a Christian, as the other Apostles and the Master's brothers and Kephas all do ? Or is it only Barnabas 6 and I who have no right to give up working for our bread ? Does any one ever serve as a soldier at his own expense ? Does 7 any one plant a vineyard and not eat its produce ? Or does
I. CORINTHIANS, 9. 319
any one look after a herd and not drink the milk ? Am 8
I, in all this, speaking only from the human standpoint ? Does not the Law also say the same ? For in the Law of Moses it is 9 said —
' Thou shalt not muzzle a bullock while it is treading out the grain.'
Is it the bullocks that God is thinking of? or is not it said 10 entirely for our sakes ? Surely it was written for our sakes, for the ploughman ought not to plough, nor the thrasher to thrash, without expecting a share of the grain. Since n
we, then, sowed spiritual seed for you, is it too much that we should reap from you an earthly harvest? If others share- in 12 this right over you, do not we even more ? Still we did not avail ourselves of this right. No, we endure anything rather than impede the progress of the Good News of the Christ. Do not 13 you know that those who do the work of the Temple live on what comes from the Temple, and that those who serve at the altar share the offerings with the altar ? So, too, the Master 14 has appointed that those who tell the Good News should get their living from the Good News. I, however, have not availed 15 myself of any of these rights. I am not saying this to
secure such an arrangement for myself; indeed, I would far
rather die Nobody shall make my boast a vain one ! If I tell 16
the Good News, I have nothing to boast of, for I can but do so. Woe is me if I do not tell it ! If I do this work 17 willingly, I have a reward ; but, if unwillingly, I have been charged to perform a duty. What is my reward, then ? To 18 present the Good News free of all cost, and so make but a sparing use of the rights which it gives me.
Although I was entirely free, yet, to win as many converts as 19 possible, I made myself every one's slave. To the Jews I became 20 like a Jew, to win Jews. To those who are subject to Law I be- came like a man subject to Law — though I was not myself sub- ject to Law — to win those who are subject to Law. To those 21 who have no Law I became like a man who has no Law — not that I am free from God's Law ; no, for I am under Christ's Law — to win those who have no Law. To the weak I became weak, 22 to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so as at all costs to save some. And I do everything for the sake 23 of the Good News, that with them I may share in its blessings.
Do not you know that on a race-course, though all run, 24 yet only one wins the prize ? Run in such a way that you may win. Every athlete exercises self-restraint in every- 25 thing ; they, indeed, for a crown that fades, we for one that is unfading. I, therefore, run with no uncertain aim. I box — 26 not like a man hitting the air. No, I bruise my body and 27
• Deut. 25. 4.
320 I. CORINTHIANS, 9— 1O.
make it my slave, lest I, who have called others to the contest, should myself be rejected.
A warn in ^ want you to bear in mind, Brothers, that all i from our ancestors were beneath the cloud, and all History, passed through the sea ; that in the cloud and in 2 the sea they all underwent baptism as followers of Moses ; and 3 that they all ate the same supernatural food, and all drank the 4 same supernatural water, for they used to drink from a super- natural rock which followed them, and that rock was the Christ. Yet with most of them God was displeased ; for they were 5 ' struck down in the desert.'
Now these things happened as warnings to us, to teach us 6 not to long for evil things as our forefathers longed. Do not 7 become idolaters, as some of them became. Scripture says —
4 The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to dance.'
Nor let us act immorally, as some of them acted, with the result 8 that twenty-three thousand of them fell dead in a single day. Nor let us try the patience of the Lord too far, as some of them 9 tried it, with the result that they ' were, one after another, des- troyed by the snakes.' And do not murmur, as some of them 10 murmured, and so 'were destroyed by the Angel of Death.' These things happened to .them by way of warning, and were 1 1 recorded to serve as a caution to us, in whose days the close of the ages has come.
Therefore let the man who thinks that he stands take care 12 that he does not fall. No temptation has come upon you that is 13 not common to all mankind. God will not fail you, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength ; but, when he sends the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, so that you may have strength to endure.
Tho Apostio's Therefore, my dear friends, shun the worship 14 conclusions, of idols. I speak to you as men of discernment ; 15 form your own judgement about what I am saying. In 16
the Cup of Blessing which we bless, is not there a sharing in the blood of the Christ ? And in the Bread which we break, is not there a sharing in the Body of the Christ ? The Bread is 17 one, and we, though many, are one body ; for we all partake of that one Bread. Look at the people of Israel. Do not those 18 who eat the sacrifices share with the altar ? What do I mean ? 19 you ask. That an offering made to an idol, or the idol itself, is anything ? No ; what 1 say is that the sacrifices offered by 20 the Gentiles ' are offered to demons and to a Being who is no God,' and I do not want you to share with demons. You 21 cannot drink both the Cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.
&Nura. 14. 16. « Num. 11.34. 7 Exod. 33. 6. » Num. ai. 6. M a Sam. 24. 16. » Dcut. yt. 17. 21 Mai. i. 7.
I. CORINTHIANS, 1O— 11. 321
You cannot partake at the Table of the Lord and at the table
of demons. Or ' are we to rouse the jealousy of the Lord ' ? 22
Are we stronger than he ?
Everything is allowable ! Yes, but everything is not profit- 23 able. Everything is allowable ! Yes, but everything does not build up character. A man must not study his own interests, 24 but the interests of others.
Eat anything that is sold in the market, without making 25 inquiries to satisfy your scruples ; for ' the earth, with 26 all that is in it, belongs to the Lord.' If an unbeliever invites 27 you to his house and you consent to go, eat anything that is put before you, without making inquiries to satisfy your scruples. But, if any one should say to you ' This has been 28 offered in sacrifice to an idol,' then, for the sake of the speaker and his scruples, do not eat it. I do not say ' your ' scruples, 29 but 'his.' For why should the freedom that I claim be con- demned by the scruples of another ? If, for my part, I take 30 the food thankfully, why should I be abused for eating that for which I give thanks ?
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do 31 everything to the honour of God. Do not cause offence either 32 to Jews or Greeks or to the Church of God ; for I, also, 33 try to please everybody in everything, not seeking my own advantage, but that of men in general, that they may be saved. Imitate me, as I myself imitate Christ. I
ON PUBLIC ^ praise you, indeed, because you never forget 2 WORSHIP, me, and are keeping my injunctions in mind, A» to covering exactly as \ laid them upon you. But I 3
Head. am anxjous ^at you should understand that the Christ is the Head of every man, that man is the Head of woman, and that God is the Head of the Christ. Any man 4 who keeps his head covered, when praying or preaching in public, dishonours him who is his Head ; while any woman, 5 who prays or preaches in public bare-headed, dishonours him who is her Head ; for that is to make herself like one of the shameless women who shave their heads. Indeed, if a 6 woman does not keep her head covered, she may as well cut her hair short. But, since to cut her hair short, or shave it off, marks her as one of the shameless women, let her keep her head covered. A man ought not to have his head 7 covered, for he has been from the beginning ' the likeness of God ' and the reflection of his glory, but woman is the reflection of man's glory. For it was not man who was taken from 8 woman, but woman who was taken from man. Besides, man 9 was not created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. And, therefore, a woman ought to wear on her head 10 a symbol of her subjection, because of the presence of the
33 Deut. 32. ai. 26 Ps. 24. i. 7 Gen. 5. i.
M
322 I. CORINTHIANS, 11.
angels. Still, when in union with the Lord, woman is not n independent of man, or man of woman ; for just as woman 12 came from man, so man comes by means of woman ; and all things come from God. Judge for yourselves. Is it fitting 13 that a woman should pray to God in public with her head uncovered ? Does not nature herself teach us that, while for 14 a man to wear his hair long is degrading to him, a woman's 15 long hair is her glory ? Her hair has been given her to serve as a covering. If, however, anyone still thinks it right 16
to contest the point — well, we have no such custom, nor have the Churches of God.
AS to the ^n S'lv'inS directions on the next subject, I 17 ' Lord's cannot praise you ; because your meetings do supper.' more harm than good. To begin with, I hear 18 that, when you meet as a Church, divisions exist among you, and, to some extent, I believe it. Indeed, there must 19 be actual parties among you, for so only will the men of real worth become known. When you meet together, as I 20
understand, it is not possible to eat the Lord's Supper ; for, as 21 you eat, each of you tries to secure his own supper first, with the result that one has too little to eat, and another has too much to drink ! Have you no houses in which you can 22 eat and drink ? Or are you trying to show your contempt for the Church of God, and to humiliate the poor? What can I say to you ? Shall I praise you ? In this matter I cannot praise you. For I myself received from the Lord the account 23 which I have in turn given to you — how the Lord Jesus, on the very night of his betrayal, took some bread, and, after 24 saying the thanksgiving, broke it and said " This is my own body given on your behalf. Do this in memory of me." And 25 in the same way with the cup, after supper, saying " This cup is the new Covenant made by my blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, in memory of me." For whenever you eat this 26 bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death — till he comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread, or drinks the 27 Lord's cup, in an irreverent spirit, will have to answer for an offence against the Lord's body and blood. Let each man 28 look into his own heart, and only then eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For the man who eats and drinks 29 brings a judgement upon himself by his eating and drinking, when he does not discern the body. That is why so many 30 among you are weak and ill, and why some are sleeping. But, if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged. 31 Yet, in being judged by the Lord, we are undergoing 32 discipline, so that we may not have judgement passed upon us with the rest of the world. Therefore, my Brothers, 33 when you meet together to eat the Supper, wait for one
'-» Exod. 34. »•
I. CORINTHIANS, 11-12. 823
another. If a man is hungry, let him eat at home, so that your 34 meetings may not bring a judgement upon you. The
other details I will settle when I come.
ON SPIRITUAL ^n t*ie next P"ace> Brothers, I do not want you i j
GIFTS. to be ignorant about spiritual gifts. You 2
Their variety know that there was a time when you were
and unity. Qentiles, going astray after idols that could not speak, just as you happened to be led. Therefore I tell you 3 plainly that no one who speaks under the influence of the Spirit of God says ' JESUS is ACCURSED,' and that no one can say 'JESUS is LORD,' except under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts differ, but the Spirit is the same ; ways of serving 4, ( differ, yet the Master is the same ; results differ, yet the God 6 who brings about every result is in every case the same. To 7 each man there is given spiritual illumination for the general good. To one is given the power to speak with wisdom 8 through the Spirit ; to another the power to speak with know- ledge, due to the same Spirit ; to another faith by the same 9 Spirit ; to another power to cure diseases by the one Spirit ; to another supernatural powers ; to another the gift of 10 preaching ; to another the gift of distinguishing between true and false inspiration ; to another varieties of the gift of ' tongues ' ; to another the power to interpret ' tongues.' All n these result from one and the same Spirit, who distributes his gifts to each individually as he wills.
For just as the human body is one whole, and yet has many 12 parts, and all its parts, many though they are, form but one body, so it is with the Christ ; for it was by one Spirit that we 13 were all baptized to form one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free men, and were all imbued with one Spirit. The 14 human body, I repeat, consists not of one part, but of many. If the foot says ' Since I am not a hand, I do not belong to the 15 body,' it does not on that account cease to belong to the body. Or if the ear says ' Since I am not an eye, I do not belong to 16 the body,' it does not on that account cease to belong to the body. If all the body were an eye, where would the hearing 17 be ? If it were all hearing, where would the sense of smell be ? But in fact God has placed each individual part just where 18 he thought fit in the body. If, however, they all made up 19 only one part, where would the body be ? But in fact, although 20 it has many parts, there is only one body. The eye cannot say 21 to the hand ' I do not need you,' nor, again, the head to the feet ' I do not need you.' No ! Those parts of the body that 22 seem naturally the weaker are indispensable ; and those parts 23 which we deem less honourable we surround with special honour ; and our ungraceful parts receive a special grace which our graceful parts do not require. Yes, God has so 24 constructed the body — by giving a special honour to the part
324 I. CORINTHIANS, 12-14.
that lacks it — as to secure that there should be no disunion in 25 the body, but that the parts should show the same care for one another. If one part suffers, all the others suffer with it, and 26 if one part has honour done it, all the others share its joy. Together you are the Body of Christ, and individually its 27 parts. In the Church God has appointed, first, 28
Apostles, secondly Preachers, thirdly Teachers ; then he has given supernatural powers, then power to cure diseases, aptness for helping others, capacity to govern, varieties of the gift of ' tongues.' Can every one be an Apostle ? can every 29 one be a Preacher ? can every one be a Teacher ? can every one have supernatural powers ? can every one have power to 30 cure diseases ? can every one speak in ' tongues ' ? can every one interpret them ? Strive for the greater gifts. 31
Love the Yet ^ can st^ show you a way beyond all greatest of comparison the best. Though I speak in i •
•"• the ' tongues ' of men, or even of angels, yet have not Love, I have become mere echoing brass, or a clanging cymbal ! Even though I have the gift of preaching, 2 and fathom all hidden truths and all the depths of know- ledge ; even though I have such faith as might move moun- tains, yet have not Love, I am nothing ! Even though I 3 dole my substance to the poor, even though I sacrifice my body, that I may boast, yet have not Love, it avails me nothing ! Love is long-suffering, and kind ; Love is 4
never envious, never boastful, never conceited, never behaves 5 unbecomingly ; Love is never self-seeking, never provoked, never reckons up her wrongs ; Love never rejoices at evil, but 6 rejoices in the triumph of Truth ; Love bears with all things, 7 ever trustful, ever hopeful, ever patient. Love never 8
fails. But, whether it be the gift of preaching, it will be done with ; whether it be the gift of ' tongues,' it will cease ; whether it be knowledge, it, too, will be done with. For our knowledge 9 is incomplete, and our preaching is incomplete, but, when the 10 Perfect has come, that which is incomplete will be done with. When I was a child, I talked as a child, I felt as a child, I n reasoned as a child ; now that I am a man, I have done with childish ways. As yet we see, in a mirror, dimly, but then — 12 face to face ! As yet my knowledge is incomplete, but then I shall know in full, as I have been fully known. Meanwhile 13 Faith, Hope, and Love endure — these three, but the greatest of these is Love.
The oift of Seek this Love earnestly, and strive for spiritual i j the Tongue* 'gifts, above all for the gift of preaching. He 2 »nd the Qift who, when speaking, uses the gift of ' tongues ' is *'"* speaking, not to men, but to God, for no one
• Zech. 8. 17 (Septuagint).
I. CORINTHIANS, 14. 325
understands him ; yet in spirit he is speaking of hidden truths. But he who preaches is speaking to his fellow men 3 words that will build up faith, and give them comfort and encouragement. He who, when speaking, uses the gift of 4 ' tongues ' builds up his own faith, while he who preaches builds up the faith of the Church. Now I want you all to speak 5 in ' tongues,' but much more I wish that you should preach. A Preacher is of more account than he who speaks in 'tongues,' unless he interprets his words, so that the faith of the Church may be built up. This being so, Brothers, 6 what good shall I do you, if I come to you and speak in 'tongues,' unless my words convey some revelation, or know- ledge, or take the form of preaching or teaching? Even with in- 7 animate things, such as a flute or a harp, though they produce sounds, yet unless the notes are quite distinct, how can the tune played on the flute or the harp be recognized ? If the bugle 8 sound a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle ? And so with 9 you ; unless, in using the gift of ' tongues,' you utter intelligible words, how can what you say be understood ? You will be speaking to the winds ! There is, for instance, a certain 10 number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning. If, however, I do not hap- n pen to know the language, I shall be a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be foreigners to me. And so 12 with you ; since you are striving for spiritual gifts, be eager to excel in such as will build up the faith of the Church. Therefore let him who, when speaking, 13
uses the gift of ' tongues ' pray for ability to interpret them. If, when praying, I use the gift of 'tongues,' my spirit 14 indeed prays, but my mind is a blank. What, then, is my con- 15 elusion ? Simply this — I will pray with my spirit, but with my mind as well ; I will sing with my spirit, but with my mind as well. If you bless God with your spirit only, how can the man 16 in the congregation who is without your gift say ' Amen ' to your thanksgiving? He does not know what you are say- ing ! Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other 17 is not helped by it. Thank God, I use the gift of ' tongues' 18 more than any of you. But at a meeting of the Church I 19 would rather speak five words with my mind, and so teach others, than ten thousand words when using the gift of ' tongues. '
Brothers, do not show yourselves children in understanding. 20 In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show your- selves men. It is said in the Law — 21
( In strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.'
» I.a. rf. n.
326 I. CORINTHIANS, 14.
Therefore the gift of the ' tongues ' is intended as a sign, not 22 for those who believe in Christ, but for those who do not, while the gift of preaching is intended as a sign, not for those who do not believe in Christ, but for those who do. So, 23
when the whole Church meets, if all present use the gift of 'tongues,' and some men who are without the gift, or who are unbelievers, come in, will not they say that you are mad ? While, if all those present use the gift of preaching, and an 24 unbeliever, or a man without the gift, comes in, he is con- vinced of his sinfulness by them all, he is called to account by them all ; the secrets of his heart are revealed, and then, 25 throwing himself on his face, he will worship God, and declare " ' God is indeed among you ! ' "
What do I suggest, then, Brothers ? Whenever you meet for 26 worship, each of you comes, either with a hymn, or a lesson, or a revelation, or the gift of 'tongues,' or the interpreta- tion of them ; let everything be directed to the building up of faith. If any of you use the gift of ' tongues,' not more than 27 two, or at the most three, should do so — each speaking in his turn — and some one should interpret them. If there is no one 28 able to interpret what is said, they should remain silent at the meeting of the Church, and speak to themselves and to God. Of preachers two or three should speak, and the rest 29 should weigh well what is said. But, if some revelation is 30 made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop. For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn 31 some lesson and all receive encouragement. (The spirit that 32 moves the preachers is within the preachers' control ; for God 33 is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the Churches of Christ's People.
TH» Necessity At the meetings of the Church married women 34
for order, should remain silent, for they are not allowed to speak in public ; they should take a subordinate place, as the Law itself directs. If they want information on any 35 point, they should ask their husbands about it at home ; for it is unbecoming for a married woman to speak at a meeting of the Church. What ! did God's Message 36
to the world originate with you ? or did it find its way to none but you ?
If any one thinks that he has the gift of preaching or any 37 other spiritual gift, let him recognize that what I am now saying to you is a command from the Lord. Any one who 38 ignores it may be ignored. Therefore, my Brothers, strive 39 for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in 'tongues.' Let eveiything be done in a proper and orderly 40 manner.
» Isa. 45. 14.
I. CORINTHIANS, 16.
IV. — THE APOSTLE'S TEACHING AS TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
Next, Brothers, I would remind you of the Good News i ; which I told you, and which you received — the Good News on which you have taken your stand, and by means of which 2 you are being saved. I would remind you of the very words that I used in telling it to you, since you are still holding fast to it, and since it was not in vain that you became believers in Christ. For at the very beginning of my teaching I gave 3 you the account which I had myself received — that Christ died for our sins (as the Scriptures had foretold), that he was 4 buried, that on the third day he was raised (as the Scriptures had foretold), and that he appeared to Kephas, and then to the 5 Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred 6 of our Brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have gone to their rest. After that, he appeared 7 to James, and then to all the Apostles. Last of all, he appeared 8 even to me, who am, as it were, the abortion. For I 9
am the meanest of the Apostles, I who am unworthy of the name of ' Apostle,' because I persecuted the Church of God. But it is through the love of God that I am what I am, and the 10 love that he showed me has not been wasted. No, I have toiled harder than any of them, and yet it was not I, but the love of God working with me. Whether, then, it was I or n whether it was they, this we proclaim, and this you believed.
Now, if it is proclaimed of Christ that he has been raised 12 from the dead, how is it that some of you say that there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead ? But, if there is no 13 such thing as a resurrection of the dead, then even Christ has not been raised ; and, if Christ has not been raised, then our 14 proclamation is without meaning, and our faith without mean- ing also ! Yes, and we are being proved to have borne false 15 testimony about God ; for we testified of God that he raised the Christ, whom he did not raise, if, indeed, the dead do not rise ! For, if the dead do not rise, then even Christ himself has 16 not been raised, and, if Christ has not been raised, your faith is 17 folly — your sins are on you still ! Yes, and they, who have 18 passed to their rest in union with Christ, perished ! If all that 19 we have done has been to place our hope in Christ for this life, then we of all men are the most to be pitied.
But, in truth, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first- 20 fruits of those who are at rest. For, since through a man 21 there is death, so, too, through a man there is a resurrection of the dead. For, as through union with Adam all men 22 die, so through union with the Christ will all be made
* Hos. 6. a.
328 I. CORINTHIANS, 15.
to live. But each in his proper order— Christ the
first-fruits ; afterwards, at his Coming, those who belong to the Christ. Then will come the end — when he surrenders the Kingdom to his God and Father, having overthrown all other rule and all other authority and power. For he must reign until God ' has put all his enemies under his feet.' The last enemy to be overthrown is death ; for God has placed all things under Christ's feet. (But, when it is said that all things have been placed under Christ, it is plain that God is excepted who placed everything under him.) And, when everything has been placed under him, the Son will place himself under God who placed everything under him, that God may be all in all !
Again, what good will they be doing who are baptized on behalf of the dead ? If it is true that the dead do not rise, why are people baptized on their behalf?. Why, too, do we risk our lives every hour ? Daily I face death — I swear it, Brothers, by the pride in you that I feel through my union with Christ Jesus, our Lord. If with only human hopes I had fought in the arena at Ephesus, what should I have gained by it ? If the dead do not rise, then — ' Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die ' ! Do not be deceived.
' Good character is marred by evil company.'
Awake to a righteous life, and cease to sin. There are some who have no true knowledge of God. I speak in this way to shame you.
Some one, however, may ask ' How do the dead rise ? and in what body will they come ? ' You foolish man ! The seed you yourself sow does not come to life, unless it dies ! And when you sow, you sow not the body that will be, but a mere grain — perhaps of wheat, or something else. God gives it the body that he pleases — to each seed its special body. All forms of life are not the same ; there is one for men, another for beasts, another for birds, and another for fishes. There are heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies ; but the beauty of the heavenly bodies is not the beauty of the earthly. There is a beauty of the sun, and a beauty of the moon, and a beauty of the stars ; for even star differs from star in beauty. It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. Sown a mortal body, it rises immortal ; sown disfigured, it rises beautiful ; sown weak, it rises strong ; sown a human body, it rises a spiritual body. As surely as there is a human body, there is also
a spiritual body. That is what is meant by the words — ' Adam, the first man, became a human being ' ; the last Adam became a Life-giving spirit. That which comes first is not the spiritual, but the human ; afterwards comes the spiritual ;
s. no. i ; 8. 6. 82 Isa. aa. 13. 33 Menandcr, Thais. « Gen. a. 7
I. CORINTHIANS, 15-13. 329
the first man was from the dust of the earth ; the second man 47 from Heaven. Those who are of the dust are like him 48 who came from the dust ; and those who are of Heaven are like him who came from Heaven. And as we have borne 49 the likeness of him who came from the dust, so let us bear the likeness of him who came from Heaven. This 50
I say, Brothers — Flesh and blood can have no share in the Kingdom of God, nor can the perishable share the imperish- able. Listen, I will tell you God's hidden purpose ! We 51 shall not all have passed to our rest, but we shall all be trans- formed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last 52 trumpet-call; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise immortal, and we, also, shall be transformed. For this 53 perishable body of ours must put on an imperishable form, and this dying body a deathless form. And, when this dying body 54 has put on its deathless form, then indeed will the words of Scripture come true —
' Death has been swallowed up in victory ! Where, O 55 Death, is thy victory ? Where, O Death, is thy sting ? '
It is sin that gives death its sting, and it is the Law that 56 gives sin its power. But thanks be to God, who gives us the 57 victory, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Therefore, 58
my dear Brothers, stand firm, unshaken, always diligent in the Lord's work, for you know that, in union with him, your toil is not in vain.
V. — CONCLUSI ON.
The With reference to the Collection for Christ's i
collection People, I want you to follow the instructions that for the Poor j gave to the Churches in Galatia. On the first 2
at Jerusalem. ^^ Qf every week each of yOU should put by
what he can afford, so that no collections need be made after I have come. On my arrival, I will send any persons, whom 3 you may authorize by letter, to carry your gift to Jerusalem ; and, if it appears to be worth while for me to go also, they 4 shall go with me. The Apostle's I wi" come to you as soon as I have been 5
Plans. through Macedonia — for I am going through Macedonia — and I shall probably make some stay with you or, 6 perhaps, remain for the winter, so that you may yourselves send me on my way, wherever I may be going. I do not 7 propose to pay you a visit in passing now, for I hope to stay with you for some time, if the Lord permits. I intend, 8 however, staying at Ephesus till the Festival at the close of the Harvest ; for a great opening for active work has pre- 9 sented itself, and there are many opponents.
47 Gen. 2. 7. 6* Isa. 25. 8. 63( 57 Hos. 13. 14.
M*
330 I. CORINTHIANS, 16.
If Timothy comes, take care that he has no 10 Timothy. cause for feeling anxious while he is with you. He is doing the Master's work no less than I am. No one, n therefore, should slight him. See him safely on his way to me, for I am expecting him with some of our Brothers.
As for our Brother Apollos, I have often urged 12 Apoiios. ^^ t£) g.Q to yOU ^{.jj the others. He has, how- ever, been very unwilling to do so as yet ; but he will go as soon as he finds a good opportunity.
Be watchful ; stand firm in your faith ; show 13 Exhortation*. yOurseives men ; be strong. Let everything you 14 do be done in a loving spirit.
I have another request to make of you, Brothers. You 15 remember Stephanas and his household, and that they were the first-fruits gathered in from Greece, and set themselves to serve Christ's People. I want you, on your part, to 16 show deference to such men as these, as well as to every fellow labourer and earnest worker. I am glad Stephanas 17 and Fortunatus and Achaicus have come, for they have made up for your absence ; they have cheered my heart, and your 18 hearts, also. Recognize the worth of such men as these.
The Churches in Roman Asia send you their 19 '"•* greetings. Aquila and Prisca and the Church that meets at their house send you many Christian greetings. All our Brothers send you greetings. Greet one another 20
with a sacred kiss.
The I, Paul, add this greeting in my own hand- 21
Apostle's own writing. Accursed be any one who has no love 22
Farewell. for the Lord. THE LORD is COMING. May the 23
blessing of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of 24
you who are in union with Christ Jesus.
TO THE CORINTHIANS II.
ST. PAUL'S < SECOND LETTER' TO THE CORINTHIANS.
WRITTEN PROBABLY DURING HIS STAY IN MACEDONIA, IN THE COURSE OF HIS THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY, ABOUT 55 A.D.
IN the brief period that seems to have intervened between the writing of St. Paul's two existing Letters to the Corinthians, the Apostle appears to have paid a second visit to Corinth, of which no account has come down to us (2 Cor. 12. 14 ; 13. i.). Apparently that visit failed of its object, and the reception given to the Apostle was not such as he had the right to expect. It seems that St. Paul, returning to Ephesus, wrote a strongly- worded letter to his disloyal Corinthian converts, and that this letter effected, as he afterwards learned, the purpose which the visit had failed to effect. (That letter is generally thought to have been lost, but it has been suggested, with some proba- bility, that part of it forms the last four chapters of this so-called ' Second Letter ' to the Corinthians). |A few months later, a riot instigated by Demetrius, the silversmith, drove the Apostle from Ephesus (Acts 19. 20; 2 Cor. i. 8). Travelling north- wards, the Apostle went to the Troad, in the hope of meeting Titus (who had been sent, possibly with the ' Lost Letter,' to Corinth), and of receiving from him some re-assuring news as to the position of matters in the Corinthian Church. But Titus had not yet arrived, and, after waiting for him for some time in vain, St. Paul, keenly disappointed (2 Cor. 2. 13), went on into Macedonia. There he met Titus at Philippi ; and to the Apostle's great joy Titus was able to report that the Letter had been well received, and promptly acted upon, by the majority of the Corinthian Christians, and that they cherished a hearty affection for St. Paul himself. On the other hand the Apostle was greatly distressed to learn that there were members of the Church who still stubbornly refused to submit to his authority, and who attacked him with cruel and persistent slander. This news, brought by Titus, may have been the occasion of the present Letter. It is an outburst of passionate feeling, in which the Apostle expresses his gratitude for the kindness and obedience manifested towards him by the majority of the Church, and defends his own personal character and apostolic authority against the unscrupulous attacks of the minority.
TO THE
CORINTHIANS.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
To the Church of God in Corinth, and to all I Greeting. Christ's People throughout Greece,
FROM Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, AND FROM Timothy, a Brother.
May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and 2 give you peace.
Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ 3 Thaifk'.'rtvK our Lord' the all-merciful Father, the God ever for ready to console, who consoles us in all our 4
E"^nentfre" trou^'es) so tnat we mav be able to console those who are in any trouble with the consolation that we ourselves receive from him. It is true that we have our full 5 share of the sufferings of the Christ, but through the Christ we have also our full share of consolation. If we meet with 6 trouble, it is for the sake of your consolation and salvation ; and, if we find consolation, it is for the sake of the consolation that you will experience when you are called to endure the very sufferings that we ourselves are enduring ; and our hope for 7 you remains unshaken. We know that, as you are sharing our sufferings, you will also share our consolation. We 8
want you, Brothers, to know that, in the troubles which befel us in Roman Asia, we were burdened altogether beyond our strength, so much so that we even despaired of life. Indeed, we had the presentiment that we must die, so that we 9 might rely, not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. And from so imminent a death God delivered us, and will 10 deliver us again ; for in him we have placed our hopes of future deliverance, while you, also, help us by your prayers. And 1 1 then many lips will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers.
834 II. CORINTHIANS, 1—2.
II. — THE APOSTLE'S RELATIONS WITH HIS CONVERTS.
The Purity Indeed, our main ground for satisfaction is 12 of his this — Our conscience tells us that our conduct in the Motives, world, and still more in our relations with you, was marked by a purity of motive and a sincerity that were inspired by God, and was based, not on worldly policy, but on the help of God. We never write anything to you other than what you 13 read in public apd acknowledge. And my hope is that you will acknowledge to the very end — and, indeed, you have 14 already partly acknowledged it about us — that you have a right to be proud of us, as we shall be proud of you, on the Day of our Lord Jesus.
The Postpone- With this conviction in my mind, I planned to 15 mentor his come to see you first, so that your pleasure
visit. might be doubled — to visit you both on my way to 16 Macedonia, and to come to you again on my return from Macedonia, and then to get you to send me on my way into Judaea. As this was my plan, where, pray, did I show 17 any fickleness of purpose ? Or do you think that my plans are formed on mere impulse, so that in the same breath I say ' Yes ' and ' No ' ? As God is true, the Message that we brought you 18 does not waver between ' Yes ' and ' No ' ! The Son of God, 19 Christ Jesus, whom we — Silas, Timothy, and I — proclaimed among you, never wavered between 'Yes ' and ' No.' With him it has always been ' Yes.' For, many as were the promises of 20 God, in Christ is the ' Yes '- that fulfils them. Therefore, through Christ again, let the 'Amen 'rise, through us, totheglory of God. God who brings us, with you, into close union with 21 Christ, and who consecrated us, also set his seal upon us, and 22 gave us his Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of future blessings.
But, as my life shall answer for it, I call God to witness that 23 it was to spare you that I deferred my visit to Corinth. I do 24 not mean that we are to dictate to you with regard to your faith ; on the contrary, we work with you for your true happi- ness ; indeed, it is through your faith that you are standing firm. For my own sake, as well, I decided not to pay you I another painful visit. If it is I who cause you pain, why, who 2 is there to cheer me, except the very person whom I am paining? So I wrote as I did, for fear that, if I had come, I 3 should have been pained by those who ought to have made me glad ; for I felt sure that it was true of you all that my joy was in every case yours also. I wrote to you in sore trouble and 4 distress of heart and with many tears, not to give you pain, but to let you see how intense a love I have for you.
Now whoever has caused the pain has not so much pained 5 me, as he has, to some extent — not to be too severe — pained
II. CORINTHIANS, 2-3. 335
every one of you. The man to whom I refer has been 6 sufficiently punished by the penalty inflicted by the majority of you ; so that now you must take the opposite course, and 7 forgive and encourage him, or else he may be overwhelmed by the intensity of his pain. So I entreat you to assure him of 8 your.love. I had this further object, also, in what I wrote — 9 to ascertain whether you might be relied upon to be obedient in everything. When you forgive a man anything, I forgive 10 him, too. Indeed, for my part, whatever I have forgiven (if I have had to forgive anything), I have forgiven for your sakes, in the presence of Christ, so as to prevent Satan from taking 1 1 advantage of us ; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
When I went to the district round Troas to tell the Good 12 News of the Christ, even though there was an opening for serving the Master, I could get no peace of mind because I 13 failed to find Titus, my Brother ; so I took leave of the people there, and went on to Macedonia. All thanks to God, 14
who, through our union with the Christ, leads us in one con- tinual triumph, and uses us to spread the sweet odour of the knowledge of him in every place. For we are the fragrance 15 of Christ ascending to God — both among those who are in the path of Salvation and among those who are in the path to Ruin. To the latter we are an odour which arises from death 16 and tells of Death ; to the former an odour which arises from life and tells of Life. But who is equal to such a task ? Unlike 17 many people, we are not in the habit of making profit out of God's Message ; but in all sincerity, and bearing God's com- mission, we speak before him in union with Christ.
His converts Are we beginning to commend ourselves again ? i
vindication ^r are we e some wno need letters of com-
of his mendation to you, or from you ? You yourselves 2 Ministry, are our letter — a letter written on our hearts, and one which everybody can read and understand. All can 3 see that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, a letter written, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on ' tablets of stone,' but on ' tablets of human hearts.'
III. — THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLES.
The Glory of This, then, is the confidence in regard to God 4 the Gospel that we have gained through the Christ. I do not 5 ^Itht'he*1 mean tnat we are fit to form any judgement by Giory of the ourselves, as if on our own authority ; our fitness
Law- comes from God, who himself made us fit to be 6 ministers of a New Covenant, of which the substance is, not a 3 Exod. 31. 18 ; 34. i ; Prov. 3. 3 ; Ezek. n. 19; 36. 26.
336 II. CORINTHIANS, 8-*.
written Law, but a Spirit. For the written Law means Death, but the Spirit gives Life.
If the system of religion which involved Death, embodied 7 in a written Law and engraved on stones, began amid such glory, that the Israelites were unable to gaze at the face of Moses on account of its glory, though it was but a passing glory, will not the religion that confers the Spirit have still 8 greater glory ? For, if there was a glory in the religion that 9 involved condemnation, far greater is the glory of the religion that confers righteousness ! Indeed, that which then had glory 10 has lost its glory, because of the glory which surpasses it. And, 1 1 if that which was to pass away was attended with glory, far more will that which is to endure be surrounded with glory !
With such a hope as this, we speak with all plainness ; 12 unlike Moses, who covered his face with a veil, to prevent 13 the Israelites from gazing at the disappearance of what was passing away. But their minds were slow to learn. 14 Indeed, to this very dayk at the public reading of the Old Covenant, the same veil remains unlifted ; only for those who are in union with Christ does it pass away. But, even to this 15 day, whenever Moses is read, a Veil lies on their hearts. ' Yet, 16 whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.' And 17 the ' Lord ' is the Spirit, and, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with faces from which the veil 18 is lifted, seeing, as if reflected in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his likeness, from glory to glory, as it is given by the Lord, the Spirit.
Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in i < this ministry, we do not lose heart. No, we have renounced the 2 secrecy prompted by shame, refusing to adopt crafty ways, or to tamper with God's Message, and commending ourselves to every man's conscience, in th« sight of God, by our exhibition of the Truth. And, even if the Good News that we bring is veiled, it is 3 veiled only in the case of those who are on the path to Ruin — • men whose minds have been blinded by the God of this Age, 4 unbelievers as they are, so that the light from the Good News of the glory of the Christ, who is the very incarnation of God, .should not shine for them. (For it is not ourselves that we 5 proclaim, but Christ Jesus, as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.) Indeed, the same God who said 6 'Out of darkness light shall shine,' has shone in upon our hearts, so that we should bring out into the light the knowledge of the glory of God, seen in the face of Christ.
The This treasure we have in these earthen vessels, 7
weakness or that its all-prevailing power may be seen to come
'•* from God, and not to be our own. Though hard 8 pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in ; though per-
7— M Exod. 34. 29, 30, 34, 35. 18 Exod. 24. 17.
II. CORINTHIANS, 4-5. 337
plexed, never driven to despair ; though pursued, never aban- 9 doned ; though struck down, never killed ! We always bear 10 on our bodies the marks of the death that Jesus died, so that the Life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our bodies. Indeed, 1 1 we who still live are continually being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the Life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our mortal nature. And so, while death is at work within us, 12 Life is at work within you. But, in the same spirit of faith as 13 that expressed in the words — ' I believed, and therefore I spoke,' we, also, believe, and therefore speak. For we know that he 14 who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with him, and will bring us, with you, into his presence. For all this is for 15 your sakes, that the loving-kindness of God, spreading from heart to heart, may cause yet more hearts to overflow with thanksgiving, to his glory.
Therefore, as I said, we do not lose heart. No, even though 16 outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. The light burden of our momentary 17 trouble is preparing for us, in measure transcending thought, a weight of imperishable glory ; we, all the while, gazing not 18 on what is seen, but on what is unseen ; for what is seen is transient, but what is unseen is imperishable. For we know i , that if our tent — that earthly body which is now our home — is taken down, we have a house of God's building, a home not made by hands, imperishable, in Heaven. Even while in our 2 present body we sigh, longing to put over it our heavenly dwelling, sure that, when we have put it on, we shall never be 3 found discarnate. For we who are in this ' tent ' sigh under 4 our burden, unwilling to take it off, yet wishing to put our heavenly body over it, so that all that is mortal may be absorbed in Life. And he who has prepared us for this change 5 is God, who has also given us his Spirit as a pledge.
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while our 6 home is in the body, we are absent from our home with the Lord. For we guide our lives by faith, and not by what we 7 see. And in this confidence we would gladly leave our home 8 in the body, and make our home with the Lord. Therefore, 9 whether in our home or absent from our home, our one ambi- tion is to please him. For at the Bar of the Christ we must 10 all appear in our true characters, that each may reap the results of the life which he has lived in the body, in accordance with his actions — whether good or worthless.
Christ Therefore, because we know the fear inspired 1 1
their Motive by the Lord, it is true that we are trying to win and strength. men, t>ut our motives are plain to God ; and I hope that in your inmost hearts they are plain to you also.
18 Ps. 1 16. 10.
338 II. CORINTHIANS, 5-6.
We are not " commending ourselves " again to you, but rather ia are giving you cause for pride in us, so that you may have an answer ready for those who pride themselves on appearances and not on character. For, if we were "beside ourselves," it 13 was in God's service ! If we are now in our senses, it is in yours ! It is the love of the Christ which compels us, when we 14 reflect that, as one died for all, therefore all died ; and that he 15 died for all, so that the living should no longer live for them- selves, but for him who died and rose for them.
For ourselves, then, from this time forward, we refuse to 16 regard any one from the world's standpoint. Even if we once thought of Christ from the standpoint of the world, yet now we do so no longer. Therefore, if any one is in union with 17 Christ, he is a new being ! His old life has passed away ; a new life has begun ! But all this is the work of God, who recon- 18 ciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the Ministry of Reconciliation — to proclaim that God, in Christ, was recon- 19 ciling the world to himself, not reckoning men's .offences against them, and that he had entrusted us with the Message of this reconciliation.
It is, then, on Christ's behalf that we are acting as 20 ambassadors, God, as it were, appealing to you through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf — Be reconciled to God. Him who never knew sin God made to be Sin, on our 21 behalf; so that we, through union with him, might become the Righteousness of God. Therefore, as God's fellow- i
workers, we also appeal to you not to receive his loving- kindness in vain. For he says — 2
' At the time for acceptance I listened to thee, And on the day of deliverance I helped thee.'
Now is the time for acceptance ! Now is the day of de- liverance ! Never do we put an obstacle in any one's way, 3 that no fault may be found with our ministry. No, we are 4 trying to commend ourselves under all circumstances, as God's ministers should — in many an hour of endurance, in troubles, in hardships, in difficulties, in floggings, in .imprisonments, in 5 riots, in toils, in sleepless nights, in fastings ; by purity, by 6 knowledge, by patience, by kindliness, by holiness of spirit, by unfeigned love ; by the Message of Truth, and by the 7 power of God ; by the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left ; amid honour and disrepute, amid 8 slander and praise ; regarded as deceivers, yet proved to be true ; as unknown, yet well-known ; as at death's door, yet, 9 see, we are living ; as chastised, yet not killed ; as saddened, 10 yet always rejoicing ; as poor, yet enriching many ; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things !
17 Isa. 43. 1 8, 19. 2 Isa. 49. 8. » Pa. nB. 17—18.
II. CORINTHIANS S-7. 339
IV. — THE APOSTLE AND HIS CONVERTS.
His Appeal for We have been speaking freely to you, men of n their Love. Corinth ; we have opened our heart; there is 12 room there for you, yet there is not room, in your love, for us. Can you not in return — I appeal to you as I should to children — 13 open your hearts to us ?
Do not enter into inconsistent relations with 14 '^gafnat "* those who reject the Faith. For what partnership Heathen in. can there be between righteousness and lawless- fiuences. negs ? Qr wjiat j^g light to do with darkness ? What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial ? or 15 what can those who accept the Faith have in common with those who reject it ? What agreement can there be between 16 a temple of God and idols ? And we are a temple of the Living God. That is what God meant when he said —
' I will dwell among them, and walk among them ;
And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore " Come out from among the nations, 17
And separate yourselves from them," says the Lord, "And touch nothing impure ; And I will welcome you ;
And I will be a father to you, 18
And you shall be my sons and daughters^' Says the Lord, the Ruler of all.'
With these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from I everything that pollutes either body or spirit, and, in deepest reverence for God, aim at perfect holiness.
Make room for us in your hearts. In no 2
His Anxieties . J . ,
and instance have we ever wronged, or harmed, or Encourage- taken advantage of, any one. I am not saying 3
lts" this to condemn you. Indeed, I have already said that you are in our very heart, to live and die together. I 4 have the utmost confidence in you ; I am always boasting about you. I am full of encouragement and, in spite of all our troubles, my heart is overflowing with happiness.
Ever since we reached Macedonia, we have had no rest in 5 body or mind ; on every side there have been troubles — conflicts without, anxieties within. But God, who encourages the 6 downcast, has encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. And it 7 is not only by his arrival that we are encouraged, but also by the encouragement which he received from you ; for he tells us of your strong affection, your penitence, and your zeal on my behalf — so that I am happier still. For, though I caused 8 you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I were
11 Ps. 119. 32. 18—18 Lev. 26. ii, 12; Ezek. 37. 27; Isa. 52. n ; a Sam. 7. 14; Hos. i. 10 ; Isa. 43. 6 ; Amos 4. 13 (Septuagint).
340 II. CORINTHIANS, 7-8.
inclined to regret it — for I see that fny letter did cause you sorrow though only for a time — I am glad now ; not because 9 of the sorrow it caused you, but because your sorrow brought you to repentance. For it was God's will that you should feel sorrow, in order that you should not suffer loss in any way at our hands. For, when sorrow is in accordance with God's 10 will, it results in a repentance leading to Salvation, and which will never be regretted. The sure result of the sorrow that the world knows is Death. For see what results that other n sorrow — sorrow in accordance with God's will — has had in your case. What earnestness it produced ! what explanations ! what strong feeling ! what alarm ! what longing ! what eagerness ! what readiness to punish ! You have proved yourselves altogether free from guilt in that matter. So, then, even 12 though I did write to you, it was not for the sake of the wrong- doer, or of the man who was wronged, but to make you conscious, in the sight of God, of your own earnest care for us. And it is this that has encouraged us.
In addition to the encouragement that this gave us, we 13 were made far happier still by the happiness of Titus for his heart has been cheered by you all. Although I have been 14 boasting a little to him about you, you did not put me to shame ; but, just as every thing we had said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has also proved to be the truth. And his affection for you is all the greater, as he 15 remembers the deference that you all showed him, and recalls how you received him with anxious care. I am glad 16
that I can feel perfect confidence in you.
V. — THE PALESTINE FAMINE FUND.
te remind you, Brothers, of the love
1* that God has shown to the Churches in Macedonia Macedonian — how, tried though they were by many a trouble, '**" their overflowing happiness, and even their deep poverty, resulted in a flood of generosity. I can bear witness that to the full extent of their power, and even beyond their power, spontaneously, and with many an appeal to us for permission, they showed their love, and contributed their share towards the fund for their fellow-Christians. And that, not only in the way we had expected ; but first they gave themselves to the Lord, and to us also, in accordance with God's will. And this led us to urge upon Titus that, as he had started the work for you, he should also see to the completion of this expression of^your love. And, remembering how you excel in everything • — in faith, in teaching, in knowledge, in unfailing earnestness, and in the affection that we have awakened in you — I ask you to excel also in this expression of your love.
II. CORINTHIANS, 8—9. 341
Th« I am not laying a command upon you, but I 8
completion am making use of the earnestness shown by Collection at others to test the genuineness of your affection.
Corinth. For you do not forget the loving-kindness of our 9 Lord Jesus Christ — how that for your sakes, although he was rich, he became poor, so that you also might become rich through his poverty. I am only making suggestions on this 10 matter ; for this is the best course for you, since you were a year before others, not only in taking action, but also in showing your readiness to do so. And now I want you to n complete the work, so that its completion may correspond with your willing readiness — in proportion, of course, to your means. For, where there is willingness, a man's gift is valued by its 12 comparison with what he has, and not with what he has not. For our object is not to give relief to others and bring distress 13 on you, but, by equalizing matters, to secure that, on the present 14 occasion, what you can spare may supply their need, so that at another time what they can spare may supply your need, and thus matters may be equalized. As Scripture says — 15
' The man who had much had nothing over, and the man who had little did not lack ! '
Titua I thank God for inspiring Titus with the same 16
and other* keen interest in your welfare that I have; for 17
to assist. Titus has responded to my appeals and, in his great earnestness, is starting to go to you of his own accord. We are sending with him the Brother whose fame in the 18 service of the Good News has spread through all the Churches ; and not only that, but he has been elected by the Churches to 19 accompany us on our journey, in connexion with this expres- sion of your love, which we are personally administering to the honour of the Lord, and to show our deep interest. What we are 20 specially guarding against is that any fault should be found with us in regard to our administration of this charitable fund ; for we are trying to make arrangements which shall be right, 21 not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men. We are also sending with them another of our Brothers, whose 22 earnestness we have many a time proved in many ways, and whom we now find made even more earnest by his great confidence in you. If I must say anything about Titus, he is 23 my intimate companion, and he shares my work for you ; if it is our Brothers, they are delegates of the Churches, an honour to Christ. Show them, therefore — so that the Churches 24
may see it — the proof of your affection, and the ground for our boasting to them about you.
With reference, indeed, to the Fund for your fellow- i Christians, it is quite superfluous for me to say anything to you. I know, of course, your willingness to help, and I am 2
15 Exod. 16. 18. 21 Prov. 3. 4 (Septuagint).
342 II. CORINTHIANS, O— 1O.
always boasting of it to the Macedonians. I tell them that you in Greece have been ready for a year past ; and it was really your zeal that stimulated most of them. So my 3 reason for sending our Brothers is to prevent what we said about you from proving, in this particular matter, an empty boast, and to enable you to be as well prepared as I have been saying that you are. Otherwise, if any Mace- 4 donians were to come with me, and find you unprepared, we — to say nothing of you — should feel ashamed of our present confidence. Therefore I think it necessary to urge 5 the Brothers to go to you in advance, and to complete the arrangements for the gift, which you have already promised, so that it may be ready, as a gift, before I come, and not look as if it were being given under pressure.
The spirit in Remember the saying — ' Scanty sowing, scanty 6 which to make harvest; plentiful sowing, plentiful harvest.' Let 7 the collection, every one give as he has determined beforehand, not grudgingly or under compulsion ; for God loves ' a cheerful giver.' God has power to shower all kinds of 8 blessings upon you, so that, having, under all circumstances and on all occasions, all that you can need, you may be able to shower all kinds of benefits upon others. (As Scripture says — 9 ' He scattered broadcast, he gave to the poor ; His righteousness continues for ever.'
And he who supplies 'seed to the sower, and bread for eating,' 10 will supply you with seed, and cause it to increase, and will multiply ' the fruits of your righteousness '). Rich in all 1 1 things yourselves, you will be able to show liberality to all, which, with our help, will cause thanksgiving to be offered to God. For the rendering of a public service such as this, not 12 only relieves the needs of your fellow-Christians, but also results in the offering to God of many a thanksgiving. Through the 13 evidence afforded by the service thus rendered, you cause men to praise God for your fidelity to your profession of faith in the Good News of the Christ, as well as for the liberality of your contributions for them and for all others. And they also, in their 14 prayers for you, express their longing to see you, because of the surpassing love of God displayed toward you. All 15
thanks to God for his inestimable gift !
VI. — THE APOSTLE'S CLAIMS AND AUTHORITY.
Now, I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by
Assertion the meekness and gentleness of the Christ — I who,
or hi* "in your presence, am humble in my bearing
Authority. towartis VOU) j,ut> wnen absent, am bold in my
language to you" — I implore you not to drive me to "show
7 Prov. 32. 8 (Septuagint). 'J Pa. na. 9. iu Hos. 10. la ; Isa. 55. u>.
II. CORINTHIANS, 1O-11. 343
my boldness," when I do come, by the confident tone which I expect to have to adopt towards some of you, who are expecting to find us influenced in our conduct by earthly motives. For, though we live an earthly life, we do not 3
wage an earthly war. The weapons for our warfare are not 4 earthly, but, under God, are powerful enough to pull down strongholds. We are engaged in confuting arguments and 5 pulling down every barrier raised against the knowledge of God. We are taking captive every hostile thought, to bring it into submission to the Christ, and are fully prepared to 6 punish every act of rebellion, when once your submission is com- plete. You look at the outward appearance of things ! 7 Let any one, who is confident that he belongs to Christ, reflect, for himself, again upon the fact — that we belong to Christ no less than he does. Even if I boast extravagantly about our 8 authority — which the Lord gave us for building up your faith and not for overthrowing it — still I have no reason to be ashamed. I say this, that it may not seem as if I were trying 9 to overawe you by my letters. For people say " His letters are 10 impressive and vigorous, but his personal appearance is in- significant and his speaking contemptible." Let such a man be n assured of this — that our words in our letters show us to be, when absent, just what our deeds will show us to be, when present. We have not indeed the audacity to class or 12 compare ourselves with some of those who indulge in self- commendation ! But, when such persons measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they show a want of wisdom. We, however, will not give way to 13 unlimited boasting, but will confine ourselves to the limits of the sphere to which God limited us, when he permitted us to come as far as Corinth. For it is not the case, as it would be 14 if we were not in the habit of coming to you, that we are exceeding our bounds ! Why, we were the very first to reach you with the Good News of the Christ ! Our boasting, there- 15 fore, is not unlimited, nor does it extend to the labours of others ; but our hope is that, as your faith grows, our influence among you maybe very greatly increased — though still confined to our sphere — so that we shall be able to tell the Good News in 16 the districts beyond you, without trespassing on the sphere assigned to others, or boasting of what has been already done. ' Let him who boasts make his boast of the 17 Lord.' For it is not the man who commends himself that 18 stands the test, but the man who is commended by the Lord.
His RiBht I could wish that you would tolerate a little folly i as an in me ! But indeed you do tolerate me. I am 2 Apostle. jealous over you with the jealousy of God. For I betrothed you to one husband, that I might present you to the
344 II. CORINTHIANS, 11.
Christ a pure bride. Yet I fear that it may turn out that, just as 3 the Serpent by his craftiness deceived Eve, so your minds may have lost the loyalty and purity due from you to the Christ. For, if some new-comer is proclaiming a Jesus other than him 4 whom we proclaimed, or if you are receiving a Spirit different from the Spirit which you received, or a Good News different from that which you welcomed, then you are marvellously tolerant ! I do not regard myself as in any way inferior to the g most eminent Apostles ! Though I am no trained orator, yet 6 I am not without knowledge ; indeed we made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
Perhaps you say that I did wrong in humbling myself that 7 you might be exalted — I mean because I told you God's Good News without payment. I robbed other churches by taking 8 pay from them, so that I might serve you ! And, when I was 9 with you and in need, I did not become a burden to any of you ; for our Brothers, on coming from Macedonia, supplied my needs. I kept myself, and will keep myself, from being an expense to you in any way. As surely as I know anything 10 of the Truth of Christ, this boast, as far as I am concerned, shall not be stopped in any part of Greece. Why ? Because 1 1 I do not love you ? God knows that I do !
What I am doing now I shall continue to do, that I may cut 12 away the ground from under those who are wishing for some ground for attacking me, so that as regards the thing of which they boast they may appear in their true characters, just as we do. Men of this stamp are false apostles, treacherous workers, 13 disguising themselves as Apostles of Christ ! And no wonder ; 14 for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of Light. It is not 15 surprising, therefore, if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of Righteousness. But their end will be in accordance with their actions.
I say again — Let no one think me a fool 1 Yet, 16 H'* fo*'m* ^ vou d°> at least welcome me as you would a consideration) fool, that I, too, may indulge in a little boasting. •»•• uf* and When I speak thus, I am not speaking as the 17
Master would, but as a fool might, in boasting so confidently. As so many are boasting of earthly things, I, 18 too, will boast. For all your cleverness, you tolerate fools 19 willingly enough ! You tolerate a man even when he en- 20 slaves you, when he plunders you, when he gets you into his power, when he puts on airs of superiority, when he strikes you in the face ! I admit, to my shame, that we have been 21 weak. But whatever the subject on which others are not afraid to boast — though it is foolish to say so — I am not afraid either ! Are they Hebrews ? So am I ! Are they Israelites ? 22 So am 1 1 Are they descendants of Abraham,? So ajn I !
" Jer. 9. 24. » Gen. > i >
II. CORINTHIANS, 11-12. 346
Are they ' Servants of Christ ' ? Though it is madness to 23 talk like this, I am more so than they ! I have had more of toil, more of imprisonment ! I have been flogged times without number. I have been often at death's door. Five 24 times I received at the hands of the Jews forty lashes, all but one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was 25 stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a 26 whole day and night in the deep. My journeys have been many. I have been through dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in towns, dangers in the country, dangers on the sea, dangers among false Brothers. I have 27 been through toil and hardship. I have passed many a sleep- less night ; I have endured hunger and thirst ; I have often been without food ; I have known cold and nakedness. And, 28 not to speak of other things, there is my daily burden of anxiety about all the Churches. Who is weak without my 29 being weak ? Who is led astray without my burning with indignation ? If I must boast, I will boast of things which 30 show my weakness ! The God and Father of the Lord Jesus — 31 he who is for ever blessed — knows that I am speaking the truth. When I was in Damascus, the Governor under King 32 Aretas had the gates of that city guarded, so as to arrest me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, 33 and so escaped his hands.
I must boast ! It is unprofitable ; but I will i HIS visions. pass to visions an(j revelations given by the Lord. I know a man in union with Christ, who, fourteen years ago — 2 whether in the body or out of the body I do not know ; God knows — was caught up (this man of whom I am speaking) to the third Heaven. And I know that this man — whether in 3 the body or separated from the body I do not know ; God knows — was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable 4 things of which no human being may tell. About such a 5 man I will boast, but about myself I will not boast except as regards my weaknesses. Yet if I choose to boast, I shall 6 not be a fool ; for I shall be speaking no more than the truth. But I refrain, lest any one should credit me with more than he can see in me or hear from me, and because of the marvellous character of the revelations. It was for this 7 reason, and to prevent my thinking too highly of myself, that a thorn was sent to pierce my flesh — an instrument of Satan to discipline me — so that I should not think too highly of myself. About this I three times entreated the Lord, praying 8 that it might leave me. But his reply has been — ' My help is 9 enough for you ; for my strength attains its perfection in the midst of weakness.'
Most gladly, then, will I boast all the more of my weak- nesses, so that the strength of the Christ may overshadow me.
346 II. CORINTHIANS, 12-13.
That is why I delight in weakness, ill-treatment, hardships, 10 persecution, and difficulties, when borne for Christ. For, when I am weak, then it is that I am strong !
VII. — CONCLUSION.
A I have been " playing the fool !" It is you who n
Remonstrance, drove me to it. For it is you who ought to have been commending me ! Although I am nobody, in no respect did I prove inferior to the most eminent Apostles. The marks 12 of the true Apostle were exhibited among you in constant endurance, as well as by signs, by marvels, and by miracles. In what respect, I ask, were you treated worse than the 13 other Churches, unless it was that, for my part, I refused to become a burden to you ? Forgive me the wrong I thus did you !
Remember, this is the third time that I have 14 I0-' made every preparation to come to see you, and I shall refuse to be a burden to you ; I want, not your money, but you. It is not the duty of children to put by for their parents, but of parents to put by for their children. For my 15 part, I will most gladly spend, and be spent, for your welfare. Can it be that the more intensely I love you the less I am to be loved ? You will admit that I was not a burden to 16
you, but you say that I was "crafty" and caught you " by a trick " ! Do you assert that I took advantage of you through 17 any of those whom I have sent to you ? I urged Titus to go, 18 and I sent our Brother with him. Did Titus take any ad- vantage of you ? Did not we live in the same Spirit, and tread in the same footsteps ?
Have you all this time been fancying that 19 ' n*' it is to you that we are making our defence ? No, it is in the sight of God, and in union with Christ, that we are speaking. And all this, dear friends, is to build up your characters ; for I am afraid that perhaps, when I come, I may 20 find that you are not what I want you to be, and, on the other hand, that you may find that I am what you do not want me to be. I am afraid that I may find cjuarrelling, jealousy, ill- feeling, rivalry, slandering, back-biting, self-assertion, and disorder. I am afraid lest, on my next visit, my God may 21 humble me in regard to you, and that I may have to mourn over many who have long been sinning, and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and sensuality, in which they have indulged.
For the third time I am coming to see you. ' By the word i 1 of two or three witnesses each statement shall be established.' I have said it, and I say it again before I come, just as if I 2 1 Deut. i<». 15.
II. CORINTHIANS, 13. 347
were with you on my second visit, though for the moment absent, I say to those who have been long sinning, as well as to all others — that if I come again, I shall spare no one. And 3 that will be the proof, which you are looking for, that the Christ speaks through me. There is no weakness in his dealings with you. No, he shows his power among you. For 4 though his crucifixion was due to weakness, his life is due to the power of God. And we, also, are weak in his weakness, but with him we shall live for you through the power of God. Put yourselves to the proof, to see whether you 5
are holding to the Faith. Test yourselves. Surely you recognize this fact about yourselves — that Jesus Christ is in you ! Unless indeed you cannot stand the test ! But I hope 6 that you will recognize that we can stand the test. We pray 7 God that you may do nothing wrong, not that we may be seen to stand the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may seem not to stand the test. We have no power at all 8 against the Truth, but we have power in the service of the Truth. We are glad when we are weak, if you are strong. And what 9 we pray for is that you may become perfect. This is my 10
reason for writing as I am now doing, while I am away from you, so that, when I am with you, I may not act harshly in the exercise of the authority which the Lord gave me — arid gave me for building up and not for pulling down.
And now, Brothers, good-bye. Aim at per- n Farewells, fection ; take courage ; agree together ; live in peace. And then God, the source of all love and peace, will be with you. Greet one another with a sacred 12
kiss. All Christ's people here send you their greetings. 13
May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of 14 God, and the communion with the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
TO THE ROMANS.
ST. PAUL'S LETTER TO THE CHRISTIANS IN ROME.
WRITTEN PROBABLY DURING HIS STAY AT CORINTH, IN THE COURSE OF HIS THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY, ABOUT 56 A.D.
ST. PAUL had often wished to visit Rome, but up to the time of writing this Letter he had been prevented by various causes from doing so (Rom. i. n, 13 : Acts 19. 21). At last there seemed to be a prospect of the realization of his long- cherished desire. In the course of his third missionary journey he was in Corinth, and was about to go to Jerusalem to carry to the poorer Christians there the charitable contributions of several other Churches. It was his intention, upon leaving Jerusalem, to visit Spain, and he hoped on his way to spend a short time in Rome (Rom. 15. 24). He wrote the present Letter in anticipation of this journey to the West and for the purpose of putting in writing beforehand a full statement of certain important truths.
Philosophy, the Apostle teaches, had failed as a means of Salvation for the Gentile. The Law had failed as a means of Salvation for the Jew. In this Letter he establishes the doctrine that faith in Christ is the only ground of acceptance with God for all mankind.
The extent to which he develops his subject gives the Letter largely the aspect of a treatise.
TO THE
. ROMANS. . !
I. — INTRODUCTION.
The To all in Rome who are dear to God and have 1-7 1 Apostle's been called to become Christ's People,
• Greeting. FROM Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, who has been called to become an Apostle, and has been set apart to tell God's Good News. This Good News God promised long ago through his Prophets in the sacred Scriptures, concerning his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord ; who, as to his human nature, was descended from David, but, as to the spirit of holiness within him, was miraculously designated Son of God by his resurrection from the dead. Through him we received the gift of the Apostolic office, to win submission to the Faith among all nations for the glory of his Name. And among these nations are you — you who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.
The Apostle's First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ 8 Thankfulness about you all, because the report of your faith is
and Hope, spreading throughout the world. God, to whom 9 I offer the worship of my soul as I tell the Good News of his Son, is my witness how constantly I mention you when I pray, asking that, if he be willing', I may some day at 10 last find the way open to visit you. For I long to see you, 1 1 in order to impart to you some spiritual gift and so give you fresh strength — or rather that both you and I may find 12 encouragement in each other's faith. I want you to know, 13 Brothers, that I have many times intended coming to see you — but until now I have been prevented — that I might find among you some fruit of my labours, as I have already among the other nations.
352 ROMANS, 1.
II. — FAITH THE ONE GROUND OF ACCEPTANCE WITH GOD.
The Divin. I have a duty to both the Greek and the Bar- ideal barian, to both the cultured and the ignorant. for Mankind. ^nd So, for my part, I am ready to tell the Good News to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the Good News ; it is the power of God which brings Salvation to every one who believes in Christ, to the Jew first, but also to the Greek. For in it there is a revela- tion of the Divine Righteousness resulting from faith and leading on to faith ; as Scripture says —
' Through faith the righteous man shall find Life.'
So, too, there is a revelation from Heaven of ortheGerTtiie the Divine Wrath against every form of un- to reach this godliness and wickedness on the part of those **'' men who, by their wicked lives, are stifling the Truth. This is so, because what can be known about God is plain to them ; for God himself has made it plain. For ever since the creation of the universe God's invisible attri- butes— his everlasting power and divinity — are to be seen and studied in his works, so that men have no excuse ; because, although they learnt to know God, yet they did not offer him as God either praise or thanksgiving. Their specu- lations about him proved futile, and their undiscerning minds were darkened. Professing to be wise, they showed themselves fools ; and they transformed the Glory of the immortal God into the likeness of mortal man, and of birds, and beasts, and reptiles.
Therefore God abandoned them to impurity, letting them follow the cravings of their hearts, till they dishonoured their own bodies ; for they had substituted a lie for the truth about God, and had reverenced and worshipped created things more than the Creator, who is to be praised for ever. Amen. That, I say, is why God abandoned them to
degrading passions. Even the women among them perverted the natural use of their bodies to the unnatural ; while the men, disregarding that for which women were intended by nature, were consumed with passion for one another. Men indulged in vile practices with men, and incurred in their own persons the inevitable penalty of their perverseness. Then, as
they would not keep God before their minds, God abandoned them to depraved thoughts, so that they did all kinds of shameful things. They revelled in .every form of wickedness, evil, greed, vice. Their lives were full of envy, mur- der, quarrelling, treachery, malice. They became back-biters,
17 Hab. a. 4. 23 pa, 106, ,,,,.
ROMANS, 1-2. 353
Slanderer's, impious, insolent, boastful. They devised new sins. They disobeyed their parents. They were undiscerning, 31 untrustworthy, without natural affection or pity. Well aware 32 of God's decree, that those who do such things deserve to die, not only are they guilty of them themselves, but they even applaud those who do them.
Therefore you have nothing to say in your own defence, i whoever you are who set yourself up as a judge. In judging others you condemn yourself, for you who set yourself up as a judge do the very same things. And we know that 2 God's judgement falls unerringly upon those who do them. You who judge those that do such things and yet are your- 3 self guilty of them — do you suppose that you of all men will escape God's judgement? Or do you think lightly of his 4 abundant kindness, patience, and forbearance, not realizing that his kindness is meant to lead you to repentance ? Hard- 5 hearted and impenitent as you are, you are storing up for yourself Wrath on the ' Day of Wrath,' when God's justice as a judge will be revealed ; for ' he will give to every man what 6 his actions deserve.' To those who, by perseverance in doing 7 good, aim at glory, honour, and all that is imperishable, he will give Immortal Life ; while as to those who are factious, 8 and disobedient to Truth but obedient to Evil, wrath and anger, distress and despair, will fall upon every human being who 9 persists in wrong-doing — upon the Jew first, but also upon the Greek. But there will be glory, honour, and peace for 10 every one who does right — for the Jew first, but also for the Greek, since God shows no partiality. n
All who, when they sin, are without Law will also perish 12 without Law ; while all who, when they sin, are under Law, will be judged as being under Law. It is not those who hear 13 the words of a Law that are righteous before God, but it is those who obey it that will be pronounced righteous. When 14 Gentiles, who have no Law, do instinctively what the Law requires, they, though they have no Law, are a Law to them- selves ; for they show the demands of the Law written upon 15 their hearts ; their consciences corroborating it, while in their thoughts they argue either in self-accusation or, it may be,
in self-defence on the day when God passes judgement on 16
men's inmost lives, as the Good News that I tell declares that he will do through Christ Jesus.
But, perhaps, you bear the name of 'Jew, 'and 17 FaM jewsf " * are relying upon Law, and boast of belonging to to reach this God, and understand his will, and, having been 18
ideal. carefully instructed from the Law, have learnt to appreciate the finer moral distinctions. Perhaps you are 19 confident that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those
6 Ps. 62. 12; Prov. 24. 12.
N
354 ROMANS, 2—3.
who are in the dark, an instructor of the unintelligent, and 20 a teacher of the childish, because in the Law you possess the outline of all Knowledge and Truth. Why, then, you teacher 21 of others, do not you teach yourself ? Do you preach against stealing, and yet steal ? Do you forbid adultery, and yet com- 22 mit adultery ? Do you loathe idols, and yet plunder temples ? Boasting, as you do, of your Law, do you dishonour God by 23 breaking the Law ? For, as Scripture says — 24
'The name of God is reviled among the Gentiles because of you ' !
Circumcision has its value, if you are obeying the Law. But, 25 if you are a breaker of the Law, your circumcision is no better than uncircumcision. If, then, an uncircumcised man pays 26 regard to the requirements of the Law, will not he, although not circumcised, be regarded by God as if he were? Indeed, 27 the man who, owing to his birth, remains uncircumcised, and yet scrupulously obeys the Law, will condemn you, who, for all your written Law and your circumcision, are yet a breaker of the Law. For a man who is only a Jew outwardly is not 28 a real Jew ; nor is outward bodily circumcision real circum- cision. The real Jew is the man who is a Jew in soul ; and 29 the real circumcision is the circumcision of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal thing. Such a man wins praise from God, though not from men.
What is the advantage, then, of being a Jew? i rh%o" jow*P* or what is the good of circumcision ? Great in 2 and contiie every way. First of all, because the Jews were
*"*•• entrusted with God's utterances. What follows 3 then ? Some, no doubt, showed a want of faith ; but will their want of faith make God break faith ? Heaven forbid ! God 4 must prove true, though every man prove a liar ! As Scripture says of God —
1 That thou mayest be pronounced righteous in what thou sayest, And gain thy cause when men would judge thee.'
But what if our wrong-doing makes God's righteousness all the 5 clearer? Will God be wrong in inflicting punishment? (I can but speak as a man.) Heaven forbid ! Otherwise how 6 can God judge the world ? But, if my falsehood redounds to 7 the glory of God, by making his truthfulness more apparent, why am I, like others, still condemned as a sinner? Why 8 should we not say — as some people slanderously assert that we do say — ' Let us do evil that good may come ' ? The condemnation of such men is indeed just !
What follows, then ? Are we Jews in any way superior to 9 others ? Not at all. Our indictment against both Jews and Greeks was that all alike were in subjection to sin.
'*•* Isa. 53. 5. * Ps. 116. ii ; 51. 4.
ROMANS, 3. 355
As Scripture says — 10
' There is not even one who is righteous,
Not one who understands, not one who is searching for God ! 1 1 They have all gone astray ; they have one and all become 12
depraved ;
There is no one who is doing good — no, not one ! ' ' Their throats are like opened graves ; 13
They deceive with their tongues.' ' The venom of serpents lies behind their lips,'
' And their mouths are full of bitter curses.' 14
' Swift are their feet to shed blood. 15
Distress and trouble dog their steps, 16
And the path of peace they do not know.' 17
' The fear of God is not before their eyes.' 18
Now we know that everything said in the Law is addressed 19 to those who are under its authority, in order that every mouth may be closed, and the whole world become liable to the judge- ment of God. For ' no human being will be pronounced right- 20 eous before God ' as the result of obedience to Law ; for it is Law that shows what sin is. But now, quite apart from Law, the 21 Divine Righteousness stands revealed, and to it the Law and the Prophets bear witness — the Divine Righteousness which 22 is bestowed, through faith in Jesus Christ, upon all, without distinction, who believe in him. For all have sinned, and all 23 fall short of God's glorious ideal, but, in his loving-kindness, 24 are being freely pronounced righteous through the deliverance found in Christ Jesus. For God set him before the world, to 25 be, by the shedding of his blood, a means of reconciliation through faith. And this God did to prove his righteousness, and because, in his forbearance, he had passed over the sins that men had previously committed ; as a proof, I repeat, at 26 the present time, of his own righteousness, that he might be righteous in our eyes, and might pronounce righteous the man who takes his stand on faith in Jesus.
What, then, becomes of our boasting ? It is excluded. 27 By what sort of Law ? A Law requiring obedience ? No, a Law requiring faith. For we conclude that a man is 28 pronounced righteous on the ground of faith, quite apart from obedience to Law. Or can it be that God is the God 29 only of the Jews ? Is not he also the God of the Gentiles ? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is only one God, and 30 he will pronounce those who are circumcised righteous as the result of faith, and also those who are uncircumcised on their showing the same faith. Do we, then, use this 31 faith to abolish Law ? Heaven forbid ! No, we establish Law.
10—18 ps. 14. i, 3 ; 5. 9 ; 140. 3 ; 10. 7 ; 36. i ; Isa. 59. 7—8. '•» Ps. 143. 2.
356 ROMANS, 4.
Faith the What then, it may be asked, are we to say i ' Ground of about Abraham, the ancestor of our nation ? If 2 ^aefo'rot'he" ^e was pronounced righteous as the result of coming of obedience, then he has something to boast of. the Law. Yes, but not before God. For what are the 3 words of Scripture ?
' Abraham had faith in God, and his faith was regarded by God as righteousness.'
Now wages are regarded as due to the man who works, not 4 as a favour, but as a debt ; while, as for the man who does 5 not rely upon his obedience, but has faith in him who can pro- nounce the godless righteous, his faith is regarded by God as righteousness. In precisely the same way David speaks of 6 the blessing pronounced upon the man who is regarded by God as righteous apart from actions —
' Blessed are those whose wrong-doings have been forgiven and 7
over whose sins a veil has been drawn ! Blessed the man whom the Lord will never regard as sinful ! ' 8
Is this blessing, then, pronounced upon the circumcised only 9 or upon the uncircumcised as well ? We say that —
' Abraham's faith was regarded by God as righteousness.'
Under what circumstances, then, did this take place? after 10 his circumcision or before it ? Not after, but before. And it 1 1 was as a sign of this that he received the rite of circumcision — to attest the righteousness due to the faith of an uncircum- cised man — in order that he might be the father of all who have faith in God even when uncircumcised, that they also may be regarded by God as righteous ; as well as father of 12 the circumcised — to those who are not only circumcised, but who also follow our father Abraham in that faith which he had while still uncircumcised.
For the promise that he should inherit the world did not 13 come to Abraham or his descendants through Law, but through the righteousness due to faith. If those who take 14 their stand on Law are to inherit the world, then faith is robbed of its meaning and the promise comes to nothing ! Law entails punishment ; but, where no Law exists, no breach 15 of it is possible.
That is why all is made to depend upon faith, that all may 16 be God's gift, and in order that the fulfilment of the promise may be made certain for all Abraham's descendants — not only for those who take their stand on the Law, but also for those who take their stand on the faith of Abraham. (He is the Father of us all ; as Scripture says — ' I have made thee the 17
» Gen. 15. 6. T-* P«. ja. i— a. » Gen. 15. 6. » Gen. 17. n. V Gen. 17. 5.
ROMANS, 4-5. 357
Father of many nations.') And this they do in the sight of that God in whom Abraham had faith, and who gives life to the dead, and speaks of what does not yet exist as if it did. With no ground for hope, Abraham, sustained by hope, put 18 faith in God ; in order that, in fulfilment of the words—' So many shall thy descendants be,' he might become ' the Father of many nations.' Though he was nearly a hundred years 19 old, yet his faith did not fail him, even when he thought of his own body, then utterly worn out, and remembered that Sarah was past bearing children. He was not led by want of faith 20 to doubt God's promise. On the contrary, his faith gave him 21 strength ; and he praised God, in the firm conviction that what God has promised he is also able to carry out. And 22 therefore his faith 'was regarded as righteousness.'
Now these words — ' it was regarded as righteousness ' — 23 were not written with reference to Abraham only, but also 24 with reference to us. Our faith, too, will be regarded by God in the same light, if we have faith in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead ; for Jesus ' was given up to 25 death to atone for our offences,' and was raised to life that we might be pronounced righteous.
Therefore, having been pronounced righteous i or attaining as the result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God the Divine through Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is through 2
Bal' him that, by reason of our faith, we have ob- tained admission to that place in God's favour in which we now stand. So let us exult in our hope of attaining God's glorious ideal. And not only that, but let us also exult in our troubles ; 3 for we know that trouble develops endurance, and endurance 4 strength of character, and strength of character hope, and that 5 'hope never disappoints.' For the love of God has filled our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given us ; seeing 6 that, while we were still powerless, Christ, in God's good time, died on behalf of the godless. Even for an upright man 7 scarcely any one will die. For a really good man perhaps some one might even dare to die. But God puts his love for 8 us beyond all doubt by the fact that Christ died on our behalf while we were still sinners. Much more, then, now that we 9 have been pronounced righteous by virtue of the shedding of his blood, shall we be saved through him from the Wrath of God. For if, when we were God's enemies, we were recon- 10 ciled to him through the death of his Son, much more, now that we have become reconciled, shall we be saved by virtue of Christ's Life. And not only that, but we exult in God, n through Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom we have now obtained this reconciliation.
A8 Gen. 15. 5; 17. 5. 22— » Gen. 15. 6. 25 \s^ ^ 12 (Septuagint). 5 Ps. 22. 5.
358 ROMANS, 5-6.
Therefore, just as sin came into the world Divme "ideal through one man, and through sin came death ;
recoverec
••ed so, also, death spread to all mankind, because all ,o Christ. men had s;nned Even before the time of the i 3 Law there was sin in the world ; but sin cannot be charged against a man where no Law exists. Yet, from Adam to 14 Moses, Death reigned even over those whose sin was not a breach of a law, as Adam's was. And Adam foreshadows the One to come. But there is a contrast between Adam's 15
Offence and God's gracious Gift. For, if by reason of the offence of the one man the whole race died, far more were the loving-kindness of God, and the gift given in the loving- kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ, lavished upon the whole race. There is a contrast, too, between the gift and the 16 results of the one man's sin. The judgement, which followed upon the one man's sin, resulted in condemnation, but God's gracious Gift, which followed upon many offences, resulted in a decree of righteousness. For if, by reason of the offence of 17 the one man, Death reigned through that one man, far more will those, upon whom God's loving-kindness and his gift of righteousness are lavished, find Life, and reign through the one man, Jesus Christ. Briefly then, just as a 18
single offence resulted for all mankind in condemnation, so, too, a single decree of righteousness resulted for all man- kind in that declaration of righteousness which brings Life. For, as through the disobedience of the one man the whole 19 race was rendered sinful, so, too, through the obedience of the one, the whole race will be rendered righteous. Law 20 was introduced in order that offences might be multiplied. But, where sins were multiplied, the loving-kindness of God was lavished the more, in order that, just as Sin had reigned 21 in the realm of Death, so, too, might Loving-kindness reign through righteousness, and result in Immortal Life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
III. — CONSIDERATION OF DIFFICULTIES ARISING FROM THIS TEACHING.
What are we to say, then ? Are we to continue i Q
Is thin Faith . . . . ., . •" >-, ,, , i • j
consistent to sin, in order that God s loving-kindness may
with a be multiplied ? Heaven forbid ! We became 2 sinful Lif«? (jead to sjn> amj |1OW can We go on living in it? Or can it be that you do not know that all of us, who were 3 baptized into union with Christ Jesus, in our baptism shared his death ? Consequently, through sharing his death in our 4 baptism, we were buried with him ; that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by a manifestation of the Father's power, so we also may live a new Life. If we have become
ROMANS, 6—7. 359
united with him by the act symbolic of his death, surely we shall also become united with him by the act symbolic of his resurrection. We recognize the truth that our old self was 6 crucified with Christ, in order that the body, the stronghold of Sin, might be rendered powerless, so that we should no longer be slaves to Sin. For the man who has so died has been pro- 7 nounced righteous and released from Sin. And our belief is, 8 that, as we have shared Christ's Death, we shall also share his Life. We know, indeed, that Christ, having once risen from 9 the dead, will not die again. Death has power over him no longer. For the death that he died was a death to sin, once 10 and for all. But the Life that he now lives, he lives for God. So let it be with you — regard yourselves as dead to sin, but 1 1 as living for God, through union with Christ Jesus.
Therefore do not let Sin reign in your mortal bodies and 12 compel you to obey its cravings. Do not offer any part of 13 your bodies to Sin, in the cause of unrighteousness, but once for all offer yourselves to God (as those who, though once dead, now have Life), and devote every part of your bodies to the cause of righteousness. For Sin shall not lord it over 14 you. You are living under the reign, not of Law, but of Love.
What follows, then ? Are we to sin because we are living 15 under the reign of Love and not of Law ? Heaven forbid ! Surely you know that, when you offer yourselves as servants, 16 to obey any one, you are the servants of the person whom you obey, whether the service be that of Sin which leads to Death, or that of Duty which leads to Righteousness. God be thanked 17 that, though you were once servants of Sin, yet you learnt to give hearty obedience to that form of doctrine under which you were placed. Set free from the control of Sin, you became 18 servants to Righteousness. I can but speak as men do 19 because of the weakness of your earthly nature. Once you offered every part of your bodies to the service of impurity, and of wickedness, which leads to further wickedness. Now, in the same way, offer them to the service of Righteousness, which leads to holiness. While you were still servants of 20 Sin, you were free as regards Righteousness. But what 21 were the fruits that you reaped from those things of which you are now ashamed ? For the end of such things is Death. But now that you have been set free from the control of Sin, 22 and have become servants to God, the fruit that you reap is an ever-increasing holiness, and the end Immortal Life. The 23 wages of Sin are Death, but the gift of God is Immortal Life, through union with Christ Jesus, our Lord.
can Law Surely, Brothers, you know (for I am speaking i deliver from to men who know what Law means) that Law a sinful Life?has power over a man only as long as he lives. For example, by law a married woman is bound to her 2
380 ROMANS, 7.
husband while he is living ; but, if her husband dies, she is set free from the law that bound her to him. If, then, during 3 her husband's lifetime, she unites herself to another man, she will be called an adulteress ; but, if her husband dies, the law has no further hold on her, nor, if she unites herself to another man, is she an adulteress. And so with you, my 4 Brothers ; as far as the Law was concerned, you underwent death in the crucified body of the Christ, so that you might be united to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that our lives might bear fruit for God. When we were 5 living merely earthly lives, our sinful passions, aroused by the Law, were active in every part of our bodies, with the result that our lives bore fruit for Death. But now we are set free from the 6 Law, because we are dead to that which once kept us under restraint ; and so we serve under new, spiritual conditions, and not under old, written regulations.
What are we to say, then ? That Law and sin are the same 7 thing? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, I should not have learnt what sin is, had not it been for Law. If the Law did not say ' Thou shalt not covet,' I should not know what it is to covet. But sin took advantage of the Commandment to 8 arouse in me every form of covetousness, for where there is no consciousness of Law sin shows no sign of life. There was a 9 time when I myself, unconscious of Law, was alive ; but when the Commandment was brought home to me, sin sprang into life, while I — died ! The very Commandment that should 10 have meant Life I found to result in Death! Sin took u advantage of the Commandment to deceive me, and used it to bring about my Death. And so the Law is holy, and 12 each Commandment is also holy, and just, and good.
Did, then, a thing, which in itself was good, involve Death in 13 my case ? Heaven forbid ! It was sin that involved Death ; so that, by its use of what I regarded as good to bring about my Death, its true nature might appear ; and in this way the Com- mandment showed how intensely sinful sin is. We know that 14 the Law is spiritual, but I am earthly — sold into slavery to Sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I am so far from 15 habitually doing what I want to do, that I find myself doing the very thing that I hate. But when I do what I want not 16 to do, I am admitting that the Law is right. This 17
being so, the action is no longer my own, but that of Sin which is within me. I know that there is nothing good in me 18 — I mean in my earthly nature. For, although it is easy for me to want to do right, to act rightly is not easy. I fail to do the 19 good thing that I want to do, but the bad thing that I want not to do — that I habitually do. But, when I do the very thing 20 that I want not to do, the action is no longer my own, but
7 Exod. 30. 14, 17 ; Dent. 5. 18, 31.
ROMANS, 7—8. 361
that of Sin which is within me. This, then, is the 21
law that I find — When I want to do right, wrong presents itself! At heart I delight in the Law of God ; but throughout 22, my body I see a different law, one which is in conflict with the law accepted by my reason, and which endeavours to make me a prisoner to that law of Sin which exists throughout my body. Miserable man that I am ! Who will deliver me from 24 the body that is bringing me to this Death? Thank God, 25 there is deliverance through Jesus Christ, our Lord ! Well then, for myself, with my reason I serve the Law of God, but with my earthly nature the Law of Sin.
cod's There is, therefore, now no condemnation for i J
Deliverance those who are in union with Christ Jesus ; for 2 thlchfi«t h° through your union with Christ Jesus, the Law of and the the life-giving Spirit has set you free from the Holy spirit. Law of sin and Death. What Law could not do, 3 in so far as our earthly nature weakened its action, God did, by sending his own Son, with a nature resembling our sinful nature, to atone for sin. He condemned sin in that earthly nature, so that the requirements of the Law might be satisfied 4 in us who live now in obedience, not to our earthly nature, but to the Spirit. They who follow their earthly nature are earthly- 5 minded, while they who follow the Spirit are spiritually minded. To be earthly-minded means Death, to be spiritually minded 6 means Life and Peace ; because to be earthly-minded is to be 7 an enemy to God, for such a mind does not submit to the Law of God, nor indeed can it do so. They who are earthly can- 8 not please God. You, however, are not earthly but 9
spiritual, since the Spirit of God lives within you. Unless a man has the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ ; but, if Christ is within you, then, though the body is dead as a 10 consequence of sin, the spirit is Life as a consequence of righteousness. And, if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from n the dead lives within you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give Life even to your mortal bodies, through his Spirit living within you.
So then, Brothers, we owe nothing to our earthly nature, 12 that we should live in obedience to it. If you live in obedience 13 to your earthly nature, you will inevitably die ; but if, by the power of the Spirit, you put an end to the evil habits of the body, you will live. All who are guided by the Spirit of God 14 are Sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of a 15 slave, to fill you once more with fear, but the spirit of a son which leads us to cry 'Abba, Our Father.' The Spirit himself 16 unites with our spirits in bearing witness to our being God's children, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God, and joint- 17 heirs with Christ, since we share Christ's sufferings in order that we may also share his Glory.
N*
362 ROMANS, 8.
I do not count the sufferings of our present life worthy 18 of mention when compared with the Glory that is to be revealed and bestowed upon us. All Nature awaits with 19 eager expectation the appearing of the Sons of God. For 20 Nature was made subject to imperfection — not by its own choice, but owing to him who made it so — yet not without 21 the hope that some day Nature, also, will be set free from enslavement to decay, and will attain to the freedom which will mark the Glory of the Children of God. We know, indeed, 22 that all Nature alike has been groaning in the pains of labour to this very hour. And not Nature only ; but we ourselves 23 also, though we have already a first gift of the Spirit — we ourselves are inwardly groaning, while we eagerly await our full adoption as Sons — the redemption of our bodies. By 24 our hope we were saved. But the thing hoped for is no longer an object of hope when it is before our eyes ; for who hopes for what is before his eyes ?. But, when we hope for what is not 25 before our eyes, then we wait for it with patience.
So, also, the Spirit supports us in our weakness. We do 26 not even know how to pray as we should ; but the Spirit himself pleads for us in sighs that can find no utterance. Yet he who searches all our hearts knows what the Spirit's 27 meaning is, because the pleadings of the Spirit for Christ's People are in accordance with his will. But we do know 28 that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him — those who have received the Call in accordance with his purpose. For those whom God chose 29 from the first he also destined from the first to be transformed into likeness to his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest among many Brothers. And those whom God destined for 30 this he also called ; and those whom he called he also pro- nounced righteous ; and those whom he pronounced righteous he also brought to Glory.
What are we to say, then, in the light of all this? If God 31 is on our side, who can there be against us ? God did not 32 withhold his own Son, but gave him up on behalf of us all; will he not, then, with him, freely give us all things ? Who 33 will bring a charge against any of God's People ? He who pronounces them righteous is God ! Who is there to condemn 34 them ? He who died for us is Christ Jesus ! — or, rather, it was he who was raised from the dead, and who is now at God's right hand and is even pleading on our behalf ! Who is there 35 to separate us from the love of the Christ ? Will trouble, or difficulty, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword ? Scripture says — 36
' For thy sake we are being killed all the day long-, We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.'
sa. 50. 8—9 ; P». no. i. 3« Pa. 44. aa.
ROMANS, 8—9. 363
Yet amidst all these things we more than conquer through him 37 who loved us ! For I am persuaded that neither Death, nor 38 Life, nor Angels, nor Archangels, nor the Present, nor the Future, nor any Powers, nor Height, nor Depth, nor any 39 other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus, our Lord !
IV. — THE JEWS' REJECTION OF THE CHRIST. . . .. , I am speaking: the truth as one in union i 9
The Apostle's . , _, . r j o
Lament with Christ ; it is no he ; and my conscience, over Israel, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, bears me out when I say that there is a great weight of sorrow upon me, 2 and that my heart is never free from pain. I could wish that 3 I were myself accursed and severed from the Christ, for the sake of my Brothers— my own countrymen. For they are 4 Israelites, and theirs are the adoption as Sons, the visible Presence, the Covenants, the revealed Law, the Temple wor- ship, and the Promises. They are descended from the Patri- 5 archs ; and, as far as his human nature was concerned, from them came the Christ — he who is supreme overall things, God for ever blessed. Amen. Not that God's Word has 6
failed. For it is not all who are descended from TO* Israels* Israel who are true Israelites ; nor, because Rejection they are Abraham's descendants, are they all his 7 by cod. Children ; but—
' It is Isaac's children who will be called thy descendants.'
This means that it is not the children born in the course 8 of nature who are God's Children, but it is the children born in fulfilment of the Promise who are to be regarded as Abraham's descendants. For these words are the words of a 9 promise —
' About this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.'
Nor is that all. There is also the case of Rebecca, when she 10 was about to bear children to our ancestor Isaac. For in order 1 1 that the purpose of God, working through selection, might not fail — a selection depending, not on obedience, but on his Call — Rebecca was told, before her children were born and before 12 they had done anything either right or wrong, that ' the elder would be a servant to the younger.' The words of Scripture 13 are —
' I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.' 7 Gen. ai. 12. 9 Gen. 18. 10. 12 Gen. 25. 23. i» Mai. i. 4—3.
364 ROMANS, 9.
What are we to say, then? Is God guilty of injustice? 14 Heaven forbid ! For his words to Moses are — 15
' I will take pity on whom I take pity, and be merciful jto whom I am merciful.'
So, then, all depends, not on human wishes or human efforts, 16 but on God's mercy. In Scripture, again, it is said to Pharaoh — 17
' It was for this very purpose that I raised thee to the throne, to show my power by my dealing's with thee, and to make my name known throughout the world.'
So, then, where God wills, he takes pity, and where he wills, 18 he hardens the heart.
Perhaps you will say to me — ' How can any one still be 19 blamed ? For who withstands his purpose ? ' I might rather 20 ask ' Who are you who are arguing with God ? ' Does a thing which a man has moulded say to him who has moulded it 'Why did you make me like this?' Has not the potter 21 absolute power over his clay, so that out of the same lump he makes one thing for better, and another for common, use ? And what if God, intending to reveal his displeasure and make 22 his power known, bore most patiently with the objects of his displeasure, though they were fit only to be destroyed, so as 23 to make known his surpassing glory in dealing with the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared beforehand for glory, and whom he called — even us — not only from among the Jews 24 but from among the Gentiles also ! This, indeed, is what 25 he says in the Book of Hosea —
' I will call those my People who were not my People,
And her my beloved who was not beloved.
And in the very 'place where it was said to them— 26
" Ye are not my People ",
They shall be called Sons of the Living God.'
And Isaiah cries aloud over Israel — 27
' Though the Sons of Israel are like the sand of tne sea in number, only a remnant of them shall escape ! For the Lord 28 will execute his sentence upon the world, fully and without delay.'
It is as Isaiah foretold — 29
' Had not the Lord of Hosts spared some few of our race to us, We should have become like Sodom and been made to resemble
Gomorrah.'
The cause What are we to say, then ? Why, that Gentiles, 30 or uraet'« who were not in search of righteousness, secured it Rejection. — a righteousness which was the result of faith ; while Israel, which was in search of a Law which would ensure 31
18 Exod. 33. 19. 1? Exod. 9. 16. '<• Exod. 7. 3 ; 9. 12 ; 14. 4, 17. w Isa. 29. «6; 45- 9- 21 Jcr. j«. 6 ; Isa. 29. 16 ; 45. 9 ; Wisd. of Sol. 15. 7. » Jer. 50. 35 ; Isa. 13. 5,6 (Hebrew);- Isa. 54. 10. 25 Hos. a. 23. * — 2s Hos. i. 10; Isa. 10. 32, 93. » Isa. i'. 9.
ROMANS, 9-10. 365
righteousness, failed to discover one. And why? Because 32 they looked to obedience, and not to faith, to secure it. They stumbled over ' the Stumbling-block.' As Scripture says — 33
' See, I place a Stumbling-block in Zion — a Rock which shall
prove a hindrance ; And he who believes in him shall have no cause for shame.'
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for my People i is for their Salvation. I can testify that they are zealous for the 2 honour of God ; but they are not guided by true insight, for, in their ignorance of the Divine Righteousness, and in 3 their eagerness to set up a righteousness of their own, they refused to accept with submission the Divine Righteousness. For Christ has brought Law to an end, so that righteousness 4 may be obtained by every one who believes in him. For 5 Moses writes that, as for the righteousness which results from Law, 'those who practise it will find Life through it.' But 6 the righteousness which results from faith finds expression in these words — ' Do not say to yourself "Who will go up into heaven ?" '—which means to bring Christ down — 'or "Who 7 will go down into the depths below ? " ' — which means to bring Christ up from the dead. No, but what does it say ? ' The 8 Message is near thee ; it is on thy lips and in thy heart ' — which means ' The Message of Faith ' which we proclaim. For, 9 if with your lips you acknowledge the truth of the Message that JESUS IS LORD, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with their 10 hearts men believe and so attain to righteousness, while with their lips they make their Profession of Faith and so find Salvation. As the passage of Scripture 'says — 1 1
' No one who believes in him shall have any cause for shame.'
For no distinction is made between the Jew and the Greek, for 12 all have the same Lord, and he is bountiful to all who invoke 'him. For 'every one who invokes the Name of the Lord shall 13 be saved.' But how, it may be asked, are they to invoke one 14 in whom they have not learnt to believe ? And how are they to believe in one whose words they have not heard ? And how are they to hear his words unless some one proclaims him ? And how are men to proclaim him unless they are sent as his 15 messengers ? As Scripture says —
' How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news ! '
Still, it may be said, ever}7 one did not give heed to the Good 16 Ne vs. No, for Isaiah asks —
' Lord, who has believed our teaching ? '
2-«3 Isa. 8. 14; 28. 16. o Lev. ri. s. »-9 Deut. 50. 12—14. u Isa- & »6- 13 Joel 2. 32. 15 Isa. 52. 7 (Hebrew). W Isa. 53. i.
366 ROMANS, 1O-11.
And so, we gather, faith is a result of teaching-, and the 17 teaching comes in the Message of Christ. But I ask ' Is it 18 possible that men have never heard ? ' No, indeed, for —
' Their voices spread through all the earth, And their Message to the very ends of the world.'
But again I ask ' Did not the people of Israel understand ? ' 19 First there is Moses, who says —
' I, the Lord, will stir you to rivalry with a nation which
is no nation ; Against an undiscerning nation I will arouse your anger.'
And Isaiah says boldly — 20
1 1 was found by those who were not seeking me ; I made myself known to those who were not inquiring of me.'
But of the people of Israel he says — 21
4 All day long I have stretched out my hands to a people who disobey and contradict.'
The merciful I ask, then, ' Has God rejected his People ? ' i Pt|»rae*Jn Heaven forbid ! For I myself am an Israelite, a Rejection, descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his People, whom he chose from the 2 first. Have you forgotten the words of Scripture in the story of Elijah — how he appeals to God against Israel ?
1 Lord, they have killed thy Prophets, they have pulled 3 down thy altars, and I only am left ; and now they are eager to take my life.'
But what was the divine response ? 4
' I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have never bowed the knee to Baal.'
And so in our own time, too, there is to be found a remnant of 5 our nation selected by God in love. But if in love, then no 6 longer as a result of obedience. Otherwise love would cease to be love. What follows from this ? Why, that Israel as a 7 nation failed to secure what it was seeking, while those whom God selected did secure it. The rest grew callous ; as 8 Scripture says —
4 God has given them a deadness of mind — eyes that are
not to see and ears that are not to hear — and it is so to this
very day.'
David, too, says — 9
4 May their feasts prove a snare and a trap to them —
A hindrance and a retribution ;
May their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see ; 10
And do thou always make their backs to bend.'
M P*. 19. 4. 1» Deut. 3*. ai. 30-31 Isa. 65. i— a. 1-2 Pa. 94. 14 ; i Sam. la. aa. * i King» 19. 10. * i Kings 19. 18. 8 Isa. 39. 10 ; Deut. 39. 4. *— 10 Ps. 69. aa, 33.
ROMANS, 11. 367
I ask then — ' Was their stumbling to result in their fall ? ' 1 1 Heaven forbid ! On the contrary, through their falling away Salvation has reached the Gentiles, to stir the rivalry of Israel. And, if their falling away has enriched the world, and their 12 failure has enriched the Gentiles, how much more will result from their full restoration !
But I am speaking to you who were Gentiles. Being 13 myself an Apostle to the Gentiles, I exalt my office, in the hope 14 that I may stir my countrymen to rivalry, and so save some of them. For, if their being cast aside has meant the reconcilia- 15 tion of the world, what will their reception mean, but Life from the dead ? If the first handful of dough is holy, so is the 16 whole mass ; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Some, however, of the branches were broken off, and you, 17 who were only a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and came to share with them the root which is the source of the richness of the cultivated olive. Yet do not exult over the 18 other branches. But, if you do exult over them, remember that you do not support the root, but that the root supports you. But branches, you will say, were broken off, so that I 19 might be grafted in. True ; it was because of their want of 20 faith that they were broken off, and it is because of your faith that you are standing. Do not think too highly of yourself, but beware. For, if God did not spare the natural 21 branches, neither will he spare you. See, then, both the 22 goodness and the severity of God — his severity towards those who fell, and his goodness towards you, provided that you continue to confide in that goodness ; otherwise you, also, will be cut off. And they, too, if they do not continue in their 23 unbelief, will be grafted in ; for God has it in his power to graft them in again. If you were cut off from your natural 24 stock — a wild olive — and were grafted, contrary to the course of nature, upon a good olive, much more will they — the natural branches — be grafted back into their parent tree.
Brothers, for fear that you should think too highly of your- 25 selves, 1 want you to recognize the truth, hitherto hidden, that the callousness which has come over Israel is only partial, and will continue only till the whole Gentile world has been gathered in. And then all Israel shall be saved. As Scripture 26 says —
' From Zion will come the Deliverer ;
He will banish ungodliness from Jacob.
And they shall see the fulfilment of my Covenant, 27
When I have taken away their sins.'
From the stand-point of the Good News, the Jews are God's 28 enemies on your account ; but from the stand-point of God's selection, they are dear to him on account of the Patriarchs.
11 Deut. 32. ai. 26—27 Isa. ^g. 20) al ; 37. ^
368 ROMANS, 11-12.
For God never regrets his gifts or his Call. Just as you at 29, one time were disobedient to him, but have now found mercy in the day of their disobedience ; so, too, they have now 31 become disobedient in your day of mercy, in order that they also in their turn may now find mercy. For God has given 32 all alike over to disobedience, that to all alike he may show mercy. Oh ! the unfathomable wisdom and knowledge 33
of God ! How inscrutable are his judgements, how untrace- able his ways ! Yes — ' Who has ever comprehended the mind of the Lord ? Who has 34
ever become his counsellor? Or who has first given to him, so that he may claim a recompense ? ' 35
For all things are from him, through him, and for him. 36 And to him be all glory for ever and ever ! Amen.
V. — ADVICE UPON THE DAILY LIFE OF CHRISTIANS.
On Christian I entreat you, then, Brothers, by the mercies of i J
Sacrifice. God, to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, for this is your rational worship. Do not conform to the fashion of this world ; but be trans- 2 formed by the complete change that has come over your minds, so that you may discern what God's will is — all that is good, acceptable, and perfect.
on Christian In fulfilment of the charge with which I have 3 Membership, been entrusted, I bid every one of you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think till he learns to think soberly — in accordance with the measure of faith that God has allotted to each. For, just as 4 in the human body there is a union of many parts, and each part has its own function, so we, by our union in 5 Christ, many though we are, form but one body, and on Christian individually we are related one to another as its
Duties. parts. Since our gifts differ in accordance 6
with the particular charge entrusted to us, if our gift is to preach, let our preaching correspond to our faith ; if it is to 7 minister to others, let us devote ourselves to our ministry ; the teacher to his teaching, the speaker to his exhortation. 8 Let the man who gives in charity do so with a generous heart ; let him who is in authority exercise due diligence ; let him who shows kindness do so in a cheerful spirit. Let 9 your love be sincere. Hate the wrong ; cling to the right. In brotherly love, be affectionate to one another ; in showing 10 respect, set an example of deference to one another ; never 1 1 flagging in zeal ; fervent in spirit ; serving the Master ; .rejoicing in your hope ; stedfast under persecution ; per- 12
M— *> Iita. 40. 13, 14.
ROMANS, 12—13. 369
severing in prayer ; relieving the wants of Christ's People ; 13 devoted to hospitality. Bless your persecutors — bless and 14 never curse. Rejoice with those w^~ re rejoicing, and weep 15 with those who are weeping ^L me same spirit of sympathy 16 animate you all, not a spirit of pride ; be glad to associate with the lowly. Do not think too highly of yourselves. Never return injury for injury. Aim at doing what all men 17 will recognize as honourable. If it is possible, as far as 18 rests with you, live peaceably with every one. Never avenge 19 yourselves, dear friends, but make way for the Wrath of God ; for Scripture declares —
' " It is for me to avenge, I will requite," says the Lord.' Rather — 20
' If your enemy is hungry, feed him ; if he is thirsty, give him to drink. By doing this you will heap coals of fire upon his head.'
Never be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. 21
Let every one obey the supreme Authorities, i
On Obedience _, . •> . . J ' , ... ,-,-,.
to the ror no Authority exists except by the will ot God, Authorities. anc} the existing Authorities have been appointed by God. Therefore he who sets himself against the Authori- 2 ties is resisting God's appointment, and those who resist will bring a judgement upon themselves. A good action 3 has nothing to fear from Rulers ; a bad action has. Do you want to have no reason to fear the Authorities ? Then do what is good, and you will win their praise. For they are 4 God's servants appointed for your good. But, if you do what is wrong, you may well be afraid ; for the sword they carry is not without meaning ! They are God's servants to inflict his punishments on those who do wrong. You are bound, there- 5 fore, to obey, not only through fear of God's punishments, but also as a matter of conscience. This, too, is the reason for your 6 paying taxes ; for the officials are God's officers, devoting them- selves to this special work. In all cases pay what is due from 7 you — tribute where tribute is due, taxes where taxes are due, respect where respect is due, and honour where honour is due.
On Owe nothing to any one except brotherly love ; 8
Brotherly for he who loves his fellow men has satisfied
Love. the Law. The commandments, ' Thou shalt not 9 commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet,' and whatever other commandment there is, are all summed up in the words —
' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thou dost thyself.'
Love never wrongs a neighbour. Therefore Love fully satisfies 10 the Law.
16 Prov. 3. 7. 17 Prov. 3. 4 (Septuagint version). 19 Deut. 32. 35 (Hebrew). *> Prov. 35. 21, 23. 9 Hxod. 20. 13, 17 ; Deut. 5. 17, 21 ; Lev. 19. 18.
370 ROMANS, 13—14.
This I say, because you know the crisis that n the Approach we have reached, for the time has already come of The Day.1 for yOu to rouse yourselves from sleep; our Salvation is nearer now than when we accepted the Faith. The night is almost gone ; the day is near. Therefore let us 12 have done with the deeds of Darkness, and arm ourselves with the weapons of Light. Being in the light of Day, let us 13 live becomingly, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lust and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. No ! 14 Arm yourselves with the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and spend no thought on your earthly nature, to satisfy its cravings.
As for those whose faith is weak, always receive i Consideration them as friends, but not for the purpose of pass-
tor the ing judgement on their scruples. One man's 2 Scrupulous. faith permits of his eating food of all kinds, while another whose faith is weak eats only vegetable food. The man 3 who eats meat must not despise the man who abstains from it ; nor must the man who abstains from eating meat pass judgement on the one who eats it, for God himself has received him. Who are you, that you should pass judgement on the 4 servant of another ? His standing or falling concerns his own master. And stand he will, for his Master can enable him to stand. Again, one man considers some days to be more sacred 5 than others, while another considers all days to be alike. Every one ought to be fully convinced in his own mind. He who 6 observes a day, observes it to the Master's honour. He, again, who eats meat eats it to the Master's honour, for he gives thanks to God ; while he who abstains from it abstains from it to the Master's honour, and also gives thanks to God. There is not one of us whose life concerns him- 7
self alone, and not one of us whose death concerns himself alone ; for, if we live, our life is for the Master, and, if we 8 die, our death is for the Master. Whether, then, we live or die we belong to the Master. The very purpose for which 9 Christ died and came back to life was this — that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living. I would ask 10
the one man ' Why do you judge your Brother ? ' And I would ask the other ' Why do you despise your Brother ? ' For we shall all stand before the Bar of God. For Scripture says — n ' " As surely as I live," says the Lord, " every knee shall bend
before me ; And every tongue shall make acknowledgement to God."'
So, then, each one of us will have to render account of himself 12 to God.
Let us, then, cease to judge one another. Rather let this 13 be your resolve — never to place a stumbling-block or an obstacle
11 Isa. 45. 23.
ROMANS, 14-15. 371
in a Brother's way. Through my union with the Lord Jesus, 14 I know and am persuaded that nothing is 'defiling in itself.' A thing is ' defiling ' only to him who holds it to be so. If, for the sake of what you eat, you wound your Brother's 15 feelings, your life has ceased to be ruled by love. Do not, by what you eat, ruin a man for whom Christ died ! Do 16 not let what is right for you become a matter of reproach. For the Kingdom of God does not consist of eating and drink- 17 ing, but of righteousness and peace and gladness through the presence of the Holy Spirit. He who serves the Christ in 18 this way pleases God, and wins the approval of his fellow ' men. Therefore our efforts should be directed towards all 19 that makes for peace and the mutual building up of character. Do not undo God's work for the sake of what you eat. Though 20 everything is 'clean,' yet, if a man eats so as to put a stumbling- block in the way of others, he does wrong. The right course 21 is to abstain from meat or wine or, indeed, anything that is a stumbling-block to your Brother. As for yourself — keep this 22 faith of yours to yourself, as in the presence of God. Happy is he who never has to condemn himself in regard to the very thing which he thinks right ! He, however, who has mis- 23 givings stands condemned if he still eats, because his doing so is not the result of faith. . And anything not done as the result of faith is a sin.
We, the strong, ought to take on our own shoulders the i weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not merely to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbour 2 for his neighbour's good, to help in the building up of his character. Even the Christ did not please himself ! On the 3 contrary, as Scripture says of him —
' The reproaches of those who were reproaching1 thee fell upon me.'
Whatever was written in the Scriptures in days gone by 4 was written for our instruction, so that, through patient en- durance, and through the encouragement drawn from the Scriptures, we might hold fast to our hope. And may God, 5 the giver of this patience and this encouragement, grant you to be united in sympathy in Christ, so that with one heart and 6 one voice you may praise the God and Father of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Therefore always receive one another as friends, 7 the R^eption just as tne Christ himself received us, to the glory
of the of God. For I tell you that Christ, in vindication 8 Gentiles. of GOC}'S truthfulness, has become a minister of the Covenant of Circumcision, so that he may fulfil the promises
3 Ps. 69. 9.
372 ROMANS, 15.
made to our ancestors, and that the Gentiles also may praise 9 God for his mercy. As Scripture says —
4 Therefore will I make acknowledgement to thee
among- the Gentile And sing in honour of thy Name.'
And again it says — 10
' Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with God's People.'
And yet again — 1 1
' Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, And let all Peoples sing his praises.'
Again, Isaiah says — 12
' There shall be a Scion of the house of Jesse, One who is to arise to rule the Gentiles ; On him shall the Gentiles rest their hopes.'
May God, who inspires our hope, grant you perfect happiness 13 and peace in your faith, till you are filled with this hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I am persuaded, my Brothers — yes, I Paul, with regard to 14 you — that you are yourselves full of kindness, furnished with all Christian learning, and well able to give advice to one another. But in parts of this letter I have expressed myself 15 somewhat boldly — by way of refreshing your memories — because of the charge with which God has entrusted me, that 16 I should be a minister of Christ Jesus to go to the Gentiles — that I should act as a priest of God's Good News, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be an acceptable sacri- fice, consecrated by the Holy Spirit. It is, then, through my 17 union with Christ Jesus that I have a proud confidence in my work for God. For I will not dare to speak of anything but 18 what Christ has done through me to win the obedience of the Gentiles — by my words and actions, through the power 19 displayed in signs and marvels, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. And so, starting from Jerusalem and its neigh- bourhood, and going as far as Illyria, I have told in full the Good News of the Christ ; yet always with the ambition to tell 20 the Good News where Christ's name had not previously been heard, so as to avoid building upon another man's foundations. But as Scripture says — 21
' They to whom he had never been proclaimed shall see ; And they who have never heard shall understand ! '
VI. — CONCLUSION.
p«r«onai That is why I have so often been prevented from 22 Plan*. coming to you. But now there are n<9 further 23 openings for me in these parts, and I have for several years been 9 P». 18. 49. 10 Deut. 33. 43. " P». 117. «. 12 Isa. u. 10. a Isa. $a. 15.
ROMANS, 15-16. 373
longing to come to you whenever I may be going to Spain. 24 For my hope is to visit you on my journey, and then to be sent on my way by you, after I have first partly satis- fied myself by seeing something of you. Just now, however, 25 I am on my way to Jerusalem, to take help to Christ's People there. For Macedonia and Greece have been glad to 26 make a collection for the poor among Christ's People at Jerusalem. Yes, they were glad to do so ; and indeed it 27 is a duty which they owe to them. For the Gentile con- verts who have shared their spiritual blessings are in duty bound to minister to them in the things of this world. When 28 I have settled this matter, and have secured to the poor at Jerusalem the enjoyment of these benefits, I shall go, by way of you, to Spain. And I know that, when I come to you, it 29 will be with a full measure of blessing from Christ.
I beg you, then, Brothers, by Jesus Christ, our Lord, and by 30 the love inspired by the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf. Pray that I may be rescued from those in 31 Judaea who reject the Faith, and that the help which I am taking to Jerusalem may prove acceptable to Christ's People ; so that, God willing, I may be able to come to you with a joyful 32 heart, and enjoy some rest among you. May God, the giver of 33 peace, be with you all. Amen.
The Bearer ^ commend to your care our Sister, Phoebe, who i 1( of the helps in the work of the Church at Cenchreae ; Letter. ancj j asfc yOU ^o gjve.her a Christian welcome — 2 one worthy of Christ's People — and to aid her in any matter in which she may need your assistance. She has proved herself a staunch friend to me and to many others.
Personal Give my greeting to Prisca and Aquila, my 3 Greetings, fellow-workers in the Cause of Christ Jesus, who risked their own lives to save mine. It is not I 4 alone who thank them, but all the Churches among the Gentiles thank them also. Give my greeting, also, to the 5 Church that meets at their house, as well as to my dear friend Epaenetus, one of the first in Roman Asia to believe in Christ ; to Mary, who worked hard for you ; to Andronicus 6, 7 and Junias, my countrymen and once my fellow-prisoners, who are men of note among the Apostles, and who became Christians before I did ; to my dear Christian friend Ampliatus ; 8 to Urban, our fellow-worker in the Cause of Christ, and to my 9 dear friend Stachys ; to that proved Christian Apelles ; to the 10 household of Aristobulus ; to my countryman Herodion ; to n the Christians in the household of Narcissus ; to Tryphaena 12 and Tryphosa, who have worked hard for the Mcister ; to my dear friend Persis, for she has done much hard work for the Master ; to that eminent Christian, Rufus, and to his mother, 13 who has been a mother to me also ; to Asyncritus, Phlegon, 14
374 ROMANS, 16.
Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the Brothers with them ; also 15 to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and to all Christ's People who are with them. Greet one 16 another with a sacred kiss. All the Churches of the Christ send you greetings.
I urge you, Brothers, to be on your guard against people 17 who, by disregarding the teaching which you received, cause divisions and create difficulties ; dissociate yourselves from them. For such persons are not serving Christ, our Master, 18 but are slaves to their own appetites ; and, by their smooth words and flattery, they deceive simple-minded people. Every tg one has heard of your ready obedience. It is true that I am very happy about you, but I want you to be well versed in all that is good, and innocent of all that is bad. And God, the 20 giver of peace, will before long crush Satan under your feet.
May the blessing of Jesus, our Lord, be with you.
Timothy, my fellow- worker, sends you his greeting, and 21 Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, send theirs. I, 22 Tertius, who am writing this letter, send you my Christian greeting. My host Gaius, who extends his hospitality to the 23 whole Church, sends you his greeting ; and Erastus, the City Treasurer, and Quartus, our Brother, add theirs.
A Now to him who is able to strengthen you, as
Doxoiogy. promised in the Good News entrusted to me and in the proclamation of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the revelation of that hidden purpose, which in past ages was kept secret but now has been revealed and, in obedience to the command of the Immortal God, made known through the writings of the Prophets to all nations, to secure submission to the Faith — to him, I say, the wise and only God, be ascribed, through Jesus Christ, all glory for ever and ever. Amen.
TO THE COLOSSIANS.
ST. PAUL'S LETTER TO THE CHRISTIANS AT COLOSSAE.
WRITTEN PROBABLY DURING HIS IMPRISON- MENT AT ROME, ABOUT 61 A.D.
COLOSSAE was a town in Roman Asia, which had once been a place of considerable importance, but which, at the time of this Letter, had lost much of its former prosperity. It does not appear that St. Paul had had any close personal connexion with the Church at Colossae, but it is plain from the Letter itself that his authority was recognized over a wide area. The Apostle's attention had been drawn to the Church at Colossae by a visit which he had received from Epaphras, who had been closely associated with the Christians living there, and who had told St. Paul of a dangerous heresy which threatened to under- mine the religious life of his fellow-Christians in that place.
This heresy consisted in a teaching, ' drawn from the atmosphere of mystical speculation,' and ' with no foundation in history,' which attempted to bridge the chasm between God and Man by the assumption that there were many angelic mediators. The necessity for this assumption lay in the pre- valent error that all matter was evil and, therefore, in direct opposition to God.
Two obvious inferences from this heresy were the duty of the worship of angels, and the need for rigid asceticism.
Against such unsatisfying mediation, and its consequent dangers, St. Paul sets the Life, Work, and Person of the historical Christ — the one, all-sufficient mediator, the Head of all creation.
The obscurity of this Letter is due partly to the ruggedness and compression of the Apostle's style, and partly to the fact that the Letter combats a form of heretical teaching which is by no means familiar to the reader of to-day.
TO THE
COLOSSIANS,
I. — INTRODUCTION.
Greetin ^° Christ's People at Colossae — the Brothers who i, 2
are faithful to him,
FROM Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, AND FROM Timothy, our Brother. May God, our Father, bless you and give you peace.
The Apostle's Whenever we pray, we never fail to thank God, 3 Thankfulness the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, about you, and Prayer. now thaj- we nave heard of your faith in Christ 4 Jesus and of the love that you have tor all his People, on 5 account of the hope which awaits its fulfilment in Heaven. Of this hope you heard long ago in the true Message of the Good News which reached you — bearing fruit and growing, as it 6 does, through all the world, just as it did among you, from the very day that you heard of God's loving-kindness, and under- stood what that loving-kindness really is. It is just what you 7 learnt from Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who, as a minister of the Christ, faithfully represents us, and who 8 told us of the love with which the Spirit has inspired you. And therefore we, from the very day that we 9
heard this, have never ceased praying for you, or asking that you may possess that deeper knowledge of the will of God, which comes through all true spiritual wisdom and insight. Then you will live lives worthy of the Master, and so please 10 God in every way. Your lives will be fruitful in every kind of good action, and your characters will grow through a fuller knowledge of God ; you will be made strong at all points with a 1 1 strength worthy of the power manifested in his Glory — strong to endure with patience, and even with gladness, whatever may befall you ; and you will give thanks to the Father who 12 made you fit to share the lot which awaits Christ's People in the realms of Light.
378 COLOSSIANS, 1.
II. — THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE CHRIST.
His For God has rescued us from the tyranny of
Deliverance. Darkness, and has removed us into the Kingdom
of his Son, who is the embodiment of his love, and through
whom we have found deliverance in the forgiveness of our sins.
His For Christ is the very incarnation of the invisible Pre-eminence, God — First-born and Head of all creation ; for in him was created all that is in Heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible — Angels and Archangels and all the Powers of Heaven. All has been created through him and for him. He was before all things, and all things unite in him ; and he is the Head of the Church, which is his Body. The First- born from the dead, he is to the Church the Source of its Life, that he, in all things, may stand first. For it pleased the Father that in him the divine nature in all its fulness
H|> should dwell, and through him to reconcile all Reoonciiia- things to himself (making peace by the shedding
tion. Of Christ's blood offered upon the cross) — whether on earth or in Heaven. And it pleased God that you, once estranged from him and hostile towards him in your thoughts, intent only on wickedness — but now he has reconciled you to himself by the sacrifice of Christ's earthly body in death — it has pleased God that you should stand in his presence holy, pure, and blameless, if only you remain true to your Faith, firm and immovable, never abandoning the hope held out in the Good News to which you listened, which has been proclaimed among all created things under Heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
The Apostle'* Now at last I can rejoice in my sufferings on share your behalf, and in my own person I supplement
in this work. tjie afflictions endured by the Christ, for the sake of his Body, the Church ; of which I myself became a minister in virtue of the office with which God entrusted me for your benefit, to declare the Message of God in all its fulness — that Truth which has been hidden from former ages and genera- tions. But now it has been revealed to God's People, to whom il was his pleasure to make known the surpassing glory of that hidden Truth when proclaimed among the Gentiles
-'Christ among you! Your Hope of glory!' This is the Christ whom we proclaim, warning every one, and instruct- ing every one, with all the wisdom that we possess, in the hope of bringing every one into God's presence perfected by union with Christ. It is for that I toil, struggling with all the energy which he inspires and which works powerfully within me.
COLOSSIANS, 2. 379
III. — CHRIST AND THE GNOSTIC TEACHING.
The wisdom ^ want you to know in how great a struggle i
of cod I am engaged for you and for Christ's People in Christ. aj Laodicea, and for all who have not yet seen me ; in the hope that they, being bound to one another by 2 love, and keeping in view the full blessedness of a firm convic- tion, may be encouraged to strive for a perfect knowledge of God's hidden Truth, even Christ himself, in whom all treasures '3 of wisdom and knowledge lie hidden. I say this to 4
prevent any one from deceiving you by plausible arguments. It is true that I am not with you in person, but I am with you 5 in spirit, and am glad to see the good order and the unbroken front resulting from your faith in Christ.
Union with Since, therefore, you have received Jesus, the 6
Christ. Christ, as your Lord, live your lives in union with him — rooted in him, building up your characters through 7 union with him, growing stronger through your faith, as you were taught, overflowing with faith and thanksgiving.
Take care there is not some one who will carry you away 8 by his ' philosophy ' — a hollow sham ! — following, as it does, mere human traditions, and dealing with puerile questions of this world, and not with Christ. For in Christ the Godhead 9 in all its fulness dwells incarnate ; and, by your union with 10 him, you also are filled with it. He is the Head of all Arch- angels and Powers of Heaven. By your union with him you 1 1 received a circumcision that was not performed by human hands, when you threw off the tyranny of the earthly body, and received the circumcision of the Christ. For in baptism 12 you were buried with Christ ; and in baptism you were also raised to Life with him, through your faith in the omnipotence of God, who raised him from the dead. And to you, who 13 once were ' dead, ' by reason of your sins and your uncircum- cised nature — to you God gave Life in giving life to Christ ! He pardoned all our sins ! He cancelled the bond which 14 stood against us — the bond that consisted of ordinances— and which was directly hostile to us ! He has taken it out of our way by nailing it to the cross ! He rid himself of all the 15 Powers of Evil, and held them up to open contempt, when he celebrated his triumph over them on the cross !
This um< ^° not> then, allow any one to take you to task 16
obs'curecMay on questions of eating or drinking, or in the Gnostic matter of annual or monthly or weekly festivals.
Teaching. These things are only the shadow of what is to 17 come ; the substance is in the Christ. Do not let any one 18 defraud you of the reality by affecting delight in so-called
3 Isa. 45. 3 ; Prov. a. 3—4.
380 COLOSSIANS, 2-3.
' humility ' and angel-worship. Such a man busies himself with his visions, and without reason is rendered conceited by his merely human intellect. He fails to maintain union with 19 the Head, to whom it is due that the whole body, nourished and knit together by the contact and connexion of every part, grows with a divine growth.
Sharing Since, with Christ, you became dead to the 20 Christ's puerile teaching of this world, why do you sub- Death. mit( as though your life were still that of the world, to such ordinances as ' Do not handle, or taste, or ii touch'? For all the things referred to in them cease to exist 22 when used. You are following mere human directions and instructions. Such prohibitions appear reasonable where 23 there is a desire for self-imposed service, and so-called ' humility,' and harsh treatment of the body, but are of no real value against the indulgence of our earthly nature.
sharing Since, therefore, you were raised to Life with i
Christ's the Christ, seek for the things that are above ; Resurrection. for ;t ;s there that the Christ is 'seated at the right hand of God.' Fix your thoughts upon the things that 2 are above, not upon those that are on earth. For you died, 3 and your Life now lies hidden, with the Christ, in God. When 4 the Christ, who is our Life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
IV. — THE GOSPEL IN THE DAILY LIFE.
The oid nfe Therefore destroy all that is earthly in you — 5 and the New. immorality, uncleanness, passions, evil desires, and that greed which is idolatry. These are the things on 6 account of which the Wrath of God comes, and to which you, 7 like others, once devoted your lives, when you lived for them. You, however, must now lay aside all such things — anger, 8 passion, malice, slander, abuse. Never lie to one another. 9 Get rid of your old self and its habits, and clothe yourselves 10 with that new self, which, as it gains in knowledge, is being constantly renewea ' in resemblance to him who made it.' In u that new life there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman ; but Christ is all ! — and in all !
Therefore, as God's People, consecrated and dear to him, 12 clothe yourselves with tenderness of heart, kindliness, humility, gentleness, forbearance ; bearing with one another, and,. when 13 there is any ground for complaint, forgiving one another freely. As the Master freely forgave you, so you must for- give one another. Over all these virtues put on love ; for 14
22 Isa. 39. 13. 1 Pa. no. i. 10 Gen. i. 37.
COLOSSIANS, 8—4. 381
that is the girdle which makes all complete. Let the 15 Peace that the Christ gives decide all doubts within your hearts ; for you also were called to the enjoyment of peace as members of one Body. And show yourselves thankful. Let the Message 16 of the Christ dwell in your minds in all its wealth, bringing all wisdom with it. Teach and admonish one another with psalms, and hymns, and sacred songs, full of the loving-kind- ness of God, lifting your hearts in song to him. And, whatever 17 you say or do, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus ; and through him offer thanksgiving to God the Father.
„. Wives, submit to your husbands, as befits those 18
On riSTian tii i T i T T « «
Family who belong to the Lord. Husbands, love 19
Life. your wives, and never treat them harshly.
Children, always obey your parents ; for that is pleasant to 20 see in those who belong to the Lord. Fathers, never 21
irritate your children, lest they should become disheartened.
Slaves, always obey your earthly masters, not only when 22 their eyes are on you, as if you had but to please men, but giving them ungrudging service, in your reverence for the Master. Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as if 23 working for the Master and not for men, since you know that 24 it is from the Master that you will receive the inheritance which will be your recompense. You are serving Christ, the Master. Those who do wrong will reap the wrong they have 25 done ; and there will be no partiality. Masters, do i 4
what is right and fair by your slaves, for you know that you also have a Master — in Heaven.
Rule* tor Devote yourselves to prayer. Give your whole 2 Christian mind to it, and also offer thanksgiving ; and at 3
Life. the same time pray for us, that God may give us an opening for our Message, so that we may speak of the truths hidden in the Christ — the truths for which I am in chains ! Then I shall make them known, as I ought to 4 do. Show tact in your behaviour to the outside world, 5
making the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation 6 always be kindly, and seasoned, as it were, with salt ; that you may know in each case what answer you ought to give.
V. — CONCLUSION.
The Bearers ^ear Brother, Tychicus, will tell you all
or the about me. He is a faithful minister, and a fellow- Letter, servant in the Master's cause. I send him to you expressly that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may give you encouragement. With him will be Onesimus,
382 COLOSSIANS, 4.
our dear faithful Brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you all that is going on here.
personal ^^ fellow-prisoner, Aristarchus, sends you his 10 Greetings and greeting, and Barnabas's cousin, Mark, sends his.
Messages. (You have received directions about him. If he comes to you, make him welcome.) Joshua, who is called n Justus, also sends his greeting. These are the only converts from Judaism who have worked with me for the Kingdom of God ; I have found them a great comfort. Epaphras, who is 12 one of yourselves, sends you his greeting. He is a servant of Christ Jesus, and is always most earnest in your behalf in his prayers, praying that you may stand firm, with a matured faith and with a sure conviction of all that is in accordance with God's will. I can bear testimony to the deep interest he 13 takes in you, as well as in the Brethren at Laodicea and at Hierapolis. Luke, our dear doctor, sends you his greeting, 14 andDemassends his. Give mygreetingto the Brethren 15
at Laodicea, and to Nymphe, and to the Church that meets at her house. And when this letter has been read to you, see 16 that it is also read before the Church at Laodicea, and that you yourselves read the letter which will be forwarded from there. Give this message to Archippus — ' Take care to discharge 17 to the best of your ability the office to which you were ap- pointed in the Master's Cause.'
The A ostio's I» Paul> add this greeting in my own hand- 18 own writing. Remember these chains of mine. God's blessing be with you.
TO PHILEMON.
ST. PAUL'S LETTER TO PHILEMON,
WRITTEN PROBABLY DURING HIS IMPRISON- MENT AT ROME, ABOUT 61 A.D.
ONESIMUS, who was the bearer of this Letter, had been a slave to Philemon. He had robbed his master and run away from him ; but, on reaching Rome, he had come under the influence of St. Paul, and had been converted to Christianity. Philemon, who lived probably at Laodicea in Asia Minor, was also one of the Apostle's converts; and St. Paul sent Onesimus back to him with this Letter, asking Philemon to forgive him, and to receive him as a Brother-Christian.
PHILEMON.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
To our dear friend and fellow- worker Philemon, to our sister I, 2
Apphia, to our fellow-soldier Archippus ; AND TO the Church that meets at Philemon's house ; FROM Paul, now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, AND FROM Timothy, a Brother. May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you 3
and give you peace.
II. — THE APOSTLE'S REQUEST CONCERNING A RUN-AWAY • SLAVE.
I always mention you in my prayers and thank God 4 for you, because I hear of the love and the faith which 5 you show, not only to the Lord Jesus, but also to all his People ; and I pray that your participation in the Faith 6 may result in action, as you come to a fuller realization of everything that is good and Christlike in us. I have 7 indeed found great joy and encouragement in your love, knowing, as I do, how the hearts of Christ's People have been cheered, Brother, by you.
And so, though my union with Christ enables me, with all 8 confidence, to dictate the course that you should adopt, yet 9 the claims of love make me prefer to plead with you — yes, even me, Paul, though I am an ambassador for Christ Jesus and, now, a prisoner for him as well. I plead with you for 10 this Child of mine, Onesimus, to whom, in my prison, I have become a Father. Once he was of little service to you, but u now he has become of great service, not only to you, but to me as well ; and I am sending him back to you with this 12 letter — though it is like tearing out my very heart. For 13 my own sake I should like to keep him with me, so that, while I am in prison for the Good News, he might, attend to my wants on your behalf. But I do not wish to do 14 anything without your consent, because I want your generosity
o
386 PHILEMON.
to be voluntary and not, as it were, compulsory. It may 15 be that he was separated from you for an hour, for this very reason, that you might have him back for ever, no longer 16 as a slave, but as something better — a dearly loved Brother, especially dear to me, and how much more so to you, not only as your fellow man, but as your fellow Christian 1 If, then, you 17 count me your friend, receive him as you would me. If he 18 has caused you any loss, or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, put my own hand to it — I will repay you my- 19 self. I say nothing about your owing me your very self. Yes, 20 Brother, let me gain something from you because of your union with the Lord. Cheer my heart by your Christlike spirit.
Even as I write, I have such confidence in your compliance 21 with my wishes, that I am sure that you will do even more than I am asking. Please also get a lodging ready for me, for 22 I hope- that I shall be given back to you all in answer to your prayers.
III. — MESSAGES AND BLESSING.
Epaphras, who is my fellow-prisoner for Christ Jesus, sends 23 you his greeting ; and Marcus, Aristarchus Demas, and 24 Luke, my fellow-workers, send theirs.
May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ rest on your 25 souls.
TO THE EPHESIANS
ST. PAUL'S LETTER TO THE CHRISTIANS AT EPHESUS.
WRITTEN POSSIBLY DURING HIS IMPRISON- MENT AT ROME, ABOUT 61 A.D.
EPHESUS was a busy seaport and the chief city of Roman Asia. In it stood the famous temple of Diana. St. Paul's visit to Ephesus is recorded in the Acts (Chapter 19) and lasted for more than two years. His stay there was eventful ; and, when it came to an end, the Apostle went to Greece, and then returned, by way of Miletus, to Jerusalem. Shortly afterwards he was arrested, on the complaint of the Jews, and taken to Caesarea (Acts 23. 23), and from there to Rome (Acts 28. 1 6). From one of these places — probably the latter — he may have written the present Letter.
The genuineness of this Letter has been frequently assailed, but it may, with some confidence, be attributed to the Apostle himself. It appears to have been a circular letter addressed, not merely to the Christians of Ephesus, but also to the other Churches in Roman Asia ; indeed, it was also known as "The Letter to Laodicea," and may be the letter referred to in Colossians 4. 16. In it the Apostle is not so much replying to arguments hostile to Christianity, as developing, upon lines similar to those laid down in the Letter to the Colossians, his conception of the unity of all Christians in the Christ, the invisible Head of their one Society.
TO THE
EPHESIANS.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
Greeting. To Christ's People [AT EPHESUS] who are faith- i
ful to him,
FROM Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God. May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and 2 give you peace.
The Apostle's Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ, 3 Ascription of our Lord, who has blessed us on high with every
Praise. spiritual blessing, in Christ. For he chose us in 4 our union with Christ before the creation of the universe, that we might be holy and blameless in his sight, living in the spirit of love. From the first he destined us, in his good- 5 will towards us, to be adopted as Sons through Jesus Christ, and so to enhance that glorious manifestation of his loving- 6 kindness which he gave us in The Beloved ; for in him, and 7 through the shedding of his blood, we have found redemption in the pardon of our offences. All this accords with the loving- 8 kindness which God lavished upon us, accompanied by countless gifts of wisdom and discernment, when he made 9 known to us his hidden purpose. And it also accords with the good-will which God purposed to exhibit in Christ, in 10 view of that Divine Order which was to mark the com- pletion of the ages, when he should make everything, both in Heaven and on earth, centre in him. In him, I say, for by u our union with him we became God's Heritage, having from the first been destined for this in the intention of him who, in all that happens, is carrying out his own fixed purpose ; that we should enhance his glory — we who have been the' first 12 to rest our hopes on the Christ. And you, too, by your union 13 with him, after you had heard the Message of the Truth, the Good News of your Salvation — you believed in him and were sealed as his by receiving the holy Spirit, which he had pro- mised. And the Spirit is a pledge of our future heritage, 14 fore-shadowing the full redemption of God's own People — to enhance his Glory.
390 EPHESIANS, 1-2.
II.— THE POWER OF GOD DISPLAYED IN CHRIST, THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH.
pra or therefore I, ever since I heard of the faith
for Knowledge in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, or this Power. an(j of your confidence in all Christ's People, have never omitted to thank God on your behalf, whenever I make mention of you in my prayers. My prayer is that the God of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-glorious Father, may in- spire you with wisdom and true insight through a fuller know- ledge of himself ; that your minds may be so enlightened that you may realize the hope given by God's Call, the wealth of the glory of his heritage among Christ's People, and the transcen- dant greatness of the power which he is able to exercise in deal-
ing with us who believe in him. The same mighty cMapiayecMn powerwas exerted upon the Christ, when he raised the Resurrec- the Christ from the dead and ' caused him to sit tion of Christ. at ^js right hand' on high, exalting him above all Angels and Archangels of every rank, and above every name that can be named, whether in the present age, or in the age to come. And God placed 'all things under Christ's feet,' and gave him to the Church as its supreme Head ; for the Church is Christ's Body, and is filled by him who fills all things every- where with his presence. You yourselves were once dead be- cause of your offences and sins. For at one time you lived in sin, following the ways of the world, in subjection to the Ruler
of the Powers of the air — the Spirit who is still at This Power work among the disobedient. And it was among
displayed in ,, ,, ,. , .. • j i •
the conver- them that we all once lived our lives, indulging sion of the the cravings of our earthly nature, and carrying Qentiies. Qu^ ^Q desires prompted by that earthly nature and by our own thoughts. Our very nature exposed us to the Divine Wrath, like the rest of mankind. Yet God, in
his abundant compassion, and because of the great love with which he loved us, even though we were ' dead ' because of our offences, gave Life to us in giving Life to the Christ. (By God's loving-kindness you have been saved.) And, through our union with Christ Jesus, God raised us with him, and caused us to sit with him on high, in order that, by his goodness to us in Christ Jesus, he might display in the ages to come the boundless wealth of his loving-kindness. For it is by God's loving-kindness that you have been saved, through your faith. It is not due to yourselves ; the gift is God's. It is not due to obedience to Law, lest any one should boast. For we are God's handiwork, created, by our union with Christ Jesus, for the good actions in doing which God had pre-arranged that we should spend our lives.
W Peut. 33. 4. 20 Pa. no. i. 22 PS. $. $,
EPHESIANS, 2-3. 391
This Power Remember, therefore, that you were once Gen- 1 1 displayed !• tiles yourselves, as your bodies showed ; you the union of wefe cauetj « The Uncircumcised ' by those who
Jew and Gen- <<r>i_ t-» ' • j > • j «
tile within were called 1 he Circumcised — circumcised only the church, by the hand of man ! Remember that you were 12 at that time far from Christ ; you were shut out from the citizenship of Israel ; you were strangers to the Covenants founded on God's Promise ; you were in the world without hope and without God. But now, through your union with 13 Christ Jesus, you who once were ' far off' have, by the shedding of the blood of the Christ, been brought ' near.' He it 14
is who is our Peace. He made the two divisions of mankind one, broke down the barrier that separated them, and in his 15 human nature put an end to the cause of enmity between them — the Law with its injunctions and ordinances — in order to create, through union with himself, from Jew and Gentile, one New Man, and thus make peace. And when, upon the 16 cross, he had destroyed their mutual enmity, he sought by means of his cross to reconcile them both to God, united in one Body. He came with the Good News of peace for you who 17 were ' far off,' and of peace for those who were ' near ' ; for it 18 is through him that we, the Jews and the Gentiles, united in the one Spirit, are now able to approach the Father. It 19
follows, then, that you are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow-citizens with Christ's People and members of God's Household. You have been built up upon the foundation laid 20 by the Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus himself being 'the corner-stone.' United in him, every part of the building, closely 21 joined together, will grow into a Temple, consecrated by its union with the Lord. And, through union in him, you also are 22 being built up together, to be a dwelling-place for God through the Spirit.
III. — THE APOSTLE'S DIVINE COMMISSION TO THE GENTILES.
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus, i The Gospel the Christ, for the sake of you Gentiles for you 2
made known . r .1 -i i i
to the church have heard, I suppose, of the responsible charge through the with which God entrusted me for your benefit, Apostle. ancj ajSQ tjlat jt wag by (j;rect revelation that 3
the hidden purpose of God was made known to me, as I have already briefly told you. And, by reading what I 4 have written, you will be able to judge how far I understand this hidden purpose of God in Christ. In former genera- 5 tions it was not made known to mankind, as fully as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to the Apostles and Prophets among Christ's People — that, by union with Christ Jesus and 6
Isa. 57. 19 ; 52. 7. M Isa. 28. 16.
392 EPHESIANS, 3-4.
through the Good News, the Gentiles are co-heirs with us and members of one Body, and that they share with us in God's Promise. Of this Good News I became a minister, in virtue of the charge with which God entrusted me in the exercise of his power — yes, to me, who am less than the least of all Christ's People, was this charge entrusted ! — to tell the Gentiles the Good News of the boundless wealth to be found in the Christ, and to make clear what is God's way of working out that hidden purpose which from the first has been concealed in the mind of the Creator of all things ; so that now to the Archangels and to all the Powers made ifnown on high should be made known, through the to the Church, the all-embracing wisdom of God, in "power!* accordance with that purpose which runs through through the all the ages and which he has now accomplished church. jn Jesus, the Christ, our Master. And in union with him, and through our trust in him, we find courage to approach God with confidence. Therefore I beg
you not to be disheartened at the sufferings that I am under- going for your sakes ; for they redound to your honour.
For this reason, then, I kneel before the
theychurch Father— from whom all ' fatherhood ' in Heaven
may and on earth derives its name — and pray that,
"thuToos**!1 *n ProPort'on to the wealth of his glory, he will
strengthen you with his power by breathing his
Spirit into your inmost soul, so that the Christ, through your
faith, may make his home within your hearts in love ; and
I pray that you, now firmly rooted and established, may, with
all Christ's People, have the power to comprehend in all its
width and length and height and depth, and to understand —
though it surpasses all understanding — the love of the Christ ;
and so be filled to the full with God himself.
To him who, through his power which is at Blo*y- W0rk within us, is able to do far more than any- thing that we can ask or conceive — to him be all glory through the Church and through Christ Jesus, for all generations, age after age. Amen.
IV. — THE GOSPEL AND THE DAILY LIFE.
unity in I urge youi then — I who am a prisoner in the i Christ. Master's cause — to live lives worthy of the Call
that you have received ; always humble and gentle, patient, 2
bearing lovingly with one another, and striving to maintain 3
in the bond of peace the unity given by the Spirit. There is 4 but one Body and one Spirit, just as there was but one hope
EPHESIANS, 4. 393
set before you when you received your Call. There is but one 5
Lord, one Faith, one Baptism. There is but one God and 6 Father of all — the God who is over all, pervades all, and is in
all. Every one of us, however, has been entrusted with 7
some charge, each in accordance with the extent of the
gift of the Christ. That is why it is said — 8
' When he went up on high, he led his captives into captivity, And gave gifts to mankind.'
Now surely this ' going up ' must imply that he had already 9 gone down into the world beneath. He who went down is the 10 same as he who went up — up beyond the highest Heaven, that he might fill all things with his presence. And he it is who n gave to the Church Apostles, Prophets, Missionaries, Pastors, and Teachers, to fit his People for the work of the ministry, 12 for the building up of the Body of the Christ. And this shall 13 continue, until we all attain to that unity which is given by faith and by a fuller knowledge of the Son of God ; until we reach the ideal man — the full standard of the perfection of the Christ. Then we shall no longer be like infants, tossed 14 backward and forward, blown about by every breath of human teaching, through the trickery and the craftiness of men, towards the snares of error ; but holding the truth in a spirit 15 of love, we shall grow into complete union with him who is our Head — Christ himself. For from him the whole Body, 16 closely joined and knit together by the contact of every part with the source of its life, derives its power to grow, in proportion to the vigour of each individual part ; and so is being built up in a spirit of love.
The New This, then, as one in union with the Lord, i*f Life and the I say to you and urge upon you : — Do not con- Old- tinue to live such purposeless lives as the Gen- tiles live, with their powers of discernment darkened, cut off 18 from the Life of God, owing to the ignorance that prevails among them and to the hardness of their hearts. Lost to all 19 sense of shame, they have abandoned themselves to licentious- ness, in order to practise every kind of impurity without restraint. But far different is the lesson you learnt 20
from the Christ — if, that is, you really listened to him, and 21 through union with him were taught the Truth, as it is to be found in Jesus. For you learnt with regard to your former 22 way of living that you must cast off your old nature, which, yielding to deluding passions, grows corrupt ; that the very 23 spirit of your minds must be constantly renewed ; and that 24 you must clothe yourselves in that new nature which was created to resemble God, with the righteousness and holiness springing from the Truth.
s. 68. 18.
894 EPHESIANS, 4-5.
precepts Since, therefore, you have cast off what is 25 for the false, ' you must every one of you speak the Daily Life, truth to your neighbours. ' For we are united to one another like the parts of a body. ' Be angry, yet do not 26 sin.' Do not let the sun go down upon your anger ; and give 27 no opportunity to the Devil. Let the man who steals steal 28 no longer, but rather let him toil with his hands at honest work, so that he may have something to share with any one in want. Never let any foul word pass your lips, but only such 29 good words as the occasion demands, that they may be a help to those who hear them. And do not grieve God's Holy Spirit ; 30 for it was through that Spirit that God sealed you as his, against the Day of Redemption. 'Let all bitterness, passion, anger, 31 brawling, and abusive language be banished from among you, as well as all malice. Be kind to one another, tender- 32 hearted, ready to forgive one another, just as God, in Christ, forgave you. Therefore imitate God, as his dear children, i , and live a life of love, following the example of the Christ, 2 who loved you and gave himself for you as ' an offering and a sacrifice to God, that should be fragrant and acceptable.'
As for unchastity and every kind of impurity, or greed, do 3 not let them even be mentioned among you, as befits Christ's People, nor shameful conduct, nor foolish talk or jesting, for 4 they are wholly out of place among you ; but rather thanks- giving. For of this you may be sure — that .10 one who is 5 unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the Kingdom of the Christ and God.
Do not let any one deceive you with specious arguments. 6 Those are the sins that bring down the Wrath of God upon the disobedient. Therefore have nothing to do with such 7 people. For, although you were once in Darkness, now, by 8 your union with the Lord, you are in the Light. Live as ' Children of Light ' — for the outcome of life in the Light 9 may be seen in every form of goodness, righteousness, and sincerity — always trying to find out what is pleasing to the 10 Lord. Take no part in deeds of Darkness, from which n no good can come ; on the contrary, expose them. It is 12 degrading even to speak of the things continually done by them in secret. All such actions, when exposed, have their 13 true character made manifest by the Light. For everything that has its true character made manifest is clear as light. And that is why it is said — 14
* Sleeper, awake ! Arise from the dead, And the Christ shall give thee light ! '
» Zech. 8. 16. » Ps. 4. 4. 2 Pa. 40. 6 ; Ezek. ao. 41.
EPHESIANS, 5-6. 395
Take great care, then, how you live — not unwisely but 15 wisely, making the most of every opportunity ; for these are 16 evil days. Therefore do not grow thoughtless, but try to under- 17 stand what the Lord's will is. Do not drink wine to excess, 18 for that leads to profligacy ; but seek to be filled with the Spirit of God, and speak to one another in psalms and hymns and sacred songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to 19 the Lord. Always give thanks for everything to our God and 20 Father, in the Name of our Lord Jesus. Christ ; and submit to 21 one another from reverence for him.
Christian Wives should submit to their husbands as sub- 22 Family Life, mitting to the Lord. For a man is the Head 23 of his wffe, as the Christ is the Head of the Church — being indeed himself the Saviour of his Body. But as the 24 Church submits to the Christ, so also should wives submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your 25
wives, just as the Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for her, to make her holy, after purifying her by the Washing 26 with the Water, according to his promise ; so that he might 27 himself bring the Church, in all her beauty, into his own presence, with no spot or wrinkle or blemish of any kind, but that she might be holy and faultless. That is how husbands 28 ought to love their wives — as if they were their own bodies. A man who loves his wife is really loving himself; for no one 29 ever yet hated his own body. But every one feeds his body and cares for it, just as the Christ for the Church ; for we are 30 members of his Body.
' For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and 31 be united to his wife ; and the man and his wife shall become one.'
In this there is a profound truth — I am speaking of Christ 32 and his Church. However, for you individually, let each love 33 his wife as if she were himself; and the wife- be careful to respect her husband.
Children, obey your parents, as children of the Lord ; for i Q that is but right. ' Honour thy father and mother ' — this is the 2 first Commandment with a promise — 'so that thou mayest 3 prosper and have a long life on earth.' And fathers, do 4
not irritate your children, but bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters, with anxious care, giving 5 them ungrudging service, as if obeying the Christ ; not only 6 when their eyes are on you, as if you had merely to please men, but as slaves of Christ, who are trying to carry out the will of God. Give your service heartily and cheerfully, as working for 7 the Master and not for men ; for you know that eve&y one will 8
i8 Prov. 33. 31 (Septuagint). » Gen. a. 34. 3— s Exod, 30, »a ; Deut. 5. 16,
396 EPHESIANS, 6.
be rewarded by the Master for any honest work that he has done, whether he is a slave or a freeman. And masters,
treat your slaves in the same spirit. Give up threatening them ; for you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in Heaven, and that before him there is no distinction of rank. The For the future, find strength in your union
Christian's with the Lord, and in the power which comes Armour. from his might. Put on the full armour of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground against the strata- gems of the Devil. For ours is no struggle against enemies of flesh and blood, but against all the various Powers of Evil that hold sway in the Darkness around us, against the Spirits of Wickedness on Hgh. Therefore take up the full armour of God, that, when the evil day comes, you may be able to with- stand the attack, and, having fought to the end, still to stand your ground. Stand your ground, then, ' with truth for your belt,' and ' with righteousness for your breast-plate,' and with the readiness to serve the Good News of Peace as shoes for your feet. At every onslaught take up faith for your shield ; for with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming darts of the Evil One. And receive ' the helmet of Salvation,' and ' the sword of the Spirit ' — which is the Message of God — always with prayer and supplication. Pray in spirit at all times. Be intent upon this, with unwearying perseverance and sup- plication for all Christ's People — and on my behalf also, that, when I begin to speak, words may be given me, so that I may fearlessly make known the inmost truth of the Good News, on behalf of which I am an Ambassador— in chains ! Pray that, in telling it, I may speak fearlessly as I ought.
V. — CONCLUSION.
To enable you, as well as others, to know all that concerns 21 me and what I am doing, Tychicus, our dear Brother and faithful helper in the Master's Cause, will tell you everything. I am sending him to you on purpose that you may learn all 22 about us, and that he may cheer your hearts.
May God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ give our 23 Brothers peace, and love linked with faith. May God's 24
blessing be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
4 Isa. n. 5; 59. 17. 1B Isa. 52. 7. I? Isa. 59. 17; ii. 4; 49. a ; 51. 16 ; Hos. 6. 5.
TO THE PHILIPPIANS.
ST. PAUL'S LETTER TO THE CHRISTIANS AT PHILIPPI.
WRITTEN PROBABLY DURING HIS IMPRISON- MENT A~ ROME, ABOUT 62 A.D.
PHILIPPI was a Roman military station in Macedonia, and the first place in Europe at which St. Paul is known-tohave preached (Acts 16. 12). The Apostle gained many converts there, but his stay was cut short by persecution. Subsequently he twice revisited the town (Acts 20. 2, 6). The Philippian Christians appear to have cherished a specially warm affection for the Apostle. Although their own means were but slender, they repeatedly contributed to his support with great generosity (Phil. 4. 15, 16). ) Upon hearing of his imprisonment at Rome, they sent Epaphroditus to carry their gifts to him, and to assure him of their heart-felt sympathy (Phil. 2. 25). While in Rome, Epaphroditus fell ill ; upon his recovery St. Paul sent this Letter by him to Philippi, expressing to the members of the Church there his gratitude for their kindness, and urging them to unity and humility.
The Letter expresses warm personal affection, and contains counsel and warning to the Apostle's converts, mingled with kindly messages and encouragement. It was written at a time when his trial before the Emperor Nero was drawing to an end, and when St. Paul was daily awaiting the issue. His friends had deserted him, death stared him in the face, and yet the Letter sounds a note of confidence and joy.
TO THE
PHILIPPIANS.
I . —INTRODUCTION.
To all Christ's People at Philippi, with the Pre- i Greeting. siding Officers and Assistants, FROM Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you, and 2 give you peace.
Every recollection that I have of you is a cause 3 Apostle's °f thankfulness to God, always, in every prayer 4 Thankfulness that I offer for you all — and my prayers are full of
and Prayer. jov — because of the share that you have had in 5 spreading the Good News, from the first day that you received it until now. For of this I am confident, that he who began a 6 good work in you will complete it in readiness for the Day of Jesus Christ. And, indeed, I am justified in feeling thus about ^ you all ; because you have a warm place in my heart — you who all, both in my imprisonment and in the work of defending and establishing the Good News, shared my privilege with me. God will bear me witness how I yearn over you all with the 8 tenderness of Christ Jesus. And what I pray for is this — that 9 your love may grow yet stronger and stronger, with increasing knowledge and all discernment, until you are able to appreciate 10 all moral distinctions. And I pray, too, that you may be kept pure and blameless against the Day of Christ, bearing n a rich harvest of that righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
II. — THE APOSTLE IN PRISON AT ROME.
The Results Brothers, I want you to realize that what has 12 of his im- happened to me has actually served to forward prisonment. the Good News. It has even become evident, not 13 only to all the Imperial Guard, but to every one else, that it is for
400 PHII.IPPIANS, 1.
Christ's sake that I am in chains. And besides this, most of 14 our Brothers have gained confidence in the Lord through my chains, and now venture with far greater freedom to speak of God's Message fearlessly. The a read ^ '1S true ^at some ^° proclaim the Christ out 15
of the of jealousy and opposition ; but there are others Gospel. who proclaim him from good-will. The latter do 16 it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the Good News. The former spread the 17 news of the Christ in a factious spirit, and not sincerely, think- ing to add to the pain of my chains. But what of that ? Only 18 that in some way or other, either with assumed or with real earnestness, Christ is being made known ; and at that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that, through your prayers 19 and through a rich supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 'all this will make for my Salvation.' And this will fulfil my 20 earnest expectation and hope that I shall have no cause for shame, but that, with unfailing courage, now as hitherto, Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by my life or by my death.
Lifa For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. But 21,
or what if the life here in the body — if this brings
Death. me fruit from my labours ? Then which to choose I cannot tell ! I am sorely perplexed either way ! My own 23 desire is to depart and be with Christ, for this would be far better. But, for your sakes, it may be more needful that I 24 should still remain here in the body. Yes, I am confident that 25 this is so, and therefore I am sure that I shall stay, and stay near you all, to promote your progress and joy in the Faith ; so that, when you once more have me among you, you, in 26 your union with Christ Jesus, may find in me fresh cause for exultation.
III.— THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
Under all circumstances let your lives be worthy 27 unity. Qf the QOO(J News of the Christ : so that, whether I come and see you, or whether I hear of your affairs at a dis- tance, I may know that you are standing firm, animated by one spirit, and joining with one heart in a common struggle for the Faith taught by the Good News, without ever shrinking 28 from your opponents. To them this will be a sign of their Destruction and of your Salvation — a sign from God. For, €>n 29 behalf of Christ, you have had the privilege granted you, not only of trusting in him, but also of suffering on his behalf. You will be engaged in the same hard struggle as that which 30 you once saw me waging, and which you hear that I am waging still.
"Job 13. 16.
PHIL1PPIANS, 2. 401
If, then, any encouragement comes through i Humility. un;on w;th Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love, if there is any communion with the Spirit, if there is any tenderness or pity, I entreat you to make my happiness 2 complete — Live together animated by the same spirit and in mutual love, one in heart, animated by one Spirit. Nothing 3 should be done in a factious spirit or from vanity, but each of you should with all humility regard others as of more account than himself, and one and all should consider, not only their 4 The Great own interests, but also the interests of others. Let 5 Example, the spirit of Christ Jesus be yours also. Though 6 .the divine nature was his from the beginning, yet he did not look upon equality with God as above all things to be clung to, but 7 impoverished himself by taking the nature of a servant and becoming like men ; he appeared among us as a man, and 8 still further humbled himself by submitting even to death — to death on a cross ! And that is why God raised him to the 9 very highest place, and gave him the Name which stands above all other names, so that in adoration of the Name of 10 Jesus every knee should bend, in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should acknowledge JESUS n CHRIST as LORD— to the glory of God the Father.
Following Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always 12 this Example, been obedient in the past, so now work out your own Salvation with anxious care, not only when I am with you, but all the more now that I am absent. Remember it is God 13 who, in his kindness, is at work within you, enabling you both to will and to work. In all that you do, avoid murmuring and 14 dissension, so as to prove yourselves blameless and innocent — 15 ' faultless children of God, in the midst of an evil-disposed and perverse generation,' in which you are seen shining like stars in a dark world, offering to men the Message of Life ; and 16 then I shall be able at the Day of Christ to boast that I did not run my course for nothing, or toil for nothing. And 17
yet, even if, when your faith is offered as a sacrifice to God, my life-blood must be poured out in addition, still I shall rejoice and share the joy of you all ; and do you also rejoice and share 18 my joy.
IV. — PERSONAL PLANS.
I hope, however, as one who trusts in the Lord 19 Timothy. jesuS; fO send Timothy to you before long, so that I may myself be cheered by receiving news of you. For 20 I have no one but him to send — no one of kindred spirit who would take the same genuine interest in your welfare. They 21 are all pursuing their own aims and not those of Christ Jesus.
10—11 Isa. 4S. 2 . 1* Deut. 32. 5. 16 Isa. 49. 4.
402 PHILIPPIANS, 2—3.
But you know what Timothy has proved himself to be, and 22 how, like a child working for his father, he worked hard with me in spreading the Good News. It is Timothy, then, 23
whom I hope to send, as soon as ever I can foresee how it will go with me. And I am confident, as one who trusts in the 24 Lord Jesus, that before long I myself shall follow. Still I think 25
it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you now, Epapnroditus. for ^e jg mv Brother, fellow-worker, and fellow- soldier, and he was also your messenger to help me in my need. For he has been longing to see you all, and has been 26 distressed because you heard of his illness. And I can assure 27 you that his illness very nearly proved fatal. But God had pity on him, and not on him only but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. I am all the more ready, there- 28 fore, to send him, so that the sight of him may revive your spirits and my own sorrow be lightened. Give him, then, 29 the heartiest of Christian welcomes, and hold such men in great honour. For it was owing to his devotion to the 30 Master's work that he was at the point of death, having risked his own life in the effort to supply what was wanting in the help that you sent me.
In conclusion, my Brothers, all joy be yours in your union i with the Lord. To repeat what I have already written does not weary me, and is the safe course for you.
V. — JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY.
The Beware of those ' dogs ' ! Beware of those 2
Apostle1* mischievous workers ! Beware of the men who warning, mi Dilate themselves ! For it is we who are the 3 circumcised — we whose worship is prompted by the Spirit of God, who exult in Christ Jesus, and who do not rely upon external privileges ; though I, if any man, have cause to rely 4 even upon them.
Tne If any one thinks he can rely upon external
Apostle's privileges, far more can I ! I was circumcised 5 Experience, when eight days old ; I am an Israelite by race, and of the tribe of Benjamin ; I am a Hebrew, and the child of Hebrews. As to the Law, I was a Pharisee ; as to zeal, I 6 was a persecutor of the Church ; as to such righteousness as is due to Law, I proved myself blameless. But 7
all the things which I once held to be gains I have now, for the Christ's sake, come to count as loss. More than that, I 8 count everything as loss, for the sake of the exceeding value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. And for his sake I have lost everything, and count it as refuse, if I may but
PHILIPPIANS, 3^4. 403
gain Christ and be found in union with him ; any righteous- 9 ness that I have being, not the righteousness that results from Law, but the righteousness which comes through faith in Christ — the righteousness which is derived from God and is founded on faith. Then indeed I shall know Christ, and 10 the power of his resurrection, and all that it means to share his sufferings, in the hope that, if I become like him in his death, I may possibly attain to the resurrection from the dead, n Not that I have already laid hold of it, or that I am already made 12 perfect. But 1 press on, in the hope of actually laying hold of that for which indeed I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. For 13 I, Brothers, do not regard myself as having yet laid hold of it. But this one thing I do — forgetting what lies behind, and straining every nerve for that which lies in front, I press on to 14 the goal, to gain the prize of that heavenward Call which God gave me through Christ Jesus. Let all of us, 15
then, whose faith is mature, think thus. Then, if on any matter you think otherwise, God will make that also plain to you. Only we are bound to order our lives by what we have 16 already attained.
The Brothers, unite in following my example, and 17
Apostle's fix your eyes on those who are living by the Example, pattern which we have set you. For there are 18 many — of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears — who are living in enmity to the cross of the Christ. The end of such men is Ruin ; for their appetites are their 19 God, and they glory in their shame ; their minds are given up to earthly things. But the State of which we are citizens is in 20 Heaven ; and it is from Heaven that we are eagerly looking for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the exercise of his power to bring everything into subjection to himself, will 21 make this body that we have in our humiliation like to that body which he has in his Glory.
VI . — CONCLUSION.
So then, my dear Brothers, whom I am long- i 4 uione. jng. to see — vou wjlQ are mv jQy ancj mv crowil)
stand fast in union with the Lord, dear friends.
I entreat Euodia, and I entreat Syntyche, to live in harmony, 2 in union with the Lord ; yes, and I ask you, my true comrade, 3 to help them, remembering that they toiled by my side in spreading the Good News ; and so, too, did Clement and my other fellow-workers, whose names are 'in the Book of Life.'
All joy be yours at all times in your union with the Lord. 4 Again I repeat — All joy be yours. Let your forbearing spirit 5 be plain to every one. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious 6
3 Ps. 69. 38.
404 PHILIFPIANS, 4-
about anything ; but under all circumstances, by prayer and entreaty joined with thanksgiving, make your needs known to God. Then the Peace of God, which is beyond all human 7 understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and thoughts, through your union with Christ Jesus.
In conclusion, Brothers, wherever you find anything true or 8 honourable, righteous or pure, lovable or praiseworthy, or if ' virtue ' and ' honour ' have any meaning, there let your thoughts dwell. All that you learnt and received and heard 9 and saw in me put into practice continually ; and then God, the giver of peace, will be with you.
The oi« ^ was a matter °f great joy to me, as one in 10 from union with the Lord, that at length your interest
Phiiippi. in me had revived. The interest indeed you had, but not the opportunity. Do not think that I am saying this n under the pressure of want. For I, however I am placed, have learnt to be independent of circumstances. I know how to 12 face humble circumstances, and I know how to face prosperity. Into all and every human experience I have been initiated — into plenty and hunger, into prosperity and want. I can do 13 everything in the strength of him who makes me strong I Yet you have acted nobly in sharing my troubles. And you at 14, Phihppi know, as well as I, that in the early days of the Good News — at the time when I had just left Macedonia — no Church, with the one exception of yourselves, had anything to do with me as far as giving and receiving are concerned. Indeed, 16 even while I was still in Thessalonica, you sent more than once to relieve my wants. It is not that I am anxious for your gifts, 17 but I am anxious to see the abundant return that will be placed to your account. I have enough of everything, and to spare. My wants are fully satisfied, now that I have received from 18 Epaphroditus the gifts which you sent me — the sweet fra- grance of a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And 19 my God, out of the greatness of his wealth, will, in glory, fully satisfy your every need, through your union with Christ Jesus. To him, our God and Father, be ascribed all glory for ever 20 and ever. Amen.
Give my greeting to every one of the People of 21 ""' Christ Jesus. The Brothers who are with
me send you their greetings. All Christ's People here, and 22 especially those who belong to the Emperor's household, send theirs.
May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ rest on your 23 souls.
TO TIMOTHY I.
THE FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY.
[DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING UNCERTAIN.]
NOTHING is known with any certainty as to the history either of this or of the other two ' Pastoral Letters.'
Timothy, to whom this and the next Letter are addressed, was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, and was converted by St. Paul from Judaism to Christianity. He lived at Lystra in Asia Minor (Acts 16. i — 4), joined St. Paul on his second missionary journey, and, according to this Letter, was placed by the Apostle in charge of some Church. Tradition says that it was the Church in Ephesus.
The object of this Letter is to guide and encourage this young Officer of the Church in the discharge of his duties ; and it contains many general directions on the affairs of the Church.
TO
TIMOTHY. I.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
Greeting. To Timothy, my true Child in the Faith, i, 2
FROM Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the appointment of
God, our Saviour, and Christ Jesus, our Hope. May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, bless you,
and be merciful to you, and give you peace.
warning I beg you, as I did when I was on my way into 3 against False Macedonia, to remain at Ephesus ; that you may
Teaching. mstruct certain people there not to teach new and strange doctrines, nor to devote their attention to legends and 4 interminable genealogies, which tend to give rise to argument rather than to further that divine plan which is revealed in the Faith. The object of all instruction is to call forth that love 5 which comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. And it is because they have not aimed at these 6 things that the attention of certain people has been diverted to unprofitable subjects. They want to be Teachers of the Law, 7 and yet do not understand either the words they use, or the subjects on which they speak so confidently. We know, 8
of course, that the Law is excellent, when used legitimately, by one who recognizes that laws were not made for good men, 9 but for the lawless and disorderly, for irreligious and wicked people, for those who are irreverent and profane, for those who illtreat their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the im- 10 moral, for people guilty of sodomy, for slave-dealers, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is opposed to sound Christian teaching — as is taught in the glorious Good News n of the ever-blessed God, with which I was entrusted*
408 I. TIMOTHY, 1—2.
I am thankful to Christ Jesus, bur Lord, who 12 Thank'rtnness ^as ^een my strength, for showing that he thought for his* call me worthy of trust by appointing me to his to the ministry, though I once used to blaspheme, and to 13
netry. persecute, and to insult. Yet mercy was shown me, because I acted in ignorance, while still an unbeliever; and the loving-kindness of our Lord was boundless, and filled me 14 with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus. How true the saying is, and worthy of the fullest accep- 15 tance, that ' Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ' ! And there is no greater sinner than I ! Yet mercy was shown 16 me for the express purpose that Christ Jesus might exhibit in my case, beyond all others, his exhaustless patience, as an example for those who were afterwards to believe on him and attain Immortal Life. To the Immortal King, ever- 17
living, invisible, the one God, be ascribed honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
This, then, is the charge that I lay upon you, 18 HIS charge Timothy, my Child, in accordance with what was
to Timothy. .. •', i «• i ^ Ai j e i ^ • Ai
predicted or you — right the good right in the spirit of those predictions, with faith, and with a clear con- 19 science ; and it is because they have thrust this aside, that, as regards the Faith, some have wrecked their lives. Hymenaeus 20 and Alexander are instances — the men whom I delivered over to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
II. — GENERAL DIRECTIONS ON CHURCH-MATTERS.
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, I Public intercessions, and thanksgivings should be
offered for every one, especially for kings and all 2 who are in high positions, in order that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in a deeply religious and reverent spirit. This 3 will be good and acceptable in the eyes of God, our Saviour, whose will is that every one should be saved, and attain to a 4 full knowledge of the Truth. There is but one God, 5
and one mediator between God and men — the man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom on behalf of all men. 6
This must be our testimony, as opportunities public present themselves ; and it was for this that I was 7
' myself appointed a Herald and an Apostle (I am telling the simple truth and no lie) — a Teacher of the Gentiles in the Faith and Truth.
My desire, then, is that it should be the custom 8 worshi0 everywhere for the men to lead the prayers, with hands reverently uplifted, avoiding heated con- troversy. I also desire that women should adorn 9
I. TIMOTHY, 2—8. 409
themselves with appropriate dress, worn quietly and modestly, and not with wreaths or gold ornaments for the hair, or pearls, or costly clothing, but — as is proper for women who 10 profess to be religious — with good actions. A woman 1 1
should listen silently to her teachers, and show them all deference. I do not consent to a woman's becoming a teacher, 12 or exercising authority over a man ; she ought to be silent. Adam was formed first, not Eve. And it was not Adam who 13, was deceived ; it was the woman who was entirely deceived and fell into sin. But women will find their salvation in mother- ig hood, if they never abandon faith, love, or holiness, and behave with modesty. How true is that saying ! i
When a man aspires to be a Presiding-Officer
Pofn'dine *n *^e Church, he is ambitious for a noble task.
The Presiding-Officer should be a man of blame- 2 Jess character ; a faithful husband ; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life ; hospitable, and a skilful teacher, not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a for- 3 bearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money ; he should be a man who rules his own household well, 4 and whose children are kept under control and are well- behaved. If a man does not know how to rule his own 5 household, how can he take charge of the Church of God ? The Presiding-Officer should not be a recent convert, that he 6 may not be blinded by pride and fall under the same con- demnation as the Devil. He should also be well spoken of by 7 outsiders, that he may not incur censure and so fall into the
snares of the Devil. So, too, Assistant- 8
Assistant Officers should be serious and straightforward
Officer*. . , . , ,°. ,
men, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making, but men who hold the deep 9 truths of the Faith and have a clear conscience. They should 10 be tested first, and only appointed to their Office if no objection is raised against them. It should be the same with the n women. They should be serious> not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects. Assistant-Officers should be 12 faithful husbands, and men who rule their children and their households well. Those who have filled that post with honour 13 gain for themselves an honourable position, as well as great confidence through the faith that they place in Christ Jesus.
III. — SPECIAL DIRECTIONS TO TIMOTHY.
I am writing this to you, though I hope that I shall come to 14 see you before long ; but in case I should be delayed, I want 15 you to know what your conduct ought to be in the Household
410 I. TIMOTHY, £-4.
of God, which is the Church of the Living God — the pillar and stay of the Truth. Yes, and confessedly wonderful are the 16 deep truths of our religion ; for —
' He was revealed in our nature, Pronounced righteous in spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Taken up into glory.'
But the Spirit distinctly says that in later times i ^ On Dealing there will be some who will fall away from the *Te»cher8e F^th, and devote their attention to misleading
spirits, and to the teaching of demons, who 2 will make use of the hypocrisy *of lying teachers. These men's consciences are seared, and they discourage marriage 3 and enjoin abstinence from certain kinds of food ; though God created these foods to be enjoyed thankfully by those who hold the Faith and have attained a full knowledge of the Truth. Everything created by God is good, and there is nothing 4 that need be rejected — provided only that it is received thankfully ; for it is consecrated by God's blessing and' ]by 5 prayer.
Put all this before the Brethren, and you will be a good 6 servant of Christ Jesus, sustained by the precepts of the Faith and of that Good Teaching by which you have guided your life. As for profane legends and old wives' tales, leave them 7 alone. Train yourself to lead a religious life ; for while the 8 training of the body is of service in some respects, religion is of service in all, carrying with it, as it does, a promise of Life both here and hereafter. How true that saying is and worthy of 9 the fullest acceptance ! With that aim we toil and struggle, 10 for we have set our hopes on the Living God, who is the Saviour of all men, and especially of those who hold the Faith.
Dwell upon these things in your teaching. Do n, on the not let any one look down on you because you or M» lowers. are young> but, by your conversation, your con- duct, your love, your faith, and your purity, be an example to those who hold the Faith. Till I come, apply 13 yourself to public reading, preaching, and teaching. Do not 14 neglect the divine gift within you, which was given you, amid many a prediction, when the hands of the Officers of the Church were laid on your head. Practise these things, devote 15 yourself to them, so that your progress may be plain to every one. Look to yourself as well as to your teaching. Persevere 16 in this, for your doing so will mean Salvation for yourself as well as for your hearers.
I. TIMOTHY, & 411
Do not reprimand an older4 man, but plead i , On hi* with him as if he were your father. Treat the Reiationawith young men as brothers, the older women as 2
^huTearcfc*1" m°thers, and the younger women as sisters —
with all purity. Show consideration for 3
on the widows — I mean those who are really widowed.
Prwidow«.f'0r But, if a widow has children or grand-children, 4
let them learn to show proper regard for the members of their own family first, and to make some return to their parents ; for that is pleasing in God's sight. As for the 5 woman who is really widowed and left quite alone, her hopes are fixed on God, and she devotes herself to prayers and supplica- tions night and day. But the life of a widow who is devoted 6 to pleasure is a living death. Those are the points on which 7 you should dwell, that there may be no call for your censure. Any one who fails to provide for his own relations, and 8 especially for those under his own roof, has disowned the Faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. A widow, 9
when her name is added to the list, should not be less than sixty years old ; she should have been a faithful wife, and be well spoken of for her kind actions. She should have 10 brought up children, have shown hospitality to strangers, have washed the feet of her fellow Christians, have relieved those who were in distress, and devoted herself to every kind of good action. But you should exclude the younger n widows from the list ; for, when they grow restive under the yoke of the Christ, they want to marry, and so they 12 bring condemnation upon themselves for having broken their previous promise. And not only that, but they learn to be idle 13 as they go about from house to house. Nor are they merely idle, but they also become gossips and busy-bodies, and talk of what they ought not. Therefore I advise young widows 14 to marry, bear children, and attend to their homes, and so avoid giving the enemy an opportunity for scandal. There 15 are some who have already left us, to follow Satan. Any 16 Christian woman, who has relations who are widows, ought to relieve them and not allow them to become a burden to the Church, so that the Church may relieve those widows who are really widowed.
Asto Those Officers of the Church who fill their 17
the officers office well should be held deserving of especial or the church, consideration, particularly those whose work lies in preaching and teaching. The words of Scripture are — 18
' Thou shalt not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,'
and again —
' The worker is worth his wages."
18 Deut. 25. 4.
412 I. TIMOTHY, 5—6.
Do not receive a charge against an Officer of the Church, 19 unless it is supported by two or three witnesses; but rebuke 20 offenders publicly, so that others may take warning. I 21
charge you solemnly, before God and Christ Jesus
°n and the Chosen Angels, to carry out these direc-
subjects. tions, unswayed by prejudice, never acting with
partiality. Never ordain any one hastily, 22
and take no part in the wrong-doing of others. Keep your life pure. Do not continue to drink water only, but 23
take a little wine on account of the weakness of your stomach, and your frequent ailments. There are some 24
men whose sins are conspicuous and lead on to judgement, while there are others whose sins dog their steps. In the 25 same way noble deeds become conspicuous, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.
All who are in the position of slaves should i AS to regard their masters as deserving of the greatest
Slaves. , , -VT r /-^ j
respect, so that the Name of God, and our Teaching, may not be maligned. Those who have Christian 2 masters should not think less of them because they are their Brothers, but on the contrary they should serve them all the better, because those who are to benefit by their good work are dear to them as their fellow Christians.
IV. — CONCLUSION.
Those are the things to insist upon in your T FalM° teaching. Any one who teaches otherwise, and 3
refuses his assent to sound instruction — the in- struction of our Lord Jesus Christ — and to the teaching of religion, is puffed up with conceit, not really knowing 4 anything, but having a morbid craving for discussions and arguments. Such things only give rise to envy, quarrelling, recriminations, base suspicions, and incessant wrangling on 5 the part of these corrupt-minded people who have lost all hold on the Truth, and who think of religion only as a source
of gain. And a great source of gain religion is, 6 wwijth when it brings contentment with it ! For we 7
brought nothing into the world, because we can- not even carry anything out of it. So, with food and shelter, 8 we will be content. Those who want to be rich fall into the 9 snares of temptation, and become the prey of many foolish and harmful ambitions, which plunge people into Destruction and Ruin. Love of money is a source of all kinds of evil ; 10 and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the Faith, and have been pierced to the heart by many a regret.
18 Deut 19. 15.
I. TIMOTHY, 6. 413
But do you, Servant of Gods avoid all this, n Personal Aim at righteousness, piety, faith, love, endur-
Exhortations. °. r> ii c j.t.
ance, gentleness. Run the great race of the 12 Faith, and win the Immortal Life. It was for this that you received the Call, and, in the presence of many witnesses, made the great profession of Faith. I urge you, as in the 13 sight of God, the source of all life, and of Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate made the great profession of Faith — I 14 urge you to keep his Command free from stain or reproach, until the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. This will be 15 brought about in his own time by the one ever-blessed Potentate, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords, who 16 alone is possessed of immortality and dwells in unapproach- able light, whom no man has ever seen or ever can see — to whom be ascribed honour and power for ever. Amen.
Urge upon those who are wealthy in this life not to pride 17 themselves, or fix their hopes, on so uncertain a thing as wealth, but on God, who gives us a wealth of enjoyment on every side. Urge upon them to show kindness, to exhibit a 18 wealth of good actions, to be open-handed and generous, storing up for themselves what in the future will prove to be 19 a good foundation, that they may gain the only true Life.
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the 20 profane prattle and contradictions of what some miscall ' theology,' for there are those who, while asserting their pro- 21 ficiency in it, have yet, as regards the Faith, gone altogether astray.
Blessing. God Muss YOU all.
TO TIMOTHY II.
THE SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY.
[DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING UNCERTAIN.]
WHAT has been said as to the history of the first of these two " Letters to Timothy" applies equally to the second.
This Letter contains warnings against false Teachers, and exhortations to an earnest discharge of duty. It has been supposed to be the last extant letter written by St. Paul.
TO
TIMOTHY. <
II.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
Greeting. To Timothy, my dear Child, ' 1-2 1
FROM Paul who, by the will of God, is an Apostle of Christ
Jesus, charged to proclaim the Life that comes from
union with Christ Jesus. May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, bless
you, and be merciful to you, and give you peace.
An Appeal to I am thankful to God, whom I serve, as my 3
Timothy, ancestors did, with a clear conscience, when I remember you, as I never fail to do, in my prayers — night and day alike, as I think of your tears, longing to see you, that my 4 happiness may be completed, now that I have been reminded 5 of the sincere faith that you have shown. That faith was seen first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and is now, I am convinced, in you also. And that is my reason 6 for reminding you to stir into flame that gift of God, which is yours through your ordination at my hands. For the Spirit 7 which God gave us was not a spirit of cowardice, but a spirit of power, love, and self-control. Do not, therefore, be ashamed 8 of the testimony which we have to bear to our Lord, nor yet of me who am a prisoner for him ; but join with me in suffering for the Good News, as far as God enables you. It was God 9 who saved us, and from him we received our solemn Call — not as a reward for anything that we had done, but in fulfil- ment of his own loving purpose. For that love was extended to us, through Christ Jesus, before time began, and has now 10 been made apparent through the Appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus ; who has made an end of Death, and has brought Life and Immortality to light by that Good News, of n which I was myself appointed a Herald and Apostle, and
P
418 II. TIMOTHY, 1—2.
Teacher. That is why I am undergoing these sufferings; 12 yet I feel no shame, for I know in whom I have put my faith, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until 'That Day.' Keep before you, as an 13 example of sound teaching, all that you learnt from me as you listened with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus. Guard by the help of the Holy Spirit, who is 14 within us, the glorious trust that has been committed to you.
You know, of course, that all our friends in 15 onesiphorus. Roman ^sia turned their backs on me, and among them Phygellus and Hermogenes. May the Lord 16 show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus ; for he often cheered me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the con- 17 trary, when he arrived in Rome, he sought eagerly for me till he found me. The Lord grant that he may find mercy at the 18 hands of the Lord on ' That Day.' The many services that he rendered at Ephesus you have the best means of knowing.
II. — INJUNCTIONS TO TIMOTHY.
The service of ^° vou> tnen> my Child, find strength in the i the Good help which comes from union with Christ Jesus ;
New*. an(j wnat you learnt from me, in the presence of 2 many listeners, entrust to reliable men, who will be able in their turn to teach others. Share hardships with me, as a 3 true soldier of Christ Jesus. A soldier on active service, to 4 please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life. No athlete is ever awarded the 5 wreath of victory unless he has kept the rules. The labourer 6 who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth. Reflect upon what I say ; the Lord will 7 always help you to understand. Keep before your mind Jesus 8 Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David, as told in the Good News entrusted to me ; in the service of which I am 9 suffering hardships, even to being put in fetters as a criminal. But the Message of God is not fettered ; and that is why I 10 submit to anything for the sake of God's People, that they also may obtain the Salvation which comes from union with Christ Jesus, and imperishable glory. How true this saying is — n ' If we have shared his death, we shall also share his life. If 12 we continue to endure, we shall also share his throne. If we should ever disown him, he, too, will disown us. If we lose 13 our trust, he is still to be trusted, for he cannot be false to himselfl'
The Dancer of Remind people of all this ; urge them solemnly, 14 controversy, as in the sight of God, to avoid controversy, a useless thing and the ruin of those who listen to it. Do your 15
II. TIMOTHY, 2-3. 419
utmost to show yourself true to God, a workman with no reason to be ashamed, accurate in delivering the Message of the Truth. Avoid profane prattle. Those who indulge in it 16 only get deeper into irreligious ways, and their teaching will 17 spread like a cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are instances r of this. They have gone completely astray as regards the 18 Truth ;• they say that a resurrection has already taken place, and so upset some people's faith. Yet God's firm foundation 19 still stands unmoved, and it bears this inscription —
•THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS'; and this —
' LET ALL THOSE WHO USE THE NAME OF THE LORD TURN AWAY FROM WICKEDNESS.'
Now in a large house there are not only things of gold and 20 silver, but also others of wood and earthenware, some for better and some for common use. If, then, a man has escaped from 21 the pollution of such errors as I have mentioned, he will be like a thing kept for better use, set apart, serviceable to its owner, ready for any good purpose. Flee from the passions 22 of youth, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, in the company of those who, with a pure heart, invoke the Lord. Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they 23 only breed quarrels ; and a Servant of the Lord should never 24 quarrel. He ought, on the contrary, to be courteous to every one, a skilful teacher, and forbearing. He should instruct 25 his opponents in a gentle spirit ; for, possibly, God may give them a repentance that will lead to a fuller knowledge of Truth, and they may yet come to a sober mind, and escape 26 from the snares of the Devil, when captured by the Lord's Servant to do the will of God.
Be sure of this, that in the last days difficult i 3 lmEvi|d'ne times W'H come. Men will be selfish, mercenary, 2
boastful, haughty, and blasphemous ; disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, impure, incapable of affection, 3 merciless, slanderous, wanting in self-control, brutal, careless of the right, treacherous, reckless, and puffed up with pride ; 4 they will love pleasure more than they love God ; and while 5 they retain the outward form of religion, they will not allow it to influence them. Turn your back on such men as these. For among them are to be found those who creep into homes 6 and captivate weak women — women who, loaded with sins, and slaves to all kinds of passions, are always learning, and 7 yet never able to attain to a real knowledge of the Truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these 8 people, in their turn, oppose the Truth. Their minds are corrupted, and, as regards the Faith, they are utterly worth-
19 Num. 16. 5 ; Isa. 26. 13.
420 II. TIMOTHY,
less. They will not, however, make further progress ; for 9 their wicked folly will be plain to every one, just as that of Jannes and Jambres was. But you, Timothy, were a 10
close observer of my teaching, my conduct, my purposes, my faith, my forbearance, my love, and my patient endurance, as n well as of my persecutions, and of the sufferings which I met with at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. You know what persecutions I underwent ; and yet the Lord brought .me safe out of all ! Yes, and all who aim at living a religious life in 12 union with Christ Jesus will have to suffer persecution ; but 13 wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and deceived themselves. You, however, 14 must stand by what you learnt and accepted as true. You 15 know who they were from whom you learnt it ; and that, from your childhood, you have known the Sacred Writings, which can give you the wisdom that, through belief in Christ Jesus, leads to Salvation. Everything that is written under divine 16 inspiration is helpful for teaching, for refuting error, for giving guidance, and for training others in righteousness ; so that 17 the Servant of God may be perfect himself, and perfectly equipped for every good action.
I solemnly charge you, in the sight of God and of Christ i t Jesus, who will one day judge the living and the dead — I charge you by his Appearing and by his Kingdom : — Proclaim 2 the Message, be ready in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, encourage, never failing to instruct with forbearance. For a time will come when people will not tolerate sound 3 teaching. They will follow their own wishes, and, in their itching for novelty, procure themselves a crowd of teachers. They will turn a deaf ear to the Truth, and give their attention 4 to legends instead. But you, Timothy, must always be 5 temperate. Face hardships ; do the work of a Missionary ; discharge all the duties of your Office.
As for me, my life blood is already being poured out ; the 6 time of my departure is close at hand. I have run the great 7 Race ; I have finished the Course ; I have kept the Faith. And 8 now the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just Judge, will give me on ' That Day ' — and not only to me, but to all who have loved his Appearing.
III.— CONCLUSION.
Do your utmost to come to me soon ; for Demas,
M*!*0"*' 'n ^'s ^ove ^or t^ie W01"ld» has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. There is no one but Luke with me. n Pick up Mark on your way, and bring him with you, for he is
8 I*a. a. n.
II. TIMOTHY, 4. 421
useful to me in my work. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 12 Bring with you, when you come, the cloak which I left at 13 Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parch- ments. Alexander, the coppersmith, showed much ill- 14 feeling towards me. 'The Lord will give him what his actions deserve.' Do you also, be on your guard against him, for he 15 is strongly opposed to our teaching. At my first trial 16 no one stood by me. They all deserted me. May it never be counted against them ! But the Lord came to my help and 17 strengthened me, in order that, through me, the proclamation should be made so widely that all the Gentiles should hear it ; and I was rescued 'out of the Lion's mouth.' The Lord will 18 rescue me from all evil, and bring me safe into his Heavenly Kingdom. All glory to him for ever and ever ! Amen.
Give my greeting to Prisca and Aquila, and to 19
FaiBtea"inand the nousehold of Onesiphorus.
Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left 20 Trophimus ill at Miletus. Do your utmost to come 21
before winter.
Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia send you their greet- ings, and so do all our Brothers.
May the Lord be with your soul. God bless you all. 22
M Ps. 62. 12 ; Prov. 24. 12. W Ps. 22. ai.
•
TO TITUS.
THE LETTER TO TITUS,
[DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING UNCERTAIN.]
NOTHING is known as to the history of this Letter.
Titus, to whom it is addressed, was a Gentile by birth, but, after his conversion, became a companion of St. Paul on his Missionary Journeys, and often served as his Messenger (2 Cor. 8. 23 ; 12. 18). According to this Letter, he was placed by the Apostle in charge of the Church in the island of Crete.
TO
TITUS.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
To Titus, my true Child in our one Faith, 1-4
""*• FROM Paul, a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, charged to strengthen the faith of God's Chosen People, and their knowledge of that Truth which makes for godliness and is based on the hope of Immortal Life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began, and has revealed at his own time in his Message, with the proclamation of which I was entrusted by the command of God our Saviour.
May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Saviour, bless you and give you peace.
II. -THE MISSION OF TITUS IN CRETE.
My reason for leaving you in Crete was that 5 Th» you might put in order what had been left un- *pp°i"tm«»"t settled, and appoint Officers of the Church in the
or Ottlcors . T in- _«• i j »T>I y
orth« church, various towns, as I myself directed you. They 6
are to be men of irreproachable character, who are faithful husbands, whose children are Christians and have never been charged with dissolute conduct or have been unruly. For a Presiding-Officer, as God's steward, ought to be a man 7 of irreproachable character ; not self-willed or quick-tempered, nor addicted to drink or to brawling or to questionable money-making. On the contrary, he should be hospitable, 8 eager for the right, discreet, upright, a man of holy life and capable of self-restraint, who holds doctrine that can be relied 9 on as being in accordance with the accepted Teaching ; so that he may be able to encourage others by sound teaching, as well as to refute our opponents.
P*
426 TITUS, 1-2.
There are, indeed, many unruly persons — great 10 On Dealing talkers who deceive themselves, principally con- 'reacners8 verts from Judaism, whose mouths ought to be n
stopped ; for they upset whole households by teaching what they ought not to teach, merely to make questionable gains. It was a Cretan — one of their own 12 teachers — who said :
' Cretans are always liars, base brutes, and gluttonous idlers ' ;
and his statement is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so 13 that they may be sound in the Faith, and may pay no atten- 14 tion to Jewish legends, or to the directions of those who turn their backs upon the Truth. Everything is pure to the pure- 15 minded, but to those whose minds are polluted and who are unbelievers nothing is pure. Their minds and consciences are alike polluted. They profess to know God, but by their 16 actions they disown him. They are degraded and self-willed ; and, as far as anything good is concerned, they are utterly worthless.
Do you, however, speak of such subjects as i Relation* to properly have a place in sound Christian teach- tnoae under ing. Teach that the older men should be 2
MS care, temperate, serious, and discreet ; strong in faith, love, and endurance. So, too, that the older women should 3 be reverent in their demeanour, and that they should avoid scandal, and beware of becoming slaves to drink ; that they 4 should teach what is right, so as to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, and to be discreet, pure- 5 minded, domesticated, good women, ready to submit to their husbands, in order that God's Message may not be maligned. And so again with the younger men— impress upon them the 6 need of discretion. Above all, set an example of doing good. 7 Show sincerity in your teaching, and a serious spirit ; let the 8 instruction that you give be sound and above reproach, so that the enemy may be ashamed when he fails to find anything bad to say about us. Urge slaves to be submissive to their owners 9 in all circumstances, and to try their best to please them. Teach them not to contradict or to pilfer, but to show such 10 praiseworthy fidelity in everything, as to recommend the teaching about God our Saviour by all that they do.
For the loving-kindness of God has been re- n The inspiring vealed, bringing Salvation for all ; leading us to 12
ve> renounce irreligious ways and worldly ambitions, and to live discreet, upright, and religious lives here in this present world, while we are awaiting our Blessed Hope — the 13 Appearing in glory of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus. For he gave himself on our behalf, to deliver us from 14
13 E pi men ides — ' Oracles.'
TITUS, 2-3. 427
all wickedness, and to purify for himself a People who should be peculiarly his own and eager to do good. Directions as Speak of all this, and encourage and rebuke 15
to his with all authority. Do not let any one despise Teaching. vou Remind your hearers to respect and i
obey the Powers that be, to be ready for every kind of good work, to speak ill of no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be forbearing, 2 and under all circumstances to show a gentle spirit in dealing with others, whoever they may be. There was, you 3
remember, a time when we ourselves were foolish, disobedient, misled, slaves to all kinds of passions and vices, living in a spirit of malice and envy, detested ourselves and hating one another. But, when the kindness of God our Saviour and his 4 love for man were revealed, he saved us, not as the result of 5 any righteous actions that we had done, but in fulfilment of his merciful purposes. He saved us by that Washing which was a New Birth to us, and by the renewing power of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us abundantly through 6 Jesus Christ our Saviour ; that, having been pronounced 7 righteous through his loving-kindness, we might enter on our inheritance with the hope of Immortal Life. How true 8
that saying is ! And it is on these subjects that I desire you to lay especial stress, so that those who have learnt to trust in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing good. Such
subjects are excellent in themselves, and of real use to man- kind. But have nothing to do with foolish discussions, or 9 with genealogies, or with controversy, or disputes about the Law. They are useless and futile. If a man is causing 10 divisions among you, after warning him once or twice, have nothing more to say to him. You may be sure that such a 11 man has forsaken the Truth and is in the wrong ; he stands self-condemned.
III. — CONCLUSION.
Farewell As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, 12 Massages and join me as quickly as possible at Nicopolis, for I
Blessing, j^yg arranged to spend the winter there. Do 13 your best to help Zenas, the Teacher of the Law, and Apollos, on their way, and see that they want for nothing. Let 14
all our People learn to devote themselves to doing good, so as to meet the most pressing needs, and that their lives may not be unfruitful.
All who are with me here send you their greeting. Give 15
my greeting to our friends in the Faith.
God bless you all.
THE LETTER TO HEBREWS.
TO HEBREWS
A LETTER TO JEWISH CHRISTIANS.
[DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING UNCERTAIN.]
THE Traditions concerning the authorship of this Letter are unreliable. From the Letter itself it may be safely inferred that the writer was a man of intellectual power, that he was familiar with the modes of thought prevalent in Alexandria, that hjs home and work lay among Jewish Christians, and that he was in some way connected with those teachers who looked to St. Paul as their leader. It is certain that the Apostle Paul was not the author. The Letter has been attributed with some show of probability to several writers, in particular to Barnabas (Acts n. 22 — 24; 13. 1—5) and to Apollos (Acts 18. 24 — 28).
The Jewish Christians to whom the Letter is addressed were a community living, possibly, in Palestine, but more probably in Alexandria or in Rome ; and the primary object of the Letter was to explain, to those who were well acquainted with the ritual of the old Covenant, the fulfilment of its types in the heavenly realities of the Christian Faith.
From certain passages in the Letter it has been inferred that, at the time when it was written, the worship of the Temple had not been entirely swept away, as it was by the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
TO
HEBREWS.
I. — THE PARAMOUNT POSITION OF THE CHRIST AS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW REVELATION.
God, who, of old, at many times and in many superiority ways, spoke to our ancestors, by the Prophets,
to Angeis. has in these latter days spoken to us by the Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. For he is the radiance of the Glory of God and the very expression of his Being, upholding all creation by the power of his word ; and, when he had made an expiation for the sins of men, he ' took his seat at the right hand ' of God's Majesty on high, having shown himself as much greater than the angels as the Name that he has inherited surpasses theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say —
1 Thou art my Son ; this day I have become thy Father ' ? or again —
' I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son ' ?
And again, when God brought the First-born into the world, he said —
1 Let all the angels of God bow down before him.' Speaking of the angels, he said —
' He makes the winds his angels And the fiery flames his servants ' ;
while of the Son he said —
1 God is thy throne for ever and ever ;
The sceptre of his Kingdom is the sceptre of Justice ; Thou lovest righteousness and hatest iniquity ;
Therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the festal oil more abundantly than thy peers.'
a Ps. no. i. s Ps. 2. 7 ; 2 Sam. 7. 14. 8 Deut. 32. 43 (Septuagint) ; Ps. 97. 7. 7 Ps. 104. 4. 8-9 ps. 4S. 6-7.
438 HEBREWS, 1-2.
Again — 10
' Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the
earth, And the heavens are the work of thy hands.
They shall perish, but thou remainest ; 1 1
As a garment they shall all grow old ;
As a mantle thou wilt fold them up, 12
And as a garment they shall be changed,
But thou art the same, and thy years shall know no end.'
To which of the angels has God ever said — 13
' Sit thou at my right hand Until I put thy enemies as a stool for thy feet ' ?
Are not all the angels spirits in the service of God, sent out to 14 minister for the sake of those who are destined to obtain Salvation ?
Therefore we must give still more heed to what we were i taught, for fear we should drift away. For, if the Message 2 which was delivered by angels had its authority confirmed, so that every offence against it, or neglect of it, met with a fitting requital, how can we, of all people, expect to escape, if 3 we disregard so great a Salvation ? It was the Master who at the outset spoke of this Salvation, and its authority was confirmed for us by those who heard him, while God 4 himself added his testimony to it by signs, and marvels, and many different miracles, as well as by imparting the Holy Spirit as he saw fit.
God has not given to angels the control of that Future 5 World of which we are speaking ! No ; a writer has declared 6 somewhere —
' What is Man that thou should'st remember him ?
Or a Son of Man that thou should'st regard him ? Thou hast made him, for a while, lower than angels ; 7
With glory and honour thou hast crowned him ; Thou hast set him over all that thy hands have made ;
Thou hast placed all things beneath his feet.' 8
This 'placing of everything' under man means that there was nothing which was not placed under him. As yet, however, we do not see everything placed under man. What our eyes 9 do see is Jesus, who was made for a while lower than angels, now, because of his sufferings and death, crowned with glory and honour ; so that his tasting the bitterness of death should, in God's loving-kindness, be on behalf of all mankind. It was, indeed, fitting that God, for whom 10
and through whom all things exist, should, when leading many sons to glory, make the author of their Salvation perfect
»-» PB. KM. 35-27. " p8. 1I0. ,. «-fl p8. 8. 4-6.
HEBREWS, 2-8. 433
through suffering. For he who purifies, and those whom he n
purifies, all spring from One ; and therefore he is not ashamed
to call them ' Brothers.' He says — 12
' I will tell of thy Name to my Brothers, In the midst of the congregation I will sing- thy praise.'
And again — 13
'A3 for me, I will put my trust in God.'. And yet again —
' See, here am I and the children whom God gave me. '
Therefore, since human nature is the common heritage of 14 ' the Children,' Jesus also shared it, in order that by death he might render powerless him whose power lies in death — that is, the Devil — and so might deliver all those who, from 15 fear of death, had all their lives been living in slavery. It 16 was not, surely, to the help of the angels that Jesus came, but 'to the help of the descendants of Abraham.' And 17 consequently it was necessary that he should in all points be made like ' his Brothers,' in order that he might prove a merciful as well as a faithful High Priest in man's relations with God, for the purpose of expiating the sins of his People. The fact that he himself suffered under temptation enables 18 him to help those who are tempted.
Therefore, Christian Brothers, you who, all i 3 superiority alike, have received the Call from Heaven, fix to MO.OS and your attention on Jesus, the Apostle and High
Joshua. Priest of our Religion. See how faithful he was 2 to the God who appointed him, as Moses was in the whole House of God. He has been deemed worthy of far higher 3 honour than Moses, just as the founder of the House is held in greater regard than the House itself. For every 4 House has its founder, and the founder of the universe is God. While the faithful service of Moses in the whole 5 House of God was that of a servant, whose duty was to bear testimony to a Message still to come, the faithfulness of 6 Christ was that of a Son set over the House of God. And we are his House — if only we retain, unshaken to the end, the courage and confidence inspired by our hope.
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says — 7
' If to-day you hear God's voice, Harden not your hearts, as when Israel provoked me 8
On the day when they tried my patience in the desert, Where your ancestors tried my forbearance, 9
And saw my mighty deeds for forty years.
11-12 ps. „. 22, 13-14 Isa. 8. 17-18. is Isa. 41. 8—9. " ps. „. aa. 8— * Num. 12. 7.
434 HEBREWS,
Therefore I was sorely vexed with that generation, And I said — " Their hearts are always straying ;
They have never learnt my ways " ; While in my wrath I swore —
" They shall never enter upon my Rest." '
Be careful, Brothers, that there is never found in any one of you a wicked and faithless heart, shown by his separating himself from the Living God. Rather encourage one another daily— while there is a ' To-day ' — to prevent any one among you from being hardened by the deceitfulness of Sin. For we now all share in the Christ, if indeed we retain, unshaken to the end, the confidence that we had at the first. To use the words of Scripture —
' If to-day you hear God's voice, Harden not your hearts, as when Israel provoked me.'
Who were they who heard God speak and yet provoked him ? Were not they all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses ? And with whom was it that God was sorely vexed for forty years ? Was not it with those who had sinned, and who fell dead in the desert? And who were they to whom God swore that they should not enter upon his rest, if not those who had proved faithless ? We see, then, that they failed to enter upon it because of their want of faith. We must, therefore, be very careful, though there is a promise still standing that we shall enter upon God's Rest, that none of you even appear to have missed it. For we have had. the Good News told us just as they had. But the Message which they heard did them no good, since they did not share the faith of those who were attentive to it. Upon that Rest
we who have believed are now entering. As God has said —
' In my wrath I swore — "They shall never enter upon my Rest ;" '
Although God's work was finished at the creation of the world ; for, in a passage referring to the seventh day, you will find these words —
' God rested upon the seventh day after all his work.' On the other hand, we read in that passage —
' They shall never enter upon my Rest.'
Since, then, there is still a promise that some shall enter upon this Rest, and since those who were first told the Good News did not enter upon it, because of their disbelief, again God fixed a day. 'To-day,' he said, speaking after a
7-19 Ps. 95. 7— ii. " Num. 14. 29. 1-3 Ps. 95. ii. 8-4 Gen. a. a. «-» Pa. 95. ii, 7—8.
HEBREWS, 4-5. 435
long interval through the mouth of David, in the passage already quoted —
' If to-day you hear God's voice Harden not your hearts.'
Now if Joshua had given ' Rest ' to the people, God would 8 not have spoken of another and later day. There is, then, a 9 Sabbath-Rest still awaiting God's People. For he who 10 enters upon God's Rest does himself rest after his work, just as God did. Let us, therefore, make every effort n
to enter upon that Rest, so that none of us fall through such disbelief as that of which we have had an example. God's 12
Message is a living and active power, sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing its way till it penetrates soul and spirit — not the joints only but the very marrow — and detecting the inmost thoughts and purposes of the mind. There is no 13 created thing that can hide itself from the sight of God. Everything is exposed and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we have to give account.
We have, then, in Jesus, the Son of God, a great High 14 Priest who has passed into the highest Heaven ; let us, there- fore, hold fast to the Faith which we have professed. Our 15 High Priest is not one unable to sympathize with our weak- nesses, but one who has in every way been tempted, exactly as we have been, but without sinning. Therefore, let us draw 16 near boldly to the Throne of Love, to find pity and lovje for the hour of need.
HIS Every High Priest, taken from among men, is i
Superiority appointed as a representative of his fellow-men in
to Aaron. the;r relations wlth God( to Qffer both g}fts an(J
sacrifices in expiation of sins. And he is able to sympathize 2 with the ignorant and deluded, since he is himself subject to weakness, and is therefore bound to offer sacrifices for sins, not 3 only for the People, but equally so for himself. Nor does any 4 one take that high office upon himself, till he has been called to do so by God, as Aaron was. In the same way, even 5
the Christ did not take the honour of the High Priesthood upon himself, but he was appointed by him who said to him —
' Thou art my Son ; this day I have become thy Father ' ; and on another occasion also — 6
' Thou art a priest for all time of the order of Melchizedek.'
Jesus, in the days of his earthly life, offered prayers and supplica- 7 tions, with earnest cries and with tears, to him who was able to save him from death ; and he was heard because of his
10 Gen. 2. 2. lO-u Ps. 95. u. » Ps. a. 7. 6 ps. II0. 4.
436 HEBREWS, 5-6.
devout submission. Son though he was, he learnt obedience 8 from his sufferings ; and, being made perfect, he became to all 9 those who obey him the source of eternal Salvation, while God himself pronounced him a High Priest of the order of 10 Melchizedek.
Now on this subject I have much to say, but it 1 1 Superiority *s difficult to explain it to you, because you have
of the shown yourselves so slow to learn. For whereas, 12 Cpol*tion* cons'dering the time that has elapsed, you ought to be teaching others, you still need some one to teach you the very alphabet of the Divine Revela- tion, and need again to be fed with ' milk ' instead of with 'solid food.' For every one who still has to take 'milk' 13- knows nothing of the Teaching of Righteousness ; he is a mere infant. But ' solid food ' is for Christians of mature 14 faith — those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish right from wrong. Therefore, let us leave I (
behind the elementary teaching about the Christ and press on to perfection, not always laying over again a foundation of repentance for a lifeless formality, of faith in God — teaching 2 concerning baptisms and the laying on of hands, the resurrec- tion of the dead and a final judgement. Yes and, with God's 3 help, we will. For if those who were once for all 4
brought into the Light, and learnt to appreciate the gift from Heaven, and came to share in the Holy Spirit, and learnt 5 to appreciate the beauty of the Divine Message, and the new powers of the Coming Age — if those, I say, fell away, it 6 would be impossible to bring them again to repentance ; they would be crucifying the Son of God over again for themselves, and exposing him to open contempt. Ground that drinks in 7 the showers that from time to time fall upon it, and produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is tilled, receives a blessing from God ; but, if it ' bears thorns and thistles,' it is 8 regarded as worthless, it is in danger of being ' cursed,' and its end will be the fire.
But about you, dear friends, even though we speak in this 9 way, we are confident of better things — of things that point to your Salvation. For God is not unjust ; he will not forget the 10 work that you did, and the love that you showed for his Name, in sending help to your fellow Christians — as youare still doing. But our great desire is that every one of you should be equally 1 1 earnest to attain to a full conviction that our hope will be fulfilled, and that you should keep that hope to the end. Then 12 you will not show yourselves slow to learn, but you will copy those who, through faith and patience, are now entering upon the enjoyment of God's promises.
» Isn. 43. 17. lOPs. SIQ. 4. 7 Gen. i. ii— 12. 8 Gen. 3. 17— 18, ^f"
HEBREWS, 6-7. 487
When God gave his promise to Abraham, since there was no 13 one greater by whom he could swear, he swore by himself. His words were — 14
' I will assuredly bless thee and increase thy numbers.'
And so, after patiently waiting, Abraham obtained the fulfil- 15 ment of God's promise. Men, of course, swear by what is 16 greater than themselves, and with them an oath is accepted as putting a matter beyond all dispute. And therefore God, in his 17 desire to show, with unmistakeable plainness, to those who were to enter on the enjoyment of what he had promised, the unchangeableness of his purpose, bound himself with an oath. For he intended us to find great encouragement in these two 18 unchangeable things, which make it impossible for God to prove false — we, I mean, who fled for safety where we might lay hold on the hope set before us. This hope is a very anchor 19 for our souls, secure and strong, and it ' reaches into the Sanctuary that lies behind the Curtain,' where Jesus, our Fore- 20 runner, has entered on our behalf, after being made for all time a High Priest of the order of Melchizedek.
II. — THE PARAMOUNT PRIESTHOOD OF THE CHRIST.
Parallel ^ was t^1's Melchizedek, King of Salem and i
with the Priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham Priesthood of returning from the slaughter of the kings, and
fc gave him his blessing ; and it was to him that 2 Abraham allotted a tithe of all the spoil. The meaning of his name is ' King of Righteousness,' and besides that, he was also King of Salem, which means ' King of Peace.' There is 3 no record of his father, or mother, or lineage, nor again of any beginning of his days, or end of his life. In this he resembles the Son of God, and stands before us as a priest whose priesthood is continuous.
Consider, then, the importance of this Melchizedek, to whom 4 even the Patriarch Abraham himself gave a tithe of the choicest spoils. Those descendants of Levi, who are from time to 5 time appointed to the priesthood, are directed to collect tithes from the people in accordance with the Law— that is from their own Brothers, although they also are descended from Abraham. But Melchizedek, although not of this lineage, 6 received tithes from Abraham, and gave his blessing to the very man who had God's promises. Now no one can dispute 7 that it is the superior who blesses the inferior. In the one case 8 the tithes are received by mortal men ; in the other case by one about whom there is the statement that his life still continues.
13-14 Gen. aa. 16—17. » Lev. 16. a— la. *> Ps. no. 4. l-» Gen. 14. 17—19; Ps. 1 10. 4. *— 10 Gen. 14. 17 — ao.
438 HEBREWS, 7.
Moreover, in a sense, even Levi, who is the receiver of the 9 tithes, has, through Abraham, paid tithes ; for Levi was still 10 in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.
If, then, Perfection had been attainable through the n Levitical priesthood — and it was under this priesthood that the people received the Law — why was it still necessary that a priest of a different order should appear, a priest of the order of Melchizedek and not of the order of Aaron ? With the 12 change of the priesthood a change of the Law became a necessity. And he of whom all this is said belonged to quite a 13 different tribe, no member of which has ever served at the altar. For it is plain that our Lord has sprung from the tribe of 14 Judah, though of that tribe Moses said nothing about their being priests. All this becomes even yet plainer when 15
we remember that a new priest has appeared, resembling Melchizedek, and that he was appointed, not under a Law 16 regulating only earthly matters, but by virtue of a life beyond the reach of death ; for that is the meaning of the declaration — 17 ' Thou art for all time a priest of the order of Melchizedek.'
On the one hand, we have the abolition of a previous regulation 18 as being both inefficient and useless (for the Law never brought 19 anything to perfection) ; and, on the other hand, we have the introduction of a better hope, which enables us to draw near to God. Then again, the appointment of this new priest 20
was ratified by an oath, which is not so with the Levitical priests, but his appointment was ratified by an oath, when God 21 said to him —
'The Lord has sworn, and will not change, "Thou art a priest for all time." '
And the oath shows the corresponding superiority of the Coven- 22 ant of which Jesus is appointed the surety. Again, new 23
Levitical priests are continually being appointed, because death prevents their remaining in office ; but Jesus remains for all 24 time, and therefore the priesthood that he holds is never liable to pass to another. And that is why he is able to save 25 perfectly those who come to God through him, living for ever, as he does, to intercede on their behalf.
This was the High Priest that we needed — holy, innocent, 26 spotless, withdrawn from sinners, exalted above the highest Heaven, one who has no need to offer sacrifices daily as those 27 High Priests have, first for their own sins, and then for those of the People. For this he did once and for all, when he offered himself as the sacrifice. The Law appoints as High 28 Priests men who are liable to infirmity ; but the words of God's oath, which was later than the Law, name the Son as, for all time, the perfect Priest.
11—38 pg. no. 4; a. 7.
HEBREWS, 8. 439
su erior ^° sum UP wnat I have been saying : — Such is i } to the the High Priest that we have, one who ' has taken
Leviticai his seat at the right hand ' of the throne of God's
'" Majesty in Heaven, where he ministers in the 2 Sanctuary, in that true Tabernacle set up by the Lord and not by man. Every High Priest is appointed for the purpose of 3 offering gifts and sacrifices to God ; it follows, therefore, that this High Priest must have some offering to make. If he 4 were, however, still upon earth, he would not even be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts as the Law directs. (These priests, it is true, are engaged in a 5 service which is only a copy and shadow of the heavenly realities, as is shown by the directions given to Moses when he was about to construct the Tabernacle. ' Look to it,' are the words, ' that thou make every part in accordance with the pattern shown thee on the mountain.') But Jesus, 6 as we see, has obtained a ministry as far excelling theirs, as the Covenant of which he is the intermediary, based, as it is, on better promises, excels the former Covenant. If that first Covenant had been faultless, there would have 7 been no occasion for a second. But, finding fault with the 8 people, God says—
' "Behold, a time is coming," says the Lord,
"When I will ratify a new Covenant with the People of
Israel and with the People of Judah —
Not such a Covenant as I made with their ancestors 9
On the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out
of the land of Egypt. For they did not abide by their Covenant with me,
And therefore I disregarded them," says the Lord. " This is the Covenant that I will make with the People of Israel 10
After those days," says the Lord. " I will impress my laws on their minds,
And will inscribe them on their hearts ; And I will be their God,
And they shall be my People. There shall be no need for every man to instruct his fellow- n
citizen, Or for a man to say to his Brother ' Learn to know the
Lord ' ; For every one will know me,
From the lowest to the highest.
For I will be merciful to their wrong-doing's, 12
And I will no longer remember their sins." '
By speaking of a 'new' Covenant, God at once renders the 13 former Covenant obsolete ; and whatever becomes obsolete and loses its force is virtually annulled.
1 Ps. no. i. 2 Num. 34. 6. B Exod. 25. 40. 8—13 Jer, ^It 3, — -^
440 HEBREWS, 9.
III. — THE SUPERIORITY OF THE NEW REVELATION TO THE OLD.
It is true that even the first Covenant had i A* regards it* its regulations for divine worship, and its
Sanctuary — though only a material one. For a 2 Tabernacle was constructed, with an outer part which con- tained the stand for the lamps, and the table, and the con- secrated bread. This is called the Sanctuary. The part of 3 the Tabernacle behind the second Curtain is called the Inner Sanctuary. In it is the gold incense-altar, and the Ark con- 4 taining the Covenant, completely covered with gold. In the Ark is a gold casket containing the m-anna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets on which the Covenant was written ; while above it, and overshadowing the Cover on 5 which atonement was made, are the Cherubim of the Presence. But I must not now dwell on these things in detail. Such, then, was the arrangement of the 6
Tabernacle. Into the outer part priests are constantly going, in the discharge of their sacred duties ; but into the inner only 7 the High Priest goes, and that but once a year, and never without taking the blood of a victim, which he offers on his own behalf, and on behalf of the errors of the People. By 8 this the Holy Spirit is teaching that the way into the Sanctuary was hidden, as long as the outer part of the Tabernacle still remained. For that was only a type, to con- 9 tinue down to the present time ; and, in keeping with it, both gifts and sacrifices are offered, though incapable of satisfying the conscience of the worshipper ; the whole system being 10 concerned only with food and drink and various ablutions — external ceremonials imposed until the coming of the New Order.
But, when Christ came, he appeared as High n *• •••«ard« Priest of that Better System which was "'iTuHty!*0 established ; and he entered through that nobler and more perfect ' Tabernacle,' not made by human hands— that is to say, not a part of this present crea- tion. Nor was it with the blood of goats and calves, but with 12 his own blood, that he entered, once and for all, into the Sanctuary, and obtained our eternal deliverance. For, if the 13 blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, purify those who have been defiled (as far as cere- monial purification goes), how much more will the blood of the 14 Christ, who, through his eternal Spirit, offered himself up to God as a victim without blemish, purify our consciences from a lifeless formality, and fit us for the service of the Living God I And that is why he is the intermediary of a new 15
Covenant ; In order that, as a death has taken place to effect a
HEBREWS, 9-1O. 441
deliverance from the offences committed under the first Coven- ant, those who have received the Call may obtain the eternal inheritance promised to them. Whenever such a Covenant as a 16 will is in question, the death of the testator must of necessity be alleged. For such a Covenant takes effect only upon 17 death ; it does not come into force as long as the testator is alive. This explains why even the first Covenant was 18
not ratified without the shedding of blood. For, when every 19 command had been announced to all the people by Moses in accordance with the Law, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats, with water, scarlet wool, and a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled even the Book of the Law, as well as all the people, saying, as he did so — "This is the blood that renders 20 valid the Covenant which God has commanded to be made with you." And in the same way he also sprinkled with the 21 blood the Tabernacle and all the things that were used in public worship. Indeed, under the Law, almost everything is 22 purified with blood ; and, unless blood is shed, no forgiveness is to be obtained.
While, then, it was necessary for the copies of 23 «• regard. the heavenly realities to be purified by such 'Vrielrt!* means as these, the heavenly realities themselves
required better sacrifices. For it was not into a 24 Sanctuary made by human hands, which merely foreshadowed the true one, that Christ entered, but into Heaven itself, that he might now appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor yet was it to offer himself many times, as year after year 25 the High Priest entered the Sanctuary with an offering of blood — but not his own blood ; for then Christ would have had 26 to undergo death many times since the creation of the world. But now, once and for all, at the close of the age, he has appeared, in order to abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself. And, as it is ordained for men to die but once (death being 27 followed by judgement), so it is with the Christ. He was 28 offered up once and for all, to ' bear away the sins of many' ; and the second time he will appear — but without any burden of sin — to those who are waiting for him, to bring Salvation.
The Law, though able to foreshadow the Better i *• «-*«ard« System which was coming, never had its actual sacrmco*. substance. Its priests, with those sacrifices which they offer continuously year after year, can never make those who come to worship perfect. Otherwise, 2 would not the offering of these sacrifices have been abandoned, as the worshippers, having been once purified, would have had their consciences clear from sins ? But, on the 3 contrary, these sacrifices recall their sins to mind year after year. For the blood of bulls and goats is powerless to remove 4
» Exod. 34. 8. a* Isa. 53. xa.
442 HEBREWS, 1O.
sins. That is why, when he was coming into the world, 5
the Christ declared —
' Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire, but thou dost pro- vide for me a body ; Thou dost take no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices 6
for sin. So I said, "See, I have come" (as is written of me in the pages 7
of the Book), " To do thy will, O God."'
First come the words — ' Thou dost not desire, nor dost 8 thou take pleasure in, sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and sacrifices for sin ' (offerings regularly made under the Law), and then there is added — 'See, I have come to do thy 9 will.' The former sacrifices are set aside to be replaced by the latter. And it is in the fulfilment of the will of God that 10 we have been purified by the sacrifice, once and for all, of the body of Jesus Christ. Every other priest stands day 1 1
after day at his ministrations, and offers the same sacrifices over and over again — sacrifices that can never take sins away. But this priest, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, 12 which should serve for all time, ' took his seat at the right hand of God,' and has since then been waiting ' for his enemies 13 to be put as a stool for his feet.' By a single offering he. 14 has made perfect for all time those who are being puri- fied. We have also the testimony of the Holy Spirit. 15 For, after saying —
' " This is the Covenant that I will make with them 16
After those days,'' says the Lord ; " I will impress my laws on their hearts,
And will inscribe them on their minds," '
then we have —
'And their sins and their iniquities I will no longer remember.' 17
And, when these are forgiven, there is no further need of an 18 offering for sin.
IV. — ENCOURAGEMENT AND WARNING BASED ON THE PREVIOUS TEACHING.
. Therefore, Brothers, since we may enter the Sanctuary with 19 confidence, in virtue of the blood of Jesus, by the way which
he inaugurated for us — a new and living way, a way through 20
the Sanctuary Curtain (that is, his human nature) ; and, since 21
we have in him ' a great priest set over the House of God,' let 22
»-»« P«. 40. 6-8. >»-» p9. II0. ,. 16-17 J^r. 31. 33—34. 21 Zech. 6. 11—13 • Num. la. 7.
HEBREWS, 10. 443
us draw near to God in all sincerity of heart and in perfect faith, with our hearts purified by the sprinkled blood from all consciousness of wrong, and with our bodies washed with pure water. Let us maintain the confession of our hope un- 23 shaken, for he who has given us his promise will not fail us. Let us vie with one another in a rivalry of love and noble 24 actions. And let us not, as some do, cease to meet together ; 25 but, on the contrary, let us encourage one another, and all the more, now that you see the Day drawing near.
Remember, if we sin willfully after we have gained a full 26 knowledge of the Truth, there can be no further sacrifice for sin ; there is only a fearful anticipation of judgement, and a 27 burning indignation which will destroy all opponents. When 28 a man disregarded the Law of Moses, he was, on the evidence of two or three witnesses, put to death without pity. How 29 much worse then, think you, will be the punishment deserved by those who have trampled underfoot the Son of God, who have treated the blood that rendered the Covenant valid — the very blood by which they were purified — as of no account, and who have outraged the Spirit of Love ? We know who it 30 was that said —
' It is for me to avenge, I will requite ' ;
and again —
' The Lord will judge his people.'
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. 31 Call to mind those early days in which, after you had 32 received the Light, you patiently underwent a long and painful conflict. Sometimes, in consequence of the taunts 33 and injuries heaped upon you, you became a public spectacle ; and sometimes you suffered through having shown yourselves to be the friends of men who were in the very position in which you had been. For you not only sympathised with 34 those who were in prison, but you even took the confiscation of your possessions joyfully, knowing, as you did, that you had in yourselves a greater possession and a lasting one. Do 35
not, therefore, abandon the confidence that you have gained, for it has a great reward awaiting it. You still have need of 36 patient endurance, in order that, when you have done God's will, you may obtain the fulfilment of his promise.
' For there is indeed but a very little while 37
Ere He who is Coming will have come, without delay ; And through faith the Righteous man shall find his Life, 38
But, if a man draws back, my heart can find no pleasure in him.'
But we do not belong to those who draw back, to their Ruin, 39 but to those who have faith, to the saving of their souls.
27 Isa. 26. ii (Septuagint). 28 Deut. 17. 6. 2» Exod. 24. 8. 30 Deut. 32. 35—36. 37-39 Isa. 26. 20 ; Hab. 2. 3. 4.
444 HEBREWS, 11.
V. — HEROES OF FAITH.
Faith is the realization of things- hoped for — the T"o* Faith!'' Pr°°f of things not seen. And it was for faith
that the men of old were renowned.
Faith enables us to perceive that the universe was created at the bidding of God— so that we know that what we see was not made out of visible things. Faith made the sacrifice
which Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain's, and won him renown as a righteous man, God himself establishing his renown by accepting his gifts ; and it is by the example of his faith that Abel, though dead, still speaks. Faith
led to Enoch's removal from earth, that he might not experi- ence death. ' He could not be found because God had removed him.' For, before his removal, he was renowned as having pleased God ; but without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that God exists, and that he rewards those who seek for him. It
was faith that enabled Noah, after he had received the divine warning about what could not then be foreseen, to build, in reverent obedience, an ark in which to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world, and became possessed of that righteousness which follows upon faith. It was
faith that enabled Abraham to obey the Call that he received, and to set out for the place which he was afterwards to obtain as his own ; and he set out not knowing where he was going. It was faith that made him go to live as an
emigrant in the Promised Land — as in a strange country — living, there in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who shared the promise with him. For he was looking for the City with the sure foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Again,
it was faith that enabled Sarah to conceive (though she was past the age for child-bearing), because she felt sure that he who had given her the promise would not fail her. And so from one man — and that when his powers were dead — there sprang a people as numerous ' as the stars in the heavens or the countless grains of sand upon the shore.'
All these died sustained by faith. They did not obtain the promised blessings, but they saw them from a distance and welcomed the sight, and they acknowledged themselves to be only aliens and strangers on the earth. Those who speak thus show plainly that they are seeking their fatherland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they could have found opportunities to return. But no, they were longing for a better, a heavenly, land ! And therefore God was not ashamed to be called their God ; indeed he had already prepared them a city.
4 Gen. 4. 4. »— • Gen. 5. 34. 8 Gen. la, i. la Gen. aa. 17 ; 31. la. ls i Chron. 39. 15 ; P«. 39. la ; Gen. 33. 4.
HEBREWS, 11. 445
It was faith that enabled Abraham, when put to the test, to 17 offer Isaac as a sacrifice — he who had received the promises offering up his only son, of whom it had been said — 18
' It is through Isaac that there shall be descendants to bear thy name.'
For he argued that God was able even to raise a man from 19 the dead — and indeed, figuratively speaking, Abraham did receive Isaac back from the dead. It was faith that 20
enabled Isaac to bless Jacob and Esau, even with regard to the future. Faith enabled Jacob, when dying, to give 21
his blessing to each of the sons of Joseph, and ' to bow himself in worship as he leant upon the top of his staff. ' Faith 22
caused Joseph, when his end was near, to speak of the future migration of the Israelites, and to give instructions with regard to his bones. Faith caused the parents of Moses to hide 23
the child for three months after his birth, for they saw that he was a beautiful child ; and they would not respect the King's order. It was faith that caused Moses, when he was 24
grown up, to refuse the title of ' Son of a Daughter of Pharaoh.' He preferred sharing the hardships of God's People 25 to enjoying the short-lived pleasures of sin. For he counted 26 ' the reproaches that are heaped upon the Christ ' of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, looking forward, as he did, to the reward awaiting him. Faith caused him to leave 27
Egypt, though undaunted by the King's anger, for he was . strengthened in his endurance by the vision of the invisible God. Faith led him to institute the Passover and the 28
Sprinkling of the Blood, so that the Destroyer might not touch the eldest children of the Israelites. Faith enabled 29
the people to cross the Red Sea, as if it had been dry land, while the Egyptians, when they attempted to do so, were drowned. Faith caused the walls of Jericho to fall after 30
being encircled for seven days. Faith saved Rahab, 31
the prostitute, from perishing with the unbelievers, after she had entertained the spies with friendliness.
Need I add anything more ? Time would fail me if I 32 attempted to relate the stories of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, and those of David, Samuel, and the Prophets. By their faith they subdued kingdoms, ruled righteously, 33 gained the fulfilment of God's promises, ' shut the mouths of lions,' quelled the fury of the flames, escaped the edge of the 34 sword, found strength in the hour of weakness, displayed their prowess in war, and routed hostile armies. Women 35 received back their dead raised to life. Some were tortured on the wheel, and refused release in order that they might rise to a better life. Others had to face taunts and blows, 36
" Gen. 23. i, 2. 6. 18 Gen. ai. ia. 210^.47.31. =» E » ps. 89. 50, 51 ; 69. 9. 28 Exod. ia. 21—23.
=» Exod. 2. a. 24 Exod. a. n an- 6- **-
446 HEBREWS, 11-12.
and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to 37 death, they were tortured, they were sawn asunder, they were put to the sword ; they wandered about clothed in the skins of sheep or goats, destitute, persecuted, ill-used — men of 38 whom the world was not worthy — roaming in lonely places, and on the mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Yet, though they all won renown by their faith, they did 39 not obtain the final fulfilment of God's promise ; since God 40 had in view some better thing for us, that they, apart from us, should not attain perfection.
The Encourage- Seeing, therefore, that there is on every side i ment of their of us such a throng of witnesses, let us also lay Endurance, aside everything that hinders us, and the sin that clings about us, and run with patient endurance the race that lies before us, our eyes fixed upon Jesus, the Leader and 2 perfect Example of our faith, who, for the joy that lay before him, endured the cross, heedless of its shame, and now ' has taken his seat at the right hand' of the throne of God. Weigh 3 well the example of him who had to endure such opposition from 'men who were sinning against themselves,'
of'DiBc'r'n'ne so t^iat you snou^ not grow weary or faint- hearted. You have not yet, in your struggle 4 with sin, resisted to the death ; and you have forgotten the 5 encouraging words which are addressed to you as God's Children —
' My child, think not lig-htly of the Lord's discipline,
Do not despond when he rebukes you ;
For it is him whom he loves that he disciplines, 6
And he chastises every child whom he acknowledges.'
It is for your discipline that you have to endure all this. God 7 is dealing with you as his Children. For where is there a child whom his father does not discipline ? If you are left 8 without that discipline, in which all children share, it shows that you are bastards, and not true Children. Further, when 9 our earthly fathers disciplined us, we respected them. Shall we not, then, much rather yield submission to the Father of souls, and live ? Our fathers disciplined us for only a short 10 time and as seemed best to them ; but God disciplines us for our true good, to enable us to share his holiness. No n discipline is pleasant at the time ; on the contrary, it is painful. But afterwards its fruit is seen in the peacefulness of a righteous life which is the lot of those who have been trained under it. Therefore 'lift again the down- 12
dropped hands, and straighten the weakened knees ; make 13 straight paths for your feet,' so that the lame limb may not be put out of joint, but rather be cured.
3 P». no. i. 3 Num. 16. 38. »-« Prov. 3. n— ia. ]2 Isa. 35. 3 (Hebrew). « Prov. 4. a6 (Septuagint).
HEBREWS, 12. 447
VI . — CONCLUSION.
Try earnestly to live at peace with every one, 14 Exhortations. and tQ attajn to tilat pur;ty without which no one
will see the Lord. Take care that no one fails to use the 15 loving help of God, 'that no bitterness is allowed to take root and spring up, and cause trouble,' and so poison the whole community. Take care that no one becomes immoral, or 16 irreligious like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he wished 17 to claim his father's blessing, he was rejected— for he never found an opportunity to repair his error — though he begged for the blessing with tears.
It is not to tangible ' flaming fire ' that you 18 img* have drawn near, nor to ' gloom, and darkness, and storm, and the blast of a trumpet, and an audible voice.' 19 Those who heard that voice entreated that they might hear no more, for they could not bear to think of the command — 20 ' If even an animal touches the mountain, it is to be stoned to death;' and so fearful was the sight that Moses said— 21 ' I tremble with fear.' No, but it is to Mount Zion that 22 you have drawn near, the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless hosts of angels, to the festal 23 gathering and assemblage of God's Eldest Sons whose names are enrolled in Heaven, to God the Judge of all men, to the spirits of the righteous who have attained perfection, to Jesus, the intermediary of a new Covenant, 24 and to the Sprinkled Blood that tells of better things than the blood of Abel. Beware how you refuse to hear 25
him who is speaking. For, if the Israelites did not escape punishment, when they refused to listen to him who taught them on earth the divine will, far worse will it be for us, if we turn away from him who is teaching us from Heaven. Then his voice shook the earth, but now his 26 declaration is —
' Still once more I will cause not only the earth to tremble, but also the heavens.'
And those words ' still once more ' indicate the passing away 27 of all that is shaken — that is, of all created things — in order that only what is unshaken may remain. Therefore, let 28
us, who have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken, be thankful, and so offer acceptable worship to God, with awe. and reverence. For our God is ' a consuming fire.' 29
" Ps. 34. 14. 15 Deut. 29. 18 (Septuagint). l« Gen. 25. 33. 18-19 Deut. 4. n— 12 ; Exod. 19. 16; Deut. 5. 23, 25, 26. ™ Exod. 19. 12 — 13. 21 Deut. 9. 19. 36-27 Hag. 2. 6. 29 Deut. 4. 24.
448 HEBREWS, 13
Let your love for the Brethren continue. Do i , Christum n°t neglect to show hospitality ; for, through , virtues. being hospitable, men have all unawares enter- tained angels. Remember the prisoners, as if you were 3 their fellow-prisoners, and the oppressed, not forgetting that you also are still in the body. Let marriage be 4
honoured by all and the married life be pure; for God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Do not let your conduct be ruled by the love 5
of money. Be content with what you have, for God himself has said —
' I will never forsake you, nor will I ever abandon you. ' Therefore we may say with confidence — 6
' The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me ? '
Do not forget your Leaders, the men who told 7 Chr^and y°u God's Message. Recall the close of their the Leaders lives, and imitate their faith.
in the church. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day 8 — yes, and for ever ! Do not let yourselves be carried away 9 by the various novel forms of teaching. It is better to rely for spiritual strength upon the divine help, than upon regu- lations regarding food ; for those whose lives are guided by such regulations have not found them of service. We ic are not without an altar ; but it is one at which those who still worship in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. The n bodies of those animals whose blood is brought by the High Priest into the Sanctuary, as an offering for sin, are burnt outside the camp. And so Jesus, also, to purify the People by u his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go i; out to him ' outside the camp,' bearing the same reproaches as he ; for here we have no permanent city, but are looking for the i^ City that is to be. Through him let us offer, as our sacrifice, i< continual praise to God — an offering from lips that glorify his Name. Never forget to do kindly acts and to share what you i( have with others, for such sacrifices are acceptable to God.
Obey your Leaders, and submit to their control, for they are i^ watching over your souls, as men who will have to render an account, so that they may do it with joy, and not in sorrow. That would not be to your advantage.
Pray for us, for we are sure that our consciences i! R«q'"r«t«, are clear, since our wish is to be occupied with Mo..nKo», what is good. And I the more earnestly ask i< and Blessing- for yOur prayerSj that I may be restored to you the sooner.
» Deut 31. 6, 8; Jon. i. 5. « PH. 118. 6. "-is Lev. 16. 27. « Pa. 50. 14; Lsr. 7. la j a Chron. 39. 31 ; Isa. 57. 19 (Hebrew) ; Ho«. 14. a.
HEBREWS, 18. 449
May God, the source of all peace, who brought back from 20 the dead him who, ' by virtue of the blood that rendered valid the unchangeable Covenant, is the Great Shepherd of God's Sheep,' Jesus, our Lord — may God make you perfect in every- 21 thing that is good, so that you may be able to do his will. May he bring out in us all that is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I beg you, Brothers, to bear with these words of advice. 22 For I have written only very briefly to you.
You will be glad to hear that our Brother, Timothy, has 23 been set free. If he comes here soon, we will visit you together.
Give our greeting to all your Leaders, and to all Christ's 24 People. Our friends from Italy send their greetings to
you.
May God bless you all. 25
20 Isa. 63. ii ; Zech. 9. n ; Isa. 55. 3 ; Ezek. 37. 26.
THE LETTERS OF PETER.
FROM PETER
I.
A LETTER TO THE CHRISTIANS OF ASIA MINOR.
(KNOWN AS 'THE FIRST LETTER OF ST. PETER').
WRITTEN PROBABLY BETWEEN 65 AND 68 A.D.
THIS Letter was written evidently at a time when the Christians throughout Asia Minor were suffering from calumny and threatened with persecution. Such hints of their sufferings as we get from the Letter (2. 12 ; 3. 16 ; 4. 4, 14 and i. 6, 7 ; 3. 14 — 17 ; 4. 12 — 19) fit in well with the accounts, derived from other sources, of the persecution of Christians that broke out under the Emperor Nero in 64 A.D., and spread to Roman Asia. The object of the Letter is to give encouragement in the face of impending persecution, and to convey the advice needed as to the conduct of Christians at an important crisis in the early history of the Church. Those to whom it is addressed probably included Christians of Gentile, as well as of Jewish, birth (i. 21 ; 2. 10; 3. 6).
FROM PETER.
I.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
To the People of God who are living abroad, dis- Greeting. persed throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappa-
docia, Roman Asia, and Bithynia, and who were chosen in accordance with the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the consecration of the Spirit, to learn obedience, and to be purified by the sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ,
FROM Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ. May blessing and peace be yours in ever-increasing measure.
II. — THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE OF SALVATION.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 3 has, in his great mercy, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, given us the new Life of undying hope, that pro- 4 mises an inheritance, imperishable, stainless, unfading, which has been reserved for you in Heaven — for you who, through faith, 5 are being guarded by the power of God, awaiting a Salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last days. At the thought 6 of this you are full of exultation, though (if it has been necessary) you have suffered for the moment somewhat from various trials ; that the genuineness of your faith — a thing far 7 more precious than gold, which is perishable, yet has to be tested by fire — may win praise and glory and honour at the Appearing of Jesus Christ. Though you have never seen him, 8 yet you love him ; though you do not even now see him, yet you believe in him, and exult with a triumphant happiness too great for words, as you receive the reward of your faith in 9 the Salvation of your souls ! It was this Salvation that 10
the Prophets, who spoke long ago of the blessing intended for
454 I. PETER, 1.
you, sought, and strove to comprehend ; as they strove to discern what that time could be, to which the Spirit of Christ within them was pointing, when foretelling the suffer- ings that would befall Christ, and the glories that would follow. And it was revealed to them that it was not for themselves, but for you, that they were acting as Ministers of the truths which have now been told to you, by those who, with the help of the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven, have brought you the Good News — truths into which even angels long to look.
III. — THE CHRISTIAN'S CHARACTER.
Therefore concentrate your minds, with the
Holiness strictest self-control, and fix your hopes on the
L°^ blessing that is coming for you at the Appearing
of Jesus Christ Be like obedient children ; do
not let your lives be shaped by the passions which once swayed
you in the days of your ignorance, but in your whole life show
yourselves to be holy, after the pattern of the Holy One from
whom you received your Call. For Scripture says —
' You shall be holy, because I am holy.'
And since you call upon him as ' Father,' who judges every one impartially by what he has done, let reverence be the spirit of your lives during the time of your stay upon earth. For you know that it was not by perishable things, such as silver and gold, that you were ransomed from the aimless way of living which was handed down to you from your ancestors, but by precious blood, as it were of a lamb, unblemished and spot- less, the Blood of Christ. Destined for this before the beginning of the world, he has been revealed in these last days for your sakes, who, through him, are faithful to God who raised him from the dead and gave him honour, so that your faith and hope are now in God.
Now that, by your obedience to the Truth, you
Bl"t!ov«.rly have purified your lives, so that there is growing
up among you a genuine brotherly affection,
love one another earnestly with all your hearts ; since your
new Life has come, not from perishable, but imperishable,
seed, through the Message of the Everliving God. For —
' All earthly life is but as grass,
And all its splendour as the flower of grass. The grass fades, Its flower falls,
But the Teaching of the Lord remains for ever.'
I* Lev. ii. 44; 19. a ; ao. 7. '7 Jer. 3. 19. 18 Isa. 52. 3. 23 Dan. 6. 36. 8*-» Isa. 40. 6—9.
I. PETER, 2. 455
And that is the Teaching of the Good News which has been told to you. Now that you have done with all malice, i J
all deceitfulness, insincerity, jealous feelings, and lce< all back-biting, like newly born infants, crave 2 pure spiritual milk, so that you may be enabled by it to grow till you attain Salvation — since ' you have found by experience 3
that the Lord is kind.' Come to Him, then, as to 4 :ration. a jjvjng. stone( rejected, indeed, by men, but in God's eyes choice and precious ; and, as living stones, form 5 yourselves into a spiritual House, to be a consecrated Priest- hood, for the offering of spiritual sacrifices that will be acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For there is a 6 passage of Scripture that runs —
' See, I am placing- in Zion a choice and precious corner-stone ; And he who believes in him shall have no cause for shame.'
It is to you, then, who believe in him that he is precious, but to 7 those who do not believe he is ' a stone which, though rejected by the builders, has now itself become the corner-stone,' and 8 ' a stumbling-block, and a rock which shall prove a hindrance.' They stumble because they do not accept the Message. This was the fate destined for them. But you are ' a chosen race, 9 a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, God's own People,' entrusted with the proclamation of the goodness of him who called you out of Darkness into his wonderful Light. Once 10 you were ' not a people,' but now you are ' God's People ' ; once you ' had not found mercy,' but now you ' have found mercy.'
IV. — PRACTICAL EXHORTATIONS IN VIEW OF THE DANGERS
OF THE TIMES.
Tne Dear friends, I urge you, as pilgrims and n
Necessity of strangers upon earth, to refrain from indulging setting a good tjie crav;ng-s of your earthly nature, for they
Example. , J , , jf j -i i-r
make war upon the soul. Let your daily life 12 among the Gentiles be so upright, that, whenever they malign you as evil-doers, they may learn, as they watch, from the uprightness of your conduct, to praise God ' at the time when he shall visit them.'
Submit to all human institutions for the Lord's 13 Submission sake, alike to the emperor as the supreme Authorities, authority, and to governors as the men sent by him 14
to punish evil-doers and to commend those who do right. For God's will is this — that you should silence the 15 ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. Act as free i ' men, yet not using your freedom as those do who make it a
3 Ps. 34. 8. 4—7 Ps. 118. 22 ; Isa. 28. 16. 8 Isa. 8. 14, 15. 9 Isa. 43. 20 — 21 ; Exod. 19. 5—6. 10 Hos. i. 6—9 ; 2. i, 23. 11 Ps. 39. is. 13 Isa. 10. 3.
456 I. PETER, 2-3.
cloak for wickedness, but as Servants of God. Show honour 17 to every one. Love the Brotherhood, ' revere God, honour the emperor.'
Those of you who are domestic servants should 18 ''servants?* always be submissive and respectful to their masters, not only, to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are arbitrary. For this 19 wins God's approval when, because conscious of God's pre- sence, a man who is suffering unjustly bears his troubles patiently. What credit can you claim when, after doing 20 wrong, you take your punishment for it patiently ? But, on the other hand, if, after doing right, you take your sufferings patiently, that does win the approval of God. For it was to 21 this that you were called ! For Christ, too, suffered — on your behalf— and left you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He ' never sinned, nor was anything deceitful 22 ever heard from his lips.' He was abused, but he did not 23 answer with abuse ; he suffered, but he did not threaten ; he entrusted himself to him whose judgements are just. And he 24 ' himself carried our sins ' in his own body to the cross, so that we might die to our sins, and live for righteousness. ' His bruising was your healing.' Once you were straying 25 like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Again, you married women should submit to i Thebett!reenn* vour husbands, so that if any of them reject the Husbands and Message, they may, apart from the Message, be
wives. won over, by the conduct of their wives, as 2 they watch your submissive and blameless conduct. Yours 3 should be, not the external adornment of the arrange- ment of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or the put- ting on of dresses, but the inner life with the imperishable 4 beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit ; for this is very precious in God's sight. It was by this that the holy women of old, 5 who rested their hopes on God, adorned themselves ; submit- ting to their husbands, as Sarah did, who obeyed Abraham, 6 and called him master. And you are her true children, as long as you live good lives, and let nothing terrify you.
Again, those of you who are married men should live 7 considerately with their wives, showing due regard to their sex, as weaker than their own, and not forgetting that they share with you in the gift of Life. Then you will be able to pray without hindrance.
Lastly, you should all be united, sympathetic, 8
Christian full of brotherly love, kind-hearted, humble- Vo^bearance? mmded ; never returning evil for evil, or abuse 9
for abuse, but, on the contrary, blessing. It was to this that you were called — to obtain a blessing !
M Prov. 34. ai. 22-25 Isa. 53. 5—12. « Gen. 18. 13 ; Prov. 3. 35.
I. PETER, 3—4. 467
' He who would enjoy life 10
And see happy days — Let him keep his tongue from evil
And his lips from deceitful words, Let him turn from evil and do good, 1 1
Let him seek for peace and follow after it ;
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, 12
And his ears are attentive to their prayers,
But the face of the Lord is set against those who do wrong.'
Who, indeed, is there to harm you, if you prove 13 Eafter*heT yourselves to be eager for what is good ? Even if 14 Example of you should suffer for righteousness, count your- chnat. selves blessed ! ' Do not let men terrify you, or allow yourselves to be dismayed.' Revere the Christ as Lord in 15 your hearts ; always ready to give an answer to any one who asks your reason for the hope that you cherish, but giving it humbly and in all reverence, and keeping your consciences 16 clear, so that, whenever you are maligned, those who vilify your good and Christian conduct may be put to shame. It is 17 better that you should suffer, if that should be God's will, for doing right, than for doing wrong. For Christ himself died 18 to atone for sins once for all — the good on behalf of the bad — that he might bring you to God ; his body being put to death, but his spirit entering upon new Life. And it was then that 19 he went and preached to the imprisoned spirits, who once were 20 disobedient, at the time when God patiently waited, in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared ; in which some few lives, eight in all, were saved by means of water. And baptism, which this foreshadowed, now saves you — not 21 the mere cleansing of the body, but the search of a clear conscience after God — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into Heaven, and is at God's right hand, where 22 Angels and Archangels and the Powers of Heaven now yield submission to him.
Since, then, Christ suffered in body, arm your- i • Renunciation seives with the same resolve as he ; for he who Heathenlife. has suffered in body has ceased to sin, and so will 2
live the rest of his earthly life guided, not by human passions, but by the will of God. Surely in the past 3 you have spent time enough living as the Gentiles delight to live. For your path has lain among scenes of debauchery, licentiousness, drunkenness, revelry, hard-drinking, and pro- fane idolatry. And, because you do not run to the same 4 extremes of profligacy as others, they are astonished, and malign you. But they will have to answer for their conduct 5 to him who is ready to judge both the living and the dead. For that was why the Good News was told to the dead also — 6
10-12 ps. 34. I2_,6. 14-15 lsa. g. 12—13. a Ps. no. i.
458 I. PETER, 4-5.
that, after they have been judged in the body, as men are judged, they might live in the spirit, as God lives.
But the end of all things is near. Therefore 7 seif-controi, exercise self-restraint and be calm, that you may ^ser^i'c'e? be able to Prav- Above all things, let your love 8
for one another be earnest, for ' Love throws a veil over countless sins.' Never grudge hospitality to one 9 another. Whatever the gift that each has received, use it in 10 the service of others, as good stewards of the varied bounty of God. When any one speaks, let him speak as one who is 1 1 delivering the oracles of God. When any one is endeavouring to serve others, let him do so in reliance on the strength which God supplies ; so that in everything God may be honoured through Jesus Christ — to whom be ascribed all honour and might for ever and ever. Amen.
Dear friends, do not be astonished at the fiery 12 .Aals that you are passing through, to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. No, the more you share the sufferings of the Christ, 13 the more may you rejoice, that, when the time comes for the manifestation of his Glory, you may rejoice and exult. If you are reviled for bearing the name of Christ, count your- 14 selves blessed ; because the divine Glory and the Spirit of God are resting upon you. I need hardly say that no one 15 among you must suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a criminal, or for interfering in matters which do not concern Christians. But, if a man suffers as a Christian, do not let him be 16 ashamed of it ; let him bring honour to God even though he bears that name. For the time has come for judgement to begin 17 with the House of God ; and, if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who reject God's Good News ? If ' a good 18 man is saved only with difficulty, what will become of the godless and the sinful ? ' Therefore, I say, let those who 19 suffer, because God wills it so, commit their lives into the hands of a faithful Creator, and persevere in doing right.
V. — CONCLUSION.
As for the older men among you, who bear Exhortation* omce 'n tne Church, I, their fellow-Officer, and a witness to the sufferings of the Christ, who shall also share in the glory that is to be revealed — I urge you to be true shepherds of the flock of God among you, not because
• Prov. 10. ta (Hebrew). " Pa. 89. 50—51 ; Isa. it. a. " Ezek. 9. 6. 18 Prov. ii. 31.
I. PETER, 5. 459
you are compelled, but of your own free will ; not from a base love of gain, but with a ready spirit ; not as lords of your 3 charges, but as examples to your flock. Then, when the 4 Chief Shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades. Again, you younger men should show 5
deference to the older. And all of you should put on the
badge of humility in mutual service, for ' God is opposed to the proud, but gives his help to the humble.'
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty 6 ^"rtatfons. hand of God, so that he may exalt you in his
good time, laying all your anxieties upon him, 7 for he makes you his care. Exercise self-control, be 8
watchful. Your adversary, the Devil, like a roaring lion, is prowling about, eager to devour you. Stand firm against 9 him, strong in your faith ; knowing, as you do, that the very sufferings which you are undergoing are being endured to the full by your Brotherhood throughout the world. God, IO
from whom all help comes, and who called you, by your union with Christ, into his eternal glory, will, when you have suffered for a little while, himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. To him be ascribed dominion for ever. II Amen.
I have been writing to you briefly by the hand 12 Messages and of s;jaS) our true-hearted Brother (for so I regard him), to urge upon you, and to bear my testimony, that in what I have written is to be found the true love of God. On that take your stand. Your sister-Church in 13
' Babylon ' sends you greeting, and so does Mark, who is as a son to me. Greet one another with the kiss of love. 14
May God give his peace to you all in your union with Christ.
5 Prov. 3. 34. 7 ps. 5S. 22.
FROM PETER II.
A LETTER TO CHRISTIAN PEOPLE.
(KNOWN AS 'THE SECOND LETTER OF ST. PETER').
DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING UNCERTAIN.
THIS Letter is addressed to Christians m general, and is mainly directed against the separation of Christianity from a holy life. It also contains an assertion of the certainty of the ' Second Coming ' of the Christ, though at a time which might still be far off according to human reckoning. The re- semblances of this Letter to the ' Letter of St. Jude,' and to the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus, are most re- markable ; and so, too, are the apparent references to passages in the writings of the Alexandrian Philosopher, Philo. Both Philo and Josephus wrote in the First Century of the Christian Era.
FROM PETER. II.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
To those to whom, through the justice of our I
God and Saviour Jesus Christ, there has Greeting. been granted faith equally privileged with
our own,
FROM Simon Peter, a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ. May blessing and peace be yours in ever-increasing measure, 2 as you advance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus, our Lord.
For his divine power has given us everything 3 Christian that is needful for a life of piety, as we advance Pr'andee8 m the knowledge of him who called us by a Christian glorious manifestation of his goodness. For it 4
Life. was through this that he gave us what we prize as the greatest of his promises, that through them you might participate in the divine nature, now that you have fled from the corruption in the world, resulting from human passions. Yes, and for this very reason do your best to supplement your 5 faith by goodness, goodness by knowledge, knowledge by 6 self-control, self-control by endurance, endurance by piety, piety by brotherly affection, and brotherly affection by love. 7 For, when these virtues are yours, in increasing measure, they 8 prevent your being indifferent to, or destitute of, a fuller knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Surely the man who 9 has not these -virtues is shortsighted even to blindness, and has chosen to forget that he has been purified from his sins of the past ! Therefore, Brothers, do your best to put God's Call 10 and Selection of you beyond all doubt; for, if you do this, you will never fall. For thus you will be given a triumphant n admission into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
464 II. PETER, 1-2.
II. — THE TRANSFIGURATION AND THE 'SECOND COMING' OF THE CHRIST.
I shall, therefore, always be ready to remind you of all this, 12 even though you know it and are firmly established in the Truth that you now hold. But I think it my duty, as long as 13 I live in this 'tent,' to rouse you by awakening memories of the past ; for I know that the time for this ' tent ' of mine to 14 be put away is soon coming, as our Lord Jesus Christ himself assured me. So I will do my best to enable you, at any 15 time after my departure, to call these truths to mind. For we were not following cleverly devised stories when we 16 told you of the Coming in power of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eye-witnesses of his majesty. For he received 17 honour and glory from God the Father, when from the Glory of the Divine Majesty there were borne to his ears words such as these — ' This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom I delight.' These were the words that we heard, borne to our 18 ears from Heaven, when we were with him on that Sacred Mountain. And still stronger is the assurance that we have 19 in the teaching of the Prophets ; to which you will do well to pay attention (as if it were a lamp shining in a gloomy place), until the Day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts. But first be assured of this : — There is no prophetic 20 teaching found in Scripture that can be interpreted by man's unaided reason ; for no prophetic teaching ever came in the 21 old days at the mere wish of man, but men, moved by the Holy Spirit, spoke direct from God.
III. — WARNING AGAINST SEPARATING CHRISTIANITY FROM A HOLY LIFE.
But there were false prophets also in the nation, just as there will be false teachers among you, men who will secretly intro- duce ruinous divisions, disowning even the Lord who bought them, and bringing speedy Ruin upon themselves. There will be many, too, who will follow their licentious courses, and cause the Way of the Truth to be maligned. In their covetous- ness they will try to make you a source of profit by their fabrications ; but for a long time past their Sentence has not been standing idle, nor their Ruin slumbering. Remember, God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them down to Tartarus, and committed them to caverns of dark- ness, to be kept under guard for judgement. Nor did he spare the world of old ; though he preserved Noah, the Preacher of Righteousness, and seven others, when he brought a flood
2 Isa. 52. 5. * Enoch 10. 6, 13.
II. PETER, 2. 465
upon the godless world. He condemned the cities of Sodom 6 and Gomorrah and reduced them to ashes, holding them up as a warning to the godless of what was in store for them ; but he 7 rescued righteous Lot, whose heart was vexed by the wanton licentiousness of his neighbours ; for, seeing and hearing what 8 he did, as he lived his righteous life among them, day after day, Lot's righteous soul was tortured by their wicked doings. The 9 Lord, therefore, knows how to deliver the pious from tempta- tion, and to keep the wicked, who are even now suffering punishment, in readiness for ' the Day of Judgement ' — especially those who, following the promptings of their lower 10 nature, indulge their polluting passions and despise all control. Audacious and self-willed, they feel no awe of the Mighty, maligning them, even where angels, though excelling them n in strength and power, do not bring against them a malignant charge before the Lord. These men, however, like animals 12 without reason, intended by nature to be caught and killed — these men, I say, malign those of whom they know nothing, and will assuredly perish through their own corruption, suffering themselves, as the penalty for the suffering that 13 they have inflicted. They think that pleasure consists in the self-indulgence of the moment. They are a stain and a dis- grace, indulging, as they do, in their wanton revelry, even while joining you at your feasts. They have eyes only for 14 adulteresses, eyes never tired of sin ; they entice weak souls ; their minds are trained to covet ; they live under a curse. Leaving the straight road, they have gone astray and followed 15 in the steps of Balaam, the son of Beor, who set his heart on the reward for wrong-doing, but was rebuked for his offence. 16 A dumb animal spoke with the voice of a man, and checked the prophet's madness. These men are like springs without water, 17 or mists driven before a gale ; and for them the blackest dark- ness has been reserved. With boastful and foolish talk, they 18 appeal to the passions of man's lower nature, and, by their profligacy, entice those who are just escaping from the men who live such misguided lives. They promise them freedom, 19 while they themselves are slaves to corrupt habits ; for a man is the slave of anything to which he gives way. If, after 20 having escaped the polluting influences of the world, through knowing our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, men are again entangled in them, and give way to them, their last state has become worse than their first. It would, indeed, have been 21 better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn away from the holy Command delivered to them. In their case is seen the truth of the pro- 22 verb — 'A dog returns to what he has vomited' and 'A sow after washing to her vvallowing-place in the mud.'
9 Enoch 10. 6. 22 Prov. 26. n.
466 II. PETER, 3.
IV. — A RE-ASSERTION OF THE 'SECOND COMING' OF THE CHRIST.
Lone-delayed This, dear friends, is my second letter to you. i ; but certain. jn both of them I have tried, by appealing to your remembrance, to arouse your better feelings. I want you to 2 recall what was foretold by the holy Prophets, as well as the Command of our Lord and Saviour given to you through your Apostles. First be assured of this, that, as the age draws to 3 an end, scoffers, led by their own passions, will come and ask 4 scomngly — 'Where is his promised Coming? Ever since our fathers passed to their rest, everything remains just as it was when the world was first created ! ' For they wilfully shut their 5 eyes to the fact that long ago the heavens existed ; and the earth, also — formed out of water and by the action of water, by the fiat of God ; and that by the same means the world which 6 then existed was destroyed in a deluge of water. But the 7 present heavens and earth, by the same fiat, have been reserved for fire, and are being kept for the day of the judgement and destruction of the godless.
'The Day But you, dear friends, must never shut your eyes 8 of the to the fact that, to the Lord, one day is the same as Lord'' a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise, as some count 9 slowness ; but he is forbearing with you, as it is not his will that any of you should perish, but that all should be brought to repentance. The Day of the Lord will come like a 10
thief ; and on that day the heavens will pass away with a crash, the elements will be burnt up and dissolved, and the earth and all that is in it will be disclosed. Now, since n
all these things are in the process of dissolution, think what you yourselves ought to be — what holy and pious lives you ought to lead, while you await and hasten the coming of the 12 Day of God. At its coming the heavens will be dissolved in fire, and the elements melted by heat, but we look for ' new 13 heavens and a new earth,' where righteousness shall have its home, in fulfilment of the promise of God.
Tne Therefore, dear friends, in expectation of these 14
needful things, make every effort to be found by him spot- Preparation. jesS) blameless, and at peace. Regard our Lord's 15 forbearance as your one hope of Salvation. This is what our dear Brother Paul wrote to you, with the wisdom that God gave him. It is the same in all his letters, when he speaks in 16 them about these subjects. There are some things in them difficult to understand, which untaught and weak people
» Ps. 90. 4. M-W ha. 33. 4 ; 65. 17 ; 66. aa.
II. PETER, a 467
distort, just as they do all other writings, to their own Ruin. Do you, therefore, dear friends, now that you 17
know this beforehand, be on your guard against being led away by the errors of reckless people, and so lapsing from your present stedfastness ; and advance in the love and 18 knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. All glory be to him now and for ever.
THE LETTER OF JUDE.
FROM JUDE
•itiuc
A LETTER TO CHRISTIAN PEOPLE.
(KNOWN AS 'THE LETTER OF ST. JUDE').
[DATE AND PLACE OF WIPING UNCERTAIN.]
THIS Letter was written apparently by the Jude (or Judas) who was a "brother of James," and so a brother of Jesus. Neither this Judas, nor his brother James, was an Apostle. The Letter may have been written in Palestine ; and the historical allusions in it make it possible that it was addressed to Christians of Jewish origin. It is full of resemblances to 'The Second Letter of St. Peter,' and consists of a stern denunciation of those nominal Christians who were using their Christianity as a cover for an evil life.
FROM
JUDE.
I. — INTRODUCTION.
To those who, having received the Call, have been i Greeting. loved by God the Father and protected by
Jesus Christ, FROM Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and the brother of
James.
May mercy, peace, and love be yours in ever-increasing 2 measure.
II. — WARNINGS AGAINST THE MORAL CORRUPTION INTRODUCED BY FALSE TEACHERS.
Dear friends, while I was making every effort to 3 The object write to you about our common Salvation, I felt of the Letter. tna(; I must write to you at once to urge you to fight in defence of the Faith that has once for all been entrusted to the keeping of Christ's People. For there have 4 crept in among you certain godless people, whose sentence has long since been pronounced, and who make the mercy of God an excuse for profligacy, and disown our only lord and master, Jesus Christ.
Now I want to remind you — but you already 5 TeachJra'anci ^now li a^ — that, though the Lord delivered the their certain People from Egypt, yet he afterwards destroyed
Doom. those who refused to believe in him ; and that 6 even those angels, who did not keep to their appointed spheres, but left their proper homes, have been kept by him for the judgement of the Great Day in everlasting chains and black darkness. Like Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns 7 near them, which gave themselves up to fornication, and fell into unnatural vice, these angels now stand out as a
* Enoch 48. ti. 6 Enoch 10. 6, 9.
472 JUDE.
warning, undergoing, as they are, the punishment of aeonian fire.
Yet in the very same way these men, too, cherishing vain 8 dreams, pollute our human nature, reject control, and malign the Mighty. Yet even Michael, the Archangel, when, 9
in his dispute with the Devil, he was arguing about the body of Moses, did not venture to charge him with maligning, but said merely ' The Lord rebuke you ! ' But these 10
men malign whatever they do not understand ; while they use such things as they know by instinct (like the animals that have no reason) for their own corruption. Alas for them ! 1 1 They walk in the steps of Cain ; led astray by Balaam's love of gain, they plunge into sin, and meet their ruin through rebellion like that of Korah. These are the men who are 12 blots upon your ' Love-feasts,' when they feast together and provide without scruple for themselves alone. They are clouds without rain, driven before the winds ; they are leafless trees without a vestige of fruit, dead through and through, torn up by the roots ; they are wild sea waves, foaming with their 13 own shame ; they are ' wandering stars,' for which the blackest darkness has been reserved for ever.
To these men, as to others, Enoch, the seventh in descent 14 from Adam, declared — ' See ! the Lord has come with his hosts of holy ones around him, to execute judgement upon all 15 men, and to convict all godless people of all their godless acts, which in their ungodliness they have committed, and of all the harsh words which they have spoken against him, godless sinners that they are ! '
These men are always murmuring, and complaining of their 16 lot ; they follow where their passions lead them ; they have arrogant words upon their lips ; and they flatter men for the sake of what they can get from them.
But do you, dear friends, recall what was fore- 17 A chri.tinn'. told by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ ; how 18
?owa"d* they used to say to you — 'As time draws to an end, the«« there will be scoffers, who will be led by their
Teacher., godless passions.' These are the people — 19
animal and unspiritual — who cause divisions. But do 20
you, dear friends, build up your characters on the foundation of your most holy Faith, pray under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and keep within the love of God, while waiting for the 21 mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to bring you to Immortal Life. To some show pity, because they are in doubt. 22
' Drag them out of the fire,' and save them. To others show 23 pity, but with caution, hating the very clothing polluted by their touch.
» Dan. i a. i ; Z«ch. 3. •. « Bzck. 34. 8. " Enoch 18. 16. M-« Enoch 59. 8 ; Deut. 33. a ; Zcch. 14. 5. w Zcch. 3. a — 4.
JUDE. 473
III. — ASCRIPTION.
To him who is able to guard you from falling, and to bring 24 you into his glorious presence, blameless and rejoicing — to the one God, our Saviour, be ascribed, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, glory, majesty, power, and dominion, as it was before time began, is now, and shall be for all time to come. Amen.
THE LETTERS OF JOHN.
FROM JOHN
I.
THE FIRST LETTER OF ST. JOHN/
WRITTEN PROBABLY AT EPHESUS AFTER 70 A.D
THIS Letter was apparently written by the author of ' The Good News according to John,' with which book, both in language and thought, it has a close connexion. It deals with errors that were rife in the Church in the writer's day, by re-asserting the revelation in the incarnate Christ of the Life, and Light, and Love of God.
It is a Homily rather than a Letter, and was possibly intended to circulate among the Churches of Asia Minor. It seems to have been written after the fall of Jerusalem, and at a time when the Second Coming of the Christ appeared to be imminent (2. 18).
FROM JOHN. I.
I. — THE IMMORTAL LIFE.
It is of what has been in existence from the i \ Manifested Beginning, of what we have heard, of what we have
in Christ. & -.1 e i ^11
seen with our eyes, ot what we watched reverently and touched with our hands — it is about the Word who is the Life that we are now writing. That Life was made visible, 2 and we have seen it, and now bear our testimony to it, and tell you of that Immortal Life, which was with the Father and was made visible to us. It is of what we have seen and 3 heard that we now tell you, so that you may have communion with us. And our communion is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. And we are writing all this to you that 4 our joy may be complete.
These, then, are the Tidings that we have 5 L'VU? j^*he heard from him and now tell you — ' God is Light, and Darkness has no place at all in him.'
If we say that we have communion with him, and yet 6 continue to live in the Darkness, we lie, and are not living the Truth. But, if our lives are lived in the Light, as God 7 himself is in the Light, we have communion with one another, and the Blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we say that there is no sin in us, we are deceiv- 8
ing ourselves, and the Truth has no place in us. If we confess 9 our sins, God may be trusted, in his righteousness, to forgive us our sins and purify us from all wickedness. If we 10
say that we have not sinned, we are making God a liar, and his Message has no place in us.
My Children, I am writing to you to keep you from sinning ; i 2 but if any one should sin, we have one who can plead for us with the Father — Jesus Christ, the Righteous — and he is the 2 atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but for
478 I. JOHN, 2.
those of the whole world besides. And by this we 3
know that we have learnt to know him — by our laying his commands to heart. The man who says ' I know Jesus,' but 4 does not lay his commands to heart, is a liar, and the Truth has no place in him ; but, whenever a man lays his Message 5 to heart, in that man the love of God has indeed reached its perfection. By this we know that we are in union with
God — He who professes to maintain union with God is himself 6 bound to live as Christ lived.
Dear friends, it is no new command that I am writing to 7 you, but an old command, which you have had from the first. That old command is the Message to which you listened. Yet, again, it is a new Command that I am writing to you — 8 manifest in Christ's life and in your own — for the Darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.
He who says that he is in the Light, and yet hates his 9 Brother, is in the Darkness even now. He who loves his 10 Brother is always in the Light, and there is nothing within him to cause him to stumble ; while he who hates his Brother 1 1 is in the Darkness, and is living in the Darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the Darkness prevents his seeing.
I am writing, Children, to you, because your sins have been 12 forgiven you for Christ's sake. I am writing, Fathers, to you, 13 because you have learnt to know him who has been from the Beginning. I am writing, Young Men, to you, .because you have conquered the Evil One. I write, Children, to you, be- cause you have learnt to know the Father. I write, Fathers, to 14 you, because you have learnt to know him who has been from the Beginning. I write, Young Men, to you, because you are strong, and God's Message is always in your hearts, and you have conquered the Evil One. Do not love the 15
world or what the world can offer. When any one loves the world, there is no love for the Father in him ; for all that the 16 world can offer — the gratification of the earthly nature, the gratification of the eye, the pretentious life — belongs, not to the Father, but to the world. And the world, and all that it 17 gratifies, is passing away, but he who does God's will remains for ever.
II. — WARNINGS AGAINST ANTI-CHRIST.
My Children, these are the last days. You 18 werc to'^ tnat an Anti-Christ was coming ; and many Anti-Christs have already arisen. By that we know that these are the last days. From us, it is true, 19
I. JOHN, 2-3. 479
they went out, but they had never belonged to us ; for, if they had belonged to us, they would have remained among us. They left us that it might be made clear that they do not, any of them, belong to us. You, however, have received conse- 20
cration from the Holy One. You all know But I am not 21
writing to you because you do not know the Truth, but because you do know it, and because nothing false can come from the Truth.
Who is a liar, if not the man who rejects the truth that 22 Jesus is the Christ ? He is the Anti-Christ — the man who rejects the Father and the Son. No one who rejects the Son 23 has found the Father ; he who acknowledges the Son has found the Father also. As for you, let what you were 24
told at the first be always in your thoughts. If, then, what you were told from the first is always in your thoughts, you yourselves will maintain your union both with the Son and with the Father. And this is what he himself promised us — 25 The Immortal Life !
In writing thus to you, I have in mind those 26 The who are trying to mislead you. But you — you 27 consecration s*'^ retain in your hearts that consecration which ' you received from the Christ, and are not i« need of any one to teach you ; but, since his consecration of you teaches you about everything, and since it is a real consecra- tion, and no lie, then, as it has taught you, maintain your union with him. Yes, my Children, maintain your union with 28
Christ, so that, whenever he appears, our confidence may not fail us, and we may not be ashamed to meet him at his coming. Knowing him to be righteous, you realize that 29 every one who lives righteously has received the new Life from him.
III. — THE PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF GOD'S CHILDREN.
Think what love the Father has shown us in i 3 Th* u!^her>* Allowing us to be called ' Children of God ' ; as indeed we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it has not learnt to know him. Dear 2
friends, we are God's Children now ; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is that, when it is revealed, we shall be like Christ ; because we shall see him as he is. And every one who has this hope with regard to Christ 3 tries to make himself pure — as Christ is pure.
Thc Every one who lives sinfully is living in vio- 4
children's lation of Law. Sin is violation of Law. And 5
Live*. you know that Christ appeared to take away our sins ; and in him Sin has no place. No one who maintains 6
480 I. JOHN, 3.
union with him lives in sin ; no one who lives in sin has ever really seen him or learnt to know him. My Children,
do not let any one mislead you. He who lives righteously is righteous — as Christ is righteous. He who lives sinfully belongs to the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the first. It was for this that the Son of God appeared, that he might undo the Devil's work.
No one who has received the new Life from God lives sinfully, because the very nature of God dwells within him ; and he cannot live in sin, because he has received the new Life from God. By this the Children of God are dis- tinguished from the Children of the Devil — No one who lives unrighteously comes from God, and especially the man who does not love his Brother. For these are the Tidings that we heard from the first — that we are to love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the Evil One and killed his brother. And why did he kill him ? It was because his life was bad while his brother's was good.
Do not wonder, Brothers, if the world hates 13 ""*£" fiT ' Thi* You- We know that we have passed out of 14
0 ret n re n • - - . . . . * ..-* *
Death into Life, because we love our Brothers. The man who does not love remains in a state of Death. Every one who hates his Brother is a murderer ; and 15 you know that no murderer has Immortal Life within him.
We have learnt to know what love is from this — that 16 Christ laid down his life on our behalf. Therefore we also ought to lay down our lives on behalf of our Brothers. But, if 17 any one has worldly possessions, and yet looks on while his Brother is in want, and steels his heart against him, how can it be said that the love of God is within him ? My 18
Children, do not let our love be mere words, or end in talk ; let it be true and show itself in acts.
By that we shall know that we are on the side of the Truth ; 19 and we shall satisfy ourselves in God's sight, that if our 20 conscience condemns us, yet God is greater than our con- science and knows everything. Dear friends, if our 21 conscience does not condemn us, then we approach God with confidence, and we receive from him whatever we ask, because 22 we are laying his commands to heart, and are doing what is pleasing in his sight. His Command is this — that we should 23 put our trust in the Name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, in accordance with the Command that he gave us. And he who lays his commands to heart maintains, union 24 with Christ, and Christ with him. And by this we know that Christ maintains union with us — by our possession of the Spirit which he gave us.
I. JOHN, 4. 481
IV. — TRUE AND FALSE INSPIRATION.
Dear friends, do not trust every inspiration, Th* Test but test each inspiration, to see whether it pro- inspiration. ceeds from God ; because many false Prophets
have gone out into the world.
This is the way by which to know the inspiration of God — All inspiration that acknowledges Jesus Christ as come in our human nature is from God ; while all inspiration that does not acknowledge Jesus is not inspiration from God. It is the inspiration of the Anti-Christ ; you have heard that it was to come, and it is now already in the world.
You, my Children, come from God, and you have success- fully resisted such men as these, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Those men belong to the world ; and therefore they speak as the world speaks, and the world listens to them. We come from God. He who knows God listens to us ; the man who does not come from God does not listen to us. By that we may know the true inspiration from the false.
V. — LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE OF MAN.
Dear friends, let us love one another, because Love comes 7 from God ; and every one who loves has received the new Life from God and knows God. He who does not love has 8 not learnt to know God ; for God is Love. The love of God 9 was revealed to us by his sending his only Son into the world, that we might find Life through him. His love is seen in 10 this — not in our having loved God, but in his loving us and sending his Son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us thus, we, surely, ought to 1 1 love one another. No human eyes have ever seen God ; yet, 12 if we love one another, God remains in union with us, and his love attains its perfection in us. We know that we remain 13 in union with him, and he with us, by this — by his having given us some measure of his Spirit. Moreover, our 14
eyes have seen — and we are testifying to the fact — that the Father has sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Who- 15 ever acknowledges that Jesus Christ is the Son of God — God remains in union with that man, and he with God. And, 16
moreover, we have learnt to know, and have accepted as a fact, the love which God has for us.
God is Love ; and he who lives in love lives in God, and God in him. It is through this that love has attained 17
its perfection in us, so that we may have confidence on the Day of Judgement, because what Christ is that we also are in this
R
482 I. JOHN, 4-5.
world. There is no fear in love. No ! Love, when perfect, 18 drives out fear, for fear implies punishment, and the man who feels fear has not attained to perfect love. We love, 19
because God first loved us. If a man says ' I love God,' and 20 yet hates his Brother, he is a liar ; for the man who does not love his Brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. Indeed, we have this Command from God — 21 ' He who loves God must also love his Brother.'
VI.— A CHRISTIAN'S FAITH AND CONFIDENCE.
Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ i Faith. ^as recejvecj fae new Life from God ; and every one who loves him who gave that Life loves him who has received it. By this 'We know that we love God's Children — when we 2 love God and carry out his commands. For to love God is to 3 lay his commands to heart ; and his commands are not burden- some, because all that has received the new Life from God 4 conquers the world. And this is the power that has conquered the world — our faith ! Who is he that conquers the world but 5 the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God ? He 6
it is whose Coming was attested by means of TTeIt1mon7.'d Water and Blood— Jesus Christ himself ; not
by Water only, but by Water and by Blood. And there is the Spirit also to bear testimony, and the Spirit is Truth itself. It is a three-fold testimony— that of the Spirit, 8 the Water, and the Blood — and these three are at one. We 9 accept the testimony of men, but God's testimony is still stronger ; and there is the testimony of God — the fact that he has already borne testimony about his Son. He who believes 10 in the Son of God has that testimony within him. He who does not believe God has made God a liar, by refusing to believe in that testimony which he has borne about his Son. And that testimony is that God gave us Immortal Life, n and that this Life is in his Son. He who finds the Son 12 finds Life ; he who does not find the Son of God does not find Life.
I write this to you, that you may realize that 13 '°*< you have found Immortal Life — you who believe in the Name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence 14 with which we approach him, that whenever we ask anything that is in accordance with his will, he listens to us. And if 15 we realize that he listens to us — whatever we ask — we realize that we have what we have asked from him. If any 16
one sees his Brother committing some sin that is not a deadly sin, he will ask, and so be the means of giving Life to him — to any whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin ; about that I do not say that a man should pray.
I. JOHN, 5. 483
Every wrong action is sin, and there is sin that is not 17 deadly.
We know that no one who has received the new Life from 18 God lives in sin. No, he who has received the new Life from God keeps the thought of God in his heart, and then the Evil One does not touch him. We realize that we come from God, 19 while all the world is under the influence of the Evil One. We realize, too, that the Son of God has come among us, and 20 has given us the discernment to know the True God ; and we are in union with the True God by our union with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the True God and he is Immortal Life. My Children, guard yourselves against false ideas 21
of God.
FROM JOHN II.
THE LETTER TO A CHRISTIAN LADY.
(KNOWN AS 'THE SECOND LETTER FROM JOHN').
[PLACE AND DATE OF WRITING UNKNOWN.]
THIS Letter may be either a letter addressed to a Church which stands pre-eminent in the writer's affections, or a private letter addressed to a Christian lady and her family. In the latter case the lady's name may possibly be Kyria, or may have been intentionally suppressed on account of the dangers to which Christians were frequently exposed. The writer also veils his own identity under the vague designation ' the Officer of the Church.' The Letter contains an appeal for the exhibition of Christian love, and a warning against false Teachers.
FROM JOHN. II.
To an eminent Christian Lady, I
AND TO her Children,
FROM the Officer of the Church.
I sincerely love you all, and not I only, but also all those who
have learnt to know the Truth. We love you for the sake 2
of that Truth which is always in our hearts ; yes, and it
will be ours for ever. Blessing, mercy, and peace will be ours — the gift of God, the 3
Father, and of Jesus Christ, the Father's Son — in a life of
truth and love.
It was a great joy to me to find the lives of some of your 4 children guided by the Truth, in obedience to the command that we received from the Father. And now, I pray you, 5 Lady — not as though I were writing a new command for you ; no, it is the command which we had from the first — Let us love one another. And this is love — to live in obedience to the 6 Father's commands. This is the Command as you learnt from the first, to live in a spirit of love. I say this because many 7 impostors have left us to go into the world — men who do not acknowledge Jesus as Christ come in our human nature. It is that which marks a man as an impostor and an anti-Christ. Take care that you do not lose the fruit of all our work; rather, 8 reap the benefit of it in full. Every one who goes beyond the 9 limits of the Teaching of the Christ has failed to find God ; the man who keeps to that Teaching — he has found both the Father and the Son. If any one comes to you and does not 10 bring this Teaching, do not receive him into your house or welcome him ; for the man who welcomes him is sharing with n him in his wicked work.
Though I have a great deal to say to you, I would rather 12 not trust it to paper and ink, but I am hoping to come and see you, and to speak with you face to face, so that your joy may be complete. The children of your eminent sister send 13
you their greetings.
FROM JOHN III.
THE LETTER TO GAIUS.
(KNOWN AS 'THE THIRD LETTER FROM JOHN').
[PLACE AND DATE OF WRITING UNKNOWN.]
THIS is a private Letter, addressed by a writer, who, as in the previous Letter, describes himself as ' the Officer of the Church,' to a friend of the name of Gaius. It contains the writer's thanks for hospitality shown to certain missionaries — a hospitality which, under the conditions of travel in those early days, was an important Christian duty.
FROM JOHN. III.
To his dear friend Gaius, whom he sincerely loves, I
FROM the Officer of the Church.
Dear friend, I pray that all may be well with you and that 2 you may have good health — I know that all is well with your soul. For it was a great joy to me, when some Brothers 3 came and testified to your fidelity to the Truth — I know that your own life is guided by the Truth. Nothing gives me 4 greater pleasure than to hear from time to time that the lives of my Children are guided by the Truth.
Dear friend, whatever you do for our Brothers is done in a 5 Christian spirit — even when they are strangers to you. They 6 themselves have testified before the Church to your love ; and you will do well to help them on their way in a manner worthy of the service of God. For it was on behalf of the 7 Name that they left their homes, and refused to take anything from the Gentiles. We, therefore, ought to give such people 8 a hearty welcome, and so take our share in their work for the Truth.
I wrote a few lines to the Church ; but Diotrephes, who 9 loves to be first among them, declines to recognize us. There- 10 fore, when I come, I shall not forget his conduct in ridiculing us with his wicked tongue. Not content with that, he not only declines to recognize our Brothers. himself, but actually prevents those who would, and expels them from the Church.
Dear friend, take what is good for your example, not what n is bad. The man who does what is good is from God ; the man who does what is bad has never seen God. Every one 1 2 has always had a good word for Demetrius, and the Truth itself speaks for him. Yes, and we also add our good word, and you know that what we say about him is true.
492 III. JOHN.
I have a great deal to say to you, but I do not care to trust 13 it to pen and ink in a letter. I hope, however, it will not 14 be long before I see you, and then we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. Our friends here send you
their greetings. Greet each one of our friends.
AN APOCALYPSE.
THE REVELATION OF JOHN.
THE REVELATION.
THE REVELATION.
WRITTEN IN ASIA MINOR, AFTER 68 A.D.
IN the later days of Jewish History the place of prophecy was taken by that form of revelation by visions which was known as an ' Apocalypse.'
' The Revelation of John ' is the only example of an Apocalypse in the New Testament. , Like all books of the kind, Jewish as well as Christian, its purpose is to encourage its readers in the belief that the ultimate triumph of their Faith is assured. ! In such writings the historical crisis of the day is taken as the model from which a picture is drawn of a great final catastrophe. This Apocalypse is no exception. The Persecutions of 64 A.D. and onwards, and the events of the reign of the Emperor Nero, afforded abundant material for a picture of the horrors wrought by the enemies of the Christ, and of their impending final judgement.
The events of contemporaneous history are here, as in all Apocalypses, half-hidden by the mystical shape in which they are presented. This is accounted for, partly by the fact that their authors saw that the solemnity of their revelations was enhanced by their mystery, and partly by the fact that it was not safe to indicate with too great clearness the hostile Authorities of the day. V (Thus, for example, in this Book, the name of the Emperor Nero is apparently veiled under the sym- bolical number 666, the numerical value of which is represented by the Hebrew letters which spell that title). In spite of their obscure presentation, many events of this writer's time can be detected in the mystical scenes and figures here described.
The strange idioms in which this Book abounds show that, though the author wrote in Greek, he thought in Hebrew. There is at present no certain clue to his identity.
THE
REVELATION OF JOHN.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, -which God gave to him to make known to his servants, concerning what must shoitly take place, and which he sent and revealed by his angel to his servant John, who testified to the Message of God and to the testimony to Jesus Christ, omitting nothing of what he had seen. Blessed is he who reads, and blessed are they who listen to, the words of this prophecy, and lay to heart what is here written ; for The Time is near.
I. — MESSAGES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES.
From John, to the seven Churches which are in Roman Asia. 4 Blessing and peace be yours from him who is, and who was, and who shall be, and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, ' the faithful Witness, the 5 First-born from the dead, and the Ruler of all the Kings of the earth.' To him who loves us and freed us from our sins
by his own blood — and he made us ' a Kingdom of Priests in 6 the service of God,' his Father ! — to him be ascribed glory and dominion for ever. Amen. ' He is coming among 7
the clouds ! ' Every eye shall see him, even those who pierced nim ; ' and all the nations of the earth shall wail for fear of him.' So shall it be. Amen.
' I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord, the God 8 who is, and who was, and who shall be, the Almighty.
I, John, who am your Brother, and who share with you in 9 the suffering and kingship and endurance of Jesus, found my- self on the island called Patmos, for the sake of the Message of God and the testimony to Jesus. I fell into a trance 10 on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like the blast of a trumpet. It said — ' Write what you n see in a book and send it to the seven Churches, to Ephesus,
1 Dan. 2. 28. * Exod. 3. 14 ; Isa. 41. 4 ; Ps. 89. 37, 27 ; 130. 8 ; Isa. 40. a. 6 Exod. 19. 6. 7 Dan. 7. 13; Zech. 12. XQ — 14. ° Exod. 3. 14; Isa. 41. 4; Amos 4. 13 (Septuagfint).
498 REVELATION OF JOHN, 1—2.
Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicaea.' I turned to see what voice it was that 12
spoke to me ; and when I turned, I saw seven golden lamps, and in the midst of the lamps one ' like a man, in a robe 13 reaching to his feet,' and with a golden girdle across his breast. ' The hair of his head was as white as wool, as white 14 as snow ; his eyes were like flaming fire ; and his feet 15 were like brass ' as when molten in a furnace ; ' his voice was like the sound of many streams,' in his right hand he 16 held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like 'the sun in the fulness of its power.' And, when I saw him, I fell at his feet like one 17
dead. He laid his hand on me and said —
' Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, the Ever- 18 living. I died, and I am alive for ever and ever. And I hold the keys of.the Grave and of the Place of the Dead. Therefore 19 write of what you have seen and of what is happening now and of what is about to take place — the mystic meaning of 20 the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamps. The seven stars are the Angels of the seven Churches, and the seven lamps are the seven Churches.
To the Angel of the Church in Ephesus write : — i
" These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, and walks among the seven golden lamps : — I 2 know your, life, your toil and endurance, and I know that you cannot tolerate evil-doers. I know, too, how you tested those who declare that they are Apostles, though they are not, and how you proved them false. You possess endurance, and 3 have borne much for my Name, and have never grown weary. But this I have against you — You have abandoned your first 4 love. Therefore remember from what you have fallen, and 5 repent, and live the life that you lived before ; or else, I will come and remove your Lamp from its place, unless you repent. But this is in your favour — You hate the life lived by 6 the Nikolaitans, and I also hate it. Let him who has 7
ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. To
him who conquers — to him I will give the right ' to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life, which stands in the Paradise of God.' "
To the Angel of the Church in Smyrna write : — 8
"These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died, but is restored to life : — I know your persecution 9
13 Dan. 7. 13 ; Ezek. i. a6 ; 8. a ; o. a, 3 (Septuagint), ti (Septuagint) ; Dan. 10. 5 (Chaldaean). " Dan. 7. 9. »*-•« Dan. 10. 6. « Ezek. i. 34 ; 43. a (Hebrew). 10 Judge* 5- 3«. 17 Dan. 10. la, 19; Isa. 44. 6 (Hebrew) ; 48. 13 (Hebrew). 1B Isa. 48. 6 ; Dan. a. ao(Chnldaean). '•*' Dan. a. ao. ' Gen. a. 9 ; 3. aa ; Ezek. 31.8. 8 IM. 44. 6 (Hebrew) ; 48. la (Hebrew).
REVELATION OF JOHN, 2. 499
and your poverty — yet you are rich ! I know, too, the slanders that come from those who declare that they are Jews, though they are not, but are a Congregation of Satan. Do not be 10 afraid of what you are about to suffer. The Devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tempted, and may undergo persecution for ten days. Be faithful even to death, and I will give you the Crown of Life. Let II
him who has ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. He who conquers shall suffer no hurt from
the Second Death."
To the Angel of the Church in Pergamus write : — 12
" These are the words of him who holds the sharp two- edged sword : — I know where you dwell, where the Throne of 13 Satan stands. And yet you hold to my Name, and you did not disown my Faith even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death among you where Satan dwells. Yet I have a few things against you — You have 14 among you those who hold to the Teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put temptations in the way of the Israelites, so that they should eat idol-offerings and commit licentious acts. Again you have among you those who hold in the same 15 way to the Teaching of the Nikolai'tans. Therefore repent, or 16 else, I will come quickly and contend with such men with words that will cut like a sword. Let him who has 17
ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. To
him who conquers — to him I will give a share of the mystic manna, and I will give him a white stone ; and on the stone shall be inscribed a new name, which no one knows except him who receives it."
To the Angel of the Church in Thyatira write :— 18
" These are the words of the Son of God, ' whose eyes are like flaming fire, and whose feet are like brass ' : — I know 19 your life, your love, faith, service, and endurance ; and I know that your life of late has been better than it was at first. Yet 20 I have this against you — You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who declares that she is a Prophetess, and misleads my servants by her teaching, till they commit licentious acts and eat idol-offerings. I gave her time to repent, but she is 21 determined not to turn from her licentiousness. Therefore I 22 am laying her upon a bed of sickness, and bringing great suffering upon those who are unfaithful with her, unless they repent and turn from a life like hers. I will also put her children 23 to death ; and all the Churches shall learn that I am he who
10 Dan. i. 13, 14. 14 Num. 31. 16 ; 25. i, a. W Ps. 78. 34 ; Isa. 62. a ; 65. 15. 18 Dan. 10. 6. 2° Num. 35. i, 2. & Jer. 17. 10 ; Ps. 7. 9 ; 62. 13.
500 REVELATION OF JOHN, 2-3.
' looks into the hearts and souls of men ' ; and I will give to each one of you what his life deserves. But I say to the rest of 24 you at Thyatira — all who do not accept such teaching, those who did not learn ' the secrets of Satan,' as men call them — I am not laying on you any further burden ; only hold fast to 25 what you have received, until I come. To him who 26
conquers and is careful to live my life to the end — to him I will give authority over the nations, and ' he shall rule them with an 27 iron rod, as when earthen vessels are broken in pieces ' (as I myself have received from my Father) and I will give him 28 the Morning Star. Let him who has ears hear what 29
the Spirit is saying to the Churches."
To the Angel of the Church in Sardis write : — i
" These are the words of him who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars : — I know your life, and that men say of you that you are living, though you are dead. Be on 2 the watch, and strengthen what still survives, though once it was all but dead ; for I have not found your life perfect in the eyes of my God. Therefore remember what you have received 3 and heard, and lay it to heart and repent. Unless you are on the watch, I shall come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I am coming to you. Yet there are some few 4 among you at Sardis who did not soil their robes ; they shall walk with me, robed in white, for they are worthy. He 5
who conquers shall be clothed in these white robes, and I will not ' strike his name out of the Book of Life ' ; but I will own him before my Father, and before his angels. Let him 6
who has ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches."
To the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia write : — 7
" These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds ' the Key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one opens ' : — I know your life (see, I have 8 set a door open before you which no one is able to shut), I know that, though you have but little strength, you kept my teaching in mind, and did not disown my Name. Listen, I 9 give some of the Congregation of Satan, the men who declare
that they are Jews, though they are not, but are lying 1
will make them ' come and bow down at your feet,' and they shall learn that I loved you. Because you kept in mind the 10 story of my endurance, I will keep you in the hour of trial that is about to come upon the whole world, the hour that will test all who are living upon earth. I will come quickly. Hold 1 1 to what you have received, that no one may take your
*-*! P«. a. 8, 9. B Exod. 33. 33 ; P*. 69. a8. 1 Isa. 22. aa. » Isa. 45. 14 ; 49. 93 ; 60. 14 (Hebrew) ; 66. 23 ; 43. 4.
REVELATION OF JOHN, 3^*. 501
crown. He who conquers — I will make him a pillar in 12
the Temple of my God ; and never more shall he leave it ; and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the City of my God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of Heaven from my God, and I will write on him my new name. Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit is 13
saying to the Churches."
To the Angel of the Church in Laodicaea write : — 14
" These are the words of the Unchanging One, ' the Witness faithful and true, the Beginning of the Creation of God ' : — I 15 know your life ; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot ! But now, because 16 you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say ' I am rich and have grown 17 rich, and I want for nothing,' and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked ! Therefore I 18 counsel you to buy from me gold which has been refined by fire, that you may grow rich ; and white robes, that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness be hidden ; and ointment to anoint your eyes, that you may see. ' All whom 19 I love I rebuke and discipline.' Therefore be in earnest and repent. I am standing at the door and knocking ! If 20
any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in, and will feast with him, and he shall feast with me. To him 21
who conquers — to him I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, as I, when I conquered, took my seat beside my Father on his throne. Let him who has ears hear whai 22
the Spirit is saying to the Churches,"
II. — THE VISION OF THE SEVEN SEALS.
After this, in my vision, I saw an open door in the heavens, and the first voice that 1 heard was like the blast of a trumpet speaking to me. It said — ' Come up here and I will show you what must take place.' Immediately after this I fell into a trance. There stood a throne in Heaven, and on the throne was One seated. He who was seated on it was in appearance like a jasper and a sardius ; and ' round the throne there was a rainbow ' of the colour of an emerald. And round the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these I saw twenty-four Councillors sitting, clothed in white robes ; and on their heads they had crowns of gold. Out from the throne ' come flashes of lightning, cries, and peals of thunder'-!
12 Ezek. 48. « ; Isa. 62. a ; 6$. it. " Ps. 89. 37 ; Prov. 8. 22. 17 Hos. 12. 8. 19 Prov. 3. i (Septuaeint). 1 Exod. 19. 16, 24 ; Dan. 2. 29. 2 Isa. 6. i ; Ps. 47. 8. 3 Ezek. i. 26—28. 5 Ezek. i. 13; Exod. 19. 16 (Hebr
502 REVELATION OF JOHN, 4-5.
There are seven torches burning in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God ; and in front of the throne is 6 what seemed to be a sea of glass, ' resembling crystal, while within the space before the throne and round the throne are four Creatures full of eyes ' in front and behind. The first 7 Creature is like a lion, the second Creature like a calf, the third Creature has a face like a man's, and the fourth Creature is like an eagle on the wing. These four Creatures have each 8 of them six wings, and all round, and within, they are full of eyes ; and day and night they never cease to say —
' Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, our God, the Almighty, who was, and who is, and who shall be.'
And, whenever these Creatures give praise and honour and 9 thanks to him who is ' seated on the throne, to him who lives for ever and ever,' the twenty-four Councillors prostrate them- ic selves before him who is seated on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever, and throw down their crowns before the throne, saying —
't Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive 11
all praise, and honour, and power, for thou didst create all things, and at thy bidding they came into being and were created.'
Then I saw at the right hand of him who was ' seated on i the throne a book, with writing inside and out, and sealed ' with seven seals ; and I saw a mighty angel who was pro- 2 claiming in a loud voice — ' Who is worthy to open the book and break its seals ? ' But no one either in Heaven or 3 on earth or under the earth was able to open the book or look within it. At this I wept long, because no one 4 could be found who was worthy to open the book or look within it. But one of the Councillors said to me — ' Do not 5 weep. The Lion conquered — the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Scion of David — and can therefore open the book with its seven seals.'
Then, within the space between the throne and the four 6 Creatures, and in the midst of the Councillors, I saw, standing, a Lamb, which seemed to have been sacrificed. It had seven horns and seven eyes. (These eyes are the seven Spirits of God, and they are sent into all the world.) The Lamb came 7 forward ; and he has taken the book from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And, when he had 8
•Ezek. i 5, 18, aa, 26; 10. i ; Isa. 6. i— a. 7 Ezek. i. 10 ; 10. 14. 8 Isa. 6. a, 3; Ezck. i. 18; 10. la ; Amos 4. 13 (Scptuagint) ; Exod. 3. 14; Isa. 41. 4.
10 Isa. 6. i ; P». 47. 8; Dan. 4. 34; 6. a6 ; la. 7. 1 Isa. 6. i ; Pa. 47. 8; Ezek. a. 9 — 10 ; Isa. ag. 1 1. K Gen. 49. 9 ; Isa. n. 10. " Isa. 53. 7 ; Zech. 4. 10. 1 Is*. 6. i ; Ps. 47. 8. » Ps. 141. a.
REVELATION OF JOHN, 5-6. 503
taken the book, the four Creatures and the twenty-four Councillors prostrated themselves before the Lamb, each of them holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense. (These are the prayers of Christ's People.) And they are singing a 9 new song —
' Thou art worthy to take the book and break its seals, for thou wast sacrificed, and with thy blood thou didst buy for God men of every tribe, and language, and people, and nation, and didst make 10
them a Kingdom of Priests in the service of our God, and they are reigning upon the earth.'
Then, in my vision, I heard the voices of many angels u round the throne, and of the Creatures, and of the Councillors. In number they were ' ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands,' and they cried in a loud voice — 12
' Worthy is the Lamb that was sacrificed to re- ceive all power, and wealth, and wisdom, and might, and honour, and praise, and blessing.'
And I heard every created thing in the air, and on the earth, 13 and under the earth, and on the sea, and all that is in them crying—
' To him who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed all blessing, and honour, and praise, and dominion for ever and ever.'
And the four Creatures said 'Amen,' and the Councillors 14 prostrated themselves and worshipped.
Then I saw the Lamb break one of the seven seals, and I i heard one of the four Creatures crying with a voice like thunder — 'Come.' And in my vision I saw ' a white horse.' 2 Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second 3 Creature crying — ' Come.' Then there went out another 4 horse, ' a red horse,' and to its rider was given the power to deprive the earth of peace, so that men should kill one another ; and he was given a great sword.
When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third 5 Creature crying — 'Come.' And in my vision I saw ' a black horse.' Its rider held scales in his hand. And I heard what 6 seemed to be a voice, coming from among the four Creatures,
9 Ps. 144. 9. 10 Exod. 19. 6. 11 Dan. 7. 10. 12 isa. S3. 7. 18 Isa. 6. i ; Ps. 47. 8. &-BZech. 1.8; 6. 2—3,6.
504 REVELATION OF JOHN, 6-7.
crying — ' A quart of wheat for a florin, and three quarts of barley for a florin ! But do not harm the oil and the wine.'
When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of 7 the fourth Creature crying — ' Come.' And in my vision I saw 8 a grey horse. His rider's name was Death, and the Lord of the Place of Death rode behind him ; and power was given them over the fourth part of the earth, so that they might ' destroy with sword and famine and death, and by means of the wild beasts of the earth.'
When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar 9 the souls of those who had been killed for the sake of God's Message and for the testimony which they had borne. They 10 cried in a loud voice — ' How long, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, before thou wilt give judgement and avenge our blood upon all who are living upon the earth ? ' Then to each II of them was given a white robe, and they were told to rest yet a little longer, till the number of their fellow-servants and of their Brothers who were about to be put to death, as they had been, should be complete.
And I saw the Lamb break the sixth seal, and then there 12 was a great earthquake. The sun became black, like sack- cloth, and the moon, which was at its full, like blood. ' The 13 stars of the heavens fell ' to the earth, as when a fig-tree, shaken by a strong wind, drops its unripe fruit. The heavens 14 disappeared like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every moun- tain and island was moved from its place. Then all the 15 kings of the earth, and the princes, and the generals, and the rich, and the powerful, and every slave and free man, ' hid themselves in the caves and under the rocks ' of the mountains ; and they are crying to the mountains and the rocks — ' Fall 16 upon us, and hide us from the eyes of him who is seated on the throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb, for the great 17 Day of their Wrath is come, and who can stand to meet it ? '
After this, I saw four angels standing ' upon the four i corners of the earth,' restraining the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow over the earth, or over the sea, or against any tree. And, in the east, I saw another angel, 2 ascending, holding the seal of the Living God ; and he cried in a loud voice to the four angels, to whom there had been given power to harm the earth and the sea — ' Do not harm the 3 earth, or the sea, or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.' I heard, 4
too, the number of those who had been sealed. It was one hundred and forty-four thousand ; and they were from every tribe of the Israelites.
• Hon. 13. 14; Ezek. 33. ay: 14. ai ; «. u; 29. 5 ; 34. a8. 1° Zech. i. ia; Deut. 32. 43 ; a King* 9. 7 ; Hos. 4. i. « Joel a. 31. IS— l* Iga. 34. 4 ; 13. «o. 18 Ps. 48. 4 (Scptuag-int) ; a. a; Isa. 24. 21 ; 34. ia; Jcr. 4. 39; Isa. a. 10. 1« Hoa. 10. 8 ; Isa. 6. i ; PH. 47. 8. " Joel a. n ; Zeph. i. 14—15, 18; Mai. 3. a. 1 Ezck. 7. a ; 37. 9 ; Zech. 6. $. 3 Ezek. 9. 4.
REVELATION OF JOHN, 7. 505
From the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed, 5
from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, 6
from the tribe of Napthali twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, 7
from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Zebulon twelve thousand, 8
from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
After this, in my vision, I saw a vast throng which no man 9 could number, of men from every nation and of all tribes, and peoples, and languages. They stood in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, robed in white, holding palm branches in their hands. And they are crying in a loud 10 voice —
' Salvation be ascribed to our God who is seated on his throne and to the Lamb.'
And all the angels were standing round the throne and the il Councillors and the four Creatures, and they prostrated them-, selves on their faces in front of the throne and worshipped God, saying — 12
' Amen. Blessing, and praise, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might be ascribed to our God for ever and ever. Amen. '
Then one of the Councillors turned to me and said ' Who 13 are these who are robed in white ? and whence did they come ? '
' My Lord,' I answered, ' it is you who know.' 14
'These,' he said, 'are they who come through the Great Persecution ; they washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. And therefore it is that they are before the 15 throne of God, and are serving him day and night in his Temple ; and he who is seated on the throne will shelter them. Never again shall they be hungry, never again shall 16 they be thirsty, nor shall the sun smite upon them, nor any scorching heat ; for the Lamb that stands in the space before 17 the throne will be their shepherd, and will lead them to life- giving springs of water ; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.'
10 Isa. 6. i ; Ps. 47. 8. " Dan. 12. i ; Gen. 49. n. i» Isa. 6. i ; Ps. 47. 8. 16— W Isa. 49. 10. 17 Ezek. 34. 23; Jer. 2. 13; Isa. 25. 8; Jer. 31. 16.
506 REVELATION OF JOHN, 8—9.
As soon as the Lamb had broken the seventh seal, there was silence in Heaven for, it might be, half-an-hour.
III. — THE VISION OF THE SEVEN TRUMPET-BLASTS.
Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and 2 seven trumpets were given to them.
Next, another angel came and stood at the altar with a 3 golden censer in his hand ; and a great quantity of incense was given to him, to mingle with the prayers of all Christ's People upon the golden altar before the throne. The smoke 4 of the incense ascended, with the prayers of Christ's People, from the hand of the angel before God. Then the angel took 5 the censer, and filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it down upon the earth ; and there followed ' peals of thunder, cries, flashes of lightning,' and an earthquake.
Then the seven angels holding the seven trumpets prepared 6 to blow their blasts.
The first blew ; and there came hail and fire mixed with 7 blood, and it fell upon the earth. A third part of the earth was burnt up, and a third of the trees, and every blade of grass. *
Then the second angel blew ; and what appeared to be a 8 great mountain, burning, was hurled into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, and a third part of all created things 9 that are in the sea — that is, of all living things — died, and a third of the ships was destroyed.
Then the third angel blew ; and there fell from the heavens 10 a great star, burning like a torch. It fell upon a third of the rivers and upon the springs. (The star is called 'Worm- n wood.') A third of the water became bitter as wormwood, and so bitter was the water that many died from drinking it.
Then the fourth angel blew ; and a third of the sun and a 12 third of the moon and a third of the stars were blasted, so that a third of them was eclipsed, and for a third part of the day there was no light, and at night it was the same.
And, in my vision, I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven 13 and crying in a loud voice — ' Woe, woe, woe for all who live on the earth, at the other trumpet-blasts of the three angels who have yet to blow.'
Then the fifth angel blew ; and I saw a Star that had fallen i upon the earth from the heavens, and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. He opened the bottomless pit, and 2
' Anton p. i. *— * P». 1^1. a. * Lev. 16. la ; Exod. 19. 16 (Hebrew and Septua- pint). 1 Exod. 9. 34; Ezelc. 38. aa ; Joel a. 30. 8 ler. 51. 35; Exod. 7. 19. '" Ua. 14. i*. 8 Gen. 19. 28 (Hebrew) ; Exod. 19. 18 ; Joel a. 10.
REVELATION OF JOHN, 9. 507
from the pit rose a smoke like the smoke of a great furnace. The sun and the air grew dark because of the smoke from the pit. Out of the smoke locusts descended upon the earth, and 3 they received the same power as that possessed by scorpions. They were told not to harm the grass, or any plant, or any 4 tree, but only those who have not ' the seal of God upon their foreheads.' Yet they were not allowed to kill them, but it 5 was ordered that those men should be tortured for five months. Their torture was like the torture caused by a scorpion when it stings a man. In those days men ' will seek Death and 6 will not find it ' ; they will long to die, but Death flees from them. In appearance the locusts were like horses equipped 7 for battle. On their heads there were what appeared to be crowns that shone like gold, their faces resembled human faces, and they had hair like the hair of a woman, their teeth 8 were like lions' teeth, and they had what seemed to be iron 9 breastplates, while the noise of their wings was like the noise of chariots drawn by many horses, galloping into battle. They 10 have tails like scorpions, and stings, and in their tails lies their power to harm men for five months. They have as their 1 1 king the Angel of the bottomless pit, whose name, in Hebrew, is 'Abaddon,' while, in Greek, his name is ' Apollyon ' (the Destroyer).
The first Woe has passed ; and still there are two Woes to 12 follow !
Then the sixth angel blew ; and I heard a voice proceeding 13 from the corners of the golden altar that stood before God. It spoke to the sixth angel— the angel with the trumpet — and 14 said ' Let loose the four angels that are in chains at the great river Euphrates.' Then the four angels, that were held in 15 readiness for that hour and day and month and year, were let loose, to destroy a third of mankind. The number of the 16 hosts of horsemen was ten thousand times ten thousand, twice told ; I heard their number. And this is what the horses and 17 their riders appeared to be like in my vision : — They had breastplates of fire, blood-red and sulphurous, and the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, while out of their mouths issue fire, and smoke, and sulphur. Through these three 18 Curses a third of mankind perished — because of the fire, and the smoke, and the sulphur that issued from their mouths ; for the power of the horses lies in their mouths and in their 19 tails. For their tails are like snakes, with heads, and it is with them that they do harm. But those who were left of mankind, 20 who had not perished through these Curses, did not repent and turn away from what their own hands had made ; they would
3 — * Exod. 10. 12, 15. * Ezek. 9. 4. 6 Job 3. 21. 7 Joel 2. 4, 5. 8 Joel i. 6. » Joel 2. £. 1* Gen. 15. 18; Deut. i. 7; Josh. i. 4. a> Isa. 17. 8 ; Dan. 5. 3, 23 (Septuagint) ; Dan. 5. 4, 23 (Chaldaean) ; Deut. 32. 17 ; Ps. 115. 7.
508 REVELATION OF JOHN, 9-11.
not abandon the worship of ' demons, and of idols made of gold or silver or brass or stone or wood, which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk ' ; and they did not repent of their murders, or their sorceries, or their licentiousness, or their thefts.
Then I saw another mighty angel, descending from Heaven. His robe was a cloud ; over his head was the rainbow ; his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire ; in his hand he held a little book open. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land ; and he cried in a loud voice like the roaring of a lion. At his cry the seven peals of thunder spoke, each with its own voice. And, when they spoke,
I was about to write ; but I heard a voice from Heaven say — • ' Keep secret what the seven peals of thunder said, and do not write it down.' Then the angel, whom I had seen
standing on the sea and on the land, ' raised his right hand to the heavens, and swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, and the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it,' that time should cease to be. Moreover at the time when the seventh angel shall speak, when he is ready to blow his blast, then the hidden purposes of God, of which he told the good news to his servants, the Prophets, are at once fulfilled. Then
came the voice which I had heard from Heaven. It spoke to me again, and said — ' Go and take the book that is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.' So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little book. And he said ' Take it, and eat it. It will be bitter to your stomach, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.' I took the little book out of the angel's hand ' and ate it, and, while in my mouth, it was like the sweetest honey ' ; but, when I had eaten it, it was bitter to my stomach. And I was told — ' You must prophesy again about men of many peoples, and nations, and languages, and about many kings.'
Then I was given a measure like a rod, and a voice said to me — ' Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the worshippers there. But omit the court outside the Temple, and do not measure that, for it has been given up to the nations ; and the holy City will be under their heel for forty-two months. Then I will give permission to my Two Witnesses, and for those twelve hundred and sixty days they will continue teaching, clothed in sackcloth.' These men are repre-
sented by ' the two olive trees and the two lamps that stand before the Lord of the earth.' When any one wishes to harm them, ' fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies ' ; and whoever wishes to harm them will, in this way,
REVELATION OF JOHN, 11. 509
inevitably perish. These men have the power to close the 6 heavens, that ' no rain may fall ' during the time that they are teaching ; and they have power ' to turn the streams into blood, and to smite the land with any Curse,' whenever they will. As soon as they have completed their testimony, ' the 7 wild Beast that ascends from the bottomless pit will make war upon them and conquer ' and kill them. Their dead 8 bodies will lie in the streets of the great City, which is mysti- cally spoken of as ' Sodom' and ' Egypt,' where their Master was crucified. Men of all peoples, and tribes, and languages, g and nations look at their dead bodies for three days and a half, and do not allow them to be laid in a grave. Those who live 10 on the earth rejoice over them and are merry, and they will send presents to one another, because these two Prophets brought torments upon those who live on the earth. After three 1 1 days and a half ' the life-giving breath of God entered these men, and they stood up upon their feet,' and a great terror took possession of those who were watching them. The two 12 men heard a loud voice from Heaven which said to them — 'Come up here,' and they went up to Heaven in the cloud, while their enemies watched them. At that very time a 13
great earthquake occurred. A tenth part of the city fell, and seven thousand people perished in the earthquake. Those who escaped were much terrified, and praised the God of Heaven.
The second Woe has passed ; and there is a third Woe soon 14 to follow !
Then the seventh angel blew ; and loud voices were heard 15 in Heaven saying —
' The Kingdom of the World has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. '
At this the twenty-four Councillors, who were seated on their 16 thrones before God, prostrated themselves on their faces and worshipped Him, saying — 17
' We thank thee, O Lord, our God, the Almighty, who art and who wast, that thou hast assumed thy great power and reigned. The nations were enraged, 18
and thy Wrath fell upon them ; the time came for the dead to be judged, and for thee to give the reward to thy servants the Prophets, and to the People of Christ, and to those who reverence thy Name — the high and the low alike — and to destroy those who are destroying the earth.'
8 i Kings 17. i ; Exod. 7. 17, 19 ; i Sam. 4. 8. 7 Dan. 7. 3, 7 — 8 (Septuagint), ai. 8 Isa. i. 10. 10-11 Ps. 105. 38. 11 Ezek. 37. 5, 10. 12 3 Kings a. n. 13 Ezek. 38. 19—20 ; Dan. a. i9(Chaldaean). 1» Obad. ai ; Ps. aa. a8 ; Exod. 15. 18 ; Ps. 10. 16 ; Dan. a. 44 ; 7. 14 ; Ps. 2. a. I7 Amos. 4. 13 (Septuagint) ; Exod. 3. 14 ; Isa. 41. 4. 17— 1» Ps. 99. i. 18 Ps. a. i (Hebrew), 5; 46. 6 (Hebrew) ; 115. 13; Amos 3. 7; Dan. 9. 6, 10; Zech. i. 6.
510 REVELATION OF JOHN, 11— 12.
Then the Temple of God in Heaven was opened, and the Ark 19 containing his Covenant was seen in his Temple ; and there followed ' flashes of lightning, cries, peals of thunder,' an earthquake, and 'a great storm of hail.'
IV. — THE VISION OF SEVEN SYMBOLICAL FIGURES.
Then a great portent was seen in the heavens — a woman i whose robe was the sun, and who had the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with 2 child ; and ' she is crying out in the pain and agony of child- birth.' Another portent also was seen in the heavens. There 3 was a great red Dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. His tail draws after 4 it a third of the stars in the heavens, and it hurled them down on the earth. The Dragon is standing in front of the woman who is about to give birth to the child, so that he may devour it as soon as it is born. The woman gave birth to a son, a 5 male child, who is destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod ; and her child was at once caught up to God upon his throne. But the woman fled into the wilderness, where there is 6 a place prepared for her by God, to be tended there for twelve hundred and sixty days.
Then a battle took place in the heavens. Michael and his 7 angels fought with the Dragon. But though the Dragon, with his angels, fought, he did not prevail ; and there was 8 no place left for them any longer in the heavens. Then the 9 great Dragon, the primeval Serpent, known as the ' Devil ' and ' Satan,' who deceives all the world, was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. And 10 I heard a loud voice in Heaven which said —
' Now has begun the day of the Salvation, and Power, and Dominion of our God, and the Rule of his Christ ; for the Accuser of our Brothers has been hurled down, he who has been accusing them before our God day and night. Their victory was due to u
the Blood of the Lamb, and to the Message to which they bore their testimony. In their love of life they shrank not from death. Therefore, be glad, O 12
Heaven, and all who live in Heaven ! Alas for the earth and for the sea, for the Devil has gone down to you in great fury, knowing that he has but little time.'
W i King* 8. t. 6; a Chron. 5. 7; Exod. 19. 16 (Hebrew and Septuagint); Exod. 9. 24. a Isa. 66. 6—7. 3 Dan. 7. 7. * Dan. 8. 10. » isa. 66. 7 ; Ps. a. 8—0. 1 Dan. 10. 13—30. * Gen. 3. i ; Zech. 3. i— a (Hebrew and Septuagint). 12 I»a- 44- '3 I 49- «3-
REVELATION OF JOHN, 12-1$. 611
When the Dragon saw that he was hurled down to the 13 earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But to the woman were given the two wings of the 14 great eagle, so that she might fly to her place in the wilderness, where she is being tended for ' one year, and for two years, and for half a year,' in safety from the Serpent. Then the 15 Serpent poured water from its mouth after the woman, like a river, so that it might sweep her away. But Earth came to 16 her help, and opened her mouth and drank up the river which the Dragon had poured out of its mouth. The Dragon was 17 enraged at the woman, and went to fight with the rest of her off- spring— those who lay to heart the commands of God and bear their testimony to Jesus ; and he took his stand on the sea-shore.
Then I saw, ' rising out of the sea, a wild Beast with ten i horns ' and seven heads. On its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names. The Beast that I saw 2 was like a leopard ; but its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion. The Dragon gave it his power and his throne, and wide dominion. One of its heads 3 seemed to me to have been mortally wounded, but its deadly wound had been healed. The whole earth followed the Beast, wondering ; and men worshipped the Dragon, because he had 4 given his dominion to the Beast ; while, as they worshipped the Beast, they said — ' Who can compare with the Beast ? and who can fight with it ? ' The Beast was given ' a mouth 5 that spoke proudly ' and blasphemously, and it was empowered to work its will for forty-two months. It opened its mouth 6 only to blaspheme God, to blaspheme his Name and his Tabernacle — those who dwell in his Tabernacle in Heaven. It had been permitted to fight with Christ's People and to 7 conquer them, and it had received power over men of every tribe, and people, and language, and nation. All who are 8 living on earth will worship it — all whose names have not been written in the Lamb's Book of Life, the Lamb that has been sacrificed from the foundation of the world. Let 9
him who has ears hear. ' Whoever is destined for captivity 10 goes into captivity.' Whoever shall kill with the sword must inevitably be killed with the sword. (Here there is
need for endurance and faith on the part of Christ's People.)
Then I saw, rising out of the earth, another wild Beast. It 1 1 had two horns like those of a lamb, and its voice was like a dragon's. It exercises all the authority of the first Beast 12 under its very eyes ; and it makes the earth and all who are living on it worship that first Beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great marvels, even causing fire to fall 13 from the heavens to the earth, before men's eyes ; and in con- 14
14 Dan. 7. 25 ; 12. 7. 1 Dan. 7. 3, 7. 2 Dan. 7. 4 — 6, 8. B Dan. 8. 12, 24. 7 Dan. 7. 8 (Septuagint), 21. 8 Dan. 12. i ; Ps. 69. 28 ; Isa. 53. 7. 10 Jer. 15. 2.
512 REVELATION OF JOHN, 13-14.
sequence of the marvels which it was allowed to perform under the eyes of the Beast, it is able to deceive all who are living on the earth. It bids those who live on the earth to make a statue in honour of the Beast, who, despite the wound from the sword, yet lived. It was permitted to breathe life into the 15 image of the Beast, so that the image of the Beast might speak ; and it was also permitted to cause all who refused to worship the image of the Beast to be put to death. High 16 and low, rich and poor, freemen and slaves — it causes a brand to be put on the right hand or on the forehead of every one of them, so that no one is able to buy or sell, except those that 17 bear this brand — either the name of the Beast or the number indicated by the letters of his name. (Here there is need 18
for discernment.) Let him who has the ability compute the number of the Beast ; for the number indicates a man's name. Its number is six hundred and sixty-six.
Then, in my vision, I saw the Lamb standing on Mount i Zion. With him were a hundred and forty-four thousand men, with his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from Heaven, ' like the 2 sound of many waters,' and like the sound of a loud peal of thunder ; the sound that I heard was like the music of harpers playing on their harps. They are singing what seems to be a 3 new song, before the throne, and before the four Creatures and the Councillors ; and no one was able to learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been re- deemed from earth. These are the men who never defiled 4 themselves in their intercourse with women ; they are as pure as virgins. These are the men who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were redeemed as the first-fruits of mankind for God and for the Lamb. ' No lie was ever heard upon 5 their lips.' They are beyond reach of blame.
Then I saw another angel, flying in mid-heaven. He had 6 the Good News, decreed from eternity, to announce to those who dwell on the earth — to men of every nation, and tribe, and language, and people ; and he cried in a loud voice — 7 ' Reverence God, and give him praise (for the hour of his Judgement has come) and worship him who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all springs of water.'
Then a second angel followed, crying — ' She has fallen ! 8 She has fallen — Babylon the Great, who has made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her licentiousness ! '
Then a third angel followed them, crying in a loud voice — 9 ' Whoever worships the Beast and its image, and receives its
18 Dan. 3. «— 6. ] Ezclc. q. 4. 2 Ezek. i. 34 ; 43. 2 (Hebrew); Dan. 10 6. * IV 144. 9. » Isa. 53. q ; Zeph. 3. 13. 1 Exod. 20. 11 ; Pa. 146. 6. H Isa. 21. 9 ; Dan. 4. 30 ; Jcr. 51. 7—8.
REVELATION OF JOHN, 14-15. 513
brand on his forehead or on his hand, that man shall drink 10 the maddening wine of God that has been poured unmixed into the cup of his Wrath, and he shall be tortured with fire and sulphur before the eyes of the holy angels and before the eyes of the Lamb. The smoke from their torture rises for ever u and ever, and they have no rest day nor night — those who worship the Beast and its image, and all who are branded with its name.' (Here there is need for endurance on 12
the part of Christ's People — those who lay to heart the com- mands of God and the Faith of Jesus.)
Then I heard a voice from Heaven saying ' Write — " Blessed 13 are the dead who from this hour die in union with the Lord." " Yes," answers the Spirit, "that they may rest from their toil. Their good deeds go with them."'
Then, in my vision, I saw a white cloud, and on the cloud 14 there was sitting one 'like a man.' On his head he had a crown of gold, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Then another angel came out from the Temple, crying in a 15 loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud — ' Take your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come ; the Harvest of Earth is ready.' He who was sitting on the cloud brought 16 his sickle down upon the earth, and the Harvest of Earth was reaped.
Then another angel came out of the Temple in Heaven ; he, 17 also, had a sharp sickle.
Then another angel came out of the altar ; he had power 18 over fire, and he called in a loud voice to the angel that had the sharp sickle — ' Take your sharp sickle, and gather the bunches from the Vine of Earth, for its grapes are ripe.' The 19 angel brought his sickle down on the earth and gathered the fruit of the Vine of Earth, and threw it into the great wine- press of the Wrath of God. The ' grapes were trodden in 20 the press' outside the city ; and blood came out of the press, rising as high as the bridles of the horses for a distance of two hundred miles.
V. — THE VISION OF THE SEVEN CURSES.
Then I saw another portent in the heavens — a great and marvellous portent — seven angels with the seven last Curses ; because with them the Wrath of God is ended.
Then I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire ; and, standing by this sea of glass, holding the harps of God, I saw those who had come victorious out of the conflict with the Beast and its image and the number that
10 Isa. 51. 17 ; Ps. 75. 8 ; Gen. 19. 24 ; Ezek. 38. 22. H Isa. 34. 10. 1* Dan. 7. 13; 10. 16. 15-20 Joel 3. 13. 1 Lev. 26. 21.
514 REVELATION OF JOHN, 15-16.
formed its name. They are singing the song of Moses, the 3 Servant of God, and the song of the Lamb —
' Great and marvellous are thy deeds, O Lord, our God, the Almighty. Righteous and true are thy ways, Eternal King. Who will not reverence and 4
praise thy Name, O Lord ? Thou alone art holy ! All nations will come and worship before thee, for thy judgements have become manifest.'
After this I saw that the inmost shrine of the Tabernacle of 5 Revelation in Heaven was opened, and out of it came the 6 seven angels with the seven Curses. They were adorned with precious stones, pure and bright, and had golden girdles round their breasts. One of the four Creatures gave the seven 7 angels seven golden bowls, filled with the Wrath of God who lives for ever and ever. ' The Temple was filled with 8 smoke from the Glory ' and Majesty of God ; and no one could enter the Temple, until the seven Curses inflicted by the seven angels were at an end. Then I heard a loud i
voice, which came from the Temple, saying to the seven angels — ' Go and empty the seven bowls of the Wrath of God upon the earth.'
The first angel went and emptied his bowl upon the 2 earth ; and it turned to loathsome and painful sores upon all who bore the brand of the Beast and who worshipped its image.
Then the second angel emptied his bowl upon the sea ; and 3 it turned to blood like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died — everything in the sea.
Then the third angel emptied his bowl upon the rivers and 4 springs of water ; and it turned to blood. And I heard 5
the Angel of the Waters saying — ' Righteous art thou, thou who art and who wast, the Holy One, in inflicting this judge- ment ; for men shed the blood of Christ's People and of the 6 Prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve.' And I heard the response from the 7
altar — ' Yes, O Lord, our God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgements.'
Then the fourth angel emptied his bowl upon the sun ; and 8 he was permitted to scorch men with fire ; and men were 9 scorched by the intense heat. They blasphemed the Name of God who controlled these Curses, yet they did not repent and give him praise.
Then the fifth angel emptied his bowl upon the throne of the ic
* Exod. 15. i ; Josh. 14. 7; Ps. MI. a; Exod. 34. 10; Ps. 139. 14 ; Amos 4. 13 (Septuagint) ; Deut. 33. 4 ; Jer. 10. 10 (Hebrew). * Jer. 10. 7 (Hebrew) ; Ps. 86. q; Mai. i. n ; Dcut. 32. 4; Ps. 145. 17. •'' Exod. 40. 34. " Lev. 26. 21 ; Ezek. 28. 13. * Isa. 6. 4 ; Exod. 40. 34— 35 ; Lev. 26. 21. ] Isa. 66. 6 ; Ps. 69. 24; Jer. 10.25; Zeph. 3. 8. 2 Exod. 9. 9—11; Deut. 28. 35. :1 ExoJ. 7. 20 (Hebrew), 21. * Ps. 78. 44; Exod. 7. 30 (Hebrew). * Ps. 119. 137; Exod. 3. 14; Isa. 41. 4; Deut. 32. 4; Ps. 145. 17. 8 PH. 79. 3 Isa. 49. 26. * Amos 4. 13 (Septuagint) ; P». 19. 9; 119. 137. 10 Exod. 10. aa.
REVELATION OF JOHN, 16-17. 515
Beast ; and darkness fell upon its Kingdom. Men gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of Heaven, n because of their pains and because of their sores ; yet they did not repent of what they had done.
Then the sixth angel emptied his bowl upon the great river 12 Euphrates ; and the water in the river was dried up, so that the road for the Kings of the East might be made ready. And I saw three foul spirits, like frogs, come 13
from the mouth of the Dragon and from the mouth of the Beast and from the mouth of the false Prophet. They are the 14 spirits of demons, and perform marvels ; they go to kings all over the world, to collect them for the battle on the Great Day of Almighty God. ('I am coming like a thief! 15
Happy will he be who is on the watch, and keeps his clothing at hand, so that he will not have to walk about unclothed and let men see his nakedness.') And the spirits collected 16
the kings at the place called in Hebrew ' Har-Magedon.'
Then the seventh Angel emptied his bowl upon the 17 air. (A loud voice came from the throne in the Temple ;
it said ' All is over.') There followed 'flashes of lightning, 18
cries, and peals of thunder'; and there was a great earth- quake, such as had not occurred since man began to be upon the earth — none so great ; and the great City was torn in three, 19 and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the Great, and gave her the maddening wine-cup of his Wrath ; and every island vanished, and the mountains disappeared. 20 Great hailstones, a pound in weight, are falling upon men 21 from the heavens. And men blasphemed God because of the Curse of the hail, for it was a very terrible Curse.
VI. — THE DOOM OF THE ENEMIES OF THE CHRIST.
Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls came and spoke to me. ' Come here,' he said, ' and I will show you the sentence passed upon that Great Harlot who is seated at the meeting of many waters, and with whom all the kings of the earth have had licentious intercourse ; while all who live upon the earth have been made drunk by the wine of her licentiousness.' And he bore me away in a trance to a lonely place, and I saw a woman seated upon a scarlet Beast, which was covered with blasphemous names ; it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold ornaments, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup, full of idolatrous
11 Dan. 2. 19 (Chaldaean). 12 Is Deut. 1.7; Josh. i. 4 ; Isa. ,
16 Zech. 12. n (Hebrew). : r_
g-int) ; Dan. 12. i. 19 Dan. 4. 30; Isa. 51. 17; Jer. 25. 15. 21 Exod. 9. 34, *-2 Jer. 51. 13 (Hebrew), 7. 2 Isa. 33. 17 (Hebrew). 3 Dan. 7. 7. 4 Jer. 51. 7,
). 12 Isa. 44. 27 ; Jer. 50. 38 (Hebrew) ; Gen. 15. 18; 41. 2, 25. 13 Exod. 8. 3. " Amos 4. 13 (Septuagint). 1' Isa. 66. 6- I8 Exod. 19. 16 (Hebrew and Septua-
516 REVELATION OF JOHN, 17—18.
abominations, and the unclean fruits of her licentiousness ; while on her forehead there was written this mystic name — 5 ' BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF ALL IDOLATROUS ABOMINATIONS UPON EARTH.' And I saw the 6 woman drunk with the blood of Christ's People and with the blood of the martyrs for Jesus. When I saw her, I was
amazed beyond measure ; but the angel said to me — ' Why 7 were you amazed ? I will tell you the mystic meaning of the vision of this woman, and of the Beast, with the seven, heads and ten horns, that carries her. The Beast that you saw was, 8 but is not, and is about to rise out of the bottomless pit, and is on its way to destruction. Those who are living on earth will be amazed — those whose names have not been written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world — when they see that the Beast was, but is not, and yet will come.' (Here 9
there is need for the discerning mind.) The seven heads are seven mountains upon which the woman is seated. They are 10 also seven kings ; of whom five have fallen and one remains, while one is not yet come. When he comes, he must stay for a little while. So must the Beast that was, but is not. He 1 1 counts as an eighth king, although he is one of the seven, and is on his way to destruction. The ten horns that you saw 12 are ten kings, who have not yet received their kingdoms, but for an hour they receive the authority of kings, together with the Beast. These kings are of one mind in surrendering 13 their power and authority to the Beast. They will fight with 14 the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings ; so, too, will those with him who have received the Call and are chosen and faithful. And 15
the angel said to me — 'The waters that you saw, where the Harlot is seated, are throngs of people and men of all nations and languages. The ten horns that you saw, and the 16 Beast — they will hate the Harlot, and cause her to become deserted and strip her bare ; they will eat her very flesh and utterly consume her with fire. For God has put it into their 17 minds to carry out his purpose, in carrying out their common purpose and surrendering their kingdoms to the Beast, until God's decrees shall be executed. As for the woman whom 18 you saw, she is the great city that holds sway over all the kings of the earth.'
After this I saw another angel, descending from Heaven, i invested with great authority ; and the earth was illuminated by his splendour. With a mighty voice he cried — ' She has 2 fallen ! She has fallen — Babylon the Great ! She has become .'in abode of demons, a stronghold of every wicked spirit, a stronghold of every foul and hateful bird. l<or, after drinking 3
*
8 Dan. 4. 30. « Dan. 7.3; la. i ; Ps. &). aS. '2 Dan. 7. 14. » I Dan. a. 47. « Jcr. 51. 13 (Hebrew). " Ps. a. a ; 8q. a?. 2 I8a. 3I. 9; Jer. 9. ii ; Iga. 13. ai ; 34. 14. 3 Jer. p. 7 ; 3^. 16, 27 ; Isa. 33. 17.
14 Dcut. 10. 17 ; Dan. 4. 30 ;
REVELATION OF JOHN, 18. 517
the maddening wine of her licentiousness, all the nations have fallen ; while all the kings of the earth have had licentious intercourse with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich through the excess of her luxury.' Then I 4
heard another voice from Heaven saying — ' Come out of her, my People, that you may not participate in her sins, and that you may not suffer from the Curses inflicted upon her. For 5 her sins are heaped up to the heavens, and God has not for- gotten her misdeeds. Pay her back the treatment with which 6 she has treated you ; yes, repay twice over what her actions deserve ; in the cup which she mixed for you, mix for her as much again ; for her self-glorification and her luxury, give her 7 now an equal measure of torture and misery. In her heart she says ' I sit here a queen ; no widow am I ; I shall never know misery.' Therefore in one day shall these Curses befall 8 her — death, misery, and famine, and she shall be utterly con- sumed by fire ; for mighty is the Lord God who condemned her. All the kings of the earth who had licentious intercourse 9 with her and shared her luxury will weep and lament over her, when they see the smoke from the burning city, while they 10 stand at a distance, horrified at her torture, and cry — ' Alas ! Alas ! Great City ! O mighty City of Babylon ! In a single hour your judgement fell. And the merchants of the earth 1 1 weep and wail over her, because no longer does any one buy their cargoes — their cargoes of gold, or silver, or precious 12 stones, or pearls, or fine linen, or purple robes, or silk, or scarlet cloth ; nor their many scented woods ; nor their many articles of ivory ; nor their many articles of choicest wood, or brass, or iron, or marble ; nor their cinnamon, or spice, or incense, 13 or perfumes, or frankincense, or wine, or oil, or fine flour, or wheat, or cattle, or sheep ; nor their horses, or chariots, or slaves ; nor the bodies and souls of men. The fruit 14 that your soul craved is no longer within your reach, and all dainties and luxuries are lost to you, never to be found again.' The merchants who sold these things, and grew rich 15 by her, will stand at a distance weeping and wailing, horrified at her torture, and crying — ' Alas ! Alas ! Great City ! O City 16 clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet cloth ! O City adorned with gold ornaments, and precious stones, and pearls ! In a single hour your vast wealth vanished.' Every ship's 17 captain and all who sail to any port, and sailors, and all who • get their living from the sea, stood at a distance, and seeing 18 the smoke from the burning city, cried — ' What city can com- pare with the Great City ? ' They threw dust on their heads, 19 and, as they wept and wailed, they cried — ' Alas ! Alas ! Great
518 REVELATION OF JOHN, 18—19.
City ! All who have ships on the sea grew rich through her magnificence. In a single hour it has vanished.' Rejoice 20
over her, O Heaven, and People of Christ, and Apostles, and Prophets, for God has avenged you on her !
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, 21 and threw it into the sea, crying — ' So shall Babylon, the Great City, be violently overthrown, never more to be seen. No 22 more shall the music of harpers, or minstrels, or fluteplayers, or trumpeters be heard in you ; no more shall any worker, skilled in any art, be found in you ; no more shall the sound of a mill be heard in you ; no more shall the light of a lamp shine in 23 you ; no more shall the voices of bridegroom and bride be heard in you. Your merchants were the great men of the earth, for all the nations were deceived by your magical charms. Yes, and in her was to be found the blood of the 24 Prophets and of Christ's People, and of all who have been put to death upon the earth.'
After this, I heard what seemed to be a great shout from a i vast throng in Heaven, crying —
' Hallelujah ! To our God belong Salvation, and Glory, and Power, for true and righteous are his 2
judgements. For he has passed judgement upon the Great Harlot who was corrupting the earth by her licentiousness, and he has taken vengeance upon her for the blood of his servants.'
Again they cried — ' Hallelujah ! ' And the smoke from her 3 ruins rises for ever and ever. Then the twenty-four Councillors 4 and the four Creatures prostrated themselves and worshipped God who was seated upon the throne, crying — ' Amen, 5 Hallelujah ! ' ; and from the throne there came a voice which said —
' Praise our God all you who serve him,
You who reverence him, both high and low.' Then I heard ' what seemed to be the shout of a vast 6 throng, like the sound of many waters,' and like the sound of loud peals of thunder, crying —
' Hallelujah ! For the Lord is King, our God, the Almighty. Let us rejoice and exult ; and we 7
will pay him honour, for the hour for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made her- self ready. And to her it has been granted to robe 8 herself in fine linen, white and pure, for that linen is the good deeds of the People of Christ.'
*> Dcut. 33. 43. 21 Jer. 51. 63—64 ; Ezek. a6. ai ; Dan. 4. 30. & Ezelc. aft. 13. B-4t Jcr. 35. 10 (Hebrew). B Isa. 33. 8; 47. 9. '** Jer. 51. 49. 1 Pa. 104. 35. 2 Ps. 19. 9; 119. 137 ; Deut. 33. 43; a Kings 9. 7. 3 Isa. 34. 10. 3~ * Ps. 104. 35. * Isa. 6. i ; Ps. 47. 8. 6 Ps. 134. i ; 135. i ; 33. 93; nj. 13. 6 Dan. 10. 6; Ezek. i. 34 ; 43. a (Hebrew) ; Pt. 104. 35 ; 93. i ; 99. i ; Amos 4. 13 (Septuagiot) ; 6—7 P$. 97. i.
REVELATION OF JOHN, 19-2O. 519
Then a voice said to me 'Write — " Blessed are those who 9 have been summoned to the marriage feast of the Lamb.'" And the voice said — ' These words of God are true.' I 10 prostrated myself at the feet of him who spoke to worship him, but he said to me — ' Forbear ; I am your fellow-servant, and the fellow-servant of your Brothers who bear their testimony to Jesus. Worship God. For to bear testimony to Jesus needs the inspiration of the Prophets.'
Then I saw that Heaven lay open. There appears a white 1 1 horse ; its rider is called ' Faithful ' and ' True ' ; righteously does he judge and make war. His eyes are flaming fires ; on 12 his head there are many diadems, and he bears a name, writ- ten, which no one knows but himself; he has been clothed in 13 a garment sprinkled with blood ; and the name by which he is called is 'The Word of God.' The armies of Heaven 14 followed him, mounted on white horses and clothed in fine linen, white and pure. From his mouth comes a sharp sword, 15 with which ' to smite the nations ; and he will rule them with an iron rod.' He 'treads the grapes in the press' of the maddening wine of the Wrath of Almighty God ; and on his 16 robe and on his thigh he has this name written— ' KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.'
Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He cried in a 17 loud voice to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven — ' Gather and come to the great feast of God, to eat the flesh of kings, 18 and the flesh of commanders, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all freemen and slaves, and of high and low.'
Then I saw the Beast and the kings of the earth and their 19 armies, gathered together to fight with him who saf on the horse and with his army. The Beast was captured, and with 20 him was taken the false Prophet, who performed the marvels before the eyes of the Beast, with which he deceived those who had received the brand of the Beast and those who worshipped his image. Alive, they were thrown, both of them, into the fiery lake 'of burning sulphur.' The rest were 21 killed by the sword which came out of the mouth of him who rode upon the horse ; and all the birds feJ upon their flesh.
Then I saw an angel coming down from Heaven, with the i key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He 2 seized the Dragon, the primeval Serpent (who is the ' Devil ' or ' Satan '), and bound him in chains for a thousand years. He flung him into the bottomless pit and locked it, and set 3 his seal upon it ; that he should not deceive the nations any
» Ezek. i. i ; Ps. 96. 13. ™ Dan. 10. 6. 15 Isa. n. 4 : Ps. 2. 8—9 ; Joel 3. 13; Amos 4. 13 (Septuagint). 16 Deut. 10. 17 ; Dan. 2. 47. 17—18 Ezek. 39. 17 — 18, 20. I9 Ps. x. 2. 20 Gen. 19. 24 ; Isn. 30. 33 ; Ezek. 38. 22. 21 Ezek. 39. 17 — 18, 20. 2 Gen. 3. i ; Zech. 3. 1—2 (Septuagint a.mj ilebrew).
520 REVELATION OF JOHN, 2O-21.
more, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be let loose for a while.
Then I saw thrones, and to those who took their seats 4 upon them authority was given to act as judges. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony to Jesus and because of the Message of God, for they had refused to worship the Beast or its image, and had not received the brand on their foreheads and on their hands. They were restored to life, and they reigned with the Christ for a thousand years. (The rest of the dead were not 5 restored to life till the thousand years were ended.) This is the First Resurrection. Blessed and holy will he be who 6 shares in that First Resurrection. The second Death has no power over them ; but they will be priests of God and the Christ, and they will reign with him for the thousand years.
When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be let loose 7 from his prison, and he will come out to deceive the nations 8 that live in 'the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog.' He will come to gather them together for battle ; and their number will be as great as the sand on the sea-shore. They 9 went up over the breadth of the whole earth, and surrounded the camp of Christ's People and the beloved city. Then fire fell from the heavens and consumed them ; and the Devil, 10 their deceiver, was hurled into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the Beast and the false Prophet already were, and they will be tortured day and night for ever and ever.
Then I saw a great white throne, and him who was seated n on it. ' The earth and the heavens fled from his presence ; no place was left for them.' And I saw the dead, high and 12 low, standing before the throne ; and books were opened. Then another book was opened, the Book of Life ; and the dead were judged, according to their actions, by what was written in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and Death 13 and the Lord of the Place of Death gave up their dead ; and they were judged, one by one, each according to his actions. Then Death and the Lord of the Place of Death were hurled 14 into the lake of fire. This is the Second Death — the lake of fire; and all whose names 'were not found written in the 15 Book of Life ' were hurled into the lake of fire.
VII. — THE NEW CREATION.
Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. The former i heavens and the former earth had passed away ; and the sea has ceased to be. And I saw the Holy City, Jerusalem, 2
REVELATION OF JOHN, 21. 521
descending new out of Heaven from God, like a bride adorned in readiness for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from 3 the throne, which said — ' See ! the Tabernacle of God is set up among men. God will dwell among them, and they will be his Peoples, and God himself will be among them, and he 4 will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, nor will there be any more grief or crying or pain. The old order has passed away.' And he who was seated on the 5 throne said — ' See, I make all things new ! ' And he said — 'Write this, for these words may be trusted and are true.' And he said to me — ' They are fulfilled. I am the Alpha and 6 the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who thirsts I will give of the spring of the Water of Life, freely. He who 7 conquers shall enter into possession of these things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son. But as for cowards, un- 8 believers, the degraded, murderers, the impure, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars — their place will be in the burning lake of fire and sulphur. That is the Second Death.'
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, and 9 were laden with the seven last Curses, came and spoke to me. ' Come here,' he said, ' and I will show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.' He carried me away in a trance to a great 10 high mountain, and showed me Jerusalem, the Holy City, descending out of Heaven from God, filled with the glory of n God. Its brilliance was like that of some very precious stone, like a jasper, transparent as crystal. It had a great high 12 wall, in which were twelve gates ; and at these gates there were twelve angels, and there were names inscribed on the gates, the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. 'There 13 were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.' The wall of 14 the City had twelve foundation stones, on which were the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. And the 15
angel who was speaking to me had as a measure a gold rod, with which to measure the City and its gates and its wall. The City is square ; the length and the breadth are the 16 same. The angel measured with his rod ; it was twelve hun- dred miles ; its length, and breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured the wall ; it was two hundred and eighty- 17 eight feet, as men measure, that is as the angel measured. The material of the wall of the City was jasper, and the City 18 was built of pure gold, which shone like clear glass. The 19 foundations of the wall of the City were ornamented with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was
3 Ezek. 37. 27; Zech. 2. 10 — n ; Isa. 8. 8. 4 Isa. 25. 8; Jer. 31. 16; Isa. 65. 19, 17. 5 Isa. 6. i ; Ps. 47. 8 ; Isa. 43. 19. 6 Isa. $$. f • Zech. 14. 8. ~ 2 Sam. 7. 14 ; Ps. 89. 26. 8 Gen. 19. 24 ; Isa. 30. 33 ; Ezek. 38. 22. 9 Lev. 26. 21. 1° Ezek. 40. i—2 ; Isa. 52. i. " Isa. 58. 8 ; 60. 1—2, 19. 12-13 Ezek. 48. 31—34 fHehrew). 15-17 Ezek. 40. 3, 5- 16 Ezek. 43. 16. 18-1» Isa. 54. 11-12.
522 REVELATION OF JOHN, 21 -22.
a jasper ; the second a sapphire ; the third a chalcedony ; the fourth an emerald ; the fifth a sardonyx ; the sixth a carnelian ; 20 the seventh a chrysolite ; the eighth a beryl ; the ninth a topaz ; the tenth a chrysoprase ; the eleventh a hyacinth ; and the twelfth an amethyst. The twelve gates were made of twelve 21 pearls, each gate of one pearl. The street of the City was of pure gold, transparent as glass. And I saw no Temple 22
there, for the Lord, our God, the Almighty, and the Lamb are its Temple. The City has no need of ' the sun or the moon to 23 shine upon it, for the Glory of God illuminated it,' and its Lamp was the Lamb. ' The nations walk by the light of it ; 24 and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it. Its gates 25 will never be shut by day,' and there will be no night there. And men will bring the glory and honour of the nations into 26 it. ' Never shall any unhallowed thing enter it,' nor he whose 27 life is shameful and false, but only ' those whose names have been written in the Lamb's Book of Life.' And the angel i showed me ' a river of the Water of Life,' as clear as crystal, issuing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle 2 of the street of the City. On each side of the river was a Tree of Life which bore twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month ; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ' Every thing that is accursed will cease to 3 be.' The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within it, and his servants will worship him ; they will see his face, and 4 his name will be on their foreheads. Night will cease to be. 5 They have no need of the light of a lamp, nor have they the light of the sun ; for the ' Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.'
VI II. — CONCLUSION.
Then the angel said to me — ' These words may be trusted 6 and are true. The Lord, the God that inspires the Prophets, sent his angel to show his servants what must quickly take place ; and he said " I will come quickly." Blessed will he 7 be who lays to heart the words of the prophecy contained in this book.'
It was I, John, who heard and saw these things ; and, when 8 I heard and saw them, I prostrated myself in worship at the feet of the angel that showed them to me. But he said to 9 me — ' Forbear ; I am your fellow-servant, and the fellow- servant of your Brothers, the Prophets, and of all who lay to heart the words in this book. Worship God.'
Then the angel said to me — ' Do not keep secret the words 10
22 Amos 4. 13 (Septuatfint). 23-28 I8a. 60. 1—3, 6, 10— u, 13, 19. w Pa. 89. afj. 27 I»a. 53. i ; Dan. la. i : Pa. 69. a8. 1 Zech. 14. 8. 1-2 Gen. a. 9—10; 3. aa; F.zck. 47. i, 7, la. » Zech. 14. n. * Pa. if. 15. 8 J8a, fc,. ,9; Dan. 7. 18. • Don. a. aS, * Isa. 40. to. 10 Dan. 12. 4.
REVELATION OF JOHN, 22. 523
of the prophecy contained in this book ; for The Time is near. Let the wrong-doer continue to do wrong ; the filthy- 1 1 minded man continue to be filthy ; the righteous man continue to act righteously ; and the holy-minded man continue to be holy.' (' I will come quickly. I bring my rewards 12
with me, to give to each man what his actions deserve. I am 13 the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Begin- ning and the End.') Blessed will they be who wash 14 their robes, that they may have the right to approach the Tree of Life, and may enter the City by the gates. Outside will 15 be the filthy, the sorcerers, the impure, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love the false and live it.'
' I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear testimony to you about 16 these things before the Churches. I am the Scion and the Offspring of David, the bright Star of the Morning.'
'Come,' say the Spirit and the Bride; and let him who 17 hears say ' Come. ' Let him who thirsts come ; let him who will take the Water of Life freely.
I declare to all who hear the words of the prophecy con- 18 tained in this book — ' If anyone adds to it, God will add to his troubles the Curses described in this book ; and if any one 19 takes away any of the words in the book containing this prophecy, God will take away his share in the Tree of Life, and in the Holy City — as described in this book.'
He whose testimony this is says — ' Assuredly I will come 20 quickly.' 'Amen, come, Lord Jesus.'
May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ, be with his 21 People.
12 Isa. 40. 10 ; Ps. 28. 4; 62. 12; Jer. 17. 10. 13 Isa. 44. 6 (Hebrew); 48. ia (Hebrew). 1* Gen. 49. n ; 2. 9 ; 3. 32. 16 Isa. ,,. Io. 17 Isa. 55. i ; Zech. 14, & 18—19 Deut. 4. x ; 12. 32 ; 29. ao. 1* Gen. 2. 9 ; 3. aa.
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