Jeremiah 38
1599 Geneva Bible
38 1 By the motion of the rulers Jeremiah is put into a dungeon. 14 At the request of Ebed-Melech the King commandeth Jeremiah to be brought forth of the dungeon. 17 Jeremiah showeth the King how he might escape death.
1 Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of [a]Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,
2 Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city, shall die by the sword, by the famine and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans, shall live: for he shall have his life for [b]a prey, and shall live.
3 Thus saith the Lord, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babel’s army, which shall take it.
4 Therefore the Princes said unto the king, We beseech you, let this man be put to death: for thus he [c]weakeneth the hands of the men of war [d]that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the wealth of this people, but the hurt.
5 Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can deny [e]you nothing.
6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords: and in the dungeon there was no water but mire: so Jeremiah stuck fast in the mire.
7 Now when Ebed-Melech ye [f]black Moor, one of the Eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon, (then the king sat in the [g]gate of Benjamin)
8 And Ebed-Melech went out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying,
9 My lord the king, [h]these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the Prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he dieth for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.
10 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the black Moor, saying, Take from hence thirty men [i]with thee, and take Jeremiah the Prophet out of the dungeon before he die.
11 So Ebed-Melech took the men with him, and went to the house of the king under the treasury, and took there old rotten rags, and old worn clouts, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
12 And Ebed-Melech the black Moor said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old rotten rags and worn, under thine arm holes, between the cords. And Jeremiah did so.
13 So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon, and Jeremiah remained in the [j]court of the prison.
14 ¶ Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the Prophet unto him, into the third entry that is in the House of the Lord, and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing: hide nothing from me.
15 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not slay me? and if I give thee counsel, thou wilt not hear me.
16 So the King sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the Lord liveth, that made us these souls, I will not slay thee, nor give thee into the hands of those men that seek thy life.
17 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord God of hosts the God of Israel, If thou wilt go forth unto the king of Babel’s [k]princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burnt up with fire, and thou shalt live, and thine house.
18 But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babel’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hands.
19 And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am careful for the Jews that are fled unto the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hands, and they [l]mock me.
20 But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee: hearken unto the voice of the Lord, I beseech thee, which I speak unto thee: so shall it be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.
21 But if thou wilt refuse to go forth, this is the word that the Lord hath showed me.
22 And behold, all the women that are [m]left in the king of Judah’s house, shall be brought forth to the king of Babel’s princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have persuaded thee, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are fastened in the mire, and they are turned back.
23 So they shall bring out all thy wives, and thy children to the Chaldeans, and thou shalt not escape out of their hands, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babel: and this city shalt thou cause to be burnt with fire.
24 Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.
25 But if the princes understand that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now, what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not slay thee: also what the King said unto thee,
26 Then shalt thou say unto them, I humbly [n]besought the king that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house, to die there.
27 Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah and asked him, And he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded: so they left off speaking with him, for the matter was not perceived.
28 So Jeremiah abode still in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 38:1 For Zedekiah had sent these to Jeremiah, to inquire at the Lord for the state of the country now when Nebuchadnezzar came, as Jer. 21:1.
- Jeremiah 38:2 Read Jer. 21:9 and 45:5.
- Jeremiah 38:4 Or, discourageth.
- Jeremiah 38:4 Thus we see how the wicked when they cannot abide to hear the truth of God’s word, seek to put the ministers to death, as transgressors of policies.
- Jeremiah 38:5 Wherein he grievously offended in that that not only he would not hear the truth spoken by the Prophet, but also gave him to the lusts of the wicked to be cruelly entreated.
- Jeremiah 38:7 Hebrew, Cushite, or Ethiopian.
- Jeremiah 38:7 To hear matters and give sentence.
- Jeremiah 38:9 Hereby is declared that the Prophet found more favor at this stranger’s hands, than he did by all them of his country, which was to their great condemnation.
- Jeremiah 38:10 Hebrew, under thine hand.
- Jeremiah 38:13 Where the king had set him before to be at more liberty, as Jer. 37:21.
- Jeremiah 38:17 And yield thyself unto them.
- Jeremiah 38:19 Which declareth that he more feared the reproach of men, than the threatenings of God.
- Jeremiah 38:22 When Jeconiah and his mother, with others, were carried away, these women of the king’s house were left: which shall be taken, saith the Prophet, and tell the king of Babel how Zedekiah hath been seduced by his familiar friends and false prophets, which have left him in the mire.
- Jeremiah 38:26 Herein appeareth the infirmity of the Prophet, who did dissemble to save his life albeit it was not to the denial of his doctrine, or to the hurt of any.
Jeremiah 39
1599 Geneva Bible
39 2 Nebuchadnezzar beseigeth Jerusalem. 4 Zedekiah fleeing, is taken of the Chaldeans. 6 His sons are slain. 7 His eyes are thrust out. 11 Jeremiah is provided for. 26 Ebed-Melech is delivered from captivity.
1 In (A)the ninth year of Zedekiah King of Judah in the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel and all his host against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.
2 And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken [a]up.
3 And all the princes of the King of Babel came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babel.
4 And when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went out of the city by night, through the king’s garden, and by the [b]gate between the two walls, and he went toward the wilderness.
5 But the Chaldean’s host pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the desert of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel unto [c]Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.
6 Then the king of Babel slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babel slew all the nobles of Judah.
7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him in chains to carry him to Babel.
8 And the Chaldeans burnt the king’s house, and the houses of the people with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.
9 Then Nebuzaradan the [d]chief steward carried away captive into Babel the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that were fled and fallen unto him, with the rest of the people that remained.
10 But Nebuzaradan the chief steward left the [e]poor that had nothing in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel gave charge concerning Jeremiah [f]unto Nebuzaradan the chief steward, saying,
12 Take him, and [g]look well to him, and do him no harm, but do unto him [h]even as he shall say unto thee.
13 So Nebuzaradan the chief steward sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergal-Sharezar, Rabmag, and all the King of Babel’s princes:
14 Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto [i]Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.
15 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
16 Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the black Moor, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good, and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.
17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord, and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men whom thou fearest.
18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee, because thou [j]hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 39:2 The gates and walls were broken down.
- Jeremiah 39:4 Which was a postern door, read 2 Kings 25:4.
- Jeremiah 39:5 Which is called Antioch in Syria.
- Jeremiah 39:9 Or, captain of the guard.
- Jeremiah 39:10 For the rich and the mighty which put their trust in their shifts and means, were by God’s just judgments most rigorously handled.
- Jeremiah 39:11 Hebrew, by the hand of.
- Jeremiah 39:12 Hebrew, set thine eyes upon them.
- Jeremiah 39:12 Thus God preserved his prophet by his means, whom he made the scourge to punish the king, and them that were his enemies.
- Jeremiah 39:14 Whom the King of Babel had now appointed governor over the rest of the Jews that he left behind.
- Jeremiah 39:18 Thus God recompensed his zeal and favor, which he showed to his Prophet in his troubles.
Jeremiah 40
1599 Geneva Bible
40 Jeremiah hath license to go whither he will. 6 He dwelleth with the people that remain with Gedaliah.
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord after that Nebuzaradan the chief steward had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babel.
2 [a]And the chief steward took Jeremiah and said unto him, The Lord thy God hath pronounced this plague upon this place.
3 Now the Lord hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have [b]sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
4 And now behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were on thine hands: if it please thee to come with me into Babel, come, and I will look well unto thee: but if it please thee not to come with me into Babel, [c]tarry still: behold, all the land is [d]before thee: whither it seemeth good, and convenient for thee to go, thither go.
5 For yet he was not returned: therefore he said, Return to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babel hath made governor over all the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people, or go wheresoever it pleaseth thee to go. So the chief steward gave him vittles and a reward, and let him go.
6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to [e]Mizpah, and dwelt there with him among the people that were left in the land.
7 Now when all the captains of the host, [f]which were in the fields, even they and their men heard, that the king of Babel had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and that he had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, that were not carried away captive to Babel,
8 Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even [g]Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan, and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai, the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of Maachathi, they and their men.
9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan (A)sware unto them, and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babel, and it shall be well with you:
10 As for me, Behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to [h]serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but you, gather you wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities, that ye have [i]taken.
11 Likewise when all the Jews that were in [j]Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babel had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan,
12 Even all the Jews returned out of all places where they were driven, and came to the land of Judah to Gedaliah unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits, very much.
13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the host, that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
14 And said unto him, Knowest thou not that [k]Baalis the King of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it. Wherefore should he kill thee, that all the Jews, which are gathered unto thee, should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?
16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt [l]not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 40:2 From this second verse unto Jer. 42:7, it seemeth to be as a parenthesis, and separated matter: and there this story beginneth again, and this vision is declared what it was.
- Jeremiah 40:3 God moved this infidel to speak this to declare the great blindness and obstinacy of the Jews, which could not feel that which this heathen man confessed.
- Jeremiah 40:4 Hebrew, cease.
- Jeremiah 40:4 Or, at thy commandment.
- Jeremiah 40:6 Which was a city of Judah.
- Jeremiah 40:7 Which were scattered abroad for fear of the Chaldeans.
- Jeremiah 40:8 Who was of the king’s blood and after slew him, Jer. 41:2.
- Jeremiah 40:10 Or, to receive them, or to entreat them for you.
- Jeremiah 40:10 Or, chosen to dwell in.
- Jeremiah 40:11 Which were fled also for fear of the Chaldeans.
- Jeremiah 40:14 For under the color of entertaining of Ishmael, he sought only to make them destroy one another.
- Jeremiah 40:16 Thus the godly, which think no harm to others, are soonest deceived, and never lack such as conspire their destruction.
1 Corinthians 1
1599 Geneva Bible
The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians
1 After the salutation, 10 which in effect is an exhortation. 12 He reprehendeth the Corinthians’ sects and divisions, 17 and calleth them from pride to humility: 20 For overthrowing all worldly wisdom. 23, 25 he advanceth only the preaching of the cross.
1 Paul [a]called to be an [b]Apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, and our brother [c]Sosthenes,
2 [d]Unto the Church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are (A)[e]sanctified in [f]Christ Jesus, (B)Saints by [g]calling, (C)with all that [h]call on the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both their Lord, and ours:
3 [i]Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 [j]I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God, which is given you in Jesus Christ.
5 That in all things ye are made rich in him [k]in [l]all kind of speech, and in all knowledge:
6 [m]As the testimony of Jesus Christ hath been [n]confirmed in you:
7 So that ye are not destitute of any gift: (D)[o]waiting for the [p]appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 (E)[q]Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be [r]blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 (F)God is [s]faithful, by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 [t]Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that [u]ye all speak one thing, and that there be no dissensions among you: but be ye [v]knit together in one mind, and in one judgment.
11 [w]For it hath been declared unto me, my brethren, of you by them that are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now [x]this I say, that every one of you saith, I am Paul’s, and I am (G)Apollos’s, and I am Cephas’s and I am Christ’s.
13 [y]Is Christ divided? was [z]Paul crucified for you? either were ye [aa]baptized into the name of Paul?
14 [ab]I thank God, that I baptized none of you, but (H)Crispus, and Gaius,
15 Lest any should say, that I had baptized into mine own name.
16 I baptized also the household of Stephanas: furthermore know I not, whether I baptized any other.
17 [ac]For CHRIST sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, [ad]not with (I)[ae]wisdom of words, lest the [af]cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For that [ag]preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness: but unto us, which are saved, it is the (J)[ah]power of God.
19 [ai]For it is written, (K)I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will cast away the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the [aj]Scribe? where is the [ak]disputer of this world? hath not God made the wisdom of this world foolishness?
21 [al]For seeing the [am]world by wisdom knew not God in the [an]wisdom of GOD, [ao]it pleased God by the [ap]foolishness of preaching to save them that believe:
22 (L)[aq]Seeing also that the Jews require a sign, and the Grecians seek after wisdom.
23 But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews, even a stumbling block, and unto the Grecians, foolishness:
24 But unto them which are called, both of the Jews and Grecians, we preach Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 [ar]For brethren, you see your [as]calling, how that not many wise men [at]after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the mighty things,
28 And vile things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, and things which [au]are not, to bring to [av]nought things that are.
29 That no [aw]flesh should rejoice in his presence.
30 But ye are [ax]of him in Christ Jesus, [ay]who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
31 That, according as it is written, (M)[az]He that rejoiceth, let him rejoice in the Lord.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:1 The inscription of the Epistle, wherein he chiefly goeth about to procure the good will of the Corinthians towards him, yet notwithstanding so, that always he letteth them to wit, that he is the servant of God, and not of men.
- 1 Corinthians 1:1 If he be an Apostle, then he must be heard, although he sometimes reprehend them sharply, seeing he hath not his own cause in hand, but is a messenger that bringeth the commandments of Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 1:1 He joineth Sosthenes with himself, that this doctrine might be confirmed by two witnesses.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 It is a Church of God, although it hath great faults in it, so that it obey them which admonish it.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 A true definition of the Catholic Church, which is one.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 The father sanctifieth us, that is to say, separateth us from the wicked, in giving us to his Son, that he may be in us, and we in him.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 Whom God of his gracious goodness and mere love hath separated for himself: or whom God hath called to holiness: the first of these two expositions showeth from whence our sanctification cometh, and the second showeth to what end it tendeth.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 He is said properly to call on God, who crieth unto the Lord when he is in danger, and craveth help at his hands: and by the figure Synecdoche it is taken for all the service of God: and therefore to call upon Christ’s Name, is to acknowledge and take him for very God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:3 The foundation and the life of the Church, is Christ Jesus given of the Father.
- 1 Corinthians 1:4 Going about to condemn many vices, he beginneth with a true commendation of their virtues, lest he might seem after to descend to chiding being moved with malice or envy: yet so, that he referreth all to God as the author of them, and that in Christ. That the Corinthians might be more ashamed to profane and abuse the holy gifts of God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:5 He toucheth that by name, which they most abused.
- 1 Corinthians 1:5 Seeing that while we live here, we know but in part and prophesy in part, this word (All) must be refrained to the present state of the faithful: and by speech he meaneth not a vain kind of babbling, but the gift of holy eloquence, which the Corinthians abused.
- 1 Corinthians 1:6 He showeth that the true use of these gifts consisteth herein that the mighty power of Christ might thereby be set forth in them, that hereafter it might evidently appear how wickedly they abused them to glory and ambition.
- 1 Corinthians 1:6 By those excellent gifts of the holy Ghost.
- 1 Corinthians 1:7 He saith by the way, that there is no cause why they should please themselves so much in those gifts which they had received, seeing that those were nothing in comparison of them which are to be looked for.
- 1 Corinthians 1:7 He speaketh of the last coming of Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 1:8 He testifieth that he hopeth well of them hereafter, that they may more patiently abide his reprehension afterward. And yet together therewithall showeth, that as well the beginning as the accomplishing of our salvation is only the work of God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:8 He calleth them blameless, not whom man never found fault with, but with whom no man can justly find fault, that is to say, them which are in Christ Jesus, in whom there is no condemnation. See Luke 1:6.
- 1 Corinthians 1:9 True and constant, who doth not only call us, but giveth us the gift of perseverance also.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 Having made an end of the preface, he cometh to the matter itself, beginning with the most grave obtestation, as though they should hear Christ himself speaking and not Paul.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 The first part of this Epistle, wherein his purpose is to call back the Corinthians to brotherly concord, and to take away all occasion of discord. So then this first part concerneth the taking away of schisms. Now a schism is when men which otherwise agree and consent together in doctrine, do yet separate themselves one from another.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 Knit together, as a body that consisteth of all his parts fitly knit together.
- 1 Corinthians 1:11 He beginneth his reprehension and chiding by taking away of an objection: for that be understood by good witnesses, that there were many factions among them. And therewithall he openeth the cause of dissensions, because that some did hang on one doctor, some on another, and some were so addicted to themselves, that they neglected all doctors and teachers, calling themselves the disciples of Christ only, shutting forth their teachers.
- 1 Corinthians 1:12 The matter I would say to you, is this.
- 1 Corinthians 1:13 The first reason why schisms ought to be eschewed: because Christ formeth by that means, to be divided and torn in pieces, who cannot be the head of two divers and disagreeing bodies, being himself one.
- 1 Corinthians 1:13 Another reason: Because they cannot without great injury to God so hang of men as of Christ: which thing no doubt they do, which allow whatsoever some man speaketh, even for his person’s sake: as these men allowed one selfsame Gospel being uttered of one man, and did loathe it being uttered of another man. So that these factions were called by the names of their teachers. Now Paul setteth down his own name not only to grieve no man, but also to showeth it he pleadeth not his own cause.
- 1 Corinthians 1:13 The third reason taken of the form and end of Baptism, wherein we make a promise to Christ, calling on also the Name of the Father and the holy Ghost. Therefore although a man does not fall from the doctrine of Christ, yet if he hang upon some certain teachers, and despise others, he forsaketh Christ: for if he hold Christ his only master, he would hear him, teaching by whomsoever.
- 1 Corinthians 1:14 He protesteth that he speaketh so much the more boldly of these things, because that through God’s providence he is void of all suspicion of challenging disciples unto himself, and taking them from others. Whereby we may understand that not the scholars only, but the teachers also are here reprehended, which gathered themselves flocks apart.
- 1 Corinthians 1:17 The taking away of an objection: that he gave not himself to baptize many amongst them: not for the contempt of Baptism, but because he was chiefly occupied in delivering the doctrine, and committed them that received his doctrine to others to be baptized, whereof he had store. And so he declared sufficiently how far he was from all ambition: whereas on the other side they whom he reprehendeth, as though they gathered disciples unto themselves and not to Christ, bragged most ambitiously of numbers, which they had baptized.
- 1 Corinthians 1:17 Now he turneth himself to the doctors themselves, which pleased themselves in brave and ambitious eloquence, to the end that they might draw more disciples after them. He confesseth plainly that he was unlike unto them, opposing gravely as it became an Apostle, his example against their perverse judgments: So that this is another place of this Epistle, touching the observing of a godly simplicity, both in words and sentences in teaching of the Gospel.
- 1 Corinthians 1:17 With eloquence: which Paul casteth off from him not only, as not necessary, but also as flat contrary to the office of his Apostleship: and yet had Paul his kind of eloquence, but it was heavenly, not of man, and void of painted words.
- 1 Corinthians 1:17 The reason why he used not the pomp of words and painted speech: because it was God’s will to bring the world to his obedience by that way, whereby the most idots amongst men might understand, that this work was done of God himself without the art of man. Therefore as salvation is set forth unto us in the Gospel by the cross of Christ, then which nothing is more contemptible, and more far from life, so God would have the manner of the preaching of the cross most different from those means, with which men do use to draw and entice others, either to hear or believe: therefore it pleased him by a certain kind of most wise folly, to triumph over the most foolish wisdom of the world, as he had said before by Isaiah: that he would. And hereby this we may gather, that both those doctors which were puffed up with ambitious eloquence, and also their hearers strayed far away from the end and mark of their vocation.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 The preaching of Christ crucified, or the kinds of speech which we use.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 It is that wherein he declareth his marvelous power in saving his elect, which would not so evidently appear, if it hanged upon any help of man: for so man might attribute that to himself, which is proper only to the cross of Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 The Apostle proveth that this ought not only not to seem strange, seeing that it was foretold so long before, but declareth further, that God is wont to punish the pride of the world in such sort, which so pleaseth itself in its own wisdom: and therefore that that is vain, yea a thing of nothing, and such as God rejecteth as unprofitable, which they so carefully labored for, and made so great account of.
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where art thou, O thou learned fellow, and thou that spendeth thy days in turning thy books?
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 Thou that spendeth all thy time in seeking out the secret things of this world, and in expounding all hard questions: and thus triumpheth he against all the men of this world, for there was not one of them that could so much as dream upon this secret and hidden mystery.
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 He showeth that the pride of men was worthily punished of GOD, because they would not behold God, as meet was they should; in the most clear glass of the wisdom of the world, which is the workmanship of the world.
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 By the world he meaneth all men which are not born anew, but remain as they were, when they were first born.
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 In the workmanship of this world, which hath the marvelous wisdom of God engraved in it, so that every man may behold it.
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 The goodness of God is wonderful, for while he goeth about to punish the pride of the world, he is very provident and careful, for the salvation of it, and teacheth men to become fools, that they may be wise to God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 So calleth the preaching of the Gospel as the enemies supposed it: but in the mean season he taunteth them very sharply, who had rather charge God with folly, than acknowledge their own and crave pardon for it.
- 1 Corinthians 1:22 A declaration of that which he said that the preaching of the Gospel, is foolish. It is foolish, saith he, to them whom God had not endued with new light, that is to say, to all men, being considered in themselves: for the Jews require miracles, and the Greeks arguments, which they may comprehend by their wit and wisdom: and therefore they do not only not believe the Gospel, but also they mock at it. Notwithstanding in this foolish preaching, there is the great virtue and wisdom of God, but such as those only which are called, do perceive. God showing most plainly, that even then when mad men think him most foolish, he is far wiser than they are: and that he surmounteth all their might and power, when he useth most vile and abject things, as it hath appeared in the fruit of the preaching of the Gospel.
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 A confirmation taken of those things which came to pass at Corinth, where the Church especially consisted of the basest and common people, insomuch that the philosophers of Greece were driven to shame, when they saw that they could do nothing with their wisdom and eloquence, in comparison of the Apostles, whom notwithstanding they called idiots and unlearned. And herewithall doth he beat down their pride, for God did not prefer them before those noble and wise men because they should be proud, but that they might be constrained even whether they would or not, to rejoice in the Lord, by whose mercy, although they were, the most abject of all, they had obtained in Christ, both this wisdom, and all things necessary to salvation.
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 What way the Lord hath taken in calling you.
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 After that kind of wisdom which men make account of, as though there were none else: who because they are carnal, know not spiritual wisdom.
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 Which in man’s judgment are almost nothing.
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 To show that they are vain and unprofitable, and nothing worth, see Rom. 3:31.
- 1 Corinthians 1:29 Flesh is oft as we see, taken for the whole man: and he ruleth this word flesh, very fitly, to set the weak and miserable condition of man with the majesty of God, one against the other.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 Whom he cast down before, now he lifteth up, yea, higher then all men: yet so, that he showeth them all their worthiness is without themselves, that is, standeth in Christ, and that of God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 He teacheth that especially and above all things, the Gospel ought not to be contemned, seeing it containeth the chiefst things that are to be desired, to wit, true wisdom, the true way to obtain righteousness, the true way to live honestly and godly, the true deliverance from all miseries and calamities.
- 1 Corinthians 1:31 Let him yield all to God and give him thanks: and so by this place is man’s free will beaten down, which the Papist so dream of.
1 Corinthians 2
1599 Geneva Bible
2 1 He setteth down a platform of his preaching, 4 which was base in respect of man’s wisdom, 7, 13 but noble in respect of the spiritual power and efficacy. 14 And so concludeth that flesh and blood cannot rightly judge thereof.
1 And [a]I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with (A)excellency of words, or of wisdom, showing unto you the [b]testimony of God.
2 For I [c]esteemed not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 (B)And I was among you in [d]weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 Neither stood my word, and my preaching in the (C)enticing speech of man’s wisdom, [e]but in plain [f]evidence of the Spirit and of power.
5 [g]That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 [h]And we speak wisdom among them that are [i]perfect: not the wisdom of this world, neither of the [j]princes of this world, which come to nought.
7 [k]But we speak the wisdom of God in a [l]mystery, even the hid wisdom, [m]which God had determined before the world, unto our glory.
8 [n]Which none of the princes of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the [o]Lord of glory.
9 [p]But as it is written, (D)The things which eye hath not seen, neither ear hath heard, neither came into [q]man’s heart, are, which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 [r]But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the spirit [s]searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 [t]For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the [u]spirit of a man, which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have receiveth not the [v]spirit of the world, but the Spirit, which is of God, [w]that we might [x]know the things that are given to us of God.
13 [y]Which things also we speak, not in the (E)words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the holy Ghost teacheth, [z]comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
14 [aa]But the [ab]natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are [ac]spiritually discerned.
15 [ad]But he that is spiritual, [ae]discerneth all things: yet [af]he himself is judged of [ag]no man.
16 (F)[ah]For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he might [ai]instruct him? But we have the [aj]mind of Christ.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 He returneth to 1 Cor. 1:17, that is to say, to his own example: confessing that he used not amongst them either excellency of words, or enticing speech of man’s wisdom, but with great simplicity of speech, both knew and preached Jesus Christ crucified, humble and abject, as touching the flesh.
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 The Gospel.
- 1 Corinthians 2:2 I purposed not to profess any other knowledge, but the knowledge of Christ and him crucified.
- 1 Corinthians 2:3 He setteth weakness, against excellency of words, and therefore joineth with it fear and trembling, which are the companions of true modesty, not such fear and trembling as terrify the conscience, but such as are contrary to vanity and pride.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4 He turneth that now to the commendation of his ministry, which he had granted to his adversaries: for his virtue and power which they knew well enough, was so much the more excellent, because it had no worldly help joined with it.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4 By plain evidence he meaneth such a proof, as is made by certain and necessary reasons.
- 1 Corinthians 2:5 And he telleth the Corinthians, that he did it for their great profit, because they might thereby know manifestly, that the Gospel was from heaven. Therefore he privately rebuketh them, because that in seeking vain ostentation, they willingly deprived themselves of the greatest help of their faith.
- 1 Corinthians 2:6 Another argument taken of the nature of the thing, that is, of the Gospel, which is true wisdom, but known to them only which are desirous of perfection: and is unsavory to them which otherwise excel in the world, but yet vainly and frailly.
- 1 Corinthians 2:6 Those are called perfect here, not which had gotten perfection already, but such as tend to it, as Phil. 3:15, so that perfect, is set against weak.
- 1 Corinthians 2:6 They that are wiser, richer, or mightier than other men are.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7 He showeth the cause why this wisdom cannot be perceived of those excellent worldly writes: to wit, because indeed it is so deep that they cannot attain unto it.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7 Which men could not so much as dream of.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7 He taketh away an objection: if it be so hard, when and how is it known? God, saith he, determined with himself from the beginning, that which his purpose was to bring forth at this time out of his secrets for the salvation of men.
- 1 Corinthians 2:8 He taketh away another objection: why then, how cometh it to pass, that this wisdom was so rejected of men of highest authority, that they crucified Christ himself? Paul answereth: because they knew not Christ such as he was.
- 1 Corinthians 2:8 That mighty God, full of true majesty and glory: Now this place hath in it a most evident proof of the divinity of Christ, and of his joining of the two natures in one, which hath this in it, that that which is proper to the manhood alone, is vouched of the Godhead joined with the manhood: which kind of speech is called of the old fathers, a making common of things belonging to someone, with other to whom they do not belong.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9 Another objection: But how could it be that those witty men could not perceive this wisdom? Paul answereth: Because we preach those things which pass all man’s understanding.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9 Man cannot so much as think of them, much less conceive them with his senses.
- 1 Corinthians 2:10 A question: if it surmount the capacity of men, how can it be understood of any man, or how can you declare and preach it? by a peculiar lightening by God’s Spirit, wherewith whosoever is inspired, he can enter even to the very secrets of God.
- 1 Corinthians 2:10 There is nothing so secret and hidden in God, but the Spirit of God peereth into it.
- 1 Corinthians 2:11 He setteth that forth by a similitude, which he spake of the inspiration of the Spirit. As the force of man’s wit searcheth out things pertaining to man, so doth our mind by that power of the holy Ghost, understand heavenly things.
- 1 Corinthians 2:11 The mind of man, which is endued with ableness to understand and judge.
- 1 Corinthians 2:12 The Spirit which we have received, doth not teach us things of this world, but lifteth us up to God, and this place teacheth us against the Papists, what faith is, from whence it cometh, and what force it is of.
- 1 Corinthians 2:12 That which he spake generally, he restraineth now to those things which God hath opened unto us of our salvation in Christ: lest that any man should separate the Spirit from the preaching of the word and Christ: or should think that those fantastical men are governed by the Spirit of God, which wandering besides the word, thrust upon us their vain imaginations for the secrets of God.
- 1 Corinthians 2:12 This word (know) is taken here in his proper sense, for true knowledge, which the Spirit of God worketh in us.
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 Now he returneth to his purpose, and concludeth the argument which he began verse 6, and it is thus: the words must be applied to the matter, and the matter must be set forth with words which are meet and convenient for it: now this wisdom is spiritual and not of man, and therefore it must be delivered by a spiritual kind of teaching, and not by enticing words of man’s eloquence, that the simple, and yet wonderful majesty of the holy Ghost may therein appear.
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 Applying the words unto the matter, to wit, that as we teach spiritual things, so [must] our kind of teaching be spiritual.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 Again he preventeth an offence or stumbling block: how cometh it to pass that so few allow these things? This is not to be marveled at, sayeth the Apostle, seeing that men in their natural powers (as they termed them) are not endued with that faculty, whereby spiritual things are discerned (which faculty cometh another way) and therefore they accompt spiritual wisdom as folly: and it is as if he should say, It is no marvel that blind men cannot judge of colors, seeing that they lack the light of their eyes, and therefore light is to them as darkness.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 The man that hath no further light of understanding than that which he brought with him, even from his mother’s womb, as Jude defineth it, Jude 19.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 By the virtue of the holy Ghost.
- 1 Corinthians 2:15 He amplifieth the matter by contraries.
- 1 Corinthians 2:15 Understandeth and discerneth.
- 1 Corinthians 2:15 The wisdom of the flesh, saith Paul, determined nothing certainly, no not in its own affairs, much less can it discern strange, that is, spiritual things. But the Spirit of God, wherewith spiritual men are endued, can be deceived by no means, and therefore be reproved of no man.
- 1 Corinthians 2:15 Of no man: for when the Prophets are judged of the Prophets, it is the Spirit that judges, and not the man.
- 1 Corinthians 2:16 A reason of the former saying: for he is called spiritual, which hath learned that by the virtue of the Spirit, which Christ hath taught us. Now if that which we have learned of that Master, could be reproved of any man, he must needs be wiser than God: whereupon it followeth, that they are not only foolish, but also wicked, which think that they can devise something that is either more perfect, or that they can teach the wisdom of God a better way than they knew or taught, which undoubtedly, were endued with God’s Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 2:16 Lay his head to his, and teach him what he should do.
- 1 Corinthians 2:16 We are endued with the Spirit of Christ, who openeth unto us those secrets, which by all other means are unsearchable, and also all truth whatsoever.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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