Jeremiah 49
1599 Geneva Bible
49 1 The word of the Lord against the Ammonites, 7 Edom, 23 Damascus, 28 Kedar, 34 and Elam.
1 Unto the children of [a]Ammon thus saith the Lord, Hath Israel no sons? or hath he none heir? Why then hath their king [b]possessed Gad? and his people dwelt in [c]his cities?
2 Therefore behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will cause a noise of war to be heard in [d]Rabbah of the Ammonites, and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burnt with fire: then shall Israel possess those that possessed him, saith the Lord.
3 Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is wasted: cry ye daughters of Rabbah: gird you with sackcloth: mourn and run to and fro by the hedges: for their king shall go into captivity; and his Priests, and his Princes likewise.
4 Wherefore gloriest thou in the [e]valleys? thy valley floweth away, O rebellious daughter: she trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?
5 Behold, I will bring [f]a fear upon thee, saith the Lord God of hosts, of all those that be about thee, and ye shall be scattered every man [g]right forth, and none shall gather him that fleeth.
6 And [h]afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon.
7 ¶ To Edom thus saith the Lord of hosts, Is wisdom no more in [i]Teman? is counsel perished from their children? is their wisdom vanished?
8 Flee, ye inhabitants of Dedan ([j]they are turned back, and have consulted to dwell) for I have brought the destruction of Esau upon him, and the time of his visitation.
9 If the [k]grape gatherers come to thee, would they not leave some grapes? if thieves come by night, they will destroy till they have enough.
10 For I have discovered Esau: I have uncovered his secrets, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is wasted, and his brethren and his neighbors, and there shall be none to say,
11 Leave thy [l]fatherless children, and I will preserve them alive, and let thy widows trust in me.
12 For thus saith the Lord, [m]Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup, have assuredly drunken, and art thou he that shall escape free? thou shalt not go free, but thou shalt surely drink of it.
13 For I have sworn by myself, saith the Lord, that [n]Bozrah shall be waste, and for a reproach, and a desolation, and a curse, and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual desolations.
14 I have heard a rumor from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather you together, and come against [o]her, and rise up to the battle.
15 For lo, I will make thee but small among the heathen, and despised among men.
16 Thy [p]fear, and the pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, and keepest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord.
17 Also Edom shall be desolate: everyone that goeth by it, shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof,
18 As in the overthrow of Sodom and of Gomorrah, and the places thereof near about, saith the Lord: no man shall dwell there, neither shall the sons of men remain in it.
19 Behold, [q]he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the strong dwelling place: for I will make Israel to rest, even I will make [r]him to haste away from her, and who is a chosen man that I may appoint against her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is the [s]shepherd that will stand before me?
20 Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord that he hath devised against Edom, and his purpose that he hath conceived, against the inhabitants of Teman: surely the least [t]of the flock shall draw them out: surely [u]he shall make their habitations desolate with them.
21 The earth is moved at the noise of their fall: the cry of their voice is heard in the red sea.
22 Behold, he shall come up, and fly as the eagle, [v]and spread his wings over Bozrah, and at that day shall the heart of the strong men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in travail.
23 ¶ Unto [w]Damascus he saith, Hamath is confounded and Arpad, for they have heard evil tidings, and they are faint hearted as one on the fearful sea that can not rest:
24 Damascus is discouraged, and turneth herself to flight, [x]and fear hath seized her: anguish and sorrows have taken her as a woman in travail.
25 How is the glorious [y]city not reserved, the city of my joy?
26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts.
27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, which shall consume the palaces of [z]Ben-Hadad.
28 Unto [aa]Kedar, and to the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel shall smite, thus saith the Lord, Arise, and go up unto Kedar, and destroy the men of the East.
29 Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: yea, they shall take to themselves their [ab]curtains and all their vessels, and their camels, and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.
30 Flee, get you far off ([ac]they have consulted to dwell) O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the Lord: for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel hath taken counsel against you, and hath devised a purpose against you.
31 [ad]Arise, and get you up unto the wealthy nation that dwelleth without care, saith the Lord, which have neither gates nor bars, but dwell alone.
32 And their camels shall be a bootie, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil, and I will scatter them into all winds, and to the utmost corners, and I will bring their destruction from all the sides thereof, saith the Lord.
33 And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and desolation forever: there shall no man dwell there, nor the sons of men remain in it.
34 ¶ The words of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the Prophet, concerning [ae]Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
35 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will break the [af]bow of Elam, even the chief of their strength.
36 And upon Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them towards all these winds, and there shall be no nation, whither the fugitives of Elam shall not come.
37 For I will cause Elam to be afraid before their enemies, and before them that seek their lives, and will bring upon them a plague, even the indignation of my wrath, saith the Lord, and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them.
38 And I will set my [ag]throne in Elam, and I will destroy both the king and the princes from thence, saith the Lord: but [ah]in the latter days I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the Lord.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 49:1 They were separated from the Moabites by the river Arnon, and after that the ten tribes were carried away into captivity, they invaded the country of Gad.
- Jeremiah 49:1 To wit, of the Ammonites.
- Jeremiah 49:1 Meaning, of the Israelites.
- Jeremiah 49:2 Which was one of the chief cities of the Ammonites, as were Heshbon and Ai: there was also a city called Heshbon among the Moabites.
- Jeremiah 49:4 In thy plentiful country.
- Jeremiah 49:5 Signifying, that power and riches cannot prevail, when as God will execute his judgments.
- Jeremiah 49:5 That is, without looking back, and as everyone can find a way to escape.
- Jeremiah 49:6 In the time of Christ, when the Gentiles shall be called.
- Jeremiah 49:7 Which was a city of Edom, called by the name of Teman Eliphaz’ son, who came of Esau.
- Jeremiah 49:8 The enemies that shall dissemble as though they fled away, shall turn back and invade your land, and possess it.
- Jeremiah 49:9 Meaning, that God would utterly destroy them, and not spare one, though the grape gatherers leave some grapes, and thieves seek but till they have enough, Obad. 1:5.
- Jeremiah 49:11 The destruction shall be so great, that there shall be none left to take care over the widows and the fatherless.
- Jeremiah 49:12 I have not spared mine own people, and how should I pity thee?
- Jeremiah 49:13 Which was a chief city of Edom.
- Jeremiah 49:14 That is, Bozrah.
- Jeremiah 49:16 Or, idol.
- Jeremiah 49:19 To wit, Nebuchadnezzar after he hath overcome Judah, which is meant by the swelling of Jordan, shall come against mount Seir and Edom.
- Jeremiah 49:19 That is, the Israelites, whom the Edomites kept as prisoners, to haste away from thence.
- Jeremiah 49:19 The captain and governor of the army, meaning, Nebuchadnezzar.
- Jeremiah 49:20 They shall not be able to resist his petty captains.
- Jeremiah 49:20 To visit, the enemy.
- Jeremiah 49:22 As Jer. 48:40, was said of Moab.
- Jeremiah 49:23 Which was the chief city of Syria, whereby he meaneth the whole country.
- Jeremiah 49:24 When she heard the sudden coming of the enemy.
- Jeremiah 49:25 He speaketh this in the person of the king and of them of the country, who shall wonder to see Damascus the chief city destroyed.
- Jeremiah 49:27 Who was king of Syria, 1 Kings 20:26, and had built these palaces, which were still called the palaces of Ben-Hadad.
- Jeremiah 49:28 Meaning, the Arabians, and their borderers.
- Jeremiah 49:29 Because they used to dwell in tents, he nameth the things that pertain thereunto.
- Jeremiah 49:30 The enemies will dwell in your places.
- Jeremiah 49:31 He showeth that they of Hazor will flee to the Arabians for succor, but that shall not avail them.
- Jeremiah 49:34 That is, Persia, so called of Elam the son of Shem.
- Jeremiah 49:35 Because the Persians were good archers, he showeth that the thing wherein they put their trust, should not profit them.
- Jeremiah 49:38 I will place Nebuchadnezzar there, and in these prophecies Jeremiah speaketh of those countries, which should be subdued under the first of those four monarchies whereof Daniel maketh mention.
- Jeremiah 49:38 This may be referred to the Empire of Persians and Medes after the Chaldeans, or unto the time of Christ, as Jer. 48:47.
Jeremiah 50
1599 Geneva Bible
50 He prophesieth the destruction of Babylon, and the deliverance of Israel which was in captivity.
1 The word that the Lord spake concerning Babel, and concerning the land of the Chaldeans by the [a]ministry of Jeremiah the Prophet.
2 Declare among the nations, and publish it, and set up a standard, proclaim it and conceal it not: say, [b]Babel is taken, Bel is confounded, [c]Merodach is broken down: her idols are confounded, and their images are burst in pieces.
3 For out of the North [d]there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land waste, and none shall dwell therein: they shall flee, and depart, both man and beast.
4 In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall [e]come, they, and the children of Judah together, going, and [f]weeping shall they go, and seek the Lord their God.
5 They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us cleave to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.
6 ¶ My people hath been as lost sheep: their [g]shepherds have caused them to go astray, and have turned them away to the mountains: they have gone from [h]mountain to hill, and forgotten their resting place.
7 All that found them have devoured them, and their enemies said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord, [i]the habitation of justice, even the Lord the hope of their fathers.
8 [j]Flee from the midst of Babel, and depart out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be ye as the he goats [k]before the flock.
9 For lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babel a multitude of mighty nations from the North country, and they shall set themselves in array against her, whereby she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a strong man, which is expert, for none shall return in vain.
10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her, [l]shall be satisfied, saith the Lord.
11 Because you were glad and rejoiced in destroying mine heritage, and because ye are grown fat, as the calves in the grass, [m]and neighed like strong horses,
12 Therefore your mother shall be sore confounded, and she that bare you shall be ashamed, behold, the uttermost of the nations shall be a desert, a dry land, and a wilderness.
13 Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but shall be wholly desolate: everyone that goeth by Babel, shall be astonished, [n]and hiss at all her plagues.
14 [o]Put yourselves in array against Babel round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath [p]sinned against the Lord.
15 Cry against her round about: she hath [q]given her hand: her foundations are fallen, and her walls are destroyed: for it is the vengeance of the Lord: take vengeance upon her: as she hath done, do unto her.
16 Destroy the [r]sower from Babel, and him that handleth the scythe in the time of harvest: because of the sword of the oppressor they shall turn everyone to his people, and they shall flee everyone to his own land.
17 Israel is like scattered sheep: the lions have dispersed them: first the king of [s]Assyria hath devoured him, and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel hath broken his [t]bones.
18 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, Behold, I will visit the king of Babel, and his land, as I have visited the King of Assyria.
19 And I will bring Israel again to his habitation: he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon the mount Ephraim and Gilead.
20 In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none: and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will be merciful unto them whom I reserve.
21 Go up against the land of the [u]rebels, even against it and against the inhabitants (A)of [v]Pekod: destroy, and lay it waste after them, saith the Lord, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
22 A cry of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.
23 How is the [w]hammer of the whole world destroyed, and broken! how is Babel become desolate among the nations!
24 I have snared thee, and thou art taken, O Babel, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the Lord.
25 The Lord hath opened his treasure, and hath brought forth the weapons of his wrath: for this is the work of the Lord God of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.
26 Come against her [x]from the utmost border: open her storehouses, tread on her as on sheaves, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.
27 Destroy all her [y]bullocks: let them go down to the slaughter. Woe unto them, for their day is come, and the time of their visitation.
28 The voice of them that [z]flee, and escape out of the land of Babel to declare in Zion, the vengeance of the Lord our God, and the vengeance of his Temple.
29 Call up the archers against Babel: all ye that bend the bow, besiege it round about: let none thereof escape: (B)recompense her according to her work, and according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the Lord, even against the holy One of Israel.
30 Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be destroyed in that day, saith the Lord.
31 Behold, I come unto thee, O proud man, saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day is come, even the time that I will visit thee.
32 And the proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.
33 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, The children of Israel, and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives, held them, and would not let them go.
34 But their strong redeemer, whose Name is the Lord of hosts, he shall maintain their cause, that he may give rest to the land, [aa]and disquiet the inhabitants of Babel.
35 A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and upon the inhabitants of Babel, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.
36 A sword is upon the [ab]soothsayers, and they shall dote: a sword is upon her strong men, and they shall be afraid.
37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the multitude that are in the midst of her, and they shall be like women: a sword is upon her treasures, and they shall be spoiled.
38 A [ac]drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they dote upon their idols.
39 Therefore the [ad]Ziims with the Iims shall dwell there, and [ae]the ostriches shall dwell therein: for it shall be no more inhabited, neither shall it be inhabited from generation unto generation.
40 As God destroyed (C)Sodom and Gomorrah with the places thereof near about, saith the Lord: so shall no man dwell there, neither shall the son of man remain therein.
41 ¶ Behold, a people shall come from the North, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from [af]the coasts of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the buckler: they are cruel and unmerciful: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, and be put in array like men to the battle against thee, O daughter of Babel.
43 The king of Babel hath heard the report of them, and his hands [ag]waxed feeble: sorrow came upon him, even sorrow as of a woman in travail.
44 Behold, he (D)shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the strong habitation: for I will make Israel to rest, and I will make them to haste away from her: and who is a chosen man that I may appoint against her? for who is like me, and who will appoint me the time? and who is the [ah]shepherd that will stand before me?
45 Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord, that he hath devised against Babel, and his purpose that he hath conceived against the land of the Chaldeans: surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.
46 At the noise of the winning of Babel the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 50:1 Hebrew, hands.
- Jeremiah 50:2 After that God had used the Babylonians’ service to punish other nations, he showeth that their turn shall come to be punished.
- Jeremiah 50:2 These were two of their chief idols.
- Jeremiah 50:3 To wit, the Medes and the Persians.
- Jeremiah 50:4 When Cyrus shall take Babel.
- Jeremiah 50:4 Read Jer. 31:9.
- Jeremiah 50:6 Their governors and ministers by their examples have provoked them to idolatry.
- Jeremiah 50:6 They have committed idolatry in every place.
- Jeremiah 50:7 For the Lord dwelt among them in his Temple, and would have maintained them by his justice against their enemies.
- Jeremiah 50:8 When God shall deliver you by Cyrus.
- Jeremiah 50:8 That is, most forward and without fear.
- Jeremiah 50:10 Shall be made rich thereby.
- Jeremiah 50:11 For joy of the victory, that ye had against my people.
- Jeremiah 50:13 In sign of contempt and disdain.
- Jeremiah 50:14 He speaketh to the enemies the Medes and Persians.
- Jeremiah 50:14 Though the Lord called the Babylonians his servants, and their work his work in punishing his people, yet because they did it not to glorify God, but for their own malice, and to profit themselves, it is here called sin.
- Jeremiah 50:15 Or, yielded, or made peace.
- Jeremiah 50:16 Destroy her so that none be left to labor the ground, or to take the fruit thereof.
- Jeremiah 50:17 Meaning, Tiglath-Pilesar, who carried away the ten tribes.
- Jeremiah 50:17 He carried away the rest, to wit, Judah, and Benjamin.
- Jeremiah 50:21 That is, Babylon: thus the Lord raised up Cyrus.
- Jeremiah 50:21 Or, of them that should be visited.
- Jeremiah 50:23 Nebuchadnezzar, who had smitten down all the princes and people of the world.
- Jeremiah 50:26 Hebrew, from the end.
- Jeremiah 50:27 Her princes and mighty men.
- Jeremiah 50:28 Of the Jews which should be delivered by Cyrus.
- Jeremiah 50:34 He showeth that when God executeth his judgments against his enemies, that his Church shall then have rest.
- Jeremiah 50:36 Hebrew, liars.
- Jeremiah 50:38 For Cyrus did cut the river Euphrates, and divided the course thereof into many streams, so that it might be passed over as though there had been no water: which thing he did by the counsel of two of Belshazzar’s captains, who conspired against their king, because he had gelded the one of them in despite, and slain the son of the other.
- Jeremiah 50:39 Read Isa. 13:21.
- Jeremiah 50:39 Hebrew, sons of the ostriches, or young.
- Jeremiah 50:41 Meaning, that the Persians should gather their army of many nations.
- Jeremiah 50:43 Which is meant of Belshazzar, Dan. 5:6.
- Jeremiah 50:44 Read Jer. 49:19.
1 Corinthians 8
1599 Geneva Bible
8 1 From this place unto the end of the tenth Chapter, he willeth them not to be at the Gentiles’ profane banquets. 13 He restraineth the abuse of Christian liberty, 11 and showeth that knowledge must be tempered with charity.
1 And as [a]touching things sacrificed unto idols, we know that we [b]all have knowledge: knowledge [c]puffeth up, but love [d]edifieth.
2 Now, if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing, yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4 [e]Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed unto [f]idols, we know that an idol is [g]nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven, or in earth (as there be many gods, and many lords.)
6 Yet unto us there is but one God, which is that Father, [h]of whom are all things, and we [i]in him, and (A)[j]one Lord Jesus Christ, [k]by whom are all things, and we by him.
7 [l]But every man hath not that knowledge: for [m]many having [n]conscience of the idol, until this hour, eat as a thing sacrificed unto the idol, and so their conscience being weak, is defiled.
8 [o]But meat maketh us not acceptable to God, for neither if we eat, have we the more: neither if we eat not, have we the less.
9 But take heed lest by any means this power of yours be an occasion of falling, to them that are weak.
10 [p]For if any man see thee which hast knowledge, sit at table in the idols’ temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak, be boldened, to eat those things which are sacrificed to idols?
11 [q]And through thy knowledge shall the (B)weak brother perish, for whom Christ died.
12 [r]Now when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 (C)[s]Wherefore if meat offend my brother, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, that I may not offend my brother.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 He entereth to entreat of another kind of things indifferent, to wit, of things offered to idols, or the use or flesh so offered and sacrificed. And first of all he removeth all those things which the Corinthians pretended in using things offered to idols without any respect. First of all they affirmed that this difference of meats was for unskillful men, but as for them, they knew well enough the benefit of Christ, which causeth all these things to be clean to them that are clean. Be it so saith Paul: be it that we are all sufficiently instructed in the knowledge of Christ. I say notwithstanding that we must not simply rest in this knowledge. The reason is that unless our knowledge be tempered with charity, it doth not only not avail, but also doeth much hurt, because it is the mystery of pride: nay, it doth not so much as discern the name of godly knowledge, if it be separate from the love of God and therefore from the love of our neighbor.
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 This general word is to be abridged as appeareth verse 7, for there is a kind of taunt in it, as we may perceive by the next verse.
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 Ministereth occasion of vanity and pride, because it is void of charity.
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 Instructed our neighbor.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 The application of that answer to things offered to idols: I grant, saith he that an idol is indeed a vain imagination, and that there is but one God and Lord, herefore that meat cannot be made holy or profane by the idol: but it followeth not therefore that a man may without respect use those meats as any other.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 This word (idol) in this place is taken for an image which is made to present some godhead, that worship might be given unto it: whereupon came the word (idolatry) that is to say, Image service.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 It is a vain dream.
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 When the Father is distinguished from the Son, He is named the beginning of all things.
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 We have our being in him.
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 But as the Father is called Lord, so is the Son, God therefore this word (One) doth not respect the persons, but the natures.
- 1 Corinthians 8:6 This word (By) doth not signify the instrumental cause, but the efficient: For the Father and the Son work together, which is not so to be taken, that we make two causes, seeing they have both but one nature though they be distinct persons.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 The reason why that followeth not, is this: because there are many men which do not know that which you know. Now the judgments of outward things depend not only upon your conscience, but upon the conscience of them that behold you, and therefore your actions must be applied not only to your knowledge, but also to the ignorance of your brethren.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 An applying of the reason, There are many which cannot eat of things offered to idols, but with a wavering conscience, because they think them to be unclean: therefore if by thy example they enterprise to do that which inwardly they thinketh displeaseth God, their conscience is defiled with this eating, and thou hast been the occasion of this mischief.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 By conscience of the idol, he meaneth the secret judgment that they had within themselves,whereby they thought all things unclean, that were offered to idols, and therefore they could not use them with good conscience. For this force hath conscience, that if it be good, it maketh things indifferent good, and if it be evil, it maketh them evil.
- 1 Corinthians 8:8 A preventing of an objection: Why then, shall we therefore be deprived of our liberty? Nay saith the Apostle, you shall lose no part of Christianity although you abstain for your brethren’s sake, as also if you receive the meat, it maketh you no whit the more holy, for our commendation before God consisteth not in meats: but to use our liberty with offense of our brethren, is an abuse of liberty, the true use whereof is clean contrary, to wit, so to use it, as in using of it we have consideration of our weak brethren.
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 Another plainer explication of the same reason, propounding the example of the sitting down at the table in the idol’s temple, which thing the Corinthians did evil accompt of among things indifferent, because it is simply forbidden for the circumstance of the place, although offense do cease, as it shall be declared in his place.
- 1 Corinthians 8:11 An amplification of the argument taken both of comparison and contraries: Thou wretched man, saith he, pleasing thyself with thy knowledge which indeed is none (for if thou haddest true knowledge, thou wouldest not sit down to meat in idol’s temple) wilt thou destroy thy brother, hardening his weak conscience by this example to do evil, for whose salvation Christ himself has died?
- 1 Corinthians 8:12 Another amplification: Such offending of our weak brethren redoundeth unto Christ, and therefore let not these men think that they have to do only with their brethren.
- 1 Corinthians 8:13 The conclusion, which Paul conceiveth in his own person, that he might not seem to exact that of others, which he will not be first subject unto himself. I had rather (saith he) abstain forever from all kind of flesh, than give occasion of sin to any of my brethren, much less would I refuse in any certain place or time for my brother’s sake not to eat flesh offered to idols.
1 Corinthians 9
1599 Geneva Bible
9 1 He declareth, that from the liberty which the Lord gave him, 15 he willingly abstained, 18, 22 lest in things indifferent he should offend any. 24 He showeth that our life is like unto a race.
1 Am [a]I not an Apostle? am I not free? [b]have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are ye not my work [c]in the Lord?
2 If I be not an Apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am unto you: for ye are the [d]seal of mine Apostleship in the Lord.
3 [e]My defense to him that [f]examine me, is this,
4 [g]Have we not power to [h]eat and to drink?
5 Or have we not power to lead about a wife being a [i]sister, as well as the rest of the Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power [j]not to work?
7 [k]Who [l]goeth a warfare any time at his own cost? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8 [m]Say I these things [n]according to man? saith not the Law the same also?
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, (A)Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn: doth God take care for [o]oxen?
10 Either saith he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt it is written, that he which eareth, should ear in hope, and that he that thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.
11 (B)[p]If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things?
12 [q]If others with you be partakers of this [r]power, are not we rather? nevertheless, we have not used this power: but suffer all things, that we should not hinder the Gospel of Christ.
13 [s]Do ye not know, that they which minister about the (C)holy things, eat of the [t]things of the Temple? and they which wait at the altar, are [u]partakers with the altar?
14 So also hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel, should live [v]of the Gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things: [w]neither wrote I these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my rejoicing vain.
16 For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to rejoice of: for necessity is laid upon me, and woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel.
17 For if I do it willingly, I have a reward, but if I do it against my will, notwithstanding the dispensation is committed unto me.
18 What is my reward then? verily that when I preach the Gospel, I make the Gospel of Christ [x]free, that I abuse not mine authority in the Gospel.
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all men, that I may win the more.
20 (D)And unto the Jews, I become as a Jew, that I may win the Jews: to them that are under the [y]Law, as though I were under the Law, that I may win them that are under the Law:
21 To them that are without Law, as though I were without Law, (when I am not without Law as pertaining to God, but am in the Law through Christ) that I may win them that are without Law:
22 To the weak I become as weak, that I may win the weak: I am made all things to [z]all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the Gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with [aa]you.
24 [ab]Know ye not, that they which run in a race, run all, yet one receiveth the prize? so run that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that proveth masteries, [ac]abstaineth from all things: and they do it to obtain a corruptible crown: but we for an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly: so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.
27 But I beat down my [ad]body, and bring it into subjection, lest by any means after that I have preached to others, I myself should be [ae]reproved.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 9:1 Before he proceedeth any further in his proposed manner of things offered to idols he would show the cause of all this mischief, and also take it away: to wit, that the Corinthians thought themselves not bound to depart from an iota of their liberty for any man’s pleasure. Therefore he propoundeth himself for an example and that in a matter almost necessary. And yet he speaketh generally of both, but first of his own person. If (saith he) you allege for yourselves that you are free, and therefore will use your liberty, am I not also free, seeing I am an Apostle?
- 1 Corinthians 9:1 He proveth his Apostleship by the effects, in that that he was appointed of Christ himself, and the authority of his function was sufficiently confirmed to him amongst them by their conversion. And all these things he setteth before their eyes, to make them ashamed for that they would not in the least wise that might be, debase themselves, for the weak’s sake, whereas the Apostle himself did all that he could to win them to God when they were utterly reprobate and without God.
- 1 Corinthians 9:1 By the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 9:2 As a seal whereby it appeareth sufficiently that God is the author of my Apostleship.
- 1 Corinthians 9:3 He addeth this by the way, as if he would say, So far it is off, that you may doubt of my Apostleship, that I use it to refute them which call it into controversy, by opposing those things which the Lord hath done by me amongst you.
- 1 Corinthians 9:3 Which like Judges examine me and my doings.
- 1 Corinthians 9:4 Now touching the matter itself, he saith, Seeing that I am free, and truly an Apostle, why may not I (I say not, eat of all things offered to idols) but be maintained by my labors, yea and keep my wife also, as the residue of the apostles lawfully do, as by name, John and James, the Lord’s cousins, and Peter himself?
- 1 Corinthians 9:4 Upon the expense of the Church?
- 1 Corinthians 9:5 One that is a Christian and a true believer?
- 1 Corinthians 9:6 Not to live by the work of our hands?
- 1 Corinthians 9:7 That he may not seem to burden the Apostles, he showeth that it is just that they do, by an argument of comparison, seeing that soldiers live by their wages, and husbandmen by the fruits of their labors, and shepherds by that that cometh of their flocks.
- 1 Corinthians 9:7 Useth to go a warfare?
- 1 Corinthians 9:8 Secondly he bringeth forth the authority of God’s institution by an argument of comparison.
- 1 Corinthians 9:8 Have I no better ground than the common custom of men?
- 1 Corinthians 9:9 Was it God’s proper drift to provide for oxen, when he made this Law? for otherwise there is not the smallest thing in the world, but God hath a care of it.
- 1 Corinthians 9:11 An assumption of the arguments with an amplification, for neither in so doing do we require a reward meet for our deserts.
- 1 Corinthians 9:12 Another argument of great force: others are nourished amongst you, therefore it was lawful for me, yea rather for me than any other: and yet I refused it, and had rather still suffer any discommodity, than the Gospel of Christ should be hindered.
- 1 Corinthians 9:12 The word signifieth a right and interest, whereby he giveth us to understand that the ministers of the word must of right and duty be found of the Church.
- 1 Corinthians 9:13 Last of all he bringeth forth the express Law concerning the nourishing of the Levites, which privilege notwithstanding he will not use.
- 1 Corinthians 9:13 This is spoken by the figure Metonymy, for, of those things that are offered in the temple.
- 1 Corinthians 9:13 Are partakers with the altar in dividing the sacrifice.
- 1 Corinthians 9:14 Because they preach the Gospel. It followed by this place, that Paul gat no living, neither would have any other man get, by any commodity of masses, or any other such superstitious trumperies.
- 1 Corinthians 9:15 He taketh away occasion of suspicion by the way, that it might not be thought that he wrote this as though he challenged his wages that was not paid him. Nay saith him, I had rather die, than not continue in this purpose to preach the Gospel freely. For I am bound to preach the Gospel, seeing that the Lord hath enjoined me this office: but unless I do it willingly and for the love of God, nothing is to be allowed that I do. If I had rather that the Gospel should be evil spoken of, than that I should not require my wages, then would it appear that I took these pains not so much for the Gospel’s sake, as for my gains and advantages. But I say, this were not to use, but abuse my right and liberty. Therefore not only in this thing, but also in all others (as much as I could) I am made all things to all men, that I might win them to Christ, and might together with them be won to Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 9:18 By taking nothing of them to whom I preach it.
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 The word (Law) in this place, must be restrained to the ceremonial Law.
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 In matters that are indifferent, which may be done or not done with a good conscience: as if he said, I changed myself into all fashions, that by all means, I might save some.
- 1 Corinthians 9:23 That both I and they to whom I preach the Gospel, may receive fruit by the Gospel.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24 He bringeth in another cause of this mischief, to wit, that they were given to gluttony, for there were solemn banquets of sacrifices, and the riot of the Priests was always too much celebrated and kept. Therefore it was hard for them which were accustomed to righteousness, especially when they pretended the liberty of the Gospel, to be restrained from these banquets: but contrarywise, the Apostle calleth them by a pleasant similitude, and also by his own example, to sobriety and mortification of the flesh, showing that they cannot be fit to run or wrestle (as then the games of Isthmians were) which pamper up their bodies, and therefore affirming that they can have no reward, unless they take another course and trade of life.
- 1 Corinthians 9:25 Useth a most exquisite diet.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 The old man which striveth against the spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 This word (Reproved) is not set as contrary to the word (Elect) but as contrary to the word (Approved) when we see one by experience not to be such an one as he ought to be.
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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