NT-EPISTLES.filter - geneva general:

geneva@Romans:1:1 @ Paul, (note:)The first part of the epistle contains a most profitable preface down to verse six.(:note) a Paul, exhorting the Romans to give diligent heed to him, in that he shows that he comes not in his own name, but as God's messenger to the Gentiles, entreats them with the weightiest matter that exists, promised long ago by God, by many good witnesses, and now at length indeed performed.Minister, for this word «servant» is not taken in this place as set against the word «freeman», but rather refers to and declares his ministry and office. servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an Whereas he said before in a general term that he was a minister, now he comes to a more special name, and says that he is an apostle, and that he did not take this office upon himself by his own doing, but that he was called by God, and therefore in this letter of his to the Romans he is doing nothing but his duty. apostle, Appointed by God to preach the gospel. separated unto the gospel of God,

geneva@Romans:2:2 @ But we (note:)Paul alleges no places of scripture, for he reasons generally against all men: but he brings reasons such that every man is persuaded by them in his mind, so that the devil himself is not able to completely pluck them out.(:note) are sure that the judgment of God is according to Considering and judging things correctly, and not by any outward show. truth against them which commit such things.

geneva@Romans:12:1 @ I beseech (note:)The fourth part of this epistle, which after the finishing of the principal points of Christian doctrine, consists in the declaring of precepts of the Christian life. And first of all he gives general precepts and grounds: the principal of which is this, that every man consecrate himself wholly to the spiritual service of God, and do as it were sacrifice himself, trusting the grace of God.(:note) you therefore, brethren, By this preface he shows that God's glory is the utmost goal of everything we do. by the mercies of God, that ye In times past the sacrifices were presented before the altar: but now the altar is everywhere. present your Yourselves: in times past other bodies besides our own, but now our own must be offered. bodies a In times past, dead sacrifices were offered, but now we must offer those which have the spirit of life in them. living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your Spiritual. reasonable service.

geneva@Romans:15:1 @ We (note:)Now the apostle reasons generally of tolerating or bearing with the weak by all means, in so far that it may be for their profit.(:note) then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to And despise others. please ourselves.

geneva@1Corinthians:2:12 @ Now we have received, not the (note:)The Spirit which we have received does not teach us things of this world, but lifts us up to God, and this verse teaches us the opposite of what the papists teach: what faith is, from where it comes, and from what power it originates.(:note) spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; That which he spoke generally, he confines now to those things which God has opened to us of our salvation in Christ: so that no man should separate the Spirit from the preaching of the word and Christ: or should think that those fanciful men are governed by the Spirit of God, who wandering besides the word, thrust upon us their vain imaginations for the secrets of God. that we might This word «know» is taken here in its proper sense for true knowledge, which the Spirit of God works in us. know the things that are freely given to us of God.

geneva@1Corinthians:3:1 @ And (note:)Having declared the worthiness of heavenly wisdom, and of the Gospel, and having generally condemned the blindness of man's mind, now at length he applies it particularly to the Corinthians, calling them carnal, that is, those in whom the flesh still prevails against the Spirit. And he brings a twofold testimony of it: first, because he had proved them to be such, in so much that he dealt with them as he would with ignorant men, and those who are almost babes in the doctrine of godliness, and second, because they showed indeed by these dissensions, which sprang up by reason of the ignorance of the power of the Spirit, and heavenly wisdom, that they had profited very little or nothing.(:note) I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto He calls them carnal, who are as yet ignorant, and therefore to express it better, he calls them «babes». carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ.

geneva@1Corinthians:6:9 @ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? (note:)Now he prepares himself to pass over to the fourth treatise of this epistle, which concerns other matters, concerning this matter first, how men may well use a woman or not. And this question has three parts: fornication, matrimony, and a single life. As for fornication, he utterly condemns it. And marriage he commands to some, as a good and necessary remedy for them: to others he leaves is free. And others he dissuades from it, not as unlawful, but as inconvenient, and that not without exception. As for singleness of life (under which also I comprehend virginity) he enjoins it to no man: yet he persuades men to it, but not for itself, but for another respect, neither to all men, nor without exception. And being about to speak against fornication, he begins with a general reprehension of those vices, with which that rich and riotous city most abounded: warning and teaching them earnestly, that repentance is inseparable joined with forgiveness of sins, and sanctification with justification.(:note) Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

geneva@1Corinthians:8:1 @ Now (note:)He begins to entreat of another type of indifferent things, that is, things offered to idols, or the use of flesh so offered and sacrificed. And first of all he removes 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 foods was for the unskilful men, but as for them, they knew well enough the benefit of Christ, which causes all these things to be clean to those that are clean. Be it so, Paul says: even if we are all sufficiently instructed in the knowledge of Christ, I say nonetheless that we must not simply rest in this knowledge. The reason is, that unless our knowledge is tempered with charity, it does not only not avail, but also does much hurt, because it is the mistress of pride. Nay, it does not so much as deserve the name of godly knowledge, if it is separate from the love of God, and therefore from the love of our neighbour.(:note) as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we This general word is to be abridged as (1Co_8:7) appears, for there is a type of taunt in it, as we may perceive by (1Co_8:2). all have knowledge. Knowledge Gives occasion of vanity and pride, because it is void of charity. puffeth up, but charity Instructs our neighbour. edifieth.

geneva@1Corinthians:10:1 @ Moreover, (note:)He sets out that which he said, laying before them an example of the horrible judgment of God against those who had in effect the very same pledges of the same adoption and salvation that we have. And yet nonetheless when they gave themselves to idol's feasts, they perished in the wilderness, being horribly and manifoldly punished. Now, moreover and besides that these things are fitly spoken against those who frequented idol's feasts, the same also seems to be alleged to this end and purpose, because many men think that those things are not of such great weight that God will be angry with them if they use them. And so they frequent Christian assemblies and are baptized, and receive the communion, and confess Christ.(:note) brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our Paul says this in respect of the covenant, and not in respect of the persons, except generally. fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

geneva@Galatians:1:1 @ Paul, (note:)A salutation which puts in a few words the sum of the apostle's doctrine, and also immediately from the beginning shows the gravity appropriate for the authority of an apostle, which he had to maintain against the false apostles.(:note) an apostle, (not He shows who is the author of the ministry generally: for in this the whole ministry agrees, that whether they are apostles, or shepherds, or teachers, they are appointed by God. of men, neither by He mentions that man is not the instrumental cause: for this is a special right of the apostles, to be called directly from Christ. man, but by Christ no doubt is man, but he is also God, and head of the Church, and in this respect to be exempted out of the number of men. Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

geneva@Ephesians:4:1 @ I therefore, (note:)Another part of the epistle, containing precepts of the Christian life, the sum of which is this, that every man behave himself as it is fitting for so excellent a grace of God.(:note) the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the By this is meant the general calling of the faithful, which is this, to be holy as our God is holy. vocation wherewith ye are called,

geneva@Philippians:4:12 @ I know both how to be (note:)He uses a general word, and yet he speaks but of one type of cross, which is poverty, for poverty commonly brings all types of discomforts with it.(:note) abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am This is a metaphor taken from holy things or sacrifices, for our life is like a sacrifice. instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

geneva@1Timothy:3:1 @ This (note:)Having completed the treatise of doctrine and of the manner of handling of it, as well also of public prayer, he now in the third place comes to the persons themselves, speaking first of pastors, and afterwards of deacons. And he uses a preface, so that the church may know that these are certain and sure rules.(:note) [is] a true saying, The office of bishop, or the ministry of the word is not an idle dignity, but a work, and that an excellent work: and therefore a bishop must be furnished with many virtues both at home and abroad. Therefore it is necessary before he is chosen to examine well his learning, his gifts, his abilities, and his life. If a man He does not speak here of ambitious seeking, of which there cannot be a worse fault in the Church, but generally of the mind and disposition of man, prepared and disposed to help and edify the Church of God, when and wherever it will please the Lord. desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

geneva@Titus:2:1 @ But (note:)The fifth admonition: the doctrine must not only be generally pure, but also be applied to all ages and orders of men, according to the diversity of circumstances.(:note) speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

geneva@Titus:3:1 @ Put (note:)He declares particularly and separately that which he said before generally, noting out certain main and principal duties which men owe to men, and especially subjects to their magistrates.(:note) them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

geneva@Hebrews:1:1 @ God, who at (note:)The first part of the general proposition of this epistle the son of God is indeed that prophet or teacher, who has actually now performed that which God after a sort and in shadows signified by his prophets, and has fully revealed his Father's will to the world.(:note) sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, The purpose of this epistle, is to show that Jesus Christ the Son of God both God and man is that true eternal and only Prophet, King and High Priest, that was shadowed by the figures of the old law, and is now indeed exhibited of whom the whole Church ought to be taught, governed and sanctified.

geneva@Hebrews:9:28 @ So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of (note:)Thus the general promise is restrained to the elect only: and we have to seek the testimony of our election, not in the secret counsel of God, but in the effects that our faith works, and so we must climb up from the lowest step to the highest, there to find such comfort as is most certain, and shall never be moved.(:note) many; Shortly by the way he sets Christ as Judge, partly to terrify those who are not trusting in the only sacrifice of Christ once made, and partly to keep the faithful in their duty, so that they will not go back. and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

geneva@Hebrews:12:23 @ To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made (note:)So he calls them that are taken up to heaven, although one part of them sleeps in the earth.(:note) perfect,

geneva@James:1:1 @ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the (note:)That is, written to no one man, city, or country, but to all the Jews generally, being now dispersed.(:note) twelve tribes which are To all the believing Jews, whatever tribe they are from, dispersed throughout the whole world. scattered abroad, greeting.

geneva@1Peter:2:1 @ Wherefore (note:)Having laid for the foundation the Spirit of God effectually working by the word, and having built on it three virtues which are the grounds of all Christian actions, that is, faith, hope, and charity: now he proceeds to a general exhortation the first part being that we flee all show of both secret and open malice.(:note) laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

geneva@Revelation:1:1 @ The (note:)This chapter has two principal parts, the title or inscription, which stands in place of an introduction: and a narration going before the whole prophecy of this book. The inscription is double, general and particular. In (Rev_1:1) the general inscription contains the kind of prophecy, the author, end, matter, instruments, and manner of communication the same, in (Rev_1:2) the most religious faithfulness of the apostle as public witness and the use of communicating the same, taken from the promise of God, and from the circumstance of the time, (Rev_1:3)(:note)An opening of secret and hidden things. Revelation of Which the Son opened to us out of his Father's bosom by angels. Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:[1 AD] The dragon watches the Church of the Jews, which was ready to travail: She brings forth, flees and hides herself, while Christ was yet on the earth. [34 AD] The dragon persecutes Christ ascending to heaven, he fights and is thrown down: and after persecutes the Church of the Jews. [67 AD] The Church of the Jews is received into the wilderness for three years and a half. [70 AD] When the Church of the Jews was overthrown, the dragon invaded the catholic church: all this is in the twelfth chapter. The dragon is bound for a thousand years in chapter twenty. The dragon raises up the beast with seven heads, and the beast with two heads, which make havock of the catholic church and her prophets for 1260 years after the passion of Christ in (Rev_13:11). [97 AD] The seven churches are admonished of things present, somewhat before the end of Domitian his reign, and are forewarned of the persecution to come under Trajan for ten years, chapter 2,3. God by word and signs provokes the world, and seals the godly in chapter 6 and 7. He shows examples of his wrath on all creatures, mankind excepted in chapter 8. [1073 AD] The dragon is let loose after a thousand years, and Gregory the seventh, being Pope, rages against Henry the third, then Emperor in chapter 20. [1217 AD] The dragon vexes the world for 150 years to Gregory the ninth, who wrote the Decretals, and most cruelly persecuted the Emperor Fredrick the second. [1295 AD] The dragon kills the prophets after 1260 years, when Boniface the eighth was Pope, who was the author of the sixth book of the Decretals: he excommunicated Philip the French King. [1300 AD] Boniface celebrates the Jubile. [1301 AD] About this time was a great earthquake, which overthrew many houses in Rome. [1305 AD] Prophecy ceases for three years and a half, until Benedict the second succeeded after Boniface the eighth. Prophecy is revived in chapter 11. The dragon and the two beasts question prophecy in chapter 13. Christ defends his Church in word and deed, chapter 14, and with threats and arms, chapter 16. Christ gives his Church victory over the harlot, chapter 17 and 18. Over the two beasts, chapter 19. Over the dragon and death, chapter 20. The Church is fully glorified in heaven with eternal glory, in Christ Jesus, chapter 21 and 22.