Author : Emanuel Swedenborg
Release : 2021-06-07
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Kind : eBook
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Book Synopsis Doctrine of the Lord by : Emanuel Swedenborg

Download or read book Doctrine of the Lord written by Emanuel Swedenborg. This book was released on 2021-06-07. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: UNIVERSAL HOLY SCRIPTURE TREATS OF THE LORD: THE LORD IS THE WORD. We read in John: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:1-5). The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The light is come into the world and men loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19). While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be sons of light. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in Me should not abide in the darkness (John 12:36, 46). From these passages it is evident that the Lord is God from eternity, and that this God is the selfsame Lord who was born in the world; for it is said that the Word was with God, and God was the Word, and also that without Him was not anything made that was made; and it is added that the Word was made flesh, and they beheld Him. It is but little understood in the church why the Lord is called the Word. It is because "the Word" signifies Divine truth or Divine wisdom, and the Lord is Divine truth itself or Divine wisdom itself. And this is why He is called the Light, of which also it is said that it came into the world. As the Divine wisdom and the Divine love make a one, 1-1 and in the Lord had been a one from eternity, it is said, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." "Life" is Divine love; and "light" is Divine wisdom. It is this one that is meant by, "In the beginning the Word was with God, and God was the Word." "With God," is in God; for wisdom is in love, and love in wisdom. So in another place in John: And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own Self, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was (John 17:5). "With Thine own Self," is in Thyself, and therefore it is said, "and God was the Word;" and elsewhere, that the Lord is in the Father, and the Father in Him; and that He and the Father are one. As therefore the Word is the Divine wisdom of the Divine love, it follows that it is Jehovah Himself, thus the Lord by whom all things were made that are made; for all things have been created from Divine love by means of Divine wisdom.