JOHN 9
Other translations - previous - next - meaning - John - BM Home - Full PageChapter 9 |
THE INTERNAL SENSE. |
|
THAT divine inquisition is taken of those, who are out of the church, and have not received instruction from the Word, and enquiry is made concerning the source of their ignorance, vs 1, 2. |
|
To which enquiry divine reply is made, that their ignorance does not proceed either from actual or hereditary evil, but that it is permitted to the end that the divine operation may be rendered more manifest by its removal, vs 3. |
|
Which operation is effectual in all states of good and truth belonging to the church, but not when evil and false principles prevail, vs 4. |
|
And is from the lord's divine humanity, who, in that humanity is the source of divine truth, and who, by the literal sense of the Word reforms those who are in ignorance, gifting them with the understanding of truth, vs 5, 6, 7. |
|
Which reformation appears scarcely credible to those, who witnessed the former ignorance of those who are the subjects of it, and therefore they are led to enquire concerning the manner in which it was effected, vs 8, 9, 10. |
|
And are informed, that it was effected by the lord in his humanity, through the instrumentality of the letter of the Word, and the purification thereby worked from unclean loves, in consequence of which purification the understanding was opened to the light of truth, vs 11. |
|
Hence enquiry is further made concerning the lord's humanity, which they, who have been reformed by it, cannot answer, vs 12. |
|
On which occasion the rulers of the perverted church are made acquainted with the case, and how the understanding of truth had been restored through the letter of the Word, vs 13, 14. |
|
Therefore enquiry is made amongst them respecting it, and they are instructed that the restoration of the understanding of truth was effected by the good of faith derived from the literal sense of the Word, producing purification from evil, vs 15. |
|
But with some this appears contrary to the law of the representative church, whilst to others it appears to be of divine operation, so that they cannot agree on the subject, vs 16. |
|
Again enquiry is made of those who have been reformed, what their opinion is, and they reply, that the restoration of spiritual understanding, which they have received, is from the divine truth derived from the lord's humanity, vs 17. |
|
This however appears impossible to those who are of the perverted church, and therefore they explore the causes of spiritual ignorance, that they may know whether it be hereditary, or not, and how, if hereditary, it is to be removed, vs 18, 19. |
|
From which exploration they learn, that spiritual ignorance is hereditary, but how it has been removed, or by whom, they cannot discover, except by consulting those who have experienced its removal, vs 20, 21. |
|
In this exploration, however, a principle of evil was operative, since they had before determined to separate all from their communion, who should confess the lord's Humanity to be the divine truth, vs 22, 23. |
|
Again therefore they apply themselves to those, who had received spiritual sight, exhorting them to acknowledge the invisible god to be the giver of it, and not to attribute it to the assumed Humanity, vs 24. |
|
But reply is made, that whatever doubt there may be concerning the lord's humanity, yet one thing is certain, that the lord in that humanity has dissipated ignorance, by giving the understanding of truth, vs 25. |
|
Still they are not satisfied with this reply, but continue to be inquisitive about the manner in which the understanding of truth was imparted, insomuch that they seem disposed to believe in the lord's humanity, vs 26, 27. |
|
But their inquiry, it is found, was grounded in evil, for they scoff at those who believe, boasting that they themselves are true believers in the Word, which is from god, and insisting that in that Word nothing is taught concerning the lord's humanity, vs 28, 29. |
|
To this it is replied, that they ought to be convinced of the divinity of the lord's humanity by its operation, since to give spiritual sight is a divine work, which cannot be worked but through divine omnipotence, vs 30, 31, 32, 33. |
|
But this reply is rejected with scorn, and imputed to an evil motive; therefore they, who are of the perverted church, disclaim all belief in the lord's Humanity, and all connection with those who profess such belief, vs 34. |
|
On the other hand, they, who have been reformed by the good of faith, are accepted of the lord in his divine humanity, and are questioned concerning their faith, and are thus taught, that the lord in his divine humanity is always visible to the eye of faith, and always instructing in truth, vs 35, 36, 37. |
|
Thus their faith is perfected, and they acknowledge from the heart that the Humanity of the lord is divine, vs 38. |
|
Which Humanity came into the world to reveal divine truth, which truth makes those to see, who relish wisdom from the lord, and makes those blind who are wise from themselves, thus who have the reputation of being learned, vs 39. |
|
For blindness is of two kinds, namely the blindness arising from false principles, and that which comes from ignorance, and the former only is criminal, since to see and understand what is evil and still to do it, renders man guilty, vs 40, 41. |
Translation
1. AND passing by, he saw a man blind from [his] birth.
2. And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who did sin, this [man] or his parents, that he was born blind?
3. jesus answered, Neither has this [man] sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of god might be made manifest in him.
4. I must work the works of him that sent me whilst it is day: the night comes when no man can work.
5. Whilst I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
6. When he had thus said, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay;
7. And said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, which is, by interpretation, Sent. He went his way therefore, and washed, and came, seeing.
8. The neighbours therefore, and they who before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
9. Some said, that it is he; but others, that he is like him. He said, I am he.
10. Then they said to him, How were your eyes opened?
11. He answered and said, A man called jesus made clay, and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: And I went and washed, and received sight.
12. Then said they to him, Where is he? He says, I know not.
13. They bring to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14. But it was the sabbath when jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15. Then again the Pharisees also asked him, How he had received his sight? He said to them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16. Then some of the Pharisees said, This man is not of god, because he keeps not the sabbath. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? [signs] And there was a division among them.
17. They say again to the blind [man] What say you of him, that he has opened your eyes? But he said, that He is a prophet.
18. Then the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
19. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who you say was born blind? how then does he now see?
20. His parents answered them, and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;
21. But how he now sees we know not; or who has opened his eyes, we know not; he is of age, ask him; he shall speak for himself.
22. These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had agreed already that, if any one should confess him [to be] the christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
23. Therefore said his parents, he is of age, ask him.
24. Then called they again the man who was blind, and said to him, Give glory to god ; we know that this man is a sinner.
25. Then he answered, and said, Whether he be a sinner, I know not; one thing I know, that being blind, I now see.
26. But they said to him again, What did he to you? How opened he your eyes?
27. He answered them, I have told you already, and you did not hear; wherefore would you hear again? Are you also willing to be his disciples?
28. Then they reviled him, and said, You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
29. We know that god spoke to Moses; but this [fellow] we know not whence he is.
30. The man answered, and said to them, Indeed this is wonderful, that you know not whence he is, and has opened mine eyes.
31. But we know that god hears not sinners; but if any one be a worshiper of god, and does his will, him he hears.
32. It never was heard that any one opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33. Unless this [man] was of god, he could do nothing.
34. They answered, and said to him, You were wholly born in sins, and do you teach us? And they cast him out.
35. jesus heard that they had cast him out, and finding him, says to him, Do you believe in the Son of god?
36. He answered, and said, Who is he, lord, that I might believe on him?
37. But jesus said to him, You have both seen him, and it is he that speaks with you.
38. And he said, I believe, lord ; and he worshiped him.
39. And jesus said, For judgement am I come into this world, that they who see not may see, and that they who see may be made blind.
40. And [some] of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, Are we blind also?
41. jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would not have sin; but now you say, We see, therefore your sin remains.
Verses 1 to 33. And passing by, he saw a man blind from [his] birth, &c. &c. It is impossible for any one to understand the particulars of this history, unless he be acquainted with the internal or spiritual sense of the Word, in which sense by one blind from birth, are meant those who are born out of the church, and thence incapable of knowing any thing concerning the lord, and of being instructed from the Word; by the clay which the Lord made of spittle on the ground, is signified reformation by truths derived from the sense of the letter of the Word, ground denoting the church where the Word is, clay denoting the ultimate Divine [principle] forming, the anointing of which on the eyes of the blind, denotes giving by it the understanding of truth; the fish-pool of Siloam also signifies the Word in the letter; to be there washed denotes to be purified from falses and evils. That these things are understood by what is said in this history, has been hitherto undiscovered. That ground signifies the church, see AC 566, 10570. That clay signifies good from which truth is derived, thus good forming, AC 1300, 6669. That the fish-pool of Siloam signifies the Word in the sense of the letter, is evident from Isaiah 8:6. And in general the fish-pools which were at Jerusalem, Isaiah 22:9, 11. AE 239.
Verse 4. I must work the works of him that sent me, whilst it is day, &c. In this passage day denotes the time and state when there is good and truth, but night when evil and the false prevail. AC 2354. AE 98.
It is the first time of the church, which is understood by day, for then truth is received, because mankind are principled in good; and it is the last time which is meant by night, for then nothing of truth is received, because they are not principled in good. AC 6000. See also AR 922.
Verses 6, 7. When he had thus said, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, &c. &c. This was done, because the reformation of man was represented, who is born in ignorance of truth, and to teach that reformation is effected, by the good of faith, which is clay. AC 6669.
By the blind man in this history are represented those who can see nothing of truth, because they are sensual, and who therefore only see those things which appear before the external senses, hence fallacies in the place of truths, to confirm which fallacies they also apply the sense of the letter of the Word; by clay made of spittle is signified sensual truth, such as is intended for persons of this description in the Word; by the waters of the lake or fish-pool of Siloam, are signified the truths of the Word, for all things were significative even to the waters in Jerusalem; and by washing is signified to purify from fallacies, which in themselves are falses; hence it may be manifest what the above things signify in a series; for all the miracles and actions of the lord, when he was in the world, signified divine celestial and spiritual things, that is, such things as are of heaven and the church, and this by reason that they were divine, and the Divine [principle] always operates in ultimates from first principles, and thus in fullness; ultimates are such things in the world as appear before the eyes; hence it is that the lord spoke, and that the Word was written by such things in nature as correspond. AE 475.
Verse 39. And Jesus said, For judgement am I come into this world, that they who see not may see, &c. &c. They that see denotes those that think themselves intelligent above all others, concerning whom it is said, that they shall become blind, that is, will not receive faith; that not to see, or to be blind, is predicated of those who are in false principles, also of those who are in ignorance, see AC 2383. AC 3865.
To come into the world for judgement denotes to reveal divine truth, which truth makes those to see who relish wisdom from the lord, and makes those blind who are wise from themselves, thus who have the reputation of being learned. AC 9857.
Verses 40, 41. And some of the Pharisees who were with him, said to him, Are we blind also? &c. &c. By blind in this passage are meant those who are blind in two senses, namely those who are in a false principle, and those who are in ignorance of truth; with those who are within the church, and know what truth is, blindness is falsity; but with those who do not know what truth is, as is the case with those who are out of the church, blindness is ignorance of truth, and they are blameless. AC 2383.
To see and to understand what is evil, and still to do it, renders man guilty, as the lord teaches in John, "jesus said to the Pharisees, if you were blind, you would not have sin; but now you say, we see, therefore your sin remains," AC 9069. See also DP 234, CL 348.
But they, who do not know any thing concerning the lord, as is the case with the generality in the two quarters of the globe, Asia and Africa, and likewise in the Indies, if they believe in one god, and live according to the precepts of their religion, by virtue of their faith and life are saved, for imputation is to those who know, and not to those who are ignorant, as it is not imputed as a crime to the blind when they stumble; for the lord says, "If you were blind, you would not have sin, but now you say, we see, therefore your sin remains." TCR 107.
translator's notes and observations.
Verse 3. Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. From the former part of these words, if separated from connection with the latter, it would appear to be the declaration of jesus christ, that neither the blind man, nor his parents, had ever committed sin; whereas if the former part be read in connection with the latter, no such declaration is made: For the sense resulting from such connection is, not that the man and is parents had never sinned, but that they have not so sinned as to be out of the reach of divine mercy and operation; in other words, they had not so sinned, but that the works of God might be made manifest.
JOHN 9 Other translations - previous - next - meaning - John - BM Home - Full Page