PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS

Tag: Jews and Gentiles

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Isaiah 60:1–6 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Old Testament Reading of the Epiphany of Our Lord, Isaiah 60:1–6, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    I. The introduction and content. (v. 1)

    II. Explanation in what great multitude and how hastily the Gentiles will shall come to the knowledge of the true God (v. 2–16)

    Annotated Text

    1. Arise * (hereby the Lord encourages the almost-despairing Jewish Church through the prophet, that she should look around herself freshly and joyfully at the time of Christ, according to the great benefits that Christ brings to her with His coming), become light; * for † your Light1 (the saving knowledge of God in Christ) comes,2 and the glory of the Lord (of Christ who is little known and esteemed) rises over you (My people).

    * Isaiah 52:1

    1 * “let yourself be enlightened, receive this Light” (see Isaiah 59:21)

    † Isaiah 9:2 (John 1:5, 9ff.)

    2 * “to you especially and first of all” (see Micah 5:3; Acts 13:46)

    2. For behold, * darkness (blindness) covers the earth, and gloom covers the people (that they do not know God and His will); but The Lord (Christ) rises over you, and His glory shines over you.

    * Exodus 10:23

    3. And the Gentiles will walk in your * Light (they will be enlightened through the Word of the Gospel) and the kings (will also walk) in the splendor (of the Gospel), which rises over you.

    * Matthew 4:16 (Revelation 21:24)

    4. * Lift up your eyes and see all around: These (Gentiles) all come together to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters † will be reared at your side (through faith in Christ many Gentiles will become your sons and daughters, not according to the flesh, but rather according to the promise [cf. Galatians 3:29], which is far more glorious than fleshly preference).

    * Isaiah 49:18ff.

    † Isaiah 66:12

    5. Then will you see your light and break forth1 (from joy), and your heart will marvel2 and spread out (Luther: “as the streams of water flow and spread out”), when * the multitude by the sea converts to you (the Gentiles who dwell by the sea and on the islands), and the power of the Gentiles comes to you.

    1 Hebrew: “Then you will see it with your eyes when you spread yourself out as a river”

    2 Hebrew: “You will indeed be startled (over it), but nevertheless you will also rejoice from the heart”

    * Matthew 8:11 (Acts 11:18)

    6. Then the multitude of camels shall cover you (The Gentiles, who ride upon camels will come to you to learn the knowledge of God in Christ), the runners (the small camels which are called ‘runners’ on account of their fast running) of Midian and Ephah (the inhabitants of whose lands come from Midian, whom Abraham conceived by Ketura, Genesis 25:2–4). They will all come from * Sheba (from Arabia), (receive Christ, and to Him) bring gold and incense (promote the Church of Christ with their riches and also offer up the spiritual incense of prayer to Christ), and they will proclaim the praise of the Lord.

    * Matthew 2:11 (Psalm 72:10)

    Useful Applications

    I. CORRECTION: That we ought to rejoice heartily of Christ, who is the great Light of the world (v. 1). II. DOCTRINE: That the calling of the Gentiles to the Kingdom of Christ is a very great, joyful, and comforting work of God. (v. 3–5)

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Galatians 3:23–29 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Epistle Reading of the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus, Galatians 3:23–29, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    III. A report concerning the right use of the Law. (v. 23–29)

    Annotated Translation

    23. But, before faith came, (before the preaching of the Gospel concerning the now sent Messiah, which teaches the faith, and through which the Holy Spirit works faith, was proclaimed and spared in the world, that is, during the time of the Old Testament, before the coming of the Son of God in the flesh), we were under the Law (as those constricted) *, and were sealed (so that we were not allowed to live out our pleasure; that in this way we might bear an even greater longing for the Messiah) for faith, which should then be revealed (until the time when the Gospel should be preached in all he world and we were redeemed from the burden of the Law).

    * Galatians 4:3 (Romans 7:6, 16:25ff.)

    24. In this way the Law was our disciplinarian (and had kept us in school under disciples, and also through its figures and types directed us) unto Christ (just as also a disciplinarian holds a young boy strictly until he comes to his years and can rule himself, in this way, the Law has driven us through the revelation and accusation of our sin and through strict demanding of a perfect obedience, that we yearn after Christ, who would fulfill the Law in our stead and redeem us from the curse of the Law), * so that we be justified through faith (in Him).

    * Romans 10:4 (Galatians 4:19; Matthew 5:17)

    25. But now that faith has come (since now in the New Testament the Gospel concerning the appeared Messiah is preached in all the world), we are no longer under the disciplinarian (we are free from the Levitical ordinances and from the curse of the Law of the Ten Commandments).

    (Galatians 4:2ff.)

    26. For * you (believers) are all (you are according to descent Jews or Gentiles, Galatians 3:28) God’s children (and thereafter also heirs of salvation) through faith in Christ Jesus.

    * Isaiah 56:5; John 1:12; Romans 8:17 (Galatians 4:5)

    27. For as many * of you1 who are baptized (as many among you have received the Sacrament of Holy Baptist, not only according to Christ’s command, but also and chiefly unto His fellowship by faith in Him, which in the New Testament has been instituted in the stead of circumcision, Colossians 2:11), † have put on (and have come into the fellowship of all the goods of) Christ (and His righteousness through faith).

    * Romans 6:3

    1 Greek: “into Christ” [εἰς Χριστὸν]

    † Romans 13:14

    28. Here * there is neither Jew nor Greek, here there is neither slave nor free man, here there is neither man nor woman (here it is not seen nor counted before God whether someone is a Jew or Gentile, a bondservant or a free man, a man or a woman, as indeed was especially strongly considered under the Law of Moses) for you are altogether one in Christ Jesus (each one as the other is pleasing to God for the sake of Christ; also you are altogether members of one spiritual body of which Christ is the Head).

    * Romans 10:12; 1 Corinthians 12:13 (Colossians 3:11; Ephesians 2:14ff.)

    29. But if you are Christ’s (incorporated into Christ through faith and united with Him), so you are indeed * Abraham’s offspring (spiritual children of Abraham, the father of all believers), and heirs (of eternal life) according to the promise (which was made to Abraham).

    * Romans 9:7 (Romans 2:28ff, 4:17)

    Useful Applications

    III. DOCTRINE: Those who are baptized have put on Christ and have come into the fellowship of all His heavenly goods (v. 27). DOCTRINE: Indeed, whoever truly believes is God’s child; whatever he may be according to estate, whoever he may be, he can expect the heavenly inheritance (v. 26–29).