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Principal Matters: Adultery (2), Susanna

Posted on by Posted in Principal Matters A

Researched and prepared by Ruth Magnusson Davis

This post belongs to the series “Principal Matters from the 1537 Matthew Bible.” The purpose of the series is:

(1) To get to know the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible.
(2) To learn through bible studies from the Reformation.

“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the Bible.”

So began John Rogers’ introduction to the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible. This Table was a concordance at the front of the book. It set out bible topics in alphabetical order. Under each topic were short headings, with bible verses for further study.

This Principal Matters series follows the topics in the order of the Table. It also sets out in full the bible verses under each entry, taken from the Matthew Bible.

Topic: Adultery (Part 2)

The topic of adultery in the Table of Principal Matters was long, so I have divided it into several shorter posts. This post deals with only one entry. It concerns the story of Susanna, from the apocryphal book named after that woman. Susanna, a beautiful and godly wife, was targeted by some very evil men who were elders and judges in Israel.

People who have a facsimile of the 1537 Matthew Bible might notice that the Bible verse cited under this heading in the Table of Principal Matters was Daniel xiii.c (Daniel 13:22-23). This is because, in the Latin Vulgate Bible, the story of Susanna was the 13th chapter in the book of Daniel. However, in Reformation Bibles the 13th chapter was extracted from Daniel, re-named “Susanna,” and put with the Apocryphal books. Therefore, in modern Bibles, Daniel has only 12 chapters. (It is not until we reach the end of “Susanna” that we learn why it was originally included in the book of Daniel.)

Susanna’s story will be of interest simply because it will be new to many, the Apocryphal books having fallen into disuse after the 17th century. I have given the entire chapter, both because the story is now unknown and because it is an instructive account of the lusts and evil contrivances of man. It shows the worst kinds of sins that evil lusts may lead to, and God’s wrath against such sins. A bible study question would be to identify the incremental sins that arose here from fleshly desire, and to consider the necessity of cutting off all evil roots of lust and affection, which grow into deadly plants.

Adultery (continued)

(5) Susanna would rather die than commit adultery.

Susanna (first draft, updated for the New Matthew Bible):

There dwelt a man in Babylon called Joacim. He took a wife whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias. She was a very fair woman, and such a one as feared God. Her father and her mother also were godly people, and had taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. Now Joacim her husband was a great, rich man, and had a beautiful orchard adjoining his house. And the Jews commonly resorted to him because he was a man of reputation among them.

That same year, there were appointed two judges, men such as the Lord speaks of: All the wickedness of Babylon comes from the elders; that is, from the judges who seem to rule the people. These men came often to Joacim’s house, and all such people has had anything to do with the law came there to them.

Now when the people returned again in the afternoons, Susanna would go into her husband’s orchard to walk. The elders seeing this – that she went in daily and walked – burned with lust for her. Yea, they were almost out of their wits, and cast down their eyes so that they would not see heaven nor remember that God is a righteous judge. For they were both wounded with the love of her. Neither one told the other of his affliction, and for shame they did not tell her of their inordinate lust, that they desired to have to do with her. Yet they laid wait for her ardently from day to day, so that they might (at the least) have a sight of her.

And the one said to the other, Up, let us go home; for it is time for the mid-day meal. So they went their ways from her. When they returned again, they came across each other. Asking why between themselves, the one told the other of his wicked lust. Then they appointed a time when they might catch Susanna alone.

It happened also that they spied out a convenient time, when she went forth to walk (as her manner was) and no one was with her except two maids. And she was thinking to wash herself in the garden, for it was a hot season. And there was not one person there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves to watch her.

So she said to her maids, Go and fetch me oil and soap, and shut the orchard door so that I may wash myself.

And they did as she bid them and shut the orchard door, and went out themselves at a back door, to fetch the things that she had said. But Susanna did not know that the elders lay there hidden within.

Now, when the maids had gone out, the two elders got up and ran upon Susanna, saying, Now the orchard doors are shut, so that no one can see us! We are in love with you. Therefore, consent to us, and lie with us. If you will not, we will bring a testimony against you, that there was a young fellow with you, and that is why you sent your maids away from you.

Susanna groaned and said, Alas, I am in trouble on every side! If I follow your mind, it will be my death, and if I do not consent to you, I cannot escape your hands. Well, it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing this deed than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

And with that, she cried out with a loud voice. The elders also cried out against her. Then someone ran to the orchard door and forced it open. And when the servants of the house heard the cry in the orchard, they rushed in at the back door to see what the matter was. And when the elders told them, the servants were greatly ashamed, because there was never such a report made of Susanna.

On the next day, the people assembled to Joacim her husband. And the two elders came also, full of mischievous imaginations against Susanna, to bring her to death. And they spoke thus before the people: Send for Susanna the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim’s wife!

And immediately they sent for her. So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred. Now, Susanna was a refined person, and marvellously fair of face. Therefore the wicked men said to take off the cloths from her face (for she was covered), so that at the least they could be satisfied by her beauty. Then her friends – yea, and all who knew her – began to weep.

These two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon Susanna’s head. She was weeping and looking up towards heaven, for her heart had a sure trust in the Lord. And the elders said, As we were walking in the orchard alone, this woman came in with her two maids, whom she sent away from her and barred the orchard doors. With that, a young fellow who was hidden there came out to her and lay with her. As for us, we stood in a corner of the orchard. And when we saw this wickedness, we ran to her and perceived that they had meddled together. But we could not hold him, for he was stronger than we. Thus he opened the door and got away. Now, when we seized this woman, we asked her who this young fellow was. But she would not tell us. This is the matter, and we are witnesses of the same.

The common people believed the two men because they were the elders and judges of the people, and so they condemned her to death. Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, O Everlasting God, searcher of secrets, you know all things before they come to pass! You know that they have borne false witness against me! And behold, I must die, although I never did any such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.

And the Lord heard her voice. For when she was led forth to death, the Lord raised up the spirit of a young child whose name was Daniel, who cried with a loud voice, I am clean from this blood!

Then all the people turned towards him and said, What do these words mean, which you have spoken?

Daniel stood in the midst of them and said, Are you such fools, O ye children of Israel, that you cannot discern? You have here condemned a daughter of Israel to death, and know not the truth of it! Go and sit in judgment again, for they have spoken false witness against her.

And so the people turned back in all haste. And the elders (that is, the principal heads) said to him, Come and sit down here among us, and make known to us this matter, seeing God has given you as great honour as an elder.

And Daniel said to them, Put these two apart one from another, and then I will hear them.

When they were put apart one from another, he called one of them and said to him, O thou old, cankered villain, who has practiced your wickedness for so long! The evil deeds that you have done before are now come to light. For you have given false judgments; you have oppressed the innocent and let the guilty go free, whereas yet the Lord says, The innocent and righteous, see that you slay not. Well then, if you saw her, tell me: under what tree did you see them talking together?

He answered, Under a mulberry tree.

And Daniel said, Very well now, your lie is upon your own head. Lo, the messenger of the Lord has received the sentence from him, to cut you in two.

Then he put him aside and called for the other, and said to him, O thou seed of Canaan, but not of Judah! Beauty has deceived you, and lust has subverted your heart. Thus have you dealt before with the daughters of Israel; and they (for fear) consented to you. But the daughter of Judah would not abide your wickedness. Now tell me then, under what tree did you catch them speaking together?

He answered, Under a pomegranate tree.

Then said Daniel to him, Very well, now your lie is also upon your head. The messenger of the Lord stands waiting with the sword to cut you in two, and to slay you both.

With that, all the whole multitude gave a great shout and praised God, who always delivers those who put their trust in him. And they came upon the two elders (whom Daniel had convicted with their own mouth, that they had given false witness) and dealt with them as they would have done with their neighbouress. Yea, they did according to the law of Moses, and put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved that same day.

Then Chelcias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joacim her husband and all the kindred, that there was no dishonour found in her.

From that day forth, Daniel was had in great reputation in the sight of the people.

This 1603 painting by Domenchino is one of many artists’ renderings of the two elders accosting Susanna in the garden.

~~The end of the story of Susanna~~

Notices:

– Information about the New Matthew Bible Project is here.

– Sample scriptures from the New Matthew Bible are here.

– To find former topics, on the main blog page search under “Principal Matters Series” for the subcategory with the appropriate letter. For example, for “Abomination,” look under Principal Matters Series/ Principal Matters A/Abomination.

– The preceding topics in this series include  Adam and Adultery Part 1.

Principal Matters: Adultery Part 1

Posted on by Posted in Principal Matters A

Researched and prepared by Ruth Magnusson Davis

This post belongs to the series “Principal Matters from the 1537 Matthew Bible.” The purpose of the series is:

(1) To get to know the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible.
(2) To learn through bible studies from the Reformation.

“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the bible.”

So began John Rogers’ introduction to the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible. This Table was a concordance at the front of the book. It set out bible topics in alphabetical order. Under each topic were short headings with bible verses for further study.

This Principal Matters series follows the topics in the order of the Table and sets out the bible verses in full, taken from the Matthew Bible.

Topic: Adultery (Part 1)

The topic of adultery in the Table of Principal Matters is long, and some of the scriptures given are also quite long. Therefore, this topic is divided into several parts.

There were some bible verses here that I was unable to identify due to typographical errors in the Matthew Bible.

Adultery

(1) Adultery is a violation of the faith promised in marriage, which thing is forbidden to us.

Exodus 20:14 You shall not break wedlock.

Leviticus 18:20 You shall not lie with your neighbour’s wife, to defile yourself with her.

Deuteronomy 5:18 You shall not break wedlock … You shall not lust after your neighbour’s wife.

(2) Adulterers are stoned to death [under Mosaic law].

Leviticus 20:10 He who breaks wedlock with another man’s wife shall die for it, because he has broken wedlock with his neighbour’s wife; and so shall she likewise.

Deuteronomy 22:23-24 If a maiden is betrothed to a husband, and then a man finds her in the town and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gates of the same town and shall stone them with stones to death: the damsel because she did not cry out, being in the town, and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. And you shall put away the evil from you.

But if a man finds a betrothed damsel in the field and forces her and lies with her, then the man that lay with her shall die alone, and to the damsel you shall do no harm, because there is in the damsel no cause of death.

Deuteronomy 27: 20-23:

Cursed be he that lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s covering. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that lies with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that lies with his sister, whether she be the daughter of his father or of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be he that lies with his mother-in-law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

(3) If the adulterers are not punished by men, God will punish them.

Jeremiah 5:7-10 Your children have forsaken me and sworn by them that are no gods. And although they were bound to me in marriage, yet they fell to adultery, and frequented harlots’ houses. In the desire of unclean lust they have become like the lusty horse, every man neighing at his neighbor’s wife. Should I not correct this? says the Lord. Should I not be avenged upon every people that is like this?

Jeremiah 7:8-10, 14-15  But take heed! You trust in counsels that beguile you and do you no good. For when you have stolen, murdered, committed adultery and perjury; when you have offered to Baal following strange and unknown gods, then you come and stand before me in this house that has my name given to it and say, Tush, we are quite absolved, though we have done all these abominations….

And therefore, even as I have done to Shiloh, so will I do to this house, to which my name is given and in which you put your trust – yea, to the place that I have given to you and your fathers. And I will thrust you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, the whole seed of Ephraim.

(4) An example of God’s punishment is David’s son, who died for the adultery of David.

2 Samuel 12:10-14  [Nathan said to King David,] The sword shall never depart from your house because (says the Lord) you have despised me and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will stir up evil against you, even from your own house, and will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, who will sleep with them before the sun. And you did it secretly, yet I will do this thing before all Israel and in the open sunlight.

Then said David to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord!

And Nathan said to David, The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because in doing this deed you have given the enemies of the Lord cause to blaspheme, the child that is born of you shall surely die.

David confessed his sin and was forgiven, but the consequences for his sin were not remitted. For even forgiven sin is still punished in this life. David’s baby died for his father’s sin.

~~End~~

Notices:

Susanna: The next heading under “Adultery” in the Table of Principal Matters deals with the story of Susanna. It reads, “Susanna would rather die than commit adultery.” “Susanna” is one of the apocryphal books. It is only one chapter long. Because it gives a very full picture of the sinful follies, lusts, and contrivances of man, and of all the sins that adultery draws along in its wake, I will devote the whole of the next post to Susanna’s story.

– The Old Testament Scriptures and Apocryphal writings given here are from the 1537 Matthew Bible, with the obsolete English gently updated.
– Information about the New Matthew Bible Project is here.
– Sample scriptures from the New Matthew Bible are here.

– To find former topics, on the main blog page search under “Principal Matters Series” for the subcategory with the appropriate letter. For example, for “Abomination,” look under Principal Matters Series/ Principal Matters A/Abomination.

– Two preceding topics in this series are:
Adam
Accusation

Principal Matters: Adam

Posted on by Posted in Principal Matters A

Researched and prepared by Ruth Magnusson Davis

This post – a short but foundational one about Adam – belongs to the series “Principal Matters from the 1537 Matthew Bible.” The purpose of the series is:

(1) To get to know the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible.
(2) To learn through bible studies from the Reformation.

“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the bible.”

So began John Rogers’ introduction to the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible. The Table was a concordance at the front of the book. It set out bible topics in alphabetical order. Under each topic were statements of doctrine and bible verses for further study.

This series proceeds topic by topic following the order of the Table. It also sets out the bible verses in full, taken from the Matthew Bible, with minimal updating of the English so it is understandable for today.

Adam

(1) We are all sinners in Adam, from whom we have the inclination to do evil.

Romans 5:17, 18, 19 …by the sin of one, death reigned by the means of one … by the sin of one, condemnation came on all men … by one man’s disobedience, many became sinners.

(2) And by him we are subject to death.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 … by a man came death … through Adam all die.

(3) Adam was a figure of Christ to come, who is called the last Adam.

Romans 5:14 Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those also who did not sin with such transgression as did Adam, who is the similitude of him who is to come.

[See also 1 Corinthians 15:45 There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body; as it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul, and the last Adam was made a life-giving spirit.]

The fall of man. Eve entices Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit, and all his descendants will die.

~~End~~

Notices:

– New Testament Scriptures are from the October Testament, the New Testament of the New Matthew Bible.
– Information about the New Matthew Bible Project is here.
– Sample scriptures from the New Matthew Bible are here.

– To find former topics, on the main blog page search under “Principal Matters Series” for the subcategory with the appropriate letter. For example, for “Abuses,” look under Principal Matters Series/ Principal Matters A/Abuses. (Also, a few topics are linked at the end.)

– Preceding topics in this series include:
Acception (Partiality)
Accusation

Upcoming topics:
Adultery
Affliction
Angels

Principal Matters: Accusation

Posted on by Posted in Principal Matters A Leave a comment

Researched and prepared by Ruth Magnusson Davis

This post belongs to the series “Principal Matters from the 1537 Matthew Bible.” The purpose of the series is:

(1) To get to know the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible.
(2) To learn through bible studies from the Reformation.

“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the bible.”

So began John Rogers’ introduction to the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible. This Table was a concordance set at the front of the book. It set out bible topics in alphabetical order with short statements of doctrine. It also cited bible verses for further study. This series proceeds topic by topic following the order of the Table and sets out the bible verses in full, taken from the Matthew Bible.

To find former topics, on the main blog page search under “Principal Matters Series” for the subcategory with the appropriate letter. For example, for “Abomination,” look under Principal Matters Series/ Principal Matters A/Abomination.

Accusation

(1) One ought to accuse his brother to the church if he does not amend after he has had a brotherly admonition.

Matthew 18:15-17 If your brother trespasses against you, go and tell him his fault between him and you alone. If he hears you, you have redeemed your brother. But if he does not hear you, then take along with you one or two others, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. If he does not hear them, tell it to the congregation. If he does not hear the congregation, take him as a heathen man and as a publican.

(2) No accusation ought to be received against the minister except under two or three witnesses.

1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive no accusation except with two or three witnesses.

(3) We are accused before God by the malice of Satan

Job 1:7-11 And the Lord said to Satan, From whence do you come? Satan answered the Lord and said, I have gone about the land and walked through it. Then said the Lord to Satan, Have you not considered my servant Job, how he is an innocent and virtuous man, such a one as fears God and eschews evil, and that there is none like him in the land? Satan answered and said to the Lord, Does Job fear God for naught? Have you not preserved him, his house, and all his substance on every side? Have you not blessed the works of his hands? Is not his possession increased in the land? But lay your hand upon him a little – touch once all that he has – and (I hold) he will curse you to your face.

Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying, Now in heaven is made salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. For he is cast down who accused our brethren before God day and night.

(4) We are also accused by our own sinfulness.

Jeremiah 2:19 Your own wickedness shall reprove you, and your turning away shall condemn you, so that you may know and understand how evil and hurtful a thing it is that you have forsaken the Lord your God and not feared him, says the Lord God of hosts.

(5) Also by our own conscience.

Romans 2:14-15 For if the Gentiles who have no law do by nature the things contained in the law, then they, having no law, are a law unto themselves. They show the deeds of the law written in their hearts, while their conscience bears witness to them, and also their thoughts, accusing one another or defending…

(6) Also by the Scripture.

John 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to my Father. There is one who accuses you: even Moses, in whom you trust.

(7) Let us, therefore, accuse ourselves.

Proverbs 18:17 The righteous accuses himself first of all. If his neighbour comes, he will find out the truth about him.

 

This painting of the prophet Jeremiah is by Michelangelo. Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet” for the grief he expressed in his oft rebukes of his apostate people, Israel.

~~End~~

Notices:

– New Testament Scriptures are from the October Testament, the New Testament of the New Matthew Bible. The Old Testament Scriptures and Apocryphal writings are taken directly from the Matthew Bible, with obsolete English gently updated.
– Information about the New Matthew Bible Project is here.
– Sample scriptures from the New Matthew Bible are here.

– Previous topics in this series:
Abomination
Acception, or Partiality

Principal Matters from the Matthew Bible: Acception (Partiality)

Posted on by Posted in Principal Matters A

Researched and prepared by Ruth Magnusson Davis
Theme: Partiality to any person or nation is not of God.
Short RMD appendix: What is the new covenant with Israel?

 

This post belongs to the series “Principal Matters from the 1537 Matthew Bible.” The purpose of the series is:

(1) To get to know the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible.
(2) To learn through bible studies from the Reformation.

“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the bible.”

So began John Rogers’ introduction to the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible. The Table was a concordance at the front of the book. It set out bible topics in alphabetical order with short statements of doctrine. Bible verses were cited for further study. This Principal Matters Series proceeds in order, giving the most interesting topics. It also sets out the cited bible verses in full, taken from the Matthew Bible.

To find former topics, on the main blog page search under “Principal Matters Series” for the subcategory with the appropriate letter. For example, for “Abrogation,” look under Principal Matters Series/Principal Matters A/Abrogation. (Also, a few topics are linked at the end.)

Topic: Acception, or Partiality

“Acception,” or “Accepcyon” in the old spelling, is an obsolete word. It means partiality or favouritism[1]. It was used in the phrase “acception of persons.” This phrase means the same as the phrase “respect of persons,” which we know from the KJV and older bibles. Respect or acception of persons is partiality based on outward things, such as race, ethnicity, wealth, or social status.

Under this topic, Rogers reviews the bible verses which show that partiality is always wrong and is not of God.

Rogers took two verses at the end of this entry from the apocryphal book Ecclesiasticus. This book is also known as the “Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach,” or just “Sirach.” The apocryphal books of the Matthew Bible were sometimes very different from later versions – in length, content, and message – so in places I had to improvise the verse numbering.

I added a separate discussion at the end relevant to the question, what is the new covenant with Israel? This is to supplement Rogers’ points about partiality toward Israel or the Jews. He likely could not have anticipated how widespread such partiality would be in our century. But it is interesting to consider how this makes his study all the more relevant for today.

From the 1537 Matthew Bible: Acception

(1) Acception of persons is to have respect to the estate of the person or to his nation, which thing is not of God.

Deuteronomy 10:16-19 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your hearts, and be no longer stiff-necked. For the Lord your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty and a terrible, who regards no man’s person nor takes gifts, but does right to the fatherless and widow, and loves the stranger, to give him food and raiment. Love, therefore, the stranger. For you were strangers yourselves in the land of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 19:7 Let the fear of the Lord be with you, and take heed and do it. For there is no unrighteousness in the Lord our God, nor regarding of persons, nor taking of rewards.

Romans 2:10-11, 28-29  He will reward every person according to his deeds; that is to say, praise, honour, and immortality to those who continue in doing good and seek eternal life;  but to those who are rebellious and reject the truth, and follow iniquity, will come indignation and wrath – tribulation and anguish upon the soul of every person who does evil: of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. To everyone who does good will come praise, honour, and peace: to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. For there is no partiality with God. …

For he is not a Jew who is a Jew outwardly. Neither is that thing circumcision which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is hid within, and the circumcision of the heart is the true circumcision, which is in the Spirit and not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Ephesians 6:8 And remember, whatever good thing anyone does, that he will receive back again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Colossians 3:9-11 Do not lie to one another. Put off the old man with his works and put on the new, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him who made him – where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian or Scythian, bond or free: but Christ is all in all things.

Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is not partial, but among all peoples, whoever fears him and works righteousness is accepted with him.

(2) And the same thing [partiality] also ought not to be in man.

James 2:1-4 Brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, in respect of persons. If there comes into your company a man with a golden ring and in goodly apparel, and there comes in also a poor man in wretched clothing,  and you have a respect to him who wears the fine clothing, and say to him, Sit here in a good place, but say to the poor, Stand there, or, Sit here by my footstool, are you not partial among yourselves, and have judged after evil thoughts?

Jude 1:5 My intent is therefore to remind you, since you already know this, that the Lord (after he had delivered the people out of Egypt) destroyed those who afterward did not believe.

Ecclesiasticus 20:22 There are some who destroy their own soul with shame, and for the sake of an unwise person, he destroys it. And with acception of persons, he will undo himself.

Ecclesiasticus 42:1 Be partial to no person, which is to offend.

~~End of topic “Acception” in the 1537 Matthew Bible ~~

 

From Ruth Magnusson Davis:

What is the new covenant with Israel?

The topic “acception” goes to the heart of the question, what is the new covenant with Israel? Or, what place does Israel have under the new covenant? The short answer is that the new covenant with Israel is the same as the new covenant with the Gentiles. For now and for the future, no race, tongue, or nation has any favoured place because God is not partial. All the bible verses cited in the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible attest to this. Therefore, the old covenant having served its purpose, it is put aside, and the new covenant has now gone forth to all peoples alike. For there is no partiality with God.

But still, many think they are taking the Bible literally and properly when they hold that God will exalt the nation of Israel and give the Jewish people a special place and earthly kingdom in the future. However, if the statements of the apostles and the prophets are made to agree with each other, the only hope we can stand on is the single promise of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus to all, both Jew and Gentile, without any partiality. This promise is of a place in the heavenly kingdom and the new Jerusalem, not any earthly kingdom. The hope of an earthly kingdom is the hope of Judaism, not Christianity. It is sobering to reflect that an earthly kingdom was the hope of the Jews and Pharisees who crucified Christ. But Jesus said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would surely fight so that I would not be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36)

Two objections may be raised:

(1) The promises to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament were often expressed to be “forever.”

However, in the 1537 Matthew Bible, John Rogers addressed this issue several times in his notes on the books of Moses. He pointed out that in Hebrew, the word translated “forever” only means a long season; that is, a time without an appointed end. It does not mean a time without any end. The word “forever” (or just “ever”) usually translates the Hebrew o-lawm. In a note on Exodus 15:18, Rogers explained that the concept of a time without any end was indicated through repetition in the Hebrew, translated in English as “ever and always” or “ever and ever.” The repetition apparently indicated a genuine “forever.”

(2) The Jews had a preferred place and special promises under the Old Testament, which promises have yet to be realized.

Paul explained that all things happened to the Jews only for an example, for us to learn from (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11). The whole thrust of much of his teaching was to show that the old covenant with Israel has been abrogated for its unprofitableness and the Jews will have no special place now. They are sinners just as we are, and in need of the same salvation under the same covenant. He wrote about the limited, former preferment of the Jews as follows:

Romans 3:1-4, 9-10, 22-23 What preferment, then, has the Jew? Or what advantage from circumcision?  Surely very much. The word of God was committed first to them. What, then, if some of them did not believe? Does their unbelief make the promise of God without effect? God forbid. Let God be true and all men liars, as it is written: That you may be justified in your words, and should overcome when you are judged…. For we have already established that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, as it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one…. Without doubt, the righteousness which is good before God comes by the faith of Jesus Christ, to all and upon all who believe. There is no difference. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

There is no difference! This Paul laboured to show and teach. The word of God was first given to the Jews, but now, under the new covenant, all nations are given it, and all have received the promise of the circumcision of the heart by the Holy Spirit. There is no yet-to-be-revealed partiality, as it were, for ethnic or national Israel.

Much more could be said, but in conclusion, the answer to the question, what is the new covenant with Israel? is not to be found in answers that show favour to Israel or to the Jews. That would be ethnocentric; that is, it would be acception or partiality. Indeed, Martin Luther charged the Jews with ethnocentric partiality – for which, ironically, he has been accused of antisemitism. But as William Tyndale once wrote, Antichrist turneth the roots of the tree upward. (See my paper defending Luther from charges of antisemitism.)

The true Israel of God is all who truly believe on the Son (Ro. 2:29, Gal. 6:16, etc.) The true believers – regardless of race, colour, or creed, or of nation, tongue, or history, or of estate, position, or office – are all the people of God. And they are his only people, and in fact always have been. The story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt served only for our instruction, and as a type and shadow of the exodus of the people of faith from bondage to Satan in his Egypt, which is this present world. Likewise, the whole institution of the Levitical priesthood served to illustrate, under many different aspects, the salvation that Christ won for his people as the Passover Lamb of God, his role as our great High Priest, and also the priesthood of all believers.

God is not partial.

For a related discussion, see “Seven Foundational Points” in About the Table of Principal Matters.

~~end~~

This oil on canvas painting of the Exodus was by Francis Danby in 1825.

Notices:

– New Testament Scriptures are from the October Testament, the New Testament of the New Matthew Bible. The Old Testament Scriptures and Apocryphal writings are taken directly from the Matthew Bible, with obsolete English gently updated.
– Information about the New Matthew Bible Project is here.
– Sample scriptures from the New Matthew Bible are here.

– A previous topic in the Principal Matters series that also touches on the new covenant is Abrogation

________________

Endnote
[1] See the Oxford English Dictionary online under Accepcyon/Acception, entry 2. Only subscribers have access to this dictionary so I havenot linked to it.

KP what is the new covenant with Israel?

Principal Matters from the Matthew Bible: Abuses

Posted on by Posted in Principal Matters A

Researched and prepared by Ruth Magnusson Davis
Answers the question, What are abuses in the Church?

This post belongs to the series “Principal Matters from the 1537 Matthew Bible.” The purpose of the series is:

(1) To get to know the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible.
(2) To learn through bible studies from the Reformation.

“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the Bible.”

So began John Rogers’ introduction to the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible. The Table was a concordance at the front of the book. It set out bible topics in alphabetical order. Under each topic were statements of doctrine and bible verses for further study. This series proceeds topic by topic, following the order of the Table, and sets out the bible verses in full.

Topic: Abuses

Under this topic we see the importance of guarding against abuses in the church. What is meant by “abuses” becomes clear as the study progresses. It includes idolatry, sects, acceptance of fornicators, carelessness for the weak, following the precepts and doctrines of men, etc. Interestingly, we see that separation of church and state was not an ideal of the Reformers: kings and rulers should maintain Christian laws in the land, just as it was in Israel.

In England the king or queen was (and is) the constituted head of the Church of England, a national church. As such, he or she was responsible for the church’s well-being. This accounts for Rogers’ reference to Romans 13:4 under entry (1) below, concerning the rulers as ministers of God to correct abuses in the church — even though, when the apostle Paul wrote this epistle, the Roman rulers were not Christian rulers. Rogers had in mind the rulers of England (and other European countries) in his time. The authority of the British monarch was much stronger in the 16th century than it is now, and the national church occupied a more important and ubiquitous place in the public arena, so Rogers naturally gave responsibility for the church to the ruler under Romans 13:4. Nowadays, however, we in the west tend to apply this verse only to matters of personal or national security, as Paul also did, given the circumstances of his day.

Also, in entry (1) I believe Rogers used the term “church” at least partly in an obsolete way, meaning the whole body of people in a land or community who identify as Christian. In his day, this meant the citizens under the jurisdiction of a professing Christian ruler.

Abuses

(1) The abuses that are in the church ought to be corrected by the [Christian] rulers.

Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God for your welfare.

  • An example is Hezekiah, who destroyed the serpent.

2 Kings 18:3-4 [King Hezekiah] did what pleased the Lord in all things, like David his father. He put away the high altars, broke the images, and cut down the groves. He also utterly broke the brazen serpent that Moses made, because until those days the children of Israel burned sacrifices to it and called it Nehushran.

  • Also an example is Jehoshaphat:

2 Chronicles 20:32 And [Jehoshaphat king of Judah] walked in the way of Asa his father, and bowed not therefrom, to do that which was pleasing in the sight of the Lord.

[Ed: Verse 33 goes on to say, “However, they did not put down the hill altars, neither did the people yet prepare their hearts unto the God of their fathers.” Rogers was aware of this verse, of course, but it speaks to other issues, such as the danger of falling away and the slippery slope to destruction.]

  • Also Josiah:

2 Kings 23:3 And [King Josiah] stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord that they should walk after the Lord, and keep his commandments and his witnesses and his ordinances with all their hearts and all their souls, and make good the words of the said covenant, which were written in the aforesaid book. And all the people consented to the covenant.

 (2) The ministers ought to preach against abuses.

  • An example is John the Baptist:

Matthew 14:4 For John said to [Herod], It is not lawful for you to have her.

  • And St. Paul, who rebuked the Corinthians for having sects:

1 Corinthians:10-11 I beseech you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to all speak one thing, and that there be no dissension among you, but be knit together in one mind and in one purpose. It is reported to me about you, my brethren, by those who are of the house of Chloe, that there is strife among you.

  • Also, Paul rebuked them because they suffered a fornicator among them:

1 Corinthians 5:1, 6-8: There is a report abroad that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not once named among the Gentiles: that a man should have his father’s wife… Your complacency is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven sours the whole lump of dough? Purge therefore the old leaven, so that you may be new dough, as you are sweet bread.

  • Also, Paul rebuked them because they accused one another before unfaithful judges:

1 Corinthians 6:1, 7-8: How dare one of you, having a problem with another, go to law under the unrighteous, and not rather under the saints? … Now therefore there is utterly a failing among you, because you go to law one with another.

  • Also, Paul rebuked them because they sat with the Gentiles in their temples and ate with them of their sacrifices:

1 Corinthians 8:4-12 To speak of meat dedicated to idols: we are sure that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. And though there be what are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be gods many and lords many), yet to us there is but one God, who is the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. But not everyone has knowledge. For some still suppose that an idol really is something, and eat a thing as offered to the idol, and so their consciences, still being weak, are defiled.

Meat does not make us acceptable to God. We are neither the better if we eat nor the worse if we do not. But take heed that your liberty does not cause the weak to fall. For if someone sees you who have knowledge sitting at food in the idol’s temple, might not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things that are offered to the idol? And so through your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died. When you sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak consciences, you sin against Christ.

  • Also, Paul rebuked them because they abused the Supper of the Lord:

1 Corinthians 11:20-21, 22, 26-30 When you come together, a person cannot eat the Lord’s Supper, because everyone begins ahead to eat his own supper. And one is hungry, and another is drunk… In this I do not praise you… as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show the Lord’s death till he comes.  Therefore whosoever eats of this bread or drinks of this cup unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person therefore examine himself, and thus let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats or drinks unworthily, eats and drinks his own damnation, because he does not discern the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

  • Also, Paul rebuked them because they doubted of the resurrection:

1 Corinthians 15. See entire chapter. Verses 12-14:  If Christ is preached, that he rose from the dead, how is it that some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no rising again of the dead, then Christ is not risen. If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain.

  • And because they prayed in a language that people did not understand:

1 Corinthians 14:13-19 Therefore let him who speaks in an unknown tongue pray such that he may interpret also. If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding brings no one fruit. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and will pray with the meaning also…. I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than you all, yet in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my meaning for the information of others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

(3) Any manner of mere precepts of men are abuses.

Matthew 15:1-6 Then scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the precepts of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.

He answered and said to them, And why do you transgress the commandment of God through your precepts? For God commanded, saying, Honour your father and mother, and, He who curses father or mother shall suffer death. But you say every man should tell his father or mother, That which you desire of me, to help you with, is given for God – and so he should not honour his father or mother. And thus you have made the commandment of God to be without effect, through your precepts.

Isaiah 29:13-14 Thus says the Lord: Since this people draws near me with their mouth and praises me highly with their lips, whereas their heart nevertheless is far from me, and the fear which they owe to me, in that they turn to men’s laws and doctrines. Therefore, I will also show to this people a marvelous, terrible, and great thing – namely this: I will destroy the wisdom of their wise, and the understanding of their learned men shall perish.

Mark 7:3-4 The Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, will not eat, observing the precepts of the elders. And when they come from the market, unless they wash, they will not eat. And there are many other things that they have taken upon themselves to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers, and of copper pots, and of tables.

This traditional two-handled style of cup is still used today by the Jews in ritual handwashing ceremonies.

 

 

Notices:

Principal Matters from the Matthew Bible: Abstinence

Posted on by Posted in Principal Matters A

Researched and prepared by Ruth Magnusson Davis
Topic theme: Abstinence from sin and defilement is wisdom and health.

This post belongs to the series “Principal Matters from the 1537 Matthew Bible.” The purpose of the series is:

(1) To get to know the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible.
(2) To learn through Bible studies from the Reformation.

“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the Bible.” So began John Rogers’ introduction to the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible. The Table was a concordance at the front of the book, which set out Bible topics in alphabetical order. Under each topic were statements of doctrine and Bible verses for study.

This wonderful series proceeds topic by topic following the order of the Table, and sets out the Bible verses in full. To find former topics, on the main blog page search under “Principal Matters Series” for the subcategory with the appropriate letter. For example, for “Abomination,” look under Principal Matters Series/ Principal Matters A/Abomination. (Also, a few topics are linked at the end.)

Topic: Abstinence

“Abstinence” is the third entry under the letter ‘A’ in John Rogers’ Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible. Under this topic, Rogers drew a few times from the Apocryphal books Tobit (called Tobiah in the Matthew Bible) and Ecclesiasticus (also known as the Wisdom of Sirach). The Apocryphal books of the Matthew Bible are often very different from later versions, so sometimes I had to improvise the verse numbering.

Abstinence

(1) The abstinence of a Christian is to withdraw himself from sin.

Tobit 1:10-11 When [Tobit] with his wife, his son, and with all his kindred came captive to Ninevah, when the people all ate of the foods of the heathen, he kept his soul, and was never defiled by their foods.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-6  For this is even the will of God: that you should be holy; that you should abstain from fornication; that every one of you should know how to keep his vessel in holiness and honour,  and not in the passion of lust, as do the heathen who do not know God; that no one should go too far and defraud his brother in bargaining.

1 Peter 2:1 Therefore lay aside all vice, and all guile and dissimulation and envy, and all backbiting.

(2) To them that keep abstinence, wisdom is given:

Daniel 1:8,16-17 Daniel was at a point with himself that he did not want to be defiled through the king’s food, nor the wine that he drank. And this he requested of the chief chamberlain [Melassar], lest he should defile himself…. Thus Melassar took away their food and wine, and gave them potage instead. God gave now these four young men skill and knowledge in all scripture, and wisdom; but to Daniel especially, he gave understanding of all visions and dreams.

And also bodily health is given:

Ecclesiasticus 37:27-31 My son, prove your soul in your life. And if you see any evil thing, do not give it to her. For all things are not profitable for all men, neither does every soul have pleasure in everything. Be not greedy in eating, and be not too hasty upon all foods. For excess of foods brings sickness, and gluttony comes at the last to an unmeasurable heat. Through gluttony have many a one perished, but he who eats temperately prolongs his life.

(3) There is an example of abstinence in John the Baptist:

Matthew 3:4 This John had his garment of camel’s hair, and a girdle of skin about his loins. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Luke 1:15 He will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. And he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even in his mother’s womb.

 

The gruesome death of John the Baptist. The world and its rulers hate those who rebuke them of their sin.

 

~~End~~

Notices:

– New Testament Scriptures are from the October Testament, the New Testament of the New Matthew Bible. The Old Testament Scriptures and Apocryphal writings are taken directly from the Matthew Bible, with obsolete English gently updated.

– Information about the New Matthew Bible Project is here.

– Sample scriptures from the New Matthew Bible are here.

– Previous topics in this series are:
Abomination
Abrogation

Principal Matters from the Matthew Bible: Abrogation

Posted on by Posted in Principal Matters A

Prepared by Ruth Magnusson Davis
Answers the question, what is abrogation in the Bible?

This is the second post in the Principal Matters blog series. I found this a moving and edifying study. Pastors, here is great sermon material.

The purpose of the Principal Matters series is

(1) To get to know the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible.
(2) To learn through Bible studies from the Reformation.

“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the Bible.” So began John Rogers’ introduction to the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible. The Table was a concordance at the front of the book, which set out Bible topics in alphabetical order. Under each topic were statements of doctrine and scripture references for further study. This series proceeds topic by topic, following the order of the Table.

Topic: Abrogation

Rogers began by defining “abrogation” as to abolish, etc. Then he cited scripture verses that declare the futility of the Old Covenant and of the decrees and ceremonies of that covenant, which is why it and its ceremonies were abrogated. The verses also describe the inner virtues that please God. Then Jeremiah prophesies of the New Covenant, under which God would write his laws on our hearts so that we can walk in virtue and please him.

Note: It did not enter the Reformers’ minds that a time might come when people would interpret the Bible as foretelling a future beatific age when the abrogated ceremonies of the temple would be restored in fulfillment of God’s will for the Jews. Please see the full introduction to the Principal Matters series in this regard.

Now, from the Matthew Bible:

Abrogation

(1) Abrogation: that is, to abolish or make of no effect.

(2) And so the law of the commandments which was in the decrees and ceremonies is abolished:

Ephesians 2:15 For he is our peace, who has made of both one, and has broken down the wall that was a partition between us, and has also put away through his flesh the cause of hatred (that is to say, the law of observances contained in the written law), to make of the two one new man in himself, so making peace.

Colossians 2:14 And he has put out the handwriting that was against us, contained in the written law: he has taken it out of the way and has fastened it to his cross.

Galatians 3:13 Christ has delivered us from the curse of the law.

Romans 7:4-6 … my brethren, you are dead concerning the law by the body of Christ, in order to be coupled to another (I mean, to him who is risen again from death), so that we will bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the lusts of sin, which were stirred up by the law, reigned in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.  But now we are delivered from the law, and dead to that to which we were in bondage, in order to serve in a new life of the Spirit, and not in the old life of the letter.

(3) The sacrifices, feasts, foods, and all the outward ceremonies are abrogated:

Hosea 6:6 For I have pleasure in lovingkindness and not in offering; yea, in the knowledge of God, more than in burnt sacrifice.

Isaiah 1:10-17 Hear the word of the Lord, ye tyrants of Sodom, and hearken to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah. Why do you offer so many sacrifices to me? I am discontent with the burnt offerings of rams and with the fatness of fed beasts. I have no pleasure in the blood of bullocks, lambs, and goats. When you appear before me, who requires you to tread within my porches?

Offer me no more oblations, for it is but lost labor. I abhor your incense. I cannot abide your new moons, your sabbaths, and solemn days. Your fastings are also in vain. I hate your new holy days and fastings, even from my very heart. They make me weary. I cannot abide them. Though you hold out your hands, yet I turn my eyes away from you. And though you make many prayers, yet I hear nothing at all, for your hands are full of blood.

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean. Put away your evil thoughts out of my sight. Cease from doing evil and violence. Learn to do right, apply yourselves to equity, deliver the oppressed, help the fatherless to his right, and let the widow’s complaint come before you.

1 Samuel 15:22 Has the Lord as great pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerings as he has that you should obey his voice? Behold, to obey is better than offering, and to give heed is better than the fat of rams.

Jeremiah 31:31-33 Behold, the days come (says the Lord) that I shall make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah – not the covenant that I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt, which covenant they broke, for which I punished them sore, says the Lord.

But this will be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will plant my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Micah 2:7-8 Truth it is, my words are friendly to those that live right, but my people do the contrary. Therefore, I must take part against them. For they take away both coat and cloak from the simple….

Micah 6:8 I will show you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: namely, to do right, to have pleasure in lovingkindness, to be lowly, and to walk with your God, so that you may be called the city of the Lord and so that your name may be righteousness.

Amos 5:21 I hate and abhor your holy days. And whereas you cense me when you come together, I will not accept it. And though you offer me burnt offerings and food offerings, yet I have no pleasure in them. As for your fat thank offerings, I will not look upon them. Away with that noise of your songs: I will not hear your plays of music! But see to it that equity flows as the water, and righteousness as a mighty stream!

Zechariah 7:5-6  Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, and say: when you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month (now this seventy years) did you fast for me? When you ate also and drank, did you not eat and drink for your own selves?

Hebrews 7:18-19  So then, the previous commandment is abrogated because of its weakness and unprofitableness. For the law made nothing perfect, but was a preparation for a better hope, by which hope we draw near to God.

Unidentifiable scripture citation: Esay.ix.a.

This painting by Rembrandt is of the prophet Jeremiah lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem.

~~End~~

Notice:

– New Testament Scriptures are from the October Testament, the New Testament of the New Matthew Bible. Old Testament Scriptures and Apocryphal writings are taken directly from the Matthew Bible, with obsolete English gently updated, roughly as they will read in the New Matthew Bible when it is complete.

– Information about the New Matthew Bible Project is here.

– Sample scriptures from the New Matthew Bible are here.

Previous topic: Abomination

 

Principal Matters from the Matthew Bible: Abomination

Posted on by Posted in Principal Matters A, Principal Matters Series
Researched and Prepared by Ruth Magnusson Davis
Also answers the question, What is the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place?

This short post is the first in the series “Principal Matters from the 1537 Matthew Bible.” The purpose of the series is:

(1)  To get to know the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible.

(2) To learn through Bible studies from the Reformation.

“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the Bible.”

So began John Rogers’ introduction to the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible. The Table was a concordance at the front of the book. It set out Bible topics in alphabetical order. Under each topic were statements of doctrine with scripture references for further study. This series proceeds topic by topic following the order of the Table and sets out the scriptures cited, taken from the Matthew Bible. Where typographical errors in the Table prevented me from locating the correct verses, I showed the citation as written (e.g., Exodus viii.f.)

The introduction to the Principal Matters series provides important information to get the most out of the topics.

Topic: Abomination

“Abomination” is the first topic in John Rogers’ Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible. Of special interest is point (6), concerning the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place. This abomination was mysterious in Matthew and Mark, but Luke says what it was in his Gospel. However, many have failed to see the link between Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This study made it clear.

Now, from the Matthew Bible:

Abomination

(1) Abominable before God are idols and images before whom the people bow themselves.

Deuteronomy 7:25-26 The images of their gods [the gods of the nations] you shall burn with fire. And see that you covet not the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it to yourselves, lest you be snared therewith.a Bring not therefore the abomination into your house, lest you be a damned thingb as it is. But utterly destroy it and abhor it, for it is a thing that must be destroyed.

Note a: Whatever gold or silver, or honour or profit, calls away from the word of God belongs to the images of their gods, and must therefore be abhorred; yea, even if they are good works, when you think that you do them of your own strength and not helped by God.

Note b: or cursed thing.

Deuteronomy 27:15 Cursed is he that makes any carved image or image of metal (an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman), and puts it in a secret place.

(2) That man is an abomination who forsakes the true God to serve idols, and who despises the truth for profane doctrines.

Isaiah 41:29 Lo, wicked are they, and vain, with the things also that they take in hand; yea, wind are they, and emptiness, together with their images.  

(3) We ought not to follow the abominations of the Gentiles.

Leviticus 18:30 Therefore, see that you keep my ordinances and follow none of these abominable customs that were practised before you, so that you do not defile yourselves through them. For I am the Lord your God.

(Citation not identified: Exodus viii.f.)

(4) That which men esteem to be excellent is abominable before God. Luke 16:15.

(5) The transgressors of God’s commandments are abominable.

Leviticus 26:14-17, 23-24, 30 14But if you will not hearken to me nor will do all these my commandments, 15or if you despise my ordinances, or if your souls refuse my laws, so that you will not do all my commandments but break my decree, 16then I will do this to you: I will visit you with vexations, swelling, and fevers that will destroy your eyes, and with sorrows of heart. And you will sow your seed in vain, for your enemies will eat it.

17And I will set my face against you … 23And if for all this you will not yet learn, but walk contrary to me, 24then I will also walk contrary to you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. … 30And I will destroy your altars built upon high hills, and overthrow your images, and cast your bodies on the bodies of your idols; and my soul will abhor you.

(6) The abomination standing in the holy place is Jerusalem besieged by her enemies.

Matthew 24:15-16 When you therefore see the abomination that betokens desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place, let him who reads it, understand it. Then let those who are in Judea flee into the mountains.

Mark 13:14 Moreover, when you see the abomination that betokens desolation, of which Daniel the prophet has spoken, standing where it ought not, let him who reads, understand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Luke 21:20-21 And when you see Jerusalem besieged with a host, then understand that its desolation is near. Then let the people who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the city get out.

Roman armies beseige Jerusalem in 70 AD. The abomination of desolation standing in the holy place had come, and would cause the desolation of the holy city and temple.

 

‘Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem’ is a painting by F. Hayez. It depicts the desolation of the second temple by Roman soldiers in 70 AD.

Notices:

– New Testament Scriptures are from the October Testament, the New Testament of the New Matthew Bible. The Old Testament Scriptures and Apocryphal writings are taken directly from the Matthew Bible, with obsolete English gently updated.

– Click here for Information about the New Matthew Bible Project, our project to gently update the 1537 Matthew Bible.

– Sample scriptures from the New Matthew Bible are here.

KW abomination of desolation standing in the holy place

The Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible

Posted on by Posted in Principal Matters Series

“As the bees diligently do gather together sweet flowers, to make by natural craft the sweet honey, so have I done with the principal topics contained in the Bible.” (John Rogers, introduction to the Table of Principal Matters, 1537 Matthew Bible)

This is an introduction to the blog series, Principal Matters from the 1537 Matthew Bible. The purpose of the series is to make people familiar with the Table of Principal Matters in the Matthew Bible and to learn from the English Reformers. It will be a great series for bible study groups to follow topic by topic each month, or for sermon outlines, to preach from the Scriptures.

  • What was the Table of Principal Matters?
  • What are the topics of the Table?
  • Seven foundational points
  • A picture of the first page of the Table, including the short, original introduction

What was the Table of Principal Matters?

The Table of Principal Matters was one of the features of the 1537 Matthew Bible that made it the world’s first English study bible. It was a lengthy concordance, set at the beginning of the bible, which reviewed topics of the faith in alphabetical order. Under each topic were short statements of doctrine with verses for further study. A lot of care, thought, and labour went into its preparation.

The Englishman John Rogers compiled and published the Matthew Bible, which was so-called because it was presented to King Henry VIII as translated by “Thomas Matthew.” This was a pseudonym to conceal William Tyndale’s involvement in the translation, because the king had banned all Tyndale’s work. The real translators of the Matthew Bible were William Tyndale and Myles Coverdale. Rogers collated the work of these two men, added over 2,000 expository notes, and then put a church calendar, a review of the age of the earth, other notices, and the Table of Principal Matters, at the beginning of his amazing work.

The Table was not Rogers’ original work, but was taken and translated from the 1535 French bible of Pierre Olivetan.

At our website, NewMatthewBible.org, is information about the Matthew Bible, about our project to update it, and a variety of interesting articles.

What are the topics of the Table of Principal Matters?

Some of the topics reviewed in the Table are Abomination … Abstinence … Adultery … Angels … Anointing … Antichrist … Beatitudes, or Blessedness …… Born Again … Character or Mark (of Antichrist) … The Coming of Christ in the Flesh … The Coming of Christ unto Us … Free Choice or Free Will … Gifts … Hatred … Innocency … Kingdom … The General Judgment … Human Judgment … Providence … Prudence … Tribulation … The Word of God … Wrath or passion of man … Zeal.

This is just a small sampling; the Table had 237 topical entries in all. This series will review most of them, topic by topic, in alphabetical order following the Table. With 1-2 posts per month, it will be good for years to come (God willing). I’ll enhance each study by setting out the bible verses referred to, taken from the Matthew Bible. It is great food for the soul for those who love God’s word.

Seven foundational points

To properly understand the Table of Principal Matters, we need to appreciate that the Matthew Bible is amillennial and non-dispensational.[1] It is therefore premised on the following foundational beliefs concerning the New Covenant and the kingdom of Christ:

(1) Jesus’ kingdom is now; his marvelous kingdom has come. There is no promise of a worldly kingdom yet to come in a future millennium (as many interpret Revelation 20 nowadays). The Lord’s kingdom came in power at Pentecost. It is spiritual and heavenly, in spirit and in truth in the power of the Holy Spirit. In his kingdom, Jesus reigns in the hearts and consciences of his people. Rogers wrote in his note on John 18:36, where Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world:

That is, my kingdom is not a worldly kingdom, which consists in strength, in armour, in men, in the sword, and in taking dominion over things of this material or worldly realm. But my kingdom is spiritual, and is in the hearts of the faithful, who are ruled not by the sword, but by the gospel.

(2) Under the New Covenant, the “people of God” means all believing people, Jew and Gentile. We are both as one in Christ Jesus because the middle wall of partition has been broken down (Eph. 2:14). There is no longer any difference Jew and Gentile, nor a special, favoured place for Israel:

Now there is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither man nor woman, but you are all one thing in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28)

One of the first Principal Matters topics is “Accepcyon” (that is, “Acception,” an obsolete word meaning “Partiality”). This entry shows how God is not partial to any man or nation, with Scriptures in support from both the Old and New Testaments.

But people may object that, under the Old Testament, the Jews had a special place and special promises. Indeed, but this was by way of example (1 Cor. 10:6,11), and to accomplish his purposes through them, but not out of partiality. For though he set his affection upon them, yet many were overthrown in the wilderness (1Cor. 10:5, Heb. 3:17). Rogers shows under the topic “Abrogation” how it was for its futility that the Old Covenant was abrogated; that is, completely done away with. It is written in Hebrews 7:18,  “The previous commandment is abrogated because of its weakness and unprofitableness.”

Paul addressed the question of the preferment of the Jews in Romans 3:

What preferment, then, has the Jew? Or what advantage from circumcision?  Surely very much. The word of God was committed first to them. What, then, if some of them did not believe? Does their unbelief make the promise of God without effect? God forbid. Let God be true and all men liars, as it is written: That you may be justified in your words, and should overcome when you are judged…. For we have already established that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, as it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one…. Without doubt, the righteousness which is good before God comes by the faith of Jesus Christ, to all and upon all who believe. There is no difference. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Ro. 3:1-4, 9-10, 22-23)

(3) In the Bible, the “last days” (or “latter days”) generally refers to the entire period from Christ’s first to second coming. Rogers clarified this point several times in his expository notes. Many Scriptures support this. Peter said at Pentecost that the pouring out of the Spirit indicated that the last days had then arrived, pursuant to Old Testament prophecies (Acts 2:17). In Hebrews, also written in the first century, we are told that “in these last days” God has spoken to us by his Son. Therefore, the things of the last days are now, and they include not only Christ’s kingdom, but also the kingdom of Antichrist and tribulation. “Tribulation” is one of the topics of the Table that we will see.

(4) I would add my own point (which I have not seen addressed in the notes of the Matthew Bible nor in the Table of Principal Matters), which is that most amillennialists believe the 1,000-year millennium of Revelation 20 is the “last days.” The number 1,000 simply signifies a very long period of time. In the Hebrew tongue, numbers were often used symbolically (as, for example, the number ‘7’ symbolizes fullness or completeness). Another way to put it is, the 1,000 years signify God’s patience.

(5) I would add also that, in Jesus’ kingdom, the first resurrection mentioned in Revelation 20 is the resurrection of the soul when the people of God pass from death to life upon hearing the gospel and believing on Jesus. The second, general resurrection is the raising up of the bodies of all people from their graves, and will take place at the second coming. For believers, who are blessed to have part in the first resurrection (Rev. 20:6), the second resurrection, with union of soul and body and the promise of the entrance into the eternal life, is their hope. However, the hope for a future earthly dispensation when the Jewish nation will be exalted is the hope of Judaism.

(6) When Jesus returns, it will mark the end of his present kingdom in this earth and the end of time. It will bring the judgment, and the new heavens and earth will be ushered in, which will never pass away. Revelation 10:6 in Tyndale’s New Testament says that when Jesus returns, “there should be no longer time”; that is, time will be no more. The KJV has, “there should be time no longer.” In other words, time will not be for one minute longer, let alone a thousand years.

But many modern Bibles changed the translation. In the NIV, Revelation 10:6 reads, “There will be no more delay!” This is ambiguous. It could mean, no more delay till the end of the world. But it obviously (and more easily) supports the hope of a new age during which time will continue.

(7) The Reformers called the belief in a future, utopian, earthly kingdom a “Jewish dotage,” being derived from Judaic doctrine. In the 1553 Articles of Religion of the Church of England, Thomas Cranmer wrote about “Millenarii” (those who believe in a future millennial kingdom):

Heretics called Millenarii: They that go about to renew the fable of heretics, called Millenarii, [are] repugnant to Holy Scripture, and cast themselves headlong into a Jewish dotage.[2] 

A gospel that promises another kingdom, one other than the present kingdom of Christ, really is another gospel (2 Cor. 11:4, Gal. 1:6-8). It denigrates from the greatness, reality, power, and wonder of Christ’s reign now – as all “other gospels” will do. It fractures our singular focus on the spiritual kingdom and its promises, to turn our eyes to another kingdom – a political one, so to speak – and to other promises.

When a person becomes familiar with the Matthew Bible, it washes the mind of the taint of strange doctrines. Over the years, many changes have been introduced to the original Scripture translations of William Tyndale and Myles Coverdale. These subtly or overtly contribute to weakening the truth that was purely set forth in the blood-bought Matthew Bible. Many of these are discussed in Part 2 of the Story of the Matthew Bible.

The first page of the Table, including the short, original introduction

Below is an image of the first page of the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible, including the introduction “To the Christen Readers.” This is a scan of my Hendrickson facsimile. The red numbers are my own, which I inserted for reference. Rogers also took the introduction from Pierre Olivetan’s 1535 Bible and translated it from the French.

The first page of the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible, with the introduction at the top.

Ruth Magnusson Davis, June 2022

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Endnotes:

[1] Issues of the millennium are covered in more detail in chapter 27 of Part 2 of The Story of the Matthew Bible. See also my paper Christian Zionism: Rebuilding Jericho.

[2] Article XLI of the 1553 Articles of Religion was removed in 1563. Both pre- and postmillennialism have roots in Judaism. The concept of a future millennium is tied to a rabbinical interpretation of the creation week. The Jewish belief was that, after the fall, the world would continue for 6,000 years, and then there would be a millennium of rest, or Sabbatical millennium – a kind of earthly utopia. A Christianized form of this doctrine was known in the early Church as chiliasm, from the Greek chiliad or ‘thousand.’ Its adherents were called Chiliasts; they believed Christ would return and reign with the saints on earth for a thousand years. Some well-known Chiliasts were Irenaeus and Tertullian. Chiliasm was identified as a “Jewish fable” and put to rest in the 4th century, but was revived by the Anabaptists during the Reformation.

Dispensationalism began in early 19th-century England. It divides human history into seven dispensations or eras, from the era of innocence before Adam’s fall, through to Christ’s reign in a messianic kingdom during a future seventh and final age. The period from Moses to Jesus is considered the dispensation of Mosaic law.