Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, conformable to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret from antient times, but now is laid open, Verse ConceptsConcealment, Of GodMysteryStabilityAbility, God's PowerThe AlmightyThe Mystery Of ChristGod Establishes UsStrengthened Through Christ





by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. Verse ConceptsReadingLiteracyMysteryUnderstandingThe Mystery Of ChristProper UnderstandingReading The Biblesecrets



And the disciples came, and said to him, why do you speak to them in parables? to whom he answered, because you are allowed to know the mysteries of the gospel-dispensation, but to them it is not allowed.

And when he was in private, the twelve, and some of his disciples asked him the meaning of the parable. he answered, you are admitted into the secret of the gospel-dispensation: but to unbelievers every thing is couch'd in parables; because,

But his disciples having ask'd him the meaning of this parable; he answered, the secret circumstances of the divine dispensation may be clearly revealed to you, but to others only in parables, so that they don't observe what they see, nor comprehend what they hear.

after that, he poured water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. then coming to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, Lord, what! would you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, you don't at present comprehend what I am about: but hereafter you shall. read more.
Peter said to him, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, if I do not cleanse thee, you cannot partake with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles; if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles; having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short, read more.
by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit, "that the Gentiles should be heirs as well as the Jews, make one body together, and partake of the divine promise in Christ by the gospel."


and the Lord said unto him, arise, and go to the street called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas, for one Saul of Tarsus: for he is there at prayer. (at that very instant Saul saw in a vision the said Ananias come in, and put his hand on him, to restore his sight.) then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many that this man has done a world of mischief to thy saints at Jerusalem: he is now here, read more.
and is impower'd by the chief priests, to imprison all that make profession of thy name. go, said the Lord to him: for he is the instrument I have chosen, to bear my name to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel.

with such views, authorized by commission from the high priests, I was on the road to Damascus: when at mid-day, O king, a light from heaven exceeding the splendor of the sun, broke all around me, and those that accompanied me. we were all struck down: when I heard a voice directed to me pronounce these words in the Hebrew tongue, "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? it is dangerous for thee to kick against the goad." read more.
I answer'd, who art thou, Lord? he said, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. but rise upright upon thy feet: for I have appear'd to thee in order to establish you my minister in testifying both what you have seen, and what I shall hereafter show to you, by delivering you from this people, and from the Gentiles to whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and partake of the inheritance of the saints, by believing on me."

this concerns you Gentiles. for as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I should do honour to my character, Verse ConceptsGentiles, In NtMission, Of The ChurchPreaching Gospel To ForeignersGentilesMinistry

you have heard of my former behaviour, whilst I was of the Jewish religion, with what excessive violence I persecuted the church of God, and laid it waste: and that I made a greater proficiency in Judaism than many my contemporaries of my own nation, being an extraordinary zealot for the traditions of my forefathers. but when it pleased God, who ordained me from my birth, and called me by his especial favour, to reveal his son to me, read more.
that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not thereupon apply my self to any man;

This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles; if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles; having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short, read more.
by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit, "that the Gentiles should be heirs as well as the Jews, make one body together, and partake of the divine promise in Christ by the gospel." of this I was made a minister, according to the gracious gift God bestowed on me, by the effectual operation of his influence: upon me, who am the meanest of all christians, is this favour bestowed, that I should proclaim to the Gentiles the undiscoverable advantages by Christ;

by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. Verse ConceptsReadingLiteracyMysteryUnderstandingThe Mystery Of ChristProper UnderstandingReading The Biblesecrets


I am the genuine vine, and my father is the vintager. every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he takes away: as for the branch that bears fruit, he prunes it clean, to make it more fruitful. you are already clean by the instructions I have given you. read more.
be attach'd to me, and I shall be so to you. as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, except it be attach'd to the vine: so neither can you, except you continue attach'd to me. I am the vine, you are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for independent of me ye can do nothing. if a man abide not in me, he is cast away as withered branches that are gather'd up to be thrown into the fire, where they are burned. if ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask what ye will, and you shall obtain it. my father will be honour'd by your bearing much fruit, and you will have the honour of being my disciples. as the father has loved me, and I have loved you: so do you persevere in your love to me. your love to me will be in keeping my commandments: even as I love my father by keeping his commandments. These things have I spoken to you, that you might have some present comfort, and that hereafter your joy might be compleat. this is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. there cannot be greater love than that of a man, who lays down his life for his friends. you will be my friends, if you do what I have commanded you. henceforth I do not treat you as servants; for the servant is unacquainted with his master's affairs: but I have treated you as friends; for what I have learnt of my father, I have communicated to you. it was not you that chose me, but I that chose you, and establish'd you, that your travels may be fruitful, and your fruit be lasting: so that whatever ye shall ask of the father for my sake, he will give it you. Above all I enjoin you, to love one another. if the world hate you, consider that it hated me before it hated you. if you were of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world does hate you. remember what I told you, "the servant is not greater than his master." if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have been spies upon my discourse, they will be so upon yours. but all these things will they do unto you, out of hatred to my name, because they know not him that sent me. if I had not appear'd, and inform'd them, they would have been innocent: but now they have no excuse for their sin. he that hateth me, hateth my father also. if I had not done among them such works as no other ever did, they had been innocent: but though they have seen them, yet they hate both me and my father. so that the passage is fulfilled that is written in their law, "they hated me without a cause." but when the advocate is come, whom I will send to you from the father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the father, he shall testify of me. and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged on a tree. him hath God rais'd by his power to be the author of salvation, by giving repentance to Israel, and the remission of their sins. and we are his witnesses in what we say, and so is the holy spirit, whom God hath given to those that obey him.

in our Lord Jesus Christ. but now I am fix'd in my resolution to go to Jerusalem, without any apprehension of what may befal me there: save what the holy spirit in every city declares, "that bonds and afflictions wait for me."

This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles; if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles; having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short, read more.
by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit,

and this is what the holy spirit declares, when after having said, Verse ConceptsThe Witness Of The SpiritTaught By The Spirit

Who is it that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the son of God? it appear'd by the water, and by the blood, who he was, even Jesus the Messiah; not by the water only, but by the water and by the blood: besides, the spirit is a witness too, now the spirit is truth itself. There are three witnesses in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three testify the same thing.

And the disciples came, and said to him, why do you speak to them in parables? to whom he answered, because you are allowed to know the mysteries of the gospel-dispensation, but to them it is not allowed.

And when he was in private, the twelve, and some of his disciples asked him the meaning of the parable. he answered, you are admitted into the secret of the gospel-dispensation: but to unbelievers every thing is couch'd in parables; because,

But his disciples having ask'd him the meaning of this parable; he answered, the secret circumstances of the divine dispensation may be clearly revealed to you, but to others only in parables, so that they don't observe what they see, nor comprehend what they hear.

after that, he poured water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. then coming to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, Lord, what! would you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, you don't at present comprehend what I am about: but hereafter you shall. read more.
Peter said to him, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, if I do not cleanse thee, you cannot partake with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles; if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles; having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short, read more.
by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit, "that the Gentiles should be heirs as well as the Jews, make one body together, and partake of the divine promise in Christ by the gospel."

this I say, my brethren, because the body, as it is at present, cannot possess the kingdom of God; and what is corruptible, can't enjoy incorruptibility. I shall now tell you a very great secret: we shall not all of us sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trumpet (for the trumpet shall sound) and the dead shall rise incorruptible; but as for us, we shall be changed. read more.
for this corruptible body must be invested with incorruptibility, this mortal be invested with immortality. but when this corruptible shall be invested with incorruptibility, and this mortal with immortality, then shall be fulfilled that passage of scripture, " death is swallowed up for ever." "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" the sting of death was sin; and the strength of sin was the law. but thanks be to God, who has given us the victory, thro' our Lord Jesus Christ.


However, what we preach is wisdom, to those who are thoroughly instructed: yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who will soon come to nothing. but we explain that mysterious plan of divine wisdom, which God had contriv'd before the ages, for our glory: which none of the rulers of this age understood: for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

that mystery, which has been hid from ages and generations, but is now made manifest to his saints: to whom God does disclose the glorious advantages of this mystery to you Gentiles, to wit, "that by Christ you may have the expectation of glory."

Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, conformable to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret from antient times, but now is laid open, and by the writings of the prophets (according to the commandment of the eternal God) made known to all the Gentiles, to induce them to obey the faith:

This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles; if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles; having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short, read more.
by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit, "that the Gentiles should be heirs as well as the Jews, make one body together, and partake of the divine promise in Christ by the gospel." of this I was made a minister, according to the gracious gift God bestowed on me, by the effectual operation of his influence: upon me, who am the meanest of all christians, is this favour bestowed, that I should proclaim to the Gentiles the undiscoverable advantages by Christ; and display to all the world that mysterious dispensation, which from all past ages has been conceal'd in the secret purpose of God, who created all things:

but when the seventh angel should speak, and the trumpet should sound, the mystery of God should be accomplish'd, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. Verse ConceptsMinistry, Nature OfMysterySeventhGod Spoke By The ProphetsSlaves Of GodRevelation Through ProphetsEnd Of DaysFinishing Strongprophetsevangelizingfulfillment

if you are to endure chastisement, God treats you as his children: for where's the son whom his father does not chastise? but if you were exempted from that discipline which others are subject to, then are you bastards, and not sons. when our natural parents corrected us, we gave them reverence: is it not much more reasonable to be in subjection to the father of spirits, in order to have life? read more.
their discipline was temporary, and the effect of humour; whereas God chastises us for our advantage, to make us partakers of his holiness.

This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles; if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles; having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short, read more.
by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit, "that the Gentiles should be heirs as well as the Jews, make one body together, and partake of the divine promise in Christ by the gospel."

You will say then, hath God discarded his people? by no means. for I my self am an Israelite, of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not discarded his people whom he formerly approv'd. don't you know what the scripture says of Elias? how he complain'd to God against Israel, in these words, "Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I alone am left, and they seek my life also." read more.
but what said the oracle to him? "I have reserved to my self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal." in like manner at this time there is also a remnant chosen by the divine favour; and if it be by favour, it is not upon the account of merit. for then mercy would not be mercy. "What then, hath not Israel obtained what he sought for?" no, but the chosen remnant have obtained it, and the rest are obdurate to this day, as it is written, "God hath given them up to a state of insensibility, so that their eyes could not see, and their ears could not hear." and David says, "let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a gin, and a recompence for their iniquity. let their eyes be darkned, so as not to see, and let their back be continually bowed down." You will say then, "were they suffer'd to stumble meerly for their ruin?" no: but that thro' their fall, salvation might be offer'd to the Gentiles, in order to provoke their emulation. now if their fall be to the advancement of the world, and the few converts among them bring in whole numbers of the Gentiles: how much more so will it be, when the Jewish body recover? this concerns you Gentiles. for as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I should do honour to my character, if I could by any means excite the emulation of my dear countrymen, in order to save some. for, if by rejecting them, the world may be reconciled; what shall their restoration be, but a general resurrection? Now if the first-fruits be holy, so is the whole product: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. if then, some of the branches are broken off, and thou like a wild olive, were grafted in their place to partake of the root and sap of the olivestock;

wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to knowing men: be you your selves the judges of what I say. the cup of benediction which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? read more.
for the bread being one, as many as we are, we are one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. consider the custom of the Jews by descent, are not they which eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar? what say I then?

For this cause, ever since we heard of it, we incessantly pray for you, requesting that you may be endued with respect to the knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual discernment: that your conduct may be worthy of the Lord, in every respect agreeable to him, being friutful in every kind of virtue, and increasing in divine knowledge: being fortified in so effectual a manner, as to sustain your trials with constancy and joy: read more.
giving thanks to the father, who has qualified you to share in that light he affords to his people: who has deliver'd you from the state of darkness, and has translated you into the kingdom of his beloved son. It is by him, that we have obtain'd the redemption, even the remission of our sins:

Let those who are in a state of servitude, consider the entire respect due to their masters, that the name of God, and the doctrine of the gospel may not be blasphemed. let them not treat their christian masters, on pretence of being their brethren, with less respect: but be the more obsequious, because they are believers, and deserve to be belov'd, for the kind provision they make for them. let this be the subject of your instructions, and exhortation.

My dear brethren, don't be surpriz'd at your being brought as it were to the test of fire; as if some strange thing had happen'd to you. on the contrary, rejoice at the share you have of sufferings, as well as Christ: that you may likewise triumph, when he shall appear in his glory. if you suffer indignities in the cause of Christ, you are happy: for the glorious spirit of God rests upon you.

Simon Peter the servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who equally share with us in the advantages of faith, thro' the veracity of our God, and of Jesus Christ. may the divine favour and felicity be poured upon you, by the knowledge of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is thus his divine power has given us every thing conducive to life and piety, by making us acquainted with him, who has called us by his illustrious power; read more.
by which we have receiv'd the most inestimable promises, that thereby you might become partakers of the divine perfections, after having escap'd from the corruption of a sensual world.


Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, conformable to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret from antient times, but now is laid open, and by the writings of the prophets (according to the commandment of the eternal God) made known to all the Gentiles, to induce them to obey the faith:

This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles; if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles; having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short, read more.
by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit, "that the Gentiles should be heirs as well as the Jews, make one body together, and partake of the divine promise in Christ by the gospel." of this I was made a minister, according to the gracious gift God bestowed on me, by the effectual operation of his influence: upon me, who am the meanest of all christians, is this favour bestowed, that I should proclaim to the Gentiles the undiscoverable advantages by Christ; and display to all the world that mysterious dispensation, which from all past ages has been conceal'd in the secret purpose of God, who created all things:

'Twas this salvation, that employ'd the most profound enquiries of those, who predicted the dispensation that was to be in your behalf: when the spirit of Christ inform'd the minds of the prophets of his future sufferings, and of the glorious consequences, they were solicitous to know the circumstances of the times pointed at: and were answer'd, that it was not they, but we, who were concern'd in the events which they predicted, events which have been now represented to you by those, whom the holy spirit from heaven inspired to preach the gospel to you: a secret which the angels desire to penetrate into.


I am the genuine vine, and my father is the vintager. every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he takes away: as for the branch that bears fruit, he prunes it clean, to make it more fruitful. you are already clean by the instructions I have given you. read more.
be attach'd to me, and I shall be so to you. as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, except it be attach'd to the vine: so neither can you, except you continue attach'd to me. I am the vine, you are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for independent of me ye can do nothing. if a man abide not in me, he is cast away as withered branches that are gather'd up to be thrown into the fire, where they are burned. if ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask what ye will, and you shall obtain it. my father will be honour'd by your bearing much fruit, and you will have the honour of being my disciples. as the father has loved me, and I have loved you: so do you persevere in your love to me. your love to me will be in keeping my commandments: even as I love my father by keeping his commandments. These things have I spoken to you, that you might have some present comfort, and that hereafter your joy might be compleat. this is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. there cannot be greater love than that of a man, who lays down his life for his friends. you will be my friends, if you do what I have commanded you. henceforth I do not treat you as servants; for the servant is unacquainted with his master's affairs: but I have treated you as friends; for what I have learnt of my father, I have communicated to you. it was not you that chose me, but I that chose you, and establish'd you, that your travels may be fruitful, and your fruit be lasting: so that whatever ye shall ask of the father for my sake, he will give it you. Above all I enjoin you, to love one another. if the world hate you, consider that it hated me before it hated you. if you were of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world does hate you. remember what I told you, "the servant is not greater than his master." if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have been spies upon my discourse, they will be so upon yours. but all these things will they do unto you, out of hatred to my name, because they know not him that sent me. if I had not appear'd, and inform'd them, they would have been innocent: but now they have no excuse for their sin. he that hateth me, hateth my father also. if I had not done among them such works as no other ever did, they had been innocent: but though they have seen them, yet they hate both me and my father. so that the passage is fulfilled that is written in their law, "they hated me without a cause." but when the advocate is come, whom I will send to you from the father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the father, he shall testify of me. and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged on a tree. him hath God rais'd by his power to be the author of salvation, by giving repentance to Israel, and the remission of their sins. and we are his witnesses in what we say, and so is the holy spirit, whom God hath given to those that obey him.

in our Lord Jesus Christ. but now I am fix'd in my resolution to go to Jerusalem, without any apprehension of what may befal me there: save what the holy spirit in every city declares, "that bonds and afflictions wait for me."

This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles; if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles; having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short, read more.
by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit,

and this is what the holy spirit declares, when after having said, Verse ConceptsThe Witness Of The SpiritTaught By The Spirit

Who is it that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the son of God? it appear'd by the water, and by the blood, who he was, even Jesus the Messiah; not by the water only, but by the water and by the blood: besides, the spirit is a witness too, now the spirit is truth itself. There are three witnesses in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three testify the same thing.