Category Archives: Principal Matters Series

Principal Matters: Angels Part 2

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 set at the front of the book which 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 the bible verses in full, taken from the Matthew Bible.

Topic: Angels, continued

In Part 1 of Angels, we saw that the angels assist before God, minister to people, rebuke sinners, and comfort the afflicted. This part 2 now concludes the topic:

(5) Angels teach things unknown. There is the example of the angel that taught Elijah what he should say to the servants of Ahaziah:

2 Kings 1:3-4 The angel of the Lord spoke to Elijah the Tishbite: Up, and go to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you go to ask through Beelzebub, the god of Ekron?

Also the example of Daniel:

Daniel 9:21-23 While I was yet speaking in my prayer, behold, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen before in the vision, came flying to me and touched me, at about the offering-time of the evening. He informed me and spoke to me: O Daniel, said he, I have now come to make you understand it. For as soon as you began to make your prayer, it was so devised; and therefore I have come to show you. And why? Because you are a man greatly beloved. Therefore, ponder the matter well, so that you may learn to understand the vision … [etc]

Also of Joseph:

Matthew 1:20 While he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife. For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 2:13 When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there till I bring you word. For Herod will seek the child to kill him.

Also of Cornelius:

Acts 10:3-6 The same man saw in a vision clearly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him, Cornelius! When he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? He said to him, Your prayers and your alms have come up into remembrance before God. And now, send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, named also Peter. He lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.

Also of Zacharias:

Luke 1:11-13 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was startled, and fear came on him. And the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard. And your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. [etc]

Also of Mary:

Luke 1:26-31 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel went in to her and said, Hail, thou full of grace! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women. When she saw him, she was bewildered at his words, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this could be. And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God. Lo, you shall conceive in your womb, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Jesus.

(6) By the angels, God scourges people.

2 Samuel 24:15-16 For the Lord sent a pestilence in Israel from the morning to the end of the time appointed. And 70,000 of the people between Dan and Beersheba died. And when the angel stretched out his hand against Jerusalem to have destroyed it, the Lord had grief about doing that harm, and said to the angel that was destroying the people, It is sufficient; let your hand cease.

2 Kings 19:35 And the very same night the angel of the Lord went out and smote in the camp of the Assyrians 185,000 men. And when they were up early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Acts 12:21-23 And upon a day appointed, Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat in his seat and made a speech to them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man! And immediately the angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the honour. And he was eaten by worms and gave up the spirit.

The angel speaks to Joseph. An engraving by A. A. Morel.

~~End~~

Notices:

– 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 appear in the complete New Matthew Bible.

– 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.

– To find former topics, go to the main blog page, and under the category “Principal Matters Series” look for the subcategory with the right letter. For example, for “Abrogation,” look under Principal Matters Series/Principal Matters A/Abrogation. (Also, a few topics are linked at the end.)

– See Angels Part 1 here

Principal Matters: Angels 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 set at the front of the book which 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 the bible verses in full, taken from the Matthew Bible.

Topic: Angels

Under this topic there were some typesetting errors in the Table of Principal Matters, including the very first entry, which referred to Job xxv.a. However, Job 25 did not refer to angels, so I used Job 1, which did discuss angels and had some notes. (I confess that at times I was concerned that a note asserted more than anyone should claim to know about angels.) I also added Isaiah 5:5 under the 2nd entry, for the information in the verse and note.

* * * * *

(1) The angels assist before God.

Job 1:6 Now upon a time, when the servants of God came and stood before the Lord, Satan came also among them.

Note a: By the servants of God here understand … angels by whom he orders the course and works of the world.

Note b: Came and stood before the Lord: Do not think that God sometimes appears to the angels and sometimes not, for the good angels do always see the face of God. Neither does God commune with the angels or with the devil with bodily speech, but the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures speaks many things to us according to our senses, and uses a manner of speaking familiar to us, attributing appearances, speaking, enquiring, and answering to God and to angels. Which thing man only observes to the intent that we may thereby more easily perceive his meaning. The communing of the angels here is no other thing than to give accounts of the offices enjoined them, which they give, knowing that God sees with what trust they did it; and to give thanks and wait for their reward.

Matthew 18:10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Job 38:7 [This verse is in the context of the creation of the world and the heavens. God said to Job…] Where were you when the morning stars praised me together, and all the children of God rejoiced triumphantly?

Note a: … he was praised by the angels, who here are called the children of God.

Unidentifiable scripture citations: Job.xxv.a, Dan vii.c.

(2) The angels minister to people.

Psalm 104:4 You make your angels spirits, and your ministers flames of fire.

Hebrews 1:13-14 To which of the angels did he say at any time, Sit on my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for the sakes of those who will be heirs of salvation?

Isaiah 5:5 I shall tell you what I will do with my vineyard: I will take the hedge from it, that it may perish, and will break down the wall, that it may be trodden underfoot.

Note a: By the hedge and wall is figured the custody of angels, by whom the people of God (who are called the vineyard of the Lord) were compassed about and defended.

(3) Also, angels rebuke sinners.

Judges 2:1-2 And the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, I brought you out of Egypt, and have brought you into the land that I swore to your fathers. And I said that I would never break my covenant with you, but you were to have made no league with the inhabiters of this land; you were to have broken down their altars. But you have not obeyed my voice.

(4) Angels comfort the afflicted.

Genesis 21:17-19 Then God heard the voice of the child. And the angel of God called Hagar out of heaven and said to her, What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the child where he lies. Arise and lift up the lad, and take him in your hand; for I will make of him a great people. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the bottle with water and gave the boy a drink.

Luke 22:41-43 And [Jesus] went apart by himself, about a stone’s throw from them, and kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father, if you will, withdraw this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be fulfilled. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, comforting him.

Daniel 6:21-22 Daniel said to the king, O King, God save thy life forever! My God has sent his angel, who has shut the lions’ mouths so that they could not hurt me.

The German painting is entitled Schutzengel (Guardian Angel). It is by Bernhard Plockhorst from the late 19th century and depicts a guardian angel watching over two children.

~~End~~

Notices:

– 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 appear in the complete New Matthew Bible.

– 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.

– To find former topics, go to the main blog page, and under the category “Principal Matters Series” look for the subcategory with the right letter. For example, for “Abrogation,” look under Principal Matters Series/Principal Matters A/Abrogation. (Also, a few topics are linked at the end.)

Principal Matters: Affliction

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 set at the front of the book which 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 the bible verses in full, taken from the Matthew Bible.

Topic: Affliction

(1) Affliction, after the manner of the scripture, is called heat, trial by fire, and a burning furnace.

1 Peter 4:12-13 Dearly beloveds, be not troubled in this heat that has now come among you to try you, as if some strange thing had happened to you. But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s passions, so that when his glory appears, you may be merry and glad.

Psalm 17:3 You have proved and visited my heart in the night season. You have tried me in the fire and have found no wickedness in me, for I utterly purposed that my mouth should not offend.

Psalm 66:10-12 For you, O God, have proved us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You have brought us into captivity, and laid trouble upon our loins. You have suffered men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you have brought us out and refreshed us.

(2) God threatens to send afflictions to those who have trust in any other than in him only. And therefore, he forgave the children of Israel when they forsook their idolatry.

Deuteronomy 31:16-17 And the Lord said to Moses, Behold, you must sleep with your fathers. But this people will go a-whoring after strange gods, the gods of the land into which they are going, and will forsake me and break the covenant that I have made with them. And then my wrath will wax hot against them, and I will forsake them and will hide my face from them,b and they shall be consumed. And when much adversity and tribulation is come upon them, then they will say, Because our God is not among us, these tribulations have come upon us.

Joshua 24:19-10 But Joshua said to the people, You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God, and cannot bear your transgression and sin. But when you have forsaken the Lord and have served strange gods, he will turn and do you evil and consume you, after he has done you good.

Judges 10:13-16 [The Lord said] you have forsaken me, and you serve strange gods. Therefore, I will help you no more. But go and cry to the gods that you have chosen, and let them save you in the time of your tribulation! But the children of Israel said to the Lord, We have sinned. Do with us whatever you please, only deliver us at this time. And they put away the strange gods from them and served the Lord. And the misery of Israel grieved his soul.

(3) We ought to succour those who are afflicted.

Ecclesiasticus 7:32-36 Reach out your hand to the poor, that God may bless you with abundance. Be liberal to all people living, yet let not but do good even to those that are dead. Let not those who weep be without comfort, but mourn with such as mourn. Let it not grieve you to visit the sick, for that will make you to be beloved. Whatever you take in hand, remember the end, and you will never do amiss.

~~End~~

Notices:

– 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 it will be in the complete New Matthew Bible.

– 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.

– To find former topics, go to the main blog page, and under the category “Principal Matters Series” look for the subcategory with the right letter. For example, for “Abrogation,” look under Principal Matters Series/Principal Matters A/Abrogation. (Also, a few topics are linked at the end.)

– Some of the recent posts in this series are 5 posts on the topic of adultery. The first post is here: Adultery 1

Principal Matters: Adultery Part 5

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 and gently updated as needed.

Topic: Adultery

This is the fifth and final part under the topic “Adultery” in John Rogers’ Table of Principal Matters of the Matthew Bible. It begins with the 12th heading and ends with the 15th.

Under the 12th heading, the scripture reference is mysterious to me. The heading reads, “One ought to beware of adulterers.” It might mean, in modern English, “One ought to be aware of adulterers,” but either way, the meaning is nearly the same. The scripture reference is “Deut.v.b,” or Deuteronomy 5.b. There were no verse numbers in the earliest English Bibles, so scripture references were by letters assigned to whole sections of a chapter (a,b,c, etc.). (Sometimes this makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact verse or verses intended.)

Deuteronomy 5 contains the Ten Commandments, and the only references to adultery are in verses 18 and 21: “Thou shalt not break wedlock (commit adultery),” and “Thou shalt not lust after thy neighbour’s wife.” But what do these verses have to do with being wary (or being aware) of adulterers? Is the idea to look out for others who might lust after your wife? However, the main point of the Ten Commandments is to direct one’s own, personal conduct. Or does it suggest that adulterers (unless repentant) show that they despise God’s laws, and are generally not to be trusted?

But perhaps the reference to chapter ‘v’ or ‘5’ was a mistake? Such errors were not uncommon. To doublecheck, I compared the 1535 French Bible of Pierre Olivetan. People who have read Part One of The Story of the Matthew Bible will know that Rogers and Olivetan had the same Table of Principal Matters in their bibles. However, Olivetan shows the same heading and scripture reference at the 12th heading. In the old French spelling, he had “On se doivt informer des adulteres. Deutero.v.b.” (Note, there were no accent marks in old French.)

All things considered, I must keep the Bible verses from Deuteronomy 5.b, although it is difficult to understand how they relate to the heading. (This would be a good question for bible study groups to explore.)

And now, to see the last part of the topic “Adultery” in John Rogers’ (and Pierre Olivetan’s) pioneering work. It has been a marvellous gathering together of bible verses and teachings on this subject:

Adultery (cont’d)

(12) One ought to beware of adulterers.

Deuteronomy 5:18 You shall not break wedlock.

and 5:21 You shall not lust after your neighbour’s wife.

(13) God witnesses against adulterers.

Malachi 3:5 I will come and punish you, and I myself will be a swift witness against the witches, against the adulterers …

(14) A special sacrifice for the suspicion of adultery.

Numbers 5:11-31 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: If any man’s wife goes aside and trespasses against him, in that another man lies with her carnally, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of her husband and it has not come to light that she is defiled (for there is no witness against her, inasmuch as she was not taken in the act), but the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he is jealous over his wife, and she is defiled – or perhaps the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he is jealous over his wife but she is yet undefiled – then let her husband bring her to the priest. And he shall bring an offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; but he shall pour no oil on it nor put frankincense on it, for it is an offering of jealousy and an offering that reminds of sin.

And let the priest bring her and set her before the Lord. And let him take holy water in an earthen vessel, and take some of the dust that is in the floor of the habitation and put it into the water. And the priest shall set the wife before the Lord, uncover her head, and put in her hands the offering to remind her, which is the jealousy offering. And the priest shall have bitter and cursing water in his hand. And he shall adjure her and say to her, If no man has lain with you, and you have not gone aside from your husband and defiled yourself, then this bitter cursing water will not hurt you. But if you have gone aside from your husband and are defiled, and some other man has lain with you besides your husband (and let the priest put her under oath with the invocation of the curse and say to her), may the Lord make you a curse and an oath among your people, so that the Lord makes your thigh rot and your belly to swell:– so go this bitter cursing water into your bowels, so that your belly swells and your thigh rots.

And the wife shall say, Amen, Amen.

And the priest shall write this curse in a bill and wash it out in the bitter water, and shall give the wife some of the bitter cursing water to drink. When the cursing water is in her and is bitter, then let the priest take the jealousy offering out of the wife’s hand, wave it for a food offering before the Lord, and bring it to the altar. And he shall take a handful of the reminder offering and burn it upon the altar, and then make her drink the water. And when he has made her drink the water, if she is defiled and has trespassed against her husband, then the cursing water will go into her and be so bitter that her belly will swell and her thigh will rot, and she will be a curse among her people. And if she is not defiled but is clean, then she will have no harm, but will be able to conceive.

This is the law for jealousy, when a wife goes aside from her husband and is defiled, or when the spirit of jealousy comes upon a man and he is jealous over his wife. Then he shall bring her before the Lord and the priest shall administer all this law concerning her; and the man shall be guiltless, and the wife shall bear her sin.

(15) One may leave his wife for the cause of adultery

Matthew 19:9 I say therefore to you, whoever puts away his wife (unless it be for fornication) and marries another, breaks wedlock. And whoever marries her who is divorced, commits adultery.

~~End of all five parts of the topic “Adultery” in the Matthew Bible~~

Called the Sotah Ritual by the Hebrews, a wife suspected of infidelity is made to drink the bitter cursing water. This 18th-century illustration is by Jan Luyken.

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.

– To find former topics, on the main blog page look for “Categories” and 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.

Principal Matters: Adultery Part 4

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, and gently updated as needed.

Topic: Adultery

The topic of adultery in the Table of Principal Matters was long, so I have divided it into 5 separate posts, this being Part 4.

Under the topic of adultery, Rogers drew twice from the Apocryphal writings. The first he drew from was the one-chapter book of Susanna, which we saw in Part 2. Here he drew from Ecclesiasticus (also known as “Sirach”), which is one of my favourites. Note, the Apocryphal books of the Matthew Bible were often quite different from later versions, so sometimes I had to improvise the verse numbering.

In the last post (Part 3) we saw how two heathen kings took Abraham’s wife Sarah into their houses, but once they learned that she was married, they sent her back to Abraham. These stories were given under heading 8, concerning how God punishes adultery. We saw there how God lifted punishment from the heathen rulers when they restored Sarah to her husband.

However, in this Part we see how the Israelite ruler King David not only committed adultery, but added murder to his sin in order to escape detection; and though he repented, punishment was never lifted from his house for the rest of his life. Sin always has consequences in this life, although for the saved the eternal consequences are remitted for the next life. At the end of this post, I added bible verses that deal with David’s punishment.

This part also covers King Herod, who took and married Herodias, his own brother’s wife. Herodias was angry at John the Baptist because he openly rebuked this egregious adultery, and so arranged for him to be beheaded.

And now, on to Part 4, which begins with the 10th heading under “Adultery” from the Table of Principal Matters in the 1537 Matthew Bible.

Adultery (cont’d)

(10) Adultery is the cause of procuring another man’s death.

2 Samuel 11:2-17 It chanced in an evening that David arose from his couch and walked upon the roof of the king’s palace, and from the roof saw a very beautiful woman washing herself. And he sent to inquire what woman it was. And it was answered him that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, and wife to Uriah the Hittite.

And David sent messengers to fetch her; and she came to him, and he lay with her. And she was straightaway purified from her uncleanness, and returned to her house. And when the woman perceived that she had conceived, she sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

Then David sent a message to Joab [the commander of his army], directing him to send to him Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah had come to him, he asked how Joab was doing, how the people fared, and how the war prospered. And David said moreover to Uriah, Go down to your house, and wash your feet.

And Uriah departed out of the king’s palace, and there followed him a service from the king’s table. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s palace with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.

Then they told David, saying, Uriah did not go down to his house. Then David said to Uriah, Seeing that you have come from journeying, why do you not go down to your house? And Uriah said to David, The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in pavilions, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord live in tents upon the flat ground; and should I then go down into my house to eat, drink, and lie with my wife? By your life, and as sure as my soul lives, I will not do that thing. Then David said to Uriah, Tarry here this day also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.

And so Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next day. And David called him, and he ate and drank before him, and he made him drunk. And in the evening, Uriah went out to lie on his couch with the servants of the lord, and did not go down to his house. Therefore, on the next day David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Put Uriah in the forefront of the battle, where it is most fierce, and get back from him, so that he may be smitten to death.

And as Joab besieged the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that strong men were. And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And there were certain men smitten among the people and among the servants of David, and Uriah the Hittite died also.

Loyal and faithful, Uriah the Hittite lies dead, slain by his king.

~~~

Matthew 14:3-10 [King] Herod had seized John [the Baptist], and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said to him, It is not lawful for you to have her. But when Herod would have put him to death, he feared the people, because they counted John as a prophet.

But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod; whereupon he promised with an oath that he would give her whatever she would ask. And she, being first instructed by her mother, said, Give me here the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

And the king sorrowed. Nevertheless, because of his oath, and because of the people who were sitting also at the table, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

This gruesome image depicts the head of John the Baptist on a platter, after he was beheaded by King Herod.

~~~

See also Mark 6:14-29 (a parallel account of the adultery of Herod and Herodias, and how Herodias procured the death of John the Baptist.)

(11) Adultery defames the person.

Proverbs 6:29 Whoever goes in to his neighbour’s wife and touches her, cannot be guiltless.

Ecclesiasticus 23:18 & 21 A man who breaks wedlock, and who regards not his soul but says, Tush, who sees me? I am compassed about with darkness, the walls conceal me; nobody sees me; whom need I fear; the Most High will not remember my sins! – He understands not that his eyes see all things. For all such fear of men drives away the fear of God from him; for he fears only the eyes of men, and considers not that the eyes of the Lord are clearer than the sun, beholding all the ways of men and the ground of the deep, and looking even to men’s hearts in secret places. …

The same man shall be openly punished in the streets of the city, and shall be chased abroad like a young horse foal. And when he is least thinking upon it, he will be taken. Thus shall he be put to shame before everyone, because he would not understand the fear of the Lord.

Ecclesiasticus 23:22-26 And thus shall it go also with every wife who leaves her husband and gets inheritance by a strange marriage. First, she has been unfaithful to the law of the Most High. Secondly, she has forsaken her own husband. Thirdly, she has played the whore in adultery, and gotten her children by another man. She shall be brought out of the congregation, and her children shall be looked upon. Her children shall not take root, and as for fruit, her branches shall bring forth none. A shameful report shall she leave behind her, and her dishonour will not be put out.

And they that remain shall know that there is nothing better than the fear of God, and there is nothing sweeter than to take heed to the commandments of the Lord. It is a great honour to follow the Lord, for long life shall be received from him.

~~ ~~~ ~~

This 1611 painting is by Pieter Lastman. It depicts King David handing his loyal servant Uriah the Hittite the letter that directs Joab to make sure Uriah is killed in battle.

Here I (Ruth) add a section on the punishment that came on King David and his house due to his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband Uriah. Note, as it was said above under heading 11, David was brought to open dishonour. Contrariwise, how sweet it would have been, had he heeded God’s commandments. Also, as it was said, David sought to hide from the eyes of man, and forgot that the eyes of God see all things.

The story of David’s grievous sins continues with Nathan the prophet going to the king’s palace to rebuke him, and to open his eyes to his sin. The prophet conveyed God’s message to him:

2 Samuel 12:7-15 Thus says the Lord God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and delivered you out of the hands of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom; and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if that had been too little, I would have given you so much more. Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do wickedness in his sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and taken his wife as your wife, and have slain him by the sword of the children of Ammon.

Now, therefore, 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 neighbour, who will sleep with them in the sight of the sun. And you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and in the open sunlight.

Then David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan answered 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 rail, the child that is born to you will surely die.

And indeed, it came to pass that the child died, and that the sword never departed from David’s house. It reminds me of the proverb: he who rewards evil for good, evil shall never depart from his house (Proverbs 17:13).

The prophet Nathan rebukes David of his sin.

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.

– To find former topics, on the main blog page search under “Categories/ 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 are:
Adultery Part 1
Adultery 2 (Susanna)
Adultery Part 3

Principal Matters: Adultery Part 3

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 the bible verses in full, taken from the Matthew Bible and gently updated as needed.

Topic: Adultery

The topic of adultery in the Table of Principal Matters was long, with 15 headings. Some of the scriptures are also quite long. Therefore, I have divided this topic into five separate posts, of which this is the third. Headings 1-5 are in the previous two posts, and here we cover headings 6-9.

I noticed a curious thing under heading 8. This heading reads “Those who have minds only to commit adultery are punished.” The scripture verses given are in Genesis chapters 12 and 20. These chapters respectively tell the stories of Pharaoh and King Abimelech, two heathen rulers who took Abraham’s wife Sarah into their houses. (Sarah was called Sarai in chapter 12.) Their intent was to have her as their wife or concubine. However, both men were unaware that Sarah was married to Abraham (called Abram in chapter 12), because he lied and said that she was his sister.

These rulers had conceived a lust for Sarah, and no doubt this was carnal and fleshly. However, strictly speaking they did not have adultery in their minds. Indeed, both men returned Sarah to Abraham immediately once they learned that she was his wife – and, fortunately, without having violated her. It was clear from their conduct that they shrank from adultery and feared God. While punishment came passingly upon them and their houses so long as they held Sarah, perhaps as a kind of forewarning, it was lifted when they restored her to her husband.

If no adulterous deed was in fact committed by these two rulers, but only contemplated without knowledge of Sarah’s married state, and yet God punished them, what will be the punishment of those who knowingly practise adultery?

Another curious thing is that no reference is made under heading 8 to another ruler who did knowingly commit adultery and was sore punished: King David, who lay with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba. In my next post are some scriptures where the Table of Principal Matters used David’s story to illustrate how adultery may lead to murder. King David had Bathsheba’s husband Uriah killed (though Uriah was a good and honourable man) in order to avoid detection. Then God afflicted King David and his house for the rest of his life, even though he repented of his double sins.

A final note: the word ‘fornication’ in the Scriptures may include adultery and any form of sexual immorality. It needs to be broadly understood in biblical context.

Adultery (continued)

(6) He who looks upon his neighbour’s wife, lusting after her, has already committed adultery with her.

Matthew 5:27-28 You have heard how it was said to the people of the old time, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that whosoever looks on a wife, lusting after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

(7) Many are adulterers.

Ezekiel 22:11 Every man has dealt shamefully with his neighbour’s wife, and abominably defiles his daughter-in-law.

Jeremiah 23:10 … the land is full of adulterers, for which it is destroyed, and mourns; and the pleasant pastures of the desert are dried up.

Hosea 4:11-12 Whoredom, wine, and drunkenness take the heart away. My people ask counsel at their wooden gods; their staff must inform them. For a whorish mind has deceived them, so that they commit fornication against their God.

2 Peter 2:13-14 They count it pleasure to live deliciously for a season. Spots they are, and vileness, living at pleasure, and in deceptive ways feasting with you, having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease to sin, beguiling unstable souls.

(8) Those who have minds only to commit adultery are punished.

Genesis 12:14-19 As soon as he came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw [Sarai], that she was very fair. And Pharaoh’s lords saw her also, and praised her to Pharaoh. So it came about that she was taken into Pharaoh’s house, who treated Abram well for her sake, so that he had sheep, oxen, and he-donkeys, menservants, maidservants, she-donkeys, and camels.

But God plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, Why have you dealt thus with me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say that she was your sister, and cause me to take her as my wife? But now, lo, there is your wife. Take her, and be walking.

~~~

Genesis 20:2-7, 14, 17-18 Abraham said of Sarah his wife that she was his sister. Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent and fetched Sarah away. And God came to Abimelech by night in a dream and said to him, See, you are but a dead man because of the woman that you have taken away, for she is a man’s wife.

But Abimelech had not yet come near her, and therefore said, Lord, would you slay righteous people? Did he not say to me that she was his sister? Yea, and did she herself not say that he was her brother? With a pure heart and innocent hands I have done this.

And God said to him in a dream, I knew well that you did it in the pureness of your heart, and therefore I kept you so that you would not sin against me; neither did I suffer you to come near her. Now therefore, deliver to the man his wife again. And let him pray for you so that you may live. But if you do not deliver her back, be sure that you shall die, with all that you have. …

Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, menservants and womenservants, and gave them to Abraham, and delivered Sarah his wife to him again. … And so Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they bore children. For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

(9) Adulterers have no part in the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Be not deceived. For neither fornicators, nor worshippers of images, nor whoremongers, nor effeminates, nor abusers of themselves with the male sex, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor cursed speakers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 13:4 Let wedlock be had in honour in all points, and let the bedchamber be undefiled. For whorekeepers and adulterers God will judge.

“Abram’s Counsel to Sarai.” This painting by James Tissot (1836-1902) depicts Abram counseling Sarai to tell people that she is his sister, from Genesis 12.

~~ End Part 3, Adultery ~~

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.

– To find former topics, on the main blog page search under “Categories/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 are:
Adultery Part 1
Adultery Part 2 (The Story of Susanna)

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