GENEVA BIBLE 1599
The Bible of the Pilgrims who founded America and also the Bible of the Reformation.
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1 After these things, Jesus went his way (a) over the (*) sea of Galilee, which is (♣) Tiberias.
(a) Not that he cut over the lake of Tiberias, but by reason of the large creeks, his sailing made his journey the shorter, therefore he is said to have gone over the sea, when as he passed over from one side of a creek to the other.
(*) Called the lake of Gennesaret.
(♣) Tiberias, Bethsaida, and Capernaum were on this side the lake, in respect of Galilee; but it is here said that he went over, because there were divers creeks and turnings, over the which men ferried.
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles, which he did on them that were diseased.
3 Then Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
4 Now the Passover a (*) feast of the Jews was near.
(*) Leviticus 23:2; Deuteronomy 16:1 .
5 (*) (1) Then Jesus lifted up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude came unto him, he said unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these might eat?
(*) Matthew 14:16; Mark 6:37; Luke 9:13 .
(1) They that follow Christ do sometime hunger, but they are never destitute of help.
6 (And this he said to prove him, for he himself knew what he would do.)
7 Philip answered him, (*) Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
(*) This sum amounteth to about five pounds sterling.
8 Then said unto him one of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,
9 There is a little boy here, which hath five barley loaves, and two fishes, but what are they among so many?
10 And Jesus said, Make the people sit down. (Now there was much grass in that place.) Then the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the bread, and (*) gave thanks, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
(*) Prayer and thanksgiving do sanctify our meats wherewith we are nourished.
12 And when they were satisfied, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the broken meat which remaineth, that (*) nothing be lost.
(*) The abundant store of God’s gifts ought not to make us prodigal to waste them.
13 Then they gathered it together, and filled twelve baskets with the broken meat of the five barley loaves, which remained unto them that had eaten.
14 Then the men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth the Prophet that should come into the world.
15 (2) When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come, and take him to make him a (*) King, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
(2) Christ is not only not delighted, but also greatly offended with a preposterous worship.
(*) They imagined an earthly kingdom without the testimony of God’s word, so that by this means his spiritual kingdom should have been abolished.
16 ¶ (3) When even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
(3) The godly are often in peril and danger, but Christ cometh to them in time, even in the midst of the tempests, and bringeth them to the heaven.
17 (*) And entered into a ship, and went (♣) over the sea, (b) towards Capernaum. And now it was dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
(*) Matthew 14:25; Mark 6:47 .
(♣) Over a corner of the lake.
(b) In Mark 6:45 they are willed to go before to Bethsaida, for Bethsaida was in the way to Capernaum.
18 And the Sea arose with a great wind that blew.
19 And when they had rowed about five and twenty, or thirty (*) furlongs, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near unto the ship; so they were afraid.
(*) Whereof eight makes a mile.
20 But he said unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
21 Then (c) willingly they received him into the ship, and the ship was by and by at the land, whither they went.
(c) They were afraid at the first, but when they knew his voice, they became new men, and took him willingly into the ship, whom they shunned and fled from before.
22 ¶ The day following, the people which stood on the other side of the sea, saw that there was none other ship there, save that one, whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples in the ship, but that his disciples were gone (*) alone,
(*) Wherefore it must needs follow that Christ passed miraculously.
23 And that there came other ships from Tiberias near unto the place where they ate the bread, after the Lord had given thanks.
24 Now when the people saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
25 And when they had found him on the (*) other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
(*) This was not straight over the lake from side to side, but over a creek or arm of the lake, which saved much labor to them that should have gone about by land.
26 (4) Jesus answered them, and said, Verily, verily I say unto you, Ye seek me not, because ye saw the miracles, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled.
(4) They that seek the kingdom of heaven lack nothing, notwithstanding the Gospel is not the food of the belly, but of the mind.
27 (d) Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for the meat that (♣) endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you, for him hath (*) God the Father (e) (♠) sealed.
(d) Bestow your labor and pain.
(♣) Which nourisheth and augmenteth our faith.
(*) John 1:32, Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:3 .
(e) That is, whom God the Father hath distinguished from all other men
by planting his own virtue in him, as though he had sealed him with his
seal, that he might be a lively pattern and representer of him, and that
more is, installed him to this office, to reconcile us men to God, and
bring us to everlasting life, which is only proper to Christ.
(♠) For when he appointed him to be the Mediator, he set his mark and seal in him to be the only one to reconcile God and man together.
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the (f) (*) works of God?
(f) Which please God, for they think that everlasting life hangeth upon the condition of fulfilling the Law, therefore Christ calleth them back to faith.
(*) Such as be acceptable unto God.
29 (5) Jesus answered, and said unto them, (*) (g) This is the work of God, that ye believe in him, whom he hath sent.
(5) Men torment themselves in vain, when they go about to please God without faith.
(*) 1 John 3:23 .
(g) That is, this is the work that God requireth, that you believe in
me, and therefore he calleth them back to faith.
30 (6) They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see it, and believe thee? What doest thou work?
(6) The spiritual virtue of Christ is contemned of them which are desirous of earthly miracles.
31 Our fathers did eat Manna in the desert, as it is (*) written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
(*) Exodus 16:14; Numbers 11:7; Psalm 78:25 .
32 (7) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, (*) Moses gave you not (h) that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you that true bread from heaven.
(7) Christ, who is the true and only author and giver of eternal life, was signified unto the fathers in Manna.
(*) He compareth Moses with the Father, and manna with Christ, who
sendeth us into everlasting life, 1 Corinthians 10:3 .
(h) He denieth that Manna was that true heavenly bread, and saith that
he himself is that true bread, because he feedeth unto the true and
everlasting life. And as for that which Paul in 1 Corinthians 10,
calleth Manna spiritual food, it maketh nothing against this place, for
he joineth the thing signified with the sign; but in this whole
disputation, Christ dealeth with the Jews after their own opinion and
conceit of the matter, and they had no further consideration of the
Manna, but in that is fed the belly.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then they said unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am that bread (i) of life; he that cometh to me, shall not hunger, and he that believeth in me, shall (*) never thirst.
(i) Which have life, and give life.
(*) He shall never want spiritual nourishment.
36 But I say unto you, that ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37 (8) All (*) that the Father giveth me, shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I cast not away.
(8) The gift of faith proceedeth from the free election of the Father in Christ, after which followeth necessarily everlasting life; Therefore faith in Christ Jesus is a sure witness of our election, and therefore of our glorification, which is to come.
(*) God doeth regenerate his elect, and causeth them to obey the Gospel.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do my (k) own will, but his will which hath sent me.
(k) Look above in John 5:22 .
39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every man which (l) seeth the Son, and believeth in him, should have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
(l) Seeing and believing are joined together, for there is another kind of seeing, which is general, which the devils have, for they see; but here he speaketh of that kind of seeing, which is proper to the elect.
41 (9) The Jews then murmured at him because he said, I am the bread, which is come down from heaven.
(9) Flesh cannot perceive spiritual things, and therefore the beginning of our salvation cometh from God, who changeth our nature, so that we being inspired of him, may abide to be instructed and saved by Christ.
42 And they said, (*) Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then saith he, I came down from heaven?
(*) Matthew 13:55 .
43 Jesus then answered, and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can (*) come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, (♣) draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
(*) That is, or believe in me.
(♣) By lightening his heart with his holy Spirit.
45 It is written in the (*) (m) Prophets, And they shall be all (n) taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me;
(*) Isaiah 54:13; Jeremiah 31:33 .
(m) In the book of the Prophets, for the old Testament was divided by
them into three several parts, into the Law, the Prophets, and the Holy
writ.
(n) To wit, they shall be children of the Church, for so the Prophet
Isaiah expoundeth it, Isaiah 54:13; that is to say, ordained to life,
Acts 13:48, and therefore the knowledge of the heavenly truth, is the
gift and work of God, and standeth not in any power of man.
46 (*) Not that any man hath seen the Father, (o) save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
(*) Matthew 11:27 .
(o) If only the Son only hath seen the Father, then it is he only that can teach and instruct us truly.
47 Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth in me, hath everlasting life.
48 (10) I am that bread of life.
(10) The true use of Sacraments, is to ascend from them to the thing itself, that is to Christ, by the partaking of whom only, we get everlasting life.
49 (*) Your fathers did eat Manna in the wilderness, (♣) and are dead.
(*) Exodus 16:15 .
(♣) Then there is no food that can nourish our souls, but Jesus Christ.
50 (p) This is the bread, which cometh down from heaven, that he which eateth of it, should not die.
(p) He pointed out himself when he spake these words.
51 (11) I am that (q) living bread, which came down from heaven; if any man (r) eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
(11) Christ being sent from the Father, is the selfsame unto us for the
getting and keeping of everlasting life, that bread and flesh, yea meat
and drink are to the use of this transitory life.
(q) Which giveth life to the world.
(r) That is to say, whosoever is partaker of Christ indeed, who is our
food.
52 (12) Then the Jews strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
(12) Flesh cannot put a difference between fleshly eating which is done by the help of the teeth, and spiritual eating which consisteth in faith, and therefore it condemneth that which it understandeth not; yet notwithstanding the truth must be preached and taught.
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have (s) (*) no life in you.
(s) If Christ be present, life is present, but when Christ is absent, then is death present.
(*) Where Christ is not, there death reigneth.
54 Whosoever (*) eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
(*) 1 Corinthians 11:27 .
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He (*) that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, (♣) dwelleth in me, and I in him.
(*) As our bodies are sustained with meat and drink; so are our souls nourished with the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
(♣) To eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood, is to dwell in Christ and to have Christ dwelling in us.
57 As (t) the living Father hath sent me, so live I by the (u) Father, and he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
(t) In that Christ is man, he receiveth that power which quickeneth and
giveth life to them that are his, of his Father; and he addeth this word
(That) to make a distinction between him and all other fathers.
(u) Christ his meaning is, that though he be man, yet his flesh can give
life, not of the own nature, but because that flesh of his liveth by the
Father, that is to say, doeth suck and draw out of the Father, that
power which it hath to give life.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers have eaten Manna, and are dead. He that eateth of this bread, shall live forever.
59 These things spake he in the Synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60 (13) Many therefore of his disciples (when they heard this) said, This is a hard saying; who can (*) hear it?
(13) The reason of man cannot comprehend the uniting of Christ and his members, therefore let it worship and reverence that which is better than itself.
(*) That is, understand it.
61 But Jesus knowing in himself, that his disciples murmured at this, said unto them, Doeth this offend you?
62 What then if ye should see the Son of man (♣) ascend up (*) where he was before?
(♣) He meaneth not that his humanity descended from heaven; but he speaketh touching the union of both natures, attributing to the one that which appertaineth to the other.
(*) John 3:13 .
63 (14) It is the (x) Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh (*) profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, are spirit and life.
(14) The flesh of Christ doeth therefore quicken us, because that he is
man, is God; which mystery is only comprehended by faith, which is the
gift of God, proper only to the elect.
(x) Spirit, that is, that power which floweth from the Godhead, causeth
the flesh of Christ, which otherwise were nothing but flesh, but to live
in itself, and to give life to us.
(*) To wit, if it be separate from the Spirit, whereof it hath the force; for it cometh of the power of the Spirit that the flesh of Christ giveth us life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning, which they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of my Father.
66 (15) From that time, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
(15) Such is the malice of men, that they take occasion of their own destruction, even of the very doctrine of salvation (unless it be a few, which believe through the singular gift of God.)
67 Then said Jesus to the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Master, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of (*) eternal life;
(*) Them without Christ there is but death; for his word only leadeth us to life.
69 And we believe and know that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
70 (16) Jesus answered them, Have not I (*) chosen you twelve, and (♣) one of you is a devil?
(16) The number of the professors of Christ is very small, and among them also there be some hypocrites, and worse than all others.
(*) Matthew 26:16 .
(♣) Although your number be small, yet shall ye be diminished.
71 Now he
spake it of Judas Iscariot the
son
of Simon, for he it was that should betray him, though he was one of the
twelve.
1 Corinthians 14:8
And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?
"Let not Geneva be forgotten or despised. Religious liberty owes it most respect." John Adams, the second president of the United States
Before, and many years after the KJV was printed, the GENEVA BIBLE was the People's Choice, but an ungodly King made it illegal to publish it any longer: http://www.genevabible.org/Geneva.html Click on "Geneva Bible History" on my site.
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