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John 10:30
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
John 10:30
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
30 [a]The Father and I are one.”(A)
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Genesis 1:1-5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Genesis 1:1-5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Preamble. The Creation of the World
Chapter 1
The Story of Creation.[a] 1 In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth(A)— 2 [b]and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters—(B)
3 Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light.(C) 4 God saw that the light was good. God then separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Evening came, and morning followed—the first day.[c]
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- 1:1–2:3
This section, from the Priestly source, functions as an introduction, as ancient stories of the origin of the world (cosmogonies) often did. It introduces the primordial story (2:4–11:26), the stories of the ancestors (11:27–50:26), and indeed the whole Pentateuch. The chapter highlights the goodness of creation and the divine desire that human beings share in that goodness. God brings an orderly universe out of primordial chaos merely by uttering a word. In the literary structure of six days, the creation events in the first three days are related to those in the second three.
1. light (day)/darkness (night) = 4. sun/moon 2. arrangement of water = 5. fish + birds from waters 3. a) dry land = 6. a) animals b) vegetation b) human beings: male/female The seventh day, on which God rests, the climax of the account, falls outside the six-day structure.
Until modern times the first line was always translated, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Several comparable ancient cosmogonies, discovered in recent times, have a “when…then” construction, confirming the translation “when…then” here as well. “When” introduces the pre-creation state and “then” introduces the creative act affecting that state. The traditional translation, “In the beginning,” does not reflect the Hebrew syntax of the clause.
- 1:2 This verse is parenthetical, describing in three phases the pre-creation state symbolized by the chaos out of which God brings order: “earth,” hidden beneath the encompassing cosmic waters, could not be seen, and thus had no “form”; there was only darkness; turbulent wind swept over the waters. Commencing with the last-named elements (darkness and water), vv. 3–10 describe the rearrangement of this chaos: light is made (first day) and the water is divided into water above and water below the earth so that the earth appears and is no longer “without outline.” The abyss: the primordial ocean according to the ancient Semitic cosmogony. After God’s creative activity, part of this vast body forms the salt-water seas (vv. 9–10); part of it is the fresh water under the earth (Ps 33:7; Ez 31:4), which wells forth on the earth as springs and fountains (Gn 7:11; 8:2; Prv 3:20). Part of it, “the upper water” (Ps 148:4; Dn 3:60), is held up by the dome of the sky (vv. 6–7), from which rain descends on the earth (Gn 7:11; 2 Kgs 7:2, 19; Ps 104:13). A mighty wind: literally, “spirit or breath [ruah] of God”; cf. Gn 8:1.
- 1:5 In ancient Israel a day was considered to begin at sunset.
Genesis 1:1-5
King James Version
Genesis 1:1-5
King James Version
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
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Job 28:12-27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Job 28:12-27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
12 As for wisdom—where can she be found?
Where is the place of understanding?(A)
13 Mortals do not know her path,
nor is she to be found in the land of the living.
14 The Deep says, “She is not in me”;
and the Sea says, “She is not with me.”
15 Solid gold cannot purchase her,
nor can her price be paid with silver.(B)
16 She cannot be bought with gold of Ophir,[a]
with precious onyx or lapis lazuli,
17 Gold or crystal cannot equal her,
nor can golden vessels be exchanged for her.
18 Neither coral nor crystal should be thought of;
the value of wisdom surpasses pearls.
19 Ethiopian topaz does not equal her,
nor can she be weighed out for pure gold.
20 As for wisdom, where does she come from?
Where is the place of understanding?
21 She is hidden from the eyes of every living thing;
even from the birds of the air she is concealed.
22 Abaddon[b] and Death say,
“Only by rumor have we heard of her.”
23 [c]But God understands the way to her;(C)
it is he who knows her place.(D)
24 For he beholds the ends of the earth
and sees all that is under the heavens.
25 When he weighed out the wind,
and measured out the waters;
26 When he made a rule for the rain
and a path for the thunderbolts,(E)
27 Then he saw wisdom and appraised her,
established her, and searched her out.
Footnotes
- 28:16 Ophir: cf. note on Ps 45:10.
- 28:22 Abaddon: cf. note on Jb 26:6.
- 28:23–27 In reply to the question of vv. 12, 20, these verses indicate that the creator (vv. 24–26) knows the “place” of wisdom and even “established” her, but the specifics are not given. For further development of this theme, cf. Sir 1:1–10 and Bar 3:9–4:4.
Job 28:12-27
New International Version
Job 28:12-27
New International Version
12 But where can wisdom be found?(A)
Where does understanding dwell?(B)
13 No mortal comprehends its worth;(C)
it cannot be found in the land of the living.(D)
14 The deep(E) says, “It is not in me”;
the sea(F) says, “It is not with me.”
15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
nor can its price be weighed out in silver.(G)
16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,(H)
with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.(I)
17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,(J)
nor can it be had for jewels of gold.(K)
18 Coral(L) and jasper(M) are not worthy of mention;
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.(N)
19 The topaz(O) of Cush(P) cannot compare with it;
it cannot be bought with pure gold.(Q)
20 Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?(R)
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds in the sky.(S)
22 Destruction[a](T) and Death(U) say,
“Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23 God understands the way to it
and he alone(V) knows where it dwells,(W)
24 for he views the ends of the earth(X)
and sees everything under the heavens.(Y)
25 When he established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,(Z)
26 when he made a decree for the rain(AA)
and a path for the thunderstorm,(AB)
27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
he confirmed it and tested it.(AC)
Footnotes
- Job 28:22 Hebrew Abaddon
Job 28:12-27
King James Version
Job 28:12-27
King James Version
12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
14 The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
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Proverbs 8:22-25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Proverbs 8:22-25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
22 [a]“The Lord begot me, the beginning of his works,
the forerunner of his deeds of long ago;(A)
23 From of old I was formed,[b]
at the first, before the earth.(B)
24 [c]When there were no deeps I was brought forth,
when there were no fountains or springs of water;
25 Before the mountains were settled into place,
before the hills, I was brought forth;
Footnotes
- 8:22–31 Wisdom is of divine origin. She is represented as existing before all things (vv. 22–26), when God planned and created the universe, adorning it with beauty and variety, and establishing its wonderful order (vv. 27–30). The purpose of the two cosmogonies (vv. 22–26 and 27–31) is to ground Wisdom’s claims. The first cosmogony emphasizes that she was born before all else (and so deserving of honor) and the second underscores that she was with the Lord during the creation of the universe. The pre-existence of Woman Wisdom with God is developed in Sir 24 and in New Testament hymns to Christ, especially in Jn 1 and Col 1:15–20.
- 8:23 Formed: since the other verbs of the origin of Wisdom in these verses describe birth, it is likely that the somewhat uncertain verb is to be understood of birth as in Ps 139:13.
- 8:24–26 Perhaps the formless mass from which God created the heavens and the earth; cf. Gn 1:1–2; 2:4–6.
Proverbs 8:22-25
New International Version
Proverbs 8:22-25
New International Version
22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[a][b]
before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;(A)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(B)
before the hills, I was given birth,(C)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
- Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
Proverbs 8:22-25
King James Version
Proverbs 8:22-25
King James Version
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
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Wisdom 9:1-2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Wisdom 9:1-2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 9
Solomon’s Prayer[a]
1 [b]God of my ancestors, Lord of mercy,(A)
you who have made all things by your word(B)
2 And in your wisdom have established humankind
to rule the creatures produced by you,(C)
Footnotes
- 9:1–18 The author presents his version of Solomon’s prayer (1 Kgs 3:6–9; 2 Chr 1:8–10).
- 9:1–2 The author identifies Wisdom with the word of God just as he again identifies Wisdom with the spirit of God in v. 17. All three are alternate ways of expressing God’s activity in relationship with the world and its inhabitants.
1 John 1:1-2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
1 John 1:1-2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
I. Prologue
Chapter 1
The Word of Life[a]
1 What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life—(A)
2 for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—(B)
Footnotes
- 1:1–4 There is a striking parallel to the prologue of the gospel of John (Jn 1:1–18), but the emphasis here is not on the preexistent Word but rather on the apostles’ witness to the incarnation of life by their experience of the historical Jesus. He is the Word of life (1 Jn 1:1; cf. Jn 1:4), the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible (1 Jn 1:2; cf. Jn 1:14), and was heard, seen, looked upon, and touched by the apostles. The purpose of their teaching is to share that life, called fellowship…with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ, with those who receive their witness (1 Jn 1:3; Jn 1:14, 16).
1 John 1:1-2
New International Version
1 John 1:1-2
New International Version
The Incarnation of the Word of Life
1 That which was from the beginning,(A) which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,(B) which we have looked at and our hands have touched(C)—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared;(D) we have seen it and testify to it,(E) and we proclaim to you the eternal life,(F) which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
1 John 1:1-2
King James Version
1 John 1:1-2
King James Version
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
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Colossians 1:1
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Colossians 1:1
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
I. Address
Chapter 1
Greeting.[a] 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,(A)
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Colossians 1:1
New International Version
Colossians 1:1
New International Version
Colossians 1:1
King James Version
Colossians 1:1
King James Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
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Colossians 1:15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Colossians 1:15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
II. The Preeminence of Christ
His Person and Work
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- 1:15–20 As the poetic arrangement indicates, these lines are probably an early Christian hymn, known to the Colossians and taken up into the letter from liturgical use (cf. Phil 2:6–11; 1 Tm 3:16). They present Christ as the mediator of creation (Col 1:15–18a) and of redemption (Col 1:18b–20). There is a parallelism between firstborn of all creation (Col 1:15) and firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18). While many of the phrases were at home in Greek philosophical use and even in gnosticism, the basic ideas also reflect Old Testament themes about Wisdom found in Prv 8:22–31; Wis 7:22–8:1; and Sir 1:4. See also notes on what is possibly a hymn in Jn 1:1–18.
- 1:15 Image: cf. Gn 1:27. Whereas the man and the woman were originally created in the image and likeness of God (see also Gn 1:26), Christ as image (2 Cor 4:4) of the invisible God (Jn 1:18) now shares this new nature in baptism with those redeemed (cf. Col 3:10–11).
Colossians 1:15
New International Version
Colossians 1:15
New International Version
The Supremacy of the Son of God
15 The Son is the image(A) of the invisible God,(B) the firstborn(C) over all creation.
Colossians 1:15
King James Version
Colossians 1:15
King James Version
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
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Revelation 3:14
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Revelation 3:14
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea,[a] write this:
“‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this:(A)
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- 3:14 Laodicea: ca. forty miles southeast of Philadelphia and ca. eighty miles east of Ephesus, a wealthy industrial and commercial center, with a renowned medical school. It exported fine woolen garments and was famous for its eye salves. It was so wealthy that it was proudly rebuilt without outside aid after the devastating earthquake of A.D. 60/61. The Amen: this is a divine title (cf. Hebrew text of Is 65:16) applied to Christ; cf. 2 Cor 1:20. Source of God’s creation: literally, “the beginning of God’s creation,” a concept found also in Jn 1:3; Col 1:16–17; Hb 1:2; cf. Prv 8:22–31; Wis 9:1–2.
Revelation 3:14
New International Version
Revelation 3:14
New International Version
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea(A) write:
Revelation 3:14
King James Version
Revelation 3:14
King James Version
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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