A paraphrase and annotations upon all the books of the New Testament briefly explaining all the difficult places thereof / by H. Hammond.

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Title
A paraphrase and annotations upon all the books of the New Testament briefly explaining all the difficult places thereof / by H. Hammond.
Author
Hammond, Henry, 1605-1660.
Publication
London :: Printed by J. Flesher for Richard Davis,
1659.
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Subject terms
Bible. -- N.T. -- Commentaries.
Bible. -- N.T. -- Paraphrases, English.
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A45436.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A paraphrase and annotations upon all the books of the New Testament briefly explaining all the difficult places thereof / by H. Hammond." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A45436.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 16, 2024.

Pages

CHAP. V.

1. STand fast therefore in the liberty* 1.1 wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not intangled again with the yoke of bondage.]

[Paraphrase] 1. From all this the con∣clusion is of exhortation to you and all Christians, that ye retain the freedome from being obliged to the Mosaical Law, which Christ hath bestowed on all, and not return to your former yoak, or weight of observances again, which are a servility perfectly unprofitable, and nothing else.

2. Behold I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.]

[Paraphrase] 2. I your known Apostle, that have been, and taught the faith among you, pronounce to you positively, that if you depend on circumcision and legal observances for justification, Christ will stand you in no stead.

3. For I testifie again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to doe the whole Law.]

[Paraphrase] 3. For by laying upon himself a necessity of circum∣cision, and expecting justification by that, he absolutely obliges himself to perfect obedience, without which the Law cannot justifie any, ch. 3. 10.

4. † 1.2 Christ is [note a] become of no effect unto you: whosoever of you are justified by the Law, ye are fallen from grace.]

[Paraphrase] 4. All that run this way of the Judaizers, must know that Christ is become uneffectual to them: If you expect to be justified by legal performances, ye have disclaimed all title to the Gospel. See Heb. 13. a.

5. For we* 1.3 through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousnesse by faith.]

[Paraphrase] 5. For we, according to the Gospel, and the promise made to Abraham, expect to be justified without legal performances, only by faith or Evangelical obedience.

6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumci∣sion, but faith which† 1.4 [note b] worketh by love.]

[Paraphrase] 6. For now under the Go∣spel 'tis not material whether a man be circumcised or no, all that is required to our justification is faith; not all that is called by that name, but such as is made perfect by addition of those duties which we owe to God and our brethren.

7. Ye did run well; who did hinder you, that ye should not obey the truth?]

[Paraphrase] 7. Ye began well in recei∣ving the Gospel, as I preach'd it to you; who hath caused you not to continue in that course?

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8. This perswasion cometh not of him that* 1.5 calleth you.]

[Paraphrase] 8. This new doctrin of the necessity of Judaical observances is not taught you by God, or by him (whether my self, or any others) who brought you to the faith.

9. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.]

[Paraphrase] 9. It comes from a few false teachers among you, that have infected you with this sowre false doctrine of Judaizing, which will spoil all your Christi∣anity, v. 2, 4.

10. I have confidence† 1.6 in you through the Lord, that you* 1.7 will be none o∣therwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear† 1.8 his judgment, whosoever he be.]

[Paraphrase] 10. And I hope it will not ex∣tend farre, for I am confident of you in respect of the faith planted among you, that you will not be carried away with these errors; but the teachers of this doctrine, whosoever they are, or of what quality soever, shall suffer and be censured for it.

11. * 1.9 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why doe I yet suffer persecu∣tion? † 1.10 then is the offence of the crosse ceased.]

[Paraphrase] 11. Some of your teachers, it seems, have told you, that I am for the urging of circumcision upon Christians, and that I have done so in some places: But I pray doe you guesse of the truth of this suggestion, by the persecutions which I suffer, which generally fall upon me among the Jewes, for my affirming the Mosaical Law to be abolished, and would not fall upon me if I pressed the observation of the Mosaical Law in this parti∣cular of so great importance. The great exception that the Jewes have against my preaching, and other believing me, is the abolition of the Mosaical Law, and the removing of that one exception would be the appeasing of the wrath of the Jewes, who probably would oppose it no longer; but this, you see, is not done, for the Jews are still as great opposers of Christianity (where it is preached by me) and of me for preaching it, and of others that so receive it from me, as ever they were.

12. I would they were even [note c] cut off which* 1.11 trouble you.]

[Paraphrase] 12. Thus unreasonable are their pretensions that would seduce you from your constancy, and are content to say any thing, though never so false and im∣probable, to that purpose; all that I have to say of them is, I wish they were excommunicated, turned out from among you, that thus endevour to pervert you.

13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.]

[Paraphrase] 13. Christ hath freed you believers from the rigour of the Law, that is, both from the necessity of Mosaical observances, and of perfect exact obedience under the penalty of the curse: onely do not you make an uncharitable or a carnal use of this liberty, either to conte••••n and scandalize those that dare not use this liberty, Rom. 14. 1. or to fall into acts of sin, and to think your Christian liberty will excuse you; but by charity behave your selves toward all your brethren in this matter of legal ceremonies, as may be most for their advantages.

14. For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self.]

[Paraphrase] 14. For this is indeed the summe of that Law which ye pretend so much to vindicate, endeavouring the good of all others as much as ye can, or as you would your own, and not per∣mitting your zeal to set you on designes of malice, and defaming of others.

15. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.]

[Paraphrase] 15. But if you be so un∣charitable as to calumniate and defame one another, this will break out in a while, as in other places it doth already, to open feuds, persecuting and mis∣chieving your fellow-Christians.

16. This I say, Walk in the Spirit, and* 1.12 ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.]

[Paraphrase] 16. My advise therefore is, that you order your actions according to the Gospel rule, and doe not those things which are most acceptable to the senses, most agreeable to your carnal or worldly ends.

17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary one to the other: so that ye† 1.13 cannot doe the things ye would.]

[Paraphrase] 17. For this is certain, that he that will serve God must doe many things contrary to his sensual or secular ends: For there being two desires in you, the one proceeding from the carnal, the other from the rational spi∣ritual faculty or reason instructed by the Gospel, and these being so opposite one to the other, that whatsoever one liketh, the other disliketh, it follows that whatsoever you doe in compliance with the one, you doe in opposition to the other, and so that you doe not will or chuse with both wills, rational and sensual, whatsoever you will or chuse, but one of these still resisteth the other.

18. But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the Law.]

[Paraphrase] 18. That then which is your duty, is, to follow the duct of the Spirit; and if so, if you follow the Gospell rule in despight of all the temptations of the flesh, whether lusts of the flesh, or fear of persecution for the Gospel, to the contrary, then you are neither obliged to the Mosaical performances, nor to the perfect exact obedience, without which the Law allowes no justification.

19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, for∣nication, uncleannesse, lasciviousnesse,]

[Paraphrase] 19. Whereas on the other side, the actions that the flesh is most apt to betray one to, and which you have most need to be admonished of, are such as every man knows to be such, and which yet your present false-teachers doe industriously infuse into you: such are, breaking the bands of wedlock, nay making mar∣riage absolutely a work of the devil, that that perswasion may bring after it all manner of unlawfull lusts (see note on 1 Cor. 5. a.) which marriage might prevent,

20. Idolatry, [note d] witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sediti∣ons, heresies,]

[Paraphrase] 20. The sensual villanies committed in the idol-wor∣ships (see note on 1 Cor. 5. i.) to which the Gnosticks would bring you back, and so likewise sorceries, and then all the sorts of uncharitablenesse, hating or maligning of others, &c.

21. Envyings, murthers, drunkennesse, revellings, and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which doe such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God.]

[Paraphrase] 21. And at length envy∣ing either the quiet, or the in∣nocence of all that will not doe as they doe, and so falling into all acts of riotous and bloody malice against them, together with drunkennesse and night∣revells, &c. all which are of a most dangerous and desperate nature, and will certainly deprive and exclude all that are guilty of them from the kingdome of God.

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering,* 1.14 gentleness, goodness, faith,]

[Paraphrase] 22. On the contrary, the duties that the Gospel re∣quires of us are 1. love to our brethren; 2. joy in doing them any good, (see note on Rom. 14. c.) 3. study to preserve peace among all men (see note on Phil. 4. b.) 4. a patient bearing with the provocations and injuries of other men 3 5. a kindnesse in disposition and actions, actual performance of all kindnesse to others; and 6. fidelity, in opposition to betraying others, or inconstancy to our course,

23. Meeknesse,† 1.15 temperance;* 1.16 against such there is no Law.]

[Paraphrase] 23. Meeknesse and quiet∣nesse of spirit, in opposition to unquietnesse and sedition, and lastly perfect charity either in the single or conjugal state: And be you never so strict and Zealous observers of the Law, that can never engage any of you to neglect these Christian virtues (as many of you, that pretend to be all for the Law, that maintain the necessity of the Mosaical performances, are yet found to doe, behaving your selves so carnally in your religion, and opposing all other Christians so bitterly, v. 19, 20, 21. as if you

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24. And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts.]

[Paraphrase] 24. And however ye may be deceived in thus judging of the Law, yet 'tis certain that Christianity is directly contrary to all this; the true believers, or Christians, have in their bap∣tismes renounced all the desires of the flesh, and accordingly must perform.

25. If we live† 1.17 in the Spirit, let us also walk* 1.18 in the Spirit.]

[Paraphrase] 25. And they that are spi∣ritual, as the Gnosticks pretend to be, let them behave themselves in all their actions Christianly and spiritually, in opposition to all these carnal sins, or else know that they have no right to that title.

26. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another.]

[Paraphrase] 26. And not be puffed up with an opinion of them∣selves, and the vanity of appearing to the Jewes to be great zealots, and thereupon inciting the Jewes to the persecuting of the orthodox, and vehemently maligning of them.

Annotations on Chap. V.

[ a] * 1.19 V. 4. Become of no effect] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith Phavorinus; the word signifies according to the notion of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, whence 'tis compounded, frustration, annullation, evacuation, abolition; and so 'tis applied to the Law, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Law is annulled. In a sense not farre from thence 'tis used Rom. 7. 2. when 'tis said, that the husband being dead, the wife 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is discharged from the law of the husband, that is, receives no benefit from, nor owes any obedience or observance to the matri∣monial contract. So here 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ye are discharged from Christ, as when a servant is from the master, or as a wife from the husband, discharged from the advantages as well as burthens, ye receive no benefit or virtue from Christ, or the second Covenant (all one with Christ) shall profit you nothing, ver. 2. and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.20 in the end of this verse, ye have fallen from, disclaimed all right or title to the Gospel, or se∣cond Covenant, that of Grace.

[ b] * 1.21 V. 6. Worketh] 'Tis not amisse in this place to set down the particular notion of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the New Testament. And to that purpose the first thing to be observed, will be, that there is no kind of necessity or reason to render it in an Active sense, but rather in a Passive, throughout these books. So Rom. 7. 5. the mo∣tions of sin 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, were wrought, or con∣summate, or perfected, in our members, that is, the motions and inclinations were brought to act and ha∣bite. So 2 Cor. 1. 6. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, salvation which is perfected, or consummate, by pa∣tient enduring. So 2 Cor. 4. 12. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. death is wrought in us, as it appears by the Context 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, we are delivered to death, v. 11. So Ephes. 3. 20. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, according to the power which is wrought in, or among, you, parallel to Col. 1. 29. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, according to the force, or act, or virtue which is wrought in me. So 2 Thess. 2. 13. of the word of God, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which is wrought in you, preached unto you, and obtained its end (or perfection) to which it was designed, among you believers. So 2 Thess. 2. 7. the mysterie of iniqui∣ty 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is made, or wrought, or (as in the Pre∣sent tense) is in fieri, agitur, saith Castellio, agreea∣bly to that of Hesychius, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is prepared to enter, to disclose it self to the world. And so here 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, faith perfected by charity; so the Syriack reads it, and so Tertullian, Perficitur per charitatem fides, contra Marcion. l. 5. directly parallel to that of S. James ch. 2. 22. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 faith is made perfect by works, as an habite by the effects or fruits. To which purpose it is observable that in Clemens Alexandrinus Strom.* 1.22 l. 4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, are put as phrases of the same importance. There is one only place behind, where this word is used, that of Jam. 5. 16. of the righteous mans prayer, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of which what is the direct impor∣tance will not perhaps be easily resolved,* 1.23 but yet there is little reason to doubt but that it is in the Passive sig∣nification also. To which purpose it will be observa∣ble, that one other notion of the word there is, which is ordinary among Ecclesiastical writers, for one that hath received afflation from some Spirit, evil or good. Thus (among many other examples,* 1.24 ) in the Author of the Ecclesical Hierarchie, when there are repelled from the Sacrament 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. there saith Maximus the Scholiast, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they that are acted by unclean spirits. Why it should not be taken also in a good sense, for those that are acted by good spirits or the Spirit of God, there is no reason imaginable from the nature of the word, only 'tis true the most frequent use is of those that are possessed by the Devil (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith Pachymerius the Pa∣raphrast of that Author of the Ecclesiastick Hierarchie p.* 1.25 136.) but yet in the Apostle 1 Cor. 12. 6, 10. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is used of the charismata or extraordinary gifts of the Spirit of God: and so saith Phavorinus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of which the gift of heal∣ing (and doing that only by praying and anointing,) being one, in those times, 'tis possible enough that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may be that prayer of him that hath that gift of healing, and consequently that which is thus for∣med by afflation of the Spirit (for that the word be∣longs not only to persons so acted by any spirit, but to actions that are so produced, appears by the use of the word in Justin Martyr, in Dial. cum Tryph. p. 87. where speaking of Magicians, he saith, they were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, carried captive by the devil to all wicked dia∣bolical actions) which is here accordingly joyned with the gift of healing,* 1.26 & therefore called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 v. 15. the prayer of faith, viz. of that faith which is men∣tioned 1 Cor. 12. 9. which enabled them to work cures, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to recover the sick, as there it follows, or which 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here,* 1.27 availeth much, that is, mira∣culously, or as much as Elia's prayer for rain or fair weather did, in the next words. To that which hath been thus loosly said of this word, may be added by way of appendage the words of Hesychius in his Glos∣sary, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In which 'tis clear, as in the greatest part of that book, that there is some corruption in the copie, I suppose from some decaies in the MS. from whence 'twas printed. 'Tis possible there might be some Lacuna in the parch∣ment which might take away part of the words in the midst of this, which he that printed it was fain to re∣pair by conjecture, and therein might mistake. And then this other form of words I shall only propose (in stead of that which we now read in the printed book) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, supposing that the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 were so either blotted or eaten out, that there re∣mained

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nothing of them but thus much—〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. If this conjecture be not too wide, then this Glossary will clearly afford the several noti∣ons of this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the latitude, viz. that it signifie two things among sacred authors, first 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as Pachymerius rendred it, (and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is all one) a person possessed with the Devil, or that had some afflation, and secondly, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, wrought, or consummate. One thing onely more will be observable in this verse here to the Galatians, that by comparing it with other parallel places ch. 6. 15. 1 Cor. 7. 19. it appears that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 faith consummate by charity, is all one with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the new creature, in one place, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the keeping of the commandments of God, in the other, as indeed charity is the fulfilling the whole law, of all the moral law, together with the superstruction of Christ. Agreeable to which is that of Marcus Eremita 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.28 Every grace is given in baptisme, but 'tis perfected (as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is all one) by performing of the commandements.

[ c] * 1.29 V. 12. Cut off] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here, and in the Canons of the ancient Councels 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, are all expressions of Excommunication of the highest degree, answerable to the shamatha among the Jewes (see Note on 1 Cor. 16. d.) and consequently here the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.30 I would they were cut off, is an expression of a menace or threatning of Excom∣munication, an Apostolical denunciation, that they that doe not mend this seditious, schismatical humour, shall be cut off: or if the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 be but a wish, it is then because he discerned so much of the obstinacy of the evil humour, that he thought this would not be likely to cure, but exasperate it, or because he saw his autho∣rity contemn'd among them. As for that other notion of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which S. Hierome and others seem to re∣ferre to, in relation to the matter of these mens distur∣bance, viz. that about Circumcision, which they would impose upon all Christians, Si putant sibi hoc prodesse, non solùm circumcidantur, sed etiam abscindantur, 'tis somewhat too light to be affixed to the words of the Apostle.

[ d] * 1.31 V. 20. Witchcraft] Among the practices of the Gnosticks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sorceries are here justly reckoned (see Note on c. 3. a. and Rev. 9. 21. and c. 21. 8. and 22. 15.) And the grounds of that are clear, not only by the founder of them Simon, who was a Magician, but also by Menander his successor, who was such also; see Euseb. l. 3. c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, He was not inferiour to his master in magick, but more vainly profuse in his portentous undertakings and as∣suming to himself to be sent for the saving or delivering of men from the invisible 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or angels, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as he calls them, taught that no man could escape out of their power but he that was brought up n the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 magical skill, and by the Baptisme by him delivered to them, of which they that were vouch∣safed to partake, he promised them eternal life here in this world, without any danger of death or old age. Of this Irenaeus hath spoken at large, and Justine Martyr hath given this account of it. See 2 Tim. 3. 7, 8.

Notes

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