Chapter 1:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 1
Preface to the Old Testament
THE Holy Bible, or Book, is so called by way of eminency, as it
is the best book that ever was written. The great things of God's
law and gospel are here written, that they might be reduced to a
greater certainty, might spread farther, remain longer, and be
transmitted to distant places and ages, more pure and entire than
possibly they could be by tradition. That part of the Bible which
we call the Old Testament, contains the acts and monuments of
the church from the creation, almost to the coming of Christ in the
flesh, which was about four thousand years: the truths then
revealed, the laws enacted, the prophecies given, and the chief
events that concerned the church. This is called a testament or
covenant, because it was a declaration of the will of God
concerning man in a federal way, and had its force from the
designed death of the great testator, the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world, Rev. xiii, 8 - 'Tis called the Old
Testament with relation to the New, which doth not cancel, but
crown and perfect it, by bringing in that better hope which was
typified and foretold in it. This part of the Old Testament we call
the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. These books were,
probably, the first that ever were written; for we have no mention
of any writing in all the book of Genesis, nor 'till God bid Moses
write, Exod. xvii, 14. and set him his copy in the writing of the ten
commandments upon the tables of stone. However, we are sure
these books are the most ancient writings now extant. The first of
these, which we call Genesis, Moses probably wrote in the
wilderness, after he had been in the mount with God. And as he
framed the tabernacle, so he did the more excellent and durable
fabric of this book, according to the pattern shewed him in the
mount: into which it is better to resolve the certainty of the things
herein contained, than into any tradition which possibly might be
handed down to the family of Jacob.-Genesis is a name borrowed
from the Greek: it signifies the original or generation: fitly is this
book so called, for it is a history of originals; the creation of the
world, the entrance of sin and death into it, the invention of arts,
the rise of nations, and especially the planting of the church, and
the state of it in its early days. 'Tis also a history of generations,
the generations of Adam, Noah, Abraham, &c. - The beginning of
the New Testament is called Genesis too, Matt. i, 1, the book of
the Genesis, or generation of Jesus Christ. Lord, open our eyes,
that we may see the wondrous things both of thy law and gospel!
The holy scripture, being designed to maintain and improve
natural religion, to repair the decays of it. and supply the defects
of it, since the fall, lays down at first this principle of the
unclouded light of nature: That this world was, in the beginning of
time, created by a Being of infinite wisdom and power, who was
himself before all time, and all worlds. And the first verse of the
Bible gives us a surer and better, a more satisfying and useful
knowledge of the origin of the universe, than all the volumes of
the philosophers. We have three things in this chapter.
I. A general idea of the work of creation, ver. 1, 2.
II. A particular account of the several days work, distinctly and in
order. The creation of light, the first day, ver. 3-5. Of the
firmament, the second day, ver. 6-8. Of the sea, the earth and its
fruits, the third day, ver. 9-13. Of the lights of heaven, the fourth
day, ver. 14-19. Of the fish and fowl, the fifth day, ver. 20-23. Of
the beasts, ver. 24, 25. Of man, ver. 26-28. And food for both, the
sixth day, ver. 29, 30.
III. The review and approbation of the whole work, ver. 31.
Verse 1. Observe here.
1. The effect produced, The heaven and the earth - That is, the
world, including the whole frame and furniture of the universe.
But 'tis only the visible part of the creation that Moses designs to
give an account of. Yet even in this there are secrets which cannot
be fathomed, nor accounted for. But from what we see of heaven
and earth, we may infer the eternal power and godhead of the
great Creator. And let our make and place, as men, mind us of our
duty, as Christians, which is always to keep heaven in our eye,
and the earth under our feet. Observe
2. The author and cause of this great work, God. The Hebrew
word is Elohim; which
(1.) seems to mean The Covenant God, being derived from a word
that signifies to swear.
(2.) The plurality of persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost. The plural name of God in Hebrew, which speaks of
him as many, tho' he be but one, was to the Gentiles perhaps a
favour of death unto death, hardening them in their idolatry; but it
is to us a favour of life unto life, confirming our faith in the
doctrine of the Trinity, which, tho' but darkly intimated in the Old
Testament, is clearly revealed in the New. Observe
3. The manner how this work was effected; God created, that is,
made it out of nothing. There was not any pre-existent matter out
of which the world was produced. The fish and fowl were indeed
produced out of the waters, and the beasts and man out of the
earth; but that earth and those waters were made out of nothing.
Observe
4. When this work was produced; In the beginning - That is, in the
beginning of time. Time began with the production of those
beings that are measured by time. Before the beginning of time
there was none but that Infinite Being that inhabits eternity.
Should we ask why God made the world no sooner, we should but
darken counsel by words without knowledge; for how could there
be sooner or later in eternity?
Verse 2. Where we have an account of the first matter, and the first
Mover.
1. A chaos was the first matter. 'Tis here called the earth, (tho' the
earth, properly taken, was not made 'till the third day, ver. 10)
because it did most resemble that which was afterwards called
earth, a heavy unwieldy mass. 'Tis also called the deep, both for
its vastness, and because the waters which were afterwards
separated from the earth were now mixed with it. This mighty
bulk of matter was it, out of which all bodies were afterwards
produced. The Creator could have made his work perfect at first,
but by this gradual proceeding he would shew what is ordinarily
the method of his providence, and grace. This chaos, was without
form and void. Tohu and Bohu, confusion and emptiness, so those
words are rendered, Isaiah xxxiv, 11. 'Twas shapeless, 'twas
useless, 'twas without inhabitants, without ornaments; the shadow
or rough draught of things to come. To those who have their
hearts in heaven, this lower world, in comparison of the upper,
still appears to be confusion and emptiness. And darkness was
upon the face of the deep-God did not create this darkness, (as he
is said to create the darkness of affliction, Isaiah xlv, 7.) for it was
only the want of light.
2. The Spirit of God was the first Mover; He moved upon the face
of the waters - He moved upon the face of the deep, as the hen
gathereth her chicken under her wings, and hovers over them, to
warm and cherish them, Matt. xxiii, 37 as the eagle stirs up her
nest, and fluttereth over her young, ('tis the same word that is here
used) Deut. xxxii, 11.
Verses 3, 4, 5. We have here a farther account of the first day's work. In
which observe,
1. That the first of all visible beings which God created was light,
the great beauty and blessing of the universe: like the first-born, it
doth, of all visible beings, most resemble its great parent in purity
and power, brightness and beneficence.
2. That the light was made by the word of God's power; He said,
Let there be light - He willed it, and it was done; there was light -
Such a copy as exactly answered the original idea in the eternal
mind.
3. That the light which God willed, he approved of. God saw the
light, that it was good - 'Twas exactly as he designed it; and it was
fit to answer the end for which he designed it.
4. That God divided the light from the darkness - So put them
asunder as they could never be joined together: and yet he divided
time between them, the day for light, and the night for darkness,
in a constant succession. Tho' the darkness was now scattered by
the light, yet it has its place, because it has its use; for as the light
of the morning befriends the business of the day, so the shadows
of the evening befriend the repose of the night. God has thus
divided between light and darkness, because he would daily mind
us that this is a world of mixtures and changes. In heaven there is
perpetual light, and no darkness; in hell utter darkness, and no
light: but in this world they are counter-changed, and we pass
daily from one to another; that we may learn to expect the like
vicissitudes in the providence of God.
5. That God divided them from each other by distinguishing
names. He called the light Day, and the darkness he called night -
He gave them names as Lord of both. He is the Lord of time, and
will be so 'till day and night shall come to an end, and the stream
of time be swallowed up in the ocean of eternity.
6. That this was the first day's work, The evening and the morning
were the first day - The darkness of the evening was before the
light of the morning, that it might set it off, and make it shine the
brighter. See note at "ver. 3"
Verses 6, 7, 8. We have here an account of the second day's work, the
creation of the firmament. In which observe,
1. The command of God: Let there be a firmament - An
expansion; so the Hebrew word signifies, like a sheet spread, or a
curtain drawn out. This includes all that is visible above the earth,
between it and the third heavens, the air, its higher, middle, and
lower region, the celestial globe, and all the orbs of light above; it
reaches as high as the place where the stars are fixed, for that is
called here the firmament of heaven, ver. 14, 15, and as low as the
place where the birds fly for that also is called the firmament of
heaven, ver. 20.
2. The creation of it: and God made the firmament.
3. The design of it; to divide the waters from the waters-That is, to
distinguish between the waters that are wrapt up in the clouds, and
those that cover the sea; the waters in the air, and those in the
earth.
4. The naming it: He called the firmament Heaven - 'Tis the
visible heaven, the pavement of the holy city. The height of the
heavens should mind us of God's supremacy, and the infinite
distance that is between us and him; the brightness of the heavens,
and their purity, should mind us of his majesty, and perfect
holiness; the vastness of the heavens, and their encompassing the
earth, and influence upon it, should mind us of his immensity and
universal providence. See note at "ver. 6"
Verses 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. The third day's work is related in these verses;
the forming the sea and the dry land, and making the earth
fruitful. Hitherto the power of the Creator had been employed
about the upper part of the visible world; now he descends to this
lower world, designed for the children of men, both for their
habitation, and their maintenance. And here we have an account
of the fitting of it for both; the building of their house, and the
spreading of their table. Observe,
1. How the earth was prepared to be a habitation for man by the
gathering of the waters together, and making the dry land appear.
Thus, instead of that confusion which was, when earth and water
were mixed in one great mass; now there is order, by such a
separation as rendered them both useful.
(1.) The waters which covered the earth were ordered to retire,
and to gather into one place, viz. those hollows which were fitted
for their reception. The waters thus lodged in their proper place,
he called Seas; for though they are many, in distant regions, yet
either above ground or under ground, they have communication
with each other, and so they are one, and the common receptacle
of waters, into which all the rivers run.
(2.) The dry land was made to appear, and emerge out of the
waters, and was called Earth. Observe,
2. How the earth was furnished for the support of man, ver. 11,
12. Present provision was made, by the immediate products of the
earth, which, in obedience to God's command, was no sooner
made but it became fruitful. Provision was likewise made for time
to come, by the perpetuating of the several species of vegetables,
every one having its seed in itself after its kind, that during the
continuance of man upon the earth, food might be fetched out of
the earth, for his use and benefit. See note at "ver. 9"
Verses 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. This is the history of the fourth day's work,
the creating the sun, moon and stars. Of this we have an account,
1. In general, verse 14, 15. where we have,
(1.) The command given concerning them. Let there be lights in
the firmament of heaven - God had said, ver. 3 Let there be light,
and there was light; but that was, as it were, a chaos of light,
scattered and confused; now it was collected and made into
several luminaries, and so rendered both more glorious and more
serviceable.
(2.) The use they were intended to be of to this earth.
[1.] They must be for the distinction of times, of day and night, summer and
winter.
[2.] They must be for the direction of actions: they are for
signs of the change of weather, that the husbandman may order
his affairs with discretion. They do also give light upon the earth -
That we may walk John xi, 9 and work John ix, 4 according as the
duty of every day requires. The lights of heaven do not shine for
themselves, nor for the world of spirits above, they need them not;
but they shine for us, and for our pleasure and advantage. Lord,
what is man that he should be thus regarded, Psalm viii, 3, 4.
2. In particular, ver. 16, 17, 18, The lights of heaven are the sun,
moon and stars, and these all are the work of God's hands.
(1.) The sun is the greatest light of all, and the most glorious and
useful of all the lamps of heaven; a noble instance of the Creator's
wisdom, power and goodness, and an invaluable blessing to the
creatures of this lower world.
(2.) The moon is a lesser light, and yet is here reckoned one of the
greater lights, because, though in regard of its magnitude, it is
inferior to many of the stars, yet in respect of its usefulness to the
earth, it is more excellent than they.
(3.) He made the stars also - Which are here spoken of only in
general; for the scriptures were written not to gratify our curiosity,
but to lead us to God. Now, these lights are said to rule, ver. 16,
18; not that they have a supreme dominion as God has, but they
are rulers under him. Here the lesser light, the moon, is said to
rule the night; but Psalm 1xxxvi, 9 the stars are mentioned as
sharers in that government, the moon and stars to rule by night.
No more is meant, but that they give light, Jer. xxxi, 35. The best
and most honourable way of ruling is, by giving light, and doing
good. See note at "ver. 14"
Verses 20, 21, 22, 23. Each day hitherto hath produced very excellent
beings, but we do not read of the creation of any living creature
till the fifth day. The work of creation not only proceeded
gradually from one thing to another, but advanced gradually from
that which was less excellent, to that which was more so. 'Twas
on the fifth day that the fish and fowl were created, and both out
of the waters. Observe,
1. The making of the fish and fowl at first. ver. 20, 21 God
commanded them to be produced, he said, Let the waters bring
forth abundantly - The fish in the waters, and the fowl out of
them. This command he himself executed, God created great
whales, &c.-Insects which are as various as any species of
animals, and their structure as curious, were part of this day's
work, some of them being allied to the fish, and others to the
fowl. Notice is here taken of the various species of fish and fowl,
each after their kind; and of the great numbers of both that were
produced, for the waters brought forth abundantly; and in
particular of great whales the largest of fishes, whose bulk and
strength, are remarkable proofs of the power and greatness of the
Creator. Observe,
2. The blessing of them in order to their
continuance. Life is a wasting thing, its strength is not the strength
of stones; therefore the wise Creator not only made the
individuals, but provided for the propagating of the several
species, ver. 22. God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and
multiply - Fruitfulness is the effect of God's blessing, and must be
ascribed to it; the multiplying of the fish and fowl from year to
year, is still the fruit of this blessing here. See note at "ver. 20"
Verses 24, 25. We have here the first part of the sixth day's work. The sea
was the day before replenished with fish, and the air with fowl;
and this day are made the beasts of the earth, cattle, and the
creeping things that pertain to the earth. Here, as before,
1. The Lord gave the word: he said, Let The earth bring forth - Let
these creatures come into being upon the earth, and out of it, in
their respective kinds.
2. He also did the work; he made them all after their kind - Not
only of divers shapes, but of divers natures, manners, food, and
fashions: In all which appears the manifold wisdom of the
Creator. See note at "ver. 2"
Verses 26, 27, 28. We have here the second part of the sixth day's work,
the creation of man, which we are in a special manner concerned
to take notice of. Observe,
1. That man was made last of all the creatures, which was both an
honour and a favour to him: an honour, for the creation was to
advance from that which was less perfect, to that which was more
so and a favour, for it was not fit he should be lodged in the
palace designed for him, till it was completely fitted and furnished
for his reception. Man, as soon as he was made, had the whole
visible creation before him, both to contemplate, and to take the
comfort of.
2. That man's creation was a mere signal act of divine wisdom and
power, than that of the other creatures. The narrative of it is
introduced with solemnity, and a manifest distinction from the
rest. Hitherto it had been said, Let there be light, and Let there be
a firmament: but now the word of command is turned into a word
of consultation, Let us make man - For whose sake the rest of the
creatures were made. Man was to be a creature different from all
that had been hitherto made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth
must be put together in him, and he must be allied to both worlds.
And therefore God himself not only undertakes to make, but is
pleased so to express himself, as if he called a council to consider
of the making of him; Let us make man - The three persons of the
Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, consult about it, and concur
in it; because man, when he was made, was to be dedicated and
devoted to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
3. That man was made in God's image, and after his likeness; two
words to express the same thing. God's image upon man, consists,
(1.) In his nature, not that of his body, for God has not a body, but
that of his soul. The soul is a spirit, an intelligent, immortal spirit,
an active spirit, herein resembling God, the Father of spirits, and
the soul of the world.
(2.) In his place and authority. Let us make man in our image, and
let him have dominion. As he has the government of the inferior
creatures, he is as it were God's representative on earth. Yet his
government of himself by the freedom of his will, has in it more
of God's image, than his government of the creatures.
(3.) And chiefly in his purity and rectitude. God's image upon man
consists in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, Eph. iv,
24; Colossians iii, 10. He was upright, Eccl. vii, 29. He had an
habitual conformity of all his natural powers to the whole will of
God. His understanding saw divine things clearly, and there were
no errors in his knowledge: his will complied readily and
universally with the will of God; without reluctancy: his
affections were all regular, and he had no inordinate appetites or
passions: his thoughts were easily fixed to the best subjects, and
there was no vanity or ungovernableness in them. And all the
inferior powers were subject to the dictates of the superior. Thus
holy, thus happy, were our first parents, in having the image of
God upon them. But how art thou fallen, O son of the morning?
How is this image of God upon man defaced! How small are the
remains of it, and how great the ruins of it! The Lord renew it
upon our souls by his sanctifying grace!
(4.) That man was made male and female, and blessed with
fruitfulness. He created him male and female, Adam and Eve:
Adam first out of earth, and Eve out of his side. God made but
one male and one female, that all the nations of men might know
themselves to be made of one blood, descendants, from one
common stock, and might thereby be induced to love one another.
God having made them capable of transmitting the nature they
had received, said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish
the earth - Here he gave them,
[1.] A large inheritance; replenish the earth, in which God has set
man to be the servant of his providence, in the government of the
inferior creatures, and as it were the intelligence of this orb; to be
likewise the collector of his praises in this lower world, and lastly,
to be a probationer for a better state.
[2.] A numerous lasting family to enjoy this inheritance;
pronouncing a blessing upon them, in the virtue of which, their
posterity should extend to the utmost corners of the earth, and
continue to the utmost period of time.
(5.) That God gave to man a dominion over the inferior creatures,
over fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air - Though man
provides for neither, he has power over both, much more over
every living thing that moveth upon the earth - God designed
hereby to put an honour upon man, that he might find himself the
more strongly obliged to bring honour to his Maker. See note at
"ver. 26"
Verses 29, 30. We have here the third part of the sixth day's work, which
was not any new creation, but a gracious provision of food for all
flesh, Psalm 1xxxvi, 25.-Here is,
1. Food provided for man, ver. 29. herbs and fruits must be his
meat, including corn, and all the products of the earth. And before
the earth was deluged, much more before it was cursed for man's
sake, its fruits no doubt, were more pleasing to the taste, and more
strengthening and nourishing to the body.
2. Food provided for the beasts, ver. 30. Doth God take care of
oxen? Yes, certainly, he provides food convenient for them; and
not for oxen only that were used in his sacrifices, and man's
service, but even the young lions and the young ravens are the
care of his providence, they ask and have their meat from God.
See note at "ver. 29"
Verse 31. We have here the approbation and conclusion of the whole
work of creation. Observe,
1. The review God took of his work, he saw every thing that he
had made - So he doth still; all the works of his hands are under
his eye; he that made all sees all.
2. The complacency God took in his work. When we come to
review our works we find to our shame, that much has been very
bad; but when God reviewed his, all was very good.
(1.) It was good. Good, for it is all agreeable to the mind of the
creator. Good, for it answers the end of its creation. Good, for it is
serviceable to man, whom God had appointed Lord of the visible
creation. Good, for it is all for God's glory; there is that in the
whole visible creation which is a demonstration of God's being
and perfections, and which tends to beget in the soul of man a
religious regard to him.
(2.) It was very good - Of each day's work (except the second) it
was said that it was good, but now it is very good. For,
[1.] Now man was made, who was the chief of the ways of God, the
visible image of the Creator's glory,
[2.] Now All was made, every part was good, but all together very
good. The glory and goodness, the beauty and harmony of God's
works both of providence and grace, as this of creation, will best
appear when they are perfected.
3. The time when this work was concluded. The evening and the
morning were the sixth day - So that in six days God made the
world. We are not to think but that God could have made the
world in an instant: but he did it in six days, that he might shew
himself a free agent, doing his own work, both in his own way,
and in his own time; that his wisdom, power and goodness, might
appear to us, and be meditated upon by us, the more distinctly;
and that he might set us an example of working six days, and
resting the seventh. And now as God reviewed his work, let us
review our meditations upon it; let us stir up ourselves, and all
that is within us, to worship him that made the, heaven, earth, and
sea, and the fountains of waters. All his works in all places of his
dominion bless him, and therefore bless thou the Lord, O my soul.
Chapter 1:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
