Elberfelder Bible - unrevised version (ca. 1900)

1IchG1473 ermahneG3870 euchG5209 nunG3767, ich, der GefangeneG1198 imG1722 HerrnG2962, daß ihr würdigG516 wandeltG4043 der BerufungG2821, mit welcherG3739 ihr berufenG2564 worden seid, 2mitG3326 allerG3956 DemutG5012 undG2532 SanftmutG4236, mitG3326 LangmutG3115, einanderG240 ertragendG430 inG1722 LiebeG26, 3euch befleißigendG4704, die EinheitG1775 des GeistesG4151 zu bewahrenG5083 inG1722 dem BandeG4886 des FriedensG1515. 4Da ist einG1520 LeibG4983 undG2532 einG1520 GeistG4151, wieG2531 ihr auchG2532 berufenG2564 worden seid inG1722 einerG3391 HoffnungG1680 eurerG5216 BerufungG2821. 5EinG1520 HerrG2962, einG1520 GlaubeG4102, eineG3391 TaufeG908, 6einG1520 GottG2316 undG2532 VaterG3962 allerG3956, derG3588 da ist überG1909 allenG3956 undG2532 durchG1223 alleG3956 undG2532 inG1722 unsG5213 allenG3956. 7JedemG1538 einzelnenG1520 aberG1161 von unsG2257 istG1325 die GnadeG5485 gegebenG1325 worden nachG2596 dem MaßeG3358 der GabeG1431 des ChristusG5547. 8DarumG1352 sagtG3004 er: "HinaufgestiegenG305 inG1519 die HöheG5311, hatG162 er die GefangenschaftG161 gefangen geführtG162 undG2532 den MenschenG444 GabenG1390 gegebenG1325 ".   9Das aberG1161: Er ist hinaufgestiegenG305, wasG5101 istG2076 es anders, alsG1508 daßG3754 erG2597 auchG2532 hinabgestiegenG2597 ist inG1519 die unterenG2737 TeileG3313 der ErdeG1093 ? 10Der hinabgestiegenG2597 ist, istG2076 derselbe, der auchG2532 hinaufgestiegenG305 ist überG5231 alleG3956 HimmelG3772, auf daßG2443 er allesG3956 erfüllteG4137. 11UndG2532 er hatG1325 die einenG3303 gegebenG1325 als ApostelG652 undG1161 andere als ProphetenG4396 undG1161 andere als EvangelistenG2099 undG1161 andere als HirtenG4166 undG2532 LehrerG1320, 12zurG4314 VollendungG2677 der HeiligenG40, fürG1519 das WerkG2041 des DienstesG1248, fürG1519 die AuferbauungG3619 des LeibesG4983 ChristiG5547,   13bisG3360 wir alleG3956 hingelangenG2658 zuG1519 der EinheitG1775 des GlaubensG4102 undG2532 zur ErkenntnisG1922 des SohnesG5207 GottesG2316, zuG1519 dem erwachsenenG5046 ManneG435, zuG1519 dem MaßeG3358 des vollen WuchsesG2244 der FülleG4138 des ChristusG5547; 14auf daßG2443 wir nicht mehrG3371 UnmündigeG3516 seienG5600, hin- und hergeworfenG2831 undG2532 umhergetriebenG4064 von jedemG3956 WindeG417 der LehreG1319, die da kommt durchG1722 die BetrügereiG2940 der MenschenG444, durchG1722 ihre VerschlagenheitG3834 zuG4314 listig ersonnenemG3180 IrrtumG4106;   15sondernG1161 die Wahrheit festhaltendG226 inG1722 LiebeG26, laßt uns in allemG3956 heranwachsenG837 zuG1519 ihmG846 hinG1519, derG3739 das HauptG2776 istG2076, der ChristusG5547, 16ausG1537 welchemG3739 der ganzeG3956 LeibG4983, wohl zusammengefügtG4883 undG2532 verbundenG4822 durchG1223 jedesG3956 GelenkG860 der DarreichungG2024, nachG2596 der WirksamkeitG1753 inG1722 dem MaßeG3358 jedesG1520 einzelnenG1538 TeilesG3313, für sich das WachstumG838 des LeibesG4983 bewirktG4160 zuG1519 seiner SelbstauferbauungG1438 G3619 inG1722 LiebeG26. 17DiesesG5124 nunG3767 sageG3004 undG2532 bezeugeG3143 ich imG1722 HerrnG2962, daß ihrG5209 forthin nichtG3371 wandeltG4043, wieG2531 auchG2532 die [übrigen]G3062 NationenG1484 wandelnG4043, inG1722 EitelkeitG3153 ihresG846 SinnesG3563, 18verfinstertG4654 am VerstandeG1271, entfremdetG526 G5607 dem LebenG2222 GottesG2316 wegenG1223 der UnwissenheitG52, die inG1722 ihnenG846 istG5607, wegenG1223 der VerstockungG4457 ihresG846 HerzensG2588, 19welcheG3748, da sie alle Empfindlichkeit verlorenG524, sich selbstG1438 der AusschweifungG766 hingegebenG3860 haben, alleG3956 UnreinigkeitG167 mitG1722 GierG4124 auszuübenG2039 G1519. 20IhrG5210 aberG1161 habtG3129 den ChristusG5547 nichtG3756 alsoG3779 gelerntG3129, 21wennG1489 ihr anders ihnG846 gehörtG191 habt undG2532 inG1722 ihmG846 gelehrtG1321 worden seid, wieG2531 die WahrheitG225 inG1722 dem JesusG2424 istG2076: 22daß ihrG5209, was den früherenG4387 LebenswandelG391 betrifftG2596, abgelegtG659 habt den altenG3820 MenschenG444, derG3588 nachG2596 den betrügerischenG539 LüstenG1939 verdorbenG5351 wird,   23aberG1161 erneuertG365 werdet in dem GeisteG4151 eurerG5216 GesinnungG3563 24undG2532 angezogenG1746 habt den neuenG2537 MenschenG444, derG3588 nachG2596 GottG2316 geschaffenG2936 ist inG1722 wahrhaftigerG225 GerechtigkeitG1343 und HeiligkeitG3742.   25DeshalbG1352, da ihr die LügeG5579 abgelegtG659 habt, redetG2980 WahrheitG225, ein jederG1538 mitG3326 seinemG846 NächstenG4139, dennG3754 wir sindG2070 GliederG3196 voneinanderG240. 26ZürnetG3710, undG2532 sündigetG264 nichtG3361. Die SonneG2246 geheG1931 nichtG3361 unterG1931 überG1909 euremG5216 ZornG3950, 27und gebetG1325 nichtG3383 RaumG5117 dem TeufelG1228. 28Wer gestohlenG2813 hat, stehleG2813 nicht mehrG3371, sondernG1161 arbeiteG2872 vielmehrG3123 und wirkeG2038 mit seinen HändenG5495 das GuteG18, auf daßG2443 er dem DürftigenG5532 G2192 mitzuteilenG3330 habeG2192. 29KeinG3361 G3956 faulesG4550 RedeG3056 geheG1607 ausG1537 euremG5216 MundeG4750, sondernG235 dasG1536 irgend gutG18 ist zurG4314 notwendigenG5532 ErbauungG3619, auf daßG2443 es den HörendenG191 GnadeG5485 darreicheG1325. 30UndG2532 betrübetG3076 nichtG3361 den HeiligenG40 GeistG4151 GottesG2316, durchG1722 welchenG3739 ihr versiegeltG4972 worden seid aufG1519 den TagG2250 der ErlösungG629. 31AlleG3956 BitterkeitG4088 undG2532 WutG2372 undG2532 ZornG3709 undG2532 GeschreiG2906 undG2532 LästerungG988 sei vonG575 euchG5216 weggetanG142, samtG4862 allerG3956 BosheitG2549. 32SeidG1096 aberG1161 gegeneinanderG1519 G240 gütigG5543, mitleidigG2155, einanderG1438 vergebendG5483, gleichwieG2531 auchG2532 GottG2316 inG1722 ChristoG5547 euchG5213 vergebenG5483 hat.


Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary
 1   Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as becomes those called to Christ's kingdom and glory. By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul, which makes men unwilling to provoke, and not easily to be provoked or offended. We find much in ourselves for which we can hardly forgive ourselves; therefore we must not be surprised if we find in others that which we think it hard to forgive. There is one Christ in whom all believers hope, and one heaven they are all hoping for; therefore they should be of one heart. They had all one faith, as to its object, Author, nature, and power. They all believed the same as to the great truths of religion; they had all been admitted into the church by one baptism, with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the sign of regeneration. In all believers God the Father dwells, as in his holy temple, by his Spirit and special grace.

 7   Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God's children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a man finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart.

 17   The apostle charged the Ephesians in the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus, that having professed the gospel, they should not be as the unconverted Gentiles, who walked in vain fancies and carnal affections. Do not men, on every side, walk in the vanity of their minds? Must not we then urge the distinction between real and nominal Christians? They were void of all saving knowledge; they sat in darkness, and loved it rather than light. They had a dislike and hatred to a life of holiness, which is not only the way of life God requires and approves, and by which we live to him, but which has some likeness to God himself in his purity, righteousness, truth, and goodness. The truth of Christ appears in its beauty and power, when it appears as in Jesus. The corrupt nature is called a man; like the human body, it is of divers parts, supporting and strengthening one another. Sinful desires are deceitful lusts; they promise men happiness, but render them more miserable; and bring them to destruction, if not subdued and mortified. These therefore must be put off, as an old garment, a filthy garment; they must be subdued and mortified. But it is not enough to shake off corrupt principles; we must have gracious ones. By the new man, is meant the new nature, the new creature, directed by a new principle, even regenerating grace, enabling a man to lead a new life of righteousness and holiness. This is created, or brought forth by God's almighty power.

 25   Notice the particulars wherewith we should adorn our Christian profession. Take heed of every thing contrary to truth. No longer flatter or deceive others. God's people are children who will not lie, who dare not lie, who hate and abhor lying. Take heed of anger and ungoverned passions. If there is just occasion to express displeasure at what is wrong, and to reprove, see that it be without sin. We give place to the devil, when the first motions of sin are not grievous to our souls; when we consent to them; and when we repeat an evil deed. This teaches that as sin, if yielded unto, lets in the devil upon us, we are to resist it, keeping from all appearance of evil. Idleness makes thieves. Those who will not work, expose themselves to temptations to steal. Men ought to be industrious, that they may do some good, and that they may be kept from temptation. They must labour, not only that they may live honestly, but that they may have to give to the wants of others. What then must we think of those called Christians, who grow rich by fraud, oppression, and deceitful practices! Alms, to be accepted of God, must not be gained by unrighteousness and robbery, but by honesty and industry. God hates robbery for burnt-offerings.

 29   Filthy words proceed from corruption in the speaker, and they corrupt the minds and manners of those who hear them: Christians should beware of all such discourse. It is the duty of Christians to seek, by the blessing of God, to bring persons to think seriously, and to encourage and warn believers by their conversation. Be ye kind one to another. This sets forth the principle of love in the heart, and the outward expression of it, in a humble, courteous behaviour. Mark how God's forgiveness causes us to forgive. God forgives us, though we had no cause to sin against him. We must forgive, as he has forgiven us. All lying, and corrupt communications, that stir up evil desires and lusts, grieve the Spirit of God. Corrupt passions of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil-speaking, and malice, grieve the Holy Spirit. Provoke not the holy, blessed Spirit of God to withdraw his presence and his gracious influences. The body will be redeemed from the power of the grave at the resurrection day. Wherever that blessed Spirit dwells as a Sanctifier, he is the earnest of all the joys and glories of that redemption day; and we should be undone, should God take away his Holy Spirit from us.