Elberfelder Bible - unrevised version (ca. 1900)

1JudasG2455, KnechtG1401 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547 undG1161 BruderG80 des JakobusG2385, den inG1722 GottG2316, dem VaterG3962, geliebtenG37 undG2532 in JesuG2424 ChristoG5547 bewahrtenG5083 BerufenenG2822: 2BarmherzigkeitG1656 undG2532 FriedeG1515 undG2532 LiebeG26 seiG4129 euchG5213 vermehrtG4129! 3GeliebteG27, indem ich allenG3956 FleißG4710 anwandteG4160, euchG5213 überG4012 unser gemeinsamesG2839 HeilG4991 zu schreibenG1125, warG2192 ich genötigtG318, euchG5213 zu schreibenG1125 und zu ermahnenG3870, fürG1864 den einmalG530 den HeiligenG40 überliefertenG3860 GlaubenG4102 zu kämpfenG1864. 4DennG1063 gewisseG5100 MenschenG444 haben sich nebeneingeschlichenG3921, dieG3588 schon vorlängstG3819 zuG1519 diesemG5124 GerichtG2917 zuvor aufgezeichnetG4270 waren, GottloseG765, welche die GnadeG5485 unseresG2257 GottesG2316 inG1519 AusschweifungG766 verkehrenG3346 undG2532 unseren alleinigenG3441 GebieterG1203 undG2532 HerrnG2962 JesusG2424 ChristusG5547 verleugnenG720. 5Ich willG1014 euchG5209 aberG1161, die ihrG5209 einmalG530 allesG5124 wußtetG1492, daran erinnernG5279, daßG3754 der HerrG2962, nachdem er das VolkG2992 ausG1537 dem LandeG1093 ÄgyptenG125 gerettetG4982 hatte, zum anderenmalG1208 die vertilgteG622, welche nichtG3361 geglaubtG4100 haben; 6undG5037 EngelG32, die ihrenG1438 ersten ZustandG746 nichtG3361 bewahrtG5083, sondernG235 ihre eigeneG2398 BehausungG3613 verlassenG620 haben, hatG5083 er zumG1519 GerichtG2920 des großenG3173 TagesG2250 mit ewigenG126 KettenG1199 unterG5259 der FinsternisG2217 verwahrtG5083. 7WieG5613 SodomG4670 undG2532 GomorraG1116 undG2532 die umliegendenG4012 StädteG4172, die sichG846, gleicherweiseG3664 G5158 wie jeneG5125, der Hurerei ergabenG1608 undG2532 anderemG2087 FleischeG4561 nachgingenG3694 G565, als ein BeispielG1164 vorliegenG4295, indem sie des ewigenG166 FeuersG4442 StrafeG1349 leidenG5254. 8DochG3305 gleicherweiseG3668 befleckenG3392 auchG2532 dieseG3778 TräumerG1797 G3303 das FleischG4561 undG1161 verachtenG114 die HerrschaftG2963 undG1161 lästernG987 HerrlichkeitenG1391.   9MichaelG3413 aberG1161, der ErzengelG743, alsG3753 er, mit dem TeufelG1228 streitendG1252, Wortwechsel hatteG1256 umG4012 den LeibG4983 Moses'G3475, wagteG5111 nichtG3756 ein lästerndesG988 UrteilG2920 über ihn zu fällenG2018, sondernG235 sprachG2036: Der HerrG2962 schelteG2008 dichG4671! 10DieseG3778 aberG1161 lästernG987, wasG3745 G3303 sie nichtG3756 kennenG1492; wasG3745 irgend sie aberG1161 von NaturG5447 wieG5613 die unvernünftigenG249 TiereG2226 verstehenG1987, darinG1722 G5125 verderben sie sichG5351. 11WeheG3759 ihnenG846! dennG3754 sie sindG4198 den WegG3598 KainsG2535 gegangenG4198 undG2532 haben sichG1632 für LohnG3408 dem IrrtumG4106 BalaamsG903 überliefertG1632, undG2532 in dem WiderspruchG485 KorahsG2879 sind sie umgekommenG622. 12DieseG3778 sindG1526 FleckenG4694 beiG1722 eurenG5216 LiebesmahlenG26, indem sie ohne FurchtG870 FestessenG4910 mit euchG5213 haltenG4910 und sich selbstG1438 weidenG4165; WolkenG3507 ohne WasserG504, vonG5259 WindenG417 hingetriebenG4604; spätherbstlicheG5352 BäumeG1186, fruchtleerG175, zweimalG1364 erstorbenG599, entwurzeltG1610; 13wildeG66 MeereswogenG2949 G2281, die ihre eigenenG1438 SchändlichkeitenG152 ausschäumenG1890; IrrsterneG4107 G792, denenG3739 das DunkelG2217 der FinsternisG4655 inG1519 EwigkeitG165 aufbewahrtG5083 ist. 14Es hatG4395 aberG1161 auchG2532 HenochG1802, der siebteG1442 vonG575 AdamG76, von diesenG5125 geweissagtG4395 und gesagtG3004: "SieheG2400, der HerrG2962 ist gekommenG2064 inmittenG1722 seinerG846 heiligenG40 TausendeG3461, 15GerichtG2920 auszuführenG4160 widerG2596 alleG3956 undG2532 völlig zu überführenG1827 alleG3956 ihreG846 GottlosenG765 vonG4012 allenG3956 ihrenG846 WerkenG2041 der GottlosigkeitG763, dieG3739 sie gottlos verübtG764 haben, undG2532 vonG4012 allG3956 den hartenG4642 Worten, welcheG3739 gottloseG765 SünderG268 widerG2596 ihnG846 geredetG2980 haben". 16DieseG3778 sindG1526 MurrendeG1113, mit ihrem Lose UnzufriedeneG3202, die nachG2596 ihrenG846 LüstenG1939 wandelnG4198; undG2532 ihrG846 MundG4750 redetG2980 stolze WorteG5246, und VorteilsG5622 halberG5484 bewundernG2296 sie PersonenG4383.   17IhrG5210 aberG1161, GeliebteG27, gedenketG3415 an dieG3588 vonG5259 den ApostelnG652 unseresG2257 HerrnG2962 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547 zuvor gesprochenenG4280 WorteG4487, 18daßG3754 sie euchG5213 sagtenG3004, daß amG1722 EndeG2078 der ZeitG5550 SpötterG1703 seinG2071 werden, die nachG2596 ihren eigenenG1438 LüstenG1939 der GottlosigkeitG763 wandelnG4198. 19DieseG3778 sindG1526 es, die sichG1438 absondernG592, natürlicheG5591 Menschen, die den GeistG4151 nichtG3361 habenG2192. 20IhrG5210 aberG1161, GeliebteG27, euch selbstG1438 erbauendG2026 auf eurenG5216 allerheiligstenG40 GlaubenG4102, betendG4336 imG1722 HeiligenG40 GeisteG4151, 21erhaltetG5083 euch selbstG1438 inG1722 der LiebeG26 GottesG2316, indem ihr die BarmherzigkeitG1656 unseresG2257 HerrnG2962 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547 erwartetG4327 zumG1519 ewigenG166 LebenG2222. 22UndG2532 G3303 die einenG3739, welche streitenG1252, weiset zurechtG1653,   23die anderenG3739 aberG1161 rettetG4982 mitG1722 FurchtG5401, sie ausG1537 dem FeuerG4442 reißendG726, indem ihr auchG2532 das vonG575 dem FleischeG4561 befleckteG4695 KleidG5509 hassetG3404. 24Dem aberG1161, der euchG5209 ohne StrauchelnG679 zu bewahrenG5442 undG2532 vorG2714 seinerG846 HerrlichkeitG1391 tadellosG299 darzustellenG2476 vermagG1410 mitG1722 FrohlockenG20, 25dem alleinigenG3441 GottG2316, unseremG2257 HeilandeG4990, durch Jesum Christum, unseren Herrn, sei HerrlichkeitG1391, MajestätG3172, MachtG2904 undG2532 GewaltG1849 vor aller Zeit undG2532 jetztG3568 undG2532 inG1519 alleG3956 ZeitalterG165! AmenG281.


Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary
 1   Christians are called out of the world, from the evil spirit and temper of it; called above the world, to higher and better things, to heaven, things unseen and eternal; called from sin to Christ, from vanity to seriousness, from uncleanness to holiness; and this according to the Divine purpose and grace. If sanctified and glorified, all the honour and glory must be ascribed to God, and to him alone. As it is God who begins the work of grace in the souls of men, so it is he who carries it on, and perfects it. Let us not trust in ourselves, nor in our stock of grace already received, but in him, and in him alone. The mercy of God is the spring and fountain of all the good we have or hope for; mercy, not only to the miserable, but to the guilty. Next to mercy is peace, which we have from the sense of having obtained mercy. From peace springs love; Christ's love to us, our love to him, and our brotherly love to one another. The apostle prays, not that Christians may be content with a little; but that their souls and societies may be full of these things. None are shut out from gospel offers and invitations, but those who obstinately and wickedly shut themselves out. But the application is to all believers, and only to such. It is to the weak as well as to the strong. Those who have received the doctrine of this common salvation, must contend for it, earnestly, not furiously. Lying for the truth is bad; scolding for it is not better. Those who have received the truth must contend for it, as the apostles did; by suffering with patience and courage for it, not by making others suffer if they will not embrace every notion we call faith, or important. We ought to contend earnestly for the faith, in opposition to those who would corrupt or deprave it; who creep in unawares; who glide in like serpents. And those are the worst of the ungodly, who take encouragement to sin boldly, because the grace of God has abounded, and still abounds so wonderfully, and who are hardened by the extent and fulness of gospel grace, the design of which is to deliver men from sin, and bring them unto God.

 5   Outward privileges, profession, and apparent conversion, could not secure those from the vengeance of God, who turned aside in unbelief and disobedience. The destruction of the unbelieving Israelites in the wilderness, shows that none ought to presume on their privileges. They had miracles as their daily bread; yet even they perished in unbelief. A great number of the angels were not pleased with the stations God allotted to them; pride was the main and direct cause or occasion of their fall. The fallen angels are kept to the judgment of the great day; and shall fallen men escape it? Surely not. Consider this in due time. The destruction of Sodom is a loud warning to all, to take heed of, and flee from fleshly lusts that war against the soul, 1Pet 2:11. God is the same holy, just, pure Being now, as then. Stand in awe, therefore, and sin not, Pss 4:4. Let us not rest in anything that does not make the soul subject to the obedience of Christ; for nothing but the renewal of our souls to the Divine image by the Holy Spirit, can keep us from being destroyed among the enemies of God. Consider this instance of the angels, and see that no dignity or worth of the creature is of avail. How then should man tremble, who drinketh iniquity like water! Job 15:16.

 8   False teachers are dreamers; they greatly defile and grievously wound the soul. These teachers are of a disturbed mind and a seditious spirit; forgetting that the powers that be, are ordained of God, Roma 13:1. As to the contest about the body of Moses, it appears that Satan wished to make the place of his burial known to the Israelites, in order to tempt them to worship him, but he was prevented, and vented his rage in desperate blasphemy. This should remind all who dispute never to bring railing charges. Also learn hence, that we ought to defend those whom God owns. It is hard, if not impossible, to find any enemies to the Christian religion, who did not, and do not, live in open or secret contradiction to the principles of natural religion. Such are here compared to brute beasts, though they often boast of themselves as the wisest of mankind. They corrupt themselves in the things most open and plain. The fault lies, not in their understandings, but in their depraved wills, and their disordered appetites and affections. It is a great reproach, though unjust to religion, when those who profess it are opposed to it in heart and life. The Lord will remedy this in his time and way; not in men's blind way of plucking up the wheat with the tares. It is sad when men begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh. Twice dead; they had been once dead in their natural, fallen state; but now they are dead again by the evident proofs of their hypocrisy. Dead trees, why cumber they the ground! Away with them to the fire. Raging waves are a terror to sailing passengers; but when they get into port, the noise and terror are ended. False teachers are to expect the worst punishments in this world and in that to come. They glare like meteors, or falling stars, and then sink into the blackness of darkness for ever. We have no mention of the prophecy of Enoch in any other part or place of Scripture; yet one plain text of Scripture, proves any point we are to believe. We find from this, that Christ's coming to judge was prophesied of, as early as the times before the flood. The Lord cometh: what a glorious time will that be! Notice how often the word ungodly is repeated. Many now do not at all refer to the terms godly, or ungodly, unless it be to mock at even the words; but it is not so in the language taught us by the Holy Ghost. Hard speeches of one another, especially if ill-grounded, will certainly come into account at the day of judgment. These evil men and seducers are angry at every thing that happens, and never pleased with their own state and condition. Their will and their fancy, are their only rule and law. Those who please their sinful appetites, are most prone to yield to ungovernable passions. The men of God, from the beginning of the world, have declared the doom denounced on them. Such let us avoid. We are to follow men only as they follow Christ.

 17   Sensual men separate from Christ, and his church, and join themselves to the devil, the world, and the flesh, by ungodly and sinful practices. That is infinitely worse than to separate from any branch of the visible church on account of opinions, or modes and circumstances of outward government or worship. Sensual men have not the spirit of holiness, which whoever has not, does not belong to Christ. The grace of faith is most holy, as it works by love, purifies the heart, and overcomes the world, by which it is distinguished from a false and dead faith. Our prayers are most likely to prevail, when we pray in the Holy Ghost, under his guidance and influence, according to the rule of his word, with faith, fervency, and earnestness; this is praying in the Holy Ghost. And a believing expectation of eternal life will arm us against the snares of sin: lively faith in this blessed hope will help us to mortify our lusts. We must watch over one another; faithfully, yet prudently reprove each other, and set a good example to all about us. This must be done with compassion, making a difference between the weak and the wilful. Some we must treat with tenderness. Others save with fear; urging the terrors of the Lord. All endeavours must be joined with decided abhorrence of crimes, and care be taken to avoid whatever led to, or was connected with fellowship with them, in works of darkness, keeping far from what is, or appears to be evil.

 24   God is able, and as willing as able, to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory. Not as those who never have been faulty, but as those who, but for God's mercy, and a Saviour's sufferings and merits, might most justly have been condemned long ago. All sincere believers were given him of the Father; and of all so given him he has lost none, nor will lose any one. Now, our faults fill us with fears, doubts, and sorrows; but the Redeemer has undertaken for his people, that they shall be presented faultless. Where there is no sin, there will be no sorrow; where there is the perfection of holiness, there will be the perfection of joy. Let us more often look up to Him who is able to keep us from falling, to improve as well as maintain the work he has wrought in us, till we shall be presented blameless before the presence of his glory. Then shall our hearts know a joy beyond what earth can afford; then shall God also rejoice over us, and the joy of our compassionate Saviour be completed. To Him who has so wisely formed the scheme, and will faithfully and perfectly accomplish it, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.