Geneva Study Bible After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. After these things Jesus went {a} over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
(a) Not that he cut across the lake of Tiberias, but by sailing across the large creeks he made his journey shorter: therefore he is said to have gone over the sea, when in reality he passed over from one side of the creek to the other. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? {1} When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
(1) They that follow Christ sometimes hunger, but they are never without help. And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. {2} When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
(2) Not only is Christ not delighted by a preposterous worship, but he is greatly offended by it. And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, {3} And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
(3) The godly are often in peril and danger, but Christ comes to them in time, even in the midst of the tempests, and brings them to the haven. And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And entered into a ship, and went over the sea {b} toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
(b) In Mr 6:45 they are told to go ahead to Bethsaida, for Bethsaida was along the way to Capernaum. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. Then they {c} willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
(c) They were afraid at first, but when they recognized his voice they became new men and took him willingly into the ship, the very one whom they had shunned and fled from before. The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;
(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. {4} Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
(4) They that seek the kingdom of heaven lack nothing: nevertheless, the gospel is not the food of the stomach but rather of the mind. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. {d} Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father {e} sealed.
(d) Bestow your labour and pain. (e) That is, whom God the Father had distinguished from all other men by planting his own power in him, as though he had sealed him with his seal, so that he might be a vivid example and representation of him: and furthermore he installed him to this office, to reconcile us men to God, and bring us to everlasting life, which office belongs only to Christ. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the {f} works of God?
(f) Which please God: for they think that everlasting life depends upon the condition of fulfilling the law: therefore Christ calls them back to faith. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. {5} Jesus answered and said unto them, {g} This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
(5) Men torment themselves in vain when they try to please God without faith. (g) That is, this is the work that God requires, that you believe in me, and therefore he calls them back to faith. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? {6} They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
(6) The spiritual virtue of Christ is condemned by those that desire earthly miracles. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. {7} Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not {h} that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
(7) Christ, who is the true and only author and giver of eternal life, was represented unto those in the Old Testament by the manna. (h) He denies that manna was the true heavenly bread, and says that he himself is the true bread, because he feeds the true and everlasting life. And as for 1Co 10:1-5, where Paul calls manna spiritual food, it does not contradict what is said here, for Paul joins the thing signified with the sign: but in this whole disputation, Christ deals with the Jews after their own opinion and conceit of the matter, who thought of the manna only in terms of physical food. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread {i} of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
(i) Which has life and gives life. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. {8} All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
(8) The gift of faith proceeds from the free election of the Father in Christ, after which everlasting life necessarily follows: therefore faith in Christ Jesus is a sure witness of our election, and therefore of our glorification, which is to come. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine {k} own will, but the will of him that sent me.
(k) See above in Joh 5:22. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which {l} seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
(l) Seeing and believing are joined together: for there is another type of seeing which is general, which the demons have, for they see: but here he speaks about that type of seeing which properly belongs to the elect. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. {9} The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
(9) Flesh cannot perceive spiritual things, and therefore the beginning of our salvation comes from God, who changes our nature, so that we, being inspired by him, may remain to be instructed and saved by Christ. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. It is written in the {m} prophets, And they shall be all {n} taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
(m) In the book of the prophets, for the Old Testament was divided by them into three general parts: into the law, the prophets, and the holy writings. (n) That is, they will be children of the Church, for so the prophet Isaiah expounds it in Is 54:13; that is to say, ordained to life, see Geneva Ac 13:48, and therefore the knowledge of the heavenly truth is the gift and work of God, and does not rest in any power of man. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Not that any man hath seen the Father, {o} save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
(o) If only the Son has seen the Father, then it is only he that can truly teach us and instruct us. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I am that bread of life. {10} I am that bread of life.
(10) The true use of sacraments is to ascend from them to the thing itself, that is, to Christ: and by the partaking of him alone we get everlasting life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. {p} This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
(p) He refers to himself when he speaks these words. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. {11} I am the {q} living bread which came down from heaven: if any man {r} eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
(11) Christ being sent from the Father is the selfsame unto us for the getting and keeping of everlasting life, as bread and flesh, yea, meat and drink, are to the use of this transitory life. (q) Which gives life to the world. (r) That is to say, whoever is truly a partaker of Christ, who is our food. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? {12} The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
(12) Flesh cannot make a difference between fleshly eating, which is done by the help of the teeth, and spiritual eating, which consists in faith: and therefore it condemns that which it does not understand: yet nonetheless, the truth must be preached and taught. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have {s} no life in you.
(s) If Christ is present, life is present, but when Christ is absent, then death is present. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. As {t} the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the {u} Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
(t) In that Christ is man, he receives that power which quickens and gives life to those that are his, from his Father: and he adds this word the to make a distinction between his Father and all other fathers. (u) Christ means that although he is man, yet his flesh can give life, not by its own nature, but because his flesh lives by the Father, that is to say, sucks and draws out of the Father that power which it has to give life. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? {13} Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
(13) The reason of man cannot comprehend the uniting of Christ and his members: therefore let it worship and revere that which is better than itself. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. {14} It is the {x} spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
(14) The flesh of Christ therefore quickens us, because he that is man is God: and this mystery is only comprehended by faith, which is the gift of God, found only in the elect. (x) Spirit, that is, that power which flows from the Godhead causes the flesh of Christ (which is otherwise nothing but flesh) both to live in itself and to give life to us. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. {15} From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
(15) Such is the malice of men, that they bring about their own destruction, even in hearing the very doctrine of salvation, but there are a few who believe through the singular gift of God. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? {16} Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
(16) The number of the professors of Christ is very small, and among them also there are some hypocrites, and those worse than all others. He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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