Christ in Genesis

I've been re-reading How to Enjoy the Bible by E.W. Bullinger and found this section of particular interest today. The chapter is the "One Great Subject of the Word" and the section is "Christ in the Separate Books of the Word".

Specifically, I was interested in Christ in the book of Genesis, which is the seed-plot of the Bible. So many things are declared or foreshadowed in Genesis. "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke (24:27)

I will attempt to paraphrase this section here to capture the highlights:

The record of creation in Genesis 1 may remind us of our new creation in Christ:

2 Corinthians (5:17) Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The light which shined out of darkness (Genesis 1:2,3) has also shined in our hears:

2 Corinthians (4:6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

On this point, Bullinger notes:

"No wonder that those how know nothing of this spiritual light of the New Creation know nothing o the light that was created on the first day as revealed in the record of the old creation. The natural man sees only a myth and an old wive's fable in the Creation record ..."

In the Creator we see Christ:

John (1:3) All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians (1:16) For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:

In the first Adam we see the last Adam:

1 Corinthians (15:45) And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.

Romans (5:14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

In the first man, the coming of the second man:

1 Corinthians (15:47) The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven.

The "seed of the woman" in Genesis 3:15 we see the coming of the son of Abraham, the son of David, the Son of man, and the Son of God.

Bullinger further notes that through a corruption in the Latin Vulgate of 3:15 that Roman Catholics have elevated the "Virgin Mary" and thus

"see either a helpless Infant, or a dead man, and a living woman -- the Virgin Mary."

Now consider:

Genesis (15:1) After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.

See Abraham's "shield" revealing Himself.

John (8:56) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad.

In Isaac we see Christ the true seed of Abraham:

Romans (9:7) Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Galatians (3:16) Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

The miraculous conception pronounced in Luke 1:30-33 is seen in the promise to Abraham:

Genesis (18:10) And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard [it] in the tent door, which [was] behind him.

The Crucifixion is seen in the selection of Mount Moriah for Abraham's offering of Isaac, as Bullinger says, "not by chance, or for convenience (for it was three days' journey), but appointed in the Divine counsels as the site of the future alter of burnt offering."

Genesis (22:2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

2 Chronicles (3:1) Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where [the LORD] appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Compare the statement of Joseph's brothers with that of the "citizens" of Luke:

Genesis (37:8) And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Luke (19:14) But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us.

Obviously this is an incomplete list (as Bullinger himself says), but it is adequate to demonstrate that a profitable study maybe made on this topic.

New FreeKJV Site is Done

The latest version of freekjv.org has been rolled in to production. There are virtually no visible changes to the front end, but the backend -- almost all the improvements were directed at helping us better manage inventory and orders.

I have added a new book to the list -- the First Years of Christianity, but it has already sold out. It is an excellent treatise on the first century Church and is well worth the read. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive book we've offered to date, so I'm not sure how often it will be in stock.

Letter to Those Wanting Bible's in Bulk

Since we started freekjv.org, I have received numerous requests for Bible's in bulk, even though the FAQ and home page indicates one Bible per order (or household). Occasionally, I break the rule of of one Bible per household, but I have always refused requests for Bible's in bulk.

These requests have always come from someone at a church (as in a building and not an ekklesia). Below is my response to a recent inquiry. The writer wanted to give away a Bible to each visitor of their church as well as in the community.

Thanks for your question. From time to time I receive a request such as yours and my answer has always been "no". Let me explain why.

1. The budget for our bibles is established by a percentage of the revenue generated by our family business. It is therefore limited by the providence of God in supplying us with both work and profit.

2. When my wife and I came up with the idea of free bibles, we felt it was necessary to set some rules. Bibles would be "one per household", only given in the United States, and the amount spent is based upon a fixed percentage. Barring that, we would ask no questions.

3. I do not accept donations but instead rely solely on God's grace to provide the funds needed to purchase the bibles. To date, the requests for bibles have risen rapidly, but the funds have always been available to fill the need. This is Abraham's "Jehovah-Jireh" -- the Lord will provide. But Isaac's ram was not immediately apparent -- it was provided at the last possible moment, and that has been our experience in funding the give away's at freekjv.org

4. It is important to note that the people that receive our bibles have *asked* for them. They are seeking and finding, asking and receiving.

5. I am particularly opposed to providing this service to churches for a couple of reasons.

- First, it would rapidly consume my budget. If I limit one per household, I spread the money that God gives me over a wider number of people.

- Second, a local body of believers ought to have the resources to procure their own bibles for give away. If not, then they should consider returning to the first century model of fellowship -- meeting in the homes of believers (Rom 16:5, 1 Cor 16:19, Col 4:15, Philemon 1:2), which can free much needed resources to help the poor.

The harvest is indeed plenteous and the laborers are few. So many people today that call themselves Christians are faithless and narrow-minded. They have things backwards in terms of charity. They think that prosperity is an indication of God's approval, and "growth" is their aim. Proverbs says labor not to be rich and cease from your own understanding. Yet today's Christian "ministries" beg for money at every turn to support their activities. The church down the road from us sends out regular requests for money to a poor widow-woman next door when in fact they should be helping to supply her needs and not the other way around.

I would encourage you to be faithful. The Creator of the Universe and Author of Salvation is not limited in His power or resources. The cattle upon a thousand hills are His. If He were hungry, He would not ask us for food. He does all things after the counsel of His own will. He knows what we need before we ask. If the Lord intends for me to give away a thousand bibles next month, I trust that He has already set in motion the project(s) that will help me pay for such an expense.

If God wants you to give away bibles He will supply you with the resources to do so, regardless of famine, pestilence, or a bad economy. "A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh you." (Psalm 91:7)

If you are looking for something economical, I would suggest purchasing bibles by the case. Here is the one we give away:

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=60198CS&event=CF

(Please note that I am in no way endorsing christianbook.com, nor am I affiliated with that company.)

With shipping, purchasing the bibles above will come out to between $2 and $3 per bible. Total cost for a case of 36 is about $75. I can also put you in touch with the publisher, which can offer the bibles 15 to 20 cents (or more) cheaper depending upon the quantity ordered. But it takes a lot of quantity to get the deeper discounts.

I am sorry this is not the answer you were hoping for, but perhaps it will be helpful, anyway.

Version 3 of freekjv.org is Underway

I've started working on the third version of freekjv.org and am hoping to finish by the end of August.

• The look of the site will not change.
• I'm hoping to add one or two more categories of additional materials.
• Maybe a new book or two.
• Lots of changes on the back-end to help us better manage inventory and orders.

The main reason for the project is to improve inventory and order management.

Appendixes to the Companion Bible, More Work

Well, I am on Appendix 111 for this project, and boy is this more work than I thought it was going to be! If I can obtain permission from the original owners of the HTML, I am considering printing this book and selling it on Amazon. Not only has it been a lot of work, but it really is a valuable tool for Bible Study.

The One Great Subject of the Word

This is an old article by E.W. Bullinger.

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The one great subject which runs through the whole Word of God is Christ: the promised seed of the woman in Gen. 3:15:

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This verse marks the depth of the ruin into which man had descended in the Fall; and it becomes the foundation of the rest of the Bible.

All hope of restoration for man and for creation is centered in Christ; who in due time should be born into the world, should suffer and die; and, in resurrection, should become the Head of a new creation, and should finally crush the head of the Old Serpent, who had brought in all the ruin.

Christ, therefore, the King, and the Kingdom which He should eventually set up, become the one great subject which occupies the whole of the Word of God.

Hence, He is the key to the Divine revelation in the Word; and apart from Him it cannot be understood.

The contents of the Bible must therefore be seen and arranged with reference to Him. The counsels and purposes of God are all centered in Christ.

Christ Seen Throughout Scripture

1. In the Old Testament we have the King and the Kingdom in Promise and Prophecy, Illustration and Type.

2.In the Four Gospels we have the King and the Kingdom presented and proclaimed by John the Baptizer, and by Christ Himself. And we see the Kingdom rejected, and the King crucified.

3. In the Acts of the Apostles we have the Transition from the Kingdom to the Church. The Kingdom is once again offered to Israel by Peter; again it is rejected, Stephen is stoned, and Peter imprisoned (ch. 12.).

Then Paul, who had been already chosen and called (ch. 9.), is commissioned for His Ministry (ch. 13.), and on the final rejection of his testimony concerning the Kingdom, he pronounces for the third and last time the sentence of judicial blindness in Isaiah 6, and declares that "the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles" (Acts 28:25-28).

In his final communication to Hebrew believers it is written that while in God's counsels all things had been put under Christ's feet, "we see NOT YET all things put under Him " (Heb. 2:7-9).

The Kingdom thenceforth is in abeyance.

4. In the Epistles we have the King exalted, and (while the Kingdom is in abeyance) made the Head over all things to the Church, during this present Interval; the Dispensation of the grace of God.

5. In the Apocalypse we have the Revelation of the King in judgment; and we see the Kingdom set up, the King enthroned in power and glory, the promise fulfilled, and prophecy ended.

The One Subject of the Word as a Whole

We may exhibit the above to the eye in the following Structure:

A. The King and the Kingdom in Promise and Prophecy. (The Old Testament.)

B. The King presented, proclaimed, and rejected. The Mysteries (or Secrets) of the Kingdom revealed. Matt. 13:11, 34, 35. (The Four Gospels.)

C. Transitional (The Acts). The Kingdom again offered and rejected. The Mystery of the Church made known. The Kingdom in abeyance (Heb. 2:8).

B. The King exalted and made Head over all things to the Church, "which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all " (Eph. 1:22, 23). The Great Mystery completed (The Epistles).

A. The King and the Kingdom unveiled. The King enthroned, and the Kingdom set up with Divine judgment, power, and glory (Rev. 19, 20). Promise and prophecy fulfilled (The Apocalypse).

Here the correspondence is seen between these five members.

In A and A we have the King and the Kingdom.

In B and B we have the King and the mysteries (or secrets) of the Kingdom (Matt. 13).

In C, the central member, we have the present Interval, while the King is absent, the Holy Spirit present, and the Kingdom in abeyance, and the mystery of the Church revealed (Eph. 3).

From the Structure it will be seen that the great subject of the whole Book is one. From Gen. 3:15 to Rev. 22., "THE COMING ONE" fills our vision.

This teaches us that the Coming of Christ is no newly invented subject of some modern faddists or fanatics, or cranks; but that Christ's coming has always been the Hope of His people.

In "the fullness of time" He came: but having been rejected and slain He rose from the dead, and ascended to Heaven. There He is "seated" and "henceforth expecting until His enemies shall be placed as a footstool for His feet " (Heb. 10:13).

Hence, Christ, "the Coming One," is the one all-pervading subject of the Word of God as a whole.

He is the pneuma or life-giving spirit of the written Word, without which the latter is dead. "As the body without the pneuma is dead" (Jas. 2:26), so the written Word without the pneuma is dead also. Christ is that pneuma or spirit. This is the whole argument of 2 Cor. 3.

The Master Key of Scripture

This is why the Lord Jesus could say of the Scriptures:

"They testify of ME" (John 1:45; 5:39; Luke 24:44, 45).

Their one great design is to tell of the Coming One. All else is subordinated to this. This is why we see the ordinary events in a household combining with the grandest visions of a prophet to testify of Him who fills all Scripture. It may be said of the written Word, as it is of the New Jerusalem,

"The Lamb is the light thereof " (Rev. 21:23)

Apart from Him, the natural eye of man sees only outward historical details and circumstances; some in themselves appearing to him trifling, others offensive, and pursued at a length which seems disproportionate to the whole; while things which "angels desire to look into" are passed over in a few words, or in silence.

But once let "the spiritual mind" see Christ testified of "in Moses and all the prophets," then all assumes a new aspect: trifles that seem hardly worth recording fill the whole vision and light up the written Word and make it to shine with the glory of the Divine presence.

Then we see why the Inspired writer dwells on a matter which to the outward eye seems trivial compared with other things which we may deem to be of world-wide importance.

Then we observe in an event, seemingly casual and unimportant, something which tells forth the plans and counsels of God, by which He is shaping everything to His own ends. Nothing appears to us then either great or small. All is seen to be Divine when the Coming One is recognized as the one subject of the Word of God.

This is the master-key of the Scriptures of truth.

"These are they that testify of ME."

Bearing this key in our hand we can unlock the precious treasures of the Word; and understand words, and hints; apparently casual expressions, circumstances, and events, which in themselves, and apart from Him, are meaningless.

It is the use of this master-key and this first great foundation principle which is to be observed in the study of the "Word" and "words" of God. It is when we, in every part, have found "HIM of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write" (John 1:45), that we can understand those parts of Scripture which are "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" to many; that we can explain much that is otherwise difficult; see clearly much that before was obscure; answer objections that are brought against the Word; and "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."

The moment this master-key is used types will be seen foreshadowing the Coming King, and showing forth His sufferings and His Glory. Events and circumstances will show forth His wondrous deeds and tell of the coming glory of His kingdom.

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About E.W. Bullinger (1837-1913)

Born in Canterbury, England and Educated at King's College, London, Bullinger’s specialty was language and notable works include: A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament (1877); Figures of Speech Used in the Bible (1898); and (the primary editor) of The Companion Bible (published in 6 parts, beginning in 1909). The Archbishop of Canterbury granted him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1881 in recognition of his biblical scholarship.