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100. And hath explored them that say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. That this signifies falsities also so far as they can be searched out, is evident from the signification of exploring, as being to inquire into and search out; and from the signification of apostles, as being those who teach the truths of the church, and, apart from persons, the truths themselves that are taught (concerning which we shall speak in what follows); and from the signification of not being apostles and being found liars, as being not truths but falsities; for a lie and liar signify what is false (see Arcana Coelestia 8908, 9248). From these and the preceding considerations it is evident, that by these words: "I know that thou canst not bear them that are evil, and hast explored them that say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars," is signified, that they reject evils, and also falsities, so far as they can be searched out. For in the things written to this church, those are treated of who are in the knowledges (cognitiones) of truth and good, thus in the knowledges (cognitiones) of such things as pertain to heaven and the church (as may be seen above, n. 93); therefore it is here first said concerning them, that they reject evils, and falsities also so far as they can be searched out; for it concerns those who are in the knowledges (cognitiones) of the holy things of the church, first to know in general what good and truth are, and also what evil and falsity; for upon this knowledge (cognitio) all other knowledges (cognitiones) are founded. (For this reason The Doctrine Of the New Jerusalem first of all treats concerning good and truth, n. 11-27, from which also it is clear what evil and falsity are.)
[2] The reason why by apostles are signified those who teach the truths of the church is, that they are called apostles from the fact of their being sent to teach and to preach concerning the Lord and concerning, the bringing near of the kingdom of God by Him; thus the truths of the church, by which the Lord is known and the kingdom of God is brought near: the kingdom of God on earth is the church. It is therefore evident that by apostles, in the spiritual sense of the Word, are meant not the twelve apostles who were sent by the Lord to teach concerning Himself and His kingdom, but all those who are in the truth of the church, and, apart from persons, those truths in themselves. For in the Word it is customary to speak of persons; but those who are in its spiritual sense, as the are, think not at all of persons, but apart from them, therefore of things only. The reason of this also is, that it is material to think of persons, but spiritual to think without the idea of a person; as, for instance, wherever the disciples are named in the Word, and prophets, priests, kings, Jews, Israel, inhabitants of Zion and of Jerusalem, and so on.
[3] (The very names of persons and places are also changed into things with the angels, as may be seen, 6: that by its wall are signified truths of doctrine for defence, see in the Arcana Coelestia 6411); that by the foundations of the wall are signified the knowledges (cognitiones) of truth, upon which doctrine is founded, n. 9643; that by twelve are signified all truths in the aggregate, n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913: hence it is clear why it is said that in the foundations of the wall were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.)
100. And hast tried them that say that they are apostles and they are not, and hast found them liars, signifies also falsities, so far as they are able to search them out. This is evident from the signification of "to try," as being to inquire into and search out; and from the signification of "apostles," as being those who teach the truths of the church, and in a sense abstracted from persons, the truths themselves that are taught (of which in what follows); also from the signification of "and are not, and are found liars," as being not truths but falsities; for a "lie" and a "liar" signify falsity (Arcana Coelestia 8908, 9248). From this and what precedes it is evident that "I know that thou canst not bear the evil, and hast tried them that say they are apostles and they are not, and hast found them liars," signifies that they reject evils, and falsities also, so far as they are able to search them out. For in the things written to this church those who are in the knowledges of truth and good, thus in the knowledges of such things as are of heaven and of the church, are treated of (See above, n. 93); here, therefore, it is first said of them that they put away evils, and falsities also, so far as they are able to search them out; for those who are in the knowledges of the holy things of the church need first to know in general what good and truth are, also what evil and falsity are, for upon this knowledge all other knowledges are founded. (For this reason also The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem first of all treats of Good and Truth, n 11-27, and from these it can also be seen what evil and falsity are.)
[2] By "apostles" those who teach the truths of the church are signified, because the apostles [those sent] were so called from their having been sent to teach and to preach the Gospel concerning the Lord and the drawing nigh of the kingdom of God through Him; thus to teach the truths of the church, by which the Lord is known and the kingdom of God is brought nigh. The kingdom of God on the earth is the church. From this it is evident what is meant by "apostles" in the spiritual sense of the Word, namely, not the twelve apostles who were sent by the Lord to teach concerning Him and His kingdom, but all who are in the truths of the church, and in a sense abstracted from persons, the truths themselves. For in the Word it is customary to speak of persons; but those who are in its spiritual sense, as angels are, do not think of persons at all, but their thought is abstracted from persons, and has respect therefore solely to things. The reason is, that it is material to think of persons, but spiritual to think apart from the idea of persons; for instance, where the "disciples" are mentioned in the Word, or "prophets," "priests," "kings," "Jews," "Israel," "the inhabitants of Zion," and of "Jerusalem," and so on. (Moreover, the very names of persons and places are changed with angels into things, see Arcana Coelestia 768, 1224, 1264, 1876, 1888, 4310, 4442, 5095, 5225, 6516, 10216, 10282, 10329, 10432; and that the thought of angels is abstracted from persons, n. 8343, 8985, 9007)
[3] That the disciples of the Lord were called apostles from their having been sent to teach concerning Him and His kingdom is clear in Luke:
Jesus sent His twelve disciples to preach the kingdom of God. And the apostles, when they were returned, declared unto Him what things they had done. And Jesus spake to them of the kingdom of God (The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 6 ; that by its "wall" are signified the truths of doctrine for defense, see Arcana Coelestia 6419; by the "foundations of the wall" are signified the knowledges of the truth, on which doctrine is founded, n. 9643; by "twelve" are signified all truths in the complex, n. 577, 2089, 2129-2130, 3272, 3858, 3913. From this it is clear why it is said that in the foundations of the wall were the "names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.")
100. "Et exploraveris dicentes se esse apostolos, et non sunt, ac inveneris eos mendaces." - Quod significet etiam falsa quantum possunt scrutari, constat ex significatione "explorare", quod sit indagare et scrutari; ex significatione "apostolorum", quod sint qui docent vera ecclesiae, et abstracte a personis ipsa vera quae docentur (de qua sequitur); et ex significatione "non esse", et "inveniri mendaces", quod sint non vera sed falsa, "mendacium" enim et "mendax" significat falsum (n. 8908, 9248) ex his et praecedentibus constare potest quod per "novi quod non possis ferre malos, et exploraveris dicentes se esse apostolos et non sunt, ac inveneris eos mendaces", significetur quod rejiciant mala et quoque falsa quantum possunt scrutari; agitur enim in iis quae scripta sunt ad hanc ecclesiam de illis qui in cognitionibus veri et boni sunt, ita in cognitionibus talium quae caeli et ecclesiae (videatur supra, n. 93); ideo de illis hic primum dicitur quod rejiciant mala, et quantum scrutari possunt etiam falsa; nam interest illorum qui in cognitionibus sanctorum ecclesiae sunt primum in genere scire quid bonum et verum, et quoque quid malum et falsum, nam super cognitione illorum fundantur omnes cognitiones reliquae. (Idcirco etiam in Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae omnium primo actum est De Bono et Vero, n. 11-27, ex quibus etiam patet quid malum et falsum.)
[2] Quod per "apostolos" significentur illi qui docent vera ecclesiae, est quia Apostoli dicti sunt ab eo quod missi sint ad docendum et ad evangelizandum de Domino et de appropinquatione regni Dei per Ipsum, ita vera ecclesiae, per quae cognoscitur Dominus et appropinquatur regnum Dei; regnum Dei in terris est ecclesia: exinde constare potest quid per "apostolos" in sensu spirituali Verbi intelligitur, quod nempe non duodecim Apostoli qui missi a Domino ad docendum de Ipso et de regno Ipsius, sed omnes illi qui in veris ecclesiae sunt, et abstracte a personis ipsa vera. In Verbo enim solenne est de personis loqui, at qui in sensu spirituali ejus sunt, ut sunt angeli, nihil personae cogitant, sed abstracte ab illis, proinde solum de rebus; causa etiam est, quia materiale est cogitare de personis, at spirituale cogitare absque idea personae. Sic etiam ubi nominantur in Verbo "discipuli", ubi "prophetae", ubi "Sacerdotes", ubi "reges", ubi "Judaei", ubi "Israel", ubi "habitatores Zionis" et "Hierosolymae", et sic porro. (Ipsa etiam nomina personarum et locorum vertuntur in res apud angelos, videatur n. 768, 1224, 1264, 1876, 1888, 4310, 4442, 5225, 1
5095, 6516, 10216, 10282, 10329, 10432; et quod angeli cogitent abstracte a personis, n. 8343, 8985, 9007.)
[3] Quod discipuli Domini dicti sint Apostoli ex eo quod missi sint ad docendum de Ipso et de regno Ipsius, patet apud Lucam,
Jesus misit duodecim discipulos suos praedicare regnum Dei; et reversi Apostoli narraverunt Ipsi quaecunque fecerunt; et Jesus loquebatur illis de regno Dei (9:1, 2, 10, 11);
apud eundem,
"Cum factus est dies, Jesus vocavit discipulos suos, et eligens ex illis duodecim, quos et Apostolos nominavit" (6:13);
apud eundem,
"Mittam ad illos prophetas et apostolos, et ex illis occident et persequentur" (11:49);
"prophetae et apostoli" dicuntur, quia per "prophetas" aeque ac per "apostolos" intelliguntur qui missi sunt ad docendum vera: sed per "prophetas" illi qui in Veteri Testamento, et per "apostolos" illi qui in Novo.
(Quod "prophetae" in Verbo significent docantes vera, et abstracte a personis ipsa vera, videatur n. 2534.)
Quia "duodecim apostoli" significant ipsa vera ecclesiae, ideo dicitur in Apocalypsi,
"Murus" Novae Hierosolymae "habens fundamenta duodecim, et in illis nomina duodecim Apostolorum Agni" (21:14).
(Quod per "Novam Hierosolymam" intelligatur ecclesia quoad doctrinam, videatur in opusculo De Nova Hierosolyma et ejus Doctrina, n. 6:
quod per "murum" ejus significentur vera doctrinae tutantia, in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 6419:
quod per "fundamenta muri" cognitiones veri super quibus doctrina fundatur, n. 2
9643; quod per "duodecim" omnia vera in complexu, n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913.
Inde patat cur dicitur quod in fundamentis muri essent "nomina duodecim Apostolorum Agni."
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.