Bible Studies

John 15, A Study

by Jon Fallows
10/15/16
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John 15, A Study.

Jon Fallows, 2015

This is a study of John 15, which is part of a study of John 13 through John 17.

Chapter 15:1 to 16:4 speak about cleansing and pruning and are divided into:

15:1 to 17:               Love manifested and commanded

15:18 to 16:4:         Hatred foretold and experienced

The structure is a simple alternation (Chiasm – literary technique) which is:

Joh 15:1         I^G1473 am^G1510 the^G3588 true^G228 vine,^G288 and^G2532 my^G3450 Father^G3962 is^G2076 the^G3588 husbandman.^G1092

I am: Here Jesus is stating His pre-existent divinity. In Ex 3:14 as the Word (Jesus is the same person who spoke these words to Moses). In Hebrew, it is H1961 – hayah, or the self-existent one.

The true vine: A vine supplies all the nutrients necessary for fruit to grow, so here He is saying that I am the one who is responsible for supplying all that is necessary for any fruit to grow to maturity.  This is no idle claim, as He is saying that there is no growth anywhere unless it comes through Him.

My Father: Jesus always glorified His father as this was one of the primary purposes He was sent, to perfectly represent the Father and His nature. So here He was fulfilling the commandment to ‘honour your father and mother’ (Ex 20:12) as well as saying that He (father) is greater than He.

The husbandman: The Father and Jesus always act in concert so Jesus was referring to the ‘owner’ of the vineyard in the sense that the Father is owner of all by right of creation. The Father is the vinedresser and it is He who brings all things together according to His will, and His will is always for the best outcome. This is love.

Joh 15:2         Every^G3956 branch^G2814 in^G1722 me^G1698 that beareth^G5342 not^G3361 fruit^G2590 he taketh away:^{G142 (G846)} and^G2532 every^G3956 branch that beareth^G5342 fruit,^G2590 he purgeth^G2508 it,^G846 that^G2443 it may bring forth^G5342 more^G4119 fruit.^G2590

Every branch in me: As He is the vine, the branches are also part of Him. In the OT He is called the Branch (Zec 3:8). But this verse also seems to indicate that there is a very close association between the branches and the fruit because he says later that it is the branch that is pruned, because it is not bearing fruit. So this begs the question; What is the ‘fruit’ he is talking about? More on this below.

Does not bear fruit: So, the fruit is the important thing. This seems to be a pivotal question in this chapter. We will get to that.

Takes away: If there is no fruit born of the branch, the Father ‘takes it away’. Elsewhere it says that it is ‘burned in the fire’ (John 15:6). So this seems to be the removal of a branch that does not bear fruit. The question is, what happens to the part taken away?

Every branch: The Apostle Paul says that we are all part of Him (Acts 17:28 – note that he was speaking to pagans here) so God (Jesus) is overseeing the development of all mankind. The indication also is that some will not ‘bear fruit’.

Bears fruit, He prunes (purges): If the branch bears fruit, then, the branch is pruned. To prune is to cut the branch back in such a way as to promote new and better growth. This is an action that the Father takes in order for the vine to bring forth better fruit and a more abundant crop.

He Purges: How does He Purge? The purging process may take a lifetime, as it is a gradual process brought about by him to bring the man, first to repentance (Rom 2:4), then He works with us to rid us of our fleshly desires (Rom 8:13) as the instruction  in this reference tells us. The end is to walk humbly, love mercy and do justly (Micah 6:8). He does not want perfection, but He wants us to become these three things, so that one day, He will then “make us perfect” (Heb 12:23).

More fruit: So, what is the fruit?

The fruit: In many places the Word speaks of fruit. It has been said that fruit is ‘going out and getting converts (evangelising)’, but there are issues with this thinking. Jesus said to go, and preach (proclaim) the Good News, He didn’t say to make converts. All we are to do is demonstrate Christ by our lifestyles and to proclaim the Good News. There is no way on God’s earth that we can ‘make disciples’, that is the job of the Holy Spirit as it is He who gives the ear to hear and the eyes to see. (Mat 11:15). Even Jesus, when He walked the earth, did not evangelise and make one convert deliberately. He called those that the Father had already called. In John 17, He states clearly that His father had ‘given’ them to Him. All He said when speaking was, “let him who has ears to hear, hear”. Clearly then it was the Husbandman who was ‘drawing’ men to Jesus.

So what is the Fruit? Natural fruit grows slowly on its tree, so the Lord uses this as an agrarian analogy of slow and gradual changes that He makes in a man’s heart to ‘sanctify’ him, to make him holy, as it says in John 17:17. As fruit is produced, the branch is pruned (G2508) and this is to effect the purifying work of the Holy Spirit and bring the person to a position of being “humble, just, and merciful’ (Micah 6:8), to become a Uihos, a mature son of God.

Joh 15:3         Now^G2235 ye^G5210 are^G2075 clean^G2513 through^G1223 the^G3588 word^G3056 which^G3739 I have spoken^G2980 unto you.^G5213

Now you are clean: Here it is stated that these men (disciples) were clean. This is quite amazing as their ‘conversion’ (the renewing of their spirits) was not done until John 20:22 which was after His resurrection (actually the very day of His resurrection). So, at this point, they were (technically as the churches these days are concerned), unsaved men. Now, isn’t that interesting? Here Jesus states specifically that they were clean through (or by – see G1223) the Word that He spoke to them. So here we see again that it is the Word that sanctifies (makes Holy). So why have the churches of today almost exclusively excluded the word from their psyche? The answer may be because there is a pervading thought that they know it all, or perhaps don’t understand any of it. Whatever the reason, the fact is that it is the word that sanctifies (John 17:17 as well). A few scriptures flashed up on a screen during a church ‘service’ in a darkened auditorium does not have a ‘sanctifying’ effect. The Word must be studied routinely.

Through the Word: While Jesus was/is the word, He also made the clear statement that the words He spoke/speaks are spirit and life (John 6:63). So, He was speaking ‘spirit’ to them, hence the cleansing power of the words. Every word that God speaks is generative and prophetic. This is just the way it is because of His power. So it makes perfect sense that every word that comes from the ‘mouth’ of God is life giving (life in the sense of prophetic, peaceful, comforting, exhorting, merciful, graceful, revelatory, etc etc)

Joh 15:4         Abide^G3306 in^G1722 me,^G1698 and I^G2504 in^G1722 you.^G5213 As^G2531 the^G3588 branch^G2814 cannot^{G1410 G3756} bear^G5342 fruit^G2590 of^G575 itself,^G1438 except^G3362 it abide^G3306 in^G1722 the^G3588 vine;^G288 no^G3761 more^G3779 can ye,^G5210 except^G3362 ye abide^G3306 in^G1722 me.^G1698

Abide in me: Abide means to live, dwell or stay. Here He is saying to ‘stay’ in Him. The intent here is that if I (me) stay ‘in’ (G1772, en) Him, He will ‘stay’ in me. Makes sense, so just how do I ‘stay’ in Him? John 17:17 gives us the key. It says, “Sanctify them through your truth, your word is truth”. So it is the Word that ‘makes holy’ so this is what we need to do if we want to ‘stay’ in Him. Read it! And keep reading it, and question the Holy Spirit while you are reading it (John 16:13).

He also gives us a reason why. We, as the branches cannot do anything of ourselves (despite our best efforts), we must ‘stay’ in Him in order to be able to do anything. In other words, we have no possible chance of bringing ourselves into an acceptable state before God, so we must ‘abide’ in Him for that to happen as it is His work. Try as we will, not one of us can make that happen. In trying to, we put ourselves in God’s place, therefore become usurpers. He clearly states we must ‘stay’ in Him to bear the fruit He is after (John 15:5)

Joh 15:5         I^G1473 am^G1510 the^G3588 vine,^G288 ye^G5210 are the^G3588 branches:^G2814 He that abideth^G3306 in^G1722 me,^G1698 and I^G2504 in^G1722 him,^G846 the same^G3778 bringeth forth^G5342 much^G4183 fruit:^G2590 for^G3754 without^G5565 me^G1700 ye can^G1410(G3756) do^G4160 nothing.^G3762

Jesus is the Vine, the only one. We (mankind) are the branches. If (and that is a resounding IF) we abide in Him, he will make sure that the fruit He desires to see in us will be brought forth (may take a lifetime, but it comes forth). He is the fruit grower, He prunes the tree in such a way as to ensure that the ‘much fruit’ is brought forth. We cannot do it for ourselves. 

Joh 15:6         If a man abide not^{G3362 G5100 G3306} in^G1722 me,^G1698 he is cast^G906 forth^G1854 as^G5613 a branch,^G2814 and^G2532 is withered;^G3583 and^G2532 men gather^G4863 them,^G846 and^G2532 cast^G906 them into^G1519 the fire,^G4442 and^G2532 they are burned.^G2545

So, the converse here is to ‘not abide’ in Him. In this case, the branch is cut off, it withers  and is cast into the fire. So, let’s see what this means.

He is cut off: Jesus is not in the business of destroying men’s lives, but saving them (Luke 9:56), so what does this mean? To me, because of God’s great love for His creation (man), he puts in process a method to ultimately save the man who (through his own ignorance) rejects Jesus. That method is ‘cast forth, withered, and cast into the fire’. So;

Cast forth: This seems to have the same intent as ‘perdition’ where, by one’s own decisions, God does not (now) work in him to prune him. If he is left to his own devices by God, then he will wither (because there is no source of life). We see this all around us every day by people who do not even spare the Lord who bought them one single thought. At the end of this person’s life, at the second resurrection, he will have to go through the ‘fire’ which is a method God has made to bring every knee to bow and every tongue to confess. It’s euphemistically called. The “lake of fire” and is a purifying process designed so that all men will see than God’s ways are best for them. The modern ‘interpretation’ of the Lake of fire is a catholic construct (Pentecost infiltrated by Jesuits) in order to keep men in a state of fear of ‘eternal hellfire’, the same as the catholic church has done since 400AD. God is not like that, at all. If He was, we could not trust Him at all. God IS love (1 John 4:8). How is it that on the one hand He is love, and on the other hand, will cast a man who made a decision WITHOUT all the facts, into ‘everlasting’ fire. It is so stupid to consider. The Greek and the Hebrew do not say that. It shows the influence the catholic ‘church’ had on the translation into English. See: The Forbidden Book, by www.newlibertyvideos.com, Shanee Mission, Johnson County, KS, 66225.
  

Joh 15:7         If^G1437 ye abide^G3306 in^G1722 me,^G1698 and^G2532 my^G3450 words^G4487 abide^G3306 in^G1722 you,^G5213 ye shall ask^G154 what^{G3739 G1437} ye will,^G2309 and^G2532 it shall be done^G1096 unto you.^G5213

Here is a cruncher! The word ‘if’ is a conditional conjunction (G1437) in English and has the same intent in Greek. This verse indicates that I will know if I am abiding in the Christ by the requests that have been answered. This is quite a litmus test for those who profess belief.

Joh 15:8         Herein^{G1722 G5129} is my^G3450 Father^G3962 glorified,^G1392 that^G2443 ye bear^G5342 much^G4183 fruit;^G2590 so^G2532 shall ye be^G1096 my^G1698 disciples.^G3101

Jesus states the way the Father is glorified. If one ‘abides’ in the Word, and Jesus keeps pruning him, then much fruit is matured and by this is God the Father glorified. It seems, also, that the Father is also glorified by answering requests. From His point of view, the more a person ‘abides’ in the word, the more the pruning, then the more God is pleased with progress being made, therefore takes glory from it (and so He should too).

The other qualifier here seems to be that, if one bears much fruit, then one can confidently say that he is a ‘disciple’. Can this be seen in me, or the congregation?

Joh 15:9         As^G2531 the^G3588 Father hath^G3962 loved^G25 me,^G3165 so have I loved^{G2504 G25} you:^G5209 continue^G3306 ye in^G1722 my^G1699 love.^G26

Jesus here brings up the ‘love’ situation. The word used first (Father has loved me) is agapao and is the verb form of Agape (love by force of will – God chose to love Christ). A study of the words agapao and its related parts of speech will show that the word does not convey the meaning ‘unconditional’. The word agapao however, does bear the intent of will. I choose by force of my will to ‘love’ you, that is, to actively work towards the best outcome for you in your life.

Jesus here seems to be saying that it is a choice that He will love us, conditional on ‘continuing’ in His love. While it is true that everywhere in the scripture God’s message is that He loves His creation and has a purpose for all of us, His ‘love’ is actively seeking and working towards the very best outcome for each of us in our lives. He has made Himself intrinsically ‘connected’ with each of us (as Paul says Acts 17:28). His exhortation is to ‘continue’ in His love. Note that this is NOT to say that His love for any man immediately stops if we don’t continue in His love, it simply means that He works with those who respond to Him in the first instance and those who are not called to respond in the first instance, he leaves for another time. It is God who gives the eyes to see and ears to hear.   

Joh 15:10       If^G1437 ye keep^G5083 my^G3450 commandments,^G1785 ye shall abide^G3306 in^G1722 my^G3450 love;^G26 even as^G2531 I^G1473 have kept^G5083 my^G3450 Father's^G3962 commandments,^G1785 and^G2532 abide^G3306 in^G1722 his^G846 love.^G26

If ye keep my commandments: Once again, a conditional conjunction ‘if’, so it is conditional on the response of the individual person.

Commandment: This word is G1785 in the Greek and means ‘authorative prescription’, to which Dr Strong has added his view, commandment. In this life, we have a choice (Deut 30:19), and the exhortation is that we will choose the right path. If however, we don’t, that is not the end (as we have been taught). God is THE redeemer, NOT a destroyer of men’s lives, as can be easily proven by scripture, if read without prejudice. God uses euphemism language in order to make us search.

You shall abide in my love: So, abiding in His love is conditional on keeping the commandments. He gave only a couple which were to love God and to love our neighbour.  Sounds really simple, but the doing is much harder than it seems simply because of our individual biases and prejudices. We tend to judge by sight, which of course, leads us the wrong way. The flesh has proven to be a difficult thing to overcome.

Jesus was the perfect example of (amongst other things), keeping His father’s commandments (doing what He said to do). As He was the atypical, so we should emulate. Easier said than done!! So, because He kept the fathers commandments, He abides still in His love.

The church has taught that if you don’t ‘abide’ in Him, then you are basically thrown on the scrap heap of time and are ‘lost’ forever. A study of the scripture, referring to the Hebrew and Greek, taking into account the euphemisms used in the Word will show clearly that God is NOT in that business. He is GOOD, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Joh 15:11       These things^G5023 have I spoken^G2980 unto you,^G5213 that^G2443 my^G1699 joy^G5479 might remain^G3306 in^G1722 you,^G5213 and^G2532 that your^G5216 joy^G5479 might be full.^G4137

The result and intent of Jesus’ words in this chapter is clearly stated. His ‘joy’ may remain in us and our ‘joy’ will be full. Joy is G5479, cheerfulness, delight. He wants us all to be this way continually, even in the light of the ‘tribulation’ He sends to purify us.

Joh 15:12       This^G3778 is^G2076 my^G1699 commandment,^G1785 That^G2443 ye love^G25 one another,^G240 as^G2531 I have loved^G25 you.^G5209

After stating that we should keep His commandments, He gives one. Of course, this chapter is part of an alternation and introversion, a typical literary style employed in the scripture, sometimes called a Chiasm. 

Joh 15:13       Greater^G3187 love^G26 hath^G2192 no man^G3762 than this,^G5026 that^G2443 a man^G5100 lay down^G5087 his^G848 life^G5590 for^G5228 his^G848 friends.^G5384

Here He gives an explanation of what great love is. Perhaps we should use this as a definition.

Joh 15:14       Ye^G5210 are^G2075 my^G3450 friends,^G5384 if^G1437 ye do^G4160 whatsoever^G3745 I^G1473 command^G1781 you.^G5213

The use of the word friend:

Joh 15:15       Henceforth I call you not^{G3765 G3004 G5209} servants;^G1401 for^G3754 the^G3588 servant^G1401 knoweth^G1492 not^G3756 what^G5101 his^G846 lord^G2962 doeth:^G4160 but^G1161 I have called^G2046 you^G5209 friends;^G5384 for^G3754 all things^G3956 that^G3739 I have heard^G191 of^G3844 my^G3450 Father^G3962 I have made known^G1107 unto you.^G5213

Relationship of friend to that of servant.

Joh 15:16       Ye^G5210 have not^G3756 chosen^G1586 me,^G3165 but^G235 I^G1473 have chosen^G1586 you,^G5209 and^G2532 ordained^G5087 you,^G5209 that^G2443 ye^G5210 should go^G5217 and^G2532 bring forth^G5342 fruit,^G2590 and^G2532 that your^G5216 fruit^G2590 should remain:^G3306 that^G2443 whatsoever^{G3748 G302} ye shall ask^G154 of the^G3588 Father^G3962 in^G1722 my^G3450 name,^G3686 he may give^G1325 it you.^G5213

You have not chosen me: This is the way it is all through scripture. Jesus said in another place, that He will draw (drag) all men unto Himself (John 12:32). Despite what we think, God pursues us all well before we become aware of His drawing, so it is He who does the work and we cannot take any credit at all for it. Likewise, it is for all men. Why does He choose us? John 3:16 seems to be a good (godly) explanation for this. For He so loved…. In this chapter, He gives the ultimate definition of what the greatest love is in V13 above.

Joh 15:17       These things^G5023 I command^G1781 you,^G5213 that^G2443 ye love^G25 one another.^G240

These things I command: The Greek for ‘command’ is G1781 (enjoin, charge). In other words it is a directive. So we should love one another, and as mentioned above, love is actively seeking to ensure the best outcome for the other person without affecting the lives of any others negatively. So, this is the command He was taking about when speaking in verse 10 above, and this verse (17) is a reiteration of verse 10 above.

Joh 15:18       If^G1487 the^G3588 world^G2889 hate^G3404 you,^G5209 ye know^G1097 that^G3754 it hated^G3404 me^G1691 before^G4412 it hated you.^G5216

This is the one thing in scripture that absolutely amazes me. Why do men hate Jesus? Here is a man who was/is the Word, who was with God before the foundation of the world, who formed and guided Israel, who brought Himself forth as the redeemer, who Himself died to be the one sacrifice for all time to redeem man from death, and they hate Him? This just doesn’t make any sense at all to me. How stupid (or perhaps grossly ignorant) is a man who openly rejects any notion of the Messiah. I guess this is one reason why God cannot sentence any man to “everlasting hellfire” (whatever that is). See other study on ‘fire’) simply because any ‘decision’ man makes, he makes it without full and complete knowledge of what he is doing. Man only sees within his own worldview which is extremely limited, therefore does not have total knowledge. Herein, God shows the greatness of His Grace as he ‘winks’ at our ignorance (Acts 17:30).

Joh 15:19       If^G1487 ye were^G2258 of^G1537 the^G3588 world,^G2889 the^G3588 world^G2889 would love^{G5368 G302} his own:^G2398 but^G1161 because^G3754 ye are^G2075 not^G3756 of^G1537 the^G3588 world,^G2889 but^G235 I^G1473 have chosen^G1586 you^G5209 out of^G1537 the^G3588 world,^G2889 therefore^{G1223 G5124} the^G3588 world^G2889 hateth^G3404 you.^G5209

The Germans have a saying called ‘Zeitgeist’ which means, spirit of the times, or the world. It seems that all men to some degree are infected by the zeitgeist. The world ‘loves’ his own, and this is so evident today where black is called white, good is called bad, bad is embraced as good and almost all institutions of man (government, finance, religion, socialism, internet, etc) everything is upside down as we are seeing corruption exposed at a faster and faster rate today than ever before. Of interest is the lengths men go to, to cover up internal abuses – look at the sins of the catholic priesthood now being exposed, and the superior’s complicity in the cover up (perhaps they are guilty too, at least by omission).  God will have it all come out, either now or under His direct rule.

Joh 15:20      Remember^G3421 the^G3588 word^G3056 that^G3739 I^G1473 said^G2036 unto you,^G5213 The servant^G1401 is^G2076 not^G3756 greater^G3187 than his^G848 lord.^G2962 If^G1487 they have persecuted^G1377 me,^G1691 they will also^G2532 persecute^G1377 you;^G5209 if^G1487 they have kept^G5083 my^G3450 saying,^G3056 they will keep^G5083 yours^G5212 also.^G2532

Joh 15:21       But^G235 all^G3956 these things^G5023 will they do^G4160 unto you^G5213 for my name's sake,^{G1223 G3450 G3686} because^G3754 they know^G1492 not^G3756 him that sent^G3992 me.^G3165

Joh 15:22       If^G1487 I had not^G3361 come^G2064 and^G2532 spoken^G2980 unto them,^G846 they had not^G3756 had^G2192 sin:^G266 but^G1161 now^G3568 they have^G2192 no^G3756 cloke^G4392 for^G4012 their^G848 sin.^G266

Now here is a statement of interest. If I had not spoken to them, they would not had sin. In our society under man’s laws, there is no excuse for being ignorant of the law. So the expectation of man is that we all will know all laws because we are all subject to them and will be held accountable. Jesus is saying that if they remained ignorant of their sin, they would not be held accountable (ignorance is an excuse, at least in God’s eyes). But now that He spoke to them directly, their sin remains (they are accountable).

This relates back to the law in Ex 21:26 and Paul also refers to it in (blindness).  The law states that if a master ‘smite” his servant and the servants eye is blinded, then the master is to let him go free. The spiritual aspect is that God is the master of us all, and if God, intentionally (it has to be intentional as God does not do accidental things) blinds a man (1 Cor 13:12, 2 Cor 4:4), then He is honour bound by His own law to ‘let him go free’. Jesus was referring to the law when He said this as everything God does, he does by law. So Jesus spoke to them the words of life but they refused to hear them, so, they have no ‘cloke’ – something that covers their sin. See also 1 John 1:9. This is what Jesus was really after in His gracious words to them. He was trying to convict them of sin, so that He could forgive, and they would be healed.

Joh 15:23       He that hateth^G3404 me^G1691 hateth^G3404 my^G3450 Father^G3962 also.^G2532

The outcome of the rejection of the Christ who was right in front of them is based in the hatred of the Father. They thought they were ‘in’ just as most do today, but the Christ was saying, look again (John 5:39). They thought that just because they had the scripture, they were privileged. Note what they said of their own people (John 7:49). They had replaced the love of God with the letter of the law, so that was their God, leaving them as breakers of the first commandment. So also with us, if we are holding some picture of God in our heads that does not truthfully represent Him in His goodness and mercy.

Joh 15:24       If^G1487 I had not^G3361 done^G4160 among^G1722 them^G846 the^G3588 works^G2041 which^G3739 none^G3762 other man^G243 did,^G4160 they had not^G3756 had^G2192 sin:^G266 but^G1161 now^G3568 have they both^G2532 seen^G3708 and^G2532 hated^G3404 both^G2532 me^G1691 and^G2532 my^G3450 Father.^G3962

This is a reiteration, with different words, of verse 22, and part of the structural alternation of this passage. So again, rejection of the Christ by religious leaders is seen by God as ‘hatred’ of both He and His father. In another place, they hated Him without a cause (John 15:25). However, when all things are done, these too will be forgiven, as it is Gods nature to bring all men to repentance and to forgive them (1 Tim 4:10). We all have to go through the fire. That’s what the pruning is all about.

Joh 15:25       But^G235 this cometh to pass, that^G2443 the^G3588 word^G3056 might be fulfilled^G4137 that is written^G1125 in^G1722 their^G846 law,^G3551 They hated^G3404 me^G3165 without a cause.^G1432

See Psalms 35, 69 and 109 for the basis for this statement, repeated in John 15:25. This is one of the most amazing things about men; why would they hate the only one that came to redeem them and give them everlasting life? That boggles the mind!!  

Joh 15:26       But^G1161 when^G3752 the^G3588 Comforter^G3875 is come,^G2064 whom^G3739 I^G1473 will send^G3992 unto you^G5213 from^G3844 the^G3588 Father,^G3962 even the^G3588 Spirit^G4151 of truth,^G225 which^G3739 proceedeth^G1607 from^G3844 the^G3588 Father,^G3962 he^G1565 shall testify^G3140 of^G4012 me:^G1700

Here is a reference to the one He would send in His name, here called the ‘comforter’. The Greek is G3875, parakletos which means comforter, intercessor, consoler, advocate. He is also called ‘the Spirit of Truth’ and His job is to ‘testify’ of me (Jesus).

Joh 15:27       And^G1161 ye^G5210 also^G2532 shall bear witness,^G3140 because^G3754 ye have been^G2075 with^G3326 me^G1700 from^G575 the beginning.^G746

And you shall bear be witness: Here Jesus is not saying to go and evangelise, He is saying that because they had been with Him from the beginning of His earthly ministry, they will ‘bear witness’ that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.

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The text used is the King James Version with Dr James Strong’s Concordance numbers.

Other sources:

The Companion Bible, EW Bullinger, Kregel

Dr Stephen Jones, God’s Kingdom Ministries.