# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_December 1864_S363
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Proposal and Specimen for the Preparation of a Bible Commentary etc. 363

nor does he for that reason greet with honor these few poor disciples, who
have no standing or name at all, but sends them out into all the world to
preach, and thereby means to carry out the glorious prophecy which was
spoken by the mouth of almost every prophet, that out of Jerusalem should
go forth the great tidings, and as Psalm 68:12 says, the great host of
preachers of the Gospel into all the world; that had to be, and had to
come true. L. 11, 1299.

b) This promise stands in all the prophets, that the blessing should
come through the seed of the woman upon all peoples. L. 2, 1924.

Applications. 1.) It is a great comfort that the earthly place from which
this spiritual kingdom was first to spring was foretold so plainly
(Isa. 2:2–3), so that consciences may be assured that this very word is
true which first began to be taught in that corner of the Jews; so that
Mount Zion is, as it were, a rule for us, by which we can judge all
religions and teachings. The Alcoran of the Turks did not have its
beginning in Zion, and is therefore a godless doctrine. The manifold
customs, laws, and human ordinances of the papacy did not have their
beginning in Zion either, and are therefore godless and truly doctrines
of the devil. So we can stand firm against all other religions and
comfort our hearts, that this alone, which we confess, is the true
religion. L. 6, 46.

2.) Here one sees what the fellowship of the God-fearing accomplishes:
for the Lord commanded the disciples to remain together in one place
before they received the Holy Ghost, and to comfort one another, for he
well knew that they would have adversaries. L. 22, 754.

Verse 5.

For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the
Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Notes. This is the difference between the baptism of John and that of
Christ: John neither gives nor brings the forgiveness of sins, but only
points to him who gives it. In John's baptism the forgiveness of sins is
promised; in Christ's baptism it is given. Therefore John's baptism no
longer holds now. — John's baptism differed from the baptism of Christ
in two ways. First, that he admonished everyone to do penance and to
prepare themselves for the Christ who was to come. Second, that they
should wait for the forgiveness of sins, which he who was to come would
bring; it carries the promise of the future forgiveness of sins through
Christ. L. 7, 1661.

John baptized with water: this is not said to mean that the Holy Ghost
is not at work in water-baptism, nor that John's baptism was a different
one from that which has been used in the Christian church from the time
of the apostles onward, but only in order to make a distinction between
the persons and offices of John and of Christ. John is only a servant
of Christ; Christ is the Lord himself. By the words of Luke 3:16 — "I
baptize with water" — he means to say only this: I am but a servant of
salvation; but another, who comes after me, is the author of salvation;
even through my ministry