{"id":11828,"date":"2016-05-02T21:07:29","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T01:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordstudy.newchurch.org\/?page_id=11828"},"modified":"2016-05-02T21:07:29","modified_gmt":"2016-05-03T01:07:29","slug":"answer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/societies.newchurch.org\/wordstudy\/bible-keywords\/answer\/","title":{"rendered":"Answer"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>To \u201canswer,\u201d according to Swedenborg<\/a>, generally indicates a state of spiritual<\/a> receptivity. Ultimately this means being receptive to the Lord<\/a>, who is constantly trying to pour true ideas<\/a> and desires for good<\/a> into our hearts<\/a> and minds<\/a>. It can also mean being receptive in the external<\/a> parts of ourselves to the leading of the internal<\/a> parts of ourselves \u2013 committing to making our actions follow our deeper beliefs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnswering\u201d in the Bible<\/a> is often paired with \u201csaying.\u201d In these cases generally it indicates a level of perception<\/a> coupled with the receptivity. This means you not only accept what\u2019s coming to you from the Lord, but also see it and recognize the truth in it, and the fact that it will lead you to a better life.<\/p>\n

\n

Passages from Swedenborg<\/b><\/p>\n

Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 471<\/b><\/p>\n

471. And one of the elders\u00a0answered, saying unto me.- That this signifies influx out of heaven from the Lord, and thence perception, is evident from the signification of\u00a0answering\u00a0and saying, when stated of the elders, who signify heaven where the Lord is, as denoting influx and perception, for “to\u00a0answer” denotes influx, and “to say,” perception; and from the signification of the elders, as denoting those who are in the second, or middle heaven, where those are who are in intelligence, and through whom responses are given; concerning this see above (n. 462). And because all influx is from the Lord alone, although by means of angels, therefore these words signify influx and perception out of heaven from the Lord. That such a sense is contained in these words may seem strange; still, these words are in no other way understood in heaven. It appears strange, for the reason that this is as it were a historical statement, and matters of history conceal the spiritual sense more than those that are only prophetical; but all the historical parts of the Word contain also a spiritual sense, and still more the prophetical histories, which consist of those things which the prophets saw, and of those that were said to them when they were in the vision of the spirit; for all those things are representative and significative. For example that four-and-twenty elders and four animals were seen by John, is prophetical history, representing and signifying the angels of the higher heavens, as shown above. It follows therefore, that the speaking of one of the elders to him was also significative; for it signifies influx and perception out of heaven from the Lord.<\/p>\n

[2] That\u00a0answering\u00a0does not here signify to\u00a0answer\u00a0in its ordinary meaning, is evident from this fact, that it is said without interrogation, and to\u00a0answer, implies interrogation; here therefore it has reference to thought concerning those who were seen in white robes.<\/p>\n

Moreover the expression “to\u00a0answer,” often occurs in the Word, and, when used in reference to the Lord, it signifies influx, inspiration, perception, and information, also mercy, and help; as in the following passages:<\/p>\n

“In a time of good pleasure have I\u00a0answered\u00a0thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee” (Isaiah xlix. 8).<\/p>\n

In David:<\/p>\n

“Save me, O Jehovah; let the king\u00a0answer\u00a0us in the day when we call” (Psalm xx. 9).<\/p>\n

Again:<\/p>\n

“Answer\u00a0me when I call, O God of my justice” (Psalm iv. 1).<\/p>\n

Again:<\/p>\n

“Consider and\u00a0answer\u00a0me, O Jehovah my God” (Psalm xiii. 3).<\/p>\n

“I call upon thee, for thou wilt\u00a0answer\u00a0me O God” (Psalm xvii. 6).<\/p>\n

Again:<\/p>\n

“I sought Jehovah, and he\u00a0answered\u00a0me” (Psalm xxxiv. 4).<\/p>\n

Again:<\/p>\n

“He calleth upon me, and I will\u00a0answer\u00a0him” (Psalm xci. 15).<\/p>\n

And again:<\/p>\n

“In my distress I cried unto Jehovah, and he\u00a0answered\u00a0me” (cxx. 1, and elsewhere).<\/p>\n

In these and in other passages, by\u00a0answering\u00a0is not meant, toanswer, but to flow into the thought, to cause to perceive, and also to give help from mercy.\u00a0Answers, therefore, that are said to come from the Lord, signify perceptions from influx. It is to be observed, that whatever comes into perception from the Lord is called influx.<\/p>\n

Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 8776<\/b><\/p>\n

8776. ‘And all the people\u00a0answered’ means receptivity. This is clear from the meaning of ‘answering’ as receptivity, when ‘speaking words’ means influx, 8772. ‘Answering’ in other places besides this means receptivity, see 2941, 2957, for it is the reciprocation of influx, 2919, 4096, 8340.<\/p>\n

Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 9384<\/b><\/p>\n

9384. ‘And all the people\u00a0answered\u00a0with one voice’ means an acceptance with the understanding by those who truly belong to the Church. This is clear from the meaning of ‘answering\u00a0with one voice’ as an acceptance with the understanding, for ‘answering’ means receptivity, 2941, 2957, and ‘voice’ means the affirmation (confessio) which comes forth from the understanding (things which belong to the mouth, and consequently to speech or voice, correspond to the understanding part of the mind; this is also the part from which voice or speech emanates, whereas the actual affection within speech, which has its origin in the end that is intended or in the love that enlivens, emanates from the will part); and from the meaning of the children of Israel, to whom ‘the people’ refers here, as the Church, dealt with in 9340, thus those who truly belong to the Church. From all this it is evident that ‘the people\u00a0answered\u00a0with one voice’ means an acceptance with the understanding by those who truly belong to the Church.<\/p>\n

Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 2957<\/b><\/p>\n

2957. ‘Ephron\u00a0answered\u00a0Abraham, saying to him’ means a state of receptivity. This is clear from the meaning of ‘answering’, when assent is being given, as receptivity, dealt with above in 2941. The fact that it is a state of receptivity which is meant here byanswering\u00a0and saying is evident from what follows.<\/p>\n

Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 6943<\/b><\/p>\n

6943. ‘And Moses\u00a0answered\u00a0and said’ means thought coming from the law of God. This is clear from the meaning of ‘answering\u00a0and saying’ as thought, for expressions used in the literal and historical sense to describe things of an external nature mean in the internal sense realities of an internal nature (spiritual realities, or things of heaven, cannot be presented to people in any other way at all, for bare spiritual realities cannot be comprehended by a person, nor can they be expressed in the words of human speech; that is why spiritual realities have been described by means of natural things corresponding to them and in that form presented to mankind, making the Word suited to a person in the natural world as well as to a person in the spiritual world, which establishes contact between heaven and mankind, and their fellowship); and from the representation of ‘Moses’ as the Lord in respect of the law of God, dealt with in 6752. From this it is evident that ‘Moses\u00a0answered\u00a0and said’ means thought coming from the law of God; and thought coming from the law of God is thought coming from the truth from God. Here the thought is that the children of Israel are not going to believe unless they see signs and portents.<\/p>\n

Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 5255<\/b><\/p>\n

5255. ‘And Joseph\u00a0answered\u00a0Pharaoh’ means awareness. This is clear from the meaning of ‘giving an\u00a0answer\u00a0to something’, when any question is posed regarding it, as imparting knowledge and thereby showing an awareness of the nature of the matter.<\/p>\n

Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 4184<\/b><\/p>\n

4184. ‘Laban\u00a0answered\u00a0and said to Jacob’ means an obscure state of perception. This is clear from the meaning of ‘answering\u00a0and saying’ as perception; for ‘saying’ in historical narratives of the Word means perceiving, see 1898, 1919, 2080, 2862, 3395, 3509. The fact that an obscure state of perception is meant is clear from the assertions made here by Laban – that the daughters, the sons, and the flock were his own, when in fact they were not.<\/p>\n

Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 5150<\/b><\/p>\n

5150. ‘And Joseph\u00a0answered\u00a0and said’ means revelation resulting from perception received by the celestial within the natural. This is clear from the meaning of ‘answering\u00a0and saying’ as revelation resulting from perception, dealt with above in 5121; and from the representation of ‘Joseph’ as the celestial within the natural, dealt with in 5086, 5087, 5106.<\/p>\n

Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 5472<\/b><\/p>\n

5472. ‘And Reuben\u00a0answered\u00a0them, saying’ means that a perception nevertheless existed, springing from faith in doctrine and in the understanding. This is clear from the meaning of ‘answering’ or ‘saying to his brothers’ as perception, for ‘saying’ is perception, see above in 5468; and from the representation of ‘Reuben’ as faith in doctrine and in the understanding, which is the truth of doctrine by means of which one can arrive at the good of life, dealt with in 3861, 3866.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To \u201canswer,\u201d according to Swedenborg, generally indicates a state of spiritual receptivity. Ultimately this means being receptive to the Lord, who is constantly trying to pour true ideas and desires for good into our hearts and minds. It can also mean being receptive in the external parts of ourselves to the leading of the internal […]<\/p>\n

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