Secrets of Heaven Vol. 4: New Century Edition

Genesis 22–26

By Emanuel Swedenborg
Translated by Lisa Hyatt Cooper

Secrets of Heaven is Emanuel Swedenborg’s magnum opus, a fifteen-volume work that delves into the inner, spiritual meaning of the biblical books of Genesis and Exodus. The fourth volume covers the inner meaning of Genesis 22–26, which includes the narrative from the story of Abraham through that of Jacob. In Swedenborg’s interpretation, these books symbolize the process Jesus underwent as he united his human and divine natures. In addition, this volume offers extensive exposition of two concepts key to Swedenborg’s exegesis: correspondence and representation.

This new translation, part of the New Century Edition series, makes his insights into Scripture and his accounts of his spiritual experiences more accessible than ever before.

Portable paperback and e-book, 504 pages.

Description

Secrets of Heaven is Emanuel Swedenborg’s magnum opus, a fifteen-volume work that delves into the inner, spiritual meaning of the Bible. Starting from the first verse, Swedenborg goes through Genesis and Exodus verse by verse, sometimes word by word, uncovering the fascinating teachings behind the literal account. By doing careful comparison of passages and tracing individual images and motifs through the Bible, he demonstrates that it contains a profound, coherent, and unified inner meaning.

Volume 4 covers the inner meaning of Genesis 22–26, which on the surface recount God’s testing of Abraham and the generational shift that occurs as Sarah and Abraham die, Isaac and Rebekah marry, and Jacob and Esau are born. The intricacies of this narrative are interpreted as the processes Jesus went through inwardly as he united his human and divine natures and established a new religious culture on earth. Much of this volume also explores the concepts of correspondence and representation as underlying realities present in the natural and spiritual worlds and in the Bible.

This new translation, part of the New Century Edition series, makes his insights into Scripture and his accounts of his spiritual experiences more accessible than ever before.

About the Author

Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) was a Swedish scientist, nobleman, and theologian who spent his life investigating the mysteries of the soul. Born in Stockholm to a staunchly Lutheran family, he graduated from the University of Uppsala and then traveled to England, Holland, France, and Germany to study with the leading scientists of the time. He gained favor with Sweden’s King Charles XII, who gave him the position of overseer of the Swedish mining industry. Later, he was given a seat on the Swedish House of Nobles by Charles XII’s successor, Queen Ulrika Eleonora. Between 1743 and 1745, he began to have visions of heaven, hell, and Jesus Christ, which resulted in a stream of books about the nature of God, the afterlife, and the inner meaning of the Bible. He devoted the last decades of his life to studying Scripture and presenting his own unique theology to the world.

Lisa Hyatt Cooper is translator of the fifteen-volume Secrets of Heaven for the Swedenborg Foundation’s New Century Edition of the Works of Emanuel Swedenborg. Her past publications include a Latin edition of Swedenborg’s work Other Planets. She contributed translations to Debates with Devils by Donald L. Rose and was the main consultant for five of the twelve volumes of John Elliott’s translation of Arcana Caelestia, published by the Swedenborg Society in London.

Reviews

“With regard to Swedenborg’s Secrets of Heaven, there never was a time more pressing than now to understand that the internal spiritual meaning of the Christian Bible refers not to the special dispensation of one sect, but to the evolution of a higher spiritual consciousness within each individual.”

—Eugene Taylor, Ph.D., director of the Cambridge Institute of Psychology and Religion

About the New Century Edition

The New Century Edition of the Works of Emanuel Swedenborg presents a modern-language, scholarly translation of Swedenborg’s theological works. The series’ easy-to-read style retains the dignity, variety, clarity, and gender-inclusive language of Swedenborg’s original Latin, bringing his thought to life. Introductions and annotations by eminent, international scholars place Swedenborg’s writings in their historical context and illuminate obscure references within the text, enabling readers to understand and trace Swedenborg’s influence as never before.

Learn more about the New Century Edition

New Century Edition Subscriptions

If you would like to receive each hardcover Deluxe volume as it comes out, you can become a New Century Edition subscriber.

All subscribers get 30% off the purchase price. Instead of $29.95 per volume, you will be billed $20.95, plus shipping.

If you become a member of the Swedenborg Foundation for $25, you will also receive an additional 20% discount on this and all other purchases of books published by the Swedenborg Foundation when you order from us. When ordered as part of a subscription, the New Century Edition volumes will then cost $14.95 each, plus shipping.

To enroll for a subscription, phone the Foundation at 610-430-3222, ext 109, or e-mail us at info@swedenborg.com. Include your name, address, city, state, zip, home phone, work phone, and e-mail address with your request. Please also let us know whether or not you wish to purchase any of the volumes that have already been published. You may subscribe for the full series or only for the remaining volumes that have not yet been published.

With a subscription, you will receive with our compliments the companion to the New Century Edition, sold separately for $29.95: Emanuel Swedenborg: Essays for the New Century Edition on His Life, Works, and ImpactYou may cancel your subscription at any time without penalty and keep the premium Essays volume as our gift.

Contents of the Portable Edition

Volume 4

Genesis Chapter 22

Preface
§§2760–2763 / [The Word’s Inner Meaning]
Text of Genesis Chapter 22
§§2764–2765 / Summary of Genesis 22
§§2766–2869 / Inner Meaning of Genesis 22
§§2870–2893 / Human Freedom

Genesis Chapter 23

§§2894–2900 / [More on the Word’s Inner Meaning]
Text of Genesis Chapter 23
§§2901–2902 / Summary of Genesis 23
§§2903–2986 / Inner Meaning of Genesis 23
§§2987–3003 / Representation and Correspondence

Genesis Chapter 24

§§3004–3011 / [More on the Word’s Inner Meaning]
Text of Genesis Chapter 24
§§3012–3014 / Summary of Genesis 24
§§3015–3212 / Inner Meaning of Genesis 24
§§3213–3227 / Representation and Correspondence (Continued)

Genesis Chapter 25

§§3228–3229 / [More on the Word’s Inner Meaning]
Text of Genesis Chapter 25
§§3230–3233 / Summary of Genesis 25
§§3234–3336 / Inner Meaning of Genesis 25
§§3337–3352 / Correspondence and Representation (Continued)

Genesis Chapter 26

§§3353–3356 / [Matthew 24:3–8]
Text of Genesis Chapter 26
§§3357–3361 / Summary of Genesis 26
§§3362–3471 / Inner Meaning of Genesis 26
§§3472–3485 / Correspondence and Representation (Continued), Particularly in the Word

Biographical Note

Additional information

Author

Emanuel Swedenborg

Translator

Lisa Hyatt Cooper

Format

portable e-book, portable paperback

ISBN

978-0-87785-420-3, 978-0-87785-721-1

Length

Portable: 504

Series

New Century Edition

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