Gratitude

Passages

Every passage tagged with this emotion in the Vela corpus. Search the body text, narrow by source or register, click through to a book’s profile to see how the passage sits with the rest of the work.

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• From The Well of Loneliness (1928)

  Then she turned and found Puddle whom she also stroked. ‘And now I know both of you,’ declared Julie. The tea when it came was that straw-coloured liquid which may even now be met with in Paris. ‘English tea bought especially for you, my Stévenne,’ remarked Mademoiselle proudly. ‘We drink only coffee, but I said to my sister, Stévenne likes the good tea, and so, no doubt, does Mademoiselle Puddle. At four o’clock they will not want coffee—you observe how well I remember your England! ’ However, the cakes proved worthy of France, and Mademoiselle ate them as though she enjoyed them. Julie ate very little and did not talk much. She just sat there and listened, quietly smiling; and while she listened she crocheted lace as though, as she said, she could see through her fingers. Then Mademoiselle Duphot explained how it was that those delicate hands had become so skilful, replacing the eyes which their ceaseless labour had robbed of the blessèd privilege of sight—explained so simply yet with such conviction, that Stephen must marvel to hear her. ‘It is all our little Thérèse,’ she told Stephen. ‘You have heard of her? No? Ah, but what a pity! Our Thérèse was a nun at the Carmel at Lisieux, and she said: “I will let fall a shower of roses when I die.” She died not so long ago, but already her Cause has been presented at Rome by the Very Reverend Father Rodrigo! That is very wonderful, is it not, Stévenne? But she does not wait to become a saint; ah, but no, she is young and therefore impatient. She cannot wait, she has started already to do miracles for all those who ask her. I asked that Julie should not be unhappy through the loss of her eyes—for when she is idle she is always unhappy—so our little Thérèse has put a pair of new eyes in her fingers.’ Julie nodded. ‘It is true,’ she said very gravely; ‘before that I was stupid because of my blindness. Everything felt very strange, and I stumbled about like an old blind horse. I was terribly stupid, far more so than many. Then one night Véronique asked Thérèse to help me, and the next day I could find my way round our room. From then on my fingers saw what they touched, and now I can even make lace quite well because of this sight in my fingers.’ Then turning to the smiling Mademoiselle Duphot: ‘But why do you not show her picture to Stévenne?’

• From The Surrender: An Erotic Memoir (2004)

  But I did buy a series of ten massages at a reduced rate. He insisted, for his own moral welfare (and perhaps mine), that he always give me a massage—although on more than one occasion the massage came after we did. I was surprised at how much I liked sucking his cock. It was because he had shown me love first, and filled with gratitude, I headed down. I gave this guy the first good blow job I had ever given, one that came from my guts and brought tears into my eyes. It was the first time I was that grateful to a man. We never saw each other outside of the room in my apartment. We stayed in the bedroom, only going to the kitchen for liquids and the bathroom for rinses. The bedroom was the world. No dinners, no dates, only phone calls to make an appointment. Because my damaged hip had ended my dance career, the massages were paid for by insurance. Insurance for the resurrection of my deeply injured sexual desire. I was obsessed with my masseur. I tried to fill the time between sessions, wondering, Did I live to see him, or did I see him so I could live? I learned with him that I am most alive, most observant, and most intelligent when sexually engaged. And I experienced for the first time the intense beauty of having a time and place for a lover where sexual pleasure is the mutual purpose, the only conscious intent. After all, you never know where a dinner date is going to end up. So often the conversation runs amok and preempts the possibility of sex afterwards. I like to know when I’m going to have sex—it’s too important to leave to chance. Boundaries around the erotic . . . my theory grew wings. A room, a bed, two bodies, music, no intrusions. This was the life I wanted to explore and did— once a week for over a year. “The frame is a border hermetically sealing-off the object, so that all you are experiencing, all that matters, is within that border,” wrote Joseph Campbell. “It is a sacred field, and you become pure subject for a pure object.” Ugliness, I realized, only enters my love life when real life does. Cars, calls, bills, mortgages, food, family, schedules, money—these are the subjects of controversy and control, and they destroy the erotic bond. Did he love me? Did he fantasize about me? Did he dream of marrying me? Did he wonder if I had other men and hate it? Did I infiltrate all his waking moments? Did he wonder what our kids might look like? If mental obsession is the evidence of love, I don’t think he was in love with me. But he loved me in the time we were together.

• From The Decameron (1353)

  Then, feeling herself with child and unwilling to burden the gentlewoman farther with such an office, she said to her, 'Madam, thanks to God and you, I have gotten that which I desired, wherefore it is time that I do that which shall content you and after get me gone hence.' The gentlewoman answered that, if she had gotten that which contented her, she was well pleased, but that she had not done this of any hope of reward, nay, for that herseemed it behoved her to do it, an she would do well. 'Madam,' rejoined the countess, 'that which you say liketh me well and so on my part I purpose not to give you that which you shall ask of me by way of reward, but to do well, for that meseemeth behoveful so to do.' The gentlewoman, then, constrained by necessity, with the utmost shamefastness, asked her an hundred pounds to marry her daughter withal; but the countess, seeing her confusion and hearing her modest demand, gave her five hundred and so many rare and precious jewels as were worth maybe as much more. With this the gentlewoman was far more than satisfied and rendered the countess the best thanks in her power; whereupon the latter, taking leave of her, returned to the inn, whilst the other, to deprive Bertrand of all farther occasion of coming or sending to her house, removed with her daughter into the country to the house of one of her kinsfolk, and he, being a little after recalled by his vassals and hearing that the countess had departed the country, returned to his own house.

• From The Incendiaries (2018)

  Hand-sized, a spot of red throbbed past, the new hostess’s zodiac tattoo. It veiled the side of her neck. The last girl had quit in less than a month. I pushed ahead, telling Paul that maybe he should give a shit, since it was possible I’d dated a girl who, well, if any of this became public knowledge, guests might—but before I could finish, he slapped the bar top, his rings clinking zinc. The crayfish he’d pulled out lifted its petaled tail; he took it up by its midsection, dropped it in the box. Kendall, I tell you I’ve got no questions, it means I’ve got no questions, he said. You think you know a thing I don’t? Let me tell you what happened the month those towers fell, when a pack of drunk kids chased the wife with a pistol, yelling, Muslim, go home. The wife’s from fucking Sevilla, she’s no Muslim, just because she likes to tan in the salons these kids think they’ll decide who belongs. I don’t give a fuck what you do outside this place. Got it? But what I do care about, what makes this laissez-faire ass of mine pinch tight, I care so much, is that I’ve worked in this business since I was knee-high to a shitball, but you think I’d set you up with Piero with no clue what I’m doing. You think I’m stupid? No, I said. Is that right? I don’t think you’re stupid. Bravo, kid, he said. He patted my face, his palm brine-scented. Go be useful. Tell Joel I’ll come in to talk in five. When I returned to the dining room, Paul was in high spirits, gossiping about the new hire, who, he professed, had worked in fetish porn films. I’m almost certain, he said. It’s possible it makes this girl a more skillful hostess, but then again it’s possible it doesn’t, so you’ll have to watch the girl extra close, Kendall. He was riffing about challenging sexual positions when I interrupted him. Paul, you don’t mean this, I said. He chuckled, glancing at his phone. What’s that? he asked. I appreciate what you said about, I’m grateful—Piero helped, Paul, but the way everyone here talks about women, I don’t think it’s respectful. They keep quitting. Tilting back on his heels, Paul smiled. I thought I was about to lose the job; instead, he said, It’s cute. The child’s speaking up. I’ll give you a tip, though. If you’re hoping to wipe down that soul of yours, do it on your own time. Don’t fucking waste mine. –

• From The Incendiaries (2018)

  To Michael Cunningham, my mentor all these years. To Jenny Offill, Joshua Henkin, Ernesto Mestre, Catherine Texier, Stacey D’Erasmo, Sheila Kohler, André Aciman, Christine Schutt, Peter Ho Davies, Charles Baxter, Amy Bloom, John Crowley, Katharine Weber, and Jennifer Kennedy, my inimitable teachers. To Tony Tulathimutte, Laura van den Berg, Vauhini Vara, Andi Winnette, Anthony Ha, Vanessa Janowski, Raja Haddad, Cristina Moracho, M. A. Taft-McPhee, and M. Brett Smith, admired friends who read drafts of this book. To my esteemed writing group, past and present, including Colin Winnette, Daniel Levin Becker, Esmé Weijun Wang, Rachel Khong, Alice Sola Kim, Anisse Gross, Karan Mahajan, Caille Millner, Katrina Dodson, Pola Oloixarac, Jennifer duBois, Annie Julia Wyman, Katherine Marino, Lydia David Fitzpatrick, Diane Cook, and Greg Larson. To my Brooklyn College cohort, especially Andy Hunter, Hugh Merwin, Robert Jones, and Scott Lindenbaum, who saw The Incendiaries at its start. To friends whose advice, help, and encouragement sustained me: Vanessa Hua, Bich Minh Nguyen, Kirstin Chen, Aimee Phan, Frances Hwang, Marie Mutsuki Mockett, Garnette Cadogan, Alexander Chee, Lauren Groff, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Celeste Ng, Rabih Alameddine, Josh Weil, Christine Hyung-Oak Lee, Nayomi Munaweera, Yalitza Ferreras, Cara Bayles, Matthew Salesses, Carmen Maria Machado, Peter Mountford, Alexi Zentner, Michael David Lukas, Ross White, Matthew Olzmann, James Scott, Susan Steinberg, Elliott Holt, Marie-Helene Bertino, Chloe Benjamin, Rebecca Makkai, Thomas Meaney, Cara Blue Adams, Mike Scalise, Dara Barnat, Gerald Maa, Lawrence-Minh Bùi Davis, Sonya Larson, Shuchi Saraswat, Harriet Clark, Jennine Capó Crucet, Elena Passarello, Hasanthika Sirisena, Dave Lucas, Tomás Q. Morín, Michael Croley, Giuseppe Taurino, Nina McConigley, Xhenet Aliu, Ru Freeman, Sarah Gerkensmeyer, Chloe Honum, Amanda Goldblatt, Luis Jaramillo, David James Poissant, Julie Iromuanya, Anne Valente, Seth Tucker, Rebecca Makkai, Kyle Minor, Mary Kim-Arnold, Michelle Hoover, Kirstin Valdez Quade, Krys Lee, Vikram Chandra, CJ Hauser, Marie Myung-Ok Lee, Christian Kiefer, Lydia Kiesling, Nicole Chung, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Crystal Kim, Lillian Li, Danielle Lazarin, Adrienne Celt, Aja Gabel, Rachel Lyon, Tracy O’Neill, Patricia Park, James Cañón, Brandon Hobson, Piyali Bhattacharya, Anna Keesey, Oscar Villalon, Julie Buntin, Colin Drohan, Garth Greenwell, and Lucy Tan. To Emily Ballaine, Stephen Sparks, Molly Parent, Brad Johnson, Vanessa Martini, Paul Yamazaki, and Dan Weiss, for recommendations and camaraderie. To Diane Williams, and to Noon, where short excerpts of The Incendiaries first appeared in slightly different form; to Madelaine Lucas, Rebekah Bergman, Zach Davidson, Hilary Leichter, Rita Bullwinkel, and Emily Tobin. To Stuart Dybek and Tara Masih, who selected an excerpt for The Best Small Fictions. To Thomas Ross, and to Tin House, where an excerpt appeared. To John Kwon, Christine Ji Min Kwon, Lynn Dawson, Carl Dawson, Karen Occhipinti, and Vince Occhipinti, always. To the examples set forth by Agnes Shin, Chang Ho Shin, Byung Rim Kwon, and Tae Ryong Kwon. To Clara Kwon and Young Kwon, for everything. To Michael, first reader, my love, who believed even when I couldn’t.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  18 When that year was ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord [the fact] that our money is spent; my lord also has our herds of livestock; there is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. 19 “Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed [to plant], that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.” Result of the Famine 20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every Egyptian sold his field because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. 21 And as for the people, he relocated them [temporarily] to cities from one end of Egypt’s border to the other. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh, and they lived on the amount which Pharaoh gave them, so they did not sell their land. 23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh; now, here is seed for you, and you shall plant the land. 24 “At harvest time [when you reap the increase] you shall give one-fifth of it to Pharaoh, and four-fifths will be your own to use for seed for the field and as food for you and those of your households and for your little ones.” 25 And they said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt—valid to this e day—that Pharaoh should have the fifth part [of the crops]; only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh’s. 27 Now [the people of] Israel lived in the country of Egypt, in [the land of] Goshen, and they gained possessions and acquired property there and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the f length of Jacob’s life was a hundred and forty-seven years. 29 And when the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, g please put your hand under my thigh and [promise to] deal loyally and faithfully with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I lie down with my fathers [in death], you will carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place [at Hebron in the cave of Machpelah].” And Joseph said, “I will do as you have directed.” 31 Then he said, “Swear to me [that you will do it].” So he swore to him.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  The Letter of Paul to the Colossians Colossians 1 Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments 1 P aul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the a saints and faithful b believers in Christ [who are] at Colossae: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father. 3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we pray always for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] c love which you have for all the saints (God’s people); 5 because of the [confident] hope [of experiencing that] which is reserved and waiting for you in heaven. You previously heard of this hope in the message of truth, the gospel [regarding salvation] 6 which has come to you. Indeed, just as in the whole world the gospel is constantly bearing fruit and spreading [by God’s power], just as it has been doing among you ever since the day you first heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth [becoming thoroughly and deeply acquainted with it]. 7 You learned it from [our representative] Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf 8 and he also has told us of your love [well-grounded and nurtured] in the [Holy] Spirit. 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things], 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]; 11 [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light. The Incomparable Christ 13 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty]. 15 He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  13 “Behold, I stand here at the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; 14 now let it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please, let down your jar so that I may [have a] drink,’ and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels water to drink’—may she be the one whom You have selected [as a wife] for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness (faithfulness) to my master.” Rebekah Is Chosen 15 Before Eliezer had finished speaking (praying), Rebekah came out with her [water] jar on her shoulder. Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel the b son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin and unmarried; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar.” 18 And she said, “Drink, my lord”; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink. 19 When she had given Eliezer a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels until they have finished drinking.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran again to the well and drew water for all his camels. 21 Meanwhile, the man stood gazing at Rebekah in [reverent] silence, [waiting] to know if the LORD had made his trip successful or not. 22 When the camels had finished drinking, Eliezer took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her hands weighing ten shekels in gold, 23 and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?” 24 And she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to [her husband] Nahor.” 25 Again she said to him, “We have plenty of both straw and feed, and also room to lodge.” 26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD . 27 He said, “Blessed be the LORD , the God of my master Abraham, who has not denied His lovingkindness and His truth to my master. As for me, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brothers.” 28 Then the girl ran and told her mother’s household what had happened. 29 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to the man at the well. 30 When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and when he heard Rebekah his sister, saying, “The man said this to me,” he went to Eliezer and found him standing by the camels at the spring. 31 And Laban said, “Come in, blessed of the LORD !

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  To confirm a transaction, a man pulled off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the way of confirming and attesting in Israel. 8 So, when the closest relative (redeemer) said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he pulled off his sandal [and gave it to Boaz to confirm the agreement]. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought everything that was Elimelech’s and everything that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s from the hand of Naomi. 10 “I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife to restore the name of the deceased to his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the gate of his birthplace. You are witnesses today.” 11 All the people at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the household of Israel. May you achieve wealth and power in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. 12 “Further, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer (grandson, as heir) today, and may his name become famous in Israel. 15 “May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” The Line of David Began Here 16 Then Naomi took the child and placed him in her lap, and she became his nurse. 17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son (grandson) has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed (worshiper). He is the father of Jesse, the father of David [the ancestor of Jesus Christ]. 18 Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, 19 Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, 20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, 22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David [the king of Israel and the ancestor of Jesus Christ]. Ruth 1 a 1:1 Moab was located on a high plateau on the eastern shore of the Salt (Dead) Sea. The Moabites were related to the Israelites through their common ancestor, Terah.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed of the LORD who has not ceased his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Again Naomi said to her, “The man is one of our closest relatives, one who has the right to d redeem us.” [Lev 25:25 ] 21 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘Stay close to my servants until they have harvested my entire crop.’ ” 22 Naomi said to Ruth, “It is good, my daughter, for you to go out [to work] with his maids, so that others do not assault you in another field.” 23 So she stayed close to the maids of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law. Ruth 3 Boaz Will Redeem Ruth 1 T HEN NAOMI her mother-in-law said to Ruth, “My daughter, shall I not look for a security and a home for you, so that it may be well with you? 2 “Now Boaz, with whose maids you were [working], is he not our relative? See now, he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor tonight. 3 “So wash and anoint yourself [with olive oil], then put on your [b best] clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; c but stay out of the man’s sight until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 “When he lies down, notice the place where he is lying, and d go and uncover his feet and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do.” 5 Ruth answered her, “I will do everything that you say.” 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had told her. 7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was happy, he went to lie down at the end of the stack of grain. Then Ruth came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night the man was startled and he turned over, and found a woman lying at his feet. 9 So he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. Spread the hem of your garment over me, for you are a close relative and redeemer.” 10 Then he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD , my daughter. You have made your last kindness better than the first; for you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 “Now, my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do for you whatever you ask, since all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  [Matt 18:7 ] 2 “It would be better for him if a millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea, than for him to cause one of these a little ones to stumble [in sin and lose faith]. [Matt 18:6 ; Mark 9:42 ] 3 “Pay attention and always be on guard [looking out for one another]! If your brother sins and disregards God’s precepts, solemnly warn him; and if he repents and changes, forgive him. 4 “Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him [that is, give up resentment and consider the offense recalled and annulled].” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith [our ability to confidently trust in God and in His power].” 6 And the Lord said, “If you b have [confident, abiding] faith in God [even as small] as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree [which has very strong roots], ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea’; and [if the request was in agreement with the will of God] it would have obeyed you. [Matt 17:20 ; Mark 11:23 ; 1 John 5:14 ] 7 “Which of you who has a servant plowing or tending sheep will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat?’ 8 “Will he not instead say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and appropriately clothe yourself [for service] and serve me while I eat and drink; then afterward you may eat and drink?’ 9 “He does not thank the servant just because he did what he was ordered to do, does he? 10 “So you too, when you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants [undeserving of praise or a reward, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have merely done what we ought to do.’ ” Ten Lepers Cleansed 11 While Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing [along the border] between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance; 13 and they raised their voices and called out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were [miraculously] healed and made clean. [Lev 14:2–32 ] 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying and praising and honoring God with a loud voice; 16 and he lay face downward at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him [over and over]. He was a c Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten [of you] cleansed? Where are the [other] nine?

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  13 But we should and are [morally] obligated [as debtors] always to give thanks to God for you, believers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the e sanctifying work of the Spirit [that sets you apart for God’s purpose] and by your faith in the truth [of God’s word that leads you to spiritual maturity]. 14 It was to this end that He called you through our gospel [the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection], so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, f brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold [tightly] to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and encouragement and the good [well-founded] hope [of salvation] by His grace, 17 comfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts [keeping them steadfast and on course] in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 3 Exhortation 1 F INALLY, BROTHERS and sisters, pray continually for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be honored [triumphantly celebrated and glorified], just as it was with you; 2 and [pray] that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not everyone has the faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do the things [which] we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ. 6 Now we command you, believers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by His authority, that you withdraw and keep away from every brother or sister who leads an undisciplined life and does not live in accordance with the tradition and teaching that a you have received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined or inappropriate manner when we were with you [we were never idle or lazy, nor did we avoid our duties], 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we worked night and day [to pay our own way] so that we would not be a financial burden on any of you [for our support]; 9 not because we do not have a right to such support, but [we provided our own financial support] to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  10 They also gave us many honors [gifts and courtesies expressing respect]; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all the things we needed. Paul Arrives at Rome 11 At the end of three months we set sail on a ship which had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the d Twin Brothers [Castor and Pollux] as its figurehead. 12 We landed at Syracuse [on Sicily] and stayed there three days. 13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium [on Italy’s southern tip]; and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at e Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers and sisters, having heard news about us, came from as far away as the f Forum of Appius and g Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself [in rented quarters] with the soldier who was guarding him. 17 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Kinsmen, though I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our fathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 “After they had interrogated me, they were ready to release me because I was not guilty of any offense deserving death. 19 “But when the Jews objected [to my release], I was forced to appeal to Caesar (Emperor Nero), not because I had any charge to make against my nation. 20 “For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel (the Messiah, the resurrection) that I am bound with this chain.” 21 They said to him, “We have not received [any] letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the [Jewish] brothers come here and reported or said anything bad about you. 22 “But we would like to hear from you what your views are [that is, exactly what you believe]; for in regard to this sect (Christianity), we are fully aware that it is denounced everywhere.” 23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to his lodging in large numbers. And he carefully explained [Christianity] to them from morning until evening, solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the [writings of the] Prophets. 24 Some were persuaded by what he said, but others would not believe.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  47 “Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him’; and I c put the ring in her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. 48 “And I bowed down my head and worshiped the LORD , and blessed the LORD , the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take the daughter of my master’s brother to his son [as a wife]. 49 “So now if you are going to show kindness and truth to my master [being faithful to him], tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right or to the left [and go on my way].” 50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The matter has come from the LORD ; so we dare not speak bad or good [to you about it—we cannot interfere]. 51 “Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.” 52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground [in worship] before the LORD . 53 Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and articles of clothing, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night [there]. In the morning when they got up, he said, “Now send me back to my master.” 55 But Rebekah’s brother and mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days—at least ten; then she may go.” 56 But Eliezer said to them, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away, so that I may go back to my master.” 57 And they said, “We will call the girl and ask her d what she prefers.” 58 So they called Rebekah and said, “Will you go with this man?” And she answered, “I will go.” 59 So they sent off their sister Rebekah and her nurse [Deborah, as her attendant] and Abraham’s servant [Eliezer] and his men. 60 They blessed Rebekah and said to her, “May you, our sister, Become [the mother of] thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess (conquer) The [city] gate of those who hate them.” 61 Then Rebekah and her attendants e stood, and they mounted camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went on his way. Isaac Marries Rebekah 62 Now Isaac had returned from going to Beer-lahai-roi (Well of the Living One Who Sees Me), for he was living in the f Negev. [Gen 16:14 ] 63 Isaac went out to bow down [in prayer] in the field in the [early] evening; he raised his eyes and looked, and camels were coming.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  57 “May the LORD our God be with us as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us nor abandon us [to our enemies], 58 that He may guide our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways [following Him] and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His precepts which He commanded our fathers. 59 “Let these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD , be near to the LORD our God day and night, so that He will maintain the cause and right of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else. 61 “Therefore, your hearts are to be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as [you are doing] today.” Dedicatory Sacrifices 62 Then the king and all [the people of] Israel with him [repeatedly] offered sacrifice before the LORD . 63 Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD : 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house (temple) of the LORD . 64 On that same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the house (temple) of the LORD ; for he offered there the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to hold [all] the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the peace offerings. 65 So at that time Solomon held the e feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath [on the northern border of Israel] to the f Brook of Egypt [at Israel’s southern border], before the LORD our God, for seven days and seven more days [beyond the prescribed period for the Feast of Booths], fourteen days in all. 66 On the eighth (fifteenth) day he sent the people away and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and in good spirits because of all the goodness which the LORD had shown to David His servant and Israel His people. 1 Kings 9 God’s Promise and Warning 1 N OW IT happened when Solomon had finished building the house (temple) of the LORD and the king’s house (palace), and all else which he was pleased to do, 2 that the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, just as He had appeared to him a at Gibeon. 3 The LORD told him, “I have heard your prayer and supplication which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My Name and My Presence there forever. My eyes and My heart shall be there perpetually.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  b 5:1 Lit brethren . c 5:4 Lit brethren . d 5:21 Or everyone, that is, anyone claiming to be a prophet. e 5:26 Greeting other believers with a kiss on the cheek would be the equivalent of today’s handshake, pat on the back, or casual hug. f 5:27 Lit brethren . The Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Thanksgiving for Faith and Perseverance 1 P aul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy, T o the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always and indeed are morally obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks to God for you, a brothers and sisters, as is fitting, because your faith is growing ever greater, and the [unselfish] b love of each one of you toward one another is continually increasing. 4 Therefore, we speak of you with pride among the churches of God for your steadfastness [your unflinching endurance, and patience] and your firm faith in the midst of all the persecution and [crushing] distress which you endure. 5 This is a positive proof of the righteous judgment of God [a sign of His fair verdict], so that you will be considered worthy of His kingdom, for which indeed you are suffering. 6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with distress those who distress you, 7 and to give relief to you who are so distressed and to us as well when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in a flame of fire, 8 dealing out [full and complete] vengeance to those who do not [seek to] know God and to those who ignore and refuse to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus [by choosing not to respond to Him]. 9 These people will pay the penalty and endure the punishment of c everlasting destruction, banished from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day [that is, glorified through the changed lives of those who have accepted Him as Savior and have been set apart for His purpose], and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed and trusted [and confirmed in your lives]. 11 With this in view, we constantly pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of your calling [to faith] and with [His] power fulfill every desire for goodness, and complete [your] every work of faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you [by what you do], and you in Him, according to the [precious] grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give to you.” Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom 8 Then Solomon said to God, “You have shown great lovingkindness and mercy to my father David, and have made me king in his place. 9 “Now, O LORD God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 “Give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may go out and come in [performing my duties] before this people, for [otherwise] who can rule and administer justice to this great people of Yours?” 11 God replied to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart and you did not ask for riches, possessions or honor and personal glory, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself so that you may rule and administer justice to My people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor will those who will come after you.” 13 So Solomon went from the high place at Gibeon, from the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel. Solomon’s Wealth 14 Solomon acquired chariots and horsemen; he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the cities [suited for the use] of chariots and with the king at Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as plentiful and common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as plentiful as the a sycamore-fig trees in the lowland. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from b Kue. The king’s merchants purchased them [in large numbers] from Kue c at a price. 17 And they imported chariots from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver apiece, and horses for 150 apiece; and in the same way they exported horses to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Arameans (Syrians). 2 Chronicles 2 Solomon Will Build a Temple and Palace 1 a N OW SOLOMON decided to build a house (temple) for the Name of the LORD , and a royal palace for himself. 2 b So Solomon assigned 70,000 men to carry loads, 80,000 men to quarry stone in the mountains, and 3,600 to supervise them. 3 Then Solomon sent word to c Hiram king of Tyre, saying, “As you dealt with my father David and sent him cedars to build himself a house in which to live, [please] do the same for me.

• From The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Vol. 4: Reformation of Church and Dogma (1300-1700) (1984)

  By using the index and by working his way through the narrative, even some one who knows no church history and no theology should be able to follow the plot and watch its movement. In this way I strive to meet the needs of the two sets of readers to whom I have, with equal interest, addressed this book: students of theology and church history, who are con cerned with the history of Christian doctrine because it is Christian; students of intellectual history, who are con- Preface XI cerned with the history of Christian doctrine because it contains important and influential ideas. Being at one and the same time a historian of ideas and a historian of the church, I hope that both groups will be able to read this book and to benefit from it. I wish I could thank everyone who has helped me on the way, but there are a few whom I simply must thank: my Doktorvater, Wilhelm Pauck, who was a student of Adolf von Harnack and has been my mentor; my stu dents in the history of doctrine during almost a quarter- century, who have watched this exposition develop; the National Endowment for the Humanities, whose grant of a senior fellowship enabled me to do the job; pub lishers of my previous works, who have granted me permission to quote myself; colleagues at various uni versities, especially Daniel J. Boorstin, with whom I dis cussed the conception of the work as a whole; hearers and readers, some of them anonymous, whose evaluations and criticisms compelled me to improve the book; and Mrs. Margaret Schulze, my former secretary and editorial assistant, who saw the project through almost to the point of completion. Primary Sources Authors and Texts Act.Archel. Aesch.Eum. Alex.Tom. Ambr. Ep. Exc.Sat. Fid. Luc. Ps. Ps.u8 Ambrosiast. i Cor. Rom. Ammon.Joh. Amph. Ep.syn. if. Horn. Mesopent. AnastSHod. Ans.Cur d.h. Apoll. Fid.inc. Fid.sec.pt. M Ar. Ep.Alex. Ep.Eus. Amob.Nat. Asc.ls. Acts of Archelaus Aeschylus. Eumenides Alexander of Alexandria. Tome Ambrose of Milan Epistles On the Passing Away of His Brother Satyrus [De excessu fratris sui Satyri] On the Faith [De fide] Exposition of the Gospel of Luke Exposition of the Psalms Exposition of Psalm 118 Ambrosiaster Exposition of i Corinthians Exposition of Romans Ammonius of Alexandria. Exposition of the Gospel of John Amphilochius of Iconium Synodical Epistle Fragments Homilies Oration at Mid-Pentecost [Oratio in Mesopentecosten] Anastasius of Sinai. Guide to the Way [Hodegus] Anselm of Canterbury. Why God Became Man [Cur deus homo] Apollinaris of Laodicea On Faith and the Incarnation [De fide et incamatione] Detailed Confession of Faith [Fides secundum partern] Fragments Arius of Alexandria Epistle to Alexander Epistle to Eusebius Arnobius of Sicca. Against the Nations Ascension of Isaiah Xlll PRIMARY SOURCES XIV Ath. Apol.Const. ApoLsec. Ar. Deer. Dion. Ep.Aeg.Lib. Ep.Afr. Ep.fest. EpSerap. Pug. Gent. Inc. Syn. Tom. V.Ant. Ps.Ath. Apoll. Ar.4 Exp.fid. Athenag. Leg. Res. Aug. Anim. Civ. Conf. Corrept. Doctr.christ. Duab.anim. Enchir. Ep. Ep.fund. Ep.Joh. Ev.Joh. Faust. Fid.et.symb. Fort. Gen.ad lift.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  [Ex 14–15 ] 7 Who rules by His might forever, His eyes keep watch on the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah. 8 Bless our God, O peoples, And make the sound of His praise be heard abroad, 9 Who keeps us among the living, And does not allow our feet to slip or stumble. 10 For You have tested us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. 11 You brought us into the net; You laid a heavy burden [of servitude] on a us. 12 You made men (charioteers) b ride over our heads [in defeat]; We went through fire and through water, Yet You brought us out into a [broad] place of abundance [to be refreshed]. 13 I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows, 14 Which my lips uttered And my mouth spoke as a promise when I was in distress. 15 I shall offer to You burnt offerings of fat lambs, With the [sweet] smoke of rams; I will offer bulls with male goats. Selah. 16 Come and hear, all who fear God [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], And I will tell what He has done for me. 17 I cried aloud to Him; He was highly praised with my tongue. 18 If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it], The Lord will not hear [me]; [Prov 15:29 ; 28:9 ; Is 1:15 ; John 9:31 ; James 4:3 ] 19 But certainly God has heard [me]; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me. Psalm 67 The Nations Exhorted to Praise God. To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. 1 G OD BE gracious and kind-hearted to us and bless us, And make His face shine [with favor] on us— Selah. 2 That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation and deliverance among all nations. 3 Let the a peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, For You will judge the people fairly And guide the nations on earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth has yielded its harvest [as evidence of His approval]; God, our God, blesses us. 7 God blesses us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder]. Psalm 68 The God of Sinai and of the Sanctuary. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song. 1 L ET GOD arise, and His enemies be scattered; Let those who hate Him flee before Him.

• From Amplified Holy Bible (2015)

  The First Letter of Paul to Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Misleadings in Doctrine and Living 1 P aul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus by the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) our Hope [the fulfillment of our salvation], 2 to Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 As I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia, stay on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain individuals not to teach any different doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to legends (fables, myths) and endless genealogies, which give rise to useless speculation and meaningless arguments rather than advancing God’s program of instruction which is grounded in faith [and requires surrendering the entire self to God in absolute trust and confidence]. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some individuals have wandered away from these things into empty arguments and useless discussions, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law [of Moses], even though they do not understand the terms they use or the subjects about which they make [such] confident declarations. 8 Now we know [without any doubt] that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully and appropriately, 9 understanding the fact that law is not enacted for the righteous person [the one in right standing with God], but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals, for a kidnappers and slave traders, for liars, for perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has granted me [the needed] strength and made me able for this, because He considered me faithful and trustworthy, putting me into service [for this ministry], 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer [of our Lord] and a persecutor [of His church] and a shameful and outrageous and violent aggressor [toward believers]. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord [His amazing, unmerited favor and blessing] flowed out in superabundance [for me, together] with the faith and love which are [realized] in Christ Jesus. 15 b This is a faithful and trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance and approval, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example or pattern for those who c would believe in Him for eternal life.