The Amen; the beginning of the creation of God.—The beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: when he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep; when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment. I was daily his delight rejoicing always before him.—Yea, before the day was I am he.

The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.—The author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Fear not; . . . I am he that liveth.—Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.

We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.—He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.—Ye are complete in him, which is the head.

Forasmuch . . . as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil: and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

He is the head of the body, the church.—The head over things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.—We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

A body hast thou prepared me.—Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Thine they were, and thou gavest them me.—He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.—Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.

Grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth . . . maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

If the firstfruit be holy the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

The Lord Jesus Christ . . . shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

The firstborn from the dead.—If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.

I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?

My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.

One pearl of great price.

The prince of the kings of the earth.

His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

The head over all things.

He is the head of the body, the church.

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers.

He could not be hid.

His lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

Never man spake like this man.

His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant.

Lord, lift thou up the light thy countenance upon us.