1560-1599
Introduction
The Geneva Bible Buy was one of the most historically important and widely used Bibles during the 1500’s, even being transported to America on the Mayflower. The Geneva Bible was the world’s first mechanically, mass-produced ‘study Bible’ made available to the general public, including introductions to each book of the Bible, margin notes, cross references, maps, tables and more. The notes were of a calvinist and puritan character.
The Bible was produced in Geneva, Switzerland by leading prominent protestant scholars who had fled England during the reign of Bloody Mary (1553-1558). The translation and notes were overseen by William Whittingham in collaboration with Myles Coverdale, Christopher Goodman, Anthony Gilby, Thomas Sampson, and William Cole, several of which later became prominent in the puritan Vestments Controversy. Over 150 editions of the Geneva Bible were printed; the last probably in 1644.
The quotes from the introductions to books of the Bible are from the 1560 edition. The page numbers refer to A Reformation Guide to Scripture: The Prologues from the Geneva Bible, 1560 Buy reprinted 2010, Banner of Truth. The notes on specific scriptures are from the 1599 edition.
The Geneva Bible Notes Buy
Genesis: The Argument, p. 3
…
Secondly, that the wicked, unmindful of God’s most excellent benefits, remained still in their wickedness, and so falling most horribly from sin to sin, provoked God (who by his preachers called them continually to repentance) at length to destroy the whole world.
“And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man”
Gen. 6:3
(d) Because man could not by won by Gods leniency and patience by which He tried to win him, he would no longer withhold his vengeance.
“Look to me, and be ye saved, all z the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else.”
Isa. 45:22
(z) He calls the idolaters to repentance, willing them to look on Him with the eye of faith.
“I have b spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, which walketh in a way [that is] not good, after their own thoughts;”
Isa. 65:2
(b) He shows the reason for the rejection of the Jews, because they would not obey Him or any admonition of his prophets, by whom He called them continually and stretch out his hand to draw them.
Hosea: The Argument, p. 57
After that the ten tribes had fallen away from God by the wicked and subtle counsel of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and, instead of his true service commanded by his Word, worshipped Him according to their own fantasies and traditions of men, giving themselves to most vile idolatry and superstition, the Lord from time to time sent them prophets to call them to repentance; but they grew ever worse and worse, and still abused God’s benefits.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John: The Argument, p. 81
So that hereby we are admonished to forsake the world, and the vanities thereof, and with most affectioned hearts embrace this incomparable treasure freely offered unto us; for there is no joy nor consolation, no peace nor quietness, no felicity nor salvation, but in Jesus Christ, who is the very substance of this Gospel, and in whom all the promises are Yes, and Amen.
“And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”
2 Cor. 5:18
(12) He commends the excellency of the ministry of the Gospel, both by the authority of God Himself, who is the author of that ministry, and also by the excellency of the doctrine of it. For it announces atonement with God by free forgiveness of our sins, and justification offered to us in Christ, and that so lovingly and freely, that God Himself does in a way beseech men by the mouth of his ministers to have consideration of themselves, and not to despise so great a benefit. And when he says so, he plainly reprehends those who falsely attribute to themselves the name of “pastor”, as this calling can only come from God.
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time a accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)
2 Cor. 6:2
(2) In that grace is offered, it is by the grace of God, who has appointed times and seasons to all things, that we may take occasion when it is offered.
(a) Which I of my free mercy and love towards you liked and appointed. And at this time God poured out his marvelous love upon us.
1 Timothy: The Argument, p. 107
…and therefore he [Paul] wills prayers to be made for all degrees and sorts of men [1 Tim. 2:1-3], because that God, by offering his gospel and Christ his Son to them all, is indifferent [impartial] to every sort of men [1 Tim. 2:4-6], as his [Paul’s] apostleship, which is peculiar to the Gentiles, witnesses. And forasmuch as God has left ministers as ordinary means in his church to bring men to salvation, he [Paul] describes what manner of men they ought to be [1 Tim. 3] to whom the mystery of the Son of God manifested in flesh is committed to be preached.
Revelation
After 1599, many editions of the Genevan Bible Notes used the notes of Francis Junius on Revelation. See:
Francis Junius on the Sincere Free Offer of the Gospel
Related Page
The Sincere Free Offer of the Gospel
Confessions, Documents and Bible Notes on the Sincere Free Offer