Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 3910

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3910. And he said, Am I in God's stead? That this signifies that it was impossible for it, is evident from the signification of "not being in God's stead," as being to be impossible; for "God" is named in the Word from ability or power; but "Jehovah" from being or essence (n. 300). For this reason "God" is mentioned when the subject is truth, and "Jehovah" when it is good (n. 2769, 2807, 2822); for ability is predicated of truth when being is predicated of good; for good has power through truth, inasmuch as it is through truth that good performs everything that comes to pass. From this we can see that by the words, "am I in God's stead?" there is signified in the internal sense that it was impossible for it.


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