Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

Book & abbreviation

Description

Translations

1

Arcana Coelestia
or Heavenly Secrets
1747-1758,  12 vols

AC

Arcana context of passages

This study makes up more than a third of the total bulk of Swedenborg's theological writings. The books of Genesis and Exodus receive detailed phrase-by-phrase commentary, but reference is frequently made to many other books of both the Old and New Testaments. Swedenborg asserts that he expounds the internal sense of the Bible accounts. The familiar Bible stories of the origin and early development of man reveal, through what Swedenborg describes as the language of correspondences, basic divine teachings on such subjects as the life after death, relationships between the spiritual and natural worlds, human nature, marriage, regeneration, and religion. The historical accounts of the Old Testament have long proved to be difficult subjects for biblical scholars. They are obviously representative in nature but what do they represent? Swedenborg unfolds an impressive picture of a divine consistency through the entire sweep of Bible history.

Latin,

tr. Potts: 6943

tr. Elliott: 8086

Index, tr.  Hyde: 9275

**

2

Heaven and Hell,
1757-1758, 455 pp

HH

This three-part work has probably attracted more attention than any other single volume from Swedenborg's pen. The middle section treats of the world of spirits which is a transitory state between heaven and hell. The human soul awakes in the world of spirits after death and there prepares for final entrance into either heaven or hell depending upon the quality of the life which the man lived in the natural world. Each individual determines his own fate by the free choices he makes during his natural life.

Latin,

tr. Ager: 5399

tr. Harley: 6548

3

White Horse,
1757-1758,
WH

This work deals largely with the subject of divine revelation and man's need for it. Its title comes from Chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation, the internal sense of which is discussed.

Latin,

tr. Whitehead: 6412

tr. Willmott: 6216

4

New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine,
1757-1758, 205 pp
HD or NJHD

In this commentary, Swedenborg presents summaries of a number of doctrines developed in greater length in other theological writings. Many references to numbers in the Arcana make this a work to be used in connection with the twelve-volume study.

Latin,

tr. Tafel: 7314

tr. Chadwick: 9155

tr. Whitehead: 9831 **

5

Earths in the Universe,
1756-1758, 105pp

EU

Science still debates the question of life on other worlds but Swedenborg had no doubts that the human race was endlessly varied. He says that all terrestrial bodies were created to support human life of some kind and describes the life of spirits from a number of planets other than earth. He believes that the most characteristic aspect of divine creation - infinite variety - is carried out in the varieties of human existence. Each individual soul and earth is distinct from all others and each has a proper place in the plan of creation.

Latin,

tr. Chadwick: 12155

tr. Whitehead: 12948

6

Last Judgment,
1757-1758,  83 pp

LJ

This book speaks against the concept of a divine judgment during some future rising of the dead. Instead, each individual after death, goes through a personal last judgment in the world of spirits. In addition, the entire world of spirits, according to Swedenborg's account, underwent a last judgment in the year 1757. Both spiritual and natural reorderings resulted.

Latin,

tr. Chadwick: 6847

tr. Whitehead: 7429

7

Doctrine of the Lord,
1761-1763
Lord

This important study presents teachings on the nature of the Lord. It explains the workings of the divine trinity. It sets forth the fundamental Swedenborgian doctrine of God as a divinely human person, who ministers to the human race as both revealer and redeemer.

Latin,

tr. Potts: 4778

tr. Dick: 4101

8

Doctrine of the Sacred Scripture,
1761-1763, 94 pp
SS

In this work Swedenborg supplies support for the idea that the Christian Bible presents the word of God on earth, that it has an internal or spiritual sense, and that its teachings are necessary to maintain human life.

Latin,

tr. Potts: 11487

tr. Dick: 10409

9

Doctrine of Life,
1761-1763, 58 pp

Life

Doctrine of Life is the first of several basic studies on the proper relationship between men on earth. This work emphasizes the view that man can evolve toward a spiritual life after death only from the Lord, although the man acts as if of himself. Swedenborg argues for a correct understanding of the teachings of the Decalogue. As man shuns the evils listed in the Decalogue he comes into the opposite goods and thus turns himself toward heaven.

Latin,

tr. Potts: 4727

tr. Dick: 4050

10

Doctrine of Faith,
1761-1763,  58 pp.
Faith

Contrary to the common concept, "faith" to Swedenborg does not mean believing that which is not understood. Genuine faith is presented as an internal acknowledgment or perception of truth which, in the stream of providence, cannot properly be separated from charity. Faith alone and salvation by faith are pointedly rejected.

Latin,

tr. Potts: 5212

tr. Dick: 4461

11

Continuation Concerning the Last Judgment,
1763,  43 pp.     CJ

This is a further exposition of the nature of the spiritual world and the judgment effected there in 1757. It restates some of the material in the larger work titled Last Judgment noted above.

Latin,

tr. Chadwick: 10645

tr. Whitehead: 11419

12

Divine Love and Wisdom,
1763,  292 pp.

DLW

In this work Swedenborg discusses the process of Creation. There are five basic subjects, the nature of God, the creation of the universe, the relationship between the spiritual and natural worlds, the discrete and continuous degrees through which the two worlds function, and the form of the human mind. Thus the work may properly be termed the metaphysics of Swedenborg's theological writings.

Latin,

tr. Ager: 9090

tr. Rogers: 10704

tr. Harleys: 11437

13

Divine Providence,
1763-1764,  376 pp.

DP

This study picks up the basic themes of Divine Love and Wisdom and relates them to the human individual as the highest end of creation. The Lord governs his creation through divine providence. To be in full harmony with divine providence, the human will and the human understanding must be in accord with the order of creation. Providence looks to the preservation of this order although human free will may violate it. Students of Swedenborg's theology believe that Divine Love and Wisdom and Divine Providence are interrelated works which should be read consecutively.

Latin,

tr. Dick and Pulsford: 15083

14

Apocalypse Revealed,
1764-1766,  2 vols

AR

This commentary also supplies a consecutive exposition of the internal meaning of the book of Revelation. However, it is much shorter, while covering the full length of Revelation including the final three chapters which the longer work does not treat. Apocalypse Explained seems to be an uncompleted, earlier rendition of the teachings presented in more concise form in Apocalypse Revealed. Apocalypse Revealed places stress on the effects of divine influx for the establishment of a new Christian church on earth.

Latin,

tr. Whitehead: 10964 AR

tr. Coulsons: 10499 AR

15

Conjugial Love,
1767-1768, 525 pp.

CL

The full title of this unusual work is The Delights of Wisdom Pertaining to Conjugial Love after Which Follow the Pleasures of Insanity Pertaining to Scortatory Love. The book treats of marriage and sex-morality and also of various perversions of marriage. Swedenborg asserts that true Conjugial love descends from the Lord into all humans. The male and female receive and apply this love differently, the two receptions complementing each other. In a proper marriage husband and wife together learn the fullness of love through looking to the Lord and shunning selfishness. The delights of marriage are presented as the height of human delight These delights include raising children by which means the race is continued and heaven peopled.
Conjugial Love is a high-minded work, but not an abstruse one. Many practical matters of the relationship between the sexes such as courtship, betrothal, jealousy, temptation, disaffection, sensuality, prudence, and courtesy are dealt with. This is a book of guidelines for spiritual living with much rational appeal. Eternal ideas are advocated as the only proper starting point for a happy marriage life, although problems posed by the power of the sensual are not ignored. The family, as the basic unit of society, receives stress in Conjugial Love.

Latin,

tr. Acton: 5686

tr. Chadwick: 7224

tr. Rogers: 6295

16

Summary Exposition or Brief Exposition,
1768-1769, 103 pp.

BE

This work contrasts the teachings of Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Swedenborgianism. The contrast underscores basic differences and argues for the establishment of a new faith. The work may be more important in Swedenborgian theology than is sometimes realized. According to Swedenborg, the Lord commanded him to inscribe the book with the words "This Book is the [Second] Advent of the Lord."

Latin,

tr. Stanley: 8248

tr. Whitehead: 9316

17

Intercourse of the Soul and the Body,
1769, 38pp.

ISB

This metaphysical tract discusses the relationship between the spiritual and the natural and the means by which they are interconnected. Spiritual influx from the Lord interconnects the human soul and body. The work also attempts to make the discrete differences between the spiritual and natural worlds understandable.

Latin,

tr. Hartley: 6723

tr. Whitehead: 7781

18

True Christian Religion,
1769-1771, 2 vols.

TCR

This study culminated Swedenborg's many theological inquiries. Its subtitle, "Universal Theology of the New Heaven and the New Church,' summarizes the Swedenborgian teaching that the Lord has again vivified His church through newly revealed truths which have reestablished harmony in the spiritual world and engendered a new faith on earth. Aspects of theology, philosophy, and religious ethics are all included in True Christian Religion.

Latin,

tr. Ager: 9931

tr. Chadwick: 12851

Posthumous Works

1

Spiritual Diary,
or Spiritual Experiences
1747-1765, 5 vols.
SE + SEM

Swedenborg kept a journal of experiences during the years of his theological period. Accounts of the nature and inhabitants of the spiritual world run throughout this multi-volume record. However, the diary also contains many comments on religious doctrines and principles, most of which are developed more fully in other works, particularly the Arcana. The diary apparently served Swedenborg as a storehouse of thoughts and impressions from which he drew in preparing his published works, in a manner similar to the way in which Emerson and others have made use of personal journals.

Latin,

tr. Buss: 9216

tr. Odhner: 10414

Minor tr. Buss: 12888

2

Apocalypse Explained,
1757-1759, 6 vols.
AE

This work is a systematic exposition of the internal meaning of all but the last three chapters of the book of Revelation. Apocalypse Explained seems to be an uncompleted, earlier rendition of the teachings presented in more concise form in Apocalypse Revealed. It is much longer than Apocalypse Revealed. The nature of the Divine, the order of the heavens and the union of the Divine with the created world through new revelation emerge as the key teachings of this work. Like the Arcana, the Apocalypse Explained sets forth internal meanings of many passages in the Bible in books other than Genesis, Exodus, or Revelation, which are the only three books of the Bible which receive detailed, systematic exposition.

Latin,

tr. Whitehead: 11722

tr. Tansley: 10461

3

Summary Exposition of the Prophets and Psalms,
1759-1760, 311 pp.
PP

This work presents the internal sense of these books of the Bible in outline form. Its condensed nature renders it difficult to read, but students of the Doctrines of the New Church find it useful in conjunction with other works of a more expositional type.

Latin,

tr. Schreck: 9548 PP

4

The Lord or De Domini
1760, 11 pp.
DOM

This posthumous work is thought to be a draft of the published work Doctrine of the Lord.

Latin,

tr. Harley: 4110

tr. Worcester: 5446

5

Athanasian Creed,
1760, 63 pp.
ATH

The creed of Athanasius and its implications for both the Christian and the New Church receive attention. The creed, while ambiguous, may be taken to mean a trinity of person and not of persons; the interpretation makes the creed true. The history of the creed in the Christian church, however, suggests that wrong conclusions have been drawn from it.

Latin,

tr. Harley: 7233

tr. Worcester: 9274

6

Word of the Lord From Experience,
1761, 59 pp.
SE-WE

Latin,

tr. Odhner: 11129

7

Last Judgment (Posthumous), 1762, 102 pp.
LJP

These extended notes describe events in the spiritual world which Swedenborg witnessed. National groups and individual leaders receive comment.

Latin,

tr. Rogers: 9082

tr. Whitehead: 11056

8

On the Spiritual World,
1762, 36 pp.

9

Precepts of the Decalogue,
1762, 4 pp.
DEC

This posthumous work is thought to be a draft of the published work Doctrine of Life.

Latin,

tr. Chadwick: 4990

tr. Rogers: 4233

10

Divine Love,
1762-1763, 36 pp.
DL

This posthumous work is thought to be draft material for the published work Divine Love and Wisdom. This study explores the nature of love, which is said to be the very life of man. The Lord as the source transmits love to all of creation, which receives it and turns it into forms of use or perverts it for evil purposes.

Latin,

tr. Mongredien: 7001

tr. Whitehead: 6405

11

Divine Wisdom,
1763, 76 pp.
DW

This posthumous work is thought to be draft material for the published work Divine Love and Wisdom. It focuses on man and the manner in which the human mind receives love and wisdom from the Lord. It describes the will and the understanding and the various manifestations of these twin essentials of creation. This and the preceding work deal with the deepest questions of life and are so complementary that they should be read together as a unit of thought. Indeed, they have sometimes been published together under the title "Doctrine of Uses."

Latin,

tr. Mongredien: 8142

tr. Whitehead: 7436

12

Doctrine of Charity,
1764, 70 pp. Charity

This brief work rejects the traditional, pietistic view of good works and speaks for a life of use to the neighbor and to God. Through use to the neighbor in the faithful execution of the duties of one's daily occupation one exercises charity in a broad and true sense.

Latin,

tr. Whitehead: 4721

13

Conversations With Angels,
1766, 4 pp.  ANG

This is one of several short posthumous works thought to be draft material for True Christian Religion. Most were written before the book was published but some are thought to have been written afterwards and intended as appendices to True Christian Religion.

Latin,

tr. Chadwick: 8815

tr. Whitehead: 9491

14

Five Memorable Relations,
1766, 10 pp. MEM

 This is one of several short posthumous works thought to be draft material for True Christian Religion. Most were written before the book was published but some are thought to have been written afterwards and intended as appendices to True Christian Religion.

Latin,

tr. Chadwick: 9979

tr. Whitehead: 10753

15

Concerning Marriage or De Conjugio
1767, 33 pp. CONJ

This posthumous work is thought to be a draft of the published work Conjugial Love. It contains some points not included in the larger study.

Latin,

tr. Chadwick: 5962

tr. Whitehead: 6502

16

Indices of a Work on Conjugial Love,
1767, 5 pp.

Latin

17

Canons of the New Church, 1769, 58 pp.
Canons

The Canons here discussed contain the basic theology of the new faith mostly in outline form. They are similar in topical coverage to the opening chapters of True Christian Religion.

Latin,

tr. Mongredien and Coulson: 11201

tr. Whitehead: 4299

18

Egyptian Hieroglyphics,
1769, 5 pp.

19

Sketch of the Doctrine of the New Church,
1769, 6 pp.  SPEC

This is one of several short posthumous works thought to be draft material for True Christian Religion. Most were written before the book was published but some are thought to have been written afterwards and intended as appendices to True Christian Religion.

Latin,

tr. Duckworth: 11080

tr. Whitehead: 10824

20

Memorabilia for the True Christian Religion,
1770, 22 pp. TCR(Add)

This is one of several short posthumous works thought to be draft material for True Christian Religion. Most were written before the book was published but some are thought to have been written afterwards and intended as appendices to True Christian Religion.

Latin,

tr. Whitehead: 7425

21

Coronis,
1771, 83 pp.  COR

Also called the "Appendix to True Christian Religion," Coronis treats of the history of man with emphasis on the nature of the several religions which have characterized various civilizations.

Latin,

tr. Buss: 2769

tr. Whitehead: 4718

22

A Sketch of the Ecclesiastical History of the New Church,
1771, 2 pp.  ECC

This is one of several short posthumous works thought to be draft material for True Christian Religion. Most were written before the book was published but some are thought to have been written afterwards and intended as appendices to True Christian Religion.

Latin,

tr. Elliott: 11983

tr. Whitehead: 13245

23

Nine Questions [on the Trinity], 1771, 6 pp.   9Q

This is a collection of Swedenborg's communications with various people on various topics.

Latin,

tr. Potts: 6033

tr. Rose: 5387

24

Consummation of the Age,
1771, 7 pp.   CONS

This is one of several short posthumous works thought to be draft material for True Christian Religion. Most were written before the book was published but some are thought to have been written afterwards and intended as appendices to True Christian Religion.

Latin,

tr. Whitehead: 13152

25

Invitation to the New Church, 1771, 22 pp.  I

This short statement, apparently intended as an appendix to True Christian Religion centers on eternal truths that have been lost or distorted down through the centuries. Men of good will are called to join in establishing a New Church on earth.

Latin,

tr. Buss: 7859

tr. Whitehead: 11101

Miscellaneous Works

Conversations with Calvin 

CALV

Latin,

tr. Duckworth: 6991

tr. Whitehead: 6788

De Verbo

VERBO

Latin,

tr. Chadwick: 4507

tr. Rogers: 3790

tr. Whitehead: 4972

Formula Concordia Index

CONC

Latin,

tr. Elliott: 12292

Gad and Asher  

GAD

Latin,

tr. Tafel: 5147

tr. Whitehead: 7275

God the Savior

SAV

Latin,

tr. Whitehead: 7934

tr. Duckworth: 8150

Influx 

INFL

Latin,

tr. Tafel: 2726

Justification 

JUST

Latin,

tr. Duckworth: 7850

tr. Whitehead: 7629

Letters 
LETT

Latin,

tr. Acton: 3080

tr. Harley: 3537

tr. Tafel: 3053

Marriage Index 1 

MI1

Latin,

tr. Whitehead: 8634

Marriage Index 2  

MI2

Latin,

tr. Whitehead: 8638

Miracles and Signs 

MIR

Latin,

tr. Johnson: 9086

Pentateuch:

PENT

Latin,

Pentateuch: 1979

Scriptural Confirmations 

SC

Latin,

tr. Whitehead: 14859

Sum. Exp. Apoc. 

SUMAP

Latin,

tr. Chadwick: 7214

White Horse (Appendix)  
WH(App)

Latin,

tr. Willmott: 12151

tr. Elliott: 11278