0284. 280. “Divers,” or Manifold

280. “Divers,” or Manifold

The word rendered “divers” means “manifold,” and is so translated in 1Pe_1:6; 1Pe_4:10.

1. “Divers diseases” (Mat_4:24). How many diseases afflict humanity! The cancer of lust, the palsy of doubt, the blindness of unbelief, the tumor of pride, the deafness of indifference, the lunacy of rationalism, the leprosy of worldliness, the gangrene of evil influence, the anaemia of lifelessness, and the waste of consumption.

2. “Divers lusts” (2Ti_3:6). “Silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.” Two expressive similes are used to describe these: the life heaped up with sins as coals on a fire—see same word as “laden” rendered “heap” in Rom_12:20; and they are “led away” as a person “carried” by an outside power—see same word “led away” rendered “carried” in Act_21:34. “Lusts” is the dominating force which burdens and leads away, and these are “manifold.” “Lusts” means the inward desire of the soul, and is rendered “concupiscence” and “desire”—see Rom_7:8; 1Th_2:17.

3. “Divers… pleasures” (Tit_3:3). “Pleasures” means that which gratifies self and the evil nature. The same word is translated “lusts” in Jas_4:1, Jas_4:3. “The pleasures of sin,” while they are multiplied in form, last only for a season, while the pleasures in God’s right hand last “for evermore” (Psa_16:11, R.V.).

4. “Divers and strange doctrines” (Heb_13:9). While there may be, to the carnal mind, doctrines which are various, they are “strange” to the mind of God, for they are contrary to what is revealed in His Word. The reason of their strangeness is found in the word “carried about,” which means to be “carried about” as a vessel not under control is carried here and there by the wind—see Eph_4:14, Jud_1:12, or as a sick person is carried on a bed by others—see Mar_6:55.

5. “Divers miracles and gifts” (Heb_2:4). The Revised Version reads, “manifold powers and gifts of the Holy Spirit.” The manifestations and operations in the early days of Christianity were all the outcome of the Spirit’s working. “Manifold” they were indeed in kind, and powerful in their effectiveness.

6. “Manifold temptations” (1Pe_1:6). “Divers temptations” (Jas_1:2). Trials manifold and heavy come to the child of God, but we need to remember that trials make and prove us, even as the fire hardens the china clay, and burns in with lastingness the artist’s colours.

7. “Manifold grace of God” (1Pe_4:10). The word “manifold” means “many coloured” and changing; but do not let us forget that the yellow of trial, when mixed with the blue of Heaven’s grace, turns into the green of the pastures of profit; and that the red of temptation, when mixed with the blue of God’s love, turns them into the purple of royal experience.

By: DR. F. E. MARSH