VOL.
LV. November/December 1972 No. 6 Lights and Shadows in Christian Experience The Evidence Concerning a Disputed Text Isaiah's Messianic Vision "And she shall bring
forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: THE
story of Jesus' birth is not new; it is "the old, old story of gracious
heavenly love." We hear again in carol, hymn, and sacred song the glad
tidings of great joy announced centuries ago by an angel of the Lord to
shepherds who were keeping watch over their flock by night. Although more than
nineteen hundred years have passed since the announcement of the Heavenly
Message, the good news concerning the coming of the "Christ Child"
continues to inspire hope in all who put their trust in God, and whose thankful
hearts echo the praise of the heavenly host: "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men." - Luke 2:14. The
Prophet Isaiah, whose name signifies "the salvation of Jehovah," has
been styled "the Evangelical Prophet," because his many and varied
prophecies are replete in their graphic description of the various aspects of
the work of Christ. It is a remarkable circumstance that the significance of
the Prophet's name coincides so entirely with the mighty work of restoration
to be wrought by the Messiah - the recovery of the human family from the blight
of sin and death. The
great Prophet, seeing in a vision the coming Messiah, spoke as he was moved by
the holy spirit, saying, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). As the vision unfolded before Isaiah, he designated
the character and work of the Messiah by revealing the appropriate names which
he would bear. This great prophetic vision was one of changing scenes which
like a panorama, passed before the gaze of the Seer and pictured progressively
the birth, life, death, exaltation, and glorious Millennial reign of Christ,
who, as Prophet, Priest, and King, was acclaimed "Wonderful, Counselor,
The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." With
great joy must the Prophet have beheld the promised Seed of Abraham dispensing
blessings of health, security, life, and peace to all the families of the
earth. If we would share his joy, we must also share his vision; so let us turn
the pages of the Sacred Word to discover there the past scenes narrated and the
future ones pictured in language fair. FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN The
opening scene of the prophetic vision was fulfilled in the birth of the Babe of
Bethlehem; and so we find recorded that "Mary brought forth her firstborn
Son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because
there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). This was the first step
in God's great plan of redemption to restore mankind to the perfection of
Eden's Paradise. For more than four thousand years the human family had been
dying as a result of the just sentence of death passed upon Father Adam; for
"As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). But now a ray
of hope was shining; the long awaited Messiah was born; for "When the
fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,"
and "The Word was made flesh" (Gal. 4:4; John 1:14). The Logos, the
Firstborn of every creature, the Beginning of the creation of God, "though
he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty
might be rich." UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN We
turn next to the Consecration scene, in which Jesus came to John to be baptized
by him in the Jordan. As we picture Jesus standing before John with head bowed
in the attitude of complete submission to his Heavenly Father, the words of the
Psalmist come to our mind: "Lo, I come ... I delight to do thy will, 0 my
God: yea, thy law is within my heart" (Ps. 40:7, 8). "For the Son of
Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a
ransom for many." "For God so loved the world, that he gave his Only
Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life" (Mark 10:45; John 3:16). Then Jesus symbolized his
consecration by being baptized by John: "And straightway coming up out of
the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the spirit like a dove descending
upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my Beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased" (Mark 1:10, 11). This was he of whom the
Baptist spoke, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin
of the world." - John 1:29. Isaiah,
in another of his matchless prophecies (Isa. 53:3-5), depicts Jesus as he
faithfully carried out his covenant of sacrifice to "pour out his soul
unto death": "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised,
and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our
sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he
was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are
healed." Thus
the Logos "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross" (Phil. 2:7, 8). Then "bearing our sins in his own body on the
tree," he cried, "It is finished," and "tasted death for
every man." AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER This
scene revealed the Messiah in the glory of his Kingdom, with all authority and
power vested in him. Daniel the Beloved also saw this scene in his vision of
the Messiah's dominion and kingdom, and set it down for our learning:
"Behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came
to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. And there was
given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and
languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed"
(Dan. 7:13, 14). The Psalmist also prophesied concerning Messiah's worldwide
Kingdom, saying, "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from
the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall
bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and
of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer
gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him."
- Ps. 72:8-11. AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL This
word, wonderful, is derived from the verb gala, to
separate, to distinguish, or to be great. "It is a word which expresses
with surprising accuracy everything in relation to the Redeemer." Jesus
was God's great Gift to man; the Light of the World. He was the Logos, or Word
of God, because he revealed or manifested God. He was the Beginning of the
creation of God; the Firstborn of every creature. All things were created by
him, and for him. He left the glory which he had with the Father, and was made
flesh and dwelt among us in order that he might redeem mankind. He was
Wonderful in his birth, life, death, and resurrection. He will be Wonderful,
too, in the office of Prophet, Priest, and King; for "God also hath highly
exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and
things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Phil. 2:9-11. COUNSELOR "The
name Counselor here denotes one of honorable rank; one who is fitted to stand
near princes and kings as their adviser. It is expressive of great wisdom, and
of qualifications to guide and direct the human race." Thus during the
great Reconstruction Period -- The Times of Restitution -- the Messiah will
guide the redeemed over the highway of holiness, and "a bruised reed shall
he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench." Then directed by
the wise Counselor, "The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to
Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and
gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away"; for "The meek
will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way." - Isa.
35:10; Ps. 25:9. THE MIGHTY GOD This
scene of the vision will meet its fulfillment when the Messiah comes in the
glory of his Kingdom to judge the earth; for "he shall judge the world
with righteousness, and the people with his truth." Then "times of
refreshing shall come out from the face of Jehovah"; and Christ, as Immanuel
(God with us), shall be acclaimed "The Mighty God." The Apostle Paul
also spoke of that day, saying, "He [God] bath appointed a day, in the
which he will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath
ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised
him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). And to this may be added the testimony of
Jesus: "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment
unto the Son." - John 5:22. Again "the Evangelical Prophet" pictures for us another view of the Messiah; this time in the role of "The Mighty God"; "And in this mountain [kingdom] shall the Lord of hosts [through our Lord Jesus Christ] make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord bath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation," for "The Lord hath made bare his holy arm [Christ] in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." - Isa. 25:6-9; 52:10. THE EVERLASTING FATHER The
Vulgate renders the expression, The Everlasting Father, "The Father of the
future Age." Literally it is "The Father of eternity." Both renderings
are correct, for the title, "The Everlasting Father," will be
ascribed to Christ in his Millennial Kingdom; for then the blessing of
everlasting life will be offered to all of the human family who will "heed
that Prophet" and take of the water of life provided by the precious
sacrifice of Jesus. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his Only
Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life." - John 3:16. THE PRINCE OF PEACE The
closing scene of the vision revealed the Messiah as "The Prince of
Peace." In this great role he shall make wars to cease unto the end of the
earth and break in pieces the oppressor; then shall he usher in the era of
eternal peace among men, and the desire of all nations shall come. For the God
of Heaven shall set his King (Christ) on his holy hill (Kingdom) of Zion,
"And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat
their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall
not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But
they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall
make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it" (Mic.
4:3, 4). "He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the
children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear
thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall
come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In
his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the
moon endureth." - Ps. 72:4-7. We
have come to the end of the vision; and have shared Isaiah's joy as we
hearkened to inspired New Testament Prophets blend their voices with those of
holy men of old to tell "The Message of Salvation from God's own holy
Word." It
is particularly fitting at this season of the year that we steal away in the
spirit from the world with its cares and distractions, and in the quietness of
our own soul tune in again the Heavenly Message: "Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the
Lord." Then let us join with the heavenly host in praising God, and
saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men." - R. W. Godfrey CHRISTMAS
Grace M. Harris Thanksgiving "It is a good thing to
give thanks unto the Lord." - Psalm 92:1. It
is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord." - Psa. 92:1. So said one in
olden times and truthfully, since it must be recognized that it is from our God
that all our blessings flow. God's
typical people Israel were educated in this most important exercise, and to
this end there was instituted a feast of celebration called the Feast of
Tabernacles, as recorded in Lev. 23:34-43, during which time the children of
Israel were to recall the events associated with their great deliverance out of
Egypt. Three
thousand years later when the colonists had gained a foothold in what was to be
known as New England, and after a grueling experience with disease, death and
a rigorous climate, a bounteous harvest gave them renewed hope and courage to
continue the work they had begun in the New World. They, therefore, felt
constrained to express their gratitude to God. Subsequently a special day was
appointed by the Governor of the State for this purpose. Later, by
proclamation of the President of the United States, it was designated a
national holiday, so that the nation might have opportunity to pause and
reflect upon the many causes for gratitude so obvious on every hand. Our
thoughts, however, must transcend the gratitude only for temporal blessings,
for these are but a small portion of the blessedness that comes to those who
have tasted the Word of Life, and by it have found access to the presence of
the great Creator, our Heavenly Father. We
will, therefore, examine some expressions of the Apostle Paul found in his
letters to various ecclesias. They reveal what to Paul were the most important
reasons for thanksgiving, and occupied a place at the beginning of his letters
to the churches at Rome, Corinth, Philippi and Thessalonica. In each of these
ecclesias Paul finds occasion for thanksgiving not for temporal things but
rather for the evidences of Christian growth. TO THE ECCLESIA AT ROME In
his message to the company of God's people at Rome, thanksgiving immediately
follows the introduction in the epistle considered the most logical and
profound summation of the Christian faith and practice. "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you
all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the world. . . without ceasing I
make mention of you always in my prayers." - Rom. 1:8, 9. How
fitting that the beloved Apostle should thus speak, he who is at this point
laboring so effectively toward the strengthening of their faith, for in this
very letter he is to add immeasurably to their comprehension of the most
important aspect of a vital relationship to God. "For without faith it is
impossible to please God." - Heb. 11:6. Doubtless
the Apostle realized that he had an effective point of contact in this his
endeavor to enrich and stimulate their growth in this faith. Translating this
into our own Christian experience we, like Paul, find a deep sense of
gratitude for the faith which led us to accept the provision for salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ, as is so well set forth by the Apostle in his
letter to the Church at Rome. How
thankful we should be for faith, our great stabilizer in a dark and chaotic world; faith that can lay
hold of the many precious promises given for our comfort in God's Word!
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psa. 46:1.) "All things work together for good to those who love God and
are called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8 :28.) "Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." (Isa. 26:3.) "Lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20.)
"My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest." (Ex.
33:14.) These, and many more too numerous to cite, are a continuing source of
encouragement to the one who exercises faith in the inspired Word. No doubt the
Apostle had such a faith in abundance and rejoiced with thanksgiving at the
thought of God's saints in Rome enjoying the same blessed privilege. Further
benefits which are contingent upon faith are set forth by Paul in the fifth
chapter of this epistle, and are listed in a logical sequence of Christian
experience. He writes "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom we have access by faith into
this grace wherein we stand. " (Rom. 5:1, 2.) Coupled with this is a
wonderful hope, a new and vitalizing experience, in which even tribulation is
utilized as a stepping stone toward the realization of this hope. Who but our
God and heavenly Father could institute such a program? Who but He could
provide the means of grace by which it could be carried out and consummated in
glory? As we think about it in its true perspective we are indeed thankful
beyond expression. TO THE ECCLESIA AT CORINTH "Grace
be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for
the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in everything ye are
enriched by him in all utterance and all knowledge." - 1 Cor. 1:3-5. What
an appropriate salutation for the Church at Corinth beset as it was by strife
and division! Here Paul found an evidence of carnality manifesting itself in
following and exalting human leaders rather than the one true Leader, the One
who had died for them, even Jesus Christ. In his prayer of thanksgiving, Paul
reminds them of this grace which had been given them through Jesus Christ, as
if to direct their minds away from their own petty differences and toward God
the source of all their blessings, and also to the great sacrifice which Jesus
had made on their behalf. The Apostle was thankful also that having come into
this vital relationship with God and the Lord Jesus, they could experience an
enrichment in their lives, such as they had never known -- "being
enriched by Him in every word and in all knowledge." What
a privilege to have every word enriched by One who himself spoke as never man
spake, who spoke with authority and not as the scribes, who spoke only the
words he received from the Father. "The words that I speak, they are
spirit and they are life." (John 6:63.) Applying these lessons to
ourselves, we would do well to heed the admonitions in the Word on this most
important part of Christian living, e. g., "Let your speech be always with
grace, seasoned with salt." (Col. 4:6.) "Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord." - Col. 3:16. Usefulness
in the Lord's service can be greatly enhanced if our words being enriched by
him conform to the pattern seen in the Master himself. For it was said of him
that "men wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his
mouth." (Luke 4:22.) Thus indeed is this a cause for thanksgiving, and the
more so when the knowledge too has this same mark of Divine favor. For to be
enriched by him in all knowledge indicates a close and abiding union with him
"In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Col.
2:3.) How thankful we are that the one who penned these words had this blessing
in his own life! His rich and fruitful ministry bears the unmistakable stamp
of an enrichment which could come from none other than the Lord he so ardently
served. TO THE ECCLESIA AT PHILIPPI "I
thank my God in
all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making
my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first
day until now." - Phil. 1:35. Paul's
thankfulness and rejoicing was not only because some at Philippi had received
the gospel and had been converted, but that they were giving unmistakable
evidence of it in their willingness to share in the responsibility of
proclaiming it. There was a fellowship of participation in the cost, be what
it may. These
brethren at Philippi wanted others to hear- the "Good News" that had
brightened their own lives and were generous in their support of the Apostle in
his mission of proclaiming it. They were willing to share in the sacrifices
entailed in this most noble work. This, to the Apostle, was an evidence that
they were also participating in the blessings of a personal fellowship with
the Master, the story of whose love and life had wrought the change in them. Memories
of his experiences at Philippi were occasions for joyfulness despite the
sufferings he endured during his brief stay in that city. The friends at
Philippi occupied a special place in the affections of Paul. The love and
hospitality extended to him while in their midst doubtless helped to
mitigate the sufferings which befell him during the early days of his ministry
there. Their loving interest in Paul and his missionary work followed him to
other places and came to be a source of encouragement and strength in his
efforts elsewhere, and particularly in Rome from where this epistle was
written while he was a prisoner in that city. Memories
of these brethren were cause for thanksgiving, and drew from the Apostle a
singular compliment. "My brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and
crown." (Phil. 4:1.) No criticism or rebuke for these loyal co-workers;
just a message of love, encouragement, and a prayer to God on their behalf
laden with thankfulness. TO THE ECCLESIA AT THESSALONICA "We
are bound to give thanks to God always concerning you brethren as it is proper,
because your faith is growing exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all
is abounding towards each other." - 2 Thess. 1:3. Evidence
of Christian growth was such among these brethren that Paul not only gave
thanks to God for it, but also boasted about it among the other congregations
of God. Persecutions and afflictions were besetting the pathway of these at
Thessalonica; nevertheless, they were by patience and faith making the best
use of such experiences. Hardship caused them to draw closer to each other in
an abounding love. Their faith too was growing exceedingly and this was a
source of joy to the one who in abundant faith had labored among- them,
bringing them hope which they had never known before, and an experience in
joyful living that no heathen religion could ever bring. This Christian growth
was to Paul a cause for thanksgiving. The
passing centuries have not altered these principles as they touch the lives of
those privileged to hear and to receive the gospel message, and who heed the
invitation to follow in the footsteps of our blessed Lord. Growth in these
points as well as in others is still
an occasion for joy and thankfulness, even as it was to the Apostle Paul. Some
may say, What is there to be thankful for since these are dark and foreboding
days for the poor groaning creation? The events of each day offer little for
encouragement and thankfulness. The spirit of anarchy continues to increase on
every hand, standards of morality are breaking down, ominous clouds of war hang
on the horizon. Nevertheless,
this year as in the past, a day will be set aside by proclamation of the
President of our country, to give thanks to Almighty God for the blessings in
temporal things which abound on every hand, for in this respect we are indeed
blessed. However, our gratitude will indeed be incomplete if we confine it to
the things which are seen and temporal. We who know the Lord, who love him, and
are called according to his purpose, find an ever expanding reason for
gratitude, especially for the knowledge and appreciation of the unseen
things, the spiritual things, which are eternal. We, therefore, can join our
hearts in thanksgiving for those same. things which so moved the beloved
Apostle Paul, in his epistles to the people of God in his day. "Make
a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness.; come
before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he
that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of
his pasture. "Enter
into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful
unto him, and bless his name; For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and 'his truth endureth to all generations." - Psa. 100. - J. B. Webster. Lights and Shadows in Christian Experience "For I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us." - Romans 8:18. As was noted in our last
issue, Brother Alec L. Muir ended his earthly journey March 27, 1972. As a
special tribute to his memory, we are publishing, in four installments, an
article of his which previously appeared in this journal. The first two were
published in recent issues. Here we continue with the third. - Directors and Editors AT
THE close of our previous study we were considering the words of our Lord
spoken to Martha at the tomb of her brother Lazarus: "I
am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never
die. Believest thou this?" To
the Master's searching inquiry she replied: "Yea, Lord, I believe that
thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." -
John 11:27. Following
this noble confession, we read: "And when she had so said, she went her
way." The record does not indicate, but it is probable that Jesus himself
had directed her to go, for she said to Mary: "The Master is come, and
calleth for thee." - John 11:28. This
message she delivered "secretly." The secrecy, too, may have been
part of our Lord's instructions; but likely as not it resulted from Martha's
own wise and loving thoughtfulness -- first, to avoid unnecessarily alerting
our Lord's enemies to the fact of his return; and second, to provide her sister
with the opportunity for a private talk with Jesus. MARTHA AND MARY It
is instructive to observe the characteristic differences in temperament
between Martha and Mary, as they are portrayed by the Apostle John. These
differences we previously noted, when studying the Bethany family, in the
July-August Herald. There, indeed, in the familiar passage (Luke
10:38-42), where Martha appears as the practical, bustling housewife, and Mary
as the devout, contemplative disciple who chooses "the one thing needful,"
-- the contrast, which is summarized
in one brief incident, is direct, and with the evident intent on the part of
the writer, that we should regard Mary as the one possessing those traits of
character most worthy of emulating. Here,
in the eleventh chapter of John, this contrast is also to be noted. But instead
of it being direct, it is developed gradually. As the beloved Apostle John
unfolds his story, the distinctive characters of the sisters are seen, not so
much in contrast, as blending into each other. He does not forget to mention
that both are loved by our Lord (John 11:5); that they each show deep sorrow
for the loss of their brother; that they both send to the Lord for help, and
both alike express their faith in him. And yet, notwithstanding this,
"the difference of character," as the eminent scholar, Lightfoot,
has observed, "is perceptible throughout the narrative. It is Martha who,
with her restless activity, goes out to meet Jesus, while Mary remains in the
house weeping. It is Martha who holds a conversation with Jesus, questions
him, remonstrates with him, and in the very crisis of their grief shows her
practical commonsense in deprecating the removal of the stone. It is Mary who
goes forth silently to meet him, silently and tearfully, so that the bystanders
suppose her to be going to weep at her brother's tomb; who, when she sees
Jesus, falls down at his feet; who, uttering the same words of faith in his
power as Martha, does not qualify them with the reservation. In all this
narrative the evangelist does not once direct attention to the contrast
between the two sisters. He simply relates the events of which he was an
eyewitness, without a comment. But the two were real, living persons, and
therefore the difference of character between them develops itself in
action." IF THOU HADST BEEN HERE Under
the impulse of her devotion, Mary, as soon as she had heard the message, arose
quickly and left the house. The formal sympathizers, who were gathered there,
watched her departure, but not knowing the reason, assumed that she was going
to the grave to weep there, and decided to follow her. Such, however, was not
Mary's intention. The music of her Master's name and the word that he was near,
and wished to see her, brought joy to her heart, and she sought his presence,
there to obtain the strength and comfort which only he could give. When
she reached Jesus, she fell down at his feet, saying, in the identical words
used by Martha, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."
But, as already noted, there was no attempt on her part to discuss her grief.
Her action, in falling at his feet, itself expressed the urgency of her
prayer.* Moreover, in the few moments that elapsed before the professional
mourners arrived, she was apparently so overcome by emotion, that conversation
was impossible. ------------------------ * See
Mark 5:22, 23 for a parallel case, in proof of this. Jesus,
who loved both Martha and Mary, was well aware of their differences in
temperament, and adapted himself to them. With the one, he was able to enter
into a discussion - to lead Martha's lively, but not too enlightened, faith in
the doctrine of the resurrection, to faith in himself, as the one in whom was life,
and through whom resurrection and life should come; to the sensitive spirit of
Mary, on the other hand, he responds with silence, joining his tears with hers.
Scholars tell us that the word translated "wept" in "Jesus
wept" (John 11:35), is not
the same as the word twice translated "weeping" in John 11:33. There
the meaning is "sobs," but here "tears" are to be
understood; it is the expression for a calm and gentle sorrow. THE SYMPATHIZING JESUS This
text, which shows our Lord to be the "Sympathizing Jesus," is held by
some critics to furnish proof that the entire narrative of the raising of Lazarus is spurious. Such
maintain that since Jesus knew he was soon to bring Lazarus back to life, he
could not have shed genuine tears, or experienced sincere sorrow. Certain it
is that if John's Gospel, instead of being the inspired Word of God, were
merely the result of speculative thought, as some claim, it would not have contained
John 11:35. Jesus, as the true Logos, with nothing human except the outward
appearance, would have raised his friend with triumphant looks and unmoistened
eyes. But those who hold such views fail to appreciate the significance of
John's earlier statement that "the Word was made flesh" (John 1:14). As one able
writer has remarked: "It is not with a heart of stone that the dead are
raised." To us there is real significance in the fact that the very Gospel
in which the divine Sonship of Jesus is most clearly asserted, is also the one
which makes us best acquainted with the profoundly human side of his life. Jesus'
tears were occasioned, first, out of sympathy for the bereaved -- not merely for
those then present, but for the suffering borne by the entire human family,
since the reign of sin and death began. Reflect, if you will, on the number of
breaking hearts there are, throughout the wide world, and on how loud the wail
of suffering humanity, could we but hear it! Bethany processions, pacing with
slow and measured step, to deposit their earthly all, in the cold custody of the
tomb. Then, too, his tears would flow, as he thought of the triumphs effected by
the enemy, death. The body of man, pronounced "very good" in the case of Adam,
father of the race, is now ruined, and resolved into a mass of humiliating dust.
What must have been his reflections, as he thought of men as they had now become
- devastated wrecks, moldering in dissolution and decay, with Satan sitting, as
it were, in regal state, holding high holiday over a vassal world! Again, he
was about to perform his greatest miracle, and yet knew that while some of its
witnesses would believe, many then and later would despise him, and discount
his work -- yea, would even connive with others to put him to death. It should
not surprise us to read that "Jesus wept." TAKE YE AWAY THE STONE To
the tears of Jesus, the reaction of those present was twofold. There were those
who said feelingly, "Behold, how he loved him"; while others said cynically,
"If he loved him so much, why did he let him die?" They
have now reached the grave. It was a rocky sepulcher. A flat stone lay upon the
mouth of it. "Jesus said, Take ye away the stone." - John 11:39. Here
Martha voices an objection: "Lord, by this time he stinketh; for he hath
been dead four days." It seems clear from these words that Martha was not
anticipating the miracle the Master purposed. Evidently she supposed that our
Lord's only reason for opening the tomb was to look one last time on Lazarus.
This, however, will be no consolation to her, now. Moreover, as the dead man's
sister, she would quite naturally shrink from seeing the ravages of death upon
one so dear to her. Nor would it assuage her sister's grief, or that of Jesus.
Both for his sake, therefore, and for Mary's as well as for her own, and for
the sake of others present, Martha recoils from the thought of such a painful
exposure. However,
in response to her objection, Jesus gently recalls his earlier promise:
"Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see
the glory of God?" - John 11:40. Many
expositors understand our Lord
to be referring to the conversation he had with Martha, recorded in John
11:21-27. And, indeed, his words "if thou wouldest believe" (John
11:40), do remind us of expressions to be found in that passage. But the expression,
"the glory of God," prominent in John 11:40, is absent from John
11:21-27, whereas it forms the salient feature of John 11:4. Evidently, then,
it was the promise in John 11:4, of which Jesus now reminds Martha. He well
knew that it had been reported to the two sisters by their messenger, Hence the
expression: "Said I not unto thee," stands for: "Did I not send
thee word?" This Bethany utterance has a voice reaching down through the Age, to our own day. Ofttimes the Lord lets our need attain its extremity, that his intervention may appear the more signal. He permits his own promises to apparently fail, that he may test the faith of his waiting people; tutor them to "hope against hope," and to find in unanswered prayers and baffled expectations only a fresh reason for clinging to his all-powerful arm and frequenting his mercy seat. FATHER, I THANK THEE THAT THOU HAST HEARD ME The
stone being removed from the grave, "Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said,
Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me
always" (John 11:41, 42). At first glance these words may seem strange,
yet when we recall that the two previous days had been spent by our Lord in
seclusion, in the wilderness of Perea, it is not difficult to realize that he
had there received assurance from his Father that the great moment was at hand
for him to manifest the power of God in resurrection life. Having this
assurance, and being full of faith and of the holy spirit, Jesus now offers
thanks to his Father in advance of the miracle. This
is the ideal set before us in our prayers at the throne of grace. May it be
ours, truthfully to take upon our lips these words of the Master, and speak
them in the ears of God: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard
me." It is most difficult for us to emulate the Lord in this way, for well we know that our
faith, at times, is weak and faltering. Yet the lesson surely is that we should
strive to reach that condition of "the perfect man in Christ Jesus"
whereby we pray with full assurance of faith and hope, and in believing
prayer, give thanks to our Father in advance of the desired blessing. LAZARUS, COME FORTH Now
the great moment has arrived. Every eye is fixed on Jesus. What will he do?
Eyes are strained; necks craned; every one is watching in silence. Then comes
his authoritative voice: "Lazarus, come forth." At the word of
command, "he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with
graveclothes; and his face bound about with a napkin." Again comes the
calm voice of Jesus: "Loose him, and let him go." Thus, in simplicity
and yet with wondrous grace, Jesus performed his greatest miracle, to the glory
of God, and as an illustration of the
power which he will exercise, when he comes in the power and glory of his
Kingdom. How
beautiful is this illustration! Lazarus, it is very apparent, had been really
dead for four days. Now he is awakened from the sleep of death. (Not brought
back from heaven, purgatory, or hell, but from the unconscious, death
condition, in which, he had known nothing. - Eccl. 9:5.) "Marvel not at
this," said our Lord in another place, "for the hour is coming, in
the which all that are in the graves shall hear his [Jesus'] voice, and shall
come forth" (John 5:28). In that day, the Word of the Lord will not be obscure,
or corrupted by false teachers, or by Satan's counterfeits. Instead, no evil
shall be there; no dangerous errors to fall over, no sickness, sorrow, pain, or
death, and, as Isaiah puts it: "The work of righteousness shall be peace;
and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever" (Isa.
32:17). "Hallelujah! What a Savior!" (To be concluded in next issue) The Question Box Behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, Question: What
is the lesson to be drawn from Isaiah 7:14? Answer: The
lesson, as I
see it, is in reference to the birth of Jesus -- a lesson concerning the great
Messiah; a lesson for all times and for all people. DUAL FULFILLMENTS Some
prophecies, however, have more than one fulfillment. Isaiah 7:14 is one such.
Failure to recognize this constitutes one of the main difficulties confronting
the student of prophecy. One school of thought notes an early application, but
is not able to see a later (usually higher) fulfillment. This is particularly
true of orthodox Jews-and perhaps especially in their understanding of Isaiah
7:14. Another school of thought, Christian in concept, sees the higher
fulfillment, but is not always able to recognize any earlier application. In
the study of any prophecy having, or which appears to possess, a predictive*
character, it is important to obtain first an understanding of its immediate
application; in other words, it is necessary to ascertain what it meant to the
writer and those to whom he wrote. What was its meaning to them? Only after this question has been
satisfactorily answered are we in a position to properly grasp the later
application (or applications). --------------------------------- *
While all prophecies "tell forth," not all "foretell." Let
us look at a few illustrations of this. Consider, for example, Hosea 11:1.
There we read: "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my
son out of Egypt." Quite obviously, this has reference to the infant
nation of Israel and its deliverance from the hand of Pharaoh. No orthodox Jew
could fail to recognize this. Yet Christians, under the guidance of the New
Testament, see that it has reference not only to the coming of Israel out of
Egypt, but also to the coming of Jesus out of Egypt centuries later. (Matt.
2:15, 19, 20.) Moreover, guided by the holy spirit, the passage is seen by
Christians to have yet another significance -the coming of spiritual Israel
(the Gospel-Age Church) out of that which Egypt typifies, namely, the world
(its aims, ambitions, associations, spirit). Again,
when David, in Psalm 22, wrote: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken
me?" he was without doubt writing concerning himself'. Most people,
unacquainted with the New Testament, could come to no other conclusion. Yet we know that the Lord was
overruling David's choice of words so as to make him speak prophetically of the
Messiah who was to come. - Matt. 27:46. Take
the words of Isaiah 61:1: "The
spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach
good tidings." Here Isaiah, of course, could have reference only to
himself and his ministry. But he was a prophet through whom God spoke. (2 Pet.
1:21.) Consequently his words were such that they could be predictive. Jesus
himself shows that they were, when in Luke 4:21, he applied them to himself and
his ministry: "This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears."
While, therefore, we know that there was a measure of fulfillment in Isaiah and his ministry, it is not
difficult for us to recognize that only in Jesus are the words filled to the
full. JESUS BORN OF A VIRGIN Returning
now to Isaiah 7:14: As already noted, this prophecy appears to have had a dual
fulfillment. It foretold an event shortly to occur, namely the birth of a son
to a woman who was then a virgin, and the birth of whose son, therefore, could
be known only to God; hence an event which could be recognized by King Ahaz as
a sign that God would be with him and with the nation. The words employed in
the prophecy, however, were such that they described also a future glorious
event, even the birth of Jesus of a woman who should appropriately be called the virgin, and who should remain
so at the time of his birth. If the name Immanuel (God with us) was appropriately
given to the boy in Isaiah's day, how much more fittingly might it be given to
Jesus! He filled the prediction full. At the time of his birth, Mary, his
mother, was a virgin, and he had no earthly father -- Joseph being his foster
father. As the angel Gabriel, in answer to Mary's question as to how it could
be that she should have a son in view of the fact that she was a virgin,
replied (RSV): "The holy spirit will come upon you, and the power of the
Most High will over shadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called
holy, the Son of God." - Luke 1:35. CORROBORATIVE SCRIPTURE When
we meditate for a moment on the virgin birth of Jesus, many corroborative
Scriptures come rushing to mind. We recall, for example, the Baptist's
testimony recorded in John 3:31: "He that cometh, from above is above all;
he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth; he that cometh
from heaven is above all." Here the Baptist is contrasting himself with
Jesus. How shall he find appropriate words l "After the flesh" he was
his cousin, yet it is evident that he regards Jesus as a being of another
order, as standing on quite a different platform from his own. He can find no
words strong enough to mark the difference between himself and Jesus. Jesus is
"from above" -- "from heaven." I am "of the
earth," and "speak of the earth." Jesus said of him that he was
a burning and a shining light; John, however, knew himself to be unworthy to
loose the Lord's shoe-latchet. While the Baptist is not discussing the
"virgin birth," his words certainly do not conflict with that
doctrine. Let
us look next at the disciples' words found in John 16:19, 30: "Lo, now
speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb [parable] .. . now we are sure
that thou camest forth from God." These
words were the response of the disciples to a very clear utterance of our
Lord, to which he had given expression in the immediately preceding verse:
"I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world; again I leave
the world and go to the Father." Of what other member of the human race
could these words be truthfully spoken? But
"the time would fail me" to list all the Scriptures which come to
mind. Peter's reference to "a lamb without blemish and without spot"
(1 Pet. 1:19) -- surely this would require a virgin birth! Job's inquiry:
"Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?" (Job 14: 4)-a
question which had only a negative answer in his day. The description of our
Lord given by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, that Jesus was
"holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners"; the Apostle
John's reference to Jesus as the "only begotten of the Father" (John
1:14); as the "Word of God" (John 1:1); the "Word made
flesh" (John 1:14); St. Paul telling us of one who "though being in
God's form yet did not meditate a usurpation to be like God" (Phil. 2:6);
who "was rich, but for our sakes became poor" (2 Cor. 8:9)these all
mark Jesus as one apart, who though he took our human nature, and though he
was in all points tempted as we (his brethren) are tempted, was "yet
without sin. "Heb. 4:15). In
writing a biography, it is customary to trace a man's career "from the
cradle to the grave." In the case of Jesus one must go back further than
the cradle and continue on beyond the grave. One must go back "to the
beginning of the creation of God" (Rev. 3:14) to find the origin of the
"Only Begotten One," (John 1:14) the "Firstborn of all
creation." (Col. 1:15.) Only from that beginning may we trace the
circumstances whereby a clean thing was brought out of an unclean -- a root out
of a dry ground; a perfect man out of the imperfect, contaminate race. This was
accomplished by a miracle. The mighty Logos became flesh -- being born of a
virgin. WHY IS THE DOCTRINE OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH IMPORTANT? The
doctrine that Jesus was born of a virgin, rightly understood, is of great
importance to both the Church and the world. Had Jesus derived his life from an
earthly father, the quality of that life would have been no different from ours.
Ours was contaminated at the fountainhead, in Father Adam. So also would
have been the life of Jesus. It would have been a dying one, just as ours. Receiving
only such a life, he would have been on his way, willy-nilly, to the grave --
just as we are. His death would not have been a voluntary one, but one from
which he could not escape. He would thus have been without power to save us; he
would not have had the wherewithal to save even himself. But
when, in the fullness of the time, God sent forth his Son made of a woman (Gal.
4:4), it was not a case of an earthly father passing on to him a spark of a
dying life. No, indeed! It was as Jesus himself declared: "I proceeded
forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." - John
8:42. An
inspired writer puts the matter succinctly: "Such an high priest became
us"; that is to say, such an high priest was appropriate to the
necessities of our case; namely, one who was "holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners" (Heb. 7:26). Only such an one as he could have
saved us. Praise God that he and his Father had the heart to do so. EMMANUEL - GOD WITH US This
is the great message of the New Testament to the Church, and eventually to the
world: Emmanuel, God with us. God was with his ancient people, and spoke to
them often and unmistakably by the mouth of his Prophets. He was there in the
burning bush, in the Shekinah of the tabernacle, and in the pillar of cloud and
of fire, as well as in the Angel of Jehovah, whom many believe was the pre-human
Logos. But he came into new and closer relationship when he sent his Son, and
when he, the mighty Logos, became flesh. Jesus Christ was "God made
manifest in the flesh" (1 Tim. 3:16); he was so true and adequate a
manifestation of God; so at one with the Father (in purpose and in spirit--not
in person) that he could truthfully say: "He that hath seen me hath seen
the Father." (John 14:9.) This was a fulfillment of the prophecy, "God
with us," indeed -- nay, it was the fulfillment, before which the earlier
one fades into relative insignificance. "God
is with us" in the life of the Church, for Jesus laid its foundations in
his blood, and became himself its cornerstone and the bishop of our souls.
"God is with us" in our personal experiences, for Christ Jesus is our
Brother and Savior, our refuge under the consciousness of sin, our strength
in temptations, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, with the Psalmist
we say "We will not fear," whatever may be our present lot, and
whatever may befall us. "God is with us" under our present burden,
and in the unknown events of the future. "God is with us" in life,
in death, in time, and in eternity. "Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me."
"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to
glory." - Psalms 23, 46, 73. -
P. L. Read. The Evidence Concerning a Disputed Text "But the rest of the
dead lived not again until (Omitted by the Sinaitic Ms.) THERE
is considerable difference of opinion regarding the above text. Some writers
who deal with Bible prophecy consider the clause an important one, and cite it
as proof that the world of mankind will be called from, the tomb a thousand
years after the saints are raised from the dead at our Lord's second coming.
The noted writer, H. Grattan Guinness, says emphatically: "This passage
then teaches that the resurrection of the dead will take place in two stages,
with a thousand years between. Taken in its apparent, most natural, and consistent
meaning, nothing else can be made of it." (The Approaching End of the
Age, Horne's edition, page 63.) The
view just stated denies that the masses of mankind, condemned in Adam but
redeemed by Christ, will be awakened from the sleep of death during the
thousand years of our Lord's reign on earth with his saints; it denies that
those thousand years will be the world's time of probation (judgment) and
restoration of all the obedient (Acts 3:19-21). On the other hand, many
students of the Bible who hold this "larger hope," question the right
of the text at the head of this article to be considered a part of the inspired
record, because of its omission by certain ancient manuscripts. THE BASIS OF TEXTUAL REVISION Students
of the Bible are aware that the original (Greek) text of the New Testament has
undergone revision due to the discovery of several important manuscripts which
are much older than any known in the year 1611, when the King James Version of
the Bible was made. Topping the list of these venerable witnesses are three --
the Sinaitic, the Vatican #1209, and the Alexandrine Manuscripts. By those
competent to judge, the Sinaitic and Vatican are assigned to the fourth century,
and the Alexandrine to the fifth. Some students possess the so-called Tischendorf
New Testament, which gives, as footnotes, the most important readings of
these three manuscripts, where they differ from the King James Version. Many
other important Greek mss. are also available for use by textual critics of
the New Testament, some of them being almost as old as the three named above,
and some papyri which are deemed as old as the Sinaitic or the Vatican, and
even a century or two older. Second in importance to these Greek mss. are some
in other languages into which the Scriptures were translated in the early
Christian centuries, e.g., Latin, Syriac, and Coptic (Egyptian). These
ancient mss., preserved by Providence and made available through the learning and
industry of many scholars, are in the main the tools of the textual critic as
he endeavors to choose correctly between various readings in the mss., in
order to determine (as nearly as possible) the true text of the sacred
writings. While there are thousands of variations in the Greek mss., it has
been estimated that not more than fifty of them are of any real importance, the
vast majority being merely differences in spelling, the order of words, or other
trifles. Of the fifty variations only a few can have any bearing on doctrine,
and instances in which there is evidence
of willful corruption of the text are rare indeed, the most notable of these
being the interpolated "three heavenly witnesses" in 1 John 5:7, 8
(cf. the King James and Revised Versions on this passage). USING THE HELPS PROVIDED While
we recognize that the text of the Bible has suffered somewhat through errors of
transcription as the manuscripts have been laboriously copied by scribes (some
more careful than others) over the long period before the invention of
printing, we realize that in the ancient manuscripts which have been preserved
to our time, God has provided the means for detecting and correcting every
error of transcription that can affect our faith. How thankful we are for this,
and how willing to make use of what the Lord has provided! Having
pointed out in the preceding remarks the nature and purpose of verbal criticism
of the Scriptures, the writer proposes to examine the evidence regarding the
authenticity of the disputed clause in Revelation 20:5. Having access to some
of the more complete works on the Greek text of the Apocalypse (and manuscripts
in general) he expects to deal more fully with the subject in hand than is
usual. Also, it may be advisable to clarify some expressions used in the past
by other writers. Doubtless some students of the Bible, when studying the text,
"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were
finished, have noted this comment on it in the "Berean Bible Teachers' Manual":
"This sentence is not found in the oldest and most reliable mss." Any
thoughtful student will ask: "If the clause in question is not found in
the oldest and most reliable manuscripts, why is it retained in all modern
English versions -- all of them professing to follow a Greek text corrected
according to the oldest manuscripts?" To answer that question is one
purpose of this article. The
statement quoted from the "Manual is open to question, for the Alexandrine
ms. must certainly be included among the oldest and most reliable mss. of the
New Testament, and it contains the disputed clause. As has been pointed out,
the Sinaitic ms. omits the words, and is the only one of the three famous Mss.
that can be said to omit them. For the statement sometimes made that the
questionable clause is omitted by the Vatican ms. #1209 is misleading, since
that very ancient and valuable witness does not now contain any part of the
Book of Revelation. It is a mistake, also, to include the Vatican ms. #1160
among "the oldest and most reliable Greek mss." since it is not one
of the old uncials but a late cursive ms. of no special value, assigned by
experts to the thirteenth or fourteenth century (Scrivener, Swete, Alford). It
should be pointed out that in seeking to make a right estimate of the value of
any manuscript, textual critics consider other things besides the apparent age
of the document, e.g., the care with
which the copyist did his work. Eminent critics rate the Sinaitic Ms. below the
Alexandrine in the Apocalypse, because of its many errors and omissions in that
Book. Scholars explain many omissions in manuscripts as cases of homoeoteleuton
-- a Greek word meaning "like ending." This means that "when
two lines or sentences end with the same word, the intervening words were
often unconsciously overlooked and omitted." A good example of the
omission of a clause due to "like ending" may be seen in 1 John 2:23,
where the omitted clause has been supplied from the oldest manuscripts. There
is an apparent omission of a clause due to "like ending" in the
Sinaitic Ms. in Revelation 18:22. The last clause of the verse was
inadvertently omitted by the scribe because the preceding clause ended with
the same words. Here the Sinaiticus is not supported by any uncial manuscript,
but the clause is lacking in a few cursives, including the Vatican X1160. TWO KINDS OF TEXTUAL EVIDENCE Scholars
who edit the text of the Scriptures in the original languages weigh two kinds
of evidence in seeking to determine the true reading in passages where various
readings exist. The first and more important of the two is that known as the external
evidence. In the case of the New Testament this term takes in such documentary
evidence as is found in (1) the older Greek mss. including a few very ancient
papyri; (2) the translations made in the early Christian centuries into the
Latin, Syriac, Coptic, and other languages, manuscripts of which still exist;
and (3) quotations of the Scriptures in early- Christian writers known as Greek or Latin Fathers. Of these
three sources of evidence the first is by far the most important to the textual
critic. We ask, Where do the old Greek manuscripts stand with respect to the
clause "But the rest of the dead lived not again," etc.? The answer
is, Their evidence is neither unanimous nor decisive on one side or the other.
To sum up briefly, only seven of the oldest (i.e., uncial) Mss. contain the
Apocalypse complete or in part, and of that number only three have Revelation
20:5 and can be legitimately cited as either exhibiting or omitting the
disputed clause. Of
the three uncials upon which chiefly our present knowledge must rest, the
clause in question is omitted by the Sinaitic of the fourth century, but is
found in the Alexandrine of the fifth century and in the uncial 046 of the
eighth century. From this it appears that the evidence of the old Greek mss.
regarding the clause is inconclusive, the words being omitted by the oldest of
those three, but being found in the Alexandrine which (in the Apocalypse) competent
textual critics rate above the Sinaitic Ms. Due to this latter circumstance and
the context of Revelation 20:5, which admittedly is favorable to a
transcriptional error of omission on account of "like ending," all
modern editors of the Greek New Testament (with one notable exception) have
retained the questionable clause in the text, believing it to be genuine.
Among them, Tischendorf who discovered the Sinaitic ms. and considered it the
oldest and most reliable of all the Greek mss., called its omission of the
clause "a mere error" of the scribe. The foregoing explains, we
trust, why the disputed clause is retained by almost all editors and is found
in all English Versions in general use. It is retained on the grounds of external
evidence, as that is evaluated by most textual critics. THE USE OF INTERNAL EVIDENCE In
resolving some problems respecting the original text, particularly in those
instances in which the manuscript evidence is about evenly divided between
certain variant readings, another and a different kind of evidence may be used
effectively. This is known as the internal evidence of the text.
Considering the claims of two or more variant readings to the right to a place
in the text, each about equally attested in the best manuscripts, the editor
inquires, Which one of these readings best suits the context? Obviously this
method involves some degree of subjectivism and the decision will tend to vary
according to the thinking of the individual critic. Nevertheless, it is
generally admitted that the judicious use of internal evidence can bring sound
results, and is an important tool of the textual critic. However, this method
is not to be confused with mere conjectural emendation, which has little
regard for external evidence. As
indicated above, the writer knows of only one editor of the Greek text of the
Revelation who does not admit the disputed clause into the text. It is a case
of one scholar dissenting from the prevailing opinion, and justifying his position
by the internal evidence of the text. We refer to the twovolume work on "The
Revelation of St. John" by Dr. R. H. Charles, in the ICC series of commentaries.
In editing the Greek text of the Apocalypse this scholar omits the disputed
clause of 20:5, considering it an interpolation. In his textual notes the
author shows that there is important manuscript evidence both for the omission
of the clause and for its retention in the sacred text, but he also cites the
internal evidence as being strongly against the genuineness of the clause. He
points out that this clause does not fit naturally into the context, but it
breaks up the order of thought, and that it lacks a connective word which would
be expected in the Greek (the word "but" is not in the mss.). . The
scholar further argues that the clause, "This is the first
resurrection" would more naturally follow a positive statement than the
negative one which precedes it in the ordinary text. We will concede that the
arguments advanced by Dr. Charles from the internal evidence are weighty, and
justify the omission of the questionable clause from the text, seeing that the
manuscript evidence is about evenly divided for and against it. This
is clearly another case where some one's comment, written on the margin of a
manuscript, was inadvertently written into the text by a copyist. This must
have happened no later than the fifth century, the spurious clause being found
in the Alexandrine Ms., as well as in many of later date. It appears reasonably
certain that the absence of the clause from the Sinaitic Ms., from over twenty
later Greek manuscripts, and from the Syriac Version, was not due to a
copyist's error on account of "like ending"-as the majority of
editors appear to have too readily assumed. - W. A. Eliason Hitherto and HenceforthA brief report from our Directors
USUALLY
the Annual Report of Directors is presented to the Institute members at their
Annual Meeting, before being published in the Herald. However, in 1972,
circumstances were such as to make it difficult to hold the Institute's
Annual Meeting on June 3, the date scheduled. As a result, the Meeting was
postponed until 1973. Meantime, in order that the Institute's members, and
indeed all Herald readers, may be informed, we submit, in the following
paragraphs, a brief report of the Institute's ministry for the past year, together
with our plans for its future, if the Lord will. HITHERTO In
some respects the year now ending was one of the most difficult experienced during
the 54 years of the Institute's ministry. This was due, largely, to the
declining health, and in one instance, to the passing, of brethren who had
hitherto served full time in the Institute's ministry. Yet if there is one word
that could be selected, that would best describe the sentiment of all our
staff, it would be the word "Ebenezer" -- "Hitherto hath the
Lord helped us." - 1 Sam. 7:12. Each
year, as we report the Institute's activities of the past twelve months, it is
with an increased realization of the evidences, both in the world and in the
Church, that the Kingdom for which we pray is near at hand. How apropos then,
our Master's exhortation to lift up our heads (Luke 21:28). In this
realization, too, the words of the Apostle take on a deeper significance:
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand." - Rom. 13:12. THE INSTITUTE'S POLICY In
view of the fact that a number of our readers have only recently become
acquainted with us, it may not be amiss to restate here the principles for which
the Institute has consistently stood from its inception in 1918. According to
its charter, it was organized for "the dissemination of Bible truths by
means of the publication of tracts, pamphlets, papers, and other lawful means
which its Board of Directors, duly constituted, shall deem expedient for the
furtherance of the purposes stated." In emphasizing the principles of
liberty, fellowship, and unity of all consecrated believers in Christ, we believe
that we are not only conforming to the teaching of the Lord Jesus and his
Apostles, but are also adhering to the spirit of our late Pastor's ministry.
He, too, emphasized that to walk in the footsteps of the Master to the extent
of one's ability constituted the one requirement for Christian fellowship (not
the many ramifications of doctrine which mistaken human wisdom holds should be
applied as tests of fellowship). Our
Institute is not a church organization. Moreover, it does not now exercise,
nor has it ever exercised, supervision over any Bible Class. It is, however,
pleased with every privilege of service granted it, rejoicing to be the servant
of the Lord's brethren in any detail, however minor it may be. Furthermore, it
rejoices to report that it remains today what it was originally formed to be
-- a group of brethren voluntarily associated for mutual comfort and
assistance, brought together by a unity of spirit, "Endeavoring to keep
the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." - Eph. 4:3. THE HERALD Encouraging
reports reach us that the Herald continues to be used of the Lord for
the spiritual comfort and strength of many. It has been especially encouraging
to receive testimonials from distant lands, and to mark the hunger for the
light of God's Word. Who but the Lord can measure the spiritual benefits
resulting from this expansion of The Herald's testimony? At
the close of the Fiscal Year the total number of Herald subscribers' was
10,856 (slightly less than at the end of the previous year). THE PILGRIM MINISTRY Last
year, in writing our report on this branch of our ministry, we said, amongst
other things: "Just
what the future holds for us, in this branch of the Institute's ministry, we
are not presently able to say. For the last couple of years the number of
brethren serving full time in the Pilgrim service has been reduced to three,
namely, Brothers Essler, Muir, and John T. Read. It seems clear that, for
reasons of health, their own and/or their immediate relatives, it will become
mandatory for each of these three brethren to substantially reduce their
labors in this direction." This
forecast, written in October 1971, proved only too true. On
March 27, 1972, it pleased the Lord to permit Brother Muir's earthly pilgrimage
to come to an end. More
than a year ago, Brother John T. Read, owing to physical disabilities, was
compelled to withdraw from the Pilgrim Ministry in which, for so long, he had
been engaged. More
recently, Brother Essler, also for reasons of health, has found it necessary to
decline appointments very far from his home base. Obviously
our Pilgrim Ministry the past year was necessarily greatly curtailed from what
it had been in previous years. HENCEFORTH So
much for the year just ending. Now a word as to future plans. Our
Directors are unanimous in the belief that the course which would be most
pleasing to the Lord, would be for us to "henceforth" continue the
same ministries in which we have "hitherto" been engaged. He would
have us, we think, expand those ministries, or contract them, depending on the
resources, personnel, financial, etc., he was pleased to send us. Ours
continues to be a walk by faith and not by sight. This being true, we shall, as
hitherto, be much in prayer for the Lord's guidance -- watching thereunto; --
and we earnestly solicit our readers to continue to join their prayers with
ours, that the Lord's leadings may be clearly discerned. Your
brethren in the Master's service, Board
of Directors FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFISCAL YEAR ENDED APRIL 30, 1972 (1) Balance Sheet as of April 30, 1972 Assets Cash in Bank $ 4,417.92 Liabilities
None . Net
Worth (as per Analysis below) $7,499.39 (2) Statement of Income and Expense and Analysis of Net Worth
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