Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 2, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 46.

We can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply.

4225—The Time of Beginning the Sabbath

Matt. 28:1 states that “in the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene,” etc. The text seems to infer that the Sabbath did not end until it began to “dawn” toward the first day of the week. Mark, Luke, and John refer to the same thing. How can it be said that the Sabbath begins at sunset, when these women went out “in the end of the Sabbath,” while it was dawning toward the first day of the week? R. E. B.

There is no question whatever, among Biblical scholars, in regard to the understanding of the Jews that their day began with sunset and ended at sunset on the following day. The idea of beginning the day at midnight and ending it at midnight was an arrangement of human devising. The sun is God’s great clock that marks off the day, and is absolutely accurate because of the accuracy of the revolution of our earth upon its axis.

The difficulty of our inquirer seems to be in the statement that these women came to the sepulcher “in the end of the Sabbath.” Upon this expression Dr. Adam Clarke, in his original comments as they were first published, translates this expression, “After the end of the week,” in the place of “In the end of the Sabbath.” He quotes numerous authorities in favor of this translation. That is evidently the meaning of the text, as will be seen by a study of Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1; and John 20:1, where the same incident is spoken of. Mark says that it was “when the Sabbath was past” that Mary Magdalene and the others came to the sepulcher. And both Luke and John say that the occurrence was on the first day of the week, but that it was very early in the morning.

The Bible is explicit in saying, “From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath” (Lev. 23: 32), and the meaning of the expression “evening” is stated in this text: “And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.” “Even” was the time when the sun set. It was against the law of the Jews to heal on the Sabbath day, so they waited till “even, when the sun did set,” after the Sabbath was past, to bring their diseased to Christ for healing.

4226—Were Never in Bondage

How could the Jews say, as in John 8: 35, that they were never in bondage to any man, when even at that time they were under Rome, and looking for the Messiah to deliver them? They had also been in bondage before, as under Babylon, etc. L. H.

The Jews could not have made such an assertion truthfully. The men who were talking to Christ at that time had actually rejected the Messiah, who was the great Author of truth, and were seeking to find excuses to put Him out of the way. They were under the influence of the great “father of lies,” and it is not at all strange that they should speak falsely. In recording conversations of that character, the Bible, in order to tell the truth, must recite things just as they were spoken. The text is authority for the fact that the Jews said that particular thing, but the text does not say that the Jews were telling the truth when they said it.

4227—“Jew” and “Jewess”

I greatly desire to know where in the Bible the name “Jew” or “Jewess” was first mentioned. Also why were they called Jews? O. C. G.

According to Young’s “Analytical Concordance,” the word “Jew” occurs in the Bible first in Esther 2: 5, and either in the singular or the plural it occurs a large number of times, in both the Old and the New Testament. “Jewess” occurs but twice,—Acts 16: 1; 24: 24. This same concordance is one among the many authorities for the statement that the Jew is “a descendant of Judah.” In later times the Jew was also called an Israelite. All such questions as this can be readily learned by any individual in his home, by consulting any good concordance or Bible dictionary. Every home should if possible have such valuable books. They are very essential in Bible study.

4228—Healing the Sick

How is it that a certain class of people go around holding meetings, claiming they can heal the sick, and cure all diseases? A. S.

A great many people claim to heal the sick in answer to prayer, when in reality they do no such thing. But even though they did perform miracles of this kind, that is not conclusive evidence that they are performing these miracles through the power of God. Christ has forewarned us that false Christs and false prophets shall arise, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matt. 24: 24. When we are in the presence of any one who is claiming to perform a miracle, we need to be on our guard, for the Bible plainly shows that the arch-deceiver has power to perform miracles, and all of his miracles carry with them the specious arts of deception that will plunge the individual into utter destruction.

4229—Inmates of the “Underworld”

Do you believe that the inmates of the “underworld” are brought there from their own sinful nature, or from economic causes? E. T.

Economic causes may furnish an excuse for fallen women, but at the root of the whole matter is sin, not sin merely in the women, but in the men who either drive or beguile them into such an evil course.