Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 29, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 39.

“Enquire and make search and ask diligently.”

[From time to time we will reply under this head, if deemed advisable, to such candid inquiries as may be sent us. Correspondents wishing a reply to their questions must give their full name and address, not for publication unless they wish, but as an evidence of good faith on their part, and to give us opportunity to reply by letter if deemed best. It is always well to inclose stamp. Let the questions be short and pointed, and such as may be answered in limited space. The questions will be numbered continuously.]

864. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Was “the tree of knowledge of good and evil” which the Lord placed in Eden figurative? If not, why? H. W.

If it was, why? Why should that tree be considered figurative more than the tree of life? or the other trees “pleasant to the sight and good for food”? or the garden in which the trees grew? or Eden, in which the garden was planted? Why should we believe it to be anything else than a literal tree? God could test man over that as well as He could the water from the rock, or the manna from the skies. Being used as a test, it naturally became symbolical of other tests which followed. In that sense alone is it figurative.

865. Mortal or Immortal?

Was Adam immortal? If not, he must have been mortal.

Why so? What is it to be immortal?—It is to be deathless, incorruptible, that which can not be corrupted, and therefore can not die. To be mortal is to be subject to death, corruptible. Man is now mortal and corruptible. If Adam had been immortal, he would not have sinned and died. He was not mortal, for God did not create a dying man. Adam was therefore neither mortal nor immortal, but a candidate for immortality, possessing eternal life. His flesh was pure, healthy, holy, uncorrupted, having the eternal life of God flowing through it unhindered. Had man always lived in harmony with the law of God’s life, he would have developed an incorruptible character, a character that no temptation could corrupt. Then God would have placed upon him the stamp of immortality. His flesh would have been made incorruptible, deathless. God’s gift of immortality is God’s stamp of an incorruptible character.

866. Israel in Egypt.

Why is it said in a lesson note of some time ago, that from the time that Jacob went into Egypt until the children of Israel left there were 215 years? Gen. 15:13. W. H. S.

The 400 years of Gen. 15:13 includes the sojourn in Canaan, a land in which Abraham and his children were strangers. See Heb. 11:9. Paul tells us that from the time the first promise was made to Abraham to the speaking of the law on Mt. Sinai was 430 years. Gal. 3:17. The only difficulty is Ex. 12:40. But the reading of the Samaritan and Alexandrian Septuagint makes this plain: “Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, and of their fathers, which they sojourned in the land of Canaan and the land of Egypt, was 430 years.” Half of this was spent in Canaan, half in Egypt.

867. Why Should Women Teach?

Why are women allowed to teach, in view of 1 Tim. 2:12 and 1 Cor. 14:34? A preacher says, “Because all are made new and reformed.” Is it true? C. R.

Test it by the Word of God and see whether it is true. Certainly there were women who prophesied and taught. 2 Chron. 34:22–28; Acts 21:9; 18:24–26. The Lord said there should be. Acts 2:17. Paul recognized this truth, and gave direction concerning the appearance in public while prophesying and praying. 1 Cor. 11:4–6. We conclude that 1 Tim. 2:12 refers to arbitrary authority and assumption unbecoming a woman, and that 1 Cor. 14:34 refers to Corinthian women who brought disorder in the Corinthian church, as shown by the context, and therefore Paul wrote them, “Let your women keep silence in the churches.” If the Lord bids a sister speak, let her speak to His glory. If we stood just where Paul did, and had the Spirit as he did, we would probably see some things in an altogether different light. Let us leave the little things and take heed to ourselves. Luke 21:34.