Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 7, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 14.

“Enquire and make search and ask diligently.”

745. “Unclean until the Even.”

Please explain the following with special reference to length of time—Lev. 11:24: “Whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even.”

Those who were unclean were considered as debarred from touching sacred things, and were shut out from the congregation. The even was sunset. See Mark 1:32.

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746. Borrowing and Asking. Luke 6:30.

Does Luke 6:30 mean that if any one should borrow of us and fail to return what they borrowed, that we must not ask them for it? A Subscriber.

No, it does not. If a poor man in need borrows, lend, expecting nothing in return. See verse 35; Deut. 15:7, 8. The last part of verse 30 seems to have reference to goods taken by violence, or by process of law.

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747. Least in the Kingdom of God. Luke 7:28.

Please explain: “But he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he [John the Baptist].”

He who participated in the work which Jesus came to do, who was with Him, heard His teaching, drank of His Spirit, was greater in point of privilege and opportunity than was John the Baptist.

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748. Blood Toucheth Blood. Hosea 4:2.

Will you please explain what is meant by “blood toucheth blood”? Hosea 4:2. Reader.

It refers to frequent murders, men killing each other. The blood of one mingling with the blood of another.

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749. What Occurred in 1844?

Having read the “Prophetic Symbols of Daniel,” I would like to know what transpired in 1844. Subscriber.

If you will read the series of articles by John Orr now running in the SIGNS you will learn.

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750. Rev. 20:5. Is It Spurious?

Is Rev. 20:5 a proper translation? Our second probationary friends tell us that it is spurious. M. D.

This we have answered several times in the last two years. In one or two early versions it is wanting in the original, but was probably omitted by mistake. It appears in the others, and is by most eminent Greek scholars not even considered doubtful. The best and latest Greek Text of Wescott and Hort does not question. Our translation is correct.

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751. Works. 1 Cor. 3:13-15.

Please explain: “Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” 1 Cor. 3:13-15. What is meant by “works”? Elbe.

The subject under consideration is working for God, building for Him. The church is the building; Christ is the foundation; the work done is that which gathers out material for that building; the gold, silver, and precious stones are the souls truly converted and built up in God. Those who profess but do not possess Christ’s life are well likened to wood, hay, stubble. And yet a minister who gathered out such as these who will be lost, may be honest and true, and so be saved. The foundation abides. The precious stones abide. But the wood, hay, stubble, are consumed in the day of God, the fire of which, kindled by God’s presence, will test all things.

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752. 2 Kings 5:27. Origin of What?

Is this incident the origin of the Caucasian race?

It is the origin of no race; rather, it is the origin of leprosy in Gehazi’s family, and the beginning of his family’s extinction. The whiteness mentioned was the whiteness of disease.