Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 14.

“Enquire, and make search, and ask diligently.”

No. 521. 1 Tim. 2: 11-15.

We make the following brief suggestions: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.” Verses 11-13. God has given man the rulership, as being better adapted to that sphere. The woman's power is in her modesty, her devotion, her piety. Let her not destroy that power by being a brawler, or one who usurps authority. The proof given is that God indicated the relative place of man and woman in the creation. “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” Verse 14. See for a comment upon this “Patriarchs and Prophets,” pp. 53 to 57. Eve was deceived by the enemy. Adam was led astray by his love for Eve. Woman's ruling power is love, not strength. But tho she first sinned, “she shall be saved through the child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.” Verse 15, R. V. She shall be saved through the Seed of the woman, Jesus Christ. Altho through her came sin and death, yet through the child-bearing of sorrow comes the One able to save.

No. 522. Wine Grapes.

DO YOU think it wrong to raise wine grapes to sell? M. L. P.

Such questions as these must be answered by every one for himself. If our querist is in doubt, let him give the Lord and a good conscience the benefit of the doubt. Are not the grapes good? Is not the wine, the pure, unfermented juice of the grape, good? Is it wrong to make, or to use, or to buy, or to sell these? However, these are individual questions of conscience for each one to decide. Here is a good rule: 1 Cor. 10: 31.

No. 523. Sunday and Early Christians.

IS IT not claimed that A.D. 321 was the first that Sunday was kept by Christians? A bishop says that it was kept in the first, second, and third centuries, and refers me to Mosheim's History, book 1, part 2, chapter 4, sections 4, 5, 8. J. M. H.

We know of no such claim. The first Sunday law on record was that given in A.D. 321 by Constantine, yet a heathen. The references above, save section 8, make no mention of Sunday. The whole chapter shows that the early church had already lost its simplicity, and had followed heathen customs and mysteries. Section 8 of the chapter above mentioned (McLaine's translation) tells us that the meetings of the early Christians “were on the first day of the week; and in some places they assembled also on the seventh, which was celebrated by the Jews. Many also observed the fourth day of the week, on which Christ was betrayed; and the sixth, which was the day of his crucifixion.” Neander, the greatest church historian, tells us that “the festival of Sunday, like all other festivals, was always only a human ordinance, and it was far from the intentions of the apostles to establish a divine command in this respect, and from the early apostolic church, to transfer the laws of the Sabbath to Sunday.”—Church History, translated by H. J. Rose, p. 186. Yes; Sunday was doubtless kept by professed Christians in the first centuries. Many of the Christians were formerly idolaters and sun-worshipers, and observers of the “wild solar holiday of all pagan times,” and other times and seasons forbidden of God. Lev. 19: 26; Deut. 18: 10; 2 Kings 21: 6. Half-converted heathen brought this custom into the Christian Church. When others became backslidden, they went back to the observance of these heathen times and seasons. Thus did the Galatians. See Gal. 4: 8-11. Such early apostasy is not to be wondered at. Israel turned from the law in sight of its glory, and made an Egyptian sun-god, Apis, in less than forty days after their vow to serve God. Ex. 32: 1-6. Paul said that the mystery of iniquity did already work in his day. 2 Thess. 2: 7. It is not what the church practised in any age of the world; but what does God's Word teach? What did Jesus Christ do?

No. 524. 1 Tim. 5: 23.

WHAT were Timothy's infirmities? W. M.

We do not know. The text is before you. They were such as a little wine would benefit.

No. 525. 2 Cor. 12: 7.

WHAT was the thorn in Paul's flesh?

It may have been weakness of vision, obliging him to employ an amanuensis, the effect of the blinding glory of Christ. See Acts 9: 8, 18, 19; and Gal. 4: 13-15.

No. 526. Cleansing the Sanctuary, 1844.

HOW is it known that Christ went into the most holy place in 1844? G. K.

We know from a study of the type and the ending of the 2,300 days of Dan. 8: 14. This period applies not to the earthly sanctuary, but the heavenly, which must also be cleansed. Heb. 9: 23. This is a work of judgment. See Rev. 10: 7; 14: 6, 7; also “The Sanctuary and 2,300 Days,” and “Christ Our Advocate,” works published at this office, at prices respectively, $1.00 and ten cents.