To Correspondents by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 28, 1875

To Correspondents.

By Uriah Smith

Please harmonize 1 Tim. 2:4, with 2 Pet. 2:12. The first text reads, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” The second reads, “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.” How will God have all men to be saved, while some are to perish like brute beasts? I have to meet these things, and ask for light. G. M. D.

Answer. The word rendered “will have,” in 1 Tim. 2:4, is thelo (θέλω), and is defined by Greenfield, “To will, to be willing; Latin, volo; in the sense of, to desire, to wish; to require, demand, permit,” &c. According to the primary meaning of this word, there is no difficulty; for God is willing that all men should be saved, and this would be in accordance with his pleasure, as shown in his making provision for all; nevertheless, many will slight the provision, and be lost.

To M. A. B.: For comments on Matt. 10:28, see “Man’s Nature and Destiny,” pages 105–8; Job 14:22, do., chapter 6, especially page 52; Phil. 1:23, do., pages 200–10, and tract by J. N. A., entitled, “Departing and Being with Christ.” Acts 1:25 refers to Judas. Bloomfield says, “I still think the common interpretation (by which ton topon ton idion is taken to mean the place suited to him, namely, the place of destruction) is alone the true one.” We cannot see wherein John 4:24 requires any comment. Perhaps we do not fully apprehend the object of your reference to it.

Who are the host of high ones, in Isa. 24:21? G. G. D.

The text reads, “And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.” In place of punish, the margin reads, “visit upon.” The meaning of the original word is to come upon, light upon, fix upon, which does not necessarily contain the idea of punishment. The Septuagint reads, “The Lord shall lay his hand upon the order (kosmos) of heaven, and upon the kings of the earth.” The Hebrew makes a distinction between the things in the height, and kings on the ground. We conclude, therefore, that punish is a wrong word, and that the text predicts what the evangelists call the shaking of the powers of heaven, which takes place in connection with the overthrow of the kings of the earth at the coming of Christ.

W. Penniman: In reply to your question, whether Sabbath-keepers can consistently engage in the butchering business or not, we would say, that we could not. The way others feel upon the subject will be owing to their previous course of life, their organization, their inclinations, and perhaps we may add, their advancement in the truth.

A. B. Griggs: Your letter, containing queries, is received. It would hardly seem worth while to answer more questions till we can agree on what have been answered. You say you “do not like Smith’s idea of Rev. 1:7,” as you think it “does not agree with Rev. 20:6; 2:11; 21:8.” You add, “There are but two resurrections; and if he raises them at the first, he will have to give them life.” You do not seem to bear in mind, that we make the resurrection of the wicked persons mentioned in Rev. 1:7, an exception. There are, it is true, but two general resurrections; and if there is not an exceptional resurrection, as we suppose, how will you account for the fact that those who pierced the Saviour, behold him at his second advent, to which Rev. 1:7, undoubtedly refers? and where will you place the partial resurrection of Dan. 12:2, in which some of both righteous and wicked are raised simultaneously, whereas in the general resurrection, these two classes are raised a thousand years apart?

Geo. A. King: The commentators take the case of the rich man and Lazarus to prove consciousness and rewards and punishments in death. The Greek was originally written without punctuation marks. The punctuation of the Greek Testaments now used, is modern, like that of the English Testament. The passage in Deut. parallel to the words to-day in Luke 23:43, is Deut. 9:1.

M. E. S. S.: Our advice would be to touch not, taste not, handle not, anything that pertains to a secret society. Have no part nor lot with any secret organization. Christ’s work can all be done, as he set the example for doing it, above board, in the light of day, and before the eyes of all people. We believe it would have been far better for the temperance cause if it had been kept clear from all secret orders.

Articles Declined: “What Man Will Do,” a review of Eld. Senscott, on the Sabbath. This follows the Elder’s arguments well, shows up his contradictions, and demolishes his positions. But as he advances no idea that is not treated upon in our publications, we think more good might be done by flooding the community where the discourse was given with tracts setting forth the truth on the Sabbath question than by examining his effort through the Review—Shall We Meet Again? Lacks signature—Sermon on Rev. 15:3, we deem hardly suitable for the paper; for however interesting the thoughts presented might be to some, we think many of the conclusions would strike the general reader as far-fetched and fanciful—Prayer: too largely composed of extracts from Scripture without an application—Signs and Omens of the Age: We can hardly believe that the abundant use of iron in our day, has anything to do with the application of the iron division of Nebuchadnezzar’s image.

Articles Accepted. Isa. 28:10—A Suggestion—What is Righteousness?—What Shall We Do with our Daughters? U. S.