p. 68 | TO CORRESPONDENTS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 28, 1878

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

D. EISMINGER: We regard the language of Paul in 1 Cor. 14:34, as being similar to that in 1 Cor. 11:20-34. It was designed to correct some abuse which had crept into the Corinthian church, from which all subsequent generations might learn an instructive lesson. The women were taking a position, as we infer from 1 Tim. 2:12, written also by Paul, in which they were usurping authority over the men. It certainly cannot refer to a religious exhortation in meeting; for all were commanded to engage in that work; Heb. 10:25; and Paul in 1 Cor. 11:5 gives special directions how it was proper for a woman in that age to be attired when praying or prophesying, that is, speaking or exhorting in accordance with the prophecies.

J. M. ADAMS: The word rendered “ought,” in John 13:14, is opheilete, and is defined by Robinson as follows: “1. to owe, to be indebted; pr. in a pecuniary sense. . . . 2. Trop. to owe, to be bound, obligated, &c. to the performance of any duty, i. q. I ought, I must; so of what is required by law or duty in general.”

Was God or Moses the author of the law called in the Bible, “the law of Moses”? *

ANS. God is primarily the author of all dispensations. The typical law is called the law of Moses, because Moses was made the minister of it in its promulgation. Under God, Christ was the author of the Mosaic dispensation. See Heb. 3:2-6.

Were the law of ten commandments and the law of Moses given at the same time? *

ANS. The passover was instituted before the Israelites came to Sinai; other regulations after that time.

D. W. C. McNEFF: See the resurrection of Moses and his appearance at the transfiguration, accounted for in the pamphlet, The State of the Dead, pp. 115-125. Those who came out of their graves after Christ’s resurrection, we think were raised to immortality and ascended with Christ to Heaven. Eph. 4:8, margin. There is no discrepancy between Gen. 6:6, and James 1:17. There is no variableness nor shadow of turning with God; but there would be if he put no difference between the righteous and the wicked, regarding the latter with as much favor as the former. God’s invariable rule is, with both nations and individuals, to regard them with favor, as long as they refrain from evil and do his will, but if they do evil and obey not his voice, to turn against them his displeasure. Jer. 18:7-10. This is consistent with his character. He could not do otherwise and be the God which he represents himself to be. The antediluvians had apostatized from God. His relation to them therefore changed, because they had changed their relation to him; and the expression, “it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth,” was simply an announcement of his intention to unmake him from the earth, or destroy him. But in this there was not the least change of principle or basis of action on the part of God. He found Noah righteous and saved him. Had the others been righteous, no destruction would have come upon them. They perished because they changed, not because God changed.

2 Pet. 3:8: “But beloved be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” Please explain. In.

ANS. It is a statement made to show that the Lord is not slack concerning his promises as stated in the following verse. To men the promised restitution may seem long delayed; but not so; for with the Lord it is the same whether it is one day or a thousand years. He never forgets, but moves steadily on toward the accomplishment of his purposes. He delays in order to give all a time to repent, not being willing that they should perish. But though events that might be crowded into a day, are, through God’s longsuffering and waiting upon sinners, protracted so as to cover a thousand years, God will bring them to pass at last; for Peter adds, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.”

ANSWERED BY LETTER: M. B. Miller, J. Willoughby, E. P. Daniels, R. Hart, C. H. Howe, E. W. Farnsworth, S. J. Hersum, J. H. Waggoner, F. R. Richmond, H. C. Mitchell, D. W. Comstock, A. J. Richmond.