Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 1, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 39.

Question Corner.

By Editor

"Enquire, and make search, and ask diligently."

No. 424. What Churches and Ministers?

IN reply to J. B. V. we will say that where ministers, missionaries, churches, etc., are mentioned we design to be specific, tho we sometimes fail. The movements of our own missionaries are noted either on the last page or in Our Work and Workers' notes. In the news departments general references are to ministers, etc., of other denominations.

No. 425. St. Peter at Rome.

WAS St. Peter a Roman Catholic?

There is no evidence in the word of God, either in his own writings or the writings of others, that Peter was ever in Rome. Had he been living there, would not Paul have referred to him in Romans 16? Roman Catholic tradition declares that he was the first Roman bishop, but this is disputed by learned men. But even tho he was in Rome (which is exceeding doubtful), what does it matter? Paul was at Athens, but what of it?

No. 426. No Repentance—Why?

WILL you kindly explain Rev. 16: 9? If probation is closed when the four last plagues begin to fall, what need would there be of repentance? If I understand it aright, there is no hope after probation closes.

We understand that when the plagues begin to be poured out, the case of every man will have been decided. It is not an arbitrary decree of God which does this irrespective of man; but what the Lord says (Rev. 22: 11) is a statement of what there is and will be forevermore. Every man can repent only by cherishing God's agencies to save him, the sacrifice of Christ, the word, and the Spirit of God. When man finally rejects these, his case is hopeless. Before the plagues are poured out, God will present before every soul living his truth, that man may accept or reject it. Accepting it, he will be saved; rejecting it, the Spirit of God leaves him, and he is lost. When that time comes, man can not of himself repent. And Rev. 16: 9 is a solemn warning which God gives in advance to every soul, that when man has rejected the Gospel message, chosen sin in preference to righteousness, done despite to the Spirit of grace, his case is hopeless indeed; he can not, and will not because he can not, repent when he comes to experience the full fruition of his own course.

No. 427. What Is the Way?

WHAT is the meaning of Isa. 35: 8, "an highway" and "a way?"

The whole connection shows that the passage has reference to the redeemed state of God's people. Adam Clarke, Boothroyd, the Syriac, and many ancient MSS. omit "and a way." Boothroyd reads: "And a highway shall be there; and it shall be called The way of holiness; but God shall be with them, walking in the way, and the foolish shall not err therein." The perfect way of righteousness or holiness in law is the way of God's commandments.

See Ps. 119: 27, 32, 33. The way of righteousness and holiness in life and character is Jesus Christ the Way, the Truth, the Life. John 14: 6. The word "highway" denotes a path cast up above all common ways, as we would speak, a turnpike. God's way is a high way, above the low level of the world, as well here as hereafter. From that way people may err here. In his kingdom the simplest shall not turn aside. But if we would walk in that way there, we must learn to walk in it here.

No. 428. What about the Angel?

IN John 5, beginning with the last clause of verse 3 and verse 4, we read: "Waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water; whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." The question is, Did the people simply believe this to be true? or, Did the angel so come down?

We do not know. Some of the oldest Greek manuscripts, older than that from which our New Testament was translated, either omit a part of what we have quoted, or all. The general opinion of Bible critics is that the passage is spurious; that is, it was not written by John. We have no certain proof that it was or was not. It seems to be a matter where opinions may differ without controversy. Yet it is often the case that the thing about which men know the least they say the most.

No. 429. Why Did He Omit Sabbath-breaking?

(1) WHEN Paul was enumerating the numerous perils of the last days in his very explicit manner, why did he leave out the terrible sin of Sabbath-breaking? Why does he fail in every instance to warn the last-day church against the danger of that sin? (2) When Philip and others were examining and preparing candidates for baptism, why were they not instructed relative to the duty of Sabbath observance?

1. Evidently reference is made to 2 Tim. 3: 1-5. Paul did not warn against Sabbath-breaking for the same reason that he did not specifically warn against the transgression of the first, second, and sixth commandments. And yet all are included between the expressions, "lovers of their own selves" and "lovers of God." In the same chapter he tells us that the Scriptures (and only the Old Testament was then thus known) are profitable for all things needed by the man of God, and through Christ able to make wise unto salvation. He elsewhere condemns sin as the transgression of God's law (Rom. 3: 20; 7: 17), that law of which the Jews had "the form of knowledge and of the truth" (See Rom. 2: 17-23), tho not the essence; that law against which the carnal mind is enmity (Rom. 8: 7), but which is life in Jesus Christ (verse 2), by faith in whom its righteousness will be fulfilled in us (verse 4).

2. We do not know but that they were so instructed. We might ask the same question with reference to every moral duty. Fornication and idolatry were common, but we have no record that questions were asked relative to these sins. The fact was that he who at that time accepted Christ with his whole heart accepted all other things. And now if Jesus Christ is properly set before men, and is accepted for what he is, there will be no need of asking detail questions. Such things should never be asked to extort a pledge, but given in the way of instruction. The candidate should make his decision over the truth as it is in Jesus. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness."

No. 430. Oath Taking.

PLEASE explain Matt. 5: 34 and James 5: 12. Do they apply to the oath administered to witnesses, or to one who registers?

These passages refer to extra-judicial oaths. If the law requires of you an oath, submit to it as did Jesus Christ. See Matt 26: 63, where the high priest administered the oath to our Lord. The texts in question refer to voluntary affirmatives, or oaths to confirm what we say in common. Is it true?—Yes. Is it false?—No. Let it rest there. Do not say, "It is true, as I live," or any stronger expression. We are called upon to take oath only when it is required of us by proper legal authorities.