p. 5 | Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 17, 1906

Question Corner

By Editor

1763.—Gospel Preached to the Dead. 1 Peter 4: 6.

Please explain 1 Peter 4: 6. How is the Gospel preached to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh?

It was preached to them while they were alive. Note that the Gospel was preached to them that are dead. When it was preached they were alive, now they are dead, evidently referring to the chapter before, that Christ preached to the spirits in prison. When? When they were disobedient. And when were they disobedient? When once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, all souls were shut up in the prison house of sin, and Christ by His Spirit by Noah, who was a preacher of righteousness, preached unto those then living. The preaching was in the past while they were alive; now they are dead; but they will be judged just as men who are standing before God in the end will be judged. Read other texts on the judgment and teaching of the Gospel and understand that this is in harmony with all the other testimonies given.

1764.—Adornments. 1 Peter 3: 3–5; 1 Tim. 2: 9, 10.

A dear friend is very much perplexed over 1 Peter 3: 3–5 and 1 Tim. 2: 9, 10. Please tell us in next issue, Is there any good reason in the Bible against a Christian’s wearing an engagement ring or gold or a wedding ring? R. W. H.

1. It is almost impossible to answer any questions in our next issue after the questions are received. We are thirty or forty questions behind now. We will do the best we can and answer in turn unless some question seems to be of very special importance.

2. The injunction of the Lord in both these texts is very clear. Notice that the injunction against the wearing of any of these things is for adornment. It was carried to just about the same extent or worse in ancient times than it is now. Every device and form and shape was resorted to to ornament the person. Such the Christian ought not to do. The adornment that she should seek is that of a meek and quiet spirit, or as expressed by Paul, “in good works.” At the same time the Bible never countenances ridiculousness, carelessness, or untidiness in dress.

3. As to wedding rings, in some countries it is really demanded, as in England and European countries generally. It is a part of the wedding ceremony, and a married woman without a wedding ring is in some circles considered untrue to her husband. Where that is the custom it is very proper to wear a wedding ring; and in some parts of America it may be considered somewhat the same. As a general thing in this country a wedding ring is in no-wise an essential part of the marriage bond. For instance, the writer of this note has been married for twenty-four years, but neither he nor his wife has felt the need of a wedding ring; they have not felt that it would add to the happiness of this life, or that its use or nonuse would in any wise affect the bonds between them.