IMMORTAL AND IMMORTALITY.
By J. B. Frisbie
Selections from Paul's letters to Timothy on immortality.
I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine neither give heed to fables. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy . . . for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, &c. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. . . . Having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. Keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall show; who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called; which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. . . . Which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure. And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables. 1 Timothy i, 3, 4, 16, 17, 19, 20; iv, 1, 7, 8; vi, 12, 14—16, 19—21; 2 Timothy i, 1, 9—11; ii, 11, 16—19, 24—26; iii, 1, 8, 16, 17; iv, 1—4. No doctrine was ever preached in the world that is so well calculated to deceive, captivate, and bewilder, as the pagan view of immortality. It appears that no honest seeker after truth that has been the least enlightened on the subject of the true source of immortality can well avoid seeing that Paul in his letters to Timothy was aiming a death blow at the immortality of the soul as held and taught by the Grecian philosophers. He first warns against fables, and speaks of belief in Christ to life everlasting. Then he speaks of the immortal God and tells us that he only hath immortality. Then he commands them to lay hold on eternal life, and then immediately warns them against that which is falsely called science, which no doubt was the science in the schools of Greece and Rome, the doctrine of Socrates and Plato, the immortality of the soul. In his second letter he continues the same subject, by referring to the promise of life in Christ the same as Tit. i, 2; Col. iii, 3, 4. Here was life and immortality brought to light through the gospel [Rom. ii, 7]; and this was to be sought for. Paul goes on to say that he is a teacher of the Gentiles, the very ones who were believing that heathen fable. Then he warns them again to shun profane and vain babblings, and refers them to a doctrine that is calculated to destroy the truth like a canker, held by Hymeneus and Philetus who had erred in saying the resurrection was past already, and overthrown the faith of some. What doctrine is as well calculated to overthrow faith in a future resurrection of the dead, which Paul taught [1 Cor. xv] as that of the immortality of the soul? the doctrine of going to heaven and hell at death? What need of a resurrection? There can be none. Many say now that this is all the resurrection that there is. Spiritualists take the advantage of this and build themselves up on this heathen fable, the false declaration of the Devil to Eve. This doctrine is a snare of the Devil especially in these last days, when some will depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; when the ancient doctrines of magicians will be revived and corrupt the minds of men to resist the truth. But the Scriptures will expose it and make its folly known to them who give heed to the word. J. B. FRISBIE.