|
Bro. Turner:
 Please explain 1 Cor. 4:4 -- especially the first part. A friend tells me "by"
means "against" here.
Reply:
I must
agree with your friend as to the meaning of the passage, but it is an over-simplification to say that "by
means against."
"I
know nothing by myself" was a phrase of common English usage many years ago. An early version of the Common
Prayer Book has, "He that setteth not by himself' --- meaning, "is not wise in his own conceit."
The Revised
Version uses the word "against" to correctly convey the meaning of the passage --- as is seen by carefully
comparing context. Paul is saying that even though (for sake of the argument) he knew nothing against himself,
still it is the Lord who must be the judge.
Other Word Studies
The phrase "rest with us" (2 Thes. 1:7) is often interpreted as though "rest" was a verb. But here it is a
noun -- it is something God will "recompense" to "you who are troubled;" just as "tribulation"
is something God will recompense to "them that trouble you." Now reread the passage.
"Shamefacedness" (L
Tim. 2:9) is changed in R.V. to "shamefastness," with the "fast" meaning "bound"
as in "bed-fast." One who is bed-fast has a physical condition which binds him to the bed; and here Paul
advocates a sense of propriety or·modesty which would "bind" a woman, and keep her from dressing
in a way unbecoming to a
|
|
"woman professing godliness." Watch for future article on
this subject.
Bro. Turner:
I am told that all in the Galatian letter must apply to church action because
the letter is addressed to the church. Please comment.
Reply:
Look
again! It is addressed to the churches (plural). Then according to your informer, contents must be applied only to churches, and could not
apply to one
church. Of course the whole premise is completely false.
I address
this note to you. Could not I write to you relative to church work? Paul addressed the church in Corinth, but wrote concerning
brother
going to law with brother. (6:1-f.)
Church
action is collective action and is clearly distinguished from individual action. (Note 1 Tim. 5:16) To determine what
applies to church action we must determine what God teaches brethren to do, acting collectively; as seen in precept, approved
example, and necessary inference.
Thus,
proper application of any given passage must be determined by its context. Paul could, and did, address churches, sending them information regarding
certain obligations of individual members. (1 Thes. 4:11-12) The Galatian letter is replete with precepts which
apply to individual obligation (5:2, 19-f. 6:1-10, 13, etc) and no false rule of interpretation concerning "address"
can change this.
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
